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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neag School of Education Hosts “Why Teach, Why Now” Contest for Early College Experience Students

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    On June 26, the Neag School of Education celebrated the winners of its “Why Teach, Why Now” contest, which encouraged high school students enrolled in its education Early College Experience courses to share why they wish to become educators in urban settings. The three winners of the contest were Aiden Tetreault from Enfield, who came in first place; Madelyn Heitmann of Milford, who came in second; and Keira Beck of Milford, who came in third.

    The Neag School had 924 students enrolled in its ECE courses across 45 Connecticut high schools during the 2024-2025 academic year, and all were invited to submit for the contest. Submissions had to be either 250-500-word essays or 5-minute videos describing why they want to be urban educators and why now. A committee of faculty from the Neag School’s Office of Teacher Education — including Alyssa Hadley Dunn, Austina Lee, and Kathryn Nagrotsky — judged the submissions and selected the winners.

    “At a time when teachers and teaching are often under attack, it was a true privilege to review the submissions of future urban educators who are committed to the profession,” says Dunn, who is the director of teacher education for the Neag School.

    On Thursday evening, Tetreault, Heitmann, and Beck, along with their families and teachers, were invited to a celebratory reception at UConn Hartford. All three students read their winning submissions for the group before receiving small award plaques.

    “Aiden, Madelyn, and Keira’s essays illustrated the importance of working for justice and equity for all children,” Dunn says. “Their ECE teachers had clearly done a great job of helping them understand the power of teachers in today’s world, and their writings beautifully linked their personal experiences with their future profession.”

    Expanding its ECE course offerings and enrollment has been a priority for the Neag School for the past few years. When the School piloted two ECE courses in 2021-2022, only five school districts participated. Since then, the Neag School has expanded to offer four courses and has steadily increased its enrollment every year. The ECE courses it currently offers include: EDCI 1100: If You Love It, Teach It; EDLR 1162: Health and Education in Urban Communities; EDLR 2001: Contemporary Social Issues in Sport; and EPSY 1100: Introduction to Special Education.

    “Not only do these courses allow students to earn UConn credits while still in high school, but they also offer the chance to explore careers in education,” said Neag School Dean Jason G. Irizarry during his welcome remarks at the event. “We need passionate future educators more than ever, and I’m thrilled that we’re recognizing three of them tonight.”

    The event was supported by the John and Carla Klein Endowment for Urban Education through the UConn Foundation.

    “The Neag School of Education has a longstanding commitment to preparing educators to work in the schools that need them the most,” Irizarry said. “We are lucky that multiple donors – most notably, Carla Klein – are also invested in that vision. We are grateful for their generosity.”

    To learn more about UConn’s Early College Experience, visit ece.uconn.edu.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: GAIA AFRICA Appoints Mena Imasekha as General Manager

    GAIA AFRICA (https://GAIAAfricaClub.com ), the premier private business club for Africa’s most influential women leaders, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Mena Imasekha as General Manager, effective immediately. Since its founding in 2018, GAIA AFRICA has become a leading force in the empowerment of female decision-makers across Africa. The Club has facilitated over $10 million in member-to-member business value since 2021, reflecting the power of intentional community and strategic collaboration. 

    Mena joined GAIA AFRICA in June 2021 as Business Development & Operations Manager, where she played a pivotal role in the club’s growth, member engagement, and optimising operations across core business units. Her appointment reflects GAIA AFRICA’s ongoing commitment to excellence in leadership and community-building for women across the continent. 

    An accomplished strategist with a strong background in operations, Mena brings over 15 years of experience spanning wellness, e-commerce, non-profit, and financial services. Her multidisciplinary career has included leadership roles in online sales strategy, social impact fundraising, and executive wellness programming, all with a consistent focus on systems thinking and growth. 

    She previously served as Strategy & Communications Manager at the crowdfunding platform 234Give.com, where she led successful CSR campaigns in partnership with top corporates including FBN Capital, Stanbic IBTC, and Sterling Bank. She has also held advisory and executive positions at Women Impacting Nigeria and Mega Plaza. 

    Mena holds a BSc in Biology from Imperial College London, with further certifications in Integrative Health Coaching and CMAE’s Club Management MDP 1 & MDP 2. Her approach to leadership is rooted in a passion for strategic thinking, wellness and social transformation. 

    “Mena’s deep operational insight and commitment to GAIA’s vision of empowering and supporting female decision makers, make her the right leader for this next chapter,” said Olatowun Candide-Johnson, Founder and CEO of GAIA AFRICA. “She brings not only technical excellence but commitment and a powerful sensitivity to the evolving needs of our members.” 

    In her new role, Mena will oversee day-to-day operations, strategy, and strategic partnerships across GAIA AFRICA and its affiliated lifestyle brand, GABY Lagos. She will report to the CEO, who continues to lead on broader strategic initiatives and future growth for the company. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Gaia Africa.

    Media Contact: 
    GAIA AFRICA Communications 
    Email: bizops@gaiaafricaclub.com  
    Website: https://GAIAAfricaClub.com 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Sensex, Nifty end with slight gains as investors remain cautious

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian stock markets ended flat with a slight positive bias on Tuesday, as investors stayed cautious ahead of the US reciprocal tariff deadline on July 8.

    The focus remained on trade negotiations between India and the United States, with a potential trade deal expected this week.

    After touching an intraday high of 83,874.29, the Sensex finally closed at 83,697.29, gaining 90.83 points or 0.11 per cent.

    Similarly, the Nifty added 24.75 points, or 0.1 per cent, to settle at 25,541.8.

    Among the 30-share index, BEL emerged as the top gainer, closing 2.51 per cent higher. Other notable gainers included Asian Paints, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank, Infosys, Titan, and Bharti Airtel.

    On the flip side, Axis Bank, Trent, Eternal (formerly Zomato), Tech Mahindra, ICICI Bank, and TCS were among the top losers.

    The broader market showed mixed signals. The Nifty Midcap100 index ended flat, while the Nifty Smallcap100 slipped slightly, down 0.10 per cent.

    Among sectoral indices, Nifty PSU Bank, Metal, Oil & Gas, Consumer Durables, Healthcare, and Pharma closed in the green. However, sectors like Auto, IT, Energy, FMCG, Media, and Realty declined.

    The total market capitalisation of all listed companies on the NSE stood at Rs 5.36 trillion.

    On the volatility front, the India VIX — which measures market uncertainty — dropped 2.01 per cent to close at 12.5, indicating reduced fear among investors.

    Gold traded positive as continued dollar weakness supported prices. Comex Gold surged by $30 to $3,345, while MCX Gold rose by Rs 1,200 to settle around Rs 97,300.

    “The sentiment remains buoyant this week, driven by expectations around key US economic data, particularly the Non-Farm Payrolls, unemployment figures, and ADP non-farm employment change,” said Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities.

    Additionally, the rupee traded positive, gaining 0.28 per cent to close at 85.51, supported by a weaker Dollar Index trading below 97.00 and sustained weakness in crude oil prices.

    “Rupee is expected to trade in a range of 85.20 to 85.80,” Trivedi added.

    -IANS

  • MIL-OSI: Close-Up International Appoints Jim Barone as Executive Vice President of Business Solutions to Continue Launch into US Pharma CRM Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PRINCETON, N.J., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Close-Up International, a global leading provider of CRM and data technology solutions for the life sciences industry is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Barone as Executive Vice President of Business Solutions. In this role, Jim will lead efforts to expand Close-Up’s footprint across the U.S. CRM market and drive strategic growth initiatives.

    Jim brings over 30 years of experience in the life sciences sector, with a strong background in pharmaceuticals, data, and emerging technologies. Throughout his career, Jim has been at the forefront of innovation in CRM strategy and advanced analytics solutions. Prior to joining Close-Up, Jim held key leadership roles which included Senior Director of Product Strategy at Veeva Systems and Area VP of Sales at Komodo Health, where he led strategic initiatives to align CRM product development with the needs of key accounts teams and the launch of a market access and claims integration platform tailored for emerging and mid-size pharmaceutical companies, respectively. He was also President and CEO of BusinessOne Technologies for 15+ years and successfully led teams to develop and implement data-driven CRM platforms, delivering scalable and impactful solutions to the pharmaceutical industry.

    “Jim’s proven record and deep industry expertise make him an invaluable addition to our executive team,” said Robert Thomas, CCO of Close-Up. “His vision and leadership will be key as we continue to grow our CRM presence in the United States and deliver market-leading solutions to pharmaceutical companies.” With the current Salesforce and Veeva CRM disruption, we have a tremendous opportunity to provide Pharma companies a proven AI CRM solution with over 245 active CRM clients in over 50 Counties.”

    “I’m excited to join Close-Up at such a transformative moment for our industry,” said Jim Barone. “Close-Up has an exceptional CRM platform and is the only 5-star peer reviewed pharma CRM solution on Gartner in 2025. I look forward to collaborating with the team to further enhance our solutions and support clients in achieving commercial excellence.” Jim’s appointment reflects Close-Up’s continued commitment to innovation, client success, and further expansion in the US pharma CRM technology landscape.

    About Close-Up Intl.,
    Close-Up International is a leading provider of AI-powered CRM, data analytics and business intelligence solutions for the global life sciences industry. With 55+ years in the market, we serve 650+ healthcare clients in over 50 countries with 47,000+ active CRM users and top 3 global pharma CRM providers. Our AI-powered CRM platform enhances engagement with healthcare professionals, identifies real-time opportunities and threats, while boosting overall productivity. Designed for seamless adoption, it offers an intuitive user interface, flexible data integration, and long-term cost benefits to pharmaceutical companies. For more information, visit www.closeupus.com or email us at info@closeupus.com
    Contact:
    Robert Thomas | Close-Up Intl,
    rthomas@closeupus.com
    closeupus.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cost of Primary Care Services to reduce by £1001 July 2025 ​​​​From 1 July 2025, Islanders will benefit from a new £10 subsidy on appointments with Nurses, Pharmacists, Paramedics, Health Care Assistants, and for telephone consultations in general practice.… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    01 July 2025

    ​​​​From 1 July 2025, Islanders will benefit from a new £10 subsidy on appointments with Nurses, Pharmacists, Paramedics, Health Care Assistants, and for telephone consultations in general practice. 

    This follows previous reductions in the cost of GP appointments, which saw £20 removed in 2023 and £30 in 2024, to make primary care more affordable for Islanders. 

    Reducing GP service fees is a government priority helping to ease financial pressures on households and supporting Islanders to access GP care early, without fear of high costs.

    The expanded subsidy does not apply to out-of-hours services provided by Jersey Doctors on Call, as well as patients in the Health Access Scheme who pay fixed reduced fees for GP services. 

    The Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, said: “I’m pleased to introduce this new support, which extends financial relief to patients accessing a broader range of primary care professionals, including nurses and telephone consultations. 

    “I’m grateful to general practice for working with us to deliver this important expansion. Together, we are working to strengthen a high-quality, accessible, and flexible primary care system for all Islanders.” 

    Dr Gordon Callander from the Primary Care Body said: “Costs for providing healthcare continue to rise. Practices continue to do all they can to minimise the impact on patients.

    “Many practices now offer consultations with other healthcare professionals who can often meet patients’ needs. It is great that the important work of practice nurses, healthcare assistants, paramedics and pharmacists is recognised by Employment, Social Security and Housing ​to allow the evolution of services offered to patients. 

    “In addition, the use of remote consultations by phone or video has proved invaluable to a number of patients. We are grateful to government for recognising and encouraging new ways of working which reflect modern General Practice.”​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The NHS plan to genetically test all newborns sounds smart – until it creates patients who aren’t sick

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Luca Stroppa, Postdoctoral fellow (“borsista di ricerca) at the University of Turin, former Postdoctoral Fellow on the project “Early Diagnosis – Handling Knowing”, University of St Andrews

    The current heel-prick test checks for nine rare genetic conditions, antibydni/Shutterstock

    By 2030, every baby born in England could have their entire genome sequenced under a new NHS initiative to “predict and prevent illness”. This would dramatically expand the current heel-prick test, which checks for nine rare genetic conditions, into a far more extensive screen of hundreds of potential risks.

    On the surface, the idea sounds like an obvious win for public health: spot problems early, intervene sooner and save lives. But genetic testing on this scale carries real risks, especially if the results are misunderstood or poorly communicated.

    The new plan builds on a recent NHS pilot study that sequenced the genomes of 100,000 newborns in England to identify more than 200 genetic conditions. However, these tests don’t provide clear cut answers. They don’t offer a diagnosis or certainty, just an estimate of risk.

    A genetic result might suggest a child has a higher (or lower) probability of developing a certain disease later in life. But risk is not prediction. If parents, or even clinicians, misinterpret that nuance, the consequences could be serious.

    Some families may come to see a child flagged as “at risk” as a patient-in-waiting. In extreme cases, they may treat a probability as a certainty; assuming, for instance, that a child “has the gene” and will inevitably become ill. That assumption could reshape how children are raised, how they’re treated and how they could see themselves.

    Alarming language

    This isn’t speculation. Research shows that while some people understand risk scores accurately, many struggle with statistical information. Words like “high risk” or “likely” are interpreted differently by different people and often more seriously than intended. Even trained doctors can overestimate what a positive test result means. When it comes to genomics, the line between “you might get sick” and “you will get sick” can blur quickly.

    Policymakers haven’t helped this confusion. Government messaging refers to “diagnosis before symptoms even occur” and “leapfrogging disease.” But this language overpromises what genomic data can do and downplays its uncertainty.

    When testing is indiscriminate and communication unclear, the fallout can be wide ranging. Children identified as “high risk” may undergo years of monitoring, unnecessary medical appointments, or even treatment for diseases they never develop. In some cases, this leads to physical harms, from unnecessary medications to procedures with side effects. In others, the damage is psychological: shaping a child’s identity around an anticipated future of illness. These psychological effects can be lasting. Being told you’re likely to develop a condition like dementia may influence how a person plans their life, even if that illness never materialises.

    False positives

    There are also broader issues with applying this kind of screening to everyone. Risk based testing works best when it’s targeted; for example, among those with symptoms or a strong family history. But in the general population, where most people are healthy, false positives can far outnumber accurate results. Even well designed tests can produce misleading outcomes when applied at scale.

    This is a well-known statistical effect, discussed during the COVID pandemic. In populations where a disease is rare, even highly accurate tests produce more false positives than true ones. If DNA screening is rolled out universally, many families will be told their child is at risk when they are not. These false positives can lead to a cascade of further tests, stress and unnecessary clinical interventions; all of which consume time and resources and may cause real harm.

    This issue already affects adult testing. For example, Alzheimer’s tests that measure early changes in the brain work well in memory clinics, where patients already show symptoms. But when these same tests are used on the general population, where most people are healthy, they produce false positives in up to two-thirds of cases. If genetic screening in newborns is rolled out in the same way, it could lead to similar problems: mislabelling healthy children as sick, and causing unnecessary worry and follow-up tests.

    So what’s the solution? It’s not to abandon genetic testing altogether – far from it. When used carefully, genomic data can offer real benefits, particularly for patients with symptoms or in research settings. But if we’re going to roll this out to every newborn, the surrounding infrastructure needs to be robust.

    That includes:

    • Clear, consistent communication: Risk scores must be explained in ways that emphasise uncertainty, not oversold as definitive predictions.

    • Support for parents: For consent to be truly informed, parents need help understanding that a genetic flag is not a diagnosis – and that many people with elevated risk never go on to develop the condition.

    • Training for clinicians: Many doctors still lack the tools to interpret and explain genetic information accurately and responsibly.

    • A national network of genetic counsellors Genetic counsellors are essential for supporting families through testing and interpretation. But current numbers in the England fall far short of what universal newborn screening would require.

    Genomic data holds great promise. But using it as a blanket tool for all newborns demands caution, clarity, and investment in communication and care. Without these safeguards, we risk turning healthy babies into patients-in-waiting.

    Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that every baby born in the UK could have their genome sequenced under a new NHS initiative. In fact, the initiative applies to England only.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The NHS plan to genetically test all newborns sounds smart – until it creates patients who aren’t sick – https://theconversation.com/the-nhs-plan-to-genetically-test-all-newborns-sounds-smart-until-it-creates-patients-who-arent-sick-259816

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Air quality isn’t just bad in cities – here’s why and how we’re tracking pollution from upland fires

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rebecca Brownlow, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science, Sheffield Hallam University

    Peatland burns over the reservoir in Langsett, a village in South Yorkshire. Wendy Birks, CC BY-NC-ND

    Early one October afternoon in 2023, thick grey smoke drifted across Sheffield’s western skyline. As much of the city became blanketed, residents turned to social media to complain about “bonfire smoke”, while others were forced to leave the city due to breathing difficulties.

    However, this smoke did not originate within the city. It was drifting in from the Peak District, more than nine miles away, where controlled heather burning was taking place on the moorlands. For around six hours, levels of fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5), tiny airborne pollutants known to harm human health, exceeded 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air (µg/m³) and peaked at 70µg/m³, well above the guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization.

    This single incident points to the wider and largely invisible problem of the routine burning of the UK’s uplands. This can be a serious source of air pollution, but because most official air pollution monitoring concentrates on urban areas, the effects are overlooked. This is why we have started monitoring upland fires and the pollution they cause.

    Prescribed burning is a longstanding land management practice often used to control vegetation for grouse shooting or livestock grazing. It happens across a range of upland landscapes. Many of the areas being burned sit on deep peat, an organic-rich soil made from layers of slowly decomposed plant material formed over thousands of years in waterlogged conditions.

    Peatlands are incredibly important. They are one of the most carbon-rich ecosystems on the planet. In the UK, they cover around 12% of the land area and store an estimated 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon. This is equivalent to all the forests of Germany, France and the UK combined. Most of the UK’s peat is found in Scotland, but notable areas in England include the Peak District and North York Moors. However, their value goes well beyond carbon.

    Around 70% of Britain’s drinking water comes from upland areas that are largely peatland, and healthy peatlands help reduce flooding by slowing the flow of water from hills to towns and cities. They also provide vital habitats for birds, insects and rare plants, forming the UK’s largest area of semi-natural habitat.



    Read more:
    Wildfire smoke can harm human health, even when the fire is burning hundreds of miles away – a toxicologist explains why

    Despite their ecological importance, more than 80% of English peatlands are classified as degraded, often through historic air pollution, draining, overgrazing and, importantly, repeated burning.

    One hidden consequence of that burning is air pollution. These burns are often viewed as isolated rural events, but their effect on regional air quality can be substantial. On that day in Sheffield, pollution levels briefly rivalled those seen across the city during bonfire night, a well-known peak in urban air pollution.

    In response to that October event, our research team launched a new pilot monitoring network across part of the Peak District national park. This FireUp project combines air quality sensors, satellite data and community observations to detect and measure pollution from upland fires.

    Planned burning event in the Peak District captured via Copernicus Sentinel-2 data (2024), retrieved from Copernicus SciHub and processed by European Space Agency.
    CC BY

    By using a mix of technologies and local reporting, we have documented spikes in PM2.5 pollution that would have otherwise been missed. Our system offers a clearer picture of when and where fires occur, and how far their smoke spreads, opening the door for better planning and stronger protections for public health. But the problem is not just a lack of data, it is also a failure of regulation. England’s current upland burning regulations are limited on four fronts.

    Heather and grass burning regulations introduced in 2021 prohibit burning only on peat deeper than 40cm inside designated sites. That means 60% of upland peat is excluded from these protections.

    With more than 95% of PM2.5 monitors located in urban areas, smoke from moorland fires in remote rural locations is rarely registered on official networks.

    The resources for organisations responsible for enforcing regulations have shrunk over the last decade. Natural England, one of the government’s statutory bodies responsible for environmental protection, has experienced a 4% decrease in funding for 2024-25 compared to the previous year.

    Prosecutions for illegal burning are exceptionally rare, with satellite analyses pointing to a higher level of unlicensed activity than official records suggest.

    In short, narrow legal scope, limited monitoring coverage and under-resourced enforcement leave many prescribed burns undetected and unaccounted for, along with the health and environmental risks they carry.

    Our FireUp system improves fire detections and helps quantify the effects of air pollution from these burns. As the UK government reviews regulations as part of the 2025 heather and grass burning consultation for England, and as upland fire risk increases, this kind of evidence is essential, not just to track what is happening, but to help shape a healthier and better future for the UK’s uplands.

    Our next step is to develop a citizen science app that makes it easier for people to report peatland fire incidents and upland burning to help improve regulation and log the effects of changes in air quality.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    James is a member of the Welsh Government Clean Air Advisory Panel, and Promoting Awareness of Air Quality Delivery Group. James also sits on the Scottish Government’s Air Quality Advisory Group.

    Maria Val Martin receives funding from UKRI and is a member of the DEFRA Air Quality Expert Group.

    Rebecca Brownlow 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. Air quality isn’t just bad in cities – here’s why and how we’re tracking pollution from upland fires – https://theconversation.com/air-quality-isnt-just-bad-in-cities-heres-why-and-how-were-tracking-pollution-from-upland-fires-258034

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Radical listening: two big ideas and six core skills that could help you connect more deeply with others

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Christian van Nieuwerburgh, Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

    brizmaker/Shutterstock

    Even though we live in a constantly connected world, more people feel lonely than ever before. According to public polling company Gallup, nearly a quarter of the world’s population reports feeling lonely.

    At the same time, we’re overwhelmed by distractions: 80% of desk-based workers admit to losing concentration during meetings. And with just a scroll through our newsfeeds, we see growing polarisation and political division on a global scale.

    In such uncertain times, the practice of radical listening – listening with greater intention – offers a way to reconnect and to foster a deeper sense of empathy, engagement and hope.

    In our book, Radical listening: the art of true connection, which I co-authored with positive psychology expert Dr Robert Biswas-Diener, we explore how radical listening can improve motivation, wellbeing and meaningful connection. To become a radical listener, you’ll need to embrace two core ideas and develop six essential skills.

    The first idea is about clarifying your intention when listening. At the heart of radical listening is the belief that we always listen with a purpose — even if we’re not fully aware of it. For example, we might listen to a podcast with the intention of learning something, or attend a comedy show with the goal of being entertained.

    When we set a clear intention, we become more attuned to what matters. If your aim is to show appreciation during a conversation, you’ll naturally tune in to the qualities you value in the other person — a thoughtful comment, a kind gesture. If you want to elevate your listening, enter conversations with a positive, deliberate intention.

    The second idea is about matching your listening intention to what will be most helpful for your conversation partner. This is grounded in the principle of optimal matching of social support. Biswas-Diener explains it well here: meaningful conversations happen when there’s alignment between what the speaker needs and what the listener offers.

    This may sound obvious, but we often miss the mark. Say your partner has had a tough day. Should you offer advice? Reassure them with a personal story? Just listen and empathise? Change the subject to distract them? The most effective response might be asking: “What do you need from me right now?” When you get the match right, you’ll feel the connection.

    Six core skills

    We all have our own listening styles: empathetic, animated, quiet, curious. The good news is that everyone can improve their listening by practising these six core skills:

    1. Noticing: This means scanning for subtle but relevant cues: body language, facial expressions, changes in tone, or unusual word choices. Noticing shows you’re fully present. For example: “I noticed you lit up when you talked about your previous job.”

    2. Quieting: Managing distractions, both external and internal. Great listeners reduce interruptions by putting away their phones or turning off notifications – but also by calming their internal chatter. Being rested and mentally present makes quieting possible.

    3. Accepting: Respecting others’ right to their views – even when you disagree. Acceptance doesn’t mean agreement. It means acknowledging that others have a valid perspective. Try practising this by listening to someone whose views challenge your own.

    4. Acknowledging: Validating your conversation partner’s experiences and contributions. Look for opportunities to highlight their strengths, reflect their feelings and show empathy through both your words and expressions.

    5. Questioning: Curiosity is a cornerstone of radical listening. Ask questions that express genuine interest and invite deeper sharing. Try: “What was it about that moment that made it so special for you?”

    6. Interjecting: Jump in (briefly) with minimal encouragers to show you’re engaged – then jump back out. Minimal encouragers are short verbal or nonverbal cues used during a conversation to show you’re engaged without interrupting or taking over. They’re a key skill in radical listening because they let the speaker know you’re present and responsive while keeping the focus on them. Think of it as offering small bursts of energy, like “That’s amazing!” or “Wow, I didn’t know that.” It shows you’re actively listening, not passively absorbing.

    Radical listening is a hyper-intentional, purposeful and proactive approach to connection. It’s about helping others feel seen, valued and heard. The benefits for your conversation partner are clear — but there are also real advantages for you. You’ll build deeper relationships, experience more satisfying interactions, and be able to create trust quickly.

    In a world of loneliness, distraction, and division, radical listening isn’t just a nice idea – it’s a powerful tool for human connection.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

    Christian van Nieuwerburgh 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. Radical listening: two big ideas and six core skills that could help you connect more deeply with others – https://theconversation.com/radical-listening-two-big-ideas-and-six-core-skills-that-could-help-you-connect-more-deeply-with-others-256289

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Health sector forum reaffirms anti-corruption stance

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Health sector forum reaffirms anti-corruption stance

    The Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (HSACF) has reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, transparency and fighting corruption at its quarterly meeting held last week.

    The forum comprises stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA), civil society groups, private sector organisations and government.

    The meeting held presentations from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI, also known as the Hawks), the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS).

    “The Hawks reported on the status of 106 cases, with 21 currently under investigation, two on the court roll and 69 awaiting decisions from the NPA. These cases involve approximately R3 billion, with R11.8 million already recovered in cash and assets.

    “The SIU highlighted its success in preventing losses exceeding R6 billion, including R3.1 billion in actual losses and R1.6 billion in potential losses through referrals to provincial health departments. 

    “The SIU also identified 54 fraudulent medico-legal claims and closed 97 investigations, referring cases worth R689 million to the Legal Practice Council, R279 million to the Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity Fund, and R412 million to the NPA for further action,” the SIU said in a statement.

    The NPA presented its progress on some 18 priority cases.

    “From SIU referrals, under Proclamation 23 of 2020, which focuses on COVID-19-related corruption, the NPA has enrolled 125 cases, finalised 83, and is pursuing 32 still on the court roll.

    “The CMS shared details of its investigations into medical schemes, including inquiries into Foodmed Medical Scheme regarding governance issues, GEMS and Polmed for multivitamin scheme irregularities, Optivest Health Services for overcharging, and Sizwe Hosmed Medical Scheme for compliance breaches,” the statement read.

    Furthermore, a “whole of society” approach was touted as important for combatting corruption in the country.

    “This aligns with the National Development Plan’s vision of a corruption-free South Africa. The forum emphasised the need for continued vigilance, stronger preventive measures, and swift prosecution to eliminate fraud and maladministration in the health sector. 

    “The HSACF remains dedicated to fostering transparency and accountability, ensuring that public resources are protected and used effectively for the benefit of all South Africans,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

    NeoB

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Class and masculinity are connected – when industry changes, so does what it means to ‘be a man’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sophie Lively, PhD Candidate in Human Geography, Newcastle University

    Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock

    On July 3, I’ll be discussing Youth, Masculinity and the Political Divide at an event with The Conversation and Cumberland Lodge at Newcastle University (get your tickets here).

    Young people involved in the panel have brought up class and the decline of industry as topics for discussion. This is particularly fitting, given my ongoing PhD research exploring masculinity and the contemporary lives of working-class men in Tyneside.

    Tyneside is an area in north-east England which was once a major centre of Britain’s Industrial Revolution. Its coal mining, shipbuilding and heavy engineering industries were seen as the backbone of the region, upheld by a large industrial skilled working class.

    As with many northern towns, widespread deindustrialisation, predominantly around the 1970s and 1980s, dramatically changed the area. At its peak, Swan Hunter – a globally recognised shipyard and significant employer in Wallsend (North Tyneside) and the surrounding area – employed up to 12,000 people. By 2005, the year before its closure, only 357 direct workers were employed.

    The process of deindustrialisation affected not just the type of work that was done, but how men in the region saw themselves. As I am currently researching, the effects of this ring true today.


    Boys and girls are together facing an uncertain world. But research shows they are diverging when it comes to attitudes about masculinity, feminism and gender equality.

    Social media, politics, and identity all play a role. But what’s really going on with boys and girls? Join The Conversation UK and Cumberland Lodge’s Youth and Democracy project at Newcastle University for a discussion of these issues with young people and academic experts. Tickets available here.

    Like other regions in Britain, Tyneside shifted from mostly masculine manual labour to a largely “feminised” service sector. Informal work, subcontracting and part-time work proliferated while rates of trade unionism declined.

    Changes in industry and understandings of social class have a surprising amount to do with how we think about masculinity. Paul Willis’ 1977 seminal study Learning to Labour explores how the links between social class and masculinity are forged early in life.

    Our ideas about masculinity are produced, reinforced and upheld through institutions such as schools, the workplace and media. There is no singular “form” of masculinity – men perform it in many different ways. There is, however, hegemonic masculinity. This is the most dominant form of masculinity in a society at any given time, valued above other forms of gender identities that do not match up to the dominant ideal.

    “Traditional” views of masculinity were particularly prevalent during the height of industry in the area. These views centred around ideas of men as providers and ideas of toughness. Value was placed on a willingness (or need) to do physical and often hazardous labour.

    The demise of “masculine” labour in areas such as Tyneside disrupted not only economic stability but also male identity and pride. As broader socioeconomic shifts unfolded across England, many working class men found themselves outside of those traditional masculine ideals around labour.

    This has been well documented, particularly in ethnographic work such as Anoop Nayak’s 2006 study Displaced Masculinities. This key text explored how working-class boys navigate “what it is to be a ‘man’ beyond the world of industrial paid employment”.

    Class and identity in a changing world

    Early findings from my research suggest that today, class (and working-class identity) is not as salient in mens’ everyday lives. Participants in my study have spoken about class, but it does not overtly feature in how they make sense of their identities. As one man put it: “Class means you have to use yourself to earn money. Your labour, that’s what I understand by it, but I’ve never thought about class much.”

    The quayside in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
    Philip Mowbray/Shutterstock

    What happens to men when an area’s strong working-class identity declines, but there is no narrative to replace it? There is a risk that harmful ideas about masculinity step in to fill a gap left by declining industry and continued economic inequality. We have seen this in extensive research in the US about masculinity, class and the appeal of the far right.

    This is why class must be part of the discussion around the rise of the “manosphere” – online communities and influencers sharing content about masculinity that can veer into misogyny. Class politics also presents a positive and unifying alternative.

    It is imperative that working-class areas and the people within them aren’t portrayed as somehow inherently susceptible to, or represented by, the narratives of the manosphere. Indeed, the men I have spoken to have not been particularly pulled in by the manosphere. However they do recognise the feeling of being overlooked and not measuring up to idealised “standards” about masculinity.

    The “manosphere” preys on this, tapping into boys’ and young men’s fears around masculinity and their (perceived) social status. Narrow portrayals of what success looks like puts immense pressure on young people to live up to unattainable standards.

    As I have written before, mansophere content often relies on messages around hyper-individualism that ignore the broader effects of class, the economy and political views.

    Manosphere messaging that “most men are invisible” and that the system is now “rigged against men” fits neatly with young boys’ and men’s anxieties about not having the same place or opportunities in society that previous generations of men might have had.

    Without honest discussion about working-class communities and the effects of deindustrialisation on identity, this messaging may become alluring in postindustrial towns.

    Sophie Lively receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council as part of the Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership.

    – ref. Class and masculinity are connected – when industry changes, so does what it means to ‘be a man’ – https://theconversation.com/class-and-masculinity-are-connected-when-industry-changes-so-does-what-it-means-to-be-a-man-258857

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Holiday Activity programme sets out summer of fun for Manchester’s kids

    Source: City of Manchester

    A range of free holiday activities are on offer for eligible families this summer.

    Through the Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAF) there is a huge number of things to help keep the kids active during the summer break.

    From arts and crafts, sporting events and other physical activities there is a host of entertaining things to do, making sure no one gets bored over the holidays.

    Funded through the Department for Education, HAF’s goal is to ensure that some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Manchester – aged between 5-16 years old – get the support they need when the school term is over.

    The HAF is primarily for families whose children are in receipt of free school meals – but eligibility can be checked via the MCRactive website.

    During the previous financial year via the HAF, Manchester City Council has supported 29,224 children in accessing 3,971 holiday sessions. Additional support is also on offer for children with special educational needs as well as children in care and young carers.

    A free and nutritious meal is also provided as part of this programme ensuring that no child has to endure holiday hunger.

    A range of families will be eligible for HAF – details of which can be found by visiting the MCRactive website here – mcractive.com/haf – where you can register for free.

    The Council knows that the HAF can make a huge difference for the families who take part. 98% of the children who take part say they came home having met a new friend, and parents have provided feedback telling us that their child comes home feeling more engaged and less likely to spend time using electronic equipment.

    On top of the HAF programme parents and families can find an extensive range of other free or low-cost activities that are taking place in Manchester this summer by visiting our Loads to Do website. They can enjoy great events like Parktastic, a new series of free, drop-in play sessions run by the council and its youth delivery partners taking place at parks all over the city.

    There is also a range of support available for anyone in Manchester who has been struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis, with a free advice line operating to anyone in need of additional help. Details can be found here.

    Councillor Julie Reid, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People said: “We know the holidays can be a real pinch point for families which is why schemes such as the HAF programme are so important.

    “Providing free activities can be a real boost for children of all ages throughout the holidays, allowing them to meet new friends and try out new things – both hugely significant in terms of their personal wellbeing and mental health.

    “A huge amount of work has taken place in recent years to address the inequality around early years development and we’re proud to be able to have schemes in place that will help us achieve this aim.

    “There are a lot of great events that will be running over the summer holidays with a free meal or snack included, so if you have not already been contacted to take part I’d urge families to have a look at our Loads to Do website and see what they think their child would enjoy over the break.”

    Manchester as a Child Friendly City

    Manchester is determined to make the city the very best place for children and young people to grow up in. A place where children’s rights are understood, respected and actioned in the everyday life of the city and in decision making. A place also where children and young people are given a voice and where their ideas and opinions matter.

    In 2023 it therefore set itself the target of becoming a UNICEF recognised Child Friendly City.

    The city’s bid to be recognised by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City will see the council and local partners putting children’s rights into practice over a time frame of three to five years, as they work together towards the shared goal.

    As part of this the council, in consultation with children and young people, has had to identify areas of particular focus – known as ‘badges’ – that it must work towards before it can be recognised as a UNICEF Child Friendly City.

    The top three badges identified by Manchester’s children and young people for the city to focus on are: Safe and Secure, Place, and Healthy. In addition to these the city must also focus on a further three core badges – Culture, Co-operation and leadership, and Communication – and has also set itself the extra challenge of including a seventh badge, Equal and Included, as a cross-cutting golden thread through all its work in each of the different badge areas.

    With over 200 languages spoken in Manchester and as the only city outside London to have residents in each of the 90 listed ethnic groups in the census, city leaders agreed that the Equal and Included priority should as a necessity underpin all of the work undertaken towards becoming a Child-Friendly City.

    For more information visit childfriendlymanchester.co.uk

    Making Manchester Fairer

    Making Manchester Fairer is a five-year action plan initiated by the Manchester City Council aimed at addressing health inequalities and improving fairness in the city. The plan focuses on eight key themes:

    1. Early years, children, and young people
    2. Poverty, income, and debt
    3. Work and employment
    4. Prevention of ill health and preventable death
    5. Homes and housing
    6. Places, transport, and climate change
    7. Tackling systemic and structural racism and discrimination
    8. Communities and power

    This initiative is part of a broader Anti-Poverty Strategy that seeks to produce evidence-based recommendations to tackle poverty and its consequences.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Travel company to take over running of Park and Ride

    Source: City of Leicester

    LEICESTER’S three Park and Ride services are to be run by local company and current bus provider Roberts Travel Group, after it made a successful bid to the city and county councils to take on the full operation of the service.

    Roberts will take over the services, which operate from Birstall, Enderby and Meynell’s Gorse, from August 24 this year. The company will take on the revenue risk for the service and have control over the timetables and fares. The city and county councils will continue to fund the park and ride operation, but will reduce their subsidy by half, from £422,000 a year to £211,000.

    Under the three-year contract to operate, buses must continue to run at least every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 7pm.

    Roberts plans to introduce more stops along all three routes, introducing popular locations like Freemans Common, Redhill Circle and Braunstone Leisure Centre.

    Fares will increase for the first time in five years, but will remain lower than other commercial bus operators and city centre parking charges. A day return ticket will cost £4.85 and a group day ticket for up to five people will cost £6. Concessionary fares will be reduced from £1 to become free.

    Cllr Geoff Whittle, Leicester’s asst city mayor for environment and transport said: “After a thorough procurement process I’m pleased that Roberts Travel Group will be taking over the running of these important services.

    “Like all councils we are having to make some very difficult decisions around funding, and this contractual arrangement means we can reduce our subsidy to the park and ride service, while ensuring it continues to operate.

    “I know that the service from Enderby which stops at the Leicester Royal Infirmary is particularly well used by both staff and patients, with no other bus service on offer on that route

    “Roberts will be introducing more stops along all of the routes, and there are plans to better link in with our Hop! Service and the Hospital Hopper in the future, which will bring strong benefits to city residents.”

    The new timetables and fare changes will be introduced from 26 August this year.

    Alex Niemczyk, Managing Director of Roberts Travel Group said: “We are proud to have been awarded the contract to operate Leicester’s Park and Ride services.

    “As a local operator with a long-standing commitment to the community, we’re excited to take full responsibility for delivering a reliable, affordable, modern Park and Ride service from Birstall, Enderby and Meynell’s Gorse.

    “We look forward to welcoming passengers aboard and delivering a Park and Ride service Leicester can be proud of.”

    More detail is available on Roberts’ website  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Air India crash in Ahmedabad sends reverberations to Canadian families of Air India Flight 182

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Chandrima Chakraborty, Professor, English and Cultural Studies; Director, Centre for Global Peace, Justice and Health, McMaster University

    The June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, with 230 passengers and 12 crew members aboard is sending deep reverberations through a group of Canadians who know all too well the shock, grief and horror of losing loved ones in hauntingly similar circumstances.

    They are the families of those killed in the bombing of Air India Flight 182 en route from Canada to India 40 years ago this month.

    I work closely with these families as a researcher and advocate. I began interviewing these families in 2014 and have witnessed firsthand their pain, advocacy and emotional turmoil of living in the shadow of a historical event.

    As reports of the Ahmedabad crash came in, the WhatsApp account of the Air India Flight 182 families immediately flooded with expressions of shock, concern, sympathy and memories triggered by the latest incident.

    On June 23, 1985, Flight 182 was brought down by terrorist bombs created and planted on Canadian soil. The devastating mid-air explosion occurred over the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland. It killed all 329 passengers and crew, including 268 Canadians. The crew and most of the passengers were of Indian origin.

    Investigations into the causes of the crash of Air India Flight 171, en route to London’s Gatwick airport, shortly after take-off are still underway. At least 279 people died in the crash, which also impacted people on the ground.

    Acknowledging losses as significant

    A recent public conference at McMaster University commemorated the 40th anniversary of Flight 182, bringing together Indian and Canadian families, researchers, creative artists and community members.

    Book cover for ‘Remembering Air India The Art of Public Mourning,’ edited by Chandrima Chakraborty, Amber Dean and Angela Failler.
    University of Alberta Press

    The conference dealt with critical themes, including the challenge of Flight 182 families recovering from their losses within a climate of broad indifference among their fellow Canadians.

    Regardless of what may have caused the more recent crash in western India, these Canadian families know the shock and loss that a new set of victims’ families are facing, and how important it is to support them.

    Hopefully, the home countries of last week’s crash victims — most of them Indian and British citizens, with at least one Canadian reported to have been aboard — will regard their deaths as significant losses. If so, this would be unlike what the 1985 victims’ families experienced in Canada.

    A little-mourned Canadian tragedy

    In Canada, we have a national day to remember on June 23, 1985. The bombing has been called a Canadian tragedy in a public inquiry report.

    Yet according to a 2023 Angus Reid poll, “nine out of 10 Canadians say they have little or no knowledge of the worst single instance of the mass killing of their fellow citizens.” That essentially means the bombing has yet to penetrate the consciousness of everyday Canadians or evoke shared grief or public mourning.

    The families continue to carry the torch of remembrance as they organize annual memorial vigils every June 23. Few others attend. Many victims’ relatives have died since 1985. Some spouses, siblings or parents are now in their 80s, wondering why the bombing is still not widely discussed in schools or in public discourse.

    The grinding and unsatisfying criminal proceedings, the belated public inquiry and the welcome but lukewarm apology by the Canadian government 25 years after the fact have all contributed to the failure of this tragedy to adhere more solidly to the Canadian consciousness. In fact, many continue to deny the Canadian significance of Flight 182 and view the bombing as a foreign event.

    A torch of remembrance

    At last month’s conference, my research team launched the Air India Flight 182 archive to counter this collective amnesia and lack of acknowledgement.

    Canadian archival consultant and writer Laura Millar has said that archives act as “touchstones to memory” and can aid the process of transforming individual memories into collective remembering. Adopting NYU professor Carol Gilligan’s ethics of care for the archive, we have been consulting with families to find ways to share their grief with the public.

    The Flight 182 memory archive — both physical and digital — serves as a repository for artefacts, first-person narratives, memorabilia and creative works related to the tragedy produced by family members. Family donations of artefacts such as dance videos and pilot wings redirect notions of archives away from a documental deposit. Hopefully, they can move the public to learn and care for the impacts of the Flight 182 bombing.

    The archive is a publicly accessible record of the tragedy, where scholars and everyday citizens can learn about the victims and their families.

    Since the past involves both the present and the future, the archive will enable a meaningful recognition of marginalized voices and histories. It can offer a form of memory justice for those who would otherwise be forgotten by sustaining memory from generation to generation.

    While the archive articulates the demand from families that the bombing of Flight 182 and its aftermath be incorporated into Canadian national consciousness, establishing this archive alone will not be enough to elevate the memory of Flight 182 to the place it deserves.

    But at least it establishes a rich, permanent academic and personal legacy for the community of mourners, and for the Canadian and global public to find it, use it and learn from its many lessons.

    Families of those on board the 1985 flight are preparing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the terror bombing of Flight 182 that has devastated their lives.

    As we learn more about the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12, the lessons of Flight 182 will hopefully prevent a new set of families from feeling the pain of indifference on top of the unimaginable agony of loss they’re already experiencing.

    Chandrima Chakraborty receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Air India crash in Ahmedabad sends reverberations to Canadian families of Air India Flight 182 – https://theconversation.com/air-india-crash-in-ahmedabad-sends-reverberations-to-canadian-families-of-air-india-flight-182-258991

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: B.C.’s mental health law is on trial — and so is our commitment to human rights

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Anne Levesque, Associate professor, Faculty of Law, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

    The British Columbia Supreme Court has begun hearing a long-awaited constitutional challenge to the province’s Mental Health Act.

    The case, nearly a decade in the making, is now drawing greater attention in the wake of the tragedy at the Filipino Lapu Lapu Day street festival earlier this year that left 11 people dead in Vancouver.

    The event has shaken many in the community, leaving behind grief and fear. Furthermore, in light of reports that the person accused of the crime was under Mental Health Act supervision, difficult questions arise. The pain is real, and any conversation about mental health must begin with compassion for all of those affected.



    Read more:
    Vancouver SUV attack exposes crowd management falldowns and casts a pall on Canada’s election

    At the same time, it’s important to ensure this moment of reckoning leads to thoughtful dialogue, not reactive policy. Unfortunately, much of the public discourse has become mired in fear and misinformation, creating a false and dangerous choice: that Canada must sacrifice individual rights in order to protect public safety.

    As a legal scholar in equality rights and public interest litigation, I don’t believe Canadians have to choose. A mental health system that respects Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms can also promote safety.

    What’s the case is about?

    The case currently before the B.C. Supreme Court was initiated by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a national human rights organization led by people with disabilities. The group is fighting provisions in the province’s Mental Health Act that strip patients of any right to choose their own health care, or to appoint a loved one to make health care decisions on their behalf.

    The CCD’s motto — “Nothing about us without us” — reflects a longstanding commitment to ensuring that people most affected by policies and systems have a voice in shaping them. This litigation will amplify the voices of people who underwent psychiatric treatment without consent and to shine a light on the deep and lasting harms they have suffered.

    Let’s be clear about what this Charter challenge actually seeks and what it doesn’t. It doesn’t aim to eliminate involuntary hospitalization. It does not change who can be detained, how long they can be held or the legal criteria for involuntary admission.

    What it does seek is something far more modest and humane: to ensure that when psychiatric care is forced, it is delivered with dignity, oversight and the involvement of trusted supporters in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

    One of the key reforms that CCD has long advocated for is the right for people to name a family member or friend to be involved in treatment decisions. Far from undermining care, this kind of involvement can help bridge the gap between medical necessity and personal dignity.

    It’s a safeguard that respects patients’ values and builds trust, which the current system desperately lacks. And yes, it could even enhance public safety. Reports suggest that a family member of the man accused in the Lapu Lapu mass murders in April was concerned about his deteriorating mental health and had reached out for help just before the tragedy occurred. A more responsive system with the embedded involvement of trusted decision-makers might have made a difference.



    Read more:
    Fraudulent crowdfunding after the Lapu Lapu tragedy highlights the need for vigilance and oversight

    Reforming the Mental Health Act

    British Columbia is currently an outlier in Canada. It’s the only province where people detained under mental health laws are automatically deemed to consent to any treatment authorized by the facility — regardless of their actual wishes or capacity.

    There’s no right to name a substitute decision-maker, no ability to appeal a treatment decision, no independent oversight, and treatment is often imposed through isolation, physical restraints or security force.

    Advocates have been calling for change for decades. But in the wake of the Lapu Lapu attack, some politicians are proposing not a more compassionate or rights-respecting approach, but harsher, more coercive powers over people with mental health issues. That would be a mistake.

    The current system, which experts have long said is inconsistent with human rights, did nothing to prevent this tragedy. Violating the rights of people in crisis did not and will not keep the public safer.

    B.C. Premier David Eby has acknowledged the shortcomings in the current system, but has said that engaging in law reform while litigation is undergoing would pose a risk. Instead, he says it’s better to wait to hear what the court decides before changing the law.

    That logic is arguably akin to a citizen saying it’s risky to stop driving at a speed they know is over the lawful limit until they’re pulled over.

    Pointless to wait

    Waiting for the courts to force change wastes precious time, and public resources, that could be better spent on designing a new, Charter-compliant mental health system in collaboration with experts, service providers, families and people with lived experiences.

    Meanwhile, substantial public funds are being spent on government lawyers to fight a legal battle defending a regime that is clearly unconstitutional and fails both patients and public safety.

    That money would be far better spent consulting with experts, families and people with lived experiences and developing legislation that upholds constitutional rights and keeps communities safe.

    The time for delay is over. The B.C. government must act now to rewrite the Mental Health Act in order to protect the public and respect Charter rights.

    Anne Levesque is co-chair of the Disability Justice Litigation Initiative of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.

    – ref. B.C.’s mental health law is on trial — and so is our commitment to human rights – https://theconversation.com/b-c-s-mental-health-law-is-on-trial-and-so-is-our-commitment-to-human-rights-258671

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: We have drugs to manage HIV. So why are we spending millions looking for cures?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Bridget Haire, Associate Professor, Public Health Ethics, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney

    Alim Yakubov/Shutterstock

    Over the past three decades there have been amazing advances in treating and preventing HIV.

    It’s now a manageable infection. A person with HIV who takes HIV medicine consistently, before their immune system declines, can expect to live almost as long as someone without HIV.

    The same drugs prevent transmission of the virus to sexual partners.

    There is still no effective HIV vaccine. But there are highly effective drugs to prevent HIV infection for people without HIV who are at higher risk of acquiring it.

    These drugs are known as as “pre-exposure prophylaxis” or PrEP. These come as a pill, which needs to be taken either daily, or “on demand” before and after risky sex. An injection that protects against HIV for six months has recently been approved in the United States.

    So with such effective HIV treatment and PrEP, why are we still spending millions looking for HIV cures?

    Not everyone has access to these drugs

    Access to HIV drugs and PrEP depends on the availability of health clinics, health professionals, and the means to supply and distribute the drugs. In some countries, this infrastructure may not be secure.

    For instance, earlier this year, US President Donald Trump’s dissolution of the USAID foreign aid program has threatened the delivery of HIV drugs to many low-income countries.

    This demonstrates the fragility of current approaches to treatment and prevention. A secure, uninterrupted supply of HIV medicine is required, and without this, lives will be lost and the number of new cases of HIV will rise.

    Another example is the six-monthly PrEP injection just approved in the US. This drug has great potential for controlling HIV if it is made available and affordable in countries with the greatest HIV burden.

    But the prospect for lower-income countries accessing this expensive drug looks uncertain, even if it can be made at a fraction of its current cost, as some researchers say.

    So despite the success of HIV drugs and PrEP, precarious health-care systems and high drug costs mean we can’t rely on them to bring an end to the ongoing global HIV pandemic. That’s why we also still need to look at other options.

    Haven’t people already been ‘cured’?

    Worldwide, at least seven people have been “cured” of HIV – or at least have had long-term sustained remission. This means that after stopping HIV drugs, they did not have any replicating HIV in their blood for months or years.

    In each case, the person with HIV also had a life-threatening cancer needing a bone marrow transplant. They were each matched with a donor who had a specific genetic variation that resulted in not having HIV receptors in key bone marrow cells.

    After the bone marrow transplant, recipients stopped HIV drugs, without detectable levels of the virus returning. The new immune cells made in the transplanted bone marrow lacked the HIV receptors. This stopped the virus from infecting cells and replicating.

    But this genetic variation is very rare. Bone marrow transplantation is also risky and extremely resource-intensive. So while this strategy has worked for a few people, it is not a scalable prospect for curing HIV more widely.

    So we need to keep looking for other options for a cure, including basic laboratory research to get us there.

    How about the ‘breakthrough’ I’ve heard about?

    HIV treatment stops the HIV replication that causes immune damage. But there are places in the body where the virus “hides” and drugs cannot reach. If the drugs are stopped, the “latent” HIV comes out of hiding and replicates again. So it can damage the immune system, leading to HIV-related disease.

    One approach is to try to force the hidden or latent HIV out into the open, so drugs can target it. This is a strategy called “shock and kill”. And an example of such Australian research was recently reported in the media as a “breakthrough” in the search for an HIV cure.

    Researchers in Melbourne have developed a lipid nanoparticle – a tiny ball of fat – that encapsulates messenger RNA (or mRNA) and delivers a “message” to infected white blood cells. This prompts the cells to reveal the “hiding” HIV.

    In theory, this will allow the immune system or HIV drugs to target the virus.

    This discovery is an important step. However, it is still in the laboratory phase of testing, and is just one piece of the puzzle.

    We could say the same about many other results heralded as moving closer to a cure for HIV.

    Further research on safety and efficacy is needed before testing in human clinical trials. Such trials start with small numbers and the trialling process takes many years. This and other steps towards a cure are slow and expensive, but necessary.

    Importantly, any cure would ultimately need to be fairly low-tech to deliver for it to be feasible and affordable in low-income countries globally.

    So where does that leave us?

    A cure for HIV that is affordable and scalable would have a profound impact on human heath globally, particularly for people living with HIV. To get there is a long and arduous path that involves solving a range of scientific puzzles, followed by addressing implementation challenges.

    In the meantime, ensuring people at risk of HIV have access to testing and prevention interventions – such as PrEP and safe injecting equipment – remains crucial. People living with HIV also need sustained access to effective treatment – regardless of where they live.

    Bridget Haire has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. She is a past president of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (now Health Equity Matters).

    Benjamin Bavinton receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian government, and state and territory governments. He also receives funding from ViiV Healthcare and Gilead Sciences, both of which make drugs or drug classes mentioned in this article. He is a Board Director of community organisation, ACON, and is on the National PrEP Guidelines Panel coordinated by ASHM Health.

    – ref. We have drugs to manage HIV. So why are we spending millions looking for cures? – https://theconversation.com/we-have-drugs-to-manage-hiv-so-why-are-we-spending-millions-looking-for-cures-258391

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: The first fossil thrips in Africa: this tiny insect pest met its end in a volcanic lake 90 million years ago

    Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Sandiso Mnguni, Honorary Research Associate, University of the Witwatersrand

    The fossil thrips discovered in the Orapa Diamond Mine. Dr Sandiso Mnguni, CC BY-NC-ND

    Thrips are tiny insects – their sizes range between 0.5mm and 15mm in length and many are shorter than 5mm. But the damage they cause to crops is anything but small. A 2021 research paper found that in Indonesia “the damage to red chilli plants caused by thrips infestation ranges now from 20% to 80%”. In India, various thrips infestations in the late 2010s and early 2020s “damaged 40%-85% of chilli pepper crops in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana”.

    In Africa, a number of thrips species feed on sugarcane and have been known to damage nearly 30% of the crop in a single hectare of a farm. High rates of destruction have been recorded in Tanzania and Uganda on onion and tomato crops.

    Now it’s emerged that thrips are hardly new to the African continent and the southern hemisphere more broadly. South Africa’s first and only Black palaeoentomologist, Sandiso Mnguni, who studies fossil insects, recently described a fossil thrips from Orapa Diamond Mine in Botswana that’s more than 90 million years old. He discussed his unique fossil find with The Conversation Africa.

    What are thrips and how do they cause damage?

    Thrips, also known as thunderflies, thunderbugs or thunderblights, are small, slender and fragile insects. They can be identified by their typically narrow, strap-like, fringed and feathery wings. Over time, they have also evolved distinctive asymmetrical rasping-sucking mouthparts consisting of a labrum, labium, maxillary stylets and left mandible. Most species use these to feed primarily on fungi. Some feed on plants and eat the tender parts of certain crops like sugarcane, tomatoes, pepper, onions, avocado, legumes and citrus fruits, focusing on the buds, flowers and young leaves.

    This, along with their habit of accidentally distributing fungal spores while feeding or hunting, makes them destructive crop pests. They tend to feed as a group in large numbers, causing distinctive silver or bronze scarring on the surfaces of stems or leaves.

    However, not all thrips are harmful. A small fraction of the 6,500 species that have already been described so far are pollinators of flowering plants; and a handful are predators or natural enemies of moths and other smaller animals such as mites.

    Larva, pupa and adult Weeping fig thrips (Gynaikothrips uzeli)
    fcafotodigital

    Tell us about the fossil thrips you’ve discovered

    This is the first time that a fossil thrips has been recorded anywhere in Africa – or the entire southern hemisphere.

    The Orapa Diamond Mine in Botswana is one of the most important fossil deposits on the continent. It’s about 90 million years old, dating back to the Cretaceous period.



    Read more:
    Fossil beetles found in a Botswana diamond mine help us to reconstruct the distant past

    The deposit is situated 960 metres above sea level in the Kalahari Desert, about 250km due west of Francistown in Botswana, and 824km away from Johannesburg in South Africa. It was first discovered in 1967 and started producing carat diamonds in 1971.

    Roughly 90 million years go, steam and gas caused a double eruption of diamondiferous kimberlites. These are vertical, deep-source volcanic pipes that form when magma rapidly rises from the Earth’s mantle, carrying diamonds and other minerals up to the surface. They create a distinctive rock formation that gets studied by geologists. This explosive volcanic eruption formed a deep crater lake at the centre of the mine.

    Mining excavations during the 1980s and earlier uncovered and exposed fine-grained sedimentary rocks containing well preserved fossil plants and insects. These have already been studied by many researchers in the past. At the time, geology and palaeontology researchers from what was then the Bernard Price Institute, which has since been renamed the Evolutionary Studies Institute, at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, were invited to collect the fossil material.

    Although some of the material has been studied in the past, the fossil thrips hadn’t yet been put under the microscope. And that’s just what we did. By using its body characteristics and comparing it to living thrips, we can say for sure that it’s a thrips. But we didn’t give it a formal scientific name because it doesn’t have enough characteristics to classify it at the species level and describe it either as a new species or one that still exists today.

    We think that the thrips either flew into the palaeolake that was formed by the volcanic eruption or was transported there through grass from a bird’s nest.

    Why is this useful to know?

    This discovery sheds light on the biodiversity and biogeography of thrips and many other groups of insects during a time when we know flowering plants that heavily relied on insect pollination were rapidly diversifying. This plant-insect reciprocal interaction goes back to the Devonian period, a time when there was a large super-continent called Gondwana. That’s when the first land plants evolved and dominated the Earth, and inadvertently led to many groups of insects, including thrips, diversifying to keep up with drastic changes in their preferred plant diets and habitats due to the dramatic environmental and climatic changes.



    Read more:
    Fossil insects help to reconstruct the past: how I ended up studying them (and you can too)

    The fossil find also contributes to a more accurate documentation of life on Earth during the Cretaceous and helps scientists in reconstructing the past environment and climate in Botswana.

    Hopefully there are more fossil insects waiting to be discovered in Botswana and elsewhere in Africa, to keep improving our picture of this long-ago world, and preserve the heritage of our continent.

    Sandiso Mnguni receives funding from the GENUS: DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences (Grant 86073). He is affiliated with the Agricultural Research Council Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PHP) and the Sophumelela Youth Development Programme (SYDP).

    – ref. The first fossil thrips in Africa: this tiny insect pest met its end in a volcanic lake 90 million years ago – https://theconversation.com/the-first-fossil-thrips-in-africa-this-tiny-insect-pest-met-its-end-in-a-volcanic-lake-90-million-years-ago-249077

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: United Nations (UN) Leaders engage World Health Organization (WHO) Botswana to strengthen coordination and multilateral collaboration


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    In an expression of strengthened partnership and renewed commitment to multilateralism, the WHO Botswana Country Office recently hosted two high-level courtesy calls from newly appointed UN leaders, Ms. Wenyan Yang, the UN Resident Coordinator in Botswana, and Ms. Nthisana Motsete-Phillips, Botswana’s incoming Permanent Representative to Switzerland and the United Nations in Geneva.

    Ms. Wenyan Yang’s visit formed part of her introductory engagements with UN agencies in Botswana. She was warmly welcomed by the WHO team and WHO Representative Dr. Fabian Ndenzako. During the meeting, Ms. Yang shared her vision of fostering collaboration, innovation, and collective impact within the UN Country Team, stressing the need for creative and integrated approaches amid global financial constraints. “We must find new and more effective ways of working together leveraging our collective strengths to deliver real, measurable change for the people of Botswana,” said Ms. Yang.

    With over 30 years of experience in the UN system, she reaffirmed her commitment to working closely with agencies to deliver results that positively impact the lives of Batswana. Dr. Ndenzako briefed her on WHO’s key areas of support, highlighting national health priorities such as the transition of primary healthcare to local government, the rollout of national health insurance, and the strengthening of health sector coordination. He acknowledged the country’s achievements in areas like HIV control and maternal health, while noting ongoing challenges in achieving universal health coverage and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Welcoming Ms. Yang’s leadership, Dr. Ndenzako emphasized her crucial role in advocating for stronger coordination within the UN system and aligning support to accelerate Botswana’s national development agenda.

    Meanwhile, WHO Botswana also engaged with Ms. Nthisana Motsete-Phillips as she prepares to assume office in Geneva. Her visit focused on strengthening the relationship between Geneva-based multilateral platforms and in-country implementation. Dr. Ndenzako lauded Botswana’s active voice within the Africa Group and other global health fora and highlighted the critical role of WHO Botswana’s Geneva liaison in bridging global and national priorities. He also drew attention to ongoing global shifts, including shrinking donor budgets, institutional restructuring, and declining development financing, all of which demand strategic engagement by countries like Botswana in global health diplomacy.

    Ms. Motsete-Phillips expressed her intention to serve as a practical and results-oriented bridge between Geneva and national stakeholders. “We must ensure that what is discussed and committed to in Geneva translates into impact on the ground. It is my responsibility to help make that connection real for Botswana,” she said. With a background in the private sector and several years of experience in Switzerland, she pledged to help translate global commitments into tangible, on-the-ground outcomes. She underscored the need for closer coordination between Botswana’s Geneva mission and local UN country teams to ensure coherent policy implementation.

    She also raised concerns about inefficiencies within public institutions and emphasized the importance of accountability and strong follow-through, particularly in managing partnerships and national programmes. Noting the complexity of agendas such as universal health coverage, she called for more realistic and transparent communication strategies. Additionally, she expressed interest in strengthening collaboration with institutions such as the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI). Challenging the prevailing classification of Botswana as a middle-income country, Ms. Motsete-Phillips warned that this status often excludes the country from much-needed support. She called for a renewed and nuanced narrative that reflects Botswana’s current realities and development needs.

    Both visits underscored a shared commitment to deepening collaboration, improving coordination at all levels, and ensuring Botswana’s continued active role in shaping and implementing global health and development priorities.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO), Botswana.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sierra Leone bolters mpox response: World Health Organization (WHO) leads groundbreaking genomic surveillance and bioinformatics training


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    In a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing mpox outbreak response and genomic surveillance capacity, the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL) in Freetown hosted the mpox Genomics and Bioinformatics training workshop  from 23rd – 27th June 2025. The event was organized under the theme: “Strengthening Genomic Surveillance Capacity for mpox Response in Sierra Leone,” with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO AFRO and WHO Sierra Leone).  The training program targeted 15 participants, including laboratory scientists, public health professionals, and epidemiologists from across Sierra Leone.

    Despite reporting over 4,400 confirmed cases of mpox as of 27th June 2025, Sierra Leone has performed genomic characterization on only approximately 2.5% of these cases (108 sequences), representing a significant limitation in understanding viral evolution and informing targeted public health interventions. Currently, these genomic data are deposited in international repositories such as Pathoplexus, GISAID, and NCBI Virus; however, the disparity between outbreak detection and genomic data generation hampers real-time surveillance efforts. 

    The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) and the Sierra Leone National Public Health Agency (SLNPHA) of Sierra Leone have prioritized strengthening genomic surveillance to enable rapid outbreak detection, track viral transmission, and inform policy decisions. Allan Campbell, Laboratory Lead at CPHRL, emphasized the significance of this training, stating, “This marks a pivotal moment in Sierra Leone’s national response to mpox. 

    The initiative addresses the substantial bioinformatics capacity gap and establishes a foundation for sustainable genomic surveillance that can directly inform public health actions.” The workshop aligns with the objectives outlined in the WHO African Region (AFRO) Joint Continental mpox Response Plan 2.0, focusing on intensification, integration, and establishing a sustainable legacy in genomic epidemiology.

    The week-long workshop employed a multidisciplinary, hands-on approach combining didactic instruction, practical exercises, and group data analysis. The curriculum included:

    • Day 1: Introduction to genomic surveillance principles, sequencing technologies, and foundational bioinformatics tools such as Linux and Conda environments.

    • Day 2: Emphasis on sequencing data quality control (FastQC, MultiQC), read trimming (Fastp, Hostile), and genome assembly techniques utilizing reference-based (BWA, Cutadapt) and de novo (SPAdes) approaches.

    • Day 3: Variant detection and analysis (SAMtools, FreeBayes, Snippy), consensus sequence generation (Bcftools), and genome annotation (SnpEff, VEP).

    • Day 4: Phylogenetic analysis, clade classification (Nextclade, Nextstrain), and visualization using platforms such as GISAID, Pathoplexus, NCBI Virus, Microreact, iTOL, and Galaxy.

    • Day 5: Integration of all components through a case study simulating mpox outbreak response, culminating in data interpretation and strategic planning.

    Walter Oguta, WHO AFRO EPI Analytics Specialist and the Lead Bioinformatics Trainer, underscored the practical value of the training, stating, “Translating genomic data into actionable public health strategies is the ultimate goal. Our aim was to equip participants with both technical proficiency and confidence to utilize these tools effectively.”

    Doris Harding, Laboratory Pillar Lead at the SLNPHA, highlighted the broader implications: “Strengthening our capacity for genomic surveillance is no longer optional—it is essential. This initiative empowers our scientists to respond more effectively to mpox and other emerging pathogens.” Similarly, Jonathan Greene, WHO Sierra Leone Laboratory Lead, articulated the importance of workforce development, asserting, “Building a skilled, locally capable workforce is central to WHO’s strategy for resilient health systems. The use of genomics is transforming outbreak intelligence, enabling a shift from reactive to proactive responses.” 

    Dr. Ameh George, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone, emphasized the strategic importance of institutionalizing genomic surveillance: “Genomics is redefining outbreak science. Sierra Leone must lead in generating and utilizing genomic data to inform policy and strengthen global health security. WHO remains committed to supporting this transformation.”

    Participants and stakeholders concurred that this training initiative constitutes a long-term investment in Sierra Leone’s epidemic preparedness, response and resilience. By decentralizing sequencing capabilities and integrating genomic data into national decision-making processes, the program aspires to support regional efforts for early detection and rapid response to outbreaks.

    The workshop concluded with the issuance of certificates of completion and a networking session aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation in public health genomics. As Sierra Leone advances its surveillance infrastructure, the overarching goal remains to elevate genomic data from an underutilized resource to a central element of outbreak response and epidemic intelligence, thereby strengthening national and regional health security.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization – Sierra Leone.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Technologies for export: with the support of the city, capital enterprises took part in two exhibitions in Africa

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow-based healthcare and IT companies presented their products at two industry exhibitions in Africa: Africa Health Excon 2025 and Gitex Africa 2025. They were supported by the Moscow Export Center (MEC), a subordinate organization To the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development of the City.

    From June 24 to 27, a single Made in Moscow stand operated at the Africa Health Excon 2025 exhibition in Cairo, where 20 Moscow enterprises demonstrated medical equipment, high-precision research instruments, and IT solutions developed specifically for the healthcare sector. During the event, business meetings with foreign partners were held, which resulted in the conclusion of agreements on the implementation of new projects.

    Thus, the company “Steploif” will cooperate with enterprises from Sudan in the field of manufacturing prosthetic limbs, and “Vector Center” (brand Polymed prof) – with the company “RCSA “Energy” from Egypt in the field of developing mobile medical complexes and software for hospitals and healthcare systems. The enterprises “Academy of Beauty Innovations” and “Viva Pharma Group” have concluded cooperation agreements in the field of cosmetology with Egyptian partners.

    In addition, with the support of the city, 23 capital suppliers of solutions in the field of information technology, artificial intelligence and virtual reality took part in the Gitex Africa 2025 exhibition, which was held in Morocco from April 14 to 16. They presented their developments in the field of digitalization of the urban environment, facial recognition systems, simulators for public transport, virtual laboratories, as well as technologies for banks and self-service systems, many of which interested African partners. Thus, within the framework of the exhibition, the IT enterprise “42” signed an agreement for the supply of virtual laboratories for the Moroccan enterprise Technopark Maroc.

    Participation in Gitex Africa was organized for Moscow companies for the third time. In total, over 65 companies have received the opportunity to present high-tech developments of Moscow business over the past three years. As a result of the past events, the company “Cloud Networks” agreed to supply software licenses to Iraq, and the company “Secure” supplied a cybersecurity solution to the UAE.

    MEC carries out systematic work to promote metropolitan technologies and innovations to African markets. As part of international exhibitions, Moscow companies receive comprehensive support, which includes renting and designing an exhibition stand, as well as delivery of product samples. This allows enterprises to focus on b2b meetings with potential buyers without having to deal with organizational work.

    The Moscow Export Center was established by the Moscow Government in 2017 to provide financial and non-financial support measures to Moscow entrepreneurs in order to promote Moscow goods and services on foreign markets. The Moscow Export Center is a subordinate organization of the Moscow Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative DevelopmentOne of its key tasks is to increase the number of Moscow exporters and grow their export revenue.

    Today, the MEC provides the capital’s business with comprehensive support at all stages of the export route – from preparation and training in foreign economic activity (FEA) to promotion abroad, assistance in increasing sales and measures of financial stimulation of FEA after the conclusion of export contracts. Currently, the MEC’s toolkit includes more than 30 support measures.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156065073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council’s Nairn town bus service extended to include Lochloy and Tradespark

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Following the announcement from Stagecoach that their bus services to Nairn’s Lochloy estate will be withdrawn from Monday 7 July, The Highland Council’s In-house Bus team have amended their Nairn Town service timetable to include Lochloy, ensuring residents still have access to a bus service.

    Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: ““I’m delighted that our In-house bus team has been able to react so quickly and positively to the news that Stagecoach are withdrawing their service that connects the Lochloy community with the town centre and Sainsbury’s.

    “When we set up our In-House bus service, we said one of its strengths would be the ability to be flexible and to react to customer demands, so I look forward to seeing our buses providing this extended service in Nairn.”

    Following requests from the community, the revised timetable will also include the Tradespark estate allowing residents a direct service from Nairn Hospital.

    This extended 251 service will run Monday to Friday and will start on Friday 4 July to coincide with the school holidays.  The new route will take passengers to and from Sainsbury’s Nairn to Lochloy, Nairn High Street, Nairn hospital, Tradespark and Achareidh.

    All updated timetables can be found on the Council’s website.

    Nairn Route 4th July 2025

    Monday to Friday

    251

    251

    251

    251

    251

    NF

    Nairn Sainsburys

    09:30

    10:40

    12:40

    13:45

    16:40

    Lochloy road o/s (Clubhouse)

    09:35

    10:45

    12:45

    13:50

    16:45

    Montgomerie drive

    09:37

    10:47

    12:47

    13:52

    16:47

    Lawrie Drive/Findhorn St

    09:39

    10:49

    12:49

    13:54

    16:49

    Lochloy road opp (Clubhouse)

    09:43

    10:53

    12:53

    13:58

    16:53

    Nairn, Sainsbury, at

    09:50

    11:00

    13:00

    14:05

    17:00

    Nairn, Bank of Scotland, at

    09:56

    11:06

    13:06

    14:11

    17:06

    Queens Park, Elizabeth Street, o/s

    09:58

    11:08

    13:08

    14:13

    17:08

    Nairn, Hospital, o/s

    10:01

    11:11

    13:11

    14:16

    17:11

    Nairn Bus station

    10:02

    11:12

    13:12

    14:17

    17:12

    Moss Side Road (Co-Op)

    10:08

    11:18

    13:18

    14:23

    17:18

    Sandown Road (nr A96)

    10:10

    11:20

    13:20

    14:25

    17:20

    Wyvis Drive

    10:14

    11:24

    13:24

    14:29

    17:24

    Beech Ave

    10:15

    11:25

    13:25

    14:30

    17:25

    Bus station

    10:20

    11:30

    13:30

    14:35

    17:30

    Nairn, Sainsbury, o/s

    10:30

    11:40

    13:40

    14:45

    17:40

    Monday to Friday school holidays

    251

    251

    251

    251

    251

    Nairn Sainsburys

    09:30

    10:40

    12:40

    13:45

    15:00

    Lochloy road o/s

    09:35

    10:45

    12:45

    13:50

    15:05

    Montgomerie drive

    09:37

    10:47

    12:47

    13:52

    15:07

    Lawrie Drive/Findhorn St

    09:39

    10:49

    12:49

    13:54

    15:09

    Lochloy road opp

    09:43

    10:53

    12:53

    13:58

    15:13

    Nairn, Sainsbury, at

    09:50

    11:00

    13:00

    14:05

    15:20

    Nairn, Bank of Scotland, at

    09:56

    11:06

    13:06

    14:11

    15:26

    Queens Park, Elizabeth Street, o/s

    09:58

    11:08

    13:08

    14:13

    15:28

    Nairn, Hospital, o/s

    10:01

    11:11

    13:11

    14:16

    15:31

    Nairn Bus station

    10:02

    11:12

    13:12

    14:17

    15:32

    Moss Side Road (Co-Op)

    10:08

    11:18

    13:18

    14:23

    15:38

    Sandown Road (nr A96)

    10:10

    11:20

    13:20

    14:25

    15:40

    Wyvis Drive

    10:14

    11:24

    13:24

    14:29

    15:44

    Beech Ave

    10:15

    11:25

    13:25

    14:30

    15:45

    Bus station

    10:20

    11:30

    13:30

    14:35

    15:50

    Nairn, Sainsbury, o/s

    10:30

    11:40

    13:40

    14:45

    16:00

    NF          Not Friday

    1 Jul 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa hosts 3rd G20 women’s empowerment working group meeting

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) is hosting the 3rd Technical Meeting of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) at Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga Province.

    As part of its leadership role within the G20 EWWG, South Africa is spearheading efforts to promote women’s participation and representation in leadership, governance, and decision-making, while also advocating for increased ownership and control by women across economic and social sectors.

    The meeting, which takes place from 01 to 04 July 2025, brings together G20 member states, guest countries, civil society organisations, and technical experts to advance global dialogue and cooperation on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

    The meeting will focus on “The Care Economy – Paid and Unpaid Care Work and Household Responsibilities.”

    “The topic aims to address long-standing disparities in the recognition and distribution of care work, which is essential to both household functioning and national economies yet remains undervalued and disproportionately carried by women and girls,” department spokesperson, Cassius Selala said.

    Over the four days, delegates will participate in strategic and evidence-based sessions, including presentations and discussions on the following: 
    •    Global care landscape, with a focus on recognising marginalised care relationships and exploring the potential of care work to create decent and inclusive employment.
    •    Cross country experience of implementation of Gender Responsive Budgeting and National Care Policies: Opportunities and Challenges.
    •    Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
    •    Proposed action plan on financial inclusion of and for women.
    •    The G20 gender mainstreaming efforts on women’s economic empowerment globally.
    •    Gender equality as a cross-cutting issues across G20 Working Groups and Task Forces.

    High-level speakers will include DWYPD Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga; representatives of the G20 Member States, including guest countries, and international organisations; academic and policy experts from University of Cape Town, United National Women, International Labour Organisation (ILO), World Health Organisation (WHO); delegates from civil society and G20 engagement groups, including Women 20 (W20) and Women Empower 20, amongst others.

    Selala said the outcomes of the meeting will contribute to the G20’s policy agenda on women’s economic empowerment, with a specific focus on recognising, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care work.

    “This engagement also aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5 and the G20’s ongoing commitment to the Brisbane Goal 25×25 [reduce the gender gap in labour force participation by 25 per cent by the year 2025],” Selala said. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Popular Science Tourism: A New Vector of Development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    A foresight session dedicated to the development of popular science tourism was held at the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade. The main goal of the event was to develop a strategy for attracting foreign tourists interested in scientific achievements and technologies. This corresponds to the new vector of development of the city’s tourism industry, which was discussed during the accelerator “International Tourism Products of Russia”. The project is being implemented by the Center of Competence in Tourism and Hospitality with the support of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

    The development of popular science tourism at the international level is an important step towards strengthening cultural and scientific ties between Russia and other countries. We strive to create tourism products that will be interesting and useful to guests from different parts of the world, allowing them to learn more about Russian science, technology and innovation. Our task is to make St. Petersburg a center of attraction for everyone interested in science and striving for new knowledge, – noted Marina Morozova, General Director of the Center of Competence in Tourism and Hospitality.

    The foresight session was attended by representatives of tour operators, the museum community, research institutes, including the Almazov National Medical Research Center, and leading universities. The moderators were associate professors of the Higher School of Service and Trade of the IPMEiT Irina Kapustina and Ksenia Pasternak.

    The projects were assessed by the expert opinion of the General Director of the international hospitality school ACORN Hospitality and Tourism Business School Olga Weiss, the General Director of the travel agency Tolstoy House Sofia Sheynina, the head of the paid services department of the Almazov National Medical Research Center Elena Zolotukhina, the public representative of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives Svetlana Selishcheva, the President of the Association of Participants in the Sphere of Medical and Health Tourism Sofia Mozokina, and the author of the program Management of State Programs and Implementation of National Projects in the Russian Federation Denis Askinadze.

    Unlike a tourism product with a pronounced cultural component, our project is focused on the scientific, industrial and scientific and production potential of the city. In the future, we also hope to attract tourists as future students, which is especially interesting for educational organizations. But even if they do not choose our universities, popular science tourism will become a powerful tool for popularizing science and a kind of soft power demonstrating the scientific, technical and scientific and production potential of our country, explained the Chairman of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg Evgeny Pankevich.

    Participants analyzed current trends and prospects for the development of popular science tourism, developed tourist routes and educational programs aimed, in particular, at attracting tourists from the Middle East, the CIS and Vietnam.

    Events like today’s foresight session play a key role in shaping the strategy for the development of popular science and industrial tourism. The Higher School of Service and Trade, as part of its activities project office “Industrial Tourism – Polytech” actively develops this important market segment, providing training for qualified personnel and promoting Russian scientific and technological heritage. We are convinced that such activities will significantly not only increase the tourist attractiveness of the region, but will also contribute to enhancing the brand of Russian industry, as well as strengthen Russia’s image as a leader in the field of science and technology, – noted the Director of the Higher School of Service and Trade Olga Voronova.

    The meeting culminated in the development of a passport for a unique tourism product in the field of popular science tourism for inquisitive travelers from all over the world.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: /China Spotlight/ Toys for the Elderly Boost China’s ‘Silver’ Economy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    HANGZHOU, July 1 (Xinhua) — In a playroom at a nursing home in China, several sprightly seniors gathered to play table hockey, competing in wits and skill, savoring every moment.

    Once considered a child’s play, these educational games are quickly becoming the latest craze among seniors.

    As China’s population ages at an accelerated rate, the once-overlooked consumer niche of games and toys for the elderly is emerging as a new pillar of the booming silver economy.

    Guan Weijian, a toy merchant in the eastern Chinese city of Yiwu, known as the “supermarket of the world,” quickly saw the wind blowing when he noticed such changes.

    Over the past year, his online store has seen a boom in demand for fitness gear and cognitive-development games and toys among older shoppers. Consumers aged 50 and up now make up 30 percent of his user base.

    “Our two best-selling toys are in the fitness and puzzle categories. They are low-impact yet fun, perfect for seniors to exercise or while away the time,” says Guan Weijian.

    “In fact, there are similarities between toys for the elderly and children’s toys in terms of developing reflexes, grip strength and coordination. In fact, some children’s toys can be easily adapted for the elderly with just a few simple changes,” Guan Weijian added.

    Realizing the potential of the senior toys sector as a promising niche, he decided to take advantage of the opportunity. In just three months after launching more than 10 products designed specifically for senior users, sales at his store far exceeded expectations.

    Searches for “toys for the elderly” on Taobao, one of China’s leading e-commerce platforms, grew 124 percent year-on-year, and transaction volume increased by more than 70 percent. Consumers aged 55 and above now make up an increasing proportion of shoppers, and their purchase frequency is increasing.

    As the market expands, more and more toy manufacturers across China are shifting their focus to meet the needs of older consumers.

    According to Cheng Xin of Taobao’s toys and collectibles section, there are many new shops selling toys for the elderly popping up on the platform, some of which are newly established and many of which are converted from former children’s toy stores.

    “Toys are no longer exclusive to kids, nor are they pop culture icons. They are a lifelong hobby that can be enjoyed by a wide range of consumers of all ages,” Cheng Xin said, adding that Taobao plans to launch a special toy segment for seniors, providing them with customized operational support.

    The booming market of toys for the elderly has not only created new growth points for consumption, but also contributed to a profound transformation of the traditional production chain.

    A particularly striking example is Yunhe County in Zhejiang Province, East China, widely known as the “birthplace of China’s wooden toys.”

    Based on years of industrial experience, Yunhe County has now deeply integrated the wooden toy industry with the elderly care industry, forming an innovative industrial chain focusing on intellectual, health and entertainment products.

    The key to this transformation lies in the shift from “fun” to “functionality.” To date, local manufacturers have developed more than 200 wooden toys designed to improve hand-foot coordination and slow down memory loss in older adults.

    According to Yin Qian, president of Zhejiang Mimi Zhikang Technology Co., the company has developed more than 100 wooden puzzle toys that are both entertaining and mentally stimulating.

    To enhance the cognitive and rehabilitation properties of its products, the company collaborated with the Health Science Center of Xi’an Jiaotong University and the Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Group located in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province.

    To date, the company has received more than 30 patents and supplies products to more than 500 senior care facilities across the country.

    Meanwhile, Yunhe is also targeting international markets. In recent years, the county has expanded the export of its wooden toys to senior schools, nursing homes and community centers overseas.

    “In 2024, our products were successfully exported to Germany, Japan and other markets, where they were warmly received by elderly users,” Yin Qian said.

    In the first quarter of this year, sales of wooden toys aimed at the elderly rose 50 percent year-on-year.

    China’s elderly population is projected to grow by more than 10 million a year over the next decade, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The silver economy’s share of China’s GDP is expected to rise to 9 percent by 2035, from 6 percent today.

    Data from iiMedia Research shows that China’s elderly care market will reach 12 trillion yuan (about $1.68 trillion) in 2023, up 16.5 percent year-on-year. The country’s silver economy is projected to reach about 30 trillion yuan by 2035, accounting for about 10 percent of GDP.

    Innovations in niche segments are opening up new opportunities in the silver economy, said Zhang Jinsong, secretary general of the Committee on Education for the Elderly of the Chinese Gerontological Society.

    The “silver” economy is poised to move beyond basic needs to consumption based on quality and pleasure, which will open up enormous potential,” he added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tower joins Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards to celebrate Aotearoa

    Source: New Zealander of the Year Awards Office

    New Zealand’s Local Heroes

    The New Zealander of the Year Awards Office is proud to welcome Tower as the new naming rights sponsor of the New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Award Te Pou Toko o te Tau within Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa.

    Tower’s sponsorship signals a powerful alignment of values. With a 155-year legacy of serving Aotearoa, Tower is deeply embedded in communities across the motu. Its long-standing commitment to care, connection, and backing everyday New Zealanders makes it a natural fit for an Award that honours those who quietly uplift the places and people around them.

    “Tower has been supporting New Zealanders for 155 years. As a proud Kiwi business, we are thrilled to take over the stewardship of the New Zealand Local Hero Award,” said Tower CEO Paul Johnston.

    “In line with our purpose to inspire, shape and protect the future for the good of our customers and communities, we are excited to join the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards in honouring local heroes across Aotearoa. Our people can’t wait to connect with our communities on this important work. To all past and future local hero nominees and finalists, thank you for your contributions to Aotearoa.”

    Miriama Kamo, Te Koruru Patron of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa, said the partnership marks a meaningful step forward for one of the programme’s beloved Awards. “The Tower New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Award celebrates the quiet champions who uplift our people and places every day. It’s a treasured category in the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards and we’re so pleased to welcome Tower as the new kaitiaki of this Award – helping us continue to honour the everyday heroes shaping their corner of Aotearoa for the better.”

    Nominations for the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa open on 24 July 2025 and can be made in one or more of the seven Awards by any member of the public over 15 years of age until Sunday 24 August 2025 at nzawards.org.nz.

    For individuals:

    • Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa

    • Young New Zealander of the Year Te Mātātahi o te Tau

    • Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātapuputu o te Tau

    • Tower New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Te Pou Toko o te Tau

    • New Zealand Innovator of the Year Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau

    • New Zealand Sustainability Leader of the Year Te Toa Taiao o te Tau

    For duos or groups:

    • Mitre 10 New Zealand Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau

    nzawards.org.nz

    @nzeroftheyear

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CMS Notifies Individuals Potentially Impacted by Data Incident

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is notifying Medicare beneficiaries whose personal information may have been involved in a data incident affecting Medicare.gov accounts. CMS identified suspicious activity related to unauthorized creation of certain beneficiary online accounts using personal information obtained from unknown external sources. CMS takes this situation very seriously. The safeguarding and security of personally identifiable information is of the utmost importance to CMS. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Calendar Year (CY) 2026 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule – CMS-1830-P

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

    On June 30, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to update payment rates and policies under the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for renal dialysis services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2026. This proposed rule would also update the acute kidney injury (AKI) dialysis payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by ESRD facilities for calendar year (CY) 2026 and proposes to update requirements for the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule Fact Sheet (CMS-1828-P)

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

    On June 30, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that proposes updates to Medicare payment policies and rates for home health agencies (HHAs) under the Home Health (HH) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Proposed Rule for calendar year (CY) 2026. CMS is publishing this proposed rule consistent with the legal requirements to update Medicare payment policies for HHAs annually. This fact sheet discusses the major provisions of the proposed rule.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Reza Shabahang, Research Fellow in Human Cybersecurity, Monash University and Academic Researcher in Media Psychology, Flinders University

    KieferPix/Shutterstock

    If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone.

    But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make sense of what’s going on and, for many of us, is an ethical stance.

    So, how can you also take care of your mental health? Here’s how to balance staying informed with the impact negative news can have on our wellbeing.

    Why am I feeling so affected by the news?

    Our brains are wired to prioritise safety and survival, and respond rapidly to danger. Repeatedly activating such processes by consuming distressing news content – often called doomscrolling – can be mentally draining.

    Unfiltered or uncensored images can have an especially powerful psychological impact. Graphic footage of tragedies circulating on social media may have a stronger effect than traditional media (such as television and newspapers) which are more regulated.

    Research shows consuming negative news is linked to lower wellbeing and psychological difficulties, such as anxiety and feelings of uncertainty and insecurity. It can make us feel more pessimistic towards ourselves, other people, humanity and life in general.

    In some cases, consuming a lot of distressing news can even cause vicarious trauma. This means you may experience post-traumatic stress symptoms such as flashbacks and trouble sleeping despite not being directly involved in the traumatic events.

    But this doesn’t stop us seeking it out. In fact, we are more likely to read, engage with, and share stories that are negative.

    Is there a better way to consume news?

    Switching off may not be an option for everyone.

    For example, if you have friends or family in areas affected by conflict, you may be especially concerned and following closely to see how they’re affected.

    Even without personal ties to the conflict, many people want to stay informed and understand what is unfolding. For some, this is a moral decision which they feel may lead to action and positive change.

    This is why, in research I co-authored, we suggest simply restricting your exposure to negative news is not always possible or practical.

    Instead, we recommend engaging more mindfully with news. This means paying attention to shifts in your emotions, noticing how the news makes you feel, and slowing down when needed.

    How to consume news more mindfully

    When you plan to engage with news, there are some steps you can take.

    1. Pause and take a few deep breaths. Take a moment to observe how your body is feeling and what your mind is doing.

    2. Check in. Are you feeling tense? What else do you have going on today? Maybe you’re already feeling worried or emotionally stretched. Think about whether you’re feeling equipped to process negative news right now.

    3. Reflect. What is motivating you to engage right now? What are you trying to find out?

    4. Stay critical. As you read an article or watch a video, pay attention to how credible the source is, the level of detail provided and where the information comes from.

    5. Tune into how it’s making you feel. Do you notice any physical signs of stress, such as tension, sweating or restlessness?

    6. Take time. Before quickly moving on to another piece of news, allow yourself to process the information you’ve received as well as your response. Has it changed your emotions, thoughts or attitudes? Did it fulfil your intention? Do you still have energy to engage with more news?

    It may not always be possible to take all these steps. But engaging more mindfully before, during and after you’re exposed to negative news can help you make more informed decisions about how and when to consume it – and when to take a break.

    Signs the news is affecting your mental health

    If you’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed, you’re more likely to have an automatic and emotion-driven response to what you’re reading or watching.

    Signs your negative news consumption may be affecting your mental health include:

    • compulsive engagement, feeling like you can’t stop checking or following negative news

    • experiencing feelings of despair, hopelessness, or lack of motivation

    • feeling irritable

    • difficulty concentrating

    • fatigue

    • strong physical symptoms (such as an upset stomach)

    • trouble sleeping

    • an increase in rash or risky behaviours, or behaviours you don’t usually display when you’re calm, such as panic shopping and hoarding following news about bad events.

    What should I do when I’m feeling upset?

    First, take a break. This could be a few minutes or a few days – as long as it takes you to feel emotionally steady and ready to re-engage with negative news.

    You might find it useful to reflect by writing down observations about how news is making you feel, and keeping track of intense fluctuations in emotions.

    It can also be helpful to connect with supportive people around you and do activities you enjoy. Spending time outdoors and doing hands-on tasks, such as gardening, painting or sewing, can be particularly helpful when you’re feeling anxious or emotional.

    But if you’re feeling overwhelmed and it’s affecting your work, life or relationships, it’s a good idea to seek professional help.

    In Australia, the government provides free mental health support at walk-in Medicare Mental Health Centres, Kids Hubs or via phone.

    Other free resources – including a symptom checker and links to online chat support – are available at Health Direct.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Reza Shabahang 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. Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself – https://theconversation.com/distressed-by-all-the-bad-news-heres-how-to-stay-informed-but-still-look-after-yourself-259913

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Death toll in Telangana pharma unit blast rises to 35

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The death toll from the explosion at a chemical factory in Telangana’s Sangareddy district rose to 35 on Tuesday, with officials saying that the number may increase as search and rescue operations continue.

    The blast occurred on Monday at Sigachi Industries Limited’s pharmaceutical facility, located about 50 km from Hyderabad. The impact of the explosion caused a three-storey building to collapse, triggering a massive fire.

    At the time of the incident, 108 workers were present at the factory. Thirty-five workers were injured in the explosion, with 11 reported to be in critical condition. More than 15 fire engines were deployed to contain the blaze.

    Most of the victims were migrant workers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief and said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was immediately deployed and is assisting in the ongoing rescue operations along with local authorities.

    “Saddened by the tragic accident in a chemical factory in Sangareddy, Telangana. The NDRF team rushed to the spot immediately and is continuing the rescue operation along with the local administration,” Shah said in a post on X.

    According to Y Nagi Reddy, Director General of Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services, the explosion took place during the air handling and drying of microcrystalline cellulose, citing inputs from industrial experts.

    The state government has set up a high-powered committee to investigate the incident. The panel includes the Chief Secretary, Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management), Principal Secretary (Labour), Principal Secretary (Health), and Additional DGP (Fire Services).

    The Chief Minister’s Office said the committee will also provide recommendations to prevent such industrial disasters in the future.

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Feedback sought on roading changes around new Dunedin Hospital

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has released proposed changes to reshape transport in central Dunedin and achieve safe and efficient access to the city’s new hospital.

    From today, people can have their say on the preferred option for State Highway 1 Cumberland Street and State Highway 88 St Andrew Street, both of which are key routes connecting people to the new Dunedin Hospital. The hospital’s main inpatient and outpatient public entrances will both open onto the intersection of these two streets.

    The proposed roading changes, developed in partnership with Dunedin City Council after previous rounds of community feedback, can be viewed in detail here.

    “The new hospital development is a once in a generation development for Dunedin. It presents an exciting opportunity to reshape the surrounding transport infrastructure to best serve the community,” says NZTA Director of Regional Relationships, Ian Duncan.

    “Up to 10,000 pedestrians will be walking in and around the new hospital facilities daily when open. Many of these people will be ill, elderly or vulnerable, so safety will be paramount. Access to the new hospital will need to cater for frequent pick-ups and drop-offs by vehicles, and for unimpeded access by emergency services.”

    “At the same time, these changes we have laid out are aimed at ensuring we continue to have good traffic flow for road users in and out of Dunedin’s CBD.”

    Proposed changes include the following:

    • A new Barnes Dance crossing (where all pedestrians cross the road at once) at the SH88 St Andrew Street/SH1 Cumberland Street intersection to help people reach the hospital public entrances safely. 
    • Removal of the westbound right turn from SH88 St Andrew Street onto SH1 Cumberland Street to make space and time for the increased number of pedestrians, including people with mobility needs, to cross the road.
    • Two new signalised pedestrian crossings on SH1 outside the Woolworths and the Centre City New World supermarkets.
    • Changes to St Andrew Street and other nearby streets to help people driving, walking and cycling, and emergency vehicles, move safely and smoothly around the hospital and surrounding area.
    • Frederick Street will become the new SH88, moving right turning traffic from St Andrew Street to other streets.

    “Some of the proposed changes will mean road users having to adapt to new ways of moving through the area, but we think these are practical and sensible moves to make it safe and efficient for everyone,” Mr Duncan says.

    “We intend to have clear signage and guidance in place when any changes are introduced to avoid confusion.”

    “The removal of the right turn from St Andrew Street onto SH1 for westbound traffic is seen as the only practical option to give pedestrians enough time to cross safely and to keep traffic flowing.’’   

    Removal of this right turn will mean Hanover and Frederick Streets are expected to become key alternative routes for light vehicles. Larger trucks are expected to use Ward Street and the overbridge onto Frederick Street as an alternative route.

    “Both Hanover and Frederick Streets can handle the expected changes in traffic volumes, and we don’t believe travel times are going to be greatly affected.”

    The proposed removal of a right turn on St Andrew Street will mean traffic will be spread across other routes.

    The proposed changes do have some impact upon car parking, such as on the north side of St Andrew Street near Dunedin Central Fire Station where roading improvements mean the loss of 14 parks. This will be partially offset by new parks in Harrow Street, and analysis of public parking available in the wider vicinity of the new hospital shows there are multiple off-road parking facilities available to be used in addition to provision being made at the hospital itself.

    The proposed changes for SH1 and SH88 build on earlier work in 2023, when the decision was made to keep Dunedin’s existing SH1 one-way system.

    Mr Duncan says public feedback on the current proposed changes will need to be considered before any work on the affected streets take place over the next few years.  

    People can view the proposed changes and give their feedback via an online form. Printed material with the proposed changes and feedback forms can be found in the next few days at Dunedin City Council libraries and service centres, and those not online can send their feedback to NZTA by post.

    View proposed changes and give feedback 

    Feedback closes on 28 July, 2025.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –