NewzIntel.com

Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Three new schools join Birmingham’s ‘School Streets’ initiative

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Birmingham City Council is continuing to ensure safer and healthier streets for children walking, wheeling and cycling to school.

    Three new additions to its ‘School Streets’ initiative has taken the overall number across the city to 21.

    Cotteridge Primary School (Stirchley ward), The Oval School (Garretts Green ward) and Whitehouse Common Primary School (Sutton Trinity ward) are the latest schools to join the scheme.

    The School Streets programme restricts the movement of motor vehicles on roads outside schools at the start and end of the day. The aim is to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and make it safer to walk, wheel and cycle to school.

    Since the initial launch of the programme in Birmingham in 2019 more than 70% of people (consisting of residents, parents, and school staff) have shown support for the programme at their school. This feedback has also shown that the initiative reduces school-related congestion, helping to make roads feel safer and less polluted.

    Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, Councillor Majid Mahmood, welcomed the latest expansion of the programme, saying: “School Streets is a programme that has already been proven to make roads safer, less congested and less polluted, and we are pleased to add a further three schools to those who are benefitting from the scheme.

    “Reducing the number of cars on our roads and encouraging people to use active travel and public transport is key to both the Birmingham Transport Plan and our Clean Air Strategy, and School Streets is key to ensuring we are on track to do just that. I wish the schools involved the best of luck as they launch the programme.”

    Ed Wicks, Project Coordinator of Living Streets, added: “We’re delighted to support the launch of these School Streets. Fewer cars outside school gates means children can walk to school safely and breathe cleaner air.

    “We know that many of us are put off walking to school because of speeding vehicles and inconsiderate parking. By removing cars, we remove these barriers and support more families to choose cleaner and healthier ways to travel.”

    The School Streets programme is funded through net surplus revenues from the Clear Air Zone, which must be spent on transport-related strategies and policies that help improve air quality.

    School Streets is just one way that the Council is working to promote safer, greener and healthier travel, with the Modeshift STARS national award scheme available to all schools.

    Notes to editor:

    About School Streets

    Birmingham City Council uses Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders to trial a time-limited street closure at the start and end of the school day. This can stay in place for a maximum of 18 months, during which time we will monitor and assess the effect of this change before deciding whether it should be made permanent. As part of this we are asking for feedback on these schemes.

    Local residents are able to apply for a free permit which allows them to drive their vehicle in the area where this restriction is in place in order to access their property. There are some other exemptions for traffic that can access streets at these times, including blue badge holders and emergency services. Anyone else driving in the restricted zone at these times (without a valid permit or exemption) can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice charge of £50.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DBS launches new ‘Save and Return’ feature for its Barring Referral Service

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    DBS launches new ‘Save and Return’ feature for its Barring Referral Service

    DBS are set to launch a new ‘Save and Return’ feature for its online Barring Referral Service, to make submitting a barring referral easier and more convenient.

    The DBS Barring Referral Service is the online route that individuals or organisations who want to make a barring referral can use to submit their referral.

    To improve this service, DBS is launching a new ‘Save and Return’ feature enabling users to save their progress when making referrals and return to complete them at a more convenient time.

    How does the ‘Save and Return’ feature work?

    In order to save a referral and return to it later, users will need a GOV.UK One Login account. GOV.UK One Login is a safe and secure GOV.UK service that is trusted by users of a variety of government services.

    If you don’t have a One Login, you will be directed to create one so you can make use of the new feature and securely save the progress of your barring referral.

    What are the benefits of the ‘Save and Return’ feature?

    The new ‘Save and Return’ feature addresses a key challenge that users were facing, which was that they had to complete referrals in a single session or risk losing their work.

    DBS found that a high percentage of users were not returning to submit a referral after it had been abandoned due to time out or other factors, so being able to save progress will help to address this problem, and help ensure that all necessary referrals are reaching DBS.

    The new feature allows users more time to complete their referrals, as they can securely save their work and return to it later, which will help users of the Barring Referral Service manage their workloads and make completing a barring referral easier and more convenient.

    It is still possible for users to complete their referrals in one session if they wish, but the option to save and return later will add greater flexibility for all.  

    DBS hopes the feature will also have a positive impact on the quality of referrals received, as users now have the option to save their progress and consult with colleagues or gather further information, meaning a more detailed referral can be submitted without time pressure.

    The new ‘Save and Return’ feature is being launched on 1st May, so users will be able to save their referral progress as they go along from this date. 

    How do I make a referral online?

    If you need to make a barring referral online to DBS, you can do so on the Barring Referral Service GOV.UK page.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2025 Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    From business success to the National Science Foundation, from policymaking in Hartford to the world’s most popular YouTube sneaker channel, from the Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation to the President of the Rwanda Academy of Sciences, the honored guests of UConn’s commencement ceremonies bring a wealth of experience, insight, and wisdom to share with this year’s graduates. Speakers at the ceremonies, which begin on Saturday, May 10, include:

    College of Engineering (Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Mark P. Sarkisian ’83

    Mark Sarkisian is a partner in the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. He is a licensed professional engineer and structural engineer in 31 states. In 2021, Sarkisian was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and is a member of the University of Connecticut Academy of Distinguished Engineers. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UConn in 1983, and his master’s degree in structural engineering from Lehigh University. Sarkisian’s career focuses on developing innovative structural engineering solutions for over 100 major building projects around the world, including the Jin Mao Tower in China and the Al Hamra Fidrous Tower in Kuwait, both over 1,300 feet[1]tall. Sarkisian holds 10 U.S. patents and five international patents. Sarkisian has authored over 150 technical papers related to the design of building structures, and in 2012 completed his first book, “Designing Tall Buildings – Structure as Architecture.” He teaches integrated studio design courses focused on collaborative design opportunities at the University of California, Berkeley; California College of the Arts; Stanford University; California Polytechnic State University; Northeastern University; North Carolina State University; and the Pratt Institute.

    School of Nursing (Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Joan Y. Reede

    Dr. Joan Y. Reede was appointed as Harvard Medical School’s (HMS) first Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership in January of 2002, and has been responsible for the development and management of a comprehensive program that has provided leadership, guidance, and support to promote the increased recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse faculty, particularly individuals from groups underrepresented in medicine. This charge includes oversight of all diversity activities at HMS as they relate to faculty, trainees, students, and staff. Reede is a graduate of Brown University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She completed a pediatric residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and a fellowship in child psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital. She holds an MPH and an MS in Health Policy Management from Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and an MBA from Boston University. Reede created and developed more than 20 programs at HMS that aim to address pathway and leadership issues for minorities and women who are interested in careers in medicine, academic and scientific research, and the health care professions. At a national level, Reede’s advice and expertise is highly sought after among several committees and councils, such as being appointed to the Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Minority Health and serving on the Board of Governors for the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center. She also has many affiliations, including the Task Force for the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, CTSA Women in CTR Interest Group of the NIH, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science STEM Education Review Committee.

    School of Business (Saturday, May 10, 1:30 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Richard Eldh ‘81

    Rich Eldh was born in the village of Ardsley, New York, and moved homes five times between the ages of 5 and 15. He attended Staples High School in Westport, graduating as a three-sport athlete and an all-state football player. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Connecticut. In what would have been his junior year, 1978–1979, he took a leave of absence to travel abroad, living in Kempten, Germany, in Bavaria. There, he worked at Dixie Union, a manufacturing company, as a computer programmer, where he developed new automation software for the finance department. This experience in Germany highlighted the significant impact computing technology would have on business. Motivated by this realization, he decided to pursue a career in the computer industry. Upon returning to the University of Connecticut for his final two years, he majored in finance at the School of Business and graduated in 1981 with a degree in Finance. He first joined a manufacturing firm implementing automation software, then moved to Four Phase Systems, a Motorola company, selling data entry systems. Later, he joined Hewlett-Packard, specializing in manufacturing systems and automation. It was at HP that he met his wife; they married and started a family. After working for two very large corporations, Rich joined a startup called Gartner Group in Stamford. He was the 100th employee, and in ten years, the company grew from $9 million in revenue to just under $1 billion with 4,500 employees. Today, Gartner boasts a market cap of $38 billion with 21,000 employees. These early career highlights led Rich to co-found Sirius Decisions, which became a leader in high-performance go-to[1]market research and benchmarking. Headquartered in Wilton, Sirius Decisions grew to 400 employees with private equity backing and offices worldwide. The company was eventually monetized for approximately $300 million through a sale to a public company in Boston. Throughout his career, he has had the honor of working with associates and clients across more than 50 countries. Alongside his career, Rich and his wife Joyce raised two daughters and a son. They have each found success in the medical field, the fashion world, and the blockchain and crypto industry, respectively.

    School of Social Work (Saturday, May 10, 1:30 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Maggie Mitchell Salem

    Maggie Mitchell Salem joined IRIS as Executive Director in January 2024. Throughout her nearly 30-year career, Maggie has managed diverse teams focused on civic education, intercultural dialogue, social and political rights, and forced displacement. She arrived in Connecticut following three years leading the National Democratic Institute’s democratic governance program in Tunisia. Given the exponential increase in the number of refugees, humanitarian parolees, and other immigrants that IRIS assists, Maggie has focused on organizational structure, systems, and policies that create a strong foundation for the organization’s continued growth. Her previous experience at Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Services) and Fugees Academy have underscored the importance of collaborative, communicative leadership and management. For more than a decade, she was the founding executive director of Qatar Foundation International and expanded Arabic language and culture education to public K-12 schools across the U.S., UK, and Germany. As the Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), she expanded or created new programs in Jordan, Iran, and Iraq. Maggie started up and led the Middle East Institute’s Communications Department from 2001-2004. She also served as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer in Mumbai and Tel Aviv, and as staff on the Executive Secretariat of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Maggie was a Fulbright Scholar in Syria while studying for her Masters in Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University. She received a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. She has two sons and two daughters. She lives with her six dogs and two cats in East Haddam.

    Bachelor of General Studies (Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m. at Student Union Theater): Daniel Mercier ‘95

    Daniel Mercier graduated from the Bachelor of General Studies program in 1995 with a focus in Visual Communications. After serving as a Graphics Specialist for a few years, Mercier returned to UConn in 1998 as a Media Producer. In 2001, he transitioned to the role of Instructional Developer in the Instructional Design and Development Department. After completing a Master of Arts in Educational Technology in 2003, Mercier became Manager of Instructional Design and Development and ultimately served as Assistant Director and Director of the Institute of Teaching and Learning. In 2015, he took on the role of Director, Instructional Design, in the Center for Pedagogical Innovation at Wesleyan University. In 2017, Mercier returned to UConn as the Director of Academic Affairs at the Avery Point Campus of the University of Connecticut. Throughout his 30-plus-year career, Mercier has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the development of instructional tools, to help faculty utilize technologies to reach our students. In his work, he has supported faculty, staff and students across the higher education landscape. His commitment to the University of Connecticut spans nearly 25 years. In his current position, he recruits faculty, oversees academic advising and other academic support programs, and develops partnerships between the Avery Point campus and other academic entities within and outside UConn. These partnerships include the support of students in the Bachelor of General Studies Program.

    College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (Saturday, May 10, 6 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Rodney Butler ’99 (BUS)

    Rodney A. Butler is the Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) since January 2010. Butler’s service on Tribal Council began in 2004, and after one year, he was appointed Tribal Council Treasurer; a position he held through 2009. During his tenure, Butler chaired the Tribe’s Finance, Housing, and Judicial Committees, the MPTN Utility Authority, and served as an Interim CEO for Foxwoods Resort Casino. Butler earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Connecticut where he played Defensive Back for the UConn Huskies football team. Prior to Tribal Council, Butler worked in the finance department at Foxwoods Resort Casino. He later became Chairman of the Tribal Business Advisory Board; an executive body responsible for overseeing the Tribe’s non-gaming businesses and commercial properties. Butler was actively involved in multiple resort expansions at Foxwoods, as well as community development initiatives on the Reservation, the establishment of the Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribe Endowment Trust, and the legalization of Sports Betting and iGaming in the state of Connecticut. He was also a participant in Harvard Business School’s program “Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities.” He is a regular speaker on national panels related to Native American issues. Butler presently serves on the Board of Directors for Mashantucket Pequot Interactive and is on the board of Foxwoods El San Juan Casino. He also serves as the President of Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA), as Alternate Vice President for the National Congress of American Indians, and on the boards for the United South and Eastern Tribes, Indian Gaming Association, American Gaming Association, the Mystic Aquarium, and the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. He is the 2019 recipient of the Citizen of the Year award from the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, and the National Indian Gaming Association’s John Kieffer Sovereignty Award. In 2018, he received the St. Edmund’s Medal of Honor Award from the Enders Island Retreat Center. In 2017, Butler was appointed “Tribal Leader of the Year” by the NAFOA. As Chairman, Butler’s primary focus is to ensure long-term stability for the Tribe’s citizens, government, and business enterprises.

    School of Fine Arts (Saturday, May 10, 6 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Jacob G. Padrón

    Jacob G. Padrón is the Artistic Director of Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven. He is also the Founder and Artistic Director of The Sol Project, a national theater initiative that works in partnership with leading theater companies to amplify the voices of Latino playwrights in New York City and beyond. Padrón has held senior-level artistic positions at theater companies across the country. He was the Senior Line Producer at The Public Theater where he worked on new plays, new musicals, Shakespeare in the Park, and Public Works. He was formerly the Producer at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago where he supported the artistic programming in the Garage – Steppenwolf’s dedicated space for new work, new artists, and new audiences. From 2008 to 2011, he was an Associate Producer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival where he was instrumental in producing all shows in the 11-play repertory. Under the guidance of his late mentor Diane Rodriguez, he served as the producer of Suzan-Lori Parks’ “365 Days/365 Plays” for Center Theatre Group, a collaboration that included over 50 theater companies to launch Festival 365 in Los Angeles. He is a co-founder of the Artist Anti-Racism Coalition, a grassroots movement committed to dismantling structural racism within the Off-Broadway community. Jacob is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University (B.A.) and David Geffen School of Drama (M.F.A.). His first artistic home was El Teatro Campesino located in San Juan Bautista, California.

     

    College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Ceremony I (Sunday, May 11, 9 a.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Maureen Ahern ‘85

    Maureen Ahern is an Executive Leadership Coach on her third career whose journey began in the same classrooms as today’s graduates. A proud Husky who earned both a Bachelors and a Masters, Maureen’s connection to UConn runs deep. For over 10 years, she returned to UConn Stamford each week as an Adjunct Professor, teaching Interpersonal Communications and Public Speaking after her corporate day job in New York, driven by her belief that becoming a great communicator gives you the power and confidence to take meaningful action to shape your future. Maureen started as a Sales Executive at The Associated Press and quickly rose to lead the Satellite Networks division before transitioning to Standard and Poor’s Comstock. At S&P she led many different departments as Director of Operations, VP of US Sales and Managing Director for Asian and South American markets, building successful international relationships while traveling the world. She was part of the management team that sold Comstock to IDC and then pivoted from corporate into the digital world, as Partner and COO of momAgenda, where she helped build a thriving e-commerce company. Drawing on her teaching background, leadership experience and desire to coach and mentor others, Maureen completed her leadership coaching certification at Georgetown University’s Transformational Leadership Institute. Today as Founder of Ahern Leadership Coaching and Consulting, Maureen partners with C-suite executives and emerging leaders across industries, facilitating leadership development through one-on-one coaching, team coaching, and specialized training and leadership development workshops. Her coaching philosophy – described by clients as “tough but loving”-centers on her belief that leaders aren’t born, they are made and that everyone has leadership capacity waiting to be unlocked through awareness, action and courage. Maureen was a mentor with the Freshman Founders Program at the Werth Institute at UConn Stamford, in addition to her volunteer work with CT NEXT and Startup Westport as a business mentor. She is also an angel investor with Tidal River Fund whose goal is to fund underrepresented founders. When not working with her clients whom she loves and adores, Maureen enjoys yoga, beach walks, and time with her three adult children (Patrick, Brendan and Caeleigh). She shares life in Cos Cob with her husband Mike Santini (fellow UConn grad) and their black lab, Nino.

    Neag School of Education (Sunday, May 11, 9 a.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Suzanne M. Wilson

    Suzanne M. Wilson is the Neag Endowed Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, where she also serves as a professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Her undergraduate degree is in history and American studies from Brown University; she also has an M.S. in statistics and a Ph.D. in psychological studies in education from Stanford University. She was a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University, where she served on the faculty for 26 years. Wilson also served as the first director of the Teacher Assessment Project, which developed prototype assessments for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Wilson is a committed teacher, having taught undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral classes in educational policy, teacher learning, and research methods. She has directed 36 dissertations and served as a committee member for another 45. Wilson serves on multiple editorial and advisory boards. She was elected to the National Academy of Education in 2013 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2022. Wilson has written on teacher knowledge, qualitative methods, curriculum reform, educational policy, and teacher preparation and professional development. She has published in Science, American Educator, American Educational Research Journal, Educational Researcher, Review of Educational Research, Elementary School Journal, Teaching and Teacher Education, Journal of Teacher Education, Phi Delta Kappa, and Teaching Education. She is the author of “California Dreaming: Reforming Mathematics Education” (Yale, 2003) and editor of Lee Shulman’s collection of essays, “Wisdom of Practice: Essays on Teaching, Learning, and Learning to Teach” (Jossey-Bass, 2004). She is currently working on a collection of essays entitled, “Why Teach?”

    College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Ceremony II (Sunday, May 11, 1:30 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Joe La Puma ‘05

    Joe La Puma serves as SVP of Content Strategy at Complex NTWRK and hosts Complex’s Sneaker Shopping, the world’s No. 1 sneaker show, which has garnered over 1 billion views on YouTube. He has been at the forefront of sneaker and street culture at Complex for the past 15 years. La Puma started his journalism career writing for The Daily Campus and was voted “Rookie of the Year” by fellow staffers. After graduating from UConn in 2005 with a degree in Journalism, he returned to Bay Shore to manage The Finish Line—where he previously worked in high school—while contributing articles to both local and global publications like Newsday and Hypebeast.com. In 2006, La Puma landed an internship at Complex magazine, a pop culture publication specializing in convergence culture through hip-hop, sneakers, and fashion. La Puma has written more cover stories (21) than any other writer in Complex history, including profiles on Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and Kid Cudi. La Puma is also a published author of the book “Complex Presents: Sneaker of the Year: The Best Since ’85.” In his current SVP role, La Puma has led Complex to over 200% growth in audience and engagement. In 2014, Complex debuted the YouTube show Sneaker Shopping, a series that La Puma created and hosts to this day. Over the past decade of Sneaker Shopping, La Puma has interviewed icons like Eminem, Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Hart, Mark Wahlberg, Billie Eilish, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, and conducted one of the only lifestyle interviews with former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2020 election cycle. The show has filmed episodes across the U.S., as well as abroad in China, England, Spain, and Japan. With his extensive editorial work on footwear and over 300 episodes of Sneaker Shopping, La Puma is regarded as one of the foremost sneaker experts in the world. La Puma is a three-time Webby Award winner and has been featured on Good Morning America, and The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. In 2024, La Puma was inducted into the Bay Shore High School Hall of Fame, a group that includes only 79 members since the school opened in 1893. La Puma currently lives in Brooklyn, and takes half-days at work when he can during UConn Basketball March Madness runs.

    School of Pharmacy – Doctor of Pharmacy (Sunday, May 11, 1:30 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): JoAnn Trejo

    JoAnn Trejo, Ph.D., MBA is professor of pharmacology and senior assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Faculty Affairs at the University of California (UC) San Diego. She completed her undergraduate degree at UC Davis, earned her Ph.D. and MBA at UC San Diego and completed postdoctoral training at UC San Francisco. Trejo is a basic science researcher with expertise in cell signaling in the context of vascular inflammation and cancer. Her research has been published in more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and she is a recipient of a NIH R35 Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) and the American Heart Association Established Investigator Award. Trejo is an outstanding educator, mentor and a leader actively engaged in initiatives aimed at enhancing excellence in science and pharmacology. She is the director of five NIH-supported training programs including the UC San Diego IRACDA Postdoctoral Scholars Program, FIRST Program and three early career faculty development programs. Trejo served as an elected member of the leadership Council for the ASCB and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and is a current member of the scientific advisory boards for Septerna and Versiti. She has also served on multiple NIH Study Sections, the NCI Board of Scientific Counselors for Basic Sciences, and Blavatnik, HHMI and Chan Zuckerberg foundation review panels. Trejo is a current member of the NIGMS Advisory Council. She is the Associate Editor for Molecular Biology of the Cell and is an editorial board member for Proceedings National Academy of Sciences Nexus, Journal of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology. Trejo is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Fellow and 100 Inspiring Hispanic / Latinx Scientists and was recently elected honorary fellow of the British Pharmacological Society.

    College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Ceremony III (Sunday, May 11, 5:30 p.m., Gampel Pavilion): Joe La Puma ‘05

    School of Pharmacy – Bachelor of Science (Sunday, May 11, 6 p.m., Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Joe Honcz ‘98

    Joe Honcz is a distinguished expert in managed care and market access, boasting a robust 25-year career that spans significant sectors of the health care industry. Early in his career, he played a pivotal role in leading teams for the launch of Medicare Part D, followed by instrumental involvement in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act while at Anthem BCBS and Aetna. Since 2020, Joe has leveraged his profound understanding of managed care to deliver strategic market access insights, empowering over 20 biotech and pharmaceutical clients to effectively navigate complex market dynamics. His contributions have been crucial in the successful launch of innovative products in both traditional and rare/orphan disease categories. As a “pharmacy futurist,” he continues to drive innovation and shape market access strategies at Petauri Health, supporting the emerging pharmaceutical and health tech industries. His exceptional ability to anticipate industry trends has consistently provided clients with strategic advantages, enabling them to stay ahead of competitors with foresight and precision. Beyond his professional endeavors, Joe is actively involved at Yale Ventures as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and at the University of Connecticut Technology Commercialization Services in the same capacity. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Joseph School of Pharmacy and is on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) and Avery’s Little Army, whose mission is to honor the legacy of Avery Marie Lafferty, an exceptionally brave cancer rebel, and all patients like her. Joe’s extensive background is complemented by diverse roles at Pfizer, Walgreens, Humana, PrecisionAQ, and CVS. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Connecticut, underscoring his deep roots and commitment to the field. In addition to being a Board member, he is also an AMCP diplomat to the UConn School of Pharmacy, where he fulfills his passion for mentoring and coaching.

    The Graduate School – Masters Ceremony (Monday, May 12, 9 a.m. at Gampel Pavilion): Manasse Mbonye ’95 Ph.D.

    Manasse Mbonye is a Founding Fellow of the Rwanda Academy of Sciences (RAS) and its current President. He is also the Group Leader and Professor, Rwanda Astrophysics Space and Climate Sciences Research Group (RASCSRG) at the University of Rwanda and a member of the national Science Advisory Group (SAG). By Training, Mbonye is a theoretical Astrophysicist and Cosmologist. He completed his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in 1995. Mbonye has taught Physics at various institutions including UConn, the University of Michigan, and RIT. He has also worked at NASA (Goddard Space Flight Center). In 2012, Mbonye returned to Africa. Since then, his appointments have included, Provost (later) Ag Rector (National University of Rwanda), the first Principal (University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology), and Executive Secretary (Rwanda’s National Council for Science and Technology, (NCST)). During Mbonye’s tenure, NCST instituted a major review of Rwanda’s Science, Technology, Research and Innovation (STRI) policy. Further, the National Research and Innovation Agenda (NRIA) was constructed, along with its implementation enabler, the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) framework. Rwanda launched the NRIF in June 2018. Mbonye has served on the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTCO) Board of Directors as its Rapporteur (2017-2018). He has also been Chairman of the Rwanda Energy Group (REG) (2015-2018), Rwanda’s sole electric energy production source and utility company. Prof. Mbonye continues to do research and supervise students, at the University of Rwanda.

     

    UConn Health (Monday, May 12, 1 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Manisha Juthani

    Dr. Manisha Juthani, is the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). Juthani is the first Indian American to serve as a commissioner in the State of Connecticut. She served as professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine through September 2024 and currently serves as an adjunct professor of medicine. She served as Director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program from 2012 to 2021. Juthani received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, completed Internal Medicine residency training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell campus, and served as chief resident at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She came to Connecticut in 2002 as an Infectious Diseases fellow at Yale School of Medicine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Juthani was a leader in the COVID response at Yale which led to her appointment as Commissioner of CT DPH in 2021. In the early days of the pandemic, she was a voice to help educate the public in both local and national media outlets, a role she was able to expand in her role as Commissioner. Upon joining CT DPH, she helped guide Connecticut out of the pandemic and worked to revitalize areas of public health, such as gun violence, maternal health, opioid use, and sexually transmitted diseases, that were exacerbated during the pandemic. As she continues in her role as DPH Commissioner, Juthani has shifted her core vision to “Preserve and Protect Core Public Health Principles and Services.” As Connecticut is presented with new public health challenges, she remains committed to preserving public health achievements made over the years, including improvements in regulatory oversight in health care, drinking water, and environmental health which includes food safety. It is more important than ever to highlight the importance of vaccines, control of infectious diseases, road safety, and healthier mothers and babies. Clear, accurate communication about public health risks is vital to her mission. She continues to advocate for health as a human right which is the core vision of CT DPH. Juthani is on the Board of Directors of UConn Health.

    The Graduate School – Doctoral Ceremony (Monday, May 12, 6 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts): Sethuraman Panchanathan

    Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan is a computer scientist and engineer who served as the 15th director of the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2020 until 2025. Panchanathan was nominated to by the president in 2019 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on June 18, 2020. NSF is a $9.06 billion independent federal agency, and the only government agency charged with advancing all fields of scientific discovery, technological innovation and science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

    Panchanathan previously served as the executive vice president of the Arizona State University (ASU) Knowledge Enterprise, where he was also chief research and innovation officer. He was also the founder and director of the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at ASU. Under his leadership, the university increased research performance fivefold, earning recognition as the fastest growing and most innovative research university in the U.S.

    Prior to joining NSF, Panchanathan was appointed by the president to serve on the National Science Board, where he was a chair of the Committee on Strategy and a member of the External Engagement and National Science and Engineering Policy committees. Additionally, he was chair of the Council on Research of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and co-chair of the Extreme Innovation Taskforce of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils. Arizona’s governor appointed Panchanathan as senior advisor for science and technology in 2018. He was the editor-in-chief of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) MultiMedia magazine and editor and associate editor of several international journals.

    For his scientific contributions, Panchanathan has received numerous awards, including honorary doctorates from prestigious universities, distinguished alumni awards, the Governor’s Innovator of the Year for Academia Award, the Washington Academy of Sciences Distinguished Career Award and the IEEE-USA Public Service Award.

    Panchanathan is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, where he also served as vice president for strategic initiatives. He is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Association for Computing Machinery, IEEE and the Society of Optical Engineering.

    School of Law (Sunday, May 18, 10:30 a.m. at UConn School of Law): Mayor Arunan Arulampalam

    The son of Sri Lankan refugees, Arunan Arulampalam was born in Zimbabwe and made a home and a family in Hartford after graduate school. Prior to being elected mayor of Hartford in November 2023, he served as CEO of the Hartford Land Bank, where he developed a first-in-the-nation program to train Hartford residents to become local developers and tackle blight in their city. Arulampalam served in Governor Ned Lamont’s administration as Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Before that, he was a lawyer at the downtown firm Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. Arulampalam also served on the Board of the Hartford Public Library, the House of Bread, and on the Hartford Redevelopment Authority. He earned his BA in International Studies from Emory University and his JD from Quinnipiac University School of Law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Statement: Maggie Chapman

    Source: Scottish Greens

    29 Apr 2025 Equality

    Trans rights are human rights today, tomorrow and always.

    More in Equality

    Speaking after the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee voted against Tess White MSPs’ motion to remove her from the Committee, Maggie Chapman said:

    “I am grateful that the Committee has rejected this motion and the attempt to remove me.

    “I am also very grateful to the many trans and non-binary people and allies who have been in touch with me over the last two weeks to tell me their stories.

    “It’s been devastating to hear about the exclusion and prejudice they or their loved ones have faced, and how worried they are for the future.

    “The focus should not be on me, it should be on the outcomes of the ruling and the serious threat that is being posed to the rights of trans and non-binary people.

    “I have never questioned the Court’s right to make the ruling that it did. But that does not mean that I must agree with it. I don’t, and I am very concerned about the impact it will have and is already having.

    “Over recent years a toxic culture war has seen trans people and their loved ones being targeted and demonised by too many politicians and large parts of the media.

    “I will always stand up and advocate for trans and non-binary people. Not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it is also my job to stand up for my constituents.

    “Some of my constituents are trans or non-binary. Others have trans or non-binary children, parents, siblings, friends. They deserve representation as who they are. I will not stop being a vocal trans ally.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens to stand in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election

    Source: Scottish Greens

    29 Apr 2025

    Every vote for the Scottish Greens is a vote for people and planet.

    The Scottish Greens have announced that they will be standing in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on June 5th. 

    The Green candidate, Ann McGuinness, is a voice for equality and climate action in South Lanarkshire and beyond.

    Ann is a director of a charity which promotes rural connections and champions rural diversity. Her own lived experiences of poverty and disability provide her with valuable insight into the challenges faced by many whose voices are often unheard in our public discourse.

    A dedicated feminist and environmental justice campaigner, Ann is a mum of two and has championed climate education. Ann has a strong track record of working across party lines to support women in politics, and is a co-convenor of the Scottish Greens Women’s Network.

    Ann McGuinness said:

    “I am proud to have been selected to stand in the upcoming by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.

    “I will spend the weeks ahead speaking to as many people as possible across the constituency, to discuss their hopes for their children and their future, the strength and value of their communities and the everyday challenges that they face.

    “Every vote for the Scottish Greens will be a positive vote for a fairer and greener Scotland and a brighter future for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.

    “If we are to build a truly just and green future we need to empower every town and village and ensure that no one is left behind.”

    Scottish Green Co-Leader Patrick Harvie said:

    “None of us want this by-election to be taking place. It should be a positive and respectful contest, and one that lives up to the values that Christina McKelvie lived by.

    “By voting for Ann, the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse have the opportunity to elect an experienced campaigner for equality and environmental justice who will prioritise people and planet.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Electrical substation fire – Maida Vale | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters have been called to a fire at an electrical substation on Aberdeen Place in Maida Vale.

    An electrical transformer remains alight and firefighting operations are likely to continue throughout the day.

    Nearby residents are advised to keep their windows and doors shut.

    Rest centres

    We have two rest centres open for residents who may need somewhere to go.

    Tea and coffee will be provided.

    Greenside Community Centre: 24 Lilestone Street, NW8 8SR.

    Wharncliffe Gardens Community Centre: Birch Vale Court, Pollitt Dr, London NW8 8JF

    Road closures

    Please be aware of the following road closures:

    • St John’s Wood Road Junction with Cunningham Road
    • Aberdeen Place Junction with Northwick Terrace

    More information

    London Fire Brigade (LFB) have more information on their website.

    Plane your journey on the Transport for London (TfL) website.

    Follow LFB on X (formally Twitter) for updates.

    Follow us on X for updates.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City council set to bring in new services to reduce smoking backed by nearly £4 million funding

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Tuesday, 29th April 2025

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council is looking to invest almost £4 million of Government and public health grant funding in smoking cessation services to help people quit and live healthier and longer lives.

    The money will be used as part of a five-year programme to create a generation free from smoking.

    National Government will be contributing funding in addition to funding provided by the Public Health Grant. This is a fund that is issued to every council each year to specifically fund activities to improve public health in the local area.

    The city already helps more than 700 people a year stop smoking – with quit rates above both the national and regional average.  Despite that progress, an estimated 26,385 people in Stoke-on-Trent – or 13% of the adult population – still smoke.

    The city is aiming to meet an ambitious government target to reduce smoking rates to just 5% of the population by 2030.

    In 2024/25, the city council has already used funding to:

    • Create new roles to support an expansion of stop smoking offers to support more people to quit
    • Offer free Allen Carr’s Easyway quit-smoking seminars – available in Stoke-on-Trent for the first time.
    • Expand pharmacy support, giving more people expert advice in their neighbourhoods
    • Work within communities to give people tailored support to quit smoking or vaping
    • Work with councils across the West Midlands to share resources and cut smoking rates across the region.
    • Conducting work to better understand how people want to be supported

    The Stoke-on-Trent Tobacco Alliance brings together partners from a range of services across the city who have been key in developing this work and actions within the city to further support the reduction of smoking rates in our city.

    Councillor Lynn Watkins, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: ““I am pleased with this proposal, as the support offered should have a positive outcome to reduce health inequalities and improve the quality of life for many residents.

    “Smoking affects so many, and as we work towards having cleaner air to breathe, a smoke free environment means many more children will grow up with good health, and fewer children will have to watch their parent’s health decline due to preventable diseases.

    “With this funding, we can expand the current offer to support more people in their journey towards stopping smoking and reduce risk for them and their friends and families.”

    In Stoke-on-Trent, smoking rates are higher than the national average and a leading cause of deaths in the city. Quitting smoking can help to prevent this, with those who have quit smoking for 10 years having half the risk of dying from lung cancer compared to those who are still smoking.

    We want to encourage people not to start smoking as well as supporting those who do smoke to quit – if you don’t smoke, don’t start and if you’ve never smoked, don’t start vaping.

    Use of a vape along with support from a stop smoking service is the most effective way to stop smoking.  Support to quit smoking is currently available to many of those who live, work or have a GP in Stoke-on-Trent, to see how we can help you, please visit: www.stoke.gov.uk/smokefree  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City families reminded to check vehicle hire companies during Prom season

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    City of Wolverhampton Council’s licensing team is working with schools and other councils across the region to alert families to potential risks.

    Officers are warning that not all companies that advertise the services of stretched limousines and other luxury or performance vehicles are licensed.

    The following advice is being issued so people can be sure that the vehicle being booked is safe and legal. The type of checks needed depend on how many passenger seats the vehicle has.

    Advice includes:

    • companies hiring out a vehicle and driver with fewer than nine seats may require a private hire vehicle operators licence from City of Wolverhampton Council. Ask the company if they are licensed and which local authority licenses them, then contact that authority to confirm
    • parents/carers can also check to see if they are licensed online at Taxi licences by clicking ‘Online Licence Registers’ and then selecting ‘Operators’
    • companies hiring out a limousine with a driver with nine passenger seats or more must have a public service vehicle (PSV) operator licence, issued by a Traffic Commissioner. You can check online at GOV.UK.
    • if the company doesn’t have a licence, it could be operating illegally. You can report this at Taxi Complaints – Report a taxi driver or by calling 01902 55 TAXI (01902 558294)
    • officers warn that extra care is needed when booking services advertised on social media as this is where the unlicensed trade primarily operates.

    Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Prom nights are special occasions for young people to get together and celebrate all that they have achieved.

    “Unfortunately, we are aware that there may be unscrupulous companies looking to take advantage at this time of year. The driver may not have had a criminal record check or the vehicle may not be roadworthy. In addition, unlicensed vehicles and drivers won’t be insured.

    “Hiring a vehicle and driver that hasn’t been properly vetted and licensed could put your child and their friends at risk.

    “Please consider making checks on the company you are thinking of hiring from to make sure everyone has fun and stays safe on Prom night.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint statement on the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, 29 April 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Joint statement on the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, 29 April 2025

    The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas Symonds and the European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič gave a joint UK-EU statement on 29 April 2025.

    Joint statement by the co-chairs of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP and the European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, 29 April 2025 :

    The United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) today held a meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee in London. The Joint Committee co-chairs took note of the state of play of the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement since the last meeting on 16 May 2024, renewing the EU and UK’s shared commitment to the full, timely, and faithful implementation of the Agreement in all its parts.

    The co-chairs reiterated that citizens’ rights are a key joint priority. In that spirit, the co-chairs warmly welcomed the legislative step taken by the UK Government relating to legal clarity for EU citizens with status under the EU Settlement Scheme and look forward to its practical application. They highlighted the importance of ensuring a smooth transition for citizens from temporary to permanent residence over the course of the next two years. The co-chairs agreed to further strengthen their ongoing cooperation on all citizens’ rights issues to ensure that all citizens who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement can fully enjoy their rights now and in the future.

    The co-chairs recalled the importance they attach to the full, timely, and faithful implementation of the Windsor Framework for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland, while continuing to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and ensuring the protection of the EU Single Market, to which Northern Ireland has a unique access, and the integrity of the UK’s Internal Market.

    They noted the considerable work undertaken to date in the implementation of the Windsor Framework, having delivered benefits across areas, including on agri-foods, trade, VAT and excise, and engagement with stakeholders. They recalled specifically that, since the last Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, the arrangements for human medicines had started applying effective from 1 January 2025. At the meeting today, they also completed important work on safeguards allowing new customs facilitations on parcels and freight to take effect on 1 May 2025.

    They reiterated their unwavering commitment to stepping up the work for the full delivery of safeguards underpinning the facilitations, in particular in the agri-food area.

    The co-chairs welcomed the Joint Committee newly adopted decisions on the implementation of the Windsor Framework. Finally, they adopted the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee Annual Report for the year 2024.

    The co-chairs agreed to continue working in a spirit of mutual trust and remain in very close contact to achieve full delivery of the Withdrawal Agreement and to strengthen bilateral relations in view of the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Free Park Tennis to be served up at one of Sunderland’s Parks from May

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Sunderland will join cities like London and Manchester in offering free tennis, activator led sessions, as part of a scheme to make tennis available to everyone.

    Residents are being invited to join 1 hour tennis sessions starting from Sunday 11 May. These sessions will take place every Sunday at Barnes Park Tennis Courts from 10am to 11am.

    Free Park Tennis is open to everyone, regardless of ability or age (children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult). It is a great way to meet new people, spend time with family or friends, and exercise, while having fun. Rackets and balls will be provided.

    Anyone interested in taking part in Free Park Tennis, can book a spot at Clubspark / Barnes Park / Coaching / Summary and clicking the Barnes Park site.

    In 2023, these courts were part of over £400,000 worth of investment to improve 17 tennis courts across seven of Sunderland parks. There are two tennis courts available in Barnes Park, which is a green flag award winning park.

    The courts in Barnes Park, as well the others across Sunderland are available for everyone to use. There are both paid and free options at each park across the week, so you should always be able to find a free session to book. Find out more information at https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SunderlandParksTennis

    Councillor Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council, said: “Tennis is a fantastic sport and a brilliant way to get some exercise while also having fun.

    “It’s really beneficial for your mental and physical health, no matter your age or ability. And most importantly, it’s free for everyone.

    I encourage everyone to come and have a go at tennis and make the most out of our parks and tennis courts.”

    These sessions have been organised by Active Sunderland, Sunderland City Council in partnership with the LTAs Barclays Free Park Tennis scheme.

    Sian Foley, Delivery Manger at the LTA, said, “Barclays Free Park Tennis sessions offer people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities the chance to pick up a racket and enjoy tennis at no cost. Whether people want to improve their health, meet new people, or simply try out a new sport, the sessions in Sunderland’s parks, recently transformed through the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation funded Park Tennis Project, are a welcoming and accessible way to play tennis.”

    For anyone wanting to book a tennis court at any public courts across Sunderland’s parks, visit: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SunderlandParksTennis

    Sunderland will join cities like London and Manchester in offering free tennis, activator led sessions, as part of a scheme to make tennis available to everyone.

    Residents are being invited to join 1 hour tennis sessions starting from Sunday 11 May. These sessions will take place every Sunday at Barnes Park Tennis Courts from 10am to 11am.

    Free Park Tennis is open to everyone, regardless of ability or age (children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult). It is a great way to meet new people, spend time with family or friends, and exercise, while having fun. Rackets and balls will be provided.

    Anyone interested in taking part in Free Park Tennis, can book a spot at Clubspark / Barnes Park / Coaching / Summary and clicking the Barnes Park site.

    In 2023, these courts were part of over £400,000 worth of investment to improve 17 tennis courts across seven of Sunderland parks. There are two tennis courts available in Barnes Park, which is a green flag award winning park.

    The courts in Barnes Park, as well the others across Sunderland are available for everyone to use. There are both paid and free options at each park across the week, so you should always be able to find a free session to book. Find out more information at https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SunderlandParksTennis

    Councillor Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council, said: “Tennis is a fantastic sport and a brilliant way to get some exercise while also having fun.

    “It’s really beneficial for your mental and physical health, no matter your age or ability. And most importantly, it’s free for everyone.

    I encourage everyone to come and have a go at tennis and make the most out of our parks and tennis courts.”

    These sessions have been organised by Active Sunderland, Sunderland City Council in partnership with the LTAs Barclays Free Park Tennis scheme.

    Sian Foley, Delivery Manger at the LTA, said, “Barclays Free Park Tennis sessions offer people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities the chance to pick up a racket and enjoy tennis at no cost. Whether people want to improve their health, meet new people, or simply try out a new sport, the sessions in Sunderland’s parks, recently transformed through the UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation funded Park Tennis Project, are a welcoming and accessible way to play tennis.”

    For anyone wanting to book a tennis court at any public courts across Sunderland’s parks, visit: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SunderlandParksTennis

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: HPV health poster design competition launched for WHO Immunisation Week

    Source: City of Salford

    • Salford launches design a HPV vaccination poster competition for young people to support WHO Immunisation Week.
    • The HPV vaccine plays an important role in preventing cervical cancer, as almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV.
    • The poster design competition is free to enter and open to all young people aged 11 to 16 who live in Salford or attend a Salford school. 

    In a strong pledge of global public health initiatives, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Immunisation Week campaign, “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible,” highlights the vital impact of vaccines in saving lives. 

    WHO recommends that at least 95% of children should be immunised against vaccine-preventable diseases targeted for elimination or control, including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, measles, mumps, and rubella.

    Following this campaign, Salford City Council Health Protection team are working with a group of young people from across the city to take part in an exciting creative health competition to design a poster promoting the HPV vaccination in schools.

    Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a very common group of viruses. Teenage boys and girl are offered the HPV vaccination at high school, in year 8.  The HPV vaccine plays an important role in preventing cervical cancer, as almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV.

    This competition aims to improve health literacy among secondary school pupils in Year 8. By involving students, we can empower them to become champions for the HPV vaccine and own the importance of protecting their health and the health of others.

    Cllr John Merry, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Adult Services, Health, and Wellbeing, said: “I’m genuinely excited to see creative approaches to health, like the HPV poster competition. I encourage all children to get involved and hope more Salford high schools join our HPV School’s Education Programme.

    We have already seen excellent outcomes with flu vaccination for children aged 2 to 3 in Swinton, Pendlebury, Walkden and Little Hulton Primary Care Networks (PCN). In addition, the Salford University GP service organised vaccination catch-up clinics for students and staff, ensuring our university community remains well-protected.

    The more Salford’s public health colleagues, service providers, and key stakeholders work together to boost the immunisation rates, the greater the opportunity to reduce health inequalities and protect the whole community.”

    Councillor Arnold Saunders, Vice Chair of the Community and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel, also shared: “While immunisation rates in Salford have declined since 2013, it’s encouraging to note that vaccination rates in children aged five have increased for the first time in over a decade.

    Offers of local health events and clinics in Broughton community settings, including evening and weekend sessions have increased, and means more people can now access services at the right time and right place.

    Broughton is a diverse community so programmes that educate residents and service providers about vaccinations and other health priorities are vital to encouraging higher vaccine uptake and better community health for all.”

    The HPV health poster design competition is free to enter and open to all young people aged 11 to 16 who live in Salford or attend a Salford school. 

    For information on how to enter, the prizes, and terms and conditions, visit www.salford.gov.uk/hpvposterdesign

    Submissions open on 25 April 25 and close on 16 June 2025.

    Salford City Council is committed to creating a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all. To achieve this vision, it has set out seven interconnected priorities as the focus for our work from 2024 to 2028.

    • Good growth
    • A good home for all
    • Tackling poverty and inequality
    • Creating places where people want to live
    • A child friendly city
    • Responding to climate change
    • Healthy lives and quality of care for all.

    Find out more about our ambitions and how we intend to deliver them in our corporate plan, This is our Salford, at www.salford.gov.uk/this-is-our-salford. The plan builds on past successes and continues to find new and innovative ways to improve residents’ lives.

    Salford continues its remarkable story of transformation with already much to celebrate as a city – more well-paid jobs, new affordable and social homes, thriving local schools, award-winning green spaces, iconic infrastructure, cleaner transport, more integrated health and care and a vibrant cultural scene. 

    Share this

    Date published
    Tuesday 29 April 2025

    Press and media enquiries

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Perth Museum shortlisted for Museum of the Year

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    Art Fund, the national charity for museums and galleries, annually shortlists five outstanding museums for Museum of the Year.

    The 2025 prize recognises inspiring projects and activity from autumn 2023 through to winter 2024. In addition to looking at the overall achievements of the organisation, the judges are tasked with identifying impactful projects that spotlight the wide range of remarkable people, including museum staff and volunteers, who bring museums to life by engaging with communities, families and younger visitors, artists and creatives.

    Helen Smout, Chief Executive Officer of Culture Perth and Kinross said: “We are thrilled to be in the running as Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025, and honoured to be the only Scottish museum on the shortlist.

    “This nomination belongs to the people of Perth and Kinross, Scotland, and all our staff, volunteers, supporters, and contributors who have helped make Perth Museum a very special place since we opened just over a year ago. We are changing perspectives on what a small, regional museum can achieve. Regardless of who takes home the grand prize, we already feel like winners. Good luck to all of our fellow shortlistees.”

    Perth Museum, home of the Stone of Destiny, opened in March 2024 following a £27 million development at the former Perth City Hall, telling the story of over 10,000 years of Scottish and world history through a local lens.

    Alongside the stone, the Museum displays Perth & Kinross’s Recognised Collections of National Significance as well as iconic loans and exhibitions. Perth Museum has welcomed over 250,000 visitors since opening, exceeding its annual visitor target of 167,000 by 50%.

    Councillor Grant Laing, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, added: “Perth Museum has been a wonderful addition to the city and this nomination is extremely well-deserved.  I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make Perth Museum such a success and am delighted their efforts have been recognised by Art Fund.

    “Perth Museum brings our history to life in new and innovative ways with The Stone of Destiny at its heart, and this is complemented by fantastic and thought-provoking temporary exhibitions such as the new Macbeth exhibition which opened last week.

    “It has been a huge hit with visitors, attracting more than quarter of a million visitors since it opened, and I am sure it will only go from strength-to-strength going forward.”

    The four other shortlisted museums are Beamish, The Living Museum of the North (County Durham); Chapter (Cardiff); Compton Verney (Warwickshire); and Golden Thread Gallery (Belfast).

    The winning museum, recipient of £120,000, will be announced on 26 June at a ceremony at the Museum of Liverpool, the first time the event will be held outside London. £15,000 will be given to each of the four other finalists – bringing the total prize money to £180,000.

    The 2025 judging panel, chaired by Art Fund director Jenny Waldman, includes: Rana Begum (Artist), Dr David Dibosa (Director of Research and Interpretation, Tate), Jane Richardson (Chief Executive, Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales) and Phil Wang (Comedian, Writer, Actor). The judges will visit each of the finalists to inform their decision-making, while each museum will make the most of being shortlisted over the summer through events and activities for new and current visitors.

    Art Fund director Jenny Waldman said: “Congratulations to Perth Museum on being shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025. This year’s finalists are inspiring examples of museums at their best – deeply connected to their local communities, responsive to the world around them, and alive with energy and ideas. Each one offers a distinctive experience, showing the endless creativity and care that goes into making museums inspiring and exciting spaces for everyone. Art Fund is proud to celebrate their work and support their ambition through Art Fund Museum of the Year. We hope people across the UK will be inspired to visit these remarkable places and museums in their local area to discover the powerful role they can play in our lives.”

    The prize is funded thanks to the generosity of Art Fund’s members who buy a National Art Pass. During the shortlist celebration period (29 April to 26 June), Art Pass holders can enjoy free entry to the new Macbeth exhibition at Perth Museum, and 50% off all paid exhibitions at Perth Museum and Perth Art Gallery year-round.

    Macbeth: An Exhibition, 25 April – 31 August 2025, invites visitors to explore the real medieval King Macbeth, and the Shakespearean play that made him a household name. From Birnam Wood and Dunsinane Hill, to the Stone of Destiny used to crown the Kings of Scotland, the story of Macbeth is embedded in Perthshire. 

    Visitors can get up close to a never-before-displayed 11th century sword from the time of the real King Macbeth, a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio, and first editions of the key historical texts that inspired the play. Cinema fans will also be in for a treat with costumes worn by Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard in the 2015 film Macbeth on display for the first time. From medieval royalty, to court intrigue, to witchcraft trials, to popular culture, this exhibition examines the enduring influence of Macbeth across the centuries.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Resistance emerges to newest antibiotic

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Resistance emerges to newest antibiotic

    A new study published by UKHSA shows some bacteria have already become resistant to one of the newest antibiotics introduced to the NHS.

    A new study published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that some bacteria have already become resistant to one of the newest antibiotics introduced to the NHS. Thankfully the levels of resistance are still low, but the data is an important reminder to ensure that antibiotics are used appropriately to slow down the development of resistance.

    Ceftazidime/avibactam is an antibiotic used in the NHS since 2017.

    Ceftazidime/avibactam is used to treat some of the most serious infections in hospitals, such as bloodstream infections, typically in individuals who are infected with known multi-drug resistant bacteria or after other antibiotics have failed. The study, which analysed data from 2016 to 2020, found that 6.3% of bacteria tested in routine surveillance showed resistance to the drug. Percentage resistance per bacterial species varied over time, stabilising as routine surveillance testing was established.

    The antibiotic was used by 69.5% of NHS Trusts during the study period.

    As a ‘Reserve’ classified antibiotic, it should be prescribed only in exceptional circumstances based on how difficult the infection is to treat.

    Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, but use of antibiotics, whether appropriate or not, accelerates this process.

    Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are less likely to respond to treatment, causing serious complications, including bloodstream infections, sepsis and hospitalisation. This is why it is important to take antibiotics only where necessary and when they are prescribed. UKHSA has recently launched a new digital campaign to help keep antibiotics working and tackle the threat of antibiotic resistance.

    Dr Colin Brown, UKHSA Deputy Director responsible for AMR, said:

    This study reminds us how important resistance surveillance is. Research like this means clinicians and prescribers can access the most relevant information available to prescribe the best antibiotics for their patients, while protecting the long-term effectiveness of antibiotics for future use.   

    We aren’t going to be able to tackle antibiotic resistance solely by finding new drugs. While we continue to support innovation in developing new treatments, resistance will emerge and so it’s important that we all work together to keep antibiotics working.

    While Ceftazidime/avibactam is only prescribed in specific situations in hospitals, UKHSA’s new campaign to help keep antibiotics working highlights that everyone has a role in reducing antibiotic resistance.

    Over the course of the 6-week long campaign, ‘Andi Biotic’ will embark on a mission to answer people’s uncertainties about when and how to take antibiotics to help preserve their effectiveness today and for future generations. ‘Andi’ will come to the rescue in a variety of scenarios to make sure people are taking antibiotics in the right way, including:

    • not taking antibiotics for colds and flu, which they don’t work for
    • only taking antibiotics when you have been prescribed them and taking them as directed by a healthcare professional
    • not saving antibiotics for future use

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British-built satellite to map Earth’s forests in 3D for the first time

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    British-built satellite to map Earth’s forests in 3D for the first time

    A satellite developed by British academics and engineers is set to become the first in the world to measure the condition of the Earth’s forests in 3D from space.  

    Artist’s impression of Biomass in orbit. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.

    The European Space Agency (ESA) Biomass Earth observation mission, which launched successfully from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana today, aims to enhance our understanding of the world’s forests and their role in the carbon cycle. The mission will use state-of-the-art radar technology to uncover new insights into forests, including their size and weight, and areas of deforestation.  

    This work will be crucial to helping us understand how tropical forests are changing and provide critical data to understand the carbon cycle and help develop climate strategies. 

    Biomass taking to the skies on 29 April 2025. Credit: ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin

    The concept was conceived in Yorkshire, at the University of Sheffield by Professor Shaun Quegan, working with the National Centre for Earth Observation in Leicester. Other academics from the University of Edinburgh and UCL have brought modelling and data assimilation expertise to the application of Biomass data.   

    Since 2016 the UK has won almost £77 million in contracts for Biomass through its membership of ESA. 

    Minister for Space Sir Chris Bryant said:  

    The Biomass mission showcases British ingenuity at its very best, from conception in Sheffield to construction in Stevenage.     

    Britain is not only stepping to the forefront of the space industry, but of global climate action too.    

    Contributing to such great extent to a European mission set to deliver vital global results is testament to the UK’s industrial and academic expertise in space technology and will attract global investment into our vibrant space ecosystem, helping us boost growth and deliver our Plan for Change.

    Biomass was built by Airbus in Stevenage, UK. Credit: Airbus.

    Shaun Quegan, University of Sheffield’s Professor and lead proposer of the mission concept to the European Space Agency, said:  

    It’s been a privilege to have led the team in the development of a pioneering mission that will revolutionise our understanding of the volume of carbon held in the most impenetrable tropical rainforests on the planet and, crucially, how this is changing over time. Our research has solved critical operational scientific problems in constructing the Biomass satellite.   

    Conceived and built in the UK, Biomass is a brilliant example of what we can achieve in collaboration with our partners in industry and academia. The mission is the culmination of decades of highly innovative work in partnership with some of the best scientists in Europe and the US.   

    Airbus UK is the Prime Contractor and has manufactured the satellite in Stevenage. Throughout construction, it has supported approximately 250 highly skilled jobs, benefitting the local economy and bolstering the UK’s 52,000-strong space workforce. 

    Kata Escott, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space in the UK, said:  

    Biomass is a groundbreaking mission that will advance our understanding of how carbon is stored in the world’s forests – delivering crucial data in the fight against climate change. With more than 50 companies involved across 20 nations, the team in Stevenage has shown exceptional leadership in delivering this flagship ESA mission.

    Many other businesses in the UK supply chain have contributed, including ABSL in Abingdon, which has provided the battery, European Astrotech UK in Westcott, which has provided test services, and Nammo, in Cheltenham, providing the service valves.

    Its revolutionary technology will help scientists capture vital data on the changes to carbon in forests as ecosystems are increasingly impacted by deforestation. The satellite will create a 3D map of tropical forests after 17 months, then new (non-3D) maps every 9 months for the rest of the 5-year mission, providing insights normally hidden from human sight because of the difficulty in accessing these environments.   

    Both deforestation, which releases carbon dioxide, and forest growth, which soaks up CO2 from the atmosphere, are crucial parts of climate change.  

    Data on the biomass of tropical forests is very limited because they are difficult to access.     

    The Biomass satellite will be able to penetrate cloud cover and measure forest biomass more accurately than any current technology, which only see the top of the canopy. By providing better data it will help create a more accurate global carbon budget and better understanding of carbon sinks and sources which will help in developing and implementing effective strategies to achieve net-zero goals.  

    Observations will also lead to better insight into the rates of habitat loss and, as a result, the effect this may have on biodiversity in the forest environment.   

    Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said:  

    The Biomass satellite represents a major leap forward in our ability to understand Earth’s carbon cycle. By mapping the world’s forests from space in unprecedented detail, it will provide critical insights into how our planet is responding to climate change — helping scientists, policymakers, and conservationists take informed action.  

    We’re proud of the leading role the UK has played in this important mission.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Unlock Your Trading Edge With Axi at the Finance Magnates Africa Summit

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading online FX and CFD broker Axi is attending this year’s Finance Magnates Africa Summit (FMAS:25), taking place on May 29-30, 2025, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.  

    Event attendees will have the opportunity to learn about Axi Select, Axi’s all-inclusive capital allocation program, designed to empower ambitious traders on their trading journey. “We invite all traders to visit our booth and explore our innovation that is Axi Select,” says Louis Cooper, Chief Commercial Officer at Axi, before adding, “We look forward to networking with follow traders and showcase the exceptional benefits of our program. Axi Select features zero registration fees, capital funding of up to $1,000,000 USD, the opportunity to earn up to 90% of the profits, and advanced tools to maximise traders’ trading potential.” 

    Additionally, visitors can explore the broker’s Introducing Broker (IB) and Affiliate programs or learn more about Axi’s longstanding partnership with Man City, Premier League Champions. Manchester City memorabilia and the club’s mascot will be on-site for photos and attendees stand the chance to win exciting prizes, including signed player shirts and other merchandise.  

    The broker has a longstanding partnership with Premier League club, Manchester City FC, as well as LaLiga club, Girona FC, and Brazilian club, Esporte Clube Bahia. In 2023, they also announced England international John Stones as their Brand Ambassador. The broker was recognised with the ‘Innovator of the Year’ award at the 2024 Dubai Forex Expo, as well as with the being named ‘Best Funded Trader Programme’ by the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2025.  

    The Axi Select programme is only available to clients of AxiTrader Limited. CFDs carry a high risk of investment loss. In our dealings with you, we will act as a principal counterparty to all of your positions. This content is not available to AU, NZ, EU and UK residents. For more information, refer to our Terms of Service. 

    About Axi 

    Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading company, with thousands of customers in 100+ countries worldwide. Axi offers CFDs for several asset classes including Forex, Shares, Gold, Oil, Coffee, and more. 

    For more information or additional comments from Axi, please contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Twelve arrested in MHRA’s biggest ever crackdown on organised medicines trafficking

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Twelve arrested in MHRA’s biggest ever crackdown on organised medicines trafficking

    Dawn raids in four counties across the West Midlands and the Northwest of England this morning (29 April) dismantle major criminal network trafficking unlicensed medicines.

    Some of the medicines seized in raids today. Credit: MHRA

    Twelve suspects have been arrested in dawn raids in four counties across the West Midlands and the Northwest of England this morning (29 April) in the largest criminal investigation into organised medicines trafficking in the history of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

    The individuals have been arrested on suspicion of participating in the activities of an organised crime group, conspiracy to sell or supply controlled drugs and unlicensed medicines, and money laundering. Suspects are being held for questioning at police stations across the two regions.

    The raids across the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and Merseyside follow a lengthy intelligence-led investigation, codenamed ‘Operation Subaru’, by the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit. Around 150 officers were deployed in today’s operation, with MHRA staff supported by West Midlands and North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, the National Crime Agency, Staffordshire Police and Greater Manchester Police.

    In searches of 22 residential and commercial premises, hundreds of thousands of doses of medicines have been seized including controlled drugs such as opioid painkillers and anti-anxiety medicines, around £100,000 in cash, luxury watches and suspected criminal assets held in cryptocurrency. The MHRA has also obtained restraint orders for more than £3.5 million in assets suspected to be linked to criminal activity.

    Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit, said:

    “Today’s search and arrest operation follows a long, complex and thorough investigation by the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit. Operation Subaru is the largest investigation we’ve ever undertaken and demonstrates the MHRA’s commitment to protecting the public by dismantling the organised international criminal networks that cause so much harm.

    “Trafficking in medicines destroys lives and places a huge financial burden on wider society. Our dedicated team will stop at nothing to tackle this illegal trade by taking potentially harmful medicines off the street and bringing those responsible to justice. As today’s operation shows, there is nowhere to hide.”

    “I’m extremely grateful to each of our law enforcement partners involved today for their substantial, enthusiastic and unwavering support.

    “I would also urge the public to be extremely cautious when buying medicines online. Medicines should only be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a prescription issued by a healthcare professional. Taking medicines sourced in any other way carries serious risks to your health – there are no guarantees about what they contain, and some may even be contaminated with toxic substances.

    The MHRA #FakeMeds website offers helpful guidance and advice for staying safe when buying medicines online.

    This operation is the latest step in the MHRA’s crackdown on illegal medicines trafficking. In 2024, the Agency’s Criminal Enforcement Unit and its partners in the Home Office’s Border Force removed more than 17.5m doses of trafficked medicines from circulation. The seized medicines, including painkillers, sleeping tablets and erectile dysfunction treatments, had a potential street value of more than £40 million.

    Notes to editors 

    1. The Criminal Enforcement Unit is the MHRA’s in-house law enforcement function, leading the Agency’s response to medicines crime. Its strategic mission is to protect the public, maintain confidence in regulation and uphold the rule of law by preventing offending where it can, disrupting offending where it cannot, and bringing offenders to justice where it should. It uses the full range of its powers and capabilities, including intelligence analysis, online disruption, covert techniques and asset recovery to tackle criminal threats to the UK public, working closely with the police and law enforcement agencies in the UK and overseas.

    2. Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from a medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, either through the Yellow Card website or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.

    3. The MHRA’s Accredited Financial Investigators are authorised by the National Crime Agency under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). They support investigations by tracing, freezing, and confiscating assets linked to crime, including money laundering and the illegal supply of medicines. Their work includes seizing cash, valuable items, and freezing bank accounts or cryptocurrency suspected of criminal origins. The Home Office’s Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) allows a proportion of the proceeds of crime recovered under POCA, to be redistributed to agencies involved in the asset recovery process.

    4. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.

    5. The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.

    6. For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Universal Periodic Review 49: UK Statement on Guinea

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Universal Periodic Review 49: UK Statement on Guinea

    Statement by the UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, at Guinea’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    Thank you, Madame Vice President.

    We thank the Guinean delegation for setting out its efforts to protect human rights. And we welcome the steps taken to return to constitutional order. Presidential elections must be held by the end of 2025, as committed to by President Doumbouya.

    Guinea must also take urgent action to tackle corruption in the judiciary and public administration, ensuring that international standards are upheld.            

    Freedom of expression and media freedom are vital. We urge the Government to decriminalise peaceful demonstration and lift the ban on mainstream private media. This will, in turn, strengthen legal protection for journalists, the media and civil society.

    Steps should also be taken to tackle all forms of discrimination and inequality including against minority groups.

    We recommend that Guinea:

    1. Ensure electoral processes in 2025 are credible, including during September’s referendum on the constitution; and local, legislative and presidential elections

    2. Promote freedom of expression by decriminalising defamation, lifting the ban on private media channels and allowing peaceful public demonstrations. 

    3. Take urgent action to tackle corruption in the judiciary and public administration, upholding due process in line with international standards.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Piero Cipollone: Navigating a fractured horizon: risks and policy options in a fragmenting world

    Source: European Central Bank

    Speech by Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the conference on “Policy challenges in a fragmenting world: Global trade, exchange rates, and capital flow” organised by the Bank for International Settlements, the Bank of England, the ECB and the International Monetary Fund

    Frankfurt am Main, 29 April 2025

    I’m honoured to welcome you to this conference, jointly organised by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the Bank of England, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).[1]

    Today, we come together to discuss the urgent challenges posed by global fragmentation – a growing risk to our interconnected world. Earlier this month, the President of the United States announced tariff hikes, sending shockwaves through the global economy – a stark reminder that the fractures we face are no longer hypothetical, but real.

    This announcement is but the latest chapter in a series of four major shocks that have been reshaping our world in recent years.

    First, since 2018 the intensifying power struggle between the United States and China has led to tit-for-tat tariffs affecting nearly two-thirds of the trade between these two economic giants. Second, starting in 2020, the pandemic caused unprecedented disruptions to supply chains, which prompted a re-evaluation of the balance between global integration and resilience. Third, in 2022 Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine not only triggered an energy crisis but also deepened a geopolitical divide that continues to have worldwide repercussions. And fourth, we are now facing the rising risk of economic fragmentation within the western bloc itself, as new trade barriers threaten long-standing international partnerships.

    The data paint a sobering picture. Geopolitical risk levels have surged to 50% above the post-global financial crisis average, and uncertainty surrounding trade policy has risen to more than eight times its average since 2021.[2] What we are experiencing is not merely a temporary disruption – it is a profound shift in how nations interact economically, financially and diplomatically. So, it does not come as a surprise that financial markets have experienced considerable volatility in recent weeks. It remains to be seen if, for markets to find a stable equilibrium, it will be enough to step back from the current international economic disorder towards a more stable, predictable and reliable trading system – a development that appears elusive in the short term. Against this backdrop, recent moves in exchange rates, bond yields and equities, suggest that US markets have not been playing their usual role as a safe haven in this particular episode of stress. This potentially has far-reaching longer-term implications for capital flows and the international financial system.

    Today I will focus on three key points. First, we are seeing increasing signs of fragmentation becoming visible across the economy and financial system. Second, the implications of this accelerating fragmentation could extend far beyond the immediate disruptions, with consequences for growth, stability and prosperity. Third, in this evolving economic landscape, central banks must adapt their approaches yet retain a steadfast focus on their core mandates, while striving to preserve international cooperation.

    The emerging reality of fragmentation

    Let me begin by addressing a common belief – still held by many until recently – that, despite rising geopolitical tensions, globalisation appears largely resilient. Headline figures in trade and cross-border investment, for example, do indeed appear to support this belief. In 2024 world trade expanded to a record USD 33 trillion – up 3.7% from 2023. Similarly, the global stock of foreign direct investment reached an unprecedented USD 41 trillion.[3] However, these surface-level indicators may not reflect the underlying realities, creating a misleading sense of stability when important changes are already underway. In reality, fragmentation is already happening in both the global economy and the financial system.

    Fragmentation of the real economy

    Fragmentation is most evident in rebalancing trade, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions. Take, for instance, the escalating US-China trade tensions that have been intensifying since 2018. Studies show the impact of geopolitical distance on trade has become notably negative. A doubling of geopolitical distance between countries – akin to moving from the position of Germany to that of India in relation to the United States – decreases bilateral trade flows by approximately 20%.[4]

    The series of shocks to the global economy in recent years have also contributed to this fragmentation. According to gravity model estimates, trade between geopolitically distant blocs has significantly declined. Trade between rivals is about 4% lower than it might have been without the heightened tensions post-2017, while trade between friends is approximately 6% higher.[5] Global value chains are being reconfigured as companies respond to these new realities. In 2023 surveys already indicated that only about a quarter of leading firms operating in the euro area[6] that sourced critical inputs from countries considered subject to elevated risk had not developed strategies to reduce their exposure.[7]

    However, these shifting trade patterns have not yet been reflected in overall global trade flows. Non-aligned countries have played a crucial role as intermediaries, or connectors, helping to sustain global trade levels even as direct trade between rival blocs declines.[8] But this stabilising influence is unlikely to endure as trade fragmentation deepens and geopolitical alliances continue to shift.

    The tariffs announced by the US Administration are far-reaching and affect a substantial share of global trade flows. The effects on the real economy are likely to be material. In its World Economic Outlook, published last week, the International Monetary Fund revised down global growth projections for 2025-26 by a cumulative 0.8 percentage points and global trade by a cumulative 2.3 percentage points.[9] This notably reflects a negative hit from tariffs that ranges between 0.4% to 1% of world GDP by 2027.[10] In particular, IMF growth projections for the United States have been revised down by a cumulative 1.3 percentage points in 2025-26. The cumulative impact on euro area growth is smaller, at 0.4 percentage points.

    Financial fragmentation

    The fragmentation we are witnessing in global trade is mirrored in the financial sector, where geopolitical tensions are also reshaping the landscape.

    In recent years, global foreign direct investment flows have increasingly aligned with geopolitical divides. Foreign direct investment in new ventures has plunged by nearly two-thirds between countries from different geopolitical blocs. However, strong intra-bloc investments have helped sustain overall foreign direct investment levels globally, masking some of the fragmentation occurring beneath the surface.[11]

    But, as with trade flows, this dynamic is unlikely to persist as geopolitical tensions grow within established economic blocs. For instance, increased geopolitical distance is shown to curtail cross-border lending. A two standard deviation rise in geopolitical distance – akin to moving from the position of France to that of Pakistan in relation to Germany – leads to a reduction of 3 percentage points in cross-border bank lending.[12]

    The impact of fragmentation in global financial infrastructure is perhaps even more revealing. Since 2014 correspondent banking relationships – crucial for facilitating trade flows across countries – have declined by 20%. While other factors – such as a wave of concentration in the banking industry, technological disruptions and profitability considerations – have played a role[13], the contribution of the geopolitical dimension can hardly be overstated. The repercussions of this decline can be profound. Research shows that when correspondent banking relationships are severed in a specific corridor, a firm’s likelihood of continuing to export between the two countries of that corridor falls by about 5 percentage points in the short term, and by about 20 percentage points after four years.[14]

    Contributing to this trend, countries such as China, Russia and Iran have launched multiple initiatives to develop alternatives to established networks such as SWIFT, raising the possibility of a fragmented global payment system.[15] Geopolitical alignment now exerts a stronger influence than trade relationships or technical standards in connecting payment systems between countries.[16] This poses risks of regional networks becoming more unstable, increased trade costs and settlement times, and reduced risk sharing across countries.

    Additionally, we are witnessing a noticeable shift away from traditional reserve currencies, with growing interest in holding gold. Central banks purchased more than 1,000 tonnes of gold in 2024, almost double the level of the previous decade, with China being the largest purchaser, at over 225 tonnes. At market valuations, the share of gold in global official reserves has increased, reaching 20% in 2024, while that of the US dollar has decreased. Survey data suggest that two-thirds of central banks invested in gold to diversify, 40% to protect against geopolitical risk and 18% because of the uncertainty over the future of the international monetary system.[17] There are further signs that geopolitical considerations increasingly influence decisions to invest in gold. The negative correlation of gold prices with real yields has broken down since 2022, a phenomenon we have also observed in recent weeks. This suggests that gold prices have been influenced by more than simply the use of gold to hedge against inflation. Moreover, countries geopolitically close to China and Russia have seen more pronounced increases in the share of gold in official foreign reserves since the last quarter of 2021.

    The looming consequences of fragmentation

    Accelerating fragmentation is resulting in the immediate disruptions we are now seeing, but this is likely to only be the beginning – potentially profound medium and long-term consequences for growth, stability and prosperity can be expected.

    Medium-term impacts

    The initial consequences of fragmentation are already evident in the form of increased uncertainty. In particular, trade policy uncertainty has led to a broader rise in global economic policy instability, which is stifling investment and dampening consumption. Our research suggests that the recent increase in trade policy uncertainty could reduce euro area business investment by 1.1% in the first year and real GDP growth by around 0.2 percentage points in 2025-26[18]. Consumer sentiment is also under strain, with the ECB’s Consumer Expectations Survey revealing that rising geopolitical risks are leading to more pessimistic expectations, higher income uncertainty and ultimately a lower willingness to spend.[19] Moreover, ECB staff estimates suggest that the observed increase in financial market volatility might imply lower GDP growth of about 0.2 percentage points in 2025.

    Over the medium term, tariffs are set to have an unambiguously recessionary effect, both for countries imposing restrictions and those receiving them. The costs are particularly high when exchange rates fail to absorb tariff shocks, and some evidence suggests exchange rates have become less effective in this role.[20]

    The Eurosystem’s analysis of potential fragmentation scenarios suggests that such trade disruptions could turn out to be significant. In the case of a mild decoupling between the western (United States-centric) and the eastern (China-centric) bloc, where trade between East and West reverts to the level observed in the mid-1990s, global output could drop by close to 2%.[21] In the more extreme case of a severe decoupling – essentially a halt to trade flows – between the two blocs, global output could drop by up to 9%. Trade-dependent nations would bear the brunt of these trade shocks, with China potentially suffering losses of between 5% and 20%, and the EU seeing declines ranging from 2.4% to 9.5% in the mild and severe decoupling scenarios respectively. The analysis also shows that the United States would be more significantly affected if it imposed additional trade restrictions against western and neutral economies – with real GDP losses of almost 11% in the severe decoupling scenario – whereas EU losses would increase only slightly in such a case.[22]

    The inflationary effects of trade fragmentation are more uncertain. They depend mainly on the response of exchange rates, firms’ markups and wages. Moreover, they are not distributed equally. While higher import costs and the ensuing price pressures are likely to drive up inflation in the countries raising tariffs, the impact is more ambiguous in other countries as a result of the tariffs’ global recessionary effects, which push down demand and commodity prices, as well as of the possible dumping of exports from countries with overcapacity. The short to medium-term effects may even prove disinflationary for the euro area, where real rates have increased and the euro has appreciated following US tariff announcements.

    In fact, a key feature of most model-based assessments is that higher US tariffs lead to a depreciation of currencies against the US dollar, moderating the inflationary effect for the United States and amplifying it for other countries. But so far we have seen the opposite: the risk-off sentiment in response to US tariff announcements and economic policy uncertainty have led to capital flows away from the United States, depreciating the dollar and putting upward pressure on US bond yields. Conversely, the euro area benefited from safe haven flows, with the euro appreciating and nominal bond yields decreasing.

    Long-term structural changes

    The long-term consequences of economic fragmentation are inherently difficult to predict, but by drawing on historical examples and recognising emerging trends, it’s clear that we are on the verge of significant structural changes. Two areas stand out.

    The first one is structurally lower growth. On this point, international economic literature has reached an overwhelming consensus.[23] Quantitatively, point estimates might vary. For example, research of 151 countries spanning more than five decades of the 20th century reveals that higher tariffs have typically led to lower economic growth. This is largely due to key production factors – labour and capital – being redirected into less productive sectors.[24]

    However, data from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period which tariff supporters often look back to, seem to tell a different story. At that time, trade barriers across countries were high – the US effective tariff rate, for example, reached almost 60%, twice as high as after the 2 April tariffs. And sometimes countries imposing higher trade barriers enjoyed higher growth, which may provide motivation for current policymakers’ trade tariff policies. But these episodes need to be read in historical context. Before 1913, tariffs mostly shielded manufacturing, a high-productivity sector at the time, attracting labour from other, less productive sectors, like agriculture. Therefore, their negative effects were mitigated by the expansion of industries at the frontier of technological innovation. Moreover, the interwar years offer further nuance – the Smoot-Hawley tariffs of the 1930s had relatively limited direct effects on US growth, mainly because trade accounted for just 5% of the economy.

    But today’s tariffs are unlikely to replicate the positive effects seen in the 19th century. Instead, they risk creating the same inefficiencies observed in the course of the 20th century, by diverting resources from high-productivity sectors to lower-productivity ones. This contractionary effect could lead to persistently lower global growth rates. In fact, the abolition of trade barriers within the EU and the international efforts towards lower trade barriers in the second half of the 20th century were a direct response to the economic and political impact of protectionism,[25] which had played a key role in worsening and prolonging the Great Depression[26] and had contributed to the formation of competing blocs in the run-up to the Second World War.[27]

    The second long-term shift driven by fragmentation might be the gradual transition from a US-dominated, global system to a more multipolar one, where multiple currencies compete for reserve status. For example, if the long-term implications of higher tariffs materialise, notably in the form of higher inflation, slower growth and higher US debt, this could undermine confidence in the US dollar’s dominant role in international trade and finance.[28] Combined with a further disengagement from global geopolitical affairs and military alliances, this could, over time, undermine the “exorbitant privilege” enjoyed by the United States, resulting in higher interest rates domestically.[29]

    Moreover, as alternative payment systems gain traction, regional currencies may start to emerge as reserves within their respective blocs. This could be accompanied by the rise of competing payment systems, further fragmenting global financial flows and international trade. Such shifts would increase transaction costs and erode the capacity of countries to share risks on a global scale, making the world economy more fragmented and less efficient.

    The central bank’s role in a fragmented world

    So, as these tectonic shifts reshape the global economic landscape, central banks must adapt their approaches while remaining steadfast in their core mandates. The challenges posed by fragmentation require a delicate balance between confronting new realities and working to preserve the benefits of an integrated global economy. In order to navigate the present age of fragmentation, it is necessary to take action in four key areas.

    First, central banks must focus on understanding and monitoring fragmentation. Traditional macroeconomic models often assume seamless global integration and may not fully capture the dynamics of a fragmenting world. Enhanced analytical frameworks that incorporate geopolitical factors and how businesses adjust to these risks will be essential for accurate forecasting and effective policy formulation. The Eurosystem is reflecting on these issues.

    Second, monetary policy must adapt to the new nature of supply shocks generated by fragmentation. The effects of the greater frequency, size and more persistent nature of fragmentation-induced shocks and their incidence on prices require a careful calibration of our monetary responses. In this respect, our communication needs to acknowledge the uncertainty and trade-offs we face while giving a clear sense of how we will react depending on the incoming data. This can be done by making use of scenario analysis and providing clarity about our reaction function, as emphasised recently by President Lagarde.[30]

    Third, instead of building walls, we must forge unity. Even as political winds shift, central banks should strengthen international cooperation where possible. Through forums such as those provided by the BIS and the Financial Stability Board, we can keep open channels of cooperation that transcend borders. Our work on cross-border payments stands as proof of this commitment in line with the G20 Roadmap[31]. The ECB is pioneering a cross-currency settlement service through TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) – initially linking the euro, the Swedish krona and the Danish krone. We are exploring connections between TIPS and other fast-payment systems globally, both bilaterally and on the basis of a multilateral network such as the BIS’ Project Nexus.[32]

    And fourth, central banks must enhance their capacity to address financial stability risks arising from fragmentation. The potential for sudden stops in capital flows, payment disruptions and volatility in currency markets requires robust contingency planning and crisis management frameworks. Global financial interlinkages and spillovers highlight the importance of preserving and further reinforcing the global financial safety net so that we can swiftly and effectively address financial stress, which is more likely to emerge in a fragmenting world.[33]

    In fact, the lesson from the 1930s is that international coordination is key to avoiding protectionist snowball effects, where tit-for-tat trade barriers multiply as each country seeks to direct spending to merchandise produced at home rather than abroad.[34] In order to avoid this, the G20 countries committed to preserving open trade could call an international trade conference to avoid beggar-thy-neighbour policies[35] and instead agree on other measures, such as macroeconomic policies that can support the global economy in this period of uncertainty and contribute to reduce global imbalances.

    Let me finally emphasise that the current situation also has important implications for the euro area. If the EU upholds its status as a reliable partner that defends trade openness, investor protection, the rule of law and central bank independence, the euro has the potential to play the role of a global public good. This requires a deep, trusted market for internationally accepted euro debt securities. That is why policy efforts to integrate and deepen European capital markets must go hand in hand with efforts to issue European safe assets.[36]

    Conclusion

    Let me conclude.

    As we stand at this crossroads of global fragmentation, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: we are drifting toward a fractured economic and financial landscape where trust is eroded and alliances are strained.

    Central banks now face a double challenge: to be an anchor of stability in turbulent economic waters while reimagining their role in a world where multiple economic blocs are forming. The question is not whether we adapt, but how we mitigate the costs of fragmentation without sacrificing the potential of global integration.

    Our greatest risk lies not in the shocks we anticipate, but in the alliances we neglect, the innovations we overlook and the common ground we fail to find. The future of global prosperity hinges on our ability to use fragmentation as a catalyst to reinvent the common good.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Exciting plans to make 2025 Waterside Half Marathon biggest and best yet

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Exciting plans to make 2025 Waterside Half Marathon biggest and best yet

    29 April 2025

    Derry City and Strabane District Council have announced ambitious plans to create an unforgettable experience for runners and spectators alike when the Waterside Half Marathon returns to the city this Autumn.

    The 2025 edition of the event, sponsored by EY and the Lycra Company, is set to feature a record field of 3,250 runners who will set off from Ebrington Square at 9.30am on Sunday September 7th.

    Council’s Festival and Events team are planning a number of new features to make the 42nd staging of the race not just the biggest but the best yet.
    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, has urged runners to seal their place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
    “Demand for places in the Waterside Half Marathon has gone through the roof in recent years and over 75% of places have now been snapped up four months ahead of race day,” she said.
    “This is a brilliant reflection of the huge running participation numbers that exist locally and the popularity of this event with all levels of runner.
    “Last year’s scenic four bridge route, which was designed in consultation with local running clubs, proved particularly popular with both athletes and spectators alike and I am delighted to see it retained for 2025.”

    The race route starts and ends in Ebrington Square and crosses the Craigavon Bridge, the Peace Bridge (twice), the Foyle Bridge and the Pennyburn Footbridge.

    Ebrington Square is set to host the EY sponsored Race Village where there will be a club zone, live music and food and drink to allow runners to celebrate their achievement with friends and family.
    Athletics NI have also confirmed that the 2025 Half Marathon will also be the Northern Ireland and Ulster Half Marathon Championships race.
    Festival and Events Manager at Council, Jacqueline Whoriskey, said they were delighted to continue to grow the event into one of the biggest on the island of Ireland.
    “We were delighted with the success of the 2024 Waterside Half Marathon, where runners remarked on how good the atmosphere was around the course, particularly at the relay changeover points and along the quay,” she said.
    “The dramatic finish over the Peace Bridge and up the mall through Ebrington Square has proved a big hit with runners and spectators too so we aren’t surprised that demand has been at an all time high this year and well over 2,000 runners have already sealed their spot.
    “We are delighted to have EY and The Lycra Company on board as sponsors this year and their generous support will allow us to create an even better race experience before, during and after the event when we are planning a post race party in the Square where you can toast your success.”

    The entry fee for the Half Marathon is £27 plus booking fee and £70 plus booking fee for a Relay team.

    The event is chip-timed and every finisher receives a commemorative medal and t shirt.

    You can register now at www.derrystrabane.com/whm and follow the Waterside Half Marathon facebook page for race updates.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Community Payback Orders – Unpaid work or Other Activity Requirements: February 2005

    Source: Scottish Government

    An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland

    The Chief Statistician has released figures on Community Payback Orders (CPOs) unpaid work or other activity requirements today.

    The publication covers the changes in rates of progression during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, information on the number of hours imposed by the courts for this requirement and the number of unpaid work hours to be progressed.

    In 2023-24, there were 15,100 CPOs imposed by the courts, which included 1.39 million unpaid work hours imposed as part of unpaid work requirements.

    There has been an increase of 7% in the number of CPOs issued in the first 11 months of 2024-25, compared to this period in 2023-24.

    In February 2025, there was 867,300 unpaid work hours to be progressed. This is an increase of 9% from February 2024.

    An estimate of the number of unpaid work hours imposed between February 2024 to January 2025 was in the range of 1.48 to 1.54 million hours. When compared with previous time period this showed an increase of at least 7%. The increase in hours imposed is a contributing factor to the increase in unpaid work hours to be progressed.

    Background

     Full statistical publication is available on Scottish Government website.

     Official statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

     This information relates to only one of the 10 requirements that can be imposed for Community Payback Orders (CPOs). The unpaid work or other activity requirement (abbreviated to unpaid work) is one of the most common to be imposed. Unpaid work requirements are continuously being imposed, and, at the same time, existing requirements are being completed.  Completing unpaid work requirements takes time and, as a result, there will always be outstanding hours in the system while requirements are being progressed.

    The data for this publication comes from four different data sources. Therefore, estimates are used to allow reporting on the same time-frame. Changes to the recent unpaid work hours to be progressed should be treated with caution due to seasonal fluctuation. It is better to look at the overall annual trend than focus on the changes in the last two quarters.

    Further statistics on Justice Social Work

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Crowds enjoy Derby’s St George’s Day celebrations

    Source: City of Derby

    Dragons roared, knights clashed, and medieval games delighted crowds in Derby as the city celebrated St George’s Day.

    The annual festivities featured live performances, engaging workshops, and creative crafts that brought the legend of St George to life. 

    The event was produced by Derby LIVE, Derby City Council’s arts and events team, in conjunction with The Lost Boys and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District (BID). 

    St George and The Mayor of Derby launched the festivities before one of the highlights of the day, The Lost Boys’ spectacular and tongue-in-cheek reenactment of St George’s legendary battle with the dragon, which drew enthusiastic cheers from the audience. 

    Families gathered to enjoy AVP Theatre’s delightful puppet show, a family-friendly fairytale retelling of the St George and the Dragon story, and aspiring knights had the chance to train in hands-on workshops led by The Lost Boys and Team Falchion, learning about chivalry and trying their hand at sword skills. 

    Team Falchion

    Team Falchion also provided fascinating showcases of medieval armour and combat, alongside engaging medieval games and blanket weaving activities. Throughout the afternoon, roaming dragons added an extra element of surprise and delight for young adventurers. 

    St Peter’s Cross was also a hub of creativity, with Scraggy Moo’s environmentally-friendly family crafts proving a hit. In partnership with St Peter’s Quarter BID, children were able to create their own dragons and flags, adding their colourful creations to the St George’s Day celebrations.

    Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture and Tourism, said:

    Derby once again embraced the spirit of St George’s Day with a fantastic array of free family activities. It was wonderful to see so many people coming together to enjoy the entertainment and have a go at the activities.

    The atmosphere was really special so thank you to everyone who made the event happen.

    Brad Worley, Manager for the Derby Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter BIDs said:

    St George’s Day celebrations are always a fantastic event in Derby and this year was no exception. St Peters Quarter and Cathedral Quarter BIDs were excited to help support the wide variety of performances on offer, and we hope that everybody had a wonderful time.

    When events like this happen, the city comes to life, and it’s wonderful to see.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Regulator reveals insights from large-scale trustee research project

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Regulator reveals insights from large-scale trustee research project

    New research from the Charity Commission and Pro Bono Economics finds trustees are “immensely positive” about their experience

    The charity regulator for England and Wales, with think tank and social sector research organisation, Pro Bono Economics, has published the findings of the most comprehensive survey ever undertaken of trustee motivations and skills.  

    The research finds that the vast majority of trustees are “immensely positive” about their experience, with eight in ten trustees likely to recommend the role to others. Most trustees feel positive about board dynamics, and their relationships with staff and volunteers.  

    Researchers have analysed over 2,000 responses from trustees across England and Wales, with responses weighted to ensure it was representative of the size profile of charities on the Register. 

    The charity sector has a turnover of £94 billion per year, assets of £340 billion and employs 3% of the UK workforce. Building a better picture of the experience of trustees will help the Commission, policy makers and the sector better understand the skills, motivations and backgrounds of existing trustees, and engage the broadest possible pool of trustee talent. 

    Reported rewards and benefits of trusteeship 

    Among the key benefits reported is the opportunity trusteeship brings to grow and develop professionally, especially among younger trustees. Over half (57%) of trustees aged under 30 said trusteeship supported their career development, while older trustees said it gave them an opportunity to give back. 

    Six in 10 report that the role makes them feel they are having a positive impact on the world and nearly four in 10 feel more fulfilled because of their trustee role (38%). 

    Skills and expertise among trustees  

    The research finds that the trustee population largely feels confident and well-equipped to exercise their duties. More than nine in ten trustees reported understanding their roles and responsibilities (95%) and feeling qualified to fulfil them (93%). 

    However, the findings suggest some boards could benefit from more people with certain skills or expertise.  A quarter of respondents reported accessing legal expertise externally, suggesting a possible lack of relevant skills at board level. 

    While most trustees report their board had significant finance skills and experience (59%), this was also the skillset with the second greatest reliance on external sources (8%). 

    Similarly, fewer than 25% of respondents report having anti-fraud, campaigning or marketing skills on their charity’s board.  

    Demographic profile of trustees  

    The research also offers new data on charity board demographics, suggesting movement towards gender parity on trustee boards. 43% of trustees are female compared to 36% in 2017, when the last comparable research project was undertaken. The findings suggest variation based on charities’ size, with smaller charities tending to have more female trustees proportionally.

    Over half of trustees are retired, more than double the proportion in the general population. People aged 44 and under make up only 8% of trustees, and just 1% overall were aged 30 or under.

    The research suggests that a lower percentage of trustees are from ethnic minority backgrounds compared to the general population (8% compared to 17%, with 92% of trustees being white compared to 83% of the general population). Analysis of the data suggests the difference is related to the age profile of trustees. Notably, the research finds that there are proportionately slightly more black trustees aged below 60 compared to the general population (7% compared to 5%), but that people of Asian heritage make up 1% of trustees compared to 4% in the older population. 

    Charity Commission Chief Executive, David Holdsworth, said: 

    This rich and detailed research gives us valuable new insights into the people on whom all charities, of all sizes, ultimately rely. This research shows what those of us who have been trustees already knew – that whilst it is a significant responsibility, it is also a hugely rewarding way to have an impact on something you care about. I hope that in making these findings available, we can support the sector to respond, encouraging and inspiring a pipeline of committed and skilled people willing to serve as volunteer trustees into the future – and to reap the personal rewards of the role.

    Pro Bono Economics Head of Social Sector, Anoushka Kenley, said: 

    This new research provides plenty of room for optimism, with the vast majority of trustees saying that they find their role rewarding and evidence of an improvement over recent years in the representativeness of the trustee population. But there is further to go, with the potential to bring even more talent and more diverse perspectives to the fore by supporting more young people and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to take up trustee roles. By encouraging a more diverse range of people to become trustees, we can strengthen boards and better support communities.

    In a speech today at Trustee Exchange, David Holdsworth is expected to say the publication of this report reflects the Charity Commission’s commitment to supporting trustees and doing what it can to promote and position trusteeship as an attractive proposition, as set out in the regulator’s five year strategy.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors: 

    1. Research methodology: Fieldwork was conducted by the Charity Commission of England and Wales and BMG Research in English and Welsh. The survey was sent to 19,929 trustees over July and August 2024, yielding 2,432 completed responses (2,194 valid responses after cleaning). Responses were weighted according to the annual gross income of the respondent’s organisation to ensure the results are representative of the population of charities in the Commission’s Register.

    2. The findings can be viewed on PBE’s website or GOV.UK

    3. Pro Bono Economics (PBE) uses economic analysis and the unique insight from our connection to the social sector to help charities, funders, firms and policymakers tackle the causes and consequences of low wellbeing in the UK. Policy analysts, researchers and economists at PBE work on a wide range of issues related to low wellbeing, including mental health, education, employment, financial security, poverty, disability, inequality, volunteering and civil society. PBE works closely with the economics profession to achieve its aims, building relationships between over 600 economist volunteers and supporting over 600 charities and social purpose organisations since 2009.  

    4. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society. Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission/about 

    5. Charity Commission Strategy 2024-2029 was published 26 February 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charity-commission-strategy-2024-2029/charity-commission-strategy-2024-2029 

    6. David Holdsworth’s speech at Trustee Exchange will be published on gov.uk after 14:00hrs Tuesday 29 April 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New appointments to Financial Conduct Authority board announced

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New appointments to Financial Conduct Authority board announced

    Chancellor announces the appointment of four new Non-Executive Directors at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has today confirmed that Julia Black, Anita Kimber, John Ball and Stéphane Malrait have been appointed as Non–Executive Directors to the Board of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Chancellor also confirms a one-year extension of Richard Lloyd’s second term as a Non-Executive Director on the FCA Board.

    Julia Black and Anita Kimber will commence their terms on 12 May 2025, John Ball on 27 May 2025, whilst Stéphane Malrait will join later in the year on 20 October 2025. They will each serve an initial three-year term. Richard Lloyd’s second term has been extended and will now conclude on 31 March 2026.

    Julia Black is a former External Member of the Prudential Regulation Committee. Julia is a highly accomplished academic in the field of law and financial regulation and has advised policy makers, consumer bodies, and regulators on issues of regulatory strategy and design in the UK and internationally.

    Anita Kimber is a former Partner at EY who has also led large practices at PwC and IBM. Anita is experienced in leading transformation programmes across technology, data and analytics combined with customer insight and user experience focused teams. Anita’s experience is closely aligned with regulatory compliance for banks and other financial services institutions, including a secondment and a permanent appointment at Nationwide Building Society.

    John Ball is a former Global MD, Pensions Practice for Willis Towers Watson where he enjoyed a near 40 year career. He has extensive change management experience and broader board experience across several WTW subsidiary boards and committees. The FCA Board will benefit from John’s deep pensions expertise.

    Stéphane Malrait is a former Managing Director and Global Head of market structure and innovation for Financial Markets at ING Bank. Stéphane has operated in large, complex organisations internationally, including in the US, France, and the UK. He will bring experience of governance across different entities including non-executive board experience with industry associations and fintech companies.

    Richard Lloyd is a distinguished member of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Board, bringing a wealth of experience from his extensive career in consumer rights and public policy. He previously held significant roles, including serving as the Executive Director of Which?, where he championed consumer interests and advocated for fairer markets. Notably, Richard served effectively as the interim Chair of the FCA Board from June 2022 until February 2023, demonstrating strong leadership and a steadfast commitment to the organisation’s objectives.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    The FCA have been crucial in supporting the government’s efforts to reform regulation in order to better support growth and I am pleased to announce the appointments of Julia Black, Anita Kimber, John Ball and Stéphane Malrait to the FCA Board and the extension of Richard Lloyd for an additional year.

    All five individuals bring extensive financial services experience to the Board and will help the FCA go further and faster to deliver on this government’s Plan for Change.

    Chair of the FCA Board Ashely Alder, said:

    I’m delighted to welcome Julia, Anita, John and Stéphane to the FCA board. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and insight across the financial services sector. I look forward to working with them as we deliver our ambitious new 5-year strategy.

    I’d also like to congratulate Richard Lloyd on the extension of his second term, which ensures we continue to benefit from his invaluable counsel in the months ahead.

    About the Financial Conduct Authority

    The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the conduct regulator for the UK’s financial services firms and markets. It is responsible for the conduct of around 42,000 businesses and sets the specific prudential standards for roughly 17,000 firms.

    It has an overarching strategic objective of ensuring the relevant markets function well. To support this, it has three operational objectives: to secure an appropriate degree of protection for consumers; to protect and enhance the integrity of the UK financial system; and to promote effective competition in the interests of consumers. Its secondary objective is to facilitate the international competitiveness of the UK economy, and its growth in the medium to long-term.

    About the appointment process

    Julia Black, Anita Kimber, John Ball and Stéphane Malrait have been appointed by the Chancellor following a fair and open recruitment process run by HM Treasury. All appointments are subject to vetting and security clearances currently in progress.

    The Treasury is committed to appointing a diverse range of people to public appointments, including at the Financial Conduct Authority. The Treasury continues to take active steps to attract the broadest range of suitable applicants for posts.

    Appointments to the FCA Board are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Julia Black, Anita Kimber, John Ball and Stéphane Malrait have not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chair appointed for public inquiry into Nottingham attack

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Chair appointed for public inquiry into Nottingham attack

    Former senior circuit judge, Her Honour (HH) Deborah Taylor, has been appointed by the Lord Chancellor to chair the statutory inquiry into the Nottingham attacks.

    HH Deborah Taylor

    • Her Honour Deborah Taylor to chair Nottingham inquiry
    • Holistic review to provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents
    • Full Terms of Reference to be published in due course

    Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and Ian Coates, 65, were tragically killed and three other survivors were seriously injured by Valdo Calocane in Nottingham in June 2023.

    Speaking in the House of Commons today (April 22), the Lord Chancellor confirmed HH Deborah Taylor would undertake a thorough, independent assessment of the events that culminated in these brutal attacks, and provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents.

    The statutory inquiry will have the power to examine all the agencies involved, including the Nottinghamshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service; compel witnesses, and establish the facts. The Prime Minister has committed that the inquiry should report within two years.

    The bereaved families and survivors of the attack were present in the public gallery during the Lord Chancellor’s announcement.

    Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said:

    The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham Attack, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific attacks were able to happen.

    I am pleased to appoint Her Honour Deborah Taylor as the Chair of this inquiry. She brings deep experience to the role, and I know she will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts.

    The Chair, a retired senior circuit judge, has already engaged with survivors and victims’ families, and taken views on the draft Terms of Reference, which will be laid in due course.

    Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Alex Davies-Jones, said:

    My thoughts remain with the bereaved families and survivors of this terrible incident, who in the face of such tragedy, have consistently called for an Inquiry.

    It is important for the bereaved families and survivors that this Inquiry reports without undue delay which is why the Prime Minister has committed the inquiry should report in two years.

    Notes to editors:

    • With the Chair in place and the inquiry being formally established today, it can begin preliminary work immediately. The final terms of reference will be published as soon as possible.
    • There have been nine separate reviews into various elements of the Nottingham attacks including: Valdo Calocane’s healthcare and the healthcare institution; actions by Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire Police; and decisions of the CPS.  IOPC investigations into the actions of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire police are ongoing.
    • The Law Commission is undertaking a review into homicide law and will consider the partial defence of diminished responsibility.
    • HH Deborah Taylor was a Senior Circuit Judge, Resident Judge at Southwark Crown Court and Recorder of Westminster until her retirement from the Judiciary in December 2022. In 2022 she was Treasurer of Inner Temple, where she advocated for greater diversity at the Bar.
    • Deborah will continue in her role as Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board which she has held since July 2023

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Get in a spin for Compton Care at WV Active

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    WV Active Aldersley and WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams are hosting an epic two-hour spin-a-thon on Saturday 10 May from 9.30am-11.30am in support of the Cycle for Compton appeal.

    The charity is asking people to cycle 50, 100, 250 or 500 miles throughout May to enable it to continue its work supporting patients and their families.

    To get involved at WV Active costs just £10 per bike, with all proceeds going to Compton Care. Every participant will also get a WV Active and Compton goodie bag. It is open to members and non-members and places can be booked via the WV Active app or by visiting one of the centres.

    Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Compton Care’s Cycle for Compton appeal with this spin-a-thon next weekend, so please take up this opportunity to spin, sweat and support this vital good cause.”

    People can also support the Cycle for Compton appeal by donating online at Cycle for Compton. 

    Emily Thompson, Compton Care Community and Events Manager, said: “For over 40 years, we have been providing specialist palliative and end of life care to patients, and support for their families, helping them to navigate every aspect of life with a life limiting condition.

    “Our care, whether delivered at our purpose-built facilities or at home, is tailored to individual needs, helping patients and their loved ones to feel safe and supported. Ensuring local people living with or caring for someone with a palliative diagnosis have access to the care and support they need remains our priority.

    “By Cycling for Compton you are helping to raise vital funds for Compton Care.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: University of Aberdeen team wins at national event awards A conference organised by a team from the School of Psychology and CPD and Event Services at the University of Aberdeen has been recognised for its excellence and impact at a national awards ceremony.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    A conference organised by a team from the School of Psychology and CPD and Event Services at the University of Aberdeen has been recognised for its excellence and impact at a national awards ceremony.
    The European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP) was named the Best Association Event at The Scottish Event Awards. 
    The 46th annual ECVP took place in Aberdeen from 25 to 29 August 2024. A team from the School of Psychology led by Professor Constanze Hesse and Dr Mauro Manassi, and with support from the University’s CPD and Event Services team, successfully bid for and delivered the event. The organisers were recognised by the judges for the conference’s commitment to inclusion and impact.
    Attracting more than 800 delegates, the ECVP provided a forum for presenting and discussing new developments in the study of visual perception in the disciplines of Psychology, Neuroscience and Cognitive Sciences. Last year’s event involved a series of lectures, tutorials, roundtables, and poster sessions on the extensive field of visual perception. The programme also included the Illusion Night, an outreach city event which featured interactive visual experiences, demonstrations of cutting-edge research techniques such as mobile eye-tracking and virtual reality and a scientific magic show, offering insights into visual perception which was attended by more than 1,600 attendees from the public and conference delegates, with more than 40 international researchers involved.
    The Scottish Event Awards are Scotland’s only awards evening dedicated to the events and festivals industries. The awards recognise the resilience of the industry, as well as the outstanding companies, organisations and individuals in Scotland’s event scene. This year’s ceremony took place on 24 April at The Corn Exchange in Edinburgh.
    Professor Peter Edwards, Vice-Principal for Regional Engagement at the University of Aberdeen, said: “It is a huge achievement to be recognised at The Scottish Event Awards. This win is a testament to the fantastic research coming out of the School of Psychology, the excellent collaboration between teams across the University and our commitment to public engagement with science and research.”
    CPD and Event Services was also shortlisted for two other awards: the Public Sector Events Team of the Year, and the Rising Star Award for Jessica Hippey.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Treat for car lovers as Supercar Saturday roars into town

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Treat for car lovers as Supercar Saturday roars into town

    29 April 2025

    Car enthusiasts across the city and district are in for a treat as the Mayor’s popular Supercar Saturday roars into Guildhall Square and Harbour Square on Saturday 24th May from 12-5pm.

    Local car enthusiasts Gary and Stephen McCaul will showcase approximately 35 luxury vehicles including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren and Maserati for public viewing.

    Popular local entertainer Micky Doherty will lead this family-friendly event which offers children and big kids the chance to get up close with one of Ireland’s finest collections of supercars. Adding to the festive atmosphere, DJ Lui and DJ Richie Rich will keep the music flowing throughout the day. A mobile gaming truck will provide additional entertainment for younger attendees, while local food vendors will be on site serving delicious refreshments.

    The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr, said she was delighted to see this well-supported event return to the city. Supercar Saturday will help to raise funds for The Bud Club, the Mayor’s chosen charity for her year in office. 

    “I’m really looking forward to hosting Supercar Saturday. This event has become a highlight in our community calendar, and for good reason. The collection of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and other luxury vehicles that Gary and Stephen have arranged is truly world-class. I’ve had the privilege of previewing some of these fantastic vehicles, and they are simply breathtaking.

    “What makes this day so special is that it allows car enthusiasts to explore the spectacular vehicles they have previously only dreamt about. I’m particularly proud that this event will raise funds for The Bud Club, allowing our community’s passion for incredible cars to directly benefit a life-changing organisation for young people with additional needs.”

    Supercar Saturday is part of the Mayor’s One Big Weekend, One Big Cause – Revved Up and Ready to Rock for Bud Club’ extravaganza which will take place on the Bank Holiday weekend of May 24th and 25th and features three incredible events designed to appeal to all ages and interests.

    The fun will begin with Supercar Saturday, followed by a night of music and entertainment with ‘Derry Rocks for Bud Club’ in the Guildhall. This event will feature The Mindbenders with the Ultimate Yacht Rock Show, along with funnyman Black Paddy and musician Ritchie Remo. The weekend will be brought to an epic conclusion with ‘Feel the Beat’ a night of high-energy and infectious Afrobeats at St Columb’s Hall. All three events will raise funds for the Mayor’s chosen charity, The Bud Club, a life-changing organisation for young people with additional needs.

    For more information and to purchase tickets to the ‘Derry Rocks for Bud Club’ and Afrobeats night go to www.derrystrabane.com/OneWeekend. You can also keep up to date with everything that is happening on What’s On Derry Strabane and Council’s social channels.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: LFC Premier League Victory Parade Confirmed

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Last updated:

    The Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, has invited Liverpool Football Club to parade the city’s streets to officially celebrate securing their 20th English league title.

    After Arne Slot’s team triumphed against Tottenham Hotspur yesterday, the City Council has hit the green light on initiating its complex parade protocol, with plans for the Premier League trophy parade to take place on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May, from 2.30pm.

    The major logistical challenges in arranging a parade of this scale, which is expected to be witnessed by hundreds of thousands of people, means months of planning has already been taking place behind the scenes with stakeholders across the city. Given the magnitude of the event, organisers are keen for the date to be publicised in advance so residents and businesses in the city can prepare.

    The victory parade route will start at Allerton Maze and will travel north bound on Queens Drive towards the Fiveways roundabout and Rocket flyover. From there it will journey along:

    • Queens Drive

    • Mill Bank

    • West Derby Road

    • Islington

    • Leeds Street

    • The Strand

    • Route finishes at Blundell Street

    It is expected the 15km-long parade will last anywhere between 3 to 5 hours, but this is subject to change.

    As in 2019 and in 2022, the key advice to supporters to line the entire route, plan travel in advance and supporters are reminded that bringing their own pyrotechnics/flares is prohibited in order to protect the safety of all in attendance.

    Those planning to line the route and cheer the team on should expect the city to be extremely busy, not only on the Monday, but also in the days beforehand as Liverpool is hosting the major music event, Radio 1 Big Weekend.  Cunard’s Queen Anne will also be sailing into the city on Monday 26 May, which is expected to also attract crowds.

    More information and advice will be issued by the City Council and partner agencies (Liverpool Football Club, Merseyside Police and Merseytravel) in the run up to the date.

    The full costs of the parade will be met by Liverpool Football Club.

    The parade is being organised by Liverpool City Council’s award-winning Culture Liverpool team, which has been praised for its work on the previous victory parades, and is also responsible for bringing other major events to the city, such as Eurovision 2023 and this year’s Radio 1 Big Weekend.  

    Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, said:

    “We’re delighted to officially invite Liverpool Football Club to parade around the city on the 26 May. A Liverpool victory parade is more than football – it’s a celebration of our city’s pride, passion and community spirit.

    “It’s going to be a bumper weekend in Liverpool, with Radio 1 welcoming more than 100,000 people to Sefton Park, the final Premier League match on the Sunday, Cunard’s Queen Anne sailing into the city on Monday, on the same day as the parade – any other city may shy away from back-to-back high-profile events, but as one of the world leader’s when it comes to staging major, successful and safe outdoor activities, Liverpool is set to shine once again under the global spotlight.

    “A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes in preparation for an event of this size and scale, and there has already been months of careful planning taking place as the Team Liverpool approach – which we saw work so well throughout Eurovision – comes to the fore again.

    “It’s set to be an unforgettable Bank Holiday Weekend as we give the team the celebration they deserve.”

    Chief Inspector Chris Barnes, the Silver Commander for the event, said:

    “We have been working with Liverpool City Council, who are organising the event, and will be supporting them with the running and policing of the Victory Parade Monday, 26 May, to ensure the event goes ahead safely and disruption to regular road users and people living and visiting the city is minimal.

    “Officers will be providing a reassuring presence  along the route to ensure that that day is not only one to remember, but also an enjoyable and safe event for all those attending the parade.

    “Rolling road closures will be put in place to accommodate the parade and although we will work with Liverpool City Council to keep disruption to a minimum, some traffic disruption is inevitable and we would ask motorists to be patient, or avoid the area of parade route where possible.

    “If you have plans already for Monday (26th May) or are going to be driving in and out of the area, I would ask you to familiarise yourself with the route so you can fully prepare, make alternative travel arrangements in advance, or use available public transport wherever possible.

    “We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Liverpool Football Club on their success. The parade on Monday, 26 May, will be a fantastic event for the players, the club, the city, and all the fans who will turn out to cheer their team on through the streets of Liverpool.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens lodge plans for tenants to withhold rent if landlords don’t carry out repairs

    Source: Scottish Greens

    29 Apr 2025 Housing

    Homes are for living in, not for profiteering.

    More in Housing

    Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess has lodged proposals that would allow renters to withhold rent payments if landlords do not promptly carry out serious repairs to their property.

    Ms Burgess’ proposed amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Bill would see renters able to withhold payment of rent if landlords do not carry out the repairs within 30 days of being notified about the issues.

    This would ensure major concerns such as damp, mould, broken floorings and heating and hot water systems are repaired promptly, so that private housing stock is maintained to a safe standard for living in.

    The amendment would also make the tribunal process more evenly shared, as landlords who act in bad faith would have to prove they have done enough to resolve the issue to unlock the withheld rent.

    Ms Burgess said:

    “My proposals will make it easier for renters to stand up to rogue landlords and to get vital repairs done quickly.

    “At the moment, renters can do little except threaten to take their landlords to tribunals, which can be time consuming and stressful, and the burden of the tribunal falls on the renter.

    “My amendment, which is backed by Living Rent, would allow tenants to withhold rent if their landlord hasn’t fixed serious issues within a timeframe of 30 days of being notified about them.

    “Renters should expect their homes to be maintained to the same standard as any other. But in some cases, there are landlords who simply feel it is okay to take rent and let their properties fester with damp, mould and serious problems that significantly impact health and wellbeing.

    “While not all landlords let this happen, and many will be encouraged to keep up the good work, there are some bad faith actors who fail to maintain their properties. For those who rent these properties, it can be a miserable experience. People in this situation need more support and the power to make sure major repairs happen.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens in tax bid to tackle holiday home crisis in National Parks

    Source: Scottish Greens

    29 Apr 2025 Finance

    National Parks are iconic spaces that should be protected.

    More in Finance

    The Scottish Greens are lodging plans to tackle the housing crisis in our National Parks and protect the communities who live there by increasing the tax due when buying a holiday home within park boundaries.

    At present, someone buying a second or holiday home anywhere in Scotland must pay a tax known as the Additional Dwelling Supplement. 

    These new proposals, to be lodged by Ross Greer MSP as an amendment to the upcoming Housing Bill, would create a further charge on top of this within National Parks, in recognition of the housing crisis in these communities being caused by so many properties becoming holiday homes.

    The change would build on successful changes already made by the Scottish Greens, namely doubling the Additional Dwelling Supplement from 4% to 8% since 2021. This will raise more than a quarter of a billion pounds in the current financial year.

    The Greens preferred policy would be for the Additional Dwelling Supplement to be doubled again in National Parks, though this would be for MSPs to agree on an annual basis.

    The latest data shows there are 2455 second homes in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, which is around 5% of all homes. This is more than five times the national average of 0.9%.

    The problem is far worse within the Cairngorms National Park, where around 12% of all houses are second homes, reaching 20% in some communities, meaning one in five homes are empty for most of the year.

    The Greens are confident that their amendment would raise more funds for public services and free up more homes for people to live in by reducing the number bought to be used as holiday homes.

    Research from 2022 shows that 75% of National Park households cannot afford average house prices.

    Ross Greer said:

    “Our National Parks are iconic and beautiful places, but the families who actually live there are being pushed out by second home owners. 

    “Young people in particular are too often forced to leave the communities they grew up in after being outbid by those wealthy enough to buy a second property.

    “Too many properties are also used as cash cows for short-term lets while local people are priced out and businesses find it impossible to recruit staff because there is nowhere for them to live.

    “The changes already delivered by Green MSPs have reduced the number of second and holiday homes bought each year, freeing up more properties for people who need a home to live in. Now we can build on this success and ensure that the communities within our National Parks are more than just holiday parks.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –