NewzIntel.com

Category: Great Britain

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Woman reported after road rage crash at Nailsworth

    Source: New South Wales – News

    A driver has lost her licence after a road rage crash on Main North Road, Nailsworth on Monday night.

    Just before 10pm on Monday 12 May, police and emergency services were called to Main North Road, Nailsworth after a silver sedan crashed into and ruptured a fire hydrant.

    Footage obtained from an eyewitness captured the collision.  The silver sedan also crashed into the side of a blue sedan, which did not stop at the scene, before colliding with the fire hydrant.

    The blue sedan continued south on Main North Road.

    Following investigations, a 21-year-old Para Hills woman, who was the driver of the silver sedan, was reported for driving in a manner dangerous to the public and issued with a 12-month instant loss of licence.  She will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

    Anyone with information about the blue sedan or its driver is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: FirstCash to Acquire H&T Group, the Leading Operator of Pawnshops in the United Kingdom

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Marks FirstCash’s strategic entry into the UK market through an established, industry-leading brand;
    Provides further geographic diversification and unlocks additional growth opportunities;
    Expected to be meaningfully accretive to EBITDA and EPS;
    Strengthens FirstCash’s position as a global leader in pawn operations

    FORT WORTH, Texas, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (“FirstCash” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FCFS), a leading international operator of over 3,000 retail pawn stores in the U.S. and Latin America, today announced that it has reached agreement on the terms of a final* recommended cash acquisition of H&T Group plc (“H&T”), the leading operator of pawn stores in the United Kingdom. Under the terms of the agreement, FirstCash (through a newly incorporated wholly-owned U.K. subsidiary, Chess Bidco Limited) will pay cash consideration of 650 pence for each share of H&T stock. In addition, H&T shareholders will receive a final dividend of 11 pence for each H&T share to be paid on June 27, 2025. The total equity value, including cash consideration for the shares and the final cash dividend, is approximately £297 million or $394 million USD based on the exchange rate as of the close of business on May 13, 2025.

    The acquisition of H&T expands FirstCash’s geographic footprint into a new and attractive market, further providing the Company with enhanced scale, operating efficiencies and long-term growth opportunities. This combination of FirstCash and H&T will create the largest publicly traded pawn platform in the United States, Latin America and the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Rick Wessel, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of the Board of FirstCash, commented, “We are excited to add H&T, the leading pawn operator in the United Kingdom, as part of FirstCash’s global platform. This strategic transaction provides an entry into a significant new market which we believe will unlock additional growth opportunities for the Company. We have great confidence in H&T’s continued success given their proven track record coupled with their experienced management and operations teams. FirstCash looks forward to working together to drive long-term value for all of our customers, employees, and shareholders.”

    Mr. Chris Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer of H&T, commented, “The acquisition has a compelling strategic rationale, bringing together two businesses with complementary offerings focused on the values and benefits of their customers. I am extremely proud of H&T, we have built a fantastic team and highly attractive business, and FirstCash’s offer is a clear acknowledgment of this. It’s clear to us that FirstCash has full appreciation of our capabilities, the dedication of our employees, commitment to the customer and with their backing and support, I am confident H&T will have an extremely bright future.”

    * The financial terms of the acquisition are final and will not be increased or improved, except that Chess Bidco Limited reserves the right to increase the amount of the cash consideration payable by it (i) if there is an announcement on or after the date of this announcement of a possible offer or a firm intention to make an offer for H&T by a third party or (ii) with the consent of the UK’s Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (which will be granted only in wholly exceptional circumstances).

    Compelling Strategic and Financial Benefits

    • Establishes FirstCash as the leading operator of pawn stores in the UK: H&T represents a highly complementary strategic fit as the UK’s largest pawnbroker, operating with a network of 285 stores.
    • Expands FirstCash’s Geographic Reach: Entry into the UK pawn market represents another major step in FirstCash’s international growth strategy, adding further geographic diversification to the Company’s existing U.S. and Latin American pawn operations.
    • Unlocks Further Growth Opportunities: H&T’s well-recognized brand provides FirstCash with a platform for increased penetration across key regions of the UK and opens the door for potential expansion into other European markets.
    • Enhances Scale and Operating Leverage: The addition of 285 stores increases FirstCash’s scale, operational footprint and ability to leverage efficiencies across its global platform.
    • Adds Experienced UK-Based Leadership: H&T’s seasoned management team brings deep local expertise and a proven track record of performance, positioning FirstCash to drive strong execution and continued momentum in the UK market.
    • Financially Compelling: The transaction is expected to be meaningfully accretive to both EBITDA and EPS, strengthening FirstCash’s financial profile and long-term shareholder value.

    Transaction Timeline and Additional Details
    The acquisition has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both FirstCash and H&T. The transaction is subject to approval by H&T’s shareholders and customary regulatory approvals in the United Kingdom. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to receipt of these approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

    Presentation
    Associated presentation materials regarding the transaction will be available on the investor relations section of FirstCash’s website at https://investors.firstcash.com/.

    Advisors
    Jefferies LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to FirstCash. Alston & Bird LLP and Macfarlanes LLP are serving as legal counsel to FirstCash. 

    Canaccord Genuity is serving as lead financial advisor to H&T and Shore Capital is serving as joint financial advisor to H&T. Gowling WLG (UK) LLP is serving as legal advisor to H&T.

    Further Information; No Offer or Solicitation
    This release is for information purposes and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, an offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the all-cash offer by Chess Bidco Limited, a newly-established indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of H&T Group plc, a company incorporated in England and Wales (“H&T”) (such acquisition, the “Acquisition”), or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of H&T in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Acquisition will be made solely by means of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement (the “Scheme”) under Part 26 of the United Kingdom Companies Act 2006, as amended (the “UK Companies Act”) (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a takeover offer, as such term is defined in the UK Companies Act (the “Takeover Offer”), the offer document), which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Scheme. Any vote in respect of the Scheme or other response in relation to the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document). H&T shareholders are urged to read the Scheme document when it becomes available, because it will contain important information relating to the Acquisition.

    Additional Information
    The Acquisition is being made to acquire the shares of an English company by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under English law. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“U.S. Exchange Act”). Accordingly, the Scheme will be subject to disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which are different from the disclosure requirements of the U.S. tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. The financial information included in this release and the Scheme documentation has been or will have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and thus may not be comparable to financial information of U.S. companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. If Bidco exercises its right to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer, such offer will be made in compliance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations.

    The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a U.S. holder as consideration for the transfer of its H&T shares pursuant to the Scheme will likely be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes and under applicable United States state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each H&T shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them.

    In accordance with normal United Kingdom practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the U.S. Exchange Act (to the extent applicable), Bidco, its nominees or its brokers (acting as agents) may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, H&T shares outside of the U.S., other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the Acquisition becomes effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made, they would be made outside of the U.S. and would be in accordance with applicable law, including the U.S. Exchange Act and the United Kingdom City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Code”). These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases will be disclosed as required in the United Kingdom, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This release contains forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, the Acquisition, the anticipated benefits and timing of the Acquisition and the business, financial condition, outlook and prospects of the Company and H&T. Forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “outlook,” “believes,” “projects,” “expects,” “may,” “estimates,” “should,” “plans,” “targets,” “intends,” “could,” “would,” “anticipates,” “potential,” “confident,” “optimistic,” or the negative thereof, or other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, objectives, estimates, guidance, expectations, outlook and future plans. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by the fact these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Rather, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties.

    While the Company believes the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurances such expectations will prove to be accurate. Security holders are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Certain factors may cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements made in this release. With respect to the proposed Acquisition, these factors, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risk that the Acquisition may not be consummated, including as a result of a failure by Company or H&T to obtain the necessary shareholder (in the case of H&T) or regulatory approvals required for the Acquisition, or that required regulatory approvals may delay the Acquisition or result in the imposition of conditions that could reduce the anticipated benefits from the Acquisition, or the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Acquisition; the risk that Company will incur additional indebtedness to finance the Acquisition, which may not be on favorable terms to the Company; the length of time necessary to consummate the Acquisition, which may be longer than anticipated for various reasons; the risk that H&T will not be combined and integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings, synergies and growth from the Acquisition may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the diversion of management time on Acquisition-related issues; the risk that costs associated with the integration of H&T is higher than anticipated; inherent risks resulting from Company’s entry into a new geographical market, including exposure to local economic and political conditions, exchange rate fluctuations and the extensive regulatory regime in the UK; risk related to the ability to hire and retain key H&T personnel; and the effects of tax assessments or tax positions taken, risks related to goodwill and other intangible asset impairment, tax adjustments, anticipated tax rates, or other regulatory compliance costs.

    Additional risks and uncertainties with respect to the Company are discussed and described in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risks described in Part 1, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” thereof, and other reports the Company files with the SEC. Many of these risks and uncertainties are beyond the ability of the Company to control, nor can the Company predict, in many cases, all of the risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to report any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

    Publication on website
    In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this release will be made available, subject to certain restrictions, on the Company’s website at https://investors.firstcash.com/ by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day following publication of this release. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of any websites referred to in this release are not incorporated into and do not form part of this release.

    Right to request hard copies
    In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code, a person so entitled may request a hard copy of this release (and any document or information incorporated into it by reference to another source) by contacting H&T’s registrars, Equiniti, by writing to Equiniti at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA, United Kingdom or by calling them during business hours on +44 (0)371 384 2030. Lines are open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (except English and Welsh public holidays). Calls are charged at the standard geographical rate and will vary by provider. Calls from outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. For persons who receive a copy of this release in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this release (and any document or information incorporated by reference into this release) will not be sent unless so requested. In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code, such persons may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to them in relation to the Acquisition should be sent in hard copy form.

    About FirstCash
    FirstCash is a leading international operator of pawn stores focused on serving cash and credit-constrained consumers. FirstCash’s more than 3,000 pawn stores in the U.S. and Latin America buy and sell a wide variety of jewelry, electronics, tools, appliances, sporting goods, musical instruments and other merchandise, and make small non-recourse pawn loans secured by pledged personal property. FirstCash’s pawn segments in the U.S. and Latin America currently account for approximately 80% of annualized segment earnings, with the remainder provided by its wholly owned subsidiary, AFF, which provides lease-to-own and retail finance payment solutions for consumer goods and services.

    FirstCash is a component company in both the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index® and the Russell 2000 Index®. FirstCash’s common stock (ticker symbol “FCFS”) is traded on the Nasdaq, the creator of the world’s first electronic stock market. For additional information regarding FirstCash and the services it provides, visit FirstCash’s websites located at http://www.firstcash.com and http://www.americanfirstfinance.com.

    About H&T
    H&T is the UK’s largest pawnbroker, a leading retailer of high quality new and pre-owned jewelry and pre-owned watches and provides a range of financial products tailored for a customer base which has limited access to, or is excluded from, the traditional banking sector. These products include Pawnbroking, Retail and Foreign Currency.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Autumn GB Magazine out now!

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    Subscribe to our e-newsletter or read our quarterly publication about services and activities, topics and issues affecting the City.

    Subscribe to GB news

    If you like your news in your inbox, sign up for our weekly e-newsletter for the latest news from the City, upcoming events, opportunities to have your say and more.

    GB Magazine

    GB Magazine is published three times a year and includes information about services and activities, topics and issues affecting Greater Bendigo.

    It’s distributed to all residents, with extra copies available at our Customer Service centres as well as the Bendigo and Heathcote Visitor Centres.

    Each issue includes information on a wide range of subjects including:

    • City services and activities
    • Special events
    • Community consultations
    • City safety
    • Environmental information
    • Greater Bendigo’s neighbourhoods

    GB Magazine cover Autumn 2025

    Order a copy

    To order a copy of the latest issue:

    • Contact our Customer Service Centre on 1300 002 642
    • Email [email protected]
    • Drop in to one of our Customer Service or Visitor Centres in Bendigo or Heathcote

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Young detainees often have poor mental health. The earlier they’re incarcerated, the worse it gets

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emaediong I. Akpanekpo, PhD Candidate, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney

    Populist rhetoric targeting young offenders often leads to kneejerk punitive responses, such as stricter bail laws and lowering the age of criminal responsibility. This, in turn, has led to more young people being held in detention.

    In Australia, the number of young people held in detention facilities increased by 8% (from 784 to 845) between the June quarter of 2023 and the June quarter of 2024.

    But what if some of these young people were treated and helped, rather than incarcerated? A series of recently published studies examining mental health in the youth justice population suggests treatment would be more beneficial than punitive measures – some of which may even promote persistent offending.

    Increased incarceration

    New South Wales saw a 31% increase in young people in detention between 2023 and 2024.

    Increases in youth detention numbers have also been reported in Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and South Australia over the same period.

    About 60% of young people in detention are First Nations youth.

    Custody as a catalyst

    Young people in the justice system have significantly higher rates of mental ill-health and adverse childhood experiences than their peers in the general population.

    However, less clear is how involvement in the justice system, particularly custody, affects the severity and trajectory of these mental health issues over time.

    Our team examined how exposure to the justice system affected mental health among young people in NSW. We analysed administrative health and justice data over two years post-supervision.

    These data came from more than 1,500 justice-involved youth who participated in the Young People in Custody Health Survey in 2003, 2009 and 2015 and Young People on Community Orders Health Survey between 2003 and 2006.

    We found young people who had spent time in custody faced markedly higher rates of subsequent psychiatric hospitalisation compared with those supervised in the community.

    The risk of psychiatric hospitalisations was higher for those with multiple custody episodes. This demonstrates the significant negative impact of incarceration on the mental health of young people long after they are released.

    We also examined how the impact of custody on psychiatric hospitalisations differed by age.

    We found psychiatric hospitalisation rates were similar among youth aged 14–17 years who had been supervised in the community, compared with those aged 18 and older.

    However, youth aged 14–17 who were placed in custody were hospitalised at significantly higher rates than their older peers aged 18 and above.

    This suggests incarceration is particularly harmful for younger offenders.

    How does this affect crime?

    When we examined the long-term consequences of youth detention on subsequent offending, we found conviction during adolescence, especially before the age of 14, significantly increased the likelihood of later entering the adult prison system.

    Those who were incarcerated during adolescence faced a fivefold increase in the risk of being incarcerated as an adult, compared with young people who’d never been in custody.

    This suggests it may be beneficial to delay the involvement of young people in the justice system to help prevent repeat offending in the future.

    Breaking the cycle

    So what can be done to help?

    In NSW, laws allow young people with mental health conditions to be diverted from judicial processes into treatment. Such laws for young people also exist in other states, although specific models vary.

    While research shows those diverted into treatment have a lower risk of reoffending, less than half of eligible youth receive this option.

    How do we help those who miss out? Our studies examined whether going to mental health services voluntarily (without a court order) could help reduce recidivism.

    Among boys who had been in custody, we found they were 40% less likely to reoffend if they received mental health treatment after release than those who did not receive such treatment.

    A similar, but larger, benefit was observed among boys supervised in the community. There, mental health treatment was associated with a 57% reduction in reoffending risk.

    Evidence-based reform

    Evidence shows punitive measures do not deter youth crime, but instead are likely to perpetuate cycles of offending into adulthood.

    Policymakers should reimagine youth justice to protect young people and create real pathways to rehabilitation.

    Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to delay the onset of formal contact with the justice system aligns with developmental science and prevents early criminalisation of young people.



    Read more:
    Locking up young people might make you feel safer but it doesn’t work, now or in the long term

    Enhancing routine mental health screening in the justice system and expanding access to diversion programs is warranted.

    Our findings on the benefits of routine mental health treatment highlight the potential for more integrated approaches. When combined with wraparound services for health and education, they could be even more effective.

    As detaining a young person costs around $1 million annually, mental health treatment-based approaches make sound financial sense too.

    Tony Butler receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

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

    – ref. Young detainees often have poor mental health. The earlier they’re incarcerated, the worse it gets – https://theconversation.com/young-detainees-often-have-poor-mental-health-the-earlier-theyre-incarcerated-the-worse-it-gets-252376

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: March crime statistics

    Source: New South Wales – News

    The sustained targeting of recidivist thieves has resulted in another significant reduction in shop theft offences in South Australia, the latest crime statistics have revealed.

    The March rolling year crime statistics reveal shop theft has declined for the fifth successive period, recording an eight per cent reduction – 1,511 offences – from 18,783 to 17,272 reported incidents.

    The reduction follows the previous eight per cent reduction in the February period, a five per cent decline in January, three per cent in December and two per cent in November.

    Acting Assistant Commissioner (metropolitan Operations Service) John de Candia said the reduction in offending corresponded with the continuing efforts of officers involved in Operation Measure across all policing districts.

    “We continue targeting the hardcore, recidivist offenders we know are committing large numbers of shoplifting offences and that is having an impact,’’ he said.

    “Some of these offenders are committing literally dozens of offences across the metropolitan area, often endangering innocent members of the community.’’

    While Operation Measure teams continue to target individual offenders, operations are also held at specific locations that record high levels of offending. One such two-day operation at an eastern suburbs liquor outlet in March resulted in the arrest of four offenders.

    Significant arrests in March included a Christie Downs man, 27, who was charged with 19 counts of shop theft committed across multiple districts, a Renown Park man, 22, charged with 22 counts of shop theft mostly committed in the western suburbs and an Elizabeth South man, 37, who was charged with 14 counts of shop theft committed in the northern suburbs.

    The March rolling year statistics also reveal house break-ins have dropped for the ninth successive period, while car theft and robbery and related offences have also continued to decrease significantly.

    The figures reveal house break-ins declined by eight per cent in the period from 5,873 to 5,378 reported offences. This followed a seven per cent decline in the February period, a five per cent decline in the January period and a six per cent decline in the December period.

    The number of non-residential break-ins declined by five per cent from 3,672 to 3,476 reported offences. This followed an identical decline in the February period.

    Car theft and theft from a vehicle have again recorded decreases in the March period. Car theft dropped by nine per cent or 340 offences – from 3,814 to 3,474 offences. This followed an 11 per cent decline in the February period, 12 per cent in January and an 11 per cent drop in the December period.

    Theft from a motor vehicle declined by 23 per cent – from 10,082 to 7,796 offences. This followed a 22 per cent decline in February, a 20 per cent drop in January and a 19 per cent decrease in the December and November periods.

    Robbery and related offences also continued to decrease in the March period with a 13 per cent decline reported. Within that category aggravated robbery declined by 16 per cent or 80 offences – from 503 offences to 423 offences – while non-aggravated robbery declined by six per cent – from 81 offences to 76 offences.

    The number of homicides committed in South Australia has continued to decrease with a 52 per cent decline recorded in the March period – from 23 to 11 offences.

    While a majority of offence categories showed decreases in the March period, increases were recorded in offences including serious assaults not resulting in injury, common assault, aggravated sexual assault, property damage and graffiti.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Trail bike riders intercepted during targeted operation in Launceston

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Trail bike riders intercepted during targeted operation in Launceston

    Wednesday, 14 May 2025 – 10:31 am.

    Police intercepted six trail bike riders during a targeted operation in Launceston on Saturday.
    Members of Launceston Police and Road Policing Services conducted the operation in bushland across several northern suburbs of Launceston, targeting the unlawful use of recreational vehicles and trail bikes.
    During the operation, police intercepted the six riders operating trail bikes who were in close proximity to residential houses.
    Three riders will face proceedings for offences committed, including unlicensed driving and breaches of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control (Noise) Regulations 2016.
    Tasmania Police remind users of recreational vehicles and trail bikes that they cannot operate within 500 metres of another residence that is not their own, nor within 500 metres of another residence if they are on their own land.
    Anyone wishing to report the unlawful use of recreational vehicles or trail bikes near their home is encouraged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Hooning incident at Bruny Island

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Hooning incident at Bruny Island

    Wednesday, 14 May 2025 – 10:37 am.

    A Kingston man responsible for burnouts in the gravel car park of the Bruny Island hotel will be prosecuted for hooning offences and driving without a licence.Tasmania Police used CCTV footage to help identify the driver from the incident on Monday and say they are disappointed in the behaviour shown by the 30-year-old man, who was a visitor to the island.Senior Constable Ashley Hopwood said the man was leaving the Hotel Bruny, at Alonnah on Bruny Island, about 5pm and proceeded to do burnouts in his vehicle in the gravel carpark of the hotel.The incident was reported to local police by members of the community.A review of CCTV footage helped identify the vehicle and the owner.“This sort of driving behaviour is reckless, and it puts innocent people at risk,” Senior Constable Hopwood said.“Police are committed to keeping our roads as safe as possible and hoons should be warned that this type of behaviour can lead to loss of licence, vehicle confiscation, vehicle destruction and significant fines.”“Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving on our roads should contact police on 131 444, or Triple-Zero (000) in an emergency.”“If you can’t call at the time, but you have dash cam or other footage, you can upload it to our evidence portal at police.tas.gov.au/report.”This week, May 12 to 16, is National Road Safety Week.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Community Energy Generation Growth Fund opens

    Source: Scottish Government

    £8 million for community renewable projects.

    Communities across Scotland seeking to set up renewable energy generation projects can bid for support from an £8 million government fund which has reopened for applications.

    The Community Energy Generation Growth Fund supports local communities to install wind turbines and solar panels or develop other types of renewable energy generation, such as hydro, to meet local needs. 

    Successful applicants will also be able to earn money from their projects by, for example, allowing them to sell excess energy generated.

    The expanded Scottish Government fund, which includes £4 million from Great British Energy, is part of the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) and builds on last year’s support. 

    Since its inception, CARES has advised over 1,300 organisations and provided over £67 million in funding to communities throughout Scotland, supporting over 990 projects.

    Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes is set to announce the reopening of the fund at the All Energy Scotland conference in Glasgow this morning (Wednesday).

    Speaking ahead of the conference, Ms Forbes said: “Scotland is fast becoming a global renewable energy powerhouse, and it is vital that communities share in the benefits from this transition.

    “This funding, for stand-alone generation projects, responds to the needs of local groups – has the potential to lever in significant funds for communities. It will also  play a key role in our delivery of a just transition – supporting a greener, fairer future for Scots. 

    “It is also welcome that Great British Energy recognise the valuable role that communities play in our green transition and have provided support for the fund – helping to significantly increase the amount of support available to communities – and providing a catalyst for growth within the community energy sector.

    “We will continue to work with our partners to grow the community energy sector to ensure that the delivery of renewable energy comes with benefits for people in Scotland, as well as supporting progress towards net zero.” 

    Chris Morris from Local Energy Scotland said: “We’re pleased to be building on the success of last year’s Community Energy Generation Growth Fund pilot to support more Scottish communities looking to take the next steps in their renewable energy projects and play an active part in the nation’s transition to net zero.

    “Scottish communities demonstrated an appetite to develop new projects during the pilot phase and ideas taken forward include partnering with local authorities to install solar panels on schools, getting approvals for new solar farms and building wind turbines.

    We’re looking forward to supporting communities and helping even more of these inspiring projects be realised. For Scottish communities interested, the Local Energy Scotland team is here to help with information and case studies.”

    Background 

    More information on how to apply 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tens of thousands more patients receiving crucial scans quicker

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Tens of thousands more patients receiving crucial scans quicker

    More people were seen faster for scans including endoscopies, ultrasounds, and MRIs

    • Latest data shows 44,000 fewer people waited more than six weeks for diagnostic tests compared to last year 

    • Government drive to slash waiting times means patients are being seen faster for scans including endoscopies, ultrasounds, and MRIs 

    • Progress is latest milestone in government’s mission to reform the NHS through its Plan for Change 

    Tens of thousands more patients are getting crucial diagnostic scans within weeks under the government’s Plan for Change to slash NHS waiting times. 

    Latest data shows 44,000 fewer people were waiting more than six weeks for procedures like endoscopies, ultrasounds and MRIs compared to February last year. 

    It means some patients being referred for suspected illnesses including heart conditions, spinal cord injuries and various cancers could be diagnosed faster, helping save lives. 

    The government is continuing to expand Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) nationwide, offering 12-hour, seven-day access to vital tests and appointments.

    The expansion is funded from the extra £26 billion investment in the health service delivered at the Autumn Budget, bringing care closer to communities who need it. 

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 

    I’ve been honest that fixing our NHS will be a long road, but this government is bringing in the investment and reform that’s needed to get us there. 

    The additional diagnostic capacity we’ve unlocked isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet – it’s about giving people their lives back.  

    Every ultrasound, MRI or endoscopy represents someone who can now plan their future with certainty rather than fear.  

    Through our Plan for Change, we will get our NHS back on its feet and make it fit for the future.

    There are currently 169 conveniently located Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) across the country, bringing care closer to patient’s doorsteps.

    Many of these will be opened 12 hours a day, seven days a week where possible, making it easier for people to get their tests and appointments done at a time that suits them. 

    Between July and February, around 4.5 million tests, checks and scans were carried out in CDCs – a 50% increase on the previous year. 

    This equates to 18,000 more checks being delivered every day for patients to diagnose some of the biggest killers – including cancer and heart disease. 

    Dr Rhydian Phillips, Director of Diagnostics and Transport at NHS England, said:

    Community Diagnostics Centres are vital in helping ensure patients can get the all-clear or be diagnosed and treated for a range of conditions as quickly as possible.

    They are helping us to see more people than ever before and are at the heart of communities in locations that are more convenient for patients – with some even popping up in shopping centres.

    NHS staff are working incredibly hard to provide more tests and checks, while our campaigns encouraging people to come forward with worrying signs are also hugely important. If anyone has any health concerns, we would urge them to seek help and advice as it could save their life.

    More patients are being seen faster across the NHS thanks to the government’s push to slash waiting times and tackle the inherited waiting list of 7.6 million. 

    Since July, more than 3 million extra elective care appointments have been rolled out, ensuring more patients can get assessed and treated more quickly. 

    And the drive is having a big impact on cancer care, with an extra 80,000 patients having cancer diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days. 

    The progress forms part of the government’s wider Plan for Change and its drive to meet the NHS standard that 92 per cent of patients are treated within 18 weeks by the end of this Parliament.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Great British Energy funding boost for Scottish communities

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Great British Energy funding boost for Scottish communities

    £4m Great British Energy funding scheme to target clean energy projects in Scottish communities.

    • Community-owned energy projects in Scotland to get access to funding from Great British Energy
    • new investment will help communities install clean power projects to cut bills and provide energy security
    • joint fund with the Scottish Government will give communities a stake in their local energy supply

    Communities across Scotland can today apply for new funding from a £4 million Great British Energy scheme.

    The funding targets local clean energy projects – from community-led onshore wind, to solar on rooftops and hydropower in rivers – generating profits which could be reinvested into community projects or take money off people’s bills.

    Great British Energy, the government’s publicly-owned clean power company, is giving communities a stake in generating their own energy so people can reinvest profits where it really matters.

    Great British Energy’s £4 million funding is part of the £8 million Community Energy Generation Growth Fund, with the remaining funding coming from the Scottish Government.

    Minister for Energy Michael Shanks said:

    This is our clean energy superpower mission in action – putting communities in the driving seat of energy generation and making sure people profit.

    Great British Energy wants to kickstart a community energy revolution, empowering our towns and villages to become mini energy producers and reinvest profits back into the local community.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – Morocco’s Ambassador Visits Edinburgh to Spark Energy and Agriculture Partnerships

    SOURCE: Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA)

    The Ambassador’s visit will include meetings with key stakeholders from government, industry and academia, as well as a number of roundtables and site visits with Scottish businesses eager to explore opportunities in Morocco
    ABERDEEN, Scotland, May 13, 2025 – The Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA) (www.AfricaScot.com) is delighted to announce the forthcoming visit of His Excellency Hakim Hajoui, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Kingdom, to Scotland. This high-level visit will focus on strengthening partnerships between Scotland and Morocco across the energy, renewable energy and agriculture sectors.

    The Ambassador’s visit will include meetings with key stakeholders from government, industry and academia, as well as a number of roundtables and site visits with Scottish businesses eager to explore opportunities in Morocco – one of Africa’s most dynamic and forward-looking economies.

    Morocco has established itself as a renewable energy leader in Africa, with a goal of sourcing over 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. Major investment opportunities exist in solar, wind, green hydrogen and grid infrastructure. The country is also undertaking significant modernisation of its agriculture sector, with a focus on sustainable farming, water management, and agri-tech innovation — all areas where Scottish companies and research institutions have exceptional capabilities.

    Education and skills training will also be a key focus of the visit, as both Scotland and Morocco recognise the importance of developing human capital to drive forward innovation and economic growth. Scottish universities and training institutions have a long history of providing world-class education, and through new partnerships, there is a real opportunity to support Morocco’s workforce development in line with its evolving industrial needs.

    Seona Shand, Chief Operating Officer of the Scottish Africa Business Association, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the Ambassador of Morocco to Scotland. This visit comes at a pivotal time as Morocco accelerates its ambitious green energy transition and advances major agricultural reforms. Scotland’s world-class expertise in renewable energy, offshore wind, green hydrogen and agricultural innovation is a perfect match for Morocco’s ambitions. We see enormous opportunities for Scottish businesses to partner with Moroccan counterparts, share know-how and co-create solutions that will benefit both nations.”

    The visit will serve as a catalyst for building new partnerships, enhancing trade and investment and cultivating knowledge exchange between Scotland and Morocco.

    Companies can register to attend at https://apo-opa.co/456agPk                
    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA).

    About the Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA):
    SABA is the preeminent non-political, Africa focussed, members trade organisation with an unrivalled board of experienced directors which promotes trade, investment and knowledge sharing between Scotland’s world class expertise and Africa’s priority sectors including energy, agriculture, the blue economy, healthcare, skills training and education by leveraging extensive commercial, trade, political and government contacts across Scotland and Africa.

    As part of this, our team organises private meetings, round tables, seminars, conferences, global trade missions and offers market research, intelligence sharing and consultancy services.          

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Hampshire Doctor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Prescribing Opioids

    Source: US State of California

    A New Hampshire doctor pleaded guilty today to unlawfully distributing a controlled substance. This is the first conviction of a doctor in the District of New Hampshire from a joint investigation by the New England Strike Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    According to court documents, Robert G. Soucy Jr., D.O., 72, of Columbia, New Hampshire, illegally prescribed opioids from his home in Columbia, New Hampshire. Dr. Soucy knew that pharmacies in and around Colebrook, New Hampshire, would not fill his prescriptions for several of his patients. To have the unlawful prescriptions filled, Dr. Soucy specifically instructed a patient to bring his prescriptions to a pharmacy in another location. Dr. Soucy also continued to prescribe opioids to the patient, who the defendant knew had a substance-abuse disorder, without conducting any medical evaluation or testing and after the patient had moved out of New England.

    Dr. Soucy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He surrendered his DEA registration and is no longer authorized to prescribe controlled substances.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting United States Attorney Jay McCormack for the District of New Hampshire, Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau and Acting Diversion Program Manager George Lutz of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New England Division, and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.

    The DEA and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Thomas D. Campbell and Danielle H. Sakowski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    Anyone needing access to opioid treatment services can contact HHS-OIG’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7 National Helpline for referrals to treatment services at 1-800-662-4359. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Imports of sheep and goats from countries with active foot-and-mouth disease – E-001823/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001823/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Galato Alexandraki (ECR), Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)

    During the Easter period, Greece’s Ministry of Rural Development and Food authorised imports of live sheep from Slovakia and Hungary (as domestic production alone was insufficient to meet demand), despite the fact that active cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been recorded in these countries. Meanwhile, other countries such as Australia, the US and England have imposed strict bans not only on animals but also on animal products from these specific regions.

    The ministry’s official position comprised a recommendation to avoid imports and to impose a mandatory quarantine of 21 days on imported animals, without specifying whether and how these measures were complied with in practice.

    Can the Commission therefore answer the following:

    • 1.Is there any monitoring evidence to demonstrate that the full implementation of the envisaged 21-day quarantine period and the related veterinary checks on sheep imported from Slovakia and Hungary were ensured?
    • 2.In practice, how does it monitor the correct application of EU rules by Member States in order to prevent outbreaks and protect the health security of European livestock farming?

    Submitted: 6.5.2025

    Last updated: 13 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Hampshire Doctor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Prescribing Opioids

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A New Hampshire doctor pleaded guilty today to unlawfully distributing a controlled substance. This is the first conviction of a doctor in the District of New Hampshire from a joint investigation by the New England Strike Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    According to court documents, Robert G. Soucy Jr., D.O., 72, of Columbia, New Hampshire, illegally prescribed opioids from his home in Columbia, New Hampshire. Dr. Soucy knew that pharmacies in and around Colebrook, New Hampshire, would not fill his prescriptions for several of his patients. To have the unlawful prescriptions filled, Dr. Soucy specifically instructed a patient to bring his prescriptions to a pharmacy in another location. Dr. Soucy also continued to prescribe opioids to the patient, who the defendant knew had a substance-abuse disorder, without conducting any medical evaluation or testing and after the patient had moved out of New England.

    Dr. Soucy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He surrendered his DEA registration and is no longer authorized to prescribe controlled substances.

    Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting United States Attorney Jay McCormack for the District of New Hampshire, Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau and Acting Diversion Program Manager George Lutz of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New England Division, and Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Boston Region made the announcement.

    The DEA and HHS-OIG investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Thomas D. Campbell and Danielle H. Sakowski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

    Anyone needing access to opioid treatment services can contact HHS-OIG’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7 National Helpline for referrals to treatment services at 1-800-662-4359. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Farr Primary School goes gold

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Farr Primary School has recently received several important accreditations including the UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School award, sportscotland Gold School Sport Award 2025-2027 and Reading Schools Core and Silver accreditation.

    Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: “Farr Primary School has recently received three wonderful accreditations, a real testament to their hard work and dedication. I’d like to congratulate the pupils, staff and the wider community for their commitment to reach the highest UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School award, sportscotland Gold School Sport Award 2025-2027 and Reading Schools Core and Silver accreditation.

    “By putting children at the heart of everything we do, we can create a positive and inclusive learning environment where every child feels valued, respected and with the life tools to flourish in many areas.”

    Head Teacher at Farr Primary School, Kirsty Guthrie said: “Pupils across the school have leadership roles and as part of this they work with parents and carers and the wider school community to enable positive changes. Pupil voice is valued highly and is at the heart of decision making here at Farr Ps. Rights are embedded across the curriculum and underpin our ethos and vision going forward.”

    The Rights Respecting Schools Gold Award issued by the UK Committee for UNICEF is the highest accolade and celebrates schools that have successfully embedded children’s rights into their daily practice.

    The Rights Respecting Schools Award encourages schools to create safe and inspiring learning environments where children are respected, their talents are nurtured, and they can thrive. By using the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as a guiding framework, schools in Highland have demonstrated a deep commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights.

    The sportscotland School Sport Award is a national initiative designed to encourage schools to put young people at the heart of decision making, planning and implementation of extra-curricular school sport. It also encourages schools to self-reflect and continuously improve and recognise and celebrate successful school sport models. The award also encourages sporting links between schools and the communities around them, providing opportunities for young people to progress. 

    Reading School Award – As well as sustaining the foundational work of Core level, Reading Schools: Silver is based around schools providing additional opportunities to broaden their learners’ experiences, such as engaging with authors, visiting libraries, and bringing in other outside expertise.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Support for Seaboard Centre – Community Hub For Easter Ross

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Highland Opportunity Investments Limited, (HOIL) has recently provided Seaboard Memorial Hall Limited in Balintore with funding towards their on-going development plans.  

    HOIL, The Highland Council’s business loan company supports Highland based businesses and encourages applications from all business sectors, including community organisations. Interested businesses benefit from straightforward loan conditions and a tailored offer to support their project. 

    Seaboard Memorial Hall Limited approached HOIL for a working capital loan to support their growth aspirations.  These funds will contribute to the provision of facilities and services to the local community and beyond.   Recent initiatives include the completion of three stone entrances at the Seaboard Villages and the future development of The John Ross Visitor website.

    Seaboard Memorial Hall Limited is a registered charity, which has been trading since 2001. The charity provides employment for 15 people and re-invests all its profits to provide facilities and services to the local community and visitors to Easter Ross. The Seaboard Centre, also known as the Seaboard Memorial Hall, is a community-run hall based in the Seaboard Villages of Easter Ross.  The Centre provides venue, meeting room hire and hot desk workspaces. The Seaboard Café offers homemade baking and lunches.  In addition, visitor facilities are available for public use and include a disabled access toilet and shower, washing machine, tumble dryer and hairdryer.  There is also a free Chemical Waste Disposal Unit.

    Councillor Paul Oldham, Chair of HOIL said: “I welcome this opportunity to help the Seaboard Memorial Hall with their finances. The hall provides invaluable facilities and services to the people of and visitors to the Seaboard Villages of Easter Ross.

    “The Community Loan Fund managed by HOIL provides accessible and affordable finance for community organisations across the Highlands and is one of several funds we can use to help projects across the area.”

    Maureen Ross, Director of Seaboard Memorial Trust Limited said: “Cashflow for a business is so important and something we take very seriously.  Due to the timing of recoverable VAT on a large community project we realised we would be under pressure for several months.  Therefore, to keep operations running smoothly we took the proactive move of approaching Highland Opportunity Investments Ltd for a loan which would bridge that period of need easing pressure.  The whole process was easy, and people were very helpful throughout.”

    To find out more about the support HOIL can provide businesses with, visit here or email hoil@highland.gov.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Green Party Amendment Blasts £100bn Brexit Bill

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    / by Green Party

    Today, Green Party MPs tabled an amendment to the Conservative Party’s Opposition Day motion on the upcoming UK/EU summit. The Greens called on the government to confront the ongoing damage of Brexit and to use the summit on the 19th of May as a key step towards practical re-engagement with the EU.

    Ellie Chowns, Green MP for North Herefordshire, said:

    “Brexiteers promised freedom but delivered decline. Five years on, British families, farmers and firms are paying the price of isolation. At the summit next week, Ministers must choose progress over pride: we must work to re-join the Customs Union, restore the right to live, work and study across Europe, and rebuild the networks that keep Britain secure and prosperous.”

    Speaking in the Chamber, co-leader Carla Denyer MP said:

    “Given the dire economic impacts of Brexit, including […] the cost of leaving the EU amounting to £1 million an hour in 2022 according to ONS data, will he agree with me that it makes total economic sense for the UK and for the people within it to use next week’s summit to start discussions with the EU on what the process of re-joining might be?” 

    Key points of the Green amendment include that this House:

    • Regrets the £100 billion annual cost in lost output since leaving the EU and that 14% of UK businesses have been forced to stop trading with the EU entirely since Brexit.
    • Notes reduced food and agricultural exports have led to an annual loss of £2.8 billion and that food inflation would be 8% lower had we stayed in the EU.
    • Observes that the UK–US agreement fails to compensate for Brexit’s economic damage.
    • Notes a confident Britain must work closely with Europe to tackle shared challenges—from the climate crisis to the rise of the hard right.
    • Calls on the Government to use the upcoming UK/EU summit to negotiate re-entry to the Customs Union, restore free movement and youth mobility, and rejoin the Erasmus programme.
    • Further calls on the government to kick-start talks with the EU on what the formal process to re-join the EU would involve, recognising the consistent majority opinion of the public which reflects a wish to do so.*

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City Council Leaders visit the latest social housing phase of Ancoats development

    Source: City of Manchester

    Great Places recently hosted the Leader of Manchester City Council and the council’s Housing Lead on a visit to view the final phase of its £19.4 million flagship development in New Islington.

    Council Leader Cllr. Bev Craig and Cllr. Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development were joined by our Chief Executive, Alison Dean and members of the project team on a tour to view progress on Wiremill Court, the final phase of our new flagship low-carbon development of 75 affordable homes at Downley Drive in New Islington.

    Delivered in partnership with Rowlinson, and part funded by Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Brownfield Housing Fund, the second phase will deliver 52 one and two-bed apartments for social rent. The new homes will feature an enhanced building fabric, solar panels and other low-carbon technologies, including air source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation heat recovery.

    The project is the latest to be delivered as part of Great Places’ long-standing partnership with Manchester City Council to support the regeneration in the area by bringing forward a range of affordable housing options for those who wish to live close to the city centre.

    Wiremill Court is scheduled for completion this autumn.

    Commenting on the visit Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:

    “Manchester is at its best when we work in collaboration – and it’s the partnerships we have with the city’s housing providers that are helping us build the genuinely affordable homes that our residents need, right across the city.

    “Great Places have a clear track record of delivering quality affordable homes in our city centre – not least at the recent Ancoats Dispensary transformation nearby. And so it’s great to see the latest progress at the Wiremill Court development that will bring a further 52 social rent homes to New Islington – and another project that takes us closer to meeting the ambitious target to build at least 10,000 social rent, Council and affordable homes that we set out in our housing strategy three years ago.

    “The wider Wiremill Court development offers a mix of social rent and shared ownership properties, which means lots of the homes are as affordable as possible to Manchester people – while the rest offer a real route on to the housing ladder. I look forward to meeting some of the new residents when they move in later this year.”

    Alison Dean, our Chief Executive, added:

    “We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to show Councillors Craig and White around the final phase of our Downley Drive development in New Islington.

    “Wiremill Court exemplifies our commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable homes that incorporate the latest in low-carbon technology.

    “Our ongoing partnership with Manchester City Council and Rowlinson Constructions has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life, and we’re proud to be contributing to the ongoing regeneration of this vibrant area. We look forward to welcoming residents to their new homes and continuing our work to create sustainable communities across Greater Manchester.”

    Matthew Holloway, Chief Financial Officer at Rowlinson, said:

    “It’s great to be sharing progress together on site as we move forward with the construction.

    “Once completed later this year, these sustainable homes will undoubtedly be a welcome addition to the affordable housing offer in this popular canal-side location.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Immigration changes a ‘reckless’ blow to Welsh universities – Plaid Cymru

    Source: Party of Wales

    UK Government showing ‘lack of policy coherence’ and ‘troubling disregard of financial difficulties faced by universities’, says Ben Lake MP

    Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion Preseli, Ben Lake, has warned that the UK Government’s proposed changes to the graduate visa route and 6% levy on university income from international student fees could severely harm universities across Wales and the UK, calling the plans “reckless” and a “blow to Wales and the UK’s economic prospects”. 

      

    Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Mr Lake challenged the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, on the financial implications of the policy, highlighting that the Migration Advisory Committee had previously warned that restricting the graduate visa route could place universities at financial risk under the current funding model. 

      

    In response, the Home Secretary confirmed that international graduates will still be able to stay in the UK for 18 months post-graduation, but would need to secure graduate-level jobs to remain longer under the skilled worker visa. 

      

    However, Mr Lake said the response “reveals a lack of coherence” in government policy and fails to acknowledge the vital role that international students and staff play in sustaining higher education. 

      

    Speaking in the House of Commons, Ben Lake MP said: 

    “The Home Secretary will be aware of the funding crisis that affects many of the UK’s universities. Last year, when the Migration Advisory Committee reviewed the graduate visa route, it concluded that it should be retained, stating, ‘Under the current higher education funding model, closure or additional restrictions could put many universities at financial risk.’ 

    “What is the Home Secretary’s assessment of the impact that these changes will have on the financial sustainability of our universities?” 

      

    The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP responded: 

    “Where universities are already meeting high standards of compliance, as most of them are, that is very welcome, but those that do not currently meet them will need to raise their compliance standards to ensure that we have a proper, robust system. The graduate visa will enable people to stay on for the unrestricted 18 months, but if they want to stay longer they will need to be contributing in graduate jobs. Too often people have stayed without doing that, although they have degrees and should therefore be obtaining graduate jobs, which they can also do through the skilled worker visa.” 

      

    Ben Lake MP added: 

    “The Home Secretary’s response reveals a lack of coherence in UK Government policy on higher education, and a troubling disregard of the financial difficulties so many universities are facing. The contribution that international students – and staff – make to higher education should not be overlooked, and for many universities in Wales the income raised from the fees levied on international students help sustain course provision for UK-domiciled students. 

    “The UK Government would do well to remember that universities are crucial if its core pledge of driving economic growth is to be met, not only in driving research and innovation, but also to help train a workforce equipped with the skills to meet the challenges of the future. It is regrettable that the UK Government appears to overlook this contribution, and the fact that for every £1 invested in higher education, £13 is returned to the wider economy.

    “Reducing the graduate visa route and imposing a 6% levy on university income from international student fees without first addressing the broken funding model is a reckless move. It will result in job losses, course closures, and would deal yet another self-inflicted blow to Wales and the UK’s economic prospects. The UK Government should reconsider its approach.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Spirit of Kenmure Street should reflect Scotland’s politics

    Source: Scottish Greens

    13 May 2025 External Affairs

    Kenmure Street, not Downing Street. Solidarity and support over division.

    More in External Affairs

    On the anniversary of the Kenmure Street protest in Glasgow, we need to take a stand against Westminster’s divisive politics, says Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie.
     
    Four years ago, hundreds of people united on a Glasgow South Side street in peaceful protest that resulted in two men being freed from the Immigration Enforcement van they were detained in. It was one of the most prominent times in recent history that communities across Glasgow banded together in solidarity to challenge the cruel practice of dawn raids by the UK Home Office.
     
    The Scottish Greens are calling for the powers of immigration to be devolved to Scotland. Currently Westminster controls immigration policies without regard to the views of the devolved nations.
     
    Calls for solidarity and empathy come from Mr Harvie just one day after Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave a speech on immigration reform which has been sharply criticised, including by members of his own party.
     
    Mr Harvie said:

    “Now more than ever before we need to stand up and take action to support people living in Scotland. For decades, Scotland’s people and its governments have sought a more open and welcoming approach to immigration.
     
    “What we saw on Kenmure Street four years ago was a united community; peacefully rallying together to protect and defend their neighbours from detention by the UK Home Office. Four years later, Keir Starmer’s speech on immigration reform is a vilification of people entering the UK to live, work, and sometimes seek refuge here, and it sets a dangerous political tone that we should never echo here in Scotland.
     
    “With the rise of reactionary, far-right political views, and parties like Reform that only seek to sow division and hatred, we must support those most at risk of being scapegoated.
     
    “The Home Office operations happening within Scotland are based on Westminster’s decisions – cruel decisions that I believe the vast majority of people in Scotland rightfully object to, including the Scottish Greens.
     
    “As a self-governing, independent country, we would hold the keys to creating a fairer, better Scotland for everyone, but we shouldn’t have to wait. We should be able to protect the human rights of people living in Scotland now.
     
    “We can be the Scotland of Kenmure Street, not Downing Street.
     
    “We will always stand up for people living in Scotland, no matter if they are born here or are choosing to build their lives in our country. We can and should always strive to be a welcoming, supportive nation that values the rich history and knowledge that migrants bring.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Assembly Rejects All TUV Amendments as MLA Pay Rise Moves Forward

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:

    “I am deeply disappointed but not surprised by the outcome of the second stage of the Bill, which paves the way for a substantial pay increase for MLAs.

    “In an effort to inject accountability and transparency into the process, I tabled several amendments which would have:

    • Required the independent panel to take into account the fact that MLAs surrendered control of over 300 areas of law to Brussels through the vote on the Protocol;

    • Removed the obligation to benchmark MLA salaries against those of legislators in the Republic of Ireland as it is a foreign country;

    • Deferred any pay rise until the powers taken by the EU under the Protocol were restored to this Assembly and to Westminster and

    • Introduced a statutory duty for the Commission to consult the public on any Bill affecting MLA pay, pensions, or gratuities.

    “Regrettably, these proposals were dismissed. Amendments intended to strengthen oversight of Stormont’s expenses regime and bring it into line with Westminster standards were not even permitted onto the order paper.

    “Some may attempt to justify these developments by comparing them to procedures in London. If so, will those same voices now advocate for legislation introducing Westminster-style penalties, including imprisonment, for fraudulent claims? Unsurprisingly, no such assurances were offered.

    “In light of the Michael McMonagle scandal, the argument for serious reform is compelling — unless, it seems, one is an MLA primarily concerned with securing a pay increase.

    “It is particularly troubling that the Assembly chose to vote down an amendment that would have required public consultation on future changes to MLA pay and benefits. Public consultation is a fundamental element of the legislative process. Yet in this case, the Bill was introduced without public consultation — an approach that would not be tolerated for Executive or Private Members’ Bills.

    “This opaque method of operation damages the Assembly’s credibility and undermines public confidence.

    “Indeed, I would argue that there is a greater public interest in consulting on matters such as MLA remuneration than on many other legislative issues. It is wholly inadequate for the Commission to conduct internal deliberations in private, only to unveil a completed Bill once it reaches its first stage.

    “My amendment sought to address this by promoting transparency and inviting broader input from both MLAs and the public. Even this modest reform was rejected.

    “During today’s debate, I made the following comments about my amendments linking the pay rise to the Protocol:

    “Only when this Assembly sees the return of powers it’s surrendered to Brussels – to this House and to Westminster – will the provisions of this Bill come into effect.

    “I say this to fellow unionist Members: this is your opportunity to put the pressure on the pro-protocol parties in the House, prove the TUV wrong and show that, when we claim that this place is a racket where people are just interested in their pay packet, we are mistaken.

    “Amendment No 13 would stop any pay rise for MLAs while the protocol remains, but do not stop there. Make it clear that, unless the amendment is built into the Bill, you will refuse to support it. That is my challenge to unionism in the House. Put some pressure on the nationalist and republican alliance, which ripped up the Belfast Agreement to impose the protocol on us.”

    “Sadly, the Assembly failed to rise to that challenge.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘The red Welsh way’: Welsh Labour attempts to distance itself from the UK party

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nye Davies, Lecturer in Politics, Cardiff University

    David Michael Bellis/Shutterstock

    More than two decades ago, Rhodri Morgan, then first minister of Wales, put “clear red water” between Welsh Labour and the UK party. It’s a phrase that became one of the most enduring cliches in Welsh politics.

    Now, his successor Eluned Morgan is trying to chart a fresh course with a new slogan: “the red Welsh way”. In a recent speech, Morgan set out Welsh Labour’s core values ahead of the 2026 Senedd (Welsh parliament) election: “Solidarity, equality, sustainability and justice.” These, she argued, are progressive principles rooted in Wales’ political traditions.

    But the speech also had a clear strategic purpose: to reassert Welsh Labour’s distinct identity at a time when its dominance in devolved politics is under pressure.

    Morgan pledged to stand up for Wales whenever she believed it was being neglected by Westminster or when UK government policies disproportionately harmed the nation. Deploying nationalistic language, while insisting she is not a nationalist, Morgan invoked a history of exploitation in Wales and vowed that such injustices would not be tolerated under Welsh Labour’s watch.

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    It was also a notable shift in rhetoric. During the 2024 general election, Welsh Labour leaned heavily on the idea of “two governments at both ends of the M4” working together. Morgan’s speech also represents her most forthright attempt yet to replenish the red waters between the Welsh government and Keir Starmer’s leadership, and her most passionate defence of Welsh Labour as a distinct entity.

    Poll pressure

    On the very same day, a new poll placed Welsh Labour in third place, behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK. The polling comes with the familiar caveats. It is only one poll, a lot can change in the course of a year and it would be unwise to underestimate the strength of Welsh Labour’s electoral machine.

    Nevertheless, while the Senedd is expanding from 60 to 96 members, Welsh Labour’s presence within it is at risk of shrinking.

    Morgan’s speech implicitly recognises that the Labour brand is tainted. With the UK government chasing Reform UK’s voter base in light of recent election results, the red Welsh way feels like an effort to reclaim ground from Plaid Cymru, to which Welsh Labour appears to be losing support, particularly from left-leaning and Welsh-identifying voters.

    Morgan will hope that formulating a new image (or, rather, resurrecting an old one) can revive the party’s fortunes and allow it to continue its over 100 years dominance of Welsh politics.

    There is logic to this strategy. I have argued before that Welsh Labour thrives when it articulates a clear, values-driven Welsh identity. But there are now formidable obstacles in Morgan’s path.

    First, trying to position a party that has been in government for 26 years as an insurgent force is challenging. The clear red water rhetoric, rooted in progressive principles, has not always been matched in reality.
    Strained public services and entrenched poverty in Wales undermine Welsh Labour’s claims to achieving social justice. While constitutional constraints and funding limitations from Westminster are real, slogans alone do not shield people from hardship.



    Read more:
    Devolving justice and policing to Wales would put it on par with Scotland and Northern Ireland – so what’s holding it back?

    Ultimately, after years of austerity, people in Wales are looking for a party that will offer them hope of a brighter future. Instead of slogans, Welsh Labour will need to show the electorate that it is making a tangible difference to people’s lives. As Morgan herself insisted in the speech: “Less chat, and more do.”

    Second, Morgan faces a further challenge from an emboldened Welsh parliamentary Labour party (PLP). A recent Politico article documents the various ways in which the central Labour party is attempting to have a greater say in Welsh Labour’s affairs, from manifesto writing to candidate selection. One Labour figure was quoted as stating: “The Welsh PLP hate the Senedd group.”

    Amid reports that Morgan accused Welsh MPs of not standing up for Wales, a Labour Senedd member has warned of “simmering discontent” with Westminster.

    A party at a crossroads

    Among these challenges, Welsh Labour will struggle with its claim to be standing up for Wales when judged against outcomes. Repeated failures to secure rail funding, further devolution and even consideration for the effects of policy changes on Wales, suggest that Welsh Labour’s voice in Westminster still struggles to carry weight. That’s even under a Labour-led UK government.

    In truth, the red Welsh way reflects a party caught in a strategic bind. It’s eager to differentiate itself, but hamstrung by its own long-term incumbency, internal divisions and limited power.

    As the 2026 Senedd election draws closer, Welsh Labour will throw everything at shifting the narrative. But as things stand, the clear red water that once symbolised distance from Westminster has become muddied.

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

    – ref. ‘The red Welsh way’: Welsh Labour attempts to distance itself from the UK party – https://theconversation.com/the-red-welsh-way-welsh-labour-attempts-to-distance-itself-from-the-uk-party-256496

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Everyone isn’t ‘a little bit autistic’ – here’s why this notion is harmful

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Aimee Grant, Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow, Swansea University

    MDV Edwards/Shutterstock

    I recently had a medical appointment and explained that I’m autistic. It affects how I communicate and understand information, and sometimes I’m misinterpreted as being rude. The person nodded and replied: “Well, everyone’s a little bit autistic.” They then shared something they struggle with, sometimes, when they haven’t had enough sleep.

    It wasn’t the first time I’ve heard that line, and I doubt it’ll be the last. It happens often – not only in doctors’ surgeries but in social situations, on social media and many other places besides. And it’s not just me. Online spaces are full of autistic adults and the parents of autistic children expressing frustration at this phrase.

    So where does the idea come from, that autistic traits are merely universal human behaviour, just to an exaggerated degree in autistic people?

    To answer that, we need to understand what autism is. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference. You’re either born autistic, or you’re not. It’s not something you develop over time.

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    Historically, autism has been underdiagnosed among many groups of people, although least affecting white boys. That isn’t because other people are less likely to be autistic.

    It’s because diagnostic practices and clinical assumptions have been based on a narrow idea of what autism “looks like”. It fails to recognise that many autistic people – but especially girls and women – “mask” their autism. This means they suppress their natural autistic behaviour to reduce the chance of a negative response from those around them. Fortunately recognition of masking is changing, albeit slowly.

    Challenges

    The challenges an autistic person faces, and the distress we may experience, arise from our interactions with other people or the environment around us as a result of our neurological differences.

    Autism affects how we experience the world, how we communicate and how we process sensory information. Communication can be challenging for us, especially in settings where social expectations aren’t clearly defined.

    We may also struggle with certain lights, sounds or textures. These experiences can fluctuate depending on how many difficult things have already happened to us that day, our hormone levels, and consequently how overwhelmed we already are.

    Autistic people often find comfort in familiarity and routine, and can become overwhelmed by unexpected change. To manage that, many autistic people “stim”, which is short for self-stimulatory behaviour, and can include doing things like rocking or tapping, or fidgeting with an object. These repetitive movements can help calm us down or regulate sensory overload.

    When I teach about autism, I sometimes ask students to think about how they react to sensory discomfort or disruption. There’s usually a long list of things. For instance, being irritated by roadworks, bothered by scratchy clothes or stressed out by a house move. These are all human traits. But they don’t mean you’re autistic.

    Life is often stressful, so cortisol levels rise accordingly. That doesn’t mean you’re autistic. It means your nervous system is working as it should. Likewise, noticing loud noises or being anxious about change is perfectly normal. But it doesn’t mean your brain is wired the same way as someone who is autistic.

    There are clear differences between autistic and non-autistic people, not just in the kinds of challenges they experience, but in how often and how intensely those challenges occur. Research shows that autistic people have significantly higher rates of sensory sensitivity, communication differences, repetitive behaviour and social difficulties than non-autistic people. For most autistic people, these aren’t things that happen once in a while. They are constant features of life.

    If you think this sounds like you, there is a chance that you could be autistic. While we expect around 3% of people to be autistic, only around 1% of adults are diagnosed.

    So, when someone says “everyone is a little bit autistic”, they’re relying on a myth that flattens those differences. It suggests a spectrum from “not autistic” to “very autistic”, with everyone fitting somewhere on that line.

    That’s understandable, because we don’t have a biological test for autism, to give a clear yes or no answer. Instead, questionnaires are often used to initially assess the likelihood of being autistic. But you can’t be a “little bit” autistic.

    The term “autism spectrum disorder” was first used in 1994 in diagnostic manuals, to bring together people diagnosed with autism and Asperger’s syndrome, a contentious name linked to Nazi genocide.

    Many autism researchers argue that we shouldn’t be dividing autistic people into different groups, as support needs can vary from day to day. Others dislike the term “autism spectrum” because it can be misleading. It’s too often misunderstood as a fixed linear scale. In reality, autism is multidimensional. Different people have different combinations of strengths, needs and experiences. Two autistic people may have little in common apart from their diagnosis.



    Read more:
    Why the autism jigsaw puzzle piece is such a problematic symbol

    The “everyone’s a bit autistic” myth can be actively harmful. It’s often used to dismiss the challenges we face or to argue that autistic people don’t really need support. It also contributes to a culture where autism becomes the punchline. Non-autistic people do something like parking in the same space each day, but attribute it to being “a little bit autistic”.

    For decades, autistic people weren’t given a platform to share our experiences. The stories told about us, especially in the media, were often created by non-autistic people, and were full of stereotypes. That’s starting to change, but those outdated ideas persist.

    Use empathy

    So, the next time an autistic person tells you what they’re struggling with, please don’t respond by comparing it to your own mild discomfort. Try empathising instead: “I’m sorry” or “that sounds really hard”. And if you can, ask if there’s anything you could do to help. Even small accommodations can make a big difference to someone’s comfort and wellbeing.

    Because no, not everyone is “a little bit autistic”. And saying that doesn’t help us – it makes it harder for us to be seen, heard and supported.

    Aimee Grant receives funding from the Wellcome Trust and UKRI. She is a non-executive director of Disability Wales.

    – ref. Everyone isn’t ‘a little bit autistic’ – here’s why this notion is harmful – https://theconversation.com/everyone-isnt-a-little-bit-autistic-heres-why-this-notion-is-harmful-256129

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Closing off social care jobs to migrant workers will only harm a sector that’s already in crisis

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Majella Kilkey, Professor of Social Policy, University of Sheffield

    shurkin_son/Shutterstock

    One big talking point to emerge from the UK government’s recently announced plans to reform the immigration system was the proposal to end recruitment of social care workers from overseas. Anyone who has experienced the sector recently will know that it is hugely dependent on workers from abroad. So the move – laid out in a new white paper which went further than many expected – will have huge implications.

    For those international workers already sponsored to work in the sector, a transition period will allow them to extend their visa until 2028. Other overseas nationals already in the UK with the right to work will be able to switch to a job in social care.

    Critics have argued for overhauling the visa system that allows employers to recruit care workers from overseas amid evidence of widespread and systemic exploitation of workers. But the plan to completely axe the health and care visa, without any proposed alternative, was unexpected.

    In fact, a 2024 strategy for adult social care, published by industry body Skills for Care, acknowledged that international workers are “crucial” for the sector. It also recommended that the UK’s immigration policy recognise the sector’s need to recruit care workers from abroad.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    The government’s decision to make reducing net migration the central plank of its immigration policy explains its apparent disregard of the care sector’s recommendation. This is based on the belief, contradicted by research, that becoming even tougher on migration will fight off the electoral threat posed by the rightwing Reform party.

    In fact, the share of net migration taken up by the care worker visa has been falling. This is not least because of the previous government’s decision to ban those on the visa from bringing their dependants.

    Care work was categorised as “low-skilled” work by the previous Conservative government when it introduced its new global points-based immigration system in January 2021. This categorisation made the sector particularly vulnerable in the context of the white paper’s preference for migration into “higher-skilled” jobs because of its purported economic benefits.

    This approach privileges particular sectors over others, leaving the care sector facing huge labour gaps. Yet, in contrast to the white paper’s position, evidence shows that 54% of people in the UK favour making it easier for people to come to the UK to do care work, implying that the public recognise the value of this sector.

    In contrast, while only 27% favour making it easier for people to come to work in the financial sector, the white paper proposes to give preferential treatment to this sector.

    The government’s vision is that “British workers” will replace migrants in the care sector. The white paper, however, presents no evidence that migrant workers have been displacing “British workers” in the industry. Instead, it acknowledges that low rates of domestic recruitment and retention are “largely driven by historic levels of poor pay and poor terms and conditions”.

    This is a systemic issue. Despite care being crucial to human survival and society’s functioning, the work that it requires is either unpaid or hugely underpaid.

    Labour unions and research evidence highlight the the key barriers to recruitment and retention: low rates of pay in the sector, the prevalence of zero-hours contracts (21% in March 2024), the limited opportunities for training and career progression, as well as the low status of care work.

    The government has defended its white paper by pointing to its plans to address these recruitment and retention challenges, most notably through measures like the fair pay agreement, the employment rights bill and the care workforce pathway, which aim to improve pay and conditions in the sector. But Care England has said these initiatives are “years away from delivery” and underfunded.

    The proposed fair pay agreement, through which the government hopes to tackle the staffing crisis in social care, would give care workers stronger collective bargaining powers and provide stricter enforcement of agreements on pay, terms and conditions. The government’s impact assessment suggests, however, that the agreement will increase costs to councils, as well as those funding their own care. Higher costs to councils would need to be mitigated by increased investment from central government.

    Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, and Christina McAnea, general secretary of trade union Unison, have said that the white paper’s depiction of care work as “low-skilled” adds to its low social status. It also runs contrary to the professionalisation agenda set out in the government-endorsed care workforce pathway. And, of course, it undermines efforts to attract “British workers” into the sector.

    A crisis in staffing

    In the meantime, the latest data from industry body Skills for Care show that the sector has 131,000 vacancies in England alone. Its vacancy rate at 8.3% is higher than the 6.9% for the NHS, and significantly higher than the 2.8% for the economy as a whole.

    The same data source estimates that 540,000 new social care posts will be needed by 2040 to meet rising demand, as more people live longer with major illnesses and disabilities. Relatives are put under immense pressure to fill these care gaps, without the pay or resources to do so.

    Without the international care workers who have helped the social care sector keep its head above water since Brexit, the prospects look unimaginably bleak for the health and wellbeing of workers in the sector. And this is before we consider the impact on some of society’s most vulnerable people who need their care and support, as well as their families and kin.

    Majella Kilkey receives funding from UKRI-ESRC.

    Jayanthi T. Lingham receives funding from the Independent Social Research Foundation (ISRF).

    – ref. Closing off social care jobs to migrant workers will only harm a sector that’s already in crisis – https://theconversation.com/closing-off-social-care-jobs-to-migrant-workers-will-only-harm-a-sector-thats-already-in-crisis-256626

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What will the Antichrist look like? According to Western thought, an authoritarian king – or the pope

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Philip C. Almond, Emeritus Professor in the History of Religious Thought, The University of Queensland

    Composite image by The Conversation. Images courtesy of TruthSocial/@realDonaldTrump and Wikimedia Commons

    The US presidency and the papacy came together on May 3 when Donald Trump posted an AI-generated photograph of himself dressed as the pope to Truth Social. The image was then shared by the White House’s accounts.

    Seated in an ornate (Mar-a-Lago-style) golden chair, he was wearing a white cassock and a bishop’s hat, with his right forefinger raised.

    Trump has since told reporters he “had nothing to do with it […] somebody did it in fun”.

    This image of “Pope Donald I” is of historical significance, for reasons of which, no doubt, the White House and Trump were blissfully unaware. It is the first ever image to combine the two most important understandings of the figure of the Antichrist in Western thought: on the one hand, that of the pope, and on the other, that of the authoritarian, despotic world emperor.

    On April 22, the day after Pope Francis’ death, Trump declared “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice”. On April 28, Trump told The Atlantic “I run the country and the world”.

    So, both pope and world emperor.

    The Imperial Antichrist

    In the New Testament, the First Letter of John says, before Christ came again, the Antichrist will appear: the most conspicuous sign the end of the world was near.

    The Antichrist would be the archetypal evil human being who would persecute the Christian faithful. He would be finally defeated by the forces of good. As Sir Isaac Newton suggested, “searching the Prophecies which [God] hath given us to know Antichrist by” is a Christian obligation.

    The first life of the Antichrist was written by a Benedictine monk, Adso of Montier-en-der, around 1,100 years ago. According to Adso, the Antichrist would be a tyrannical evil king who would corrupt all those around him with gold and silver. He would be brought up in all forms of wickedness. Evil spirits would be his instructors and his constant companions.

    The Antichrist, left, is depicted as a king, in this image from a 12th century manuscript.
    Wikimedia Commons

    Seeking his own glory, as Adso put it, this king “will call himself Almighty God”.

    The Antichrist was opposite to everything Christ-like. According to the Christian tradition, Christ was fully human yet absolutely “sin free”. The Antichrist too was fully human, but completely “sin full”. The Antichrist was not so much a supernatural being who became flesh, as a human being who became fully demonised.

    Influenced by Christian stories of the Antichrist, Islam and Judaism constructed their own Antichrists – al-Dajjal, the Antichrist of the Muslims, and Armilus, the Antichrist of the Jews. Both al-Dajjal and Armilus are king-like messiahs.

    Over the centuries, many world leaders have been labelled “the Antichrist” – the Roman emperors Nero and Domitian were Antichrist figures, and the French emperor Napoleon was named the Antichrist in his own time.

    There have been more recent leaders who have been likened to the Antichrist, among them former president of Iraq Saddam Hussein, King Charles III, former Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev, al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, and Trump.

    The Papal Antichrist

    In the year 1190, King Richard I of England, on his way to the Holy Land, was informed by the Italian theologian Joachim of Fiore (c.1135–1202) the next pope would be the Antichrist.

    In the history of the Antichrist, this was a momentous occasion. From this time on, the tyrannical Antichrist outside of the Church would be juxtaposed with the papal deceiver within it.

    That the Catholic pope was the Antichrist was the common reading of the pope in the 16th-century Protestant Reformation.

    Martin Luther (1483–1546), the founder of the Protestant revolution, declared the pope “is the true […] Antichrist who has raised himself over and set himself against Christ”.

    Just as all Christians would not worship the Devil as God, he went on to say, “so we cannot allow his apostle the pope or Antichrist, to govern as our head or lord”.

    This 1877 painting depicts Martin Luther summoned by the Catholic Church in 1521, to renounce or reaffirm his views criticising Pope Leo X.
    Wikimedia Commons

    As he was about to be burned by the Catholic Queen Mary for his Protestant beliefs, the Anglican bishop Thomas Cranmer (1489–1556) declared, “as for the pope, I refuse him, as Christ’s enemy and antichrist with all his false doctrine”.

    Even in 1988, as Pope John Paul II addressed the European Parliament, the Northern Ireland hardline Protestant leader Ian Paisley roared, “Antichrist! I renounce you and all your cults and creeds” – to which, we are told, the pope gave a slight bemused smile.

    Except among the most extreme of Protestant conservatives, the idea of the papal Antichrist no longer has any purchase. The papal Antichrist has vacated the Western stage for the imperial Antichrist.

    The Antichrist and the end of the world

    In the history of Christianity, the idea of the Antichrist was a key part of Christian expectations about the return of Christ and the end of the world.

    In the final battle between the forces of good and evil, the Antichrist would be defeated by the forces of Christ. In short, the rise of the world emperor who was the Antichrist was a sign that the end of the world was at hand.

    In the light of the Western history of “the Antichrist”, the image of the imperial and papal US president is a powerful sign that the global order – at least as we have known it for the last 80 years – may be at an end.



    Read more:
    Five things to know about the Antichrist

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

    – ref. What will the Antichrist look like? According to Western thought, an authoritarian king – or the pope – https://theconversation.com/what-will-the-antichrist-look-like-according-to-western-thought-an-authoritarian-king-or-the-pope-256205

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government celebrates geographers in seventh annual awards

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Government celebrates geographers in seventh annual awards

    The seventh Geography in Government awards took place on 12 May 2025

    The seventh annual Geography in Government Awards took place on Monday 12 May 2025 at Geovation in London, celebrating the work done by members of the geography profession across the public sector.

    These awards reflect the importance of geography and spatial thinking in the design and delivery of public policy and celebrates the successes of our members, who come from a diverse range of organisations.

    This year had a record number of nominations across the seven categories, the winners of those categories were;

    Communication

    This award is in collaboration with the British Cartographic Society and recognises excellence in communication of geographic content.

    • English offshore Marine Protected Area (MPA) byelaw work (stage 2), Marine Management Organisation.

    Innovation (joint winners)

    This award recognises excellence by a team or individual in advancing geography through the introduction and/or implementation of innovative methods.

    • Mapping peatland using AI and machine learning, Natural England
    • AI Predicted Historic Woodlands, Welsh Government

    Knowledge Driven Policy Making

    This award recognises the application of geographic knowledge and skills to develop excellent domestic or international policy-making in action and have an impact.

    • National Infrastructure Spatial Tool, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

    Local Impact

    This award is in collaboration with Geoplace and recognises the breadth and depth of geographical work undertaken at a local or regional level.

    • Report It, Westminster City Council

    Making a Difference (joint winners)

    This award recognises projects, teams or individuals whose efforts support sustained ‘business as usual’ work.

    • Improvements to Great Britain 1:50,000 air charts, Defence Geographic Centre, MOD
    • Cultural Lighting product to assist Amphibious Operations, Scotia Kaczor, UK Hydrographic Office

    Leading by Example

    This award recognises a team or individual who has made a difference within their work area through the application of geography or through promoting geography.

    • Transforming data processing in the marine domain to improve customer experience, Andrew Talbot, UK Hydrographic Office

    Rising Star

    This award is in collaboration with the Association for Geographic Information – Early Careers Network.

    This award is to recognise someone in the first five years of their career as a geographer in government or a public sector organisation, who has gone above and beyond what would be expected for someone of their experience or has championed the importance of applying a geographic approach.

    The three rising stars this year were;

    • Jasmine Elliot, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
    • Tyde D’Souza, Office for National Statistics
    • Gabriella Fasoli, Natural England

    Winner of Government in Geography Award 2025

    From all of the category winners, the winner of the Geography in Government Awards 2025, was won by;

    • National Infrastructure Spatial Tool, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

    The decision was announced at the ceremony, but they will also be presented with their award at the prestigious Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) medals and awards ceremony in June.

    David Wood, Head of Government Geography Profession said:

    It is great to recognise the outstanding contributions of our Government Geography Profession members every year. The awards emphasise the importance of space and place in policy design and implementation.

    If you are a crown, civil or public servant applying geographic principles in your work and would like to become a member of the Government Geography Profession, you can join via our members site.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major Review of the Judicial Salary Structure: Terms of Reference

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Major Review of the Judicial Salary Structure: Terms of Reference

    The Lord Chancellor writes to the Chair of the Senior Salaries Review Body setting out the Terms of Reference for the Major Review of Judicial Salary Structure.

    Applies to England and Wales

    Documents

    Letter from the Lord Chancellor to Lea Paterson CBE

    PDF, 104 KB, 2 pages

    Major Review of the Judicial Salary Structure: Terms of Reference

    PDF, 167 KB, 4 pages

    Annex A: List of judicial offices in scope of the Major Review

    PDF, 154 KB, 7 pages

    Details

    This letter to the Chair of the SSRB announces the Terms of Reference for the Major Review of the Judicial Salary Structure. The Terms of Reference sets out the purpose, remit and scope of the Major Review.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 May 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with Taoiseach Martin of Ireland: 13 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with Taoiseach Martin of Ireland: 13 May 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin this morning. 

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin this morning. 

    The pair discussed the productive Coalition of the Willing meeting on Saturday and agreed good progress had been made in support of Ukraine. They agreed to continue working with international partners and put pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table without conditions. 

    The Prime Minister updated the Taoiseach on his ongoing discussions with the European Union, ahead of the first UK-EU summit next week. Both leaders agreed that there was an ambitious package on the table that would serve to benefit hard-working people and businesses across Europe. 

    Finally, the Prime Minister and Taoiseach reflected on the constructive bilateral discussions held recently at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in April on a joint approach to dealing with legacy issues of the past in Northern Ireland. They agreed that their respective teams would continue these discussions at pace.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Improving cardiology nursing

    Source: Scottish Government

    New skills to benefit patients and clinical staff.

    Cardiology nurses are to be supported to develop advanced skills to enable them to treat a wider range of patients and heart conditions.

    The National Specialist Nursing In Cardiology Framework will set out how nurses can develop advanced skills and expertise through university-level qualifications and clinical experience. This will support their practice at advanced level, including interpreting diagnostic tests and prescribing medications, leading teams and mentoring colleagues.

    Nursing professionals and cardiology services will be better able to align with the needs of the people they are caring for.

    Public Health Minister Jenni Minto visited Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert to launch the framework and said:

    “Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of serious ill health and death, and nurses across the country make enormous efforts to ensure the best care for patients.

    “As a government we want to support the NHS workforce and ensure they can continue to develop new skills that benefit patients. This innovative framework will help cardiology nurses obtain advanced skills to ensure more timely diagnoses, improved management of conditions and better access to care.

    “I hope that cardiology nurses across Scotland will find this to be a useful framework and that it helps them to develop their careers and meet the increasing amount of cardiovascular demand that we are seeing across the system.”

    The framework is a collaboration between the Scottish Government, nursing representatives from all NHS health boards, and NHS Education for Scotland.

    Senior Cardiology Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist and National Heart Disease Coordinator for the Scottish Government Leeanne Macklin said:

    “The framework not only aims to enhance patient care but also offers a structured pathway for career progression in specialty cardiology nursing. By creating clear routes to advanced practice roles such as Clinical Nurse Specialist and Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist, the framework supports the ongoing professional development of nurses within cardiology across Scotland.

    “This initiative is also designed to improve retention and job satisfaction by providing nurses with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in their careers.”

    Associate Director for Nursing, Policy and Professional Practice at RCN Scotland Eileen McKenna said:

    “Advanced practice roles recognise the safety critical role that nursing plays and provide an opportunity for nurses to develop and have their clinical skills and expertise recognised. The Specialist Nursing in Cardiology Framework is a welcome route for learning and career progression for existing and future cardiology nurses.”

    The Chief Medical Officer’s Specialty Advisor for Cardiology Dr Ross McGeoch said:

    “Clinical Nurse Specialists are integral to the delivery of timely, safe, and effective cardiology care in Scotland. The Specialist Nursing in Cardiology Framework further strengthens these roles for the benefit of both practitioners and our patients.” 

    Background

    https://nmahpdevelopmentframework.nes.scot.nhs.uk/supporting-frameworks/specialist-practice-frameworks/cardiology/specialist-nursing-in-cardiology-framework/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Dose of History: Pioneers of UConn Pharmacy

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Ann Petry: Making the Impossible Possible 

    Raised as a third-generation New Englander and Connecticut native, Ann Petry became the first Black woman to graduate from the Connecticut College of Pharmacy in 1931 (now, the UConn School of Pharmacy).  

    Anna Houston Lane, born in 1908, called Old Saybrook her home. In 1925, Ann graduated from high school as the only person of African American descent. Ann’s parents inspired her to push the limits of what was possible. Change-making didn’t scare the Lane family – Ann’s father, Pete, opened and operated two drugstores as a pharmacist. Her mother, Bertha James Lane, worked in a factory before becoming a shop owner, hairdresser, and chiropodist, and creating her own business, Beautiful Linens for Beautiful Homes. As the youngest of three daughters, Ann and her sisters were raised in “classic New England tradition” with strong familial role models who empowered her in light of systemic racial disadvantages. 

    “The Lanes were a close-knit, middle-class Black family, which provided the young Ann Lane with a strong sense of herself as well as with a level of confidence…”  – A Yęmisi Jimoh (UMass ScholarWorks)

    Ann, inspired by her aunt, Anna L. James, the first black woman pharmacist in Connecticut,  became determined to continue breaking barriers for Black women and to carry on her family legacy by enrolling in the Connecticut College of Pharmacy in New Haven, which has since been transformed into the School of Pharmacy in Storrs. After receiving her Graduate in Pharmacy degree (Ph.G.) from the School, Ann worked in the family business for several years in Old Saybrook and Old Lyme. While working as a pharmacist, Ann also explored her other interest in writing, crafting short stories in her free time.  

    Ann Petry (Wikimedia Commons)

    In 1938, Anne married George Petry, a Louisiana-born resident of Harlem. Soon after, Ann moved to New York City and set aside her pharmaceutical career to become a journalist and writer. She dove into the world of activism, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, and wrote for The Harlem Amsterdam News and The People’s Voices while writing short stories and novels focused on the Black experience. While her husband was in service during WWII, Ann began work on her first novel The Street, which became the first novel by an African American woman to sell more than a million copies after its publication in 1946. Ann eventually moved back to Saybrook, where she continued her joy of writing, and passed away in 1997 with her loving husband and only daughter, Elizabeth Petry, by her side. Shortly before her death, she was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame in Connecticut where her legacy continues to live.  

    As the granddaughter of a slave who self-liberated and traveled to Connecticut through the Underground Railroad, Ann Petry had the forces of history against her. Yet, with the support of her loving family and friends, Ann wrote her own story – finding success in both pharmacy and writing.  

    Varro Tyler: From Pharmacognosist to Philatelist 

    A successful professor, pharmacognosist, and lifelong scholar, Varro Tyler graduated from UConn’s School of Pharmacy with his M.S. in 1951 and his Ph.D. in 1953, becoming the first individual to be awarded both degrees from the School. 

    Born in Nebraska in 1926, Varro was a Southern man at heart but moved to Connecticut for his academic pursuits in herbal medicine. Before attending UConn, he received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska and studied plant sciences at Yale on an Eli Lilly Research Fellowship for a year before attending UConn.  

    Varro Tyler (Wikimedia Commons)

    Having attained his pharmacy degrees from several colleges and universities, Varro couldn’t leave academics behind. His most notable roles include associate professor and chairman of the Department of Pharmacognosy at the University of Nebraska, a similar position at the University of Washington, and Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Purdue University in 1966.   

    Along with his time in academia, Varro served as the first president of the American Society of Pharmacognosy and president of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). As an active member of professional organizations and his community, Varro implemented his work in several settings – writing more than 270 publications and frequently appearing on TV and radio talk shows.

    As the dietary supplement industry boomed in the 1990s, Varro urged the FDA to take a more assertive role in regulating product quality and manufacturers’ claims while writing a monthly column on herbal remedies for Prevention magazine. Varro grounded his interests in scientific research, opposing para-herbalism (herbalism based on pseudoscience) throughout his academic career. 

    Varro’s research interests were wide-ranging, including herbal medicine, medicinal and toxic constituents of higher fungi, drug plant cultivation, and more. In addition to his literature on these pharmaceutical topics, Varro was an avid stamp collector later in life and specialized in the postage stamps of Japan. As a philatelist, Varro wrote substantial literature on stamp forgery and had a long association with the International Society for Japanese Philately.   

    “Varro had a profound impact on pharmacy education, natural product science, and the use of herbal medicine” and received many awards and accolades.” – James E. Robbers (The American Society of Pharmacognosy)

    After retiring in 1996, Varro continued to be passionate about his interests and passed away in 2001 with his loving wife, Virginia, by his side.  

    Mike Pikal: A Legacy That Lives On  

    With a UConn career spanning almost twenty-five years, Mike Pikal inspired thousands of students and faculty at the School and left an unmatched legacy.  

    Born in 1939 in Minnesota to parents Harold and Sophie, Mike was raised in the Midwest. He stayed close to home, earning his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from St. John’s University in Minnesota. He later received a doctorate from Iowa State University in 1966.  

    Mike started his career as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee before joining Eli Lilly Research Laboratories in the early 1970s. After years of dedicated research, Mike became a senior research scientist and won the 1996 President’s Award for his work at the company. Years later, in 1996, he joined UConn Nation as a professor of pharmaceutics.  

    During his time at UConn, Mike made the School proud, serving as the department head of Pharmaceutical Sciences and an Emeritus Professor while maintaining a fully active and highly productive research program. In 2005, he was named the first Pfizer Distinguished Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Technology.  

    Mike Pikal (UConn Archives)

    Mike’s research spanned freeze-drying, solid-state chemistry/materials science of pharmaceuticals and protein stability, which led to more than 170 publications. Particularly interested in freeze-drying, Mike was a leader in this field and its technology and was the main contributor to the School’s successful partnerships with groups like The Center for Pharmaceutical Processing (CPPR) and The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). He also directed a prominent and diverse research program in freeze-drying. Because of these efforts, as well as his membership in various pharmaceutical associations, Pikal won several awards, becoming one of fewer than twenty scientists to receive the AAPS Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist Award.  

    While all his accolades and research pursuits are outstanding, the School is especially grateful for the relationships Pikal formed with his Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scholars. Selflessly giving his time and advice to those starting in the pharmacy field, Pikal was truly an inspiration to those around him.

    Surrounded by his loving wife, Janice, five children, and many grandchildren, Pikal passed away in 2018, a year after retiring from UConn.  

    “Mike is just in a different league than most of the rest of us. One of the many things we love about him is that he never makes us feel that way.” — Steve Nail (Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

      

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