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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Managing healthcare easy as online banking with revamped NHS App

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Managing healthcare easy as online banking with revamped NHS App

    NHS App to become complete digital front door to NHS, where patients book appointments, manage medicines, and view data

    • PM sets out how 10 Year Health Plan will bring NHS into 21st century to meet the needs of patients around the country
    • Patients to make self-referrals via App, connect with a clinician, link-up wearable tech, and gain free access to health apps
    • Plan for Change will rebuild NHS and see ground-breaking Single Patient Record finally in one place – viewable on App from 2028

    Patients will be able to access a range of healthcare services and advice at the touch of a button, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has set out today, as the Government’s Plan for Change drives forward fundamental reform to the NHS to make it easier and fairer for everyone to access the care they need.

    Launching the 10 Year Health Plan today – the government’s roadmap to rebuilding the health service to make it fit for the future – the PM set out how the App will act as a digital front door to the health service, overhauling how people get advice, manage appointments and interact with services to make their healthcare more convenient and more personalised.

    For the first time, patients will be able to book, move and cancel all their appointments on the App – ending the 8am scramble for a GP – and the App will use artificial intelligence to provide instant advice for patients who need non-urgent care, available 24/7.

    Through the plan, which has been published in Parliament today, patients will have quicker, better access to the right care. They will be able to self-refer on the App to mental health talking therapies, musculoskeletal services, podiatry, and audiology – freeing up GPs and new Neighbourhood Health Services to focus on providing direct care while dramatically slashing waiting lists for these services – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change promise to cut waiting lists.

    Accessing healthcare will be quicker than ever thanks to expanded features on the app. People will be able to manage their medicines and book vaccines from their phone, connect with a clinician for a remote consultation, and even leave a question for a specialist to answer without making an appointment. Patients simply being able to book an appointment digitally rather than today’s convoluted process will save the NHS £200 million over 3 years.

    For parents, the new App will deliver a 21st century alternative to the ‘red book’, ensuring that their children’s medical records are available to them in their pocket, so they do not have to carry their red books to every appointment. It will also provide advice and support throughout childhood, offering guidance on weaning and healthy habits. Over time, it will record feeding times, monitor sleep, and use AI analytics to understand the best way to care for children when they are unwell.

    The changes will build on the progress Government has already made to increase the number of hospitals allowing patients to view appointment information on the app. Almost 12 million fewer paper letters have been sent by hospitals since July 2024. Forecasts for this year show the use of in-app notifications for planned care will prevent the need for 15.7 million SMS messages.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    For far too long, the NHS has been stuck in the past, reliant on letters, lengthy phone queues and even fax machines.

    But that doesn’t match the reality of our daily lives, where everything from shopping and banking to entertainment and travel can be sorted with the touch of a button from our phones.

    To rebuild our NHS, we have to make sure it reflects the society it serves. That’s why our 10 Year Health Plan will bring it into the digital age by opening up fairer and more convenient access to healthcare. Through our new App – a digital front door for your care – parents will be able to keep track of their children’s health through an online ‘red book’ fit for the 21st century, and we will put a stop to patients having to endlessly repeat their medical history thanks to a single patient record.

    Our Plan for Change promised to make our NHS fit for the future and that’s what we are getting on with delivering – fixing the foundations of our health service and making sure it will be there to look after us for decades to come.

    This is one major arm of the technological innovation at the heart of the 10 Year Health Plan launched today, which also includes introducing the single patient record, rolling out AI scribes to take notes for clinicians, using Generative AI to create the first draft of care plans, and introducing single sign-on for NHS software.

    The government’s 10 Year Health Plan sets out the fundamental reforms we will deliver to address the challenges facing the health service in the face of inherited underinvestment and neglect and the evolving needs of a modern society.

    Speaking at the launch of the plan today, the PM set out how the plan will deliver three key shifts to make the NHS fit for the future: hospital to community; analogue to digital; and sickness to prevention. Through fundamental reforms to rewire the NHS around these shifts, the plan will deliver the government’s pledge to cut waiting lists, improve healthcare for everyone wherever they live, and ensure the NHS is equipped to look after us for decades to come.

    This historic transformation will fundamentally change the future of healthcare, and it will be underpinned by a new Single Patient Record. This will finally bring together all of a patient’s medical records into one place, so patients do not have to repeat their medical history to each clinician they see. The Single Patient Record will make sure patients get seamless care no matter who they are being treated by in the NHS.

    Two-thirds of outpatient appointments – which currently cost in total £14 billion a year – will be replaced by automated information, digital advice, direct input from specialists and patient-initiated follow ups via the NHS App.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    The NHS App will become a doctor in your pocket, bringing our health service into the 21st century.

    Patients who can afford to pay for private healthcare can get instant advice, remote consultations with a doctor, and choose where and when their appointments will be. Our reforms will bring those services to every patient, regardless of their ability to pay.

    The 10 Year Health Plan will keep every patient fully informed of their healthcare and make using the NHS as easy and convenient as doing your banking or shopping online. It will deliver a fundamental shift in the way people access their care – from analogue to digital.

    A new Single Patient Record will bring an end to the frustration of repeating your medical history to different doctors. Instead, health and care professionals will have your record in one, handy place, so they can give you the best possible care.

    Through our Plan for Change, this Government is shifting care to digital and delivering an NHS which is truly fit for the future.

    The Government will make the Single Patient Record possible through new legislation that places a duty on every health and care provider to make the information they record about a patient, available in the Single Patient Record. 

    We will also legislate to give patients access to their record by default. From 2028, patients will be able to view it, securely, on the NHS App. Over time, that data will include not only medical records, but a personalised account of health risk, drawing from lifestyle, demographic and genomic data – helping catch problems early before they develop, and prevent people from poor health.

    The Single Patient Record is designed as National Critical Infrastructure. This means it will be built and maintained to meet the highest levels of security, equivalent to those used for the UK’s most vital systems, such as energy and transport networks. Health and care professionals treating and caring for a patient will have secure access to their record; patients can control who else they share it with and will have a robust audit trail of who has accessed their record.

    Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive at NHS England, said:

    The NHS App will be at the heart of the tech transformation we’re planning for the NHS to give people much more ownership of their healthcare – all from wherever they are at the tap of a screen. 

    Millions of us already have the app downloaded on our phones and the improvements we’re introducing as part of the 10 Year Health Plan, from booking appointments and speaking to clinicians online to seeing all your medical records in one place, will make the NHS App the digital front door to the NHS.

    A My Health tool will include real-time data from wearables, biometric sensors, or smart devices and will connect to relevant NHS data too – whether that is the results of recent tests at home or in a neighbourhood health centre. Wearables will be able to feed vital data into the App such as step count, heart rate and sleep quality, to provide tailored, personal health advice. The single patient record will have robust security controls.

    And a new My NHS GP tool will harness AI to direct people to the most appropriate and timely care they need. In some cases, it will advise on self-care – and help direct patients to well-evidenced consumer healthcare products. In others, it might direct to a community pharmacy, a neighbourhood health centre or to emergency care.

    Over the course of the plan, the features set to be developed through the NHS App will include the ability to:

    • My NHS GP – book a remote or face-to-face appointment, and receive personalised health advice using new AI tool
    • My Specialist – self-refer when clinically appropriate and leave a question for a specialist to answer
    • My Consult – connect with a clinician for a remote consultation
    • My Medicines – manage repeat prescriptions for delivery/collection and receive reminders
    • My Care – book and manage appointments, enrol in a clinical trial and access Single Patient Record
    • My Companion – get information about a health condition or procedure, and ask AI or a clinician a question
    • My Choices – find nearest pharmacy, the best providers, and leave feedback on services
    • My Vaccines – see when vaccines are up-to-date and book appointments to get them organised, and find travel vaccine info
    • My Health – bring data like blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels together, and include real-time date from wearables or smart devices
    • My Children – a digitised red book, where parents can get advice and support for parents throughout childhood
    • My Carer – securely prove you are a carer, book appointments and talk to your loved one’s care team

    Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said: 

    It’s clear that technology is set to transform many aspects of our lives for the better over the next decade, including the delivery of healthcare and how we interact with the NHS.  

    The potential of the NHS App for example, is truly exciting, but we must also ensure that no one is left behind, including the many millions of older people who are not online and who often want and need to use more traditional means of communication, such as telephone and face to face.  

    The Government’s commitment to a digitally inclusive approach is really important in building public trust. It is also essential for the NHS’s promise of being equally accessible to continue to hold true in our increasingly digital world. The voluntary sector can certainly help by supporting people who are not digital natives and at Age UK we look forward to playing our part in this way.

    Julian David, CEO, techUK said: 

    We welcome today’s announcement as a landmark moment in the digital transformation of the NHS. The enhanced NHS App marks a bold step forward in putting citizens at the centre of their care, empowering patients with the same ease, accessibility, and control we expect from modern digital services. 

    Ongoing and meaningful engagement with the tech sector will be essential to delivering this transformation at scale. techUK will continue to work with government, NHS bodies, and our members to ensure this transformation is inclusive, secure, and future-ready.

    Boosting the App will not only benefit those managing their healthcare digitally but will also free up capacity in traditional healthcare routes and provide more access to care and appointments – freeing up phone lines so calls are answered on time and freeing up GPs’ capacity to offer face-to-face appointments.

    The government will aim to empower and upskill everyone to feel confident using the NHS App so that they can benefit from the additional access to services and the greater convenience the App will bring.

    The government will continue a partnership with libraries and other community organisations to set people up on the App, with show-and-tells to teach them how to use it and reap the benefits – this will be alongside ongoing work across government to improve access to technology and boost confidence among groups that have previously struggled.

    Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: 

    The foundations for a healthy life are laid in childhood, so an ambition of creating the healthiest generation of children yet is an important step towards tackling the deep inequalities in their healthcare. 

    I have long called for a child’s ‘red book’ to be digitised, so this is a really welcome move. Taken with plans currently going through Parliament to develop a unique childhood identifier, will vastly improve how we protect and care for the most vulnerable children, with fewer in danger of falling through gaps in services. 

    Children tell me that when they need additional support, they want it in one place, so creating neighbourhood services that bring different professionals under one roof will make a practical difference in their lives, as will increasing access to GPs and dentists.

    Andrew Davies, Executive Director of Digital Health, Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), said:  

    This transformation of the NHS App is an important milestone for healthcare delivery. A single, secure platform to access a range of services, digital tools and therapeutics, and connect devices will enable patients to more effectively engage with their care.  

    This plan showcases how HealthTech can drive a more efficient, personalised and accessible NHS, which in turn will free up time for clinicians to focus on care where it is needed most. Our members look forward to working with the NHS and Government to ensure these digital tools are implemented successfully and deliver meaningful benefits for patients across the country.

    Rachel Power, Chief Executive, the Patients Association said: 

    We welcome the government’s ambition to expand the NHS App as a central part of the 10 Year Health Plan. It could deliver the fundamental change patients have asked for in their interactions with the NHS, including the ability to manage their appointments, self-refer to vital services, and, in three years’ time, be able to view their health records through the Single Patient Record.  

    Our work with patients shows that those using the app often feel more in control and more satisfied with their care. But with nearly one in four still facing barriers to digital access, we must ensure that innovation doesn’t come at the cost of inclusion. If the NHS App is to become the digital front door, there must always be a real-world, accessible front door as well, with face-to-face or telephone options in place for those who need or want them. True progress means making the system work for everyone.

    Professor Habib Naqvi, chief executive of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: 

    We need a more focused and systematic approach to tackling health inequalities and addressing unacceptable variation in healthcare amongst our communities. A key enabler for this endeavour is digital tools. The transformation of the NHS App has the potential to lead to a more efficient, agile, and technologically enabled NHS – an NHS that will deliver care quicker and closer to where people live. The App will empower people and transform the way the public receives healthcare and engages with NHS services. The Observatory will help ensure this shift, in the way healthcare is provided, benefits all communities equitable.

    Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices said: 

    Technology is moving at a blistering pace, and quite simply the NHS has failed to keep up. So, the increased emphasis on the App and other digital services is welcome, especially where it can help the NHS meet expectations that have become common place in other sectors.  

    Critically the Plan recognises there will always be patients with more complex needs and commits to using the resource freed up by digital innovations to continue offering more traditional forms of access to those who need it.” 

    Richard Stubbs, Chair of the Health Innovation Network said:  

    It is right that the 10 Year Health Plan will establish the digital and data foundations of the NHS to realise the potential of health innovation in empowering patients, better supporting the NHS workforce and driving economic growth in every community.  

    The Health Innovation welcomes the focus on AI, expansion of the NHS App and the commitment to a single patient record, all of which will involve innovation partnerships to deliver change to local services, that will have a national impact. 

    The 15 health innovation networks across England, look ahead to operationalising these plans and working with our partners to find, test and implement at scale innovations that improve patient outcomes, increased NHS productivity and reduce waiting lists, while delivering economic growth. If we get this right we will not only greatly increase outcomes and satisfaction for our patients, but we will also boost our essential life sciences sector and, as our Defining the Size of the Health Innovation Prize report found, add up to £278bn a year to the UK economy.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council praised for helping to build strong communities in Stoke-on-Trent

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Thursday, 3rd July 2025

    Council and community leaders have outlined the key challenges and opportunities facing neighbourhoods in Stoke-on-Trent – just weeks after the city was awarded up to £20m ‘trailblazer’ funding.

    On Friday 27 June, Baroness Hilary Armstrong – who chairs the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON) which is reviewing the current state of neighbourhoods across England – visited the city to find out more about the issues facing neighbourhoods in Stoke-on-Trent and learn about future regeneration opportunities.

    Baroness Armstrong’s visit comes just weeks after Bentilee and Ubberley was chosen as one of only 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods across the UK. Announced as part of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, the area will receive up to £20 million to transform the area through community-led regeneration projects.

    During her visit to the city, Baroness Armstrong stopped off at St John’s Church in Abbey Hulton where she observed a Stay and Play session hosted by Thrive at Five.

    She also visited St John’s Day Service, run by the council’s Adult Social Care and All Age Commissioning service, which supports adults with learning disabilities with activities including cookery, gardening, health, education and digital skills.

    The Baroness was later joined by stakeholders and community leaders for a roundtable discussion at Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre where she met members of community groups which are actively working to improve the lives and opportunities for residents in Stoke-on-Trent.

    She finished off the day at The Portland Inn Project, in Hanley, learning about their plans to transform a former pub into a new community hub.

    Baroness Armstrong said: “It was a real pleasure to visit Stoke-on-Trent last week, meeting local community organisations, public service leaders and elected representatives. 

    “I saw first-hand how the council and grassroots organisations are building strong communities and enriching neighbourhoods. 

    The path to national renewal lies in neighbourhood renewal. I hope Ministers will closely examine the lessons from community-led regeneration, in Stoke-on-Trent and across the country.” 

    Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “It was a privilege to welcome Baroness Armstrong to Stoke-on-Trent and to be able to sit down with her and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing our local communities.

    “We were pleased to be able to showcase community in action at our Stay and Play session and be able to introduce her to community organisations which are leading the way when it comes to improving opportunities for local residents and families, particularly those in left behind neighbourhoods.

    “We are committed to continuing those efforts with the government funding we have received. We want to empower residents to improve and enhance the places where they live and work.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plymouth re-signs anti-social behaviour pledge

    Source: City of Plymouth

    L-R Shaun Baker – Area Manager, Livewest
    Amanda Wells – Commissioning Officer, Office of Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
    Cathryn Vallender – Head of Neighbourhoods, Livewest
    Michelle Dawson – Executive Director of Homes and Communities, Plymouth Community Homes
    Steve Foale – Technical Lead for Community Safety, Plymouth City Council
    Matt Garrett – Service Director for Community Connections, Plymouth City Council
    Chief Superintendent Scott Bradley – Plymouth BCU Commander, Devon and Cornwall Police

    Organisations across the city are teaming up to help spread the word about tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB). 

    Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Community Homes, Livewest Housing Association, Devon and Cornwall Police, and the Police and Crime Commissioner have joined up to re-sign the ASB Pledge.  

    The pledge is a commitment to support victims of anti-social behaviour, using anti-social behaviour case reviews. 

    Victims of persistent anti-social behaviour have the right to request a case review where a local threshold is met. It is an opportunity for an independent review to see what, if anything else, can be done to resolve the anti-social behaviour.   

    The pledge was set up by ASB Help, a registered charity which provides advice and support to victims. 

    The criteria to have the pledge status has changed since the Council last signed it in 2022, and to retain the status, we need to renew our commitment.   

    There have been nine requests so far this year for case reviews, compared to 18 last year in total. 

    One of the most recent case reviews involved a long-term drug user who supplied drugs to others visiting their flat. They would leave used needles in the nearby bin shed. The neighbours reported their concerns and unfortunately the issues continued, and the council worked with partners to address it, leading to the police carrying out a drug warrant.  

    The occupier was issued a Community Protection Notice Warning to stop visitors at their address. The council and the police were able to identify one persistent visitor causing anti-social behaviour and were able to obtain a civil injunction which banned them from the area for two years.  

    Unfortunately, this warning was ignored so the council and the police applied for a closure order against the property and the housing association subsequently regained possession of the property.   

    The Council’s street services cleaned the area of discarded drugs paraphernalia, and the residents returned to a peaceful life.   

    The case review involves an independent chair who can give an issue a fresh perspective. The review brings together all agencies involved, and a new action plan drawn up. 

    Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “Anti-social behaviour can have an overwhelming impact on its victims and, in some cases, on the wider community. 

    “It is key that we as partners come together to show our commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour.  

    “By signing up to our ASB Help Pledge, we will work with partners to ensure that they demonstrate their commitment to supporting victims of ASB and will endeavour to implement and follow best practice with the ASB Case Review.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU initiatives recognised for real-world impact

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    The exceptional real-world impact of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) researchers, teams and projects has been recognised by the national Alliance Awards 2025.

    ARU has three shortlisted nominees for this year’s Alliance Awards, organised by University Alliance, with each making significant contributions to the wider community.

    Dr Mirna Guha, Deputy Head of ARU’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Senior Lecturer in Sociology, is nominated for the Research and Innovation Impact Award for improving domestic abuse and sexual violence (DASV) services across England.

    Dr Guha is helping to address the shortage of specialist support provided by and for women from minority backgrounds by leading initiatives to promote racially diverse leadership within support services. She also advises Peterborough Women’s Aid on the Dahlia Project, an intervention which emerged from her research.

    ARU’s Trusted Adult Scheme (TAS) is shortlisted for the Local Impact Award, which is supported by UCAS. TAS is a collaboration between ARU, Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (NHS) and helps young people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough by providing safe spaces, mentorship, and guidance.

    Children and young people aged 14-19, with social workers, are referred to TAS, which offers on-campus activities such as music recording, street art and gym access.

    ARU’s Social Work team is shortlisted for the Teaching Innovation Award for its innovative and inclusive teaching methods for apprenticeship students.

    Teaching begins with reflective wellbeing check-ins, to help improve compassionate resilience, and the sessions have been carefully designed to embrace inclusive teaching for neurodivergent and disabled students on the BA (Hons) Social Worker Degree Apprenticeship course.

    University Alliance represents professional and technical universities in the UK and the shortlists for each award were selected by an independent panel of expert judges from across the higher education and research sector.

    “This year we have renewed the categories for the Alliance Awards – and the response has been phenomenal.

    “We have received over 250 nominations across nine categories, and I continue to be awe-inspired by the range, the depth and the quality of the many individuals and teams across the Alliance.

    “The judges’ shortlisting to decide the nominees was incredibly competitive and close, with some categories receiving over 25 nominations. This attests to the sky-high standard of work that goes on across Alliance Universities.”

    Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance

    The winners will be announced at the Alliance Awards 2025 ceremony on 18 September, hosted by the University of Hertfordshire.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ministers allocate £1.5 million from dormant bank accounts to charitable organisations03 July 2025 The Chief Minister and Minister for External Relations have made the first of three annual allocations of £1. 5 million from the Jersey Reclaim Fund which will be distributed to local charitable and… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    03 July 2025

    The Chief Minister and Minister for External Relations have made the first of three annual allocations of £1.5 million from the Jersey Reclaim Fund which will be distributed to local charitable and voluntary organisations. 

    In October last year the Ministers announced their intention to provide a three-year funding package of at least £4.5m for 2025 – 2027 to provide sustained support to charities and voluntary organisations. 

    Established in 2017, the Jersey Reclaim Fund is administered by the government and consists of balances in dormant bank accounts in Jersey where contact has been lost with the customer for more than 15 years. 

    The funds will be allocated by the Jersey Community Foundation. In addition to supporting the community, charities can apply to use part of their grants to sustain or strengthen the resilience and sustainability of their organisation. 

    The Minister for External Relations, Deputy Ian Gorst, who has responsibility for financial services, said: “This allocation from the Jersey Reclaim Fund marks the beginning of a new phase of long-term support for our charitable and voluntary sector. By providing funding over the next three years, we are giving organisations the certainty they need to plan ahead, and also to invest in their own resilience in order to serve our Island community. I’d like to thank Jersey’s financial institutions for continuing to work with the Fund, and the Jersey Community Foundation for their crucial role in making sure these grants reach the organisations and recipients that need them most.”

    The 2025 funding will be allocated over two grant rounds, and decisions on the first round of funding have been approved, with successful applicants to be notified this week. A second round of funding will take place in the autumn. The wide range of applications received from diverse organisations highlights both the vital work of Jersey’s charitable sector and the clear need for this funding at this time. 

    Anna Terry, CEO of the Jersey Community Foundation, said: “We’re delighted that the Government of Jersey has not only allocated £1.5 million from dormant bank accounts to the Jersey Community Foundation this year, but also committed to a three-year partnership. This long-term support enables us to offer multi-year grants, giving charitable organisations the stability they need to plan and deliver lasting impact. We’re incredibly grateful for the government’s trust in us to manage and distribute these funds, and we look forward to continuing to support the vital work being done across the Island.” 

    For information on how to apply for a grant, visit: Jersey Community Foundation​.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Draft Island Transport Plan set to be discussed 3 July 2025 Draft Island Transport Plan set to be discussed

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    A new long-term transport strategy for the Isle of Wight is set to be discussed by councillors at County Hall next week.

    The draft Island Transport Plan (ITP), which outlines the Island’s transport priorities from 2025 to 2040, will be considered by the Isle of Wight Council’s Economy, Regeneration, Transport, and Infrastructure Committee.

    The plan is part of a national requirement for Local Transport Authorities to have a Local Transport Plan in place.

    The ITP sets out a vision for a transport network that supports economic growth, reduces environmental impact, and improves access and safety for residents and visitors.

    It includes objectives such as supporting local economic growth, improving air quality and travel efficiency, and making transport more inclusive and affordable.

    The plan also highlights the importance of adapting to climate change and supporting healthier communities through safer and more sustainable travel options.

    Among the proposals are improvements to rural bus shelters, simplified ticketing across different modes of transport, and the rollout of real-time information across the network.

    The plan also supports enhancements at ferry terminals and the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

    The council has already secured £13.6 million in Levelling Up funding for walking, cycling, and public transport improvements, and £2.1 million from the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund for the A3056 between Newport and Lake.

    Public consultation on the draft plan is expected to begin in September, with events planned across the Island to gather feedback.

    The final version of the plan is due to be published in early 2026, following consideration of public responses, and will be submitted to the Department for Transport for approval.

    The committee will meet at 5pm on Thursday, July 10. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or follow the meeting live online.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Re-apply for your Postal Vote before 31 January 2026

    Source: City of Norwich

    Published on Thursday, 3rd July 2025

    Norwich City Council is urging all 23,500 affected postal voters to re-apply for their postal vote before the deadline of 31 January 2026, following changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022.

    What’s changing?

    If you were granted a postal vote before 31 October 2023, your current arrangement will expire on 31 January 2026. To continue voting by post in future elections, you must re-apply.

    Why do I need to re-apply?

    The Elections Act 2022 introduced new rules requiring postal voters to re-apply every three years. This change is designed to keep the electoral register up to date and secure.

    How to re-apply

    Re-applying is quick, easy, and secure:

    Apply online at gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
    Deadline: 31 January 2026

    If you don’t re-apply, your postal vote will expire, and you’ll need to vote in person or apply again later.

    If you do not wish to re-apply online, or if we do not hold an email address for you, we will contact you by post in August and supply a paper application form for you to return.

    Spread the word

    If you work with or support someone who may be affected, please help them check their status and re-apply in time.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Annual Diwali event to change due to crowd safety concerns

    Source: City of Leicester

    LEICESTER’S Golden Mile will continue to be the focus for Diwali Day celebrations, but with major changes to the annual event due to crowd safety fears.

    Serious concerns about public safety at the popular event have been raised by the Diwali safety advisory group due to the massive crowd numbers the event has attracted in recent years.

    The group – which includes event and safety experts from the city council, representatives from Leicestershire Police, NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue and crowd security providers – has warned that the current location is no longer fit for purpose, and urgent action needs to be taken.

    Several meetings have since been held by the safety advisory group to consider a range of options, including relocating the popular event to Abbey Park or the city centre, extending it onto Belgrave Circle or moving it onto Melton Road.

    Following council engagement with Belgrave businesses and local community representatives, the decision has now been taken to enable Diwali Day celebrations on Belgrave Road, where it has been held for more than 40 years.

    However, major changes to the popular event will be required to ensure it can be held safely.

    Belgrave Road will be closed to all traffic for the evening of Diwali Day to allow families and friends to celebrate safely together and enjoy the atmosphere, shops and restaurants of the Golden Mile.

    Festive illuminations featuring more than 6,000 lights will continue to be installed along Belgrave Road during Diwali. The popular Wheel of Light will also return.

    There will be no stage entertainment or firework display at this year’s event. And Cossington Street Recreation Ground will no longer feature as part of the festivities.

    These measures need to be taken to avoid potentially dangerous crowd massing that has been observed at the event in the last two years.

    The city council has committed to continue to work with the safety advisory group and local community representatives to see whether any further enhancements can be made that will not compromise public safety.

    The new approach was agreed at a meeting last night between the City Mayor Peter Soulsby, Cllr Vi Dempster, asst city mayor for culture, representatives from the Leicester Hindu Festival Council and Belgrave Business Association, and members of the local Jain and Sikh communities. Local ward councillors, council officers and safety advisory group members also attended.

    Graham Callister, the city council’s head of festivals, events and cultural policy said: “Diwali has been a real highlight of the city’s festival calendar and attracts thousands of people who come from far and wide to join in the celebrations on the Golden Mile.

    “However, we are now being advised by our emergency service partners and event security providers that we have reached the point where the growing crowds and sheer volume of people attending is causing significant concern about public safety.

    “Scaling back on event infrastructure and activity means there will be the additional space needed – and more importantly less congestion – to safely welcome the crowds that want to celebrate on Belgrave Road.”

    Cllr Vi Dempster said: “Unfortunately, Leicester’s annual Diwali festival has become a victim of its own success. We’re being strongly advised by our emergency service partners and crowd control experts that it cannot continue safely in its current format due to the unrestricted and growing crowd numbers that it attracts, and that’s a warning we must take extremely seriously.

    “We are absolutely determined that Diwali continues to be part of the city’s festive calendar. We also understand the depth of feeling to see it continue on the Golden Mile where it began over 40 years ago. To do that, we must ensure that it can take place safely. That must be paramount.”

    Over the last two years, record crowds have turned out for the city’s Diwali celebrations on Belgrave Road and Cossington Street recreation ground. Last year’s event saw estimated crowds of up to 50,000 people attending.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New independent chair of MAPPA oversight group

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    A FORMER senior police officer has been appointed as the Independent Chair of the Tayside MAPPA Strategic Oversight Group.

    Graham Binnie was confirmed in the position following a tender process supported by Dundee City, Angus and Perth & Kinross councils, Police Scotland and NHS Tayside.

    He has considerable experience of successful collaboration across law enforcement, public health, public protection, community planning and resilience partnerships, having worked in various roles with Police Scotland over almost 30 years. This has included public protection specific roles as well as serving as the Superintendent, Performance and Partnerships for Tayside Division.

    Since retiring from Police Scotland Graham has also taken on leadership roles within rugby and as a volunteer in wider community groups and charitable organisations.

    He said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to act as independent chair and am committed to working with partners to prioritise people and safety, supporting the hard work of those across our public protection agencies”.

    MAPPA aims to protect the public by requiring the police, NHS, prison service and local authorities (known as responsible authorities) to work together to assess and manage the risk posed by certain categories of offender. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Annual Report celebrates Significant Progress in key priorities

    Source: City of Derby

    Derby City Council’s latest Annual Report will be presented to Cabinet on Wednesday 9 July, showcasing a year of achievements across the city’s five priority themes: Green, Growth, Resilient, Vibrant, and Working Smarter.

    The report, covering performance and delivery from April 2024 to March 2025, highlights key successes that are making Derby a more sustainable, prosperous, and vibrant place for our residents.

    We’ve made big strides in our commitment to become a better-connected, greener city. Our Transforming Cities programme has championed efficient and active travel, delivering new and renewed cycle pathways, traffic signals and carriageways. We’ve also upgraded 5,560 streetlights to energy-efficient LEDs, saving an estimated 329 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

    Our green spaces continue to be high quality places for our residents to enjoy, with six city parks retaining the prestigious Green Flag status. Working with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, we’ve also reintroduced cattle to three of our locations in the winter months to improve biodiversity and keep them in the best condition.

    The Growth theme has seen significant support for local businesses and the creation of future job opportunities. Aided by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund we have worked with partners to support 761 Derby businesses, while Council interventions have generated an impressive £30.7m of investment in the city.

    Investing in Derby’s future workforce is a priority, as demonstrated by the Derby Promise initiative. We’ve seen over 3,100 individuals enrolled in community and skills programme delivered by the Derby Adult Learning Service, continuing our focus on lifelong learning and raising aspirations and opportunities for our people of all ages in Derby.

    Looking ahead, we’re also actively collaborating with the Great British Railways Transition Team and the East Midland’s Mayor to develop a shared vision for a Derby Rail Campus, boosting the city’s vital rail sector.

    Over the past year, culture has been placed firmly at the heart of our increasingly vibrant city. Spring 2025 saw the opening of two major leisure and culture destinations: Vaillant Live and Derby Market Hall. The city also hosted a diverse mix of events, including St George’s Day and Festive Derby, and the record-breaking Darley Park Weekender, which generated over £1m for the local economy.

    Under the Resilient theme, the Council has focused on supporting residents to get on in life and ensuring the right care is available, at the right time. In 2024/25, some of our most vulnerable people were supported to remain in a place they call home. This includes 86.6% of adults with a Learning Disability, 91.6% of adults in contact with secondary mental health services, and 79.5% of older people within 91 days of being discharged from hospital following rehabilitation.

    Thanks to collaborative efforts with our partners, 45,000 visits were made to our Family Hubs, where a range of services are provided. This contributed to a reduction in the number of families assessed as ‘child in need’ and a decrease in the number of children in care.

    Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, said:

    2024/25 was a very busy period for our city, and we saw big strides made in our journey to make Derby a city we can all be proud of. While the hard work continues, this report shows that we are heading in the right direction.

    This is also a great opportunity to recognise the commitment and achievement of our colleagues in 2024/25. They continually go above and beyond to deliver the best outcomes for the people of Derby, despite the ongoing challenges facing local government. I want to place on record my thanks to them for all they have done and will continue to do as we press on into 2025/26.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Completes the Fourth Review Under the Extended Fund Facility with Sri Lanka

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    July 3, 2025

    • The IMF Executive Board completed the Fourth Review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility with Sri Lanka, providing the country with immediate access to SDR 254 million (about US$350 million) to support Sri Lanka’s economic policies and reforms.
    • Performance under the program has been generally strong with some implementation risks being addressed. Prior actions on restoring cost-recovery electricity pricing for the rest of 2025 and operationalizing automatic electricity tariff adjustment were met. All quantitative targets for end-March 2025, except the stock of expenditure arrears, were met. All structural benchmarks due by end-May 2025 were either met or implemented with delay. 2025Q2 inflation fell below the lower outer band of the Monetary Policy Consultation Clause largely due to energy prices. Debt restructuring is nearly complete.
    • The economic outlook remains positive. However, global trade policy uncertainties pose significant risks to Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic and social stability. If these shocks materialize, the authorities will work closely with staff to assess the impact and formulate policy responses within the contours of the program.

    Washington, DC: On July 1, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Fourth review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement, allowing the authorities to draw SDR254 million (about US$350 million). This brings the total IMF financial support disbursed so far to SDR1.27 billion (about US$1.74 billion).[1]

    The EFF arrangement for Sri Lanka was approved by the Executive Board on March 20, 2023 (see Press Release No. 23/79) in an amount of SDR 2.286 billion (395 percent of quota or about US$3 billion). The program supports Sri Lanka’s efforts to durably restore macroeconomic stability by (i) restoring fiscal and debt sustainability while protecting the vulnerable, (ii) safeguarding price and financial sector stability, (iii) rebuilding external buffers, (iv) strengthening governance and reducing corruption vulnerabilities, and (v) enhancing growth-oriented structural reforms.

    The Executive Board reviewed a report from the Managing Director on the inadvertent provision of inaccurate data by Sri Lanka on the ceiling of the central government’s stock of expenditure arrears. The under-reporting of the arrears stock identified through a detailed analysis of budget line appropriations gave rise to noncomplying purchases and a breach of Sri Lanka’s obligations under Article VIII, Section 5. The authorities have worked openly and closely with IMF staff to provide corrected data and have undertaken several corrective measures related to the clearing and reporting of arrears. They are also committed to improving reporting and data verification practices going forward in line with IMF technical assistance. Based on these actions, the Executive Board approved the authorities’ request for waivers of non-observance.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of the Staff Report prepared for this consultation.[2]

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Mr. Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:

    “Sri Lanka’s performance under the Fund-supported arrangement is generally strong with some implementation risks being addressed. Reforms are bearing fruit, with economic growth strengthening, inflation remaining low, reserves accumulating, and fiscal revenues improving. The debt restructuring process is nearing completion. The economic outlook is positive, but downside risks have increased. In case shocks materialize, the authorities should work closely with the Fund to assess the impact and formulate policy responses within the contours of the program. Steadfast program implementation will be crucial.

    “Sustained revenue mobilization is critical to restoring fiscal sustainability and creating fiscal space. Strengthening tax exemption frameworks, boosting tax compliance, and enhancing public financial management to ensure effective arrears management are important. Further improving the coverage and targeting of social support to the vulnerable is also necessary. A smoother execution of capital spending within the fiscal envelope would help foster medium-term growth. The restoration of cost-recovery electricity pricing and the operationalization of automatic electricity tariffs adjustment are commendable and should be maintained to contain fiscal risks.

    “The progress to advance the restructuring of Sri Lanka’s debt is noteworthy. Timely finalization of bilateral agreements with remaining official and commercial creditors is a priority.

    “Monetary policy should continue to prioritize price stability, supported by sustained commitment to eliminate monetary financing and safeguard central bank independence. Greater exchange rate flexibility and gradually phasing out administrative balance of payments measures remain critical to rebuild external buffers and economic resilience.

    “Resolving non-performing loans, strengthening governance and oversight of state-owned banks, and improving the insolvency and resolution frameworks are important to revive credit growth and support private sector development.

    “Structural reforms are crucial to unlock Sri Lanka’s potential. The government should continue to implement governance reforms and advance trade-facilitation reforms to boost export growth and diversification.”

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Mr. Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:

    “The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reviewed noncomplying purchases made by Sri Lanka under the 2023 Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (“EFF”), as well as a breach of obligations under Article VIII, Section 5. The noncomplying purchases arose as a result of the provision of inaccurate information by the authorities on the stock of expenditure arrears at the first, second, and third reviews under the EFF.

    “The inaccuracies in information provided to the IMF were inadvertent and arose because of weaknesses in the timely reporting of arrears by line ministries to the Ministry of Finance, as well as a misunderstanding by the authorities of the definition of “arrears” under the Technical Memorandum of Understanding. 

    “The Executive Board positively considered the authorities’ corrective actions, the fact that arrears repayments will be accommodated within the existing fiscal envelope, and the authorities’ commitment to improving public financial management procedures in line with the new PFM law, to reduce the risk of accruing arrears or inaccurate reporting of information going forward. In view of the above, the Executive Board agreed to grant waivers for the nonobservances of the quantitative performance criterion that gave rise to the noncomplying purchases and decided not to require further action in connection with the breach of obligations under Article VIII, Section 5.”

    Sri Lanka: Selected Economic Indicators 2024-2030
                                                                  

     

    2024

    		  

    2025

    2026

    2027

    Est.

    Projections
               

    GDP and inflation (in percent)

    		            

    Real GDP

    5.0

    3.5

    3.1

    3.1

    Inflation (average) 1/

    1.2

    3.3

    5.2

    5.0

    Inflation (end-of-period) 1/

    -1.5

    8.9

    5.2

    5.0

    GDP Deflator growth

    3.8

    3.6

    5.3

    5.1

    Nominal GDP growth

    9.0

    7.1

    8.5

    8.4

     

    Savings and investment (in percent of GDP)

    		            

    National savings

    25.2

    21.8

    22.2

    22.9

      Government

    -3.2

    -2.0

    -0.8

    -0.1

      Private

    28.4

    23.8

    23.0

    23.0

    National investment

    27.0

    21.8

    22.1

    22.5

      Government

    5.0

    4.3

    4.5

    4.6

      Private

    21.9

    17.4

    17.6

    17.9

    Savings-Investment balance

    -1.8

    0.0

    0.1

    0.4

      Government

    -8.2

    -6.3

    -5.3

    -4.6

      Private

    6.4

    6.4

    5.4

    5.1

     

    Public finance (in percent of GDP)

    		            

    Revenue and grants

    13.7

    15.0

    15.2

    15.3

    Expenditure

    19.3

    20.5

    19.7

    19.2

    Primary balance

    2.2

    2.3

    2.3

    2.3

    Central government balance

    -5.6

    -5.4

    -4.5

    -3.9

    Central government gross financing needs

    21.9

    22.6

    19.6

    14.9

    Central government debt

    100.5

    105.1

    103.4

    100.2

    Public debt 2/

    105.2

    109.6

    107.4

    103.6

     

    Money and credit (percent change, end of period)

    Reserve money

    15.8

    6.5

    8.5

    8.4

    Broad money

    8.6

    6.5

    8.5

    8.4

    Domestic credit

    4.0

    4.5

    3.0

    3.8

    Credit to private sector

    10.7

    9.4

    9.2

    9.3

    Credit to private sector (adjusted for inflation)

    9.5

    6.1

    4.1

    4.3

    Credit to central government and public corporations

    -1.4

    0.0

    -3.3

    -2.5

     

    Balance of Payments (in millions of U.S. dollars)

    Exports

    12,772

    12,880

    13,490

    14,194

    Imports

    -18,828

    -21,363

    -22,447

    -23,578

    Current account balance

    1,746

    -48

    -77

    -439

    Current account balance (in percent of GDP)

    1.8

    0.0

    -0.1

    -0.4

    Current account balance net of interest (in percent of GDP)

    3.7

    2.1

    2.0

    1.7

    Export value growth (percent)

    7.2

    0.8

    4.7

    5.2

    Import value growth (percent)

    12.0

    13.5

    5.1

    5.0
               

    Gross official reserves (end of period)

    		            

    In millions of U.S. dollars

    6,122

    7,255

    9,273

    12,974

    In months of prospective imports of goods & services

    3.0

    3.3

    4.0

    5.4

    In percent of ARA composite metric

    50.5

    60.3

    75.5

    100.0

    Usable Gross official reserves (end of period) 3/

    		            

    In millions of U.S. dollars

    4,686

    7,255

    9,273

    12,974

    In months of prospective imports of goods & services

    2.3

    3.3

    4.0

    5.4

    In percent of ARA composite metric

    38.6

    60.3

    75.5

    100.0

    External debt (public and private)

    In billions of U.S. dollars

    53.9

    54.6

    56.3

    59.9

    As a percent of GDP

    54.4

    55.1

    58.6

    59.4

     

    Memorandum items:

    Nominal GDP (in billions of rupees)

    29,899

    32,036

    34,754

    37,664

    Exchange Rate (period average)

    302.0

    …

    …

    …

    Exchange Rate (end of period)

    293.0

    …

    …

    …

    Sources: Data provided by the Sri Lankan authorities; and IMF staff estimates.

    1/ Colombo CPI.

    2/ Comprising central government debt, publicly guaranteed debt, and CBSL external liabilities (i.e., Fund credit outstanding and international currency swap arrangements). The debt statistics currently assume the external debt restructuring to have been completed at end 2023.

    3/ Excluding PBOC swap ($1.4bn in 2022) which becomes usable once GIR rise above 3 months of previous year’s import cover.
                                     

    [1] SDR figures are converted at the market rate of U.S. dollar per SDR on the day of the Board approval.

    [2] Under the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, publication of documents that pertain to member countries is voluntary and requires the member consent. The staff report will be shortly published on the www.imf.org/srilanka page.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Randa Elnagar

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/07/02/pr24235-sri-lanka-imf-executive-board-completes-the-fourth-review-under-the-eff

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 3 July 2025 News release Readout on WHO participation in global nuclear emergency exercise

    Source: World Health Organisation

    On 25 June, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded its participation in a 36-hour nuclear emergency exercise organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    The exercise was part of the IAEA’s Level 3 Convention Exercise (ConvEx-3), the highest and most complex level of its emergency exercises. These large-scale exercises are conducted every three to five years to test emergency preparedness and response capacities and identify areas in need of improvement. The last ConvEx-3 exercise took place in 2021 in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

    The exercise involved more than 75 countries and 10 international organizations and was based on a simulated accident at a nuclear power plant in Romania, resulting in the release of significant amounts of radioactive material. Participating countries and organizations exchanged information in real time, assessed evolving risks, coordinated communications, and decided on appropriate protective actions, including the medical response.

    As part of the simulation, WHO set up an Incident Management Support Team composed of experts from country, regional and headquarters offices. The WHO teams liaised with national authorities to monitor the public health impact, developed public health messages on protective actions, and provided guidance on mental health support for affected communities and emergency responders.

    New elements this year included the close coordination of protective measures by neighbouring countries Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova, the deployment of international assistance missions and the additional challenge of cybersecurity threats. An expanded social media simulator was used to test crisis communication strategies.

    By simulating high-risk cross-border nuclear emergencies, these exercises test existing structures and technical readiness, help build trust and strengthen a coordinated global response. WHO’s ongoing work to strengthen radiation protection of the public, patients and workers worldwide includes providing Member States with evidence-based guidance, tools and technical advice on public health issues related to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

    Following the exercise, the IAEA will compile and publish a detailed review of best practices and areas for improvement. WHO will review the lessons learned and adjust processes accordingly.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 3 July 2025 News release Readout on WHO participation in global nuclear emergency exercise

    Source: World Health Organisation

    On 25 June, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded its participation in a 36-hour nuclear emergency exercise organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    The exercise was part of the IAEA’s Level 3 Convention Exercise (ConvEx-3), the highest and most complex level of its emergency exercises. These large-scale exercises are conducted every three to five years to test emergency preparedness and response capacities and identify areas in need of improvement. The last ConvEx-3 exercise took place in 2021 in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

    The exercise involved more than 75 countries and 10 international organizations and was based on a simulated accident at a nuclear power plant in Romania, resulting in the release of significant amounts of radioactive material. Participating countries and organizations exchanged information in real time, assessed evolving risks, coordinated communications, and decided on appropriate protective actions, including the medical response.

    As part of the simulation, WHO set up an Incident Management Support Team composed of experts from country, regional and headquarters offices. The WHO teams liaised with national authorities to monitor the public health impact, developed public health messages on protective actions, and provided guidance on mental health support for affected communities and emergency responders.

    New elements this year included the close coordination of protective measures by neighbouring countries Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova, the deployment of international assistance missions and the additional challenge of cybersecurity threats. An expanded social media simulator was used to test crisis communication strategies.

    By simulating high-risk cross-border nuclear emergencies, these exercises test existing structures and technical readiness, help build trust and strengthen a coordinated global response. WHO’s ongoing work to strengthen radiation protection of the public, patients and workers worldwide includes providing Member States with evidence-based guidance, tools and technical advice on public health issues related to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

    Following the exercise, the IAEA will compile and publish a detailed review of best practices and areas for improvement. WHO will review the lessons learned and adjust processes accordingly.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 3 July 2025 News release Readout on WHO participation in global nuclear emergency exercise

    Source: World Health Organisation

    On 25 June, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded its participation in a 36-hour nuclear emergency exercise organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    The exercise was part of the IAEA’s Level 3 Convention Exercise (ConvEx-3), the highest and most complex level of its emergency exercises. These large-scale exercises are conducted every three to five years to test emergency preparedness and response capacities and identify areas in need of improvement. The last ConvEx-3 exercise took place in 2021 in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

    The exercise involved more than 75 countries and 10 international organizations and was based on a simulated accident at a nuclear power plant in Romania, resulting in the release of significant amounts of radioactive material. Participating countries and organizations exchanged information in real time, assessed evolving risks, coordinated communications, and decided on appropriate protective actions, including the medical response.

    As part of the simulation, WHO set up an Incident Management Support Team composed of experts from country, regional and headquarters offices. The WHO teams liaised with national authorities to monitor the public health impact, developed public health messages on protective actions, and provided guidance on mental health support for affected communities and emergency responders.

    New elements this year included the close coordination of protective measures by neighbouring countries Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova, the deployment of international assistance missions and the additional challenge of cybersecurity threats. An expanded social media simulator was used to test crisis communication strategies.

    By simulating high-risk cross-border nuclear emergencies, these exercises test existing structures and technical readiness, help build trust and strengthen a coordinated global response. WHO’s ongoing work to strengthen radiation protection of the public, patients and workers worldwide includes providing Member States with evidence-based guidance, tools and technical advice on public health issues related to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

    Following the exercise, the IAEA will compile and publish a detailed review of best practices and areas for improvement. WHO will review the lessons learned and adjust processes accordingly.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Suspected people smuggling gang taken down in nationwide strikes

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Suspected people smuggling gang taken down in nationwide strikes

    Seven members of a suspected organised crime group believed to have made millions have been arrested in West Yorkshire and Essex.

    A suspected people-smuggling gang has been arrested for allegedly using false identity documents to smuggle hundreds of people into the UK illegally, luring them into a life of exploitation and misery.  

    On Tuesday 1 July, Immigration Enforcement officers executed warrants in Greater London, and Batley, West Yorkshire and arrested 7 suspects. The targets are believed to have used forged passports and visas of people with legitimate status in the UK to facilitate their illegal arrival, and subsequent employment in black market businesses.   

    The gang is believed to have facilitated the illegal entry of over 500 people with no right to be in the UK.

    Their alleged money-grabbing scheme is believed to have developed into a wide-scale, dangerous criminal network operating across the country, with the 5 men and 3 women believed to have sent fake documents to beneficiaries to evade detection from law enforcement. The gang, who largely targeted Gambian nationals, are also suspected of re-using the fraudulent documents for different imposters hoping to make it to the UK illegally, with an ongoing investigation revealing a substantial quantity of images of passports found on the main suspect’s mobile phone.  

    From booking flights to housing the migrants on arrival and providing them with illegal work, the gang provided a full service and charged around £5,000 per person. 

    This particular gang, like many others, is believed to be charging substantial fees for arranging illegal entry to the UK, with the main suspect believed to have a turnover of over £1.3m in his bank account despite claiming to only earn £35,000 a year working for a furniture manufacturing company.

    Another suspect is believed to have a turnover of over £1m across two bank accounts whilst simultaneously receiving Universal Credit. A further investigation will be launched in order to recover the profits made by this suspected organised criminal gang.

    At the various addresses visited, officers seized several counterfeit identity documents which are believed to have been used in this criminal scheme.

    These arrests form part of this government’s Plan for Change to strengthen the UK’s border security, which is already delivering results, with almost 30,000 people with no right to be here returned since the election and a turbocharge in immigration enforcement activity across the country which has led to a 51% increase in the number of illegal working arrests. 

    Organised criminal gangs who are driven by profit often go to extreme lengths to make their cash, disregarding the safety of humans. The suspects in this case are believed to have been exploiting those they promised to help by forcing them to work in private homes under their control, leaving the survivors trapped in unsafe situations and exhausted for little or no pay.  

    Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle said: 

    This operation is a clear display that we will not stand by and let evil criminal gangs abuse our immigration system. 

    This suspected gang promised their beneficiaries a better life here in the UK. Instead, they face heinous levels of exploitation which is exactly why we are working with law enforcement to ensure survivors of modern slavery are supported and the criminal gangs face justice. 

    Our Border Security Command has £280m of additional funding over the next 4 years to deliver the step-change required to break their business models and deliver our Plan for Change to restore order to the immigration system.

    Ben Ryan, Chief Operating Officer at Medaille Trust, said:

    Medaille Trust is delighted to have collaborated on this operation and to have played a part in ensuring that victims were identified and supported to begin their recovery as survivors.

    We believe that collaborative efforts like this between the Home Office and civil society provide a model for confronting the evils of modern slavery; with a focus on both pursuing abusers and recognising and supporting survivors.

    The Home Office’s Criminal Financial Investigations team works closely with charities like Medaille Trust to support the victims of organised crime by keeping them at the heart of any investigation, providing invaluable expertise and support to the most vulnerable. Through closer collaboration we are able to identify victims and offer them a safe haven to come forward about the abuse they have faced. Medaille Trust provide refuge and freedom from modern slavery and are one of the largest providers of supported safe house beds for victims of modern slavery in the UK.   

    Cracking down on abuse of the immigration system is central to securing the UK’s borders. As set out in the Immigration White Paper in May, the government will introduce tighter controls, restrictions, and scrutiny of those who attempt to abuse and misuse the immigration system. This includes strengthening border security by rolling out digital identity for all overseas citizens through the implementation of eVisas and new systems for checking visa compliance.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Latvia: Kathy Leach

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Latvia: Kathy Leach

    Ms Kathy Leach has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia in succession to Mr Paul Brummell CMG, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Leach will take up her appointment during August 2025.

    Ms Kathy Leach

    Curriculum vitae           

    Full name: Kathy Leach

    Date Role
    2021 to present Astana, His Majesty’s Ambassador
    2019 to 2020 FCDO, Deputy Director, Constitution and Devolution, Europe Directorate
    2015 to 2018 FCO, Head then Deputy Director, Policy Unit, Strategy Directorate
    2012 to 2015 Yerevan, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
    2007 to 2011 Tokyo, Head, Energy and Environment Team
    2005 FCO, Deputy Head, Passport and Documentary Services, Consular
    2001 to 2004 Moscow, First Secretary Security Policy, then Internal Political
    2000 to 2001 FCO, Desk Officer, EU Trade and Development Policy, Europe Directorate
    2000 Joined FCO

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local Government Association Conference 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Local Government Association Conference 2025

    A speech from the Deputy Prime Minister at the Local Government Conference.

    Can I just start by saying how proud I am to be back here in Liverpool.

    And I’m sure you’ve all heard the devasting news this morning about the tragic loss of legend Diogo Jota.

    I know everyone here, his fans and the city of Liverpool will be heartbroken by this news.

    My thoughts are with his family at this saddened time.

    It’s a pleasure to look out at a room full of people dedicated to serving the communities that you represent.

    From Barnsley to Barrow – Cornwall to Cheshire…

    Councillors and mayors are delivering day-in, day-out for local people right across our country.

    I know how hard you work

    I know the difference you make

    I’m for local government because I’m from local government.

    And yes, I wasn’t a councillor. But as a home help and a carer I was on the front line delivering local services.

    And as a union rep, I worked with the leadership of a council to transform the service I worked in, for the good of the people that we served.

    And as a young mum, facing low pay and insecure hours without much of a safety net, it was the Sure Start centre and the council home that helped me turn my life around.

    The services that you deliver every single day changes lives

    And I say that not just as the Deputy Prime Minister, but as someone whose own life was changed by local government

    It’s why, in me, you will always have a Secretary of State that sees you as a partner, and not a punchbag.

    And Conference, it may not surprise you to know – but I’m not a patient person.

    I’ve been restless for 14 years.

    I’m restless to give local people a stronger voice.

    I’m restless to put decision-making in the hands of the people who know best.

    I’m restless to restore local government and provide the change that we were elected to deliver.

    Because I know how hard it has been

    How it feels at the sharp-end at local government level

    That’s why every single day in Westminster I’m fighting to turn that around

    To put power back in your hands, and deliver for communities the length and breadth of Britain.

    So – almost 12 months ago from the General Election, what have we delivered?

    Just last month, in the Spending Review we announced five billion pounds of new funding for local services.

    New funding means an 8% increase in Government funded spending power in the next four years compared to a reduction of 24% in the first four years of the last government.

    We’ve delivered a £4 billion uplift to adult social care

    alongside a targeted recovery grant of £600m for the areas most in need

    we doubled the direct investment in preventative children’s social care services.

    and provided a record £1.6bn for local road maintenance, enough to fill an extra 7 million potholes over the next year. I knew that would wet your whistle.

    And an uplift for every single local highway authority.

    We have refused to repeat the mistakes of the past which took the axe to your budgets, and left our communities to pay the price

    You made the case for local government, and we listened.

    That’s why we’re rolling back the era of micromanagement too, with simpler funding, and a rapid consolidation of your Finance Settlement.

    We are handing you the freedom and flex to meet local needs without needing to get sign off from central government for the most minor change.

    And right now, the paperwork you’re asked to fill out for micro-managed funds every year would stretch from here to the West side of Wirral!

    There’s no justification for that – so we’re cutting it down

    Meaning that you can focus on your priorities, not filling out forms.

    And with more flexible funding, we’re giving you the opportunity to work more collaboratively including through new pilots so councils and mayors can pool budgets and do joined-up services, learning the lessons of projects like Total Place – the last Labour government’s pioneering reform programme.

    Because we know every ambition of this government requires an active, empowered and strong local government.

    And we were elected to bring change, and that change can only be achieved in partnership with you.

    Nowhere is that more obvious than housing.

    None of our ambitions are possible without the support and the expertise of people here today.

    And the extraordinary examples of so many leaders in this room have inspired us to go further and faster.

    Right here in Liverpool, under the leadership of Council leader Liam Robinson and the Mayor Steve Rotheram, this great city is going from strength to strength. 

    You only have to look at the incredible regeneration of the Liverpool Waters district – not too far from here, with new funding unlocking around 2,350 new homes.

    Now Liam said the Central Docks could act as a “beacon for what housing developments in the 21st century can and should be”. 

    It’s hard to argue with that.

    But you know – and I know – you need a government that matches your ambition. 

    And that’s why I am so proud to say that just last month we announced the biggest increase in the social and affordable homes budget for a generation!

    Our historic £39 billion of new Social and Affordable Homes Programme aims to deliver around 300,000 new homes with at least 60% for social rent.

    This is a personal priority not just for me, but for the whole of this Government.

    And I say that, in the context of 160,000 children that are growing up in temporary accommodation

    When a million are living their lives on social housing waiting lists, no government should sit back whilst people live their lives in limbo.

    So through investment and reform, this government is backing councils and the whole social housing sector to deliver council housing.

    That means a brighter future where families aren’t trapped in temporary accommodation and young people are no longer locked out of a secure home.   

    And we’re giving the sector certainty in other areas too.

    A ten-year rent settlement, consulting on how to implement rent convergence,

    Giving social landlords equal access to the building safety funds – for the first time ever

    And in the Autumn, we’ll confirm our approach to help councils to borrow from the Public Works Loan Board.

    And on top of this, we’re also committed to reforming the support given for skills capacity with a new Council Housebuilding Skills & Capacity Programme

    And that will be a partnership between the LGA and Homes England – backed by £12 million in funding – and it will also help you get the skilled staff you need to build.

    And the scale of this challenge means we all need to play our part.

    Local authorities, housing associations, investors, developers, housebuilders, and regulators are all vital to help us reset social housing – so that it’s treated, once again, as the national asset that it is.

    Now, taken together with our bold planning reforms, the new National Housing Bank and the billions we’re putting into transport and infrastructure

    there’s a real opportunity here for councils.

    Opportunity not just to build the decent, and secure homes that working people so desperately need, but to build stronger communities at scale and at pace. 

    Our goal of delivering 1.5 million homes will only be met by building affordable homes, with councils in the driving seat.

    We want our new Programme to be a game-changer.

    We’re setting a target which is six times more than were built in the last decade.

    The truth is for too long, the potential of what local government can achieve has been underestimated by Whitehall.

    Our government was elected to deliver change, and I know how fundamental you all are to delivering that.

    But you’re all having to work within a broken system.

    You’ve been left unequipped to deliver what is being expected of you.

    And despite the huge sums that you’re spending on public services

    On adult Social Care

    Children’s Social Care

    SEND

    and temporary accommodation

    I’m hearing loud and clear from you all, that these services are still not working for the people who need them.

    And the truth is that Westminster just hasn’t kept its side of the bargain.

    Public services need reform, and the onus is on us to work with you to deliver it.

    And that is why I am here today to fire the starting gun on a new way of working with you to deliver the reforms we know are needed.

    First, we are today announcing a fundamental shift, to radically simplify the funding and reporting regime that underpins your work.

    Through a new Local Government Outcomes Framework, we will move together to a completely new way of measuring performance.

    And this will be focused on delivering what we know matters most.

    Outcomes like kids learning to read and write

    people living healthier lives for longer

    and communities feeling safe.

    It brings everything in line with the government’s broader Missions and the Plan for Change

    And means prioritising the long term, instead of getting caught up in the nuts and bolts.

    The aim is that it frees you up to deliver meaningful outcomes

    And facilitates a shift towards prevention.

    But I know that we don’t have all the answers

    So my promise to you, is that if you come with a new way of delivering a service and it shows results, we will work with you to pursue it.

    The micromanagement of previous governments failed

    It wasted taxpayers’ money, and got us into the mess we’re in now.

    We can all recognise there are times when governments have to step in

    And make no mistake, that I’m still prepared to intervene where there is failure to deliver

    But it has to be by the book – and we can’t have a ‘Westminster knows best’ attitude.

    That is why we’re putting together a clear menu of actions of how government will respond where services are failing.

    I want everyone to know where they stand so concerns and weaknesses can be picked up before they become a crisis.

    And I’m committed to writing this with the sector, to get this right the first time.

    There’s real urgency to this – so to the Chief Executives and the Council Leaders here today

    Keep an eye on your inbox, because straight after this speech today, you’ll be receiving details of how to get involved.

    Now everyone in the room knows that ending Whitehall micro-management also means sorting out the spaghetti soup of obligations facing local government.

    That’s why, alongside our new Outcomes Framework, we’ll be launching a comprehensive review to ensure unnecessary regulations and needless asks from government aren’t getting in the way of you serving your communities.

    We will harness the Government’s AI team to unlock efficiencies.

    And work lock step with the LGA so we get it right.

    So, that’s two fundamental shifts in the way this government is doing business with local leaders.

    And we won’t stop there.

    Money is understandably at the forefront of everyone’s minds in this room.

    You watched as your communities were unfairly short-changed for too long.

    So that’s why – my third pledge – is to make good on a promise I made countless times in Opposition.

    A promise to fund councils on the basis of need.

    The last government promised a Fair Funding Review back in 2016, they recognised how outdated and unfair the funding process was back then.

    [Political content removed]

    But not under my watch.

    Anyone who knows me, knows I don’t make promises that I can’t keep!

    I listened to the people in this room calling for government funding to recognise the unique challenges of their place

    whether that be rising temporary accommodation or even the pressure caused by huge footfall in coastal communities on the weekends.

    Many of you – including our colleague, the Minister for Local Government – campaigned for this change for decades.

    And this government  will waste no time in delivering it.

    We will implement a Fair Funding Review.

    And yes, that’s the full-fat version!

    Jim and I will make no apology for this.

    Government grant will be allocated based on the drivers of need in your area in a fair and transparent way.

    We will replace the decade old data, and for the first time, properly take into account factors such as deprivation and poverty

    the cost of remoteness faced by rural communities – meaning bus drivers and refuse collectors have to travel miles to serve their communities.

    We will take into account the varying ability to raise tax locally with lower house prices impacting on councils budgets

    temporary accommodation and the impact of daytime visitors on major cities and coastal towns alike.

    Taken together, this new approach supports every part of the country to manage their unique pressures.

    And I’m impatient – as I know you are – for this change.

    So alongside Minister McMahon, we will waste no time in putting things right to support places that lost out to rebuild those valued services and match money to need.

    And true reform of local government means taking a long and serious look at the plumbing.

    We won’t shy away from that.

    That’s why my fourth on my list of Local Government is Local Government Reorganisation.

    Now I can feel the anxiety levels in the room increasing at that phrase!!

    But I think everyone in this room can agree that governments cannot keep passing the buck on this one.

    If we are serious about shifting local government into a stronger footing…

    And fit for the future

    Delivering good services for residents

    Then we must cut out this needless duplication.

    We must take the brilliant leadership shown by district and county councillors, and move it to a simpler structure

    with more resources for the frontline, and a clearer accountability for residents.

    So many of you in this room have entered this process with an open mind and I want to thank you for your continued support as we navigate towards the end of a two-tier system in England.

    You have my word, that Jim and I will work in partnership with you every step of the way.

    Reforming local government also means learning from our mistakes as well as our successes.

    And my fifth focus is on trusting local government to deliver services in-house.

    Local government has long been the champion of insourcing – and I know too well about your efforts to innovate, and bring services in-house to lower costs and improve outcomes.

    We hear you and are on your side.

    That’s why we’re also delivering new procurement flexibilities for councils so you can confidently support your local businesses, and ensure that the investment and jobs stay local too.

    We are working to undo the ideological presumption of outsourcing by default, as part of our plan to Make Work Pay.

    The truth is that we’ve become hooked on short-term solutions – creating a costly dependence on external providers which can fail to deliver particularly for vulnerable people, young and old.

    You’ve been telling us about your efforts to innovate, and bring services in-house to lower costs and improve outcomes.

    With colleagues across government, we’ll introduce a quick and proportionate public interest test, to decide whether work could be done more effectively in house.

    The consultation on insourcing launched last week and I have no doubt we will get a lot of responses from people here today!

    I know what’s possible when local leaders have the powers to really deliver.

    With local people seeing that change in their high streets, in the opportunities available to young people, and in their hopes for the future.

    That’s why we’re shifting power out of Whitehall to our regions, and making devolution the default setting through our landmark English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

    It’s part of building a modern state, built on the foundations of a strong local government.

    So, that all levels and in everything we’re doing – whether through devolution, fairer funding, trusting local government in-house, or giving authorities the certainty and freedom to deliver on what really matter.

    We’re handing power back to where it belongs – to people with skin in the game.

    Resetting, rebuilding, and renewing local government, through ambitious investment and reform, and, with it, our country, after the hardest of years, so  that it, once again, works for working people.

    That’s the difference a government makes.

    That’s the difference you make in your Local communities every single day.

    I’ve got your back. Let’s work together.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £150m Capital Grants offer returns to help farmers boost profits

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    £150m Capital Grants offer returns to help farmers boost profits

    The government is making a substantial investment in the future of farming, supporting cleaner rivers, healthier soils, and more resilient landscapes.

    Thousands of farmers will benefit from £150 million in new funding as the government opens a new round of its flagship Capital Grants offer, supporting sustainable food production and environmental improvement. 

    The offer funds a wide range of on-farm projects – from tree planting and flood prevention to improved slurry storage and water filtration – helping farmers boost profitability while protecting the environment. 

    Last year alone, Capital Grants helped plant over 4,000 miles of hedgerows and upgrade slurry systems to keep our rivers clean – real, tangible improvements for farming and the environment. 

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: 

    British farmers work tirelessly to feed the nation and look after our countryside. This major investment will give them the tools to cut pollution, restore nature, and grow their businesses. 

    It forms part of the record £11.8 billion we’ve committed to sustainable farming during this Parliament – boosting food security, supporting rural growth, and protecting the environment. 

    The announcement is the latest in a series of steps taken by the government to support the farming industry. These include slashing costs for food producers by cutting red tape on exports to the EU, appointing former NFU president Baroness Minette Batters to recommend reforms to boost farmers’ profits, and ensuring farmers get a bigger share of food contracts across our schools, hospitals, and prisons. 

    Farmers and land managers are now able to apply for a total of 78 items, ranging from supporting natural flood management projects to improving water quality on farms under this new round of the Capital Grants offer. Four new items have been added including assessing woodland condition, creating wildfire management plans, repairing drystone walls and hosting educational visits.  

    Changes are also being introduced to ensure that more farm businesses can access these grants – making it fairer for farmers by setting funding limits that maximise the number of farms benefiting, while enabling Defra to manage budgets more effectively. This includes funding limits to four of the six groups of capital items in this Capital Grants offer. An application can include items from each of the six groups. The funding limit for four of the groups is:   

    • £25,000 maximum for each of the following three groups: water quality, air quality, and natural flood management 

    • £35,000 maximum for the group covering boundaries, trees, and orchards 

    Defra will also listen to feedback from farmers and use it to improve the offer ahead of the next round, which we plan to open in 2026. 

    This comes as the Environment Secretary and Farming Minister head to the Groundswell Show to discuss the new Capital Grants launch. More details about the reformed SFI scheme will be published this Summer. 

    This is part of the government’s wider Plan for Change to grow the rural economy, support our farmers and boost Britain’s food security.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM speech at the launch of the 10 Year Health Plan: 3 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    PM speech at the launch of the 10 Year Health Plan: 3 July 2025

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s speech at the launch of the 10 Year Health Plan.

    Thank you Rachel, thank you Wes. And thank you Denyse. Come and sit down with us. Denyse’s story is fantastic. Because she works here. She lives in this borough and she uses the services here. 

    What a great testament that is. And Denyse, thank you for your introduction and thank you for your words. 

    It’s a privilege to be here with you in Stratford. I’ve seen the work that you have been doing this morning. And I’m sorry for interrupting your work.  

    I do understand how hard it is. My mum worked in the NHS. She was a nurse, a proud nurse. My sister worked in the NHS and my wife still works in the NHS in one of the big London hospitals. So I do understand what you do, how you do it, what you put in and why you do it. 

    So let me start by saying a big thank you to all of you for what you do, and if I may, through you, to say thank you to all NHS staff right across the country who do what they do as public servants by treating and caring for other people.

    Thank you also for welcoming us here. To your Neighbourhood Health Centre. Because it’s buildings like this here that represent the future of the NHS.

    As I’ve just had the chance to go around and see some of the work that’s going on here. The 24 teams that you have got working on dentistry. I’m really pleased to see that you don’t need an appointment, you can walk in. You have got children and families up there on the next floor having their teeth done. That’s hugely important. 

    And that’s what a Neighbourhood Health Service can do working in partnership with the people it serves. And Denyse you are the embodiment of that.  

    Power and control in their hands. Care closer to their community. Services organised around their lives.   

    But look – before I say a bit more about the future in a minute. But it is important that we go back a year to the NHS left by the last government. With record waiting lists. The lowest ever satisfaction. I know the toll that takes on staff who work so hard. 

    100,000 children waiting more than six hours in A&E. 

    Now – I’m not going to stand here and say that everything is perfect now. We have so much work to do and we will do it. 

    But let’s be under absolutely no illusions. Because of the fair choices we made, the tough [political content redacted] decisions we made the future already looks better for our NHS. 

    That’s the story of this Government in a nutshell. With breakfast clubs, hugely important for children coming into schools so they are ready to learn.

    Potholes across the country – filled. Fuel duty – frozen. Four interest rate cuts, hugely important for mortgage holders.

    Setting up Great British energy, levelling up workers’ rights, record investment in affordable housing, infrastructure the length and breadth of our country. 

    It’s all down to the foundation we laid this year. All down to the path of renewal that we chose. 

    The decisions made by the Chancellor, by Rachel Reeves which mean we can invest record amounts in the NHS.  

    Already over 6000 mental health workers recruited.  

    1700 new GPs. 

    170 Community Diagnostic Centres, really important, already open. 

    New surgical hubs, new mental health units, new ambulance sites. Record investment – right across the system. 

    And because of all that the results are crystal clear. 

    At the last election a year ago, we promised two million extra appointments in the NHS in the first year of [political content redacted] government. 

    We have now delivered four million extra appointments and that’s thanks to your hard work and that of your colleagues. 

    4 million. That’s a record amount for a single year ever. And I want to thank you for the part that you have played in that. 

    That is what change looks like.

    A promise made and a promised delivered. 

    And turning those statistics into the human is really important. So let me tell you about Jane. 

    At Christmas, she was taken to hospital with back pain. 

    And the diagnosis was not good. She needed her gallbladder removed. Jane asked as you can imagine “how long will I have to wait”. 

    And they said – “I’m sorry, but at the moment it could take up to ten months.” 

    Yet – because we have speeded up electives, because we have speeded up appointments, by May – she was offered a private appointment, paid for by the NHS, as part of our plan. 

    And now Jane is pain free. 

    Five months – not ten. 

    She’s got five months back – free from pain, free from anxiety and in a sense her life is no longer on hold. 

    That’s what change looks like in human terms. [Political content redacted.] 

    But we have to keep going. 

    We are fixing the foundations. We made choices no other government would have made and we are starting to repair the damage done to the NHS and public health, through Covid and austerity. 

    But reform isn’t just about fixing problems. It’s also about seizing opportunities. 

    And the way I see it – there is an opportunity here. 

    Because the NHS is at a turning point in its history. 

    We’re an older society now. Disease has changed. 

    Conditions are chronic, they are long-term, they need to be managed. And that means we need to reform the NHS to make it fit for the future. 

    With the technology that is available to us now, we have an unprecedented chance to do that to make care better. 

    To transform the relationship between people and the state. To give patients more power and control. And this is about fairness. 

    Millions of people across Britain no longer feel they get a fair deal. 

    And it’s starting to affect the pride, the hope, the optimism they have in this great country. 

    Our job is to change that. And the NHS is a huge part of it. I mean – for 77 years this weekend the NHS has been an embodiment if you like of British pride, hope, that basic sense of fairness and decency. 

    77 years – of everyone paying in, working hard, doing the right thing, secure in the knowledge, that if they or their family needs it, the NHS will be there for them. 

    In ten years’ time – when this plan has run its course, I want people to say this was the moment, this was the government that secured those values for the future. 

    And look – when people are uncertain about the deal they are getting from this country, what fairer way is there to respond to that than by giving them more control. 

    By partnering with them, to build an NHS that is fit to face the future. 

    That’s what this plan that we are launching today will do. 

    And it will do so in three ways. 

    Three shifts that will transform healthcare in this country. 

    First – we will shift the NHS away from being only a sickness service to a health service that is genuinely preventative in the first place, prevents disease in the first place.  

    That means a stronger focus on vaccination, on screening, early diagnosis.  

    Things like innovative weight loss services – available in pharmacies. 

    Working with major food businesses – to make their products healthier.

    Better mental health support, particularly for our young people. And starting with children aged sixteen this year we will raise the first entirely smoke-free generation. 

    Second – we will shift the NHS away from being a hospital-dominated service to being a community, neighbourhood health service. 

    You can see why we chose to come here. Places like this are the future of our NHS. You don’t have to book an appointment. You can just walk in. There are families here and people who use the services live in this area. 

    Now of course hospitals will always be important – for acute services especially.  

    But I say it again – disease has changed. And we must change with it. 

    And not only can we do that. We can do it in a way that improves care and convenience for millions of people. 

    So just imagining nurses, doctors, pharmacists, dentists, carers, health visitors all under one roof.  

    But also, services like debt advice, employment support, smoking cessation: preventative services which we know are so crucial for a healthy life. 

    Now that is an exciting prospect.  

    You know – the idea that the future of healthcare is no longer defined by top-down citadels of the central state.

    But is instead here – in your home, in your community, in your hands, that’s an inspiring vision of change. 

    It will bring the state and the people it serves into a partnership on something we all care deeply about. 

    But more importantly. It means a future where we have better GP access, no more 8am scrambles, more dental care for your children, better care on your doorstep and a Neighbourhood Health Centres like this in our coastal towns, in rural counties, in every community across the country. Every community across the country. 

    Finally – the third shift from the analogue NHS we have at the moment to a truly digital health service.

    A health service capable of seizing the enormous opportunities before us in science and technology.  

    In genomics, in artificial intelligence, advanced robotics. 

    Look – I have seen in your everyday lives what this can do.

    I’ve spoken to stroke patients who have had their lives saved by technology and AI because it could find the blood clot in their brain in milliseconds, giving them just enough time to be operated on and saving their lives. 

    So this plan – backs technology to deliver. Because it can and will save thousands of lives. But it’s not just about saving lives.

    AI and technology is an opportunity to make services more human. 

    That always sounds counterintuitive, but it does because what it gives all of you and all of your colleagues is more time to care, more time to do the things that only human beings can do which is that care that is needed, the professional skills that you have. So this will make it a more human service as well. 

    It gives you more time to care, to do all the things that brought you into the NHS in the first place.  

    And it’s not just cutting-edge technology either. 

    Technology like the phones in the pockets of everyone in this room we can use that too. 

    Now, you won’t hear this often in a speech – but look at your phones. But look at your apps! Seriously! Because what you see on that screen is that entire industries have reorganised around apps. 

    Retail, transport, finance, weather – you name it. 

    Why can’t we do that with health? 

    Why not the NHS app on your phone? 

    Making use of the same dynamic force to cut waiting lists at your hospital. 

    To make it easier for you to get a GP appointment, to give you more control over our health. 

    There’s no good reason why we can’t. So I can announce today, as part of this plan, that we can, and we will transform the NHS App so that it becomes an indispensable part of life for everyone. 

    It will become – as technology develops – like having a doctor in your pocket. 

    Providing you with 24 hours advice, seven days a week.

    An NHS that really is always there when you need it. 

    Booking appointments at your convenience, ordering your prescriptions, guiding you to local charities or businesses that can improve your wellbeing.  

    And perhaps most importantly, holding all healthcare data in an easily accessible, single patient record.

    Don’t underestimate how important that is. 

    I’ve been up to Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool many times, it’s a children’s hospital, it’s a brilliant hospital. 

    One of the times I was there I was on the ward, particularly young children were having heart surgery. 

    I have to tell you it was really humbling both seeing what the children were going through but also what the professional staff were doing. 

    When I went into a particular ward, I saw a two year old boy who had just had major heart surgery, it’s an incredible thing to see. 

    And I spoke to his parents who were at his bedside throughout. 

    One of the things they raised with me was the distress they felt that they had to go through every single condition that he had over and over again, whether they went to Blackpool, in Liverpool, at Alder Hey. 

    They were actually welling up telling me it’s a really difficult story for us, this is really hard. And we don’t want to keep having to repeat it, why can’t it be recorded the first time around? 

    I will remember their faces and the story they told me for a very long time. 

    But we can fix that. We can make it more accessible. We can bring this together in one place. 

    And there are other examples as well. That red book that every child gets. Why can’t that be digital? There’s no good reason. 

    And so that’s exactly what we’ll do. 

    We will turn this app into a new front door for the entire NHS. 

    A reformed, modernised and renewed – Neighbourhood Health Service. 

    That is the plan we launch today.    

    That is the change we will deliver. 

    [Political content redacted.] 

    The NHS on its feet. Facing the future. Delivering fairness and security for working people. 

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: More than 32 million annuals have been planted in the capital’s flowerbeds

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Specialists from the city economy complex have planted more than 32 million annuals in flowerbeds located in courtyards, parks and squares, on squares and embankments, as well as along key highways and central streets of the capital. In total, more than 120 different types of flowers have been planted, including petunia, begonia, coleus, marigold and cineraria. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing and Public Utilities and Improvement Petr Biryukov.

    “We have now begun planting perennials. Thanks to the phased planting of plants, the city’s flower beds will delight Muscovites and guests of the capital until late autumn,” noted Pyotr Biryukov.

    When growing plants in urban greenhouses, modern technologies are used, such as an automated seeding complex, light and fogging systems, and drip irrigation. This allows you to create a special microclimate and grow strong and healthy plants.

    Additionally, specialists harden off seedlings, thanks to which the plants feel comfortable in flowerbeds under different weather conditions.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial 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/156228073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Since the beginning of 2025, more than 5,000 China-Europe /Central Asia/ trains have passed through the Khorgos railway checkpoint

    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

    URUMQI, July 3 (Xinhua) — The total number of trains running on China-Europe/Central Asia international freight railway routes and passing through the Horgos railway border crossing in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region since the beginning of 2025 exceeded 5,000 on Wednesday, 42 days earlier than last year.

    The fact that on the same day a freight train carrying electronics, household items and other goods departed for Malaszewicze /Poland/ through this checkpoint testified to this event.

    According to the data, since the beginning of this year, the number of freight trains passing through the Khorgos checkpoint on the China-Europe and China-Central Asia routes has continued to grow. At the same time, on average, more than 27 trains and over 7 million tons of cargo passed through it daily, which is 20 percent more year-on-year.

    To date, more than 47,000 freight trains have passed through the Khorgos checkpoint on the China-Europe and China-Central Asia routes. This border crossing handles 87 corresponding freight routes covering 18 countries. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Investor restores historic building from early 20th century in Presnensky district

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The investor restored a cultural heritage site from the early 20th century on Skatertny Lane. After that, it was transferred to a preferential rental rate under the program “1 ruble per square meter per year.” This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The program “1 ruble per square meter per year” has been operating in the capital since 2012 and allows attracting an increasing number of investors to restore significant architectural monuments. Another object that was put in order thanks to the efforts of entrepreneurs was the stables with a carriage house of the Tarasov family city estate ensemble. The lease agreement for the object was concluded in June 2022. The investor fulfilled all the conditions of the program and was transferred to a preferential rental rate of one ruble per square meter per year,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    The historic building with an area of over 250 square meters is located at the address: Skatertny Lane, Building 4/2, Building 2. The building is a two-story structure, where the firewall with an arched opening on the first floor has been preserved. All the rooms inside are covered with Monier vaults.

    “In accordance with the agreement concluded with the city, the tenant carried out a complete restoration of the facades and painted the stables in gray with white details according to the model of the main house, and repaired the roof. The decorative elements of the building’s exterior were also restored. The structures were strengthened inside and the utility networks were replaced. Thanks to the transition to a preferential rental rate, the entrepreneur will be able to save more than 4.5 million rubles annually,” she noted.

    Ekaterina Solovieva, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property.

    To take advantage of the program, entrepreneurs take part in specialized auctions. Based on their results, they conclude real estate lease agreements with investors for 49 years. To transfer to a preferential rate, it is necessary to carry out restoration and recovery work under the supervision of Department of Cultural Heritage.

    As the head of the Moscow City Department for Competition Policy noted Kirill Purtov, the opportunity to rent historical buildings under a preferential program is in demand among Moscow entrepreneurs. Since 2022, six such objects have been sold at auctions – on average, three participants bid for one lot.

    The investor has restored the premises in a historic building from the early 20th century on Mira AvenueMoscow Art Nouveau: Tarasov Estate Recognized as an Architectural Monument

    More information about current offers from the city, including preferential programs, is published oninvestment portal Moscow.

    To participate in the auction, you will need to register on the electronic trading platform “RoselTorg” and enhanced qualified electronic signature.

    The development of electronic services for entrepreneurs is being implemented within the framework of the national project “Data Economy”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial 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/156189073/

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: 140 Innovative Ideas: Polytech Becomes a Platform for Tech Startups

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The Polytechnic University hosted a large-scale Forum of Science and Technological Entrepreneurship, organized as part of the Gazprom Neft initiative Vector of the Future with the support of the autonomous non-profit organization National Priorities.

    The goal of the forum, which is being held for the third year, is to develop applied science, popularize engineering professions, build a trusting dialogue between scientists and business representatives, and involve young specialists and technology teams in entrepreneurial activities.

    At the opening, guests were greeted by Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU Yuri Fomin and Director of the Gazprom Neft Open Innovations Program Maxim Bardin.

    Yuri Fomin noted that the event touches on the very important topic of technological entrepreneurship for the country and the region, which was also raised at the recently held St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

    “At many sessions of the SPIEF, they discussed what technological entrepreneurship is, whether it should exist within the university perimeter, or in the external infrastructure,” shared Yuri Vladimirovich. “Opinions varied, but all experts agreed that technological entrepreneurship is important both for universities and for the economy as a whole, so it needs to be developed and supported.”

    Maxim Bardin thanked the guests for participating in the forum, and the Polytechnic University for providing the venue and active support for student scientific entrepreneurship.

    This year, the forum was held in a new format. The traditional “Entrepreneurship” track was dedicated to Gazprom Neft’s Industrix acceleration program, aimed at developing technology startups and innovative solutions for the oil and gas industry. This year, program participants presented experts with 140 innovative developments in the areas of capital construction and industrial safety, electric power, production, drilling and downhole operations, geological exploration, geology and development of oil and gas fields, gas and pipeline transport. The defense of the projects attracted the attention of many participants, because the experts’ assessment determines whether an idea will develop into a startup.

    The Science track included several events. Visitors to the interactive zone “12 Evil Science Viewers” discussed popular science content with representatives of the National Priorities ANO.

    Representatives of Gazpromneft – Industrial Innovations acted as experts in the open session with case studies “The Path of Innovation: from Laboratory Research to Industrial Implementation”.

    Also on the main stage of the forum in the lobby of the Research Building of Technopolis Polytech, an open dialogue with the head of the department of technological development of Gazprom Neft Bogdan Kostyuk and a meetup “From the laboratory to Forbes: how young scientists built a technology business” with the co-founder of the express delivery company for chemical reagents AppScience Maxim Pustovalov took place.

    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: “Steel Camels” are gaining momentum on the Eurasian Continent

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) — The Silk Road served as a channel for trade and economic interaction between the East and West, and currently China-Europe freight trains provide uninterrupted freight traffic on the Eurasian continent.

    On June 10 this year, China-Europe freight train 75052 departed from Jiaozhou Station in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, East China.

    Thus, the total number of China-Europe freight train departures has exceeded 110,000, and the value of the cargo they transported has exceeded 450 billion US dollars. For 61 consecutive months, the monthly number of trips has consistently exceeded a thousand.

    If two thousand years ago camel caravans paved the Silk Road, today the “steel dragon” rushes along the golden transport corridor Asia-Europe, demonstrating the dynamics of openness. China-Europe freight trains are becoming a stable driver of high-quality development.

    INCREASING INTENSITY

    Between 2016 and 2024, the annual number of China-Europe freight train departures increased from 1,702 to 19,000, and the value of goods carried increased from an average of US$8 billion to US$66.4 billion.

    Three established route lines, namely western, central and eastern, already pass through China. China-Europe train services have been launched in 128 cities in China, and the number of regular routes on a fixed schedule, which start from the coastal ports of Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, Lianyungang and other harbors, has reached 28.

    Outside China, the diversified development of this transport channel is facilitated by the countries located along its routes. In particular, trains reach 229 cities in 26 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries.

    In the western direction, new routes were opened in the framework of international rail-sea combined transportation through the Baltic, Caspian and Black Seas. In the eastern direction, uninterrupted connections were ensured with the new international land-sea trade corridor, the golden waterway of the Yangtze River and seaports, which created new transport corridors in the framework of multimodal rail-sea transportation between East Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe.

    INCREASING EFFICIENCY

    Freight train 75052, which departed on June 10, carried LCD displays, refrigerators and other household appliances. Over the past 10 years, there has been an evolution of product names: from clothing and footwear to the “new three” (electric vehicles, lithium batteries, solar panels), household appliances and high-tech equipment.

    The growing diversity and cost of cargo require increased transportation efficiency. In recent years, given the specifics of transportation organization, the maximum number of cars in one China-Europe train running at 120 km/h has been increased to 55, and the maximum gross train weight to 3,000 tons. Close cooperation with customs authorities has made it possible to optimize the accelerated customs clearance scheme for trains, reducing customs clearance time from half a day to less than 30 minutes, with the fastest clearance taking only a few minutes.

    China Railway Container Transport (CRCT) has set up subsidiaries in Kazakhstan, Germany and other countries, deepening cooperation with local railway authorities and logistics companies to develop bilateral cargo flows.

    DEEPENING INTEGRATION

    Thanks to the new logistics corridors opened by China-Europe freight trains for the interior regions of Asia and Europe, the countries along the route are actively integrating into the open world economy. Spanish wine, Dutch cheese, Thai durian, Laotian bananas have become everyday goods for the Chinese. Electronics, electric cars and everyday goods from China reach Europe faster and at more attractive prices.

    The rise of industry and the development of China-Europe freight trains go hand in hand. For example, the Ereenhot checkpoint in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is currently accelerating the transformation of a transit economy into an industrial economy. It has formed a cross-border logistics network that attracts industrial clusters in the production of auto parts, woodworking, etc.

    “China-Europe freight trains with high efficiency, stability and environmental friendliness are changing the architecture of regional economies,” said Li Tiegan, a professor at Shandong University.

    The ‘steel camels’ demonstrate China’s commitment to building an open global economy and promoting common prosperity. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The first freight train departed from Changsha on the international multimodal route China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan

    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

    BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) — A China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan international multimodal freight train departed from Changsha International Railway Port Station in central China’s Hunan Province on Wednesday. It is the first full-length international train in Changsha operating under the multimodal transportation model (railway-road transport) approved by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China.

    As reported by the Zhongxinshe news agency, the departure of this train opened a new logistics corridor between Hunan Province and the countries of Central Asia, including all of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

    This has created a shorter, faster and more cost-effective westward route for businesses in Hunan and the surrounding areas. In addition, the train has facilitated flexible distribution across multiple routes, expanding supplies to markets such as West Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Southern Europe.

    According to the person in charge of the platform running the train, through this new channel, products from Hunan Province can be delivered to customers in Central Asian countries in a shorter time, and the cost of transportation and insurance can be reduced by 30 percent. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China opposes any tariff agreements concluded to the detriment of its interests – Ministry of Commerce of the PRC

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) — China firmly opposes any country making trade deals that harm Chinese interests, Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yongqian said Thursday.

    He Yongqian made the remarks in response to a media question regarding the trade deal between the United States and Vietnam, saying China has taken note of the relevant information and is assessing the developments.

    She said the US’s imposition of so-called “reciprocal tariffs” on its trading partners was a typical act of unilateral bullying, which China has consistently opposed.

    He Yongqian added that China supports other countries’ efforts to resolve trade disputes with the United States through consultations on an equal basis, but firmly opposes any country making deals that harm China’s interests.

    “If such a situation arises, China will take decisive countermeasures to protect its legitimate rights and interests,” she said. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Ship-to-ship liquid carbon dioxide loading and unloading operation completed in China

    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

    BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) — China has completed the loading and unloading of liquid carbon dioxide from ship to ship at the Yangshan Port in Shanghai, Science and Technology Daily reported.

    The event marks a major milestone as China has now achieved full cycle operations of carbon dioxide capture, liquefied gas storage, ship-to-ship loading and unloading and recycling, the news release said.

    The discharge was made possible by a carbon dioxide capture system developed by an institute under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), which achieves a comprehensive capture rate of over 80 percent and a capture purity of 99.9 percent.

    Efficient and safe transportation of liquid carbon dioxide is critical to the large-scale deployment of carbon capture technology on ships.

    The liquid carbon dioxide loading and unloading operation during ship-to-ship operations requires precise vessel positioning, complex piping connections and pressure control. Any slight deviation in operation may lead to risks, said Su Yi, general manager of the environmental protection equipment department at the institute.

    Compared with the traditional ship-to-shore CO2 loading and unloading, the ship-to-ship method allows for a quick response to the needs of vessels arriving from different sea areas.

    Earlier in May this year, China’s first offshore carbon dioxide capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project was put into operation in the Pearl River Estuary Basin in southern China.

    CCUS is a new technological approach for low-carbon and highly efficient exploitation of fossil energy sources. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Thailand’s King Sworn In New Ministers After Cabinet Reshuffle

    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

    BANGKOK, July 3 (Xinhua) — Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn swore in a new government on Thursday after approving the cabinet lineup earlier this week.

    Deputy Prime Minister Surya Jungrungreangkit, acting prime minister, led a group of 14 newly appointed and reappointed ministers in swearing allegiance to the king, a mandatory formality before taking office.

    Prime Minister Phetongthan Shinawatra, suspended as head of government by the Constitutional Court pending an ethics investigation, attended the ceremony after being appointed culture minister.

    A group of 36 senators last month petitioned the court to remove Phetongthan Shinawatra from office, accusing her of serious ethical violations related to the leak of a recording of a phone call about border issues with Cambodia.

    Surya Jungrungreangkit will hold a special cabinet meeting later today to assign tasks and responsibilities to deputy prime ministers and ministers, the Thai government said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mongolia’s foreign exchange reserves rose to US$5.2 billion by the end of June 2025

    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

    ULAN BATOR, July 3 (Xinhua) — Mongolia’s foreign exchange reserves have risen to 5.2 billion U.S. dollars by the end of June 2025, local media reported on Thursday, citing data from the country’s central bank.

    This figure increased by 0.24 percent compared to the previous month and decreased by 5.51 percent since the beginning of the year, the official report says.

    According to analysts, an increase in foreign exchange reserves is a guarantee of economic stability and helps to improve the country’s credit rating, having a positive impact on the financial performance of the private sector, as well as strengthening public confidence in the national currency.

    The Central Bank of Mongolia is expected to increase its gold and foreign exchange reserves to $6.5 billion in the medium term. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy M. Gudkov Dies in Kursk Region

    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

    Moscow, July 3 /Xinhua/ — Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, former commander of the 155th Separate Guards Brigade, Major General Mikhail Gudkov died in the Kursk region, Primorsky Krai Governor Oleg Kozhemyako reported on his Telegram channel.

    “I express my deepest condolences to the families, friends and fellow soldiers of Mikhail Gudkov, Nariman Shikhaliev and all the other soldiers who died in the Kursk region. Guards Major General, Hero of Russia, Hero of Primorye, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, former commander of the 155th Separate Guards Kursk Orders of Zhukov and Suvorov Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet died while performing his duty as an officer together with his fellow soldiers,” the statement reads.

    According to O. Kozhemyako, M. Gudkov, having become deputy commander-in-chief of the Navy, did not stop personally visiting the positions of the marines. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –