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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI Global: Israel’s war on Gaza is deliberately targeting children – new UN report

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachel Rosen, Associate Professor of Childhood, UCL

    A fresh round of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza which has killed more than 400 Palestinians has destroyed any hope that the ceasefire negotiated in January would hold. A statement from the child rights group Defence for Children Palestine claimed that 174 children had been killed in the bombing, claiming: “Today is one of the deadliest days for Palestinian Children in history.”

    The renewed bombing follows repeated violations of the ceasefire terms by Israel and comes days after a report commissioned by the United Nations said Israel is “deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians as a group”. The March 13 report from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory examines what it calls Israel’s “systematic use of
    sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence
    since 7 October 2023”.

    The report alleges deliberate acts have been aimed against mothers and children, including the destruction of Gaza’s main fertility clinic, Basma IVF clinic, which it said amounted to “a genocidal act under the Rome Statute and Genocide Convention”. It concluded that “this was done with the intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza as a group, in whole or in part, and that this is the only inference that could reasonably be drawn from the acts in question”.

    The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has yet to rule on a case brought by South Africa in December 2023 accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. In January 2024 it issued a ruling saying that Palestinians in Gaza had “plausible rights to protection from genocide” and set out provisional measures that Israel should follow to prevent genocide. There is no evidence that Israel has heeded this advice.

    Addressing the UN human rights committee in October 2024, special rapporteur Francesca Albanese said she believed it is important to “call a genocide as a genocide”. While noting the legal position according to the ICJ, we agree with her on the grounds that a post-hoc judgement of genocide does nothing to prevent it from occurring.

    Francesca Albanese addresses the United Nations, October 2024.

    The commission’s report is not the first time that international organisations and lawmakers have called attention to Israel’s violence against Palestinian mothers and children. In March 2024, Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the UN agency Unrwa, wrote on X: “This is a war on children. It is a war on their childhood and their future.” The numbers are “staggering” he said. More children had been killed in Gaza in four months than in all global conflicts in the previous four years.

    This has continued throughout Israel’s assault on Gaza. Between October 7 2023 and January 15 2025, children made up at least 18,000 of the 46,707 Palestinians killed in Gaza, according to data collected by the Gaza health ministry. Both figures are likely to be underestimates, as so many bodies remain buried under the rubble.

    Most children have been killed by direct military strikes. Israel has dropped an estimated 85,000 tonnes of explosives on Gaza, killing Palestinians through direct hits, biolding collapses, fires and inhalation of toxic substances. Doctors have also reported evidence of children being killed in drone attacks and by snipers, including by shots to the head and chest.

    On March 2 Israel blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, using starvation and dehydration as military strategy. On March 15 a Unicef report claimed that 31% of children under two years of age in the north of the Strip were acutely malnourished. There has also been a “dramatic increase in child deaths due to acute malnutrition”.

    Israel’s destruction of medical and other infrastructure in the strip has resulted in “indirect deaths” by communicable illness and noncommunicable conditions. In April 2024, a report published in science journal Frontiers found that more than 90% of children in Gaza were affected by infectious diseases. There have also been multiple infant deaths from hypothermia as displaced families attempt to survive winter conditions.

    Killing the future

    The abnormally high child death rate is partly down to demographics. About 47% of Gaza’s population was under 18 years of age at the end of 2022. Children are generally more “susceptible to dehydration, diarrhoea, disease, and malnutrition” according to Unicef which says the nutritional needs for infants under 23 months “are greater per kilogram of bodyweight than at any other time of life”.

    But the problem with these arguments is that they make child mortality rates in Gaza appear as a simple reflection of natural factors. They are not. They are a direct consequence of Israel’s military aggression in Gaza.

    Israel has systematically used powerful explosives in densely populated areas and, through AI tracking systems such as “Where’s Daddy?”, deliberately targeted Palestinians in their family homes. Given the deep evidence base about childhood health, the logical outcome of using starvation as a method of war, actively denying aid, and destroying infrastructures that enable life is that children will die disproportionately.

    Palestinian children are being killed by design. This has been explicitly articulated by the Israeli state.

    Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was this week reappointed to the Netanyahu government as police minister, has publicly defended the army’s “open-fire” directive declaring: “We cannot have women and children getting close to the border … anyone who gets near must get a bullet in the head.” In January, MP and deputy speaker of the Knesset, Nissim Vaturi, said every child born in Gaza is “already a terrorist, from the moment of his birth”.

    But children represent their community’s dreams for their futures. Killing large number of children in Gaza is not simply forcible depopulation. It is an effort to destabilise communities and crush their hopes for liberation and the right of return as mandated by the UN.

    Palestinian children in Gaza have been telling their stories to a global audience. The killing, injury and starvation they are testifying to has proved a powerful counternarrative to the idea that Israel is simply “defending itself”. International humanitarian law states that: “Children affected by armed conflict are entitled to special respect and protection.”

    But in Gaza, children are being killed in their thousands.

    Rachel Rosen receives funding from Independent Social Research Foundation. She is affiliated with BDS @ UCL.

    Mai Abu Moghli is a policy member at Al- Shabaka: the Palestinian Policy Network.

    – ref. Israel’s war on Gaza is deliberately targeting children – new UN report – https://theconversation.com/israels-war-on-gaza-is-deliberately-targeting-children-new-un-report-252398

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How a lack of period product regulation harms our health and the planet

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Poppy Taylor, PhD Candidate, Women’s Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol

    JLco Julia Amaral/Shutterstock

    Did you know that in the UK period products are regulated under the same consumer legislation as candles? For 15 million people who menstruate each month, these items are used internally or next to one of the most sensitive parts of the body for extended times.

    Consumers should be entitled to know what is in their period products before choosing which ones to buy. Yet, because of the current lack of adequate regulation and transparency, manufacturers are not required to disclose all materials. And only basic information is available on brand websites. Campaigners are now calling for better regulation.

    Independent material testing shows that single-use period pads can contain up to 90% plastic. An estimated 4.6 million pads, tampons and panty liners are flushed away daily in the UK. These contribute to blocked sewers and fatbergs. They also pollute rivers and oceans.

    Meanwhile, reusable period products are promoted by aid charities as a way to tackle period poverty and reduce waste. But independent tests by organisations such as Which? have found harmful chemicals inside both single-use and reusable period products.

    These include synthetic chemicals that disrupt hormones – known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals – and forever chemicals or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that don’t degrade. These chemicals have been associated with a range of health harms from cancers to reproductive disorders and infertility. They have no place in period products.

    I work as a women’s health researcher at the University of Bristol’s Digital Footprints Lab alongside a team of data scientists. We harness digital data, such as shopping records, to study public health issues. My research looks at how things like education affect which menstrual products people choose.

    In collaboration with the charity Women’s Environmental Network, I am exploring intersections between gender, health, equity and environmental justice – especially among marginalised women and communities. But social stigma prevents open discussions about menstruation and how best to improve period product regulation.

    Menstrual stigma influences everything from the information and support people who menstruate receive to the types of products we use and how we dispose of them. In a study of menstrual education experiences in English schools, my colleague and I found evidence of teacher attitudes perpetuating menstrual stigma.

    Lessons typically lacked content about the health or environmental consequences of period products. Our study showed that just 2.4% of 18- to 24-year-olds surveyed were taught about sustainable alternatives to single-use tampons and menstrual pads.

    An environmenstrual workshop hosted bythe charity, Women’s Environmental Network.
    Women’s Environmental Network / Sarah Larby, CC BY-NC-ND

    For decades, period product adverts portrayed menstrual blood as a blue liquid. The social taboos around periods, largely created and reinforced by period brands over decades of fear-based marketing, has left its mark.

    For example, in response to customer’s anxieties about supposed menstrual odour, manufacturers are increasingly using potentially environmentally harmful antimicrobials like silver and anti-odour additives in period products. This is despite there being no evidence that period products such as menstrual pants or pads transmit harmful bacteria that need sanitising. The silver also washes out after a couple of washes.

    The role of regulation

    In New York state, the Menstrual Products Right To Know Act means that a period product cannot be sold unless the labelling includes a list of materials. In Scotland, a government initiative provides free period products to anyone who needs them.

    Catalonia in Spain has introduced a groundbreaking law that ensures access to safe and sustainable period products, while also working to reduce menstrual stigma and taboos through education.

    A new European “eco label” is a step forward, but companies don’t have to use it. This voluntary label, which shows a product is good for the environment, doesn’t cover period underwear.

    Now, campaigners at the Women’s Environmental Network are calling for the UK government to adopt a Menstrual Health, Dignity and Sustainability Act, backed by many charities, academics and environmentalists. This will enable equal access to sustainable period products, improved menstrual education, independent testing, transparent product labelling and stronger regulations.

    The regulation of period products is currently being considered as part of the product regulation and metrology bill and the use of antimicrobials in period products is being included in the consumer products (control of biocides) bill introduced by Baroness Natalie Bennett. By tackling both health implications and environmental harms, period products can be produced in a safer way, for both people and planet.

    Poppy Taylor’s PhD is funded by the University of Bristol and the Health Foundation.
    Poppy Taylor is a member of the Women’s Environmental Network.

    – ref. How a lack of period product regulation harms our health and the planet – https://theconversation.com/how-a-lack-of-period-product-regulation-harms-our-health-and-the-planet-248941

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Fossil face discovery highlights challenges faced by Europe’s earliest settlers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Suzy White, Post-Doctoral Research Assistant, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Reading

    Piecing together the story of Europe’s earliest settlers is a challenge, largely
    because relevant human fossils are scarce. On March 12, researchers announced the
    discovery of a new fossil from the excavation site of Sime del Elefante, near Burgos in Spain.

    Known as ATE7-1, the new fossil consists of a partial face belonging to an ancient hominin, a biological classification that includes living humans and our closest extinct relatives, such as Neanderthals and Homo erectus. Nicknamed “Rosa” after one of her discoverers, the fossil includes part of the upper jaw, cheek and eye from an adult, and dates to between 1.1 and 1.4 million years ago. As such, she represents the oldest known partial face of a hominin from western Europe.

    Rosa is also a crucial piece of the puzzle explaining how and when humans first entered western Europe – and which species of hominin made those pioneering journeys.

    Hominins evolved in Africa. The first species to occupy multiple continents was Homo erectus, and the first fossil evidence we have of them beyond Africa comes from Dmanisi in Georgia. These fossils are around 1.8 million years old. However, stone tools from Grăunceanu (Romania) indicate that hominins had expanded further north even earlier than the Dmanisi finds – 1.95 million years ago.

    However, fossils from western Europe remain conspicuously absent until 1.4 million
    years ago. By contrast, we have more evidence of hominins moving into Asia during
    this time. They had reached Indonesia by 1.6 million years and descendants of these populations seem to have survived there until relatively recently. Early fossils from Asia are also more numerous and more complete, while their European counterparts are limited to an isolated tooth, a fragment of jaw and a partial skull cap.

    Despite being just a small part of the face, Rosa provides key insights into these
    elusive early European populations. The researchers compared Rosa’s facial
    features to Homo erectus fossils from Africa, Indonesia and Dmanisi. They also
    examined Rosa’s similarities to Homo antecessor, a later European species from Gran
    Dolina, a site close to Sima del Elefante.

    The evidence of settlement at Gran Dolina has been dated to about 860,000 years ago. While Rosa shares her delicate build with Homo antecessor, overall she has more affinities with the Homo erectus fossils – although not enough to confidently place her within this group.

    Rosa may therefore provide support for a hypothesis that the occupation of Europe
    by hominins was discontinuous, at least for the first million or so years. This means that hominins settled there, then went locally extinct and were replaced by other groups of hominins later on.

    Our closest relatives were not able to survive in Europe over long periods of time until much later. But why might that be? What made Europe harder to successfully inhabit than Asia? To begin to answer such questions, we have to combine the evidence from Rosa with what we already know about early human forays beyond their ancestral home continent of Africa.

    Smaller brains, longer legs

    The Dmanisi hominins are notable for their relatively small brains and basic tools.
    This challenged the idea that advanced tools and large brains were necessary for
    expansion beyond Africa. The tools from Grăunceanu are also relatively basic,
    despite the temperate and seasonal climate their makers would have experienced.

    The Dmanisi hominins also have relatively long legs, which would have allowed them
    to move more efficiently over long distances. Perhaps, then, efficient movement,
    rather than brain size or technology, was the driving factor allowing the initial
    expansion. But did the basic stone technology used by early Europeans prevent their long term occupation of the continent?

    It is likely that we will, in time, find even earlier fossils from western Europe. Further fossils from Sima del Elefante could reveal how variable Rosa’s group was, and enable us to either place her within an existing species, or create a new one.

    But, given the sparse information we have for now, the differences between Rosa, the Dmanisi hominins, and Homo antecessor fit within a model of short-term expansions into western Europe. These expansions were probably followed by a retreat of hominin populations into so-called refugia (locations where the environment and climate were more stable), as well as extinctions of local populations. This would have been driven by changing climatic conditions. For now, which and how many species ventured west into Europe is still unknown.

    Much else also remains unknown. Did early western Europeans survive long enough
    to give rise to later species such as Homo antecessor? And how was Homo
    antecessor     related to later European species? The European fossil record becomes
    more continuous from around 600,000 years ago, first with the appearance of
    a hominin species called Homo heidelbergensis, and then with the appearance of early Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis). In fact, these two species appear to have coexisted in Europe for some time.

    Later Europeans were also able to venture further north, with evidence of footprints of a mystery hominin at Happisburgh in the UK by 900,000 years ago. Nevertheless, as with Rosa’s species and Homo antecessor, the Neanderthals and Homo heidelbergensis eventually went extinct – along with all other species of humans globally, except our own.

    The changing climate and northern latitudes of western Europe presented a clear challenge for earlier hominins. As Europe’s climate continues to change, will Homo sapiens be the first hominin capable of long term survival here?

    Suzy White receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust, and has previously received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

    – ref. Fossil face discovery highlights challenges faced by Europe’s earliest settlers – https://theconversation.com/fossil-face-discovery-highlights-challenges-faced-by-europes-earliest-settlers-252413

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Announces Winners of Fifteenth Annual State of the Union Essay Contest for Vermont Students

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    BURLINGTON, Vt., March 19 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday announced the winners of his fifteenth annual State of the Union Essay Contest, which gives Vermont high school students the opportunity to describe a major issue facing our country and propose what they would do to solve it. This year, 475 students from 25 Vermont high schools submitted essays. A panel of nine Vermont educators served as volunteer judges, ranking the essays and selecting 12 finalists and three winners.

    Since Sanders started the contest, over 6,600 students throughout Vermont – representing almost every high school in the state – have written essays about critically important issues, including climate change, access to mental health care, immigration reform, the housing crisis, political polarization, and the cost of higher education.

    “In difficult times, what makes me most hopeful is seeing young people engaged, thinking critically about the challenges we face as a country,” said Sanders. “Thank you to all the students who participated in this year’s contest. I look forward to hearing from the finalists and discussing their ideas about how to move forward on some very important issues.”

    Sanders has invited the 15 winners and finalists to join him for a roundtable discussion, which will be held at the Vermont State House on March 29. Sanders has also entered the finalists’ essays into the Congressional Record, the official archive of the U.S. Congress. The contest is timed to coincide with the President’s annual address to a joint session of Congress, which took place on Tuesday, March 4.

    Justason Lahue, from Burr and Burton Academy, won first-place with an essay on the effects of social media on adolescents’ mental health: “A 2023 Gallup survey found that teenagers spend an average of 4.8 hours on social media daily. Alarmingly, a longitudinal study involving 6,595 adolescents revealed that spending over 3 hours daily on social media doubled the risk of poor mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and depression…I propose a bill called the Youth Mental Health Protection Act. This act would target a root cause of social media-related youth mental health issues by changing the legal age of ‘internet adulthood’ (i.e., when one can sign up for most online platforms, consent to terms of service, and share personal data). This act would make 16 the legally required age to access social media.”

    Ari Glasser, the second-place winner from Essex High School, wrote about the influence of billionaires in our political system: “Today, America is in a sort of Second Gilded Age-complete with drastic wealth inequality and a dangerous level of influence by the ultra-wealthy that is becoming ever nearer to oligarchy. Just 735 billionaires hold more wealth than the bottom half of all American households. In order to reduce the concerning level of billionaire influence, many reforms must be enacted, but perhaps most important is a wealth tax. This could raise trillions of dollars for the government while also reducing the wealth and influence of billionaires over time… In addition to reducing the economic power of billionaires, their political influence must be reduced through the use of campaign finance reform-most importantly, overturning the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC.”

    Ely White, the third-place winner from Leland and Gray Union Middle High School, wrote about political polarization: “Political polarization has grown in the past decade in the United States, transforming healthy debates of ideas into an endless battle of ‘us’ against ‘them’… This deepening division threatens the ideals of our democracy, making it nearly impossible to address the critical issues that face our country today…Ranked-choice voting (RCV) is a system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, the votes for the lowest-ranking candidate then redistributed to voters’ next choice until a majority is achieved. RCV would encourage candidates to appeal to broader ranges of voters rather than just their base, incentivizing politicians to take moderate stances rather than extreme party-driven positions…. Integrating civic education and media literacy into our schools and communities could also work as a grassroots solution in helping individuals evaluate information and recognize bias in misinformation and ideological chambers.”

    The winners of this year’s contest:

    • First place: Justason Lahue, Burr and Burton Academy, Junior
    • Second place: Ari Glasser, Essex High School, Junior
    • Third place: Ely White, Leland and Gray Union Middle High School, Senior

    The finalists of this year’s contest (in alphabetical order by last name):

    • Leo Beebe, Winooski High School, Senior
    • Emilee Brownell, Essex High School, Junior
    • Sofia Bush, Mount Mansfield Union High School, Junior
    • Aleksandra Cirovic, Woodstock Union High School, Junior
    • Allie Hamilton, Mount Mansfield Union High School, Junior
    • Mia Konefal, South Burlington High School, Freshman
    • Hazel O’Brien, Twinfield Union School, Senior
    • Mackenzie Russell, Harwood Union High School, Junior
    • Hannah Smiley, Milton High School, Senior
    • Winslow Solomon, Vermont Commons School, Senior
    • Owen Stygles, Bellows Free Academy Fairfax, Senior
    • Amy Vaughan, Oxbow High School, Junior

    Read the essays of the winners and finalists here.

    Learn more about opportunities for Vermont students through Sanders’ office by visiting https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/students/.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: NHS approval of endometriosis therapy Ryeqo enhances patient care, eases healthcare strain, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    NHS approval of endometriosis therapy Ryeqo enhances patient care, eases healthcare strain, says GlobalData

    Posted in Pharma

    The National Health Service (NHS) in England has approved Gedeon Richter’s Ryeqo, the first long-term pill available for endometriosis for patients who have exhausted all other treatment options. The approval addresses the long-standing gap in long-term treatment options for endometriosis, improving overall disease management while easing the burden on healthcare resources, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s report, “Endometriosis Market Size and Trend Report,” reveals that the endometriosis market size across the seven major markets* (7MM) is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of more than 9% during 2020-2030.

    A few of the major endometriosis market growth drivers across the 7MM include improvements in non-invasive diagnostic methods, such as the utilization of biomarkers, which should further increase the number of early diagnoses.

    Ryeqo is a combination medication containing relugolix (a GnRH antagonist), estradiol (a form of estrogen), and norethisterone (a synthetic progestin). Together, these three components help regulate estrogen and progesterone levels—key hormones involved in endometriosis—effectively reducing symptoms and improving overall disease management.

    According to the key opinion leaders (KOLs) interviewed by GlobalData, injectable treatments for endometriosis often present challenges in patient adherence and comfort. The approval of relugolix-estradiol-norethisterone as a standard NHS treatment improves accessibility, reduces the need for invasive procedures, and gives patients more control in managing their condition.

    By eliminating the need for multiple medications and frequent clinic visits for injections, this oral treatment offers a more convenient alternative. Unlike injections, which may initially worsen symptoms, the pill is taken at home and combines all necessary hormones into one convenient tablet.

    Dr Shireen Mohammad, Senior Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “By eliminating the need for multiple medications and frequent clinic visits for injections, this oral treatment offers a more convenient alternative. Unlike injections, which may initially worsen symptoms, the pill is taken at home and combines all necessary hormones into one convenient tablet. The oral route of administration offers greater clinical control over treatment, as dosages can be adjusted, and the medication can be quickly discontinued if necessary. This flexibility provides a significant advantage over long-acting injectable medications, allowing for easier management of side effects and treatment interruptions when needed.”

    Additionally, KOLs highlighted the lack of long-term treatment options for endometriosis, as most available medications are only approved for short-term use. Ryeqo helps address this gap by offering a sustained, long-term therapy, providing continuous symptom relief through hormonal regulation. This makes Ryeqo a valuable, non-invasive alternative for patients seeing effective, ongoing management of their condition, ultimately improving their quality of life.

    Dr Mohammad concludes: “The UK joins other nations in expanding access to endometriosis treatment, offering hope for continued progress in patient care. This approval enhances patients’ quality of life while also reducing strain on the NHS by decreasing hospital visits and the need for surgical procedures. Additionally, Ryeqo’s approval brings the UK in line with global advancements in endometriosis treatment, ensuring women have access to a more effective and convenient option.”

    7MM: The US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Japan.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Shaken baby syndrome can cause permanent brain damage, long-term disabilities or death – a pediatrician examines the preventable tragedy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lori Frasier, Professor of Pediatrics, Penn State

    A common cause of shaken baby incidents is continuous crying. Cavan Images via Getty Images

    In the early 1990s when I was a young pediatrician, I was responsible for evaluating children with developmental and learning problems. Two unrelated boys, ages 7 and 9, were found to have IQs in the range of 60-70, which indicates a severe cognitive disability.

    During my medical review, the mothers revealed that their children were shaken violently as infants and that afterward behaved as if “the wind had been knocked out of them.” Both mothers reported shaking by a boyfriend or a father. No child was seen for medical care at the time.

    At the same period of my career I was working with a renowned pediatrician who was studying shaken baby syndrome. The link between shaking and later cognitive impairment was not lost on me.

    This scenario of shaken babies having neurological and developmental disabilities has played out over the past 30 years of my career as a child abuse pediatrician.

    The high rates of death and disability

    Shaken baby syndrome is a condition that can injure babies and young children, and in some cases lead to death.

    A 2024 study on babies with shaken baby syndrome found that 20% to 25% of infants die, another 20% to 25% look normal on discharge from the hospital, and fully half are left with long-term disabilities. These include learning and behavioral problems that appear later in life.

    The dangers of shaking babies have been recognized for over 50 years.

    In the early 1970s, John Caffey, a pediatric radiologist, coined the term “Whiplash Shaken Infant Syndrome.” Caffey linked permanent brain damage and bleeding in the backs of the retina to violent shaking of infants. Caffey suggested a multipronged approach to prevention of this severe form of abuse that included educating and supporting young families, especially mothers. As primary caregivers, mothers are often most easily reached by the message, but the message of prevention can involve fathers, babysitters and any other caregivers.

    Since Caffey’s original description, there have been tremendous advancements in the research behind shaking babies and infant head trauma. In 2009, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that medical providers use the term “abusive head trauma” to include many actions other than shaking that can injure the brains of infants and children. The use of shaken baby syndrome is still recommended for public education and prevention, and health care providers and other experts also recommend the use of the term because it’s commonly recognized by the lay public and understood by parents.

    How the brain is affected

    What happens to the brain of an infant when they are shaken?

    Infants – the most common population to be shaken – are small and have undeveloped neck muscles.

    In these incidents, the infant is typically grabbed around the chest and shaken back and forth several times. Small blood vessels around the brain break and bleed, causing blood to flow around the brain. This condition is called a subdural hematoma. In some cases, similar forces occur in the back of the eye, and hemorrhages in the retina can occur.

    In the most severe forms of shaking, the tissue of the brain itself is injured, and the child may experience unconsciousness or even stop breathing. Neck injuries occur when shaking causes injuries to ligaments and muscles that support the neck. Sometimes children have other injuries after being thrown down or impacted against something. Skull fractures or fractures of other bones, bruising and other injuries are often found.

    Three seconds of anger can change a life forever.

    A complex diagnosis

    An infant or child must be diagnosed as having abusive head trauma by a team of pediatric specialists. Usually, a concerned parent or caregiver who may or may not know an infant has been injured becomes concerned that the child is not behaving normally. The child may have symptoms ranging from persistent vomiting to seizures or even seem unconscious.

    The medical team begins addressing the child’s condition through blood testing and X-rays. Often a CT scan is performed in order to determine if there is a brain injury or some other abnormality. Bleeding around the brain is an indicator of trauma. However, other conditions can also cause this type of bleeding, including bleeding disorders, vitamin deficiency or genetic problems.

    Carefully assessing a child for all of these possibilities may lead to discovery of other areas of trauma, such as broken bones and bruises. A child abuse physician is often called in to assist with the evaluation when trauma becomes a leading diagnosis. That trauma could be accidental, or it could be a sign that someone has abused or hurt an infant.

    There are other medical conditions and even accidental injuries to a child that may resemble abusive head trauma. Experienced clinicians will evaluate a child carefully for these well-described conditions. Controversy about many of these conditions may exist in the courtroom, but in the medical setting it is often clear which conditions are present and when injuries are caused by trauma versus other medical conditions.

    All 50 states and territories of the U.S. require that a report is made to child protective services agencies, with law enforcement often being involved when someone suspects or knows that a baby has been shaken.

    Investigators and doctors work together along with parents and caregivers to try to determine what led to the infant or child’s condition. Bruising, fractures and retinal hemorrhages may support a diagnosis of child abuse, specifically shaken baby syndrome.

    During an investigation, a rare accidental cause may be determined. The purpose is to make sure infants and children are not being harmed or that a medical condition is uncovered that can be treated.

    As a pediatrician working in a children’s hospital and trauma center, it will never get easier for me to see infants and children with abusive injuries as well as other head traumas. The U.S. has come a long way in ensuring the safety of children through the use of car seats and many safety devices.

    Education can help

    Crying in infancy is a common trigger in cases where shaking occurs. Other risk factors include isolation, poverty, domestic violence and substance use. During severe economic downturns, the rate of shaken baby incidents rises, since research shows that social stressors often contribute.

    Although anyone can injure a baby in a moment of frustration, most prevention research has focused specifically on helping parents understand why infants cry or become fussy. Recognizing your infant’s needs and addressing those needs is an important piece of learning how to parent. Studies have shown that focused education for new parents in maternity wards by nurses is effective.

    If you or someone you know is concerned that a child or infant is being harmed in any way, each state has a process for reporting these concerns to appropriate authorities. Reporting can help prevent further harm to an infant and provide assistance to families.

    The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer some helpful resources.

    Lori Frasier is has been a paid consultant to testify for both prosecution and defense in medical legal child abuse cases.
    I am on the governing board of the national center for shaken baby syndrome, this is volunteer position.

    – ref. Shaken baby syndrome can cause permanent brain damage, long-term disabilities or death – a pediatrician examines the preventable tragedy – https://theconversation.com/shaken-baby-syndrome-can-cause-permanent-brain-damage-long-term-disabilities-or-death-a-pediatrician-examines-the-preventable-tragedy-243882

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Measles cases are on the rise − here’s how to make sure you’re protected

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Daniel Pastula, Professor of Neurology, Medicine (Infectious Diseases), and Epidemiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Should you get an additional shot of the measles vaccine? Hailshadow via Gett Images

    The measles outbreak that started in Texas in late January continues to grow. As of March 18, 2025, confirmed cases in the outbreak, which now spans Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, reached 321, surpassing the number of confirmed cases recorded for all of the U.S. in 2024. The vast majority of cases are in people who are not vaccinated. Meanwhile, a lack of clarity from health authorities is leaving people with questions about whether they need to get revaccinated.

    In a Q&A with The Conversation U.S., Daniel Pastula, a neurologist and medical epidemiologist from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Colorado School of Public Health, explained how and when you should take action.

    Should adults get another shot of the measles vaccine?

    The measles vaccine, which first became available in the U.S. in 1963, contains a live but significantly weakened strain of the measles virus. This modified strain is too weak to cause measles, but it is similar enough to the wild type measles virus to train the immune system to recognize it. Most people who have received the live measles vaccine won’t need an additional shot now, but here is what you need to know:

    People born before 1957 are presumed to have lifelong immunity because measles was so contagious that almost everyone contracted it before age 15. Unless there are special circumstances, they probably don’t need a vaccine now.

    Most people born after 1957 would have received the shot as children, so they should be set for life. Physicians and public health experts don’t recommend most people in this group get a second measles shot, though there are exceptions.

    In 1989, a limited outbreak of measles occurred among vaccinated school children. In response, the recommendations changed from one dose of the live measles vaccine to two doses for children. People fully vaccinated as children after that year do not need any additional doses.

    Measles vaccination has worked so well that many people today have never seen a measles case.

    Exceptions to these guidelines

    There are two special circumstances where the previous recommendations may not hold.

    First, if you were vaccinated between 1963 and 1967, one of the measles vaccines available at the time consisted of just proteins from the virus rather than a live, weakened version of it. Researchers soon realized this inactivated, or “killed,” vaccine was less effective and didn’t provide long-term immunity. Unless you know for certain you received the live vaccine, physicians and public health experts recommend that people vaccinated during those years get one dose of the live vaccine at some point.

    Second, if you fall into a high-risk group – for example, if you are a health care provider, are traveling internationally or attending college, physicians and public health experts generally recommend getting a second dose if you have only had one.

    For most adults without such risk factors, physicians and public health experts do not routinely recommend a second dose if you have previously received one dose of a live measles vaccine. If you have questions or concerns about your situation, make sure to ask your health care provider.

    Except in very rare circumstances, there is no recommendation for a third dose of the measles vaccine.

    Can you find out whether you’ve been vaccinated?

    You might be able to! It’s worth checking. States actually keep vaccine records specifically for this reason, where you can look up your vaccine records or that of your kids. Your high school or college may still have your records, and so might your pediatrician’s office.

    Should you get your antibody levels checked?

    For most people, probably not.

    A titer test checks the level of antibodies in your blood, and some people are asking their doctor to check their titers to determine whether they are still immune to measles. The problem is, the level of antibodies in your blood does not necessarily reflect your level of immunity. That’s because antibodies are just one part of your immune system’s infection-fighting force. Having a low level of antibodies does not necessarily mean your immunity has waned.

    Other crucial elements of your immune response include B cells, T cells and other immune cells, but a titer test does not show their capabilities. For example, memory B cells might not currently be making antibodies against the virus but are primed to quickly do so the next time they see it. This is why antibody and titer tests should be used only in specific cases, in consultation with your doctor.

    One example of when an antibody test may be warranted is if you are a health care provider born before 1957 and you want to make sure you don’t need another dose of the vaccine. You would use a test to see whether you have measles antibodies. But in this case you would be looking for a yes or no answer; the total amount of antibodies may not be very informative.

    Is natural immunity better than vaccine-induced immunity?

    Natural immunity – that is, the immunity you get after having measles – is effective. However, the downside is that natural infection with a wild virus is very risky. Before 1963, measles caused close to 50,000 hospitalizations and about 500 deaths each year in the United States, usually in children. It also caused over 1,000 cases of severe brain inflammation every year and carried several other long-term risks, such as permanent hearing loss or the wipe out of immunity to other diseases.

    Measles might seem mild in many people who get it, but it poses serious long-term health risks.
    Bilanol via Getty Images

    The point of vaccines is to create immunity without the risks of severe infection. It is basically a dress rehearsal for the real thing. The immunity from a vaccine is effectively the same immunity you get from having measles itself – but vastly safer than encountering the wild virus unprotected. One dose is 93% effective at preventing measles and two doses are 97% effective, and any breakthrough cases are likely to be much milder than a full-blown case of measles.

    Can the vaccine cause measles?

    No, the measles vaccine cannot cause measles because it contains a significantly weakened strain that has limited ability to infect and damage cells.

    Some have claimed without evidence that the current outbreak in Texas was caused by the measles vaccine.

    As part of the outbreak investigation, however, CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services analyzed the genome of the virus causing the current outbreak and identified it as a wild measles virus. Researchers classify measles virus strains based on their genetic characteristics, or genotypes. They identified the outbreak virus as wild type genotype D8, and not the weakened measles vaccine strain, which is genotype A.

    What are the risks of the vaccine?

    That is a very reasonable question. Because the measles vaccine is a live, weakened virus strain, it can cause a mild, measles-like syndrome. For example, some people might have a slight fever, a rash, or some slight joint pain. These symptoms generally go away in a day or two, and most people don’t experience them. But the vaccine cannot cause measles itself, as it does not contain the wild measles virus.

    In extremely rare cases, people can experience more significant reactions to the measles vaccine. It is important to remember that every single medical or health intervention carries risks – and that includes all medications and over-the-counter supplements. According to all available evidence, however, comparing the potential benefits against potential risks reveals that the risks of a signficant reaction to the vaccine are much lower than the risks of severe outcomes from measles itself.

    Being vaccinated not only protects you and your family, but it also protects vulnerable people in the community, such as infants, cancer patients and pregnant women, who cannot be vaccinated themselves.

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

    – ref. Measles cases are on the rise − here’s how to make sure you’re protected – https://theconversation.com/measles-cases-are-on-the-rise-heres-how-to-make-sure-youre-protected-252277

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Humans aren’t the only animals with complex culture − but researchers point to one feature that makes ours unique

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Eli Elster, Doctoral Candidate in Evolutionary Anthropology, University of California, Davis

    A ritual dance honoring Yoruban ancestors is one of the countless examples of human culture. Jorge Fernández/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Of the 8.7 million species on Earth, why are human beings the only one that paints self-portraits, walks on the Moon and worships gods?

    For decades, many scholars have argued that the difference stems from our ability to learn from each other. Through techniques such as teaching and imitation, we can create and transmit complicated information over many generations.

    So if a human finds, for instance, a better but more complex way to make a knife, they can pass along the new instructions. One of those learners might stumble upon their own improvement and pass it along in turn.

    If this loop continues, you get a ratchet effect, in which small changes can accumulate over time to produce increasingly intricate behaviors and technologies. This process produces our uniquely complex cultures: Scientists call it cumulative cultural evolution.

    But extensive data has emerged suggesting that other animals, including bees, chimpanzees and crows, can also generate cultural complexity through social learning. Consequently, the debate over human uniqueness is shifting in a new direction.

    As an anthropologist, I study a different feature of human culture that researchers are beginning to think about: the diversity of our traditions. Whereas animal cultures affect just a few crucial behaviors, such as courtship and feeding, human cultures cover a massive and constantly expanding set of activities, from clothing to table manners to storytelling.

    This new view suggests that human culture is not uniquely cumulative. It is uniquely open-ended.

    What is cumulative culture?

    In the early 2000s, a research team led by psychologist Michael Tomasello tested 105 human children, 106 adult chimpanzees and 32 adult orangutans on a battery of cognitive assessments. Their goal was to see whether humans held any innate cognitive advantage over their primate cousins.

    Surprisingly, the human children performed better in only one capacity: social learning. Tomasello thus concluded that humans are not “generally smarter.” Rather, “we have a special kind of smarts.” Our advanced social abilities allow us to transmit information by accurately teaching and learning from each other.

    Psychologist Michael Tomasello and his team ran a number of experiments comparing how human children and nonhuman primates performed on cognitive tasks, including tests of social learning.
    Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

    Humans’ apparent social learning abilities suggested a clear explanation for our unique cultural traits. Knowledgeable humans – say, someone who discovers a better way to make a spear – can successfully transfer that skill to their peers. But an inventive chimp – one who discovers a better way to smash nuts, for example – can’t successfully share their innovation. Nobody listens to Chimp Einstein. So our inventions persist and build upon each other, while theirs vanish into the jungle floor.

    Or so the theory went.

    Now, though, scientists have hard evidence showing that, just like us, animals can learn from each other and thus maintain their cultures for long periods of time. Groups of swamp sparrows appear to use the same song syllables for centuries. Meerkat troops settle on different wake-up times and maintain them for a decade or more.

    Of course, long-term social learning is not the same as cumulative culture. Yet scientists also now know that humpback whale songs can oscillate in complexity over many generations of learners, that homing pigeons create efficient flight paths by learning from each other and making small improvements, and that hooved mammals cumulatively alter their migration routes to exploit plant growth.

    Once again, the animals have shot down our claim to uniqueness, as they have innumerable times throughout scientific history. You might wonder, at this point, if we should just settle the uniqueness question by answering: “We’re not.”

    If not cumulative culture, what makes us unique?

    But it remains the case that humans and their cultures are quite different from animals and their equivalents. Most scholars agree about that, even if they disagree about the reasons why. Since cumulative complexity appears not to be the most important difference, several researchers are sketching out a new perspective: Human culture is uniquely open-ended.

    Currently, anthropologists are discussing open-endedness in two related ways. To get a sense of the first, try counting the number of things you’re engaged with, right now, that came to you through culture. For example, I picked my clothes today based on fashion trends I did not develop; I am writing in a language I did not invent; I tied my shoes using a method my father taught me; there are paintings and postcards and photographs on my walls.

    Give me 10 minutes, and I could probably add 100 more items to that list. In fact, other than biological acts such as breathing, it is difficult for me to think of any aspect of what I’m doing right now that is not partially or completely cultural. This breadth is incredibly strange. Why should any organism spend time pursuing such a wide range of goals, particularly if most of them have nothing to do with survival?

    Other animals are much more judicious. Their cultural variation and complexity pertains almost entirely to matters of subsistence and reproduction, such as acquiring food and mating. Humans, on the other hand, lip-synch, build space stations and, less grandiosely, have been known to do things such as spend six years trying to park in all 211 spots of a grocery store lot. Our cultural diversity is unparalleled.

    Open-endedness, as a unique human quality, is not just about variety; it reflects the quantum leaps by which our cultures can evolve. To illustrate this peculiarity, consider a hypothetical example regarding the rocks that chimpanzees use to smash nuts.

    Chimps often use stones to break open hard-shelled nuts.
    Anup Shah/Stone via Getty Images

    Let’s say these chimps would benefit from using rocks that they can swing as hard and accurately as possible, but that they don’t immediately know what kind of rocks those would be. By trying different options and observing each other, they might accumulate knowledge of the best qualities in a nut-smashing rock. Eventually, though, they’d hit a limit in the power and precision available by swinging a rock with your fist.

    How could they get past this upper limit? Well, they could tie a stick to their favorite rock; the extra leverage would help them smash the nuts even harder. As far as we know, though, chimpanzees aren’t capable of realizing the benefits of harnessing this additional quality. But we are – people invented hammers.

    Crucially, discovering the power of leverage allows for more than just better nut-smashing. It opens up innovations in other domains. If adding handles to wielded objects allows for better nut-smashing, then why not better throwing, or cutting, or painting? The space of cultural possibilities, suddenly, has expanded.

    Through open-ended cultural evolution, human beings produce open-endedness in culture. In this respect, our species is unparalleled.

    What’s next?

    Researchers have not yet answered most of the major questions about open-endedness: how to quantify it, how we create it, whether it has any true limitations.

    But this new framework must shift the tides of a related debate: whether there is something obviously different about the way human minds work, other than social learning capacities. After all, every cultural trait emerges through interactions between minds – so how do our minds interact to produce such a degree of cultural breadth?

    No one knows yet. Interestingly, this shifting debate over how cognition influences culture coincides with a spate of research bridging psychology and anthropology, which explores why certain behaviors – such as singing lullabies, curative bloodletting and storytelling – recur across human cultures.

    Human minds produce unparalleled diversity in their cultures; yet it is also true that those cultures tend to express variations on a strict set of themes, such as music and marriage and religion. Ironically, the source of our open-endedness may illuminate not only what makes us so diverse, but also what makes us so often the same.

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

    – ref. Humans aren’t the only animals with complex culture − but researchers point to one feature that makes ours unique – https://theconversation.com/humans-arent-the-only-animals-with-complex-culture-but-researchers-point-to-one-feature-that-makes-ours-unique-245526

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 18 March 2025 Departmental update WHO Director-General and Civil Society Task Force on TB release joint statement on sustaining the momentum to end TB

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Seventy-nine million lives have been saved from tuberculosis (TB) since 2000, yet the fight against the disease is now at risk due to funding shortages and competing global priorities. Any disruptions to TB services will have fatal consequences for the millions of people affected by TB worldwide.

    To prevent service disruptions and ensure continuity of quality TB care worldwide, urgent measures are needed. The latest joint statement by the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the WHO Civil Society Task Force on Tuberculosis (CSTF-TB) sets out key actions required to sustain momentum, mobilize resources and strengthen TB responses worldwide.

    Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Programme on Tuberculosis and Lung Health, emphasized, “The world cannot afford to step back in the fight against TB. We must act with urgency to safeguard TB services, protect the most vulnerable, and secure the investments needed to end TB as a public health threat.”

    Read the full statement here.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Emergency Medical Team ends 5-month deployment in Lebanon

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    UK Emergency Medical Team ends 5-month deployment in Lebanon

    UK Emergency Medical Team (UK-EMT) ends their 5-month deployment in Lebanon, the British Embassy held a workshop today for local and international partners.

    UK EMT Workshop hosted by British Embassy Beirut

    Partners focused on exploring opportunities to maintain and build capacity at the Turkish Hospital in Saida, building on lessons from the UK-EMT deployment. The workshop was attended by British Chargé D’Affaires and Development Director, Victoria Dunne; UK-Med Team Lead, Mr. Andres Gonzales Rodriguez; Turkish Hospital Director, Mrs Mona Teryaki; and Senior Advisor to the Minister of Public Health, Dr Nadeen Hilal.

    In November 2024, the UK-EMT arrived in Lebanon to attend to injured civilians caught up in the conflict and train Lebanese health workers in specialised burn treatment skills. The team, made up of medical staff from the NGO UK-Med and Interburns, had deployed in response to a call for assistance from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health to the international community. The deployment of medical professionals from the UK to emergencies and humanitarian crises around the world is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. 

    The UK-EMT shared their achievements and challenges in providing burns and trauma services at the Turkish hospital and suggested steps to ensure continuity of burns treatment and physiotherapy. The event highlighted how international NGOs like UK-Med can provide life-saving assistance in a crisis context while also improving Lebanon’s capacity to provide these specialised services in the longer term.  

    Charge D’Affaires and Development Director Victoria Dunne said:  

    The conflict in Lebanon brought intolerable suffering to so many, with homes destroyed and innocent civilians caught up in the crossfire. The UK is pleased to have been able to deploy such valuable expertise to assist Lebanon in a time of crisis. 

    Over the past 5 months, the UK medical team have managed to deliver urgently needed treatment to the most vulnerable and those with life-changing injuries, whilst imparting skills to Lebanese physiotherapist to use in the long-term.  We hope today’s workshop sets out a road map to sustain the Turkish Hospital in Saida and its burns rehabilitation expertise with the support of our local and international partners.  

    We are proud of our ongoing partnership and cooperation with Lebanon and international partners and what we have achieved in the last year – mobilising over $50m for the most vulnerable across the country.

    UK-Med Senior Operations Manager and Team Lead for the UK EMT in Lebanon, Andres Gonzalez Rodriguez said:  

    Since November 2024, UK-EMT has provided specialised physiotherapy care focussed on burn rehabilitation in partnership with Interburns in the Turkish Trauma and Emergency Hospital, Saida. Several training sessions for physiotherapists were held with the Lebanese Order of Physiotherapists and Interburns for staff, including improving protocols and securing vital equipment. 

    As our mission ends, UK-EMT remains committed to supporting sustainable medical capacity in Lebanon through knowledge transfer and strengthened local healthcare system.

    Senior Advisor to the Minister of Public Health Dr Nadeen Hilal said:

    The Turkish Hospital’s journey may be considered as a blueprint. Its evolution from an emergency recipient to a hub of localized expertise and burn standard of excellence demonstrates how targeted interventions can respond to national health priorities. The lessons learned here, in burns care, trauma management, and multidisciplinary collaboration, must inspire replication across Lebanon’s hospitals, addressing diverse needs such as maternal health and chronic disease management.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Spotlight shines on local heroes at annual Mayor’s Awards

    Source: City of Winchester

    Community contributions from across the Winchester district have been recognised during the annual Mayor of Winchester’s awards.

    The ceremony took place in Winchester Guildhall on Thursday 13 March, when a total of 54 award certificates were presented to 71 local individuals, groups and businesses.   

    Among those recognised were: the Rotary Club of Bishop’s Waltham; Jean Browne; Hampshire Swifts; Winchester Young Carers; Winchester Go LD; Gary Munday from Swan Samba; Alan Marlow from Winchester Ramblers; Connect Winchester Community Bus; The Soberton and Newtown Conservation Group; Danny Dubois; Tuesday’s Place in King’s Worthy; Citizens Advice Winchester; Kathy East from Lanterns Nursery School; GrOws (Green Owslebury); Keith Leaman; Natalie March; Anne Collins, Parish Clerk serving Durley and Upham PCs; Wilfred’s Café in Droxford and Meon Valley; Jenny Webb from South Wonston Community Café.

    Swanmore Accredited Community Support Officer (ACSO) Gary McCulloch was presented with an award.

    Mr McCulloch, who has been in the role for five years and works in Swanmore and Owslebury, said: “I was really shocked and humbled to be amongst so many well deserving people from all across the district. Myself and my fellow ACSO Sarah work filling the gaps and taking care of what are often little things; people can see they’re being listened to. If I can solve a problem, it’s good for the local community.  

    “I truly believe that my job is the best there is and I thoroughly enjoy every minute of it. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate me.”

    The Mayor of Winchester Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith said: “The annual Mayor of Winchester Community Awards is one of the most important events in the Mayor’s calendar, and it’s a way to acknowledge and celebrate the quite invaluable work carried out by many community-spirited residents and business of all ages, from all walks of life.

    “It has been heartwarming to see just how many kind and compassionate people there are in our district. I was so impressed by the humbling and inspirational achievements, which included three remarkable instances of lives being saved by quick thinking and well-trained individuals, taking charge of emergency situations; in one case a fourteen-year girl had set in motion a rescue attempt.

    “I offer my profound thanks and admiration to every award recipient, for all that they have done and will no doubt continue to do for our community across the Winchester district.”  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Passage of air quality bill welcomed

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government welcomed the Legislative Council’s passage of the Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Bill 2024 today.

    To more effectively combat unlicensed specified processes operations that may cause serious air pollution, the bill introduces a statutory closure notice mechanism.

    At the same time, the amendment exercise optimises the scope of “cement works” and the definition of “premises” under specified processes to avoid misinterpretation or control circumvention, such that the trade could enjoy a clearer and fairer business environment.

    The amendment exercise also tightens five existing Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) and adds three parameters newly introduced by the World Health Organization to its Global Air Quality Guidelines.

    Among the 15 updated AQOs, seven are set at the most stringent levels of the guidelines, which are on par with those of other advanced economies.

    The bill will come into effect on April 11.

    The Government said Hong Kong’s air quality has continued to improve through the implementation of local control measures and close collaboration with the Guangdong Provincial Government.

    Over the past two years, the city has recorded a 40%-80% decrease in the concentrations of major air pollutants, attaining the best air quality level since its return to the motherland, it added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Final of the International Competition: the country’s tourist code was discussed at the State University of Management

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On March 19, 2025, the State University of Management hosted the in-person stage of the III International Competition “Tourism Code of My Country, City, Town, District – PRO-tourism”, one of the co-organizers of which is our university.

    Delegations from 88 subjects of the Russian Federation and more than ten foreign countries came to Moscow to defend their projects before experts, including representatives of the State University of Management. More than 2,000 applications were submitted for the correspondence stage of the competition, of which 543 projects were selected to reach the in-person defense.

    The Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Dmitry Bryukhanov addressed the audience with a welcoming speech.

    “It is no coincidence that our university has become the venue for the international competition, because the State University of Management is one of the key venues for the implementation of Eurasian integration, we host the secretariat of the Eurasian Network University, in whose work we take an active part. In addition, projects will be presented within the framework of the competition, namely, the State University of Management is the leader in project-based learning and has been approved as a federal innovation platform for the implementation of the project “Interregional Educational and Methodological Center for Project-Based Learning, Project-Based Learning as a Technology of Practical Training,” shared Dmitry Yuryevich.

    Advisor to the rector’s office of the State University of Management, head of the department of state and municipal administration Sergei Chuev noted the importance of love for the Motherland and instilling a sense of patriotism in the younger generation.

    “The theme of the competition is directly related to the work of our department, because without a city, a village, a district, a country and love for them, it is impossible to imagine effective government, either state or municipal. We will do everything we can to promote the development of patriotic feelings. During the SVO, we especially acutely understand that ours is better than someone else’s. Our department is one of the largest at the university, and we will be glad to see you, your children and students among our students,” concluded Sergey Vladimirovich.

    The next speaker was Sergey Kochnev, General Director of the ANO Institute for Local Communities Development, who spoke about the history of the creation of the Russia Territory of Development platform, the dynamics of its development and existing projects.

    “This year, more than two million people voted for the best projects at the All-Russian competition “My Entry Group”, which originated within the walls of the State University of Management from the diploma work of one student. The “Architectural Battle of Ideas” is gaining popularity, within the framework of which we send expeditions to cities to develop solutions for improvement. This year, we were invited to visit the UAE and have already outlined the task that we have to complete. By the way, it is receiving a clear technical assignment from a city or district that is the most difficult part of forming an expedition. No less popular is the project “Ideas that Transform Cities”. Participation of children from a young age in such competitions and projects allows them to feel their involvement, show love for their small homeland and help make it better,” shared Sergey Kochnev.

    After the grand opening, the Boiling Point auditorium of the State University of Management hosted the defense of projects in 47 nominations of participants in 4 age categories: 10-13 years; 14-17 years; 18-35 years; 36 years.

    In parallel, an educational program “Methods and technologies for developing the tourist potential of municipalities of the Russian Federation” was organized for scientific leaders and accompanying persons. A guest from Serbia, Igor Babich, spoke at the scientific seminar.

    At the end of the day, Associate Professor of the Department of State and Municipal Administration Irina Milkina presented letters of gratitude to the heads of the contestants for their scientific support.

    The in-person final of the International Competition was held simultaneously at three venues: GUU, MSU and HSE, the largest of which is our university.

    The organizer of the III International Competition “Tourism Code of My Country, City, Town, District – PRO-tourism” is the Institute for Local Communities Development. The co-organizers of the Competition are the Commission for Territorial Development, Urban Environment and Infrastructure of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, the Association of Public Associations “National Council of Youth and Children’s Associations of Russia”, the Center for Children’s and Youth Tourism, Local History and Organization of Recreation and Health Improvement for Children of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Additional Education FTsDO of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, the All-Russian Assembly for Territorial Development and Public Self-Government, the Project and Educational Laboratory of Urban Development of the State University of Management, and the Center for Network Economy Research of the Lomonosov Moscow State University.

    The award ceremony for the winners and prize winners of the competition will take place on March 20 as part of the International Tourism and Hospitality Industry Exhibition “MITT” at Crocus Expo.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/19/2025

    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: ibex Kicks Off Global Employee-Driven Charitable Initiative for 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WASHINGTON, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and AI-powered customer engagement technology solutions, today announced the official launch of its 2025 ibex Cares™ campaign, which empowers employees to select and support local charities in their communities, fostering meaningful connections, and creating lasting positive impact where they live and work.

    In its eighth year, ibex Cares™ spans multiple countries and supports a diverse range of causes, from healthcare and environmental conservation to animal welfare and youth development.

    “Thanks to the exceptional generosity of our global workforce, ibex Cares™ has a meaningful impact in our communities and reflects our company’s unwavering commitment to social responsibility,” said Paul Inson, Chief People Officer at ibex. “What makes this program truly special is that it’s driven by our employees, who choose causes close to their hearts and actively work to improve the lives of their neighbors, colleagues, and communities. This grassroots approach to charitable giving has created a powerful ripple effect of positive change across our global footprint.”

    The 2025 ibex Cares™ campaign kicked off recently in the U.S. with a fundraiser that helped raise $25,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project®. ibex volunteer efforts to support veterans nationwide are ongoing.

    In Jamaica, more than 320 ibex employees came together on Sunday, February 16th, to participate in the Sigma Run 2025, organized by Sagicor Foundation. According to Sagicor, the Sigma Run had a record turnout of more than 30,000 registrants and raised more than JAM $128 million for the Kingston Public Hospital, Father Ho Lung and Friends Foundation, and Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre.  

    Other ibex Cares™ initiatives around the globe include:

    • Nicaragua: Establishing a merchandise program selling ibex-branded items to benefit MoviCancer, a non-governmental organization (NGO) fighting cancer in Central and Latin America.
    • Honduras: Coordinating in-kind donations for Asociación Rescate Animal Independiente, an animal rescue network that works to improve the lives of abused and abandoned animals.
    • Jamaica: Raising funds for the Jamaica Cancer Society through the sale of ibex Cares™ merchandise.
    • Philippines: Supporting numerous charitable organizations including the Philippines Eagle Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the endangered Philippine Eagle and its rainforest habitat, as well as the Albert Schweitzer Familienwerk Foundation Philippines, which assists vulnerable populations including children, women, and disabled individuals.
    • Pakistan: Engaging in various charitable initiatives by providing volunteer hours, donating items like wheelchairs and organizing blood drives. The supported organizations include the Sundas Foundation, an NGO assisting patients with thalassemia and other blood disorders, and Dar-ul-Sukun, which works to empower abandoned children and marginalized individuals with disabilities.

    As ibex continues to grow, the company remains dedicated to expanding its charitable impact and fostering a culture of giving back across its global operations.

    About ibex
    ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global CX delivery center model consisting of approximately 30 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

    ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 30,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including the AI-powered ibex Wave iX solutions suite, to manage nearly 175 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contact:
    Dan Burris
    Daniel.Burris@ibex.co

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74f20cc6-52b6-42c8-a483-a7d1499bc0f3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Proscia Raises $50M To Advance AI-Driven Pathology And Deliver The Future Of Precision Medicine

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Proscia is rewiring pathology to speed up the development of targeted therapies, accelerate diagnosis, and match more patients with the best course of treatment
    • Funding led by global software investor Insight Partners comes as the surge in cancer cases compounds the impact of the shrinking pathologist workforce
    • The company will use the funds to grow its customer footprint and advance Concentriq, with focus on extending the platform’s core AI capabilities

    PHILADELPHIA, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Proscia®, a software company leading pathology’s transition to digital and AI, has secured $50M in funding, bringing its total raised to $130M. This investment follows Proscia’s record-breaking growth in 2024. Proscia now counts 16 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies among its users and is on track for 22,000+ patients to be diagnosed on its Concentriq® software platform each day.

    Cancer patients often wait more than two months to receive a diagnosis and start treatment1 as the rest of medicine races ahead. Pathology—the bedrock of up to 70% of clinical decisions2 and a critical driver of every drug brought to market—is among the last fields of healthcare to modernize, despite mounting pressures from a workforce shortage and rising case volume. Proscia is rewiring pathology, shifting it from microscope to data-rich images, to overcome these challenges, unlock new insights, and shape the future of care.

    At the center of this transformation is Proscia’s Concentriq, the only AI-driven pathology platform underpinning the precision medicine value chain. In powering drug discovery to diagnostics, Concentriq is a foundation for fueling the next novel therapies, accelerating diagnosis, and connecting a network of life sciences organizations and laboratories to match more patients with targeted treatments.

    “We are living through an extraordinary moment in medicine,” said David West, Proscia’s CEO. “Demand for advanced diagnostics is surging, digital pathology is gaining global traction, and AI is moving faster than the boldest predictions made just a few years ago. Patients are waiting to realize the future of precision medicine. With this investment, we will ensure that more pathologists and scientists can deliver it.”

    The funding was led by global software investor Insight Partners along with AI Capital Partners (Alpha Intelligence Capital’s US fund) and Triangle Peak Partners. Other investors included Avenue Venture Opportunities Fund, Emerald Development Managers, GPG Healthcare, Fusion Fund, Interwoven Ventures, and Razor’s Edge.

    “Insight has had a long-standing thesis on digitization and AI in pathology, and we’ve been waiting for a winner to emerge,” said Scott Barclay, Managing Director at Insight Partners. “Proscia is poised to be that leader. With its fast-growing customer base and strong champions of its product, it will continue to solidify its position as digital pathology moves into the mainstream.”

    Proscia will use the capital to propel its commercial momentum, growing adoption of its platform. This includes leveraging its OEM partnerships with Agilent Technologies and Siemens Healthineers. The company will also continue to weave AI into the core of Concentriq and expand its lead in offering the industry’s most extensive collection of applications through its precision medicine AI portfolio. Building on the impact of Concentriq Embeddings, which brings foundation models to the platform and has been demonstrated to accelerate AI development by 13x, Proscia will further enable researchers and data scientists to develop and deploy algorithms for biomarker discovery, clinical trials, and companion diagnostics on its platform.

    “Adoption of digital pathology and AI is creating an opportunity for a more connected and data-driven healthcare ecosystem,” said Katie Maloney, Partner at industry-leading strategy consulting and market intelligence firm DeciBio. “This shift is enabling precision medicine by making breakthroughs more technologically achievable, commercially viable, and clinically impactful for patients.”

    Learn more:

    About Proscia
    Proscia is a software company accelerating pathology’s transition to a digital, data-driven discipline and enabling AI to advance precision medicine. Its Concentriq enterprise pathology platform, precision medicine AI portfolio, and real-world data fuel the development and use of novel therapies and diagnostics to drive the fight against humanity’s most challenging diseases, like cancer. 16 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies and a global network of diagnostic laboratories rely on Proscia’s solutions each day. The company has FDA 510(k) clearance and CE-IVDR certification for its diagnostic software. For more information, visit proscia.com, and follow Proscia on LinkedIn and X.

    ________________________________

    1 Lowes, S., & Cropper De Andres, I. (2025, February 13). Cancer waiting times: Latest updates and analysis. Cancer Research UK. ​news.cancerresearchuk.org
    2 NHS England (2017). Digital First: Clinical Transformation Through Pathology Innovation. National Pathology Programme; doi: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/pathol-dig-first.pdf

    For Proscia
    Sydney Fenkell
    VP, Marketing Communications
    sydney@proscia.com
    215.816.3436

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Latest update on Clade Ib mpox

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Latest update on Clade Ib mpox

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) latest updates on Clade Ib mpox.

    Updates on clade Ib mpox case numbers are published on the UKHSA data dashboard

    Latest update

    Clade I mpox no longer considered a high consequence infectious disease

    Clade Ia and Ib mpox will no longer be classified as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) following a review of available evidence by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, the UK Health Security Agency has confirmed today.

    This decision has been taken because the evidence related to this clade no longer meets the criteria for an HCID, which includes having a high mortality rate and a lack of available interventions.

    However, the decision should not be interpreted as clade I mpox no longer being of any public health consequence. The disease is still a public health emergency of international concern as defined by the WHO.

    Sexual and close physical contact is the main way that mpox spreads.

    There have been no reported deaths from mpox in the UK to date, and vaccination is available for higher risk contacts, healthcare workers, and those who are most at risk.

    Emma Richards, Incident Director at the UK Health Security Agency, said:

    There is now firm evidence of vaccine effectiveness and a low mortality rate for cases of clade I mpox, alongside heightened clinical awareness of symptoms, and access to rapid diagnostic testing and safe therapies with emerging evidence of efficacy.

    This change does not alter our overall public health response and we remain committed to preventing the spread of clade I mpox within the UK.

    While mpox infection is mild for many, it can cause severe symptoms including unusual rashes and blisters, a fever and headache.

    The majority of people who have presented with symptoms report close physical contact, including massages, or sex prior to developing symptoms. It’s important people who have travelled to affected countries in Africa remain alert to the risks and seek medical advice if necessary.

    All 4 UK Chief Medical Officers have agreed to accept the recommendation.

    There have been no cases of clade Ia mpox in the UK, and only a small number of cases of clade Ib mpox. Most of these cases have appeared in returning travellers from affected areas in Africa with the others being household contacts of a case.

    There has been no community transmission of clade I mpox within the UK and the risk to the population remains low.

    In the context of the outbreak in parts of Africa, we expect to see the occasional imported case of clade Ib mpox in the UK.

    Previous

    13 February 2025

    A new case of clade Ib mpox has been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) can confirm. 

    The case was detected in London and the individual is now under specialist care at the Royal Free Hospital High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit. They had recently returned from Uganda, where there is currently community transmission of clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.

    The risk to the UK population remains low. In the context of the outbreak in parts of Africa, we expect to see the occasional imported case of clade Ib mpox in the UK.

    This is the eighth case of clade Ib mpox confirmed in England since October 2024. This case has no links to the previous cases identified in England.

    Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Contacts will be offered testing and vaccination where needed to prevent further infections and they will be advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.

    Dr Merav Kliner, Incident Director at UKHSA, said:

    The risk to the UK population remains low. Close contacts have been identified and offered appropriate advice in order to reduce the chance of further spread.

    Clade Ib mpox has been circulating in several countries in Africa in recent months. Imported cases have been detected in a number of countries including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden and the United States.

    There has been extensive planning undertaken to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to confirmed cases.

    Further updates on clade Ib mpox case numbers will be published on the following page: Confirmed cases of mpox clade Ib in United Kingdom.

    Previous

    27 January 2025

    Another case of clade Ib mpox has been detected, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since October 2024 to 7, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) can confirm.

    The individual had recently travelled to Uganda. The risk to the UK population remains low.

    The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.

    Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:

    The risk to the UK population remains low. Close contacts have been identified and offered appropriate advice in order to reduce the chance of further spread.

    20 January 2025

    A new case of clade Ib mpox has been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) can confirm.  

    The case was detected in East Sussex and the individual is now under specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. They had recently returned from Uganda, where there is currently community transmission of clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual. 

    The risk to the UK population remains low. In the context of the outbreak in parts of Africa, we expect to see the occasional imported case of clade Ib mpox in the UK. 

    This is the sixth case of clade Ib mpox confirmed in England since October 2024. This case has no links to the previous cases identified in England.

    Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Contacts will be offered testing and vaccination where needed to prevent further infections and they will be advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive. 

    Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, said: 

    It is thanks to clinicians rapidly recognising the symptoms and the work of our specialist laboratory that we have been able to detect this new case.

    The risk to the UK population remains low following this sixth case, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread.

    Clade Ib mpox has been circulating in several countries in Africa in recent months. Imported cases have been detected in a number of countries including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden and the United States. 

    There has been extensive planning undertaken to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any further confirmed cases.

    29 November 2024

    A new case of clade Ib mpox has been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) can confirm.  

    The case was detected in Leeds and the individual is now under specialist care at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. They had recently returned from Uganda, which is seeing community transmission of clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual. 

    The risk to the UK population remains low. We expect to see the occasional imported case of clade Ib mpox in the UK. 

    This is the fifth case of clade Ib mpox confirmed in England in recent weeks. This case has no links to the previous cases identified. All 4 previous cases were from the same household and all have now fully recovered.  

    Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Any contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive. 

    Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: 

    It is thanks to clinicians rapidly recognising the symptoms and our diagnostics tests that we have been able to detect this new case. 

    The risk to the UK population remains low following this fifth case, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread. In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases. 

    Clade Ib mpox has been widely circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya in recent months. Imported cases have been detected in Canada, Sweden, India, Thailand and Germany. 

    There has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any further confirmed cases.

    6 November 2024

    One further case of clade Ib mpox has been detected in a household contact of the first case, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) can confirm.  

    This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 4, all of which belong to the same household. 

    The patient is currently under specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. The risk to the UK population remains low. 

    The patient has been isolating since identified as a contact of the first case and no additional contact tracing is required. 

    Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: 

    Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household. 

    The overall risk to the UK population remains low. We are working with partners to make sure all contacts of the cases are identified and contacted to reduce the risk of further spread.

    Contacts of cases are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. All contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive. 

    There has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any further confirmed cases.

    4 November 2024

    Two cases of clade Ib mpox have been detected in household contacts of the first case, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) can confirm. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 3.

    The 2 patients are currently under specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. The risk to the UK population remains low.

    There has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any further confirmed cases.

    Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:

    Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household.

    The overall risk to the UK population remains low. We are working with partners to make sure all contacts of the cases are identified and contacted to reduce the risk of further spread.

    Contacts of all 3 cases are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. All contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.

    30 October 2024

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected a single confirmed human case of clade Ib mpox. The risk to the UK population remains low.

    This is the first detection of this clade of mpox in the UK. It is different from mpox clade II that has been circulating at low levels in the UK since 2022, primarily among gay, bisexual and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (GBMSM).

    UKHSA, the NHS and partner organisations have well tested capabilities to detect, contain and treat novel infectious diseases, and while this is the first confirmed case of mpox clade Ib in the UK, there has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any confirmed cases.

    The case was detected in London and the individual has been transferred to the Royal Free Hospital High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit. They had recently travelled to countries in Africa that are seeing community cases of clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.

    Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Any contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.

    UKHSA is working closely with the NHS and academic partners to determine the characteristics of the pathogen and further assess the risk to human health. While the existing evidence suggests mpox clade Ib causes more severe disease than clade II, we will continue to monitor and learn more about the severity, transmission and control measures. We will initially manage clade Ib as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) whilst we are learning more about the virus.

    Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:

    It is thanks to our surveillance that we have been able to detect this virus. This is the first time we have detected this clade of mpox in the UK, though other cases have been confirmed abroad.

    The risk to the UK population remains low, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread. In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, said:

    I am extremely grateful to the healthcare professionals who are carrying out incredible work to support and care for the patient affected.

    The overall risk to the UK population currently remains low and the government is working alongside UKHSA and the NHS to protect the public and prevent transmission.

    This includes securing vaccines and equipping healthcare professionals with the guidance and tools they need to respond to cases safely.

    We are also working with our international partners to support affected countries to prevent further outbreaks.

    Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccination and screening, said:

    The NHS is fully prepared to respond to the first confirmed case of this clade of mpox.

    Since mpox first became present in England, local services have pulled out all the stops to vaccinate those eligible, with tens of thousands in priority groups having already come forward to get protected, and while the risk of catching mpox in the UK remains low, if required the NHS has plans in place to expand the roll out of vaccines quickly in line with supply.

    Clade Ib mpox has been widely circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in recent months and there have been cases reported in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sweden, India and Germany.

    Clade Ib mpox was detected by UKHSA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

    Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last 2 to 4 weeks. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.

    The infection can be passed on through close person-to-person contact with someone who has the infection or with infected animals and through contact with contaminated materials. Anyone with symptoms should continue to avoid contact with other people while symptoms persist.

    The UK has an existing stock of mpox vaccines and last month announced further vaccines are being procured to support a routine immunisation programme to provide additional resilience in the UK. This is in line with more recent independent JCVI advice.

    Working alongside international partners, UKHSA has been monitoring clade Ib mpox closely since the outbreak in DRC first emerged, publishing regular risk assessment updates.

    The wider risk to the UK population remains low.

    UKHSA has published its first technical briefing on clade I mpox which provides further information on the current situation and UK preparedness and response.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: BOS Announces the Appointment of Osnat Gur as Board Chair and Avi Dadon as Independent Director

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RISHON LE ZION, Israel, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BOS Better Online Solutions Ltd. (“BOS” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BOSC), a global integrator of supply chain technologies, today announced the appointment of Osnat Gur, currently an independent director at BOS, as Board Chair, and Avi Dadon, former Head of Procurement for the Israeli Ministry of Defense, as a new independent director.

    Osnat Gur – Board Chair

    Ms. Gur has served on BOS’ Board of Directors since 2021 and brings extensive management experience in B2B marketing, technology, and manufacturing. She previously held key leadership positions, including:

    • CEO of Oz Global B2B, a global B2B marketing agency.
    • CEO of Tadbik TAT, an RFID technology company.
    • CEO of Anlit Ltd., a producer of high-quality children’s dietary supplements.
    • Deputy CEO of Altman Health, a leading provider of dietary supplements.

    In addition to her role at BOS, Ms. Gur serves as a board director in multiple Israeli companies. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Sociology from Tel Aviv University and a B.A. in Behavioral Sciences from Bar-Ilan University.

    Avi Dadon – Independent Director

    Mr. Dadon was the Head of Procurement for the Israeli Ministry of Defense from 2017 to 2023, overseeing procurement and production operations for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). He brings extensive expertise in defense procurement, supply chain management, and logistics.

    A retired Colonel with 28 years of military service, Mr. Dadon holds:

    • M.Sc. in Logistics Management from Florida Institute of Technology.
    • B.A. in Economics and Society from Bar-Ilan University.
    • Wexner Senior Leadership Program at Harvard University.
    • Governance and Directors Course at Tel Aviv University.

    “I am grateful for the confidence of my fellow Board members in appointing me as Chair, and I look forward to working closely with BOS’ leadership team to drive growth in revenue and earnings for the benefit of our stockholders,” said Osnat Gur. “Additionally, I am excited to welcome Avi to our Board and look forward to leveraging his decades of experience with the IDF and Ministry of Defense procurement to support BOS’ continued success.”

    About BOS Better Online Solutions Ltd.

    BOS integrates cutting-edge technologies to streamline and enhance supply chain operations across three specialized divisions:

    • Intelligent Robotics Division: Automates industrial and logistics inventory processes through advanced robotics technologies, improving efficiency and precision.
    • RFID Division: Optimizes inventory management with state-of-the-art solutions for marking and tracking, ensuring real-time visibility and control.
    • Supply Chain Division: Integrates franchised components directly into customer products, meeting their evolving needs for developing cutting-edge products.

    Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of BOS. These risk factors and uncertainties include, amongst others, the dependency of sales being generated from one or few major customers, the uncertainty of BOS being able to maintain current gross profit margins, inability to keep up or ahead of technology and to succeed in a highly competitive industry, inability to maintain marketing and distribution arrangements and to expand our overseas markets, uncertainty with respect to the prospects of legal claims against BOS, the effect of exchange rate fluctuations, general worldwide economic conditions, the continued availability of financing for working capital purposes and to refinance outstanding indebtedness; and additional risks and uncertainties detailed in BOS’ periodic reports and registration statements filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

    In October 2023, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel’s southern border from the Gaza Strip and conducted a series of attacks on civilian and military targets. Hamas also launched extensive rocket attacks on Israeli population and industrial centers located along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip and in other areas within the State of Israel. Following the attack, Israel’s security cabinet declared war against Hamas and a military campaign against these terrorist organizations commenced in parallel to their continued rocket and terror attacks. Moreover, in response to extensive rocket attacks by Hezbollah on Israel, Israel has launched a military campaign in Lebanon. The clash between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, may escalate in the future into a greater regional conflict. It is currently not possible to predict the duration or severity of the ongoing conflicts or their long term effects on our business, operations and financial conditions. The ongoing conflicts are rapidly evolving and developing, and could disrupt our business and operations, interrupt our sources and availability of supply and hamper our ability to raise additional funds or sell our securities, among others.

    BOS undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Standard Lithium Appoints Karen G. Narwold to the Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE American:SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen G. Narwold, NACD.DC as an independent member of its board of directors.

    Robert Cross, Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented, “The Standard Lithium Board is excited to welcome Karen as an independent director. Karen brings over 30 years of executive leadership experience within the manufacturing and chemicals space, including most recently as Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Albemarle Corporation. Her significant experience in legal, governance, regulatory and government affairs and operational matters will be invaluable as Standard Lithium seeks to develop its world class projects across the Smackover.”

    “Karen is an accomplished senior executive with an impressive breadth of experience that will be a significant addition to Standard’s board,” said David Park, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Standard Lithium. “Her leadership at Albemarle was critical as they transformed into a global leader in lithium production, and we expect her experience will be crucial as Standard Lithium seeks to do the same.”

    Ms. Narwold brings over 30 years of experience leading legal, compliance, external affairs, governance, human resources and corporate development functions for multinational companies. Prior to her service at Albemarle, from which she retired in 2023, Ms. Narwold served as Vice President and Strategic Counsel of Barzel Industries, and as Vice President, General Counsel, Human Resources and Corporate Secretary for GrafTech International. Ms. Narwold currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ingevity Corporation, where she is a member of the Audit Committee and the Chair of the Sustainability & Safety Committee.

    Ms. Narwold is NACD Directorship Certified® and holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Connecticut and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

    About Standard Lithium Ltd.

    Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Additionally, the Company is advancing the Phase 1A project in partnership with LANXESS Corporation, a brownfield development project located in southern Arkansas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

    Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”) and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. For more information on Standard Lithium, please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.

    Investor and Media Inquiries

    Chris Lang
    Standard Lithium Ltd.
    +1 604 409 8154
    investors@standardlithium.com

    Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “will”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, outcomes of commercialization, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued production of lithium chloride solutions, consistent ongoing lithium recovery quantities, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Godiva Festival tickets to go on sale this month

    Source: City of Coventry

    Tickets for Coventry’s Godiva Festival are to go on sale on Monday 31 March – and prices have been frozen at the same level as last year.

    The announcement means music lovers and families can enjoy an amazing three days of music and fun at affordable prices and ensures the Festival remains one of the best value-for-money events across the region.

    The 26th Festival will be held at the War Memorial Park over three days in the summer from Friday 4 – Sunday 6 July 2025.

    Tickets will be on sale from 9am on Monday 31 March and can be purchased via the Godiva Festival website.

    Details of the eagerly awaited line-up will be announced soon, along with everything festival-goers need to plan a fantastic weekend in the city.

    As usual, there will be a diverse line-up of musical acts and attractions, with food stalls, exhibitions, and family-friendly activities, making it the perfect summer outing for the whole family.

    Coventry City Council, organisers of the annual event, have always kept ticket prices as low as possible to ensure Godiva remains a fun family event that is open and accessible to everyone.

    Cllr Abdul Salam Khan, Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council and Cabinet Member for Events, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to hold ticket prices at the same level as in 2024 and keep our Godiva Festival an event that everyone can enjoy.

    “Every year we see thousands of people from the city and beyond enjoy an amazing three days of top music acts, local talent and family fun, and I’m already looking forward to this year and another incredible line-up.

    “Also this year we have extra security measures and new entry conditions designed to help people feel at ease and able to enjoy everything that is on offer.

    “The prices really do offer great value for money and I would advise everyone to book quickly and make sure they don’t miss out.”

    Early Bird prices mean tickets to this year’s festival can be bought for as little as £26 for a Standard Weekend Ticket and £79 for a Family Weekend Ticket which covers two adults and two children/teens.

    News of the ticket price freeze comes with the announcement of increased security measures and a change of entry conditions.

    This year, the minimum age for teenagers attending without an accompanying adult will rise from 16 to 18 years, and there must also be one responsible adult aged 21 or over for every two accompanied minors instead of the previous number of four.

    A new ‘Teen Ticket’ category has been introduced for those aged from 13-17 at a lower rate than an adult 18+ ticket, and a child’s ticket for those aged five to 12 years, which is at a lower cost than last year.

    Family ticket prices will allow for any combination of teens and children at no extra cost and a new single parent family ticket is being introduced. In all cases, under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 21 or above.

    There will also be increased security around the perimeter of the Festival site, and those seen not wearing a wristband will be asked to leave.

    Last year’s super concession rate ticket for validated Go CV+ members to purchase will also remain this year. The Go CV+ Super Concession Weekend Ticket will be available for just £15.50 in the Early Bird category before gradually increasing once Early Bird tickets have sold out. Go CV+ Super Concession Day Tickets cost £6.50 for a Friday ticket, £7 for Saturday and just £4 to attend on Sunday when bought at Early Bird prices. Go CV+ members can buy a maximum of four tickets per person at super concession prices.

    Those eligible for Go CV+ must live in Coventry and either be in receipt of a qualifying benefit, a carer registered with Carers Trust Heart of England, a Coventry City Council foster carer, a student with an NUS card, a young person aged 16 – 19 years old in fulltime education or a resident with asylum seeker status.

    Cllr Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, said: “The introduction of the Go CV+ offer last year really helped many residents and families who might otherwise struggle with finances to attend and enjoy the amazing atmosphere of Godiva.

    “In line with our city’s beliefs of equality and giving a little extra help to those who need it, we are again offering some support to ensure people such as carers, students, those on benefit and those newly arrived in our city can enjoy the weekend at a price they can afford.

    “Please make sure your Go CV+ accounts are validated and you’re ready to take advantage of this great offer when tickets go on sale.”

    To find out more about Go CV+ and to register, visit the Go CV website. Go CV+ accounts must be validated in order to access these ticket prices.

    Full admission terms and conditions can be found on the Godiva Festival website.

    View the full pricing structure on the Godiva Festival Tickets page.

    To keep up to date with all the latest news and announcements, head to the Godiva Festival website, sign up for the Godiva Festival newsletter or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

    Godiva Festival is brought to you by Coventry City Council.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SA condemns Israeli airstrikes on Gaza

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    South Africa has condemned the extensive Israeli airstrikes carried out across Gaza dron Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of over 350 Palestinians. 

    The deadly airstrikes occurred following a failure to implement the second stage of the peace agreement with Israel, despite ongoing negotiations aimed at ensuring the ceasefire remains in effect.

    The fatal attacks were reportedly authorised by the Israeli leadership more than a week ago. 

    According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), this raises concerns about the commitment to the permanent ceasefire outlined in the plan negotiated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

    The Palestinian Health Ministry said many of those killed were children and several victims remain under the rubble.  

    Reports suggest that airstrikes were concentrated on heavily built-up neighbourhoods, makeshift schools and residential buildings where people have been sheltering, which is a “blatant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law”.

    “South Africa is gravely concerned by the military onslaught and the fact that millions of people in Gaza are facing severe food and water shortages, as Israel continues to block aid and cut off energy supplies to the strip,” DIRCO said in a statement. 

    Meanwhile, the department said Israel, which has enforced a total blockade of Gaza, has now issued new forced displacement orders for several areas. 

    The department said the provisional orders issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) oblige Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide, ensure humanitarian assistance reaches Gaza, and preserve evidence related to alleged genocide.

    The United Nations’ Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi, has urged that the ceasefire in Gaza be immediately reinstated. He called the waves of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip since the early hours of the morning “unconscionable.”

    South Africa has also condemned the four targeted Israeli military strikes launched against southern Syria overnight, which killed at least two and wounded 19 others on the outskirts of the southern Syrian province of Deraa.

    “The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Israel targeted a military site previously used by former President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, but which is now used by the army of Syria’s transitional government. 

    “Israel’s airstrikes and previous statements that it does not want any Syrian military presence in the south of Syria is a violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” DIRCO said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mashatile to lead official World TB Day and National End TB campaign

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), Deputy President Paul Mashatile, will deliver the keynote address at the national World TB Day commemorative event on Monday, 24 March 2025. 

    World TB Day is commemorated annually on the 24th of March to raise public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and highlight efforts to eliminate the disease. 

    The day is also designated to highlight the devastating health, social and economic impact of TB. 

    During the event on Monday, the Deputy President will also launch the National End TB Campaign at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre in Gamalakhe Township, Ugu District, KwaZulu-Natal.

    According to the Presidency, South Africa is one of the countries most affected by TB and remains the leading cause of death in the country, claiming approximately 56 000 lives each year, with 54% of these deaths among people living with HIV.

    This year’s official country theme for World TB Day is “Yes! You and I Can End TB – Commit, Invest, Deliver”.

    “This is a clarion call for leaders to champion TB efforts in their respective constituencies and encourage individual action from all South Africans to contribute to the national effort against TB.“

    The Deputy President’s Office said the significance of this year’s commemoration will be marked by the launch of the National End TB campaign designed to substantially reduce TB incidence and mortality in South Africa by 2035. 

    This campaign will be carried out in phases, beginning with a focus on case finding and linking patients to care in the year 2025/26.

    The campaign aims to diagnose 250 000 new TB cases by 2025/26 through targeted testing of five million people. 

    This will be accomplished by implementing Accelerated Targeted Universal TB Testing (TUTT) to reach individuals living with HIV and household contacts with confirmed TB cases.

    The Deputy President will be joined by the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Thamsanqa Ntuli, SANAC Civil Society Chairperson Solly Nduku, Chairperson of the SANAC Private Sector Forum Mpumi Zikalala, and SANAC CEO Dr Thembi Xulu. 

    They will also be joined by representatives from development partners inclusive of the United Nations agencies, United States government agencies, research entities, civil society movements and the private sector. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Medical bill set for LegCo

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    A bill allowing patients to accept physiotherapy and occupational therapy without a doctor’s referral under specified circumstances and enabling allied health professionals to accept referrals from Chinese medicine practitioners will be published in the Gazette on March 21.

    Announcing the move today, the Government said the Medical Professions (Amendment) Bill 2025 is scheduled for the first reading at the Legislative Council on March 26 following its gazettal.

    Noting that “supplementary medical professions” has been used for over 40 years since the enactment of the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance in 1980, the Government said the bill will rename the term as “allied health professions” in view of the increasingly important and specialised roles of five professions in Hong Kong’s healthcare system.

    To address the challenges to the healthcare system posed by an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the Government also encouraged citizens to seek early medical intervention for common illnesses, noting that allowing patients to access physiotherapy and occupational therapy direct is one of the key elements.

    The bill sets out three circumstances under which patients may seek these therapy services directly without a doctor’s referral.

    People may seek services directly from physiotherapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) for health conditions covered by recognised clinical protocols, and the PTs and OTs must adhere to the recognised clinical protocols at all times.

    Patients may also seek direct physiotherapy or occupational therapy services for health conditions diagnosed by a registered doctor or Chinese medicine practitioners (CMP) within the past 12 months without obtaining a new referral letter each time.

    Alternatively, PTs and OTs may provide direct services to patients without a doctor’s referral in emergency or other situations and community services approved by the Medical Professions Council, which will be renamed as the Allied Health Professions Council. Details of the designated situations will be set out in the two professional codes of practice issued by the council.

    To further Chinese medicine as a constituent part of the healthcare system, the bill provides a legal framework for allied health professionals to accept referrals from CMPs under suitable conditions.

    The Chinese medicine profession and allied health professions must reach a consensus on professional standards regarding knowledge, skills, professional competencies and conduct to formulate implementation details and update the relevant codes of practice.

    In view of the practical clinical and operational needs of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, the bill also allows relevant allied health professionals to accept referrals from CMPs within the hospital, supporting its phased commencement of services from the end of this year.

    Additionally, a new limited registration pathway is proposed to admit qualified non-locally trained allied health professionals to practise in designated institutions within their specialised fields on the premise of not compromising professional standards.

    Applications will be subject to approval by the Allied Health Professions Council. The designated institutions include Department of Health, Hospital Authority, Primary Healthcare Commission, Chinese Medicine Hospital and institutions offering allied health profession training programmes.

    The council may impose conditions on an applicant’s practice to confine them to a specific scope of practice. Allied health professionals under limited registration will not be eligible for migration to full registration.

    Meanwhile, the Government has proposed a new temporary registration pathway to enable non-locally trained allied health professionals to come to Hong Kong for academic exchanges and clinical demonstrations. A temporary registration will be valid for no more than 14 days and is not renewable.

    The bill’s other amendments include the introduction of continuing professional development as a mandatory requirement for allied health professionals and changes to the composition and structure of the aforesaid council and its five constituent boards to better regulate the professions and promote cross-disciplinary collaboration.

    Also included are technical amendments, such as extending the validity of the existing practising certificates to three years and adjusting various fees under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor promises PBS scripts will cost no more than $25, under latest health pitch for election

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    The Albanese government will make another pre-election offer in health, promising that if re-elected it will legislate to ensure people pay no more than $25 for a script under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

    The measure, to be announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday, would start on January 1 next year.

    The government says it represents a cut of more than 20% in the maximum cost of PBS medicines, and would save Australians more than $200 million a year. Four out of five medicines would become cheaper.

    The measure, included in next week’s budget, costs the government $689 million over the forward estimates.

    Pensioners and concession card holders will continue to have the cost of their PBS medicines frozen at $7.70 until 2030.

    This is the latest in a range of initiatives the government has taken in health, including promising billions of dollars to expand bulk billing and adding a number of drugs for women’s health to the PBS. The opposition, which matched the government’s bulk billing policy, will be under pressure to do the same with this latest measure.

    Anthony Albanese said: “With cheaper medicines, more free GP visits and a stronger Medicare, we say to Australians, we’ve got your back”.

    Health Minister Mark Butler said the last time Australians paid no more than $25 for a PBS medicine was more than 20 years ago.

    Butler said when Peter Dutton was health minister in the Abbott government “he tried to make medicines cost more”.

    “The contrast in this election is clear: cheaper medicines with a re-elected Albanese government or the frankly terrifying legacy of Peter Dutton, who wants medicines to cost more, not less.”

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

    – ref. Labor promises PBS scripts will cost no more than $25, under latest health pitch for election – https://theconversation.com/labor-promises-pbs-scripts-will-cost-no-more-than-25-under-latest-health-pitch-for-election-252510

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Yemens rising tide of malnutrition

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Over the past decade, Yemen has endured one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises. This has been deepened by the country’s economic collapse, which has pushed 83 per cent of the people into multidimensional poverty. Since 2015, years of violent conflict have destroyed essential infrastructure and left the healthcare system depleted, underfunded, and struggling to function. Of Yemen’s population of 39 million people, an estimated 17.1 million are projected to face food insecurity in 2025. According to multi-sectoral surveys, some 2.2 million children are already acutely malnourished, with 48 per cent of children under five stunted and chronically malnourished.

    The destruction of vital civilian infrastructure, including the latest strikes on the shipping port of Al-Hudaydah and on Sana’a International Airport, and the volatile political climate and ongoing regional tensions have derailed Yemen’s roadmap to peace, and continue to fuel instability. Tensions in the Red Sea remain connected to the very fragile situation in Gaza.

    Data from MSF-supported facilities over the past three years reveals increases in hospital admissions of malnourished children under the age of five (0-59-month-olds) in most MSF-supported facilities, with longer seasonal peaks and overwhelming caseloads during peak months. In 2024 the malnutrition peak season pushed MSF-supported inpatient therapeutic feeding centres (ITFC) beyond limits. With the capacity to expand to 120 beds during peak malnutrition season, Abs Hospital ITFC recorded a staggering 200 per cent bed occupancy rate in September 2024, followed by 176 per cent in October – the highest levels in the last six years. Between January 2022 and December 2024, nearly 35,500 malnourished children were admitted and treated in MSF-supported facilities in total. Nearly 14,000 and over 13,500 children were admitted into MSF-supported facilities for treatment in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

    Due to the high demand for malnutrition care in northern Yemen, MSF expanded its nutritional programmes in 2022 and 2023 to try to respond to this need. With six MSF-supported facilities now offering inpatient nutritional stabilisation since 2023, MSF hospitalised nearly 5,900 more children with complicated malnutrition in 2024 than in 2022.

    Yemen’s rising tide of malnutrition: seasonal trends 2022-2024 pdf — 1.3 MB Download

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: An alarming rise in the numbers of malnourished children in Yemen

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    • Health facilities in Yemen are becoming increasingly overwhelmed with the number of children with malnutrition.
    • Suspensions and reductions in food assistance, gaps in healthcare infrastructure, and gaps in vaccination coverage are exacerbating the crisis.
    • MSF calls for an urgent response and urges stakeholders to expand community-based vaccination efforts.

    Amman – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is raising the alarm about malnutrition in Yemen as people’s needs are far outstripping the existing treatment capacity, underscoring a deep humanitarian crisis. Between January 2022 and December 2024, MSF-supported facilities treated 35,442 malnourished children under the age of five across five governorates: Amran, Saada, Hajjah, Taiz, and Hodeidah. These figures reflect the ongoing struggle for families to buy food and access healthcare after years of conflict and instability, compounded by the country’s deteriorating economy.  

    A new MSF report, Yemen’s rising tide of malnutrition: seasonal trends 2022-2024, outlines the alarming figures seen in our facilities.

    Yemen’s rising tide of malnutrition: seasonal trends 2022-2024 pdf — 1.3 MB Download

    “This is not the time for half-measures,” says Himedan Mohammed, head of operations for MSF Middle East.

    “Children are arriving in increasingly critical condition. People can no longer wait for help that simply isn’t coming fast enough” says Mohammed. “If we don’t act now by boosting nutrition programmes, ensuring affordable transport to health facilities, and bringing care closer to people in need, then we risk an even greater surge of malnutrition in the months ahead.”

    Ali Amin, a six-month-old boy, receives treatment for moderate acute malnutrition at the MSF-supported inpatient therapeutic feeding centre in Abs General Hospital. Yemen, March 2025.
    Majdi Al Adani/MSF

    While MSF has scaled up treatment capacity, we are unable to meet all the needs. Each annual malnutrition season is leaving our facilities overwhelmed with children in need of care, with many also suffering from measles, cholera and acute watery diarrhoea. Last September, during the annual peak malnutrition season, bed occupancy rates in most MSF-supported facilities reached extremely high levels. In Al-Salam hospital in Amran governorate, bed occupancy rate soared to 254 per cent that month. Healthcare staff are often forced to provide care for patients in crowded hallways and makeshift spaces.

    Aisha brought her five-month-old daughter Zahra’a to Al-Salam hospital for lifesaving care. 

    “We travelled over two hours and spent 15,000 Yemeni riyals [about US$61] to get here,” she says. “With only one breadwinner in our family of 12, we can barely meet our daily needs, and the nearest health centres don’t have specialised departments to treat malnutrition.” 

    “I am afraid to lose her, she is the only girl in the family,” says Aisha. “I hope she recovers soon and I hope more organisations will come here to support people, especially those who do not have enough food or income.”

    Suspensions and reductions in food assistance programmes have intensified hardship for people across Yemen. In 2023 and 2024, over 10,000 children received treatment at the MSF-supported facility in Ad-Dahi hospital, Hodeidah governorate. The Abs hospital in Hajjah governorate recorded a staggering 200 per cent bed occupancy rate in September 2024, followed by 176 per cent in October – the highest levels in the last six years.

    Malnutrition is aggravated by gaps in healthcare infrastructure and gaps in vaccination coverage, among other factors. According to the World Health Organization, as of April 2024, nearly 46 per cent of health facilities in Yemen were partially functional or completely out of service. 

    An MSF nurse checks on a malnourished baby girl at the MSF-supported Abs General hospital. Yemen, March 2025.
    Majdi Al Adani/MSF

    In view of the sudden and drastic reductions in humanitarian funding to Yemen, sustained donor engagement and flexible funding from major donors is crucial to address Yemen’s escalating humanitarian crisis. Adequate and consistent funding, along with stronger partnerships between the Ministry of Health, donors, and implementing partners, will help revive healthcare centres and ensure they effectively serve local communities and the most affected locations. MSF urges these stakeholders to expand community-based vaccination efforts in order to curb preventable diseases like measles, cholera and acute watery diarrhoea.

    There is a need for urgent improvements in targeted food distribution programmes in Yemen. Efforts like these will ensure pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under five, receive the nutrition they need before their health is threatened. Without swift collective action, Yemen’s most vulnerable people will suffer further under an overburdened health system and rising malnutrition rates.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Health Science – Moscow Scientists Prove Telemedicine Effectiveness for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine

    Researchers from Moscow have confirmed the effectiveness of telemedicine in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), demonstrating that remote monitoring and online consultations can significantly improve patient outcomes.

    Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine.

    A recent study found that patients who received care through a specialized telemedicine platform reported lower levels of anxiety, better treatment adherence, and overall improved quality of life compared to those who received traditional in-person consultations.

    At the same time, studies show that remote monitoring is comparable to in-person monitoring in its ability to reduce disease activity and improve quality of life.

    In a recent study involving more than 60 patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, scientists compared two different treatments.

    One group received traditional face-to-face consultations, while the other used a specialized medical web platform. This platform allowed patients to report their health status and participate in online consultations with gastroenterologists.

    The aim of the study was to assess a range of well-being indicators, including quality of life, levels of anxiety and depression, patient satisfaction with health care and adherence to prescribed medication regimens.

    The experiment was conducted jointly with the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine and the First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov.

    The results of the study showed a significant reduction in anxiety levels in the telemedicine group, by 30% compared to the face-to-face group. In addition, depression decreased by 29%, and colon pain sensitivity by 27%. Notably, both groups experienced a reduction in disease severity.

    According to Yuri Vasiliev, General Director of the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine of the Moscow Department of Health and Chief Consultant for Radiology of the Moscow Department of Health, the results obtained clearly demonstrated the benefits of remote treatment.

    “The results obtained highlight the effectiveness of telemedicine in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases,” Vasiliev noted.

    “By using digital platforms, patients can have more convenient access to treatment, which can lead to improved psychological outcomes and greater adherence to treatment plans.”

    This design allows for a comprehensive assessment of the impact of telemedicine on the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases in the context of Russian healthcare.

    The study began in 2023 and is part of Moscow’s broader efforts to integrate telemedicine and artificial intelligence into healthcare.

    This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the role of telemedicine in chronic disease management, highlighting its potential to increase access, improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on health systems.

    The Diagnostics and Telemedicine Center, established in 1996, is a leading scientific and practical organization within the Moscow City Hall Social Development Complex. The Center is engaged in the implementation of artificial intelligence in medicine, the development of radiology and medical personnel training programs.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA)

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    The Universidad Nacional de Asunción or Mbo’ehaovusu Tetãgua Paraguaygua, abbreviated UNA, anglicized as, The National University of Asuncion, is a public university founded in San Lorenzo, Paraguay. Founded in 1889, it is the oldest and most traditional university in the country.

    When the university first started, it consisted of only the Faculties of Law, Medicine and Mathematics, and schools of Clerical, Pharmacy and Obstetrics. As of 2015, the UNA had 12 faculties and a number of institutes in 74 careers that take place in different areas of knowledge, offering students the most comprehensive range of vocational training opportunities. It also has several technology centers and research facilities for the academic community, both for conducting scientific research, and for the development of postgraduate studies, resulting in contributions to society.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Health Science – Moscow Scientists Demonstrate the Effectiveness of Telemedicine for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    Source:  Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine
     
    Researchers in Moscow have confirmed the effectiveness of telemedicine in managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), demonstrating that remote monitoring and online consultations can significantly improve patient outcomes.
    Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine.
    A recent study found that patients who received care via a specialized telemedicine platform reported lower anxiety levels, better adherence to treatment, and an overall improved quality of life compared to those receiving traditional face-to-face consultations.
    Simultaneously, study indicate that remote monitoring is comparable to in-person monitoring in its ability to reduce disease activity and improve quality of life.
    In a recent study involving over 60 patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases, researchers implemented a comparative analysis between two distinct care methods.
    One group received traditional face-to-face medical consultations, while the other group used a specialized health web platform. This platform enabled patients to report their health status and engage in online consultations with gastroenterologists.
    The study aimed to evaluate a range of well-being indicators, including quality of life, levels of anxiety and depression, patient satisfaction with medical care, and adherence to prescribed medication regimens.
    This experiment is a collaborative effort between the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine and the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University.
    The findings revealed a significant reduction in anxiety among the telemedicine group, with levels 30% lower than those in the face-to-face group. Additionally, depression decreased by 29%, and colonic pain sensitivity was reduced by 27%. Notably, both groups experienced a decrease in disease severity.
    According to Yuri Vasiliev, CEO of the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine of the Moscow Healthcare Department and Chief Consultant for Radiology in the Moscow Healthcare Department, the results clearly demonstrated the benefits of remote care.  
    “The results underscore the effectiveness of telemedicine in managing inflammatory bowel diseases,” Vasilev noted.
    “By leveraging digital platforms, patients can access care more conveniently, which may lead to improved psychological outcomes and better adherence to treatment plans.”
    “IBD patients require continuous treatment and lifelong follow-up. These conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, can significantly impact quality of life, making it difficult for patients to visit hospitals regularly. Our research confirms that telemedicine provides a more convenient and accessible alternative, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits while maintaining high standards of care,” said Anton Vladzimirskyy, Dr.Sc. and Deputy Director for Research at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine. 
    The study, titled “Effectiveness of Telemedicine in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Russia,” is a randomized controlled trial. It comprises three stages: (1) patient selection and random assignment into two groups with a 1:1 allocation ratio, (2) follow-up care utilizing either telemonitoring or traditional face-to-face appointments, and (3) evaluation and comparison of the efficacy of follow-up in both groups.
    This design allows for a comprehensive assessment of telemedicine’s impact on managing inflammatory bowel diseases in the Russian healthcare context.
    The research began in 2023 and is part of Moscow’s broader efforts to integrate telemedicine and artificial intelligence into healthcare.
    This study adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the role of telemedicine in managing chronic diseases, highlighting its potential to enhance accessibility, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. 
    The Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine, established in 1996, is a leading scientific and practical organization within the Social Development Complex of the Moscow Mayor’s Office. The Center focuses on the implementation of AI in medicine, the advancement of radiology, and the development of medical training programs. 

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The capital’s pharmaceutical plant has confirmed its status as an industrial complex

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The pharmaceutical plant located in Zelenograd, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Russia, has confirmed its status as an industrial complex. The company will continue to receive tax benefits, which will allow it to further significantly reduce its financial burden. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.

    “Sergey Sobyanin defined the development of the pharmaceutical complex as one of the city’s key priorities. A number of projects are being implemented in the capital to strengthen the country’s medicinal sovereignty and there is a pool of comprehensive tools to support enterprises. Among them is the assignment of the status of an industrial complex, which provides for a special tax regime for companies. Thus, one of the capital’s pharmaceutical plants has confirmed the right to a special status, which will allow it to continue to receive tax benefits. Today, the enterprise produces a wide range of drugs and vaccines in accordance with international quality standards. Since the beginning of the year, the plant has produced more than 890 thousand packages of drugs, including drugs for the treatment of renal failure, hemostatic agents for local use, immunomodulators, bronchodilators and local anesthetics for the Russian and foreign markets,” said Maxim Liksutov.

    For the company “Binnofarm Group” the property tax has been halved, and the rental rate has been reduced fivefold – to 0.3 percent of the cadastral value of the site. The plant uses the saved funds for its own development.

    “Today, the site is undergoing final preparations for the launch of production of drugs based on monoclonal antibodies against rheumatoid arthritis and for the treatment of osteoporosis. The first batches of drugs will enter civilian circulation by the end of 2025 – beginning of 2026,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Investment and Industrial Policy

    Anatoly Garbuzov.

    Previously, assistance from the Moscow Fund for the Support of Industry and Entrepreneurship was attracted to implement this project in the form of compensation for part of the interest on an investment loan in the amount of 1.5 billion rubles.

    According to the plant’s corporate director for production activities, Anatoly Yaglenko, production will be launched in about a month. This global project required large-scale investments and the construction of new capacities at the plant from scratch. The support that the enterprise receives from the city helps reduce the tax burden.

    Medicines based on monoclonal antibodies are modern medicines and can significantly improve the quality of life of patients, and their production makes a significant contribution to the fight against complex diseases.

    Previously The Mayor of Moscow said on increasing the volume of drug production in January by 12.3 percent with the support of the city.

    Production of drugs for the treatment of oncological and autoimmune diseases to be established in Zelenograd

    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.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151478073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Master classes, lectures, professional testing: the forum of capital colleges has begun in Moscow

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A large-scale college forum has begun in the capital. On March 19–21, schoolchildren and their parents will be able to get acquainted with the capital’s colleges at Gostiny Dvor, take part in master classes on more than 140 in-demand professions, undergo professional testing, and meet with famous speakers and artists. This was reported by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    “In recent years, the labor market has seen a huge demand for specialists with secondary vocational education (SVE). In turn, colleges are increasingly becoming a choice for further career paths for schoolchildren. In order to maintain the interest of children and give them the opportunity to get acquainted with the wide opportunities that SVE now offers, today we opened a three-day forum of capital colleges in Gostiny Dvor. 48 educational organizations will take part in it. Here, every schoolchild will be able to practically assess their predisposition to a particular direction, literally “touch” the specialty and feel which professions may be interesting to them,” noted Anastasia Rakova.

    She added that a separate program has been prepared for parents, for whom this period is also difficult. They will meet with experts in the field of psychology and adolescent personality development. Parents will be able to talk to college representatives and ask all the questions they have about admission and the children’s further adaptation.

    In the morning and afternoon hours, the forum will be available only for organized visits by Moscow schoolchildren, and from 17:30 – for everyone.

    On March 19, doctor, journalist and TV presenter Sergei Malozemov will tell how to stick to a healthy diet and stay active while studying. At a lecture by communications trainer and digital etiquette expert Keti Sapovich, you can learn about the basics of eco-friendly communication, and at a speech by figure skater and TV presenter Evgenia Medvedeva, you can learn how to properly use the opportunities of a metropolis in your profession.

    As part of the evening program, psychologist Anetta Orlova will share advice on how to cope with stress during exams, and Konstantin Sidorkov, director of work with artists at a major IT company, will talk about how secondary vocational education helps people get jobs in successful Russian companies.

    On March 20, three-time Olympic champion Maria Kiseleva will share the secrets of achieving goals, and blogger Alexander Ivanov will talk about the demand for scientific specialties. In the evening, there will be an awards ceremony for the winners of the first Moscow college film festival “Profession in the frame”, as well as a lecture by the creative director of the design company Alisa Bokha.

    On March 21, Doctor of Biological Sciences Vyacheslav Dubynin will talk about the effective work of the brain under stress, and Seda Kasparov’s voice coach will talk about the secrets of successful communication. Somnologist Roman Buzunov will give the children advice on how to properly rest under intense study conditions.

    Each day, the lecture hall will close with a concert program. In addition, more than 120 master classes will be held within the forum. Using virtual reality technologies, schoolchildren will try themselves in the role of racers and drone pilots, master the skills of 3D modeling and additive technologies, and get acquainted with advanced welding and robotics techniques. They will be able to learn the basics of programming and auto mechanics, as well as reveal their potential in the field of beauty, floristry and medicine.

    Detailed information about the in-demand professions and specialties taught in the capital’s colleges is available in the section“Colleges” on the portal“School. Moscow”, in the telegram channel“Colleges of Moscow” And community of the same name on the social network VKontakte.

    Most Moscow college students start working while still studyingSobyanin approved priorities for the development of the Moscow education system

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151488073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –