Category: Health

MIL-OSI Global: A common parasite can decapitate human sperm − with implications for male fertility

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Bill Sullivan, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University

_Toxoplasma_ can infiltrate the reproductive system. wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Male fertility rates have been plummeting over the past half-century. An analysis from 1992 noted a steady decrease in sperm counts and quality since the 1940s. A more recent study found that male infertility rates increased nearly 80% from 1990 to 2019. The reasons driving this trend remain a mystery, but frequently cited culprits include obesity, poor diet and environmental toxins.

Infectious diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia are often overlooked factors that affect fertility in men. Accumulating evidence suggests that a common single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii may also be a contributor: An April 2025 study showed for the first time that “human sperm lose their heads upon direct contact” with the parasite.

I am a microbiologist, and my lab studies Toxoplasma. This new study bolsters emerging findings that underscore the importance of preventing this parasitic infection.

The many ways you can get toxoplasmosis

Infected cats defecate Toxoplasma eggs into the litter box, garden or other places in the environment where they can be picked up by humans or other animals. Water, shellfish and unwashed fruits and vegetables can also harbor infectious parasite eggs.

In addition to eggs, tissue cysts present in the meat of warm-blooded animals can spread toxoplasmosis as well if they are not destroyed by cooking to proper temperature.

While most hosts of the parasite can control the initial infection with few if any symptoms, Toxoplasma remains in the body for life as dormant cysts in brain, heart and muscle tissue. These cysts can reactivate and cause additional episodes of severe illness that damage critical organ systems.

Between 30% and 50% of the world’s population is permanently infected with Toxoplasma due to the many ways the parasite can spread.

Toxoplasma can target male reproductive organs

Upon infection, Toxoplasma spreads to virtually every organ and skeletal muscle. Evidence that Toxoplasma can also target human male reproductive organs first surfaced during the height of the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, when some patients presented with the parasitic infection in their testes.

While immunocompromised patients are most at risk for testicular toxoplasmosis, it can also occur in otherwise healthy individuals. Imaging studies of infected mice confirm that Toxoplasma parasites quickly travel to the testes in addition to the brain and eyes within days of infection.

Toxoplasma cysts floating in cat feces.
DPDx Image Library/CDC

In 2017, my colleagues and I found that Toxoplasma can also form cysts in mouse prostates. Researchers have also observed these parasites in the ejaculate of many animals, including human semen, raising the possibility of sexual transmission.

Knowing that Toxoplasma can reside in male reproductive organs has prompted analyses of fertility in infected men. A small 2021 study in Prague of 163 men infected with Toxoplasma found that over 86% had semen anomalies.

A 2002 study in China found that infertile couples are more likely to have a Toxoplasma infection than fertile couples, 34.83% versus 12.11%. A 2005 study in China also found that sterile men are more likely to test positive for Toxoplasma than fertile men.

Not all studies, however, produce a link between toxoplasmosis and sperm quality.

Toxoplasma can directly damage human sperm

Toxoplasmosis in animals mirrors infection in humans, which allows researchers to address questions that are not easy to examine in people.

Testicular function and sperm production are sharply diminished in Toxoplasma-infected mice, rats and rams. Infected mice have significantly lower sperm counts and a higher proportion of abnormally shaped sperm.

In that April 2025 study, researchers from Germany, Uruguay and Chile observed that Toxoplasma can reach the testes and epididymis, the tube where sperm mature and are stored, two days after infection in mice. This finding prompted the team to test what happens when the parasite comes into direct contact with human sperm in a test tube.

After only five minutes of exposure to the parasite, 22.4% of sperm cells were beheaded. The number of decapitated sperm increased the longer they interacted with the parasites. Sperm cells that maintained their head were often twisted and misshapen. Some sperm cells had holes in their head, suggesting the parasites were trying to invade them as it would any other type of cell in the organs it infiltrates.

In addition to direct contact, Toxoplasma may also damage sperm because the infection promotes chronic inflammation. Inflammatory conditions in the male reproductive tract are harmful to sperm production and function.

The researchers speculate that the harmful effects Toxoplasma may have on sperm could be contributing to large global declines in male fertility over the past decades.

Sperm exposed to Toxoplasma. Arrows point to holes and other damage to the sperm; asterisks indicate where the parasite has burrowed. The two nonconfronted controls at the bottom show normal sperm.
Rojas-Barón et al/The FEBS Journal, CC BY-SA

Preventing toxoplasmosis

The evidence that Toxoplasma can infiltrate male reproductive organs in animals is compelling, but whether this produces health issues in people remains unclear. Testicular toxoplasmosis shows that parasites can invade human testes, but symptomatic disease is very rare. Studies to date that show defects in the sperm of infected men are too small to draw firm conclusions at this time.

Additionally, some reports suggest that rates of toxoplasmosis in high-income countries have not been increasing over the past few decades while male infertility was rising, so it’s likely to only be one part of the puzzle.

Regardless of this parasite’s potential effect on fertility, it is wise to avoid Toxoplasma. An infection can cause miscarriage or birth defects if someone acquires it for the first time during pregnancy, and it can be life-threatening for immunocompromised people. Toxoplasma is also the leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States.

Taking proper care of your cat, promptly cleaning the litter box and thoroughly washing your hands after can help reduce your exposure to Toxoplasma. You can also protect yourself from this parasite by washing fruits and vegetables, cooking meat to proper temperatures before consuming and avoiding raw shellfish, raw water and raw milk.

Bill Sullivan receives funding from the National Institutes of Health.

– ref. A common parasite can decapitate human sperm − with implications for male fertility – https://theconversation.com/a-common-parasite-can-decapitate-human-sperm-with-implications-for-male-fertility-256892

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Chronic stress contributes to cognitive decline and dementia risk – 2 healthy-aging experts explain what you can do about it
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer E. Graham-Engeland, Professor of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State

Social isolation is often stressful and can affect the aging brain. MixMedia/E+ via Getty Images

The probability of any American having dementia in their lifetime may be far greater than previously thought. For instance, a 2025 study that tracked a large sample of American adults across more than three decades found that their average likelihood of developing dementia between ages 55 to 95 was 42%, and that figure was even higher among women, Black adults and those with genetic risk.

Now, a great deal of attention is being paid to how to stave off cognitive decline in the aging American population. But what is often missing from this conversation is the role that chronic stress can play in how well people age from a cognitive standpoint, as well as everybody’s risk for dementia.

We are professors at Penn State in the Center for Healthy Aging, with expertise in health psychology and neuropsychology. We study the pathways by which chronic psychological stress influences the risk of dementia and how it influences the ability to stay healthy as people age.

Recent research shows that Americans who are currently middle-aged or older report experiencing more frequent stressful events than previous generations. A key driver behind this increase appears to be rising economic and job insecurity, especially in the wake of the 2007-2009 Great Recession and ongoing shifts in the labor market. Many people stay in the workforce longer due to financial necessity, as Americans are living longer and face greater challenges covering basic expenses in later life.

Therefore, it may be more important than ever to understand the pathways by which stress influences cognitive aging.

Social isolation and stress

Although everyone experiences some stress in daily life, some people experience stress that is more intense, persistent or prolonged. It is this relatively chronic stress that is most consistently linked with poorer health.

In a recent review paper, our team summarized how chronic stress is a hidden but powerful factor underlying cognitive aging, or the speed at which your cognitive performance slows down with age.

It is hard to overstate the impact of stress on your cognitive health as you age. This is in part because your psychological, behavioral and biological responses to everyday stressful events are closely intertwined, and each can amplify and interact with the other.

For instance, living alone can be stressful – particularly for older adults – and being isolated makes it more difficult to live a healthy lifestyle, as well as to detect and get help for signs of cognitive decline.

Moreover, stressful experiences – and your reactions to them – can make it harder to sleep well and to engage in other healthy behaviors, like getting enough exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. In turn, insufficient sleep and a lack of physical activity can make it harder to cope with stressful experiences.

Stress is often missing from dementia prevention efforts

A robust body of research highlights the importance of at least 14 different factors that relate to your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a common and devastating form of dementia and other forms of dementia. Although some of these factors may be outside of your control, such as diabetes or depression, many of these factors involve things that people do, such as physical activity, healthy eating and social engagement.

What is less well-recognized is that chronic stress is intimately interwoven with all of these factors that relate to dementia risk. Our work and research by others that we reviewed in our recent paper demonstrate that chronic stress can affect brain function and physiology, influence mood and make it harder to maintain healthy habits. Yet, dementia prevention efforts rarely address stress.

Avoiding stressful events and difficult life circumstances is typically not an option.

Where and how you live and work plays a major role in how much stress you experience. For example, people with lower incomes, less education or those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods often face more frequent stress and have fewer forms of support – such as nearby clinics, access to healthy food, reliable transportation or safe places to exercise or socialize – to help them manage the challenges of aging
As shown in recent work on brain health in rural and underserved communities, these conditions can shape whether people have the chance to stay healthy as they age.

Over time, the effects of stress tend to build up, wearing down the body’s systems and shaping long-term emotional and social habits.

Lifestyle changes to manage stress and lessen dementia risk

The good news is that there are multiple things that can be done to slow or prevent dementia, and our review suggests that these can be enhanced if the role of stress is better understood.

Whether you are a young, midlife or an older adult, it is not too early or too late to address the implications of stress on brain health and aging. Here are a few ways you can take direct actions to help manage your level of stress:
- Follow lifestyle behaviors that can improve healthy aging. These include: following a healthy diet, engaging in physical activity and getting enough sleep. Even small changes in these domains can make a big difference.
- Prioritize your mental health and well-being to the extent you can. Things as simple as talking about your worries, asking for support from friends and family and going outside regularly can be immensely valuable.
- If your doctor says that you or someone you care about should follow a new health care regimen, or suggests there are signs of cognitive impairment, ask them what support or advice they have for managing related stress.
- If you or a loved one feel socially isolated, consider how small shifts could make a difference. For instance, research suggests that adding just one extra interaction a day – even if it’s a text message or a brief phone call – can be helpful, and that even interactions with people you don’t know well, such as at a coffee shop or doctor’s office, can have meaningful benefits.
The same behaviors that keep your heart healthy are also beneficial for your brain.

Walkable neighborhoods, lifelong learning

A 2025 study identified stress as one of 17 overlapping factors that affect the odds of developing any brain disease, including stroke, late-life depression and dementia. This work suggests that addressing stress and overlapping issues such as loneliness may have additional health benefits as well.

However, not all individuals or families are able to make big changes on their own. Research suggests that community-level and workplace interventions can reduce the risk of dementia. For example, safe and walkable neighborhoods and opportunities for social connection and lifelong learning – such as through community classes and events – have the potential to reduce stress and promote brain health.

Importantly, researchers have estimated that even a modest delay in disease onset of Alzheimer’s would save hundreds of thousands of dollars for every American affected. Thus, providing incentives to companies who offer stress management resources could ultimately save money as well as help people age more healthfully.

In addition, stress related to the stigma around mental health and aging can discourage people from seeking support that would benefit them. Even just thinking about your risk of dementia can be stressful in itself. Things can be done about this, too. For instance, normalizing the use of hearing aids and integrating reports of perceived memory and mental health issues into routine primary care and workplace wellness programs could encourage people to engage with preventive services earlier.

Although research on potential biomedical treatments is ongoing and important, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, if interventions aimed at reducing stress were prioritized in guidelines for dementia prevention, the benefits could be far-reaching, resulting in both delayed disease onset and improved quality of life for millions of people.

Jennifer E. Graham-Engeland receives funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Martin J. Sliwinski receives funding from The National Institutes of Health

– ref. Chronic stress contributes to cognitive decline and dementia risk – 2 healthy-aging experts explain what you can do about it – https://theconversation.com/chronic-stress-contributes-to-cognitive-decline-and-dementia-risk-2-healthy-aging-experts-explain-what-you-can-do-about-it-250583
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI: Liquidia Corporation to Present at the 2025 Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MORRISVILLE, N.C., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Liquidia Corporation (NASDAQ: LQDA) announced today that the company’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Roger Jeffs, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Michael Kaseta, and Chief Business Officer Jason Adair will be providing an update on the company’s business during a fireside chat at the 2025 Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference on Wednesday June 4, 2025, beginning at 11:05 a.m. ET, in New York City.

Access to a webcast will be available to investors and other interested parties by accessing Liquidia’s website at https://liquidia.com/investors/events-and-presentations.

An archived, recorded version of the presentation will be available on Liquidia’s website for at least 30 days following the event.

About Liquidia Corporation
Liquidia Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for patients with rare cardiopulmonary disease. The company’s current focus spans the development and commercialization of products in pulmonary hypertension and other applications of its proprietary PRINT^® Technology. PRINT enabled the creation of YUTREPIA™ (treprostinil) inhalation powder, a drug that has been approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PHILD). The company is also developing L606, an investigational sustained-release formulation of treprostinil administered twice-daily with a next-generation nebulizer and currently markets generic Treprostinil Injection for the treatment of PAH. To learn more about Liquidia, please visit www.liquidia.com.

Contact Information

Investors:
Jason Adair
Chief Business Officer
919.328.4350
jason.adair@liquidia.com

Media:
Patrick Wallace
Director, Corporate Communications
919.328.4383
patrick.wallace@liquidia.com

The MIL Network –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Living with Bears in Connecticut: What You Need to Know
Source: US State of Connecticut

Bears are a growing presence in Connecticut, and while they’re an important part of our ecosystem, safely sharing space with them is essential.

“Black bears are the only bear species found in Connecticut,” says Tracy Rittenhouse, an associate professor in UConn’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. “They typically avoid people, but they’re curious animals and are always on the lookout for food, especially during the spring when they are emerging from hibernation and in the fall, as bears eat as much as possible to build fat for hibernation.”

The challenge arises as we coexist in spaces, with more houses being built in wooded areas. The state’s bear population is expanding into new areas and once a female with cubs establishes a home range in a town, the number of bears in that town will continue to increase for several years.

Bears become comfortable around people if they learn that residential areas provide easy meals, examples include birdseed, garbage, pet food, and fallen apples from trees. Easy meals lead to new habits for bears and more frequent human encounters. An example of a new habit in Connecticut is bears entering homes, with 70 reports of bears entering homes in the 2024 State of the Bears report.

Connecticut’s black bear population is estimated at around 1,200 in total. While most live west of the Connecticut River, the population is expanding to the eastern side of the state.

Adults weigh from 250 to 550 pounds, and a female can have between one and five cubs. Bears prefer to live in forestland and areas with thick underbrush, making many of our landscapes ideal habitats. While grasses, fruits, nuts, and berries are usual food sources, bears are omnivores, and will also eat insects, small mammals, livestock, and deer. Their excellent sense of smell easily leads them to food sources.

“Sometimes residents with good intentions accidentally put themselves, their loved ones, and their neighbors at increased risk through their actions, like hanging nectar-filled feeders which are just as attractive to large black bears as they are to delicate hummingbirds,” says Amy Harder, associate dean for extension in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR). “That’s why one of the main roles of UConn Extension is to share expertise from the University to help residents make informed decisions.”

Removing food sources helps prevent bear conflicts. Here are a few simple steps:
1. Secure your garbage bins. Store them in a garage or shed if possible and put them out only on the morning of pickup.
2. Take down bird feeders. Bird feeders attract bears and should especially be removed from March to November when natural food is available.
3. Pick up fallen fruit. Tree fruits and garden crops are another easy meal, especially apples, pumpkins, and other seasonal crops.
4. Feed pets indoors. Pet food should be provided indoors or remove the outdoor bowls immediately after feeding.
Bear encounters still occur, even with the necessary precautions. It’s important to know how to respond to ensure safety.

“If you encounter a bear, stay calm. Do not run. Bears typically avoid confrontation and will move away if they don’t feel threatened,” Rittenhouse says. “Instead, back away slowly while facing the bear. Make yourself look large by raising your arms or standing on a chair. Use a calm voice and give the bear plenty of space to retreat.”

Hikers and those working outdoors in areas where bears are active should consider carrying bear spray as a precaution, which offers a highly effective, nonlethal deterrent if used correctly. Bear spray must be easily accessible while working or hiking and users should pay attention to the wind direction to avoid spraying themselves.

If you have seen bears in your neighborhood, consider keeping bear spray accessible when grilling in your backyard. Don’t leave a big plate of food on the table next to the grill. Pets and children should be supervised outdoors in neighborhoods where bears are regularly observed.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) tracks bear sightings and encourages everyone to report bear sightings. This is especially important if the bear is approaching people or damaging property. Wildlife officials monitor bear activity and educate communities about staying safe. So far, there have already been 500 bear sightings in 2025, and last year, sightings were reported in 159 of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities, according to DEEP, with Simsbury reporting the greatest number of sightings at 967.

If you live near bears, consider installing an electric fence around your garden, especially during peak growing season. Bear noses are knee-height, and fences should have three or four strands. Harvest ripe fruits and vegetables and remove rotting produce. Use bear-resistant compost bins and avoid putting food scraps or fruit waste into open piles. Beekeepers also need to protect their hives.

UConn’s bear story map shows bear activity and the geographic locations with the highest bear and human conflict frequency. The story map documents research completed in 2012 and 2013 into the population size and location throughout the state. There is a new study by Rittenhouse and partners that will describe quantitatively how much diet and movements have changed over the last 10 years.

“Bears are not out to harm us. Coexisting with bears means respecting their presence and taking steps to discourage bears from using areas frequented by people. If we remove food attractants, bears are less likely to spend time in backyards,” Rittenhouse says. “By taking simple steps around your home, garden, and yard, we can reduce bear conflicts and live alongside one of Connecticut’s most iconic wild animals.”

This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Fostering Sustainable Landscapes at the Urban-Rural Interface.

Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

MIL OSI USA News –
May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: UN Security Council must renew the arms embargo on South Sudan

Source: Amnesty International –

Free access to weapons would only heighten the ongoing violence in the country.

By Tigere Chagutah

In 2015, as a civil war was raging in South Sudan, the United Nations Security Council imposed the first set of sanctions on the country, including asset freezes and travel bans on various senior officials. Three years later, after a ceasefire agreement was repeatedly violated, the UNSC mustered the votes to impose a full arms embargo. Fragile peace eventually settled in, but the embargo was kept in place and was extended every year.

The review of the embargo is now coming up on May 29 and there is a push from African members of the UNSC – Sierra Leone, Somalia and Algeria – to lift it. On March 18, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) publicly called for this measure to end.

But lifting the embargo on South Sudan at this moment would be a mistake. Violence has come back to plague the country, killing at least 180 people between March and mid-April, amid deepening divisions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, who has been placed under house arrest.

Allowing more weapons to enter the country would only escalate the dire situation. This would not be in the interest of neighbouring countries and the African Union as a whole.

Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa

Under the AU’s development plan, Agenda 2063, the continent set itself an ambitious goal of “Silencing the Guns” by 2020, later extended to 2030. With this, the AU wants to “end all wars and violent conflicts and promote dialogue-based mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution”.

Yet, the AUPSC’s call for lifting the embargo on South Sudan does not fall in line with these goals. The justification for this stance is that free access to more weapons can enable the unification of government and opposition forces and reform the security sector.

But this logic ignores the growing fractures in South Sudan amid the renewed tensions between Kiir and Machar. Placing more guns in the hands of warring parties involved in serious human rights violations and crimes under international law would only make the situation worse.

South Sudan’s security and defence forces have attacked the very people they are tasked to protect: Civilians. The South Sudanese army, National Security Service and armed opposition forces have been implicated in war crimes and human rights violations for well more than a decade, including by the AU’s Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan and the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan.

Indeed, around the time the AUPSC called for the lifting of the arms embargo, South Sudan’s government reportedly used improvised incendiary weapons in aerial attacks, killing at least 58 people and injuring others, including children.

To be sure, the existence of the arms embargo is not enough – its enforcement is key. That is already faltering after in early March, Uganda sent troops and military equipment to South Sudan without providing notification or receiving special exemption from the UNSC Sanctions Committee. This is a clear violation of the embargo.

South Sudan’s Mi-24 helicopters also seem to be on the move, despite the government’s fleet reportedly being non-functional and grounded since the arms embargo was imposed in 2018. This suggests spare parts have been sourced in violation of the embargo.

If the African Union is serious about silencing the guns, it should back the strict controls prohibiting arms transfers to South Sudan, and the African states in the UNSC should vote to renew the arms embargo.

Tigere Chagutah

On May 4, Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, reported that two helicopter gunships had bombed its medical facility in Old Fangak the day before and fired at the town, killing seven and injuring 20 others. Deliberate attacks on a medical facility performing its humanitarian function violate international humanitarian law and would constitute a war crime. This is yet another indication of why the UNSC must renew the arms embargo and strengthen its enforcement.

If properly implemented and enforced, a renewed UNSC arms embargo would not obstruct security sector reform. Instead, it would block the disorderly and destabilising accumulation of arms in South Sudan, which is spurring the current conflict and contributing to violations against civilians.

If the AU is serious about silencing the guns, it should back the strict controls prohibiting arms transfers to South Sudan, and the African states in the UNSC should vote to renew the arms embargo.

MIL OSI NGO –

May 29, 2025
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announces plan for three hospital beds per 1,000 citizens

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced her government’s plan to raise the hospital bed ratio to three per 1,000 citizens, aiming to significantly upgrade the city’s healthcare capacity.

Gupta made the remarks while laying the foundation stone for the construction of a new footpath at the SU Block park in Pitampura, located in the Shalimar Bagh Assembly constituency.

Addressing local residents gathered at the park, she said, “With everyone’s blessings, the government is completing 100 days on May 30, and we will present our report card before the public on May 31. But I can say this much: I do not make big promises. However, Delhi has now elected a government that can reduce problems. Your trust is our effort.”

Reflecting on the past 100 days of governance, Gupta said her administration has made a series of important policy decisions aimed at resolving long-standing public grievances.

“In the 100 days of service that our government has spent in Delhi, we have taken a lot of policy decisions because all these issues have been troubling the people of Delhi for years,” she said.

“The previous governments never tried to solve any problem, citing conflict. This lack of effort was a loss to the people of Delhi,” she added.

The Delhi Chief Minister revealed that a high-level health committee meeting she recently chaired brought to light a concerning statistic — Delhi had just 0.47 hospital beds per 1,000 people, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of two beds.

“I chaired a high-level health committee meeting, and I was shocked to learn that although the WHO recommends a minimum of 2 hospital beds per 1,000 people, Delhi had only 0.47 beds per 1,000 people—not even one bed per 1,000 citizens. This is a serious concern. Now, this elected government is working towards a goal of 3 beds per 1,000 people,” she said.

Calling for unified governance, she added, “Whether it is with the MCD, the Delhi Government, or the Central Government, an integrated system should be created so that no Delhiite remains without treatment, and no one dies due to lack of medical care.”

She also highlighted the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in Delhi, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for enabling the rollout of the healthcare scheme.

“I congratulate you that after you elected our government in Delhi, the Ayushman Yojana was implemented here. Today, Ayushman Yojana cards are being issued to the people of Delhi. We are issuing cards to all elderly residents above 70 years of age, and the Delhi government is providing treatment coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh—Rs 5 lakh from the Centre and Rs 5 lakh from the Delhi government,” she said.

“This scheme is not available anywhere else in the world. This is the only government that gives every elderly person above 70 years of age Rs 10 lakh for treatment,” she claimed.

Expressing gratitude for public support, Gupta concluded, “I sincerely thank PM Modi and all of you for your decision. It’s your single vote that has pushed Delhi forward on the path of progress.”

—IANS

May 29, 2025
Sensex, Nifty slip amid valuation concerns; FMCG drags indices

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Indian stock market ended in the red for the second consecutive session on Wednesday, weighed down by premium valuations and mixed global cues.

The BSE Sensex slipped 239.31 points, or 0.29 per cent, to close at 81,312.32, while the NSE Nifty dropped 73.75 points, or 0.30 per cent, settling at 24,752.45.

The decline was primarily driven by FMCG stocks, with the Nifty FMCG index ending nearly 1.5 per cent lower. Other sectoral indices such as Nifty Auto, Pharma, Metal, Realty, Infra, Commodity, and Healthcare also closed in negative territory.

Midcap and smallcap indices showed mixed trends. The Nifty Midcap 100 fell slightly by 13 points to 57,141, whereas the Nifty Smallcap 100 rose by 58 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 17,784.

Analysts attributed the subdued market sentiment to a lack of support from foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and the prevailing premium valuations.

“Domestic indices remained rangebound with a negative bias due to limited FII support and stretched valuations,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

He added that key economic indicators such as a favourable monsoon forecast, a benign inflation outlook, and expectations of a strong Q4 GDP could help cushion downside risks. However, earnings visibility needs to improve alongside macroeconomic fundamentals to ensure stability in market direction, Nair noted.

Volatility eased, with the India VIX falling 2.79 per cent to 18.02, reflecting a drop in market uncertainty.

“Technically, the Nifty formed a red candle on the daily chart, indicating weakness. However, it continues to trade above its 21-day Exponential Moving Average (21-DEMA), which is currently around 24,570. As long as it holds above this level, a pullback move remains possible,” said Hrishikesh Yedve, Technical and Derivative Analyst at Asit C. Mehta Investment Interrmediates Ltd (a Pantomath Group company).

He noted that the index may face stiff resistance near the 25,000–25,100 zone in the near term.

Meanwhile, the Indian rupee traded flat around 85.40 against the US dollar, as the dollar index remained stable near the 99.45 mark.

“With key global economic data due this week—including the US Fed meeting minutes, Q4 GDP data, and the Core PCE Price Index—the rupee’s movement will largely depend on foreign fund flows in the secondary market,” said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst at LKP Securities.

Gold prices traded firm, finding strong support in the $3,280–$3,300 range on Comex. On the domestic front, MCX gold gained Rs 600, supported by a base around the Rs 95,000 level.

-IANS

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Young Innovators Take Centre Stage as Samsung ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ Rolls Through Hyderabad and Bengaluru

Source: Samsung

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Season 4 has made its way to South India, fueling a wave of youth-driven innovation. Across the dynamic campuses of Hyderabad and the bustling tech hubs of Bengaluru, students are uniting to envision a brighter future for their communities, armed with empathy, purpose, and the principles of design thinking.

Samsung ‘Solve for Tomorrow 2025’ will provide INR 1 crore to the top four winning teams to support the incubation of their projects, along with hands-on prototyping, investor connects, and expert mentorship from Samsung leaders and IIT Delhi faculty.

At the University of Hyderabad, hundreds of students immersed themselves in a design thinking workshop, challenging the status quo and uncovering solutions to everyday problems.

“For me, the turning point was when the instructor said, ‘There are countless problems in the world, but only a few who take action to solve them,’” said R. Deepika, a Business Analytics student. “That statement inspired me to become one of those problem-solvers and create meaningful impact.”

Mukta, a Healthcare and Hospital Management student, also experienced a shift in perspective. “This session taught me to think like an entrepreneur. A simple idea can transform the world, and now I’m determined to bring mine to life,” she said.

The momentum didn’t stop in there. At KG Reddy Engineering College in Hyderabad, D. Ganesh Reddy, a BTech Computer Science Engineering student, left the workshop with a clear understanding of how technology can address local challenges.

“The session showed me that student ideas can lead to real-world change if we approach them with curiosity and structure,” he said.

Similarly, over 500 students from top institutions like Jain University, Dr. Chandrama Dayanand Sagar Institute of Medical Education and Research, and Kempowda Institute of Medical Sciences gathered to explore design thinking and innovation in action.

“This workshop opened my eyes to the problems in my own community,” said Joel J, a second-semester B.Tech student. “For the first time, I realized I could be the one to solve them.”

A Movement for Innovation
Across these cities, the workshops have done more than generate ideas—they’ve sparked confidence. Confidence that young minds, with the right mindset and guidance, can drive transformative change.

As Solve for Tomorrow continues its journey across India, it’s not just expanding its reach—it’s unlocking new possibilities. From Hyderabad to Bengaluru and soon to regions like the North-East, the program is cultivating a future powered by student-led innovation.

Applications are open, and the next generation of problem-solvers is already in motion.

Let the ideas flow.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Warning on oak processionary moth issued ahead of hatching season
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Warning on oak processionary moth issued ahead of hatching season

Public and construction trade vigilance needed as oak processionary moth (OPM) growth higher at start of greatest risk period
Image credit: Henry Kuppen

The public are being urged today (Wednesday 28 May) to be vigilant for any sightings of oak processionary moth caterpillars, a tree pest which can strip oak trees of their foliage and leave them susceptible to disease.

The caterpillars – predominantly found in South East England – descend down oak trees in head-to-tail processionary form, occasionally taking the form of an arrow shape, earning them their name. They feed on the leaves as they migrate causing the leaves to sometimes drop off which negatively impacts their growth. This can weaken the tree and leave it more vulnerable to other stresses, such as drought and further diseases.

The warning has been issued today by the Forestry Commission who are urging the public to report any sightings via the TreeAlert portal or by email to opm@forestrycommission.gov.uk.

Oak processionary moth was first identified in London in 2006 after being accidentally transported over from Europe in trees for planting. It has since spread to surrounding counties in the South East, and last July, a small outbreak of the caterpillars was found at a site designated free from the pest.

OPM caterpillars and their nests, which are made of distinctive white silken webbing, contain hairs that can cause itchy rashes, eye and throat irritation and should not be touched under any circumstances. The nests can be found in the trunk or branches of oak trees, and fade to a light brown over time. The public are urged never to try and dispose of the nests themselves.

Forestry Commission Oak Processionary Moth Programme Manager Dr Edward Straw said:

“The warm weather in spring has led to oak processionary moth growing quicker than in previous years. We’re already receiving reports of homeowners being affected by the caterpillars, coming out in painful rashes, and it is important those living and working in areas affected by oak processionary moth remain vigilant about the health risks they pose.

“The Forestry Commission has a whole host of information online that can be used to identify the moth, simply visit managing oak processionary moth in England. If you spot the pest, report the sighting via our TreeAlert portal . Alternatively, you can email opm@forestrycommission.gov.uk.”

The Forestry Commission continues to undertake a rapid management response and extensive surveillance work is in place to monitor the area and continue to direct appropriate control measures to prevent the potential spread of OPM.

Professor Nicola Spence, UK Chief Plant Health Officer, said:

“Oak trees are an iconic and much-loved part of our British landscape. By reporting any sightings of the oak processionary moth to the Forestry Commission, we can all minimise the pest’s spread as well as reduce their impact on tree health.

“I would advise that members of the public living in London, the surrounding areas and Derbyshire, avoid any contact with the caterpillar and its nests, as this can cause irritation.”

By identifying threats such as pests and diseases, we protect the benefits plants provide to the public, to wildlife, the environment, and our economy. More information can be found on the Plant Health Action.org website.

How to identify Oak processionary moth caterpillars

Nests are typically dome or teardrop-shaped, averaging the size of a tennis ball. They are white when fresh, but soon become discoloured and brown. The caterpillars have black heads and bodies covered in long white hairs which contain proteins which can cause itchy rashes, eye, and throat irritations. They can also occasionally cause breathing difficulties in people and pets, so should not be touched under any circumstances.

A public information leaflet covering how to identify OPM and methods to control is available,

There is also a document outlining species commonly confused with OPM which can be found here.

For more information, visit ‘Managing Oak Processionary Moth in England’.

Contact with Oak Processionary Moth

Following possible OPM contact, visit your pharmacist for relief from milder skin or eye irritations. Consult a GP or call NHS111 for more serious reactions. Contact a vet if animals are seriously affected.

An interactive map showing the locations of recent confirmed reports of OPM and the national management zones is available.

A toolkit for local authorities and larger landowners to help plan for and manage OPM has been developed by the Tree Council, in partnership with Forest Research.

A guide for the policy changes to OPM management

The Tree Health Pilot scheme offers a local authority grant for oak with OPM. It supports local authorities in the OPM ’established area’ to organise surveying of oak trees for OPM and create an OPM management plan and communications strategy to understand the risks and appropriate management of the affected area. Funding is also available for communications materials such as signage, and biosecurity items including boot cleaning equipment and red tape/posts for cordoning off areas. For more information and details of how to apply see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-health-pilot-scheme-2024/grants-for-oak-with-oak-processionary-moth-opm

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Published 28 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH organises International Medical Device Regulatory Forum to promote advancement of health through research and technology (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

DH organises International Medical Device Regulatory Forum to promote advancement of health through research and technology
Addressing the opening ceremony, the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said, “Given the rapid development of AI technology, the DH is committed to developing a regulatory framework in Hong Kong to help healthcare workers and members of the public choose safe and reliable medical devices. The DH has issued guidance on cybersecurity and AI medical devices in 2023 and 2024 to help manufacturers navigate and follow the voluntary Medical Device Administrative Control System (MDACS), which was introduced by the DH. To date, 22 AI medical devices have been listed in the MDACS, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrocardiography (ECG) systems.

“The HKSAR Government is committed to developing Hong Kong as a hub for health and medical innovation. The soon-to-be-established Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation will conduct independent evaluations on the safety, quality, and efficacy of medical products based on clinical data. In addition, with the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, Hong Kong will leverage its unique advantages under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and serve as a ‘super connector’, linking Mainland China and the global market. This will create opportunities for entrepreneurs to thrive while supporting our country in enhancing its new quality productive forces in the health field,” said Dr Lam.

“The emergence of innovative medical devices is bringing revolutionary changes to the healthcare industry. Multinational and cross-border collaborations are required to enable the development of a regulatory system that aligns with the rapid advancement in medical technology. The CUHK is delighted to partner with the DH in hosting the first forum to strengthen co-operation in medical innovation. The goal is to enhance health and medical industry standards by engaging leaders and pioneers in the field,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the CUHK, Professor Philip Chiu.

Today’s forum featured keynote speeches by representatives of medical device regulatory authorities from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, as well as local and Hungarian academia. The forum focused on trends in the medical device industry, international regulatory co-ordination mechanisms and breakthroughs in AI technology in the healthcare sector. Participants proactively engaged in discussions, sharing their insights and experiences.

The DH will continue to promote exchanges between governments, industry, and academia through various means to strengthen international collaboration networks, and lay a solid foundation for Hong Kong to develop into an international medical innovation hub.
Issued at HKT 18:50

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CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Regular Screening for Depression May Benefit High Schoolers

Source: US State of Connecticut

Symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts have steadily increased among high school students in the U.S. over the past decade and a half, a University of Connecticut researcher reports. The concerning increase should change how and who we screen for depression or suicidal behaviors.

Adolescents are the age group most likely to commit suicide in the U.S. Although the absolute risk is low, every incident is a tragedy. Identifying youth with suicidal thoughts and offering them support and interventions is the best method we have for preventing suicidal behaviors. Unfortunately, the number of high schoolers reporting feeling sad or hopeless enough to have trouble participating in normal activities has steadily increased from 2007 through 2021, UConn School of Medicine psychiatric epidemiologist T. Greg Rhee reports in two papers, one just published on May 28 in American Journal of Psychiatry and the other this past February in The Lancet.

Among teens with symptoms of depression, the number reporting suicidal thoughts increased by about 1.3% every other year, from 41.2% in 2007 to 51.7% in 2021.

Not only are more teens experiencing episodes of depression more frequently, but even teens who engage in few or no risky behaviors are reporting more depressive symptoms. The study used data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that surveys U.S. high school students. They looked at YRBS data spanning 2007 to 2021, including responses from 119,654 students. The study classifies risky behaviors as including exposure to bullying or violence, substance use, sexual activity, unhealthy behaviors related to weight, and a lack of physical activity.

The results from the researchers’ analysis were particularly disturbing because they indicated almost any teen could be affected.

“Even if you don’t engage in any risky behaviors, you can still have suicidal ideation,” Rhee says.

The Lancent study focused on trends in depressive symptoms among high school students with and without risky behaviors. The American Journal of Psychiatry study focused on trends in suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among high school students. Taken together, the two studies suggest that even teens with no risk factors could benefit from regular screening for depressive symptoms or suicidal behaviors.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin took part in the jubilee parade of cadets

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

The annual parade of the Moscow cadet movement “The connection between generations will not be broken!” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War took place on Victory Square on Poklonnaya Gora.

Before the parade began, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and the Mayor of Moscow addressed the cadets with a welcoming speech. Sergei Sobyanin and the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergei Kravtsov.

“I congratulate you on the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, the glorious anniversary that we are celebrating on these bright May days. Moscow sacredly honors the legacy of the victors. Courage, fortitude, patriotism and selfless service to the Fatherland. Cadets and the entire younger generation grow and are brought up on these values. And today, on Poklonnaya Gora, we see the best representatives of the Moscow cadet movement in the parade formation. Next to you, shoulder to shoulder, are cadets from other cities of Russia and Belarus. This emphasizes the traditions of the cadet brotherhood. You are smart and talented, strong and courageous, energetic and purposeful. And such concepts as honor and dignity are the main principles of life for you. Your peers look up to you, your family and friends are rightfully proud of you. Everything is ahead of you. And I am sure that you will succeed, because where there are cadets, there is victory,” said Sergei Sobyanin.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ congratulated the cadets on the holiday.

“Moscow has truly changed beyond recognition in recent years. It is a wonderful city, convenient for living, beautiful, which really reflects the general development of our entire state. Many thanks to Sergei Semyonovich Sobyanin, the City Hall, all those who work to beautify and improve all aspects of Muscovites’ lives. Of course, thanks to all of us, to all our people, to all working people, to all who love their country and work for its prosperity,” noted Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill.

The Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov emphasized that Moscow is becoming the center of the cadet brotherhood, which is based on spiritual and moral values, courage and loyalty to traditions. Today, a strategy for the development of cadet education is being developed. 510 thousand children are studying in cadet and Cossack corps and schools, educational organizations with cadet and Cossack classes.

“The Moscow Cadet Movement unites young patriots who are ready to take up the baton of serving the Fatherland from their great-grandfathers, grandfathers, and fathers. Cadets are the golden fund of the Russian state. The future of the country is in your hands. And now your main task is to comprehend the world, study science, and get good and excellent grades. Cadet – that sounds proud. Love for the Fatherland is not just words, but deeds,” added Sergey Kravtsov.

The parade was attended by seven thousand people. Among them were combat veterans, including participants in the special military operation (SVO), representatives of legislative and executive authorities, law enforcement agencies and public organizations, teachers, parents and students from the capital’s schools.

On behalf of the Moscow cadet movement, Artem Lazorev, a student of school No. 1794 named after A.S. Chufistov, spoke.

“In May, we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. We are proud of the feat of our ancestors. A feat that will be inscribed in history and in our hearts for centuries. We will be proud that we continue the work of our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. We are preparing to serve our great Motherland. We remember them, we thank them. The connection between generations will not be broken,” the cadet thanked.

More than three thousand cadets took part in the parade – 52 parade units. Among them:

— 43 ceremonial units of students from cadet classes of comprehensive schools in Moscow;

— three ceremonial units of students from federal general education institutions: the Alexander Nevsky Cadet Corps of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, the M.A. Sholokhov Moscow Presidential Cadet School of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, and the Moscow Suvorov Military School of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation;

— a ceremonial crew of the cadet boarding school with initial flight training named after three times Hero of the Soviet Union A.I. Pokryshkin (city of Fryazino, Moscow region);

– four parade units from Lugansk, Kherson, Izhevsk and Perm;

— a ceremonial formation of the cadet delegation from Belarus (city of Brest).

The Moscow Cadet Movement Parade has been held since 2015. Its goal is to increase the prestige of the capital’s cadet education, to develop in young people a sense of pride in the history of the country and belonging to the cadet brotherhood, and to cultivate a readiness to serve the Fatherland.

Festival-forum of the Moscow cadet movement

This year, the Moscow Cadet Movement Festival and Forum began after the parade. The practical cluster for cadets and other guests hosts interactive master classes and exhibitions on tactical medicine, UAV control, VR training and fire training. Speaker sessions are also held here with the participation of Heroes of the Fatherland, representatives of the veteran community, government bodies, popular athletes and opinion leaders in the field of patriotic education of youth. These meetings are of greatest interest to educators, parents and teachers.

The sports cluster hosts tournaments in team sports and tactical games: basketball, handball, mini-football, tag rugby, laser tag and archery tag. Guests can also attend master classes organized by sports federations, autograph sessions and meetings with famous athletes.

The career guidance cluster features an exhibition of leading universities – partners of the Cadet Class in a Moscow School project and law enforcement agencies, interactive career guidance platforms and demonstration performances.

In the creative cluster, spectators will see performances by the best creative cadet groups, exhibitions and photo zones on the theme of traditional crafts and Cossack culture.

The festival-forum will end with a gala concert featuring popular domestic performers.

Cadet education in Moscow

In total, the cadet movement in the capital includes more than 30 thousand children. It has a banner approved by the Heraldic Council under the President of the Russian Federation, presented by the Mayor of Moscow and consecrated by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’.

In Moscow schools, cadet education is one of the types of specialized training aimed at preparing students for military and civil service. The project began in 2014 with the first 70 cadet classes. They are now open in 236 schools.

“Cadet education is one of the most popular in Moscow schools. More than 28 thousand children study in specialized classes. They are brought up in the best cadet traditions – with an emphasis on erudition, physical development, service to the Motherland and people. Many children join volunteer organizations and choose a military career,” the Mayor of Moscow wrote in

on your telegram channel.

Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

Cadets are mainly trained in daytime mode from the seventh to the 11th grade. Cadet classes with round-the-clock stay in the system Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow are available at two cadet boarding schools (the First Moscow Cadet Corps and Cadet Boarding School No. 5), as well as at the Police College.

There are also five cadet educational institutions of federal subordination in Moscow. These are the Moscow Suvorov Military School, the Moscow Presidential Cadet School named after M.A. Sholokhov of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, the Cadet School of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation named after Alexander Nevsky, the Moscow Cadet Corps “Boarding School for Pupils of the Ministry of Defense of Russia” and the Moscow Military Music School of the Ministry of Defense of Russia.

Children are selected for cadet classes of city schools based on their academic achievements, physical development and health, and their degree of focus on the future choice of a military or civil servant profession. The profile of cadet education is provided by ministries and departments of the security forces, including the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Together with them, schools determine the subject profile and a variable set of additional general development programs for cadet classes depending on the specifics of the department, and also provide in-depth study of Russian history.

In 2024, more than 90 percent of graduates of cadet classes and institutions entered higher education institutions and secondary vocational education organizations, including law enforcement agencies.

Every year, Moscow cadets participate in city events of patriotic orientation. Among them:

— the parade of the Moscow city cadet movement “The connection between generations will not be broken!” dedicated to the victory in the Great Patriotic War;

— Moscow meta-subject Olympiad “The connection between generations will not be broken”;

— Cadet Class Day at the Victory Museum (standing watch as an honor guard at post No. 1 near the Flame of Memory and Glory on Poklonnaya Hill);

— educational project “Cadet Day at VDNKh”;

– Cadet Spartakiad;

— city competition “Review of the formation and songs. “March to the victors!””;

— events dedicated to days of military glory and memorable dates in Russia;

— events held by public and veteran organizations of Moscow: Moscow City Council of Veterans of War, Labor, Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies; Club of Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of the Russian Federation and Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory of the City of Moscow and the Moscow Region; Regional Public Fund for the Support of Heroes of the Soviet Union and Heroes of the Russian Federation named after General E.N. Kocheshkov; Interregional Public Fund for Social Security “Law and Order-Shield”.

In the 2024/2025 academic year, 895 students of cadet classes became winners and prize-winners of the meta-subject Olympiad “The Connection between Generations Will Not Be Broken”. More than six thousand cadets passed the demonstration exam. More than eight thousand students attended classes in 20 areas of the cycle of introductory professional trials “Cadet Class – Path to the Profession” and career guidance events at partner universities.

Among the cadets’ sporting achievements is passing the standards of the “Ready for Labor and Defense” (GTO) complex. Thus, 3,134 cadets became holders of the gold GTO badge, 2,076 people became holders of the silver badge, and 1,873 students became holders of the bronze badge.

Patriotic education of youth

Patriotic education is an integral part of the educational process in the Moscow education system.

The main areas of this work include preserving the continuity of generations. Priorities include perpetuating the memory of the participants in the Great Patriotic War and implementing joint projects with veterans’ organizations. In the system of the Moscow Department of Education and Science, more than 70 schools and colleges are named after heroes. For example, in recent years, the capital’s schools have been named after V.A. Matrosov, R. Sorge, A.N. Samsonov, M.V. Grizodubova. In 2024, the name of A.S. Chufistov, director of school No. 1794 who died in the SVO, was perpetuated.

Every year, together with the city’s veteran organizations, about a thousand joint projects are implemented, including museum-historical Olympiads, competitions, meetings with students in school museums, and courage lessons.

Since 2001, the Heroes’ Cup review competition has been held for the best organization of patriotic education in educational organizations of the capital’s Department of Education and Science. The competition takes into account the presence of volunteer and young army units, sports and tourist sections and associations, as well as the number of children attending them. Important components of the assessment are the work of children in caring for memorial sites under the patronage of the educational organization, the quality of passing five-day training camps and fulfilling the standards of the GTO complex. All subordinate educational organizations participate in the competition.

Museum pedagogy is developing. There are more than 1,100 museums in the capital’s schools. Of these, more than 600 are dedicated to the history of Russia, including the Great Patriotic War and the special military operation. Military personnel take an active part in organizing exhibitions: they donate personal belongings and documents to museums, and also hold meetings with children.

In the 2024/2025 academic year, military-patriotic clubs began to develop in the Moscow education system as associations of additional education. From September to May, their number increased from 193 to more than 400. Currently, over 22 thousand people are involved in military-patriotic clubs.

The city’s educational institutions closely cooperate with the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Hill. Together with the largest museum complex in Russia dedicated to the history of the Great Patriotic War and World War II, a project such as the educational and historical quest “The Feat of the People” is being implemented. It is visited by 103 thousand people per year.

The interactive excursion program is of great interest “Battle for Moscow. First Victory”The exhibition at the Victory Museum includes five three-dimensional interactive panoramas, 24 multimedia complexes, more than 1.7 thousand exhibits, including personal belongings of soldiers, generals and people’s militia fighters, over 3.5 thousand photographs, over a thousand scanned documents and over two thousand reference materials. The exhibition is visited by 60 thousand people per year.

Together with the Russian Orthodox Church, the Victory Museum is holding an interactive tour, “A Journey into History. Faith in Victory.” The project tells about the contribution of believers — Orthodox and representatives of other faiths — to the fight against fascism and the approach of the Great Victory. Schoolchildren will learn about the exploits of partisan priests, the origin of the expression “sister of mercy,” and the qualities that warrior defenders cultivate in themselves. The annual number of excursionists is 25 thousand people.

Another direction of patriotic education of youth is conducting lessons “Conversations about the important”. Each school week in educational institutions of the city begins with the raising of the State Flag of the Russian Federation and the performance of the anthem. Classes of the cycle “Conversations about the important” are held, dedicated to the peoples of Russia, its history, culture, nature.

These classes are also held at the sites of additional education centers and cultural institutions. In September 2024, the project “Conversations about the Important in the Museum of Contemporary History of Russia” began, which was organized by the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia and the Moscow Center for Educational Practices. Excursions dedicated to significant events in the history of Russia in the 19th-21st centuries were attended by more than 10 thousand schoolchildren and students;

Young people actively participate in the volunteer movement. Every year, students from schools and colleges, under whose patronage there are more than a thousand objects of military glory, take part in citywide memorial and patronage events.

Other areas of volunteer work include social, environmental, sports, cultural, media volunteering, professional and cyber volunteering.

On the basis of schools and colleges, 22 support sites have been created, which are operators of volunteer projects and actions. More than 100 thousand students actively participate in volunteer squads;

An important area of patriotic education is preparing young people for military service. Every year, 10th graders and second-year college students attend five-day training camps as part of the study of the program “Fundamentals of Security and Defense of the Homeland.”

This year, the training camp is being held at the Patriot Health and Educational Center, the Avangard Educational and Methodological Center, the Preobrazhensky Defense and Sports Center, and military units. More than 40,000 people will take part in the training camp. The children will learn the basics of military topography and military regulations, and acquire military medical, drill, tactical, fire, and technical training skills;

In addition, more than 55 thousand Moscow schoolchildren participate in the All-Russian military-patriotic public movement “Yunarmiya”. The capital’s Yunarmiya members take part in events held by the main headquarters of the movement. The largest of them are ceremonial events dedicated to memorable dates and days of military glory of Russia (more than 25 thousand participants), the All-Russian military-patriotic game “Zarnitsa 2.0” (more than 17 thousand participants) and the All-Russian children’s and youth festival “Voroshilov shooter” (more than five thousand participants);

The work of directors’ education advisers is of great importance in the patriotic education of young people. This position was introduced in Moscow schools and colleges in September 2023 as part of the federal project “Patriotic Education of Citizens of the Russian Federation” of the national project “Education”. Currently, more than 1.2 thousand such specialists work in educational institutions.

Directors’ advisors play an important role in the implementation of key federal and city projects in the field of education, as well as the development of children’s initiatives. They involve children in children’s public associations, school and student theaters, volunteer units, patriotic, sports and tourist clubs. Specialists also conduct various patronage events and courage lessons. This helps preserve the memory of the participants of the Great Patriotic War, heroes and veterans.

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

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

HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12872050/

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: The 2025 budget allocates 14% more funds for science than the previous year

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko welcomed the participants of the General Meeting of Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

He emphasized that the academy has always played a significant role in the development of Russia and under the leadership of Gennady Yakovlevich Krasnikov its authority is only growing stronger. In May, a board of trustees was created, headed by the head of state Vladimir Putin. It included high-level leaders, including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and Chairperson of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko.

“I am confident that the President’s decision will allow the Russian Academy of Sciences to realize its potential in decision-making at all levels of government in the most effective way. This is especially important in the context of the national goal set by the head of state to achieve technological leadership. The Russian Academy of Sciences is solving one of the main tasks here, creating a fundamental reserve in priority areas of science. Also, now, based on the proposal of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Higher Attestation Commission will be formed,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

He noted that today the country has set ambitious goals that cannot be achieved without the persistent work of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is important to ensure the continuity of fundamental science and applied solutions necessary for the creation of the most important science-intensive technologies.

As part of the expansion of the new approach “State Task 2.0”, RAS aggregates business needs and formulates corresponding fundamental tasks for them.

“In the 2025 budget, within the framework of the state program for scientific and technological development, 14% more money has been allocated for science than in 2024, or to be precise, 83.3 billion rubles. The main increase is in the section “fundamental scientific research” – by 50.1 billion rubles,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

He also reported that, according to surveys for last year, 79% of citizens trust the opinions of Russian scientists. Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized the importance of maintaining the openness of science to society and noted that the driver of this work is the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Last year, with the support of the Scientific and Technical Council (STC), lists of priority areas and the most important science-intensive technologies were formed, included in the decree of the President. An examination of regional programs of scientific and technical progress of the subjects, national projects and applications for the creation of new world-class scientific centers was carried out, which made it possible to assess the scientific component and the quality of the implementation of strategies.

“The Academy’s expert potential is growing every year. Last year, RAS experts conducted about 80 thousand examinations, which is 2 times more than in 2022. In the future, we will ensure the expansion of the Academy’s expert work, involve RAS in the examination of the scientific component of such flagship projects as “Priority 2030″, which covers 141 universities,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko

He congratulated the participants of the meeting on the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, drew attention to the importance of the work on preserving historical memory, which is being carried out by the Russian Academy of Sciences, and also thanked all the involved members of the academy for their participation in the work of the Government.

President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Gennady Krasnikov, presented the results of the Academy’s activities and the most important scientific achievements of Russian scientists in 2024.

“This meeting is special for us. In addition to the report on the activities of the academy and the presidium, at this meeting we elect new members of the Russian Academy of Sciences to our ranks. The last such elections were in 2022, so this time we have many vacancies. We expect that those who are elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences will actively work for the benefit of the academy and our country,” said Gennady Krasnikov.

In 2025, the event will run from May 28 to 30.

During the next two days of the General Meeting, the procedure for electing members of the Russian Academy of Sciences and foreign members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as the Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, will take place. In addition, a ceremonial awarding of leading Russian and foreign scientists with the highest awards will take place.

The meeting is attended by the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Gennady Krasnikov, the Chairperson of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Liliya Gumerova, the Chairperson of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Sergei Kabyshev, and the Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko. In total, more than 1,000 people are involved in the work of the meeting, including the presidents of Russian academies of education, arts, architecture and construction sciences, as well as representatives of state corporations.

The General Meeting of the members of the Russian Academy of Sciences is the highest governing body of the RAS. At the meeting, participants highlight current areas of development of scientific thought and discuss challenges facing the state and society. Following the General Meeting, resolutions are adopted that contain instructions and recommendations to the management and departments of the Academy.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council launches Westminster Climate Fund to help cut emissions | Westminster City Council

Source: City of Westminster

Westminster City Council is launching the latest Westminster Climate Fund, a grant scheme supporting local businesses, cultural institutions, and community organisations to reduce their carbon emissions and generate clean energy.

Opening for applications today, the fund will support projects that empower communities and businesses to build a sustainable and resilient environment in Westminster, which fosters a healthier and greener way of life.

The council aims to hold two funding rounds in 2025/26, with circa £6 million available in total.

Grants will focus on key areas including city-wide decarbonisation, community-led energy projects, and behaviour change programmes promoting greener living.

This funding is collected through the council’s carbon offsetting policy, as part of our city plan. Last year, the council increased its carbon price as part of the retrofit first policy, to encourage new buildings that use little or no operational carbon in their operations.

To date, the fund has supported projects that deliver carbon emissions reductions across Westminster. These include a grant of £120,000 to install solar panels on Soho Hospital, as well as a grant of over £250,000 to install LED lighting across St Marylebone School.

Cllr Ryan Jude, Cabinet for Climate Action, Ecology, Culture and Air Quality said:

This funding represents a major opportunity for Westminster organisations to save money, reduce their carbon emissions, and play a role in creating a sustainable future.

“Our net-zero target shows how serious the council is, but I hope we can build on initiatives like the sustainable city charter to bring organisations big and small along with us on this journey. “

Applications will open on 28th May and will close on 18^th July. More information about the fund and application criteria can be found on the council’s website: Westminster Climate Fund | Westminster City Council

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Plan your pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby. How the Moscow project “I’ll Become a Mom” helps women

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Blood analysis to assess reproductive potential, freezing eggs in a cryobank, genetic research in embryo laboratories – this is not a fantasy story, but the reality of Moscow medicine. Free program “I’ll become a mother” helps women plan their pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby. More than 200 thousand residents of the capital have already become its participants.

On the eve of International Women’s Health Day, celebrated on May 28, a mos.ru correspondent spoke with doctors and patients about a unique project. We tell you at what age the supply of eggs begins to run out, how to maintain the ability to get pregnant, and what diseases, thanks to modern technology, are no longer a death sentence for happy motherhood.

Women’s Health Under Control. What is the Benefit of Anti-Müllerian Hormone Analysis?

The “I’ll Become a Mom” program was launched in September 2024. It is primarily aimed at Muscovites aged 25 to 39. To participate in the program, you need a Moscow compulsory medical insurance policy and an attachment to a city women’s clinic or women’s health center (opened on the basis of multidisciplinary hospitals).

Women often postpone pregnancy for personal or medical reasons. The goal of the project is to tell people that the supply of eggs is exhaustible, to help assess this reserve, maintain reproductive health and realize the dream of becoming a mother. The first test within the program is an analysis of the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). It shows the quantity and quality of eggs. Usually, it peaks at 25 years, then it begins to gradually decrease. From 32–34 years, and sometimes earlier, the rate of decrease in the AMH level increases. You can take the test even if you do not plan to get pregnant in the coming years. The test does not oblige you to do anything, it only allows you to keep the situation under control. Some are afraid to take the test: what if the level is too low? You should not bury your head in the sand. Today, doctors have options for solving the problem. Vera Korennaya, chief freelance gynecologist of the capital’s Department of Health

Patients aged 25–39 are referred to donate blood automatically. The exception is pregnant women and mothers with newborns. The test is available in the electronic medical record. If it is not available, you need to contact an obstetrician-gynecologist. Girls aged 18–24 for medical reasons, and women aged 40 and older can also receive a referral from a doctor.

You can donate blood on a convenient day at a women’s clinic or women’s health center. The result and decoding will appear in the electronic medical record. A reading of 1.5 or higher indicates that the egg supply is normal. 1.49 or lower indicates that it is running low. This number opens up additional program options. Such a patient is invited to an appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist, who talks to her about future motherhood. The doctor will also suggest that she take steps to preserve eggs or embryos so that she can become a mother in the future. If the woman is interested in this, she will be examined: for example, the patency of the fallopian tubes and the number of follicles in the ovaries will be assessed. This will assess the ability to conceive on her own and exclude contraindications to further procedures. After that, the doctor will issue a referral to a reproductive specialist. Nadezhda Sokolova, Head of the Women’s Health Center, City Clinical Hospital No. 15 named after O.M. Filatov

Muscovite Ksenia Gonchar became interested in the project when she saw a referral for an AMG test in her medical record. She is 29 years old, and she and her husband have two children. They wanted to have a third, but kept putting it off.

“It seemed like there was time. Despite my experience, I didn’t know what an AMH test was, and I didn’t think about the fact that there was a time limit set by nature. The hormone level turned out to be high – 4.4. My husband and I were inspired and decided to use this chance. Now we are expecting our third baby,” she admitted.

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Pregnancy on schedule, or freezing eggs in a cryobank

Becoming a mother in the future may not just be an idea, but a well-thought-out plan. Women with low AMH levels are given a unique opportunity to cryopreserve their eggs or embryos. The procedure is carried out in Family Planning and Reproduction Center of the S.S. Yudin Hospital, National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov and other clinics — partners of the project. After collecting the eggs, the laboratory will determine the best quality ones and either place them in a cryostorage facility or fertilize them and obtain embryos, which can also be preserved for a long time.

The eggs and embryos are frozen in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of minus 196 degrees Celsius. As part of the project, they will be stored in a cryobank for free for two years (the service is available to residents with permanent registration in Moscow or the Moscow region).

“If the patient decides that she is ready to get pregnant, the egg or embryo will be defrosted and, using assisted reproductive technologies, the procedure necessary for pregnancy will be carried out. Cryopreservation not only increases the chance of having a child in the future, but also provides psychological support. A woman is often worried if she has not yet met a life partner, and the body’s resources are exhausted. But she calmly continues the search – confident that in a couple of years she will be able to become a mother. Cryopreservation is also indicated for serious diseases, such as oncology. All efforts are spent on fighting the tumor, but the patient is motivated by the fact that in remission she will use the preserved eggs. This is the mission of doctors – to help find the happiness of motherhood, no matter what the obstacles and life circumstances are,” shared Nadezhda Sokolova.

Sharing the Daily Care of a Child: How the City Helps Mothers Raise Children Full life and development: how premature babies are helped in Moscow

Geneticists to help future mothers

It is important not only to plan your pregnancy wisely, but also to take care of the health of your future baby. Before freezing the embryo, you can do preimplantation genetic diagnostics. The study is conducted in embryo laboratories. Thanks to it, doctors identify possible pathologies and choose the healthiest embryo. Today, this is the most accurate and safe method for excluding deviations in the early stages of fetal development, the reliability of the results is close to 100 percent. It is prescribed for medical reasons: for example, if a woman has had miscarriages or unsuccessful IVF attempts, if one or both parents have hereditary pathologies. The condition for participation is permanent registration in Moscow or the Moscow region.

“Diagnostics are also offered to women aged 35 and older. The fact is that the probability of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities increases with age. The study allows you to carry and give birth to a healthy child. First, specialists take material: from a woman – eggs, from a man – sperm – and carry out an artificial insemination procedure. After it, the embryo begins to grow due to cell division. Several of them are safely taken to check for common pathologies. In the future, a woman will be able to do the IVF procedure under the compulsory medical insurance policy,” Nadezhda Sokolova emphasized.

Yulia Mikhailova is 34 years old. She dreams of a second child, but in the coming years she plans to build a career, and the AMH level is decreasing. She and her husband decided to freeze the embryo.

“I was amazed by the empathy of the doctors at the Family Planning and Reproduction Center of the S.S. Yudin Hospital. They treat their patients with all their heart. And this is not my last chance to give birth. What kind of concern they must show for women whose chance of becoming a mother is one in a thousand! We conducted a genetic study, during which it turned out that the resulting embryo cannot be transplanted: there is a high probability of miscarriage. The doctors calmed me down, inspired me, prescribed therapy, and then we will try again. I am convinced that the second time we will get a healthy embryo, and we will freeze it. I will have a reserve that I will be able to use later. Today, the obstetric and gynecological service is so developed that women give birth to healthy children even at 40 years old,” says Yulia Mikhailova.

“An annual medical examination – and you are in the safety zone”

Moscow is introducing a new standard of obstetric and gynecological care. Five women’s health centers have already opened — clinics where you can undergo examinations, prepare for pregnancy, and see a doctor after the birth of your child. Modern perinatal centers have been built, and maternity hospitals have been equipped with cutting-edge equipment. All this allows us to successfully manage even the most difficult cases of pregnancy, care for newborns with extremely low body weight, and diagnose and treat diseases in children at the stage of intrauterine development.

“Even 40 years ago, some diagnoses were a death sentence. Oncology, blocked fallopian tubes, kidney transplant, systemic diseases such as lupus – and they put a cross on having children. Modern Moscow medicine helps to become a mother in different situations. But regular examinations are important. Infertility can be overcome when the signs and causes that lead to it are identified in time. Cancer is curable when it is detected in time. An annual medical examination – and you are in the safety zone. You can undergo it in the capital’s clinics – quickly and comfortably,” concluded Vera Korennaya.

“A Healthy Lifestyle Is a Life with Pleasure.” A Moscow Doctor on How to Maintain Health Without Stereotypes Doctors at the A.K. Yeramishantsev Hospital Helped a Muscovite with a Rare Pathology Become a Mother Moscow Mayor Talks About Work at Russia’s Largest Perinatal Center Moscow approves algorithm for treating female infertility Women’s health centers, modern maternity hospitals and renovated clinics: how the approach to caring for the health of Muscovites is changing

Quickly find out the main news of the capital inofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow hospitals to present cutting-edge medical technologies for the first time at international conference in Skolkovo

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

On May 29–30, at the Skolkovo Innovation Center, as part of the largest technology conference, Startup Village, the stand “Created by Moscow Doctors” will be presented for the first time. Here, you can get acquainted with the latest medical technologies developed by Moscow clinics together with the country’s leading scientific organizations. This was reported by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

“Moscow invests significant resources in the development of medicine, and we strive to become one of the world leaders in the implementation of innovative technologies in clinical practice. We are building an ecosystem in which doctors and scientists jointly develop technologies that can change the approach to diagnostics and treatment. Many of them are already being tested in city hospitals and are yielding results. In order to introduce visitors and other participants of the largest international technology conference Startup Village to our developments, we will present the stand “Created by Moscow doctors” for the first time. This is an exposition of the latest medical inventions of Moscow clinics, created in cooperation with the leading scientific organizations of the country. The stand will present more than 20 medical innovative technologies, including those that have no analogues in the world. Visitors will be able to personally test the developments, undergo interactive express checkups and receive specialist consultations,” said Anastasia Rakova.

According to her, in the area of stands with medical developments, guests will be able to learn about innovative technologies that have been created and tested in Moscow clinics. Among them, for example, is a minimally invasive method of stabilizing the lumbar spine using domestic implants and installation tools. It allows to reduce the rehabilitation period from six months to six weeks. And the technology of 3D bioprinting of individual implants for restoration of the eardrum ensures almost 100% return of hearing, and also reduces the duration of hospitalization and surgery by half.

Moscow to Speed Up Testing of AI Services in Medicine Thanks to New Developments

In the interactive check-up area, it will be possible to undergo express examinations in various areas of preventive medicine. For example, this includes diagnostics of skin diseases, including screening for malignant neoplasms using artificial intelligence, which ensures the accuracy of their detection up to 95 percent. Visitors will also be able to receive an assessment of their cognitive and psycho-emotional state using testing and analysis of personalized metabolic parameters, as well as an express assessment of the biological age of the body. In addition, testing of the likelihood of developing mental illnesses, including depression and bipolar disorder, will be available.

Participants will be offered an innovative ambulance interior, developed jointly with Moscow ambulance specialists. The space has become larger: doctors can now stand upright, and the swivel-folding chairs and a well-thought-out patented fastening system provide access to the patient from any side.

The exhibition will also feature other advanced solutions developed by Moscow specialists. All of them were created within the framework of the grant program of the Mayor of Moscow with the support of the Moscow Center for Innovative Technologies in Healthcare.

The Startup Village conference is held as part of Moscow Entrepreneurship Week. Participation is free, but pre-registration is required on the website.

Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel Moscow cities

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May 28, 2025
Chhath’s eternal melody: Dr. Sharda Sinha awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

In a solemn ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, posthumously on the celebrated folk exponent Dr. Sharda Sinha. The award recognises her unparalleled contributions to the preservation and popularisation of India’s rich folk music traditions.

Known affectionately as “Bihar Kokila” and “Swar Kokila,” Dr. Sinha’s voice transcended generations and boundaries, establishing her as one of the most revered figures in India’s folk music tradition. Her songs, steeped in cultural richness and social narratives, have become an inseparable part of Indian festivals, especially Chhath Puja, with her soulful melodies gracing homes across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Indian communities around the world.

Born on November 1, 1952, in Hulas village of Bihar’s Supaul district, Sharda Sinha began her musical journey under the guidance of Pandit Raghu Jha of the Panchgachiya Gharana. She later honed her skills with stalwarts like Pandit Sitaram Hari Dandekar and Panna Devi, a contemporary of Begum Akhtar, learning the classical intricacies of khayal, thumri, and dadra. Her academic accomplishments include a Master’s degree in Indian Classical Vocal Music, a Ph.D., and a Nritya Visharad in Manipuri dance.

Dr. Sinha’s breakthrough came with the release of her Maithili composition “Dularua Bhaiya” in 1971, which heralded a new era in regional music. Her fame grew internationally after her 1983 tribute to poet Vidyapati, resonating with audiences in Russia, China, the UK, and the US. Between 1985 and 1989, she released several albums—“Kekra Se Kahan Mile Jala,” “Piritiya,” “Mehndi,” “Bhajan Sagar,” “Chhathi Maiya”—many of which remain etched in public memory. Songs like “Paniya Ke Jahaj,” “Koyal Bin Bagiya,” and “Patna Se Baida” have become timeless, cherished across generations.

Her voice carried not only melody but also the stories, rituals, and ethos of Indian life. This unique ability earned her titles such as “Bhojpuri Ki Sita,” “Sanskritik Paharua,” and “Bihar Ki Lata Mangeshkar.” Her contribution extended beyond the folk tradition into mainstream Bollywood, with memorable songs in films like “Maine Pyar Kiya,” “Hum Aapke Hain Koun,” “Gangs of Wasseypur-2,” “Kaagaz” and a special appearance in the web series “Maharani-2.”

As a cultural ambassador for the Government of India, she represented India’s musical heritage in Mauritius and Suriname in 1988, and later in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Egypt, and again in Suriname in 2003. A “Top Grade” artist of All India Radio, she performed at countless concerts and cultural festivals across the nation, and inspired a generation of musicians during her four-decade-long teaching tenure at the Women’s College in Samastipur under L.N.M.U. Darbhanga, which awarded her an honorary Doctor of Literature in 2018.

Over the years, Dr. Sinha was honoured with numerous accolades including the Padma Shri (1991), the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2000), and the Padma Bhushan (2018). She also received state and national recognitions such as Folk Queen of Bharat, Bihar Kala Puraskar, Bhojpuri Ratna, and Mithila Vibhuti Samman, among others.

Dr. Sharda Sinha passed away on November 5, 2024. Her legacy, however, continues to echo in the hearts of millions through her voice and vision.

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ABC Youth Voice brings young people’s priorities to Stormont

Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

Young leaders from ABC Youth Voice took centre stage at Stormont Parliament Buildings recently as part of a two-day engagement programme which focused on bringing youth perspectives on key issues affecting society today.

The visit to Stormont was a highlight of the initiative’s residential programme in Belfast, during which ABC Youth Voice members hosted a series of impactful panel discussions. The panels tackled pressing topics including Mental Health and Substance Misuse, Disability Awareness, and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.

The discussions brought together a wide range of voices, featuring political representatives, statutory sector agencies, non-governmental organisations, and independent advocates — creating a powerful platform for dialogue between young people and decision-makers.

ABC Youth Voice empowers young people to represent their peers across the borough and speak up on the issues that matter most to them. It provides a platform for advocacy, leadership development, and meaningful engagement with local governance.

Members meet regularly to identify and address shared concerns facing young people in the region and offers participants opportunities for training, residential experiences, and community-building.

ABC Youth Voice is a joint initiative between Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and the Education Authority, part-supported through The Executive Office’s District Councils Good Relations Programme.

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May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo Secretariat releases Policy Pulse on “Northern Metropolis-building a new international innovation and technology city”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LegCo Secretariat releases Policy Pulse on “Northern Metropolis-building a new international innovation and technology city”
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will attend an Interactive Exchange Question and Answer Session at LegCo tomorrow (May 29) to discuss with Members topics including ways to accelerate the development of NM. Members have long attached great importance to NM’s development, and the Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Development of the Northern Metropolis was set up in April 2022 to put forward a number of specific proposals. These include the suggestion of a mode of “large-scale land disposal” which the Government adopted to identify sizeable land parcels with commercial value and earmarked for provision of public facilities, and grant them to successful bidders for integrated development. This approach not only speeds up the development of the land parcels and enables co-ordinated urban design, but also reduces public expenditures.

NM spans 30 000 hectares, covering approximately one-third of Hong Kong’s total area. It encompasses the Yuen Long and North districts and borders Shenzhen with seven land boundary control points. This area is a major hub for Hong Kong to integrate into the overall national development and a new engine for the city’s future growth. It is projected to approximately provide 500 000 additional residential units and create around 650 000 new jobs upon full development.

The National 14th Five-Year Plan indicated clear support for Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T centre. Under a new industry pattern of “South-North dual engine (finance-I&T)”, NM will develop into a “new international I&T city” to further promote co-ordinated development of I&T industries among Hong Kong and cities in the Greater Bay Area. The I&T Zone of NM encompasses the San Tin Technopole and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), as well as the Ngau Tam Mei New Development Area.

The Policy Pulse outlines the strategic planning and development progress of NM’s I&T Zone, along with measures to enhance complementary collaboration with the Mainland. The Hetao Co-operation Zone—which comprises HSITP (Hong Kong Park) and the Shenzhen Park—is jointly established under the vision of “one river, two banks” and “one zone, two parks” and enjoys unique advantages in cross-boundary co-operation. HSITP will be made up of different zones which mainly include Life and Health Technology zone, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science zone and New Technology and Advanced Manufacturing zone. With the first batch of tenants expected to move in starting this year, HSITP will officially enter into its operational phase.

The Government estimates that upon its full-fledged development, HSITP’s economic contribution to Hong Kong will reach HK$52 billion per annum. Under the framework of “one country, two systems”, Members consider that the Government should optimise the advantages of the Loop in cross-boundary co-operation and explore forward-looking policies and systems in frontier fields such as cross-boundary data flow, intellectual property protection and fintech innovation. Members also suggest that the Government should actively develop a “base for pilot-scale test” in HSITP. Additionally, Members are of the view that the Government should proactively seek innovation and changes by introducing more preferential policies in respect of land supply, dedicated funding, tax deductions, etc., in order to attract more international capital and major I&T enterprises to establish their foothold in HSITP. The Government should also enhance inter-bureau and inter-departmental co-ordination to expedite the implementation of land development and transport infrastructure projects in HSITP. Moreover, in order to enhance the training of I&T talent and promote “research, academia and industry” collaboration, Members suggest that the Government should develop NM University Town into a research and development as well as technology transfer hub to support the area, while encouraging post-secondary institutions to strengthen co-operation with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions, and creating synergy through sharing resources and enhancing collaboration with industries in the area.

The detailed content of “Northern Metropolis-building a new international innovation and technology city” is available on the LegCo Website. The Policy PulseIssued at HKT 15:45

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May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s new law targets private sector growth through stronger financial support

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

People work in the filling workshop of the Global Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park of Yili Modern Intelligent Health Valley in Tumd Left Banner in Hohhot, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

China’s newly enacted Private Sector Promotion Law has drawn significant attention for introducing a range of financial support mechanisms designed to bolster private businesses.

The legislation, which took effect on May 20, 2025, aims to address long-standing financing challenges faced by private enterprises and promote high-quality economic development.

Expanding financing channels

The Private Sector Promotion Law explicitly encourages private businesses to diversify their financing channels. By supporting the development of a multi-layered capital market, the law makes it easier for private companies to raise money directly, for example, by issuing stocks or bonds.

Some local governments are already introducing new financing tools. Jiangsu province, for instance, has launched the “Private Credit Loan,” which breaks through traditional loan limits and offers more flexible financing options for private businesses.

Specifically, Jiangsu’s loan breaks through the previous loan ceiling of 10 million yuan ($1.3 million), with the maximum amount now reaching up to 30 million yuan. The funding usage term has also been extended to a maximum of three years, and for project-based financing, it can be extended to 10 years — far longer than the traditional corporate loan practice of annual review within a one-year term.

Optimizing credit policies

The law also requires relevant State Council departments to use monetary policy tools and macro-credit policies to encourage financial institutions to provide more inclusive financial services to private businesses. Measures include setting reasonable tolerance levels for non-performing loans, improving the due diligence and liability exemption mechanisms, and enhancing professional service capabilities.

The National Financial Regulatory Administration has also called for optimizing credit supply policies, directing financial institutions to offer more targeted financial services to private enterprises.

Innovating financial products and services

The law encourages financial institutions to create products and services tailored to the specific needs of private businesses. This includes innovative financing methods such as accounts receivable financing, warehouse receipt financing, equity financing, and intellectual property financing.

For example, Chongqing has promoted IP financing to help small- and medium-sized technology firms access funding. When Zhongke Guangzhi (Chongqing) Technology Co., Ltd. faced financing challenges, the Chongqing Intellectual Property Operation Center arranged an IP pledge loan.

By using the company’s core patents as collateral, and combining this with a credit assessment, the center helped the company secure a 5 million yuan loan. Across China, financial institutions are also using big data and artificial intelligence to develop new service models, aiming to make financial services more efficient and better suited to the needs of private enterprises.

Strengthening financing guarantee functions

The Private Sector Promotion Law aims to establish a comprehensive risk-sharing system for private enterprise financing, supporting collaboration between financial institutions and guarantee providers. The National Financial Regulatory Administration, together with the Ministry of Finance, is promoting the creation of a nationwide government-backed guarantee system to offer low-cost financing guarantees for small and micro businesses.

Establishing information-sharing mechanisms

The law also calls for the development of a robust credit information collection and sharing mechanism, encouraging credit reporting agencies and rating institutions to serve private enterprises. This measure is designed to reduce information gaps between lenders and private businesses, lowering lending risks.

In short, the Private Sector Promotion Law introduces a broad range of financial support policies to make financing more accessible and equitable for private companies. These initiatives are expected to ease funding challenges, unlock innovation, and drive high-quality economic development in China.

Luo Weijie is an associate professor in economics at Beijing International Studies University.

MIL OSI China News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ5: Construction of a new acute hospital

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ5: Construction of a new acute hospital
Question:

In the reply to my question raised when examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2025-2026, the Government has indicated that in further planning for the Second Hospital Development Plan, the redevelopment or expansion of existing hospitals and the construction of new hospitals to meet demand, including the feasibility of identifying a site for construction of a new acute hospital in Wong Tai Sin, will be options considered by the authorities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the latest progress in identifying a site for construction of a new acute hospital in Wong Tai Sin; whether it has studied the feasibility of the establishment of an acute hospital, in the form of a cluster of hospital buildings, in the context of the expansion of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Wong Tai Sin Hospital, the vacant land made available after the relocation of the Diamond Hill Service Reservoirs, together with Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether it has studied the feasibility of construction of an acute hospital at other sites (including the recreation ground at Heng Lam Street, Lok Fu); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as it is learnt that there is a shortage of healthcare manpower in Hong Kong, whether the Government has assessed the time frame for having sufficient healthcare manpower to meet the needs of a new acute hospital, and whether it will expedite the introduction of non-locally trained healthcare personnel?

Reply:

President,

Having consulted the Hospital Authority (HA), the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Yang Wing-kit is as follows:

(1) and (2) The HA plans and develops various public healthcare services on a cluster basis, taking into account a number of factors, including the increase in service demand as a result of population growth and demographic changes, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, technology advancement, manpower availability as well as service arrangement of the clusters.

At present, Wong Tai Sin is within the catchment area of the Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC). There are nine hospitals/healthcare institutions in the KCC providing healthcare services to the residents of the district, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and the Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) which are both equipped with Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. In future, A&E services for the district will be provided by the New Acute Hospital at the Kai Tak Development Area (NAH) and the KWH. A service network with other extended care hospitals in the cluster will be formed to provide comprehensive healthcare services continuously to the catchment population of the KCC, including the residents of Wong Tai Sin.

In view of the healthcare services demand of Kowloon region, the HA commenced the refurbishment project of Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital in 2015 and completed all works in 2019, which provided 130 additional convalescence and rehabilitation inpatient beds as well as other medical facilities. The HA is also implementing various hospital development projects in the three Kowloon clusters under the First Hospital Development Plan (HDP). Among the projects, the new Phase 1 Building of the redevelopment project of the KWH was completed at the end of 2022, providing a construction floor area of about 145 000 square metres. As compared to the old KWH, four operating theatres, one cardiac catheterisation room, four endoscopy rooms, one magnetic resonance imaging room and a one-stop ambulatory care centre are provided additionally. For the new A&E department, which is approximately three times the size of the old one, it has an additional Emergency Medicine Ward with 40 beds, isolation areas for infection control and other supporting facilities. With the commissioning of the new A&E department, the average waiting time for patients who, after treatment at the A&E department of the KWH, need to wait before being admitted to the hospital has dropped by about 24 per cent in the third and fourth quarters of 2024 as compared with the same period in 2023. In addition, the NAH will replace the role of the QEH as an acute hospital upon completion and provide 2 400 beds and 37 operating theatres, which are more than the existing about 1 940 acute and extended care beds and 24 operating theatres in the QEH. The gross floor area of the A&E department of the NAH is about thrice the current area of that of the QEH.

When planning A&E services, the HA will ensure that the A&E department is located within a reasonable distance from its catchment areas. For example, after the commissioning of the NAH, the driving distance and time from major housing estates in Wong Tai Sin District to the NAH will be shorter than for those to the QEH currently.

The Government announced in 2018 that it has invited the HA to commence planning for the Second HDP, which was to be implemented to meet the service demand up to 2036. With the changes in the planning and development situation in Hong Kong, for example, its territory-wide and regional planning and development strategies, the latest corresponding change in population projections, etc., the Health Bureau and the HA are currently reviewing the Second HDP by adopting a planning horizon of up to 2041 and beyond, and to project the healthcare services demand and consider the supply and conditions of the land required (including the feasibility of constructing a hospital and the associated supporting facilities on the site concerned), for optimising the Second HDP. The Government also considers factors such as the construction and development need of individual hospitals and its cost-effectiveness, and the convenience of public access to healthcare services under various major transport infrastructure development plans for determining the distribution, scale and priority, etc. of various hospital development projects under the Second HDP. As for the Second HDP, we would prudently consider various factors including whether to continue with the redevelopment or expansion of the existing hospital(s) in Kowloon, or to construct new hospital(s) for meeting the demand of healthcare services. The consideration of building a new acute hospital in Wong Tai Sin is subject to the availability of suitable site(s) and feasibility study(ies).

After the completion of the review of the Second HDP, the Government will announce the details of the hospital development projects, including those in the Kowloon region, in due course.

(3) In the course of planning and implementing the HDPs, the HA will forecast future service demand and corresponding healthcare manpower requirements and make corresponding assessments and planning, with a view to flexibly deploying manpower and recruiting additional staff in a timely manner according to service plans during the commissioning of new hospital facilities and phased introduction of services to meet service demands. The HA will also make good use of the revised legal framework to attract non-locally trained healthcare talent from different regions to work in Hong Kong, thereby expanding the talent pool of Hong Kong’s public healthcare system to meet the increasing service demands.

Regarding the overall healthcare manpower of Hong Kong, the Government conducts a healthcare manpower projection exercise every three years to update, on a regular basis, the supply and demand figures of the 13 healthcare professionals which are subject to statutory registration, in step with the triennial planning cycle of the University Grants Committee, which provides an important reference for the Government to determine the training quotas for various healthcare professions. The results of the last round of Healthcare Manpower Projection 2023 were announced in July 2024 and a new round of the projection exercise has also commenced. As put forward explicitly in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address, the Government will promote the use of the legislation passed earlier to proactively admit more non‑local doctors and nurses, etc. to enhance manpower. The Government has also introduced bill to the Legislative Council to make amendments to the relevant legislation on the admission of qualified non‑locally trained supplementary medical professionals.

Thank you, President.
Issued at HKT 14:45

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May 28, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: There’s a new COVID variant driving up infections. A virologist explains what to know about NB.1.8.1

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Associate Professor and Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University

VioletaStoimenova/Getty Images

As we enter the colder months in Australia, COVID is making headlines again, this time due to the emergence of a new variant: NB.1.8.1.

Last week, the World Health Organization designated NB.1.8.1 as a “variant under monitoring”, owing to its growing global spread and some notable characteristics which could set it apart from earlier variants.

So what do you need to know about this new variant?

The current COVID situation

More than five years since COVID was initially declared a pandemic, we’re still experiencing regular waves of infections.

It’s more difficult to track the occurrence of the virus nowadays, as fewer people are testing and reporting infections. But available data suggests in late May 2025, case numbers in Australia were ticking upwards.

Genomic sequencing has confirmed NB.1.8.1 is among the circulating strains in Australia, and generally increasing. Of cases sequenced up to May 6 across Australia, NB.1.8.1 ranged from less than 10% in South Australia to more than 40% in Victoria.

Wastewater surveillance in Western Australia has determined NB.1.8.1 is now the dominant variant in wastewater samples collected in Perth.

Internationally NB.1.8.1 is also growing. By late April 2025, it comprised roughly 10.7% of all submitted sequences – up from just 2.5% four weeks prior. While the absolute number of cases sequenced was still modest, this consistent upward trend has prompted closer monitoring by international public health agencies.

NB.1.8.1 has been spreading particularly in Asia – it was the dominant variant in Hong Kong and China at the end of April.

Lara Herrero, created using BioRender

Where does this variant come from?

According to the WHO, NB.1.8.1 was first detected from samples collected in January 2025.

It’s a sublineage of the Omicron variant, descending from the recombinant XDV lineage. “Recombinant” is where a new variant arises from the genetic mixing of two or more existing variants.

The image to the right shows more specifically how NB.1.8.1 came about.

What does the research say?

Like its predecessors, NB.1.8.1 carries a suite of mutations in the spike protein. This is the protein on the surface of the virus that allows it to infect us – specifically via the ACE2 receptors, a “doorway” to our cells.

The mutations include T22N, F59S, G184S, A435S, V445H, and T478I. It’s early days for this variant, so we don’t have much data on what these changes mean yet. But a recent preprint (a study that has not yet been peer reviewed) offers some clues about why NB.1.8.1 may be gathering traction.

Using lab-based models, researchers found NB.1.8.1 had the strongest binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor of several variants tested – suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains.

The study also looked at how well antibodies from vaccinated or previously infected people could neutralise or “block” the variant. Results showed the neutralising response of antibodies was around 1.5 times lower to NB.1.8.1 compared to another recent variant, LP.8.1.1.

This means it’s possible a person infected with NB.1.8.1 may be more likely to pass the virus on to someone else, compared to earlier variants.

What are the symptoms?

The evidence so far suggests NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and may partially sidestep immunity from prior infections or vaccination. These factors could explain its rise in sequencing data.

But importantly, the WHO has not yet observed any evidence it causes more severe disease compared to other variants.

Reports suggest symptoms of NB.1.8.1 should align closely with other Omicron subvariants.

Common symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases.

COVID is continuing to evolve.
Joannii/Shutterstock

How about the vaccine?

There’s potential for this variant to play a significant role in Australia’s winter respiratory season. Public health responses remain focused on close monitoring, continued genomic sequencing, and promoting the uptake of updated COVID boosters.

Even if neutralising antibody levels are modestly reduced against NB.1.8.1, the WHO has noted current COVID vaccines should still protect against severe disease with this variant.

The most recent booster available in Australia and many other countries targets JN.1, from which NB.1.8.1 is descended. So it makes sense it should still offer good protection.

Ahead of winter and with a new variant on the scene, now may be a good time to consider another COVID booster if you’re eligible. For some people, particularly those who are medically vulnerable, COVID can still be a serious disease.

Lara Herrero receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

– ref. There’s a new COVID variant driving up infections. A virologist explains what to know about NB.1.8.1 – https://theconversation.com/theres-a-new-covid-variant-driving-up-infections-a-virologist-explains-what-to-know-about-nb-1-8-1-257552

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Versus Arthritis invests in ‘team science’ to meet pressing challenges faced by people with arthriti Charity Versus Arthritis has awarded £3m to bring together world-leading experts from five UK universities – including the University of Aberdeen – to accelerate clinical epidemiology research, which will help answer pressing questions from those living with arthritis.

Source: University of Aberdeen

University of Aberdeen awarded a share of £3m from Versus Arthritis

Charity Versus Arthritis has awarded £3m to bring together world-leading experts from five UK universities – including the University of Aberdeen – to accelerate clinical epidemiology research, which will help answer pressing questions from those living with arthritis.
The new research consortium is part of the charity’s drive to harness ‘team science’ to better understand the causes and risk factors for arthritis and improve treatment options.
Epidemiology – the study of how diseases occur in different people and why – is critical to designing better and targeted interventions using data. The consortium, made up of experts from the Universities of Manchester, Keele, Oxford, Nottingham and Aberdeen, aims to close five gaps in our understanding of the debilitating disease and related conditions. They will consider menopause in relation to musculoskeletal health, inequalities in access to care, risks of long-term pain medications and determine the optimum levels of monitoring for those receiving immune drugs. The researchers will also aim to identify those at higher risk of chronic pain sooner, given painful musculoskeletal conditions often begin in childhood. This holds the potential to explore ways to prevent or reduce persistent pain.
Lucy Donaldson, Director of Research at Versus Arthritis,said there are many remaining unmet needs around arthritis, compounded by significant gaps in understanding:
“The Versus Arthritis Research Consortium: Musculoskeletal Epidemiology – Better lives, Safer journey is a major step forward in tackling the everyday realities faced by people living with arthritis and other painful musculoskeletal conditions.
“Our research consortia will bring together leading researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience from across the UK in a team science approach. Their aim – to find real, practical solutions to the problems faced by people with arthritis.
“We are absolutely delighted to have research leaders from the University of Aberdeen as part of this consortium. Their work within our Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work reflects their expertise in robust epidemiological research. Their expertise covers condition-specific and symptom-based approaches, as well as rare diseases and their associated care pathways. The Aberdeen team has an outstanding track record in high-quality patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), and we’re excited to see this strength embedded across the consortium’s activities.”
The consortium will employ cutting edge analysis techniques on existing datasets to fill the identified gaps in our knowledge of arthritis and MSK conditions. Its findings will help to arm those living with arthritis to have informed conversations with clinicians about their care. It will also seek to improve clinical practice and policy around diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
Professor Kimme Hyrich, Director of the University of Manchester Centre for Musculoskeletal Research will co-lead the consortium with Professor Christian Mallen, Executive Dean and Professor of General Practice and Public Health.
Professor Hyrich, a leading clinical epidemiologist and consultant rheumatologist, highlights the advantages of team science in epidemiological research:
“This award represents an exciting step-change in the way musculoskeletal epidemiology research is conducted in the UK, breaking down traditional research siloes and uniting minds, data and expertise to generate the evidence needed to support people living with arthritis and other painful musculoskeletal conditions.”

Our work will focus on identifying these inequities, listening closely to the experiences of those from underrepresented groups – including children, young people, and people living in disadvantaged areas – and co-developing solutions that can make a real difference.” Dr Rosemary Hollick

“It is a real privilege to be able to lead this multidisciplinary team. Placing people with lived experience at the core of our consortium and working closely with implementation scientists from the outset will ensure that our outputs are robust and meaningful and delivered to the right audience in the most appropriate way.”
Professor Mallen, a leading researcher and GP, said the inclusion of primary care spoke volumes of the role GPs play in achieving better outcomes for those living with musculoskeletal conditions:
“The new Versus Arthritis Research Consortium is an exciting new programme that will have a major impact on the lives of people living with painful conditions by uniting world-leading clinicians, academics, patients and policy makers.
“It is a privilege to co-lead the consortium with Prof Hyrich and having strong representation from Keele University highlights the importance of primary care in improving outcomes for people living with arthritis and chronic musculoskeletal pain.”
Dr Rosemary Hollick, Director of the Aberdeen Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health and consultant rheumatologist said:
“I’m delighted to lead the health inequalities workstream within this ambitious new consortium. People living with arthritis often face unfair and avoidable barriers to accessing care and support.
“Our work will focus on identifying these inequities, listening closely to the experiences of those from underrepresented groups – including children, young people, and people living in disadvantaged areas – and co-developing solutions that can make a real difference.
“By applying a health equity lens across the consortium’s work, we aim to ensure that improvements in care reach everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live.”
The results will be shared through a broad range of partners including government, the NHS, clinicians and patient networks.  
More than 20 million people, of all ages, in the UK have problems with their joints, bones and muscles, which cause pain and impact all aspects of life including work and school. 
The Versus Arthritis Research Consortium: Musculoskeletal Epidemiology – Better lives, Safer journey is the first of six consortia to be announced by Versus Arthritis which is awarding £18 million of funding to this initiative over the next three years.

Related Content

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 28, 2025
PM Modi to visit four states on May 29–30, launch projects worth ₹69,000 crore

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit four states — Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh — on the 29 and 30 of May, where he will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple infrastructure and development projects worth over ₹69,000 crore.

Sikkim: marking 50 years of statehood
On May 29, the Prime Minister will reach Sikkim and take part in the Sikkim@50 celebrations at around 11 AM. The programme, themed “Where Progress Meets Purpose and Nature Nurtures Growth”, marks 50 years since Sikkim attained statehood.

As part of the celebrations, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate several key development projects. These include a 500-bedded District Hospital in Namchi worth over ₹750 crore, a passenger ropeway at Sangachoeling in Gyalshing District, and a statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Gangtok District.

He will also release a commemorative coin, souvenir coin, and stamp to mark the occasion.

West Bengal: boost to gas infrastructure
Later the same day, at around 2:15 PM, PM Modi will visit Alipurduar in West Bengal to lay the foundation stone of a City Gas Distribution (CGD) project for Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts. The ₹1,010 crore project will provide Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to over 2.5 lakh households and set up 19 CNG stations, contributing to a cleaner and cost-effective energy ecosystem in the region.

Bihar: major development initiatives
In the evening, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the newly constructed passenger terminal at Patna Airport, built at a cost of ₹1,200 crore. He will also lay the foundation stone for a new civil enclave at Bihta Airport, worth ₹1,410 crore, aimed at supporting the growing educational hub near Patna.

On May 30, PM Modi will be in Karakat, Bihar, where he will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for projects worth over ₹48,520 crore. Among them is the Nabinagar Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-II, in Aurangabad district. The ₹29,930 crore project will generate 2,400 MW of power, strengthening energy security and boosting industrial development.

Road infrastructure will also receive a major push, with the launch of four-laning and six-laning projects on NH-119A, NH-319B, NH-119D, and a new Ganga bridge between Buxar and Bharauli. Other key projects include the inauguration of NH-22 (Patna–Gaya–Dobhi section) and improvements in Gopalganj on NH-27.

In the rail sector, the Prime Minister will dedicate the third rail line between Son Nagar and Mohammad Ganj, developed at a cost of ₹1,330 crore.

Uttar Pradesh: strengthening infrastructure and power supply
Later on May 30, PM Modi will visit Kanpur Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. At around 2:45 PM, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development works worth approximately ₹20,900 crore.

He will inaugurate the Chunniganj to Kanpur Central Metro stretch under the Kanpur Metro Rail Project, which includes five new underground stations and improves urban connectivity.

In the power sector, he will inaugurate the 660 MW Panki Thermal Power Extension Project (₹8,300 crore) and three 660 MW units of the Ghatampur Thermal Power Project (₹9,330 crore). Substations at YEIDA and Greater Noida worth ₹320 crore will also be inaugurated.

Key road projects include the widening of Gauria Pali Marg and improved connectivity to the Kanpur Defence Corridor, supporting regional growth and industrial logistics.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate two rail overbridges in Panki and a 40 MLD Tertiary Treatment Plant at Bingawan, promoting sustainable water reuse.

Further, he will distribute certificates and cheques to beneficiaries of central schemes such as PM Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana, National Livelihood Mission, and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

May 28, 2025

MIL-OSI: April Monthly Net Asset Value Estimate

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NBPE Announces April Monthly NAV Estimate

St Peter Port, Guernsey 28 May 2025

NB Private Equity Partners (NBPE), the $1.2bn¹, FTSE 250, listed private equity investment company managed by Neuberger Berman, today announces its 30 April 2025 monthly NAV estimate.

NAV Highlights (30 April 2025)

NAV per share was $27.29 (£20.43), a total return of 0.4% in the month
Approximately 62% of fair value based on private company valuation information as of Q1 2025 or based on 30 April 2025 quoted prices
Based on information received so far, private company valuations increased fair value by 0.4% during Q1 2025 on a constant currency basis
NBPE expects to receive additional updated Q1 2025 financial information which will be incorporated in future monthly NAV updates
$307 million of available liquidity at 30 April 2025
~151k shares repurchased during April 2025 at a weighted average discount of 33% which were accretive to NAV by ~$0.02 per share. Year to date, NBPE has repurchased ~680k shares at a weighted average discount of 29% which were accretive to NAV by ~$0.10 per share

As of 30 April 2025	Year to Date	One Year	3 years	5 years	10 years
NAV TR (USD)* Annualised	0.8%	3.4%	4.1% 1.4%	87.7% 13.4%	160.7% 10.1%
MSCI World TR (USD)* Annualised	(0.8%)	12.6%	39.0% 11.6%	96.6% 14.5%	157.2% 9.9%

Share price TR (GBP)* Annualised	(8.0%)	(8.9%)	3.6% 1.2%	99.0% 14.7%	189.5% 11.2%
FTSE All-Share TR (GBP)* Annualised	4.3%	7.5%	22.6% 7.0%	67.9% 10.9%	75.9% 5.8%

* All NBPE performance figures assume re-investment of dividends on the ex-dividend date and reflect cumulative returns over the relevant time periods shown. Three-year, five-year and ten-year annualised returns are presented for USD NAV, MSCI World (USD), GBP Share Price and FTSE All-Share (GBP) Total Returns.

Portfolio Update to 30 April 2025

NAV performance during the month driven by:

1.1% NAV increase ($13 million) attributable to changes in foreign exchange
0.9% NAV decrease ($10 million) attributable to changes in prices of quoted holdings (which now constitute 5% of portfolio fair value)
0.3% NAV increase ($4 million) from the value of private holdings
0.2% NAV decrease ($3 million) attributable to expense accruals

$53 million of realisations in 2025 year to date

$6 million of proceeds received during the month of April, consisting primarily of full and partial realisations of GFL, Corona Industrials and Inflection Energy

$307 million of total liquidity at 30 April 2025

$97 million of cash and liquid investments with $210 million of undrawn credit line available

2025 Share Buybacks

~151k shares repurchased in April 2025 at a weighted average discount of 33%; buybacks were accretive to NAV by ~$0.02 per share
Year to date, NBPE has repurchased ~680k shares at a weighted average discount of 29% which were accretive to NAV by ~$0.10 per share

Portfolio Valuation

The fair value of NBPE’s portfolio as of 30 April 2025 was based on the following information:

5% of the portfolio was valued as of 30 April 2025
- 5% in public securities
57% of the portfolio was valued as of 31 March 2025
- 57% in private direct investments
38% of the portfolio was valued as of 31 December 2024
- 38% in private direct investments

For further information, please contact:

NBPE Investor Relations +44 (0) 20 3214 9002
Luke Mason NBPrivateMarketsIR@nb.com

Kaso Legg Communications +44 (0)20 3882 6644

Charles Gorman nbpe@kl-communications.com
Luke Dampier
Charlotte Francis

Supplementary Information (as at 30 April 2025)

Company Name	Vintage	Lead Sponsor	Sector	Fair Value ($m)		% of FV
Action	2020	3i	Consumer		83.9		6.6%
Osaic	2019	Reverence Capital	Financial Services		66.9		5.3%
Solenis	2021	Platinum Equity	Industrials		59.8		4.7%
BeyondTrust	2018	Francisco Partners	Technology / IT		47.7		3.8%
Monroe Engineering	2021	AEA Investors	Industrials		44.7		3.5%
Business Services Company*	2017	Not Disclosed	Business Services		40.1		3.2%
Branded Cities Network	2017	Shamrock Capital	Communications / Media		38.9		3.1%
True Potential	2022	Cinven	Financial Services		35.2		2.8%
Mariner	2024	Leonard Green & Partners	Financial Services		33.7		2.7%
FDH Aero	2024	Audax Group	Industrials		32.9		2.6%
Marquee Brands	2014	Neuberger Berman	Consumer		31.4		2.5%
GFL (NYSE: GFL)	2018	BC Partners	Business Services		30.6		2.4%
Staples	2017	Sycamore Partners	Business Services		29.6		2.3%
Auctane	2021	Thoma Bravo	Technology / IT		29.1		2.3%
Fortna	2017	THL	Industrials		28.7		2.3%
Viant	2018	JLL Partners	Healthcare		27.3		2.2%
Stubhub	2020	Neuberger Berman	Consumer		26.4		2.1%
Engineering	2020	NB Renaissance / Bain Capital	Technology / IT		26.3		2.1%
Benecon	2024	TA Associates	Healthcare		25.5		2.0%
Agiliti	2019	THL	Healthcare		25.3		2.0%
Kroll	2020	Further Global / Stone Point	Financial Services		25.0		2.0%
Solace Systems	2016	Bridge Growth Partners	Technology / IT		24.6		1.9%
Excelitas	2022	AEA Investors	Industrials		24.1		1.9%
Addison Group	2021	Trilantic Capital Partners	Business Services		23.8		1.9%
Exact	2019	KKR	Technology / IT		23.3		1.8%
CH Guenther	2021	Pritzker Private Capital	Consumer		21.2		1.7%
Bylight	2017	Sagewind Partners	Technology / IT		19.9		1.6%
Constellation Automotive	2019	TDR Capital	Business Services		19.0		1.5%
Real Page	2021	Thoma Bravo	Technology / IT		18.8		1.5%
Tendam	2017	PAI	Consumer		18.3		1.4%
Total Top 30 Investments					$982.1		77.6%

*Undisclosed company due to confidentiality provisions.

Geography	% of Portfolio
North America	77%
Europe	22%
Asia / Rest of World	1%
Total Portfolio	100%

Industry	% of Portfolio
Tech, Media & Telecom	23%
Consumer / E-commerce	22%
Industrials / Industrial Technology	17%
Financial Services	14%
Business Services	12%
Healthcare	9%
Other	4%
Energy	1%
Total Portfolio	100%

Vintage Year	% of Portfolio
2016 & Earlier	9%
2017	16%
2018	15%
2019	13%
2020	13%
2021	18%
2022	6%
2023	2%
2024	8%
Total Portfolio	100%

About NB Private Equity Partners Limited
NBPE invests in direct private equity investments alongside market leading private equity firms globally. NB Alternatives Advisers LLC (the “Investment Manager”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, is responsible for sourcing, execution and management of NBPE. The vast majority of direct investments are made with no management fee / no carried interest payable to third-party GPs, offering greater fee efficiency than other listed private equity companies. NBPE seeks capital appreciation through growth in net asset value over time while paying a bi-annual dividend.

LEI number: 213800UJH93NH8IOFQ77

About Neuberger Berman
Neuberger Berman is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with over 2,800 employees in 26 countries. The firm manages $515 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger Berman’s investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 or #2 Best Place to Work in Money Management for each of the last eleven years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of March 31, 2025.

¹Based on net asset value.

Attachment

April 2025 NBPE Factsheet vF

The MIL Network –

May 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets delegation led by US House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Details
2025-05-27
President Lai meets and hosts luncheon for delegation led by Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero of Guam
On the morning of May 27, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero of Guam and her husband, and hosted a luncheon for the delegation at noon. In remarks, President Lai noted that this is the governor’s first trip to Taiwan, fully demonstrating the Guam government’s support and high regard for Taiwan. The president said that Guam, being the closest United States territory to Taiwan, is an important bridge for collaboration between Taiwan and the US. He stated that aside from promoting tourism, we can also explore even more opportunities for collaboration in other areas to further advance industrial development for both sides. He said that, as we begin a new chapter, we look forward to working together to generate even more momentum in bilateral cooperation and exchanges. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a warm welcome to Governor Leon Guerrero and her delegation. Last year, I transited through Guam en route for visits to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Pacific. The enthusiastic reception I received from the government, legislature, people, and members of our overseas community in Guam was very touching and left me with a deep impression. During the morning tea reception hosted by Governor Leon Guerrero, we joined in singing our respective national anthems, as well as the Fanohge CHamoru. I also received at the Guam Legislature a copy of a Taiwan-friendly resolution it passed on behalf of the people of Taiwan. And I still remember to this day the striking scenery of the governor’s house and the warm reception I received there. It is therefore a great pleasure to meet with all of you today here at the Presidential Office. This is Governor Leon Guerrero’s first trip to Taiwan. Your visit fully demonstrates the Guam government’s support and high regard for Taiwan. As we begin a new chapter, we look forward to working with you to generate even more momentum in bilateral cooperation and exchanges. Taiwan and Guam are like family. We share the Austronesian spirit and culture. Our wide-ranging and mutually-beneficial collaboration is very fruitful. And now, we are facing the challenges of climate change, public health and medicine, and regional security together. The world is rapidly changing and tensions in the Indo-Pacific continue to rise. But if we combine our strengths, come together as one, and enhance cooperation, we can maintain regional peace, stability, and prosperity. Last Tuesday, I delivered an address on my first anniversary of taking office. I mentioned that for many years, Taiwan, the US, and our democratic partners have actively engaged in exchange and cooperation. Taking a market-oriented approach, we will promote an economic path of staying firmly rooted in Taiwan and expanding the global presence of our enterprises while strengthening ties with the US. Guam is the closest US territory to Taiwan. It is an important bridge for collaboration between Taiwan and the US. Last month, we were pleased to see United Airlines officially launch direct flights between Taipei and Guam. I believe this will benefit tourism and economic and trade exchanges for both sides. In the area of health care, many hospitals in Taiwan already offer referral services to patients from Guam. Both Governor Leon Guerrero and I have backgrounds in medicine. It is my hope that Taiwan and Guam can continue to work hand in hand to create even more positive outcomes from cooperation in public health and medical services. During the governor’s visit, aside from promoting tourism, we can also explore even more opportunities for collaboration in other areas. There is potential for more exchanges in aquaculture, food processing, hydroculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and recycling. This will further advance industrial development in Taiwan and Guam. In closing, I thank Governor Leon Guerrero and all our distinguished guests for backing Taiwan. I wish you all a smooth and successful visit. Governor Leon Guerrero then delivered remarks, saying that she is very happy to come to Taiwan. She said that after learning during President Lai’s visit to Guam last year that he is a medical doctor, she felt more relaxed because healthcare colleagues are one in their endeavor to help enhance the health and well-being of people. She then expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the invitation to Taiwan. Governor Leon Guerrero said that as they learn more about opportunities for collaboration with Taiwan, they are humbled by the hospitality they have experienced. In both of our islands, she said, hospitality is more than just a custom – it forms a part of our identities. She noted that despite being nearly 2,000 miles apart, we are connected by the Pacific Ocean and common roots, and our ancestors both value family, community, and tradition. That is why being here today, she said, she feels a strong sense of familiarity, like reconnecting with old friends. The governor remarked that Taiwan has evolved so quickly in all areas of essential life, sustenance, economy, and prosperity, adding that Taiwan’s resources in such areas as health, education, data, AI, advanced technology, aquaculture, agriculture, and commerce enhance our economic stability. She stated her belief that in collaboration and support, and working with each other, we can gain prosperity, maintain freedom and democracy, and live in peace. Governor Leon Guerrero stated that their delegation is here to see how they can partner with Taiwan to help raise the quality of life for both our peoples, mentioning that one special concern of theirs is tourism. Tourism, she said, is the most influential engine and driver for the economy and quality of life in Guam, but they cannot have a vibrant economy and tourism without air connectivity. She added that they are prepared to help in any way to provide incentives and low-cost fees so that they can get more airlines from Taiwan to establish permanent flight schedules to Guam, so as to drive development in Guam’s tourism industry. Governor Leon Guerrero then proceeded to introduce each of the members of her delegation before remarking that while they have been very busy on this visit they are always reminded of the freedom and democracy that the people must protect. She said she looks forward to a great, strong relationship between Taiwan and Guam in cooperation on social and economic issues, in culture, marketing, tourism, and freedom and democracy. Among those in attendance were First Gentleman Jeffrey A. Cook, Chief of Staff Jon Junior Calvo, Director of the Department of Administration Edward Birn, General Manager of the Guam Visitors Bureau Regine Biscoe Lee, Deputy Executive Manager of the Guam International Airport Authority Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez, Board of Directors Chairman of the Guam International Airport Authority Brian J. Bamba, Deputy General Manager of the Guam Economic Development Authority Carlos Bordallo, Director of Landscape Management Systems Guam Bob Salas, Chairperson of the Guam Chamber of Commerce Tae Oh, President of the University of Guam Anita Borja Enriquez, and Director of the Guam Taiwan Office Felix Yen (嚴樹芬). After the meeting, President Lai, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, hosted a luncheon for Governor Leon Guerrero, her husband, and the delegation.

Details
2025-05-27
President Lai meets delegation from European Parliament
On the morning of May 27, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the European Parliament. In remarks, President Lai thanked the European Parliament for continuing to pay close attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and voice support for Taiwan. The president expressed hope for an even closer relationship and diversified cooperation between Taiwan and the European Union. The president said that Taiwan and the EU can work together in such areas as semiconductors, AI, and green energy to create more resilient supply chains for global democracies and contribute to global prosperity and development. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I warmly welcome our guests to the Presidential Office. After being elected last year, MEPs Reinis Pozņaks and Beatrice Timgren are making their first visits to Taiwan, demonstrating support for Taiwan through concrete action. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincerest welcome and appreciation. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the European Parliament for continuing to pay close attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Just last month, the European Parliament adopted resolutions with regard to annual reports on the implementation of the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy. These resolutions reaffirmed the EU’s steadfast commitment to maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The European Parliament also condemned China for continuing to take provocative military actions against Taiwan and emphasized that Taiwan is a key democratic partner in the Indo-Pacific region. It called on the EU and its member states to continue working closely with Taiwan to strengthen economic, trade, and investment ties. Once again, I thank the European Parliament for voicing support for Taiwan. Just as MEPs Pozņaks and Timgren are visiting Taiwan to strengthen Taiwan-EU exchanges, our Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) also led a delegation to Europe last year, marking the first in-person dialogue between high-ranking economic and trade officials of Taiwan and the EU. Moving ahead, we look forward to bringing Taiwan-EU ties even closer and to diversifying our cooperation. The EU is Taiwan’s largest source of foreign investment. Both sides are highly complementary in such areas as semiconductors, AI, and green energy. Through our joint efforts, we can create more resilient supply chains for global democracies and further contribute to global prosperity and development. Looking ahead, I hope that MEPs Pozņaks and Timgren will continue to make the case in the European Parliament for the signing of a Taiwan-EU economic partnership agreement. This would not only yield mutually beneficial development, but also consolidate economic security and boost international competitiveness for both sides. In closing, I am sure that you will gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan through this visit. Please feel welcome to come back as often as possible as we continue to elevate Taiwan-EU ties. MEP Pozņaks then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great honor to be here and thanking everybody involved in arranging this trip that allows them the opportunity to better know Taiwan. He added that it is definitely not the last time they will be here, as Taiwan is a very beautiful country. MEP Pozņaks mentioned that he comes from Latvia, and despite their being on the other side of the world, they know how the Taiwanese people feel, because they also have a big neighbor who is claiming that Latvia belongs to them. Unfortunately, he said, there is already war in Europe, but he is confident that their situation is similar to Taiwan’s, adding that they have a neighbor who uses disinformation attacks. MEP Pozņaks said that we live in very challenging times, and that our choices will define the future of the world, asking whether it will be a world where the rule of law prevails or where physical power and aggression succeeds. Coming from a small country, he said he clearly understands that for them there is no other possibility; they must protect the world where the rule of law prevails. That is why now, he emphasized, it is very crucial for all democracies around the world to stick together to protect our freedoms, values, and democracy. MEP Timgren then delivered remarks, thanking President Lai for meeting with them and saying it is a big honor. Noting that they arrived here two days ago and that while she really loves Taiwan, its food, and the good weather, she stated that the reason they are here is because of the values that we share, our good relationships, and solidarity with other democratic countries in the world, which is important for them in Europe and in Sweden. MEP Timgren, referring to MEP Pozņaks’s earlier remarks, said that they face a big threat from Russia that is discernible even in the European Parliament. Actually, she pointed out, there is a war inside Europe that shows us how important it is that we support one another. She said that the Russian people thought it would be easy to take over Ukraine, but it was not, because all European countries stepped up and provided weapons and support. And that is why, MEP Timgren said, it is important that democratic countries maintain good relationships and let China and Russia see that we have good relationships, because a part of defense is solidarity. In closing, she expressed her gratitude for having the honor to be here in this beautiful country.

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2025-05-20
President Lai hosts state banquet for President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Republic of Palau
On the evening of May 20, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, hosted a state banquet at the Presidential Office in honor of President Surangel Whipps Jr. of the Republic of Palau and his wife. In remarks, President Lai said that he looks forward to working closely with President Whipps to promote tourism exchanges and sports cooperation so that Taiwan and Palau shine brightly together on the international stage. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a pleasure to host this banquet tonight at the Presidential Office for President Whipps, First Lady Valerie Whipps, and the esteemed members of their delegation. Welcome to Taiwan. During my trips to Palau in 2022 and last year, President and First Lady Whipps received me with great hospitality. Wearing my island shirt, I enjoyed a very friendly reception from the people of Palau. It felt warm and friendly, just like being welcomed back home. The first time I visited Palau, President Whipps and I piloted a boat to the Milky Way lagoon. We both tried volcanic mud facial masks. We also fished together and enjoyed the breeze as we walked on the beach. Last year, on my second visit to Palau, I was honored to be invited to address the National Congress. I also observed the results of the close bilateral cooperation between our two nations. Due to its world-famous ocean scenery, Palau is sometimes referred to as “God’s aquarium.” And it is even possible to snorkel with sharks. It leaves a deep impression. Nothing compares to seeing Palau firsthand. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan and Palau launched a travel bubble that created a safe means of travel. Now, with the pandemic behind us, I hope that even more Taiwanese can tour Palau and gain a greater understanding of our diplomatic ally. In addition to tourism exchanges, I mentioned on my visit to Palau last year that I hoped Taiwan and Palau could promote sports cooperation by providing training away from home. Next month, Palau will be holding the Pacific Mini Games. And right now, Palau’s national baseball and table tennis teams are holding training sessions here in Taiwan. We will do our utmost to support Palau’s national players and we hope they stand out and achieve outstanding results in the events. I look forward to working closely with President Whipps so that Taiwan and Palau shine brightly together on the international stage. Thank you! Mesulang! President Whipps then delivered remarks, saying that it is truly an honor to be here once again one year after President Lai’s inauguration. Mentioning that this is his first state visit after being reelected to a second term, he said that it is important to be here among friends, and that we are more than friends, we are family. He thanked President Lai for the generous words and, most importantly, Taiwan’s enduring support. He remarked that our relationship continues to get stronger in each passing year. President Whipps said that President Lai’s diplomacy initiative, leadership, and vision deeply resonate with them. Diplomacy must be rooted in our shared values, he said, and an unwavering support for our allies and a commitment to a sustainable, inclusive development are all deeply appreciated by their people. President Whipps emphasized that, as we look into the future and the challenges that we face, from security to climate change, it is so important that we are united. He added that it is important for the world, and especially important for them in Palau, that they stand up for Taiwan, so that Taiwan can participate on international fora that address climate change, security, and health, because they know the world is better when Taiwan has a seat at the table. Mentioning that Palau will host the Pacific Islands Forum next year, President Whipps said that Palau remains committed to working closely with Taiwan to ensure a successful event, and that they will continue to speak up for Taiwan’s indispensable contributions as we stand together against any efforts to silence or isolate democratic partners. President Whipps said that our nations have navigated challenges and emerged stronger, bound by a partnership that is built on trust, respect, and hope for a better world. Whether it is in clean energy, education, smart medicine, or tourism, our shared journey is just beginning, he said, and we are stronger together. Also in attendance at the banquet were Palauan Minister of State Gustav Aitaro, Minister of Public Infrastructure and Industries Charles Obichang, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Senate Floor Leader Kerai Mariur, House of Delegates Floor Leader Warren Umetaro, High Chief of Ngiwal State Elliot Udui, Governor of Peleliu State Emais Roberts, and Governor of Koror State Eyos Rudimch.

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2025-05-20
President Lai and President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. of Palau hold bilateral talks and witness signing of cooperation agreements
On the afternoon of May 20, following a welcome ceremony with military honors for President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. of the Republic of Palau and his wife, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, held bilateral talks with President Whipps at the Presidential Office. The two leaders also jointly witnessed the signing of a technical cooperation agreement and an agreement on diplomatic staff training cooperation. In remarks, President Lai thanked Palau for standing firm in its backing of Taiwan’s international participation as geopolitical tensions continue to increase in the Pacific region. He added that he looks forward to the cooperative ties between Taiwan and Palau continuing to expand into even broader areas, allowing our economies and societies to further progress as we jointly advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I welcome our guests to Taiwan once again. Last year on May 20, President Whipps led a delegation to attend the inauguration ceremony for myself and Vice President Hsiao. I am delighted, on the anniversary of my first year in office, to meet with old friends of Taiwan again, as President Whipps returns for this visit. Taiwan-Palau relations have grown even closer in recent years thanks to the strong support of President Whipps. In 2022, during my term as vice president, I led a delegation to Palau as a demonstration of how our nations were together boosting tourism development as we jointly faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every time I visit Palau, and every time I meet with President Whipps, I feel very deeply that Taiwan and Palau are like family. We are both maritime nations and share a common Austronesian heritage and culture. We are also staunch partners in upholding such values as freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. Last December, when I went on my first overseas trip since taking office, one of the nations I visited was Palau. We celebrated the 30th anniversary of Palau’s independence and 25 years of diplomatic relations, underscoring our friendly ties. Taiwan and Palau enjoy close exchanges and cooperation in a range of areas, including climate change, education, agriculture and fisheries, healthcare, humanitarian assistance, sports, and culture. After this meeting, President Whipps and I will witness the signing of a technical cooperation agreement and an agreement on diplomatic staff training cooperation, demonstrating once again our diverse collaboration and strong friendship. I believe that by working together, Taiwan and Palau can contribute to each other’s development and overcome the regional and global challenges we currently face. In particular, as geopolitical tensions continue to increase in the Pacific region, Palau has wisely and courageously upheld democratic values and stood firm in its backing of Taiwan’s international participation. Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan, including at the United Nations General Assembly, the World Health Organization, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties, and the UN Ocean Conference. We have been deeply moved by this support. I thank President Whipps again for his high regard and support for Taiwan. I look forward to the cooperative ties between our nations continuing to expand into even broader areas. This will allow our economies and societies to further progress as we jointly advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. President Whipps then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great honor for him to be here, standing in this historic place – a symbol of strength, resilience, and the democratic spirit of the Taiwanese people. On behalf of the government of Palau, President Whipps extended heartfelt gratitude to President Lai and the people of Taiwan for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality toward him and his delegation. President Whipps then extended sincere thanks for President Lai’s visit to Palau in December – his second visit to Palau – and for having Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) attend his inauguration as a special envoy. He added that this also marks his third visit to Taiwan since President Lai took office, saying that this demonstrates the strength of our growing relationship. President Whipps indicated that the increased engagements and numerous entrepreneurs that President Lai has brought from Taiwan to Palau have resulted in fruitful visits, and that President Lai’s leadership represents hope, unity, and continued advancement of democracy and freedom, not only for Taiwan, but for the broader Indo-Pacific region. President Whipps went on to say that this visit to Taiwan reaffirms our deep friendship and shared values between our two nations. He emphasized that Palau and Taiwan are bound not by proximity, but by purpose, in that both are island nations and believe in human dignity, the rule of law, and the right of our people to determine their own futures. President Whipps stated that although we are celebrating 26 years of diplomatic relations, Taiwan has been a steadfast partner of Palau for decades, and that one of the MOUs they are signing further extends the relationship that began in December of 1984. From healthcare and medical missions, to education, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, the private sector, tourism development, and climate resilience, he said, our cooperation has improved lives and strengthened our communities. The president also indicated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan stood with Palau, noting that both sides began the tourism bubble, and that President Lai came to Palau to reopen the two weekly direct flights that have now been increased to four. That solidarity will never be forgotten, he said. As the world faces growing uncertainty and complex challenges from climate change to global tensions, President Whipps said, this friendship becomes even more vital. The president concluded his remarks by expressing hope that both nations continue to stand together, work together, and advocate together for peace, prosperity, and for the right of small nations to be seen, heard, and respected. After the bilateral talks, President Lai and President Whipps witnessed the signing of the technical cooperation agreement and the agreement on diplomatic staff training cooperation by Minister Lin and Palauan Minister of State Gustav Aitaro. The delegation also included Palauan Minister of Public Infrastructure and Industries Charles Obichang, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Senate Floor Leader Kerai Mariur, House of Delegates Floor Leader Warren Umetaro, High Chief of Ngiwal State Elliot Udui, Governor of Peleliu State Emais Roberts, and Governor of Koror State Eyos Rudimch.

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2025-05-20
President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era. The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

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2025-05-20
President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era. The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Paracetamol to poisoning: When medicines harm instead of heal
Source:
28 May 2025

Medicine-related problems cause about 93 children to present at hospital each day

Every day, nearly 100 children present to Australian emergency departments with suspected medicine poisoning. It’s a startling statistic, but a reality that could be avoided, according to new research from the University of South Australia.

Now, the latest Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Medicine Safety report – produced by UniSA – shows that many medicine-related problems among children and teenagers are not only foreseeable but, in most cases, preventable.

The report reveals that most medicine harms are caused by unsafe off-label use, unexpected drug interactions, accidental poisoning, or overdoses from common household medicines like paracetamol.

Specifically, it shows that:
- Medicine-related problems cause about 93 children to present at hospital each day – half of these are preventable; additionally, about 40 of these children and teens are admitted, and half of these are also preventable.
- About 120,000 children (aged under 14) experience a bad reaction to medicines over a six-month period – nearly a third of these are children aged four and under.
- Accidental poisonings are common – every day, seven children attend the emergency department for medicine-related poisonings; three children are admitted.
- Paracetamol and antidepressants are mostly responsible for poisoning admissions – Younger boys account for most poisonings in children under 10, while girls account for most poisonings among teens. In 2022-23, 7,332 children (aged 0-19) were admitted to hospital for medicine poisoning.
- The cost of medicine-related harm in children is at least $130 million every year – related Emergency Department attendances accounting for $30 million, and an additional direct cost of medicine poisonings to the health system is estimated at $40 million per year.
The National Health Survey shows that most children and teens have between one and four different medicines dispensed over the past six months; 50% have had at least one PBS medicine dispensed in the past six months; about 184,000 have had between five and nine medicines dispensed; and an estimated 11,500 have had 10 or more.

Lead researcher, UniSA’s Dr Imaina Widagdo, says children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to medicine-related harm.

“Medicine use among children and teenagers is common. Yet given that nearly 100 children present at hospitals each day for adverse reactions, it’s clear that more needs to be done to protect their health,” Dr Widagdo says.

“Medicines are meant to help – and usually they do. But there are important things that parents and carers need to know. Firstly, unlike adults, children have developing bodies, which means they can respond to medicines differently than adults. Secondly, because medicines are rarely trialled with children, the doses, safety and efficacy of certain medicines may not be fully known or always accurate.

“What this tells us is that we need to take much more care when prescribing and monitoring medicines for children and young people.”

It’s a timely reminder to take extra care with children’s medicines, particularly following the recent Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) safety warnings on Risperidone dosing earlier this month, where accidental administering of more than the prescribed dose led to multiple children being hospitalised.

“As we see greater incidences of chronic health conditions among children and teens, it’s important for parents and carers to prioritise the safe storage and careful administration of medicines at homes, schools, and childcare,” Dr Widagdo says.

“Often, there are no child-specific preparations available, so extra care is needed when storing and dosing medicines.

“Finally, we encourage parents and carers to report any suspected adverse medicine reactions to the TGA’s adverse drug reaction reporting system, which can help build more accurate medicine safety profiles.”

Better education, safer prescribing, and more informed use at home could significantly reduce these risks.

“We all have a responsibility to protect children and teenagers from the incorrect use or accidental consumption of medicines. Because when it comes to children’s safety, prevention is always better than cure.”

If an overdose occurs, a medication error is made, or poisoning is suspected, immediately call 000 for an ambulance if there’s a medical emergency or call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice.

The full research team includes Dr Imaina Widagdo, Dr Renly Lim and Professor Libby Roughead.

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

Contact for interview: Dr Imaina Widagdo E: Imaina.Widagdo@unisa.edu.au
Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au
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MIL OSI News –
May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Cantwell, Health Care Providers and Advocates Slam Republican Health Care Cuts Threatening to Kick Nearly 14 Million Americans Off Their Health Insurance—Including 274,000 People in WA

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
At least 274,000 people in Washington state could lose their health insurance under the Republican plan through steep cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, according to nonpartisan estimates
Parent of young Washington state resident on Medicaid: “It is absolutely devastating to think that a singular vote from a group of people who don’t know Nate, and don’t fully understand the terrifying impact losing Medicaid could have, could take this all away from him, all in the name of reducing waste.”
*** VIDEO OF FULL PRESS CONFERENCE HERE***
***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL FROM EVENT HERE***
Seattle, WA — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, held a press conference laying out how Republicans’ reconciliation bill that passed through the House this week will be devastating for Washington state’s health care system and the 1.95 million people across Washington state who rely on Apple Health, Washington state’s Medicaid program, and the 300,000+ Washingtonians who access coverage through the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace (Washington Healthplanfinder).
The legislation passed by House Republicans last week would cut nearly $1 trillion from America’s health care system and is the largest cut to Medicaid in history. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the legislation will lead to 13.7 million Americans getting kicked off their health insurance—between the drastic cuts to Medicaid and the sabotage of the Affordable Care Act and refusal to expand tax credits Democrats passed to lower health insurance premiums.
At least 274,000 people in Washington state could lose their health insurance under the Republican plan, according to estimates based on the nonpartisan CBO’s analysis. That includes approximately 194,000 people in Washington state who will lose Medicaid coverage, and approximately 79,000 people who will lose ACA coverage. This figure doesn’t even account for the more sweeping health care cuts that House Republicans slotted in and passed at the last minute in the early morning of May 22nd. Among other things, Republicans’ bill would institute work reporting requirements, which have been proven not to increase employment and just strip health care coverage from people who are already working or exempt—this would put more than 620,000 Washingtonians at risk of losing their health care coverage or having it delayed because of a wall of new paperwork. The Republican bill would also reduce the federal match rate by 10 percent for states like Washington that provide health care coverage to noncitizens—this would be a devastating $460 million annual loss in federal Medicaid funding for Washington state, or nearly a $2 billion loss over the next four years. Additionally, the Republican bill includes a provision to defund Planned Parenthood, threatening the closure of up to 200 health centers across the country. Planned Parenthood runs 26 health centers in Washington state. Republicans are advancing the legislation through the budget reconciliation process, which only requires a simple majority to pass in both chambers of Congress.
“The legislation Republicans are pushing through Congress is the largest cut to Medicaid in American history—let that sink in. In Washington state, we are looking at: at least 194,000 people losing their Apple Health coverage under this bill. And that number rises to a quarter of a million people in our state getting kicked off their health care if you include all the ways Republicans are sabotaging the ACA in this bill and letting important health care tax credits for middle class families expire. Under Republicans’ bill, Washington state would lose an estimated 2 billion dollars in federal Medicaid funding over the next four years—that’s catastrophic for our state’s budget,” said Senator Murray. “Altogether, the health care cuts in Republicans’ mega-bill will mean hospitals and nursing homes shutting down—especially in rural areas—millions of people getting kicked off Medicaid or their coverage under the Affordable Care Act, people blocked from accessing the benefits they are rightly eligible for because of a new wall of paperwork and red tape, Planned Parenthood health centers closing their doors, kids with disabilities losing out on the care they need, medical debt skyrocketing, and insurers leaving the Marketplace, leaving families and small business owners with little or no options for coverage. Needless to say—all of that means higher costs and less access to care for everyone, not just people on Medicaid.”
“For the life of me I do not understand how some of the same Republicans who represent the areas of our state most reliant on Medicaid ever looked at this bill, looked at what it would do to the people they serve and said, ‘count me in!’ The fact of the matter is not complicated. Republicans want to pass a bill that will hurt the middle class and working families, to give a handout to some of the richest companies on the planet. Republicans know that is bad policy. They know that is massively unpopular—they know they are adding trillions to the national debt. That is why they are trying to jam this through with as little scrutiny as possible. Remember, we managed to stop Trump and Republicans from repealing the Affordable Care Act back in 2017. Public outcry matters—we have seen that even this administration is not totally immune from public pressure. We need to show Republicans that the American people are watching, and they will have to answer to their constituents,” Senator Murray continued.
“The people here in Washington who have to deal with this issue — who know that their rural hospitals could go under, or their health clinics could be affected, or the cost of care could go up in their communities and make everything more expensive — they know that we also have to stop this legislation. We need to say to the President of the United States: He has to stop trying to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. He cannot propose ideas that literally will leave these providers without resources,” Senator Cantwell said. “We do not need to have Robin Hood in reverse. We do not need to steal from Medicaid the stability of our health care system and give a tax break to big corporations. We need to stop this effort as soon as possible. Senator Murray and I will be fighting every day on the Senate floor to convince our colleagues that this is not only a wrongheaded approach — it is going to cost the American people.”
One in five adults, three in five nursing home residents, and three in eight people with disabilities in Washington are covered by Apple Health. Medicaid provides health care for over 800,000 children in Washington state—nearly half of children—and more than 45 percent of births in Washington state are covered by Medicaid—in rural Washington, that number goes up to more than 70 percent on births. Medicaid is also largest payer for opioid use disorder treatment in Washington state. Washington state spends approximately $21 billion on Medicaid annually—approximately $8 billion of that is paid for by the state, and approximately $13 billion is paid for by the federal government.
“As a physician, I see firsthand how lack of health insurance leads to delayed care, resulting in more death, more advanced diseases that are significantly more expensive to treat, and more economic burden. Denying access to health insurance shifts the financial burden to emergency services and public systems, ultimately increasing overall healthcare costs for taxpayers,” said Dr. Jesus Iniguez, Medical Director at Sea Mar Community Health Centers.
“Nurses are present at every level of care delivery. We are on the front line, and deal with the consequences when patients avoid care because of a lack of coverage. These cuts are not only cruel – they are harmful to the stability of our entire healthcare system and will not only impact those who are on Medicaid. We will all feel it. The ripple effect of something as monumental as the cuts they are currently proposing would send shock waves throughout the entire health care system, reducing access to care for millions,” said Edna Cortez, a pediatric nurse and member of the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA).
“If the bill that passed the US House last week becomes law, it will be one of the most devastating attacks on health care access in American history. By banning Planned Parenthood from seeing Medicaid patients, the bill targets our organization and the patients who rely on us for care every day. The people who passed this bill wish for Planned Parenthood health centers to close their doors, and for people to lose access to affordable health care – and for many, access to health care altogether. And if this bill becomes law, their unbelievably cruel wish will be granted. Health centers will close, maybe even here in Washington. Planned Parenthood Federation of America estimates that 200 health centers will close nationwide, 90 percent of which are located in states like Washington where abortion is still legal. As you’ve heard today, people will lose their insurance coverage through cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act,” said Brita Lund, Manager of Planned Parenthood Northgate Health Center. “Nearly 40 percent of our affiliate’s patients in Western Washington are Medicaid recipients. This is about much more than abortion, which already cannot be covered by federal Medicaid dollars. This money goes to birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing. All of which are now at risk. Every single day at the health center I manage in Northgate, we help people sign up for Apple Health and Medicaid. Not just help them access services – we ask them a few screening questions and then show them how to enroll in the program, because when they walked through the door, they did not have insurance – and many did not even know it was an option available to them. Our front desk receptionist is the longest tenured employee in our Planned Parenthood affiliate, and might be the longest tenured Planned Parenthood employee in the state. She estimates that she personally enrolls one to three people every single work day. Over her career of 36 years, that means she has likely enrolled more than 1800 people. And that’s just her. There are providers and staff like her at every Planned Parenthood health center in the country, and at places like Sea Mar, who help patients sign up for Medicaid. Because everyone deserves to get the care they need, no matter what. If this bill becomes law, hospitals will close. Clinics will close. Long term care facilities will close. And everyone, not just Medicaid recipients, will be punished.”
“Nate is 20 years old and autistic. He has an intellectual disability and requires support throughout the day to ensure his needs are met, much of which he receives through Home and Community Based Waiver services. Nate has a job at our local neighborhood pizza shop, where he works four hours a week building pizza boxes and doing other odd jobs with the support of a job coach. He of course gets a paycheck for his work, but he also gets a free slice of pizza and a coke after every shift, which he loves. He adores his job and is so proud of the ways he contributes to his community. Building the life of his dreams, and filling his days with enrichment and social connection when school ends, will not be easy, but with the help of Medicaid services the way they are now, Medicaid services such as health insurance, employment support, personal care, and home and community based waiver services, we’re starting to see a pathway to making it a reality. It’s a steep one, but the pathway is there,” said Rachel Nemhauser, parent of Nate and the Director of Family Support Services at The Arc of King County. Nate is one of the almost 280,000 adults with disabilities on Medicaid in Washington state, and Rachel shared his story with his permission. “But if the proposed Medicaid cuts go through, this dream vanishes. It threatens to reduce or eliminate the job support he counts on, making it impossible for him to stay employed. It threatens to reduce his access to health care, making it harder for people with vulnerable health to stay healthy and continue to work. It threatens to create paperwork and administrative barriers so burdensome and complicated that it’s almost impossible not to make a mistake once in a while. It is absolutely devastating to think that a singular vote from a group of people who don’t know Nate, and don’t fully understand the terrifying impact losing Medicaid could have, could take this all away from him, all in the name of reducing waste.”
Nationwide, nearly half of children in America are enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicaid pays for nearly half of births in the U.S. Medicaid also pays for services for 2 in 3 nursing home residents and pays for home-based services for close to 2 million seniors—allowing them to age safely at home—as well as close to 3 million people with disabilities and other health conditions. Medicaid also covers 1 in 4 people with a mental health or substance use disorder, and serves as the largest payer for mental health and substance use services for communities nationwide amid an ongoing overdose and opioid epidemic made worse by an influx of fentanyl.
Recent polling from KFF Health found 82 percent of adults think Medicaid funding should either increase or stay the same and large majorities of people across parties, those who voted for Trump in 2024, and adults living in rural areas say the program is “very important” for their local community. Polling from Hart Research found that 71 percent of voters who backed Trump said cutting Medicaid would be unacceptable, and voters overall were even more opposed to it.
Senator Murray’s full remarks at today’s press conference are below:
“Republicans are looking to make history of the absolute worst kind.
“Last week, overnight, House Republicans passed the single largest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in the history of our country.
“Reading this bill, you realize pretty quickly why did this in the dead of night. At least 7.6 million people losing Medicaid coverage, millions more losing health coverage and seeing costs go up, students having their Pell Grants cut, not to mention the biggest cut to SNAP in history—all to help fuel up corporate jets and executive bonuses with tax cuts for billionaires.
“But—bad news for Republicans—we are not going to let them keep the American people in the dark. We are going to put a bright and burning spotlight on this big, ugly, disaster of a bill. The legislation Republicans are pushing through Congress is the largest cut to Medicaid in American history—let that sink in.
“In Washington state, we are looking at least 194,000 people losing their Apple Health coverage under this bill. And that number rises to a quarter of a million people in our state getting kicked off their health care if you include all the ways Republicans are sabotaging the ACA in this bill and letting important health care tax credits for middle class families expire.
“Under Republicans’ bill, Washington state would lose an estimated 2 billion dollars in federal Medicaid funding over the next four years—that’s catastrophic for our state’s budget. And on top of all that Republicans’ bill would defund Planned Parenthood—a longtime goal of anti-abortion extremists that would be absolutely devastating for women’s health care in our state and across the country. Defunding Planned Parenthood would put 200 health centers at risk of closure across the country and put critical cancer screenings and birth control even further out of reach. And by the way, it would actually cost taxpayers money $300 million dollars over the next decade, according to nonpartisan estimates.
“Altogether, the health care cuts in Republicans’ mega-bill will mean: hospitals and nursing homes shutting down—especially in rural areas; millions of people getting kicked off Medicaid or their coverage under the Affordable Care Act; people blocked from accessing the benefits they are rightly eligible for because of a new wall of paperwork and red tape; Planned Parenthood health centers closing their doors; kids with disabilities losing out on the care they need; medical debt skyrocketing; and insurers leaving the Marketplace, leaving families and small business owners with little or no options for coverage.
“Needless to say, all of that means higher costs and less access to care for everyone, not just people on Medicaid. But I have to say, for the life of me, I do not understand how some of the same Republicans who represent the areas of our state most reliant on Medicaid—ever—looked at this bill, looked at what it would do to the people they serve, and said, “count me in!”
“Now, it’s worth noting, House Republicans did make some last-minute changes, but not what you might expect. They made sure more people will lose their health care sooner. And they made sure it will be more expensive to get health coverage on the exchanges. Oh, and don’t forget they got rid of a tax on gun silencers. Seriously—of all things!?
“The people at the top? The billionaires and biggest corporations? They are doing fine. You don’t need to shower them with money taken out of the pockets of struggling families.
“And you know what? If you want to help American businesses, all you have to do is pass legislation to stop Trump’s trade war which is hurting businesses and driving up costs. Doesn’t that sound better than taking food from hungry kids to give Elon Musk another tax break? Doesn’t that make more sense than kicking seniors out of nursing homes? Doesn’t that seem a little more reasonable that cutting patients off from their health care?
“The fact of the matter is not complicated. Republicans want to pass a bill that will hurt the middle class and working families, to give and handout to some of the richest companies on the planet. Republicans know that is bad policy. They know that is massively unpopular. They know they are adding trillions to the national debt. That is why they are trying to jam this through with as little scrutiny as possible.
“But we are putting this heist on full blast and fighting back against it with everything we’ve got. Remember, we managed to stop Trump and Republicans from repealing the Affordable Care Act back in 2017.
“So, my message to everyone is—now is the time to get loud, speak out, talk to your friends and family in Republican districts, call your Member of Congress. And remember, you are not powerless.
“Public outcry matters—we have seen that even this administration is not totally immune from public pressure. We need to show Republicans that the American people are watching, and they will have to answer to their constituents.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: No. 3 alarm fire in Tin Shui Wai (2)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

No. 3 alarm fire in Tin Shui Wai (2)
Two persons felt unwell and were sent to Tuen Mun Hospital and Tin Shui Wai Hospital for treatment respectively.
Issued at HKT 11:35

NNNN

CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police release images in Papatoetoe assault investigation

Source: New Zealand Police

Police believe information from the public will help identify an offender involved in a violent assault in Papatoetoe.

An investigation has been underway this month into the incident where a woman suffered a head injury in the early hours of 9 May on Sutton Crescent.

Counties Manukau West CIB is releasing footage of a man sought in connection with the assault.

“At around midnight, the victim and the offender had been walking along Sutton Crescent when an argument broke out between them,” Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward says.

“We do not know why this argument began but it has continued as the pair moved towards Kolmar Road.”

The female victim attempted to walk away from the male offender but was assaulted.

Detective Senior Sergeant Hayward says: “The force of the assault has caused the victim to fall to the ground.

“The offender has continued the violent assault and used extreme force on the woman.”

Police have since obtained CCTV footage of the assault, which shows the male offender walking away from the scene a short time later.

The female victim was transported to Middlemore Hospital with serious injuries and is continuing to recover from her ordeal.

Detective Senior Sergeant Hayward says despite a thorough area canvass, no witnesses to the violent incident have been identified.

Police are now releasing images to the public.

“We have obtained good CCTV footage of the man we want to speak with in this investigation,” he says.

“There is no place for this extreme violence in the community, and I’m confident someone will know who this man is.

“We need to hear from you.”

If you have information, please update Police online now or call 105 using the reference number 250509/4414.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 28, 2025

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