Category: Health

MIL-Evening Report: A popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences, says recent study

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Havovi Chichger, Professor, Biomedical Science, Anglia Ruskin University

Found in everything from protein bars to energy drinks, erythritol has long been considered a safe alternative to sugar. But new research suggests this widely used sweetener may be quietly undermining one of the body’s most crucial protective barriers – with potentially serious consequences for heart health and stroke risk.

A recent study from the University of Colorado suggests erythritol may damage cells in the blood-brain barrier, the brain’s security system that keeps out harmful substances while letting in nutrients. The findings add troubling new detail to previous observational studies that have linked erythritol consumption to increased rates of heart attack and stroke.

In the new study, researchers exposed blood-brain barrier cells to levels of erythritol typically found after drinking a soft drink sweetened with the compound. They saw a chain reaction of cell damage that could make the brain more vulnerable to blood clots – a leading cause of stroke.

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

Erythritol triggered what scientists call oxidative stress, flooding cells with harmful, highly reactive molecules known as free radicals, while simultaneously reducing the body’s natural antioxidant defences. This double assault damaged the cells’ ability to function properly, and in some cases killed them outright.

But perhaps more concerning was erythritol’s effect on the blood vessels’ ability to regulate blood flow. Healthy blood vessels act like traffic controllers, widening when organs need more blood – during exercise, for instance – and tightening when less is required. They achieve this delicate balance through two key molecules: nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, and endothelin-1, which constricts them.

The study found that erythritol disrupted this critical system, reducing nitric oxide production while ramping up endothelin-1. The result would be blood vessels that remain dangerously constricted, potentially starving the brain of oxygen and nutrients. This imbalance is a known warning sign of ischaemic stroke – the type caused by blood clots blocking vessels in the brain.

Even more alarming, erythritol appeared to sabotage the body’s natural defence against blood clots. Normally, when clots form in blood vessels, cells release a “clot buster” called tissue plasminogen activator that dissolves the blockage before it can cause a stroke. But the sweetener blocked this protective mechanism, potentially leaving clots free to wreak havoc.

The laboratory findings align with troubling evidence from human studies. Several large-scale observational studies have found that people who regularly consume erythritol face significantly higher risks of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. One major study tracking thousands of participants found that those with the highest blood levels of erythritol were roughly twice as likely to experience a major cardiac event.

However, the research does have limitations. The experiments were conducted on isolated cells in laboratory dishes rather than complete blood vessels, which means the cells may not behave exactly as they would in the human body. Scientists acknowledge that more sophisticated testing – using advanced “blood vessel on a chip” systems that better mimic real physiology – will be needed to confirm these effects.

The findings are particularly significant because erythritol occupies a unique position in the sweetener landscape. Unlike artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose, erythritol is technically a sugar alcohol – a naturally occurring compound that the body produces in small amounts. This classification helped it avoid inclusion in recent World Health Organization guidelines that discouraged the use of artificial sweeteners for weight control.

Erythritol has also gained popularity among food manufacturers because it behaves more like sugar than other alternatives. While sucralose is 320 times sweeter than sugar, erythritol provides only about 80% of sugar’s sweetness, making it easier to use in recipes without creating an overpowering taste. It’s now found in thousands of products, especially in many “sugar-free” and “keto-friendly” foods.

Erythritol can be found in many keto-friendly products, such a protein bars.
Stockah/Shutterstock.com

Trade-off

Regulatory agencies, including the European Food Standards Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration, have approved erythritol as safe for consumption. But the new research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that even “natural” sugar alternatives may carry unexpected health risks.

For consumers, the findings raise difficult questions about the trade-offs involved in sugar substitution. Sweeteners like erythritol can be valuable tools for weight management and diabetes prevention, helping people reduce calories and control blood sugar spikes. But if regular consumption potentially weakens the brain’s protective barriers and increases cardiovascular risk, the benefits may come at a significant cost.

The research underscores a broader challenge in nutritional science: understanding the long-term effects of relatively new food additives that have become ubiquitous in the modern diet. While erythritol may help people avoid the immediate harms of excess sugar consumption, its effect on the blood-brain barrier suggests that frequent use could be quietly compromising brain protection over time.

As scientists continue to investigate these concerning links, consumers may want to reconsider their relationship with this seemingly innocent sweetener – and perhaps question whether any sugar substitute additive is truly without risk.

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

– ref. A popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences, says recent study – https://theconversation.com/a-popular-sweetener-could-be-damaging-your-brains-defences-says-recent-study-261500

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pharmac continues to engage with consumers
Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes the establishment of Pharmac’s new consumer working group to help Pharmac help reset how it works with health consumers.

“For many New Zealanders, funding for pharmaceuticals is life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely,” Mr Seymour says.

“My expectation is that Pharmac should have good processes to ensure that people with an illness, their carers and family, can provide input to decision-making processes. This is part of the ACT-National Coalition Agreement.

“Pharmac hosted a Consumer Engagement Workshop in March. Patients and advocates voiced their hopes at resetting the patient – Pharmac relationship. Pharmac published a report on the findings from the workshop.

“The report recommended that the Board invite workshop participants, in association with the wider consumer-patient representative community, to select a working group. The group would work with Pharmac’s Board and management to reset the relationship between Pharmac and the consumer/representative community.

“The patient advocacy community selected Dr Malcolm Mulholland to lead the consumer working group. He has worked with consumers to select the other members of the working group. These members represent patients with a wide range of health conditions. They are named at the end of this release.”

“We’ve waited a long time for this opportunity. The work that Pharmac does is vitally important for the health of patients and their families, and this is why getting Pharmac to work as well as it can, will be the focus of the working group,” Dr Mulholland says.

“The consumer working group met for the first time yesterday to confirm the approach for the reset programme and agree the first set of actions. I look forward to hearing about their progress,” Mr Seymour says.

“I’m pleased to see the Board take the opportunity to continue to prioritise expanding opportunities and access for patients and their families by expanding access to more medicines for more groups.

“The working group reflects our commitment to a more adaptable and patient-centred approach. It follows my letters of expectations, the consumer engagement workshop, last year’s Medicines Summit, and the acceptance of Patient Voice Aotearoa’s White Paper as actions to achieve this.

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

The consumer working group members are:
1. Dr Malcolm Mulholland MNZM – Patient Voice Aotearoa
2. Libby Burgess MNZM – Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition
3. Tim Edmonds – Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ
4. Chris Higgins – Rare Disorders NZ
5. Francesca Holloway – Arthritis NZ
6. Trent Lash – Heartbeats Charitable Trust
7. Gerard Rushton – The Meningitis Foundation
8. Rachel Smalley MNZM – The Medicine Gap
9. Tracy Tierney – Epilepsy NZ
10. Deon York – Haemophilia NZ
MIL OSI New Zealand News –
July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: In Letter to Trump, Cantwell Unveils 5-Point Plan to Improve Nation’s Weather Readiness in the Face of NOAA Cuts
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

07.21.25

In Letter to Trump, Cantwell Unveils 5-Point Plan to Improve Nation’s Weather Readiness in the Face of NOAA Cuts

Cantwell to Trump: “We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the world’s best weather forecasting system…”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – the committee that oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) – today sent a letter to President Donald Trump outlining her five-point plan to bolster the United States’ weather readiness.

“Communities across the United States are experiencing more frequent, intense, and costly flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, atmospheric rivers, landslides, heatwaves, and wildfires,” Sen. Cantwell wrote. “The lessons from Kerrville, Palisades, Asheville, Lahaina, and too many other natural disasters are that providing Americans with more timely and accurate weather information can avoid billions in property losses and save lives. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the world’s best weather forecasting system that would provide Americans with much more detailed and customized alerts days instead of minutes ahead of a looming extreme weather event.”

Sen. Cantwell’s five recommendations for President Trump are:
1. Modernize Weather Data Collection: The United States needs to collect and compile more data by land, air, space, and sea by modernizing our weather data infrastructure and other tools, including better radars, hurricane hunters, weather satellites, and ocean buoys.
- Radar: Upgrading the nation’s aging Doppler radar network will enable meteorologists to deliver more accurate forecasts and provide longer warning lead times. Higher resolution data from new technology called phased array radar can “see” into the storm in ways not visible on current radar. It can zoom in on the most dangerous features of extreme weather and scan the atmosphere in under a minute, six times faster than current radar, to detect rapid changes like tornado formation or microbursts. NOAA is planning to replace the current outdated Doppler network but lacks the resources necessary to develop the best radar technology and infrastructure at the pace we need them to.
- Hurricane Hunters: NOAA studies have found that including data collected by the Hurricane Hunters improved forecast accuracy by at least 10 to 15 percent. NOAA needs to rebuild its Hurricane Hunter aircraft fleet by replacing the current WP-3D Hurricane Hunter aircraft that have been in service since the 1970s and will be decommissioned by 2030. NOAA’s 2022 Aircraft Plan calls for four new C-130 aircraft to meet this mission, and the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (P.L. 117-263, § 11708(b)) included authorization for up to six new aircraft.
- Weather Satellites: NOAA’s satellites are its “eyes in the sky” that stay locked in place above the United States and give scientists continuous data on storms as they develop. NOAA needs to expand these capabilities with the next generation of weather satellites like the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite system. Updated satellites will be able to track lightning strikes that start wildfires and smoke which impacts air quality and human health.
- Buoys and Ocean Data: NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is a network of buoys, gliders, high frequency radar arrays, and other instruments that gather ocean data critical for weather forecasting, search and rescue, and navigation. we need to modernize and recapitalize aging infrastructure and better integrate ocean data into our weather forecasting models. Enacting the Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.2126), bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senators Roger Wicker and Cantwell, will help maintain and resource IOOS infrastructure and networks.
1. World Leading Analytics: We need to catch up with and surpass European weather forecasting capabilities, which will require more supercomputing and improvements in data analytics including assimilation.
- We want the best forecasts in the world, but the U.S. models are often outperformed by the European model.
- NOAA needs to increase its focus and investment in supercomputing, data analytics, and data assimilation, a key technique in weather forecasting that combines real-world observations with a numerical weather model.
- Better forecasts are in reach, we just need to invest in the people and the computing power to be competitive.
1. Cutting Edge Research: As our communities experience more frequent and extreme weather, now is the time to invest in additional cutting-edge basic and applied research.
- For decades, NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) has supported next-generation science and technology that enables increasingly adept forecasting products and services that save lives from extreme weather events.
- While NOAA’s OAR only accounts for about 10 percent of the agency’s funding, its work has far-reaching impacts including better flash flood and precipitation prediction, developing next generation hurricane models, and improving extreme heat planning scenarios.
- The office also focuses on ways to better communicate extreme weather threats to the public. For example, NOAA’s National Severe Storm Laboratory in Oklahoma is testing a new tornado and extreme weather early warning system. Even though it’s still in the testing phase, in March the system provided Missouri communities two hours of lead time, allowing 120 people to seek shelter before a dangerous EF-3 tornado touched down. Current tornado warnings only give communities 13 minutes of warning on average.
1. Modernizing Alert Systems: We must strengthen and expand weather emergency communication channels to keep the public informed and help first responders prepare and react to natural disasters.
- Americans need more timely, relevant, and actionable information so they know when to get out of harm’s way. Investments like upgrading NOAA’s weather radio technology from obsolete copper technologies to Internet or satellite-based systems are vital to providing reliable and continuous weather and emergency alerts.
- Expanding NOAA’s VHF broadcasts to reach rural areas that other systems do not reliably cover will provide irreplaceable hazard alerts for campers, tourists, hunters, and tribal members, as well as mining, forestry, and agriculture workers living in remote areas.
- However, no single alert technology should be considered sufficient in an emergency. We should augment both public and private alert communications and embrace multi-channel delivery systems to ensure messages reach users via their preferred platforms, whether that is through FM and AM radio, apps, websites, SMS, push notifications, television, or social media. The private sector can provide value-added information including more customized alerts and warnings and giving people additional ways to access critical and timely information.
- Expanding current FEMA programs to build out local sirens and provide first responders with crucial flood maps and satellite images will also significantly enhance local disaster response capabilities.
1. Advance Bipartisan Legislation: The bipartisan Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2024 would strengthen weather research and forecasting and expand commercial data partnerships.
- A bipartisan bill Chairman Ted Cruz and I introduced last year, the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2024 (S. 5601), would modernize the essential research programs you signed into law in the 2017 Weather Act and establish new programs to advance forecasting, strengthen emergency preparedness, and support farmers and resource managers with better tools for agriculture and water management.
- The legislation would take the critical first steps in addressing NOAA’s aging radar network by directing the agency to design and deploy the next generation of weather radar technology. It also expands and codifies public-private partnerships to acquire and utilize innovative data sources, supporting efforts like the Commercial Data Program. Former House Science Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren introduced a bipartisan companion bill in the House (H.R. 3816) last month, which will be marked up by the full Committee this Wednesday.
This morning, Sen. Cantwell joined CNN’s Pamela Brown to discuss her plan to improve the nation’s weather readiness. The interview is HERE.

On Sunday, July 13, Sen. Cantwell joined CBS’s Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan to discuss the importance of funding and staffing for NOAA and the NWS.

“The more you can move people and resources out of the way of a storm, the more you can predict what might happen, the better prepared we’re going to be. And that’s going to help us save lives, and certainly save dollars,” Sen. Cantwell told Brennan. Video of her segment is HERE and HERE; a transcript is HERE.

NOAA’s cutting-edge science informs NWS weather forecasts, which help local communities prepare for and respond to events like the recent deadly floods in Central Texas. President Trump’s proposed budget would slash NOAA’s funding by $2.2 billion – a 27% cut – and his DOGE team has caused over 2,000 job losses at the agency since January.

Earlier this month, Sen. Cantwell questioned Dr. Neil Jacobs, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head NOAA, about his plans to preserve the agency’s mission as the administration continues to hack away at NOAA’s budget, workforce, and programs.

Last month, Sen. Cantwell joined renowned meteorologists from across the country for a virtual presser to sound the alarm on the NWS cuts, and called on the Trump Administration to restore the agency to full capacity.

The full text of the letter to President Trump is below:

July 21, 2025

The Honorable Donald J. Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

Communities across the United States are experiencing more frequent, intense, and costly flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, atmospheric rivers, landslides, heatwaves, and wildfires. The lessons from Kerrville, Palisades, Asheville, Lahaina, and too many other natural disasters are that providing Americans with more timely and accurate weather information can avoid billions in property losses and save lives. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the world’s best weather forecasting system that would provide Americans with much more detailed and customized alerts days instead of minutes ahead of a looming extreme weather event.

There is strong support for making the generational investments necessary to become a weather ready nation that will empower Americans to get out of harm’s way. It will take better weather data collection, world leading analytics, cutting edge research, modernizing alert systems, and a partnership between your Administration and Congress to pass enabling legislation. To that end, I offer the following five recommendations that if pursued on a bipartisan basis would make America the world leader in weather forecasting:

1) Modernizing Weather Data Collection

We need to compile more data by land, air, space, and sea by modernizing our weather data collection tools, including better radar, hurricane hunters, weather satellites, and ocean buoys

Radar: Upgrading the nation’s aging Doppler radar network will enable meteorologists to deliver more accurate forecasts and provide longer warning lead times. It does this with higher resolution data from phased array radar (PAR) to “see” into the storm in ways not visible on current radar. PAR can detect rapid changes in storms like tornado formation or microbursts, improve tracking of hazards like hail, and zoom in on the most dangerous features of extreme weather. These systems can also scan the atmosphere in under a minute, six times faster than current radar, detecting rapid changes in the storm for increased warning lead times and fewer false alarms.

This new technology should replace the current analog Doppler radar systems from the 1980s, which are increasingly costly to maintain and risks failure every day. NOAA is planning to replace the current outdated Doppler network but lacks the resources necessary to develop the best radar technology and infrastructure at the pace we need them to.

Hurricane Hunter Aircraft: NOAA studies have found that including data collected by the Hurricane Hunters improved forecast accuracy by at least 10 to 15 percent. However, NOAA needs to rebuild its Hurricane Hunter aircraft fleet by replacing the current WP-3D Hurricane Hunter aircraft that have been in service since the 1970s and will be decommissioned by 2030. New C-130 Hurricane Hunter aircraft are more capable than the half-century old WP-3D aircraft, with the ability to deploy more drones and uncrewed systems, conduct higher resolution scans from more advanced radar, and provide highly accurate wind, temperature, pressure, and humidity measurements from additional sensors.

NOAA’s 2022 Aircraft Plan calls for four new C-130 aircraft to meet this mission, and the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (P.L. 117-263, § 11708(b)) included authorization for up to six new aircraft. While two C-130 aircraft are funded, completing the fleet modernization in fiscal year 2026 will ensure forecasters can utilize this irreplaceable data source to better predict the path and intensity of hurricanes headed toward the United States, which is crucial for first responders to inform evacuations and pre-position emergency resources.

Weather Satellites: NOAA’s satellites are its “eyes in the sky” that stay locked in place above the United States and give scientists continuous data on storms as they develop. NOAA needs to expand these capabilities with the next generation of weather satellites, the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite system. Once launched, GeoXO can track lightning strikes that start wildfires, wildfire smoke, red tides that poison fisheries, and generally provide better extreme weather early warning capabilities. For example, if GeoXO had been deployed during the 2023 Canadian wildfire smoke event that blanketed much of the eastern United States, its instruments could have provided hourly, high-resolution maps of smoke pollution, enabling more accurate health advisories and allowing schools, airlines, and outdoor workers to make safer decisions. This year, smoke from massive Canadian wildfires is again posing health risks to Americans across the country. This is new technology that does not exist in today’s satellite system.

To get these next generation satellites built, NOAA must proceed with the recommendations laid out under your first Administration and build the planned network of six satellites, five instruments, and supporting ground systems. The data from the Lightning Mapper (LMX), Sounder (GXS), Atmospheric Composition (ACX), Imager (GXI), and Ocean Color (OCX) instruments are key and necessary inputs for any world leading forecasting model.

Buoys and Ocean Data: NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is a network of buoys, gliders, high frequency radar arrays, and other instruments that gather ocean data critical for weather forecasting, search and rescue, and navigation. The IOOS network provides real-time surface and subsurface ocean temperature measurements that feed into NOAA’s hurricane forecast model to detect rapid intensification of hurricanes and other extreme storms. For example, the above average warm water in the Gulf contributed to the recent flash flooding in Central Texas, while changes to tropical weather patterns and ocean temperatures have contributed to flooding across the country, from the Southwest through the Mid-Atlantic and into the Northeast. Just halfway through the summer, according to the National Weather Service, the country has already experienced twice as many floods in July as usual.

To preserve and expand the critical real-time data these buoys provide, we need to modernize and recapitalize aging infrastructure and better integrate ocean data into our weather forecasting models. Enacting the Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.2126), bipartisan legislation Senator Roger Wicker and I introduced, will help maintain and resource IOOS infrastructure and networks.

2) World Leading Analytics

Catching up with and surpassing European weather forecasting capabilities will require more supercomputing and improvements in data analytics

NOAA has long aimed to close the performance gap between its Global Forecast System (GFS) and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which often outperforms U.S. forecasts. For example, in October 2012, the European model correctly predicted Hurricane Sandy would turn toward the U.S. East Coast seven to eight days in advance, while the U.S. model initially forecast it would head out to sea, missing the U.S. entirely. Of course, Sandy did hit the U.S., with devastating effects for the entire Mid-Atlantic region, killing 254 people and causing nearly $70 billion in damages. Conversely, in 2015, the European model predicted Hurricane Joaquin would stay offshore, which it did, while the U.S. model forecast a direct hit on the East Coast, prompting costly emergency preparations that were ultimately unnecessary. And in February 2021, when a historic Arctic outbreak plunged Texas and much of the South into record cold with heavy snow and ice, and the European model provided more accurate early guidance on the extent and longevity of the cold air mass. According to NOAA and the Texas Department of State Health Services, at its peak, the power outages that resulted left nearly 10 million people in the cold and dark, unable to cook food, and resulted in more than 200 deaths.

In order to catch up to Europe’s highly advanced weather modeling, NOAA needs to increase its focus and investment in supercomputing, data analytics, and data assimilation, a key technique in weather forecasting that combines real-world observations with a numerical weather model. We need to take steps to expand the GFS ensemble system with higher resolution and better physics, refine the Unified Forecast System, and streamline the path from research to operations with projects like the Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC) to improve collaboration with external scientists and the private sector. All of this will require Congress to provide NOAA with more supercomputing resources if we are to lead the world in weather forecasting.

3) Cutting Edge Research

As our communities experience more frequent and extreme weather, now is the time to invest in additional cutting-edge basic and applied research

For decades, NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research has supported next-generation science and technology that enables increasingly adept forecasting products and services that save lives from extreme weather events. While NOAA research only accounts for about 10 percent of the agency’s funding, its work has far-reaching impacts including better flash flood and precipitation prediction, developing next generation hurricane models, and improving extreme heat planning scenarios. The research arm also operates testbeds where new technologies and models are rigorously evaluated before they are transitioned to NOAA operations or private sector applications.

The office also focuses on ways to better communicate extreme weather threats to the public. For example, NOAA’s National Severe Storm Laboratory in Oklahoma is testing a new tornado and extreme weather early warning system. Even though it’s still in the testing phase, in March the system provided Missouri communities two hours of lead time, allowing 120 people to seek shelter before a dangerous EF-3 tornado touched down. Current tornado warnings only give communities 13 minutes of warning on average.

4) Modernizing Alert Systems

We must strengthen and expand weather emergency communication channels to keep the public informed and help first responders prepare and react to natural disasters

Americans need more timely, relevant, and actionable information so they know when to get out of harm’s way. Investments like upgrading NOAA’s weather radio technology from obsolete copper technologies to Internet or satellite-based systems are vital to providing reliable and continuous weather and emergency alerts. Expanding NOAA’s VHF broadcasts to reach rural areas that other systems do not reliably cover will provide irreplaceable hazard alerts for campers, tourists, hunters, and tribal members, as well as mining, forestry, and agriculture workers living in remote areas. Expanding current FEMA programs to build out local sirens and provide first responders with crucial flood maps and satellite images will also significantly enhance local disaster response capabilities.

However, no single alert technology should be considered sufficient in an emergency. We should augment both public and private alert communications and embrace multi-channel delivery systems to ensure messages reach users via their preferred platforms, whether that is through FM and AM radio, apps, websites, SMS, push notifications, television, or social media. The private sector can provide value-added information including more customized alerts and warnings, giving people additional ways to access critical and timely information.

5) Advancing Bipartisan Legislation

The bipartisan Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2024 would strengthen weather research and forecasting and expand commercial data partnerships

A bipartisan bill Chairman Ted Cruz and I introduced last year, the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2024 (S. 5601) would modernize the essential research programs you signed into law in the 2017 Weather Act and establish new programs to advance forecasting, strengthen emergency preparedness, and support farmers and resource managers with better tools for agriculture and water management. The legislation also expands and codifies public-private partnerships to acquire and utilize innovative data sources, supporting efforts like the Commercial Data Program. Former House Science Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren introduced a bipartisan companion bill in the House (H.R. 3816) last month.

Now is the time to take the tough lessons learned in the wake of the recent natural disasters and human tragedies in places like Texas, North Carolina, and New Mexico and create the world’s best weather prediction system. We must meet the moment or the situation is only going to get worse. The United States used to experience an average of nine extreme weather events every year that cost over $1 billion each, but in the last five years the number of disasters has spiked to an average of 23 per year, and last year it was 27 events. A recent comprehensive government study predicted that extreme weather will cost Americans $1.5 trillion over the next decade, not including loss of life or health-related costs. That’s why the costs of making the once-in-a-lifetime smart investments described above are minuscule compared to savings that better weather forecasting will provide every American.

Sincerely,
MIL OSI USA News –
July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove, Los Angeles Leaders Sound the Alarm: Defunding Planned Parenthood Would Lead to a Public Health Crisis

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Board Co-Chair of Planned Parenthood L.A., led leaders from across Los Angeles County, including L.A. County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and Director of L.A. County Public Health, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, in sounding the alarm on the looming public health crisis that would be triggered by federal defunding of Planned Parenthood. A livestream of the press conference is available here.

Earlier this month, President Trump signed a budget reconciliation bill that includes a provision to “defund” Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) filed a lawsuit challenging the law and its unconstitutional, politically motivated attack on local health centers’ ability to provide care. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that is set to expire today.

“We refuse to stand by while the Trump Administration dismantles our health care system and further erodes our reproductive rights,” said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Planned Parenthood Los Angles Board Co-Chair. “Because they couldn’t eradicate abortion through Dobbs, they snuck a backdoor abortion ban into their Big Ugly Bill to target providers and threaten their ability to offer care. Make no mistake, California will remain a beacon of reproductive freedom. We will not be intimidated, we will not be silenced, and we will continue to fight—for Planned Parenthood, for providers, and for every patient who depends on them.”

“Stripping Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood doesn’t just threaten clinics, it threatens people. Forcing clinics to shut down is a direct assault on the health and well-being of Black and Brown communities, low-income families, and others for whom Planned Parenthood is their only source of health care,” said L.A. County Supervisor, Holly Mitchell.

“Planned Parenthood plays a vital role in advancing health equity across Los Angeles County. With 24 health centers serving over 260,000 patient visits each year, many in communities that have long been medically underserved, Planned Parenthood serves as a trusted, valued, and essential health care provider,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health. “By singling out Planned Parenthood, the federal government is disrupting the delivery of high-quality medicine and the primacy of the provider-patient relationship for thousands of people across Los Angeles. Sadly, this short-sited politically motivated move by the federal government will deepen longstanding health inequities and threaten the well-being of so many.”

“Losing access to Planned Parenthood health centers would be not just be a disaster for public health, but also for the young people, women and families who rely on our services to determine the course of their own futures. My message to every Planned Parenthood Los Angeles patient is this: Our doors stay open, and care continues. We’ve been honored to serve this community for 60 years – and we have no intention of going anywhere,” said Sue Dunlap, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles.

Like any other health care provider, Planned Parenthood is reimbursed for services provided to patients. Defunding means that Planned Parenthood health centers will not receive federal reimbursement for care provided to patients who use Medicaid for their health coverage. More than 80% of Planned Parenthood’s patients in California rely on Medi-Cal, the state Medicaid program, to access birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and more.

Sadly, we already know where federal defunding of Planned Parenthood will lead. Cancers will go undetected, the STI crisis will worsen, wellness exams and preventative care will substantially decline, and it will be harder than ever for people to access birth control.

Moreover, people will forgo essential health care and instead turn to already overcrowded emergency rooms for what could have been routine appointments. These are real concerns in Los Angeles, where stark health inequities and stubborn gaps in reproductive health access persist.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Norcross Hosts More Than 100 Federal, State, and Local Services at 8th Annual Constituent Services Fair

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) hosted representatives from more than 100 federal, state, and local agencies and nonprofits at Camden County College for his 8^th Annual Constituent Services Fair. Hundreds of constituents who need assistance on issues ranging from federal programs like Medicare to local rent relief attended.

“My annual Constituent Services Fair acts as a one stop shop for South Jerseyans who are in need of assistance. The Constituent Services Fair serves as a reminder that my office is available all year round for help with a wide array of issues ranging from passport renewals to VA benefits,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “With our breakout sessions on Medicare, Social Security, and homebuying, we connect people directly with resources to help them access basic needs like healthcare, housing assistance, and so much more. If you or someone you know is in need of help, don’t hesitate to contact our office at (856) 427-7000. I’m honored to serve you.”

During the fair, Congressman Norcross and his staff hosted breakout sessions on Medicare, Social Security, and Homebuyer Assistance, and answered questions from constituents about these programs. Representatives from Medicare and Medicaid Services, Philadelphia Passport Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, Camden County Office of Economic Opportunity, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Camden and Gloucester County Health Departments, and South Jersey Legal Services were also in attendance.

Congressman Donald Norcross and his staff are available to help constituents with issues related to veterans benefits, housing assistance, Medicare and healthcare services, immigration, the Small Business Administration, Social Security, IRS, and senior services. If you have a question or are in need of help with a problem related to these agencies, please contact our office at (856) 427-7000 or visit our website at norcross.house.gov.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, PC Agrees To Pay $790,000.00 To Settle False Claims Act Allegations

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

HARRISBURG, PA —The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, PC (ECOP) has agreed to pay $790,000.00 to resolve False Claims Act allegations of civil liability for submitting claims to Medicare for Evaluation & Management (E&M) services that violated Medicare rules and regulations.

According to the Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, between September 1, 2018, and April 7, 2025, ECOP submitted claims to Medicare Part B for E&M services on the same date of service for beneficiaries receiving bilateral eye injections in violation of the applicable Medicare rules and regulations.

“The United States Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania is dedicated to working with its law enforcement partners to zealously investigate allegations of the submission of unsupported claims to federal healthcare programs,” said Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus. “Improperly billing federal healthcare programs increases the costs of these taxpayer-funded programs. Settlements like this one are an important part of the fight against fraud, waste and abuse.”

“Providers who participate in the Medicare program must abide by the program’s rules when submitting claims,” said Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is committed to protecting the integrity of the Medicare program and maintaining the trust of the people it serves. We will continue to work with the United States Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement partners to address allegations brought under the False Claims Act.”

This matter was handled by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Haken of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

# # #

MIL Security OSI –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Advancing access to sexual and reproductive health services in South Sudan

Source: APO

In an effort to address severely limited access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services in South Sudan, the Ministry of Health, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, has been implementing several initiatives to expand access in seven of its 10 states.

Years of overlapping humanitarian crises, including infectious disease outbreaks and complex humanitarian crises driven by conflict and climate-related disasters have disrupted health systems, limiting access to essential health services, including SRHR.

As a result, South Sudan continues to face some of the gravest SRHR challenges globally. Access to family planning is low, with a modern contraceptive prevalence rate of around 6% and an adolescent birth rate of 97 per 1000 girls between aged 15‒19 years.

The country’s maternal mortality ratio is estimated at 692 deaths per 100 000 live births, with around 10% linked to complications from unsafe abortion. The country’s legislation permits abortion only when the mother’s life is at risk. Despite these legal constraints, women may seek unsafe abortion services, often arriving at health facilities with severe post-abortion complications.

With only around 40% of births attended by skilled birth attendants, other key contributors to maternal mortality include postpartum haemorrhage, obstructed labour and sepsis ‒ all of which are preventable with timely access to quality health care.

Health authorities, with support from WHO and partners, have focused on expanding access to care that responds to people’s needs, choices and rights, through resilient primary health systems. This has been done by strengthening coordination, training health workers and improving monitoring. Targeted efforts have focused on equipping health workers with the knowledge and skills they need to deliver better care.

In the northwestern states of Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal, in 2024, 50 health workers were trained in maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response, an important step toward strengthening how maternal and newborn deaths are identified, reported and addressed.

An additional 50 health workers were trained in family planning in Torit and Wau, expanding access to voluntary contraceptive services in primary health centres. In Torit, Malakal, Renk and Wau states, 94 health workers received specialized training in the clinical management of rape, ensuring that survivors of gender-based violence from refugee, returnee and host communities can access timely, compassionate care.

“The training has also enabled me to diagnose patients with syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections. It has really expanded my knowledge and allowing me to assist many mothers,” says Faida Jackline, a 29-year-old midwife from Kator Primary Health Care Centre in Juba.

Improving access to services also means working with communities to create demand and address stigma and misinformation. Because SRHR services have been absent in the past, many people do not know that they are available. Through dialogues, more than 540 local and religious leaders across five states have been oriented on the concepts underpinning SRHR, helping to increase awareness and promote greater use of available services among communities.

WHO has supported the development of national post-abortion care guidelines, recognizing the critical role of safe and timely post-abortion care in preventing maternal deaths. The new guidelines focus on the management of complications from both spontaneous and unsafe abortions.

Around 15 health workers from selected primary health care facilities were trained in the new guidelines and at least 30% of the 35 targeted health centres have been equipped with the necessary tools and supplies to deliver post-abortion care, including manual vacuum aspirators, beds, speculums and consumables.

“In collaboration with WHO, we have been able to successfully implement cervical cancer screening and post-abortion care management in six health facilities within Juba County. We have trained 14 midwives, who are currently doing excellent job screening patients in these six facilities. We sincerely thank WHO and partners for this collaboration,” says Vivian Hawa, Reproductive Health Coordinator at Central Equatoria State’s Ministry of Health.

During 2024, the first year of the project 934 women accessed care for post-abortion complications. This includes 68 health clients from primary health facilities, which initially never had the capacity to provide post-abortion care services.

“Previously we never use to provide post-abortion care at this facility, especially manual vacuum aspiration. However, after receiving the training in 2024, we are now able to attend to women who have had unsafe abortions and perform other post-abortion care procedures,” says Kenyi Emmanuel Wani, a 27-year-old midwife from Munuki Primary Healthcare Centre in Juba, the country’s capital.

As the programme is ending its second year, continued collaboration and investment will be essential to build on these early gains and contribute to longer-term improvements in reproductive health outcomes across the country.

“Access to quality SRHR services is a matter of dignity, rights, and resilience. South Sudan is making important strides to allow women and girls to gain access to the care they need,” says Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative to South Sudan. “WHO is proud to support the Ministry of Health in strengthening the health system and ensuring that no one is left behind.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Media files

.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Statement on the Peace Agreement Between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Congo River Alliance/M23

Source: APO

.

Africa CDC welcomes the signing of the Declaration of Principles on 19 July 2025 between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Congo River Alliance/M23. Africa CDC echoes the appreciation expressed by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and applaud the political courage of all parties for choosing dialogue over confrontation, declaring a ceasefire, and embracing a future built on stability.

Africa CDC expresses profound gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and the State of Qatar, as well as to President Donald Trump and the Government of the United States, for their unwavering support to the Doha and Washington processes. We equally commend the tireless leadership of H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Chairperson of the African Union and Champion for Peace and Reconciliation, and H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of Togo and AU-appointed Mediator for the Great Lakes. Africa CDC salutes the determination of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame to steer the region toward a future of peace.

Between 2022 and 2024, Africa experienced a 41% surge in public health emergencies, with the eastern DRC and Great Lakes region at the epicenter—battling recurring outbreaks of Mpox, cholera, Marburg virus, Ebola, and measles. These crises have been compounded by 30 years of violence, insecurity, and displacement.

As the African autonomous public health agency, Africa CDC has consistently called for peace, including in a letter to African Heads of State on 1 February 2025 urging urgent action to safeguard lives and restore stability in the region. https://africacdc.org/news-item/africa-cdc-urges-immediate-action-to-protect-lives-amid-escalatinghealth-and-security-crises/

Africa CDC reaffirms that peace and health are inextricably linked. A comprehensive health component must be fully embedded in the Doha and Washington processes, ensuring the safe return of displaced populations, the restoration of essential health services, the access of essential commodities, the strengthening of disease surveillance, and the rebuilding of local health systems. Mandated by the African Union Heads of State, Africa CDC stands ready to support the implementation of the health pillar of the Doha and Washington agreements in full partnership with African governments, Qatar, the United States, and all other partners and stakeholders. As we mark this historic step, Africa CDC joins the call for global recognition of this remarkable diplomatic milestone. If this process yields lasting peace, the people of Africa will remember the leadership and courage of President Donald Trump and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who chose to bring hope to a region that has endured unimaginable suffering for far too long.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

MIL OSI Africa –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Podcast: Examining Energy Drinks

Source: US State of Connecticut

The “UConn Health Pulse” podcast brings a variety of expertise on health topics to the general public.

Energy drinks are commonplace in convenience stores, gas stations, and many grocery stores. They can be loaded with caffeine and other stimulants, as well as sugar or other sweeteners. Some labels tell of probiotics and prebiotics. But what are we really drinking? And are these drinks worth it, both in terms of their expense and the potential health implications?

UConn Health registered dietitian Linda York joins the UConn Health Pulse podcast to analyze these and other trendy drinks and offers some alternative ideas for boosting or maintaining energy levels that may be a better use of calories.

You’re getting all those junky calories from sugar, fat, caffeine, and you’re not going to feel that great in a few hours. You’re going to be hungry. &#8212 Linda York

Listen now:

Read the transcript.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Infected Blood Inquiry Additional Report: Oral Statement to Parliament

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Oral statement to Parliament

Infected Blood Inquiry Additional Report: Oral Statement to Parliament

This page provides a copy of the Minister for the Cabinet Office’s Oral Statement to the House of Commons on 21 July, made in response to the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Additional Report on 9 July 2025.

Mr Speaker, the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Additional Report was published on 9th July. Today, I would like to provide the House with an initial response to that report.

I am grateful to Sir Brian Langstaff for seeking justice for victims of the Infected Blood Scandal and for the Inquiry’s constructive Additional Report. His ambition to ensure that fair compensation is provided to every person that is eligible without delay resonates across the country.

Delivery progress

Mr Speaker, before considering the detail of the report, I wanted to share the latest statistics from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority. As of 15 July, IBCA has contacted 2,215 people to begin their claim for compensation, with 1,934 having started the claim process. 808 offers of compensation have been made, with a total value of over £602 million. 587 people have accepted their offer and received payment, with over £411 million paid in compensation. This means approximately 60% of infected people registered with a support scheme have been contacted to begin their claim.

I am pleased that progress is being made, but I acknowledge the calls from the community highlighting the need for faster payment. This is why the Government wrote to the Public Accounts and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committees last month outlining the steps we are taking to remove administrative barriers to allow IBCA to speed up payments.

I am also pleased to announce further interim payments of £210,000 to the estates of infected people who were registered to an infected blood support scheme and have sadly passed away. This is in addition to the over 500 interim payments of £100,00 already paid to estates. I will provide further information on this as soon as I am able, including on timelines for applications opening.

Additional Report Recommendations

Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to providing fair compensation to victims of the infected blood scandal, and in the Autumn Budget we set aside £11.8 billion to do just that. The Inquiry has recognised the Government’s commitment, saying ‘there can be no doubt that the Government has done right in ways which powerfully signal its intent.’

However, I agree with Sir Brian’s statement that ‘there is still more to be done to ensure that the detail and operation of the scheme matches up to its intent’.

Sir Brian has made a number of recommendations on ways the compensation scheme could be amended to achieve a scheme which works for everyone. We will publish an update on gov.uk today setting out the Government’s approach to the Inquiry’s further recommendations. I will deposit a copy of that update in the House libraries. We will also provide a comprehensive response to all the recommendations in due course.

The report includes several recommendations for IBCA on speed and transparency. I want to first reiterate that the Government still expects IBCA to contact all registered infected people to begin a claim, and to open the service for affected people, by the end of this year and the announcements I’m about to make do not change that position.

On Friday, Sir Robert Francis and David Foley confirmed they will be accepting the recommendations the Inquiry made to IBCA. They have committed to working with the community to develop plans for designing and implementing these recommendations.

IBCA will design and introduce a process for registration.

They will also update their sequencing in line with the Inquiry’s recommendation, noting that this will inform the order in which they open up to cohorts this year.

IBCA will introduce a process for prioritisation, recognising that community involvement is needed in tackling any uncertainty which this may introduce.

Alongside this, I have asked for a review of IBCA’s delivery of the scheme to ensure that it is progressing as quickly as possible. This will be supported by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, NISTA, and led by an independent reviewer. I expect the review to begin in August.

Now the Inquiry has made detailed recommendations across 9 key areas to ensure that infected and affected people feel that they have, overall, been compensated fairly, by a scheme that is designed and delivered with their input. Separate to the delivery of compensation by IBCA, the Inquiry has made recommendations relating to the design and structure of the scheme. Seven of these sub-recommendations, the Government will accept and implement as soon as we can, so that IBCA can get on with paying compensation. Others will require engagement with the community before changes are made, in line with the spirit of the Inquiry’s report.

Now when I gave evidence to the Inquiry in May, I said that I would take a constructive approach and look at the issues which had been put to me. The Inquiry has made eight sub-recommendations in these areas. I am pleased to confirm that I am either accepting these, or agreeing with the Inquiry that the community should be consulted on next steps.

So I can confirm that we will remove the 1982 start date for HIV infection, to ensure anyone infected due to infected blood or blood products with HIV is eligible for the scheme, regardless of infection date.

We accept the Inquiry’s recommendation on affected estates; in fact, Mr. Speaker, we are going further than their recommendation. The Inquiry recommended that where someone who would be an eligible affected person sadly died or dies between 21 May 2024 and 31 December 2029, their claim will not die with them but becomes part of their estate. I am actually going to extend that period by an extra two years, to 31 December 2031.

The Special Category Mechanism, I know has been a concern for members of the community and this House. I am pleased to say that we accept change is needed to acknowledge SCM as part of the supplementary route Severe Health Condition Award, and we will be engaging the community on how to best realise these changes.

Another area I committed to consider was to reinstate support payments to partners bereaved after 31 March 2025 until they receive their compensation. We are accepting this recommendation, and will ensure that those impacted will also be able to continue receiving those payments as part of their compensation package.

The issue of unethical research is one of the most shocking aspects of this scandal. I can confirm that we will be consulting on revising the approach for the additional autonomy award on unethical research, including the scope and value of the award.

The final area I said I would consider was whether further supplementary routes for affected people could be introduced. The Inquiry recommended we consult to understand the feasibility of how these could be implemented, alongside changes regarding the exceptional financial loss award. I agree with the Inquiry that consideration should be given to these issues, and that consideration rightly involves those impacted.

In addition, we are accepting further Inquiry recommendations to remove the requirement for evidence of the date of diagnosis of Hepatitis B or C, which we hope may allow claims for those mono-infected with hepatitis to be processed more quickly.

By accepting these recommendations today, we can start to implement the necessary changes as soon as possible.

There are several recommendations on areas where changes to the Scheme are needed. We intend to engage the community on how to best achieve them. The Inquiry is clear: people impacted by decisions need to be involved in them. That is what we will seek to do before implementing these changes to the scheme.

This includes acting on recommendations regarding compensation for the impacts of Interferon. We will introduce a new core route infection severity band for those who received interferon treatment, and consult on the evidence requirements and threshold for a supplementary route award for severe psychological harm.

Additionally, we will work with IBCA to introduce a mechanism that individuals can use to raise concerns to aid continuous improvement of the Scheme.

I’m sure honourable members will understand that to do this the Government will need to make further regulations. Our top priority is to move quickly, so to make some of the simpler changes we will bring forward a set of regulations as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

These regulations will not implement all the policy changes recommended by the Inquiry. In evidence to the Inquiry in May, I said that I was open to changes that do not lead to further delays. I believe that by making these changes recommended by the Inquiry it will not delay the speed at which offers are currently being made.

A further set of regulations will be needed to implement the more substantial changes, particularly those where we are taking time to engage the community on how those updates can be realised. Therefore, we expect this second, more substantial set of regulations, to be brought before Parliament in 2026. But, we do not expect that this engagement will cause delays to the rollout of the compensation scheme as it currently stands which is absolutely crucial as I said to the Inquiry.

Mr. Speaker, we are responding swiftly and constructively to Sir Brian, and putting the voices – and needs – of the community first.

Progress on Inquiry’s 2024 Report

Mr Speaker, I would also like to provide a further update on the Government’s response to the Inquiry’s 2024 report. I have continued to engage with the charities named by the Inquiry in recommendation 10. I recognise their concerns about the allocated funding and can confirm that the Department for Health and Social Care is re-examining funding for this year and will look at options for the future.

With regard to recommendation 2, on memorialisation, I am pleased to announce that, following engagement with the community, Clive Smith has been appointed as the Chair of the Memorial Committee. I am delighted to be able to appoint a Chair with his wealth of experience. I am confident he will be able to bring the community together to make great progress on this work.

Mr Speaker, this Government has made progress on implementing the recommendations made by this Inquiry. But progress is never a foregone conclusion. Sir Brian is clear about the importance of scrutinising progress in delivering what the Government has committed. I agree. Therefore, I am pleased to confirm that I have asked PACAC to take on the role of scrutinising implementation of the Inquiry’s recommendations in both the May 2024 and July 2025 reports. It is for the Committee to outline how they approach this work but I trust that they will see fit to follow the example of the Inquiry thorough scrutiny of the design and delivery of compensation to the community.

In addition, today I am publishing a record of Inquiry recommendations and the government response on gov.uk, as promised in our response to the recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. These records will be periodically updated to show implementation progress, and will include all recommendations of future inquiries.

Mr Speaker, to conclude I would like to quote directly from Sir Brian’s report, where he ends by stating that ‘truly involving people infected and affected in how the state recognises their losses would start to turn the page on the past’.

He is absolutely right. Our focus as we move forward must be working together with the community, with IBCA, and indeed with each other in this House to not only deliver justice to all those impacted, but essentially, to restore trust in the state to people who have been let down too many times.

I commend this statement to the House.

Updates to this page

Published 21 July 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Strengthening early warnings and anticipatory action through the use of digital technology

Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

In Malawi, UNICEF, in partnership with the Malawi Government and the Malawi University of Science and Technology, launched the African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA) in 2020 to address severe cyclones, floods and droughts caused by climate change. ADDA equips youth with skills in drone technology, geospatial systems and disaster risk management. It trained over 1,280 graduates from 25 countries – 60 per cent young women – and achieved an 80 per cent employment rate.

WFP and UNDP supported the strengthening of local capacities and Early Warning Systems (EWS) for comprehensive drought management in Eastern Cuba and Camagüey with a focus on resilience, food security and gender inclusivity, leveraging a systems thinking approach to enhance resilience in food production, water management, and community preparedness. Enhanced hydro-meteorological monitoring and communication channels, combined with gender-inclusive training, ensured that local producers and vulnerable communities received timely and actionable climate information. The project supported the development of standardized national methodologies for drought diagnosis and forecasting, aligning with Cuba’s State Plan for Climate Change Adaptation.

In Serbia, UNDP and WHO supported the establishment and upgrading of a Disaster Risk Registry, which offers real-time data to inform decision making in times of crisis, to assess the effectiveness of emergency response, and for planning and implementing DRR measures at local and national level. The Registry incorporates a digital climate atlas, climate projections, compiled with mass evaluation of property prices, and is linked with the Strategic Tool for the Analysis of Risks (STAR) of WHO providing information on critical health facilities. The Register enables risk informed urban planning, and localizes risk knowledge and management, based on open data and transparency. It enables investment planning and attracted the interest of the insurance industry.

Enhanced communications targeting at-risk populations is improving the effectiveness of early warnings, reducing potential damages and losses. In the Maldives, technological solutions are being leveraged for last-mile early warning dissemination through the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP). The CAP is a data format for exchanging public warnings and emergencies between alerting technologies, including the use of ITU’s Disaster Connectivity Maps initiative (in partnership with the Emergency Telecommunication Cluster (ETC) led by WFP). This initiative helps first responders quickly assess which areas are affected and which communication networks are operational, allowing for more efficient coordination and faster response times. The DCM initiative also integrates AI and satellite technologies for disaster preparedness.

In the Pacific, EW4All has been instrumental in supporting the development of Multi-Hazard Early Warning System national costed roadmaps in Fiji, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands, collaborating with governments, UN agencies, civil society, and local communities. Through the EW4All initiative and the Weather Ready Pacific program, issues such as fragmented systems, siloed efforts, and communication barriers are being addressed. The EW4All initiative integrates AI into risk knowledge, hazard detection, monitoring, forecasting, warning dissemination, and preparedness. AI improves accuracy, ensures timely dissemination, and tailors warnings to vulnerable populations. This approach strengthens preparedness and reduces disaster impacts.

Spotlight: The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Sub-Group under the EW4All Initiative focuses on integrating AI into the four pillars of early warning systems: risk knowledge, detection/monitoring, dissemination of warnings, and preparedness, led by ITU, WMO, UNDRR and IFRC. AI improves hazard forecasting, enhances dissemination, and strengthens response planning by analyzing complex datasets. The initiative aims to bridge technological gaps globally, ensuring timely and equitable warnings for all.

The WHO-led initiative Epidemic Intelligence from Open Source (EIOS) is a vital tool that enables early detection and assessment of public health threats, including those related to natural hazards, in near real time. It connects experts around the world and provides them with tools to detect, analyse, assess and share information for quick, evidence-based action. Cambodia, Fiji, Kiribati, Philippines, Tonga, and Vanuatu have developed their emergency risk profiles at the national, subnational and local levels to inform preparedness, contingency planning, simulation, training and mass gathering under the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework.

Flagship reports on Early Warning

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Implications and contingency planning in case of glyphosate withdrawal – E-002862/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002862/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Biljana Borzan (S&D)

Glyphosate is a world’s most widely used weedkiller. It was previously classified by the World Health Organization as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’. However, there is a consensus among health institutions that it is not harmful and, in 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (EHCA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that there was no justification for a glyphosate ban and extended its approval for 10 years. Now, a new study published on 10 June 2025 shows that long-term exposure to glyphosate caused cancer in rats. The study lacked transparency and is currently being reviewed by the EHCA and the EFSA.

1.What are the next steps for the Commission if the study proves valid and glyphosate approval is withdrawn?

2.What measures will the Commission take to protect human health and the environment during the transition period if glyphosate approval is withdrawn, particularly regarding existing stocks, alternative substances and support for farmers?

Submitted: 14.7.2025
Last updated: 21 July 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues Trump Administration Over Cruel Directive Unlawfully Restricting Access to Head Start, Other Public Benefit Programs
Source: US State of California

Statute and longstanding federal policy have allowed access, regardless of immigration status, to specific community programs, including those deemed necessary for protection of life or safety

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today sued the Trump Administration over its abrupt decision to restrict access to more than a dozen public benefit programs based on immigration status. This decision is contrary to law and a reversal of nearly three decades of federal practice allowing access, regardless of immigration status, to certain public benefits programs that have historically been determined to protect life or safety and contribute to the overall welfare of communities. In doing so, the Trump Administration has thrown programs across California into chaos and cruelly jeopardized the health and wellbeing of some of our most vulnerable families. At risk is access to Head Start, childcare services for low-income people, adult education, mental health and substance use disorder programs, and shelters for at-risk youth and domestic violence survivors, among many other safety-net programs. Attorney General Bonta, alongside a coalition of 20 other attorneys general, asks the court to enjoin the Trump Administration from implementing this devastating change, arguing that these new polices threaten the outright collapse of the states’ social safety nets.

“Let’s be clear: This latest salvo in the President’s inhumane anti-immigration campaign primarily goes after working moms and their young children. We’re not talking about waste, fraud, and abuse, we’re talking about programs that deliver essential childcare, healthcare, nutrition, and education assistance, programs that have for decades been open to all because we understand that we are better off when everyone has the chance to succeed.” said Attorney General Bonta. “The Trump Administration’s abrupt reversal of nearly three decades of precedent – and decision to put at risk not just support for undocumented families, but ultimately families who rely on these programs nationwide – is cruel, but unfortunately unsurprising. So is its lack of regard for the law. Six months into the second Trump Administration, I’ll repeat a familiar refrain: We’ll see President Trump in court.”

Since 1997, the federal government has interpreted The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) to permit states’ use of federal funds for certain programs that serve communities based on need regardless of immigration status. These programs work precisely because there are few barriers to access and include:
- Short-term shelter or housing assistance for people who are unhoused, for survivors of domestic violence, or for at-risk youth.
- Programs, services, or assistance to help individuals during periods of heat, cold, or other adverse weather conditions (e.g., cooling centers).
- Soup kitchens, community food banks, senior nutrition programs such as meals on wheels, and other such community nutritional services for persons requiring special assistance.
- Medical and public health services (including treatment and prevention of diseases and injuries) and mental health, disability, or substance use treatment.
- Early childhood education, childcare services for low-income people, and adult education programs.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, and Department of Education issued notices related to the interpretation of “federal public benefit” under PRWORA restricting numerous “noncitizens” from receiving benefits under federally funded programs. Around the same time, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued its own notice revoking every one of the “life or safety” exemptions that DOJ had put in place 29 years earlier.

In California, the effects of these actions will be devastating – and immediate. The Head Start Program, founded in 1965, was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing young children from families with low incomes a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and educational needs. In 2023-24, California’s 100 direct Head Start regional recipients served over 80,345 children and families at 1,842 individual site locations. The Trump Administration’s new polices, which will require programs to verify immigration status, are expected to have a chilling effect, leading to decreased enrollment from participants, and an administrative and financial burden for recipients. Moreover, if regional recipients do not hit mandatory 97% enrollment targets, they will lose federal funding and these programs will shut down, harming all the children they serve, as well as the more than 25,000 staff members these programs employ, including in rural communities where Head Start is often a large employer.

Examples like this are countless across the public benefits programs at risk through the Trump Administration’s actions. Survivors of domestic violence and at-risk youth may be fearful of seeking services at shelters. Mixed status families may forgo access to public benefit services all together. Requiring citizenship or immigration status verification of any kind fundamentally creates a barrier to access. People will be reluctant to reach out to access needed services or to call for help for others who might benefit from such services. And requiring programs to expend resources to implement systems and train staff to verify citizenship or immigration status will impose a time and resource burden on programs already struggling to operate on narrow financial margins.

In today’s filings, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that the Trump Administration’s abrupt announcement further limiting access to public benefit programs for undocumented individuals fails to provide notice and an opportunity to comment, is arbitrary and capricious, and contrary to law in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, and fails to give the states “fair notice” as required under the Spending Clause. They highlight that instead of saving money, the new verification requirements will lead to an overall cost to their states’ economies in the amount of hundreds of millions of dollars each year and will endanger the ability of these programs to continue providing services to all of the residents of their states, not just noncitizens. They urge the court to preliminary enjoin the Trump Administration from implementing the order to prevent programs from shuttering, uncertainty, and tremendous impacts on the public health, education, and welfare of their states.

Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of New York, Washington, Rhode Island, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Wisconsin in filing the lawsuit.

A copy of the lawsuit is available here.

MIL OSI USA News –
July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Seoul Searching: How Galaxy AI Became My Travel Companion in South Korea

Source: Samsung

Experiencing South Korea as both a traveler and a Samsung Brand Manager was an opportunity to see how our technology could help turn my jam-packed itinerary into something seamless. From overcoming jet lag to translating conversations on the fly and even recreating meals when I got home, Galaxy AI became more than a tool – it was a true travel companion.
Prepping for Jet Lag, AI Style

Before I boarded the flight to South Korea, I already had a plan in place for managing jet lag, thanks to Galaxy AI1. I used the sleep coaching program2, tailored to my “Nervous Penguins” sleep style profile3 (yes, that’s a thing – find it in the Samsung Health app!), and started adjusting my routine days before I flew out.

It was all in the simple things: going to bed at the same time each night, tweaking the temperature on my thermostat, rethinking my sleep position and – surprise! – learning I snore thanks to the Galaxy Watch. A couple of extra pillows later and I was steadily improving my Sleep Score with deep, uninterrupted rest. Thanks to the changes I made, it was the first time I arrived in a new country without feeling like I was walking through molasses.

Language Barriers? Not So Much
In a new country, the right tools make all the difference. I’d been practicing Korean through language learning apps for a few months prior to the trip, but getting around Seoul by myself was a little intimidating at first. Hailing a cab was easy, but pronouncing directions or street names was a challenge. Galaxy AI’s Live Translate tools, especially Listening and Conversation Mode, made communication not just possible, but genuinely connective. I even chatted with drivers about where I’m from (New York), and more than once got a “Go Yankees!” in return. It was a reminder that language should be a bridge, not a barrier.

Capturing the Moment

Some of the most magical moments came through the lens of my Galaxy Z Flip6. At Bukchon Hanok Village (with its postcard-perfect streets packed with visitors), I didn’t have to stress about getting the perfect photo. Instead, I captured what I could and used Object Eraser to clean up the background later by tapping the tools icon and highlighting them. The result was exactly what I wanted: clean, focused photos that captured the energy of the place without wasting time waiting for the picture perfect moment.

Tastes Worth Tracking Down
I’m a big foodie, so naturally, my camera roll was full of street eats – and Circle to Search4 became my secret weapon. Whether live searching in the moment or when I was craving beef KBBQ days after landing back home, I used photos from my trip to find similar recipes instantly. Pairing that with the Samsung Food+ app meant I could re-create some of those dishes – I went from “that looks delicious” to “here’s how to cook it” in minutes. AI even helped me rate the healthiness of each dish, so I didn’t feel totally off-track after the trip.

Finding Routine on the Road

But maybe the biggest gift Galaxy AI gave me was routine – something that’s so easy to lose when you travel. After learning that repetition is key for good sleep from the Galaxy Watch’s sleep coach, I developed easy nighttime habits. I programmed my devices to allow social media scrolling only between 8–10PM with Do Not Disturb in the background, and dark mode kicking in after. It was a small thing, but it helped me wind down, unplug and reset. Even thousands of miles away from home, I still felt grounded.

This trip was the first time I traveled with tech that didn’t just document the journey or help make it more fun, but it truly enhanced it from beginning to well beyond the end. With Galaxy AI as my travel companion, I didn’t just navigate Seoul – I truly experienced it. And I came back with memories, habits and a camera roll full of photos that, thanks to AI, look as good as they felt in the moment.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Wasserman Schultz, Miller-Meeks, Castor, Fitzpatrick, and Harshbarger Introduce EARLY Act to Reauthorize Breast Cancer Awareness Funding

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) introduced legislation to reauthorize and continue funding for the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act (EARLY) Act.

In the United States, the most common cancer diagnosed among women is breast cancer, where the average risk for developing it sometime in her life is about 1 in 8. More than 316,000 new diagnoses and 42,000 deaths expected from breast cancer in 2025. And with incidences rising in younger women each year, the earlier its caught, the better the chance to survive and overcome this devastating health challenge.

Key to early detection and treatment starts with education and awareness. This especially is true for younger women, and those at higher risk of death, like ethnic and racial populations who too often face an aggressive form of breast cancer and are not able to catch it till later.

“There’s no question that early diagnois saves lives, and th earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the better for patient outcomes. With rates of breast cancer rising, especially among younger women, it’s critical we redouble our efforts to raise awareness about early screening and detection – and it’s critical these efforts focus on high-risk populations,” said Dingell.“I’m proud to co-lead this reauthorization and remain committed to ensuring we secure federal funding for continued cancer research and education.”

“Like so many women in the United States, I heard those devastating words no one wants to hear: ‘you have breast cancer.’ My personal experience battling this terrible disease led to the creation of the EARLY Act, which was designed to help educate women and their health care providers about the specific threats and warning signs of breast cancer in younger women that lead to early detection, diagnosis, and survival,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Reauthorizing the EARLY Act means that we will continue the vital work of educating young and higher risk women about their breast health and do everything we can to save more lives.”

“As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand how devastating a breast cancer diagnosis can be, and I’ve also seen how early detection can save a life,” said Miller-Meeks. “Too many young women, especially those at higher risk, are being left in the dark. The EARLY Act changes that. It empowers women with the knowledge they need to detect cancer sooner, fight harder, and live longer. I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to protect women, strengthen families, and save lives.”

“Far too many young women face breast cancer without the knowledge or support they need to fight back,” said Castor. “For 15 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has used the EARLY Act to ensure these young women aren’t alone by supporting outreach and resources that meet them where they are. I’m proud to support this bipartisan reauthorization to ensure the continuation of these critical initiatives that empower women to understand their risks, advocate for their health and get the tools they need to fight the disease.”

“In my work with hospitals and health leaders across PA-1, one fact remains clear: early detection is the most effective tool we have to reduce cancer mortality. As Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus, I’ve worked to expand access to screening, education, and risk-based interventions. The EARLY Act is targeted, data-driven policy—built to close detection gaps, reach high-risk populations sooner, and reduce the number of women diagnosed too late. That’s how we save lives—and that’s the standard every public health initiative should meet,” said Fitzpatrick.

“I’ve seen firsthand the power of early education and prevention in the fight against breast cancer. Too many women, especially those in high-risk and underserved communities, are still being diagnosed too late. The EARLY Act has proven effective in closing that gap by giving young women the tools and information they need to understand their risk, recognize early warning signs, and take action,” said Harshbarger. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in reauthorizing this life-saving program that can save women’s lives.”

The EARLY Act became law in 2010. Its success centers around authorizing three programs administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), designed to empower young and high-risk women to better focus their attention on this deadly disease.

This includes the Bring Your Brave campaign, which amplifies stories of real women to raise awareness of breast cancer in young women between the ages 18-44, and encourages them to understand their risk and the signs and symptoms. It also funds the Young Breast Cancer Survivors Program, which provides grants to several non-profit organizations aimed at delivering supportive services and resources to increase patients’ survival and improve their quality of life. And it offers continuing medical education (CME) courses for health care providers about breast cancer.

After fifteen years of successful implementation, it is now time to again reauthorize the EARLY Act to ensure that it continues to reach even more young and higher risk women across the United States. Reauthorizing the EARLY Act is vital to continuing to save women’s lives.

Click here to read the full bill.

The EARLY Act is endorsed by:

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

AdvaMed

Axogen

BRCAStrong

Breast Cancer Early Detection Coalition

Breast Cancer Ruckus

Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer

Cancer Support Community

DenseBreast-info, Inc

FORCE

GE HealthCare

Gilda’s Club South Florida

Hologic

Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Prevent Cancer Foundation

Sharsheret

Susan G. Komen

Tigerlily Foundation

Women’s Health Advocates

Young Survival Coalition

“Reauthorizing the EARLY Act is critical to protecting the lives of young and high-risk women nationwide,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “This legislation ensures that individuals and their health care providers have access to essential programs that offer the tools, education, and support needed to better understand breast health and detect cancer risks early—when it matters most. ACS CAN is grateful to Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) along with Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) for their bipartisan leadership on this life-saving effort. Without swift action, we risk losing a vital resource in the fight against breast cancer.”

“The Prevent Cancer Foundation proudly supports the reauthorization of the EARLY Act, which has been vital in helping young women — especially those at increased risk for breast cancer — and their health care providers understand the importance of breast health. We applaud Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Castor, Dingell, Miller-Meeks, Harshbarger and Fitzpatrick for championing this critical effort to advance awareness and early detection of breast cancer for better health outcomes.” Jody Hoyos, CEO Prevent Cancer Foundation

“The evidence is clear – early detection of breast cancer saves lives. Over 95 percent of women who receive an early diagnosis can see high rates of survival with treatment. That number drops to 30 percent when breast cancer is caught at later stages. Yet, younger women – aged 25 to 40 – are diagnosed with more aggressive cancers at significantly higher percentages than women at average risk. Brem Foundation applauds reintroduction of the EARLY Act, which educates young women, helps identify who is at higher risk for early breast cancers, and helps to drive self advocacy in breast health. Simply put, this bill will save lives.” Dr. Rachel Brem, Chief Medical Officer Brem Foundation & Professor and Vice-Chair, GW Cancer Center

“This legislation plays a critical role in educating patients and healthcare professionals about breast cancer risks, early detection, and prevention—particularly among younger women and underserved populations,” said Emily Hansen, senior director of Resensation by Axogen. “Continued investment in awareness, education, and innovation is essential to ensuring more informed, empowered care decisions that will lead to better outcomes.”

“The Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act is a critical step forward in empowering young and high-risk women with the knowledge they need to take control of their breast health. Early education saves lives by ensuring women and their healthcare providers are informed about risks, prevention, and proactive care options. At BRCAStrong, we believe knowledge is power and this legislation embodies that belief by helping to close gaps in awareness and ultimately reduce breast cancer’s impact on our community,” said Tracy Milgram, Founder of BRCAStrong.

“When I promised my sister Suzy I would do everything in my power to end the devastation of breast cancer, we knew early detection would be the key. The EARLY Act has given thousands of young women a fighting chance through education, awareness, and action. I am proud to support its reauthorization, and the Promise Fund stands firmly behind this life-saving legislation,” said Nancy G. Brinker, Co-Founder, Promise Fund and Founder, Susan G. Komen

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Latta, DeGette, Crenshaw Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Improved Access to Over-the-Counter Medicines

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH), Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), introduced the Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Amendments (OMFUA), a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Over-the-Counter Monograph User Fee Act that has improved access to over-the-counter medicines.

“Nearly nine out of ten Americans regularly use over the counter medications to quickly, easily, and effectively manage a range of conditions. The Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act has been highly successful in improving OTC drug availability and safety. I’m leading this reauthorization with my bipartisan colleagues to ensure consumers continue to have safe access to the OTC products they depend on, and the U.S. remains a global leader in health and innovation,” Dingell said.

“The over-the-counter monograph drug user fee program (OMUFA) allows consumers to manage their own care safely and affordably. Five years ago, as an original sponsor of this legislation, my colleagues and I modernized how the FDA regulates most over-the-counter medicines by enacting OMUFA. These reforms transformed a 40-year-old system, making it more efficient, transparent, and open to innovation. I’m proud to lead the reauthorization of this critical program,” Latta said.

“Millions of Americans rely on over-the-counter medications every day, and FDA’s over-the-counter medicines program ensures those products are safe, effective, and accessible,” DeGette said. “I was proud to play a role in creating OMUFA and to see it through its first five years. Now, as we approach reauthorization, it’s time to build on that success and continue giving FDA the tools it needs to deliver trusted medicines to Americans’ shelves.”

“This bipartisan bill empowers the FDA to review over-the-counter medicines quickly and efficiently — without compromising safety. It ensures Americans can trust that the products on their shelves are backed by the latest science, and spares the taxpayer a new obligation,” Crenshaw said.

The OMUFA bill is endorsed by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association:

“CHPA applauds Representatives Latta, DeGette, Crenshaw and Dingell for their leadership in introducing this important reauthorization and for their continued support of self-care,” said CHPA President & CEO Scott Melville. “As the industry works to deliver safe, effective, and innovative OTC products to consumers, we look forward to working with Congress on refinements to the bill to ensure the final legislation maximizes the potential of monograph reform and can continue to provide savings and innovation to consumers. That includes inserting provisions into OMUFA to clarify how FDA evaluates the Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective (GRASE) standard, creating a clearer path for early agreement on data needs, and improving the efficiency of making product improvements while maintaining strong safety standards.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: More Than $52 Million for UMaine System Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bills

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $52,350,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the University of Maine (UMaine) System in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) and Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bills. The legislation, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this month, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.

This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 CJS and Agriculture Appropriations bills—an important step that now allows the bills to be considered by the full Senate.

“The brilliant faculty and students at Maine’s public universities and at the flagship university are conducting cutting-edge research and making promising discoveries in a wide variety of fields,” said Senator Collins. “This funding to support these exciting projects across the UMaine System would promote workforce development, support marine research, and help to prepare the next generation of leaders. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

“These investments—made possible through Senator Collins’ advocacy—would expand research opportunities, improve infrastructure, and support collaborative solutions that strengthen Maine’s economy and communities,” said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation for the UMaine System.

“Located at the heart of our campus, the Reynolds Center is a hub of learning and connection. This investment would expand its role as a space for students to grow academically and socially — strengthening our commitment to the Downeast community,” said Megan Walsh, Dean and Campus Director, UMaine Machias.

“The spruce budworm is one of the most significant threats to Maine’s forest economy, and proactive research is essential to protecting this vital resource,” said Dr. Adam Daigneault, Associate Professor of Forest Policy and Economics at the University of Maine. “With this support, UMaine can expand its leadership in forest health research, helping landowners, communities, and the forest products industry prepare for and respond to future outbreaks. We are incredibly thankful for Senator Collins’ investment in the resilience of Maine’s forests.”

Funding advanced by Senator Collins for the UMaine System in the FY 2026 CJS and Agriculture Appropriations bills is as follows:

Gulf of Maine Ocean Observation System
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Coastal counties from Washington County to York County, ME
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Purpose: To expand the ocean observation system in the Gulf of Maine, which is used by the maritime and fishing industries.

University of Maine Health Science Complex
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Orono, ME
Amount Requested: $45,000,000
Project Purpose: To support the construction of a health and life sciences complex.

University of Maine Forest Health Lab
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Orono, ME
Amount Requested: $600,000
Project Purpose: To support the construction of the University’s Forest Health Lab, which conducts spruce budworm research.

University of Maine at Machias Early College Student Support Center
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Machias, ME
Amount Requested: $750,000
Project Purpose: To renovate a facility on campus to support early college students.

American Lobster Settlement Index Expansion
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Walpole, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To expand the Maine Collector Survey for lobster in the Gulf of Maine.

In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: More Than $52 Million for UMaine System Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bills

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $52,350,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the University of Maine (UMaine) System in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) and Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bills. The legislation, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this month, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.

This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 CJS and Agriculture Appropriations bills—an important step that now allows the bills to be considered by the full Senate.

“The brilliant faculty and students at Maine’s public universities and at the flagship university are conducting cutting-edge research and making promising discoveries in a wide variety of fields,” said Senator Collins. “This funding to support these exciting projects across the UMaine System would promote workforce development, support marine research, and help to prepare the next generation of leaders. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

“These investments—made possible through Senator Collins’ advocacy—would expand research opportunities, improve infrastructure, and support collaborative solutions that strengthen Maine’s economy and communities,” said Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation for the UMaine System.

“Located at the heart of our campus, the Reynolds Center is a hub of learning and connection. This investment would expand its role as a space for students to grow academically and socially — strengthening our commitment to the Downeast community,” said Megan Walsh, Dean and Campus Director, UMaine Machias.

“The spruce budworm is one of the most significant threats to Maine’s forest economy, and proactive research is essential to protecting this vital resource,” said Dr. Adam Daigneault, Associate Professor of Forest Policy and Economics at the University of Maine. “With this support, UMaine can expand its leadership in forest health research, helping landowners, communities, and the forest products industry prepare for and respond to future outbreaks. We are incredibly thankful for Senator Collins’ investment in the resilience of Maine’s forests.”

Funding advanced by Senator Collins for the UMaine System in the FY 2026 CJS and Agriculture Appropriations bills is as follows:

Gulf of Maine Ocean Observation System
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Coastal counties from Washington County to York County, ME
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Purpose: To expand the ocean observation system in the Gulf of Maine, which is used by the maritime and fishing industries.

University of Maine Health Science Complex
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Orono, ME
Amount Requested: $45,000,000
Project Purpose: To support the construction of a health and life sciences complex.

University of Maine Forest Health Lab
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Orono, ME
Amount Requested: $600,000
Project Purpose: To support the construction of the University’s Forest Health Lab, which conducts spruce budworm research.

University of Maine at Machias Early College Student Support Center
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Machias, ME
Amount Requested: $750,000
Project Purpose: To renovate a facility on campus to support early college students.

American Lobster Settlement Index Expansion
Recipient: University of Maine System
Project Location: Walpole, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To expand the Maine Collector Survey for lobster in the Gulf of Maine.

In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: 2025 Quality Conference Highlights

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted the 2025 Quality Conference, July 1-2, convening healthcare leaders, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates from across the country. This year’s theme—“Make American Healthy: Improving Health Outcomes Through Prevention, Quality, and Safety,”—focused on practical strategies to reduce harm, improve outcomes, and modernize care delivery.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Issue Statements After Trump Administration Heeds Demands to Release Funding for Boys and Girls Clubs

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, both D-VA, issued the following statements after the Trump Administration heeded their demands that release funding it was illegally withholding for 21^st Century Community Learning Centers, including over $23 million for centers throughout Virginia, such as Boys and Girls clubs:

“It’s about time that the Trump administration finally agreed to release federal funding for these vital community learning centers in Virginia and across the country,” said Warner. “Sadly, the truth of the matter is that these funds should never have been stalled. Holding back these investments put unnecessary strain on schools and families, jeopardizing critical support for children in need. Virginia’s kids deserve better.”

“I had the chance to meet with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Southwest Virginia earlier this month to hear from them directly about how devastating the Trump Administration’s illegal withholding of critical funding would be for their ability to provide crucial educational programs for kids throughout Virginia,” said Kaine. “I informed my Senate colleagues of these disastrous cuts at a HELP committee hearing on Tuesday and urged Republican leaders to press the Trump Administration to reverse its devastating action. While I am glad to see the Trump Administration complied with our demands to release this funding, it never should have been withheld in the first place. It’s past time for the Administration to release the remaining $85 million it is still actively withholding from Virginia schools.”

Warner and Kaine have repeatedly battled the Trump Administration over its illegal withholding of already-appropriated federal funding. On July 3, 2025, the senators issued a statement demanding that the Administration promptly release $108 million in funding for Virginia K-12 education—including money for teacher training, after-school programs, and mental health resources—that had already been duly appropriated by Congress. In the following weeks, Kaine met with local officials, parents, and leadership of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia in Vinton, Virginia; and with officials of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Washington, D.C. In April 2025, Warner and Kaine joined 40 of their congressional colleagues in excoriating the Trump Administration over its illegal funding freeze to Head Start programs on which thousands of families and children in Virginia rely.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: A popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences, says recent study

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Havovi Chichger, Professor, Biomedical Science, Anglia Ruskin University

Found in everything from protein bars to energy drinks, erythritol has long been considered a safe alternative to sugar. But new research suggests this widely used sweetener may be quietly undermining one of the body’s most crucial protective barriers – with potentially serious consequences for heart health and stroke risk.

A recent study from the University of Colorado suggests erythritol may damage cells in the blood-brain barrier, the brain’s security system that keeps out harmful substances while letting in nutrients. The findings add troubling new detail to previous observational studies that have linked erythritol consumption to increased rates of heart attack and stroke.

In the new study, researchers exposed blood-brain barrier cells to levels of erythritol typically found after drinking a soft drink sweetened with the compound. They saw a chain reaction of cell damage that could make the brain more vulnerable to blood clots – a leading cause of stroke.

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

Erythritol triggered what scientists call oxidative stress, flooding cells with harmful, highly reactive molecules known as free radicals, while simultaneously reducing the body’s natural antioxidant defences. This double assault damaged the cells’ ability to function properly, and in some cases killed them outright.

But perhaps more concerning was erythritol’s effect on the blood vessels’ ability to regulate blood flow. Healthy blood vessels act like traffic controllers, widening when organs need more blood – during exercise, for instance – and tightening when less is required. They achieve this delicate balance through two key molecules: nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, and endothelin-1, which constricts them.

The study found that erythritol disrupted this critical system, reducing nitric oxide production while ramping up endothelin-1. The result would be blood vessels that remain dangerously constricted, potentially starving the brain of oxygen and nutrients. This imbalance is a known warning sign of ischaemic stroke – the type caused by blood clots blocking vessels in the brain.

Even more alarming, erythritol appeared to sabotage the body’s natural defence against blood clots. Normally, when clots form in blood vessels, cells release a “clot buster” called tissue plasminogen activator that dissolves the blockage before it can cause a stroke. But the sweetener blocked this protective mechanism, potentially leaving clots free to wreak havoc.

The laboratory findings align with troubling evidence from human studies. Several large-scale observational studies have found that people who regularly consume erythritol face significantly higher risks of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. One major study tracking thousands of participants found that those with the highest blood levels of erythritol were roughly twice as likely to experience a major cardiac event.

However, the research does have limitations. The experiments were conducted on isolated cells in laboratory dishes rather than complete blood vessels, which means the cells may not behave exactly as they would in the human body. Scientists acknowledge that more sophisticated testing – using advanced “blood vessel on a chip” systems that better mimic real physiology – will be needed to confirm these effects.

The findings are particularly significant because erythritol occupies a unique position in the sweetener landscape. Unlike artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose, erythritol is technically a sugar alcohol – a naturally occurring compound that the body produces in small amounts. This classification helped it avoid inclusion in recent World Health Organization guidelines that discouraged the use of artificial sweeteners for weight control.

Erythritol has also gained popularity among food manufacturers because it behaves more like sugar than other alternatives. While sucralose is 320 times sweeter than sugar, erythritol provides only about 80% of sugar’s sweetness, making it easier to use in recipes without creating an overpowering taste. It’s now found in thousands of products, especially in many “sugar-free” and “keto-friendly” foods.

Erythritol can be found in many keto-friendly products, such a protein bars.
Stockah/Shutterstock.com

Trade-off

Regulatory agencies, including the European Food Standards Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration, have approved erythritol as safe for consumption. But the new research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that even “natural” sugar alternatives may carry unexpected health risks.

For consumers, the findings raise difficult questions about the trade-offs involved in sugar substitution. Sweeteners like erythritol can be valuable tools for weight management and diabetes prevention, helping people reduce calories and control blood sugar spikes. But if regular consumption potentially weakens the brain’s protective barriers and increases cardiovascular risk, the benefits may come at a significant cost.

The research underscores a broader challenge in nutritional science: understanding the long-term effects of relatively new food additives that have become ubiquitous in the modern diet. While erythritol may help people avoid the immediate harms of excess sugar consumption, its effect on the blood-brain barrier suggests that frequent use could be quietly compromising brain protection over time.

As scientists continue to investigate these concerning links, consumers may want to reconsider their relationship with this seemingly innocent sweetener – and perhaps question whether any sugar substitute additive is truly without risk.

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

– ref. A popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences, says recent study – https://theconversation.com/a-popular-sweetener-could-be-damaging-your-brains-defences-says-recent-study-261500

MIL OSI –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Slams USDA Proposal to Share Sensitive Data of SNAP Participants

Source: US State of California Department of Justice

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leading a coalition of 14 attorneys general, slammed the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) demand that states turn over personal and sensitive information about millions of food stamp recipients, as well as its proposal to share that information with other federal agencies for purposes that have nothing to do with ensuring the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is a federally-funded, state-administered program providing billions of dollars in food assistance to tens of millions of low-income families across the country. SNAP applicants provide their private information to the states on the understanding, backed by long-standing state and federal laws, that their information will not be used for unrelated purposes. In a letter, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that USDA’s unprecedented actions are unnecessary, inefficient, and unlawful.

“The Trump Administration continues to wage war on some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, deploying invasive and unlawful tactics in the process to intimidate them from accessing services to which they are lawfully entitled,” said Attorney General Bonta. “No Californian should be faced with the choice of having enough to eat or protecting their fundamental right to privacy. As California Attorney General, I will continue to use every tool in the toolbox to push back against any attempts by this administration to upend the rights of Californians. I urge the Trump Administration to reverse course and abandon its unprecedented proposal to share SNAP data for purposes far beyond ensuring the integrity of this program.”

Since President Trump re-entered the White House in January, public reports indicate that federal officials are amassing huge databases of personal information on Americans and using that data for undisclosed purposes, including immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security has already obtained troves of personal information from both the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Health and Human Services Agency, including private medical information and other personal details on Medicaid recipients, which California has already challenged in court. USDA’s attempts to collect data from states about SNAP applicants and recipients appear to be the next step in this campaign.

In May 2025, USDA made an unprecedented demand that states turn over massive amounts of personal information on all SNAP applicants and recipients, including social security numbers and home addresses, dating back five years. In June, USDA published a “System of Records Notice” stating that it intends to “leverage data-sharing across Federal and State systems to identify and rectify” improper payments, and to share information across the federal government, as directed by one of President Trump’s executive orders.

As the attorneys general explain in their comment letter, USDA’s actions are unprecedented, threaten the privacy of millions of families, and ignore long-standing restrictions on the use and redisclosure of SNAP data. What’s more, the proposed collection and sharing of SNAP data is wholly unnecessary and inefficient; SNAP fraud rates are already low, thanks to robust auditing mechanisms that states and the federal government have cooperated on for years. And those mechanisms do not, and have never, required that states turn over sensitive, personally identifying information about millions of Americans without any meaningful restrictions on how that information is used or shared with other agencies.

The attorneys general also highlight The Paperwork Reduction Act, which seeks to “minimize the cost to the Federal Government of the creation, collection, maintenance, use, dissemination, and disposition of information.” USDA purports to seek data to re-verify the eligibility of SNAP participants, a function that is already subject to other quality control mechanisms and already completed by the states. Although USDA’s Notice claims the agency may share data with law enforcement, it overlooks key limits set by the federal Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a). USDA’s own rules further restrict SNAP data use to program-related purposes, like prosecuting fraud. The letter defends SNAP enrollees’ reasonable expectation of privacy, urging USDA “not to lose sight of the fact that SNAP exists to fight hunger.”

In submitting this comment letter, Attorney General Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.

A copy of the comment letter is available here.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Bipartisan Colleagues Take Aim at Social Media Drug Trafficking

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in reintroducing the Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act.

The bipartisan legislation would require social media companies and communication service providers to take an active role in reporting the illegal sale and distribution of drugs on their platforms. This additional data would assist state and local law enforcement in combating online drug trafficking, as well as prosecuting those who prey on America’s youth.

“Fentanyl overdoses claim the lives of tens-of-thousands of Americans each year, many of whom suffered accidental poisonings after taking deadly pills marketed on social media platforms,” Grassley said. “After successfully passing the HALT Fentanyl Act into law, Senate Republicans are continuing to advance legislation to combat America’s fentanyl crisis and save lives. Congress must hold Big Tech accountable for its ongoing role in the illicit drug trade.”

“For four years, Joe Biden’s reckless open borders allowed fentanyl to flood our communities, creating a crisis in every state. We still lose a Kansan a day to fentanyl poisoning,” Marshall said. “Cooper Davis was a bright young man from Johnson County who tragically died from a pill laced with fentanyl purchased on the social media platform: Snapchat. The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act requires social media platforms to report any drug activity on their platform to law enforcement. We will not rest in our fight until no Kansan loses their life to fentanyl poisoning.”

The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act is cosponsored by Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

The legislation is endorsed by the families of Cooper Davis and Devin Norring, as well as the National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Directors Association, Partnership for Safe Medicine, the U.S. Deputy Sherriff’s Association, The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies, Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse, the Community Anti-Drug Coalition Association, the Alexander Neville Foundation, the National Fraternal Order of Police and the Kansas Sheriffs Association.

“Our family continues to be extremely grateful for Senator Marshall and his colleagues’ dedication to this legislation. We are both honored and saddened to have another name, Devin Norring, added to this bill,” said Libby Davis, Mother of Cooper Davis. “However, the harsh reality is that there are thousands of other teenagers’ names that could be added to this bill because they, too, lost their lives in this same tragic way. Each with a story demonstrating that this can happen to ANY FAMILY. We, as parents and grandparents, do so many things to keep our kids safe, from baby gates, car seats, and seatbelts, to bike helmets, sunscreen, and vaccinations. This is no different. We need our legislators to come together and get this bipartisan bill across the finish line so that countless children can be saved, theirs being no exception.”

“Our family & the Devin J. Norring Foundation wholeheartedly support the Cooper Davis & Devin Norring Act – legislation that serves as a critical step toward protecting families from the deadly threat of fentanyl sold through social media,” said the family of Devin J. Norring and the Devin J. Norring Foundation. “This bill honors the lives of Cooper and Devin by holding tech companies accountable and giving law enforcement the tools they need to respond to this crisis. No parent should have to search for answers in a system that shields predators. It’s time for truth, transparency, and action.”

Download bill text HERE.

Background:

The Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act is named after two young men who tragically lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning after purchasing counterfeit pills from social media.

Cooper Davis, from Johnson County, Kansas, lost his life after taking half a fake pill that contained a lethal dose of fentanyl. The pill was allegedly purchased from a Missouri drug dealer on the social media platform Snapchat. Following his passing, Cooper’s family launched the non-profit ‘Keepin’ Clean for Coop’ to save lives, raise awareness and educate students and families on the dangers of counterfeit pills.

Devin Norring was a 19-year-old from Hastings, Minnesota, who lost his life to fentanyl poisoning in 2020. In his honor, his family started the Devin J. Norring Foundation to raise awareness about the dangers of fake pills and other illicit substances.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Salvaging SDGs still possible, but countries must act now: Guterres

Source: United Nations 4

Addressing ministers at UN Headquarters in New York, he called for urgent action to rescue lagging Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amid war, inequality and fiscal strain.

“Transformation is not only necessary – it is possible,” he declared, highlighting landmark commitments adopted in recent months: the Pandemic Agreement at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, pledges to expand marine protected areas at the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, and the new vision for global finance agreed in Sevilla at the fourth International Financing for Development Conference.

“These are not isolated wins, they are signs of momentum and signs that multilateralism can deliver.”

The remarks opened the ministerial segment of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the UN’s central platform for reviewing the 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs.

Get back on track

Mr. Guterres warned that the world remains far off track to meet the 2030 targets.

“Only 35 per cent of SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress. Nearly half are moving too slowly. And 18 per cent are going backwards,” he said.

He urged governments to act with urgency and ambition.

“The Sustainable Development Goals are not a dream. They are a plan – a plan to keep our promises to the most vulnerable people, to each other, and to future generations.”

Citing gains since 2015, including expanded social protection, declining child marriage and growing women’s representation, he said the SDGs remain “within reach” if world leaders channel resources and political will.

The Secretary-General also linked development and peace, noting ongoing violence in Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine and elsewhere.

“At every step, we know sustainable peace requires sustainable development,” he said, calling for immediate ceasefires and renewed commitment to diplomacy.

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

ECOSOC President Bob Rae addresses the ministerial segment of the HLPF.

Double down on multilateralism

Bob Rae, President of the Economic and Social Council, echoed the Secretary‑General’s call, warning that global disruption – from climate change to economic disarray – requires deeper solidarity.

“The SDGs are not optional ideals, but rather essential commitments,” he said.

“Now is not the time for us to abandon our ideals…it is now actually the time to double down on our multilateral obligations to one another.”

Mr. Rae cautioned that shrinking national budgets and rising nationalist politics are undermining progress but insisted that “multilateralism delivers real, tangible benefits for people at every level of society.”

He called for closer partnerships with civil society, local governments, and the private sector, stressing that SDGs must be “integrated into budgets and policies around the world, not as at odds, but as the core of how governments should serve their people.”

Match ambition and delivery

Philémon Yang, President of the General Assembly, emphasized aligning political commitments with concrete action.

He praised the Compromiso de Sevilla and last year’s Pact for the Future, which aim to reform global financial systems, scale up climate finance, and strengthen international tax cooperation.

“The gap between ambition and delivery can only be closed through solidarity, resources and political will,” he said.

“The deadlines for the 2030 Agenda are fast approaching,” he warned. “Whether we like it or not. And while progress is lagging, we have the tools and ambition to deliver.”

Accountability and partnership

The HLPF, established at the landmark Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012, serves as the primary UN platform for monitoring SDG progress, including through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs).

This year’s forum, convened under the auspices of the ECOSOC, runs until 23 July with a focus on five goals: health, gender equality, decent work, life below water, and global partnerships.

More than 150 countries have presented VNRs – with 36 reporting this year – showcasing national efforts and challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda.

Mr. Guterres praised the reviews as “acts of accountability” and “templates for other countries to follow and learn from.”

With just five years left to meet the global goals, he urged ministers to “transform these sparks of transformation into a blaze of progress – for all countries.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to make an announcement to support access to health services for Francophone minority communities

Source: Government of Canada News

Media advisory

The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, accompanied by the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Member of Parliament for Moncton—Dieppe, will make an important announcement to support access to health services in French for Francophone communities.

July 21, 2025, Moncton, New Brunswick

The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, accompanied by the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Member of Parliament for Moncton—Dieppe, will make an important announcement to support access to health services in French for Francophone communities.

There will be a media availability immediately following the announcement.

Date

July 22, 2025

Time

10:00 a.m. (ADT)

Location

The event will be held in-person at:

Université de Moncton
Moncton Campus
Léopold-Taillon Pavilion, room 136
18 Antonine-Maillet avenue
Moncton, New Brunswick
E1A -3E9

Media may also join by Zoom:

https://hc-sc-gc-ca.zoom.us/j/66028582579
Passcode: 009354

Please indicate your name (first and last) and media outlet when joining the event.

X: @GovCanHealth
Facebook: Healthy Canadians

Media Inquiries

Emilie Gauduchon
Senior Communications and Issues Advisor
Office of the Honourable Marjorie Michel
Minister of Health
emilie.gauduchon@hc-sc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Province Finalizes RCMP Lease in North Battleford, Issues RFP for Building Renovations

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Released on July 21, 2025

The Government of Saskatchewan has finalized a lease agreement with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for space in the former Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) Retail Inc. store in North Battleford and has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to begin planning major tenant improvements.

“The lease and upcoming renovations show our supports for long-term investment in public safety infrastructure, while making efficient use of existing government-owned property.” SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister David Marit said, “This is infrastructure that will directly strengthen front-line policing in Saskatchewan.”

To prepare the space for RCMP’s use, the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement is seeking consultant services to lead the design, documentation and contract administration required for the renovation.

“This lease agreement is great news for our community.” Health Minister and MLA for North Battleford Jeremy Cockrill said. “By bringing the RCMP into this space and investing in needed renovations, we are supporting community safety creating, local jobs and making good use of existing infrastructure.”

The former SLGA site, located at 1001 – 101 Street, will be repurposed to enable the RCMP expand its Battlefords detachment. Renovation work will include schematic and detailed design, construction drawings, specifications, tender documents and project oversight during construction.

The RCMP lease was ratified on July 2, 2025. This project represents a strategic reuse of existing government-owned infrastructure and supports the province’s commitment to community safety.

SLGA owned 19 of its 34 store properties. The North Battleford location was one of four buildings which were identified to be repurposed for other government organizations. Buildings currently for sale are listed on slga.com.

“The City of North Battleford is very encouraged that this lease has been signed, allowing this prominent downtown building to be put back into productive use. We are extremely pleased that the RCMP will be expanding its presence in the Battlefords region with the development of a regional RCMP training hub.” North Battleford Mayor Kelli Hawtin said. “This project will bring significant economic benefits to our city and the surrounding areas through the addition of permanent RCMP staff and a steady flow of officers travelling to North Battleford to attend training. We want to thank the provincial government for partnering with the RCMP, and we are eager to see this vision become reality.”

Renovations are expected to take between 18 and 24 months. The RCMP will begin operations in the building once the upgrades are complete.

-30-

For more information, contact:

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces caregiver charged with beating vulnerable adultRead More

Source: US State of South Carolina

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) has arrested Robin C. Hatley, 61 years old, of Laurens, S.C., for Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)}. Hatley was booked into the Greenville County Detention Center on July 18, 2025.

A joint investigation by VAMPF and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office alleges that on June 14, 2025, Hatley, a caregiver at Pearl at Five Forks Memory Care Center in Simpsonville, S.C., struck a vulnerable adult resident multiple times on the head, face, and nose. The victim, classified as a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, was a resident of the facility at the time of the alleged incident.

Pearl at Five Forks Memory Care Center reported this incident to law enforcement and cooperated fully with investigators. This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

Pursuant to federal regulations, VAMPF has authority over Medicaid provider fraud; abuse and neglect of Medicaid beneficiaries in any setting; and the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

The South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, dba VAMPF, receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,889,252 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $963,084 for FFY 2025, is funded by South Carolina.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: How a popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Havovi Chichger, Professor, Biomedical Science, Anglia Ruskin University

Found in everything from protein bars to energy drinks, erythritol has long been considered a safe alternative to sugar. But new research suggests this widely used sweetener may be quietly undermining one of the body’s most crucial protective barriers – with potentially serious consequences for heart health and stroke risk.

A recent study from the University of Colorado suggests erythritol may damage cells in the blood-brain barrier, the brain’s security system that keeps out harmful substances while letting in nutrients. The findings add troubling new detail to previous observational studies that have linked erythritol consumption to increased rates of heart attack and stroke.

In the new study, researchers exposed blood-brain barrier cells to levels of erythritol typically found after drinking a soft drink sweetened with the compound. They saw a chain reaction of cell damage that could make the brain more vulnerable to blood clots – a leading cause of stroke.

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

Erythritol triggered what scientists call oxidative stress, flooding cells with harmful, highly reactive molecules known as free radicals, while simultaneously reducing the body’s natural antioxidant defences. This double assault damaged the cells’ ability to function properly, and in some cases killed them outright.

But perhaps more concerning was erythritol’s effect on the blood vessels’ ability to regulate blood flow. Healthy blood vessels act like traffic controllers, widening when organs need more blood – during exercise, for instance – and tightening when less is required. They achieve this delicate balance through two key molecules: nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, and endothelin-1, which constricts them.

The study found that erythritol disrupted this critical system, reducing nitric oxide production while ramping up endothelin-1. The result would be blood vessels that remain dangerously constricted, potentially starving the brain of oxygen and nutrients. This imbalance is a known warning sign of ischaemic stroke – the type caused by blood clots blocking vessels in the brain.

Even more alarming, erythritol appeared to sabotage the body’s natural defence against blood clots. Normally, when clots form in blood vessels, cells release a “clot buster” called tissue plasminogen activator that dissolves the blockage before it can cause a stroke. But the sweetener blocked this protective mechanism, potentially leaving clots free to wreak havoc.

The laboratory findings align with troubling evidence from human studies. Several large-scale observational studies have found that people who regularly consume erythritol face significantly higher risks of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. One major study tracking thousands of participants found that those with the highest blood levels of erythritol were roughly twice as likely to experience a major cardiac event.

However, the research does have limitations. The experiments were conducted on isolated cells in laboratory dishes rather than complete blood vessels, which means the cells may not behave exactly as they would in the human body. Scientists acknowledge that more sophisticated testing – using advanced “blood vessel on a chip” systems that better mimic real physiology – will be needed to confirm these effects.

The findings are particularly significant because erythritol occupies a unique position in the sweetener landscape. Unlike artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose, erythritol is technically a sugar alcohol – a naturally occurring compound that the body produces in small amounts. This classification helped it avoid inclusion in recent World Health Organization guidelines that discouraged the use of artificial sweeteners for weight control.

Erythritol has also gained popularity among food manufacturers because it behaves more like sugar than other alternatives. While sucralose is 320 times sweeter than sugar, erythritol provides only about 80% of sugar’s sweetness, making it easier to use in recipes without creating an overpowering taste. It’s now found in thousands of products, especially in many “sugar-free” and “keto-friendly” foods.

Erythritol can be found in many keto-friendly products, such a protein bars.
Stockah/Shutterstock.com

Trade-off

Regulatory agencies, including the European Food Standards Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration, have approved erythritol as safe for consumption. But the new research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that even “natural” sugar alternatives may carry unexpected health risks.

For consumers, the findings raise difficult questions about the trade-offs involved in sugar substitution. Sweeteners like erythritol can be valuable tools for weight management and diabetes prevention, helping people reduce calories and control blood sugar spikes. But if regular consumption potentially weakens the brain’s protective barriers and increases cardiovascular risk, the benefits may come at a significant cost.

The research underscores a broader challenge in nutritional science: understanding the long-term effects of relatively new food additives that have become ubiquitous in the modern diet. While erythritol may help people avoid the immediate harms of excess sugar consumption, its effect on the blood-brain barrier suggests that frequent use could be quietly compromising brain protection over time.

As scientists continue to investigate these concerning links, consumers may want to reconsider their relationship with this seemingly innocent sweetener – and perhaps question whether any sugar substitute additive is truly without risk.

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

– ref. How a popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences – https://theconversation.com/how-a-popular-sweetener-could-be-damaging-your-brains-defences-261500

MIL OSI Analysis –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: Are you ageing well? Take the five-part quiz that could help change your future

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jitka Vseteckova, Senior Lecturer Health and Social Care, The Open University

Sabrina Bracher/Shutterstock

Most of us want to enjoy later life feeling strong, connected, and mentally sharp. But how often do we stop to think about whether the things we’re doing right now are helping us get there?

A new quiz – which we have developed as part of the Take Five to Age Well project, a free, expert-led, month-long challenge from The Open University and Age UK – makes it easier, and more empowering, to ask that question, reflect and take action.

Healthy ageing doesn’t depend on just one thing. Research shows that our long-term wellbeing is shaped by a mix of physical, mental and social factors. That’s why experts, including us, have identified five key areas – known as the Five Pillars for Ageing Well – that form a strong foundation for staying well and thriving in later life:

Read more:
You can’t reverse the ageing process but these 5 things can help you live longer

1. Are you eating well?

Are you getting enough fruit and vegetables, limiting ultra-processed foods and meeting your body’s changing nutritional needs? Diets like the Mediterranean plan are linked with a lower risk of dementia and other chronic conditions.

Malnutrition is a serious concern in older age, especially when it comes to maintaining strong muscles and bones.

2. Are you staying hydrated?

Are you drinking enough water to support both your brain and body? Dehydration can creep up easily and affect cognitive function, mood and energy.

Cutting down on sugary drinks can help you to maintain a healthy weight and staying within recommended alcohol limits can also help lower your risk of conditions like dementia. Hydration really matters.

For people with life-limiting illnesses or conditions such as advanced dementia, where appetite and oral intake may be severely reduced, sugary drinks may be one of the few sources of calories they can tolerate. In these cases, hydration and comfort take priority over strict nutritional guidelines, and personalised care plans should always guide decisions.

3. Are you being physically active?

Are you moving regularly? Enough to raise your heart rate? Are you breaking up long periods of sitting with movement?

Read more:
Sitting is bad for your health and exercise doesn’t seem to offset the harmful effects

A sedentary lifestyle is linked to a wide range of health risks. Simple habits like walking more can boost physical fitness, sharpen the mind and help prevent osteoporosis, especially when paired with good nutrition.

4. Are you connecting socially?

Are you keeping in touch with others, spending time in your community and enjoying meaningful connection? Loneliness increases the risk of depression and cognitive decline.

Building strong social ties earlier in life can help protect wellbeing over the long term.

5. Are you challenging your brain?

Are you keeping your mind active by learning, reading, playing an instrument, or trying something new? Research shows that learning about your interests, activities like crossword puzzles or new physical activities can keep the brain healthy and potentially delay dementia. There’s no magic fix, but even small actions can have lasting benefits.

Why it matters

We developed the Take Five to Age Well quiz to help people reflect on how they’re doing across these five areas – and where there might be room to grow. The follow-up resources are based on real-life experiences of ageing from diverse communities and offer small, achievable steps you can start today.

Unlike many online quizzes, this one doesn’t just score you – it supports you. After signing up to the month-long challenge and taking the quiz, the Take Five to Age Well participants receive tips, encouragement and expert-led advice supporting participants’ current habits and needs.

We’ve also partnered with BridgitCare – organisation that works with Councils, the NHS and Carer Charities across the UK, to help identify carers and scale the support provided with the use of technology – to create Age Well, a free, web-based tool offering personalised daily actions. Whether you want to add more greens to your plate, look for expert tips, and easy ways to stay in control of your health, hobbies, and wellbeing or swap ten minutes of scrolling for a short walk, every step counts.

Read more:
Forming new habits can take longer than you think. Here are 8 tips to help you stick with them

Age Well can also connect you to local groups and services to help turn good intentions into lasting routines.

Healthy ageing isn’t just about avoiding illness – it’s about learning how to age well, maintaining independence, confidence and quality of life. And with an ageing population, learning that supports all taking proactive steps to protect our mental and physical health is more important than ever.

The best part? Many of the most effective actions are small and realistic. You don’t have to run marathons or give up everything you enjoy. Take Five to Age Well meets you where you are – and helps you build a future where you feel stronger, more connected and better supported.

No matter your age, it’s never too early – or too late – to start your journey to ageing well.

Jitka Vseteckova is a Trustee with carers Buckinghamshire & Carers MK.

Lis Boulton Health & Care Policy Manager, in the Charity Influencing Division at Age UK. Lis is also Chair of the National Falls Prevention Coordination Group, and also Chair of Age UK Calderdale & Kirklees, her local Age UK in West Yorkshire.

– ref. Are you ageing well? Take the five-part quiz that could help change your future – https://theconversation.com/are-you-ageing-well-take-the-five-part-quiz-that-could-help-change-your-future-256381

MIL OSI Analysis –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: A new framework for guiding management decisions for amphibians in an uncertain future
Source: US Geological Survey
Breadcrumb

News
A new framework for guiding management decisions for amphibians in an uncertain future
Amphibians face an uncertain future in the Southern Rocky Mountains. Disease, such as the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus, habitat loss, and drought are all considerable threats to amphibians in the region. A recently developed decision framework aims to assist resource managers in reducing these threats to amphibians.

FORT researchers, in collaboration with Conservation Science Partners, Inc., developed a decision support framework for managing amphibians in an uncertain future. They used boreal toads, a relatively data rich species, as a case study to develop an occupancy model that incorporates multiple threats, including disease and changes in hydrology. The model relies on novel metrics that describe changes in drying patterns of >150 historical boreal toad breeding sites in the Southern Rocky Mountain Region (SRMR). The changes in drying patterns of breeding sites were derived via an analysis of >30 years of Landsat imagery. The model outputs form the basis of a web-based decision support tool that allows managers to visually and quantitatively assess tradeoffs between disease, habitat suitability, and fire risk.

The associated web tool provides information on the probabilities of occupancy, colonization, and extinction under current and future environmental conditions for both boreal toads and the amphibian chytrid fungus at multiple spatial scales (individual breeding pond, toad management units within the SRMR, and across the SRMR as whole). It also includes spatial information on current fire risk, and changes in hydrological patterns at the watershed level over the last thirty years.

Screenshot of the Map tab in the Boreal Toad Dashboard. The Boreal Toad Dashboard is a decision-support tool that allows researchers to explore current and future occupancy trends of the boreal toad and amphibian chytrid fungus at breeding sites throughout the Southern Rocky Mountains. In the Map tab, users can explore site level occupancy probabilities, historical and future wetland drying trends, as well as current drying trends and burn probability for watersheds suitable for boreal toads. Note that site-level data are not displayed here as they are considered sensitive data, but are available to toad managers from state and federal agencies (e.g., Colorado Parks and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service) in a password protected version of the dashboard. In other tabs, users can explore graphs of occupancy and colonization trends for individual breeding sites, mountain ranges, and the Southern Rocky Mountains as a whole.

The tool was co-created with the Boreal Toad Conservation Team to help inform decisions regarding habitat management/restoration and reintroduction strategies for populations of boreal toads in the SRMR. USGS researchers also demonstrated the utility of their hydrologic modeling framework to be applied to other amphibians of management concern in the region with sparse data: the wood frog and Great Basin spadefoot toad.

For more information, check out the comprehensive report and the interactive, web-based decision support tool that allows users to engage with the model outputs. The corresponding code and model outputs are also available via a software release and data release, respectively.

Related

December 31, 2020

A Framework for Guiding Management Decisions for Amphibians in an Uncertain Future

Amphibians are a group of animals facing especially severe declines due to many factors including climate change and a common pathogen, the amphibian chytrid fungus. To make informed decisions about amphibians, wildlife managers need to identify species facing the greatest threats and the actions that will most effectively minimize impacts of those threats. Although some amphibian…

Amphibians are a group of animals facing especially severe declines due to many factors including climate change and a common pathogen, the amphibian chytrid fungus. To make informed decisions about amphibians, wildlife managers need to identify species facing the greatest threats and the actions that will most effectively minimize impacts of those threats. Although some amphibian species are rela

Learn More

MIL OSI USA News –
July 22, 2025