NewzIntel.com

Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Japanese expert in hoarding visits Norwich to share global insights

    Source: City of Norwich

    Professor Aso, a former nurse in Japan and now an academic specialising in the study of hoarding, was aware of the good work taking place in Norwich to support residents affected by hoarding.

    Because of this she approached us, keen to learn more about our service and to share her own learnings with us.

    Hoarding is a complex and sensitive issue which can cause profound wellbeing problems for those suffering with the condition. It can also be a very difficult issue for family members and loved ones to understand.

    On top of this, there are often real barriers to tackle when it comes to getting the relevant professional services on board to provide the right kind of support to help tackle the issue.

    Council officers have witnessed first-hand how hoarding can negatively impact the lives of some residents. To help us understand more about this we were very happy to invite Professor Yasuko Aso, a public health expert from Japan, to come to City Hall and share her insights with us – drawn from across her research into hoarding.

    Rachel Omori, independent living and collaboration manager at Norwich City Council said: “Bringing in international expertise helps us see what works elsewhere and where we can do better. Learning from others allows us to keep improving support for people in Norwich.”

    During her visit, Professor Aso from Wayo Women’s University and Japan’s National Institute of Public Health, met with housing colleagues from the city council and other local organisations including St Martins Housing Trust, adult social care, and the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board and INTERACT.

    Among the topics discussed was an explanation of how group workshops can help people reduce clutter and improve their quality of life.

    Professor Aso said: “In Japan, we face challenges like an ageing population, limited space, and natural disasters, which make hoarding a growing concern.
    “Norwich’s approach has given me fresh ideas to take back to my colleagues. I hope this conversation continues.”

    Those involved shared their own experiences and methods for supporting residents affected by hoarding with the aim to learn from each other and improve support services.

    Dr Jan Sheldon, chief executive of St Martins Housing Trust, said:
    “Whilst we and our partners have made great strides forward supporting people with hording behaviours over the last few years there is always more to learn. The international exchange of knowledge and experience is always important, we have much to learn from each other. It is critical that our work in this area continues to build upon our understanding and practical implementation of the Psychological Informed Environment (PIE) and Trauma Informed Care (TIC)”

    The visit, which took place earlier this month, highlights the city council’s commitment to learning from global best practice to improve lives locally, especially for residents facing complex housing and health needs. The timing of this visit helps to shine a spotlight on ‘UK Hoarding Awareness Week’ which runs from 12–16 May. Please follow our posts on social media for more updates.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Five reasons why young-onset dementia is often missed

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Molly Murray, PhD Candidate, University of the West of Scotland

    The number of people with young-onset dementia could be even higher than current estimates suggest. AtlasStudio/ Shutterstock

    Around 57 million people worldwide have dementia. While most cases of dementia are diagnosed in older adults, about 7% of cases occur in people under 65. This number may be even higher as young-onset dementia continues to be under-recognised. This means many people may be missing out on the support they need.

    Here are five reasons young-onset dementia remains under-recognised:

    1. Dementia is typically associated with older age

    When you hear the word “dementia” do you picture someone under 65? While dementia is usually associated with older adults, the condition doesn’t discriminate based on age. In fact, anyone (even children) can be diagnosed with different forms of dementia.

    But this common assumption means many younger people may not seek a diagnosis from their doctor, as many don’t assume dementia could be causing any of the symptoms they’re experiencing.

    Doctors, too, often fail to consider the possibility of a younger person having dementia. Many people diagnosed with young-onset dementia initially had their symptoms dismissed. Some doctors even showed little concern for their experiences. It also isn’t uncommon for younger adults to be told they’re “too young” to have dementia.

    It’s not surprising then that these experiences lead to frustration, with patients and their families feeling unheard and neglected by the healthcare system.

    The misunderstanding that dementia is a disease of older adults leaves people with young-onset dementia fighting to be heard.

    2. Symptoms are different

    Dementia is most often linked to short-term memory loss. However, cognition (which encompasses all of our mental processes, from thinking to perception) is very complex. For this reason, dementia can lead to a huge variety of symptoms – such as changes in personality and language, difficulties recognising objects, judging distances or coordinating movement and even hallucinations and delusions.

    Compared to dementia in older adults, people with young-onset dementia are more likely to experience symptoms other than memory loss as the earliest signs of the condition. For instance, research shows that for around one-third of people with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease, the earliest symptoms they had were problems with coordination and vision changes.

    3. Rarer causes of dementia

    Dementia is an umbrella term that encompasses a range of brain disorders that all cause problems with cognition. In older adults, the most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease – accounting for 50-75% of cases. But in people under 65, only around 40% of dementia cases can be attributed to Alzheimer’s disease.

    Instead, young-onset dementia tends to be caused by rarer neurodegenerative conditions, such as frontotemporal dementias. Frontotemporal dementias only affect around one in 20 people diagnosed with dementia. These conditions affect parts of the brain responsible for personality, behaviour, language, speech and executive functioning.

    For example, primary progressive aphasia is one type of frontotemporal dementia. This condition affects around three in every 100,000 people. Primary progressive aphasia mainly alters a person’s ability to communicate and understand speech.

    Primary progressive aphasia can make it difficult to communicate.
    Fida Olga/ Shutterstock

    Secondary dementias are also more common in people with young-onset dementia. These are dementias that are caused by another underlying medical condition, disease (such as Huntington’s disease or a brain tumour) or external factor (such as a viral infection, substance misuse or head injury).



    Read more:
    Young-onset Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed from as early as 30 – and the symptoms are often different

    Recognition of these rarer forms of dementia is increasing – thanks in part to celebrities such as Fiona Phillips, Pauline Quirke and Terry Jones opening up about their experiences. But there’s still much less understanding around treatment options and managing symptoms when it comes to these rarer forms of dementia. Rarer dementias are also linked to atypical symptoms, which often go missed. This prolongs the diagnostic journey.

    4. Symptoms overlap with other conditions

    Symptoms of young-onset dementia have considerable overlap with those common in certain mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, psychosis, depression and anxiety. Symptoms might also include apathy, feelings of panic, irritability, hallucinations and delusions.

    Early symptoms of young-onset dementia may also be misdiagnosed as menopause in women, as well as a period of burnout.

    Of course, not everyone experiencing these symptoms will have young-onset dementia. But it’s important we raise awareness about symptom overlap to make the diagnosis process easier for those who do.

    5. Experiences differ between people

    The type and severity of a person’s symptoms can vary due to a variety of factors – such as their physical health, their social environment and even their stress levels. This all leads to significant variability in how dementia is experienced.

    A person’s cognitive reserve (the brain’s ability to maintain good cognitive function despite damage or brain changes) also affects their experience of dementia symptoms and how they cope with them. Some people may adapt more effectively, drawing on strong support networks, psychological resilience or their own personal coping strategies to overcome these challenges.

    All of these factors together can make it difficult to recognise symptoms of young-onset dementia, especially in its early stages.

    Need for awareness

    The under-recognition of young-onset dementia is significant. It contributes to the lack of resources, specialised care and advice, appropriate support and early diagnosis for people with young-onset dementia. While this is improving, greater awareness still needs to be brought to the experience of dementia in younger adults – especially given research shows that the progression of cognitive decline is more pronounced in younger adults.

    If you’re worried about yourself or a family member showing signs of dementia, it’s important to discuss symptoms and seek support early. You can also contact local dementia support organisations such as Alzheimer Scotland, Dementia UK, and Alzheimer Society, who can provide information, resources and guidance on support options.

    Molly Murray is a PhD student at the University of the West of Scotland. She receives a Studentship and funding from the University of the West of Scotland for completing her PhD which explores experiences of navigation in people with young-onset dementia.

    – ref. Five reasons why young-onset dementia is often missed – https://theconversation.com/five-reasons-why-young-onset-dementia-is-often-missed-254001

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 17 April 2025 How young advocates are preventing child marriage and early pregnancy in Nepal

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Evidence shows that investing in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) reduces adolescent pregnancy and child marriage, improves health, empowers girls and strengthens economies.

    Between 2000 and 2021, the global adolescent birth rate fell by 34%, and between 2010 and 2020 child marriage declined by 24%. Progress has been driven by efforts across diverse sectors, from health to education, with integral contributions from young leaders. However, pregnancy and childbirth related complications are the leading cause of death among 15–19-year-old girls and more than 12 million teenage girls give birth globally every year.

    We sat down with Darshana Rijal, a young social leader in Nepal, who is also the vice president of the youth-led organization YUWA (which means ‘youth’ in Nepali). She has participated in several WHO-supported workshops and conferences as a young leader making change in this space.

    Darshana strongly advocates for improved policies that support sexual and reproductive health, family planning services and health information for young people, including sexuality education and programmes that give young people a voice in decision-making.

    Q: How much of a problem is child marriage in the communities where you work?

    A: Poverty, lack of education and deeply entrenched norms push girls into early marriage. I have met young women who were forced to leave school because they were getting married. In humanitarian crises or climate disasters, girls are at even higher risk as families struggle with economic pressures and see marriage as their last resort to get some money in.

    Q: What other problems do young people in your community face?

    A: One of the biggest barriers for young people to access health care is stigma. When adolescents seek contraceptives or other services, they are often judged by health professionals. This prevents them from getting the care they need. There are even more challenges for adolescents living in rural areas where child marriage is most common.

    Q: What have you learned in your work with communities throughout Nepal?

    A: Education programmes can be life changing. After setting up a system with the government, we ensured girls stayed in school instead of being forced into child marriage. Now, more and more young people are completing their education. For instance, we conducted a three-day class on sexual and reproductive health and rights in rural Nepal, where child marriage rates are high. We taught young people about consent, healthy relationships, and that girls should have a say in their relationships. Later, we learned that some of them had successfully stopped child marriage by speaking with their parents and convincing them to wait until the legal age of 21. We also did a monitoring visit back to the area, and it was amazing to see how the young people we taught had become educators themselves. They were passing on knowledge about consent, healthy relationships, and girls’ rights.

    Q: Through your work, what successes have you seen when rolling out targeted work on child marriages and adolescent pregnancy?

    A: Education programmes need to be accessible. We visited three different communities to teach about sexual and reproductive health and rights. In one, we used regular Nepali, while in the other two, we worked with local facilitators in their native languages. The response was much stronger in the communities where we used local languages – it showed us that resources need to be in languages young people can relate to. In some villages, no one had ever graduated high school.

    Q: What is your biggest demand in relation to young people’s health?

    A: We as young people must be at the forefront of this change. When girls are given the power to lead, they transform not only their own lives but also their entire communities. I want to see a world where a girl’s potential is not cut short. They are not only the future, but they are also the present cornerstones of our society. For me, activism is about challenging the status quo and creating opportunities for youth to lead change. In Nepal, adolescents make up a very large group of our population, so it is ensuring that our rights are respected and prioritized. We are often misheard and misrepresented and put aside, when in reality adolescent needs are vast and concrete, especially for adolescent girls.

    WHO is launching a guideline for preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. The guideline promotes the meaningful engagement of adolescents in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of efforts to address their rights and needs.

    Partnering with a wide range of organizations, including those that are youth-led, will be essential to the uptake of the recommendations in the updated guideline. Reflecting this, WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, including the UN Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP), plans to develop policies and tools, including communication materials, that are accessible and useful to young people and youth-led organizations.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to top line results in Lilly press release about their phase 3 ACHIEVE-1 trial of their oral GLP-1 (orforglipron) and weight loss efficacy, and safety

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on phase 3 trial results of Lilly’s oral GLP-1 (Orforflipron). 

    Prof Naveed Sattar, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine/Honorary Consultant, University of Glasgow, said:

    “These are important results.  Having new oral agents that lower glucose but also meaningfully lower weight well beyond levels seen with most existing diabetes therapies is critical to future type 2 diabetes care. This because recent research has shown excess weight not only leads to type 2 diabetes in the first place in many but that it is also a major contributor to many of its associated complications. Intentional weight loss also often helps improve patients quality of life.  Of course, one caveat is that we do not know the effects of this newer therapy on cardiovascular outcomes but this will be forthcoming in future trials.  It is also good to hear about the safety profile of these new oral GLP-1RA drugs – especially the liver results – and it will be good to see the data in a full publication in due course.”

    Lilly press release (there is no paper): https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-oral-glp-1-orforglipron-demonstrated-statistically

    Declared interests

    Prof Naveed Sattar: “NS has consulted for and/or received speaker honoraria from Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Afimmune, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Carmot Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Menarini-Ricerche, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Metsera, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Roche; and received grant support paid to his University from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Roche.  No shares in any medical areas.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Fatal two vehicle crash in Launceston

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Fatal two vehicle crash in Launceston

    Thursday, 17 April 2025 – 8:54 pm.

    Sadly, a 27-year-old woman has died and a 32-year-old man is in a serious condition after a two-vehicle crash on Johnston Road St Leonards, in Launceston this evening.The crash occurred on Johnston Road, St Leonards about 5.20pm. The woman was the driver and the man a passenger of a Mazda sedan which collided with a Subaru wagon. Luckily the sole female driver of the Subaru was not physically injured in the crash.Upon police arrival, CPR was provided to the woman however sadly, she died at the scene. Our thoughts are with the woman’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.The man was flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital in a serious condition.Police and emergency services remain on the scene, with Johnston Road remaining closed to allow crash scene investigations to be conducted.Police are calling for witnesses to the crash to come forward.Anyone with dash cam footage or information should contact Police on 131444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.auA report will be prepared for the Coroner.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Aggravated assault – Gapuwiyak

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 24-year-old man in relation to an aggravated assault that occurred in Gapuwiyak yesterday afternoon.

    Around 2:10pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of a stabbing at a residence within the community.

    While police were enroute to the residence, they located a 66-year-old man with a stab wound to his stomach.

    The victim was conveyed to the clinic for treatment in a serious but stable condition and was transported by Careflight to Gove District Hospital. 

    A short time later, a 24-year-old man known to the victim, was identified and arrested. He remains in police custody with charges expected to follow.

    Investigations into the assault remain ongoing.

    Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25104232. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin announced the start of restoration of the historic building of the Morozov Hospital

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Work on modernizing the Morozov Children’s Hospital continues. Specialists have begun restoring building No. 10. Sergei Sobyanin reported this in his telegram channel.

    “The building on 4th Dobryninsky Lane is a cultural heritage site of regional significance. Work is planned on the facade and roof. Inside the building, for example, we will restore the brickwork of the walls, the Monier vaults in the basement, and restore the floors made of Mettlach ceramic tiles,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin

    All work will be carried out as part of a comprehensive modernization Morozov Children’s Hospital. In 2017, a children’s medical building was built there — the largest in the country. In the fall of 2022, the renovated pediatric building No. 1 began operating.

    Currently, specialists are renovating buildings No. 15, 16 and 17. In addition, comprehensive improvement of the territory is planned.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12630050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union MoS for Health & Family Welfare Shri Prataprao Jadhav inaugurates FSSAI’s National Stakeholder Consultation on Sustainable Packaging

    Source: Government of India

    Union MoS for Health & Family Welfare Shri Prataprao Jadhav inaugurates FSSAI’s National Stakeholder Consultation on Sustainable Packaging

    Significance of eco-friendly packaging solutions highlighted

    India has the Potential to lead the world towards sustainability: Shri Jadhav

    “What we need today is a shift towards alternatives that are sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable”

    Over 1500 stakeholders representing food businesses, packaging industries, recycling associations, regulatory bodies, environmental organizations, consumer groups, farmer groups, government departments participated in the consultation to deliberate on the future of sustainable food packaging in India

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 10:38AM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav, inaugurated a National Stakeholder Consultation on “Sustainable Packaging for Food Business: Emerging Global Trends and Regulatory Framework” organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) at Mumbai on 16th April 2025.

     

    In his address, Shri Jadhav highlighted the growing importance of sustainable packaging of food items. He announced that the guidelines for the use of rPET in packaging have been prepared by FSSAI after extensive consultations with all stakeholders and in line with the best global practices. He also mentioned that a logo has been developed for easy identification and to benefit consumers of food products.

     

    Addressing the gathering, Shri Jadhav stated that “shifting towards sustainable methods of packaging is the need of the hour.” He stressed that the usage of plastic is a growing concern globally, as it stays undecomposed in the environment for years having detrimental consequences. “What we need today is a shift towards alternatives that are sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable”, he further stated.

    Hailing India’s age-old traditional methods, Shri Jadhav also emphasized the need to connect the ancient ecological practices to modern techniques to ensure sustainability stating that “India has the potential to lead the world in this direction.”

    He also appreciated the efforts of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and FSSAI for providing an important platform in the form of National Stakeholders Consultation to deliberate upon crucial issues that affect the health and wellbeing of the country.

    The Minister of State also held an informal open consultation session with stakeholders, providing them an opportunity to share their challenges and discuss future avenues for improvement and growth. The consultation brought together over 1500 stakeholders representing food businesses, packaging industries, recycling associations, regulatory bodies, environmental organizations, consumer groups, farmer groups, government departments to deliberate on the future of sustainable food packaging in India.

     

    The consultation was part of an ongoing series of national-level stakeholder discussions aimed at holding critical deliberations on critical issues that requires multi-stakeholder engagement.  Under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, FSSAI has launched this pivotal initiative to convene such National Stakeholder Consultations to foster greater inclusivity, transparency, and evidence-based policymaking in the formulation of food safety regulations. By actively engaging with industry, academia, consumer groups, farmer groups and regulatory bodies, FSSAI seeks to incorporate sector-specific perspectives and ground-level insights into its regulatory framework, ensuring that policies are both practical and aligned with public health priorities.

    The consultation featured a Technical Session wherein Chairperson of FSSAI’s Scientific Panel on Packaging presented on the detailed scientific basis, risk assessment principles, transparent consultative approach employed by FSSAI while framing robust scientific standards.

    Representatives from BIS talked about the Global and Indian standards on food packaging and the overview of the existing IS standards for packaging materials. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shared about the role that CPCB plays in driving sustainable practices through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under Plastic Waste Management Rules. Representatives from Industry presented innovative approaches being adopted to develop eco-friendly, lightweight, and recyclable packaging solutions tailored for food and beverage products, importance of plastic waste recovery and recycling to support circular economy and Consumer concerns and expectations towards sustainable food packaging.

     

    The session concluded with a technical debrief by Dr. Alka Rao, Advisor (Science & Standards and Regulations), wherein she emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration in advancing sustainable packaging solutions that align with food safety standards and support India’s broader environmental goals.

     

    ****

    MV

    HFW/MoS inaugurates FSSAI’s National Stakeholder Consultation on Sustainable Packaging   /17April 2025/1

    (Release ID: 2122326) Visitor Counter : 53

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Pandemic Agreement, Sudan & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    – Deputy Secretary-General
    – Security Council
    – Pandemic Agreement
    – Sudan
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Democratic Republic of the Congo
    – Iraq
    – Global Economy
    – Briefings tomorrow
    – Financial Contribution

    **Deputy Secretary-General
    The Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed is in Hanoi, Viet Nam today, to participate in the Partnership for Growth Summit and to chair the annual retreat of UN Resident Coordinators from Asia and the Pacific.
    In her remarks at the opening session of the Summit, Ms. Mohammed underlined the need to strengthen partnerships and to scale up investments in climate solutions as a key entry point to advance countries’ Sustainable Development Goals transitions.
    Ms. Mohammed also met with the Minister of Agriculture and Environment Mr. Đỗ Đức Duy. They discussed Viet Nam’s transition to a low-carbon energy system and progress on its food system pathways.
    On the margins of the Summit, she also met with Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
    And at the Green One UN House in Hanoi, Ms. Mohammed met the UN Country Team to discuss how to further strengthen the UN’s impact in Viet Nam and to sustain momentum on the SDGs. She also met with youth.

    ** Security Council
    This morning, the Security Council members met for a briefing on South Sudan. The Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, told the Council members that the Revitalized Peace Agreement remains the only viable framework to break the cycle of violence in South Sudan.
    He added that UNMISS is engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts to broker a peaceful solution to the current crisis alongside many stakeholders, including the African Union and the Security Council itself.
    For her part, the Director of Operations and Advocacy at OCHA, Edem Wosornu, focused on the rapidly escalating violence and its impact on men, women and children. She added that this year, 9.3 million South Sudanese – that’s three-quarters of the population – require some form of humanitarian assistance, adding that children make up half of this total.
    For South Sudan, this year’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan requires $1.7 billion to support close to 5.4 million people. Their full remarks were shared with you.
    The Security Council will reconvene at 3:00 pm this afternoon for a session on the Great Lakes region. The Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Huang Xia, as well as UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, are scheduled to brief. We will share their remarks as soon as we get them.

    **Pandemic Agreement
    And we wanted to welcome the consensus on a draft pandemic agreement reached in Geneva after more than three years of intensive negotiations. Member States of the World Health Organization took a major step forward in efforts to make the world safer from pandemics, by forging the draft agreement for consideration at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May. The proposal aims to strengthen global collaboration on prevention, preparedness and response to future pandemic threats.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=16%20April%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27HxZBjcrDY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets New Zealand delegation from All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-04-15
    President Lai meets delegation led by Tuvalu Deputy Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone 
    On the afternoon of April 15, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Tuvalu Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Panapasi Nelesone and his wife. In remarks, President Lai thanked Tuvalu for its staunch and long-term backing of Taiwan’s international participation. The president said he looks forward to our nations deepening bilateral ties in such areas as agriculture, medicine, education, and information and communications technology and working together toward greater peace, prosperity, and development in the Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I extend a very warm welcome to Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone and Madame Corinna Ituaso Laafai as they lead this delegation to Taiwan. Our distinguished guests are the first delegation from Tuvalu that I have received at the Presidential Office this year. During my visit to Tuvalu last year, I met and exchanged views with Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone and the ministers present. I am delighted to meet you again today and thank you once again for the hospitality you accorded my delegation. The culture of Tuvalu and the warmth of its people are not easily forgotten. Tuvalu’s support for Taiwan has also touched us deeply. I want to take this opportunity to thank Tuvalu for staunchly backing Taiwan’s international participation over the past several decades. Our two countries have supported each other like family and have together made contributions in the international arena. Last Tuesday, I received the credentials of Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae and expressed my hope for Taiwan and Tuvalu continuing to deepen bilateral relations. This visit by Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone is an important step in that regard. Our two countries will be signing a labor cooperation agreement and an agreement concerning the recognition of training and certification of seafarers. This will expand bilateral cooperation at multiple levels and bring our relations even closer. Taiwan and Tuvalu are maritime nations and share the values of democracy and freedom. Our two countries have stood shoulder to shoulder to protect marine resources and address the challenges posed by climate change and authoritarianism, and we aspire to work toward greater peace, prosperity, and development in the Pacific region. Our nations have produced fruitful results in such areas as agriculture, medicine, education, and information and communications technology. I anticipate that, with the support of Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone and our distinguished guests, we can continue to employ a more diverse range of strategies to begin a new chapter in our diplomatic partnership. Together, we can make even greater and more concrete contributions to regional development. Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for his kind words of welcome and the warm hospitality extended to his delegation. On behalf of the government and people of Tuvalu, he conveyed their gratitude to the president and the people of Taiwan for the generous support, as well as for the enduring friendship we share. He said that Taiwan’s steadfast commitment to our bilateral relationship has been instrumental in advancing our shared values of democracy, resilience, and sustainable development. From vital development assistance to cooperation in health, education, and climate change resilience, he added, Taiwan’s contributions have made a significant impact on the lives of the people of Tuvalu.  For Taiwan’s recent generous donation of shoes for Tuvaluan primary school students, Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone expressed thanks to President Lai. He commented that these gifts, which underscore a deep commitment to the welfare of their youth, transcend mere material support; they are symbols of care, friendship, and hope for the future generations. Noting that our bilateral relationship is built on mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for sustainable development in the Pacific, he expressed confidence that this partnership will continue to flourish and will serve as a beacon of cooperation and solidarity within our region.  The delegation also included Tuvalu Minister of Foreign Affairs, Labour, and Trade Paulson Panapa; Minister of Public Works, Infrastructure Development and Water Ampelosa Tehulu, and was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Tuvalu Ambassador Faavae.

    Details
    2025-04-10
    President Lai pens Bloomberg News article on Taiwan’s response to US reciprocal tariffs
    On April 10, an article penned by President Lai Ching-te entitled “Taiwan Has a Roadmap for Deeper US Trade Ties” was published by Bloomberg News, explaining to a global audience Taiwan’s strategy on trade with the United States, as well as how Taiwan will engage in dialogue with the aim of removing bilateral trade barriers, increasing investment between Taiwan and the US, and reducing tariffs to zero. The following is the full text of President Lai’s article: Last month, the first of Taiwan’s 66 new F-16Vs rolled off the assembly line in Greenville, South Carolina. Signed during President Donald Trump’s first term, the $8 billion deal stands as a testament to American ingenuity and leadership in advanced manufacturing. Beyond its economic impact – creating thousands of well-paying jobs across the US – it strengthens the foundations of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.  This deal is emblematic of the close interests shared between Taiwan and the US. Our bond is forged by an unwavering belief in freedom and liberty. For decades, our two countries have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in deterring communist expansionism. Even as Beijing intensifies its air force and naval exercises in our vicinity, we remain resolute. Taiwan will always be a bastion of democracy and peace in the region. This partnership extends well beyond the security realm. Though home to just 23 million people, Taiwan has in recent years become a significant investor in America. TSMC recently announced it will raise its total investment in the US to $165 billion – an initiative that will create 40,000 construction jobs and tens of thousands more in advanced chip manufacturing and R&D. This investment will bolster the emergence of a new high-tech cluster in Arizona. Taiwan is committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation in manufacturing and innovation. As a trade-dependent economy, our long-term success is built on trade relationships that are fair, reciprocal and mutually beneficial. Encouraging Taiwanese businesses to expand their global footprint, particularly in the US, is a vital part of this strategy. Deepening commercial ties between Taiwanese and American firms is another. These core principles will guide our response to President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. First, we will seek to restart trade negotiations with a common objective of reducing all tariffs between Taiwan and the US. While Taiwan already maintains low tariffs, with an average nominal rate of 6%, we are willing to further cut this rate to zero on the basis of reciprocity with the US. By removing the last vestiges to free and fair trade, we seek to encourage greater trade and investment flows between our two countries. Second, Taiwan will rapidly expand procurement of American goods. Over the past five years, rising demand for semiconductors and AI-related components has increased our trade surplus. In response to these market trends, Taiwan will seek to narrow the trade imbalance through the procurement of energy, agriculture and other industrial goods from the US. These efforts will create thousands of new jobs across multiple sectors.  We’ll also pursue additional arms procurements that are vital to our self-defense and contribute to peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait. During President Trump’s first term, we secured $18 billion in arms deals, including advanced fighter jets, tanks and anti-ship missiles. Future purchases, which are not reflected in trade balances, build on our economic and security partnership while being essential to Taiwan’s “Peace Through Strength” approach. Third, new investments will be made across the US. Already, Taiwanese firms support 400,000 jobs throughout all 50 states. Beyond TSMC, we also see emerging opportunities in electronics, ICT, energy and petrochemicals. We will establish a cross-agency “US Investment Team” to support bilateral trade and investment – and we hope that efforts will be reciprocated by the Trump administration. Fourth, we are committed to removing non-tariff trade barriers. Taiwan will take concrete steps to resolve persistent issues that have long impeded trade negotiations. And finally, we will strongly address US concerns over export controls and improper transshipment of low-cost goods through Taiwan. These steps form the basis of a comprehensive roadmap for how Taiwan will navigate the shifting trade landscape, transforming challenges in the Taiwan-US economic relationship into new opportunities for growth, resilience and strategic alignment. At a time of growing global uncertainty, underpinned by growing Chinese assertiveness, closer trade ties are more than sound economics; they are a critical pillar of regional security. Our approach is long-term and principled, grounded in a lasting commitment to our friendship with the US, a firm belief in the benefits of fair and reciprocal trade, and an unwavering dedication to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We are confident that our shared economic and security interests will not only overcome turbulence in the international trade environment – they will define the future of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    Details
    2025-04-08
    President Lai receives credentials from new Tuvalu Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae  
    On the morning of April 8, President Lai Ching-te received the credentials of new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lily Tangisia Faavae. In remarks, President Lai welcomed the ambassador to her new post and thanked Tuvalu for its long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation. The president also noted that joint efforts between our two countries have produced fruitful results in such areas as medicine and public health, agricultural and fisheries technology, and information and communications technology. He expressed his hope that we will continue to deepen our bilateral relations so as to generate even greater well-being for our peoples and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a great pleasure today to receive the credentials of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu Lily Tangisia Faavae. On behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend my warmest welcome to you. Last year, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Tuvalu celebrated 45 years of diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Feleti Teo visited Taiwan in May last year for the inauguration of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao and again in October for our National Day celebrations. When I visited Tuvalu last December, I was warmly received by the government and people of Tuvalu, and I deeply felt that our two countries were like family. Ambassador Faavae’s posting to Taiwan demonstrates the importance Prime Minister Teo places on our ties. Widely recognized for her exceptional talent, Ambassador Faavae is an outstanding official with extensive experience in public service. Moreover, during her term as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, she voiced support for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly. I believe that with her assistance, our two nations will further advance cooperation and exchanges. I want to thank the government of Tuvalu for long supporting Taiwan’s international participation. Furthermore, joint efforts between our two countries have produced fruitful results in such areas as medicine and public health, agricultural and fisheries technology, and information and communications technology. Last year, Prime Minister Teo and I signed a joint communiqué on advancing the comprehensive partnership between Taiwan and Tuvalu. Going forward, we will stand together in tackling the challenges we face, including climate change and expanding authoritarianism. And we will continue to deepen our bilateral relations so as to generate even greater well-being for our peoples and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific region. Once again, I warmly welcome Ambassador Faavae to her new post in Taiwan. Please convey warmest regards from Taiwan to Prime Minister Teo and all of our friends in Tuvalu. I wish you all the best in work and life during your term in Taiwan. Ambassador Faavae then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great honor and privilege to meet with President Lai today as the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu to Taiwan, and to present to him her letter of credence. She then extended, on behalf of the government and people of Tuvalu, her warmest greetings and deep respect to the president and people of Taiwan. The letter of credence, she noted, signifies the trust and confidence that her government and governor-general have placed in her to represent their nation and to foster and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our countries. Ambassador Faavae said that our two countries have enjoyed a longstanding relationship of 45 years based on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared values. She added that we have collaborated, and continue to do so, in such fields as education, health, climate change adaptation and sea level rise mitigation, agriculture, clean energy, and internet connectivity.  Ambassador Faavae pointed out that Tuvalu remains committed to deepening ties with Taiwan and that it values people-to-people connections and our shared Austronesian heritage. She noted that the people of Tuvalu, a small developing nation, have greatly benefited from Taiwan’s advanced technical expertise and diverse financial assistance. She said she believes Tuvalu and Taiwan share a common interest and are united in our efforts and commitment to upholding democracy, peace, stability, and prosperity for our people and making the world better and safer.  Ambassador Faavae stated that as ambassador of Tuvalu to Taiwan, she pledges to work diligently and respectfully to enhance our bilateral relations, promote mutual understanding, and facilitate collaboration in areas of shared concern. The ambassador said she looks forward to collaborating closely with the Taiwan government and other stakeholders to achieve our common objectives and to continue building a more prosperous and harmonious future for our nations. In closing, she thanked President Lai for the opportunity to serve and to further the enduring friendship between our two countries.  

    Details
    2025-03-28
    President Lai meets British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones
    On the afternoon of March 28, President Lai Ching-te met with British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones. In remarks, President Lai welcomed Representative Bradley-Jones as she takes up her post in Taiwan, and thanked the United Kingdom government and parliament for demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan. The president indicated that Taiwan and the UK enjoy close economic and trade ties, and our industries complement each other well, with great potential for collaboration in such fields as semiconductors, AI, unmanned vehicles, and medium- and low-orbit satellites. He stated that he looks forward to expanding exchanges with the UK across all domains so as to enhance democratic and economic resilience, jointly advancing the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region and economic security around the world. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a pleasure to meet Representative Bradley-Jones here at the Presidential Office for this exchange. I understand that she has proactively called at many government agencies since taking up her post last month. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a warm welcome. Taiwan and the UK are partners that share the values of freedom and democracy. In recent years, our bilateral relations have continued to deepen. With the efforts of Representative Bradley-Jones and our respective governments, I look forward to the expansion of dialogue and cooperation between Taiwan and the UK. This will further elevate our bilateral ties. Especially in the face of expanding authoritarianism, the UK is not only playing an important role in crafting a unified European response; it is also demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan through various channels. For example, joint statements released after the Australia-UK ministerial consultations, as well as the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, underlined a high level of concern for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The UK government has publicly expressed support for Taiwan’s international participation on multiple occasions. And last November, the UK House of Commons passed a motion clearly asserting that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan. These actions attest to the UK’s belief in supporting democracy and peace, and have further solidified our countries’ friendship. I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to the UK government and parliament.  Currently, the UK is Taiwan’s fourth largest trading partner in Europe and second largest source of investment from Europe. We enjoy close economic and trade ties, and our industries complement each other well. There is also great potential for collaboration in such fields as semiconductors, AI, unmanned vehicles, and medium- and low-orbit satellites. We look forward to expanding exchanges with the UK across all domains so as to enhance democratic and economic resilience. We also hope the UK will continue to support Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership so that together, we can work with more like-minded partners, jointly advancing the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region and economic security around the world. Once again, I welcome Representative Bradley-Jones to Taiwan and wish her all the best with her work. I anticipate that Taiwan-UK relations will continue to steadily advance through our joint efforts. Representative Bradley-Jones then delivered remarks, first saying in Mandarin that she is honored to meet with President Lai to discuss topics of mutual concern and jointly deepen Taiwan-UK relations, promoting mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation. She went on to say that she came to Taiwan last August to study Mandarin, and began her post as British Office Taipei representative in February this year, noting that every day she learns more about and gains a deeper understanding of Taiwan. Last year, she said, she visited Tainan and Wanli, and found Tainan’s wetlands and the scenery in Wanli very impressive. She added that she has also tried many different Taiwanese foods, and is looking forward to experiencing even more of Taiwan’s local culture and customs over the next four years. Continuing her remarks in English, Representative Bradley-Jones stated that since taking up her post, she has borne witness to the strength of the relationship between Taiwan and the UK and the potential for it to continue to grow. She said that on trade and investment, there is significant complementarity between Taiwan’s Five Trusted Industry Sectors and the UK’s Industrial Strategy, particularly in areas such as digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. Both governments are also together supporting Taiwan and UK businesses through our Enhanced Trade Partnership and annual trade talks, she said. Representative Bradley-Jones went on to say that on science and technology, Taiwan and the UK can and should do more together. She noted that the UK has the third largest tech sector in the world and is valued at over US$1.1 trillion, while Taiwan is the center of the semiconductor and AI hardware world. Given our complementary strengths, especially in areas such as semiconductors, space, and communications technology, she said, the UK has stepped up its level of activity in Taiwan, including by regularly hosting a UK Pavilion at SEMICON and funding 18 joint R&D programs through our new collaborative R&D fund, and looks forward to doing more together in the future.  In support of Taiwan’s whole-of-society resilience, the representative said, the UK is supporting valuable exchanges, co-hosting GCTF (Global Cooperation and Training Framework) workshops, sharing lessons on financial sector resilience, and reaching out to mayors and community leaders across Taiwan. From financial resilience to cyber resilience, she said, the UK’s public sector and private industries have plenty to share and learn. Representative Bradley-Jones stated that on people-to-people links, parliamentarians, civil society, and academics are continuing to deepen contact, and that she is particularly excited by a new smart parliament partnership agreed upon by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the UK’s Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which aims to facilitate cross-party, cross-society, and cross-border exchanges on issues such as democratic governance, AI, inclusive policy-making, and public safety. The representative indicated that the examples she mentioned just scratch the surface of the full potential of the Taiwan-UK relationship. She said that the UK’s longstanding policy remains unchanged, and fundamentally, that is because we share a common set of values and interests. We are together focused on how to make our societies safer and more prosperous tomorrow than they are today, she said, and as like-minded democracies, innovative economies, and practical partners, the sincere and pragmatic cooperation between Taiwan and the UK is bringing material benefits to the prosperity and well-being of our people every day. 

    Details
    2025-03-21
    President Lai meets Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy
    On the morning of March 21, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. In remarks, President Lai said that Alaska has long been an important trading partner of Taiwan, and that we have built a solid foundation for cooperation in such fields as energy, fisheries, and tourism. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Alaska will have more frequent engagement and exchanges so that our relations can continue to grow to create prosperous development for both sides. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincerest welcome to our guests. This is Governor Dunleavy’s first visit to Taiwan, and last night, we both attended the Hsieh Nien Fan (謝年飯) banquet hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet with Governor Dunleavy today at the Presidential Office for further dialogue. Alaska has long been an important trading partner of Taiwan. Our sister-state relationship was established in 1988, and we have built a solid foundation for cooperation in such fields as energy, fisheries, and tourism. Currently, Taiwan is Alaska’s eighth largest export market and ninth largest source of imports. This goes to show just how close our trade and economic ties are and how much potential there is for further growth. As I said in my remarks at last night’s Hsieh Nien Fan banquet, Taiwan is interested in buying Alaskan natural gas. I am sure that Governor Dunleavy’s visit will help us explore even more opportunities for cooperation and continue to deepen Taiwan-United States relations. In the face of such challenges as expanding authoritarianism, climate change, and pandemics, we look forward to strengthening collaboration between Taiwan and the US. By drawing on our strengths, we can jointly build non-red supply chains to bolster our economic resilience and drive the advancement of global technology. I want to thank the US government for reiterating the importance it attaches to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and its opposition to any attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. These statements backing Taiwan help in maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region. Once again, I thank Governor Dunleavy for traveling such a long way to Taiwan. We hope to see more frequent engagement and exchanges between Taiwan and Alaska so that our relations can continue to grow, and we can create prosperous development for both sides. Governor Dunleavy then delivered remarks, saying that their trip to visit friends in Taiwan has been fantastic, thanking President Lai for the invitation to meet, and thanking all the staff. Governor Dunleavy said that as the pandemic was raging, the world went from “before COVID” to “after COVID.” Before COVID, he said, the world relied on a number of systems that were in place for decades after World War II involving supply chains, alliances, sources of energy, trading partners, and friends. He went on to say that as we go beyond COVID, we are reestablishing and reevaluating who our friends are, where we are going to get our energy, and who our trading partners are going to be. The governor said that we are creating a new world for the next 50 years with the new administration in Washington, and this is an opportunity for us to reevaluate and reinvest with our friends for the next 50 years in each other, our futures, and our security. Governor Dunleavy stated that one thing is for certain: that Taiwan is a friend of the US and a friend of Alaska, and has been for many, many decades. He said that it is their hope in this trip and subsequent trips to establish an even tighter bond among their friends in Taiwan, the US, and Alaska. The governor also said that we have much in common in that we are members of the Pacific family, are democracies, and believe in freedom, free speech, and capitalism. He indicated that he has much optimism for the future, and that as we reestablish relationships throughout the world, energy is going to be the key and the basis for our economic development, our national security, and our friendship. Governor Dunleavy said that he believes this trip is going to lay the groundwork for a fantastic future between Taiwan, Alaska, and the US, and that with President Lai’s support as well as the support of the US administration, we can work together to build even better relationships.

    Details
    2025-04-06
    President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response
    On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions.  However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods:  1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age.  4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Global health – Conclusion of negotiations on an agreement to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (16 Apr. 2025)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    France applauds the conclusion of negotiations on an agreement to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

    These negotiations, which began three years ago under the leadership of France and the EU, were brought to a conclusion on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. France did its utmost to ensure their success and, since the summer of 2024, has co-chaired the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body of the World Health Organization (WHO) alongside South Africa.

    This new “pandemic accord” will better prepare countries for future health crises and will strengthen our collective security in the face of pandemics, in keeping with the EU’s commitments and the French Global Health Strategy for 2023-2027.

    Five years after the Covid-19 crisis, this accord reaffirms these countries’ determination to provide a coordinated, solidarity-based, equitable international response to crises that is based on cooperation, transparency, and science. This accord likewise reaffirms the international community’s trust in and support for the WHO, whose role at the center of the international health architecture is irreplaceable.

    This accord is the first legally binding international text to establish clear obligations for strengthening prevention in every country by taking into account the One Health approach. It reaffirms the dual principle of equity and solidarity in the fight against future pandemics and, to this end, provides for mechanisms to facilitate fast access to vaccines, medications and diagnostic tools. Lastly, it proposes major advances for the health industry, especially with regard to developing R&D, strengthening scientific cooperation on emerging pathogens, and supporting the local production of medical countermeasures.

    This accord will be proposed for adoption at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May 2025.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Measles alert for Inner West Sydney

    Source: Australian Green Party

    NSW Health is advising people to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles after being notified of a confirmed case who was infectious while visiting several locations in inner west Sydney. 

    The case recently returned from South East Asia were there are ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries including Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

    People who attended the following locations should watch for the development of symptoms. These locations do not pose an ongoing risk.

    Sunday 13 April 2025

    Leichhardt MarketPlace Aldi: 5:45pm – 6:45pm

    Wednesday 16 April 2025

    Leichhardt MarketPlace MyHealth Medical Centre: 2:00pm – 3:20pm

    South Western Sydney District Acting Director of Public Health, Dr Mitchell Smith said if you visited the above locations at those times you should monitor for symptoms. 

    “Measles is a serious vaccine-preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes,” Dr Smith said.

    “Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body.

    “It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it’s important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms up until Sunday 4th May 2025.

    “It’s important for people to stay vigilant if they’ve been exposed, and if they develop symptoms, to please call ahead to their GP or emergency department to ensure they do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients.

    “We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations. This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is highly infectious.     
    “Anyone born after 1965 needs to ensure they have had two doses of measles vaccine. This is especially important before overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment.

    “In addition, people at these locations who are immunosuppressed, pregnant, or anyone, including babies, who has not received a measles vaccine may benefit from preventative treatment. People in these groups should speak to their GP urgently or contact their local public health unit on 1300 066 055.”

    The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective and is given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age. It is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn’t already had two doses.

    Children under the age of 12 months can have their first dose of MMR up to six months earlier if they are travelling to areas with a high risk for measles. Parents should consult their GP.

    People who are unsure of whether they have had two doses should get a vaccine, as additional doses are safe. This is particularly important prior to travel. MMR vaccine is available from GPs (all ages) and pharmacies (people over 5 years of age).

    If you, or someone you know, is experiencing measles symptoms, or have questions about measles, please call your GP or healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Vervias Announces Introduction of Comprehensive New Employee Benefit Scheme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHENGDU, China, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vervias, a global leader in wealth management, proudly announces the launch of its new employee benefit scheme, which will enhance the well-being of its team and foster a more positive, supportive workplace environment. This comprehensive package provides employees with a greater range of financial, health, and wellness benefits to support their personal and professional growth.

    The new scheme is part of Vervias’ ongoing commitment to its employees, recognizing that the company’s success is built on the talents and contributions of its dedicated team. By offering diverse benefits, the company hopes to attract and retain top talent while ensuring that every member of the Vervias family has the resources to live a balanced and fulfilling life.

    Fostering Employee Well-Being and Satisfaction

    “At Vervias, we believe that a strong, healthy workforce is the foundation of a successful company,” said David Zhang, CEO of Vervias. “This new employee benefit scheme is designed to support our team’s personal and professional well-being, ensuring that they have the tools and resources to thrive both in and outside of work. We’re excited to roll out these enhancements as part of our ongoing efforts to create a dynamic and supportive environment for all our employees.”

    Key Features of the New Employee Benefit Scheme

    The new benefits package includes:

    • Health and Wellness Programs: Comprehensive medical, dental, and mental health coverage, alongside access to wellness programs to improve physical and mental well-being.
    • Retirement and Financial Planning Support: Financial planning assistance and retirement savings options to ensure employees are well-prepared for their future.
    • Flexible Work Arrangements: Options for remote work, flexible hours, and additional paid time off to provide employees with a better work-life balance.
    • Professional Development and Education: Funding for ongoing education, professional development courses, and leadership training to foster career growth and long-term success.
    • Family Support Benefits: Parental leave, childcare assistance, and support for families, ensuring that employees can focus on both their professional and personal responsibilities.

    A Commitment to Long-Term Employee Satisfaction

    Vervias remains focused on providing its employees with the tools and support they need to succeed and grow within the company. Introducing this new benefit scheme is part of the company’s broader efforts to maintain a culture of respect, support, and innovation that drives individual and organizational success.

    About Vervias

    Vervias is a global wealth management company based in Chengdu, China. Combining international insight with local expertise, we offer forward-thinking solutions to meet the evolving needs of individuals and institutions. Our team focuses on creating personalized investment strategies that align with your long-term financial objectives.

    For inquiries, please contact:
    Frida Johansson
    Chief Engagement Officer
    +86 28 6787 2827
    f.johansson@vervias.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Vervias. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8423f30c-9262-4778-b713-26bd192388dc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FLYR Hospitality to Power Business Intelligence for Ennismore

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FLYR, the technology company that unlocks freedom to innovate for the travel industry, today announced that Ennismore, the fastest-growing lifestyle and leisure hospitality company, is working with FLYR Hospitality to continue to uplevel its commercial operations. With more than 180 hotels and 500 restaurants and bars across 17 brands, Ennismore is leveraging FLYR’s platform for revenue management, sales, distribution and marketing across its global operations.

    By implementing FLYR Hospitality, Ennismore can benefit from AI-powered forecasting, real-time property and corporate-level analytics, and a standardized technology stack that enhances visibility and operational efficiency.

    “Making decisions based on the latest intel is critical to our business,” said Dan Gordon, EVP of Revenue Management and BI at Ennismore. “With our great partners at FLYR Hospitality, we’re unlocking the ability to democratize data across our portfolio, by creating tailored dashboards that serve our brand-specific, region-specific and enterprise-wide needs.”

    Since going live with FLYR, Ennismore has deployed the platform across 100 properties, enabling its commercial teams—both on-property and at the corporate level—to access real-time insights that improve budgeting, forecasting, and market share analysis.

    “Ennismore is one of the most forward-thinking companies in hospitality, and we’re proud to support their journey toward AI-driven revenue management,” said Lukas Hughes, Vice President of Product at FLYR Hospitality. “By providing a single source of truth for commercial teams across properties and brands, we’re helping Ennismore achieve greater efficiency, agility, and profitability.”

    FLYR Hospitality seamlessly integrates with key industry partners, including STR, Lighthouse, and Oracle (OPERA Cloud), providing Ennismore with a holistic view of market trends and performance metrics.

    About FLYR
    FLYR is a technology company that unlocks freedom to innovate for the travel industry – eliminating legacy constraints to enable real-time decision making and create the experiences travelers seek. Cloud native, FLYR leverages technologies including deep learning, an advanced form of AI. FLYR is helping airlines and hospitality businesses around the globe improve revenue performance, reduce cost, and modernize their e-commerce experience. Learn more at flyr.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rustam Minnikhanov became an Honorary Doctor of SPbPU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    A solemn ceremony of presenting the mantle and diploma of Honorary Doctor of SPbPU to Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov took place at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    The event was attended by honorary doctors of SPbPU: Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin, General Director of the Scientific and Technical Center of Gazprom Neft Mars Khasanov, as well as the Director of the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Taliya Khabriyeva, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Roman Shaikhutdinov and other honored guests. The ceremony began with the performance of the anthem of the Polytechnic University by the youth choir of SPbPU “Polyhymnia”.

    Today is a ceremonial meeting of the Academic Council, dedicated to a very important historical event. You can talk about Rustam Nurgalievich for a long time, and still not reveal the breadth of soul, mind, intellect, talents that were given to him. It is a great honor and joy for us to see such a legendary person among polytechnics, – emphasized the rector of SPbPU, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy.

    The new honorary doctor was introduced by the Scientific Secretary of the Polytechnic Dmitry Karpov, who greeted the guests in the Tatar language. He reported that the members of the Academic Council of our university unanimously voted to award the title to Rustam Nurgalievich on November 27, 2023.

    The long-standing and in every sense friendly interaction of our university with universities, enterprises and administrative institutions of Tatarstan is seen as one of the most convincing and positive symbols of the unity of our multinational and multi-confessional country. And just as the bear has become a significant symbol of a large, strong, powerful Russia since ancient times, the winged white leopard on the coat of arms of the Republic of Tatarstan is significant for us – a sacred symbol of purity of thoughts and heavenly protection, a symbol of nobility and rebirth, – noted Dmitry Karpov.

    Under the leadership of Rustam Minnikhanov, the republic is actively developing: 6th place among the subjects of the Russian Federation in terms of gross regional product, 5th and 3rd in terms of industrial and agricultural production, 2nd in terms of construction scale. Today, Tatarstan produces over 7% of all Russian oil, produces over 40% of synthetic rubbers, and produces every third truck produced in the country. In the quality of life rating in 2024, the Republic of Tatarstan took 2nd place after Moscow and St. Petersburg.

    Kazan today is one of the largest economic, industrial, scientific and cultural centers of our country, a popular tourist city that has a registered brand “Third Capital of Russia”. Elabuga, a city with more than a thousand years of history, has become a special economic zone “Alabuga”, recognized as the best in the country. Innopolis is one of four science cities in Russia, created from scratch, a special economic zone. Five Advanced Engineering Schools have been created in Tatarstan within the framework of a federal project.

    Outstanding results are behind many significant awards of the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan. Rustam Nurgalievich has more than 40 orders, medals and badges of distinction – state, regional, departmental, public, religious, as well as dozens of certificates, gratitude from the President, honorary titles.

    Rustam Minnikhanov is a holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland for his great contribution to solving socio-economic problems and many years of conscientious work, the holder of the Order of Alexander Nevsky for special personal services to the state and great contribution to strengthening the international authority of the Russian Federation, as well as the Stolypin Medal of the 2nd degree for services in solving strategic problems of the country’s socio-economic development and many years of conscientious work. A professional race car driver, Honored Master of Sports of the Russian Federation, multiple Russian autocross champion, Rustam Nurgalievich also makes a great contribution to the development of sports.

    The robe and diploma of the Honorary Doctor of SPbPU are symbols that have a lot of meaning for our university, and for Rustam Nurgalievich personally, and for Tatarstan universities and enterprises, and for the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, whose project group we are expecting for an internship in October of this year at the request of the President of the Academy Rifkat Nurgalievich Minnikhanov. I would like to especially note that the badge of the Honorary Doctor of the Polytechnic University of Rustam Nurgalievich turned out to be doubly symbolic: our university celebrated 125 years since its foundation, and the number of the badge that will be awarded is 125, – Dmitry Karpov emphasized.

    The doctoral robe and cap were brought into the Academic Council hall by students in the uniform of the Polytechnic University of the early 20th century. Traditionally, the Polyhymnia choir performed the Gaudeamus anthem. Andrei Rudskoy presented Rustam Nurgalievich with a book about honorary doctors of the Polytechnic University, which has a page dedicated to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan. As a sign of special respect, the book is also made in the Tatar language.

    Rustam Minnikhanov expressed gratitude for the honor bestowed upon him.

    It is a great honor for me to become an Honorary Doctor of the Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, the leading university in the country, a world-class university. Mechanical engineering, the oil industry, energy, and IT are actively developing in the Republic of Tatarstan. In recent years, we have been working very closely with the Polytechnic University, collaborating in many areas, and are in touch with Andrey Ivanovich. This is for the benefit of everyone. Thank you very much, Rustam Minnikhanov said in his response.

    After the ceremony, Rustam Nurgalievich met with students who came to study at SPbPU from the Republic of Tatarstan. The polytechnicians asked questions about employment opportunities and prospects for young specialists. They were interested in what measures are being taken in Tatarstan to attract graduates of technical universities, what bonus programs exist.

    Polytechnic University is a world-class university, I have once again seen this today. You are very lucky to be studying at one of the best technical universities in Russia. We will be sincerely happy if you find a job in Tatarstan, which needs strong and well-trained personnel, the head of the republic emphasized.

    The meeting participants left their contact details so that representatives of the relevant structures and services of the Republic of Tatarstan could contact them and provide detailed information. The students also suggested diversifying the menu of the Polytechnic donut shop with Tatar cuisine.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Q1 2025 as planned, post Financial restructuring: commercial recovery, decline in revenue and limited cash consumption

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    Q1 2025 as planned, post financial restructuring:

    commercial recovery, decline in revenue

    and limited cash consumption

    Confirmation of continued commercial recovery, fueled by strategic large deal signatures

    • Q1 2025 order entry at €1.7 billion
    • Q1 2025 book-to-bill at 81%, +17 points vs Q1 2024, benefiting from the signature of multi-year contract renewals and business wins with new material revenue streams

    Q1 2025 revenue: €2,068 million, down -15.9% organically, impacted by lower order entry and contract completions recorded in 2024, before the closing of the financial restructuring of the Company on December 18, 2024

    • Reflecting deliberate reduction of BPO1 activities in the UK, as well as calendar effects
    • Eviden: down -14.0% organically
    • Tech Foundations: down -17.5% organically

    Estimated cash consumption2limited to c. €-40 million in Q1 2025 vs €-415 million in Q1 2024

    • No usage at all of account receivable factoring or specific optimization on trade payables

    Estimated liquidity3of c. €1,958 million as of March 31, 2025 vs €2,179 million as of December 31, 2024:

    • Cash and cash equivalent of c. €1,518 million vs €1,739 million in December 2024 and undrawn revolving credit facility of €440 million as of March 31, 2025
    • Including c. €138 million of cash in advance (vs €319 million as at December 31, 2024), consisting solely of customer invoices paid in advance without any discount and on a pure voluntary basis

    Presentation of Atos updated strategy and organization during the May 14, 2025 Capital Markets Day

    Paris, April 17, 2025 – Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, high-performance computing and information technology infrastructure, today announces its Q1 2025 revenue.

    Philippe Salle, Atos Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, declared:

    “Our first quarter performance confirms the inflexion in our business trajectory following the closing of our financial restructuring at the end of 2024. While top line remained under pressure, our commercial activity continued to recover during the quarter, attesting to the confidence and engagement of our clients and boding well for the future of Atos. We have also limited our cash consumption during the quarter and made significant progress in the implementation of our restructuring program to adapt our cost base. I look forward to sharing my vision for Atos and unveiling our mid-term strategy at our Capital Markets Day on May 14. This is the start of a new chapter for the Group, with relentless focus on serving our customers through innovation and high-quality services.”

    Q1 2025 Revenue by Business

    In € million Q1 2025
    Revenue    		 Q1 2024
    Revenue    		 Q1 2024
    Revenue*    		 Organic variation*
    Eviden 973 1,164 1,132 -14.0%
    Tech Foundations 1,095 1,314 1,326 -17.5%
    Total 2,068 2,479 2,458 -15.9%

    *: at constant scope and March 2025 average exchange rates

    Group revenue was €2,068 million, down -15.9% organically compared with Q1 2024. Overall, Group revenue evolution in Q1 2025 reflects lower order entry and contract completions recorded in 2024, before the closing of the financial restructuring of the Company in December 2024, deliberate reduction of BPO activities in the UK, calendar effects as well as market softness in key geographies.

    Eviden revenue was €973 million, down -14.0% organically.

    • Digital activities decreased double digit. The business was impacted by H2 2024 contract completions and contract scope reductions, as well as by the continued market softness in North America, in the UK & Ireland and in Southern Europe.
    • Big Data & Security (BDS) revenue decreased high single digit. Lower activity in cybersecurity services due to volume decline and contract completions was partially offset by growth in Advanced Computing due to large project deliveries in India and Germany.

    Tech Foundations revenue was €1,095 million, down -17.5% organically.

    • Core revenue (excluding BPO and value-added resale (“VAR”)) decreased double digit mainly due to previously established contract terminations and completions in North America, lower revenue from Major Events following the delivery of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic games, and by contract scope and volume reduction in the UK.
    • Non-core revenue declined double digit as planned, reflecting deliberate reduction of BPO activities in the UK and reduced value-added resale for hardware and software products.

    Q1 2025 revenue by Regional Business Unit

    In € million Q1 2025
    Revenue    		 Q1 2024
    Revenue    		 Q1 2024
    Revenue*    		 Organic variation*
    Central Europe 501 533 527 -5.0%
    Southern Europe 438 565 527 -16.9%
    North America 382 512 528 -27.6%
    UK / IR 309 423 434 -28.8%
    Growing markets 224 223 219 +2.0%
    Benelux and the Nordics (BTN)                  212 220 220 -3.6%
    Others & Global structures 2 3 3 -10.0%
    Total 2,068 2,479 2,458 -15.9%

    *: at constant scope and March 2025 average exchange rates

    Central Europe revenue was € 501 million, down -5.0% organically.

    • Eviden revenue decreased low single digit. Decline in Digital due to volume reduction from Manufacturing and Public Sector customers was partially offset by the delivery of a large HPC in Germany.
    • Tech Foundations revenue decreased double digit, reflecting volume and scope reductions related to low-margin contracts with Pharmaceutical and Banking customers.

    Southern Europe revenue was €438 million, down -16.9% organically.

    • Eviden revenue decreased double digit. Digital activities declined due to volume reduction with Automotive, Transport & Logistics and Banking customers. The delivery of a supercomputer project in France in 2024 provided a higher prior year comparison basis for BDS.
    • Tech Foundations revenue decreased high single digit due to contract completions with select customers.

    North America revenue was € 382 million, down -27.6% organically, impacted by contract terminations and completions, and general slowdown in market conditions.

    • Eviden revenue decreased double digit, notably from lower activity with Healthcare, Finance, and Transport & Logistics customers. BDS decreased double digit due to contract completion and volume reductions.
    • Tech Foundations revenue decreased double digit notably from lower activity in Media and Insurance.

    UK & Ireland revenue was € 309 million, down -28.8% organically.

    • Eviden revenue decreased double digit. Digital revenue decreased on back of market softness in Public Sector while BDS remained stable.
    • Revenue in Tech Foundations decreased double digit, due primarily to previously announced large contract exit in Public Sector BPO.

    Growing Market revenue was €224 million, up +2.0% organically. Revenue from the delivery of a HPC in India was partly offset by the high prior year comparison basis of Major Events, which included revenue from the 2024 Paris Olympic & Paralympic Games.

    Benelux and the Nordics revenue was € 212 million, down -3.6% organically

    • Eviden revenue decreased low single digit, impacted by project completions and volume reductions in Manufacturing.
    • Revenue in Tech Foundations decreased low single digit as well, due to previously established contract completions and volume decline on low-margin contracts with Healthcare and Utilities customers.

    Order entry and backlog

    Q1 2025 commercial activity

    Order entry reached €1.7 billion in Q1 2025, of which €1.1 billion represent new services sold to new or existing customers.

    Book-to-bill ratio was 81% for the quarter, improving by +17 points compared with the Q1 2024 ratio of 64%, benefiting from renewed client confidence.

    • Eviden book-to-bill ratio was 80% for the first quarter compared to 83% in Q1 2024, when a large HPC order was booked for a Danish innovation center. Main contract signatures in the first quarter included a large six-year new business in digital and cyber contract in Belgium and a contract renewal to manage a public health system for a large American insurance company.
    • Tech Foundations book-to-bill ratio was 81% for the first quarter, a significant improvement compared to the 47% reported in Q1 2024. Main contract signatures in the first quarter included a new four-year contract for IT infrastructure in Public Sector in France, a multi-year contract extension for Mainframe services with a global leader in aerospace as well a contract renewal with a leading automotive manufacturer for Mainframe services. Also, a new five-year Digital Workplace contract was signed with the UK Department of Environments, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

    Backlog & commercial pipeline

    At the end of March 2025, the full backlog reached €12.6 billion representing 1.3 years of
    revenue.

    The full qualified weighted pipeline amounted to €4.5 billion at the end of March 2025, representing 5.7 months of revenue.

    Human resources

    The total headcount was 74,074 at the end of March 2025, decreasing by -5.2% compared with the end of December 2024, notably from 1,682 departures related to the restructuring plan already on track.

    Q1 2025 liquidity position4

    Atos SE also publishes its estimated liquidity position at March 31, 2025. This indicator measures the estimated financial resources available at date to meet Atos SE future obligations. This publication is part of the regular reporting requirements defined and agreed with the Group’s financial creditors.

    As of March 31, 2025, Atos liquidity is estimated at circa €1,958 million, compared to €2,179 million as of December 31, 2024, and was comprised of:

     In € million March 31, 2025
    (estimated)    		 December 31, 2024
    (actuals)    		 Var.
    Cash & cash equivalents 1,518  1,739 -221 
    of which payments received from customers in advance of invoice payment due dates 138  319 -181 
    Undrawn revolving credit facility 440  440 – 
    Total liquidity 1,958  2,179 -221 

    Capital Markets Day

    Atos will present an update of its strategy and organization during a Capital Markets Day that will be held in Atos’ Bezons headquarters on May 14, 2025.

    Forthcoming events

    May 14, 2025 Capital Markets Day
    June 13, 2025 Annual General Meeting
       
    August 1st, 2025 (Before Market Opening)  First semester 2025 results

    APPENDIX

    Q1 2024 revenue at constant scope and exchange rates reconciliation

    For the analysis of the Group’s performance, revenue for Q1 2025 is compared with 2024 revenue at constant scope and foreign exchange rates.

    Reconciliation between the 2024 reported first quarter revenue and the 2024 first quarter revenue at constant scope and foreign exchange rates is presented below, by Business Lines and Regional Business Units:

    Q1 2024 revenue
    In € million    		 Q1 2024 published Internal transfers Scope effects Exchange rates effects Q1 2024*
    Eviden 1,164 2 -44 9 1,132
    Tech Foundations 1,314 -2 0 14 1,326
    Total 2,479 0 -44 23 2,458
               
               
    Q1 2024 revenue
    In € million    		 Q1 2024 published Internal transfers Scope effects Exchange rates effects Q1 2024*
    North America 512 0 0 16 528
    Benelux and the Nordics (BTN) 220 0 0 0 220
    UK / IR 423 0 0 10 434
    Central Europe 533 0 -6 0 527
    Southern Europe 565 0 -38 0 527
    Growing Markets 223 0 0 -3 219
    Others & Global structures 3 0 0 0 3
    Total 2,479 0 -44 23 2,458

    *: at constant scope and March 2025 average exchange rates

    Scope effects amounted to €-44 million. They related to the divesture of Worldgrid in Southern Europe and Central Europe.

    Currency effects positively contributed to revenue for €+23 million. They mostly came from the appreciation of the British pound and the US dollar partially compensated by the depreciation of the Brazilian real, the Argentinian peso and the Turkish lira.

    Disclaimer

    This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including references, concerning the Group’s expected growth and profitability in the future which may significantly impact the expected performance indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are linked to factors out of the control of the Company and not precisely estimated, such as market conditions or competitors’ behaviors. Any forward-looking statements made in this document are statements about Atos’s beliefs and expectations and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include statements that may relate to Atos’s plans, objectives, strategies, goals, future events, future revenues or synergies, or performance, and other information that is not historical information. Actual events or results may differ from those described in this document due to a number of risks and uncertainties that are described within the 2024 Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on April 10, 2025 under the registration number D.25-0238. Atos does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation or responsibility to update or amend any of the information above except as otherwise required by law.

    This document does not contain or constitute an offer of Atos’s shares for sale or an invitation or inducement to invest in Atos’s shares in France, the United States of America or any other jurisdiction. This document includes information on specific transactions that shall be considered as projects only. In particular, any decision relating to the information or projects mentioned in this document and their terms and conditions will only be made after the ongoing in-depth analysis considering tax, legal, operational, finance, HR and all other relevant aspects have been completed and will be subject to general market conditions and other customary conditions, including governance bodies and shareholders’ approval as well as appropriate processes with the relevant employee representative bodies in accordance with applicable laws.

    About Atos

    Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with circa 74,000 employees and annual revenue of circa €10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 68 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Contacts

    Investor relations:

    David Pierre-Kahn | investors@atos.net | +33 6 28 51 45 96

    Sofiane El Amri | investors@atos.net | +33 6 29 34 85 67

    Individual shareholders: +33 8 05 65 00 75

    Press contact: globalprteam@atos.net

    1         Business Process Outsourcing

    2         Cash consumption of a period is defined as the variance in cash and cash-equivalent, excluding (i) the variance of the drawn portion of the RCF and (ii) the variance in working capital optimization actions (which include cash in advance received from customers, account receivable factoring and specific optimization of trade payables)

    3         Liquidity is defined as the sum of (i) the consolidated cash and cash-equivalent position of the Group and (ii) the amounts available under any undrawn committed facilities (including committed overdrafts). Consolidated cash and cash-equivalent includes trapped cash and unpooled cash and excludes cash held in escrow accounts in order to provide cash collateral.

    4         Liquidity is defined as the sum of (i) the consolidated cash and cash-equivalent position of the Group and (ii) the amounts available under any undrawn committed facilities (including committed overdrafts). Consolidated cash and cash-equivalent includes trapped cash and unpooled cash and excludes cash held in escrow accounts in order to provide cash collateral.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Want straighter teeth or a gap between? Don’t believe TikTok – filing them isn’t the answer

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland

    After decades of Hollywood showcasing white-picket-fence celebrity smiles, the world has fallen for White Lotus actor Aimee Lou Wood’s teeth.

    Wood was bullied for her looks in her youth and expressed gratitude for the positive comments she received about her teeth since appearing on White Lotus. She also joked that people shouldn’t take to drastic measures like filing teeth to copy her famous gap.

    But social media influencers are promising that teeth filing is a quick way to achieve a straight smile. Some influencers even use electric nail drills to cut gaps between their front teeth.

    A few of my patients admit to taking a nail file to “buff” or file jagged edges off their teeth. Many do this without understanding what they are cutting away.

    Here’s why you should think twice about filing your teeth at home, and why we as dentists or orthodontists occasionally resort to this.

    When might a dentist file a tooth?

    Dentists and orthodontists occasionally file a tooth’s enamel, known as enameloplasty, to conservatively smooth-down a chipped tooth, or even-out a smile.

    But adjustments to a person’s smile are minute, and always limited to the superficial enamel layer of the tooth.

    Why don’t dentists routinely file teeth?

    Dentists and orthodontists are particular about what and when we cut because teeth don’t grow back like fingernails or hair.

    So what is a tooth? A tooth is like an egg, with an outer diamond-like lustrous crystal enamel coat that envelops the hard yet springy dentine.

    The enamel and dentine envelop a central chamber – containing blood vessels, cells and nerves – called the pulp.

    The outer periphery of the pulp is surrounded by and nourishes special dentine-making cells called odontoblasts.

    The odontoblasts are similar to our bone-making cells but don’t have the capacity to regenerate. These cells eventually give way to age-related changes or trauma.

    Our enamel-making cells die when our teeth cut through our gums as children, which means we can no longer make new, or repair damaged, enamel.

    So damaged enamel or dentine on the outer surface of the tooth cannot self-repair.

    Cutting your teeth without sealing and filling them can leave the tooth exposed, destroying the previously well-insulated pulp and causing sensitivity and pain.

    Infections can occur because the bacteria from the plaque inside your mouth travels into the tooth and inflames the pulp.

    And just like a cut on your skin, the pulp inflames and swells as part of the healing process. But your pulp is encased in a hard enamel-dentine chamber, so it has no room to expand and swell, leading to a throbbing toothache.

    What can you do if you want to change your teeth?

    You can change your smile without compromising the integrity of your teeth. Dentists can even create or close gaps.

    And we will always offer conservative options, including “no treatment”, to keep as many of your teeth whole and healthy as possible.

    Sometimes, your dentists and or orthodontists may offer options to:

    • use braces to move teeth. Moving teeth can create a different smile, and sometimes change the shape and position of your jaws, lips and cheeks

    • whiten teeth to remove superficial stains to make your smile look more visually even

    • adapt white resin fillings or veneers to add and change the shape of teeth, with little or no tooth cutting required.

    If you’re concerned about the look of your teeth, talk to your dentist or orthodontist about options that won’t damage your teeth and make them last the distance.

    Don’t forget that Aimee Lou Wood’s iconic smile makes her stand out from the crowd. Your smile is what makes you special, and is part of who you are.

    Arosha Weerakoon is a member of the Australian Dental Association and Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. She is the Deputy Chair of the Country to Coast Queensland Clinical Advisory Council. Arosha is a Colgate Advocate for Oral Health. In this role, she promotes professionalism to her peers. She is the principal and owner of a general dental practice.

    – ref. Want straighter teeth or a gap between? Don’t believe TikTok – filing them isn’t the answer – https://theconversation.com/want-straighter-teeth-or-a-gap-between-dont-believe-tiktok-filing-them-isnt-the-answer-253931

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Levin Host Roundtable with Veterans and Service Providers in San Diego to Highlight Impact of VA Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Levin Host Roundtable with Veterans and Service Providers in San Diego to Highlight Impact of VA Cuts

    WATCH: Padilla discusses importance of protecting essential VA benefits

    SAN DIEGO, CA — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49) hosted a roundtable in San Diego alongside veterans, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) service providers, and regional stakeholders to highlight the importance of protecting veterans’ benefits and discuss concerns regarding the Trump Administration’s plan for mass cuts to the VA workforce. The Administration is planning to cut more than 80,000 VA jobs, threatening access to the health care, housing services, educational opportunities, and other essential benefits veterans deserve.

    The demand for VA services is high. The VA delivered a record number of health care appointments and benefits in 2024, including over 127 million appointments. Nearly 800,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care since the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act was signed into law in 2022, expanding VA benefits to those exposed to toxic substances. Padilla promised to continue fighting to defend these essential PACT Act benefits for the hundreds of thousands of now VA-eligible veterans.

    Padilla also highlighted his bipartisan legislation introduced last week, the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act, to ensure veterans experiencing homelessness and receiving disability payments maintain access to crucial housing support. California has the most veterans in the nation and was home to 28 percent of all veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States last year, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s January 2024 point-in-time count. There are 9,300 homeless veterans across the state, including 865 homeless veterans in San Diego, according to the same count.

    “Veterans who have dedicated their lives to support our nation deserve our complete, enduring support, but they are facing serious threats as the Trump Administration proposes sweeping cuts to the VA workforce,” said Senator Padilla. “Our veterans earned their benefits through their service in uniform — and it’s offensive that they could now be on the chopping block. We should be doing more for our veterans, not less, and I’m going to keep speaking out against these indiscriminate, massive cuts and make sure our veterans can continue to access essential health care, housing, and education services.”

    “When Americans enlist, they swear an oath to defend our nation. And in return, we owe it to them to thank them for their sacrifice and take care of them after their service. Is this Elon’s way of saying thank you? With every day that goes by, more and more veterans are at risk of being fired,” said Representative Levin. “I won’t stand for it, and I will fight to ensure it won’t happen anymore. This constant chaos is eroding the public trust and is testing the limits of the American public’s patience. I want to be clear: I support efficiency as much as anyone and I don’t support bureaucracy for bureaucracy’s sake. But what Trump and Musk are doing is not making government work better, and on top of that it is unconstitutional. While the Trump Administration is hell-bent on cutting critical programs for our veterans, Senator Padilla and I are committed to serving them.” 

    Padilla also joined registered nurses and veterans at the VA Medical Center-San Diego today to deliver remarks at a rally organized by National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) demanding an end to the devastating VA staffing cuts.

    WATCH: Padilla criticizes VA cuts during rally with nurses and veterans

    Senator Padilla has strongly opposed the Trump Administration’s mass cuts and hiring freeze at the VA. Padilla is a cosponsor of the Putting Veterans First Act — comprehensive legislation to protect veterans, military spouses, and VA employees indiscriminately targeted by the Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) cuts at the VA and across the federal government. He has also co-signed multiple letters to the Administration and joined a resolution condemning these VA cuts. Padilla and his Senate colleagues also called on the Trump Administration to reverse its cancellation of 585 contracts with the VA, including those that help veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins access lifesaving health care as guaranteed under the PACT Act. In January, Padilla joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and 23 other Senators in demanding President Trump put veterans first and immediately exempt all VA employees from the Administration’s federal hiring freeze.

    Additionally, last year, Padilla passed a bipartisan amendment into law to increase and streamline veterans’ access to HUD-VASH housing vouchers through the FY24 appropriations package. Padilla and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) also led the Isakson-Roe Education Oversight Expansion Act, which was signed into law last year and will improve VA oversight to ensure veterans receive access to quality higher education from reputable institutions.

    Video of Senator Padilla’s remarks from today’s roundtable is available here and can be downloaded here.

    Additional photos from the roundtable and rally are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 1 in 6 New Zealanders is disabled. Why does so much health research still exclude them?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachelle Martin, Senior Lecturer in Rehabilitation & Disability, University of Otago

    Getty Images

    Disabled people encounter all kinds of barriers to accessing healthcare – and not simply because some face significant mobility challenges.

    Others will see their symptoms not investigated properly because it’s assumed a problem is related to their disability rather than another medical condition. Or they will have decisions made for them rather than with them.

    This often means they experience worse – and avoidable – outcomes compared to others. But despite this, health research – which is meant to reduce these disparities – frequently excludes disabled people.

    For instance, a 2023 global review of 2,710 clinical trials found 35% reported excluding disabled individuals specifically. Researchers sometimes assume (without a good ethical or scientific reason) that disabled people can’t give consent, don’t meet the study criteria, or will struggle to follow instructions and collaborate.

    Even when researchers are more inclusive, their plans can fail to account for the difficulties disabled people face with travel, communication and physical access. All of which makes it harder for them to participate.

    This creates a vicious circle. Health research is vital for shaping the policies, treatments and community interventions that underpin modern healthcare. However, for disabled people, who make up one-sixth of the national and global population, too much research does not reflect their experiences and needs.

    Beyond clinical and scientific research

    The active participation by disabled people in health research is good science, good economics and the right thing to do. When people with lived experience contribute to the design and delivery of health care and research, it means services are used more and fairer outcomes are achieved.

    But this is far from the reality in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world. Scientific and clinical research is still often viewed as being more important than research addressing the needs of patients and people, as prioritised by them.

    There is increasing interest in public and patient involvement in health services, and to a lesser extent health research. But this is not sufficiently embedded or formalised. Research priorities are still set primarily by clinicians and medical researchers.

    Most funding still goes to research investigating the causes, genetics and treatment of health conditions. And while these are important to study, there is still too little research focused on how people can live well with disability.

    A recent review of research funding for autism, for example, found the most money and number of grants were awarded to biological research. But a survey of about 500 people from New Zealand’s autistic and autism communities found people wanted more research into their mental health, wellbeing and practical skills development.

    If research aims to improve health outcomes for everyone, it must involve all populations – particularly those most at risk of poorer health outcomes.

    This extends beyond people with disability to include all marginalised and often excluded communities. But this kind of change will need action at different levels of research, and to be led by researchers themselves. The rules and funding systems must also support a more inclusive approach.

    Practical steps to make a difference

    Some of the key strategies needed to ensure health research becomes more representative, ethical and effective have been outlined by the Disability Inclusion in Research Collaboration, a global network of researchers:

    • Making sure disabled people are visible in research grant applications: funding bodies must actively require and reward the inclusion of disabled participants in health research studies.

    • Including disability perspectives from the very start: disabled people should be involved in formulating research questions, designing studies and advising on accessibility measures.

    • Ensuring disabled people are research participants whenever possible: researchers must clearly explain and justify any exclusion criteria related to disability, which need to be grounded in legitimate safety or ethical concerns rather than mere assumptions.

    • Making it routine to report on disability status: research studies should use data to identify, track and report on participants’ disability status, so it is easier to monitor inclusion efforts and outcomes.

    By committing to these basic measures, health research can become more representative, ethical and effective. It will also help the research produce insights relevant to a broader range of people, ultimately leading to stronger and fairer healthcare systems.

    This is about more than justice for disabled people. It is about ensuring medical research achieves its true purpose: to improve health for everyone.

    Rachelle A Martin receives funding from the NZ Health Research Council.

    Kaaren Mathias receives funding from the Health Research Council and CURE Kids.

    – ref. 1 in 6 New Zealanders is disabled. Why does so much health research still exclude them? – https://theconversation.com/1-in-6-new-zealanders-is-disabled-why-does-so-much-health-research-still-exclude-them-254280

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

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

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

    Most bees nest in the ground. Offering rocks and gravel is a simple way to help them thrive
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Freya Marie Jackson, PhD Candidate, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University _Lasioglossum dotatum_ kerrysturat/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC-ND Of the more than 20,000 bee species in the world, 70% nest in the ground. And like many of their counterparts that nest above ground, these bees are facing

    Thailand’s fragile democracy takes another hit with arrest of US academic
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia Despite the challenges faced by local democratic activists, Thailand has often been an oasis of relative liberalism compared with neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Westerners, in particular, have been largely welcomed and provided with

    In the trade war, China has moved to curb supply of critical minerals. Can Australia seize the moment?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Yue Zhang, Associate Professor, Technology and Innovation, University of Technology Sydney China has placed curbs on exports of rare germanium and gallium which are critical in manufacturing. Shutterstock In the escalating trade war between the United States and China, one notable exception stood out: 31 critical

    ‘The pay is not worth the stress’: research finds 10% of lawyers plan to quit within a year
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vivien Holmes, Emerita Professor, Australian National University Momentum studio/Shutterstock No one goes into the legal profession thinking it is going to be easy. Long working hours are fairly standard, work is often completed to tight external deadlines, and 24/7 availability to clients is widely understood to be

    Contemporary television is rarely as good as The Narrow Road to the Deep North
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Prime The Narrow Road to the Deep North stands as some of the most visceral and moving television produced in Australia in recent memory. Marking a new accessibility and confidence to director Justin Kurzel, it reunites him with

    NZ’s over-reliance on roads for freight means natural disasters hit even harder. But there is a fix
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cécile L’Hermitte, Senior Lecturer in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, University of Waikato In the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, the driving time between Napier and Wairoa stretched from 90 minutes to over six hours, causing major supply chain delays. Retail prices rose and shoppers faced empty shelves.

    ‘They are like my children’: research reveals 4 types of indoor plant owners. Which one are you?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brianna Le Busque, Lecturer in Environmental Science, University of South Australia maramorosz/Shutterstock Walk into any home or workplace today, and you’re likely to find an array of indoor plants. The global market for indoor plants is growing fast – projected to reach more than US$28 billion (A$44

    Cracks in social cohesion – the major parties must commit to reinvigorating multiculturalism
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Jakubowicz, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Technology Sydney In the run up to the May 3 election, questions are being raised about the value of multiculturalism as a public policy in Australia. They’ve been prompted by community tensions arising from the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the

    State of the states: six experts on how the campaign is playing out around Australia
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Clune, Honorary Associate, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney The federal election campaign has passed the halfway mark, with politicians zig-zagging across the country to spruik their policies and achievements. Where politicians choose to visit (and not visit) give us some insight into their electoral

    People are ‘microdosing’ weight-loss drugs. A GP explains what to watch out for
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natasha Yates, General Practitioner, PhD Candidate, Bond University MillaF/Shutterstock Injectable medications originally developed for the treatment of diabetes are also effective for weight loss, and have surged in popularity for this purpose around the world. In Australia, Ozempic is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes,

    With the end of Flybuys NZ, what happens to the personal data of nearly 3 million Kiwis?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Katerina Asher, Doctoral Candidate, Business School, University of Sydney JuSun/Getty Images After almost three decades in New Zealand, loyalty programme Flybuys announced it would be closing in 2024. The company behind the scheme, Loyalty New Zealand, has since entered liquidation, leaving the future of one

    New Aussie film The Correspondent is an extraordinary retelling of Peter Greste’s story
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Jean Baker, Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Monash University Maslow Entertainment The Correspondent is a film every journalist should see. There are no spoiler alerts. It is based on the globally-publicised jailing in Cairo in 2013 of Australian journalist Peter Greste (played by Richard Roxburgh) and his

    Fiji defence minister draws flak for six-week trip to meet peacekeepers
    RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs is facing a backlash after announcing that he was undertaking a multi-country, six-week “official travel overseas” to visit Fijian peacekeepers in the Middle East. Pio Tikoduadua’s supporters say he should “disregard critics” for his commitment to Fijian peacekeepers, which “highlights a profound dedication to duty and

    Election Diary: there were a couple of ‘moments’ in second Albanese-Dutton encounter
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Two “moments” stuck out in Wednesday’s leaders’ debate, the second head-to-head of the campaign. Peter Dutton cut his losses over his faux pas this week when he wrongly named Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto as having said there had been a

    Second leaders’ debate is a tame affair befitting a ‘deeply uninspiring’ campaign
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Marks, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Partnerships, Western Sydney University Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have had their second showdown of the 2025 federal election campaign. The debate, hosted by the ABC, was moderated by David Speers in the national broadcaster’s studios in

    Poll shows Australians hate Trump policies and have lost trust in US, but still strongly believe in alliance
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australians strongly disagree with key policies of US President Donald Trump, and have overwhelmingly lost trust in the United States to act responsibly in the world, according to the Lowy Institute’s 2025 poll. Despite this, 80% of people say the

    NZ’s Palestine Forum calls on Luxon to take ‘firm stand’ over Israeli atrocities with temporary ban on visitors
    Asia Pacific Report A Palestinian advocacy group has called on NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters to take a firm stand for international law and human rights by following the Maldives with a ban on visiting Israelis. Maher Nazzal, chair of the Palestine Forum of New Zealand, said in an open

    We compared the Labor and Coalition’s income tax proposals to see who benefits most
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Shutterstock We now have the competing bids for our votes by the alternative governments on income tax policy. From Labor, future cuts to the lowest marginal tax rate and new standard deductions for

    Half of Australian landlords sell their investments after 2 years, adding to renters’ insecurity
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ranjodh B. Singh, Senior Economics and Finance Lecturer, Curtin University Marc Bruxelle/Shutterstock Australia’s renters have to battle rising rents and a lack of available properties. They also face ongoing instability. Our new research suggests half of all landlords sell their investment properties after only two years, adding

    Labor and the Greens likely to gain Senate seats at the election
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne As well as the election for the full House of Representatives, there will be an election on May 3 for 40 of the 76 senators. The 72

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER, STANDING WITH ROCHESTER-FINGER LAKES VETERANS AT THE CANANDAIGUA VA, SOUNDS ALARM ON ‘DOGE’ CUTS TO SLASH LOCAL JOBS & PROGRAMS, ELIMINATE 80,000+ VA WORKERS NATIONWIDE; SENATOR SAYS WE CAN’T…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Thousands Of Vets & VA Workers Were Already Fired, Including In The Rochester-Finger Lakes; Canandaigua VA Workers Say Cuts Creating Chaos, With Local Vet Suicide Crisis Line Workers Even Being Mistakenly Fired & Rehired, Elsewhere NY Addiction Services Staff & Other VA Programs Staff Have Been Slashed

    Now With ‘DOGE’ Plan To Slash 80,000+ VA Jobs– NEARLY ONE-FIFTH OF ALL VA WORKERS – Schumer Says Places Like Canandaigua VA, Which He Saved From Being Closed, Could Face Devastating Damage

    Schumer: We Can’t Let ‘DOGE’ Attack Health Care For Over 33,000 Vets In Finger Lakes

    With ‘DOGE’ and the Trump administration’s plans to fire over 80,000 workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) looming, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today stood outside the Canandaigua VA to sound the alarm on the devastating impacts for the over 33,000 veterans in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region. The senator said across Upstate NY, VA workers, many of whom are veterans, have already been fired, creating chaos in the workforce and new massive cuts would spell disaster for both the Canandaigua VA and the care for vets across NY. Schumer called on the Trump administration to restore fired veterans and VA workers and stop any plans to further decimate the VA workforce.

    “This is not how you treat our veterans – it’s not just unacceptable, it’s un-American. Firing over 80,000 VA workers, many of whom are veterans themselves, will undoubtedly hurt the healthcare and benefits for the 33,000 veterans here in the Rochester-Finger Lakes. We have already seen the chaos firsthand, VA workers fired without warning across Upstate NY, chaos across the VA workforce. Here in Canandaigua they even fired workers on the veterans suicide crisis hotline before reversing themselves after public outcry. It is gut wrenching to think this is how we are treating the services of those who defended our freedoms,” said Senator Schumer. “Make no mistake, these cuts are a direct assault on our veterans here in Upstate NY. These cuts don’t just mean fewer VA workers, they mean longer wait times for our veterans to get the help they need. It means they won’t get the most advanced treatment, and ultimately it means many will likely be denied healthcare they deserve. Our nation told our veterans that if they put their lives and health on the line to protect our freedoms, we would take care of them, and the Trump administration is breaking that promise by cutting the VA to the bone. We need to make sure these cuts never happen. Not in Canandaigua or at any VA across America, and that they rehire all the veterans and VA workers who only were trying to serve those who served our country.”

    “Canandaigua VA workers, including our Veteran Crisis Line professionals are literally on the front lines every day saving veterans lives minute by minute, all while now dealing with the additional stress of their own jobs needlessly being as risk of termination.  They are fielding an increasing number of calls from stressed veterans worried that the VA cuts will affect their care or worse,” said Ronnie Orlowski, Canandaigua VA employee and President of AFGE Local 3306 that represents Canandaigua VA workers including Veteran Crisis Line workers. “A significant number of our VA workers are veterans themselves, and they bring a personal commitment and empathy to their jobs which is why it was unconscionable that dozens of Canandaigua VA workers on the Veteran Crisis Line and Homeless Veterans Hotline -several veterans themselves – were terminated earlier this year.  This includes workers who alert first responders to dispatch ambulances and police in real time to the location of a veteran in crisis calling on the line who needs immediate emergency intervention.  We fought back and while they were eventually reinstated, many do not feel their jobs are safe with the looming threat of 83,000 additional layoffs.  These proposed layoffs strike at the very heart of services that are essential to our veteran’s wellbeing, including those who have shared how the VA has been crucial in their post-service lives, from critical medical procedures and PTSD therapy to ongoing support. I thank Senator Schumer for his steadfast opposition to the proposed staffing cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and urge others to stand firm with him in ensuring our nation’s continued commitment to its veterans.” 

    Schumer said ‘DOGE’ has already fired thousands of veterans across the country, many of whom have service-connected disabilities. 2,400 VA employees, many of whom are veterans themselves, have already been terminated. The VA, however, has refused to even explain where all these cuts have been in New York, leading to chaos, and with 80,000 more looming, the senator said it could turn into a real crisis.

    Schumer said these broader ‘DOGE’ firings are especially cruel as veterans make up 30% of the federal workforce, with approximately 640,000 veterans working in federal agencies. The federal government has long made it a priority to hire veterans and military spouses, encouraging them to do so as a continuation of public service, making these cuts by the Trump Administration uniquely hurtful. Schumer has repeatedly highlighted this, including bringing a Western NY disabled Army veteran who served in Afghanistan who was fired from the Buffalo VA, as his personal guest to attend President Trump’s Joint Session of Congress

    Dozens of workers in the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System have already been caught in the crossfire of Trump’s firing chaos:

    1. Last February according to the AFGE, 9 Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) workers at the Canandaigua VA were fired, only to be reinstated days later after public outcry across the country. These included workers whose job is to call local first responders to dispatch intervention rescues when a veteran on the line is in crisis.
    2. 10 workers in the Finger Lakes VA system were fired.
    3. Additionally, VA union officials report that VA Homeless Hotline workers hired through Canandaigua VA as remote workers are under a pending return-to-work order which has already led the call center to lose 30 percent of its workforce which will reduce the line’s effectiveness.
    4. An office manager at the Veteran’s Mental Health Center in Rochester was fired, and though the manager was rehired, a supervisor has been fired since then.
    5. Spectrum News reported layoffs at the Bath VA’s Detox and Substance Use Rehab Center, risking its shutdown due to staffing shortages. Every Veteran Court in Monroe County sends their defendants to Bath for rehab, and the Bath facility is one of the only facilities that can provide in-patient detox care in the greater Rochester-Finger Lakes region.

    ‘DOGE’ has also directed the VA to cancel over 800 contracts that support chemotherapy treatment, screenings for veterans suffering from toxic exposure, detecting and preventing waste, fraud, and abuse, digitizing veterans’ disability claim records, and more. Schumer said these cuts have already hurt health care services that the VA can offer veterans and are just a small example of what’s to come. While Secretary Collins claimed the contract cancellations will have no negative impact on veterans’ health care, VA employees claim the contracts being cancelled are “central to patient safety.”

    Schumer added, “I am all for cutting out inefficiency, but you use a scalpel, not a chainsaw. Jobs and care for our veterans in Upstate NY is not government waste – full stop. This will hurt our veterans and their families.”

    These cuts also come at potentially the worst time, as more veterans had just started receiving healthcare than ever before thanks to Schumer leading the PACT Act to passage through Congress, which after years of denying vets treatment extended health coverage for exposure to burn pit smoke and other environmental hazards that caused cancers and other illnesses during their service In 2023 alone, the VA hired more than 60,000 new employees to serve thousands of new patients seeking care after the passage of the PACT Act. Trump’s plan to gut the VA workforce will reverse progress made in recent years to provide quality and continuous care to veterans suffering from diseases brought on by exposure to toxic burn pits. Schumer said if proposed firings go through, health care services for 33,000 veterans in the Finger Lakes and millions more across the country will be at risk.

    These drastic workforce cuts to the VA will cripple the agency’s ability to serve the 400,000 veterans enrolled in benefits between March 2023 and March 2024. VA employees and advocates indicate when these cuts take place, wait times, as well as delays or denial in care, will worsen as the longstanding staffing shortage problem at the VA will be significantly exacerbated. Cuts to the VA research workforce will prevent VA from delivering enhanced, tailored care to the veterans they are still able to serve, undoubtedly resulting in worse health outcomes for veterans suffering from service-connected illnesses.

    Ontario County U.S. Marine Corps and Vietnam Era Veteran Wayne Thompson said, “As a veteran, I know firsthand how important the role VA services and programs play in supporting those of us who have served. The proposed staffing cuts would be detrimental, not only to veterans in need of assistance but also to the remaining employees who provide these vital services. Reductions like these are likely to overburden the already dedicated staff and risk leaving many veterans without the support they desperately need. The current White House’s chaotic administration of multiple aspects of citizens lives is raising havoc with Veterans and the general public’s mental and physical wellbeing. It needs to stop before it’s too late! I join Senator Schumer to oppose these proposed cuts and to protect our access to essential VA services.”

    Nick Stefanovic, Director of the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency said, “The Department of Veterans Affairs is crucial in providing life-saving rehabilitation and mental health services to our veterans, and any cuts to this vital resource could have devastating consequences. With positions at critical medical facilities already being lost, I am very concerned about the direct impact on the care our veterans receive. I am thankful for Senator Schumer’s strong stance against these reductions. His commitment is vital in our fight to ensure that our veterans continue to have access to the care they need.”

    Senator Schumer has a long history both fighting to keep the Canandaigua VA Medical Campus open, and delivering robust federal funding to modernize the campus to boost the quality of care for Finger Lakes veterans. In 2003, the VA released its Capital Asset Realignment for Enhancement Services (CARES) Draft National Plan which recommended closing the Canandaigua Veteran’s Medical Campus, which would have forced local veterans to travel much farther to VA hospitals in other cities to receive the care they needed, and removing one of the region’s major employers. Schumer launched an all-out campaign to keep the Canandaigua Medical Campus open, even convincing the former VA secretary to visit in person. Since then, Schumer has secured hundreds of millions of federal dollars to modernize and expand the facility to provide Rochester-area veterans with the new state-of-art medical facilities and housing they have long deserved. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Doggett, Murphy Call for Independent Investigation into Medicare Advantage Organizations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

    Contact: Alexis.Torres@mail.house.gov

    Washington, D.C.—Today, Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Health Subcommittee member Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) made a bipartisan request to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for a detailed investigation and report on the vertical consolidation of Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAO) and its effect on Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) calculations.

    “The acquisition of related businesses such as health care providers by MAOs could undermine the effectiveness of MLR requirements. A recent study suggested that MAOs may be able to circumvent MLR requirements through payments for medical expenses to related businesses such as health care providers,” wrote the Members. “This is because payments to a related business are considered medical expenses for purposes of calculating the MLR, even though a portion of these payments may ultimately be profits for the MAO. MAOs’ provider acquisitions in recent years further increase the potential for MAOs to circumvent MLR requirements in this manner.”

    As MAOs continue to rapidly purchase surgery centers, primary care practices, home health agencies, pharmacy benefit managers, health technology firms, and more, there must be accountability for the hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars paid to these organizations, including tens of billions of wasteful overpayments. For example, UnitedHealth Group is now the nation’s largest insurer and the largest employer of physicians. These ownership structures may also create perverse incentives for physicians to add unsupported diagnoses codes to medical charts, refer patients to commonly owned providers and pharmacies, and other potentially fraudulent, wasteful, and abusive practices.

    The Members’ request specifically seeks a detailed investigation of the payments and trends in vertically consolidated MAOs, including any differentiated treatment of owned vs. independent businesses and providers.

    The full letter can be viewed here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEW: Trump Admin Withholding Nearly $1 Billion in Funding for Head Start—Crunching Centers Nationwide and Forcing Devastating Closures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Washington, D.C. – As President Trump finalizes his proposal to eliminate Head Start, shutters half of the regional offices running the program, and fires scores of staff who ensure Head Start centers can serve kids and families—new data shows his administration has issued nearly $1 billion less in federal grants to Head Start centers nationwide so far this year compared to the same period last year (a steep -37% decline year-over-year).

    The Trump administration’s withholding of nearly $1 billion in Head Start funding is impacting Head Start centers nationwide—already forcing center closures, which hurt families and teachers, and risking many more. Just this week, news broke that a Head Start program in Lower Yakima Valley, Washington state, is indefinitely closing—impacting more than 400 young children and 70 staff—because it has not yet received the Head Start award it typically receives and depends on from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

    In response, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), said:

    “As he works to give more tax breaks to billionaires like himself, Donald Trump is doing everything he can to destroy Head Start—without a care in the world for the hundreds of thousands of working families across the country who depend on it.

    “So far this year, Trump has slow-walked $1 billion in funding from going out the door to Head Start programs, and we are beginning to see the devastating consequences: centers closing, kids kicked out of the classroom, teachers losing their jobs, and entire communities losing out. In Washington state, hundreds of kids will be kicked out of Head Start programs—sending their parents scrambling—if this isn’t immediately rectified.

    “But Trump isn’t content to simply hold up funding for Head Start—he wants to eliminate the program altogether and rip pre-K and essential support away from families nationwide. Democrats won’t let a proposal like that go anywhere in Congress—but make no mistake: Trump is already doing all he can to wreck the program on his own, withholding funding and shuttering the offices and firing the people who get local Head Start centers what they need to serve families. Now, we’re seeing the ruinous consequences. I’m going to keep fighting back with all I’ve got—because we’ve got to keep mobilizing and opposing this administration’s cruel agenda to help billionaires and hurt working families.”

    Head Start programs’ grants are generally renewed at the same time each year, and Head Start programs depend on these strict funding cycles to continue serving kids and families. In fiscal years 2024 and 2025, Head Start has been funded at $12.27 billion. In 2024, $2.548 billion in Head Start funding went out from the start of the year through April 15. But during the same period this year, only $1.604 billion has so far gone out—a $943 million, or -37%, decline. Any delays in funding going out the door can have devastating consequences for Head Start programs.

    A state-by-state breakdown of the Head Start funding being slow-walked by the Trump administration is below:

    State Head Start Funding Disbursed
    1/1/24 – 4/15/24    		 Head Start Funding Disbursed
    1/1/25 – 4/15/25    		 Delta
    AK $14,132,700 $5,956,913 -$8,175,787
    AL $29,096,748 $32,472,362 $3,375,614
    AR $28,933,943 $26,312,413 -$2,621,530
    AZ $38,906,843 $20,426,555 -$18,480,288
    CA $254,342,881 $125,679,575 -$128,663,306
    CO $45,394,001 $14,954,520 -$30,439,481
    CT $30,961,127 $17,957,670 -$13,003,457
    DC $3,143,844 $3,150,870 $7,026
    DE $1,833,375 $2,247,984 $414,609
    FL $151,861,319 $113,491,955 -$38,369,364
    GA $85,763,676 $56,505,581 -$29,258,095
    HI $16,041,208 $8,151,946 -$7,889,262
    IA $30,889,346 $17,841,445 -$13,047,901
    ID $125,000 $62,500 -$62,500
    IL $110,601,332 $50,868,206 -$59,733,126
    IN $51,404,133 $39,258,390 -$12,145,743
    KS $32,615,581 $11,997,982 -$20,617,599
    KY $4,472,516 $2,288,208 -$2,184,308
    LA $57,055,929 $33,700,234 -$23,355,695
    MA $35,497,518 $28,777,639 -$6,719,879
    MD $19,698,940 $13,499,156 -$6,199,784
    ME $6,133,783 $0 -$6,133,783
    MI $95,179,153 $52,370,863 -$42,808,290
    MN $68,262,114 $48,723,519 -$19,538,595
    MO $89,436,511 $58,625,706 -$30,810,805
    MS $30,345,853 $29,597,042 -$748,811
    MT $9,870,318 $5,423,149 -$4,447,169
    NC $71,876,328 $64,568,678 -$7,307,650
    ND $13,301,820 $3,674,611 -$9,627,209
    NE $24,126,039 $16,924,930 -$7,201,109
    NH $4,003,251 $1,560,464 -$2,442,787
    NJ $44,066,382 $45,936,255 $1,869,873
    NM $28,763,786 $4,812,435 -$23,951,351
    NV $13,796,473 $5,857,497 -$7,938,976
    NY $224,253,647 $159,182,341 -$65,071,306
    OH $108,320,709 $71,144,537 -$37,176,172
    OK $59,903,809 $44,028,886 -$15,874,923
    OR $47,190,763 $14,675,885 -$32,514,878
    PA $40,242,350 $25,140,592 -$15,101,758
    PR $80,274,531 $67,429,424 -$12,845,107
    RI $7,706,350 $9,332,709 $1,626,359
    SC $30,672,204 $17,443,686 -$13,228,518
    SD $26,218,040 $14,271,096 -$11,946,944
    TN $355,049 $175,000 -$180,049
    TX $198,073,398 $136,125,773 -$61,947,625
    UT $29,458,693 $18,592,918 -$10,865,775
    VA $16,236,945 $11,977,110 -$4,259,835
    VT $8,873,357 $362,257 -$8,511,100
    WA $50,086,577 $13,677,798 -$36,408,779
    WI $69,527,406 $34,517,013 -$35,010,393
    WV $1,991,744 $1,425,565 -$566,179
    WY $2,902,382 $1,777,707 -$1,124,675
    TOTAL $2.548 billion $1.605 billion -$943 million

    DATA SOURCE: HHS

    _________________________________________________________________

    Head Start currently serves over 750,000 kids nationwide, and the program has served nearly 40 million children and their families nationwide since its inception in 1965. There are over 17,000 Head Start centers nationwide that help kids and families thrive, and these centers are particularly important in serving rural communities with fewer options for care.

    A state-by-state breakdown of the number of kids and families served by Head Start is available HERE.

    Since taking office, President Trump has gutted the offices that keep Head Start centers and child care programs across the country running. In late February, the Trump administration fired scores of staff at the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Head Start and Office of Child Care. Earlier this month, Trump continued to hollow out HHS, including by shuttering half of the regional offices at the Office of Head Start, which are responsible for ensuring high-quality Head Start services are available to families nationwide. The Trump administration has failed to articulate how it will ensure that uninterrupted services are available to families and that appropriate oversight will be carried out despite gutting the very offices charged with these responsibilities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Address Nursing Workforce Shortages

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) recently introduced the National Nursing Workforce Center Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would support nursing workforce centers across the country and help address nursing workforce shortages.
    “Nurses play a crucial role in providing accessible, high-quality care to Americans. Resolving existing nursing workforce challenges, the increased demand for health care services and the aging workforce requires innovative approaches that support and strengthen every aspect of the nursing workforce pipeline,” said Senator Tillis. “I’m proud to co-introduce the bipartisan National Nursing Workforce Center Act which will enhance collaboration and coordination, enabling state and local experts to identify and address unique challenges to increase the resiliency of the nursing workforce.”
    “Access to care in American communities depends on having well-prepared, caring, and safety-centered nurses in every U.S. county, ensuring workforce stability and addressing the economic impact of healthcare,” said the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers Board of Directors. “Strengthening and investing in the nursing workforce is essential to safeguarding the health and safety of all Americans, regardless of where they live, and securing equitable access to care across both rural and urban areas.” 
    Background:
    As the nation’s largest healthcare profession, nurses play a vital role in improving health outcomes in virtually every community. However, the demand for nurses is greatly outpacing supply, and by 2027, the country will face a 10% shortage of registered nurses. Fewer practicing nurses can lead to delays in treatments or procedures, longer hospital stays and increased adverse patient events. 
    It is now abundantly clear that improved federal and state coordination is needed to monitor nursing shortages, coordinate strategies to alleviate the pressures on the nursing workforce, and advise policymakers, health care leaders, and educators. This legislation aims to address the nursing workforce shortage by supporting the data, research, and training capabilities of nursing workforce centers both nationally and locally so that patients get the care they need.
    The National Nursing Workforce Center Act would:
    Make a small technical correction to enable HRSA to establish a federal nursing-focused health workforce research and technical assistance center;  
    Establish a pilot program through HRSA to support state-based nursing workforce centers, which often report underfunding and lack of technical capabilities; and  
    Deliver reports assessing the impact of this partnership and if and how it should be expanded nationwide. 
    A one-pager of the bill is available HERE.
    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – Government’s public consultation to address healthcare crisis “badly flawed” – Genaro

    Source: General Practice Owners Association (GenPro)

    The General Practice Owners Association (GenPro) has criticised a Ministry of Health public consultation process on workforce regulation as poorly designed and biased towards outcomes likely to compromise patient safety and lead to patients not being able to see a GP when they need to.

    The Ministry describes its consultation paper Putting Patients First: Modernising health workforce regulation as “an opportunity to put patients at the centre, modernise and streamline the system, and improve efficiency”.

    (ref. http://www.health.govt.nz/publications/putting-patients-first-modernising-health-workforce-regulation )

    But GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers says the paper’s proposals do anything but put patients first.

    “They seek to legitimise government plans to address the workforce crisis by focusing on lowering standards of care and clinical safety guidelines, rather than tackling the core issue of a lack of funding,” Dr Chambers said.

    A narrow 21-day window for submissions (from March 28 to April 30) also contributes to what Dr Chambers describes as a “cursory attempt to fix a workforce crisis with band aid solutions”.

    “The Ministry is seeking public feedback through an online survey, but the leading nature of its questions suggests it’s already made up its mind on outcomes,” says Dr Chambers.

    “Namely, cheap fixes focused on slashing regulation and standards, with unintended consequences of a healthcare regime that is less safe and more costly, with fewer professional organisations overseeing standards of care, and with lesser-qualified health professionals plugging workforce gaps.”

    An example of a leading question from the survey cited by Dr Chambers is: ‘How important is it to you that health professions are regulated by separate regulators, given the potential for inefficiency, higher costs, and duplication of tasks?’

    “The survey is the medical equivalent of a political ‘push poll’ in which an organisation attempts to manipulate or alter voters’ views under the guise of conducting an opinion poll.  There is no room for these types of negative tactics in primary healthcare,” Dr Chambers says.

    “There are solid reasons why separate regulatory authorities regulate health professionals as different as dentists, chiropractors, psychologists, nurses, optometrists, and GPs, but on this topic – as elsewhere – the consultation paper is clearly angled towards eliciting a quick-fix response from the public.”

    The Ministry of Health has failed the New Zealand population with respect to workforce planning. It is unclear why we should trust it now when it’s performed so poorly to allow this situation to arise.

    “Cursory remedies such as these only exacerbate our healthcare crisis and lead to long-term harm. From a primary healthcare perspective, we know that government needs to completely overhaul an arcane funding and pricing model which is driving GPs to the wall.”

    Despite more complex patient health needs and higher operating costs, general practices have received no increase in funding in real terms for several years and are restricted in adjusting their prices.

    “General practices are struggling to stay financially viable and recruit health professionals, so are having to close their books to new patients, reduce their services, or close completely. The results are very apparent: delays in accessing general practices and crowded emergency departments,” says Dr Chambers.

    GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit  www.genpro.org.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Over 200,000 New Zealanders to benefit from medicines funding boost

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown are pleased that hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders are set to benefit from access to more than 60 medicines, following the Government’s funding boost to Pharmac.
    The funding boost of $604 million over four years has allowed Pharmac to fund or widen access to 59 medicines so far, with five more being considered for funding as of today. 
    By comparison, in the financial year immediately prior to receiving the funding boost from this government, Pharmac was able to fund or widen access to 28 treatments.
    “Pharmac’s consultation for asthma inhalers, released today, represents the final consultation related to last year’s funding increase,” Mr Seymour says.
    “If the proposal to widen access is approved, it will mean over 200,000 New Zealanders in total will have benefitted from the additional medicines funded using the Government’s budget boost.
    “When this Government assumed office, New Zealanders were facing an uncertain future for medicine access. Pharmac had a $1.8 billion funding hole and no new money to increase access for medicines.
    “It was a priority for this government to fix that. We’ve allocated Pharmac its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, so that it can get on and do its job – negotiating the best deals for medicine for New Zealanders.
    “For example, Pharmac opened consultation on a proposal to widen access to pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for five types of cancer within days of the funding boost being announced. Just over three months later, people with these conditions could start their new treatments.
    “In my letter of expectations to Pharmac last July I asked it to ensure that its decision making and evaluation model includes the wider fiscal impact of funding or not funding a medicine. While Budget 2025 is still under consideration, I have confidence in Pharmac’s ability to increase medicines access for Kiwis with the budget provided to them.”
    Mr Brown says delivering better and faster access to cancer care in New Zealand has been a focus of this Government, which is why it is one of our five key health targets, and is able to deliver because of the Government’s $604 million investment in new cancer medicines.
    “As Minister of Health, I am focused on ensuring better access to more cancer medicines, better cancer management driven by our faster cancer treatment target, and earlier detection of cancers through screening programmes,” Mr Brown says.
    “Some of these medicines, such as Keytruda, have been described as ‘game-changers.’ Other medicines, such as the heart medicine empagliflozin, will help keep people with chronic heart failure out of hospital, relieving pressure on the health system.
    “It is encouraging to see continued improvement in our efforts to provide faster cancer treatment, with more patients receiving their first treatment within 31 days in the first financial quarter than in the previous quarter and more cancer treatments available.”
    While the consultation released today is the last related to the Government’s funding boost, Pharmac will continue to assess applications to fund new medicines and make more medicines available to New Zealanders as budget allows.  
    Note to editors: Medicines have been funded for conditions including breast cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, schizophrenia, heart failure, psoriasis, diabetes, eczema, and osteoporosis. A full list can be found on Pharmac’s website.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tupu Ola Moui: Pacific Health Chart Book 2025 series

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    These reports are part of the Tupu Ola Moui Pacific Health Chart Book series, which provides comprehensive and up-to-date data on the health of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is the third edition for Tupu Ola Moui with earlier publications in 2004 and 2012.

    Designed as a clear and accessible resource, this series offers straightforward descriptions of key health data to enable users to further analyse and interpret their implications. The Tupu Ola Moui series serves as a foundational reference point for understanding the current state of Pacific health. The series is made up of the following reports.

    Published reports

     Reports to come

    • Volume 3: Healthier Environments
    • Volume 4: Health System Part One
    • Volume 5: Health System Part Two
    • Tupu Ola Moui: Methodology and Data

    Volumes 3–5 and the Methodology and Data reports will be released by July 2025.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Worker’s six-metre fall prompts industry call-out

    Source: Worksafe New Zealand

    As winter creeps closer, WorkSafe New Zealand is reminding businesses to take heed of the risks when workers are operating at height.

    The consequences have been laid bare at the sentencing of a Wellington business, whose worker was critically injured in April 2023 when he fell six metres from a slippery, unsafe rooftop.

    38-year-old Josh Bowles had only been in his job for two months and had no experience or training in working at height when he fell from a commercial rooftop in central Wellington. He spent six months in hospital recovering from a traumatic brain injury and multiple broken bones. The father of five still lives with continuous pain, and has been unable to work since the fall.

    The scene on Hopper Street in central Wellington where Josh Bowles was left critically injured in 2023.

    A WorkSafe investigation found there was only limited edge protection to the roofline. In its absence, a harness system should have been used to keep workers safe but was not. Regardless, Mr Bowles had no formal training on use of a harness or roof-anchors.

    The business, Prowash, did not properly manage the risks of working in rainy conditions on a new iron roof with cleaning product on it. Prowash was unable to provide WorkSafe with any policies, or risk/hazard identification and control process, to prove it had a safe system of work in place.

    “This was a preventable fall which has permanently impacted a young father’s quality of life and job prospects,” says WorkSafe principal inspector, Paul Budd.

    “Falls from height are a well-known risk and there is no excuse for not putting proper protections in place – especially in bad weather. If the work needs to be postponed until conditions are more favourable, then do so.

    “The best controls are those that don’t require active judgement by a worker. This includes solutions such as edge protection or scaffolding. If a worker slips or missteps, as we saw in this case, there is a physical barrier between themselves and the ground below,” says Paul Budd.

    Businesses must manage their risks and where they don’t WorkSafe will take action. This is part of WorkSafe’s role to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe.

    Read the good practice guidelines for working on roofs

    Background 

    • Prowash Wellington Limited was sentenced at Wellington District Court on 15 April 2025
    • A fine of $40,000 was imposed, and reparations of $77,456 ordered
    • Prowash was charged under sections 36(1)(a), 48(1) and (2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
      • Being a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), having a duty to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU, including Joshua Bowles, while the workers are at work, namely while carrying out work on the roof of 258 Taranaki Street, Wellington, did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed workers to a risk of death or serious injury from a fall from height.
    • The maximum penalty is a fine not exceeding $1.5 million.

    Media contact details

    For more information you can contact our Media Team using our media request form. Alternatively:

    Email: media@worksafe.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – Fresh Minds continues to support workforce pathways with Psychology interns

    Source: ProCare

    ProCare Fresh Minds, New Zealand’s largest provider of primary mental health and wellbeing services, is delighted to announce the continuation of Health New Zealand’s Psychologist Intern Hub Services for 2025, alongside Tāmaki Health.

    The Intern Hub is based at Fresh Minds’ busy central Auckland clinics, and at one of Tāmaki Health’s sites, and sees the interns working in various clinical settings across Tāmaki Makaurau.

    The internships are available for students in any University in Aotearoa who are undertaking their final year of post-graduate training in either Clinical Psychology or Health Psychology. This year, Fresh Minds is hosting students from the University of Otago, University of Auckland, and Victoria University of Wellington.

    Bindi Norwell, Group CEO at ProCare says: “The Psychologist Intern Hub is helping work towards Minister Doocey’s mental health targets to grow the mental health and addiction workforce. This programme supports the next generation of psychologists by providing an opportunity for hands-on training in diverse clinical settings. This internship provides students with workplace experience, supervision and mentorship, ensuring that the next generation of psychologists is well equipped in the workforce.

    “To secure the future of mental health care in Aotearoa, we need a whole-of-system approach that addresses immediate workforce shortages while building long-term, sustainable solutions. Providing robust, well-supported internships like these help psychology students thrive during training and encourages them to stay in the profession – an area that ProCare Fresh Minds is pleased to be supporting,” states Norwell.

    Dr Tania Wilson, General Manager at ProCare Fresh Minds says: “”Embedding psychology interns in primary care is a fantastic step for New Zealand’s mental health system. It helps make primary care a more viable and attractive career path for graduates, while also strengthening early intervention and bringing mental health support closer to where people live and work, normalising access and improving community wellbeing.

    “Furthermore, the primary care setting of ProCare Fresh Minds provides interns a unique opportunity to develop real-world clinical skills in a fast-paced, culturally diverse environment. In Aotearoa, this means working holistically in a stepped model of care, delivering targeted, impactful interventions that make a real difference in everyday lives,” continues Dr Wilson.

    “Looking ahead, we’re committed to scaling up our integrated primary mental health and addictions services. Training and preparing new psychologists for this vital work is a key step toward addressing New Zealand’s significant workforce shortage in mental health, particularly the shortage of psychologists. We’re confident the Psychologist Intern Hub will continue to create a strong pipeline of emerging psychologists, introducing them to meaningful career opportunities in the growing field of primary mental and behavioural health, particularly as we look to continue and scale up this work with Health New Zealand moving forward,” concludes Dr Wilson.

    Fresh Minds is committed to grow its team of psychologists, nurses, and other allied health professionals, with experience in third wave talking therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy. Additionally, the organisation is passionate about delivering targeted talking therapies and is flexible in meeting interns’ needs in their university programmes. There will also be opportunities for ongoing professional development relevant to the role of a psychologist working in our settings.

     

    Notes:

    Fresh Minds’ supervising Clinical Psychologist is Dr Amanda Willets, and Tāmaki Health’s supervising Health Psychologist is Pam Low.

    About ProCare Fresh Minds
    ProCare Fresh Minds is a leading provider of primary mental health and wellbeing support in Aotearoa New Zealand. Fresh Minds provides psychology support services for individuals in-person and online and in a variety of settings including Fresh Minds centres, schools, workplaces, the community, and in General Practice. Fresh Minds is supported by comprehensive clinical governance, expertise and rigorous systems to ensure the support is of the highest quality. www.freshminds.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal jury convicts would-be smuggler of three-year-old child

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LAREDO, Texas – A 25-year-old Laredo woman has been convicted of conspiracy to transport, attempting to transport and bringing in and attempting to bring a minor alien to the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before finding Salma Galilea Veliz guilty late April 15 after a two-day trial.

    Law enforcement first encountered Veliz at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo Nov. 14, 2024, with a three-year-old male. At that time, she presented a Texas birth certificate and claimed the minor was her son. 

    Veliz eventually admitted the child was actually not her own and that she had picked him up in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. She claimed she did not know the boy’s name or where she was taking him, just that a person known as “Malandro” was bringing him to her. 

    Veliz planned to have the boy assume the identity of her biological son in an effort to smuggle him into the United States. In exchange, she would be paid $2,500.

    During trial, the jury heard testimony and evidence regarding his true identity, which included the minor child’s original birth certificate indicating Mexico as his place of birth. Testimony also revealed there was no record in existence pertaining to the minor child that would indicate he had ever been authorized to enter the United States.

    The defense attempted to convince the jury the boy had claims to citizenship through an unidentified father. However, evidence revealed the minor is a Mexican citizen and had no claim to enter the county. The jury ultimately found Veliz guilty as charged.

    “This verdict demonstrates that those who think they can make a quick buck by trafficking human beings—particularly children—are sorely mistaken,” said Ganjei. “The facts of this case are a reminder of the tremendous human cost of weak border security. There is no telling who or what awaited that three-year-old boy had he been successfully snuck across the border. Due to the quick thinking and thorough work of law enforcement, that child will be returned to his home, rather than face an uncertain—and possibly dangerous—fate in the hands of unknown persons.”

    U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen presided over trial and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, Veliz faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of State and Department of Health and Humans Services – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa A. Lopez and Tory Sailer prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –