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Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Labour urged to tax the rich to fund services: billionaires should not exist

    Source: Scottish Greens

    12 Apr 2025 2025 Spring Conference

    We cannot afford billionaires. Tax the super rich.

    Labour is failing people and planet and must tax the super rich to build a fairer, greener future, says Scottish Green Co-Leader Lorna Slater.

    Speaking at her party’s Spring Conference in Stirling, Ms Slater called for action to tax wealth and big polluters.

    Addressing a capacity crowd, Ms Slater said: “The last few years have been difficult for most people, but they haven’t been difficult for everyone. The wealth of billionaires has more than tripled since 2010. They’ve made out like bandits in the last few years, cashing in every step of the way.

    “Through austerity, COVID, global market turmoil – the super-rich have been able to shore up their wealth whilst ordinary people and families have suffered.

    “It is not right that as billionaires are getting richer and richer, household bills are getting higher and higher for everybody else. It is not right that fossil fuel companies have raked in huge profits, whilst abandoning any significant investment in green renewables. It is not right that some of the wealthiest people in our society are telling us that we cannot afford to provide vital services for people who need them while they are hoarding so much wealth.

    “It’s not that we can’t afford good public services, it’s that we can’t afford billionaires. Billionaires should not exist.

    “It is thanks to the Scottish Greens that the highest earners in Scotland, and people who own more than one home, have to pay more. When I see headlines in the right-wing press whining about Scotland’s fairer tax system – it makes me proud. We need to tax the rich.

    “We need to think beyond income tax, we need to tax wealth, we need to tax carbon emissions and the big polluters to put money back into people’s pockets, back into public services and to build a fairer, greener country.”

    Ms Slater finished by laying out Green policies that will cut carbon emissions while putting money back in people’s pockets.

    Ms Slater said:

    “In just over a year’s time, we’ll be heading into the 2026 Holyrood election and this is the story that we are going to tell.

    “Just like free bus travel for under 22’s, the things we need the Scottish government to do on climate will improve life opportunities for Scots, and will put money back in their pockets.

    “Green policies will make life better in practical ways. Warm homes. Clean air. Affordable trains. We know what change is needed. That’s why we exist.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Patrick Harvie calls for Greens to provide hope in final conference as leader

    Source: Scottish Greens

    12 Apr 2025 2025 Spring Conference

    We must remain hopeful and keep making positive change happen.

    Scottish Green Co-Leader Patrick Harvie has delivered his final conference speech as party Co-Leader.

    Addressing a hall of members Mr Harvie called for his party to offer hope and challenge the hateful politics of the far right.

    Mr Harvie said: “Ours must be a movement that offers vision, ambition, and clarity; only if we do that will we deserve the trust of voters; and our message is even more urgent and important in these unsettling times.

    “Green politics could hardly be more of a contrast with the rise of dangerous forces in today’s political climate; the far right threat is very real, and too much of the political spectrum is still behaving as though it can be defeated by imitation.

    “They tried that with anti-immigrant and anti-asylum prejudice, making policy ever more hostile and brutal. It harmed people, and it also didn’t work.

    “They tried it with Brexit, parroting meaningless slogans like ‘make Brexit work’ even though they knew it never could. It harmed people, and it also didn’t work.

    “They are now doing the same thing with the so-called culture war agenda, with transphobia and the right wing’s attempt to redefine free speech. It’s harming people, and it also cannot work to defeat the far right – playing into their agenda will only ever give the far right more political space.

    “Their ideas can only be defeated by openly and consistently challenging them, not by imitating them.”

    In closing his speech, Mr Harvie said:

    “For much of our party’s early history, people voted Green as a protest. That’s not enough. It’s not enough to win the chance to make change happen. It should never be enough to satisfy us.

    “Green politics must be about making a difference in the real world, because the challenges, and crises, that we exist to face are far too urgent.

    “Not just during my time in a leadership role, but throughout the two and a half decades of the devolution era, that’s what we’ve built – the capacity and the credibility to make change happen.

    “It took hard work, by many people over many years, to build this party into a political force in Scotland that’s capable of making the country a better place, and that can now point to a track record of doing it instead of just talking about it.

    “So that’s still the task before us – to take Green politics forward, to achieve more positive change in people’s lives, and to live up to our values in the way we do our politics, because that’s the only way to truly deserve people‘s trust, not just for ourselves, but for democracy.

    “So as I close my last speech as Co-Leader, I look forward to our party having the debate we deserve, the debate we need, about how to build on the most impactful period in our party’s history, and go forward to achieve even more positive change for people and for planet.

    “Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Patrick Harvie Spring Conference speech 2025

    Source: Scottish Greens

    12 Apr 2025 Climate

    Patrick Harvie gave his final conference speech as Co-Leader of the Scottish Greens, urging his party to present a bold and inspiring alternative to a broken status quo and the far right Reform party.

    More in Climate

    Now as you know, I’ve given more than a few co-leader speeches at our conferences, and I can’t really begin today without recognising that I’m turning the page now, both for myself and for the party.

    I’m want to say how grateful I am to everyone who has offered kind words since I announced that I won’t be standing for re-election as Co-Leader.

    And I want to thank everybody who has given me the opportunity to serve the party as co-convenor and then as Co-Leader; and everyone I’ve worked with across the party over many years.

    And naturally, having made that decision, I’ve been reflecting on the journey we’ve all been on.

    I think back to the public perceptions, and the internal reality, of the party I joined in 2001.

    A party with just one MSP, no councillors, and a handful of members. A party so strapped for cash that it only narrowly escaped being bankrupted by a photocopier contract. A party with so little profile or recognition that when you said told people you were a member, people thought you meant Greenpeace.

    I think back also to my experience of becoming part of our new parliamentary group in 2003, when we suddenly jumped up from one seat to seven. It was an exciting time, of course, but we knew that to most voters, to most politics watchers and to most of the media, we were an unknown quantity at best. 

    The Daily Mail knew what to make of us. As the first MSP to be elected as an out candidate, when I started talking about equal marriage and civil partnership, they splashed a front page with the headline “Green threat to the family.”

    In the article that followed, they fretted “describing himself as bisexual, enjoying relationships with both men and women!”. I mean if they’d written “hoping for…” it would at least have been accurate.

    And not long after that I was dubbed the voice of the “irresponsible left led anti family anti-Christian gay whales against the bomb coalition.” Because they hadn’t thought of the word woke by then.

    But even beyond the odd worldview of the Mail, much of the media saw us as nothing more than a novelty act, something to do with the environment, something a bit eccentric, but nothing like a serious political force.

    We wanted to change that perception. And slowly and surely, by taking our jobs seriously, and taking parliament seriously, we started to make others take us seriously. We built credibility. But that early success didn’t have a strong foundation.

    Though our national membership was still measured in the hundreds, we had run a decent campaign, on half a shoestring, but in truth the electoral weather had been very kind to us. We did need to build that political credibility, but we hadn’t yet built the strong campaigning party in the country that we would need when we faced a tougher election. 

    In 2007 we just about held on by our fingernails. We lost most of our seats, most of our staff, most of our profile, and most of our ability to achieve change.

    I never want that to happen to the Scottish Green Party again.

    We began the slow process of rebuilding the party, and because Parliament was so tightly balanced we did manage to find opportunities to keep making change happen, from funding climate work in communities, to passing hate crime laws. 

    But it was 2014, and in fact the few years running up to it, that changed everything.

    As soon as it was clear that Scotland would be making this historic decision on independence, we saw the opportunity not only to set out why independence fits with the Green vision, but why the Green vision is the path to making independence work – why a sustainable independent Scotland, able to move quickly and fairly away from the fossil fuel age, is the best future we can choose. 

    Some independence voices hadn’t yet moved on from “it’s Scotland’s oil.” To be honest, a few still haven’t even today. But we saw, and we seized, an opportunity to change the debate, and change the story of Scotland’s future.

    More than that, we wanted to show that people could debate that choice in good spirit, and that people can disagree and still be friends. And that positive ideas and vision are of more value than fear, opportunism, or insults. That Scotland was capable of the standard of debate we deserved.

    Our message reached more people than ever before, and more people than ever before decided to join. 

    There are people here today who joined in that surge, who attended branch meetings in the wake of the referendum, meetings where the overspills rooms needed overspill rooms.

    With the capacity and the profile that we gained in that period, 2016 restored our parliamentary group, and with the SNP returning to minority government we were able to achieve real change; passing legislation, winning the case for progressive tax reform, and forcing policy change from government, but – critically – building out political relevance; and we laid the groundwork for our best ever result in 2021.

    And on the back of that result, the opportunity to become part of the government presented itself. In the biggest and most participative democratic process our party has ever undertaken, our members first shaped and then approved the Bute House Agreement.

    Doing that was a clear statement that we’re here to make change happen, and that we were ready to step up and do the hard work that’s necessary to make change on a far bigger scale than ever before.

    Clearly, it was shorter lived than it could have been, and now some of our most important work is being undone or watered down by the SNP. But even without the chance to complete a lot of the work we got started, we made a bigger difference in people’s lives than ever.

    It’s the reason three quarters of a million young people today have a bus pass in their pocket today, making public transport an affordable and natural first choice. 

    It’s the reason investment in climate and nature hit record highs, investment that was needed because for far too long politicians had been setting targets and then blocking the action needed to reach them; and it’s the reason why better planning policies ensured that Loch Lomond has been protected from the damage threatened by FlamingoLand.

    This commitment to making change happen instead of only talking about it went well beyond the environmental agenda that Green politics is most strongly rooted in. The actions we took showed how Green ideas apply to social and economic policy, in ways that other parties have shied away from.

    It’s the reason tenants across the country were spared thousands of pounds in avoidable extra rent rises during a cost of living crisis.

    It’s the reason Scotland has continued on the path of more progressive taxation to help protect public services from the austerity first of the Conservative and now of a UK Labour Government.

    And it was also the reason that more people than ever before gave us their support. While the SNP’s legal woes and Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation led to a decline in their support, we saw the highest sustained period of polling in our party’s history, and an election in 2022 that exceeded all expectations.

    I’ll never forget the frustration of some of the SNP’s right wingers, furious at their own party for working with us, desperate to blame their loss of support on Green policies, but looking at our growing success with utter bewilderment. 

    So what now? How do we build on that success, and take Green politics forward in Scotland?

    In this party, it has never just been leaders who answer questions like that, but I’ve no doubt that over the coming months as we choose the leadership team for the 2026 election, these are the questions we will debate. 

    And I want that debate to be a positive, collaborative debate; just like that positive debate that we aimed for about the country’s future, that’s what our party deserves as we debate our own future.

    At any time, but especially now with basic democratic values facing new and very real threats, political parties should be willing to ask ourselves – why do people vote for us?

    For the Greens, many people see us as the political wing of the environment movement. That’s fundamental to our origins and our purpose, but it was never the whole of the answer

    Some people might vote for specific policies; whether that’s on climate & nature, housing, transport, independence, or anything else.

    These policy stances really matter, of course; they matter most if we can actually make them happen. And we should never lose sight of the need to build a reputation for actually turning ideas into reality; all those achievements we’ve made – Scotland is a fairer, better, and greener place because of this work; they are the achievements that are only possible thanks to the political credibility we’ve earned and the support people have given us at election time.

    But it’s a common error for people in politics to think these individual policy issues are what drive most people to the ballot box.

    For far more people, it’s more about who we are.

    We’re a party that’s always tried to be hopeful, even when that is hard work. We’re a party that’s always tried to be constructive – challenging others by putting forward better ideas, but also seeking out the common ground where cooperation can happen – and that’s ever more important in these dangerously polarised times.

    These have been parts of our political character that people really value.

    And I’m truly sorry to say that there have been times recently when I’ve had to ask if we really live up to those values? Times when instead of speaking up in an open and democratic way, a small minority of members have taken to anonymous leaks, smears, insults, undermining the work of fellow members and damaging our whole party and our reputation by doing so.

    I want to appeal to everyone, lets make sure that the next few months see a positive campaign that lifts our party up, one that lives up to the best of our values, not one that descends to the factionalism and toxicity that characterises too much of political debate.

    The vast majority of our members and our voters have had more than enough of that. I’m asking everyone in our party to call it out when they see it, and show those who behave that way that it’s not welcome in this party.

    Ours has to be a movement that offers vision, ambition, and clarity. It’s only if we do so that we will deserve the trust of voters; and our message is even more urgent and important in these unsettling times.

    Green politics could hardly be more of a contrast with the rise of dangerous forces in today’s political climate; the far right threat is very real, and too much of the political spectrum is still behaving as though it can be defeated by imitation.

    They tried that with anti-immigrant and anti-asylum prejudice, making policy ever more hostile and brutal. It harmed people, and it also didn’t work.

    They tried it with Brexit, parroting meaningless slogans like ‘make Brexit work’ even though they knew that it never could. It harmed people, and it also didn’t work.

    They are now doing the same thing with the so-called culture war agenda, with transphobia and the right wing’s attempt to redefine free speech. It’s harming people, and it also cannot work to defeat the far right – playing into their agenda will only ever give the far right more political space.

    Their ideas can only be defeated by openly and consistently challenging them, never by imitating them. 

    And that goes for the right’s contempt for democracy too – undermining trust in the democratic process is easy, and utterly destructive. Greens have a harder job to do, but a far more important one. We have to rekindle belief that in the idea that democratic politics is capable of making our society better, fairer and more liveable. 

    For much of our party’s early history, people might voted Green as a bit of a protest. That’s not enough. It’s not enough to win the chance to make change happen. It should never be enough to satisfy us.

    Green politics must be about making a difference in the real world, because the challenges, and crises, that we exist to face are far too urgent.

    Not just during my time in a leadership role, but throughout the two and a half decades of the devolution era, that’s what we’ve built – the capacity and the credibility to make change happen.

    It took hard work, by many people over many years, to build this party into a political force in Scotland that’s capable of making the country a better place, and that can now point to a track record of doing it and not just talking about it.

    So that’s still the task before us – to take Green politics forward, to achieve more positive change in people’s lives, and to live up to our values in the way we do our politics, because that’s the only way to truly deserve people‘s trust, not just for ourselves, but for democracy.

    So as I close my last speech as Co-Leader, I look forward to our party having the debate we truly deserve in the coming months, the debate we need, about how to build on the most impactful period in our party’s history, and go forward to achieve even more positive change for people and for planet.

    Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lorna Slater Spring Conference 2025

    Source: Scottish Greens

    12 Apr 2025

    Speaking at her party’s Spring Conference in Stirling, Scottish Green Co-Leader Lorna Slater called for action to tax wealth and big polluters to build a fairer, greener Scotland.

    When we met last October our country and our world were in a state of flux. Our political landscape is still shifting dramatically. 

    We have a Labour government telling us that things can only get worse while they cut the incomes of sick and disabled people. They kept the cruel two child cap, which has plunged thousands of families into totally avoidable poverty.

    Although they look set to nationalise British Steel they have betrayed the workers of Grangemouth.

    They betrayed the WASPI women after campaigning for them for years.

    They kowtow to a far right Trump administration that is dismantling hard won rights and freedoms. 

    Donald Trump is a dangerous, fraudulent, misogynistic, racist, climate-change denier. 

    He opposes democratic values and the rule of law. 

    His White House is spreading lies and misinformation about abortion rights here in Scotland – including disgraceful attacks on our colleague Gillian Mackay’s Safe Access Zone Bill; 

    Labour may be happy to make friends with dangerous despots, but we refuse to play nicely while the world burns.

    Trump and his hateful politics are not welcome in Scotland. Our country is not his playground. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer, you need to cancel the state visit. Cancel it now.

    The impact of Nigel Farage’s hard right Reform party rising in the polls, is already being felt in Scotland as the Tories and Labour shift to the right to try and rescue their votes.

    The Tories dropping any kind of commitment to net zero, and Labour throwing trans-people under the bus.

    As Patrick said: You can’t beat the far right by stealing their policies.

    You don’t beat Nigel Farage by cozying up to Donald Trump.

    The Scottish Greens will stand our ground as a proud party of the left. 

    We stand with refugees who are being attacked by racist politicians and the billionaire-owned press. 

    We stand with people who have fled war and conflict only to be blamed by those who have cut services and plunged families into poverty.

    We stand with the trans community who have been the focus of a relentless campaign of demonisation from MPs and MSPs from all the other parties.

    Trans rights are human rights. Our Party stands with you today, tomorrow and always.

    We stand with the people of Palestine who are suffering a genocide that has been armed, and supported and enabled by the UK government.

    The crisis there is getting worse and so is the human cost. 

    Babies are being killed long before they have the chance to mark their first birthdays.

    And yet the response from Downing Street has been to continue supporting the carnage.

    If Labour is to have any moral authority then it must end arms sales to Israel.

    It’s not just them. It’s time for the SNP to finally end the grants that are bolstering Israel’s arms dealers.

    For all of us working towards a greener, fairer world, it can feel like we’re losing ground. 

    Sometimes it’s hard to keep hold of hope that we can build something better. 

    The future can be brilliant. We just have to decide to make it so. 

    By working together the Scottish Greens have already taken big steps into that better future. 

    We have taxed high earners to raise billions of pounds for public services; 

    We’ve given free bus travel to everyone under 22;

    We’ve made sure that every organisation in Scotland that receives public money, pays the living wage. 

    We’ve delivered free school meals to more hungry children than ever before; 

    Our rent freeze and eviction protections for renters across Scotland saved tenants thousands of pounds and protected many from being made homeless.

    We have made a big difference to people’s lives. 

    Our work has helped people and planet, and made our country a fairer and better place. 

    All of this has happened because of the work of the people in this room – our volunteers around the country, and our work with campaigners and activists. 

    Among the hardest working people in our movement are the Green Councillors who are transforming local communities for the better. 

    Green Councillors in Glasgow have secured free public transport pilots and extra funding for safer parks and streets. 

    In Edinburgh, our Green councillors stopped council venues and services running advertising from climate wreckers and arms dealers.

    Day in and day out, our councillors across Scotland are supporting their constituents and standing up for their communities. 

    That’s what Councillor Bryan Quinn did when he protected crucial library services and Community Access Points in Clackmannanshire. 

    It’s what Councillor Kris Leask did when he secured an Offshore Energy Strategy for Orkney – something which he’s now leading on delivering. 

    After years of campaigning, our Dunblane and Bridge of Allan councillor Alasdair Tollemache – working with my MSP colleague Mark Ruskell – has successfully protected a vital local green space, Park of Keir, from expensive luxury housing and a tennis centre with unaffordable and inaccessible facilities.

    These are the kind of things we achieve when we put our values into action. 

    It’s what we achieve when we work together to get greens elected. 

    We will be able to achieve even more by getting more Greens elected.

    Can we please all show our appreciation for our councillors.

    The last few years have been difficult for most people, but they haven’t been difficult for everyone. 

    The wealth of billionaires has more than tripled since 2010. They’ve made out like bandits in the last few years, cashing in every step of the way.

    Through austerity, COVID, global market turmoil – the super-rich have been able to enlarge their wealth whilst ordinary people and families have suffered. 

    It is not right that as billionaires are getting richer and richer, household bills are getting higher and higher for everybody else.

    It is not right that fossil fuel companies have raked in huge profits, whilst abandoning any significant investment in green renewables. 

    It is not right that some of the wealthiest people in our society are telling us that we cannot afford to provide public services for people.

    It’s not that we can’t afford good public services, it’s that we can’t afford billionaires.

    Billionaires should not exist.

    It is thanks to the Scottish Greens that the highest earners in Scotland, and people who own more than one home, have to pay more.

    When I see headlines in the right-wing press whining about Scotland’s fairer tax system – it makes me proud. 

    We need to tax the rich. 

    We need to think beyond income tax, we need to tax wealth, we need to tax carbon emissions, we need to tax the big polluters to put money back into people’s pockets, back into public services and to build a fairer, greener country. 

    Nowhere is this injustice more prevalent than when it comes to housing.

    Over the past decade, the cost of renting has skyrocketed. Landlords have been charging more than ever before.

    Right now, private landlords have too much power and renters are suffering.

    The Scottish Greens have made big steps to protect tenants.

    We froze rents and banned evictions in the aftermath of COVID.

    We wrote the Bill to introduce rent controls. 

    And thanks to protections brought in by the Scottish Greens, thousands of people have been protected from eye watering rent hikes. 

    But without us in the room, the SNP are turning their backs on renters. 

    They are buckling under pressure from vested interests who want to water down our rent controls. 

    They want landlords to be able to raise rents higher than inflation.  

    If people aren’t getting a big pay rise, why should landlords? 

    Homes should be for living in – not for profiteering. 

    It’s time to raise tenants rights and lower rents. 

    We’re campaigning to bring in a permanent ban on winter evictions, and we’ve got plans to help local communities force absentee landlords and landowners to sell or rent derelict land for housing. 

    It isn’t just housing where the SNP is coming up short. 

    It’s the same story when it comes to transport.

    If we want to reduce emissions and build happier, healthier communities – public transport is key. 

    Thanks to the Scottish Greens, hundreds of thousands of young people can now get a bus for free – saving families thousands of pounds, and opening up opportunities for Scotland’s young people. 

    Thanks to the Scottish Greens, people seeking asylum in Scotland will soon get free bus passes

    Thanks to the Scottish Greens, thousands of young islanders can now jump on inter-island ferries for free.

    We did that. 

    But the SNP has failed to deliver the scale of investment needed to make public transport a reliable, affordable and accessible option for all. 

    We need more publicly owned bus networks across the whole of Scotland – and capped bus fares. A cap of £2 for every local journey.

    Private bus companies should not be able to hike fares at the same time as cutting lifeline services. 

    It should not be cheaper to travel between Scotland’s two biggest cities by car than by rail.

    The Scottish Government should not be pouring funds into dualling the A9, increasing traffic, pollution and noise, instead of investing in buses and trains. 

    It is far too late in the climate emergency to be building new roads. 

    What we need is cheaper rail for all – that means ending peak time rail fares for good. 

    Cheaper buses, ferries and trains – a win-win for people and planet. 

    Our planet needs us. 

    I know I’m not the only one who has been really shocked by the wildfires that we are seeing across Scotland right now.

    Not the only one who has been horrified by the devastation to people’s homes, businesses and farms that has been done by floods and storms.

    This is the climate catastrophe accelerating. Governments around the world have let us down. They didn’t listen to science, they didn’t cut carbon emissions, they didn’t stop their destruction of our eco-systems.

    What we are seeing now in Scotland, will only get worse, if governments continue to prevaricate, unsure of how to politically manage the cost of moving to an economy that isn’t dependent on fossil fuels. 

    Well anyone who was flooded out or who’s land is burning can see the cost of not making the change.

    So much of what needs to change: insulating homes, building better public transport, building 20 minute neighbourhoods, moving to lower impact agriculture, will actually make life better for everyone. 

    For the kids who will be able to safely cycle to school. For the farmers who can improve their profits by buying fewer expensive fertilisers and pesticides.

    In just over a year’s time, we’ll be heading into the 2026 Holyrood election and this is the story that we are going to tell. 

    Just like free bus travel for under 22’s, the things we need the Scottish Government to do on climate will improve life opportunities for Scots, and will put money back in their pockets.

    Green policies will make life better in practical ways. Warm homes. Clean air. Affordable trains. More buses.

    We know what change is needed. That’s why we exist. 

    The power of our shared vision. So many new possibilities, so much potential. 

    Some say it’s the hope that kills you. I don’t believe that. 

    I think it’s the hope that keeps us all here. It’s certainly what’s kept me here. 

    Everything you do as volunteers in this party matters. Without all of you there would be no Greens in Councils or in Holyrood. There would be no free bus travel for asylum seekers or any of the other changes that we have achieved.

    Whether it’s the all important knocking on doors, taking meeting minutes, delivering leaflets, everything you do matters and it all adds up. It adds up to growing a Green movement in Scotland, it adds to how much we can get done.

    Thank you for all the work you do

    Thank you, in advance for the many miles of pavement you’ll be walking and wheeling in the next 14 months listening to voters on their doorsteps, delivering leaflets, supporting your candidates. We are so grateful for all of it.

    Now is the time to stand together. To be brave and bold. Our vision for a greener, fairer Scotland could never be more important. 

    Let’s show them that the Scottish Greens are the ones who deliver. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Minister for Europe opening remarks at Antalya Diplomacy Forum: Saturday 12 April

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Minister for Europe opening remarks at Antalya Diplomacy Forum: Saturday 12 April

    Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty makes opening remarks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Turkey.

    The principles are fundamental, and they are what is at stake here. And as Andrea said, this is not just a situation where we see a complete violation of those principles that were in the Helsinki Final Act, that we all stood by, and we have stood by for those 50 years. But it’s also the UN Charter that is fundamentally under threat by Russia’s aggression.

    And of course, this isn’t just the aggression we’ve seen against Ukraine. It’s the other hybrid and destabilizing activities that they prosecute across our continents against our democracies more generally, and whether that’s disruptions, attempted disruptions, in the Western Balkans or in Moldova or elsewhere.

    This has consequences for all of us, and this matters for everybody in this room. It matters for everybody in the room if those principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty are not abided by, and it matters deeply for all of our people. Most importantly for the people of Ukraine at the moment, but for all of us.

    I was in Kyiv just a few weeks ago, and I could hear in the background the alarm going off there. For Ukrainians in the room, this would probably be the air raid alarm on their on their phones, because Ukraine is seeing that escalation every night, civilians being attacked and killed.

    I was in Bucha, which saw some of the worst, appalling atrocities that we’ve seen since the start of this conflict, and seeing those mass graves and others, but also hearing about how just the night before, how drones have come and killed civilians, and how children and others have been taken away and still no idea where those where those young people and those civilians are. That is a brutal attack on the values that all of us in this room stand for. So I think we must absolutely recognize what’s at stake here.

    That’s why we as the UK are 100% ironclad in our support behind Ukraine, not just for now, but for 100 years into the future. It’s why we’re working with our NATO partners and allies here. And it’s a genuine pleasure to be with friends – it’s a genuine pleasure to be here in Antalya and to be hosted by our Turkish allies and friends. And it’s why we must double down, not only on the support for Ukraine, but also for European, Euro-Atlantic security more generally – that’s what we’re doing.

    That’s the leadership the Prime Minister and President Macron are showing, working with President Trump on that secure and sustainable peace for Ukraine. Which Ukraine again has come forward from, and yet we do not see that same response from Moscow. And President Erdoğan very clearly set out yesterday the importance that that peace has to be sustainable. And that’s going to come through those of us who are willing to get in there, to put boots on the ground, to get the support to ensure that Ukrainian forces are able to defend, deter against future aggression. But also that we as NATO partners are stepping up, particularly European partners here, for our own defence.

    That is what we’re doing with our spending. That’s what we’re doing with our commitments. But this matters not just for us. It matters for the globe. It matters for us in this room, because these are fundamental principles that have been attacked here by Moscow.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Providers of care and support for vulnerable adults in line for above-inflation fees increase

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Saturday, 12th April 2025

    Providers of adult social care in Stoke-on-Trent could receive above-inflation fee increases, under proposals to be considered by the council’s ruling cabinet.

    The increases would cover inflationary pressures facing the care sector and ensure providers can continue to give city residents first-class care.

    Every year, the council reviews the fees it pays for care and support given to vulnerable adults and older people.

    Now council officers have proposed a series of increases for 2025/26 following thorough consultation and engagement with care providers.

    They will be presented to the cabinet for approval at a meeting on April 29.

    The proposals would see the council increase its fee payments by at least 5.16% for home care and Extra Care and 7.9% for personal assistants.

    Council fees would increase by at least 6.37 % for most residential care, rising to an enhanced rate of at least 7.96% for specialist care.

    Nursing home fees would rise by at least 4.77%, with an enhanced rate of at least 6.37% for specialist care.

    The proposals recognise significant inflationary pressures facing the care sector. Care providers are being hit by the recently-announced increase in employers’ National Insurance as well as the increase of the minimum wage from £11.44p an hour to £12.21p an hour this month.

    The council set aside £6.2 million in its budget to cover fee uplifts.

    The total cost of the current proposal is £7.4 million. If the fee changes are approved by cabinet, the council will set aside money to cover the difference while  working to reduce spending in other areas to offset the difference.

    The rising cost of care is a national issue, as people live longer and require more help. Only those with the most complex problems qualify for NHS care, meaning councils pick up the majority of the public costs.

    That is despite the fact councils have faced significant budget cuts over the past 15 years. Stoke-on-Trent had £96.8 million less to invest in services in 2024/25 compared to 2010/11. That is a 25.1% reduction, in real terms.

    The city council is focused on enabling independent living, where people can live fuller and richer lives, have their own front doors, and require less complex care. That includes supporting home care, extra care, direct payments and supported living – while maintaining a sustainable care home market for those who need more intensive help.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Secretary of State for Transport’s vision for transport

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Secretary of State for Transport’s vision for transport

    The Secretary of State for Transport talks about her vision for a transport system that works for everyone.

    Thank you, David, for that introduction.  

    Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the National Railway Museum in York. 

    I’m tempted to say we’re in the country’s finest transport museum, but as a Swindon MP and a former Deputy Mayor for Transport in London, I feel I should tread carefully.

    So welcome to ONE of the VERY BEST transport museums in the country!

    It feels fitting for me to do my first big transport speech here.

    The history of our transport network — the stories of the men and women who designed it, built it, operated and used it — are woven into the fabric of our communities in 21st century Britain.

    And it’s you — the people in THIS room — who are adding to that rich tapestry every day.

    You keep life moving.  

    You get children to school, commuters to work, and families to their holidays.  

    You move the goods that stock our shelves, fuel our industries, and keep businesses thriving.  

    You don’t just connect places — you connect people with the things that they need to get on in life.  

    And it’s in the spirit of connection that I’d like to tell you a story.   

    I hope you won’t be disappointed to learn that I haven’t invited you here for a big policy announcement or news headline, but rather to share a little bit about who I am and what I believe.

    I want to tell you a story about the people and places who have shaped my thinking.

    I grew up in Swindon.

    A proud railway town on the M4 corridor – a place with much to be proud of. 

    It’s also a humble football town – and I can tell you, that as a Swindon Town supporter, I have learnt the lessons of humility all too well.

    By fate and circumstance, that’s where my journey began.  

    Outside our semi detached house, I remember my dad’s first van parked up — ‘Malcolm Alexander Electrical Services’.

    I remember the first bike I was given – blue with a basket on the front — a bit like the blue crate I’ve got on my bike now.

    And I remember learning to drive around the town’s infamous Magic Roundabout. 

    And the car factories that punctuate the town’s history – Rover, Honda and now, BMW.

    It’s fair to say that in 1980s Swindon, the car was king.  

    It still is.

    The proliferation of out of town shopping centres, urban expansions and a minimal public transport network shaped the transport destiny of my town.

    Now, I won’t pretend that urban planning preoccupied my teenage mind too much. 

    Back then, I was much more concerned about whether Wham! were going to make it to Number 1. 

    But when I moved away and got my first job, I began to see the bigger picture… 

    … that a poor transport network will limit choices.  

    … that it can block the aspirations of young people.   

    And, most important of all, a good transport network can do precisely the opposite. 

    I was the first person in my family to go to university. 

    And like so many, I found work and opportunities in the capital.  

    And so it was, at the age of 29, I walked into Lewisham Town Hall as a newly elected councillor – becoming the cabinet member for regeneration just two years later.

    I loved that job, and I fell in love with transport.  

    Now, I’ll admit …

    It wasn’t the language of highways management that enthralled me: “There’s no such thing as a speed hump Cllr Alexander, only speed tables and speed cushions.” 

    But it was the extension of the East London Line, the creation of new brownfield sites around major railway stations, the improvements to walking and cycling links that really got me hooked.

    I learnt quickly that transport shapes a lot more than roads and railways. 

    And equally important, I learnt that it takes a lot of people to shape transport itself.  

    At Lewisham, I saw first-hand how transport investment could make a dramatic difference to people’s lives.  

    Take Brockley Railway Station.

    For years, it was an uninspiring, inaccessible place. 

    Uninviting, a bit run down.   

    Not somewhere you’d instinctively love as you rocked up for your morning commute.  

    But working with local campaigners, we delivered step-free access, a stunning landscaped ramp and better connectivity along the London Overground. 

    Today, Brockley is thriving. 

    It’s a place where the old and the new coexist. 

    The Wetherspoons on the corner and fried chicken shops sit side-by-side with bakeries, breweries and a pedestrianised square.  

    It was a transport scheme that built a stronger, more connected community. 

    And, it was transport that made the difference down the road in Lewisham too.  

    We transformed it — relocating and improving a bus station, moving a roundabout, redesigning the roads, creating land for new homes, new public spaces and new opportunity. 

    And when I say “we”, I mean the hundreds of people from different organisations who made it happen — people like you. 

    When a few years later I became the Member of Parliament for Lewisham East, transport was always right at the top of the list of my constituents’ concerns.  

    The longer train station platforms that were worse than useless without the longer trains to stop at them.

    The toxic air being pumped into homes around the South Circular.

    And when I later became Deputy Mayor for Transport in London, I had the privilege of working on those concerns more closely than I had ever done before.  

    Look, London is big. 

    So yes, naturally, I’m proud of the big stuff: 

    Straining to keep the capital moving through Covid. 

    Working on the Elizabeth line to deliver the jewel in the crown of the UK’s rail network. 

    Sticking to my guns on the Silvertown Tunnel, a new river crossing that enables London’s red double-deckers to go under the Thames to the east of Tower Bridge for the first time.

    But honestly, big doesn’t always mean beautiful. 

    Transport isn’t just about the price tag on the project. 

    It’s about delivering a better everyday experience – buses that come on time, accessible stations, well managed road works. 

    I’m just as proud of the smaller projects that made a big difference — many delivered in London by my good friend and then colleague Will Norman — segregated cycle lanes on Jamaica Road and Evelyn St, more secure cycle parking, slower speeds on roads with high KSIs, a direct vision scheme to improve visibility from the cabs of HGVs.

    These were transport interventions which ultimately delivered better public health, as well as better public realm.

    So when I moved back to Swindon a couple of years ago, I wasn’t just carrying a dream about becoming the MP for my home town.

    I arrived with baggage — determined to deliver for Swindon in a similar way to London. 

    Not the same solutions — as every place is different, but to give people options and opportunity.

    There isn’t something in the water that makes Swindonians love their cars more than Londoners.  

    Just a reality that public transport is better in London.  

    And I think it’s a failure of imagination, as much as a failure of policy, that young people in Swindon don’t have better options than I had decades ago. 

    Because change is possible.  

    Across the country — from Swindon to Shrewsbury,  Rotherham to Peterborough — we have underused transport assets. 

    Unloved railway buildings — land surplus to requirements or land that could be made so. 

    Neglected stations, like Brockley.  

    Potential that shouldn’t go to waste, but we know that, too often, it does.  

    And with vision, funding and collaboration, these could become hubs of regeneration, places that don’t just usher people through — but bring people together. 

    We talk about delivering “London style” transport to other places.   

    But I think we should talk more about “Swindon style” transport for Swindon, or “York style” transport for York. 

    And I want to support the capability and capacity within councils and combined authorities to deliver regeneration, investment and tangible improvements.  

    We have great mayors.  

    We have great local leaders.  

    We have great organisations working nationally and regionally.  

    We have a lot of talent in this room and beyond.  

    So, the question for me, is how do we best harness that?  

    Obviously, this is a question that has vexed me particularly since I took a call from the Prime Minister at the tail end of November, asking me to serve as his Transport Secretary.  

    And as someone who has skin in the game as a local MP and a passion to build on the work started by the force of nature, Lou Haigh, I naturally said yes.  

    And here I am.  

    Full-circle in some ways, and trying to shape a new path in another.   

    And the task is to build a better decade for transport. 

    Towards a better railway… 

    Laying the foundations for reform — establishing Shadow Great British Railways and launching a consultation on the upcoming Railways Bill to unify track and train. 

    Towards public ownership… 

    Passing the Passenger Railway Services Act, with the first operators — Southwestern and c2c — moving into public hands in the coming months. 

    Towards better buses…  

    Introducing the Bus Services Bill, giving local authorities greater control over routes, timetables, and fares — backed by over £1 billion in investment to improve reliability and frequency. 

    Towards better roads… 

    Investing £1.6 billion in local highways, an uplift of £500 million on last year — enough to fill an extra 7 million potholes. 

    Towards fairer work… 

    Enshrining greater protections for seafarers in law. 

    Towards cleaner skies… 

    Introducing the Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate and launching a consultation on the revenue certainty mechanism. 

    Towards a fossil-free future… 

    Supporting the installation of thousands of new EV charge points—helping to drive record electric car sales, with 31% of new cars sold in December last year being electric. 

    And towards a transport system that supports the aspirations of everyone in this country… 

    It’s why I am so proud to work with the ministerial team at the Department for Transport.

    Like me — and like all of us — they’ve seen the difference that good services make… 

    …Whether it’s the tap-and-go trams and buses in Mike Kane’s patch, with fares capped at £2 on Greater Manchester’s Bee Network. 

    …Or in Simon Lightwood’s patch, where the mass transit system will improve integrated travel options in West Yorkshire, improving access to opportunities for people in Leeds and Bradford.

    …Or, in Nottingham, where one of the local bus operators, Nottingham City Transport, has been voted UK operator of the year a record six times, with passenger satisfaction amongst the highest in the country. I hear Lilian Greenwood is a pretty good local MP too …

    And as for Peter Hendy, who is his own walking museum of transport knowledge, he has a phrase that I would like to steal.  

