NewzIntel.com

Category: Great Britain

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sickle cell patients to get better treatment after £9 million boost

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Sickle cell patients to get better treatment after £9 million boost

    Patients living with rare blood disorders to benefit from increased access to treatment and availability of services, thanks to £9 million investment.

    Patients with sickle cell disease are set to benefit from quicker and more accessible treatment thanks to major upgrades to life-saving technology.

    Backed by a £9 million investment from NHS England, the government is set to transform apheresis services – a specialised set of treatments which remove harmful components from a patient’s blood – by funding more specialist treatment centres, as well as expanding access to cutting-edge technology.

    Funding will ensure that Spectra Optia machines, which perform automated cell exchanges, are more widely available to patients with sickle cell disease. This process involves removing a patient’s sickled red blood cells, and replacing them with healthy donor cells.

    As well as helping patients benefit from more convenient care, this technology has the potential to save the NHS up to £12.9 million annually thanks to a reduction in time spent in hospital for patients and the reduced need for other treatments.

    Improvements will also be made to expand the availability of this treatment nationwide, which will include increased availability of out-of-hours services. This investment will also see an expansion of the specialist workforce to manage this advanced technology.

    This latest commitment comes as the government sets out how it is harnessing new innovations during London Tech Week, which shines a spotlight on the latest tech out there to improve our everyday lives.

    Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:

    People living with rare conditions like sickle cell disease face immense everyday challenges, and can sometimes struggle to get the specialised care they need.

    To make our health service fit for the future, we have to harness the power of new technologies, and these machines provide a shining example of how ours is starting to make huge advancements in digital healthcare.

    Through our Plan for Change, this government will be the one that removes the barriers to getting the latest and best tech to our NHS frontline, so patients can access the best care available, closer to home.

    In England, there are around 17,000 people living with sickle cell disease – an inherited blood disorder, with 250 new cases a year. It is generally more common in people of Black African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and South Asian heritage.

    Spectra Optia machines operate in hospitals across the country, with more than 20 NHS trusts currently supported to offer treatment using this technology for sickle cell. The technology works by automatically replacing affected red blood with healthy donor cells and has proved to be a lifeline for patients.

    The treatment lasts longer in the patient than simple transfusions and has been shown to be highly effective in reducing complications such as iron overload.

    Robert Ojeer, 35, from west London has lived with sickle cell disease his entire life. Receiving care at Hammersmith Hospital, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Robert receives automated red cell exchanges every 4 weeks. He said:

    I’ve been on the regular exchange programme since 2015. Before then I would only have had exchanges in emergency situations, when I had more complex sickle cell crises. But now I go more often, when the amount of sickle cells in my blood increases.

    Having access to automated exchange improves my quality of life. I have 2 children, and it means that I can play a bigger part in their lives. It means I can work and that I can just have a sense of normality – I can do things that everyday people would take for granted.

    I hope that every sickle cell sufferer in England can access these services. I’ve been really lucky, living only a 20-minute walk from the hospital with these machines, however, I realise this isn’t the case for everyone, so this is really great news for the sickle cell community as a whole.

    The red cell exchange service at Imperial College Healthcare runs a 24/7 service for adults and children and was the first in the country to provide automated red cell exchange for children.

    Spectra Optia delivers substantial value for money and improved patient experience, as fewer follow-up appointments are needed. By replacing simple top-up and manual exchange transfusions with the latest technology, it is estimated that the NHS will save almost £19,000 per patient, per year.

    Professor Bola Owolabi, NHS England Director of Healthcare Inequalities, said:

    This is great news for people living with sickle cell disease – a condition that disproportionately affects Black African and Black Caribbean communities.

    Sickle cell patients have needed new treatment options for decades and this additional funding will provide greater access to this life-changing technology which has the potential to significantly improve patients’ quality of life.

    Alongside this important step, the recent approval of a new gene-editing therapy for patients with severe sickle cell disease showcases the NHS’s clear commitment to improving outcomes for the 17,000 people living with the condition in England.

    Richard Stubbs, Chair of the Health Innovation Network and CEO of Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber, said:

    Sickle cell disease disproportionately impacts people from West African and Afro-Caribbean communities, many of whom live in the most socio-economically deprived areas.

    These patients are at higher risk of hospital re-admissions and of dying in a hospital, making timely and accessible care vital.

    This new funding announced today will enable the technology to be used on a longer-term basis, supporting frontline staff and ensuring sickle cell patients receive more regular care closer to where they live, as well as continuing our focus on tackling healthcare inequalities.

    Alongside this, advances are being made through clinical trials to offer an expanded range of treatments for people with this condition.    

    In January, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended a groundbreaking gene-editing treatment for sickle cell disease, which has been hailed as a ‘functional cure’ for sickle cell disease.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sam Fender’s music offers a vision of masculinity that is complex, conflicted and deeply human

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nick Robinson, Associate Professor in Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds

    By the end of June 2025, Sam Fender will have played four stadium shows to nearly 250,000 people across the UK, with three of those in his native north east. With three albums and over 2 billion streams, his music has earned widespread acclaim. Yet, Fender is no ordinary rock star.

    His songs provide a powerful connection to place and a lens through which to reflect on social, cultural and political dynamics. Deeply rooted in north-east England, Fender’s lyrics reference his hometown of North Shields and use local vernacular.

    As a researcher of the links between popular culture and politics who lives less than a mile from his hometown, I find his work particularly powerful in the way it mobilises emotive issues at scale. Fender explores themes such as masculinity, poverty and everyday struggle, forging a direct emotional connection with his audience.

    This connection is reinforced by his activism. Fender supports local food banks, the Teenage Cancer Trust, and campaigns for poverty reduction and men’s mental health.

    To my mind, this work is not performative celebratory activism, but is grounded in his own community and personal experiences. This combination of commercial success rooted in honesty, vulnerability and community action led to him being named “freeman of North Tyneside” in May 2025.


    Boys and girls are together facing an uncertain world. But research shows they are diverging when it comes to attitudes about masculinity, feminism and gender equality.

    Social media, politics, and identity all play a role. But what’s really going on with boys and girls? Join The Conversation UK and Cumberland Lodge’s Youth and Democracy project at Newcastle University for a discussion of these issues with young people and academic experts. Tickets available here.

    Fender’s teenage years were marked by personal challenges, including his parents’ separation and his mother’s fibromyalgia. These experiences, and the state’s failure to support those in need, are captured in his song Seventeen Going Under (2021): “I came home and you were on the floor / Floored by the letters and the council rigmarole.”

    His latest album, People Watching (2025), continues this critique. The title track, inspired by the death of a close friend in a care home, laments:

    The place was fallin’ to bits

    Understaffed and overruled by callous hands

    The poor nurse was around the clock

    And the beauty of youth had left my breaking heart.

    The music video for People Watching.

    For Fender, these stories reflect a Britain in decline. In Crumbling Empire, he sings: “Road like the surface of the moon / A Detroit neighbourhood left to ruin.” The song further critiques a society that fails to honour those who have given everything:

    My mother delivered most the kids in this town

    My step-dad drove in a tank for the crown

    They left them homeless, down and out

    In their crumbling empire.

    His message is clear: hard work, even by midwives and war heroes, no longer guarantees dignity or reward.

    Fender’s most poignant observations are rooted in his locality. In Nostalgia’s Lie, he sings: “These streets break my heart / There’s pain unfurling and desperate yearning / For all my friends who are gone.”

    North Shields has some of the highest rates of child poverty in the UK. According to the North East Child Poverty Commission (March 2025), 31% of children in the region lived below the poverty line between 2021 and 2024.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    In this context, Fender places mental health – especially male mental health – at the core of his work, made even more powerful by his honesty about his own struggles.

    Dead Boys reflects both personal loss and the epidemic of male suicide in North Tyneside: “We close our eyes, learn our pain / Nobody ever could explain / All the dead boys in our hometown.”

    In Something Heavy, he adds: “My friends reached for the rope and tied / Oh, God, how can we keep missing signals?”

    Fender performs Dead Boys in Manchester.

    Fender’s engagement with mental health is deeply personal. He wrestles with confusion, despondency, and his own sense of self-esteem: “Though I am a soundboard to some / With myself I am not so forgiving” (Last to Make it Home), and “Sometimes I wanna die, sometimes” (Paradigms).

    In Good Company, he confesses: “Sometimes I cry until there’s no sound,” and in Arm’s Length: “Do you have to know me, know me, inside out / I’m selfish, and I’m lonely.”

    Yet, like many artists, Fender feels guilt that success has uprooted him. In Wild Long Lie, he reflects: “Oh, I’ve got so much pain here, yet so much love / But it’s drownin’ every inch of my soul.” He questions whether he can still authentically raise these issues now that fame has distanced him from his past. As he puts it in Crumbling Empire:

    I’m not preaching, I’m just talking

    I don’t wear the shoes I used to walk in

    But I can’t help thinking where I’d be

    In this crumbling empire.

    Fender’s work helps us understand political and social phenomena by reflecting unfolding events. His songs can be seen as giving life and voice to what political theorist Michael Shapiro calls an “aesthetic subject”.

    The characters in his songs, whether autobiographical or imagined, give voice to communities which are so often ignored. They allow exploration of the structures of power that deny working-class people opportunities, contributing to mental health crises, suicide and spiralling drug use within those communities.

    Sam Fender talks about men’s mental health.

    Even though Fender acknowledges he no longer walks in the same shoes, his songs still speak truth to power. They give voice to experiences that are often ignored and expose the increasing struggle of everyday life in the UK and beyond.

    He also offers a nuanced reflection on masculinity. Fender challenges traditional ideals – rational, authoritative, emotionally restrained – while rejecting simplified portrayals of men as weak or unstable. His songs reveal a masculinity that is complex, conflicted and deeply human.

    While Fender is not alone in using music for social commentary, what sets him apart is his ability to channel the spirit of his local community to explore universal themes. His work critiques the failures of contemporary capitalism to provide dignity, respect, and cohesion – issues that resonate deeply amid today’s cultural, political and economic challenges.

    Nick Robinson 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. Sam Fender’s music offers a vision of masculinity that is complex, conflicted and deeply human – https://theconversation.com/sam-fenders-music-offers-a-vision-of-masculinity-that-is-complex-conflicted-and-deeply-human-258530

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Marine fungi could help feed the world and fight disease

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael Cunliffe, Professor of Marine Microbiology, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth

    Fungi are nature’s recyclers and chemists, turning waste into useful products and creating an array of enzymes and compounds. By harnessing this potential through fungal biotechnology (using fungi to develop products and technologies for various applications), we can create sustainable materials, food and processes that help solve global challenges like food shortages, pollution and climate change.

    Fungal biotechnology supports a “circular economy”, where resources are reused instead of wasted. Fungi can help make our food supply more stable and eco-friendly, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. But to fully unlock what is possible, we need to better understand different fungi and develop new tools to work with them to find solutions.

    The marine environment is home to a rich diversity of fungi. However, marine fungi were once overlooked and not widely considered for their biotechnological potential.


    Local science, global stories.

    This article is part of a series, Secrets of the Sea, exploring how marine scientists are developing climate solutions.

    In collaboration with the BBC, The Conversation’s senior environment editor, Anna Turns, travels around the West Country coastline to meet ocean experts making exciting discoveries beneath the waves.

    Now, my team of scientists at the Marine Biological Association, a research institution based in Plymouth on the south-west coast of England, has changed that. By gathering over 500 fungal strains from seawater, sediments and seaweeds, we have created a comprehensive marine fungi culture collection.

    These fungi are stored at -80°C and studied at temperatures similar to the local shoreline they are from. This unique collection is already helping us learn more about marine fungi, including how they grow and adapt to different environments.

    My colleagues and I are now exploring how these marine fungi, especially those from seaweed, can be used in biotechnology to create more useful, sustainable products in the future.

    The European seaweed industry is growing fast and could be worth up to €9.3 billion (£7.8 billion) by 2030. Seaweed farming doesn’t need land, fresh water or fertiliser, and it can support ocean health.

    Marine fungi, especially those originally isolated from seaweed, could recycle seaweed into valuable products.

    At the Marine Biological Association, we are testing many combinations of different seaweeds and fungi to discover new uses. This approach could help make the seaweed industry stronger, more efficient and better for the environment.

    The future is fungal

    Feeding the world’s growing population is a major challenge, especially with nearly a billion people unable to afford nutritious food and the environmental consequences of high meat consumption. One promising alternative protein source involves using seaweed and fermenting it with marine fungi to create a nutritious protein source called mycoprotein – similar to what’s found in some current commercial products.

    Antimicrobial resistance – the development of superbugs that become resistant to antibiotics as a result of their overuse – is a global health threat. This makes it harder to treat infections. Fungi naturally produce chemicals to protect themselves from other microbes, and several antibiotics come from fungi, including penicillin. Marine fungi could be a valuable new source of antibiotics and drug treatments to fight resistant infections and protect public health.

    Pests and the diseases they spread cause major crop losses worldwide, threatening food security. Traditional chemical pesticides are becoming less effective and can harm helpful species like pollinators, while also leading to pest resistance.

    Scientists are now exploring ways to target pests by using microbes without damaging the environment. One promising but unexplored source is marine fungi. Marine fungi and the arsenal of chemical compounds they produce may hold the key to developing new, eco-friendly pest control methods that protect crops while supporting wildlife and sustainable farming practices.

    Our marine fungi culture collection is helping unlock the potential for finding new solutions to many of the world’s biggest challenges.

    Listen to episode four of Secrets of the Sea here on BBC Sounds, presented by Anna Turns for The Conversation.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Michael Cunliffe received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) for the project MYCO-CARB and currently receives funding from the UKRI Horizon Europe Guarantee scheme for the projects MARCO-BOLO and BIOcean5D. PhD students in the Cunliffe Group are supported by the UKRI BBSRC/NERC SWBio, ARIES and INSPIRE Doctoral Training Partnerships and the Marine Biological Association.

    – ref. Marine fungi could help feed the world and fight disease – https://theconversation.com/marine-fungi-could-help-feed-the-world-and-fight-disease-251194

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Your next summer read and our award-winning podcasts – what you should read, watch, see and listen to this week

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Naomi Joseph, Arts + Culture Editor

    The Women’s prize was founded in 1991 in bold riposte to the year’s all-male Booker prize shortlist. It’s funny to think how male-dominated the industry once was when you look at it now. There has been a real renaissance in literary fiction by women since then. Take last year’s Booker prize shortlist where the only male writer nominated was Percival Everett for his brilliant book James.

    That women dominate the literary landscape has not diminished the need for the Women’s prize, however. In fact, I would say it has grown in boldness and depth, now taking on non-fiction, a world still dominated by men. The prize has also launched their first outstanding contribution award, which this year was won by the inimitable Bernadine Evaristo.

    This year’s shortlisted books are a testament to the depth and variety of fiction being written by women. From a multi-generational tale of one Iranaian family to a daring and laugh-out-loud comedy about the rehabilitation of Isis brides by a researcher who worked for the UN doing just that. It serves as a perfect summer reading list. I have read four of the books so far and have loved every single one for very different reasons.

    This year’s winner, The Safekeep by Yael van der Woeden, is a queer romance exploring the lesser-documented consequences of the second world war in the 1980s Netherlands. It’s a book I have gifted several times already and might be my favourite book of 2024. I would also recommend reading last year’s winner, Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan, which has made its way slowly around The Conversation newsroom.



    Read more:
    Women’s prize for fiction 2025: six experts review the shortlisted novels

    Scotland on screen

    Set in Edinburgh, Netflix’s Dept. Q follows arrogant maverick detective Carl Mork (Matthew Goode) whose hubris got him shot through the neck, his partner paralysed and a rookie officer killed. Back at work after this horrifying ordeal, he’s wracked with survivor’s guilt and more than a touch of post traumatic stress disorder. He’s been banished to the basement to lead a new cold case unit.

    Surprisingly, instead of being the fool’s errand his commander thinks Dept. Q will be, Mork and his rag tag team find themselves suited to this sort of work. Rather than throw him completely off his game, his new obsessive qualities and hyper-awareness of negative stimuli actually make him better at his job. Our reviewer, an expert in psychological vulnerabilities, analytical thinking patterns and cognitive processing styles, thoroughly enjoyed the show and found it really chimed with his research into how trauma can change the brain.



    Read more:
    Netflix’s Dept Q. suggests that psychological trauma might help a detective investigate – neuroscience backs this up

    From a Scottish detective crime thriller series to a Scottish samurai-western film. Yes, you read that right. Tornado is a revenge tale about a young samurai performer on the run from a gang of bandits in 18th-century Scotland. It might seem like an odd splicing of genres, but in his review film studies scholar Jonathan Wroot argues that the two have a long-shared history. Both westerns and samurai films envision a world full of lone warriors, greedy gangs, wild landscapes, epic struggles and, of course, violence.



    Read more:
    Tornado is a Scottish samurai-western film – genres with a long-shared history

    Tornado is in cinemas now

    Big birthdays and news

    This year marks the 250th birthday of Jane Austen and JMW Turner. Though the pair never met, both were great documenters of Regency England. A new exhibition at Leeds’s Harewood House explores the common threads in their work in relation to the cultural and societal significance of British country houses and their landscapes.

    At Austen and Turner: A Country House Encounter, visitors will be able to look upon rarely seen paintings and manuscripts, including the unfinished manuscript of Austen’s last work, Sanditon. Our reviewer, an expert in literature, found it wonderfully brought to life the reality of the landed aristocracy of the time. It’s sure to move anyone who has an interest in art and history.



    Read more:
    Austen and Turner: A Country House Encounter captures the spirit of two great geniuses, born 250 years ago

    Our final recommendation is our own podcast. This week a series of Conversation products were nominated at the Publisher podcast and newsletter awards, including Something Good. While we didn’t win, The Conversation did take home the big podcast prize, being named podcast publisher of the year.

    The Conversation Weekly talks to academics about their discoveries and explores the big questions they are still trying to answer.

    This week we take you to Indonesia where conservation scientist Hollie Booth trialled a programme paying fishermen to release any sharks and rays accidentally caught in their nets in the hope it would help to keep more alive. Listen to Booth and her colleague M. Said Ramdlan discuss the unintended consequences of the incentive programme.

    We also can’t recommend the limited series podcast Scam Factories enough, which took home best investigative podcast. The three-part series takes you inside the world of scammers, many of whom are often victims too.



    Read more:
    Cash for sharks: the unintended consequences of paying fishermen to release sharks caught in their nets – podcast



    Read more:
    Scam Factories: the inside story of Southeast Asia’s brutal fraud compounds

    – ref. Your next summer read and our award-winning podcasts – what you should read, watch, see and listen to this week – https://theconversation.com/your-next-summer-read-and-our-award-winning-podcasts-what-you-should-read-watch-see-and-listen-to-this-week-257747

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pupils learn about consequences of knife crime

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    Perth became the first city in Scotland to host the Knife Angel at the end of 2024 and since then Perth and Kinross Council has been working with partner agencies including the Scottish Prison Service, charity Aid and Abet and Police Scotland to raise awareness of the issues around knife crime.

    On Wednesday 11 June, Perth Grammar School became the latest venue to host a workshop following successful events in Bertha Park High School and St John’s Academy in May.

    As well as presentations from Perth and Kinross Council’s Community Justice Team and Aid and Abet, staff and prisoners from HMP Perth and HMYOI Polmont have also participated by sharing videos and recordings for use in the sessions, detailing their own personal experiences of knife crime and its consequences.

    Councillor Tom McEwan, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee, said: “Although there has been an overall reduction in knife crime over the past 15 years, recent tragedies have shown this is not a problem that has gone away.

    “It is important that young people realise that there are very real consequences for using a knife, or other blade.

    “The simple truth is that every injury, every death is one too many.”

    Perth and Kinross Learning and Families convener Councillor John Rebbeck said: “Knife crime can take lives and destroy families – both of the victim and the perpetrator who is likely to end up behind bars for several years.

    “Hearing these stories first-hand leaves a powerful impression and I thank everyone who has worked hard to run these workshops. I’m sure our children and young people will take a great deal from these workshops.”

    Bailie Chris Ahern, chair of the Perth and Kinross community justice and safety partnership added: “These are really powerful events and show children and young people the damage knives can cause to victims and the people who use them.

    “Young people are disproportionately affected by knife crime so it is important we all work together to reduce knife crime as much as we can.”

    Tom Martin, Head of Offender Outcomes at HMP Perth said: “We are committed to doing all we can to support people, reduce the risk of crime, and help build safer communities.

    “We were delighted to work with partners in Perth and Kinross Council and Police Scotland on this important initiative, and particularly pleased that some those in our care had an opportunity to share their stories, so young people can learn from their experiences.”

    Police Scotland Sergeant Allan Neary, of Partnerships, Interventions and Preventions, said: “Recently, we supported in various engagements around knife crime awareness, along with our partners at Perth and Kinross Council, Scottish Prison Service and Aid and Abet.

    “Working closely together ensures that we get the message across about the dangers of carrying knives and the impact this has. We know the effect that violent crime has on individuals, families, and local communities, and we remain commitment to keeping our communities safe.”

    The Knife Angel, also known as the National Monument Against Violence & Aggression, was on display on King Edward Street throughout December.

    Created by the British Ironwork Centre, the statue is made up of 100,000 seized weapons.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ratho nursery pupils enjoy Julia Donaldson adventure

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Ratho primary and nursery pupils were treated to a special reading from Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated Axel Scheffler at Ratho Library on Wednesday (11 June).

    The children were also each gifted a copy of the classic story, which has inspired a special artwork inside the new Ratho Library. This was unveiled when the library opened its doors in March.

    A quote from the book was chosen by the local community in 2023, when a public vote was held to select words for the artwork from a range of beloved children’s books. The winning quote is now displayed above the children’s library section, alongside illustrations of Rowena frog and other characters from the book.

    Each child who attends the early years centre adjacent to the new library was given a copy of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book by publishers Macmillan Children’s Books to celebrate its opening.

    Culture and Communities Convener Councillor Margaret Graham said:

    It’s wonderful to see some of our youngest library-goers enjoying the new space at Ratho, and even better, their very own copies of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book!

    I recently visited the library and was really impressed with all that’s on offer, including this striking artwork, which clearly has the community at its heart. Their involvement, along with our dedicated team at the library and Macmillan Children’s Books, has helped to create a design which will inspire young minds for years to come.

    Thanks to Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler and Macmillan for their support throughout this process, including the gift of these books to our local nursery pupils, which I know will be well-loved.

    Julia Donaldson said:

    I have long campaigned on the valuable role that public libraries play in communities and in developing a love of books, and I am very pleased that there is now this new library in Ratho. I want to thank everyone who voted to see ‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book’ featured on the walls in the children’s area and I hope this joyful space introduces a new generation of readers to stories they will treasure for life.

    Axel Scheffler said:

    It is an honour to know that ‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book’ was chosen by the local community in Ratho to feature in their new library. I would like to thank them all and also the librarian team who have worked so hard to make this happen. I am so pleased that Rowena frog and Charlie will welcome young readers into the children’s area and I hope they will inspire families to discover great new books together.

    On Wednesday, pupil librarians from Ratho Primary School helped publishers Macmillan Children’s Books to gift a copy of the book to a small group of nursery children to then take back to share with the other children at the nursery.

    Ratho Library offers a broad range of services to customers, including access to a wide variety of digital and printed books, free public access to computers, free public Wi-Fi, collection of NHS hearing Aid batteries, support with National Entitlement Cards alongside an exciting programme of events and activities for children and adults.

    The library will host Tech Donation Boxes later in the year where everyday tech devices can be upcycled.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Announces Election Protection Hotline Ahead of June Primary Election

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will make its Election Protection Hotline available for the June 24, 2025 primary election and during the early voting period, which runs from Saturday, June 14 through Sunday, June 22. The hotline will be available to troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues encountered by voters, including issues voting by absentee ballot, early mail ballot, or in-person at their polling place. A guide addressing frequently asked questions is also currently available to assist voters with, among other things, the absentee and early mail ballot process and voter registration issues.

    “New Yorkers deserve to feel safe about casting their ballots when they head to the polls for this month’s primary,” said Attorney General James. “Free and fair elections are foundational to our democracy. Whether you choose to vote absentee, during early voting, or on election day, my office’s Election Protection Hotline is here to help voters every step of the way.”

    New Yorkers are protected from voter intimidation, deception, suppression, and obstruction under state and federal law. Attorney General James urges voters experiencing election-related problems while voting to call the OAG hotline at (866) 390-2992 or submit a complaint online to request assistance. The telephone hotline will be open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. during early voting (Saturday, June 14 through Sunday, June 22), and between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, June 24. The hotline will also be available on the day before and after Election Day, Monday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 25, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Written requests for assistance may be submitted at any time through the online complaint form. Hotline calls and written requests for assistance are processed by OAG attorneys and staff.

    The OAG has operated its Election Protection Hotline since November 2012. During previous elections, OAG fielded hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of complaints from voters across the state and worked with local election officials and others to address issues. The OAG has also taken legal action to protect against voter registration purges and to ensure that voters have adequate and equitable access to vote early as required by law.

    All registered voters have the right to accessible elections. On Election Day, polls are required to be continuously open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and if voters are in line before closing, they must be allowed to vote. In addition, all registered voters have the right to vote free from coercion or intimidation, whether by election officials or any other person.

    The OAG will receive and respond to election complaints relating to any of the statutes that OAG enforces, including the New York Voting Rights Act, which upholds fair, open, and accessible elections.

    The OAG Election Protection Hotline is being coordinated by the Voting Rights Section, headed by Section Chief Lindsay McKenzie, with Assistant Attorneys General Bethany Perskie, Edward Fenster, Derek Borchardt, Rebecca Culley, Martin Ascher, Roni Druks, and Jerry Vattamala, Senior Voting Rights Analysts Turquoise Baker and Jake Moore, Voting Rights Analysts Chris Chin and Chris Leaverton, and Administrative Assistant 1 Lyric Landon. The Voting Rights Section is part of the Civil Rights Bureau, overseen by Bureau Chief Sandra Park and Deputy Bureau Chief Travis England. The Civil Rights Bureau is a part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: School holiday meals for more children who are most in need thanks to transformative support package

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    School holiday meals for more children who are most in need thanks to transformative support package

    Children most in need across the country will be kept from going hungry during the school holidays thanks to funding announced in the Spending Review.

    • Major support package will help ensure the poorest children don’t go hungry in the school holidays and give vital support to communities.
    • Latest pledge builds on existing commitments to help children including breakfast clubs and extension to free school meals entitlement. 
    • Funding announced in Spending Review and forms package to build financial security for communities as part of Government’s Plan for Change.

    Children most in need across the country will be kept from going hungry during the school holidays thanks to funding announced in the Spending Review. 

    This latest support for children will be delivered under a new £1 billion package – including Barnett consequentials funding – to reform crisis support, including the launch of a new Crisis and Resilience Fund. 

    As a multi-year deal, the Fund will for the first time give councils much needed certainty to protect households from falling into crisis and to provide vital support to those who need it most.  

    Local authorities will be empowered to best target support in their areas – including allocating funding to ensure children receive meals outside of term time. 

    Other examples could include bringing together existing services to deliver joined-up support such as on debt advice, income maximisation, budgeting and welfare support.

    The ambition to ensure no child goes hungry builds on the government’s pledge to ensure 500,000 more children become eligible for free school meals following the major expansion to breakfast clubs in England.  

    Children who are most in need already receive meals out of term time via the government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and the latest funding will extend this even further. 

    This marks a significant step in the government’s ambition to reduce child poverty and to end the mass dependence on emergency food parcels. 

    Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: 

    No child should be left to go hungry and we are determined to do whatever it takes to tackle this issue. 

    Our commitment to feeding children most in need builds on measures like our expansion of free school meals – and we will be going further in our Child Poverty Strategy.

    The funding we have secured is a major part of our Plan for Change and will help ensure left behind families across the country can look forward to a brighter future.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    This government is committed to delivering excellence for every child. 

    That is why, as part of our Plan for Change, we are rolling out free breakfast clubs and extending free school meals to deliver better life chances for all of our children. 

    The only hunger a child should have is a hunger to learn – we will make sure children’s backgrounds should not determine where they end up.

    The new Crisis and Resilience Fund will replace the Household Support Fund and launch from April 2026 – incorporating Discretionary Housing Payments. 

    The funding represents a total of £1 billion including Barnett consequentials – with £842 million allocated to England. 

    An allocation will go towards food support and meals to children during the holidays. Details will be set out in due course. 

    This comes alongside wider action to tackle poverty and make everyone better off – including increasing the National Minimum Wage for those on the lowest incomes and uprating benefits. 

    The government has also introduced a cap on how much Universal Credit can be taken for debt repayments – helping 1.2 million households become up to £420 better off. 

    Alongside this, the best route out of poverty for struggling families is well paid, secure work. That’s why the Government is delivering on its Get Britain Working reforms, to support people into good jobs, boost living standards and put money back into families’ pockets. 

    Additional Information:  

    • A total of £1 billion to reform crisis support (including £842 million for England) has been announced in the Spending Review. 

    • This includes funding for the new Crisis and Resilience Fund incorporating Discretionary Housing Payments as well as investment in ensuring the poorest children don’t go hungry in the holidays.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Secretary of State challenged on Baroness O’Loan appointment to Finucane inquiry

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister:

    “The Secretary of State’s decision to appoint Baroness Nuala O’Loan as an assessor to the Pat Finucane public inquiry is highly questionable and fundamentally undermines public confidence in a process which is already highly suspect in the eyes of many.

    “Baroness O’Loan has been personally and publicly invested in the Finucane case for nearly two decades. As Police Ombudsman her office produced Operation Ballast in 2007, a report that investigated alleged collusion between the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries, including in relation to the Finucane murder. That report formed a key part of the narrative that ultimately led to sustained political pressure for a public inquiry.

    “On her departure from the Ombudsman role, The Guardian noted that her work had been dominated by collusion cases, and highlighted her personal frustration that no prosecutions had followed, singling out the Finucane case. This was not the dispassionate stance of an investigator concluding her work — it was the expression of someone who clearly regarded the Finucane case as unfinished business.

    “More than a decade later, in December 2020, she publicly criticised the UK government for its refusal to initiate a public inquiry, continuing to advocate for the very process she has now been appointed to help direct. Her comments made clear she had already formed a view on the need for such an inquiry and on the alleged failures of state agencies.

    “To now place her in a formal advisory role — after so many years of active and vocal involvement — compromises the credibility of the inquiry before it has even begun. This is not a matter of legal competence, but of perceived impartiality, which is essential if justice is to be seen to be done.

    “At a time when countless victims of terrorist violence have never had so much as a day in court, let alone a public inquiry, the decision to proceed with this case in this manner, and with this appointment, will be seen by many as confirmation of a two-tier approach to victims.

    “I have therefore today written to the Secretary of State to formally challenge the appointment of Baroness O’Loan.

    “I am not questioning Baroness O’Loan’s professionalism, but nonetheless this is not the case for her talents.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Jersey to offer a more personalised cervical screening programme13 June 2025 From July, Jersey will follow NHS England and the recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee, to offer a more personalised cervical screening service. The more accurate Human Papillomavirus… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    13 June 2025

    From July, Jersey will follow NHS England and the recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee, to offer a more personalised cervical screening service. 

    The more accurate Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing has enabled this change in line with major clinical evidence. 

    Cervical screening detects HPV, these are types of viral infection which are the main cause of cervical cancer. If HPV is detected, the screening sample will then be checked for any changes to the cells in the cervix. If caught early, these can be treated before they turn into cervical cancer. 

    Since December 2019, all cervical screening samples taken in Jersey have been tested for high-risk HPV, which is more accurate than the previous method of cytology testing, known as a ‘smear test’. 

    From July, younger women and people with a cervix, aged 25 to 49, who test negative for HPV or who have previously tested negative for HPV and are therefore known to be at very low risk of cervical cancer over the next 10 years and will safely be invited by their GP for their free screening appointment at five-year intervals rather than three. This is in line with major clinical evidence and follows the UK National Screening Committee’s recommendation. 

    Those women and people with a cervix whose sample indicates the presence of HPV or who have a recent history of HPV, which causes nearly all cervical cancers, will continue to be invited to more frequent screenings to check whether HPV has cleared and if not, if any cell changes have developed. This approach is already used for women and those with a cervix aged 50 to 64 and follows robust evidence on how often those eligible need to be safely screened. 

    The body often clears the infection itself within 36 months. By testing those who have tested positive for HPV every year, cell changes can be picked up very quickly. If abnormal cells are found, the patient will be referred for another examination called a colposcopy which takes a closer look at the cervix. 

    Dr Fiona Nelson, Clinical lead for Cervical Screening, said: “Since 2019 all cervical samples have been tested first for high-risk HPV which is a more accurate test then previous cytology testing. This change has allowed us to move to a more personalised programme in Jersey. Cervical cancer is preventable and curable, and we now have the ability to make the disease a thing of the past. The cervical screening programme, together with our HPV vaccination programme and treatment, helps us move towards our goal of eliminating cervical cancer in Jersey. 

    “The reason we have decided to follow England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland with this change is because the new test used in cervical screening picks up problems earlier than the older screening test that was previously used by the programme. Women and people with a cervix who test negative for HPV are very low risk and those who have a recent history of HPV will be invited more frequently. 

    “The HPV test is an objective test which means the sample is not dependent on a person looking at cells and making a judgment and this means there are fewer missed cases. The HPV test is very good at picking up if someone has HPV and because it typically takes 10-15 years for cancer to develop after an HPV infection a five-year interval for those who are HPV negative is safe.” 

    The Jersey Screening Board added: “This change aligns Jersey with the latest evidence-based guidance. HPV testing offers greater accuracy, enabling safer and more personalised screening. It marks a significant step towards the prevention and eventual elimination of cervical cancer.”​​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and Scottish governments join forces to boost Scottish growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK and Scottish governments join forces to boost Scottish growth

    Scottish Secretary and Minister for Business co-chair business forum

    • Business and trade union groups working with governments to grow Scotland’s economy faster
    •  Murray urges new collaboration for Scotland’s defence industry

    For the first time in more than two years, the Scottish Business Growth Group was convened in Edinburgh today, bringing the UK and Scottish governments together with business leaders to discuss how they can deliver economic growth.

    The forum, jointly chaired by the Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and the Scottish Government’s Minister for Business Richard Lochhead, brings together officials from both of Scotland’s governments alongside business representatives and the Scottish Trades Union Congress. With economic growth the UK Government’s number one priority, Murray used a speech in March at the University of Edinburgh to announce that this group would be reconvened, with a fresh focus on collaboration across governments and sectors.

    During the meeting, the Scottish Secretary provided updates on recent and upcoming announcements from the UK Government and outlined their significance for businesses in Scotland. This includes the Spending Review, the Strategic Defence Review and economic opportunities for the Scottish supply chain, the recent trade deals agreed with the EU, US and India – and the modern Industrial Strategy which will be announced shortly.

    Recognising there are already a  range of areas in which the UK and Scottish governments work constructively with business, the Scottish Secretary called for collaboration in new areas which could yield significant economic benefits, such as defence.

    Murray has also been working with business groups as part of his Brand Scotland programme and last week announced that the Scotland Office will fund the Scottish Chambers of Commerce to launch a new international trade initiative. This collaboration will be supported by a grant of £100,000, to promote Scottish goods and services and bring foreign direct investment into Scotland.

    Following the meeting, Mr Murray said: 

    “Scotland has two governments and most Scots rightly expect their politicians to work in partnership wherever possible, especially on something as important as economic growth. Political differences aside, I have always sought to engage constructively with Scottish Government ministers and I was delighted to co-chair this important forum today with Richard Lochhead.

    “The business and trade union groups which joined our discussion challenged us to go further and faster in helping businesses and workers feel the benefits of economic growth. I am determined to meet that challenge and want the Scottish Government to work with me in areas where we have not previously collaborated.

    “With the UK Government committing to significant increases in defence spending, there are huge opportunities for Scottish workers and defence firms, but only if both governments fully commit to giving our young people the skills they need and backing our world class defence industry.

    “On nuclear power, the announcement this week of UK Government investment for Sizewell in England is a reminder of the huge potential of nuclear power. Thousands of skilled jobs and billions of pounds of investment could come to Scotland, but only if both governments work in partnership with industry to unlock those opportunities.

    “Boosting Scottish exports and selling the best of Scotland overseas is a key lever in delivering economic growth at home. Our Brand Scotland programme, boosted by £2.25 million in the Spending Review, will do just that. I am delighted to be working with the Scottish Government and businesses of all sizes to deliver trade missions and sell our goods and services to the world.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Advice issued ahead of City Cemetery Blessing of the Graves

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Advice issued ahead of City Cemetery Blessing of the Graves

    13 June 2025

    Preparations are underway for the annual Blessing of the Graves service at the City Cemetery and with thousands of people expected to attend, Council is advising that visitors familiarise themselves with the arrangements for the day.

    The event will take place at 3pm on Sunday June 22nd, and a number of measures are being introduced to ensure the event runs smoothly.

    A limited number of parking spaces are still available on site for blue badge holders who must register their details in advance via www.derrystrabane.com/cemeterysunday Please note that anyone booking will need to provide a Name, Mobile number, Vehicle Registration Number, Blue Badge Number and email address – any submissions without this information will be considered invalid.

    Those who have booked can access their parking via the Lone Moor Road entrance – gates will open at 1pm until 2pm to allow time for cars to park.

    Anyone planning to prepare graves for the service in the coming days are advised that the cemetery will be busy, particularly on Saturday June 21st.   It’s recommended that preparations are made earlier in the week if possible if visitors wish to avoid busier times and any congestion. Please follow the traffic directions and be mindful of other pedestrians and visitors accessing the site. With later opening visits can be spread throughout the day.

    The City Cemetery will be closed to the general public on the day itself, except for burials. Those with a pre-booked parking space must be in place by 2pm, as there will be no access for vehicles after this time. Parking spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis and it will not be possible to reserve a space in a particular area. Please keep in mind that you may still have to walk some distance to reach family graves and make provision for this.

    Once on site, vehicles will remain there until the crowds have dispersed which, it’s estimated, will be approximately 30 minutes after the service finishes. 

    Other car parking is being made available for blue badge holders at St Mary’s Church, Creggan, St Cecilia’s College and Celtic Park. There is no prior booking for these sites, access will only be given to vehicles that display a current Disability Blue Badge Permit on arrival and these too will be filled on a first come basis first served basis. 

    For those who cannot attend the service, a livestream of the Blessing of the Graves can be viewed online at the following link: https://youtube.com/live/9ZS-utqxlfQ?feature=share

    You will find information on the Blessing of the Graves service and blue badge parking here – https://tinyurl.com/mr4ytacu

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lifesaving partnership wins national award

    Source: City of Leicester

    A LIFESAVING initiative that enables front-line police officers in Leicestershire to carry and administer an antidote to opiate drugs has won a national award.

    The city council’s public health team worked in partnership with the police and local drug and alcohol treatment service Turning Point to develop the initiative, which has potentially already saved 14 lives in its first 12 months of operation.

    Last night they were named as winners of the Public/Public Partnerships category at the 2025 Local Government Chronicle’s Awards, which recognise excellence in local government across the whole of the UK.

    Feedback from the LGC said: “Judges were wowed by a partnership solution which is both innovative and pragmatic. The clarity on the role of each partner and the way they overcame challenges was truly impressive. We could see how all places could apply this model to save lives and strengthen services – amazing outcomes.”

    The partnership was developed in response to a national rising trend in drug deaths. Many of these could have been avoided with the use of the antidote Naloxone, which reverses the effects of an opiate overdose – if given quickly enough.

    Leicester’s Director of Public Health Rob Howard said: “It’s great to see our partnership recognised in this way as it will help to raise awareness of what can be achieved by public bodies working together with the same aim.”

    The scheme saves lives through Naloxone being administered immediately in the event of an opiate overdose. It’s given in the form of a nasal spray which reverses respiratory arrest and allows time for emergency medical services to be called.

    Rob Howard said: “Police officers are most likely to be the first on scene at such incidents, and thanks to years of hard work by all involved, we believe that the Leicestershire police service is now the first in England and Wales to commit to enabling all front-line officers to carry Naloxone.

    “This incredible partnership work has not only saved lives, and will save lives in the future, but is also supporting a broader understanding of the challenges faced by people who use drugs.”

    Grace Strong, Head of Prevention at Leicestershire Police said; “Partnership working is at the heart of prevention and the Naloxone project is an exemplary example of the police joining forces with partners to ensure we prevent harm. We are proud of this ground-breaking  project and to this receive a national award is a very welcome external recognition.”

    Approval for a pilot scheme was given by Leicestershire Police in 2023, after Turning Point and the city council’s public health team had found funding and established pilot sites.

    Initially small groups of police officers were trained in overdose awareness and administering Naloxone, after which almost 200 officers voluntarily agreed to carry it.

    Julie Bass, Turning Point’s Chief Executive said: “Winning this prestigious award is testament to the power of partnership. We have been delighted to work with Leicestershire Police and Leicester City Council on this initiative, which genuinely has saved lives and also strengthened joint working across our organisations.”

    In the first 12 months of the scheme, police officers administered Naloxone on 14 separate occasions, in situations where people were likely to have otherwise died, before calling for ambulance back-up.

    New recruits to Leicestershire Police are now trained in administering Naloxone as part of their core training, and offered the chance to carry at that time.  Since this was introduced, every new recruit has volunteered to carry it.

    Around 1000 entries were submitted to the 2025 LGC Awards, with winners announced at a ceremony on 11 June 2025 in London.

    Picture caption: Leicestershire police officers are trained in the use of Naloxene by Turning Point Leicester.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Working in partnership to improve the River Mimram

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Working in partnership to improve the River Mimram

    Catchment based approach to improve a rare and precious chalk stream, Initiative to bring farmer and landowners together to benefit the Mimram.

    The River Mimram flowing through Panhangers Park.

    Thanks to funding from the Environment Agency, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust has appointed Heidi Mansell as the new Chalk Rivers and Farm Advisory Officer to lead crucial efforts to restore and protect the River Mimram—one of Hertfordshire’s rare and precious chalk streams.

    The Mimram is a vital part of the local ecosystem, beginning near Whitwell in Hertfordshire, and flows through the villages of Kimpton, Codicote and Welwyn before joining the River Lea near Hertford. The River Mimram is being improved by removing unnecessary weirs, better land management etc, through a collaborative effort between various organisations and community groups.

    The next exciting stage included bringing in a farm advisory officer – Heidi to look at a new approach with the Mimram. One that’s catchment-wide, considering the entire area of land that drains into the river and having a dedicated person to support work on the ground. It’s important because specific local issues, for example, the demand for water, pollution, or invasive species, may start in the wider catchment and those that affect or who are affected by them should be empowered to find the solutions.

    After being in the role for a year, here is what Heidi has to say:

    We recognise that for a number of years, different groups and stakeholders have been coming together to improve the Mimram, so now the aim is to consolidate on this good work and hopefully make further progress.

    In these first few months, I have been meeting with and listening to landholders to understand the support that they would like and gathering existing data on the catchment. Already, 11 of those, with land right next to the Mimram have said that they would like to work towards improving the river, which is hugely encouraging. Over the coming months and years, we’ll work together to create and deliver restoration and management plans that address some of the reasons why the river is not achieving good ecological status, according to the Water Framework Directive.

    Heidi is exploring further exciting new options that are now available through the Higher-Level Countryside Stewardship Scheme that may fund some of this work, with payments to farmers that sensitively manage riverbanks and water edge habitats and connect river and floodplain habitats.

    As a result of this work, there is hope to see species such as the endangered Water Vole thriving once again, to find Brown Trout creating their nests on the riverbed, to see flashes of blue as Kingfishers dart along the river and waving strands of Water Crowfoot teetering on the water’s surface – all indicators of healthy chalk streams.

    Elizabeth Walden, Chalk Catchment Coordinator for the Upper Lee at the Environment Agency, reflects on the collaborative efforts to restore and protect the River Mimram:

    England is home to 85% of the world’s chalk streams. Despite their importance nationally and internationally, only 17% met good ecological status under the Water Framework Directive in 2019. The River Mimram is one of the many chalk streams currently falling short of this standard.

    The problems facing chalk streams are complicated and costly to address. However, by working at a catchment-scale in close partnership with Heidi, we’re making meaningful improvements to the Mimram valley. By improving the use of water resources, restoring habitat, and enhancing the river’s resilience during periods of high and low flow, this project is helping to secure a healthier future for the River Mimram, and the communities that value it.

    We are excited to see how this new collaborative approach with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust develops and delivers lasting improvements in the years to come.

    Notes to editors

    For more information on the scheme:
    we have a YouTube Video Here – https://youtu.be/3YJUs56RiV4
    And a blog here – Working together to protect and restore the Mimram catchment – Creating a better place

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Reassessment of the EU’s COVID-19 vaccine authorisation in the light of long-term effectiveness and international policy developments, particularly in the United States – E-002214/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002214/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Christine Anderson (ESN)

    A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine[1] reviews long-term data on COVID-19 vaccinations. It concludes that repeated booster doses provide only limited added benefit for healthy adults under 65 years of age, especially those with a history of prior infection or complete primary vaccination. The study raises concerns over the reliance on non-inferiority trials and short-term immunogenicity data as the basis for vaccine approvals.

    The authors focus in particular on updated mRNA vaccines, including bivalent formulations (targeting ancestral and BA.4/BA.5 variants) and monovalent XBB.1.5-based boosters. They argue that these vaccines provide only modest and short-lived protection for low-risk groups and call for more targeted vaccination strategies supported by robust clinical evidence.

    • 1.Can the Commission clarify how the European Medicines Agency ensures that its evaluation and authorisation of updated COVID-19 vaccines – specifically bivalent and monovalent XBB.1.5-based mRNA boosters – are based on clinically meaningful outcomes, particularly in light of the study’s critique of non-inferiority trials and short-term immunogenicity data?
    • 2.Does the Commission intend to revise its guidance on booster vaccinations to reflect growing evidence supporting more targeted, risk-based approaches?
    • 3.In the light of the recent decision by US health authorities to remove COVID-19 vaccinations from the recommended immunisation schedule for healthy children and healthy pregnant women, does the Commission intend to consider a similar adjustment to EU-level guidance?

    Submitted: 3.6.2025

    • [1] 20 May 2025, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsb2506929, https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMsb2506929.
    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Elite Capital & Co. Limited Moves to 1 Cornhill After 12 Years at 33 St. James Square Amid Financial Sector Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mr. George Matharu, President and CEO of Elite Capital & Co. Limited, announced today that Elite Capital & Co. has relocated its headquarters from 33 St. James Square to the iconic 1 Cornhill, a landmark building in London’s financial district.

    “This move marks a pivotal moment in our growth. The expansion of our operations in the financial sector, coupled with the integration of NextGen Industrial Development Fund’s team into Elite Capital & Co. Limited, demanded exceptional scalability. 1 Cornhill provides the ideal environment to accommodate our ambitious vision and reinforce our leadership in global finance,” Mr. George Matharu said.

    Elite Capital & Co. Limited is a Financial Management company that provides project-related services, including Management, Consultancy, and Funding, particularly for large infrastructure and mega commercial projects.

    Elite Capital & Co. Limited offers a wealth of experience in Banking and Financial transactions and has a range of specialized advisory services for private clients, medium and large corporations as well as governments. It is also the exclusive manager of the Government Future Financing 2030 Program® and NextGen Industrial Development Fund™.

    Dr. Faisal Khazaal, Chairman of Elite Capital & Co., added, “Leaving 33 St. James Square is bittersweet, it’s where we built a legacy, sealing landmark deals that shaped our identity. Yet, 1 Cornhill represents a bold new chapter, mirroring Elite Capital’s stature not just in London, but as a global force in finance.”

    NextGen Industrial Development Fund redefines industrial financing by replacing debt with equity partnerships, empowering entrepreneurs to build factories without the burden of collateral or loan repayments. Targeting first-time industrialists and global firms expanding into MENA, NextGen provides end-to-end support, from land acquisition and infrastructure construction to cross-border financial solutions, ensuring projects thrive from day one.

    As a fund managed by Elite Capital & Co. Limited, NextGen’s innovative model aligns perfectly with Elite Capital’s vision for scalable, risk-shared growth. Together, they bridge the gap between visionary ideas and tangible industrial success, transforming the financial landscape for large-scale projects worldwide.

    Mr. George Matharu concluded his statement by saying: “Our new home is more than an address; it’s a testament to our clients, partners, and team who drive our success. We invite you to visit us at 1 Cornhill as we write the next era of excellence.”

    Contact Details –

    Elite Capital & Co. Limited
    1 Cornhill, City of London
    England, EC3V 3ND

    Telephone: +44 (0) 203 709 5060
    SWIFT Code: ELCTGB21
    LEI Code: 254900NNN237BBHG7S26

    Website: ec.uk.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5b39113-0481-40a1-9206-ad9b0619ebd8

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Highland Cross 2025

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Road users are advised that temporary traffic restrictions will come into operation on Saturday 21 June 2025 between 06:00 and 19:00 for the Highland Cross 2025 event.

    The C1112 Glen Affric Road will be temporarily closed to vehicles from 11:00 to 17:00, from its junction with the C1110 Cannich Fasnakyle – Kerrow Wood Road to the north side of the bridge over the Abhainn Gleann nam Fiadh.

    The following roads will also be temporarily closed from 12:45 to 18:00:

    • A862 Ardullie – Dingwall – Beauly – Inverness Road, closed between its junction with the A831 Drumnadrochit – Cannich – Beauly Toll Road and its junction with the U2288 Mid Street, Beauly
    • A831 Drumnadrochit – Cannich – Beauly Toll Road, closed between its junction with the A862 Ardullie – Dingwall – Beauly – Inverness Road and its junction with the U1480 Altyre Road

    Beauly Square will also be closed from 06:00 to 19:00.

    The closures affect vehicle access only.  Pedestrian access and access for emergency vehicles will not be affected.

    13 Jun 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Secretary of State announces Chair of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Secretary of State announces Chair of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, has appointed The Rt Hon Sir Gary Hickinbottom as Chair of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry.

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP.

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, has appointed The Rt Hon Sir Gary Hickinbottom as Chair of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry.

    Last year, the Secretary of State announced the government’s intention to establish an independent inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Finucane’s death. The human rights lawyer was brutally murdered in his North Belfast home by the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Defence Association, in February 1989.

    The Inquiry will be established under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath.

    Mr Benn has also confirmed the appointment of both the Rt Hon the Baroness Nuala O’Loan, and Francesca Del Mese, as Assessors to the Inquiry. Both will provide advice to the Chair on their relevant expertise in regards to the Inquiry, while also giving further assurance about the Inquiry’s independence. 

    Sir Gary is the current President of the Welsh Tribunals.  He is a solicitor and a retired Court of Appeal Judge, who undertook the statutory inquiry into corruption and governance in the British Virgin Islands.

    Confirming the announcement via a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament, Mr Benn said: 

    The murder of Mr Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. 

    I commend and support the tireless campaign of Mrs Finucane and her family in seeking answers to the brutal murder of their loved one and I am confident that this Inquiry will provide answers to the family who have suffered so terribly.

    I am delighted that Sir Gary Hickinbottom has accepted this important role as Chair of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry and that Baroness O’Loan and Francesca Del Mese have accepted the important roles of assessors to the Inquiry. I am confident that, together, their valuable knowledge, experience and professionalism will be of great benefit to the work of the Inquiry.

    Sir Gary said:

    I am privileged to take on responsibility for leading this public inquiry into the important issues raised by the circumstances surrounding the murder of Patrick Finucane, something I will do not only in accordance with my statutory duties but as fairly, openly and transparently as I can.

    At the heart of this case lies a family who lost their husband and father in horrific circumstances, and I look forward to meeting the Finucane family in Belfast as soon as possible.

    Baroness O’Loan said:

    I look forward to taking up this role, having been appointed by the Secretary of State. The Finucane family has always been concerned that the full story of what happened should be told, and this independent inquiry will provide the opportunity to do so.  There remain unanswered questions, and the public interest requires that we seek as best we can to get the answers to those questions.

    Ms Del Mese said: 

    I am honoured to be appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland as an Assessor for the long-awaited independent inquiry into the murder of Patrick Finucane, a human rights lawyer who was brutally killed in his own home in front of his family. I will do my utmost to assist the inquiry in seeking transparency and pursuing much-needed answers, both for the Finucane family, and in the hope it will lead to a more secure future for the communities of Northern Ireland.

    As required by the Inquiries Act 2005, the Secretary of State will undertake a consultation exercise with the Chair on the proposed Terms of Reference for the Inquiry. These will be agreed and published in due course. 

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Gautam Gambhir flies back home from England due to family emergency

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A week before India begins their five-match Test series against England in Leeds, head coach Gautam Gambhir has flown back home due to a family emergency. Gambhir had been with the Indian team at Beckenham ahead of their intra-squad practice match starting on Friday.

    “Yes it came to the light yesterday that Gambhir would be flying back home due to an important family emergency related to his mother. As of now, we believe that Gambhir has already linked up with his family in New Delhi. Keeping in mind the current situation, it’s not known yet about when he would join the India team ahead of the Test series’ commencement,” said sources aware of development to IANS on Friday.

    In Gambhir’s absence, alongside batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, bowling coach Morne Morkel, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip will help the Indian team prepare for the upcoming Test series against Ben Stokes-led England, which starts at Headingley.

    The Test tour of England will also be right-handed batter Shubman Gill’s first assignment as the captain of the Indian team, following the retirement of Rohit Sharma last month. At 25 years and 258 days, Gill will also become the fifth-youngest cricketer to captain India in Tests.

    Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will be India’s vice-captain on the all-important Test series, which runs from June 20 to August 4. India and England will also play matches at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord’s in London, Old Trafford in Manchester and The Oval in London.

    India are aiming to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2007. The Test series in England will also be India’s first assignment in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Provost pays tribute to Sir Geoff Palmer

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The Lord Provost pays tribute to Sir Geoff Palmer, following the announcement on Friday of his death.

    Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said:

    I was deeply saddened to learn of Sir Geoff Palmer’s passing. A tireless advocate for equality and a pioneering academic, Sir Geoff was a true inspiration and will leave a lasting impression on Edinburgh.

    In 2022 I was honoured to present Sir Geoff with the Edinburgh Award in recognition of his academic achievements and his passionate defence of human rights and justice in the city and beyond. His handprints remain immortalised alongside those of other Edinburgh Award recipients and will give passers-by pause to reflect on the huge impact he had here.

    In chairing the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review Sir Geoff made a vital contribution to recognising and profiling the Capital’s links with Slavery and Colonialism in the public realm.

    I know Sir Geoff’s legacy in academia and activism will live on for years to come, inspiring future generations. He will be dearly missed – my thoughts are with his friends, family and all those who knew him.

    Published: June 13th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Car use reduction plans lack vision of green transport revolution

    Source: Scottish Greens

    13 Jun 2025 Transport

    We cannot allow Scotland’s climate and transport plans to flatline.

    More in Transport

    The Scottish Government’s car reduction plan lacks vision for a green transport revolution, say Scottish Greens. 

    Yesterday’s announcement came as a combined policy statement from the Scottish Government and COSLA with the promise of tackling the climate emergency and encouraging sustainable travel. 

    Scottish Green spokesperson for transport Mark Ruskell says the ambitions don’t go far enough to revolutionise Scotland’s transport and future-proof it.

    The plans do not include any new targets for reduction in car kilometres, after their initial 20% reduction by 2030 was scrapped in April this year. There is also no plan set out on how to deliver better public transport for people all over Scotland.

    Mr Ruskell said:

    “If we want to see less congestion on our roads, we have to make improving public transport a priority. We are in a congestion crisis in our major cities. Air quality is suffering and communities are being cut off by the lack of affordable and accessible public transport. It’s dragging our economy down and damaging our health. 

    “The decision to walk away from the 20% reduction target was a huge step backwards that undermined years of work to decarbonise transport. The plans laid out today give no indication of a new target, and no plans on how to deliver better public transport. 

    “Both Glasgow and Edinburgh Councils are trying to do the right thing by reducing car dependency and reclaiming space for people. If local councils are given the powers to introduce road user charging schemes that will help to curb car reliance in built-up areas that are better served by environmentally friendly alternatives like trains and buses.

    “Giving councils the freedom to raise and invest revenue into world-leading public transport systems is crucial towards cutting pollution, reducing congestion, and building a healthier, more liveable Scotland for future generations.

    “We also need to radically improve public transport across the country. That means making it affordable, accessible, and available for all – not just in cities but in every town and village. There must be a willingness in rural communities and local authorities to aim for that too. A Scotland that is better connected in a cost and climate-friendly way is the future our country deserves.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: FMQs: SNP must commit to expanding free school meals to all councils

    Source: Scottish Greens

    13 Jun 2025 Education Scottish Independence

    Universal free school meals must be our goal in Scotland.

    More in Education

    The First Minister must ensure that the free school meals programme is expanded across Scotland for all pupils, says Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater.
     
    Scottish Greens secured universal free school meals for P1 to P5, and expanded provisions for P6 and P7 children whose families receive the Scottish Child Payment.
     
    Speaking at First Minister’s Question, Ms Slater highlighted the latest rollout of free lunches to S1-S3 pupils in receipt of SCP,  also secured by the Greens, must be a stepping stone towards universal free school meals for all children.

    In her first question, Ms Slater asked the First Minister:

    “We know children can’t learn if they are hungry.
     
    “That’s why the Greens campaigned for universal free school meals for P4 and P5 kids, expanded provision to P6 and P7 kids whose families receive the Scottish Child Payment;
    and why we brought the next phase of roll out, to S1, S2 and S3 kids receiving SCP, to budget negotiations.
     
    “In August, thousands more high school kids in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Fife, Moray, North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Shetland and the Western Isles will now get free school meals.

    “Does the First Minister agree that this programme must be expanded to all Council areas as soon as possible to ensure that no kid goes hungry in school?”

    Following a response from the First Minister where he stated he was committed to doing more to expand free school meals even further within the Scottish Government’s budget, Ms Slater stressed the importance of Scottish independence to allow us to tackle poverty and inequality even further with the full powers of a self-governing nation, rather than continuing to pick up the pieces left by Westminster’s decisions.
     
    In her second question, Ms Slater asked:

    “Expanding free school meals is one way to build the fairer, greener country we know Scotland can be.
     
    “But children in Scotland will still be forced into poverty thanks to a Labour Government balancing the books on the backs of the poorest, while the wealthiest grow even richer.
     
    “The UK Government could have scrapped the cruel 2-child benefit cap this week – they didn’t.
     
    “Scotland is tired of mitigating Westminster’s mistakes.
     
    “Does the First Minister agree that now is the time to demand that Keir Starmer set out exactly what conditions he believes need to be met to trigger an independence referendum for Scotland so we get out of this unequal union?”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Amanda Timberg and Darren Xiberras reappointed as Board Members of the National Citizen Service Trust

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Amanda Timberg and Darren Xiberras reappointed as Board Members of the National Citizen Service Trust

    Amanda Timberg and Darren Xiberras have been reappointed by HM The King as Board Members to support with the orderly wind-down of the National Citizen Service Trust. Darren (as Chair) and Amanda (as member) play an important role on the Audit and Risk sub-Committee (ARC), which has an important role to play in the wind-down.

    Amanda Timberg

    Appointed for a 3 year term commencing 12th June 2025.

    Amanda has dedicated her career to improving access to opportunities through investing in people and communities. She has worked in various roles at Google over the last decade and is currently serving as the Director of Global Programs at Google.org. There, she leads initiatives like product contributions, employee giving, volunteering, and apprenticeships.

    Before Google, Amanda spent fifteen years in education charities in the UK and the US, including a decade as Executive Director at Teach First, working to develop and equip teachers and leaders to make an impact towards educational equity. 

    Amanda started her career teaching primary school in Compton, California and worked at both Teach For America and the Los Angeles Unified School District in southern California. She holds an MSc in Voluntary Sector Management from Bayes Business School.

    Darren Xiberras 

    Appointed for a 3 year term commencing 12th June 2025.

    Darren is currently Chief Financial Officer of Cardiff University and a member of the University Executive Board. He oversees all aspects of the University’s finances and financial performance. He is a Director of UMAL Limited which is a specialist provider of insurance services to the Higher and Further Education sectors.

    Prior to joining Cardiff University, Darren was Chief Finance Officer at the University of South Wales having joined them in 2019. Immediately before that, he held the same role for the education charity Teach First where he also oversaw the Human Resources (HR), property and IT functions.

    Prior to Teach First, Darren was Finance Director of ENGIE (formerly GDF Suez) UK’s £350m turnover public sector division, delivering property services to a multitude of blue-chip public sector clients across the UK.

    Darren has also been Director of Corporate Services for a national UK charity and held the role of Group Finance Director for an Alternative Investment Market (AIM) listed PLC delivering services to the public sector. He trained as an accountant with South Wales Electricity PLC.

    Darren has held several other voluntary roles for both charities and in Higher Education.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Board Members of the National Citizen Service Trust are not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

    Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Amanda Timberg and Darren Xiberras have not declared any significant political activity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Allister calls for Police Ombudsman to stand aside

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister:

    “I have written to the Justice Minister urging her to act decisively in relation to the Police Ombudsman, who is now the subject of a file submitted to the Public Prosecution Service.

    “It is wholly inappropriate and frankly farcical that the Ombudsman should continue to sit in judgment over police officers while she herself is under the shadow of possible prosecution. The very idea that she can continue to make determinations about others, while facing such serious scrutiny herself, undermines public confidence in the integrity of the office she holds.

    “The Justice Minister cannot sit idly by. She has a duty to act — and I believe that means the Ombudsman must be suspended immediately pending the outcome of the PPS’s deliberations.

    “If the Ombudsman does not do the decent thing and step aside voluntarily, then steps must be taken to ensure she is stood down. The public will rightly ask: if the First and deputy First Ministers can jointly recommend her for appointment, can they not now jointly act to suspend her? Why haven’t they?

    “There is a growing sense of disbelief that someone at the head of an accountability body can continue to operate as normal in such circumstances. This cannot be allowed to continue.“

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: “These actions confirm that Israel is a rogue state” say Greens after overnight bombing of Iran

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    / by Steve Hynd

    Responding to the bombing of Iran by Israel overnight, Green Party MP, Ellie Chowns, said: 

    “The targeted assassinations and widespread bombing of Iran by Israel represent a deeply alarming escalation. 

    “These actions confirm that Israel is a rogue state operating outside international law. Israel can no longer continue to enjoy the diplomatic and trade privileges they have as part of the international community.

    “The UK must now urgently clarify whether it knew about these attacks in advance, urgently summon the Israeli ambassador to express the UK’s deep concern about Israel’s military actions and state unequivocally that it will cease military support for Israel, including arms sales and the training of Israeli military personnel. 

    She continued, “Iran’s nuclear brinkmanship is a threat to peace in the wider region and cannot be tolerated. Now more than ever, we need cool heads in a multilateral diplomatic process to look to address Iran’s growing nuclear threat. The unilateral bombing of Iran by Israel does nothing to make us safer and risks full-scale war.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Meets the Olympic Spirit: Dreaming of a New Future Through Technology and Sport With the IOC

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics’ global flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, took the spotlight at a global gathering of changemakers hosted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland — where innovation, sport and social impact converged.
     
    From June 3 to 5, as a Worldwide Mobile and Computing Equipment Partner of Olympic & Paralympic, Samsung participated in the first Olympism365 Summit: Sport For A Better World at the IOC headquarters to showcase its Solve for Tomorrow vision of empowering youth through education and technology — highlighting stories from around the world that demonstrate how the program is helping young people tackle real-world challenges in their communities.
     
    Over three days, the event brought together more than 250 representatives from 100 organizations — across the Olympic Movement, United Nations agencies, development and financing institutions, civil society, for-purpose business, safe sport community and IOC Young Leaders working together — to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sport.
     
    ▲ IOC President Thomas Bach delivers a keynote at the IOC Youth Summit.
     
    Held as part of the Olympism365 Summit, the IOC Youth Summit provided a platform for IOC Young Leaders to contribute their perspectives, collaborate on innovative solutions and help shape the future of sport for development — offering a vital contribution to the Olympism365 strategy focused on building a better world through sport.
     
    During the summit, Ramneek Kaur Ahluwalia, the 2022 winner of the United Kingdom’s Solve for Tomorrow program, spoke about how the experience shaped her personal growth.
     
    “What started off as a challenging lived experience of being isolated, vulnerable and stereotyped when using a white cane, quickly fueled the evolution of award-winning MyVision,” she said. “Thanks to the amazing Samsung Solve for Tomorrow mentors who helped me utilize the design thinking process and technical expertise to create a truly life-changing device.”
     
    She shared her journey developing MyVision, a smart assistive device designed to help people with congenital visual impairments. Drawing from her own experience with visual impairment, Ramneek described how Solve for Tomorrow helped her to grow — and outlined her ongoing efforts to expand her dream realized through Solve for Tomorrow into broader educational and career opportunities for others with similar challenges.
     
    ▲ Ramneek Kaur Ahluwalia shares her journey with IOC Young Leaders.
     
    The event also provided opportunities to engage with IOC officials and other Young Leaders from around the world. Ramneek met with Sherief Kholeif, a United Kingdom-based IOC Young Leader, to discuss sports programs for marginalized youth in Scotland and exchanged ideas with participants on the social impact of combining sport and technology.
     
    Building on its participation in the Olympism365 Summit and the IOC Youth Summit, Samsung plans to strengthen its collaboration with the IOC by designating “Social Change Through Sport & Technology” as one of the global themes for Solve for Tomorrow 2025. In doing so, the company will continue to support young people worldwide in developing creative, practical ideas to drive positive change in their communities.
     
    “It was a pleasure to meet Ramneek, one of Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow ambassadors at the IOC Youth Summit,” said Kholeif. “Her innovative and thoughtful ideas are inspiring. It is encouraging to see Samsung paving the way for young students around the world who believe in creating a more accessible and inclusive future through innovation. I hope the Solve for Tomorrow program continues to create meaningful opportunities for my fellow Young Leaders, and that together we can make a difference by combining technology and sport.”
     
    ▲ (From left) Sherief Kholeif and Ramneek Kaur Ahluwalia
     
    Notably, the “Social Change Through Sport & Technology” theme was selected through a public vote held during the Olympic Games in Paris last year. The theme reflects growing global concerns around sustainability and sport, encouraging young people to develop innovative solutions that demonstrate the positive social and environmental impact of sport.
     
    ▲ Ramneek Kaur Ahluwalia joins IOC Young Leaders for a group photo.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New report calculates NHS outdoor spaces save the NHS £82 million per year A report by researchers at the University of Aberdeen, commissioned by Public Health Scotland and SEFARI Gateway, calculates for the first time, the economic value of outdoor spaces in NHS Scotland sites.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    A report by researchers at the University of Aberdeen, commissioned by Public Health Scotland and SEFARI Gateway, calculates for the first time, the economic value of outdoor spaces in NHS Scotland sites.
    Published today by SEFARI Gateway,this is the first study in the world to look at the value of outdoor green spaces within hospitals, health centres and GP surgeries used by staff, patients and their families, and the public for walking and relaxing.
    The team asked people about their visits and how they valued different types of outdoor spaces. They then followed Office for National Statistics guidelines and used bespoke economic analysis to calculate the value in monetary terms.
    The survey of 2,449 adults across all fourteen regional NHS Scotland health boards found that people spend roughly 87 million hours a year in NHS outdoor spaces.
    The health benefits from these visits is valued at around £82 million a year, which is what it would cost the NHS to provide the same benefits through healthcare services.
    The authors say that in addition to supporting physical and mental health, outdoor spaces at NHS Scotland sites ‘offer value simply by being pleasant and accessible places for people to enjoy.’ When this broader value is factored in, these spaces are estimated to be worth around £125 per adult each year at health centres, and £146 per adult each year at hospitals.
    The project was jointly funded and supported by the SEFARI Gateway (Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation) and Public Health Scotland and will contribute to the implementation of the NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy building on previous research commissioned by Public Health Scotland and NatureScot.

    We believe these findings will be instrumental in shaping how NHS outdoor spaces are designed, maintained, and used across Scotland.” Dr Luis Loria-Rebolledo

    Charles Bestwick, Director of SEFARI Gateway said: “As well as providing significant health benefits to the public, the green spaces in the NHS estate can contribute to Net Zero targets as well as Scotland’s biodiversity strategy. The monetary value of the green spaces also helps provide information to the NHS when it comes to managing the NHS estate.”
    Dr Neil Chalmers, Health Economist at Public Health Scotland, said: “Half of NHS Scotland’s estates comprise of outdoor green spaces with park-like vegetation such as grass and trees. These areas are well frequented for walking and relaxing, with our research estimating that approximately half the population visited an NHS Scotland open space in the past year, leading to a total of 122 million estimated annual visits.
    “This has a real impact on the mental and physical health of those who visit these areas, as well as a positive knock-on effect on NHS services that can now be visualised in cost savings. This research underlines the importance of maintaining quality and accessible outdoor green spaces on the NHS estate in Scotland, so that everyone in society can continue to benefit from them.”
    Dr Luis Loria-Rebolledo, Research Fellow in the Health Economics Research Unit at the University of Aberdeen, who led the research added: “As the first study of its kind anywhere in the world, our research highlights the significant value of NHS Scotland’s open spaces, not only for their role in enhancing mental and physical health, but also in promoting social well-being and environmental sustainability.
    “These spaces are crucial for improving public health, offering people places to relax, recover, and exercise.
    “We believe these findings will be instrumental in shaping how NHS outdoor spaces are designed, maintained, and used across Scotland. Just as importantly, they offer valuable lessons that can be applied in healthcare settings around the world”

    Related Content

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: April crime statistics

    Source: New South Wales – News

    The number of robberies and related offences committed in South Australia have continued to decrease significantly, the latest crime statistics have revealed.

    The April rolling year crime statistics also reveal continuing strong declines in other offence categories including house break-ins, shop theft, car theft and homicides.

    The 13 per cent decrease in robbery and related offending – from 847 to 740 reported offences – in the April period is the fifteenth successive fall in reported offences in that category.

    Within that category aggravated robbery declined by 16 per cent – from 501 to 419 reported offences and non-aggravated robbery by 12 per cent – from 82 to 72 reported offences.

    While the majority of property related offences recorded a decrease in the rolling year period, acts intended to cause injury – which includes all assaults – recorded a minor increase.

    Within that category serious assault resulting in injury dropped by one per cent, or 34 offences, serious assault not resulting in injury rose by seven per cent, or 846 incidents, and common assault increased by one per cent, or 73 incidents.

    Police intelligence reveals that domestic abuse related assaults increased by 10.8 per cent in the month of April, from 843 offences reported to 934 offences reported. Just over 52 per cent of all assaults reported to police in April 2025 were related to domestic abuse, compared with 49.6 per cent in April 2024.

    The number of stranger assaults decreased in April with 312 incidents reported (17.4 per cent of assaults), compared with 391 offences reported (23 pr cent of assaults) in April 2024.

    The number of assaults involving a knife or other bladed weapon remained relatively stable in April 2025 with 129 offences reported compared with 121 offences reported in April 2024.

    The April rolling year figures reveal house break-ins declined by 11 per cent in the period from 5,917 to 5,265 reported offences. This followed an eight per cent decline in the March period, seven per cent in the February period and a five per cent decline in January.

    The number of non-residential break-ins declined by seven per cent from 3,709 to 3,437 reported offences. This followed five per cent declines in March and February.

    Shop theft also showed another significant decrease in the April period with a nine per cent reduction in offending reported – the sixth successive drop. There were 1,604 fewer offences reported in the April period – from 18,735 to 17,131 reported incidents.
    The continued reduction in both house break-ins and shop theft is attributable to ongoing proactive operations targeting recidivist offenders.

    Car theft and theft from a vehicle have both continued to decline in the period. Car theft decreased by seven per cent or 260 offences – from 3,766 to 3,506 offences. This followed a nine per cent drop in March, 11 per cent in February and 12 per cent decrease in January.

    Theft from a motor vehicle declined by 22 per cent in the period – from 9,920 to 7,736 reported offences. This followed a 23 per cent decline in March and a 22 per cent drop in February.

    The number of homicides committed in South Australia has continued to decrease with a 57 per cent decline in the April period – from 23 to 10 reported offences. This followed a 52 per cent decrease in the March period.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Learner rider detected travelling at 172km/h on icy highway

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Learner rider detected travelling at 172km/h on icy highway

    Friday, 13 June 2025 – 10:26 am.

    A learner rider has had his motorcycle confiscated after he was detected travelling at 172km/h on icy roads yesterday.
    The 18-year-old Newnham rider was detected on the Midland Highway at Perth before being intercepted at Epping Forest by highway patrol officers.
    Senior Constable Rockliff from Northern Road Policing Services said the teenager’s learner licence meant he was subject to a 90km/h speed restriction. 
    “The speed at which this rider was traveling was outright dangerous,” Senior Constable Rockliff said. 
     “It was minus 1 degrees, it was frosty, the roads were busy with commuting motorists, and this learner rider was travelling 82km/h above his 90km/h speed restriction.
    “This could have ended in tragedy for both the rider and other road users.”
    The rider was arrested and charged with a hooning-related offence. 
    His bike has been confiscated for 28 days and he will face court at a later date.
    Anyone with dash cam footage of a blue Kawasaki motorcycle traveling southbound on the Midland Highway from Launceston between 8:45am and 9am Thursday 12 June is asked to provide the footage via the public portal: https://www.police.tas.gov.au/what-we-do/traffic-policing/report/
    Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Grealish’s Club World Cup exclusion opens door for Man City exit

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

    Jack Grealish looks to be on borrowed time at Manchester City after the club left him out of its squad for the forthcoming Club World Cup.

    The 29-year-old player who joined for a British record 100 million pounds in the summer of 2021 from Aston Villa, has two years left on his contract, but after slipping down the pecking order with Pep Guardiola’s team last season, making just 32 appearances in all competitions, with most of those as a substitute, it now seems clear he has no future at the club.

    Manchester City’s Jack Grealish (R) is challenged by Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City and Inter Milan in Manchester, Britain, on Sept. 18, 2024. (Xinhua)

    City’s four summer signings, goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and midfielders Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki have all been named in the squad, along with Rodri Hernandez, although Mateo Kovacic misses out through injury and James McAtee has chosen to play for the England Under-21 side in the European Championships.

    Kevin de Bruyne has also not been included, even though his contract with City doesn’t expire until the end of June, when he will move to Napoli.

    Everton and Newcastle United are both reported to be interested in Grealish, although his high wages are a problem for any club looking to take him from the Etihad Stadium and a loan with City paying some of his wages is the most likely outcome.

    City kicks off its Club World Cup campaign against Moroccan side, Wydad AC on June 16th, before facing Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates and Italian giant Juventus.

    Full squad

    Goalkeepers: Marcus Bettinelli, Stefan Ortega Moreno, Ederson

    Defenders: Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Vitor Reis, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Abdukodir Khusanov

    Midfielders: Nico O’Reilly, Tijjani Reijnders, Jeremy Doku, Nico Gonzalez, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Matheus Nunes, Rayan Cherki, Claudio Echeverri, Phil Foden, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis

    Forwards: Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush

    MIL OSI China News –