NewzIntel.com

Category: Great Britain

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Interest rate reductions on the Court Funds Office special and basic accounts: 3 March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Interest rate reductions on the Court Funds Office special and basic accounts: 3 March 2025

    Reduction of interest rates for Court Funds Office special and basic accounts from today (3 March 2025).

    In response to the decrease in the Bank of England base rate on 6 February 2025, the Court Funds Office (CFO) rates of interest payable to clients have been reviewed and from 3 March 2025 these will change to the following:

    • Special Account – decreased from 4.75% to 4.50%
    • Basic Account – decreased from 3.56% to 3.38%

    The decision was made to ensure that the running costs of the CFO service can continue to be met whilst still providing an affordable rate of interest payable to clients.

    If you wish to discuss further, please contact the CFO on 0300 0200 199 or email enquiries@cfo.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Young people invited to apply for Mayor’s Bursary

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Young people invited to apply for Mayor’s Bursary

    3 March 2025

    The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, has announced the launch of a Young Person’s Bursary – a £500 contribution aimed at supporting the growth and development of one young person with a talent or skill they wish to nurture but who may lack the financial means to do so.

    The bursary is open to young people across the entire Derry City and Strabane District Council area and is designed to offer a helping hand to someone from a low-income, socially disadvantaged, or vulnerable background.
    It could support the development of artistic abilities such as music or drama or help a young person build employability skills that will benefit their future.

    Speaking at the launch, Mayor Barr expressed her enthusiasm for providing meaningful support to a young person with ambitions to grow and thrive.
    “The Young Person’s Bursary is a small but important contribution, a hand up to help a young person in our community develop their potential. Whether it’s a creative talent like music or drama or an employability skill they wish to strengthen, this bursary is about allowing them to build their confidence, enhance their abilities, and pursue their dreams.
    “Engaging with young people and giving them a voice has been a key focus of my Mayoral year, and I’m delighted to offer this support. While applications must come from organisations that support children and young people aged 0-18 years from disadvantaged backgrounds within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, they must specifically nominate the individual young person who will benefit from the bursary.
    “Individual young people cannot apply directly but are encouraged to reach out to the organisations they are involved with to express their interest in being considered. Schools can also apply. I hope this bursary will empower the successful candidate to overcome challenges, build their skills, and become more actively involved in their local community.”

    The Mayor has recorded a video message to invite young people to apply that can be viewed on her social media pages.
    For more information on the criteria and details on how to apply visit here
    The deadline for applications is Friday March 28th 2025.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: European Day for Victims of Terrorism event – speakers announced

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Every year since the Madrid bombings in 2004 across Europe one day in March has been set aside as a Memorial Day to the victims of terrorist attacks. Following his election to the Assembly Jim Allister hosted events at Stormont to mark the occasion. His successor as TUV MLA for North Antrim, Timothy Gaston, is continuing the tradition.

    Over the years, there have been highly successful events attended by victims of Republican and Loyalist terrorism from across Northern Ireland, Great Britain, the Republic and continental Europe.

    This year’s event to mark European Day for Victims of Terrorism will be held in the Senate Chamber in Parliament Buildings at 11am on Monday 10th March with refreshments available from 10:30am.

    The press are very welcome to attend.

    Timothy Gaston explained:

    “The event will take the form of a minute of silence in memory of murdered victims, followed by three victims telling their stories so that we might hear some of the untold accounts of the consequences of terrorism, both republican and loyalist.

    “I believe this will be a worthwhile effort and in previous years I received very positive feedback from those who attended. It is but right that one of the regions of Europe most savagely ravaged by terrorism should mark this important day. I am pleased that we will hear from a cousin of Dougald McCaughey, one of the three Scottish soldiers murdered in particularly brutal circumstances in on 10th March 1971 meaning the event will take place on the anniversary of these brutal murders.

    “I am thankful for the South East Fermanagh Foundation and Ulster Human Rights Watch for making this event possible and for Assembly colleagues Mike Nesbitt and Patsy McGlone without whose co-sponsorship this event would not be taking place”.

    This year’s event will include contributions from four speakers. Their details are provided by SEFF and UHRW.

    1. Caroline D’Eath
    Daughter of Gerald D’Eath
    22nd May 1975

    Gerald was a 31-year-old Roman Catholic civilian murdered by a UVF bomb. He was married with four children and a machine operator who was from, Braeside in Dungannon.

    Gerald had been working on the building site of a new Christian Brothers school for several months and died on the site when a UVF bomb exploded. He was working as a bricklayer at the time.

    Pics provided by the family:

    Gerald D’Eath with his daughters before his death.

    Second picture is with his loving late wife Margaret.

    2. David McCaughey

    Cousin of Dougald McCaughey who was murdered by Provisional IRA terrorists alongside John and Joseph McCaig

    Three Scottish soldiers – 10th March 1971

    The soldiers were unarmed members of the 1st Battalion, Royal Highland Fusiliers.
    Dougald McCaughey, 23, was murdered along with brothers John, 17 and Joseph McCaig, 18 respectively. All three men were from Scotland.

    They were murdered when off-duty and in civilian clothes, having been lured from a city-centre bar in Belfast, driven to a remote location, and shot.

    Family, former colleagues, and friends of the three Scottish soldiers continue to fight for justice for three young men, who were much loved by many, David is a key driver in The Three Scottish Soldiers campaign group.

    3. Pamela Wilson
    Daughter of Const. David Dorsett RUC GC
    14th January 1973

    David Dorsett and Mervyn Wilson who were murdered by Provisional IRA terrorists.

    David was 37-years-old and originally from Wolverhampton and had served in the Royal Navy and the Bristol Constabulary.

    In 1967, he joined the RUC. His wife was from Londonderry. It was his son’s 8th birthday on the day he was murdered. He also had a 10-year-old daughter and an 8-month old baby girl.

    A bomb exploded beneath their car on Harbour Square.

    Both officers were serving with the force’s Traffic Branch and had been stationed at the nearby Victoria RUC station.

    Two other police officers who were in the car were also injured.

    4. Colette Murray

    Colette Murray was aged 47 years when her brother Cyril was shot dead by Loyalist terrorists on the 8th of July 1992 in the family home where they both had lived for 29 years. Their late parents and two other siblings had lived there with the latter both moving out on getting married. Cyril and Colette had put the house up for sale and were in the process of moving to a new bungalow in Randalstown which they were having built and which was ready for occupation ten days after the incident.

    Cyril Murray was a law-abiding citizen who had taught in a primary school in Belfast. He was well regarded in educational circles as an inspirational teacher and many past pupils had fond memories of him.

    The terrorists later stated it was a case of mistaken identity.

    Two individuals were later convicted and sentenced. As a result of the 1998 Belfast Agreement these individuals would only have served a minimum of 4 years and a maximum of 8 years for their heinous crimes.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: English schools provide free period products – but they’re still not easy for pupils to get hold of

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Maria Kathryn Tomlinson, Lecturer in Public Communication and Gender, University of Sheffield, University of Sheffield

    noowans/Shutterstock

    Pupils in the UK are struggling to afford menstrual products. In a 2022 UK survey, charity WaterAid found that one in five girls were missing school as a result. Limited access to period products can also have a negative impact on learning and attainment.

    In 2020, the government attempted to address this problem in England with a scheme to make period products available for free in schools and colleges. This is a valuable endeavour. However, just because pads and tampons are stocked in schools, this does not mean that they are easily accessible to the pupils who need them.

    In research for my recently published book, I talked to 77 teenagers in England about their knowledge and views of menstruation and related social issues.

    Many of the girls and non-binary pupils used this opportunity to share the frustrations, anxiety and embarrassment that they had experienced when searching for, requesting, or using the free period products in their current and previous schools.

    Some pupils explained that they had to ask for period products and wished that they could “just grab them” when needed. They told me that products were kept at reception, locked away, or stored in areas – such as staff rooms – that pupils are not allowed to access.

    This requires teenagers to discuss their period with teachers or other members of school staff and many pupils I spoke to explained that they felt too embarrassed to do this. This echoes the findings of other research on the continued role played by menstrual stigma in schools.

    The teenagers in my research also said that the stigma around poverty deterred them from asking for menstrual products. “There’s so much shame thrown on to it. There are so many labels around the whole concept of not being able to afford these things,” one explained. Another said:

    If you’re from a low-income household, you feel really awkward to go and
    pick them out, especially because the box is in the middle of the common
    room. So, to walk all the way there just to pick out some products… I
    wouldn’t say anyone is going to look at you weirdly, but obviously people
    have got that mindset of ‘oh they’re going to stare at me because I can’t
    afford it’.

    Other pupils reported that products were kept in libraries or only in one bathroom in the entire school which, in a large school, could be very far from their classrooms. One girl explained that this distance was especially problematic if her period had begun unexpectedly:

    Reception was in a completely different building across the courtyard, so it’s not like I’m going to go to the loo, discover I have my period, go to the front desk, get some stuff and then go back. It’s too time-consuming. If I have classes, I can’t use it. I feel like the period product scheme is a really good idea, but it is dependent on the schools properly utilising it.

    Exam time

    The pupils also said that they could not always access period products during examinations. They reported that this lack of access had affected their concentration during their GCSEs. They said that examinations often took place far from where they usually accessed menstrual products and, due to concerns about cheating, they could not bring their own into examination rooms.

    One girl explained: “Exams are stressful enough and then you put bleeding on to that and getting your pads and painkillers sorted. It’s another thing us girls have to worry about”. Another said: “In exams you can’t really bring anything in. They’re just going to think you’re cheating but you’re not, you just need to change yourself.”

    Teenagers said that the products they needed weren’t always available.
    New Africa/Shutterstock

    Some of the teenagers also mentioned that the products themselves were not serving their needs. Some schools only stocked internal products, such as tampons. For a range of reasons – due to culture, disability, and personal preference, among others – these are not suitable for everyone.

    Other schools only provided thin pads. This is a problem for pupils with heavy bleeding. “The school pads are not thick enough,” one girl said. “I have to change my pad five to six times a day because I come on really heavy.”

    Besides discussing the barriers they had faced to access these products, they also stated that they had never raised these issues with teachers or pastoral staff.

    Menstrual justice charity Irise International is launching a toolkit for schools on how they can improve access to both period products and toilets themselves. This is based on evidence from my book as well as Irise’s own consultations with young people.

    It is important that pupils are given the opportunity to share – in a comfortable and inclusive setting – their views with staff on which products should be available and where they are stored. This can include ordering reusable products such as cups and period underwear.

    Schools should also ensure that period products are easily accessible during exams – such as on a table outside the exam room or in nearby toilets – and that pupils know in advance where they will be kept.

    Maria Kathryn Tomlinson received funding for this research from the Leverhulme Trust under Grant ECF-2019-232.

    – ref. English schools provide free period products – but they’re still not easy for pupils to get hold of – https://theconversation.com/english-schools-provide-free-period-products-but-theyre-still-not-easy-for-pupils-to-get-hold-of-249776

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dr Penelope Dash confirmed as new Chair of NHS England 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Dr Penelope Dash confirmed as new Chair of NHS England 

    Dr Penelope Dash has been appointed by the government as the next chair of NHS England

    Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has today confirmed Dr Penny Dash will be the new Chair of NHS England.

    Dr Dash is currently the Chair of the NHS North-West London Integrated Care Board and is leading a major review into the regulation of health and social care quality in England. Her interim report, published last year, shone a light on the scale of the failure at the Care Quality Commission, and sparked the appointment of new leadership to turn around the health and care regulator.

    A former NHS doctor, senior partner at McKinsey and Company working on healthcare globally, and Head of Strategy at the Department of Health and Social Care, Dr Dash has a wealth of experience in the public, private and government sectors.  

    As Chair of NHS England, she will be drawing on her vast knowledge in these fields to focus on rebuilding the NHS as part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. 

    She was selected following an open public appointment process to appoint a successor to Richard Meddings, who is due to step down next month.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 

    I am delighted to confirm Dr Penny Dash as the new Chair of NHS England. She is a radical reformer, with the skills and experience we need to help fix our broken NHS and make it fit for the future.

    I look forward to working with her as we continue to tackle the waiting list backlog, unleash innovation in health services, and support our healthcare staff to deliver the timely care patients deserve.

    I would also like to thank Richard Meddings for his dedicated service, helping to guide the NHS through the aftermath of the pandemic.

    Dr Penny Dash said: 

    I am honoured to have been appointed the new Chair of NHS England. 

    I am excited to start working with my NHS colleagues and the government to accelerate the process of renewal and rebuilding to make sure the NHS continues to serve the needs of its communities and its staff.

    The 10 Year Health Plan is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the NHS to take on the challenges of the future and I look forward to playing my part.

    Dr Dash was confirmed as the government’s preferred candidate in February. The Secretary of State took the final decision following a hearing with the Health and Social Care Committee on 26 February 2025.

    This appointment is a four-year term and begins 1 April 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: America’s designs on annexing Canada have a long history − and record of political failures

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By G. Patrick O’Brien, Assistant Teaching Professor of History, University of Tampa

    Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the specter of annexing Canada since his inauguration to a second term as president.

    The president’s rhetoric about making Canada “the 51st state” may seem to project confidence, a 21st-century vision of manifest destiny, a belief in the United States’ right and obligation to expand.

    Trump is not the first American leader to dream of northern expansion. To me, a historian of early U.S.-Canadian relations, these designs suggest not power, but weakness and simmering divisions inside the United States.

    Early Americans’ lust for Canada

    Even before independence, social conflict helped turn American eyes northward. Throughout the 18th century, England’s Colonial population in North America doubled every 25 years. Successive generations of Colonists along the Eastern Seaboard had to compete with each other, and with Indigenous people, for resources, arable land and trade.

    These unhappy, land-hungry Colonists clamored for expansion, instigating a series of wars against both the French and Spanish empires for control of the northeastern half of the continent, culminating in the French and Indian War, from 1754 to 1763.

    While these Colonists were animated by their thirst for expansion, they had little else unifying them. Many Americans today are familiar with the “Join, or Die” cartoon Ben Franklin printed, featuring a segmented snake with each section representing one of the Colonies. However, few realize that it was not crafted during the Revolution to unite Colonists against Britain, but in 1754, to rally divided British Colonists in their war against France.

    This famous image urging the American Colonies to unite was in support of a war against France, not Britain.
    Benjamin Franklin via Wikimedia Commons

    Britain finished conquering Canada in 1763, but the empire never fully supported Colonial expansion northward. In the 1750s and 1760s, British troops forcibly removed French colonists from Acadia in Nova Scotia and recruited thousands of Colonists from neighboring New England to move north. These settlers had long imagined the region rich in fishing and timber to be a land of opportunity. But disillusioned by the financial cost of sustaining their settlements, many of these Colonists returned to New England by the early 1770s.

    Attempts to settle other lands ceded by France were no more successful. Fearful that Colonists might provoke a costly war with Indigenous people, Parliament issued the Proclamation of 1763, which attempted to protect native land by discouraging Colonial expansion westward. Many Colonists turned against Britain in response, especially those like George Washington, who had speculated in the land west of the Appalachian Mountains.

    The failed invasion of Canada

    In the earliest months of the Revolution, the Continental Congress authorized an American invasion of British-occupied Quebec. In a letter addressed to “Friends and Brethren” of Canada, Washington himself implored Canadians to join invading troops. “The Cause of America, and of Liberty, is the Cause of every virtuous American Citizen,” he wrote. “Come then, ye generous Citizens, range yourselves under the Standard of general Liberty.”

    But at home, Colonists were far from united in their rebellion. Historians estimate that around 20% of the white Colonial population, more than 500,000 people, remained loyal to Britain, and an even larger number hoped to remain neutral.

    The difficult realities of conquest also turned many soldiers against the invasion of Canada. In late October 1775, nearly a quarter of the underfed and overworked troops under the command of soon-to-be turncoat Benedict Arnold abandoned their arduous journey through interior Maine toward Canada. The soldiers who carried on prayed these deserters “might die by the way, or meet with some disaster, Equal to the Cowardly dastardly and unfriendly Spirit they discover’d in returning Back without orders.”

    The more resilient troops who reached Quebec were emphatically defeated by British forces in December, making Washington skeptical of any future efforts to attack Canada.

    American troops clash with British soldiers and the French defenders of Quebec in December 1775.
    Charles William Jefferys, cover art for ‘The Father of British Canada: A Chronicle of Carleton,’ Volume 12 by William Wood, 1916

    19th-century divisions

    Following American independence, tens of thousands of loyal Colonists sailed north to Canada, determined to build British colonies that would become what one of these refugees called “the envy of the American States.” Their presence on the contested northern border was an unsettling reminder to the new American nation about the power Britain still exerted on the continent.

    Conflict with Britain over land and trade in the early 1800s reopened old divisions among Americans. Virginia Congressman John Randolph expressed his frustrations with renewed calls for a northern invasion. “We have but one word, like the whip-poor-will, but one eternal monstrous tone,” an exasperated Randolph noted, “Canada! Canada! Canada!”

    The debate over Canada was one of many issues dividing the nation, and as President James Madison would later explain, he hoped that war would help unify a polarized nation. His gamble paid off, but only after opponents from New England flirted with the idea of secession to negotiate their own end to conflict.

    When the popular editor and columnist John O’Sullivan called for the annexation of Texas and war with Mexico in 1845, he also suggested the annexation of Canada would naturally follow. The anti-expansionist response united pacifists, abolitionists and a variety of religious and literary figures, helping deepen the divides that would lead to the Civil War.

    Annexation talk in the 20th century

    Trump’s posturing has served to unite Canadians and revive Canadian nationalism. In the U.S., most people seem to understand the practical hurdles of adding a new state or dismiss the idea altogether.

    A Canadian demonstrates in Washington, D.C., against President Donald Trump’s policies on Feb. 17, 2025.
    Dominic Gwinn/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

    One example of annexation talk from the 20th century, however, might serve as a warning to Trump, showing how aggressive rhetoric toward Canada has led to political defeat. In 1911, a bill creating free trade with Canada passed Congress with the support of President William Taft, despite objections from protectionists in both parties.

    In an attempt to have the agreement defeated in the Canadian Parliament, U.S. opponents from both sides of the aisle attempted to stir popular sentiment against the U.S. in Canada. Champ Clark, the Democratic speaker of the House and a front-runner for the presidential nomination in 1912, seized on the moment.

    “I hope to see the day when the American flag will float over every square foot of the British North American possessions, clear to the North Pole,” Champ proclaimed on the House floor. William Stiles Bennet, a Republican, proposed a resolution that would authorize the president to begin negotiations for annexation.

    Their approach to defeating the trade agreement worked, at least in Canada. In the general election of September 1911, worried Canadian voters ousted the Liberal Party, which had supported free trade, and the new Conservative majority rejected the agreement.

    Back home, however, the plan backfired. Woodrow Wilson, not Clark, secured the Democratic nomination in 1912 and would go on to defeat both the incumbent Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt. The bluster led not to success and victory, but loss and defeat.

    G. Patrick O’Brien 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. America’s designs on annexing Canada have a long history − and record of political failures – https://theconversation.com/americas-designs-on-annexing-canada-have-a-long-history-and-record-of-political-failures-250229

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Australian Oilseeds Announces Appointment of Amarjeet Singh as Chief Financial Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COOTAMUNDRA, Australia, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: COOT), today announced the appointment of Amarjeet Singh as Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) effective February 28, 2025. Singh brings more than 20 years of finance and accounting experience and held leadership roles at major companies in the global agricultural sector and will replace Bob Wu who is leaving his position to explore new opportunities outside of the Company.

    “We are excited to welcome Amarjeet as the Company’s new Chief Financial Officer,” said Gary Seaton, Chief Executive Officer. “His deep expertise in finance and accounting coupled with a strong background in the global agricultural sector make him the ideal candidate to lead our finance organization at this pivotal time. Amarjeet is a strategic leader with a proven track record of driving growth and productivity along with improving profitability. On behalf of everyone at the Company, I would like to thank Bob for his significant contributions and wish him success in his future endeavors. I am particularly grateful for his leadership and support over the last four years that we have worked together. He has been a critical player to drive our strategic agenda, leading key initiatives, which will benefit us for many years to come”

    Mr. Singh commented, “It’s an exciting time to join Australian Oilseeds as the Company continues to focus on expanding and scaling its business globally. I look forward to working with this talented team to strengthen our foundation and ensure we are well positioned to deliver significant long-term sustainable growth and shareholder value.”

    Mr. Singh is an experienced financial controller with a demonstrated history of working in the Agri-commodities and manufacturing listed companies, with experience in financial reporting, consolidation, budgeting, accounting, treasury management, and management information systems (MIS) including leadership roles at major companies in the global agricultural sector. Before joining Australian Oilseeds, from 2018 to 2025, he served as Head of Finance at MOI International Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Mewah International, a large agricultural company listed in Singapore. From 2011 to 2017, Mr. Singh was Manager, Accounts and Treasury, at Mewah Oils & Fats, another subsidiary of Mewah International. Prior to Mewah, Mr. Singh held finance and accounting roles of progressive responsibility at divisions of large, NYSE-listed multi-national companies including General Electric and Snap-On Tools from 2008 to 2011 and served as an Audit Senior for BDO Lodha & Co. from 2004 to 2007. Mr. Singh is a graduate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India as a chartered accountant, specializing in Finance & Accountancy in 2007.

    About Australian Oilseeds Investments Pty Ltd.: Australian Oilseeds Investments Pty Ltd. is an Australian proprietary company that, directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, is 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.

    Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding our financial outlook, business strategy and plans, market trends and market size, opportunities and positioning. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall” and variations of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. For example, global economic conditions could in the future reduce demand for our products; we could in the future experience cybersecurity incidents; we may be unable to manage or sustain the level of growth that our business has experienced in prior periods; our financial resources may not be sufficient to maintain or improve our competitive position; we may be unable to attract new customers, or retain or sell additional products to existing customers; we may experience challenges successfully expanding our marketing and sales capabilities, including further specializing our sales force; customer growth could decelerate in the future; we may not achieve expected synergies and efficiencies of operations from recent acquisitions or business combinations, and we may not be able to pay off our convertible notes when due. Further information on potential factors that could affect our financial results is included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views only as of the date of this press release and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    Contact
    Australian Oilseeds Holdings Limited
    126-142 Cowcumbla Street
    Cootamundra New South Wales 2590
    Attn: Gary Seaton, CEO
    Email: gary@energreennutrition.com.au

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool Calling: The Results Are In

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Ground-breaking research has found that hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 delivered a £54million economic boost to the Liverpool City Region. 

    In a first for any Eurovision Song Contest host city, a Multi-Agency Evaluation Steering Group led by Liverpool City Council, has commissioned five in-depth, independent evaluations – the interim results of which will be announced today (Thursday 26 October) by Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson and Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram.

    The reports looked at the economic and social impact of staging the event on behalf of Ukraine, as well as the influence on cultural relations; the impact on wellbeing in the city and the wider city region; the visitor experience and the effectiveness of the strategic collaboration between delivery agencies. 

    Key data highlights include:

    The Big Numbers

    • Eurovision boosted the Liverpool City Region economy by £54.8million (net) with restaurants, accommodation providers, shops, bars and transport networks all benefitting.
    • In total 473,000 people attended Eurovision events in the city, with 306,000 additional visitors heading to Liverpool to be part of the celebrations.
    • In May, 175,000 city centre hotel rooms were sold  – the best month on record since 2018. (STEAM data)   

    Culture Counts

    • The education and community programmes, EuroStreet and EuroLearn, engaged with 367 organisations and directly with 50,000 people, young and old. The overall programme is estimated to have reached 2 million people.
    • EuroFestival – the Culture Liverpool curated two-week culture festival – presented 24 brand new commissions, 19 of which were in collaboration with Ukrainian artists. A huge 328,346 people engaged with this programme – 557 artists, 1,750 participants involved in a commission and an audience number of 326,039.
    • The official Eurovision Village, located at the Pier Head attracted 250,000 visitors across the ten days it was open, with the ticketed final selling out within hours.

    Visitor’s Views

    • Visitors to Liverpool reported an overwhelmingly positive experience. In a survey, 89 per cent of those questioned, felt it was a safe event and 88 per cent praised its inclusivity. A whopping 96 per cent of those surveyed would recommend Liverpool as a destination to visit and 42 per cent of overseas visitors said the city’s staging of the event had a positive impact on how they viewed the UK.
    • The official Eurovision Fan Club – the OGAEs – carried out a survey and found that 99 per cent of their members felt welcomed in the city and 98 per cent loved the undeniable festival atmosphere.

    Resident’s Reaction

    • There was a huge amount of pride around Liverpool being the host city, with 80 per cent of residents noting how important it was for Liverpool and a further 93 per cent saying they were pleased with how the city delivered the event.
    • Of those questioned, 74 per cent were enthusiastic about Liverpool hosting on behalf of Ukraine and 71 per cent felt that the city’s leading role promoted positive feelings across all of the participating nations.

    People Power

    • An impressive 475 people provided 12,000 hours of volunteering, covering 350 shifts. The majority (90 per cent) were from the North West of England, and 30 were Ukrainian.
    • A Eurovision job recruitment fair saw 394 jobs offered in one day.
    • A partnership between the BBC and Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts saw 145 students become part of the Eurovision production – in roles such as on stage dancers in the live shows, costume makers or in the TV production team.

    Read all about it

    • Between the period of October 2022, when Liverpool was announced as host city, until end of May 2023, more than 280,000 pieces of global news coverage were generated.
    • The three live BBC shows were watched by 162 million people.

    Keep Liverpool Tidy

    • More than 50,000 tonnes of waste was collected throughout the Eurovision period, 80 per cent of which could be recycled.

    The independent reports were:

    • Economic Impact – Commissioned by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council. The research was compiled by AMION Consulting.
    • Community and Wellbeing – Commissioned by Liverpool City Council and funded by Spirit of 2012 and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The research was carried out by University of Liverpool.
    • Cultural Diplomacy – Commissioned by Liverpool City Council and funded by British Council and DCMS. The British Council led on the research along with the University of Hull, and consultants from Universities of Brighton, Southampton and Royal Holloway (University of London).
    • Nightlife – Funded and compiled by Liverpool John Moores University.
    • Multi–Agency Working – Led by Edge Hill University.  

    Along with these reports, the BBC has commissioned its own Eurovision Highlights Report.

    To bring together the findings of the reports, Liverpool City Council’s Public Health team commissioned The Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place to compile the headline findings. This comprehensive overview can be found at the Heseltine Institute website. 

    The interim findings of these reports will be discussed at a special one-day Eurovision event taking place at ACC Liverpool today (Thursday 26 October).

    Head to the official Liverpool Calling website for full details of the day which will include panels with the Liverpool Host City team who will give an insight into the complexities of staging an event of this scale. This is a Liverpool City Council event supported by the Liverpool BID Company and The ACC Liverpool Group.

    Follow @CultureLpool on Twitter, @CultureLiverpool on Facebook and @culture_liverpool on Instagram for the latest updates as well as using #LiverpoolCalling on social media.

    Reaction

    Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, said:

    “The whirlwind that was Eurovision, gave this city an unparalleled stage where it could showcase not just its organisational prowess, but also its heart and soul.

    “From the outset, we put plans in place to evaluate everything we programmed in order to have a thorough understanding of the impact of major events.

    “The visitor and economic figures speak for themselves – jobs were created, local businesses were on the receiving end of a much-needed boost and hundreds of thousands of people came to the city, had a great time and are more than likely to return again.

    “My mantra is proud but never satisfied. These comprehensive reports give us the opportunity to reflect on what was achieved over an incredibly short period of time, but more importantly we can look at lessons learnt for the next time we host a major event. And this is Liverpool, so there will definitely be a next time.

    “Knowing the financials and the visitor numbers is always a great indicator of success, but with Eurovision we wanted to do more. As the first host city ever to introduce a school and community programme dedicated to Eurovision, we needed to drill into what that really meant for people – did it make a positive difference to their lives and as a result to our city? Never before has any other location commissioned such a detailed analysis, and it goes without saying that our methodology can be adopted by locations across the world which is a real badge of honour for Liverpool.

    “This collective research proves that events like Eurovision can transcend boundaries, leaving a legacy of inspiration and goodwill. It was a milestone moment in our city’s history, and now we’re more than ready for the next one.”

    Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:
    “There was never a doubt in my mind as to whether our region was up to the challenge of hosting a global spectacle like Eurovision on behalf of our friends in Ukraine – because nowhere does culture bigger or better than the Liverpool City Region. From the hundreds of thousands of visitors who flocked to our region for a fortnight of fun and frivolity, to the tens of millions around the world who tuned in, we gave millions of people a Eurovision they will never forget.

    “While that’s an incredible result in itself, the contest was also a vital shot in the arm for our local economy, bringing in more than £54m, creating thousands of jobs and opportunities for local people and showcasing our brand to an international audience. None of this would have been possible without the hard work of everyone who truly embraced the Eurovision spirit and made our visitors feel so welcome. I said all along that nowhere can throw a party quite like us – and now we have the results to prove it!”

    Liverpool’s Director of Culture, Claire McColgan CBE, said:

    “We experienced this Eurovision-high as a result of cultural back catalogue.

    “We have spent years working towards what we all experienced in May – we cut our teeth during our European Capital of Culture year and from that point we have grown exponentially in confidence and ability as year-on-year we continue to deliver events that rival any other on the world stage.

    “The pandemic was a real line in the sand for us, and undoubtedly Liverpool’s role in leading the charge on the reopening of venues nationwide made us stand out from the crowd – we are recognised as a city that can deliver unforgettable moments, safely, quickly and with a scouse panache that simply can’t be replicated anywhere else.

    “Quite simply, it was an honour to deliver Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine and the UK. I’ve never known time move so fast as it did across those seven months and it has been a real pleasure to digest these impact reports and relive the experience once again and reassure myself it wasn’t just a crazy dream! They underline the fact Liverpool has the skill, agency-wide teamwork and the creativity to deliver time and time again.

    “So I’d like to say to everyone – whether you worked on the event, donned those iconic yellow hoodies and volunteered, performed on stage or on our streets, danced at the Village, sang along at the arena or perhaps you discovered more about Ukraine in the classroom or even helped evaluate the event – thank you. You made Eurovision. Liverpool made Eurovision. We were all united by music.”

    Eurovision Minister Stuart Andrew said: 

    “It is fantastic to see the impact that hosting the Eurovision Song Contest has had on Liverpool. The city put on a fantastic display of culture and creativity, showing solidarity with our friends in Ukraine and highlighting what unites us all. 

    “This research demonstrates the positive impact of hosting major events and I hope that we can continue to build on this success.” 

    Tim Jones, the University of Liverpool’s Vice-Chancellor said:

    “Today’s announcement gives us much to be proud of. It was the University’s Heseltine Institute that compiled the data that this success is judged on and it was our academics who played an important role in carrying out a key strand of research. But as a civic institution, we are immensely proud of the city of Liverpool. Our city put on a show like no other and I am delighted to see these positive results that I’m sure will have a lasting legacy for those who live, work, study and do business here.”

    Rhiannon Corcoran, Professor of Psychology and Public Mental Health University of Liverpool said:

    “Our survey was designed to understand Eurovision’s impact on the wellbeing and sense of community of local residents. The data we collected shows overwhelmingly positive feelings of pride in the city. I’m sure many people will recognise and understand how this is hugely beneficial to wellbeing.” 

    Sue Jarvis, Co-Director at the Heseltine Institute said:

    “At the Heseltine Institute we were delighted to work with partners across the city to publish this summary of the comprehensive evaluation of what Eurovision achieved for our city.

    “Liverpool has a long history of hosting and learning from major events, and these evaluations will help developing understanding of the key lessons from Eurovision 2023.

    “While the full legacy will emerge over time, it was fantastic to see that the positive impacts of Eurovision exceeded expectations. Eurovision not only brought immense financial and cultural benefits to the city but also enhanced the view of Liverpool across the UK, Europe and the world.”

    Phil Harrold, BBC Chief of Staff and Chair of 2023 City Selection Group, said:
    “When the BBC selected Liverpool to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 we knew that the city would deliver with a passion and enthusiasm that was second to none. The incredible numbers proven in this research, coupled with our own record-breaking audience figures, demonstrate that 2023 was indeed the most successful Eurovision ever and is testament to all who played a part in bringing this year’s Song Contest to life.”

    Amy Finch – Head of Policy & Influencing, Spirit of 2012, said:

    “We are proud to see the headline statistics from the Eurovision evaluations show tremendous benefits for Liverpool. Particularly, we are delighted to see the amazing reach of EuroLearn and the effects of cultural engagement inspiring civic pride in Liverpool residents. Liverpool has once again proven itself to be a world class host city and we must ensure that the impact of Eurovision in communities will endure for years to come.”

    Dr Rebecca Phythian, Reader in Policing at Edge Hill University, said:

    “Having behind the scenes access to see first-hand the partnership working that goes into staging multi-agency operations like Eurovision was incredible. Since then, we’ve been working with practitioners from Merseyside Police, Culture Liverpool, BBC and many of the other organisations involved to identify what worked well and what could be done differently, all to inform future large-scale operations.”

    Mike Smith, Edge Hill University’s Senior Lecturer in Policing, said:

    “We found that trust and co-location were key to effective information sharing and multi-agency working. This was supported by building new, and strengthening existing, relationships, and ensured a joint understanding of risk and situational awareness.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: How to Make Money Easily in the Web3.0 Era? JA Mining Cloud Mining Reveals the Secret

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Warwick, England, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JA MiningWith the advancement of blockchain technology, cloud mining has become a new hotspot attracting global investors. The JAmining platform offers a simple and efficient way to start mining cryptocurrency without the need to purchase expensive hardware or master complex technology, while earning substantial profits. The platform’s daily earnings can reach up to $35,000, attracting the attention of numerous investors.

    How to Start Cloud Mining with JAmining？

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    JA Mining was founded in 2004 and is a global company headquartered in the UK. It is authorized and regulated by the UK government and conducts business legally and compliantly. It focuses on mainstream cryptocurrency cloud mining and has a reliable operating record and global influence.

    Platform reputation guarantee

    • · · JA Mining is a global company legally registered in the UK, authorized and regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority (FCA)
    • · · Has more than 100 global data centers located in Eastern Europe, North America, the Middle East and South America
    • · · Always abide by local laws and regulations to provide users with safe and stable services

     Here are the main advantages of JA Mining：

    1. Easy and quick start

    2. Top technology guarantee

    • · Use industry-leading hardware such as Bitmain and NVIDIA to ensure efficient mining performance
    • · The data center uses advanced cooling technology to ensure stable operation even under high load

    3. Environmentally friendly mining

    • · Use renewable energy such as solar and wind power to power data centers, reducing environmental impact while lowering operating costs

    4. Transparent with no hidden fees

    • · Only the contract deposit needs to be paid, which will be fully refunded after the contract expires
    • · No additional maintenance fees or hidden costs

    Flexible mining contract plan

    JA Mining offers a variety of flexible mining contracts suitable for both beginners and experienced investors. The following are some examples of plans：

    • · Basic Cloud Computing Plan： Invest $200, contract period 2 days, profit $214
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    Join JA Mining Now

    JA Mining is not only a cloud mining platform, but also an ideal choice for users to provide efficient and sustainable income sources. Whether you are a novice or a senior investor, you can find a low-risk, high-return solution that suits you here. Join JA Mining now, seize the wealth opportunities in the cryptocurrency era, start your passive income journey, and realize your dream of wealth freedom.

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    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risk. There is potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Schools agreement provides NSW $4.8 billion extra for public schools over a decade

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

    The Albanese government has signed up New South Wales to its new schools funding agreement, with an extra A$4.8 billion in funding for the state’s public schools over ten years.

    Queensland remains the only state still to join the agreement, which ties federal funding to schools to specific measures, such as phonics checks and teacher training. The federal government is working hard to finalise a deal with that state before going into caretaker mode for the election.

    The federal government has been negotiating with states and territories over a new schools funding deal for more than 12 months.

    NSW has been among states asking for a 5% increase in funds, while the federal government was initially only offering 2.5%. In January 2025, Victoria and South Australia successfully negotiated for a 5% increase from the federal government, leaving NSW and Queensland as the only two states without a deal ahead of a new school year.

    The Commonwealth and NSW governments said in a statement that under the NSW deal, the federal government will provide an extra 5% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).

    This would lift the federal contribution from 20% to 25% of the SRS by 2034. It follows the NSW government delivering an election commitment to reach 75% of the SRS by 2025.

    The 2011 Gonski review recommended all schools receive a minimum level of funding, called the SRS, with additional funds based on need. In 2025 the estimated SRS amounts are $13,977 for primary school students and $17,565 for secondary school students.

    Under the new national agreement all states would reach the full SRS funding in a decade, although at different paces. A lot of the fine print has still to be negotiated.

    NSW has committed to removing the 4% provision of indirect school costs such as capital depreciation, so NSW schools would be fully funded over the life of the agreement.

    This national agreement ties the funding to teaching and other reforms. These include more individualised support for students, continuing evidence-based teaching practices, and more mental health and wellbeing support for schools.

    The two governments said: “This is not a blank cheque. The agreement will be accompanied by a NSW Bilateral Agreement, which ties funding to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school”.

    These include

    • Year 1 phonics and early years of schooling numeracy checks to identify those needing more help

    • evidence-based teaching and targeted and intensive supports such as small-group or catch-up tutoring

    • wellbeing initiatives, including greater access to mental health professionals

    • access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning, and

    • initiatives to attract and retain teachers.

    The federal-state agreements incorporate national targets. These include improving NAPLAN reading and numeracy proficiency; increasing NAPLAN outcomes for priority equity cohorts; boosting student attendance; increasing the engagement rate of teacher education students, and raising the proportion of students successfully completing year 12.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said “every dollar of this funding will go into helping children learn”.

    Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said: “This will help more than 780,000 kids in more than 2,200 public schools. This is real funding tied to real reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.”

    Premier Chris Minns said: “We’ve seen a 40% reduction in teacher vacancies since we came to government, but we know there’s still more to do. This investment is vital as we work to lift education standards across the state by ensuring there is a qualified, dedicated teacher at the front of the classroom.”

    The Coalition has been critical of the time it has taken for the Albanese government to finalise the funding deal.

    In January, opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson said Clare had “failed to get the job done”. She noted students in NSW and Queensland “continue to pay the price”.

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

    – ref. Schools agreement provides NSW $4.8 billion extra for public schools over a decade – https://theconversation.com/schools-agreement-provides-nsw-4-8-billion-extra-for-public-schools-over-a-decade-251255

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Public help sought to identify Summer 2024 disorder suspects

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Police are working with Crimewatch Live to help identify those suspected of taking part in last year’s summer disorder.

    Two episodes of the famous BBC produced programme will feature videos and images of suspects committing the most serious offences, with the first airing today (Monday 3 March).

    Members of the public can also visit a new website to look through the images themselves, and submit information that they may have to the relevant police force: https://www.police.uk/disorder-appeal

    As always, those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111or give information online.

    Police forces across the country remain committed to delivering swift justice to those involved in the summer disorder, and as of 22 January 2025, 1,804 arrests have been made, and with the Crown Prosecution Service, 1,072 charges brought so far, with the highest volume occurring in the north and centre of England, primarily for serious public order offences.

    This work has seen criminal justice outcomes delivered across all types of criminality, including arson, riot and assault, with prison sentences for some of the most serious cases, some as long as nine years.

    Suspects who have not yet been identified have not escaped justice; we are not stopping in our pursuit of them, and forces are consistently finding new ways to ascertain who they are, and to bring them in for questioning.

    If you were at any of these incidents and recognise yourself in any of the images, it is in your interest to do the right thing and contact the police. 

    ACC Ian Drummond-Smith of Operation Navette, the national policing response to the summer disorder, said:

    “I’m grateful for the support shown by everyone at BBC Crimewatch Live in seeing this appeal come to fruition. We have selected the most violent and serious offences to feature in the program, alongside a larger gallery of wanted people published today on our website. Partnership work like this is a great example of how the public can help us to progress investigations and ensure that offenders face justice.

    “I would urge everyone to watch these episodes of Crimewatch Live, and to carefully explore our website to see if you recognise any of the suspects.  We know some people travelled great distances to take part in the disorder, so I’d urge you to review the images even if there was no disorder in your area.

    “Working with the CPS, and others in the criminal justice system, we are committed to bringing these offenders to justice keep our communities kept safe”.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Investigators help ensure jail time for former Brookside actor

    Source: City of York

    A total of 23 years in prison for a former Brookside actor and his associates has been awarded this afternoon.

    Former Brookside actor Philip Foster and 8 associates have today (28 February 2025) been sentenced for their part in a £13.6 million fraud that ran for over 8 years.

    The sentences handed down at Sheffield Crown Court today are the result of an over 6-year investigation by National Trading Standards, whose work uncovered an extensive network of sham modelling agencies that cruelly exploited the dreams of aspiring young models and their parents.

    Foster was the ringleader of the operation. He orchestrated the fraud from Spain, using a network of associates based in England who operated a string of sham modelling agencies and photography studios in cities across the country, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham.

    More than 6,000 victims were deceived by the group – mainly young people and mothers – who ended up parting with substantial amounts of money under the false promise of securing paid modelling work.

    The fraud worked by setting up a photographic studio in the area and running a social media advertising campaign. People who responded were given the false impression that a model agency was interested in them, with emails telling them they had potential. Victims were then invited to a ‘free’ test shoot at the photographic studio, which turned out to be a ruse to try to extort money out of them.

    At the test shoot, victims were given a studio experience, handed glossy brochures and told how successful other people had been. They would then be told that they passed their studio test and that modelling agencies were interested, but they needed to purchase their portfolio photographs from the studio in order to join an agency and become an agency model.

    Victims were duped by the group who, between them, gave a good impression of running successful model businesses and lied to them about their potential. Millions of pounds were taken from aspiring models, with some coerced into financing the upfront payment through credit deals arranged by the fraudsters or taking out expensive payday loans.

    Instead, victims received poor quality digital photographs that stood no real chance of landing them professional jobs. Virtually none of the victims received any paid modelling work.

    The sham agencies were often dissolved after short periods, rebranded repeatedly to avoid detection, and paid no tax. Money from the scam was laundered through UK bank accounts before being transferred to Spain or carried in cash on commercial flights by co-conspirators.

    The investigation traced substantial sums to Foster, who lived in luxury abroad and purchased high-end watches and cars with the proceeds of the fraud. The investigation heard how many victims, left financially and emotionally devastated, described feeling humiliated and betrayed. Some experienced lasting distress that affected their confidence, wellbeing and their ability to trust others.

    The sentences, which were handed down today in the absence of Philip Foster, who is currently living in Spain, are as follows:

    • Philip Foster, aged 49, Edificio Marina Mariola, Marbella, Spain, sentenced to 8.5 years for conspiracies to defraud
    • Michael Foster, aged 27, Snowdon Lane, Liverpool, sentenced to 3.5 years for conspiracy to defraud
    • Paul Evans, aged 39, no known address, sentenced to 3.5 years for offences related to money laundering
    • Jamie Peters, aged 52, Pentland Place, Warrington, sentenced to 24 months, suspended for 2 years, for conspiracy to defraud
    • Lisa Foster, aged 42, Manchester Road, Astley, sentenced to 18 months, suspended for 12 months, for conspiracy to defraud
    • Emily Newall, aged 29, Bolton Road, Kearsley, Greater Manchester, sentenced to 10 months, suspended for 12 months, for conspiracy to defraud
    • Atif Qadar, aged 44, Larkswood Drive, Crowthorne, sentenced to 12 months, suspended for 12 months, for conspiracy to defraud
    • Paul Fleury, aged 57, Manchester Road, Swinton, Manchester, sentenced to 18 months, suspended for 12 months, for conspiracy to defraud
    • Aslihan Foster aged 39, Tredington Road, Coventry, sentenced to 18 months, suspended for 12 months, for an offence related to money laundering

    Today’s sentencing follows over 6 years of investigative work by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team, hosted by North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, including forensic analysis of financial transactions, thousands of consumer complaints, and witness testimony from victims. The team was supported by the National Trading Standards South West Regional Investigations Team, hosted by Bristol City Council.

    Judge Dixon, said: 

    The business worked on the basis of greed taking what they could where they could. Some people were so convinced by the level of deception that they took out payday loans, which gives a clear indication as to how manipulative and cynical the fraud was. It was horrible, despicable, dishonest behaviour and every single one of you deserves to go to prison. 

    “The officers have carried out an exceptional job to bring these defendants to justice. It was not straightforward or easy. This investigation was conducted with particular skill.  A commendation should be made on the basis of the skill deployed.”

    Lord Bichard, Chair of the National Trading Standards, said:

    Foster’s cruel exploits left thousands of victims in serious debt, causing lasting emotional distress and significant financial pressures.

    “Today’s sentences are an important reminder to would-be criminals that Trading Standards officers across the country are determined to clamp down on fraud, protecting victims and bringing criminals to justice.

    “I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of similar scams to report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.”

    Councillor Jenny Kent, Executive Member with responsibility for Trading Standards at City of York Council, said:

    Today’s sentencing follows years of highly effective trading standards investigative work. Mr Foster and his associates made millions by exploiting the hopes of young people, leaving a trail of broken dreams and financial hardship. I urge everyone to question any modelling contract which demands money up front, and hope that the young people and families affected can now move on to a brighter future, whichever path they choose.”

    North Yorkshire Council’s executive member Councillor Greg White, whose responsibilities include Trading Standards, said:

    Foster and his fellow scammers cruelly exploited young hopefuls trying to break into one of the most competitive industries. In some cases, parents borrowed money or sacrificed savings, believing they were investing in their children’s futures.

    “I urge anyone searching online for modelling opportunities to remember that legitimate agencies don’t ask for money upfront, it’s often only scam agencies who push expensive photoshoots as a pre-requisite to getting work.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Beginning of the end for the ‘feudal’ leasehold system

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Beginning of the end for the ‘feudal’ leasehold system

    The government has published the Commonhold White Paper today.

    • Commonhold, a radical improvement on leasehold ownership, will be reinvigorated under major reforms
    • New leasehold flats to be banned as the government takes steps to honour its manifesto commitment to ensure commonhold becomes the default tenure
    • Major change will give homeowners a stake in the ownership of their buildings and will hand them more power, control and security over their homes.
    • Change will ensure flat owners are not second-class homeowners and that the unfair feudal leasehold system is brought to an end, building on the Plan for Change ambition to drive up living standards

    Homeowners will have a stake in the ownership of their buildings from day one, not have to pay ground rent, and will gain control over how their buildings are run under major plans to bring the feudal leasehold system to an end. 

    Plans to reinvigorate commonhold and make it the default tenure have been announced today. Unlike leasehold ownership where third-party landlords own buildings and make decisions on behalf of homeowners, these changes will empower hard working homeowners to have an ownership stake in their buildings from the outset and will give them greater control over how their home is managed and the bills they pay. 

    Supporting delivery of a manifesto commitment – these reforms mark the beginning of the end for the feudal leasehold system. The changes complement the Plan for Change milestone to build 1.5 million homes, combatting the acute and entrenched housing crisis by making homeownership fit for the future, by putting people in control of the money they spend on their home. 

    Commonhold-type models are used all over the world. The autonomy and control that it provides for are taken for granted in many other countries. It can and does work and the government is determined, through both new commonhold developments and by making conversion to commonhold easier, to see it take root – so millions of existing leaseholders can also benefit from this step change in rights and security.

    Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said:

    “This government promised not only to provide immediate relief to leaseholders suffering now but to do what is necessary to bring the feudal leasehold system to an end – and that is precisely what we are doing. 

    “By taking decisive steps to reinvigorate commonhold and make it the default tenure, we will ensure that it is homeowners, not third-party landlords, who will own the buildings they live in and have a greater say in how their home is managed and the bills they pay.

    “These reforms mark the beginning of the end for a system that has seen millions of homeowners subject to unfair practices and unreasonable costs at the hands of their landlords and build on our Plan for Change commitments to drive up living standards and create a housing system fit for the twenty-first century.”

    Following the introduction of a comprehensive new legal framework for commonhold, new leasehold flats will be banned, and in the meantime the government will continue to implement reforms to help millions of leaseholders who are currently suffering from unfair and unreasonable practices at the hands of unscrupulous freeholders and managing agents.  

    The government has already empowered leaseholders with more rights and security – enabling them to buy their freehold or extend their lease without having to wait two years from the point they purchased their property, and overhauling the right to manage – putting more leaseholders in the driving seat of the management of their property and service charges. 

    Progress will be made as quickly as possible to make it cheaper and easier for leaseholders to buy their freehold or extend their lease, and to make it easier for leaseholders to challenge unreasonable service charge increases.

    Changes set out in the Commonhold White paper include:

    • New rules that will enable commonhold to work for all types of developments, including mixed-use buildings and allowing shared ownership homes within a commonhold.   
    • Greater flexibility over development rights, helping developers build with confidence and maintaining safeguards for the consumer.   
    • Giving mortgage lenders greater assurance with new measures to protect their stake in buildings and protect the solvency of commonholds – such as mandatory public liability insurance and reserve funds and greater oversight by commonhold unit owners to keep costs affordable.   
    • Strengthening the management of commonholds, with new rules around appointing directors, clear standards for repairs, and mandating use of reserve funds; and  
    • Providing an enhanced offer for homeowners – including requiring greater opportunities for democracy in agreeing the annual budget, clarifying how owners may change “local rules” over how a building is run and new protections for when things go wrong.

    A new Code of Practice will set out how costs should be apportioned in commonhold, aimed at providing consumers with transparency and clarity, and the Government is committed to strengthening regulation of managing agents. The government will also launch a consultation to ban new leasehold flats later this year to explore the best way forward. 

    An ambitious draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill will be published later this year setting out the legal framework for how reformed commonhold will work.

    Further information

    Under the current system, leasehold ownership hands the homeowner the right to occupy land or a property for a set period which reverts back to the freeholder once this expires. It means leaseholders don’t own their property outright, are forced to pay potentially escalating ground rent costs in some cases, and have a landlord who determines how the building is run and determines service charges the leaseholder must pay.  

    Commonhold ownership allows people to fully own their property outright, with no expiring term or need to save to extend a lease. They can have a say in managing their building, and have the benefit of not needing to pay ground rent or have a third party landlord. There are no leases, with the rights, responsibilities and rules for all property owners set out in the Commonhold Community Statement (CCS). This “rulebook” establishes how the shared areas and facilities will be managed, maintained and funded, as well as the obligations for each person. It establishes a democratic system of decision-making and helps prevent disputes.  

    Each property owner will become part of a commonhold association upon buying their home, which oversees both the governance and management of the building unless it decides to bring in a managing agent – which will be accountable to the commonholders, not to a landlord, including the power to hire and fire them.   

    Through the commonhold association, homeowners will have a vote on the annual budget, which is for upkeep and for maintenance of the building, and on the charges they have to pay – equivalent to what service charges are used for under the current leasehold system. Homeowners will also be able to effectively plan for longer-term repairs or maintenance under commonhold, and vote on issues that affect them including adopting ‘local rules’ – specific to how they and their neighbours in the same block of flats want to live.   

    The government is pushing forward the majority of the Law Commission’s recommendations due to the benefits of this tenure over leasehold.  Initially introduced in England and Wales in 2002, commonhold has struggled to take off due to flaws in its legal framework, despite its success in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, the US and other parts of the world.

    Key differences between commonhold and leasehold:

    • Commonhold offers full freehold ownership – real homeownership – unlike leasehold, whereby a property is leased out for a set amount of time before reverting back to the landlord and homeowners have a lack of control over their building.  
    • Commonhold allows homeowners a say on the annual budget for their building – including how their charges for upkeep and maintenance are spent – unlike leasehold, where a bill is usually imposed on leaseholders by landlords often even after the money has been spent.  
    • There is no ground rent in a commonhold property, compared to older leasehold properties. The ground rent requirement for newer properties was removed in 2022 (2023 for retirement properties) through the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022.   
    • Forfeiture is not possible under commonhold, meaning a unit owner cannot be threatened with losing their home and equity as they can in leasehold. The government will also address the disproportionate and draconian threat of forfeiture as a means of compliance with a lease agreement.    
    • Commonholders have the power to hire or fire a managing agent who works in their interests, unlike in leasehold where one is appointed by the landlord.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Foreign criminals to be deported quicker

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Foreign criminals to be deported quicker

    Foreign national offenders (FNOs) will be deported quicker thanks to a new £5 million government investment in prisons across England and Wales.

    • Immigration crack squad deployed to prisons to speed up removal of foreign national offenders
    • Deportation drive will save taxpayers’ money and help ease jail capacity crisis
    • Part of government’s Plan for Change to create safer streets

    Foreign national offenders (FNOs) will be deported quicker thanks to a new £5 million government investment in prisons across England and Wales.

    The money will fund the deployment of specialist frontline staff to 80 jails with one clear mission – speeding up the removal of prisoners who have no right to be in this country.

    The new crack squad will also support the Home Office to identify and manage those going through the immigration process, ensuring cases are progressed as quickly as possible.

    FNOs make up around 12 percent of the total prison population and deporting them sooner will help save taxpayers’ millions while easing the capacity crisis inherited by the new government.

    The move is expected to further bolster efforts which have seen 23 per cent more FNOs removed since July 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

    Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, James Timpson, said: 

    It cannot be right for British taxpayers to foot the bill for jailing foreign criminals who have brought misery to our communities.

    Under this Government removals are up by nearly a quarter. We’re now taking action to ensure this is done swifter, easing pressure on overcrowded prisons and on the public purse.

    This is part of our Plan for Change – fixing the broken prison system we inherited and keeping our streets safe.

    The investment will create 82 specialist roles to oversee removals from jails. They will be in post and fully operational by 1 April.

    Further information

    • HM Prison and Probation Service work with the Home Office to remove thousands of FNOs via the Early Removal Scheme (where they can be deported up to 18 months before the end of their custodial sentence) and via transferring FNOs to serve their sentences in their home country
    • Since July 2024, we have removed 2,580 foreign criminals, a 23 per cent increase on the same period 12 months prior

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Opportunities for people looking to take action locally

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    An online ‘toolkit’ to support anyone to make positive changes in their community has been launched by Community Planning Aberdeen on Friday 28 February.

    The Community Empowerment Toolkit provides tips and information for anyone looking to improve their community, and for anyone looking to undertake effective community engagement.

    Councillor Christian Allard, Co-Leader of Aberdeen City Council and Chair of Community Planning Aberdeen, said: “We appreciate, understand and value the vital role that communities must play in improving outcomes for Aberdeen.

    “This online toolkit gives individuals and groups access to information that can help to them to influence and action improvements that will benefit their local community, which in turn will be good for the city.

    “We want all people living in Aberdeen, regardless of their background and circumstances, to be empowered and pro-active in their community. Our ambition is for all communities to become equal community planning partners.”

    The online toolkit has been developed through engagement with community members and organisations across Aberdeen, and the Grampian Engagement Network. It is also being supported NHS Grampian’s Putting People First programme.

    Anyone who lives in Aberdeen is a member of their local community and as a community member can find a wide range of information including how to contact their local Community Council, where to get help with funding a project, useful data to support projects, and how to connect with existing groups and organisations.  

    For organisations that are keen to undertake community engagement, the toolkit provides a step-by-step guide, with lots of useful resources to help support effective community engagement.

    Community Planning Aberdeen is the name for the local partnership of public, private and third sector organisations and communities working together to improve people’s lives across Aberdeen through the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP). An easy-to-read version of the LOIP for children and young people is also available.

    The Local Outcome Improvement Plan sets out Community Planning Aberdeen’s priorities for improving the city – there are 16 for how it proposes to do this, which cover four themes: Economy, People, Place and Community Empowerment.

    Community Planning Aberdeen members are Aberdeen City Council, ACVO (Aberdeen Council for Voluntary Organisations), Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Grampian, North East Scotland College, Police Scotland, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, NESTRANS, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, Robert Gordon University, and the University of Aberdeen.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New measures to boost small businesses benefitting from UK’s defence investment

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New measures to boost small businesses benefitting from UK’s defence investment

    Government announces major support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) following historic commitment to increase spending on defence.

    • New SME spending targets for defence will boost access to UK defence investment.
    • A new support hub will provide guidance to small businesses on accessing the defence supply chain, unlocking new jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets.
    • Move will ensure more money is spent directly with British small businesses and boost the economy of small towns and suburbs in every region of the UK as part of the Government’s new Defence Industrial Strategy.

    Thousands of small businesses in the UK will receive new government support to ensure they benefit from the historic decision to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. This investment will protect UK citizens from threats at home, but also create a secure and stable environment in which businesses can thrive, supporting the Government’s number one mission to deliver economic growth.

    The government has today announced its plans to launch a new hub to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with better access to the defence supply chain and committed to set direct SME spending targets for the Ministry of Defence by June this year. This is a chance for small, often family-owned, firms to bring their innovations, their agility and their expert workforce to the task of strengthening Britain’s defences. It will help create new jobs, boosting the economy of small towns and suburbs in the UK.

    It follows the Government’s historic uplift in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, with a commitment to hit 3% in the next Parliament. This investment in defence will deliver the stability that underpins economic growth, and will unlock prosperity through new jobs, improving the lives of people in every corner of the UK.

    The new hub and investment targets announced today will ensure this increased spending directly benefits SMEs as much as possible – supporting jobs, growth and innovation. This is a vote of confidence in the prospects of up to 12,000 SMEs, supporting them to raise finance and train workers with confidence. It marks further progress to deliver the government’s Plan for Change, putting more money in people’s pockets and rebuilding Britain.

    The move is designed to boost the resilience of the UK’s defence industrial base and to seize the full power of rapid technological change as part of the Government’s forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy.

    Nearly 70% of defence spending goes to businesses outside London and the South East, bolstering local economies from Scotland to the North West. However, only 4% of this spending went to SMEs in 2023-2024, which is why the Government is stepping up to provide more support to SMEs and help them get their foot in the door in the defence supply chain. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    The UK’s defence industry is a source of national pride. It supports hundreds of thousands of good jobs up and down the country and represents British manufacturing at its best.

    Increasing our investment in defence is not only bolstering our national security, it is an opportunity to put more money into working people’s pockets and boost economic growth.

    By helping smaller businesses to access this money, we’re making communities across the UK better off and opening up more opportunities to train for good, skilled, productive jobs.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    This Government’s historic increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027 will boost national security and make defence an engine for economic growth throughout the UK.

    For too long small businesses felt locked out of defence, but we’ve listened and we’re acting. Today’s announcement will ensure that smaller firms benefit from increased defence spending, attracting new suppliers and fast-tracking the technologies of the future into the hands of our Armed Forces. 

    This a new era for defence and we will ensure it plays the fullest part in our national economic growth.

    The new Hub will work with suppliers across the nations and regions of the UK to ensure that it fully meets their needs. This will strengthen defence procurement through increased choice and faster access to innovation. It will keep the UK at the forefront of defence technology, improving the capabilities available to our Armed Forces, the competitiveness of UK industry and growing potential exports benefits.

    Defence is an engine for jobs and growth in every nation and region of the UK. In 2023-24, defence spending by the Government supported over 430,000 jobs across the UK, the equivalent to one in every 60. In the same year, the Ministry of Defence spent a total of £28.8 billion with UK industry, with spending in the East Midlands increasing by 30%, equivalent to £328 million, on the previous year. Northern Ireland also saw a rise of 20%, with other increases in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West, up 19% and 18% respectively. With increased support for SMEs and the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, the Government plans to increase this further.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Melting Antarctic ice will slow the world’s strongest ocean current – and the global consequences are profound

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Taimoor Sohail, Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne

    Mongkolchon Akesin, Shutterstock

    Flowing clockwise around Antarctica, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the strongest ocean current on the planet. It’s five times stronger than the Gulf Stream and more than 100 times stronger than the Amazon River.

    It forms part of the global ocean “conveyor belt” connecting the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. The system regulates Earth’s climate and pumps water, heat and nutrients around the globe.

    But fresh, cool water from melting Antarctic ice is diluting the salty water of the ocean, potentially disrupting the vital ocean current.

    Our new research suggests the Antarctic Circumpolar Current will be 20% slower by 2050 as the world warms, with far-reaching consequences for life on Earth.

    The Antarctic Circumpolar Current keeps Antarctica isolated from the rest of the global ocean, and connects the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.
    Sohail, T., et al (2025), Environmental Research Letters., CC BY

    Why should we care?

    The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is like a moat around the icy continent.

    The current helps to keep warm water at bay, protecting vulnerable ice sheets. It also acts as a barrier to invasive species such as southern bull kelp and any animals hitching a ride on these rafts, spreading them out as they drift towards the continent. It also plays a big part in regulating Earth’s climate.

    Unlike better known ocean currents – such as the Gulf Stream along the United States East Coast, the Kuroshio Current near Japan, and the Agulhas Current off the coast of South Africa – the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is not as well understood. This is partly due to its remote location, which makes obtaining direct measurements especially difficult.

    Understanding the influence of climate change

    Ocean currents respond to changes in temperature, salt levels, wind patterns and sea-ice extent. So the global ocean conveyor belt is vulnerable to climate change on multiple fronts.

    Previous research suggested one vital part of this conveyor belt could be headed for a catastrophic collapse.

    Theoretically, warming water around Antarctica should speed up the current. This is because density changes and winds around Antarctica dictate the strength of the current. Warm water is less dense (or heavy) and this should be enough to speed up the current. But observations to date indicate the strength of the current has remained relatively stable over recent decades.

    This stability persists despite melting of surrounding ice, a phenomenon that had not been fully explored in scientific discussions in the past.

    What we did

    Advances in ocean modelling allow a more thorough investigation of the potential future changes.

    We used Australia’s fastest supercomputer and climate simulator in Canberra to study the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The underlying model, ACCESS-OM2-01, has been developed by Australian researchers from various universities as part of the Consortium for Ocean-Sea Ice Modelling in Australia.

    The model captures features others often miss, such as eddies. So it’s a far more accurate way to assess how the current’s strength and behaviour will change as the world warms. It picks up the intricate interactions between ice melting and ocean circulation.

    In this future projection, cold, fresh melt water from Antarctica migrates north, filling the deep ocean as it goes. This causes major changes to the density structure of the ocean. It counteracts the influence of ocean warming, leading to an overall slowdown in the current of as much as 20% by 2050.

    Far-reaching consequences

    The consequences of a weaker Antarctic Circumpolar Current are profound and far-reaching.

    As the main current that circulates nutrient-rich waters around Antarctica, it plays a crucial role in the Antarctic ecosystem.

    Weakening of the current could reduce biodiversity and decrease the productivity of fisheries that many coastal communities rely on. It could also aid the entry of invasive species such as southern bull kelp to Antarctica, disrupting local ecosystems and food webs.

    A weaker current may also allow more warm water to penetrate southwards, exacerbating the melting of Antarctic ice shelves and contributing to global sea-level rise. Faster ice melting could then lead to further weakening of the current, commencing a vicious spiral of current slowdown.

    This disruption could extend to global climate patterns, reducing the ocean’s ability to regulate climate change by absorbing excess heat and carbon in the atmosphere.

    Ocean currents around the world (NASA)

    Need to reduce emissions

    While our findings present a bleak prognosis for the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the future is not predetermined. Concerted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could still limit melting around Antarctica.

    Establishing long-term studies in the Southern Ocean will be crucial for monitoring these changes accurately.

    With proactive and coordinated international actions, we have a chance to address and potentially avert the effects of climate change on our oceans.

    The authors thank Polar Climate Senior Researcher Dr Andreas Klocker, from the NORCE Norwegian Research Centre and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, for his contribution to this research, and Professor Matthew England from the University of New South Wales, who provided the outputs from the model simulation for this analysis.

    Taimoor Sohail receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Bishakhdatta Gayen receives funding from Australian Research Council (ARC). He works at University of Melbourne as ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor. He is also A/Prof. at CAOS, Indian Institute of Science.

    – ref. Melting Antarctic ice will slow the world’s strongest ocean current – and the global consequences are profound – https://theconversation.com/melting-antarctic-ice-will-slow-the-worlds-strongest-ocean-current-and-the-global-consequences-are-profound-251053

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Lack of justice in Indonesia’s climate plan may backfire, harming people and environment

    Source: The Conversation – Indonesia – By Wira A. Swadana, Climate Action Senior Lead, World Resources Institute

    Indonesia has developed several climate documents as pathways to curb climate change and adapt to its impacts. These impacts influence many elements of life, including displacement, the spread of infectious diseases, and even fatalities.

    Some of these documents include Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions, Long-Term Strategy for Low Carbon and Climate Resilience 2050 (LTS-LCCR), and Low Carbon Development Indonesia (LCDI).

    As a scholar in social development and environmental policy, I conducted a descriptive analysis of more than five Indonesia’s climate documents to learn how the concept of a just transition is being integrated into Indonesia’s climate policies. My analisis reveals that the current narrative in those documents is limited to the outcomes of climate-related approaches.

    I found that these climate documents have failed to adequately address the social and environmental aspects that are fundamental to a ‘just transition’ — a global effort to combat climate change and shift towards a sustainable economy while improving the condition of people and the environment.

    Indonesia’s climate action is important because the country is home to vast tropical forests and extensive peatlands, which act as important carbon sinks. Yet, it remains one of the world’s largest emitters.

    Indonesia’s just transition is essential as it supports global efforts to mitigate climate change while ensuring that the shift is more sustainable and inclusive. Neglecting these factors in the transition can risk equity, justice, and inclusion for affected communities and ecosystems in Indonesia’s climate actions.

    The risks it posed

    So far, Indonesia’s just transition narrative concentrates mainly on the energy sector. For instance, the government’s white paper on just transition, released in September last year, centres solely on the energy aspect.

    Additionally, the use of the word just in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) — an international partnership aiming at speeding Indonesia’s renewable energy development and coal phase-out — has helped popularise the notion.

    A just transition should include broader efforts to limit and adapt to climate change, given these changes directly impact communities. Despite its increasing recognition in the energy sector, just transition remains a long way from being completely integrated into Indonesia’s climate initiatives.

    In the forestry sector, Indonesia’s strategy to apply Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) practices, which includes selective logging practices to minimise damage, may lead to the prohibition of traditional slash-and-burn farming in some areas. This threatens local communities that have long practised controlled burning as a sustainable land management method.

    Similarly, under FOLU Net Sink 2030 — Indonesia’s plan to reduce emissions from forestry and land-use — the government has introduced community forestry initiatives to improve livelihood. However, the strategy does not yet address the potential consequences for people who rely on forests for their livelihoods and cultural heritage, which could be jeopardised by by SFM practices.

    Moreover, Indonesia’s climate resilience strategies for coastal communities overlook the socio-cultural importance of fishing as a key source of income. For example, the government plans to provide business development training to assist fishing families in diversifying their income in response to extreme weather conditions. However, without acknowledging the deep cultural and economic ties these communities have to fishing, such initiatives risk being ineffective.

    The cost we bear

    The lack of justice in Indonesia’s transition agenda has backfired, with negative consequences for both people and the environment.

    For example, the energy shift demands Indonesia to exploit more of its abundant nickel resources for EV batteries, particularly in central and eastern Indonesia. To assist nickel mining and processing, the government has implemented several policies.

    While the nickel boom has helped resource-rich provinces like North Maluku and Central Sulawesi boost their economic growth, it has also had serious impacts. Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions climbed by 20% between 2022 and 2023, owing to the dependency on coal for nickel processing facilities.

    Beyond emissions, nickel mining has also led to deforestation and pollution, affecting local communities who rely on natural resources for their livelihoods and cultural preservation, while also harming biodiversity in mining areas.

    The expense of the nickel rush demonstrates how an unjust energy transition can exacerbate challenges faced by vulnerable communities and further degrade the environment.

    Next steps

    To integrate just transition principles effectively, Indonesia must first redefine the term ‘just transition’ within its own context. Currently, the term has not been properly incorporated into any of Indonesia’s climate-related documents.

    A clear and context-specific definition will allow Indonesia to pursue a transition that is both equitable and inclusive.

    To accomplish this, the government must engage a wide range of stakeholders in defining and planning the transition to all climate-related initiatives. This encompasses, but is not limited to, all sectors. The goal is to secure broad participation — not only from the public and private sectors, but also from local communities, vulnerable groups including women and Indigenous peoples, as well as other key actors.

    A more defined concept and well-structured plan will make it easier to implement, monitor, and evaluate the change. Simultaneously, this inclusive strategy should ensure a fair and equitable distribution of both benefits and burdens. All actors must be able to participate in decision-making and take action prior to and during the transition process.

    Indonesia must also have a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism in place to support its climate actions. The country can learn from Scotland, which has developed a just transition framework with clear outcomes and measurable indicators while ensuring participation and continuous learning from all stakeholders.

    Drawing on insights from existing literature and reports will help Indonesia develop a framework that is well-suited to its unique context.

    Wira A. Swadana tidak bekerja, menjadi konsultan, memiliki saham, atau menerima dana dari perusahaan atau organisasi mana pun yang akan mengambil untung dari artikel ini, dan telah mengungkapkan bahwa ia tidak memiliki afiliasi selain yang telah disebut di atas.

    – ref. Lack of justice in Indonesia’s climate plan may backfire, harming people and environment – https://theconversation.com/lack-of-justice-in-indonesias-climate-plan-may-backfire-harming-people-and-environment-249246

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cyclone Alfred is expected to hit southeast Queensland – the first in 50 years to strike so far south

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia

    If you’re in southeast Queensland, brace yourself.

    Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the southeast Queensland coast late this Thursday as a Category 2 storm. The last tropical cyclone to make landfall in the region was ex-Tropical Cyclone Zoe in 1974, half a century ago.

    Category 2 cyclones produce winds at levels considered damaging at best, destructive at worst – typically gusting as high as 164 kilometres per hour. It can cause minor damage to houses and significant damage to signs, trees and caravans. Power failures are common, while small boats can break moorings. Significant beach erosion is likely on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

    Cyclone Alfred formed nine days ago in the Coral Sea, 900 kilometres north east of Cairns, then headed out to sea. Then it tracked south, reaching severe Category 4 status east of Mackay. In recent days, the storm weakened further as it meandered into the cooler waters of the southern Coral Sea. The cyclone seemed set to peter out, far offshore.

    No longer. The latest forecasts show the storm sharply changing direction and making a beeline for heavily populated areas of southeast Queensland.

    Its erratic path is not unexpected. Cyclones forming over the Coral Sea have the most unpredictable paths in the world, frustrating coastal Queensland residents, fishers, tourist operators and meteorologists themselves.

    Alfred is a typically unpredictable Coral Sea cyclone. But unusually, it has maintained its cyclonic structure and intensity much further south, into subtropical latitudes.

    Issued Monday March 3rd, this map shows the forecast path of Cyclone Alfred this week.
    Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY-NC-ND

    Cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes explained

    Cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons are different names for the same intense, horizontally rotating tropical storms. They occur in seven tropical ocean basins, above and below the equator.

    These storms need atmospheric heat. They only form over seas warmer than 27°C, where evaporation rates are high. They don’t occur in the cooler South Atlantic basin, and only rarely in the southeast Pacific, during strong El Niño events when sea surface temperatures are warmer.

    The northwest Pacific – off eastern Asia and the Philippines – experiences the most frequent and intense tropical storms (known there as typhoons).

    Australia averages about 13 cyclones a year. Most won’t make landfall and only a few are severe. The world’s hardest hit nation is China, where six cyclones make landfall annually.

    This map shows the aggregated paths of the world’s tropical cyclone over the 150 years to 2006. Note: this map uses the Saffir-Simpson scale in measuring wind speeds, which differs slightly to the Australian scale.
    NASA, CC BY-NC-ND

    In the north Pacific and north Atlantic, cyclones typically follow predictable tracks. They move westwards, steered by sub-tropical high pressure sytems to their north.

    Cyclone paths are also fairly predictable off the northwest coast of Australia. They typically form over the Timor Sea and drift southwest before shifting south and crossing the coast. Some are severe, as we saw with Category 5 Cyclone Zelia last month.

    By contrast, Coral Sea cyclones such as Alfred are much harder to predict.

    In the southern hemisphere, cyclones spin clockwise. This figure shows how cyclones form around a low pressure system over warm seawater. Depending on their intensity, tropical cyclones are steered by dominant winds in the lower, middle and upper layers of the atmosphere.
    Metservice New Zealand, CC BY-NC-ND

    How cyclones are steered

    Strong winds are the main force steering cyclones, determining direction and forward speed.

    Severe tropical cyclones (categories 3–5) are characterised by deep convection currents, which form the famous eye at the centre of the storm, as well as feeder rainbands converging into their centre. Severe systems are generally steered by winds in the middle to upper levels.

    By contrast, weaker cyclones (categories 1–2) are much shallower and often have little or no convection around their centre. They tend to be steered by winds in the lower to middle levels. At present, Cyclone Alfred looks to remain relatively weak.

    Wind speed and direction can differ markedly in different levels of the atmosphere. Winds can also change direction at the same level. These competing influences are what lies behind the erratic paths of our cyclones.

    Cyclones forming in the Coral Sea are more likely to be pushed in different directions by different winds and weather systems than their equivalents in other ocean basins. This is what makes them so hard to predict.

    In our region, cyclones are largely steered by two high pressure systems.

    The first pushes cyclones east, and the second steers them west. If both are present and roughly equal in strength, they can hold a cyclone near-stationary. We saw this with Cyclone Alfred for most of the last week.

    Slow-moving tropical cyclones such as Alfred are more likely to wander, while faster-moving cyclones such as Severe Cyclone Yasi follow a stronger steering pattern and more predictable paths.

    Quite often, cyclones travel south and east out to sea. There, they quietly die in a large area of ocean colloquially known as the cyclone graveyard, southeast of Brisbane. These cyclones are steered by different weather systems – upper troughs, cold masses of air from the Southern Ocean.

    Cyclone Alfred was initially steered east by a near equatorial ridge to its northeast, then became stuck between this high pressure ridge and a sub-tropical ridge to its southwest. This is why it meandered very slowly south and built up strength to become severe.

    An upper trough then pushed it southeast over the weekend. This week, it’s likely to turn sharply westward towards land, propelled by a high pressure ridge to the south.

    Landfall – but where?

    After meandering around the Coral Sea for more than a week, Cyclone Alfred’s forecast track now seems more certain.

    The system is expected to intensify from a Category 1 to 2 tomorrow as it moves over warmer waters and draws in more moisture-laden air. This should see it maintain near Category 2 status until landfall. After it hits, it should rapidly weaken to a tropical low over southern Queensland into the weekend.

    Alfred will bring a lot of rain, making flooded rivers and flash flooding likely. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood watch for catchments all the way from Maryborough to the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales. These communities should prepare now.

    Cyclone Alfred has a large area of gales, so will affect a wide swathe of coastline from K’gari (Fraser Island) to Byron Bay. Storm-force winds will cover a 100km wide area, mostly concentrated on its southern flank as it approaches and crosses the coast.

    In the longer term, Alfred’s remnants will likely be captured by an approaching upper trough and taken back offshore, where it will die in the cyclone graveyard – gone, but not likely to be forgotten.

    Steve Turton has previously received funding from the Australian Government.

    – ref. Cyclone Alfred is expected to hit southeast Queensland – the first in 50 years to strike so far south – https://theconversation.com/cyclone-alfred-is-expected-to-hit-southeast-queensland-the-first-in-50-years-to-strike-so-far-south-251241

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: I’m a medical forensic examiner. Here’s what people can expect from a health response after a sexual assault

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Louise Stewart, Senior Career Medical Officer, Northern Sydney Local Health District; PhD Candidate, University of Sydney

    fizkes/Shutterstock

    An estimated one in five women and one in 16 men in Australia have experienced sexual violence.

    After such a traumatic experience, it’s understandable many are unsure if they want to report it to the police. In fact, less than 10% of Australian women who experience sexual assault ever make a police report.

    In Australia there is no time limit on reporting sexual assault to police. However, there are tight time frames for collecting forensic evidence, which can sometimes be an important part of the police investigation, whether it’s commenced at the time or later.

    This means the decision of whether or not to undergo a medical forensic examination needs to be made quite quickly after an assault.

    I work as a medical forensic examiner. Here’s what you can expect if you present for a medical forensic examination after a sexual assault.

    A team of specialists

    There are about 100 sexual assault services throughout Australia providing 24-hour care. As with other areas of health care, there are extra challenges in regional and rural areas, where there are often further distances to travel and staff shortages.

    Sexual assault services in Australia are free regardless of Medicare status. To find your nearest service you can call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Full Stop Australia (1800 385 578) who can also provide immediate telephone counselling support.

    It’s important to call the local sexual assault service before turning up. They can provide the victim-survivor with information and advice to prevent delays and make the process as helpful as possible.

    The consultation usually occurs in a hospital emergency department which has a designated forensic suite, or in a specialised forensic service.

    The victim-survivor is seen by a doctor or nurse trained in medical and forensic care. There’s a sexual assault counsellor, crisis worker or social worker present to support the patient and offer counselling advice. This is called an “integrated response” with medical and psychosocial staff working together.

    In most cases the victim-survivor can have their own support person present too.

    Depending on what the victim-survivor wants, the doctor or nurse will take a history of the assault to guide any medical care which may be needed (such as emergency contraception) and to guide the examination.

    Sexual assault services are always very aware of giving victim-survivors a choice about having a medical forensic examination. If a person presents to a sexual assault service, they can receive counselling and medical care without undergoing a forensic examination if they do not wish to.

    Sexual assault services are inclusive of all genders.

    Collecting forensic samples

    Samples collected during a medical forensic examination can sometimes identify the perpetrator’s DNA or intoxicating substances (alcohol or drugs that might be relevant to the investigation). The window of opportunity to collect these samples can be as short as 12 hours, or up to 5–7 days, depending on the nature of the sexual assault.

    In most of Australia, an adult who has experienced a recent sexual assault can be offered a medical forensic examination without making a report to police.

    Depending on the state or territory, the forensic samples can usually be stored for 3 to 12 months (up to 100 years in Tasmania). This allows the victim-survivor time to decide if they want to release them to police for processing.

    The doctor or nurse will collect the samples using a sexual assault investigation kit, or a “rape kit”.

    Collecting these samples might involve taking swabs to try to detect DNA from external and internal genital areas and anywhere there may have been DNA transfer. This can be from skin cells, where the perpetrator touched the victim-survivor, or from bodily fluids including semen or saliva.

    The doctor or nurse carrying out the examination do their best to minimise re-traumatisation, by providing the victim-survivor information, choices and control at every step of the process.

    The victim-survivor can usually have a support person with them.
    Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

    How about STIs and pregnancy?

    During the consultation, the doctor or nurse will address any concerns about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy, if applicable.

    In most cases the risk of STIs is small. But follow-up testing at 1–2 weeks for infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, and at 6–12 weeks for infections such as syphilis and HIV, is usually recommended.

    Emergency contraception (sometimes called the “morning after pill”) can be provided to prevent pregnancy. It can be taken up to five days after sexual assault (but the sooner the better) with follow-up pregnancy testing recommended at 2–3 weeks.

    Things have improved over time

    When I was a junior doctor in the late 90s, taking forensic swabs was usually the responsibility of the busy obstetrics and gynaecology trainee in the emergency department, who was often managing multiple patients and had little training in forensics. There was also usually no supportive counsellor.

    Anecdotally, both the doctor and the patient were traumatised by this experience. Research shows that when specialised, integrated services are not provided, victim-survivors’ feelings of powerlessness are magnified.

    But the way we carry out medical forensic examinations after sexual assault in Australia has improved over the years.

    With patient-centred practices, and designated forensic and counselling staff, the experience for the patient is thought to be empowering rather than re-traumatising.

    Our research

    In new research published in the Australian Journal of General Practice, my colleagues and I explored the experience of the medical forensic examination from the victim-survivor’s perspective.

    We surveyed 291 patients presenting to a sexual assault service in New South Wales (where I work) over four years.

    Some 75% of patients reported the examination was reassuring and another 20% reported it was OK. Only 2% reported that it was traumatising. The majority (98%) said they would recommend a friend present to a sexual assault service if they were in a similar situation.

    While patients spoke positively about the care they received, many commented that the sexual assault service was not visible enough. They didn’t know how to find it or even that it existed.

    We know many victim-survivors don’t present to a sexual assault service or undergo a medical forensic examination after a sexual assault. So we need to do more to increase the visibility of these services.

    The National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

    Mary Louise Stewart receives funding from the Ramsay Research and Education Grant and from the University of Sydney via the Postgraduate Research Support Scheme. Mary Louise Stewart works as a medical forensic examiner where her research is being undertaken.

    – ref. I’m a medical forensic examiner. Here’s what people can expect from a health response after a sexual assault – https://theconversation.com/im-a-medical-forensic-examiner-heres-what-people-can-expect-from-a-health-response-after-a-sexual-assault-244404

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: North Coast cattle treated for tick fever

    Source: New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

    3 Mar 2025

    NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and Local Land Services (LLS) have reminded producers to be alert following the confirmation of tick fever on two North Coast cattle properties.

    North Coast LLS district veterinarian, Phillip Carter, said the cattle were treated for tick fever,  Babesiosis, once confirmed by DPIRD Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute laboratory tests.

    “If treatment is delayed tick fever can kill susceptible animals and producers should contact a vet immediately if cattle show signs of tick fever,” Dr Carter said.

    “These two positive cases of tick fever are the first new confirmed cases in NSW this year and we saw signs of cattle tick infestation during our inspection of the animals.

    “We advise producers to monitor herds for cattle tick and cattle tick fever as other animals may be infected and are yet to show signs.

    “Unexplained death can be the first sign of tick fever. Other signs producers should look out for in their cattle include lethargy, depression, salivation, red urine, elevated temperature, jaundice and anaemia.

    “Tick fever is spread by cattle tick, which thrive in warm, humid conditions and we urge producers to practice good farm biosecurity to prevent more tick fever cases in these seasonal conditions.

    “Producers should regularly check cattle for ticks, especially when cattle are yarded in preparation for autumn sales.”

    NSW DPIRD Cattle Tick Operations leader, Larry Falls, said producers should immediately report signs of cattle tick on their animals by calling the NSW Biosecurity Helpline, 1800 680 244.

    “Early intervention is key to minimising the spread and impact of cattle tick and tick fever,” Mr Falls said.

    “The NSW record of movement for cattle tick lists the mandatory biosecurity requirements which must be followed when bringing cattle from cattle tick infested areas into NSW and moving from cattle tick restricted properties in NSW.
    “Following these biosecurity requirements helps prevent the introduction and spread of cattle tick and minimises costs and losses to your enterprise and livestock industries.”

    Tick fever and cattle tick are notifiable under NSW biosecurity legislation, supporting the efforts of industry, producers and government who work together to keep NSW tick-free.

    Cattle tick and tick fever pose significant economic impact on cattle production in northern Australia due to potential large losses of animals, production losses, restrictions on trade and treatment costs.

    If you find sick or dead cattle or suspect tick fever, immediately contact your LLS DV or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline, 1800 675 888.

    Information about cattle tick and tick fever is available from the NSW DPIRD website.

    Media contact: pi.media@dpird.nsw.gov.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Fatal crash, Martinborough

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are now in a position to release the name of the person who died after a car collided with a shared cycle in Martinborough on 13 February.

    She was 48-year-old Alison Robyn Korny, from Cheshire, England.

    Our thoughts remain with her friends and family at this incredibly difficult time.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How to prepare for a cyclone, according to an expert

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yetta Gurtner, Adjunct senior lecturer, Centre for Disaster Studies, James Cook University

    Tropical Cyclone Alfred is predicted to make landfall anywhere between Bundaberg and northern New South Wales this week. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has warned it may bring severe hazards and “dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding”.

    So, how do you prepare for a cyclone – and what do you do if it’s too late to leave?

    How to prepare

    Your starting point is to consider the risk to yourself and everyone in your household (including pets). Consider ensuring you have:

    • non-perishable food that everyone in the family will eat (enough for five to seven days)
    • water for drinking and cleaning (three litres per person per day)
    • medication (two weeks worth)
    • toiletries and first aid kit
    • pet food/supplies
    • torches
    • batteries
    • a back up battery for your phone
    • baby formula and nappies if needed
    • protective clothing and closed-in shoes
    • cash in small denominations
    • valuable documents such as passports, title deeds, ID, insurance details, photos (these can be photographed or packed in weather-proof container or envelope)
    • kids’ books, card games, board games, headphones
    • anything else you may need or really value (and isn’t too heavy to carry).

    Make sure you have a grab-and-go kit that you can carry by yourself if authorities suddenly tell you to evacuate immediately.

    Conventional wisdom used to be to prepare enough supplies for three days of disruption. Now, experts recommend having enough for five to seven days. After the initial disaster there may be road blockages or supply chain problems.

    Ensure you have enough medication for a week or two, because pharmacies may take days or weeks to re-open. And remember that many medications, such as insulin, need to be refrigerated, so consider how you’d keep them cool if the power went out.

    Fill containers with water and stick them in your freezer now; they can keep your freezer cool if you lose power. They can also become drinking water in future.

    Talk to your neighbours. Do they have a generator or a camping fridge you can use? This is a great opportunity to get to know your community and pool your resources.

    Ask yourself if you have friends with whom you or a pet can stay. One of the main reasons people don’t evacuate is because they can’t bring their pets (not all evacuation shelters allow them, so check in advance).

    Consider what you can do now to prepare your house. One of the most common call-outs the SES receives is about blocked drains and gutters, so check if there’s time to clean your gutters now. You won’t be able to do it during the storm.

    Stay informed – and don’t rely on hearsay

    Have a plan for getting truthful information before, during and after the cyclone.

    Rely on the information provided by official sources, as they will tell you when it’s too late to evacuate or when it’s safe to come out. This is highly context-specific and will depend on where you are located.

    Get advice where possible from your local council’s disaster dashboard (most councils have one).

    It should provide information such as where to get sandbags, which roads are closed (which can affect your evacuation plan) and evacuation centre openings and locations.

    Anyone who monitors social media will see how many amateur meteorologists and maps are out there, but these are often not the best source. Always rely on official sources rather than hearsay, trending footage or amateur “experts”.

    Always have an battery-operated AM-FM radio. If power goes out, relying on your phone to track information will drain your phone battery very quickly.

    You may be able to charge it via your car or laptop, but telecommunications networks may not be active.

    So having a battery-operated radio on hand – and plenty of batteries – is crucial.

    What if the cyclone hits while you’re at home?

    If it’s too late to evacuate, have a plan for sheltering in place.

    Find the smallest room in your house with the least windows (which can shatter in a storm). This is often the bathroom, but it could be under the stairs. It is usually on the lowest level of the house.

    Bring your food, water, radio, blankets and supplies there. Avoid walking around the house during the cyclone to fetch things; there could be glass on the floor or debris flying around.

    It’s hard to predict how long you will need to shelter there, but it’s important not to leave until official sources say it is safe to do so.

    Cyclones come in stages. They arrive from one direction, then comes an eerie calm as the “eye of the storm” passes over. Next, the other half of the cyclone arrives. Don’t go outside during the eye of the storm, because it’s not over.

    Outside the house, there may be powerlines down, broken glass and other hazards. Don’t venture out until you get official clearance from the disaster dashboard or official sources on the radio saying it is safe.

    For non-life threatening emergencies – such as a tree on your roof, or water running through your house – call the SES on 132 500 or register on the SES Assistance app (if you’re in Queensland). They will not come during the event itself but will come later.

    If it’s a life threatening emergency, always call triple 0.

    After the storm

    After the storm, consider how to make your house more cyclone-ready in future. Many houses in North Queensland are designed for cyclone zones, but not as many further south will be.

    Climate change means cyclones are likely to be more severe in future. These days, be cyclone-ready 365 days a year.

    Yetta Gurtner has received funding in the past from the Bureau of Meteorology. She is a community engagement officer with the Queensland State Emergency Services.

    – ref. How to prepare for a cyclone, according to an expert – https://theconversation.com/how-to-prepare-for-a-cyclone-according-to-an-expert-251251

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Financial support for student carers

    Source: Scottish Government

    Carers in education urged not to miss out on extra money.   

    This National Student Money Week (3 – 7 March 2025), unpaid carers in education are being encouraged to check if they are entitled to financial help from Social Security Scotland. 

    It is estimated that there are around 35,000 unpaid carers attending college or university in Scotland. The type of help they provide includes emotional, mental or physical support for a family member, friend or neighbour. But many don’t recognise themselves as a carer, which could mean they are missing out on extra money. 

    There are three payments delivered by Social Security Scotland that could help student carers during their studies.  

    Carer Support Payment replaces Carer’s Allowance in Scotland. Unlike Carer’s Allowance, it is available to more carers in education.  

    Young Carer Grant and Carer’s Allowance Supplement are only available in Scotland.  

    Louise Reid, Student Support Adviser at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) and Financial Capability Champion on the National Association of Student Money Advisors (NASMA) Board, explains the importance of this type of help. 

    “Students, alongside wider society, are consistently pushed to the limit financially from sources outside their control. The cost of housing, energy and food have all been consistently high and this hits student carers particularly hard.  

    “As caring responsibilities can limit or completely reduce any capacity for part time work to top up existing student funding, additional financial resources are vital.  

    “Carer Support Payment is an invaluable financial resource that can make the difference between continuing with studies or not. Being able to claim this benefit, whilst studying really makes such a difference to students who provide care.”  

    To find out more about all Social Security Scotland payments for carers, visit mygov.scot/carers or call free on 0800 182 2222.   

    Background: 

    • Carer Support Payment is a payment of £81.90 a week and is available to carers who are aged 16 or over and who provide unpaid care for 35 hours or more a week to someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit.  They need to earn £151 a week or less after tax, National Insurance and expenses.
      Carers in education who may be eligible includes:     
    • Part time students – those who spend less than 21 hours a week in class or doing coursework for any course    
    • Students aged 20 and over and who study full time for any course    
    • Students aged 16-19, who study full time in advanced education at university or for a college course such as a Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma   
    • There are also some circumstances where students aged 16-19 studying over 21 hours a week in non-advanced education, such as studying for National Certificates and Scottish Highers, who may also be eligible if they meet certain criteria. Find out more at   If you study – mygov.scot 
    • Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an extra payment for eligible unpaid carers who are getting Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on the qualifying date. The payment is made twice a year and is unique to Scotland. Each payment of Carer’s Allowance Supplement is currently £288.60.  It is paid automatically without the need to apply.   
    • Young Carer Grant is available for carers aged 16, 17 or 18 who provide support for an average of 16 hours a week to someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit. It is a yearly payment of £383.75 and the money can be spent on whatever the young person wants.   
    • If you are an organisation that supports student carers in Scotland, there are shareable resources, many of which are available in different languages, via our resources pages on our website:  

    Social Security Scotland – Carer Support Payment Resources  
    Social Security Scotland – Young Carer Grant Resources  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Government boosts digital collection of world’s oldest English language daily newspaper

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    UK Government boosts digital collection of world’s oldest English language daily newspaper

    Belfast News Letter editions from 18th-20th centuries to be digitised as UK Government project promotes Northern Ireland’s cultural heritage.

    Historic editions of the world’s oldest English language daily newspaper still in circulation are to be digitised by the UK Government, delivering on commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper. 

    The News Letter, first published in September 1737, will this year mark its 288th anniversary as the oldest continuously published English language daily paper.  To strengthen understanding of Northern Ireland’s cultural traditions around the world, the Northern Ireland Office is working in partnership with the British Library and FindMyPast to expand the online collection of the historic publication in the British Newspaper Archive. Building on previous preservation and scanning initiatives, the digitisation of these copies from three centuries of the historic Belfast title means that all known surviving copies of the News Letter will become accessible online for the first time.

    Announcing the start of the project, Secretary of State Hilary Benn visited Belfast’s Linen Hall Library to view historic copies of the News Letter. While historic copies of the publication are available in physical and microfilm format in libraries across Northern Ireland, this project will ensure a worldwide audience will be able to observe the newspaper’s unique insight into the political situation in Ireland from the late 18th century to the early 19th and 20th centuries. 

    Key historical events, such as the Irish Parliament winning legislative independence from Britain in 1782, the formation of the Orange Order in 1795, the 1798 rebellion of the United Irishmen, and the 1801 implementation of the Act of Union are covered by the newly digitised pages.

    Originals of the News Letter are being provided in microfilm and newspaper format by the British Library, to be digitised by the online platform Findmypast, which has spent nearly 15 years working on a collaborative project to digitise the British Library’s vast newspaper collection. 

    The archive is then made available online through the British Newspaper Archive and on Findmypast, where it can be viewed freely at the British Library sites in London and Yorkshire, as well as at any library or by any private individual  around the world with a subscription.

    Speaking after his visit to The Linen Hall Library, Secretary of State Hilary Benn said: 

    “The News Letter’s status as the longest-running continuously published English language daily newspaper in the world is an important part of Northern Ireland’s unique cultural heritage.

    “As set out in the Safeguarding the Union command paper, the UK Government is committed to digitising these historical archives to promote the richness of Northern Ireland’s traditions around the world, including in nations with historic ties, such as the United States.

    “This will also ensure that these precious historical records are preserved and accessible for generations to come.”

    Sarah Bush, Managing Director of Findmypast and the British Newspaper Archive, said: 

    “As the trusted partner of many iconic British and Irish institutions, we work to digitise millions of records from our nation’s history and make them accessible to the public online. 

    “Alongside the British Library, we’re delighted to make this unique and culturally important title available to be searched and viewed on Findmypast and the British Newspaper Archive, offering a fascinating window into centuries of Northern Ireland’s history as it happened.

    Beth Gaskell, Lead Curator of News and Moving Image at the British Library, said: 

    “The British Library cares for one of the world’s greatest news archives with over 60 million issues of British and overseas newspapers dating back to the 1600s, as well as ever expanding collections of radio, television, and web news. 

    “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Findmypast and the UK government to build on the existing collection of the News Letter available through the British Newspaper Archive to make all known surviving copies of the historic Belfast title accessible for the first time.”

    New Letter’s David Montgomery, Executive Chairman of the News Letter’s owners, National World plc, said:

    “For four centuries The News Letter has been in the frontline of local and global

    news and opinion – it was already in its fortieth year when it covered the U.S.

    Declaration of Independence. In the 1990s it and other Northern Ireland papers helped pave the pathway to peace. 

    “Today The News Letter is often a solitary and essential promoter of its community’s rich heritage.  The digital archive is an eternal reminder of that crucial, continuing role of reliable independent journalism.”

    The UK Government continues to make progress on the delivery of the commitments made in the Safeguarding the Union command paper, which formed the basis upon which the Northern Ireland Executive was restored last year.

    The digitisation project will see Findmypast digitise pages of the Belfast News Letter using specialist microfilm scanners, which scan thousands of newspaper pages every day, in its state-of-the-art studio at the British Library’s facility in Boston Spa. This ensures the faithful reproduction of the newspaper as it once appeared, and enables online searching of the newspaper by name, keyword, date, or specific location.

    The digitisation process will be completed this Spring. Once online, individuals will be able to access the editions free of charge by visiting libraries with a subscription to Findmypast, includingthe British Library’s sites in St Pancras, London and Boston Spa, Yorkshire. They will also be accessible to people around the world with a subscription to the Findmypast or British Newspaper Archive websites.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors

    • To subscribe to the FMP or British Newspaper Archive, visit https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk or https://www.findmypast.co.uk
    • The editions of the News Letter being digitised are from 1738-1750, 1752-1770, 1772, 1775-1780, 1782, 1784-1785, 1787-1800, 1802-1803, 1806, 1816-1825, 1827, 1959 (Mar-Dec), 1960, 1961 (Jan-Jun)

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Young people urged to ‘Think Fraud’ over rent offers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Young people urged to ‘Think Fraud’ over rent offers

    New data shows 18 to 39 year olds account for almost 3 quarters of rental fraud reports as phase 2 of nationwide ‘Stop! Think Fraud’ campaign launches.

    Young people aged between 18 and 39 account for almost three quarters of cases of rental fraud, according to exclusive National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) data released by the Home Office today.

    Rental fraudsters typically target their victims by offering access to properties that do not exist, or which are not theirs to rent, often using fake details and photos, and usually offering prices at well below market rate. To secure the property or even arrange a viewing, they will usually demand a deposit or the first month’s rent, and many individuals desperate to find a home will make the upfront payment to avoid missing out.

    According to the NFIB data, the resulting fraud losses amounted to nearly £9 million across around 5,000 reported cases last year. The 18 to 29 age group accounted for 48% of all reported rental fraud cases in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland last year, with the 30 to 39 age group accounting for 25%.

    With many students and young workers using the spring months to search for new rented accommodation, Home Office ministers are urging renters to avoid rushing into a quick decision or paying over any money for a property before they have viewed it in person.

    And with rental fraud often taking place through properties advertised on social media websites, the government is also renewing its calls for tech companies to go further and faster to tackle fraud on their platforms ahead of convening the next Joint Fraud Taskforce meeting later this month.

    Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said:  

    Rental fraud is an utterly shameful crime, and this new data should serve as a stark reminder that anyone can be a victim. It doesn’t matter how streetwise and tech-savvy you are, fraudsters will get to anyone who doesn’t stop and think before handing over their money.

    That’s why I am determined to root out fraud from our society, crack down on the callous criminals behind it, and ensure that stronger protections are put in place by the tech companies on whose platforms much of this fraud takes place.

    The Home Office will be making progress on all of those issues through the next phase of our Stop! Think Fraud campaign, and the new, expanded fraud strategy we are developing this year as part of this government’s Plan for Change.

    Oliver Shaw, Commander for Fraud and Cybercrime, City of London Police, said:

    Young people are disproportionally targeted by criminals whilst they look for new accommodation or housing opportunities. This can result not only in a devastating financial loss but can also lead to a negative impact on their mental health. The data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau highlights clearly how much of a critical issue this is in affecting 18 to 29 year olds.

    That’s why we, as the national lead force for fraud, continue to support the Stop! Think Fraud campaign’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of this vital issue. And we continue to work to highlight emerging cybercrime and fraud types that could be a threat, understanding the importance of reporting, and advocating ways the public can prevent themselves from becoming victims of fraud.

    The new figures are published on the same day as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – part of GCHQ – launches the second phase of a nationwide campaign encouraging individuals and small businesses to set-up 2-step verification (2SV) on their most important accounts.

    2SV adds an extra layer of security, making it much harder for attackers to access your accounts even if your password is compromised.

    NCSC Chief Operating Officer Felicity Oswald said: 

     Online fraudsters are constantly finding new ways to trick you into sharing personal information or money, but thankfully, there are ways to protect yourself. 

    Today, we’re launching a nationwide campaign urging everyone to strengthen their security by enabling 2SV, which adds an extra layer of protection to keep your accounts safe. 

    Toughen up your online security by enabling 2SV today – usually found in the security settings of your accounts – and keep the fraudsters out.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Automated Milking Systems delivers comparable performance to conventional systems in Australian dairy farms

    Source: New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

    3 Mar 2025

    The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has released a comprehensive report from the Milking Edge Project, offering valuable insights for Australian dairy farmers considering Automatic Milking Systems (AMS) technology.

    The research revealed that while on average, AMS-equipped farms in Australia achieve comparable economic and physical results to conventional milking systems, AMS is beneficial for freeing up labour for other key tasks such as pasture management, boosting overall farm productivity.

    NSW DPIRD Development Officer Juan Gargiulo said that by analysing the economic and operational performance of AMS in the Australian dairy industry, the report provides clear guidance for farmers exploring this innovative approach to milking, while supporting them to more effectively adopt and operate AMS.

    Key findings from the report include:

    • Australian AMS farms typically milk between 150 and 240 cows and operate between three and four robotic units.
    • Average daily milk production per cow typically ranged from 19.3 to 26.3 kilograms.
    • Cows are milked on average 2.17 times per day, with each robot harvesting approximately 1,200 kg of milk daily.

    The study also identified key drivers of profitability, including robot efficiency (milk harvested per robot), labour efficiency, and pasture utilisation per hectare. These factors are crucial in determining the success and financial viability of AMS technology on Australian farms.

    “The findings from this report provide valuable benchmarks for AMS profitability and efficiency in the Australian dairy industry, helping farmers and stakeholders make informed decisions about technology investments and operational strategies,” Mr Gargiulo said.

    “While AMS performance varied across different operations, the research highlights key opportunities for improving productivity and profitability, such as the ability of AMS farmers to reallocate labour from milking to other tasks like farm business management, herd health, and pasture management, enhancing overall farm efficiency and sustainability.”

    Since its global introduction in 1992, AMS is reported to have transformed dairy farming, with over 50,000 systems now in use worldwide.

    In Australia, AMS is currently implemented on around 1.5% of dairy farms, with growing interest as farmers assess its benefits.

    Importantly, researchers debunked a common perception in the Australian dairy industry that adopting AMS technology often leads to more frequent milking and increased milk production.

    “While this is largely true in European and North American dairy systems, where cows are housed in barns with closer access to AMS units, the report found that in Australia’s pasture-based systems, milking frequency and production levels were similar to those in conventional systems,” Mr Gargiulo said.

    “This is partly due to the greater distance between paddocks and milking stations, requiring cattle to walk further compared to barn-housed cattle.”

    Another key finding was that for a majority of pasture-based AMS farms in Australia, the key to improving profitability was not increasing milking frequency, but rather maximising the number of cows milked per robot.

    This report was designed to provide valuable insights into the performance of AMS systems for dairy farmers, industry advisors, consultants, and researchers involved in AMS adoption or performance analysis.

    The NSW Government encourages the dairy sector to review the report before investing in AMS technology to determine whether it is the right fit for their operation.

    The Milking Edge Project was a five-year initiative led by NSW DPIRD in collaboration with Dairy Australia and DeLaval, with the AMS report available on the DPIRD website.

    Media contact: pi.media@dpird.nsw.gov.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Next stage of clean-up set to start at former Truegain site

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Next stage of clean-up set to start at former Truegain site

    Published: 3 March 2025

    Released by: Minister for Lands and Property, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    The Minns Labor Government is set to launch the next stage of a major project to clean up the former Truegain industrial site in the Lower Hunter region.

    Ford Civil has been appointed by Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) on a $5.3 million project to remediate contaminated soil across almost 1.2 hectares of the former oil refinery at Rutherford near Maitland.

    The second stage of work will be guided by a Remediation Action Plan, developed by Property and Development NSW and environmental consultant Ramboll. The remedial works will involve the removal of concrete slabs, excavation of contaminated soil and subsurface infrastructure, backfilling the excavation with clean soil and revegetating or resealing the area. The proposed works have been reviewed and endorsed by a NSW EPA accredited site auditor.

    The first stage of the project was completed in 2023 and involved the removal of more than 11,000 tonnes of industrial liquid waste, sludge and above ground infrastructure including storage tanks from the site.

    The Truegain site was abandoned in 2016 after the company lost its trade waste permit, had its environment protection licence suspended and entered into liquidation.

    In 2021, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) brought proceedings against Truegain director and former owner Robert Pullinger to recover the cost of cleaning up the site. The Land and Environment Court of NSW ordered Mr Pullinger to pay $1.2 million towards the EPA’s costs.

    Stage 2 work is expected to start in the coming weeks and be completed by the end of the year.

    For more information on remediation of the former Truegain site, visit the Truegain site remediation webpage. 

    Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

    “I understand the local community has been waiting for this site to be cleaned up for over a decade.

    “Since coming into Government, we have worked to clean up this site so it can be remediated for future use.

    “PDNSW’s Environmental Management Group has done great work across multiple former industrial sites to clean them up and allow them to be re-used safely by local communities. Sites include the former Waratah Gasworks in Newcastle and former Hunters Hill radium hill refinery in Sydney.”

    Member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison said:

    “The former Truegain site has been a difficult contamination issue for our community over many years. This next stage of remediation work brings us another step closer to finally putting this matter behind us.

    “I am grateful to the NSW Labor government for continuing to invest in the site for the benefit of everyone in Maitland.

    “Once Stage 2 works are completed, we will explore options to return this site for future community industrial use.”

    Property and Development NSW Environmental Management Group Executive Director, Peter Graham said:

    “We are delighted to appoint Ford Civil to lead this important remediation work that will return the former waste oil processing site for future safe industrial use.

    “The Environmental Management Group will work closely with Ford Civil and the NSW EPA Auditor to ensure this legacy contamination is safely remediated and the risk to human health or the surrounding environment is removed.”

    Ford Civil Chief Executive Officer Alan Gordon said:

    “Ford Civil Contracting are proud to be selected to undertake the remediation works at the former Truegain industrial site. The strategy will include the mitigation and removal of environmental contaminants onsite making it safe for future re-development.

    “Ford Civil has extensive experience in the delivery of complex design and construct civil engineering and remediation contracting activities. This includes the recently completed 7.4-hectare former Newcastle gasworks remediation site at Hamilton North.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor gains in Redbridge poll of marginal seats and seizes lead in a Morgan poll

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    A poll of 20 marginal seats by Redbridge and Accent Research was conducted for the News Ltd tabloids on February 20–25, from a sample presumably over 1,000. The Coalition led by 50.5–49.5, a 1.5-point gain for Labor since the February 4–11 marginals poll.

    Labor won the 2022 election by 52–48 and won the marginal seats polled by 51–49, implying a 1.5-point swing to the Coalition across these seats since the last election. If this poll were applied nationally, it suggests a Labor lead of 50.5–49.5.

    Primary votes were 41% Coalition (down two), 34% Labor (up one), 12% Greens (steady) and 13% for all Others (up one). Anthony Albanese’s net favourability was up five points to -11 while Peter Dutton’s was down two to -13. By 50–33, voters thought things were headed in the wrong direction (55–27 previously).

    While Labor improved overall in this poll, their position in the Victorian seats polled was dire, with an 8.4% two-party swing to the Coalition across the first two waves of this poll. State Labor is dragging down federal Labor.

    Labor gains lead in Morgan poll

    A national Morgan poll, conducted February 17–23 from a sample of 1,666, gave Labor a 51–49 lead by headline respondent preferences, a 2.5-point gain for Labor since the February 10–16 poll. This poll contrasted with the Resolve poll taken February 18–23 that gave the Coalition a 55–45 lead.

    Primary votes were 36.5% Coalition (down three), 31.5% Labor (up 3.5), 13.5% Greens (up one), 5% One Nation (down 0.5), 10% independents (steady) and 3.5% others (down one). By 2022 election preference flows, Labor led by 53–47, a four-point gain for Labor.

    By 49.5–34.5, voters said the country was going in the wrong direction (52.5–32.5 previously). The 15-point lead for wrong was the lowest since January 2024. Morgan’s consumer confidence measure jumped 4.7 points to 89.8.

    The Morgan poll and the Redbridge marginal seats poll both suggest movement to Labor since the Reserve Bank reduced interest rates on February 18. While the Coalition retained a narrow lead in YouGov, the primary votes implied a little movement to Labor.

    The graph below shows Labor’s two-party estimated vote in national polls, so the Redbridge marginals poll is excluded.

    Labor has not recovered the lead in a polling average, but the latest polls are far better for them than the Resolve poll last week.

    Coalition narrowly ahead in YouGov poll

    A national YouGov poll, conducted February 21–27 from a sample of 1,501, gave the Coalition a 51–49 lead by preference flows from YouGov’s MRP polls, in which Greens and One Nation preferences are both weaker for Labor than at the 2022 election. There was no change from YouGov’s last MRP poll, conducted from late January to mid-February.

    Primary votes were 37% Coalition (steady since the MRP poll), 28% Labor (down one), 14% Greens (up one), 8% One Nation (down one), 1% for Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots, 10% independents (up one) and 2% others (down one). By 2022 election preference flows, Labor would lead by about 50.5–49.5, a 0.5-point gain for Labor.

    Albanese’s net approval was up three points since YouGov’s last non-MRP poll in January to -12, with 52% dissatisfied and 40% satisfied. Dutton’s net approval was up four points to -2. Albanese led Dutton as better PM by 42–40 (44–40 previously).

    By 60–8, voters supported the government operating the Whyalla steelworks through a publicly owned company if no suitable private investor was found.

    Additional Resolve questions and seat polls

    The Resolve poll for Nine newspapers asked whether Donald Trump’s policies should be applied to Australia. Question wording has an impact: for example, “cutting waste from the public service” is a pro-Trump framing. A question that asked whether Australians approved or disapproved of Trump’s performance as US president would be preferable.

    In past elections, seat polls have been unreliable. The Poll Bludger reported last Wednesday that three polls of Western Australian federal seats had been conducted by JWS Research for Australian Energy Producers from a combined sample of 2,529.

    In Curtin, held by teal independent Kate Chaney, the Liberals held a huge primary vote lead of 56–28 over Chaney. In Bullwinkel, a new federal WA seat that is notionally Labor, Labnr’s primary vote had slumped 21 points to 15%, putting them in third place behind the Nationals and Liberals. However, there were only modest primary vote swings in Tangney, with Labor looking competitive to hold.

    There were also two uComms NSW federal seat polls. In Wentworth, held by teal independent Allegra Spender, Spender held a 57.2–42.8 lead over the Liberals. This poll was taken for Climate 200 on February 12 from a sample of 1,068. In Labor-held Gilmore, the Liberals led by 52.8–47.2. This poll was taken for the Australian Forest Products Association February 17–20 from a sample of 684.

    NSW Resolve poll: Labor’s primary vote slumps

    A New South Wales state Resolve poll for The Sydney Morning Herald, conducted with the federal January and February Resolve polls from a sample of over 1,000, gave the Coalition 38% of the primary vote (up one since December), Labor 29% (down four), the Greens 14% (up three), independents 11% (down two) and others 8% (up one).

    No two-party estimate was reported, but The Poll Bludger estimated a Coalition lead of about 51–49 from these primary votes. Labor incumbent Chris Minns led Liberal Mark Speakman by 35–14 as preferred premier (35–17 in December).

    On the rail dispute between the NSW government and the train union, 43% wanted the government to negotiate a better deal with the union, 26% wanted the government to refuse the union’s demands and 16% thought they should agree to the union’s demands in full.

    EMRS Tasmanian poll has little change

    An EMRS Tasmanian state poll, conducted February 11–18 from a sample of 1,000, gave the Liberals 34% of the vote (down one since November), Labor 30% (down one), the Greens 13% (down one), the Jacqui Lambie Network 8% (up two), independents 12% (up one) and others 3% (steady). Tasmania uses a proportional system, so a two-party estimate is inapplicable.

    Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s net favourability dropped five points to +10, while Labor leader Dean Winter was down eight to +6. Rockliff led Winter by 44–34 as preferred premier (43–37 in November).

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

    – ref. Labor gains in Redbridge poll of marginal seats and seizes lead in a Morgan poll – https://theconversation.com/labor-gains-in-redbridge-poll-of-marginal-seats-and-seizes-lead-in-a-morgan-poll-250614

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New expert taskforce to help address silica related health risks for workers in tunnelling projects

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: New expert taskforce to help address silica related health risks for workers in tunnelling projects

    The Taskforce, made up of government, medical, industry and union representatives, will provide expert guidance to prevent and manage silica and other dust related disease associated with tunnelling projects in NSW.

    Major tunnelling projects present heightened risks for silica-related lung disease.

    Tunnelling is vital to the transformation of the States civil infrastructure, which includes road and rail networks, to ensure New South Wales is a modern and globally competitive place to live, work and do business.

    Four broad areas of action have been identified to help focus and guide the work of the Taskforce including:

    Better use of data with more transparent access

    Under the program, project persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure worker access to workplace air monitoring data with SafeWork NSW to make exceedance notification date publicly available and use the data to guide regulatory reform. SafeWork NSW will also partner with the Dust Diseases Board to establish data-driven research.

    Improved health monitoring

    Improved health monitoring will help to protect worker’s long-term health and safety. It will also play a key role in informing a continual improvement process for businesses and regulators in dealing with silica dust work health and safety risks. The Government’s commitment to the silica worker register is a key initiative to support improved health monitoring for workers.

    Best practice Work Health and Safety controls

    SafeWork NSW will review and revise the Tunnels Under Construction Code of Practice to guide industry and workers on best practice control measures. Major tunnelling PCBU will regularly meet to share information and experience, and to establish a consistent best practice benchmark across the industry.

    Enhanced compliance

    SafeWork NSW will maintain and reinforce dedicated resources to monitor tunnelling and silica respirable crystalline silica dust results to enable optimal work health and safety.

    It will also develop a tunnelling project silica compliance assessment to establish a clear set of criteria on which to assess the safety performance of projects to assist strengthened application of suitable controls to manage risk.

    SafeWork NSW has surged additional staff into the Silica Task Force (STF) team, which is undertaking compliance activities in all tunnels under construction in NSW. Eight inspectors from the STF are undertaking these regular visits.

    On January 1, 2025, the Minns Labor government welcomed the ban on the importation of engineered stone products to protect the future health and safety of workers.

    The national import ban covers engineered stone benchtops, slabs and panels with silica content of more than one percent.

    This follows the world-first domestic ban on the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone products in Australia that started on 1 July last year.

    The ban prohibits the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs containing at least 1% silica.

    The Minns Labor Government led the campaign for the national ban, vowing it was prepared to act unilaterally, ahead of an agreement being reached across the Commonwealth.

    The NSW government is funding a team of dedicated silica safety inspectors to ensure businesses are complying with the strengthened laws. 

    Since September, the $2.5 million investment has seen a Silica Compliance Team conduct 140 inspections, handing out three fines totalling almost $10,000 for non-compliance. More than 125 improvement notices have been issued and seven prohibition notices in workplaces.

    The moves aim to safeguard workers from silicosis, a lung disease caused by respirable crystalline silica, which tragically has led to several deaths.

    Silicosis is caused by items with a high silica content such as engineered stone. Engineered stone is a common item used in kitchen benchtops.

    The Minns Labor government has pledged $5 million in critical funding for silicosis research and a patient support program for individuals and their families navigating the health risks associated with exposure to silica dust.

    The grant funding, administered collaboratively by icare and the Dust Diseases Board, will be provided over three years to the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute (ADDRI).

    In addition, the icare Lung mobile lung clinic provides specialised lung health assessments to current and retired workers who are at risk of developing a workplace dust disease, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or silicosis.

    In 2025, the Lung Bus will travel right around the state, including stops in Taree, Tuncurry, Lake Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Tweed Heads, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Nowra, Bathurst, Dubbo, Griffith, Newcastle and Tamworth.

    More information on the full list of Lung Bus destinations can be found here.

    https://www.icare.nsw.gov.au/injured-or-ill-people/work-related-dust-disease/services-and-support/lung-screening-service/workers-mobile-clinic-lung-bus-bookings-for-workers

    More information on crystalline silica and the new safety requirements can be found here:

    www.safework.nsw.gov.au/hazards-a-z/hazardous-chemical/priority-chemicals/crystalline-silica#new-safety-requirements

    Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

    “The Minns Labor Government is committed to addressing silica dust work health and safety risks to protect workers. The Taskforce will give the community confidence that we have the right experience and expertise in the same room to guide the response to this risk.

    “I welcome the important work of the expert taskforce to protect the health and safety of workers. We have identified areas which will be addressed in a co-ordinated, transparent process which will help create safer workplaces.”

    SafeWork NSW Acting Deputy Secretary Trent Curtin said:

    “SafeWork NSW is committed to maintaining leading practices to protect the workers of this State and is looking forward to working together with experts across Government, industry, unions and health to address this issue.

    “SafeWork NSW will continue to work with industry to ensure compliance with existing safety standards and that workers are being protected against any potential exposure to silica dust.”

    MIL OSI News –