NewzIntel.com

Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lost World War One Soldier Found in France

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Lost World War One Soldier Found in France

    Relatives of a World War 1 Derbyshire soldier gathered in France today to witness his burial with full military honours alongside his comrades – more than a century after he was killed in action.  

    Sjt Ashton’s new headstone, with a personal inscription from his descendants (Crown Copyright)

    A burial service has been held in France for a lost World War One soldier more than a century after his death. The service was supported by Padre John Storey of 5th Bn The Rifles, and soldiers from 1st Bn The Rifles who flew in from Cyprus to support the service.

    Soldiers from 1st Bn The Rifles and Buglers from The Band & Bugles of The Rifles stand with members of Sjt Ashton’s family (Crown Copyright)

    Serjeant Henry Ashton from Derby, who died aged 44 in 1917, was the first named soldier to be buried and laid to rest at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Loos British Cemetery Extension yesterday (10 June 2025). All other soldiers buried at the new Extension to date are unnamed.   

    His remains were discovered during construction work for a new hospital in Lens, and research showed that the remains belonged to a man of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI), with extensive pre-war service demonstrated by the tattered remains of medal ribbons still attached to his uniform. DNA testing then led to formal identification of Sjt Henry Ashton. 

    The service was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’. 

    Alexia Clark, MOD War Detective said: 

    It has been a privilege to identify Sjt Ashton, and to be able to organise this burial service for him. When you consider the half-a-million men still missing from the First and Second World Wars, every one we can identify feels like an achievement. I am delighted that Sjt Ashton’s family have now been able to give him the dignified burial he had been denied for so long.

    Lt Fintan Yeatman of 1st Bn The Rifles presents the flag from Sjt Ashton’s coffin to his great-grandson Paul.

    Sjt Ashton initially served 12½ years with the Seaforth Highlanders before working for the Midland Railway Company. He rejoined the army in March 1915, first with the Derbyshire Yeomanry before transferring to the 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry in October 1916. 

    Sjt Ashton was killed on 22 April 1917 during operations near Lens. A letter received at home from his officer, Captain Allden Owles, stated that he had died instantly and served bravely. Following the war Henry’s body was not recovered, and he was listed on the Memorial to the Missing at Loos.  

    Commemorations Casework Manager at the CWGC, David Royle, said:  

    It has been an honour to be involved in the identification of Serjeant Henry Ashton. Burial ceremonies like these are a reminder that the work of the CWGC continues and are as important today as when we were first founded. We will care for his grave, and those of his comrades, in perpetuity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Greater Bendigo’s Taco Trail turns up the heat as guest judges crown the winner

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    The City of Greater Bendigo’s vibrant destination program Fiesta Bendigo is in full swing with culinary experts crowning the best taco from three standout finalists in The Taco Trail.

    Inspired by Bendigo Art Gallery’s exclusive exhibition Frida Kahlo: In her own image, Fiesta Bendigo’s Taco Trail is a highlight of the visitor campaign involving 23 unique taco creations served across 22 local hospitality businesses. They are all Bendigo Tourism members.

    The finalists Percy and Percy, Mexican Kitchen, and The Dispensary Bar & Diner were shortlisted for the guest judges based on the popular votes so far (the winner from public votes will be announced on June 30 and votes are still open*).

    Two esteemed culinary experts Dani Valent, a freelance journalist for Gourmet Traveller and host of the Dirty Linen podcast, and Mexican cook Elvira McIntosh de Orozco, a specialist in traditional Nahuatl (Aztec) cuisine, were the guest judges. They crowned the winner after visiting the top three venues to determine the tastiest taco.

    Congratulations to The Dispensary Bar & Diner who won the judges over with its Xinjiang Lamb Taco. The winning taco wowed the judges with its bold, unexpected flavours and locally sourced ingredients for the dish – including locally made tortillas.

    Judge Elvira McIntosh de Orozco praised the dish’s originality.

    “I was quite surprised that the flavour just changes a little and it adds to the quality of it,” Elvira McIntosh de Orozco said.

    Dani Valent was equally impressed with the taco’s winning components.

    “The meat is so succulent. The Dispensary’s taco really seems to celebrate Australian multiculturalism. It has influences from all over, locally made which is very impressive, lamb shoulder – local lamb, spices, and gochujang. So, we are in northwestern China, we are in Korea, we are in Mexico, and we are definitely in Bendigo,” Dani Valent said.

    Finn Vedelsby said the win was fantastic.

    “We’re very excited, it’s been wonderful for Bendigo to be able to have so many tacos around and we’re honoured to win best taco in Bendigo. You beauty,” Finn Vedelsby said.

    City Acting Manager Economy & Experience Glenn Harvey said the Fiesta Bendigo program and the popular Taco Trail were inspired by Bendigo Art Gallery’s exclusive exhibition Frida Kahlo: In her own image, which is open until Sunday July 13.

    “The international exhibition is only open for one more month, closing Sunday July 13 so don’t miss the chance to explore this extraordinary exhibition of the iconic artist Frida Kahlo, and enjoy Mexican-inspired experiences as part of the Fiesta Bendigo program, including The Taco Trail,” Mr Harvey said

    “The public vote for Greater Bendigo’s most popular Taco remains open until June 30, with voters going into the draw to win a VIP weekend for two in Bendigo, valued at over $1,000 so I encourage you to explore the trail and vote for your favourite taco.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Stay safe on Kunanyi / Mt Wellington

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Stay safe on Kunanyi / Mt Wellington

    Thursday, 12 June 2025 – 2:47 pm.

    Be prepared and don’t take chances – that’s the simple message from Tasmania Police to people looking to experience Kunanyi/Mount Wellington, one of the state’s most popular nature attractions.
    Tasmania Police joined forces with the City of Hobart on Thursday for a message urging visitors and locals to respect Kunanyi / Mt Wellington’s potentially dangerous alpine weather conditions as winter sets in.
    “People need to be aware that it can take just a matter of minutes for the weather to turn treacherous on the mountain,” Tasmania Police Search and Rescue Senior Constable Cameron Rennie, pictured, said.
    “Certainly, we’ve seen it turn to blizzard-like conditions in a short space of time, with extremely strong wind, sleet and snow, and that can, and does, catch people out.
    “It can be quite a serious situation, if they are not properly prepared.
    “It’s not just bushwalkers. Even if you’ve driven a car up to the Springs or the Pinnacle for sight- seeing, make sure you are prepared for the possibility those conditions can change and that you have suitable clothing and can access shelter.
    “Be aware that the pathways and roads could become wet and slippery and potentially, the roads will be icy to drive on.” Tasmania Police emphasises the following points.
    Plan ahead: Research the difficulty level of your trip and inform others of your planned route and expected return time. Don’t set off alone. For safety, walk in pairs, or as part of a group.
    Carry essential equipment: Bring warm and waterproof clothing, hiking shoes, a fully charged mobile phone, and a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). Take a back-up light source that is not your phone, such as a camping-style headlamp.
    Monitor conditions: Check weather forecasts and road / track access updates before heading up the mountain.
    Be mindful of visibility: Low cloud cover can reduce visibility to just a few metres, and snow or ice can make tracks and roads dangerously slippery.
    If in trouble, ask for help: Don’t leave it to the last minute to raise the alarm. If you have become lost, or injured, or the weather conditions are going to cause you difficulty, ask for advice. Call police on 131 444 or, call triple zero 000 if it is an emergency. Waiting to late in the day or when darkness falls adds to the complexity of a search and rescue.
    “These precautions are vital to ensuring a safe experience on the mountain,” Senior Constable Rennie said.
    Supporting police, City of Hobart Program Leader Bushland Greg Milne said people were drawn to the mountain’s special experiences, including snow events, but many do not realise the dangers that can come with it.
    “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is a true alpine mountain range and can be deadly for the unprepared or in-experienced,” Mr Milne said.
    “Every snow event, our staff working on the mountain see so many unprepared visitors. Last September, at the request of Police Search and Rescue … (we) rescued 18 people from the pinnacle in blizzard-like conditions at night after a storm front surged through.”
    Tasmania Police Search and Rescue responded to 11 incidents on Kunanyi/Mt Wellington since July 1 last year.
    In five of those callouts, police identified that people were simply not sufficiently prepared.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Jack’s Law expansion is a symbolic step – it’s not a solution to knife crime

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janet Ransley, Professor, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University

    khak/Shutterstock

    Laws just passed in Queensland give police unprecedented powers to scan people with a handheld wand and potentially search them in all public places, without needing a warrant or reasonable suspicion.

    Earlier versions of “Jack’s Law” were copied in other jurisdictions, such as New South Wales, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Queensland’s expanded laws may flow on to them now, too.

    However, while the newly expanded Jack’s Law may detect more weapons, there’s no evidence it reduces violent crime. It may, in fact, do more harm than good, while putting human rights at risk.

    What is Jack’s Law?

    Jack’s Law is named after 17-year-old Jack Beasley who was stabbed to death outside a convenience store in Surfers Paradise in 2019.

    Passed in 2021, the law resulted in a time-limited trial allowing officers to “wand” people with metal detectors in some entertainment precincts.

    Since then, the trial was expanded twice to include public transport, stations, shopping centres and licensed entertainment venues.

    In a little more than two years, Queensland police conducted 116,287 scans and removed 1,126 weapons – a detection rate of about 0.9%.

    The majority of charges that followed were for minor drug offences, or breaches of knife-carrying bans.

    The trial was set to expire on October 30, 2026 after another mandatory review.

    Instead, the law has now been made permanent with the scope extended again to allow wanding in all public places.

    The changes also remove safeguards, such as the need for senior officer oversight, reporting requirements and a further review of the impact of wands on crime and on civil liberties.

    Our research into Jack’s Law

    Our review of the 12-month trial of Jack’s Law on the Gold Coast in 2021–22 is the only publicly available evidence about the impact of metal detector wanding on knife violence in Queensland.

    We found there was no reduction in violence as a result of the use of the hand-held scanners.

    There’s also potential for bias when officers using the wands are influenced by factors that aren’t related to evidence. This includes the unfair targeting of minorities. More people could also be caught up in the justice system for minor, non-violent breaches.

    What’s needed to reduce knife violence are evidence-based programs addressing underlying causes such as mental health, poverty, child maltreatment and domestic and family violence.

    Wanding has no impact on these underlying causes and diverts resources and police attention from where they’re really needed.

    Does the law reduce knife crime?

    While the intention behind Jack’s Law is to enhance public safety by deterring knife-related crimes, the evidence suggests this is unlikely to happen.

    Our study found that although the use of metal-detecting wands can lead to increased detection of weapons, there is no evidence this in turn reduces violent crimes involving knives.

    Confiscated knives are easily replaced and we found no evidence that scanning deterred people from carrying weapons.

    This is consistent with research from the UK showing “stop and search” laws had no effect on violent crime, and Victorian research showing no effect of similar stop and search laws on violent crimes.

    Concern over human rights

    The expansion of police powers under Jack’s Law raises human rights concerns.

    The ability to stop and search people without reasonable suspicion may lead to racial profiling and erode public trust in law enforcement.

    A 2022 independent inquiry into the Queensland Police Service highlighted issues of systemic racism and sexism within the force, underscoring the potential risks of granting broader discretionary powers without adequate oversight.

    Our review also found evidence of police wanding decisions being based on discriminatory stereotypes. This makes the removal of oversight and review mechanisms of particular concern.

    Additionally, searches for knives following wanding have led to a rise in minor drug charges. This funnels more young people into the criminal justice system, which increases their risk of re-offending and also places more pressure on an already overburdened criminal justice system.

    While the expansion of Jack’s Law is a visible response to public concerns about knife crime, it is essential to recognise such measures are not a silver bullet.

    Further erosion of the already tenuous trust in the police service among minority communities in Queensland, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, could lead to reduced public trust and have long-term negative impacts on public safety.

    Why a holistic approach is needed

    Addressing the root causes of knife violence requires a comprehensive approach that includes investment in support services and community programs.

    We also need to recognise around 50% of serious violent crime occurs in the context of domestic and family violence, in private settings. Wanding does nothing to help those victims.

    Understanding why people carry knives and implementing targeted prevention strategies are crucial steps toward creating a safer society.

    While Jack’s Law serves as a symbolic gesture honouring the memory of Jack Beasley, its efficacy in reducing knife crime remains unlikely and will now not be reviewed.

    Policymakers must balance the desire for immediate action with evidence-based strategies that address underlying factors contributing to violence.

    Only through a holistic approach can we hope to achieve lasting change and truly honour the lives lost to such senseless acts.

    Janet Ransley receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Paul Ramsay Foundation. The Queensland Police Service funded the research referred to in this article.

    – ref. The Jack’s Law expansion is a symbolic step – it’s not a solution to knife crime – https://theconversation.com/the-jacks-law-expansion-is-a-symbolic-step-its-not-a-solution-to-knife-crime-258804

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘He stopped me from talking to male colleagues’: new research shows how domestic violence so often starts with isolation and control

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth McLindon, Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne

    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    When it comes to domestic violence, cases involving catastrophic physical violence are the ones that most often make it into the media.

    But our new research shows there are often signs of trouble long before such tragic outcomes – before couples move in together or get married.

    We asked a large group of women about how domestic violence (also known as intimate partner violence) they’d experienced had started and escalated.

    A general pattern emerged. First came psychological abuse, then physical abuse, then sexual abuse.

    So if women, health workers and others can recognise the signs of psychological abuse early on, there’s a chance to intervene before abusive behaviour progresses.

    How does this relate to coercive control?

    The types of psychological abuse women told us about indicate they’d experienced coercive control.

    Coercive control is defined as a pattern of restrictive, manipulative and dominating behaviours used to undermine a partner’s autonomy and freedom. While it can occur in any type of relationship, it is most commonly perpetrated by men against women partners and is underpinned by inequitable gender roles and misogynistic attitudes.

    Another way of describing coercive control is a pattern of behaviours that aim to prevent a partner from being in charge of their life. For instance, this could mean controlling who a partner can see, what they can wear, or where they can go. Or it could mean questioning a partner’s sanity when they raise concerns about abusive behaviour.

    There’s been growing awareness of the impact of coercive control and domestic violence more broadly on women’s health and wellbeing. There’s also growing awareness that coercive control can escalate to catastrophic abuse against women and children, including homicide.

    So, Australian states and territories have scrambled to tackle the issue legally. Queensland recently joined New South Wales in making coercive control a standalone criminal offence.

    What we did and what we found

    We wanted to know more about the progression of domestic violence and if there were key stages to intervene to help prevent the worst harms.

    So we surveyed a nationally representative sample of 815 Australian women who had experienced domestic violence in the past five years and asked them to create a timeline of their relationship.

    Women started with the earliest warning signs that something was wrong and then added what happened around important life events, such as moving in together, having children, seeking help or leaving. Women could describe their experiences in their own words.

    When we analysed all the timelines together, we created a summary of the general sequence of abuse over time.

    First, there were attacks to a survivor’s mind, then her physical body, then her sexual self.

    How behaviours escalated, from the earliest sign something was wrong.
    Author provided

    Psychological abuse an early sign

    Psychological abuse was present in almost all relationships early in the timeline. It usually emerged before moving in together or getting married.

    The earliest indicator of abuse was being isolated from others, as one woman said:

    He stopped me from talking to male colleagues.

    Controlling a woman’s day-to-day activities happened next. One survivor told us how her money and car were used against her:

    He kept my belongings from me […] to prevent me from leaving.

    Then, as one woman said, there was other emotional abuse:

    If I said anything he didn’t like, a brick wall would be erected […] I wouldn’t be spoken to for two to three days.

    Another said:

    He called me crazy when he had done something wrong.

    On average, women told us physically abusive behaviours first appeared after a major life commitment, such as marriage or moving in together.

    In general, sexual abuse by a partner first emerged after the psychological and physical abuse started.

    For survivors who had a child during the relationship and whose partner was sexually abusive, the worst of that sexual violence generally came sometime after giving birth.

    For many survivors, a growing concern about the impact of abuse on their children occurred around the same time as leaving their relationship and trying to get help.

    What next?

    This research sets out clear opportunities for prevention and early intervention.

    We need to train health professionals to look for signs and ask about psychological abuse when their patients are contemplating life transitions. This includes raising awareness and targeted resources for staff working in pregnancy care.

    Future research should see if these patterns of abuse apply in different diverse groups of survivors.

    We also need better community education, particularly for young women, about the features of psychological abuse that occur early in relationships, before physical and sexual abuse.

    As one participant told us:

    More domestic violence campaigns should focus on emotional abuse. We focus so much on the physical, but I can feel immediately when I am hit. It takes longer to feel gaslighting, manipulation and other emotionally heavy abuse. It lingers with you. It alters the way you think and traps you far worse than the physical does.

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

    Elizabeth McLindon received funding from Oak Foundation for this research. She is affiliated with The Royal Women’s Hospital, Victoria, where she is the Deputy Director of the Centre for Family Violence Prevention.

    Kelsey Hegarty receives funding from Oak Foundation, Medical Research Futures Fund, and National Health and Medical Research Council.

    – ref. ‘He stopped me from talking to male colleagues’: new research shows how domestic violence so often starts with isolation and control – https://theconversation.com/he-stopped-me-from-talking-to-male-colleagues-new-research-shows-how-domestic-violence-so-often-starts-with-isolation-and-control-257457

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 12, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 12, 2025.

    Trump may try to strike a deal with AUKUS review, but here’s why he won’t sink it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University The Pentagon has announced it will review the massive AUKUS agreement between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia to ensure it’s aligned with US President Donald Trump’s “America first” agenda. The US undersecretary of defence

    Why are sunsets so pretty in winter? There’s a simple explanation
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chloe Wilkins, Associate Lecturer and PhD Candidate, Solar Physics, University of Newcastle nelo2309/Shutterstock If you live in the southern hemisphere and have been stopped in your tracks by a recent sunset, you may have noticed they seem more vibrant lately. The colours are brighter and bolder, and

    After weeks of confusion and chaos, Tasmania heads back to the polls on July 19
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hortle, Deputy Director, Tasmanian Policy Exchange, University of Tasmania The Tasmanian government has called a state election for July 19, the fourth in a little over seven years. Following days of high drama, Governor Barbara Baker finally granted Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s election request, saying there

    Goodbye to all that? Rethinking Australia’s alliance with Trump’s America
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Beeson, Adjunct professor, Australia-China Relations Institute, University of Technology Sydney Even the most ardent supporters of the alliance with the United States – the notional foundation of Australian security for more than 70 years – must be having some misgivings about the second coming of Donald

    A reversal in US climate policy will send renewables investors packing – and Australia can reap the benefits
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Downie, Professor, Australian National University President Donald Trump is trying to unravel the signature climate policy of his predecessor Joe Biden, the Inflation Reduction Act, as part of a sweeping bid to dismantle the United States’ climate ambition. The Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, is a

    ‘Hard to measure and difficult to shift’: the government’s big productivity challenge
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra Higher productivity has quickly emerged as an economic reform priority for Labor’s second term. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has laid down some markers for a productivity round table in August, saying he wants it to build the “broadest possible

    Extreme weather could send milk prices soaring, deepening challenges for the dairy industry
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milena Bojovic, Lecturer, Sustainability and Environment, University of Technology Sydney Australia’s dairy industry is in the middle of a crisis, fuelled by an almost perfect storm of challenges. Climate change and extreme weather have been battering farmlands and impacting animal productivity, creating mounting financial strains and mental

    201 ways to say ‘fuck’: what 1.7 billion words of online text shows about how the world swears
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martin Schweinberger, Lecturer in Applied Linguistics, The University of Queensland Our brains swear for good reasons: to vent, cope, boost our grit and feel closer to those around us. Swear words can act as social glue and play meaningful roles in how people communicate, connect and express

    Were the first kings of Poland actually from Scotland? New DNA evidence unsettles a nation’s founding myth
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University An illustration from a 15th-century manuscript showing the coronation of the first king of Poland, Boleslaw I. Chronica Polonorum by Mathiae de Mechovia For two centuries, scholars have sparred over the roots of the Piasts, Poland’s first documented royal

    Medical scans are big business and investors are circling. Here are 3 reasons to be concerned
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sean Docking, Research Fellow, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University wedmoments.stock/Shutterstock Timely access to high-quality medical imaging can be lifesaving and life-altering. Radiology can confirm a fractured bone, give us an early glimpse of our baby or detect cancer. But behind the x-ray, ultrasound,

    ‘Microaggressions’ can fly under the radar in schools. Here’s how to spot them and respond
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Leslie, Lecturer in Curriculum and Pedagogy with a focus on Educational Psychology, University of Southern Queensland Klaus Vedfelt/ Getty Images Bullying is sadly a common experience for Australian children and teenagers. It is estimated at least 25% experience bullying at some point in their schooling. The

    New Zealand’s ‘symbolic’ sanctions on Israel too little, too late, say opposition parties
    By Russell Palmer, RNZ News political reporter Opposition parties say Aotearoa New Zealand’s government should be going much further, much faster in sanctioning Israel. Foreign Minister Winston Peters overnight revealed New Zealand had joined Australia, Canada, the UK and Norway in imposing travel bans on Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar

    More deaths reported out of Sugapa in West Papua clashes with military
    By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Further reports of civilian casualties are coming out of West Papua, while clashes between Indonesia’s military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement continue. One of the most recent military operations took place in the early morning of May 14 in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya in Central

    Q+A follows The Project onto the scrap heap – so where to now for non-traditional current affairs?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne Two long-running television current affairs programs are coming to an end at the same time, driving home the fact that no matter what the format, they have a shelf life. The Project on Channel

    Sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers is a start, but Australia and its allies must do more
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Whyte, Scientia Associate Professor of Philosophy and ARC Future Fellow, UNSW Sydney The Australian government is imposing financial and travel sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers: Itamar Ben-Gvir (the national security minister) and Bezalel Smotrich (finance minister). This is a significant development. While Australia has previously

    Malaria has returned to the Torres Strait. What does this mean for mainland Australia?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney Aspect Drones/Shutterstock Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases spread by mosquitoes. Each year, hundreds of millions of people worldwide are infected and half a million people die from the disease. While mainland Australia was

    Is regulation really to blame for the housing affordability crisis?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Sydney ymgerman/Shutterstock The Albanese government has a new mantra to describe the housing crisis, which is showing no signs of abating: homes have simply become “too hard to build” in Australia. The prime minister and senior ministers

    NZ’s goal is to get smoking rates under 5% for all population groups this year – here’s why that’s highly unlikely
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janet Hoek, Professor in Public Health, University of Otago Getty Images Next week is “scrutiny week” in parliament – one of two weeks each year when opposition MPs can hold ministers accountable for their actions, or lack thereof. For us, it’s a good time to take stock

    Labor’s win at the 2025 federal election was the biggest since 1943, with its largest swings in the cities
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne We now have the (almost!) final results from the 2025 federal election – with only Bradfield still to be completely resolved. Labor won 94 of the 150

    What are the ‘less lethal’ weapons being used in Los Angeles?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samara McPhedran, Principal Research Fellow, Griffith University After United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested multiple people on alleged immigration violations, protests broke out in Los Angeles. In response, police and military personnel have been deployed around the greater LA area. Authorities have been using

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Brigades of CFA – Portland Fire Brigade

    Source:

    Portland Fire Brigade’s early foundations were laid with a public meeting notice that was published in the Portland Guardian newspaper in 1856.

    Council Chairman, William Learmonth, called for a meeting to be held at Portland’s Mac’s Hotel, with the purpose of forming a volunteer fire brigade. The need for a brigade was, in part, due to the fact that they needed people to operate the fire appliance they had recently obtained from England. The engine required at least eight people to pull and operate.

    The brigade was officially formed in 1858, and its first fire station is still standing today on the grounds of Saint Stephen’s Anglican Church on Julia Street.

    Portland, on Victoria’s southwest coast, is a vibrant deep-sea port town and home to one of the country’s largest aluminium smelters. The various port operations present unique challenges for the brigade and requires members to be trained in a mix of skills.

    Away from the port, the landscape of District 4 consists of dense coastal scrub, tree plantations, native forest and farmland. Again, this requires a mix of skills, including strong working relationships with Forest Industry Brigades and, at times, the Country Fire Service across the border in South Australia.

    These days, Portland is a co-located brigade with Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), and its current station, now in its third iteration, sits on Percy Street in the heart of the town.

    • Public meeting notice in the Portland Guardian newspaper – 1856
    • Original Portland Fire Station and fire engine
    • Original Fire Station as it looks today
    • Portland’s current station on Percy Street
    Submitted by Alison Smirnoff

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: United in art as Mexico meets Bendigo in a striking new exhibition

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    A new Artists on View exhibition will offer the local community and visiting art lovers a glimpse into contemporary Mexican artists in a group show of eclectic styles and contrasting approaches.

    United Artists of Mexico and Bendigo (Artistas Unidos de México y Bendigo) showcases works by contemporary Mexican artists paired with new works from local artists.

    Inspired by Bendigo Art Gallery’s exclusive exhibition, Frida Kahlo: In her own image, this exhibition explores how the works of Mexican artists reflect the theme of identity, nationality and the legacy left behind by Frida Kahlo.

    A variety of Bendigo artists were then invited to creatively respond to the visual and thematic elements, making for a unique cultural exchange and experience.

    Mexican artists exhibiting include Deniol Alva, Jose-Octavio Ortiz, Ulises Reséndiz, and Lizette Vieyra.

    Bendigo artists range from those who have never exhibited to those well established in the central Victoria art community, and include Bodes, Salena Cummins, Chris Duffy, Sharon Greenaway, Amanda Peluso, Sally Poltrock, Avery Montgomery Reid, Molly Rule, Aimé Sacrez, Ivan Sun, Claire Tennant, Kristine Von Hilderbrandt and David Waters.

    Exhibition curator Ivan Sun said the exhibition was a wonderful mix of works that reflect perspectives and preoccupations of Mexico today.

    “It’s very moving how the Mexican artists convey the legacy left behind by Frida Kahlo. As curator, I invited local artists to creatively respond to the Mexican artists’ visual elements and themes, creating a unique cultural exchange and experience,” Mr Sun said.

    “Contemporary works include paintings, photography, video, sculpture, fashion and textile design pieces that celebrate her creative legacy.

    “By joining Mexican artists with local creatives, we invite all exhibiting to extend their creative range, form new connections and celebrate culture.”

    Bendigo Venues & Events Manager Julie Amos said the installation is the perfect accompaniment to the blockbuster Bendigo Art Gallery exhibition.

    “Frida Kahlo is one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, and her work still resonates worldwide today,” Ms Amos said.

    “Just like Frida, this Artists on View exhibition is vibrant, colourful and challenges our thinking and interpretation of contemporary artworks.

    “It’s a terrific blend of international and local talent, highlighting Mexican culture, and I encourage the community to visit Dudley House and explore the works on display.”

    United Artists of Mexico and Bendigo (Artistas Unidos de México y Bendigo) is free to attend and open daily from June 12 to June 23, 11am to 6pm at Dudley House, 60 View Street, Bendigo.

    Community members are also invited to an exhibition launch on Saturday June 14, from 1pm to 3pm.

    The launch will include a traditional Huipils display from different Mexican regions, dancing and fashion modelling from Mexbourne Dance Troupe, mariachi singer Sergio Garcia, piñata smashing, a runway set by Bendigo designer of stage and film Kristine Von Hilderbrandt, food and refreshments organised by Tlatoani Australia.

    The United Artists of Mexico and Bendigo (Artistas Unidos de México y Bendigo) exhibition is supported by the City of Greater Bendigo’s Artists on View program. It is also part of Fiesta Bendigo, the City’s marketing destination program to complement the gallery’s Frida Kahlo exhibition and entice visitors to the region with attractions and experiences.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Greater Bendigo community thanked for shaping the proposed Council Plan 2025-2029 and Annual Budget

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    Council extends its sincere thanks to the local community for their valuable input on two key milestone documents, the proposed Council Plan Mir wimbul  2025–2029 and the Budget 2025/2026.

    Shaped by community priorities through extensive public engagement, these documents will be considered for adoption at the next Council Meeting on Monday June 16, starting at 6pm.

    For the first time, the proposed Council Plan and Budget have been developed and planned together, ensuring a strong alignment between strategic goals and the resources required to achieve them.

    Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said this combined approach marked a significant step forward in addressing both current and future community needs.

    “Developing the proposed Council Plan and Budget at the same time has ensured that our strategic goals are directly supported by the projects and initiatives we’re funding,” Cr Metcalf said.

    “The proposed Council Plan sets our direction for the next four years and includes the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan. We’re focused on creating a welcoming community and a healthy environment that supports people to thrive. It reinforces the City’s commitment to improving health outcomes in partnership with local health organisations.”

    The proposed Budget 2025/2026 outlines key priorities for the coming year, supported by an annual action plan to ensure efficient and sustainable delivery of services.

    Cr Metcalf acknowledged the extensive community engagement that helped to shape both documents.

    “These milestone plans would not have been possible without the input of hundreds of community members, partner organisations, and Traditional Owner organisations. Councillors sincerely thank everyone who contributed their time, ideas, and experiences.”

    The planning process included:

    • A wide number of community focus groups and meetings with Traditional Owner organisations, key partners, local groups, and businesses
    • Two community-wide surveys with over 500 responses
    • A 42-person deliberative community panel held over a weekend in March that was selected from over 200 registrants, representing diverse genders, abilities, and cultural backgrounds, including First Nations community members

    “The community deliberative panel met over three days to provide guidance to Councillors, helping shape ideas that reflect the community’s voice and the Council Plan’s vision. Based on this and earlier community feedback, people told us they want Greater Bendigo to be responsible, healthy, thriving and welcoming,” Cr Metcalf said.

    “Community members recognise that Greater Bendigo is experiencing both the benefits and challenges of growth. We’re working hard to advocate for more housing and better facilities to support our expanding population.

    “Top priorities identified through community engagement include roads, public and active transport, waste management, and parks and trails. The community understands the importance of creating healthy, liveable places and spaces.”

    In addition to the Council Plan and Budget, a proposed Rating and Revenue Plan 2025-2029 and proposed Financial Plan 2025-2035 will also be considered for adoption at the June 16 meeting.

    The Revenue and Rating Plan 2025/2029 explains how the City will raise funds to pay for services, facilities and infrastructure. This includes finding the most appropriate and affordable rates approach for Greater Bendigo’s residents and businesses. In response to the introduction of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund in July, the City’s 2025/2026 Budget proposes to reduce the rate in the dollar for the farm rate and not increase waste charges for all ratepayers in the new financial year.

    The Financial Plan sets out how the City plans to fund the delivery of services to the community in an efficient and sustainable way. The City uses a financial model to forecast and monitor a 10-year financially sustainable projection of how it plans to fund the actions in the Council Plan. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn Demands FEMA Halt Biden-Era Flood Insurance Premiums

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced the Stop Funding Genital Mutilation Act, which would prohibit federal funding from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from going towards gender transition procedures at any age:
    “Texas taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for dangerous and often debilitating ‘gender transition’ procedures that are driven by radical ideology masquerading as health care,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m proud to introduce this commonsense legislation to stop federal dollars from funding Democrats’ woke agenda and defend Texas values and Texas families.”
    “Before they can vote, drive, or get a tattoo, some children are pushed into irreversible gender-transition procedures with no proven long-term health benefit,” said Sen. Lankford. “These treatments can cause lasting harm, and taxpayers should not be forced to fund them.”
    Background:
     A recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) review of gender dysphoria medical interventions “highlights a growing body of evidence pointing to significant risks—including irreversible harms such as infertility—while finding very weak evidence of benefit.”
    Nearly 30 states have laws or policies that limit access to gender transition procedures for minors, including Texas. Texas prohibits health care providers from prescribing, administering or dispensing hormone or puberty blocking medications or providing gender transition surgeries to minors. Other countries have begun putting limits on these procedures over concerns about the long-term effects. In 2024, NHS England began limiting access to puberty blockers as “routine treatment” for children under 18. Finland, Sweden, and Denmark have also limited access to these procedures for minors.
    The Stop Funding Genital Mutilation Act would prohibit CHIP and Medicaid federal funds from being used to provide gender transition procedures at any age. It makes exceptions for those needing puberty blocking drugs or medical procedures for medically necessary reasons, including medically verifiable sex development disorders or injury from previous gender transition procedures.
    The legislation builds on President Trump’s Executive Order, signed on January 28, 2025, which called for cutting federal funding for gender transition procedures for minors and directs federally run insurance programs, including Medicaid, to stop covering these services.
    The legislation aligns with language included in the House’s version of Pres. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, and Sen. Cornyn will fight to include this priority in the Senate’s version.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study looking at the association between prolonged use of progestogen contraceptive pill (desogestrel) and risk of brain tumour

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in The BMJ looks at the use of the progesterone contraceptive pill and brain tumour risk. 

    Dr Karen Noble, Director of Research, Policy and Innovation at Brain Tumour Research, said:

    “This study adds to the growing body of evidence around hormone-related risk factors for brain tumours. While it identifies a small increased risk of intracranial meningioma associated with long-term use of desogestrel oral contraceptives, it’s vital to stress that this is a correlation, not proof of causation. Most women taking desogestrel will not develop a brain tumour, and the overall risk remains low. However, the findings do reinforce the critical importance of sustained investment in research into brain tumours, which historically has received just 1% of the national spend on cancer research since records began in 2002.”

    Dr Mangesh Thorat, Honorary Reader in Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London and Consultant Breast Surgeon, Homerton University Hospital, said:

    “This large study using French national database is second in the series of studies by the same group, addressing some of the limitations of their previous study published last year. It shows association between taking a certain progestogen (desogestrel) continuously for more than five years and meningioma risk, however, the magnitude of increase in the risk is small, and short-term use is not associated with increased risk and that the excess risk ceases to exist once the use is stopped for more than a year. These results however do not give any reasons for women using progestogens to panic.”

    What are progestogens?

    “Progestogens are medicinal analogues of naturally produced female hormone progesterone. These are a common component of contraceptive agents, hormone replacement therapy and other hormonal treatments. Two important things to know about these are: first, effects of different formulations vary sometimes substantially and second, the effect of individual drug varies on different organs within our body. Therefore, it is important to consider which specific drug is being used by an individual.”

    What is meningioma?

    “Meningioma is a tumour of coverings of our brain and more than 90% of these are not cancerous. This is a rare tumour, for example, breast cancer is 10-times more common and it is even rarer in young individuals. A proportion of these need to be treated surgically as they increase pressure on the brain and / or nerves. The most common symptoms are persistent headache, and feeling sick all the time often with drowsiness.”

    How much of the risk is attributable to these drugs?

    “Recent studies and a similar study by the same group last year showed that 6 out of more than a dozen progestogen formulations to be associated with significant increase in the risk of developing meningioma. However, these 6 drugs put together account for just over 10% of all meningiomas in women. This study shows that 1 additional drug to be associated with meningioma risk, but the magnitude of increase in the risk is much smaller. In other words, a vast majority of meningioma would occur without use of such drugs.

    “Importantly, this study also shows that many progestogens, for example commonly used tablets like Microgynon or the morning after pill to be completely safe, without any increase in the risk of meningioma.”

    What should individuals using progestogens do?

    “Talk to your healthcare provider regarding the drug you are using. If it is associated with an increased risk of meningioma, this can be changed to a safer alternative. There is no reason to panic as the risk is very small and even in those who developed meningioma, stopping the specific drug has shown to cause regression in the size of meningioma.”

    More research is needed:

    “Although this is a large study, all studies have limitations. This study could not investigate the over-the-counter use of contraceptives. Furthermore, the study cannot provide information on the formulations not commonly used in France but used in other countries. This therefore underscores the need for further research using similar databases in other nations.”

    ‘Oral contraceptives with progestogens desogestrel or levonorgestrel and risk of intracranial meningioma: national case-control study’ by Noémie Roland et al. was published in The BMJ at 23:30 hours UK time Wednesday 11 June 2025.

    DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2024-083981

    Declared interests

    Dr Mangesh Thorat: No conflicts.

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Extreme weather could send milk prices soaring, deepening challenges for the dairy industry

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milena Bojovic, Lecturer, Sustainability and Environment, University of Technology Sydney

    Australia’s dairy industry is in the middle of a crisis, fuelled by an almost perfect storm of challenges.

    Climate change and extreme weather have been battering farmlands and impacting animal productivity, creating mounting financial strains and mental health struggles for many farmers.

    Meanwhile, beyond the farm gate, consumer tastes are shifting to a range of dairy substitutes. Interest and investment in alternative dairy proteins is accelerating.

    Earlier this month, industry figures warned consumers to prepare for price rises amid expected shortages of milk, butter and cheese. Already mired in uncertainty, the dairy industry is now being forced to confront some tough questions about its future head on.

    Dairy under pressure

    Dairy is Australia’s third-largest rural industry. It produces more than A$6 billion worth of milk each year, and directly employs more than 30,000 people.

    But the sector has been under sustained pressure. This year alone, repeated extreme weather events have affected key dairy-producing regions in southern and eastern parts of Australia.

    In New South Wales, dairy farmers face increased pressure from floods. In May, many regions had their monthly rainfall records broken – some by huge margins.

    In Victoria, drought and water shortages are worsening. Tasmania, too, continues to endure some of the driest conditions in more than a century.

    Conditions have prompted many farmers to sell down their cattle numbers to conserve feed and water.

    All of this heavily impacts farm productivity. Agriculture has long been predicated on our ability to predict climate conditions and grow food or rear animals according to the cycles of nature.

    As climate change disrupts weather patterns, this makes both short and long-term planning for the sector a growing challenge.

    High costs, low profits

    Climate change isn’t the only test. The industry has also been grappling with productivity and profitability concerns.

    At the farm level, dairy farmers are feeling the impacts of high operating costs. Compared to other types of farming (such as sheep or beef), dairy farms require more plant, machinery and equipment capital, mostly in the form of specialised milking machinery.

    The price of milk also has many farmers concerned. The modest increase in farmgate milk prices – just announced by dairy companies for the start of the next financial year – left many farmers disappointed. Some say the increase isn’t enough to cover rising operating costs.

    Zooming out, there are concerns about a lack of family succession planning for dairy farms. Many young people are wary of taking on such burdens, and the total number of Australian dairy farms has been in steady decline – from more than 6,000 in 2015 to just 4,163 in 2023.

    What’s the solution?

    Is there a way to make the dairy industry more productive, profitable and sustainable? Australian Dairy Farmers is the national policy and advocacy group supporting the profitability and sustainability of the sector.

    In the lead up to this year’s federal election, the group called for $399 million in government investment to address what it said were key priorities. These included:

    • investment in on-farm technologies to improve efficiencies
    • funding for water security
    • upskilling programs for farmers
    • support for succession planning.
    Industry figures have warned consumers to brace for possible increases in the cost of dairy products.
    wisely/Shutterstock

    However, as the industry struggles to grapple with a changing climate, financial strain and mental health pressures, there should also be pathways for incumbent farmers to transition, either to farming dairy differently (such as by reducing herd sizes) or exiting out of dairy farming and into something else.

    Dairy without the cows

    The push to make dairy production more sustainable and efficient faces its own competition. A number of techniques in development promise dairy products without the cows, through cellular agriculture – and more specifically, “precision fermentation”.

    Australian company Eden Brew, in partnership with dairy giant Norco, has plans to produce and commercialise precision fermentation dairy proteins.

    And last year, Australian company All G secured approval to sell precision fermentation lactoferrin (a key dairy ingredient in baby formula) in China – another animal-free milk product.

    It is important to note that cost and scalability for cellular agriculture remains a challenge.

    Nonetheless, Australia’s rapidly growing non-dairy milk market – soy, oat, and so on – is now worth over $600 million annually. This reflects the global shift towards plant-based options driven by health, environmental, and ethical concerns.

    Is there a win-win outcome?

    Is there a possible future where more funding is given to produce milk at scale through precision fermentation while we also look after incumbent dairy workers, farms and the rural sector at large to diversify or leave the sector altogether?

    Some believe this future is possible. This is what researchers call “protein pluralism” – a market where traditional and alternative proteins coexist. Long-term planning from both the dairy industry and government would be needed.

    Remember, while techniques like precision fermentation offer the promise of animal-free dairy products, their benefits are largely yet to materialise. How they will ultimately benefit the whole of society remains speculative.

    What we can do now

    For this reason, some scholars have argued we should prioritise actions that can be taken now. This includes support for practices such as agroecology, which seek to address injustice and inequity in food systems to help empower primary food producers.

    A recent study found Australian dairy farmers were interested in financial and technical advice to make decisions about where they take their business in future.

    Despite growing recognition of the challenges facing the dairy sector, responses from government and alternative dairy remain uneven. A more coordinated approach is needed for affected farmers, helping them adapt or diversify with guidance from government and industry experts.

    Milena Bojovic volunteers with Farm Transitions Australia, a registered charity which helps Australian dairy and beef farmers facing hardship and seeking a transition from the industry. She is affiliated with ARC Centre for Excellence in Synthetic Biology.

    – ref. Extreme weather could send milk prices soaring, deepening challenges for the dairy industry – https://theconversation.com/extreme-weather-could-send-milk-prices-soaring-deepening-challenges-for-the-dairy-industry-258175

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    PM call with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez this evening, following today’s historic agreement to secure the future of Gibraltar.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez this evening, following today’s historic agreement to secure the future of Gibraltar. 

    Prime Minister Sánchez congratulated the Prime Minister on his leadership, adding that his government had succeeded where others had failed. 

    Both leaders also agreed that this development unlocks huge opportunity to advance the bilateral relationship between the UK and Spain, on behalf of the British and Spanish people.

    They looked forward to meeting in person soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo: 11 June

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo: 11 June

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo this evening, to congratulate him on today’s historic agreement to secure the future of Gibraltar. 

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo this evening, to congratulate him on today’s historic agreement to secure the future of Gibraltar. 

    He thanked him for his years of hard work, commitment, and leadership to reach an agreement – adding that it was fantastic to see that it had been profusely welcomed by all sides. 

    Both agreed that this would unlock a secure future for the people and businesses of Gibraltar, allowing them plan for the long-term while protecting British sovereignty.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Lankford Introduce Bill to Stop Funding ‘Gender Transition’ Procedures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced the Stop Funding Genital Mutilation Act, which would prohibit federal funding from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from going towards gender transition procedures at any age:

    “Texas taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for dangerous and often debilitating ‘gender transition’ procedures that are driven by radical ideology masquerading as health care,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m proud to introduce this commonsense legislation to stop federal dollars from funding Democrats’ woke agenda and defend Texas values and Texas families.”

    “Before they can vote, drive, or get a tattoo, some children are pushed into irreversible gender-transition procedures with no proven long-term health benefit,” said Sen. Lankford. “These treatments can cause lasting harm, and taxpayers should not be forced to fund them.”

    Background:

     A recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) review of gender dysphoria medical interventions “highlights a growing body of evidence pointing to significant risks—including irreversible harms such as infertility—while finding very weak evidence of benefit.”

    Nearly 30 states have laws or policies that limit access to gender transition procedures for minors, including Texas. Texas prohibits health care providers from prescribing, administering or dispensing hormone or puberty blocking medications or providing gender transition surgeries to minors. Other countries have begun putting limits on these procedures over concerns about the long-term effects. In 2024, NHS England began limiting access to puberty blockers as “routine treatment” for children under 18. Finland, Sweden, and Denmark have also limited access to these procedures for minors.

    The Stop Funding Genital Mutilation Act would prohibit CHIP and Medicaid federal funds from being used to provide gender transition procedures at any age. It makes exceptions for those needing puberty blocking drugs or medical procedures for medically necessary reasons, including medically verifiable sex development disorders or injury from previous gender transition procedures.

    The legislation builds on President Trump’s Executive Order, signed on January 28, 2025, which called for cutting federal funding for gender transition procedures for minors and directs federally run insurance programs, including Medicaid, to stop covering these services.

    The legislation aligns with language included in the House’s version of Pres. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, and Sen. Cornyn will fight to include this priority in the Senate’s version.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Were the first kings of Poland actually from Scotland? New DNA evidence unsettles a nation’s founding myth

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University

    An illustration from a 15th-century manuscript showing the coronation of the first king of Poland, Boleslaw I. Chronica Polonorum by Mathiae de Mechovia

    For two centuries, scholars have sparred over the roots of the Piasts, Poland’s first documented royal house, who reigned from the 10th to the 14th centuries.

    Were they local Slavic nobles, Moravian exiles, or warriors from Scandinavia?

    Since 2023, a series of genetic and environmental studies led by molecular biologist Marek Figlerowicz at the Poznań University of Technology has delivered a stream of direct evidence about these enigmatic rulers, bringing the debate onto firmer ground.

    Digging up the dynasty

    Field teams have now opened more than a dozen crypts from the Piast era. The largest single haul came from Płock Cathedral in what is now central Poland.

    The exhumed bones were dated between 1100 and 1495, matching written records. Genetic analysis showed several individuals were close relatives.

    “There is no doubt we are dealing with genuine Piasts,” Figlerowicz told a May 2025 conference.

    The Poznań group isolated readable DNA from 33 individuals (30 men and three women) believed to span the dynasty’s full timeline.

    Surprise on the Y chromosome

    The male skeletons almost all carry a single, rare group of genetic variants on the Y chromosome (which is only carried and passed down by males). This group is today found mainly in Britain. The closest known match belongs to a Pict buried in eastern Scotland in the 5th or 6th century.

    These results imply that the dynasty’s paternal line arrived from the vicinity of the North Atlantic, not nearby.

    Mieszko I, the first Piast ruler documented in written sources.
    Jan Matejko, c. 1893 (via Wikimedia)

    The date of that arrival is still open: the founding clan could have migrated centuries before the first known Piast, Mieszko I (who died in 992), or perhaps only a generation earlier through a dynastic marriage. Either way, the new data kill the notion of an unbroken local male lineage.

    Yet genetics also shows deep local continuity in the wider population. A separate survey of Iron Age cemeteries across Poland, published in Scientific Reports, revealed that people living 2,000 years ago already shared the genetic makeup seen in early Piast subjects.

    Another project that sequenced pre-Piast burials drew the same conclusion: local Poles were part of the broader continental gene pool stretching from Denmark to France.

    In short, even if the Piasts were exotic rulers, they governed a long-established community.

    A swamp tells its tale

    While the DNA work progressed, another Poznań team dug into the history of the local environment via samples from the peaty floor of Lake Lednica near Poznań, the island-ringed stronghold often dubbed the cradle of the Piast realm.

    Their study of buried pollen, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows an abrupt switch in the 9th century: oak and lime pollen plummet, while cereal and pasture indicators soar. Traces of charcoal and soot point to widespread fires.

    The authors call the shift an “ecological revolution”, driven by slash-and-burn agriculture and the need to feed concentrated garrisons of soldiers guarding local trade routes carrying amber and slaves.

    Modelling boom and bust

    Using this environmental data, historians and complexity scientists constructed a feedback model of population, silver paid as tribute to rulers, and fort-building. As fields expanded, tributes rose; as tributes rose, chiefs could hire more labour to clear more forest and build forts.

    The model reproduces the startling build-out of ramparts at Poznań, Giecz and Gniezno around 990. It also predicts collapse once the silver stopped flowing.

    Pollen data indeed show the woodlands recovered to some extent after 1070, while archaeological surveys record abandoned hamlets and shrinking garrisons.

    The early Piast state rode a resource boom as the Piasts controlled part of the amber and slave trade routes that linked the shores of the Baltic Sea to Rome.

    The impact of Mieszko’s conversion to Christianity on that lucrative trade remains subject to scholarly debate.

    Reconciling foreigners and locals

    How do these strands fit together? Evidence of a Scottish man in the Piast paternal line does not necessarily imply a foreign conquest. Dynasties spread by marriages as well as by swords.

    For example, Świętosława (the sister of the first Piast king, Bolesław the Brave), married the kings of both Denmark and Sweden, and her descendants ruled England for a time. The networks of Europe’s nobility were highly mobile.

    Conversely, the stable genetic profile of ordinary folk suggests that, whoever sat on the ducal bench, most people remained where their grandparents had farmed.

    The broader research engine

    None of this work happens in isolation. Poland’s National Science Centre has bankrolled a 24-person team across archaeology, palaeoecology and bioinformatics since 2014, generating 16 peer-reviewed papers and a public database of ancient genomes.

    Conferences at Lednica and Dziekanowice now bring historians and molecular biologists to the same table. The methodological pay-off is clear: Polish labs can now process their own ancient DNA rather than exporting it to Copenhagen or Leipzig.

    What still puzzles researchers

    Three questions remain. First, does that British-leaning male line really start with a Pict? The closest known match to the Piasts may change as new burials are sequenced.

    Second, how many commoners carried the same genetic variant? Spot samples from Kowalewko and Brzeg hint that it was rare among locals, but the data set is small.

    Third, why did the silver dry up so fast? Numismatists suspect a shift in Viking routes after 1000 AD, yet the matter is far from settled.

    A balanced verdict

    Taken together, the evidence paints a nuanced picture. The Piasts were probably not ethnic Slavs in the strict paternal sense, yet they ruled, and soon resembled, an overwhelmingly Slavic realm.

    Their meteoric rise owed less to outsider brilliance than to the chance alignment of fertile soils, cheap labour, and an export boom in amber and captives.

    As geneticists conduct more DNA sequencing of remains, such as those of princes in crypts at Kraków’s Wawel castle, and palaeoecologists push their lakebed pollen samples back to 7th century, we can expect further surprises.

    Darius von Guttner Sporzynski receives funding from the National Science Centre, Poland as a partner investigator in the grant ‘The “Chronicle of the Poles” by Bishop Vincentius of Cracow also known as Kadłubek. First critical Latin-English Edition.’ (2022/47/B/HS3/00931).

    – ref. Were the first kings of Poland actually from Scotland? New DNA evidence unsettles a nation’s founding myth – https://theconversation.com/were-the-first-kings-of-poland-actually-from-scotland-new-dna-evidence-unsettles-a-nations-founding-myth-258579

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: What family firms like Rothschild can teach Canadian businesses about resilience

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Liena Kano, Professor, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary

    The Gunnersbury Estate, which was purchased by merchant and financier Nathan Mayer Rothschild in 1835, is seen in London in 2022. (Shutterstock)

    Family businesses constitute a vital component of Canada’s economic landscape. They make up 63 per cent of privately held firms, employ nearly seven million people and generate about $575 billion a year.

    While Canadian family-run businesses express international ambitions, their overseas engagement tends to be more conservative compared to their non-family counterparts.

    In today’s turbulent economic environment — marked by geopolitical tensions, technological disruption and shifting trade patterns — international competitiveness is more important than ever.

    Around the world, family firms have shown remarkable resilience in the face of external shocks. Some of the world’s longest-standing corporations are family-owned, having endured world wars, revolutions, natural disasters and pandemics. For Canadian family firms aspiring to expand abroad, such examples offer both inspiration and insight.

    Among such long-standing multinationals is Rothschild, a centuries-old European family-run investment bank. Our case study of Rothschild, based on historical analysis, highlights how the family’s enduring relationships, reliable routines and long-term goals gave it significant advantages in international business.

    At the same time, however, families can contribute unique biases, especially “bifurcation bias” — a tendency to favour family resources over equally or more valuable non-family ones. Our study reveals that bifurcation bias can compromise a firm’s international trajectory, especially in distant and complex markets.

    A brief history of Rothschild

    Mayer Amschel Rothschild was a German-Jewish banker and the founder of the Rothschild banking dynasty.
    (Wikimedia Commons)

    Initially a merchant business, the firm was founded in the late 18th century by Mayer Amschel Rothschild, a Frankfurt Jew.

    Rothschild and his wife, Guttle, had 10 children, including five sons: Amschel, Salomon, Nathan, Carl and James.

    In 1798, Rothschild sent Nathan to Manchester, England, which initiated the firm’s growth in that country and a transition from merchant operations to financial transactions.

    By the 1820s, Rothschild became a multinational bank, with Amschel, Salomon, Nathan, Carl and James leading banking houses in Frankfurt, Vienna, London, Naples and Paris, respectively.

    Bonuses and burdens of family bonds

    Nathan Mayer Rothschild was sent to Manchester in 1798.
    (Wikimedia Commons)

    In the 19th century, the Rothschild’s strategy of relying on family members initially worked well for the firm.

    The five Rothschild brothers corresponded in a coded language and shared a common pool of resources at a time when shared balance sheets were uncommon in international banking.

    Their close familial bonds allowed the brothers to move information, money and goods across international borders with a speed and reach that wasn’t accessible to competitors. Rivals, by contrast, had to worry about protecting sensitive information and enforcing commitments.

    This internal cohesiveness safeguarded the Rothschild’s business, facilitated transactions and allowed them to maintain resilience through the periods of significant political upheaval: the Napoleonic wars, revolutions and, ultimately, the First World War, which interrupted economic and social progress in Europe.

    However, this same over-reliance on family became a disadvantage when Rothschild expanded into the United States.

    Missed opportunity and bifurcation bias

    The Rothschilds showed an interest in the American market as early as the 1820s. However, their repeated attempts to send family members to the U.S to expand operations failed, as none were willing to stay, preferring the comforts of European life.

    August Belmont was a German-Jewish immigrant to New York City in 1837 as an agent of the Rothschild bank in Frankfurt.
    (Shutterstock)

    Since they were unable to establish a family-based anchor in the country, the Rothschilds appointed an agent, August Belmont, to run the U.S. operations on their behalf in 1837.

    However, Belmont wasn’t given the authority to exercise entrepreneurial judgment, make investments or enter into deals. He also didn’t have unrestricted access to capital, was never entrusted with an official Rothschild mandate or acknowledged as a full-fledged partner.

    The Rothschilds were unwilling to delegate such decisions to someone who was not a direct male descendant of the founder, Mayer Amschel Rothschild.

    This failure to use Belmont as a link between the family — with its successful experiences, capabilities, routines and connections in Europe — and the American market — with its growing opportunities and the valuable networks Belmont had begun to develop — ultimately prevented Rothschild from replicating its success in the U.S.

    The Rothschilds were eventually eclipsed by the Barings and JP Morgan banks in America. Both competitors followed a different path in the market by opening full-fledged U.S. subsidiaries under their corporate brands with significant funds and decision-making autonomy.

    Escaping the trap of bifurcation bias

    Bifurcation bias does not always have an immediate negative impact. In fact, biased governance practices remained inconsequential for the Rothschilds — as long as there were enough capable family heirs available to lead the bank’s dispersed operations.

    In the short- to medium-term, the family’s connections, time-tested routines and mutual reliability built a well of resilience that sustained the bank through the 19th century, one of the most volatile political periods in European history.

    But as a firm’s international ambitions outgrow the size of the family, bifurcation bias can damage competitiveness, both in international markets and at home.

    At some point, family firms must shift from emotional, biased decision-making to efficient governance systems, which may involve incorporating non-family managers and selecting resources, locations and projects that do not carry emotional significance.

    A Cargill factory building in Wroclaw, Poland in 2020. American business executive William Wallace Cargill founded the Cargill company as an Iowa grain storage business in 1865.
    (Shutterstock)

    Many successful family firms implement tools in their governance systems to detect and eliminate biased behaviour. For instance, family-owned multinationals such as Merck (Germany), Cargill (U.S.) and Tata Group (India) have checks and balances that prevent decision-makers from thinking only in family terms.

    The most successful strategies to safeguard against bifurcation bias invite outside scrutiny into corporate decision-making: appointing non-family CEOs, establishing independent boards, hiring consultants and granting partners decision-making powers.

    Lessons for family firms

    Today, as the global business environment faces arguably unprecedented volatility, firms are seeking to build resilience to survive the turbulence.

    While multi-generational family firms must learn to guard against bifurcation bias to thrive in international markets, their demonstrated ability to withstand external shocks offers valuable lessons for other companies.

    How can non-family firms emulate the Rothschild’s success and longevity? The Rothschild case teaches us the value of having a shared organizational language, setting long-term goals, maintaining stable routines and placing a strong emphasis on brand reputation.

    These strategies can help any company, family-owned or not, build resilience during volatile times.

    Liena Kano receives funding from SSHRC.

    Alain Verbeke receives funding from SSHRC.

    Luciano Ciravegna receives funding from INCAE Business School, where he leads the Steve Aronson Endowed Chair.

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

    – ref. What family firms like Rothschild can teach Canadian businesses about resilience – https://theconversation.com/what-family-firms-like-rothschild-can-teach-canadian-businesses-about-resilience-254279

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council Leader welcomes Government’s Spending Review

    Source: City of Manchester

    Statement from Council Leader in response to the Government’s Spending Review

    Statement from Council Leader in response to the Government’s Spending Review:

    Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is leading the way in building homes, creating jobs, growing the economy inclusively and supporting our residents. The announcements in today’s Spending Review will do much to help maintain that positive momentum.

    “We particularly welcome the announcement of £39 billion extra funding nationally for council, social and other genuinely affordable homes. We’re already delivering more affordable homes than at any time in the last 15 years and the availability of very significant extra funding will allow us to go even further in delivering this generational increase. It’s welcome to have an increase in spending for local councils, and I will look forward to the local government settlement to see what this means for places like Manchester who had our budgets cut heavily by Governments since 2010.

    “Following last week’s transport news, we also welcome the commitment to investing in our railways and other infrastructure – the sort of long-term strategic thinking which is vital to address years of underinvestment. Improved rail connections will help us power our aspirations for the city and its people and we look forward to the detail.

    “This Spending Review was delivered in challenging circumstances but there is still much in there which is encouraging as we await the detail in the coming days.

    “I welcome the largest investment in social and affordable housing in 50 years, alongside the record investment to rebuild the NHS. This alongside the expansion of Free School Meals, and investment in public transport address issues that really matter to Manchester people.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Josh Stein Awards High-Speed Internet Projects in 26 Counties, 10,076 Households & Businesses

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Josh Stein Awards High-Speed Internet Projects in 26 Counties, 10,076 Households & Businesses

    Governor Josh Stein Awards High-Speed Internet Projects in 26 Counties, 10,076 Households & Businesses
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Governor Josh Stein today announced more than $58 million in Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program projects to connect 10,076 households and businesses in 26 counties to high-speed internet.

    “Good partnerships between our counties, the state, and internet providers will connect North Carolinians,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I look forward to continuing to bring high-speed internet to every corner of the state so that people can communicate with family and friends, grow their business, or access telehealth services or educational opportunities.”

    “Bringing high-speed internet to rural North Carolina is a game changer,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione. “Thanks to the vision of Governor Stein and our General Assembly, we’re making historic investments to close the digital divide, and more programs are on the way to connect additional communities across the state.”

    These projects will be funded by more than $41 million from the federal American Rescue Plan awarded by NCDIT and individual counties, as well as more than $17 million from the selected broadband providers:

    • Bladen: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 250 homes and businesses (35.31% of the county’s remaining 458 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Cabarrus County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC and Windstream North Carolina, LLC These awards will provide high-speed internet access to 1,314 homes and businesses (62.04% of the county’s 2,118 eligible locations).
    • Chatham County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC and Windstream North Carolina, LLC These awards will provide high-speed internet access to 1,037 homes and businesses (26.89% of the county’s remaining 2,850 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Chowan County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 5 homes and businesses (41% of the county’s remaining 12 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Columbus County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 400 homes and businesses (64.62% of the county’s remaining 619 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Granville County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 26 homes and businesses (12.09% of the county’s remaining 215 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Guilford County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 164 homes and businesses (9.65% of the county’s remaining 1,698 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Halifax County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 22 homes and businesses (11.95% of the county’s remaining 184 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Harnett County: Windstream North Carolina, LLC This award will provide high-speed internet access to 351 homes and businesses (14.09% of the county’s remaining 2,491 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Henderson County: ERC Broadband, LLC This award will provide high-speed internet access to 521 homes and businesses (11.04% of the county’s 4,718 eligible locations).
    • Hoke County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 407 homes and businesses (56.92% of the county’s remaining 715 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Iredell County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC This award will provide high-speed internet access to 80 homes and businesses (4.94% of the county’s remaining 1,618 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Johnston County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC This award will provide high-speed internet access to 203 homes and businesses (4.48% of the county’s remaining 4,531 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Martin County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 386 homes and businesses (99.48% of the county’s remaining 388 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Moore County: Windstream North Carolina, LLC This award will provide high-speed internet access to 481 homes and businesses (18.98% of the county’s remaining 2,533 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Northampton County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 70 homes and businesses (67.30% of the county’s remaining 104 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Person County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) These awards will provide high-speed internet access to 1,014 homes and businesses (52.02% of the county’s remaining 1,949 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Randolph County: Randolph Telephone Membership Corporation (Randolph Communications), Spectrum Southeast, LLC and Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) These awards will provide high-speed internet access to 1,403 homes and businesses (60.14% of the county’s 2,333 eligible locations).
    • Richmond County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC This award will provide high-speed internet access to 110 homes and businesses (14.08% of the county’s 781 eligible locations).
    • Robeson County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC and LREMC Technologies, LLC (Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation) These awards will provide high-speed internet access to 550 homes and businesses (19.87% of the county’s 2,767 eligible locations).
    • Rockingham County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 435 homes and businesses (33.53% of the county’s remaining 1,297 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Rowan County: Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corporation (Zirrus) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 261 homes and businesses (12.45% of the county’s remaining 2,096 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Scotland County: LREMC Technologies, LLC (Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 96 homes and businesses (17.84% of the county’s remaining 538 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Stokes County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 82 homes and businesses (9.95% of the county’s remaining 824 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Surry County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 389 homes and businesses (72.43% of the county’s remaining 537 eligible locations after previous awards).
    • Yadkin County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 19 homes and businesses (70.37% of the county’s remaining 27 eligible locations after previous awards).

    The CAB program’s procurement process creates a partnership between counties and NCDIT to identify areas that need access, solicit proposals from prequalified internet service providers, and quickly make awards. Awardees must agree to provide high-speed service that reliably meets or exceeds speeds of 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload.

    Governor Stein is committed to providing digital access and opportunity to all North Carolinians. Today’s awards add to the nearly $630 million in Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants and previous CAB projects that will connect nearly 245,000 North Carolina households and businesses to high-speed internet.

    For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity, visit ncbroadband.gov.   

    Jun 11, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Freeze on cost of 2025/26 garden waste bin permits

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Garden Waste Permits from Highland Council are now available for the 2025/26 season. To support continued garden waste recycling, the price for the upcoming 2025/26 permit will remain unchanged at £48.95 per permit, the same as last year. There are between 19 and 20 collections per season depending on which day of the week collections fall, which equates to approximately £2.50 per collection for each garden waste bin.

    Councillor Graham MacKenzie, Chair of the Communities and Place Committee said: “Although our service costs have gone up, the Council has agreed to freeze the price of the garden waste permit at £48.95 this year, in light of ongoing financial pressures faced by many households. By maintaining the price, we can avoid passing on any increases to our customers this year. We hope this decision encourages our current customers to keep up their fantastic recycling efforts and inspires others to sign up and join the service.”

    Permits are now available to purchase online and through the Service Point network for the 2025/26 permit season.

    Current 2024/25 permit holders will receive renewal reminders over the coming weeks and the optional fortnightly garden waste collection service is also available to new customers who live within the designated collection areas. Householders can visit the Council’s website to check if they live in a garden waste collection service area. 

    Councillor MacKenzie continued: “Recycling garden waste like grass cuttings, leaves, branches, hedge trimmings and flowers plays a key role in our overall recycling efforts here in Highland. People often think of recycling as just paper, cardboard, cans, and plastics—but garden waste is just as important and makes a real difference to our recycling rates. Garden waste could be composted at home or taken to Household Waste Recycling Centres or recycled through the garden waste collection service rather than being thrown away in non-recyclable waste bins. It is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint to create a healthier, more sustainable Highland and to help combat climate change.”

    The new permit season starts on Monday 1 September 2025 and runs to 31 August 2026, with a winter break in the months of December, January and February. Demand for permits will be high in the weeks immediately prior to the 2025/26 service commencing in September, therefore householders are encouraged to sign-up by 1 August to ensure they receive permits in time for the first collections.

    Customers can continue to order garden waste permits after 1 August; however, the Council cannot guarantee that permits ordered beyond this date will arrive in time for the first collections of the 2025/26 permit year.

    The service is optional, and householders are also able to take their garden waste along to their local Household Waste Recycling Centre free of charge.

    For more information, please visit www.highland.gov.uk/gardenwaste or e-mail recycle@highland.gov.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Inverness Voted Top City For Outdoor Enthusiasts

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Inverness has just been named the best city in Scotland for outdoor enthusiasts, according to new research by LNER.

    The study, commissioned by the train company, analysed 71 towns and cities across England and Scotland across five travel themes: family-friendly, sustainability, culture, outdoor experiences, and food. 

    Welcoming the news of the city receiving a top rating, City Leader Councillor Ian Brown said:

    Welcoming the news of the city receiving a top rating, City Leader Councillor Ian Brown said: “Inverness has long been known as the gateway to the Highlands, and it’s easy to see why. As a vibrant hub for visitors from across the UK and beyond, the city offers seamless access to some of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes and outdoor experiences. From paddling on the legendary waters of Loch Ness to cycling through scenic routes that connect to the wider Highland region, or setting off on iconic trails like the Great Glen Way, the city is a launchpad for unforgettable outdoor adventures.

    “We’re equally proud of our green spaces, from the peaceful Merkinch Local Nature Reserve and Ness Islands to the Inverness Botanic Gardens, which celebrated 30 years 2023. This unique blend of natural beauty, outdoor experiences, and rich cultural heritage, all wrapped in the warm Highland welcome we’re known for, makes Inverness a truly special place to visit.”

    Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans added: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see LNER recognise Inverness as the best city for outdoor enthusiasts. Their recognition reinforces the city’s appeal as a sustainable, experience rich destination, something we’ve always known and are thrilled to see celebrated on a national stage.

    “The Inverness Castle Experience will offer an immersive journey into contemporary Highland life, celebrating the Spirit of the Highlands through engaging stories, exhibits and experiences. It will also signpost visitors to all areas of the Highlands and encourage them to explore.”

    The project has received £30m in investment to support its redevelopment from the Scottish and UK governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and a range of other partners.

    David Flesher, Commercial Director at LNER, said: “When you’re choosing where to go, it’s not always easy to know what a city is really best at—especially if you’re trying to plan something special. This research helps take out the guesswork and shows what different places have to offer.

    “We hope this guide helps people make more informed choices, whether they’re planning a day trip or a longer summer break. There are so many brilliant destinations on our route, and this is just one more way to celebrate them.”

    The LNER study is available here 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Due to popular demand, Council’s In-House bus team launches additional service to beauty spot

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    This week The Highland Council’s In-House Bus team have launched an additional service to transport passengers from the city centre to Dores.

    The journey, which will run Monday – Friday will be known as the 302A service.  The existing full 302 service allows passengers to travel beyond Dores to Foyers where they can enjoy the beautiful “Falls of Foyers” and stroll along the hillside path beside Loch Ness.

    Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “Due to an unprecedented number of visitors who want to go and see Loch Ness we have created this additional run during the summer season. This gives the visitors time to spend walking and admiring the lovely shores of Loch Ness trying to find that elusive monster.

    “For our regular customers who live along that beautiful shoreline we now offer the great value 10 journey ticket which gives substantial savings on our single journey ticket price.”

    Passengers can opt to use online ticket purchases for all of the In-house bus service through the MyTrip app 

    Timetables for all routes can be found on The Highland Council Website by typing “buses” into the search bar.

    Staff look forward to welcoming visitors to the city and regular users onboard one of the services soon.

    11 Jun 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: More free school meals is a start – here’s what would really address child poverty

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Will Baker, Associate Professor of Sociology and Education, University of Bristol

    victoriyasmail/Shutterstock

    All children in England living in households claiming universal credit will soon be eligible for free school meals, the UK government has announced. This will improve the lives of 500,000 more children and save their families £500 per year.

    This will reduce hunger at school. But it will not solve the UK’s child poverty crisis.

    In her spending review on 11 June, Chancellor Rachel Reeves described the move – as well as investment in education – as “a downpayment ahead of publication of the Child Poverty Strategy in the autumn”. However, the two-child benefit cap, which the government is considering scrapping, and challenging school budgets, remain major barriers to addressing child poverty and food insecurity.

    According to analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the new free school meals policy will ultimately lift 100,000 children out of poverty and cost £1 billion a year. Under the current system, only families in receipt of universal credit and earning below £7,400 a year qualify for free school meals. This incredibly low threshold has excluded a huge number of children living in poverty from getting a good meal at school.

    Reactions have been justifiably positive. Nick Harrison, CEO of social mobility charity the Sutton Trust, has called the move “a significant step towards taking hunger out of the classroom”.

    The Institute for Fiscal Studies pointed out, however, that the implied poverty reducing benefits of the policy will only be realised in the long term.

    Eligibility for free school meals had temporarily widened during the roll out of universal credit.
    Juice Flair/Shutterstock

    This is partly because, since 2018, the eligibility for free school meals has been temporarily widened to mitigate the impact of changes in the welfare system (the roll out of universal credit) on families. During this period, which ended in April this year, children still received free school meals even if family entitlements to universal credit changed.

    This means that many children made eligible for free school meals under the new policy are already receiving them. And far fewer than 100,000 children will immediately be “lifted out of poverty”, as the government had claimed.

    A mission against child poverty?

    The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, called the new school meals entitlement part of “the moral mission of this government to tackle the stain of child poverty”. She said: “Today this government takes a giant step towards ending it with targeted support that puts money back in parents’ pockets.”

    Such forceful language almost does justice to the scale of the problem. In the UK, 4.45 million children live in poverty. One in five children live in food insecure households – meaning their families struggle to put food on the table.

    My own research shows that a fifth of all schools now run a food bank. Extending free school meals is an undoubtedly positive step but it will only scratch the surface of these much deeper problems.

    Given the depths of child poverty in the UK, the government must build on this development if it really wants to tackle the problem. Firstly, the government must commit to removing the two-child benefit cap, which limits benefits paid for children to the first two children in a family. Doing so would lift 350,000 children out of poverty immediately and reduce the number of children turning up to school too hungry to learn.

    Extending free schools meal coverage is the less contentious policy option. There is, rightly or wrongly, public support for the two-child limit.

    But it is also the comparatively less ambitious and effective one. Lifting the two child benefit cap would help more children at a lower cost per child.

    Secondly, too often the government asks schools to meet essential costs, duties and innovations out of their existing budgets. In the long run, this disadvantages all children and particularly those living in poverty. This needs to change.

    For example, the government currently only funds 75% of the costs of the new national school breakfast clubs. Next year schools will have to find £400 million from their existing budgets to fund pay rises for teachers. This figure dwarfs the amount schools will receive next year for extending free school meals.

    Finally, we need to tackle the root causes of poverty and build viable pathways out of it. This cannot be achieved by largely focusing on education and providing more funding to schools – important as this is.

    Child poverty is shaped by how our welfare and benefits system is organised, insecure and low-paid work, the high costs of housing and bills, and the absence of high-quality services and community resources that help children thrive. Only by tackling all of these issues in a coordinated and progressive way will be able to make child hunger and poverty things of the past, which is where they belong.

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

    – ref. More free school meals is a start – here’s what would really address child poverty – https://theconversation.com/more-free-school-meals-is-a-start-heres-what-would-really-address-child-poverty-258509

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: New Sleep Apnea Mouth Guard Over the Counter for 2025 – Latest OTC MouthGuard and Mouthpiece for Sleep Apnea OSA from AirSnore

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Glasgow, United Kingdom , June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Finding an effective, accessible solution for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be life-changing. While CPAP machines are often prescribed, they’re not always comfortable or convenient for everyone.

    Over-the-counter oral appliances for sleep apnea have emerged as a practical and popular alternative, and among these, AirSnore stands out as a highly recommended option that has been introduced to the market.

    Designed to help users breathe more easily at night, AirSnore combines an easy-to-use mouthpiece with a unique blend of natural drops, offering a two-part system for enhanced results.

    Sleep better tonight with AirSnore, the over-the-counter answer to sleep apnea!

    AirSnore: A Highly Recommended Over-the-Counter Mouth Guard for Sleep Apnea

    • Comprehensive two-part system: AirSnore tackles sleep apnea and snoring by combining a dentist-inspired mouthpiece with therapeutic natural drops.
    • Opens the airway for better breathing: The mouthpiece gently moves your jaw forward, helping to prevent the airway blockages that cause sleep apnea.
    • Simple at-home fitting process: Easily mold the mouthpiece with the boil-and-bite method—no specialist appointments needed.
    • Supports restful sleep for sleep apnea sufferers: AirSnore is designed to reduce nighttime breathing interruptions, helping you wake up refreshed.
    • Natural, calming drops: The AirSnore Drops use eucalyptus, lavender, and other essential oils to clear nasal passages and make breathing easier.
    • No bulky machines required: Enjoy an effective sleep apnea solution without the discomfort of masks, hoses, or forced air.
    • Backed by user success stories: Many people with sleep apnea and snoring have reported quieter nights and more energetic days after switching to AirSnore.
    • Buy with confidence: Order directly from the official AirSnore website for authentic products, special offers, and a 60 day money-back guarantee.

    Say goodbye to restless nights—choose AirSnore for a simple, effective sleep apnea solution!

    What is AirSnore?

    AirSnore is a mandibular advancement device (MAD) available without a prescription. This mouthpiece is engineered to gently move the lower jaw forward while you sleep, helping to keep the airway open. 

    Unlike some competitors, AirSnore is designed for comfort and easy customization at home, making it ideal for those looking for an effective but non-intrusive solution to OSA and chronic snoring.

    How Does AirSnore Work?

    Sleep apnea, especially obstructive sleep apnea, is often caused by the soft tissues in the throat relaxing and collapsing during sleep, which blocks the airway and disrupts breathing. 

    The AirSnore mouthpiece addresses this by gently repositioning the lower jaw forward. This slight adjustment prevents airway obstruction, allowing air to flow freely to the lungs throughout the night.

    The AirSnore mouthpiece is made from medical-grade materials and is molded at home using a simple boil-and-bite process. This ensures a secure, personalized fit for maximum comfort and effectiveness. The device is also designed to be easy to clean and maintain.

    Tackle sleep apnea with an easy, over-the-counter solution—try AirSnore!

    Unique Two-Part System: Mouthpiece and Drops

    One of AirSnore’s standout features is its two-part system. In addition to the mouthpiece, AirSnore offers a proprietary blend of natural drops. These drops are applied to the chest, neck, and under the nostrils before bedtime.

    The AirSnore Drops are formulated with a combination of essential oils, including sunflower seed oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, lavender oil, peppermint leaf oil, and Scots pine leaf oil. 

    These ingredients are well-known for their soothing, anti-inflammatory, and decongestant properties. 

    The drops open up the airways, relieve sinus congestion, and promote relaxation—making it easier to breathe and fall asleep, especially for those with nasal congestion or mild respiratory issues that may worsen sleep apnea symptoms.

    The Science and Clinical Evidence

    While AirSnore itself is an over-the-counter device and not a prescription medical treatment, the principles behind mandibular advancement devices are well-supported in clinical literature. Numerous studies have shown that MADs could significantly reduce the severity of OSA, decrease snoring, and improve sleep quality—particularly in individuals with mild to moderate OSA.

    As for the drops, the essential oils in AirSnore Drops have been the subject of various clinical studies:

    • Eucalyptus oil is known for its decongestant and anti-inflammatory effects, which clear nasal passages.
    • Peppermint oil has shown promise in reducing upper respiratory tract congestion.
    • Lavender oil is widely recognized for its calming and sleep-promoting properties.
    • Scots pine oil and sunflower seed oil have also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and soothing effects in studies of respiratory health.

    Together, these ingredients may support easier breathing and deeper, more restful sleep.

    What Do Users Say About AirSnore? Customer Reviews

    Many users report positive experiences with AirSnore, noting both the comfort of the mouthpiece and the soothing effects of the drops:

    “I’ve tried several anti-snoring products, but AirSnore is the only one that actually worked for my sleep apnea. It’s comfortable to wear, and I wake up feeling rested.”
    — James P., AirSnore customer

    “The drops are a game changer for me. I used to wake up stuffy every morning, but now my sinuses are clear and I sleep through the night.”
    — Rebecca L., AirSnore user

    “I was skeptical at first, but after a week with AirSnore, my partner says my snoring has almost disappeared. I feel more energetic during the day, too.”
    — Chris T., Verified Purchaser

    Over-the-counter relief for sleep apnea is here—get AirSnore now!

    Why AirSnore is Highly Recommended for OSA

    AirSnore’s combination of a clinically proven mandibular advancement device and a unique blend of natural, science-backed drops makes it a top choice for those seeking relief from OSA symptoms. Its over-the-counter availability, ease of use, and positive customer feedback set it apart from other mouth guards on the market.

    While severe sleep apnea should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional, AirSnore offers a practical, affordable, and effective solution for many who suffer from mild to moderate OSA or disruptive snoring. For those looking to improve their sleep quality and overall well-being, AirSnore is a product worth considering.

    Where to Buy AirSnore

    AirSnore is available for purchase exclusively through the official AirSnore website. Buying directly from the manufacturer ensures you receive a genuine product, access to the latest deals or bundle offers, and full customer support.

    Currently, AirSnore is not available in pharmacies, retail stores, or on major third-party marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. Purchasing from unofficial sources exposes you to counterfeit products or void any money-back guarantees and warranty protections.

    When ordering from AirSnore.com, you benefit from:

    • Secure online ordering and multiple payment options
    • Discreet shipping to protect your privacy
    • Frequent discounts and bundle deals (mouthpiece and drops together)
    • A 60-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try AirSnore risk-free
    • Responsive customer support for any product or order inquiries

    To ensure you receive the authentic device and the best possible customer experience, always purchase AirSnore directly from its official website.

    Introduction to Obstructive Sleep Apnea

    Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is much more common than many people realize. It silently affects millions of adults, often going undiagnosed. If you have OSA, your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during the night—sometimes without you even knowing.

    This can leave you feeling groggy, unfocused, or irritable during the day, and it’s not just about being tired. Left untreated, sleep apnea could raise your risk for serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and even diabetes.

    The most common treatment for sleep apnea is something called a CPAP machine, which uses gentle air pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep. While CPAP can be incredibly effective, not everyone finds it comfortable.

    Wearing a mask all night and dealing with the noise or maintenance can be overwhelming for some people.

    That’s why more and more people are turning to oral appliance therapy—like mouth guards—especially if their sleep apnea is on the milder side.

    These devices are small, easy to use, and don’t require electricity or a mask. If you or someone you love is struggling with sleep apnea, understanding all your options—including mouth guards, help you make the best decision for a healthier, more restful sleep.

    What are the Sleep Apnea Treatment Options?

    A range of effective treatments are available for sleep apnea, each designed to keep the airway open and improve sleep quality. The main options include medical devices, dental appliances, and lifestyle changes. Here’s a brief overview of the most common approaches:

    CPAP Machines

    The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine is often considered the gold standard for treating moderate to severe sleep apnea. This device works by delivering a steady stream of air through a mask, which keeps your airway open throughout the night. While highly effective, some people find CPAP machines cumbersome or uncomfortable to use, especially at first.

    Oral Appliances

    For individuals with mild to moderate sleep apnea, or those who struggle with CPAP machines, oral appliances are a popular alternative. There are two main types:

    • Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs): These are custom-fitted dental devices that gently push your lower jaw forward. By repositioning the jaw, MADs keep the throat muscles and tissues from collapsing, which reduces airway obstruction.
    • Tongue Retaining Devices: These appliances hold the tongue in a forward position, preventing it from blocking the airway while you sleep. They are less common than MADs but can be helpful for certain individuals.

    Oral appliances are less intrusive than CPAP machines and are often preferred for their comfort and portability. Research shows they can significantly improve sleep quality, reduce loud snoring, and ease symptoms like daytime sleepiness.

    Lifestyle Changes

    In some cases, simple lifestyle modifications make a big difference. These may include:

    • Weight Loss: Excess weight, especially around the neck, increases the risk of airway obstruction.
    • Changing Sleep Positions: Sleeping on your side rather than your back can help keep the airway open.
    • Avoiding Alcohol and Sedatives: These substances relax the muscles of the throat, making airway collapse more likely.
    • Quitting Smoking: Smoking irritates and inflames the airway, worsening sleep apnea symptoms.

    Consulting a Sleep Specialist

    It’s important to remember that sleep apnea treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Consulting with a qualified sleep specialist or dentist trained in sleep medicine is the best way to determine the most effective therapy for your unique situation.

    A professional will assess the severity of your condition and guide you to the options—whether medical devices, dental appliances, or lifestyle changes—that will offer the greatest benefit.

    Types of Mouth Guards for Sleep Apnea

    If you’re exploring mouth guards as a way to manage sleep apnea, you’re not alone. Many people are turning to these small, simple devices for a better night’s rest. There are two main types you’ll come across:

    Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) are the most common. These mouth guards work by gently moving your lower jaw forward while you sleep. That slight shift opens up your airway, making it less likely to collapse and interrupt your breathing. If you snore or have mild to moderate sleep apnea, a MAD might be a great fit.

    Tongue Retaining Devices (TRDs) take a different approach. Instead of moving your jaw, they hold your tongue in place so it doesn’t slide back and block your throat. This is especially helpful if your tongue is the main culprit behind your snoring or apnea.

    Some mouth guards are custom-fitted by a dentist, which means they’re made just for you and your unique bite. Others, like AirSnore, are available over the counter is fitted at home. While custom devices tend to be more precise, many people find over-the-counter options comfortable, affordable, and convenient.

    How Sleep Apnea Mouth Guards Work

    You might wonder how such a small device can make such a big difference. The answer is surprisingly simple. Sleep apnea mouth guards either move your jaw forward or keep your tongue from falling back. This helps keep your throat open while you sleep.

    When your airway stays open, air flows smoothly—snoring is reduced, and those scary pauses in breathing are less likely to happen. People who use mouth guards often find they wake up less groggy and feel more refreshed during the day. It’s a low-tech solution with real, noticeable results.

    What are the Benefits of Using a Mouth Guard for Sleep Apnea

    One of the best things about mouth guards is how easy they are to use. Unlike CPAP machines, which can be bulky and require a power source, a mouth guard just slips into your mouth before bed. No hoses, no noise, no fuss.

    Here are some of the benefits people appreciate:

    • Comfort and convenience: Tiny, portable, and easy to clean.
    • Better sleep: Less snoring and fewer interruptions mean deeper rest.
    • More energy during the day: Improved sleep quality leads to less tiredness.
    • Healthier heart: Treating sleep apnea lower blood pressure and reduce other health risks.
    • Customizable fit: Especially with custom-made devices, you get a fit that’s tailored to you.

    If you travel often or don’t like the idea of wearing a mask at night, a mouth guard might feel like a breath of fresh air—literally!

    How to Choose the Right Mouth Guard for OSA

    Picking the right mouth guard is a personal decision. Start by thinking about what matters most to you: Is comfort your top priority? Are you hoping to save money? Do you need something you can buy right away, or are you willing to wait for a custom device?

    It’s also important to consider the severity of your sleep apnea. Mouth guards work especially well for mild to moderate cases, but might not be enough for severe cases.

    Talking to a sleep specialist or dentist can be a big help. They will guide you through the pros and cons of each type, offer advice on fit and materials, and help you avoid common pitfalls. Their experience can make your search a lot less overwhelming.

    Getting a Custom-Fitted Mouth Guard for Sleep Apnea

    If you decide to go the custom route, here’s what you can expect. First, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth—think of it like making a mold for a retainer or sports mouth guard. These impressions are sent to a lab, where your mouth guard is crafted just for you.

    When it’s ready, you’ll try it on and your dentist will make sure it fits just right. Sometimes it takes a few tweaks to get the comfort and effectiveness spot on. Follow-up visits ensure everything stays comfortable and keeps working over time.

    Mouth Guard Effectiveness and Safety

    Mouth guards are life-changing for many people. They’re proven to help with snoring and mild to moderate OSA, and lots of users report feeling more rested and alert.

    However, they aren’t the answer for everyone. If your sleep apnea is severe, or if you have dental issues like loose teeth or jaw pain, you’ll want to talk to a professional before trying a mouth guard. And even after you start using one, regular check-ins with your dentist or sleep doctor keeps things on track and catch any problems early.

    With the right guidance and a little patience, a mouth guard could be the simple, effective solution that helps you finally get the restful sleep you deserve.

    Don’t let sleep apnea disrupt your life—discover how AirSnore can help you sleep soundly again.

    FAQ on OTC Sleep Apnea Mouth Guards

    1. What is the best mouth guard for sleep apnea?

    The best mouth guard is usually a custom-fitted mandibular advancement device, but high-quality options like AirSnore can also be effective.

    2. Can a mouth guard help with sleep apnea?

    Yes, mouth guards can help by keeping your airway open and reducing breathing interruptions while you are asleep.

    3. Does a mouth guard help with sleep apnea?

    Mouth guards are proven to help many people with OSA, especially in less severe cases.

    4. Does mouth guard help sleep apnea?

    Yes, specially designed mouth guards are a recognized treatment for sleep apnea.

    5. Are mouth guards effective for everyone with sleep apnea?

    Yes, for most people.  They may not work for everyone, especially those with severe sleep apnea or certain dental conditions. Consult a healthcare professional for advice.

    • Company: AirSnore
    • Contact: Don England
    • Email: support@airsnore.com
    • Phone Support:UK: +44 20 4572 4051 (9am–11pm GMT) US: +1 888-823-5131 (4am–6pm EST)
    • Address: 12 Payne Street Glasgow G4 0LF United Kingdom

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Spending review delivers big boosts for health and defence – but Rachel Reeves is focused on investment

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Linda Yueh, Fellow in Economics/Adjunct Professor of Economics, University of Oxford

    UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered the government’s spending review, setting out its plans and priorities for the next three years. The aim of the review is of course to allocate spending over that time period – but this government is keen for economic growth and so has directed the funds to try to boost GDP. This approach could work but is particularly challenging in an uncertain global environment.

    The parameters of the UK’s fiscal policy were set in the budget last October and the spring statement in March when the chancellor confirmed her fiscal rules, which allowed borrowing only for investment. Day-to-day spending on public services like the NHS and schools has to be met by tax revenues.

    As a result of an earlier tweak to the fiscal rules, public investment – spending on things like roads and hospitals – will total about £113 billion from now until nearly the end of this parliament.

    Many investors and creditors will have been looking out for this boost, as the UK has lagged behind comparable economies partly due to its lower levels of investment. The announcements have the potential to bring in private funding if more investors see an opportunity to benefit from increased economic growth, particularly if the UK’s relatively high energy costs are also addressed.

    Also in line for government investment is social and affordable housing. The announcement of £39 billion for this sector in England was a centrepiece of Reeves’ announcement. Coupled with planning reforms, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) judged in March that this could indeed boost growth.

    There will be more money for social housing – £39 billion over ten years in England.
    Irene Miller/Shutterstock

    In terms of day-to-day spending, health and defence received the biggest increases among government departments because of, respectively, pressures on the NHS arising from COVID-19 and the ageing population, and from geopolitical challenges like the war in Ukraine.

    Both departments, though, also have the potential to raise economic growth. Rates of economic inactivity (people who aren’t in paid work, for example) in the UK have not fallen back to their pre-COVID levels as they have in other major economies such as the US, France and Germany. Improving health services, cutting waiting lists and widening access to mental health support could help get more people back to work, which would boost employment and support growth.

    And on defence, spending in this area has the potential (depending greatly on the type of spend) to create technology that could eventually boost the nation’s productivity. GPS, for example, was developed by the US Department of Defense, as were many innovations now used in smartphones. Boosting UK defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027 and investing in technology has the potential to unlock advances in equipment for the UK.

    Who loses out?

    This is not to say that increasing the settlements to other government departments would not support growth too. But some of those departments, including the Home Office, Foreign Office and transport, are now facing cuts in real terms to their spending. And they may find themselves under even more pressure should GDP growth slow.

    This is because of the chancellor’s fiscal rule about funding current spending from taxes. This would mean cuts if these receipts fall as a result of slowing growth, since Reeves has very little “fiscal headroom” (spare cash) to ensure she can meet her rules – only £9.9 billion.

    But the reverse may also prove to be true. Should investment in research and development (£22.6 billion per year by 2029‑30), renewable energy and infrastructure, alongside planning reforms, increase GDP growth, then the chancellor may find that she has more funding to allocate to day-to-day departmental spending to support public services.

    However, it takes time for investment to generate growth. OBR forecasts only expect increased growth of around 1.7% to 1.8% in the second half of this parliament. But those growth forecasts pre-date the US president Donald Trump’s tariffs announced in April, which are causing turmoil in global trade.

    This is why it is even more important for the UK to raise domestic economic growth through investing in people, technology and productivity. To govern is to choose, as the saying goes, and the government will hope that these are the right trade-offs to have made in order to grow during such shaky times. Despite the uncertain global picture, the chancellor has laid some promising foundations. Now the challenge will be delivering the growth.

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

    – ref. Spending review delivers big boosts for health and defence – but Rachel Reeves is focused on investment – https://theconversation.com/spending-review-delivers-big-boosts-for-health-and-defence-but-rachel-reeves-is-focused-on-investment-258746

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leader’s Report – June 2025

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Latest news from the Council Leader Jane Meagher.

    Driving attainment in our schools

    As we near the end of the school term, I want to begin by recognising the hard work and achievements of our children, young people, teachers and school staff throughout the year.

    I was particularly pleased to hear that the attainment of our school leavers has improved across almost all measures, with the gap narrowing between the performance of the most and least disadvantaged young people in our schools.

    These results are due, at least in part, to our curriculum pathways programme, which offers our secondary pupils the opportunity to enjoy a varied and engaging school day while seeing clear connections to future career opportunities.

    Our construction, roofing and stone carving courses, for example, help students in S4 to S6 to develop practical skills while also gaining qualifications that help them to map out a career path beyond school. It’s testament to this work that 95% of our school leavers are now going on to positive destinations.

    To all of our pupils who recently sat their exams, I wish you all the best of luck with your results in August. Pupils, teachers and staff have put in a tremendous amount of hard work preparing for exams and I know many parents, carers and wider family members will also have been encouraging their children to do their best.

    And to our school leavers, I wish you the very best as you embark on your next journey, whether in the workforce or further education.

    Cleaner, greener travel

    Earlier this month we marked one year since we began enforcement of our Low Emission Zone (LEZ). With Clean Air Day (19 June) coming up next week, this anniversary is a timely reminder of the importance of restricting the most polluting vehicles and improving air quality in our busy city centre.

    Air pollution is associated with between 29,000 and 43,000 deaths a year in the UK alone, with both the World Health Organisation and the UK Government citing it as the largest environmental threat to our health. It was reassuring then to hear both NHS Lothian and Asthma + Lung UK praising our scheme.  

    The good news is we’re seeing wider benefits across our network with the Institute of Occupational Medicine finding a statistically significant shift towards active travel and public transport in the six months following LEZ enforcement.

    Recent data suggests further positive outcomes from new active travel projects such as Leith Connections (20% increase in pedestrian numbers) and Leith Walk (40% increase in cycling numbers), with Cycling Scotland also reporting record journeys on the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL) and at Picardy Place.

    Meanwhile Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses both continue to report improving passenger numbers and performance following their respective Operator of the Year accolades at the National Transport Awards 2024.

    Building a strong and stable third sector

    Tackling poverty remains a key priority for us – but we can’t achieve this without the third sector. Yet worryingly, with funding becoming ever scarcer, our population growing and more people struggling with the cost of living, many charities are in a precarious position.

    It’s clear to me that we need to find a more sustainable way forward for a sector that brings so much good. That’s why we’ve asked the Edinburgh Partnership to conduct a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations across the city, and ultimately to find solutions for improving funding certainty in future years.

    We want to hear about how we can make it simpler, provide more stability, and collaborate to help those who need this sector’s support most. Please share your views on our Consultation Hub. Results will be shared with everyone who takes part and with the third sector, before being reported to our next Policy and Sustainability Committee in August.

    Farewell Sir Tom

    I was saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Tom Farmer last month. A proud Leither, generous philanthropist and true son of Edinburgh whose influence reached far beyond our city’s boundaries.

    Sir Tom was a recipient of the Edinburgh Award, and his handprints remain immortalised in the City Chambers Quadrangle, a lasting tribute to a life of service, innovation, and generosity. Best known as the founder of Kwik Fit, he transformed the automotive industry, building a business that grew to over 2,000 locations across 18 countries and, of course, owned a majority stake in Hibernian FC for 28 years. I have no doubt he was looking down proudly as Hibs Ladies clinched the league title for the first time in 18 years.

    Yet, his legacy extends well beyond his entrepreneurial success. Born in Leith in 1940, his roots in the community remained strong throughout his life. His service was recognised with a knighthood in 1997, and again in 2009, when he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his charitable work. He also received the Carnegie Medal for Philanthropy and was named a Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St Gregory the Great, an honour bestowed by the Pope.

    Sir Tom’s final journey took him through the streets of Leith, past Easter Road Stadium, where hundreds of Hibs fans gathered to pay tribute to a man whose kindness, leadership and civic pride have left a lasting mark.

    Summer in the city

    The busy summer season is upon us once more. The city has already enjoyed the Edinburgh Children’s Festival, with the ever-popular Meadows Festival taking place last weekend.

    Looking ahead, the city is gearing up for a colourful and joyful celebration next weekend as the annual Pride Edinburgh march brings thousands together in the heart of the Capital. Pride is an important date in the city’s calendar and honours the diversity, history and dignity of our LGBT+ community. 

    Then, later this month, all eyes will turn to Ingliston for the Royal Highland Show (19–22 June), a highlight of Scotland’s summer and a showcase of rural life, food, and culture.

    The coming weeks will see the city filled with music, art, and performance, starting with the Edinburgh Castle concert series and the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival in July. As we move into August, the city becomes the world’s stage with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – boasting 3,350 shows and 265 venues this year – the International Festival, Book Festival, Art Festival, Film Festival, and the iconic Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

    I’m also very much looking forward to the reopening of the Filmhouse on 27 June following a lengthy and well-coordinated campaign to save and refurbish it. I know this was a cause very close to the heart of our late friend and colleague, Val Walker, and how much joy this would have brought her.

    Our world-renowned festivals and events sustain our reputation as a global cultural capital, with the positives extending well beyond entertainment. You need look no further than the £200 million our Winter Festivals brought to the local economy last year.

    They also bring real energy and excitement to the city, alongside lasting benefits to our businesses, communities and local charities. From next July, they will help to raise even more (as much as £50 million per year) for the city, courtesy of our visitor levy. We’re continuing to make good progress towards its introduction and have just given our views to the Scottish Government on a potential Cruise Ship Levy, which could be worth a further million pounds to the city each year.

    Stay Different

    Of course, these events require meticulous planning and coordination to limit the inevitable pressure on the city and our residents – and I want to extend my thanks to the many colleagues across events, waste, public safety and our partner organisations, for ensuring they remain safe, inclusive, and successful.

    Another way we can relieve the pressure is to encourage visitors (and residents!) to leave the beaten track and explore the many other wonderful attractions we have across the city. That’s the message of our new destination visitor marketing campaign Stay Different, which reminds visitors that Edinburgh is a year-round destination and there is much to discover in our local neighbourhoods and beyond.

    A revealing glimpse into our past

    As if we didn’t have enough to do this summer, I’m very much looking forward to exploring three standout shows that offer powerful glimpses into our past.

    At the St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh’s First Burghers: Revealing the Lives and Hidden Faces of Edinburgh’s Medieval Citizens presents an extraordinary mix of science, history, and storytelling. Marking the joint 900th anniversaries of Edinburgh and St Giles’ Cathedral, this unique exhibition brings to life the medieval citizens buried at the site and allows us to see the faces and learn the stories of some of our earliest residents.

    At the City Art Centre, meanwhile, John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture showcases more than 80 works by one of Scotland’s most important modern artists. With never-before-seen sketchbooks and artworks displayed across two floors, this is a compelling insight into a life lived through art.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council’s commitment to heritage shown with investment in Portsmouth’s historic cemeteries

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    In line with the council’s heritage strategy and to ensure that important historic structures within these spaces can be enjoyed for years to come, the council is prioritising their preservation. Since 2012, the council has invested almost £14.5 million into heritage projects across the city.

    Currently, repairs are being made to the Dissenter’s Chapel in Highland Road Cemetery as part of a £65,000 project. Designed by the renowned architect Thomas Ellis-Owen, this Grade II listed building is a unique Byzantine style brick cemetery chapel. Repairs are being made to the roof, walls and rendering, and floor joists are being repaired.

    The council is also planning an investment of £200,000 to restore the Grade II listed neo-Gothic West Chapel in Kingston Cemetery, which will bring this building back into use.

    At Milton Cemetery, plans are underway to sensitively dismantle the cemetery lodge, which is not listed and has been empty for over a decade as cemetery managers no longer live on site. The building has also been deemed unsafe to be used as an office for the cemeteries team, and in its current state does not give a good impression to those entering the cemetery.

    Many options have been explored to bring it back into use, but the position within the cemetery means these are impractical, and the dangerous condition of the building means it must be removed. The space can then be used for burials, ensuring that the residents of Portsmouth can continue to choose their preferred funeral ceremony for years to come, as developing a new cemetery in the city will be difficult due to lack of available sites.

    An ecological survey has been carried out, and the garden of the lodge will remain as it is during the work to minimise disruption. In the future, work will take place to tidy this area up so the public can enjoy it, whilst minimising the impact on wildlife habitats. The toilet block behind the lodge will be kept, with investment sought in the coming years to improve it.

    Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council said:

    “The city has a duty to its heritage, one that the council takes seriously. Our heritage strategy builds on the other recent heritage projects in the city including the redevelopment of the D-Day Story, the arrival of LCT 7074, the renovation of Victoria Park and the Hotwalls Studios project. More recent investment has seen repairs made to the Kings Theatre, Fort Widley and also the renovation of Hilsea Lido.

    “In an ideal world, the council would be able to invest in all of the buildings in its care but after seeing over £110 million cut from our budget over the last 15 years, we have to make choices. The heritage strategy was specifically devised to help us make the best choices for the right reasons, to protect those buildings which have the most significance and the ability to be repurposed for future uses”.

    The council’s heritage strategy uses a scoring system to decide which heritage projects to support. This was used to determine where this investment into the city’s cemeteries was made. Each project is rated from 0 to 10 in three areas:

    • Status (how officially recognised or protected the site is),
    • Condition (how much repair or attention it needs), and
    • Potential Impact (how much benefit the project could bring socially, economically, culturally, and environmentally).

    The higher the total score, the higher the priority for support. This helps the council focus on projects that are both important and in need, and that can make a real difference to the community.

    Milton Cemetery Lodge scores low across all three categories of the heritage assessment formula. It lacks official heritage status, is not listed on any ‘at risk’ registers, and offers minimal social, economic, or environmental impact if restored. As a result, investment in the building cannot be justified.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor pledges at least £445 million of rail investment as part of biggest ever Welsh funding boost

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Chancellor pledges at least £445 million of rail investment as part of biggest ever Welsh funding boost

    Major transport upgrade to drive growth and unlock economic potential across Wales, as UK Government delivers on Plan for Change.   

    Spending Review: Investing in Wales’ future.

    • Investment is part of comprehensive spending package to invest in UK’s renewal, creating thousands of jobs in clean energy, manufacturing and defence  
    • The Welsh Government will receive the largest real terms settlement since devolution began in 1999, with an average settlement of £22.4 billion per year, enabling the Welsh Government to deliver for working people in Wales.

    Working people across Wales will benefit from better access to jobs and opportunities thanks to a Welsh rail investment worth at least £445 million announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today as part of the UK Government’s Spending Review which will invest in UK’s renewal.

    The transformative rail package will reconnect Wales’s industrial heartlands, improve commuter journeys and drive economic growth in communities that have long suffered from poor transport links.  

    The package will invest in both north and south Wales, fixing level crossings, building new stations, and upgrading existing lines  

    This strategic rail investment forms the cornerstone of the UK Government’s plan to reconnect, reindustrialise and renew Wales – addressing decades of underinvestment in critical infrastructure that has held back the Welsh economy.  

    The rail upgrades will specifically link centres of advanced manufacturing excellence in North Wales and improve vital connections between Cardiff and Bristol, making it easier for businesses to invest and for workers to access employment opportunities.  

    Alongside this major transport investment, the Spending Review delivers significant backing for Wales’s key industrial sectors.  

    In Port Talbot, a combined investment of up to £580 million will secure the future of steelmaking while transforming the port into a clean energy hub. Within this, £500 million for Tata Steel’s new Electric Arc Furnace will protect 5,000 jobs while reducing carbon emissions.  

    Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, said:  

    This UK Government is investing in Wales’ future and driving economic growth across the country.  

    We promised we would deal with the historical under-investment in Wales’ rail network and the funding announced today in this Spending Review shows we are delivering on that pledge.  

    Along with a record financial settlement for Welsh Government to improve public services, £118m more to help keep coal tips safe and investment in growing industries like aerospace, we are backing Wales’ potential and delivering for working people.”    

    Growing Wales’ domestic aerospace and defence industries  

    Speaking in the House of Commons today, the Chancellor reaffirmed the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027, backing our Armed Forces, creating British jobs in British industries, and prioritising the security of Britain when it is most needed.  

    The Spending Review also backed Welsh industry by continuing investment in the defence industry right across the UK, including Wales.  

    Wales’s aerospace and automotive industries, already employing over 15,000 people, also stands to gain through UK-wide funding announced for the advanced manufacturing sector, enabling the development and delivery of ultra-low and zero-carbon emission vehicles and aircraft.   

    Coal tip safety   

    The Spending Review also confirms a further £118 million between 2026-27 and 2028-29 for the Welsh Government to maintain the safety of disused coal tips, on the back of £25 million already committed in 2025-26 during 2024 Autumn Budget. The money will see tips secured, homes protected and land unlocked for housing, industry and recreation.   

    The UK Government also pledged continued support for Welsh Investment Zones in Cardiff City Region and Wrexham and Flintshire, which will receive £160 million each over 10 years, driving growth and jobs.  

    Supporting Welsh businesses  

    The new Industrial Strategy and Public finance Institutions will collaborate with the devolved governments and local stakeholders to drive growth across the UK. Through the Nations and Regions Investment programme the British Business Bank is delivering £130 million across Wales to break down access to finance barriers and drive economic growth.  

    Local growth funding  

    A new local growth fund, and investments in up to 350 deprived communities across the UK, will maintain the same cash level as in 2025-26 under the Shared Prosperity Fund. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Wales Office will work with local partners to ensure money goes to projects that matter to local people. This investment will help drive growth and improve communities across all parts of Wales.  

    A record settlement for Welsh public services  

    The Welsh Government will receive the largest settlement in real terms since devolution in 1999, with an average settlement of £22.4 billion per year to deliver against the priorities of working people in Wales.  

    This comprehensive investment package is further delivery of the UK Government’s promise to invest in Britain’s renewal and ensure that economic growth benefits every part of the United Kingdom.

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Springwood Leisure Centre’s outdoor pitches to get major upgrade

    Source: City of Derby

    Derby City Council’s Springwood Leisure Centre is delighted to announce a major refurbishment of both its outdoor 3G football pitches, thanks to the successful acquisition of £147,000 in Section 106 funding. The funding will enable a comprehensive upgrade, including the installation of a state-of-the-art artificial playing surface, permanent line markings, and brand-new fencing around the pitches, to be completed at no cost to the Council.

    Work will start at the end of July and is expected to take five weeks, which means the refurbished pitches will be fully operational in time for the winter sports season, providing a much-improved playing experience for local clubs, teams, schools, and recreational users.

    This is the second time Springwood Leisure Centre has successfully secured Section 106 funding for infrastructure improvements. In 2023, the Centre received £190,000 to develop its immersive Spin Studio, which has been widely praised for its innovative design and contribution to local health and wellbeing. Together, these investments reflect the Centre’s growing role as a cornerstone of the local community and its commitment to expanding the range and quality of sports and leisure opportunities available to residents.

    In celebration of this latest milestone, Springwood Leisure Centre is also planning to launch its first-ever Springwood Community Cup. The tournament aims to showcase the upgraded pitches and create a legacy of community engagement through sport. Full details of the Community Cup will be shared in the coming weeks.

    Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Public Safety and Leisure, said:

    This is great news for the local community. The new pitches will support grassroots sport, improve facilities for residents, and it’s all been achieved at no cost to the Council.  I look forward to seeing the pitches in use and to the first Springwood Community Cup. Investments like this show our commitment to accessible, high-quality leisure for all.

    The upgraded facilities will support increased participation in grassroots football, provide a safe and durable all-weather playing surface, and accommodate a wide range of users, from casual kickabouts to league matches and school sports programmes. The work will be carried out by S&C Slatter, a leading UK specialist in sports construction and artificial pitch installations.

    Nathaniel Leney, Business Development Manager at S&C Slatter, said: 

    S&C Slatter are proud to have been appointed by Derby City Council to deliver the resurfacing of the 3G pitches at Springwood Leisure Centre. As a valued community facility, it deserves a first-class refurbishment, and we are committed to providing a safe, high-performance all-weather surface that will support and inspire local players, teams, and residents for years to come.

    Working in close partnership with the Council, we’ve developed a specification that meets the latest industry standards and ensures long-term performance and durability. We’re excited to begin work on this important project and contribute to the continued growth of sport and recreation in Derby.

    The Centre welcomes casual and block bookings for the new pitches. Whether you’re part of a club, organising a tournament, or just looking for a space to play, Springwood Leisure Centre offers a welcoming and professional environment.

    For booking enquiries or further information, please see our website or contact: springwood.sports@derby.gov.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Exciting new future for leisure unveiled

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The updated proposals include two exciting options for the new PH2O facility at Thimblerow in Perth city centre — both of which include flumes and enhanced leisure water features. These options respond directly to the instruction of Councillors to explore leisure water provision at the site, while still being affordable and aligned with the Council’s strategic priorities.

    Council Leader Grant Laing said: “This is a really positive step forward. We asked officers to explore how we could deliver a leisure water offer that meets the ambitions of our communities — and they’ve delivered. These proposals show that we can do that while staying true to the principles agreed by Council last September: delivering the greatest impact from our capital investment and ensuring best value for our residents.

    “PH2O at Thimblerow will be a fantastic new facility for Perth, and we should never lose sight of the fact that building there means that we can continue to keep Perth Leisure Pool open and maintain access to swimming in Perth right up to the moment it transfers to the new facility.

    “And by making the most of the funding previously allocated for PH2O, we’ve also created the opportunity to do even more to secure the future for sport and leisure across Perth and Kinross. The proposals being put before Council will also allow us to identify the funding to progress with much-needed upgrades and improvements to the pools in Kinross and Crieff, as well as providing a funded pathway to a sustainable future for Bell’s Sports Centre.”

    The report also outlines a proposal to allocate part of the Glover Street site — which will be freed up once PH2O at Thimblerow opens — to Capability Scotland. This would allow the charity to relocate from its current Upper Springland site, securing its future in Perth and offering new supported accommodation in the city centre.

    Depute Leader and Convener of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee Eric Drysdale said: “This is a great example of how joined-up thinking can deliver real benefits for our communities. Not only are we investing in leisure and wellbeing, but we’re also creating an opportunity for the valued service provided to residents and other clients at Capability Scotland to thrive in the heart of our city.

    “This is about more than buildings — it’s about creating a supportive and welcoming environment in our communities where everyone can live life well.”

    The proposals will be considered at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council on Wednesday 18 June 2025, and include:

    • £74m for PH2O at Thimblerow with:
      • 25m 8-lane swimming pool with movable floor
      • 12.5m x 8.5m teaching pool
      • 5.5m flumes
      • Extended splashpad/aquatic children’s play space
      • Holiday and weekend inflatables in the main pool
      • Indoor play area (Clip n’ Climb/ soft play or other family play activity)
      • Games hall (6 court)
      • Fitness gym
      • Studio 1,2,3 (flexible)
      • Café
    • £10m for Bell’s Sports Centre to fund delivery of the transformed facility, including the costs of essential RAAC and asbestos removal work. Confirms that the development and future use of Bell’s Sports Centre should be as an unheated, covered sports pitch/ events space as supported by 60% of respondents to a public consultation on the subject.
    • £13.2m investment in energy efficiency and building upgrades at Live Active Loch Leven (Kinross) and Strathearn Community Campus (Crieff) to sustain the life of of both facilities for a further 20 years, and reduce the emergency consumption by 75% and 80% respectively. 

    Together, these proposals represent a sustainable, future-focused investment in leisure across Perth and Kinross — one that supports health and wellbeing, strengthens communities, and brings new life to the city centre.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –