NewzIntel.com

Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Starmer: Year One conference to take place at ARU

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    A street sign at Downing Street

    The Labour History Research Unit at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is hosting the first ever conference to focus on the record to date of Sir Keir Starmer’s government.

    The public event, called Starmer: Year One, is taking place at Anglia Ruskin’s Cambridge campus on Saturday, 14 June, and will feature a number of high-profile speakers, including a former advisor at Number 10 Downing Street.

    Bringing together policy specialists, political scientists, historians and other experts, the conference will examine various aspects of the current Labour government, from its handling of the economy and the Ukraine crisis, to issues such as gender, immigration, and the NHS.

    In addition to analysing and debating the Labour government’s progress, the Labour History Research Unit aims to use the day to develop the first academic study on Sir Keir Starmer’s government.

    Confirmed speakers include Professor Tim Bale (Queen Mary University of London), Dr Emily Stacey (independent researcher), Professor Jonathan Portes (King’s College London), and Dr Kevin Hickson (University of Liverpool).

    Other participants include Jovan Owusu-Nepaul who stood for Labour in Clacton last year against Nigel Farage, and Professor Patrick Diamond, a former head of policy planning at Downing Street.

    “This is the first conference to review the record of the new government and by the time of the event, Labour will have been in power for almost a year.

    “However, the results of May’s local elections show that the political landscape of Britain has continued to shift significantly since last year’s General Election and there is evidence that voters have become disenchanted with the two-party political system.

    “This is a government that promised change in 2024 but its tone so far has proven to be one of caution. Why is this, and what does it tell us about the challenges of governing in the mid-2020s? What is the new political landscape and how should the Starmer government seek to shape it? This Labour History Research Unit event promises to be a ‘must’ for anyone interested in contemporary politics.”

    Rohan McWilliam, Professor of Modern British History and Director of the Labour History Research Unit at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

    The conference is open to all and tickets cost £25, which includes lunch and refreshments. For further information, visit https://www.aru.ac.uk/arts-humanities-education-and-social-sciences/humanities-and-social-sciences/research/labour-history-research-unit/news/starmer-year-one

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leicester Open Streets is back for 2025

    Source: City of Leicester

    LEICESTER’S summer celebration of people-friendly streets gets under way this weekend, with the return of the city council’s Open Streets series.

    Open Streets takes place on the last Sunday of the month, from May to September, at locations across the city centre with pop-up mini-festivals offering free, family-friendly entertainment.

    The popular events are designed to show how easy it is to walk, wheel or cycle in and around the city.

    This Sunday’s Open Streets, on 25 May, has been organised in partnership with local street art collective Graffwerk. People can join the Graffwerk Art Jam at Graffwerk HQ – at 2 Jarvis Street in the Waterside area – from 1-4pm.

    Activities on offer will include hands-on spray-painting workshops, graffiti sticker sessions, creative spray can up-cycling, mini-canvas painting and badge making.

    There will also be free guided tours of some of the city’s street art highlights, where people can learn more about the stunning murals.

    Free, secure bike parking will be available at all Open Streets events.

    Izzy Hoskins, co-director at Graffwerk, said: “We’re really excited to be working with the team at Open Streets to deliver a street art focused day for all the family. There will plenty to do on the day and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone.”

    Assistant city mayor Cllr Geoff Whittle, who leads on environment and transport, said: “Open Streets is a fantastic series of fun mini-festivals and events that really help to demonstrate how easy it is to get around our city by walking, wheeling or cycling.  

    “It’s great to see new themed events like this Sunday Art Jam which has been organised in partnership with local street art experts Graffwerk.

    “There will be lots more fun, free and family-friendly activities to enjoy as Open Streets returns to help people discover Leicester’s people-friendly streets and spaces every month this summer.”

    Each month, the Open Streets events will take on a different theme from family fun days in June to Leicester’s heritage in September.

    For full details visit www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/leicester-open-streets

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prospectus unveiled to promote investment opportunities in Digbeth

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Birmingham City Council has unveiled a prospectus to promote the investment opportunities available across 10 development sites on 35 plots across Digbeth.

    The council launched the Digbeth Prospectus at the UK Real Estate, Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) and contains plans for over 6,000 new homes & 300,000 sqm of commercial floorspace across Digbeth.

    The Digbeth Prospectus is part of the council’s Our Future City: Central Birmingham Framework 2045 regeneration vision, which plans to provide 10,000 homes in the wider Central East area.

    Digbeth is surrounded by up to around £11bn of planned investment in infrastructure and major development over the next decade, including Smithfield, the Sports Quarter, Birmingham Knowledge Quarter and HS2 Curzon Street Station.

    The council is seeking development partners, investment partners and occupiers for the sites in Digbeth, which range from pre-planning to advanced planning stages.

    Anyone interested, whether that’s developers, investors or residents, is invited to view the Digbeth Prospectus on the council’s website.

    Birmingham City Council unveiled The Digbeth Prospectus alongside other West Midlands local authorities as they collaborated to showcase more than £18 billion worth of investment opportunities at the UKREiiF property show in Leeds.

    Councillor Sharon Thompson, Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said:

    “Digbeth is a diverse, creative, enterprising community, home to freelancers, makers, agencies, startups and cultural venues.

    “Its rapid transformation into a buzzing creative quarter and centre for TV and film production, fuelled by the BBC’s new broadcast centre and MasterChef studios, is helping return the area to a position of national importance, providing much-needed high-quality jobs for this growing city.

    “The Digbeth Prospectus represents the latest delivery phase of Our Future City: Central Birmingham Framework 2045 and will help bring forward over 6000 new homes and over 300,000 sqm of new workspace.

    “By working with partners and stakeholders across the public and private sector we will make sure that Digbeth remains the go-to place for creative individuals and businesses.”

    To view the Digbeth Prospectus on the council’s website, visit: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/DigbethProspectus

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK adopts historic Pandemic Agreement

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK adopts historic Pandemic Agreement

    Better protections for British public and NHS thanks to deal adopted at the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

    • New Agreement will protect British public and NHS from future global health threats while preserving UK sovereignty
    • Pandemic Agreement will safeguard lives and UK economy by improving world’s collective ability to prevent, prepare for, detect and respond to global disease threats
    • This follows long negotiation process to ensure agreement is firmly in UK’s national interest

    The British people, our NHS and the economy will be better protected against future global health threats thanks to a new World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement adopted by the UK today.

    The deal marks a significant step forward in stronger domestic and global prevention by improving the way countries around the world work together to detect and combat pandemic threats.

    The UK government has been actively engaged in negotiations to ensure a strong final agreement. The Agreement adopted at the World Health Assembly in Geneva respects national sovereignty while encouraging nations to work together more effectively to address shared global health threats, in turn helping strengthen our national security which is a key part of this government’s Plan for Change. There are no provisions that would give the WHO powers to impose domestic public health decisions on the UK.

    Minister of State for International Development Baroness Chapman said:

    The Pandemic Agreement is a great example of the UK working with our partners to support countries combat disease and strengthen their health systems. Acting together will help us to prevent pandemics, and prepare for and respond to any future pandemic threats.

    Diseases cross borders, and our diplomacy must too, if we are to prevent a repeat of the devastation caused by Covid-19. That’s why this agreement will make the world a healthier and safer place.

    Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

    COVID-19 showed us the vital importance of international cooperation to save lives. This landmark agreement will help protect British people from future pandemic threats and safeguard our health system, supporting our mission to build an NHS fit for the future.

    Our national interest and the safety and wellbeing of the British public will always be our first priority. This agreement maintains our sovereignty while ensuring the NHS and the UK as a whole will be better prepared for possible future global health emergencies, through stronger early warning systems and faster response capabilities.

    Our world-class life sciences sector will also benefit from increased innovation in vaccines and treatments, boosting growth and improving care for patients across the UK.

    UKHSA Chief Executive Dame Jenny Harries said:

    It is gratifying to see the Pandemic Agreement adopted. It is clear that international co-operation and collaboration must be at the very heart of our pandemic preparedness strategy if it is to be effective, and this agreement is a welcome step towards making the world a safer place from pandemic threats.

    UKHSA has consistently been committed to sharing data and analysis on pathogens with pandemic potential with our international partners, and we will continue to do so as we work to develop the global capacity to respond to emerging threats to public health.

    This is also good news for scientific innovation and the UK’s world-leading life sciences industry, opening the door to enabling high quality vaccines to be delivered faster in the next pandemic.

    The Covid-19 pandemic has had an enduring impact on lives and livelihoods around the world. Thousands of families in the UK lost loved ones, children missed out on pivotal learning and development opportunities, and businesses were forced to close their doors. The estimated cost of the UK government’s COVID-19 measures was over £300 billion.

    The new Pandemic Agreement will help avoid a repeat of this devastation by creating a framework for countries to take action together to better prevent pandemics – by improving disease surveillance so we can detect and respond to new health threats sooner, and by speeding up innovation of life-saving vaccines and treatments.

    The aim is to prevent pandemic threats from emerging in the first place and stopping them in their tracks when they do.

    It will facilitate swifter pathogen and pathogen data sharing so we can act quickly to prevent further spread. It will also enable the UK to develop vaccines, treatments and tests faster, which will help save lives and drive economic growth in our world-leading life sciences sector.

    124 member states agreed to adopt the Pandemic Agreement today, demonstrating strong international commitment to multilateralism and collective action to strengthen global health security.

    The final text represents a strong outcome for the UK. Key wins include: 

    • Commitments on pandemic prevention, including for health, animal, and environmental sectors to collaborate through a “One Health” approach – a major step toward preventing disease spillover from animals to humans;
    • Provisions that will foster innovation, enhance global research and development, and strengthen supply chains;
    • The Pandemic Agreement paves the way for a new and voluntary Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system which should see pharmaceutical companies get faster access to the pathogens and genetic sequences that they need to create new vaccines, treatments and tests to respond to a pandemic. In return, manufacturers who voluntarily sign up to the system – not the government – will share a portion of their production with the WHO to allocate where it is most needed;
    • The PABS system is entirely voluntary for pharmaceutical companies, who may choose to join to gain faster access to pathogen data for innovation. There are no requirements placed on governments to share vaccines or treatments they have purchased.
    • The Pandemic Agreement does not include any provisions that would give the WHO powers to impose domestic public health decisions on the UK. The sovereignty of states is one of the guiding principles of the Agreement.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grenfell Tower next steps

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    Grenfell Tower next steps

    An update about the Grenfell Tower site.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Grenfell Tower next steps

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    Grenfell Tower next steps

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    Details

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

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

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Oral statement to Parliament

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Deputy Prime Minister speech to UKREiif – 20 May 2025

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

    Good morning!

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

    And it’s excellent to be here in Leeds.

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

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

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

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

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

    From our local leaders to housebuilders to investors.

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

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

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

    I said last year that we would deliver this change.

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

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

    By backing you to build, invest and succeed.

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

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

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

    For families in my community who needed them.

    I told you what that development meant to me.

    [Political content removed]

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

    And building the communities in which they live.

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

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

    I know that target is stretching.

    [Political content removed]

    But I won’t shy away from the challenge.

    It’s desperately needed after years of failure.

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

    We must continue building well beyond this Parliament.

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

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

    So, how will we know we’re succeeding?

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

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

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

    And we bring crippling costs down.

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

    And we’re driving down bills for working people.

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

    Now this will demand huge ambition.

    And I am ready to meet it.

    Already, we are creating the right conditions for building.

    Ensuring smarter regulation for planning.

    And pro-growth and pro-building policy.

    We’re also working in partnership with you –

    Investors, industry…

    … The builders of our great nation.

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

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

    Radically changing what we build, and who builds it.

    And transforming the system.

    To make it more diverse and innovative.

    Capable of not just delivering more homes, more quickly.

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

    And homes that will stand the test of time.

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

    Because it is  monumentous.

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

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

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

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

    Their lives have been held back.

    Our country is being held back.

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

    Alongside decent work and a strong community.

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

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

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

    Because growth and development go hand in hand.

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

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

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

    Desperate families failed.

    Local leaders feeling powerless to act.

    Developers navigating a complex system.

    This is not a series of crises.

    But the symptoms of a broken system.

    And so, nothing less than action everywhere will do.

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

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

    We said getting shovels in the ground was crucial.

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

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

    We reintroduced local housing targets.

    [Political content removed]

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

    Unlocking brownfield and grey belt land for development.

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

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

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

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

    While creating a win-win for nature and development.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    With more to come at the Spending Review. 

    And that’s not all.

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

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

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

    And earlier this year we published our Commonhold White Paper.

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

    And we’re empowering mayors through our devolution revolution.

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

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

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

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

    Showing what’s possible when we work together.

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

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

    But this is just the start.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    And we’ll shortly be confirming future regulatory standards.

    To ensure that homes are safe, decent and warm.

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

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

    I’m committed to this Council housebuilding revolution.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    And I want to see these continue.

    And more partnerships like them too.

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

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

    They already make a significant contribution on smaller brownfield sites.

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

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

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

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

    And job opportunities across the country.

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

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

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

    Making funds available to hire 300 new planners.

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

    And ringfencing this money to reinvest in planning.

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

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

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

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

    They’ve already achieved so much.  

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

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

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

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

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

    … Including 150 for social rent.

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

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

    This is Britain [Political content removed].

    Open to building.

    Open for business.

    And delivering for working people.

    So we give people the security and control they deserve.

    Regardless of whether they rent or they own their home.

    Or are in the private or social rented sector.

    We have big changes in the pipeline.

    Disrupting, diversifying and transforming the housing market.

    So that it delivers for working people.

    Big changes that mean big opportunities for investment and growth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Because the days of business as usual are over.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

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

    Yuri A/PeopleImages.com/Shutterstock

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Promising results

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Director of Public Health Appointed for the Isle of Wight 20 May 2025 The Isle of Wight Council has announced the appointment of a new Director of Public Health

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    The Isle of Wight Council has announced the appointment of a new Director of Public Health who will lead the Island’s Public Health service as it transitions to a fully independent model.

    Following a national recruitment process, Kate Harvey has been appointed to this crucial statutory role and will join the council’s senior leadership team in the coming months.

    The appointment follows a decision by the council’s Cabinet earlier this year not to renew the long-standing partnership with Hampshire County Council for public health services beyond August 2025. This change reflects the council’s commitment to strengthening local leadership, improving health outcomes, and delivering a public health service tailored specifically to the needs of Island communities.

    Kate brings to the role a wealth of experience across health protection, health improvement and system leadership, including partnership working across the NHS, local authorities, and the voluntary and community sector. Her career has been defined by a strong focus on reducing health inequalities and improving the building blocks for good health.

    Kate said: “I am delighted to be joining the Isle of Wight Council at such an important time for the Public Health service. The opportunity to lead a locally focused, place-based approach to health and wellbeing is one I truly value. I look forward to working with colleagues across the council and with our many partners to ensure we deliver the best possible public health outcomes for Island residents.”

    The new director will oversee a growing team of specialists as part of the council’s enhanced Public Health structure — a move designed to ensure robust leadership and continued improvements in service delivery.

    Wendy Perera, the council’s chief executive, said:

    “We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Simon Bryant, Director of Public Health for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, for his dedicated leadership over many years. Simon has played an instrumental role in shaping and guiding the Island’s public health function, providing stability, expertise and strong partnership working throughout his tenure.”

    “We look forward to welcoming Kate to the senior management team at the council. Her substantial knowledge and skills will lead the way in shaping a service tailored precisely to the needs of those it supports. Putting our residents and our community at the heart of what we do is essential to providing an excellent service for them. In Kate, we have an inspirational director who is committed to driving forward our vision, with a passion to support our communities into the future.”

    Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said: “There are some challenging issues to deal with in the coming months, but the appointment of Kate means we will be in an excellent place to address these issues. Kate brings the right mix of leadership, experience, and passion to help us deliver excellent public health outcomes and ensure that we are responsive to the Island’s specific needs.”

    Here Kate discusses her vision and plans for the future:

    Can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background in public health?

    I am originally from the Isle of Wight and am thrilled to be returning to work in a place so dear to my heart.  After starting my career in the voluntary sector, I’ve worked in senior public health roles in Local Government and the NHS for over 10 years, in London, Dorset and most recently Southampton. I also worked closely with the University of Southampton to support the creation and use of high-quality evidence to inform decisions that can improve health and reduce inequalities.  This breadth of experience will be invaluable on the Island. Working together for the residents that we serve offers the best potential for the Island to become a fairer and healthier place for all.

    What is your vision for public health on the Isle of Wight?

    I’m thrilled to be joining the Isle of Wight as the new Director of Public Health. I’m very much looking forward to working with residents, communities and colleagues within and outside of the council to improve health and wellbeing. The strength of our local Public Health team and legacy of the partnership with Hampshire, mean that it is an ideal time to be launching the Island’s own public health service. I’m particularly excited about the opportunities to work with residents and the communities that are the heart of the Island to improve the building blocks for good health and reduce inequalities.

    What unique challenges do you think the Isle of Wight faces in terms of public health? How do you plan to address these challenges?

    The beautiful Island has many strong communities, a vibrant voluntary sector and clear sense of place. Despite so many strengths, not everyone has the same opportunity for good health and wellbeing. Providing the Island’s own public health leadership is an exciting opportunity to work more closely with residents, communities and local partners to improve the building blocks for good health and reduce inequalities so that the Island can be a fairer and healthier place for all.

    Subject to the appointment process, Kate is expected to take up the post at the end of August, allowing for a smooth transition ahead of the end of the Hampshire partnership.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Mayor welcomes EY new office at Ebrington

    20 May 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

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

    View Apart/Shutterstock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Moving on?

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    A global fight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK sanctions hit West Bank violence network

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK sanctions hit West Bank violence network

    UK sanctions individuals, illegal settler outposts and organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, as Foreign Secretary pauses Free Trade Agreement negotiations with Israel

    • New sanctions target 3 individuals, 2 illegal settler outposts and 2 organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 
    • Today’s measures include financial restrictions and travel bans, including on high-profile extremist settler leader Daniella Weiss
    • In a statement to the House, the Foreign Secretary is set to announce a formal pause of Free Trade Agreement negotiations with Israel, effective immediately.
    • He will make clear the UK’s complete opposition to the IDF’s new, extensive ground operation through Gaza, repeat UK demands that Hamas release all the hostages immediately and unconditionally, and reiterate that Hamas cannot continue to run Gaza.

    In response to the persistent cycle of serious violence undertaken by extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, the Foreign Secretary has announced new sanctions today.

    Today’s measures target 3 individuals, including prominent settler leader Daniella Weiss, as well as 2 illegal outposts and 2 organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

    These individuals and entities are now subject to measures including financial restrictions, travel bans, and director disqualifications, and will follow 18 other individuals, entities, and companies already sanctioned relating to serious violence against communities in the West Bank.

    The measures follow a dramatic surge in settler violence in the West Bank, with the UN recording over 1,800 attacks by settlers against Palestinian communities since 1 January 2024.

    In a statement to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary is also set to announce the formal pause of Free Trade Agreement negotiations with Israel, effective immediately. While the UK government remains committed to the existing trade agreement in force, it is not possible to advance discussions on a new, upgraded FTA with a Netanyahu government that is pursuing egregious policies in the West Bank and Gaza.

    His statement will address latest developments on the ground in Gaza, making clear the UK’s complete opposition to the IDF’s new, extensive ground operation through Gaza, the threat of starvation for the Gazan population, and the UK’s condemnation of the Israeli government’s plans to drive Gazans from their homes into a corner of the Strip. The Foreign Secretary will also repeat UK demands that Hamas release all the hostages immediately and unconditionally and reiterate that Hamas cannot continue to run Gaza.

    The new steps follow a joint statement issued by the Prime Minister along with the leaders of France and Canada, setting out their strong opposition to the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and to illegal settlements in the West Bank. They also made clear that if Israel does not cease this action, further action will be taken in response.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

    I have seen for myself the consequences of settler violence. The fear of its victims. The impunity of its perpetrators.

    The sanctioning of Daniella Weiss and others today demonstrates our determination to hold extremist settlers to account as Palestinian communities suffer violence and intimidation at the hands of extremist settlers.

    The Israeli government has a responsibility to intervene and halt these aggressive actions. Their consistent failure to act is putting Palestinian communities and the two-state solution in peril.

    The announcement comes as Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer summons Israel’s Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office over the expansion of military operations in Gaza.

    Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer said:

    Today I will set out to Ambassador Hotovely the government’s opposition to the wholly disproportionate escalation of military activity in Gaza and emphasise that the 11-week block on aid to Gaza has been cruel and indefensible. I will urge Israel to halt settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank.

    Israel must abide by its obligations under International Humanitarian Law and ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza. The limited amount of aid entering is simply not enough.

    We must get an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages and a path to a two-state solution is the only way to ensure the long-term peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis.

    Background

    Individuals and entities sanctioned today:

    • Daniella Weiss – has been involved in threatening, perpetrating, promoting and supporting, acts of aggression and violence against Palestinian individuals. Weiss is now subject to an asset freeze, travel ban, and director disqualification.

    • Harel Libi – Owner of Libi Construction and Infrastructure. Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinian individuals. Libi is now subject to an asset freeze, travel ban, and director disqualification.

    • Zohar Sabah – has been involved in threatening, perpetrating, promoting and supporting, acts of aggression and violence against Palestinian individuals. Sabah is now subject to an asset freeze, travel ban, and director disqualification.

    • Coco’s Farm – is associated with a person who is or has been involved in activity which amounts to facilitating, inciting, promoting or providing support for activity which amounts to a serious abuse of the right of individuals not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.  Coco’s Farm is now subject to an asset freeze.

    • Libi Construction and Infrastructure –has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts resulting in the forced displacement of Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, activities which cause the psychological suffering of Palestinians, and activities which often leads to violence perpetrated against Palestinians. Libi Construction and Infrastructure is now subject to an asset freeze and director disqualification.

    • Nachala – has been involved in facilitating, inciting, promoting and providing logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts and forced displacement of Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, activities which cause the psychological suffering of Palestinians, and which often lead to violence perpetrated against Palestinians. Nachala is now subject to an asset freeze.

    • Neria’s Farm – is associated with a person who is or has been involved in activity which amounts to facilitating, inciting, promoting or providing support for activity which amounts to a serious abuse of the right of individuals not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Neria’s Farm is now subject to an asset freeze.

    Definitions

    • Asset freeze: where an asset freeze applies, in summary, it is generally prohibited within the UK, and for UK persons outside the UK, to: (1) deal with funds or economic resources, owned, held or controlled by a designated person; (2) make funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to, or for the benefit of, a designated person; and (3) engage in actions that, directly or indirectly, circumvent the financial sanctions prohibitions. 
    • Director Disqualification Sanctions: Where director disqualification sanctions apply, it will be an offence for a person designated for the purpose of those sanctions to act as a director of a company or to take part in the management, formation or promotion of a UK company. 
    • Travel ban: an individual subject to a travel ban will be an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971, meaning that they must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Green council homes could save residents in energy bills

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Three four-bedroom houses are being built to a new, ecofriendly standard for the first time by Portsmouth City Council.

    These family homes are designed to offer cheaper energy costs for residents, are being built in Bunting Gardens, Wecock Farm using Passivhaus design principles.

    The development will mark the first new build Passivhaus Development delivered by Portsmouth Homes, the landlord function of Portsmouth City Council.

    Passivhaus is a building standard that aims to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. The buildings have been designed and delivered by the Council’s in-house architects, landscape architects, surveyors, energy officers and construction inspectors in the capital projects team.

    In the Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness’s meeting in September last year, officers discussed the development and confirmed that delivery of new homes to these standards only costs slightly more, but means that tenants could save an estimated £841 a year in energy bills with a Passivhaus design.

    Tenants will benefit from improved comfort levels, reduced energy bills, and a significant decrease in the risk of energy poverty. Houses will be kept at a consistent and comfortable temperature using a mechanical ventilation that recovers heat from extracted air and uses this to warm incoming air. The air will be warm, but still fresh.

    In addition, each home will have triple glazed windows helping to make them more airtight, reducing heat loss, and keep the warmth inside the homes. Ten new communal parking spaces will also be provided, and new trees and shrubs will be planted around the area to enhance biodiversity.

    Cllr Darren Sanders, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness said:

    “Green homes like these make the planet more liveable for our children and save energy bills for council tenants here and now. Portsmouth Council remains committed to tackling climate change and the cost of living and I am delighted that Portsmouth Homes is playing its part in delivering both of those.”

    Councillor Amy Redsull, Cabinet lead for Housing at Havant Borough Council, said:

    “I applaud the work being completed to reduce our carbon footprint. In this case, not only does it help the residents in reducing their bill, it also has a positive impact on our environment and allows local people to remain within their communities. This project is inspiring, and I hope that its ingenuity sparks further developments similar in nature.”

    The council has experienced and qualified Passivhaus architects, if you’d like to explore whether Passivhaus is right for you, contact Patrick.leggett@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Everything you need to know about Derby Market Hall reopening

    Source: City of Derby

    The day we’ve been waiting for is almost here – the transformed Derby Market Hall reopens this Saturday 24 May! Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the big day. 

    What is Derby Market Hall? 

    The lovingly restored, Grade II-listed Victorian market hall is a flexible space that incorporates a modern street food dining area and bars, traditional and contemporary retail units, and creative spaces for artisan makers and traders. 

    An ongoing programme of events, activities and entertainment will bring the Market Hall to life throughout the week with regular themed markets, live music, DJs, craft workshops and more. It’s also dog-friendly! 

    When is it open? 

    The transformed Market Hall will officially open at 11am on Saturday 24 May, almost 159 years to the day since its original grand opening. There will be a short opening ceremony outside the Osnabruck Square entrance. 

    Usual opening times will be: 

    • Monday – Wednesday: 8am – 3pm 
    • Thursday – Saturday: 8am – 10pm 
    • Sunday: 11am – 3pm 

    How do I get there?  

    Derby Market Hall is at the heart of the city centre. There are entrances at Osnabruck Square, which is off Albert Street, and through the Guildhall Theatre, which is accessed from Derby Market Place. If you use what3words, it’s ///eating.pints.gangs. 

    It couldn’t be easier to find if you’re travelling by bus – Derby Bus Station is just a couple of minutes’ walk away. If you’re driving, there are several car parks within walking distance including Bold Lane and Darwin Place. The nearest Blue Badge parking is in Morledge and Full Street. 

    Who are the traders? 

    Shopping and services: Explore a diverse range of traditional and contemporary stalls. Buy top-quality produce at Anthony Andrews Butchers and Bailey’s Fishmongers. Derbyshire’s Own specialises in the best locally-sourced food and drink while Olivia’s Coffee and Bakery will have artisan bread, pastries, specialty coffee, and fresh deli sandwiches. 

    Pick up fashion finds at Mardy Ducks and Preloved, shop for your pets at Dawkins Pet Supplies, and find ethically sourced crystals and gifts at SpiritCrystals. Ayup Bikes specialise in servicing, repairs and maintenance classes and Derby City Lab will provide an interactive hub for engaging people in the latest regeneration projects in the city. 

    Eat & Drink: Foodies will be in heaven with the cosmopolitan array of eateries on offer: 

    Plus coming soon: The Spirit Run – Distillery and bar, offering cocktails, locally-crafted spirits and more, from the team at Darley Abbey Wines. 

    Make & Trade: On the first floor, you can meet local artists, makers and creators in our new Make & Trade spaces. Layer create performance sportswear designed for athletes at all levels, while The Oddities Store is a luxury sustainable fashion brand specialising in made-to-order knitted collections and deconstructed fashion pieces. 

    Regular pop-up traders will add to our permanent retail stalls, creating a vibrant community of independent businesses and products you won’t find anywhere else. 

    What’s happening during opening week? 

    Derby Market Hall will open with a spectacular week-long celebration packed with free music, creative workshops, and family-friendly activities – coinciding with the May half-term holiday. A detailed schedule of the week’s events is available on the Derby Market Hall website. 

    Highlights on opening day include live music from walkabout acts and sessions on the Market Hall stage. The musical entertainment will continue until 9:30pm, with a fantastic line-up of local talent including Carl North, Sura Laynes, Leah Wilcox, Anna Milne, and Mesha Terry. There will be workshops in photography, illustration and craft plus Virtual Reality headset sessions. 

    The fun continues every day for the rest of the week and into the following weekend, with a packed programme featuring: 

    • Live music from talented local artists on the Market Hall stage 
    • Entertaining walkabout acts both indoors and outdoors, on Cornmarket and Osnabruck Square 
    • Theatre performances and virtual reality sessions in the Market Hall’s multi-use space 
    • Workshops in crafts, pottery, music, performance and songwriting 

    But that’s just the start! Regular events will bring a buzz to Derby Market Hall throughout the year. 

    How do I order food? 

    When ordering food at Derby Market Hall, visitors are encouraged to use our new order and pay system, provided by Peazi.  

    There’s no need to download an app, simply scan the QR code at your table, browse the menus and pay without having to leave your seat. You can order from multiple vendors at the same time, and you’ll receive a text message once your order is ready to collect. 

    Ordering at the counter is still available from all of our traders, and cash is accepted when ordering directly. 

    Is Derby Market Hall accessible? 

    Thoughtful design with access and inclusion as a key priority ensures the Market Hall and its surrounding areas, including Osnabruck Square, are easily accessible and inclusive to all visitors. Features include: 

    • Levelled flooring to facilitate step free access 
    • New lift to provide access between the ground and first floors 
    • Changing Places toilet – the fifth in Derby’s city centre 
    • Muted colours to support visually impaired visitors and lighting designed at the correct lumens to improve visibility. Fixtures, fittings and furniture specifically colour contrasted to enhance accessibility 
    • Later in the summer, Osnabruck Square will reopen with accessible benches and dedicated disabled parking. 

    Follow Derby Market Hall on Facebook and Instagram, or visit the website, for all the latest information. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £1 billion BioNTech investment sets way for jobs, growth, breakthroughs

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    £1 billion BioNTech investment sets way for jobs, growth, breakthroughs

    Covid-19 vaccine pioneers BioNTech commit to up to £1 billion, 10-year investment in the UK.

    • Covid-19 vaccine pioneers BioNTech commit to up to £1 billion, 10-year investment in the UK.
    • New research and AI centres to be established in London as well as Cambridge – demonstrating the benefits of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor – to develop the next generation of life-changing medicines.
    • Underpinned by up to £129 million of government support, this agreement underscores the government’s commitment to life sciences as a key part of the Plan for Change, driving improvements in healthcare, and delivering economic growth.

    Hundreds of highly skilled jobs will be created, and new research centres will be set up aimed at making new advances in medical science, thanks to a planned investment of up to £1 billion into the UK by world-leading biopharmaceutical company BioNTech announced today (Tuesday 20 May).

    This is one of the biggest investments in the history of UK life sciences, made possible with government backing – all part of plans to support this growth-driving sector as part of the Plan for Change, and our mission to turbo-charge economic growth in every part of the country.

    This historic investment is a testament to the confidence in the UK life sciences – one of the priority sectors of the economy that will form a key part of the forthcoming Industrial Strategy – as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and innovations that could overhaul what’s possible in healthcare. The sector is already thriving, worth £108 billion to the economy and providing more than 300,000 highly skilled jobs across the country. But through measures like our commitment to investing up to £520 million in the sector through the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, we want to boost UK life sciences to even greater heights, bolstering our ambitions to grow the economy, create jobs, and building on the UK’s position as the second-most attractive destination for international investment.

    BioNTech will invest in the UK over the course of the next 10 years as part of an ambitious plan to significantly expand their presence here. That will see them create two new R&D hubs, the first to be based in Cambridge, as well as an AI hub to be based at BioNTech’s planned UK headquarters in London. These are planned to create more than 400 new highly skilled jobs over the next 10 years, including researchers in clinical and scientific drug development, bioinformatics, and a range of supporting functions. Indirectly, the investment is also likely to create a substantial number of additional jobs in the supply chain.

    BioNTech are the pioneering company behind mRNA vaccines and cancer immunotherapies notably used to tackle COVID-19, and more recently trialled to help patients with cancer.

    According to the Academy of Medical Sciences, every £1 spent on medical research delivers a return of 25p, every year, forever after that, so the long-term economic impact of an investment in research on this scale, speaks for itself. This is the government’s Plan for Change, in action, and shows how our ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor are already pulling international investment into the UK.

    BioNTech signed an agreement finalising the investment together with Science Secretary Peter Kyle today. As part of the agreement, the government will contribute up to £129 million in grant funding over a period of 10 years.

    Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

    This investment will propel the growth-driving life sciences sector to new heights, delivering cutting-edge facilities, building careers in the future-facing jobs we want our children to have, and ultimately unlocking progress in medical science that could save lives.

    This is a clear indication of how we will deliver the government’s Plan for Change: working together with the best and brightest businesses and innovators to unlock their potential, and then reap the benefits for the economy, health and more that their drive and genius can deliver.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    This is another testament to confidence in Britain being one of the world’s top investment destinations and a global hub for life sciences. It will create hundreds of high-skilled, well-paid jobs, as we deliver on our promise to put more money in working people’s pockets through our Plan for Change.

    CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, Uğur Şahin, said:

    This agreement marks the next chapter of our successful strategic partnership with the UK government. Together, we have already made a meaningful difference in expanding access to investigational personalized cancer therapies for patients. Now, we are taking the next step to accelerate and broaden our research and development efforts advancing towards our vision to translate science into survival for patients.

    In Cambridge, BioNTech plans to set up a new R&D centre focused on genomics, oncology, structural biology, and regenerative medicine. In London, BioNTech intends to establish its UK headquarters, which will be home to a new AI hub led by InstaDeep Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of BioNTech SE, and a leading global technology company in the field of AI and machine learning. This hub will enable medical research, using AI, including looking into understanding disease causes, drug target selection and predictive analytics.

    Over time, this work could lead to the discovery and development of new therapies, diagnostics and treatments for a range of diseases that currently cause heartbreak for countless patients and their families – all supporting the mission to rebuild the NHS for the long-term, that sits at the heart of the government’s Plan for Change.

    It also builds on the government’s existing strategic partnership with BioNTech, to provide up to 10,000 patients with investigational personalised cancer immunotherapies by 2030. This is already transforming the experience of patients by broadening access to cancer vaccine trials in the UK.

    The government’s support for BioNTech’s investment is a further example of how we are backing the UK’s thriving life sciences sector to even greater success – following on from the announcement of the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund at the Autumn Budget, and strategic collaborations agreed with other innovative life sciences companies. We will say more about our vision for a thriving future for UK life sciences in the forthcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan.

    Steve Bates, CEO of the UK BioIndustry Association, said:

    BioNTech’s investment demonstrates the UK’s position as a top destination for life sciences innovation and underlines why the government is absolutely right to back our sector as a priority for growth.

    BioNTech is not only a pioneer in mRNA science, but also a visionary partner in building a truly unique public-private collaboration with the UK government and NHS – one that sets a benchmark for the world.

    The UK has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leverage its strong position to attract investment from global investors to create well-paid jobs and scale UK companies, if the upcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan can address long-standing structural challenges in the financing and commercial environment.

    Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the ABPI, said:

    This investment is a testament to the fantastic skills, research capabilities, and scientific infrastructure we have in the UK. It is also a template for how the UK could unlock further life science sector growth by removing the barriers and roadblocks to investment.

    Big investments like this are years in the making and require both sides to have confidence that the other will deliver on their commitments. Trust is slow to build, but this deal shows it is worth the time and the risk.

    Life science companies are already the largest investors in UK R&D – but much of this comes from a handful of companies with deep UK roots. The UK has an opportunity to capture more of the global science pie if we can improve our competitive offering to the sector.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: US State of Connecticut

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

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

    Liang Zhang (Christopher LaRosa/UConn photo).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    According to Chandy, the department is in good hands.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Celebrating 10 years of ‘invaluable’ foster carer peer support network in Leeds

    Source: City of Leeds

    A foster carer has praised the ‘invaluable’ help provided by a series of nurturing networks which have just celebrated 10 years of supporting families in Leeds.

    The mockingbird hub model of fostering was first set up in Leeds in 2015 and involves linking foster families with an experienced foster carer – known as the ‘hub home carer’ – who provides much-needed guidance and support for both adults and children as they navigate their new lives together.

    The model first originated in Seattle, USA and Leeds City Council was one of the early pioneers, now having the largest and most established network in the UK.

    Michelle Raw, 53, of Whinmoor, has been a hub home carer for the past six years, having fostered children with husband Mark, 49, for 21 years.

    She supports eight families – most of whom are ‘kinship carers,’ where relatives or close friends step in to care for children who are unable to remain living with their parents.

    She said: “The mockingbird hub model is amazing – it acts just like an extended family.

    “I help provide practical support as well as just having a cuppa and chat about the day with carers. Carers come to my house, we might do a bit of training, have a chat about life, they meet other carers and get to know each other and the children get to know each other and play together.

    “It feels like we become part of their family and they become part of ours.”

    As the hub home carer, Michelle provides support in a variety of ways – such as hosting coffee mornings, supporting with any appointments, holding activity days in school holidays and looking after children for overnight stays or weekends.

    She added: “The hubs are vital for both carers and the children because everyone needs that connection and bit of help and time to recharge their batteries.

    “It’s the most amazing model, it works really well.

    “I work really closely with our supervising social worker from Foster 4 Leeds to support our families too. I speak to her three or four times a week and if I ever need help with anything, she’s there.”

    Leeds currently has nine hubs across the city with a 10th soon to launch.

    All the families supported by the city’s hubs recently came together to celebrate the network’s landmark anniversary with a special event at Herd Farm Activity Centre, where they joined staff from the council’s fostering and kinship care teams and children enjoyed face-painting, a climbing wall, inflatables, ice creams, a barbecue and sporting fun.

    The event also coincided with Foster Carer Fortnight (May 12-25) which this year has a theme of ‘The Power of Relationships’ – of which the mockingbird family model is a poignant example.

    The model is one of many ways Foster 4 Leeds provides support to 400 fostering placements and 350 children living with kinship or connected carers across Leeds.

    The service also offers high quality social work support, training and an extensive programme of enrichment activities and family fun days throughout the year.

    As is the case nationally, however, Leeds has an ever-increasing need for more foster carers.

    Currently, there are nearly 1,500 of the city’s children in care and Foster 4 Leeds continues to appeal for carers who can offer a stable, safe and loving home for children in Leeds.

    Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, who attended the anniversary event at Herd Farm, said: “We’re absolutely committed to supporting all our carers and it’s great to see and hear how valuable these mockingbird hubs have been for our families over the past ten years.

    “I’d like to thank all who have contributed to their success – with particular thanks, once again, to our amazing foster and kinship carers who play such a vital role in transforming the lives of our children looked after.

    “Celebrating our mockingbird hubs during Foster Carer Fortnight and its theme of relationships feels particularly timely. Relationships are the golden thread that run through every fostering story – but we urgently need more foster carers who can invest in these relationships and offer a stable, home environment to allow children to grow and thrive.”

    Anyone interested in finding out more about foster caring in Leeds can visit the https://foster4.leeds.gov.uk/ website.

    ENDS

    For media enquiries please contact:

    Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

    Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk

    Tel: 0113 378 6007

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: Scottish National Party

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Social work bursary increase

    Source: Scottish Government

    Supporting postgraduate students with living costs and course fees.

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

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

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

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

    Minister for The Promise Natalie Don-Innes said:

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

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

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

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

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

    Background:

    The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Refusal of planning permission maintained as appeal is dismissed – Nude Food Dunes P/2024/086120 May 2025 The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, has upheld the refusal of planning permission for the partial change of use from a restaurant to self-catering holiday accommodation, as well as… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    20 May 2025

    The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, has upheld the refusal of planning permission for the partial change of use from a restaurant to self-catering holiday accommodation, as well as various external alterations, at the former Nude Food Dunes restaurant at La Route de la Pulente. 

    The appeal was considered by an independent planning inspector, David Hainsworth, who recommended that planning permission be granted. However, the Minister was satisfied that there were sufficient reasons not to give effect to the inspector’s recommendation.

    The Minister recognised that the proposed development had the potential to provide a new use for the currently vacant building, which is in a sensitive location of Jersey’s Coastal National Park. It would also offer the prospect of securing the reopening and maintenance of public toilets and the operation of a café. The Minister also agreed with the inspector that the proposed development would not harm the landscape character of the area. 

    On balance, however, the Minister considered that the proposed development presented overall conflict with the policies set out in the Government’s Island Plan. Specifically, the Minister considered that the redundancy of the existing approved use for the site had not been sufficiently demonstrated. Additionally, the design and layout failed to optimise the quality of the proposed uses for the site. 

    The Minister’s decision effectively upholds the original decision to refuse planning permission based on the first two reasons for refusal only. 

    See all planning details: Planning Application P/2024/0861​.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

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

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

    What Makes Nimanode Unique

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

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

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

    XRP + AI: The Missing Infrastructure

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

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

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

    $NMA: Utility Driven

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

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

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

    Final Word

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

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

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

    Be part of the future Nimanode is building

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

    Contact:
    Nick Lambert
    contact@nimanode.com

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Enlightenment ideals

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

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

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

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

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

    The rebellion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Historical memory

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

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

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

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

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

    Religious states

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Making peace

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Charity Commission statement on Kids Company Judgment

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Charity Commission statement on Kids Company Judgment

    The collapse of Kids Company was a matter of significant public, media and Parliamentary interest at the time, with ramifications for the wider charitable sector, notably on public trust and confidence in charities.   

    Today’s High Court judgment has upheld our finding of mismanagement of the charity’s finances and has confirmed that it was based on “ample evidence”. Furthermore, the judgment firmly rejected allegations we predetermined the outcome of the inquiry, stating the threshold for this was “not met in this case by a wide margin”.   

    The court has confirmed it was entirely reasonable for the Commission to have drawn independent regulatory conclusions on the demise of Kids Company, based on all the evidence available, in keeping with the role Parliament has set us.   

    The judgment notes we took care in the inquiry report to point out areas in which the charity’s trustees were acting within their duties and responsibilities, and where we found external criticism of the charity was unfounded. Our inquiry report stated clearly there was “no dishonesty, bad faith or inappropriate personal gain in the operation of the charity”.  

    While the court has dismissed the challenge on all but two grounds, and is clear that the overall findings of our report were not ‘irrational’, we acknowledge its finding that we made important errors in relation to two paragraphs of the report and will act to remedy this.

    ENDS

    Press office

    Email pressenquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk

    Out of hours press office contact number: 07785 748787

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to an atypical case of BSE detected on a farm in Essex

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on an atypical case of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) detected on a farm in Essex. 

    Prof Neil Mabbott, Personal Chair in Immunopathology and Head of Immunology Division, The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, said:

    “Atypical BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) is a rare disease of cattle.  The disease is considered to occur sporadically and it is not acquired between cattle as an infection.  Atypical BSE differs from the classical BSE which caused the outbreak in the UK cattle herd in the 1980s and 1990s.  Classical BSE was considered by scientists to be spread amongst cattle through use of feed BSE-contaminated (meat and bone meal), and is estimated to have caused infection in up to half a million cattle during that period. 

    “Very occasionally, rare atypical cases of BSE are sporadically detected in cattle, but these are considered non-contagious and are not linked to an infectious origin.  Four cases of atypical BSE have been detected in the UK in the past ten years.  This current case was detected through the routine surveillance and testing brain tissues from fallen stock animals. 

    “The detection of this isolated case of atypical BSE shows that the UK’s surveillance programme is working well.  There is no risk to the public, as the animal’s carcass will have been destroyed and no tissues will have entered the food chain. 

    “BSE is a devastating neurological disease in cattle affecting the brain, spinal cord and some other organs.  Control measures remain in place to exclude these organs from the food chain to prevent the spread of BSE amongst cattle and to humans.  A measure of their success, is that there have been no cases of variant CJD (linked to consumption of BSE infected food) in people born after these controls were put in place in the UK in the 1990s.”

     

     

    Declared interests

    Prof Neil Mabbott: “I have no conflicts of interest to declare”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Construction begins on new Civil Service office in Blackpool 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Construction begins on new Civil Service office in Blackpool 

    Construction has begun on a new office building for Ministry of Defence (MOD) civil servants as part of Blackpool’s Talbot Gateway redevelopment. 

    L-R Alan McBride, Muse; Will Town, Defence Infrastructure Organisation; Jennifer Chard, Defence Business Services; Cllr Lynn Williams, Blackpool Council; Garry Bowker, Vinci Building. (Copyright Blackpool Council)

    A groundbreaking ceremony has taken place for a new MOD office within the Talbot Gateway redevelopment in Blackpool.

    The regeneration programme sees Blackpool Council working with development partner Muse Places and construction company VINCI Building on the new 53,000 sq. ft MOD building which will hold up to 1,100 staff from Defence Business Services (DBS). 

    As MOD’s shared services organisation, DBS provides corporate services across the information and technology, finance, procurement and people function to the whole of defence, including serving military, veterans and civilian staff, as well as other government departments. The move from a leased site within the local area concludes the consolidation of DBS’ northwest estate into a single, purpose-built office owned by the MOD, securing future jobs and saving the taxpayer money long term. 

    Representatives from DBS signed the contract for the new building on 31 March 2025 with them coming together last week at a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction.  

    The DBS project is being delivered under the MOD’s Defence Estate Optimisation portfolio, which is investing £5.1 billion in a more modern and sustainable defence estate. This includes new and refurbished military accommodation and housing for over 40,000 service personnel and their families, as well as technical, training and office space for over 64,000 personnel, including civilian staff. Construction will be managed on behalf of the MOD by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, working closely with Blackpool Council, development partner Muse Places, main contractor VINCI Building and DBS.  

    The building is scheduled for completion in 2027. 

    Ross Porter, Defence Infrastructure Organisation Programme Manager, said: 

    After several years of pre-construction work and a huge collaborative effort from all parties involved, progressing this project to the construction stage is a great milestone to reach. We’re very much looking forward to delivering a first-class office facility for MOD staff in the area, as part of the Defence Estates Optimisation Portfolio. 

    Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said:  

    This is another major step forward in our plans to make Blackpool better. We’re very grateful to government for recognising Blackpool’s economic potential and continuing to invest and help us create quality jobs for local people.  

    Officers from both the council and government have worked exceptionally hard to make this deal possible. With over 8,000 workers and students coming to the town centre in the next few years, this provides a phenomenal opportunity and confidence for local businesses to continue to invest and hire more local people.

    Alan McBride, Technical Director at Muse, said:  

    It’s great to see work commencing on phase five of Talbot Gateway’s regeneration. This future-proofed, sustainable workspace for the Civil Service will bring increased footfall into the town centre, spur further economic growth in the heart of Blackpool, and build on the momentum we’ve generated alongside our long-standing partners, Blackpool Council, for more than 15 years. 

    Gary Hughes VINCI Building’s Regional Director said: 

    We’re delighted to have been appointed on this key project at Talbot Gateway to continue our working partnership with Blackpool Council and Muse. We will ensure we continue to provide local opportunities through the development of our local supply chain, whilst generating significant education and training opportunities with local schools, colleges and education groups as we progress on site.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to World Health Assembly adopting WHO Pandemic Agreement

    Source: United Kingdom – Science Media Centre

    Scientists comment on the World Health Assembly adopting the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Pandemic Agreement.

    Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group; and Ashall Professor of Infection and Immunity at the Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, said:

    “The pandemic agreement is an important endorsement of a globally collegiate approach to tackling the existential threat we face from a future pandemic.  It recognises the particular challenges highlighted by the COVID19 pandemic around equity in access to life saving vaccines and drugs, the geographical boundaries caused by limited global manufacturing capability and nationalism.  The agreement also highlights the importance of international research coordination so that we are better prepared for the next one.  It shows a level of cooperation and coordination that could make the world a safer place, but the real test of such a document is in its execution.  It is heavily dependent on the actions of the world’s major powers today to lay the groundwork in surveillance, strengthening of health systems distributed manufacturing and research, all of which are severely hampered by the current political and economic headwinds.  We will also critically need such cooperation to remain strong in the face of the next life-threatening microbial invasion of national borders, which will challenge even the most resolute political minds.”

     

    Prof Mishal Khan, Professor of Global Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said:

    “It’s been a huge challenge to get to this point so the fact that this has now been formally agreed at the World Health Assembly, is very welcome.

    “But in reality we won’t know how useful this agreement is until the next pandemic hits.

    “A key question is around whether countries will voluntarily comply with the terms and, if not, how enforceable is it.  Past experience, for example with the International Health Regulations, suggests that powers to enforce will be limited.

    “The success of this treaty will also depend on each country’s capacity to contribute to potentially valuable elements such as the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System through collecting and sharing high-quality data.

    “It’s concerning that the US will not be bound to the treaty and has not been part of the final discussions, leaving us unsure what its approach to resource and data sharing will be in future disease outbreaks.

    “We must continue to strengthen and support capacity globally to ensure the agreement is equitable and has the best chance of being effective in protecting the world from pandemics.”

     

    Prof Alice Norton, Associate Professor, Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, said:

    “The adoption of the Pandemic Agreement by the 78th World Health Assembly today is welcome news for global health security.

    “Article 9 on research and development was one of the first to be unanimously agreed by member state negotiators.  This recognises the ability for science to get us out of a pandemic, as was the case for COVID-19, showing that unlike many other natural disasters we can mitigate the risks and impacts of pandemics through science.

    “Respect for human rights, equity, solidarity and science-based evidence are all key principles rightly enshrined in the Agreement.

    “What will be needed now is the political will and sustainable financing so that all countries can make the Agreement a reality.

    “It is a mistake to believe that our recent experience of a pandemic means we are safe for a while.  The threat of epidemic and pandemic diseases that could devastate lives, livelihoods and economies still loom large.

    “Recent global health funding cuts only serve to worsen our preparedness and response capabilities.  After today’s announcement, governments must now step-up and put the Agreement’s principles into practice.”

    Prof Martin Antonio, Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Global Health based at the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, and Co-Director of the LSHTM Centre for Epidemic Preparedness and Response, said:

    “Having all WHO member states (except the US) endorsing the treaty is a big leap forward in the fight against future pandemics.  Crucially it will accelerate appropriate action, for example the commitment we need to enable vaccines to be developed quickly and made globally accessible within the 100 days mission target set by CEPI.

    “This is a global agreement and will only work with global support.  But to make these measures effective, we must also push for investment in regional measures such as the development of ‘pandemic’ manufacturing facilities in Africa in support of diagnostics, vaccines, and other interventions.”

     

    Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said:

    “Rebecca Solnit once wrote that ‘Perfection is a stick with which to beat the possible.’  Is the Pandemic Agreement perfect?  No.  But no such international agreement can be.

    “Does it represent a huge step forward, in terms of recognising the threat that pandemics pose and as a binding expression of solidarity against this common threat?  Absolutely.  It is now a defining feature of the landscape, under the canopy of which all our efforts going forward will be conducted.

    “Is there a great deal of practical work still to be done to make the world safe from pandemics?  Of course.

    “But this is a moment to celebrate!  And also a moment to rededicate ourselves to the hard work of pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.”

     

    CEPI statement on the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement: 

    CEPI commends the commitment of countries and negotiators to advancing this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make the world a safer place.  By their nature, pandemics can only be effectively tackled through international cooperation and the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement represents an historic step forward in this regard.  It seeks to drive systemic change that will address the inequity that characterized the response to COVID-19 and brings us closer to realizing the 100 Days Mission goal to respond to future pandemic threats with a new vaccine in just three months.  

    CEPI stands ready to support the implementation of the Pandemic Agreement, including: 

    • Requirements for publicly-funded R&D to include equitable access obligations – such as affordable pricing terms, technology transfer, information sharing;
    • Commitments to support sustainable and geographically distributed production facilities with the capability to scale up for rapid response in a health emergency;
    • The establishment of a multilateral pathogen benefits sharing system that supports rapid and efficient sharing of samples and data on pathogens with pandemic potential to expedite R&D for medical countermeasures.  This, together with a global supply chain and logistics network, will help to strengthen research and innovation and support global access to medical countermeasures based on public health need rather than ability to pay.

    While we celebrate today’s achievement, we must also recognise that the Agreement on its own will not deliver the level of pandemic preparedness the world urgently needs.

    It will take sustained investment, enduring political commitment and unprecedented scientific collaboration to create the systemic change needed to protect not just our own generation, but generations to come.  

     

    Dr Daniela Manno, Clinical Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said:

    “We know pandemics do not respect borders.  COVID-19 demonstrated how quickly infectious diseases can spread and underscored the importance of international cooperation for early detection and response.

    “Adopting this first global agreement on pandemic preparedness and response is a major milestone.  It signals a global commitment to avoiding the fragmented and unequal responses of past crises, and to promoting greater solidarity and equity in future health emergencies.

    “It shows that countries are willing to work together more effectively and more fairly, through timely data sharing, coordinated rapid responses, and fair access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatments.

    “However, while the treaty marks important progress, concerns remain about its strength and enforceability.  For example, the proposal to create a Coordinating Financial Mechanism is a positive step, but it lacks firm commitments to new, long-term funding streams, specifically for low- and middle-income countries.  Without clear financial provisions, LMICs may face increased debt or be forced to divert funding from other essential health services to meet treaty obligations.

    “While the treaty references inclusiveness and community engagement, there needs to be a greater emphasis on integrating local knowledge and enabling community-led decision-making.  This is crucial to avoid top-down approaches that may not reflect the needs and realities of diverse communities, particularly in LMICs.”

     

    Dr Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton, said:

    “The WHO Pandemic Agreement is quite a triumph for diplomacy, and will rely hugely on cooperations from the member states.  The draft agreement is full of words such as equity, respect and solidarity.  This is where the WHO is very strong, in providing expert guidance from an ethical and practical standpoint that applies across the world.  However, the Organization does not have much of a role in any legal enforcement.

    “The Agreement makes reference to the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.  Member states have a legal obligation to adhere to the IHR, although it’s not fully clear what would happen if a country chooses not to.

    “For example, the USA are technically still a member of WHO, with a one year notice period for withdrawal put forward by the Trump government.  Given their recent commentary on national and global health, one can imagine they may not comply with regulations both currently in place and proposed here under the Agreement.”

    https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_10-en.pdf

    https://www.who.int/news/item/19-05-2025-member-states-approve-who-pandemic-agreement-in-world-health-assembly-committee–paving-way-for-its-formal-adoption

    https://www.who.int/news/item/20-05-2025-world-health-assembly-adopts-historic-pandemic-agreement-to-make-the-world-more-equitable-and-safer-from-future-pandemics

     

     

    Declared interests

    Prof Sir Andrew Pollard:“Professor Pollard is chair of JCVI which provides independent scientific advice on vaccines to DHSC.  The comment above is given in a personal capacity.”

    Prof Mishal Khan: “No conflicts.”

    Prof Alice Norton: “Professor Alice Norton receives a research grant from the World Health Organization – this does not relate to the Pandemic Agreement.”

    Dr Richard Hatchett: “No conflicts of interest to declare.”

    Dr Michael Head: “No COI from me (and not involved in the Pandemic Treaty in any way).”

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –