NewzIntel.com

Category: Health

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 17, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 17, 2025.

    In view of Trump’s review of AUKUS, should Australia cancel the subs deal? We asked 5 experts
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Andrews, Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement, Australian National University Speculation is swirling around the future of the A$368 billion AUKUS agreement, following Washington’s decision to review the nuclear submarine deal to ensure it meets President Donald Trump’s “America first” agenda. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was planning

    Australians in the bush want tougher penalties on crime. Here’s why – and what’s needed now
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Davey, Lecturer of Criminology, Griffith University New research has found that while Australians generally support strong punishments, people living in the bush are significantly more likely than city dwellers to want to punish more harshly those who break the law. It means Australians living in rural

    Judy Davis gives a singularly vivid performance in The Spare Room – but the play falls short
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Moya Costello, Adjunct Lecturer in Creative Writing, Southern Cross University Brett Boardman/Belvoir In The Spare Room, Judy Davis lights up the stage with a singularly vivid performance. Adapted by Eamon Flack from Helen Garner’s 2008 novel of the same name, Davis plays sharp-tongued Helen (or Hel) to

    US travel ban on Pacific 3 – countries have right to decide over borders, Peters says
    RNZ Pacific New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters says countries have the right to choose who enters their borders in response to reports that the Trump administration is planning to impose travel restrictions on three dozen nations, including three in the Pacific. But opposition Labour’s deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni says the foreign minister should push

    Attack on Iran’s state media – Israel bombs IRIB building in new war crime
    Pacific Media Watch Israel targeted one of the buildings of the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in Tehran on the fourth day of attacks on Iran, interrupting a live news broadcast, reports Press TV. The attack, involving at least four bombs, struck the central building housing IRIB’s news department, while a live news

    What is ‘cognitive shuffling’ and does it really help you get to sleep? Two sleep scientists explain
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melinda Jackson, Associate Professor at Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University Ursula Ferrara/Shutterstock If you’ve been on social media lately – perhaps scrolling in the middle of the night, when you know you shouldn’t but you just can’t sleep –

    New research shows Australians see influencers as major sources of misinformation
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sora Park, Professor of Communication, News & Media Research Centre, University of Canberra As consumption of traditional news continues to fall, audiences are turning to social media personalities and influencers for their information. These figures are increasingly shaping public debates. But Australian news audiences are sceptical. More

    Why does my phone sometimes not ring when people call? A communications expert explains
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jairo Gutierrez, Professor, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Tada Images There’s a certain feeling I get in the pit of my stomach when I’m waiting for an important call to come through. You know the type – maybe a call from your

    Wetland restoration is seen as sunk cost – but new research shows why it should be considered an investment
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wei Yang, Senior Scientist in Environmental Economics, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Shutterstock/Wirestock Creators As extreme weather intensifies globally, governments are seeking nature-based solutions that deliver both climate and economic benefits. The restoration of wetlands is an often overlooked opportunity. As our recent study shows,

    Jaws at 50: a cinematic masterpiece – and an incredible piece of propaganda
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colin Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Political Communications, Nottingham Trent University Jaws turns 50 on June 20. Last year, Quentin Tarantino called Stephen Spielberg’s film “possibly the greatest movie ever made”. Though he was quick to add that it isn’t the best film in terms of script, cinematography

    Ancient termite poo reveals 120 million-year-old secrets of Australia’s polar forests
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alistair Evans, Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University Witsawat.S/Shutterstock Imagine a lush forest with tree-ferns, their trunks capped by ribbon-like fronds. Conifers tower overhead, bearing triangular leaves almost sharp enough to pierce skin. Flowering plants are both small and rare. You’re standing in what is now

    When new dads struggle, their kids’ health can suffer. Tackling mental distress early can help
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Delyse Hutchinson, Associate Professor, Clinical Psychologist, and NHMRC Leadership Fellow, SEED Centre for Lifespan Research, School of Psychology, Deakin University D-BASE/Getty In Australia, an estimated one in ten men experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression before and after their child is born (the perinatal

    A weird group of boronias puzzled botanists for decades. Now we’ve solved the pollination mystery
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Douglas Hilton, Chief Executive, CSIRO Andy Young Boronias, known for their showy flowers and strong scent, are a quintessential part of the Australian bush. They led Traditional Owners to the best water sources and inspired Australian children’s author and illustrator May Gibbs to pen one of her

    Some students learning English can take at least 6 years to catch up to their peers. How can we support them better?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucy Lu, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney Rawpixel/ Getty Images About one quarter of Australian school students are learning English as an additional language or dialect. This means their first language or dialect is something other than English and they

    Ice Age shelter high up in the Blue Mountains reveals Aboriginal heritage from 20,000 years ago
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Wilkins, Aboriginal Cultural Educator, Trainer and Facilitator, Indigenous Knowledge Artist’s impression of Dargan Shelter as it would have looked during the last Ice Age. Painting by Leanne Watson Redpath Travel back 20,000 years into the last Ice Age, to a time when the upper reaches of

    ‘Be brave’ warning to nations against deepsea mining from UNOC
    By Laura Bergamo in Nice, France The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) concluded today with significant progress made towards the ratification of the High Seas Treaty and a strong statement on a new plastics treaty signed by 95 governments. Once ratified, it will be the only legal tool that can create protected areas in international waters,

    Samoan fashion designer fatally shot at Salt Lake City ‘no kings’ protest
    RNZ Pacific A renowned Samoan fashion designer was fatally shot at the “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) has confirmed. Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, known as Afa Ah Loo, an “innocent bystander” at the protest, died despite efforts by paramedics to save his life, police

    Israelis ‘now realise’ what Palestinians and Lebanese have been suffering, says analyst
    Asia Pacific Report A Paris-based military and political analyst, Elijah Magnier, says he believes the hostilities between Israel and Iran will only get worse, but that Israeli support for the war may wane if the destruction continues. “I think it’s going to continue escalating because we are just in the first days of the war

    What is uranium enrichment and how is it used for nuclear bombs? A scientist explains
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kaitlin Cook, DECRA Fellow, Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Australian National University Uranium ore. RHJPhtotos/Shutterstock Late last week, Israel targeted three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities – Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow, killing several Iranian nuclear scientists. The facilities are heavily fortified and largely underground, and

    Issa Amro: Youth Against Settlements – ‘life is very hard, the Israeli soldiers act like militia’
    RNZ News Palestinian advocate Issa Amro has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year for his decades of work advocating for peaceful resistance against Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. The settlements are illegal under international law — and a record 45 were established last year under cover of the war

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China donates medical equipment, supplies to Ghanaian hospital

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

    Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Tong Defa (C-R) hands over a medical device to Ghana’s Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (C-L) during a donation ceremony at Lekma Hospital in Accra, Ghana, on June 16, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The Chinese government, through its 14th medical team to Ghana and in collaboration with the local Chinese business community, on Monday donated a range of medical equipment and supplies to Lekma Hospital in Accra, Ghana’s capital, to enhance healthcare services.

    The donation, including ultrasound devices, transducers, surgical instruments, and other medical tools, is expected to boost the hospital’s diagnostic and treatment capacity.

    Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Tong Defa described the gesture as another concrete support and action of love from the Chinese government and people to Ghana.

    “Healthcare cooperation is one of the key areas in China-Ghana relations. China is pleased to see that, through joint efforts, both sides have achieved fruitful results in epidemic prevention and control, vaccine rollout, and public health capacity building,” Tong said at the donation ceremony.

    Ghana’s Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh welcomed the donation as another shining example of the Ghana-China collaboration and “an enduring testament to the strength of our partnership.”

    Akandoh lauded the Chinese government for sending 14 medical teams to Ghana since 2009.

    As Ghana seeks to achieve universal health coverage by 2030, the minister said cooperation with China remains vital. “When we talk about herbal medicine, innovation, infrastructure, and financing facilities, it is China that comes to mind,” he said.

    Yang Yongguang, head of the 14th Chinese medical team to Ghana, said, “We stand ready to deepen the China-Ghana health cooperation through technology and resources, working hand-in-hand to forge a broad path towards health for all and shared prosperity.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Buffalo, Gillibrand Highlights How President Trump’s Big Beautiful Betrayal Will Hurt Buffalo Hospitals, Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Proposal Would Increase Costs, Put Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, Threaten Nursing Home Operations, And Make It Harder For Kids To Access Care

    If Bill Passes, An Estimated 45,000 People Would Lose Health Insurance And 31,000 Risk Losing Some Or All SNAP Benefits In The Buffalo Area Alone

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the St. Joseph Campus of Catholic Health to highlight how President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt Buffalo hospitals and families. If passed, this legislation would cause 10.9 million Americans, including up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034, and 11million would be at risk of having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated.

    President Trump’s bill would cause Americans to lose their benefits by imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid and even stricter, more onerous work requirements for SNAP recipients. This would force families with children and people with disabilities to jump through more hoops to access benefits, and it would generate additional administrative costs for the program. In New York State, work requirements for Medicaid will cost an estimated $510 million annually to administer and enforce.

    President Trump’s bill would also put rural hospitals at risk of closure by limiting the use of provider taxes, which help make it possible for rural and urban hospitals and clinics to remain open and care for patients by providing maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care. Funds collected by states through provider taxes are often directed to health care providers whose costs far exceed base Medicaid payment rates. These providers are typically located in rural America – where health care services are hard to find – or in dense urban areas, where the cost to deliver health care is high and health care providers are serving more people with Medicaid.

    “President Trump’s bill is not ‘beautiful’—it’s a betrayal of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history, and it puts the future of our state’s critical rural hospitals in jeopardy. Congress and the Trump administration should be focused on bringing down the cost of essentials, not limiting access to the health care and benefits that so many New Yorkers rely on to get care and put food on the table. This is an unacceptable piece of legislation, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing.”

    “As an Occupational Therapist, I’ve seen firsthand the impacts of delayed and diminished healthcare,” said Rep. Kennedy (NY-26). “Treatable conditions become chronic illnesses, quality of life decreases, and ultimately, lives are cut short. The Republican reconciliation bill is a direct attack on working families and the healthcare they rely on in every community across our nation. This bill will make Americans less healthy and hurt Western New Yorkers.”

    Gillibrand was joined by Joyce Markiewicz, President and CEO of Catholic Health, and Denise Abbott, President of the Buffalo Central Labor Council.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is ‘cognitive shuffling’ and does it really help you get to sleep? Two sleep scientists explain

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melinda Jackson, Associate Professor at Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University

    Ursula Ferrara/Shutterstock

    If you’ve been on social media lately – perhaps scrolling in the middle of the night, when you know you shouldn’t but you just can’t sleep – you might have seen those videos promoting a get-to-sleep technique called “cognitive shuffling”.

    The idea, proponents say, is to engage your mind with random ideas and images via a special formula:

    1. pick a random word (such as “cake”)
    2. focus on the first letter of the word (in this case, C) and list a bunch of words starting with that letter: cat, carrot, calendar and so on
    3. visualise each word as you go along
    4. when you feel ready, move onto the next letter (A) and repeat the process
    5. continue with each letter of the original word (so, in this case, K and then E) until you feel ready to switch to a new word or until you drift off to sleep.

    It’s popular on Instagram and TikTok, but does “cognitive shuffling” have any basis in science?

    Where did this idea come from?

    The cognitive shuffling technique was made famous by Canada-based researcher Luc P. Beaudoin more than a decade ago, when he published a paper about how what he called “serial diverse imagining” could help with sleep.

    One of Beaudoin’s hypothetical examples involved a woman thinking of the word “blanket”, then thinking bicycle (and imagining a bicycle), buying (imagining buying shoes), banana (visualising a banana tree) and so on.

    Soon, Beaudoin writes, she moves onto the letter L, thinking about her friend Larry, the word “like” (imagining her son hugging his dog). She soon transitions to the letter A, thinking of the word “Amsterdam”:

    and she might very vaguely imagine the large hand of a sailor gesturing for another order of fries in an Amsterdam pub while a rancid accordion plays in the background.

    Sleep soon ensues. The goal, according to Beaudoin, is to think briefly about:

    a neutral or pleasant target and frequently [switch] to unrelated targets (normally every 5-15 seconds).

    Don’t try to relate one word with another or find a link between the words; resist the mind’s natural tendency toward sense-making.

    While the research into this technique is still in its infancy, the idea is grounded in science. That’s because we know from other research good sleepers tend to have different kinds of thoughts in bed to bad sleepers.

    People with insomnia are more focused on worries, problems, or noises in the environment, and are often preoccupied with not sleeping.

    Good sleepers, on the other hand, typically have dream-like, hallucinatory, less ordered thoughts before nodding off.

    Good sleepers typically have dream-like, hallucinatory, less ordered thoughts before nodding off.
    fran_kie/Shutterstock

    Sorting the pro-somnolent wheat from the insomnolent chaff

    Cognitive shuffling attempts to mimic the thinking patterns of good sleepers by simulating the dream-like and random thought patterns they generally have before drifting off to sleep.

    In particular, Beaudoin’s research describes two types of sleep-related thoughts: insomnolent (or anti-sleep) and pro-somnolent (sleep-promoting) thoughts.

    Insomnolent thoughts include things such as worrying, planning, rehearsing, and ruminating on perceived problems or failings.

    Pro-somnolent thoughts on the other hand involve thoughts that can help you fall asleep, such as dream-like imagery or having a calm, relaxed state of mind.

    Cognitive shuffling aims to distract from or interfere with insomnolent thought. It offers a calm, neutral path for your racing mind, and can reduce the stress associated with not sleeping.

    Cognitive shuffling also helps tell your brain you are ready for sleep.

    In fact, the process of “shuffling” between different thoughts is similar to the way your brain naturally drifts off to sleep. During the transition to sleep, brain activity slows. Your brain starts to generate disconnected images and fleeting scenes, known as hypnagogic hallucinations, without a conscious effort to make sense of them.

    By mimicking these scattered, disconnected, and random thought patterns, cognitive shuffling may help you transition from wakefulness to sleep.

    And the preliminary research into this is promising. Beaudoin and his team have found serial diverse imagining helps to lower arousal before sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce the effort involved in falling asleep.

    However, with only a small number of research studies, more work is needed here.

    It didn’t work. Now what?

    As with every new strategy, however, practise makes perfect. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t see an improvement straight away; these things take time.

    Stay consistent and be kind to yourself.

    And what works for some won’t work for others. Different people benefit from different types of strategies depending on how they relate to and experience stress or stressful thoughts.

    Other strategies to help create the right conditions for sleep include:

    If, despite all your best efforts, night time thoughts continue to impact your sleep or overall wellbeing, consider seeking professional help from your doctor or a trained sleep specialist.

    Melinda Jackson has received funding from the Medical Research Future Fund, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) and Dementia Australia. She a board member of the Australasian Sleep Association.

    Eleni Kavaliotis has previously received funding from an Australian government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship. She is a member of the Australasian Sleep Association’s Insomnia and Sleep Health Council.

    – ref. What is ‘cognitive shuffling’ and does it really help you get to sleep? Two sleep scientists explain – https://theconversation.com/what-is-cognitive-shuffling-and-does-it-really-help-you-get-to-sleep-two-sleep-scientists-explain-256444

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is ‘cognitive shuffling’ and does it really help you get to sleep? Two sleep scientists explain

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melinda Jackson, Associate Professor at Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University

    Ursula Ferrara/Shutterstock

    If you’ve been on social media lately – perhaps scrolling in the middle of the night, when you know you shouldn’t but you just can’t sleep – you might have seen those videos promoting a get-to-sleep technique called “cognitive shuffling”.

    The idea, proponents say, is to engage your mind with random ideas and images via a special formula:

    1. pick a random word (such as “cake”)
    2. focus on the first letter of the word (in this case, C) and list a bunch of words starting with that letter: cat, carrot, calendar and so on
    3. visualise each word as you go along
    4. when you feel ready, move onto the next letter (A) and repeat the process
    5. continue with each letter of the original word (so, in this case, K and then E) until you feel ready to switch to a new word or until you drift off to sleep.

    It’s popular on Instagram and TikTok, but does “cognitive shuffling” have any basis in science?

    Where did this idea come from?

    The cognitive shuffling technique was made famous by Canada-based researcher Luc P. Beaudoin more than a decade ago, when he published a paper about how what he called “serial diverse imagining” could help with sleep.

    One of Beaudoin’s hypothetical examples involved a woman thinking of the word “blanket”, then thinking bicycle (and imagining a bicycle), buying (imagining buying shoes), banana (visualising a banana tree) and so on.

    Soon, Beaudoin writes, she moves onto the letter L, thinking about her friend Larry, the word “like” (imagining her son hugging his dog). She soon transitions to the letter A, thinking of the word “Amsterdam”:

    and she might very vaguely imagine the large hand of a sailor gesturing for another order of fries in an Amsterdam pub while a rancid accordion plays in the background.

    Sleep soon ensues. The goal, according to Beaudoin, is to think briefly about:

    a neutral or pleasant target and frequently [switch] to unrelated targets (normally every 5-15 seconds).

    Don’t try to relate one word with another or find a link between the words; resist the mind’s natural tendency toward sense-making.

    While the research into this technique is still in its infancy, the idea is grounded in science. That’s because we know from other research good sleepers tend to have different kinds of thoughts in bed to bad sleepers.

    People with insomnia are more focused on worries, problems, or noises in the environment, and are often preoccupied with not sleeping.

    Good sleepers, on the other hand, typically have dream-like, hallucinatory, less ordered thoughts before nodding off.

    Good sleepers typically have dream-like, hallucinatory, less ordered thoughts before nodding off.
    fran_kie/Shutterstock

    Sorting the pro-somnolent wheat from the insomnolent chaff

    Cognitive shuffling attempts to mimic the thinking patterns of good sleepers by simulating the dream-like and random thought patterns they generally have before drifting off to sleep.

    In particular, Beaudoin’s research describes two types of sleep-related thoughts: insomnolent (or anti-sleep) and pro-somnolent (sleep-promoting) thoughts.

    Insomnolent thoughts include things such as worrying, planning, rehearsing, and ruminating on perceived problems or failings.

    Pro-somnolent thoughts on the other hand involve thoughts that can help you fall asleep, such as dream-like imagery or having a calm, relaxed state of mind.

    Cognitive shuffling aims to distract from or interfere with insomnolent thought. It offers a calm, neutral path for your racing mind, and can reduce the stress associated with not sleeping.

    Cognitive shuffling also helps tell your brain you are ready for sleep.

    In fact, the process of “shuffling” between different thoughts is similar to the way your brain naturally drifts off to sleep. During the transition to sleep, brain activity slows. Your brain starts to generate disconnected images and fleeting scenes, known as hypnagogic hallucinations, without a conscious effort to make sense of them.

    By mimicking these scattered, disconnected, and random thought patterns, cognitive shuffling may help you transition from wakefulness to sleep.

    And the preliminary research into this is promising. Beaudoin and his team have found serial diverse imagining helps to lower arousal before sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce the effort involved in falling asleep.

    However, with only a small number of research studies, more work is needed here.

    It didn’t work. Now what?

    As with every new strategy, however, practise makes perfect. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t see an improvement straight away; these things take time.

    Stay consistent and be kind to yourself.

    And what works for some won’t work for others. Different people benefit from different types of strategies depending on how they relate to and experience stress or stressful thoughts.

    Other strategies to help create the right conditions for sleep include:

    If, despite all your best efforts, night time thoughts continue to impact your sleep or overall wellbeing, consider seeking professional help from your doctor or a trained sleep specialist.

    Melinda Jackson has received funding from the Medical Research Future Fund, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) and Dementia Australia. She a board member of the Australasian Sleep Association.

    Eleni Kavaliotis has previously received funding from an Australian government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship. She is a member of the Australasian Sleep Association’s Insomnia and Sleep Health Council.

    – ref. What is ‘cognitive shuffling’ and does it really help you get to sleep? Two sleep scientists explain – https://theconversation.com/what-is-cognitive-shuffling-and-does-it-really-help-you-get-to-sleep-two-sleep-scientists-explain-256444

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Measles alert for Sydney

    Source: Australian Green Party

    NSW Health is advising people to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles after being notified of a confirmed case who was infectious on an international flight and while visiting several locations in Sydney.
    The case recently returned from South-East Asia where there are ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries including Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
    People who were on board the below flight or attended the following locations should watch for the development of symptoms. These locations do not pose an ongoing risk.
    Monday 10 March:

    Vietnam Airlines flight VN773 departed Ho Chi Minh City 9:20pm Sunday 9 March, arriving in Sydney 9:50am Monday 10 March.
    Sydney International Airport arrivals terminal and baggage claim from 10am to midday.

    Thursday 13 March:

    The Children’s Hospital Westmead Emergency Department waiting room entering via the Westmead Precinct entrance 10 from 10:30am to 5pm.

    South Western Sydney Local Health District A/Director of Public Health, Dr Mitchell Smith, said anyone who travelled on flight VN773 or visited the above locations at those times you should monitor for symptoms.
    Measles is a vaccine preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes.
    “Symptoms to watch out for include fever, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body,” Dr Smith said.
    “It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it’s important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms until the end of March 2025.
    “It’s important for people to stay vigilant if they’ve been exposed, and if they develop symptoms, to please call ahead to their GP or emergency department to ensure they do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients.
    “We want to remind the community to make sure they are up-to-date with their vaccinations. The measles vaccine can prevent the disease even after exposure, if given early enough.
    “This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is highly infectious.
    “Anyone born after 1965 needs to ensure they have had two doses of measles vaccine. This is especially important before overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment.”
    The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective, and is given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age. It is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn’t already had two doses.
    Children under the age of 12 months can have their first dose of MMR up to six months earlier if they are travelling to areas with a high risk for measles. Parents should consult their GP.
    People who are unsure of whether they have had two doses should get a vaccine, as additional doses are safe. This is particularly important prior to travel. MMR vaccine is available from GPs (all ages) and pharmacies (people over 5 years of age).
    For more information on measles, view the measles fact sheet.
    If you, or a loved one, is experiencing measles symptoms, or have questions about measles, please call your GP or healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
    ​

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Death cap mushroom detections prompt health warning

    Source: Australian Green Party

    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​NSW Health is warning people about the health risks of eating wild mushrooms as poisonous death cap mushrooms, have been found growing in NSW.
    Amanita phalloides, commonly known as death cap mushrooms, have been recently detected growing in Sydney, the Southern Highlands and Southern NSW.
    NSW Poisons Information Centre’s Senior Specialist, Genevieve Adamo, said death cap mushrooms can be deadly if eaten.
    “Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can sometimes be delayed, but early treatment is vital to health outcomes, Ms Adamo said.
    “These include vomiting and diarrhoea, and in severe cases, liver and kidney damage or death.”
    Professor Brett Summerell, Chief Scientist, Botanic Gardens of Sydney warned that identifying whether a wild mushroom is safe to eat is extremely difficult.
    “There is no easy or reliable way to identify if a wild mushroom is edible or poisonous, so we advise people against foraging for, and eating, wild mushrooms,” Professor Summerell said.
    “Cooking poisonous mushrooms does not make them safe to eat.
    “You should only eat mushrooms you buy from a reputable grocery store, supermarket or produce market.”
    In 2024, there were 23 hospitalisations for the toxic effect of ingested mushrooms, two of these in children aged under five years.
    In the same year, the NSW Poisons Information Centre responded to 363 calls regarding exposures to wild mushrooms in NSW and ACT, an increase of 26 per cent compared to 2023.
    So far this year (to 31 May 2025), there have been 190 calls.
    With the identification of highly poisonous death cap mushrooms in NSW it is a warning that there can be disastrous consequences from eating wild mushrooms.
    “As young children have a tendency to put things in their mouths, they can be at risk,” said Ms Adamo.
    “Watch your children when they are playing outside, especially around large trees in parks or your garden at home where mushrooms may grow.
    “Remove any mushrooms that may grow to keep your children safe.”
    NSW Health and local councils have been conducting ongoing surveillance for death cap mushrooms for the last two years following an initial detection in Southern NSW.
    If you worried that mushroom poisoning may have occurred, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Call the Poisons Information Centre immediately on 13 11 26.
    In an emergency call Triple Zero (000) or go to an Emergency Department. If possible, take a sample of the mushroom or a photo to help with identification.
    More information on mushroom poisoning can be found at the NSW Health website​.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Targets continue to get health back on track

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government’s focus on restoring performance and accountability in the health system is delivering real outcomes for patients, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

    “The latest quarterly results show clear progress in putting patients first and delivering access to timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders,” Mr Brown says.

    In the latest quarter, from January to March, key improvements include: 

    • Shorter emergency department stays: 74.2 per cent of patients were admitted, discharged, or transferred within six hours, up from 70.1 per cent last year.
    • Childhood immunisations: 79.3 per cent of 24-month-olds fully immunised, up from 76.9 per cent last year.
    • Faster cancer treatment: 84.6 per cent of patients starting treatment within 31 days, up from 83 per cent last year.
    • Fewer people waiting for elective procedures: The number of patients waiting has dropped by 1,891, between January and March 2025.

    “These results reflect meaningful progress for patients across the country. While there is still more work to do to shorten emergency department stays, increase childhood immunisations, and speed up access to cancer treatment, this is a step in the right direction. Restoring performance and accountability takes time, and we remain focused on continuing to deliver improvements.”

    While the percentage of patients waiting longer than four months for elective procedures and first specialist assessments increased, Health New Zealand continued to deliver increased care for patients. 

    “In the last quarter alone, more than 48,000 elective procedures and 167,000 first specialist assessments were completed. That’s thousands of New Zealanders getting back to work, returning to everyday life, and regaining their quality of life.

    “Waitlists for elective procedures have dropped, meaning fewer people are waiting for care and more patients are being seen. This marks a meaningful step toward a patient-focused health system.

    “There is more work to do, which is why we are delivering the Elective Boost. Between February and May, Elective Boost has delivered over 9,500 additional elective procedures, with the majority being for patients who have been waiting longer than four months.

    “Progress is also being made on first specialist assessments, with 102 per cent of planned volumes delivered in the year to March 2025. That means more patients being seen.”

    Mr Brown says the Government remains committed to building on this momentum, driving further improvements, and making the system more responsive to patients.

    “Backed by our record $30 billion investment into health each year, we are prioritising key services, supporting patients, and driving better outcomes.

    “After years of decline, our health system is being rebuilt around patients. These improvements mean shorter stays in emergency departments, more children protected through timely immunisations, faster access to cancer treatment, and fewer people waiting for an elective procedure when every day counts.

    “By measuring what matters and holding the system accountable, we are putting patients first and supporting our frontline healthcare workers to deliver access to timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders,” Mr Brown says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tasmania Police mourns fallen officer

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Tasmania Police mourns fallen officer

    Tuesday, 17 June 2025 – 9:26 am.

    Investigations continue today into the tragic shooting death of a Tasmania Police officer in the state’s North-West on Monday.
    With the permission of the officer’s family, Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams has confirmed the officer is Constable Keith Anthony Smith, a 25-year veteran of the police service.
    Constable Smith, 57, was shot and killed at a rural property in North Motton on Monday morning as he and a fellow officer attended the premises to serve a court-ordered warrant to repossess the home.
    Commissioner Adams said Constable Smith was a dedicated officer over a distinguished career with Tasmania Police, who was highly regarded and admired by his colleagues.
    Constable Smith had worked in communities across the North and North-West and, for the past five years, was an officer working at Ulverstone police station.
    “Keith was a respected and committed officer, and his loss will be deeply felt across our policing family and the wider community,” Commissioner Adams said.
    “My heart goes out to Keith’s wife and family. We will be supporting them in every way we can during this incredibly difficult time.
    “The Blue Family will come together today, and over the next days and weeks, and will support the family and each other.”
    The family of Constable Smith has asked for privacy at this time.
    Constable Smith joined Tasmania Police on September 25, 2000, graduating on May 11, 2001, as part of Course 3/2000, and was a passionate cyclist, participating in the 2011 Charity Trust bike ride.
    Constable Smith served in Northern District in both the Northern Crime Management Unit and uniform roles until 2020, when he transferred to Ulverstone uniform.  He received the Commissioner’s Medal in 2011 and 20-year clasp in 2021, as well as the National Police Service Medal (15 years) in 2016.
    Commissioner Adams acknowledged emergency services who responded to the incident and assisted at the scene on Monday.
    She praised investigators and forensics officers who examined the scene and worked late into the night, through difficult weather conditions, gathering evidence.
    “While no other staff have been injured in this terrible incident, all will be impacted by their involvement in such a tragic event,” Commissioner Adams said.
    A 46-year-old North Motton man remains in Launceston General Hospital, under police guard, having undergone surgery for non life-threatening injuries.
    No charges have yet been laid.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Ritrovamenti del fungo amanita falloide causano un’allerta sanitaria

    Source: Australian Green Party

    ​​​NSW Health ha emesso un’allerta sanitaria sui rischi associati all’ingestione di funghi selvatici a seguito del ritrovamento di esemplari di amanita falloide NSW. 
    Esemplari di Amanita falloide, comunemente chiamata ‘death cap mushroom’ in Australia, sono stati recentemente rilevati a Sydney, nelle Highlands meridionali e nel NSW meridionale.
    Genevieve Adamo, specialista senior del Centro informazioni sulle sostanze velenose del NSW, ha dichiarato che questi funghi possono essere letali se ingeriti.
     “I sintomi di avvelenamento da funghi possono talvolta essere ritardati, ma un trattamento precoce è fondamentale per la sopravvivenza”, ha dichiarato Adamo.
    “Questi includono vomito e diarrea, e in casi gravi danni ai reni e al fegato o morte.”
    Il Prof. Brett Summerell, scienziato capo dei giardini botanici di Sydney avverte che l’identificazione di funghi selvatici per l’ingestione è molto complessa.
    “Non esiste un metodo semplice e affidabile per capire se un fungo selvatico sia commestibile o velenoso; quindi raccomandiamo di non raccogliere e mangiare funghi selvatici, ha dichiarato il Prof. Summerell.
    “Cuocere funghi selvatici velenosi non li rende commestibili né sicuri.
    “Si dovrebbero solamente mangiare funghi acquistati in un negozio di fiducia, mercato o supermercato.”
    Nel 2024, ci sono stati 23 ricoveri ospedalieri causati dagli effetti tossici di funghi ingeriti da persone, tra cui due bambini di meno di 5 anni.
    Nello stesso anno, il Centro informazioni sulle sostanze velenose del NSW ha risposto a 363 chiamate relative ad ingestione di funghi selvatici nel NSW e nell’ACT, con un aumento del 26% rispetto al 2023.
    Quest’anno (al 31 maggio 2025), ci sono state 190 chiamate.
    Con il rilevamento di esemplari di amanita falloide molto velenosi nel NSW, si avverte che il consumo di funghi selvatici può avere conseguenze disastrose. 
    “I bambini sono particolarmente a rischio a causa della loro abitudine di mettere tutto in bocca,” avverte Adamo. 
    “È importante controllare i propri figli quando giocano all’aperto, specialmente se vicino a grandi alberi nei parchi o giardini in cui possono crescere funghi.
    “Si raccomanda di rimuovere funghi per tenere i bambini al sicuro.”
    NSW Health e le municipalità locali stanno conducendo sopralluoghi da due anni per verificare la presenza di amanita falloide a seguito di rilevamenti nel sud del NSW.
    Se temete che si sia verificato un avvelenamento da funghi, non aspettate la comparsa dei sintomi. Chiamate immediatamente il Centro informazioni sulle sostanze velenose al numero 13 11 26.
    In caso di emergenza, chiamate il Triplo Zero (000) o recatevi al Pronto Soccorso. Se possibile, portate un campione del fungo o una fotografia per facilitarne l’identificazione. 
    Maggiori informazioni sull’avvelenamento da funghi si trovano sul sito web di NSW Health.​

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: डेथ क्याप (Death cap) च्याउ फेला परे पछि स्वास्थ्य चेतावनी जारी

    Source: Australian Green Party

    एन.एस.डब्ल्यु. मा विषालु डेथ क्याप च्याउ उम्रिरहेको भेटिएकाले एन.एस.डब्ल्यु. स्वास्थ्य (NSW Health) ले जङ्गली च्याउ खाँदा स्वास्थ्यलाई हुने जोखिमको बारेमा चेतावनी दिइरहेको छ।
    अमानिटा फाल्लोइड्स, जसलाई सामान्यतया डेथ क्याप च्याउहरू भनेर चिनिन्छ, हालसालै सिड्नी, दक्षिणी हाईल्यान्ड्स र दक्षिणी एन.एस.डब्ल्यु. मा उम्रिरहेको फेला पारिएको छ।
    एन.एस.डब्ल्यु. वीष सम्बन्धी जानकारी केन्द्रका वरिष्ठ विशेषज्ञ, जेनेभिव अडामोले डेथ क्याप च्याउ खाएमा घातक हुन सक्छ भन्ने कुरा बताइन्।
    “कहिलेकाहीँ च्याउको विषाक्तताका लक्षणहरू देखिन समय लाग्न सक्छ, तर स्वास्थ्य परिणामहरूका लागि प्रारम्भिक उपचार महत्त्वपूर्ण छ,” सुश्री अडामोले भनिन्।
    “यिनीहरूमा बान्ता आउने र पखाला लाग्ने, र गम्भीर मामिलाहरूमा, कलेजो र मृगौलामा क्षति पुग्ने वा ज्यानै जाने समावेश छन्।”
    एउटा जङ्गली च्याउ खानको लागि सुरक्षित छ कि छैन भनेर पहिचान गर्न एकदम गाह्रो हुन्छ भनेर सिड्नीको वनस्पति उद्यानका प्रमुख वैज्ञानिक, प्राध्यापक ब्रेट समर्रेलले चेतावनी दिए।
    “एउटा जङ्गली च्याउ खान मिल्छ वा विषालु छ कि भनेर पहिचान गर्ने सजिलो वा भरपर्दो तरिका छैन, त्यसैले हामी मानिसहरूलाई जङ्गली च्याउहरू नखोज्न र नखान सल्लाह दिन्छौँ।,” प्राध्यापक समर्रेलले भने।
    “विषालु च्याउहरूलाई पकाउँदा तिनीहरू खानको लागि सुरक्षित हुँदैनन्।
    “तपाईंले केवल सम्मानित किराना पसल, सुपरमार्केट वा उत्पादनको बजारबाट आफूले खरिद गरेको च्याउहरू खानुपर्छ।”
    २०२४ मा, च्याउ खाएर विषाक्तताको कारणले अस्पताल भर्ना हुने २३ घटनाहरू थिए, ती मध्ये दुईजना ५ वर्ष भन्दा कम उमेरका बालबालिकाहरू थिए।
    त्यही वर्ष, एन.एस.डब्ल्यु. वीष सम्बन्धी जानकारी केन्द्रले एन.एस.डब्ल्यु. र ए.सी.टी. मा जङ्गली च्याउका जोखिमहरूका सम्बन्धमा ३६३ फोनहरूको जवाफ दियो, जुन २०२३ को तुलनामा २६ प्रति शतको वृद्धि हो।
    यस वर्ष अहिलेसम्म (३१ मे २०२५ सम्म), १९० फोनहरू आएका छन्।
    एन.एस.डब्ल्यु. मा एकदम विषालु डेथ क्याप च्याउको पहिचान गरिएकाले जङ्गली च्याउहरू खाँदा विनाशकारी परिणामहरू हुन सक्छन् भन्नेबारे यो चेतावनी हो।
    “साना बच्चाबच्चीहरूको जे कुरा पनि आफ्नो मुखमा हाल्ने प्रवृत्ति हुने भएकाले, उनीहरू जोखिममा पर्न सक्छन्,” सुश्री अडामोले भनिन्।
    “आफ्ना बच्चाबच्चीहरू बाहिर खेल्दै गर्दा उनीहरूलाई ध्यान दिनुहोस्, विशेष गरी पार्कका ठुला रूखहरू वरिवरि वा तपाईंको घरको बगैँचामा जहाँ च्याउहरू उम्रिन सक्छन्।
    “तपाईंको बच्चाबच्चीहरूलाई सुरक्षित राख्नको लागि उम्रिन सक्ने कुनै पनि च्याउहरूलाई हटाउनुहोस्।”
    प्रारम्भिक रूपमा पत्ता लगाएपछि अघिल्ला दुई वर्षदेखि एन.एस.डब्ल्यु. स्वास्थ्य (NSW Health) र स्थानीय काउन्सिलहरूले दक्षिणी एन.एस.डब्ल्यु. मा डेथ क्याप च्याउहरूको निरन्तर निगरानी गरिरहेका छन्।
    यदि तपाईं च्याउको विषाक्तता भएको हुन सक्छ भनेर चिन्तित हुनुहुन्छ भने लक्षणहरू देखा पर्ने प्रतीक्षा नगर्नुहोस्। तुरून्तै वीष सम्बन्धी जानकारी केन्द्रलाई १३ ११ २६ मा फोन गर्नुहोस्।
    आपत्कालीन अवस्थामा तीनवटा शुन्य (०००) मा फोन गर्नुहोस् वा आपत्कालीन विभागमा जानुहोस्। सम्भव भएसम्म, पहिचान गर्न मद्दतको लागि च्याउको एक नमूना वा फोटो लिएर जानुहोस्।
    च्याउको विषाक्तताबारे थप जानकारी एन.एस.डब्ल्यु. स्वास्थ्य (NSW Health) को वेबसाइटमा पाउन सकिन्छ​।

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: இறப்புக் குப்பி காளானைக் (Death cap mushroom) கண்டறிதலில் உடனடி சுகாதார எச்சரிக்கை

    Source: Australian Green Party

    ​​நியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸில் நச்சுத்தன்மை வாய்ந்த இறப்புக் குப்பி காளான்கள் வளர்வது கண்டறியப்பட்டதால், காட்டுக் காளான்களை உட்கொள்ளுவதால் ஏற்படும் உடல்நல அபாயங்கள் குறித்து நியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸ் சுகாதாரத் துறை (NSW Health) மக்களை எச்சரிக்கிறது.
    இறப்புக் குப்பி காளான்கள் என்று பொதுவாக அழைக்கப்படும் ‘அமனிடா ஃபல்லாய்டிஸ்’ (Amanita phalloides), சமீபத்தில் சிட்னி, தெற்கு மேட்டுநிலங்கள் (Southern Highlands) மற்றும் தெற்கு நியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸில் வளர்வது கண்டறியப்பட்டுள்ளது.
    நியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸ் நஞ்சுகள் தகவல் மையத்தின் (NSW Poisons Information Centre) மூத்த துறைவல்லுநர் ‘ஜெனெவீவ் அடாமோ’ (Genevieve Adamo), இறப்புக் குப்பி காளான்களை உட்கொண்டால் உயிருக்கு ஆபத்தானது என்று கூறினார்.
    “காளான் நச்சுத் தன்மையின் அறிகுறிகள் சில நேரங்களில் தாமதமாகலாம், ஆனால் ஆரம்பகாலச் சிகிச்சை சுகாதார விளைவுகளுக்கு இன்றியமையாதது,” என்று திருமதி ‘அடாமோ’ (Adamo) கூறினார்.
    “இவற்றில் வாந்தி மற்றும் வயிற்றுப்போக்கு, மற்றும் கடுமையான சந்தர்ப்பங்களில், கல்லீரல் மற்றும் சிறுநீரக பாதிப்பு அல்லது உயிரிழப்பு ஆகியவை அடங்கும்.”
    சிட்னியின் தாவரவியல் பூங்காவின் தலைமை விஞ்ஞானி பேராசிரியர் ‘பிரெட் சம்மரெல்’ (Brett Summerell), காட்டுக் காளான் சாப்பிடுவது பாதுகாப்பானதா என்பதை அடையாளம் காண்பது மிகவும் கடினம் என்று எச்சரித்தார்.
    “காட்டுக் காளான் உண்ணக்கூடியதா அல்லது நச்சுத்தன்மை கொண்டதா என்பதைக் கண்டறிய எளிதான அல்லது நம்பகமான வழி எதுவும் இல்லை, எனவே காட்டுக் காளான்களைத் தேடிச் சென்று சாப்பிடுவதைத் தவிர்க்குமாறு நாங்கள் மக்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்துகிறோம்,” என்று பேராசிரியர் ‘சம்மரெல்’ (Summerell) கூறினார்.
    “நச்சுக் காளான்களைச் சமைப்பதனாலேயே அவற்றைச் சாப்பிடுவதற்குப் பாதுகாப்பானதாக மாற்றாது.
    “நீங்கள் ஒரு நம்பிக்கையான மளிகைக் கடை, பல்பொருள் அங்காடி அல்லது உற்பத்திச் சந்தையில் இருந்து வாங்கும் காளான்களை மட்டுமே சாப்பிட வேண்டும்.”
    2024 ஆம் ஆண்டில், காளான்களை உட்கொண்டதால் ஏற்பட்ட நச்சு விளைவுகளுக்காக 23 பேர் மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டனர், அவற்றில் இரண்டு பேர் ஐந்து வயதுக்குட்பட்ட குழந்தைகள்.
    அதே ஆண்டில், நியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸ் மற்றும் ACT இல் காட்டுக் காளான்களின் பாதிப்புக்கு ஆளாகியிருப்பது தொடர்பான 363 அழைப்புகளுக்கு நியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸ் நஞ்சுகள் தகவல் மையம் பதிலளித்தது, இது 2023 ஆண்டுடன் ஒப்பிடும்போது 26 சதவீதம் அதிகரித்துள்ளது.
    இந்த ஆண்டு இதுவரை (31 மே 2025 வரை), 190 அழைப்புகள் வந்துள்ளன.
    நியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸில் அதிக நச்சுத்தன்மை கொண்ட இறப்புக் குப்பி காளான்கள் அடையாளம் காணப்பட்டதன் மூலம், காட்டு காளான்களை உட்கொள்ளுவதால் பேரழிவு விளைவுகள் ஏற்படலாம் என்பதற்கு இது ஓர் எச்சரிக்கையாகும்.
    “சிறு குழந்தைகள் தங்கள் வாயில் பொருட்களை வைக்கும் பழக்கம் இருப்பதால், அவர்களுக்கு அபாயம் ஏற்படக்கூடும்” என்று திருமதி ‘அடாமோ’ (Adamo) கூறினார்.
    “உங்கள் குழந்தைகள் வெளியே விளையாடும்போது, குறிப்பாக பூங்காக்களில் உள்ள பெரிய மரங்களைச் சுற்றியோ அல்லது காளான்கள் வளரக்கூடிய வீட்டில் உங்கள் தோட்டத்தைச் சுற்றியோ இருக்கும்போது அவர்களைக் கண்காணியுங்கள்.
    “உங்கள் குழந்தைகளைப் பாதுகாப்பாக வைத்திருப்பதற்கு வளரும் காளான்களை அகற்றவும்.”
    தெற்கு நியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸில் ஆரம்பத்தில் கண்டறிந்ததைத் தொடர்ந்து, நியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸ் சுகாதாரத் துறை மற்றும் உள்ளூர் நகர சபைகள் கடந்த இரண்டு ஆண்டுகளாக இறப்புக் குப்பி காளான்களுக்கான தொடர்ச்சியான கண்காணிப்பை மேற்கொண்டு வருகின்றன.
    காளான் நச்சுத்தன்மையால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கலாம் என்று நீங்கள் கவலைப்பட்டால், அறிகுறிகள் தோன்றும் வரை காத்திருக்க வேண்டாம். உடனடியாக 13 11 26 என்ற எண்ணில் நியூ சவுத் வேல்ஸ் நஞ்சுகள் தகவல் மையத்தை (NSW Poisons Information Centre)  அழைக்கவும்.
    அவசரகால சூழ்நிலையில் மூன்று பூஜ்யம் (000) என்ற எண்ணை அழைக்கவும் அல்லது அவசர சிகிச்சைப் பிரிவுக்குச் செல்லவும். முடிந்தவரை, அடையாளம் காண உதவும் வகையில் காளானின் மாதிரியோ அல்லது அதன் புகைப்படமோ எடுத்துக் கொண்டு செல்லவும்.
    காளான் நச்சுத்தன்மை பற்றிய கூடுதல் தகவல்களைப் பின்வரும் இணையதளத்தில் காணலாம்: NSW Health website
    ​

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Netanyahu says regime change in Iran could be result of Israel’s attacks

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

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled on Monday that Israel will not halt its offensive against Iran, not even for negotiations, saying that toppling Iran’s leadership “could certainly be the outcome” of the ongoing aerial warfare.

    Netanyahu made the remarks during a press conference, as Iran called on U.S. President Donald Trump to push for a ceasefire in the aerial conflict that began with Israel’s surprise attack on Friday.

    “If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on the social media platform X.

    “Israel must halt its aggression… It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy,” Araghchi wrote.

    In response, Netanyahu said Israel has no intention of stopping the campaign, declaring that the country is on the “path to victory.”

    Asked whether Israel would agree to stop the war, Netanyahu replied, “We gave it a chance — 60 days while they held talks with the Americans.”

    He said Israel would not end its attacks before achieving three objectives: eliminating Iran’s nuclear program, its ballistic missile arsenal, and what he described as “the terror axis” formed by Iran and its regional allies.

    Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes across Iran since Friday, damaging military targets and residential areas. At least 244 people have been killed and 1,277 injured, over 90 percent of them civilians, according to Iran’s Health Ministry.

    Netanyahu said Israel inflicted “very heavy damage” on Iran’s main nuclear facility in Natanz, a claim that has not been verified by Iranian sources. Additional strikes targeted centrifuge and uranium enrichment facilities, as well as missile stockpiles and launchers. He claimed Iran had “thousands” of explosive drones and that half were destroyed in the strikes.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health Privatisation – Private health contracts advance Govt’s health privatisation agenda – PSA

    Source: PSA

    The Government’s directive to Health New Zealand to give 10-year contracts to private hospitals for elective surgeries is a further step towards privatisation of health care, the PSA says.
    Stripping money out of the public health system to pay private, for-profit providers will not solve the Government’s underfunding of health, Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says.
    “The long-term result of outsourcing to private providers will continue to weaken the provision of public health care by starving it of funds, giving the Government a further excuse to privatise more and more healthcare.
    “The plan to contract to private hospital long-term is ushering in the privatisation of the health system, which will inevitably mean syphoning money off from providing health services for all to pay profits to private corporations. This will result in only those who can pay being able to access adequate health care and other vital services.
    “The Government wants to drive us towards a US-style health system where the private sector dominates and sick people without health insurance are left at hospital doors.
    “The Minister says he is unapologetic about his directive, but the directive was kept under wraps for months.
    “If you judge the Government by its actions not its words, it is clear this lack of transparency is cover for privatisation by stealth of public health care.
    “Public health services belong to all of us and are there to deliver for people not shareholders.
    “Privatisation will also mean that the workers who deliver quality public, health services will see their livelihoods threatened by redundancies and reduced pay and conditions,” Fitzsimons says.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: University Research – Climate change linked to dangerous sleep apnea – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    Sleep apnea will become more common and more severe due to global warming, leading to increased health and economic burdens across the globe, warn Flinders University sleep experts.

    A new study, published in leading journal, Nature Communications, found that rising temperatures increase the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and that under the most likely climate change scenarios, the societal burden of OSA is expected to double in most countries over the next 75 years. 

    Lead author and sleep expert, Dr Bastien Lechat, from FHMRI Sleep Health says this is the first study of its kind to outline how global warming is expected to affect breathing during sleep and impact the world’s health, wellbeing and economy.

    “This study helps us to understand how environmental factors like climate might affect health by investigating whether ambient temperatures influence the severity of OSA,” says Dr Lechat.

    “Overall, we were surprised by the magnitude of the association between ambient temperature and OSA severity. 

    “Higher temperatures were associated with a 45 per cent increased likelihood of a sleeper experiencing OSA on a given night. 

    “Importantly, these findings varied by region, with people in European countries seeing higher rates of OSA when temperatures rise than those in Australia and the United States, perhaps due to different rates of air conditioning usage.”

    Sleep apnoea – a condition that disturbs breathing during sleep – affects almost 1 billion people globally and, if untreated or severe, increases the risk of dementia and Parkinson’s disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, anxiety and depression, reduced quality of life, traffic accidents and all-cause mortality, previous research has found.

    In Australia alone, the economic cost associated with poor sleep including sleep disorders like OSA has been estimated at $66 billion a year.

    The study analysed sleep data from over 116,000 people globally using an FDA-cleared under-mattress sensor to estimate the severity of OSA.

    For each user, the sensor recorded around 500 separate nights of data. The researchers then matched this sleep data with detailed 24-hour temperature information sourced from climate models.

    They conducted health economics modeling using disability adjusted life years, a measure employed by the World Health Organization that captures the combined impact of illness, injury, and premature mortality, to quantify the wellbeing and societal burden due to increased prevalence of OSA from rising temperatures under several projected climate scenarios.

    “Using our modelling, we can estimate how burdensome the increase in OSA prevalence due to rising temperature is to society in terms of wellbeing and economic loss,” says Dr Lechat.

    “The increase in OSA prevalence in 2023 due to global warming was associated with a loss of approximately 800,000 healthy life years across the 29 countries studied. 

    “This number is similar to other medical conditions, such as bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease or chronic kidney diseases.”

    Similarly, the estimated total economic cost associated was ~98 billion USD, including 68 billion USD from wellbeing loss and 30 billion USD from workplace productivity loss (missing work or being less productive at work).

    “Our findings highlight that without greater policy action to slow global warming, OSA burden may double by 2100 due to rising temperatures.” 

    Senior researcher on the paper, Professor Danny Eckert, says that while the study is one of the largest of its kind, it was skewed towards high socio-economics countries and individuals, likely to have access to more favourable sleeping environments and air conditioning.

    “This may have biased our estimates and led to an under-estimation of the true health and economic cost,” says Professor Eckert

    In addition to providing further evidence of the major threat of climate change to human health and wellbeing, the study highlights the importance of developing effective interventions to diagnose and manage OSA.

    “Higher rates of diagnosis and treatment will help us to manage and reduce the adverse health and productivity issues caused by climate related OSA,” says Professor Eckert.

    “Going forward, we want to design intervention studies that explore strategies to reduce the impact of ambient temperatures on sleep apnea severity as well as investigate the underlying physiological mechanisms that connect temperature fluctuations to OSA severity.”

    The article, ‘ Global warming may increase the burden of obstructive sleep apnea’ by Bastien Lechat (Flinders University), Jack Manners (Flinders), Lucía Pinilla (Flinders) Amy Reynolds (Flinders), Hannah Scott (Flinders), Daniel Vena (Harvard Medical School), Sebastien Bailly (Univ. Grenoble Alpes), Josh Fitton (Flinders), Barbara Toson (Flinders), Billingsley Kaambwa (Flinders), Robert Adams (Flinders), Jean-Louis Pepin (Univ. Grenoble Alpes), Pierre Escourrou (Centre Interdisciplinaire du Sommeil), Peter Catcheside (Flinders), and Danny J Eckert (Flinders), has been published in the journal Nature Communications. First published 16 June DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60218-1.

    These findings were presented at the ATS 2025 International Conference prior to being journal peer reviewed.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Introduces Bill to Remove Barriers to Telemental Health Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Telemental Health Care Access Act to remove barriers to telemental and behavioral health services for Medicare beneficiaries by removing the statutory requirement that Medicare beneficiaries be seen in person within six months of being treated for mental or behavioral health services through telehealth.
    “Every Louisianan with a mental health condition must have access to telehealth services. For those in rural areas in my state who have a far drive to the nearest specialist, telehealth saves lives,” said Dr. Cassidy.  
    Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) in introducing the legislation.
    U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Troy Balderson (R-OH) introduced a companion version of this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    BackgroundIn 2020, Congress permanently allowed Medicare patients to be treated for mental health services at home or other non-clinical sites, but it also included an in-person visit requirement that limits access. This legislation eliminates that mandate and brings mental health telehealth rules in line with how Medicare covers substance use disorder services without requiring an in-person visit.
    The Telemental Health Care Access Act is supported by dozens of leading mental health, provider, and telehealth organizations, including: Alliance for Connected Care, Alliance of Community Health Plans, American Counseling Association, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association,American Psychological Association, American Telemedicine Association, ATA Action,Association for Behavioral Health & Wellness, Association of American Medical Colleges, California Medical Association, Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law, Centerstone, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action, Health Innovation Alliance, Hims & Hers, HIMSS, Included Health, Mental Health America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, National Association of Social Workers, Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, REDC Consortium, Talkspace, Teladoc Health, United States of Care.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Joins Local Leaders, Army Corps Of Engineers To Celebrate Progress of Cahokia Heights Sewer Trunkline Project

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    June 13, 2025

    Phase I of the city’s sewer trunkline project was supported by $3.5 million in federal funding Durbin secured through an earmark in the FY23 government funding bill

    CAHOKIA HEIGHTS – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined state and local officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a news conference to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the city’s sewer trunkline project, which was supported by $3.5 million in federal funding Durbin secured through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS)—more commonly known as an earmark—in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) government funding bill, as well as the announcement earlier this year of $10 million in federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) funding for St. Clair County.

    “For far too long, the residents of Cahokia Heights have endured the devastating impact of failing storm and sanitary water infrastructure, facing not only property damage, but also threats to their health and safety,” said Durbin. “The sanitary sewer trunkline project will address the immediate needs of the community while laying the foundation for more secure infrastructure and economic investment for generations to come. While there is still more work to be done, Phase I’s completion and the announcement of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief Funding is representative of what federal, state, and local collaboration and cooperation can bring to communities like Cahokia Heights.”

    “This is a transformative moment for our community,” said Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. “Thanks to this funding, we are now able to move forward with meaningful, permanent solutions to problems that have affected our residents for far too long.”

    “Our continued partnership with Cahokia Heights reflects a deep, shared commitment to advancing critical initiatives that benefit the community. By working closely together, we are able to combine federal resources and local expertise to ensure effective, sustainable outcomes. We remain dedicated to supporting this collaboration and look forward to building on the strong foundation we’ve established, driving progress that truly makes a difference,” said COL Andy J. Pannier, Commander St. Louis District, United States Army Corps of Engineers.

    “These needed infrastructure dollars will go a long way to improve the lives of many St. Clair County residents. These problems have long existed and we appreciate the work of Senators Durbin and Duckworth and Representative Budzinski,” said Mark Kern, St. Clair County Chairman.

    Durbin increased the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) authorized funding limit for the Metro East in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 and secured language in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 government funding bill supporting the Corps’ expansion of its ongoing study focusing on the Canal 1 Watershed to a broader area of Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis.  After severe storms devastated St. Clair County in July 2022, Durbin led the Illinois Congressional Delegation in a letter to President Biden, supporting Governor Pritzker’s request for federal assistance.  President Biden declared a Presidential Disaster Declaration, unlocking St. Clair County’s eligibility for the CDBG-DR funds now being distributed for the sewer project.

    Durbin also led a December 2023 letter with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL13) to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) urging the agency to conduct a public health assessment on the impact of decades of flooding in Cahokia Heights.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Pharmac Chief Executive welcomed

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed Natalie McMurtry as Pharmac’s Chief Executive.

    Natalie McMurtry will start as Pharmac’s Chief Executive on Monday 15 September, taking over from the Acting Chief Executive, Brendan Boyle.

    “For the first time, Pharmac has its own Minister. Last year I outlined in my letter of expectations that Pharmac should have appropriate processes for ensuring that people living with an illness, along with their carers and family, can participate in and provide input into decision-making processes around medicines – this is committed to in the Act-National Coalition Agreement,” Mr Seymour says. 

    “Since then, the culture shift at Pharmac has been positive. It has moved towards a more adaptable and patient-centered approach to funding medicines. My expectation is that this will continue.

    “This is in part thanks to the culture review Pharmac undertook to ensure their internal processes weren’t getting in the way of their job – negotiating the best deals for medicine for New Zealanders.

    “Pharmac also conducted a consumer engagement workshop. Patients groups were invited to discuss how they should be consulted in decision-making processes. I look forward to seeing this in practice. 

    “Pharmac are learning from their experiences and making changes where necessary. For example, the community let Pharmac know that they weren’t consulted enough on the original oestradiol decision. In response, Pharmac added a consultation step to its annual tender process to seek feedback when considering a medicine brand change.  

    “The appointment of Natalie McMurtry is another positive step towards a Pharmac which works for the people it serves. I look forward to working alongside her as we look to cement positive change, and continue to move towards a more transparent, inclusive and people-focused organisation.”

    Natalie McMurtry is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience as a frontline clinician and senior leader in Canada. Natalie has held several executive roles within Alberta Health Services, including Vice President of Provincial Clinical Excellence.

    “The Government is doing its part. Last year we allocated Pharmac its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, and a $604 million uplift to give Pharmac the financial support it needs to carry out its functions – negotiating the best deals for medicine for New Zealanders,” Mr Seymour says. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Schumer, Kim Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Sepsis Fatalities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems, and Initiatives for Sepsis (SEPSIS) Act, bipartisan legislation that would reduce sepsis deaths by tasking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with working to improve sepsis care in hospitals. The SEPSIS Act aims to prevent sepsis fatalities by educating providers and hospitals on best practices for early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of sepsis. This legislation would lessen the devastating and costly impact that sepsis can have on patients, hospitals, the health care system, and friends and families of potential sepsis victims. 

    “This bipartisan bill would help provide hospitals and health care professionals with the training and data they need to detect and treat sepsis earlier, so that fewer families lose loved ones to this devastating condition,” said Senator Collins.

    The SEPSIS Act would task the CDC with dedicated sepsis work in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, building on ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of sepsis through the Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements. The CDC’s work will include an education campaign about addressing sepsis in hospitals; improving data collection on pediatric sepsis; sharing information across the Department of Health and Human Services on sepsis quality measures; and development and implementation of a sepsis outcome measure. The SEPSIS Act would also require a report to Congress to evaluate the sepsis outcome measure. Finally, the SEPSIS Act includes a voluntary recognition program for hospitals who maintain effective sepsis programs or improve their sepsis programs over time.

    “Sepsis Alliance is grateful to Senators Schumer, Collins and Kim for their reintroduction of the SEPSIS Act, an important measure for saving lives from sepsis. Over 350,000 U.S. adults are being taken by sepsis each year. The SEPSIS Act is a strong first step in the fight to save lives and limbs from this devastating condition, and we support the swift passage of this measure,” said Thomas Heymann, CEO of Sepsis Alliance.

    “America’s hospitals and health systems are committed to improving patient safety and reducing sepsis. We thank Senators Schumer, Collins and Kim for their leadership on this important issue and support the SEPSIS Act’s efforts to combat this life-threatening condition through increased education and development of a sepsis outcome measure that could help better assess progress, reduce unnecessary administrative burden and improve sepsis care,” said Lisa Kidder Hrobsky, senior vice president of federal relations, advocacy and political affairs, American Hospital Association.

    “Sepsis is a leading cause of preventable death and a critical patient safety challenge that hospitals confront every day. The SEPSIS Act represents meaningful federal leadership that will equip providers with strategies to detect and treat sepsis earlier,” said Charlene MacDonald, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at the Federation of American Hospitals.  “We applaud Senators Schumer, Collins, and Kim for prioritizing patient safety through this bipartisan legislation and recognizing the importance of partnership across hospitals, public health agencies, and families impacted by sepsis.”

    The complete text of the bill can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Schumer, Kim Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Sepsis Fatalities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems, and Initiatives for Sepsis (SEPSIS) Act, bipartisan legislation that would reduce sepsis deaths by tasking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with working to improve sepsis care in hospitals. The SEPSIS Act aims to prevent sepsis fatalities by educating providers and hospitals on best practices for early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of sepsis. This legislation would lessen the devastating and costly impact that sepsis can have on patients, hospitals, the health care system, and friends and families of potential sepsis victims. 

    “This bipartisan bill would help provide hospitals and health care professionals with the training and data they need to detect and treat sepsis earlier, so that fewer families lose loved ones to this devastating condition,” said Senator Collins.

    The SEPSIS Act would task the CDC with dedicated sepsis work in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, building on ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of sepsis through the Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements. The CDC’s work will include an education campaign about addressing sepsis in hospitals; improving data collection on pediatric sepsis; sharing information across the Department of Health and Human Services on sepsis quality measures; and development and implementation of a sepsis outcome measure. The SEPSIS Act would also require a report to Congress to evaluate the sepsis outcome measure. Finally, the SEPSIS Act includes a voluntary recognition program for hospitals who maintain effective sepsis programs or improve their sepsis programs over time.

    “Sepsis Alliance is grateful to Senators Schumer, Collins and Kim for their reintroduction of the SEPSIS Act, an important measure for saving lives from sepsis. Over 350,000 U.S. adults are being taken by sepsis each year. The SEPSIS Act is a strong first step in the fight to save lives and limbs from this devastating condition, and we support the swift passage of this measure,” said Thomas Heymann, CEO of Sepsis Alliance.

    “America’s hospitals and health systems are committed to improving patient safety and reducing sepsis. We thank Senators Schumer, Collins and Kim for their leadership on this important issue and support the SEPSIS Act’s efforts to combat this life-threatening condition through increased education and development of a sepsis outcome measure that could help better assess progress, reduce unnecessary administrative burden and improve sepsis care,” said Lisa Kidder Hrobsky, senior vice president of federal relations, advocacy and political affairs, American Hospital Association.

    “Sepsis is a leading cause of preventable death and a critical patient safety challenge that hospitals confront every day. The SEPSIS Act represents meaningful federal leadership that will equip providers with strategies to detect and treat sepsis earlier,” said Charlene MacDonald, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at the Federation of American Hospitals.  “We applaud Senators Schumer, Collins, and Kim for prioritizing patient safety through this bipartisan legislation and recognizing the importance of partnership across hospitals, public health agencies, and families impacted by sepsis.”

    The complete text of the bill can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Speaks at Northern Light Health Rural Dementia Training Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Click HERE and HERE for individual photos.

    Orono, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the Northern Light Health Maine Rural Dementia Training Program at the University of Maine. More than 100 medical professionals from across the state were in attendance for the all-day program, which trains rural medical professionals, caregivers, and social workers to care for patients with dementia in outpatient and hospital-based settings. Maine, being one of the oldest and most rural states in the nation, faces a high prevalence of age-associated cognitive disorders and limited access to dementia specialists.

    “Far too many of us know the pain of having a loved one stricken by dementia, including Alzheimer’s. I’ve seen it in my own family, and I understand how devastating these diseases can be,” said Senator Collins during her remarks. “In our large rural state, it can be difficult to secure an accurate, early diagnosis and a plan for care. That’s why I worked hard to secure funding for this important training program to help ensure families across Maine can access the care they need.”

    Last year, through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins secured more than $1.3 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for Northern Light Acadia Hospital to create the Rural Dementia Training Program.

    This week, Senator Collins delivered remarks at the 2025 Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum in Washington. In her remarks, Senator Collins highlighted her successful legislative efforts to advance Alzheimer’s research, prevention, and treatment. In the 118th Congress, there were 1,868 standalone health care bills introduced in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Of those bills, only 15 passed both chambers and were signed into law. U.S. Senator Susan Collins led or co-led 5 of those 15 bills to passage with strong bipartisan support, and 3 of those 5 bills dealt directly with brain health. Those bills were the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Speaks at Northern Light Health Rural Dementia Training Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Click HERE and HERE for individual photos.

    Orono, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the Northern Light Health Maine Rural Dementia Training Program at the University of Maine. More than 100 medical professionals from across the state were in attendance for the all-day program, which trains rural medical professionals, caregivers, and social workers to care for patients with dementia in outpatient and hospital-based settings. Maine, being one of the oldest and most rural states in the nation, faces a high prevalence of age-associated cognitive disorders and limited access to dementia specialists.

    “Far too many of us know the pain of having a loved one stricken by dementia, including Alzheimer’s. I’ve seen it in my own family, and I understand how devastating these diseases can be,” said Senator Collins during her remarks. “In our large rural state, it can be difficult to secure an accurate, early diagnosis and a plan for care. That’s why I worked hard to secure funding for this important training program to help ensure families across Maine can access the care they need.”

    Last year, through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins secured more than $1.3 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for Northern Light Acadia Hospital to create the Rural Dementia Training Program.

    This week, Senator Collins delivered remarks at the 2025 Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum in Washington. In her remarks, Senator Collins highlighted her successful legislative efforts to advance Alzheimer’s research, prevention, and treatment. In the 118th Congress, there were 1,868 standalone health care bills introduced in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Of those bills, only 15 passed both chambers and were signed into law. U.S. Senator Susan Collins led or co-led 5 of those 15 bills to passage with strong bipartisan support, and 3 of those 5 bills dealt directly with brain health. Those bills were the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Chief Executive for Pharmac

    Source: PHARMAC

    Pharmac’s Board has appointed a new Chief Executive to lead the organisation.

    Canadian Natalie McMurtry will join Pharmac on Monday 15 September after an extensive recruitment search within New Zealand and overseas.

    Board Chair Paula Bennett says Ms McMurtry brings significant front-line and health leadership experience to the Pharmac role.

    “The level of interest in this role and the calibre of applicants was really high but in the end the Board was impressed by Natalie McMurtry’s depth of strategic and operational experience, intelligence, people focus and empathetic approach.

    “This is exactly what Pharmac needs as a more transparent, inclusive and outward-focused organisation.”

    Natalie McMurtry is currently the Chief Transition Officer responsible for launching a new Acute Care Agency in Alberta, Canada. Prior to that she was the Assistant Deputy Minister for Pharmaceutical and Supplementary Health Benefits with the Alberta Government. She began her career as a paediatric critical care pharmacist at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton and has since held a variety of strategic and operational roles across the health system. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from Dalhousie University and an MBA in Innovation Leadership.

    She says she is looking forward to joining Pharmac.

    “I am honoured and excited to be joining the Pharmac team at such a pivotal time. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to an organisation that plays such a vital role in the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.”

    Ms McMurtry will replace Acting Chief Executive Brendan Boyle, who was appointed for a fixed term while recruitment was underway to fill the vacancy left by former Chief Executive Sarah Fitt. Paula Bennett thanked Brendan Boyle for his work in the interim.

    “We have been very fortunate to have his extensive public sector experience available to lay strong foundations for the new Chief Executive.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Rochester, Gillibrand Highlights How President Trump’s Big Beautiful Betrayal Will Hurt Rochester Hospitals, Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Proposal Would Increase Costs, Put Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, Threaten Nursing Home Operations, And Make It Harder For Kids To Access Care

    If Bill Passes, An Estimated 40,000 People Would Lose Health Insurance And 25,000 Risk Losing Some Or All SNAP Benefits In Rochester Area Alone

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Jordan Health’s Woodward Center to highlight how President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt Rochester hospitals and families. If passed, this legislation would cause 10.9 million Americans, including up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034, and 11million would be at risk of having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated.

    President Trump’s bill would cause Americans to lose their benefits by imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid and even stricter, more onerous work requirements for SNAP recipients. This would force families with children and people with disabilities to jump through more hoops to access benefits, and it would generate additional administrative costs for the program. In New York State, work requirements for Medicaid will cost an estimated $510 million annually to administer and enforce.

    President Trump’s bill would also put rural hospitals at risk of closure by limiting the use of provider taxes, which help make it possible for rural and urban hospitals and clinics to remain open and care for patients by providing maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care. Funds collected by states through provider taxes are often directed to health care providers whose costs far exceed base Medicaid payment rates. These providers are typically located in rural America – where health care services are hard to find – or in dense urban areas, where the cost to deliver health care is high and health care providers are serving more people with Medicaid.

    New York-based community health centers, like Jordan Health, that care for every patient who walks through their doors are estimated to lose $300 million annually as a result of this bill. The impact will vary by health center, but losses will range from 6 to 17%, depending on how many of their patients are covered by Medicaid or New York’s Essential Plan.

    Health centers already operate on a shoestring budget, and this kind of funding cut will have very serious consequences. Already, over 60% of health centers have less than 90 days of cash on hand, and more than 20 percent have reduced staffing or closed sites in the past year due to financial strain. Cuts of this magnitude will cause more closures, more staffing cuts, and reduced access for the 2.4 million patients that our New York community health centers serve.

    “President Trump’s bill is not ‘beautiful’—it’s a betrayal of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history, and it puts the future of our state’s critical rural hospitals in jeopardy. Congress and the Trump administration should be focused on bringing down the cost of essentials, not limiting access to the health care and benefits that so many New Yorkers rely on to get care and put food on the table. This is an unacceptable piece of legislation, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing.”

    Gillibrand was joined by Jordan Health President and CEO Dr. Linda Clark and State Senator Jeremy Cooney.

    “Here are the facts: One in every eight people in New York State relies on a Community Health Center for care, and more than 60% of those people are covered by Medicaid, so nearly half of all health center funding comes from Medicaid,” said Rose Duhan, CHCANYS President and CEO. “We’ve done the math – the proposals included in the House bill will cost New York’s community health centers $300M annually. If you limit access to Medicaid, you hurt Community Health Centers and the people they serve. That’s a fact.”

    “We are in a critical state when it comes to the proposed Medicaid program funding cuts and changes,” said Dr. Linda Clark, president and CEO of Jordan Health. “More than 70% of our patients are enrolled in a Medicaid program and depend on funding to cover the costs of their care. Access to high-quality healthcare is not a privilege it is a necessity and impacts our community as a whole.”

    “There is nothing big or beautiful about the Republican tax bill being discussed in Congress,” said State Senator Jeremy Cooney. “Now more than ever, we need to stand up on behalf of our vulnerable populations and make it clear that cutting Medicaid is inhumane and unacceptable. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Gillibrand in pushing back against the President’s reckless policies and for defending the values that Rochesterians hold dear.”

    “Medicaid is a lifeline for countless working families, seniors, and vulnerable individuals in our community. The proposed GOP reconciliation bill represents a direct attack on their health, safety, and dignity,” said New York State Assemblyman Demond Meeks. “Cuts to Medicaid would mean fewer doctor visits, longer wait times for care, and the closure of community health centers that serve as the only option for many in underserved areas. This is not just bad policy—it’s a moral failure. I applaud Senator Gillibrand for taking a stand and bringing national attention to what these cuts would mean for real people. We must not allow partisan politics in Washington to strip away essential care from those who need it most.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Rochester, Gillibrand Highlights How President Trump’s Big Beautiful Betrayal Will Hurt Rochester Hospitals, Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Proposal Would Increase Costs, Put Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, Threaten Nursing Home Operations, And Make It Harder For Kids To Access Care
    If Bill Passes, An Estimated 40,000 People Would Lose Health Insurance And 25,000 Risk Losing Some Or All SNAP Benefits In Rochester Area Alone
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Jordan Health’s Woodward Center to highlight how President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt Rochester hospitals and families. If passed, this legislation would cause 10.9 million Americans, including up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034, and 11million would be at risk of having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated.
    President Trump’s bill would cause Americans to lose their benefits by imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid and even stricter, more onerous work requirements for SNAP recipients. This would force families with children and people with disabilities to jump through more hoops to access benefits, and it would generate additional administrative costs for the program. In New York State, work requirements for Medicaid will cost an estimated $510 million annually to administer and enforce.
    President Trump’s bill would also put rural hospitals at risk of closure by limiting the use of provider taxes, which help make it possible for rural and urban hospitals and clinics to remain open and care for patients by providing maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care. Funds collected by states through provider taxes are often directed to health care providers whose costs far exceed base Medicaid payment rates. These providers are typically located in rural America – where health care services are hard to find – or in dense urban areas, where the cost to deliver health care is high and health care providers are serving more people with Medicaid.
    New York-based community health centers, like Jordan Health, that care for every patient who walks through their doors are estimated to lose $300 million annually as a result of this bill. The impact will vary by health center, but losses will range from 6 to 17%, depending on how many of their patients are covered by Medicaid or New York’s Essential Plan.
    Health centers already operate on a shoestring budget, and this kind of funding cut will have very serious consequences. Already, over 60% of health centers have less than 90 days of cash on hand, and more than 20 percent have reduced staffing or closed sites in the past year due to financial strain. Cuts of this magnitude will cause more closures, more staffing cuts, and reduced access for the 2.4 million patients that our New York community health centers serve.
    “President Trump’s bill is not ‘beautiful’—it’s a betrayal of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history, and it puts the future of our state’s critical rural hospitals in jeopardy. Congress and the Trump administration should be focused on bringing down the cost of essentials, not limiting access to the health care and benefits that so many New Yorkers rely on to get care and put food on the table. This is an unacceptable piece of legislation, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing.”
    Gillibrand was joined by Jordan Health President and CEO Dr. Linda Clark and State Senator Jeremy Cooney.
    “Here are the facts: One in every eight people in New York State relies on a Community Health Center for care, and more than 60% of those people are covered by Medicaid, so nearly half of all health center funding comes from Medicaid,” said Rose Duhan, CHCANYS President and CEO. “We’ve done the math – the proposals included in the House bill will cost New York’s community health centers $300M annually. If you limit access to Medicaid, you hurt Community Health Centers and the people they serve. That’s a fact.”
    “We are in a critical state when it comes to the proposed Medicaid program funding cuts and changes,” said Dr. Linda Clark, president and CEO of Jordan Health. “More than 70% of our patients are enrolled in a Medicaid program and depend on funding to cover the costs of their care. Access to high-quality healthcare is not a privilege it is a necessity and impacts our community as a whole.”
    “There is nothing big or beautiful about the Republican tax bill being discussed in Congress,” said State Senator Jeremy Cooney. “Now more than ever, we need to stand up on behalf of our vulnerable populations and make it clear that cutting Medicaid is inhumane and unacceptable. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Gillibrand in pushing back against the President’s reckless policies and for defending the values that Rochesterians hold dear.”
    “Medicaid is a lifeline for countless working families, seniors, and vulnerable individuals in our community. The proposed GOP reconciliation bill represents a direct attack on their health, safety, and dignity,” said New York State Assemblyman Demond Meeks. “Cuts to Medicaid would mean fewer doctor visits, longer wait times for care, and the closure of community health centers that serve as the only option for many in underserved areas. This is not just bad policy—it’s a moral failure. I applaud Senator Gillibrand for taking a stand and bringing national attention to what these cuts would mean for real people. We must not allow partisan politics in Washington to strip away essential care from those who need it most.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Rochester, Gillibrand Highlights How President Trump’s Big Beautiful Betrayal Will Hurt Rochester Hospitals, Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Proposal Would Increase Costs, Put Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, Threaten Nursing Home Operations, And Make It Harder For Kids To Access Care

    If Bill Passes, An Estimated 40,000 People Would Lose Health Insurance And 25,000 Risk Losing Some Or All SNAP Benefits In Rochester Area Alone

    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Jordan Health’s Woodward Center to highlight how President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt Rochester hospitals and families. If passed, this legislation would cause 10.9 million Americans, including up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034, and 11million would be at risk of having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated.

    President Trump’s bill would cause Americans to lose their benefits by imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid and even stricter, more onerous work requirements for SNAP recipients. This would force families with children and people with disabilities to jump through more hoops to access benefits, and it would generate additional administrative costs for the program. In New York State, work requirements for Medicaid will cost an estimated $510 million annually to administer and enforce.

    President Trump’s bill would also put rural hospitals at risk of closure by limiting the use of provider taxes, which help make it possible for rural and urban hospitals and clinics to remain open and care for patients by providing maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care. Funds collected by states through provider taxes are often directed to health care providers whose costs far exceed base Medicaid payment rates. These providers are typically located in rural America – where health care services are hard to find – or in dense urban areas, where the cost to deliver health care is high and health care providers are serving more people with Medicaid.

    New York-based community health centers, like Jordan Health, that care for every patient who walks through their doors are estimated to lose $300 million annually as a result of this bill. The impact will vary by health center, but losses will range from 6 to 17%, depending on how many of their patients are covered by Medicaid or New York’s Essential Plan.

    Health centers already operate on a shoestring budget, and this kind of funding cut will have very serious consequences. Already, over 60% of health centers have less than 90 days of cash on hand, and more than 20 percent have reduced staffing or closed sites in the past year due to financial strain. Cuts of this magnitude will cause more closures, more staffing cuts, and reduced access for the 2.4 million patients that our New York community health centers serve.

    “President Trump’s bill is not ‘beautiful’—it’s a betrayal of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history, and it puts the future of our state’s critical rural hospitals in jeopardy. Congress and the Trump administration should be focused on bringing down the cost of essentials, not limiting access to the health care and benefits that so many New Yorkers rely on to get care and put food on the table. This is an unacceptable piece of legislation, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing.”

    Gillibrand was joined by Jordan Health President and CEO Dr. Linda Clark and State Senator Jeremy Cooney.

    “Here are the facts: One in every eight people in New York State relies on a Community Health Center for care, and more than 60% of those people are covered by Medicaid, so nearly half of all health center funding comes from Medicaid,” said Rose Duhan, CHCANYS President and CEO. “We’ve done the math – the proposals included in the House bill will cost New York’s community health centers $300M annually. If you limit access to Medicaid, you hurt Community Health Centers and the people they serve. That’s a fact.”

    “We are in a critical state when it comes to the proposed Medicaid program funding cuts and changes,” said Dr. Linda Clark, president and CEO of Jordan Health. “More than 70% of our patients are enrolled in a Medicaid program and depend on funding to cover the costs of their care. Access to high-quality healthcare is not a privilege it is a necessity and impacts our community as a whole.”

    “There is nothing big or beautiful about the Republican tax bill being discussed in Congress,” said State Senator Jeremy Cooney. “Now more than ever, we need to stand up on behalf of our vulnerable populations and make it clear that cutting Medicaid is inhumane and unacceptable. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Gillibrand in pushing back against the President’s reckless policies and for defending the values that Rochesterians hold dear.”

    “Medicaid is a lifeline for countless working families, seniors, and vulnerable individuals in our community. The proposed GOP reconciliation bill represents a direct attack on their health, safety, and dignity,” said New York State Assemblyman Demond Meeks. “Cuts to Medicaid would mean fewer doctor visits, longer wait times for care, and the closure of community health centers that serve as the only option for many in underserved areas. This is not just bad policy—it’s a moral failure. I applaud Senator Gillibrand for taking a stand and bringing national attention to what these cuts would mean for real people. We must not allow partisan politics in Washington to strip away essential care from those who need it most.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Saranac Lake, Gillibrand Highlights The Critical Role Of Rural Health Care In Our Communities, Discusses How The “Big Beautiful Bill” Will Hurt North Country Hospitals And Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand

    Proposal Would Increase Costs, Put Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, Threaten Nursing Home Operations, And Make It Harder For Kids To Access Care

    If Bill Passes, An Estimated 44,000 People Would Lose Health Insurance In the 21st Congressional District

    SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Adirondack Medical Center to highlight how President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt North Country hospitals and families. If passed, this legislation would cause 10.9 million Americans, including up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, to lose their health insurance coverage by 2034, and 11million would be at risk of having their SNAP benefits reduced or eliminated.

    President Trump’s bill would cause Americans to lose their benefits by imposing work requirements on people receiving Medicaid and even stricter, more onerous work requirements for SNAP recipients. This would force families with children and people with disabilities to jump through more hoops to access benefits, and it would generate additional administrative costs for the program. In New York State, work requirements for Medicaid will cost an estimated $510 million annually to administer and enforce.

    President Trump’s bill would also put rural hospitals at risk of closure by limiting the use of provider taxes, which help make it possible for rural and urban hospitals and clinics to remain open and care for patients by providing maternity, emergency, and behavioral health care. Funds collected by states through provider taxes are often directed to health care providers whose costs far exceed base Medicaid payment rates. These providers are typically located in rural America – where health care services are hard to find – or in dense urban areas, where the cost to deliver health care is high and health care providers are serving more people with Medicaid.

    “President Trump’s bill is not ‘beautiful’—it’s a betrayal of millions of hard-working Americans,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill includes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history, and it puts the future of our state’s critical rural hospitals in jeopardy. Congress and the Trump administration should be focused on bringing down the cost of essentials, not limiting access to the health care and benefits that so many New Yorkers rely on to get care and put food on the table. This is an unacceptable piece of legislation, and I will do everything in my power to stop it from passing.”

    Gillibrand was joined by CEO of Adirondack Health Aaron Kramer and CEO of Hudson Headwaters Health Network Dr. Tucker Slingerland.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: IPAA Comments to Interior on Regulatory Issues Impacting Onshore and Offshore Producers

    Source: Independent Petroleum Association of America

    Headline: IPAA Comments to Interior on Regulatory Issues Impacting Onshore and Offshore Producers

    Jun 16, 2025 IPAA Comments to Interior on Regulatory Issues Impacting Onshore and Offshore Producers

    Although there are a variety of important issues facing independent producers on offshore and onshore federal lands, IPAA wants to raise three specific issues the Trump Administration is working on that are of vital importance to our members. These issues are outlined below:

    1. Revising the Risk Management and Financial Assurance Rule for OCS Lease and Grant Obligations

    2. Rescission of the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule

    3. Permitting Reform

    Continue Reading

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Targeted action on suicide prevention

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has today launched the Government’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan which sets out a five-year whole-of-government approach to preventing suicide in New Zealand.

    “I want to acknowledge the people who have lost their lives to suicide, those struggling with their mental health or addiction, and those with lived experience or who have been affected by suicide,” Mr Doocey says.

    “New Zealand continues to face stubbornly high suicide rates. Last year, 617 people died by suspected suicide. Behind that number are grieving families, friends, colleagues, and communities.

    “What sets this Plan apart from the last is the actions in the Plan are now focused on delivery with clear milestones, completion dates, and importantly an accountable agency.

    “There are 21 health-led new actions and 13 cross-agency new actions in the Plan. The actions overall aim is to improve access to suicide prevention and postvention supports, grow a workforce that is able to support those at risk of, or affected by suicide, and strengthen our focus on prevention and early intervention.

    “I am particularly proud that this plan is grounded in lived experience. More than 400 people and organisations contributed to the consultation process, including many who have experienced distress themselves or lost someone to suicide. Their insights shaped these actions and helped ensure we are targeting the right areas.

    “Some key actions include by the end of this year establishing a new suicide prevention community fund. This will provide targeted support that is focused on populations experiencing higher rates of suicidal distress.

    “We know one of the biggest barriers to support is our workforce. The Plan includes initiatives that will grow our workforce, such as by expanding suicide prevention training and strengthening existing resources to better equip workforces, communities and families.

    “We want people to receive care in the community instead of resorting to an emergency department, that is why by the end of next June, we will have rolled out six crisis recovery cafés that will provide more options for people experiencing distress.

    “However, for those who are presenting to emergency departments in mental distress, by the end of December we will establish peer support roles in eight emergency departments for people presenting with mental health and addiction needs.”

    Implementation of the action plan will be supported by existing suicide prevention investment of $20 million per year, plus allocation of an additional $16 million per year to improve access to mental health and suicide prevention supports through initiatives identified in the Plan.

    “There is hope and a way forward. Suicide is preventable and we have a duty as a Government, and as a country, to do more to ensure all New Zealanders have the access and support they need to heal and go on to live the life they deserve,” Mr  Doocey says.The Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has today launched the Government’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan which sets out a five-year whole-of-government approach to preventing suicide in New Zealand.

     “I want to acknowledge the people who have lost their lives to suicide, those struggling with their mental health or addiction, and those with lived experience or who have been affected by suicide,” Mr Doocey says.

    “New Zealand continues to face stubbornly high suicide rates. Last year, 617 people died by suspected suicide. Behind that number are grieving families, friends, colleagues, and communities.

     “What sets this Plan apart from the last is the actions in the Plan are now focused on delivery with clear milestones, completion dates, and importantly an accountable agency.

     “There are 21 health-led new actions and 13 cross-agency new actions in the Plan. The actions overall aim is to improve access to suicide prevention and postvention supports, grow a workforce that is able to support those at risk of, or affected by suicide, and strengthen our focus on prevention and early intervention.

     “I am particularly proud that this plan is grounded in lived experience. More than 400 people and organisations contributed to the consultation process, including many who have experienced distress themselves or lost someone to suicide. Their insights shaped these actions and helped ensure we are targeting the right areas.

    “Some key actions include by the end of this year establishing a new suicide prevention community fund. This will provide targeted support that is focused on populations experiencing higher rates of suicidal distress.

    “We know one of the biggest barriers to support is our workforce. The Plan includes initiatives that will grow our workforce, such as by expanding suicide prevention training and strengthening existing resources to better equip workforces, communities and families.

     “We want people to receive care in the community instead of resorting to an emergency department, that is why by the end of next June, we will have rolled out six crisis recovery cafés that will provide more options for people experiencing distress.

     “However, for those who are presenting to emergency departments in mental distress, by the end of December we will establish peer support roles in eight emergency departments for people presenting with mental health and addiction needs.”

     Implementation of the action plan will be supported by existing suicide prevention investment of $20 million per year, plus allocation of an additional $16 million per year to improve access to mental health and suicide prevention supports through initiatives identified in the Plan.

     “There is hope and a way forward. Suicide is preventable and we have a duty as a Government, and as a country, to do more to ensure all New Zealanders have the access and support they need to heal and go on to live the life they deserve,” Mr  Doocey says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada provides support for ParticipACTION to promote active lifestyles

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 16, 2025 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

    Today, the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced $5 million in funding to support ParticipACTION’s Let’s Get Moving initiative for 2025-26. This initiative promotes physical activity in Canada through national awareness campaigns, community challenges, and report cards on activity levels.

    ParticipACTION engages Canadians online and in their communities through its Community Challenge, making it easier for everyone to be active, especially groups facing barriers to physical activity.

    Staying active improves both physical and mental health and reduces the risk of chronic disease. This investment underscores our commitment to healthier, more active communities across Canada.

    MIL OSI Canada News –