NewzIntel.com

Category: Great Britain

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Poll shows huge majority of Scots back rent controls and housing protections

    Source: Scottish Greens

    12 May 2025 Housing

    Homes are for living in, not for profiteering.

    More in Housing

    The overwhelming majority of people in Scotland want rent controls to ensure rogue landlords cannot keep hiking rents, according to polling commissioned by the Scottish Greens.

    The polling, carried out by Diffley, shows that 74% of people support rent controls and 83% believe that rents are too high compared to income levels in Scotland.

    It also shows- that over two thirds (69%) support Green plans to force landlords to sell long-term derelict land and housing that they are sitting on.

    Amendments proposed by Maggie Chapman MSP to the Housing (Scotland) Bill would create robust rent controls across Scotland, ensuring that rents can’t rise faster than incomes, if MSPs back them.

    These protections put people over landlord profits, putting money back into people’s pockets and supporting renters through the ongoing cost of living crisis when bills and other costs are soaring.

    Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman said:

    “It is no wonder that there is such strong support for rent controls. The housing market is completely broken and it is renters who are paying the price. It underlines just how crucial it is that we take action.

    “We’ve all seen how much damage is being done by rogue landlords who have been given carte blanche to line their pockets through massive rent increases.

    “Not only does this hurt renters, often pushing them into poverty or even homelessness, but it hurts our economy as people have less money to spend.

    “This is why the Scottish Greens implemented a rent freeze and eviction ban during Covid, saving people thousands of pounds, and it’s why we so strongly opposed the SNP ending the protections that we put in place afterwards.

    “With the Housing Bill going through parliament we have the opportunity to stop the exploitation of renters and end rip-off rents. We must seize it.

    “We must offer people and their families some financial stability, and less worry about losing the roof over their heads. Homes are for living in and not for profiteering. We need to make unaffordable rent hikes become a thing of the past.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City’s tiny Saxon treasure has a big story to tell

    Source: City of Leeds

    A beautiful ancient Saxon pendant buried for more than 1,200 years in a Leeds field is giving experts a fascinating glimpse into life in early medieval Yorkshire.

    Believed to date from the eighth century, the gilded pectoral cross may have once been a badge of office for an important church leader or official and was unearthed last year by a metal detectorist.

    With one arm broken, and the central stone now missing, the cross is nevertheless a stunning example of metalwork, made from solid silver covered with a thin layer of gold leaf.

    Decorated with an intricate interlacing Saxon pattern, the remarkable find would have probably been worn around the neck of someone of high status and is the latest in a number of discoveries indicating Leeds and its surrounding area may once have been home to some important and influential figures in the early medieval period.

    The small artefact went through the Portable Antiquities Scheme Treasure process, and was secured by Leeds Museums and Galleries thanks to the generous contributions of funders. The cross is now set to go on display at Leeds City Museum later this year.

    Kat Baxter, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of archaeology, said: “The cross is beautifully decorated on both sides, which suggests it was designed to hang around the neck with the suspension loop on the missing arm. It would certainly have been worn by someone of high status and is an outward display of religious identity.

    “It was made at a time when Leeds was part of the Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria and, along with a number of other discoveries in the area, really helps us build a picture of the types of people who would have lived here during this time”.

    The 8th Century saw the earliest known written reference to Leeds, or Loidis, by the historian and monk The Venerable Bede. As well as Northumbia, England’s kingdoms included Mercia, Wessex, and East Anglia.

    The cross’s discovery is the latest in a string of significant Saxon and Roman finds made in the Leeds area in recent years.

    Just two years ago, a lead coffin buried for more than 1,600 years was discovered in a previously unknown cemetery site near Garforth alongside the remains of more than 60 individuals from late Roman to early Saxon periods.

    The coffin contained the remains of a woman aged 25-35, who was buried wearing a bracelet, glass bead necklace and a finger ring or earring.

    And in 2012 Leeds Museums and Galleries acquired The West Yorkshire Hoard, a group of seven objects found in the Leeds area by a metal detectorist dating from the seventh to 11th centuries. Five of the objects in the hoard are high quality gold jewellery, which would only have been worn by people of exceptional wealth in Saxon society.

    Kat added: “All of these finds are part of a puzzle which together show that Leeds was home to high status, important individuals during the Saxon period, and this beautiful cross is the latest glimpse into the past. Unfortunately, objects representing less wealthy people are less likely to survive.

    “There are certainly more objects out there waiting to be discovered, and responsible metal detectorists and The Portable Antiquities Scheme are playing a really important role in increasing our understanding of local history. Without them, this beautiful piece of Saxon metalwork, and many others like it, would never have been found and made available for future generations.”

    Funding for the cross came through generous support from the Arts Council England /V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, and the Friends of Leeds City Museums. It was acquired under The Treasure Act 1996.

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “This find is a beautiful example of the history all around us and gives a fascinating insight into the story of Leeds.

    “It’s always wonderful when we are able to add important objects like this to our collections and we’re very grateful for the continued support of funders and visitors in helping us to preserve our local heritage.”

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Update: Fatal crash at Caltowie

    Source: New South Wales – News

    A man has died in a fatal crash at Caltowie this morning.

    The single car rollover occurred on Wilkins Highway, Caltowie, near the Caltowie-Hornsdale Road, just before 10.30am on Monday 12 May.

    Sadly, the driver and single occupant of the car, a 43-year-old man from Peterborough, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

    Major Crash investigators attended and examined the scene.

    The roads have re-opened; however, some lane restrictions remain in place around the crash.

    The man’s death is the 30th life lost on South Australian roads so far this year.

    MIL OSI News –

  • End of an era: Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian cricket stalwart and former captain Virat Kohli on Monday announced his retirement from Test cricket.

    The decision came after it was reported that Kohli had communicated his decision to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ahead of next month’s five-match Test series against England.

    “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life,” Kohli wrote in his Instagram post.

    “There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever. As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for.

    “I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile. #269, signing off,” he added.

    In less than a week, both Kohli and Rohit Sharma have retired from the longest format of the game which will leave the Indian team without much experience in the batting department.

    Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011, has been a cornerstone of India’s red-ball resurgence over the past decade. His aggressive captaincy, prolific batting and unmatched intensity have helped transform India into a formidable Test side both at home and abroad.

    Kohli will bid adieu to his Test career with 9230 runs in 123 matches at an impressive average of 46.85 with 30 centuries and 51 half-centuries. He hangs up his spikes as the fourth-most successful Test captain overall, behind Graeme Smith (53 wins), Ricky Ponting (48 wins), and Steve Waugh (41 wins).

    Kohli’s 30 Test centuries make him the fourth-most successful India batter, behind Sachin Tendulkar (51 hundreds), Rahul Dravid (36), and Sunil Gavaskar (34). Kohli also made seven Test double hundreds, the most ever by an Indian. He also has the most Test hundreds by an Indian captain, with Gavaskar (11 centuries) way behind his 20 tons.

    The right-handed batter previously announced his retirement from the T20I format after India’s T20 World Cup triumph last year. The 36-year-old will now only feature in ODI cricket for India.

    (IANS)

  • Scientists explore where consciousness arises in the brain

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Consciousness is at the centre of human existence, the ability to see, hear, dream, imagine, feel pain or pleasure, dread, love, and more. But where precisely does this reside in the brain? That is a question that has long confounded scientists and clinicians. A new study is offering fresh insight.

    In a quest to identify the parts of the brain underpinning consciousness, neuroscientists measured electrical and magnetic activity as well as blood flow in the brains of 256 people in 12 laboratories across the United States, Europe and China, while the participants viewed various images. The measurements tracked activation in various parts of the brain.

    The researchers found that consciousness may not arise in the “smart” part of the brain – the frontal areas where thinking is housed, which progressively grew in the process of human evolution – but rather in the sensory zones at the back of the brain that process sight and sound.

    “Why is any of this important?” asked neuroscientist Christof Koch of the Allen Institute in Seattle, one of the leaders of the study published this week in the journal Nature, opens a new tab.

    “If we want to understand the substrate of consciousness, who has it – adults, pre-linguistic children, a second trimester fetus, a dog, a mouse, a squid, a raven, a fly – we need to identify the underlying mechanisms in the brain, both for conceptual reasons as well as for clinical ones,” Koch said.

    The subjects in the study were shown images of people’s faces and various objects.

    “Consciousness is the way it feels like to see a drawing of a toaster or Jill’s face. Consciousness is not the same as the behavior associated with this feeling, for example pushing a button or saying, ‘I see Jill,’” Koch said.

    The researchers tested two leading scientific theories about consciousness.

    Under the Global Neuronal Workspace Theory, consciousness materializes in the front of the brain, with important pieces of information then broadcast widely throughout the brain. Under the Integrated Information Theory, consciousness emanates from the interaction and cooperation of various parts of the brain as they work collectively to integrate information that is consciously experienced.

    The findings did not square with either theory.

    “Where are the neuronal footprints of consciousness in the brain? Very crudely put, are they in the front of the cortex – the outermost layer of the brain – such as the prefrontal cortex, as predicted by the Global Neuronal Workspace Theory?” Koch asked.

    It is this prefrontal cortex that makes our species uniquely human, driving higher-order cognitive processes such as planning, decision-making, reasoning, personality expression, and moderating social behaviour.

    “Or are the footprints in the back regions of the cortex, the posterior cortex?” Koch asked. The posterior cortex houses the regions where hearing and vision processing occur.

    “Here, the evidence is decidedly in favour of the posterior cortex. Either information pertaining to the conscious experience couldn’t be found in the front, or it was far weaker than in the back. This supports the idea that while the frontal lobes are critical to intelligence, judgment, reasoning, etc., they are not critically involved in seeing, in conscious visual perception,” Koch said.

    However, the study did not identify enough connections that last for as long as the conscious experience in the back of the brain to uphold the Integrated Information Theory.

    There are practical applications in gaining a deeper understanding of the mechanics of consciousness in the brain.

    Koch said it would be important for how doctors deal with patients in a coma or patients in a vegetative state or with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, when they are awake but present no signs of awareness due to traumatic brain injury, stroke, cardiac arrest, a drug overdose, or other causes.

    “If the patient remains in this unresponsive state for longer than a few days without signs of recovery, the clinical team initiates discussion with the family around, ‘Is this what they would have wanted?’” Koch said.

    Of such patients, 70% to 90% die because a decision has been made to withdraw life-sustaining treatment.

    “However, we now know that around a quarter of patients in either coma or vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome are conscious – covert consciousness – yet are unable to signal this at the bedside,” Koch said, referring to research published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine, opens new tab. “Knowing about the footprints of consciousness in the brain will let us better detect this covert form of ‘being there’ without being able to signal.”

    –Reuters

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 148-2025: Reminder: Upcoming changes to conditions for offshore treatments and certification for khapra beetle

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    12 May 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    This notice affects importers of plant products for human consumption (e.g. rice, beans, lentils, dried chilli, cumin and coriander seed), freight forwarders, biosecurity industry participants and accredited persons operating under the department’s approved arrangement class 19.

    What is changing?

    As advised in…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 149-2025: Unplanned Service Disruption: Monday 12 May 2025 – Biosecurity Portal (myID pathway)

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    09 May 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Approved arrangements operators, customs brokers, importers, manned depots, and freight forwarders who are required to book and manage requests for inspections through the Biosecurity Portal using the ‘Sign in with your Digital ID’ (myID) pathway.

    Information

    Start time:

    As of: 23:00 Friday 09 May 2025 (AEST).

    Detail:

    The Biosecurity Portal – ‘Sign in with your Digital ID’ (myID) pathway is currently…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Operation Eclipse nets record haul

    Source: New South Wales – News

    South Australia Police have made a record haul of illicit tobacco products in the biggest Operation Eclipse seizure to date.

    Operation Eclipse Commander, Detective Chief Inspector Brett Featherby also revealed that organised crime syndicates have been dealt a major blow with police restraining more than $22 million in assets, including more than $9 million in cash from two bank accounts.

    About 12pm on Tuesday 6 May, Eyre Western Police stopped a vehicle on the Lincoln Highway at Whyalla and allegedly located a large quantity of illicit tobacco products.

    Further investigation led Operation Eclipse detectives to search an industrial premises at Salisbury being used as a statewide distribution warehouse supplying retail outlets with illicit tobacco products.

    More than seven million cigarettes and 3.9 tonnes of loose tobacco were seized, valued at over $7 million.

    A 24-year-old Prospect man was arrested in Whyalla and charged with possession of tobacco products for sale and possession of e-cigarette products for sale.  He was bailed to appear in the Whyalla Magistrates Court on 22 July.

    A Para Hills home was also searched as part of the investigation, and a 51-year-old Para Hills man was arrested.  He was charged with possession of tobacco products for sale and bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Cour ton 17 June.

    Investigations into the seizures are continuing.

    Detective Chief Inspector Brett Featherby said, “The seizure of products, assets and finances by police will result in significant disruption to the criminal syndicates operating in South Australia.”

    “SAPOL will pursue criminal charges when sufficient evidence exists and that includes those who are supporting and enabling that activity and take every opportunity to enforce the full extent of the confiscations legislation to seize assets of those involved.

    Anyone with any information on criminal activities surrounding the sale of illicit tobacco is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.

    Operation Eclipse has so far resulted in 37 arrests for offences including blackmail, possess tobacco products for sale, arson, money laundering and serious criminal trespass.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese coaches enjoy Premier experience at top English soccer academies

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

    While hopes are slim for China’s men’s soccer team to reach the next World Cup, the country is already investing in the sport’s future — starting with its coaches. Eight youth coaches from the Chinese Football Association have just returned from a three-week training stint in England, hosted by the Premier League.

    The visit was part of the International Elite Coach Program, a flagship initiative under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Premier League and the CFA last October.

    It is designed to support China’s long-term soccer ambitions by equipping local coaches with global expertise.

    Five of the eight coaches selected for the visit are former Chinese national team players.

    Over three weeks, they were hosted at two Premier League Category One Academies — Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers — where they engaged in hands-on training, match preparation and performance analysis alongside experienced club staff.

    The Chinese coaches participated in tactical briefings, reviewed under-18 and under-21 matches and attended competitive fixtures, including three Premier League games. They also joined a Premier League-run Coaching Craft workshop to further hone their technical skills.

    Sean Reed, the Premier League’s Head of Coaching, emphasized that the program mirrors the league’s own youth coach development structure, but was customized to meet the needs of the Chinese coaches.

    “During this trip, the coaches had the opportunity to work with players they had never coached before — many of whom did not speak the same language,” said Reed.

    “This experience challenged them to adapt their approaches to coaching, and strengthened their ability to communicate effectively in unfamiliar environments.

    “One particular task required the coaches to deliver a session without using verbal communication. This encouraged them to find alternative ways to engage and instruct players, reinforcing the idea that football truly is a universal language,” he added.

    Reed praised the coaches’ engagement and growth: “All the coaches have grown in confidence throughout the program. They demonstrated full commitment to every element of this unique experience, building on their football knowledge and bringing energy, curiosity and professionalism to each learning opportunity.”

    Reed said that the visit was just a beginning. To further support the ongoing development of the coaches and maintain engagement, they schedule regular online check-ins, as well as the opportunity to join relevant online sessions and conferences delivered by the Premier League.

    “We also provide tailored digital content designed to support their ongoing development,” he said.

    Among the delegation was Yu Hai, a former left-back who earned 71 caps for China.

    Now transitioning into coaching, currently managing former club Shanghai Port’s Under-19s team, Yu was struck by the intensity of the English training environment.

    “What impressed me most was that every session was run at full match pace,” he said. “Now that I’m a coach, I’ve shifted my attention to tactics and the structure of youth development systems.”

    Li Feiyu, an official of CFA’s technical department, described the visit as “exceptionally rewarding”.

    “The Premier League clubs demonstrated outstanding philosophies in youth development, and impressive professionalism in their academy operations,” said Li. “The experience has provided us with valuable reference points for enhancing our own systems. I believe this collaboration between the CFA and the Premier League holds long-term, constructive significance, and will greatly benefit youth development in Chinese football.”

    Neil Saunders, Director of Football at the Premier League, emphasized the importance of continued cooperation: “This program is part of our long-standing commitment to supporting football development in China.”

    “By working with our clubs to deliver a diverse and enriching itinerary, we’ve enabled the CFA coaching delegation to gain unique insights into elite academy environments. Our support for Chinese football development will continue, even after the delegation has returned to China,” he said.

    This is the second group of Chinese coaches to take part in the initiative, following the first cohort’s visit in September 2024. The program also aligns with the Premier League’s expanding presence in Asia, including the opening of its Beijing office in 2024 — its third international hub after Singapore and the United States.

    The Premier League has been involved in grassroots soccer in China for over 15 years. Since 2009, it has partnered with the British Council to deliver the Premier Skills coaching program in 28 cities across the country, training more than 6,300 grassroots coaches, referees, and physical education teachers.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Caltowie

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Emergency services are responding to a serious crash at Caltowie.

    The single car rollover occurred on Wilkins Highway, Caltowie, near the Caltowie-Hornsdale Road, just before 10.30am on Monday 12 May.

    Road closures or diversions are expected to be in place.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area and take an alternate route if possible.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: National Road Safety Week 2025

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    National Road Safety Week 2025

    Monday, 12 May 2025 – 10:34 am.

    This National Road Safety Week, Tasmania Police is calling for all motorists to drive so everyone survives.
    Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said road safety matters every week, but National Road Safety Week is a chance to highlight the real impact road trauma has on our community.
    “Police are out and about on our roads every day and every night, working to keep people safe from harm,” he said.
    “Disappointingly, we continue to catch people speeding, drink driving and making poor decisions on our roads.”
    “It’s quite simple – these poor decisions are resulting in deaths and serious injuries, and we need the behaviour to change.”
    “We know most people obey the rules most of the time, but that’s just not enough.”
    “We need people to consistently make good decisions, no excuses.”
    “Drive so everyone survives.”
    “Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving behaviour should report it immediately to police on 131 444.”
    “If it’s an emergency or life-threatening situation call Triple Zero (000).”
    “If you can’t report it at the time but have footage, submit it to the police evidence portal online.”
    The evidence portal can be found at https://www.police.tas.gov.au/report/

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Check out storm materials for your DIY project

    Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

    If you’re about to dive into some DIY, check out the materials from storm-damaged homes that are available at your community recycling centre.

    With more than 200 of the 1200 Category 3 homes now removed, material from the deconstructed homes have ended up at recycling centres across the city – ready to become someone else’s treasure.

    Grab everything from a whole kitchen, to framing timber, to a door for your next renovation and help these recycled materials find a new home. If the recycling centre doesn’t have the material you’re looking for, please ask them if they can get it.

    The recycling centres with these materials are Devonport, Helensville, Onehunga, Henderson (Tipping Point), Point England (Tāmaki), Wairau, Waiuku and Warkworth. See the Auckland Council website for location details and hours of operation.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Be Well Be Connected Expo Roadshow coming to Elmore on May 30

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    The City is hosting a Be Well Be Connected  Positive Ageing and Disability Expo Roadshow for older adults and people living with a disability at the Elmore Community Hub in Clarke Street from 10am to 2pm on Friday May 30, 2025.

    City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Acting Manager Jo Connellan said the expo is free to attend and will feature a number of exhibits showcasing aged care, community and disability products and services that support positive ageing and living well in Elmore and surrounding areas.

    “It will provide an opportunity for attendees to meet face-to-face with local service providers, advisors and community groups,” Ms West said.

    “The Expo aims to connect organisations, community groups and individuals with a network of available support and community activities to enjoy.

    “The theme Be Well Be Connected is important, as it emphasises the importance of being well, connected and participating in the community.

    “This is the second Be Well Be Connected Expo travelling roadshow to take place in Greater Bendigo with the first taking place in Heathcote last October.

    “Everyone is welcome to come along to the Elmore Roadshow.  It’s a not to be missed opportunity for older people and people living with a disability to be better informed.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival kicks off on May 27

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    The 2025 Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival which takes place from May 27 to June 3, during National Reconciliation Week, will celebrate its ninth year with a feast of films, videos and activities at venues in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Heathcote and Yandoit.

    This year’s festival showcases an exciting range of activities, discussions and First Nations films, documentaries and videos starring and telling stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People from Central Victoria and across Australia

    The festival officially kicks off at 4.30pm Tuesday May 27 at Bendigo Library with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.  There will be an official opening, the announcement of the 2025 Koori Youth Flick Fest winners and screenings of entries by all current and past winners.

    This year’s festival screenings include documentaries Blak Douglas vs the Commonwealth and The Earth Above: A deep time view of Australia’s epic history, along with films High Ground, Winhanganha, Sweet As, The Moogai and more.

    Other activities include the Bridging Now to Next Anti Racism Forum at Bendigo Library, and a Dumuwal Ulumbarra CBD Walking Tour of Bendigo with Djaara Traditional Owners.

    City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said National Reconciliation Week has helped shape Australia’s journey towards a more just, equitable and reconciled nation.

    “The City is committed to reconciliation and we are again delighted that people can come together to celebrate at the 2025 Central Victoria Indigenous Film Festival,” Cr Metcalf said.

    “National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.”

    The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2025 is Bridging Now to Next. The theme reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future, and encourages all Australians to step forward together.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fake nurse crackdown to boost public safety

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Fake nurse crackdown to boost public safety

    New measures to make it a criminal offence for people who are not qualified as a nurse to use the title and mislead the public

    Anyone misleading the public and describing themselves as a nurse without the relevant qualifications and registration will be committing a crime, under new measures announced by the government to protect the title ‘nurse’ in law. 

    The move will help to boost protections and safety for both patients and staff, driving up standards and improving patient experience across the NHS through the government’s Plan for Change. 

    Currently, anyone – including those struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for serious misconduct or criminal convictions – can call themselves a nurse. This can result in the public thinking they’re getting advice and care from an expert professional like a nurse when they aren’t.   

    Previous reported examples of the job title being misused include someone calling herself a nurse at a large public event after being struck off and another reportedly masquerading as an aesthetic nurse.

    There will be exemptions for relevant professions like veterinary nurse, dental nurse and nursery nurse, where the title ‘nurse’ is legitimately used. 

    The government is listening to nurses and recognises they are the backbone of the NHS, and today’s announcement follows campaigning by unions for the government to act on the issue, as well as by Dawn Butler MP who introduced a Ten-Minute Rule Bill earlier this year to protect the title ‘nurse’.  

    Through the Plan for Change, the government is driving forward vital reform to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future. This year, a refreshed workforce plan will also be published to ensure the health service has the right workforce in the right place at the right time. 

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:  

    Nurses carry out lifesaving work every day, and I am determined we do everything we can to support them and safeguard trust in the profession. 

    I’ve been appalled to read reports of so-called nurses spreading dangerous misinformation and harming the public. 

    This new legislation will help crack down on bogus beauticians and conspiracy theorists masquerading as nurses, and those attempting to mislead patients.

    The British people hold nurses in the highest regard, and we trust them in our most vulnerable moments, so patients need to know they are genuinely being seen by a nurse. Now they will.

    This is part of our Plan for Change to fix the NHS and gets the right staff working in the right place at the right time.

    Only the title “registered nurse” is currently protected in law. The new legislation will change that – ensuring that only those individuals registered with the NMC can legally use the title. Anyone violating this will be committing a criminal offence and could face a hefty fine running into the thousands of pounds.  

    There have been previous reports of bogus nurses misleadingly using the title. One ran a cosmetic clinic offering Botox and dermal filler treatments for several years despite not being registered with the NMC.  

    Another gave a speech at a Covid conspiracy rally which likened NHS nurses and doctors to war criminals – spreading misinformation about vaccines and bringing her former colleagues into disrepute. She continued to call herself a nurse despite being struck off by the NMC.   

    A previous Freedom of Information request showed that across 93% of all NHS trusts, there were more than 8,000 people with the term “nurse” in their job title who had no registered nursing qualifications. Although these people are supervised and providing important care, their job titles can cause confusion. Some, including nursery nurses, will be exempt under this new legislation

    Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said:

    The trust that people place in registered nurses is based on the rigorous training and education required to be registered as a nurse which gives us the skills and knowledge to deliver high quality, safe and personalised care.

    Nurses value this trust and protecting the title of nurse can give added confidence and clarity to patients and the public on who is delivering their care and the skills and knowledge they have.

    There are already various safeguards in place to deter people from pretending to be a nurse. The most serious cases would be captured by fraud offences and depending on the case they can also be prosecuted for other more serious offences like causing grievous bodily harm, assault, or manslaughter.  

    The new legislation – expected to be laid this Parliament – will help to strengthen those existing safeguards.  

    Registered nurses go through high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and complete a process called revalidation every three years – ensuring they can continually update their skills set. The new measures reflect that.

    Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive , said: 

    This is an important moment for our safety-critical profession, after years of campaigning. 

    A change in the law will recognise the knowledge, professionalism and clinical expertise that comes with being a registered nurse. It will provide better legal protections for nursing professionals and reassurance to patients. 

    Crucially, this is an opportunity to begin the journey to properly valuing nursing as a profession, where respect, reward and investment match the crucial nature of our work. 

    Dr Crystal Oldman CBE, Chief Executive at The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, said: 

    Nurses and the millions of people they care for will benefit by this proposed change in legislation.

    This is a patient safety issue that the QICN has been campaigning on for some time. 

    People need confidence that when the person caring for them is described as a nurse, that person really is a qualified and registered nurse.

    Paul Rees MBE, Interim Chief Executive and Registrar at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said:

    The public should always feel confident that anyone using the title ‘nurse’ is a registered professional with all the safeguards that brings.

    We look forward to working with the government and our stakeholders to deliver on it. In the meantime, it is already an offence for somebody to hold themselves out as a registered nurse when they are not.

    Helga Pile, UNISON Head of Health, said:

    Nurses and other NHS workers rightly enjoy a high level of trust because of the brilliant and important work they do.

    Charlatans and conspiracy theorists mustn’t be allowed to harm patients or damage nurses’ reputation and good standing with the public.

    It’s only right that anyone that tries to will now feel the full force of the law.

    Rachel Power, Chief Executive of The Patients Association, said:

    We welcome this commitment to ensuring patients know who is treating them and offering healthcare advice, and that those professionals are properly qualified. With health misinformation increasingly common, it’s more important than ever that patients can trust the expertise of those caring for them.

    Alison Morton, CEO, Institute of Health Visiting, said:

    The Institute of Health Visiting fully supports the campaign to protect the title “nurse” in legislation. This is urgently needed to protect the public and provide assurance that the person providing their care has the qualifications, knowledge, skills, expertise and professionalism to deliver safe and effective care. Nursing is a safety-critical workforce. And, in our view, there is only one clear path forward, the current gap in legislation needs to be closed as a matter of urgency.

    Professor Greta Westwood CBE PhD RN, CEO of the Florence Nightingale Foundation, said: 

    We welcome this recognition of the importance of the nursing role. Nurses are skilled and highly trained professionals, playing a key leadership role in the health and social care sectors, particularly around speaking out on patient safety and workforce challenges.

    This International Nurses Day, we are coming together to celebrate the incredible work that nurses do across the UK and globally, and we support the government taking this next step, working with the UK regulator, to protect our nurses and those we serve.

    Notes to editors 

    • The department will also establish the exemptions where ‘nurse’ can still be used as part of a professional title.  
    • The title ‘nurse’ is already used across multiple professions (e.g. registered nurses, dental nurses, nursery nurses and veterinary nurses) 
    • We expect the new protection of title offence to be a summary offence. Where a person is found guilty of an offence on summary conviction they will be liable to a fine across the UK.  
    • These changes, which require legislative change, will be implemented within this Parliament as part of the government’s commitment to reform the regulation of health and care professionals in the UK.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More scanners across the country for better care of brittle bones

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    More scanners across the country for better care of brittle bones

    Government announces 29,000 extra bone scans will be delivered each year, helping with earlier diagnosis of illness such as osteoporosis.

    • Government confirms 13 new state-of-the-art DEXA scanners to support better bone care  
    • Tens of thousands of patients set to benefit through extra scans 
    • Scanners are delivered as part of government commitment upheld in Plan for Change

    29,000 extra bone scans per year will be delivered for patients across England thanks to the government rolling out 13 new DEXA scanners. 

    The new scanners were promised as part of the government’s Elective Reform Plan and mark another step closer towards fixing the NHS and making it fit for the future, as set out in the Plan for Change.

    More than one in three women and one in five men will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis in their lifetime and so these scanners are equipped with advanced technology to identify with minute detail the quality of a patient’s bones.

    They will help with early diagnosis of illness such as osteoporosis, which weakens bones, making them so fragile that even a cough or sneeze could cause a painful break for people across the country.    

    13 areas will receive the new equipment this year, including hospitals in West Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire serving some of the most under resourced and rural communities, with patients already receiving invitations for appointments to use the new scanners. 

    Seven of the new machines will enable trusts to offer new or extended DEXA services, improving access and reducing patient journey times. Another six scanners will replace existing machines, helping to increase the reliability and productivity of bone diagnostic services.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

    Having seen the pain of a family member breaking a hip because of her osteoporosis, I know only too well how debilitating  a condition it can be.

    We know that early diagnosis of brittle bone conditions means faster treatment and better outcomes for patients, which is why I promised before the election that we would deliver an extra 15,000 scans a year. The investment the government is making in new scanners across the country will deliver an extra 29,000 scans a year, almost double what I promised.

    Our Plan for Change is cutting waiting lists by investing in our NHS, which is only possible because of the increase in employers’ national insurance.

     Sue Mann, Clinical Lead for Women’s Health at NHS England, said:

    This is a welcome targeted investment for the NHS Trusts across England set to receive these new scanners from this month – they measure tiny reductions in bone density that can help us diagnose osteoporosis in its early stages, before you break a bone.

    These scanners are key tools for prevention, particularly for some women who are known to be at higher risk of osteoporosis such as those who go through early menopause.

    Craig Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: 

    This investment in scanners is really good news for people with osteoporosis.  We want to thank Wes Streeting for ensuring bone scans are part of his package to modernise scanning technology so we can catch diseases like osteoporosis earlier. 

    This, and the recent good news on waiting lists, gives us confidence the NHS is beginning to turn a corner.

    Mr Haitham Hamoda, Trustee and Past Chair British Menopause Society said:

    This is very welcome news. Osteoporosis and related fractures is a significant public health issue. It is estimated that more than one in three women may sustain an osteoporosis related fracture with significant associated morbidity and mortality.

    In addition, women with premature ovarian insufficiency and early menopause have a significantly increased risk of osteoporosis and related fractures. Increasing access and availability to bone density screening and assessment will improve detection and allow earlier discussion of preventative measure and treatment.

    Dr Katharine Halliday, President of the Royal College of Radiologists, said:

    We welcome the pledge for more DEXA scanners which will help to deliver better care for patients at risk of osteoporosis.

    Increasing capacity to deliver scans in the hospitals and regions that need it most will be an important step to make sure patients receive timely, effective care no matter where they live.

    Over three million appointments have already been delivered since the end of June 2024, smashing the government’s target of delivering 2 million extra operations, scans and appointments.  

    Background information:

    The following locations will receive new scanners:

    • Harefield Hospital (Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust)

    • North Middlesex Hospital (North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust)

    • Newark Hospital (Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation NHS Trust)

    • Royal Victoria Infirmary (The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)

    • CDC Ellesmere Port (Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation NHS Trust)

    • Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

    • Cranleigh Village Hospital (Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)

    The following locations will receive replacement scanners:

    • Leeds General Infirmary (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

    • Wharfedale General Hospital (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

    • Dewsbury Hospital (Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust)

    • Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital (Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust)

    • Salford Royal (Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust)

    • St Catherine’s Hospital (Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Applications open for 30 hours funded childcare expansion

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Applications open for 30 hours funded childcare expansion

    New data finds half a million children already benefitting from 15 hours extended childcare offer as applications open for tens of thousands more from today.

    Tens of thousands more working parents across England will soon see cash back in their pockets as they can now apply for 30 hours of funded childcare from September. 

    From today (12 May), all eligible working parents of children who will be 9 months old before 1 September can apply to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare a week, saving them up to £7,500 a year per child.  

    With savings from the government’s free breakfast club rollout and school uniform cap, this rises to up to £8,000 for working parents who also have school-aged children, every year. 

    This latest milestone follows the successful rollout of 15 funded hours for children from 9 months last September, with 499,592 children already benefitting from access to more affordable and high-quality early years education and childcare.  

    Despite the inherited delivery challenges, the government is committed to increasing access to childcare that gives every child the best start in life. That’s why through the Plan for Change it has already taken urgent action through hundreds of new school-based nurseries and a £2 billion extra investment compared to last year to support the brilliant existing providers deliver the 35,000 additional staff and 70,000 places required to meet demand for September. 

    A new government survey of parents who took up the childcare entitlements last September has found that the rollout is breaking down barriers to opportunity and playing a key role in supporting British business and kick-starting economic growth.  

    Lower-income families are seeing the biggest impact, with one in five of those earning £20,000 – £40,000 having increased their working hours thanks to the 15 hours brought in last year. 

    Looking ahead to this September, of the 2,723 respondents who are planning to increase their childcare hours, over half (1,425) are intending to up their work hours too – good news for families, and good news for employers. 

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    This government has a clear Plan for Change to break the unfair link between background and opportunity across this country, which starts by ensuring our children start school ready to learn.

    Early years is my number one priority, and making sure families are able to benefit from this rollout is a promise made, and promise kept. But this is just the beginning.

    Through the hard work of the sector, supported by our record investment, landmark school-based nursery rollout and focus on vital early learning support, we will deliver an early years system that gives every child the best start in life.

    The success of the rollout so far is testament to the work and commitment of nurseries, pre-schools and childminders, alongside local authorities, with 6123 of 6337 respondents who applied for government-funded hours last Autumn going on to secure a place.   

    Sophie Lovell, from Nottingham, uses the 15 hours for working parents for her little girl. She said:  

    The government’s childcare support has been great for our family. 

    Having my child in formal childcare has provided wonderful opportunities for her to play, learn, and grow.  

    As a parent, balancing everything can be overwhelming, but knowing your child is supported by trained professionals makes all the difference.

    The government has always been clear that early years is about even more than family finances. Access to high-quality early education and childcare helps children build confidence, learn social skills, and prepare for school, and 83% of parents in the government’s survey agree it is important for children’s social development. 

    With evidence showing the huge benefits of outdoor play to children from improved problem solving to mental and physical health, the government has also today launched a consultation on how it can help nurseries make better use of outdoor space for play and learning. 

    Currently, the government’s early years framework requires provision of outdoor play but only formally recognises indoor space in its requirements for how many children nurseries and childcare providers can take on at any one time. However, 7 in 10 providers say they would make better use of their outdoor space if more flexibility was introduced.   

    The consultation will seek to understand whether to allow providers to include high-quality, accessible and safe outdoor space in meeting those requirements, and the appropriate conditions to be put in place should they include gardens and play areas as a full part of the early learning experience for the youngest children. 

    Justine Roberts, Founder and CEO of Mumsnet, said: 

    We’ve heard from countless women on Mumsnet pushed out of work by unaffordable childcare. This expansion of support is a major step in tackling that – giving parents, especially mothers, the freedom to stay in work if they choose, which benefits families and the economy. 

    We urge all eligible parents to check what they’re entitled to and make full use of it.

    Director of Future of Work and Skills at CBI, Matthew Percival said: 

    It’s good to see the rollout of the final phase of the UK’s childcare expansion. The CBI made the case that expanding childcare support was good for growth because our members told us that the cost of it was preventing parents from working or taking on more hours.  

    Moving from 15 to 30 funded hours gives working families greater flexibility, helps employers access more of the talent they need to grow, and supports a more productive economy.

    Lydia Hopper CEO, Grandir UK said:  

    We are supportive of the inclusion of free-flow outdoor space within the EYFS space requirements.

    At Grandir UK, we’ve actively champion free-flow outdoor play – it’s a big part of how we support children’s learning and development. We draw inspiration from Forest School principles, helping children explore nature and learn through play in the fresh air.

    Whether it’s running, climbing, or simply being outside, we know how much this benefits their physical health, builds confidence, and boosts their overall wellbeing.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New NHS programme to reduce brain injury in childbirth 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New NHS programme to reduce brain injury in childbirth 

    Government to roll out the Avoiding Brain Injuries in Childbirth (ABC) programme nationally

    • Government rolls out NHS programme to boost maternity safety
    • Scheme will help maternity staff rapidly respond to emergencies and protect mothers and babies 
    • Hundreds of maternity staff, including obstetricians, midwives and anaesthetists, involved in developing and testing quality improvement programme

    Expectant mothers will receive safer maternity care as a new NHS programme to help prevent brain injury during childbirth is rolled out across the country. 

    The Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme will help maternity staff to better identify signs that the baby is in distress during labour so they can act quickly.

    It will also help staff respond more effectively to obstetric emergencies, such as where the baby’s head becomes lodged deep in the mother’s pelvis during a caesarean birth.

    The government programme, which will begin from September and follows an extensive development phase and pilot scheme, will reduce the number of avoidable brain injuries during childbirth – helping to prevent lifelong conditions like cerebral palsy.

    The national rollout is only one step the government is taking to improve maternity services under its Plan for Change to fix the health service, as it reforms the NHS to ensure all women receive safe, personalised and compassionate care.   

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 

    All expectant mothers giving birth in an NHS hospital should have peace of mind that they are in safe hands.

    This vital programme will give staff across the country the right tools and training to deliver better care to women and their babies, reducing the devastating impact of avoidable brain injury. 

    Under our Plan for Change, we are supporting trusts to make rapid improvements and training thousands more midwives – but I know more needs to be done. We will put women’s voices right at the heart of our reforms as we work to improve care.

    The national rollout follows a pilot in 12 maternity units that was launched in October and delivered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the THIS (The Healthcare Improvement Studies) Institute.

    The pilot has shown the programme will fill an important gap in current training by bringing multidisciplinary teams together to work more collaboratively than ever before, to improve outcomes. The programme will give clinicians more confidence to take swift action managing an emergency during labour.  

    It is expected to reduce unacceptable inequalities in maternity outcomes across England – so that most maternity units achieve outcomes comparable to the highest-performing 20% of trusts. 

    This government is dedicated to improving maternity services more widely and is committed to training thousands more midwives, as well as setting an explicit target to close the Black and Asian maternal mortality gap.

    In addition, we have allocated an extra £57 million for Start for Life services, helping expectant and new mothers with their infants by providing expert, trusted advice and guidance around pregnancy, birth and motherhood.

    Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said:

    The ABC programme supports multidisciplinary maternity teams to deliver safer, more personalised care. Hundreds of maternity staff, including obstetricians, midwives and anaesthetists, have been involved in developing and testing this quality improvement programme.

    We have heard what a difference it makes, supporting teams to work effectively together in time-sensitive and high-pressure situations. The RCOG is extremely proud to have been part of this fantastic collaboration.

    Gill Walton, Royal College of Midwives Chief Executive, said:

    Every midwife, maternity support worker, obstetrician, anaesthetist and sonographer wants to provide good, safe care – and the best way to do that is by working and training together. The ABC programme has brought together all those involved in maternity care, offering practical solutions to some of the most acute clinical challenges.

    Crucially the ABC programme tools and training have been developed based on the voices of women, families and maternity staff. This has been the key to the success of the pilot programme.

    Equally the will and drive of midwives and the wider multidisciplinary team to improve safety and outcomes for women and their families has been evident across the course of the training at the pilot sites.

    The ABC programme has the potential to reduce the devastating impact of brain injuries during childbirth and the RCM is proud to have been part of this innovative programme and we hope to see this adopted and implemented across maternity services.

    Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, Director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, said:

    The ABC programme design is based on the principle that evidence-based, co-designed patient-focused standardisation of clinical practice can reduce unwarranted variation and improve care and outcomes.

    Crucially, this needs to be supported by comprehensive improvement resources, including training, tools and assets to enable good clinical practice and teamwork and respectful and inclusion communication and decision-making with women and birth partners.

    The pilot has shown that it’s possible to train people effectively and efficiently. A national commitment to implement the programme at scale will be important in ensuring that the benefits are seen.

    Notes to editors 

    The following sites participated in the pilot scheme: 

    • Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 
    • East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 
    • Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 
    • Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust 
    • Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
    • Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 
    • Croydon Health Services NHS Trust 
    • Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 
    • St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    • Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
    • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
    • Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Media and Advocacy – BSA decision a warning to broadcasters to avoid Israeli propaganda narratives – PSA

    Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

     

    A decision by the Broadcasting Standards Authority to uphold a complaint against a 1News broadcast in November is a warning to the news media, says the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa.

     

    The Broadcasting Standards Authority has ruled that a TVNZ news item on violence in Amsterdam breached BSA rules.

     

    1News described violence in the streets of Amsterdam following a soccer match as ‘disturbing’ and ‘antisemitic’ and stated the graphic video of beatings were Maccabi Tel Aviv fans under attack just for being Jewish.

     

    Videographers who took the footage which 1News had used, complained to their news agencies that this description was quite wrong. The violence was perpetrated by the Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv fans against those they suspected of being Arab or supporters of Palestine.  The visiting Israelis were the attackers – not the victims.

     

    (Before the match these same Maccabi fans had gathered in large groups to chant “Death to Arabs” – a racist genocidal chant which if used with the races reversed (“Arabs” replaced by Jews”) would have been rightly condemned in purple prose by western news media such as TVNZ. But no such sympathy for Palestinians or Arabs)

     

    PSNA immediately requested that TVNZ broadcast a correction.  TVNZ refused, though admitting they had got the story wrong.

     

    PSNA then referred a complaint to the BSA who upheld the complaint as failing to meet the accuracy standard.

     

    PSNA Co-Chair John Minto says the BSA decision should be seen as a warning to the news media to be aware that Israel is using fabricated charges of antisemitism, to justify and divert attention from its genocide in Gaza and silence its critics.

     

    “Just because Benjamin Netanyahu and the then US president Joe Biden made statements turning Amsterdam attackers into victims, doesn’t mean TVNZ news should automatically parrot them,” Minto says. “That’s effectively what the BSA concluded.”

     

    Minto also points to what he called a recent fabricated hysteria about antisemitism in Sydney, which the New South Wales police found to be completely based on hoaxes by a criminal gang.

     

    “In the US, Trump is using the same charge as an excuse to close down university courses and expel anyone who protests against the Israeli genocide in Gaza.”

     

    “The Human Rights Commission here has also been guilty of publishing misinformation through the news media, which it refuses to publicly correct, probably because of its own fondness for Israel.”

     

    “Of course, we strongly condemn the real antisemitism of anti-Jewish, Nazi-type Islamophobic groups,” Minto says.  

     

    “It should be easy for professional reporters and editors to tell the difference between criticism of Israeli apartheid, ethnic cleansing and violence on one hand, and on the other hand Nazis and their fellow travellers who condemn Jews because they are Jews”

     

    “The BSA is, in effect, demanding the news media educate themselves.”

     

    John Minto

    Co-Chair

    Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Labour’s anti-migrant policies will hammer Scotland’s care sector

    Source: Scottish Greens

    11 May 2025 Health

    Labour’s cruel policies will harm the care sector and others.

    More in Health

    The plan announced by Labour Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to curb international visas for workers in the care sector and other vital parts of the economy will hammer Scotland’s services, say the Scottish Greens.

    The comments follow a series of harsh and restrictive announcements by the Home Secretary to crackdown on immigration.

    Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay said:

    “This is a cruel and totally self-defeating policy that will only serve to hammer Scotland’s services.

    “There have been warnings of staff shortages from the care sector and others, and these policies will only make them more severe.

    “It is extremely cynical politics. Nigel Farage just has to say ‘jump’ and Labour will ask how high. We cannot allow our immigration policy to be set by the far right priorities of Reform, and trying to imitate them won’t help anyone.

    “Labour has kept a lot of the most hostile anti-migrant Tory policies in place and doubled down on a failed Brexit that they know has hiked up prices, cost jobs and undermined our right to travel.

    “It is time for Scotland to have powers over immigration so that we can build a humane system that treats migrants as human beings and supports our services rather than harming them.

    “We can’t allow real people’s lives to be used as pawns in a nasty race to the bottom between Labour, the Tories and Reform.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Raging wildfires put Scotland on frontline of climate crisis

    Source: Scottish Greens

    11 May 2025 Rural Affairs

    We need climate action to stop wildfires being our new normal.

    More in Rural Affairs

    With extreme wildfires warnings across the country, and with fire crews battling a wildfire the size of five football pitches near Fauldhouse, Scotland’s communities are being put on the frontline of the climate crisis, say the Scottish Greens.

    Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess said:

    “We aren’t even in the height of our summer yet and we are already seeing our woodlands burning and warnings in place across much of the country.

    “We should all be grateful to the firefighters who are risking their lives and putting their safety on the line to protect us and our communities. It’s not just the immediate threats they face, but also the lifelong increased health risks from exposure to smoke and toxic substances.

    “We need to do everything we can to ensure that they are well supported and properly equipped for the growing threats that we face from increasing temperatures. Yet, in some parts of rural and island Scotland the fire service is facing a challenge to fill the crews, and some of their stations are in bad need of upgrade.

    “Some of these fires have raged for days at a time and have done a huge amount of damage to local livelihoods and habitats. But, most importantly, they have put people in serious danger.

    “Scotland is blessed with amazing and iconic landscapes that attract visitors from across the world. But they are also homes and places where people live and work, and, with our climate changing around us, they are being put at growing risk and thrust on to the frontline of the climate crisis.

    “It’s not just Scotland. We have seen heat waves and wildfires across the world and, without fundamental change, the threat will only become more severe. The situation is particularly urgent for people living in remote and rural communities who are often surrounded by tinderbox conditions.

    “All of this underlines the need for preventative steps to climate-proof our society and to step-up climate action if we are to ensure that the devastating scenes at Fauldhouse do not become our new normal.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Two Wells

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police are at the scene of a serious crash at Two Wells.

    About 4.30pm today (Sunday 11 May), emergency services were called to Port Wakefield Highway after reports that a car and truck had collided.

    The driver of the car suffered serious injuries.

    Major Crash officers are on their way to the scene.

    Road restrictions are in place and please avoid the area if possible.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Dumped minister Ed Husic labels Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles ‘factional assassin’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Industry Minister Ed Husic, dumped from the frontbench ahead of Anthony Albanese’s announcement of his new ministry, has made an excoriating attack on Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, describing him as a “factional assassin”.

    Marles, chief of the Victorian right, in large part drove factional changes which saw Husic, from the New South Wales right, and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, from the Victorian right, pushed out of the lineup for the revamped ministry.

    In the shakeout, Marles’ numbers man, Sam Rae, will be elevated from the backbench to the ministry, despite having only been in parliament for a single term.

    Husic said on Sunday, “I think when people look at a deputy prime minister, they expect to see a statesman, not a factional assassin”.

    Asked on the ABC whether that meant he was saying Marles had put his own ambition to boost his numbers ahead of the good of the party, Husic said, “I think a lot of people would draw that conclusion”.

    “I think he needed to exercise leadership, he’s part of the leadership group. We’ve got to be able to manage these things in an orderly way.”

    “There will be a lot of questions put to Richard about his role, and that’s something that he will have to answer and account for.”

    Husic said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had called him on Saturday – it had been only a brief call – and they will meet on Monday. He looked forward to that being a constructive discussion about the role he could keep playing.

    Husic, the only Muslim in cabinet, in part blamed his outspokenness on Gaza for his demotion.

    “You can’t celebrate diversity and then expect it to sit in a corner, silent.

    “You need to speak up when you bring those different views to either a cabinet table or to a caucus.

    “I certainly took the view that you need to speak up to the communities that you care about. I certainly tried to help us navigate wretchedly difficult issues such as what we’re seeing has unfolded in Gaza post the horrors of October 7.

    “I don’t think I could ever stay silent in the face of innocent civilians being slaughtered in their tens of thousands and being starved out of Gaza.

    “So I tried to find the way to be able to speak at the cabinet table and speak elsewhere, to be able to make sure that communities we represent know that their voices are heard.

    “You should have the ability to speak up on the issues that you believe in. You should have the ability to question.

    “I would hate to think we get to a situation like Trump Republicans who know something’s wrong and and don’t speak. I’m not saying that’s the case here, but there’s a role, a value in questioning,” he said.

    Husic is reported to have clashed with Foreign Minister Penny Wong in cabinet over the Middle East issues. He also had differences with Treasurer Jim Chalmers on some economic issues.

    Husic said he would have liked Albanese to have intervened over his demotion but the PM had declined to get involved.

    He blamed Marles for putting Albanese into such a position. It was “especially disrespectful of the deputy prime minister to put the prime minister in a terrible place where he was being asked to intervene”. But if Albanese had exercised the great authority he had coming out of the election, “no one would have quibbled”.

    “We’ve obviously got to be able to avoid these type of episodes […] the factional grubbiness,” Husic said.

    Because of the factional numbers after the election, the NSW right was due to drop a minister. Husic said he chose not to push it to a factional vote to decide who went. “I did not want to put my colleagues through a national ballot.”

    Michelle Grattan 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. Dumped minister Ed Husic labels Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles ‘factional assassin’ – https://theconversation.com/dumped-minister-ed-husic-labels-deputy-prime-minister-richard-marles-factional-assassin-255962

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First Minister’s cost of living guarantee

    Source: Scottish Government

    The Scottish Government’s cost of living guarantee will help to deliver vital support for the people of Scotland, First Minister John Swinney has said.

    The Programme for Government 2025-26 commits to a range of measures which will help households in a challenging economic climate.

    The cost of living guarantee includes:

    • Lower income tax than in England for the majority of workers
    • Continuation of free prescriptions and free eye appointments
    • Free bus travel for 2.3 million people 
    • Scottish undergraduate students will continue to pay no tuition fees
    • Funded childcare hours, which would otherwise cost families more than £6,000 a year per eligible child.
    • Free school meals, which save the average family who take up the offer £400 per child per year, will be expanded, and more breakfast clubs introduced.
    • Winter fuel payments restored for Scottish pensioners in 2025-26 

    The Programme for Government also committed to scrapping peak rail fares for good from September.

    The First Minister said:

    “This Scottish Government will always do what it can to deliver the best deal for the people of Scotland.

    “Our cost of living guarantee is delivering real savings for hard-pressed households across the country and it goes further than any package offered in the rest of the UK.

    “These policies are already saving people money year on year, in the form of free prescriptions, free bus travel and more. This year we will go even further, funding the restoration of winter fuel payments for every pensioner in Scotland after they were abandoned by the UK Government. And from September, we will be scrapping peak rail fares for good – delivering a better deal for commuters.

    “I know that too many people are still struggling during the cost of living crisis and that is why my government is taking action to keep more money in people’s pockets during tough times.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Fatal Car V Pedestrian Crash, Bass Highway, Travellers Rest

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Fatal Car V Pedestrian Crash, Bass Highway, Travellers Rest

    Sunday, 11 May 2025 – 6:37 am.

    At approximately 10pm on Saturday the 10th May 2025, a crash occurred on the Bass Highway at Travellers Rest with a West bound Mercedes Benz striking a pedestrian on the highway. The crash scene was attended to by emergency services however the pedestrian, a 28 year old male from Devonport, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
    The driver of the Mercedes Benz submitted to mandatory drug and alcohol testing following the crash.
    Numerous specialised police investigators and forensics attended the crash scene and are investigating the circumstances of the crash and death.
    Police are appealing for members of the public who observed a pedestrian on the highway at Travellers Rest prior to the crash or the manner of driving of the Mercedes Benz or who have relevant dash cam footage, to contact Northern Crash Investigation Services. Reference OR 774563.
    Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update on suspected targeted phishing attack on schools and early years network

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    All secondary schools were open today to allow students who had exams early next week to attend in person to obtain a new password.

    On Friday afternoon we noticed some unusual e-mail activity on our schools and early years IT network. As a precautionary measure we reset passwords across our schools and early years network – including those of our students. 

    All secondary schools were open today from 10.15am to 12noon to allow students who had exams early next week to attend in person to obtain a new password.

    Education, Children and Families Convener Councillor James Dalgleish said:

    “We saw approximately 2,500 young people attend their secondary schools to reset their passwords this morning – and I’m delighted that our dedicated school staff were on hand to support them and minimise the impact on their exam preparations.

    “My thanks once again to our colleagues for their quick thinking and vigilance – without which this could have been far worse – and for their work throughout the weekend to ensure the attack was contained and our networks remain secure and protected.

    “Close monitoring will continue over the coming days and we’re keeping the Scottish Government and Police Scotland up-to-date.  

    “I’d like to wish all of our students sitting exams in the coming days and weeks the very best of luck.”

    Background

    No data has been compromised.

    Published: May 10th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Provost pays tribute to Sir Tom Farmer

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The Lord Provost has paid tribute to Sir Tom Farmer as it is announced he died on Friday.

     The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said:

    I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Sir Tom Farmer. Sir Tom was a recipient of the prestigious Edinburgh Award, a generous philanthropist, and a proud Scotsman whose influence touched communities far beyond his own.

    As the founder of Kwik Fit, Sir Tom revolutionised the automotive industry, yet his legacy stretches far beyond business. His love for Edinburgh and its people was perhaps best demonstrated in 1991 when he stepped in to rescue his beloved Hibernian Football Club.

    Sir Tom’s memory will live on in the City Chambers Quadrangle, where his handprints are immortalised alongside those of other Edinburgh Award recipients. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were fortunate to have known him.

    Published: May 10th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TUV slam Republican hate following VE Day event

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV Mid Ulster Chairman Glenn Moore:
    “On Wednesday evening, I was proud to attend and take part in the VE Day banner parade in Castledawson.
    “It was a dignified and fitting occasion to remember the sacrifices made for freedom and the victory over Nazi Germany and the tyranny it represented.
    “Regrettably, history reminds us that during the Second World War, the then Irish Free State remained neutral, maintained diplomatic ties with Fascist regimes, censored reports of the Holocaust, and even extended condolences upon the death of Adolf Hitler.
    “Sadly, that same spirit appears to linger today. Following Wednesday’s parade, several flags and bunting were torn down and destroyed—a disgraceful act of disrespect.
    “It seems that in Mid Ulster, unionists are increasingly treated as second-class citizens, with no right to celebrate our culture or commemorate our heroes.
    “This incident comes just weeks after the Chairman of Mid Ulster District Council was seen attending a commemoration parade for IRA terrorist Jim Lynagh.
    “What kind of society permits the glorification of terrorists while seeking to silence the remembrance of those who fought for freedom?”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Youths charged in relation to aggravated robbery at Prospect

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Youths charged in relation to aggravated robbery at Prospect

    Saturday, 10 May 2025 – 10:51 pm.

    Police have charged two youths in relation to an aggravated robbery at a shop at Prospect Marketplace yesterday (Friday).
    Police will allege that around 2.10pm, two youths entered the store and stole a quantity of money.
    During the incident, a man in the store sustained minor injuries when they reportedly attempted to restrain a youth.
    A 14-year-old from Invermay and a 16-year-old from Newstead have been charged with aggravated robbery and appeared before the Youth Justice Court today.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: No place for the monarchy in modern Scotland

    Source: Scottish Greens

    10 May 2025 Scottish Independence

    The monarchy is a dated and undemocratic institution.

    More in Scottish Independence

    Maintaining the royal family is becoming increasingly unjustifiable, says the Scottish Greens Co-Leader, Patrick Harvie MSP.

    Mr Harvie’s calls for the monarchy to be abolished come ahead of a Republic Day protest in Edinburgh, where he will be speaking alongside his Green colleague Maggie Chapman and campaigners from across the political spectrum.

    The event, hosted by Our Republic, is held against the backdrop of increasing inequality in the country as many struggle with household bills, UK Government’s decision to cut social security for disabled people, and the axing of pensioner’s winter fuel payments.

    While the UK Government has struggled to stem the tide of the cost-of-living, the royal family has seen their wealth go from strength to strength in recent times.

    Several nations across the commonwealth are already reassessing their relationship with the crown and the Greens Co-Leader is making the case for Scotland to follow suit.

    Mr Harvie said:

    “There is no place in modern Scotland for the monarchy.

    “Our society is experiencing widespread inequality, with the cost of living crisis continuing to push many to the brink. However, it seems the royal family has never had it so good.

    “The taxpayer-funded sovereign grant rises year on year. They don’t pay capital gains tax, they don’t pay corporation tax and they’re exempt from stamp duty. They have received millions of pounds of income in rent from the NHS, schools and the armed forces for operating on the vast swathes of land that they own.

    “It is completely at odds with the struggles faced by some of our most vulnerable communities. We should not have a system that only benefits the super-rich, while leaving the rest of us to pick up the bill.

    “The monarchy is a profoundly outdated and undemocratic institution. We must have a serious conversation about the country we see ourselves as.

    “The idea that we should show this preference for one unaccountable family, who take far more from society than they give, is the exact opposite image of Scotland I would like to see. I believe we can do so much better for the people living in our country.

    “Scotland has the potential to be a modern independent democratic republic. It can be a greener and fairer country that redistributes the wealth hoarded by monarchy and the rest of the super-rich, and uses it to the benefit of the many people who are struggling.

    “Ultimately, it should be the people of Scotland who are sovereign and I will continue to make the case that with the powers of independence we can tackle the profound inequality that is highlighted by the lifestyle that the royals enjoy.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –