Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) 

MANILA, 15 October 2025 – For a woman with obstructed labour, safe surgery can mean the difference between life and death. For a child with appendicitis, it can prevent lifelong complications. For a father with a diabetic foot infection, it can spare his leg. Yet across the Western Pacific, too many people still face unsafe, delayed surgery or cannot afford surgery altogether. These risks can turn a chance to heal into lasting harm.

WHO highlights that safe, accessible and affordable surgical care is essential for universal health coverage.  It is also one of the smartest investments in health, with the potential to avert 1.5 million deaths every year in low- and middle-income countries. But to deliver on this promise, systems must shift from isolated solutions to integrated, people-centred care.

“Surgery should save lives, not break them,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Every operation – no matter its scale and scope – must be safe, every patient must be protected from catastrophic costs, and every health worker must be equipped to deliver the best care. That's why at our upcoming 76th Regional Committee, we’re putting safer surgery on the agenda, calling on Ministers of Health and policymakers to drive solutions that benefit health for all.”

Why it matters

Surgical care improvements are not only for the operating theatre; they strengthen entire health systems as a part of continuum of care. To give every baby the best start in life, countries require adequate distribution of skilled health workforce. Fewer mortality from road injury demands strong promotion, prevention and referral system in place.  Safer surgery also forestalls the danger of antimicrobial resistance and builds resilience for emergencies.

Countries in the Western Pacific are already making progress:

• Cambodia, Fiji, Mongolia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are improving sterilization, infection control, and appropriate antibiotic use in surgery. 
• Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Papua New Guinea are strengthening essential intrapartum care to improve maternal, newborn and child care and reduce unnecessary caesareans or other surgical procedures. 
• Solomon Islands is tackling diabetic foot complications by catching and treating cases early, reducing the need for amputations. 
• Kiribati has pioneered leadership training for nurses, empowering them to improve hospital quality and governance from the ground up. 
• Cambodia, Samoa and Tonga have launched national surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia plans (NSOAPs), prioritizing access to safe, timely and affordable surgical care for all. 

Looking ahead

At the 76th  session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, Member States will consider new steps to scale up safer surgery. WHO is urging governments to:

• Embed essential surgery in universal health coverage packages to ensure essential surgical care is available for all and protect families from catastrophic costs. 
• Expand the use of low-cost, proven safety measures like sterilization audits and the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist. 
• Invest in leadership and governance so hospital teams, from surgeons to nurses, can sustain continuous quality improvements. 
• Strengthen community-level referral systems to ensure timely, lifesaving surgical care as a part of Primary Health Care. 

WHO remains committed to working with countries and partners to “weave health for all,” reflecting its regional vision that interlaces efforts, resources, and expertise to protect health, keep the Western Pacific safer, and serve the more than 2.2 billion people who live in this vast region.

For more on the 76th WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, visit:https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/governance/regional-committee/session-76

Source: GridBeyond

New York, 15 October 2025 – GridBeyond is proud to announce the launch of its new podcast, Energy Trends, a series that dives deep into the shifting dynamics of the global energy landscape.  

Hosted by Alden Phinney, GridBeyond’s Vice President of Business Development, the podcast features insights and expertise from industry leaders on the innovation driving change across the energy sector, from technologies and optimisation to trading, batteries and Artificial Intelligence.

In the first episode, Alden speaks with Pedro Robredo, Senior Vice President of the Americas, ABB Electrification Service. Together, they explore the intersection of energy, electrification, and infrastructure service models, and how partnerships like ABB and GridBeyond are driving transformation across the sector. The episode dives into how data-driven insights and intelligent automation are helping businesses move faster and seize new opportunities.  

“Energy Trends hosts the voices shaping the future of energy,” said Alden Phinney. “We’re excited to kick off with a guest like Pedro. We have started this project as we think there’s a real need for deeper, more accessible conversations around the rapid changes and innovations in the energy sector. Our goal is to inform, inspire, and connect professionals and enthusiasts alike as we navigate the transition to a more sustainable energy future.”

Pedro Robredo said: “It’s a pleasure to join GridBeyond for this important conversation,” said Pedro Robredo. “At ABB Electrification Service, we’re helping industries accelerate their energy transition through smarter service models, advanced technologies and strong partnerships. Together with innovators like GridBeyond, we’re enabling customers to unlock new value from their infrastructure, reduce emissions and build more resilient, future-ready operations.”

Subscribe to Energy Trends on Spotify and YouTube. New episodes release monthly.

 

About GridBeyond

GridBeyond's vision is to deliver a global zero carbon future. By leveraging AI, we innovate and collaborate with our customers to create optimal value from energy generation, demand and storage to deliver a zero-carbon future. By bridging the gap between distributed energy resources and electricity markets, GridBeyond’s technology means every connected asset – whether utility-scale renewables generation, battery storage, or industrial load – can be utilized to help maximize opportunities and enhance the grid. By intelligently dispatching flexibility into the right market, at the right time, asset owners and energy consumers unlock new revenues and savings, resilience, and management of price volatility, while supporting the transition to a Net Zero future.

For more information, visit www.gridbeyond.com

Source: Investors Observer

October 14, 2025 – As President Trump prepares to implement historic tariffs reaching up to 100% on Chinese goods starting November 1, InvestorsObserver's research reveals which U.S. states could be most affected by this escalation in trade tensions. (ref. https://investorsobserver.com/research/ranked-the-u-s-states-most-and-least-exposed-to-china-import-tariffs )

In 2024, California imported more than $122 billion worth of goods from China, which accounted for 25% of its total imports and close to 12% of its GDP. Nevada follows with the highest reliance ratio – 26% of its imports come from China. States like Tennessee, Illinois, Texas, and New York also show strong economic exposure, with China imports composing large shares of their GDPs.

Economic Implications by State

California's ports handle an immense share of U.S.-China trade, supporting around 500,000 jobs. “Tariff hikes at this scale could lead to immediate disruptions in employment and supply chains, especially in California's logistics and retail sectors,” said Sam Bourgi, finance analyst at InvestorsObserver. “Higher costs will likely ripple through consumer prices, reducing spending power just ahead of the holiday season.”

Tennessee's imports make up 22% of its GDP, driven largely by electronics and auto manufacturing. “The state's economy will feel the pinch sharply if tariffs disrupt Chinese supply chains, potentially risking job losses and slower growth,” continued Bourgi.

Illinois, with $41.4 billion in Chinese imports, faces a potential bottleneck in critical rare earth components. “It may take 5 to 10 years to develop domestic alternatives for heavy rare earths needed in defense and tech,” said Bourgi. “Trade restrictions now amplify the urgency of this long-term strategic vulnerability.”

Retail giants such as Walmart, Amazon, and Target have already signaled potential price increases and disruption of popular electronics, apparel, and household goods. “Consumers nationwide should brace for higher costs and potential shortages over the coming months,” said Bourgi.

Least Affected States

Rural and smaller states such as Montana, Alaska, and Wyoming show minimal exposure, each importing less than $132 million from China with less than 3% of their GDP reliant on Chinese goods. These states' economies, centered on agriculture, natural resources, and trade with Canada or South Korea, will remain largely insulated from the tariff shock.

Preparing for the Future

California, Nevada, Tennessee, and other highly exposed states face major uncertainty as tariffs threaten to raise costs across supply chains critical to industries' and consumers' daily functions. While ongoing diplomatic efforts around the Trump-Xi meeting may influence tariff implementation, businesses and policymakers are preparing for potential disruptions.

“Strategic diversification of supply chains and accelerated domestic production will be key to mitigating these risks,” advised Bourgi. “But such shifts take time and come with transitional economic costs that could weigh on growth in the near term.”

ABOUT SAM BOURGI

Sam Bourgi is a finance analyst and researcher at InvestorsObserver, bringing over 13 years of expertise in financial markets, economics, and monetary policy. His professional background spans the private, nonprofit, and public sectors, where he has held positions such as senior policy adviser, labor market analyst, and marketing director. Sam's in-depth research and market analysis have been referenced by leading institutions and organizations, including the U.S. Congress, Department of Justice, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Bank for International Settlements, Boston University Law Review, Barron's, and Forbes. Sam regularly appears on TV, including CBN, KFYR TV, and ABC30, and is often quoted by such media outlets as the SF Chronicle and MSN.

ABOUT INVESTORS OBSERVER

Investors Observer is a trusted source of independent financial analysis, market insights, and investment research for individuals and institutions. Founded to empower retail investors with actionable intelligence, InvestorsObserver delivers timely commentary, data-driven studies, and accessible financial tools designed to simplify complex market trends. Its research and insights have been featured by various media outlets, including Yahoo, The Guardian, Morning Star, Nasdaq, and more.

Previous research by InvestorsObserver: 

• How buying 1% of the S&P 500 went from achievable to nearly impossible for minimum wage workers

• How many Big Macs does it take to buy a house? The surprising truth about home affordability in 2025

• The American middle class is locked out: nearly a third of major cities now unaffordable for homebuyers

• These American cities have the most unaffordable neighborhoods in 2025

• Can you trust chatbots with your college debt? What AI chatbots get right and wrong under Trump's 2025 student loan overhaul

Source: GlobalData

LONDON, 14 October 2025 – Declining survey response rates, chronic underfunding, growing politicization of government agencies, and delayed reporting due to the government shutdown have all combined to undermine market confidence in official government data at precisely the time accurate labor market insights are most critical for assessing the true state of the economy in an increasingly complex world.

GlobalData Plc, the trusted intelligence partner to the world's leading organizations, offers a clear alternative. Powered by real-time, proprietary job postings data indexed daily directly from company and employer websites globally and leveraging a purpose-built AI model, GlobalData helps tracks underlying labor market trends ahead of the official release of U.S. Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) data.

Toby Dayton, Managing Director at GlobalData, comments: “Using LinkUp's unique, high-quality, real-time job postings data and advanced modelling, we are able to deliver accurate signals around labor market strength or weakness and provide investors with data and insights to fundamentally understand one of the most critical drivers of the economy ahead of the official release.”

Over the past two years, forecasts powered by GlobalData's LinkUp data have beaten consensus 65% of the time while achieving 30% lower forecast errors. Crucially, trading signals derived from these forecasts have generated a cumulative 3% to 5% positive one-day return in equities and FX markets on NFP release days, evidence of the dataset's economic value for investors.

Superior data and forecasting

LinkUp's dataset, sourced directly from employer websites, eliminates sponsored job ads, duplicates, and expired postings and other job board pollution that plagues data sourced from third-party providers. Covering over 10 million daily active jobs across 195 countries and backed by a historical point-in-time archive dating to 2007, LinkUp data provides unparalleled breadth and depth to model robust forecasts. Proprietary indicators such as active jobs, posted jobs, and closed jobs correlate well with both NFP and JOLTS dataset, both at aggregate level and at sector-level, making them a ideal input into forecasting NFP and JOLTS.

Advanced modelling

GlobalData's forecasts are powered by a multi-stage modelling approach:

We initially train a constrained XG-Boost model for 10-year period, between 2013 to 2023, excluding 2-year COVID-19 period to remove pandemic driven abnormalities.
Key model input variables are LinkUp's closed jobs and posted jobs, initial claims and policy uncertainty (to incorporate tariff induced labor demand recalibration)
We then incorporate the above forecast in a secondary linear regression model along with ICE immigration data, trained from 2019, excluding covid period.
The second model forecast begin in Jan-2024 and the model is retrained each month to include latest date to build forecast for each subsequent months.

Investor advantage

For capital market participants, the benefits are clear:

Get an early lead into labor market trends and position accordingly. Our backtest shows that going long when GlobalData NFP forecasts are 5% above consensus and short if they are below 5%, across 6 FX pairs, generates 5% aggregate 1-day return across 18 data releases. In equity, across marketcaps, the aggregate 1-day return is 3%.

Dayton concludes: “Labor markets often move in cycles and tend to follow discernible patterns. By monitoring actual job postings in real time as opposed to job ads sourced from third parties, GlobalData can detect these turning points well before traditional data signal them.

“Investors who leverage GlobalData's AI-powered insights gain clarity on sectoral labor dynamics, early visibility into payroll strength or weakness, and the confidence to act ahead of consensus. In an environment where timing is everything, this foresight can transform uncertainty into opportunity.”

Notes

Quotes are provided by Toby Dayton, Managing Director at GlobalData
This press release was written using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData's team of industry experts

About GlobalData

GlobalData Plc (AIM:DATA) operates an intelligence platform that empowers leaders to act decisively in a world of complexity and change. By uniting proprietary data, human expertise, and purpose-built AI into a single, connected platform, we help organisations see what is coming, move faster, and lead with confidence. Our solutions are used by over 5,000 organizations across the world's largest industries, providing tailored intelligence that supports strategic planning, innovation, risk management, and sustainable growth.

Source: Government of Nauru

Global events are sparking strong interest in citizenship by investment (CIB) schemes, according to the director of one of the most recently introduced programs.

CEO of the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program Edward Clark said European and Middle Eastern conflicts and political turmoil in the US were some of the factors behind the spike.

“Many people are currently feeling insecure about their place in the world, and are looking for alternative citizenship options,” Mr Clark said.

He said a US citizen recently applied to the Nauru program, while a European family recently granted Nauruan citizenship was looking for a second passport due to tensions in Europe, and was drawn to the Nauru program by a desire to support climate resilience initiatives.

Nauru’s Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program commenced earlier this year and offers visa-free travel to 89 countries, while allowing the investor to contribute to climate resilience and sustainable development in Nauru, named by the UN as the world’s fifth most vulnerable country to economic and climate shock.

CIB programs like that offered by Nauru are being seen as a vital backup even for holders of strong passports, according to Mr Clark.

“Global volatility, policy shifts, and emergency scenarios make diversification through an additional passport a prudent move, so even citizens of European nations or the US are realising the importance of have a second citizenship as a safeguard.

“As well, in the event of major geopolitical conflict such as a European escalation of the Ukraine-Russia war, a second citizenship may provide a fallback citizenship to avoid mandatory military service or conscription scenarios.”

He said citizens of countries with politically sensitive or restricted passports are looking for a more neutral passport alternative that allows for less scrutiny when traveling to jurisdictions where their primary passport may raise flags.

However Mr Clark pointed out that entry isn’t guaranteed.

“Strict due diligence requirements including financial, police, and third-party checks underpin the integrity of the Nauru program and these are a strong value proposition for many people,” he said.

“Amid all the global uncertainty, people want to be assured they are investing in a robust program with strong safeguards for them and their family.

“We’re anticipating there will be strong ongoing interest in Nauru’s program, particularly from those who want to support a small island nation to implement measures to combat economic vulnerability and climate change,” he said.

About the Nauru Economic & Climate Resilience Citizenship Program

The Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program is designed to attract investors who are committed to contributing to the sustainable development of the Pacific island nation of Nauru. By participating in this program, applicants can secure a second citizenship while supporting the island's efforts to combat climate change and enhance economic resilience.

www.ecrcp.gov.nr

Source: OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund)

13 October 2025 – The President of the OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund), Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, is leading the institution’s delegation to the 2025 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) in Washington, D.C., from October 13–18.

At a time of fragile global recovery and rising development needs, the OPEC Fund is stepping up its engagement to help partner countries accelerate growth, resilience and job creation.  Throughout the week, the OPEC Fund delegation will hold a series of high-level discussions with global leaders, government ministers, and partner development institutions to advance cooperation and scale up financing for sustainable development.
President Alkhalifa said: “The OPEC Fund remains focused on delivering solutions that make a difference on the ground. Following a record year in 2024, we are mobilizing additional resources, deepening partnerships and innovating to respond quickly and decisively to the challenges of growth, job creation, climate and inclusion.”
During the meetings, the OPEC Fund will sign new sovereign and non-sovereign loan agreements with partner countries and institutions, including: Jordan: A policy-based loan supporting growth and job creation. Lesotho: Financing for road and bridge upgrades to strengthen climate-resilience and connectivity Saint Lucia: Support for climate resilient infrastructure and transport. Paraguay: An OPEC Fund–led syndicated facility with private sector partners to boost SME financing.
The OPEC Fund will also conclude new partnership agreements with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to enhance cooperation on energy access, resilience and innovation.
President Alkhalifa’s agenda includes meetings with the World Bank leadership, and other multilateral partners such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), focusing on joint financing, co-investment in climate action and private sector mobilization.
Other highlights include:

A High-Level Roundtable on Strengthening Arab–LAC Partnerships, co-hosted with regional development banks.
The 50th Anniversary of the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) — a milestone celebrating five decades of South-South cooperation and shared impact across more than 160 countries. As a proud member of this strategic alliance, the OPEC Fund joined fellow ACG institutions in reaffirming their collective commitment to scale up development impact, leverage joint resources and expand collaboration across regions.
A roundtable on education with the ACG and the Global Partnership for Education. President Alkhalifa added: “Growth and jobs are at the heart of sustainable development. As we prepare to mark the OPEC Fund’s 50th anniversary next year, we are more determined than ever to deliver impact that exceeds our size – by working in partnership, leveraging resources and ensuring every dollar we deploy helps transform lives.”  

 President Alkhalifa added: “Growth and jobs are at the heart of sustainable development. As we prepare to mark the OPEC Fund’s 50th anniversary next year, we are more determined than ever to deliver impact that exceeds our size – by working in partnership, leveraging resources and ensuring every dollar we deploy helps transform lives.”  
The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people in low- and middle-income countries around the world. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$30 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and S&P Global Ratings. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.

Source: deVere Group

October 13 2025 – The tariffs-driven sell-off and subsequent rebound in futures show that investors are trading on politics, not fundamentals — a mistake that will continue to create volatility, warns Nigel Green, CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group.

US stock futures rose on Sunday night after President Donald Trump hinted that he may soften his stance toward China, easing fears after his shock announcement on Friday of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports.

The move, a response to Beijing's tightening of rare earth export controls, sparked a steep sell-off that erased nearly $800 billion from major technology firms and sent the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to their worst day since April.

Beijing swiftly warned that it “does not want a tariff war but is not afraid of one.” But by Sunday evening, Trump had shifted tone, telling reporters aboard Air Force One, “Don't worry about China,” and praising President Xi Jinping as “a great leader.”

His remarks were enough to turn sentiment: Dow futures rose 0.8%, the S&P 500 gained 1.04%, and Nasdaq futures climbed 1.34% in early trading.

Nigel Green says this whiplash in market behaviour reveals a deeper problem. “Investors are reacting to tone rather than truth,” he says. “Markets are swinging on every change in Trump's language instead of the underlying economic reality. That's not investing — that's headline-chasing.”

He warns that such reactions can distort valuations and increase risk.

“When markets move solely on words rather than data, volatility becomes self-perpetuating. It fuels fear, then greed, and back again.

“The pattern we're seeing — panic on Friday, relief on Sunday — is entirely sentiment-driven.”

Nigel Green believes both sides are likely to pull back from the brink.

“China's control of rare earth minerals gives it leverage, but the US relies on its technology dominance. A complete rupture is too costly for either side,” he says.

“The most likely scenario is a pause in escalation and renewed talks, possibly extending the tariff truce reached in May.”

Still, he cautions that investors should not mistake calm for stability. “The threat of tariffs will linger as a policy weapon,” he notes.

“Under Trump, trade pressure has become a permanent feature of global markets. Even when tensions cool, the risk of a sudden reversal remains. That uncertainty keeps investors on edge and liquidity tighter than it should be.”

Economists estimate that if the latest tariffs are fully enforced, they could shave around half a percentage point off US GDP next year and slow China's already fragile export sector.

But Nigel Green argues that the real damage comes from hesitation. “Uncertainty paralyses decision-making. Companies delay investment, trade slows, and productivity falls. It's not the tariffs themselves doing the harm, it's the unpredictability.”

He adds that investors who chase every policy shift risk missing long-term opportunities.

“Volatility isn't the enemy of performance, emotion is. The smartest investors stay globally diversified, hold quality assets, and avoid reacting to every market tremor caused by a political statement. Fundamentals always reassert themselves.”

He concludes: “Markets seem addicted to the political drama, but the smart money is looking past it. Tariffs come and go; tone shifts daily. Fundamentals endure and those who remember that, and seek advice, will outperform in the months ahead.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

Source: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore)
 
The dairy industry has been plagued by a persistent global problem for decades – bacterial infection of cow udders that significantly reduces milk production.
 
The condition, known as bovine mastitis, is estimated to cause annual global losses of US$22 billion (S$28 billion). While antibiotics have been used to treat the infection in dairy cattle, there are issues such as rising antibiotic resistance and concerns around milk contamination from antibiotic residues.
 
Now, a team of international researchers has developed alternatives to antibiotics that prevent infection through a novel mechanism they discovered.
 
The scientists were led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), in collaboration with the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Interdisciplinary Research Group at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) research enterprise in Singapore. Their findings were recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
 
In a preliminary farm trial, the new antimicrobial compounds were applied on cow teats and shown to stave off udder infection after the animals were exposed to bacteria.
 
“Our study has unveiled an alternative class of potent antimicrobial compounds that could be used in the agriculture industry to combat multi-drug-resistant bacteria that cause bovine mastitis,” saidProfessor Mary Chan, one of the co-leads of the research from NTU Singapore’s School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, as well as a Principal Investigator at SMART AMR. “The compounds are also promising as they did not cause significant adverse effects in cattle in our tests. They didn’t spoil the cows’ milk nor make it unsafe for consumption as well.”
 
The new compounds have since attracted interest from several agricultural companies in Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and New Zealand. The businesses are keen as they are seeking substitutes that are safer and more environmentally friendly than existing compounds in preventing the infection of cow teats.
 
Professor Paula Hammond, Institute Professor and Executive Vice Provost at MIT and Principal Investigator at SMART AMR, who is one of the co-authors of the research, said: “With the success of our initial study in both the laboratory and in the field, we are now planning to work closely with industry partners to scale up and do larger trials in dairy cattle, with the aim of commercialising the novel antimicrobial compounds.”
 
Professor Kevin Pethe, the study’s other co-lead from NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and Principal Investigator at SMART AMR, noted that the new compounds are also very effective in killing multi-drug-resistant bacteria in mice at doses that were not noticeably harmful to the rodents in the team’s study. “This opens the way for the compounds to be further developed and optimised for other therapeutic applications in the biomedical field in the future,” he said.
   
Udder concerns
When cattle udders get infected, the antibiotics used to treat them often end up in their milk in high concentrations for some time, so the milk cannot be consumed or sold under existing rules. Bacteria resistant to such antibiotic treatments have surfaced too.
 
To prevent the infection of cow teats, farmers typically dip udders in antiseptic solution, such as those containing iodine or chlorhexidine, to kill bacteria on them. However, the disinfectants’ long-term use can irritate udders or cause their skin to crack, which increases the risk of infection.
 
There are also concerns that after cleaning the udders of the antiseptics, iodine and chlorhexidine may find their way into the environment and cause problems like disrupting the nutrient balance in nature and harming aquatic life respectively. And when the chemicals come into contact with milk, like when udders are not properly cleaned, they become less effective at killing bacteria.
 
The NTU-led scientists realised that these challenges in the dairy business could be addressed with novel compounds called “oligoimidazolium carbon acids” (OIMs) that they initially developed as alternatives to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
 
They found that OIMs kill bacteria in a new way, unlike traditional “cationic” antimicrobials studied now as antibiotic substitutes. Parts of the OIMs convert into structures called carbenes, which lets them slip past the bacteria’s protective membranes quickly to damage their DNA and kill them. This killing method is more potent than for typical cationic antimicrobials. So, lower doses of OIMs are needed, which reduces the chance of side effects.
 
Commercial potential
The research team tested if OIMs could be used as an antiseptic dip to prevent bovine mastitis in a preliminary farm trial led by SMART AMR. Cows whose teats were dipped in the compounds did not develop udder infection over time after being exposed to bacteria.
 
The OIMs also did not irritate the cows’ udders nor cause the animals to behave abnormally – for example, they were not restless and did not kick, which are signs of itching and irritation. The compounds were easily washed off as no traces of them were detected on the udders or in the cows’ milk after the teats were cleaned.
 
They have a sustainable advantage as well. “The OIMs are biodegradable and break down into natural molecules that are neither toxic nor polluting, so we expect them to be more environmentally friendly than using iodine or chlorhexidine,” explained Dr Kaixi Zhang, Research Scientist at SMART AMR and a co-author of the study.
 
Tests showed that the OIMs do not affect the quality of the milk too. Furthermore, unlike iodine and chlorhexidine, the OIM’s ability to kill bacteria was unaffected by milk.
 
Going forward, the scientists are commercialising the OIMs through a spin-off company, and a large farm trial has been started in Malacca, Malaysia, to optimise the antimicrobial compounds. Several agricultural companies in Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and New Zealand have expressed interest in exploring the commercial use of the antimicrobial compounds in preventing, and possibly treating, bovine mastitis in dairy cattle.
 
The dairy industry has been actively searching for new compounds that are much less toxic, more effective and more sustainable to replace existing iodine- and chlorhexidine-based products, which have been used to prevent bovine mastitis for decades. Coupled with increased scrutiny of the dairy business following rising incidents of adulterated milk, companies have thus shown interest in the researchers’ new antimicrobial compounds.
 
The research conducted at SMART is supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore under its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) programme. The farm trial study was supported by a grant from the SMART Innovation Centre, which helps researchers commercialise their technologies and turn them into successful ventures.

Source: Edith Cowan University (ECU)

Governments which employ private military companies such as Wagner and Africa Corps, can be held liable for any human rights violations committed by these firms, research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has highlighted.

(ref. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-african-law/article/state-responsibility-for-violations-of-international-humanitarian-law-and-human-rights-law-by-private-security-companies-in-africa-the-case-of-the-wagner-group-and-africa-corps/C621A38DFB47268AA92E78E8206602B1 )

Associate Professor Shannon Bosch said the International Law Commission’s Articles of Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (ARISWA) provides a means for the international community to hold states responsible for the actions of private military, on behalf of the victims of abuse.

“Corporations like Wagner and Africa Corps, which both have solid ties to Russia, have been involved in Africa for quite some time. In exchange for mineral rights, they have partnered with elected leaders, African dictators, rebel groups and military generals and offer services ranging from private protection details to full military services,” Associate Professor Bosch said.

However, research noted that the name Wagner has become synonymous with grave human rights violations and abuses in Africa, with the companies facing allegations of sexual assault, mass executions, torture, the planting of explosives in civilian areas, and the forced displacement of civilians.

Associate Professor Bosch said that while it was tempting to classify Wagner employees as mercenaries, that legal status would depend on the company’s relationship with the host State. Where Wagner employees have been incorporated into the State’s armed forces, or even contracted, that contractual link exempts them from mercenary status.

It was also this association which made host States liable for any actions taken by these employees.

“States have the responsibility to ensure that any private military company that acts on their behalf should be well supervised and should be held accountable when instances of human rights violations are reported,” Associate Professor Bosch said.

“Immunity clauses and informal arrangements cannot shield States from responsibility when violations involve non-derogable rights.”

If the host nation is unwilling to step in and address these human rights violations, or worse condones them, it is up to third party states to act, Associate Professor Bosch said.

“ARISWA allows any State can invoke the responsibility of delinquent States when the breached obligation is owed to the international community as a whole. Third party States can bring actions before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to ensure accountability for violations of jus cogens norms, which are peremptory principles of international law that are universally recognised and from which no derogation is permitted.” she said.

In addition to moral and ethical obligations, third party States could also be prompted into taking this action to stave off the flow-on effects from human rights violations, particularly in States directly surrounding the host nation.

“Human rights violations cause repercussions that flow throughout the continent, including massive regional refugee populations and political instability. Rebel forces in neighbouring states are quick to incorporate the lessons learned from the private military firms and use those to stage a coup,” Associate Professor Bosch said.

Through ARSIWA, international law allows the global community to hold States accountable when they employ, support or control private military groups like Wagner or Africa Corps, whether these groups are officially part of the State's military, act like regular armed forces, follow State orders, or have their actions officially accepted by the State.

Where delinquent States rely on foreign aid and trade, sanctions could be an effective response to deter the use Wagner or Africa Corps forces.

However, Associate Professor Bosch noted that actions like ICJ rulings, diplomatic pressure, or sanctions all depend on proving a clear link between these forces and the States that hire, support, or allow them to operate.