NewzIntel.com

Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Details of Duncombe Square’s Passivhaus homes revealed

    Source: City of York

    The latest details of the 34 spacious new Passivhaus homes at Duncombe Square have been revealed.

    Those who have already expressed an interest in the homes can now have a clearer idea of the layout, interiors and details of these homes designed by prize-winning architects Mikhail Riches.

    Built in stylish terraces, the generously-sized apartments and houses have traditional brickwork with a contemporary twist blending, and render and clay tile finishes.

    Internal features include exposed softwood staircases, oak-veneer window sills and shutters. The kitchens are fully-fitted with high-quality Howden’s units, Silestone worktops and integrated appliances.

    Duncombe Square’s 34 homes are built to the rigorous Passivhaus standard; widely considered to be the world’s leading standard for energy-efficient homes. Supporting that are electricity-generating solar PV panels on roofs and low-energy air source heat pumps which work alongside high levels of insulation. Inside are mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems to keep air continually filtered and fresh and triple-glazed windows to maintain a comfortable ambient temperature and reduce heat loss.

    To create a safe, welcoming environment for all residents, cars are kept off the streetscape to make the neighbourhood a cleaner, quieter and safer place. In its shared green spaces and ginnels, people take priority: children can play and neighbours can meet and build a community in shared green spaces.

    Prices for the shared ownership and market sale homes will be announced shortly before the homes are released for sale.

    Cllr Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing at City of York Council, said:

    This is our first ever Passivhaus development and Duncombe Square is looking to be an exceptional addition to the city’s housing. This is reflected in the tremendous interest we’ve had from people eligible for shared ownership and for the market sale homes.

    “The homes’ prices must reflect the market and maximise receipts to enable us to invest in building more much-needed social housing. The new homes for social rent at Duncombe Square will be allocated shortly and will be an important addition to Council housing in the city.”

    Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment at City of York Council, said:

    Being Passivhaus ensures residents will have consistent indoor temperatures all year round, significantly reducing the need for heating and cooling – and yes, you can open the windows! This means long-term cost savings and comfortable room temperatures for residents, and a lower carbon footprint for us all.

    “The grounds at Duncombe Square are green and community focussed, encouraging residents of all ages to enjoy time outdoors.”

    Kate Draper, Senior New Homes Manager and Affordable Housing Specialist at estate agent William H Brown, said:

    We are delighted to be partnering with Shape Homes, as selling agent for Duncombe Square, the first Passivhaus development in the North of England to be launched to market. 

    “Demand is already high and we’re sure the development will be a huge success, bringing something unique to the York housing market.”

    Find out more about Duncombe Square’s homes and express your interest here. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Candidates announced for the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart by-election

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The candidates standing in the upcoming Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart by-election have been confirmed.

    13 candidates have been nominated to stand in the by-election, which will elect one new councillor, on Thursday 26 June 2025.  

    The candidates standing for election are:

    • Bonnie Prince Bob, Independent
    • Derrick Emms, Independent
    • Lukasz Furmaniak, Scottish Libertarian Party
    • Mark Hooley, Scottish Conservative and Unionist
    • Richard Crewe Lucas, Scottish Family Party
    • Q Manivannan, Scottish Greens
    • Kevin Joseph McKay, Scottish Liberal Democrats
    • Catriona Munro, Scottish Labour Party
    • Gary Neill, Reform UK
    • Mark Rowbotham, Independent
    • Murray Visentin, Scottish National Party (SNP)
    • Steve Christopher West, Independent
    • Marc Wilkinson, Independent

    Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said:

    With nominations now closed and just over a month remaining until polling day, residents of the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward can start thinking about who they will vote for in the upcoming by-election.

    Councillors play an important role in our democratic system, making crucial decisions that impact our city.

    I’d encourage as many residents as possible to take part in this by-election. Please make sure you register to vote before the deadline and make your voice heard.

    The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference by assigning numbers rather than just marking a single cross. You can choose to vote for as many or as few candidates as you wish.

    Poll cards will be delivered to registered voters in the area from today (Friday May 23), including further information on when and where to vote.

    If you live in the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward you must register to vote by midnight on Tuesday June 10. For new postal vote applications, the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday June 11 and for new proxy votes its 5pm on Wednesday June 18.

    Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and will be at:

    • Kingsknowe Golf Club
    • Edinburgh Corn Exchange
    • St Michaels Church Hall
    • Fountainbridge Library
    • Boroughmuir Rugby & Community Sports Club
    • Craiglockhart Parish Church Hall
    • Tollcross Community Centre

    The electronic election count will take place on Thursday 26 June starting at the close of poll at 10pm. 

    The by-election follows the sad passing of Councillor Val Walker in April 2025.

    Find out more about this by-election Edinburgh and how to register to vote on the Council website.

    Published: May 23rd 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A new era of EV charging begins in Portsmouth

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Portsmouth City Council is proud to announce that new electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints are now coming online across the city, marking the start of a major upgrade to local EV infrastructure.

    This milestone is part of the council’s new partnership with chargepoint operator Zest, who are replacing and upgrading over 80 existing sites previously managed by Joju and Ubitricity. These improvements will make it easier than ever for residents to charge their vehicles close to home.

    A full list of available chargepoints can be seen at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ev-chargepoints, and the webpage will be updated regularly as more chargepoints are energised over the coming weeks.

    Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:

    “I’m excited to see this milestone achieved in Portsmouth’s journey towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. By expanding and upgrading our EV charging network, we’re making it easier for residents to make the switch to electric vehicles, supporting greener travel choices and improving air quality across the city.”

    The council is progressing with plans to install up to 320 brand new EV chargepoints across Portsmouth. These will be delivered in phases, with each proposed location undergoing a formal consultation to gather public feedback, which will help inform the decision as to whether the charge point is installed. The first batch has completed its consultation, the second is currently open for public input, and the third is scheduled to begin consultation in June.

    This new charging infrastructure is a key part of Portsmouth’s wider strategy to decarbonise transport and support the city’s transition to net zero. By electrifying more of the city’s transport network, the council is helping residents make more sustainable travel choices, while contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment for everyone.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Linguistics could make language learning more relevant – and attractive – for school pupils

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Kasstan, Senior Lecturer in French and Linguistics, University of Westminster

    BearFotos/Shutterstock

    A 2023 YouGov poll found that only 21% of UK adults can hold a conversation in a language other than their mother tongue. About half of the other 79% regretted not engaging more with languages at school, and more than half of all those polled were interested in learning a new language.

    By comparison, some 60% of EU citizens surveyed in 2022 reported good or proficient foreign language skills.

    Something is clearly going wrong with foreign language learning in UK schools, and this is not improving. For example, A-level entries in modern languages in England as a percentage of all A-level entries has fallen since 2010.

    Yet our research shows that many pupils in England and Wales are curious about how language has been shaped by society, culture and history, and how contact between people from different backgrounds leads to language change. A languages curriculum oriented around linguistics – the critical and analytical study of language itself – could meaningfully address the decline in language learning.

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    In March 2025, the interim report of an ongoing review of school curriculum and assessment in England was published. This called for changes to how language learning takes place in schools.

    Some of the issues identified are not exclusive to the languages curriculum. The authors point out that, in general, pupils do not see their lives and interests represented in what they are taught, and that the curriculum is not responsive to social change. At the same time, the report recognises that young people’s understanding of culture through language is essential.

    The national languages curriculum has been recognised as problematic for some time. Unlike all other subjects at GCSE and A-level, including highly practical subjects like physical education and music, languages in schools are taught and assessed almost purely as skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. They lack critical, theoretical and analytical dimensions.

    Furthermore, the topics covered, while broad, are socially skewed to the point that it can make them difficult for pupils to relate to: discussions of alpine skiing holidays abroad, for instance. This does little to change the view that studying languages is the preserve of the elite.

    Our work with language teachers, together with colleagues Alice Corr, Norma Schifano and Sascha Stollhans, suggests that including linguistics in the languages curriculum can tackle some of these shortcomings.

    Linguistics could also contribute to learning in other subjects.
    Juice Flair/Shutterstock

    Linguistics allows a language – with all of its richness and complexity – to be studied as a psychological, cultural and historical object, enabling pupils to probe how it is shaped by (and shapes) society. Rather than simply learning vocabulary and grammar, and using them to talk about, say, regional identity or multiculturalism, linguistics-based lessons focus on how language relates to these topics.

    Linguistics could also enhance the teaching of other subjects including English as a first or additional language, as well as subjects such as history, geography, maths and science. This is because linguistics encourages a framework for analysis that is readily applicable to other subjects.

    What’s more, the soft skills obtained from this approach to language learning can enhance employability, fostering language experts that are better prepared for the real world. This would make school languages an attractive choice even for those not wishing to pursue a languages degree.

    For the UK to meet its societal, economic and commercial challenges, we require more linguists of all kinds, as this 2020 proposal for a national languages strategy from institutions including the British Council and Universities UK highlights.

    Our own research shows that a languages curriculum enriched with linguistics is appealing to both students and teachers. It can enhance motivation and confidence among pupils, while contributing to a more diverse and comprehensive learning experience.

    We have also shown that it can easily be integrated into language teaching without additional teacher training. Above all, a linguistics-rich curriculum can help students feel represented in their learning, allowing them to reflect on cultural and social issues they understand and feel strongly about.

    The numbers speak volumes

    Language learning in schools in England in particular has long been in decline. The statistics mask wider systemic problems, too. School language departments are increasingly under-resourced or are closing altogether. This means fewer pupils learning languages at A-level and beyond, and many fewer training to be language teachers.

    Plugging this shortage with teachers from abroad has also become increasingly difficult, particularly since Brexit, creating a vicious circle.

    There is a knock-on impact for higher education. Ongoing closures of university language programmes have led to “cold spots” emerging in parts of the country: areas where no universities offer language degrees. Access to higher language learning thus risks becoming a postcode lottery, especially for those without the financial means to study far away from their home town.

    A significant change in how languages are taught is needed – and enriching language teaching with linguistics could be effective, feasible, and potentially transformative.

    Jonathan Kasstan receives funding from the British Academy.

    Michelle Sheehan receives funding from The British Academy and The Leverhulme Trust.

    Anna D. Havinga 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. Linguistics could make language learning more relevant – and attractive – for school pupils – https://theconversation.com/linguistics-could-make-language-learning-more-relevant-and-attractive-for-school-pupils-255068

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Still Wakes The Deep deserves its three Baftas for superlative survival horror game thrills

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thomas Hainey, Senior Lecturer/Programme Leader of Computer Games Development, University of the West of Scotland

    The survival horror game genre is very much like the survival horror-movie genre. It is a niche genre which appeals to people who crave good scares and want to get their adrenaline pumping. Some of the most popular games, such as Resident Evil – a game so influential it spawned an 11-film franchise – have raked in millions of dollars.

    In the summer of 2024, along came Still Wakes the Deep, developed by The Chinese Room, a British video game developer based in Brighton that is famous for exploration games including Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture. A creepy thriller set on a Scottish oil rig, Still Wakes The Deep was nominated for eight Bafta games awards.

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    Last month it scooped three of them (including two for best performance for Scots actors Alec Newman and Karen Dunbar), even though it was up against titles appealing to a far wider audience such as Astro Bot and Helldivers 2. The third Bafta was for new intellectual property which is awarded to the best game not part of an established series.

    December 1975. Disaster strikes the Beira D oil rig off the coast of Scotland. Navigate the collapsing rig to save your crew from an otherworldly horror on the edge of all logic and reality.

    The setting is probably the most realistic oil rig in any game I’ve seen. It a state of dank disrepair, the rig feels totally authentic in its 1970s period details. Just walking around is perilously treacherous and keeps players on edge.

    Players adopt the persona of Glaswegian electrician Cameron “Caz” McCleary. It’s Christmas and he’s dodging the police and an angry wife after a bar fight. To top it off he’s just been fired by the rig boss for his sins.

    Despite the unsafe nature of the rig and a storm threatening, the rapacious manager insists on drilling deeper which unleashes a nameless, timeless terror that infects the workers who soon start turning into hideous mutants. Caz is running desperately back and forth, fighting against the storm, fires, and the bloodthirsty mutant creatures.

    Level design (the structuring of the game’s spaces and environments) is creative. The spaces inside are dark and claustrophobic. Those outside are chaotic, as the rig starts collapsing above a roiling North Sea. The use of a linear narrative is executed well, and Caz is desperately trying to save himself and his crew by either launching lifeboats or making it to the helicopter pad. But absolutely nothing is going to plan.

    The graphics and aesthetics are beautifully crisp and the attention to detail even in the crew quarters and mess is really something, not to mention the particle effects (such as fire and electrical sparks). Looking over the edge at the North Sea or at the rain drumming against the window is pretty realistic.

    The level design is intuitive for experienced and novice gamers alike and players can customise the experience with “hints” which you can turn off, for example, if you want a more challenging time. The hints are usually marked in yellow paint and show you where to go, where to hide and how to solve puzzles.

    Obstacles include former crew who have transformed into terrifying creatures. The linear narrative and the atmosphere ramp up the tension as players try to make it stealthily past the monsters. The game requires “well-ordered” problem solving which makes the experience both nerve racking and “pleasantly frustrating”, as academic James Gee describes the process in his paper Learning by Design: Good Video Games as Learning Machines.

    Digital games-based learning uses computer games for education and training. Highly realistic, problem-solving games such as Still Wakes The Deep present immersive environments that can provide an authentic experience that could be used in supplementary training.

    Imagine, for example, learning about safely launching lifeboats in a crisp 3D environment like this, with no risk from weather or water (or mutants). Video games can be tailored to teach a plethora of skills that can shape careers. They don’t have to just be about entertainment.

    But entertainment this definitely is. Still Wakes The Deep keeps players on edge like an interactive narrative horror movie with a fair share of jump scares and plenty of death-defying leaps, as Caz hangs by his fingernails or bolts for his life.

    The game plays on a number of psychological fears including burning, fear of drowning, vertigo, infection and being munched by now fully mutated, tendril-dragging ex-crewmates.

    It has a touch of Resident Evil and Aliens, and one YouTube walkthrough hails it it as “every fear in one horror game”. In a column praising the game’s brilliance, Neil Mackay of the Glasgow Herald said: “Let me deliver a quick kill-shot to the notion that games are somehow a substandard art form in comparison to the novel, theatre, film or visual arts. In many ways today the best games combine the best of each discipline.”

    The Guardian’s Melinda Hetfield described it as “the Thing, but on a Scottish oil rig in the 1970s”. Which just happens to be the original pitch by Dan Pinchbeck, the studio’s co-founder. So safe to say – mission accomplished.

    For me, the Scots actors really bring it to life. Bafta winners Alec Newman (famous for his portrayal of Paul Atreides in the Dune series) and comedian Karen Dunbar give fantastically convincing performances that help to build the atmosphere of dread.

    It’s good to see working-class Scottish voices in all their sweary glory here, as they are not commonly represented in games. Diversity is an area that many developers are seeking to address with better representation. Some of the Scots vernacular might cause a few lost-in-translation moments for players from other countries (subtitles may be needed), but there is much grim humour to be enjoyed here that just adds to the terrifying fun.

    Thomas Hainey 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. Still Wakes The Deep deserves its three Baftas for superlative survival horror game thrills – https://theconversation.com/still-wakes-the-deep-deserves-its-three-baftas-for-superlative-survival-horror-game-thrills-254732

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Insect trafficking poses risk to wildlife and human health

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Rhinoceros beetles are just one of the insect species being traded illegally

    By Angus Nurse, Anglia Ruskin University and Elliot Doornbos, Nottingham Trent University

    Four men were recently arrested and fined for attempting to smuggle more than 5,000 ants out of Kenya. Aiming to sell them as part of the exotic pet trade, these ants were being stored in individual test tubes and syringes with small amounts of cotton wool for transportation. This unusual case highlights an important yet overlooked aspect of wildlife trafficking.

    Wildlife trafficking is a crime against nature which occurs mainly because of consumer demand. Trafficking refers to the illegal smuggling and continued exploitation of wild animals, plants or timber. That includes, as in this case, insects.

    Much conservation effort, reporting, study and enforcement activity focuses on recognised species such as rhinos. Wildlife trafficking is often associated more with these charismatic species and products made from them such as elephant tusks and rhino horn.

    But wildlife trafficking includes a whole spectrum of illicit animal trade from poaching and smuggling to the distribution of protected and endangered species. There is also thriving illegal trade in insects.

    For avid collectors, trophies and the exotic pet trade a wide array of insects have been seized over the years including rhino beetles into Japan, praying mantis eggs into the US and butterflies out of Sri Lanka.

    Globally, insect species are declining. This is caused by an array of threats such as pollution, pesticides, climate change and urbanisation. Although the extent of the harm being caused by trafficking is unknown, this adds further pressure to species that already face extinction.

    Protections for insects vary. The conservation status of each ant species affects their level of protection both nationally and internationally.

    Ants that are on the red list – which is the largest classification of endangered species produced by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – and classed as critically endangered or endangered cannot be captured, killed or disturbed in any manner. An example is the anathema ant, which is currently listed as an endangered species.

    International law puts controls on wildlife that may be threatened by trade. Some ants are protected under UK law which makes it an offence to disturb or destroy the nests of species like the red wood ant.

    This case shows how wildlife trafficking extends to areas such as the smuggling of, and illegal trade, in ants. Some organised crime groups have moved from smuggling drugs and weapons to trafficking in plants, medicinal compounds and animals – including insects. Organised crime can include smaller and partially disorganised groups and networks. Where there is money to be made smuggling, networks will target wildlife.

    The scale of the insect smuggling problem is unknown. Many cases will go unreported due to the clandestine nature of the trade. As such, both law enforcement and the wider public might not know or care about this being an offence.

    Although there have been some insect trade seizures, law enforcement agencies are often underresourced and may view wildlife crimes as a low priority in comparison to other areas of criminality, such as drugs.

    Often, insects are easily concealed. For example, 37 rhino beetles were discovered at Los Angeles International airport hidden within sweet and crisp packets.

    Even once insects are seized, it can be difficult to identify the species to find out whether they are protected, given so many different levels of protections for species internationally.

    Invasive species risk

    Insect trafficking could introduce non-native species to new places. If they establish a breeding population and pose a threat to local ecosystems, they can become known as “invasive species”. Invasive species can outcompete native species for food. Some destroy habitats. Others have the potential to bring new diseases to a country.

    Not only can invasive insects pose threats to the environment such as the ongoing issue of invasive Asian hornets within Europe, but also affect people. Hawaii spends US$10 million (£7.5 million) on invasive species control measures – US$2.4 million of that is set aside just for coconut rhinoceros beetles.

    Although predicting which species and when they may become invasive is a challenge, insect trafficking can cause serious consequences. Undervaluing some species protections provides avenues for traffickers, so enforcing trafficking laws for all wildlife, including insects, is crucial.

    Elliot Doornbos, Senior Lecturer of Criminology, Nottingham Trent University and Angus Nurse, Professor of Law and Environmental Justice, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New study shows millions still lack access to glasses

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Millions of people across the world still lack access to basic eye care such as glasses according to a new study led by Professor Rupert Bourne of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

    The research, published in The Lancet Global Health, measured the global availability and quality of treatment for uncorrected refractive error, one of the most common forms of vision loss.

    The study used data from 815,273 participants from 76 countries and found that global refractive correction (eREC) is currently at 65.8%, just six percentage points higher than in 2010.

    The researchers say the results mean the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s target, set in 2021, of a 40 percentage point increase in eREC by 2030 is likely to be missed unless urgent action is taken across the world to increase the access to basic treatments such as spectacles.

    The results are grouped into ‘super regions’: north Africa and the Middle East; Sub-Saharan Africa; Latin America and the Caribbean; south Asia; southeast Asia, east Asia and Oceania; central Europe, eastern Europe and central Asia; and high income (areas of north America and western Europe, which includes the UK).

    The burden of uncorrected vision loss falls more heavily on low-income countries, women, and older adults. In the high income region, eREC is at 85% for men and 83% for women, while in sub-Saharan Africa the figure is around 30% for men and 27% for women. The WHO targets are set at country level, with high income countries such as the UK expected to strive for 100% eREC by 2030.

    The data shows some encouraging trends. Between 2000 and 2023, there was a 50% improvement in the number of people receiving the correct prescription for eyeglasses. However, the authors note that the need for glasses has also increased, largely driven by lifestyle-related risk factors, for example increased screen time and reduced outdoor activities during childhood.

    The research cites examples of action that individual countries have already taken and could be adopted by others. In France, full reimbursement of the cost of spectacles was introduced as part of universal health insurance in 2021/22. Pakistan has implemented a series of national eye-care plans over the past 20 years that have increased spectacle use and reduced vision impairment caused by uncorrected refractive error.

    Rupert Bourne, Professor of Ophthalmology at Anglia Ruskin University, is Principal Investigator for the Vision Loss Expert Group, a global network of health researchers that carried out the study.

    “Correction of refractive error is the safest, most efficient, and most economical intervention to improve daily vision quality for the majority of individuals affected by vision impairment worldwide, contributing to reducing poverty and improvements in wellbeing, work productivity, education, and equity.

    “Data from 815,000 people across 76 countries in our new study shows that we are off track to meet World Health Organisation targets. Urgent global action is needed to reach the goal of a 40% increase in eyeglasses coverage by 2030.”

    Professor Rupert Bourne of Anglia Ruskin University

    To read the study, visit https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(25)00194-9/fulltext

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Repair work to start on St Leonard’s Place on Tuesday 27 May

    Source: City of York

    Published Friday, 23 May 2025

    City of York Council has shared travel advice ahead of the urgent repair works on St Leonard’s Place which start next week.

    Having completed an inspection yesterday (Thursday) and undertaking essential safety work the council removed the temporary lights in place so that over the busy bank holiday weekend (when we also have the Queen Street closure at the railway station), two-way traffic can flow on St Leonard’s Place until we begin repair work next week.

    Work to make these urgent repairs will start after rush hour on the morning of Tuesday 27 May. From 9.30am on Tuesday 27 May we will start repairing the underground damage and road surface, which will require a lane closure.  These works may take around two weeks but we will share updates.

    These emergency repairs will mean St Leonard’s place will be closed to inbound traffic from Bootham Bar with diversions in place. Outbound traffic (from Museum Street to Bootham/Gillygate) will be able to use St Leonard’s place.

    Pedestrian access along St Leonard’s Place in both directions is still open. Inbound cyclists (traveling from Bootham or Gillygate) will need to follow the diversion under Bootham Bar. Those travelling towards Bootham from Museum Street will be able to use St Leonard’s Place.

    For drivers coming into the city centre travelling down Bootham there will be diversions in place. We have added travel information, including information about bus diversions to our website which can be found at www.york.gov.uk/StLeonardsPlace

    York, the Theatre Royal and its neighbouring businesses are open for business.

    Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport said:

    We thank everyone for their patience while we carry out these urgent repairs. Our team will be carrying out repair work between the hours of 8am and 5pm on most days and no work is planned to take place later than 8pm.

    “While we are doing all we can to minimise disruption during these emergency works, we’re expecting the inner ring road to be very busy so we’re asking people to plan ahead and consider other ways to travel to the city centre. That includes getting the bus, walking or cycling. While some buses are being diverted they will continue to serve communities across the city and information is available at www.york.gov.uk/StLeonardsPlace. York is very much open for business throughout these works and we hope the travel information on our website will help those get around the city this half-term.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Otley Bridge temporary footway opens

    Source: City of Leeds

    On Tuesday (27 May) the Otley temporary footbridge will be open to the public. This marks a major project milestone, as works can now start on the replacement of the main footway.

    The next phase of works sees Otley Bridge closed over two nights between 27-29 May, from 8pm to 5am to enable the installation of concrete barriers and white lining works. (A third night 29 May is a contingency closure subject to the weather). A signed road diversion route will be in place for the duration of the closures, with pedestrians able to use the new temporary footbridge.

    For two weeks from Friday 30 May 8pm to 5am, two-way traffic lights will be in place at Otley Bridge. This is for the installation of the catenary system which will hold telecoms cables in place during main footway works. While some disturbance and inconvenience are inevitable, the council will do its best to minimise disruption.

    Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

    “From Tuesday we’re able to open the temporary footbridge and I am delighted to see good progress is being made. This continues to be a complex and challenging project, so achieving this milestone to maintain pedestrian access across the river, marks significant success so far.

    “This vital work will always involve some disruption and we will continue our best efforts to minimise any of this as much as possible. However, I know that it will still be inconvenient for people, and I would like to thank everyone for their understanding and patience so far whilst we do this urgent work.

    “We will also continue to keep residents regularly updated as the works progress and work closely with our contractor, with an expected completion of the new Otley footbridge in the autumn.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: PBK Miner Integrates AI for Better Yields

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City,NY, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    In a move set to transform the landscape of remote operations, PBK Miner has launched a pioneering AI-based optimization framework across its renewable-powered mining centres. This strategic upgrade harnesses artificial intelligence to autonomously fine-tune mining configurations, unlocking higher performance and smarter energy use for users across more than 180 countries.

    The newly embedded system, developed in collaboration with blockchain data analysts and computational engineers, reassesses thousands of variables in real time, from energy consumption metrics and hardware cycles to asset valuation trends and blockchain congestion. As a result, PBK Miner can now proactively adjust hashing allocations and resource deployments with a precision previously isolated through manual oversight.

    “Efficiency has always been central to our operations, but this advancement reshapes what’s possible,” said KEELEY, Paul Brian, President of PBK Miner. “By embedding predictive artificial intelligence at the core of our infrastructure, we’re not only making mining more lucrative for participants but also more responsible from an environmental and operational perspective.”

    Unlike traditional cloud mining models that operate with fixed strategies or rigid contracts, PBK Miner’s AI-enhanced approach adapts quickly. When a particular coin’s network becomes congested, the system shifts instantly to alternatives which preserve user rewards and avoid unnecessary overhead. 

    This rollout also aligns with PBK Miner’s sustainability agenda. The platform operates exclusively on renewable energy sources — including wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric — and now, with the AI layer in place, it can intelligently shift workloads between data centres based on local power availability and weather conditions, minimising carbon footprint and downtime alike.

    Highlights of the AI Integration:

    • Real-time adjustment of mining parameters based on token economics and hardware wear.
    • Predictive modelling for optimal switching between digital assets based on market sentiment signals.
    • Automated identification and mitigation of inefficiencies across data centre operations.

    Already recognized for its accessibility and clean energy ethos, PBK Miner’s latest development aims to expand its appeal to both seasoned crypto miners and eco-conscious newcomers seeking sustainable financial strategies.

    “We didn’t just add automation — we added intelligence,” KEELEY emphasised. “This isn’t about replacing human oversight but enhancing it with systems that can think ahead, analyse at scale, and act faster than any team could manually. That’s a game changer.”

    With over 8 million registered users and operations spanning five continents, PBK Miner continues to position itself as more than a cloud mining provider — it aims to be a technological vanguard in the digital asset ecosystem.

    About PBK Miner
     Established in 2019, PBK Miner is a United Kingdom-based crypto infrastructure firm offering fully-managed digital asset mining powered by sustainable energy. With a commitment to transparency, security, and environmental responsibility, PBK Miner has become a trusted choice for individuals and institutions seeking to participate in decentralised networks without the technical barriers of physical equipment management.

    To get more details or check out contract options, visit https://pbkminer.com

    Media Contact:
    Alison Evans
    PR Manager
    info@pbkminer.com
    +44 7514 226545

    Company Address:
     30 Colston Avenue, Carshalton, Surrey, England

    Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, legal advice, or investment recommendations. Cryptocurrency involves risk and market volatility. Please research or consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions. Pbkminer.com and associated parties are not liable for any financial loss incurred.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT’S OFFICE RELEASES STATEMENT ON PRIVATE DELIVERY PACKAGE DELAYS IN TERRITORY

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

    CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT’S OFFICE RELEASES STATEMENT ON PRIVATE DELIVERY PACKAGE DELAYS IN TERRITORY

    U.S. Virgin Islands, May 23, 2025

    For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland 

    May 23, 2025                                                           202-808-6129   

    PRESS RELEASE 

    CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT’S OFFICE RELEASES STATEMENT ON PRIVATE DELIVERY PACKAGE DELAYS IN TERRITORY 

    U.S. Virgin Islands —The Congresswoman’s office received word of numerous complaints regarding private delivery package service delays in the territory, particularly St. John, and met with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers this week. 

    CBP officials shared that the delays are not related to recently imposed tariffs by the Trump administration, customs taxing or new processing procedures, but related to findings produced by an audit initiated by CBP.  This now requires incoming shipments to be cleared by CBP prior to delivery. The audit found companies like DHL UPS and FedEx had not been clearing their entire shipments.      

    Please reach out to our office if you need additional information: 

    St. Croix Office
    60 King Street
    Frederiksted, St. Croix, VI 00840
    Phone: (340) 778-5900
    St. Thomas Office 
     9100 Havensight Port of Sale Mall
    Suite 22, St. Thomas, VI 00802
    Phone: (340) 774-4408

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hartford Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Federal Tax Charge

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that CLYDE GIBSON, JR., 43, of Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to a tax fraud offense.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least 2015 and continuing into 2024, Gibson operated as a tax return preparer under the name Build Understand Destroys LLC, and charged clients a fee for the preparation of tax returns.  Gibson prepared thousands of federal tax returns, many of which claimed false deductions.  For example, in some returns Gibson prepared and filed for his clients, he included false Schedules C, which reported that his clients had operated sole proprietorship businesses and had incurred certain expenses and losses when, in fact, they had not operated such businesses and had not incurred the claimed expenses.  In some returns, Gibson included false Schedules D, which reported that his clients had incurred capital losses, including carryover losses, or bad debts when, in fact, they had not incurred such capital losses and bad debts in the claimed amounts.

    During the investigation, Gibson met with an undercover federal agent posing as a customer.  The agent provided Gibson with a W-2 form for the 2021 tax year and offered no information about valid deductions for business losses, capital losses, and bad debt.  Gibson initially prepared an appropriate return, on which the undercover agent would have owed taxes.  Gibson then voluntarily opted to edit the return to reflect false and fraudulent information on the Schedules C and D.

    During the 2016 through 2022 tax years, Gibson prepared at least 135 tax returns containing fraudulent information, causing a loss to the IRS of at least $125,197.

    Gibson pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent income tax returns, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years.  He is released on a $25,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

    Gibson has agreed to pay restitution of $125,197.

    This investigation has been conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena L. Coronado.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Facts Matter: There is a Path to Educational Transformation that Works for Students and Taxpayers

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Montpelier, Vt. – In November, Vermonters called for real change, following years of historic, often double-digit property tax increases, and declining student performance.  In January, at the very beginning of the legislative process, Governor Scott put forward a detailed plan to transform the education system.

    It’s abundantly clear – to even the most ardent supporters of the status quo – that the current system isn’t working for students or taxpayers. Here are some facts:

    • Since 2017, the Education Fund has gone from $1.6 billion to an astounding $2.3 billion and climbing, despite serving fewer students. For the 80,000 students in our public schools, we have 52 supervisory unions, 119 districts and 287 individual schools.
    • Vermont spends the second most per pupil in the country.
    • Yet, student performance has been declining faster than in other states. In 2015, Vermont was roughly 10 percentage points over the national average on key metrics. In 2022, we were at or close to the national average and fell below other New England states. (Source: Vermont State Education Profile).
    • In key areas like elementary grade reading and math, we’re in the middle or lower end of the pack compared to other states. (Source: U.S. Department of Education’s Nation’s Report Card)
    • We also have among the very smallest class sizes and schools in the nation, and the very lowest student to teacher and student to staff ratios. National studies show high performing schools throughout the country are larger with bigger classes and higher ratios. (Source: Vermont State Education Profile)

    Governor Scott’s proposal addresses unsustainable spending growth while investing to increase quality, eliminate the inequity between regions and pay rural teachers the same as their peers in wealthier districts. The three planks of the plan included:

    • A funding formula that – like 42 other states in the country – sets the amount the State spends on education based on what’s needed to deliver a quality education.
    • A simpler, more efficient administrative and governance structure, moving to regional districts, phased in over several years.
    • Funding to buy down property tax rate increases this year as a bridge to this reform.

    But, as the Governor predicted in January, there have been campaigns from special interests and a focus on “critics say” headlines that are threatening to derail progress.

    We are clearly at a crossroads: we can make bold change and give our schools and taxpayers a better path, or we can yet again kick can, forcing these same budget cuts and rising taxes year after year.

    Governor Scott’s plan is thoughtfully and intentionally crafted with direct input from teachers, students, and taxpayers to provide greater opportunities for our kids, and higher pay for many teachers, at cost Vermonters can afford.

    It’s time to stop focusing on what all the paid, adult “critics say” and have the courage to do what’s right for our kids and communities and transform Vermont’s declining education system into the world-class system we know it can be.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE investigation leads to indictment of 8 individuals with ties to China in transnational elder fraud scheme

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A federal indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Providence charges eight individuals for their roles in orchestrating and executing an elaborate transnational fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly citizens in the United States and Canada.

    The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-led investigation identified approximately 300 individuals in at least 37 states who have been defrauded. At this time, victims are estimated to have suffered known losses exceeding $5 million. However, investigators have identified a bank account through which approximately $16 million in additional suspected fraud funds appear to have been laundered.

    According to the charging documents, members of the conspiracy sent pop-up messages to seniors’ computers, often styled to appear as if they were originating from a well-known technology company. The messages contained various false claims, including that that the victims’ financial accounts had been compromised, that their computers had been hacked, or that the victims had been identified as the target of a criminal investigation.

    The pop-up message contained information that directed victims to call a “live agent,” who informed the victims that their financial assets were at risk or could be garnished, but the agent could assist in protecting their assets. During a series of calls, victims were connected with others who falsely claimed to be “representatives” of the victim’s financial institutions or government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Reserve Bank. Those “representatives” were, in fact, members of the conspiracy.

    During these calls, some victims were instructed that, in order to protect their assets, they should initiate a transfer of their funds from their accounts via wire transfers and cryptocurrency transfers to accounts controlled by agencies the scammers purportedly represented. Other victims were told to withdraw their funds in cash, purchase gold bars and turn them over to a purported government courier who would come to their home for transfer to a secure government location. Still others were told to simply turn the cash over to a courier for safe keeping by the government.

    The indictment charges:

    • Nanjun Song 27, of Brooklyn, New York, a Chinese national who has allegedly overstayed a B2 visa, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. ICE Homeland Security Investigations Las Vegas arrested the defendant. He is detained in federal custody in Rhode Island.
    • Jirui Liu, 23, of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, a citizen of China and Canada, whose U.S. visa has expired, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. HSI Providence arrested the defendant with assistance from the Connecticut State Police and Narragansett Police Department. He is detained in federal custody in Rhode Island.
    • Xiang Li, 37, of Flushing, New York, a Chinese national and with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. HSI Providence with HSI New York and the New York City Police Department arrested the defendant. He was detained in New York and is being transferred to Rhode Island.
    • Xuehai Sun, 37, of Flushing New York, a Chinese national, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. HSI Providence with HSI New York and the NYPD arrested the defendant and he appeared that day in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
    • Fangzheng Wang, 24, of Westborough, Massachusetts, a Chinese national, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. HSI Providence with HSI New England arrested the defendant and he is detained in federal custody in Rhode Island.
    • Cynthia Jia Sun, 25, of Houston, Texas, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. HSI Houston with the Texas Department of Public Safety and is in federal custody in Houston arrested the defendant. She is awaiting transfer to Rhode Island.
    • Zhenyang Xin, 25, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, a Chinese national, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. An arrest warrant has been issued for the defendant.
    • Wing Kit Ho, 22, of Markham, Ontario, Canada, a Canadian citizen born in Hong Kong, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. An arrest warrant has been issued for the defendant.

    A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    HSI Providence and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation led the investigation with assistance from and HSI New England, HSI New York, HSI Houston, and HSI Los Angeles, the Narragansett Police Department, East Providence Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, New York Police Department, Connecticut State Police. The United States Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of New York and Southern District of Texas provided valuable assistance.

    This investigation is an initiative of the Rhode Island Homeland Security Task Force, a multiagency task force focused on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Drug-affected drivers detected during traffic operation on Midlands Highway

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Drug-affected drivers detected during traffic operation on Midlands Highway

    Saturday, 24 May 2025 – 8:15 am.

    Tasmania Police are reminding motorists about the dangers of drug driving after several concerning detections during a traffic operation on the Midlands Highway yesterday afternoon (23 May).
    Officers from Road Policing Services conducted the operation south of Campbell Town, supported by the Dog Handler Unit.
    During the operation, the police drug detection dog gave positive indications to several vehicles leading to the discovery of a quantity of methamphetamine.
    The occupants were arrested and charged with trafficking a controlled substance.
    Other results from the operation included:

    3 x positive results for illicit drugs,
    1 x driving whilst disqualified.

    Detective Inspector Troy Morrisby said it is disappointing the number of drug-affected drivers on a major road such as the Midlands Highway, where speed limits reach up to 110 km/h.
    “Alcohol and drugs remain one of the Fatal Five contributing factors to serious and fatal crashes on Tasmanian roads,” he said.
    “Operations like this are critical to removing dangerous drivers from our roads, and it is especially concerning that people are choosing to drive under the influence on high-speed highways, putting themselves and other road users at serious risk.”
    “We will continue to conduct high-visibility traffic operations across the state to deter unsafe driving and keep the community safe.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Arab Plan for Early Recovery, Reconstruction and Development sets out a realistic path for the reconstruction of Gaza: UK statement at the UN

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    The Arab Plan for Early Recovery, Reconstruction and Development sets out a realistic path for the reconstruction of Gaza: UK statement at the UN

    Statement by Stephen Hickey, Director for Middle East and North Africa in the FCDO, at the Preparatory meeting of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

    I’d also like to express the UK’s thanks to Saudi Arabia and to France for your excellent leadership in steering our preparations for this high-level conference at the UN.

    We are delighted to be co-chairing the Working Group on Humanitarian Action and Reconstruction with Egypt.

    The Working Group has three main goals.

    First, as the Egyptian Ambassador has just set out, we want to mobilise support for the Arab/Islamic Plan for Early Recovery, Reconstruction and Development.

    The plan sets out a realistic path for the reconstruction of Gaza and, if implemented, promises swift and sustainable steps to improve the catastrophic living conditions for the Palestinians living in Gaza.

    We strongly encourage all delegations ahead of the Conference in June to consider what concrete measures or commitments you can make to provide financial, technical, and capacity-building support to the plan, and to empower the Palestinian Authority to lead it.

    Of course, recovery and reconstruction efforts must also be based upon a solid political and security framework, which provides peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians alike.

    We therefore encourage delegations to consider what enabling elements, including financial, governance and security arrangements, are required. We urgently need to get these in place so that reconstruction efforts are sustainable, inclusive, and can support longer-term peace.

    Second, our Working Group will look to identify how we can address the dire humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

    As my Prime Minister said this week, the level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable.

    Humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip has been completely blocked or severely restricted since 2 March, and the entire population is at risk of famine according to the latest IPC report of 12 May. Meanwhile, hostages continue to be held in appalling conditions.

    The Secretary-General has been clear that the entry of humanitarian assistance must be restored immediately with UN agencies allowed to work in full respect of humanitarian principles.

    The UK has allocated $135 million this year to support the OPTs, including to provide humanitarian relief and support for Palestinian economic development.

    Our working group will explore how we can ensure sufficient funding of the response, and the steps that can be taken to ensure it is consistent with humanitarian principles and with International Humanitarian Law. This includes the needs of the most vulnerable groups.

    Third and finally, UNRWA delivers essential services and life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in the OPTs and in the region. It is indispensable. That is why in the last financial year, the UK provided $55 million in funding to support its important work.

    Yet UNRWA is still facing a shortfall of more than $450 million from a budget of $880 million, as it confronts the biggest humanitarian crisis seen in the organisation’s history. 

    Our working group will consider what further support can be provided by all of us to UNRWA, including through securing sustainable financial contributions.

    Further details on the aims of our Working Group Five are set out in the Concept Note, which has been circulated. We encourage written submissions on the guiding questions from delegations and the UN system by Friday, 30 May.

    Co-chairs, in closing, the UK has long been clear that lasting peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike can only be achieved through a two-state solution.

    We look forward to working with our Egyptian colleagues, the entire UN membership, and colleagues across the UN system to help deliver a conference which moves us towards this goal.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: We should use the conference to form measures to safeguard the Two-State Solution and uphold international law: UK statement at the UN

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    We should use the conference to form measures to safeguard the Two-State Solution and uphold international law: UK statement at the UN

    Statement by Stephen Hickey, Director for Middle East and North Africa in the FCDO, at the Preparatory meeting of the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

    In addition to co-chairing Working Group Five on Humanitarian Action and Reconstruction in Gaza with our Egyptian colleagues, the UK is also looking forward to engaging across all the working groups.

    I would like to set out three priority areas where the UK thinks this Conference can have real impact in moving us closer to achieving a Two-State Solution.

    First, the Palestinian Authority. To achieve a sovereign and unified Palestinian State living in peace and security with Israel, we need to provide support to the Palestinian Authority so that it can effectively govern the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This includes financial and technical assistance, as it delivers vital reforms.

    We should also explore how to strengthen support for Palestinian Authority fiscal and trade reforms, especially under the PA-EU reform framework, with the aim of restoring the Palestinian Authority’s economic viability.

    Second, security. Through Working Group Two, we have an important opportunity to consider how we can ensure long-term security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. 

    We should use this to build international consensus on the transitional security and governance arrangements for the future of Gaza, without Hamas, that can lay the ground for sustainable peace in the region.

    Third, we should use the conference to consider concrete measures for safeguarding the Two-State Solution and upholding international law. This should include concrete measures to oppose illegal settlement activities and any attempts at annexation.

    For its part, the UK has announced a series of sanctions targeting those responsible for supporting, inciting and promoting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 

    In addition to these three important themes, we must continue to press for an immediate and rapid increase in humanitarian aid delivery and distribution in Gaza. And we must also support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and achieve a long-term political solution. 

    This is the best and only way to ensure lasting prosperity and stability in the region.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Birmingham City Council legal injunction against Unite

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Published: Friday, 23rd May 2025

    This evening the Council was granted an interim injunction to ensure that the picketing and protesting behaviour outside of the Council’s three depots is in accordance with legal provisions.

    The injunction, which is in place until Thursday when a further hearing will take place, set out expected behaviour from those picketing and aims to prevent the obstruction of vehicles leaving the depots. The Council must now work to resume weekly collections and reduce the recent build up of waste experienced in the City.

    Our priority is to deliver a reliable waste service to the people of Birmingham and since the Police withdrew their S14 powers last week, that has not been possible. We have seen an increase in disruption at our depots, with workers and vehicles being prevented from doing their jobs. This has in-turn led to a backlog of approx. 12,800 tonnes of waste on the streets.

    The Council has been negotiating with Unite since the start of this strike around the behaviours we have seen at our depots, and whilst everyone has a right to protest, the council has a public health duty to uphold and clearing waste is central to this.

    We believe that these actions are in breach of the law, as a result the Council issued Unite’s lawyers with a letter before action at the start of the week. We were subsequently given assurances in writing that there would be a change at the depots . This has not happened, and they have breached those reassurances this morning by again not allowing our trucks to leave.

    Therefore the Council has taken the decision to proceed with an application to the High Court for a legal injunction to restrict the unlawful behaviour. This is not something we wanted to do and have given Unite many opportunities to co-operate with us and avoid this course of action.

    The health and safety of the people of Birmingham is vitally important, and the council has been forced to take this action to prevent waste accumulating across our city, impacting deprived communities the most.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Elephant welfare in zoos in Great Britain

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Elephant welfare in zoos in Great Britain

    Letters relating to elephant welfare in zoos in Great Britain.

    Documents

    23 May 2025: letter from Baroness Hayman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to Zoos Expert Committee

    HTML

    31 July 2024: letter from Zoos Expert Committee to Baroness Hayman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

    HTML

    29 November 2022: letter from Zoos Expert Committee to Lord Benyon

    HTML

    Details

    Letters from the Zoos Expert Committee on their assessment of the Elephant Welfare Group 10-year report to Defra, regarding recommendations for elephant welfare in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

    Also includes Baroness Hayman’s response.

    You can read more about the work of the Zoos Expert Committee (ZEC).

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 May 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fresh funding for Exeter research hub creating new medical sensors and healthier soft drinks

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Fresh funding for Exeter research hub creating new medical sensors and healthier soft drinks

    Researchers in Exeter have today (Saturday 24 May) been selected to host a state-of-the-art facility developing new materials designed at microscopic scale.

    • From new medical sensors to components for next-generation computers that could boost cyber security or discover new medicines, Exeter experts are bringing state-of-the-art new materials to life with £19.6 million backing 

    • Exeter University’s MetaHub will design materials with specially engineered properties, not found in nature, at microscopic scale

    • MetaHub has already attracted £4.5 million of private investment, boosting to the high-growth technologies and sectors that will drive our Plan for Change in the South West and beyond

    Researchers in Exeter have today (Saturday 24 May) been selected to host a state-of-the-art facility developing new materials designed at microscopic scale – paving the way for new jobs and businesses in everything from medical sensors to healthier food colourings in soft drinks. 

    The University of Exeter’s MetaHub will be supported by £19.6 million in public and private backing, announced by Science Minister Lord Vallance at the University.

    The MetaHub is focused on ‘nanoscale metamaterials’ – a new class of advanced materials, designed at the tiniest, molecular level, so that they have new and useful properties that cannot be found in the natural world. This could enable components to be created that are much smaller than current technology allows, or that can perform new functions that aren’t possible with existing materials.

    These new materials could be used to make the next generation of computer components and radio transmitters for defence systems, diagnostic tools for healthcare, and healthier food colourings for soft drinks. Their work is being backed by businesses ranging from defence and security firms QinetiQ and Leonardo to multinational drinks manufacturer PepsiCo. 

    This is a growing field, emerging from just a handful of groups doing such research, with the UK already leading the way. Investing now in the UK’s metamaterials expertise paves the way for the products of the future to be discovered and commercialised in Britain – with new jobs, businesses and even entire industries to potentially flow from them. 

    Delivering this growth in partnership with the private sector, £10.5 million of the total funding comes from UK Research and Innovation, with a further £4.5 million in private investment crowded in – showing the value of cutting-edge research as a driver of investment into all corners of the country, in support of the Plan for Change. A further £4.65 million comes from the University of Exeter and other higher education institutions. 

    Speaking at the University of Exeter, Science Minister Lord Vallance said: 

    The work happening here in Exeter is a prime example of how cutting-edge research can attract private investment and drive economic growth, in every corner of the UK, which will be critical to our economic mission at the core of the Plan for Change. 

    Our backing for the MetaHub is an investment, for both today and for tomorrow. We are securing the UK’s leadership in the high-potential field of metamaterials, a new class of materials specially engineered to have new and useful properties. This work is paving the way for future products and innovations that will deliver jobs and growth, in the years ahead.

    At the University yesterday, Lord Vallance met researchers leading major new initiatives across climate change, critical minerals and human genomics which together with MetaHub represent £80 million of new public and private sector investment into Cornwall and Devon. 

    University of Exeter Deputy Vice-Chancellor Stuart Brocklehurst said: 

    Our world leading research across many of the hottest areas of science will both help address profound global challenges and create opportunity across the South West. It’s been great to welcome Lord Vallance to the University of Exeter to celebrate the work of our researchers and the investment which their work is attracting from public and private sources alike.

    Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair at EPSRC said:

    We’ve nurtured metamaterials research for many years and it’s fantastic to see it grow from a few individual research groups in the 1990s to a rapidly expanding and thriving research community today.

    By harnessing the control of light, energy and information, the MetaHub has the potential to benefit both civil and defence sectors. From more efficient, effective and secure computing and communication to advanced sensing and energy generation, this research will take curiosity-led research to tangible outcomes.

    Whilst in Exeter, Lord Vallance also visited another hub for world-leading science and research which is based there: the Met Office. As the UK’s national weather forecasting service, the Met Office’s work is critical to the safe and routine operation of transport, energy, businesses and even national security – efforts bolstered by the switchover to the world’s first cloud-based supercomputer dedicated to weather and climate science, which went online last month. Lord

    Vallance also saw how the Met Office is using technologies like AI, to overhaul how we study and understand weather and climate change. 

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Animal welfare rules in British zoos set for major overhaul

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Animal welfare rules in British zoos set for major overhaul

    New Zoo Standards will enhance welfare and protections for animals in Great Britain’s zoos and aquariums.

    Major update in rules for keeping animals in zoos as government introduces new standards which will ensure the UK’s famous zoos remain global leaders in the zoo industry.

    Larger habitat enclosures for elephants, better training for staff to handle exotic animals, and improved public safety measures will be required as part of the new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain, published today (Saturday 24th May)  

    For the first time in over a decade, the rules protecting Great Britain’s most loved zoo animals such as the majestic snowy owl and golden eagle, iconic elephants, and wonders of the sea like sting rays and octopus will be modernised to reflect the very latest in zoo best practice:

    • Larger habitats will be introduced for elephants to better replicate the large territories elephants naturally inhabit.
    • The practice of tethering birds of prey as a method of long term accommodation will be phased out, with a shift to large aviary enclosures.
    • Aquariums will no longer be allowed to let visitors touch fish and cephalopods – creatures such as ray and octopus are highly intelligent animals and handling causes them stress.   

    Animal Welfare Minister, Baroness Hayman said:  

    We are a nation of animal lovers, and our best zoos and aquariums are truly world leaders in setting the standard for how wild animals should be kept. 

    Today’s long-overdue reforms lay the foundation for an even stronger, even more compassionate future for all zoos and aquariums —and the animals they protect.  This is the first step as part of our commitment to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation.

    We’re making sure all sectors have the tools they need thrive, which is vital in our mission to deliver economic growth and make lives better for people across the country under our Plan for Change.

    Cam Whitnall, Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary and star of CBBC’s One Zoo Three, said:  

    For too long, zoos have been misunderstood as places of entertainment, but these new standards make it unmistakably clear: modern, good zoos put wildlife first. They are hubs for conservation, education, and world-leading animal care. I’m proud to be part of the UK’s zoo, sanctuary and aquarium community, setting the global benchmark for the welfare of endangered species.

    This is a huge step forward and also a call to action for other countries to now raise their standards, so animals everywhere benefit from the same level of care, and we can align globally for wildlife.

    Dr Jo Judge, CEO of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) which represents over 130 zoos and aquariums said:

    The new standards are a significant step up in legal requirements and cement Britain’s position as a global leader for zoos and aquariums. BIAZA members already lead the way in animal care and conservation and we have been working closely with Defra officials to realise these updated standards.

    We are delighted to see them published today, demonstrating government’s and the sector’s commitment to the highest levels of animal care, and helping empower zoos and aquariums to keep leading the fight for nature.

    Jamie Christon, CEO at Chester Zoo, said:

    We were delighted to welcome the Zoos Minister, Baroness Hayman, to Chester Zoo for the official launch of the updated Secretary of State’s standards of modern zoo practice. These new standards set a clear vision for the future of zoos in the UK and we’re pleased to have worked closely with Defra to help shape them and ensure that they represent world class animal care.

    Kathryn England, Chief Operating Officer for ZSL, the international conservation charity behind London and Whipsnade Zoos said:

    These standards will help bring the whole sector up to a level the public rightly expects – and that animals everywhere deserve.

    London and Whipsnade Zoos are conservation powerhouses, delivering world-leading animal care and driving global efforts to protect wildlife. We welcome these new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice and the clarity they bring – every animal in every UK zoo deserves the same high standard of care, and every zoo should be contributing meaningfully to conservation.

    Other measures in the Standards include:  

    • Improved conservation – Clear steps to help enforce conservation standards with new requirements for record keeping – helping drive up standards across the whole sector. This could include breeding programs for endangered species, research into animal behaviour and reproduction, and education to raise awareness about conservation issues. There will also be a curb on the sourcing of animals from the wild.  

    • Protecting the public – All zoos will need to ensure appropriate safety measures are in place if they want to keep dangerous animals, including double-gated entry systems, lone worker procedures, and the appropriate availability of firearms.

    • Updated business plans – To ensure zoos are prepared to protect animals in the event of financial hardship, they will now be required to develop clear business continuity plans  

    There is a 2 year timeline on zoos and aquariums to adapt to the changes, with further phased timelines for some species-specific changes. This gives enough time to implement the changes efficiently, while support and guidance will be available -keeping welfare at the heart of zoo operations.  

    These changes, part of the wider Plan for Change, will modernise the way animals are cared for in zoos and aquariums and reaffirm the UK’s position as a global leader in ethical and responsible wildlife management. The new published standards are available from today on gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British firepower deployed on NATO’s eastern flank in show of force

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    British firepower deployed on NATO’s eastern flank in show of force

    UK shores up NATO’s eastern flank with deployment to Finland.

    Credit: Finnish Defence Forces

    Hundreds of UK military personnel deployed to NATO’s eastern flank to add critical firepower to a major NATO exercise in Northern Finland. 

    Exercise Northern Strike will see the UK Armed Forces join thousands of personnel from Finland and Sweden, NATO’s two newest Allies. The show of force and firepower reinforces the Alliance’s readiness, capability, and commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory. This is the latest demonstration of strong collaboration between the UK and our international partners as set out in the government’s Plan for Change.

    New British Army AH64E Apache attack helicopters will fire Hellfire missiles and 30mm guns simulating close support to allied combat forces on the ground, including British Army infantry units. 

    Bringing their cutting-edge rocket systems to the battlefield, The British Army’s 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery will fire their Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) throughout and put their troops to the test during a field training exercise. MLRS has been proven in battle in the war in Ukraine and this will be the first time the British Army fire the system on European soil alongside AH64E Apache helicopters. 

    Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP, said :

    Exercise Northern Strike demonstrates our unshakeable commitment to NATO and highlights the key capabilities the UK brings to the Alliance. This government’s commitment to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027 ensures the UK’s strength and leadership.

    From the skies over Poland, to the northern reaches of Finland, the UK is standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies in leading the way in defending NATO’s eastern flank. Working with our international partners is at the core of this government’s Plan for Change.

    Deepening partnerships with key Allies across the exercise is a key part of this Government’s NATO first policy, to ensure the UK is secure at home and strong abroad. Strengthening NATO by showcasing our capabilities and increasing interoperability assures our allies and deters our adversaries. 

    Exercise Northern Strike is part of a wider operation to secure NATO’s eastern flank; Operation RAZOREDGE. RAZOREDGE is made up of 13 exercises involving 13 NATO allies across 6 countries. The UK has contributed assets across air, land and sea with over 6,000 UK personnel taking part alongside 16,500 allied troops. 

    Operated by 4 Regiment, Army Air Corps, the Apache Helicopters also support jobs across the country at the Army Aviation Centre in Hampshire and Suffolk. UK industry also plays a key role with 75 British companies, including 33 SMEs also contributing a range of critical components to the aircraft.   

    Keeping the country safe is the Government’s first priority, and an integral part of its Plan for Change. The work of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, is critical to the security and stability of the UK, supporting all of the Government’s five missions in its plan.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to benefit from recent trade deals

    Manufacturing in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are set to benefit from the UK’s new trade deals with India, the US and the EU that slashes tariffs and boosts access to the world’s fastest growing economy.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor Paul Bristow
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change
    • Delivers major jobs boost for local manufacturing that employs 16% of all people

    Manufacturing in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are set to benefit from the UK’s new trade deals with India, the US and the EU that slashes tariffs and boosts access to the world’s fastest growing economy.  

    The deals negotiated by the Prime Minister delivers long-term certainty for local manufacturing that employs over 51,000 people – 16% of all jobs in the region.    

    Reducing tariffs on machinery and medical equipment will support employers with a significant presence in the region like Paragraf, Hutchinson and Bradshaw Electric Vehicles to grow and create more jobs – delivering on our Plan for Change.  

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:   

    The trade deals that we have closed provides certainty for 51,000 people in the region who are employed in manufacturing, delivers security for their families and puts more in people’s pockets.   

    It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.    

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

    36,116 people employed in agriculture will also benefit from our deal with the EU. It reduces checks and red tape, meaning that produce grown and farmed in East Anglia now has easy access to the UK’s biggest trading market. 

    The agreement also protects British steel exports from new EU rules and restrictive, providing further security for 1,375 people working in the steel industry across the East of England. 

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.    

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.    

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need. 

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    Our deal with India is set to benefit every corner of the UK, including manufacturing in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, that according to the latest available data contributed £4.4 billion to the UK economy.  

    Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, the barriers to trading have been dropped, with India agreeing to reduce tariffs on products including advanced machinery and medical devices that are made in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.   

    Dr Uday Phadke, Executive Chairman of Accelerator India, and Chief Executive of the Triple Chasm Company, Cartezia Ltd and Director of the Research & Development Society, said:

    The recent UK trade deals are a significant step forward in strengthening the global position of UK science and technology. 

    At Triple Chasm Company, we see these agreements as a powerful enabler of cross-border innovation, expanding our commercialisation services across key markets in the US, Europe, and India. 

    These deals not only boost our growth in global innovation clusters but also reinforce our confidence to invest further in the UK. We commend the UK Government for its credibility and strategic vision in securing agreements that directly support ambitious, innovation-led businesses like ours.

    Cambridge is uniquely placed to benefit from the deals that we have secured, whether that’s the reduced tariffs from our India Free Trade Deal on medical devices that will unleash more opportunities in life sciences. 

    In another win for the region’s world class research and development sector, our agreement with the US opens the way to future technology partnership where our two science-rich nations will collaborate in biotech, life sciences, quantum computing, nuclear fusion, aerospace and space.  

    Just this week, the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, raising standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.    

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: West Midlands to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    West Midlands to benefit from recent trade deals

    The automotive sector in the West Midlands is set to benefit from new trade deals with India and the US that slashes tariffs and boosts access to the world’s fastest growing economy.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • US and India trade deals deliver a major boost for the West Midlands’ automotive industry, that employs 50,000 people.

    The automotive sector in the West Midlands is set to benefit from new trade deals with India and the US that slashes tariffs and boosts access to the world’s fastest growing economy. 

    This means long-term stability for 50,000 people employed in the sector and security for their families.  

    It will also deliver opportunities for major job creators in the region like Jaguar Land Rover to grow – the first priority of our Plan for Change.  

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:  

    These trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for 50,000 workers employed in automotive manufacturing in the West Midlands.   

    It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.   

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across the West Midlands.

    40,000 people employed in agriculture across the region will also benefit from our deal with the EU. It means less checks and red tape, meaning that produce grown in the West Midlands has easy access to the UK’s biggest trading partner. 

    British steel exports are also protected from new EU rules and restrictive tariffs, through a bespoke arrangement for the UK. With this new agreement with the EU and our recent UK-US trade deal, we are helping to protect the 5,000 people working in the steel industry across the West Midlands.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.       

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.      

    Anthony Bamford, JCB Chairman said:

    I’m very pleased that the UK Government have got both the US and India trade deals over the line. India is the world’s most populous country with over 1.4 billion people living in the world’s largest democracy. I know from JCB’s experience of making and selling machines in India that British businesses looking to trade with India will be welcomed with open arms. The opportunity is huge, and the Free Trade Agreement will open the door to much improved trade between our countries – in both directions.

    The USA is the world’s largest market for construction equipment. JCB has been manufacturing there for 50 years, so it’s vital we have a strong presence in the US market. We will carry on with our recently announced plans to double the size of our new factory in San Antonio, Texas but the USA will still remain an important export market for certain UK-made machines. Ultimately, we need the removal of that 10% baseline tariff to support the export side of our business.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    “The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need. 

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in the West Midlands, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 

    The Economic Prosperity Deal is the first such agreement made by this US administration and a testament to the deep and enduring relationship that the UK and US share.

    We are going further and faster to deliver economic growth, working with our allies around the world to drive prosperity and give certainty to businesses and customers alike.

    The trade deals with India and the US will unlock new opportunities for the West Midlands, where 32% of the automotive workforce is based.  

    Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, tariffs on cars sold to India will come down from over 100% to 10% under a quota, while other tariff reduction will support the region’s advanced manufacturing sector. 

    Our deal with the US negotiated in the same week, is set to benefit every corner of the UK, including the West Midlands that exported £8.5 billion to the US in 2024, more than any other region in the UK.  

    The benefits of the deal for local businesses and workers are relevant for Oliver Christian, a graduate of Keele University and the UK’s new Trade Commissioner to North America.   

    His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America and His Majesty’s Consul General to New York, Oliver Christian, said:   

    As a Keele University graduate, I’m proud to be championing the UK and the West Midlands in North America, especially at such a crucial time.    

    The US is one of the West Midlands’ biggest export destinations. Over half of those exports come from the automotive industry, with some of the UK’s most well-known car manufacturers based in the area including Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin.   

    The deal we have negotiated will cut tariffs on cars from 27.5% to 10% for 100,000 vehicles every year, saving millions for carmakers in the region and protecting thousands of jobs.

    Just this week the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in the West Midlands, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.     

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: London to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    London to benefit from recent trade deals

    London’s top job creators including Diageo are set to benefit from the UK’s trade deals with India, the US and EU that slashes tariffs and boosts international trade.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Delivers mayor boost to job creators like Diageo that supports 100,000 jobs.

    London’s top job creators including Diageo are set to benefit from the UK’s trade deals with India, the US and EU that slashes tariffs and boosts international trade.  

    The deals negotiated by the Prime Minister deliver long-term certainty for London-based firms like Diageo that supports 100,000 jobs throughout its value chain.  

    The agreement also opens the way for London’s AI sector, that is currently worth £8.4 billion and employs 38,000 people in the city to grow – the first priority of our Plan for Change. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:  

    The trade deals that we have closed delivers stability, security and opportunities for firms across London.  

    It also will create opportunities for seamless trade with our key international partners, attracting investment into the capital, that will grow the economy and make a difference to Londoners. 

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across London.

    45,592 people employed in agriculture in the Greater London and the South East of England region will also benefit from our deal with the EU. It means less checks and red tape,  meaning that food and drink exported from the capital has easy access to the UK’s biggest trading partner. 

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.   

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.   

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need. 

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in the capital, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.  

    Rohan Malik, EMEIA and UKI Government & Public Sector Managing Partner, EY said:    

    This agreement is poised to accelerate an economic partnership that is already thriving, with the value of total trade between the UK and India having more than doubled from £16.6 billion to £40 billion over the last decade.   

    British business stands to benefit substantially from enhanced access to one of the world’s largest export markets and a skills pool that can fuel strategically important UK sectors, including professional services and emerging industries based around data and AI.   

    Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every part of the UK – including Greater London.  

    It delivers a major boost to London based firms like Diageo, that supports 100,000 jobs by opening up iconic UK spirits to the world’s fastest growing economy.  

    Both deals deliver significant benefits for London’s financial services hub, with the capital home to firms like EY who provide services to more than 150 countries and territories. 

    We will also support the cutting-edge AI sector in the capital – that has 52% of all firms nationwide, contributes £8.4 billion and supports 38,000 jobs by removing red tape for firms trying to export to the US and putting rocket boosters on the sector that already contributes so much to the UK economy.  

    Just this week the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the EU that will deliver on our core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in Greater London and putting more money in people’s pockets.   

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: East Midlands to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    East Midlands to benefit from recent trade deals

    Top job creators in the East Midland’s thriving aerospace industry are set to benefit from new trade deals with the US and India.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.  
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Boost for job creators including region’s aerospace industry that employs more than 23,000 people.

    Top job creators in the East Midland’s thriving aerospace industry are set to benefit from new trade deals with the US and India. 

    Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, reducing the US tariff on cars and removing American tariffs on UK aerospace will support employers with a significant presence in the region like Rolls Royce.  

    This also means long-term stability for 23,000 employed in the sector and security for their families, which is a cornerstone of our Plan for Change. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    The trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for the aerospace sector in the East Midlands that employs 23,000 people.

    It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.    

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across the East Midlands.

    More than 30,000 people employed in agriculture across the East Midlands are set to benefit from our deal with the EU. It means less checks and red tape, meaning farmers and producers who grow food across the region now have easy access to the EU – the UK’s biggest trading partner.  

    The agreement also protects British steel exports from EU rules and restrictive tariffs, further supporting 2,010 people working in the steel industry across the East Midlands. 

    Last year, 740 businesses in the East Midlands exported £308 million in good to India. The Free Trade Deal agreed on 6 May opens up new opportunities for fashion brands in the East Midlands to grow their business in India with zero duties on imports.   

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.      

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.     

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need. 

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in the East Midlands, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, the barriers to trading have been dropped, with India agreeing to reduce tariffs on products including advanced machinery and aerospace and medical devices that are made in the East Midlands.  

    Based on 2022 trade alone, this amounts to India cutting tariffs worth over £400 million when the deal comes into force, which will more than double to around £900 million after 10 years.    

    Just this week the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the EU that will deliver on our core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in Hull and East Yorkshire and putting more money in people’s pockets.  

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Merseyside to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Merseyside to benefit from recent trade deals

    The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will boost Liverpool’s automotive sector that employs 5,000 people, with tariffs on car exports slashed alongside a range of other measures.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Boost for job creators including the region’s automobile industry that employs 5,000 people.

    The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will boost Liverpool’s automotive sector that employs 5,000 people, with tariffs on car exports slashed alongside a range of other measures. 

    Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, slashing tariffs on car exports in both deals and our agreement with the US to remove the 25% tariff on steel provides stability for the biggest employers in the region like Ford and Jaguar Land Rover. 

    This means greater job security for workers, stronger economic growth to supporting more jobs and higher living standards across Merseyside – priorities that we are delivering through our Plan for Change.

    The Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    The trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for the automobile industry in Liverpool that employs 5,000 people. 

    It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives.   

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across Merseyside.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.     

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.    

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For Merseyside businesses, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including Merseyside. The area is renowned for its music industry, which will benefit from copyright protections enshrined in the deal and a commitment that works will continue to be protected for at least 60 years. 

    Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, tariffs on cars sold to India will come down from over 100% to 10% under a quota.

    In another win for the region, tariff reduction agreed with India on advanced manufacturing will benefit Liverpool’s port that is close to more than 50% of UK manufacturers and has the capability to service 95% of the world’s largest container ships. 

    UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said:

    The Government’s recent trade deals are welcome progress towards boosting further growth of the UK music industry which already contributes £7.6 billion annually to the economy. 

    Commitments made in the UK-EU agreement to support cultural exchange for touring artists are an important first step.

    In the same week, we negotiated a first of its kind agreement with the US that will reduce tariffs on car exports to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles per year, almost the total number of UK vehicles exported to the country last year.  

    Just this week, the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in Merseyside, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.   

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Heads of G7 Export Credit Agencies – Meeting Communiqué – 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Heads of G7 Export Credit Agencies – Meeting Communiqué – 2025

    The meeting of the heads of G7 Export Credit Agencies met in London, United Kingdom to discuss international trade.

    The leaders of official export credit agencies (ECAs) of the G7 nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America) met in London on 19-20 May, hosted by UK Export Finance, to discuss recent business trends and challenges.

    Serving national customers was at the heart of the meeting. Discussions took place on strengthening supply chains with a focus on critical and raw materials, enhancing domestic support programmes, and adapting to evolving economic and policy landscapes.

    The group also talked about the evolving ECA landscape, the challenges arising from increasing overlap of trade and development, the increasing need to focus on support in emerging markets and mobilise private finance.

    There was a constructive discussion on G7 ECA business under the Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits and the Group recognised the need to maintain the level playing field; transparency, relevancy and energy were key issues explored.

    We discussed how best to leverage digital innovation to improve efficiency and better meet customers’ needs. There was agreement that there is a need for investment in AI and digitalisation in order to keep pace with business.

    Acknowledging that we are operating in shifting political times, we agreed that our strength lies in our collaboration. By working together, sharing risks, and trying to resolve challenges together, we can enhance our resilience as ECAs and expand our global outreach, and in doing so we will help support economic growth and stability at home.

    A parallel Growing Professionals programme, now in its fourth year, explored practical innovations in export finance. The initiative brought together seven Growing Professionals from each organisation and aims to foster the next generation of international trade professionals.

    The next meeting is scheduled to be held in Spring 2026 and hosted by US EXIM in Washington.

    Agreed by the Heads of the G7 ECAs/Guardian Authorities.

    Atsuo Kuroda (NEXI, Japan), Bastian Kern (Export Credit Guarantees Germany), Tim Reid (UKEF), Alison Nankivell (EDC, Canada), Armel Castets (Export Finance and Trade Promotion Division, France), James C. Cruse (US EXIM), Paola Valerio (SACE, Italy).

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Northern Ireland to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Northern Ireland to benefit from recent trade deals

    Trade deals with India, US and the EU to help drive growth in Northern Ireland as tariffs on key industries slashed.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Delivers job security for workers in Northern Ireland and will create more highly skilled jobs in communities.

    Trade deals with India, US and the EU to help drive growth in Northern Ireland as tariffs on key industries slashed.

    These deals will deliver benefits that communities across Northern Ireland will feel – supporting job creation, reducing costs and expanding export opportunities.

    This means stronger economic growth across Northern Ireland – delivering our Plan for Change.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    These trade deals deliver long term security for people in Northern Ireland. They will create opportunities for more seamless trade and attract inward investment to grow the economy, making a difference to people’s lives.   

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across Northern Ireland.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.  

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.  

    Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): 

    An SPS deal is a win and signals the beginning of making sure that businesses in Northern Ireland face less bureaucracy.

    Three deals in two weeks is a very positive start to trade negotiations. There’s more work to be done, but let’s keep it going. An agreement with the US, greater opportunities for trade with India and the UK-EU deal mark a major reset in relationships, moving us away from the stalemate of the past. This represents progress which can help drive growth and opportunity for businesses in Northern Ireland.

    We must continue to build better relationships and work more closely with our closest trading partners. If we can harness the potential which deals with the EU, India and the US provide, we can turn ambition into success.

    Last year, 143 business exported £65 million in goods to India last year. Our deal means the total number of exports from Northern Ireland is likely to grow as it is set to halve the tariffs on Irish Whiskey from 150% to 75% before they reduce to 40% over ten years.

    In addition, advanced manufacturing that accounts for 11% of employment in Northern Ireland will benefit from India reducing or eliminating tariffs across a wide range of industrial products, including aerospace, medical technologies, or electronics.

    India’s commitment to increasing trade with Northern Ireland is further demonstrated in the opening of a Consulate in Belfast in March this year.

    For the first time ever, the landmark US-UK deal will open up exclusive access for UK beef to the US market. This is a major opportunity for Northern Ireland farmers to sell their high-quality beef to a market of over 300 million people, helping farmers grow their business.

    The deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors. The Government is continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains. 

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, said:

    These deals open the door to new export opportunities for Northern Ireland, giving businesses greater access to some of the world’s largest markets.

    With smoother trade into the EU, growing export opportunities with the US and India, as well as smoother movement of goods within the UK, Northern Ireland is uniquely positioned for investment and growth, and these deals will boost key sectors like agri-food, biotech, and whiskey—strengthening Northern Ireland’s economy and supporting jobs.

    This strategic partnership with the EU will also support jobs and growth in Northern Ireland whilst protecting Northern Ireland’s unique access to the EU single market provided by the Windsor Framework. The agri-food agreement with the EU will remove Sanitary/Phytosanitary (SPS) frictions, reducing costs and protecting the UK’s internal market. The security and defence deal will strengthen our security and support Northern Ireland defence businesses, and cooperation on law enforcement will help prevent crime and bring perpetrators to justice, and linking our Emissions Trading System schemes will help avoid hikes in bills and prices.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in Northern Ireland, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: York and North Yorkshire set to benefit from recent trade deals

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    York and North Yorkshire set to benefit from recent trade deals

    The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit a range of manufacturing sectors that employ nearly 9% of all people in York and North Yorkshire.

    • Prime Minister to meet with the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith to discuss the benefits of his recent trade deals.
    • Comes as we’ve nailed three trade deals in as many weeks to deliver growth that is a priority for the Plan for Change.
    • Delivers a welcome boost to a range of manufacturing sectors that employ nearly 9% of people in the region.

    The three trade deals that we have struck in three weeks will benefit a range of manufacturing sectors that employ nearly 9% of all people in York and North Yorkshire. 

    Reducing India’s tariffs on machinery, slashing tariffs on car exports in both deals and our agreement with the US to remove the 25% tariff on steel provides stability for more than 1,500 businesses in the region employing 43,000 people. 

    This means greater job security for workers and stronger economic growth to create more jobs across York and North Yorkshire – delivering on the priorities in our Plan for Change.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    The trade deals that we have closed delivers stability for nearly 9% of people in York and North Yorkshire who are employed in manufacturing. 

    It also will create opportunities for more seamless trade, attracting inward investment that will grow the local economy and make a difference to people’s lives. 

    These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across York and North Yorkshire.

    Over 31,000 people employed in agriculture across the region will also benefit from our agreement with the EU, which reduces red tape and burdens on business, meaning regional specialties like crab, Yorkshire Pudding and cheeses will face easy access to the UK’s biggest trading market.

    The agreement also protects British steel exports from new EU rules and restrictive, providing further security for 8,400 jobs in the steel industry across Yorkshire and the Humber.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    The three landmark deals secured this month with the US, India, and the EU have shown this government is serious about striking the deals that our businesses want and need.

    We are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year as part of our Plan for Change. For businesses in North Yorkshire, these deals will mean stability and jobs protected as they seize new opportunities to sell to some of our biggest trading partners.

    The Prime Minister will tell the English Mayors and the Leaders from the Devolved Governments at a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London today (Friday 23 May) that his trade deals with India, the United States and the EU will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives at home.  

    He will challenge those in attendance to drive economic growth in their local areas to deliver for working people.  

    Tom Richardson, Chief Commercial Officer, Warrendale Group Limited, said:  

    While we are yet to see the full detail of the agreement, having less red tape when exporting will be welcome to us as a UK beef production business; this will hopefully allow us to reduce time and costs when exporting our products and therefore could open up more markets in the EU to ultimately benefit the farmers producing beef for us.

    Our increased trade with India will unlock opportunities for every region in the UK to access the world’s fastest growing economy, including in York and North Yorkshire’s manufacturing sector.

    Under the Free Trade Deal that was concluded, India has agreed to remove tariffs on a wide variety of UK agri-food products. This will deliver significant benefits for the region’s farming and horticultural sector that produces 20% of all the UK’s agri-food.

    In the same week, we negotiated a first of its kind agreement with the US that will reduce tariffs on UK car exports and remove tariffs on steel, protecting two key industries in the region that employ thousands of people. 

    The US deal also opens the way to a wider UK-US Economic Deal, opening up access for our world leading services industries – including those in York and North Yorkshire. 

    Just this week, the Prime Minister acted in the national interest by confirming a new agreement with the European Union that will deliver on his core mission to grow the economy, creating more jobs in York and North Yorkshire, raising living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.  

    At today’s meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions the Prime Minister will also lead discussions about spreading AI to help working people access the services that they need in their local areas.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –