NewzIntel.com

Category: European Union

  • Future in motion: India’s new dawn, powered by a new generation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ndia’s growth story is a story of youthful ascent. The country’s demographic dividend is at the core of the fastest-growing major economy in the world. It is expected to play a significant role in India’s promising economic future, when the global economy is projected to slow down. The world’s most populous nation, India is also the youngest among the major economies, with a median age of around 28 years.

    A McKinsey assessment, published in July 2024, puts the median age of the population in India at 27.6 years, a full decade younger than the citizens of most other major economies. Apart from contributing to increased productivity, the demographic dividend has the potential to transform the growth story on a positive social scale. If the nation’s productivity is harnessed well with the demographic advantage it has, and the working-age population base is properly skilled and productively employed, millions could be lifted not only above the poverty line but also be economically empowered.

    “In India, as with other G-20 economies, economic growth and business innovations will be critical to future economic inclusion; in fact, these levers could erase more than 90 percent of the empowerment gap. To put that in human terms, accelerated economic growth and business-led innovation alone could lift about 700 million people above the threshold by 2030,” says the report.

    What is the line of economic empowerment? As defined by the McKinsey Global Institute, being economically empowered means having a decent economic condition that affords a nutritious meal, good education and healthcare, a house that is owned with water and sanitation, and access to energy sources such as a power connection and means of transportation.

    Being economically empowered means having the value addition that life needs, going beyond the economic inclusion threshold. With a minimum of $12 per day in PPP terms, a person, after fulfilling their needs to sustain a good lifestyle, can also save money, meaning they are a level above the risk of falling into the poverty cycle again. The report said that globally there were 4.7 billion people (or 60% of the world’s population) not economically empowered as per this benchmark.

    Harnessing the demographic dividend is a calculated task, demanding sustained investment in education and the promotion of industrial collaboration, together with a thriving skilling system. The foundational ingredients of this requirement prime the nation for an era of unprecedented human-led growth.

    According to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 65% of India’s population is under 35 years of age, and the country has seen a significant positive change in the last decade in the headcount ratio available for employability. Before 2014, the country had 33.9% employable final- or pre-final-year students. This increased by over 17% to 51.3% in 2024.

    The current government in the country is focused on harnessing this demographic dividend, creating a pool of skilled and talented youth to support its national and industrial growth on India’s journey of outstanding economic growth.

    With an aim to become a developed country by 2047, the 100th year of its independence, with an economy crossing the $30 trillion mark in real GDP terms, the focus is on creating millions of trained and skilled youth ready for different industrial sectors. Many flagship training initiatives have been launched for this, including the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) scheme, Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), under the Skill India Mission (SIM), creating millions of trained and skilled youth so far.

    To put it in absolute numbers, over 60 million Indians have been empowered through various government initiatives, says data from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the Government of India. PMKVY has trained over 16 million youth across different sectors including advanced emerging training fields like AI, Robotics, and IoT. Last year, in October, another flagship scheme was launched, known as the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS). Under the scheme, one crore youth will be given paid internships of 12 months in India’s top 500 companies over five years.

    Also, a young population base as the core of economic growth will have a dual advantage. An assessment published by EY in April 2023 on India’s demographic dividend deciphers this potential advantage. A young population base means more hands to be trained and skilled. A young population base also means a more consumption-based headcount, a factor that is good for markets and the overall economy. Consumption grows. Economy grows.

    By 2030, India’s working-age population, among the major economies, will be the highest in the world, at 68.9% of its total population say the assessment. The country, then, will have 1.04 billion working-age people. It is, and will remain, the largest provider of human resources in the world, with the largest pool of STEM graduates (STEM: science, technology, engineering and mathematics), says the assessment. And it is an ever-widening pool, with an average annual addition of 2.14 million STEM graduates. India is also the country with the largest number of female STEM graduates. Earlier, the Western world dominated in having STEM graduates. Now it is the turn of emerging economies led by India.

    WorldSkills International, a Netherlands-based not-for-profit organisation with 80 member countries, conducts the WorldSkills Competition every two years with participants under the age of 23. It is the largest skill competition in the world.

    Over 50 skills under six sectors are the main focus areas – construction and building technology, transportation and logistics, manufacturing and engineering technology, information and communication technology, creative arts and fashion, and social and personal services. The outcome of the competition tests vocational excellence and sets a benchmark for high performance, and India’s position has seen a consistent improvement in its overall score tally on the overall points scorecard, from 16th in 2013 to fifth in 2024.

    The roadmap to the $30 trillion target runs directly through India’s burgeoning urban centres. The 2024-25 annual report from the NITI Aayog notes that cities already function as the nation’s primary economic engines, generating between 70% and 80% of the entire national output. Cities are hubs of industrial clusters, housing small-, medium- and large-sized industries, run by manpower engaged directly and indirectly.

    To further amplify this growth tool, or “making city regions growth hubs that can unlock their full potential” as the annual report says, the government launched the Growth Hub (G-Hub) initiative in 2023. “The Growth Hub (G-Hub) initiative aims to redefine urban planning for liveability and sustainability with pilot projects launched in Surat, Mumbai, Varanasi, and Visakhapatnam and blueprints approved for Surat and Mumbai,” the annual report adds. An increase in productivity means more skilled hands at work.

    As one of the most important tools to drive India’s growth, the pool of the country’s skilled youth completes the growth curve of its resilient economy, solid macroeconomic fundamentals, and vast domestic market. While external shocks will inevitably arise, the direction of the journey points firmly upward.

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Micronesia: Regional collaboration strengthens SIDS disaster-risk resilience

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    This case study was collected through a Call for Good Practices on Reducing Risk across SDG Transitions, launched by the UNDRR Focal Points Group in 2024.

    SDGs addressed: 8 | 13

    The North-Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Kiribati – share high climate- and disaster-risk exposure but limited technical capacity. After the UN Multi-Country Office for Micronesia (UN MCO) opened in 2021, UNDRR, UNDP and UN MCO initiated the first regional DRR technical-assistance programme covering all five countries. Using participatory workshops, qualitative risk mapping and a shared governance framework, the programme blended traditional ecological knowledge (e.g. mangrove planting, raised housing) with modern methods, aligning with Sendai Framework Priorities 1 & 2.

    Innovation & Success Factors

    • Multi-country strategy enabled peer learning, reduced redundancy and built shared accountability.
    • Community-centric design combined indigenous knowledge with scientific analysis, increasing cultural relevance and buy-in.
    • Innovative finance dialogue with entities such as the Global Green Growth Institute laid the groundwork for sustainable phase-two funding.

    Key impacts

    • Regional DRR framework adopted; inter-island steering group meets twice yearly.
    • Capacity built – 60+ officials trained in risk assessment, contingency planning and early-warning design.
    • Knowledge exchange – traditional practices documented and paired with hazard mapping for all five SIDS.
    • Cost efficiency – pooled workshops, procurement and M&E lowered travel and admin costs.
    • Financing pathway – engagement begun with the Pacific Resilience Facility and other donors for phase II.

    Lessons learned for replication or adaptation

    1. Regional collaboration magnifies UN technical support through mutual learning and lower overheads.
    2. Integrating traditional knowledge with modern tools strengthens community acceptance and policy relevance.
    3. Sustainable finance is essential; strong institutional links and human-resource development underpin long-term resilience.
    4. A regional lens fosters constructive peer pressure, accelerating national DRR commitments.

    Other resources / Explore further

    Organisations involved

    • UN entities: UNDRR; UNDP; UN Multi-Country Office for Micronesia (UN MCO)
    • Regional bodies: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP); Pacific Community (SPC); Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF)
    • National agencies: Palau NEMO; FSM DECEM; Marshall Islands Office of the Minister in Assistance to the President for Environment; Nauru Ministry of National Emergency Services; Kiribati line ministries
    • Technical partner: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)
    • Development partners: Governments of Australia, Ireland and Japan; Global Green Growth Institute (prospective phase II finance)

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Programme management officer

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Org. Setting and Reporting

    Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 140 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

    This position is located in the UNDRR Office in Bonn, Germany. The Programme Officer will report to the Head of the UNDRR Bonn Office under the overall guidance of the Chief, Risk Knowledge, Monitoring and Capacity-Development Branch.

    Responsibilities

    Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: – 

    • Develops, implements and evaluates assigned systems programmes/projects of significant importance for the Department; monitors and analyses programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions. In particular, oversees and supports the management and updating of the online monitoring system to track progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Tracks and monitors project progress against plan, requirements, quality measures, standard processes; liaises with users on all aspects and during all phases.
    • Provides expert advice on complex systems analysis and design; identifies the need for new systems (or modifications to existing systems) or responds to requests from users; develops plans for feasibility assessment, requirements specification, design, development and implementation, including project plans, schedules, time and cost estimates, metrics and performance measures. –
    • Provides expert advice and coordinates the roll-out of the Disaster Tracking System in all Member States, liaising with the concerned regional offices. Keeps abreast of developments in the field and determines the need for testing and evaluating new products and technologies. –
    • Leads and coordinates the official reporting on Sendai Framework and SDGs, among others, and organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, technical reports, including advance analytics using AI-based tools.
    • Develops, implements and monitors application of standards and guidelines. Oversees the preparation of technical and user documentation for systems; prepares training materials and detailed technical presentations including technical guidelines to support the reporting against the indicators to assess progress towards the targets of Sendai Framework, as recommended by the open-ended intergovernmental expert working group on indicators and terminology. Works in close collaboration with the UNDRR Global Education and Training Institute (GETI) in Incheon and contributes to the development of training modules on Sendai Framework Monitoring Process. Collaborates and coordinates closely with UNDRR Regional Offices in support of strengthening the capacity of Member States to use the online Sendai Framework Monitoring system and their ability to report against the indicators. –
    • Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. –
    • Participates in planning and preparation of the budget, work program and spending plan of the Section and of the Branch. Contributes to activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.). Develops cost proposals for contractual services, oversees the technical evaluation of proposals received and manages the contract service. Provides professional leadership and work direction to assigned project team, and/or mentor and supervises the work of new/junior officers, contract staff, etc. – Performs other duties as required.

    Competencies

    Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector, functional area or other specialized field. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. 

    Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 

    Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

    Education

    An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in social sciences, management, economics, statistics or a related field is required. A first-level degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

    Work experience

    • A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in project planning, implementation and monitoring or a related area is required.
    • Experience in disaster risk assessment and monitoring, and disaster risk reduction is required.
    • Experience in data management and statistics is desirable.

    Languages

    English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

    Assessment

    Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

    Special notice

    The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. In line with the overall United Nations policy, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction encourages a positive workplace culture which embraces inclusivity and leverages diversity within its workforce. Measures are applied to enable all staff members to contribute equally and fully to the work and development of the organization, including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies and standards of conduct. Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher, temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

    United Nations Considerations

    According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General. Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

    No Fee

    THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Chandra Finds Baby Exoplanet is Shrinking

    Source: NASA

    A star is unleashing a barrage of X-rays that is causing a closely-orbiting, young planet to wither away an astonishing rate, according to a new study using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and described in our latest press release. A team of researchers has determined that this planet will go from the size of Jupiter down to a small, barren world.
    This graphic provides a visual representation of what astronomers think is happening around the star (known as TOI 1227) and a planet that is orbiting it at a fraction the distance between Mercury and the Sun. This “baby” planet, called TOI 1227 b, is just about 8 million years old, about a thousand times younger than our Sun. The main panel is an artist’s concept that shows the Jupiter-sized planet (lower left) around TOI 1227, which is a faint red star. Powerful X-rays from the star’s surface are tearing away the atmosphere of the planet, represented by the blue tail. The star’s X-rays may eventually completely remove the atmosphere.
    The team used new Chandra data — seen in the inset — to measure the amounts of X-rays from TOI 1227 that are striking the planet. Using computer models of the effects of these X-rays, they concluded they will have a transformative effect, rapidly stripping away the planet’s atmosphere. They estimate that the planet is losing a mass equivalent to a full Earth’s atmosphere about every 200 years.
    The researchers used different sets of data to estimate the age of TOI 1227 b. One method exploits measurements of how TOI 1227 b’s host star moves through space in comparison to nearby populations of stars with known ages. A second method compared the brightness and surface temperature of the star with theoretical models of evolving stars. The very young age of TOI 1227 b makes it the second youngest planet ever to be observed passing in front of its host star (a so-called transit). Previously the planet had been estimated by others to be about 11 million years old.
    Of all the exoplanets astronomers have found with ages less than 50 million years, TOI 1227 b stands out for having the longest year and the host planet with the lowest mass. These properties, and the high dose of X-rays it is receiving, make it an outstanding target for future observations.
    A paper describing these results has been accepted publication in The Astrophysical Journal and a preprint is available here. The authors of the paper are Attila Varga (Rochester Institute of Technology), Joel Kastner (Rochester Institute of Technology), Alexander Binks (University of Tubingen, Germany), Hans Moritz Guenther (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and Simon J. Murphy (University of New South Wales Canberra in Australia).
    NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.

    Learn more about the Chandra X-ray Observatory and its mission here:

    chandra

    https://chandra.si.edu

    This release features an artist’s illustration of a Jupiter-sized planet closely orbiting a faint red star. An inset image, showing the star in X-ray light from Chandra, is superimposed on top of the illustration at our upper left corner.
    At our upper right, the red star is illustrated as a ball made of intense fire. The planet, slightly smaller than the star, is shown at our lower left. Powerful X-rays from the star are tearing away the atmosphere of the planet, causing wisps of material to flow away from the planet’s surface in the opposite direction from the star. This gives the planet a slight resemblance to a comet, complete with a tail.
    X-ray data from Chandra, presented in the inset image, shows the star as a small purple orb on a black background. Astronomers used the Chandra data to measure the amount of X-rays striking the planet from the star. They estimate that the planet is losing a mass equivalent to a full Earth’s atmosphere about every 200 years, causing it to ultimately shrink from the size of Jupiter down to a small, barren world.

    Megan WatzkeChandra X-ray CenterCambridge, Mass.617-496-7998mwatzke@cfa.harvard.edu
    Corinne BeckingerMarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama256-544-0034corinne.m.beckinger@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/BRAZIL – Father Mario Lanciotti, Xaverian missionary, among myths, tales, and legends of the indigenous people of the Amazon

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 17 July 2025

    by Gianluca FrinchillucciRome (Agenzia Fides) – A new light is shining on missionary witness among the peoples of the Amazon. Professor Mario Polia, anthropologist, historian of religions, and profound expert on Andean cultures, has published a valuable collection of oral accounts collected by Father Mario Lanciotti, a Xaverian missionary active in Brazil in the 1960s, and a former missionary in China and Japan.The work brings together myths, tales, legends, and cosmogonic tales passed down orally for generations by the indigenous people of the Amazon. Father Lanciotti heard them directly from the faithful of his missions, during long evenings in the villages, often by moonlight, to the sound of crickets and night frogs. “For me,” he wrote, “it was not a pastime: I considered it indispensable for my missionary work.” “I have always tried to better understand the people to whom I was sent and to help them according to my abilities and capabilities. I have tried to love and accept them as they are, avoiding noise and paternalism,” he recounted in one of his testimonies. Furthermore, in a letter to a friend, he wrote words of luminous serenity: “I am here, in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, on the banks of the Xingu River. I am happy. When I came to work in this abandoned place, I was over 71 years old, but now I feel rejuvenated by 40. Here I truly feel at home as a missionary. The Lord has been so good to me in my old age! If you want to be happy, come with me!”“Father Lanciotti,” Polia affirms, “knew how to compile these oral testimonies, even though he was aware that, for many, these beliefs needed to be overcome. As he himself said, old superstitions remain in the deepest layers of the soul, like posters glued one on top of the other: when you tear off the first one, the previous one reappears. Lanciotti’s great intelligence was understanding that, to evangelize, you must first understand the other’s way of thinking. His compilation is an act of respect and listening.”“I spent a long period in the Xingu River area, on the border between the lands occupied by the whites and the forests where the indigenous tribes still live,” Father Lanciotti noted in another account. “I spent many afternoons with the ‘civilized’ Indians. We sat on the grass, in the moonlight, while crickets, toads, and night birds accompanied us. After religious instruction, I encouraged my indigenous interlocutors to tell me stories of the jungle and mythological events handed down through the centuries.” Father Mario Lanciotti (1901-1983), originally from Cupra Marittima (Ascoli Piceno, Italy), was a Xaverian missionary for fifty years in China, Japan, and finally Brazil. He worked in the most difficult areas of Pará and the Xingu, dedicating his life to serving the most disadvantaged. Almost blind, he asked to live out his final years in a nursing home in Belém, “the poorest among the poor.” He was buried in Abaetetuba, on the banks of the Amazon River. (Agenzia Fides, 17/7/2025)

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Landmark partnership puts Met officers closer to communities

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A landmark agreement with a housing developer and a London local authority will bring frontline offices closer to communities as part of the Met’s focus on neighbourhood policing.

    The opening of the Kidbrooke Village Community Police Hub provides local officers with a dedicated base to enhance their response to issues that matter most in the area.

    The space was jointly funded by Berkeley Homes, the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the Met, demonstrating how businesses and other agencies can work together to improve community safety at a time when budgets are stretched.

    Up to 24 officers covering six wards will be stationed at the hub which puts them closer to the areas they serve and will help the Met build on reductions in theft, burglary, robbery, anti-social behaviour and retail crime across London.

    Six neighbourhood teams will now be within a 20-minute walk of their wards. A further two will be based nearer to the areas they serve. They were previously spread between bases in Mottingham, Sidcup and Woolwich – which are both at least 20 minutes away by car.

    The hub was formally opened by Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes on Tuesday, 15 July.

    Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said:

    “Across the Met we are focused on tackling the crimes that matter most to Londoners and we have made significant progress in reducing neighbourhood crime – with a 19 per cent reduction in offences since April.

    “House building is important for London – but as the city grows it inevitably puts extra pressure on local policing teams at a time when we’re having to make tough choices.

    “Working closely with councils and developers will be key to ensuring more officers can be based near to the areas they serve – and I’d like to thank Berkeley Homes and the Royal Borough of Greenwich for their support in ensuring our teams remain at the heart of their communities.”

    Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:

    “We’ve invested, alongside Berkeley Homes and the police, to bring a new police base to Kidbrooke. This means more police on our streets, supporting the community and understanding the patch. They’ll be able to respond quicker and be more of a presence, which we know residents really care about. This investment is part of our wider work to make sure Greenwich is kept safe.”

    Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, said:

    “We know how much residents care about having local police in their communities, available to respond to calls and get on the scene quickly. That’s why, along with our partners, we’ve put funding into making this a reality in Kidbrooke, a growing area that more and more people are calling home. This is part of our wider work to target area specific crime like anti-social behaviour and theft, and we’re so pleased to see it open.”

    Paul Pritchard, Berkeley’s Development Director, said:

    “Berkeley would like to thank those involved in the opening of the new Community Policing Hub at Kidbrooke Village, from the Met Police, our local MP, the Mayor of Greenwich, councillors, officers, representatives from our local schools, and other key residents and stakeholders from the community.

    “After the closure of many facilities, it is a tribute to all who have helped ensure we have been able to open this new facility. We look forward to the Met’s presence once again, helping to reinforce a safer neighbourhood for Kidbrooke and the wider area and further strengthening this already resilient and sustainable community.”

    Police buildings are an important part of the fabric of London underpinning all Met activity and offering reassurance, functionality and a constant presence for communities in an ever-changing city.

    Our estate also needs to adapt to the changing nature of policing. To meet the needs of Londoners, it is imperative to have good quality buildings, where there are not leaking roofs and crumbling walls, in the right locations close to communities, and ones which are as reasonably accessible for victims as possible.

    The Met’s relentless focus on driving down crimes that matter most to the public in first six weeks of this financial year has seen promising reductions in a number of crime types compared to the same period last year across London:

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Boakai Hails France On National Day Observance

    Source: APO


    .

    The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has sent a congratulatory message to the Government and people of the Republic of France on the occasion France’s National Day, (the Bastille Day) on July 14, 2025.

     According to a Foreign Ministry release, in the message to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, President Boakai, on behalf of the Republic of Liberia, extended warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Government and people of France as they commemorate this historic landmark.    

    President Boakai noted that as the people of France celebrates this important moment in their national history, Liberia joins in honoring the enduring values of liberty, equality, and fraternity that have long inspired nations around the world. 

    The Liberian leader added that his government salute the resilience, cultural riches and global contributions of the French people. He emphasized that France and Liberia share a longstanding relationship which is marked by mutual respect, cooperation and shared ideals.

    President Boakai stressed that he appreciate France’s support which have extended over the years in areas such as development, education, health, and multilateral diplomacy. 

    “We remain committed to deepening our partnership and working closely together to address global challenges and promote peace, stability, and prosperity for all”, the Liberian President stated.   

    He then wished President Macron sincere congratulations and best wishes for continued peace, progress and the well-being for the people of France. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni attends CISL Confederal Congress

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    17 Luglio 2025

    The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, today delivered a speech at the 20th Confederal Congress of CISL [Italian Confederation of Workers’ Unions], entitled ‘The Courage of Participation’.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Villagers at flood risk in Pett receive new flood warning service

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Villagers at flood risk in Pett receive new flood warning service

    59 properties in Pett, in East Sussex, to benefit. Households urged to register for new, more targeted service.

    The Marsham Sewer, which will benefit from a new flood warning service.

    The Environment Agency has announced a new flood warning service to 59 householders in Pett for the Marsham Sewer, a drainage channel, or ditch, that flows eastwards through the parish.

    Pett is at risk of flooding from both the sea and the Marsham Sewer. The village has a flood warning service which covered the coastal risk, but not for the risk from the sewer.

    But a new flood warning service area has now been created by targeting groups of households where, during periods of flood-risk, the chances of flooding might be greater than the larger surrounding area. This will make the flood warnings they receive more targeted and enable the homeowners to take the steps they need to respond in good time. 

    Flood warnings tell people about an imminent risk of flooding to their home or business and helps people make informed decisions about how to respond. There are three types of warning – flood alert, flood warning and severe flood warning. Each warning type is triggered by particular weather, river or sea conditions which cause flooding.

    Householders are encouraged to prepare if they receive a flood alert, which could mean packing a bag that includes medicines, insurance documents and anything else they wouldn’t want to lose if flooding were to take place.

    A flood warning calls on people to act now which means turning off gas, water and electricity and moving family and pets to safety.

    A severe flood warning means you are in immediate danger and to follow advice from emergency services.

    Henry Bethell, Environment Agency flood resilience team leader for Kent, said:

    We know the devastating impact that flooding can have, which is why protecting people and communities is our top priority. However, the climate emergency means we cannot prevent all flooding – so we’re working to make communities resilient to future flooding.

    We want to ensure that everyone has as much time as possible to prepare for flooding, which is why we’re pleased that people in Pett will now be able to receive our free flood warning service for the Marsham Sewer.

    Home and business owners will be automatically enrolled to the flood warning service via their mobile network. However, to get the most benefit out of the service the Environment Agency is encouraging people to register directly with them by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188, or visiting www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings where they can register preferred contact details. 

    Background:

    • 6.3 million properties in England are at risk of flooding.
    • With climate change projections, 8 million properties could be at risk of flooding by mid-century.
    • The average cost of flood damage to a home is £30,000.
    • The average cost of flooding to a business is £82,000.
    • If you are flooded, temporary accommodation costs on average £10,000.
    • If you are flooded you are likely to be out of your home for an average of 5 months.
    • Know what to do when you receive a flood warning and download a personal flood plan – www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-alerts-and-warnings-what-they-are-and-what-to-do.

    All Environment Agency news releases, both area and national, can be found under Announcements at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency.

    Follow us on Twitter, now known as X: @envagencyse

    Contact us:

    Journalists only: 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Infrastructure Pipeline kicks off new era of infrastructure delivery

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Infrastructure Pipeline kicks off new era of infrastructure delivery

    New tool gives investors and industry clarity they need to plan for the long term and support the delivery of the government’s infrastructure ambitions.

    • UK’s major infrastructure projects published giving investors and British business the certainty to plan for the long term.
    • NISTA’s new interactive Pipeline website sets out 780 planned projects including transport, energy, schools and hospitals.
    • Follows publication of government’s landmark 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy setting out new approach to infrastructure and vital reforms to ensure planning and delivery is joined up.

    Construction firms have been given the certainty and confidence they need to invest in major UK infrastructure projects as the government publishes details of hundreds of live schemes, underpinning the delivery of the government’s landmark 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy.

    This Infrastructure Pipeline will provide real time updates on 780 planned private and public sector projects, giving industry the clarity needed to plan for the long term and creating good quality jobs and supply chain capacity necessary to deliver the government’s infrastructure ambitions and the Plan for Change. It will support our modern Industrial Strategy, boosting business investment and driving growth across the country.

    Building on data from 40 government departments, public bodies and regulated businesses, the new interactive online tool provides details of around 780 public and privately led infrastructure projects under construction, in development, or at an early stage of planning including transport, energy, schools and hospitals.

    The pipeline outlines £530 billion of projects and programmes over the next ten years, which includes £285 billion funded solely by the public sector.

    It comes as the government announced last month at least £725 billion of government funding over the coming decade, as part of a new approach to how projects are planned and delivered.

    Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones MP said:

    Last month, I set out a comprehensive ten-year strategy to restore confidence in the UK’s capacity to provide the infrastructure we need to renew Britain.

    Delivering that ambition will require support from the private sector to invest in the jobs and training opportunities workers need to help us rebuild the country.

    This pipeline brings industry on that journey with us – by giving business leaders and investors confidence about future work and therefore the confidence to invest in their workforce.

    By providing a more consistent picture of significant infrastructure investments planned by both government and the private sector, the pipeline also aims to improve the quality of policy making, spending decisions and the delivery of major projects – replacing the previously erratic and uncoordinated nature of infrastructure planning with a more certain picture.

    This is backed by a new online pipeline tool allowing users to see the national and regional picture of planned investments by both the government and private sector in real time. As well as providing details of individual projects, users will also be able to look at the full range of planned investments.

    The pipeline will managed by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) and updated on a regular basis. 

    Becky Wood, Chief Executive Office of NISTA, said:

    We’ve listened to a wide range of voices to ensure this pipeline is designed to give the infrastructure sector the information and insights needed to plan with confidence and to build the skills, workforce and supply chains required.

    NISTA is committed to working with investors, operators and construction firms on future iterations to ensure the pipeline is where private and public sector partners will stand firmly behind a shared ambition to do things better.

    John Foster, Chief Policy and Campaigns Officer at CBI said:

    A dynamic, forward-looking infrastructure pipeline is exactly what business needs to plan, invest, and build with confidence. This announcement responds to long-standing calls from industry and sends a strong signal that government is serious about long-term infrastructure planning. Greater clarity and certainty on upcoming projects will unlock investment in nationally significant schemes, strengthen supply chains, and support high-value jobs across the UK.

    Sam Gould, Director of policy and external affairs at the Institution of Civil Engineers said:

    The ICE has promoted the importance of an up-to-date, credible project pipeline for some time, so NISTA’s publication of the new Infrastructure Pipeline is a welcome step forward.

    Having an agreed list of projects provides essential clarity for the industry to plan – not just for delivery, but to enable better workforce planning and attract necessary finance.

    The commitment from NISTA to regularly update the Pipeline with insights and data from across industry is also positive, and the ICE looks forward to working with NISTA to refine and develop this Pipeline.

    This joined-up, systematic approach is what’s needed to plan for and deliver the infrastructure the UK needs.

    Mark Reynolds, Mace’s Executive Chair and Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council and Co-Chair of the Construction Skills Mission Board, said:

    The construction industry cannot invest in new skills, capacity and technology without clarity on our future workload. The government’s pipeline plays a critical role in allowing us to scale up to deliver 1.5m new homes and a revitalisation of our national infrastructure.

    NISTA’s new dynamic approach is a major step forward; and the inclusion of employment data will make a significant difference to firms across the country as they plan for the next few years of growth. The Construction Skills Mission Board will be working with our members from government, industry, training bodies, the devolved authorities and the unions to build the skilled workforce we need to realise the ambitious plans laid out in the pipeline.

    More information

    • Additional comments:

    Leo Quinn, Group Chief Executive of Balfour Beatty, said:

    The new Infrastructure Pipeline is a big step forward, giving industry the clarity and confidence to invest in skills, grow capability and deliver sustainable, digital solutions. It’s what Balfour Beatty has been calling for: funded schemes, greater detail and transparency, and real-time updates to support business planning. The challenge now is keeping up momentum and making it a trusted tool for long-term UK infrastructure planning.

    Suzannah Nichol OBE, Chief Executive, Build UK said:

    The new Infrastructure Pipeline is another step towards much needed visibility and stability for the construction supply chain and private sector investors. This dynamic approach showing a clear and updated pipeline of work will give our members more confidence to invest in the skills, resources and technology required to deliver and maintain the social and economic infrastructure we all rely on.

    Build UK is committed to working with the Treasury and NISTA to ensure the pipeline is an effective tool, supporting improved performance and productivity and driving economic growth.

    Jon Phillips, Chief Executive, Global Infrastructure Investor Association said:

    This is a positive step towards strengthening the UK’s appeal as a destination for private finance of critical infrastructure.

    Global investors will value a clear pipeline of projects that shows the full scope of the UK’s investment potential.

    We look forward to working closely with the government to ensure the pipeline meets investors’ needs and has the greatest possible impact on UK economic growth.

    David Allen, spokesperson for the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), and Executive Director of CECA Southern, said:

    The long-term certainty provided by the pipeline published today – and the ease of access that the online tool provides – will boost the infrastructure sector’s delivery capacity, at a time when we need the UK economy to be firing on all cylinders.

    CECA members have consistently argued that key to delivering the best results is providing industry with clear visibility of the forward pipeline of investment.

    This is essential to maintaining confidence across our sector, and enables businesses to plan efficiently, invest in skills and innovation, and deliver the economic and social outcomes the UK needs.

    • The Infrastructure Pipeline is a dynamic online tool, developed after extensive engagement with a wide range of industry stakeholders.
    • It provides both an interactive and downloadable information about each scheme, including details of anticipated spend, the current project status and its expected completion date, together with information on the Pipeline’s methodology and how it will evolve in future. 
    • This first iteration of the pipeline reflects public spending settlements agreed across government as part of the recent Spending Review. The next update planned for early 2026 will add further details following the completion of business planning across government resulting from Spending Review decisions..
    • The Pipeline is not an announcement of new government policy or project investments – it is an update on the latest position on each project.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ofqual withdraws access arrangements statistics

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Ofqual withdraws access arrangements statistics

    Ofqual is withdrawing its official statistics on access arrangements for GCSE, AS and A levels from 2014 to 2024 after identifying issues with the data.

    • Number of students reported to receive extra time in exams overstated, says regulator. 

    • No change for students receiving or applying for access arrangements as procedures are unaffected.  

    • Access arrangements granted to students remain appropriate and valid. 

    • New official statistics with improved methodology to be published in late 2025 following comprehensive evidence review.

    The exam regulator Ofqual is withdrawing its official statistics on access arrangements for GCSE, AS and A levels from 2014 to 2024 after identifying issues with the data. 

    Access arrangements are adjustments to exams for students with special needs, disabilities, or injuries, ensuring fair assessment. Examples include extra time and the use of a reader or scribe.  

    Ofqual’s statistics for access arrangements were based on data collected by exam boards. Ofqual’s detailed analysis of underlying data from the boards has now established that the published figures significantly overstated the number of students receiving access arrangements.

    The difference is due to the way the data is recorded and aggregated – for example, including arrangements for students who did not sit exams in the relevant year, or duplicate applications for the same student.  

    The new analysis suggests that the actual proportion of students receiving access arrangements – including 25% extra time in exams – is now broadly in line with the proportion of students with special educational needs in the school population.

    Tom Bramley, Executive Director of Research and Analysis at Ofqual, said: “We are correcting the record as soon as possible. The access arrangements process has not changed, and students who received support did so appropriately.

    “This issue is limited to our access arrangements dataset and our other statistics are not affected.”

    Ofqual is working with exam boards to improve data quality and reporting processes. Revised statistics will be published in late 2025 and will be classified as “official statistics in development”. Ofqual is working closely with the Office of Statistical Regulation on the new approach.

    Notes to editors

    More information is available in our blog

    For reference, SEN statistics: Special educational needs in England, Academic year 2024 to 2025

    For information on access arrangements: Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration – JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications 

    The withdrawn data covers all access arrangements except modified exam papers, such as large print or braille papers, which use a different data set and are unaffected.  

    Statistics on modified exam papers will be briefly taken down from Ofqual’s website and then re-uploaded on a separate page.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission Communication on the state of play on the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and Poland’s position on the Pact – P-002909/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002909/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mariusz Kamiński (ECR)

    In Commission Communication COM(2025)319 of 11 June 2025, entitled ‘State of play on the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum’[1], it was noted that 25 Member States had submitted their national implementation plans for the migration pact. At the same time, it was stated that all Member States, with the exception of Hungary, had ‘regularly engaged with the Commission on the implementation of the Pact’.

    In footnote 13, the Commission clarifies that ‘Hungary communicated to the Commission that it does not intend to prepare a NIP. Poland submitted its position on the implementation of the Pact’.

    On the basis of the above information, it can be concluded that, unlike Hungary, Poland has not declared an intention not to prepare a national implementation plan and that it has been regularly engaging with the Commission in this regard.

    In the light of the foregoing:

    • 1.On the basis of which document submitted by Poland and which of its points did the Commission come up with the assessment set out in footnote 13?
    • 2.On what basis did the Commission include Poland among the Member States that ‘regularly engaged’ with the Commission on the implementation of the pact?
    • 3.How does the Commission assess the current state of implementation of the Pact on Migration by Poland?

    Submitted: 16.7.2025

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0319
    Last updated: 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Commission decides to refer MALTA to the Court of Justice of the European Union for not correctly applying EU law in relation to port workers 

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 17 Jul 2025 The European Commission decided to refer Malta to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to fulfil its obligations under the EU treaties in relation to its port workers regime.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Commission refers HUNGARY to the Court of Justice of the European Union for contradicting the Union’s position on intra-EU arbitrations under the Energy Charter Treaty

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 17 Jul 2025 Today, the Commission decided to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union for contradicting the Union’s position on intra-EU arbitrations under the Energy Charter Treaty and not abiding to the case law of the Court of Justice.  

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Allocation of funds to South African wine while European sector rocked by crisis – E-002765/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002765/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Anna Maria Cisint (PfE)

    The recent news of the allocation of EUR 15 million from the EU’s Cooperation Fund to the South African wine industry is causing outrage among European producers, particularly those from countries where the sector is being rocked by crisis, such as France, which has been denied support for its grubbing-up campaign.

    While that action is the product of agreements signed years ago, it seems paradoxical in the current day and age to provide third countries, whose producers compete with European producers, with funding for wine production, at a time when wine consumption is falling throughout Europe and the threat of tariffs is hampering trade.

    The decision to reduce common agricultural policy (CAP) resources, opening the doors to the European market through agreements with Mercosur, thus weakening our supply chains and further undermining the EU’s credibility in the eyes of our farmers, also appears completely out of line with the current state of European farming.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission not consider it appropriate to completely revise its approach to European farming, both in the current context and in view of the upcoming budgetary discussions on the CAP?
    • 2.Which countries outside the EU have received EU funds in the last three years for their farming and wine sectors?

    Submitted: 8.7.2025

    Last updated: 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Smart factories and a cleaner future

    Source: European Investment Bank

    Learnica is part of LTH Castings Group, a Slovenian company that is one of the leading European suppliers to the automotive industry, with clients such as Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, BMW and Continental. Learnica and other companies in the Western Balkans are preparing for new EU fees on carbon emissions, known as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which will start in 2026.

    The mechanism is a new tool that puts a carbon price on goods imported into the European Union. The EU goal is to be be carbon neutral by 2050. North Macedonia is not part of the European Union, but its products are used in EU goods and will count toward this new carbon fee. EU firms must track and report emissions that are created by their products inside and outside the European Union. As of January 2026, EU manufacturers will need to purchase certificates to cover these emissions.

    “Achieving carbon neutrality is one of our core strategic goals,” Jovčevska says. “We have embedded this objective into every investment and improvement made in our production processes over the past ten years.”

    Learnica is located in Ohrid, a city known for its rich cultural heritage. The town sits on the edge of Lake Ohrid, one of Europe’s deepest and oldest lakes, which is home to a unique aquatic ecosystem that includes many species highly sensitive to pollution and climate change.

    “We wanted to reduce the negative impact that an industry such as ours can have on the environment, especially given the importance of Ohrid to Macedonians,” Jovčeska says.

    To limit its environmental impact, Learnica uses “green” aluminium made from recycled materials, which takes 95% less energy to produce than aluminium made from primary raw materials. The company has also introduced several other green initiatives, such as producing heat from melting furnaces, installing solar panels to generate electricity, and developing a water-cooling system that purifies and recycles water used in the manufacturing process.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Unacceptable Libyan grievances against Greece and the attempt to create faits accomplis in the Eastern Mediterranean – P-002851/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002851/2025
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)

    On 20 June 2025, the Permanent Mission of Libya to the UN issued a Note Verbale accusing Greece of a ‘serious breach of international law’, arguing that Greek permits for hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete allegedly infringe Libya’s ‘sovereign rights’.

    Invoking the blatantly illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum of understanding, both non-officially recognised Libyan governments are attempting to challenge Greek sovereignty and denying the influence of the Greek islands – even Crete itself – in maritime zones, in breach of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This is a dangerous escalation, which is part of the broader strategy of the Turkish and Libyan governments to destabilise the Eastern Mediterranean and challenge the lawful rights of an EU Member State.

    In view of the above, can the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy say:

    • 1.Will she strongly condemn the non-existent Libyan grievances and the invocation of an illegal memorandum that grossly violates international law?
    • 2.How does she intend to actively defend Greece’s sovereignty and sovereign rights, while protecting the EU’s strategic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean against such destabilising practices?

    Submitted: 13.7.2025

    Last updated: 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Swearing-in ceremony for new recruits of the Intelligence System for the Security of the Republic

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    15 Luglio 2025

    The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, and the Director General of the Security Intelligence Department (‘DIS’), Vittorio Rizzi, addressed today’s swearing-in ceremony for the new recruits of the Intelligence System for the Security of the Republic, held at Palazzo Dante in Rome. The ceremony was also attended by Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano, the Director of the Internal Intelligence and Security Agency (‘AISI’), Bruno Valensise, and the Director of the External Intelligence and Security Agency (‘AISE’), Giovanni Caravelli.

    [The swearing-in ceremony]

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Giving 16 and 17-year-olds the vote is a long-overdue step towards a stronger, more inclusive democracy say Greens

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    by Green Party

    Responding to the government’s announced plans to give votes to 16 and 17 year olds, Green Party MP, Ellie Chowns said: 

    “On this one, Labour have got it right. Giving 16- and 17-year-olds the vote is a long-overdue step towards a stronger, more inclusive democracy. Young people have powerful voices and a vital stake in decisions about their future — it’s only right that they have a say at the ballot box.

    But if Labour are serious about renewing our democracy, this must be just the beginning. We need to go further — that means scrapping the undemocratic House of Lords, and finally delivering proportional representation so that every vote counts.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection

    A new world-leading biosecurity centre in Essex will protect the UK from emerging publicd health threats and boost economic growth.

    • World-leading biosecurity centre in Harlow, Essex to protect the UK against emerging public health threats
    • Multi-billion-pound government investment will make National Biosecurity Centre the largest of its kind in Europe
    • Will create around 1,600 new jobs to support construction and enhance collaboration between scientists and the life sciences sector

    People in the UK will be better protected from future pandemics and biosecurity threats thanks to government investment into a new, world-leading biosecurity centre in Harlow, Essex.

    The National Biosecurity Centre (NBC) will increase the speed and scale of research into dangerous pathogens and life-saving vaccines, boosting healthcare and economic growth, and protecting UK national security.

    The government is investing billions of pounds in the project, including £250m over this Parliament, for vital research and testing that is currently split across UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) sites in Porton Down and Colindale under one roof.

    Once complete, the NBC will be the largest in Europe, creating around 1,600 new jobs to support construction of the site and enabling the development of new treatments and vaccines that could save countless lives.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    This transformational investment in the UK’s national biosecurity will better protect the British public from future health emergencies, boost the life sciences sector and create new jobs.

    COVID-19 taught us how crucial it is to be able to respond quickly to new emerging threats, and the new National Biosecurity Centre will allow us to do exactly that — ensuring Britain remains a world-leader in pandemic preparedness.

    Harlow will become a scientific hub, with The National Biosecurity Centre exploring new ways to treat illnesses, improve people’s health and save more lives.

    By backing innovation, research and life sciences, we will make our NHS fit for the future, and cement the UK as a life sciences superpower as part of our Plan for Change.

    The NBC will create 1,600 extra jobs to support construction of the site and enabling closer collaboration between leading scientists and the life sciences sector.

    The investment is part of a series of ways in which this government is making the UK a life sciences powerhouse to improve access to life-changing and innovative treatments for patients, as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan. This follows the launch of a new digital hub for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in Leeds to ensure that life-saving healthcare innovations reach patients faster.

    We’re taking the lessons from COVID-19, boosting our world-leading vaccine manufacturing and research capabilities, and separately to Harlow, taking part in a national exercise later this year to make sure our preparations are watertight. Through the Pandemic Agreement, we’re also improving the world’s collective ability to prevent, prepare for, detect and respond to global disease threats and £108 billion in life sciences sector also protects us against future pandemics, as well as creating jobs and driving economic growth.

    Dyfed Alsop, interim UKHSA chief executive, said: > > This is fantastic news for the UK and will mean that we can continue to offer the best possible protection for people’s health for generations to come. > > A brand-new facility at Harlow will bring together our world leading public health science and emergency response capabilities, putting us in a stronger position to protect the public and keep people safe. > > This marks a significant investment in our future, ensuring that the UK remains a world leader in health security and that we are better prepared against a growing range of health threats.

    The NBC will create exciting new partnerships between UKHSA scientists and industry – paving the way for potential research breakthroughs, including in the realm of infectious diseases, environmental health, and behavioural sciences. Harlow will deliver state of the art highly secure laboratories that will be used to research the most dangerous and new diseases.

    Being physically closer to industry partners in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor will furthermore strengthen collaborations.

    Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

    The National Biosecurity Centre will help to strengthen the UK life sciences sector for decades to come, by backing our world-renowned researchers with highly advanced facilities to develop life-saving treatments in the face of new health threats.

    By enabling further collaboration between researchers at the cutting-edge and industry, the new hub can help drive the economic growth that benefits us all, building on the highly skilled new jobs already being delivered, and supporting our Plan for Change.

    The new facility will form part of a new network of National Biosecurity Centres recently announced under the 2025 National Security Strategy. This network will strengthen and formalise existing collaborations between UKHSA, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to bolster the UK’s resilience to deliberate, accidental or naturally occurring biological incidents. It follows the announcement last month of investment of more than £1 billion in a new campus in Weybridge to research and respond to animal and zoonotic diseases.

    Work to prepare NBC for operation will begin as soon as possible, with the first facilities due to open by the mid-2030s and the whole site scheduled to be in operation by 2038.

    By enhancing the UK’s resilience against biological threats, the opening of NBC will strengthen our national security – one of the essential foundations underpinning our Plan for Change.  

    Notes to editors:

    • Further information on the Network of National Biosecurity Centres: Network of National Biosecurity Centres – GOV.UK
    • The decision to open the new site in Harlow was made following an extensive review of the best ways to deliver the specialist laboratories that the UK needs, including the possibility of redeveloping existing sites.
    • UKHSA will continue operating from Colindale and Porton until the new Centre in Harlow is fully up and running, to ensure a safe and effective transition.
    • The DSTL site at Porton Down is not affected by this new development and will remain operational.
    • Of the total multi-billion investment in the Centre, £250 million will be spent by the Government over this Parliament alone to kickstart delivery. The exact total amount of funding for the Centre will be confirmed in due course.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nearly 1,200 cared for children supported to do well in school

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Thursday, 17th July 2025

    More than 1,160 children and young people in Stoke-on-Trent who are cared for – or were previously cared for – have been given extra help over the past year to succeed in their education.

    The city council’s Virtual School has helped young people in lots of ways, including building confidence, supporting schools with implementing strong support plans, providing funding for interventions and resources.

    It also offers advice and guidance to help prepare for the next stage of education and providing training to help schools understand the needs of children, who are care experienced and have a social worker.

    The specialist team behind the Virtual School support young people who are, or have been, in care. They work with schools, carers and social workers to ensure cared for children get the support they need to do well and feel confident in the classroom.

    Their work also focuses on improving outcomes for children and the use of bespoke Personal Education Plans (PEPs) for looked after children continues to form the basis for support and delivering outcomes.

    The Virtual School also leads on a number of city wide projects to upskill schools in Relational Approaches in Education (RAiE), raising attainment for disadvantaged youngsters, as well as a summer transition programme for those leaving secondary school.

    One of the most successful schemes has been the RAiE Project, which focused on schools adopting relational approaches and understanding children who suffer with attachment and trauma difficulties. So far, 46 schools have taken part over the last three years and seven of them have Bronze Awards, five have Silver Awards and the New Guild Trust has just won the 2025 Alex Timpson Attachment Award for the Midlands.

    Another impactful project is the summer programme run with YMCA North Staffordshire to help teenagers transition and get ready to start college or training in September. Over the last two years, 90 per cent of those young people who have attended have been in education, employment and training in the September.

    The summer sessions included college visits, CV writing and team-building activities.

    Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children’s services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We’re proud to support cared for children by giving them the tools and confidence they need to achieve their goals – that support can change lives.

    “The Virtual School has achieved great things in the last year and has had a profound positive impact on children and young people in the city.

    “Outcomes for many young people have been improved thanks to the hard work of the service and not only does this improve life chances for our young residents, but it also helps with tackling inequality in the city and building empowered communities.”

    Looking ahead, plans are in place to:

    • Improve attainment for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
    • Improve school attendance
    • Improve support for children and young people at risk of being not in education, employment or training
    • Make sure children’s views are heard and acted on

    The work is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to helping every cared for child achieve their full potential.

    For more information on the Virtual School, visit the website: www.stoke.gov.uk/virtualschool

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Jimmy Discovers Employment

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    A Dundee man has set sail on a new career after receiving all hands on deck support from the Council’s employability service.

    Jimmy Moran, 60, was previously a training instructor at Michelin for around 25 years before the factory closed in 2020 and has secured new employment as a ship’s crew maintenance worker at the RRS Discovery.

    Dundee Heritage Trust (DHT), who run Captain Scott’s famous Antarctic ship at Discovery Point, were looking to employ someone to maintain the attraction and support the ongoing preservation of the vessel.

    Jimmy visited the Adult Employability Service after a recommendation from a friend and with the help of the team at various sessions started getting interviews. Despite a few knock-backs Jimmy received constant reassurance and conversations about how his experiences were a strength.

    While attending a job shop, run by the service, he noticed the position at DHT appear online and the team helped him apply for the role, get an interview and follow up with the trust about progress.

    Speaking about his experience Jimmy said: “The support I received from the employability service was very good. They always got in touch with me when any job arose that they thought I may be interested in.

    “I was previously working at Michelin and unfortunately the factory closed. I was looking for something totally different from my past roles and to be able to use my people skills, jovial personality and do something more fun!”

    Jimmy beat around 70 other applicants to the job, and he puts this down to the support of council’s employability service who gave him the determination and desire to go for the job despite the barriers he thought he would face.

    “One of the barriers I was thinking about was my age and another was the type of jobs available. With the support of the team however I managed to get an interview with Dundee Heritage Trust to work on the RRS Discovery. When I was then offered the job, I was over the moon.”

    The RRS Discovery is currently going through conservation work to restore the 124 year old polar vessel and Jimmy is using his skills to help the contractors while also learning from them about their work.

    Jimmy added: “As part of my job I do a lot of work on the ship such as painting, varnishing, building, cutting, sanding and cleaning alongside day-to-day general maintenance of Discovery Point. I’m very fortunate to now be in a job I enjoy so this is my plans until I retire. The way I look at it, I will always be a part of the history of the ship”

    Ali Gellatly is the ship and facilities director at Dundee Heritage Trust. 

    Speaking about Jimmy and the employment process he said: “We were approached by the employability service to have a meeting to discuss the role and find out more. We then went through the normal interview process with a practical element, which Jimmy absolutely excelled at, and we felt like a perfect fit for us.

    “Jimmy is one of those people where he is more than happy to help anyone he can. The ship’s crew is vital but it’s not always easy to employ the right person. Having Jimmy joining us was an absolute win.”

    Employer Recruitment Incentive (ERI) funding was put in place to further secure the role, purchase equipment and help the heritage trust towards the extensive training Jimmy received. 

    Ali added: “The funding Jimmy came with was really useful for us and made sure he had everything he needed right from the start.”

    “We would absolutely have someone again through the employability service. The feedback and updates we get from them are really helpful as well as the constant contact, knowing there is someone you can speak to with any issues.”

    Jimmy added, “I would absolutely recommend the service for anyone looking for a job, they are very passionate about what they do, they are very considerate, and they will help you the best they can.”

    Jimmy and Ali have filmed videos speaking about their experiences and these can be found on the Council’s YouTube channel.

    Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure convener Councillor Steven Rome said: “I am very pleased to hear about Jimmy’s success in getting a job with Dundee Heritage Trust through the council’s employability service and offer my congratulations to him and everyone involved.

    “His work on board the RRS Discovery in maintaining this important asset for this city is not only evidently appreciated by his employers but by me and I’m sure everyone who visits.

    “It is clear to me that the employability team provide an excellent, professional and dedicated service and I would encourage anyone looking for employment to get in touch.”

    More information about the employability services the council support people with can be found on the Dundee City Council website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: States announce several measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference

    Source: Government of South Africa

    States announce several measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference

    In a significant multilateral initiative, a coalition of countries from various regions has agreed on six coordinated diplomatic, legal and economic measures aimed at restraining Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories and upholding international law.

    The Emergency Conference of The Hague Group, jointly organised by the governments of Colombia and South Africa as co-chairs, brought together 30 nations from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. 

    “In the deliberations at the Bogotá conference, all 30 participating States unanimously agreed that the era of impunity must end – and that international law must be enforced without fear or favour through immediate domestic policies and legislation – along with a unified call for an immediate ceasefire,” a joint statement issued at the end of the conference read. 

    To initiate this process, 12 countries from around the world – Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and South Africa – convened in Bogotá, Colombia, for two days. 

    READ | Israel’s disregard for ICJ rulings undermines global governance, says Dangor

    The countries committed to immediately implement six measures through their domestic legal and administrative systems. 

    The leaders have scheduled a meeting for 20 September, coinciding with the 80th United Nations General Assembly, to invite more countries to join this initiative. Consultations with governments worldwide are currently underway.

    The countries have since announced several measures to be adopted based on the States’ domestic legal and legislative frameworks. This includes a ban on arms shipments to Israel, a prohibition on ships transporting such arms, and a review of public contracts to identify any links to companies benefiting from the Israeli occupation. 

    In addition, the group supports “universal jurisdiction mandates”, which would enable States or international bodies to prosecute serious international crimes, regardless of where they occurred.

    “These 12 States have taken a momentous step forward,” said UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese. 

    “The clock is now ticking for States – from Europe to the Arab world and beyond – to join them.”

    The conference agreed to set a deadline for States’ final decisions by September 2025, in line with the 12-month timeframe mandated by United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/24, adopted on 18 September 2024.

    That resolution called on all States to take effective action on Israel’s violations of international law, including accountability, sanctions, and cessation of support — within one year of adoption.

    “We came to Bogotá to make history – and we did,” said Colombian President Gustavo Petro. 

    “Together, we have begun the work of ending the era of impunity. These measures show that we will no longer allow international law to be treated as optional, or Palestinian life as disposable.” 

    South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, said what they have achieved is a collective affirmation that no State is above the law. 

    “The Hague Group was born to advance international law in an era of impunity. The measures adopted in Bogotá show that we are serious and that coordinated State action is possible,” said Lamola. 

    The Executive Secretary of The Hague Group, Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, said the conference marks a turning point – not just for Palestine, but for the future of the international system.  

    “For decades, States, particularly in the Global South, have borne the cost of a broken international system. In Bogotá, they came together to reclaim it, not with words, but with actions.” – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Patients with long-term conditions to receive help from charities

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Patients with long-term conditions to receive help from charities

    Hundreds of thousands of patients with long-term conditions will be automatically referred to specialist charities at the point of diagnosis.

    • Better support to understand and manage conditions from day one, improving quality of life and avoiding unnecessary hospital visits, supporting an NHS fit for the future as part of the Plan for change
    • Announced by the Prime Minister at the Civil Society Summit – the service is yet another example of how the government is working with civil society to deliver for working people

    Hundreds of thousands of people diagnosed with long-term health conditions will receive extra help and support from expert charities, under a new service announced by the Prime Minister today (Thursday 17 July).

    Diagnosis Connect will ensure patients are referred directly to trusted charities and support organisations as soon as they are diagnosed – providing personalised advice, information and guidance to help them manage their condition and feel more in control. This support is designed to complement, not replace, their usual NHS care. It recognises the vital role that civil society plays in helping repair the health of the nation.

    With one in four people in the UK living with two or more long-term conditions this early, tailored support is vital. Patients living with multiple health issues often face the greatest challenges and the highest risk of complications. By helping people understand and manage their conditions from day one, the new service will help reduce flare-ups, improve quality of life and avoid unnecessary hospital visits.

    The service, due to be launched in 2026, will support a quarter of a million people in its first two years focusing on areas like diabetes, mental health and lung conditions. It will be scaled up to reach hundreds of thousands more over the coming years.

    The initiative, developed by the Richmond Group, was announced by the Prime Minister at the Civil Society Summit at the Science Museum, where he launched a new Civil Society Covenant to build stronger partnerships between government and charities, faith organisations, philanthropists, social investors and grassroots groups to deliver real results for working people.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    Being diagnosed with a long-term condition can be overwhelming. People are often handed a leaflet or a phone number and left to find help themselves—right when they’re feeling scared, confused and unsure where to turn.

    We’re changing that. Just as people with cancer or dementia are often guided to well-known charities for specialist advice and support, this new service will make sure patients with other long-term conditions are directly referred to trusted organisations from the moment they’re diagnosed.

    It’s about making it far easier to give people the emotional support, practical guidance and confidence they need to manage their condition and live fuller, more independent lives. Our Plan for Change is delivering for patients and making an NHs fit for the future.

    In its first stage, launching in 2026, Diagnosis Connect will focus on patients diagnosed in primary care—such as at their GP surgery. Patients will be automatically connected with specialist charities that offer helplines, information, local support groups and services tailored to their condition.

    As the programme expands, a digital referral system will allow NHS teams in all healthcare settings—including hospitals—to connect patients to a broad network of voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations.

    Initially, the service will focus on key areas such as diabetes, lung conditions and mental health, with further conditions added over time.

    As part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to shift the health service from analogue to digital, patients will be sent a text or push notification via the NHS App with information about relevant support groups and charities should they wish to seek further help.

    Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the Stroke Association said:

    240 people of all ages wake up to stroke every day in the UK having lost the ability to move, speak or even swallow with lifelong repercussions for their mental health and quality of life. As the UK’s only stroke-specific support charity, we know the huge difference it makes to people affected by stroke to get information, help, and guidance easily and accessibly when they need it most. 

    We have recently been trialling a similar programme to ensure people affected by stroke know about our services right from the point of diagnosis. So, we’re confident that Diagnosis Connect can help transform the early stages of recovery and rehabilitation for the 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK today and their loved ones. As the Government reforms the country’s healthcare, charities, like ourselves, have real potential to be an invaluable support for those who need us.

    Gemma Peters, Chief Executive Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

    We welcome today’s commitment from the Government to work in partnership to ensure support is available for people from day one. From the moment someone hears the words ‘you’ve got cancer’ lives are turned upside down and having the right support in place is vital.

    Currently, there are almost 3.5 million people living with cancer across the UK and too many people face unacceptable differences in their experiences of diagnosis, treatment, and care because of who they are or where they live. This has to change. Better is possible and through our work with the government we want to ensure that everyone living with cancer gets the best care the UK has to offer.

    Macmillan is here for everyone. No matter your question or your needs specially trained advisers are available on our Support Line and more ways to get support can also be found on our website.

    Duleep Allirajah, Chief Executive of The Richmond Group of Charities, said:

    We are delighted that the government, as part of its 10 Year Health Plan, has committed to this pioneering digitally enabled service, helping more people diagnosed with health conditions to manage through expert support from charities.

    Being diagnosed with a health condition can be a time of worry, questions and fears for the future. It’s when access to the right kind of support makes all the difference. Charities provide vital guidance, understanding and support to individuals, through personalised information, helplines, access to specialists and links to others who also live with the condition.

    The Richmond Group of Charities helped develop this proposal for automatic referrals to specialist charity support. We look forward to this becoming second-nature, so that all people with long-term conditions can benefit from support when they need it.

    Partner comments:

    Chris Larkin, Associate Director of Services at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

    There are currently around one million people in the UK living with dementia. A third of those are undiagnosed, leaving them to face the devastating realities of dementia without access to the vital care, support and treatment that a diagnosis can bring.

    For those who do manage to access a diagnosis, they tell us that finding the right support can often feel like trying to navigate a maze, with multiple dead ends and wrong turns. 

    Diagnosis Connect has the potential to hand families a map and steer them in the right direction, towards people who understand dementia, guiding them from diagnosis through to end of life.

    Alzheimer’s Society’s services are a lifeline for people affected by dementia. We’re ready to work with the Government and share our knowledge from supporting people through one of the hardest times in their lives.

     Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said:

    We are delighted to see Diagnosis Connect being taken up by the government, an approach Asthma + Lung UK has already championed as a game-changer for people newly diagnosed with lung conditions. As the NHS shifts its focus from moving more care out of hospital and into the community, ensuring people have access to advice and support to manage chronic health conditions is crucial. It makes absolute sense for the government to work in partnership with health charities to do this, capitalising on our vast expertise and community connections.

    Respiratory illness is the leading cause of emergency hospital admissions, yet levels of basic care for lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are worryingly low.  Signposting people to organisations like Asthma + Lung UK from the moment they are diagnosed can make all the difference. We know that with the right support and information, people are better able manage their lung conditions, meaning they can stay well and out of hospital. We all have a role to play in supporting the NHS and keeping patients safe and supported. Asthma + Lung UK is committed to doing our part, together with other charities.

    Dr David Chaney, Director of Services, Community and Improvement at Diabetes UK, said:

    Being diagnosed with diabetes can be an overwhelming and often lonely experience. It can be difficult to know where to turn. Getting the right support from day one can make all the difference, giving people the best chance of living well with diabetes and reducing their risk of developing devastating complications in the future.

    We’re delighted to see the Government harnessing the support offered by charities, through Diagnosis Connect. By connecting people to charities from the moment of diagnosis, this initiative will help embed early, compassionate support into everyone’s diabetes journey, so no-one faces a life-changing diagnosis alone.

    Nick Moberly, Chief Executive at the MS Society, said:

    We’re really pleased the government is supporting Diagnosis Connect. More than 150,000 people live with MS in the UK, and this new service has real potential to ensure everyone gets timely information and vital support at diagnosis to help them live well with MS.

    This first stage is a positive step forward in better connecting the NHS to charities. Together with the Richmond Group we look forward to developing Diagnosis Connect to help provide personalised advice, information and guidance to our communities in England.

    Helen Buckingham, Chair of National Voices, said:

    Being diagnosed with a new and potentially serious health condition can be an overwhelming, burdensome and sometimes frightening experience. We know from our members that providing support at the point of diagnosis is vital to ensuring that people have the skills and confidence to manage their condition, reducing the risk of deterioration.

    The VCSE sector, properly funded, can play an important part in making the 10 Year vision a reality. This is just one example of the value of enabling the sector to perform their unique role in the health system; supporting the people they advocate for. We hope to see many more.

    David Newbold, Director of Community at Parkinson’s UK, said:

    We are pleased to see the government launch the first phase of Diagnosis Connect. This new initiative builds on the great work of many charities in supporting people as soon as they are diagnosed with a health condition.

    Since 2019, we have been trialling our own pioneering service, Parkinson’s Connect, which refers newly diagnosed people to our community of support. So we believe Diagnosis Connect will supercharge our service, ensuring no one is left uncertain of where to turn when diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

    We look forward to working with the DHSC and the NHS to shape and deliver this vital new programme.

    Rachel Power, Chief Executive, The Patients Association said:

    This is a welcome initiative that rightly recognises the vital role expert charity support plays in helping patients manage long-term conditions. Our work shows that patients living in underserved neighbourhoods often struggle to get the information they need and face barriers when communicating with healthcare professionals. Early access to trusted charities at the point of diagnosis can make a real difference.

    For it to truly succeed, the referral system needs to capture the full diversity of support available, from established national charities to grassroots community organisations. Done right, this could help reduce health inequalities and be transformative for all patient outcomes.

    Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said:

    When people are struggling with their mental health, it can be hard to know where to turn. Charities like Rethink Mental Illness and Mental Health UK offer trusted, user-informed advice and support, built with and regularly reviewed by the people it’s designed to help. Diagnostics Connect will help ensure people get the best possible guidance when they need it most.

    Our work in areas like Somerset, Sheffield and Tower Hamlets has shown the positive impact of the NHS working in partnership with charities and community groups to create smoother pathways to care. This initiative is an important step forward, strengthening the third sector’s vital role in complementing the NHS and ensuring people get the support they need.

    Deborah Alsina, Chief Executive, Versus Arthritis said:

    More than 450,000 people are diagnosed with arthritis every year, so it is essential they can access the right information, care and support swiftly.

    As the UK’s leading arthritis charity, we are encouraged by the Government’s new initiative to connect people at the point of diagnosis with expert charities like Versus Arthritis.

    Living life in the grip of the pain and fatigue caused by arthritis can leave people isolated and too often kickstart a downward spiralling of both mental and physical health. Early intervention and support at this crucial time will enable people to manage their condition and navigate the health system with greater confidence. We look forward to working with the Government and our partners in the Richmond Group of Charities to deliver this important new service.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grants applications for Norwich cultural projects now open

    Source: City of Norwich

    Published on Thursday, 17th July 2025

    Cultural groups and community enterprises that deliver events, festivals and creative activities in Norwich are being invited to apply for a Norwich City Council culture grant.

    The grants are part of the council’s commitment to ensure the city continues to flourish as a creative and vibrant place over the next decade, working with others in the arts and cultural sector as part of the Norwich Creative City Compact.

    In the past year, culture grants have been awarded to a range of organisations including Sewell Barn Theatre, Frozen Light and Heritage Open Days.

    This year, organisations are invited to apply for grants of between £ between £500 and £7,500 by completing the application form by Friday 1 August. Applicants should read the guidance notes alongside the application form for further information.

    Cllr Claire Kidman, cabinet member for culture said:

    “Norwich is such a creative city and we are delighted to support groups and projects that enrich our vibrant cultural scene.

    “Our grant scheme has a proud history of enabling local talent and ideas to come to life; bringing people together and enriching lives.”

    Visit Small Culture Grants 2025-26 | Get Talking Norwich to apply and find out more.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nuclear fusion boost as government sets to unblock planning rules

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Nuclear fusion boost as government sets to unblock planning rules

    Government confirms the UK will be the first country in the world to develop fusion-specific planning rules.

    • Government backs innovation and growth with plan to develop National Policy Statement to unblock fusion projects 

    • forms part of golden age of nuclear plans through the government’s clean energy superpower mission 

    • UK will become the first country in the world to develop fusion-specific planning rules – helping support thousands of skilled jobs as part of the Plan for Change

    New clean energy jobs and growth for British businesses are set to be unlocked as the government confirms the UK will be the first country in the world to develop fusion-specific planning rules. 

    The plans will see fusion introduced into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, putting fusion energy projects on the same footing as other clean energy technologies such as solar, onshore wind and nuclear.  

    This will drive growth and unlock benefits for places such as Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and South Yorkshire where the fusion industry is already supporting thousands of jobs – revitalising industrial heartlands with the clean energy of the future.  

    Currently, fusion projects must submit an application to the local authority with no set timelines for approval and no guidance on which sites are appropriate – hindering the technology’s development in the UK.  

    The introduction of a National Policy Statement will provide clarity to developers and streamline the planning process for fusion, giving applicants clearer guidance on where and how quickly projects can be developed. This will give industry certainty, break down regulatory barriers and get projects built quicker to cement the UK’s position at the forefront of the global race for fusion. 

    The Spending Review also delivered a commitment to invest over £2.5 billion in fusion research and development. This includes progressing with the STEP programme (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) which aims to develop and build a world-leading fusion power plant by 2040 in Nottinghamshire, creating thousands of new jobs with the potential to unlock limitless clean power. 

    A thriving fusion industry in the UK will support the growth of other technologies, including superconductors, robotics and advanced materials, which in turn will provide highly-skilled jobs for British scientists, engineers and construction workers as part of the Plan for Change.  

    The government’s clean energy mission is the only route to energy security, lower bills and good jobs for the country, and by setting out clearer planning rules for investors, the UK will maintain its optimum position for fusion industry investment.  

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    The future of fusion energy starts now. We are backing the builders not the blockers – paving the way for the UK to become a clean energy superpower and ensuring that limitless fusion energy plays a key role in our future clean energy mix.  

    We are ensuring the clean energy of the future gets built in Britain, supporting the creation of highly skilled jobs and driving growth into our industrial heartlands as part of our Plan for Change.

    This clarity for investors follows a major backing of £61.9 billion for clean homegrown power in the Spending Review, in which a golden age of nuclear was confirmed with the selection of Rolls-Royce SMR as the preferred bidder to build the UK’s first small modular reactors and £14.2 billion investment to build Sizewell C. 

    Developing the fusion NPS will also help fusion energy projects move faster along the process from identifying sites to the start of construction. 

    This follows the government’s £20 million investment into the ‘Starmaker One’ British fusion investment fund which is expected to unlock £100 million of private investment in the UK – driving economic growth. 

    Tim Bestwick, CEO, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), said: 

    The inclusion of fusion energy in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime is a clear indication of the government’s support for fusion. 

    Fusion promises to be a safe, sustainable part of the world’s future energy supply and the UK has a huge opportunity to become a global hub of fusion and related technology. 

    Fusion-specific planning rules will help provide certainty about investing in UK fusion developments, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in the quest to commercialise fusion energy.

    Notes to editors 

    The government plans to consult on a detailed National Policy Statement for fusion energy by March 2026. 

    Consultation response on Scope of Fusion Energy National Policy Statement

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Police protection for New Caledonian politicians following death threats

    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk

    New Caledonian politicians who inked their commitment to a deal with France last weekend will be offered special police protection following threats, especially made on social media networks.

    The group includes almost 20 members of New Caledonia’s parties — both pro-France and pro-independence — who took part in deal-breaking negotiations with the French State that ended on 12 July 2025, and a joint commitment regarding New Caledonia’s political future.

    The endorsed document envisages a roadmap in the coming months to turn New Caledonia into a “state” within the French realm.

    It is what some legal experts have sometimes referred to as “a state within the state”, while others say this was tantamount to pushing the French Constitution to its very limits.

    The document is a commitment by all signatories that they will stick to their respective positions from now on.

    The tense but conclusive negotiations took place behind closed doors in a hotel in the small city of Bougival, near Paris, under talks driven by French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and a team of high-level French government representatives and advisers.

    It followed Valls’ several unsuccessful attempts earlier this year to reach a consensus between parties who want New Caledonia to remain part of France and others representing the pro-independence movement.

    Concessions from both sides
     But to reach a compromise agreement, both sides have had to make concessions.

    The pro-French parties, for instance, have had to endorse the notion of a State of New Caledonia or that of a double French-New Caledonian nationality.

    Pro-independence parties have had to accept the plan to modify the rules of eligibility to vote at local elections so as to allow more non-native French nationals to join the local electoral roll.

    They also had to postpone or even give up on the hard-line full sovereignty demand for now.

    Over the past five years and after a series of three referendums (held between 2018 and 2021) on self-determination, both camps have increasingly radicalised.

    This resulted in destructive and deadly riots that broke out in May 2024, resulting in 14 deaths, more than 2 billion euros (NZ$3.9 billion) in damage, thousands of jobless and the destruction of hundreds of businesses.

    Over one year later, the atmosphere in New Caledonia remains marked by a sense of tension, fear and uncertainty on both sides of the political chessboard.

    Since the deal was signed and made public, on July 12, and even before flying back to New Caledonia, all parties have been targeted by a wide range of reactions from their militant bases, especially on social media.

    Some of the reactions have included thinly-veiled death threats in response to a perception that, on one side or another, the deal was not up to the militants’ expectations and that the parties’ negotiators are now regarded as “traitors”.

    Since signing the Paris agreement, all parties have also recognised the need to “sell” and “explain” the new agreement to their respective militants.

    Most of the political parties represented during the talks have already announced they will hold meetings in the coming days, in what is described as “an exercise in pedagogy”.

    “In a certain number of countries, when you sign compromises after hundreds of hours of discussions and when it’s not accepted [by your militants], you lose your reputation. In our country . . . you can risk your life,” said moderate pro-France Calédonie Ensemble leader Philippe Gomès told public broadcaster NC La Première on Wednesday.

    Pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) chief negotiator Emmanuel Tjibaou was the first to face negative repercussions back in New Caledonia.

    Tjibaou’s fateful precedent
     “To choose this difficult and new path also means we’ll be subject to criticism. We’re going to get insulted, threatened, precisely because we have chosen a different path,” he told a debriefing meeting hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

    In 1988, Tjibaou’s father, pro-independence leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, also signed a historic deal (known as the Matignon-Oudinot accords) with pro-France’s Jacques Lafleur, under the auspices of then Prime Minister Michel Rocard.

    The deal largely contributed to restoring peace in New Caledonia, after a quasi-civil war during the second half of the 1980s.

    The following year, he and his deputy, Yeiwéné Yeiwéné, were both shot dead by Djubelly Wéa, a hard-line member of the pro-independence movement, who believed the signing of the 1988 deal had been a “betrayal” of the indigenous Kanak people’s struggle for sovereignty and independence.

    ‘Nobody has betrayed anybody’
     “Nobody has betrayed anybody, whichever party he belongs to. All of us, on both sides, have defended and remained faithful to their beliefs. We had to work and together find a common ground for the years to come, for Caledonians. Now that’s what we need to explain,” said pro-France Rassemblement-LR leader Virginie Ruffenach.

    In an interview earlier this week, Valls said he was very aware of the local tensions.

    “I’m aware there are risks, even serious ones. And not only political. There are threats on elections, on politicians, on the delegations. What I’m calling for is debate, confrontation of ideas and calm.

    “I’m aware that there are extremists out there, who may want to provoke a civil war . . . a tragedy is always possible.

    “The risk is always there. Since the accord was signed, there have been direct threats on New Caledonian leaders, pro-independence or anti-independence.

    “We’re going to act to prevent this. There cannot be death threats on social networks against pro-independence or anti-independence leaders,” Valls said.

    Over the past few days, special protection French police officers have already been deployed to New Caledonia to take care of politicians who took part in the Bougival talks and wish to be placed under special scrutiny.

    “They will be more protected than (French cabinet) ministers,” French national public broadcaster France Inter reported on Tuesday.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor of London Launches the London to Accra Campaign

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Mayor of London Launches the London to Accra Campaign

    UK leading a new era of diaspora-driven growth in Ghana

    The British High Commission in Accra has officially launched the “London to Accra Economic Growth Campaign” – a bold, series of activities aimed at strengthening economic ties between the UK and Ghana, by leveraging the two countries’ greatest shared asset, the British Ghanaian diaspora. 

    The launch took place at a vibrant reception attended by the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, and the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, alongside 100 entrepreneurs, investors, and stakeholders from the business communities both in Ghana and the UK. 

    London to Accra transcends symbolism. It is about unlocking untapped opportunities. The campaign will raise awareness of the role that the British Ghanaian diaspora plays in driving economic growth through their people-to-people connections, creativity and cultural relations between the two cities, London and Accra, and for that matter the two countries, Great Britain and Ghana. It will also highlight the range of support available to help entrepreneurs strengthen their trade and investment activities between the two capitals. 

    Kicking off with the launch, the campaign will include a series of webinars focused on doing business between the UK and Ghana, a digital storytelling series showcasing diaspora success stories, and a roadshow of diaspora-led businesses in Accra. The culmination of this bold campaign will be the inaugural Diaspora Economic Growth Summit in January 2026 in Accra. This flagship event will serve as both the grand finale and the beginning of a new tradition in diaspora economic collaboration. 

    Keith McMahon, Chargé d’Affaires of the British High Commission in Accra, set the tone at the launch saying: 

    The London to Accra campaign is a practical approach to supporting the UK’s growth mission. Our two capitals are not just linked by culture. These connections are increasingly economic, with entrepreneurs building businesses that bridge both capitals and create prosperity in both nations. By strengthening these connections, we are creating new pathways for investment and economic growth that benefit citizens in both countries.

    The launch event featured a panel discussion with key figures including Ghana’s Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Otchere Darko; Pamela Bassah, Head of Diaspora Relations and Strategic Partnerships at the British High Commission; Dr. Vanessa Apea; CEO of Accra London Health Centre; Giselle Agyare, Country Director of the UK Department for Business and Trade in Ghana; and Shirgade Laryea from the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce. The discussion highlighted the wide range of support available through initiatives such as Growth Gateway. 

    The campaign follows the success of the annual Diaspora New Year Networking Mixer, which began in January 2023 and has become a cornerstone event for the British Ghanaian community. The 2025 edition attracted over 500 stakeholders from the UK-Ghana diaspora, business community, and Government of Ghana, demonstrating the strong appetite for greater engagement between the two countries.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Birmingham City Council tenants make big savings thanks to a new money saving app

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Published: Thursday, 17th July 2025

    Birmingham City Council tenants are enjoying discounts at over 100 national retailers, thanks to a new money-saving app called Housing Perks.

    Earlier in the year, the council conducted a trial partnership with Housing Perks. This app provides tenants with exclusive offers and discounts at retailers such as Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Morrisons, and Argos. 

    During the trial around 5,000 tenants downloaded the app, which generated savings for these households of £17,722.

    The trial has been a success, and the council is looking to continue with Housing Perks while implementing a new feature where tenants are able to put their savings towards rent arrears payments.

    Councillor Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said:

    “We are committed to doing all we can to support our tenants through the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and I am pleased to add the Housing Perks app to our other cost-of-living support.

    “Housing Perks provides our tenants with discounts on everyday essentials and big one-off costs.

    “We understand how challenging it can be budgeting and managing household bills, so we are implementing a new feature that gives tenants the option to pay any savings made through the app directly to their rent account. By doing this, tenants can keep on top of rent payments while doing their weekly shop or buying petrol.

    “By linking tenants’ everyday spending to rent payments, we hope this will provide an additional way to help tenants who are struggling during this cost-of-living crisis.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pharmacist time freed up to treat patients more

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Pharmacist time freed up to treat patients more

    Pharmacists will benefit from better access to pharmacy services as part of 10 Year Health Plan, under new proposals set out by the government today

    • Government freeing up pharmacist time so they can treat patients more
    • Qualified pharmacy staff could get expanded roles to improve patient access and allow pharmacists to focus more on frontline care
    • Move part of delivery drive of the 10 Year Health Plan, moving care closer to the community

    Patients will benefit from better access to pharmacy services under new proposals set out by the government today.  

    As part of the immediate work to start delivering the 10 Year Health Plan, the Department of Health and Social Care has published plans to modernise pharmacy supervision rules, to allow registered pharmacy technicians to take greater responsibility and enable pharmacists to focus more on frontline patient care. 

    The changes, which have been welcomed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK and the General Pharmaceutical Council, will modernise pharmacy practice and make better use of the skills within pharmacy teams.

    This will give pharmacies greater flexibility in how they deploy their staff, freeing up pharmacist time to deliver more clinical services and to help advise patients on prevention as well as sickness as part of the government’s Plan for Change while ensuring that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can work to the top of their profession. 

    Minister Stephen Kinnock said:  

    We have hit the ground running in delivering our 10 Year Health Plan, and this is another immediate and tangible change that will mean patients get better care closer to their home, while we also modernise the NHS.

    Pharmacists will be able to spend more time providing clinical care, while qualified pharmacy technicians can take greater responsibility for routine tasks.  

    This will improve patient experience and help avoid delays in accessing medicines when the pharmacist is not available.

    These are simple, common-sense changes that will help pharmacies run better, saving staff and patient time.

    The draft legislation follows extensive consultation with pharmacy professionals and stakeholders. It is expected to come into effect by the end of 2025 and the bulk of the measures will have a one-year transition period to allow for the development of professional standards and guidance. 

    It will expand who can supervise the dispensing of medicines, empower the pharmacy workforce to deliver better care and unlock clinical expertise, so communities are served more effectively by their local pharmacy and delivering on the Plan for Change by improving care in the community and reducing pressure on the NHS.

    This is another example of this government’s commitment to support the pharmacy sector – and builds on the package of recently enacted measures to dispense medicines more quickly and efficiently.

    We have invested a record amount in the sector with the largest uplift in funding seen by community pharmacy for over a decade.  

    These further measures will help transition community pharmacy from being largely focused on dispensing medicines to becoming integral to the Neighbourhood Health Service, supporting the shift from hospital to community set out in our 10 Year Heath Plan. 

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –