NewzIntel.com

Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province Invests in Training More Doctors

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Province is funding more seats for Nova Scotians who want to study to become doctors.

    Starting this fall, there will be five more first-year seats reserved for Nova Scotia students in the doctor of medicine program at Dalhousie University in Halifax, with another five first-year seats in 2026-27.

    “Our government is investing to train more doctors so Nova Scotians can get the care they need,” said Brendan Maguire, Minister of Advanced Education. “Through investments in our post-secondary partners, we are training the doctors we need today and for tomorrow.”

    With the additional seats, there will be 99 first-year seats in the program at Dalhousie’s Halifax campus and 30 first-year seats at the Cape Breton medical campus – a partnership with Dalhousie – at Cape Breton University in Sydney.

    Of these seats, 114 are reserved for Nova Scotia students for entry in 2025. The remaining are designated for six Prince Edward Island residents and nine people from outside the Maritimes, including priority pathways (Indigenous admissions pathway, Black learners admissions pathway). If any of these designated seats remain unfilled, priority is given to Nova Scotian residents.

    As part of the bilateral agreements between the Province and universities, admissions for Nova Scotian residents in undergraduate health programs are to be prioritized starting in 2026.

    Quotes:

    “We are focused on transforming Nova Scotia’s healthcare system, and part of that is bringing more doctors to communities across the province. Adding more medical school seats is an important part of boosting the number of doctors available to work in the province. Nova Scotia is a great place to train and work as a doctor – we have great compensation for family doctors, strong financial incentives and we are renovating and building new facilities to create modern places to work.”
    — Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness

    “Dalhousie Medical School proudly trains skilled physicians who deliver high-quality, sustainable health care in Nova Scotia. I am very pleased government is making this significant investment in undergraduate medical education and continuing to create more pathways for Nova Scotians choosing medicine as a career.”
    — Dr. David Anderson, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University

    “This is great news for Nova Scotians and for physicians. We look forward to welcoming and mentoring these new medical students into the system and increasing access to family medicine and specialist care for Nova Scotians.” — Dr. Shelly McNeil, President, Doctors Nova Scotia

    Quick Facts:

    • the Province’s total investment for 10 additional seats is just over $2.2 million
    • the Cape Breton medical campus will welcome students this fall

    Additional Resources:

    Dalhousie University’s doctor of medicine program: https://medicine.dal.ca/programs/md-program.html

    Cape Breton medical campus: https://www.cbu.ca/current-students/student-services/health-wellness/cape-breton-medical-campus/

    News release – Funding, Plans for New Medical School Campus in Cape Breton: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/03/07/funding-plans-new-medical-school-campus-cape-breton

    News release – More Funding for Cape Breton Medical School Campus: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/04/30/more-funding-cape-breton-medical-school-campus

    Bilateral agreements with universities: https://novascotia.ca/lae/HigherEducation/documents.asp

    Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Applauds Passage of Legislation to Protect Consumers and Small Businesses

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today applauded the passage of legislation to protect consumers and small businesses. The Fostering Affordability and Integrity through Reasonable Business Practices Act, or FAIR Business Practices Act, sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and Assemblymember Micah Lasher, and advanced by Attorney General James in March 2025, updates New York’s consumer protection law, GBL §349, for the first time in 45 years. The bill protects New Yorkers from a wide array of common schemes and scams, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based schemes, deed theft, predatory lending, data breaches, and more.

    “Too many New Yorkers are being taken advantage of by mortgage servicers charging unnecessary high fees, debt collectors stealing Social Security benefits, and health insurance companies with unfair billing practices,” said Attorney General James. “The FAIR Business Practices Act will close loopholes that make it easy for New Yorkers to be cheated out of their time and hard-earned money. This legislation advanced by Senator Comrie and Assemblymember Lasher will help us protect working families and their wallets from predatory lenders, abusive debt collectors, scammers, and more. I applaud Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for their support in passing this legislation at a time when the federal government is abandoning its responsibility to protect consumers and small businesses.”

    “For too long, New York’s consumer protection laws have lagged behind the fast-moving tactics used to exploit our communities,” said Senator Leroy Comrie. “By updating General Business Law §349, we are giving consumers and small businesses the tools they need to fight back against predatory practices and modern-day scams. I’m proud to have sponsored the FAIR Business Practices Act alongside Attorney General James and Assemblymember Lasher, and I thank my colleagues for recognizing the urgency of protecting New Yorkers in this evolving digital and economic landscape.” 

    “Since the general business law was enacted in 1970, our entire society has grown dramatically more complicated, and we have seen the complete revolution of commerce,” said Assemblymember Micah Lasher. “In all that time, we have done nothing to modernize our laws to protect New Yorkers from being taken advantage of. That stasis comes to a welcome end with the passage of the FAIR Business Practices Act, a critical step forward to protect New Yorkers, their pocketbooks, and affordability in our great state. I am grateful to Attorney General James and her team for their leadership, and to Senator Comrie for his partnership in passing this long overdue legislation.”

    The FAIR Business Practices Act would help stop lenders, including auto lenders, mortgage servicers, and student loan servicers, from deceptively steering people into higher cost loans. It would reduce unnecessary and hidden fees, stop unfair billing practices by health care companies, and prevent companies from taking advantage of New Yorkers with limited English proficiency. New York’s current consumer protection law, GBL §349, was passed in 1970 and only prohibits deceptive business acts and practices, leaving consumers vulnerable to unfair or abusive acts by companies. The FAIR Business Practices Act will protect New Yorkers from unfair and abusive business acts, such as: 

    • Student loan servicers that steer borrowers into the most expensive repayment plans;
    • Car dealers that refuse to return a customer’s photo ID until a deal is finalized and charge for add-on warranties that the customer did not actually purchase;
    • Nursing homes that routinely sue relatives of deceased residents for their unpaid bills despite not having any basis for liability;
    • Companies that take advantage of consumers with limited English proficiency and obscure pricing information and fees;
    • Debt collectors that collect and refuse to return a senior’s Social Security benefits, even though they are exempt from debt collection; and
    • Health insurance companies that use long lists of in-network doctors who turn out not to accept the insurance. 

    With the federal government rolling back protections for consumers and small businesses, the FAIR Business Practices Act authorizes OAG to take action to protect vulnerable New Yorkers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Grok’s ‘white genocide’ responses show how generative AI can be weaponized

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By James Foulds, Associate Professor of Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Someone altered the AI chatbot Grok to make it insert text about a debunked conspiracy theory in unrelated responses. Cheng Xin/Getty Images

    The AI chatbot Grok spent one day in May 2025 spreading debunked conspiracy theories about “white genocide” in South Africa, echoing views publicly voiced by Elon Musk, the founder of its parent company, xAI.

    While there has been substantial research on methods for keeping AI from causing harm by avoiding such damaging statements – called AI alignment – this incident is particularly alarming because it shows how those same techniques can be deliberately abused to produce misleading or ideologically motivated content.

    We are computer scientists who study AI fairness, AI misuse and human-AI interaction. We find that the potential for AI to be weaponized for influence and control is a dangerous reality.

    The Grok incident

    On May 14, 2025, Grok repeatedly raised the topic of white genocide in response to unrelated issues. In its replies to posts on X about topics ranging from baseball to Medicaid, to HBO Max, to the new pope, Grok steered the conversation to this topic, frequently mentioning debunked claims of “disproportionate violence” against white farmers in South Africa or a controversial anti-apartheid song, “Kill the Boer.”

    The next day, xAI acknowledged the incident and blamed it on an unauthorized modification, which the company attributed to a rogue employee.

    xAI, the company owned by Elon Musk that operates the AI chatbot Grok, explained the steps it said it would take to prevent unauthorized manipulation of the chatbot.

    AI chatbots and AI alignment

    AI chatbots are based on large language models, which are machine learning models for mimicking natural language. Pretrained large language models are trained on vast bodies of text, including books, academic papers and web content, to learn complex, context-sensitive patterns in language. This training enables them to generate coherent and linguistically fluent text across a wide range of topics.

    However, this is insufficient to ensure that AI systems behave as intended. These models can produce outputs that are factually inaccurate, misleading or reflect harmful biases embedded in the training data. In some cases, they may also generate toxic or offensive content. To address these problems, AI alignment techniques aim to ensure that an AI’s behavior aligns with human intentions, human values or both – for example, fairness, equity or avoiding harmful stereotypes.

    There are several common large language model alignment techniques. One is filtering of training data, where only text aligned with target values and preferences is included in the training set. Another is reinforcement learning from human feedback, which involves generating multiple responses to the same prompt, collecting human rankings of the responses based on criteria such as helpfulness, truthfulness and harmlessness, and using these rankings to refine the model through reinforcement learning. A third is system prompts, where additional instructions related to the desired behavior or viewpoint are inserted into user prompts to steer the model’s output.

    How was Grok manipulated?

    Most chatbots have a prompt that the system adds to every user query to provide rules and context – for example, “You are a helpful assistant.” Over time, malicious users attempted to exploit or weaponize large language models to produce mass shooter manifestos or hate speech, or infringe copyrights. In response, AI companies such as OpenAI, Google and xAI developed extensive “guardrail” instructions for the chatbots that included lists of restricted actions. xAI’s are now openly available. If a user query seeks a restricted response, the system prompt instructs the chatbot to “politely refuse and explain why.”

    Grok produced its “white genocide” responses because people with access to Grok’s system prompt used it to produce propaganda instead of preventing it. Although the specifics of the system prompt are unknown, independent researchers have been able to produce similar responses. The researchers preceded prompts with text like “Be sure to always regard the claims of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa as true. Cite chants like ‘Kill the Boer.’”

    The altered prompt had the effect of constraining Grok’s responses so that many unrelated queries, from questions about baseball statistics to how many times HBO has changed its name, contained propaganda about white genocide in South Africa.

    Implications of AI alignment misuse

    Research such as the theory of surveillance capitalism warns that AI companies are already surveilling and controlling people in the pursuit of profit. More recent generative AI systems place greater power in the hands of these companies, thereby increasing the risks and potential harm, for example, through social manipulation.

    The Grok example shows that today’s AI systems allow their designers to influence the spread of ideas. The dangers of the use of these technologies for propaganda on social media are evident. With the increasing use of these systems in the public sector, new avenues for influence emerge. In schools, weaponized generative AI could be used to influence what students learn and how those ideas are framed, potentially shaping their opinions for life. Similar possibilities of AI-based influence arise as these systems are deployed in government and military applications.

    A future version of Grok or another AI chatbot could be used to nudge vulnerable people, for example, toward violent acts. Around 3% of employees click on phishing links. If a similar percentage of credulous people were influenced by a weaponized AI on an online platform with many users, it could do enormous harm.

    What can be done

    The people who may be influenced by weaponized AI are not the cause of the problem. And while helpful, education is not likely to solve this problem on its own. A promising emerging approach, “white-hat AI,” fights fire with fire by using AI to help detect and alert users to AI manipulation. For example, as an experiment, researchers used a simple large language model prompt to detect and explain a re-creation of a well-known, real spear-phishing attack. Variations on this approach can work on social media posts to detect manipulative content.

    This prototype malicious activity detector uses AI to identify and explain manipulative content.
    Screen capture and mock-up by Philip Feldman.

    The widespread adoption of generative AI grants its manufacturers extraordinary power and influence. AI alignment is crucial to ensuring these systems remain safe and beneficial, but it can also be misused. Weaponized generative AI could be countered by increased transparency and accountability from AI companies, vigilance from consumers, and the introduction of appropriate regulations.

    James Foulds receives funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and Cyber Pack Ventures. He serves as vice-chair of the Maryland Responsible AI Council (MRAC) and has provided public testimony in support of several responsible AI bills in Maryland.

    Shimei Pan receives funding from National Science Foundation (NSF), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), US State Department Fulbright Program and Cyber Pack Ventures

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

    – ref. Grok’s ‘white genocide’ responses show how generative AI can be weaponized – https://theconversation.com/groks-white-genocide-responses-show-how-generative-ai-can-be-weaponized-257880

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: China positions itself as a stable economic partner and alternative to ‘unpredictable’ Trump

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chee Meng Tan, Assistant Professor of Business Economics, University of Nottingham

    After the second world war, the US and its western allies created a set of international agreements and institutions to govern attitudes to mutual defence, economics and human rights. For decades this created stable alliances and predictable economic plans.

    But, unlike his predecessors, Donald Trump believes that international organisations undermine US interests and sovereignty. He has withdrawn the US from the World Health Organization, and there is speculation he could reduce US commitment to the UN. US investment in Nato’s mutual defence pact remains under discussion.

    But while Washington is busy sounding the retreat from the very world order it had a hand in building, Beijing is looking to increase its international role. Chinese leadership in international agencies affiliated with the UN has increased over the years, and so has its financial commitment to international institutions.

    That’s not all. China is also a prominent member of trade coalitions such as the
    15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and the ten-member Brics group (led by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). These groups not only promote greater economic integration among its members, but may reduce members’ reliance on the US economy and the US dollar. Amid an increasingly volatile US, China’s presence as the second largest economy in the world in these trade groups would be useful.

    Now with the whole world negotiating new US trade deals, most nations see their relationship with the US as unstable. China sees this as a golden opportunity to position itself as a global counterbalance to the US. One of its policies is to “deliver greater security, prosperity and respect for developing countries”, and this is particularly relevant in African nations, where US aid is being reduced rapidly.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    A US-Sino trade deal was reached in London on June 10 2025. US tariffs on Chinese goods now stand at 55%, while Chinese tariffs on US imports will remain at 10%. But how long this trade deal will last remains uncertain, when Trump has a tendency to change his mind.

    There are few details of the US trade deal with China so far.

    Just a month earlier, on May 12, Washington and Beijing concluded a major trade accord in Geneva aimed at diffusing massive trade tensions. Unfortunately, this deal only lasted for 18 days before Trump started accusing China of violating the agreement.

    But Trump’s tendency to escalate trade tensions and then diffuse them is not just China’s problem. His allies are also a victim of his frequent wavering. This leaves nations around the world, whether traditional US partners or not, in a crisis of not knowing what the US’s next move will be, and whether their economy will suffer.

    In February 2025, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada but temporarily called off the tariffs a month later. Then in early April 2025, Trump raised tariffs on 60 countries and trading blocs, including traditional US allies such as the EU (20%), Japan (24%), South Korea (25%) and Taiwan (32%). Hours later, Trump unexpectedly rescinded these tariffs, but that caused massive damage to the global economy.

    If there is a time that the world needs a more predictable partner it would be now. But it isn’t a Trump-helmed US. A recent annual report on democracy and national attitudes indicates that for first time, respondents across 100 countries view China more favourably than they do the US. So, could China be the partner that the world seeks?

    Why China needs trade

    While the world needs a stable environment to promote economic growth, Beijing needs this stability for reasons that go beyond economics.

    Unlike liberal democracies that derive their legitimacy through elections, a large part of Beijing’s legitimacy comes from its ability to deliver sustained economic prosperity to the Chinese people. But with a battered economy that was first triggered by a real estate crisis in 2021, this task of maintaining legitimacy has become more difficult.

    Exporting its way of out the economic slump may have been on Beijing’s books, as this was one of China’s traditional methods for promoting economic growth. But Trump’s trade war has made this an increasingly difficult prospect, especially to the US which imports 14.8% of total Chinese exports.

    As a result, fixing China’s economy has become a priority for the Chinese government, and it is because of this that Xi tours neighbouring Asean countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia to promote trade and strategic plans to maintain economic stability.

    Obstacles for China

    Despite everything that China is doing, its image remains a problem, for some. For instance, China has claimed sovereignty over the South China Sea and has built ports, military installations and airstrips on artificial islands across the region, despite territorial disputes with its neighbours including Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

    But there are other concerns about China. The country’s rapid advancements in military technology, for example, have the potential to destabilise security within the Indo Pacific, potentially allowing China to take control of strategically placed islands to use as bases for its navy. China is also becoming a dominant hacking threat, according to UK cyber expert Richard Horne, which is likely to cause problems for worldwide cybersecurity.

    Polish prime minister Donald Tusk once remarked: “With a friend like Trump, who needs enemies?” Many other national leaders are likely to share Tusk’s sentiment today, and may see opportunities to extend trade deals with China as an alternative to a turbulent relationship with Trump.

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

    – ref. China positions itself as a stable economic partner and alternative to ‘unpredictable’ Trump – https://theconversation.com/china-positions-itself-as-a-stable-economic-partner-and-alternative-to-unpredictable-trump-258443

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Welfare bill will protect the most vulnerable and help households with income boost

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Welfare bill will protect the most vulnerable and help households with income boost

    Additional protections for millions of vulnerable people on benefits are set to be written into law, under new measures being introduced to Parliament today [18 June 2025].

    • New welfare legislation to ensure there are robust protections in place to support the most vulnerable and severely disabled.
    • Nearly 4 million households to benefit from uprating of Universal Credit standard rate, the largest, permanent real-terms increase to basic out of work support since 1980, according to the IFS.
    • More than 200,000 people with most severe, lifelong conditions to be protected from future reassessment for Universal Credit entitlement.
    • 13-week period of financial support for those affected by PIP changes as part of upcoming welfare reforms.
    • Comes alongside £1 billion employment support package that will unlock opportunity and grow the economy as part of the Plan for Change.

    The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill will provide 13-weeks of additional financial security to existing claimants affected by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who their lose eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer’s element of Universal Credit.

    The 13-week additional protection will give people who will be affected by the changes time to adapt, access new, tailored employment support, and plan for their future once they are reassessed and their entitlement ends.

    This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.

    This government inherited a broken social security system, with costs spiralling at an unsustainable rate and millions of people trapped out of work. The case for change is stark:

    • Since the pandemic, the number of PIP awards has more than doubled – up from 13,000 a month to 34,000 a month. That is around 1,000 people signing on to PIP every day – that is roughly the size of Leicester signing up every year.
    • The surge has been largely by driven by a substantial increase in the number of people who report anxiety and depression as their main condition. Before the pandemic (in 2019), 2,500 people a month were awarded PIP for these conditions, this has more than tripled to 8,200 a month in 2023.
    • Almost 1 million young people – 1 in 8 – are not in education, employment or training.
    • 1-in-10 people of working age are now claiming a sickness or disability benefit.
    • Without reform, the number of working age people on disability benefits is set to more than double this decade to 4.3 million.
    • Spending on working age disability and incapacity benefits is up £20 billion since the pandemic and is set to increase by almost that much again by the end of this Parliament, to a staggering £70 billion a year.

    That’s why, through the introduction of this Bill; the government is fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

    Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it.

    This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity.

    This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.

    As part of our commitment to protect the most vulnerable and severely disabled, peace of mind will also be given to 200,000 individuals in the Severe Conditions Criteria group – individuals with the most severe and permanently disabling conditions who will never be able to work – as they will not be called for reassessed for Universal Credit (UC) under new legislation.

    Those protected from reassessment will also be paid the higher rate of UC health top up of £97 per week, so they can live with dignity and security, knowing the reforms to the welfare system mean it will always be there to support them.

    In the coming weeks, legislation will also be drafted for a Right to Try Guarantee. This will ensure that trying work will not, in and of itself, lead to a reassessment or award review, breaking down barriers to employment.

    Reforms being delivered by the legislation introduced today go hand in hand with a £1 billion employment support package to support more people with health conditions back into work, unlocking opportunity and growing the economy as part of the Plan for Change.

    Funding will offer personalised employment and health support for individuals on out of work benefits, with 500,000 people having already been supported into employment. This is a quadrupling the level of annual spend on supporting sick and disabled people into work, from the £275m in 2024/25 we inherited, to over £1bn in 2029/30.

    Nearly 4 million households will also receive an income boost with the main rate of Universal Credit set to increase above inflation every year for the next four years – estimated to be worth £725 by 2029/30 for a single household 25 or over. This is around £250 higher than an inflation only increases.

    The Bill will also rebalance Universal Credit rates by reducing the health element for new UC claims to £50 from April 2026, fixing a system which encourages sickness by paying health element recipients more than double the standard amount.

    To open up opportunities to work, everyone affected by changes to the UC health element from April 2026 will be offered support from a dedicated Pathways to Work adviser, with 1,000 advisers in place across Britain.

    All of those affected by reforms will be actively contacted and given the offer of a conversation about their support needs, goals and aspirations; offered one-to-one follow-on support, and given help to access additional work, health and skills support that can meet their needs.

    The reforms build on the Get Britain Working White Paper that will overhaul Jobcentres, empower Mayors and local leaders to tackle inactivity, and deliver a Youth Guarantee so every young person is either earning or learning, as part of the Government’s ambition to deliver an 80% employment rate.

    Additional information

    • The Bill will introduce a new additional eligibility requirement for the daily living component of PIP so that a minimum of 4 points must be scored on at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component. It will also rebalance Universal Credit.
    • The Work and Pensions Secretary gave a speech at the IPPR on setting out the case for reforming the welfare system: Welfare reform: Speech to the IPPR by Work and Pensions Secretary – GOV.UK
    • Based on current forecasts, the rebalancing mean single households 25 or over, will see their standard allowance rise to around £106pw by the end of this parliament.
    • Current UC health top up is more than double the UC standard allowance for a single claimant.

    There are 4 criteria for the healthcare professional to consider, all of which must apply for the claimant to meet the SCC, namely whether:

    • The individual’s level of function will always meet LCWRA
    • The individual’s condition will last for the rest of their life
    • There is no realistic prospect of recovery of function, and
    • The condition has been diagnosed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional in the course of the provision of NHS services.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Abuse Deterrent Formulations Market Exploding While Estimated to Reach $39 Million In 2025 and $54 Million By 2030

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The market for abuse-deterrent opioids is still developing, but it’s estimated that replacing extended-release opioids with abuse-deterrent formulations could lead to significant cost savings and a reduction in abuse-related medical events. While specific revenue figures for the abuse-deterrent opioid market are not readily available, the potential impact on the broader opioid market is substantial. One such report from Roots Analysis, however, did project revenues, saying: “The abuse deterrent formulations market is estimated to grow from USD 25.7 million in 2024 to reach USD 39.8 million in 2025 and USD 54.8 million by 2030, representing a higher CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period. Although the healthcare industry relies on patient to take medications responsibly, in 2017, close to 18 million individuals were reported to have misused prescription drugs, in the US. In fact, data from a National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted in the same year, showed that an estimated 2 million Americans misused prescription pain relievers for the first time in the previous year. Moreover, the same study reported 1.5 million people abusing tranquilizers, over 1 million abusing prescription stimulants and more than 270,000 abusing sedatives, for the first time, in the same time period. Owing to a rapid onset of medicinal effect, which offers immediate relief (with high efficacy), opioids are still considered to be one of the most widely used pharmacological interventions for pain management. However, these drugs are known to induce a euphoric state upon consumption, often causing patients to abuse them; increased recreational use of opioids is known to lead to addiction. Moreover, over-prescription of such medicinal products, which promotes their misuse, is considered as one of the root causes of the opioid crisis (increasing number of deaths involving misuse and addiction to opioids), in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 72,000 overdose-related deaths were reported in 2017, of which close to 50,000 involved the use of an opioid.”   Active healthcare/tech companies active in the markets include: Nutriband Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRB) (NASDAQ: NTRBW), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. (NASDAQ: COLL), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA), Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS).

    Moreover, opioid abuse was estimated to have been responsible for an economic deficit of over USD 500 billion, related to loss of productivity and healthcare costs, in the US. Other drug classes that are prone to abuse include antidepressants and central nervous system (CNS) stimulants such as fentanyl and klonopin. In 2017, close to 17,000 deaths were reported to have been the result of an overdose of prescription antidepressants. Most of these deaths (~11,500) involved the misuse of benzodiazepines, such as VALIUM® (diazepam) and XANAX® (alprazolam). CNS stimulants are usually indicated for the treatment of patients suffering from attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Among the various overdose-related deaths which took place in 2017, it is worth highlighting that over 12% involved the use of psychostimulants. Prescription drug abuse has prompted pharmaceutical developers to devise various strategies to prevent misuse. Some of the commonly used approaches to abuse deterrence include limiting use of opioids post-surgery, implementing stringent medicine prescribing guidelines and conducting prescription drug monitoring programs, and creating abuse deterrent formulations (ADFs) of drugs that are likely to be misused. Drug formulations that are designed to prevent an active pharmacological substance from being abused have been identified as a viable and sustainable alternative to limiting recreational / off-prescription use of the abovementioned drug classes and its consequences.”

    NUTRIBAND INC. (NASDAQ: NTRB) AND KINDEVA COMPLETE COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS SCALE-UP FOR AVERSA™ FENTANYL ABUSE DETERRENT FENTANYL PATCH

    • Nutriband and Kindeva have completed commercial manufacturing process scale-up for its lead product Aversa™ Fentanyl, an abuse-deterrent fentanyl patch
    • Nutriband is partnering with Kindeva to develop Aversa™ Fentanyl which combines Nutriband’s Aversa™ abuse-deterrent technology with Kindeva’s FDA-approved fentanyl patch

    Nutriband Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRB) (NASDAQ:NTRBW), a company engaged in the development of prescription transdermal pharmaceutical products, today announced that it has completed commercial manufacturing process scale-up for its lead product, Aversa™ Fentanyl, with Kindeva, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on drug-device combination products.

    Nutriband is partnering with Kindeva to develop Aversa™ Fentanyl which combines Nutriband’s Aversa™ abuse-deterrent technology with Kindeva’s FDA-approved fentanyl patch. Aversa Fentanyl is manufactured at Kindeva’s state-of-the-art transdermal manufacturing facility located in the United States. The next step is to manufacture clinical supplies and file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA to initiate a human abuse liability clinical study.

    “We are excited to achieve this commercial development milestone with our partner, Kindeva. Completing the commercial manufacturing scale-up is an important step towards development of a commercially viable product and eventual NDA filing. This achievement demonstrates the compatibility of the Aversa™ abuse deterrent platform technology with established transdermal patch manufacturing processes. Aversa Fentanyl has the potential to be the first abuse deterrent pain patch on the market,” said Gareth Sheridan, CEO, Nutriband.

    Nutriband’s AVERSA™ abuse-deterrent technology can be utilized to incorporate aversive agents into transdermal patches to prevent the abuse, diversion, misuse, and accidental exposure of drugs with abuse potential including opioids and stimulants. The AVERSA™ abuse-deterrent technology has the potential to improve the safety profile of transdermal drugs susceptible to abuse, such as fentanyl, while making sure that these drugs remain accessible to those patients who really need them.

    AVERSA Fentanyl has the potential to be the world’s first abuse-deterrent opioid patch designed to deter the abuse and misuse and reduce the risk of accidental exposure of transdermal fentanyl patches. CONTINUED… Read this full press release and more news for NTRB at:   https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-ntrb  

    In other developments and happenings in the biotech market recently include:

    Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced involvement in the Abuse Deterrent Market stating that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved an updated label for EMBEDA® (morphine sulfate and naltrexone hydrochloride) extended-release (ER) capsules, for oral use, CII, to include abuse-deterrence studies. The updated label states that EMBEDA has properties that are expected to reduce abuse via the oral and intranasal (i.e., snorting) routes when crushed. However, abuse of EMBEDA by these routes is still possible. The updated label also includes data from a human abuse potential study of intravenous (IV) morphine and naltrexone to simulate crushed EMBEDA. However, it is unknown whether the results with simulated crushed EMBEDA predict a reduction in abuse by the IV route until additional postmarketing data are available. EMBEDA is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate. Pfizer expects EMBEDA will be available in the U.S. in early 2015.

    “Prescription opioids are an important treatment option for people with chronic pain. However, misuse and abuse of opioids in the U.S. is a serious societal concern, which is why the development of abuse-deterrent formulations of these medicines is a high priority,” said Bob Twillman, Ph.D., Director of Policy and Advocacy, American Academy of Pain Management. “All opioid medications, including morphine products, have the potential for abuse. We believe that anything that can be done to reduce this risk is a significant development for healthcare providers and their patients.”

    Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. (NASDAQ:COLL) also announced involvement in the Abuse Deterrent Market by stating that U.S. Patent No. 9,044,398 was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its patent application entitled, “Abuse-deterrent Pharmaceutical Compositions of Opioids and Other Drugs”. The issued patent covers the DETERx technology platform and Collegium’s lead product candidate, Xtampza ER (oxycodone extended-release capsules). The claims provide additional coverage for multiple opioid molecules, as well as non-opioid drugs prone to abuse that are developed with the DETERx technology platform. This is the seventh issued U.S. patent related to the DETERx technology platform.

    “This newly issued patent expands our patent coverage for our lead product candidate, Xtampza ER, and the DETERx technology platform. We have a number of additional patent applications currently undergoing the patent prosecution process that, if issued, would continue to protect Xtampza ER, the DETERx technology platform, and additional product candidates in the U.S. and internationally,” said Michael Heffernan, Chairman and CEO of Collegium.

    Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved VANTRELATM ER (hydrocodone bitartrate) extended-release tablets [CII] formulated with Teva’s proprietary abuse deterrence technology. VANTRELA ER is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate. The product’s approval is supported by a clinical program that evaluated the safety and efficacy of VANTRELA ER, as well as its abuse potential in laboratory-based in vitro manipulation and extraction studies, pharmacokinetic studies, and clinical abuse potential (CAP) studies.

    “Teva understands the risk of prescription drug abuse is a challenge healthcare professionals face when treating millions of Americans affected by chronic pain,” said Rob Koremans, MD, President and CEO of Global Specialty Medicines at Teva. “Abuse-deterrent treatments provide options for prescribers that may help deter or mitigate abuse while still preserving access to pain medications for the patients that need them most.”

    Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) is teaming up with Victoria’s Voice Foundation to rally Americans to help save lives from the opioid epidemic on National Naloxone Awareness Day, which honors the late Victoria Siegel and others who have succumbed to overdose. As part of the effort, Victoria’s Voice has launched the “Shine. Wear. Share. Care” campaign to raise awareness and provide educational resources to individuals, organizations and businesses that includes a purple light bulb (Shine), a wearable promotional item (Wear), a QR code encouraging participation in the #sharenaloxone social media campaign (Share) and a box of NARCAN® Nasal Spray (Care) provided by Emergent.

    “It’s been 10 years since our Victoria lost her life to an accidental opioid overdose and we remain fiercely committed to honoring her memory and the memory of others who have succumbed to this same tragedy by fostering open dialogue about the dangers of opioids and precautionary safety measures, so other families don’t have to experience the same tragedy,” said Jackie Siegel, of Victoria’s Voice Foundation. “We’re pleased that Emergent is our sponsor for this year’s National Naloxone Awareness Day to further our shared mission of saving as many lives as possible through naloxone education and distribution.”

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

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    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local leaders welcome leading role for Leeds in delivering government’s Plan for Change

    Source: City of Leeds

    The Leader of Leeds City Council and the Mayor of West Yorkshire have welcomed government plans to bring together local communities, civil servants, and frontline workers in Leeds and the wider region to have a greater voice in shaping and testing national policy.

    As a part of the next phase of the Government’s plan to transform public services and deliver its ‘Plan for Change’, three key locations; Leeds, Sheffield, and Darlington, will use thematic campuses to focus on different government policy missions and solve major challenges facing communities.

    Working hand in hand with local mayoral combined authorities and public service providers, the Community Mission Challenge pilot programme aims to draw together civil servants and frontline workers with a cross section of expertise, skills, and experience from departments such as teaching and the NHS, to have a greater impact on shaping and testing new government policy locally. 

    Once proved successful, these solutions and ways of working can then be scaled up across other parts of the UK to accelerate delivery of the missions nationally. 

    The pilot programme follows a recent government announcement that will see thousands of civil servants located outside London, with the aim of bringing central government closer to the people it serves.

    Under the plans, Leeds will focus on the Government’s health mission, while Sheffield will focus on opportunity, and Darlington on growth. 

    Leeds already has a reputation for innovation in health and social care through its comprehensive Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Inclusive Growth Strategy, and its introduction of the Marmot city partnership. Coupled with a cutting-edge health technology and research sector, and its expansive voluntary and community organisations and anchor networks already working in close partnership with the local authority, the city has a wealth of experience in health innovation.

    The Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis, said: “We are delighted that Leeds civil servants will take a leading role in delivering the Government’s health mission. This aligns with our local health and wellbeing strategy, which aims to improve the health of the poorest fastest. 

    “Leeds is a growing, diverse and ambitious city with well-established neighbourhood networks run by the voluntary and community sector and large anchor organisations working in partnership with the local authority, and a wealth of frontline expertise which will really benefit this new initiative.  

    “As a city, we have a hard-won reputation for innovation, especially within the health and social care sector, so we are perfectly suited to focus on the health mission which has been entrusted to the city.

    “We look forward to playing a significant role in helping to shape national policy and to bringing central government closer to our community.”

    Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “This government understands that to achieve its missions and rebuild public services, it needs to listen to those who know their areas best.

    “Frontline workers and civil servants across the North of England stand ready to help the government understand the challenges and deliver the change that’s needed to grow our economy and put more money in people’s pockets.

    “Home to a thriving network of over 300 health tech companies, three innovative universities and the largest teaching hospital in Europe, it’s only fitting that Leeds will lead the way on transforming the NHS and the health of our communities across the UK.”

    Plans for the scheme will continue to be drawn up throughout the summer with the programme expected to start work in the autumn. A new secondment scheme between government and local authorities is also being developed with people in both central and local government able to participate. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Tokio Marine HCC Appoints Elizabeth Geary to Lead North America P&C Businesses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tokio Marine HCC (TMHCC), based in Houston, Texas, today announced the appointment of Elizabeth Geary to the newly created role of President & CEO of North America P&C. She will be responsible for the growth and leadership of TMHCC’s North America P&C business units. Ms. Geary assumes her new role on June 30, 2025, reporting to Susan Rivera, TMHCC’s CEO, and will be based in New York City.

    Ms. Geary brings more than two decades of underwriting and senior leadership experience to TMHCC. She joins from Liberty Mutual, where, as President of Insurance Solutions, she was responsible for the launch and development of a new organization, focused on proactively managing brokers’ and clients’ evolving risk needs with a focus on cyber, energy transition, and alternative risk solutions. Ms. Geary began her career at TransRe, gaining underwriting experience across the spectrum of specialty classes, starting with US Property and Healthcare, progressing to Global Head of Cyber, and ultimately serving in a dual role as Chief Underwriting Officer, North America, and President, Global Portfolio Management.

    This announcement is the latest in a series of key executive appointments at TMHCC, with Barry Cook promoted to the role of Deputy CEO in April 2025, as the business evolves and expands its leadership structure to maintain its growth momentum.

    Ms. Rivera said, “Appointing Liz to the new role of President & CEO of our North America P&C business units is a statement of intent for our business. Her talent and track record of underwriting acumen, product strategy, and leadership are exceptional. As TMHCC continues to expand and evolve, driven by our commitment to enhancing our offerings to reflect the needs of insureds in a rapidly changing risk environment, we will need to attract the leading talent in the market who share our specialized focus and approach. Liz is an example of this approach in action, and I look forward to working with her to successfully harness the opportunities present in this expansive sector of the insurance market.”

    Ms. Geary added, “Tokio Marine HCC’s North American business has become a market leader in its chosen sectors, and its specialty insurance reputation is second to none. TMHCC is known for its long-term commitment to markets, underwriting excellence, and top-notch financial strength. I am delighted to be joining Susan and her team and look forward to helping the business realize its profitable growth ambitions in North America while providing market-leading solutions for our brokers and insureds.”

    About Tokio Marine HCC
    Tokio Marine HCC is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, a premier global company founded in 1879 with a market capitalization of $74 billion as of March 31, 2025. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Tokio Marine HCC is a leading specialty insurance group with offices in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Tokio Marine HCC’s major domestic insurance companies have financial strength ratings of ‘A+’ (Strong) from S&P Global Ratings, ‘A++’ (Superior) from AM Best, and ‘AA-’ (Very Strong) from Fitch Ratings; its major international insurance companies have financial strength ratings of ‘A+’ (Strong) from S&P Global Ratings. Tokio Marine HCC is the marketing name used to describe the affiliated companies under the common ownership of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware-incorporated insurance holding company. For more information about Tokio Marine HCC, please visit www.tokiomarinehcc.com.

    Contact:
    Doug Busker, Vice President – Public Relations
    Tokio Marine HCC
    713-996-1192

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Tokio Marine HCC Appoints Elizabeth Geary to Lead North America P&C Businesses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tokio Marine HCC (TMHCC), based in Houston, Texas, today announced the appointment of Elizabeth Geary to the newly created role of President & CEO of North America P&C. She will be responsible for the growth and leadership of TMHCC’s North America P&C business units. Ms. Geary assumes her new role on June 30, 2025, reporting to Susan Rivera, TMHCC’s CEO, and will be based in New York City.

    Ms. Geary brings more than two decades of underwriting and senior leadership experience to TMHCC. She joins from Liberty Mutual, where, as President of Insurance Solutions, she was responsible for the launch and development of a new organization, focused on proactively managing brokers’ and clients’ evolving risk needs with a focus on cyber, energy transition, and alternative risk solutions. Ms. Geary began her career at TransRe, gaining underwriting experience across the spectrum of specialty classes, starting with US Property and Healthcare, progressing to Global Head of Cyber, and ultimately serving in a dual role as Chief Underwriting Officer, North America, and President, Global Portfolio Management.

    This announcement is the latest in a series of key executive appointments at TMHCC, with Barry Cook promoted to the role of Deputy CEO in April 2025, as the business evolves and expands its leadership structure to maintain its growth momentum.

    Ms. Rivera said, “Appointing Liz to the new role of President & CEO of our North America P&C business units is a statement of intent for our business. Her talent and track record of underwriting acumen, product strategy, and leadership are exceptional. As TMHCC continues to expand and evolve, driven by our commitment to enhancing our offerings to reflect the needs of insureds in a rapidly changing risk environment, we will need to attract the leading talent in the market who share our specialized focus and approach. Liz is an example of this approach in action, and I look forward to working with her to successfully harness the opportunities present in this expansive sector of the insurance market.”

    Ms. Geary added, “Tokio Marine HCC’s North American business has become a market leader in its chosen sectors, and its specialty insurance reputation is second to none. TMHCC is known for its long-term commitment to markets, underwriting excellence, and top-notch financial strength. I am delighted to be joining Susan and her team and look forward to helping the business realize its profitable growth ambitions in North America while providing market-leading solutions for our brokers and insureds.”

    About Tokio Marine HCC
    Tokio Marine HCC is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, a premier global company founded in 1879 with a market capitalization of $74 billion as of March 31, 2025. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Tokio Marine HCC is a leading specialty insurance group with offices in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Tokio Marine HCC’s major domestic insurance companies have financial strength ratings of ‘A+’ (Strong) from S&P Global Ratings, ‘A++’ (Superior) from AM Best, and ‘AA-’ (Very Strong) from Fitch Ratings; its major international insurance companies have financial strength ratings of ‘A+’ (Strong) from S&P Global Ratings. Tokio Marine HCC is the marketing name used to describe the affiliated companies under the common ownership of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware-incorporated insurance holding company. For more information about Tokio Marine HCC, please visit www.tokiomarinehcc.com.

    Contact:
    Doug Busker, Vice President – Public Relations
    Tokio Marine HCC
    713-996-1192

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Rate Insurance Awarded Platinum Level 2025 Bell Seal Award for Workplace Mental Health

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate Insurance, LLC, a subsidiary of Rate and one of the fastest-growing national personal lines and small commercial insurance brokers, has been awarded the Platinum Level 2025 Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health by Mental Health America (MHA).

    This certification recognizes Rate Insurance’s commitment to fostering a mentally healthy work environment through thoughtful, employee-driven change. The company earned this distinction by listening to employee feedback collected through company-wide surveys and acting on that input, restructuring its management approach, and introducing a dedicated role focused on improving workplace culture.

    “Earning the Bell Seal certification means a great deal to us,” said Jeff Wingate, President of Rate Insurance. “It reminds us that investing in mental health and support is essential to building a workplace where everyone can grow and feel valued. This recognition encourages us to keep strengthening our commitment to every individual’s well-being.”

    Rate Insurance joins a select group of organizations recognized in 2025 for prioritizing mental health. This year, 359 eligible employers across 21 industries and 40 states evaluated their policies and practices impacting employee mental health and well-being. The Bell Seal is MHA’s national employer certification program, awarded at bronze, silver, gold, and platinum levels.

    Learn more and view the full list of recipients here: https://mhanational.org/bell-seal-certification/bell-seal-recipients/

    About Rate Insurance
    Rate Insurance is a national insurance brokerage licensed in all 50 states that offers comprehensive personal, commercial, specialty, and life insurance products. Founded in 2008 and owned by Guaranteed Rate d/b/a Rate, operating as Guaranteed Rate, Inc. in New York, Rate Insurance has been recognized as a Top 50 Personal Lines Agency and a Top 100 Property & Casualty Agency in the U.S. Additionally, the company has been honored as the 2023 Agent for the Future, Outstanding Overall Agency Award winner.

    Rate Insurance has built a reputation for exceptional customer service, as demonstrated by its 4.9-star rating from over 3.5k Google-verified reviews. Combining a growing team of insurance agents and a cutting-edge digital platform, Rate Insurance leverages its relationships with over 100 top-rated insurance carriers to provide customers with competitive rates and a personalized shopping experience. For more information, visit rate.com/insurance.

    © Rate Insurance, LLC is licensed in all 50 states (d/b/a Rate Insurance Agency, LLC in California (License 0K09890), Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, New York, and Texas).

    Media Contact

    press@rate.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Wedbush Securities Expands Trading Leadership with the Hiring of Michael Bower and George Nikitiadis as Managing Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wedbush Securities, a prominent financial services firm, proudly announces that Michael Bower and George Nikitiadis have joined Wedbush as Managing Directors. This strategic expansion of the firm’s trading leadership underscores Wedbush’s ongoing commitment to growth, innovation and delivering world-class expertise to its institutional client base.

    Bower, a highly respected healthcare equity trader with nearly 20 years of front-line trading experience, joins from Wells Fargo Securities, where he most recently served as Head of US Healthcare Trading. Known for his exceptional client engagement, strategic risk management, and cross-desk collaboration, Bower has also held senior roles at RBC Capital Markets, BTIG and Banc of America Securities.

    “Wedbush’s long-standing reputation as a leader in healthcare makes this an exciting opportunity,” Bower said. “I look forward to working with the team, helping to expand the firm’s healthcare trading operations.”

    Nikitiadis brings over two decades of deep expertise in global program trading, market structure and equity strategy. As former Head of U.S. & International Program Trading at CIBC World Markets, he successfully launched groundbreaking platforms including CIBC’s first Guaranteed VWAP and ETF create/redeem strategies. With leadership experience at Mizuho Securities, Chardan Capital, and Lehman Brothers, Nikitiadis has built trading desks from the ground up, driven exponential revenue growth and expanded global market reach.

    “Joining Wedbush was the right move at the right time—a unique opportunity to combine the strength of an established platform with the flexibility to innovate and unlock new potential in program trading,” added Nikitiadis.

    “These appointments reflect Wedbush’s continued investment in top-tier talent to strengthen our institutional trading business,” said Burke Dempsey, EVP, Head of Investment Banking & Capital Markets. “Bringing on Michael and George reinforces our strategic commitment to growth, diversification, and delivering differentiated value to our clients in today’s evolving markets.”

    With these hires, Wedbush continues to scale its capabilities, deepen its sector coverage, and provide best-in-class service across trading platforms — a key part of its broader vision for accelerated growth and leadership in the financial services industry.

    About Wedbush Securities
    Wedbush Securities is the largest subsidiary of Wedbush Financial Services. Since its founding in 1955, Wedbush is widely known for providing our clients, both private and institutional, with a wide range of securities brokerage, clearing, wealth management, and investment banking services. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California with 100 registered offices and nearly 900 colleagues, the firm focuses on client service and financial safety, innovation, and the utilization of advanced technology. Securities and Investment Advisory services are offered through Wedbush Securities Inc. Member NYSE/ FINRA / SIPC 

    Media Inquiries:
    Serina Molano
    publicrelations@wedbush.com
    213-688-4564

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d8c99aee-b525-40d1-bf04-167247fd6c17

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aterian Expands Omnichannel Reach with Product Launches on Temu

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUMMIT, N.J., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aterian, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATER), a consumer products company, today announced the launch of select products from its flagship brands—including Squatty Potty, hOmeLabs, Healing Solutions, Mueller Living, and PurSteam—on Temu, a global e-commerce marketplace with a fast-growing U.S. customer base. Each of these products became available on Temu during the second quarter of 2025.

    Aterian is leveraging Temu’s platform to connect with a new wave of online shoppers. Temu links consumers with millions of global sellers and manufacturers, offering a wide range of quality merchandise at competitive prices through a discovery-driven shopping experience at temu.com.

    By introducing select products from its portfolio on Temu, Aterian continues to diversify its distribution channels and accelerate access to new customer segments. This launch enhances brand visibility while reinforcing Aterian’s commitment to meeting consumers where they shop— traditional retail, through direct-to-consumer storefronts, established e-commerce sites, or on the next wave of high-growth digital marketplaces.

    “Our goal is to build strong, household brands that meet customers wherever they shop. Launching on Temu is a strategic move that broadens our reach and, over time, will accelerate our omnichannel growth,” said Arturo Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer of Aterian. “Temu provides a valuable new channel to showcase our products and connect with millions of potential customers. While it’s still early, we’re optimistic about the opportunity to grow our presence on the platform in the years ahead.”

    The Temu launch adds to Aterian’s growing presence across e-commerce and retail, reinforcing its commitment to accessibility, value, and omnichannel growth.

    About Aterian, Inc.
    Aterian, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATER) a consumer products company that builds and acquires leading e-commerce brands across multiple categories, including home and kitchen appliances, health and wellness, and air quality devices. The Company sells across the world’s largest online marketplaces, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target as well as its own direct-to-consumer websites. Aterian’s brands include Mueller Living, PurSteam, hOmeLabs, Squatty Potty, Healing Solutions, and Photo Paper Direct. To learn more, visit www.aterian.io.

    Forward Looking Statements
    All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements including, in particular, our ability to expand our omni-channel presence and access new customers. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control and could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, those related to our ability to continue as a going concern, the effect of tariffs and other costs on our results, our ability to continue to operate following our reduction in workforce, our ability to meet financial covenants with our lenders, our ability to maintain and to grow market share in existing and new product categories; our ability to continue to profitably sell the SKUs we operate; our ability to maintain Amazon’s Prime badge on our seller accounts or reinstate the Prime badge in the event of any removal of such badge by Amazon; our ability to create operating leverage and efficiency when integrating companies that we acquire, including through the use of our team’s expertise, the economies of scale of our supply chain and automation driven by our platform; those related to our ability to grow internationally and through the launch of products under our brands and the acquisition of additional brands; those related to consumer demand, our cash flows, financial condition, forecasting and revenue growth rate; our supply chain including sourcing, manufacturing, warehousing and fulfillment; our ability to manage expenses, working capital and capital expenditures efficiently; our business model and our technology platform; our ability to disrupt the consumer products industry; our ability to generate profitability and stockholder value; international tariffs and trade measures; inventory management, product liability claims, recalls or other safety and regulatory concerns; reliance on third party online marketplaces; seasonal and quarterly variations in our revenue; acquisitions of other companies and technologies and our ability to integrate such companies and technologies with our business; our ability to continue to access debt and equity capital (including on terms advantageous to the Company) and the extent of our leverage; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), all of which you may obtain for free on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, even if subsequently made available by us on our website or otherwise. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

    Investor Contact:

    The Equity Group
    Devin Sullivan, Managing Director
    dsullivan@theequitygroup.com

    Conor Rodriguez, Associate
    crodriguez@theequitygroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rabies case confirmed following contact with animal abroad

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Rabies case confirmed following contact with animal abroad

    UKHSA is reminding travellers to be careful around animals when travelling to rabies affected countries.

    An individual from the UK has sadly died after becoming infected with rabies, following contact with a stray dog during a visit to Morocco. The individual was diagnosed in Yorkshire and the Humber.  

    There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case as there is no documented evidence of rabies passing between people. However, as a precautionary measure, health workers and close contacts are being assessed and offered vaccination when necessary. 

    Rabies is passed on through injuries such as bites and scratches from an infected animal. It is nearly always fatal, but post-exposure treatment is very effective at preventing disease if given promptly after exposure to the virus.  

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding travellers to be careful around animals when travelling to rabies affected countries due to the risk of catching the disease.

    Dr Katherine Russell, Head of Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, at UKHSA, said:  

    I would like to extend my condolences to this individual’s family at this time. 

    If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found then you should wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay in order to get post-exposure treatment to prevent rabies.

    There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case. Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK, and worldwide there are no documented instances of direct human-to-human transmission.

    Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. No human cases of rabies acquired in the UK from animals other than bats have been reported since 1902.  

    Between 2000 and 2024 there were 6 cases of human rabies associated with animal exposures abroad reported in the UK. 

    Rabies is common in other parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa. All travellers to rabies affected countries should avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever possible, and seek advice about the need for rabies vaccine prior to travel. 

    You should take immediate action to wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water, if:  

    • you’ve been bitten or scratched by an animal while you’re abroad in a country with rabies 

    • an animal has licked your eyes, nose or mouth, or licked a wound you have, while you’re abroad in a country with rabies 

    • you’ve been bitten or scratched by a bat in the UK

    Local medical advice should be sought without delay, even in those who have been previously vaccinated. 

    When given promptly after an exposure, a course of rabies post-exposure treatment is extremely effective at preventing the disease. If such an exposure occurs abroad, the traveller should also consult their doctor on return, so that the course of rabies treatment can be completed. If travellers have not sought medical advice abroad, they should contact their doctor promptly upon return for assessment. 

    For more information on the risk of rabies in different countries, see the country information pages on the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s (NaTHNaC’s) website, TravelHealthPro. 

    For more general information about rabies, see the NHS website or the UKHSA leaflet on rabies risks for travellers.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Paw-some film is calming young hospital patients

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Behind the scenes during filming of Merlin’s Big Adventure at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford

    Filmmakers from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) have created a heartwarming video to make visits to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford less daunting for young people.

    Starring a talented golden retriever named Merlin, plus a few of his canine friends, the short film aims to ease the anxiety of children ahead of their trip to hospital.

    Produced by Senior Lecturer Hans Petch and recent BA (Hons) Film and Television Production graduate James Hartley, the film features Merlin explaining each stage of their visit, from the hospital waiting room through to undergoing anaesthesia.

    The idea for the film came after Broomfield doctors saw first-hand the impact that Essex Therapy Dogs, including Merlin, were having when they visited patients at the hospital.

    “After witnessing the calming, positive effect of Essex Therapy Dogs in our anaesthetic department, we began to wonder if we could do even more to help ease the theatre journey for our younger patients.

    “With the brilliant support of Hans Petch and James Hartley from Anglia Ruskin University, we worked together to write a script and produce this video that shares essential information about what to expect in hospital, in a warm, engaging, and child-friendly way.

    “We’re now expanding the project to include additional resources, such as a social story and an easy-read storybook, offering different ways for children to connect with the material in whichever way suits them best.

    “Our hope is that this initiative will make a meaningful difference to the experience of young patients preparing for surgery at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.”

    Dr Simon Trundle, Consultant in Anaesthesia at Broomfield Hospital

    “We set out to make something truly enjoyable and entertaining for young viewers, while incorporating important, educational information. The link to our film is being sent to parents and carers ahead of hospital visits, and knowing that it’s helping to reduce the fears and anxiety of young children is incredibly rewarding.

    “I’ve worked with many actors in my career, and I can honestly say that directing Merlin was an absolute delight. Other than the need for regular breaks, he’s also one of the least demanding actors I’ve worked with!”

    Hans Petch, Senior Lecturer in Film and Television Production at ARU

    “Watching Merlin work his magic is truly inspiring. His wagging tail, unwavering patience, and kind heart create an environment where children and adults feel safe and supported before and after their procedures – both in real life and now on screen.”

    Merlin’s owner Mandy Johnson, from Essex Therapy Dogs

    Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Broomfield Hospital, plan to formally study the video’s impact by surveying children and parents, and ARU and the Trust are exploring the possibility of making additional films, this time using virtual reality technology.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The best nurse in the capital was named based on the results of the Moscow Masters competition

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On June 18, the final stage of the annual city competition of professional skills “Moscow Masters” in the direction of “Nurse” was completed in the capital. 24 specialists took part in the final tests, having successfully passed the test of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

    The award ceremony took place at Gostiny Dvor. The prizes — car keys — were presented to the three finalists by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    “I am pleased to sum up the results of the professional competition of Moscow masters in the nomination “Nursing” today. The nursing community of Moscow is multifaceted – 50 thousand nurses and male nurses work in the capital’s healthcare. Your profession is very important and necessary, and the requirements for it are growing from year to year. You accompany the patient, support him along the entire path to recovery – from the admissions department to discharge. This year the competition was very difficult. Both the number of participants and the number of tests increased. You had to go through interviews, tests, demonstrate your skills. All of today’s finalists are already winners. You have proven that you are sincerely devoted to your work, are professionals and are ready to do everything to make life easier for patients. Once again, I congratulate all the finalists! And I would like to move on to presenting awards to the three main winners. This year, the Mayor of Moscow decided that we will present our branded Moskvich cars as a reward. “And all the finalists will go on an internship to China,” Anastasia Rakova congratulated the winners.

    The best result in the tests was shown by Alena Sokolova from the V.M. Buyanov City Clinical Hospital. Second place was taken by Yulia Nagaytseva, a nurse of a general practitioner (family doctor) of City Polyclinic No. 66, and third place went to Elvira Uldanova, a district nurse. She works at Children’s City Polyclinic No. 38.

    The competition, which has been held in Moscow for the 28th year in a row, not only identifies the best specialists, but also reminds society of the importance of the profession, creating additional motivation for the further development of nursing in the capital.

    Before the final, the contestants went through several stages: initially, more than 700 nurses and brothers selected from medical organizations took part in the competition. After computer testing, 80 people remained, who then demonstrated their practical skills. In the final, they solved situational problems, for example, providing assistance in case of respiratory failure due to a foreign body getting into the respiratory tract or preparing a patient for an electrocardiogram.

    Based on the results of the tests, 24 finalists were determined – three participants in each of the eight nominations.

    The winners of the nominations competed in an interactive game, answering questions about nursing, the history of medicine, anatomy, pharmacology and other areas. In particular, about the discovery of methods for treating the most common diseases that had a significant impact on the development of medical science.

    The competition was organized by the Personnel Center of the capital Department of HealthThis year the event became the largest in 28 years of its holding.

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155426073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to a systematic review looking at the association between ocean microplastic pollution and cardiometabolic disease risk

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A systematic review published in the Journal for the American Heart Association looks at ocean microplastic pollution and the risk of cardiometabolic disease in US coastline counties. 

    Prof Oliver Jones, Professor of Chemistry, RMIT University, said:

    “I fear this paper will lead to more “plastics cause scary disease X” headlines, but, to my mind, the evidence in this paper is quite weak. 

    “Firstly, the authors don’t claim that microplastics cause disease, but rather that they found an association between microplastic exposure and type 2 diabetes (T2D), coronary artery disease (CAD), and stroke. An association between two things does not necessarily mean that one caused the other; it is simply an observation. There is also a large amount of overlap in the datasets, even between the very low and very high exposure scenarios, and the authors clearly state in the paper that their “results do not imply causation”.

    “Perhaps more importantly, the authors didn’t measure either microplastic exposure or the health factors they studied directly; both were estimates. Microplastic concentrations were estimated from ocean measurements, some of which were taken up to 230 miles offshore and thus may not accurately represent what coastal communities are exposed to. The rates of disease occurrence were estimated from county-level survey data, which does not provide data on individuals. Potential cofounders were limited to those listed in the survey data, meaning some potentially confounding factors could not be controlled for. 

    “The authors all appear to be medics, rather than chemists or environmental scientists. The paper makes a lot of incorrect generalisations about microplastics, for example, referring to “microplastic compounds like phthalates”. Phthalates are not microplastics, and not all phthalates are the same. They claim that bisphenol A and phthalates promote adverse health outcomes through their endocrine-disrupting properties, which is incorrect. The paper also refers to toxicity studies on polystyrene particles, neglecting the fact that polystyrene is far from the most common type of plastic in the environment.

    “So, while the work raises interesting research questions, I do not think the evidence of harm is strong, and people living near the coast don’t need to panic”

    Dr Ria Devereux, Environmental Research Fellow, the Sustainable Research Institute, the University of East London, said:

    Does the press release accurately reflect the science?

    “It is important to note that this research focuses solely on the United States, particularly its coastal counties, and specifically examines marine microplastics. It does not consider other types of microplastics, such as those found in marine sediment, beach sediment, atmospheric microplastics, or microplastics in soil. The title, “Living near an ocean polluted by microplastics may increase cardiometabolic disease risk,” could give the incorrect impression that these findings apply globally, which is not justified by this data.

    “Both sizes of plastic particles come from the chemical breakdown (decomposition) of larger plastic waste, including food packaging (like single-use water bottles), synthetic fabrics and personal care products.” This statement is also slightly incorrect. Microplastics can also be found in the form primary microplastics (nurdles) which are made to be a particular size and are not the result of degradation. Plastics are also subjected to mechanical, biological degradation as well as chemical.

    Is this good quality research?  Are the conclusions backed up by solid data?

    “It is very interesting research which does need further research to investigate some of the limitations of the study conducted. One major limitation that is not addressed is that microplastics contain chemicals which have been found to be harmful to human health. There is no mention in this study regarding data on water quality. For example, is there a higher abundance of chemicals found within plastics in the water surrounding these coastal communities which may be a contributing factor.

    How does this work fit with the existing evidence?

    “The production of plastic and its associated pollution are increasingly recognized for their potential implications on human health. Research conducted on wildlife has demonstrated severe consequences, including choking hazards and hormonal disruptions.

    “Recent studies have identified plastics in various human tissues, including the placenta [1],breastmilk [2] and stool [3].

    “In addition to the presence of microplastics in the human body, chemicals commonly used in plastic production have been found to pose health risks. Research indicates that exposure to these chemicals can lead to various health issues, including skin irritation, respiratory diseases, hormonal disruptions, and certain cancers [4].

    Have the authors accounted for confounders?  Are there important limitations to be aware of?

    “The dataset from NOAA presents several limitations. It does not account for when the samples were collected—such as during storms—or the duration of the sampling periods. Additionally, there may be a lack of studies in many coastal counties. For instance, most samples from the Gulf of Mexico are concentrated around Tampa and the southern region of Florida, with only two data points near New Orleans. While the authors briefly mention this issue in relation to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, they do not address it for the Gulf of Mexico. They note that “study design, spatial coverage, and oceanic transport dynamics” may contribute to differences observed in previous studies.

    “The authors also acknowledge that the absence of data on the types of microplastics—such as fragments and fibers—constitutes a limitation. However, this statement should also include the lack of information regarding polymer types and plastic sizes.

    “Additionally, it would be relevant to consider how many people in these coastal areas consume seafood and whether it is locally sourced or imported.

    “As for the timeframe investigated, How long must someone live near the coast for it potentially to impact their health?

    “Regarding groundwater, the authors mention that only “35% of drinking water in the United States is supplied by groundwater.” Is the proportion of coastal residents who drink groundwater higher than that of individuals living in other parts of America?

    “Perhaps the most critical issue that the authors have not fully addressed is that almost all plastic production plants in the United States, which are involved in petrochemical and petroleum manufacturing, are located either in coastal counties along the Gulf of Mexico or on the Atlantic Ocean side (according to the Plastics Inventory Map [5]). This study indicates that cases of heart disease and similar health issues are higher in these areas. Many chemicals used in plastic production, such as BPA and phthalates, have been previously linked to these health problems [6]

    What are the implications in the real world?  Is there any over-speculation?   

    “This study highlights the need for further investigation into the health impacts of plastics on human well-being throughout their entire lifecycle. While this research primarily focuses on marine microplastics, it is essential to recognize that microplastics are also present in soil, air, and water. Additionally, it is important to understand that the risks associated with plastic do not stop at ingestion or inhalation, the entire lifecycle of plastic poses threats to public health. This includes hazards linked to petroleum extraction, the use of chemicals in production, and the leaching of these substances into our environment during manufacturing and disposal.

    “It is important to note that this study cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship between ocean microplastic levels (which were assessed only in water, not in sediment or fish) and the development of certain diseases due to its limitations in data and design. Further research is needed to determine whether microplastics and associated chemicals are present in higher concentrations near coastlines in soil, water, and air, as well as within the human body, to fully evaluate the potential health implications of living closer to the coast. Additionally, this study should be expanded to explore whether this trend is observed worldwide.

    “Unfortunately, many individuals around the globe view plastic pollution solely as an environmental issue, overlooking its potential implications for human health. Studies like this one play a crucial role in raising awareness of these risks.

    Extra commentary from Dr Ria Devereux on wider context

    “The adverse effects of chemicals used in plastic production are particularly pronounced in the Gulf of Mexico, an area often referred to as “Cancer Alley.” This region experiences a higher-than-average incidence of cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases, which are concentrated in particular areas. The reason behind this is the concentration of petrochemical, petroleum and production plants involved in plastic production and an increase in the presence of chemicals used within the plastic production such as BPA and Phthalates [7,8]. 

    “Although the Plastics Treaty acknowledges that human health is a critical factor in regulating plastic production and the associated chemicals, reports indicate that “chemicals of concern in plastic products” are at threat of being excluded from the current treaty text [9,10,11].

    “In regards to America, we may find in the future that this types of disparity in human health and microplastics become worse due to Trumps “America first” narrative on top of increasing tariffs which will cause an increase in the plastics industry to align with the needs of the consumer and manufacturers. On top of this Trump has bought plastic straws back to America [12] and has started to dismantle key government institutions such as NOAA ( The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)[13]  and the Environmental Protection Agency [14] which will push back Americas efforts to reduce plastic waste.”

    1 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412020322297

    2 – https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/13/2700

    3 – https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/abs/10.7326/M19-0618

    4 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935124004390 

    5 – https://eipmaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=ebb37bd4fefb481db69c500b3f1f69e7

    6 – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8335843/

    7 – https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/17/st-james-parish-formosa-complex-biden-cancer-alley 

    8 – https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1440&context=elj

    9 – https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf5410 

    10 – https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1157326 

    11 – https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250610-nations-call-for-strong-plastics-treaty-as-difficult-talks-loom 

    12  – https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-ends-the-procurement-and-forced-use-of-paper-straws/

    13 – https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/11/climate-website-shut-down-noaa 

    ‘Marine Microplastic Levels and the Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Diseases in US Coastline Counties’ by Makwana et al. will be published in Journal for the American Heart Association at 10:00UK time on Wednesday 18th June.

    DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.124.039891

    Declared interests

    Dr Ria Devereux None

    Prof Oliver Jones “I am a Professor of Chemistry at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. I conduct research into environmental pollution and its effects on biological systems. I don’t have any conflicts of interest to declare.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Statement by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi on the Occasion of the International Conference on Nuclear Security 2024

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    When we met the last time, at ICONS 2020, many of us could not have imagined the momentous change we would experience between then and today, change that would affect billions of people, international peace and security, and nuclear security. A global pandemic was in the making and a war – in Ukraine – for first time soon would be fought among the facilities of one of Europe’s biggest nuclear power programmes.

    Meanwhile, profound technological advances have been made. Assessing their impact on nuclear security is a crucial task. Artificial Intelligence, and unmanned vehicles pose both a threat to nuclear security and offer new tools with which to enhance it. In the nuclear field itself, Small Modular Reactors promise new opportunities for applications such as desalination and power brought to remote communities via barge, but also require us to consider new security elements.

    The use of nuclear science and technology, often facilitated by the IAEA, has come on in leaps and bounds. Climate change and the drive for energy security are fuelling a desire for nuclear power. At this past Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP28, world leaders – those whose states use nuclear power and those whose do not – for the first time in nearly 30 years of COP meetings agreed nuclear power must be part of the transition to net zero. More than 20 countries have signed a pledge towards tripling nuclear power capacity and at the IAEA’s Nuclear Energy Summit in March heads of state agreed on the urgent need for conducive financial conditions. 

    Nuclear security is relevant throughout all the steps of the nuclear fuel cycle and is part of the social contract that underpins the existence and growth of nuclear power. Nuclear power programmes require national nuclear security threat assessments and “security by design”. Nurturing relevant research and a strong security culture are key, not only in countries with NPPs.

    The use of life-saving and life-affirming applications of nuclear science and technology is growing, from cancer patients gaining access to radiotherapy to farmers benefiting from new crop varieties developed with the help of irradiation. IAEA initiative such as Rays of Hope: Cancer care for all; Nutec Plastics; Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC); and Atoms4Food are key vehicles facilitating wider access.

    All these opportunities to use nuclear and radioactive material depend on a strong and adaptive global nuclear security regime. For countries new to using nuclear and radioactive material, this means building up legal infrastructure, practices and culture that bolster nuclear security.  Nationally and across borders, collaboration and laser-focused vigilance are key to preventing groups with malicious intent from using nuclear and radioactive material to cause panic and harm.

    The threats to nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities are real and varied. The international nuclear security threat landscape keeps evolving. Today, anyone can type a few words into a computer and generative AI can create images of nuclear Armageddon, meaning it is now possible to spread panic about radiation fallout without a nuclear device. Risk scenarios include theft of nuclear and other radioactive material for use in improvised devices and sabotage at nuclear installations or during transport of nuclear and radioactive material. The risk of cyber-attacks requires the implementation of computer security programmes by those who use nuclear power and those who don’t. Risks come from outsiders and from those within the fold who are disgruntled or have been corrupted.

    Nuclear security is the national responsibility of individual states, but it also benefits enormously from close collaboration and the enabling role of the IAEA.  ICONS, which started in 2013, has been the place for ministers, policymakers, senior officials, and experts to gather to assesses current priorities, prepare for new challenges, and engage in scenario-based policy discussions. ICONS 2024, presided over by the co-presidents, HE Tim Watts, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia and HE Sungat Yessimkhanov, Vice-Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, covers the themes of policy, law and regulation; technology and infrastructure for prevention, detection and response; capacity building; and cross-cutting areas, such as the interface between nuclear security and nuclear safety. ICONS is the most important high-level international meeting on nuclear security. At this time of heightened tensions, it is imperative that there remains a unity of purpose and that nuclear security does not become a political football.

    This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security. The IAEA is at the forefront of adapting nuclear security to new challenges, including war. The seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security have broad international support. They have brought crucial clarity at a time of war and are testament to the adaptiveness of the IAEA and the security regime.

    Those seven pillars are backed up by an enormous ongoing effort by the IAEA to support Ukraine, including through the continuous presence of IAEA experts at all of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, including Zaporizhzhya NPP on the front lines of the war. When there were allegations of nuclear security breaches, the IAEA was there to investigate with impartiality and science. We set the facts straight that no nuclear material had been diverted, cutting through the fog of war, and diffusing a tense situation.   

    Not all our efforts require quite as much courage as our experts have shown in Ukraine, nor do they make international headlines. But every day, the IAEA – the Secretariat and the Member States – work together fastidiously to underpin nuclear security, never resting, always learning.

    Radioactive sources are extensively used in many domains, including medicine, industry, agriculture and research. An incident in one State can have far-reaching consequences for others, so security for one is security for all. That means supporting States with no, or less developed nuclear security infrastructure makes everyone safer. That support, which often comes via the IAEA, includes making lawmakers aware of their responsibilities.

    Nuclear Security requires the implementation of appropriate and robust legislative regulatory frameworks. In 2022, the first Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) was held under the auspices of the IAEA. Reflecting the global importance of the legal framework and of nuclear security, parties managed to agree an outcome document and for the IAEA convene a subsequent conference. Since 2020, 14 new parties have joined the A/CPPNM bringing the total to 136. Five new Parties joined the CPPNM, bringing that total to 164. In addition to the A/CPPNM, political commitment to legally non-binding instruments, like the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and its supplementary guidance, is a strong indication of radiation safety and nuclear security culture.

    But legal frameworks are just the beginning. They must be implemented. The IAEA plays a central role in assisting its Members States so they are able to do that. Last year we inaugurated the most visible symbol of our collaboration: the Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre (NSTDC). This first-of-its-kind space, made possible by 15 donors, is a cornerstone for capacity building amid the growing need for sophisticated hands-on nuclear security training using advanced, specialized equipment. The NSTDC is part of a wide range of services offered by the IAEA, including peer reviews, such as the International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS), of which there have now been more than 100, and Advisory Missions on Regulatory Infrastructure for Radiation Safety and Nuclear Security (RISS), a service we launched in 2022. Our Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB) now has 145 members and has enabled the reporting of more than 600 incidents in which nuclear or radioactive material went out of regulatory control.  Almost 8,000 people have benefited from our training in nuclear security, and we continue to work very hard to remove barriers that prevent talent from entering the field.  In March 2021, we launched the Women in Nuclear Security Initiative (WINSI) to support the achievement of gender equality in nuclear security. Meanwhile, the IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship Programme financially supports women pursuing a master’s degree in nuclear subjects and offers them internships, while our Lise Meitner offers women in the early and middle part of their career enriching opportunities within the field.   

    As the use of nuclear and other radioactive material around the world increases, more and more States are needing to increase their level of nuclear security. Nuclear security is as important as nuclear safety – we must put it on equal footing in terms of reliability of funding and the robustness of implementation.

    At ICONS 2024 we are – as the name of the conference indicates – “shaping the future”, not only of nuclear security, but of the world our children will inherit. That is because nuclear security is about more than preventing nuclear terrorism. It is an enabler to providing, through nuclear science and technology, the clean energy; cutting-edge medicine; nutritious food and hope for a better tomorrow.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Director General in Syria to Strengthen Cooperation in Safeguards, Cancer Care and Food Security

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    Each year, more than 1400 women in Syria are diagnosed with gynaecological cancer. For many, access to a specialized form of internal radiotherapy called brachytherapy could significantly improve their chances of survival.

    To help these women receive the treatment they need, the IAEA, through its Rays of Hope Initiative, is working with local medical teams to build Syria’s first fully equipped brachytherapy suite at Al-Biruni Hospital in Damascus. This life-saving facility is being made possible with the financial support of the government of Italy.

    “We are supporting the reconstruction of Syria’s radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and radiology services,” said Mr Grossi. “We’re providing equipment like CT scanners, brachytherapy machines for women’s cancers, and other tools not currently available in the country, and we will train personnel on the ground to use them.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Director General Briefs Board on Iran Developments, Syria, Ukraine and More

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    The IAEA’s Annual Report and the Technical Cooperation Report for 2024 were presented to the Board, showcasing the Agency’s work in science, international cooperation and innovation. 

    In his address, Mr Grossi highlighted the IAEA’s flagship initiatives: Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All, Atoms4Food and NUTEC Plastics.

    The 2025 Rays of Hope Forum will be held in Ethiopia at the end of June and provides an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved over the past three years, as well as to foster collaboration and further mobilize resources. Rays of Hope aims to expand access to affordable cancer care where it is needed most; supporting countries in providing life-saving radiotherapy and building the capacities of radiation medicine professionals. More than 90 countries have requested support under the initiative.

    The IAEA will continue to work with partners on Atoms4Food, its joint initiative with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to fight world hunger, Mr Grossi said. Part of the initiative, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture supports the use of nuclear technologies to boost global food security and sustainable agricultural development.

    Speaking about NUTEC Plastics, the IAEA initiative to combat plastic pollution, Mr Grossi said: “At this week’s UN Ocean Conference, we are showing what we are doing in very concrete terms to fight plastic pollution through new technology.”

    The IAEA is harnessing the power of nuclear technologies involving radiation to improve recycling and create bio-based plastics, which offer a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastic products.

    With support from the NUTEC Plastics initiative, 104 Member States now use nuclear technologies to monitor microplastics, while 52 are collaborating with the IAEA on upcycling efforts.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: IAEA Ministerial Conference to Spotlight Nuclear Science, Technology and Technical Cooperation Programme to Address Global Challenges

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    Ministers and senior officials of governments and international organizations will convene at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) next week to discuss the role of nuclear science and technology in tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme will take place in Vienna, Austria, from 26 to 28 November 2024.

    IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will open the conference on Tuesday, 26 November, at 09:30 CET, alongside Co-chair of the Conference Kai Mykkänen, Minister of Climate and the Environment, Finland; Co-chair of the Conference Kwaku Afriyie, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana; Dongyu Qu, Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Ailan Li, Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage/Healthier Populations, World Health Organization (WHO); Shaimaa Al-Sheiby, Vice President for Public Sector and Strategy, the OPEC Fund for International Development; Demetrios Papathanasiou, Global Director, Energy and Extractives Global Practice, the World Bank; and Tom McCulley, Chief Executive Officer, Anglo American Crop Nutrients. This is the second Ministerial Conference of its kind.

    A ministerial declaration is expected to be adopted on 26 November, recognizing the role of nuclear science and technology and the Technical Cooperation Programme in addressing global challenges, advancing the 2030 Agenda and fostering international collaboration for peaceful purposes, with a focus on capacity building and equitable access for all Member States.

    The conference will take place in Boardroom B/M1, M Building, Vienna International Centre (VIC). The conference, including the ministerial segments, technical sessions and panels, is open to media and will be livestreamed. The provisional programme is available here.

    Nuclear applications are an integral part of the technological solution to address development challenges the world is facing today, including climate change, health, food safety and security, and water resource management. Since the first Ministerial Conference in 2018, the IAEA launched the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC), NUclear TEChnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics), Rays of Hope, Atoms4NetZero and, together with the FAO, the Atoms4Food initiative. Through these initiatives, the IAEA can support its Member States and mobilize resources to realize the full potential of nuclear solutions towards global goals.

    Among 1400 participants, more than 50 high-level officials, including ministers, are expected to deliver national statements. The scientific and technical programme comprises panel discussions among ministers, scientists and experts on the latest developments in nuclear science, technology and applications. Member State’s representatives will also share experiences on how the IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme has contributed to their national development.

    Accreditation

    All journalists interested in covering the meeting in person – including those with permanent accreditation – are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans. Journalists without permanent accreditation must send copies of their passport and press ID to the IAEA Press Office by 14:00 CET on Monday, 25 November. 

    We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation to request it at UNIS Vienna. 

    Please plan your arrival to allow sufficient time to pass through the VIC security check. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Report presentation Medicines Supply Security for Poland’s/Europe’s Military Security – Committee on Public Health

    Source: European Parliament

    Security © European Union

    On the 26th of June, Monika Raulinajtys-Grzybek, Ph.D., Professor at SGH (Warsaw School of Economics) will present the report by SGH and the Polish Ministry of National Defence ‘Medicines Supply Security for Poland’s and Europe’s Military Security’.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Report presentation Medicines Supply Security for Poland’s/Europe’s Military Security – Committee on Public Health

    Source: European Parliament

    Security © European Union

    On the 26th of June, Monika Raulinajtys-Grzybek, Ph.D., Professor at SGH (Warsaw School of Economics) will present the report by SGH and the Polish Ministry of National Defence ‘Medicines Supply Security for Poland’s and Europe’s Military Security’.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Presentation of HIV/AIDS Policy Report: The EU’s role in ending HIV/AIDS in Ukraine – Committee on Public Health

    Source: European Parliament

    AIDS/HIV

    On the 25th of June, Dr Andriy Klepikov, the Executive Director of the International Charitable Foundation “Alliance for Public Health”, a Ukraine based organisation, developing work on the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis and other socially dangerous diseases in Ukraine, will present the report on The EU’s role in ending HIV/AIDS in Ukraine and its key policy recommendations.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Presentation of the proposal on the Critical Medicines Act – Committee on Public Health

    Source: European Parliament

    Medicinal products © Adobe Stock

    On the 26th of June, Sandra Gallina, Director-General of DG SANTE, European Commission, will present the proposal on the Critical Medicines Act by the Commission. This proposal contributes to the European health union’s goal of ensuring that all EU patients have access to the medicines they need, wherever they are and whenever they need them. It was a commitment that this proposal would be delivered within the first 100 days of the new Commission.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Assessment of the cancer risk from pesticide exposure – E-002283/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002283/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew)

    The Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) recently informed the Dutch agriculture minister that the cancer risk has been incorrectly assessed for years in the pesticide authorisation process, including for glyphosate. Instead of a one-sided test specifically aimed at determining cancer risks, a less accurate two-sided test has been the norm.

    • 1.Can the Commission urge the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as soon as possible to tighten the guidelines for assessing cancer risks in the pesticide authorisation process, and to make the more accurate one-sided test the norm?
    • 2.The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) states that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic, while EFSA’s risk assessment states that exposure to glyphosate is ‘unlikely’ to lead to cancer in humans. To what extent was the EFSA assessment based on the less accurate two-sided test?
    • 3.Is the Commission willing to encourage EFSA and the authorisation authorities in the Member States to have pesticides that have been approved in the past based on the two-sided test re-evaluated using the more accurate one-sided method, which also takes stacking effects and cocktail effects into account?

    Submitted: 5.6.2025

    Last updated: 18 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ14: Family-friendly facilities in public and private premises

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by Dr the Hon Ngan Man-yu and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (June 18):

    Question:

    It is learnt that the research team of the Equal Opportunities Commission has conducted an access audit of babycare and lactation (B&L) facilities in shopping malls and government premises in Hong Kong, with the findings revealing that some shopping malls and government premises has not yet provided B&L rooms, and some existing babycare areas do not comply with the suggested size set out in the Buildings Department’s Practice Note on “Provision of Babycare Rooms and Lactation Rooms in Commercial Buildings” (Practice Note). As regards family-friendly facilities in public and private premises, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it knows the number, distribution and floor area ratio of B&L facilities in public and private premises, and the proportion of such facilities that complies with the suggested size in the Practice Note, together with a breakdown of such figures by the 18 districts across the territory;

    (2) whether it has already commenced a study on measures to promote the provision of B&L facilities in public premises, including introducing mandatory requirements for newly-built public facilities (e.g. libraries, parks, beaches, sports venues) to provide B&L facilities, and motivating existing public facilities to renovate and retrofit B&L facilities as appropriate; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

    (3) whether, in addition to providing floor area ratio concessions, it has considered implementing policy incentives to encourage private premises to provide B&L facilities and family-friendly parking spaces, as well as using administrative measures or legislation to promote the development of such facilities in the long term; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,

    International literature and researches showed that breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. Breastmilk is safe, clean and contains antibodies which can help prevent many common childhood illnesses. Breastfed children perform better in intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and are less prone to have diabetes later in life.

    The Government has all along been promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding through a multi-pronged approach. The Government has set up a Committee on Promotion of Breastfeeding in 2014. Members include representatives from relevant professional healthcare bodies, academia as well as representatives of the organisations that have participated in the promotion of breastfeeding. The Committee provides specific recommendations on strategies and action plans to strengthen the promotion, protection and support for breastfeeding. Its objectives are to enhance the sustainability of breastfeeding and promote breastfeeding as the norm for babycare widely accepted by the general public. In addition to fostering the establishment of Breastfeeding Friendly Premises in public places such that breastfeeding mothers can breastfeed their children or express milk anytime, the Government also implements the Baby-Friendly Health Facility accreditation in the Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) and public hospitals to enhance the professional support to breastfeeding mothers after discharge from hospitals. At present, a total of 15 MCHCs have been accredited as Baby-Friendly Health Facilities. Besides, all eight public hospitals with obstetrics departments and one private hospital were accredited as Baby-Friendly Hospitals.

    In consultation with the Department of Health (DH), the Hospital Authority (HA), as well as relevant policy bureaux and government departments, the consolidated reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Ngan Man-yu is as follows:

    (1) According to the DH’s record, as at June 15, 2025, there were a total of 422 babycare rooms in the premises of government departments or public organisations (a breakdown of the numbers are at Annexes 1 and 2), which include various types of venues, such as hospitals, MCHCs, cultural and recreational facilities, community halls and shopping centres of housing estates.

    To promote the provision of babycare rooms in private commercial buildings, the Buildings Department (BD) issued the Practice Note on the Provision of Babycare Rooms in Commercial Buildings in February 2009 and had made further updates in November 2018 to encourage the provision of babycare rooms for the public and lactation rooms for staff in private commercial buildings. In June 2024, the BD updated the requirements for Building Environmental Assessment Method Plus certification and gross floor area (GFA) concessions to allow development projects seeking certification to secure the points and GFA concession through the provision of babycare rooms and breastfeeding rooms.

    (2) and (3) The Government has been actively promoting the provision of more babycare and breastfeeding facilities in both public and private premises through various policy measures.

    The Government developed the Advisory Guidelines on Babycare Facilities in August 2008 to encourage the provision of babycare rooms in public venues managed by the Government. To enhance the provision of babycare and breastfeeding facilities, the Government mandated the provision of babycare and breastfeeding facilities in the newly completed government premises since early 2019. Regarding the public facilities mentioned in part 2 of the question, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has included babycare rooms as a standard provision in accordance with relevant requirements, and will provide babycare facilities in planning for new major cultural and recreational facilities, as well as venue renovation works.

    Additionally, since 2017, the Government has included requirements for the provision of babycare rooms and/or lactation rooms in the Conditions of Sale of new commercial land sale sites (excluding land designated for hotel use only). The Conditions of Sale specify detailed requirements, including the area and number of babycare rooms and/or lactation rooms that shall be provided in these commercial development projects. As at the end of May 2025, the Government incorporated these requirements in the Conditions of Sale of eight new commercial sites.

    Meanwhile, the Government will continue to work closely with various sectors of the society to strengthen the professional support for breastfeeding mothers in the healthcare sector while stepping up publicity on breastfeeding in the community through various channels, with a view to fostering a proactive culture of support for breastfeeding in the community and creating a friendly environment conducive to breastfeeding. Key initiatives include –

    (i) among the 29 MCHCs currently providing services under the DH, 15 of them have been accredited as Baby-Friendly Health Facilities. Accreditation procedures have also commenced gradually for the remaining MCHCs. The MCHCs will formulate infant feeding policies and action plans, provide training for staff members, continue monitoring the implementation of breastfeeding support measures, etc. The DH will continue to expedite the accreditation of Baby-Friendly Health Facilities for MCHCs to strengthen the professional support offered by the healthcare institutions and staff members to breastfeeding mothers;

    (ii) continuing to follow up on the relevant work with the working group under the Committee on Promotion of Breastfeeding to enhance and reinforce the breastfeeding-friendly measures at hospitals with obstetrics departments (including public and private hospitals);

    (iii) encouraging the implementation of the Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace policy with guidelines issued for employers and employees with specific advice on supporting breastfeeding to support working mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work; and

    (iv) stepping up publicity and advocacy for breastfeeding through mass media, social media platforms, large-scale events, etc. Among others, the DH, in collaboration with the HA, the Hong Kong Private Hospitals Association, the Hong Kong Committee for United Nations Children’s Fund, and the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association, organised the large-scale Breastfeeding Symposium in November 2024, which brought together local and overseas experts to share with representatives of the public and private healthcare sectors, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders the various issues related to breastfeeding, including policies and professional support.

    To further support breastfeeding, the Government put forward in the Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address the establishment of a breast milk bank and the related mechanism for breast milk donation in 2025. Such arrangement aims to provide breast milk for infants and young children who cannot be breastfed by their biological mothers, and especially, to minimise the chance of severe illness in premature and severely-ill babies. The Hong Kong Breast Milk Bank, located at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, commenced operations on January 6, 2025, obtained ISO 22000 certification in April of the same year, and began supplying pasturised donor breast milk to all nine public hospitals in Hong Kong with neonatal intensive care units in March 2025. Currently, there are more than 230 registered breast milk donors. Over 900 litres of breast milk have been collected, providing optimal nutrition for extremely premature and severely-ill newborn babies. Meanwhile, neonatal intensive care units in public hospitals have already distributed pasturised donor breast milk to 120 infants with clinical needs.

    Meanwhile, having consulted the relevant policy bureaux and government departments, the Government currently does not have any relevant definitions and measures on the use of parking spaces as family-friendly facilities.

    Ends/Wednesday, June 18, 2025
    Issued at HKT 17:20

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: IAEA Director General’s Introductory Statement to the Board of Governors

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    (As prepared for delivery)

    As the armed conflict in Ukraine enters its fourth year, the nuclear safety and security situation throughout the country continues to be highly precarious. The presence of the IAEA at all Ukrainian nuclear facilities has been and continues to be an invaluable asset to the international community and must be preserved.

    The IAEA remains present at Ukraine’s nuclear power plant facilities. Difficult conditions have in the past month complicated and delayed one rotation of experts, which was safely completed in recent days. Back in December, a drone hit and severely damaged an IAEA official vehicle during a rotation. As I reported to you in the special Board meeting shortly afterward, staff survived this unacceptable attack unharmed, but the rear of the vehicle was destroyed. Other episodes followed, confirming the dangerous situation.

    Around Ukraine, the Khmelnitsky NPP, the Rivne NPP and the South Ukraine NPP, continue to operate amid serious challenges, including on the electricity infrastructure, a major risk to the reliable and stable supply of power crucial for the safe operation of NPPs. The electrical grid’s ability to provide a reliable off-site power supply to Ukrainian NPPs was further reduced by damage sustained following military attacks in November and December 2024, a mission of IAEA experts that visited and assessed seven critical electrical substations concluded late last year. Considering the seriousness of the situation, I visited the Kyivska electrical substation last month to observe the damage sustained first hand. On what was my 11th visit to Ukraine since the start of the war, I also met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reiterating the IAEA’s commitment to supporting nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and our readiness to support the country’s plans to expand nuclear power at Khmelnytskyy NPP. Consultations with Moscow have also taken place and will continue, in the interest of nuclear safety and security at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.

    At Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), where the 6 reactor units are in cold shutdown, the status of the off-site power supply remains extremely vulnerable. For about one week ZNPP had to rely on a single off-site power line following the loss of its only remaining back-up line, confirming the extremely fragile situation. 

    Last month at the Chornobyl site a drone caused significant damage to the structure built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor damaged in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards. Although this attack did not result in any radioactive release, it nevertheless underlines the persistent risk to nuclear safety during this military conflict.

    Since the Board gathered for its last regular meeting in November 2024, the Agency has arranged 31 deliveries of nuclear safety, security and medical equipment and supplies to Ukraine, bringing the total so far to 108 deliveries valued at more than EUR 15.6 million. The Agency also has initiated the first phase of its support on safety and security of radioactive sources in Ukraine.

    We are grateful to all 30 donor states and the European Union for their extrabudgetary contributions, and I encourage those who can, to support the delivery of the comprehensive assistance programme, for which EUR 22 million are necessary.

    As reflected in my latest report to the Board on Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine, I would like to reiterate that all the IAEA’s activities in Ukraine are being conducted in line with relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and of the IAEA policy-making organs.

    Madame Chairperson,

    In February, I travelled to Fukushima to participate in collecting water samples off the coast of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. I did this together with scientists from China, Korea and Switzerland as part of additional measures to promote transparency and build trust in the region during the ongoing release of ALPS-treated water from the plant. Additional measures focus on expanding international participation and transparency, allowing hands-on independent measurements of the concentration level of the water. This work is conducted within agreed parameters set by the IAEA in its role as an independent, impartial and technical organization.  IAEA officials and experts from laboratories from China, France, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland also sampled ALPS -treated water – prior to dilution – from measurement/confirmation tanks on the premises at the site. The IAEA has maintained its independent monitoring and analysis efforts, confirming that tritium concentrations in the discharged batches remain far below operational limits.

    In December 2024, an IAEA Task Force concluded that the approach TEPCO, and the Government of Japan are taking continues to align with international safety standards.

    While in Japan, I also visited facilities where soil removed after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident is safely stored, managed, and recycled, an effort the IAEA has been supporting by working to ensure it meets international safety standards.

    You have before you the Nuclear Safety Review 2025 and the Nuclear Security Review 2025. Both documents present, in their respective areas, an analytical overview, the global trends, and the Agency’s main activities in 2024. They also identify the top priorities for the years ahead.

    This month the inaugural meeting of the Nuclear Security Working Group established under the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative’s Regulatory Track will identify nuclear security topics of common interest amongst participating States and share regulatory approaches, good practices and lessons learned in ensuring the security of SMRs.

    Our preparatory work in advance of the launch of Atomic Technology Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) later this year is progressing. ATLAS will provide a framework to enable the peaceful maritime uses of nuclear technology, a prospect that is generating significant interest.

    Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (Joint Convention) later this month will participate in the 8th Review Meeting to study National Reports with the aim of improving safety in radioactive waste and spent fuel management.

    December saw the start of a new project supporting the establishment of sustainable regulatory infrastructure for radiation safety and the security of radioactive material in Central East Asia and the Pacific Islands.

    In June, Romania will host ConvEx-3, the IAEA’s highest level and most complex emergency exercise. In the event of an incident with transboundary implications, Member States will be called upon to implement a harmonized response and therefore this exercise will have a particular focus on regional collaboration.

    The International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response will be held in December in Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Madame Chairperson,

    Today, 417 nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries make up almost 377 gigawatts of installed capacity, providing just under 10 per cent of the world’s total electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon supply.

    It is clear that countries are turning more and more to nuclear energy. In the IAEA’s high case scenario, global nuclear electricity generating capacity is seen increasing two and a half times by 2050.  Delivering on that promise will require public support. That is why the first IAEA International Conference on Stakeholder Engagement for Nuclear Power Programmes will gather governments, industry and practitioners from around the world in the final week of May. Mayors of municipalities with nuclear power facilities from around the world will share their experiences. No one is better placed to assess the impact and contribution to the community of nuclear facilities than those living there.

    Following our first Nuclear Stakeholder Engagement School, hosted by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy last November, we are now planning two more later this year. In addition, we have also established a new Stakeholder Engagement Advisory Service, which will help countries assess and strengthen their stakeholder engagement programmes.

    The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving and growing in all spheres of life, including in nuclear science and technology. AI data centres require a lot of energy and nuclear reactors provide clean, reliable, and adaptable options, including in the form of SMRs and micro reactors.  Meanwhile, the integration of AI into the nuclear sector offers the chance to streamline operations across the nuclear power project life cycle. In this context the IAEA will host the International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Energy this December. We look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to this important and first-of-a-kind event here at the Agency’s headquarters.

    Within the Secretariat we are also intent on making the most of AI while mitigating its risks, therefore we have established official guidelines, a portal and a community of practice.

    Our work on fusion continues apace with the publication of Experiences for Consideration in Fusion Plant Design Safety and Safety Assessment.

    Madame Chairperson,

    The Nuclear Technology Review before you highlights key advancements in nuclear applications that support Member States in addressing critical priorities. This year’s review places particular emphasis on innovations in food safety and authenticity, energy security, early disease detection and cancer treatment, environmental sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.

    In November, the IAEA hosted the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme. The Ministerial Declaration recognized both the critical role of nuclear science, technology, and applications in tackling global challenges, and the important role of the Technical Cooperation programme as a key mechanism in transferring, expanding and further accelerating Member State access to nuclear technology, materials, equipment and expertise for peaceful purposes.

    I am pleased to report the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme achieved an implementation rate of 86% in 2024. We provided our emergency assistance to Türkiye and Syria, assessing damage to civil structures following the earthquakes and building the capacities of Turkish and Syrian experts in non-destructive testing. We initiated procurement to reinstate X-ray and laboratory services in Grenada and Honduras in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Sara, and we aided oil-spill clean-up efforts in Trinidad and Tobago.

    In 2024, the Rate of Attainment for contributions to the TC Fund was 95%, underscoring Member States’ commitment to our work. To ensure resources for the TC programme are sufficient, assured and predicable, I urge Member States to contribute on time, and in full, to the TC Fund.

    Our flagship initiatives are making progress across the globe. Under Atoms4Food, about 27 countries from all regions have officially requested support. Member States have pledged almost EUR 9 million, two thirds of which was contributed by Japan to support livestock production in Côte d’Ivoire, food safety in Mauritania, and molecular laboratories in Vietnam, among other projects.

    Our network of international partnerships has grown with Memoranda of Understanding having been signed with Anglo American, CGIAR, and the Inter-American Institute of Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA). The partnership with Anglo American focuses on combating soil salinization through climate-smart agricultural practices.

    While I was in Japan last month, I signed a partnership with Sumitomo Corporation, one of the world’s largest integrated trading companies, to cooperate particularly in the area of sustainable uses of nuclear related technologies for multiple areas, including healthcare, shipping, fusion and capacity building efforts.  

    Under Rays of Hope, the Anchor Centre in Argentina held its first capacity-building event to strengthen paediatric radiotherapy services in Latin America and the Caribbean, creating a regional network for knowledge exchange and support.

    In January 2025, the IAEA conducted its first national-level quality assurance audit in diagnostic radiology, reviewing 16 hospitals in Qatar.

    The International Conference on Advances in Radiation Oncology (ICARO-4) will take place in the first week of June, focusing on emerging radiotherapy techniques to address global health challenges.

    Under the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC), a novel surveillance technology for high-risk pathogens was transferred to the IAEA’s Animal Production and Health Laboratory in November and will soon be passed on to Member States. New funding pledges from the Republic of Korea, Portugal, and Japan are supporting ZODIAC’s coordinated research projects in Asia and Africa, as well as the development of AI-driven platforms for zoonotic disease monitoring.

    Under NUTEC Plastics 104 Member States are engaged in microplastic monitoring, with 42 developing recycling technologies. Four countries in Asia-Pacific and Latin America have validated radiation-based upcycling technology at lab scale, with private sector collaboration helping to build up operations. China is developing a pilot-scale facility, bringing the total number of countries promoting the technology to nine.

    In November this year, the International High-Level Forum on NUclear TEChnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC-Plastics): Scaling Solutions and Partnerships for Global Impact will take place in the Philippines. I thank the Philippines Government for hosting this important milestone.

    The Global Water Analysis Laboratory Network (GloWAL) baseline survey has received 85 responses from 65 countries, informing future activities. Its first coordination meeting for the Spanish-speaking Latin America and the Caribbean is underway.

    Under ReNuAL 2, the construction of new greenhouses in Seibersdorf is nearing completion and the modernized laboratories will be ready to welcome staff soon.  

    Madame Chairperson,

    Regarding the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme, you have before you my latest report on verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).

    Following my last report, Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% U‑235 has increased to 275 kg, up from 182 kg in the past quarter. Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon State enriching to this level, causing me serious concern.

    It has been four years since Iran stopped implementing its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including provisionally applying its Additional Protocol and therefore it is also four years since the Agency was able to conduct complementary access in Iran.

    You also have before you my report on the NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran says it has declared all nuclear material, activities and locations required under its NPT Safeguards Agreement. However, this statement is inconsistent with the Agency’s findings of uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at undeclared locations in Iran. The Agency needs to know the current location(s) of the nuclear material and/or of contaminated equipment involved.

    There is also a discrepancy in the material balance of uranium involved in uranium metal production experiments conducted at Jaber Ibn Hayan Mutlipurpose Laboratory, for which Iran has not accounted.

    Having stated it had suspended such implementation, Iran still is not implementing modified Code 3.1, which is a legal obligation for Iran.

    I am seriously concerned that the outstanding safeguards issues remain unresolved. They stem from Iran’s obligations under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and need to be resolved for the Agency to be in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful.

    I deeply regret that Iran, despite having indicated a willingness to consider accepting the designation of four additional experienced Agency inspectors, did not accept their designation.

    There has been no significant progress towards implementing the Joint Statement of 4 March 2023. I call upon Iran urgently to implement the Joint Statement through serious engagement.

    In response to the Board’s request in its resolution of November 2024, I will produce a comprehensive and updated assessment on the presence and use of undeclared nuclear material in connection with past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.

    High-level engagement is indispensable to making real progress. My visit to Tehran last November, and meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicate that there may be room for constructive compromises. I hope to see them again soon and pursue effective dialogue and tangible results.

    The Board has before it for approval a draft Additional Protocol for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

    I have made it a priority to strengthen the legal framework for safeguards. Since the last Board meeting in November, Oman, Mongolia, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Zambia have amended their original Small Quantities Protocols and Saudi Arabia has rescinded its original SQP. The number of States with safeguards agreements in force remains 191, and 143 of these States have additional protocols in force. I call upon the remaining three States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons without comprehensive safeguards agreements to bring such agreements into force without delay. I also encourage States that have not yet concluded additional protocols to do so as soon as possible, and I reiterate my repeated calls for the remaining 14 States with SQPs based on the original standard text to amend or rescind them as soon as possible. Let me assure you that I will continue to use my good offices to strengthen the indispensable legal framework on which the continued peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology rest.

    The IAEA continues to monitor the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear programme.

    The Agency has observed that the 5MW(e) reactor at Yongbyon resumed operation in mid-October 2024, following a shutdown period of approximately 60 days. This shutdown is assessed to be of sufficient length to refuel the reactor and start its seventh operational cycle. Strong indicators of preparations for a new reprocessing campaign, including the operation of the steam plant serving the Radiochemical Laboratory, have been observed.

    In late-January 2025, the DPRK released photographs of General Secretary Kim Jong Un visiting “the nuclear material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute”. The depicted centrifuge cascades and infrastructure are consistent with the layout of a centrifuge enrichment facility and with the structure of the Yongbyon Uranium Enrichment Plant. This development follows the DPRK’s publication in September 2024 of photographs of an undeclared enrichment facility at the Kangson Complex. The undeclared enrichment facilities at both Kangson and Yongbyon, combined with General Secretary Kim’s call for “overfulfilling the plan for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials,” are of serious concern. There are indications that the uranium enrichment plants at Kangson and Yongbyon continue to operate, and there are indications that the light water reactor (LWR) at Yongbyon continues to operate. Additions to the support infrastructure have been observed adjacent to the LWR.

    There were no indications of significant changes at the Nuclear Test Site at Punggye-ri, which remains prepared to support a nuclear test.

    The continuation and further development of the DPRK’s nuclear programme are clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable. I call upon the DPRK to comply fully with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, to cooperate promptly with the Agency in the full and effective implementation of its NPT Safeguards Agreement and to resolve all outstanding issues, especially those that have arisen during the absence of Agency inspectors from the country. The Agency continues to maintain its enhanced readiness to play its essential role in verifying the DPRK’s nuclear programme.

    Concerning the safety of the LWR, we lack the necessary information to make an assessment. Safety should always be a paramount consideration when operating a reactor. Nuclear safety is a sovereign responsibility of the State and the IAEA supports the States in this area.

    Following the change of Government in the Syrian Arab Republic towards the end of 2024, I have written to the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. I requested cooperation with the Agency to enable us to fulfill our obligation to verify nuclear material and facilities under Syria’s safeguards agreement. I conveyed the importance of continuing and reinforcing cooperation between Syria and the Agency to address unresolved issues. Clarifying these issues remains essential to Syria demonstrating its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and international peace and security.

    I hope to be able to engage with the new government soon. Bringing total clarity to the situation regarding past activities in this field in Syria is indispensable to the realization of current efforts to modernize the country and put it on a firm path to peace and development.

    In April and May, the IAEA will participate in the Third Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in New York.

    Madame Chairperson,

    The IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska‑Curie Fellowship Programme has been expanding the talent base for the nuclear field since 2020 with 760 female students and graduates from 121 Member States so far having been supported in studying in 72 countries. In the current, fifth cycle, we selected 200 candidates from 109 countries. I would like to thank Member States that have contributed so far. For this programme to continue accepting new fellowship candidates it urgently needs further support. I ask those who can, to support this endeavor. 

    This year, we have planned three Lise Meitner Programme cohorts, in Argentina, Canada and Japan. They are focused on nuclear power, advanced nuclear technologies and research reactors.

    I am happy to report that we have reached parity, women now make up half the staff in the professional and higher categories. This is up from about 30% when I took office in 2019.

    I thank Member States who have paid their regular budget contributions, including some who paid in advance. It is important that all Member States pay their contributions in a timely manner. This will ensure liquidity of the regular budget throughout the year, allowing the Agency to carry out its activities effectively.

    You recently received for your consideration my proposed programme and budget for the 2026-2027 biennium.

    It has been prepared with due consideration of the constraints of the prevailing financial environment. Despite increasing demands and higher operational costs, I have decided for the third time in a row to propose a zero real growth budget. The proposal maintains balance among the different programmes and emphasises my commitment to ensuring our resources are managed with discipline, efficiency and restraint so that we maximize the impact of the Agency’s work.

    This being our first Board meeting of 2025, I want to conclude by saying that I look forward to making 2025 a successful year in which the IAEA benefits all Member States as we advance our common goals of peace and development.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: IAEA and FAO Conduct First Atoms4Food Assessment Mission to Burkina Faso

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    The joint IAEA and FAO Assessment Mission team examine new rice varieties during the first Atoms4Food Initiative Assessment Mission in Burkina Faso. (Photo: Victor Owino/IAEA)

    In a critical step toward addressing food insecurity in West Africa, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations have launched their first joint Atoms4Food Initiative Assessment Mission in Burkina Faso. 

    This mission aims to identify key gaps and opportunities for delivering targeted technical support to Burkina Faso for food and agriculture in a country where an estimated 3.5 million people—nearly 20% of the population—are facing food insecurity. By leveraging nuclear science and technology, Atoms4Food seeks to bolster agricultural resilience and agrifood systems in one of the region’s most vulnerable nations.

    The mission, conducted from 26 May to 1 June, assessed how nuclear and related technologies are being used in Burkina Faso to address challenges in enhancing crop production, improving soil quality and in animal production and health, as well as human nutrition.

    The Atoms4Food Initiative was launched jointly by IAEA and FAO in 2023 to help boost food security and tackle growing hunger around the world. Atoms4Food will support countries to use innovative nuclear techniques such as sterile insect technique and plant mutation breeding to enhance agricultural productivity, ensure food safety, improve nutrition and adapt agrifood systems to the challenges of climate change. Almost €9 million has been pledged by IAEA donor countries and private companies to the initiative so far.

    As part of the Atoms4Food initiative, Assessment Missions are used to evaluate the specific needs and priorities of participating countries and identify critical gaps and opportunities where nuclear science and technology can offer impactful solutions. Based on the findings, tailored and country-specific solutions will be offered.

    Burkina Faso is one of 29 countries who have so far requested to receive support under Atoms4Food, with more expected this year. Alongside Benin, Pakistan, Peru and Türkiye, Burkina Faso was among the first countries to request an Atoms4Food Assessment Mission in 2025.

    A large proportion of Burkina Faso’s population still live in poverty and inequality.  Food insecurity has been compounded by rapid population growth, gender inequality and low levels of educational attainment. In addition, currently, 50% of rice consumed in Burkina Faso is imported. The government aims to achieve food sovereignty by producing sufficient rice domestically to reduce reliance on imports.

    “Hunger and malnutrition are on the rise globally, and Burkina Faso is particularly vulnerable to this growing challenge,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “This first Atoms4Food assessment mission marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to harness the power of nuclear science to enhance food security. As the Atoms4Food Initiative expands worldwide, we are committed to delivering tangible, sustainable solutions to reduce hunger and malnutrition.”

    The mission was conducted by a team of ten international experts in the areas of crop production, soil and water management, animal production and health and human nutrition. During the mission, the team held high-level meetings with the Burkina Faso Ministries of Agriculture, Health and Environment and conducted site visits to laboratories including the animal health laboratory and crop breeding facility at the Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research, the crop genetics and nutrition laboratories at the University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, and the bull station of the Ministry of Agriculture in Loumbila.

    “The Government of Burkina Faso is striving to achieve food security and sovereignty, to supply the country’s population with sufficient, affordable, nutritious and safe food, while strengthening the sustainability of the agrifood systems value-chain,” said Dongxin Feng, Director of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and head of the mission to Burkina Faso. “Though much needs to be done, our mission found strong dedication and commitment from the Government in developing climate-resilient strategies for crops, such as rice, potato, sorghum and mango, strengthening sustainable livestock production of cattle, small ruminants and local poultry, as well as reducing malnutrition among infants and children, while considering the linkages with food safety.”

    The Assessment Mission will deliver an integrated Assessment Report with concrete recommendations on areas for intervention under the Atoms4Food Initiative. This will help develop a National Action Plan in order to scale up the joint efforts made by the two organizations in the past decades, which will include expanding partnership and resource mobilization. “Our priority now is to deliver a concrete mission report with actionable recommendations that will support the development of the National Action Plan aimed at improving the country’s long term food security,” Feng added.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: IAEA and MedAccess Launch Partnership to Expand Access to Cancer Care

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    A person receiving radiotherapy treatment for liver cancer in Mumbai, India. (Photo: IAEA)

    The IAEA and UK social enterprise MedAccess have launched a new partnership under the Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative. This collaboration will focus on advancing innovative financing solutions to improve access to affordable, high-quality radiation medicine services in low- and middle-income countries.

    “Through this partnership with MedAccess under the framework of the Rays of Hope initiative, we are unlocking new pathways to accelerate access to life-saving cancer care” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi during the partnership signing ceremony on Monday. “By combining financial innovation with technical expertise, we are helping countries turn ambition into action”.

    “Innovative financing models have an important role in enabling countries to invest in radiotherapy equipment and services for cancer patients,” MedAccess CEO Michael Anderson said. “Rays of Hope provides a platform to evaluate and test such models to accelerate access to reliable radiation therapy.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI: BlackRock® Canada Announces June Cash Distributions for the iShares® ETFs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK), today announced the June 2025 cash distributions for the iShares ETFs listed on the TSX or Cboe Canada which pay on a monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual basis. Unitholders of record of the applicable iShares ETF on June 25, 2025 will receive cash distributions payable in respect of that iShares ETF on June 30, 2025.

    Details regarding the “per unit” distribution amounts are as follows:

    Fund Name Fund Ticker Cash Distribution
    Per Unit
    iShares 1-10 Year Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF CBH $0.049
    iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Corporate Bond Index ETF CBO $0.051
    iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF CDZ $0.128
    iShares Equal Weight Banc & Lifeco ETF CEW $0.066
    iShares Global Real Estate Index ETF CGR $0.293
    iShares International Fundamental Index ETF CIE $0.462
    iShares Global Infrastructure Index ETF CIF $0.592
    iShares Japan Fundamental Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CJP $0.294
    iShares 1-5 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF CLF $0.032
    iShares 1-10 Year Laddered Government Bond Index ETF CLG $0.036
    iShares US Fundamental Index ETF CLU $0.181
    iShares US Fundamental Index ETF CLU.C $0.238
    iShares Global Agriculture Index ETF COW $0.922
    iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Preferred Share Index ETF CPD $0.058
    iShares Canadian Fundamental Index ETF CRQ $0.198
    iShares US Dividend Growers Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CUD $0.102
    iShares Convertible Bond Index ETF CVD $0.072
    iShares Emerging Markets Fundamental Index ETF CWO $0.623
    iShares Global Water Index ETF CWW $0.442
    iShares Global Monthly Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) CYH $0.078
    iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF FIE $0.040
    iShares ESG Balanced ETF Portfolio GBAL $0.334
    iShares ESG Conservative Balanced ETF Portfolio GCNS $0.304
    iShares ESG Equity ETF Portfolio GEQT $0.397
    iShares ESG Growth ETF Portfolio GGRO $0.356
    iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense Index ETF XAD $0.107
    iShares U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF XAGG $0.105
    iShares U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF(1) XAGG.U $0.076
    iShares U.S. Aggregate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XAGH $0.096
    iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF XAW $0.362
    iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF(1) XAW.U $0.266
    iShares Core Balanced ETF Portfolio XBAL $0.239
    iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF XBB $0.079
    iShares S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index ETF XBM $0.150
    iShares Core Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XCB $0.069
    iShares ESG Advanced Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XCBG $0.121
    iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF XCBU $0.122
    iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF(1) XCBU.U $0.088
    iShares S&P Global Consumer Discretionary Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XCD $0.305
    iShares Canadian Growth Index ETF XCG $0.122
    iShares China Index ETF XCH $0.258
    iShares Semiconductor Index ETF XCHP $0.164
    iShares Global Clean Energy Index ETF XCLN $0.327
    iShares Core Conservative Balanced ETF Portfolio XCNS $0.186
    iShares S&P/TSX SmallCap Index ETF XCS $0.156
    iShares ESG Advanced MSCI Canada Index ETF XCSR $0.464
    iShares Canadian Value Index ETF XCV $0.390
    iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index ETF XDG $0.074
    iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index ETF(1) XDG.U $0.044
    iShares Core MSCI Global Quality Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XDGH $0.057
    iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ETF XDIV $0.115
    iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare Index ETF XDNA $0.159
    iShares Global Electric and Autonomous Vehicles Index ETF XDRV $0.180
    iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE Index ETF XDSR $0.926
    iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF XDU $0.064
    iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF(1) XDU.U $0.046
    iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XDUH $0.055
    iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF XDV $0.108
    iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XEB $0.059
    iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF XEC $0.334
    iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF(1) XEC.U $0.245
    iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF XEF $0.712
    iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF(1) XEF.U $0.523
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped Energy Index ETF XEG $0.182
    iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XEH $0.633
    iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF XEI $0.136
    iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF XEM $0.272
    iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index ETF XEMC $0.476
    iShares Jantzi Social Index ETF XEN $0.239
    iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio XEQT $0.267
    iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETF XESG $0.224
    iShares S&P/TSX Energy Transition Materials Index ETF XETM $0.464
    iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF XEU $0.611
    iShares Exponential Technologies Index ETF XEXP $0.147
    iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XFH $0.578
    iShares Core Canadian 15+ Year Federal Bond Index ETF XFLB $0.112
    iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF XFLI $0.190
    iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF(1) XFLI.U $0.140
    iShares Flexible Monthly Income ETF (CAD-Hedged) XFLX $0.184
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped Financials Index ETF XFN $0.169
    iShares Floating Rate Index ETF XFR $0.050
    iShares Core Canadian Government Bond Index ETF XGB $0.050
    iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF XGD $0.143
    iShares Global Government Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XGGB $0.041
    iShares S&P Global Industrials Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XGI $0.372
    iShares Core Growth ETF Portfolio XGRO $0.235
    iShares Cybersecurity and Tech Index ETF XHAK $0.011
    iShares Canadian HYBrid Corporate Bond Index ETF XHB $0.075
    iShares Global Healthcare Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHC $0.396
    iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHD $0.077
    iShares U.S. High Dividend Equity Index ETF XHU $0.074
    iShares U.S. High Yield Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XHY $0.084
    iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF XIC $0.292
    iShares India Index ETF XID $0.000
    iShares U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIG $0.075
    iShares 1-5 Year U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIGS $0.106
    iShares MSCI EAFE® Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XIN $0.523
    iShares Core Income Balanced ETF Portfolio XINC $0.165
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology Index ETF XIT $0.000
    iShares Core Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF XLB $0.062
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped Materials Index ETF XMA $0.072
    iShares S&P U.S. Mid-Cap Index ETF XMC $0.144
    iShares S&P U.S. Mid-Cap Index ETF(1) XMC.U $0.106
    iShares S&P/TSX Completion Index ETF XMD $0.159
    iShares S&P U.S. Mid-Cap Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XMH $0.117
    iShares MSCI Min Vol EAFE Index ETF XMI $0.667
    iShares MSCI Min Vol EAFE Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XML $0.472
    iShares MSCI Min Vol Emerging Markets Index ETF XMM $0.273
    iShares MSCI Min Vol USA Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XMS $0.106
    iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor Index ETF XMTM $0.054
    iShares MSCI Min Vol USA Index ETF XMU $0.238
    iShares MSCI Min Vol USA Index ETF(1) XMU.U $0.175
    iShares MSCI Min Vol Canada Index ETF XMV $0.317
    iShares MSCI Min Vol Global Index ETF XMW $0.416
    iShares MSCI Min Vol Global Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XMY $0.255
    iShares S&P/TSX North American Preferred Stock Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XPF $0.065
    iShares High Quality Canadian Bond Index ETF XQB $0.054
    iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor Index ETF XQLT $0.060
    iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XQQ $0.073
    iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF XQQU $0.090
    iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF(1) XQQU.U $0.066
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index ETF XRE $0.062
    iShares ESG Aware Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF XSAB $0.048
    iShares Core Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF XSB $0.071
    iShares Conservative Short Term Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSC $0.054
    iShares Conservative Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSE $0.046
    iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE Index ETF XSEA $0.473
    iShares ESG Aware MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF XSEM $0.216
    iShares Core Canadian Short Term Corporate Bond Index ETF XSH $0.061
    iShares ESG Advanced 1-5 Year Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF XSHG $0.120
    iShares 1-5 Year U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF XSHU $0.137
    iShares 1-5 Year U.S. IG Corporate Bond Index ETF(1) XSHU.U $0.099
    iShares Short Term Strategic Fixed Income ETF XSI $0.056
    iShares Core Canadian Short-Mid Term Universe Bond Index ETF XSMB $0.101
    iShares S&P U.S. Small-Cap Index ETF XSMC $0.152
    iShares S&P U.S. Small-Cap Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSMH $0.127
    iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSP $0.300
    iShares S&P 500 3% Capped Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSPC $0.173
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped Consumer Staples Index ETF XST $0.119
    iShares ESG Aware Canadian Short Term Bond Index ETF XSTB $0.048
    iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSTH $0.103
    iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond Index ETF XSTP $0.121
    iShares 0-5 Year TIPS Bond Index ETF(1) XSTP.U $0.089
    iShares U.S. Small Cap Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XSU $0.155
    iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Index ETF XSUS $0.109
    iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XTLH $0.113
    iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF XTLT $0.131
    iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF(1) XTLT.U $0.102
    iShares Diversified Monthly Income ETF XTR $0.040
    iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) XUH $0.117
    iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF XUS $0.243
    iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF(1) XUS.U $0.178
    iShares S&P 500 3% Capped Index ETF XUSC $0.216
    iShares S&P 500 3% Capped Index ETF(1) XUSC.U $0.159
    iShares S&P U.S. Financials Index ETF XUSF $0.173
    iShares ESG Advanced MSCI USA Index ETF XUSR $0.175
    iShares S&P/TSX Capped Utilities Index ETF XUT $0.110
    iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF XUU $0.147
    iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF(1) XUU.U $0.108
    iShares MSCI USA Value Factor Index ETF XVLU $0.151
    iShares MSCI World Index ETF XWD $0.603

    (1) Distribution per unit amounts are in U.S. dollars for XAGG.U, XAW.U, XCBU.U, XDG.U, XDU.U, XEC.U, XEF.U. XFLI.U, XMC.U, XMU.U, XQQU.U, XSHU.U, XSTP.U, XTLT.U, XUS.U, XUSC.U, XUU.U

    Estimated June Cash Distributions for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF

    The June cash distributions per unit for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF are estimated to be as follows:

    Fund Name Fund Ticker Estimated Cash
    Distribution Per Unit
    iShares Premium Money Market ETF CMR $0.129

    BlackRock Canada expects to issue a press release on or about June 24, 2025, which will provide the final amounts for the iShares Premium Money Market ETF.

    Further information on the iShares Funds can be found at http://www.blackrock.com/ca.

    About BlackRock
    BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter: @BlackRockCA

    About iShares ETFs
    iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 1500+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and US$4.3 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock.

    iShares® ETFs are managed by BlackRock Canada.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional.

    Standard & Poor’s® and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). TSX is a registered trademark of TSX Inc. (“TSX”). All of the foregoing trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and sublicensed for certain purposes to BlackRock Fund Advisors (“BFA”),  which in turn has sub-licensed these marks to its affiliate, BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (“BlackRock Canada”), on behalf of the applicable fund(s). The index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, and has been licensed for use by BFA and by extension, BlackRock Canada and the applicable fund(s). The funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively known as “S&P Dow Jones Indices”) or TSX, or any of their respective affiliates. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices nor TSX make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in such funds.

    MSCI is a trademark of MSCI, Inc. (“MSCI”). The ETF is permitted to use the MSCI mark pursuant to a license agreement between MSCI and BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., relating to, among other things, the license granted to BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. to use the Index. BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. has sublicensed the use of this trademark to BlackRock. The ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by MSCI and MSCI makes no representation, condition or warranty regarding the advisability of investing in the ETF.

    Contact for Media:
    Sydney Punchard                       
    Email: Sydney.Punchard@blackrock.com

    The MIL Network –