NewzIntel.com

Category: Great Britain

  • MIL-OSI Security: WATCH: Prolific offenders targeted in Met Police shoplifting crackdown

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met Police officers have secured significant banning orders against two prolific shoplifters as part of their continued crackdown on retail crime.

    Local officers worked with retailers in Greenwich to identify and arrest Winston Wright who stole more than £2,500 worth of goods from stores in the area over four months, banning him from every Sainsbury’s, Boots and Co-op in England and Wales.

    In a separate investigation, officers in Haringey secured an order to ban Patrick Verry from every Greggs store in England and Wales after he targeted a store seven times.

    Across London the Met is prioritising neighbourhood policing by putting more officers into local teams to tackle issues such as shoplifting.

    Officers are working with business owners to target the most prolific offenders who cause fear to retail workers and have a negative impact on communities.

    Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, the Met’s lead for tackling retail crime, said:

    “The Met is focused on tackling the most prolific shoplifters like Wright and Verry. They cause fear to retail workers and their offending has a negative impact on communities.

    “We continue to work with local business owners to investigate reports of shoplifting, understand concerns and use different tactics to crackdown, including targeted operations and regular patrols.”

    Winston Wright, 44 (08.04.81), of Lewisham, pleaded guilty to eight counts of shoplifting and one count of commercial burglary at Croydon Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 6 May 2025.

    As well as being given a Criminal Behaviour Order which bans him from entering any Sainsbury’s, Boots and Co-op in England and Wales for three years, he’s also been banned from entering the Royal Borough of Greenwich for three years, jailed for three months and fined £200.

    During the course of the investigation officers gathered CCTV from various stores which helped identify Wright as the offender. As a result he was stopped in Deptford High Street on Thursday, 20 March by a PCSO who recognised him.

    Patrick Verry, 33 (02.04.92), of no fixed address, was caught in the act by officers at the store in Wood Green High Road on Thursday, 15 May. He pleaded guilty to six counts of theft from the same store at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 16 May.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Golar LNG Limited: 2025 AGM Results Notification

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Golar LNG Limited (the “Company”) advises that the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Company was held on May 20, 2024 at 10:00 am (Bermuda time) at 2nd Floor, The S.E. Pearman Building, 9 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda.  The audited consolidated financial statements for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024 were presented at the Meeting.

    The following resolutions were passed:

    1.   To set the maximum number of Directors to be not more than eight.
    2.   To resolve that vacancies in the number of Directors be designated as casual vacancies and that the Board of Directors be authorized to fill such vacancies as and when it deems fit.
    1.  To re-elect Tor Olav Trøim as a Director of the Company.
    2.  To re-elect Daniel W. Rabun as a Director of the Company.
    3.  To re-elect Carl E. Steen as a Director of the Company.
    4.  To re-elect Niels G. Stolt-Nielsen as a Director of the Company.
    5. To re-elect Lori Wheeler Naess as a Director of the Company.
    6. To elect Benoît de la Fouchardiere as a Director of the Company.
    7. To elect Mi Hong Yoon as a Director of the Company.
    8. To re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP of London, England as auditors and to authorise the Directors to determine their remuneration.
    9. To approve remuneration of the Company’s Board of Directors of a total amount of fees not to exceed US$2,000,000.00 for the year ended December 31st, 2025.

    Golar would like to thank Georgina Sousa and Thorleif Egeli who retired from Golar’s Board of Directors today after two decades of combined service to the Company. Their contribution to the governance and transformation of Golar from a shipping company to a pure play FLNG business has been invaluable and we wish them well.

    Following their election today as Directors, Golar also welcomes Benoît de la Fouchardiere and Mi Hong Yoon to its Board. Both have already contributed to Golar’s success – in the case of Benoît, through his part in contracting FLNG Hilli in Cameroon; and in the case of Mi Hong – through her role as Company Secretary.  The Company looks forward to benefiting from their relevant and extensive experience as it seeks to grow its leading FLNG offering.

    Hamilton, Bermuda
    May 20, 2025

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Outdated and irrelevant’: what do young Australians think of their schooling?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jun Eric Fu, Senior Research Fellow, Youth Research Collective, The University of Melbourne

    LBeddoe/Shutterstock

    Australia’s school system – and whether it is doing its job – is often under the microscope from politicians, experts and parents.

    The most recent NAPLAN results in 2024 triggered a wave of heated discussions after about one in three students were not meeting literacy and numeracy benchmarks.

    Education Minister Jason Clare is among those who also have serious concerns about rates of students who complete Year 12. In 2024, the retention rate of students between Year 7 and Year 12 was 79.9%. For government school students, it was 74%.

    But what do students themselves think about their schooling? Our new study asked recent school leavers about their experiences.

    Our research

    Our study draws on a 2023 survey as part of the Life Patterns research program, which follows different generations of young Australians after school.

    We surveyed more than 4,000 young people recruited from a diverse sample of 100 government, Catholic and independent schools in urban and regional areas of Victoria, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania.

    These young people completed high school in 2023 and were asked to comment on their school experiences.

    Students in the study were from public and private schools.
    pio3/Shutterstock

    Students are mostly satisfied, but …

    The participants rated their overall impression of school on a five-point scale, from very satisfied to very dissatisfied. About 60% of them were “quite satisfied” or “very satisfied”.

    Despite this broadly positive picture, many of them also expressed concerns about their education, feeling its current content did not prepare them for life after school.

    As one female student from a capital city told us:

    I feel like school doesn’t prepare us for the real world at all and it freaks me out.

    This sentiment was echoed by another female student from a regional city:

    School seems extremely disconnected from either knowledge or experience that will help with jobs, or life skills that will assist in becoming a good, productive, happy person.

    For many, this disconnect between the education on offer and the education they wanted contributed to a disengagement from school. A male student from a regional city said:

    I am committed to my education and a dedicated student, but find it hard to connect with some of the information we are learning as it seems outdated and irrelevant. I want to learn things that are going to improve my life.

    This follows researchers’ longstanding concerns the education system is not adequately setting students up for life outside school – and the complex social, political and economic changes they will confront.

    Don’t focus on uniforms

    Students also spoke about schools focusing on issues that do not matter to young people, such as students wearing the “correct” uniform or whether or not they have their phone at school.

    As one female student commented:

    Focus on more real issues. The debates about phones allowed at school or uniforms at school seem almost irrelevant when you compare them to the everyday common hardships and problems young people face.

    Too much stress

    A strong theme in young people’s responses was the amount of stress they faced with their studies. These feelings were often linked to heavy workloads (particularly in Year 11 and 12) and the pressure they felt to achieve certain grades.

    A male student from a country town said:

    […] the pressure and the expectations to do well in school is so high and caused a lot of stress and anxiety.

    Another male student from a capital city also felt:

    There is so much pressure on high school and how one exam can change the course of your future which isn’t true.

    This echoes other studies that query the focus on a single score (the ATAR) and supports alternative approaches to measuring education outcomes at the end of Year 12.

    Students said they faced too much stress in their senior years of school.
    GillianVann/Shutterstock

    More mental health support

    Amid ongoing reports of young people struggling with their mental health, mental health also emerged as a major concern in students’ responses.

    A male student from a capital city told us young people were “battling every day” and they needed more free, accessible resources and support from school staff.

    They also saw a connection between the pressures of schooling and mental health concerns. As one female student told us:

    There is too much expected from students at school, leading to burn out and mental illnesses.

    What next?

    Our study shows many young people care deeply about their education. But they also feel it isn’t working for them or preparing them for life beyond school.

    This suggests government institutions and schools need to be doing more to include young people’s perspectives as they design and implement curricula.

    By recognising young people as active stakeholders in schools,
    education shifts from something happening to them to something happening with them. This approach can foster a stronger sense of belonging, ownership and engagement with learning.

    Jun Eric Fu works on the Life Patterns research program, which is funded by the Australian Research Council.

    Julia Cook receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. ‘Outdated and irrelevant’: what do young Australians think of their schooling? – https://theconversation.com/outdated-and-irrelevant-what-do-young-australians-think-of-their-schooling-256889

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Graduates and movers rejoice: Total Wireless introduces $35 home internet with special offer on router

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Graduates and movers rejoice: Total Wireless introduces $35 home internet with special offer on router

    NEW YORK – As graduates embark on the exciting journey of moving to a new apartment or even a new city, Total Wireless, a leading prepaid brand powered by Verizon’s 5G network, ensures they can stay connected without breaking the bank. Total Wireless is in your corner, offering unbeatable home internet deals that combine affordability with top-notch quality.

    Unlimited Total Wireless Home Internet for Just $35 Per Month

    Customers can now enjoy unlimited home internet for just $35 per month with Auto Pay, when bundled with the Total Wireless 5G Unlimited Plan or higher*. Total Wireless is committed to providing a stress-free internet experience, featuring no long-term contracts, a 5-year price guarantee, and easy setup.

    Exclusive Discounts on Total Wireless Home Internet Routers

    To make the transition even smoother, for a limited time, customers can get a new Home Internet Router for just $24.99 when activating new services on the Total Wireless Home Internet plan. This offer provides exceptional, unrivaled prices and value, giving customers significant savings during moments that matter. Limit one device per account. For more details, visit TotalWireless.com

    Save More with Bundled Plans with Fios Service

    In addition to these fantastic deals, customers can access exclusive savings when combining eligible mobile and internet services. Beginning May 28, customers who have both an eligible Verizon Fios Home Internet plan and mobile phone plan – including from Total Wireless, Straight Talk Wireless, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, Walmart Family Mobile, Visible, or Verizon Prepaid — can enjoy a $15 per month discount on their Verizon Fios home internet bill, saving up to $180 per year. This discount can be combined with the $10 Auto-Pay discount for even greater savings, up to $300 per year. For more details, please visit https://www.verizon.com/discounts/phone-home-internet-bundle/?type=valueoffer.

    Fios Home Internet Available in Select Total Wireless Stores

    Starting June 5, qualified Total Wireless stores in the Fios footprint across New England and the Mid-Atlantic will begin offering Fios Home Internet plans for in-store purchase. This marks the first time Fios is available in select Total Wireless retail store locations, giving Total Wireless customers access to the fast and reliable speeds of fiber optic internet. Check www.totalwireless.com/stores/ to see if your local Total Wireless store offers Fios Home Internet, starting on 6/5.

    “We understand how stressful and financially straining it can be for anyone who’s moving, graduating, or starting a new chapter in their lives,” said David Kim, Chief Revenue Officer at Verizon Value. “Total Wireless is always in your corner, offering affordable home internet that fits your life. Whether it’s our $35 Total Wireless Home Internet plan or access to the fast, 100% fiber network of Fios, now also available in select Total Wireless stores, customers can enjoy even greater value during life’s big transitions.” 

    Total Wireless Home Internet empowers customers to stay connected with loved ones, stream their favorite shows and movies, and work or study from home effortlessly. Experience fast, reliable internet with Total Wireless, with connectivity for all your needs.

    For more information, visit totalwireless.com or your nearest Total Wireless store.

    About Total Wireless

    Total Wireless is a fast-growing, no-contract wireless provider covered by the Verizon 5G network, with over 1,000 exclusive stores across the country, and counting. On a mission to raise the bar in prepaid wireless, Total Wireless disrupts the status quo by offering more value than any other no-contract provider. Total Wireless offers plans with unlimited data and access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra-Wideband network, prices guaranteed for five years (taxes and fees included), select free 5G phones with qualifying purchase plans, and more.

    Total Wireless is part of the Verizon Value portfolio of prepaid brands, which includes Straight Talk, Visible, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, SafeLink, Walmart Family Mobile, and Verizon Prepaid. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) is one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services.

    For more information on Total Wireless, visit one of its exclusive storefronts across the country, or check out TotalWireless.com.

    *$15/mo discount when bundled with Total 5G Unlimited or Total 5G+ Unlimited plans; additional $10/mo Auto Pay discount upon enrollment. Auto Pay discount applies the month after you enroll.

    **$15/mo savings on Verizon Fios Home Internet plans when combined with any eligible Total Wireless mobile phone plan and $10/mo Auto Pay on Fios Home Internet plan. Separate enrollment required for Fios Home Internet plans and Auto Pay on Fios Home Internet plans required. Discount will be removed if you do not maintain service on an eligible phone plan or Fios Home Internet plan, or if you do not maintain Auto Pay on Fios Home Internet plan. Fios availability, coverage, and speeds may vary based on your address.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia Woman Who Trafficked Over 10 Pounds of Methamphetamine Hidden Inside Bag of Dog Food Sentenced to Decade in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Georgia woman was sentenced on May 14, 2025 in federal court in Boston for her role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that trafficked narcotics from Mexico into the United States.

    Brooke Logan Paniagua, 28, of Dalton, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 48 months of supervised release. In January 2025, Paniagua pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.  

    On Sept. 25, 2022, the DTO informed a confidential source that a female courier would be transporting 12 pounds of methamphetamine from Georgia to Massachusetts. On Sept. 27, 2022, Paniagua called the confidential source to coordinate the time and location to meet to complete the sale of the methamphetamine. Paniagua informed the confidential source that the methamphetamine was hidden inside a 50-pound bag of dog food.  
        
    On Sept. 27, 2022, Paniagua arrived at the agreed-upon location and notified the confidential source that she had arrived at the location. During a search of her person, a .22 caliber Ruger handgun loaded with eight rounds of ammunition was located in Paniagua’s back pocket. A search of Paniagua’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of a large, partially opened bag of dog food that contained five plastic containers filled with 12.3 pounds of 97% pure methamphetamine. 
            
    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, and the Natick, Newton and Waltham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: English schools to increase mental health support – why they need to get children involved in designing it

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma McKenna, Fellow – Medical Sociology, University of Birmingham

    BalanceFormCreative/Shutterstock

    The UK government has announced the continuing rollout of the provision of mental health support teams in schools in England, with the intention of providing six in ten pupils with this support by March 2026.

    One in five children over the age of eight has a probable mental health condition in England today. Mental health support teams are needed to support children and young people early with their mental health and wellbeing to help prevent problems escalating.

    Mental health support teams are made up of experts who work with a number of schools in their local area. They collaborate with school staff, provide group or one-to-one sessions for pupils, parents and carers, and help schools create a culture that promotes mental health and wellbeing.

    With colleagues, I work on research investigating mental health in schools. This has involved assessing the early progress of the mental health support teams – the first ones were created between 2018-19 as part of the then Conservative government’s trailblazer initiative, which aimed to test out approaches and solutions to complex societal problems in specific regions.

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

    Our research looked in particular at one of the key purposes of the mental health support teams – to help schools set up or improve a “whole school” approach to mental health support.

    A whole school approach means that all areas of the school or college work together to put mental health and wellbeing at the heart of their school community. This contrasts to standalone mental health activities that aren’t grounded within the everyday school culture. For instance, a school might hold an assembly on wellbeing but continue to implement a behaviour policy that heavily relies on punishment and therefore risks affecting children’s wellbeing.

    School culture

    Well-designed and implemented whole school approaches can have positive effects on children and young people’s wellbeing and contribute to the prevention and reduction of mental health problems. We also know that children are more likely to achieve at school if they feel like they belong, can participate and have autonomy, all fostered by the whole school approach.

    An example of a whole school approach is identifying and supporting children and young people early with mental health support. It can include “global learning”, where learning about mental health and wellbeing becomes a core part of schools’ assemblies, clubs and project-based learning. However, these are just some of a number of combined approaches to a whole school approach.

    In our research, children and young people in schools and colleges where mental health support teams had helped put whole school approach activities in place, told us that they were visible and felt seen. Teachers reached out to them about their wellbeing, either in classrooms through emotional check-ins, or through special lessons focused on mental health attached to curriculum teaching.

    Feeling like there was somewhere to go, someone to talk to, and be heard, made a clear difference to children and young people.

    However, we found that some schools were not including children and young people in their development of whole school mental health strategies. In one of the participating schools, mental health support team work was only known about by the child who had experience of the team. In this school, there was no discernible whole school work being undertaken in addition to direct support.

    The key missing ingredient to really support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is for them to feel that they have agency – some input – into the activities that help them.

    Feeling that they have agency and input into decisions that affect them is good for children’s wellbeing.
    Nadya Lukic/Shutterstock

    Also, involving children in developing activities like this can help them to feel valued and included. This in itself is good for mental health.

    Creating together

    With my colleagues at The University of Birmingham’s Institute of Mental Health Youth Advisory Group and National Children’s Bureau, we worked with children and school staff to put together England’s first guide to creating a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing in schools with pupils. The set of resources include a structured classroom activity, introductory video and practical guide.

    The classroom activity prompts a creative conversation with children about what wellbeing means to them, how their school supports their wellbeing, and what more the school could do. The guide includes practical suggestions about how to talk to pupils about mental health and wellbeing at school in a safe, supportive and inclusive way. It also offers ideas about how to use the information from the classroom activity to support pupils.

    The activity itself asks children to reflect on where and how their wellbeing is supported at school, alongside a focus on the people, places and practices that might help them. The overall aim is to develop a child-centred, whole school approach, one which focuses on the things that matter most to children about their emotional wellbeing.

    Whole school approaches could provide schools with a more holistic way of supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Involving them in all areas of design and implementation could help to keep wellbeing and mental health at the heart of schools.

    Gemma McKenna receives funding from University of Birmingham, Impact Fund.
    Affiliations include: Health Services Research UK ,HSR UK, https://hsruk.org/
    TONIBOBANDLOU CIC https://www.tonibobandlou.com/

    – ref. English schools to increase mental health support – why they need to get children involved in designing it – https://theconversation.com/english-schools-to-increase-mental-health-support-why-they-need-to-get-children-involved-in-designing-it-252121

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Starmer says migrants should speak English – but all of the UK’s languages are important for integration

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mike Chick, Senior Lecturer in TESOL/English, University of South Wales

    William Perugini/Shutterstock

    When Keir Starmer said: “If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English”, it laid bare an assumption – that English is the only language that counts in the UK.

    This view not only overlooks the UK’s rich linguistic diversity, but also runs counter to the language policies being developed across the devolved nations.

    While the UK government’s latest proposals on immigration treat English proficiency as the main pathway to integration, governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are taking different approaches.

    Immigration is a matter controlled by Westminster. But integration, including language education, is devolved. That means each UK nation sets its own direction.

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

    England

    Despite frequent political emphasis on English language learning and testing as key to integration, England does not have a national strategy for migrant or refugee integration. It also does not have an England-wide policy for teaching English for speakers of other languages (Esol).

    Instead, decisions about language classes are made locally but provision is uneven. In some areas, support is well-organised and accessible. In others, it’s barely there.

    Despite the lack of national leadership, the Esol sector in England has long benefited from grassroots activism. Organisations like the National Association for Teaching English and Community Languages to Adults and English for Action have been vocal in campaigning for better funding. Researchers and teachers also continue to call for a joined-up strategy for migrant and refugee integration.

    Wales

    By contrast, the Welsh government has made language education a core part of its progressive integration policies. Its ambition to become the world’s first “nation of sanctuary” is backed up by practical measures. This includes a dedicated language education policy for migrants, focused primarily on Esol – the only one of its kind in the UK.

    The first national Esol strategy was published in 2014, revised in 2018, and will be updated this year following a review.

    The introduction of Welsh as an element of migrant language education is helping to build a more inclusive, multicultural society too. It shows learners that all languages, including their mother tongue, have a role to play in a modern, multilingual nation.

    Scotland

    Since 2014, Scotland has implemented three refugee integration strategies. The new Scots refugee integration strategy has been internationally recognised as a model of good practice. It adopts a multilingual, intercultural approach, emphasising that language learning should include home languages and the language or languages of the new community, which may include Gaelic, Scots and English.

    Scotland had two successive adult Esol strategies from 2007 to 2020. These were developed in consultation with Esol learners and detailed clear progression routes into further training, education and employment. But they were discontinued in favour of a broader adult learning strategy in 2022 which covers all adult learners rather than just the needs of migrants.

    It was a decision criticised by some due to concerns about losing focus on the specific needs of Esol learners, and reducing the voice of Esol learners and teachers in Scotland.

    Northern Ireland

    In Northern Ireland, there is no dedicated migrant language policy yet. But its draft refugee integration strategy does at least acknowledge the importance of language in helping migrants feel “valued and respected”.

    In 2022, the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act granted official status to the Irish language, and to Ulster-Scots as a minority language. Nevertheless, the Northern Ireland refugee integration strategy focuses solely on English language classes as the primary language education provision.

    Welsh for speakers of other languages.

    What all UK nations share, however, is chronic underfunding. Adult education, where Esol funding sits across all four nations, now faces yet more cuts meaning many language learners will continue to face long waiting lists for classes.

    But how language education for migrants, especially migrants seeking sanctuary in the UK is perceived, organised and provided is critical to fostering inclusion, promoting integration and bestowing a sense of belonging. Developing competency in the dominant language or languages of the host nation can enable migrants to navigate health, housing or social security systems. It can help them cope with the needs of daily life and to use their skills and knowledge to enter work or education.



    Read more:
    How the Welsh language is being promoted to help migrants feel at home

    Many people seeking sanctuary have experienced trauma from undergoing forced migration. This makes it vital that language provision is trauma-informed and recognises a learner’s existing multilingual skills. It’s also important that it is shaped around their needs, not just on externally imposed assessments of English proficiency.

    The value of multilingualism

    Multilingual education is more than just a nice thing to have.
    There is growing evidence that valuing the languages refugees already speak, and recognising their linguistic skills as assets, improves wellbeing, builds confidence and enhances social inclusion.

    Too often in the UK, language learning is treated as a condition for acceptance, rather than a right that can enable belonging. That risks undermining the very integration that policymakers claim to support.

    If the UK is serious about being a modern, inclusive and multicultural state, it must embrace the reality that it is also multilingual, and that different nations may choose different routes to welcome those seeking sanctuary.

    The authors wish to thank their respective universities for the support they have received in researching this issue. They would also like to thank their co-researchers Sylvia Warnecke and Mel Engman and their co-authors on their recently published policy briefing.

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

    – ref. Starmer says migrants should speak English – but all of the UK’s languages are important for integration – https://theconversation.com/starmer-says-migrants-should-speak-english-but-all-of-the-uks-languages-are-important-for-integration-255286

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Government reacts to UK-EU deal

    Source: Scottish Government

    Fishing deal puts any benefits “at risk”.

    External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson has welcomed the closer co-operation between the UK and the EU following a series of new agreements but said not involving the Scottish Government in any negotiations was “an affront to devolution”.

    In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Robertson said the removal of obstacles to food and agricultural exports, greater support for energy trading and the UK rejoining the Erasmus exchange scheme for students, were all positive aspects of the UK-EU agreement.

    But Mr Robertson criticised the lack of consultation with the Scottish Government on key aspects of the deal, particularly on fishing.

    He said:

    “The Scottish Government welcomes the agreement as it represents long-overdue momentum in rebuilding our relationship with the European Union. But no agreement can deliver the economic, social and security benefits we lost with Brexit in 2020.

    “We argued for an ambitious package in the interests of people and businesses across Scotland, and there are some positive indicators here, including the agriculture, food and drink agreement which will reduce market barriers; and enhanced cooperation on energy and climate, and a clear intention to rejoin the Erasmus exchange programme.

    “The fact that this agreement – not least on fisheries – was reached without the explicit engagement of the devolved governments on the negotiation detail is not just an affront to devolution, it has put at risk, and will continue to put at risk, the benefits of any commitments for the people of Scotland.”

    He added:

    “We still believe Scotland’s best future lies as an independent country within the European Union but we will engage constructively and positively in the next phase of negotiations. We also hope to see the UK Government work collaboratively with devolved governments in developing its priorities – as the EU does with its Member States.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Modernising legal services

    Source: Scottish Government

    New laws passed to improve transparency and accountability of the sector.

    New laws to modernise and improve the way legal services are regulated in Scotland has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

    The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill will improve how legal services are regulated and introduce a more flexible and consumer-focused system that provides clearer and swifter redress for complaints through greater transparency and accountability.   

    The Bill benefits the legal profession by simplifying regulatory structures and promoting innovation and competition, intended to increase access to justice. Also, by removing restrictions on third sector bodies, it aims to help charities better support the most vulnerable in society. 

    The legislation ensures regulation remains independent and fair by empowering The Lord President to better oversee and improve the functions of legal services within Scotland, upholding the high standards of Scotland’s legal community

    Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown said:

    “Scotland’s legal sector plays an integral role in maintaining the rule of law and upholding justice. From individuals seeking advice in family law matters to businesses navigating complex commercial disputes, there will always be a need and demand for accessible, efficient and accountable legal services.

    “The Bill is about improving the everyday experience of people who need legal help and ensuring that legal services are delivered in a way that is fair, equitable and accessible for all and making it better equipped to serve the people of Scotland in an ever-evolving legal landscape.

    “The journey of this Bill has been a rigorous and collaborative process, involving extensive consultation, including with the legal sector and consumers, to ensure it reflects the interests of all those who interact with the legal system.”

    Background

    Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Questions HHS Secretary Kennedy on Elimination of LIHEAP

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.
    Washington, D.C. – At a hearing to review the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, questioned HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on the proposed elimination of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). 
    During the Q&A, Secretary Kennedy committed to funding LIHEAP if appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.
    At the urging of Senator Collins, HHS released more than $400 million in FY 2025 funding for LIHEAP earlier this month.  Maine has received $41.6 million in FY 2025 LIHEAP funding.
    Q&A with Secretary Kennedy:
    Senator Collins:
    The LIHEAP program, which we’ve talked about, is absolutely vital for thousands of older Mainers and low-income families.  It helps them avoid the constant worry of having to choose between keeping warm, buying essential foods and medications, and other basic necessities.
    Now, I was pleased to see the release of the rest of the Fiscal Year 2025 funds, but the Administration’s new budget seeks to eliminate what is truly a critical program.
    Will you work with this Committee in trying to restore LIHEAP so that we can avoid, literally, seniors and low-income families not being able to keep warm in the winter?
    Secretary Kennedy:
    Yeah, absolutely, and I’m from New England myself.  My brother, for 40 years, has run Citizens Energy, which provides low-cost home heating oil to families in New England.  And so many people have come to me over the years and said to me, thank you, your brother saved my life because I didn’t have to choose between food and heat.
    I was on the Navajo reservation three weeks ago, and Navajo President Buu Nygren said to me, at this point, if we cut LIHEAP, Navajo will die from it.  So, I understand the critical historical importance of this program.
    President Trump’s rationale and OMB’s rationale is that President Trump’s energy policies are going to lower the cost of energy so that everybody will get lower cost heating oil, and in that case, this program would simply be another subsidy to the fossil fuel industry.
    If that doesn’t happen, and Congress chooses to appropriate the money, I, of course, will spend it.  I’ve already directed the spending of $400 million in this year’s budget.  Do that, and I will work with you to make sure that those families do not suffer in that way.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Government must urgently restore ambition on climate

    Source: Scottish Greens

    20 May 2025

    Ross Greer demands SNP call in Flamingo Land decision

    The Scottish Greens have described Planning Minister Ivan McKee’s refusal this afternoon to stop Flamingo Land mega-resort application as a ‘hammer blow’ to Loch Lomond’s world-famous natural environment and to the local community in Balloch.

    In response to the Planning Minister’s claim that it would be ‘inappropriate’ to comment on a live planning application, Mr Greer raised the example from 2008 when Scottish Ministers, not civil servants, intervened to overrule Aberdeenshire Council and grant permission to Donald Trump’s golf course at Menie.

    Speaking in response to a topical question in Parliament from Scottish Green MSP and Save Loch Lomond campaigner Ross Greer, Mr McKee stated, “I do not intend to recall this appeal.”

    This comes following the announcement on Friday that Scottish Government officials have overturned the unanimous decision of Loch Lomond and the Trossach National Park’s board to reject the mega-resort application and will instead grant it permission, subject to a new agreement being signed.

    Flamingo Land’s plans would see two hotels, a waterpark, over a hundred woodland lodges, 372 parking spaces, a monorail and more crammed onto land beside Loch Lomond at Balloch.

    The application was unanimously rejected by the National Park’s board following a public hearing in September 2024. Shortly before Christmas, the developer lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government, seeking to overturn that rejection.

    Ross Greer said:

    “This cowardly decision by Scottish Ministers is a hammer blow to Loch Lomond and the community in Balloch. They have the power to intervene and stop Flamingo Land’s destructive mega-resort from going ahead, but will not do so.

    “Ministers were happy to step in when it helped an American billionaire trash the Menie dunes for the sake of a golf course, but when it comes to protecting our world-famous natural environment, they refuse to act.

    “The Flamingo Land application was opposed by experts, including the Scottish Government’s own environment watchdog and the National Park’s planning team. It flies in the face of our efforts to tackle the climate and nature crisis and would heap more misery on local residents with the huge amount of additional traffic it would cause.

    “It is absolutely staggering that officials overturned the Park board’s decision, but it is so much worse that Ministers are backing them up. This is a Scottish Government willing to step in to help American billionaires, but not when Scotland’s world-famous natural environment needs protection.

    “Our campaign to save Loch Lomond from Flamingo Land continues. The Scottish Government still has time to change course. Add your voice to the campaign at www.greens.scot/LochLomond”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 20 May 2025 News release Director-General’s Award for Global Health given to Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck and Professor Sir Brian Greenwood

    Source: World Health Organisation

    In recognition of their lifetime achievements in global health, specifically in malaria elimination and beyond, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has given his Award for Global Health this year to Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck and Professor Sir Brian Greenwood.  

    The Director-General’s Award for Global Health, established in 2019, was conferred during the High-Level segment on Tuesday, 20 May, at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly and this year included an honorary lifetime achievement award to each recipient.  

    “Their invaluable contributions have helped to alleviate the burden of malaria and other vaccine-preventable diseases and to build sustainable health system capacity in Africa,” said Dr Tedros.

    Noting Professor Coll Seck’s achievements, Dr Tedros said, “While serving as Senegal’s Minister of Health, Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck led landmark reforms, expanded universal access to care and integrated disease control programmes.” 

    In addition to making significant contributions to scientific literature, Professor Coll Seck was, from 2004–2011, the Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria (RMB) partnership, where she mobilized political will to accelerate malaria interventions in low-income countries.  

    She has also been active on several high-profile boards and advisory groups, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, PATH, and other international NGOs and initiatives working on health financing, vaccines, and health system strengthening. She is currently the President of Forum Galien Afrique.

    Professor Coll Seck was born in Senegal and trained as a physician with a specialization in infectious diseases. She earned her medical degree from the University of Dakar and pursued further specialization in bacteriology and virology in France.

    “I’ve had the privilege of contributing to notable progress but I’ve also borne witness to ongoing challenges and emerging emergencies whether they be in terms of climate, demography or technology. This prize is all the more important in that it symbolizes trust in the values that I defend: solidarity between peoples, science in the service of humanity and the leadership of women in the health system,” said Professor Coll Seck.

    Professor Greenwood is best known for his pivotal work in malaria control. He has also played a central role in shaping global health policy and research strategies, serving on numerous advisory boards, including those of WHO.

    “Over the last five decades, Professor Sir Greenwood performed pioneering research and made major contributions to infectious disease control. His work on malaria has been instrumental in shaping modern approaches to control this devastating disease. His contributions range from the introduction of insecticide-treated bed nets to groundbreaking trials for the RTS,S malaria vaccine, the first vaccine to be recommended for widespread use,” said Dr Tedros.

    Professor Greenwood’s early career focused on infectious disease research in Nigeria and The Gambia, where he lived for decades and led a multidisciplinary programme targeting diseases like malaria, pneumonia, measles, and HIV2. In The Gambia, he demonstrated the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets in reducing child mortality and morbidity and contributed to malaria control through seasonal antimalarial drug administration.

    In 1996, Professor Greenwood returned to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, continuing his research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He contributed to the successful use of the MenAfriVac vaccine in the African meningitis belt, which helped stop epidemics in Chad. He also advocated for combining seasonal vaccination with seasonal malaria chemoprevention. 

    Reflecting on his career, which began in Nigeria as a young doctor about 60 years ago, Professor Greenwood said, “The pediatric wards were full of measles, meningitis, malaria, polio, there were still even occasions with smallpox coming to hospital. The under-5 child mortality was about 400 per thousand in parts of west Africa. So, how that’s changed in one person’s lifetime. Many of those diseases are not gone but are much reduced and there has been a dramatic improvement in under-5 child mortality. In The Gambia where I also worked, that’s now 40, a 10-fold drop.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Short term let renewals extended from one to three years

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Where there have been no complaints, the renewal period for secondary short term let licences in Edinburgh is being extended from one to three years.

    Short term let renewals extended from one to three years

    The change was agreed yesterday (Monday, 19 May) by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Regulatory Committee. Earlier this year the committee made other changes following a consultation with residents and the industry last summer on how the new licensing scheme is working in the Capital.

    Cllr Neil Ross Regulatory Convener said:

    We had always committed to reviewing the licensing scheme after it had been operating for a year and we did that last summer. We made some improvements to our policy at the beginning of year, following feedback from residents and the industry, and this is the final change agreed at Committee. The intention is to make our scheme as fair and reasonable as we can for residents, visitors and operators.

    I will also be writing to the Scottish Government’s Minister of Housing to ask for greater clarity on short term let licensing condition MC13 (planning permission), which some residents and  short term let operators find confusing, and to see how this might be addressed.

    Published: May 20th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Steel signing celebrated at Lower Derwent Valley NNR

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Steel signing celebrated at Lower Derwent Valley NNR

    A ceremony has taken place to mark progress made on the construction of Lower Derwent Valley NNR’s new volunteer, community and nature recovery science hub.

    Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve

    Wintering birds, such as whooper swan, wigeon, pintail and lapwing, who are departing the Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve (NNR) for their epic 4000Km journeys will see a big change on their return next winter.   

    A new volunteer, community and nature recovery science hub featuring a wildlife watch tower, a laboratory and meeting space is currently under construction as part of essential research into the reserve’s birdlife, which are of European significance. 

    The new facility will include overnight bunk accommodation for visiting research groups and university students. It will also host training courses aimed at boosting learning and development in conservation. Natural England staff and volunteers hope the building will encourage wider public involvement in nature recovery, positioning the reserve as both a biological hotspot and a hub for environmental action.  

    In addition to its conservation and scientific roles, the hub will be used by the NHS to support health and wellbeing initiatives. Research shows that connecting with nature, even through simple actions like listening to birdsong or watching insects, can improve mental wellbeing and reduce anxiety. 

    To mark construction progress and to coincide with NNR week, a steel signing ceremony took place on Monday 19 May. Staff and volunteers from the reserve, alongside the project’s contractor Britcon, signed one of the steel beams as a way of recognising how far the project has come and the people contributing to its success. 

    Steel signing at Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve. L-R: Nick Mobbs (Senior Site Manager Britcon), Craig Ralston (Senior Reserve Manager at Natural England) Justina Edge (RLB) Matt Searston (Commercial Director Britcon)

    The building’s design and materials have been chosen to complement the surrounding environment, with biodiversity net gain measures in place to enhance local habitats.  

    A new reedbed has also been created as part of a sustainability volunteering day which saw Brtitcon staff and their families plant more than 20,000 reeds. The event was organised in memory of Ashley Kent who was Britcon’s Commercial Manager, a wonderful soul, someone that always put themselves forward to help other people. He was a champion of mental health awareness, a cause that was close to his heart. He died after a short illness in October 2024 aged just 32.

    Craig Ralston, Senior Reserve Manager at Natural England, said: 

    The Lower Derwent Valley NNR is as important for its grassland and breeding and wintering grounds for birds as York Minster and its Roman walls are to York’s history.  Both the built heritage of York and the internationally important floodplains of the Lower Derwent Valley are up there on the world stage, and this investment will help us build and grow upon that to help nature recover. 

    This new facility is a unique opportunity to research, restore and protect nature, both within the reserve and across the wider landscape, by working closely with our partners and local communities. 

    We know that growth will be even better for people if it’s nature positive. The new volunteer, community and nature recovery science hub will be a powerful tool with multiple benefits. Once completed, it will break down research barriers for the reserve’s birdlife, which are of European significance, and build sustainable growth for future visitor numbers. This will ensure that that local communities have easy access to the opportunities and benefits that come from a healthy natural environment.

    Don Stewart, Strategic Director at Britcon, said: 

    We’re incredibly proud to have been appointed as the main contractor for this important research project at the Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve. 

    As a regionally based, certified carbon neutral business, Britcon is fully committed to supporting biodiversity gains. Through our award-winning Britcon Zero strategy, we will continue to promote sustainable construction techniques and maximise social value outcomes by prioritising local supplier selection and community engagement. 

    It’s a privilege to help create a space that will support nature recovery, facilitate important scientific work, and deliver health and wellbeing benefits for many visitors and stakeholders.

    The Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve covers more than 600 hectares of species-rich floodplain meadows along the River Derwent in Yorkshire. It supports nationally and internationally important populations of breeding, migrating and wintering birds, as well as highly valuable wet grassland habitats.

    Britcon and Natural England are working with partners Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK) that are providing services including NEC Project Management & Supervisor, Principal Designer (including Building Regulations) and overall Project Coordination for the nature reserve volunteer, community, nature and science hub.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Coin by Palestinian writer Yasmin Zaher wins the Dylan Thomas Prize – an expert from the judging panel explains why

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel G. Williams, Professor of English Literature, Swansea University

    Yasmin Zaher’s remarkable novel The Coin has won the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize for writers under the age of 40.

    This is not a story that begins at the beginning. Instead, its narrator starts with dirt and an obsession with cleanliness, but suggests later that the coin of the title – an Israeli shekel that she accidentally swallowed on a family road trip in which her parents were killed in a car crash – would have been an equally appropriate place to begin.

    Long forgotten, the swallowed coin begins to make its presence felt, somewhere in her body, following her move to America. The narrator is a wealthy young Palestinian woman, teaching boys at a New York City middle school. Her wealth, however, is in the hands of a brother who controls her allowance. She responds by developing a scheme to resell luxury handbags with a homeless con-artist, known throughout as “Trenchcoat”.

    This is one of several attempts at shaping the world around her: she revels in her sexuality and ability to redefine herself through fashionable clothes and accessories; she teaches her class about black power and takes them on a trip to listen to the “dagger poems” of a black nationalist poet in New Jersey.

    I assume this poet is Amiri Baraka since they eat “Black Dada Nihilismus” burgers, a reference to his poem of the same name. But such acts of resistance, if not futile, are limited. Like the swallowed coin, the levers of control, whether material or psychic, lie out of reach as we witness the narrator’s gradual unravelling.

    It is perhaps appropriate that a novel set in New York should win the prize named after Swansea’s most famous poet. New York both enticed and frightened Dylan Thomas. It was the city in which he died. The city, also, in which he recorded the ground-breaking reading of A Child’s Christmas in Wales.

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    In that story, as in his earlier Return Journey, his childhood self is a ghostly presence wandering among the “blitzed flat graves” of shops “marbled with snow and headstoned with fences”. The snow hides devastation. The destruction of the city that Thomas knew as a child. The 44 air raids mounted on Swansea between 1940 and 1943 killed 390 people. And it’s the similar loss of people and places, and the suffering in Gaza today, which Zaher’s novel examines.

    Palestine is a persistent and troubling presence in the The Coin. For Dylan the devastation of Swansea was a metonym for a wider world where civilians were increasingly the victims of war. His world is, regrettably, still ours in that sense. The Coin is a profound meditation on our contemporary world and our complicity in the destruction of another place and people.

    In a moving scene, the narrator recalls a Jewish friend, “a very gentle girl who dreamed of becoming a ballerina”. She lived in a house that once belonged to “a Palestinian family that had been expelled in 1948”. The friend tells her about two underground rooms in the garden. One of the rooms, “the poop room”, allows access to the second which contains “a big wooden chest full of treasures and gold”. The narrator keeps “thinking of that secret chamber off the shit room, the wooden chest inside, full of silverware and gold of the family who thought they would return.”

    The swallowed coin. The inaccessible allowance. The wooden chest full of treasures and gold. Unreachable currency functions as a powerful symbolic centre connecting the brief scenes and meditations that constitute this appropriately fragmented novel. Lost somewhere in the narrator’s entrails, removed from economic exchange, the coin belongs with the excrement and detritus of urban life, which is the object of the narrator’s disgusted obsessions.

    New York in this novel is a repository of failed circulation – the filth of the city’s streets offering a gothic underside to the endless flows of capitalism, frustrating the narrator’s obsessive attempts at keeping herself clean. Narratives and circulation end in the stasis of dirt. Palestinian history ends in dispossession. Swallowed coin, inaccessible allowance and a buried treasure chest are symbolic repositories of Palestinian traumatic memory.

    Zaher shows us how the novel form can still offer a unique way of understanding the world, of mapping our contemporary disorientation. It does this not by offering clarity, but by lingering in the spaces where movement, value and meaning break down. This is a novel about circulation – of money, of bodies and of meaning.

    The swallowed coin is itself a kind of resistance, a refusal to go along with the restless movement of capital that defines our world. The coin refuses liquidity and thereby refuses complicity; its removal from the economic system mimics a kind of muted protest. Beneath the novel’s often frenetic and energetic surface hides a resistant counter-politics of inaction.

    Daniel G. Williams was a judge of this years’ Dylan Thomas Prize.

    – ref. The Coin by Palestinian writer Yasmin Zaher wins the Dylan Thomas Prize – an expert from the judging panel explains why – https://theconversation.com/the-coin-by-palestinian-writer-yasmin-zaher-wins-the-dylan-thomas-prize-an-expert-from-the-judging-panel-explains-why-257063

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grenfell Tower next steps

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    Grenfell Tower next steps

    An update about the Grenfell Tower site.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Grenfell Tower next steps

    PDF, 175 KB, 3 pages

    Grenfell Tower next steps

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    Details

    The government recognises that Grenfell Tower has a deep personal significance to those most affected by the tragedy and that all work at the Grenfell Tower site is sensitive. We are continuing to share information about the Tower, and listen to bereaved families, survivors and residents in the immediate community. 

    In this community update, we provide information about how the community can speak to us, and what to expect from the next stages as we prepare for work to carefully take down Grenfell Tower. We provide details of how we can support the community to mark the anniversary in June, and pay respects at the site. The update also includes information about health and wellbeing support, and how to get in touch with us. 

    The content of this update reflects information that has been sent directly to bereaved family members, survivors and residents in the immediate community.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Foreign Secretary statement, 20 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Oral statement to Parliament

    Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Foreign Secretary statement, 20 May 2025

    Statement by Foreign Secretary David Lammy to the House of Commons on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

    With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

    This weekend, the Israeli Defence Force started a new, extensive ground operation throughout Gaza, Operation Gideon’s Chariot. Five Israeli divisions are now operating there.

    Prime Minister Netanyahu says that they are going to take control of the Strip letting only minimal amounts of food reach Gazans. Madam Deputy Speaker I quote Prime Minister Netanyahu – “just enough to prevent hunger.”

    Fewer than ten trucks entered Gaza yesterday. The UN and WHO have issued stark warnings of the threat of starvation hanging over hundreds of thousands of civilians. Madam Deputy Speaker, this is abominable.

    Civilians in Gaza facing starvation, homelessness, trauma, desperate for this war to end, now confront renewed bombardment, new displacement and new suffering. And the remaining hostages kept apart from their loved ones by Hamas for almost six hundred days are now at heightened risk from the war around them.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, two months ago the ceasefire collapsed. Since then, the humanitarian catastrophe has rapidly intensified.

    For eleven weeks, Israeli forces have blockaded Gaza, leaving the World Food Programme without any any remaining stocks. Israel has repeatedly struck hospitals, with three more hospitals in northern Gaza ceasing operations this weekend.

    Yet more aid workers and medical workers have been killed. After last year proved the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel.

    The diplomatic deadlock between Israel and Hamas has sadly also hardened. Despite the efforts of the United States, Qatar and Egypt – which we of course support – no ceasefire has emerged.

    We repeat our demand that Hamas release all the hostages immediately and unconditionally and reiterate that they cannot continue to run Gaza.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, we are now entering a dark new phase in this conflict. Netanyahu’s government is planning to drive Gazans from their homes into a corner of the Strip to the south and permit them a fraction of the aid that they need.

    Yesterday, Minister Smotrich even spoke of Israeli forces “cleansing” Gaza, “destroying what’s left”, of resident Palestinians “being relocated to third countries”.

    We must call this what it is. It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous. And I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, Israel suffered a heinous attack on October 7th and the Government has always backed Israel’s right to defend itself. We have condemned Hamas and its abhorrent treatment of the hostages. And we have stood with families and demanded their loved ones be released.

    But the planned displacement of so many Gazans is morally unjustifiable, wholly disproportionate and utterly counter-productive. Whatever Israeli ministers claim, this is not the way to bring the hostages safely home.

    Nearly all the hostages have been freed through negotiations, not military force. And that is why hostage families themselves – and many other Israelis – oppose this plan so strongly.

    Nor will this plan eliminate Hamas or make Israel secure. This war has left a generation orphaned and traumatised, ready for Hamas to recruit. As we learned in Northern Ireland to defeat terrorists and their warped ideology you cannot just rely on military might. You have to offer a viable political alternative. Opposing the expansion of a war that’s killed thousands of children is not rewarding Hamas.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, since entering office, we have taken concerted action on Gaza.

    We restored funding to UNRWA. We supported the independence of international courts. We suspended arms export licences. We provided food and medical care to hundreds of thousands of Gazans. We’ve worked with Arab partners on a plan to ensure a reconstructed Gaza no longer run by Hamas.

    And since Israel restarted strikes on Gaza, this Government has demanded Israel change course. Privately, in my conversations with Foreign Minister Sa’ar and Strategic Affairs Minister Dermer, and publicly, in repeated joint statements with my French and German counterparts, we have made clear that Israel’s actions are intolerable.

    We have raised our concerns in the UN Security Council and before the International Court of Justice. Yesterday, my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister joined leaders from France and Canada strongly opposing the expansion of Israel’s military operations. And the UK led a further statement with twenty-seven partners criticising Israel’s proposed new aid delivery mechanism and defending the essential humanitarian principles of the international system that the UK did so much to establish in the first place.

    Our message is clear. There is a UN plan ready to deliver aid at scale, needed with mitigations against aid diversion. There are brave humanitarians ready to do their jobs. There are 9,000 trucks at the border. Prime Minister Netanyahu: end this blockade now and let the aid in.

    Regrettably, Madam Deputy Speaker, despite our efforts, this Israeli government’s egregious actions and rhetoric have continued. They are isolating Israel from its friends and partners around the world. Undermining the interests of the Israeli people. And damaging the image of the state of Israel in the eyes of the world.

    I find this deeply painful, as a lifelong friend of Israel and a believer in the values expressed in its declaration of independence.

    As the Prime Minister and fellow leaders said yesterday, we cannot stand by in the face of this new deterioration. It is incompatible with the principles that underpin our bilateral relationship. Rejected by Members across this House and frankly it’s an affront to the values of the British people.

    Therefore today, I am announcing that we have suspended negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement. We will be reviewing cooperation with them under the 2030 Bilateral Roadmap.

    The Netanyahu government’s actions have made this necessary. Madam Deputy Speaker, today, my Honourable Friend the Minister for the Middle East is summoning the Israeli Ambassador to the Foreign Office to convey this message.

    I say now to the people of Israel: we want, I want a strong friendship with you based on our shared values with flourishing ties between our people and societies. We are unwavering in our commitment to your security and to your future, to countering the very real threat from Iran, the scourge of terrorism and the evils of antisemitism.

    But the conduct of the war in Gaza is damaging our relationship with your government. And, as the Prime Minister has said, if Israel pursues this military offensive as it has threatened, failing to ensure the unhindered provision of aid, we will take further actions in response.

    The UK, Madam Deputy Speaker, will not give up on a two-state solution. Israelis living in secure borders, recognised and at peace with their neighbours, free from the threat of terrorism. Palestinians living in their own state, in dignity and security, free of occupation.

    The two-state solution remains the ideal framework, indeed, the only framework, for a just and lasting peace. But as the House knows, its very viability is in peril.

    Endangered not only by the war in Gaza, but by the spread of illegal Israeli settlements and outposts across the Occupied West Bank, with the explicit support of this Israeli government.

    There are now weekly meetings to approve new settlement construction. Settlement approval has accelerated while settler violence has soared. Here too, we have acted, repeatedly pressing for a change in this course and direction, sanctioning seven entities last October, and signing a landmark agreement to bolster support for the Palestinian Authority, when Prime Minister Mustafa visited London just last month.

    But here too, we must do more. Today, we are therefore imposing sanctions on a further three individuals and four entities involved in the settler movement.

    I have seen for myself the consequences of settler violence. The fear of its victims. The impunity of its perpetrators. Today, we are demonstrating again that we will continue to act against those who are carrying out heinous abuses of human rights.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, despite the glimmer of hope from January’s ceasefire, the suffering from this conflict has worsened. But January showed another path was possible.

    We urge Netanyahu’s government to choose this path. The world is judging. History will judge them. Blocking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners. This is indefensible and it must stop.

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Deputy Prime Minister speech to UKREiif – 20 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Deputy Prime Minister speech to UKREiif – 20 May 2025

    Transcript of the Deputy Prime Minister’s speech at the UK Real Estate and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) on 20 May 2025.

    Good morning!

    It’s fantastic to be back at UKREiiF, as Deputy Prime Minister.

    And it’s excellent to be here in Leeds.

    A great city under a great council and West Yorkshire’s Mayor, my friend Tracy Brabin.

    From Holbeck to Hunslet to Horsforth, it’s being remade and reborn.     

    Creating new good-quality jobs as well as opportunities for growth and investment.

    And it’s a testament to partnership between local, regional, and national government.

    And I want to say a big thanks to all of you here today. And it was great to hear Tom and the enthusiasm when I was backstage then and also throwing down the gauntlet to us to say we will match your ambition if you’ve got it, Tom we have that ambition.

    From our local leaders to housebuilders to investors.

    For the part you’re playing in all of this.

    And I’m here, today, to tell you that there’s more to come…

    … As we get Britain building again as part of our Plan for Change.

    I said last year that we would deliver this change.

    New homes, new infrastructure projects, jobs, higher living standards, strong communities and a strong economy.

    And I said that we would deliver this by working in partnership.

    By backing you to build, invest and succeed.

    So that our country and that is what we can do together to succeed.

    Last year, I told you about a new development that I had just visited in my own constituency.

    That delivered 62 much-needed new social and affordable homes.

    For families in my community who needed them.

    I told you what that development meant to me.

    [Political content removed]

    Because our vision is not just building houses, but it’s building homes for people of our country.

    And building the communities in which they live.

    We have a target to build 1.5 million homes this Parliament.

    As most of you in this room know I’m a straight talker, so I’ll say it straight.

    I know that target is stretching.

    [Political content removed]

    But I won’t shy away from the challenge.

    It’s desperately needed after years of failure.

    But I also want to be clear that our vision for housing is about so much more than hitting one target.

    We must continue building well beyond this Parliament.

    These must be well-designed, decent homes for local people.

    And they must come alongside the GP surgeries, schools and parks they need too.

    So, how will we know we’re succeeding?

    Firstly, if we get more and more homes – in every part of the country,  including here in West Yorkshire – built long into the future too.

    We can’t just ramp-up housebuilding over the next few years.

    Secondly, if more people have a home they can afford.

    And we bring crippling costs down.

    Thirdly, if we’re ensuring all homes are safe, secure and warm.

    And we’re driving down bills for working people.

    And finally, if we’re tackling the shameless homelessness crisis that is destroying the life chances of so many.

    Now this will demand huge ambition.

    And I am ready to meet it.

    Already, we are creating the right conditions for building.

    Ensuring smarter regulation for planning.

    And pro-growth and pro-building policy.

    We’re also working in partnership with you –

    Investors, industry…

    … The builders of our great nation.

    And I want to see new players, entrepreneurs and disruptors flourish.

    Small and medium enterprises, community-led housing projects and Councils who can disrupt the market for the better.

    Radically changing what we build, and who builds it.

    And transforming the system.

    To make it more diverse and innovative.

    Capable of not just delivering more homes, more quickly.

    But delivering secure, affordable and decent homes – for everyone, everywhere…

    And homes that will stand the test of time.

    I say that I don’t shy away from the scale of the crisis facing us.

    Because it is  monumentous.

    There’s barely a family in this country hasn’t been affected by it.

    The dream of home ownership has been snatched away from a generation.

    Just over 1.3 million people languish on waiting lists for social housing.

    It is a scandal we have over 160,000 children in temporary accommodation.

    Their lives have been held back.

    Our country is being held back.

    I know, from my own experience, how much having a secure, affordable home matters.

    Alongside decent work and a strong community.

    These were the foundations on which our parents and grandparents built good lives.

    But which are now just not there for too many working people.

    This is not just taking a personal toll, but it’s taking an economic one too.

    Because growth and development go hand in hand.

    Unlocking decent jobs, vital infrastructure and supporting our local economies.

    Which in turn delivers the growth that is so needed to improve living standards and revitalise our public services.

    Yet, I’ve heard from so many people since coming into office, how the system just stopped working.

    Desperate families failed.

    Local leaders feeling powerless to act.

    Developers navigating a complex system.

    This is not a series of crises.

    But the symptoms of a broken system.

    And so, nothing less than action everywhere will do.

    It’s a momentous challenge – but we will meet this moment.

    And in our first ten months of Government that is what I set out to do.

    We said getting shovels in the ground was crucial.

    And so, I wasted no time in turning the pages on years of decline.

    With unwavering action to reverse the tide and get Britain building again.

    We reintroduced local housing targets.

    [Political content removed]

    We set out and consulted on a new pro-growth, pro-supply National Planning Policy Framework within our first three weeks in Office.

    Unlocking brownfield and grey belt land for development.

    And before the summer was out, we started getting stalled sites moving again through our New Homes Accelerator.

    We’re pressing ahead with the hugely ambitious Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

    To speed up the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure.

    With innovative reforms like our Nature Restoration Fund to unblock building.

    While creating a win-win for nature and development.

    As well as plans to modernise planning committees and bring in a new system of strategic planning.

    Changes which could add up to £7.5 billion to the UK economy over the next decade.  

    The New Towns Task force is also hard at work on its recommendations for sites.

    We’ve committed £3bn of support to small to medium enterprises and the build to rent sector, to access cheaper lending.

    And as part of our commitment to building 1.5 million homes this Parliament…

    …We’ll deliver  the biggest wave of affordable and social housing in a generation.

    And we’ve already topped up investment by £800 million.

    As well as a £2 billion top-up funding next year.

    With more to come at the Spending Review. 

    And that’s not all.

    Our landmark Renters’ Rights Bill was introduced within our first four months.

    Banning no fault evictions and giving the millions renting more security.

    In November, we also set out our blueprint to ending the feudal leasehold system.

    And earlier this year we published our Commonhold White Paper.

    Giving leaseholders more say and power over their homes and lives.

    And we’re empowering mayors through our devolution revolution.

    Because the homes we build must deliver for people in all corners of our country.

    This is the biggest shift of power from Whitehall to our town halls in a generation.

    That was why I was delighted to celebrate the launch of The Great North last night. Not just because I am a northerner.

    The North’s mayors coming together to herald a new era of Northern cooperation.

    Showing what’s possible when we work together.

    And we’re already seeing green shoots of this coming through.

    Today Homes England has announced it’s delivering thousands more homes across the country compared to last year.

    But this is just the start.

    Because I know that there is so much more that still needs to be done.

    As I’ve said, our planning reforms are a game-changer.

    But we know that there must also be a renewed focus on social housebuilding.

    I’m committed to resetting the foundations of the sector.

    And to give the sector stability and confidence to invest in the future.

    It’s also why we have made planning changes to support affordable housing too.

    And we’ve helped Councils to borrow sustainably from the Public Works Loan Board.

    Extending the preferential rate for council housebuilding to the end of 2025-26.

    And we’ll shortly be confirming future regulatory standards.

    To ensure that homes are safe, decent and warm.

    And that social housing tenants are treated with the respect that they deserve.

    Whilst also giving the sector the certainty to invest for the future. 

    I’m committed to this Council housebuilding revolution.

    And not just because social and affordable housing are a nice add-on.

    But because it’s essential to ensuring homes are built – and more quickly.

    Because we know developments with a mix of housing build out faster.

    And that affordable homes are the vital ingredient to unlocking private housebuilding too.

    Partnerships between housebuilders and the public sector – like Vistry’s partnerships model…

    And the projects between Homes England, Muse and Pension Insurance Corporation that are delivering 100% affordable sites in Bradford and Wakefield.

    And are adding greater diversity, ensuring we meet the needs of local communities.

    And I want to see these continue.

    And more partnerships like them too.

    We also want to see smaller housebuilders playing a bigger role.

    Both in terms of who builds our homes and the types of homes they build.

    They already make a significant contribution on smaller brownfield sites.

    Building out faster than is often possible on larger and more complex sites.

    So, we’re backing them to reclaim their rightful place as the backbone of housebuilding.

    But a diverse housing market also depends on a workforce that’s fit for the future.

    And so, we’re working closely with the construction sector to improve skills.

    And job opportunities across the country.

    The Chancellor has already announced £600 million to recruit an extra 60,000 construction workers by 2029.

    And I’m proud to be joining the inaugural meeting of the Construction Skills Mission Board with Mark Reynolds from Mace. This industry-led group will bring together the whole sector to invest in UK plc, and oversee industry plans to recruit 100,000 more workers per year by the end of the Parliament, securing the next generation of construction workers.  

    It’s also why we’re also plugging capacity back into local planning authorities.

    Making funds available to hire 300 new planners.

    And through reforms to our Planning and Infrastructure Bill, letting Councils set their own planning fees.

    And ringfencing this money to reinvest in planning.

    Today, we don’t have to look too far afield for inspiration.

    Just round the corner from this hall, the Leeds College of Building – the UK’s only specialist construction college – is training the next generation of workers.

    And when it comes to who will drive delivery, our Mayors will be key.

    With the powers we’re handing them, they will be critical to powering regional growth.

    They’ve already achieved so much.  

    South Yorkshire’s on course for 20,000 new homes over the next 20 years.

    In West Yorkshire, Mayor Brabin has helped get shovels in the ground on the Dyecoats project where 1,600 new homes will be built.

    In Greater Manchester, there’s a strategic place partnership with Homes England that’s supporting 10 councils with 13 projects.

    And in the North-East, Mayor McGuinness is supporting the delivery of 100 new family homes – including council housing – as part of a regeneration project in East Durham.

    And, just last week, Mayor Parker in the West Midlands, announced 300 affordable homes on the site of the former Yardley Sewage Works…

    … Including 150 for social rent.

    And going forward, we want to forge a stronger partnership between Mayors and Homes England.

    Moving Homes England to a more regionalised model, over time.

    This is Britain [Political content removed].

    Open to building.

    Open for business.

    And delivering for working people.

    So we give people the security and control they deserve.

    Regardless of whether they rent or they own their home.

    Or are in the private or social rented sector.

    We have big changes in the pipeline.

    Disrupting, diversifying and transforming the housing market.

    So that it delivers for working people.

    Big changes that mean big opportunities for investment and growth.

    I urge everyone across the whole system to seize them with both hands.

    To investors, I say: there are an exciting array of opportunities. Tom spoke about them.

    To our housebuilders, we have listened and we’re reversing the tide to create the right conditions.

    But now we need you to build, build, build.

    To our mayors, I say don’t hold back.

    Take control of planning to drive the growth across housing, transport and skills.

    Our councils, too, must raise their game with up-to-date Local Plans.

    And work together with housing associations to build a new generation of social housing.

    Because the days of business as usual are over.

    It’s time to fight for a brighter, more ambitious future for our country.

    And what better inspiration than Clement Attlee’s 1945 Labour Government.

    Out of the ruins of war, he built homes for heroes.

    And as we mark its 80th anniversary, it’s time to recommit ourselves to delivering in the same spirit.

    This is how we’ll unleash the growth and opportunities we all want to see.

    It’s how we will rebuild the foundations of a good life for everyone.

    And it’s how we will deliver for working people.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How mindfulness therapy could help those left behind by depression treatment

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thorsten Barnhofer, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Surrey

    Yuri A/PeopleImages.com/Shutterstock

    For some people, depression is like an unwanted guest who moves in and refuses to leave. Even with therapy and medication, the heavy fog of low mood, exhaustion and hopelessness never fully lifts for long. For around 30% of people with depression, this is a daily reality.

    It’s not just a personal burden. Difficult-to-treat depression affects families, workplaces and communities – and carries a huge cost for society.

    In England, the NHS Talking Therapies programme is the first place many adults turn when they’re struggling with depression or anxiety. In 2023-24, it supported more than 1.26 million people. Yet, for all its reach, around half of those who complete treatment still feel depressed by the end. And if the therapy hasn’t worked, there are often no further options available.

    Most people in this situation are sent back to their GP. A small number may be referred to more specialist mental health services, but those are typically reserved for the most severe cases. That leaves a significant number of people in limbo – still unwell, but without a clear route to further care.

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

    This is part of a wider problem in mental health services: the so-called “missing middle”. These are people whose needs are too complex for primary (GP) care, but not severe enough for secondary services. As a result, they fall through the cracks.

    For many of these people, medication is often the only treatment on offer. But our study, with colleagues, suggests that a different approach, using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), could offer a way forward.

    Promising results

    We worked with more than 200 patients who had completed NHS Talking Therapies but were still experiencing symptoms of depression. Half were offered an eight-week MBCT course, delivered in small online groups. The others continued with their usual care.

    MBCT blends traditional cognitive therapy (which aims to reduce negative thinking patterns) with intensive mindfulness training. Participants learn how to stay present, recognise harmful thought spirals early, and respond to difficult emotions with greater awareness and compassion. Most importantly, they gain skills they can use for the rest of their lives.

    The results were promising. People who took part in the mindfulness programme reported bigger improvements in their depressive symptoms than those who didn’t. Six months later, the benefits had not only lasted – they had consolidated and slightly strengthened.

    What’s more, those in the MBCT group used fewer health and social care services overall. The programme was also inexpensive to run, costing less than £100 per person. In a time when health systems are under extreme financial pressure, that’s a big deal. Our research suggests MBCT is not just effective, it’s cost-saving too.

    When depression doesn’t respond to standard treatment, it can upend lives. People may struggle to work, maintain relationships, or care for their families. Children are especially affected when a parent has long-term depression. Without the right support, things often get worse – and the costs, both personal and financial, continue to grow.

    MBCT is already being used for relapse prevention – and there is a trained workforce to deliver it. Consisting of just eight group-based sessions, it is accessible and designed to equip people with practical tools. We believe it can offer hope to those who do not benefit sufficiently from existing services, and should be made available to more people.

    Beyond the promise of MBCT itself, this research offers a wider message: we need to invest in psychological therapies for people in the “missing middle”. These are people who are often overlooked but stand to gain the most from targeted, practical support.

    In times of tight budgets, the idea that we can improve lives and save money is more than compelling – it’s necessary. This is a clear opportunity to improve outcomes, reduce strain on overstretched services, and help people move forward with their lives.

    Thorsten Barnhofer is the author of a book on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). He regularly provides workshops on mindfulness-based interventions. He is co-investigator of a programme grant evaluating an adapted MBCT course for adolescents experiencing depression and is among the investigators for the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit-funded trial described in this article.

    Barney Dunn receives funding from the National Institute of Health Research for mental health treatment trials at the University of Exeter, including the Research for Patient Benefit Funding for the RESPOND trial discussed in this article. He co-directs an NHS commissioned psychological therapies service, which delivers Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy.

    Clara Strauss is co-lead for Sussex Mindfulness Centre (SMC), part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and has received funding to conduct MBCT research from NIHR and other funders, funding to deliver MBCT courses and funding to train MBCT therapists within SMC.

    – ref. How mindfulness therapy could help those left behind by depression treatment – https://theconversation.com/how-mindfulness-therapy-could-help-those-left-behind-by-depression-treatment-256547

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor welcomes EY new office at Ebrington

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Mayor welcomes EY new office at Ebrington

    20 May 2025

    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr has warmly welcomed the official opening of EY’s new office in the Ebrington Plaza. Mayor Barr said it was a significant business investment and highlighted the growing appeal of Derry and the wider North West region as a vibrant business hub.

    She acknowledged that this investment also marks a crucial step in EY’s ambitious expansion plans across Northern Ireland.

    EY, a leading global professional services organisation, supports businesses across a diverse range of industries and sectors, offering expertise in areas such as Audit, Corporate Finance, Tax and Law, Consulting, AI, and Data Analytics. The establishment of this new location will accommodate up to 120 professionals, a blend of newly recruited talent and existing EY Northern Ireland staff.

    Mayor Barr said:  “This is a truly significant day for our city. The arrival of a globally recognised firm like EY to Ebrington Plaza is a powerful vote of confidence in the talent and potential that Derry Strabane and the wider North West region has to offer. This investment will not only create valuable, high-quality jobs but will also enrich our local business ecosystem by bringing in a wealth of expertise and opportunities.”

    “The new office in Derry will play a vital role in EY’s broader strategy to strengthen its regional presence within Northern Ireland. Furthermore, it reinforces EY Northern Ireland’s commitment made at the Northern Ireland Investment Summit in September 2023 to generate 1,000 new jobs across the region over the next five years.

    “Derry City and Strabane District Council is delighted that EY has chosen Derry as a key location for their expansion. Their commitment to creating new jobs and delivering market-leading services from this base aligns perfectly with our city’s ambitions for economic growth and prosperity set out in our Strategic Growth Plan. We look forward to a strong and collaborative partnership with EY as they embed themselves in our community.”

    The Mayor added: “This significant investment by EY in our city is fantastic news for the people of the North West. It will deliver a wide range of exciting job opportunities right here in Derry, whether you’re just starting your career or looking to take the next step. This commitment truly highlights the immense talent we have coming through our local schools, the North West Regional College, and Ulster University, ensuring a bright future for our community.”

    The Mayor concluded by wishing EY every success in their new venture at Ebrington Plaza and reiterated the city’s commitment to supporting their growth and integration into the local business landscape.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The UK might have accepted the idea of youth mobility with the EU, but it’s not happening any time soon

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Simon Usherwood, Professor of Politics & International Studies, The Open University

    View Apart/Shutterstock

    The language might be dry, but the political shift is significant. Monday’s summit between the UK and EU leaders in London resulted in an acknowledgement of the “mutual interest to deepen our people-to-people ties, particularly for the younger generation”.

    This announcement is an important step forward in the creation of a youth mobility scheme between the EU and UK, even if it has required a name change to become a “youth experience scheme”. It is the first time that a British government has formally accepted this as something to negotiate and implement.

    However, there is scant detail about how it will work in practice and what the inevitable limits will be. While the permitted activities (“work, studies, au-pairing, volunteering, or simply travelling”) seem extensive, they are prefaced with the dreaded words “such as” – which means no one has actually agreed any of it.

    It was clear over a year ago that the basic models that the two sides have for youth mobility differ. The EU wants lengthy exchange periods and home tuition fees for students; the UK wants shorter stays, caps on numbers and retention of international fees for EU students at UK universities. The achievement of a deal would require at least one of them to move. This week makes this difference now the formal position, rather than showing whether movement is possible.

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    It’s possible that discussion of British participation in the Erasmus+ scheme for student mobility might be a partial stopgap, making exchanges within study programmes easier. However, the ambition for creating those deeper people-to-people ties will need more to make it meaningful.

    As the troubled history of this idea should indicate, there’s still a very long way to go before anyone gets to use the scheme in practice.

    The founding irony of a youth mobility scheme with the EU after Brexit is that it was originally a British idea. It was produced under Rishi Sunak following his conclusion of the Windsor Framework on Northern Ireland, when he was looking for areas to rebuild ties with Europe.

    In 2023, feelers had been put out to various EU member states about concluding bilateral deals with the UK. While there was some interest, the general feeling was that this was best handled at an EU level, to avoid any cherrypicking of countries by London.

    A summary of UK-EU youth mobility proposals.
    Simon Usherwood, CC BY-NC-SA

    In April 2024, the European Commission produced an ambitious proposal for a scheme. It put forward that 18- to 30-year-olds would be able to get a visa for up to four years for any purpose – work, study, travel – without quotas on numbers.

    Both the Conservative government and the Labour opposition had rejected the proposal out of hand. This was partly out of concerns over the potential impact on immigration figures and on student finances: the commission suggested EU students should be able to pay UK university fees. Mostly, however, it came from a desire not to be seen to make a big agreement with the EU that looked a bit like freedom of movement.

    To be clear, youth mobility is very much not freedom of movement. The latter implies no limits on entry, length or purpose of stay, as well as access to any kinds of public services as if you were a resident national. The former still means paying for a visa and strict limits on those services. But such legal points remain rather marginal in the British political and media debate.

    Since last year, there has been some to and fro, but largely behind closed doors and with the incoming Labour government continuing the line that such a scheme wasn’t on the cards. While the UK has a number of youth mobility schemes with countries around the world, these are typically limited by quotas and time (normally to two years) and require the person to be working or studying.

    Moving on?

    On the British side, Home Office concern about immigration figures is clearly still critical, especially in the context of the recent white paper that aims to cut back migration. Universities too have been vocal about the financial impact of losing tuition fee income from EU students.

    But on the EU side, the matter is seen very differently. To some extent, the interest is in maintaining the links with the UK, especially for young people that could gain from experiencing more of how their neighbours live. But much more than this is the sense that youth mobility has become something of a test for the British government.

    Labour’s return to office last July marked the unleashing of a significant diplomatic effort to engage with European counterparts and to talk up the value of working together. Youth mobility is a test of that value for some in European capitals, both in terms of being able to negotiate an agreement and of being able to sell it to the British public.

    The coming weeks and months will therefore be a key period if the reset is to result in more sustainably improved relations. Even if the basic shape of UK-EU relations isn’t about to shift, the ability for both sides to be able to talk and act constructively will still matter in delivering from that long list of summit ambitions.

    Simon Usherwood receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, as a Senior Fellow of the UK in a Changing Europe initiative.

    – ref. The UK might have accepted the idea of youth mobility with the EU, but it’s not happening any time soon – https://theconversation.com/the-uk-might-have-accepted-the-idea-of-youth-mobility-with-the-eu-but-its-not-happening-any-time-soon-256628

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How to tackle new strains of potato blight and avoid another great famine

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David O’Connor, Associate Professor, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University

    A new aggressive potato blight strain was detected in Wales and eastern Scotland earlier this year. The strain, identified as EU 46, can withstand certain fungicides, making it harder to control. It serves as a stark reminder that nearly 175 years after Ireland’s great famine, this destructive pathogen continues to evolve and endanger crops around the world.

    Each year, farmers lose an estimated US$6–7 billion (£4.5-5.2 billion) worth of crops due to this disease. In Europe alone, direct losses and control costs amount to over €1 billion (£800 million) annually. That includes the cost of expensive fungicide sprays that farmers rely on for protection.

    In developing countries, the stakes are even higher. Many smallhold farmers lack resources for intensive disease management. In Uganda, potato blight can destroy up to 100% of a farmer’s crop, endangering livelihoods and local food security.

    Just as in the Irish famine, dependence on a single crop is risky. When blight strikes these vulnerable communities, the consequences can be devastating.

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    After decades of research, blight remains hard to defeat, partly due to the pathogen’s remarkable adaptability. Over the years, Phytophthora infestans (late blight) has repeatedly evolved new genetic strains that overcome both chemical fungicides and the resistant potato varieties bred to fend it off.

    The newly identified EU 46 strain is just one example of how quickly blight can develop resistance. In this case, tolerating a key fungicide and showing reduced sensitivity to others.

    Meanwhile, environmental changes and global trade create opportunities for wind-blown spores to migrate into new regions. All of this means farmers must remain vigilant; what worked against blight last year might not work today.

    After the Irish famine of the 1840s, science eventually identified its microscopic culprit and ways to fight it, but innovation didn’t stop there. Today, researchers and farmers are enlisting cutting-edge technology to stay ahead of blight.

    One promising tool is real-time spore detection. Devices like the SwisensPoleno, a monitor developed in Switzerland, can constantly scan the air on farms and spot signs of P. infestans spores as they appear.

    In Ireland, I’m leading a project testing this technology out on farms. These sensors rely on advanced imaging and AI to tell blight spores apart from other particles, giving farmers an early warning so they can act before the disease spreads.

    Potato blight is caused by a pathogen called Phytophthora Infestans.
    Elena Masiutkina/Shutterstock, CC BY-NC-ND

    Equally, new rapid DNA diagnostics can detect blight more quickly than traditional lab tests which take days to identify new strains. Portable testing kits are bringing diagnostics to the field. My colleagues and I have developed a simple in-field test (like COVID-19 lateral flow tests) that detects specific blight strains from a crushed leaf or air samples in under 30 minutes.

    Such tests not only confirm the presence of blight but can tell if the strain is one known to resist certain fungicides. This information allows farmers to choose the right treatment immediately, targeting the pathogen’s weaknesses and avoiding wasted effort.

    Farmers are also using data and computer modelling to anticipate outbreaks of the disease allowing them to act before it can takes hold. Sophisticated forecasting systems crunch weather data (temperature, humidity, rainfall) and spore counts to predict when and where blight is likely to strike next.

    By pinpointing high-risk periods, these models help schedule fungicide applications more strategically – only when needed, rather than on a fixed calendar. This not only cuts costs and environmental damage by reducing unnecessary sprays, but also slows down resistance development in the pathogen.

    Digital tech can help farmers detect crop diseases like potato blight quickly and accurately.
    Andrii Medvediuk/Shutterstock

    A global fight

    Defeating potato blight demands international efforts. There’s no wonder drug or magic gene that can eliminate this ever-changing pathogen. Like other experts, I advocate for an integrated pest-management approach.

    This combines cultural practices (like crop rotation and destroying infected plant debris) alongside biological controls (naturally occurring microbes, like beneficial bacteria, to help suppress the disease and limit its impact on crops). Judicious fungicide use to reduce the chances of blight taking hold is also effective.

    Using technology to leverage real-time data enables farmers to act on early warnings and apply treatments in a targeted way, preserving yields while minimising environmental damage.

    Investing in research and farmer education is essential too – from developing resistant potato breeds to training farmers in remote areas on how to use new diagnostic kits.

    The fight against potato blight is global by necessity. An airborne spore originating in one country can hop to another on the wind, as Europe’s experience shows. Likewise, breakthroughs in one lab or farm – whether a new sensor, a resistant potato variety, or an effective organic spray – need to be shared and supported across borders.

    International initiatives are putting the latest blight-fighting tools into the hands of farmers around the world. Supporting smallhold farmers in developing countries is especially vital, because they often face blight with limited resources and far more is at stake in terms of food security.

    In the mid-19th century, Ireland’s potato-dependent society was caught tragically off guard. Today, we have knowledge, technology and hard-earned lessons on our side.

    By embracing an integrated, technology driven strategy and ensuring it reaches farmers everywhere, that blight cycle could be broken. The continued emergence of strains like EU 46 is a warning, but also a call to action. One that we are now better equipped than ever to answer.

    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.

    David O’Connor receives funding from Research Ireland and Irish EPA.

    – ref. How to tackle new strains of potato blight and avoid another great famine – https://theconversation.com/how-to-tackle-new-strains-of-potato-blight-and-avoid-another-great-famine-256926

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Coin by Palestinian writer Yasmin Zaher wins the 20th Dylan Thomas Prize – an expert from the judging panel explains why

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel G. Williams, Professor of English Literature, Swansea University

    Yasmin Zaher’s remarkable novel The Coin has won the 20th International Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize for writers under the age of 40.

    This is not a story that begins at the beginning. Instead, its narrator starts with dirt and an obsession with cleanliness, but suggests later that the coin of the title – an Israeli shekel that she accidentally swallowed on a family road trip in which her parents were killed in a car crash – would have been an equally appropriate place to begin.

    Long forgotten, the swallowed coin begins to make its presence felt, somewhere in her body, following her move to America. The narrator is a wealthy young Palestinian woman, teaching boys at a New York City middle school. Her wealth, however, is in the hands of a brother who controls her allowance. She responds by developing a scheme to resell luxury handbags with a homeless con-artist, known throughout as “Trenchcoat”.

    This is one of several attempts at shaping the world around her: she revels in her sexuality and ability to redefine herself through fashionable clothes and accessories; she teaches her class about black power and takes them on a trip to listen to the “dagger poems” of a black nationalist poet in New Jersey.

    I assume this poet is Amiri Baraka since they eat “Black Dada Nihilismus” burgers, a reference to his poem of the same name. But such acts of resistance, if not futile, are limited. Like the swallowed coin, the levers of control, whether material or psychic, lie out of reach as we witness the narrator’s gradual unravelling.

    It is perhaps appropriate that a novel set in New York should win the prize named after Swansea’s most famous poet. New York both enticed and frightened Dylan Thomas. It was the city in which he died. The city, also, in which he recorded the ground-breaking reading of A Child’s Christmas in Wales.

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    In that story, as in his earlier Return Journey, his childhood self is a ghostly presence wandering among the “blitzed flat graves” of shops “marbled with snow and headstoned with fences”. The snow hides devastation. The destruction of the city that Thomas knew as a child. The 44 air raids mounted on Swansea between 1940 and 1943 killed 390 people. And it’s the similar loss of people and places, and the suffering in Gaza today, which Zaher’s novel examines.

    Palestine is a persistent and troubling presence in the The Coin. For Dylan the devastation of Swansea was a metonym for a wider world where civilians were increasingly the victims of war. His world is, regrettably, still ours in that sense. The Coin is a profound meditation on our contemporary world and our complicity in the destruction of another place and people.

    In a moving scene, the narrator recalls a Jewish friend, “a very gentle girl who dreamed of becoming a ballerina”. She lived in a house that once belonged to “a Palestinian family that had been expelled in 1948”. The friend tells her about two underground rooms in the garden. One of the rooms, “the poop room”, allows access to the second which contains “a big wooden chest full of treasures and gold”. The narrator keeps “thinking of that secret chamber off the shit room, the wooden chest inside, full of silverware and gold of the family who thought they would return.”

    The swallowed coin. The inaccessible allowance. The wooden chest full of treasures and gold. Unreachable currency functions as a powerful symbolic centre connecting the brief scenes and meditations that constitute this appropriately fragmented novel. Lost somewhere in the narrator’s entrails, removed from economic exchange, the coin belongs with the excrement and detritus of urban life, which is the object of the narrator’s disgusted obsessions.

    New York in this novel is a repository of failed circulation – the filth of the city’s streets offering a gothic underside to the endless flows of capitalism, frustrating the narrator’s obsessive attempts at keeping herself clean. Narratives and circulation end in the stasis of dirt. Palestinian history ends in dispossession. Swallowed coin, inaccessible allowance and a buried treasure chest are symbolic repositories of Palestinian traumatic memory.

    Zaher shows us how the novel form can still offer a unique way of understanding the world, of mapping our contemporary disorientation. It does this not by offering clarity, but by lingering in the spaces where movement, value and meaning break down. This is a novel about circulation – of money, of bodies and of meaning.

    The swallowed coin is itself a kind of resistance, a refusal to go along with the restless movement of capital that defines our world. The coin refuses liquidity and thereby refuses complicity; its removal from the economic system mimics a kind of muted protest. Beneath the novel’s often frenetic and energetic surface hides a resistant counter-politics of inaction.

    Daniel G. Williams was a judge of this years’ Dylan Thomas Prize.

    – ref. The Coin by Palestinian writer Yasmin Zaher wins the 20th Dylan Thomas Prize – an expert from the judging panel explains why – https://theconversation.com/the-coin-by-palestinian-writer-yasmin-zaher-wins-the-20th-dylan-thomas-prize-an-expert-from-the-judging-panel-explains-why-257063

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Liang Zhang Appointed as New Electrical and Computer Engineering Head

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Dean JC Zhao of the UConn College of Engineering is pleased to appoint Professor Liang Zhang as the new head of the electrical and computer engineering (ECE) department. Zhang’s appointment will start in August 2025. 

    “I am honored to lead the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UConn, where our commitment to innovation and education continues to drive impactful research and student success,” Zhang said. “Together with the talented faculty and staff of the ECE department, we will advance the field of electrical and computer engineering to meet the challenges of tomorrow.” 

    Liang Zhang (Christopher LaRosa/UConn photo).

    Zhang joined UConn Engineering in 2013 as an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 

    Since then, he has held various positions within the department, including the director of undergraduate studies, Pratt & Whitney Associate Professor in Advanced Systems Engineering, and director of the Department of Energy Southern New England Industrial Training and Assessment Center. He also holds an affiliated position with the management and engineering for manufacturing program. 

    “Dr. Zhang exemplifies the strengths we value at the UConn College of Engineering—rigorous research, deep commitment to student success, and impactful engagement with industry,” said Dean JC Zhao. “His leadership will play a vital role in advancing the department’s strategic goals and driving innovation that benefits both Connecticut and the broader engineering community.” 

    Zhang’s research focuses on smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0, with an emphasis on energy-efficient operations, human-robot collaboration, industrial data analytics, and the resilience of cyber-physical systems. 

    Before arriving at UConn, he was an assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 2009 through 2013. 

    Zhang earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering systems from the University of Michigan in 2009. Previously, he earned a master’s in control theory and engineering and a bachelor’s in automation from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China in 2004 and 2002, respectively. 

    Zhang will take the reins from John Chandy, the outgoing department head who has served since 2018. 

    “Dr. Zhang has been an integral part of our department’s success, leading impactful research, mentoring students, and building strong industry partnerships,” says Chandy. “His vision, dedication, and collaborative spirit make him the ideal leader to guide ECE into its next chapter.” 

    According to Chandy, the department is in good hands.

    “I would like to take the opportunity to thank Professor John Chandy for his leadership and service as head of the ECE Department here at UConn,” says Zhao. “John devoted his time and energy for the betterment of the department and is highly respected by his colleagues at peers.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Plymouth Rock Assurance Announces Fourth Season of Fan-Favorite Series “The Bostonians”

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Bruins® defenseman Hampus Lindholm returns to star alongside iconic Boston sports mascots Wally, Blades, and Pat Patriot

    BOSTON, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — For the fourth year in a row, Plymouth Rock Assurance welcomes back “The Bostonians”— a crew of Boston-inspired roommates, including Red Sox Groundskeeper, Patriots Militia Man, and the beloved sister from Lawrence—along with New England sports mascots and Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm, the official brand ambassador for Plymouth Rock’s Bruins Insurance Program. The first episode of season 4 has been released and highlights Plymouth Rock’s collaboration with the Red Sox.

    The 2025 installment of the series will continue the tradition of blending Boston sports culture with clever, locally inspired storytelling—delighting fans with familiar faces and lighthearted moments across Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and community-centered themes.

    Launched in 2022 with Boston-based creative agency Rival, the advertising campaign features the “Motley Crew” of Boston sports personalities alongside fan favorite mascots, including Blades, Pat Patriot, and Wally, living together in a fictional home. The short commercials will be featured in several TV spots airing on NESN and on Plymouth Rock’s YouTube page. Three other shorts will follow with the last episode airing in tandem with the kickoff of the 2025-2026 NHL season in October.

    “At Plymouth Rock, we take immense pride in supporting the Boston sports community—from the ice, to the field, to the diamond,” said Brad Baker, Managing Director, Marketing at Plymouth Rock Assurance. “Our ‘Bostonians’ series is a tribute to the fans, players, and shared moments that define this city’s unmatched sports culture. Whether you’re a Bruins, Patriots, or Red Sox fan, we’re honored to collaborate with these iconic teams and continue celebrating the people who make Boston sports so special.”

    Check out the latest videos of “The Bostonians” and meet the crew by visiting: https://www.plymouthrock.com/lp/thebostonians

    About Plymouth Rock
    Plymouth Rock was established to offer its customers a higher level of service and a more innovative set of products and features than they would expect from an insurance company. Plymouth Rock’s innovative approach puts customers’ convenience and satisfaction first, giving them the choice to do business the way they want—online, with a mobile app, by phone, or by contacting their Plymouth Rock agent. Customers can chat, text, or email to get answers quickly and easily. Plymouth Rock Assurance® and Plymouth Rock® are brand names and service marks used by separate underwriting, managed insurance, and management companies that offer property and casualty insurance in multiple states. Taken together, the companies write and manage more than $2.3 billion in auto and home insurance premiums across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

    Each underwriting and managed insurance company is a separate legal entity that is financially responsible only for its own insurance products. You can learn more about us by visiting plymouthrock.com.

    Contact:
    Kevin Long
    Plymouth Rock Assurance
    mediarelations@plymouthrock.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SNP’s Katy challenges opponent to reject Labour’s ‘Jobs Tax’

    Source: Scottish National Party

    Katy Loudon, the SNP’s candidate in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, has called on the Labour candidate to “call out Labour’s tax hike for what it is … another broken promise that will cost the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse dearly.”

    The Daily Record has reported that Labour peer, Lord Willie Haughey, who has donated over £2 million to Keir Starmer’s Labour, has warned unemployment will rise because of the Westminster Labour government’s decision to increase employer’s National Insurance Contributions to 15%.

    The Labour Lord highlighted how his own customers who are making cuts to afford the National Insurance increase and said “there is nothing that we as Labour can point to that we have got right in the Budget.”

    The tax hike is estimated to cost South Lanarkshire Council over £15 million, and Scotland’s wider public services £700 million.

    Scotland’s third sector also face a £75 million hit, and universities expect to be facing up to £45 million of additional costs.

    Meanwhile GP practices could be forced to close and businesses will have to pay an extra £850 on average, per employee.

    Lord Haughey went on to say “I don’t know what group we haven’t fallen out with yet. So now we are going to fall out with the people who need the most help” regarding Labour’s planned £5 billion worth of cuts to support for disabled people.

    Commenting on Lord Haughey’s remarks the SNP’s Katy Loudon said:

    “Amid a cost-of-living crisis, Labour’s tax hike is the last thing ordinary people and local businesses need. It is yet another example of the Labour Party letting Scotland down.

    “While I’m glad a senior Labour figure is acknowledging the harm being caused by this Labour government, many still remain silent – including Labour’s candidate in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.

    “Anyone seeking to represent this area must be the strongest voice on the issues that matter to the people here, and I know from my conversations with local charities and businesses that there is grave concern about the cost of Labour’s tax on jobs.

    “I am absolutely clear that this tax hike must be scrapped. But will the Labour candidate stand up for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and join me in my calls for Labour to u-turn on this preposterous decision?”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Social work bursary increase

    Source: Scottish Government

    Supporting postgraduate students with living costs and course fees.

    Bursaries available to support postgraduate social work students in the 2025-26 academic year will increase by almost 50% on average.

    From 1 June students commencing courses in the academic year beginning August 2025 will be able to apply for £11,000 to support them through each year of their studies – split between £6,000 towards living costs and £5,000 for course fees. The average bursary previously available to postgraduate social work students was valued at £7,415.

    The scheme, funded by the Scottish Government and administered by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), will provide support to up to 250 students in the coming academic year. Additional allowances for students who are carers or who have disabilities will continue to be available for those eligible.

    Students can apply for the support from 1 June through the SSSC website.

    Minister for The Promise Natalie Don-Innes said:

    “Social workers play a vital role in supporting people and their families within their communities. We are determined to support more people to acquire the skills and knowledge to enter social work, and these increased bursaries will help to remove financial barriers for many postgraduate students amidst the wider cost of living crisis.

    “This increased bursary is in addition to wider support, including grants to support social work students undertaking mandatory assessed practice learning placements and loans for tuition and cost-of-living support for those not eligible for the SSSC bursary.”

    Alison Bavidge, National Director of the Scottish Association for Social Work, said:

    “This is excellent news for postgraduate social work students. It is a significant piece of the jigsaw Scotland needs to put in place to deliver the social workers of the future. It should help to make social work a more attractive career and enable a wider range of applicants.

    “While this improvement to the postgraduate bursary is very welcome, we hope the Scottish Government will build on this progress and further enhance support to ensure social work is an accessible profession.”

    Background:

    The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)

    250 bursaries of £11,000 will be available to postgraduate social work students with a household income of less than £34,000.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP News: Nimanode Is Pioneering a No-Code AI Agent Builder on XRP to Power Web3 Automation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEEDS, England, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As Web3 continues to evolve, the limitations of manual execution, static smart contracts, and human-dependent workflows have become more visible than ever. Artificial Intelligence is rapidly proving its utility across industries but in Web3, AI is often misunderstood as little more than a chatbot layer or a trading algorithm. The potential for real, autonomous AI agents that interact directly with blockchains has yet to be fully realized. That potential is what Nimanode is fulfilling.

    Nimanode is a new AI x blockchain platform built on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) that empowers anyone, technical or not — to deploy autonomous AI agents that can work, earn, and evolve on-chain.

    What makes Nimanode different isn’t just its AI or even its blockchain integration. It boasts of a hybrid model (off-chain & on-chain) that allows AI agents to act independently, adapt to on-chain events, and perform real work for users and organizations alike.

    What Makes Nimanode Unique

    From a zero-code interface, users can build intelligent agents that do far more than chat. These agents can:

    • Deploy and manage smart contracts
    • Reallocate capital across DeFi pools
    • Monitor wallet and access risk in real time
    • Ensure compliance with regional regulations
    • Provide 24/7 on-chain support for dApps, DAOs, and marketplaces

    Whether you’re a Web3 newbie, DAO, Institution, startup or investor, Nimanode lets you deploy AI Agents that automate entire workflows without needing to write code manually.

    XRP + AI: The Missing Infrastructure

    While most AI-blockchain projects default to Ethereum or private chains, Nimanode chose the XRP Ledger for a very specific reason: performance.

    XRPL’s speed, scalability, and near-zero fees make it the ideal chain for intelligent agents operating at scale. Agents may interact with smart contracts, execute microtransactions, or request on-chain data hundreds of times per day — all of which require fast finality and cost-efficiency.

    This native integration positions Nimanode as a protocol layer that enhances the XRP ecosystem while enabling a completely new category of on-chain intelligence.

    $NMA: Utility Driven

    At the heart of the platform is $NMA, the utility and governance token that powers agent deployment, upgrades, and staking. With their Presale set to launch soon, Early birds are getting a unique chance to back the infrastructure layer of AI-powered automation.

    From agent deployment to marketplace interactions and protocol governance. $NMA Token holders can:

    • Build and Deploy agents
    • Earn staking rewards
    • Unlock Agent Marketplace discounts
    • Vote on platform upgrades and governance decisions

    Final Word

    The Web3 world doesn’t just need faster networks or prettier frontends, it needs autonomous infrastructure. AI agents are the next evolution in decentralization, and Nimanode is positioning itself to lead that frontier.

    If you believe that smart contracts should be deployable without code…
    If you believe that DeFi should be optimized by intelligent systems…
    If you believe in a future where agents work for you, not the other way around…

    Then Nimanode isn’t just another project, it’s your next protocol.

    Be part of the future Nimanode is building

    Website: https://nimanode.com
    Twitter/X: https://nimanode.com
    Telegram: https://t.me/nimanodeAI
    Documentation: https://docs.nimanode.com

    Contact:
    Nick Lambert
    contact@nimanode.com

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Nimanode. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1379c2b-93f6-45d7-a37f-856f3085a168

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: An 18th-century rebellion for liberty, equality and freedom − not in France or the United States, but Ireland

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Joseph Patrick Kelly, Professor of Literature and Director of Irish and Irish American Studies, College of Charleston

    A sculpture in Wexford, Ireland, by Eamonn O’Doherty, called ‘Fuascailt,’ commemorates the 1798 rebellion. Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images

    Shortly before midnight on May 23, 1798, highwaymen just north of Dublin intercepted and set on fire a mail coach headed to Belfast.

    It was the signal meant to ignite revolution across all Ireland.

    At the time, Ireland was a kingdom within the state of Great Britain. The island’s three religious factions had long been divided. Families who belonged to the Anglican Church of Ireland made up the aristocratic landlords and colonial administrators. Presbyterians, concentrated in the north, boasted a robust middle class. But as “dissenters” from the Anglican church, they were second-class citizens.

    And most of the remaining 80% of the population, the “native” Catholics, were near-destitute farmers. For more than a hundred years, they had lived under debilitating penal laws meant to keep Catholics out of economic and political power.

    Portrait of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, painted by Hugh Douglas Hamilton.
    Gallery of the Masters via Wikimedia Commons

    A new organization, the Society of United Irishmen, was established in the early 1890s in Belfast, and chapters quickly spread to Dublin and across the country. Anyone could join, so long as they dreamed of making Ireland a republic, like the United States and France, where the people had dispensed with the monarch and ruled themselves.

    Catholics and Presbyterians flocked to the cause, and even a few Anglicans joined up. The handsome and charismatic Lord Edward Fitzgerald, an Anglican son of a duke, renounced his title and commanded the society’s militia.

    By 1798, a quarter of a million men, many armed with long-handled, iron-tipped pikes, awaited the summons.

    It was the last time Catholics and Presbyterians in Ireland would unite under one banner in a really meaningful way until 1998, when a majority of both factions signed on to the Good Friday Agreement.

    As an Irish studies scholar, I’d argue the nationalist movement was symbolized best by revolutionary Theobald Wolfe Tone, whose father was an Anglican tradesman and whose mother was born and raised a Catholic.

    “I am a Protestant,” Tone wrote in his most famous political pamphlet, but also “a lover of justice and a steady detester of tyranny.”

    Enlightenment ideals

    Ever since King Henry VIII severed his nation’s ties to Roman Catholicism in the 16th century, Irish Catholics had suffered for their faith. Their lands were confiscated. They couldn’t bear arms. They couldn’t run schools or build churches. Though the worst of these laws had been reformed by the end of the 18th century and a small Catholic middle class was emerging, they were still barred from political office.

    Inspired by the American and French revolutions, the United Irishmen wanted a secular republic that separated church from state. They professed the Enlightenment principles of equality, liberty and government by the people – and thought citizens had a duty to abolish any government destructive of their rights.

    Their creed was a secular catechism, often expressed in the form of a question-and-answer text:

    What is in your hand? It is a branch.
    Of what? Of the Tree of Liberty
    Where did it first grow? In America.
    Where did it bloom? In France.
    Where did the seeds fall? In Ireland.

    Transcending sectarian differences, these Irish patriots took green as the color of their national flag. Upon this field they imposed an ancient symbol of Ireland, the harp.

    The rebellion

    The English began to suspect a revolt, and in 1787 they decided to strike first, unleashing a brutal crackdown. Redcoats “dragooned” the country, ransacking and burning homes, and flogging and summarily executing suspects.

    The Irish still sing about it today in the ballad “The Wearing of the Green”:

    I met with Napper Tandy and he took me by the hand,
    He said, “How’s dear old Ireland and how does she stand?”
    “She’s the most distressful country that you have ever seen,

    They’re hanging men and women for the wearing of the green.”

    Young Wolfe Tones singing ‘The Wearing of the Green.’

    Most of the United Irishmen’s leaders, including Fitzgerald, were arrested or killed in the dragnet. As a result, when the signal finally came, the flaming mail coach proved a fizzle rather than a rocket.

    Like guttering candles, the rebellion spent itself in uncoordinated risings at different times in different parts of the country. Help from France, which was then at war with Great Britain, came too little and too late. By October, Ireland’s revolution had been brutally suppressed.

    Historical memory

    Even before the conflict was over, aristocratic Anglican writers such as Sir Richard Musgrave spun the rebellion as an uprising of disgruntled Catholics. Reprisal killings, like rebels’ massacre of government supporters in County Wexford, helped them portray the rebellion as a religious war: Catholics against Protestants.

    Cynical English policies further dissolved the Presbyterian-Catholic alliance. An “Act of Union” in 1800 rewarded Irish Presbyterians with full citizenship – not in an Irish republic, but in the Protestant, monarchical state of Great Britain.

    Catholics, still oppressed and impoverished, had yet to face their most difficult trial: An Gorta Mor, the potato famine of the 1840s. About a million people, nearly all of them Catholic, died of starvation or disease, and another 2 million emigrated. Ireland’s population was reduced by a third.

    Because Irish nationalism became synonymous with Catholic liberation, it was mostly Catholics who celebrated the memory of the United Irishmen. The “Fenians,” a nationalist brotherhood who fought for Irish independence in the 1860s, used the United Irishmen for inspiration. Their famous ballad “The Rising of the Moon” laments, “What glorious pride and sorrow/ Fill the name of Ninety-Eight!”

    A memorial in County Wicklow to mark the 200th anniversary of the 1798 United Irishmen rebellion.
    Hugh Rooney/Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    Religious states

    On Easter Monday 1916, Irish republicans rose up again in Dublin, beginning the revolution that would lead, finally, to Irish independence. One portion of their forces, the Citizen Army, raised the old United Irishmen’s banner above their headquarters in Dublin, Liberty Hall.

    But when the Irish got their “Free State,” they did not build the kind of secular republic envisioned by the United Irishmen. The new country was a decidedly Catholic nation.

    The nation’s new flag, the Irish tricolor, included green for Catholics, orange for Protestants and white to represent peace between them. But it was a largely empty gesture. Today only about 4% of the population of the Republic of Ireland identify as Protestant, while another 15% say they have no religion.

    A parade in Dublin in 1948 commemorates the 150th anniversary of the 1798 rebellion.
    Independent News And Media/Hulton Archive via Getty Images

    That’s mostly because in 1922 the British carved out an enclave of six northern counties where most of the Presbyterians and many Anglicans lived. This political entity, “Northern Ireland,” stayed united to England. Protestants outnumbered Catholics 2-to-1, and the minority faced widespread discrimination.

    Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., Catholics in Northern Ireland began a campaign for equal rights in 1968. But when their acts of civil disobedience were met with violence, peaceful protest devolved into “the Troubles,” a guerrilla war to get the British out.

    Making peace

    A ceasefire was called in 1994, not long before the bicentennial of Ireland’s 1798 rebellion.

    To coincide with the anniversary, historian Kevin Whelan published an influential book, “The Tree of Liberty,” which emphasized the 1798 rebellion’s Enlightenment foundation. Catholics and Protestants together, Whelan argued, had fought to construct a secular nation based on equal rights.

    In 1998, people all over the country commemorated the rebellion, though the sectarian divisions and the violence of the Troubles loomed large.

    Almost exactly 200 years after the United Irishmen rose up, the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland voted in favor of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Though Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom today, the treaty secured the main goal of the 1798 rebellion: equal rights and self-determination for all citizens, no matter their religion.

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

    – ref. An 18th-century rebellion for liberty, equality and freedom − not in France or the United States, but Ireland – https://theconversation.com/an-18th-century-rebellion-for-liberty-equality-and-freedom-not-in-france-or-the-united-states-but-ireland-249817

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The band is breaking up: has the Coalition stopped making sense?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Visitor, School of History, Australian National University

    I remember seeing footage, several years ago, of a jubilant Malcolm Turnbull, then prime minister and Liberal leader, speaking in Tamworth to loyal members of the National Party. These were the rank and file who had spent weeks stumping for their man in New England, Nationals leader and deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, who had resubmitted himself to voters after discovering he was a dual citizen of Australia and New Zealand.

    A lot was riding on the outcome. Turnbull’s government had the slimmest possible majority in the lower house, and the loss of the Nationals leader would have been bad for the government as well as morale. Consequently, Turnbull was overjoyed when he thanked voters in New England “for getting the band back together”. Joyce’s handsome victory was, he explained, a “great demonstration” of the “strength of our Coalition”.

    While it may seem unfair to bands everywhere to lean too heavily on that metaphor, there is something to it. Like The Beatles, the Liberal and National parties have allowed their creative tension to become little more than just tension. Like Simon and Garfunkel, deep-seated resentments have been allowed to fester without resolution for too long. And now, like Fleetwood Mac, the two parties have chosen to go their own way, at least for a time.

    An agreement and an idea

    The Coalition is first and foremost an agreement – or rather, a series of agreements. It is predicated on the pragmatic reality that neither the Liberal Party (and beforehand, its predecessor parties) nor the agrarian National (formerly Country) Party was able to govern alone, or at least not for very long.

    The first of these agreements was struck in February 1923, following an election the previous year that left the Nationalist Party, led by wartime prime minister Billy Hughes, well short of a lower house majority. The new Country Party won 14 seats in the lower house (roughly 18%) on its own, making it a force to be reckoned with.

    Country MPs were willing to form a power-sharing agreement with the Nationalists, but not without cost. The larger party had to jettison its leader in favour of a new prime minister, Stanley Melbourne Bruce. The rural party won a hefty share of the ministries (five out of 11) and Earle Page, Country Party leader, became treasurer and de facto deputy prime minister.

    Though they were not aware of it, Bruce and Page were creating something that has since become a tradition, an idea that can all too easily seem like an immutable part of Australia’s political life.

    For more than 100 years now, some form of that “Coalition” has stood against Labor, and in doing so has helped to constitute a two-party system whose predominance is well and truly waning.

    Discordant notes

    The termination of the Coalition in 2025 is neither shocking nor unprecedented. Indeed, if the band analogy has any meaning here, it is because there have been so many discordant notes over those 102 years.

    When the United Australia Party (UAP) came on to the federal scene in response to the Great Depression, the party of farmers chose to go it alone. The UAP won a majority and governed in its own right from 1931 to 1934, only joining the Country Party in coalition when the 1934 elections robbed it of outright majority.

    The death of UAP founder and prime minister Joe Lyons in April 1939 tore that marriage apart. His successor, Robert Menzies, declared his desire to choose all ministers (even those from the Country Party) himself, thereby alienating that party. Apart from a few dissidents, the Country Party quit the coalition, until the outbreak of war and declining electoral fortunes made a remarriage necessary.

    The Liberals and Country Party/Nationals managed their affairs well enough during their long stints in office from 1949 to 1972, and again under Malcolm Fraser (1975–83) and John Howard (1996–2007). But even in good times, these were not always the happiest of bandmates.

    Country Party leader John McEwen dominated the government in the late 1960s, to the point of brazenly vetoing the leadership candidacy of Harold Holt’s deputy (the unpopular Billy McMahon) when the former went swimming and failed to return.

    Fraser was often criticised by Liberal colleagues for his instinctive closeness to the National Party. Paul Davey explains that in Howard’s day, the Nationals felt “overshadowed” and “undersold”. In fact, the very word “Coalition” bordered on synonymous with “Liberal”.

    Different states of mind

    To be fair, Howard had learned a lot about managing the Coalition relationship by the time he arrived at The Lodge. The agreement had been brutally severed during his first stint as leader, thanks to Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s quest to become prime minister.

    A figure head of New Right populism, Bjelke-Petersen felt that neither the federal Liberal Party (then led by Howard) nor his National Party colleagues were made of tough enough stuff to beat modern Labor.

    The Nationals’ federal leader, Ian Sinclair, later said the vision of Howard, Sinclair and Bjelke-Petersen presenting separate election programs was an “absolute farce”.

    It mattered that the death of the Coalition was spearheaded by a state premier. Such agreements had always been less popular and more controversial within the state branches of both parties.

    South of the Murray, it was quite unspectacular for Country Party MPs in the mid-20th century to change their allegiances and even stand alone in office with the tentative support of the Labor Party.

    In Queensland, the Liberal and National Parties governed together, often with the latter as the senior partner. But Bjelke-Petersen scrapped the Coalition in that state in 1983 and consolidated its parliamentary majority at an election in 1986. By the time of his departure in 1987, both parties had badly fractured.

    In time, the two parties merged in that state to prevent such outbreaks in future. Federal members of the Queensland LNP face some awkward conversations now.

    Principled stances and survival

    In announcing the latest split, Nationals leader David Littleproud said his party was taking a “principled stance”, though what exact principles were involved we have not learned. His deputy, Kevin Hogan, said he hoped the parties would “get back together” later on.

    We know the sticking points were these: a guaranteed $20 billion Regional Australia Fund, divestiture powers to break up businesses with unhealthy market power, obligations for better regional mobile coverage, and an ongoing commitment to the nuclear energy project.

    The latter commitment flies in the face of electoral reason, but the other three policies are clearly informed by the history of telecommunications deregulation and privatisation (which caused many sleepless nights in the National Party during the Howard years) and the ever-present threat of other, more populist parties chasing Nationals MPs’ heels in regional Australia.

    The National Party made a big effort to resist that pressure in the 1990s, when One Nation looked like it might decimate its grip on the regions. A few days ago, Pauline Hanson said the Nationals and One Nation could in fact form their own coalition, so close were their policy offerings. That this was even uttered is a testament to how much the Nationals have changed over the past 30 years in their quest for survival.

    Time apart could provide the parties with the political space they need for self-reflection and strategic reorientation. But they will not have one another to blame for their performance in coming months and years. Breaking up the band is easy to do. Touring alone is hard.

    Joshua Black is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Australia Institute.

    – ref. The band is breaking up: has the Coalition stopped making sense? – https://theconversation.com/the-band-is-breaking-up-has-the-coalition-stopped-making-sense-257118

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –