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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI: Royalty Pharma Appoints Carole Ho and Elizabeth Weatherman to the Company’s Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Strengthens Board of Directors with appointment of two new independent members, increasing independent representation to greater than 90%
    • Underscores Royalty Pharma’s commitment to enhanced corporate governance following acquisition of its external manager

    NEW YORK, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Royalty Pharma plc (Nasdaq: RPRX) today announced the appointment of Carole Ho and Elizabeth (Bess) Weatherman to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Carole Ho is Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development at Denali Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on neurodegenerative diseases. Bess Weatherman is a Special Limited Partner of Warburg Pincus LLC, a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing.

    “We are delighted to welcome Carole and Bess to our board,” said Pablo Legorreta, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Royalty Pharma. “Their exceptional leadership and passion for innovation will be invaluable as we execute on our long-term strategy. With decades of experience spanning the biopharmaceutical and finance industry, they bring unique insights that will strengthen our board and support our continued growth.”

    Carole Ho has 20 years of experience in biopharma. She currently serves as Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development at Denali Therapeutics, where she heads therapeutic development from early-stage planning to late-stage development in rare disease and neurology. Since 2018, she has also served on non-profit, private and public boards. Prior to Denali, she was Vice President of Clinical Development at Genentech, where she led development of therapeutics in neurology, immunology, ophthalmology and infectious disease. Carole received a SB in biochemistry, magna cum laude, from Harvard University and earned her MD, with honors in research, from Weill Cornell Medicine.

    Bess Weatherman is a seasoned investor of 35 years across the healthcare industry. She currently serves as a Special Limited Partner at Warburg Pincus, which she joined in 1988. During her tenure, she held the role of Partner, was a member of the Executive Management Group and led the firm’s Healthcare Group. She has served on the boards of numerous public and private companies and brings a deep understanding of capital markets, corporate governance, and medical innovation. Bess received a BA in English, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Mount Holyoke College and earned her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

    About Royalty Pharma

    Founded in 1996, Royalty Pharma is the largest buyer of biopharmaceutical royalties and a leading funder of innovation across the biopharmaceutical industry, collaborating with innovators from academic institutions, research hospitals and non-profits through small and mid-cap biotechnology companies to leading global pharmaceutical companies. Royalty Pharma has assembled a portfolio of royalties which entitles it to payments based directly on the top-line sales of many of the industry’s leading therapies. Royalty Pharma funds innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry both directly and indirectly – directly when it partners with companies to co-fund late-stage clinical trials and new product launches in exchange for future royalties, and indirectly when it acquires existing royalties from the original innovators. Royalty Pharma’s current portfolio includes royalties on more than 35 commercial products, including Vertex’s Trikafta, GSK’s Trelegy, Roche’s Evrysdi, Johnson & Johnson’s Tremfya, Biogen’s Tysabri and Spinraza, AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson’s Imbruvica, Astellas and Pfizer’s Xtandi, Novartis’ Promacta, Pfizer’s Nurtec ODT and Gilead’s Trodelvy, and 16 development-stage product candidates. For more information, visit www.royaltypharma.com.   

    Royalty Pharma Investor Relations and Communications

    +1 (212) 883-6637
    ir@royaltypharma.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany on friendship and bilateral cooperation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany on friendship and bilateral cooperation

    Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany on friendship and bilateral cooperation

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany, hereinafter referred to as “the Parties”,

    Guided by the desire to join forces for a prosperous, secure and sustainable future for their citizens and their open, democratic societies in the face of fundamental changes of the geopolitical environment;

    Inspired by a common will to address the momentous new challenges to Euro-Atlantic security in an era characterised by increased strategic competition, challenges to the rules-based international order and challenges to their democracies from increasing hybrid threats;

    Identifying the Russian Federation’s brutal war of aggression on the European continent as the most significant and direct threat to their security;

    Convinced that they will better master these challenges by deepening their close cooperation as European neighbours and allies on the basis of the strong ties that connect their countries, peoples and governments and their shared history, values and interests;

    Determined to join forces to assert these values and interests in close cooperation in a changing world, and to uphold peace and security for their citizens; convinced of the need to pursue a broad, integrated and multifaceted approach to their security;

    Guided by their steadfast commitment to individual liberty, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in open societies, and by their will to work together for the good of the European continent and of an international order based on shared rules, norms and principles;

    Convinced that prosperity and security can only be guaranteed by limiting the increase of global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and conserving biodiversity and ecosystems; recognising the importance of their free and open market economies and of delivering mutual growth, including through their trade and investment relationship, to provide high-quality jobs to their citizens and underpin their prosperity while ensuring growth aligns with their net zero commitments and a just transition;

    Convinced of the imperative of international cooperation to seize the opportunities and mitigate the risks of technological change; reaffirming the critical role that science, innovation and technology as well as education play in contributing to their collective security and their sustainable economic growth and prosperity, and recognising the value of building cooperation in critical areas of science and technology that will shape their futures;

    Recalling the Federal Republic of Germany’s membership in the European Union and the commitments and obligations resulting therefrom; and the legal framework for the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland underpinned by the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; sharing the view that their cooperation is consistent with and benefits from the wider relationship of the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and that a positive development of the latter is in their shared interest;

    Reaffirming their ironclad commitment to the Transatlantic Alliance as the bedrock of their security, based on shared values, and a shared commitment to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, and underpinned by enhanced European contributions;

    Commending the Agreement on Defence cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany, signed at Trinity House in London on 23 October 2024;

    Mindful of the vital role, specific responsibilities and interests of municipalities, the German Länder, the German Bundestag and Bundesrat in the Federal Republic of Germany, and of the devolved governments, Parliaments and legislative assemblies and the Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,

    HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

    Chapter 1

    Diplomacy, Security and Development

    ARTICLE 1

    • The Parties shall consult each other on foreign and security policy matters to enable the closest cooperation across all shared priorities. They shall work together on their respective policies and seek to establish joint approaches, including with regard to their collaboration with global partners and in multilateral and other settings.

    • The Parties shall pursue deep exchanges on strategic aspects of security policy, including deterrence and defence, nuclear issues, arms control, non-proliferation, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear threats space security, counter-terrorism and the broader international security architecture, in order to support the security of Europe and the world. They shall increase cooperation on intelligence and national security capabilities in order to contribute effectively to this goal.

    • The Parties shall deepen their cooperation to understand, counter and respond to threats and hostile actions by state and non-state actors. The Parties shall work together on their approaches to crisis management, consular support and conflict resolution and prevention.

    • The Parties emphasise the importance of close cooperation on sanctions policy and implementation, to strengthen their effectiveness.

    • Foreign Ministers shall hold an annual Strategic Dialogue. A Senior Level Officials Group shall meet annually to coordinate foreign, security and defence policy.

    ARTICLE 2

    • The Parties shall strive to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union, including through the Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Federal Republic of Germany affirms its deep and unwavering commitment to its role as a founding member of the European Union, which remains a foundation of its policy decisions.

    • The Parties shall seek to intensify the trilateral cooperation with the French Republic, as well as their cooperation with other partners, and within multilateral formats such as the G7 and the United Nations, in order to jointly address international challenges.

    ARTICLE 3

     (1) The Parties reaffirm their commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as the foundation of their collective defence and to their obligations as stipulated in the North Atlantic Treaty of 4 April 1949, in particular Article 5. The Federal Republic of Germany reaffirms its deep commitment to its obligations as a member of the European Union, including paragraph 7 of Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union.

    (2) The Parties shall work together as North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allies to ensure the Alliance continues to strengthen collective deterrence and defence against all threats and from all directions and to enhance the European contribution to Europe’s own security. To this end, they shall coordinate their positions, including in the area of deterrence and defence, and ensure that increased contributions and investments deliver on their commitments. They commit to working towards fostering close and effective cooperation between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union.

    • Conscious of the close alignment of their vital interests and convinced that there is no strategic threat to one which would not be a strategic threat to the other, the Parties affirm as close Allies their deep commitment to each other’s defence and shall assist one another, including by military means, in case of an armed attack on the other.

    ARTICLE 4

    (1) The Parties share deep concern at the threats and challenges posed by hybrid threats and foreign interference from state actors and their proxies using increasingly aggressive actions to undermine their security and democratic values, and those of their Allies and partners. These include inter alia sabotage, malicious cyber activity, foreign information manipulation and interference and the malign use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

    (2) The Parties shall work to strengthen resilience as well as build capacity and capability to detect, deter, disrupt, and respond to these threats. They acknowledge the key roles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the G7, and the European Union in this regard. To achieve this, the Parties shall consider means such as information sharing, the development of tools, coordination of disruption and response options, and exchanges of lessons learned and other means.

    (3) The Parties shall continue to cooperate in the field of cyber diplomacy, cybersecurity and emerging technologies. They also agree to promote responsible behaviour in cyberspace.  

    ARTICLE 5

    Guided by the principles of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Parties shall cooperate strategically on sustainable development, crisis prevention and response, peacebuilding, stabilisation and humanitarian assistance. They shall support strong coordination in the nexus between humanitarian, development and peace efforts. They shall work together on the protection and promotion of global public goods including climate, biodiversity, global health and education. Jointly they shall fight inequalities worldwide, including through the empowerment of women and girls. They will work together on anticipatory action to improve local resilience and promote inclusive and locally led responses to crises. Both countries shall contribute jointly to strengthening and reforming the multilateral system and the international financial architecture, making them more just, effective and sustainable and ensuring they deliver for the most vulnerable. They shall hold a regular intergovernmental dialogue on these topics.

    ARTICLE 6

    The Parties shall seek closer collaboration to address health threats and advance global health priorities including pandemic prevention, preparedness and response as well as anti-microbial resistance and the ‘One-Health’ approach. They shall work on these issues both bilaterally and via more coordinated, effective, and efficient global health institutions. The Parties shall share experiences to tackle common domestic health issues.

    Chapter 2

    Defence Cooperation

    ARTICLE 7

    (1) In this new era for enhanced European defence, the Parties share the strategic objective to reinforce Euro-Atlantic security and ensure effective deterrence against potential aggressors by building credible, resilient defence forces, strengthening their capability across all domains. The Parties shall seek to support their defence industries and enhance bilateral military interoperability, interchangeability and integration. They shall ensure their mutual support to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, committing to working together towards the vision of a peaceful and secure Euro-Atlantic area.

    (2) The Parties remain committed to improving and further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation. They shall build a long-term partnership to improve and further enhance European defence, also with a view to enabling enhanced cooperation with Allies and partners.

    (3) The Parties shall intensify their cooperation through joint political leadership, enhanced dialogue, and agreed mechanisms. They shall deepen their cooperation on deterrence and regularly review their collaboration in order to meet future threats across all domains: Land, Sea, Air, Space and Cyber.

    (4) Sharing a special interest and focus on the northern and eastern flanks of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the Parties shall work together, alongside their North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allies, to strengthen deterrence and defence to these areas, coordinating their forces where possible.

    (5) The Parties reaffirm their determination to meet their commitments as North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allies, to be prepared for high-intensity and multi-domain collective defence. They shall provide such forces, capabilities, resources and infrastructure as are needed to enable the execution of the Defence Plans of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

    (6) The Parties shall seek to enhance industrial and capability cooperation through a long-term joint approach endeavouring to deliver effective military capabilities efficiently, minimising national constraints, and strengthening industrial competitiveness.

    (7) The Parties shall endeavour to maintain a close dialogue on defence issues of mutual interest and global horizon-scanning, including on nuclear issues.

    ARTICLE 8

    (1) The Parties recognise the importance of having a reliable agenda with regard to transfers and exports in order to ensure the economic and political success of their industrial and intergovernmental cooperation and their respective competence to authorise the transfer or export, from their territory, of defence-related products from intergovernmental programmes or developed by their industries. 

    (2) Recognising the joint and unanimous invitation dated 25 June 2025 from the contracting parties of the Agreement on Defence Export Controls concluded by the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of Spain on 17 September 2021 (the “Agreement on Defence Export Controls ”) to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to accede to such Agreement on Defence Export Controls, the Parties agree to preliminarily apply as between them, in their cooperation on defence export controls, Articles 1 to 5 and Annexes 1 to 3 of the Agreement on Defence Export Controls until the date on which the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland accedes to such Agreement on Defence Export Controls.

    (3) In the event that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland accedes to the Agreement on Defence Export Controls, paragraph 2 of the present Article shall cease to have effect.

    Chapter 3

    Internal Security, Justice and Migration

    ARTICLE 9

    • The Parties shall cooperate closely and equitably to counter state and non-state threats to their internal security, including to critical infrastructure, making best use of all suitable policy, legal, operational, diplomatic and technological tools and mechanisms and ensuring that law enforcement bodies and intelligence agencies have the right tools and capabilities.

    • The Parties shall work together bilaterally and through multilateral organisations to improve their law enforcement capabilities. They shall work with INTERPOL to support the integrity of the international system and prevent abuse by malign actors. They acknowledge the vital role of European Union agencies, such as Europol and Eurojust, in this regard. They shall consider further ways to strengthen their response to organised crime and terrorism, noting the challenges posed by hybrid threats.

    (3) The Parties agree that it is in their common interest to cooperate closely on preventing and countering transnational serious and organised crime, including criminal offences falling within the jurisdiction of the customs authorities. They re-confirm their cooperation in the joint efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter the financing of terrorism and their fight against illicit financial flows and other shared organised crime threats, such as drug trafficking.

    (4) The Parties shall continue to hold a Home Affairs Dialogue at senior official level at least annually which covers the full range of Home Affairs issues, including tackling serious and organised crime, including migrant smuggling, and border security. The Parties shall pursue a comparable bilateral exchange on criminal offences falling within the jurisdiction of the customs authorities.

    (5) The Parties shall strengthen collaboration to counter terrorist threats to both their countries, including on protective security measures against emerging threats.

    ARTICLE 10

    (1) The Parties are committed to fostering the most effective cooperation in criminal justice matters between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany. 

    (2) The Parties shall work to intensify collaboration on the rule of law, including in its promotion overseas, and exchange learning on the modernisation of their domestic justice systems.

    (3) The Parties shall share information, best practice and technical assistance in civil and family matters.

    ARTICLE 11

    (1) Recognising the challenge from irregular migration and global pressures, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany commit to being active leaders in the global conversation on migration, asylum and borders. The Parties shall cooperate in the joint fight against organised cross-border crime involving migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons. They will support the provision of mutual legal assistance and the prosecution of offenders involved in the smuggling of migrants into and between the two countries. The Parties affirm their joint commitment to border security and regulated migration systems.  

    (2) The Parties shall deepen comprehensive partnerships with countries of origin and transit to address the upstream drivers of irregular migration, including by meeting humanitarian needs, providing education and skills training, boosting employment, and building resilience to conflict and climate change. The Parties recognise that safe and legal pathways in line with national competences are important for regular and orderly migration. Both Parties support a safe, regulated migration system, and share a firm commitment to international law and human rights standards.

    Chapter 4

    Economic Growth, Resilience and Competitiveness

    ARTICLE 12

    • The Parties shall work together to support economic growth, job creation, digital transition and innovation. This includes delivering a just industrial transformation that enables a sustainable and carbon-neutral future and takes into account the needs of future generations. They shall therefore identify vulnerabilities and collaborate on policies.

    • The Parties acknowledge strong business-to-business and people-to-people ties, including many Small and Medium Enterprises, as the foundation of their economic relationship, and agree to take forward joint work in the field of promoting trade and investment, to further build value chains between their countries.

    • The Parties shall work together to deliver their shared ambition of mobilising investment in opportunities that will grow their economies. In doing so, they shall take into consideration the important role of private sector investment and the benefits of coordinating activities between public financial institutions.

    • The Parties recognise the need to strengthen the multilateral trading system particularly by supporting reform of the World Trade Organisation including through discussions in relevant international fora such as the G7 and G20.

    (5) The Parties agree to continue the structured annual dialogue between their ministries of finance, and explore further opportunities to support exchanges between economic experts.

    ARTICLE 13

    • The Parties, acknowledging the strength and complementarity of their economies as well as the importance of a favourable business environment, commit to working with business to drive growth and strengthen the business, commercial and industrial links between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany. The Parties shall focus their cooperation particularly on those areas where it will be most effective in securing the future competitiveness of their economies.

    • The Parties shall work jointly to take full advantage of the significant economic opportunities arising from the green transition, including in particular the renewable energy potential in the North Sea.

    • The Parties recognise the importance of long-term industrial cooperation and shall work together to identify opportunities for coordination and cooperation in the context of their industrial transformations.

    • The Parties shall enhance transport connectivity and collaborate in the field of sustainable, innovative and universally accessible transport solutions and mobility, including cooperation to support the decarbonisation of transport. To this end, they will seek to facilitate direct long distance rail passenger services between their countries.

    • The Parties share the common goal of strengthening the international competitiveness of their aerospace industries and at the same time significantly reducing the climate impact of aviation. Therefore, the Parties agree to further strengthen the existing bilateral activities in the field of aerospace research and to engage in consultations between the ministries and their national research institutions on a regular basis.

    • The Parties’ responsible ministries agree to a structured exchange to address the issues of inclusive and sustainable employment and social policy, just transition of the economy, society and the work environment, and ethical principles and shared values in the context of digital transformation, ensuring that digitalisation and the evolving digital society meet the rights and needs of citizens and the work environment in both countries.

    • The Parties shall work together to enhance their domestic housing policies, to promote innovative approaches to sustainable construction and buildings, and to share best practice on urban matters, with a view to achieving cities that are socially, ecologically, and economically balanced They shall cooperate in multilateral settings on these matters.

    ARTICLE 14

    The Parties commit to working together to safeguard economic stability. They shall strive to strengthen economic resilience to safeguard and protect their national security and deliver secure, sustainable and resilient growth. They shall increase dialogue on economic security to enhance cooperation on priorities such as supply chain resilience, including for critical raw materials, critical technology and critical infrastructure as well as protective toolkits.

    ARTICLE 15

    (1) The Parties shall intensify their cooperation in the field of science, technology, research and innovation, including in critical and emerging areas and research security. The Parties agree to consider funding channels and other means to develop joint bilateral and multilateral activities.

    (2) The Parties shall place special emphasis on their cooperation on innovative or disruptive technologies, ensuring they are able to capitalise more effectively on their strengths in basic and applied research to enable their businesses to grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services.

    (3) The Parties shall promote the global development and deployment of technologies, with particular attention to ensuring the secure and responsible advancement of fields such as artificial intelligence or space.

    (4) The Parties agree to regular and structured exchanges on science, innovation and technology, building on existing structures including the Science, Innovation and Technology Dialogue. The Parties commit to cooperate on current and future challenges across research and innovation, and emerging and critical technologies. This cooperation will include promoting technology development and adoption, international governance, competition policy, sustainability and exchanges on regulatory issues consistent with national competence.

    ARTICLE 16

    (1) The Parties shall intensify their cooperation in the field of digitalisation and modernisation of the state, including digitalisation of society, economy, science, government and public administration. The Parties agree to consider funding channels and other means to develop joint bilateral and multilateral activities.

    (2) The Parties agree to regular and structured exchanges on digitalisation and the modernisation of the state, building on existing structures including a dialogue on digital policy. The Parties commit to cooperate on current and future challenges across digital and data affairs, digitalisation of the state and digital sovereignty.

    Chapter 5

    Open and Resilient Societies

    ARTICLE 17

    • The Parties shall cooperate on strategies for strengthening the resilience of their democracies in order to build resilient societies which are able to contribute to their countries’ security and to withstand the increasing attempts of interference and manipulation.

    • The Parties shall deepen their cooperation in the fight against all forms of hate crime, whilst promoting freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief.

    ARTICLE 18

    • The Parties shall strive to reduce obstacles in order to promote exchanges between their citizens on all levels. They shall work towards strengthening people-to-people contacts. The Parties shall promote smoother border fluidity and will provide each other’s citizens access to automated border technology.

    • Particular focus shall be placed on increasing exchange between young people. The Parties value bilateral school and youth exchanges, and shall facilitate such exchanges, supporting the development of relevant structures and initiatives, such as the “UK-German Connection”.

    • The Parties recognise the importance of vocational training, university education and learning opportunities such as internships. The Parties shall jointly endeavour to increase exchanges within their own legislative frameworks with regard to education, skills and training.

    • The Parties shall promote closer relations in all fields of cultural expression, including activities to promote dialogue and cooperation to share best practice between cultural institutions; close cooperation of the British Council and Goethe-Institut; and establishment of an intergovernmental Working Group on Creative Technology.

    • The Parties acknowledge the important role of civil society and they shall strive to support the work of educational institutions, cultural bodies and political organisations.

    • The Parties shall use the annual meetings of the Cultural Commission to the ends of this Article.

    Chapter 6

    Climate, Energy, Nature, Environment and Agriculture

    ARTICLE 19

    • The Parties shall further deepen their bilateral and multilateral cooperation to mitigate the effects of climate change and to pursue efforts to limit the increase of global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, including through implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Outcome of the first Global Stocktake adopted at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) and the Glasgow Climate Pact adopted at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26).

    • The Parties shall enhance their climate foreign policy collaboration and cooperation, including through the UK-Germany Climate Diplomacy Dialogue, to make financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development, address the interplay between climate, environment, peace, and security, and support developing countries to decarbonise their economies and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.

    • Recognising the significant societal, environmental economic, and geopolitical impacts of the global energy transition and the shift towards climate neutrality, the Parties shall intensify their dialogue to anticipate and address emerging foreign policy and security challenges.

    ARTICLE 20

    • The Parties intend to work together under the Joint Declaration of Cooperation on Energy and Climate, including the Hydrogen Partnership, to realise their shared ambitions regarding: renewable energy; the role of hydrogen, in particular from renewable sources; carbon capture utilisation and storage, in particular in hard-to-abate sectors; energy security; net zero strategies and policies; and green transition. The scope and priorities for this work shall be reviewed by annual senior official and ministerial meetings.

    • The Parties shall work together to achieve their respective domestic emissions reductions targets, to enhance domestic and global just energy transition resilience and security, including by improving energy and resource efficiency, and to provide secure, sustainable and affordable clean energy derived from renewable sources, in an effort to implement the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    • Recognising their leading role in the North Seas, they shall work together to accelerate the development of offshore wind energy, electricity, hydrogen and carbon dioxide infrastructures.

    ARTICLE 21

    • The Parties shall cooperate bilaterally and multilaterally to promote environmental protection and halt and reverse biodiversity loss in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including through restoring nature, halting and reversing deforestation, protecting the ocean, reducing plastic, chemical and air pollution and pursuing nature-based solutions.

    • The Parties shall work together to promote resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems internationally, including high animal welfare standards. They shall focus in particular on achieving global food security and nutrition including as a means of pursuing global stability and security.

    Chapter 7

    Forms of Cooperation

    ARTICLE 22

    The Parties agree to hold government ministerial consultations led by Heads of Government every two years, which shall endorse an Implementation Plan of projects under the Treaty for the following two-year period. The venue for the consultations shall alternate between the two countries. Ministerial level dialogues on individual policy themes shall take place whenever both Parties deem appropriate. The Parties’ foreign ministries shall meet annually to review the bilateral relationship in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty.

    ARTICLE 23

    Existing cooperation agreements and Memoranda of Understanding between line ministries shall be continued and pursued in the framework of this Treaty.

    Final Provisions

    ARTICLE 24

    This Treaty and its application shall be without prejudice to the Parties’ obligations stemming from international law and, in respect of the Federal Republic of Germany, its obligations stemming from its European Union membership. Nothing in this Treaty shall affect the Federal Republic of Germany’s obligations under European Union law.

    ARTICLE 25

    This Treaty shall apply:

    (a) to the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany; and

    (b)     to the territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and may be extended to any or all of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey, and the Isle of Man by mutual agreement between the Parties by exchange of notes.

    ARTICLE 26

    The Parties may agree, in writing, to amend this Treaty. Such amendments shall enter into force in accordance with Article 30.  

    ARTICLE 27

    (1) A Party may terminate this Treaty by giving the other Party notice in writing. Such termination shall take effect six months after the date of the notification, or on such date as the Parties may agree.

    (2) Either Party may request consultations regarding whether the termination of this Treaty should take effect on a date later than that provided in paragraph 1.

    ARTICLE 28

    Any disputes concerning the interpretation, application or implementation of the Treaty shall be resolved solely by negotiation between the Parties.

    ARTICLE 29

    Registration of this Treaty with the Secretariat of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations, shall be initiated by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland immediately following its entry into force. The Federal Republic of Germany shall be informed of registration, and of the United Nations registration number, as soon as this has been confirmed by the Secretariat of the United Nations.

    ARTICLE 30

    (1) The present Treaty is subject to ratification; the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged as soon as possible.

    (2) The present Treaty shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Skyward Specialty to Host Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Call Friday, August 1, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.™ (NASDAQ: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or “the Company”) expects to issue its second quarter 2025 earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, July 31 which will be available on the Company website at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Quarterly Results.

    Skyward Specialty will host its earnings call to review the second quarter 2025 financial results on Friday, August 1 at 9:30 a.m. EST.

    Investors may access the live audio webcast via the link on the Company’s investor site at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Events & Presentations. Additionally, investors can access the earnings call via conference call by registering via the conference link. Users will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN to join the call upon registering.

    A webcast replay will be available two hours following the call in the same location on the Company’s investor website.

    About Skyward Specialty

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

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

    For investor relations information contact:

    Natalie Schoolcraft
    nschoolcraft@skywardinsurance.com
    614-494-4988

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Skyward Specialty to Host Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Call Friday, August 1, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.™ (NASDAQ: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or “the Company”) expects to issue its second quarter 2025 earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, July 31 which will be available on the Company website at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Quarterly Results.

    Skyward Specialty will host its earnings call to review the second quarter 2025 financial results on Friday, August 1 at 9:30 a.m. EST.

    Investors may access the live audio webcast via the link on the Company’s investor site at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Events & Presentations. Additionally, investors can access the earnings call via conference call by registering via the conference link. Users will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN to join the call upon registering.

    A webcast replay will be available two hours following the call in the same location on the Company’s investor website.

    About Skyward Specialty

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

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

    For investor relations information contact:

    Natalie Schoolcraft
    nschoolcraft@skywardinsurance.com
    614-494-4988

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Skyward Specialty to Host Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Call Friday, August 1, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.™ (NASDAQ: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or “the Company”) expects to issue its second quarter 2025 earnings results after the market closes on Thursday, July 31 which will be available on the Company website at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Quarterly Results.

    Skyward Specialty will host its earnings call to review the second quarter 2025 financial results on Friday, August 1 at 9:30 a.m. EST.

    Investors may access the live audio webcast via the link on the Company’s investor site at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Events & Presentations. Additionally, investors can access the earnings call via conference call by registering via the conference link. Users will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN to join the call upon registering.

    A webcast replay will be available two hours following the call in the same location on the Company’s investor website.

    About Skyward Specialty

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

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

    For investor relations information contact:

    Natalie Schoolcraft
    nschoolcraft@skywardinsurance.com
    614-494-4988

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Study Highlights Higher Rates, Risk Factors for Non-Fatal Overdoses

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A new opioid overdose study has identified several key risk factors associated with non-fatal overdoses, as well as a significantly higher overdose rate, drawing from a sample of people who use opioids in New Haven.

    This work was led by Md. Safaet Hossain Sujan, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Allied Health Sciences, alongside faculty Roman Shrestha, associate professor, and Michael Copenhaver, professor. The study was published in the Journal of Community Health.

    Shrestha and Copenhaver have years of experience working with people who use opioids, but they had never looked at non-fatal overdose rates in the population.

    In the past year, suspected non-fatal overdoses from opioids increased 39% in Connecticut, based on emergency room admissions data.

    “The opioid epidemic, as we know, is a huge public health issue, especially with synthetic opiates like fentanyl that have created even more worrying patterns,” Shrestha says.

    The researchers found that nearly half of the 199 participants had experienced a non-fatal overdose in their lifetime. This is significantly higher than the rate observed in previous studies, which found between 11 to 36% of their study population had experienced an overdose.

    The researchers hypothesize that the higher rate they observed could be due to a number of factors including ongoing polysubstance use patterns, socioeconomic challenges, homelessness, and lack of access to harm reduction services.

    Further, previous studies have taken place in opioid treatment centers where people are already connected to care. This study recruited participants from a syringe services program in New Haven.

    “Our study was done in a community-based syringe services program, and not everybody was accessing care, and that may be one of the factors [that could explain why] the rate was higher in this particular study,” Shrestha says.

    Doing this kind of study in a setting like a syringe services is critical as only about a quarter of people nationwide with opioid use disorder are accessing care with medications like methadone, which helps reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. In this study, about a third of participants were involved in a drug treatment program. Nearly 80% reported they had experienced difficulty accessing addiction treatment services in the past year.

    The research team identified several important patterns related to non-fatal overdoses, including experiencing suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, alcohol use disorder, and opioid dependence. Based on previous work with this population, the researchers also know that they experience high rates of domestic violence.

    “There are a lot of other concerning factors involved,” Copenhaver says. “So, it really makes it important to figure out how to handle the situation in the best way. We’re trying to get a grip on how to intervene effectively.”

    Looking at demographic factors, the researchers found that older participants were less likely to experience an overdose. This may be because older people may be more likely to test their drug supply, the researchers say.

    The findings of this study highlight not only the need to increase the number of people able to access treatment, but also the need to address factors like mental health challenges in these settings.

    “Getting them into treatment may be the main intervention, because a lot of the factors could be addressed while they’re in treatment,” Copenhaver says. “Not everybody comes in with the same set of problems, but a lot of these do overlap with overdose issues.”

    The researchers are working on developing digital tools to help more people access interventions for opioid use disorder, in addition to working with people in-person to encourage them to enroll in treatment.

    “We want to make people aware of what is out there and how they can access those services, but making it a low-threshold model, making it easier for the users to access the services,” Shrestha says.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Aemetis India Appoints Chief Financial Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTINO, Calif., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), a renewable natural gas and biofuels company, announced today that its India subsidiary, Universal Biofuels, appointed Anjaneyulu Ganji as Chief Financial Officer, commencing responsibilities on July 17, 2025. 

    “The growing India economy has increased demand for energy, including biodiesel, ethanol, and compressed natural gas,” stated Sanjeev Duggal, Managing Director of Universal Biofuels. “To lead the expansion of Universal, we are very pleased to have a high-quality executive such as Anjan (Anjaneyulu Ganji) join the company as we increase existing production as well as finance and build new biofuels projects.” 

    “Having completed initial public offerings and other financings for growth companies in India, including an IPO for a large dairy business, I am confident that the growing market in India creates opportunities for production expansion and investments in new markets,” said Anjaneyulu Ganji, Chief Financial Officer of Universal Biofuels. “The leadership team at Aemetis has shown its ability to manage opportunities in India and has built an excellent reputation for biofuel product delivery and quality. I am excited to join the team and look forward to many successes as we expand the company.” 

    Mr. Ganji was the Group Chief Financial Officer of Dodla Dairy Limited, a company with $450 million per year of current revenue headquartered in Hyderabad, India. At Dodla Dairy, he led the strategy, finance, secretarial, tax, and treasury operations of a multinational operation with 14 manufacturing plants across five countries. Dodla Dairy was the second largest private dairy in India prior to undertaking an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2021, which Mr. Ganji successfully managed with 45 times over-subscriptions CFO.

    Mr. Ganji was also the Group CFO for Marengo Asia Healthcare and was Global Head of Accounting and Controlling at Maersk Line GmbH (GSC), in charge of global finance, accounts, and finance transformation for $40 billion Maersk Line, Maersk Oil, Seago and Sealine. Previously, he was a DGM and finance controller at the $700 million TATA Cummins Ltd, responsible for the finance and accounts function for the India Parts Distribution Center. 

    Based in Hyderabad since 2007, the Universal Biofuels subsidiary of Aemetis built, owns, and operates an 80 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality biodiesel and refined glycerin. Universal Biofuels is expanding biofuels production as well as diversifying into ethanol and renewable natural gas production facilities.

    About Aemetis

    Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a renewable natural gas and biofuels company focused on the operation, acquisition, development, and commercialization of innovative technologies that lower fuel costs and reduce emissions. Founded in 2006, Aemetis is operating and actively expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste gas into Renewable Natural Gas. Aemetis owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Aemetis owns and operates an 80 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality biodiesel and refined glycerin. Aemetis is developing a carbon sequestration well project and a renewable diesel fuel and SAF biorefinery in Riverbank, California. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections of financial results in 2025 and future years; statements relating to the development, engineering, financing, construction and operation of the Aemetis ethanol, biogas, SAF and renewable diesel, biodiesel and carbon sequestration facilities; our ability to promote, develop, finance, and construct facilities to produce biogas, renewable fuels, and biochemicals; and statements about future market prices and results of government actions. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “showing signs,” “targets,” “view,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and predictions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events could differ materially from those set forth or implied by such forward-looking statements and related assumptions due to certain factors, including, without limitation, competition in the ethanol, biodiesel and other industries in which we operate, commodity market risks including those that may result from current weather conditions, financial market risks, customer adoption, counter-party risks, risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and in our other filings with the SEC. We are not obligated, and do not intend, to update any of these forward-looking statements at any time unless an update is required by applicable securities laws.

    Company Investor Relations

    Media Contact:
    Todd Waltz
    (408) 213-0940
    investors@aemetis.com

    External Investor Relations
    Contact:
    Kirin Smith
    PCG Advisory Group
    (646) 863-6519
    ksmith@pcgadvisory.com   

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Babies born with DNA from three people hailed as breakthrough – but questions remain

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cathy Herbrand, Professor of Medical and Family Sociology, De Montfort University

    Ten years after the UK became the first country to legalise mitochondrial donation, the first results from the use of these high-profile reproductive technologies – designed to prevent passing on genetic disorders – have finally been published.

    So far, eight children have been born, all reportedly healthy, thanks to the long-term efforts of scientists and doctors in Newcastle, England. Should this be a cause for excitement, disappointment or concern? Perhaps, I would suggest, it could be a bit of all three.

    The New England Journal of Medicine has published two papers on a groundbreaking fertility treatment that could prevent devastating inherited diseases. The technique, called mitochondrial donation, was used to help 22 women who carry faulty genes that would otherwise pass serious genetic disorders – such as Leigh syndrome – to their children. These disorders affect the body’s ability to produce energy at the cellular level and can cause severe disability or death in babies.

    The technique, developed by the Newcastle team, involves creating an embryo using DNA from three people: nuclear DNA from the intended mother and father, and healthy mitochondrial DNA from a donor egg. During the parliamentary debates leading up to The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations in 2015, there were concerns about the effectiveness of the procedure and its potential side effects.

    The announcement that this technology has led to the birth of eight apparently healthy children therefore marks a major scientific achievement for the UK, which has been widely praised by numerous scientists and patient support groups. However, these results should not detract from some important questions they also raise.

    First, why has it taken so long for any updates on the application of this technology, including its outcomes and its limitations, to be made public? Especially given the significant public financial investment made into its development.

    In a country positioning itself as a leader in the governance and practice of reproductive and genomic medicine, transparency should be a central principle. Transparency not only supports the progress of other research teams but also keeps the public and patients well informed.

    Second, what is the significance of these results? While eight babies were born using this technology, this figure contrasts starkly with the predicted number of 150 babies per year likely to be born using the technique.

    The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the UK regulator in this area, has approved 32 applications since 2017 when the Newcastle team obtained its licence, but the technique was used with only 22 of them, resulting in eight babies. Does this constitute sufficiently robust data to prove the effectiveness of the technology and was it worth the considerable efforts and investments over almost two decades of campaigning, debate and research?

    As I wrote when this law was passed, officials should have been more realistic about how many people this treatment could actually help. By overestimating the number of patients who might benefit, they risked giving false hope to families who wouldn’t be eligible for the procedure.

    The safety question

    Third, is it safe enough? In two of the eight cases, the babies showed higher levels of maternal mitochondrial DNA, meaning the risk of developing a mitochondrial disorder cannot be ruled out. This potential for a “reversal” – where the faulty mitochondria reassert themselves – was also highlighted in a recent study conducted in Greece involving patients who used the technique to treat infertility problems.

    As a result, the technology is no longer framed by the Newcastle team as a way to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial disorders, but rather to reduce the risk. But is the risk reduction enough to justify offering the technique to more patients? And what will the risk of reassertion mean for the children born through it and their parents, who may live with the continuing uncertainty that the condition could emerge later in life?

    As some experts have suggested, it may be worth testing this technology on women who have fertility problems but don’t carry mitochondrial diseases. This would help doctors better understand the risks of the faulty mitochondria coming back, before using the technique only on women who could pass these serious genetic conditions to their children.

    This leads to a fourth question. What has been the patient experience with this technology? It would be valuable to know how many people applied for mitochondrial donation, why some were not approved, and, among those 32 approved cases, why only 22 proceeded with treatment.

    It also raises important questions about how patients who were either unable to access the technology, or for whom it was ultimately unsuccessful feel, particularly after investing significant time, effort and hope in the process. How do they come to terms with not having the healthy biological child they had been offered?

    This is not to say we shouldn’t celebrate these births and what they represent for the UK in terms of scientific achievement. The birth of eight healthy children represents a genuine scientific breakthrough that families affected by mitochondrial diseases have waited decades to see. However, some important questions remain unanswered, and more evidence is needed and it should be communicated in a timely manner to make conclusions about the long-term use of the technology.

    Breakthroughs come with responsibilities. If the UK wants to maintain its position as a leader in reproductive medicine, it must be more transparent about both the successes and limitations of this technology. The families still waiting to have the procedure – and those who may never receive it – deserve nothing less than complete honesty about what this treatment can and cannot deliver.

    Cathy Herbrand receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    – ref. Babies born with DNA from three people hailed as breakthrough – but questions remain – https://theconversation.com/babies-born-with-dna-from-three-people-hailed-as-breakthrough-but-questions-remain-261385

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Measles advice17 July 2025 Public Health is urging Islanders to check they are up to date with their MMR vaccine schedule following the death of a child from measles in the UK. Measles is highly contagious. It can infect anyone… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    17 July 2025

    Public Health is urging Islanders to check they are up to date with their MMR vaccine schedule following the death of a child from measles in the UK. 

    Measles is highly contagious. It can infect anyone at any age but can be particularly dangerous for those who are immunocompromised, pregnant, or very young. Islanders who are travelling abroad this year and those who will be going to university in September are also encouraged to get vaccinated against the disease.

    Islanders experiencing the below symptoms are urged to contact their doctor’s surgery by phone before getting healthcare advice in person. Typical symptoms include: 

    • cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a cough, 
    • sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light 
    • a high temperature (fever) 
    • a red-brown blotchy rash will appear after a few days. This usually starts on the face spreading to the rest of the body.

    Health Protection Nurse Advisor, Emma Baker, said: “The MMR vaccine is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself against measles, mumps, and rubella. The vaccine is given routinely in two doses to children by the time they are three years and four months. While Jersey has reassuring MMR vaccination coverage, we know a small number of Islanders have not had both doses. This puts them at risk, so I encourage all Islanders to make sure that they and their children are fully vaccinated.

    “Measles is circulating in parts of the UK and Europe, so please before you travel, we are calling all parents and guardians to make sure their children are up to date with their two MMR doses. Islanders who are unsure if they or their child have been fully vaccinated should contact their GP surgery or the Childhood Immunisations Team on 443741.”​​​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Jersey Crematorium services to temporarily relocate from Monday 1 September17 July 2025 From Monday 1 September, multi-faith and all non-religious funeral services held at Jersey Crematorium will be temporarily relocated from the existing Westmount Road location to the Members’ Room at… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    17 July 2025

    From Monday 1 September, multi-faith and all non-religious funeral services held at Jersey Crematorium will be temporarily relocated from the existing Westmount Road location to the Members’ Room at the Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society, RJA&HS, in Trinity. 

    Given the crematorium’s immediate proximity to the new Acute Hospital’s construction site, the temporary move is necessary to ensure services can continue to be conducted with dignity and respect during the most potentially impactful phases of the build. 

    Cremations, interments, and the use of the Garden of Remembrance will remain at the existing Westmount location, with the office and rose gardens open as usual. 

    Some minor works to the RJA&HS Members’ Room, which are being carried out by nine local contractors and suppliers, are underway in advance of the relocation to ensure services can continue with the same dignity and functionality as they do at the current crematorium site.

    Services at the RJA&HS will be held four days per week, similar to the current schedule, with the new temporary facility offering: 

    • up to 50 parking spaces, including accessible parking 
    • capacity for services to hold up to 100 mourners in the Members’ Room 
    • accessibility for wheelchair users and accessible for hearse and funeral cars 
    • exclusive use of the space, allowing mourners the same level of privacy that the current facility provides 
    • a private, off-road area for mourners to gather privately before and after services 
    • a location within a 15-minute drive of the crematorium. 

    The Government of Jersey will continue to engage closely with stakeholders and the public throughout the relocation and transition period, and a public awareness campaign to support the relocation will launch next month. 

    The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, said: “Ensuring that Islanders can continue to say goodbye to loved ones in a respectful and dignified environment has been a key priority throughout the planning of the new Acute Hospital. The relocation of services to the RJA&HS site allows us to maintain that dignity once construction starts at Overdale in the months ahead, given the very close proximity of the crematorium to the building site.”

    The Minister for Infrastructure, Connétable Andy Jehan, said: “I would like to thank crematorium staff, the Crematorium User Group, and the RJA&HS for their collaboration, and I’m pleased that local contractors are playing a central role in delivering this important refurbishment work for the Island. 

    “I would like to emphasise that, while the service aspect of the funeral proceedings will be temporarily relocated, interments, cremations and the use of the Garden of Remembrance will remain at the existing Westmount location.”​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Votes Against Defunding Global Health, Public Media 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Early this morning, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) voted against President Trump’s rescissions bill, which claws back more than $9 billion in congressionally-appropriated funding for global health, foreign aid, and public media:  
    “This federal funding was negotiated on a bipartisan basis, passed with bipartisan support in both the Senate and House, and signed into law by President Trump. The rescissions bill is a reckless abandonment of our obligation as an independent branch of government to set spending. Republicans have, yet again, willingly ceded even more power to President Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE,” said Senator Welch. “This bill has far-reaching, devastating impacts—the cuts to public media, global health, peacekeeping missions, and international food aid will hurt hundreds of millions of people, at home and around the world. My colleagues have made it clear that they will turn their backs on rural American communities and starving children to appease Donald Trump.” 
    The bill passed around 2:30am on Thursday.
    Senator Welch voted in support of amendments to protect funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and to restore funding for global health and food and nutrition aid programs. 
    The rescissions package, requested by President Trump and supported by Senate Republicans, would claw back millions of dollars in humanitarian assistance, foreign aid, and global health initiatives. This bill cuts funding for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); the World Health Organization (WHO); United Nations peacekeeping missions; migration and refugee assistance programs; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; international food aid missions; the United States Institute of Peace (USIP); the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); and more.  
    Earlier this week Senator Welch called on Republicans to drop efforts to cut funding for the Global Fund, as well as President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the latter of which was removed from the rescissions package Tuesday.
    The Corporation for Public Broadcasting supports National Public Radio (NPR), the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and member stations across the United States. This bill would cut more than $1 billion in funding from the CPB, and hurt over 1,500 public radio and television stations across the country. Vermont stations received more than $2 million from the CPB in Fiscal Year 2024. Rural communities, families, and farmers rely on CPB-funded systems and news stations for lifesaving emergency alerts, breaking news, and educational programming.  
    Last week, Senator Welch spoke out against the president’s request cut funding for CPB and public media, saying “We must not abandon the people we represent and the right they have to public broadcasting. And we cannot abandon the trust we must have in one another to keep our word. An agreement made must be an agreement kept.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Homa Bay leads the way in inclusive disaster resilience planning

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In a major step toward enhancing inclusive disaster resilience, the County Government of Homa Bay, Kenya, hosted a four-day Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on inclusive disaster risk reduction (DRR) from 26-30 May 2025. The event was organized in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for Africa, under the project “Strengthening Early Warning and Early Action in Kenya” funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). 

    The workshop brought together 55 participants, including representatives from local government departments, national agencies, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and community-based organizations (CBOs). The gathering provided a valuable platform that focused on integrating the needs and perspectives of at-risk populations including persons with disabilities into DRR strategies and early warning systems. 

    Addressing Critical Gaps Through Collaboration 

    The workshop revealed key opportunities to strengthen the county’s disaster preparedness. Through participatory assessments, the workshop identified several areas for improvement, including the need for better coordination mechanisms, more inclusive early warning systems, and stronger integration of gender and disability perspectives in disaster planning. 

    While Homa Bay has a solid policy foundation such as the County Emergency and Disaster Management Act and active participation in the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative, the assessments showed clear opportunities to make these systems more inclusive and effective. 

    “New hazards are emerging-beyond floods and droughts we now face strange, extreme weather events. We must explore innovative, cost-effective ways to strengthen preparedness. One shilling spent on preparedness will save hundreds in response. We must shift our investments from response to resilience,” said Najib Abdi, the technical lead for disaster risk management at the Council of Governors. 

    Making Early Warnings Accessible 

    A highlight of the workshop was the focus on strengthening multi-hazard early warning systems. Kenya recently launched the Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) initiative, and Homa Bay County was recognized as a pioneer in county-level implementation. 

    “Early warning systems save lives, but only if the warnings reach everyone. We learned that we need to think differently about how we communicate risks – using local languages, accessible formats, and trusted community networks, ” Col (Rtd) David Samoei, MBS, Director NDOC. 

    The county’s Climate Information Center already supports over 200,000 farmers with agro-advisories and early warning information. The workshop explored ways to expand this system to reach more vulnerable populations, including women, persons with disabilities, and rural communities who may have limited access to traditional communication channels. 

    “At the Public Health Directorate, we rely on disease surveillance systems and historical data to anticipate outbreaks like cholera and measles. Our risk reduction efforts focus on improving water supply, sanitation, and vaccination coverage to prevent such health emergencies before they occur,” said James Kabaka, County Public Health Officer 

    A Model for Inclusive Resilience 

    One of the workshop’s achievements was bringing together diverse stakeholders who are often overlooked in the disaster planning processes. Representatives from OPDs, and CBOs worked alongside government officials to identify barriers and solutions. The assessments revealed that persons with disabilities face significant challenges during disaster events, from inaccessible evacuation routes to lack of appropriate communication during emergencies. Similarly, women’s leadership potential and traditional knowledge are often underutilized in disaster preparedness and response. 

    Building Forward: From Assessment to Action 

    The workshop concluded with the development of actions addressing identified gaps through coordinated, multi-sectoral approaches. Priority areas include the establishment of dedicated coordination mechanisms for inclusive DRR and development of disaggregated data systems to better understand community vulnerabilities. Key initiatives also focus on strengthening infrastructure accessibility through universal design standards, integrating traditional and indigenous knowledge into formal early warning systems, and building capacity among government staff and first responders on inclusive practices. 

    “We often develop comprehensive plans but fail to integrate them into our County Intergrated Development Plans and Annual Development Plans leaving them unfunded. We also haven’t properly analysed trigger points for different hazards – when exactly should we activate emergency responses? These are two critical gaps we need to address, ” Willy Bolo, Ag. Director Economic Planning & Budget 

    A Foundation for Regional Learning 

    This training builds on efforts in resilience building work previously established through the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA). The workshop’s participatory approach and comprehensive assessments provide a replicable model for other counties seeking to strengthen their disaster resilience through inclusive, multi-stakeholder collaboration. “This was not just a technical workshop-it was a call to action. Disaster risk reduction is a system of protection, prevention, and preparedness that must be embedded in everything we do. I am committing to strengthen interdepartmental coordination so that disaster risk is integrated into all health planning and service delivery mechanisms,” said Grace Osewe, County Executive Committee Member for Public Health and Medical Services.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong’s COVID-19 activity declines to low level and private doctors will no longer be provided with free COVID-19 drugs

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 17) said that the recent periodic upsurge of COVID-19 in Hong Kong has ended, with relevant indicators declining to the low levels recorded before April this year. In view of the fact that COVID-19 has been managed in the same way as an upper respiratory tract illness and in response to the significant decrease in the demand for COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs, the special arrangement of providing free oral antiviral drugs to private doctors for prescribing to eligible patients, which has been in place during the pandemic, will be discontinued on July 29. The Government reminded the private doctors to make their own arrangements with the relevant drug dealer if they intend to provide patients with locally registered COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs. Meanwhile, the public medical service will continue to prescribe COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs to patients with clinical needs in accordance with the arrangement for general drugs.
     
    End of COVID-19’s periodic upsurge

    There was a drastic upsurge in the level of COVID-19 activity in Hong Kong since April of this year, reaching its peak in mid-May. According to the latest surveillance data (as of the week ending July 12), all indicators of COVID-19 activity have dropped back to the low levels recorded before April. For sewage surveillance, the per capita viral load of SARS-CoV-2 virus decreased from around 770 000 copy/litre in mid-May to around 140 000 copy/litre in the most recent week; the percentage of respiratory samples tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus also dropped from a peak of 13.80 per cent to 2.53 per cent in the most recent week. 
     
    COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs
     
    COVID-19 has become a common respiratory viral infection. For the general public, symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infections are generally mild. Meanwhile, the monthly average number of treatment courses of COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs prescribed by private doctors to eligible COVID-19 confirmed patients this year has dropped significantly compared to the past two years. Taking into account the above factors, the Government will end the special arrangement on July 29. This arrangement provided private doctors with free COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs for prescribing to eligible patients during the pandemic. Private doctors can still provide free prescriptions to eligible COVID-19 confirmed patients on or before July 28.
     
    The Government reminded private doctors that if they intend to provide patients with COVID-19 oral antiviral drug registered in Hong Kong, they can order them directly from the drug dealer, prescribe the drug to patients and charge them. Members of the public with clinical needs may continue to make appointments for general out-patient clinic (GOPC) services through the GOPC Telephone Appointment System or the “Book GOPC” function on the Hospital Authority’s (HA) one-stop mobile application “HA Go”. GOPCs under the HA will continue to prescribe the relevant drugs to eligible COVID-19 confirmed patients with clinical needs according to their treatment guidelines. For more details of the GOPC services, please visit the GOPC website: www.ha.org.hk/goto/gopc/en.
     
    During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has been providing two COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs, procured by the HA, to private doctors for free prescription to eligible COVID-19 confirmed patients with clinical needs since April 2022. This arrangement was intended to mobilise all available healthcare manpower, including private doctors, for anti-epidemic support during the raging epidemic. Private doctors who have registered with the Electronic Health Record Sharing System could request the provision of the COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs via a dedicated online platform. They must follow the relevant treatment guidelines set out by the HA and are not allowed to charge their patients any fees for the COVID-19 oral antiviral drugs. As of June 30 this year, approximately 200 000 treatment courses were prescribed by private doctors to eligible COVID-19 confirmed patients for free.
     
    Severe COVID-19 cases primarily affect the elderly, the children and individuals with underlying illnesses. Scientific data has conclusively proven that the COVID-19 vaccine is effective in minimising the risk of severe disease or death. Members of the public who have not received the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (including infants and children) should get vaccinated timely. Those at high risk should receive a booster dose as soon as possible. For more information on COVID-19 vaccination, please visit COVID-19 Vaccination Programme webpage. Although the periodic upsurge of COVID-19 has ended, there has been an upward trend in local influenza activity in Hong Kong recently. Members of the public should remain vigilant and maintain stringent personal, environmental and hand hygiene at all times.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova spoke at government hour in the State Duma.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova spoke at the government hour in the State Duma on the topic “On priorities in the implementation of the demographic policy of the Russian Federation.” It was also attended by Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov, Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, Minister of Construction and Housing and Utilities Irek Faizullin and Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova.

    The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the deputies for choosing the topic of the government hour and the detailed expert discussion. She emphasized that in the course of preparation for the government hour, 128 questions were received, to which written answers were given.

    “Of all the components of demographic development, and today’s discussion has also shown this, increasing the birth rate is the most difficult task. We see, based on accumulated experience, that the birth rate does not directly depend on the amount of funds that we invest in social benefits. Our citizens have become more concerned about their health, and for expectant mothers, accessibility, including transportation, of medical care, a perinatal center, and a medical organization is important. Living standards have changed significantly – in the issue of birth rate, the importance of comfortable housing and sufficient space has increased. And the insufficient development of infrastructure in the regions, its inadequacy to the needs of small children is the main limiting challenge to birth rate. The life cycle is transforming – this is an extension of the period of obtaining an education, the desire to realize oneself in the professional sphere, ensuring career growth and financial independence. All this postpones the birth of a child. Another consequence of this transformation is loneliness. Quite a large number of young people cannot find a partner,” said Tatyana Golikova.

    The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the average age of mothers at birth in Russia is 29. In addition, it is important to correctly assess the factor of the country’s growing urbanization: more than 80% of all births today occur in cities.

    “Indirectly, through the use of maternity capital for education, we see that 70% of recipients in this area choose universities in large cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Kazan. Young people leave their cities and, as a rule, do not return. Thus, the uniform territorial development of the country, the construction of housing, social and engineering infrastructure – these are all key things that need to be developed, and not only in cities, but also in rural areas. The strategy for the spatial development of Russia and its correct construction are of key importance for achieving the indicators set by the President. And of course, this is the work of all executive authorities at both the federal and regional levels, the maximum involvement of employers,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

    Tatyana Golikova emphasized that demographic issues were discussed in detail at faction meetings and with relevant committees in the run-up to the government hour.

    The first block of questions is housing.

    “There are many support measures in place today. This is the Young Family program, preferential mortgage programs, the validity of which has been extended: family mortgage at 6%, rural mortgage at 3%, Far Eastern or Arctic mortgage at 2%. To help families pay off mortgages, a payment of 450 thousand rubles is provided at the birth of a third or subsequent child. In eight regions of the Far East, its size has been increased to 1 million rubles. Another eight have established a similar measure within the framework of regional programs to increase the birth rate. As a result, there are 16 of them. A separate topic is the development of the preferential rental housing market. Currently, 12 thousand rental apartments are being built in the Far East. In addition, there is the My Private Home initiative, which combines measures to support individual housing construction. The comprehensive rural development program also includes housing construction models in rural areas. It is important for us to jointly assess how all current housing programs are interconnected, how they affect the family, ”said Tatyana Golikova.

    An analysis of the use of maternity capital over the entire period of its existence confirms that housing is the main focus (69%) and more than 67% of funds used for housing, or 3.1 trillion rubles, are directed toward mortgages.

    In addition, the high level of indebtedness of families, both mortgage and consumer loans, becomes an obstacle to the birth rate.

    The second is support for families with many children.

    Today, there are almost 2.8 million large families in Russia. Over the past two years, the number of large families has increased by 17.4%, and the number of children in them has reached 8.9 million.

    As Tatyana Golikova noted, given the importance of this topic, a separate federal project, Large Families, has been formed within the national project Family. It combines federal and regional measures – both those that have proven their effectiveness and those introduced since 2025.

    The Presidential Decree on social support for large families established the permanent status of a large family and defined the concept of a large family for receiving support measures. At the same time, the decree retained the right of regions to expand the category of a large family and also established a recommended list of regional support measures.

    At the federal level, basic guarantees in the sphere of labor relations, early assignment of an insurance pension, vocational training and retraining for parents with many children, and the provision of state benefits in connection with the birth and upbringing of children are enshrined. In 2024, a single benefit covered more than 1.5 million large families raising 5.3 million children.

    “Since 2025, for the first time, a priority procedure for concluding a social contract with large families has been established. More than 25% of social contracts have been concluded with large families. A register of large families has been formed. Since October 1 of last year, an electronic certificate for large families has been launched. 2.2 million certificates have already been issued,” noted Tatyana Golikova.

    As part of the “demographic menu”, which is co-financed from the federal budget, 41 regions with low birth rates have provided additional support measures for large families.

    “The problem remains that when establishing the status of a large family, regions require permanent registration in the region of all family members. This leads to the fact that the father, registered in another region, is not included in the family and, accordingly, in the certificate. And, as a result, he cannot take advantage of not only regional, but also federal support measures – go with children to a museum for free, buy goods or tickets at a discount. This approach must be eliminated. It is important that all regions have a responsible, informal attitude to the topic of supporting large families,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    Thirdly, the health of citizens.

    Within the framework of the new national projects “Family” and “Long and Active Life”, an active range of measures in the field of healthcare will be continued.

    “Special attention will be paid to psychological, legal and social assistance to pregnant women, as well as the use of assisted reproductive technologies to treat infertility: 485 thousand IVF cycles will be performed,” said Tatyana Golikova.

    Fourth – strengthening value systems with a focus on strong families and having many children among young people.

    The promotion of family values in the media, literature, through family competitions, forums and festivals such as “Family of the Year”, “It’s Family for Us”, the All-Russian Wedding Festival and a number of others, gives its results, forms traditions, and a respectful attitude towards the family.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Amur Region’s exposition at the Far East Street exhibition within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum will tell about the development of Russian-Chinese cooperation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The largest investment projects, industrial achievements and development prospects of the transboundary agglomeration Blagoveshchensk – Heihe will be presented by the Amur Region at the exhibition “Far East Street”, which will be held from September 3 to 9 as part of the tenth, anniversary Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. The main slogan of the region is “Amur Region – the center of Russian-Chinese cooperation”. The organizer of the exhibition is the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Far Eastern Federal District.

    “The Amur region is the territory of the largest infrastructure projects. To attract investments, the Amur Region is one of the leading regions. Among the largest investment projects of the region are the construction of a logistics complex, a gas -chemical cluster, an international bridge across the Amur, a cross -border cable car and modern infrastructure facilities. Projects are actively developing in the field of agriculture, energy, mining industry and forestry complex. This is the region from which Russia enters into space. Here the first civilian cosmodrome eastern cosmodrome works here. Recently, the Russian-Chinese Economic Forum “Amuraxpo“, which is the field platform of the Eastern Economic Forum, was completed. This year, the VEF takes place in the anniversary, the tenth time. The forum will be given special attention, as the development of international cooperation with friendly countries. Relations between Russia and China are an important stabilizing factor in world politics and economics. With every year, every year between every year. Our countries are more than economic and cultural. Our task is to help the region attract investors, develop partnerships with friendly countries, to build new enterprises, the quality of life of people was created, ”said the deputy chairman of the government, the Presidential Plenipotentiary Committee, and the Chairman of the Organizational Committee of the Eastern Economic Forum Yuri Trutnev.

    The main color accent in the design of the Amur pavilion is red, since this color is present in the national flags of both countries – the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. The facade of the building is made of red perforated panels, on which you can read individual words and phrases about the achievements of the Amur Region.

    “The Eastern Economic Forum is the key event of the year for us. This unique venue allows us to conclude dozens of profitable agreements, agree on the implementation of promising investment projects in the region, and outline new directions for the region’s development. And the regional pavilion on Far East Street plays a huge role in attracting new investors, partners, and tourists. It should present all the region’s achievements, its prospects, and key projects in various fields in the most visual way possible. When developing the expositions, we try to introduce new details every year, using the most modern means, infographics, and multimedia,” said Vasily Orlov, Governor of the Amur Region.

    The first floor of the Amur Region pavilion is dedicated to Russian-Chinese cooperation. The stand will present existing and prospective joint projects. Among them are the Golden Mile, an international automobile bridge and a cross-border cable car. Guests of the pavilion will be able to learn about key Russian-Chinese cultural, sports and economic events that have taken place over the past ten years. The work of the competence center created under the President’s instructions will also be shown.

    The second floor of the region’s exposition is designed as a chemical laboratory, with an emphasis on polymer processing and products obtained from them. The walls will display information about the anchor projects of the region’s gas chemical industry – the Amur Gas Chemical Plant and the Amur Gas Chemical Complex. The third floor will traditionally become a meeting place for representatives of the region with partners and potential investors, a negotiation area and signing of agreements.

    In addition, in a separate pavilion “Made in Amur Region”, visitors to the exhibition will be able to purchase kvass, honey, dried fruits, snacks, sausages and confectionery, green tea, as well as souvenirs from Amur craftsmen. The adjacent territory will house a tourist zone with a geodome “Tourism in Amur Region”. At the site, representatives of the Hospitality Agency of Amur Region will talk about the tourism potential of the region in an interactive space.

    In honor of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, a thematic interactive stand will be installed near the regional pavilion. The exhibition will include unique historical materials, photographs, veterans’ memories and interactive elements allowing visitors to delve deeper into the events of those years. Also this year, a concert stage will return to the territory of the Amur Region pavilion.

    The 10th Eastern Economic Forum will be held on September 3–6 at the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok. During these days, the exhibition will be available to forum participants, and on September 7, 8, and 9, it will be open to everyone. The EEF is organized by the Roscongress Foundation.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection

    A new world-leading biosecurity centre in Essex will protect the UK from emerging publicd health threats and boost economic growth.

    • World-leading biosecurity centre in Harlow, Essex to protect the UK against emerging public health threats
    • Multi-billion-pound government investment will make National Biosecurity Centre the largest of its kind in Europe
    • Will create around 1,600 new jobs to support construction and enhance collaboration between scientists and the life sciences sector

    People in the UK will be better protected from future pandemics and biosecurity threats thanks to government investment into a new, world-leading biosecurity centre in Harlow, Essex.

    The National Biosecurity Centre (NBC) will increase the speed and scale of research into dangerous pathogens and life-saving vaccines, boosting healthcare and economic growth, and protecting UK national security.

    The government is investing billions of pounds in the project, including £250m over this Parliament, for vital research and testing that is currently split across UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) sites in Porton Down and Colindale under one roof.

    Once complete, the NBC will be the largest in Europe, creating around 1,600 new jobs to support construction of the site and enabling the development of new treatments and vaccines that could save countless lives.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    This transformational investment in the UK’s national biosecurity will better protect the British public from future health emergencies, boost the life sciences sector and create new jobs.

    COVID-19 taught us how crucial it is to be able to respond quickly to new emerging threats, and the new National Biosecurity Centre will allow us to do exactly that — ensuring Britain remains a world-leader in pandemic preparedness.

    Harlow will become a scientific hub, with The National Biosecurity Centre exploring new ways to treat illnesses, improve people’s health and save more lives.

    By backing innovation, research and life sciences, we will make our NHS fit for the future, and cement the UK as a life sciences superpower as part of our Plan for Change.

    The NBC will create 1,600 extra jobs to support construction of the site and enabling closer collaboration between leading scientists and the life sciences sector.

    The investment is part of a series of ways in which this government is making the UK a life sciences powerhouse to improve access to life-changing and innovative treatments for patients, as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan. This follows the launch of a new digital hub for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in Leeds to ensure that life-saving healthcare innovations reach patients faster.

    We’re taking the lessons from COVID-19, boosting our world-leading vaccine manufacturing and research capabilities, and separately to Harlow, taking part in a national exercise later this year to make sure our preparations are watertight. Through the Pandemic Agreement, we’re also improving the world’s collective ability to prevent, prepare for, detect and respond to global disease threats and £108 billion in life sciences sector also protects us against future pandemics, as well as creating jobs and driving economic growth.

    Dyfed Alsop, interim UKHSA chief executive, said: > > This is fantastic news for the UK and will mean that we can continue to offer the best possible protection for people’s health for generations to come. > > A brand-new facility at Harlow will bring together our world leading public health science and emergency response capabilities, putting us in a stronger position to protect the public and keep people safe. > > This marks a significant investment in our future, ensuring that the UK remains a world leader in health security and that we are better prepared against a growing range of health threats.

    The NBC will create exciting new partnerships between UKHSA scientists and industry – paving the way for potential research breakthroughs, including in the realm of infectious diseases, environmental health, and behavioural sciences. Harlow will deliver state of the art highly secure laboratories that will be used to research the most dangerous and new diseases.

    Being physically closer to industry partners in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor will furthermore strengthen collaborations.

    Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

    The National Biosecurity Centre will help to strengthen the UK life sciences sector for decades to come, by backing our world-renowned researchers with highly advanced facilities to develop life-saving treatments in the face of new health threats.

    By enabling further collaboration between researchers at the cutting-edge and industry, the new hub can help drive the economic growth that benefits us all, building on the highly skilled new jobs already being delivered, and supporting our Plan for Change.

    The new facility will form part of a new network of National Biosecurity Centres recently announced under the 2025 National Security Strategy. This network will strengthen and formalise existing collaborations between UKHSA, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to bolster the UK’s resilience to deliberate, accidental or naturally occurring biological incidents. It follows the announcement last month of investment of more than £1 billion in a new campus in Weybridge to research and respond to animal and zoonotic diseases.

    Work to prepare NBC for operation will begin as soon as possible, with the first facilities due to open by the mid-2030s and the whole site scheduled to be in operation by 2038.

    By enhancing the UK’s resilience against biological threats, the opening of NBC will strengthen our national security – one of the essential foundations underpinning our Plan for Change.  

    Notes to editors:

    • Further information on the Network of National Biosecurity Centres: Network of National Biosecurity Centres – GOV.UK
    • The decision to open the new site in Harlow was made following an extensive review of the best ways to deliver the specialist laboratories that the UK needs, including the possibility of redeveloping existing sites.
    • UKHSA will continue operating from Colindale and Porton until the new Centre in Harlow is fully up and running, to ensure a safe and effective transition.
    • The DSTL site at Porton Down is not affected by this new development and will remain operational.
    • Of the total multi-billion investment in the Centre, £250 million will be spent by the Government over this Parliament alone to kickstart delivery. The exact total amount of funding for the Centre will be confirmed in due course.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Patients with long-term conditions to receive help from charities

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Patients with long-term conditions to receive help from charities

    Hundreds of thousands of patients with long-term conditions will be automatically referred to specialist charities at the point of diagnosis.

    • Better support to understand and manage conditions from day one, improving quality of life and avoiding unnecessary hospital visits, supporting an NHS fit for the future as part of the Plan for change
    • Announced by the Prime Minister at the Civil Society Summit – the service is yet another example of how the government is working with civil society to deliver for working people

    Hundreds of thousands of people diagnosed with long-term health conditions will receive extra help and support from expert charities, under a new service announced by the Prime Minister today (Thursday 17 July).

    Diagnosis Connect will ensure patients are referred directly to trusted charities and support organisations as soon as they are diagnosed – providing personalised advice, information and guidance to help them manage their condition and feel more in control. This support is designed to complement, not replace, their usual NHS care. It recognises the vital role that civil society plays in helping repair the health of the nation.

    With one in four people in the UK living with two or more long-term conditions this early, tailored support is vital. Patients living with multiple health issues often face the greatest challenges and the highest risk of complications. By helping people understand and manage their conditions from day one, the new service will help reduce flare-ups, improve quality of life and avoid unnecessary hospital visits.

    The service, due to be launched in 2026, will support a quarter of a million people in its first two years focusing on areas like diabetes, mental health and lung conditions. It will be scaled up to reach hundreds of thousands more over the coming years.

    The initiative, developed by the Richmond Group, was announced by the Prime Minister at the Civil Society Summit at the Science Museum, where he launched a new Civil Society Covenant to build stronger partnerships between government and charities, faith organisations, philanthropists, social investors and grassroots groups to deliver real results for working people.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    Being diagnosed with a long-term condition can be overwhelming. People are often handed a leaflet or a phone number and left to find help themselves—right when they’re feeling scared, confused and unsure where to turn.

    We’re changing that. Just as people with cancer or dementia are often guided to well-known charities for specialist advice and support, this new service will make sure patients with other long-term conditions are directly referred to trusted organisations from the moment they’re diagnosed.

    It’s about making it far easier to give people the emotional support, practical guidance and confidence they need to manage their condition and live fuller, more independent lives. Our Plan for Change is delivering for patients and making an NHs fit for the future.

    In its first stage, launching in 2026, Diagnosis Connect will focus on patients diagnosed in primary care—such as at their GP surgery. Patients will be automatically connected with specialist charities that offer helplines, information, local support groups and services tailored to their condition.

    As the programme expands, a digital referral system will allow NHS teams in all healthcare settings—including hospitals—to connect patients to a broad network of voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations.

    Initially, the service will focus on key areas such as diabetes, lung conditions and mental health, with further conditions added over time.

    As part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to shift the health service from analogue to digital, patients will be sent a text or push notification via the NHS App with information about relevant support groups and charities should they wish to seek further help.

    Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the Stroke Association said:

    240 people of all ages wake up to stroke every day in the UK having lost the ability to move, speak or even swallow with lifelong repercussions for their mental health and quality of life. As the UK’s only stroke-specific support charity, we know the huge difference it makes to people affected by stroke to get information, help, and guidance easily and accessibly when they need it most. 

    We have recently been trialling a similar programme to ensure people affected by stroke know about our services right from the point of diagnosis. So, we’re confident that Diagnosis Connect can help transform the early stages of recovery and rehabilitation for the 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK today and their loved ones. As the Government reforms the country’s healthcare, charities, like ourselves, have real potential to be an invaluable support for those who need us.

    Gemma Peters, Chief Executive Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

    We welcome today’s commitment from the Government to work in partnership to ensure support is available for people from day one. From the moment someone hears the words ‘you’ve got cancer’ lives are turned upside down and having the right support in place is vital.

    Currently, there are almost 3.5 million people living with cancer across the UK and too many people face unacceptable differences in their experiences of diagnosis, treatment, and care because of who they are or where they live. This has to change. Better is possible and through our work with the government we want to ensure that everyone living with cancer gets the best care the UK has to offer.

    Macmillan is here for everyone. No matter your question or your needs specially trained advisers are available on our Support Line and more ways to get support can also be found on our website.

    Duleep Allirajah, Chief Executive of The Richmond Group of Charities, said:

    We are delighted that the government, as part of its 10 Year Health Plan, has committed to this pioneering digitally enabled service, helping more people diagnosed with health conditions to manage through expert support from charities.

    Being diagnosed with a health condition can be a time of worry, questions and fears for the future. It’s when access to the right kind of support makes all the difference. Charities provide vital guidance, understanding and support to individuals, through personalised information, helplines, access to specialists and links to others who also live with the condition.

    The Richmond Group of Charities helped develop this proposal for automatic referrals to specialist charity support. We look forward to this becoming second-nature, so that all people with long-term conditions can benefit from support when they need it.

    Partner comments:

    Chris Larkin, Associate Director of Services at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

    There are currently around one million people in the UK living with dementia. A third of those are undiagnosed, leaving them to face the devastating realities of dementia without access to the vital care, support and treatment that a diagnosis can bring.

    For those who do manage to access a diagnosis, they tell us that finding the right support can often feel like trying to navigate a maze, with multiple dead ends and wrong turns. 

    Diagnosis Connect has the potential to hand families a map and steer them in the right direction, towards people who understand dementia, guiding them from diagnosis through to end of life.

    Alzheimer’s Society’s services are a lifeline for people affected by dementia. We’re ready to work with the Government and share our knowledge from supporting people through one of the hardest times in their lives.

     Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said:

    We are delighted to see Diagnosis Connect being taken up by the government, an approach Asthma + Lung UK has already championed as a game-changer for people newly diagnosed with lung conditions. As the NHS shifts its focus from moving more care out of hospital and into the community, ensuring people have access to advice and support to manage chronic health conditions is crucial. It makes absolute sense for the government to work in partnership with health charities to do this, capitalising on our vast expertise and community connections.

    Respiratory illness is the leading cause of emergency hospital admissions, yet levels of basic care for lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are worryingly low.  Signposting people to organisations like Asthma + Lung UK from the moment they are diagnosed can make all the difference. We know that with the right support and information, people are better able manage their lung conditions, meaning they can stay well and out of hospital. We all have a role to play in supporting the NHS and keeping patients safe and supported. Asthma + Lung UK is committed to doing our part, together with other charities.

    Dr David Chaney, Director of Services, Community and Improvement at Diabetes UK, said:

    Being diagnosed with diabetes can be an overwhelming and often lonely experience. It can be difficult to know where to turn. Getting the right support from day one can make all the difference, giving people the best chance of living well with diabetes and reducing their risk of developing devastating complications in the future.

    We’re delighted to see the Government harnessing the support offered by charities, through Diagnosis Connect. By connecting people to charities from the moment of diagnosis, this initiative will help embed early, compassionate support into everyone’s diabetes journey, so no-one faces a life-changing diagnosis alone.

    Nick Moberly, Chief Executive at the MS Society, said:

    We’re really pleased the government is supporting Diagnosis Connect. More than 150,000 people live with MS in the UK, and this new service has real potential to ensure everyone gets timely information and vital support at diagnosis to help them live well with MS.

    This first stage is a positive step forward in better connecting the NHS to charities. Together with the Richmond Group we look forward to developing Diagnosis Connect to help provide personalised advice, information and guidance to our communities in England.

    Helen Buckingham, Chair of National Voices, said:

    Being diagnosed with a new and potentially serious health condition can be an overwhelming, burdensome and sometimes frightening experience. We know from our members that providing support at the point of diagnosis is vital to ensuring that people have the skills and confidence to manage their condition, reducing the risk of deterioration.

    The VCSE sector, properly funded, can play an important part in making the 10 Year vision a reality. This is just one example of the value of enabling the sector to perform their unique role in the health system; supporting the people they advocate for. We hope to see many more.

    David Newbold, Director of Community at Parkinson’s UK, said:

    We are pleased to see the government launch the first phase of Diagnosis Connect. This new initiative builds on the great work of many charities in supporting people as soon as they are diagnosed with a health condition.

    Since 2019, we have been trialling our own pioneering service, Parkinson’s Connect, which refers newly diagnosed people to our community of support. So we believe Diagnosis Connect will supercharge our service, ensuring no one is left uncertain of where to turn when diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

    We look forward to working with the DHSC and the NHS to shape and deliver this vital new programme.

    Rachel Power, Chief Executive, The Patients Association said:

    This is a welcome initiative that rightly recognises the vital role expert charity support plays in helping patients manage long-term conditions. Our work shows that patients living in underserved neighbourhoods often struggle to get the information they need and face barriers when communicating with healthcare professionals. Early access to trusted charities at the point of diagnosis can make a real difference.

    For it to truly succeed, the referral system needs to capture the full diversity of support available, from established national charities to grassroots community organisations. Done right, this could help reduce health inequalities and be transformative for all patient outcomes.

    Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said:

    When people are struggling with their mental health, it can be hard to know where to turn. Charities like Rethink Mental Illness and Mental Health UK offer trusted, user-informed advice and support, built with and regularly reviewed by the people it’s designed to help. Diagnostics Connect will help ensure people get the best possible guidance when they need it most.

    Our work in areas like Somerset, Sheffield and Tower Hamlets has shown the positive impact of the NHS working in partnership with charities and community groups to create smoother pathways to care. This initiative is an important step forward, strengthening the third sector’s vital role in complementing the NHS and ensuring people get the support they need.

    Deborah Alsina, Chief Executive, Versus Arthritis said:

    More than 450,000 people are diagnosed with arthritis every year, so it is essential they can access the right information, care and support swiftly.

    As the UK’s leading arthritis charity, we are encouraged by the Government’s new initiative to connect people at the point of diagnosis with expert charities like Versus Arthritis.

    Living life in the grip of the pain and fatigue caused by arthritis can leave people isolated and too often kickstart a downward spiralling of both mental and physical health. Early intervention and support at this crucial time will enable people to manage their condition and navigate the health system with greater confidence. We look forward to working with the Government and our partners in the Richmond Group of Charities to deliver this important new service.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor of London Launches the London to Accra Campaign

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Mayor of London Launches the London to Accra Campaign

    UK leading a new era of diaspora-driven growth in Ghana

    The British High Commission in Accra has officially launched the “London to Accra Economic Growth Campaign” – a bold, series of activities aimed at strengthening economic ties between the UK and Ghana, by leveraging the two countries’ greatest shared asset, the British Ghanaian diaspora. 

    The launch took place at a vibrant reception attended by the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, and the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, alongside 100 entrepreneurs, investors, and stakeholders from the business communities both in Ghana and the UK. 

    London to Accra transcends symbolism. It is about unlocking untapped opportunities. The campaign will raise awareness of the role that the British Ghanaian diaspora plays in driving economic growth through their people-to-people connections, creativity and cultural relations between the two cities, London and Accra, and for that matter the two countries, Great Britain and Ghana. It will also highlight the range of support available to help entrepreneurs strengthen their trade and investment activities between the two capitals. 

    Kicking off with the launch, the campaign will include a series of webinars focused on doing business between the UK and Ghana, a digital storytelling series showcasing diaspora success stories, and a roadshow of diaspora-led businesses in Accra. The culmination of this bold campaign will be the inaugural Diaspora Economic Growth Summit in January 2026 in Accra. This flagship event will serve as both the grand finale and the beginning of a new tradition in diaspora economic collaboration. 

    Keith McMahon, Chargé d’Affaires of the British High Commission in Accra, set the tone at the launch saying: 

    The London to Accra campaign is a practical approach to supporting the UK’s growth mission. Our two capitals are not just linked by culture. These connections are increasingly economic, with entrepreneurs building businesses that bridge both capitals and create prosperity in both nations. By strengthening these connections, we are creating new pathways for investment and economic growth that benefit citizens in both countries.

    The launch event featured a panel discussion with key figures including Ghana’s Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Otchere Darko; Pamela Bassah, Head of Diaspora Relations and Strategic Partnerships at the British High Commission; Dr. Vanessa Apea; CEO of Accra London Health Centre; Giselle Agyare, Country Director of the UK Department for Business and Trade in Ghana; and Shirgade Laryea from the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce. The discussion highlighted the wide range of support available through initiatives such as Growth Gateway. 

    The campaign follows the success of the annual Diaspora New Year Networking Mixer, which began in January 2023 and has become a cornerstone event for the British Ghanaian community. The 2025 edition attracted over 500 stakeholders from the UK-Ghana diaspora, business community, and Government of Ghana, demonstrating the strong appetite for greater engagement between the two countries.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pharmacist time freed up to treat patients more

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Pharmacist time freed up to treat patients more

    Pharmacists will benefit from better access to pharmacy services as part of 10 Year Health Plan, under new proposals set out by the government today

    • Government freeing up pharmacist time so they can treat patients more
    • Qualified pharmacy staff could get expanded roles to improve patient access and allow pharmacists to focus more on frontline care
    • Move part of delivery drive of the 10 Year Health Plan, moving care closer to the community

    Patients will benefit from better access to pharmacy services under new proposals set out by the government today.  

    As part of the immediate work to start delivering the 10 Year Health Plan, the Department of Health and Social Care has published plans to modernise pharmacy supervision rules, to allow registered pharmacy technicians to take greater responsibility and enable pharmacists to focus more on frontline patient care. 

    The changes, which have been welcomed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK and the General Pharmaceutical Council, will modernise pharmacy practice and make better use of the skills within pharmacy teams.

    This will give pharmacies greater flexibility in how they deploy their staff, freeing up pharmacist time to deliver more clinical services and to help advise patients on prevention as well as sickness as part of the government’s Plan for Change while ensuring that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can work to the top of their profession. 

    Minister Stephen Kinnock said:  

    We have hit the ground running in delivering our 10 Year Health Plan, and this is another immediate and tangible change that will mean patients get better care closer to their home, while we also modernise the NHS.

    Pharmacists will be able to spend more time providing clinical care, while qualified pharmacy technicians can take greater responsibility for routine tasks.  

    This will improve patient experience and help avoid delays in accessing medicines when the pharmacist is not available.

    These are simple, common-sense changes that will help pharmacies run better, saving staff and patient time.

    The draft legislation follows extensive consultation with pharmacy professionals and stakeholders. It is expected to come into effect by the end of 2025 and the bulk of the measures will have a one-year transition period to allow for the development of professional standards and guidance. 

    It will expand who can supervise the dispensing of medicines, empower the pharmacy workforce to deliver better care and unlock clinical expertise, so communities are served more effectively by their local pharmacy and delivering on the Plan for Change by improving care in the community and reducing pressure on the NHS.

    This is another example of this government’s commitment to support the pharmacy sector – and builds on the package of recently enacted measures to dispense medicines more quickly and efficiently.

    We have invested a record amount in the sector with the largest uplift in funding seen by community pharmacy for over a decade.  

    These further measures will help transition community pharmacy from being largely focused on dispensing medicines to becoming integral to the Neighbourhood Health Service, supporting the shift from hospital to community set out in our 10 Year Heath Plan. 

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stoke-on-Trent awarded funding to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Thursday, 17th July 2025

    Partnership working to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping is set to continue across Stoke-on-Trent.

    The city council has been allocated cash from various government initiatives to support the ongoing work it is doing to help rough sleepers in Stoke-on-Trent and those facing homelessness.

    The latest round of funding – which looks set to be agreed by cabinet members at a meeting later this month –  will enable the council to continue to provide vital services to support rough sleepers and homeless individuals in the city.

    This includes extending the current agreements it has in place with partners delivering these important services, such as Brighter Futures, Honeycomb Group and the North Staffs Combined Healthcare Trust, for a further 12 months.

    It comes as Stoke-on-Trent City Council is currently reviewing its Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy which sets out the authority’s vision and priorities for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping over the next five years.

    Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, planning and governance at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Our support services, provided with trusted partners, do a great job in supporting rough sleepers and those facing homelessness.

    “But despite those efforts, rough sleeping continues to rise – nationally and locally – due to housing pressures and the cost of living crisis. We are determined to do more.

    “We recently undertook a review into homelessness and rough sleeping to help us get an understanding of the current picture of homelessness in the city and this has given us an idea of where to focus our resources in the future.

    “Everybody has the right to a decent home, and we are determined to do everything we can to ensure everyone has the support they need to live independently.”

    Over the past three years, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has developed and delivered a range of initiatives in collaboration with partners, including:

    • A Homeless Hub which supports more than 900 people every month
    • Enhanced outreach support via the Rough Sleepers Outreach Team which has supported over 330 individuals out of rough sleeping
    • Health and mental health support to help people access universal health services and manage chronic conditions, with around 250 people accessing the service per month
    • Providing long-term accommodation options for individuals moving on from emergency off-street accommodation such as B&Bs and night shelters. This service has supported around 65 individuals during 24/25.

    Anyone concerned about a person sleeping rough, or at risk of sleeping rough, is encouraged to report it to the city council via the website or by calling the Rough Sleepers team on 0800 970 2304 which is a free phone number.

    Alternatively visit www.brighter-futures.org.uk or www.thestreetlink.org.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Webinar on Building Resilient Workplaces: Mental Health Awareness and Support in NSOs

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    With more than 10% of the global population living with a mental disorder (WHO, 2019), and clear effects on staff wellbeing and performance, proactively addressing mental health has become a crucial issue in building a resilient workplace.

    This webinar aims to explore mental health challenges in the workplace, sharing experiences from various statistical offices —particularly the establishment of a mental health counselling centre.

    Please register by 15 September by following this link: https://forms.office.com/e/hme0AMr044

    If you registration is approved, you will receive a link to the webinar after the registration deadline. 

    Document Title

    Documents

    Information Flyer

     

    Opening

    Welcome speech from Indonesia Chief Statistician 

    		  

    Overview of the mental health in the workplace – WHO

    		  
    Recongizing common challenges – Professor José Guimarães Magalhães, Portugal  

    Experiences from national statistics offices

    		  

    Statistics Indonesia experience in establishing counselling centres

    • Overview of Counseling Centre – Dr. Eni Lestariningsih, S.Si, M.A b.
    • Technical Method of Counseling Centre: Yulias Untari, S.Psi, Psi c
    • Case Study & Mental Health Insight based on Counseling Centre result: Rany Komala Dewi, S.Psi, M.Psi.T & Siti Fani Daulay, S.Psi, M.Psi.T
    		  
    Addressing mental health stigma in the workplace – Philip O’Callaghan, Irish Civil Service Employee Assistance Service  
    Activities in the area of mental health done under umbrella of the Corporate Social Responsibility – Statistics Poland  

    Panel discussion

    		  
    Panel discussion  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: DWS to probe presence of ARVs in water after university study

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Thursday, July 17, 2025

    The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) says it will engage the North West University (NWU) on the study findings of traces of anti-retroviral (ARV) medicines in water resources.

    The research was conducted by the NWU’s Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management and the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research. It found that ARVs appear to be entering water resources through municipal wastewater treatment systems, which were usually not designed to remove such chemicals.

    The report titled, ‘Quantification, fate, and hazard assessment of HIV-ARVs in water resources’, revealed significant concentrations of ARVs in water sources, particularly downstream of wastewater treatment plants.

    The drugs most frequently detected were lopinavir and efavirenz, with concentrations at some sites far exceeding global norms.

    According to the study, this is attributed to South Africa’s large-scale HIV treatment programme, the most extensive of its kind worldwide.

    The research highlighted alarming effects on aquatic ecosystems and wastewater management systems. Freshwater snails exposed to ARVs exhibited altered embryonic development, while bacteriophages – viruses critical to controlling bacteria in wastewater treatment – were significantly impacted.

    “Such disruptions could lead to bacterial bloom and reduced water quality. The consumption of any type of exogenous drug by any organism in sufficient quantities may intervene with the regulation of metabolic systems and bring about adverse effects. The presence of antiretrovirals in water can be considered a hidden or latent risk,” the report noted.

    The report was submitted to the Water Research Commission (WRC).

    The DWS said it will engage the university on its findings and potential impacts.

    “This will be done in conjunction with the Water Research Commission and the Department of Health,” the department said in a statement on Wednesday. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cytundeb VCFSE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cytundeb VCFSE

    (Mentrau Gwirfoddol, Cymunedol, Crefyddol a Chymdeithasol) Manceinion Fwyaf (GM).

    Cafodd [Cytundeb VCFSE Manceinion Fwyaf (GM)] ](https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/communities/voluntary-community-faith-and-social-enterprise-accord/) ei lofnodi ym mis Tachwedd 2017 fel cytundeb cydweithredu rhwng cyrff cyhoeddus a’r gymdeithas sifil.

    Sefydlwyd y Cytundeb gan Awdurdod Cyfun Manceinion Fwyaf a Phartneriaeth Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol Manceinion Fwyaf gyda grŵp o arweinwyr y gymdeithas sifil wedi’u lleoli ym Manceinion Fwyaf er mwyn adeiladu perthynas a fyddai’n cydnabod ac yn datgloi potensial llawn y gymdeithas sifil i fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau yn y ddinas-ranbarth er budd y cyhoedd.

    Mae’r Cytundeb wedi helpu i godi proffil sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil gydag arweinwyr y sector cyhoeddus lleol gan fwrw goleuni ar y gwerth a’r arbenigedd y gallan nhw eu cynnig. Un bartneriaeth sy’n deillio o hynny yw Uned Lleihau Trais Manceinion Fwyaf (GMVRU) rhwng y llywodraeth, yr heddlu, iechyd, addysg, gwasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid, awdurdodau lleol, asiantaethau statudol eraill a’r gymdeithas sifil. Mae’r GMVRU wedi ymrwymo i arddel ymagwedd a arweinir gan y gymuned yn ei hymdrechion i atal trais. Mae’r dull yma yn cydnabod gwerth a chryfder sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil wrth weithio’n agos gyda chymunedau, i ddeall eu hanghenion, eu heriau a’u cryfderau mewn perthynas ag atal trais. Mae hefyd yn rhoi penderfyniadau yn nwylo cymunedau, gan gynnwys gosod blaenoriaethau a chytuno ar gyllid ar gyfer prosiectau ac ymyriadau sy’n anelu at ymgysylltu â phlant, pobl ifanc a theuluoedd.

    Mae mentrau’r VRU wedi cynnwys rhaglen StreetDoctors dan arweiniad y gymdeithas sifil, sy’n darparu sesiynau hyfforddi i bobl ifanc weithredu mewn argyfwng meddygol. Yn sgil hyn roedd 95% o’r bobl ifanc yn gwybod beth i’w wneud os byddai rhywun yn gwaedu neu’n anymwybodol, ac roedd 85% yn barod i weithredu mewn argyfwng meddygol.

    Mae [Adroddiad Interim ar Gynnydd Cytundeb VCFSE Manceinion Fwyaf] https://www.vcfseleadershipgm.org.uk/resources/greater-manchester-vcfse-accord-interim-progress-report)  yn awgrymu gwella gwelededd y Cytundeb ac ymgorffori ei egwyddorion ar draws sefydliadau’r sector cyhoeddus. Bydd hyn yn gwella cydnabyddiaeth o werth y gymdeithas sifil ar draws Manceinion Fwyaf, a thrwy hynny yn cefnogi mwy o gyfranogiad gan VCSEs a chynyddu lleisiau dinasyddion mewn gwaith ledled Manceinion Fwyaf.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Civil Society Covenant: Greater London Authority

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Civil Society Covenant: Greater London Authority

    Increasing trust with civil society and communities during and after COVID.

    During response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greater London Authority (GLA) worked collaboratively with London’s civil society, hosting online roundtables, public health briefings, and Big Conversation events. Working with health partners, these forums played a vital role in supporting testing and vaccine uptake, building trust, and sharing accurate and culturally competent information. 

    London Legacy Health Equity Partnership

    Following the pandemic, there was a determination to take the learnings from this collaboration, further embedding these approaches within vaccine programmes and work tackling health inequalities. This happened predominantly through the London Legacy Health Equity Partnership. During this time, there was a continuation of co-convened public health, GLA and NHS information briefings, covering issues like winter preparedness and mental health. 

    London Communities Emergencies Partnership

    The GLA has further strengthened relationships with community and faith partners within their approach to resilience, including through co-producing the London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP), a civil society-led approach to coordinating emergency preparedness and response. LCEP sits on the London Resilience Forum, alongside emergency services and other public agencies, bringing the value of community voice and insight into London’s emergency response. This has helped build trust between agencies and collaboration with civil society in response to incidents. 

    Key learnings

    Working collaboratively with civil society before, during and after emergencies can strengthen resilience and, in the case of the pandemic, improve health outcomes like vaccine uptake.  Community-led models can increase trust in public services, and ensure government’s messaging and approach is culturally competent. Furthermore, through recognising the value of civil society organisations in its reach into local communities, the GLA has been able to effectively work with the sector to tackle shared challenges.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Civil Society Covenant: Greater Manchester (GM) VCFSE Accord

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Civil Society Covenant: Greater Manchester (GM) VCFSE Accord

    Recognising the potential of civil society to address inequalities in the city-region.

    The Greater Manchester (GM) VCFSE (Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise) Accord was signed in November 2017 as a collaboration agreement between public bodies and civil society.

    The Accord was established by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership with a group of GM-based civil society leaders to build a relationship that would recognise and unlock the full potential of civil society to address inequalities in the city-region for the public’s benefit. 

    A spotlight on civil society

    The Accord has helped raise the profile of civil society organisations with local public sector leaders and put a spotlight on the value and expertise that they can bring. One resulting partnership is the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (GMVRU) between government, police, health, education, youth justice services, local authorities, other statutory agencies and civil society. The GMVRU is committed to taking a community-led approach in its efforts to prevent violence. This approach acknowledges the value and strength of civil society organisations in working closely with communities, to understand their needs, challenges and strengths in relation to violence prevention. It also places decision-making in the hands of communities, including setting priorities and agreeing funding for projects and interventions aimed at engaging children, young people and families.

    StreetDoctors

    VRU Initiatives have included a civil society led StreetDoctors programme which delivers training sessions for young people to act in a medical emergency. This resulted in 95% of young people knowing what to do if someone is bleeding or unconscious, and 85% being willing to act in a medical emergency.

    Enhancing the Accord’s visibility

    An Interim Report suggests enhancing the Accord’s visibility and embedding its principles across public sector organisations. This will enhance recognition of civil society’s value across GM, thereby supporting increased involvement of VCSEs and increasing citizens’ voices in GM wide work.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Civil Society Covenant: Transforming the NHS

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Civil Society Covenant: Transforming the NHS

    Collaboration shaping people’s health for the future.

    Through open dialogue and partnerships with civil society, the UK government’s Health Mission is building a National Health Service (NHS) in England fit for the future.

    The Department of Health and Social Care put in place a comprehensive engagement strategy to inform the development of the 10 Year Health Plan, which translates the thousands of insights gathered into a clear plan of action. Civil society can play a vital role in supporting the three fundamental shifts: from hospital to community, analogue to digital and treatment to prevention.

    The 10 Year Health Plan includes an explicit goal to make the NHS the best possible partner and the world’s most collaborative public healthcare provider. Bottom-up and grass roots innovation is how we’ll maximise progress. Alongside setting strategy, the Plan will have an explicit goal to harness partnerships with investors, industry, local government, employers, SMEs, voluntary organisations and trade unions. Deepening the relationship with civil society partners will help deliver the 10 Year Health Plan’s aims, including by fostering a ‘neighbourhood health service’ model.

    The ambition is to use a plurality of providers – from within the NHS, the voluntary sector, the independent sector and social enterprise. Where there is such rapid innovation taking place today in how services can be transformed through advances in science and technology, the government wants to broaden the eco-system of providers. For example, there is enormous potential for a wide range of providers to offer real value in the Neighbourhood Health Service. Our aim is to establish a neighbourhood health centre in every community, a one-stop-shop for patient care and the place from which multi-disciplinary teams operate. Neighbourhood health centres will co-locate NHS, local authority and voluntary sector services, to help create an offer that meets population needs holistically.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Five non-executive directors reappointed to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Board

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Five non-executive directors reappointed to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Board

    Two board members have been reappointed for two years, while three others have had their term extended by a year.

    Five non-executive directors (NEDs) have been reappointed to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) board, with the majority of their new terms to begin in September 2025. 

    The board advises on the Agency’s strategic direction and supports the Chief Executive by providing leadership, developing strategy, advising on policy delivery, maintaining high standards of corporate governance, scrutinising performance, and ensuring that controls are in place to manage risk. 

    Two directors have been reappointed for two years: 

    • Professor Graham Cooke, beginning 1 September 2025. 

    • Dr Paul Goldsmith, beginning 1 September 2025. 

    Three directors have been reappointed for an additional year: 

    • Dr Junaid Bajwa, from 1 September 2025. 

    • Rajakumari Long, from 1 September 2025. 

    • Michael Whitehouse OBE has been reappointed as a non-executive director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee for a further one year from 1 September 2026. 

    Two other board members – Amanda Calvert and Haider Husain – will be leaving the MHRA board at the end of their current terms, on 31 August 2025. 

    The appointments will continue to involve a time commitment of 2 to 3 days per month, and remuneration for the Non-Executive Director role will continue at a rate of £7,883 per year, with the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair continuing to receive £13,137 per year. 

    All appointments are made in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Governance for Public Appointments. 

    The regulation of public appointments against the requirements of this code is carried out by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 

    The appointments are made on merit, and political activity played no part in the decision process. However, in accordance with the code, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. 

    None of the appointees have declared any political activity. 

    More information on the work of the Agency Board can be found on the MHRA’s Governance page.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government scales up youth-focused initiatives 

    Source: Government of South Africa

    As government pursues faster and more inclusive economic growth, the fight against youth unemployment remains a priority, with large-scale programmes underway to create opportunities for young people to earn an income, develop skills and gain work experience.

    Delivering the Presidency Budget Vote for the 2025/2026 financial year, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the greatest challenge that faces South Africa today is youth unemployment. 

    “Approximately 3.8 million out of 10.3 million young people aged 15 to 24 years are not in employment, education or training. These are young people with energy, initiative and untapped potential,” President Ramaphosa said.

    In his address on Wednesday, the President said government has launched large-scale programmes to provide young people with income opportunities, skills development and work experience.

    “Through innovative and targeted interventions, the Presidential Employment Stimulus has continued to demonstrate that when a society invests in its people, the dividends are measured in hope restored and futures rewritten,” he said. 

    He cited the Basic Education Employment Initiative, which entered a new phase in June this year, placing over 200 000 young people as school assistants in more than 2 0000 schools. 

    To date, this initiative has created over one million posts for young people to serve as assistants in schools, supporting teachers in classrooms, school administration and school maintenance.

    “The programme has been designed to strengthen the learning environment and learning outcomes in schools. In the process, participants gain work experience and skills vital to finding employment and starting their own businesses,” the President said.

    He added that the SAYouth.mobi platform was launched in 2020 to tackle the barriers faced by young people such as experience and the lack of transport or lack of data money.

    “There are now over 4.7 million young people registered on the SAYouth network. Young people have been supported to access over 1.67 million earning opportunities.

    “A significant achievement of SA Youth is that the vast majority of earning opportunities have been accessed by the most excluded young people. Seventy percent of opportunities have been accessed by young black African women,” President Ramaphosa said.

    The President noted that around 65% of the platform’s users live in grant-receiving households, demonstrating that “we are reaching some of the people who have the greatest need.”

    Another impactful initiative mentioned was the Youth Employment Service (YES), which he said has become the largest corporate-funded youth jobs programme globally. 

    The programme has to date provided over 190 000 young people with year-long work experience opportunities.

    “Through all of these programmes coordinated by the Presidency, we are changing the way that government works and scaling innovative solutions to our unemployment challenge,” the President said. 

    Education 

    Turning to education, President Ramaphosa underscored its role in fighting poverty, with a focus on early childhood development, foundational learning, and access to well-run schools.

    “We continue our efforts to ensure that learners have a safe and conducive environment in which to learn. To date, we have completed 97 percent of the sanitation projects under the SAFE initiative aimed at getting rid of pit latrines in our schools.”

    He also confirmed the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, expansion of vocational training, and broader access to higher education through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

    Having come into effect in December last year, the Act amends sections of the South African Schools Act of 1996 (SASA) and the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (EEA) to account for developments in the education landscape since the enactment of the original legislation.

    Through the NSFAS, government is expanding access for students from poor and working class families, and with the support of the National Skills Fund, assistance is being expanded to the ‘missing middle’.

    “This year, NSFAS is supporting over 800 000 university and TVET [technical and vocational education and training] college students. This provides opportunities to young people today that will, in time, transform our economy and society,” he said. 

    NHI

    On healthcare and the National Health Insurance (NHI), the President said government is addressing the poor state of health facilities and is hiring more professionals, while also permanently employing community health workers.

    “To address the severe challenges in the health system and in preparation for the implementation of the NHI, we are directing resources towards the hiring of more doctors, nurses and health professionals, the permanent employment of community health workers, and the purchase of new equipment and supplies.

    “We are determined to meet our HIV testing and treatment targets, despite the withdrawal of US funding,” he added, noting that Deputy President Paul Mashatile continues to lead the HIV/AIDS response through the South African National AIDS Council.

    Last week, Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, said the National Treasury has allocated R753 million to the Department of Health — under Section 16 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) — to help bridge the shortfall caused by the United States’ decision to cut HIV and tuberculosis (TB) grants.

    READ | Treasury allocates emergency funding of R750m towards HIV and TB after US funding cuts

    The United States government’s withdrawal of funding to key health initiatives, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief P(EPFAR), which was established by former President George W Bush in 2003, led to a loss of R7.9 billion spent on HIV/Aids programmes annually.
     

    Governance 

    On governance, the President said building a capable and corruption-resistant state remains a priority. 

    “For us to effectively tackle any of these challenges, we need to build a capable state with institutions that are resistant to corruption or interference. 

    “The recent adoption of the Public Service Commission Bill by the National Assembly marks a crucial milestone, enhancing the independence and effectiveness of the Public Service Commission in promoting ethical governance,” the President said. 

    President Ramaphosa said the bill will allow the Commission to function as an impartial constitutional body and ensure that the executive is compelled to act on the Commission’s recommendations, thereby reinforcing accountability across the public sector. 

    Digital Transformation Roadmap

    He added that the Digital Transformation Roadmap launched in April 2025, is set to make government work more efficiently while also bringing it closer to the people.

    READ | Digital Transformation Roadmap to make it easier to access government services

    “The roadmap focuses on building digital public infrastructure including a digital identity for every South African citizen. 

    “It includes a digital payments system to enable instant, low-cost payments, and interoperable data systems to ensure that citizens only have to provide their information to government once,” said President Ramaphosa. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government to roll out Mpox vaccines as new cases are detected

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The Department of Health has announced a vaccination drive against Mpox disease, as the number of laboratory-confirmed cases is gradually increasing in the country.

    According to the department, the vaccination programme will primarily target the provinces most affected, which currently include Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.

    Two new laboratory-confirmed cases were recorded – one in Gauteng and one in the Western Cape. 

    These cases involve a 32-year-old from Cape Town and a 45-year-old from Johannesburg, and both individuals have no history of travel.

    This brings to 10 the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of 2025.

    “Vaccination helps to control the spread of this preventable and manageable disease, with vaccinated individuals being protected from becoming infected and from developing severe complications,” the statement read. 

    The department said vaccination can be accessed at some public health facilities, travel clinics and a few private providers in the selected provinces.

    Meanwhile, the department has urged people to be vigilant about the symptoms of Mpox. 

    Those who suspect they may be at risk of Mpox infection are advised to consult their nearest health facility or healthcare provider for screening and testing. They should also enquire about their eligibility for this life-saving vaccination.

    “Priority will be given to people at a higher risk of contracting the virus, including those who came into close contact with people who tested positive, people with multiple sexual partners and travellers going to areas where there is an outbreak of Mpox. Where indicated, vaccination will be offered to pregnant women and children older than two years.” 

    Mpox vaccine

    The department received approximately 10 500 doses of the mpox vaccine, Imvanex, as a donation from the Africa Centres for Disease Control. 

    This donation was made through the Access and Allocation Mechanism for Mpox to help combat the various outbreaks of Mpox across the African continent.

    The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) authorised the importation of this vaccine through a Section 21 process, which covers the sale and use of medicines not yet registered in South Africa. 

    The National Control Laboratory tested Imvanex samples to establish the vaccine’s safety and efficacy before its release to the South African market.

    “The vaccine was found to be safe and is well tolerated in most people. As with any vaccine, some individuals may experience mild to moderate side effects after vaccination. This is a normal sign that the body is developing some level of immunity to prevent the severity of the disease if infected,” the department said.

    Several countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, the United States, Canada and European countries have utilised the Mpox vaccine to control the spread of the disease. 

    Common side effects that might be experienced following immunisation include pain, redness, swelling and itching at the injection site, muscle pain, headache, nausea and fever. 

    However, the department said most side effects disappear on their own within a few days without treatment.

    These side effects can be managed by having enough rest, staying hydrated and taking medication to manage pain, if needed. 

    Individuals are encouraged to report any suspected side effects following immunisation directly to a healthcare professional or via the Med Safety App, which can be downloaded for free on an Android or IOS smartphone at https://medsafety.sahpra.org.za.

    The number of Mpox vaccine doses allocated to South Africa is limited, and quantities will be issued in a phased approach, prioritising outbreak hotspots and based on vaccine availability. 

    More information regarding mpox vaccination sites can be accessed at https://health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-MPOX-VACCINATION-SITES.pdf. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 17 July 2025 Departmental update Building local research capacity to advance sexual and reproductive health evidence

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Behind every policy and intervention that improves sexual and reproductive health outcomes and access to services, there is research. And behind that research, there must be skilled researchers. With evidence guiding decisions, health systems respond more effectively, services improve and rights are upheld.

    The HRP Alliance’s regional hubs have been demonstrating what it means to build sustainable research capacity in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Anchored in the mission to promote health and rights for all, the HRP Alliance, coordinated by the UN’s Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP), brings together seven regional ‘hubs’ that serve as catalysts for knowledge, collaboration and innovation.

    Since its establishment in 2017, the HRP Alliance hubs have been empowering local researchers and institutions through training, mentorship, fellowships and institutional support. Moreover, they enable context-specific responses to some of the world’s most pressing SRHR challenges. Seven impact stories document how locally-led research through this initiative has driven global progress.

    In Brazil, the hub for the Americas region at the Campinas Reproductive Health Research Center (CEMICAMP) responded to the Venezuelan migration crisis by training researchers across the region to study the SRHR needs of displaced populations. Their findings on access to care, HIV treatment and sexual violence helped close a major data gap which led to a more human-centred understanding of the needs of displaced populations.

    In Burkina Faso, the Francophone Africa hub, housed at the Health Science Research Institute (IRSS), is creating a regional data and training centre, with 50 Master’s and PhD graduates now leading research and public health efforts across West and Central Africa. Their studies on postpartum contraception and maternal care are informing health strategies.

    In Ghana, the Anglophone Africa hub, housed at the University of Ghana’s School of Public Health, launched a joint master’s programme with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The joint programme has built on years of investment by the HRP Alliance in developing a critical mass of skilled researchers in SRHR. Graduates have gone on to lead national SRHR units and contribute to major studies on adolescent maternal care and quality of services.

    In Kenya, the hub at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) developed a training programme to help researchers and health workers reflect on their personal beliefs and how these might affect their work on sensitive issues like abortion, sexuality and HIV. The model, called values clarification and attitude transformation training, is now being adopted across Africa.

    In Pakistan, the Eastern Mediterranean hub at Aga Khan University worked directly with hospitals during COVID-19, training researchers and influencing maternal care practices, as well as including the adoption of tools to detect maternal sepsis. Their adaptive, hospital-linked approach is now seen as a model for emergency-responsive research.

    In Thailand, the hub for the South-East Asian Region at Khon Kaen University focused its efforts on Myanmar, training a core group of researchers to generate evidence in a fragile setting. Their work on respectful maternity care and cervical cancer screening is now helping to shape maternal health policies, aimed at improving care quality, reducing mistreatment during childbirth and increasing access to lifesaving screening services.

    And in Viet Nam, the hub for the Western Pacific Region at Hanoi Medical University created a dedicated SRHR track within its International Master of Public Health programme, equipping researchers with the tools to address issues relating to adolescent health and gender-based violence. Graduates reported strengthened skills in data analysis, literature review and research presentation, and several went on to work in national health institutions, including the Ministry of Health.

    The stories capture how each hub has been working in its own way. Some prioritize formal academic pathways; others focus on skills development through short courses, mentorship or practical implementation research. All share a common goal: building lasting, regionally-led research ecosystems that respond to regional needs.

    Because when researchers are trained locally, mentored locally and supported to ask the right questions, health systems respond better. SRHR services improve. And people’s rights, choices and dignity are upheld.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –