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Category: Great Britain

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) Joint Communiqué

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) Joint Communiqué

    Today the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Fleur Anderson MP, attended the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Hillsborough Castle.

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Fleur Anderson MP, with Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris and Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, at the latest meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, held in Northern Ireland.

    A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference took place in Hillsborough Castle on 24 April 2025.

    The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was represented by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Fleur Anderson MP.

    The Government of Ireland was represented by the Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris TD, and the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD.

    Legacy

    The UK Government and the Government of Ireland noted that one of the aims of the Good Friday Agreement – to acknowledge and address the suffering of victims and survivors of the Troubles – remains unrealised. Both Governments reaffirmed their strong desire to work in partnership on this issue and expressed a mutual commitment to making timely progress so that families can obtain the information and accountability that they deserve and have long sought. 

    Both Governments reflected on the positive and constructive bilateral discussions that had taken place since the last BIIGC on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023 and the Commission it established. They noted the substantive progress made and emphasised that their aim remains to reach agreement on a joint, comprehensive approach to legacy issues consistent with the principles of the Stormont House Agreement – including ensuring that legacy mechanisms are human rights compliant and balanced, proportionate, transparent, fair and equitable.

    The UK Government and the Government of Ireland agreed that any joint approach to legacy will require agreement on all key issues, including: fundamental reform of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery to ensure its human rights compliance and to strengthen its practical independence, governance and oversight; the approach to legacy inquests and information retrieval; and ensuring that there are clear reciprocal commitments by both the UK Government and the Government of Ireland. 

    It was agreed that both Governments would continue to work quickly and intensively in seeking to finalise a joint approach. The UK Government remains committed to introducing legislation to repeal and replace the Legacy Act when Parliamentary time allows, and the Government of Ireland will introduce its own legislation as necessary. Ultimately, securing the confidence of victims, survivors, and families will remain at the heart of the work of both Governments.

    Political stability

    The Governments discussed their shared commitment to the good operation of all three strands of the Good Friday Agreement. They affirmed the importance of the full and timely implementation of the Windsor Framework. They took stock of recent developments including US tariff measures and their respective engagement with stakeholders to date. 

    The UK Government also provided an update on the ongoing efforts to support the Northern Ireland Executive with public service transformation. 

    Security update

    The Governments discussed the current security situation, including the Northern Ireland-related terrorism (NIRT) threat. That the NIRT threat level remains unchanged at SUBSTANTIAL is testament to the work being done by agencies on both sides of the border. This cross-border cooperation remains a vital part of work to tackle the terrorist threat and wider harms.

    They discussed an update on the process underway jointly to appoint an Independent Expert to carry out a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment.

    British-Irish cooperation

    Ministers reflected on the recent UK-Ireland Summit, including on how future meetings of the BIIGC could complement the programme of cooperation agreed at the Summit.

    They reaffirmed their shared commitment to protecting the Common Travel Area to the benefit of citizens across these islands and noted, in particular, the importance of continued engagement with all stakeholders to ensure the UK ETA scheme operates smoothly.

    The Governments agreed that the Conference would meet again in the coming months.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM remarks at the IEA Future of Energy Security summit: 24 April 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    PM remarks at the IEA Future of Energy Security summit: 24 April 2025

    Prime Minister’s remarks from the IEA Future of Energy Security summit.

    Good afternoon, everyone – it’s really fantastic to see so many people here, in London, welcome to London, I’m so pleased we have got so many representatives from so many places and in a sense we’re here today for one simple reason:

    Because the world has changed.

    From defence and national security on the one hand, much discussed in recent months…

    To the economy and trade…

    Old assumptions have fallen away.

    We are living through an era of global instability…

    Which is felt by working people as an age of local insecurity.

    Factory workers, builders, carers, nurses, teachers… 

    Working harder and harder for the pound in their pocket…

    But feeling at the same time that they have less control of their lives.

    *

    And energy security is right at the heart of this.

    Every family and business across the UK…

    Has paid the price for Russia weaponizing energy. And it has.

    But it’s not just that.

    *

    Let’s be frank.

    When it comes to energy…

    We’re also paying the price for our over-exposure…

    Over many years…

    To the rollercoaster of international fossil fuel markets.

    Leaving the economy – and therefore people’s household budgets…

    Vulnerable to the whims of dictators like Putin…

    To price spikes…

    And to volatility that is beyond our control. 

    Since the 1970s, half of the UK’s recessions have been caused by fossil fuel shocks. 

    That’s true for many of the other nations represented here this afternoon.

    So what’s different today is not the information we have.

    It’s not our awareness of the problem.

    No.

    What’s different now… 

    Is our determination…

    In a more uncertain world…

    To fix it.

    It’s our determination that working people…

    Should not be exposed like this anymore.

    *

    So, to the British people, I say:

    This government will not sit back…

    We will step up.

    We will make energy a source…

    Not of vulnerability, but of strength.

    We will protect our critical infrastructure, energy networks and supply chains…

    And do whatever it takes…

    To protect the security of our people.

    Because this is the crucial point – 

    Energy security is national security…

    And it is therefore a fundamental duty of government.

    And I’m very clear – 

    We can’t deliver that by defending the status quo…

    Or trying to turn the clock back…

    To a world that no longer exists.

    *

    Of course, fossil fuels will be part of our energy mix for decades to come.

    But winning the fight for energy security depends on renewal –

    It depends on change…

    It depends on cooperation with others.

    And that’s why we’re all here today – so many countries, so many communities represented.

    *

    The IEA was founded in 1974,

    In the midst of an energy crisis,

    To help us work together to secure energy supplies…

    And reduce future energy shocks.

    Well, that has taken on a new urgency today. 

    So our task is clear – 

    To act – together… 

    To seize the opportunity of the clean energy transition. 

    Because homegrown clean energy…

    Is the only way…

    To take back control of our energy system… 

    Deliver energy security…

    And bring down bills for the long term.

    *

    And I want to tell you –  

    That is in the DNA of my government.

    When we came into office last year… 

    We knew there was no time to waste.

    So in our first 100 days…

    We launched Great British Energy –

    As a national champion to drive investment and transform clean power.

    We scrapped the ban on onshore wind…

    And became the first G7 economy to phase out coal power.

    While we won’t turn off the taps…

    We’re going all out –  

    Through our Plan for Change…

    To make Britain a clean energy superpower… 

    To secure home grown energy…

    And set a path to achieving clean power by 2030.

    *

    Now, I know, some in the UK don’t agree with that.

    They think energy security can wait.

    They think tackling climate change can wait.

    But do they also think that billpayers can wait too?

    Do they think economic growth can wait?

    Do they think we can win the race for green jobs and investment by going slow?

    That would serve no one. 

    Instead, this government is acting now…

    With a muscular industrial policy –

    To seize these opportunities…

    To boost investment…

    Build new industries…

    Drive UK competitiveness…

    And unlock export opportunities –

    In wind, nuclear, hydrogen, carbon capture, heat pumps and so much more.

    That is the change we need.

    We won’t wait – 

    We’ll accelerate.

    *

    Because we’re already seeing the benefits.

    The UK’s net zero sectors are growing three times faster than the economy as a whole.

    They have attracted £43 billion of private investment since last July. 

    And now they support around 600,000 jobs across the UK.

    That means more opportunities…

    And more money in people’s pockets.

    And we’re going further.

    We’ve stripped out unnecessary red tape…

    To put Britain back in the global race for nuclear energy…

    And allow for Small Modular Reactors for the first time.

    We’re speeding up planning for clean energy projects –

    Including onshore wind…

    To power millions of homes and unlock further investment of £40 billion each year.

    *

    It’s really clear to me – 

    That investors want policy certainty.

    They want ambition.

    That is what we’re providing.

    And now we are raising our ambition even further.

    I am really pleased to announce today…

    That we’re creating a new Supply Chains Investment Fund –

    As part of Great British Energy.

    It will be backed by an initial £300 million of new funding… 

    For domestic offshore wind…

    Leveraging billions of new private investment…

    Supporting tens of thousands of jobs…

    And driving economic growth.

    When companies are looking to invest in clean energy…

    When partners are looking to build new turbines, blades or cables…

    Our message is simple:

    Build it in Britain.

    I am determined to seize this opportunity –

    To win our share of this trillion-dollar market…

    And secure the next generation of great jobs.

    I’ve met apprentices at the docks in Grimsby – fantastic individuals…

    I’ve been to Holyhead in Wales…

    And the National Nuclear Laboratory in Preston…

    And I’ve seen the brilliant clean power infrastructure that we are building in this country.

    But more than that…

    I’ve seen the pride that these jobs bring.

    This is skilled, well-paid work…

    Meaningful work –

    A chance to reignite our industrial heartlands…

    To rekindle the sense of community pride and purpose…

    That comes from being part of something that is bigger than yourself.

    And so I’m pleased to tell you…

    That I can share some more good news this afternoon.

    Earlier today, we finalised a deal with ENI.

    It will see them award £2 billion in supply chain contracts…

    For the Hynet Carbon Capture and Storage project…

    Creating 2,000 jobs, across North Wales and the North West.

    I want to thank all those here today who are part of this success story.

    Because it is all built on stability, yes…

    But our ruthless focus on delivery…

    But it is also built on partnership.

    *

    So let me say –

    It is a real pleasure today to welcome my friend –

    President von der Leyen.

    Ursula – it is so good to have you with us this afternoon. Last time we were in this building, Ursula and I stood together with other colleagues here at Lancaster House, that was just last month, six weeks ago…

    Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with President Zelenskyy…

    Working together for European security.

    Today we stand, again together with Fatih and others and the IEA…

    United behind European energy security.

    Europe must never again be in a position where Russia thinks they can blackmail us on energy.

    And until Russia comes to the table and agrees a full and unconditional ceasefire…

    We must continue to crack down on their energy revenues which are still fuelling Putin’s war chest.

    This is the moment to act. 

    And it is the moment to build a partnership with the EU that meets the needs of our time –

    Facing up to the global shocks of recent years…

    And working together to minimise the impact on hard-working people.

    So we’re doing more with the EU to improve our interconnections…

    And make the most of our shared energy systems…

    As well as building on the fantastic partnerships that we already have…

    With countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Norway and so many others.

    We have a common and important resource in the North Sea…

    Which can help us meet common challenges –

    To me, this is just common sense.

    So let’s seize this potential…

    To drive down bills…

    And drive up investment, growth and energy security.

    I was elected with a mandate to deliver change.

    So I make no apologies for pursuing every avenue…

    To deliver in the national interest and secure Britain’s future.

    That is always my priority. 

    And of course this has to be a global effort as well.

    We need to see a wider coalition…

    That unites the north and south…

    In a global drive for clean power.

    That’s why I launched the Global Clean Power Alliance at the G20 last year…

    Working alongside the EU’s Global Energy Transitions Forum.

    And that’s why we’re joining forces to take this forward.

    We want to tackle the barriers and bottlenecks that are holding countries back.

    So I am pleased to announce today…

    That, under the Global Clean Power Alliance…

    We are establishing a first-of-its-kind global initiative…

    To unblock and diversify clean energy supply chains.

    We are harnessing the political leadership needed to make this happen.

    Because, ultimately…

    That is what this is about:

    Leadership.

    In this moment of instability and uncertainty…

    Where we are buffeted by global forces…

    We are taking control.

    We are working together with partners from around the world…

    With the IEA and all of you here today…

    To accelerate this vital global transition.

    And in the UK…

    We are stepping up now…

    To make energy a source…

    Not of vulnerability, and worry…

    Which it is at the moment and it has been for so long…

    But a source of strength, of security and pride.

    With British energy, powering British homes, creating British jobs –  

    A collective effort, to boost our collective security…

    For generations to come.

    Thank you very much.

    *

    And now it is my very great pleasure and privilege to introduce…

    President von der Leyen, my friend Ursula, thank you very much for being here. Ursula, the stage is yours.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Windfarm Capable of Powering Half of Scotland’s Homes

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Windfarm Capable of Powering Half of Scotland’s Homes

    Moray West offshore wind farm capable of powering half of Scotland’s homes is switched on by Scottish Secretary.

    The UK’s drive towards clean power, which is a huge jobs and economic opportunity for Scotland, took a significant step forward today [24 April] when Scottish Secretary Ian Murray switched on full power at Ocean Winds’ new Moray West offshore windfarm.

    The windfarm, located 13 miles off the coast of Buckie, is one of Scotland’s largest offshore windfarms. It will generate up to 882MW output – enough to power 1.3 million homes – half of Scotland’s households. Upon full power, Ocean Winds will become the largest offshore wind operator in Scotland, running two windfarms off the North East coast and with a third in development.

    Clean energy represents the economic opportunity of the 21st century, with this project alone creating around 1,500 jobs during the construction phase. The developer, Ocean Winds, has used more than 80 UK suppliers in the project to date, which has involved installing the biggest turbines yet in British waters, spanning up to 257m above sea level.  

    Speaking after his visit, Mr Murray said:

    “It was a huge moment today when I switched on full power for the Moray West Windfarm. 

    “Investment like that being made by Ocean Winds is absolutely central to ensuring that Scotland and its workers benefit from the skilled jobs and economic growth that clean energy can bring.

    “With Great British energy located in Aberdeen, and billions of pounds of investment on the table, Scotland is at the very heart of the UK Government’s drive to make the UK a clean energy superpower.”

    Moray West takes the UK Government a step closer to achieving the 43-50GW offshore wind targets set for 2030, as published in the Clean Power Action Plan- helping deliver on its mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower. 

    During his visit to Ocean Winds, Mr Murray met staff who have transitioned into renewables after careers in the oil and gas industry and the UK’s armed forces. 

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    “Offshore wind is the backbone of our plans for clean power by 2030, as the UK is blessed with thousands of miles of coastline.

    “Developments like Moray West take us a step closer to getting off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and help deliver on our Plan for Change, protecting households from volatile gas prices and creating good jobs.”

    After switching on the windfarm to full power, Mr Murray travelled to Aberdeen.

    There he visited Sarens PSG and ETZ Ltd. 

    Sarens PSG were involved in the construction of the Moray West windfarm, marshalling 62 giant ‘monopiles’ – the wind turbine foundations. 10 metres in diameter and 84 metres long, the 2.000 tonne monopiles are the largest and heaviest ever to be handled in the United Kingdom. Mr Murray saw Sarens PSG’s new £1.6 million Aberdeen training facility for wind farm workers. The company opened the facility recently, saying that Great British Energy’s headquarters being located in Aberdeen made the city the ideal location for the facility⁠.

    Touring the Energy Transition Zone, Mr Murray visited the Floating Wind Innovation Centre, the UK’s first dedicated facility of its kind for floating wind technology, run by ORE Catapult.

    Also today [24 April 2025] Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill visited the Port of Leith, located within the Forth Green Freeport, to mark the official opening of Forth Ports’ new Outer Berth. Forth Ports has invested a total of £100 million into transforming the Port of Leith into a world class renewables hub, which is already playing a key role in supporting Scotland’s energy transition. The Leith Renewables Hub is part of the Forth Green Freeport’s strategically located tax sites, which aim to reindustrialise central Scotland, generating thousands of high-quality green jobs by increasing trade and supporting the growth of businesses across the Firth of Forth.

    These visits are happening against the background of the UK Government co-hosting the International Energy Agency summit in London, a global event bringing together countries to discuss energy security.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Secretary Increases Scottish Government Borrowing Powers

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Scottish Secretary Increases Scottish Government Borrowing Powers

    The Scottish Government will have increased borrowing powers following an Order made in Parliament this week by Scottish Secretary.

    Ian Murray has laid the ‘The Scotland Act 1998 (Increase of Borrowing Limits) Order 2025’ which increases the Scottish Government’s borrowing limits to a cumulative total of £3 billion for capital and £629 million for resource. 

    The Scottish Government’s borrowing limits (both annual and cumulative) are uprated annually in line with inflation, as set out in the Fiscal Framework. As the cumulative limits are legislated for under the Scotland Act 1998, secondary legislation is required to make the annual changes. The annual limits are non-legislative so no legislative change is required to amend these. 

    Speaking after laying the Order, Mr Murray said:

    “I’m very pleased to have laid this Scotland Act Order which increases the Scottish Government’s cumulative borrowing limits to a total of £3.6 billion. The Autumn Budget provided an additional £4.9 billion for the Scottish Government, ending austerity. These borrowing powers are on top of the Scottish Government’s record funding settlement of £47.7 billion this financial year. We have reset the relationship with the Scottish Government, and this order is a key part of our commitment to maintain the devolution settlement.”

    The Order will take effect on 30 June 2025. There will be a debate in the House of Commons before then. 

    The 2023 Fiscal Framework Agreement between the Scottish and UK Governments sets out the Scottish Government’s funding arrangements, including budget management tools such as borrowing powers. 

    Officials in both the UK Government and the Scottish Government worked together to deliver the Order, as they do with all Scotland Act Orders.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major carbon capture project to deliver jobs and growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Major carbon capture project to deliver jobs and growth

    Thousands of jobs created as major carbon capture and storage network is ready for construction – boosting energy security and the government’s Plan for Change.

    • Plan for Change delivers 2,000 skilled jobs to build major carbon capture network driving growth and reducing emissions in industrial heartlands
    • clean energy to be hardwired into national planning rules to attract investment, give certainty and boost mission to become a clean energy superpower
    • comes as UK-led Global Clean Power Alliance announces its next mission to diversify clean energy supply chains by unblocking bottlenecks and boosting global manufacturing capacity

    British families and businesses will be more energy secure as a major carbon capture and storage network is now ready for construction – supporting 2,000 jobs through the Plan for Change. 

    Launching this new industry for Britain provides a major boost for heavy industry – part of the government’s commitment to backing British manufacturing.

    Energy company Eni have today (24 April 2025) finalised a major deal with government which will see them award around £2 billion in supply chain contracts for their Liverpool Bay Carbon Capture and Storage Project, spanning North Wales and the North West of England. 

    Today’s deal delivers on a commitment made by the Prime Minister and Energy Secretary in October, to develop a world leading carbon capture industry – backed by £21.7 billion – reigniting industrial heartlands across the country and kickstarting growth in manufacturing communities. 

    This announcement comes as the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) awards three carbon storage permits to Eni for its Liverpool Bay CCS project.

    It will create a network of clean infrastructure, decarbonising industries like energy from waste, hydrogen and cement production – whilst backing highly skilled jobs in construction and enabling future generation of low carbon power.  

    Alongside this, the government has set out further planning reforms to provide certainty and clarity for developers on the importance of clean power projects, such as solar, onshore and offshore wind and nuclear, when making decisions on energy infrastructure of critical national priority. 

    Previously where policy, legislation and guidance left room for doubt, planners and decision-takers have adopted a cautious approach to consenting clean energy infrastructure, leading to lengthy paperwork and red tape blocking decisions, hindering Britain’s energy security. 

    Changes will streamline the planning system and get Britain building by giving developers clarity on what is needed for their clean power project to succeed. By putting clean power by 2030 at the heart of planning policy, the government is backing industry, removing delays and getting clean energy projects built quicker.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    Our Plan for Change is working – we said we’d deliver jobs and growth through carbon capture technology, and now we have. Shovels ready for the ground, supporting over 2,000 new jobs and supporting thousands more, transforming the lives of hard-working people.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:  

    Today we keep our promise to launch a whole new clean energy industry for our country – carbon capture and storage – to deliver thousands of highly skilled jobs and revitalise our industrial communities. 

    We are making the UK energy secure and backing our engineers, electricians and welders so we can protect families and businesses and drive jobs through our Plan for Change.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    We promised to revitalise our nation’s industrial heartlands, create good jobs, make Britain a clean energy superpower and grow our economy to put more money in working people’s pockets.

    This deal is another example of us delivering on those promises with thousands of new jobs created, our energy security strengthened, and our industries decarbonised with a game-changing technology – our Plan for Change in action.

    Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said:  

    The strategic agreement with the UK government paves the way for the industrial-scale development of CCS, a sector in which the United Kingdom reaffirms its leadership thanks to the promotion of a regulatory framework that aims to strengthen the development of CCS and make it fully competitive in the market.  

    Eni has established itself as a leading operator in the UK thanks to its key role in CO2 transport and storage activities as the leader of the HyNet Consortium, which will become one of the first low-carbon clusters in the world. 

    Stuart Payne, Chief Executive of the North Sea Transition Authority, said:  

    We have taken another major step on the way to turning this country’s ambitions for carbon storage into reality. It’s been a collaborative mission and demonstrates the way that we must all work together in unlocking the UK’s vast potential to tackle climate change and deliver energy security.

    The Prime Minister confirmed the deal today in a speech at the Future of Energy Security Summit – hosted by the UK government and International Energy Agency. Ministers and business leaders from around the world gathered in London, including the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen, as countries take action to protect themselves from future energy shocks in these unstable times.

    At the summit the government also established a new mission focused on strengthening global supply chains through the UK-led Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA). The GCPA will bring together the Global North and South – drawing on and sharing the UK’s world-leading experience of pursuing Clean Power by 2030 to speed up the global clean energy transition.  

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

    This week’s Summit is a critical opportunity to make progress on international energy security.

    We’re working with partners through our Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA) to accelerate global clean energy, which promises to bring growth, jobs and lower bills to the UK. As the Prime Minister has set out today, the GCPA will next focus on assuring reliable, low-cost clean energy supply chains. In a more uncertain world, cooperation across the Global North and South will be essential to deliver this.

    The supply chain mission will bring countries together to diversify clean energy supply chains, drive investment into renewables and address bottlenecks. Working with other countries will not only help to secure and diversify clean energy of the future, but provide new growth opportunities across our countries and relevant supply chains; from critical mineral processing to strengthening manufacturing and industrial partnerships.
     
    The rapid drop in the price of renewables is driving strong growth in clean energy around the world. In 2024, 80% of growth in global electricity generation was provided by renewables and nuclear. The UK alone has already attracted £43.7 billion of private sector investment announcements in clean energy since July. 

    Notes to editors 

    CCUS is a proven technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions before they reach the atmosphere – storing them safely and permanently deep beneath the seabed and preventing their contribution to the climate crisis. 

    Today’s announcement delivers on the commitment made by the Prime Minster in October where £21.7 billion was allocated to kickstart the UK’s carbon capture industry. The signing of contracts for Hynet means the UK’s second carbon capture network is now shovel ready. 

    The Climate Change Committee describes CCUS as a “necessity, not an option” to achieving net zero by 2050. 

    Eni is the operator of the Transport and Storage network of Hynet, through its Liverpool Bay CCS project, which will transport captured CO2 from industrial sites and bury it deep beneath the seabed.  

    It means that now both government-backed carbon capture projects have reached final investment decisions, after the East Coast Cluster in Teesside reached the same milestone in December.  

    The consultations on the National Policy Statements for energy will run from 24 April to 29 May.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Progress Congratulates Chairman Jack Egan on NACD New England Leadership in Corporate Governance Award

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Prestigious honor recognizes Egan’s outstanding contributions to corporate governance and board leadership

    BURLINGTON, Mass., April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Progress (Nasdaq: PRGS), the trusted provider of AI-powered digital experience and infrastructure software, today announced that its Board Chair, John R. “Jack” Egan, has been honored with the Leadership in Corporate Governance Award by the National Association of Corporate Directors New England Chapter (NACDNE). This distinguished recognition highlights Egan’s exceptional leadership, dedication to corporate governance excellence and commitment to fostering strong, responsible board practices.

    A highly respected leader in the business and investment community, Egan is the founding managing partner of Egan-Managed Capital, L.P., a Boston-based venture capital firm. Throughout his career, he has served on the boards of numerous prominent organizations. In addition to his role at Progress, he is the Lead Independent Director of NETSCOUT and has previously been a board member for EMC Corp., Verint Systems, Inc., VMware and Boston College’s Board of Trustees.

    “Jack’s strategic vision and steadfast leadership have been invaluable to Progress,” said Yogesh Gupta, CEO of Progress. “His recognition by NACDNE is a testament to his unwavering commitment to corporate governance excellence. We are privileged to benefit from his insight and experience.”

    The Leadership in Corporate Governance Award is part of NACDNE’s Annual Director of the Year Awards, which celebrate the achievements of board directors across New England. Now in its 17th year, the ceremony honors individuals and boards that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in enhancing stakeholder value, strengthening governance structures and driving long-term corporate success.

    Egan will be formally recognized at the NACDNE Director of the Year Awards Gala in Boston on April 28, 2025.

    About Progress
    Progress (Nasdaq: PRGS) empowers organizations to achieve transformational success in the face of disruptive change. Our software enables our customers to develop, deploy and manage responsible AI-powered applications and digital experiences with agility and ease. Customers get a trusted provider in Progress, with the products, expertise and vision they need to succeed. Over 4 million developers and technologists at hundreds of thousands of enterprises depend on Progress. Learn more at www.progress.com.

    Progress is a trademark or registered trademark of Progress Software Corporation and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Any other names contained herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.  

    Press Contact:
    Jeff Young
    Progress
    +1-800-477-6473
    pr@progress.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reform

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sonja Dümpelmann, Professor of Environmental Humanities, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

    Window-box gardening has been a Philly tradition since the 1800s. Sonja Dümpelmann, CC BY-SA

    It’s that time of year when Philadelphia row home owners with a green thumb fastidiously attend to their window boxes – selecting new plants to design an artful blend of colors, shapes and textures.

    Sonja Dümpelmann is a historian of landscapes and the built environment who lived in Philly from 2019 to 2023. During this time, she researched how female reformers and activists in Philadelphia in the 19th and 20th centuries tended to window-box gardens both for charity and to spur urban renewal in rundown neighborhoods.

    Dümpelmann recently published an article on this history in the architectural journal Buildings & Landscapes. She spoke with The Conversation U.S. about what she learned.

    Some homeowners change out their plants throughout the year.
    Sonja Dümpelmann, CC BY-SA

    How did you become interested in window boxes?

    When I first moved to Philadelphia from Cambridge, Massachusetts, in August 2019, I was immediately struck by the window boxes. The lushness and freshness of the plants in many of the boxes, and sometimes in sidewalk planters, made walking more pleasant and interesting. This was especially the case in the hot summer months when I would often see plants from subtropical and tropical climates in the Rittenhouse Square, Fitler Square and Graduate Hospital neighborhoods.

    I noticed that there were three categories of window boxes. Many were visibly cared for, often freshly planted and decorated several times a year in accordance with the changing seasons. Some were derelict and had spontaneous growth of saplings and different grasses. And a third category were boxes outfitted with plastic plants, perhaps signaling absentee owners or landlords who seek to simulate care.

    What makes them landscape architecture?

    Window boxes – especially the planted boxes, but also painted boxes that are empty – change outdoor space and building exteriors. They make them more colorful and interesting, and they break up plain vertical walls by protruding from the facade.

    You could say that the window boxes “greet” passersby. They connect private indoor space with the public realm of the street. As one early window-box promoter observed in 1903, “The man in the street gets as much enjoyment out of them as its owner.”

    “Gardens in a box,” as they were also referred to by early promoters, can make homes and entire neighborhoods look and feel different. They forge distinct identities with their plant selection and the style and color of the boxes.

    Window gardens are a way to greet passersby on the street.
    Sonja Dümpelmann, CC BY-SA

    How did window gardening begin?

    Window gardening became popular in Victorian England and continental Europe in the 19th century. It began as an indoor activity and was practiced especially by women, but it soon also moved outdoors. There it became part of what American women in the late 19th century called “municipal housekeeping.” It extended their conventional female roles as housekeepers and mothers into the larger “household” of the community.

    Window gardening became a means of female social reform during the Progressive Era. During this period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when industries and cities were growing fast, women sought to improve education, public health and living conditions, especially for poor and immigrant communities. By offering plants, flowers and entire window boxes, the women supported homemakers of lesser means.

    However, these boxes were also a way to make sure that order in and outside of homes was maintained. Window gardens became cultural symbols of cleanliness and good housekeeping. Furthermore, reformers considered window gardening as a practice that could help immigrants assimilate into American society.

    When did they become political?

    In Philadelphia there were two big window-gardening movements. The first occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and I describe it as window-box charity. The second, which I call window-box activism, began in the 1950s.

    Window-box charity was carried out primarily by white philanthropists and social workers who would distribute plants and goods sent from outside the city to the urban poor and sick, especially immigrants and Black Americans. Sometimes the window boxes were ready to be installed outside the windows. Other times recipients built and planted boxes themselves.

    The Neighborhood Garden Association, the organization that pioneered window-box activism, at work near the now-closed Alexander Wilson School in West Philadelphia in 1955.
    Courtesy of the McLean Library and Archives, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Several decades later, in the mid-20th-century, plants became a vehicle for white suburban garden club ladies and Black inner-city residents to counter urban decay resulting from racism and public disinvestment. On annual planting days, the garden club ladies brought plants into the city and joined residents in planting and installing window boxes to brighten up their neighborhood blocks.

    Plants were key in both window-box charity and window-box activism. People came together to care for plants, creating friendships among neighbors and ties between low-income and wealthy neighborhoods. The women used plants and window boxes to protect private space and increase the safety of public space. In the 1960s, the Philadelphia police reported less crime on streets with window boxes.

    Of course, window boxes and plants alone could not solve larger urban social problems such as poor housing conditions and racial discrimination. So while they could be catalysts of neighborhood change, they also helped to camouflage and quite literally naturalize larger social problems that required political responses.

    Are they still linked to urban renewal?

    Like a smaller version of public parks, community gardens and street trees, window gardens can contribute to green gentrification. This occurs when the construction of parks or the planting of trees contributes to an increase in property values that leads to the displacement of long-term residents in low-income neighborhoods.

    Window gardening did help save some of Philly’s old row house neighborhoods from demolition during urban renewal beginning in the 1950s. However, quite a few of these neighborhoods – such as Washington Square West and Graduate Hospital – have since been gentrified, and families who once window gardened to turn their neighborhoods into more beautiful and safer places could no longer afford to live there.

    The 20th century window-box activism drew the attention of sociologists and other national and international observers, especially because it brought white and Black residents together during the tensions of the Civil Rights Movement. It also raised public awareness about unequal access to urban green spaces.

    Window boxes on Delancey Street in Philadelphia.
    Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia, CC BY-SA

    Yet despite the movement’s good intentions and positive effects, racial segregation remains a persistent problem in Philadelphia.

    In gentrified parts of Center City today, new and restored row houses often include fixtures and built-in irrigation pipes for window boxes. Many owners outsource window-box planting and maintenance to paid service providers.

    But for lower-income residents, the costs in both time and money to install and maintain window gardens can be prohibitive.

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

    – ref. The hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reform – https://theconversation.com/the-hidden-history-of-philadelphias-window-box-gardens-and-their-role-in-urban-reform-254361

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Farce of Surrendering the Union deal exposed

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister MP:

    “Today’s decision by the Government to plough ahead and add a new EU rule to the Windsor Framework, in spite of Unionists unanimously opposing it, is yet more evidence that the much vaunted Safeguarding the Union deal was a farce.

    “This is the second occasion when the Government has dismissed Unionist concerns and ridden roughshod over their objections.

    “It is yet further evidence of the lies on which the so-called Safeguarding the Union deal was sold to the public. Far from safeguarding the Union, the deal was one which amounted to surrendering the Union as Unionists meekly accepted a return to Stormont as Protocol implementors.

    “It is obvious that the Government has calculated that it can afford to treat Unionist objections with contempt. That attitude is understandable when Unionists meekly returned to Stormont on the basis of a deal which did nothing to reverse the constitutional damage of the Protocol.

    “Unless or until Unionists show some backbone decisions like that made today will continue to be made and bit by bit our position within the United Kingdom will continue to be eroded.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sign up now for Buskfest 2025 in Banbridge

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    L-R: Banshee, the overall winner from last year, Chris Nelmes, The Boulevard Banbridge, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Councillor Sarah Duffy, Ralph McLean, BBC Radio Ulster, Banshee member and Michael Donaghy, Banbridge Chamber of Commerce.

    Calling all musicians, performers, and music lovers! Buskfest, one of the most anticipated musical events of the year, is back in Banbridge on Saturday 14 June 2025, and buskers of all ages and genres are being asked to sign up for a chance to perform, compete, and win incredible prizes.

    With a total prize pot of £3,500 and other exciting prizes, this year’s Buskfest promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or a first-time busker, this is your chance to showcase your talent to a lively crowd in the heart of Banbridge. The event is free to both buskers and visitors and offers a fantastic family-friendly atmosphere.

    BBC Radio Ulster’s Ralph McLean, one of the event’s esteemed judges said,

    “Buskfest is one of my favourite musical days of the year and in my opinion, the biggest and best celebration of busking around. What makes it so special is the platform it gives performers of all kinds to step out, be heard, and connect with an audience.

    “Every year, I’m blown away by the range and quality of talent on show. Whether you’re a solo singer, a band, or something in between, there’s a space for you here. Judging is never easy, but it’s always inspiring and I can’t wait to see Banbridge come alive once again with music on every corner.”

    Registration for this year’s Buskfest is now open at buskfest.com and will close on 13 June 2025.

    On the day of the event, all participating buskers must check in at the Old Town Hall between 11.30am and 1.00pm to claim their performance pitch. The streets will come alive with music from 2.00pm to 5.00pm, followed by the prize giving and evening concert from 5.00pm to 8.30pm in the town centre. The finale will feature a stellar line-up of local talent, including Banshee – last year’s overall winner – The Reilly’s, and headliners The Nooks.

    Not only will buskers have the opportunity to win part of the £3,500 prize pot, but they’ll also be part of an incredible celebration of music, community, and creativity. The event will feature free family-friendly activities in the afternoon, ensuring fun for all ages.

    Buskfest is an event that brings people together through the power of live music, and we want you to be a part of it. To register visit buskfest.com.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests, removes Dominican alien charged with drug crimes, assaulting a police officer in Massachusetts

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegally present Dominican national charged with drug trafficking crimes and assaulting a police officer. Officers with ICE Boston arrested Daniel Encarnacion-Sanchez, 20, in Boston Feb. 7.

    “Daniel Encarnacion-Sanchez illegally entered the United States and has been charged with trafficking poison in our Massachusetts community and assaulting an officer of the law,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “He represents a significant threat to our residents that we will not tolerate. ICE Boston remains dedicated to our mission to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien threats from New England neighborhoods.”

    U.S. Border Patrol arrested Encarnacion-Sanchez Nov. 21, 2023, after he illegally entered the United States. The Border Patrol served Encarnacion-Sanchez a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.

    The Malden District Court arraigned Encarnacion-Sanchez Nov. 27, 2024, for trafficking a controlled substance and possession to distribute drugs.

    ICE Boston lodged an immigration detainer against Encarnacion-Sanchez Dec. 3, 2024, with the Middlesex County House of Corrections.

    The Boston Police Department arrested Encarnacion-Sanchez Feb. 6, and charged him with assault and battery on a police officer causing injury and trafficking drugs, heroin and crack. The next day, the Dorchester District Court, released Encarnacion-Sanchez on personal recognizance.

    Officers with ICE Boston arrested Encarnacion-Sanchez, after release from Dorchester District Court in Boston Feb. 7.

    ICE removed Encarnacion-Sanchez to the Dominican Republic March 16.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Australian Oilseeds Issues Annual Shareholder Letter

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COOTAMUNDRA, Australia, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited, a manufacturer and seller of sustainable edible oils to customers globally, today issued a letter to shareholders from Gary Seaton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, that highlights recent performance and future milestones.

    Dear Fellow Shareholders,

    Across the globe, 2024 presented serious challenges including the ongoing war in Ukraine and serious conflicts in the Middle East and growing geopolitical discord, notably with China. Our hearts go out to those whose lives are profoundly affected by these events.

    Despite the unsettling geopolitical discord, we are pleased with our progress since launching the Company, as a Nasdaq listed company, and its unique products of Non-GMO cold-pressed and chemically-free processed oils.

    Within the last 12 months, we have sold our products through the majority of retailers in Australia, including Woolworths and Coles, the two largest supermarket chains in Australia, as well as Costco and Independent Grocers of Australia, an Australian chain of supermarkets (IGA), with sales and awareness gradually increasing. In addition to our expanding market presence in Australia, the Company has also been successful in exporting and marketing its products in Japan, China and Vietnam.

    Throughout the last year, we have demonstrated the power of our mission and guiding principles, as well as the value of being there for our customers. The result was continued healthy growth across our products and geographic expansion. Fiscal 2024 results were strong with revenues increasing by more than 16% driven by strong demand for our cold pressed canola oils. Our gross margin improved by 40 basis points and we delivered Adjusted EBITDA growth of nearly 16%. Our business momentum continues to build and we remain deeply committed to our mission as well as driving long-term value for our Shareholders.

    We believe we are well positioned for the future and anticipate several key milestones as we continue to execute our growth strategy. Within the next six months we expect that our Good Earth Oils brands of Australian Canola Oil and Olive oil will be launched in Taiwan and India. We are also expecting significant growth in China over the next 12 months as we benefit from Australia’s preferential duty for its products into China compared to Canada and USA, which have current import duties of 100% and 124% respectively. Finally, we intend to launch our products in the USA subject to clarity on the current tariff structure for Australian imports into the USA – the current tariff structure on Australian Canola Oil into the USA is 10%.

    I would like to express my deep gratitude to our Shareholders and our employees. We appreciate your continued support as we continue our exciting journey of taking chemicals out of the food supply chain and promoting healthy Canola Oil and Olive oil to consumers around the world along with the concept of regenerative farming.

    Sincerely,
    Gary Seaton
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    About Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited. Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT) through its subsidiaries, including Australian Oilseeds Investments Pty Ltd., an Australian proprietary company, tis focused on the manufacture and sale of sustainable oilseeds (e.g., seeds grown primarily for the production of edible oils) and is committed to working with all suppliers in the food supply chain to eliminate chemicals from the production and manufacturing systems to supply quality products to customers globally. The Company engages in the business of processing, manufacture and sale of non-GMO oilseeds and organic and non-organic food-grade oils, for the rapidly growing oilseeds market, through sourcing materials from suppliers focused on reducing the use of chemicals in consumables in order to supply healthier food ingredients, vegetable oils, proteins and other products to customers globally. Over the past 20 years, the Company’s cold pressing oil plant has grown to become the largest in Australia, pressing strictly GMO-free conventional and organic oilseeds.

    Contact
    Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited
    126-142 Cowcumbla Street
    Cootamundra New South Wales 2590
    Attn: Amarjeet Singh, CFO
    Email: amarjeet.s@energreennutrition.com.au

    Investor Relations Contact
    Reed Anderson
    (646) 277-1260
    reed.anderson@icrinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Westminster Insight – Women and Girls in Sport Conference

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Westminster Insight – Women and Girls in Sport Conference

    Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock delivered the keynote speech at the Westminster Insight – Women and Girls in Sport Conference

    Thank you all for being here and inviting me to speak to you today. I am sorry I can’t be with you in person. 

    I want to talk to you today about the remarkable growth of women’s sport that we have witnessed in recent years, and what the Government is doing to build on this momentum. 

    I would like to begin by sharing some statistics. In 2024, UK Women’s Sport attracted audiences of over 44.17 million, an increase of nearly 40% in just two years. Over 2.6 million people attended a women’s sport event in person in 2023, an increase of 23% from the previous year.

    Globally, Deloitte predicts that revenue generated by women’s elite sports will reach at least $2.35 billion, or £1.8 billion, in 2025, with revenues predicted to have risen by 240% in 4 years. 

    This is, of course, good news for economic growth and for those playing women’s elite sport. But most importantly the impact that it will have on women and girls across the country will be profound. 

    Inspiring women and girls across the country to take part in sport is hugely important to me as Sports Minister.

    Girls need to know from a young age that they belong in sport.  That is why we want to review and shape our education system to inspire girls from an early age to get active and build a lifelong love and affinity for sport.  

    To achieve this goal, Government is driving progress across women’s sport: from investing in grassroots facilities to supporting national campaigns.

    It also means action on the elite end of sport, from hosting major events to supporting action to professionalise women’s sport. 

    Bringing all of these elements together is our strategy for women and girl’s sport. Let me take you through each of those in turn.

    Firstly, we want more women and girls than ever to stay physically and mentally fit and healthy.

    In order to do this, we need to keep evolving and challenging the way we think of women in sporting environments in order to understand what challenges and motivates them.  

    Sport England campaigns like This Girl Can has inspired nearly 4 million women to get active and 8 out of 10 women say that the campaign has boosted their confidence.    

    We want women to have options and variety available to them within their local area.  

    Getting this right starts with inclusion. Statistics show that for women on lower incomes from under-represented groups, the challenges and feelings of not being included are even greater.  

    When we support women’s sport, we will support women and girls right across our communities – not just elite athletes however important they are

    Secondly, we know that in order to reach women and girls from all walks of life, equal access to high quality PE and school sports has a fundamental role to play. 

    I have seen first hand the value of school sports in my own constituency in Barnsley South. It was great to visit High View Primary Centre Centre in Wombwell a few weeks ago to watch the FA’s annual Biggest Ever Football Session, and I have enjoyed seeing the impact that events such as the Daily Mile can have on local children across Barnsley. 

    So, through our expert-led review of the curriculum, we are going to ensure that every child has the opportunity to engage in a broad range of subjects, including PE and sport.  I’ve been working closely with the Minister for Schools and with National Governing Bodies across a range of issues, and we are committed to ensuring that all children can access high-quality sport and physical activity across the school day. 

    We also know that access to facilities, player welfare standards and suitable kit and equipment are all key parts of ensuring women and girls have the opportunity to excel.

    On 21 March, we announced an investment of £100 million to fund grassroots facilities throughout the UK. £98 million of this will support projects in 2025/26. 

    This funding will support more women and girls to take part in the sports that they love, particularly by ensuring that funded sites across the UK provide priority slots for women and girls. Beyond this, in England there is funding specifically targeted at creating female-friendly facilities off the pitch, including changing rooms and toilets. 

    As well as focusing on getting women and girls active at a grassroots level, progress in women’s sport requires a healthy professional system to fund participation and to create inspirational role models.

    This is why I am acting on the recommendations of Karen Carney’s independent Review of Women’s Football starting with a series of in depth discussions on the recommendations, and led by a taskforce I have convened to drive this forward.

    We want Karen’s excellent Review to lead to tangible change in women’s football, acting as a wider blueprint for all of women’s sport.

    Our work is already making a difference: we the Taskforce recently agreed on a series of concrete actions to improve player welfare in women’s football. 

    I also want to address one of the major issues identified by Karen in the Review, which is the lack of research.  Only 6% of all sports science research today is dedicated solely to female athletes. Obviously this imbalance is a global challenge but I believe the UK is well positioned to take the lead in addressing, building on our reputation for world class research. This Government is determined to ensure that our sport science research continues to be world leading and tailored to the needs of our athletes.

    On a recent visit to Loughborough University’s Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub, I saw first hand ground breaking innovation which will shape the future of women’s sport. 

    This includes development in areas such as the menstrual cycle, the design of pregnancy and postpartum sportswear, sports nutrition, and innovation in sports bras.

    This vital work will help us accelerate the progress we have already made and ensure that research into women’s sport is tailored to female athletes.

    Finally, progress in women’s sport also means increasing visibility and inspiring a nation, by showcasing what our world leading female athletes can do.

    We know women and girls across the country are inspired by female role models.

    This summer, some fans will be watching the Lionesses on TV with their family, while others will be at the Women’s Rugby World Cup across England enjoying the atmosphere. Many more will be watching their favourite local teams and athletes from their home town.

    We want everyone to join us in marvelling at the incredible talent we have here in the UK.  We want to create the best women’s leagues in the world and we want to lead the way in helping women’s sport  to stand the test of time and be financially sustainable.

    This will mean that a girl growing up in my area of Barnsley will be able to watch us host major events like the Women’s Rugby World Cup, the Women’s T20 World Cup and the Tour de France Femmes, and be able to recreate moments with their friends at school.

    With our incredible track record for hosting these kinds of events, I know that they are going to be huge success stories that inspire everyone watching women’s sport right across the globe. 

    We are also working hard to support the FA’s bid for the 2035 Women’s World Cup, a tournament with the potential to inspire yet another generation of women’s football fans.

    This is how we lead the way in women’s sport and create lasting legacies for generations to come.

    Before I end today, I want to directly address last week’s Supreme Court ruling, which I am sure is on the minds of many of you attending today. As a Government we have always been clear that when it comes to women’s sport, biology matters and we will continue to support sports to develop policies that protect fairness and safety, particularly when it is not possible to balance those factors with inclusion. Alongside this, sports need to come up with approaches to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take part somehow – and I know that sporting bodies will be considering this in light of the Supreme Court decision.

    As I finish speaking to you today, I recognise that we still have challenges to overcome when it comes to women’s sport. However, the future is also one of huge opportunities to drive women’s sport forward. 

    Progress in women’s sport requires a clear vision.  From young girls learning about sport and movement in school through PE, to teenagers accessing facilities built with women and girls in mind, to adults having the right knowledge, kit and environment, to excel we want to support women and girls at every stage of their lives.  

    We want women and girls across the UK to watch global events hosted at home, to be inspired by their role models and to have the opportunity to dream big.  Every girl deserves that chance.

    And to enable this, this Government is committed to improving access to sport in schools, to making provision of facilities more equal, to improving research, driving visibility and investing in women’s sport at every level.

    It is not enough to focus on one aspect alone.  We must drive progress across all of these areas as part of one cohesive women’s sport strategy.  

    I look forward to working with you all to ensure all women and girls have the opportunities they deserve.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor launches powerful Mental Health Arts exhibition in Strabane

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Mayor launches powerful Mental Health Arts exhibition in Strabane

    24 April 2025

    The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, recently launched the solo exhibition ‘Narratives’ by Derry-born artist Eamon McAteer at the Alley Theatre in Strabane. The stunning collection of paintings resonates deeply with the theme of this year’s NI Mental Health Arts Festival ‘CathARTSis,’ a play on the word catharsis.

    The launch was attended by an appreciative audience of family, friends, art educationalists, and fellow artists, all gathered to celebrate Eamon McAteer’s powerful body of work. ‘Narratives’ offers viewers a glimpse into the artist’s emotional responses and personal interpretations, providing solace and sanctuary in today’s often chaotic world.

    Mayor Barr emphasised the significance of the festival, saying: “The NI Mental Health Arts Festival is a powerful initiative which brings hope to many in our community. The power of artistic expression cannot be understated. In a world where the pressures of daily life can often feel overwhelming, this festival provides a vital lifeline. It offers a compassionate space where individuals can share their most personal experiences, find solace in creativity, and connect with others through the universal language of art.”

    She further added, “Our mental health is precious, and programmes like this remind us that seeking support, expressing our vulnerabilities, and celebrating our resilience are fundamental to our collective well-being. By platforming diverse stories through music, visual arts, performance, and literature, the festival breaks down barriers and helps destigmatise conversations around mental health. I had the pleasure of opening Eamon McAteer’s show ‘Narratives’ at the Alley Theatre and saw first-hand how much the paintings resonated with the audience. The festival is a wonderful initiative which offers an outlet where mental health can be promoted in a positive, open and welcoming environment, well done to everyone involved.”

    Artist Eamon McAteer expressed his delight at being part of the festival, saying: “I am delighted to be exhibiting my solo show of paintings, ‘Narratives’ at The Alley Theatre as part of the NI Mental Health Arts Festival. My work resonates with the festival’s theme of CathARTSis. My focus is to create something personal, individual and honest. The work is inspired by my emotional response to a wide variety of influences, I paint intuitively in the studio so that the work suggests memories and personal interpretations. There is a sense of intimacy and intensity, and the idea of a glimpse into a remembered reality. My paintings mostly relate to the Irish expressionist landscape tradition.”

    Noelle Mc Alinden, Co-Chair of the NI Mental Health Arts Festival, highlighted the importance of such exhibitions saying: “There is no doubt that Eamon’s exhibition provides a wonderful opportunity to inspire and enthuse audiences young and old. Exhibitions like this help to show the power of the arts and the vital role our artists contribute to the inspiration and well-being of others.”

    Eamon McAteer’s exhibition ‘Narratives’ will continue at The Alley Theatre Strabane until May 30th.

    The NI Mental Health Arts Festival will run from May 9th to May 20th across Northern Ireland, featuring a diverse programme of events including poetry, comedy, dance, theatre, walks, talks, and tours. Two major symposiums will also take place, in Belfast on May 9th and in the Guildhall on May 20th. Both events are free and are guaranteed to inspire, providing an excellent forum for compassionate dialogue, performances, panel discussions and excellent insights from those with lived experience drawn from Health, Arts, Community, Education and Academic Research. The events will be hosted by the Mayors of both cities. Celebrating artists from across Northern Ireland the NI Mental Health Arts Forum is delighted Derry-based artist Bronagh Corr McNicholl’s photographic exhibition is touring between both cities – first at The Garden of Reflection in Derry and then Belfast Exposed. Justine Scoltock’s exhibition Hidden Layers also features in the Garden of Reflection throughout May.

    For more information on the NI Mental Health Arts Festival and the exciting  programme of events, please visit www.nimhaf.org.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Letter from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding Windsor Framework declarations and decisions under Schedule 6B Northern Ireland Act 1998

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    Letter from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding Windsor Framework declarations and decisions under Schedule 6B Northern Ireland Act 1998

    The Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, has written to the Speaker of the NI Assembly today, 24 April

    Documents

    Letter from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding Windsor Framework declarations and decisions under Schedule 6B Northern Ireland Act 1998

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    Details

    The NI Secretary, Hilary Benn, has written to the Speaker of the NI Assembly to set out the decisions and declarations the UK Government will be making at the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on the 29th of April which concern the Windsor Framework.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Project Meridian FX shows possibility of cross-border linkages for FX transactions between wholesale payment infrastructures

    Source: European Central Bank

    24 April 2024

    • Project Meridian FX proves that wholesale payment infrastructures, such as real-time gross settlement (RTGS) systems, can be interoperable via new technologies for FX transactions
    • The joint project between the Bank for International Settlements, Bank of England, Banque de France, Banca d’Italia, Deutsche Bundesbank and European Central Bank explored synchronising foreign exchange (FX) transactions
    • It demonstrated that FX transactions could be settled across jurisdictions and different types of infrastructures

    The Bank for International Settlements and its central bank partners have successfully demonstrated how wholesale payment infrastructures, such as RTGS systems, can interoperate with each other for FX transactions via new technologies.

    The project involved synchronising the settlement of FX transactions, using distributed ledger technology, so that the transfer of one leg of the transaction (such as buying a currency) happens only if the transfer of the other (such as selling another currency) occurs.

    Meridian FX sought to address some of the actions called for in the Group of 20 cross-border payments roadmap. For example, reducing foreign exchange settlement risk using payment-versus-payment transactions and establishing realistic links between the wholesale payment infrastructures of different countries. Synchronisation could also mitigate some of the liquidity risk and credit risk challenges in the foreign exchange market.

    The project connected a synthetic version of the UK RTGS system to three experimental Eurosystem interoperability solutions: DL3S (developed by the Banque de France), TIPS Hash-Link (developed by the Banca d’Italia) and the Trigger Solution (developed by the Deutsche Bundesbank).

    Combined with the results of previous work undertaken by the BIS and the Bank of England, Meridian FX shows that synchronisation can be agnostic to both the asset or fund of the transaction involved and the technology of the ledgers, highlighting its potential use in other markets.

    Insights gained from the project will inform the work programmes of the participating central banks.

    For media queries, please contact Benoit Deeg, tel.: +49 172 1683704.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Emma Caldwell Public Inquiry Chair announced

    Source: Scottish Government

    Lord Scott to lead review of 2005 murder investigation.

    Lord Scott KC will lead the independent Public Inquiry into the investigation of Emma Caldwell’s murder.

    Justice Secretary Angela Constance announced the appointment of Lord Scott, a Senator of the College of Justice, in an update to the Scottish Parliament.

    Emma, 27, was murdered in April 2005. In February last year her killer was convicted and given a life sentence for Emma’s murder and violent offences against other women.

    The Justice Secretary said:

    “In March last year, I announced that there would be a Public Inquiry into the investigation of Emma’s murder in 2005 to provide answers to the victims and survivors involved and ensure that lessons are learned for the future. The other victims, as well as Emma’s mother Margaret and the rest of the family, deserve nothing less after the unbearable loss, pain and grief they have suffered.

    “Lord Scott has a strong track record on human rights and I am pleased that someone of his experience, expertise and legal standing will lead this inquiry. Importantly, Emma’s family support his appointment.

    “I will now consult Lord Scott on the terms of reference and seek the views of Emma’s family and others on the inquiry’s remit. I will update Parliament on the terms of reference and the timescale for the inquiry’s formal setting-up date in due course.”

    Lord Scott said:

    “I am aware of the significant public interest in this inquiry and the importance it holds for Emma Caldwell’s family. I will discharge my duties as chair independently, thoroughly and to the best of my ability.

    “I come to this role with three years of experience as a judge of the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary. This followed over 20 years in the voluntary sector, primarily in the area of human rights, as well as over 30 years in private practice as a criminal defence lawyer and work in several reviews which scrutinised the use of various powers by the Police Service of Scotland.

    “I look forward to discussing the terms of reference with the Cabinet Secretary and to establishing and working with an inquiry team to start our work as soon as possible.”

    Background

    Lord Scott, a graduate of the University of Glasgow, qualified as a solicitor in 1987. He was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2011 and a judge in 2022.

    He chaired the Scottish Human Rights Centre from 1997 to 2005; convened the Howard League for Penal Reform in Scotland from 2006 until 2018; and chaired Justice Scotland in 2014.

    In 2015, Lord Scott chaired an Independent Advisory Group on police ‘Stop and Search’ powers and he chaired independent reviews into biometrics in policing in Scotland and the impact on communities of policing of the miners’ strike in 1984-85.

    Lord Scott chaired the Scottish Mental Health Law Review from May 2019 and submitted the Review’s final report to Scottish Ministers in September 2022.

    In 2020, he chaired a group providing independent scrutiny on Police Scotland’s use of emergency powers under Coronavirus legislation.

    Read the Justice Secretary’s statement to Parliament on 7 March 2024 announcing plans for a statutory Public Inquiry

    Government Initiated Question confirming that Lord Scott has agreed to chair the independent Public Inquiry into the investigation of Emma Caldwell’s murder.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Angela and Her NOLA Brass Squad set to ignite the City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival with explos

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Angela and Her NOLA Brass Squad set to ignite the City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival with explos

    17 April 2025

    Get ready for a vibrant injection of New Orleans spirit as ‘Angela and Her NOLA Brass Squad’ prepares to make their highly anticipated debut at the City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival.
    Born from the embers of the much-loved Jaydee Brass Band, ‘Angela and Her NOLA Brass Squad’ brings together familiar energy with exciting new sounds. After 15 years of electrifying street performances, the original Jaydee Brass Band took a break. However, the musical connection remained strong, and a core group of the original crew couldn’t resist reuniting, keen to experiment and explore fresh musical avenues.

    This new ensemble welcomes dynamic vocalist Angela, whose captivating voice and charming stage presence perfectly complements their vision. The band’s formation was driven by a desire to create a versatile act equally at home busking on the streets and commanding festival stages.

    While carrying the energetic DNA of Jaydee Brass Band, ‘Angela and Her NOLA Brass Squad’ carves its own path. This isn’t just a typical jazz fest brass band; it’s a powerful vocalist fronting a dynamic ensemble, reminiscent of a rock festival stage presence, yet retaining the raw, engaging spirit of a busking brass band. The ‘NOLA’ in their name is a clear nod to New Orleans, Louisiana, the birthplace of jazz and a city where the joy of everyday music-making thrives.

    Band member Eelco van Velzen said the new ensemble is looking forward to returning to this year’s Jazz Festival and hope the Derry public love everything ‘Angela and Her NOLA Brass Squad’ have to offer. Eelco said: “Coming back to Derry after 15 previous visits with the Jaydee Brass band feels like flying home to introduce our new girlfriend to our parents. We are sure you will like her and approve of how we are moving forward.”

    Extending a warm welcome to the new group, Jazz Festival Coordinator with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Aisling McCallion, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome ‘Angela and Her NOLA Brass Squad’ to this year’s festival lineup. Their unique blend of New Orleans jazz with contemporary flair perfectly embodies the spirit of musical innovation we strive to showcase. Having hosted the Jaydee Brass Band multiple times in previous years, we’re excited to see this evolution and know our festival attendees will be in for something truly special.”

    Don’t miss the chance to witness the exciting debut of ‘Angela and Her NOLA Brass Squad’ at the City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival. Expect feisty, unfiltered fun and a musical experience that will get you moving!

    There are multiple opportunities to catch this new group at this year’s festival – they’ll be on the steps of the Millennium Forum at 7.15pm on Friday 2nd May or pop into the Blackbird at 11pm that night. On Saturday they are taking part in the DLD Second Line Parade at 11am, before returning to the Millennium Forum steps at 3.45pm, and closing Saturday with a performance at the Guildhall Taphouse at 10.30pm. On Sunday they will be playing at the Craft Village at 1pm, and then on the steps of the Richmond Centre at 4.30pm.

    The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival is organised and funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Diageo and EY. 

    For more information go to cityofderryjazzfestival.com and for regular updates follow the City of Derry Jazz festival on Facebook Instagram and X @derryjazzfest.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Playhouse to bring acclaimed Jazz production for festival debut

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Playhouse to bring acclaimed Jazz production for festival debut

    24 April 2025

    The City of Derry Jazz Festival swings into town once again over the May Bank holiday with a stellar line up of talent all set to celebrate jazz in all its forms.

    The Playhouse is just one of a number of dedicated Jazz Hubs with its own festival line up, and this year the theatre is bringing a new jazz experience to audiences in the form of the intriguingly titled ‘No Citation’.

    The play is written by musician and song-writer Kyron Bourke who is a familiar face on the local Jazz circuit. Originally from Dublin, Kyron moved to Belfast in 1992, initially for three months to play in Larry’s Piano Bar, and decades later he can still be found holding court at weekends as Music Curator of the popular Bert’s Jazz Bar in the Merchant Hotel.

    The play premiered at the Lyric Theatre Belfast before a successful run in Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre, but Kyron is looking forward to bringing the production for the first time to Derry, and a new audience at Ireland’s biggest jazz celebration.

    This unique theatrical and musical event combines powerful storytelling with original jazz compositions, following the story of Jeremy d’Wolfe McCarthy, a legendary piano man facing his final judgment. Finding himself in the derelict Dimitri’s Piano Bar, McCarthy attempts to entertain with his latest songs but is haunted by ghosts from his past. As he realizes this may be his final performance, he desperately tries to set the record straight.

    Born into a theatrical and literary family in Dublin, transitioning from music to drama was a natural process for Kyron, as he revealed ahead of the festival. “My father, from a prominent theatrical family in Dublin, was an actor and my mother was an opera singer. My father‘s cousin was Brendan Behan. Basically everybody in the family either danced or acted, directed and produced plays or wrote them, so from an early age I was immersed in the process,” he reflects.

    “I had written before, mainly reviews for theatre companies that I worked for and once as a result of a bursary from the Royal Court, London. A few years ago, I wrote a play about a famous alcoholic Shakespearean actor who had died and was looking back over his life. 

    “I workshopped the play and the general consensus was that I should write about subject matter closer to my own experience. So, I took this advice on board and decided to write about a piano man who has passed over. My piano man was similar to the protagonist in the first play, except for the fact that the piano man had not really achieved a lot as far as fame was concerned. But in terms of abusing alcohol and substances he was the same and was possessed of an equally enormous ego.”

    While the show features original songs penned by Kyron, and delivered by a fabulous line up of accomplished jazz musicians, it won’t just appeal to hard core jazz fans.

    “The play has 10 or so songs and incidental music throughout but there’s also a good deal of dialogue and a compelling story line. The style of the music is jazz but in no way is it hard-core jazz. It’s a good introduction for non jazzers. For those who feel that jazz is not for them the music and songs in ‘No Citation’ would be a good starting point.”

    Over his time at Bert’s Kyron has been immersed in the local jazz scene and is seeing a new wave of talent shaking up the industry. “The scene has changed quite a lot over the past 30 years,” he explains. “The calibre of musicianship of the young musicians coming up is astonishing. I guess there’s better training in place. It’s a very a vibrant scene – very exciting. “Events like the City of Derry Jazz Festival provide an opportunity for those artists to connect with new audiences and the more jazz festivals the better as far as I am concerned. “The Derry Jazz Festival is unique because there are already superb international standard jazz musicians living in and around Derry and I imagine this ever-present core of homegrown jazz musicians drives the desire to seek out genuine jazz international acts and not just random music acts. I always feel there’s a good cross section of jazz styles at the Derry Festival, so there is something for everybody.”

    Musician, broadcaster and academic, Dr Linley Hamilton, who recently picked up an MBE for services to music, plays one of an impressive cast of characters that appear in silhouette throughout the production to take Jeremy on a musical odyssey in his final moments. Linley has worked closely with Kyron over the years and is looking forward to collaborating once again, as he explained. “Kyron is the real deal when it comes to music. He’s an amazing vocalist and a brilliant song-writer and it’s an absolute joy to work with him again on this project. He has a passion that proves that music isn’t about how you write it – it’s how you can make people feel.

    “Kyron is one of those musicians where you just press the button and he’s in a different world and he takes you along with him. As an artist he’s completely selfless in that he gives performers room to play which is unusual. He provides musicians with the opportunity to play to the maximum – it’s not about him, and that’s very rare I this industry. Here in N. Ireland there’s a very small domestic market when it comes to jazz, there are only a few dedicated venues and opportunities to perform are rare. But the way he works pays dividends because performers respond to him what you get is something completely unique and authentic.”

    The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival is organised and funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Diageo and EY. 

    You can catch ‘No Citation’ at the Playhouse on Thursday May 1st at 8pm. Tickets costing £25/Concession £22, are available at www.derryplayhouse.com

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council response to Accounts Commission Best Value Assurance Report

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Highland Council welcomes the positive Accounts Commission Best Value Report and acknowledges the need for transformation at pace.

    Convener of the Council Cllr Bill Lobban said: “The Council notes the recent report by the Accounts Commission which we consider broadly positive. In particular, we note the comments that the Council has significantly improved since 2020.

    “We also note the positive comments in the report about the ways in which Highland Council is taking steps to transform its delivery of services.”

    In particular, Highland Council has set a budget for 2025 – 2026 which uses zero reserves to fill its revenue gap. In fact, the £12.9m of additional savings that were approved will enable strategic investment of £14m in energy and transport. This is a major step forward and it is positive that this has been recognised on a number of occasions, including in this report, by the Accounts Commission. The elected members of Highland Council have been prepared to make tough decisions, and it is positive that the Commission has recognised the strong relationships between councillors and officers as being a feature of the organisation.

    When the Highland Investment Plan was approved by Council in May last year, the report included details of the processes for its funding whilst ensuring that the Plan remains affordable, prudent and sustainable.  This approach is considered necessary in order to transform the Council’s assets and enable the improvement of services delivered across the Highlands.

    The Council has selected 31 of the 107 Local Government Benchmarking Framework indicators to judge its performance improvement by and can document a process of continual improvement. This is in accordance with advice from Audit Scotland which is that councils should be selective in what they aim to improve, otherwise they can lose strategic focus. These improvements are across all services areas and show a positive trajectory. It should be noted that with such a large geographical expanse to operate in, and with a dispersed population in rural areas, there is probably nowhere in the UK which faces the same level of challenge in delivering services as experienced in Highland.

    There are findings for Highland Council to take on board, which will be reported to a future meeting of the Council. One of these relates to historic levels of borrowing, which will continue to be monitored as a means of sustaining future investment.

    24 Apr 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government action to improve safety in young offender institutions

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Government action to improve safety in young offender institutions

    Frontline officers and young people in custody will be better protected under plans to equip specially selected and trained staff with synthetic pepper spray, the Government has announced today (24 April).

    • Specially selected, trained staff to be equipped with synthetic pepper spray 

    • Response to rising violence in young offender institutions  

    • Rate of assaults on staff 14 times higher than in adult prisons

    Amid rising levels of violence, the decision will help keep both staff and young people safe and reduce the severity of incidents in young offender institutions. 

    Over the last few years, more and more frontline officers have been forced to put themselves in danger to protect young people in custody from attack and fend off homemade weapons.  

    PAVA, a synthetic pepper spray which temporarily incapacitates those it is sprayed upon, will now be available to specialist staff in young offender institutions to help de-escalate and diffuse violent situations.   

    Today’s announcement comes as new figures show the rate of assaults in public youth offender institutions is around 14 times higher than in adult prisons.  

    By giving staff the tools they need to keep young people in custody safe, they will be able to focus on rehabilitation and help them turn their lives around. Reducing reoffending is fundamental to the government’s pledge to keep our streets safe, part of its Plan for Change. 

    Minister for Youth Justice Sir Nic Dakin said:     

    This government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis. The unacceptable levels of violence faced by our brave frontline officers in young offender institutions is yet another symptom of that.   

    This is not a decision we have made lightly, but our overarching duty is to keep staff and young people in custody safe. This spray is a vital tool to prevent serious violence, helping staff to focus on rehabilitation as part of our Plan for Change.

    The number of young people in custody has fallen significantly in recent years. Those now held in young offender institutions are mostly older teenage boys, aged 16 to 18 years of age, and over two-thirds of all young people are there for violent offences such as murder, attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.  

    Recent incidents have seen young people in custody sustain serious injuries while staff have experienced fractures, dislocations, puncture wounds and lacerations.  

    The PAVA rollout will allow staff to respond to these incidents more effectively and restore order more quickly.   

    It will only be deployed in limited circumstances by specially trained individuals where there is serious violence or an imminent risk of it taking place. It has previously been used in young offender institutions when National Tactical Response Groups have been called to deal with serious incidents, but this change will mean it can be used more quickly to diffuse situations. It is already used by police in the community and by prison officers in the adult estate to reduce the risk of serious harm to staff and prisoners alike.   

    To keep both staff and young people safe, use in the youth estate will have strict controls, with each use of PAVA being reviewed by an independent panel and reported to ministers for further scrutiny. Ministers will also review its operation and impact after 12 months including to address any disproportionate use.  

    Today’s announcement follows extensive research and evidence gathering with specialists including subject matter experts and NHS England.   

    The Government has also recently taken action to end the practice of placing girls in young offender institutions following recommendations from Susannah Hancock’s independent review into the placement and care of girls in youth custody.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Membership of the Building Control Independent Panel

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Membership of the Building Control Independent Panel

    The government has announced the appointment of five members to the Building Control Independent Panel.

    Today (24 April), the government has announced the appointment of five members to the Building Control Independent Panel.

    This delivers on a Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendation, accepted by the government, to set up a panel to carry out a review of whether to change the way in which building control is delivered in England. 

    The panel will be chaired by Dame Judith Hackitt, whose leadership of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety has already helped to shape vital reforms across the sector. An engineer by profession, Dame Judith currently serves as an adviser on building standards to both the UK and Australian Governments and is a member of the International Building Quality Council (IBQC).  She will be joined by four experts with extensive experience in the regulation and use of the building control sector: Elaine Bailey, Ken Rivers, Rt Hon Nick Raynsford and Dr David Snowball. 

    The panel members’ collective expertise will support a thorough and independent review of the current building control model, including on the Inquiry’s recommendations to consider the issue of commercial incentives from the system and exploring alternative options and approaches. The panel is expected to provide a report to the government this autumn.

    Minister for Building Safety, Alex Norris MP, said:  

    “The appointment of this independent panel is a significant step in our response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. We need a building control system that puts safety first and supports our plans to accelerate remediation. It must also help to deliver 1.5 million safe, high-quality homes over this Parliament, and be equipped to meet the demands of a modern construction sector.   

    “Their work will play a vital role in shaping a safer, more accountable building industry, and I look forward to receiving the panel’s recommendations as they take this important work forward.”

    The Chair for the Building Control Independent Panel, Dame Judith Hackitt said:  

    “The panel stands ready to get to work on this important review.  We will work at speed but we come at this issue with an open mind and a determination to further raise standards”. 

    Background on the Building Control system   

    The building control system is there primarily to oversee key safety standards set in legislation and ensure that buildings are checked and safe in areas such as fire and structural safety. Following concerns raised by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, especially around conflicts of interest in the system, a new panel has been appointed to look at whether changes are required.    

    Notes to Editors  

    • The establishment of the panel was announced in the Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry on February 26, 2025.  

    • The Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended that the Government establish an independent panel to consider whether to remove commercial interest from building control and whether to move to a national authority decision model.  

    • The panel’s role is advisory and independent.  The aim is a report to Government in the autumn with a response before the end of the year.  

    • Further updates, including the panel’s Terms of Reference, will be published on GOV.UK shortly.  

    Panel members:

    Elaine Bailey  

    Elaine Bailey is a member of the Industry Safety Steering Group and was formerly the CEO of Hyde Housing (2014-2019). Elaine holds several non-executive directorships, including at MJ Gleeson plc, a house builder operating in the North and Midlands; McCarthy&Stone Shared Ownership (MCSSO), a For Profit Registered Provider of older persons’ housing with a strategic partnership with Homes England; and Andium Housing, Jersey’s largest provider of sub-market value homes for rent and purchase.  

    Ken Rivers  

    Ken is a non-executive director at the HSE, alongside his role as a member of the Industrial Safety Steering Group. Prior to that he chaired the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations Strategic Forum and led the tripartite group since its inception, bringing industry and regulators together to identify and address important matters of managing major hazard in the UK. He spent 38 years of his career working at Shell, through various different positions and was President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.  

    Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP  

    Nick Raynsford was a Labour MP for 24 years. During this time he held positions as Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Minister for Construction, Minister for London and Minister of State for Local and Regional Government. The latter included responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Service. Since then he has had a number of advisory and non-executive roles in the private, voluntary and public sectors. This included chairing CICAIR (CIC Approved Inspectors Register), the organisation responsible until April 2024 for registering private sector Building Control bodies. Nick is a member of the New Towns Taskforce, working with MHCLG.   

    Dr. David Snowball  

    David spent his working career in the Health and Safety Executive, joining as a Factory Inspector in 1984 and retiring 35 years later. He held senior posts in operational divisions overseeing HSE intervention and enforcement and was also responsible, as Director Regulation, for the quality of operational work. He spent 15 months as Acting Chief Executive before his retirement. He now sits on the Industry Safety Steering Group alongside Dame Judith and is a non-executive director at the Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority (Feb 2022- present).

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What we’ve learnt about lone-actor terrorism over the years could help us prevent future attacks

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Diego Muro, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of St Andrews

    Politically motivated attacks, carried out by lone individuals lacking direct affiliation with any terrorist group, have become more common in Europe during the last few decades.

    One of the most common and devastating forms of lone-actor violence involves driving into crowds. In 2016, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel used this method to kill 86 people in Nice. In 2011, Anders Breivik detonated a bomb in central Oslo before carrying out a mass shooting on the island of Utøya, leaving 77 dead. Not all lone-actor attacks are as deadly or indiscriminate as these. Some target specific people, as seen in the assassinations of German politician Walter Lübcke in 2019 and British MP David Amess in 2021.

    Lone-actor terrorism – also known as lone-wolf terrorism – poses a unique challenge for European states. Traditional counterterrorism tools designed for organised groups like al-Qaeda, Islamic State, or Eta are far less effective against people acting alone. While lone-actor plots are typically less complex, they can still cause significant harm.

    We’ve also seen that lone-actor attacks can trigger far-reaching ripple effects. The resulting public outrage can intensify debates on contentious issues like immigration, and ultimately boost support for extremist parties.

    Copycat or reactionary attacks are another consequence of lone-actor terrorism. A striking example is the mass shootings carried out by Brenton Tarrant in New Zealand in 2019. He cited the actions of Breivik and others as direct inspiration. According to Tarrant’s own manifesto, a key trigger for his radicalisation was the 2017 Islamist attack in Stockholm, where Rakhmat Akilov, an asylum seeker from Uzbekistan, drove a truck into a crowd, killing five people, including an 11-year-old child.

    Why lone-actor attacks are so difficult to prevent

    Because lone actors operate independently and rarely communicate their intentions, their identities often remain unknown until after an attack. Their goals and ideologies are frequently ambiguous, making it hard to predict behaviour or select likely targets. Even correctly identifying an incident as lone-actor terrorism can be challenging.

    The case of Axel Rudakubana illustrates this difficulty. Rudakubana killed three young girls in Southport, northern England, in 2024 after breaking into their Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop. Despite the discovery of an Al-Qaeda training manual in his possession, prosecutors found no substantial evidence of political motivation and labelled the incident a “mass killing” rather than terrorism.

    It is very difficult – if not impossible – to determine the exact number of lone-actor terrorist attacks that have taken place in Europe with certainty. The absence of a universally accepted definition of terrorism is part of the problem. It’s also possible that acts of mass violence are being classified as terrorism when they are actually ideologically neutral. Equally, it can be difficult to determine whether an actor truly acted alone, especially in an age of internet radicalisation.

    What is clear is that independent terrorist attacks became more frequent in the early 2010s. By 2013, such incidents spiked, with Europe seeing six to seven Islamist and far-right attacks per year (up from fewer than one annually before 2010). These figures refer strictly to cases where perpetrators acted independently, excluding those with evidence of external support. For example, Anis Amri’s 2016 truck attack in Berlin and Taimour al-Abdaly’s 2010 suicide attempt in Stockholm were initially seen as lone-actor events, but later investigations revealed ties to Islamist cells.

    Lone-actor terrorism appears less common among far-left and ethno-nationalist groups, though exceptions do exist.

    Lone-actor terrorist attacks in Europe

    Lone-actor attacks in the 2010s.
    D muro, O Craciunas, CC BY-ND

    This shift towards lone-actor attacks is likely a result of evolving counterterrorism strategies implemented after major attacks like the 2004 Madrid train bombings and the 2005 London bombings. It became harder to carry out large-scale plots so groups like Al-Qaeda and later Islamic State switched to encouraging or organising attacks by loosely affiliated individuals acting independently but on their behalf.

    The struggle between terrorist groups and governments is one of constant adaptation. By 2018, Europol data indicated that all the Islamist attacks that had been seen through to completion in Europe during that year had been carried out by lone actors.

    Lone-actor attacks have an even longer history within far-right terrorism. The term “lone-wolf terrorist” was first popularised in American white supremacist propaganda in the early 1990s – well before the more neutral term “lone-actor terrorist” was adopted by researchers. As counterterrorism efforts increasingly targeted white supremacist groups, many within the movement came to see independent action as the most effective way to evade detection and maintain operational secrecy.

    Addressing the threat

    Fortunately, we now understand more about lone-actor crimes. We’ve come to understand that these attacks stem from complex psychological and environmental factors.

    While perpetrators shouldn’t be dismissed as simply “crazy,” mental health can play a role in radicalisation, especially when combined with personal grievances, failed aspirations, and perceived injustices. Influences from family, peers and online spaces also shape this process. While no two radicalisation pathways are identical, certain patterns can be observed – and recognising them early may help reduce the threat.

    The idea of “self-radicalisation” also merits caution. Lone actors rarely radicalise in isolation; their manifestos often echo broader ideological themes, shaped by conspiracy theories or charismatic figures. These actors often assign symbolic meaning to their actions. Raising awareness of the impact of violent public discourse is key – though this must be done without infringing on free speech. History shows that providing “pressure valves” for controversial ideas is more constructive than censorship.

    Lone-actor attacks are, in part, difficult to prevent precisely because they are not a systemic threat in the way that coordinated, group-based terrorism can be. Its danger lies in isolated bursts of violence rather than in sustained campaigns. But there are patterns worth following that could help prevent future incidents.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What we’ve learnt about lone-actor terrorism over the years could help us prevent future attacks – https://theconversation.com/what-weve-learnt-about-lone-actor-terrorism-over-the-years-could-help-us-prevent-future-attacks-254137

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local Development Plan 3 Update: Call for Sites underway

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    At the end of March 2025 the LDP3 Evidence Report was submitted to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) for the required ‘Gate Check’ process after its approval by Councillors on 5 March   The document will now be assessed to determine  if it contains sufficient information to allow Perth and Kinross Council to prepare LDP3.   The Gate Check process is expected to take approximately 3 months, depending on the complexity of the issues within the Evidence Report.  Progress on the Report’s Gate Check and all associated documents can be viewed on the DPEA’s website, https://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/, under Case Reference GATE-340-1. 

    Another key stage in the progress of LDP3 has also begun with the Call for Sites. This provides an opportunity for communities, developers, landowners and other interested parties to suggest development sites to be considered for inclusion in the new plan. It can also help outline locations with good potential to be delivered – by asking stakeholders to propose sites that have already had preliminary investigations, the LDP can access proposals that are viable from a technical and commercial perspective. 

    Councillor Eric Drysdale, Convener of Economy and Infrastructure said: “Although it is not a legal requirement to include a Call for Sites in the development of a Local Development Plan, we have used this approach during the preparation of previous versions of our LDP, and it has proven to be an effective method of identifying more development opportunities with good potential to be delivered, whilst also empowering stakeholders in their role in the plan preparation process.”  

    An online questionnaire is now open to help gather the necessary information to help assess the suitability of sites and proposals. This covers a series of questions regarding the location of a site, existing and proposed uses, current site conditions, and any potential impacts and constraints related to its development.  

    Further information regarding the LDP3 Call for Sites stage, including the online questionnaire, is available on the Council’s Consultation Hub.  The closing date for submissions is Friday 20 June 2025. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Groundbreaking performance set to turn the tables on graphic novel classic

    Source: City of Leeds

    The incredible worlds of graphic novels, orchestral music and electronic soundscapes will come together in a captivating, immersive performance in Leeds next week.

    Award-winning turntablist, DJ and producer NikNak will join forces with Chineke! Orchestra for the world premier of “Parable”, a brand new piece created as part of the Sound Out Leeds series.

    Performed at Hunslet’s Testbed, the groundbreaking piece is inspired by the acclaimed graphic novel adaptation of Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, and will see turntables used as an instrument as they interact with a live orchestra.

    Created in collaboration with acclaimed cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson, “Parable” explores its source material’s themes of resilience, community and change, creating a dystopian world of sound.

    Based in Leeds, DJ and radio broadcaster NikNak is also an Oram Award-winning turntablist, a form of music which sees artists manipulate sounds through techniques like scratching, beat juggling, and mixing, using turntables and a DJ mixer.

    Speaking about her inspiration for the performance, NikNak said: “The themes of Parable of the Sower feel very relevant to our current times, and I wanted to channel those ideas into a musical and performance context. It’s a way to engage people with the book’s themes in a new medium.”

    She added: “This commission blends turntablism and electronic music production elements with orchestral music in a way that feels fresh.

    “What I’m doing with Chineke! Orchestra is creating a new piece from scratch, no pun intended, using turntables as an instrument alongside an orchestra. It’s something that doesn’t happen very often, and I’m very excited to bring this new, original work to life.”

    Parable takes place at Testbed on May 1 at 8pm. Tickets and more information are available at: Parable – Concert Season

    Aimed at supporting unconventional live experiences and a more accessible classical scene, Sound Out Leeds is produced by Leeds International Concert Season.

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “The breadth and diversity of the musical talent in Leeds is truly extraordinary and it’s wonderful that some of these amazing artists are being given such a unique chance to showcase what they can do.

    “Seeing an eclectic programme of performers taking to the stage in their home city is genuinely inspiring for both audiences and aspiring Leeds artists.”

    The Sound Out Leeds series is supported using public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: March 2025 Transaction Data

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    March 2025 Transaction Data

    This data provides information about the number and types of applications that HM Land Registry completed in March 2025.

    NicoElNino/Shutterstock.com

    Please note this data shows what HM Land Registry has been able to process during the time period covered and is not necessarily a reflection of market activity.

    In March:

    • HM Land Registry completed over 1,974,150 applications to change or query the Land Register 
    • the South East topped the table of regional applications with 444,651

    HM Land Registry completed 1,974,155 applications in March compared with 1,806,500 in February 2025 and 1,865,589 last March 2024, of which: 

    • 295,653 were applications for register updates compared with 285,268 in February

    • 1,097,576 were applications for an official copy of a register compared with 1,039,212 in February

    • 263,960 were search and hold queries (official searches) compared with 181,553 in February
    • 83,730 were transactions for value compared with 81,215 in February
    • 15,564 were postal applications from non-account holders compared with 13,742 in February

    Applications by region and country 

    Region/country January applications February applications March applications
    South East 422,822 401,605 444,651
    Greater London 358,032 340,916 370,483
    North West 216,304 207,672 227,167
    South West 182,912 175,173 191,416
    West Midlands 161,218 156,886 169,372
    Yorkshire and the Humber 148,308 143,216 157,393
    East Midlands 137,568 133,701 145,134
    North 94,663 88,757 96,664
    East Anglia 79,465 76,081 84,604
    Isles of Scilly 78 64 77
    Wales 85,239 82,335 87,088
    England and Wales (not assigned) 105 94 106
    Total 1,886,714 1,806,500 1,974,155

    Top 5 local authority areas 

    March 2025 applications

    Top 5 local authority areas March applications
    Birmingham 31,179
    City of Westminster 26,760
    North Yorkshire 22,416
    Leeds 21,919
    Cornwall 21,623

    February 2025 applications

    Top 5 local authority areas February applications
    Birmingham 28,871
    City of Westminster 24,202
    North Yorkshire 20,536
    Leeds 20,118
    Buckinghamshire 18,299

    Top 5 customers 

    March 2025 applications

    Top 5 customers March applications
    Infotrack Limited 212,489
    Enact 35,812
    O’Neill Patient 30,751
    Landmark Information Group Ltd 29,962
    Orbital Witness Limited 28,718

    February 2025 applications

    Top 5 customers February applications
    Infotrack Limited 184,284
    Enact 32,041
    O’Neill Patient 26,716
    Landmark Information Group Ltd 26,444
    Orbital Witness Limited 24,417

    Access the full dataset on our Use land and property data service.

    Next publication 

    Transaction Data is published on the 15th working day of each month. The April 2025 data will be published at 11am on Thursday 22 May 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and Ukraine deepen community ties as part of 100 Year Partnership

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK and Ukraine deepen community ties as part of 100 Year Partnership

    Thousands of school children across the UK and Ukraine have applied to take part in a landmark 100 Year Partnership programme between the two countries.

    • UK and Ukrainian schools flood applications for 100 Year Partnership programme as Prime Minister invites children to No10 to celebrate close links
    • Prime Minister says “partnership will deliver brighter futures for children in both countries”
    • Schools from Wales and Warwickshire to visit Downing Street tomorrow (Friday 25 April) to write to partnered schools in Ukraine
    • Comes as Ukraine launches a new stamp to mark special friendship between the two countries

    Thousands of school children across the UK and Ukraine have applied to take part in a landmark 100 Year Partnership programme between the two countries, further cementing the unbreakable ties between the two countries.

    Following the launch of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership in January, more than 750 schools from across the UK and Ukraine applied to take part in the programme, fostering classroom friendships, cultural understanding and inspiring future generations of world leaders, diplomats and business leaders.

    Thirty schools, including Number 219 School in Kyiv and All Saints Catholic Primary School in Anfield, who the Prime Minister joined a lesson between during his visit to Ukraine in January, have piloted the hugely successful programme.

    A further 70 are being paired in the coming days, while the remainder will be supported through the British Council’s UK-Ukraine School Partnerships programme until further spots become available.

    Children from several schools participating in the 100 Year Partnership school twinning programme will visit Downing Street tomorrow (Friday 25 April). The children, from YGG Pontybrenin, St Marie’s Catholic Primary School & Nursery and English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, will write letters to exchange with partnered schools in Ukraine, many of whom have spent hours attending school in bunkers during Russian drone and missile attacks.

    The children will also mark the launch of a new commemorative stamp, designed by both the UK and Ukrainian governments, which will be entered into circulation by the Ukrainian postal service Ukrposhta from the end of this month.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    The unbreakable bond between the UK and Ukraine is often best reflected in the friendships formed among our children. These young minds are the architects of our future and security, fostering connections that transcend borders and cultures, and this partnership will deliver brighter futures for children in both countries.

    Our support is not only about providing military assistance, which remains crucial in ensuring Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, but also about standing by Ukraine for generations to come, as it seeks a just and lasting peace.

    That’s why our support matters not only now, but for our future, as all ages stand up for the values we hold dear, which are fundamental to our national security and Plan for Change.

    This unique initiative supports schools to build lasting international partnerships, and explore reading as a tool to expand horizons, build confidence, and boost mental wellbeing.

    In Kyiv, the British Embassy’s Chargée d’affaires, Charlotte Surun, attended the official launch ceremony of the new limited-edition stamp at the headquarters of the Ukrainian Post Office.

    The launch was attended by children from Kyiv School Number 219 which the Prime Minister visited in January. The children wrote messages on postcards to the students at their twinned school, Liverpool All Saints, as well as messages to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary.

    Head of UK Schools at the British Council Shannon West said: 

    Creating opportunities for young people has been at the heart of the work of the British Council for the last 90 years.

    We are delighted to be working with so many schools on this programme, which will give young people the international outlook and skills to thrive in our global society and strengthen ties between the UK and Ukraine.

    The unbreakable bonds between the UK and Ukraine have been formalised through the landmark new 100 Year Partnership between the two countries, broadening and deepening the relationship across defence and non-military areas and enabling closer community links, such as this initiative.

    Supporting Ukraine to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric invasion and rebuild a prosperous, sovereign future, is vital to this government’s foundation of security and our Plan for Change.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Project Meridian FX shows possibility of cross-border linkages for FX transactions between wholesale payment infrastructures

    Source: European Central Bank

    24 April 2024

    • Project Meridian FX proves that wholesale payment infrastructures, such as real-time gross settlement (RTGS) systems, can be interoperable via new technologies for FX transactions
    • The joint project between the Bank for International Settlements, Bank of England, Banque de France, Banca d’Italia, Deutsche Bundesbank and European Central Bank explored synchronising foreign exchange (FX) transactions
    • It demonstrated that FX transactions could be settled across jurisdictions and different types of infrastructures

    The Bank for International Settlements and its central bank partners have successfully demonstrated how wholesale payment infrastructures, such as RTGS systems, can interoperate with each other for FX transactions via new technologies.

    The project involved synchronising the settlement of FX transactions, using distributed ledger technology, so that the transfer of one leg of the transaction (such as buying a currency) happens only if the transfer of the other (such as selling another currency) occurs.

    Meridian FX sought to address some of the actions called for in the Group of 20 cross-border payments roadmap. For example, reducing foreign exchange settlement risk using payment-versus-payment transactions and establishing realistic links between the wholesale payment infrastructures of different countries. Synchronisation could also mitigate some of the liquidity risk and credit risk challenges in the foreign exchange market.

    The project connected a synthetic version of the UK RTGS system to three experimental Eurosystem interoperability solutions: DL3S (developed by the Banque de France), TIPS Hash-Link (developed by the Banca d’Italia) and the Trigger Solution (developed by the Deutsche Bundesbank).

    Combined with the results of previous work undertaken by the BIS and the Bank of England, Meridian FX shows that synchronisation can be agnostic to both the asset or fund of the transaction involved and the technology of the ledgers, highlighting its potential use in other markets.

    Insights gained from the project will inform the work programmes of the participating central banks.

    For media queries, please contact Benoit Deeg, tel.: +49 172 1683704.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: LimbItless report published

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    LimbItless report published

    Fatal person overboard from a keelboat off Cowes, Isle of Wight, England.

    Image courtesy of Andrew Cassell Foundation.

    Today, we have published our accident investigation report into a fatality following a person overboard from an Andrew Cassell Foundation Sonar keelboat on 1 October 2022 off Cowes, Isle of Wight, England.

    Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll OBE, said:

    Any boating activity carries the risk of a person falling in the water. It is important that skippers and event organisers conduct an appropriate assessment to determine the level of assistance that might be required – such as equipment, personnel or support craft – to ensure the timely recovery of a person from the water. Additionally, vessel crews must be practised in the recovery of people from the water and be familiar with their rescue equipment.

    Not every event or outing requires bespoke equipment but it may be necessary, especially when sailing with people whose ability to assist with their own recovery might be impaired.

    All skippers should consider how they and their crew will recover an unconscious person from the water in a timely manner and ensure they and their crew practise thoroughly for such an event.

    The report, available via this link, contains details of what happened, subsequent actions taken and recommendations.

    Media enquiries (telephone only)

    Media enquiries during office hours 01932 440015

    Media enquiries out of hours 0300 7777878

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKHSA urges Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to get meningitis vaccination

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    UKHSA urges Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to get meningitis vaccination

    UKHSA is reminding travellers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for Umrah and the upcoming Hajj pilgrimages to ensure they are vaccinated against meningitis.

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging travellers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for Umrah and the upcoming Hajj pilgrimages to ensure they are vaccinated against meningococcal disease with the MenACWY vaccine, due to ongoing outbreaks of serogroup W (MenW) disease associated with travel to KSA.

    UKHSA has confirmed 5 cases of MenW disease between February and March 2025 in people who had recently returned from KSA or in their close contacts in England and Wales.

    Invasive meningococcal disease is rare but serious and is caused by meningococcal bacteria. Meningococcal meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and septicaemia (blood poisoning) are severe conditions that can kill or leave people with life-changing disabilities.

    Those undertaking Hajj or Umrah, along with seasonal workers, are required to present a valid certificate of MenACWY vaccination issued between 10 days and 3 to 5 years before arrival, depending on the type of MenACWY vaccine previously received. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) advise, however, that all travellers to KSA should consider receiving the quadrivalent meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine, especially during the current MenW outbreak.

    While abroad and in the 2 weeks after returning to the UK, pilgrims and travellers returning from KSA should monitor for symptoms such as:

    • fever
    • severe headache
    • vomiting
    • stiff neck
    • rash
    • extreme sleepiness
    • seizures

    Symptoms may resemble flu initially and can appear in any order, but can lead to serious illness within hours. Anyone who has symptoms and becomes concerned about their own or someone else’s health should seek immediate medical advice or dial 999 in a medical emergency.

    Dr Shamez Ladhani, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:

    The MenACWY vaccination is essential for pilgrims travelling to KSA for Umrah and Hajj, particularly given recent cases among UK returnees and their families. Meningococcal disease can be fatal and may leave survivors with serious lifelong conditions including hearing loss, brain damage and limb amputations.

    Pilgrims should ensure vaccination at least ten days before travel and remain vigilant for symptoms like sudden fever, severe headache, stiff neck, or rash. If you or anyone at home becomes unwell with any symptoms of meningitis within two weeks of returning from Saudi Arabia, contact your GP or NHS 111, mentioning your recent travel history, or dial 999 in case of emergency.

    Dr Sahira Dar, President of the British Islamic Medical Association, said: 

    During Hajj and Umrah, millions of people gather in very close proximity during the pilgrim rights, in accommodation sites and on public transport.  This means that there is a much higher risk of contracting infectious diseases such as meningitis which is a serious illness.  We highly recommend that everyone going on Hajj and Umrah receive their MenACWY vaccine which could protect them and their loved ones back home.

    UKHSA is also advising pilgrims about Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). While risk to UK travellers remains low, pilgrims should:

    • avoid consuming raw or undercooked animal products
    • avoid contact with camels and animal waste
    • practise good hygiene, particularly washing hands after visiting farms, barns or markets

    Should fever, coughing or breathing difficulties develop within 2 weeks of leaving Saudi Arabia, contact a GP or NHS 111, mentioning recent travel history and any contact with respiratory cases, healthcare facilities or camels during travel.

    Further information on vaccinations and travel health precautions for KSA is available on the NaTHNaC website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Key forestry grants re-opened to support tree-planting ambitions

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Key forestry grants re-opened to support tree-planting ambitions

    Up to £4.1 million in grants is being made available across three grant offers to boost resilience and productivity in tree production

    Foresters, researchers, landowners, nurseries and seed suppliers are set to benefit today (Thursday 24 April) from up to £4.1 million to be made available to equip nurseries to enhance domestic tree and tree seed production to meet the ambitious statutory tree planting targets for climate, nature and people, while supporting green jobs, helping to boost growth in the sector.

    This will help ensure we plant treescapes that are resilient to stresses including climate change and pests and diseases, while bolstering capacity to meet the Government’s ambitious tree-planting targets.

    Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley said:

    “Supporting domestic tree and tree seed production can be at the very root of growth opportunities for our sector. Our grants have the potential to ensure there is a reliable supply of diverse and high quality trees for future planting to the Government’s tree planting targets, improving timber security whilst boosting employment and the wider green economy.

    “I encourage all eligible applicants to come forward to help us support the sector to grow and thrive.”

    These grants have already seen funding awarded to a vast range of organisations across the public, private and third sectors, ranging from established tree and tree seed suppliers to new entrants to the sector. Previously supported projects can be found on our tree and seed production case studies page at: Tree and seed production case studies – GOV.UK.

    Through the Tree Production Capital Grant, for example, funding has enabled community tree nurseries to purchase polytunnels and seed processing equipment, and supported larger nurseries to invest in machinery to improve their efficiency.

    The Tree Production Innovation Fund unlocks new technologies that enhance the quantity, quality and diversity of tree planting stock, for example funding work into reducing synthetic fertiliser use in forestry which later led to crowding in of Danish venture capital seed to launch natural fertiliser company Re-Genus.

    It also supported Rhizocore Technologies to develop locally adapted mycorrhizal fungi pellets to enhance tree growth, resilience and greater carbon capture by soil. The pellets are designed to be placed into the topsoil with saplings during tree planting. They keep the fungal symbionts they contain alive for months, enabling the formation of mycorrhizal associations with the planted trees. Field data has shown sites using the pellets have significant improvements to both tree growth rates and survival rates.

    Dr Toby Parkes, Founder and CEO, Rhizocore, said:

    “Tree Production Innovation Fund funding has enabled Rhizocore to develop its products and systems, transitioning Rhizocore from a research phase to a commercial phase and enabled us to develop the first commercially scalable system for delivering live, locally sourced ectomycorrhizal fungi to field planting sites.

    “This foundational work has enabled Rhizocore to establish the data and systems needed for us to supply local ectomycorrhizal fungi to the forestry sector into the future.”

    Planning and planting new seed stands and orchards and management of existing seed stands are examples of eligible activities for Seed Sourcing Grant funding.

    Additional information:

    • The Tree Production Capital Grant (up to £2 million) aims to help suppliers increase their productivity and resilience and is designed for tree and tree seed suppliers of all sizes, as well as new entrants looking to diversify into the sector. It closes for applications on 25 June.
    • Read the Forestry Commission’s tree and seed production case studies.
    • The Tree Production Innovation Fund (up to £1.5 million) provides funding for innovative projects designed to overcome barriers to domestic tree production and is designed to improve the quantity, quality and diversity of tree planting stock in England. It closes on 9 July.
    • Read about previous successful Tree Production Innovation Fund projects.
    • The Seed Sourcing Grant (up to £600,000) provides funding to improve the quantity, quality and diversity of tree seed sources in England and will help to ensure the availability of diverse planting stock to meet tree planting targets. It closes on 19 August.
    • Read about previous successful Seed Sourcing Grant projects.

    To help those interested in applying, the Forestry Commission are hosting a range of ‘how to apply’ webinars and ‘knowledge transfer’ events, sign up for free:

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –