NewzIntel.com

Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI Security: Saad Healthcare Agrees to Pay $3M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations That It Billed Medicare for Ineligible Hospice Patients

    Source: United States Attorneys General 11

    Note: View the settlement here.

    Saad Enterprises Inc., doing business as Saad Healthcare, has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for the care of hospice patients in Alabama who were ineligible for the Medicare hospice benefit because they were not terminally ill.

    Hospice care is special, end-of-life care intended to comfort terminally ill patients. Patients admitted to hospice care generally stop receiving traditional medical care designed to cure their terminal condition and instead receive medical care focused on providing them with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a terminal illness. Medicare patients are considered to be terminally ill and hospice-eligible when they have a life expectancy of six months or less if their illness runs its normal course.

    “Respectful and appropriate end-of-life care is the crux of the hospice benefit under Medicare,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will hold accountable those who exploit this benefit for their own gain.”

    “Caring for terminally ill people is a responsibility the United States and the Medicare program take seriously,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Keith A. Jones for the Southern District of Alabama. “Patients and taxpayers deserve not to be cheated, and the Department of Justice will continue to protect them.”

    The settlement resolves allegations that between 2013 and 2020 Saad submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare for 21 patients who did not meet the eligibility requirements for the Medicare hospice benefit as defined by statute and regulation, despite Saad knowing the patients were ineligible for the Medicare hospice benefit.

    The civil settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit was filed by Melissa Wolff and Whitney Sims, former Saad employees, and is captioned United States ex rel. Wolff & Sims v. Saad Enterprises, Inc., Case No. 1:19-cv-00040 (S.D. Ala.). Ms. Wolff and Ms. Sims will receive $540,000 in connection with the settlement.

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort amongst the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama; and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

    The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Herring for the Southern District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Rory Skaggs of the Civil Division handled the matter.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Gout used to be an affliction of royalty but is now a disease of the masses

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol

    Toe with gout inflammation PJjaruwan/Shutterstock

    “The Queen’s had an attack of gout! Hurry!”

    So exclaimed the crotchety Mrs Meg in Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Favourite, in which Olivia Colman plays a moribund and overweight Queen Anne. The queen was afflicted with, among many other conditions, gout – a disorder which causes joint inflammation and severe pain.

    In the film, while screaming out in pain, her swollen feet are wrapped in strips of soothing beef. The next day her soon-to-be new favourite, Abigail, collects wild herbs to make a poultice for her. A bit more effective than raw steak, she finds.

    You’ve got to feel sorry for Queen Anne. She really didn’t have much of a chance, since doctors of her day had no options for treating gout other than quackery.

    She may have been subject to many other absurd treatments of the time to alleviate the symptoms, like scorching the blood vessels supplying the feet, slathering them in goose fat, or bloodletting with leeches. By the time she passed away in 1714 aged just 49, death may have come as a welcome relief.

    Queen Anne wasn’t the only member of royalty to suffer with gout. Prince Regent George (later George IV) was similarly afflicted. Gout, then, came to be associated with the aristocracy and over indulgence.

    Gout still affects many people. In fact, it is estimated that in 2020 gout affected nearly 56 million people worldwide, a figure that’s predicted to grow to 96 million by 2050. So, a condition that was once considered the disease of kings and queens is a now a disease of the masses, with younger patients also being diagnosed.

    Luckily, raw meat strips and herbs are no longer required. We now know much more about how to treat gout and how to prevent it recurring.

    Understanding gout

    Gout is a crystal arthropathy – a group of joint disorders that occur when crystals build up in joints and soft tissues. Gout develops when uric acid levels rise in the bloodstream, before infiltrating the joints where it solidifies and becomes needle-like crystals that inflame the joints, making them incredibly sore.

    And when I say “sore”, I really do mean sore: many people who experience gout often describe it as one of the worst pains they have ever felt. It most commonly affects the big toe and it can make even the lightest touch to the skin unbearable.

    Some gout patients sleep with a special cage over their foot that lifts up the bedclothes because they can’t bear even the weight of a bed sheet on the affected joint.

    Gout can affect other joints. It may also cause “tophi” to develop (hard swellings around joints and the ears).

    The Gout by James Gillray. Published May 14th 1799.
    Wikimedia Commons

    Gout typically occurs in bouts or attacks, before settling with treatment and becoming dormant. But it can reoccur, requiring more acute treatment.

    A diagnosis of gout is based around the classic symptoms: excruciating pain,
    swelling in and around the affected joint and redness. Microscopic examination of the fluid taken from the swollen joint may also show crystals and there is usually raised uric acid levels on blood tests.

    High uric acid

    High uric acid levels are usually linked to alcohol excess, obesity, diabetes and hypertension. A diet high in purine-rich foods has been found to have the strongest association.

    Purines are compounds comprised of uric acid. Purine-rich foods include meat and offal, oily fish like mackerel and anchovies, and yeasty foods, like Marmite and beer. It may be a good idea to avoid these foods in excess if you suffer from frequent episodes of gout.

    Medication

    But dietary changes alone are unlikely to stave off symptoms of gout. Medications can treat both an acute episode of gout and prevent it recurring.

    When the joints are inflamed, options include anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, or steroid medications. Another option is colchicine, which is typically used for short periods and can be very effective – though it commonly causes bouts of diarrhoea.

    When the inflammation has settled down, it is important to prevent future attacks. Allopurinol can reduce uric acid levels and therefore the risk of further bouts. There’s also evidence to suggest that eating cherries or drinking tart cherry juice could reduce the risk of gout attacks, especially if combined with alloprinol.

    If you want to stay free of gout then perhaps it’s time to consider taking preventative action by making subtle lifestyle modifications. Maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, cut down on alcohol and avoid binge drinking, take regular exercise and keep yourself well hydrated.

    Dan Baumgardt 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. Gout used to be an affliction of royalty but is now a disease of the masses – https://theconversation.com/gout-used-to-be-an-affliction-of-royalty-but-is-now-a-disease-of-the-masses-249397

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: ICYMI: Departments Tout Results After President Trump’s Historic First Month

    Source: The White House

    President Donald J. Trump marked his historic first month back in office — but the accomplishments don’t stop there. Across the Trump Administration, departments celebrated the one-month milestone by touting the work they’ve done to deliver for Americans as they implement President Trump’s agenda.

    Here’s what they’re saying:

    The Department of Homeland Security celebrated their remarkable success securing our homeland and restoring law and order as they bring needed safety to our communities.

    The Department of the Interior outlined the steps they’ve taken to fulfill President Trump’s mandate of unleashing American energy, protecting our public lands, and advancing prosperity for all Americans.

    The Department of Education marked a month of success in advancing choice in education, ending government-sponsored discrimination and weaponization, and pushing back on the dangerous ideologies that have permeated America’s education systems.

    The Department of Housing and Urban Development marked a return to their core mission of ensuring all Americans have access to fair, affordable housing, and opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency.

    The Department of State commemorated the return to President Trump’s America First foreign policy that advances peace through strength.

    The Department of Transportation touted its work eliminating overbearing regulatory burdens and restoring consumer choice as it brings the department’s focus back where it belongs — on transportation.

    The Department of Defense took their message directly to Americans amid their return to restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, reestablishing deterrence, and holding themselves accountable — the ingredients for returning the U.S. military to the world’s most lethal fighting force.

    The Department of Health and Human Services celebrated their needed departure from the previous administration’s obsession with radical, dangerous gender ideology — and returning to common sense as they empower Americans to make healthy choices that work for their families.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves First Treatment for Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis, a Rare Lipid Storage Disease

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ctexli (chenodiol) for the treatment of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) in adults. Ctexli is the first FDA-approved drug to treat CTX, a very rare lipid storage disease.

    “The FDA is dedicated to supporting new drug development for rare diseases including very rare metabolic diseases like cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis,” said Janet Maynard, M.D., M.H.S., director of the Office of Rare Diseases, Pediatrics, Urologic and Reproductive Medicine, in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “CTX is a progressive multisystemic disorder that significantly impacts patients and previously lacked approved treatments. Today’s approval provides a safe and effective treatment option for CTX.”

    CTX is a genetic metabolic disorder caused by a mutation in a gene called CYP27A1 resulting in a deficiency of the enzyme that is important in the body’s ability to break down fats. Due to reduced bile acid production in the liver, patients with CTX are unable to break down cholesterol in a normal way, resulting in deposition of atypical cholesterol metabolites (substances that result from the breakdown of cholesterol) in various places in the body including the brain, liver, skin and tendons, leading to damage to those organs and tissues. Ctexli works to replace deficient levels of one of the bile acids, reducing the abnormal deposits of cholesterol metabolites thought to be responsible for clinical abnormalities in CTX.

    The efficacy of Ctexli for the treatment of patients with CTX was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized crossover withdrawal trial. The 24-week trial demonstrated that treatment with Ctexli, 250 milligrams three times per day, resulted in significant reduction in plasma cholestanol and urine 23S-pentol (cholesterol metabolites that are markedly increased in CTX patients) compared to placebo treatment.

    The prescribing information for Ctexli includes a warning for liver toxicity in all patients with increased risk for liver damage in patients with pre-existing liver disease or bile duct abnormalities. Patients should obtain liver blood tests before starting treatment, annually while on treatment and as clinically indicated. If signs of liver toxicity (e.g., stomach pain, nausea, fatigue, dark urine, bruising, yellowing of the eyes and skin, itching) occur, patients are advised to see their doctor and discontinue Ctexli.

    The most common side effects of Ctexli are diarrhea, headache, abdominal pain, constipation, hypertension, muscular weakness and upper respiratory tract infection.

    The recommended dosage is 250 milligrams, taken orally three times a day.

    The FDA granted Ctexli Priority Review, Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations for this application.

    The approval of Ctexli was granted to Mirum Pharmaceuticals Inc.

    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    Inquiries

    Consumer:
    888-INFO-FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Strategic Growth Partnership holds first meeting of 2025

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Strategic Growth Partnership holds first meeting of 2025

    21 February 2025

    Members of Derry and Strabane’s Strategic Growth Partnership met today at St Columb’s Park House for the first quarterly meeting of 2025.

    The partnership is a grouping of representatives from community, statutory and voluntary organisations leading on the implementation of the Strategic Growth Plan for Derry and Strabane, a shared, long-term vision to improve the social, economic, and environmental wellbeing of the Council area.

    Mayor Barr began the meeting by paying tribute to the late Kenny McFarland, who had served as Co-Chair of the partnership for a number of years, and actively represented the Faughan DEA as Chair of the Local Growth Partnership for the area. Cllr Barr acknowledged the many years that Kenny had dedicated to promoting good relations and celebrating culture within the local community, and said his loss would be widely felt.

    The Mayor also took the opportunity to thank Pauline Campbell, Director with the Department for Communities, who steps away from her role as Co-Chair. Pauline has played a key role in the partnership since it was first formed in 2017, and her significant contribution over the years was acknowledged today.

    During the meeting partners received a presentation from the President and Chief Executive of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Fleming and Anna Doherty, on the Value Proposition of the North West, and future plans to promote investment and growth. They also heard more about the Housing Investment Plan for N. Ireland, including a breakdown of local progress and future strategic priorities taking into account public finance challenges, with a report from Louise Clarke, Head of Place Shaping North at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

    Health was also a key focus, with a concerning report on tackling obesity from David Tumilty with the Public Health Agency. Partners heard that a whole system approach to diet and healthy weight is needed to bring about real changes with buy in from local organisations to ensure it remains a priority for Derry and Strabane.

    An update was provided on approaching milestones in the delivery of the Strategic Growth Plan, with work ongoing to deliver a Statement of Progress during 2025, and a Review of the Plan by the end of 2026, in line with the legislative framework set out by the Department for Communities.

    Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Barr said: “Today’s meeting provided an opportunity to acknowledge the significant work to date and the dedication and insight of all our partners to this important process.

    “We are seeing much positive progress, and that is taking into account some significant challenges, particularly over the past five years. With our City Deal plans progressing at pace, and continued commitment from all our partners, I look forward to the next phase of delivery and more positive results in line with our strategic objectives.”

    You can find reports from today’s meeting and more information about the Strategic Growth Plan at growderrystrabane.com

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has sown ‘psychological terror’, warns top aid coordinator

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Peace and Security

    In the nearly three years since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country’s people have endured continuous attacks, “psychological terror…displacement and hardship”, top UN aid coordinator Matthias Schmale said on Friday.

    Briefing from Ukrainian capital Kyiv after another night of “air sirens and more loud explosions”, Mr. Schmale noted that the crisis began in 2014, with Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. “So, all children that were born since – all children up to the age of 11 – have never experienced their country at peace,” he said.

    According to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, 2024 saw a 30 per cent increase in civilian casualties compared to 2023. “The humanitarian situation is worsening, especially in frontline areas,” it said in an update, highlighting that a full 36 per cent of Ukraine’s population – 12.7 million people – needs humanitarian aid this year.

    “There are very strong pushes by the armed forces of the Russian Federation along the front line and evacuations are ongoing,” Mr. Schmale explained. “We are supporting people with essential goods, including cash assistance, as they are on the move to transit centres, collective sites and wherever they end up being.”

    Speaking from Zaporizhzhia in southeast Ukraine, Toby Fricker from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that more than 2,520 children have been killed or injured since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.

    “The real number is likely far higher and it’s getting worse”, said Mr. Fricker, chief of communication in Ukraine. “There was a more than 50 per cent increase in child casualties in 2024 compared to 2023 and what we see is no place is safe: schools, maternity wards, children’s hospitals, all have been affected by attacks.”

    Behind battle lines

    Underscoring the essential role played by women in Ukraine “beyond the battlefield”, UN Women Geneva Director Sofia Calltorp explained that “there is another story unfolding, and that is the story of all those women and girls who are bearing the brunt of this war.”

    In 2024, the number of people killed and injured in Ukraine increased by 30 per cent, Ms. Calltorp noted. “Of them, 800 women lost their lives and more than 3,700 women were injured last year in Ukraine. We also know that the vast majority of Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons are women, and 6.7 million women are in need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance.”

    Funding crisis

    Responding to questions about the impact of the US funding freeze on humanitarian work, Ukraine Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. Schmale expressed “hope that US funding will become part of the equation. Last year, it made up 30 per cent of what we spent on the humanitarian side, 10 per cent on the development side.”

    The UN’s top aid official in Ukraine added: “We are of course worried about the funding freezes; as we all know, it’s not the end of the day yet, there are a lot of discussions going on. We have some of our partners, including within the UN, that have received some exemptions from the general freeze of funding, but so far, no money has been flowing as a result of those exemptions.”

    In addition to repeated attacks on energy infrastructure across Ukraine, other public facilities have also been targeted, with 780 health centres and more than 1,600 schools damaged or destroyed, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).

    “In Odessa this week we saw a health clinic providing care for 40,000 children and a kindergarten serving 250 of the youngest children were severely damaged in an attack,” said Dr Jarno Harbicht, WHO Country Representative for Ukraine. “When a children’s hospital is hit, a school shelled or electric grid destroyed, children suffer even when they survive.”

    Haunted by drones

    The mental stress faced by millions of Ukrainians because of the war is real and debilitating, the WHO official continued: “Imagine a young mother in Kharkiv region in Ukraine, her days interrupted by air raid sirens and her nights haunted by drones. Each day is a struggle balancing her children’s safety with their anxiety that has become her constant companion.”

    The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) has confirmed the killing of more than 12,654 civilian men, women, girls, and boys since the full-scale Russian invasion on 24 February 2022, with nearly 30,000 injured. Eighty-four per cent of the casualties happened in territory controlled by the Ukrainian government and 16 per cent in territory occupied by Russia.

    “Three years of full-scale conflict in Ukraine have wrought persistent and escalating human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law,” said Danielle Bell, Chief of HRMMU. “As the civilian toll grows heavier, the human rights of all those affected must remain at the forefront of  any negotiations for sustainable peace.”

    Rising toll

    The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) has confirmed the killing of more than 12,654 civilian men, women, girls, and boys since the full-scale Russian invasion on 24 February 2022, with nearly 30,000 injured. Eighty-four per cent of the casualties happened in territory controlled by the Ukrainian government and 16 per cent in territory occupied by Russia.

    “Three years of full-scale conflict in Ukraine have wrought persistent and escalating human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law,” said Danielle Bell, Chief of HRMMU. “As the civilian toll grows heavier, the human rights of all those affected must remain at the forefront of  any negotiations for sustainable peace.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Health Recognized Among America’s Best Large Employers for 2025 by Forbes

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Health has been recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers for 2025 by Forbes in the 10th anniversary edition of its rankings.

    Among the 701 best companies in America, UConn Health ranked 150th and placed second among seven Connecticut organizations, outperforming the only other healthcare institution on the list, Yale Health, which ranked 214th.

    Forbes and Statista selected America’s Best Employers 2025 through an independent survey from a vast sample of over 217,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 1,000 people within the U.S. Over 6.5 million employer evaluations were considered.

    “At UConn Health, we are committed to supporting our exceptional workforce which is the foundation of our excellence in patient care, education, and research,” says Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, UConn Health CEO and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs. “That’s why it is especially meaningful and rewarding to have an objective external organization recognize UConn Health for its achievements.”

    “Our people are the heart of what makes UConn Health a great place to work, and this recognition reflects the dedication and collaboration of our entire team—staff, leadership, and union partners alike,” says Lakeesha Brown, Chief Human Resources Officer for both UConn and UConn Health. “Thank you to everyone for fostering an exceptional workplace. Together, we will keep pushing forward with excellence and innovation.”

    In 2024, UConn Health earned a spot on Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers by State” list, highlighting its commitment to providing a top-tier workplace in Connecticut. Now, with its inclusion in Forbes’ prestigious America’s Best Large Employers list for 2025, UConn Health has further solidified its reputation on a national scale. This latest recognition reflects the organization’s ongoing dedication to fostering an exceptional work environment, prioritizing employee well-being, and maintaining a strong workplace culture that stands out among the country’s top employers.

    Forbes notes that companies pay no fee to participate or be selected in the rankings.

    UConn Health has a workforce of more than 5,800 employees working at 11 sites throughout Connecticut. Based in Farmington, its off-campus locations include West Hartford, East Hartford, Canton, Simsbury, Avon, Southington, Storrs, Willimantic, Putnam, and Torrington. Prospective employees can learn more on UConn Health’s job seekers page.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Career Offender Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    RICHMOND, Va. – A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute parafluorofentanyl and fentanyl.

    According to court documents, on the evening of September 17, 2023, Jaron James Starkey, 35, of Charlotte, and formerly of New Castle County, Delaware, was driving erratically southbound on I-95 in Caroline County. Other drivers traveling on I-95 called 911 to report the erratic driving. Virginia State Police (VSP) responded to the area and upon arrival observed that Starkey had crashed his Jeep. Starkey, who was alone in the car, was speaking incoherently and his eyes were bloodshot. He was transported to the Mary Washington Hospital emergency room.

    Upon approaching the vehicle, the responding VSP officers also observed thousands of glassine baggies, each of which appeared to contain a white powder, scattered throughout Starkey’s car. A total of 4,497 blue glassine baggies collected contained Parafluorofentanyl, with a net weight of over 122 grams. Also in the vehicle were 120 white glassine baggies containing fentanyl.

    Starkey has 21 prior convictions as an adult, including two previous drug trafficking convictions, convictions for possessing firearms as a convicted felon, and conspiracy to commit burglary, among others.   

    Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Lt. Colonel Matt Hanley, Virginia State Police Interim Superintendent; and Brian Layton, Chief of Fredericksburg Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. The Fredericksburg Regional Narcotics Task Force assisted in the investigation of this case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-58.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Taney County Official Pleads Guilty to Stealing $260,000

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former official with the Taney County Health Department pleaded guilty in federal court today to a scheme to embezzle approximately $260,000 from the agency.

    Hugo Ricardo Huacuz, 51, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to a five-count federal information. Huacuz pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, two counts of stealing federal funds, one count of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft.

    Huacuz was the chief operating officer and the chief financial officer of the Taney County Health Department until he resigned on Nov. 14, 2023. Huacuz had been employed by the health department since 2011.

    By pleading guilty today, Huacuz admitted that he stole from the Taney County Health Department in a scheme that lasted from March 23, 2022, to Nov. 14, 2023. Huacuz caused the health department to write checks to Argon Investments, LLC, a company organized by Huacuz and his wife. Huacuz forged the signatures of health department members, using their identities without their permission. Huacuz caused the health department to issue 15 checks totaling approximately $259,000, which were deposited into the bank account of Argon Investments.

    Huacuz used the stolen funds for personal expenses charged to his personal credit card, including automobile insurance, maintenance, repair and parts; restaurants; home construction items; gasoline; airline tickets and travel, including to Chicago, Illinois, New York State, San Diego, California, College Station, Texas, Nashville, Tennessee, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Portland, Oregon; utilities; dry cleaning; clothing; dental and medical care; and payments to the Missouri Secretary of State’s office for Argon’s LLC fees.

    Health board members were not aware of the existence of Argon Investments or that any checks had been issued to Argon Investments. In order to conceal his scheme from the board, Huacuz caused these checks to be coded as payments to Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., a multinational pharmaceutical company. Huacuz falsely reported to the health department’s board that some of the checks written to Argon Investments were for items purchased from Sanofi, and created false invoices from Sanofi purportedly for the purchase of pharmaceutical and medical items, including COVID-19 testing kits.

    In November 2023, the director of the Taney County Health Department received information concerning Huacuz’s job performance. The information stated that Huacuz was frequently absent from his job and that he had other businesses he was operating independent from his job at the health department. After reviewing the information, the director met with Huacuz on Nov. 13, 2023, and placed him on administrative leave. Huacuz went to the bank immediately afterward and withdrew more than $24,000 from the Argon bank account, leaving a balance of $100 in the account.

    Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Huacuz agrees that he embezzled at least $258,976 and, at the very least, this amount is subject to forfeiture and restitution. The government will recommend a sentence of no more than four years and six months in federal prison without parole while Huacuz will seek a sentence of three years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

    This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Boost for Stoke-on-Trent’s bus revolution

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    New bus routes being introduced in Stoke-on-Trent will make it easier for people to get to shops, hospitals, visitor attractions and key employment sites.

    The changes affect 14 services, being phased in from Sunday 23 February, and will help to meet the ongoing demand from passengers for more evening and weekend services.

    They are being introduced as part of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which is transforming the local transport network.

    The new journeys include brand-new services 500 and 501 which link Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station, Hanley Bus Station, Festival Park, Etruria Valley and Wolstanton Retail Park.

    Another brand-new service, service 27A, links Bentilee, Anchor Road and Longton to Trentham Lakes and Radial Park in Stoke, while service 40 has been extended on Saturdays to include the World of Wedgwood in Barlaston.

    Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We’re bringing buses back. We’re making them work for working people, getting them to and from work, connecting them to family and friends and making everyday life easier.

    “Local people have told us they need better connections to jobs, shops, and hospitals – and we’ve listened. That’s why we’re introducing new and improved routes linking places like Etruria Valley, Trentham Lakes, Festival Park, Wolstanton Retail Park, Haywood Hospital and the World of Wedgwood.

    “Here in Stoke-on-Trent, we are leading the nation in the bus revolution. In just 12 months, we’ve improved 28 services across all six towns, providing more evening and weekend buses, creating new routes where they’re needed most and making sure no community is left behind. And people are seeing the difference. They’re telling us they’re noticing more buses on the roads, running later than they have in years.

    “This is about getting the basics right – buses that turn up on time, go where people need them while supporting jobs, families and our local economy. We are determined that everyone – from students to pensioners – feels the benefits of our Bus Service Improvement Programme.”

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan is being funded by £31.6 million of funding from the Department for Transport (DfT).

    In December, following extensive lobbying efforts by councillors and local MPs, the city council was awarded additional government funding of almost £10 million to continue with its efforts to improve the local bus network and build on the success of the scheme in the coming years.

    The new routes, which will operate until at least March 2026, are:

    • Service 2 (Hanley – Birches Head) – new evening services Monday to Saturday, operated by First Potteries.

    • Service 5 (Hanley – Abbey Hulton) – new early morning buses from Abbey Hulton into Hanley, Monday to Saturday, along with new evening services, all operated by First Potteries.

    • Service 7A (Hanley – High Lane – Fegg Hayes) – new evening service along High Lane, serving Haywood Hospital, Monday to Saturday, operated by First Potteries.

    • Service 8 (Hanley – Norton – Ball Green) – new late evening services to Ball Green, Monday to Friday, operated by First Potteries.

    • Service 9 (Fegg Hayes – Bradeley – Hanley – Newcastle) – new evening service along Chell Heath Road, Monday to Saturday, and a new Sunday daytime service along Chell Heath Road, operated by First Potteries.

    • Service 23 (Hanley – Blurton – Newstead) – new late evening services to Blurton, Monday to Saturday, operated by First Potteries.

    • Service 27A (Bentilee – Longton – Trentham Lakes) – new service running at shift-change times, every day of the week, operated by D&G Bus.

    • Service 36 / 36A (Meir – Longton – Hanley – Tunstall – Kidsgrove) – new Sunday evening service, operated by First Potteries.

    • Service 38 / 39 (Hanley – Festival Park – Newcastle) – new late evening service every day, operated by First Potteries.

    • Service 40 (Hanley – Mount Pleasant – Longton – Wedgwood) – new Saturday daytime service for Mount Pleasant, also providing a new link to World of Wedgwood, operated by First Potteries.

    • Service 501– new link to Wolstanton Retail Park and the Etruria Valley development site from Stoke and Hanley, Monday to Saturday, operated by First Potteries.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arizona Man Charged With Conspiracy To Commit Bank Fraud And Theft Of $1 Million In Federal Grants For HIV Programs

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – Yesterday, a complaint was unsealed charging an Arizona man for his role in a conspiracy to misappropriate government funds used to support low-income individuals with HIV, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

    Brent Lee, 51, of Phoenix, Arizona, was charged by complaint with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and one count of theft of government funds. Lee appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Fine in the District of Arizona.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    In January 2023, a municipality in Hudson County, New Jersey, issued five checks totaling approximately $1M to a nonprofit charitable organization.  The funds for four of the checks originated from a federal grant program that funds a comprehensive system of primary medical care, medications, and essential support for low-income people with HIV.  Yet, as alleged in today’s complaint, the nonprofit organization never received the checks.

    Instead, as alleged, in February and March 2023, Lee conspired with others to use a fraudulent business entity to misappropriate nearly all of the funds derived from the checks.  In February 2023, Lee filed articles of incorporation in Wyoming for a business entity with a name nearly identical to the nonprofit’s, and opened a bank account for that entity.  From February to March 2023, the checks were deposited into that account, and Lee paid himself, a family member, and various other individuals nearly all the proceeds via cash withdrawals, cashier’s checks, and wire transfers.  As a result, the bank recorded a loss of approximately $1M.

    The charge of bank fraud conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.  The charge of theft of government funds carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents and members of the FBI’s Public Corruption and Civil Rights Unit in Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, and the New Jersey Field Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz, with the investigation leading to the charges and arrest.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Hardin of the U.S. Attorney’s Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.

    The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

                                                               ###

    Defense Counsel: Jazmin Alagha, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Hearing, Attorney General Bonta Issues Joint Statement on Lawsuit Against Trump Administration to Preserve Funding for Medical and Public Health Innovation Research

    Source: US State of California

    Hearing scheduled for 7 AM PT today at John Joseph Moakley Courthouse in Boston; register to listen online here

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general in issuing a joint statement ahead of a court hearing in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. National Institutes of Health (NIH). At today’s hearing, the plaintiffs will seek an extension of its Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Trump Administration’s unlawful cuts to funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country.  

    Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington in issuing the following statement: 

    “The Trump Administration’s attempt to cut research funding at thousands of research institution across the country is not only unlawful; it undermines public health, our economy and our competitiveness. There are laws in place that protect this funding, and the President cannot simply toss those laws aside.  

    “This research funding covers expenses that facilitate critical components of biomedical research, such as lab, faculty, infrastructure and utility costs. Without it, lifesaving and life-extending research, including clinical trials, would be significantly compromised. These cuts would have a devastating impact on universities around the country, many of which are at the forefront of groundbreaking research efforts – while also training future generations of researchers and innovators. They would force many universities to redirect funds and ultimately reduce research activities. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health has furthered our understanding of medical conditions and found new treatments for adult and childhood cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s Disease, heart disease, PTSD, and more.  

    “Attorneys general are not just fighting for the rule of law; we are fighting for our loved ones, our friends and our neighbors, and we will not allow President Trump to play politics with our public health. We are heartened that less than six hours after filing our lawsuit, the Court recognized the devastating impacts of this directive and granted an emergency temporary restraining order preventing the Administration from implementing these unlawful cuts. Today, we urge the Court to continue to block these funding cuts as we keep fighting this reckless abuse of power.”

    On February 10, Attorney General Bonta joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the NIH in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts challenging the Trump Administration’s attempt to unilaterally cut “indirect cost” reimbursements at every research institution throughout the country. Less than six hours after the attorneys general filed their lawsuit, the court issued a temporary restraining order against the NIH, barring it from cutting billions in funding for biomedical and public health research.  

    In filing the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta joined the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Republicans Block Murray Amendment to Reverse Devastating and Illegal Cuts to NIH Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ICYMI: Senator Murray on Senate Republicans’ Pro-Billionaire Budget Resolution, Trump and Musk’s Devastating Funding Freeze and Mass Firings

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Leads Entire Democratic Caucus in Raising Alarm Over Trump Admin Pushing Illegal Indiscriminate Funding Cuts to NIH, Derailing Lifesaving Research

    ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Meeting with NIH Nominee Jay Bhattacharya

    Washington, D.C. — Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, put forward an amendment to Senate Republicans’ budget resolution that would reverse massive, arbitrary cuts to lifesaving research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that Donald Trump and Elon Musk tried to make earlier this month by setting the maximum reimbursement rate for indirect costs to 15 percent.

    Republicans blocked Murray’s amendment.

    Importantly, the Trump administration’s move to change the indirect costs rate is illegal—Congress’ bipartisan Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill prohibits modifications to NIH’s indirect costs. The policy is currently temporarily blocked in the courts. Last week, Murray led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing alarm over the funding cuts and other recent moves by the Trump administration that threaten to undermine America’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations.

    MURRAY AMENDMENT #880: Senator Murray offered an amendment to reverse the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate cut to biomedical research and the lifesaving work supported by the NIH at research institutions across the country. Murray offered an identical amendment at the Senate Budget Committee markup last week—which no Republican spoke in opposition to during debate, but every Republican voted against.  

    Senator Murray said on the Senate floor when offering her amendment, #880:

    “The Trump administration is working to destroy medical research as we know it with an illegal, unrealistic cap on the NIH reimbursement rate for indirect costs. That would mean: cancer researchers laid off, lifesaving clinical trials cancelled, and more. It’s also violates bipartisan appropriations law. I should know, I helped author that provision. And Republicans should know—they worked with me to pass it.”

    Earlier today, Murray delivered a lengthy speech on the Senate floor where she laid out in detail how Republicans’ budget resolution is a blueprint for deep, painful cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP that help working families—all in service of passing more tax giveaways for billionaires. Murray also underscored how the Trump administration’s lawless mass firings and funding freeze is hurting people and jeopardizing critical services in every part of the country, and why a clean full-year CR is not an acceptable solution to government funding.

    Last week at the Senate Budget Committee mark up of Senate Republicans’ Budget resolution, Senator Murray, a senior member and former chair of the committee, put forward six amendments to steer Republicans toward a bipartisan approach to spending, affirm Congress’ power of the purse, reverse cuts to NIH, deliver transparency into the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and more. Republicans unanimously opposed every amendment Murray and other Democrats offered. In her opening remarks, Murray also called for Elon Musk to come before the Committee to discuss his already in-motion efforts to decimate programs people count on.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fairer Aberdeen Fund marks anniversary with showcase event

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    The Fairer Aberdeen Fund marked 10 years of supporting organisations to tackle poverty and deprivation across the city in a showcase event today (Friday 21 February).

    Those attending the showcase event were able to hear from projects which have benefited from funding on how they have supported individuals and communities, and watch a selection of short films on the work that they have been carrying out. 

    Councillor Alex McLellan, Convener of Finance and Resources Committee, who is also Chair of the Fairer Aberdeen Board, said: “There is so much positive work being done by the Fairer Aberdeen Funded organisations across Aberdeen to support people and families.

    “Our Fairer Aberdeen funded partners are dealing are helping people struggling wtih the cost-of-living crisis 10 years on from the start of the fund, highlighting that poverty remains a huge issue in our city.” 

    Over the last year, 38 initiatives were delivered across the city by 26 voluntary and third sector organisations, that have supported over 50,000 people to access support for employability, financial inclusion, family support, youth work, mental health, learning and volunteering. 

    The keynote speaker for the event was Ruth Boyle, Policy and Campaign Manager at The Poverty Alliance, and featured talks from Cameron McCready, CEO of Homestart Aberdeen and Graeme Kinghorn, CEO of Mental Health Aberdeen, who highlighted their work tackling social isolation and improving mental health across the city.

    Cameron McCready, CEO of Homestart Aberdeen said: “Poverty in Aberdeen affects families in many ways, from financial insecurity to social isolation. With the support of FAF, we’ve been able to provide early intervention services that strengthen family wellbeing and build stronger, more connected communities.”

    Graham Kinghorn, CEO of Mental Health Aberdeen said: “The Fairer Aberdeen Fund is vital in tackling poverty and inequality, supporting essential services from mental health to financial advice and employability. Continued investment is crucial to strengthening communities and improving lives.”

    Organisations supported by the Fund have included Station House Media Unit (SHMU), Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) and Pathways. 

    The Fairer Aberdeen Fund is allocated by Aberdeen City Council and is dispersed by the Fairer Aberdeen Board to third sector organisations, charities and voluntary groups.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Your pupils change size as you breathe – here’s why this new discovery is important

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Martin Schaefer, Postdoctoral Researcher in Cognitive Neuroscience and Behavioral Psychology, Karolinska Institutet

    sruilk

    You have probably heard the saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but now it turns out that they are also connected to how we breathe. Scientists have long studied the size of our pupils to understand attention, emotion and even medical conditions. But now, new research has surprisingly revealed that they change size in sync with our breathing.

    Our pupils are never static; they constantly adjust in response to both external and internal factors. The most well known is that they control how much light enters the eye, just like a camera aperture.

    You can easily test this yourself: look into a mirror and shine a light into your eye, and you’ll see your pupils shrink. This process directly affects our visual perception. Larger pupils help us to detect faint objects, particularly in our peripheral vision, while smaller pupils enhance sharpness, improving tasks like reading.

    Indeed, this reflex is so reliable that doctors use it to assess brain function. If a pupil fails to react to light, it could signal a medical emergency such as a stroke.

    Doctors will check patients’ pupils to see if they’ve had a stroke.
    Doodeez

    However, it is not just light that our pupils respond to. It’s also well established that our pupils constrict when focusing on a nearby object, and dilate in response to cognitive effort or emotional arousal.

    As the German pupil-research pioneer Irene Loewenfeld once said: “Man may either blush or turn pale when emotionally agitated, but his pupils always dilate.”

    For this reason, pupil size is often used in psychology and neuroscience research as a measure of mental effort and attention.

    The fourth response

    For many decades, these three kinds of pupil response were the only ones that scientists were sure existed. Now, myself and our team of researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands have confirmed that breathing is a fourth.

    In what will now be known as “pupillary respiratory phase response”, pupils tend to be largest during exhalation and smallest around the start of inhalation. Unlike other pupil responses, this one originates exclusively in the body and of course happens constantly. Equally uniquely, it covers both dilation and constriction.

    There had in fact been anecdotal hints of a connection between breathing and our pupils for more than 50 years. But when the team reviewed past studies the evidence was inconclusive at best. Given how widely pupil size is used in both medicine and research, we realised it was crucial to investigate this further.

    We confirmed through a series of five experiments with more than 200 participants that pupil size fluctuates in sync with breathing, and also that this effect is remarkably robust. In these studies, we invited the participants to our lab and recorded their pupil size and breathing pattern while they were relaxing or performing tasks on a computer screen.

    We systematically varied the other key pupil-response factors throughout the study – lighting, fixation distance and mental effort required for tasks. In all cases, the way that breathing affects the pupils remained constant.

    Whichever way you breathe, the effect on pupil size remains the same.
    LuckyStep

    Additionally, we examined how different breathing patterns affected the response.

    Participants were instructed to breathe solely through their nose or mouth and to adjust their breathing rate, as well as slowing it down and speeding it up. In all cases, the same pattern emerged: pupil size remained smallest around the onset of inhalation and largest during exhalation.

    What now

    This discovery changes the way we think about both breathing and vision. It suggests a deeper connection between breathing and the nervous system than we previously realised. The next big question is whether these subtle changes in pupil size affect how we see the world.

    The fluctuations are only fractions of a millimetre, which is less than the pupil response to light, but similar to the pupil response to mental effort or arousal. The size of these fluctuations is theoretically large enough to influence our visual perception. It may therefore be that our vision subtly shifts within a single breath between optimising for detecting faint objects (with larger pupils) and distinguishing fine details (with smaller pupils).

    In addition, just as the pupillary light response is used as a diagnostic tool, changes in the link between pupil size and breathing could be an early sign of neurological disorders.

    This research is part of a broader effort to understand how our internal bodily rhythms influence perception. Scientists are increasingly finding that our brain doesn’t process external information in isolation – it integrates signals from within our bodies, too. For example, information from our heart and gastric rhythms have also been suggested to enhance or hinder the processing of incoming sensory stimuli.

    If our breathing affects how our pupils change, could it also shape how we perceive the world around us? This opens the door to new research on how bodily rhythms shape perception – one breath at a time.

    Martin Schaefer is affiliated with Karolinska Institutet.

    – ref. Your pupils change size as you breathe – here’s why this new discovery is important – https://theconversation.com/your-pupils-change-size-as-you-breathe-heres-why-this-new-discovery-is-important-250435

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Survey shows immigrants in Florida – even US citizens – are less likely to seek health care after passage of anti-immigrant laws

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Elizabeth Aranda, Professor of Sociology, University of South Florida

    For decades, many U.S. immigrants have received subpar health care, and asking about immigration status can make those disparities worse. Maskot via Getty Images

    Since arriving in the United States four years ago, Alex has worked at a primary care office. He has witnessed firsthand how difficult it was for immigrants to access preventive care.

    When he heard of the implementation of Florida’s Senate Bill 1718, Alex feared it would have dire consequences for the patients he served.

    Alex is a pseudonym for one of our research subjects.

    SB 1718, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May 2023, imposed sweeping restrictions aimed at discouraging unauthorized immigration. Among its provisions, it requires hospitals that accept Medicaid funds to question patients about their immigration status and share data about how many immigrants they are serving within the state.

    The law had several more provisions. It mandated E-Verify, a system to check employment eligibility, be used for new hires in businesses employing more than 25 employees. It also criminalized driving into Florida with an unauthorized immigrant, and restricted community organizations from issuing IDs.

    After the law passed, Alex told his patients that they could refuse to divulge their legal status when asked on hospital forms. But he says his reassurances didn’t work. He watched as many immigrant patients hesitated to access necessary medical care for themselves and their children – or even left the state.

    Alex had legal documentation to be in the country, but as his immigrant community shrank, he wondered if he, too, should leave Florida.

    We are a group of social science professors and graduate students studying immigrant communities in Florida. We believe SB 1718 has important implications for immigrants, for Floridians and all Americans – particularly as the country faces surges in outbreaks of communicable diseases like measles and the flu.

    An environment of fear

    These concerns are based on our survey of 466 immigrants to Florida and adult U.S.-born children of immigrants between May and July of 2024.

    Nearly two-thirds of non-U.S. citizens and one-third of U.S. citizens who responded to our survey said they hesitated to seek medical care in the year after SB 1718 passed.

    “I was very sick recently and needed medical care, but I was scared,” one survey participant told us.

    While hospitals cannot deny care based on a patient’s immigration status, our data shows that anticipating they would be asked deterred not only immigrants lacking permanent legal status but also those with legal status, including U.S. citizens, from seeking care.

    We believe U.S. citizens are affected by spillover effects because they are members of mixed-status families.

    Our survey took place during the intense 2024 presidential election season when anti-immigrant rhetoric was prevalent. The immigrants we surveyed also reported experiencing discrimination in their everyday lives, and these experiences were also associated with a reluctance to access health care.

    Laws like SB 1718 amplify preexisting racial and structural inequities. Structural inequities are systemic barriers within institutions — such as health care and employment — that restrict access to essential resources based on one’s race, legal or economic status.

    These kinds of laws discourage immigrants from utilizing health resources. They foster an exclusionary policy environment that heightens fears of enforcement, restricts access to essential services and exacerbates economic and social vulnerabilities. Moreover, restrictive immigration policies exclude people from accessing services based on their race. Immigrants who have been discriminated against in everyday settings may internalize the expectation that seeking care will result in further hostility – or even danger.

    Consequences for public health

    U.S. history holds numerous examples of racial and ethnic barriers to health care. Examples include segregation-era hospitals turning away Black patients . It also involves systemic restrictions on health care access for non-English speakers, including inadequate language assistance services, reliance on untrained interpreters and lack of culturally competent care.

    President Donald Trump’s new executive orders signed in January 2025 threaten to further ostracize certain communities. For example, the order terminating federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs dismantles efforts to address racial disparities in public institutions. New restrictions on federally funded research on race and equity could hinder efforts to study and address these disparities.

    Civil rights advocates believe these measures represent a systemic rollback of rights and diversity practices that generations fought to secure and could accelerate a national shift toward exclusion based on race under the guise of immigration enforcement.

    Supporters of immigrants’ rights protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policies on Feb. 7, 2025 in Homestead, Florida.
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images

    The results of our survey in Florida may be a warning sign for the rest of the country. Health care hesitancy like we documented could increase the likelihood of delayed treatment, undiagnosed conditions and worsening health disparities among entire communities.

    These legal restrictions are likely to increase the spread of communicable diseases and strain health care systems, increasing costs and placing a greater burden on emergency services and public health infrastructure.

    Elizabeth Aranda is affiliated with American Sociological Association.

    Deborah Omontese is affiliated with American Sociological Association

    Elizabeth Vaquera is a member of the American Sociological Association and has previously received funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health,

    Emely Matos Pichardo is affiliated with the Southern Sociological Society.

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

    – ref. Survey shows immigrants in Florida – even US citizens – are less likely to seek health care after passage of anti-immigrant laws – https://theconversation.com/survey-shows-immigrants-in-florida-even-us-citizens-are-less-likely-to-seek-health-care-after-passage-of-anti-immigrant-laws-248952

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Making sex deadly for insects could control pests that carry disease and harm crops

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Bill Sullivan, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University

    In the toxic male technique, genetically engineered male insects would implant semen containing toxic venom into the female insects during mating. Madugrero/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    Insects do a lot more harm than ruining picnics. Some insects spread devastating diseases, while others cause staggering economic losses in agriculture. To control some of these pests, scientists are developing males that make sex a deadly event.

    The stakes are high. Mosquitoes carry viruses such as dengue, West Nile and Zika, as well as parasites that cause malaria. Researchers estimate that mosquitoes have caused the deaths of 52 billion people overall – nearly half of all the humans that have ever lived.

    Other insects cause major crop damage, jeopardizing the food supply and driving up prices. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 20% to 40% of global crop production is lost to pests annually at a cost of US$70 billion.

    Pesticides have been the front-line defense against insects, but many bugs have evolved resistance to these chemicals. Some pesticides can indiscriminately kill beneficial insects, harm the environment and endanger human and animal health. Some researchers worry that certain pesticides can cause cancer or have damaging effects on human nervous and endocrine systems.

    I’m a microbiology researcher studying infectious disease. New solutions that do not harm humans and the environment to control disease-carrying insects and agricultural pests could lead to fewer people contracting dangerous diseases. In the past few years, a variety of genetic engineering approaches have emerged as promising tactics to combat problematic insects.

    Genetically modified insects

    To avoid the problems associated with pesticides, scientists have devised new approaches that genetically alter the insects themselves in ways that cause their population to crash or render them incapable of transmitting disease – a strategy called genetic biocontrol.

    Genetic biocontrol entails genetically modifying insects to curb their populations.

    The idea to suppress an insect population by flooding it with sterile males has been around for decades. Since the 1950s, scientists have been using radiation to create infertile male mosquitoes. These sterile males mate with females but produce no offspring. Since females are engaged in a lot of unproductive mating, the overall population tends to decline.

    In the past two decades, genetic engineering has been used to introduce dominant lethal genes into insect populations. In this approach, the offspring of genetically modified males inherit a gene that kills them before they reach reproductive age. A field trial in Brazil found that this strategy reduced the target mosquito population up to 95%. Another approach on the horizon involves releasing insects genetically modified to be poor carriers of pathogens that cause disease.

    Despite these advances, a key shortcoming to current genetic biocontrol methods is that they take time. At least one generation needs to be born before the population suppression begins. This means the female insects continue to be a disease vector or agricultural pest until they die a natural death. An ideal technique would neutralize the females immediately, especially during outbreaks.

    A faster approach

    Biologists Samuel Beach and Maciej Maselko at Macquarie University in Australia sought to solve this dilemma by genetically engineering male insects to make poisonous semen. The poisonous semen would kill the female quickly, reducing the population faster than previous biocontrol methods.

    To test this idea, the team used fruit flies called Drosophila melanogaster, which are easy to genetically modify and study in the lab.

    The Brazilian wandering spider, Phoneutria nigriventer.
    Rodrigo Tetsuo Argenton/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    The researchers transferred venom genes from the Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria nigriventer) and the Mediterranean snakelocks sea anemone (Anemonia sulcata) into the genomes of fruit flies.

    The genetically modified fly produces and stores venom proteins in its male accessory gland – a fly’s prostate – along with other seminal fluid proteins. Upon mating, the fly deposits the venomous semen into the female’s reproductive tract. The researchers named this approach the toxic male technique.

    The Mediterranean snakelocks anenome, Anemonia viridis.
    Diego Delso

    After mating, the seminal toxins seep into the female’s body and attack her central nervous system. The toxins bind to proteins called ion channels on cellular membranes, which nerve cells use to communicate with one another. This quickly leads to paralysis and respiratory arrest. You could say these genetically engineered Romeos literally take her breath away.

    The lifespan of female flies that mated with toxic males decreased – up to 64%. A computer simulation of the toxic male technique for Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that transmits several viruses, predicted that this approach could work better than current methods.

    Safety and effectiveness

    While promising and innovative, there are some important challenges that researchers developing the toxic male technique will need to overcome. For example, the technique has been shown to work only in fruit flies. Whether it will work in mosquitoes or other insect pests remains an open question.

    In addition, the technique reduced the female lifespan by only 37% to 64%. To improve the rate of killing, the researchers suggested that other venom formulations might work better. Researchers could try thousands of venom genes from spiders, snakes, scorpions and centipedes. Each new venom they try will require tests to ensure the modified males tolerate them – if they become weak, unmodified males may outcompete them for mating opportunities.

    As with all genetic biocontrol methods, this technique may be too expensive to implement for low-income countries. Nations would need to finance the costs of breeding and deploying the mosquitoes safely.

    Insects also pollinate plants and serve as food sources for other animals, such as bats. If these insects vanish, the ecosystem could face unforeseen adverse effects. Monitoring these potential effects on the environment will also be expensive.

    Other researchers are experimenting with using venom toxins to control parasites that female insects spread through biting. Called paratransgenesis, this technique alters an insect’s gut bacteria to produce a toxin that kills the parasite, leaving the insect unharmed. Since the insect population remains unaltered, paratransgenesis may pose less risk to ecosystems.

    Insects tend to adapt quickly to the methods humans use to control them, so it is advantageous to have multiple strategies at our disposal. The toxic male technique may one day become a valuable new weapon in the arsenal to combat insect pests.

    Bill Sullivan receives funding from the National Institutes of Health.

    – ref. Making sex deadly for insects could control pests that carry disease and harm crops – https://theconversation.com/making-sex-deadly-for-insects-could-control-pests-that-carry-disease-and-harm-crops-248723

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 21 February 2025 Departmental update World Health Day 2025 to spotlight women and babies’ survival, urging solidarity at a critical moment for global health

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially announced the theme of World Health Day 2025, Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, which will focus on improving maternal and newborn health and survival.

    World Health Day is marked around the world on 7th April, the anniversary of WHO’s founding in 1948. Each year, it draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.

    “The focus of this campaign comes at a crucial moment, aiming to help countries regain lost progress while showcasing new research and evidence that will enhance the health of women and babies globally,” said Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at WHO. “As rollbacks to humanitarian assistance jeopardize a critical lifeline for millions, it will also be an opportunity to step up support and collaboration for global health – and deliver hope to those in urgent need of lifesaving care.”

    Helping every woman and baby survive and thrive

    According to the most recent estimates, close to 300 000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year; over 2 million babies die in their first month of life, and around 2 million more are stillborn. This is roughly 1 preventable death every 7 seconds – losses which bring tremendous sadness and heartache to millions of families around the world.

    While maternal and newborn deaths occur in all regions, the vast majority are in the poorest countries and those facing conflict and other crises. When health care facilities close, facilities are attacked, access routes denied or supplies disrupted, pregnant women and babies – who need regular access to health services – face severe, often life-threatening risks.

    Based on current trends, a staggering 4 out of 5 countries are off track to meet the United Nations’ global targets for improving maternal survival by 2030; 1 in 3 will fail to meet targets for reducing newborn deaths. Current funding constraints could further jeopardize progress, as many programmes providing critical health services have stalled alongside important medical research focused on pregnant and breastfeeding women and children.

    This year’s campaign, which will run until 2026, will urge governments, donors and the health community to invest in proven, high-impact interventions, as part of efforts to improve overall quality of care. These include pregnancy related services to detect complications and lifesaving emergency obstetrics – noting that the vast majority of maternal and newborn deaths happen during or shortly after birth – as well as special care for small and preterm babies. Complications relating to prematurity are now the leading cause of death of children under-5 worldwide.

    WHO will also highlight the evolving need for health systems to address the many underlying health issues that impact maternal and newborn health. These include not only direct obstetric complications but also mental health conditions, malnutrition (including under and overnutrition as well as nutritional deficiencies), and an increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases.

    Listening to women and supporting families

    Moving beyond actions to save lives, the campaign will urge increased global attention to women’s longer-term health and well-being. This includes advocating for laws and policies that safeguard their health and rights, such as paid maternity leave and other critical employment protections, and access to vital family planning services.

    “It is not sufficient that women survive childbirth, they must also be able to enjoy their lives in good health,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO. “Women and girls everywhere need access to health providers who listen to their concerns and meet their needs, while ensuring they can plan their fertility, take charge of their futures, and protect their health.”

    Efforts are also needed to address the particular risks of climate change for pregnant women and newborns,  as evidence shows an association between higher temperatures and preterm births, stillbirth, hypertension and gestational diabetes, as well as infant mortality.

    An investment, not a cost

    In low- and middle-income countries, every US$1 invested in maternal and newborn health is estimated to yield around US$9 to 20 in return. Evidence shows that spending on maternal and newborn health leads to economic development and happier, healthier societies.

    Around the world, WHO is supporting essential maternal and newborn health programmes including through:

    • Intensive support to 55 countries through the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere initiative, which is working to expand access to lifesaving emergency obstetric and newborn care units, family planning and other critical services;
    • Guidance relating to diverse aspects of maternal and newborn health through pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.  New recommendations will be published later this year to help clinicians manage postpartum haemorrhage, one of the world’s leading causes of maternal deaths, and noncommunicable diseases in pregnancy;
    • Research to improve clinical care options for pregnant women and newborns, including during epidemics when it is critical to ensure high-risk populations are not left behind;
    • Ensuring maternity and newborn care during humanitarian emergencies, like mobile clinics and health posts in Syria and Sudan, where millions of women and babies would otherwise miss out on lifesaving medical screenings, vaccinations and treatments.
    • Support for health workers providing essential care to pregnant women and babies, such as efforts to strengthen the vital role of midwives within health systems through training, accreditation and related guidance.

    Get involved

    Here’s what you can do to support the campaign

    • Spread awareness: share information about the campaign using #HopefulFutures and #HealthForAll;
    • Participate: attend our global events to learn more about what it will take to end maternal and newborn mortality; organize your own local activities;
    • Donate: contribute to the WHO Foundation, which supports WHO’s work to protect mothers and babies in countries around the world;
    • Share personal experiences: Across its platforms, WHO will be launching new content to help women share birth stories and lived experiences from around the world, and to thank those who provide quality care.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: npj Digital Medicine (Nature)

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    npj Digital Medicine considers research that explores all aspects of digital medicine including the clinical application and implementation of digital and mobile technologies, virtual healthcare, and innovative applications of artificial intelligence and informatics.

    The journal aims to guide the transformation of health and healthcare through the incorporation of novel digital and mobile technologies.

    The journal covers a broad range of topics including but not limited to:

    • Clinical application and efficacy of novel mobile applications, monitors, sensors, software, and wearables
    • Clinical application of novel and validated artificial intelligence and machine learning models
    • Clinical informatics and digital transformation of clinical practice
    • Clinical trials testing the efficacy and interoperability of digital tools and devices
    • Digital medicine ethics, governance, policy, regulation, and security
    • Digital twins
    • Validated digital biomarkers
    • Virtual models of care

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Biodiversity to Bioeconomy

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Biodiversity to Bioeconomy

    How Biotechnology is Transforming North East India

    Posted On: 21 FEB 2025 2:53PM by PIB Delhi

    Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas and blessed with lush biodiversity, India’s North East Region (NER) is a land of hidden treasures. Its vibrant landscapes, rich culture, and vast  pool of resources offer immense potential for innovation. Now, with the transformative power of biotechnology, the NER is not just preserving its natural heritage but also scripting a new chapter of growth and sustainability.

    Imagine a region where farmers cultivate medicinal plants that fuel both health industries and local incomes, where young researchers develop resilient crop varieties that withstand changing climates, and where bio-entrepreneurs thrive by transforming indigenous knowledge into global products. This vision is steadily turning into reality, thanks to the Department of Biotechnology’s North Eastern Programme. The main objectives of the programme are:

    Since 2010, DBT has consistently allocated 10% of its annual budget to specialized programmes in the NER, aiming to bridge the gap between potential and prosperity. These initiatives focus on harnessing endemic bioresources, promoting biotech education, and creating employment opportunities through bio-based entrepreneurship.

    North Eastern Programme timeline

     

    Biotechnology thrives on knowledge and innovation. Recognizing this, the DBT has launched multiple educational and training programmes focused on NER:

    Twinning R&D Programme for NER

    The programme was initiated in 2010-2011 towards developing core competence and capacity in various areas of biotechnology through collaboration of Institutes from North East India with other leading Institutes across the country. The programme has catalyzed vibrant collaborations between 65+ institutions from NER and those from the rest of India in various spheres of biotechnology, where close to 650 R&D projects has been supported benefitting around 450 researchers and 2000 young researchers / students.

    Collaborations under the DBT- Twinning R&D Programme

     

    Establishment of Biotech Hubs across NER

    Since 2011, a network of 126 Biotech Hubs were established across NER, providing necessary infrastructure in universities/ colleges/ institutions and the required training in sophisticated technologies to support and promote biological sciences / biotechnology education and research. In the Phase-II, 54 Biotech have been supported for focused Research & training on local issues.

     

    Biotechnology Labs in Senior Secondary schools (BLiSS) of NER 

    To create awareness among school students about biological sciences at the school level and also to provide an environment of access to a well-equipped laboratory, DBT initiated a programme for establishing “Biotechnology Labs in Senior Secondary Schools (BLiSS)” in NER in 2014.

    Visiting Research Professorship (VRP) programme

    The Programme was initiated in 2015, to utilize the expertise of outstanding scientists for bringing advancements in the Biotechnology and Life Science related activities in various institutions of research and higher learning in the NE States of India.

    Specialized training programmes for NE researchers by National Institutions

    Chemical Ecology Programme between NER and Bangalore Institutes  (NCBS, UAS and IISc.) initiated in 2015, trained and equipped young scientists from  the NER to produce quality research outcomes by providing tailormade interdisciplinary training to Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows recruited under collaborative projects in the field of chemical ecology.

     

    Enhancing Capacity in Genomics-Driven Research in Human Health & Disease in the North-East Region by DBT-NIBMG, Kaylani.

    The programme, initiated in 2016 provided comprehensive training to scientists, research students and clinicians belonging to the NER, engaged in “Biomedical Research”. Short-term training programme included workshops on various aspects of molecular and genetics-based analyses, handling clinical materials such as blood and tissue samples and/or cell lines.

    The following Human Resource Development focused programmes are being implemented in the North Eastern Region:

    Programmes to support locals

    To emphasise services to farmers, and academics, the “DBT-North East Centre for Agricultural Biotechnology (DBT-NECAB): Phase III” project has been supported. Similarly, to strengthen Citrus research in NER, facilities were established at Institute of Horticulture Technology (IHT), Mandira, Assam, for the generation of certified scion material from Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and sweet orange. Rootstocks free from Citrus greening bacteria (CGB) and Citrus tristeza virus have been developed.

    In view of promoting sustainable bioresources, a total area of 64.1 acres was covered for captive cultivation of selected medicinal crops like Curcuma caesia and compound-rich lemongrass (elemicinrich and methyl-eugenol-rich). About 649 farmers and entrepreneurs from NER benefited from the training and awareness program. Additionally, an essential oil distillation unit has been installed at Mudoi village, Arunachal Pradesh, to support farmers in revenue generation. Furthermore, the Docynia indica, commonly known as Assam apple or wild apple, has been successfully explored towards making value-added products such as pickles, jam, candy, juice, etc., and the knowledge is being popularized among the tribal communities of Assam and Meghalaya through awareness campaigns and meetings

    The major outcomes of the North Eastern programmes are:

     

    • Bacterial Blight resistant introgressed rice variety “Patkai”: A rice variety has been developed by AAU- Assam using introgressing blight resistant from improved samba mahsuri (ISM) into Ranjeet Sub1 background. This variety was notified by Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC)
    • Lateral flow assay for the rapid detection of brucellosis: A chimeric protein conjugate based Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) for the detection of anti-brucella antibodies in multiple livestock was standardized. The analytical sensitivity considering iELISA test as gold standard with sera sample revealed significant positivity in lateral flow tests.
    • Mobile app – Pig Disease Diagnosis Expert System (PDDES), a Computer-based application to assist in the diagnosis of pig diseases or medical conditions was developed. Using PDDES, veterinarians, farmers, and other swine industry professionals can quickly identify and treat diseases to minimize their impact on pig production and profitability. The application is available in Google playstore.

    By harnessing the region’s rich biodiversity and empowering local communities through education, research, and entrepreneurship, the Department of Biotechnology’s initiatives are not only preserving cultural and ecological heritage but also driving sustainable economic growth. As North East India continues to evolve into a hub of bio-innovation, it sets a remarkable example of how science and tradition can coexist to shape a prosperous and sustainable future.

    References

    https://dbtindia.gov.in/scientific-directorates/advanced-biofuels-sustainability-ner/ner#

    Annual Report 2023-24 https://dbtindia.gov.in/about-us/annual-report/dbt

    Biotechnology Support in the North Eastern Region (2010-2021) pdf

    https://dbtindia.gov.in/publications

    Click here to see PDF:

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry eggs from Chhindwara District of Madhya Pradesh State in India suspended

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Import of poultry eggs from Chhindwara District of Madhya Pradesh State in India suspended
    Import of poultry eggs from Chhindwara District of Madhya Pradesh State in India suspended
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (February 21) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Chhindwara District of Madhya Pradesh State in India, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry eggs from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with India for the import of poultry eggs but not for poultry meat. According to the Census and Statistics Department, no eggs were imported into Hong Kong from India last year.     “The CFS has contacted the Indian authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

     
    Ends/Friday, February 21, 2025Issued at HKT 16:15

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NHRC, India organised a meeting of the Core Group on Women on the theme ‘Empowering ASHAs: Securing the right to work with dignity’

    Source: Government of India (2)

    NHRC, India organised a meeting of the Core Group on Women on the theme ‘Empowering ASHAs: Securing the right to work with dignity’

    NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V Ramasubramanian attributes a significant reduction in neonatal and infant mortality rates in the country to the services of ASHAs

    Calls for collaborative efforts between the Centre and State Governments to address the issues concerning ASHA workers’ welfare

    Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi says, ASHAs’ voluntary role as the first line of medical care in far-flung areas needs to be better recognized

    Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal says, their issues related viz. workload and insufficient resources need to be addressed

    Among various suggestions, replacing an incentive-based payment structure with a fixed salary plus performance-based benefits underscored

    Providing ASHAs with health insurance, maternity benefits, and accident coverage also highlighted

    Posted On: 21 FEB 2025 11:54AM by PIB Delhi

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India organised a core group meeting in hybrid mode on women on the theme ‘Empowering Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs): Securing the right to work with dignity’ at its premises in New Delhi. It was chaired by the NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian in the presence of Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal, senior officers, experts, and ASHAs.

    Addressing the participants, Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian highlighted the remarkable contributions made by ASHAs over the past 20 years towards improvements in the healthcare sector in the country. He emphasised that the significant impact of ASHAs has led to notable progress in reducing neonatal and infant mortality rates. They showed that individuals without formal education can still be trained to become skilled workers. He also noted that while there are many educated people today, the number of skilled workers is decreasing. This gap is being addressed by the ASHA scheme. However, he pointed out that ASHAs’ have been stating that their remuneration is not in proportion to their contribution to society. The irony is that at times, those who contribute the most often receive the least; those who care for the marginalized end up being marginalized themselves.

    Justice Ramasubramanian said that public health and fixing of minimum wages is a subject coming under the State. Population control and family planning fall under the Concurrent list. Hence, there should be a collaborative effort between the Centre and State Governments to address the issues concerning ASHAs’ welfare. He also called for a concrete policy and actionable measures for improving the working conditions and living standards of ASHAs.

    NHRC, India Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi said that the ASHAs are the first responders to any distress related to pregnant women and children in the village areas before consultation with any doctors materializes. Therefore, their role as activists should be better recognized with adequate incentives, compensation, and security to ensure their right to life with dignity.

    Before this, while setting the agenda of the meeting and providing background, the Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal highlighted the theme of the three technical sessions. These included: ‘The Evolving Nature of Challenges faced by ASHA’, ‘Role of the Government in Protecting and Promoting the Rights of ASHAs’, and ‘Way Forward: Ensuring the Right to Work with Dignity for ASHAs.’ He said that the Government has come up with various schemes for women’s empowerment and given the contribution of ASHAs in primary healthcare, their issues such as low honorarium, excessive workload, and insufficient resources also need to be addressed. He highlighted their role during COVID-19 as frontline workers have been exemplary, which has also been acknowledged by the WHO.

    The speakers included Shri Saurabh Jain, Joint Secretary, MoHFW; Ms Pallavi Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development; Dr Shweta Khandelwal, Senior Advisor Jhpiego India; Ms Ruth Manorama, President, The National Alliance of Women (NAWO); Dr Sabiha Hussain, Professor and Director, Sarojini Naidu Center for Women’s Studies, Jamia Islamia University; Ms. Vaishali Barua, National Coordinator, UN Women India; Ms Dipa Sinha, Visiting Professor, Azim Premji University; Ms Surekha Secretary, ASHA Workers’ and Facilitators’ Federation of India (AWFFI); Ms Sunita, ASHA Worker, Haryana, NHRC, India DG (I), Shri R Prasad Meena, Registrar (Law), Joginder Singh, Director, Lt Col Virender Singh among others.

    Some of the suggestions that emanated from the discussion included;

    • Need to consider granting ASHAs formal worker status with fixed monthly emoluments, social security, pensions, paid leave, etc.;
    • Standardize honorarium/ wages across states, ensuring that honorariums align with minimum wage regulations;
    • Replace incentive-based payment structure with a fixed amount plus performance-based benefits;
    • Provide health insurance, maternity benefits, and accident coverage to ASHAs;
    • Ensure free personal protective equipment (PPE), transport allowances, and access to clean rest areas during field visits;
    • Enforce strict policies against harassment and violence, ensuring safe working conditions for ASHAs in all regions;
    • Utilize Rs 49,269 crore (As of 2022) of unspent funds from the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act for childcare, elderly care, and ASHA welfare;
    • Allocate Rs 70,051 crore health sector grants towards strengthening early childhood care and healthcare workers’ training;
    • Establish state-funded creches at primary health centres and community centres to support ASHAs who are also primary caregivers at home;
    • Develop structured career pathways for ASHAs to transition into higher-paying healthcare roles, such as nursing, midwifery, and public health administration;
    • Provide regular skill enhancement training in disease surveillance, mental health counseling, and emergency medical response;
    • Introduce bridge courses in collaboration with medical colleges and universities to certify ASHAs for formal healthcare roles;
    • Incentivize private sector investments in childcare and elderly care infrastructure, with tax benefits for employers offering workplace childcare solutions;
    • Promote cooperative models, like the SEWA model, to ensure ASHAs have decision-making power over wages and working conditions; and
    • Foster public-private partnerships to expand affordable community-based care services, creating decent job opportunities for ASHAs.

     

    The Commission will further deliberate on the suggestions, seek additional inputs and deliberate to take a view in the matter to ensure the welfare of ASHAs.

     

    ****

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Day 2 #CTDDR2025: The 9th MahaKumbh for Drug Research

    Source: Government of India

    Day 2 #CTDDR2025: The 9th MahaKumbh for Drug Research

    Drug Resistance, Car T Cell Therapy, Parasitic, Viral disease and Natural Product Chemistry was the main theme of the Day

    Experts from different area shared their recent findings with the participants

    Posted On: 21 FEB 2025 11:35AM by PIB Delhi

    Today, on the second day of the 9th “International Symposium on Current Trends in Drug Discovery Research” at CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, observed important scientific deliberations by eminent scientists. Researchers and scholars presented their work through visually compelling posters, fostering discussions and knowledge exchange

    Pan-drug-resistant Gram-negative isolates are major risk for life,

    novel beta-lactam enhancerwould be helpful to manage the Pan-drug resistant: Sachin S. Bhagwat

    In scientific session II on “Concept to point of care: Drugs pending submission/approval or recently approved,” Dr. Sachin S. Bhagwat from the Wockhardt Research Center, Aurangabad, India, delivered his talk on the discovery of a novel mechanism of action-based β-lactam + β-lactam enhancer combination, WCK 5222, with comprehensive coverage of pan-drug resistant Gram negatives. He highlighted AMR has rendered many existing antibiotics ineffective, posing a major global health crisis.The widespread prevalence of MDR, XDR, and PDR Gram-negative pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant strains, has rendered many last-line antibiotics ineffective. The ICMR data shows concerning carbapenem resistance rates: over 90% in Acinetobacter, 45% in P. aeruginosa, and 69% in Klebsiella. As a result, clinicians frequently use medications with diminished safety or unproven combinations. These infections are responsible for up to 8.85 lakh deaths annually, with an additional 9.6 lakh linked to sepsis. Further, he shared his research on the development of a novel β-lactam enhancer, Zidebactam, which, in combination with cefepime (WCK 5222), demonstrated potent activity against 35,000 global pan-drug-resistant Gram-negative isolates. He mentioned that WCK 5222 has saved over 45 lives under compassionate use and completed successful trials in severe documented meropenem-resistant infections and is expected to change the treatment paradigm for life-threatening Gram-negative infections.

    Dr. Sachin S. Bhagwat speaking at the 9th “International Symposium on Current Trends in Drug Discovery Research” #CTDDR2025 at CSIR-CDIR, Lucknow.

    CAR-T cell therapy is an emerging approach for cancer care: Prof. Rahul Purwar

    Prof. Rahul Purwar from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, shared the journey on First “Make in India” CAR-T cell therapy: from R&D to clinic to market. Cancer is a worldwide issue and India has the second-highest cancer mortality rate. The CAR-T cell therapy is an emerging approach for cancer care. However, this technology is extremely expensive (500,000 USD/patient) and not available in India. To ensure its accessibility to all, they developed a robust, safe and affordable technology platform and validated through Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. He further noted that, CD19 CAR-T is approved by CDSCO for commercial use in October 2023, and now over 300 patients are treated across the country.

    Prof. Rahul Purwar from IIT, Bombay speaking at the 9th “International Symposium on Current Trends in Drug Discovery Research” #CTDDR2025 at CSIR-CDIR, Lucknow.

    Mitochondrial translation can be targeted for new possibilities of new therapeutic development for Apicomplexan parasites borne diseases: Prof. Dominique Soldati-Favre

    In her Plenary Lecture on Toxoplasma gondii Mitoribosome from highly fragmented rRNAs to a functional Machine, Prof. Dominique Soldati-Favre from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, shared her research on Toxoplasma gondii Mitoribosome. Apicomplexan parasites are responsible for severe human diseases such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, and babesiosis. She said, these parasites, in addition to small mitochondrial genome, contain fragmented mitoribosomal rRNAs, which complicates our understanding of mitoribosome assembly. Using apicoplast-less T. gondii parasites, they have identified drugs that specifically target mitochondrial translation. This approach offers exciting new possibilities for therapeutic development.

    Prof. Dominique Soldati-Favre speaking at the 9th “International Symposium on Current Trends in Drug Discovery Research” #CTDDR2025 at CSIR-CDIR, Lucknow.

    HACK-indices provides a rational basis for selecting next-generation probiotics and live biotherapeutic products: Dr. Tarini Shankar Ghosh

    Dr. Tarini Shankar Ghosh from The Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi, presented the efforts to identify the Health-Associated Core-Keystones (HACK) across population groups. The availability of HACK-indices provides a rational basis for selecting next-generation probiotics and live biotherapeutic products to promote general health. Through global meta-analysis of gut microbiomes from 127 studies, his group investigated 196 taxa for their association with three hallmark properties, i.e., prevalence/community-influence in non-diseased subjects, longitudinal stability and host health and integrated them into a single measure, the HACK-index. Using this HACK-index, they presented a ranking order of microbiome taxa based on their estimated contribution to both microbiome stability and host-health.

    Host-directed therapy for infectious diseases may be new hope for targeting antimicrobials: Prof. Christian Doerig

    Prof. Christian Doerig from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Australia, explained about the host-directed therapy that offers untapped targets limiting cross-resistance to existing antimicrobials and reduced susceptibility to de novo resistance. Using an antibody microarray directed against human signalling proteins, they identified potential antiviral targets as well as lead compounds. He further reported the identification of some erythrocytic kinases that are activated by infection with Plasmodium falciparum. Inhibitors targeting these kinases display high potency against parasite proliferation.

    Prof. Christian Doerig speaking at the 9th “International Symposium on Current Trends in Drug Discovery Research” #CTDDR2025 at CSIR-CDIR, Lucknow.

    Single-dose liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) as a game changer in the management of visceral leishmaniasis: Prof. Shyam Sundar

    Prof. Shyam Sundar from the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, shared the journey of the epidemic of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), starting from its origin to elimination, in India. He emphasized single-dose liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) as a game changer in the management of VL in India. He noted that the elimination target for VL needs to hold in 2025 to obtain the WHO certification.

    The open science discovery of DNDi-6510 led to an orally bioavailable SARS-CoV2 antiviral: Dr. Peter Sjö

     

    In Session IV today, Dr. Peter Sjö from the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Switzerland, shared about the need for broad-spectrum oral antivirals. He reported the results of the COVID Moonshot, a fully open-science, crowd sourced, structure-enabled drug discovery campaign targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. He further discussed the lead series discovery and approaches to overcome ADMET issues which lead to the front runner preclinical candidate DNDI-6510 against SARS-CoV2.

    Novel antivirals to provide immediate therapeutic options against serious viral infections is need of the day: Prof. Sudhanshu Vrati

    Prof. Sudhanshu Vrati from the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, also mentioned the need for the novel antivirals to provide immediate therapeutic options against serious viral infections. As the new viral pathogens are constantly emerging and posing a serious threat of imminent epidemics. He presented the background to the science of antiviral development with an example of a novel antiviral against Chikungunya virus, developed in his lab.

    New rapid antigen tests are being developed for dengue, zika and chikungunya: Prof. Gaurav Batra

    Prof. Gaurav Batra fromthe Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad delivered their novel findings on the diagnostics of Arboviral infections, which include, dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. He presented the data on the development of ELISA and rapid NS1 tests with high sensitivity, serotype-independent performance, and significantly improved detection of secondary infections of dengue virus. They are also developing rapid antigen tests for Zika and chikungunya, with the goal of integrating them into a multiplex diagnostic platform. These advanced diagnostics could enhance clinical trial design, patient selection, and treatment evaluation, ultimately contributing to more effective therapeutic strategies and public health responses.

    The V Parallel Session of #CTDDR2025 was dedicated on Natural product chemistry for novel drugs.

    Prof. Inder Pal Singh from NIPER, SAS Nagar, shared his research on development of wound healing and anti-inflammatory formulations from Seabuckthorn plant Hippophae rhamnoides L. They developed a cost effective method for plant extraction leading to isolation of Seabuckthorn fruit oil (IPHRFH) which showed good wound healing activity and was developed into Cream and Gel formulation.

    Dr. Chandra Kant Katiyar from Emami Ltd, Gurgaon, shared his thoughts on new drug discovery from medicinal plants: Issues, challenges and way forward. His talk shared insights into the multifaceted approaches to developing plant-based drugs, covering forward pharmacology, where compounds are screened for biological activity, and reverse pharmacology, which builds on traditional knowledge to validate therapeutic claims. He emphasized that, by integrating traditional knowledge with technology guided by regulations, medicinal plants can continue to be a cornerstone in addressing unmet medical needs globally.

    Dr. Ashutosh Pandey from the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi, delivered a talk on “Engineering crops for value addition of health-beneficial natural products: From fundamentals to applications”. He presented insights into how plant metabolites regulate, interact with cellular signalling pathways, and modulate gene expression. Additionally, he discussed the regulatory roles of transcriptional factors and their interplay in fine-tuning flavonoid biosynthesis in agriculturally important crops like chickpea and banana. This knowledge can be leveraged for genetic manipulation to enhance the nutritional value of crops.

    In the Flash Talks & Poster Session Young Investigators presented their novel findings

    In the flash talk session, selected students and young faculty from different scientific fields, related to drug development, delivered their novel findings. In the Poster session today more than 180 posters were presented by the young investigators.

    ***

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Toddler and paediatric formulation of JN.1 COVID-19 vaccines to be provided end of month

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced today (February 20) that starting from February 25, the JN.1 vaccine will be provided to infants and children aged 6 months to 11 years, replacing the XBB mRNA vaccine (XBB vaccine) currently in use. The CHP also urges those who have not received the initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (including infants and children) to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Those at high risk (particularly the elderly and persons with underlying comorbidities) should receive a booster dose as soon as possible for effective prevention against COVID-19.
     
    Vaccine supply
    ———————
         Given that the predominant strains circulating in Hong Kong are JN.1 and its descendant lineages, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the CHP have recommended the use of JN.1 lineage COVID-19 vaccines earlier.

         In light of the above, the Government has been offering the JN.1 vaccine to persons aged 12 years or above under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme since November 19 last year and has actively procured the toddler and paediatric JN.1 formulation for infants and children aged 6 months to 11 years. 
         â€‹
         About 6 000 doses of Comirnaty JN.1 toddler and paediatric formulation (around 3 000 doses each) have recently arrived in Hong Kong. After stringent checks and inspections to ensure that the vaccine complies with product specifications and relevant cold-chain standards, Government staff have properly stored the vaccines in validated ultra-low temperature freezers at the temperature specified by the drug manufacturer. The Government will, taking into account future vaccine demand, procure COVID-19 vaccines from suppliers in a timely manner.
     
    Booking and vaccination arrangements
    ——————————————
         Under the Government COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, persons aged 6 months or above can receive free initial dose(s). High-risk priority groups can receive booster doses for free at least six months after the last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later), regardless of the number of doses received previously.

         â€‹High-risk priority groups include:

    older adults aged 50 or above, including those living in residential care homes;
    persons aged 18 to 49 years with underlying comorbidities;
    persons with immunocompromising conditions aged 6 months and above;
    pregnant women; and
    healthcare workers.

     
         Eligible persons may schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment via the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme booking system.  Infants and children aged 6 months to 11 years who schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments on or after February 25 will receive the JN.1 vaccine. Infants and children may receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, designated Maternal and Child Health Centres, designated Student Health Service Centres under the DH and designated Private Clinic COVID-19 Community Vaccination Stations. For details of vaccination venues, please refer to the webpage. As mentioned above, the Government has been offering the JN.1 vaccine to persons aged 12 years or above participating in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme since November 19 last year.
     
         As persons who contract influenza and COVID-19 at the same time would be at a higher risk of severe complications and death, the CHP strongly recommends that high-risk individuals receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) and COVID-19 vaccination booster to reduce risks of serious illness and death. The WHO has also pointed out that high-risk persons should receive booster doses at appropriate times to lower risks of serious illness and death.
     
         For citizens who have not yet received SIV while receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, they can check with vaccination venues for arrangements for influenza vaccination. According to scientific evidence, COVID-19 vaccines and seasonal influenza vaccines can be administered at the same time to provide dual protection.

         Members of the public may visit the CHP’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and seasonal influenza webpage for more details.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fatal traffic accident in Ma On Shan

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Fatal traffic accident in Ma On Shan
    Fatal traffic accident in Ma On Shan
    ************************************

         Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Ma On Shan this morning (February 21) in which a man died.     At 6.45am, a school bus driven by a 78-year-old man was travelling along Kam Ying Road towards Wu Kai Sha. When the school bus was approaching near 9 Kam Ying Road, it reportedly went out of control and rammed into the railings.     Sustaining no superficial injury, the driver was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 7.31am.     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories South is under way.     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 1346.

     
    Ends/Friday, February 21, 2025Issued at HKT 10:54

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 2.20.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 20, 2025

    Sacramento, California –Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Mayumi Kimura, of Temecula, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Woman Veterans at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Kimura has been the Founder and Director of Warriors Insight Therapy since 2022. She was a Readjustment Counselor at Lowell Vet Center from 2019 to 2022. Kimura was a Program Director at Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, Housing Unit for Military Veterans from 2018 to 2019.  She was an Emergency Services Clinician at Riverside Community Care from 2017 to 2018. Kimura was a Social Services Clinician at Butler Psychiatric Hospital from 2016 to 2017. She was a Psychosocial Manager/Hospice Social Worker at Bayada Hospice from 2013 to 2017. Kimura served in multiple roles for the United States Navy from 2001 to 2010, including Active-Duty Operations Specialist, Petty Officer First Class, and Active Reserves. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $154,860. Kimura is a Democrat.

    Justin Turner, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the California Department of Conservation. He has been Assistant Chief Counsel at the Department of Conservation since 2015 and Attorney III from 2008 to 2015. Turner was a Contract Attorney at the California Department of Public Health from 2005 to 2008. He was a Contract Attorney at Update Legal in 2004. Turner earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Oregon. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $208,440. Turner is a Democrat.

    Anthony “Tony” Marino, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Energy at the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety. Marino has been the Deputy Director of the Underground Infrastructure Directorate at the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety since 2022. Marino was the Executive Officer of the Underground Safety Board at the Department of Foresty and Fire Protection from 2017 to 2021. He served as Consultant on the Subcommittee on Gas, Electric, and Transportation Safety in the Office of Senator Jerry Hill from 2012 to 2017. Marino held multiple positions in the Office of Assemblymember Jerry Hill from 2010 to 2012, including Legislative Aide and Science Fellow. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in English and Chemistry from Davidson College. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $175,512. Marino is registered without party preference.  

    Travis Nichols, of Sacramento, has been appointed Cyber Incident Response Manager at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Nichols has been an Operations Officer/Defensive Cyberspace Weapons Officer with the United States Marine Corps Reserve since 2010. He was a Consultant at Level9 Group in 2023. Nichols was a Cyber Security Operations Architect at Smith & Nephew from 2022 to 2023. He was an Information System Security Officer/Engineer at Defense Microelectronics Activity from 2021 to 2022. Nichols was a Systems Administrator – Server/Network Team Lead at Blackwatch International from 2019 to 2021. He was a Systems Administrator – Tier III – Team Lead at Cincinnati Bell Technical Solutions from 2018 to 2019. Nichols was a Service Support Engineer at Pathforward IT from 2016 to 2018. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $137,616. Nichols is a Democrat.

    Lynda Hopkins, of Sebastopol, has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board. Hopkins has been the Fifth District Supervisor on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors since 2016. She was a Co-Owner at Foggy River Farm from 2008 to 2020. Hopkins was a Reporter at the Sonoma West Times & News from 2009 to 2013. She was the Executive Director at Sonoma County Farm Trails from 2008 to 2010. Hopkins was a Head Teaching Assistant at the Stanford University Earth Systems Program from 2005 to 2007. She is a member of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Hopkins earned a Master of Science degree in Earth Systems, a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Systems, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Creative Writing and Poetry from Stanford University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Hopkins is a Democrat.

    Dawn Ortiz-Legg, of San Luis Obispo, has been appointed to the California Air Resources Board. Ortiz-Legg has been the Third District Supervisor on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors since 2020. She was a Right of Way Agent at Pacific Gas and Electric Company from 2018 to 2020. Ortiz-Legg was a Project Manager & Public Affairs Liaison at First Solar from 2010 to 2018. She was North American Sales and Marketing Manager at PTEC Corporation from 1999 to 2010. Ortiz-Legg is a member of the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District. She earned her Master of Public Policy degree in Climate Change and Technology Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Organizational Communication from Pepperdine University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Ortiz-Legg is a Democrat.

    Tina Thomas, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Wildlife Conservation Board. Thomas has been Of Counsel at Downey Brand LLP since 2023. She was Founding Partner at Thomas Law Group Sacramento from 2012 to 2023. Thomas has held multiple positions at Remy, Thomas, Moose, and Manley, LLP from 1982 to 2011, including Counsel and Managing Partner. She was an Associate Attorney at Remy and Associates from 1979 to 1982. Thomas is a Board Member at the Steinberg Institute, Sacramento Federal Judiciary Library, and Meristem, and Member Emeritus at the Sacramento Food Bank. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego, and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Sociology and Political Science from Stephens College. This position does not require Senate Confirmation, and there is no compensation. Thomas is a Democrat.

    Frances “Fran” Pavley, of Agoura Hills, has been reappointed to the Wildlife Conservation Board, where she has served since 2018. Pavley has been the Environmental Policy Director at the University of Southern California Schwarzenegger Institute since 2018. She served as a Senator in the California State Senate from 2008 to 2016. Pavley served as an Assemblymember in the California State Assembly from 2000 to 2006. She served as Mayor/City Councilmember for the City of Agoura Hills from 1982 to 1998. Pavley earned her Master of the Arts degree in Environmental Planning from California State University, Northridge, and her Bachelor of the Arts degree in Social Science from California State University, Fresno. This position does not require Senate Confirmation, and there is no compensation.  Pavley is a Democrat.

    Travis Clausen, of Garden Grove, has been appointed to the Underground Safe Excavation Board. Clausen has been Regional Construction Manager – Aviation and Defense at Sully-Miller Contracting Company since 2025, where he was Senior Operations Manager from 2015 to 2025. Clausen was a Project Manager at OHL USA from 2014 to 2015 and at Sully Miller Contracting Company from 2006 to 2014. Clausen served in the United States Army from 1995 to 1998. He earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Business Administration – Finance from California State University, Fullerton. This position does not require Senate Confirmation and there is no compensation. Clausen is a Republican.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Feb 19, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Andrew “Andy” Nakahata, of San Francisco, has been appointed Chief Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank….

    Feb 19, 2025

    News What you need to know: A court has denied the city of Norwalk’s request to dismiss the state’s lawsuit against the city for its unlawful ban on homeless shelters.  NORWALK — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement in response to a court decision…

    Feb 19, 2025

    News What you need to know: Steve Jobs, a visionary of global scale, has been nominated to represent California on the American Innovation Coin. The coin, which will be minted by the U.S. Mint, highlights U.S. innovations and innovators, including California’s legacy…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE workshop enhances protection of soft targets, public events, in Kyrgyzstan

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE workshop enhances protection of soft targets, public events, in Kyrgyzstan

    Participants in a workshop on protecting soft targets, such as public events, from terrorist attacks in Bishkek, 18 February 2024. (OSCE) Photo details

    Protecting soft targets, such as public events, from terrorist attacks was the focus of an OSCE workshop held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from 18 to 20 February. The event, bringing together 30 government officials, was organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. 
    “Project PROTECT offers us a unique opportunity to engage in tabletop exercises and share international perspectives on vulnerable targets protection. By learning together, we create a powerful synergy—gaining new skills, exchanging lessons, and strengthening our global approach,” highlighted Adylbek Kadyraliev, Deputy Director of the Anti-Terrorism Center of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic.
    Participants discussed pre-event security planning tasks notably the delineation of roles and responsibilities between private and public stakeholders, assessing risk, managing traffic and ensuring human rights and privacy considerations. This theoretical knowledge was then tested in a full-day scenario-based exercise which encouraged rapid, practical and co-ordinated decision-making by participants.
    “The protection of soft targets is a cornerstone of comprehensive security strategies. By addressing vulnerabilities in these high-risk areas, authorities not only reduce the likelihood of destructive attacks, but also contribute to building public trust and maintaining social and economic stability,”  said Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in his opening remarks.
    Participants included experts and practitioners from the State Committee for National Security, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education, Osh City Hall, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor General’s office, Ministry of Culture, Bishkek City Hall and Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic as well as from the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism.
    This workshop is part of Project PROTECT, which enhances national approaches to protecting vulnerable targets from terrorist threats and other hazards in a manner that integrates compliance with human rights. The event was organized with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and funded partly by Germany.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coming up next week at the London Assembly w/c 24 February 2025

    Source: Mayor of London

    PUBLICATIONS

    Monday 24 February

    Night-time Economy Report

    Economy, Culture and Skills Committee

    The Economy, Culture and Skills Committee will publish its report – London’s Night-Time Economy.  The report follows an in-depth investigation by the Committee, which saw industry experts, professionals and local authorities provide evidence on London’s night-time economy, what work is currently being done, and any barriers preventing further growth in the sector.

    MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251 727 / [email protected]

    SITE VISIT

    Thursday 27 February

    Defibrillator training

    Health Committee – Liverpool St Station 10:30am – 12:00pm

    Members of the Health Committee will visit Liverpool Street Station, where they will observe a pop-up London lifesaver defibrillator training. 

    The meeting will include representatives from the London Ambulance Service, Transport for London and people whose lives have been saved by defibrillators.

    MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS FILMING/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

    MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Bell on 07887 832 918 / [email protected]

    PUBLIC MEETINGS

    Tuesday 25 February

    Mayor’s Question Time – Final Budget

    All Assembly meeting – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan will present his Final Draft Consolidated Budget for 2025-26 to the London Assembly for a final vote on the financial plans.

    After questioning the Mayor, the London Assembly will consider his Final Draft Consolidated Budget and decide whether to approve it, with or without amendment.  The guests are:

    • Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
    • David Bellamy, Mayor’s Chief of Staff
    • Fay Hammond, Chief Financial Officer, GLA

    MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Bell on 07887 832 918 / [email protected]

    Wednesday 26 February

    Violence against women and girls (VAWG)

    Police and Crime Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    The Police and Crime Committee will begin an investigation into VAWG, focussing on the impact on young people. The Committee will question guests on the experiences of young people, and how the Mayor can ensure that prevention-based education programmes and initiatives are reaching boys and young men in London.  The guests are:

    Panel 1 (10:00am – 11:15am)

    • Janaya Walker, Head of Public Affairs, End Violence Against Women
    • Guest TBC, Southall Black Sisters

    Panel 2 (11:20am – approx. 12:30pm)

    • Kate Lexén, Director of Services, Tender
    • Ellie Softley, Head of Education, Everyone’s Invited
    • Professor Jessica Ringrose, Faculty of Education and Society, University College London

    MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251 727 / [email protected]

    Wednesday 26 February

    Leasehold Charges

    Housing Committee – Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 2pm

    The Housing Committee will ask what extent service charges make ‘affordable’ home ownership tenures funded by the Mayor unaffordable, what more the Mayor can do to help leaseholders, and the extent to which freeholders and managing agents are working to improve transparency in service charges in London.  The guests are:

    • Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development
    • Kate Webb, Head of Housing Strategy, Greater London Authority
    • Charmaine McQueen-Prince, Chair of the Residential Freehold Association’s Leasehold Reform Subcommittee
    • Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), L&Q and Chair, G15
    • Andrew Bulmer, CEO, The Property Institute

    MEDIA CONTACT:  Josh Hunt on 07763 252310 /[email protected]

    Thursday 27 February

    Mayor’s Transport Strategy

    Transport Committee – Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

    The Transport Committee will ask the Deputy Mayor for Transport and the Transport for London (TfL) Commissioner about progress towards meeting the Mayor’s Transport Strategy ambitions, the Vision Zero target for no deaths or serious injuries on London’s transport network, bus services, and more.  The guests are:

    • Andy Lord, TfL Commissioner
    • Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport

    MEDIA CONTACT:  Josh Hunt on 07763 252310 /[email protected]

    Thursday 27 February

    Mayor’s Fund for London

    GLA Oversight Committee – Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 2pm

    The GLA Oversight Committee will question the Mayor’s Fund for London about its work. The guests are:

    • Jim Minton, Chief Executive Officer, Mayor’s Fund for London
    • Basma Elhayani, Youth Board Member, Mayor’s Fund for London

    The Committee will also ask questions on new proposals for the format of People’s Question Time between 2025 and 2028.

    MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Bell on 07887 832 918 / [email protected]

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Turkish girl discovers charm of Chinese culture

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Nursena Burus, a 19-year-old from the historic city of Manisa on Türkiye’s Aegean coast, has developed a taste for Chinese culture thanks to its food and her travels around the country.

    For Burus, coming to China was not just a language-learning opportunity, but a chance to experience a culture that had captivated her from afar.

    Her sister, who had previously studied artificial intelligence at China’s Xiamen University, encouraged her to take the leap and explore China.

    “My family and friends thought learning Chinese was too difficult, but my sister showed me pictures of her life in China — her friends, festivals and foods,” Burus said. “I started to see it as more than just a place to study. It looks like an adventure.”

    In February 2024, she arrived in China just before the Chinese New Year, and immediately immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of celebration. Red lanterns swayed in the wind, intricate paper cuttings adorned windows, and vibrant couplets decorated doorways.

    “Everywhere I went, the streets were filled with red, a color of celebration and good luck. It was a completely new experience for me.”

    After settling into Tianjin University, Burus could not help but notice that the usually busy campus was almost empty as most Chinese students had headed home for the Spring Festival.

    “It reminded me of the Ramadan Feast in Türkiye, when we all go back to our hometowns to eat, pray and celebrate with family. I love how both cultures value family reunions during important holidays.”

    As classes began in March, Burus quickly adapted to learning and living at Tianjin University. “The teachers were so supportive. They encouraged me to practice speaking without worrying about mistakes, and their passion made me work even harder.”

    Burus quickly built friendships with her Chinese classmates through food and diverse cultural activities.

    Her best Chinese friend Meiqi became her food “mentor.” Meiqi taught her how to use chopsticks and introduced her to Tianjin’s popular street foods, including hot pot and red bean shaved ice.

    She regularly explored the university’s cafeterias and discovered her favorite dishes, including Peking Duck. Moreover, she often followed the recommended foods on the popular short video-sharing platform Douyin to explore new restaurants and shared photos of her culinary adventures on her WeChat Moments.

    “Chinese cuisines are rich and delicious, and the convenient digital payment system has truly amazed me,” Burus said.

    In October 2024, she spent a weekend in the countryside of Tianjin, picking hawthorn and chestnuts and eating farmhouse meals. “It was a very beautiful and peaceful place. People seem to quite enjoy their lives,” she said. The experience reminded her of her hometown village near Manisa, where life is slower, simpler and deeply connected to the land.

    One of her most cherished memories was celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival in 2024. The festival coincided with her birthday and she had the chance to learn how to make Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) with her classmates.

    “It reminded me of Nevruz, a Turkish holiday that celebrates the arrival of spring. Both festivals honor seasonal changes,” Burus said.

    Now more fluent in Chinese, Burus feels that China has become a second home where she has made lifelong friends and experienced the beauty of Chinese culture.

    “We share so many similar things, like our love for family, traditions and hospitality. I want to build on that connection and show others that the world isn’t as different as it seems.”

    Before leaving China earlier this year after finishing two semesters of a language learning program, she left behind a wish bottle buried on the campus, containing her wish to become a bridge for cultural exchanges between Türkiye and China. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Legal Issues – Health and safety obligations highlighted in sentencing of former port chief executive

    Source: Maritime New Zealand

    A chief executive who oversaw the Port of Auckland for more than a decade has been sentenced today (21 February) in a significant case in relation to a 2020 fatal incident at the port.
    In November last year, Judge Bonnar KC in the District Court at Auckland released a decision finding Tony Gibson guilty of one Health and Safety at Work charge, after stevedore Pala’amo Kalati was killed in August 2020.
    This is the first time in New Zealand an officer of a large company has been convicted of a breach of their due diligence duty.
    The Judge’s decision is seen as one that clarifies legislative health and safety obligations for officers of large companies.
    Maritime NZ Director, Kirstie Hewlett, says people are at the centre of prosecutions such as this, and Mr Kalati’s family, will forever feel the impact of what occurred at the Port of Auckland nearly four and a half years ago.
    “Our thoughts continue to go out to Mr Kalati’s family, friends, as well as those also impacted by this tragic incident, including the other surviving victim.
    “This has not been a quick process, and we fully understand how difficult the ongoing proceedings against the Port and Mr Gibson would have been for those close to Mr Kalati, and the other victim,” says Ms Hewlett.
    The District Court found that, as the chief executive of Port of Auckland, Mr Gibson did not exercise his due diligence responsibility for ensuring that the Port complied with its health and safety responsibilities.
    “This was a serious departure from the duty of care he should have provided to the workers at the port as the senior officer in charge (the chief executive).
    “Mr Gibson had the knowledge, influence, resources and opportunity to address safety gaps and ensure that appropriate systems were in place at the port, but failed to do so,” Ms Hewlett says.
    During his more than a decade managing it, the port company was convicted of several offences under health and safety legislation. These past incidents resulting in fatalities and serious injuries.
    Mr Gibson knew of safety issues raised around the critical risks that could hurt people on the Port, but did not take timely action to address them, even though it was in his control and influence to do so.
    It is hoped this case will serve as a strong reminder to chief executives of large companies that they need to understand the critical risks at their businesses; and assure themselves, through reliable sources, that there are controls and systems in place, and that these are working effectively on the ground.
    “In saying this, I recognise there are many officers in New Zealand who are meeting their health and safety obligations, and they should be confident this decision reaffirms the work they do to keep their people safe at work.
    “More broadly I also want to recognise the work of the Port sector- port companies, stevedores and unions since the death of Mr Kalati to improve safety on New Zealand ports. This work has included the delivery of the Approved Code of Practice (for loading and unloading cargo at ports and on ships) which was launched last year to ensure consistent base line safety standards. It is important that this work continues to ensure we prevent tragedies like this and that workers come home healthy and safe,” Ms Hewlett says.
    Sentencing notes:
    In sentencing Judge Bonnar KC fined Tony Gibson $130,000. He awarded Maritime NZ costs of $60,000

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –