NewzIntel.com

Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Government celebrates extension of UN Disability Convention to Bermuda

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The extension of the UN Disability Convention will protect the rights of over three thousand disabled people living in Bermuda.

    • Bermuda is the first British Overseas Territory to which the UN Disability Convention has been extended
    • The extension marks a significant milestone in Bermuda’s path towards a more inclusive society for disabled people
    • Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, said: “The Government is determined to tackle barriers and boost opportunities for every disabled person”

    The UK Government has extended the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to Bermuda, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, announced today.

    All state parties to the UNCRPD agree to tackling barriers which prevent disabled people from participating in society on an equal basis with others.

    The UNCRPD sets out specific rights which states are required to uphold, such as the right to health, education, living independently and participating in sports and other cultural and leisure activities. The UNCRPD Committee generally reviews each state every four years and issues recommendations for improvement.

    The extension is one example of the Government’s continuing commitment to the UNCRPD, and is in line with a previous recommendation from the UN Committee that the UK strengthens its efforts to extend the UNCRPD to the British Overseas Territories.

    Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, said:

    This extension is a major step forward in the UK’s commitment to the UNCRPD and championing the rights of disabled people.

    The Government is determined to tackle barriers and boost opportunities for every disabled person. We will work with disabled people and their representative organisations to build a more equitable and inclusive future for all.

    Minister for Development and Minister for Women and Equalities, Anneliese Dodds MP, said:

    As the Minister for Development and Minister for Women and Equalities, I am proud of this Government’s commitment to protecting and promoting disabled people’s rights across the UK and around the world.

    This announcement is just the beginning. We will do what’s necessary to ensure that disabled people, no matter their background, have the support, resources and opportunities to succeed.

    Extending the UNCRPD to Bermuda will protect the rights of thousands of disabled people, and will also support Bermuda’s expanding tourism industry by improving accessibility to a number of recreational, leisure and sporting activities.

    Bermuda Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, The Hon. Tinée Furbert, JP. MP said:

    As the Minister responsible for persons with disabilities, I am proud to announce that the extension of the UNCRPD to Bermuda marks a historic moment. This achievement solidifies our commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their disability, is valued and respected. For the first time, the UK has extended the UNCRPD to an Overseas Territory, a testament to the progress we are making.

    By adopting the UNCRPD, Bermuda fulfils a 2020 Throne Speech Initiative and reaffirms our dedication to upholding the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all individuals. This milestone is a celebration of our collective efforts and a reminder that our work is far from complete. We must continue to address critical areas such as education, diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, and removing barriers across all sectors of our society.

    The Government of Bermuda remains steadfast in collaborating with persons with disabilities to advance equal opportunities. We believe that a world of equality is not just a dream but a tangible reality that we can achieve. It requires decisive leadership, adequate resources, and a collective decision-making process. We are building the ramps to a more inclusive and equitable world because it is not only possible- it is our responsibility.

    The extension follows recent announcements by the UK Government in the King’s Speech to tackle barriers for disabled people and other underrepresented groups – such as introducing disability pay gap reporting, increasing flexible working arrangements and making work pay.

    British Sign Language (BSL) version of this press release

    UK Government celebrates extension of UN Disability Convention to Bermuda

    Notes to editors:

    • The UK government is responsible for the international relations of the British Overseas Territories, including with the UN and its convention committees. The UNCRPD can only be extended to Bermuda with UK approval.
    • The UK is a state party to the UNCRPD, having ratified it in 2009.
    • The UNCRPD aims to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all disabled people, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government unveils significant reforms to employment rights

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Ministers have unveiled the Employment Rights Bill to help deliver economic security and growth to businesses, workers and communities across the UK.

    • Legislation introduced in Parliament to upgrade workers’ rights across the UK, tackle poor working conditions and benefit businesses and workers alike 
    • Ahead of International Investment Summit, government reveals landmark reforms in under 100 days to boost pay and productivity, showing the benefits of a ‘pro-business, pro-worker’ approach 
    • New balance for early months of a job at heart of pragmatic reforms to help drive growth in the economy and support more people into secure work 
    • Employment Rights Bill will end exploitative zero-hour contracts and unscrupulous fire and rehire practices, while establishing rights to bereavement and parental leave from day one 

    Today (10 October) ministers have unveiled the Employment Rights Bill, introduced within 100 days of the new government coming to office, to help deliver economic security and growth to businesses, workers and communities across the UK.  

    Getting the labour market moving again is essential to economic growth with one in five UK businesses with more than 10 employees reporting staff shortages. Flexibility, for workers and businesses alike, is key to answering this challenge and is at the heart of the legislation to upgrade the law to ensure it is fit for modern life and a modern economy. 

    The existing two-year qualifying period for protections from unfair dismissal will be removed, delivering on the manifesto commitment to ensure that all workers have a right to these protections from day one on the job. 

    The government will also consult on a new statutory probation period for companies’ new hires. This will allow for a proper assessment of an employee’s suitability to a role as well as reassuring employees that they have rights from day one, enabling businesses to take chances on hires while giving more people confidence to re-enter the job market or change careers, improving their living standards.  

    The bill will bring forward 28 individual employment reforms, from ending exploitative zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices to establishing day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers. Statutory sick pay will also be strengthened, removing the lower earnings limit for all workers and cutting out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in. 

    Accompanying this will be measures to help make the workplace more compatible with people’s lives, with flexible working made the default where practical. Large employers will also be required to create action plans on addressing gender pay gaps and supporting employees through the menopause, and protections against dismissal will be strengthened for pregnant women and new mothers. This is all with the intention of keeping people in work for longer, reducing recruitment costs for employers by increasing staff retention and helping the economy grow. 

    A new Fair Work Agency bringing together existing enforcement bodies will also be established to enforce rights such as holiday pay and support employers looking for guidance on how to comply with the law. 

    Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:

    This government is delivering the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation, boosting pay and productivity with employment laws fit for a modern economy. We’re turning the page on an economy riven with insecurity, ravaged by dire productivity and blighted by low pay. 

    The UK’s out-of-date employment laws are holding our country back and failing business and workers alike. Our plans to make work pay will deliver security in work as the foundation for boosting productivity and growing our economy to make working people better off and realise our potential. 

    Too many people are drawn into a race to the bottom, denied the security they need to raise a family while businesses are unable to retain the workers they need to grow. We’re raising the floor on rights at work to deliver a stronger, fairer and brighter future of work for Britain.

    Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    It is our mission to get the economy moving and create the long term, sustainable growth that people and businesses across the country need. Our plan will give the world of work a much needed upgrade, boosting pay and productivity.    

    The best employers know that employees are more productive when they are happy at work.  That is why it’s vital to give employers the flexibility they need to grow whilst ending unscrupulous and unfair practices.  

    This upgrade to our laws will ensure they are fit for modern life, raise living standards and provide opportunity and security for businesses, workers and communities across the country.

    Alongside the legislation, a ‘Next Steps’ document for the Make Work Pay Plan has been published outlining the government’s vision and long-term plans and setting out our ambitions for the plan to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all. 

    Ending one-sided flexibility

    The legislation will level the playing field where all parties understand what is required of them and good employers aren’t undercut by bad ones.  

    The bill will end exploitative zero hours contracts, following research that shows 84% of zero hours workers would rather have guaranteed hours. They, along with those on low hours contracts, will now have the right to a guaranteed hours contract if they work regular hours over a defined period, giving them security of earnings whilst allowing people to remain on zero hours contracts where they prefer to. According to TUC research nearly two thirds of managers (64%) believe ending zero hours contracts would have a positive impact on their business.  

    Ending unscrupulous employment practices is a priority for this government and none more so than shutting down the loopholes that allow bullying fire and rehire and fire and replace to continue. The government is closing these loopholes and putting in place measures to give greater protections against unfair dismissal from day one, ensuring that the feeling of security at work is no longer a luxury for the privileged few. 

    This bill turns the page on the previously ineffective, costly and conflicting approach to dealing with industrial relations that has brought so much disruption to businesses and livelihoods. lt repeals the anti-union legislation put in place by the previous administration, including the Minimum Service Levels (Strikes) Act legislation that failed to prevent a single day of industrial action while in force. 

    Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders said:

    We know that most employers proudly treat their staff well. However, for decades as the world of work has changed, employment rights have failed to keep pace, with an increase in one-sided flexibility slowing the potential for growth in the economy.

    The steps we’re taking today will finally right these wrongs, working in partnership with business and unions to kickstart economic growth that will benefit them, their workers and local communities.  

    From tackling fire and rehire to ending exploitative zero hours contracts, we are delivering a modern economy that drives up living standards for families across the UK.

    Supporting working families

    Too many people find that the current system isn’t compatible with the realities of everyday life, whether that’s raising children or supporting a loved one with a health condition. The government wants to make sure that everyone can get on in work and not be held back because work isn’t compatible with important family responsibilities. 

    That is why the government will:

    • Change the law to make flexible working the default for all, unless the employer can prove it’s unreasonable.   
    • Set a clear standard for employers by establishing a new right to bereavement leave, with the entitlement sculpted with the needs of employees and the concerns of employers at the forefront.  
    • Deliver stronger protections for pregnant women and new mothers returning to work including protection from dismissal whilst pregnant, on maternity leave and within six months of returning to work.   
    • Tackle low pay by accounting for cost of living when setting the Minimum Wage and remove discriminatory age bands.  
    • Establish a new Fair Work Agency that will bring together different government enforcement bodies, enforce holiday pay for the first time and strengthen statutory sick pay. It will create a stronger, recognisable single organisation that people know where to go for help – with better support for employers who want to comply with the law and tough action on the minority who deliberately flout it.   

    Beyond the bill

    The Make Work Pay Plan doesn’t stop with this bill. Continuing to reform employment rights in line with changes to the economy and labour market is critical to maintaining growth, prosperity and opportunity. As an outlook to the future, the government has also today published a Next Steps document that outlines reforms it will look to implement in the future.  

    Subject to consultations, this includes:

    • A Right to Switch Off, preventing employees from being contacted out of hours, except in exceptional circumstances, to allow them the rest and get the recuperation they need to give 100% during their shift. 
    • A strong commitment to end pay discrimination by expanding the Equality (Race and Disparity) Bill to make it mandatory for large employers to report their ethnicity and disability pay gap.  
    • A move towards a single status of worker and transition towards a simpler two-part framework for employment status.  
    • Reviews into the parental leave and carers leave systems to ensure they are delivering for employers, workers and their loved ones.

    Responding to the government’s initiative, these businesses and employee groups have said:

    Shirine Khoury-Haq, CEO of the Co-op, said: 

    We support the Government’s ambitions to strengthen rights for workers and value the co-operative approach to involve employers in the reforms. As the UK’s largest consumer co-operative, Co-op has long supported colleagues to have good working lives, with policies like our leading bereavement leave, day one right to request flexible working arrangements, and menopause support already in place. The positive impact of these policies is clear to see. 

    Being able to support colleagues when they need it, and in particular women, parents and carers, helps retain valuable talent and makes good business sense. We look forward to continuing to work with Government to make work pay and to deliver economic growth.” 

    Paul Nowak, TUC General Secretary, said: 

    After 14 years of stagnating living standards, working people desperately need secure jobs they can build a decent life on.    

    Whether it’s tackling the scourge of zero-hours contracts and fire and rehire, improving access to sick pay and parental leave, or clamping down on exploitation – this Bill highlights the Government’s commitment to upgrade rights and protections for millions.    

    Driving up employment standards is good for workers, good for business and good for growth. While there is still detail to be worked through, it is time to write a positive new chapter for working people in this country.”    

    Jane van Zyl, CEO at Working Families, said: 

    As campaigners for better rights for working parents and carers, we’re pleased there is hope on the horizon for the millions who stand to benefit from the transformational changes in the proposed Employment Bill.  

    Establishing workplace rights from day one and making flexible working the default could be the key to unlocking labour market mobility, with the promise of getting the economy moving and ensuring parents and carers are not held back in their careers. In addition, we welcome any strengthening of legislation that helps protect pregnant women and new mothers against losing their jobs unfairly at a vulnerable time in their lives.  

    The proposals in the Plan to Make Work Pay have the potential to remove barriers in the workplace, give a better start for new parents and reduce gendered roles in caring. The message it sends that worker’s rights matter, and the willingness to address inequalities, is very promising.”  

    Simon Roberts, Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s, said:

    As one of the UK’s largest employers we put our colleagues at the heart of everything we do. We see the clear link between engaged, motivated colleagues and business performance and that is why we have increased colleague pay by over 50% in the last 5 years. 

    We share the Government’s vision of making work pay, enabling growth and driving productivity. We welcome today’s announcement and Government engagement with business to date and look forward to seeing progress on business rates reform, which would deliver real benefits for our colleagues, customers and communities.” 

    Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of CIPD, the professional body for HR and Learning & Development professionals, said:

    We share the Government’s ambition to raise employment standards and job quality through the Employment Rights Bill as part of the wider Make Work Pay agenda.  

    The changes being proposed represent the greatest update in employment legislation in decades. We’re pleased to see the ongoing commitment from Government to engage with the business community to work through the important details to ensure they have a positive impact for both employers and workers.” 

    Jemima Olchawski, CEO of Fawcett Society, said:

    Today’s draft employment bill is a win for women. Fawcett and our members have campaigned long and hard to see government chart a new course for inclusive economic growth and to improve women’s working lives. We share this government’s ambition to ensure all women can thrive at work and fully contribute to the economy.”   

    Mark Reynolds, Mace Group Chair and Chief Executive, said:### 

    Ensuring British workers are supported with strong employment rights benefits everyone – employers as well as employees. This package of reforms is a welcome insight into the Government’s plans and show that they have engaged extensively with businesses and taken a pragmatic approach. We’re pleased to support it; both on behalf of Mace and the wider construction industry. We look forward to working closely with the Government as they take these plans forward.”  

    Brian McNamara, CEO of Haleon, said:

    It is crucial that the Government continues to engage with the business community on such an important piece of legislation and we welcome the dialogue to date. Haleon is committed to creating an inclusive culture that provides all employees with equal opportunities.  This is central to our company strategy and will be core to our future success.” 

    Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy, said:

    In formulating these proposals it’s clear that the government has listened to both workers and employers to create protections against bad practices while enabling good businesses to invest in growth and training. For example, the probation period will allow progressive employers to give a chance to people without typical experience or educational backgrounds, opening up new opportunities for them in great careers.” 

    Chris O’Shea, CEO of Centrica, said:

    As the largest Unionised workforce in the energy sector, we are pleased to see the Government publish their landmark legislation providing more rights and flexibility to employees. 

    At Centrica, we offer a range of policies to support our 21,000 colleagues including flexible working and health and wellbeing support from day one, a leading 10 days paid carers policy, our Pathway to Parenthood which offers comprehensive financial support towards fertility treatment alongside paid leave to for any fertility, adoption or surrogacy appointments, and additional support for neurodivergent colleagues. It’s the right thing to do and we want to help our employees and share best practices with others. Our experience shows that there is a clear business case for doing this with savings from increased retention and ensuring colleagues don’t have to take unplanned absences.” 

    Helen Dickinson OBE, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, said:

    As the country’s largest private sector employer, employing three million people, the industry stands ready to work with government to ensure these reforms are a win:win for employers and colleagues, and maximise employment opportunities, investment, and growth. Many of the expected provisions, including stopping exploitative contracts and offering flexibility in employment, are things that responsible retailers already do. Introducing these standards for everyone means good employers should be competing on a level playing field. We look forward to engaging the government on the details, including around seasonal hiring and the use of probation periods.” 

    Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality, said: 

    I’m pleased the Government has recognised the importance of flexibility to both workers and businesses. This is crucial for hospitality, which employs 3.5m people and provides countless flexible roles for working parents, students, carers and many more. 

    We look forward to continuing our engagement and consultation with the Government on its plans, which are not without cost, to get the details right for all parties.” 

    Allison Kirkby, Chief Executive, BT Group, said

    BT Group believes that a strong economy is one that works for everyone, and has already adopted many of the measures that will be covered by this legislation.  It will be crucial to get the details right, to avoid unintended consequences and keep the UK competitive, and we welcome the constructive, consultative approach that the Government is taking.

    Benjamin Knowles, CEO of Pedal Me, said:

    Fair employment is central to an equitable society – so we’re pleased to see these regulatory changes including strong measures to tackle the undermining of fair employment through the gig economy, levelling the playing field.

    Updates to this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Fiscal Year 2024 was a Banner Year for SRF-JRMC Dive Lockers

    Source: United States Navy

    YOKOSUKA, Japan – Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) was filled extremely demanding and diverse mission sets for the SRF-JRMC Dive Lockers.

    Throughout the year, divers from SRF-JRMC Yokosuka and Detachment Sasebo supported 18 fly-away taskings, responding to numerous CASREPS and emergent repairs in locations such as Singapore, Guam, Manila, Malaysia, Subic Bay, and Thailand. This required heavy coordination between SRF-JRMC Dive Locker leadership, Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific, Commander Task Force 73 (CFT-73), Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility. The efforts of the SRF-JRMC divers ensured all mission objectives would be completed, supporting all Forward Deployed Naval Fleet warships in the 7th fleet area of responsibility without impacting regularly scheduled production in Yokosuka or Sasebo.

    In December, the divers supported tasks in three different locations simultaneously: support of the USS Manchester (LCS 14) in Singapore, support of the USS Oakland (LCS 24) in Guam, and support of Mobile Diving & Salvage Unit-1 onboard the USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) conducting salvage operations following an Osprey crash off the coast of Yakushima, Japan. There, they conducted personnel recovery and gathered vital information for the Air Force post-crash investigation team.

    SRF-JRMC Sasebo Detachment divers conducted over 230 underwater ship husbandry dives for Sasebo forward-deployed vessels as part of regularly scheduled maintenance. They also provided support for unique technical tasks such as troubleshooting the USS Rushmore’s (LSD 47) propeller systems and a controlled waterborne monitoring of a challenging pier side repair of the New Orleans (LPD 18).

    At SRF-JRMC Yokosuka, divers completed 469 underwater ship husbandry dives, including the final repair availability of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) before leaving it redeployed to the United States. They worked with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense to perform urgent running gear inspections and clear fouling for HMS Spey (P234), allowing the ship to return to sea for their Pacific Patrol and avoid a dry docking.

    SRF-JRMC Yokosuka divers, with assistance from its Sasebo Dive Locker, supported outside entities in FY24, such as the Underwater Construction Team TWO (UCT2). With Sasebo divers assisting, they conducted underwater cutting and welding operations for pier repairs in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. SRF-JRMC Yokosuka divers also supported the inspection and repairs of fleet mooring chains in Yokosuka and provided support of a significant underwater repair of the USS Canberra (LCS 30) at the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center in San Diego.

    The Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) schedule for the SRF-JRMC Dive Lockers is already shaping up to be even busier than 2024 as more ships are added to the Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) and the number of U.S. naval patrols in the Pacific increases. In response, the SRF-JRMC Yokosuka Dive Locker is qualifying more Japanese Master Labor Contractors (MLCs) in diving operations who will continue operations when the U.S. Navy divers are deployed from home station. The SRF-JRMC Yokosuka Dive Locker is the only multinational U.S. Navy dive locker.

    No matter what is asked of the SRF-JRMC Dive Lockers in FY25, they will stand ready to carry forward the motto of the command “Nan Demo Dekimasu!”; “We Can Do Anything!”

    For over 75-years, U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) has been the linchpin of U.S. naval operations in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region by providing intermediate-level and depot level repair for the ships of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Seventh Fleet.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Africa on the World Heritage Online Map Platform

    Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    Thanks to the continued support of the Government of Flanders (Belgium), the World Heritage Online Map Platform is being expanded to include World Heritage properties in Africa, thereby extending the benefits of this Geographic Information System to the region and enhancing the monitoring capacity of digital tool.

    The World Heritage Online Map Platform (WHOMP) is an innovative online tool designed to assist decision-makers, in particular States Parties and site managers, in monitoring the state of conservation of World Heritage sites through the use of geospatial data.

    A second phase of development will now focus on the inclusion of World Heritage sites in the Africa region, with a view to extending the platform to properties in all regions in subsequent phases. The Africa region comprises 47 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention and includes 108 World Heritage properties. In line with UNESCO’s Global Priority Africa and the Strategy for World Heritage in Africa, the inclusion of World Heritage properties in Africa on the World Heritage Online Map Platform will contribute to strengthening capacities in the region for a better conservation and management of World Heritage sites, to implement effectively and sustainably the World Heritage Convention.

    A series of knowledge-sharing and capacity development sessions will be organised to explore best practices in geospatial information technologies for heritage protection, and bring together site managers in Africa and from the region that served as a pilot for the World Heritage Online Map Platform, that is Europe and North America, all facing similar threats.

    This second phase will also seek to integrate near real-time alerts and state of the art datasets into the platform to enhance its monitoring capabilities to provide better insight into potential risks and threats that could have an impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties.

    WHOMP is being developed in response to a well-recognised global gap in spatial datasets and tools, providing an invaluable resource for World Heritage practitioners around the world to take transformative action. The first phase of development began in 2021, and focused on the collection and harmonisation of geo-referenced World Heritage boundaries in Europe and North America as a pilot region, harnessing synergies with the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting under the Convention between 2022 and 2023, and the Retrospective Inventory project.

    The World Heritage Centre is grateful the Government of Flanders for its committed and continued support in the development of this tool.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Birmingham City Council launches handbag amnesty

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Published: Thursday, 10th October 2024

    Birmingham City Council’s community safety team is working in partnership with Turnaround West Midlands to create safety and support kits for sex workers across the city.

    The kits will contain essential items that can help ensure well-being, such as personal hygiene products, contraception, safety tools and informational resources, and will be given out during outreach patrols by Turnaround. Funding for this initiative was secured through the Safer Street 5 programme.

    To create the kits, we need the help and support from the community. If you would consider donating a new or gently used handbag that can be used for this purpose, your contribution would play a significant role in empowering individuals within this community, providing them not only with practical items but also with a sense of dignity and care.

    There are five drop off locations across Birmingham.

    • City Centre – Council House Reception, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB, Mon-Thu 8:45am-5:15pm and Fri 8:45am-4:15pm.
    • North Birmingham – St Barnabas Church Centre, High Street, Erdington, Birmingham, B23 6SJ, Tue-Sat 10:00am-2:30pm and Sun 10:30am-12:00pm.
    • East Birmingham – Go-Woman! Alliance CIC,140 Alum Rock Road (behind the Methodist Church), Birmingham, B8 1HU, Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30am-3:00pm.
    • South Birmingham – Bournville Village Trust Office, 350 Bournville Lane, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 1QY, Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:40pm.
    • West Birmingham – Soho Road Business Improvement District, Suite 2, 118A Soho Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 9DP, Mon-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm.

    Councillor Nicky Brennan: Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, said: “This initiative will provide sex workers across the city with essential items imperative for their safety in a confidential and non-judgmental way.

    “The council understands the importance of the services the community safety team and Turnaround West Midlands provide sex workers, which is vital for their well-being.

    “If anyone should require help or support, reach out to us or Turnaround West Midlands. All services are free to all sex workers regardless of their gender. Services are also confidential and non-judgmental.”

    Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: “I am pleased that my Safer Streets funding is being used to provide items vital for the safety and well-being of sex workers in Birmingham.

    “They will be provided in a handbag, giving people who need them a sense of dignity, while also providing essential items.

    “I would urge anybody who can help by supplying a handbag to do so at one of the drop off points and they will be filled with health and hygiene products, which can ensure the safety and well-being of sex workers in Birmingham.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council on track to submit Island Planning Strategy to government 10 October 2024 Isle of Wight Council on track to submit Island Planning Strategy to government

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    The Isle of Wight Council is on track to submit the Island Planning Strategy (IPS) to government at the end of the month.

    This would be a significant step in the plan-making process and would pass the IPS over to the Planning Inspectorate, the government body which will decide how to move forward.

    Following the closure of the ‘Regulation 19’ consultation period on the IPS at the end of August, the council has been processing and reviewing hundreds of comments received ahead of submitting them all, together with the plan and entire evidence base, to the Secretary of State.

    Once submitted, all of the information will be made available to view online.

    Councillor Paul Fuller, Cabinet member for planning, coastal protection and flooding, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who made comments on the IPS in July and August.

    “We are aware of what the new government think about housing numbers, however submitting the IPS before they publish a new National Planning Policy Framework is an important step for the council.

    “There is no certainty on what the government will say when we do submit our plan, but as a council we will have done all we can to try to move the plan forward, which was what was agreed at Full Council in May 2024.”

    Once the IPS is submitted, an independent Planning Inspector will be appointed to carry out an examination in public. The timing of the examination will be decided by the Planning Inspector.

    At the end of the month, the council will be writing to all those who made representations on the draft plan, including the 40-plus people who said they would like to appear at the examination hearings if the Inspector considered it necessary, to provide an update and outline the likely next steps.

    The IPS is crucial as it sets out the overall approach towards future development on the Island.

    It outlines council policies on key issues like future housing need, affordable homes, associated infrastructure and how sustainable developments will help the Island drive towards its net zero carbon ambitions.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Construction starts on new healthcare facility for British Army at Leuchars Station

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A ceremony in Fife marked the start of construction for a new medical and dental centre at Leuchars Station.

    Representatives from the British Army, Graham Building North and Defence Medical Services at the groundbreaking event. Copyright: Graham Building North.

    A ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction for a new medical and dental centre at Leuchars Station in Fife.

    The construction contract, worth nearly £22 million, was awarded by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to Graham last year. 

    The new building will replace the aging current medical and dental centre, which was built in 1936. Once the replacement facility is complete, medical personnel and patients will transition over to the new medical and dental centre and Graham will demolish the old building.

    Once complete, the new facility will be of sufficient size to cater for the increasing number of personnel forecast to be based at the station in the coming years, as it is to become the Army’s hub in Scotland. Around 3,700 personnel at the British Army establishment and their dependents will benefit from the new building, which will house physical rehabilitation and mental health facilities as well as GP and dental services.

    The building has been carefully designed to be as sustainable as possible, including through thermal efficiency, solar panels, air source heat pumps and provision of four electric vehicle charging stations. Building materials have been selected not only on the basis of suitability but also to reduce carbon impact on the environment. It is hoped that the building can be an example of sustainability in construction of future MOD medical and dental centres.

    Shaun Purdy, DIO’s Project Manager, said: 

    While the current medical and dental centre has hosted great medical care, it is important that we continually strive to improve and modernise. This new, larger facility will ensure that personnel and their families continue to receive the best possible care in the future in a modern clinical practice.

    Working closely with Defence Medical Services, UK Strategic Command and partners it was agreed that a brand-new building is by far the best solution and will provide the sort of high-quality medical and dental care our personnel deserve. 

    It will provide a modern building suited not only for patients, but also for our dedicated professional medical staff.

    Major TB Gray, Station Quartermaster, said: 

    It has been 10 years since the Army took ownership of Leuchars Station from the RAF and the troops returned from Germany to make Fife their permanent home. The new healthcare facility is one of many ongoing and planned multi-million-pound projects which will see Leuchars transform from an ageing RAF site into the largest Army Garrison in Scotland. 

    Our medical provision required a full new build, which when finished will support the Leuchars service community and dependents alike. This shows that the MOD is serious in the development of Leuchars into a modern Garrison with state-of-the-art facilities to support its operational capability.

    Surgeon Commodore Andy Nelstrop, Cdr Defence Primary Healthcare, said: 

    Delivering expert healthcare to our Armed Forces and ensuring that they are able to see a medical professional quickly is a priority for all those who work within Defence Primary Healthcare. 

    It is fundamental that all our medical personnel and patients can work and be treated in a modern environment and have access to the latest equipment and resources, which is why the construction of this new centre is so important. 

    It is just one part of our ongoing programme to ensure everyone in our military receives the primary healthcare they deserve, and I am delighted that all those based at Leuchars will soon be able to benefit from this fantastic facility.

    Chris MacLeod, Graham Building North’s Regional Director, said:

    We are delighted to be continuing our longstanding relationship with Defence Infrastructure Organisation to help deliver new and improved health and wellbeing facilities for the military personnel and their families at Leuchars.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Consultation launched on council tax for empty, unoccupied and second homes

    Source: City of Derby

    Derby City Council has launched a nine-week public consultation today yesterday (Wednesday 9 October) on proposed changes to Council Tax for empty homes and  second homes in the city. The changes are in line with the new guidance rules introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

    The proposed changes will include a 100% Council Tax premium on properties that have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for at least one year, effective from April 2025; and the introduction to a 100% Council Tax premium on second homes, effective from April 2026.

    Those measures aim to encourage  property owners to live in or sell their empty homes.  This will help add more homes to the local housing market and reduce the number of underused properties, making sure more housing is available for residents who need them.

    Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Property and Regulatory Services, said:

    The proposed changes aim to encourage the occupation of vacant homes. These proposals are designed to align with the Council’s Socio-Economic Duty by minimising the financial burden on vulnerable and low-income individuals while maximising the potential of vacant housing stock within the city.

    The council encourages residents and stakeholders to engage with these proposals as part of its ongoing commitment to transparency and community involvement. 

    The consultation period will run from Wednesday 9 October 2024 to Friday 13 December 2024. To have your say, visit the Let’s Talk Derby website. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A realistic statue of Mary giving birth was criticized, then vandalized − but saints and artists have often reimagined Christ’s birth

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Virginia Raguin, Distinguished Professor of Humanities Emerita, College of the Holy Cross

    A silhouette of onlookers in front of Esther Strauss’ sculpture ‘Crowning.’ Michel M. Raguin with cooperation of the Mariendom Linz , CC BY

    A sculpture of the Virgin Mary showing her giving birth to Jesus was recently attacked and beheaded. Called “Crowning” by the artist Esther Strauss, the sculpture had been part of a temporary exhibition of art outside the Catholic St. Mary Cathedral in Linz, Austria.

    The sculpture was controversial for its explicit depiction of birth; an online petition seeking its removal received more than 12,000 signatures. Strauss’ work was part of a project that sought to look at gender equality and the role of women, designed to honor the 100th anniversary of the cathedral’s consecration to the Virgin Mary. The exhibition opened on June 27, 2024, and the statue was vandalized a few days later.

    My research as a historian of art has shown me that there has never been only one way of depicting the birth of Christ.

    Depiction of birth in early texts

    Early Christian writings reveal that the birth of Christ was of keen interest and reflected ideas of the day.

    A widely read text from the mid-second century, called the The Protoevangelium of James, gives details about the life of the Virgin and infancy of Christ. As women of that time gave birth with the aid of midwives, the text explained that the Mother of God also was helped in her labor. Sections 19-20 of the text give details about Joseph contacting two midwives.

    One woman is said to have doubted the virgin birth. After she inserted her finger into Mary’s vagina, her hands withered. An illustration in a French prayer book from Paris dating to about 1490-1500 shows the midwife with missing hands. The story explained that her hands grew back after she touched the child Christ.

    Menologion of Basil II, an 11th-century illuminated Byzantine manuscript with 430 miniatures depicting the Nativity of Christ, now in the Vatican library.
    Via Wikimedia Commons

    The representation of midwives, as seen in an 11th-century manuscript from Constantinople, is still common in the Eastern church.

    Ideas change over time and place

    New modes of spirituality in later centuries brought changes in art. St. Bridget of Sweden, who founded a new order of nuns, left a large body or writing, including what she believed were revelations from God. One of her revelations included a vision of Christ’s birth she experienced in Bethlehem in 1371–72.

    Although Bridget had given birth eight times, she described Mary’s delivery as “in the twinkling of any eye.” Bridget said she “was unable to notice or discern how or in what member (Mary) was giving birth.” By “member” she may have meant that she did not know through what part of Mary’s body Jesus emerged. Many paintings between the 15th and 16th centuries adopted her vision and showed the child surrounded by light and the Virgin calmly worshipping him.

    A painting by Belgian artist Hugo van der Goes, in about 1475, follows Bridget’s vision of the birth. Instead of being “wrapped in swaddling clothes,” Christ lies naked, perfectly clean, in the “great and ineffable light” that Bridget described.

    Each era and community produces art that speaks to its own priorities. Fifteenth-century Italy introduced traditions of a miraculous childbirth that were different from a realistic tradition cherished by early Christians of the second century. I would argue that “Crowning” is but one more example of such cultural change. Here, Mary is an inspiration for other women, physically strong and capable even in the difficult process of giving birth.

    The sculpture, when intact, was barely 15 inches tall, a clear indication that it was not made for large-scale public veneration. It was a meditative image designed for a one-on-one encounter – for those who decided to engage.

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

    – ref. A realistic statue of Mary giving birth was criticized, then vandalized − but saints and artists have often reimagined Christ’s birth – https://theconversation.com/a-realistic-statue-of-mary-giving-birth-was-criticized-then-vandalized-but-saints-and-artists-have-often-reimagined-christs-birth-240759

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Secretary pledges to take action on poverty

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Ian Murray welcomes recommendations by Joseph Rowntree Foundation and vows to work with Scottish Government to tackle associated issues and break down barriers

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray spoke at the launch of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF) annual report into poverty in Scotland this week [7 October].

    The report, summarised here, found that one million people in Scotland are living in poverty and that one in four of them are children. Recommendations were made to overhaul the social security system to tackle the problem and, in particular, for the UK and Scottish Governments to work together to make the process smoother in terms of reserved and devolved policy areas.

    An excerpt follows from the remarks made by the Scottish Secretary at the event: 

    I want to outline some of the steps that the new UK Government is taking to reduce poverty in Scotland and across the whole of the UK.

    We are committed to working together with the Scottish Government, and to reset the relationship between our two governments. Because, as this latest report highlights, it is vital that we can deliver on behalf of the people of Scotland.

    I’ve spent a lot of time with organisations such as Poverty Alliance to understand fully the complexities of what’s happening. 

    Having one million people in poverty – a quarter of those children – is really sobering. But I think the most sobering thing is that none of us are surprised, and that really should be the thing that we need to tackle in terms of policy.

    We are only 95 days into this new government and we’ve already done a lot of engagement to make sure we can develop these policies, whether it be in social security or regarding the underlying parts of poverty. 

    With the Budget coming up on 30 October, the Chancellor has been clear on two things. One is the economic inheritance that we’ve got to try and deal with and that those with the broadest shoulders will carry the majority of what needs to be done to grow the economy for all parts of our country.

    Reducing poverty across all sections of society, particularly child poverty, is in our DNA. We did it before. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to do it again. 

    We will be publishing our Employment Rights Bill this week to fundamentally transform work and pay. It will ban exploitative zero-hour contracts, outlaw fire and rehire and will make sure that the National Minimum Wage becomes a genuine living wage.

    It’s still sobering that two-thirds of children in poverty are in households where one or both adults are working full time, and that means that there’s a big problem with pay. We hope that our New Deal for Working People will start to resolve some of those issues.

    I think it’s also important to highlight our Universal Credit review, which will look at everything from the two-child cap to housing allowances.

    We’ve also launched our Child Poverty Task Force, chaired jointly by the Secretaries of State for Education and the Department of Work and Pensions. It looks at all the other big issues that are around in terms of poverty.

    Yes, it’s about the social security system, Universal Credit, but it’s also about housing, educational attainment, health inequalities, pay in the workplace, progression and skills. It’s about those underlying causes of poverty that are inherent in our society that we need to find a way to resolve once and for all.

    Having grown up on a council estate, I know that having that security of tenure of a house was the bedrock in which the family was built, and without that it’s difficult to see how you can get yourself out of poverty.

    Housing is devolved, but both governments are working very closely together to make sure that we can resolve the housing emergency that’s been declared across a lot of our local authorities. 

    We’ve made a good start over the last 95 days. There will be bumps in the road, because these are fundamental challenges, but the whole culture of the new government is to try and resolve these issues. 

    We want to make sure the system can work better, and joint working is really important in this area. There’s no reason why Social Security Scotland and the DWP can’t work jointly in terms of the delivery of social security, to make sure that we get the best out of both systems for the benefit of everyone who needs to access that system. 

    Regarding the low update of benefits by ethnic minorities, I think that’s a huge challenge for us. Not just finding those individuals and families, but actually being able to engage with them and get them what they deserve to be claiming. That’s a huge battle for us all to try to work together and resolve.

    We’ve got four big priorities as a new government and as a Scotland Office. Growth is the number one priority, but that also feeds into our green agenda, which is our second priority. Our third one is Brand Scotland to try and increase our exports, to improve our businesses and create more jobs. And the fourth one, which attached the first three, is the eradication of poverty.

    That’s something that myself and Ministerial colleague Kirsty McNeill are fundamentally committed to doing. We can only do that by all of us – devolved governments, the UK Government and organisations like JRF working together. We must find ways we can not only make the system better, but make sure that those who require access to the system, get access to that system and get the funds and support they deserve.

    There’s a huge amount of work to be done and this report gives us that very sobering starting point.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Caitlin Clark, Christine Brennan and how racial stereotypes persist in the media’s WNBA coverage

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Molly Yanity, Professor and Director of Sports media and Communication, University of Rhode Island

    Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, right, scrambles for a loose ball against Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington during a game on Aug. 28, 2024. Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

    The “Caitlin Clark effect,” or the impact on women’s basketball from a ponytailed rookie phenomenon from America’s heartland, is real: The 2024 WNBA season shattered viewership, attendance and merchandise sales records.

    Clark, however, didn’t get a chance to compete for a league title.

    The Connecticut Sun eliminated Clark’s team, the Indiana Fever, in the first round of the playoffs with a two-game sweep, ending her record rookie-of-the-year campaign.

    And it may be just the latest chapter in a complicated saga steeped in race.

    During the first game of the series, the fingers of Sun guard DiJonai Carrington hit Clark in the eye as Carrington followed through on a block attempt of a Clark shot.

    During the next day’s media availability, USA Today columnist Christine Brennan recorded and posted an exchange between herself and Carrington.

    In the brief clip, the veteran sports writer asks Carrington, who is Black, if she purposely hit Clark in the eye during the previous night’s game. Though Carrington insisted she didn’t intentionally hit Clark, Brennan persisted, asking the guard if she and a teammate had laughed about the incident. The questions sparked social media outrage, statements from the players union and the league, media personalities weighing in and more.

    Hit the pause button here.

    As a longtime sports writer who has covered the WNBA – and as a journalism scholar who studies women’s sports and fandom – I’ll concede that Brennan’s line of questioning seems, on its face, like business as usual in sports journalism.

    After all, haven’t most baseball fans seen a scribe ask a pitcher if he intentionally beaned a batter?

    But Brennan’s questions were not asked in a vacuum. The emergence of a young, white superstar from the heartland has caused many new WNBA fans to pick sides that fall along racial lines. Brennan’s critics claim she was pushing a line of questioning that has dogged Black athletes for decades: that they are aggressive and undisciplined.

    Because of that, her defense of her questions – and her unwillingness to acknowledge the complexities – has left this professor disappointed in one of her journalistic heroes.

    Brennan and much of the mainstream sports media, particularly those who cover professional women’s basketball, still seem to have a racial blind spot.

    The emergence of a Black, queer league

    When the WNBA launched in 1997 in the wake of the success of the 1996 Olympic gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s basketball team, it did so under the watch of the NBA.

    The NBA set out to market its new product, in part, to a white, heterosexual fan base.

    The plan didn’t take hold.

    While the league experienced fits and starts in attendance and TV ratings over its lifetime, the demographic makeup of its players is undeniable: The WNBA is, by and large, a Black, queer league.

    In 2020, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association reported that 83% of its members were people of color, with 67% self-reporting as “Black/African-American.” While gender and sexual identity hasn’t been officially reported, a “substantial proportion,” the WNBPA reported, identify as LBGTQ+.

    In 2020, the league’s diversity was celebrated as players competed in a “bubble” in Bradenton, Florida, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They protested racial injustice, helped unseat a U.S. senator who also owned Atlanta’s WNBA franchise, and urged voters to oust former President Donald Trump from the White House.

    Racial tensions bubble to the surface

    In the middle of it all, the WNBA has more eyeballs on it than ever before. And, without mincing words, the fan base has “gotten whiter” since Clark’s debut this past summer, as The Wall Street Journal pointed out in July. Those white viewers of college women’s basketball have emphatically turned their attention to the pro game, in large part due to Clark’s popularity at the University of Iowa.

    Money is also pouring into the league through a lucrative media rights deal and new sponsorship partners.

    While the rising tide following Clark’s transition to the WNBA is certainly lifting all boats, it is also bringing detritus to the surface in the form of racist jeers from the stands and on social media.

    After the Sun dispatched the Fever, All-WNBA forward Alyssa Thomas, who seldom speaks beyond soundbites, said in a postgame news conference: “I think in my 11-year career I’ve never experienced the racial comments from the Indiana Fever fan base. … I’ve never been called the things that I’ve been called on social media, and there’s no place for it.”

    Echoes of Bird and Magic

    In “Manufacturing Consent,” a seminal work about the U.S. news business, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky argued that media in capitalist environments do not exist to impartially report the news, but to reinforce dominant narratives of the time, even if they are false. Most journalists, they theorized, work to support the status quo.

    In sports, you sometimes see that come to light through what media scholars call “the stereotypical narrative” – a style of reporting and writing that relies on old tropes.

    Scholars who study sports media have found that reporters routinely fall back on racial stereotypes. For example, coverage of Black quarterbacks in the NFL as less intelligent and more innately gifted would go on to hinder the progress of Black quarterbacks.

    Magic Johnson defends a shot by Larry Bird during the 1985 NBA Finals.
    Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images

    In Brennan’s coverage of the Carrington-Clark incident, there appear to be echoes of the way the media covered Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird in the 1980s.

    The battles between two of the sport’s greatest players – one Black, the other white – was a windfall for the NBA, lifting the league into financial sustainability.

    But to many reporters who leaned on the dominant narrative of the time, the two stars also served as stand-ins for the racial tensions of the post-civil rights era. During the 1980s, Bird and Magic didn’t simply hoop; they were the “embodiments of their races and living symbols of how blacks and whites lived in America,” as scholars Patrick Ferrucci and Earnest Perry wrote.

    The media gatekeepers of the Magic-Bird era often relied on racial stereotypes that ultimately distorted both athletes.

    For example, early in their careers, Bird and Johnson received different journalistic treatment. In Ferrucci and Perry’s article, they explain how coverage of Bird “fit the dominant narrative of the time perfectly … exhibiting a hardworking and intelligent game that succeeded despite a lack of athletic prowess.” When the “flashy” Lakers and Johnson won, they wrote, it was because of “superior skill.”

    When they lost to Bird’s Celtics, they were “outworked.”

    Framing matters

    Let’s go back to Brennan.

    Few have done more for young women in the sports media industry than Brennan. In time, energy and money, she has mentored and supported young women trying to break into the field. She has used her platform to expand the coverage of women’s sports.

    Brennan defended herself in a lengthy interview on the podcast “Good Game with Sarah Spain”:

    “I think [critics are] missing the fact of what I’m trying to do, what I am doing, what I understand clearly as a journalist, asking questions and putting things out there so that athletes can then have an opportunity to answer issues that are being discussed or out there.”

    I don’t think Brennan asking Carrington about the foul was problematic. Persisting with the narrative was.

    Leaning into racial stereotypes is not simply about the language used anymore. Brennan’s video of her persistent line of questioning pitted Carrington against Clark. It could be argued that it used the stereotype of the overly physical, aggressive Black athlete, as well.

    At best, Brennan has a blind spot to the strain racism is putting on Black athletes today – particularly in the WNBA. At worst, she is digging in on that tired trope.

    A blind spot can be addressed and seen. An unacknowledged racist narrative, however, will persist.

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

    – ref. Caitlin Clark, Christine Brennan and how racial stereotypes persist in the media’s WNBA coverage – https://theconversation.com/caitlin-clark-christine-brennan-and-how-racial-stereotypes-persist-in-the-medias-wnba-coverage-240272

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Government Accounts 2023-24

    Source: Scottish Government

    Consolidated accounts given unqualified audit opinion.

    The Scottish Government accounts for the last financial year have been given an unqualified audit opinion. 

    In 2023-24 Ministers were required to make tough choices to navigate the “most challenging financial situation since devolution”.

    The Scottish Government’s accounts record total spend of £53,980 million. An underspend of £277 million – around 0.5% of the overall budget – has been carried over in full to be spent in 2024-25.

    Finance Secretary Shona Robison said:

    “Since this government took office, we have consistently managed our fixed budget responsibly and I am pleased the annual accounts have been given an unqualified audit opinion for every one of those years.

    “The last financial year was among the most challenging since devolution, and we have responded to higher inflation and cost of living pressures by making tough decisions to protect the most vulnerable in society.

    “The Scottish Government cannot overspend on its Budget, and in 2023-24 we left a small underspend to ensure we could manage any unexpected funding pressures. Every penny of this has been allocated for spending in 2024-25.

    “We will continue to work to ensure the sustainability of Scotland’s finances as we prioritise our spending towards eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency and improving Scotland’s public services.”

    Background

    The Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    The Public Finance Minister recently updated Parliament on the Scottish Government’s ten-year programme of reform to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our public services, and prioritise prevention. Together this will improve outcomes, promote equality and ensure fiscal sustainability.

    Letter from the Minister for Public Finance to the Convener of 23 September 2024 (parliament.scot)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Deputy Prime Minister launches first-ever Mayoral Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    First-ever Mayoral Council meeting held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to discuss the future of devolution

    Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner today (October 10) chaired the first-ever Mayoral Council – hosted in the North East – to discuss how best to shift power away from Westminster and into communities. 

    Regional mayors were invited to the roundtable at The Common Room in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to share their views on the development of the upcoming English Devolution White Paper. This will set out the government’s plans to widen devolution to more areas and deepen the powers of existing mayors and their combined authorities, ensuring they have the tools needed to boost economic growth. 

    The Deputy Prime Minister established the Mayoral Council to strengthen the relationships between central government and the mayors, ensuring those with skin in the game are involved in discussions concerning devolution and the White Paper has the fingerprints of local people on it. 

    Three days ahead of the International Investment Summit, the first Mayoral Council meeting will focus on investment and growth, with plans underway to devolve a range of powers across areas like planning, skills, transport, and employment support. This is a key moment to ensure everyone is collectively playing their part to maximise the opportunity the Summit presents for the whole of the UK.   

    Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:

    It’s been fantastic to kick-off the first Mayoral Council today, ensuring our mayors have a proper seat at the table as we shape the future of English devolution.

    We want to learn from those who are already seeing the game-changing benefits of devolution as we work to shift more power away from Westminster and back into our communities, where it belongs.

    The Council will meet every quarter and will allow for increased partnership working, helping to further bring regional insight to national policy, and ensure everyone is aligned with the government’s mission to boost economic growth.

    Ministers across government will also be invited to future sessions to strengthen that relationship between the government and mayors, who have previously been asked to develop ambitious long-term Local Growth Plans focused on the key growth priorities for their region that will support shared national growth and deliver the national industrial strategy. These plans will be focused on the biggest opportunities and most challenging constraints to growth, and the government will work hand-in-hand with the mayors to take them forward. 

    The meeting will help to shape the White Paper, which will set out a presumption in favour of devolution with an enhanced devolution framework, giving local leaders the tools they need to deliver for their communities, alongside stronger governance structures and clearer accountability.

    The meeting comes ahead of the Council of the Nations and Regions in Scotland, which will see the Prime Minister bring together First Ministers, Northern Ireland’s First Minister and deputy First Minister and regional Mayors from across England, as the UK Government forges new partnerships, resets relationships and seizes the opportunity to secure long term investment with the aim of boosting growth and living standards in every part of the UK.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sustainable action to tackle rising prison population

    Source: Scottish Government

    Emergency legislation to be introduced.

    Emergency legislation will be introduced to Parliament to contribute to the sustainable long-term management of Scotland’s prison population, Justice Secretary Angela Constance told MSPs.

    The Bill, to be introduced in November, will propose a change to the release point for short-term prisoners serving sentences of less than four years. At present they are released at the halfway point of their sentence. Under these new proposals they will be released after serving 40% of their sentence, with prisoners serving sentences for domestic abuse or sexual offences excluded from the changes.

    The Justice Secretary said the wellbeing of victims and the safety of communities will be a priority when implementing the measures, and the Scottish Government will engage directly with victims organisations.

    The proposals, scheduled to come into effect from February next year, would apply to both those currently in prison and those sentenced in future. If backed by Parliament, it is estimated the changes could result in a sustained reduction to the prison population of between 260 and 390.

    The proposals in the legislation would also give Ministers powers to change the point of release under licence conditions for long-term prisoners serving sentences of four years or more. This follows the recent public consultation on long-term prisoner release, which highlighted various areas requiring more in-depth consideration with partners.

    While not currently proposed, contingency planning for the emergency early release of short-term prisoners is being undertaken, should it be needed to ensure the health and welfare of prison staff and prisoners during a continuing rise in the prison population.

    In her Parliamentary statement, Ms Constance underlined the importance of public safety and putting in place a sustainable long-term strategy to tackle the rising prison population.

    Speaking after delivering her statement, the Justice Secretary said:

    “I am prioritising actions that can deliver a sustained reduction to the prison population. Public safety remains paramount, which is why I am focusing on short-term prisoners only and with built-in exemptions.

    “I recognise the concerns that may arise from victims and their families and I am committed to working closely with victim support organisations on key issues.

    “The measures I have outlined are necessary to support prisons to continue to function effectively and I remain grateful to Scottish Prison Service staff for their continued resilience. We must ensure that we have a prison estate which houses those who pose a risk to the public and provides the full range of support needed for people to leave on a better path and never turn back.”

    These prison management measures follow yesterday’s announcement that victims of crime will receive improved support, advice and information under reforms to the Victim Notification Scheme that entitles victims or close relatives of homicide victims to certain information about the person responsible for the crime.

    Background

    Justice Secretary’s statement to parliament

    Latest prison population figure – 8,322 as of Thursday 10 October

    Long-term prisoner release consultation and analysis

    The arrangements announced in Parliament build on a range of other measures already taken to deal with the high prison population, including strengthening the availability of community-based sentences, which figures indicate can be more effective in reducing re-offending among those who have committed less serious offences.

    These measures include:

    • increased Scottish Government funding for community justice, up by £14 million in 2024-25, to £148 million in total
    • to address high numbers of individuals in prison on remand, for example ahead of trial or pre-sentence, introducing electronically-monitored bail, with the expansion of bail supervision to all areas. Usage of bail supervision is now at record levels
    • implementing measures in early July 2024 to enable courts to take into account time spent on electronically-monitored bail when sentencing, as Parliament legislated for in the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Joint Statement on Critical Minerals and Critical Raw Materials Cooperation

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On the margins of the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Industry and Technological Innovation, chaired by Minister Urso and attended virtually by Minister Champagne, Canada and Italy released the following Statement of Intent for Canada and Italy to deepen collaboration on critical minerals and critical raw materials:

    On the margins of the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Industry and Technological Innovation, chaired by Minister Urso and attended virtually by Minister Champagne, Canada and Italy released the following Statement of Intent for Canada and Italy to deepen collaboration on critical minerals and critical raw materials:

    With the adoption of the Italy-Canada Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation on the margins of the G7 Summit in June and Canada’s ongoing work under the 2022 Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, Italy and Canada agreed to strengthen collaboration on energy security and sustainability. We have committed to regular engagement on these issues in the form of an Energy Dialogue, focused on critical minerals, the energy transition, sustainable fuels, energy storage solutions and enabling technologies, and advanced nuclear reactors and fusion research.

    Canada and Italy recognize the importance of international partnerships to make critical minerals and critical raw materials supply chains more diversified, transparent, resilient, responsible, circular, resource efficient, and sustainable. Canada and Italy seek to enhance cooperation in this domain through the promotion of trade and investment, exchanges of policies, regulations, best practices, technical and ESG standards.

    Canada and Italy will advance this cooperation through the following areas of work:

    Strengthening Supply Chains: Promote critical mineral value chain trade and investment opportunities in Canada and Italy through government efforts to facilitate B2B matchmaking and Canada-Italy co-investments in projects.

    International Collaboration & Multilateral Engagement: Coordinate participation through leading international fora addressing critical mineral supply chains security and resiliency, including but not limited to the Minerals Security Partnership, the International Energy Agency, the G7, the Conference on Critical Materials and Minerals and through the Sustainable Critical Minerals Alliance.

    Research and Innovation: Discuss opportunities for joint research through Horizon Europe, which Canada joined in July 2024. Italy and Canada will work jointly to improve recycling of critical minerals and critical raw materials.

    Mapping and exploration: Share best practices on respective exploration plans and explore opportunities for collaboration between the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and the Geological Survey of Canada.

    We have committed to regular engagement on these issues through the Energy Dialogue, to be launched by Canada’s Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson and Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin in the coming months. Our Statement of Intent today demonstrates Canada and Italy’s strong partnership, and we hope that it will bring many opportunities to continue building on our longstanding bilateral relationship. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Parks Canada’s Hometown Heroes program honours Floyd H. Prosser

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Parks Canada’s Hometown Heroes program honours Floyd H. Prosser

    October 10, 2024                    Halifax, Nova Scotia                                 Parks Canada

    A Parks Canada ceremony is being held to honour Floyd H. Prosser as a Hometown Hero for his exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions during his time with the Canadian Army overseas during the Second World War and in civilian life. In sharing his story with Canadians, we acknowledge how his loyalty and continued commitment to his community made him an inspirational hero in Canada.

    Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, will be in attendance on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.

    Alannah Phillips, Field Unit Superintendent of Mainland Nova Scotia, will also be present to help honour and celebrate this Hometown Hero inductee.

    Please note that this advisory is subject to change without notice.

     

    The details are as follows:

     

    Date:               October 12, 2024 
    Time:              1:00 p.m. ADT 
    Location:        Halifax Citadel
                            5425 Sackville St.
                            Halifax NS B3J3Y3

                                                                                                                                           -30-

    France Faucher
    Manager, Commemorations and Engagement
    france.faucher@pc.gc.ca
    Tel.: 819-210-7266

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Luxembourg signs Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

    Source: ASEAN

    The ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today witnessed the signing of the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, H.E. Xavier Bettel, on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

    The accession by Luxembourg brings the number of High Contracting Parties (HCPs) to the TAC to 55. The growing number of HCPs reflects the importance and relevance of the TAC in the current regional and global context.

    The post Luxembourg signs Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Five EU regional development projects pick up awards at 2024 REGIOSTARS

    Source: European Union 2

    Regional development projects from Italy, Malta, Poland, Hungary, and Spain all scooped up awards at the REGIOSTARS awards ceremony in Brussels. The awards recognise projects that through the EU’s Cohesion Policy deliver change on the ground and strengthen economic and social progress in the EU.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Navy EOD develops IED exploitation capabilities with NATO allies and partners at Northern Challenge 2024

    Source: United States Navy

    KEFLAVIK, Iceland – Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 operated alongside 17 NATO ally and partner nations during Exercise Northern Challenge 2024, Sept. 26-Oct. 9, 2024. Northern Challenge demonstrates the United States’ commitment to NATO allies and partners by integrating efforts to plan and execute complex EOD detection, neutralization, and exploitation capabilities within a multinational framework.

    Northern Challenge is an annual, joint-funded multinational exercise hosted by the Icelandic Coast Guard aimed at preparing NATO allies and partners for international deployments to clear the way for lethal, resilient forces to operate in contested environments and disrupt our adversaries in conflict.

    EODMU 8, assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 68, trained alongside tactical units from U.S. Marine Corps’ 8th Engineer Support Battalion and U.S. Army’s 702nd and 720th Ordinance Companies . Additional participating NATO allies and partners included Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

    Northern Challenge 2024 included roughly 330 participants, 500+ improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 380 land tasks, and 120 maritime tasks. Throughout the exercise, two teams from EODMU 8 completed 50 training serials and provided four exercise control members who assessed and mentored other nations’ teams. During the exercise, EOD technicians responded to simulated IEDs threats of increasing complexity over a two-week period.

    “At Northern Challenge 2024, we’re working with our NATO allies and partners learning different tools for the toolbox and increasing our lethality on the battlefield,” said Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Jake Ferguson, platoon 8-2-2 Leading Chief Petty Officer, EODMU 8. “We’ve had some awesome training put on by our Icelandic and British partners; we’ve done a lot of both maritime and land-based IED serials that we’ve been able to defeat. We’re also turning in evidence, working with the exploitation cell to develop counter-IED tactics and reporting procedures.”

    In addition to conducting complex training scenarios, EOD technicians from across participating countries collaborated within a multinational exploitation center to enhance interoperability at the operational level. These cells ensured that EOD teams were organized to effectively counter IED threats while ensuring the intelligence analysis and information sharing is in accordance with NATO standards and procedures.

    The exploitation cell was comprised of the Technical Exploitation Coordination Cell (TECC) and the Combined Exploitation Laboratory (CEL). The TECC and CEL fuse capacities and capabilities across a joint interagency multinational structure. This multinational effort provided high-level analysis of collected exploitable material (CEM), refining fidelity of the operating area and providing critical information to the operator on the ground or in the water.

    CEM in the lab consisted of a full scope of exploitation methods such as triage, x-ray, chemical analysis, biometrics, forensics, electronics engineering exploitation, and document and media exploitation.

    The end state of the analysis is to inform the command, provide enhanced operator threat assessment on the battlefield, and ultimately deny the adversary anonymity.

    U.S. Navy EOD technicians from Expeditionary Exploitation Unit One (EXU-1) led the CEL in coordination with personnel from U.S. Army Force Europe (USAREUR) and other allies and partners. Their mission throughout the exercise was to assist in processing and analyzing exploitable material collected from simulated explosive threats, analyze and consolidate the findings, then brief the overall threat environment and an assessment of next 24-48 hours, providing a tactical picture for stronger decision-making on the ground and better situational awareness.

    Lt. Ryan DuTot, an EOD officer assigned to EXU-1, served as the exercise’s Combined Exploitation Laboratory office in charge.

    “Northern Challenge 2024 is not just about defusing bombs; it’s about harnessing cutting-edge technology to outsmart adversaries and strengthen global security alliances,” said DuTot. “The integration of technical exploitation into this exercise ensures we don’t just neutralize threats, but also gain critical intelligence from them. Any time we are working with partner nations in an environment like this, it’s a force multiplier that provides long-term strategic benefits.”

    Operating in a range of environments and exchanging knowledge with regional NATO allies and partners enhances every participating unit’s readiness and relationships with international and interagency counterparts.

    “Exercises like Northern Challenge provide an excellent opportunity to rehearse our IED defeat tactics in austere environments,” said Cmdr. John Kennedy, commander, EOD Mobile Unit 8. “The unique value of Northern Challenge is the exploitation piece. For our operational platoons, the drills didn’t end at ‘defeating the device’; they concluded after ‘exploiting the device’ so we could gain an appreciation of how the device works, and who employed it.”

    Northern Challenge provided practical training to operators across the joint force, with the integration of the exploitation cell to enhance the intelligence picture driving the threat assessment. As a result, the United States military is better prepared to deploy EOD forces throughout the U.S. European Command’s area of responsibility in support of the collective defense of NATO allies.

    “We’ve worked with the Canadians, Swedes, Icelanders, Polish, Lithuanians, and others; these guys are so good at their craft. Everybody here is a warrior, and they all volunteered to do the same job. Exchanging tactics, techniques, and procedures with them is making every single one of us better so that the enemy doesn’t get a leg up on us,” said Ferguson.
    U.S. military participation in Northern Challenge 2024 demonstrates that U.S. and NATO joint forces are ready and postured with combat-credible capability to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment.

    CTF 68 is a part of the U.S. 6th Fleet and commands all Naval Expeditionary Combat Forces, in U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility. Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces bridge the gap from sea to shore and provides expeditionary capabilities in remote, complex and austere environments.

    EODGRU 2 and EODMU 8 operate as part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and provide skilled, capable, and combat-ready deployable Navy EOD and Navy Diver forces around the globe to support a range of operations.

    For the full collection of photos and news about Northern Challenge 2024 and U.S. Navy EOD, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USNFE-6FPA and https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/EODG-2.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Non-executive chair reappointment at GAD

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Government Actuary’s Department announces the reappointment of Les Philpott as non-executive GAD Board chair.

    Credit: Shutterstock

    Les is an experienced Chair and non-executive director, having held a diverse range of non-executive roles across the public, private and charity sectors.

    He has a background in public management at senior executive levels. He formerly held the role of Chief Executive at the Office for Nuclear Regulation and previously held senior leadership positions in the Health and Safety Executive.

    Commenting on the reappointment Fiona Dunsire, the Government Actuary, said: “With his business understanding and non-executive director experience at chair level, Les has been an insightful and inspirational presence as the Chair of the GAD Board.

    “I look forward to working further with him during his second term as we continue to develop the range of work GAD supports across government.”

    Les also commented and said: “I am delighted to have been reappointed to this role and proud to continue to support the work of such talented, committed people throughout GAD as its Board Chair, particularly in taking forward our new business strategy.”

    Notes:

    Les will continue to lead GAD’s Board as the Non-Executive Chair, for a further 3 years, ending in September 2027.

    This reappointment has been made in accordance with the principles outlined in the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    All appointments to GAD are made on merit.

    He confirmed that he has not undertaken any political activity within the previous 5 years.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sir John Armitt appointment as Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission extended

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer has extended the appointment of Sir John Armitt as the Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission.

    Sir John Armitt’s appointment as Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has been extended for six months to support the development of the ten-year strategy and the creation of National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority. 

    Sir John has served as Chair of the NIC since 2018, before which he was Deputy Chair and a commissioner since the NIC was established in 2015. Sir John was reappointed as Chair in January 2023 for a further two years. Sir John’s current appointment is due to end on 18 January 2025, when he will have served ten years at the NIC. However, due to the need for strong leadership and continuity at the NIC during this period of transition, Ministers have agreed to extend Sir John’s appointment for a further six months to support the NIC during this time. 

    Sir John’s appointment will now end on 18 July 2025. 

    About the Appointment Process

    Sir John Armitt’s appointment has been extended for a further six months following the provisions of his original appointment, having met required performance standards and with the agreement of ministers. The chair role is a non-executive part-time position. 

    Sir John has confirmed that he has not undertaken any political activity within the previous five years including donating to, or canvassing on behalf of, any political party.

    Updates to this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Christmas festivities set to return

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Aberdeen is set to sparkle over the festive period as a new light trail is added to the Christmas programme later this year. 

    Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the return of traditional festive favourites including the Christmas Parade, Aberdeen Christmas Village including the Curated in the Quad Christmas Market, and festive lighting in Union Terrace Gardens. 

    The events line-up includes: 

    • Aberdeen Christmas Village – Thursday 14 November to Tuesday 31 December 2024

    • Christmas Light-up Trail – Thursday 14 November to Tuesday 31 December 2024

    • Curated in the Quad Christmas Market at Marischal College – Weekends only (Friday to Sunday) from 15 November to 22 December 2024

    • Aberdeen Christmas Parade and Charlie House Santa Run – Sunday 17 November 2024 

    • Nativity Scene – Monday 2 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025 (Blessing Event: 2 December) 

    • Carol Concerts – Saturday 14 December, David Welch Winter Gardens, Duthie Park

    Aberdeen Lord Provost, Dr David Cameron said: “The festive events that will be taking place across the city are always so well received and I enjoy seeing all ages enjoying what the city has to offer. 

    “Each year the events taking place offer something for everyone and it is always great to see families out enjoying the festivities. It also encourages more people to come into the city centre and visit local businesses.”

    The new Christmas Light-up Trail will see 12 light features located across the city centre, with families able to discover them all while taking some fabulous Christmas selfies.

    The Aberdeen Christmas Parade will feature a new route this year due to closures on Union Street Central. The Parade will begin as normal at Albyn Place and turn onto Union Terrace before finishing at His Majesty’s Theatre. 

    Ian Littlewood, Codona’s Operations Director, said: ‘We are really excited about the event this year. The new layout and huge number of extra stalls at the Curated in the Quad Christmas Market is going to look spectacular’. 

    Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “As the song says, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year – and Aberdeen’s Christmas celebrations are among the most wonderful in the country. After all, last year’s Aberdeen Christmas Village was ranked the fifth best in the UK. 

    “I have no doubt this year’s will be just as sparkling, thrilling and magical – all the elements that make Christmas in Aberdeen so special. Adding to that will be the unique Curated In The Quad festive market – 50% bigger than last year – that will showcase the finest producers and creatives in the north-east, raise money for the vital work of Charlie House, all while bringing thousands of people into the city centre to boost local shops, bars, restaurants and businesses.” 

    All events are subject to planning and licensing permission. Full details of the Christmas in Aberdeen events will be announced shortly via our website. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 57: Introductory Statement on Syria

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Introductory Statement on Syria. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

    Location:
    Geneva
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you Mr President,

    I have the honour to present draft resolution L.11 on the human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, on behalf of: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Qatar, Türkiye, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom.

    Mr President,

    When he briefed this Council last month, the Chair of the Commission of Inquiry, Paulo Pinheiro described Syria, as a “quagmire of despair”. A fitting, yet tragic, depiction of the depth of human suffering Syrians continue to endure at the hands of Assad and his allies.

    Once again, the Commission’s report documents violence against civilians; arbitrary arrests; and detentions under the most horrific conditions where torture and sexual and gender-based violence are rife.

    Families receive no information or are misinformed about the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones following their detention. There is simply no end to the cruelty that the regime is apparently willing to inflict on those that it is meant to protect.

    The draft resolution highlights violations and abuses against a generation of children in Syria, who have known nothing but a world where violence, fear, hunger and loss are a daily reality.

    A world where at least 2.4 million children are out of school. Where those as young as 11 have endured sexual and gender-based violence in state-run detention facilities. Where children are the innocent victims of indiscriminate attacks on schools, hospitals and civilian areas.

    As we approach International Day of the Girl Child, it is important we note the particular vulnerability of girls in Syria. Throughout this long conflict, girls have been targeted based on their gender, subject to forced marriage, and have taken on increased care-giving responsibilities. It is no wonder that of those out of education, girls are disproportionately affected.

    Mr President,

    The resolution we present today condemns such violations and abuses and calls for them to stop.

    It demands that attacks on schools, healthcare and medical facilities cease. And it implores all parties to maintain unhindered, safe and sustainable humanitarian access to those in need.

    Importantly, the resolution acknowledges that Syria’s future depends on the ability of generations to come to engage meaningfully in a political solution to the conflict.

    I thank all those who have engaged constructively in the negotiation process. 

    If a vote is called on this resolution, I urge members of the Council to vote in favour of it.

    Commissioner Pinheiro made clear that Syrians continue to look to this house for hope, for help. We cannot, should not, will not, abandon them.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bus franchising Consultation: Monthly message from Cllr Hunt Sheffield is transforming day by day. New homes are being built and regeneration projects are underway with cranes dotted across the city’s skyline. It is an exciting time for our city. 10 October 2024

    Source: City of Sheffield

    Cllr Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, talks about the decision to hold a consultation on bus franchising:

    Sheffield is transforming day by day. New homes are being built and regeneration projects are underway with cranes dotted across the city’s skyline. It is an exciting time for our city.

    And now we are moving forward with a plan to improve our buses.

    Buses are vital for thousands of people in Sheffield to get to work, access education, go shopping, to care for loved ones and to see friends and family. But I know that our buses are currently not good enough.

    For 40 years, since privatisation in the 1980s, private bus companies have been able to pick and choose routes, cut services and put profit ahead of passengers. Our deregulated bus system means communities have little say and no control.

    There is a way to turn this around. This week we have taken a big step forward to bring our buses back under public control in Sheffield and across South Yorkshire.

    On October 23rd, a public consultation is being launched about whether to move to a ‘franchise’ model for our buses. This would bring regulation of bus routes, frequencies, fares, and tickets under local public control.

    The consultation will ask you if South Yorkshire should adopt a franchise system. This is what has happened in Greater Manchester. Mayor Andy Burnham took control of the bus network in September 2023. Since then, figures show that there has been a more reliable service in Manchester with record numbers of people using buses.

    This is what we want to achieve in Sheffield. Better bus services with more people using them would ease congestion on our roads, it will help further improve air quality, and it would provide people with more opportunities.

    Improving public transport is about social justice. Unreliable and infrequent buses rob people of opportunity. Everyone, wherever you live, whatever your income, should have access to good quality public transport.

    We know that public transport that is run for the public works. In March, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, brought the Supertram back into public control for the first time in 27 years. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is now responsible for the running, upkeep and expansion of the network, and are developing ambitious plans to expand the tram network.  

    I’m hugely optimistic for Sheffield. Creating a better bus network in the coming years is a key part of our plans to give people more opportunities. Look out for the consultation and please have your say. Whether you currently use the buses or not, we want to hear from you.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update on imminent changes to IPP licence termination process

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Information on the new processes for licence terminations for those serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) or Detention for Public Protection (DPP) sentence

    The Parole Board is currently updating information on IPP licence terminations to reflect the relevant provisions within the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 that will come into force shortly. Revised guidance for Parole Board members will be published in the near future.

    Anyone serving an IPP or DPP sentence, or family and friends of someone serving an IPP or DPP sentence requiring independent advice is recommended to call the Howard League for Penal Reform hotline: 01209 701 888.  More information can be read here: IPP Licence Termination Hotline

    Further guidance can be found in the licence termination legal guide below, produced jointly by the Howard League for Penal Reform, the Prison Reform Trust and Prisoners’ Advice Service.

    Termination of IPP licence legal guide

    PDF, 787 KB, 20 pages

    This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email info@paroleboard.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study looking at the association of maternal serum folate supplementation with congenital heart disease (CHD) risk in offspring

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at maternal folate levels and congenital heart disease risk in babies.

    Dr Erica D. Watson, Associate Professor in Reproductive Biology at University of Cambridge, said:

    “It is important to be responsible when writing about this subject because folic acid supplementation has real benefits to fetal health, and we do not want to scare people off from taking their pregnancy vitamins!

    The study indicates that maternal folic acid supplementation largely benefits the development of the baby’s heart. However, the study also shows that in some cases high folate levels in the mother’s blood was associated with an increased risk of heart defects in the baby. More research is needed to understand why this is. It is difficult to predict exactly how much folic acid is too much because genetics, metabolism, diet, and other aspects of the environment of both parents might interact to impact heart development. Importantly, moderate folic acid supplementation likely benefits fetal heart development.”

     

    ‘Maternal Serum Folate During Pregnancy and Congenital Heart Disease in Offspring’ by Qu et al., 2024 was published in JAMA Network Open at 16:00 UK time on Thursday 10th October.

    DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.38747

    Declared interests

    Dr Erica D. Watson “I have no conflicts of interest to declare”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nearly 400 people already jailed following summer’s violent disorder

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Hundreds of people who took part in violent disorder during the summer have already been jailed.

    Hundreds of people who took part in violent disorder during the summer have already been jailed, data published today reveals.

    The rapid action taken across the justice system by police, prosecutors and those working in courts has meant that 388 people have been jailed to date – nearly half (47.5%) of all those who have appeared in court so far.

    In total, over 800 people who took part in violent thuggery have now had an initial court hearing as part of a collective effort across criminal justice agencies to keep communities safe and free from further violence and punish those who took part in the mindless disorder. Of these, almost 500 cases have been completed.

    The data released today shows that between 30 July and 3 October:

    • 819 defendants have been received by the courts in connection with the public disorder
    • 817 have already had their first hearing
    • 477 have been sentenced
    • 388 people have been sent to immediate custody
    • 324 cases are still in progress

    Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said:  

    The mindless minority who took part in the disgraceful scenes we witnessed this summer were warned they would feel the full force of the law. This data shows that many have already seen the inside of a prison cell and many more face the prospect in future.

    I would like to pay tribute to the dedicated professionals across the criminal justice system who have worked tirelessly to deliver swift justice.

    Further information

    The statistics can be found here at Management information on magistrates’ court activity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Thousands of pupils receive support to boost school attendance

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Government makes significant expansion to size of attendance mentoring to get thousands more persistently absent pupils back in school

    Thousands more pupils will benefit from the support of a specialist attendance mentor as the government ramps up work to tackle the epidemic of school absence. 

    Persistent absence across the country has increased since the pandemic, with around one in five pupils across the country currently missing 10% or more of school.

    Backed by £15 million, the government will expand the investment and reach of attendance mentoring to reach 10,000 more children and cover an additional 10 areas with some of the worst attendance rates across the country. Nottingham, Ipswich and Blackpool are among the new areas that will benefit from the expansion.

    The original programme, which has been running since 2022 in five pilot areas, sees attendance mentors provide one to one support to persistently absent pupils including those with SEND or mental ill health to break down the barriers to attendance, getting them back in the classroom, learning and thriving.

    The new mentoring programme builds on the government’s plan to deliver free breakfast clubs in every primary school, with delivery starting in up to 750 schools from as early as April 2025. This is one of many programmes that will make sure children start the day ready to learn to ensure they leave school with the best life chances.

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:

    Tackling the national epidemic of school absence is non-negotiable if we are to break down the barriers to opportunity so many young people face.

    For too long persistent absence has held back young people across the country and denied them the life chances that they deserve: this government is gripping this generational challenge facing our schools.

    This significant new investment will help thousands of children back into the classroom and marks an important step towards truly turning the tide on persistent absence, helping us drive high and rising standards in every school.

    Pupils on the programme will be supported over a 12 to 20 week period and will have a specific plan to help them, developed by the mentor.

    This might include helping pupils to manage anxious feelings, developing their confidence and self-esteem, establishing more consistent routines at home and supporting pupils to access support from wider services.

    The programme will be run by delivery partners, Etio, a specialist consultancy that is already running a number of successful education projects in England, including the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics.

    UK Managing Director at Etio, Dr. Gordon Carver said:

    Etio has been awarded the Attendance Mentoring Pilot Expansion (AMPE) project by the DfE, which aims to improve attendance and produce a robust evidence base for what works. The project is expected to yield important sector insights for tackling one of the most pressing issues in education. Headed up by Etio Project Director, Laura Bell, and a brilliant team behind her, we are keen to begin this important work. 

    The pilot programme has already successfully supported pupils with a wide range of challenges including low-level anxiety, special educational needs, poor attitude to learning and complex family circumstances. The pilot evaluation showed improvements in individual pupils’ attendance, wellbeing, home routines, and engagement at school.

    To make sure the new contract also provides the opportunity to build a more robust evidence base around what works, the department has appointed the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) to oversee a full external evaluation of the programme.

    Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza said:

    As Children’s Commissioner, children tell me all the time that they want to be in school, so this investment is a welcome step in addressing some of the barriers to attendance. These barriers are varied and complex: unmet mental health or SEND needs, family commitments such as being a young carer, or a disengagement from school that needs special care to resolve. 

    I remain deeply concerned by the rate of severe and persistent absences, which have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Attendance mentors can be an important part of the solution, by being a trusted person working closely with children and their families. 

    I have seen through my role as Chair of Greater Manchester Local Attendance Action Alliance how shared objectives, learning from what works and focusing on meeting every child’s needs means we can see real progress. Attendance must be a shared and top priority. Only when we ensure every child can engage with education, will we truly break down the barriers to opportunity. 

    The programme builds on the government’s statutory Working together to improve school attendance guidance which takes a ‘support first’ approach to managing school absence, by working with children and their families to address their specific barriers to regular school attendance.

    The government is committed to tackling the root causes of absence including by providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every secondary school, introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary and ensuring earlier intervention in mainstream schools for pupils with special needs.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: GAD supports the setting up of National Energy System Operator

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    We worked closely with the government on a purchase from National Grid to form the publicly owned National Energy System Operator.

    Credit: iStockPhoto

    We worked closely with the government on the purchase from National Grid of the Electricity System Operator to form the publicly owned National Energy System Operator (NESO).

    The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) worked with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). DESNZ decided to set up NESO to drive progress towards net zero while maintaining energy security and minimising costs for consumers.

    Clean power

    The change means Britain’s energy system will be planned by a new publicly owned organisation as part of an overall plan to help deliver clean power by 2030.

    It will help connect new generation projects with the electricity grid, working alongside Great British Energy to deploy renewable energy. NESO launched on 1 October 2024.

    Credit: Shutterstock

    GAD’s expertise

    We worked to time-critical deadlines and provided substantial support around the specialist issue of pensions.

    Support and advice

    Our support for DESNZ involved collaborating with numerous parties inside and outside government, working closely with DESNZ’s legal advisers. We were pleased to receive feedback from DESNZ on our “excellent service, support and advice”.

    Claire King (Head of Implementation at DESNZ for this project) worked with the GAD team and said: “GAD approached this transaction with the utmost professionalism. The team dealt with the many stakeholders as our subject matter experts in pension transfers and managing investment risk. Their experience and enthusiasm helped us to drive the project forward and reach a solution that took account of all parties’ needs.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Our online services will be unavailable on 12 and 13 October

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The VMD’s online services will be unavailable from 6am Saturday 12 October until 8pm Sunday 13 October due to essential site maintenance.

    Most of the VMD’s online services will be unavailable from 6am on Saturday 12 October due to essential site maintenance. We expect that all services will resume by 8pm on Sunday 13 October.

    The services that will be temporarily unavailable are:

    Access to the following Registers is also unavailable:

    We apologise for any inconvenience.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –