Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Boost in funding for care homes providing nursing

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Boost in funding for care homes providing nursing

    The government is set to increase funding for care homes providing nursing care in the community.

    More than 75,000 people will be better supported in the community following an increase in funding for nursing care.

    The government has announced a 7.7% increase in funding for care homes providing nursing care in the community, which is tailored to an individual’s needs and health outcomes. This includes administering medicines and performing procedures.

    The funding will help reduce the pressure on hospitals by preventing unnecessary admissions and supports the discharge of individuals into social care settings to free up hospital beds.

    The uplift for 2025 to 2026 means the standard weekly rate per person provided for NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC) will increase from £235.88 to £254.06 from 1 April 2025, with funding paid by the NHS directly to care homes which provide nursing care. The higher rate will increase from £324.50 to £349.50.

    Care homes play a vital role in our healthcare system, providing specialist nursing care to some of our most vulnerable citizens.

    The uplift follows the government’s immediate actions to improve adult social care, as part of the Plan for Change, to help create a sustainable care system for the future. This includes making available £3.7 billion to local authorities, and providing a total of £172 million in additional funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant to deliver around 15,000 new adaptations to help disabled people live safely and independently in their own homes.

    In the longer-term, Baroness Louise Casey is leading an independent commission to develop recommendations for a National Care Service which will provide high quality care for everybody who needs it and rebuild the sector so that it is fit for the future.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Cabinet approves Revision of Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 05 MAR 2025 3:11PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Cabinet, chaired by the  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has today approved the Revision of Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP). 

    The scheme has three components namely National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), LH&DC and Pashu Aushadhi.  LH&DC has three sub-components i.e. Critical Animal Disease Control Programme (CADCP), Establishment and Strengthening of existing Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries – Mobile Veterinary Unit (ESVHD-MVU) and Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD). The Pashu Aushadhi is new component added to the LHDCP scheme. The total outlay of  the scheme is Rs.3,880 crore for two years i.e. 2024-25 and 2025-26, which includes provision of Rs. 75 crore to provide good quality and affordable generic veterinary medicine and incentive for sale of medicines under Pashu Aushadhi component.

    Productivity of the livestock is impacted adversely due to diseases like  Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF), Lumpy Skin Disease, etc. Implementation of the LHDCP will facilitate reduction in these losses by preventing diseases through immunization.  The Scheme also supports door-step delivery of livestock health care through the subcomponents of Mobile Veterinary Units (ESVHD-MVU) and improving availability of generic veterinary medicine- Pashu Aushadhi  through network of PM-Kisan Samriddhi Kendra and Cooperative Societies. 

    Thus, the scheme will help in prevention and control of livestock diseases through vaccination, surveillance and upgradation of healthcare facilities. Also, the scheme will improve productivity, generate employment, encourage entrepreneurship in the rural area and prevent economic losses of farmers due to disease burden.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the Post-Budget Webinar on boosting job creation- Investing in People, Economy, and Innovation

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the Post-Budget Webinar on boosting job creation- Investing in People, Economy, and Innovation

    This year’s Union Budget paves the way for a stronger workforce and a growing economy: PM

    We have given People, Economy and Innovation same priority as infrastructure and industries in investment: PM

    The vision of Investment in People stands on three pillars – Education, Skill and Healthcare!: PM

    Today we are seeing India’s education system going through a huge transformation after several decades: PM

    Telemedicine facility is being expanded in all Primary Health Centres: PM

    Through day-care cancer centres and digital healthcare infrastructure, we want to take quality healthcare to the last mile: PM

    Many decisions have been taken in this budget to promote domestic and international tourism: PM

    50 destinations across the country will be developed focusing on tourism: PM

    Giving infrastructure status to hotels in these destinations will increase the ease of tourism and will also boost local employment: PM

    India will establish National Large Language Model to develop AI capabilities: PM

    In this direction, our private sector also needs to be one step ahead of the world: PM

    The world is waiting for a reliable, safe and democratic country that can provide economic solutions in AI: PM

    The government has taken several steps in this budget to promote startups,A corpus fund of Rs 1 lakh crore has been passed to promote research and innovation: PM

    This will increase investment in emerging sectors with deep tech fund of funds: PM

    The announcement to preserve India’s rich manuscript heritage through Gyan Bharatam Mission is very important: PM

    More than one crore manuscripts will be converted into digital form through this mission: PM

    Posted On: 05 MAR 2025 2:59PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Post-Budget Webinar on Employment via video conferencing today. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he highlighted the importance of the theme of the webinar, “Investing in People, Economy, and Innovation,” which defines the roadmap for Viksit Bharat. He remarked that this year’s budget reflects this theme on a large scale and serves as a blueprint for India’s future. He emphasized that investments have been prioritized equally across infrastructure, industries, people, economy, and innovation. Underlining that capacity building and talent nurturing are foundational for the nation’s progress, Shri Modi urged all stakeholders to step forward and invest more in these areas as the next phase of development requires it. He stressed that this is essential for the country’s economic success and forms the basis of every organization’s success.

    “The vision of investing in people stands on three pillars: education, skill, and healthcare”, said Shri Modi, remarking that India’s education system is undergoing a significant transformation after several decades. He emphasized key initiatives such as the National Education Policy, the expansion of IITs, the integration of technology into the education system, and the utilization of AI’s full potential. Underlying the efforts like the digitization of textbooks and the availability of learning materials in 22 Indian languages, the PM said, “these mission-mode efforts have enabled India’s education system to align with the needs and parameters of the 21st-century world”.

    Highlighting that since 2014, the government has provided skill training to over 3 crore youth, the Prime Minister mentioned the upgrade of 1,000 ITIs and the establishment of 5 Centers of Excellence. He emphasized the goal of equipping youth with training that meets the needs of industries. He remarked that with the help of global experts, efforts are being made to ensure that Indian youth can compete at the world level. Shri Modi underlined the critical role of industry and academia in these initiatives and urged industries and educational institutions to understand and fulfill each other’s needs, providing youth with opportunities to adapt to the rapidly changing world, gain exposure, and access platforms for practical learning. Highlighting the launch of the PM-Internship Scheme to provide youth with new opportunities and practical skills, he stressed the importance of ensuring maximum industry participation at every level in this initiative.

    Touching upon the medical field, Shri Modi mentioned the addition of 10,000 new medical seats in this budget and a target of adding 75,000 seats in the medical field over the next five years has been set. He highlighted the expansion of telemedicine facilities across all Primary Health Centres. He also emphasized the establishment of daycare cancer centers and the development of digital healthcare infrastructure to ensure quality healthcare reaches the last mile. He said that these initiatives will have a transformative impact on people’s lives. The Prime Minister said that these efforts will create numerous new employment opportunities for youth and urged stakeholders to work swiftly to implement these initiatives, ensuring the benefits of budget announcements reach the maximum number of people.

    Pointing out that over the past decade, investments in the economy have been guided by a futuristic vision, the Prime Minister remarked that by 2047, India’s urban population is projected to reach approximately 90 crore, necessitating planned urbanization. He announced the initiative to establish a ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund, focusing on governance, infrastructure, and financial sustainability, while also boosting private investment. “Indian cities will be recognized for sustainable urban mobility, digital integration, and climate resilience plans”, emphasized the Prime Minister. He urged the private sector, particularly the real estate and industrial sectors, to prioritize and advance planned urbanization. He also stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to further initiatives like AMRUT 2.0 and the Jal Jeevan Mission.

    Emphasising the need to focus on the potential of the tourism sector while discussing investments in the economy, Shri Modi highlighted that the tourism sector has the potential to contribute up to 10% of India’s GDP and create employment opportunities for crores of youth. He mentioned several measures in the budget to promote domestic and international tourism. “50 destinations across the country will be developed with a focus on tourism”, said the Prime Minister adding  that granting infrastructure status to hotels in these destinations will enhance ease of tourism and boost local employment. Highlighting the expansion of the Mudra Yojana to support homestays, Shri Modi also stressed that initiatives like ‘Heal in India’ and ‘Land of the Buddha’ to attract global tourists. “Efforts are being made to establish India as a global tourism and wellness hub”, he added.

    Underscoring that tourism offers opportunities beyond the hotel and transport industries, extending to other sectors as well, the Prime Minister urged stakeholders in the health sector to invest in promoting health tourism. He stressed the need to fully utilize the potential of yoga and wellness tourism, remarking on the significant scope for growth in education tourism. He expressed his desire for detailed discussions in this direction and called for the development of a strong roadmap to advance these initiatives.

    “The future of the nation is determined by investments in innovation”, exclaimed Shri Modi, highlighting that artificial intelligence has the potential to contribute several lakh crore rupees to India’s economy, underscoring the need for rapid progress in this direction. He mentioned the allocation of ₹500 crore in the budget for AI-driven education and research. Mentioning the plans to establish a National Large Language Model to develop AI capabilities in India, the Prime Minister urged the private sector to stay ahead of the global curve in this field. “The world awaits a reliable, safe, and democratic nation that can provide economical AI solutions”, he added, emphasising that investments made in this sector today will yield significant advantages in the future.

    “India has become the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world”, said the Prime Minister, adding that several measures have been introduced in this budget to promote startups. He mentioned the approval of a ₹1 lakh crore corpus fund to boost research and innovation. The Prime Minister emphasized that this will increase investments in emerging sectors through the ‘Deep Tech Fund of Funds’. He noted the provision of 10,000 research fellowships at IITs and IISc, which will foster research and provide opportunities for talented youth. The Prime Minister also highlighted the role of the National Geo-spatial Mission and the National Research Foundation in accelerating innovation. He stressed the need for collective efforts at all levels to elevate India to new heights in research and innovation.

    Underlining the significance of the Gyan Bharatam Mission in preserving India’s rich manuscript heritage, Shri Modi announced that over one crore manuscripts will be digitized under this mission, leading to the creation of a National Digital Repository. This repository will enable scholars and researchers worldwide to access India’s historical, traditional knowledge and wisdom, he added. The Prime Minister also mentioned the establishment of a National Gene Bank to preserve India’s plant genetic resources. He emphasized that this initiative aims to ensure genetic resources and food security for future generations. He urged for the expansion of such efforts and called on various institutes and sectors to actively participate in these initiatives.

    Citing the remarkable observations made by the IMF regarding India’s economy in February 2025, Shri Modi noted that between 2015 and 2025, India’s economy has recorded a 66% growth, making it a $3.8 trillion economy. He emphasized that this growth surpasses that of several major economies, and that the day is not far when India will become a $5 trillion economy. He stressed the importance of making the right investments in the right direction to continue expanding the economy. He underlined the critical role of implementing budget announcements in achieving this vision and acknowledged the significant contributions of all stakeholders. He mentioned that the tradition of working in silos was broken and now the Government has both pre-budget consultations as well as post-budget discussions for better implementation of the schemes and initiatives with the stakeholders, highlighting the ‘Jan-Bhagidari’ model. He concluded by expressing hope that the fruitful discussions of the webinar will play a remarkable role in fulfilling the aspirations of 140 crore Indians.

    Background

    Employment generation has been one of the key focus areas of the government. Driven by the vision of the Prime Minister, the government has taken multiple steps to promote job growth and generate greater avenues of employment. The webinar will foster collaboration among government, industry, academia, and citizens encouraging discussions to help translate the transformative Budget announcements towards the same into effective outcomes. With a key focus on empowering citizens, strengthening the economy, and fostering innovation, the deliberations will aim at paving the way for sustainable and inclusive growth; leadership in technology and other sectors; and a skilled, healthy workforce working towards realising the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

     

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Caritas Medical Centre announces sentinel event

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Caritas Medical Centre announces sentinel event
    ***********************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:     ​The spokesperson for Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) announces a sentinel event today (March 5):           A 75-year-old male patient, who had a medical history of hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease, started a puree diet instead of a minced diet in February this year.           The patient was admitted to CMC for abdominal pain and constipation on February 28. During hospitalisation, the patient was kept nil by mouth, and the doctor arranged intravenous therapy for him. On the morning of March 2, the patient’s condition was improving, and his diet order was changed to “fluid diet” after the doctor’s assessment.           The patient was reassessed by the case doctor on March 3. As the patient had bowel opened, the doctor changed the patient’s diet order from “fluid diet” to “diet as tolerated”. Near lunchtime, the nurse overseeing the patient interpreted the adjustment as allowing the patient to have a regular meal after reading through the diet order made by the doctor. A regular meal was therefore served to the patient for lunch subsequently.           A student nurse followed the diet order to feed the patient. The patient could chew and swallow and showed no abnormalities at the beginning of feeding. The student nurse continued to monitor his condition. However, the patient suddenly started coughing after a few mouthfuls of food. The patient developed cardiac arrest. The team performed resuscitation for the patient promptly. However, the patient’s condition continued to deteriorate, and he finally succumbed at around 1.30pm on the same day.           The hospital is very concerned about the incident and is deeply saddened by the patient’s passing. The hospital has met with the patient’s family to explain details of the incident and extended sincere apologies and condolences. All possible assistance will be rendered to the family.           The hospital has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office. A root cause analysis panel will be set up to investigate the incident thoroughly. The investigation and recommended improvement measures will be completed within eight weeks. The hospital has subsequently devised enhanced measures to remind all healthcare staff to strengthen communication and ascertain their understanding of patients’ clinical condition and treatment arrangements. The incident has also been reported to the coroner for follow-up.           The Root Cause Analysis Panel members are as follows: Chairperson:Dr Lau Ka HinClinical Stream Coordinator (Medical), Hong Kong East Cluster MembersProfessor Chair Sek YingVice-Director of Research, The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong Mr Chan Man NokChief Nursing Officer, Nursing Services Department, Hospital Authority Dr Raymond CheungChief Manager (Patient Safety and Risk Management), Hospital Authority Mr Lam Yan KiDepartment Manager (Speech Therapy), Kowloon East Cluster Dr Lau Chi HungChief of Service (Surgery), Queen Elizabeth Hospital Dr Ben WongClinical Services Coordinator (Surgery), Caritas Medical Centre

    Ends/Wednesday, March 5, 2025Issued at HKT 18:33

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Pre-event press release for Kolkata roadshow to be held on 7th March, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 05 MAR 2025 2:32PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) is organising the North East Trade and Investment roadshow in Kolkata on 7th March, 2025, starting from 10:30 a.m. onwards at Hotel JW Marriott Kolkata. The event will be graced by Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and Ministry of Education, Government of India. Shri Dharmvir Jha, Statistical Adviser, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region along with senior representatives from North Eastern States will participate in the event.

    The roadshow is being organised in collaboration with the State Governments of North Eastern Region, FICCI (Industry Partner), and Invest India (Investment Facilitation Partner).

    Kolkata roadshow is the ninth major roadshow as part of pre-summit activities of North East Investors Summit and will be featuring presentations from representatives of the eight North Eastern states viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. These states will highlight various investment opportunities across key sectors, inter alia, including Infrastructure and Logistics, Agri & Allied industries, IT & ITES, Energy, Textiles, Handloom & Handicrafts, Tourism & Hospitality, Education & Skill, Healthcare, Entertainment and Sports. The roadshow will also feature B2G (Business-to-Government) meetings, which will provide a unique platform to investors to engage directly with State representatives and explore sectoral opportunities in the North Eastern Region.

    The North East Investors Summit to be organised by MDoNER, aims to attract investments and stimulate economic development. Previous roadshows in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Chennai received strong participation.

    The Kolkata roadshow is the second of its kind in the city and aims to build on the momentum of previous event, offering a platform for investors to engage directly with state officials. Kolkata’s strategic proximity to the North Eastern states makes it an ideal gateway for investment and the success of earlier roadshows has reinforced investor confidence in the region, contributing to the realization of the Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit North East’.

    The recently held roadshow held in Chennai on 5th February, 2025, was attended by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Hon’ble Union Minister for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), was a remarkable success. The keen participation from investors in the B2G meetings marked the growing appeal of the region as an investment destination.

    The roadshow in Kolkata is expected to attract many potential investors eager to be part of the growth journey in North East India.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Approval of medicines for Alzheimer’s disease – E-000880/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000880/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Hilde Vautmans (Renew)

    The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is evaluating lecanemab and donanemab, two treatments for early Alzheimer’s disease.

    On 14 November 2024, following re-examination, the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued a positive opinion on lecanemab. However, after its Standing Committee meeting of 24 January 2025, the Commission requested that the CHMP review new safety data and clarify the wording of risk minimisation measures in Annex II. A response is expected after the CHMP’s February plenary meeting.

    Given the limited treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease and the fact that lecanemab and donanemab are already approved in several countries (China, Japan, the UK and the US), delays in Europe risk leaving patients without timely access to new therapies.

    In the light of the above, can the Commission clarify:

    • 1.What new safety data on lecanemab prompted the request for a review of the CHMP opinion?
    • 2.If the CHMP addresses the Standing Committee’s concerns, will the Commission grant marketing authorisation without further delay?
    • 3.What is the Commission doing to ensure that Alzheimer’s treatments available in other countries are also accessible to EU patients in a timely manner?

    Submitted: 28.2.2025

    Last updated: 5 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Schools recognised for approach to emotional health and wellbeing

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Certificates were awarded to Broadmeadow Special School, Bushbury Hill Primary School, Dovecotes Primary School, Loxdale Primary School, Rakegate Primary School, St Edmund’s Catholic Academy and St Regis CE Academy at a ceremony at the Wolverhampton Education Wellbeing Network in February. 

    The City of Wolverhampton Council’s Educational Psychology Service was commissioned by the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as part of the Government-funded Mental Health Support Teams initiative, known as Reflexions locally, to increase access to specialist support in schools.

    It aims to support Senior Mental Health Leads in schools to further develop their whole school approach to emotional health and wellbeing, with the Sandwell Wellbeing Charter Mark selected as an evidence-based approach which supports schools to embed good practice.

    Dr Rebecca Glazzard, Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist with the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Educational Psychology Service, coordinated a 12-month process of auditing, planning and reviewing practice in these areas with the seven schools.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “We were delighted to award the Sandwell Charter Mark to seven schools in the city for their commitment to promoting the wellbeing of pupils, staff and parents and carers.

    “We look forward to awarding more in the summer term to schools which are in the process of completing the Charter Mark this term.”

    Mrs Proffitt, Designated Safeguarding Lead at Broadmeadow Special School, said: “We have really enjoyed the process and demonstrating our practice through pupil and parent focus groups, observations, school walk throughs and hard data. It really highlights that our school community has so much to be proud of.”

    Mrs Adeogun, Senior Mental Health Lead at Bushbury Hill Primary School, added: “We are really grateful for the support and challenge you have provided us in helping us to improve mental health and wellbeing provision in our school and beyond.”
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University won silver in interuniversity competitions in St. Petersburg

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The Committee for Physical Culture and Sports of St. Petersburg summed up the results of student competitions among universities. More than 18 thousand athletes competed for awards in 65 sports. Representatives of 69 educational organizations of the city and Leningrad Region took part in the competitions.

    The sports results were summed up in the absolute team championship, as well as in five categories depending on the contingent of students. The award ceremony took place on March 4 in the assembly hall of the NSU of Physical Education, Sports and Health named after P. F. Lesgaft. It was attended by the chairman of the Committee on Physical Education and Sports of St. Petersburg, Honored Master of Russia Anton Shantyr and acting rector of the university Vadim Grishkov.

    In the overall team standings, the first place was taken by the NSU of Physical Education, Sports and Health named after P. F. Lesgaft. The second place was taken by the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, and the third place was taken by the Baltic State Technical University “VOENMEKH” named after D. F. Ustinov.

    In the comprehensive standings of the championship of universities for students with a contingent of over ten thousand students, the victory was won by Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, second place went to the National Research University ITMO, and third place went to the A. I. Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia.

    The Baltic State Technical University took the lead in the team championship for students with a contingent of five to ten thousand students. The second place in this category went to the Saint Petersburg Mining University, and the third place went to the Saint Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design.

    In the category for students with fewer than one thousand students, the Military Institute of Physical Culture won. The second place went to the St. Petersburg State Institute of Psychology and Social Work, and the bronze went to the St. Petersburg University of the Federal Penitentiary Service.

    “I sincerely thank the rectors of St. Petersburg universities for their active position,” Anton Shantyr emphasized. “Together we are doing one important thing – we are taking care of the health of the nation. Eighteen thousand students who took part in the competition are a huge army of athletes, people who lead an active lifestyle and play sports at the call of their hearts.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Russian Engineering Academy awarded SPbGASU two I.A. Grishmanov prizes

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Competition coordinator, member of the presidium (bureau) of the Russian Engineering Academy Vitaly Lozhkin, president of the academy Boris Gusev and Alexey Kharitonov

    On February 27, the Russian Engineering Academy hosted the I. A. Grishmanov Prize award ceremony. Among the laureates were Aleksey Kharitonov, Doctor of Engineering, Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of Construction Materials Technology and Metrology of our university, and the Publishing and Printing Department of SPbGASU.

    Alexey Kharitonov is known in the country and abroad as a scientist in the field of construction materials science. His specialization is the creation of effective materials for the restoration of cultural heritage sites – architectural monuments. The researcher makes a great contribution to the development of university science and construction education in the country, and has been engaged in scientific and pedagogical activities for 25 years.

    Alexey Kharitonov is a member of the dissertation council of SPbGASU and the scientific and technical council of the Housing Committee of the Government of St. Petersburg, a member of the editorial board of the journal “Cement and Its Applications”, included in the list of the Higher Attestation Commission of the Russian Federation. Author and co-author of more than 140 published scientific and educational-methodical works, including 130 scientific articles, 11 educational-methodical works, 4 inventions. The scientist’s merits have been noted by numerous letters of gratitude and certificates of honor.

    In 2019–2020, the scientist, as an organizer of materials science research, participated in the development of scientific and design documentation for the restoration of the Legislative Palace (parliament building) in the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo, and in 2022–2023 – the Triumphal Arch in Palmyra, Syria. The projects were highly praised by the UNESCO International Expert Council.

    The Publishing and Printing Department (IPD) is a structural division of SPbGASU, headed by Tatyana Razumova since 2007. The IPO has a full production cycle for publishing educational and scientific publications, from editorial preparation of manuscripts to layout and printing. Every year, the IPO publishes more than one hundred titles of educational and scientific publications. All of them are sent to the scientific and technical library in printed and electronic form. Electronic copies of publications are placed in the university’s full-text database.

    Books by SPbGASU teachers, published in IPO, have repeatedly become prize winners of prestigious festivals and competitions. The published editions arouse wide interest and receive recognition from the professional community.

    The I. A. Grishmanov Prize is awarded for scientific and technical developments that have been implemented in mass production, as well as for achievements in the organization of industry in the field of building materials and structures. It is named after the Minister of the Construction Materials Industry of the USSR Ivan Aleksandrovich Grishmanov (1906–1979), a graduate of the Leningrad Civil Engineering Institute (now SPbGASU).

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Earlier Cancer Detection campaign focuses on head and neck cancers

    Source: Scottish Government

    People across Scotland encouraged to get potential symptoms checked earlier.

    EMBARGO: 0001 Thursday 6th March 2025

    The latest phase of the Scottish Government’s ‘Be the Early Bird’ campaign has a new focus on head and neck cancer symptoms.

    Around 1,300 new cases are diagnosed each year – Scotland’s sixth most common cancer – yet only one third are detected early. The campaign encourages people to recognise possible cancer symptoms and not delay contacting their GP practice or dentist.

    To emphasise this message, a group of people who had cancer detected early, the ‘early birds’, met Health Secretary Neil Gray to share their stories of how this provided more treatment options, helped them live well and allowed them to continue doing the things they love. The group are urging people with unusual, persistent symptoms to do the same and act early.

    Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray said: “Early detection is so important to cancer care. The stories from our ‘early birds’ demonstrate the positive impact it can have on treatment and outcomes.

    “So, I’m urging everyone to make sure they contact their GP practice about any unusual, persistent symptoms. The sooner we act, the better the chances for treatment and recovery. So, let’s be vigilant – if something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait, get checked early.”

    Dr Gillian Leslie, Deputy Chief Dental Officer for Scotland, said: “Head and neck cancer incidence rates have gradually increased over the past decade, making early detection more important than ever. Dentists play a vital role in detecting signs of cancer. Routine dental examinations allow us to identify subtle changes in the mouth and throat, and surrounding tissues that could signal early-stage cancer.

    “Early diagnosis leads to better treatment options, so we urge people to attend their check-ups. Most importantly, if you notice any sores, lumps, red or white patches that do not go away after three weeks, don’t wait until your next appointment – we want to see you. It’s crucial not to dismiss any potential symptoms. Get checked right away.”

    Dr Douglas Rigg, GP said: “If you are worried about unexplained bleeding, an unusual lump, unexplained weight loss or something that doesn’t feel normal for you, we want to know. Don’t be embarrassed or sit at home worrying, give your GP practice a call. It probably won’t be cancer but if it is, finding cancer earlier can mean a much wider range of treatment options being available, and a better chance of living well again.”

    Case study

    Daniel Morrison, 30, from Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, was one of the early birds at the breakfast meeting with Neil Gray. He was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer but is now recovering and living well with his young family thanks to early detection at his GP practice.

    Daniel said: “It’s thanks to spotting my cancer early that I’m now delighted to say I’m in recovery and able to look forward excitedly to the future with my young family.

    “I’d noticed fluid under my tongue and felt really fatigued but it’d be easy to try and ignore as nothing. I’m so thankful however that I got checked early, treated and looked after by a team of amazing medical experts throughout.

    “This is why I’m passionate about the Scottish Government’s Be the Early Bird campaign – it’s so important that people understand the difference contacting your GP practice early can make.”

    Background

    The Scottish Government’s ‘Be the Early Bird’ campaign, aims to reinforce the benefits of finding cancer at an earlier stage when there are more treatment options available, a greater likelihood of living well after treatment, and better news to tell the family.

    The campaign features a new early bird ‘Bonnie the Seagull’ who has a neck lump to highlight possible head and neck symptoms. The campaign runs throughout March across Out of Home advertising, digital platforms and targeted field activity in supermarkets.

    Watch the campaign film here.

    For more information on ‘Be the Early Bird’ and to use the symptom checker, please visit getcheckedearly.org.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Members of the public asked to return Boots Paracetamol 500mg tablets due to packaging error

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Members of the public asked to return Boots Paracetamol 500mg tablets due to packaging error

    People who have purchased Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets 16s (Item code 81-99-922, Batch 241005, Expiry date 12/2029) are advised to stop using the product immediately and return it to a Boots store for a full refund, because of a packaging error. 

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a medicines recall alert due to a packaging error where the foil blister inside the carton incorrectly states ‘Aspirin 300mg Dispersible Tablets’ instead of ‘Paracetamol 500mg Tablets’. The Boots Company PLC and the supplier, Aspar Pharmaceuticals Limited, have confirmed that the tablets in the blister packs are Paracetamol 500mg and not aspirin, and are conducting a full investigation into the issue. 

    Members of the public, including carers, should check if their pack has the batch number 241005, which can be found on the bottom of the box. If affected, they should stop using the product immediately and return it to a Boots store for a full refund, with or without receipt.  

    Boots Paracetamol 500mg packs, with the batch number 241005, should not be kept at home, even if the error is known, as this could lead to confusion and an incorrect dose being taken. Anyone who has purchased this product for someone else should inform them as soon as possible. 

    Dr Stephanie Millican, MHRA Deputy Director Benefit Risk Evaluation, said: 

    Patient safety is always our priority. It is vitally important that you check the packaging of your Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets 16s, and if the batch number is 241005, you should stop using the product and return it to a Boots store for a full refund. 

    If you are unsure which pack you have purchased or have taken Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets and experienced any side effects, seek advice from a healthcare professional. Please report any suspected adverse reactions via the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme. 

    If you have any questions or require further advice, please seek advice from your pharmacist or other relevant healthcare professional.

    Advice for Members of the Public: 

    • Stop using the impacted batch immediately and return this to Boots stores where a full refund will be provided with or without a receipt. 

    • Aspar Pharmaceuticals Limited and The Boots Company PLC have confirmed that the tablets in the blister packs are Paracetamol 500mg and not aspirin. If you have taken tablets from this batch and have any additional questions, please seek advice from your pharmacist or other relevant healthcare professional. 

    • Patients who experience any suspected adverse reactions or have any questions about the medication should seek medical attention. Any suspected adverse reactions should also be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme

    Notes to Editors: 

    • The MHRA has issued a recall notification for a specific batch of Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets due to a packaging error: Class 2 Medicines Recall Notification: Boots Paracetamol 500 mg tablets (16s)

    • This recall affects 119,964 packs of Boots Paracetamol 500mg (16s) 

    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks. 

    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care. 

    • The Yellow Card Scheme is MHRA’s system of monitoring the safety of medicines in the UK and it acts as an early warning system to identify new, and strengthen existing, safety information about medicines. Yellow Cards are used alongside other scientific safety information to help MHRA to take action, if necessary, to make changes to the warnings given to people taking a medicine or review the way the medicine is used to maximise benefit and minimise the risk to the patient. 

    • For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Diagnosed prevalent cases of prostate cancer across 8MM to reach 4.24 million in 2033, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Diagnosed prevalent cases of prostate cancer across 8MM to reach 4.24 million in 2033, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Pharma

    The burden of five-year diagnosed prevalent cases of prostate cancer is expected to increase at an annual growth rate (AGR) of 3.10% from around 3.23 million in 2023 to 4.24 million in 2033 across the eight major markets (8MM*), forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s latest report, “Prostate Cancer: Epidemiology Forecast to 2033,” reveals that the increase is partly attributed to the increased survival rate of prostate cancer patients due to modern medicine, combined with underlying demographic changes in the respective markets.

    The prevalence of prostate cancer is known to vary depending on the market region. According to GlobalData epidemiologists, the US had the highest number of five-year diagnosed prevalent cases of prostate cancer in 2023 with 1.11 million cases, whereas Spain had the lowest number of prevalent cases at 128,000.

    Bishal Bhandari, PhD, Associate Director of Epidemiology at GlobalData, comments: “The growth of the five-year diagnosed prevalent cases of prostate cancer in the 8MM is the result of longer life expectancy and an increase in the incidence of the disease. The patient survivals are also steadily rising, due to improved prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. In 2023, only 25% of the diagnosed prevalent cases of prostate cancer in the 8MM were in advanced stages.”

    GlobalData epidemiologists also observed an age difference in prostate cancer. The biggest risk factor for prostate cancer is advancing age. This forecast reflects the burden in older men; in 2023, more than 85% of cases occurred in men ages 60 years and older. Only 1% of cases occurred in men younger than age 50 years.

    Bhandari concludes: “A major factor that will impact the epidemiology of prostate cancer cases in the coming years will be the role of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer screening. PSA screening can detect prostate cancer early, but it can also result in the detection of non-life-threatening tumors, causing unnecessary anxieties. Therefore, PSA screening guidelines vary between countries and have changed over time. Future changes in PSA screening guidelines would likely have a major impact on the diagnosis of prostate cancer cases.”

    *8MM: The US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, and China

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nobody should be harassed accessing healthcare

    Source: Scottish Greens

    Abortion rights are human rights.

    The anti-choice protests beginning this week will be a major test of Scotland’s safe access zones, says Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay.

    Speaking on the morning of expected protests near to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, Ms Mackay has said that she will work with Police Scotland to ensure that laws are followed.

    Ms Mackay introduced the bill that secured 200 metre wide safe access zones, or buffer zones, around abortion service providers to stop the intimidating anti-choice protests that have taken place across Scotland.

    Ms Mackay said:

    “The days ahead will be a real test of my Safe Access Zones Act. I will work with Police Scotland and health providers to ensure that it is upheld and that people are able to access healthcare free from intimidation and harassment.

    “For far too long women have had to endure totally unacceptable abuse and obstruction outside hospitals. It should never have happened, and my Act to stop it received the overwhelming support of our parliament.

    “I urge anyone else who is planning to protest to look at the testimonies from people who have had to endure gauntlets of graphic banners and ask themselves if they really want to be responsible for causing even more pain and upset.”

    Ms Mackay added:

    “Abortion rights are human rights. They were long fought for and, especially when they are being undermined and eroded in the US and beyond, I will always stand up for the right to choose.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Statement On President Trump’s Joint Address To Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    March 04, 2025

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress:

    “What we witnessed tonight was hubris in its highest form.  President Trump has claimed that he alone can ‘make America great.’  Unfortunately, grandstanding does not lower the price of groceries or cut prescription drug costs.

    “While President Trump delivered empty platitudes about the success of his presidency, Elon Musk and his Administration have gutted the federal government, indiscriminately firing civil servants who are critical to our national security, who protect us from disease outbreaks, and who ensure it’s safe to fly.  Under the guise of ‘efficiency,’ President Trump has frozen NIH funding, preventing medical researchers from finding the cure for cancer, Alzheimer’s, or heart disease.

    “And not a week after calling President Zelenskyy ‘a dictator’ and blaming him for invading his own country, President Trump declared that he has worked tirelessly to end the violence in Ukraine.  Our allies, especially Ukraine, deserve more than President Trump’s feeble support.  I unequivocally stand with Ukraine and President Zelenskyy as they continue to push off Russian aggression.” 

    Durbin’s guest for tonight’s Joint Address to Congress is Dr. Elizabeth Sokol, a practicing oncologist and medical researcher at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.  Dr. Sokol specializes in treating children with neuroblastoma, the leading cause of cancer death for children aged one to five.  Dr. Sokol is in the midst of conducting federally-supported clinical trials that are now being endangered by the Trump Administration’s devastating, and illegal, cuts to funding and resources at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Atos reports full year 2024 results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release

    Atos reports full year 2024 results

    Recovery of the commercial activity in Q4 2024

    • Q4 order entry at €2.7 billion
    • Q4 book to bill at 117%, +9 points vs Q4 2023, benefitting from the signature of large multi-year contract renewals and wins
    • FY 2024 book to bill at 82% vs 94% in prior year

    FY 2024 revenue: €9,577 million, down -5.4% organically, impacted by previously-established contract terminations or scope reductions and by market softness in key geographies

    • Eviden: down -6.7% organically
    • Tech Foundations down -4.1% organically

    Operating margin of 2.1% at €199m, with Eviden at 2.0% and Tech Foundations at 2.2%

    • Down -210 bps organically compared with FY 2023, mainly due to the allocation to the business of SG&A costs previously allocated to Other Operating Income & Expenses, as part of the separation project in prior year
    • Operating margin includes circa €40 million of provision for underperforming contracts following negotiations with customers

    Free cash flow at €-2,233 million reflecting the end of one-off working capital optimization actions and higher capex linked to High Performance Computing contracts

    • Working capital optimization at December 2024 of €0.3 billion compared to €1.8 billion in prior year
      • Consisting solely of customer invoices paid in advance without any discount and on a pure voluntary basis;
      • No usage at all of account receivable factoring or specific optimization on trade payables.

    Net income group share of €248 million, including notably:

    • €3,520 million income from the financial restructuring, including a €2,766 million gain on the debt-to-equity swap and €965 million IFRS 9 debt fair value treatment, which will be amortized in subsequent years
    • Goodwill and other non-current assets impairment charge of €2,357 million, reflecting the decrease of the Group’s enterprise value, which takes into account a lower fair value of the financial debts and a lower market capitalization

    Paris, March 5, 2025 – Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, high-performance computing and information technology infrastructure, today announces its 2024 financial results.

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

    “It was with great enthusiasm and conviction that I have joined the Atos Group in October 2024. Now that our financial restructuring has been successfully completed in December, the Group can focus on its transformation journey and on providing the highest level of support to our customers through innovation and quality of service. I will present my vision for Atos and our mid-term strategy during a Capital Markets Day on May 14.

    During the fourth quarter, our commercial activity recovered thanks to the positive change of perception of our clients, who took note of the improvement of our credit rating. This positive commercial momentum materialized in renewals or extensions of large strategic multi-year contracts.

    I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the teams involved for their outstanding contribution to the financial structuring of the company and to our employees, customers and partners for their continued support.”

    FY 2024 performance highlights

    In € million FY 2024 FY 2023 Var.   FY 2023* Organic Var.
    Revenue 9,577 10,693 -10.4%   10,124 -5.4%
    Operating Margin 199 467 -268   423 -224
    In % of revenue 2.1% 4.4%   -230bps   4.2%    -210bps
    OMDA 722 1,026 -304      
    In % of revenue 7.6% 9.6%   -200bps      
    Net income 248 -3,441 3,689      
    Free Cash Flow -2,233 -1,078 -1,154      
    Net debt excl. IFRS 9 fair value treatment -1,238 -2,230 992      
    Net debt -275 -2,230 1,955      

    *: at constant scope and December 2024 average exchange rates

    FY 2024 performance by Business

    In € million FY 2024
    Revenue
    FY 2023
    revenue
    FY 2023
    revenue*
    Organic variation*
    Eviden 4,604 5,089 4,937 -6.7%
    Tech Foundations 4,972 5,604 5,187 -4.1%
    Total 9,577 10,693 10,124 -5.4%
    In € million FY 2024
    Operating margin
    FY 2023 Operating margin FY 2023
    Operating margin*
      FY 2024
    Operating margin %
    FY 2023 Operating margin% FY 2023 Operating margin%* Organic variation*
    Eviden 90 294 272   2.0% 5.8% 5.5% -350 bps
    Tech Foundations 109 172 151   2.2% 3.1% 2.9% -70 bps
    Total 199 467 423   2.1% 4.4% 4.2% -210 bps

    *: at constant scope and December 2024 average exchange rates

    Group revenue was €9,577 million, down -5.4% organically compared with FY 2023. Overall, Group revenue evolution in 2024 reflects previously-established contract terminations or scope reductions and market softness in key geographies

    Eviden revenue was €4,604 million, down -6.7% organically.

    • Digital activities decreased high single digit. The business was impacted by previously-established contract terminations and contract scope reductions, as well as by the continued market softness in North America, in the UK & Ireland and in Benelux and the Nordics.
    • Big Data & Security (BDS) revenue was roughly stable organically. Advanced Computing grew mid-single digit with large project deliveries in Denmark and Germany particularly during the fourth quarter. Revenue in Digital Security decreased low single digit due to contract terminations and volume decline.

    Tech Foundations revenue was €4,972 million, down -4.1% organically.

    • Core revenue (excluding BPO and value-added resale (“VAR”)) decreased low single digit. Stronger revenue in Major Events (related to the Paris Olympic & Paralympic games and the UEFA) was offset by previously-established contract terminations and completions in North America and by contract scope and volume reduction in the UK.
    • Non-core revenue declined high single digit as planned, reflecting deliberate reduction of BPO activities in the UK and reduced value-added resale for hardware and software products.

    Group operating margin was €199 million representing 2.1% of revenue, down -210 basis points organically compared with 2023:

    • This margin decrease comes mainly from the allocation to the business of €103 million SG&A costs previously allocated to Other Operating Income & Expenses as they related to the separation project conducted in 2023. The profitability of the Group was also impacted by revenue decrease and lower utilization of resources. Operating margin also includes circa €40 million of provision for underperforming contracts following negotiations with customers
    • Eviden’s operating margin was €90 million or 2.0% of revenue, down -350 basis points organically. Beyond the allocation of SG&A costs to the business for €48 million, profitability was also impacted by revenue decrease and lower utilization of resources.
    • Tech Foundations’ operating margin was €109 million or 2.2% of revenue down by -70 basis points organically. The positive impacts from the continued execution of the transformation program and the accelerated reduction of under-performing contracts via renegotiation were offset by higher allocation of SG&A cost to the business for €55 million.

    FY 2024 performance by Regional Business Unit

    In € million FY 2024
    Revenue
    FY 2023
    revenue
    FY 2023
    revenue*
    Organic variation*
    North America 1,909 2,280 2,177 -12.3%
    UK / IR 1,500 1,770 1,763 -14.9%
    Benelux and the Nordics (BTN) 946 911 905 +4.6%
    Central Europe 2,207 2,506 2,253 -2.1%
    Southern Europe 2,080 2,284 2,119 -1.9%
    Growing markets 924 930 893 +3.4%
    Others & Global structures 11 12 13 -16.3%
    Total 9,577 10,693 10,124 -5.4%
    In € million FY 2024
    Operating margin
    FY 2023 Operating margin FY 2023
    Operating margin*
      FY 2024
    Operating margin %
    FY 2023 Operating margin% FY 2023 Operating margin%* Organic variation*
    North America 161 244 229   8.5% 10.7% 10.5% -200 bps
    UK / IR 72 75 77   4.8% 4.2% 4.3% +40 bps
    Benelux and the Nordics (BTN) 7 23 23   0.8% 2.5% 2.5% -170 bps
    Central Europe 10 31 23   0.5% 1.3% 1.0% -60 bps
    Southern Europe 80 99 82   3.9% 4.3% 3.9% +0 bps
    Growing markets 31 92 88   3.4% 9.9% 9.9% -650 bps
    Others & Global structures -163 -97 -98   N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Total 199 467 423   2.1% 4.4% 4.2% -210 bps

    *: at constant scope and December 2024 average exchange rates

    North America revenue was €1,909 million, down -12.3% organically, impacted by contract terminations and general slowdown in market conditions.

    • Eviden revenue was down double digit, impacted by contract terminations and volume decline in Healthcare, Finance, and Transport & Logistics. BDS revenue remained stable.
    • Tech Foundations revenue was down high single digit due to contract completions and terminations in Media and in Insurance, as well as scope reductions with select customers.

    Operating margin was €161 million or 8.5% of revenue, down -200 basis points organically.

    • Eviden’s margin declined, impacted by volume reduction and contract terminations.
    • Tech Foundations margin declined, due to lower utilization of resources and volume reduction.

    UK & Ireland revenue was €1,500 million, down -14.9% organically.

    • Eviden revenue was down double digit. Digital revenue decreased, reflecting contract completions and volume reduction in the Public Sector. BDS revenue decreased as well, following the discontinuation of the low-margin “computing as a service” offering.
    • Revenue in Tech Foundations was down double digit, due to contract completion in Public Sector BPO activities.

    Operating margin was €72 million, or 4.8% of revenue, up +40 basis points organically. Tech Foundations margin benefited from the extension of a large multi-year contract renewed at better financial terms, while Eviden margin was impacted by revenue decline and lower utilization of resources in Digital.

    Benelux and the Nordics revenue was € 946 million, up +4.6% organically

    • Eviden revenue was up double digit, thanks particularly to BDS, with a new supercomputer sold to an innovation center in Denmark.
    • Revenue in Tech Foundations was down low single digit, with contract completions and volume decline in Healthcare and in Utilities.

    Operating margin was €7 million, or 0.8% of revenue, down -170 basis points organically. Profitability was impacted by project overruns and lower utilization of resources in Digital.

    Central Europe revenue was € 2,207 million, down -2.1% organically.

    • Eviden revenue was down low single digit. Decline in Digital due to volume reduction from Manufacturing and Defense customers was partially offset by the ongoing delivery of a large HPC in Germany.
    • Tech Foundations revenue was down low-single digit, reflecting scope reductions in the Banking and Automotive sectors.

    Operating margin was €10 million or 0.5% of revenue, down -60 basis points organically. Tech Foundations’ margin improvement was offset by Eviden’s profitability decrease.

    Southern Europe revenue was €2,080 million, down -1.9% organically.

    • Eviden revenue was down low-single digit. Digital activities declined due to volume reduction in Automotive, Transport & Logistics and Banking sectors. The delivery of a supercomputer project in Spain provided a higher prior year comparison basis for BDS.
    • Tech Foundations revenue declined low single digit due to contract completions with select customers.

    Operating margin was €80 million or 3.9% of revenue, broadly stable organically. BDS’ margin improvement driven by ongoing contracts deliveries was partially offset by Eviden profitability decrease due to lower utilization of resources in Digital.

    Growing Market revenue was €924 million, up +3.4% organically, reflecting stronger contributions related to the Paris Olympic & Paralympic Games and the UEFA contract.

    Operating margin was €31 million or 3.4% of revenue, down -650 basis points reflecting higher marketing expenses for Major Events.

    Others and Global Structures encompass the Group’s global delivery centers and global structures:

    • Global delivery centers net cost was €-72 million, broadly stable compared with last year.
    • Global Structures net cost was €-91 million and increased by €65 million, impacted by higher SG&A costs allocated to Operating margin in 2024 (rather than allocated to Other Operating Income, as part of the separation project in prior year).

    Order entry and backlog

    FY 2024 commercial activity

    Order entry reached €7.9 billion in 2024. Eviden order entry was €4.1 billion and Tech Foundations order entry was €3.8 billion.

    Book-to-bill ratio for the Group was 82% in 2024, down from 94% in 2023.

    • Eviden reported a book-to-bill ratio of 88% in 2024, down from 94% in 2023
    • Tech Foundations reported a book-to-bill ratio of 76% in 2024, down from 94% in 2023

    Q4 2024 commercial activity

    Order entry reached €2.7 billion in Q4 2024 bringing book to bill ratio to 117% for the quarter, benefitting from renewed client confidence thanks to the completion of the financial restructuring.

    Eviden reported a book-to-bill ratio of 111% for the fourth quarter, increasing strongly by +12 points compared with Q4 2023, notably led by a strong performance of Digital with a book to bill at 127%.
    Main contract signatures in the fourth quarter included an application management services contract with a Ministry of Economy, contract renewals in application management and cybersecurity services with a large American retail company and with a large health provider, as well as a High-Performance Computer (HPC) upgrade with a European scientific community.

    Tech Foundations reported a book-to-bill ratio of 122% for the fourth quarter, increasing by +6 points compared with Q4 2023.
    Main contract signatures in the fourth quarter included a 4-years contract extension for IT and digital transformation services with a state-owned savings bank. Several multi-year strategic contracts were renewed, in particular to provide Digital Workplace and Hybrid Cloud & Infrastructure services for North American and UK & Ireland customers in Financial Services, Public Sector, and Transport & Logistic.

    Backlog & commercial pipeline

    At the end of December 2024, the full backlog reached €13.0 billion representing 1.3 years of revenue.

    The full qualified pipeline amounted to €4.3 billion at the end of December 2024, representing 5.1 months of revenue.

    Human resources

    The total headcount was 78,112 at the end of December 2024, decreasing by -17.9% compared with the end of December 2023 and includes:

    • Transfers of 4,900 employees to new providers in Q3 2024 following contract completions in North America and in the UK. Excluding these transfers, headcount has decreased by circa -13%,
    • Worldgrid disposal in Q4 2024 (-973 employees).

    During the year, the Group hired 9,388 staff (of which 93.3% were Direct employees).

    Employe attrition rate remained in line with historical levels, increasing slightly from 14.5% in 2023 to 15.6% in 2024. FY 2024 retention rate for key employees remained high at 92%.

    Net income

    Net income group share was €248 million, primarily due to a €3,520 million financial gain related to the financial restructuring of the Group and a €2,858 million cost recorded in Other Operating Income and Expenses, which included a €2,357 million impairment charges on goodwill and non-current assets.

    Free cash flow

    Free cash flow was €-2,233 million in 2024 reflecting primarily the end of one-off working capital optimization actions resulting in a negative change in working capital requirement for €1,498 million and higher capex linked to HPC contracts for €239 million.

    Net debt and debt covenants

    At December 31, 2024, net debt was €1,238 million (€275 million including IFRS 9 debt fair value treatment), compared to € 2,230 million as of December 31, 2023. and consisted of:

    • Cash and cash equivalents for €1,739 million
    • Short-term financial assets for €93 million
    • Borrowings for €3,069 million (nominal value) or €2,107 million (IFRS fair value)

    The new credit documentation requires the Group to maintain:

    • from 31 March 2025, a minimum liquidity level of €650 million, to be verified at the end of each financial quarter;
    • from 30 June 2027, as from each half-year end, a maximum level of financial leverage (“Total Net Leverage Ratio Covenant”), which is defined as the ratio of Financial indebtedness (mainly excluding IFRS 16 impacts and IFRS 9 debt fair value treatment) to pre-IFRS 16 OMDA; the ceilings thus applicable will be determined no later than 30 June 2026 with reference to a flexibility of 30% in relation to the Business Plan adopted by the Group at that time; these ceilings will in any event remain between 3.5x and 4.0x.

    As at December 31, 2024, the Group financial leverage (as defined above and pre IFRS 9 debt fair value treatment) was 3.16x.

    Going concern and liquidity

    The consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year ended December 31, 2024 have been prepared on a going concern basis.

    The Group’s cash forecasts for the twelve months following the approval of the 2024 consolidated financial statements by the Board of Directors, result in a cash situation that meets its liquidity needs over that period.

    The cash forecasts, which take into account the latest business forecasts, have been prepared based on the assumptions which were in line with the Group updated business plan communicated on September 2, 2024.

    It is reminded that as part of its financial restructuring and following the completion on 18 December 2024 of the final steps of the Accelerated Safeguard Plan approved by the specialized Commercial Court of Nanterre on 24 October 2024, which resulted in:
    (i)      a €2.1 billion gross debt reduction through the equitization of €2.9 billion of existing financial debts and the repayment of €0.8 billion interim financings with the new money debt provided to the Company;

    (ii)      €1.6 billion of new money debt and €0.1 billion of new money equity from the rights issue and the additional reserved capital increase and

    (iii)      no debt maturities before the end of 2029,

    the Group now has the resources and flexibility to execute its midterm strategy.

    Operating margin to Operating income

    In € million 2024 2023
    Operating margin 199 467
    Reorganization -119 -696
    Rationalization and associated costs -37 -38
    Integration and acquisition costs 3 4
    Amortization of intangible assets (PPA from acquisitions) -57 -108
    Equity based compensation -2 -19
    Impairment of goodwill and other non-current assets -2 357 -2 546
    Other items -288 -169
    Operating (loss) -2 659 -3 106

    Non recurring items were a net expense of €2,858 million.

    Reorganization costs amounted to € 119 million.

    • Workforce adaptation measures relating mainly to restructuring plans launched in previous years were €77 million compared with €343 million in 2023, as the Group limited restructuring expenses to manage its cash position in 2024.
    • Separation and transformation related to the 2023 legal carve-out were incurred mostly at the start of the year for €42 million. In 2023, these costs amounted to €353 million, of which about one third corresponded to internal project costs.

    Rationalization and associated costs amounted to € 37 million compared to € 38 million in 2023, mainly corresponding to the continuation of the data centers consolidation program.

    Integration and acquisition costs amounted to € 3 million as certain earn-out and retention schemes did not materialize and were thus released to the income statement.

    Amortization of intangible assets recognized in the purchase price allocation amounted to €57 million and was mainly composed of Syntel customer relationships and technologies.

    Impairment of goodwill and other non-current assets amounted to € 2,357 million and mostly related:

    • To the impairment of goodwill for € 2,240 million in both Eviden (Americas and Northern Europe & APAC) and Tech Foundations (Northern Europe & APAC), and ;
    • To the impairment of customer relationships for € 109 million in Americas as a result of customer contract terminations.

    In 2024, Other items were a net expense of €288 million compared with €169 million in 2023 and included:

    • €74 million of net capital gain related to the sale of Worldgrid offset by additional losses recognized on past transactions ;
    • €160 million of losses related to onerous contracts that were accounted for in OOI in previous years;
    • €96 million of legal fees and settlement related to major litigations, including the settlement concluded with Unisys in December;
    • €78 million of current assets write offs; and
    • €28 million of costs related to early retirement programs in Germany, the UK and France as well as others non-recurring items.

    As a result, operating loss was at €-2,659 million, compared with a loss of €-3,106 million in 2023, reflecting primarily the €2,357 million impairment charge.

    Operating Income to Net income Group Share

    In € million 2024 2023
    Operating (loss) -2,659 -3,106
    Net financial income (expense) 3,121 -227
    Tax charge -214 -112
    Non-Controlling interests -1
    Share of net profit of equity-accounted investments 5
    Net income (loss) Group Share 248 -3,441
    Basic earning per share 0.034 -31.04
    Diluted earning per share 0.031 -31.04

    Net financial income was €3,121 million and was composed of:

    • The net cost of financial debt of €178 million, compared with €102 million in 2023. This €76 million increase mainly resulted from:
      • €38 million higher cost on the old debt (additional portions drawn on the RCF and higher interest rates on the Term Loan A);
      • €13m interests on the interim financing;
      • €12m interests on the new financing structure.
    • Other financial items for a net income of € 3,299 million in 2024 compared to net expense of € 125 million in 2023, composed mainly of:
      • The gain related to the financial restructuring of the Group for €3,520 million, detailed as follows:
    In € million 2024
    Fair value gain on the debt converted into equity 2,766
    Fair value gain on the new debt 965
    Fair value of the issued warrants -45
    Subtotal at financial restructuring date 3,686
    Costs and fees reported in the income statement -165
    Impact reported under the other financial income 3,520
    • Other items of €221 million, including notably:
      • €78 million of exit fees on Interim financing loans repaid as part of financial restructuring on December 18, 2024;
      • €36 million lease liability interest (€26 million in 2023). This variation mainly resulted from the increase in discount rates;
      • €30 million financial expense on pensions(€31 million in 2023). This pension financial cost represents the difference between interest costs on pension obligations and the return on plan assets;
      • €29 million of net foreign exchange loss, including hedges (loss of €19 million in 2023);
      • €15 million of prior year transaction costs included in financial debts, which were fully amortized in 2024 in the context of the financial restructuring of the Group.

    The tax charge for 2024 was €214 million, compared with €112 million in 2023. This €+102 million increase was mainly due to:

    • A €59 million impairment charge on deferred tax assets
    • A €37 million expense related to non-recoverable withholding tax

    Net income group share was €248 million, primarily due to a €3,520 million financial gain related to the financial restructuring of the Group and a €2,858 million cost recorded in Other Operating Income and Expenses, which included a €2,357 million impairment charges on goodwill and non-current assets.

    Earnings per share

    Basic earnings per share were €0.034. per share in 2024 and diluted earnings per share were €0.031 per share.

    Free cash flow and net cash

    In € million 2024 2023
    Operating Margin before Depreciation and Amortization (OMDA) 722 1,026
    Capital expenditures -444 -205
    Lease payments -301 -358
    Change in working capital requirement* -1,192 -391
    Cash from operations (CFO)* -1,214 73
    Tax paid -81 -77
    Net cost of financial debt paid -178 -102
    Reorganization in other operating income -245 -605
    Rationalization & associated costs in other operating income -9 -47
    Integration and acquisition costs in other operating income -3 -8
    Other changes** -504 -312
    Free Cash Flow (FCF) -2,233 -1,078
    Net (acquisitions) disposals 162 411
    Capital increase 3,049
    Share buy-back -2 -3
    Dividends paid -18 -35
    Change in net (debt) 958 -705
    Opening net cash (debt) -2,230 -1,450
    Change in net cash (debt) 958 -705
    Foreign exchange rate fluctuation on net cash (debt) 34 -75
    Closing net (debt) excl. IFRS fair value treatment -1,238 -2,230
    IFRS Debt fair value treatment 963
    Closing net (debt) -275 -2,230

    * Change in working capital requirement excluding the working capital requirement change related to items reported in other operating income and expense.

    ** “Other changes” include other operating income and expense with cash impact (excluding staff reorganization, rationalization and associated costs, integration and acquisition costs) and other financial items with cash impact, net long term financial investments excluding acquisitions and disposals, and profit sharing amounts payable transferred to debt

    Free cash flow was €-2,233 million in 2024 reflecting primarily the end of one-off working capital optimization actions resulting in a negative change in working capital requirement for €1,498 million and higher capex linked to HPC contracts for €239 million.

    Capital expenditures and lease payments totaled €745 million, up €182 million from the prior year reflecting a significant investment in the energy-efficient Exascale technology.

    Change in working capital requirement was €-1,192 million, primarily from €-1,498 million lower working capital optimization compared with end of fiscal 2023. As at December 2024, working capital benefited from invoices paid in advance by customers for € 319 million, without any discount and on a pure voluntary basis. As at December 31, 2023, total specific optimization carried out by the Group to optimize its working capital amounted to € 1,817 million.

    Cash out related to taxes paid increased by € 4 million and amounted to € 81 million in 2024, including € 6 million of taxes paid in connection with carve-out transactions completed in 2024.

    Net cost of financial debt was €178 million as explained above.

    The total of reorganization, rationalization & associated costs and integration & acquisition costs reached €256 million compared with €660 million in 2023 and included:

    • €135 million of reorganization costs in connection with restructuring measures as well as the continuation of the German restructuring plans; and
    • €110 million of costs related to the outstanding activities on the separation of the Group incurred mostly over the first quarter of the year.

    Cash out related to Other changes was €-504 million compared to € -312 million in 2023, and included:

    • €166 million of costs incurred on onerous contracts (purchase commitments and customer contracts);
    • €144 million of transaction costs paid in the context of the financial restructuring;
    • €78 million of exit fees on interim financing
    • Costs related to litigations

    As a result of the above impacts mainly driven by the change in the working capital requirement, the Group Free Cash Flow was € -2,233 million in 2024, compared to € -1,078 million in 2023.

    The net cash impact resulting from disposals was €162 million mainly related to the net cash proceeds from the Worldgrid disposal of €232 million, partly offset by the write-off of a receivable on a past disposal.

    Capital increase amounted to €3,049 million and were made of :

    • €2,904 million of equitization of financial debts; and
    • €145 million of new money equity raised mainly from the Rights Issue

    In the context of the financial restructuring process of the Group.

    No dividends were paid to Atos SE shareholders in 2024. The €18 million cash out (€35 million in 2023) corresponded to taxes withheld on internal dividend distributions and to dividends paid to minority interests.

    Foreign exchange rate fluctuation determined on debt or cash exposure by country represented a decrease in net debt of €34 million.

    As a result, the Group net debt position as of December 31, 2024 was €275 million (€1,238 million excluding the IFRS 9 debt fair value treatment), compared to €2,230 million as of December 31, 2023.

    Consolidated financial statements

    Atos consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, were approved by the Board of Directors on March 4, 2025. Audit procedures on the consolidated financial statements have been completed and the audit report will be issued after the review of the 2024 Universal Registration Document.

    Advance Computing sales process update

    On November 25, 2024, Atos announced that it has received a non-binding offer from the French State for the potential acquisition of 100% of the Advanced Computing activities of its BDS division, based on an enterprise value of €500 million, to be potentially increased to €625 million including earn-outs.

    The offer received from the French State provides for an exclusivity period until May 31, 2025. If the exclusive negotiations lead to an agreement and subject to obtaining the customary commercial, employee and administrative authorizations, a Share Purchase Agreement, subject to work councils’, opinion may be signed by that date. An initial payment of €150 million is expected to be made available to Atos upon signing of the Share Purchase Agreement.

    In addition, Atos has engaged into a sale process for its Mission Critical Systems business.

    Capital Markets Day

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

    Dividend

    Atos Board of Directors decided, in its meeting held on March 4, 2025, not to propose a dividend payment to the next Annual General Meeting.

    Conference call

    Atos’ Management invites you to an international conference call on the Group 2024 results, on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 at 08:00 am (CET – Paris).

    You can join the webcast of the conference:

    • via the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/5g7hv4ka
    • by telephone with the dial-in, 10 minutes prior the starting time. Please note that if you want to join the webcast by telephone, you must register in advance of the conference using the following link:

    https://register.vevent.com/register/BIa3f9570d64b4412c8f5192ad4ad6d30b

    Upon registration, you will be provided with Participant Dial In Numbers, a Direct Event Passcode and a unique Registrant ID. Call reminders will also be sent via email the day prior to the event.
    During the 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the call, you will need to use the conference access information provided in the email received upon registration.

    After the conference, a replay of the webcast will be available on atos.net, in the Investors section.

    Forthcoming events

    April 25, 2025 (Before Market Opening) First quarter 2025 revenue
    May 14, 2025 Capital Markets Day
    June 13, 2025 Annual General Meeting
       
    August 1st, 2025 (Before Market Opening)  First semester 2025 results

    APPENDIX

    Q4 2024 revenue

    In € million Q4 2024
    Revenue
    Q4 2023
    Revenue*
    Organic variation*
    Eviden 1,126 1,280 -12.0%
    Tech Foundations 1,182 1,329 -11.0%
    Total 2,309 2,608 -11.5%
    In € million Q4 2024
    Revenue
    Q4 2023
    Revenue*
    Organic variation*
    North America 410 528 -22.3%
    UK / IR 322 447 -28.1%
    Benelux and the Nordics (BTN) 218 232 -6.1%
    Central Europe 586 580 +1.1%
    Southern Europe 519 556 -6.6%
    Growing markets 251 261 -3.9%
    Others & Global structures 2 4 -34.6%
    Total 2,309 2,608 -11.5%

    *: at constant scope and December 2024 average exchange rates

    Group revenue was €2,309 million in Q4, down -11.5% organically compared with Q4 2023.

    Eviden revenue was €1,126 million, down -12.0% organically.

    • Digital activities decreased double digit. The business was impacted by previously-established contract terminations contract scope reductions, as well as the continued market softness in North America and in the UK & Ireland.
    • Big Data & Security (BDS) revenue grew low single digit organically. Advanced Computing grew with large project deliveries in Germany.

    Tech Foundations revenue was €1,182.0 million, down -11.0% organically.

    • Core revenue (excluding BPO and value-added resale (“VAR”)) decreased high-single digit, mainly impacted by contract terminations in North America and previously-established contract scope and volume reduction in UK.
    • Non-core revenue declined double digit reflecting deliberate reduction of BPO activities in the UK and less value-added resale for hardware and software products.

    FY 2023 revenue and operating margin at constant scope and exchange rates reconciliation

    For the analysis of the Group’s performance, revenue and OM for FY 2024 is compared with FY 2023 revenue and OM at constant scope and foreign exchange rates. Reconciliation between the FY 2023 reported revenue and OM, and the FY 2023 revenue and OM at constant scope and foreign exchange rates is presented below, by Business Lines and Regional Business Units.

    FY 2023 revenue
    In € million
    FY 2023
    published
    Internal transfers Scope effects Exchange rates effects FY 2023*
    Eviden 5,089 33 -192 7 4,937
    Tech Foundations 5,604 -33 -401 17 5,187
    Total 10,693 0 -592 24 10,124
               
               
    FY 2023 revenue
    In € million
    FY 2023
    published
    Internal transfers Scope effects Exchange rates effects FY 2023*
    North America 2,280 -1 -96 -6 2,177
    Benelux and the Nordics (BTN) 911 0 -7 0 905
    UK / IR 1,770 0 -53 47 1,763
    Central Europe 2,506 0 -254 2 2,253
    Southern Europe 2,284 0 -164 0 2,119
    Growing Markets 930 0 -18 -19 893
    Others & Global structures 12 1 0 0 13
    Total 10,693 0 -592 24 10,124

    *: at constant scope and December 2024 average exchange rates

    FY 2023 Operating margin
    In € million
    FY 2023
    published
    Internal transfers Scope effects Exchange rates effects FY 2023*
    Eviden 294 0 -25 2 272
    Tech Foundations 172 0 -20 -1 151
    Total 467 0 -45 1 423
               
               
    FY 2023 Operating margin
    In € million
    FY 2023
    published
    Internal transfers Scope effects Exchange rates effects FY 2023*
    North America 244 1 -15 -1 229
    Benelux and the Nordics (BTN) 23 0 -1 0 23
    UK / IR 75 4 -5 2 77
    Central Europe 31 -3 -6 0 23
    Southern Europe 99 -2 -16 0 82
    Growing Markets 92 0 -3 -1 88
    Others & Global structures -97 -1 0 0 -98
    Total 467 0 -45 1 423

    *: at constant scope and December 2024 average exchange rates

    Scope effects on revenue amounted to €-592 million and €-45 million on operating margin. They mainly related to the divesture of UCC, EcoAct, Italy, State Street JV, and Worldgrid.

    Currency effects positively contributed to revenue for €+24 million and €+1 million on operating margin. They mostly came from the appreciation of the British pound, partially compensated by the depreciation of the Brazilian real, the US dollar, the Argentinian peso and the Turkish lira.

    Q4 2023 revenue at constant scope and exchange rates reconciliation

    For the analysis of the Group’s performance, revenue for Q4 2024 is compared with 2023 revenue at constant scope and foreign exchange rates.

    In 2023, the Group reviewed the accounting treatment of certain third-party standard software resale transactions following the decision published by ESMA in October 2023 that illustrated the IFRS IC decision and enacted a restrictive position on the assessment of Principal vs. Agent under IFRS 15 for such transactions. The Q4 2023 revenue is therefore restated by € +48 million. The impact affected Eviden in North America RBU.

    Reconciliation between the 2023 reported fourth quarter revenue and the 2023 fourth quarter revenue at constant scope and foreign exchange rates is presented below, by Business Lines and Regional Business Units:

    Q4 2023 revenue
    In € million
    Q4 2023 published Restatement Q4 2023 restated Internal transfers Scope effects Exchange rates effects Q4 2023*
    Eviden            1,247                   48 1,295     -1 -22 8           1,280   
    Tech Foundations           1,308              1,308    1 -1 21           1,329   
    Total 2,555 48 2,602 0 -23 29 2,608
                   
                   
    Q4 2023 revenue
    In € million
    Q4 2023 published Restatement Q4 2023 restated Internal transfers Scope effects Exchange rates effects Q4 2023*
    North America 483 48 531 -1 -1 -1 528
    Benelux and the Nordics 233 0 233 0 -1 0 232
    UK / IR 433 0 433 0 -3 18 447
    Central Europe 582 0 582 0 -2 0 580
    Southern Europe 571 0 571 0 -16 0 556
    Growing markets 250 0 250 0 0 12 261
    Others & Global structures 3 0 3 1 0 0 4
    Total 2,555 48 2,602 0 -23 29 2,608

    *: at constant scope and December 2024 average exchange rates

    Disclaimer

    This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including references, concerning the Group’s expected growth and profitability in the future which may significantly impact the expected performance indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are linked to factors out of the control of the Company and not precisely estimated, such as market conditions or competitors’ behaviors. Any forward-looking statements made in this document are statements about Atos’s beliefs and expectations and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include statements that may relate to Atos’s plans, objectives, strategies, goals, future events, future revenues or synergies, or performance, and other information that is not historical information. Actual events or results may differ from those described in this document due to a number of risks and uncertainties that are described within the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on May 24, 2024 under the registration number D.24-0429, as updated by chapter 2 “Risk factors” of the first amendment to Atos’ 2023 universal registration document filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on November 7, 2024 under the registration number D.24-0429-A01 and by chapter 2 “Risk factors” of the second amendment to Atos’ 2023 universal registration document filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on December 11, 2024 under the registration number D.24-0429-A02, and the half-year report filed published on August 6, 2024. Atos does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation or responsibility to update or amend any of the information above except as otherwise required by law.

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

    About Atos

    Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with circa 78,000 employees and annual revenue of circa €10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 68 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

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

    Contacts

    Investor relations:

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

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

    Individual shareholders: +33 8 05 65 00 75

    Press contact: globalprteam@atos.net

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Bridging Health and Heritage: IOM’s Impact at Zambia’s Ncwala Ceremony

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Chipata – Zambia, a nation at the heart of Southern Africa, is a crossroads for countless migrants seeking hope and safety. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has been instrumental in addressing the health needs of these vulnerable populations through the SRHR-HIV Knows No Borders (KNB) Programme. 

    During the 2025 Ncwala Traditional Ceremony in Chipata, Eastern Province, IOM’s presence was both impactful and transformative. The ceremony, known for its vibrant Ngoni dances and cultural significance, provided a unique platform for IOM to engage with the community on critical health issues. Chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni speaking people of Kasenengwa District praised IOM’s efforts, noting, “My subjects have benefited immensely from the SRHR programmes. We’ve seen a significant reduction in teenage pregnancies and child marriages.” However, he also highlighted ongoing challenges such as the restrictive age of consent when a young person under the age of 16 wishes to access SRH services and commodities.” 

    Gift (pseudonym), a 20-year-old migrant sex worker from Malawi, shared her positive experience, “Since arriving in December 2024, I regularly visit Mchenjeza health post in Vubwi District to access male condoms for protection and contraception.” Her story underscores the importance of accessible reproductive health services for all, regardless of migration status. Akuya Sobana, Nurse In-Charge at Chikoma Rural Health Centre, emphasized the programme’s impact, stating, “Since 2021, the KNB programme has benefited over 6,000 clients, including migrants, sex workers, and young vulnerable people.” She noted that all 14 health facilities in Vubwi district now offer essential services to targeted clients, including those from neighboring countries. 

    During the three-day Ncwala ceremony, IOM reached out to 9,119 clients with key health messages, distributed 58,840 male condoms, and referred 4,267 clients to health centers. Additionally, 3,267 individuals received various services, including family planning, HIV testing, and STI screening. Gracious Mulenga, an ART Nurse and Adolescent Focal Point Person from Chipata District Hospital, observed, “IOM’s participation in the Ncwala ceremony yielded a remarkable response, particularly from male attendees. Many men eagerly accepted condoms, demonstrating a growing awareness of safe sexual practices.” 

    The statistics from the event are telling: 357 family planning strips of tablets were given to female clients, 54 individuals received Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PreP), 2,900 were screened for Hematocrit (HCT), 20 females were counseled for Gender-Based Violence, and 15 received mental health and psychosocial support. IOM’s engagement at the Ncwala ceremony not only highlighted the Organization’s commitment to promoting sexual and reproductive health but also fostered a deeper understanding of the socio-economic dynamics related to migration. By integrating cultural heritage with health initiatives, IOM is making significant strides in empowering marginalized communities and ensuring access to essential healthcare services. 

    Emmanuel Sinkala, Migration, Health and Gender Assistant at IOM, remarked, “N’cwala aligns well with IOM’s mission to support communities affected by migration and to foster understanding of the socio-economic dynamics related to migration.” Through its unwavering commitment, the Knows No Borders programme continues to transcend migration status and geographical boundaries, empowering communities and promoting a comprehensive approach to health and well-being.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Meets With His Guest, Dr. Sokol, Ahead of President Trump’s Address To Joint Session Of Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    March 04, 2025
    Dr. Sokol, whose medical research on neuroblastoma has been jeopardized by Trump’s funding freeze, is a practicing oncologist and researcher from Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with his guest for President Trump’s address to the joint session of Congress, Dr. Elizabeth Sokol, a practicing oncologist and medical researcher at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.  Dr. Sokol specializes in treating children with neuroblastoma, the leading cause of cancer death for children aged one to five.  Dr. Sokol is in the midst of conducting federally-supported clinical trials that are now being endangered by the Trump Administration’s devastating, and illegal, cuts to funding and resources at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 
    Like Dr. Sokol, many NIH-funded researchers and institutions are facing an uncertain future because of President Trump and Elon Musk’s move to shut off critical research funding.  Illinois universities and hospitals receive approximately $1.2 billion annually in NIH funding—which supports 14,000 jobs in the state and $3.5 billion in economic activity.  Reports indicate that 1,200 NIH employees have been fired so far under President Trump and Musk’s direction—from experienced vaccine researchers and the next generation of scientists, to the Acting Director of the NIH’s Alzheimer’s and dementia program. Further, President Trump and Musk have reportedly ended a popular trainee program that brought 1,600 young scientists just out of college to the NIH’s world-renowned campus in Maryland to help run labs.
    “President Trump and Elon Musk are carrying out an unprecedented and devastating campaign to cut research funding for cancers, ALS, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and infectious disease.  NIH funding is why people are beating cancer, why babies are being spared from preventable illnesses, why HIV is no longer a death sentence, and why progress is being made on neurodegenerative diseases.  There are millions of Americans impacted by these diseases, and any move to slash medical research funding will have long-term consequences for the health of our country,” Durbin said.
    Durbin continued, “These haphazard decisions by President Trump have real, serious repercussions.  Dr. Sokol, a pediatric oncologist and researcher at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, has dedicated more than a decade to the research and treatment of children suffering from neuroblastoma.  Today, her research, which helps kids lead healthier lives after surviving cancer, is in jeopardy because of Donald Trump.”
    Durbin concluded, “Additionally, plans by Congressional Republicans to slash Medicaid funding to pay for tax breaks for billionaires like Elon Musk mean that Lurie’s in Chicago and other children’s hospitals nationwide are facing devastating cuts to their lifesaving treatment for critically ill kids.”
    “It’s an honor to be here representing pediatric researchers from Illinois,” said Dr. Sokol. “ As a physician-scientist at the bedside at one of our nation’s premier children’s research hospitals, I have witnessed firsthand how federally funded research—including the essential indirect costs that support it—has allowed for remarkable breakthroughs that help children faced with devastating diagnoses including childhood cancer. It is critically important to have congressional leaders such as Senator Durbin working hard to protect NIH funding including indirect costs, which are vital for sustaining the scientific and clinical research infrastructure. These costs help researchers translate basic discoveries into new treatments and cures for children, who have their whole lives ahead of them.”
    Photos of the meeting can be found here.
    B-roll for TV stations can be found here.
    Last week, Durbin asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), as well as 21 other Senators, that would pledge support for NIH.  The resolution simply said that the work of NIH should not be subject to interruption, delay, or funding disruptions in violation of the law, and it reaffirmed that the NIH workforce is essential to sustaining medical progress.  U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) rejected Durbin’s UC request.
    Durbin has long been a strong advocate for robust medical research. His legislation, the American Cures Act, would provide annual budget increases of five percent plus inflation at America’s top four biomedical research agencies: NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense Health Program, and the Veterans Medical and Prosthetics Research Program. Thanks to Durbin’s efforts to increase medical research funding, Congress has provided NIH with a 60 percent funding increase over the past decade.
    Congressional Republicans have proposed deep cuts to Medicaid to fund their budget reconciliation bill, with the House Republican budget resolution calling for $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid.  Cuts of this magnitude would fundamentally alter the Medicaid program, likely reducing coverage or slashing benefits for millions of working families across the United States.  In Illinois, 3.4 million individuals are enrolled in Medicaid, including nearly 1.5 million children.  Further, in Illinois, Medicaid covers nearly half of all births, two-thirds of nursing home residents, the majority of patients with behavioral health needs, and is a lifeline for children’s and rural hospitals. 
    Dr. Elizabeth Sokol’s Bio:
    Dr. Sokol received her medical degree from the University of Illinois School of Medicine in 2007, prior to completing her Pediatrics residency at the University of Chicago/Comer Children’s Hospital. She completed a fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology in 2017 before completing a post-doctoral program in clinical pharmacology and pharmacogenomics in 2018 at University of Chicago. Dr. Sokol subsequently became a member of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology division at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago in September 2018.
    Dr. Sokol’s research interests involve the study of pediatric patients with neuroblastoma. As a member of the Children’s Oncology Group’s Neuroblastoma Committee, she participates in the development of new therapeutic clinical trials for patients with high-risk disease. She serves as the Children’s Oncology Group Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trial Network site PI, bringing early phase trial opportunities to patients with relapsed or refractory disease. In addition, Dr. Sokol has worked with the Lurie Children’s pharmacogenomic steering committee to increase utilization of pharmacogenomic testing to optimize drug utilization for patients with complex pharmacology needs.
    Dr. Sokol’s clinical focus centers on the treatment of pediatric solid tumor patients, including those with neuroblastoma, sarcomas, rare tumors, renal tumors, liver tumors, and germ cell tumors. Through her work with the Children’s Oncology Group’s Neuroblastoma Committee, she participates in the development of new therapeutic clinical trials for neuroblastoma patients.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: WISeKey WISeID Provides Healthcare Security with Decentralized Digital Identities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WISeKey WISeID Provides Healthcare Security with Decentralized Digital Identities

    Geneva, Switzerland, March 5, 2025 –WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a leading global cybersecurity, blockchain, and IoT company, today announces that its WISeID.COM introduces a groundbreaking approach to healthcare data security by enabling decentralized consultations through blockchain-secured digital identities, encryption, and self-sovereign identity (SSI) principles. This next-generation platform ensures that patients maintain full control over their medical records, granting access only to authorized healthcare providers through consent-based permissions, eliminating third-party control and significantly reducing risks of data breaches and identity theft.

    Traditional healthcare systems store patient records in centralized databases controlled by hospitals, clinics, and insurers, limiting interoperability while exposing sensitive data to cyber threats. With WISeID.COM, the healthcare industry can shift towards a decentralized, patient-centric model that enhances privacy, security, and accessibility. Patients can securely share specific medical information with healthcare professionals without exposing their entire health history, ensuring seamless telemedicine and cross-border consultations.

    Advanced Security with Post-Quantum Cryptography and Zero-Knowledge Proofs

    WISeID.COM integrates post-quantum cryptography and zero-knowledge proofs to safeguard medical records from emerging cyber threats. This ensures that:

    • Sensitive health data remains encrypted at all times.
    • Patients can selectively share medical records without disclosing unrelated health information.
    • Telemedicine services and cross-border healthcare providers can securely access patient records without manual transfers or centralized intermediaries.
    • Dynamic access controls enable temporary or conditional data sharing, granting permissions for a limited time or specific use cases.
    • Biometric authentication ensures that only the rightful patient can access and manage their health records.

    Addressing the Failures of Centralized Health Systems

    Current electronic health record (EHR) systems create data silos, limiting accessibility and making it difficult for patients to share their information across different providers or jurisdictions. These systems are frequent targets for cyberattacks, often resulting in the hacking, leaking, or unauthorized sale of sensitive medical data. Worse yet, patients typically lack visibility into who accesses their information, creating a lack of trust and control over their own health records.

    By leveraging blockchain-secured digital identities, WISeID.COM provides an alternative that:

    • Empowers patients with full ownership and control of their health data.
    • Reduces bureaucracy by enabling real-time, consent-based access to records.
    • Improves healthcare trust through a transparent and tamper-proof system.
    • Mitigates security risks associated with centralized storage and unauthorized access.

    A New Era for Secure and Interoperable Healthcare

    WISeID.COM represents a paradigm shift for the healthcare industry, bridging the gap between security, privacy, and interoperability. As healthcare increasingly moves towards digitalization, ensuring data sovereignty and patient control is crucial. WISeID.COM enables a future where health information is secure, verifiable, and instantly accessible, without compromising privacy or patient rights.

    About WISeKey

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

    Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.wisekey.com.

    Disclaimer
    This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

    Press and Investor Contacts

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd
    Company Contact: Carlos Moreira
    Chairman & CEO
    Tel: +41 22 594 3000
    info@wisekey.com 
    WISeKey Investor Relations (US) 
    The Equity Group Inc.
    Lena Cati
    Tel: +1 212 836-9611
    lcati@equityny.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: PREPARED REMARKS: Sanders Delivers Livestreamed Response’ to President Trump’s Congressional Address 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, March 4 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today delivered remarks following President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. Over 91,000 viewers watched in real time on his social media platforms.
    Sanders’ remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below and can be watched here.
    Hello everybody. Thanks for joining.
    As most Americans know, we are living in a pivotal moment in American history – facing unprecedented challenges. How we respond to this moment will impact not only OUR lives, but the lives of our kids and grandchildren and, in terms of climate change, the very health and well-being of our planet.
    As you heard tonight, President Trump has been very effective in creating what I would call a “parallel universe” for his supporters – a set of ideas that either have NO basis in reality or, in the great scheme of things, are nowhere near the most important concerns of the American people.
    And one way that he does that is through the concept of the BIG LIE. Say something that is grossly false, say it over and over again, and have right-wing social media blast it out endless times, until people actually believe it.
    And then, rather than address the real issues facing the American people, we find ourselves wasting endless amounts of time discussing Trump’s absurdities.
    Just a few examples:
    Trump has claimed that the 2020 election was stolen from him and that he won by a landslide. A lie.
    Trump has claimed that the January 6th insurrection was a day of love. A lie.
    Trump has claimed that millions of undocumented people vote in American elections. A lie.
    Trump has claimed that climate change is a hoax originating in China. A lie.
    Trump has claimed that Ukraine started the horrific war with Russia. A lie.
    And tonight, Trump claimed that millions of dead people between the ages of 100 and 360 were collecting Social Security checks. That is an outrageous lie intended to lay the groundwork for cuts to Social Security and dismantling the most successful and popular government program in history.
    Let’s be clear: Well over 99% of Social Security checks are going out to people who earned those checks – 70 million people. Nobody who is 150 years old or 200 years old or 300 years old is receiving Social Security checks.
    And on and on it goes.
    Now, the purpose of all of this lying is not just to push his hateful right-wing ideology. It is not just to try to divide us up. It’s more than that.
    It’s a masterful effort to deflect attention away from the most important issues facing the people of our country, issues that Trump and his billionaire friends do not want to address because it’s not in their financial interests to do so.
    Trump gave his “State of the Union” speech tonight. But that speech had very little to say ABOUT the state of the union – about what is REALLY going on in our country – especially for working families.
    Trump spoke for 90 minutes and he almost completely ignored the issues that are keeping working people up at night – as they worry about how their families are going to survive in these tough times.
    And I’ll tell you exactly WHY Trump had very little to say about the REAL crises facing the working class of this country.
    Think back 6 weeks ago when Trump was inaugurated for his second term as President – just 6 weeks ago. Standing right behind him were the three wealthiest men in the country – Mr. Musk, Mr. Bezos and Mr. Zuckerberg. And standing behind THEM were 13 other billionaires who Trump had nominated to head major government agencies. Many of these same billionaires – including Musk – were there tonight.
    In other words, it is there for all to see. They’re not hiding it. The Trump administration IS a government of the billionaire class, by the billionaire class and for the billionaire class.
    Notwithstanding some of their rhetoric, this is a government that could care less about the working families of this country.
    My friends. We are no longer MOVING TOWARD oligarchy. We are LIVING IN an oligarchy.
    Now, let’s take a moment and try to escape from Trump’s parallel universe. Let’s do something really radical.
    Let’s actually take a hard look at the problems that Americans are facing.
    Today, 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Unlike Trump, I grew up in a family that lived paycheck to paycheck. And I know something about that reality.
    It means that every day millions of Americans worry about how they’re going to pay their rent. Pay for childcare. Pay for a doctor’s visit when they get sick.
    They worry about what happens when their car breaks down and they can’t afford the thousand bucks it costs to get it fixed, and what happens when they can’t get to work because they don’t have a car. They worry about how they can afford to buy healthy food for their children when the price of food is off the charts.
    Funny. I did not hear one word from Trump tonight about the economic reality facing 60% of our people, or the enormous stress that they are living under.
    But that’s not all.
    Today in America, everyone knows that our healthcare system is broken, it is dysfunctional and it is outrageously expensive. We remain the only wealthy nation on earth not to guarantee healthcare for all.
    Mr. President: You really want to Make America Great Again? Then make sure that every American, regardless of income, can go to a doctor or a hospital and not worry about how they’re going to pay the bills.
    President Trump: Health care is a human right. I didn’t hear one word from you about that.
    Nor did I hear you say why we pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs – sometimes 10 times more than the people in other countries – and why one out of four Americans are unable to afford the prescriptions that their doctors prescribe.
    Mr. President: We have nearly 800,000 Americans who are homeless. Over 20 million of our people spend more than 50% of their limited income on housing. We have a major housing crisis in America – everyone knows it. And in your speech tonight, you didn’t even mention it.
    Today in America, we have more income and wealth inequality than we have ever had. The three richest people in America, the folks Trump invited to stand behind him at his inauguration, now own more wealth than the bottom half of our society – 170 million Americans. Did you hear one word from the President on that enormously important issue which gets to the very fabric of our society?
    And here’s something else the President forgot to discuss. Not only is our life expectancy 4 years lower than other wealthy countries, the bottom 50% in this country live, on average, 7 years shorter lives than the top 1%. In other words, being poor or working class in this country is a death sentence. Did you hear any discussion tonight as to why so many of our people are living shorter lives than they should?
    During his speech tonight, Trump did not have one word to say about how we are going to address the planetary crisis of climate change. The last 10 years have been the warmest ever recorded, and extreme weather disturbances and natural disasters have been taking place all over the world – from California to India, across Europe to North Carolina. And yet, not surprisingly, Trump had nothing to say about climate change.
    And let’s be clear. Not only did Trump fail to talk about some of the most important issues facing the working class of America, but “the SOLUTIONS” he proposed would only make a bad situation even worse.
    Yes, I did hear Trump talk tonight about some tax breaks for working families in terms of not taxing tips, not taxing Social Security and not taxing overtime. Fine. But that’s chump change compared to the benefits he’s going to give the 1%, and doesn’t tell the whole story about his tax policies.
    According to a recent study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, if all of Trump’s so-called “America First” policies are enacted, including his tariffs, the bottom 95% of Americans will see their taxes go up, while the richest 5% in our country will see their taxes go down. WAY DOWN.
    Tonight, Trump urged Congress to pass his “big, beautiful” budget.
    Do you know what’s really in it?
    This budget would cut Medicaid by $880 billion. According to one estimate, it means that up to 36 million Americans, including millions of children, would be thrown off the health insurance they have.
    It means that nursing homes that receive two-thirds of their funding from Medicaid would either have to shut down, lay off workers or significantly scale back the services they provide seniors.
    It would be a devastating blow for the 32 million Americans who get their health care at community health centers.
    And, it’s not just Medicaid. Trump’s budget would cut nutrition assistance by at least $230 billion. Can you imagine? The billionaire class, people who can support their families for the next ten generations, people who live in incredible opulence, people who own their own jet planes, private islands and space ships, trying to get tax breaks by taking food out of the mouths of low-income kids. That truly is disgusting.
    What we are seeing is the Robin Hood principle in reverse – taking from the poor and giving to the rich.
    And here is something else Trump has been doing.
    For the past several weeks, he and Elon Musk have been throwing hundreds of thousands of federal employees off their jobs. Now, I know some of you are saying, “That’s too bad, but that’s the federal government, not me.”
    But I want you to think about this: If they can arbitrarily throw federal workers out on the street today, what do you think that Musk and his fellow billionaires will be doing tomorrow when Artificial Intelligence and robotics explode in this country?
    Do you think they’ll give a damn about you and your families? No. You’ll be out on the street as well.
    But it is not only absurd domestic policies that we’ve got to fight.
    For the first time in our 250-year history we have a president who is turning his back on democracy and allying us with authoritarianism. No. We must not abandon the people of Ukraine who were invaded by the Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin. We must always stand for democracy, not dictatorship.
    Let me be very clear. Regardless of where Trump is taking this country, here’s where I think Americans want to go:
    They want us to end a corrupt campaign finance system, which allows a handful of billionaires to buy elections. It is beyond crazy that someone like Elon Musk can contribute over $270 million to help get Trump elected and then gets to run the government.
    It is absurd that any Member of Congress who stands up to Netanyahu’s brutal war in Gaza can expect to be opposed by millions of dollars in campaign contributions from AIPAC.
    They want us to end the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision and move to the public funding of elections. Democracy is supposed to be about one person, one vote – not billionaires buying the political candidates of their choice.
    No. We should not be giving tax breaks to billionaires. We must demand that they pay their fair share of taxes.
    We must raise the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour to a living wage of at least $17 an hour.
    We must make it easier for workers to join trade unions, grow the union movement and prevent corporations from violating labor laws with impunity by passing the PRO Act – legislation I will be introducing tomorrow.
    No, we’re not going to cut Social Security. Quite the contrary, we must expand Social Security benefits and extend its solvency for the next 75 years by scrapping the cap that allows a billionaire to pay the same amount into Social Security as a truck driver.
    Instead of making massive cuts to Medicaid, we must join every other major country on earth in guaranteeing healthcare to all of our people through a Medicare for All, single-payer program.
    We must also take on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and reduce prescription drug prices by 50%.
    At a time of a terrible housing crisis in every area of our country, we must build at least 4 million units of low-income and affordable housing, stop corporate landlords from jacking up rent prices and establish a cap on rent.
    In a competitive global economy, we need the best educated workforce in the world. All of our young people must have the ability to get a higher education by making public colleges, trade schools and universities tuition-free and canceling student debt.
    Yes. We can create millions of good-paying jobs by combating climate change and moving our energy system away from fossil fuels and into sustainable energy.
    I heard a lot of talk about freedom tonight. Well, in a free society, we must absolutely guarantee that it is the women of America who control their own bodies, not the local, state or federal governments.
    Now, I know there are a lot of people out there who are feeling angry and frustrated at what’s going on here in Washington, DC. And some of you may feel a bit hopeless.
    So let me say this.
    At this particular moment in history, despair is not an option. Giving up is not acceptable. And none of us have the privilege of hiding under the covers. The stakes are just too high.
    Let us never forget. Real change only occurs when ordinary people stand up against oppression and injustice – and fight back.
    That is the history of the founding of our nation when brave men and women took on the mighty British empire. It is the history of the abolitionist movement, the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s movement, the environmental movement and the gay rights movement.
    Yes, the oligarchs ARE enormously powerful. They have endless amounts of money. They control our economy. They own much of the media. They have enormous influence over our political system.
    But, from the bottom of my heart, I am convinced that they can be beaten.
    If we stand together and not let them divide us up by the color of our skin or where we were born or our religion or sexual orientation; if we bring our people together around an agenda that works for the many and not the few – there is nothing in the world that can stop us.
    We can win. We will win. Let’s go forward together.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Statement Following Trump’s Address to Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    03.05.25

    Cantwell Statement Following Trump’s Address to Congress

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released this statement following President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress:

    “President Trump promised to deal with consumer costs and inflation, but we got no ideas tonight on how he’s going to make life more affordable for average Americans. Instead, he’s proposing things that will increase costs. New tariffs, cuts to critical programs like Medicaid and Social Security, and threatening core services like weather forecasting and aviation safety are all bad for our safety and our economy.”

    Earlier today, Sen. Cantwell spoke on the Senate floor, raising concerns about the Trump Administration’s actions in its first 44 days, including slapping tariffs on products that will inflate costs for consumers and hurt Washington’s exports and taking a chainsaw to federal agencies that do critical, lifesaving work. A video of her speech can be viewed HERE; audio is HERE; and a transcript is HERE.

    Sen. Cantwell’s guest at today’s address, Dr. Paul Lange of the University of Washington, is a medical research pioneer, cancer surgeon, and founding director of Seattle’s world-leading Institute for Prostate Cancer Research (IPCR). Our full release on Dr. Lange and his work is below. At a press conference before the address, Dr. Lange stressed how Trump’s cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding will delay cures that could save lives. Video of today’s presser is HERE, audio HERE, transcript HERE, and photos HERE.

    And ICYMI: Sen. Cantwell released a report showing how Medicaid cuts would affect Washingtonians — especially in rural areas.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health and Academia – University welcomes primary care announcements – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    The government’s announcements of support for more locally trained doctors and nurses to work in primary care are welcomed by the University of Auckland.

    The government’s announcements this week of support for more locally trained doctors and nurses to work in primary care are welcomed by the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Dean, Professor Warwick Bagg and Head of Nursing Professor Julia Slark.

    Today, 5 March, Health Minister Hon Simeon Brown announced five-year funding for training of 120 nurse practitioners based in primary care, as well as $21.6 million over four years to accelerate advanced tertiary education for up to 120 primary care registered nurses a year.

    Head of the School of Nursing Professor Julia Slark says it’s excellent news, especially to see the government’s sustained commitment over to funding for additional primary care nurse training.

    “We really welcome the investment in nursing. It is pleasing because nurses have a pivotal role in primary care,” Slark says.

    Yesterday, Brown announced an increase of 25 training places for doctors in the two existing medical schools and training opportunities in primary care for up to 50 New Zealand-trained graduate doctors. Earlier in the week, the minister also announced 100 clinical places for overseas-trained doctors to work in primary care.

    Professor Bagg says the announcements recognise the urgent workforce needs of the health system.

    “Every New Zealander knows our health system is under strain, and we need a range of solutions to meet those needs. The announcements are excellent news. The University of Auckland looks forward to offering more places for students to study medicine.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – More nurses in primary care will be a welcome boost says ProCare

    Source: ProCare

    Leading healthcare provider, ProCare, has today welcomed the Health Minister’s announcement to increase the number of training places for nurse practitioners specialising in primary care to 120 a year, and support advanced education for up to 120 primary care registered nurses.

    This announcement, alongside the two announcements made earlier this week will provide a welcome boost for an underfunded primary care sector.

    Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: “Nurses are a vital part of any general practice and investing in their skills means better, more accessible healthcare for our communities. We are pleased to see a longer-term commitment to nurse practitioner training and advanced education for primary care registered nurses.

    “Increasing the number of skilled nurses will undoubtedly support primary care practices. However, it’s crucial to ensure they receive equitable remuneration compared to their hospital counterparts. Without this, we risk facing the same challenges we do today,” says Norwell.

    “We have a meeting with the Minister in the coming weeks and look forward to sharing any updates with our members following those discussions,” concludes Norwell.

    Anna Wright, Associate Nursing Director at ProCare highlights, “Nurse practitioners are highly skilled professionals who can provide a valuable alternative for patients who need care but are facing long wait times to see their GP. Additionally, nurses with prescribing authority can provide care for certain conditions while also helping to free up GP capacity.”

    “Expanding opportunities for nurses to upskill and take on greater roles in primary care not only keeps them engaged in their profession but also gives patients more choices when seeking care within a practice,” concludes Wright.

    It’s no secret there has been immense workforce pressures in healthcare, so these initiatives will go some way to easing this pressure.

    About ProCare
    ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Trading Company of Hayward, CA is Recalling Joy Luck Brand Lily Flowers Because it May Contain Undeclared Sulfites

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    March 04, 2025
    FDA Publish Date:
    March 04, 2025
    Product Type:
    Food & BeveragesAllergens
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description
    Undeclared sulfites

    Company Name:
    U.S. Trading Company
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)
    Joy Luck

    Product Description:

    Product Description
    Dried Lily Flowers

    Company Announcement
    (March 3, 2025) U.S. Trading Company of Hayward, CA is recalling Joy Luck Brand Lily Flowers because it may contain undeclared SULFITES. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of serious allergic reaction if they consume these products.
    The lily flowers were distributed to retailers Nationwide.
    The lily flowers are individually packed in plastic packaging. Below is the product being recalled:

    Brand 

    Product Name 

    Size 

    UPC 

    Joy Luck

    Dried Lily Flowers

    2.5oz

    721557511008

    The recall was initiated after Florida Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services collected a sample of the lily flowers. It was discovered that lily flowers containing sulfites were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of sulfites
    No illnesses have been reported to date.
    This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
    Customers with a sulfite allergy or sensitivity who have purchased the affected product are urged not to consume the product and dispose of it or return it to their place of purchase for a full refund.
    Consumers with questions may contact U.S. Trading Company at 510-781-1818 Monday thru Friday between 8:00am – 4:30pm PST.

    Company Contact Information

    Consumers:
    U.S. Trading Company
    510-781-1818

    Product Photos

    Content current as of:
    03/04/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Topic(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Markey, Colleagues Introduce Children, Teen’s Online Privacy Protection Legislation 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Edward Markey (D-MA), and colleagues introduced the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) to update online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensure children and teenagers are protected online. COPPA 2.0 would stop the data practices fueling today’s youth mental health crisis.
    “Every kid has an iPad or smartphone. They’re going to use the internet. Parents should be confident they can do it safely,” said Dr. Cassidy. “COPPA 2.0 is the tool that will give parents the peace of mind they need and keep their children’s personal information secure.”
    “We need strong modern legislation that keeps pace with the ever-evolving digital landscape and creates a safer online environment by addressing the youth mental health crisis and protecting the personal information of our kids,” said Senator Markey. “Congress must finally pass my Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act to extend these protections to teenagers, block targeted advertising to kids and teens, and give parents of young people an eraser button to protect them from predatory data collection practices.” 
    COPPA 2.0 would:
    Ban targeted advertising to children and teens.
    Create an “Eraser Button” by requiring companies to permit users delete personal information collected from a child or teens.
    Establish data minimization rules to prohibit the excessive collection of children and teens’ data.
    Revise COPPA’s “actual knowledge” standard to close the loophole that allows platforms to ignore kids and teens on their side.
    Build on COPPA by prohibiting internet companies from collecting personal information from users who are 13 to 16 years old without their consent.
    Cassidy and Markey were joined by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Katie Britt (R-AL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).
    COPPA 2.0 is endorsed by over 50 groups and organizations including the School Superintendents Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association, National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and National Association of School Nurses. 
    Background
    In July 2024, the U.S. Senate passed the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act, which included COPPA 2.0, by a 91-3 vote. Cassidy highlighted the passage of his bill to protect children’s privacy online in an op-ed for The Advocate. In September 2024, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee passed COPPA 2.0. 
    In May 2023, Cassidy and Markey reintroduced COPPA 2.0, legislation that would update online data privacy rules for the 21st century to ensure children and teenagers are protected online. In July 2023, the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously passed COPPA 2.0. In February 2024, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), the Chair and Ranking Member of the committee, agreed to cosponsor COPPA 2.0. In April 2024, U.S. Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI-05) and Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) introduced the House companion to COPPA 2.0. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trump Tells Farmers ‘Have Fun’ As He Kicks Off Pointless Trade Wars. Cantwell Tells the Truth: ‘It’s Not Going to Be Fun, It’s Going to Be A Nightmare’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    03.04.25
    Trump Tells Farmers ‘Have Fun’ As He Kicks Off Pointless Trade Wars. Cantwell Tells the Truth: ‘It’s Not Going to Be Fun, It’s Going to Be A Nightmare’
    Ahead of Presidential address, Cantwell calls on Congress to reclaim its Constitutional authority over tariffs; Cantwell also calls out arbitrary and wasteful layoffs at NOAA, NIH, NSF, USDA: “These kinds of ideas sound great, but they’re not well thought out. It’s literally throwing tax dollars away.”
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, delivered a Senate floor speech raising concerns about the economic fallout of Trump’s newly announced tariffs, hours before the President is set to deliver remarks before a Joint Session of Congress.
     “Trump said to our farmers yesterday on Truth Social, quote, ‘tariffs will go on external products on April 2. Have fun.’ End quote,” Sen. Cantwell said. “’Have fun?’ ‘Have fun?’ When retaliatory tariffs strike our farmers — just as they did in the first Trump administration — it’s not going to be fun, it’s going to be a nightmare for our farmers. And many of the farmers in my state worry [whether] they will be able to farm at all.”
    “I hope my colleagues will slow down on this tariff tirade. Under Article One, Section Eight of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the power to set duties and regulate foreign commerce. However, Congress has spent the last 80 years delegating its tariff authority to presidents,” she continued. “This president, I believe, is abusing this authority. He calls it an emergency. He’s using the trade wars to supposedly force countries to do things like changing their border policies. I believe it’s time for Congress to start taking back some of that power and considering how we’re going to protect the family farm.”
    Over the past 24 hours, as President Trump’s long-promised 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10% tariff increase on goods from China took effect, stock prices in the United States have plummeted. The Dow fell more than 700 points this morning. Today, the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board criticized his decision: “Trump takes the dumbest tariff plunge.”.
    Sen. Cantwell also showed the following graph with the alarming new forecast by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which recently began predicting negative real GDP growth for the first quarter of 2025, a rapid reversal of its prior forecast for growth.  “Just last week, when people want to talk about GDP and where this is going, it’s amazing that the Atlanta Fed was forecasting GDP growth over two percent for the first quarter of 2025…. but we can see when we got to February, we fell off a cliff… this drop is the representation of a cliff that President Trump is pushing the American economy over.”

    “We know this — that in my state, families are paying more for groceries. They’re paying more at the gas pump. They’re paying more at electricity bills. And they are seeing the stock market plummet because as businesses grapple with Trump’s unnecessary trade war, businesses are concerned about the long-term impacts of the supply chain and the cost of those tariffs,” Sen. Cantwell said.
    In Washington state, two out of every five jobs are tied to trade and trade-related industries. More information on how President Trump’s tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China will affect consumers and businesses in the State of Washington can be found HERE. Nationwide:
    A 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico would add an estimated $144 billion a year to the cost of manufacturing in the United States.
    Tariffs on Canada and Mexico could increase U.S. car prices by as much as $12,000.
    According to the Yale Budget Lab, Trump’s proposed tariffs would result in the highest U.S. effective tariff rate in more than 80 years, and depending on the level of retaliation by other trading partners, will result in increased costs of between $1,600 and $2,000 per household. According to their analysis, electronics, clothing, cars, and food will all see above-average price increases.
    Sen. Cantwell has remained a steadfast supporter of free trade to grow the economy in the State of Washington and nationwide. Sen. Cantwell was the leading voice in negotiations to end India’s 20% retaliatory tariff on American apples, which was imposed in response to tariffs on steel and aluminum and devastated Washington state’s apple exports. India had once been the second-largest export market for American apples, but after President Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum in his first term, India imposed retaliatory tariffs in response and U.S. apple exports plummeted. The impact on Washington apple growers was severe: Apple exports from the state dropped from $120 million in 2017 to less than $1 million by 2023.  In September 2023, following several years of Sen. Cantwell’s advocacy, India ended its retaliatory tariffs on apples and pulse crops which was welcome news to the state’s more than 1,400 apple growers and the 68,000-plus workers they support.
    In her speech today, Sen. Cantwell also railed against the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) push to indiscriminately slash federal workers from the payroll, compromising the vital ongoing work at federal agencies.
    “The cuts that these agencies have been facing are really the cuts to some of the most technical jobs the United States government has. Whether you’re talking about NOAA, or the National Weather Service, or the National Institutes of Health, or the National Science Foundation, or the US Department of Agriculture — they’ve all been targeted for reductions. These agencies are critical to our economic growth and to our security. And at a time when we are seeing more extreme weather events, or more floods or more wildfires, why shouldn’t we be investing more in weather forecasting, not less? 
    “And when you look at NOAA workers who support our commercial, and recreation, and tribal fisheries, they employ 1.7 million people, including thousands in the State of Washington. Why would you cut specialized workforce that are helping support the growth of GDP?” Sen. Cantwell said.
    “DOGE wants to cap the overhead expenses of research. University of Washington medicine tells me that this would leave them with shortfalls and that they might have to stop clinical trials that are underway. You can’t just stop medical research like it’s a faucet! Once halted, the research, the data, the clinical trials, the patients, the laboratories, the equipment — all that led to innovation will be lost. You think you just turn that back on? You know, these kinds of ideas sound great, but they’re not well thought out. It’s literally throwing tax dollars away.”
    Since DOGE announced its intent to hack away at federal agencies and programs, Sen. Cantwell has been sounding the alarm and coming to the defense of workers at NOAA, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the National Park Service, and more.
    A video of her speech on the Senate floor today can be viewed HERE; audio is HERE; and a transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Building the allied health workforce in Hunter New England Local Health District

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 5 March 2025

    Released by: Minister for the Hunter, Minister for Regional Health, Minister for Regional NSW


    The Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program, a joint venture between NSW Health and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), is building a pipeline of allied health clinicians in rural, regional and remote communities, by boosting the number of student placements in Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD).

    A cohort of 50 university students and early career clinicians have been supported since the introduction of the Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program in HNELHD.

    Allied health educators have also established a Year 10 Rural Allied Health Work Experience initiative, providing local high school students with hands-on exposure to careers in allied health. So far, 89 students from the New England region have participated.

    The program is enticing allied health students to stay and take up full time roles in rural, regional and remote locations.

    A survey of participating university students found before commencing placement, only 56.2 per cent were interested in working for NSW Health in a rural area as a graduate.

    Following completion of placement, 85 per cent were more interested in working for NSW Health in a rural area as an allied health graduate and 95 per cent of students were satisfied with their placement experience and would recommend a rural placement to other students.

    Allied health clinical placements typically take 4-6 weeks and give students experience across various clinical areas relevant to their profession.

    Allied health educators supervise students directly and work with universities to coordinate placements.

    Omara De Carlos completed her final adult clinical placement at Tamworth Hospital in September 2024, where she gained valuable experience in speech pathology and rural practice, prompting her to apply for a permanent role in HNELHD.

    In February 2025, Omara started at Gunnedah Community Health as a generalist speech pathologist; a position which had been vacant for more than two years. Omara, along with other speech pathology and occupational therapy early career clinicians, will continue to be supported by the district’s rural allied health educators as they progress their careers.

    The $1 million Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program is a joint venture between NSW Health and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, operating across Hunter New England, Western NSW, Far West, Murrumbidgee, and Southern NSW Local Health Districts.

    DPIRD has invested $1 million per year over three years into the Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program. 

    For further information visit the Allied health professions in NSW Health webpage

    Quotes attributable to Regional Health Minister Ryan Park:

    “Staffing is one of the most critical issues we face in the healthcare system, and in regional, rural and remote locations that problem is amplified.

    “I am really proud a program like this is having great results at encouraging students to take up a rewarding role in the bush.

    “The Minns Labor Government is committed to boosting our allied health workforce by increasing training and education pathways for students in rural and regional NSW.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley:

    “The Hunter is a fantastic place to work and live and it’s great to see this program is having a real impact on encouraging more healthcare workers and young people to consider a career here.

    “Everyone deserves accessible, quality healthcare and only the NSW Labor Government is delivering this.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty:

    “We support the Rural Allied Health Educator Program through funding these important regional allied health workforces.   

    “Getting essential workers into regional NSW is a major focus of the Government and this program plays a role in that plan. 

    “The students also have the opportunity to participate in The Welcome Experience while on placement. 

    “The Welcome Experience is a service which provides essential workers the support they need to make the move into live and work in regional communities by assisting them to get to know the local area and people first.”  

    Quotes attributable to Allied Health Educator Patricia Webb:

    “The Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program is making a real difference in the Hunter New England region.

    “The increase in student placements and the positive feedback from staff and students is incredibly encouraging. We are working hard to create opportunities for students to pursue allied health careers and develop our rural the workforce pipeline.”

    Quotes attributable to Allied Health Student Omara De Carlos:

    “My placement at Tamworth Hospital last year opened my eyes to the unique rewards of working in a rural community.

    “I gained practical skills and confidence in speech pathology, and I received incredible support from the allied health educators. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned at Gunnedah Community Health.”

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 02/20/2025 Blackburn, Lee, Colleagues Introduce DEFUND Act to Pull USA from UN

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced the Disengaging Entirely from the United Nations Debacle (DEFUND) Act, which calls for the United States’ complete withdrawal from the United Nations (UN). This legislation addresses grave issues of national sovereignty and fiscal accountability which have plagued US involvement in the UN. The DEFUND Act is co-sponsored by Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.). House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas) are introducing the companion bill in the House of Representatives.
    “The United Nations has betrayed our trust time and time again, and we cannot continue to be their cash cow and undermine our own national security interests,” said Senator Blackburn. “The DEFUND Act would stop all forms of U.S. financial support to the UN and hold this wayward organization accountable for placating Hamas terrorists and the Chinese Communist Party.”
    “No more blank checks for the United Nations. Americans’ hard-earned dollars have been funneled into initiatives that fly in the face of our values, enabling tyrants, betraying allies, and spreading bigotry,” said Senator Lee. “With the DEFUND Act, we’re stepping away from this debacle. If we engage with the UN in the future, it will be on our terms, with the full backing of the Senate and an iron-clad escape clause.”
    “From UNRWA actively protecting Hamas and acting against our ally Israel, delayed condemning Hamas, to China being elected to the “Human Rights Council,” to the propagation of climate hysteria, covering for China’s forced abortion and sterilization programs, the UN’s decades-old, internal rot once again raises the questions of why the United States is even still a member or why we’re wasting billions — indeed, $12.5 billion in 2021 — every year on it,” said Representative Roy.  “The UN doesn’t deserve one single dime of American taxpayer money or one bit of our support; we should defund it and leave immediately. I am proud to lead this critical effort alongside Mike Lee and Mike Rogers.”
    BACKGROUND
    Key Elements of the DEFUND Act:
    Repeals critical acts that bind the U.S. to the UN, such as the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 and the United Nations Headquarters Agreement Act.
    Ceases all forms of U.S. financial support to the UN, including assessed and voluntary contributions.
    Prohibits any U.S. involvement in UN peacekeeping operations.
    Revokes diplomatic immunity for UN officials within the United States.
    Formalizes withdrawal from the World Health Organization and other UN conventions.
    Sets stringent conditions for any future engagement with the UN, requiring Senate approval with explicit withdrawal provisions.
    The introduction of the DEFUND Act comes in response to years of unchecked bureaucratic expansion and financial misuse by the UN at the expense of American taxpayers. 
    You can read the one-pager by clicking HERE. 
    You can read the bill text by clicking HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Let’s Make America Healthy Again

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    I had the honor of attending the swearing-in ceremony for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after being confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    The ceremony was held in the Oval Office, a unique honor. 
    I’m looking forward to working with Secretary Kennedy in his commitment to radical transparency and conquering chronic illness. I believe this is a watershed moment for America. 
    The Make American Healthy Again movement held a press conference after RFK Jr’s swearing-in. Watch my remarks here, but the entire MAHA press conference with Del Bigtree is well worth watching. Truth is about to be revealed.

    The Senate DOGE Caucus met with Elon Musk, and I gave him my variance sheet comparing a reasonable pre-pandemic level of spending to this year’s outrageous $7.3 trillion. In 2019, the federal government spent $4.4 trillion. 
    We need to turn Elon’s brilliant DOGE efforts into long-term savings. Here’s the chart I shared with Elon. I’m an accountant and I’ve long been frustrated by how little Washington talks about the actual numbers. Three years ago, I asked my colleagues and the Washington press corps what the federal government spent and no one knew.  

    On February 21, I joined the Clay & Buck Show and the discussion turned to Ukraine. I was at Zelensky’s inauguration and he told me in 2019 he knew war with Putin was unwinnable. This war never should have started and never should have gone on this long. 
    On March 2, I joined The Cats Roundtable with John Catsimatidis to talk about Zelensky’s Oval Office meeting. President Trump is dedicated to peace and ending war with out-of-the-box thinking. 

    The American people deserve a full accounting of Joe Biden’s activities. 
    I sent another letter to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) highlighting multiple requests — some dating back to June 2021 — for records relating to Joe Biden and his family business dealings. For years, NARA failed to provide the requested records to both Sen. Chuck Grassley and myself. 
    Although former President Biden is no longer in office and he pardoned his son Hunter and other family members, we believe it is of importance to review these records so the American people have a full accounting of Joe Biden and his family’s activities while Joe Biden was in government. 
    READ: Fox News — Grassley, Johnson demand NARA turn over Biden records relating to email aliases, family business dealings

    Congratulations to Finn Peterson, a junior at the Prairie School in Racine, for earning a spot in the U.S. Senate Page Program this semester. 
    Pages play an important role in the daily operation of the Senate. They live in Washington, D.C. for the semester and attend Page School while working in the U.S. Senate. Pages deliver correspondence and legislative material within the Capitol and Senate office buildings, prepare the Chamber for Senate sessions, and work on the Senate floor.
    Contact my office and the Senate Page Coordinator for more information on the program for 16 or 17-year-olds in their junior year of high school.

    I had the pleasure of meeting Meredith Clark, a senior at Green Lake High School, and her dad. Clark is a national recipient of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship. She plans to attend Ripon College and then veterinary school at Colorado State University. 
    Samsung funds these scholarships to show appreciation for U.S. veterans who came to Korea’s aid during its struggle against communist forces in the Korean War.

    A group from Wisconsin’s Disabled American Veterans (DAV) was in Washington. The organization has over 14,000 members in Wisconsin and helps provide resources and fulfill promises made to our nation’s Veteran heroes. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Trump’s Address, Senator Murray, Former SOTU Guest Kayla Smith and Others Harmed by Republican Abortion Bans Speak Out About Trump Administration’s New Attacks on Reproductive Freedom

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI:  Senator Murray On Trump’s Joint Congressional Address
    ***VIDEO HERE***
    Washington, D.C. – This morning, ahead of President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, participated in a virtual press conference with women harmed by Republican abortion bans—including Washington state resident Kayla Smith, who Senator Murray brought as her guest to last year’s State of the Union Address. The speakers highlighted how the Trump administration and Republicans’ efforts to restrict access to reproductive health care everywhere and ultimately ban abortion nationwide are putting women’s health and lives at risk. Senator Murray released a statement last night explaining her decision not to attend President Trump’s Joint Address—instead she will be meeting with constituents who have been harmed by this administration’s reckless actions.
    Participating in the virtual press conference with Senator Murray were multiple women: Kayla Smith, Murray’s State of the Union guest last year and a plaintiff in Adkins v. State of Idaho—more on Kayla’s story here; Amanda Zurawski, patient storyteller and lead plaintiff in Zurawski v. State of Texas; Latorya Beasley, IVF patient storyteller from Alabama; Dr. Caitlin Bernard, OB-GYN from Indiana who spoke out publicly about providing abortion care to a 10-year-old victim of rape; and former U.S. Representative Colin Allred (D, TX-32). Kayla, Amanda, Latorya, and Dr. Bernard were all honored guests at last year’s State of the Union.
    “Republicans are doing everything they can to push things from what is already nightmarishly bad to somehow even worse,” Senator Murray said on today’s press call. “They’ve replaced anti-abortion dog whistles with anti-abortion train whistles—sending a clear signal to extreme, and even dangerous, anti-abortion crusaders to go wild… It may be early days of this new administration, but, unfortunately, it is not too early to see that they are hell-bent on ripping away women’s reproductive rights, and that we will need to fight tooth and nail to defend abortion access in this country from a new onslaught of Republican attacks.”
    In his first few weeks in office, President Trump has taken direct aim at reproductive health care access—issuing two executive orders and taking a host of other actions to roll back efforts to protect and advance access to abortion and birth control, and that threaten health care providers across the country.  These actions include:
    Pardoning anti-abortion extremists found guilty of entering clinics by force, barricading clinic entrances with chains and bike locks, harassing patients and providers, and even assaulting and injuring clinic staff—and announcing that his Department of Justice will no longer enforce the FACE Act at all except in “extraordinary cases.”
    Taking down ReproductiveRights.Gov and scrubbing agency websites of vital information about reproductive health care.
    Repealing two Biden-era executive orders that sought to protect and expand access to reproductive health care in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
    Reinstating the expanded Global Gag Rule that targets reproductive health care around the world.
    Rescinded critical travel and leave benefits for service members and their families seeking abortion care.
    Nominating notorious anti-abortion extremists for critical public health positions and other influential roles in his administration—including Dr. David Weldon for CDC Director, Pam Bondi for U.S. Attorney General, Russell Vought for OMB Director, and Dean John Saurer as Solicitor General, and many others.
    Senator Murray is a longtime leader in the fight to protect and expand access to reproductive health care and abortion rights, and she has led Congressional efforts to fight back after the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
    Murray has introduced more than a dozen pieces of legislation to protect reproductive rights from further attacks, protect providers, and help ensure women get the care they need; Murray has led efforts to push for passage of these bills on the floor multiple times. Last January, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Murray led her colleagues in hosting a “State of Abortion Rights” briefing with women who have suffered firsthand from Republican abortion bans, and last June, she chaired a HELP Committee hearing titled “The Assault on Women’s Freedoms: How Abortion Bans Have Created a Health Care Nightmare Across America.” Recently, Murray helped lead efforts to force Republicans on the record on votes to protect access to contraception and access to IVF (twice), and she led her colleagues in raising the alarm about the threat a second Trump administration poses to reproductive rights and abortion access in every state, as outlined in Project 2025.
    Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered on today’s press call, are below and video is HERE:
    “Thank you all for joining this important conversation. And I have to say it is so great to be reunited with Kayla, who was my guest to last year’s State of the Union, where we joined together to underscore the devastation and cruelty caused by Republicans’ extreme attacks on abortion rights.
    “Unfortunately, it’s painfully clear today we have to continue shining a harsh spotlight on this issue—because while Trump and Republicans would no doubt love for all the chaos they are causing to push these stories out of the public eye, there are even more women suffering now and yes, dying, because of Republicans’ extreme abortion bans.
    “And we will not stop pushing to make their stories heard, and make change happen.
    “This work is far from over but I will never, ever, back down from this fight—especially not now, when Republicans are doing everything they can to push things from what is already nightmarishly bad to somehow even worse.
    “The stories women have shared since abortion rights were stripped away have been horrific: women forced to stay pregnant despite what they wanted, despite what was best for them, even despite medical emergencies.
    “But the data also continues to roll in and give us an even clearer picture of the grim reality for women in this country.
    “At the same time that we are finally making overdue progress nationally to lower maternal death rates, we are seeing maternal death rates surge in Texas and other states after Republicans put in place extreme abortion bans.
    “And what is the Trump Administration doing now? Well, for starters, they’ve locked researchers out of a key maternal health database and fired people working on maternal health research.
    “That’s going to painfully undermine some of our best tools for understanding the damage that Republicans’ extreme abortion bans are doing nationwide—but more than that, they’ve replaced anti-abortion dog whistles with anti-abortion train whistles, sending a clear signal to extreme, and even dangerous, anti-abortion crusaders to go wild.
    “President Trump issued mass pardons of people who broke laws that keep patients receiving reproductive health care safe, and he made clear he won’t punish people who break that law going forward.
    “That is a chilling invitation to lawlessness—people blocking patients, barricading clinic entrances, and making violent threats—all of which we have seen before, and all of which it’s clear Trump wants to make even worse.
    “And Trump is not just emboldening extremists—Trump is seeking to empower them as well.
    “His pick to lead the CDC is the father of the Weldon amendment, which gave the Trump Administration free rein to withhold funds from states that seek to protect abortion access.
    “Dave Weldon is someone who has radical anti-abortion views and a long history of peddling inflammatory and medically debunked anti-abortion rhetoric that put the lives and health of women in danger.
    “Meanwhile, Trump’s HHS Secretary has made clear he is completely open to Republicans’ bogus push to rip away access to medication abortion—something that would upend the most common, and most accessible form of abortion care, which hundreds of millions of women turn to each year, especially since the Dobbs decision.
    “So, it may be early days of this new Administration—but, unfortunately, it is not too early to see that they are hell-bent on ripping away women’s reproductive rights, and that we will need to fight tooth and nail to defend abortion access in this country from a new onslaught of Republican attacks.“But women across the country are fed up with having their rights undermined, having their health jeopardized, and having their most personal decision stripped away from them by Republican politicians.
    “They are going to continue speaking out. Women like Kayla are going to continue having the courage to tell their stories, and I am going to continue doing everything I can to lift them up, to make their stories heard in the halls of power, and to stand my ground in the fight to protect abortion access in America.
    “Thank you, and now I’ll turn it over to Kayla.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Police are seizing 3D-printed guns across Australia, but our laws aren’t keeping up

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hemming, Associate Professor of Law, School of Law and Justice, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Shutterstock

    After Martin Bryant killed 35 people and wounded 23 others at Port Arthur in 1996, Australia made fundamental changes to its gun laws. The use of automatic and semi-automatic weapons became restricted and a national gun registry was established.

    As a result, unlike the situation in the United States where automatic weapons can be readily obtained, mass shootings are a rarity in Australia.

    However, a new and pressing danger in the form of 3D guns, or “ghost guns”, threatens to undermine Australia’s strict gun control laws.

    The reason is simple: 3D guns can be manufactured in a suburban garage. In a process like making a dress from a pattern, a digital blueprint for the manufacture of a firearm can be downloaded from the internet. Then, instead of a sewing machine, you need a 3D printer or an electronic milling machine.

    The emergence of these types of firearms reveal big loopholes in many of our gun laws. These need urgent attention.

    How are these guns made?

    A 3D gun is manufactured in stages, with each part of the gun printed separately and assembled manually.

    Think of yourself as making a toy LEGO gun, but instead of taking the parts from the LEGO box, you make the parts on your 3D printer based on your digital blueprint and you then assemble your gun. Your raw materials are thermoplastic polymers and metal for the barrel and firing pin.

    High-end, industrial-grade 3D printers are priced between $2,000 and $10,000, and are readily available.

    This technology has been around for more than a decade.

    The first 3D printed handgun was designed by Cody Wilson in 2013, which he christened The Liberator. It was made of 15 parts of plastic and a nail for the ring pin.

    Also in 2013, reporters from the Daily Mail newspaper in London 3D-printed a Liberator pistol and smuggled the disassembled gun onto a Eurostar train. They reassembled the gun in the toilet.

    As the gun was made of plastic, metal detectors were not activated, demonstrating the danger these weapons pose even in high-security locations such as airports and public transport.

    In the recent high-profile murder in New York of Brian Thompson, chief executive of the US health insurance company United Healthcare, the suspect, Luigi Mangione, when arrested was found to be in possession of a similar 3D-printed gun and 3D-printed suppressor to those allegedly used in the shooting.

    Leaps forward in technology

    In the 12 years since the designs for The Liberator were posted on the internet, the quality and range of 3D guns have greatly improved and expanded.

    According to Detective Inspector Brad Phelps from Queensland’s Crime and Intelligence Command Drug Squad, the technology has advanced sufficiently that:

    now you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a privately manufactured firearm and a traditional firearm in many instances […] every jurisdiction in Australia has reported an increase, particularly in the last 18 months to two years.

    As 3D guns are untraceable, the actual prevalence of 3D guns is unknown, other than the growing number of 3D guns seized in police raids. According to gun safety groups, 3D guns can now fire up to 40 rounds and use standard gauge ammunition.

    Police predict homemade guns will soon overtake illicit weapon imports.

    In October 2024, Western Australian police seized 21 privately made 3D-printed firearms from a home in Perth.

    Fixing the legal loopholes

    So, with all these alarm bells ringing in the ears of law enforcement agencies, what steps have authorities taken to meet the threat 3D guns pose to community safety?

    Indeed, what effective steps are being taken to prevent further advances in the technology and thwart any efforts to produce these guns en masse?

    The answer would appear to be that little attention has been directed towards the dangers 3D guns represent. Legislation across Australian jurisdictions is inconsistent.

    At present, only New South Wales and Tasmania have legislated to make it an offence to possess a digital blueprint for the manufacture of a firearm on a 3D printer or electronic milling machine. The maximum penalties are imprisonment for 14 years and 21 years, respectively.

    In 2022, WA took a step in the right direction by making unauthorised possession of firearms technology an offence. This included possession of a 3D printer or milling device.

    The slow progress on this issue is well illustrated by South Australia. There have been 23 incidents in which police have seized 3D-printed firearms and firearm parts between 2020 and 2023.

    But the drafting of proposed legal amendments to address these incidents started in 2024 and are still to be introduced into the SA parliament.

    There needs to be a national sense of urgency similar to the federal government’s response to the Port Arthur massacre in 1996. Existing laws are inadequate as there is no uniformity in the legislation covering 3D-printed firearms and their digital blueprints.

    There was a senate inquiry into gun violence in 2014, which found 3D printers “were by no means integral to the illegal manufacture of firearms”. This is no longer accurate.

    Ironically, the senate committee recommended “Australian governments investigate the requirement for uniform regulations in all jurisdictions covering the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms and firearm parts”. A decade on, little progress has been made.

    New laws could distinguish between possessing of a digital blueprint for a 3D gun and actually manufacturing a firearm. This could look like a scale of penalties, such as those imposed for the possession and manufacture of illegal drugs, which are based on the category of drug and the quantity seized.

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

    ref. Police are seizing 3D-printed guns across Australia, but our laws aren’t keeping up – https://theconversation.com/police-are-seizing-3d-printed-guns-across-australia-but-our-laws-arent-keeping-up-250255

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz