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Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Panetta Authors Legislation to Protect the Central Coast from Offshore Drilling

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

    Monterey, CA – On Earth Day, United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored and introduced the Central Coast of California Conservation Act of 2025.  This legislation would prohibit any new leasing for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in the Central California Planning Area, which extends all along California’s 19th Congressional District, including from the northern border of San Luis Obispo County to the northern border of Santa Cruz County.  The bill would ensure protections up to Mendocino County.  Rep. Panetta introduced this legislation as part of a collaborative, coordinated package of bills to permanently protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from the dangers of fossil fuel drilling.

    As this Administration attempts to repeal environmental protections, the Central Coast of California Conservation Act would take proactive action to protect California’s 19th Congressional District’s coastal economies and marine ecosystems.  These waters are teeming with biodiversity, boasting at least 26 marine mammal species, 94 seabird species, four sea turtle species, more than 340 fish species, thousands of invertebrate species, and more than 450 marine algae species.  California’s coast supports tourism, recreation, agriculture, fisheries, and shipping, contributing $44 billion to California’s GDP each year.

    “Our oceans, economy, and way of life of coastal communities in California’s 19th Congressional District must continue to be protected from any effort to expand offshore oil and gas drilling,” said Rep. Panetta.  “The Central Coast of California Conservation Act would prevent new drilling before it starts, protecting the biodiversity of our waters and the businesses and communities that rely on them.  On Earth Day, and every day, we must take action to ensure we are living up to the legacy of our home to protect the incredible beauty and bounty that our ocean provides for the next generation.”

    U.S. coastal counties support 54.6 million jobs, $10 trillion in goods and services, and pay $4 trillion in wages.  Under President Joe Biden, more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean waters were permanently protected from offshore oil and gas drilling.  This Administration is trying to roll back those protections, attempting to illegally reopen those same areas to drilling.  The first Trump Administration proposed a sweeping plan to open 47 offshore oil and gas lease areas across nearly every U.S. coastline, from California to New England.

    “Monterey Bay Aquarium applauds our California representatives for consistently championing the protection of our ocean and our coastal communities from the devastating impacts of oil pollution and offshore oil development,” said Monterey Bay Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard.  “Californians experienced too many times the heartbreaking impacts of these spills and know that thriving coastal communities and their economies depend on a healthy, vibrant ocean.  These important bills would enshrine in law the essential protections from the hazards of offshore drilling and take decisive action on behalf of the people of California.”

    “California’s spectacular marine life — including complex kelp forests and charismatic sea otters — and vibrant coastal economies rely on healthy ecosystems.  This legislation could, once and for all, block offshore drilling activities along the continental shelf, and protect critical marine habitats along California’s iconic Pacific Coast,” said Defenders of Wildlife California Program Director Pamela Flick.

    Rep. Panetta introduced this legislation as part of a suite of offshore drilling legislation alongside House Natural Resources Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02), House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (NJ-07), Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Jack Reed (D-RI), and five other United States Representatives.  Additional legislation includes: 

    • The West Coast Ocean Protection Act (Rep. Huffman)
    • The COAST Anti-Drilling (Rep. Pallone)
    • The Florida Coast Protection Act (Rep. Castor)
    • New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025 (Rep. Magaziner)
    • Defend our Coast Act (Rep. Ross)
    • California Clean Coast Act of 2025 (Rep. Carbajal)
    • Southern California Coast and Ocean Protection Act (Rep. Levin)

    “It’s time to end the threat of expanded drilling off America’s coasts forever,” said Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon.  “Oceana applauds these Congressional leaders for reintroducing pivotal legislation that would establish permanent protections from offshore oil and gas drilling for millions of acres of ocean. Earth Day is an important reminder that every coastal community deserves healthy oceans and oil-free beaches. This bill is part of a national movement to safeguard our multi-billion-dollar coastal economies from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling. Congress must swiftly pass these bills into law and reject any expansion of drilling to protect our coasts.”    

    “Protecting these waters puts coastal communities and wildlife above polluters and brings us closer to a world where our waters are free from oil spills, endangered whale populations are free from seismic blasting, and local economies can thrive,” said NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) Director of Ocean Energy Taryn Kiekow Heimer.  “Now more than ever, we need leadership from Congress to protect our oceans from an industry that only cares about its bottom line – and a Trump administration willing to do anything to give those oil billionaires what they want.”

    “We believe our coasts are far too valuable to risk for short-term fossil fuel gains,” said Save Our Shores Executive Director Katie Thompson.  “Permanently protecting offshore areas from oil and gas leasing is a critical step toward safeguarding marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and our climate future.  These bills reflect the will of the people to prioritize ocean health and long-term sustainability over polluting industries of the past.”

    “This suite of legislation is a critical move to safeguard our marine resources against Trump and his Big Oil agenda,” said Center for Biological Diversity ocean specialist Rachel Rilee.  “It’s been 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster devastated coastlines and killed hundreds of thousands of marine animals.  Our oceans and the incredible ecosystems they support are counting on us. Congress must pass these bills and then get right back to work protecting marine life and coastal communities from every manmade danger and every Republican attack.”

    “Fifteen years ago this week, the Deepwater Horizon spill dumped 210 million gallons of oil into the ocean; and with every new offshore oil and gas lease, we’re gambling with the possibility of another disaster,” said Ocean Conservancy senior director of climate policy Anna-Marie Laura. “This suite of bills will help protect American waters, from Alaska to Florida, from the daily leaks, massive spills, and extreme air and water pollution that comes with offshore oil and gas drilling.  Ocean Conservancy implores Congress to listen to the voices of millions of Americans who want to end offshore oil and gas production and move toward responsible, renewable energy sources, and pass these bills.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: International agreement to boost British business

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    International agreement to boost British business

    Businesses will save time and money on repetitive legal action thanks to new international rules coming into force across the UK on 1 July.

    • Agreement will cut delays and costs for UK businesses
    • UK judgments against foreign suppliers will be recognised by participating countries overseas
    • This will boost the UK legal sector and drive economic growth, part of the government’s Plan for Change

    Businesses will save time and money on repetitive legal action thanks to new international rules coming into force across the UK on 1 July.

    The UK Government signed up to the Hague 2019 Convention, which means other countries will more easily recognise and enforce UK court judgments in cross-border disputes – sparing firms from costly and repetitive court battles.

    Currently, if a UK business wins a case in a UK court against a company based in another country, business leaders face the threat of time-consuming enforcement processes or even identical legal action overseas for the same dispute – causing delays, increasing costs and creating confusion to the consumer.

    The new rules will provide a simpler enforcement route to existing complex systems, giving one clear consistent set of shared rules – that the UK helped shape – making the process easier for everyone.

    Streamlining the process will save businesses time and money, encourage foreign companies to use the UK’s world-class lawyers and courts to settle their disputes and grow the economy overall.

    Justice Minister, Lord Ponsonby, said:

    This Convention delivers real benefits for British businesses dealing with international disputes.

    As part of our Plan for Change we’re boosting UK firms’ confidence to trade by minimising legal costs and ensuring justice across borders, all while cementing Britain’s role as a global legal powerhouse committed to the rule of law.

    The Convention will enhance international legal collaboration. It will apply to judgments in civil and commercial matters, strengthening the UK’s position as a global hub for dispute resolution.

    The 2019 Hague Convention is already being applied by 29 parties, from Ukraine to EU countries, with Uruguay joining last year. This means UK civil and commercial judgments will be recognised and enforced in these nations and that the UK will recognise judgments made in their courts.

    With 91 members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), a major multilateral forum for private international law rules which has produced numerous conventions including the 2019 Hague Convention, Hague 2019 has a potentially global reach. 

    The Convention will apply to judgments given in proceedings that commence on or after 1 July 2025 across the entire United Kingdom or in other participating countries.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Magistrates order private hire driver to pay £3,326 for unlawful activity

    Source: City of York

    Published Friday, 25 April 2025

    A private hire driver who pleaded guilty yesterday (Thursday 24 April 2025) to picking up passengers on the street, has been ordered to pay a total £3,326 by York Magistrates.

    Zaid Saleem, of Girlington Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, aged 58, holds a private hire driver licence with Wolverhampton and Leeds Council, and drives for an operator called ‘Drive Private Hire’. He, like all private hire drivers, can only pick up fares pre-booked through the operator. 

    In May 2024, Mr Saleem accepted a passenger who was not pre-booked which was outside the terms of his insurance and in breach of the terms of his private hire licence. This puts passengers and other road users at risk as when a private hire driver takes passengers on journeys that are not pre-booked they are not insured. Furthermore, drivers who flout the law have a competitive advantage over those who comply. This is something the council receives complaints about.

    On 25 May 2024, City of York Council Licensing Officers took part in one of a number of enforcement operations which take place regularly. This one was to detect private hire drivers who unlawfully take un-booked passengers, and it took place at York Racecourse and in the city centre.

    That day, officers approached Mr Saleem in his private hire vehicle on Clock Tower Way near York Racecourse. They agreed that he would drive them to York railway station for a fare of £10 which breached his licence.

    On 24 April 2025 at York Magistrates Court, Mr Saleem pleaded guilty to the offence of unlawfully plying for hire. The magistrate sentenced him to pay a fine of £90, a surcharge of £36 and costs of £3,200.

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

    If an unlicensed driver picks up a customer without a prior and formal booking they are not insured for the journey and are acting illegally.

    “It is also important that those drivers who pay for the entitlement and license to pick up fares are protected from being undercut by those who do not.

    “We will continue to investigate legitimate complaints and take appropriate legal action. Please report any taxi offences via licensing @york.gov.uk.”

    Leeds and Wolverhampton Councils have been informed of the outcome to the case, so that they can review Mr Saleem’s taxi driver license status as a ‘fit and proper’ person.

    Following a public consultation, the Council’s taxi licensing policy was updated in November 2024 and can be read here.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Obecabtagene autoleucel conditionally approved to treat adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Obecabtagene autoleucel conditionally approved to treat adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

    As with all products, the MHRA will keep its safety under close review.

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today (25 April 2025) granted a conditional marketing authorisation for the medicine obecabtagene autoleucel (Aucatzyl), a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, to treat adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

    B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects the white blood cells, specifically the B-lymphocytes. In the condition, the bone marrow produces a large number of abnormal, immature B-lymphocytes, often known as blast cells which grow and divide quickly.

    For relapsed patients with ALL, it means their leukaemia has returned after a period of improvement or remission following initial treatment, whereas for refractory patients, it means their leukaemia did not respond sufficiently to initial treatment.

    Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is rare, affecting less than 5 in 10,000 people in the UK.

    Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director, Healthcare Quality and Access, said:  

    “Keeping patients safe and enabling their access to high quality, safe and effective medical products are key priorities for us.  

    “We are committed to making innovative treatment options, like CAR T-cell therapy, available to patients as quickly as possible, ensuring our approval is underpinned by robust evidence of efficacy alongside the highest standards of safety. We are assured that the appropriate regulatory standards for the approval of this medicine have been met. 

    “As with all products, we will keep the safety of obecabtagene autoleucel under close review.” 

    The medicine is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion in a clinical setting by a physician with experience in the treatment of haematological malignancies and trained for administration and management of patients treated with this medicine. 

    Obecabtagene autoleucel is a type of immunotherapy call CAR-T therapy that works by taking a patient’s T cells, a type of white blood cell, and putting them through a process that transforms them into CAR T cells that are able to target the CD19 protein. When put back into the body, these modified cells can recognise and destroy the cancer cells. 

    This conditional approval is supported by evidence from the FELIX study, an ongoing open-label, single-arm study which enrolled 153 adult patients with relapsed or refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Of those patients, 94 were administered at least one infusion of obecabtagene autoleucel. 

    Prognosis for patients with relapsed or refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is typically poor with short overall survival rates reported. In this study, 52 of the 94 patients given the medicine showed complete remission of the disease with an 81% probability of overall survival at 12 months. 

    The most common side effects of the medicine (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) include nausea, headache, abnormal brain function, dizziness, fever and low blood pressure. Patients are advised to refer to the Patient Information Leaflet for a full list of side effects. 

    As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of obecabtagene autoleucel under close review. 

    Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card. 

    Notes to editors   

    1. The new conditional marketing authorisation was granted on 25 April 2025 to Autolus Therapeutics. 

    2. More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website  within 7 days of approval. 

    3. Obecabtagene autoleucel (Aucatzyl) has been conditionally approved through the national assessment procedure.  

    4. A conditional marketing authorisation (CMA) is an early temporary licence in which we may accept less completed clinical studies than would be necessary to issue a full marketing authorisation, provided the manufacturer clearly indicates when complete clinical data will be available. However, CMA post-approval conditions are determined on a case-by-case basis, and don’t have to be limited to providing further clinical data. A CMA lasts for one year and can be renewed annually. 

    5. For more information about acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acute-lymphoblastic-leukaemia/  

    6. 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. 

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

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MOJ response to The Victims’ Commissioner’s report into the Crown Court backlog

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    MOJ response to The Victims’ Commissioner’s report into the Crown Court backlog

    The Ministry of Justice’s response to the Victims’ Commissioner’s report into the impact of the Crown Court backlog.

    Documents

    Ministry of Justice Response to The Victims’ Commissioner’s report into the Crown Court backlog

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    Details

    This is the Ministry of Justice’s response to The Victims’ Commissioner’s report: Justice delayed: The impact of the Crown Court backlog on victims, victim services and the criminal justice system.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Planning Strategy: What does the feedback mean for the future 25 April 2025 Island Planning Strategy: What does the inspectors’ feedback mean for the future?

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    This week planning inspectors shared their initial views to the Island Planning Strategy (IPS) following a series of public hearings.

    The inspectors’ letter provides their preliminary assessment of the IPS. It points out areas where the plan meets legal requirements and areas that need changes.

    Their feedback is very important because it will affect how the Isle of Wight develops and what planning policies will be in place. The council’s next steps will be crucial in shaping the future of the Island.

    So, what exactly are the inspectors saying?

    To make things clearer, Ollie Boulter, strategic manager for planning and infrastructure, and James Brewer, planning policy manager, explain in more detail through a question and answer session below.

    They aim to break down the complex language and planning terms so everyone can understand what the feedback means for the Island and what the council might do next.

    What have the inspectors said?

    The inspectors said that they think the council has complied with the legal and procedural requirements for a new plan, so they were able to then think about the content of the plan.

    While they think a lot of the plan is ok, or can be made ok with some small changes, there are some bigger things that need to be fixed to enable them to agree with the plan.

    They have given the council two options:

    • Withdraw the plan and start again. Or,
    • Amend the plan in the way the Inspectors have suggested

    Both of these options would have big implications for the Island, so will need to be fully understood and carefully considered by Full Council.

    Where can I find out more information and read the planning inspectors’ letter?

    Withdrawing

    What does withdraw mean?

    Withdrawing the plan would mean the council stops the process and goes back to the start on preparing a new plan.

    This would be done under the government’s new planning rules, which are expected to be quicker and cheaper so it would be very different to the way that this plan has been prepared. It would also have to start to plan for a much higher number of new homes across the Island.

    Amending

    What does amending mean?

    This is what the inspectors have referred to as the “interim approach” in their letter.

    It would mean the council making the changes the inspectors have suggested, and then those changes would be publicly consulted on. Following that there may be further examination hearing sessions where the inspectors would consider the council’s proposed changes, updated evidence base and the consultation responses.

    What are the bigger amendments the inspectors have suggested?

    The inspectors have said that the council will need to increase the number of new homes it should plan for from 453 every year to 703 if they want to adopt the new plan.

    They also want to see changes to a document called the Integrated Sustainability Appraisal, to make it clearer how different policy approaches have been explored and considered.

    The removal of a policy that looked to bring in net zero requirements for new development in advance of a national requirement to do it.

    That the council updates its work on viability, to help the inspectors understand that all the policy requirements of the plan can be met and that they aren’t restricting development by asking for too much.

    Going from 453 new homes per year to 703 sounds like a big increase in the housing number?

    It does, but when you break it down it isn’t as big as it might appear.

    What the inspectors are suggesting is that the council should focus on the first five years of a new plan, and to achieve what’s known as a five year land supply.

    Because of the decisions made by the council’s Planning Committee and officers, the gap that would need to be made up in the first five years would be 394 new homes.

    This doesn’t mean 394 more new homes every year on top of the 453 number. This is a ‘one off’ amount that would then be spread over the five years.

    The council’s existing evidence and the Housing Register indicates there is significant unmet need and demand from people and families who are already living on the Island.

    Have the inspectors suggested more changes?

    Yes, several other changes have been suggested but these aren’t considered to be as important as the bigger changes.

    Is this the inspectors’ final decision?

    No. This is their post hearings letter setting out their initial reaction following the examination hearing sessions. The inspectors won’t make a final decision until the council has decided what it wants to do.

    What happens next?

    The council will be holding an extraordinary Full Council meeting to discuss the options and decide how it wants to move forward.

    Whichever option the council chooses it will then write to the inspectors to let them know.

    Is there a timeline for all of this?

    Yes. The inspectors have asked that the council confirms which approach it would like to take to them by early June of this year. This is why an extraordinary Full Council meeting is necessary.

    Should the council decide to progress with amending the plan, the extra work and consultation will need to happen within a fixed time period, which is likely to be around six months.

    What does this mean for planning applications?

    People can still submit planning applications and the council will still make decisions on those applications, but those decisions will be based on an old plan and current national planning policies.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘Plan ahead’ message as city gears up for 2025’s Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon

    Source: City of Leeds

    Thousands of runners are set to take part in the third Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in partnership with Clarion, which is being held on Sunday, May 11.

    Organised by the not-for-profit sporting events company Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All with support from Leeds City Council, the marathon will raise funds for a whole host of good causes while giving people an opportunity to celebrate the life and achievements of the late rugby league legend Rob Burrow.

    Large crowds are expected to line the 26.2-mile route to cheer on the runners as they make their way through some of the city’s most scenic communities and picturesque areas of countryside.

    As is standard practice for an event on this scale, a wide-ranging programme of temporary road closures and other traffic measures will be in place to help ensure the day goes safely and smoothly.

    E-mails and letters giving details of the restrictions have already been sent directly to people living or working along the route.

    And, with the event just over a fortnight away, the wider Leeds public are now being asked to take the time to familiarise themselves with how the traffic and travel plans could affect any journeys they might be looking to make on the day.

    The marathon will start and end at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, with runners following a circular route that initially winds around Woodhouse Moor before striking out for Adel, Lawnswood, Bramhope, Pool in Wharfedale and Otley. The Leeds Half Marathon, which is also on May 11, will use much of the same route. The two events have together attracted more than 12,000 entrants.

    Part of St Michael’s Lane in Headingley will close to vehicles from 4am on the 11th before sections of Cardigan Road and Kirkstall Lane/North Lane follow suit at 6am. Closures of selected roads will kick in between 6am and 8am in other parts of Headingley and Far Headingley.

    Further closures will then come into force from 8.30am in the Adel, Lawnswood and Bramhope areas, and from 9am around Pool in Wharfedale and Otley.

    The marathon will get under way at 9am, with competitors in the half marathon setting off from Headingley at 10am.

    Affected roads along the route will be reopened on a rolling basis through the day as soon as it is safe to do so.

    Further road closure information – including a list of vehicle crossing points and leaflets giving access details for individual areas – can be found here.

    People travelling to Headingley – either to take part or support the runners – are being encouraged to use park and ride services that will be operating from Elland Road and Stourton. Shuttle buses will also be operating between the city centre and Headingley. There will be no dedicated event parking in Headingley itself.

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

    “The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon is a wonderful occasion that has to date raised more than £9m for charity while shining a really positive light on our city.

    “We have been working hard alongside our partners at Run For All to ensure that this year’s event is another huge success, with traffic planning forming an important element of those preparations.

    “We’re encouraging everyone to find the time between now and May 11 to see how they might be affected by the temporary road closures that are needed for the safe and smooth delivery of the marathon.

    “We will be doing everything we can to minimise the impact of these measures, and thank residents in advance for their patience and understanding.

    “Having taken part in the first two marathons, I’m looking forward to running again next month and enjoying the fantastic sense of camaraderie and excitement that the event brings.”

    The marathon’s partner charities and good causes are the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, 4Ed, Alzheimer’s Society, Candlelighters, Happy Days Children’s Charity, Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Leeds North & West Foodbank, Leeds Rhinos Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, Stand Against MND and St Gemma’s Hospice.

    After being diagnosed with MND in 2019, Leeds Rhinos great Rob worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition and deliver improved care for those affected by it.

    This year’s marathon will be the first since his death and as a result the atmosphere out on the course is expected to be even more emotional than usual.

    The day will feature a new addition for 2025 in the shape of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon Relay, which will see teams of seven tackling different legs of the full route.

    And, in another first, Run For All have teamed up with Leeds Beckett University to organise the inaugural MND Mile. Taking place at Leeds Beckett’s Headingley campus on Saturday, May 10, the event’s mile-long course has been designed to cater for participants of all ages and abilities.

    Tristan Batley-Kyle, operations director at Run For All, said:

    “Here at Run For All, we’re once again honoured to be organising the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in partnership with Clarion, which not only showcases the strength and spirit of the running community but also raises crucial awareness and funds in the fight against MND.

    “The addition of the MND Mile and Relay provides a fantastic opportunity for everyone to be part of such an inspirational weekend and we encourage as many as possible to come along and get involved.

    “As with other events of this scale, significant road closures will be in place to ensure the safety of all involved and we’re working in partnership with Leeds City Council, emergency services and multi-agency planning groups to make sure the event is operated safely and securely.

    “We would like to thank all residents in advance for their understanding and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. Please be assured that all closures will be lifted as soon as possible.”

    Note to editors:

    Run For All is a not-for-profit company that forms part of the lasting legacy of the late amateur athlete and fundraiser Jane Tomlinson CBE. Jane, from Leeds, made headlines around the world by taking part in a series of incredible endurance events despite being diagnosed with an incurable cancer.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK stands with the Syrian people as they seize this historic moment: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    The UK stands with the Syrian people as they seize this historic moment: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

    I thank Special Envoy Pedersen and ASG Msuya for their briefing.

    Let me also welcome Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani to the Council.

    On the day the new Syrian flag was raised here at the UN, your presence is a powerful reminder of the opportunity that lies ahead for Syria to carve out a more secure, peaceful and prosperous future. 

    The UK stands with the Syrian people as they seize this historic moment.

    President, I will make three points today.

    First, we have already seen welcome progress in Syria’s political transition. 

    This includes the formation of a new Government, creation of a Constitutional Committee and work to address immediate security threats, including from chemical weapons.

    We have seen important steps towards reconciliation amongst Syria’s diverse communities, including the recent agreement signed with the Syrian Democratic Forces. 

    It is important that this outreach and consultation continues to help build a stable and unified country working in the interests of all Syrians.

    And after years of war and brutality under the Assad regime, issues of transitional justice and accountability must be prioritised. 

    This includes steps to find missing persons, and provide much-needed peace of mind to the families that have paid the ultimate price.

    Second, economic recovery will be a crucial part of efforts to build a more prosperous Syria. 

    This week’s meetings of the International Financial Institutions, with the participation of the Syrian Government are an important step in boosting international community support to drive investment and economic growth.

    And this week, the UK has lifted sanctions on sectors including trade, energy production and finance. 

    We hope these steps will help remove barriers to investment in Syria’s economy, especially in the energy and electricity generation sector, which is essential for Syria’s reconstruction.

    Finally, we reiterate that respect for Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity is crucial for both Syrian security and that of its neighbours. 

    We are concerned by Israeli actions which risk restabilising the region.

    We call on all actors to uphold the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

    President, Syrians have already suffered greatly from years of conflict and misrule.  

    As we heard from the briefers, they face considerable political, economic and humanitarian challenges as they emerge from this dark chapter in their history.

    They deserve a better and more secure future. 

    The UK will continue to support the Syrian government and its people in their efforts to achieve this.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Associate of Violent Gang Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Drug Distribution and Firearms Offenses

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    BOSTON – A Brockton man associated with Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang, was sentenced today for trafficking drugs and firearms.

    Steve Depina, 38, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 66 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2024, Depina pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine and cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

    During the investigation, Depina was identified as an older associate of the Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation.

    In February 2022, Depina was recorded by law enforcement as he sold approximately 58 grams of cocaine to a cooperating witness, whom he believed to be a fellow Cameron Street member, near his workplace. In March 2022, Depina sold approximately 60 grams of cocaine base as well as a 9-millimeter pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition to the same cooperating witness. During a search of Depina’s residence in April 2022, an additional quantity of cocaine base as well as another firearm were seized.

    At the time of the offenses, Depina was on state probation for a 2018 conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Plymouth Superior Court, for which he was sentenced to 3-5 years in prison. He is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Magaziner & Whitehouse Introduce Bipartisan New England Offshore Drilling Ban

    Source: US Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02)

    Bill would protect ocean and coastal resources responsible for over $17.5 billion annually in the region

    Washington, DC – On Earth Day, Congressman Seth Magaziner (D-RI)  and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)  are leading bipartisan group of New England members of Congress in announcing the introduction of legislation to bar offshore drilling along the New England coast.  The New England Coastal Protection Act is cosponsored by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).  In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Gabe Amo, Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Jared Golden (D-ME), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), Bill Keating (D-MA), John Larson (D-CT), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Richard Neal (D-MA), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME).

    “Rhode Islanders take pride in being the Ocean State, and in our clean waterways that support good jobs and quality of life,” said Magaziner. “The New England Coastal Protection Act will help safeguard our environment by preventing new offshore drilling that would threaten the coastline that is so essential to our state.”

    “Offshore drilling would enrich the fossil fuel industry at the expense of the Ocean State’s coastal economy and the health of our Narragansett Bay,” said Whitehouse, who originally introduced the legislation during the first Trump administration.  “With President Trump scrambling to grant the looters and polluters swarming around his administration every item on their wish list, I’m committed to doing everything in my power to stop reckless oil and gas drilling off Rhode Island’s coast.”

    “Offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean poses tremendous risks for the Ocean State’s environment and economy. This legislation is about protecting critical natural resources and the livelihoods of New Englanders in countless industries who rely on a clean, healthy Atlantic Ocean,” said Reed.

    “Offshore drilling has no place in the Atlantic Ocean — thanks to the New England Coastal Protection Act, it won’t,” said Amo, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment. “On Earth Day, I am thankful to partner with Senator Whitehouse and Congressman Magaziner to generate bipartisan momentum to protect our ocean from the harms of offshore drilling.”

    According to NOAA Fisheries, ocean and coastal industries, including tourism, fishing, and recreation, generate more than $17.5 billion in New England annually.  Expanding drilling in the Atlantic would harm New England’s key industries, and significantly increase the chance of environmental disaster in the region.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: University of Dundee Taskforce holds first meeting

    Source: Scottish Government

    Commitment to ensure vital institution thrives.

    An external advisory group established to advise on the future success of  the University of Dundee held its first meeting in the city.

    The group, which is chaired by Sir Alan Langlands, agreed on the urgency of action required to advise and support the university to address its current financial difficulties during the meeting yesterday.

    Representatives from the University, Dundee City Council, business, trades unions, student union, enterprise and skills bodies and the Scottish Government were among those who took part. 

    Sir Alan Langlands, chair of the Advisory group, said:

    “All members were clear that the University of Dundee is a leading research intensive institution, providing highly rated education, and playing a crucial role in the economic, cultural and social life of the City, region, and the country as a whole. There was a collective commitment to support the University in ensuring its short, medium and long term sustainability. 

    “Our discussion focussed on the context in which it is operating, and the urgent need to tackle its financial difficulties, build on its strengths, and set out a clear plan for the medium and long term future. 

    “The group respects the autonomy of the University, the decision making responsibilities of the University Court, and the role of the Scottish Funding Council in navigating the future. We hope that the support and advice we provide will be considered by the decision makers in a timely manner.” 

    Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: 

    “I am determined that the University of Dundee – with a vibrant community of staff and students at its heart – will thrive long into the future and the work of this Taskforce will help contribute to that.

    “The Scottish Funding Council has already provided £22 million to University of Dundee as support for liquidity, which is giving them the space and time to work through a plan for financial stability. Ministers have been clear we will carefully consider any further asks made to the Government. 

    “Students should accept their offers from the University and can be confident in its future.”

    Professor Shane O’Neill, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee, said:  

    “We welcome the support of Sir Alan and all parties involved with the Advisory Taskforce, which reflects the importance of the University to Dundee, the Tay Cities region and beyond, and the collective will to establish a more sustainable and successful future for the University.

    “We will work with the Taskforce, the Scottish Government, the Scottish Funding Council and others to ensure we achieve that goal.”

    Background

    Attendees at the meeting  included:

    • trade union representatives , including national and local representation
    • the leader of Dundee City Council  
    •  principals of Abertay and St Andrews Universities and Dundee & Angus College  
    • the Convenor of Universities Scotland 
    • the Dundee University Student Association President  
    • local representatives of Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and Developing the Young Workforce 
    • the Chair of NHS Education for Scotland 
    • for business interests, Tim Allan, Chair of V&A Dundee

    In addition to the advisory Taskforce, the Deputy First Minister is chairing a cross-Ministerial group to consider what further action the Scottish Government may be able to take to support the University as it continues to develop its Financial Recovery Plan.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor of Derry and Strabane and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council receive Honorary Degrees fro

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Mayor of Derry and Strabane and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council receive Honorary Degrees fro

    25 April 2025

    The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr and the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Niamh Kennedy were in the United States this week where they were awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees from the Worcester State University.
    The honorary degrees are in recognition of their outstanding contributions to civic leadership, community engagement, and cross-border collaboration as part of  The North West Tertiary Education Cluster (NWTEC) a strategic alliance comprising the four publicly funded tertiary education providers in the North West City Region – the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) , Ulster University (UU) , North West Regional College (NWRC)  and Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB).

    The North West Tertiary Education Cluster was established to foster greater coherence and collaboration in the education and skills provision across the region and enhance the educational landscape and contribute to the economic and social development of the North West City Region. The cluster has the support and collaboration of the two Councils of Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council who are leading partners in the North West Strategic Growth Partnership that brings together the two local authorities alongside further and higher education providers, and representatives from the NI Executive Office and the Irish Government to foster regional growth.

    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Barr said it was a huge honour and privilege to be recognised by the university. She said: “The conferral of the honorary degrees underscores the strong and growing connections between Worcester State University and the regions of Derry and Strabane and County Donegal. It also highlights the importance of international cooperation and the positive impact of dedicated civic leadership. I am proud that my commitment to fostering growth, promoting community cohesion and championing social justice, equality and human rights has been instrumental in building bridges across communities. Worcester State University is a vibrant, student-centred public university committed to academic excellence, community engagement, and preparing students for success in a diverse and global society and it is a fantastic honour for me to receive an honorary degree from this education centre of excellence.”

    Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Niamh Kennedy said “I am deeply honoured to receive this prestigious recognition from Worcester State University. The honorary degree reflects not only my own personal commitment but also the collective efforts of our region in building stronger, more cohesive cross-border partnerships. This honour highlights the ongoing importance of collaboration between the North West Tertiary Education Cluster and the wider community. Together, we are fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for our region. Worcester State University’s dedication to academic excellence and community engagement aligns closely with our values, and it’s a privilege to be acknowledged by such an esteemed institution.”

    President of Worchester State University, Barry M. Maloneys said: “We are deeply honoured to recognise Mayor Barr and Cathaoirleach Kennedy with honorary degrees – Doctorates of Humane Letters, honoris causa, – and formally acknowledge their dedication to public service and their commitment to fostering positive relationships across borders align perfectly with the values of Worcester State University. Their work serves as an inspiration to our students and the wider community. Our university has a very longstanding and positive working relationship with ATU, Ulster University and the wider education cluster and the honorary degrees awarded today further cement our commitment to fostering that connection.”

    The special ceremony took at Worcester State University and was led by the University President Barry M. Maloney. Members of the university community, local dignitaries, and invited guests were in attendance at the event which was part of the college’s annual academic achievement celebrations. 

    During their visit to Boston, the two Mayors also attended a reception hosted by the University where they had the opportunity to engage with students.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New wave of jazz talent to star at City of Derry Jazz Festival

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    New wave of jazz talent to star at City of Derry Jazz Festival

    25 April 2025

    The City of Derry Jazz Festival is just weeks away and Dery is looking forward to a bumper Bank Holiday weekend of music featuring some of the biggest names on the jazz circuit, from May 01 – 05.

    Now turning 24, the festival has established itself as one of the very best platforms for up and coming talent, welcoming new artists to the line up each year who relish the opportunity to play alongside some of the greats.

    Among the new wave of talent this year is award winning Sligo pianist Nils Kavanagh, already a sensation on the circuit, after scooping the title of Young Irish Jazz Musician of the Year in 2022.

    Nils will play alongside acclaimed local Jazz legend and academic, Dr Paul McIntyre, in the EY Jazz Lounge in one of the city’s most iconic music venues, St Columb’s Hall. The late night shows offer the chance to kick back and enjoy some of the very best music in an intimate and atmospheric setting, perfect for soaking up some authentic jazz.

    It’s festivals like this that give younger performers the opportunity to learn from more seasoned artists as Paul explains. “The Derry Jazz Festival provides wonderful opportunities for young jazz performers to cut their teeth! On Saturday 3rd May, Nils will be performing with the Quartet in the EY Jazz Lounge, which I’m really looking forward to. Welcoming junior players keeps jazz vibrant and fresh.

    “While teaching in Universities and Music Schools I’ve found and encouraged many young players as I can over the years. The legacy of supporting young jazz players goes back to my father Gay McIntyre, who always encouraged and showcased up and coming jazz players including Darren Beckett and Joseph Leighton.”

    Nils first became interested in jazz at the age of 16 through the Sligo Jazz Project Festival, and with a bit of gentle persuasion from his parents. After some initial reluctance, he joined the SJP summer school, and has never looked back, as it opened up a whole new world of music. “It’s safe to say it’s changed my life,” Nils admits. “I had never heard music being played like that before, with such joy and excitement. From then on, I was completely hooked.”

    As Nils continued his academic studies he realised that his love for music would lead naturally into a career. So he took a year out from education, practiced hard, and eventually was accepted to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Winning the Young Irish Jazz Musician of the Year award in 2022, and reaching the finals of the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2024, has led to even further opportunities to perform and bring his own material to audiences.

    As well as studying and teaching music, Nils also leads an energetic and innovative trio of Ireland’s top jazz performers. “It’s honestly been transformative for my career. It gave me the clout and confidence I needed to book an Irish tour in 2023, playing six dates across the country with my trio. The award also included a bursary, which I used to cover some of the costs of recording my debut album, which is releasing on May 14th, with some dates in Ireland set to happen later in the year, including playing in Bennigan’s Bar, Derry, on the 1st of November 2025.”

    Since it first launched 24 years ago the City of Derry Jazz Festival has always had a strong focus on inspiring and showcasing new talent, with opportunities to perform through the Live Music Now programme in local secondary schools, and the recent addition of the Gay McIntyre stage where younger performers can shine. And opportunities like this really do make a difference according to Nils.

    “Events like the City of Derry Jazz Festival are so important for introducing younger people to Jazz music. If I hadn’t gone to a similar festival in my own home town, I would have gone down a whole other career path. As someone who was directly affected by a Jazz Festival, I can with confidence say that events such as these are pivotal for the development of the Jazz scene. 

    “If I would give one piece of advice to young musicians, it would be this – don’t be afraid to ask. This industry and scene is all about putting yourself out there. Ask that older musician if they would like to play with you. Ask that venue for a gig. Ask the person you admire for a lesson, or some constructive criticism. You would be amazed how much you can get just by asking, and the worst that can happen is that someone says, “No”! In that case, you move on, and then in a couple years time, you might be ready.”

    You can catch Nils Kavanagh as he plays with the Paul McIntyre Quartet on Saturday May 03 in the EY Jazz Lounge at 11pm, featuring Curtis Efoua (Paris) on drums and Brian Questa (ÚSA) on Double bass, Phil Robson (UK) on Guitar on Sunday and the guest vocalist on both nights is the acclaimed Winnie Ama!

    The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival is organised and funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Diageo and EY. 

    Tickets for the EY Jazz Lounge events, taking place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May at 11pm, are priced £10 and will be available to buy online at www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com/tickets.

    For regular updates follow the City of Derry Jazz Festival on Facebook Instagram and X @derryjazzfest.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bennigans Bar announces world-class lineup for City of Derry Jazz Festival

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Bennigans Bar announces world-class lineup for City of Derry Jazz Festival

    25 April 2025

    Bennigans Bar, one of Derry’s most iconic music venues, has unveiled what promises to be its strongest programme to date for the upcoming City of Derry Jazz Festival. Taking place from 30th April to 5th May 2025, this year’s lineup features an exceptional blend of international talent, cherished local performers, and rising stars from across the jazz spectrum and beyond.

    Renowned as one of the festival’s most popular Jazz Hubs, alongside The Playhouse and The Guildhall, Bennigans has established itself as an essential destination for discerning jazz enthusiasts. The venue’s intimate atmosphere and commitment to musical excellence have made it a magnet for both performers and audiences seeking authentic jazz experiences during the annual celebration.

    Getting the festival off to a spectacular start on Wednesday, 30th April at 8pm will be the Garage Boys, who are returning to Derry from their home in Las Vegas. Festival-goers can expect a high-energy performance and eclectic sound from these returning favourites. This opening gig is free to the public.

    Each day will begin with a one-set performance followed by a jam session, creating opportunities for spontaneous collaboration among visiting musicians. Thursday, 1st May begins with the John Leighton Trio & Jam Session at 5pm, led by Bennigans’ owner and renowned pianist, offering a free platform for musicians and audiences to connect through improvisational jazz. Later that evening at 10pm, The Rubber Plants take the stage with their dynamic Led Zeppelin tribute performance for a ticket price of £15.

    The musical journey continues on Friday, 2nd May, starting at 4pm with the Joseph Leighton Trio & Jam Session. This free event showcases the talent of one of Ireland’s most promising six-stringers. At 8pm, the Murray Brothers Quartet take to the stage with their unique blend of swing and bebop. Brothers Conor and Michael Murray are no strangers to Bennigans, having played at the venue many times in their formative years. Now living in London and Amsterdam respectively, they return with new inspiration and a passion for the artform and will be joined by John Leighton on piano and Andrew McCoubrey on drums, tickets are priced at £15. The day concludes at 11pm with Dublin’s instrumental funk four-piece Chief Keegan, bringing their deep grooves and danceable jams to the bar for £15.

    Saturday, 3rd May offers another free John Leighton Trio & Jam Session at 4pm, followed by one of the festival’s most anticipated highlights at 8pm – the Kevin Brady Trio featuring Bill Carrothers. One of the most interesting and unique jazz trios to have emerged in the last ten years, this international collaboration between Irish jazz musician Kevin Brady, US pianist/composer Bill Carrothers, and bassist Dave Redmond has been critically acclaimed for its dynamism and musicality. Brady formed the trio in 2006 with the clear aim of creating and producing new contemporary jazz, and the impact was immediate. Since then, Brady, Carrothers & Redmond have toured regularly and consolidated their worldwide reputation as a compelling live act, winning the appreciation of discerning jazz audiences across the USA, Europe, UK, China and the Azores. Tickets for this exceptional performance are available now for £15.

    Saturday culminates at 11pm with the Jack McHale Trio, an electric guitar-driven ensemble with keys and drums. They play Blues, Funk ‘n’ Soul and are known to rock out on some seriously heavy riffs. Attendees can expect to hear tracks from the likes of James Brown, The Allman Brothers, Howlin’ Wolf, and Sly and the Family Stone, delivered with high energy and a good party vibe. Tickets are also £15.

    Sunday, 4th May begins with the free Lucian McCauley Trio & Jam Session at 4pm. The Lucian McCauley trio consists of Lucian McCauley on piano, James Leaver-Whitfield on bass, and Theo Hayhurst on drums. Lucian McCauley is a young local jazz pianist studying Jazz Piano at the Guildhall School of Music in London and one of the city’s emerging talents. As a trio, they are influenced by the great piano trios of Brad Mehldau, Bill Evans, and McCoy Tyner. Their sound relies heavily on interplay and improvisation. In terms of repertoire, the trio enjoy breathing new life into enduring jazz standards by the likes of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington, as well as showcasing exciting new compositions by the band.

    The evening features the hard-swinging Shuffle Boil Quartet at 8pm for £15. The ensemble gathers four of Ireland’s most well-known and experienced jazz musicians to explore the repertoire of Thelonious Monk, one of the 20th Century’s most unique composers.

    This is followed by acclaimed jazz vocalist Sara Oschlag at 11pm for £15. Sara’s honest stage presence, clear, unaffectedly expressive voice, and effortless sense of swing have made her a firm favourite with jazz audiences across the UK. An effortlessly hip, intelligent interpreter of songs in the jazz tradition, her vocal influences include both singers and instrumentalists, showcasing her understanding and love for the history and language of jazz.

    The festival concludes at Bennigans on Monday, 5th May at 4pm with The Men Who Knew Too Much, festival regulars who are celebrated for their vibrant, eclectic repertoire, with tickets available for £5 on the door. This is the perfect wind-down to the weekend. Come and listen to the relaxing sounds of Percy Robinson on dobro guitar and vocals, Egon Callery on guitar and vocals, and Sean McCarron on saxophones and percussion.

    John Leighton, owner of Bennigans Bar, is enthusiastic about this year’s lineup: “We’ve curated what I believe is our strongest programme yet, showcasing the incredible diversity within jazz and its related genres. The mix of established performers, emerging talents, and our signature jam sessions creates the perfect environment for musical discovery and celebration. I’m particularly excited to welcome American jazz pianist Bill Carrothers, who’ll be performing with the Kevin Brady Trio in what promises to be one of the festival’s standout moments.”

    Aisling McCallion, Jazz Festival Coordinator with Derry City and Strabane District Council, praised Bennigans contribution to the festival: “We’re delighted to have Bennigans Bar as one of our Jazz Hubs during the City of Derry Jazz Festival. The combination of international talent alongside our homegrown musicians reflects the festival’s ethos of celebrating jazz in all its forms while nurturing local artistic development. The jam sessions in particular have become legendary for creating those magical, spontaneous moments that festival attendees remember for years to come.”

    Tickets for all paid events are available now through the City of Derry Jazz Festival website or directly from Bennigans Bar. Early booking is advised as these intimate performances typically sell out quickly.

    The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival is organised and funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Diageo and EY. 

    For more information go to cityofderryjazzfestival.com and for regular updates follow the City of Derry Jazz festival on Facebook Instagram and X @derryjazzfest.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New strategy to combat Ash Dieback and preserve ‘Big Tree Country’

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The proactive strategy addresses the risks of Ash Dieback disease on ash trees, located on Council-managed land and private land near public roads.

    Ash Dieback is a destructive fungal disease that affects Ash trees and has been slowly spreading throughout the UK. The disease eventually causes brittleness of the wood, loss of tree limbs, and possibly killing the tree in severe cases. While there is no way to prevent the spread of the disease, actions taken to mitigate the spread now will help preserve ash trees in the future.

    The council has a legal responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent or minimise the risk of personal injury or damage to properties arising from trees on their ground.

    Currently, the council manages approximately 30,000 trees on their land, where 1,900 are ash. In addition, around 7,500 roadside trees may be affected, and appropriate action will be required to maintain road safety.  

    The strategy, based on current industry best practice, outlines several key actions to manage ash dieback. It emphasises the importance of identifying and monitoring healthy or resistant ash trees to assess their level of resistance and preserve them where possible.

    Additionally, it highlights the need to identify suitable areas for natural regeneration or replanting alternative native species that are part of the local ecosystem. Replanting of new trees will align with the forthcoming tree planting strategy.

    Councillor Richard Watters, Convenor of the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, said: “I welcome this forward-thinking strategy as it addresses the significant risks to our beautiful trees and protects our area’s reputation as Big Tree Country.

    “Trees are not only vital for maintaining our natural heritage but also play a crucial role in flood prevention, enhancing biodiversity, and providing numerous environmental benefits.

    “This strategy is a proactive step towards safeguarding our precious woodlands for future generations.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Everyone invited to enjoy free City Street Party to celebrate VE Day

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry residents are being invited to join a street party in Broadgate next month and celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

    Thursday 8 May will mark 80 years to the day since Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces which signalled the end of the Second World War in Europe.

    There will be parties across the country and the continent – and Coventry people are being encouraged to celebrate in the heart of the city.

    The party starts at 7pm and will run until 9.40pm and is a free event for all ages, with lots of family fun. There will be a stage and big screen and BBC CWR will be presenting the entertainment.

    People are encouraged to bring their own picnics (no glass) and set up at benches that will be in place around the square.

    There will be costumed greeters to welcome people as they arrive, and flags will be provided for people to wave. They can even turn up in 1940s style dress to add a little extra touch of nostalgia.

    Cllr Abdul Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Events at Coventry City Council said: “As a city that suffered so greatly in the war and emerged with a message of peace and reconciliation, it is so fitting that we host a party in the heart of the city to mark the 80th anniversary of such a momentous day in our history.

    “We know communities will be hosting their own street parties over the coming days, but this event will give everyone the chance to come together and celebrate as a city.

    “It promises to be a lot of fun for people of all ages, but it also gives us a chance to look back and remember and give thanks for the peace that the people of those years fought so hard to give us.”

    Sophie Cook, Editor at BBC CWR, added: “VE Day stands as a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and resilience shown by so many during one of history’s darkest times.

    “BBC CWR are proud to join Coventrians together to pay tribute to the WWII generation and ensure their legacy is remembered.”

    The event will start with the reading of a national proclamation to remember the victims of the war and the sacrifices made.

    There will then be a varied programme of music and entertainment, as well as images from 1945 projected on to a big screen.

    The event will also honour the contribution of South Asian communities to the war and the victory, with a vibrant on-stage display of Bhangra dance as part of the evening’s entertainment.

    The evening will close as Coventry joins other towns and cities in lighting a Lamp Light of Peace with the audience invited to join the singing of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ before the National Anthem is played.

    Find out more about the Coventry City Council led event on our website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Clients award GAD high ratings in feedback

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Clients award GAD high ratings in feedback

    Clients award GAD 4.8 stars out of 5 for being highly valued. The findings are from our latest client feedback exercise which surveyed our clients about GAD.

    Credit: Shutterstock

    In the latest client feedback exercise about the work of the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), 99% of respondents have rated us 4 or more stars for being highly valued.

    The survey included clients’ views on their overall perception of our how well we undertake our work and fulfil our objectives. We also asked for ratings on how clients assessed that we demonstrate value for money.

    The survey was conducted across the 2024 to 2025 financial year. A total of 165 questionnaires resulted in 100 responses, indicating a 61% response rate.

    The client feedback shows high performance ratings across key metrics, with respondents scoring us 95% and over (indicating high satisfaction) with GAD’s:

    • timely delivery
    • adherence to budget
    • scope compliance
    • clear communication
    • overall value for money

    Feedback and comments

    In a separate research exercise, we sought detailed, qualitative feedback from clients and received positive comments about our work and client relationships.

    In the original client survey 62 people out of 100 provided comments offering insights into GAD’s performance across various areas of expertise. These range from established sectors such as pensions and provisioning through to data insights and specialist advice on investment and climate risk.

    Positive responses

    GAD actuary Ian Rogers, who led on the client feedback exercise, said: “The results indicate that more clients this year consider GAD to be highly valued, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our colleagues. As an organisation, we are pleased with the overall feedback, which reflects strong scores across the board.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: VE Day celebrations at The D-Day Story museum

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    The D-Day Story is hosting a day of activities to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

    On Sunday 11 May there will be something for everyone as the museum marks Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) which is on 8 May.

    2025 is 80 years since the end of the Second World War with Victory in Europe Day, and Victory over Japan Day on 15 August.

    In the morning the museum will be hosting Portsmouth-based singer Nathalie Gunn who will be singing songs from the 1930s and 1940s.

    While in the afternoon you can learn how to swing dance, in particular the Lindy Hop with The Swing Dance Company who will be giving dance lessons and a performance of the dance.

    The D-Day Story’s military jeep will be on site and there will be a number of craft activities for children to take part in, from creating you own paper flowers to pinwheels and bunting.

    Be sure to check out the café which will have VE Day inspired special of the day.

    Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said: “This year’s VE and VJ days have extra significance because it’s the 80th anniversaries, and there’s no better way to honour and celebrate than at this special event at The D-Day Story museum.”

    The event is included in the museum admission price, with annual pass holders being able to experience it for free.

    For more information on this event and others at the museum visit www.theddaystory.com

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nature Restoration Fund now accepting applications

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    With an allocation of £187,000, the Nature Restoration Fund aims to support projects in enhancing biodiversity across Perth and Kinross and address the critical drivers of biodiversity loss, including habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and invasive non-native species.

    Eligible projects must meet the fund’s purpose and themes, with a minimum funding request of £1,000. Projects contributing to the development or protection of nature networks will be prioritised.

    Councillor Richard Watters, Convenor of Climate Change and Sustainability Committee said: “It’s been truly inspiring to witness the diverse range of projects that have flourished thanks to the Nature Restoration Fund. From enhancing water quality and freshwater habitats at Lunan Burn to planting and nurturing native wildlife flowers, creating thriving habitats for local wildlife in Errol, the impact has been remarkable.

    “With around £175,000 invested in nature restoration projects last year, I’m eagerly anticipating the innovative ideas and proposals from community groups on how they can contribute to e tackling biodiversity loss in their local areas.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Regulator investigates charity over property dispute and governance issues

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Regulator investigates charity over property dispute and governance issues

    The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry to examine regulatory concerns regarding the trustees’ management and administration of The Muslim Community Centre and Mosque 1977, an unregistered charity.

    The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry to examine regulatory concerns regarding the trustees’ management and administration of The Muslim Community Centre and Mosque 1977, an unregistered charity. 

    The regulator’s concerns focus on a risk to charity property arising from a dispute between the unregistered charity and Dudley Central Mosque and Muslim Community Centre (registered charity 1127373), a lack of clarity around the respective charities’ roles in managing its shared property in Birmingham Street, Dudley, and how related charitable funds are banked. Due to the ongoing dispute, those involved have so far been unable or unwilling to resolve the issues. 

    Prior to the opening of the inquiry, the Commission’s initial investigations concluded that The Muslim Community Centre and Mosque 1977 is a charity but it is unclear who its current trustees are.  

    All trustees are expected to act in the best interests of a charity and properly manage any conflicts of interest between the charity and other parties. They must also provide accurate information annually to the Commission. 

    The inquiry will examine if the trustees of The Muslim Community Centre and Mosque 1977 are complying with their legal duties in respect of the administration, governance and management of the charity. The inquiry will examine the extent to which:  

    1. the charity is being managed in accordance with its governing document and whether the governing document is fit for purpose  

    2. the charity has sufficient number of charity trustees  

    3. the charity’s property is being properly managed and safeguarded  

    4. the trustees have fulfilled their legal duties and responsibilities as trustees and whether any failings or weaknesses identified in the administration of the charity are a result of misconduct and/or mismanagement by the trustees. 

    The scope of the inquiry may be extended if additional regulatory issues emerge during the Commission’s investigation.  

    The regulator’s inquiry into Dudley Central Mosque and Muslim Community Centre is ongoing.  

    ENDS  

    Notes to editors  

    1. 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  

    2. All charities, registered and unregistered, must comply with charity law and are subject to regulation by the Charity Commission. 

    3. On 3 April 2025, the Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into the charity under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011 as a result of its regulatory concerns that there is or has been misconduct and / or mismanagement in the administration of the charity.  

    4. A statutory inquiry is a legal power enabling the Commission to formally investigate matters of regulatory concern within a charity and to use protective powers for the benefit of the charity and its beneficiaries, assets, or reputation.  

    5. An inquiry will investigate and establish the facts of the case so that the Commission can determine the extent of any misconduct and/or mismanagement; the extent of the risk to the charity, its work, property, beneficiaries, employees or volunteers; and decide what action is needed to resolve the concerns. 

    6. The scope of the ongoing inquiry into Dudley Central Mosque and Muslim Community Centre is on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/charity-commission-launches-inquiry-into-dudley-mosque  

    Press office

    Email pressenquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk

    Out of hours press office contact number: 07785 748787

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Career Insight: Ellen, Trainee Solicitor, GLD

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Career Insight: Ellen, Trainee Solicitor, GLD

    Ellen provides an insight into her training within the Government Legal Department (GLD)

    I applied for the Government Legal Department (GLD) training contract (Solicitor route) after working in the Civil Service at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for nearly a year in a non-legal, entry-level role. Having studied law at university, I was uncertain about pursuing a legal career. However, I loved working in the Civil Service and thought that a legal career in government appeared to be more interesting and potentially more fulfilling. When I was offered the training contract, I was also given the opportunity to work as a paralegal in GLD before starting my LPC, which I found very useful.

    Despite my experience as a GLD paralegal, I began my training contract with little knowledge of what the two years would entail, other than that the structure was similar to those in private practice: four six-month seats.  My first two seats were in litigation and the latter two in advisory. My litigation seats were divided into private law litigation and public law litigation. “Litigation” refers to the process of taking legal action through the courts to resolve a dispute, and GLD litigation can also include working on inquiries. “Advisory” means acting as an in-house lawyer for your chosen department, sometimes sitting with, or in the same building as, your clients.

    My first seat was in private law litigation, with the Home Office and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) as our main clients. This was a great introduction to litigation and to GLD. Within the first couple of months, I was running my own smaller cases (under supervision) and assisting colleagues on larger cases. A highlight was attending the Supreme Court for an (appealed) application to strike out a defamation claim.

    My second seat was in public law litigation, with clients including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and the Home Office. In this seat, I worked mostly on judicial reviews, which are challenges to decisions made by public bodies. These are much faster-paced than private law claims, with courts often setting deadlines of only a few days. Consequently, the work was intense, but I really enjoyed it.

    My first advisory seat was in the Attorney General’s Office; the Attorney General is the chief legal advisor to the Government, and so his “office” (which is a whole department) works across a number of matters. My favourite aspect of my team’s work was collaborating with departments across government to ensure that Bills were constitutionally sound before being introduced to Parliament. This involved cross-Whitehall liaison, attending Parliament, and briefing Ministers. It was a privilege to have this opportunity at such an early stage in my career.

    I am now in my fourth and final seat in the Home Office and the work is once again very different. Among other things, I am still working on the same Bills I reviewed in AGO, but now focus on the details of different measures, working closely with policy clients and Parliamentary Counsel to draft them. This seat has so far been challenging and interesting – and I’m looking forward to qualification.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Career Insight: Nadia, Trainee Solicitor, HMRC

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Career Insight: Nadia, Trainee Solicitor, HMRC

    Nadia provides an insight into her training within HM Revenue & Customs

    I am a trainee solicitor, currently in my second seat, working in HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Legal Group’s VAT Litigation team. My current work includes conducting litigation and looking at the VAT treatment of certain supplies, like food, beauty procedures, books, and marketing deals from some big household names. A big part of the team’s work is also focusing on serious non-compliance fraud cases and various VAT avoidance schemes. Is Jaffa Cake a biscuit or a cake? That’s the kind of question you may get involved in while working for HMRC’s Legal Group.

    When applying for a training contract at HMRC, I never truly understood what being a government lawyer would be like. As HMRC’s lawyers, we are protecting billions of pounds that are then given back to the community in the way of public services, like healthcare, police and many other areas funded by the taxpayers. It’s a ‘pinch-me’ moment knowing that your work is meaningful.

    In my first seat in Business and Property Taxes Litigation team, and continuing into my second seat, I was given significant responsibility from the outset. I am leading my own cases, managing clients that are experts in a tax field and working with the country’s best counsel. As a trainee, you get to experience various aspects of litigation, whether it is drafting statements of case, creating bundles, attending hearings, or even doing a bit of advocacy. You will not be bored. Some litigation teams are more fast paced than others, but that’s the beauty of it, you will be able to steer your training in the direction you want it to go.

    I have truly enjoyed my time as a trainee so far and have been given the opportunity to get involved in work that I never thought I would be able to as a trainee. As strange as it may seem, the highlight of my first seat was when my counsel suddenly fell ill on the morning of an important hearing I had been preparing for months. After dozens of calls with different Chambers, the tribunal, clients, and understandably very unhappy opposing counsel, we managed to adjourn the hearing. The feeling of accomplishment could not be described.

    I would recommend a career at HMRC to anyone interested in public service and challenging, interesting, and meaningful work.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Career Insight: Joe, Trainee Solicitor, HMRC

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Career Insight: Joe, Trainee Solicitor, HMRC

    Joe provides an insight into his training within HM Revenue & Customs

    I am a fourth seat trainee in HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Legal Group’s European and International Law advisory team. The team advises on, drafts and helps negotiate a range of international agreements, including Free-Trade Agreements and Double Taxation Treaties.

    I studied Philosophy and Politics as my undergraduate degree, focussing my studies on human rights and the regulation of transnational enterprises. I suspected that a career in law was the best opportunity to apply these interests in practice; however, as a non-law graduate I was reluctant to immediately volunteer for the expense and stress of two more years of study in the form of the GDL and LPC. So, after graduating, I moved abroad to pursue a career playing and coaching rugby; the COVID-19 pandemic put paid to that ambition but provided me the opportunity to start an online law conversion.

     I applied for the role at HMRC as I thought that first-hand experience of the legislative process and regular precedent-setting litigation would provide a great opportunity to develop my career as a solicitor; but also because the tax arena seemed to offer a lot of variety, encompassing my interests in both public law and commercial questions.

    All trainees start in litigation for their first year; trainee solicitors remain within HMRC, while pupil barristers spend six months seconded to Chambers. My first seat was in VAT litigation, so after three years of intensive study, I arrived at HMRC braced for mountains of paperwork and long days of dense tax calculations. Instead, waiting on my desk were various packets of lentil-based snacks and the deceptively knotty legal question; are these crisps, or at least similar to crisps? I spent the seat thinking about other such questions, like what distinguishes cosmetic surgery from medical care. During this seat, I visited the Supreme Court assisting a senior lawyer and saw my own case feature in national newspapers.

    For my second seat I applied for HMRC’s Enforcement and Illicit Finance litigation Team. The question for this team was less frequently whether someone owes tax, but how HMRC can actually collect it from them. My tasks ranged from advocating on HMRC’s behalf in the Magistrates Court to instructing counsel at fast pace on High Court proceedings, attending the Court of Appeal and working with international law enforcement to seize overseas assets.

     As a trainee you will be given your own cases to run as part of a cross-HMRC case team with tax and policy experts, so you can stretch yourself in an environment surrounded by expert lawyers and tax professionals, who are all very generous with their time. Your role is to co-ordinate this team and ask the right questions to tease the legal arguments out of your clients. In this respect the skills I developed playing team sports were as important as my legal knowledge.  

    In your second year you move into an advisory team. In my first six months I worked on a mix of human rights and technical tax advice as part of the Personal Tax and Welfare team. I drafted my statutory instrument, which was a particular highlight, and fed into a major budget measure. It can feel like a drastic transition from the more adversarial world of litigation, but the training is extensive with HMRC running internal induction courses alongside the wider GLP offering.

    The advisory lawyers cover a wide variety of tasks, with my final seat feeling like an entirely new role.  I didn’t study EU or International Law as part of my law conversion, but having the lawyers who drafted the treaties sat next to you in the office is always a good starting point!

    Whilst the HMRC training contract will be of particular interest for anyone who wants a career in public law, I think it is really important to understand the breadth of the department’s work. There is regular precedent setting litigation with engages questions of employment and commercial law, and advisory teams that span the breadth of civil and criminal practice.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘I were but little happy, if I could say how much’: Shakespeare’s insights on happiness have held up for more than 400 years

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Cora Fox, Associate Professor of English and Health Humanities, Arizona State University

    Joanna Vanderham as Desdemona and Hugh Quarshie as the title character in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of ‘Othello.’ Robbie Jack/Corbis via Getty Images

    What is “happiness” – and who gets to be happy?

    Since 2012, the World Happiness Report has measured and compared data from 167 countries. The United States currently ranks 24th, between the U.K. and Belize – its lowest position since the report was first issued. But the 2025 edition – released on March 20, the United Nations’ annual “International Day of Happiness” – starts off not with numbers, but with Shakespeare.

    “In this year’s issue, we focus on the impact of caring and sharing on people’s happiness,” the authors explain. “Like ‘mercy’ in Shakespeare’s ‘Merchant of Venice,’ caring is ‘twice-blessed’ – it blesses those who give and those who receive.”

    Shakespeare’s plays offer many reflections on happiness itself. They are a record of how people in early modern England experienced and thought about joy and satisfaction, and they offer a complex look at just how happiness, like mercy, lives in relationships and the caring exchanges between people.

    Contrary to how we might think about happiness in our everyday lives, it is more than the surge of positive feelings after a great meal, or a workout, or even a great date. The experience of emotions is grounded in both the body and the mind, influenced by human physiology and culture in ways that change depending on time and place. What makes a person happy, therefore, depends on who that person is, as well as where and when they belong – or don’t belong.

    Happiness has a history. I study emotions and early modern literature, so I spend a lot of my time thinking about what Shakespeare has to say about what makes people happy, in his own time and in our own. And also, of course, what makes people unhappy.

    From fortune to joy

    Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
    Tony Hisgett/Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    “Happiness” derives from the Old Norse word “hap,” which meant “fortune” or “luck,” as historians Phil Withington and Darrin McMahon explain. This earlier sense is found throughout Shakespeare’s works. Today, it survives in the modern word “happenstance” and the expression that something is a “happy accident.”

    But in modern English usage, “happy” as “fortunate” has been almost entirely replaced by a notion of happiness as “joy,” or the more long-term sense of life satisfaction called “well-being.” The term “well-being,” in fact, was introduced into English from the Italian “benessere” around the time of Shakespeare’s birth.

    The word and the concept of happiness were transforming during Shakespeare’s lifetime, and his use of the word in his plays mingles both senses: “fortunate” and “joyful.” That transitional ambiguity emphasizes happiness’ origins in ideas about luck and fate, and it reminds readers and playgoers that happiness is a contingent, fragile thing – something not just individuals, but societies need to carefully cultivate and support.

    For instance, early in “Othello,” the Venetian senator Brabantio describes his daughter Desdemona as “tender, fair, and happy / So opposite to marriage that she shunned / The wealthy, curled darlings of our nation.” Before she elopes with Othello she is “happy” in the sense of “fortunate,” due to her privileged position on the marriage market.

    Later in the same play, though, Othello reunites with his new wife in Cyprus and describes his feelings of joy using this same term:

    …If it were now to die,
    ‘Twere now to be most happy, for I fear
    My soul hath her content so absolute
    That not another comfort like to this
    Succeeds in unknown fate.

    Desdemona responds,

    The heavens forbid
    But that our loves and comforts should increase
    Even as our days do grow!

    They both understand “happy” to mean not just lucky, but “content” and “comfortable,” a more modern understanding. But they also recognize that their comforts depend on “the heavens,” and that happiness is enabled by being fortunate.

    “Othello” is a tragedy, so in the end, the couple will not prove “happy” in either sense. The foreign general is tricked into believing his young wife has been unfaithful. He murders her, then takes his own life.

    The seeds of jealousy are planted and expertly exploited by Othello’s subordinate, Iago, who catalyzes the racial prejudice and misogyny underlying Venetian values to enact his sinister and cruel revenge.

    James Earl Jones playing the title role and Jill Clayburgh as Desdemona in a 1971 production of ‘Othello.’
    Kathleen Ballard/Los Angeles Times/UCLA Library via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    Happy insiders and outsiders

    “Othello” sheds light on happiness’s history – but also on its politics.

    While happiness is often upheld as a common good, it is also dependent on cultural forces that make it harder for some individuals to experience. Shared cultural fantasies about happiness tend to create what theorist Sara Ahmed calls “affect aliens”: individuals who, by nature of who they are and how they are treated, experience a disconnect between what their culture conditions them to think should make them happy and their disappointment or exclusion from those positive feelings. Othello, for example, rightly worries that he is somehow foreign to the domestic happiness Desdemona describes, excluded from the joy of Venetian marriage. It turns out he is right.

    Because Othello is foreign and Black and Desdemona is Venetian and white, their marriage does not conform to their society’s expectations for happiness, and that makes them vulnerable to Iago’s deceit.

    Similarly, “The Merchant of Venice” examines the potential for happiness to include or exclude, to build or break communities. Take the quote about mercy that opens the World Happiness Report.

    The phrase appears in a famous courtroom scene, as Portia attempts to persuade a Jewish lender, Shylock, to take pity on Antonio, a Christian man who cannot pay his debts. In their contract, Shylock has stipulated that if Antonio defaults on the loan, the fee will be a “pound of flesh.”

    “The quality of mercy is not strained,” Portia lectures him; it is “twice-blessed,” benefiting both giver and receiver.

    It’s a powerful attempt to save Antonio’s life. But it is also hypocritical: Those cultural norms of caring and mercy seem to apply only to other Christians in the play, and not the Jewish people living alongside them in Venice. In that same scene, Shylock reminds his audience that Antonio and the other Venetians in the room have spit on him and called him a dog. He famously asks why Jewish Venetians are not treated as equal human beings: “If you prick us, do we not bleed?”

    Actor Henry Irving as Shylock in a late 19th-century performance of ‘The Merchant of Venice.’
    Lock & Whitfield/Folger Shakespeare Library via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    Shakespeare’s plays repeatedly make the point that the unjust distribution of rights and care among various social groups – Christians and Jews, men and women, citizens and foreigners – challenges the happy effects of benevolence.

    Those social factors are sometimes overlooked in cultures like the U.S., where contemporary notions of happiness are marketed by wellness gurus, influencers and cosmetic companies. Shakespeare’s plays reveal both how happiness is built through communities of care and how it can be weaponized to destroy individuals and the fabric of the community.

    There are obvious victims of prejudice and abuse in Shakespeare’s plays, but he does not just emphasize their individual tragedies. Instead, the plays record how certain values that promote inequality poison relationships that could otherwise support happy networks of family and friends.

    Systems of support

    Pretty much all objective research points to the fact that long-term happiness depends on community, connections and social support: having systems in place to weather what life throws at us.

    And according to both the World Happiness Report and Shakespeare, contentment isn’t just about the actual support you receive but your expectations about people’s willingness to help you. Societies with high levels of trust, like Finland and the Netherlands, tend to be happier – and to have more evenly distributed levels of happiness in their populations.

    Shakespeare’s plays offer blueprints for trust in happy communities. They also offer warnings about the costs of cultural fantasies about happiness that make it more possible for some, but not for all.

    Cora Fox has received funding from an NEH grant for activities not directly related to this research.

    – ref. ‘I were but little happy, if I could say how much’: Shakespeare’s insights on happiness have held up for more than 400 years – https://theconversation.com/i-were-but-little-happy-if-i-could-say-how-much-shakespeares-insights-on-happiness-have-held-up-for-more-than-400-years-198583

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Immigration offenders returned on flight to Nigeria and Ghana

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Immigration offenders returned on flight to Nigeria and Ghana

    43 people returned to Nigeria and Ghana in an operation, part of a surge in returns activity to secure our border through the Plan for Change

    43 failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders were returned on a charter flight to Nigeria and Ghana, as the government steps up international collaboration to secure our borders.

    The flight underscores the government’s progress restoring order to the immigration system through the Plan for Change, ensuring rules are respected and those who break them are swiftly returned.

    Those removed had no right to be in the UK and included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign national offenders who had served their sentences. 7 people returned voluntarily.

    Since the election, two charter flights have taken off to the countries, carrying a total of 87 people and demonstrating the strength of cooperation between the UK, Nigeria and Ghana on this critical issue.

    Under this government, over 24,000 people have been returned, an 11% increase on the same period 12 months prior, while four of the largest returns flights ever have taken off returning migrants to countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. 

    Deportations of foreign national offenders are also up 16% since the election, with 3,594 criminals removed.

    Immigration Enforcement ensure that returns are carried out in a dignified and respectful manner.

    Minister for Border Security and Asylum Angela Eagle said:

    This flight demonstrates how international partnerships deliver on working people’s priorities for swift returns and secure borders.

    Through the Plan for Change we’re going further in restoring order to a broken system, accelerating returns of those with no right to be here and closing expensive asylum hotels.

    I thank the governments of Ghana and Nigeria for facilitating this operation, which reflects our joint commitment to disrupt organised immigration crime and protect our borders.

    Baroness Chapman of Darlington, FCDO Minister responsible for Irregular Migration said:

    Working with other countries and partners around the world is critical to tackling irregular migration – by working internationally, we will meet this global challenge together.

    I welcome our strong cooperation with Ghana and Nigeria to return those with no right to be in the UK, secure our borders, and deliver on the Plan for Change.

    This operation follows the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, which saw the UK bring together over 40 countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, to drive forward the global fight against smuggling gangs and deliver on the government’s mission to secure our borders.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor of Derry and Strabane and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council receive Honorary Degrees

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Mayor of Derry and Strabane and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council receive Honorary Degrees

    25 April 2025

    The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr and the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Niamh Kennedy were in the United States this week where they were awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees from the Worcester State University.

    The honorary degrees are in recognition of their outstanding contributions to civic leadership, community engagement, and cross-border collaboration as part of  The North West Tertiary Education Cluster (NWTEC) a strategic alliance comprising the four publicly funded tertiary education providers in the North West City Region – the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) , Ulster University (UU) , North West Regional College (NWRC)  and Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB).
     
    The North West Tertiary Education Cluster was established to foster greater coherence and collaboration in the education and skills provision across the region and enhance the educational landscape and contribute to the economic and social development of the North West City Region. The cluster has the support and collaboration of the two Councils of Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council who are leading partners in the North West Strategic Growth Partnership that brings together the two local authorities alongside further and higher education providers, and representatives from the NI Executive Office and the Irish Government to foster regional growth.
     
    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Barr said it was a huge honour and privilege to be recognised by the university. She said: “The conferral of the honorary degrees underscores the strong and growing connections between Worcester State University and the regions of Derry and Strabane and County Donegal. It also highlights the importance of international cooperation and the positive impact of dedicated civic leadership. I am proud that my commitment to fostering growth, promoting community cohesion and championing social justice, equality and human rights has been instrumental in building bridges across communities. Worcester State University is a vibrant, student-centred public university committed to academic excellence, community engagement, and preparing students for success in a diverse and global society and it is a fantastic honour for me to receive an honorary degree from this education centre of excellence.”
     
    Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Niamh Kennedy said “I am deeply honoured to receive this prestigious recognition from Worcester State University. The honorary degree reflects not only my own personal commitment but also the collective efforts of our region in building stronger, more cohesive cross-border partnerships. This honour highlights the ongoing importance of collaboration between the North West Tertiary Education Cluster and the wider community. Together, we are fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for our region. Worcester State University’s dedication to academic excellence and community engagement aligns closely with our values, and it’s a privilege to be acknowledged by such an esteemed institution.”
     
    President of Worchester State University, Barry M. Maloneys said: “We are deeply honoured to recognise Mayor Barr and Cathaoirleach Kennedy with honorary degrees – Doctorates of Humane Letters, honoris causa, – and formally acknowledge their dedication to public service and their commitment to fostering positive relationships across borders align perfectly with the values of Worcester State University. Their work serves as an inspiration to our students and the wider community. Our university has a very longstanding and positive working relationship with ATU, Ulster University and the wider education cluster and the honorary degrees awarded today further cement our commitment to fostering that connection.”
     
    The special ceremony took at Worcester State University and was led by the University President Barry M. Maloney. Members of the university community, local dignitaries, and invited guests were in attendance at the event which was part of the college’s annual academic achievement celebrations. 

    During their visit to Boston, the two Mayors also attended a reception hosted by the University where they had the opportunity to engage with students.

     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Celebration honours winners of Edinburgh 900 writing competitions

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    A celebratory reception was held last night (Thursday) at the City Chambers to honour the winners of two Edinburgh 900 themed writing competitions.

    Hosted by the Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, the event recognised the creativity and talent of local writers who submitted original works inspired by Edinburgh’s remarkable nine-century history.

    The two featured competitions included the Green Pencil Award 2024, aimed at school-aged children (P4 to S3) attending Edinburgh schools or home-educated in the city, and a city-wide poetry writing competition organised through Edinburgh’s library network, open to adult residents.

    The Edinburgh 900 initiative commemorates 900 years since the Royal Burgh was established by King David I around 1124. In honour of this historic milestone, residents were invited to share their reflections, memories, and love for Scotland’s capital through poetry and storytelling.

    Both competitions highlighted Edinburgh’s rich heritage, cultural vibrancy, and strong community spirit. Six winning entries from the poetry competition will be immortalised on exclusive bookmarks to be distributed across Council-run libraries throughout the city. The winning poets will also be filmed reciting their work, with the recordings shared across the Council’s social media channels and preserved as part of the Edinburgh 900 archive for future generations.

    The winners are: Shasta Hanif Ali, Eric Robinson, Rory Allison, Tricia Ronaldson and Suzanne Smith.

    The Green Pencil Award encouraged young people to express their voices creatively in written form, with entries limited to one side of A4 and open to stories or poems in any style.

    Twenty finalists were selected, with one crowned the overall winner and presented with the prestigious Green Pencil Award trophy and winner’s medal.

    The Green Pencil was awarded to Preston Street Primary 7 pupil Ema Mene for her poem “To Edinburgh She Went”.

    Highly commended: Isobel Rhys-Davies, Cargilfield School (P6); Marcus Osborne, Bruntsfield Primary School (P6B); and Sofia Brown, James Gillespie’s High School (S1).

    The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge praised all entrants for their enthusiasm and passion:

    Creative writing ensures our stories are told and remembered. Edinburgh 900 is not only a celebration of the past but also a platform to inspire the future. These competitions show how deeply people care about the city and its legacy.

    Edinburgh has long been a city where literature thrives, as we mark 900 years these wonderful written pieces provide another meaningful way to honour the city’s legacy through the words of its people. My congratulations to our fantastic winners.

    Note

    Photograph: The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge with overall Green Pencil Award winner Ema Mene and her family

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £1.5 for New Kirkton Community Centre

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    £1.5 million is being allocated to support people in Kirkton in their ongoing efforts to build a new community centre. 

    Local charity Kirkton Community Centre SCIO has been awarded the money from the UK Government’s Community Regeneration Partnership (CRP) to construct a modern, purpose-built facility for the area. 

    Dundee City Council, which is leading delivery and governance of the overall £20 million CRP, will work in partnership with the Kirkton SCIO as they look to progress the major project. 

    Following the closure and demolition of the current ageing Kirkton Community Centre, the charity intends to build and run a new centre on the same site, which would be community owned and run. 

    The facility would complement the City Council’s Community Hub model for the area, which will be based at the nearby Baldragon and St Paul’s academies. 

    While the UK Government has provided £1.5 million towards the project, the Kirkton Community Centre SCIO is working to raise additional funds towards the costs of the development. 

    Council Leader, Mark Flynn said: “This is an important step for the Kirkton Community Centre SCIO in making their new community centre a reality.  

    “The Council is assisting the group through demolition of the current aging community centre and we are looking to confirm an agreement with them about the site. 

         

    “Between the charity’s community provision and our exciting Hub plans, Kirkton residents can look forward to having access to excellent community spaces and  

    activities day and night, all year round.” 

    Melanie Kiyani, Treasurer of Kirkton Community Centre SCIO, said:  “Kirkton Community Centre SCIO are delighted with the confirmation of this funding from the UK Government.  We have an ambition to build a modern community centre which will bring jobs, enterprise, volunteering & training opportunities to the Kirkton Community. The new community centre will include a cafe, two retail units, multi-purpose space and a sensory room.    

    “We are currently working alongside Jon Frullani Architects to bring our vision to reality and will share the design for the new Kirkton Community Centre soon.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government signs new international agreement in boost to British business

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Government signs new international agreement in boost to British business

    Businesses will save time and money on repetitive legal action thanks to new international rules coming into force across the UK on 1 July.

    • Agreement will cut delays and costs for UK businesses
    • UK judgments against foreign suppliers will be recognised by participating countries overseas
    • This will boost the UK legal sector and drive economic growth, part of the government’s Plan for Change

    The UK Government has signed up to the Hague 2019 Convention, which means other countries will more easily recognise and enforce UK court judgments in cross-border disputes – sparing firms from costly and repetitive court battles.

    Currently, if a UK business wins a case in a UK court against a company based in another country, business leaders face the threat of time-consuming enforcement processes or even identical legal action overseas for the same dispute – causing delays, increasing costs and creating confusion to the consumer.

    The new rules will provide a simpler enforcement route to existing complex systems, giving one clear consistent set of shared rules – that the UK helped shape – making the process easier for everyone.

    Streamlining the process will save businesses time and money, encourage foreign companies to use the UK’s world-class lawyers and courts to settle their disputes and grow the economy overall.

    Justice Minister, Lord Ponsonby, said:

    This Convention delivers real benefits for British businesses dealing with international disputes.

    As part of our Plan for Change we’re boosting UK firms’ confidence to trade by minimising legal costs and ensuring justice across borders, all while cementing Britain’s role as a global legal powerhouse committed to the rule of law.

    The Convention will enhance international legal collaboration. It will apply to judgments in civil and commercial matters, strengthening the UK’s position as a global hub for dispute resolution.

    The 2019 Hague Convention is already being applied by 29 parties, from Ukraine to EU countries, with Uruguay joining last year. This means UK civil and commercial judgments will be recognised and enforced in these nations and that the UK will recognise judgments made in their courts.

    With 91 members of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), a major multilateral forum for private international law rules which has produced numerous conventions including the 2019 Hague Convention, Hague 2019 has a potentially global reach. 

    The Convention will apply to judgments given in proceedings that commence on or after 1 July 2025 across the entire United Kingdom or in other participating countries.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New pitches open at Stoke Damerel

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Plymouth Argyle mascot Pilgrim Pete kicks off at the new Stoke Damerel playing pitches

    Pupils and residents have been celebrating the opening of Plymouth’s newest community sports facility.

    As part of the city’s ongoing investment in sports facilities, the three multi-surfaced pitches Stoke Damerel Community College will provide space for several different sports.

    The new facilities include a brand new, 2G sand pitch, which whilst primarily suitable for hockey, is a multi-sports surface and can be used for a number of other activities.

    Also completed is a smaller 3G pitch, specifically targeted at football and rugby use, which has been supported by a £250,000 grant from the Premier League, the Football Association and the Football Foundation.

    Other project funders include the Council, Stoke Damerel Community College and the Greenshaw Learning Trust. The project has also received support from Devon Football Association.

    A renovation and upgrade of and existing grass pitch, is also part of the works and will open next year.

    The new additions will be for both school and community use with modern flood lighting to ensure that they can be used all year round.

    The plans complement the work already underway to transform the former Brickfields Sports Centre into a new community wellbeing hub and pitches that are   operated by the Argyle Community Trust.

    Councillor Dann and Anita Frier at the opening event

    Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Sport, Leisure and HR, said: “I’m so proud of this fantastic new facility which I know is going to be well used by students and the community alike and aligns with our priority of to improve health outcomes. 

    “These pitches are just part of the overall Brickfield masterplan which has given us a once-in-a-generation chance to revamp grassroots sports facilities in Plymouth, allowing a positive life-long impact on active health and wellbeing.

    “I’d like to thank Stoke Damerel staff and students for their cooperation in the project, both in the planning and during construction and also the Football Foundation, whose funding has been so crucial.”

    Anita Frier, Principal of Stoke Damerel Community College, said: “These improvements are significant for the long-term ambitions of the College, allowing us to expand and develop the PE offering both for students of SDCC and SMHC, as well as local primary schools.

    “Having been without on-site sporting facilities for six months, being able to have all-weather facilities will mean uninterrupted sporting activities for students and community all year.”

    Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.

    “Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.

    “We’re delighted that the local community in Plymouth will be able to enjoy all these benefits thanks to the new facilities at Stoke Damerel Community College.”

    Booking enquiries for the new pitches can be made by emailing [email protected]

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