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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The path to resilience: Alfred Nzo municipality’s journey

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In the heart of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, characterized by its rural landscapes and environmental vulnerability, is quietly undergoing a transformation. With rising threats from floods, wildfires, droughts, and even snowstorms, the district’s leadership has embarked on a journey to equip its local institutions with the tools, knowledge, and partnerships needed to prevent hazards from becoming disasters.

    From 6 to 8 May 2025, over 50 local government officials and stakeholders participated in the Urban Risk-Informed Development Planning and Making Cities Resilient workshop. Organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in collaboration with Alfred Nzo District Municipality and funded through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Resilience Initiative Africa, the workshop advanced the efforts towards achieving the Sendai Framework target E: substantially increasing the number of local DRR strategies by 2030.

    From Global Framework to Local Action

    Alfred Nzo has made notable strides. “We’ve developed a Climate Change Response Plan, Environmental Management Framework, and ecosystem-based projects focused on water conservation, invasive species control, and rangeland restoration,” said Zola Mbuyana, Assistant Manager for Environmental Management and Water Quality. 

    Learning by Doing: From Theory to Action 

    Local government officials explored how to align local planning with national policy and the Sendai Framework. The Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative provides specific tools, such as the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities and the Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient, designed specifically to support local governments in aligning strategies with global DRR commitments. The preliminary assessments revealed key strengths, such as the existence of a Disaster Management Centre and a climate change strategy. However, gaps remain, such as the lack of dedicated disaster risk management units in the four local municipalities, poor coordination among stakeholders, and limited budget allocations.

      Prioritizing What Matters

    “This workshop marks a step toward ensuring local governments like Alfred Nzo lead from the front in risk-informed development,” said Ms. Isabel Njihia, Programme Management Officer at UNDRR. “The Scorecard is not a performance audit but a practical guide for identifying priority actions and aligning local efforts with global resilience targets.” Understanding local risk in Alfred Nzo, including flood patterns, wildfire zones, and snowstorm vulnerabilities, was emphasized as critical to developing relevant solutions. Emphasis was placed on community engagement, indigenous knowledge, and local leadership as pillars of sustainable DRR strategies.

    “We cannot stop the floods or droughts from coming, but we can ensure our communities are prepared, our infrastructure is resilient, and our response systems are ready before disaster strikes,” Mduduzi Mkhalane, Deputy Director Health Programmes

    Building a Blueprint for Resilience

    By the final day, the officials moved from diagnosis to creating a draft DRR Action Plan rooted in local risks and realities. This plan promotes a phased, multi-sectoral approach, with clear indicators for progress and defined roles across departments. Some key priorities for action include establishing dedicated DRM units in all local municipalities, conducting multi-hazard infrastructure audits and mainstreaming DRM into urban design and development and developing a Post-Disaster Recovery Framework.

    Toward a Resilient Future

    What emerged from the Alfred Nzo workshop was more than a plan – it was a shared commitment. Local leaders recognized that resilience is a continuous process, requiring learning, investment, and inclusive governance. The plan calls for the engagement of NGOs, private sector actors, traditional leaders, and marginalized groups, affirming the principle of leaving no one behind, embedded in both the Sendai Framework and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The Alfred Nzo District Municipality now has a draft roadmap, built on evidence, collaboration, and global best practice. With the guidance of UNDRR and the support of GIZ’s Resilience Initiative Africa, the next phase will be crucial: finalizing, endorsing, and implementing the DRR Action Plan with appropriate institutional backing and funding. Continued intersectoral cooperation, community awareness, and adequate funding will be vital. This journey is just beginning, but one thing is clear: in Alfred Nzo, the principles of the Sendai Framework are not just ideals – they are being translated into action.

    Explore the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative at mcr2030.undrr.org.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: CBO’s Panel of Health Advisers, 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    The Congressional Budget Office’s Panel of Health Advisers consists of widely recognized experts in health policy and the health care sector. Members of the panel have a variety of backgrounds, areas of expertise, and experience. CBO hosts an annual meeting of the panel so that its members can discuss important issues in their areas of expertise and advise the agency on its analysis. In addition, CBO engages with members of the panel throughout the year. The agency may, for example, call on them for advice about how to address analytical questions that arise in the preparation of studies and cost estimates. Through that engagement, CBO and its analysis benefit from the advisers’ understanding of cutting-edge research and the latest real-world developments in health care delivery and financing. Although the advisers provide considerable assistance, they bear no responsibility for CBO’s work; that responsibility rests solely with the agency.

    Today, I would like to announce the members of the Panel of Health Advisers for the coming year:

    • Katherine Baicker
    • Michael Chernew
    • Jeffrey Clemens
    • Heather Dlugolenski
    • Marisa Domino
    • Erin Fraher
    • Craig Garthwaite
    • Darrell Gaskin
    • John Haupert
    • Anne Karl
    • Lisa Lee
    • Thomas Lee
    • Patricia MacTaggart
    • David Meltzer
    • Sergio Santiviago
    • Kosali Simon
    • Neeraj Sood
    • Cori Uccello
    • Melanie Whittington

    Members of CBO’s Panel of Health Advisers are selected to represent a variety of perspectives, enabling the agency to gather information and insights from experts with diverse views and from their interactions at periodic panel meetings. The panelists’ affiliations are shown on CBO’s website. CBO requires panelists to disclose to the agency any substantial political activity in which they may be involved and any significant financial interests that they may have.

    CBO also has a Panel of Economic Advisers.

    Phillip L. Swagel is CBO’s Director.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: CBO’s Panel of Economic Advisers, 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    The Congressional Budget Office relies on many outside experts. For example, the agency works with its Panel of Economic Advisers to learn about important analytical issues in the advisers’ areas of expertise and to obtain feedback about the agency’s economic forecast. In addition, from time to time during the year, CBO calls on members of the panel for advice about how to address analytical questions that arise when preparing studies and cost estimates. Although such experts provide considerable assistance, CBO is solely responsible for the accuracy of its work.

    Members of the panel generally serve two-year terms and can be reappointed. Today, I would like to announce the current members of the Panel of Economic Advisers:

    • Alan Auerbach
    • Markus Brunnermeier
    • Seth Carpenter
    • Kathryn Dominguez
    • Karen Dynan
    • Robert Hall
    • Glenn Hubbard
    • Donald Kohn
    • Gregory Mankiw
    • Giuseppe Moscarini
    • Emi Nakamura
    • Jonathan Parker
    • James Poterba
    • Valerie Ramey
    • Joshua Rauh
    • Brian Sack
    • Ayșegül Șahin
    • James Stock
    • Kevin Warsh
    • Mark Zandi

    Members of CBO’s Panel of Economic Advisers are selected to represent a variety of perspectives, enabling the agency to gather information and insights from experts with diverse views and from their interactions at periodic panel meetings. The panelists’ affiliations are shown on CBO’s website. CBO requires panelists to disclose to the agency any substantial political activity in which they may be involved and any significant financial interests that they may have.

    CBO also has a Panel of Health Advisers.

    Phillip L. Swagel is CBO’s Director.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Multimillion-Dollar Medicare Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A Missouri man pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a scheme to defraud Medicare by unlawfully billing millions of dollars in claims for cancer genetic testing and cardiovascular genetic testing. 

    According to court documents, Jamie P. McNamara, 49, of Kansas City, operated several laboratories in Louisiana and Texas, which obtained doctors’ orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries’ treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries, and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. To obtain the orders, McNamara paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. In furtherance of the scheme, he also shifted the billing between his laboratories to evade scrutiny from Medicare and law enforcement and concealed his ownership and control of the laboratories by falsely listing the names of his family members as owners and company representatives on Medicare and other documents. In approximately one and a half years, the laboratories operated by McNamara submitted over $174 million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55 million in reimbursements. The government previously seized several luxury vehicles and over $7 million in bank accounts.

    “The defendant used illegal payments and lies to fraudulently bill Medicare over $174 million,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Health care fraud harms patients, drains government resources, and violates the public trust. The Criminal Division is fully committed to uncovering and aggressively prosecuting these schemes.”    

    “This guilty plea marks the conclusion of a meticulous and complicated prosecution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Medicare fraud schemes profoundly erode taxpayer confidence and faith in our medical institutions. Schemes such as these must be rooted out, investigated and prosecuted, not only for the monetary loss triggered by the fraud, but also to preserve the public’s trust. Our office, along with our investigative partners, will continue to work diligently to maintain taxpayer confidence in our federal institutions and seek justice for all victims of fraud.”

    “McNamara lined his pockets by preying on vulnerable Americans concerned about their health. The genetic tests Medicare patients were lured into receiving did not provide them with any answers on their predisposition to life threatening illnesses and cost taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “Today’s plea is the culmination of thorough investigative work and partnership between the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) to protect the public and ensure that justice is served.”

    “Misleading patients with fraudulent genetic testing schemes to exploit the Medicare program is not just unethical — it’s criminal,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of HHS-OIG. “Today’s plea reflects HHS-OIG’s steadfast commitment to holding those who deceive patients and seek to cripple the integrity of our nation’s federal health care programs accountable. We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to investigate such schemes and bring those responsible to justice.”

    While on pretrial release, McNamara violated his bond conditions by, among other things, fleeing from a DUI arrest and cutting off an ankle monitor. He was subsequently detained.

    McNamara pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9 and faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    HHS-OIG and the FBI are investigating the case.

    Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: As GOP Tries to Gut Medicaid and Attack Reproductive Healthcare, Pressley Reintroduces Bill Affirming Equitable Access to Reproductive Healthcare for People with Disabilities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Resolution Designates “Disability Reproductive Equity Day” in May, Calls for Disability and Reproductive Justice Amid Trump’s Attacks on Healthcare

    This Month, Pressley Delivered Keynote at Center for American Progress’ Reproductive Equity Summit

    Resolution Text

    WASHINGTON – Today, as Republicans advance deep cuts to Medicaid and continued attacks on reproductive healthcare, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), in partnership with disability justice and reproductive justice advocates, reintroduced a resolution demanding equitable access to reproductive and sexual healthcare for people with disabilities, and designating a day in May as “Disability Reproductive Equity Day.”

    With Donald Trump and Republicans attempting to rip away healthcare for millions through cuts to Medicaid – which would be devastating for people with disabilities – the Disability Reproductive Equity Day resolution presents an affirmative vision for healthcare equity and demands increased access to reproductive and sexual healthcare for those with disabilities.

    The resolution enumerates the unique, discriminatory barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing critical reproductive and sexual healthcare, and calls for equitable access to healthcare and the right to reproductive and sexual health, autonomy, and freedom.

    “Bodily autonomy should be a fundamental right. The paths to true reproductive justice and disability justice are inextricably linked, and together we are pressing for the reproductive and sexual healthcare needs of people with disabilities,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley. “While Donald Trump and Republicans push their Big, Ugly Bill that would strip healthcare from people with disabilities and those seeking reproductive healthcare, we are fighting back and recommitting ourselves to disability justice, to healthcare equity, and to reproductive freedom. I am proud to reintroduce the Disability Reproductive Equity Day resolution with disability justice and reproductive justice partners to demand a more just America.”

    The Disability Reproductive Equity Day resolution is endorsed by: National Partnership for Women & Families, Disability Culture Lab, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), New Disabled South, U.S. Gender and Disability Justice Alliance, The Reproductive Justice Collective at the Center for Racial and Disability Justice (CRDJ), Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network, Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the National Women’s Law Center, and the National Health Law Program.

    “Self-determination and bodily autonomy are core values of both the reproductive rights and disability rights movements, yet for too long, the discrimination and systemic barriers disabled people face when seeking sexual and reproductive health care have been ignored. People with disabilities have continually been denied the right of deciding if, when and how to start their families,” said Rolonda Donelson, Huber Reproductive Health Equity Legal Fellow for the National Partnership for Women & Families.

    “The National Partnership for Women & Families is proud to endorse the resolution to support the second-ever Disability Reproductive Equity Day, and we’re grateful to Rep. Ayanna Pressley for continuing the fight for the reproductive health care and rights of disabled people.”

    “Disability reproductive equity isn’t a niche issue; it’s a fundamental matter of human rights and public health. Disabled folks must be able to make informed choices about our bodies,” said Keidra Chaney, Program Director at Disability Culture Lab. “We need access to comprehensive reproductive health care without barriers, and to be able to parent without fear of discrimination or state interference. The current rise in eugenic laws that make even these basic rights impossible are an attack on disabled lives and reproductive rights. Disability justice and reproductive justice are one fight: we demand policies that prioritize our lives, freedom, access, and bodily autonomy.”

    “For disabled people, as for all people, access to comprehensive and quality sexual and reproductive healthcare is essential for their autonomy, their health and well-being, and their capacity for self-determination. No lawmaker or politician should be able to substitute their personal opinion for medical facts or treatments,” said the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). “AAPD thanks Rep. Pressley for her leadership and joins her in calling on Congress to recognize Disability Reproductive Equity Day and to work to ensure that all people have the right to make the decisions that are best for them and their families.”

    “New Disabled South and New Disabled South Rising endorse the reintroduction of the resolution designating a day in May as Disability Reproductive Equity Day. Disabled people deserve reproductive health equity just like nondisabled people. Disability justice includes reproductive justice and reproductive justice must include disabled people along with all of their reproductive and sexual health needs. Disabled people should have full bodily autonomy and access to equitable reproductive healthcare. We call upon lawmakers to not only acknowledge the historic reproductive wrongs committed against disabled people in the name of eugenics, but to ensure that disabled people have access to the full range of reproductive healthcare services.”

    “The US Gender & Disability Justice Alliance strongly supports the designation of Disability Reproductive Equity Day. Disabled people are whole people, with the right and the capacity to live full, self-determined lives that include love, family, pleasure, and parenting. Our bodies and choices have long been targeted by policies rooted in ableism, eugenics, and control. We call on Congress to recognize that disability is not a limitation of worth, but a powerful part of human diversity, and to honor our right to access reproductive and sexual health care with dignity and respect.”

    “The Reproductive Justice Collective at the Center for Racial and Disability Justice (CRDJ) recognizes the critical importance of affirming reproductive autonomy, equity, and justice for disabled individuals, particularly in the context of historic and ongoing reproductive oppressions rooted in ableism, racism, and structural inequality. Our research, policy briefs, and Reproductive Justice Toolkit emphasize the urgent need to dismantle systemic barriers to reproductive health, which disproportionately impact disabled people of color, including: coerced sterilization, restricted parental rights, inaccessible reproductive health care, inadequate sexual education, increased surveillance and criminalization. The national designation of Disability Reproductive Equity Day is an essential step towards acknowledging and addressing these inequities, and it aligns deeply with our commitment to intersectional, community-led strategies that uplift dignity, autonomy, and justice for all disabled people.”

    “The Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network applauds the introduction of Disability Reproductive Equity Day. Autistic children become autistic adults and deserve the same rights to bodily, sexual, and reproductive freedom as anyone else. We urge lawmakers to recognize and honor our ability to make decisions for ourselves–especially these most personal and private decisions. Autistic people and all people with disabilities deserve the dignity and respect to make our own decisions, especially regarding sexual and reproductive health.”

    “Reproductive equity cannot exist without disability justice. Disabled people—especially those who are multiply marginalized—have long been excluded from conversations about reproductive health, rights, and autonomy. We applaud Representative Pressley’s leadership in recognizing that the reproductive freedom of disabled people is essential to a just and equitable future,” said Dr. Monika Mitra, Director, Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Brandeis University.

    “People living with disabilities deserve inclusive, respectful, accessible care, including sexual and reproductive health care, but right now House Republicans are trying to gut Medicaid, threatening access to life-saving care. People with disabilities — especially those who are Black, Latino, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, or have low incomes — already face significant barriers to reproductive care, which are exacerbated by abortion and gender-affirming care bans and other restrictions.  In the face of these attacks, we thank Rep. Ayanna Pressley for reintroducing the vital Disability Reproductive Equity Act. Reproductive rights and disability rights are inextricably linked. Everyone deserves the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, lives, and futures,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

    “We proudly support the resolution recognizing Disability Reproductive Equity Day. Today, disabled people are facing urgent threats to our access to sexual and reproductive health care, from a reconciliation bill that could kick millions of disabled people off of Medicaid to this administration’s ongoing attacks on reproductive rights. That makes it even more critical than ever that we reaffirm our vision: a future where disabled people are empowered to make decisions about our reproductive rights and care and live with dignity and self-determination,” said Ma’ayan Anafi, senior counsel for health equity and justice at the National Women’s Law Center. “This resolution celebrates disabled people and uplifts their leadership in the movement towards reproductive freedom. We thank Rep. Pressley for her continued commitment to advancing equity and justice for all.”

    “For too long, the United States has denied people with disabilities equitable access to affordable and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, subjecting us to coverage gaps, discrimination, coercion, and violence. Proposed Medicaid cuts such as work requirements in the reconciliation bill, as well as ongoing attacks on the Affordable Care Act’s preventive services mandate and health care nondiscrimination protections, threaten to intensify structural barriers. The National Health Law Program is grateful to Representative Pressley for her commitment to safeguarding current rights and forging a future in which all people with disabilities have access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health care.”

    A copy of the resolution text can be found here.

    Earlier this month, at the Center for American Progress’ Disability Reproductive Equity Summit, Rep. Pressley spoke of the importance of intersectional policymaking and affirming disability rights and reproductive rights as the human rights that they are.

    Rep. Pressley has been a longtime advocate the disability community and has championed policies that promote disability justice. In addition to being an original co-lead of the Disability Reproductive Equity Day resolution, Rep. Pressley is a co-lead of the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation that would eliminate barriers and strengthen access to reproductive health care for people with disabilities.

    Rep. Pressley has also been an outspoken critic of Republican’s harmful budget reconciliation bill, which would make harmful cuts to Medicaid and threaten the reproductive healthcare access for millions in America, including those with disabilities.

    • On May 6, 2025, Rep. Pressley joined the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress in kicking off their Disability Reproductive Equity Summit to develop an agenda for disability reproductive justice.
    • On August 14, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding Biden-Harris Administration for finalizing its proposed rule to improve access to medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) for people with disabilities. The DOJ’s final rule followed an April letter by Rep. Pressley and 11 of her colleagues urging it to strengthen and finalize its proposed rule, and underscoring the need for health care facilities to have functional and accessible MDE for people with disabilities.
    • On May 23, 2024, Rep. Pressley held a press conference alongside colleagues and reproductive justice and disability justice advocates to unveil the Disability Reproductive Equity Day Resolution.
    • On May 2, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) finalized rule that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. 
    • On April 4, Rep. Pressley led her colleagues in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to strengthen and quickly finalize its proposed rule to improve access to medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) for people with disabilities.
    • On December 12, 2023, Rep. Pressley wrote to the Biden-Harris Administration seeking data on the housing needs for aging adults, people with disabilities, and Medicaid beneficiaries.
    • On September 29, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Cori Bush introduced the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, legislation that would eliminate barriers and strengthen access to reproductive health care for people with disabilities.
    • On June 25, 2022, Rep. Pressley applauded the passage of H.R. 2543, which included several key amendments championed by Rep. Pressley to advance disability and economic justice.
    • On May 24, 2022, in a House Financial Services subcommittee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed the crisis of Long COVID as a disability justice issue and outlined how the status quo has relegated disabled Americans—including those with Long COVID—to a second-class standard of living.
    • On April 14, 2020, Rep. Pressley urged Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to rescind the Crisis of Care standards that have disproportionately harmed communities of color and the disability community in Massachusetts.
    • On March 29, 2022, in a historic committee hearing on Medicare for All, Rep. Pressley highlighted Medicare For All as a disability justice issue and questioned Ady Barkan, founder of Be A Hero and leading advocate for Medicare for All, about how tying health coverage to employment perpetuates deep inequities for people with disabilities.
    • On February 25, 2021, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Katie Porter, and their colleagues introduced the Mental Health Justice Act to reduce violence against individuals with mental illness and disabilities.
    • On March 30, 2021, she led her colleagues on a letter with 107 of their colleagues to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris calling for an historic investment of $450 billion in home- and community-based services (HCBS) in the Build Back Better infrastructure package.
    • On September 18, 2022, Rep. Pressley, Dr. Subini Ancy Annamma, and Villissa Thompson published an op-ed in Teen Vogue in which they called for an end to the policies and systemic injustice that result in the overcriminalization of Black girls with disabilities in schools.
    • On July 29, 2020, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Senators Chris Murphy and Elizabeth Warren unveiled the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act to end the over-policing of K-12 schools and stop the criminalization of students, including those with disabilities.
    • In early 2020, she worked with advocates to challenge Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s crisis standards of care and release updated guidelines with input from the disability community.
    • On October 11, 2019, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues introduced the Improving Access to Higher Education Act to help improve college access and completion for students with disabilities.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: H.R. 3490, Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Within one year of enactment, H.R. 3490 would direct the Government Accountability Office to report on esophageal cancer. The report would include an evaluation of the cost of health care spending related to esophageal cancer under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and the frequency with which people who are covered under that program and who have a high risk for esophageal cancer are screened according to established guidelines.

    Based on the cost of similar reports, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is David Rafferty. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates Clinical Trials Bispecific ADC Market Size Insight

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Delhi, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates Clinical Trials, Regulatory Approvals and Future Market Opportunity Outlook 2029 Report:

    • Report Answers Question On Why There Exist Need For Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates
    • First Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates Commercial Approval Expected By 2029
    • Insight On Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates In Clinical Trials : > 60 Drug Conjugates
    • China Dominating Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates Clinical Trials: > 35 Drug Conjugates
    • Majority Of Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates For Breast Cancer
    • Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates Clinical Trials Insight By Company, Country, Indication and Phase
    • Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates In Combination Therapy By Indication and Clinical Phase
    • Key Companies Involved In Development Of Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates

    Download Report: https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-bispecific-antibody-drug-conjugates

    Bispecific antibody drug conjugates (BsADCs) are an innovative class of therapeutics that combine the dual-targeting capabilities of bispecific antibodies with the cytotoxic payloads characteristic of traditional antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). Unlike conventional ADCs, which typically target a single antigen, BsADCs engage two different antigens simultaneously, enhancing specificity and efficacy against cancer cells. This unique mechanism enables BsADCs to not only deliver cytotoxic agents directly to the tumor site but also improve selectivity for cancer cells, potentially reducing off-target effects.

    The development of BsADCs is supported by various advanced technology platforms. For instance, Alphamab Oncology has developed a proprietary ADC platform that allows for the precise construction of bispecific constructs. Similarly, Bi-Cygni Therapeutics employs its BiVictriX platform to enhance the efficacy and safety profiles of its bispecific antibodies. Debiopharm’s Multilink™ platform is another example that enables the creation of multifunctional biotherapeutics. These technology platforms play a crucial role in optimizing the design and development of BsADCs, streamlining the path from research to clinical application.

    One of the most advanced bispecific antibody drug conjugates currently in development is BL B01D1, created by Sichuan Baili Pharmaceutical and its subsidiary, SystImmune. This candidate is undergoing clinical trials in China, showcasing the country’s rapid advancements in this therapeutic area. With a focus on addressing unmet medical needs, BL B01D1 exemplifies the potential of BsADCs to provide effective treatment options for patients facing challenging cancers. The ongoing trials will provide valuable data on its safety and efficacy, contributing to the broader understanding of bispecific therapies.

    China has emerged as a dominant force in the development of BsADCs, with a significant number of clinical trials underway. This landscape is marked by intense competition, as various companies strive to launch their candidates and establish themselves as leaders in this burgeoning field. Notable players include ABL Bio, Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, Debiopharm, Doma Bio, ProEn Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, and Innovent Biologics. Each of these companies is racing to bring their innovative therapies to market, aiming to be the first in their class.

    As the market for bispecific antibody drug conjugates becomes increasingly competitive, the ongoing research and development will likely yield numerous advancements that could redefine cancer treatment paradigms. The potential of BsADCs to deliver targeted therapy more effectively than conventional ADCs makes them an exciting prospect in oncology. With continued investment and innovation, these therapeutics could significantly improve patient outcomes, offering new hope in the fight against cancer. The landscape is rapidly evolving, and as clinical data emerges, the true impact of bispecific antibody drug conjugates will begin to take shape, highlighting their role in the future of cancer treatment.

    The MIL Network –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Travel with intention: Here’s a guide to ‘soft adventure’ experiences across Canada this summer

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Moira A. McDonald, Associate Professor, Director, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Royal Roads University

    A growing number of Canadian travellers are embracing “soft adventure” travel. This trend blends a desire for active engagements in nature and educational and culturally relevant experiences with the chance to reset and relax.

    Low-risk outdoor activities such as wine tasting, canoeing, fishing, whale-watching and cycling are all examples of this growing trend. This shift reflects a “growing desire for peace of mind and rejuvenation” among Canadians in their travel experiences.

    A recent survey found 61 per cent of Canadians plan to focus on “soft travel” or “calm-cations” in 2025. While this trend spans all age groups, it’s particularly strong among Gen Z, with 81 per cent showing a preference for it.

    At the same time, many Canadians are searching for travel opportunities closer to home amid tensions between the two countries.

    In these times of global uncertainty, soft adventure tourism offers affordable options for Canadians and international visitors to explore and experience all that Canada has to offer. As tourism experts, we have some suggestions for destinations that provide travellers with a chance to pause, breathe and recharge.

    The West Coast

    Along the coast of Vancouver Island, orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, seals and porpoises draw visitors each summer. Tourism operators offer whale-watching tours all over the island, giving travellers a chance to experience its marine life firsthand. Just a day trip from Victoria, the Kinsol Trestle is a chance to walk or cycle through nature.

    For a closer look at the region’s wildlife, travellers can join sea kayaking tours in Port McNeill on Vancouver Island with Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures. Here, visitors might spot grizzly bears and they can hear stories from Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations guides and interpreters.

    British Columbia is home to more than 200 distinct Indigenous communities that offer tourism experiences ranging from pristine beaches to savouring cuisine in award-winning restaurants and more.

    On the mainland, Harrison Hot Springs, B.C. offers visitors the chance to relax in mineral hot springs for a nominal fee. Other soft adventure experiences include beach-front maintained trails for walking and hiking, as well as picnicking locations. Visitors can take the short drive to Rosedale, B.C., where a brief hike brings them to the base of Bridal Veil Falls Park.

    The Prairie provinces

    Alberta’s landscapes have served as the backdrop for many films and television series, including Brokeback Mountain, Game of Thrones, The Last of Us and The Revenant. For film tourism enthusiasts, the province offers no shortage of iconic film locations to explore. Some scenes of Game of Thrones’ final season were shot in Banff National Park.

    In Saskatchewan, Lake Diefenbaker is known for golfing, boating and walleye fishing. It’s the largest body of water in the southwest of the province, and it offers an opportunity to traverse a picturesque parkland while witnessing wildlife like elk, caribou, cougar and lynx.

    In Manitoba, Churchill offers sightings of both beluga whales and polar bears. Each summer, hundreds of belugas enter the Churchill River, and the town offers kayaking, boat tours and paddleboarding to see them.

    While you’re in Churchill, you can also see the northern lights up to 300 nights a year, along with numerous historic sites like the Prince of Wales Fort.

    Central Canada

    With 250,000 freshwater lakes, remote canyons, more than 1,200 canoe routes and 22 diveable historic shipwrecks, Ontario is filled with soft adventure travel opportunities. Travellers have countless ways to connect with nature and history in the province.

    In Tobermory, a harbour village on the province’s Bruce Peninsula, travellers can take guided tours to explore underwater shipwrecks, as well as visit the region’s distinctive “flowerpot” rock formations and natural grottos.

    A diver swims near the City of Cleveland shipwreck in Tobermory, Ont. The City of Cleveland was a 255 foot long wooden steamer that was built in Cleveland in 1882 and sunk in 1901 near Fitzwilliam island.
    (Shutterstock)

    Québec offers an experience that at times feels distinctly European. In Old Montréal and the Old Port, cobblestone streets and artisan vendors make it feel like you’re stepping into the past. Both locations are steeped in history and culinary excellence.

    Atlantic Canada

    In New Brunswick, Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, nestled along the Bay of Fundy, offers guided tours for travellers. Visitors are encouraged to check the tidal wave schedule to see the rock formations known as sea stacks, which are caused by tidal erosion.

    Nova Scotia’s capital, Halifax, is a vibrant coastal city known for its lively nightlife and flourishing culinary scene. Across the harbour in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, visitors can go bird watching or take part in a cycling adventure on the easy-to-moderate Salt Marsh Trail. A visit to Peggy’s Cove is a must.

    The province is also home to tourism initiatives that reflect the region’s diverse cultural heritage. Among these is Elevate and Explore Black Nova Scotia, which is designed to enrich the travel experience for Black people visiting or living in the province.

    Over on Prince Edward Island, visitors can explore Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birthplace, the author of beloved childhood classic Anne of Green Gables, in Cavendish. Nearby at the museum, visitors can reimagine Anne Shirley’s iconic adventures in a return to the magic of storytelling and place, before making their way to Greenwich Beach via the boardwalk through P.E.I.’s largest sand dunes.

    In Newfoundland and Labrador, Gros Morne National Park offers visitors views of “soaring fjords and moody mountains” alongside the chance to spot puffins in their natural habitat. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park also provides opportunities for fishing.

    If closer to historical Gander, take a ferry excursion to Fogo Island, which offers bird watching and boat trips.

    The Northern Territories

    In the Yukon, travellers can engage with Indigenous tourism, arts and culture through experiences offered by the Yukon First Nation and Tourism Industry Association.

    Visitors to the Yukon can cool their feet in the cold mountain streams while trying their hand at gold panning in historic Dawson City. Once a hub of the 19th-century Klondike Gold Rush, it still features several preserved frontier-style buildings.

    In the Northwest Territories, travellers can witness the aurora borealis and take guided photography tours to see wildlife up close. Further east, Nunavut offers a range of adventure tourism opportunities, including sea kayaking, whitewater kayaking and canoeing.

    Together, these northern destinations offer travellers a chance to immerse themselves in the natural beauty, history and living cultures of Canada’s North while embracing the slower pace and meaningful experiences at the heart of soft adventure travel.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Travel with intention: Here’s a guide to ‘soft adventure’ experiences across Canada this summer – https://theconversation.com/travel-with-intention-heres-a-guide-to-soft-adventure-experiences-across-canada-this-summer-257190

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Before the bump: Can pre-pregnancy planning affect child development?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sabrina Faleschini, Assistant Professor, Université Laval

    Enhancing physical and psychological health months or even weeks before conception may have powerful positive effects on offspring. (Shutterstock)

    Anticipating the conception of a child can be accompanied by a lot of uncertainty about how to plan for pregnancy and parenthood. But relatively few people are aware that the things they do months or years before conceiving can influence the development of their future children.

    The preconception period is often overlooked by prospective parents, but is crucial as it sets the foundation for healthy pregnancies and, ultimately, thriving children. Optimizing the physical and mental health of both parents during this time can help create an environment that gives their offspring the best possible start in life.

    While it’s well known that exposure to adverse physical or psychological conditions during pregnancy can powerfully affect child development, emerging evidence suggests that factors occurring before conception can also have lasting effects on offspring.

    As professors of child development and perinatal psychiatry, our work is aimed at identifying which preconception factors have the potential to influence offspring outcomes, and how to intervene to reduce their effects to give all children the best chance to succeed and thrive.

    Enhancing the physical and mental health of both parents during this time can help create an optimal environment.
    (Shutterstock)

    Impact of the pregnancy planning period

    The period of pregnancy planning represents a critical opportunity for future parents to optimize the lives of their children. While some physical and mental health factors shift over time, others are relatively stable. Regardless, enhancing physical and psychological health months or even weeks before conception may have powerful positive effects on offspring.

    For example, public health authorities recommend that women of childbearing age take a folic acid supplement, as this can prevent neural tube defects and enhance the long-term verbal and social skills of offspring.

    Maintaining a healthy diet (for example, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein) and a healthy weight before pregnancy is also associated with a lower risk of behavioural problems, improved motor and communication skills and better academic achievement.

    Ultimately, optimizing one’s physical health has many benefits for parents and their children and paves the way for improving their mental health as well.

    Mental health and pregnancy planning

    Even though planning a pregnancy may be stressful for some, optimizing one’s mental health has benefits not only for parents, but also for their future children.

    For example, children whose mothers experience a worsening of depression from preconception to postpartum were less able to control their behaviour and attention. Furthermore, high levels of stress in mothers pre-conceptually are linked to more negative emotionality and impulsivity in children.

    As a result, increasing the focus of public health efforts on the mental health of parents could be crucial to enhancing child development as well.

    Partners are important too

    Even though the health of mothers and birthing parents can have an important impact on the development of future offspring, healthy partners can also help promote positive long-term outcomes in children.

    Healthy partners can also help promote positive long-term outcomes in children.
    (Shutterstock)

    For example, paternal mental health problems present prior to pregnancy increase the risk of pre-term delivery, which is linked to a higher likelihood of behavioural problems and academic difficulties in children later in life.

    Partners can also provide support and motivation to improve and/or maintain the healthy habits of mothers and birthing parents, which can help optimize offspring development.

    Giving future children the best start in life

    A number of practical steps can be taken by parents when planning a pregnancy to help enhance child development.

    Eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise can improve your physical health.

    Optimizing mental health through exercise, nurturing relationships, building social networks, managing stress and seeking counselling and other help when needed can promote well-being during this important time.

    We’re still learning about the preconception period

    Research aimed at understanding the long-term effects of preconception conditions on later child development is still relatively new. Our work is attempting to expand this knowledge base by developing a cohort study that begins in the preconception phase and follows parents throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum period.

    So far, more than 500 women across Canada have joined the study, and we are continuing to enrol new participants until the end of August 2025. Please note that the web page is in French, but English speakers are welcome to join the study. However, since all research materials are in French, participants must be able to understand written French to take part in the study.

    Our work will examine how parents’ mental health evolves across the perinatal period. This study is intended to help us understand the transition to parenthood and how factors present before conception can influence children’s development.

    The pregnancy planning period is a time when parents can make positive changes in their lives that can benefit their health and the development of their future children. Investing in the physical and mental health of both parents is critical for preparing them to welcome a healthy child and can benefit both their family and society.

    Sabrina Faleschini receives funding from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture.

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

    – ref. Before the bump: Can pre-pregnancy planning affect child development? – https://theconversation.com/before-the-bump-can-pre-pregnancy-planning-affect-child-development-250335

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s smoking rate falls to 23.2 percent – report

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) — The proportion of smokers among China’s population aged 15 and above will fall to 23.2 percent in 2024, down 0.9 percentage points from 2022, according to a research report released by Chinese health authorities on Thursday.

    The results were released at an event to mark the 38th World No Tobacco Day, which falls on May 31.

    A survey conducted by the National Health Commission of China showed that 63.9 percent of respondents had encountered information about tobacco control in the past 30 days, demonstrating the effectiveness of China’s large-scale anti-tobacco campaigns.

    The study also found that public awareness of the health risks associated with active and passive smoking has increased. The proportion of the population exposed to passive smoking continues to decline, thanks to widespread public support for smoke-free environments.

    In 2024, the proportion of people aged 15 and over who quit smoking increased to 22.6%, an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared to 2022.

    The survey was conducted in 31 provincial-level regions in China, and 199,684 completed questionnaires were collected. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Multimillion-Dollar Medicare Fraud Conspiracy

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A Missouri man pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a scheme to defraud Medicare by unlawfully billing millions of dollars in claims for cancer genetic testing and cardiovascular genetic testing. 

    According to court documents, Jamie P. McNamara, 49, of Kansas City, operated several laboratories in Louisiana and Texas, which obtained doctors’ orders for genetic testing from telemarketers and call centers that used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to induce Medicare beneficiaries to agree to receive genetic testing. Orders for genetic testing were signed by purported telemedicine doctors who were not the beneficiaries’ treating physicians, did not perform consultations with the beneficiaries, and did not follow up with the beneficiaries after the testing was performed. To obtain the orders, McNamara paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. In furtherance of the scheme, he also shifted the billing between his laboratories to evade scrutiny from Medicare and law enforcement and concealed his ownership and control of the laboratories by falsely listing the names of his family members as owners and company representatives on Medicare and other documents. In approximately one and a half years, the laboratories operated by McNamara submitted over $174 million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing and received over $55 million in reimbursements. The government previously seized several luxury vehicles and over $7 million in bank accounts.

    “The defendant used illegal payments and lies to fraudulently bill Medicare over $174 million,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Health care fraud harms patients, drains government resources, and violates the public trust. The Criminal Division is fully committed to uncovering and aggressively prosecuting these schemes.”    

    “This guilty plea marks the conclusion of a meticulous and complicated prosecution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Medicare fraud schemes profoundly erode taxpayer confidence and faith in our medical institutions. Schemes such as these must be rooted out, investigated and prosecuted, not only for the monetary loss triggered by the fraud, but also to preserve the public’s trust. Our office, along with our investigative partners, will continue to work diligently to maintain taxpayer confidence in our federal institutions and seek justice for all victims of fraud.”

    “McNamara lined his pockets by preying on vulnerable Americans concerned about their health. The genetic tests Medicare patients were lured into receiving did not provide them with any answers on their predisposition to life threatening illnesses and cost taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “Today’s plea is the culmination of thorough investigative work and partnership between the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) to protect the public and ensure that justice is served.”

    “Misleading patients with fraudulent genetic testing schemes to exploit the Medicare program is not just unethical — it’s criminal,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of HHS-OIG. “Today’s plea reflects HHS-OIG’s steadfast commitment to holding those who deceive patients and seek to cripple the integrity of our nation’s federal health care programs accountable. We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to investigate such schemes and bring those responsible to justice.”

    While on pretrial release, McNamara violated his bond conditions by, among other things, fleeing from a DUI arrest and cutting off an ankle monitor. He was subsequently detained.

    McNamara pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9 and faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    HHS-OIG and the FBI are investigating the case.

    Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025 Dickson Prize in Medicine Goes to Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin of UConn

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The Dickson Prize in Medicine is awarded annually to a leading American investigator engaged in innovative and paradigm-shifting biomedical research. It is an esteemed annual award presented by the University of Pittsburgh. Many recipients of the Dickson Prize have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize. Dr. Cato T. Laurencin is the founder and pioneer of the field of regenerative engineering.

    His lecture, “Regenerative Engineering: Breakthroughs in Medicine,” will be given at 2:30 p.m. on July 11 at the University of Pittsburgh, Alan Magee Scaife Hall West Wing Auditorium. It will be followed by a panel discussion and reception at 5 p.m.

    Laurencin is a University Professor (one of two at UConn) and professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and professor of Biomedical Engineering. He is the chief executive officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, a cross-university Institute created in his honor. At UConn School of Medicine he is the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery.

    He is the leading international figure in polymer science and engineering as applied to musculoskeletal biology. Renowned for his work in areas including biomaterials science and materials chemistry, his broad background and insight have allowed him to move research from fundamental science to applied research, to research translation and clinical treatment.

    Laurencin earned his B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University, his M.D., Magna Cum Laude, from the Harvard Medical School, and earned his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed an orthopaedic surgery residency at Harvard, where he was named Chief Resident at the Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School. A specialist in shoulder surgery and sports medicine, he completed fellowship training at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

    Laurencin is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, an elected member of the American Surgical Association and an elected member of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. In orthopaedic surgery, he received the Nicolas Andry Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons, the Kappa Delta Award, the highest research honor from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Marshall R. Urist Award, honoring an investigator who has a sustained ongoing body of research in tissue regeneration as it relates to the musculoskeletal system, from the Orthopaedic Research Society, and the American Orthopaedic Association’s (AOA) Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics Award with induction into the AOA Awards Hall of Fame. He is the first individual to receive these four awards.

    He is the first surgeon in history elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors.

    In 2025, he received Knighthood under the auspices of King Charles III of England by the Governor General of St. Lucia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Isabelle’s Kitchen Inc. Recalls Refrigerated Deli Salads Containing Fresh Cucumbers Because of Possible Health Risk

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    May 28, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    May 29, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & BeveragesFoodborne Illness
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

    Company Name:
    Isabelle’s Kitchen, Inc.
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Kings, Isabelle’s Kitchen Inc., Maple Avenue Foods

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Salads containing fresh cucumbers.

    Company Announcement
    Isabelle’s Kitchen, Inc., Harleysville, PA, is recalling 946 cases of refrigerated deli salads containing fresh cucumbers recalled by Bedner Grower’s, Inc. because they have potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.
    The recalled refrigerated deli salads were sold to foodservice distributors in the following states: New Hampshire, Florida, Maryland, South Carolina, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and local supermarkets. Any repacked items sold at the supermarket level may not carry the same sell by date as identified on the original package, but would not exceed the original manufacture sell by date.
    The product is packed in a white plastic container inside a white or brown corrugated box under the brand names “Isabelle’s Kitchen,” “Maple Avenue Foods,” or “Kings.” Recalled product is identified by the Item Number located on the top right of the white product label, and by the Julian code date located on the right side of the “Use-By” sticker.
    Example of a Use By sticker: (See Image Below)
    The following table identifies the item name, manufacture date and use by date:

    Item #4605 Kings

    Kings Greek Pasta Salad

    Mfg date Julian code 134

    Use by: June 1, 2025

    Item #5002B

    IKI Greek Pasta Salad

    Mfg date Julian code 134

    Use by: June 1, 2025

    Item #5002B

    IKI Greek Pasta Salad

    Mfg date Julian code 135

    Use by: June 2, 2025

    Item #5007B

    MAF Mediterranean Pasta Salad

    Mfg date Julian code 134

    Use by: May 30, 2025

    Item #5007B

    MAF Mediterranean Pasta Salad

    Mfg date Julian code 134

    Use by: May 31, 2025

    Item #8015B

    MAF Crunchy Wheatberry Salad

    Mfg date Julian code 134

    Use by: June 1, 2025

    Item #8031

    MAF Quinoa Tabouli

    Mfg date Julian code 134

    Use by: May 30, 2025

    Item #8031

    MAF Quinoa Tabouli

    Mfg date Julian code 135

    Use by: May 31, 2025

    Item #8103KT

    Powerhouse Wheatberry Salad Kit

    Mfg date Julian code 134

    Use by: May 27, 2025

    Item #8103KT

    Powerhouse Wheatberry Salad Kit

    Mfg date Julian code 135

    Use by: May 28, 2025

    Item #8103KT

    Powerhouse Wheatberry Salad Kit

    Mfg date Julian code 136

    Use by: May 29, 2025

    Only products listed above with the indicated Julian codes dates are being recalled. No other items manufactured by Isabelle’s Kitchen, Inc. are impacted by this recall.
    No known illnesses have been associated with the recalled products to date. All raw cucumbers are washed & treated as a processing step.
    Our firm was notified by our produce supplier that seven (7) cases of raw whole cucumbers received by Isabelle’s Kitchen are being recalled by Bedner Growers, Inc. (https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bedner-growers-inc-recalls-cucumbers-because-possible-health-risk) and have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. These recalled cucumbers were processed and used in production on May 14 and May 15, 2025.
    All distributors and customers have been notified of the recall. They have been instructed to cease sale/distribution of the recalled products, to remove recalled products from store shelves and/or warehouse locations, to destroy recalled products, and to notify consumers that were sold/may have been sold these recalled products.
    Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume the products and to immediately discard any uneaten recalled product or return to the store for a refund. Consumers who have purchased the recalled products may obtain additional information by contacting Isabelle’s Kitchen, Inc. at 800-355-7252 (8AM to 5PM EST). Consumers with health concerns should consult directly with their health care providers.
    Isabelle’s Kitchen, Inc. is conducting this recall in coordination with the FDA.
    Link to FDA Outbreak Advisory

    Company Contact Information

    Consumers:
    Isabelle’s Kitchen, Inc.
    800-355-7252

    Product Photos

    Content current as of:
    05/29/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Topic(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: App Store in the U.S. facilitated $406B in developer billings and sales in 2024

    Source: Apple

    Headline: App Store in the U.S. facilitated $406B in developer billings and sales in 2024

    May 29, 2025

    UPDATE

    App Store in the U.S. facilitated over $400 billion in developer billings and sales in 2024

    For more than 90 percent of billings and sales facilitated by the App Store, developers did not pay any commission to Apple

    Earnings of U.S. developers more than doubled in the last five years

    Apple today announced the App Store ecosystem in the U.S. facilitated $406 billion in developer billings and sales in 2024, according to a study conducted by Professor Andrey Fradkin from Boston University Questrom School of Business and economist Dr. Jessica Burley from Analysis Group. Importantly, for more than 90 percent of the billings and sales facilitated by the App Store, developers did not pay any commission to Apple.

    Over the last five years, the size of the App Store ecosystem has nearly tripled from $142 billion in 2019 to $406 billion last year, and earnings for U.S.-based developers also more than doubled. Small developers in particular have done exceptionally well as their earnings increased by 76 percent between 2021 and 2024.

    “For more than 15 years, the App Store has created incredible opportunity for app developers, entrepreneurs, and businesses of all sizes,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “That includes the many U.S. developers who are innovating, building their businesses, and finding exceptional success on the App Store. We’ll continue to invest in powerful tools, technology, and resources to help developers in the U.S. and around the world take their apps to new heights and create transformative experiences for users.”

    Strong Growth Across App Categories

    Since its launch in 2008, the App Store has been a great business opportunity for developers. The new study estimates that in 2024 the App Store ecosystem facilitated $277 billion in total billings and sales from physical goods and services, $75 billion from in-app advertising, and $53 billion from digital goods and services. Key drivers included growth in food and grocery delivery, entertainment, and enterprise apps. And the App Store continues to be a global launchpad for innovation, with AI-powered apps increasingly shaping users’ daily lives.

    Since 2019, spending on physical goods and services has more than tripled, while in-app spending on digital goods and services and in-app advertising more than doubled. In the physical goods and services category, general retail spending and grocery delivery increased more than fourfold. By 2024, spending on travel and food delivery and pickup both surpassed ride hailing, with users increasingly turning to apps to book travel, and restaurants increasingly offering delivery options through apps. U.S. developers also saw their earnings grow across top categories like productivity, education, and business, with the games category seeing the highest earnings in 2024.

    Global Reach for U.S. Developers

    U.S. developers have also found tremendous success globally, with the ability to list their apps on storefronts in 175 countries and regions. The support of the App Store’s seamless payment and commerce system has made it easy for these developers to monetize their apps in the U.S. and around the world. Many apps from U.S. developers have also appeared on the most-downloaded app charts in storefronts outside of the U.S. and ranked among the Top 5 most-downloaded apps in 170 out of 175 App Store storefronts.

    The App Store remains a safe and trusted marketplace for users, thanks to Apple’s rigorous App Review process and robust privacy and security protections. In a recent report, Apple found that the App Store prevented more than $9 billion in fraudulent transactions over the last five years, and it also rejected 1.9 million app submissions in 2024 for failing to meet Apple’s standards for security, reliability, and user experience.

    Developers in the U.S. Have an Increasing Number of Incredible Resources Available from Apple

    Apple continues to invest in App Store features that make it easier for developers to distribute their apps and games and get discovered across the storefront. This includes continued investments to App Store Connect, which provides developers with tools and technologies to track app performance and engagement through App Analytics, enhancements to StoreKit, custom product pages, and new features like App Store Accessibility Nutrition Labels, available to developers later this year.

    Designed to accelerate innovation and help propel app businesses forward, initiatives like the App Store Small Business Program support the next generation of groundbreaking apps by small developers like Slopes. Originally launched as a passion project by a solo developer, Slopes has now achieved international success and is trusted by over 5 million skiers and snowboarders. This app is designed for winter sports enthusiasts, enabling them to track and record their personal stats, locate friends on the mountain, and explore interactive resort maps. The team behind Slopes has integrated with many Apple technologies, including HealthKit, Live Activities, and ARKit, as well as expanding to Apple Watch.

    Apple also offers developers a variety of online and in-person programs to support them in elevating their apps, including Meet with Apple. The Apple Developer Center in Cupertino also serves as home to year-round activities, and offers a supportive environment for developers to improve their apps through more than 250,000 APIs including as part of frameworks such as HealthKit, Metal, Core ML, MapKit, and SwiftUI. Resources like Pathways and Apple Developer Forums are available to better connect developers within the community and help them easily access tools, documentation, and videos to create their best products on Apple’s platforms.

    Apple launched its first U.S.-based Apple Developer Academy in Detroit in 2021 in collaboration with Michigan State University to help students build foundational skills in coding, AI, design, and marketing. Since its launch, the academy has trained over 1,200 students. Separately, more than 900 students have also participated in the Apple Foundation Program, an intensive four-week course that teaches students the fundamentals of app development at the academy and Henry Ford College.

    Apple supports more than 2.9 million jobs across the U.S. through direct employment, work with U.S.-based suppliers and manufacturers, and developer jobs in the thriving iOS app economy.

    Press Contacts

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Choosing to be an orphan: for some Kenyan families it’s a strategy for survival

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Andreana Prichard, Associate Professor of Honors and African History, University of Oklahoma

    In the world of international child development and orphan care, it’s not uncommon for children with families to declare themselves orphans. In fact, this practice can be traced back to precolonial times in Kenya.

    Andreana Prichard has done research on the practice in Kenya. We asked her to share her insights into it.

    Why do some people in Kenya assume the identity of ‘orphan’?

    We often think of “orphans” as children who have lost both parents and who lack kin networks. One might ask why someone would “opt in” to orphan status when they do not fall within the classical definition of the term.

    In my paper I look at the issue of orphanhood over the last 160 years. Case studies from Kenya I examine illustrate that the practice I define as “opting in” to orphanhood has precolonial roots. I define “opting in” as choosing to take on the label of being an orphan. This can be done by parents, relatives or even, in some instances, the child. This is because the label “orphan” has come to confer unique opportunities.

    The practice became increasingly popular in the mid-1990s, when parents in eastern and southern Africa who had contracted HIV began to die in large numbers. Activists feared many children would be left without caregivers.

    In response, the number of orphanages proliferated as humanitarian actors, churches and states inundated east Africa with orphan-focused NGOs.

    In 2020, officials in Kenya estimated that there were at least 910 residential institutions for children in the country (of which 581 were registered), housing between 26,198 and 85,733 Kenyan children.

    The predicted “orphan crisis” never materialised, partly because families and communities stepped in to care for newly parentless children. But the idea of an “orphan crisis” remained, and so did the funding and infrastructure.

    This phenomenon occurred across the continent, not just in Kenya. However, its effects were felt particularly acutely in eastern and southern Africa where HIV/Aids prevalence rates were higher and where there was more western tourism.

    Today, many African families see orphan-focused NGOs as a path to access education and improve their lives. My research shows that children themselves sometimes affiliate with an institution that provides shelter, food and schooling. Children facing abuse from caregivers may also prefer the relative anonymity and safety of an institution.

    In some cases, receiving orphan services actually raises the status of the “orphan” child above that of other children. They have access to more material resources than they might have had in their villages or at home. They might have more leisure time and less work. They may have access to better bedding, shoes and clothing. They are also likely able to attend school more consistently and have a real opportunity to attend university.

    Does ‘opting in’ have a long history?

    Yes, it does.

    In the precolonial period, most parentless or vulnerable children were cared for through lasting community support systems. Orphanhood, as it exists today as a child lacking support, protection, or care from kin, was largely avoided.

    However, the late 19th to mid-20th centuries brought new actors to the east African region. The practice of “opting in” became a strategic, temporary option used by families to access services from western humanitarians.

    The earliest example of this shift I found in my research is from the 1890s. Fearing their children would be caught in the Indian Ocean slave trade, African parents sometimes chose to send their children to British missions until the region was safe. They knew the missionaries opposed the slave trade and knew they offered food and medical care.

    African parents thought they were making temporary arrangements to keep their children safe. Missionaries, however, understood parents to have abandoned their children. When parents returned to repay the debt – with agricultural produce or trade goods – and to reclaim their children, missionaries refused them.

    In another example from Kenya in the 1950s, the British colonial government opened “reform schools” for young men. The Wamumu Approved School was renowned for the relative quality of education it provided. But the state admitted only the “most vulnerable” for a free education. Feeling they had no way to access Wamumu, students claimed to be orphans.

    What have been the negative effects of Kenya’s orphan system?

    There are several problems with creating a situation in which people present themselves as vulnerable just to gain safety or improve their social and economic standing.

    First, research has shown that building orphanages in poor communities incentivises parents to abandon their children if they’re not also given the help to remain together.

    Second, research shows that children are often put at risk in these institutions. Institutionalisation exposes children to risks such as sexual abuse, gender-based violence and neglect.

    Third, orphanages have become so lucrative that African orphanage owners will go to great lengths to fit African children into the categories westerners wish to fund. The phenomenon of “paper orphans” is a prime example. “Paper orphans” are children who are recruited from their homes by proprietors (or middlemen/brokers) of orphanages and residential-care facilities. Fraudulent documentation is created for them – often including false death certificates of parents and new identity registration documents – rendering them orphans on paper, and vulnerable in practice.

    What should be done?

    Governments in Europe, Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean are trying to phase out orphanages, as are some African countries.

    Based on my research I believe that working with families to support vulnerable children in their homes of origin or with extended families is a better option. This can be done through assistance programmes for vulnerable families as well as child welfare programmes. These allow families to remain intact when experiencing hardship.

    Kenya is taking steps to do this by replacing orphanages and other forms of residential children’s homes with family-based, foster and community-based care and other forms of assistance. Family strengthening approaches include positive parenting instruction, life skills training, and income-generating activities, as well as supportive supervision.

    In addition to this, missionary and voluntourism trips to orphanages and residential care facilities should be banned or limited.

    Andreana Prichard received funding from the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Grant.

    – ref. Choosing to be an orphan: for some Kenyan families it’s a strategy for survival – https://theconversation.com/choosing-to-be-an-orphan-for-some-kenyan-families-its-a-strategy-for-survival-247371

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Recruitment for a Distribution and Supply Chain Inspector for South East England

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Recruitment for a Distribution and Supply Chain Inspector for South East England

    Distribution and Supply Chain Inspector vacancy, working on inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR).

    We have a vacancy for a Distribution and Supply Chain Inspector.

    Job Title

    Distribution and Supply Chain Inspector for South East England

    Grade

    SEO

    Salary & Pension

    £41,220 per annum with Pension Scheme

    Annual Leave entitlement

    Commencing at 25 days

    Role

    This role contributes to the VMD’s aims and objectives through inspections and investigations to ensure that UK veterinary-only wholesale dealers, feed business operators and veterinary medicines retailers comply with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR). 

    How to apply

    You must make your application via Distribution and Supply Chain Inspector for South East England – Civil Service Jobs – GOV.UK where you will find a full job description.

    Closing Date

    16 June 2025

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    Updates to this page

    Published 29 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Provides New Funding for Autism Summer Programming

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 29, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan is increasing funding to the Autism Resource Centre (ARC) of Regina by providing $235,000 to support the expansion of a summer program for children and youth.

    “Summer programs are a key and enriching part of the lives of many children and families,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “Great memories and life lessons are often a part of these experiences, and I am pleased we can offer this support to the Autism Resource Centre to enable more summer programming options.”

    The Autism Resource Centre provides the Therapeutic Summer Program for children and youth ages seven and up who are returning to school in fall. The summer camp program emphasizes individualized goals and life skill development. 

    “ARC’s summer program is a lifeline for many families – providing individualized, one-to-one support that helps autistic children maintain and develop critical skills, routines and social confidence,” Autism Resource Centre Executive Director Angela Ricci said. “Families consistently tell us how essential this program is, not just for their child’s development, but for their overall peace of mind.” 

    Ricci added that one parent shared: “As a mom of a very high-needs autistic child, I would not have survived the last 15 years without this summer program. It has given our family peace of mind and essential continuity.”

    More information about the Autism Resource Centre and its camps can be found at: https://www.autismresourcecentre.com/

    In 2025-26, the Saskatchewan Health Authority provided annual funding of $1.5 million to the Autism Resource Centre for a range of services and programs to individuals and their families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Dina Titus Introduces LIFT Act to Raise Hourly Federal Minimum Wage to $17

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

    Congresswoman Dina Titus today introduced the Labor Income Fairness and Transparency Act (LIFT Act) to raise the minimum wage and all Fair Labor Standards Act subminimum wages to $17 per hour over the next three years with annual increases after that, provide income protections for tipped workers, and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to cover more workers.

    “This legislation is a fair way to increase the take-home pay of both tipped employees and employees who do not receive tips, giving all hospitality and other workers a needed boost in meeting an increasing cost of living. It also will protect tipped workers from unjustified employer deductions from their tips,” Congresswoman Titus said. “These measures are necessary to help employees afford their rent, support their children, and pay their medical bills.”

    The LIFT Act would protect the incomes of tipped workers by requiring employers to provide a notice of tips received by an employee each day they work. It would prohibit managers from withholding tips to cover the cost of processing a tip. It would increase civil penalties for tip violations to equal those for other violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

    The LIFT Act also prohibits Wage and Hour investigators at the Department of Labor from being subjected to reductions in force, establishes a grant program for states and localities to improve enforcement and compliance with wage laws, and creates a Department of Labor National Advisory Committee on the Hospitality Industry.

    Further, benefiting all families, the LIFT Act would permanently extend changes to the Earned Income Tax Credit made by Congress during the COVID pandemic. These include increasing the maximum credit amount for workers without children, increasing the income threshold for earning the credit, and expanding the age range for eligible workers for those without children to include those 19-24 and over 65. It would also raise the maximum EITC for workers without children from $530 to $1,500, and the income cap for these adults to qualify from about $16,000 to at least $21,000.

    “The Earned Income Tax Credit was changed to provide needed relief for workers who have not benefitted as much as they should have from the credit,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Making these changes permanent will make a big difference in the lives of millions of lower-paid American workers.”

    The LIFT Act has been endorsed by One Fair Wage.

    “Cutting taxes on tips might make for a good soundbite, but on its own, it’s a hollow fix that ignores the real crisis: wages so low that two-thirds of restaurant workers don’t even earn enough to pay federal income taxes,” said Saru Jayaraman, Cofounder and President of One Fair Wage. “In a time of skyrocketing costs, workers are drowning and need more than political gimmicks—they need a raise. Tips should be a bonus, not a substitute for a living wage. By ending all subminimum wages and requiring that all workers be paid a full livable wage with tips on top, the LIFT Act addresses what working people need most: a fair wage, a level playing field, and the dignity that comes with being able to provide for their families.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Newark arrests Guatemalan unaccompanied alien child sponsor wanted overseas for attempted aggravated homicide

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a Guatemalan fugitive wanted for two counts of attempted aggravated homicide in his home country.

    ICE Homeland Security Investigations Newark administratively arrested Adelso Garcia Martinez, 29, a Guatemalan native, May 13 for violations of the Immigration and Naturalization Act.

    “It is deplorable to imagine that a wanted fugitive would find illegal shelter in the United States with a child in tow and later go on to sponsor another alien,” said ICE HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel. “Our investigation into this alien is part of our agency’s staunch effort to ensure unaccompanied alien children released from the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement are not subjected to crimes of trafficking and exploitation.”

    Garcia unlawfully entered the United States in Rio Grande, Texas on May 19, 2021. He was released into the United States by U.S. Border Patrol the same day.

    According to the investigation, in April 2025, HSI Newark encountered Garcia pursuant to records checks. During this encounter, HSI Newark with the assistance of HSI Guatemala City identified that Garcia-Martinez has an outstanding and active arrest warrant issued Feb. 18, 2021, in his home country for attempted aggravated homicide.

    Garcia was issued a notice to appear after ICE arrested him May 13. He is currently detained at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in New Jersey, pending removal proceedings.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Key milestones for southside health projects

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Once complete, the new health centre will offer a range of vital services.

    In brief:

    • Two important southside projects have reached key milestones.
    • These are the South Tuggeranong Health Centre and Southside Hydrotherapy Pool.
    • This article details the progress on these projects.

    Canberrans living in the south are set to benefit from more local healthcare options.

    Two important southside projects have reached key milestones.

    • The new health centre in Conder has received conditional development approval.
    • Construction on Tuggeranong’s new hydrotherapy pool has passed the halfway mark.

    South Tuggeranong Health Centre

    Remaining approvals are being sought to allow work to begin on the South Tuggeranong Health Centre.

    Once complete, the new facility will offer a range of vital services.

    These will include:

    • paediatrics
    • diabetes clinics
    • falls and falls injury prevention
    • chronic disease programs
    • a virtual care room for people unable to attend appointments in person.

    The new centre will ensure southside residents can access the services they need closer to home.

    The centre’s design has been shaped by extensive engagement with both clinicians and the local community.

    The final plan includes 11 consultation rooms and a flexible layout.

    The ACT Government has partnered with construction company Shape as the Head Contractor to build the facility.

    Southside Hydrotherapy Pool

    The hydrotherapy pool at Lakeside Leisure Centre is on track to be completed later this year.

    Over the past few months, workers have poured, tested and cured the pool’s concrete shell.

    Construction has passed the halfway point. Work is now focused on:

    • tiling the pool
    • constructing the surrounding building.

    There will also be a new creche and community room for leisure centre members to use.

    These are being fitted and furnished now and will open soon.

    More health services for Canberra

    These projects are in addition to others across the ACT, designed to deliver high-quality health care closer to where people live.

    These include new health centres in:

    • North Gungahlin
    • the Inner South
    • West Belconnen.

    Find out more here.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Stem Cell Medicine Course for Clinicians Available for Free

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    There is a major educational development for health care providers. On May 28, a first stem cell medicine continuing education course launched internationally in six languages to educate the world. The course is open access to all and free of charge.

    Clinicians, nurses, and medical students can access the free, online course on stem cell-medicine developed by the Education Committee of the International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) with international stem cell experts and accredited and produced by Harvard Medical School.

    Stem Cell Medicine: From Scientific Research to Patient Care is an essential educational resource for clinicians, scientists, healthcare providers, those in the nursing fields, medical students, and even the general public, seeking the most trusted and reliable stem cell information.

    The course is critical to educate providers on the rapidly evolving stem cell medicine but in turn also to protect patients from the potential physical and financial harms associated with the growing popularity of unproven ‘stem cell tourism’ clinics.

    UConn’s Dr. Jaime Imitola.

    “As a practicing physician, I often hear questions from my patients that reference false claims made by clinics marketing unproven stem cell ‘therapies’ here and abroad,” said course-co-leader Dr. Jaime Imitola of UConn School of Medicine and vice-chair of the ISSCR Education Committee. “Our goal is to provide physicians worldwide with trusted and reliable information on stem cells and their applications in a CE format by authoritative sources. This will help clinicians and students guide their patients more effectively and ensure patients are making informed decisions about their health.”

    Imitola adds, “This is the first time that stem cell medicine is clearly defined and that we have a course on it. This is an important paradigm shift in medical education, including for clinical practitioners. This course is an introduction to the stem cell field and its potential use in clinical care as we prepare for the future of health care which will soon fully integrate stem cells into patient care given the numerous late phase clinical trials by respected institutions around the world. Stem cell medicine is here to stay and soon stem cell therapy will be established so we need to educate all providers on this promising frontier of medicine,” says Imitola of UConn.

    “Dr. Imitola’s work as vice-chair of the ISSCR Education Committee exemplifies the power of collaborative leadership and how it has led to new and exceptional educational opportunities with lasting impact on our field,” said ISSCR President Valentina Greco, professor of Genetics and Cell Biology at Yale University. “Dr. Imitola, in partnership with Dr. Piddini, who chairs the committee, ISSCR team member Dr. Prutton and the whole Education Committee, have worked tirelessly to make the continuing education course on Stem Cell Medicine a reality. Their work is rooted in their collective deep belief of the critical role that education plays in the stem cell field, and the need to present current information in ways that bridge experts across different specialties for the benefit of patients.”

    Dangers of Stem Cell Tourism
    Imitola, professor of Neurology and vice-chair of research in the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Translational Neuroimmunology at UConn School of Medicine trained at Harvard Medical School as a stem cell-scientist and has devoted his career to the clinical translation of stem cell research to MS care and education. He established pioneering work on migration of neural stem cells to inflammation and currently studies the impact of the inflammatory environment in neurodegeneration and repair both in the laboratory dish and clinic in MS patients using advanced 3D stem cell cultures or organoids. The scientific knowledge gained can be applied to variety of neurological diseases like brain tumors and was published in PNAS. He has also significantly researched stem cell tourism and its negative impact, since MS patient are often the target of the unproven therapy from ‘stem cell clinics’.”

    According to Imitola, around the world during the last 15 years there has been an explosion in stem cell clinics. He has also researched in-depth stem cell clinics exploiting patients in search of hope and cures – and calls it a “state of emergency.”

    “The translation of stem cells to patients is very complex and needs real, rigorous scientific research to move to the bedside,” says Imitola. “Stem cell tourism clinics are increasing under the disguise of ‘stem cell’ care – but they are not using stem cells. Plus, whatever cells or unproven therapies they are offering patients for high cost are not being rigorously studied,” stresses Imitola.

    “Stem cell clinics are taking ill patients desperately searching for hope for a ride. We need providers, residents and medical students to help their patients avoid exploitation from stem cell tourism clinics. This is an urgent matter; we need to educate providers so they can have evidence-based medical conversations with their patients and be protective of patients,” he says.

    As chief of the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology and director of the Comprehensive MS Center at UConn Health and a neurologist he is motivated to work in this area because he has seen first-hand the negative experience of patients pursuing stem cell tourism clinics. “In our MS Center we have seen the devastating consequences of MS patients receiving  unproven therapy, by patients travelling abroad with a great financial impact to them that are desperate for a cure with no benefit, and this is especially hard in our patients with limited resources and medical educational background that we serve,” says Imitola. This was one of his motivations to work in this global ISSCR initiative since 2022.

    In 2015 his team published a peer-reviewed perspective in JAMA Neurology raising awareness of the growing issue to begin to educate physicians in his field of neurology and how to help combat it, and a decade later legitimate stem cell products are under investigations and still not formally available to use in the neurology clinic yet,  but there are hundreds of stem cell clinics offering unproven cell products.  In 2019, he established the MS Program at UConn Health and in 2020, he launched a North America survey after several patients had complications of injections in the spine in stem cell tourism clinics. The survey found patients in the U.S. reported complications from their stem cell clinic “treatments” abroad and in the U.S. Also, most physicians surveyed said they didn’t understand the topic of stem cells and saw a course on stem cells as a necessary tool. The findings were published in Annals of Neurology and this educational project is part of UConn’s mission to educate, research, and provide care and solutions to real-world problems in our community, says Imitola.

    “These  survey results were a clear alarm that we needed to improve physician education and training in stem cell medicine and teaming with my colleagues at ISSCR and dozens of experts around the world that shared the same concern, we saw that as a tremendous unmet need at the bedside,” shared Imitola. “Now, we have more advanced clinical trials that will place pressure on clinicians to be trained and increase their fund of knowledge to provide information and develop communication skills to talk about stem cell medicine to patients.”

    Fast forward to 2025, the comprehensive ISSCR Continuing Education course offers seven modules on the fundamentals of stem cell biology, methodologies and considerations for cell therapy product design and clinical trials, and the rise of unproven stem cell clinics and stem cell tourism. It aims to equip medical students, nurses, and practicing clinicians with tools and strategies for effective patient communication, ensuring that information shared is accurate and impactful.

    Development of the course and its materials took Imitola and members of the education committee and collaborating international stem cell scientists from across all five continents two years to create. It will be followed by disease-specific stem cell medicine courses later in 2025.

    Also, all courses also offer AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) contact hours, allowing physicians and nurses to use the earned credits to fulfill their continuing education requirements.

    International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), with nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health. Patients and others can learn more from ISSCR at  AboutStemCells.org.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Freshia Air Purifier Reviews: Don’t Buy Till You’ve Read This Unbiased Report!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Helmond, Netherlands, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Are you struggling with poor indoor air quality that leaves you feeling stuffy and uncomfortable? Looking for an affordable and effective way to purify the air in your home or office? Then you are at the right place. Freshia Air Purifier is an air purifier and ionizer that cleans your home’s air by removing air particles and pollutants. But there is more! 

    Due to yearnings of our readers for in-depth and honest Freshia Air Purifier Reviews in the United States, Australia, UK and Canada, we completely took out time to research and analyze this piece of information on Freshia Air Purifier which our team put together after hours and hours of indepth research and data findings and analysis.

    Indoor air quality has become an increasingly important topic as more people recognize the impact that pollutants, allergens, and airborne toxins have on health and well-being. With rising concerns about allergies, respiratory issues, and the effects of pollution trapped inside modern homes, many consumers are turning to air purifiers as a solution to improve their living environments. However, with so many brands and models available, choosing the right purifier can be overwhelming.

    Freshia Air Purifier is an air purifier that has gained significant attention for its advanced filtration system and affordable pricing.  However, does this product deliver on this promise? To provide a clear and unbiased evaluation, we have taken the time to review this air purifier. 

    Additionally, we carefully analyzed a wide range of consumer reviews and expert opinions. We aim to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the purifier’s capabilities, including filtration efficiency, noise levels, energy consumption, and ease of use. Kindly read on to learn if the Freshia Air Purifier is worth your money.

    What Is Freshia Air Purifier? (Freshia Air Purifier Reviews)

    Freshia Air Purifier is a powerful, all-in-one air purification solution designed to transform your indoor environment by eliminating pollutants, harmful bacteria, and viruses from the air you breathe. Freshia Air Purifier is a revolutionary portable air purifying device that instantly clears the air in your environment, thereby making it fresher and healthier to breathe.

    Freshia air purifier targets particles of various sizes, from visible dust and pet dander to microscopic allergens and mold spores, preventing them from perching and proliferating on surfaces. Many reviews confirm that Freshia Air Purifier doubles as an ionizer that is engineered for maximum efficiency. It combines high-performance filtration with ionizing technology to ensure your home or workspace remains fresh, clean, and safe every day. 

    Freshia Air Purifier features a three-stage filtration system that delivers comprehensive air purification. First, the Mechanical Filter traps larger airborne particles such as dust, pet hair, and debris. This initial layer not only improves overall air quality but also protects and extends the lifespan of the subsequent filters. 

    Next, the True HEPA Filter captures up to 99.7% of microscopic particles, including pollen, mold spores, and fine dust. This is especially effective for allergy and asthma patients. Finally, the Activated Carbon Filter neutralizes lingering odors from pets, cooking, or smoke while absorbing harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic fumes that may otherwise go unnoticed.

    Beyond its filtration capabilities, the built-in ionizer releases negative ions that bond with airborne particles, causing them to become too heavy to remain airborne. This process enhances air purification, targeting even those pollutants that filters alone might miss. 

    All Freshia Air Purifier Reviews affirmed that this air purifier is quite innovative and built with simplicity and portability in mind. Freshia Air Purifier does just what its brand name suggests, which is to clean the air we breathe of any harmful particles and pollutants. Freshia Air Purifier does not consume much watts of electricity, which is a good one, because it will help you keep down your energy bills.

    Unlike many premium air purifiers on the market that come with a hefty price tag, Freshia Air Purifier  offers top-tier performance at a price point that’s accessible to all households. Freshia’s sleek, modern design fits seamlessly into any room, and its quiet operation ensures it works efficiently without disrupting your daily life.

    Finally, Freshia Air Purifier is a safe, non-chemical, portable air purification solution that leverages negative ionization to actively clean air, delivering a healthier living space and relief from allergy symptoms and odors. Freshia Air Purifier is unequivocally designed for hassle-free use, requiring no regular maintenance or replacement of parts making it an ideal choice for anyone seeking a cleaner and healthier living environment without the need for costly upkeep or chemical-laden air fresheners.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR FRESHIA AIR PURIFIER FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    What Are The Features of the Freshia Air Purifier? (Freshia Air Purifier Reviews)

    The Freshia Air Purifier is a thoughtfully engineered solution for improving indoor air quality with convenience and power. Packed with practical features, it’s designed to fit seamlessly into your daily routine while ensuring that every breath you take is fresh and clean. Here’s a closer look at the key features that make the Freshia Air Purifier a top-tier choice:

    • Three-Stage Filtration System: At the core of the Freshia Air Purifier is its three-stage filtration system, which ensures a thorough cleansing of indoor air. The first layer, the Mechanical Filter, captures large particles such as dust, pet hair, and lint, preventing them from clogging the inner layers. Next, the True HEPA Filter removes up to 99.7% of microscopic pollutants, including pollen, mold spores, and fine dust. Lastly, the Carbon-Rich Activated Charcoal Filter effectively eliminates odors, smoke, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), leaving your space smelling fresh and free from harmful chemicals.
    • Adjustable Airflow Speeds: Freshia offers adjustable airflow settings, giving users complete control over the purification process. Whether you need a low-speed setting for night use or a high-speed blast to clean the air quickly after cooking or cleaning, the customizable airflow allows for flexible and efficient operation.
    • Lightweight & Portable Design: Weighing only a few pounds, Freshia is designed with portability in mind. Its compact size and sleek silhouette make it easy to move from room to room, allowing you to purify any space, from your bedroom to your office, with minimal effort. It’s perfect for on-the-go use or for those who value a clutter-free environment.
    • 360-Degree Air Intake: Unlike traditional purifiers that pull in air from one side, the Freshia Air Purifier features a 360-degree air intake system. This means it draws in air from all directions, purifying more efficiently and evenly throughout the room. It ensures no corner is left untouched, delivering consistent performance no matter where it’s placed.
    • Whisper-Quiet Operation: Noise won’t disrupt your peace with Freshia’s whisper-quiet technology. Operating at near-silent levels, it’s perfect for use while sleeping, working, or relaxing. The low noise output makes it ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, and offices, ensuring you breathe clean air without any distraction.
    • Carbon-Rich Activated Charcoal Filter: Freshia’s carbon filter goes beyond standard odor elimination. It’s made with carbon-rich activated charcoal, which has a high adsorption capacity. This allows it to trap more odors, chemicals, and gases than regular filters, ensuring a more thorough and long-lasting clean.
    • Built-in 1500mA Internal Rechargeable Battery: One of Freshia’s most convenient features is its built-in 1500mA battery, offering up to 7 hours of use on a single charge. This makes it perfect for portable use; take it to your workspace, car, or even outdoors without worrying about cords or outlets. It’s ideal for travel or situations where flexibility and mobility are key. 

    Does Freshia Air Purifier Actually Work? (Freshia Air Purifier Reviews)

    Freshia Air Purifier works with advanced True HEPA™ and Charcoal filtration technology to effectively capture and eliminate 99.7% of airborne pollutants. This includes allergens like dust mites, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and bacteria that commonly trigger hay fever, asthma, and respiratory issues. 

    As air is drawn in through its 360-degree intake system, it passes through a multi-layered filtration process that traps particles of all sizes. The True HEPA™ filter removes microscopic impurities, while the activated charcoal filter neutralizes odors, smoke, and harmful chemicals, creating a noticeably fresher and healthier environment.

    Overall, Freshia purifiers generally receive glowing positive reviews for their effectiveness in improving air quality and their aesthetically pleasing design. Many Australian users praise the Freshia air purifier’s ability to remove dust and odors, making the air feel cleaner and fresher. The quiet operation and compact size are also appreciated, with some users even forgetting the Freshia air purifier is running.

    Why Should You Buy Freshia Air Purifiers In Australia and New Zealand? 

    If you’re looking for a practical and affordable way to improve the air quality in your home, the Freshia Air Purifier is a fantastic choice. With its advanced filtration system, including True HEPA™ and pure carbon filters, Freshia Air Purifier actively removes harmful particles from the air, helping to reduce allergy symptoms, asthma triggers, and even lingering odors. It’s a simple, effective, and affordable way to take control of your indoor environment and protect your health.

    The regular use of Freshia Air Purifier has also helped many individuals who suffer from allergies to experience a marked difference. Freshia Air Purifier is intended for continuous use but can work intermittently in places that are not in constant use. For instance, you could run the unit in your home office when you’re working and then move it to your bedroom while you are sleeping. 

    Freshia air purifier reviews on customers complaints revealed that this air purifier is the modern solution to pure, clean air at home that helps invigorate your health and keep up a fresh and inviting home. The efficacy of Freshia air purifier technology has been proven in numerous user tests which have achieved significant airborne particle reduction in a variety of Room sizes and conditions.

    Its powerful yet quiet motor continuously circulates air across the room, ensuring that clean air reaches every corner. Whether it’s a bedroom, kitchen, living room, or office, Freshia adapts to your environment and delivers consistent performance. Designed to offer real relief for individuals suffering from allergies and congestion, Freshia helps transform your home into a sanctuary of clean, breathable air. Order now and take the first step toward a new era of cleaner, healthier living.

    Lastly, Its durability, affordability, portability and ergonomically constructed makes it the ideal air purifier for anyone looking for the best approach to acquire a purer air free of odor, airborne particles, dust, filth and debris. Freshia is a revolutionary air purifier that redefines the standards of home air quality by improving both the air you breathe and your overall well-being.

    Let’s Review the Unbeatable Benefits of Freshia Air Purifiers? (Freshia Air Purifier Reviews)

    According to consumer reports, the Freshia Air Purifier has proven to be more than just an appliance. It has helped thousands of homeowners commit to cleaner air and a healthier lifestyle. Designed with cutting-edge features and user-centric design, it delivers a wide range of benefits that make it an ideal choice for homes, offices, and personal spaces. Below are the top benefits that set the Freshia Air Purifier apart:

    • Eliminates 99.7% of Air Pollutants: With its powerful True HEPA filter, the Freshia Air Purifier captures up to 99.7% of airborne particles, including dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and even bacteria and viruses. This high level of filtration ensures you and your loved ones breathe the cleanest air possible, reducing exposure to allergens and pollutants that can impact your health.
    • Easy to Use – Plug and Play Simplicity: Freshia is designed for effortless operation. There are no complicated settings or confusing instructions. Simply place it anywhere, charge it, and press the power button. Its intuitive controls make it user-friendly, even for those who aren’t tech-savvy. Clean air is just one button away.
    • Hassle-Free Maintenance: Maintenance is straightforward with Freshia thanks to its filter change indicator. This smart feature alerts you when it’s time to replace the filter, removing all guesswork and ensuring optimal performance.
    • Effective Against Pet Dander, Odors, and Mold Spores: Whether you have pets, cook frequently, or live in a humid area, Freshia tackles common indoor pollutants like pet dander, lingering cooking odors, and even mold spores. Its comprehensive filtration and ionization systems effectively reduce these irritants, helping you maintain a cleaner and healthier home environment.
    • Improves Quality of Sleep: Clean air leads to better sleep quality. By reducing allergens, odors, and airborne irritants, Freshia helps you sleep more comfortably through the night. Its whisper-quiet operation means it won’t disturb your rest, making it ideal for bedrooms and nurseries.
    • Low Energy Consumption: Freshia is energy-efficient, using minimal electricity even when operating for extended periods. This means you can enjoy purified air all day and night without worrying about high energy bills. It’s an eco-friendly solution that supports both your health and your wallet.
    • Ideal for Individuals With Allergies: For those with allergies or respiratory conditions, Freshia offers significant relief. By capturing allergens and reducing airborne irritants it helps minimize symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and congestion. It’s a must-have during allergy season or in households with pets and dust-prone environments.
    • Improves Overall Family Health: Many households have reported improved well-being and hygiene since they started using Freshia Air Purifier. It uses a three-stage filtration system for maximum effectiveness. Get full coverage in any room you put it in with powerful circulation with a simple press of a button.
    • 30-Day Money Back Guarantee: Still unsure? Freshia comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, giving you peace of mind with your purchase. Try it risk-free in your own space, and if it doesn’t meet your expectations, you can return it, no questions asked.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR FRESHIA AIR PURIFIER FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    Let’s Reveal How Freshia Air Purifier Is Superior To Similar Air Purifiers (Freshia Air Purifier Reviews)

    All reviewers revealed that Freshia Air Purifier proves to be a standout product in the market by combining premium-level performance with an affordable price tag. Unlike many budget purifiers that cut corners on filtration, Freshia features True HEPA filtration, capable of capturing 99.7% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. 

    From dust and pollen to mold spores and pet dander, Freshia effectively removes the most common irritants that trigger allergies and respiratory issues. Paired with its pure carbon filtration, it also eliminates household odors, smoke, and harmful chemicals, something most low-end models struggle to do well.

    Another key advantage of Freshia Air Purifier over regular solutions is its quiet operation and customizable features. While many air purifiers sacrifice noise levels for power, Freshia is engineered for whisper-quiet operation, allowing it to run continuously without disturbing your sleep, study, or relaxation. 

    Many Freshia Air Purifier Reviews in Australia mentioned it also features adjustable airflow speeds, giving users the flexibility to control purification intensity based on the room size or air quality conditions. Whether you need a gentle breeze for bedtime or a high-speed clean after cooking, Freshia adapts to your lifestyle with ease.

    Freshia is built with low energy consumption in mind, making it an eco-friendly and cost-effective choice. Many competing models draw unnecessary power, inflating electricity bills over time. Freshia, on the other hand, offers powerful performance without wasting energy, making it ideal for 24/7 use in homes and offices. 

    In all, Freshia Air Purifier prides itself on providing a sturdy, multi-functional, and low-maintenance solution at a remarkably more accessible price point than many effective conventional air purifiers. Its compact and portable design adds convenience, allowing users to benefit from cleaner air in multiple locations. 

    The combination of effective particle removal, odor elimination, mold prevention, convenience, affordability, and the absence of recurring filter costs makes Freshia Air Purifier a compelling and often superior alternative for individuals seeking to improve their indoor air quality and find a lasting solution to allergies and pollutants. With Freshia Air Purifier, you don’t have to choose between performance, comfort, and cost, you get it all in one smart, stylish device.

    How Do You Use the Freshia Air Purifier? (Freshia Air Purifier Reviews)

    Setting up your Freshia Air Purifier is quick and easy. Just follow these 3 simple steps:

    • Unbox and Fully Charge the Unit: Remove the Freshia Air Purifier from its packaging and fully charge it. This unit has a 1500mA internal battery that lasts for up to 7 hours on a single charge. You can operate it corded or cordless.
    • Position Where You Want It: Place it on a flat, stable surface in the room where you want to improve air quality. Ideally, position it in an open area with good airflow, away from walls or furniture that could block the 360-degree air intake.
    • Power On and Breathe Easy: Press the power button to turn it on. The purifier will begin filtering the air immediately. Use the control panel to adjust airflow speed if needed. That’s it, Freshia starts working right away to purify your space!

    Is the Freshia Air Purifier Any Good? (Freshia Air Purifier Reviews)

    The Freshia Air Purifier is worth it. It’s one of the most feature-packed True HEPA™ air purifiers available today, combining advanced filtration technology with convenience and user-friendly design. Whether you’re dealing with mold spores, dust, allergens, pollen, bacteria, or viruses, Freshia provides a clean and safe environment for your family and pets. 

    Its filtration system works rapidly to eliminate pet dander, lingering odors, and mold spores, leaving your home refreshed and breathable, just like a crisp morning breeze. If you or a loved one suffers from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues, Freshia’s 99.7% purification power offers reliable protection and daily relief.

    Beyond performance, Freshia shines in comfort and usability. The activated carbon filtration ensures you sleep soundly, free from nighttime irritants like dust and chemical fumes. It’s whisper-quiet and perfect for bedrooms, nurseries, or offices. With its intuitive plug-and-play interface, anyone can use it; no complex settings or setups required. 

    Plus, it’s built for modern living: low energy consumption means no surprise spikes in your power bill, and its lightweight, portable design lets you use it anywhere, at home or on the go. Thanks to its 15,000mAh rechargeable battery, you get up to 7 hours of wireless purification wherever you are. Freshia isn’t just good, it’s a smart, all-in-one solution for anyone serious about clean, healthy air.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR FRESHIA AIR PURIFIER FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    Is Freshia Air Purifier Legit or Scam (Freshia Air Purifier Australia Reviews) 

    Based on verified USA and Australian consumer reports, Freshia Air Purifier is rated safe, top tier, legit and with an excellent 4.98 ratings making it one of the most preferred and reliable Air Purifying devices available in the USA and Australia. 

    Both customers and reviewers revealed Fresher Air Purifier is totally legit, garnering over 99.3% remarkable recommendation rate, ensuring its widespread popularity and satisfaction among users. Many honest Freshia Australian customer reviews, Freshia Air Purifier is 100% legitimate air purifier and reliable for ultimate performance.

    Freshia Air Purifier ticks all the boxes and is backed by numerous positive user reviews and testimonials. It has been thoroughly tested and verified to ensure it meets the highest quality and performance standards. The Freshia company’s commitment to customer satisfaction further solidifies its credibility

    Who Needs Freshia Air Purifiers? (Freshia Air Purifier Reviews)

    The Freshia Air Purifier is ideal for anyone who wants to breathe cleaner, healthier air, especially those who suffer from allergies, asthma, or respiratory sensitivities. People living in urban areas with high pollution levels, homes with pets, or those prone to dust and mold exposure will find significant relief with Freshia’s powerful True HEPA™ and activated carbon filtration system. It helps reduce airborne allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites, while also eliminating odors and harmful chemicals, making it a great choice for families, pet owners, and individuals looking to improve their overall indoor air quality.

    Beyond these groups of people, Freshia Air Purifier benefits busy professionals, students, and anyone who spends long hours indoors, whether at home or in the office. Its quiet operation and adjustable airflow speeds create a comfortable environment for better focus and restful sleep. 

    Additionally, its portability and long-lasting battery make it perfect for travelers or those who want clean air on the go. Essentially, anyone seeking a convenient, effective, and affordable way to protect their health and well-being from invisible airborne threats can benefit from adding a Freshia Air Purifier to their daily life.

    Pros – Freshia Air Purifier Reviews

    ● Removes 99.7% of airborne pollutants effectively.
    ● Features advanced True HEPA™ filtration technology.
    ● Activated carbon filter eliminates odors and harmful chemicals.
    ● Offers adjustable airflow speeds for personalized comfort.
    ● Operates quietly, perfect for bedrooms and offices.
    ● Lightweight and portable for easy room-to-room use.
    ● 360-degree air intake purifies all room corners.
    ● Energy-efficient, saves on electricity bills.
    ● Simple one-button operation for ease of use.
    ● Built-in battery lasts up to 7 hours wirelessly.
    ● The filter change indicator makes maintenance hassle-free.
    ● Ideal for individuals with allergies and pet owners.

    CONS (Freshia Air Purifier Review)

    ● Not available in any physical store near you.
    ● Supply is highly limited this season due to high demand.
    ● The ongoing 50% special discount might end anytime soon.

    Where Can I Buy The Original Freshia Air Purifier? (Freshia Air Purifier Review)

    You can buy the original Freshia Air Purifier exclusively on the official website. This ensures you receive a genuine product backed by the manufacturer’s quality standards. Purchasing directly from the official site guarantees access to exclusive offers, including a generous 50% discount that makes it even more affordable. Additionally, every order comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try Freshia risk-free and return it if it doesn’t meet your expectations.

    Buying from the official website also means you get 24/7 customer support to help with any questions or concerns. This reliable service ensures a smooth purchasing experience and ongoing assistance for maintenance or troubleshooting. Avoid counterfeit or subpar versions by sticking to the trusted source, the Freshia Air Purifier official website is the safest and smartest place to invest in cleaner, healthier air for your home.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR FRESHIA AIR PURIFIER FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    Freshia Air Purifier Pricing & Limited-Time Offer (Freshia Air Purifier Review)

    ● Buy 1x Freshia Air Purifier = $159.95. Orig: $319.90.
    ● Buy 2 x Freshia Air Purifier = $149.95/per unit. Orig: $639.80.
    ● Buy 3 x Freshia Air Purifier = $124.95/per unit. Orig: $959.70.
    ● Buy 4 x Freshia Air Purifier = $114.95/per unit. Orig: $1279.60.

    Freshia Air Purifier Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (Freshia Air Purifier Review)

    Is the Freshia Air Purifier suitable for those with allergies?

    Absolutely. Freshia Air Purifier is designed to reduce allergens in the air, providing relief for individuals with allergies. Freshia traps common impurities to combat hay fever, asthma, dust allergies, congestion, and more.

    Do I need batteries to operate the Freshia Air Purifier?

    No, this unit has a 1500mA internal battery that lasts for up to 7 hours on a single charge. You can operate it corded or cordless.

    How often should I change the filter?

    It is recommended to change the filter once every 3-4 months.

    Q: In what type of rooms can I use it?
    A: It works better in average-size rooms from 200 to 350 square feet.

    Can I buy a Freshia Air Purifier in-store?

    To make this product as affordable as possible, the company decided to distribute it only via its online store.

    Freshia Air Purifier Reviews Consumer Reports and Customer Complaints 

    “I’ve tried many purifiers over the years, but none of them were good enough for me. Freshia Air Purifier made the difference! Air is much cleaner than before, and finally, I can breathe better!” —Robert B. | Verified Buyer.

    “Once you realize how bad the air quality is in your home, you’ll run to buy a purifier. Luckily for me, I found Freshia Air Purifier! The air quality now is impeccable! I recommend it to everyone!”— Kayla C. | Verified Buyer.

    “Freshia Air Purifier is amazing! I bought 2 for my home, to cover the ground floor and the first floor. They’re doing such a fantastic job. The air around feels super-clean!”— Gloria A. | Verified Buyer. 

    Final Words on Freshia Air Purifier Reviews

    After a thorough analysis of the Freshia Air Purifier’s features, performance, and user feedback, the final verdict is clear: Freshia truly delivers on its promises. Its powerful True HEPA™ filtration combined with activated carbon filters effectively removes most airborne pollutants, allergens, and odors. It is an excellent choice for improving indoor air quality.

    Freshia stands out as a reliable, easy-to-use, and affordable air purifier that suits a wide range of needs. If you’re looking for an effective solution to breathe healthier at home or work, Freshia is worth considering. It’s a smart investment in your well-being and peace of mind.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR FRESHIA AIR PURIFIER FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    Company name: Freshia Air Purifier
    Label Products B.V.,
    Steenovenweg 5,
    5708 HN Helmond,
    The Netherlands
    https://get-freshia.com/
    Phone: +448000729935 (UK) +61370356817 (AU)
    E-mail: support@techwidget.co

    Attachment

    • Freshia Air Purifier

    The MIL Network –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Salt Path taps into a long history of searching for healing on England’s south-west coast

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lena Ferriday, Lecturer in the History of Science and the Environment, King’s College London

    Moth Winn was diagnosed with a terminal illness at the age of 53 and in the same week he and his wife, Raynor, lost their home. As the bailiffs arrived, the couple made a remarkable decision: to take a 630-mile year-long coastal walk from Somerset to Dorset, through Devon and Cornwall.

    Their journey was first told in Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir The Salt Path, which has now been made into a film. In The Salt Path, Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs portray the hardship and hope the couple experienced as they walked through sunshine and storms with little more than a tent and a handful of cash.

    But their walk is part of a much older story. Without realising it, Raynor and Moth joined a centuries-old tradition of seeking healing and transformation along the south-west coast. In the 19th century, people travelled to the coast because doctors believed coastal air and seawater could treat illness. This idea became known as “change of air” treatment and was widely prescribed to urban patients suffering from “nervous disorders”, such as stomach pains and chest issues. These seaside visits were understood as a form of medicine.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    England’s westerly edge

    The South West Coast Path is the UK’s longest national trail. The route has over 115,000 feet of ascent and descent – the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest four times. It was officially protected in 1973 to preserve and improve access to the path and now attracts nearly 9 million visitors each year. But its origins lie in the working lives of local people, especially coastguards watching for smugglers and fishermen following pilchard shoals.

    In the 19th century, the region also became a destination for domestic tourists. It was made more accessible as passenger rail lines were extended to places including Plymouth and Penzance. Some visitors walked to explore unfamiliar landscapes, while others did so on medical advice.

    The seaside towns of Penzance and Torquay emerged as health resorts and by the first world war they were known as “havens for invalids”. Between 1800 and 1854, Torquay’s population grew from 800 to 14,000, mostly made up of medical residents on temporary stays.

    Healing in the elements

    Before the walk, Moth was diagnosed with corticobasal degeneration (CBD) after seeing a doctor about shoulder pain and tremors. CBD is a rare degenerative condition that affects the brain and gradually leads to difficulties with movement, speech, memory and swallowing.

    When he began the walk, Moth’s mobility had deteriorated and he was experiencing severe pain and numbness in his left leg. For the first half of the film, Jason Isaacs drags his foot along the ground to show this physical strain. The challenge of walking was made harder by the rugged terrain – steep hills, jagged rocks and harsh winds.

    As Moth and Raynor walked, something unexpected happened. Moth’s symptoms began to ease, his condition improved, and he eventually stopped taking pain relief. He believed the change was linked to the regular movement and the sense of purpose the walk gave them during a bleak period. He described walking as having a restorative power that offered him a new, unlicensed freedom.

    The idea that walking by the coast could have healing properties has deep roots. In the 19th century, walking was considered beneficial, but the emphasis was on gentle movement in clean air rather than endurance through rough landscapes. The air of Devon and Cornwall was praised for its soothing qualities and the climate for its warmth in the winter. Town planners even built flat promenades in seaside towns to make walking more accessible for people with chronic illnesses and low mobility.

    Spending time outside was considered particularly valuable for people suffering from tuberculosis. Before tuberculosis was known to be caused by bacteria, medical experts blamed it on bad-smelling air. Doctors suggested that city dwellers suffering with chest pains remove themselves from these dirty atmospheres and immerse themselves in the clean, salt air at the seaside.

    Nature plays a central role in The Salt Path. Its affect on the body is seen in Gillian Anderson’s sun-scorched cheeks and wind-tousled hair. The sounds of birds and the sea accompany panoramic drone shots of the cliffs. The sea is a key character.

    Arriving at Minehead, the Winns take a photo to begin their journey: of “the three of us”, the couple and the sea. Victorian travel writers also insisted that in the south-west, “The pedestrian must never wander more than a stone’s throw from the sea.”

    When Moth swims in the sea, he is empowered in his own body and able to move without constraint. The seaside has carried health connotations since the 1700s. In the 18th century, doctors claimed that sudden immersion in cold, salty and turbulent waters had therapeutic value for chronic illness. Today, open swimming remains a popular practice in the south-west and is praised for its mental and physical health benefits.

    As the film ends, we learn that 12 years after their walk Moth is still living with CBD and the couple still use long-distance walks to treat his symptoms. This experience of illness finds resonance in older practices, reminding us that healing can sometimes be found outside of clinical spaces. While the reasons for walking often change, the connection between place, body and wellbeing spans centuries. The Salt Path tells a deeply personal story but also continues a long cultural history of looking to the coastline for recovery and renewal.

    Lena Ferriday has received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

    – ref. The Salt Path taps into a long history of searching for healing on England’s south-west coast – https://theconversation.com/the-salt-path-taps-into-a-long-history-of-searching-for-healing-on-englands-south-west-coast-257793

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Volunteer EMT to Nursing Ph.D. Student

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Third year Ph.D. student Hannah Scheibner, MSN, RN, was first exposed to healthcare in high school as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT). With the high-stakes environment and hands-on experience she gained with patients, she knew nursing was her calling.

    “I really liked interacting with people and being able to help them during a time of need,” said Scheibner. “That’s what led me into nursing.”

    Hannah Scheibner, MSN, RN. (Contributed Photo)

    She completed her undergraduate degree in nursing at the University of Vermont and worked in primary care right after graduation. She worked as a telephone triage nurse – answering calls from patients, evaluating the patient’s information, and recommending the care they need, all via phone or video.

    While she enjoyed what she was doing, she knew she could be doing more.

    “I thought I wanted to be a nurse practitioner. You can prescribe things and educate patients, but I realized there was a lot more at play that was affecting patients’ health,” said Scheibner.

    When looking at where she wanted to continue her education, UConn School of Nursing stood out in terms of mentorship and alignment with faculty research.

    Eileen Condon, Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC, is Scheibner’s major advisor and they instantly connected, sharing similar research interests surrounding social environmental factors that affect health. This led Scheibner to pursue her Ph.D. as a husky, and she’s been making big strides ever since.

    One of her biggest accomplishments is receiving the Predoctoral Individual National Research Award (F31) from the National Institute of Nursing Research. It’s a highly competitive grant that is funding her dissertation training and research.

    The award is meant to “provide predoctoral individuals with supervised research training in specified health and health-related areas leading toward the research degree,” as stated on its website.

    This May, Scheibner was selected for the Outstanding Senior Women Academic Achievement Award by the Office of the Provost’s, Women’s Center. The award is given to women undergraduate and graduate students within each school/college who have excelled academically and have demonstrated a high achievement in research to the UConn community.

    She was also voted as a Leadership Succession Committee Member for the UConn School of Nursing’s Sigma Mu chapter – 11th chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing, that promotes scholarship and research in the field of nursing.

    Environmental Effects on Health

    Currently working on her dissertation, Scheibner’s research focuses on examining how differences in neighborhood environments influence sleep in preschool age children.

    “Environment is important to health and that’s a big part of nursing as well. So that led me to take this approach looking at neighborhood environments,” she explained.

    Hannah Scheibner, MSN, RN with her poster “Remote Sensing and Applications for Studying Environmental Health Inequities in Nursing Science.” (Contributed photo)

    She is in the process of getting training in geographic information systems, which is a method she will be using in her dissertation. It will allow her to measure neighborhood environmental factors and see how parents report their own neighborhood environments.

    A big part of this is remote sensing – a technique that uses sensors not in direct contact with the environment to measure different characteristics.

    “You can measure so many various factors that are related to environmental health that impact the patients that we care for,” said Scheibner. “It’s more accessible for nurses to harness in their research. They don’t need to go out in the field and learn how to use all this equipment.”

    She used an example of measuring air quality using satellite data and ground sensors to calculate different types of particulate matter in the air. This would be important for understanding asthma or pulmonary diseases that could affect people in the surrounding area.

    Specifically with sleep in preschool aged children, Scheiner explained there isn’t a lot of information and research out there to understand how neighborhood factors affect sleep for this age group.

    “A lot of studies have looked at different factors in adults or older children, but preschool is such an important time for development,” she said. “I really feel like understanding this can help inform community-based interventions or policy level interventions that can promote more equitable and healthy environments and help people sleep better in their homes.”

    She hopes to take this research long-term and get involved in more community-based research. It would allow her to work with people in their neighborhoods to understand the sleep of their children, how different factors could be affecting it, and find out what’s important to them to design future studies tailored to their needs.

    While Scheibner never thought she would be doing this for her career it became a pivotal experience in shaping and opening her eyes up to new knowledge. She expressed that she is forever grateful for UConn School of Nursing for fueling her passion, but also for the connections and relationships she made along the way.

    “Everyone in my cohort is absolutely incredible and brilliant and being able to learn with them and from them over the course of these years, has been very transformational,” she said.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Awards Given to Support Dental Faculty Development

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Two School of Dental Medicine faculty recently received the first-ever Dr. Marion Frank Faculty Development Award.

    Drs. Anna Dongari-Bagtzoglou and Steven Lepowsky with Drs. Marion Frank and Rui Li. (Darlene Gugliotti photo)

    This award, given to Dr. Rui Li, associate professor of prosthodontics, and Dr. Madison Doolittle, assistant professor in the Center of Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development, enables faculty to pursue their independently chosen career development activities.

    Drs. Li and Doolittle will be given $5,000 to support their research program development.

    Dr. Anna Dongari-Bagtzoglou, professor and associate dean of faculty affairs, congratulated the award winners.

    “This competitive award provides funds for faculty development activities that support the individual career path of each faculty. The award recognizes Dr. Marion Frank, a Professor Emerita, who has been a steadfast supporter of faculty development in the School of Dental Medicine.”

    The awardees were chosen by the School’s Faculty Development Advisory Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Skyward Specialty Recognized as US News & World Report 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.™ (Nasdaq: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or “the Company”), a leader in the specialty property and casualty (P&C) market, has been named one of 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For by US News & World Report for the second consecutive year. The Company earned recognition in three categories including: Overall, Industry: Finance & Insurance, and Region: South.

    US News & World Report selects recipients of this honor based on an independent analysis of publicly available data, not applications or corporate submissions.

    “What makes this recognition so meaningful is that it is grounded in the real experiences of our employees,” said Skyward Specialty Chairman & CEO Andrew Robinson. “In the five years since our rebrand as Skyward Specialty, we’ve built an incredibly engaged and compassionate culture that is only possible because of the people building it. This honor reinforces the strength of our culture and the depth of our commitment to every team member.”

    To be named a “Best” company, employers must exceed national averages on employee satisfaction across key factors tied to wellbeing, stability and opportunity. Skyward Specialty also received strong scores for Career Opportunities, Professional Development and Belongingness and Esteem, rounding out a profile of a workplace where people feel safe, valued and empowered to thrive.

    About Skyward Specialty
    Skyward Specialty (Nasdaq: SKWD) is a rapidly growing and innovative specialty insurance company, delivering commercial property and casualty products and solutions on a non-admitted and admitted basis. The Company operates through nine underwriting divisions — Accident & Health, Agriculture and Credit (Re)insurance, Captives, Construction & Energy Solutions, Global Property, Professional Lines, Specialty Programs, Surety and Transactional E&S.

    Skyward Specialty’s subsidiary insurance companies consist of Great Midwest Insurance Company, Houston Specialty Insurance Company, Imperium Insurance Company, and Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Company. These insurance companies are rated A (Excellent) with a stable outlook by A.M. Best Company. For more information about Skyward Specialty, its people, and its products, please visit skywardinsurance.com.

    Media Contact
    Haley Doughty
    Skyward Specialty Insurance Group
    713-935-4944
    hdoughty@skywardinsurance.com

    Investor Contact
    Natalie Schoolcraft
    Skyward Specialty Insurance Group
    614-494-4988
    nschoolcraft@skywardinsurance.com

    The MIL Network –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Unbound raises $4M to help enterprises embrace AI tools on their terms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Generative AI tools have become ubiquitous in the enterprise. Employees are using AI copilots to code, draft documents, brainstorm campaigns, and analyze data – often without IT’s knowledge or approval. As adoption spreads from the bottom-up, companies are losing control over how sensitive information is being handled, what models are being used, and who has access to what.

    Unbound has raised $4 million to fix this. The oversubscribed seed round was led by Race Capital, with participation from Wayfinder Ventures, Y Combinator, Massive Tech Ventures and others include notable angel investors*. 

    Unbound Security founders: Vignesh Subbiah and Rajaram Srinivasan. 

    Unbound gives IT teams the visibility and controls they need to safely introduce and manage AI tools in the enterprise. Its AI Gateway plugs into commonly used tools – like Cursor, Roo, Cline or internal document copilots – and provides real-time protection, model routing, and usage analytics. From blocking sensitive information leakage to managing model costs and performance, Unbound helps organizations roll out AI on their terms.

    The founding team brings deep experience in both enterprise security and infrastructure. CEO and co-founder Rajaram Srinivasan previously led data security products at Palo Alto Networks and Imperva, and earlier worked on SaaS security at the onset of the AI wave. He teamed up with Vignesh Subbiah, a seasoned engineer and former founding team member at Tophatter and Shogun, who scaled engineering teams and platforms from seed to growth stage. After working together at Adobe, the two reconnected to build a system that could meet the urgent security gaps emerging in the new AI stack.

    The need became clear quickly. In the early days of GPT-3.5, teams were already sending sensitive prompts into AI tools without oversight – leaking secrets, exposing PII, and consuming costly licenses with no guardrails. Existing DLP tools either blocked the tool altogether or failed to adapt to newer AI workflows.

    Unbound takes a different approach. It has already prevented the leakage of 100s of secret credentials – including passwords, API keys, and connection strings – as well as more than 500 instances of personally identifiable information such as customer names, phone numbers, and patient records. Rather than simply blocking prompts, Unbound redacts sensitive content in real time and reroutes high-risk requests to internal, open-source models hosted in the organization’s cloud. This ensures employees get their answers without ever seeing a security speed bump.

    Unbound: analytics dashboard.

    The platform also gives companies fine-grained control over model access and cost. Rather than buying a one-size-fits-all license, teams can allocate premium model access to high-stakes workflows – like engineers building core infrastructure – while routing lighter tasks, like content editing, to smaller open-source models. Mid-market customers using Unbound have already saved more than $10,000 annually on unnecessary AI seat licenses. And when new models outperform old ones – as with Gemini 2.5 recently overtaking Claude Sonnet for certain coding tasks – Unbound allows IT to roll them out incrementally, test their effectiveness, and swap them in without breaking employee workflows.

    The product is already being used by a growing base of mid-market and enterprise customers across sectors including tech and healthcare. One customer, a leading tech company, recently used Unbound to safely introduce Gemini 2.5 into production AI tools for more than 100 engineers within the same week.

    “As AI tools become mainstream, enterprises are turning to flexibility and control,” said Rajaram Srinivasan, co-founder and CEO of Unbound. “They want visibility into what’s being used, assurance that their data is protected, and the ability to swap in better models as the space evolves. Unbound is the bridge that makes that possible.”

    Reflecting on Unbound’s early days, CTO and co-founder Vignesh Subbiah said, “Defaulting to blanket bans on AI tools is like being in the times of GPT 3.5. Unbound enables surgical security controls into every AI request so teams can innovate freely without putting corporate secrets at risk.” He added, “In just a few months, our customers have prevented over 7,000 potential data leaks and cut AI tooling costs by nearly 70 percent.”

    The market is shifting fast. What started as shadow IT is quickly becoming mission-critical infrastructure. Generative AI is embedded in everything from customer support to software engineering – but the tooling around it is still stuck in early-stage chaos. CIOs and CISOs are looking for ways to support AI adoption without compromising security or governance. Unbound is building that foundation. “At THG Ingenuity, we see the security team as an enabler, not a blocker. Unbound empowers us to roll out AI tools to employees with confidence. Unbound AI Gateway’s data protection controls and intelligent routing have been instrumental in safeguarding sensitive data while helping us optimize costs.” says Abraham Ingersoll, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of The Hut Group. The Hut Group (THG) is a customer of Unbound.

    Unbound: usage analytics.

    “AI is projected to reach $4.8 trillion in market value for the enterprise by 2033 globally — but without proper guardrails, that value is at risk. From shadow models to data leaks, the dangers of unmanaged AI are very real.  We are excited to back Rajaram Vignesh and the Unbound Security team as they create a new category of AI infrastructure: one built for safety, observability and cost discipline from day one.” said Edith Yeung, General Partner at Race Capital. “We’re proud to back Rajaram, Vignesh, and the team building a new category of AI infrastructure – one that makes enterprise adoption safe, observable, and cost-efficient from day one.”

    Unbound is just getting started. The team plans to expand integrations across the AI ecosystem, deepen model routing capabilities, and support internal model orchestration for enterprises adopting open-source LLMs. Their mission is simple: to ensure every organization can embrace AI without losing control in the process.

    * Other investors in the round included: Alpha Square Group, Northside Ventures, Liquid2, Pioneer Fund, Scale Asia Ventures, SBXI and notable angels including Ram Shriram (founding board member at Google), Dr. Trishan Panch (CSO LuminHealth), Dr. John Brownstein (Chief Innovation Officer, Boston Children’s hospital), Taro Fukuyama (CEO, Fond), Eli Brown (CEO, Guilded, acquired by Roblox), Chris Siakos (CEO Sinefa, acquired by Palo Alto Networks), Joe Vadakkan (CISO, Ex- CRO), Zain Rizavi (Cloudflare, Ridge VC), Finbarr Taylor (CEO, Shogun) alongside other silicon valley and cybersecurity veterans.

    Ends

    Media images can be found here. 

    About Unbound
    Unbound helps enterprises adopt Generative AI tools securely and responsibly across their organizations. As companies increasingly explore the benefits of AI, Unbound ensures that IT and security teams maintain the oversight they need. Unbound provides detailed visibility into usage patterns, helps control the flow of sensitive data, and enables policy enforcement to align with organizational standards. Unbound makes enterprise AI adoption safer, more transparent, and easier to manage.

    The MIL Network –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 28 May 2025 Departmental update Road safety takes centre stage at world’s leading transport forum

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Transport ministers from 69 countries adopted a landmark road safety policy recommendation for governments and agreed to pilot a new road safety assessment framework for business at the International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit in Leipzig, Germany, on 22 May 2025.

    Nearly 1.2 million people are killed on the world’s roads each year, and road crashes are the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5–29 years worldwide. 

    Produced with WHO support, the Policy recommendation on comprehensive road safety policy urges governments to adopt evidence-based, safety-focused, well-coordinated and inclusive road safety approaches that best fit each location and to focus on where the most lives can be saved. 

    “This is great news. It could enlighten the way transport policies are implemented. We received support and contributions from NGOs and the World Health Organization that were really relevant,” said Juan Carlos Muñoz, Chilean Minister of Transport and President of the ITF. 

    The road safety policy guide, along with new guidance on artificial intelligence (AI) in transport, is the first policy recommendation made by the ITF – the world’s largest gathering of transport ministers – in three years. The theme of the summit was “transport resilience to global shocks”.

    “There are extremely important links between resilient transport systems and strengthening health and safety. Resilient transport should first and foremost be safe and healthy,” said Dr Nhan Tran, Head of Safety and Mobility at WHO, during a ministerial session at the summit.

    Business matters

    The private sector has a huge and crucial role in ensuring safe and sustainable mobility and a ministerial session at the summit focused on working with business for resilient transport.

    “The private sector brings innovation, agility and in-depth operational expertise. Our challenge is to institutionalize these [public-private] partnerships,” said Mr Muñoz in his opening remarks to the session. 

    WHO and the ITF launched a new Global road safety assessment framework for corporate action and reporting to support businesses in integrating robust road safety practices into their operations and value chains in support of global efforts to reduce road deaths and injuries.   

    “Around one third of all road deaths occur among corporate value chains and we are delighted to support the new road safety assessment framework for business. It is an important platform to track corporate performance against global standards and best practices for road safety,” said Dr Tran.

    The framework builds on existing international instruments to identify best practices, extends safety management to workforce commuting and contractual relations with suppliers and distributors, and will ensure international reporting standards are applied. 

    Companies that adopt the framework can expect to cut the leading cause of workplace injuries, with reduced disruption, improved employee well-being, and an enhanced corporate reputation. 

    The development of the framework began on a request from transport ministers from over 60 countries in May 2024. They are now working with business to pilot and refine the framework.

    Moving forward

    The ITF summit marked a key opportunity to advance commitments made at the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety that was held in Marrakech, Morocco, in February 2025. 

    WHO and the Government of Morocco hosted a ministerial session on implementing the resulting Marrakech Road Safety Declaration, including monitoring and reporting on progress, engaging all relevant actors, and creating incentives and regulations for private sector action. 

    “We are working with key regional bodies to design a robust follow-up mechanism for Africa. Our goal is to organize regional meetings that serve as checkpoints for progress and platforms for coordination, knowledge-sharing and policy alignment,” said Abdessamad Kayouh, Minister of Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom of Morocco.

    The WHO African Region accounts for nearly one-fifth of all global road deaths despite being home to just 15% of the world’s population and 3% of registered vehicles. Road deaths are rising in the region.

    “We must invest in institutional capacity, building strong, well-resourced road safety agencies and ensuring inter-ministerial coordination. Morocco hopes to reinforce a shared continental commitment and to drive tangible improvements in road safety across Africa,” said Mr Kayouh.

    Mr Kayouh highlighted financing, upholding vehicle safety standards and improving efforts to collect, share and use data for policymaking as urgent priorities to boost progress in Africa.

    “The ITF summit is a powerful platform to advance road safety. But for us to truly deliver, we must elevate safety to the same level as climate, access and efficiency. Sustainable transport must, above all, be safe transport,” said Jean Todt, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Beyond the backlash: What evidence shows about the economic impact of DEI

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rodney Coates, Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Miami University

    DEI has a long history. Nora Carol Photography via Getty Images

    Few issues in the U.S. today are as controversial as diversity, equity and inclusion – commonly referred to as DEI.

    Although the term didn’t come into common usage until the 21st century, DEI is best understood as the latest stage in a long American project. Its egalitarian principles are seen in America’s founding documents, and its roots lie in landmark 20th-century efforts such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act and affirmative action policies, as well as movements for racial justice, gender equity, disability rights, veterans and immigrants.

    These movements sought to expand who gets to participate in economic, educational and civic life. DEI programs, in many ways, are their legacy.

    Critics argue that DEI is antidemocratic, that it fosters ideological conformity and that it leads to discriminatory initiatives, which they say disadvantage white people and undermine meritocracy. Those defending DEI argue just the opposite: that it encourages critical thinking and promotes democracy − and that attacks on DEI amount to a retreat from long-standing civil rights law.

    Yet missing from much of the debate is a crucial question: What are the tangible costs and benefits of DEI? Who benefits, who doesn’t, and what are the broader effects on society and the economy?

    As a sociologist, I believe any productive conversation about DEI should be rooted in evidence, not ideology. So let’s look at the research.

    Who gains from DEI?

    In the corporate world, DEI initiatives are intended to promote diversity, and research consistently shows that diversity is good for business. Companies with more diverse teams tend to perform better across several key metrics, including revenue, profitability and worker satisfaction.

    Businesses with diverse workforces also have an edge in innovation, recruitment and competitiveness, research shows. The general trend holds for many types of diversity, including age, race and ethnicity, and gender.

    A focus on diversity can also offer profit opportunities for businesses seeking new markets. Two-thirds of American consumers consider diversity when making their shopping choices, a 2021 survey found. So-called “inclusive consumers” tend to be female, younger and more ethnically and racially diverse. Ignoring their values can be costly: When Target backed away from its DEI efforts, the resulting backlash contributed to a sales decline.

    But DEI goes beyond corporate policy. At its core, it’s about expanding access to opportunities for groups historically excluded from full participation in American life. From this broader perspective, many 20th-century reforms can be seen as part of the DEI arc.

    Consider higher education. Many elite U.S. universities refused to admit women until well into the 1960s and 1970s. Columbia, the last Ivy League university to go co-ed, started admitting women in 1982. Since the advent of affirmative action, women haven’t just closed the gender gap in higher education – they outpace men in college completion across all racial groups. DEI policies have particularly benefited women, especially white women, by expanding workforce access.

    Many Ivy League universities didn’t admit women until surprisingly recently.

    Similarly, the push to desegregate American universities was followed by an explosion in the number of Black college students – a number that has increased by 125% since the 1970s, twice the national rate. With college gates open to more people than ever, overall enrollment at U.S. colleges has quadrupled since 1965. While there are many reasons for this, expanding opportunity no doubt plays a role. And a better-educated population has had significant implications for productivity and economic growth.

    The 1965 Immigration Act also exemplifies DEI’s impact. It abolished racial and national quotas, enabling the immigration of more diverse populations, including from Asia, Africa, southern and eastern Europe and Latin America. Many of these immigrants were highly educated, and their presence has boosted U.S. productivity and innovation.

    Ultimately, the U.S. economy is more profitable and productive as a result of immigrants.

    What does DEI cost?

    While DEI generates returns for many businesses and institutions, it does come with costs. In 2020, corporate America spent an estimated US$7.5 billion on DEI programs. And in 2023, the federal government spent more than $100 million on DEI, including $38.7 million by the Department of Health and Human Services and another $86.5 million by the Department of Defense.

    The government will no doubt be spending less on DEI in 2025. One of President Donald Trump’s first acts in his second term was to sign an executive order banning DEI practices in federal agencies – one of several anti-DEI executive orders currently facing legal challenges. More than 30 states have also introduced or enacted bills to limit or entirely restrict DEI in recent years. Central to many of these policies is the belief that diversity lowers standards, replacing meritocracy with mediocrity.

    But a large body of research disputes this claim. For example, a 2023 McKinsey & Company report found that companies with higher levels of gender and ethnic diversity will likely financially outperform those with the least diversity by at least 39%. Similarly, concerns that DEI in science and technology education leads to lowering standards aren’t backed up by scholarship. Instead, scholars are increasingly pointing out that disparities in performance are linked to built-in biases in courses themselves.

    That said, legal concerns about DEI are rising. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Justice have recently warned employers that some DEI programs may violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Anecdotal evidence suggests that reverse discrimination claims, particularly from white men, are increasing, and legal experts expect the Supreme Court to lower the burden of proof needed by complainants for such cases.

    The issue remains legally unsettled. But while the cases work their way through the courts, women and people of color will continue to shoulder much of the unpaid volunteer work that powers corporate DEI initiatives. This pattern raises important equity concerns within DEI itself.

    What lies ahead for DEI?

    People’s fears of DEI are partly rooted in demographic anxiety. Since the U.S. Census Bureau projected in 2008 that non-Hispanic white people would become a minority in the U.S by the year 2042, nationwide news coverage has amplified white fears of displacement.

    Research indicates many white men experience this change as a crisis of identity and masculinity, particularly amid economic shifts such as the decline of blue-collar work. This perception aligns with research showing that white Americans are more likely to believe DEI policies disadvantage white men than white women.

    At the same time, in spite of DEI initiatives, women and people of color are most likely to be underemployed and living in poverty regardless of how much education they attain. The gender wage gap remains stark: In 2023, women working full time earned a median weekly salary of $1,005 compared with $1,202 for men − just 83.6% of what men earned. Over a 40-year career, that adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost earnings. For Black and Latina women, the disparities are even worse, with one source estimating lifetime losses at $976,800 and $1.2 million, respectively.

    Racism, too, carries an economic toll. A 2020 analysis from Citi found that systemic racism has cost the U.S. economy $16 trillion since 2000. The same analysis found that addressing these disparities could have boosted Black wages by $2.7 trillion, added up to $113 billion in lifetime earnings through higher college enrollment, and generated $13 trillion in business revenue, creating 6.1 million jobs annually.

    In a moment of backlash and uncertainty, I believe DEI remains a vital if imperfect tool in the American experiment of inclusion. Rather than abandon it, the challenge now, from my perspective, is how to refine it: grounding efforts not in slogans or fear, but in fairness and evidence.

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

    – ref. Beyond the backlash: What evidence shows about the economic impact of DEI – https://theconversation.com/beyond-the-backlash-what-evidence-shows-about-the-economic-impact-of-dei-252143

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: More Colorado workplaces are becoming safe places for employees in recovery

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Liliana Tenney, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Cliff and Cara Blauvelt, owners of Odie B’s sandwich shops in Denver, have created a recovery-friendly workplace thanks in part to a program from the Colorado School of Public Health. Courtesy of BehindTheApronMedia

    At Odie B’s, a sandwich shop in Denver, recovery from drug and alcohol use is part of daily operations.

    “Seventy percent of our staff is active in recovery,” Cliff Blauvelt, co-owner of Odie B’s, said in a video testimonial. “We try to provide a safe space where people can feel comfortable.”

    Blauvelt has struggled with alcohol use for more than 20 years. He co-owns Odie B’s with his wife, Cara Blauvelt.

    One employee, Molly, said working at Odie B’s helped her focus on sobriety and reconnect with her sense of purpose.

    “I was burned out, I was working a lot of hours. … I started dry January, and after a few months I realized I needed to quit drinking,” she said in the same video testimonial. “Cara definitely helped with my sobriety journey, just reminding me one day at a time, and now, I have been sober for going on two years.”

    Staffers at Odie B’s, a sandwich shop in Denver, participated in Colorado’s Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative and were interviewed about the experience.

    Colorado is one of more than 30 states that have launched recovery-friendly workplace programs in recent years. They’re part of a growing effort to reframe how employers address addiction, mental health and recovery for the well-being of their employees and businesses.

    Our team from the Centers for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health works with employers to develop training guidelines and policies to help make their workplaces supportive of recovery.

    Over the past three years, we’ve worked to understand the tools employers need to better support employees with substance use disorders.

    Many are deeply motivated but lack formal policies or training. That gap is what the Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative is designed to fill.

    Since 2021, our team has developed and delivered recovery and mental health training to more than 8,000 Colorado employees. They represent more than 100 businesses in industries ranging from local government to construction companies and health care providers. Our training sessions focus on equipping individuals with an understanding of mental health and substance use disorders, explaining how to combat stigma, and outlining how to navigate accommodations in the workplace.

    The toll of addiction

    Substance use is not just a personal issue; it’s a public health and workforce challenge.

    In 2023, 1,865 Coloradans died from a drug overdose, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. That’s up about 65 deaths from the previous year. Nationally, overdose deaths have more than doubled since 2015.

    In high-risk industries, such as construction and mining, where physically demanding work, long hours and job insecurity are common, workers have some of the highest rates of nonmedical opioid use. These workers are thus at a high risk of developing substance use disorders.

    They also face other mental health challenges. These same sectors face the highest suicide rates across all occupations and nearly double that of the general public.

    Recovery, as defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a federal agency, includes “a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential.” In Colorado, an estimated 400,000 people identify as being in recovery. Many of them are working, raising families and rebuilding their lives.

    The economic impact of substance use is significant. Colorado has lost more than 360 million work hours to opioid use over the past decade, according to the American Action Forum, a nonprofit that conducts economic analyses. That’s the equivalent of 173,000 full-time jobs for one year.

    In 2017 alone, the cost of lost productivity due to opioid use disorder and fatal opioid overdose in Colorado was estimated to be US$834 million.

    Employers save an average of $8,500 per year for each employee in recovery, according to the National Safety Council. These savings come from lower health care costs, reduced absenteeism and decreased turnover. In other words, when employers retain and support workers through recovery rather than lose them to untreated substance use, they see measurable benefits.

    A shifting policy landscape

    In 2024, Colorado lawmakers passed a bill for supporting recovery and addressing the opioid epidemic. The legislation provided funding to establish the Recovery Friendly Workplaces Initiative and the voluntary employer participation and certification program.

    Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs legislation into law. The Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative received state funding as part of a 2024 bill aimed at addressing the state’s opioid epidemic.
    Aaron Ontiveroz/Getty Images

    In early 2025, funding for the initiative was removed from the state budget due to a broader fiscal shortfall. The funding cut disrupted many of our planned activities, and we are currently relying on interim support from counties and state offices.

    Looking ahead

    Small businesses remain a priority for our team, despite recent funding cuts. Many lack human resources departments or formal wellness programs but are nonetheless deeply committed to helping their employees succeed.

    Sarah Deering, vice president of Absolute Caulking & Waterproofing of Colorado, joined the Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative.
    Courtesy of the Center for Health, Work and Environment

    A Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initative participant, Absolute Caulking & Waterproofing of Colorado, employs 39 people. Absolute has championed recovery-friendly policies as something the business values.

    “This partnership saves us time and resources, which is invaluable for our small, family-owned business,” said Sarah Deering, vice president of the company.

    The road ahead presents challenges, including limited funding, the societal stigma around recovery and all of the complexities of recovery itself. But we continue to follow the scientific evidence. Our research team is evaluating the outcomes of our programs to better understand their impact and hopefully inform future policy recommendations. We are committed to the belief that work can and should be a place of healing.

    Liliana Tenney receives funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Olivia Zarella receives funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    – ref. More Colorado workplaces are becoming safe places for employees in recovery – https://theconversation.com/more-colorado-workplaces-are-becoming-safe-places-for-employees-in-recovery-251784

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 30, 2025
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