    He talks about transport needing to be “boringly reliable”.

    And he’s right.  

    If public transport options are boringly reliable, then it means day-to-day life is easier for everyone. 

    So, by 2035, I want public transport to play a greater role in national life, becoming the easiest, most attractive choice… brilliantly and boringly reliable.  

    Enrique Peñalosa, a former mayor of Bogotá, once said:

    “An advanced city is not one where the poor have to own a car, but one where the rich choose to use public transport.” 

    That’s a vision I believe in.  

    But I can picture the headlines now — so let me counter the column inches before they emerge: there is no such thing as a war on motorists.  

    I drive. I own a car and I love it — a racing green Mini Cooper convertible.

    I walk. I cycle.  

    I take buses, trains, and taxis.  

    And I’ll bet most of you do too.  

    No serious person is proposing to ask people like my dad, a self employed electrician, to swap their van for a bus, forcing them to lug all their kit around — I certainly am not.   

    Through his career, my dad was a professional problem solver, and I hope I’ll carry the torch for that family tradition.   

    But I’ll be focussing on solving the real problems, not wasting time on the invented ones.   

    Because I’m sure everybody in this room would agree that where you live shouldn’t determine what you can achieve…  

    …that your hometown, no matter how big or how small, should provide the transport options to meet your aspirations… 

    … and that — if transport doesn’t nurture young people with the opportunities they deserve, then our entire economy misses out on the talent it needs to grow. 

    That’s why we’re here today. 

    To have the conversations that bring us closer together.  

    I want to harness your talents, your expertise and your drive to solve real problems.  

    Because, no matter where people are travelling to, they should be proud of where they’re coming from. 

    Thank you, and have a lovely evening.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Young people launch pilot to tackle waste in their local area

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Seven schools in the north of the city have banded together to launch Keep North Docks Tidy – a four-month pilot project to clean up their local community. 

    To mark the start of the project, 99 young people took to the streets to take part in this year’s Great British Spring Clean litter-picking campaign.

    Together the schools collected over 90 bags of litter, some of which will be returned to the pupils to be recycled into different art pieces.

    The pilot is a partnership between Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Streetscene Services, Onward Homes, Keep Britain Tidy, Veolia, and primary schools based in the North Docks neighbourhood.

    The Council introduced a neighbourhood model in 2023 to be able to identify and address the unique issues that areas of the city face.

    North Docks is one of 13 neighbourhoods in Liverpool, including the Kirkdale East, Kirkdale West, County, Vauxhall, and Waterfront North wards.

    Keep North Docks Tidy was started to take place at the same time as Onward Homes’ retrofitting project in the area, to make households more energy efficient and sustainable.

    Local schools and the Council looked at other ways to improve the neighbourhood at the same time and decided to launch a project to tackle the area’s low levels of recycling and high rates of fly-tipping.

    The pilot will last for the remainder of the academic year and is centred around the key message of ‘the environment belongs to everyone’.

    Over the next few months, young people will discuss ways to reduce litter and waste, get hands on lessons with a recycling wagon, and visit Gillmoss Recycling Centre to learn about the journey of recycling.

    Pupils will also have the chance to design posters encouraging positive behaviours for their community and present their ideas to Cabinet Members and Council staff at a special event at Liverpool Town Hall.

    Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene said: “The pupils taking part in this pilot are incredibly proud of their communities and want to work together to make a lasting impact, a vision that’s shared by the Council and our partners. 

    “The enthusiasm and creative ideas already shown by our young people are exactly what’s needed when it comes to influencing positive behaviour change.  

    “I can’t wait to hear the ideas that they come up with at the Town Hall and work with them to help make change happen. They are the leaders of the future and it’s fantastic to be able to show them how services work and give them a platform to have their voices heard.” 

    Fikrim Haxhifazliu, a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Gwladys Street Primary School said: “We’re really happy to be part of this project because we want our young people to feel proud of their community and understand the importance of looking after the environment. At Gwladys Street, we believe that even small actions, like keeping our area clean and being mindful of waste, can make a big difference.

    “Caring for the environment is something we talk about a lot in school because it’s about more than just keeping things tidy; it’s about responsibility, respect, and making sure we leave the world in a better place for future generations. This project is a great way for our pupils to see that their efforts matter and that they can have a real impact on the world around them”

    Joanne Danaher, Director of Housing and Home Ownership at Onward said: “We are now well underway with our community-led regeneration project in Kirkdale, with decarbonisation works making over 400 homes warmer, quieter and more comfortable for customers.

    “As part of this, we are also investing into the community here through initiatives that share our commitment of enabling people to be their best, in a home they love and place they are proud of.

    “Our work with local partners is already making a meaningful difference to the lives of the people living here and we are delighted to be supporting these young people in their efforts to improve the environment.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Water pumped from River Mersey could heat thousands of Liverpool homes

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Water pumped from the River Mersey could one day be heating thousands of homes and business in Liverpool, thanks to new energy plans drawn up by the City Council.

    Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet will decide at a meeting on Tuesday 15 April whether to approve plans for the Advanced Zoning programme (AZP) which could see less reliance on gas to heat property helping to drive down costs and carbon emissions. 

    If the AZP is fully built it has the potential to help Liverpool in its net zero ambitions by generating savings of up to 72,000 tonnes of CO2 every year. This is the equivalent to the annual emissions of around 21,000 homes.

    Heat networks, also known as district heating, provide heat from a central source to multiple buildings through a network of underground pipes. The heat sources identified in Liverpool include not only the river but also the wastewater treatment plant at Sandon Dock next to Everton Football Club’s new stadium.

    This technology has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and lower heating costs for residents and businesses.

    The City Council report identifies key areas in Liverpool where heat network deployment could be most effective, taking into account factors such as building density, heat demand, and potential heat sources.

    The largest zone that could be built is in Liverpool City Centre. It encompasses a large area of heat demand, from the retail hub in the centre to the Knowledge Quarter and towards Anfield. This heating zone alone would include about 340 buildings in the city.

    The Speke and Garston areas could also benefit from the creation of their own heat network, using heat generated from Garston docks and industrial centre in Halewood, such as Jaguar Land Rover.

    These plans pave the way for further investment and development of sustainable heating infrastructure in the city.

    The publication of this report is a crucial step in the Liverpool City Council’s broader strategy to decarbonize heat, which currently accounts for a substantial portion of the city’s carbon emissions.

    Liverpool City Council will now be encouraging developers and investors to build heat network projects in Liverpool.

    The Council is aiming to accelerate the delivery and construction of heat network zones, develop best practice guidance and provide project development support services.

    Earlier this year Liverpool City Council announced a plan to connect its head office at the Cunard Building at the Pier Head to the Mersey Heat District Heat Network, a system by Peel NRE who are part of the Peel Group.

    Liverpool City Region Combined Authority are also looking at harnessing the power of the River Mersey to generate electricity. With its huge tidal range, a tidal power scheme on the Mersey could produce enough clean, green electricity to power every home in the city region for more than a hundred years, while also creating thousands of jobs.

    Cllr Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The River Mersey made Liverpool, it has been the source of our success for centuries. It has helped shape who we are as a city, defining our identity and culture which in turn has had a unique global impact.

    “The history of the city and the river have always been intertwined, and so for it to be a resource that can shape our future is only fitting.

    “Now, in the 21st century the river could become a crucial element in how we source energy for our homes and businesses. From fuelling our economy, the river could be the answer for the energy challenge we need to reach net zero.

    “These plans confirm Liverpool’s potential to lead the way in adopting new heat network technology and reaching our net zero targets.

    “The AZP could also see a huge improvement in air quality in the city, improving the lives of thousands of residents who currently suffer respiratory ailments.

    “Not only could there be a massive reduction in carbon emissions, but it would make a huge contribution in reducing people’s energy costs. Increasing residents’ disposable income will help the Liverpool economy to thrive. And this would be a supply of heat that would not be affected by global politics.

    “Using our resources and technology more efficiently than the way homes and businesses are currently heated will benefit us economically and environmentally. This is a win-win.

    “By embracing these greener heating solutions, we can make significant strides towards our climate goals while also providing more affordable and reliable heat to our communities.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Communities to nominate UK traditions for new inventory

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Communities to nominate UK traditions for new inventory

    Nominations will open this summer for traditions like Notting Hill Carnival, Hogmanay and artisanal crafts to be officially recognised

    • New inventory of traditions will champion UK values and heritage 
    • Follows ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Culture Heritage last year

    Communities across the UK will soon be able to nominate their favourite traditions to be included within official inventories of our living heritage. 

    Traditions that are central to the rich tapestry which makes up the UK’s many cultures and identity – from Eisteddfodau to Notting Hill Carnival, Hogmanay and Highland dancing – are among those expected to be put forward for a UK-wide official inventory. Artisanal crafts such as basket-weaving, thatching and the art of creating tweed, will also be considered.

    Today the Government has published its response to a consultation asking the public for their views on making sure the new inventory of living heritage encompasses the broad spectrum of traditions practised in the UK. 

    The response sets out how the Government will, together with the Devolved Governments, create inventories of living heritage across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Submissions to the inventories will be encouraged from communities and groups practising living heritage, including from those who practise traditions brought to the UK by immigrant communities. 

    This follows the UK ratifying the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage last year, which requires each member state to compile their own inventory of living heritage practiced by communities in their country. This can include the folklore, performance, customs and crafts that play an important role in telling our national story and making people feel proud of where they live. 

    Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said:  

    The UK is rich with wonderful traditions, from Gloucestershire’s cheese rolling to folk music and dancing and the many heritage crafts that we practice, such as tartan weaving and carving Welsh love spoons.  

    I would encourage everyone to think about what traditions they value so that we can continue to celebrate them, tell our national story to the rest of the world and safeguard the traditions that make us who we are.

    This UK-wide inventory will start a national conversation about the crafts, customs and celebrations that are valued across the UK and raise awareness of them, in order to help protect them for future generations. Nominations for the inventory are expected to open later this year. 

    DCMS ran a public consultation from January to February 2024 to inform the development of an Inventory of Living Heritage in the UK. This included 16 roundtables, which sought the views of those interested in recognising living heritage, such as grassroots organisations, non-governmental organisations, museums and academics as well as government representatives from across the UK. 

    Following this engagement, it has been agreed that nominations will be accepted under seven categories, which are: 

    • Oral expressions, which could include poetry and storytelling
    • Performing Arts
    • Social Practices, which could include festivals and customs
    • Nature, Land and Spirituality, which could include land practices and living heritage knowledge and practice relating to nature and the environment
    • Crafts
    • Sports and Games
    • Culinary Practices 

    Further information about how to nominate traditions and crafts to be included on the inventories, including gaining support and consent from the community, will be available when the call for submissions opens later this year.

    Notes to editors: 

    • DCMS announced that the UK would ratify the UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2023. Further details of the 2003 Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage here.
    • The UK ratified the 2003 Convention on the 7th March 2024 and the Convention officially came into force on 7th June 2024. 
    • The full response to the consultation is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/2003-unesco-convention-for-the-safeguarding-of-the-intangible-cultural-heritage 
    • Whilst we ratify international treaties such as the 2003 Convention as the UK, policy responsibility for culture and heritage devolved from the UK Government to the Devolved Governments.  DCMS therefore worked closely with counterparts in the Devolved Governments to agree on ratification and the consultation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event

    So you just finished watching Microsoft Secure. That means by now, you’ve heard about our new protections for AI and Microsoft Security Copilot agents. These innovations will be the focus of Microsoft Security’s sessions and activities at RSACTM 2025 Conference (RSAC 2025).  

    The can’t-miss conference is just around the corner. Microsoft Security is bringing an exciting lineup of sessions, expert panels, and exclusive networking opportunities to empower security professionals in the era of AI. Our entire presence at RSAC 2025 is designed to help you boost your AI skills so you can stay ahead of threats and manage security more effectively.  

    Whether you’re interested in protecting all your AI investments, AI-driven security, threat intelligence, or securing cloud environments, we’ve got something for you. To help you plan your time from Sunday, April 27 to Thursday, May 1, 2025, in San Francisco, here’s a quick and easy guide to all the key Microsoft Security moments at RSAC 2025.

    Microsoft Pre-Day | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Palace Hotel 

    For the fourth year in a row, Microsoft Pre-Day kicks off the full lineup of Microsoft events and activities throughout RSAC 2025. We will host these at the Microsoft Security Hub at Palace Hotel, just a short walk from Moscone Center.  

    Hear directly from Microsoft Security leaders as they share reporting on emerging cyberthreat trends and the product innovations designed to protect against them. See the lineup below:  

    • Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Business 
    • Charlie Bell, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Security 
    • Sherrod DeGrippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy 
    • Dorothy Li, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Copilot 
    • Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President (CVP) and Deputy CISO 
    • And more.  

    Register for Pre-Day today.  

    Networking Reception | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Microsoft Security Hub, Palace Hotel, Second Floor 

    Stick around after Microsoft Pre-Day to attend the Networking Reception—a lively evening designed to connect with the security community, engage with Microsoft leaders, and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s the perfect way to kick off an inspiring week at RSAC 2025. 

    On Monday we ease into things by focusing on what’s new all around. We’ll share lots of goodness about agents and our new innovations announced in March. 

    Security Demo Experience at the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 | All day, every day | Moscone Center North Expo Hall  

    Monday is the first day to explore the show floor. Stop by the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 in Moscone Center North Expo Hall to explore live demos, meet Microsoft Security experts, and get hands-on with the latest tools. 

    Become a defender against cyber threats in a fast-paced, interactive game. You’ll be a part of a mission, navigating realistic incident response scenarios using Microsoft Security solutions, including our new AI Agents. Engage in quick skill challenges and wrap up with expert insights. Are you ready to beat the bad actors? 

    Keynote: Security in the Age of Agentic AI | 4:40 PM | Moscone Center (West Stage) 

    Agentic workflows will dramatically reshape what is possible in security. By enabling more complex problem-solving, agent collaboration, and iterative learning, agentic AI will empower a new paradigm for security that was once the domain of science fiction. Vasu Jakkal will take an imaginative look at the future of security AI agents, and the very human-driven way they will change the game. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center 

    Our top Microsoft Security experts were chosen by RSAC to share their insights and best practices to help you level up your own security strategy. These sessions are designed for learning, not selling. So, you’ll hear more about what’s happening in the security space and less about products. 

    • Practical Strategies for Security Architecture in a Changing World​ @ 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM 

    This session will delve into the core pillars of security architecture and share practical strategies that uphold foundational principles. Will discuss holistic system thinking and provide a practical playbook for navigating the complexities of security architecture while maintaining a focus on the fundamentals and essential considerations for a secure digital environment. 

    Speaker: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft 

     

    • RSAC Innovation Sandbox @ 9:30 AM – 12:40 PM ​ 

    Ten of cybersecurity’s boldest new innovators compete in Innovation Sandbox for the title of “Most Innovative Startup.” ISB celebrates 20 years & spotlights startups with potentially game-changing ideas. The Finalists have 3 minutes to share groundbreaking products & solutions with a panel of judges. Interact first-hand with these companies as the judges deliberate before the winner is crowned. 

    Speakers: Christopher Young, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Strategy and Ventures, Microsoft; David Chan, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley; Dorit Dor, Chief Technology Officer, Check Point Software Technologies; Niloofar Razi Howe, Operating Partner, Capitol Meridian Partners; Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman & RSAC Conference Program Committee Chair, RSAC; Paul Kocher, Researcher, Independent Researcher; and Nasrin Rezai, SVP & CISO, Verizon 

     

    • AI Era Authentication: Securing the Future with Inclusive Identity @ 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM 

    This session explores the security and usability risks of authentication techniques for users with diverse needs. Emergence of AI agents, a new user identity acting on our behalf, also necessitates a rethink of authentication methods. Discover AI-era authentication using sensors like location and behavior and learn about the shift from active to passive authentication with prototypes in action.  

    Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft and Aditi Shah, Senior Data & Applied Scientist, Microsoft 

     

    • DPRK Remote IT Workers – Have You Hired One and Are You at Risk? @ 2:20 PM – 3:10 PM 

    The DPRK actively deploys remote IT workers to generate revenue for the regime while circumventing sanctions. DPRK IT workers pose risks to companies, including insider access, potential intellectual property theft, and exposure to other malicious cyber activity. This panel will discuss best practices for identifying and preventing the hiring of DPRK IT workers. 

    Speakers: Greg Schloemer, Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst, Microsoft; Elizabeth Pelker, Special Agent, FBI; Chris Horne, Director, Trust & Safety Intelligence & Investigations, Upwork; Adam Meyers, SVP Intelligence, CrowdStrike; and Bryan Vorndran, Assistant Director, FBI 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Don’t miss our deep-dive sessions happening at the Microsoft Security Hub. Build your AI cybersecurity skills as Microsoft Security experts will share what they’ve learned and provide insights you can apply in your own organization. 

    • Harnessing Diversity – Strengthening the Cybersecurity Workforce in the Age of AI ​@ 10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Amanda Minnich, Principal Research Manager, Microsoft; Nicole Ford VP, Customer Security Officer, Microsoft; Kyla Guru, Founder/CEO, Bits N’ Bytes Cybersecurity Education; Tanell Ford, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft; and Sherrod Degrippo, Directory of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft 

     

    • Reshaping SecOps for the Cloud AI Era @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Scott Woodbridge, General Manager, Product Marketing, Microsoft and Corina Feuerstein, Principal Product Manager for Copilot in Defender and Sentinel 

     

    • Practical use of CoPilot AutoFix to address Security Backlog @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub and Marcelo Oliveira, VP, Product Management, GitHub 

     

    • Executive Lunch: Scaling Compliance for Global Regulations @ ​12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Bret Arsenault, CVP, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft  

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Here’s where we talk products. These 15-20 minute informal, come-and-go sessions run all day at the Microsoft Security booth. They’re demo-heavy product showcases to help you learn how to better use the tools you’ve got now. 

    • Identity Security in the Era of AI with Security Copilot @ 5:35PM – 5:55 PM 
    • Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 6:05PM – 6:25 PM 
    • From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security @ 6:35 PM– 6:55PM 

    MISA Awards| Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    It’s time to suit up in heroic attire for an epic celebration at the 6th annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards! Just like the Avengers, assembling to save the world, we’re coming together to honor the extraordinary achievements of our MISA members who work so diligently to protect customers from external threats!  Congratulations to the incredible finalists for the sixth annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards presented by MISA! 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with Microsoft Security experts and enhance your cybersecurity knowledge. From April 28 to April 30, 2025 customers and CISOs can schedule one-on-one meetings at the Palace Hotel to discuss your most pressing security product and threat intelligence questions. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.  

    Tuesday is the busiest day of the conference, with lots of choices in front of you, so plan ahead. 

    Keynote: AI Safety: Where Do We Go From Here? | 8:30 AM | Moscone Center (West Stage) 

    During this keynote session, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and the UK AI Safety Institute leaders come together for this blockbuster panel to explain the evolving landscape of AI safety. Attendees will gain insights into key developments in AI safety that should matter to organizations, its intersection with existing security initiatives, and time-tested approaches to translate AI safety to practice.  

    Speakers: Ram Shankar Siva Kumar, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; Jade Leung, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; and Daniel Rohrer, VP Software Product Security, Architecture & Research, NVIDIA 

     

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center 

    RSAC has chosen top Microsoft Security experts to share insights and best practices, letting you learn about the latest in security without the sales pitch. 

    • Incident Response Dilemmas: Sharing Intel Across Sectors in Critical Times​ @ 9:40 – 10:30 AM ​ 

    An incident may be a singular event affecting one entity. What happens when it affects our critical infrastructure and has the possibility of sector-wide impact and cascading effects? How do companies share information and meet regulatory expectations? The session will dive into the work that financial services companies, the government, and cloud service providers are taking to mature IR. 

    Speakers: Ann Johnson, CVP & Deputy CISO, Customer Security Managment Office, Microsoft; Ted Conklin, Chief AI Officer & Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Treasury; Heather Hogsett, Senior Vice President, Deputy Head of BITS, Bank Policy Institute; and Erez Liebermann, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP 

     

    • XPIA Attacks – Rethinking Defense in Depth for an AI-Powered World @1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    As adversaries rapidly develop sophisticated AI attacks, the solutions also need to evolve rapidly. This panel will explore Cross/Indirect Prompt Injection Attacks (XPIA) and the need to rethink traditional defense in depth strategies. Gain insights into XPIA trends, risk analysis, and innovative solutions to protect critical infrastructure. Join for practical strategies and expert insights.  

    Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft; Aanchal Gupta, CVP, Microsoft; John Leo, Jr, Managing Director – Threat and Vulnerability Management Leader, EY; and Stefano Zanero, Professor, Politecnico di Milano 

     

    • A Year(ish) of Countering Malicious Actors’ Use of AI: What Have We Learned? @ 2:25 –3:15 PM​ 

    Artificial Intelligence has changed the game when it comes to how cyber adversaries operate, and how defenders respond. This panel will explore lessons learned from the past year of countering malicious cyber actors’ use of AI, challenges and limitations of legal actions involving AI, and what roadblocks might appear going forward as AI, and the actors who use it, continues to evolve. 

    Speakers: Sherrod DeGrippo, Director, Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Morgan Adamski, Executive Director, US Cyber Command; Cynthia Kaiser, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI; and Sean Newell, Chief, National Security Cyber Section, National Security Division, Department of Justice 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day | Monday – Wednesday Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Join Microsoft Security product leaders as they share their learnings and how you can apply them in your organization.  

    • Defending Against Modern Threats: Enhancing Endpoint Security and IT Resilience @ 8:00AM – 9:30AM 

    Speakers: Archana Devi Sunder Rajan, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft and Peter M. Thompson, Principal PM Manager, Microsoft   

    • Secure and Govern AI to safeguard your data, reduce risks, and support compliance @ ​10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Herain Oberoi, GM, Data & AI Security, Microsoft; Rudra Mitra, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Purview; and Neta Haiby, Director of AI Security, Microsoft 

    • Microsoft Security Copilot @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM 

    Speaker:  Dorothy Li, CVP, Microsoft Security Copilot

    • Secure your data in the era of AI with Microsoft Purview @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM 

    Speakers: Talhah Mir, Principal Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview and Maithili Dandige, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview 

    • ​AI and Automation Panel: The Startup Innovation for Enterprise Resilience – moderated by FC @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM 

    **Attendees will have the opportunity to receive a copy of FC’s book, How I Rob Banks, and the chance to have it signed by the author at the end of the session.

    Speakers: Kevin Magee, Director Cybersecurity Startups, Microsoft for Startups; FC, Co-founder & CEO, Cygenta; Shane Coleman, Chief Data Security Evangelist; Christ “Tito” Sestito, CEO, HiddenLayer; Ravid Circus, Co-founder & CPO, Seemplicity; and Jeremy Vaughan, CEO, Start Left Security 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Stop by the Microsoft Security booth to catch a short demo of your favorite product. 

    • See Beyond Silos and Protect Better with Microsoft Security Exposure Management 11:00 AM –11:20 AM              
    • Accelerate your Zero Trust journey with the Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM 
    • Automating Vulnerability Management: The Power of “Endpoint Vulnerability Remediation Agent” in Microsoft Intune 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM  
    • From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM 
    • Accelerating post-breach deep content analysis and mitigation with Microsoft Purview @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM  
    • Microsoft Sentinel Uncovered: Advanced Capabilities to Transform the SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM     
    • Protect AI Workloads from Code to Runtime with Microsoft Defender for Cloud @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM    
    • Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM 
    • Unified SecOps: Defending Critical Infrastructure with Microsoft Defender @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM  
    • Be Fast as Lighting: Automate Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel Service Delivery @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM  
    • Mastering Cloud Threats: Detect, Investigate, and Respond in real-time with Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Defender XDR integration @ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM  
    • Practical Strategies for Securing AI-Driven Data: Enhancing Cyber Resilience and Insider Risk Management @ 4:30 PM – 4:50PM  
    • Secure and govern access to GenAI apps with the Microsoft Entra Suite @5:00 PM – 5:20 PM  
    • Bolster your SOC with Microsoft’s Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) @ 5:30 PM – 5:50PM  

    Networking and Fun | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    • Secure & Sip: DevOps Edition @ 4:30PM – 6:30PM  

    Speaker: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub 

    Gather with GitHub’s security leaders and experts for meaningful conversations, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, and a custom ramen bar to round out your day at RSAC. 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Day 2 of meetings with Microsoft Security experts continues. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.  https://MicrosoftSecurityEvents.eventbuilder.com/MicrosoftRSAC2025events?source=blog_techcomm 

    As the conference starts to wrap up, don’t miss your chance to get hands-on with Microsoft Security solutions and ask questions at the Hub and booth and in 1:1 meetings. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | Location: Moscone Center 

    • Guardians of the Cyber Galaxy: Allies Against AI-Powered Cybercrime​ @ 8:30 – 9:20 AM  

    ​AI is revolutionizing cybercrime, putting traditional defenses to the test. Expert panelists unite to detail innovative public-private strategies and real-world case studies from their experience in INTERPOL, the FBI, Microsoft, and the Privacy & Cybersecurity Group of an international law firm. Gain actionable insights to protect the global community and fortify cybersecurity defenses.  

    Speakers: Sean Farrell, Lead Counsel, AI Strategy, Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Corporation; Garylene Javier, Privacy & Cybersecurity Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP; Craig Jones, Immediate Past Director Cybercrime, INTERPOL; and Andrew Sczygielski, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation 

     

    • Green and Sustainable AI for Cybersecurity​ @1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    The session will consider the carbon cost of AI and analytics. It will focus on the estimated energy and carbon costs of many cybersecurity use cases and approaches that can be taken to build more sustainable solutions. This will be illustrated through the use of a threat hunting and detection analytical solution and how that could be designed to be most power efficient.  

    Speakers: Lesley Kipling, Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft and Sian John, CTO, NCC Group 

     

    • Scaling AppSec With an SDLC for Citizen Development​ @ 1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    AppSec programs are difficult. Filled to the brim with vulnerabilities. Overloaded staff and inadequate budget. The common “solution” is to narrow scope and focus on crown jewels and their devs. Increasing the scope to 100x devs and 1000x apps surprisingly worked, resulting in program remediation of >50K vulnerabilities in 3 months. 18K of them in a single night. This session will show how. 

    Speakers: Ryan McDonald, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft and Michael Bargury, Co-Founder & CTO, Zenity 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Don’t miss the final few Microsoft Security focused sessions at our Hub. 

    • Threat intelligence trends and insights panel: Exclusive briefing from Microsoft Threat Intelligence @10:30AM – 11:30AM​  

    Speakers: Sherrod De Grippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Jeremy Dallman, Senior Director of Security Research in Microsoft Threat Intelligence; and Steven Masada, Assistant General Counsel, DCU 

    • Secure access for your employees with Entra Suite @ ​10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speaker:  Irina Nechaeva, General Manager, Identity and Network Access 

    • Securing the AI Powered Enterprise Executive Panel Lunch @​12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Bret Arsenault, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft; Brandon Dixon, Partner Product Manager, Security AI Strategy, Microsoft; Manny Sahota, Director, Global Cloud Privacy, Microsoft; Herain Oberoi, General Manager, Data Security, Governance, Compliance, Privacy Business and Marketing, Microsoft; and Sarah Bird, Chief Product Officer of Responsible AI, Microsoft 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Don’t miss your chance to see demos and ask questions casually at the booth. 

    • Make Windows endpoints more secure and prevent downtime 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM            
    • Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Partnering with Microsoft 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM            
    • EY Security Copilot Empowered Solutions 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM 
    • Microsoft Security Copilot: Protect at the speed and scale of AI 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM           
    • Phishing-Resistant Authentication, Trusted Onboarding & Recovery @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM 
    • Building a multi-layered approach to data security SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM     
    • Secure your email and collaboration tools against sophisticated cyber attacks @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM  
    • The latest intelligence on North Korean remote IT workers @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM 
    • Secure and govern M365 Copilot with Microsoft Purview @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM 
    • Proactively Mitigate Risks with Microsoft Security Exposure Management @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM 
    • Windows 365: The security of Windows, the scale of the cloud@ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM 
    • Shift your SOC from manual incident response to automatic attack disruption @ 4:30 PM –4:50PM  
    • A Look Inside Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative: Progress, Innovations, and Best Practices @ 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM 
    • Simplifying Data Security for the Modern Network with Microsoft Purview and Netskope One @ 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    It’s your final chance to ask your questions and give your suggestions directly to Microsoft Security experts. Book your meeting here: Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC | Location: Moscone Center 

    Last but certainly not least. 

    • Shaping Cybersecurity: How Regulation Shapes Operational Cyber Defense​ @ 10:50 – 11:40AM​  

    In 2024, elections and growing cyberthreats pushed cybersecurity to the forefront of government priorities. The panel will explore governments’ efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and resilience through regulation, the impact on operational cyber defense, and discuss where greater alignment is possible. Attendees will gain an understanding of the quickly evolving global regulatory landscape.  

    Speakers: Ted Maurer, Senior Director, Global Cybersecurity Policy, Microsoft; Christiane Kirketerp de Viron, Director for Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity, DG Connect, European Commission; Ari Schwartz, Managing Director, Cybersecurity Services, Venable LLP; Josephine Wolff, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Policy, Tufts University, The Fletcher School; and Florian Schütz, Director, NCSC – National Cybersecurity Centre 

     

    • Taking the Fight Upstream: Pursuing Systemic Defense Against Phishing​ 12:20 – 11:10 PM​  

    Three decades into the public internet, cybercrime is booming and phishing remains a key vector. With AI-enhanced attacks rising, common users are increasingly ill-equipped to defend themselves. What can be done upstream to protect society? This session explores systemic defense strategies across the ICT ecosystem that hold the potential for significant ecosystem-wide impact.

    Speakers: Kelly Bissell, CVP Security & Fraud, Microsoft; Tal Goldstein, Head of Strategy, World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity; Steven Kelly, Chief Trust Officer, Institute for Security and Technology; and Kemba Walden, President, Paladin Global Institute, Paladin Capital Group  

     

    • Fraud, Risk, Hollywood & Government—A Strategy for AI Across Industry 12:20 – 11:10 PM 

    ​Dive into the high-stakes world of AI as the experts in this session unravel AI’s game-changing roles in Hollywood, government, and finance. Experience firsthand revolutionary strategies, ethical showdowns, and futuristic trends set to redefine industry landscapes. Get ready for a session that’s as dynamic and ambitious as a Hollywood blockbuster! 

    Speakers: Vishal Amin, GM, National Security Group, Security; Gurpreet Bhatia, Acting Deputy CIO for Cybersecurity, Acting CISO, DOD; David Mahdi, CIO, Transmit Security; and Scott Mann, Film Director & Co-Founder/Co-CEO, Flawless 

    • Generative AI Meets Identity Governance: Automating the Overlooked​ @ 1:30 – 2:20 PM​ 

    Identity governance is often the last thing to be implemented and rarely gets the attention it deserves due to its complexity. This session will explore how Generative AI agents can help overcome this by automating critical but often deprioritized tasks like role mining and identity lifecycle management, particularly addressing the challenges of managing ‘movers’ within organizations.  

    Speakers: Angelica Faber, Sr Security Architect, Microsoft and Wesley Kuzma, Architect Manager, Microsoft 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Catch the last day of theater sessions. 

    • How Enterprises will Continue to Learn from Open Source 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM  
    • Creating Bespoke Identity Governance Solutions with Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM  
    • Identity-first security: Using an event-based approach for threat remediation @ 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM 
    • Securing and governing Agents built-in Microsoft Copilot Studio @ 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM 
    • Azure Platform Security in an Evolving Threat Landscape @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM 

    How to Make the Most of Microsoft Security at RSAC 2025 

    Plan Ahead: Bookmark this blog to easily find the things that interest you the most. 

    Visit the Booth: Engage with our security experts and experience live demos.

    Follow Along Online: Stay updated by following Microsoft Security on LinkedIn and X. 

    Book a Meeting: Want to connect 1:1 with a Microsoft Security expert? Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page. 

     

    See you at RSAC 2025! 

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The ultimate guide to Microsoft Security at upcoming RSAC 2025 event

    So you just finished watching Microsoft Secure. That means by now, you’ve heard about our new protections for AI and Microsoft Security Copilot agents. These innovations will be the focus of Microsoft Security’s sessions and activities at RSACTM 2025 Conference (RSAC 2025).  

    The can’t-miss conference is just around the corner. Microsoft Security is bringing an exciting lineup of sessions, expert panels, and exclusive networking opportunities to empower security professionals in the era of AI. Our entire presence at RSAC 2025 is designed to help you boost your AI skills so you can stay ahead of threats and manage security more effectively.  

    Whether you’re interested in protecting all your AI investments, AI-driven security, threat intelligence, or securing cloud environments, we’ve got something for you. To help you plan your time from Sunday, April 27 to Thursday, May 1, 2025, in San Francisco, here’s a quick and easy guide to all the key Microsoft Security moments at RSAC 2025.

    Microsoft Pre-Day | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Palace Hotel 

    For the fourth year in a row, Microsoft Pre-Day kicks off the full lineup of Microsoft events and activities throughout RSAC 2025. We will host these at the Microsoft Security Hub at Palace Hotel, just a short walk from Moscone Center.  

    Hear directly from Microsoft Security leaders as they share reporting on emerging cyberthreat trends and the product innovations designed to protect against them. See the lineup below:  

    • Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Business 
    • Charlie Bell, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Security 
    • Sherrod DeGrippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy 
    • Dorothy Li, Corporate Vice President (CVP), Microsoft Security Copilot 
    • Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President (CVP) and Deputy CISO 
    • And more.  

    Register for Pre-Day today.  

    Networking Reception | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Microsoft Security Hub, Palace Hotel, Second Floor 

    Stick around after Microsoft Pre-Day to attend the Networking Reception—a lively evening designed to connect with the security community, engage with Microsoft leaders, and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s the perfect way to kick off an inspiring week at RSAC 2025. 

    On Monday we ease into things by focusing on what’s new all around. We’ll share lots of goodness about agents and our new innovations announced in March. 

    Security Demo Experience at the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 | All day, every day | Moscone Center North Expo Hall  

    Monday is the first day to explore the show floor. Stop by the Microsoft Security Booth #5744 in Moscone Center North Expo Hall to explore live demos, meet Microsoft Security experts, and get hands-on with the latest tools. 

    Become a defender against cyber threats in a fast-paced, interactive game. You’ll be a part of a mission, navigating realistic incident response scenarios using Microsoft Security solutions, including our new AI Agents. Engage in quick skill challenges and wrap up with expert insights. Are you ready to beat the bad actors? 

    Keynote: Security in the Age of Agentic AI | 4:40 PM | Moscone Center (West Stage) 

    Agentic workflows will dramatically reshape what is possible in security. By enabling more complex problem-solving, agent collaboration, and iterative learning, agentic AI will empower a new paradigm for security that was once the domain of science fiction. Vasu Jakkal will take an imaginative look at the future of security AI agents, and the very human-driven way they will change the game. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center 

    Our top Microsoft Security experts were chosen by RSAC to share their insights and best practices to help you level up your own security strategy. These sessions are designed for learning, not selling. So, you’ll hear more about what’s happening in the security space and less about products. 

    • Practical Strategies for Security Architecture in a Changing World​ @ 8:30 AM – 9:20 AM 

    This session will delve into the core pillars of security architecture and share practical strategies that uphold foundational principles. Will discuss holistic system thinking and provide a practical playbook for navigating the complexities of security architecture while maintaining a focus on the fundamentals and essential considerations for a secure digital environment. 

    Speaker: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft 

     

    • RSAC Innovation Sandbox @ 9:30 AM – 12:40 PM ​ 

    Ten of cybersecurity’s boldest new innovators compete in Innovation Sandbox for the title of “Most Innovative Startup.” ISB celebrates 20 years & spotlights startups with potentially game-changing ideas. The Finalists have 3 minutes to share groundbreaking products & solutions with a panel of judges. Interact first-hand with these companies as the judges deliberate before the winner is crowned. 

    Speakers: Christopher Young, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Strategy and Ventures, Microsoft; David Chan, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley; Dorit Dor, Chief Technology Officer, Check Point Software Technologies; Niloofar Razi Howe, Operating Partner, Capitol Meridian Partners; Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman & RSAC Conference Program Committee Chair, RSAC; Paul Kocher, Researcher, Independent Researcher; and Nasrin Rezai, SVP & CISO, Verizon 

     

    • AI Era Authentication: Securing the Future with Inclusive Identity @ 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM 

    This session explores the security and usability risks of authentication techniques for users with diverse needs. Emergence of AI agents, a new user identity acting on our behalf, also necessitates a rethink of authentication methods. Discover AI-era authentication using sensors like location and behavior and learn about the shift from active to passive authentication with prototypes in action.  

    Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft and Aditi Shah, Senior Data & Applied Scientist, Microsoft 

     

    • DPRK Remote IT Workers – Have You Hired One and Are You at Risk? @ 2:20 PM – 3:10 PM 

    The DPRK actively deploys remote IT workers to generate revenue for the regime while circumventing sanctions. DPRK IT workers pose risks to companies, including insider access, potential intellectual property theft, and exposure to other malicious cyber activity. This panel will discuss best practices for identifying and preventing the hiring of DPRK IT workers. 

    Speakers: Greg Schloemer, Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst, Microsoft; Elizabeth Pelker, Special Agent, FBI; Chris Horne, Director, Trust & Safety Intelligence & Investigations, Upwork; Adam Meyers, SVP Intelligence, CrowdStrike; and Bryan Vorndran, Assistant Director, FBI 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Don’t miss our deep-dive sessions happening at the Microsoft Security Hub. Build your AI cybersecurity skills as Microsoft Security experts will share what they’ve learned and provide insights you can apply in your own organization. 

    • Harnessing Diversity – Strengthening the Cybersecurity Workforce in the Age of AI ​@ 10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Amanda Minnich, Principal Research Manager, Microsoft; Nicole Ford VP, Customer Security Officer, Microsoft; Kyla Guru, Founder/CEO, Bits N’ Bytes Cybersecurity Education; Tanell Ford, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft; and Sherrod Degrippo, Directory of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft 

     

    • Reshaping SecOps for the Cloud AI Era @ 10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Scott Woodbridge, General Manager, Product Marketing, Microsoft and Corina Feuerstein, Principal Product Manager for Copilot in Defender and Sentinel 

     

    • Practical use of CoPilot AutoFix to address Security Backlog @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub and Marcelo Oliveira, VP, Product Management, GitHub 

     

    • Executive Lunch: Scaling Compliance for Global Regulations @ ​12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Bret Arsenault, CVP, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft  

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Here’s where we talk products. These 15-20 minute informal, come-and-go sessions run all day at the Microsoft Security booth. They’re demo-heavy product showcases to help you learn how to better use the tools you’ve got now. 

    • Identity Security in the Era of AI with Security Copilot @ 5:35PM – 5:55 PM 
    • Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 6:05PM – 6:25 PM 
    • From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security @ 6:35 PM– 6:55PM 

    MISA Awards| Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    It’s time to suit up in heroic attire for an epic celebration at the 6th annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards! Just like the Avengers, assembling to save the world, we’re coming together to honor the extraordinary achievements of our MISA members who work so diligently to protect customers from external threats!  Congratulations to the incredible finalists for the sixth annual Microsoft Security Excellence Awards presented by MISA! 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with Microsoft Security experts and enhance your cybersecurity knowledge. From April 28 to April 30, 2025 customers and CISOs can schedule one-on-one meetings at the Palace Hotel to discuss your most pressing security product and threat intelligence questions. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.  

    Tuesday is the busiest day of the conference, with lots of choices in front of you, so plan ahead. 

    Keynote: AI Safety: Where Do We Go From Here? | 8:30 AM | Moscone Center (West Stage) 

    During this keynote session, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and the UK AI Safety Institute leaders come together for this blockbuster panel to explain the evolving landscape of AI safety. Attendees will gain insights into key developments in AI safety that should matter to organizations, its intersection with existing security initiatives, and time-tested approaches to translate AI safety to practice.  

    Speakers: Ram Shankar Siva Kumar, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; Jade Leung, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; and Daniel Rohrer, VP Software Product Security, Architecture & Research, NVIDIA 

     

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | All day | Moscone Center 

    RSAC has chosen top Microsoft Security experts to share insights and best practices, letting you learn about the latest in security without the sales pitch. 

    • Incident Response Dilemmas: Sharing Intel Across Sectors in Critical Times​ @ 9:40 – 10:30 AM ​ 

    An incident may be a singular event affecting one entity. What happens when it affects our critical infrastructure and has the possibility of sector-wide impact and cascading effects? How do companies share information and meet regulatory expectations? The session will dive into the work that financial services companies, the government, and cloud service providers are taking to mature IR. 

    Speakers: Ann Johnson, CVP & Deputy CISO, Customer Security Managment Office, Microsoft; Ted Conklin, Chief AI Officer & Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Treasury; Heather Hogsett, Senior Vice President, Deputy Head of BITS, Bank Policy Institute; and Erez Liebermann, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP 

     

    • XPIA Attacks – Rethinking Defense in Depth for an AI-Powered World @1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    As adversaries rapidly develop sophisticated AI attacks, the solutions also need to evolve rapidly. This panel will explore Cross/Indirect Prompt Injection Attacks (XPIA) and the need to rethink traditional defense in depth strategies. Gain insights into XPIA trends, risk analysis, and innovative solutions to protect critical infrastructure. Join for practical strategies and expert insights.  

    Speakers: Abhilasha Bhargav-Spantzel, Partner Security Architect, Microsoft; Aanchal Gupta, CVP, Microsoft; John Leo, Jr, Managing Director – Threat and Vulnerability Management Leader, EY; and Stefano Zanero, Professor, Politecnico di Milano 

     

    • A Year(ish) of Countering Malicious Actors’ Use of AI: What Have We Learned? @ 2:25 –3:15 PM​ 

    Artificial Intelligence has changed the game when it comes to how cyber adversaries operate, and how defenders respond. This panel will explore lessons learned from the past year of countering malicious cyber actors’ use of AI, challenges and limitations of legal actions involving AI, and what roadblocks might appear going forward as AI, and the actors who use it, continues to evolve. 

    Speakers: Sherrod DeGrippo, Director, Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Morgan Adamski, Executive Director, US Cyber Command; Cynthia Kaiser, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI; and Sean Newell, Chief, National Security Cyber Section, National Security Division, Department of Justice 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day | Monday – Wednesday Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Join Microsoft Security product leaders as they share their learnings and how you can apply them in your organization.  

    • Defending Against Modern Threats: Enhancing Endpoint Security and IT Resilience @ 8:00AM – 9:30AM 

    Speakers: Archana Devi Sunder Rajan, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft and Peter M. Thompson, Principal PM Manager, Microsoft   

    • Secure and Govern AI to safeguard your data, reduce risks, and support compliance @ ​10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speakers: Herain Oberoi, GM, Data & AI Security, Microsoft; Rudra Mitra, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Purview; and Neta Haiby, Director of AI Security, Microsoft 

    • Microsoft Security Copilot @ 12:00PM – 1:30PM 

    Speaker:  Dorothy Li, CVP, Microsoft Security Copilot

    • Secure your data in the era of AI with Microsoft Purview @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM 

    Speakers: Talhah Mir, Principal Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview and Maithili Dandige, Partner Group Product Manager, Microsoft Purview 

    • ​AI and Automation Panel: The Startup Innovation for Enterprise Resilience – moderated by FC @ 2:30PM – 3:30PM 

    **Attendees will have the opportunity to receive a copy of FC’s book, How I Rob Banks, and the chance to have it signed by the author at the end of the session.

    Speakers: Kevin Magee, Director Cybersecurity Startups, Microsoft for Startups; FC, Co-founder & CEO, Cygenta; Shane Coleman, Chief Data Security Evangelist; Christ “Tito” Sestito, CEO, HiddenLayer; Ravid Circus, Co-founder & CPO, Seemplicity; and Jeremy Vaughan, CEO, Start Left Security 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Stop by the Microsoft Security booth to catch a short demo of your favorite product. 

    • See Beyond Silos and Protect Better with Microsoft Security Exposure Management 11:00 AM –11:20 AM              
    • Accelerate your Zero Trust journey with the Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM 
    • Automating Vulnerability Management: The Power of “Endpoint Vulnerability Remediation Agent” in Microsoft Intune 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM  
    • From Risk to Resilience: The Next Evolution in Multicloud Security 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM 
    • Accelerating post-breach deep content analysis and mitigation with Microsoft Purview @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM  
    • Microsoft Sentinel Uncovered: Advanced Capabilities to Transform the SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM     
    • Protect AI Workloads from Code to Runtime with Microsoft Defender for Cloud @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM    
    • Security Copilot Agents: Autonomous, adaptive, with you in control @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM 
    • Unified SecOps: Defending Critical Infrastructure with Microsoft Defender @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM  
    • Be Fast as Lighting: Automate Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel Service Delivery @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM  
    • Mastering Cloud Threats: Detect, Investigate, and Respond in real-time with Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Defender XDR integration @ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM  
    • Practical Strategies for Securing AI-Driven Data: Enhancing Cyber Resilience and Insider Risk Management @ 4:30 PM – 4:50PM  
    • Secure and govern access to GenAI apps with the Microsoft Entra Suite @5:00 PM – 5:20 PM  
    • Bolster your SOC with Microsoft’s Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) @ 5:30 PM – 5:50PM  

    Networking and Fun | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    • Secure & Sip: DevOps Edition @ 4:30PM – 6:30PM  

    Speaker: Alexis Wales, CISO, GitHub 

    Gather with GitHub’s security leaders and experts for meaningful conversations, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, and a custom ramen bar to round out your day at RSAC. 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Day 2 of meetings with Microsoft Security experts continues. Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page.  https://MicrosoftSecurityEvents.eventbuilder.com/MicrosoftRSAC2025events?source=blog_techcomm 

    As the conference starts to wrap up, don’t miss your chance to get hands-on with Microsoft Security solutions and ask questions at the Hub and booth and in 1:1 meetings. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC 2025 | Location: Moscone Center 

    • Guardians of the Cyber Galaxy: Allies Against AI-Powered Cybercrime​ @ 8:30 – 9:20 AM  

    ​AI is revolutionizing cybercrime, putting traditional defenses to the test. Expert panelists unite to detail innovative public-private strategies and real-world case studies from their experience in INTERPOL, the FBI, Microsoft, and the Privacy & Cybersecurity Group of an international law firm. Gain actionable insights to protect the global community and fortify cybersecurity defenses.  

    Speakers: Sean Farrell, Lead Counsel, AI Strategy, Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Corporation; Garylene Javier, Privacy & Cybersecurity Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP; Craig Jones, Immediate Past Director Cybercrime, INTERPOL; and Andrew Sczygielski, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation 

     

    • Green and Sustainable AI for Cybersecurity​ @1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    The session will consider the carbon cost of AI and analytics. It will focus on the estimated energy and carbon costs of many cybersecurity use cases and approaches that can be taken to build more sustainable solutions. This will be illustrated through the use of a threat hunting and detection analytical solution and how that could be designed to be most power efficient.  

    Speakers: Lesley Kipling, Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft and Sian John, CTO, NCC Group 

     

    • Scaling AppSec With an SDLC for Citizen Development​ @ 1:15 – 2:05 PM​ 

    AppSec programs are difficult. Filled to the brim with vulnerabilities. Overloaded staff and inadequate budget. The common “solution” is to narrow scope and focus on crown jewels and their devs. Increasing the scope to 100x devs and 1000x apps surprisingly worked, resulting in program remediation of >50K vulnerabilities in 3 months. 18K of them in a single night. This session will show how. 

    Speakers: Ryan McDonald, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft and Michael Bargury, Co-Founder & CTO, Zenity 

     

    Microsoft Expert Sessions | All day Monday – Wednesday | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    Don’t miss the final few Microsoft Security focused sessions at our Hub. 

    • Threat intelligence trends and insights panel: Exclusive briefing from Microsoft Threat Intelligence @10:30AM – 11:30AM​  

    Speakers: Sherrod De Grippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy, Microsoft; Jeremy Dallman, Senior Director of Security Research in Microsoft Threat Intelligence; and Steven Masada, Assistant General Counsel, DCU 

    • Secure access for your employees with Entra Suite @ ​10:30AM – 11:30AM​ 

    Speaker:  Irina Nechaeva, General Manager, Identity and Network Access 

    • Securing the AI Powered Enterprise Executive Panel Lunch @​12:00PM – 1:30PM​ 

    Speakers: Bret Arsenault, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, Microsoft; Brandon Dixon, Partner Product Manager, Security AI Strategy, Microsoft; Manny Sahota, Director, Global Cloud Privacy, Microsoft; Herain Oberoi, General Manager, Data Security, Governance, Compliance, Privacy Business and Marketing, Microsoft; and Sarah Bird, Chief Product Officer of Responsible AI, Microsoft 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Don’t miss your chance to see demos and ask questions casually at the booth. 

    • Make Windows endpoints more secure and prevent downtime 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM            
    • Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Partnering with Microsoft 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM            
    • EY Security Copilot Empowered Solutions 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM 
    • Microsoft Security Copilot: Protect at the speed and scale of AI 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM           
    • Phishing-Resistant Authentication, Trusted Onboarding & Recovery @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM 
    • Building a multi-layered approach to data security SOC @ 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM     
    • Secure your email and collaboration tools against sophisticated cyber attacks @ 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM  
    • The latest intelligence on North Korean remote IT workers @ 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM 
    • Secure and govern M365 Copilot with Microsoft Purview @ 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM 
    • Proactively Mitigate Risks with Microsoft Security Exposure Management @ 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM 
    • Windows 365: The security of Windows, the scale of the cloud@ 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM 
    • Shift your SOC from manual incident response to automatic attack disruption @ 4:30 PM –4:50PM  
    • A Look Inside Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative: Progress, Innovations, and Best Practices @ 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM 
    • Simplifying Data Security for the Modern Network with Microsoft Purview and Netskope One @ 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM 

    Customer Meetings | Location: Microsoft Security Hub at the Palace Hotel (Second Floor) 

    It’s your final chance to ask your questions and give your suggestions directly to Microsoft Security experts. Book your meeting here: Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page. 

    Microsoft Sessions at RSAC | Location: Moscone Center 

    Last but certainly not least. 

    • Shaping Cybersecurity: How Regulation Shapes Operational Cyber Defense​ @ 10:50 – 11:40AM​  

    In 2024, elections and growing cyberthreats pushed cybersecurity to the forefront of government priorities. The panel will explore governments’ efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and resilience through regulation, the impact on operational cyber defense, and discuss where greater alignment is possible. Attendees will gain an understanding of the quickly evolving global regulatory landscape.  

    Speakers: Ted Maurer, Senior Director, Global Cybersecurity Policy, Microsoft; Christiane Kirketerp de Viron, Director for Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity, DG Connect, European Commission; Ari Schwartz, Managing Director, Cybersecurity Services, Venable LLP; Josephine Wolff, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Policy, Tufts University, The Fletcher School; and Florian Schütz, Director, NCSC – National Cybersecurity Centre 

     

    • Taking the Fight Upstream: Pursuing Systemic Defense Against Phishing​ 12:20 – 11:10 PM​  

    Three decades into the public internet, cybercrime is booming and phishing remains a key vector. With AI-enhanced attacks rising, common users are increasingly ill-equipped to defend themselves. What can be done upstream to protect society? This session explores systemic defense strategies across the ICT ecosystem that hold the potential for significant ecosystem-wide impact.

    Speakers: Kelly Bissell, CVP Security & Fraud, Microsoft; Tal Goldstein, Head of Strategy, World Economic Forum Centre for Cybersecurity; Steven Kelly, Chief Trust Officer, Institute for Security and Technology; and Kemba Walden, President, Paladin Global Institute, Paladin Capital Group  

     

    • Fraud, Risk, Hollywood & Government—A Strategy for AI Across Industry 12:20 – 11:10 PM 

    ​Dive into the high-stakes world of AI as the experts in this session unravel AI’s game-changing roles in Hollywood, government, and finance. Experience firsthand revolutionary strategies, ethical showdowns, and futuristic trends set to redefine industry landscapes. Get ready for a session that’s as dynamic and ambitious as a Hollywood blockbuster! 

    Speakers: Vishal Amin, GM, National Security Group, Security; Gurpreet Bhatia, Acting Deputy CIO for Cybersecurity, Acting CISO, DOD; David Mahdi, CIO, Transmit Security; and Scott Mann, Film Director & Co-Founder/Co-CEO, Flawless 

    • Generative AI Meets Identity Governance: Automating the Overlooked​ @ 1:30 – 2:20 PM​ 

    Identity governance is often the last thing to be implemented and rarely gets the attention it deserves due to its complexity. This session will explore how Generative AI agents can help overcome this by automating critical but often deprioritized tasks like role mining and identity lifecycle management, particularly addressing the challenges of managing ‘movers’ within organizations.  

    Speakers: Angelica Faber, Sr Security Architect, Microsoft and Wesley Kuzma, Architect Manager, Microsoft 

     

    Theatre Sessions | Location: Microsoft Security Booth #5744 

    Catch the last day of theater sessions. 

    • How Enterprises will Continue to Learn from Open Source 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM  
    • Creating Bespoke Identity Governance Solutions with Microsoft Entra Suite 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM  
    • Identity-first security: Using an event-based approach for threat remediation @ 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM 
    • Securing and governing Agents built-in Microsoft Copilot Studio @ 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM 
    • Azure Platform Security in an Evolving Threat Landscape @ 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM 

    How to Make the Most of Microsoft Security at RSAC 2025 

    Plan Ahead: Bookmark this blog to easily find the things that interest you the most. 

    Visit the Booth: Engage with our security experts and experience live demos.

    Follow Along Online: Stay updated by following Microsoft Security on LinkedIn and X. 

    Book a Meeting: Want to connect 1:1 with a Microsoft Security expert? Secure your spot by visiting the Microsoft Security Experiences at RSAC 2025 Home Page. 

     

    See you at RSAC 2025! 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT SHARES UPDATE ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S PROPOSED FEES AT U.S. PORTS

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

    For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland

    April 11, 2025                                                           202-808-6129

    PRESS RELEASE

    CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT SHARES UPDATE ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S PROPOSED FEES AT U.S. PORTS

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett shared the following update regarding President Trump’s executive order on the maritime industry:

    “This week, President Trump announced an executive order which doubles down on previous tariff directives and provides a structure to move ahead with the administration’s Section 301 tariff actions which will impose significant port fees on maritime transport operators with fleets comprised of Chinese-built vessels. If the order comes into full effect, it will result in significant port fees on maritime transport operators servicing the United States Virgin Islands. The order also directs the U.S. Trade Representative to consider imposing fees on Chinese-built cranes and other cargo-handling equipment, an action which could affect almost every port in America.

    “These actions will cause increased shipping costs, shipping delays and, in some cases, the wholesale termination of service by cargo carriers to impacted locations throughout the coast of the United States and especially places like the Virgin Islands.

    “I am particularly concerned for coastal and island communities, including the Virgin Islands, where the imposition of these punitive measures will skyrocket costs of food and other everyday items that must be imported by the maritime industry.

    “My team and I have been highly engaged with the Virgin Islands maritime industry, as well as stakeholders, including meeting with the ambassadors to the Caribbean nations, to track the implications of President Trump’s executive order on ship owners, operators, and builders.

    “Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to question US Trade Relations Ambassador Jameison Greer during a Ways & Means Committee hearing and urged the ambassador to consider the practical impacts of tariff actions on the US outlying areas and ultimately reconsider these actions. Our communities would bear tremendous undue cost, which makes clear the need for an exemption. I am also leading a letter to USTR Ambassador Greer and the Administration to make the case for this exemption and underscore the impact of these fees on the Virgin Islands, which will permeate through the Caribbean region.

    “Under the order, transport operators with fleets comprised of Chinese-built vessels will be charged up to $1.5 million per vessel entrance to an American port, as well as an ‘additional fee’ of up to $1 million per vessel entrance to an American port if the number of foreign-built vessels in the operator’s fleet is equal to or greater than 25 percent. Even vessels under the U.S. flag, operated and owned by a U.S. entity that are Chinese-built would be subject to the fees in USTR’s proposal. We continue to urge the Trump Administration to heed the feedback of elected officials, the maritime industry, and stakeholders even amidst the imposition of these actions that will have radically negative consequences for our corner of the American experience.

    “I will continue to collaborate in a bipartisan manner with my colleagues, stakeholders, and the Virgin Islands community to advance the interests of the Virgin Islands.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Hit and run at Brooklyn Park

    Source: New South Wales – News

    A woman was lucky to escape serious injury after being struck by a car at Brooklyn Park last night.

    About 9.40pm on Friday 11 April a grey SUV was conducting a U-turn on Henley Beach Road, Brooklyn Park and struck a woman crossing the road.

    The grey SUV drove off.

    The 43-year-old Ridleyton woman was taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment.  Fortunately, her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

    Police are still looking for the male driver and the grey SUV.

    Investigations are continuing, but it is believed that the people involved in this incident are known to each other.

    Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any dashcam or CCTV footage that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Driver and passenger arrested at Salisbury Heights

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Two people have been arrested after a Volkswagen failed to stop for police in the northern suburbs last night.

    At 8.15pm on Friday 11 April patrols spotted a Volkswagen sedan on Haydown Road, Elizabeth East and attempted to stop the vehicle however the driver sped off.

    Patrols called in the assistance of PolAir who tracked the vehicle as it travelled through Elizabeth East.

    The vehicle was seen to travel on the wrong side of the road on Midway Road and through a red light at the intersection of Main North Road and Black Top Road.

    Patrols successfully spiked the vehicle’s tyres on Stanford Road, Salisbury Heights.  The car turned into St Albans Drive, Salisbury Heights, and the male passenger was seen to run from the vehicle.

    The car continued for a short distance onto Featherstone Place, where the female driver abandoned the car and ran off.

    The driver was found a short time later, hiding in the rear yard of a Stanford Road address.

    A 22-year-old Elizabeth Grove woman was arrested and charged with drive dangerously to escape police pursuit, drive unlicensed, drive unregistered, trespass and unlawfully on premises.  She was bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on 12 May.

    Her vehicle was impounded for 28 days.

    Her passenger, a 35-year-old Renown Park man, was arrested and charged with breach of bail and outstanding warrants.  He was refused police bail and will appear in court on Monday.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston arrests illegal Guatemalan national convicted of endangering Connecticut child

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HARTFORD, Conn. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an illegally present Guatemalan national charged with three counts of risk of injury to a child and disorderly conduct. Officers with ICE Boston arrested Carlos Antonio Zepeda-Ruiz in Hartford Feb. 27.

    “Carlos Antonio Zepeda-Ruiz apparently endangered the safety of a Connecticut child and presents a threat to the residents of Connecticut,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We will not allow criminal aliens to endanger the safety of our communities. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien threats from New England.”

    Zepeda applied for entry into the United States at the San Ysidro West Port of Entry July 14, 2023, using the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s “CBP One” immigration processing application. CBP issued Zepeda a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge and paroled him into the United States.

    Officers from the Bridgeport Police Department arrested Zepeda July 23, 2024, and charged him with three counts of risk of injury to a child and disorderly conduct.

    Officers with ICE Boston arrested Zepeda in Hartford Feb. 27.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston, federal partners arrests illegal Ecuadoran national charged with more than 20 sex crimes against Massachusetts minor

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LAWRENCE, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with federal partners from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested an illegally present Ecuadoran national charged with more than twenty counts of sex crimes against a minor. Officers with ICE Boston and agents from DEA New England and ATF Boston arrested Gilberto Avila-Jara, 64, in Lawrence April 1.

    “There are no appropriate words to describe the amount of damage Gilberto Avila-Jara has allegedly done to our Massachusetts community,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Children are the most precious and most vulnerable members of our communities, and we will do everything in our power to protect them from illegal sex offenders. ICE Boston remains committed to prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing alien sexual predators from New England.”

    Avila illegally entered the United States near San Ysidro, California Feb. 10, 1996, without being inspected, admitted, or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

    Officers with the Immigration and Naturalization Service apprehended Avila March 2, 1996, at Los Angeles International Airport.

    On March 11, 1996, a Justice Department immigration judge ordered Avila removed from the United States to Ecuador. INS removed Avila from the United States to Ecuador July 2, 1996. Avila illegally reentered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location and without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official. The Lawrence District Court arraigned Avila on Dec. 18, 2020, for more than 20 offenses including indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, rape of a child with force and aggravated statutory rape of a Child. Later that day, ICE Boston lodged an immigration detainer against Avila with the Lawrence Police Department.

    The Lawrence District Court refused to honor the ICE detainer and released Avila from custody on bail March 17, 2021.

    On April 22, 2021, the Essex County Superior Court arraigned Avila for six counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, eight counts of rape of a child with force and eight counts of aggravated statutory rape of a child.

    Officers with ICE Boston and agents from DEA New England and ATF Boston arrested Gilberto Avila-Jara, 64, in Lawrence April 1.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Men Sentenced for Misbranding and Conspiring to Price Gouge N95 Masks in Early Months of COVID-19 Pandemic

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – Two brothers, who co-owned a now-defunct Florida-based company, have been sentenced in federal court in Boston for charges associated with shipping facemasks that were misbranded as N95 respirators, and price gouging hospitals, during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

    Daniel Motha, 40, of Miami, Fla. and Jeffrey Motha, 36, of Norfolk, Mass. were each sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $9,500 fine. In October 2025, the defendants pleaded guilty to one count of introduction of misbranded devices into interstate commerce and one count of conspiracy to commit price gouging in violation of the Defense Production Act. Daniel Motha and Jeffrey Motha were charged in October 2024, along with JDM Supply LLC (JDM). In August 2023, a third individual, Jason Colantuoni of Norfolk, Mass, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit price gouging in connection with this investigation. Colantuoni is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2025.

    The defendants co-owned JDM, with Daniel Motha serving as the company’s chief executive officer and Jeffrey Motha serving as head of sales. In the spring of 2020, during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, JDM conspired with another company, Advoque Safeguard LLC – a PPE manufacturer –  to distribute facemasks that were misbranded as National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved, N95 respirators. JDM misled one hospital into believing that the masks were NIOSH-approved N95s, when in fact they were not. As a result, the hospital accepted and paid for approximately 850,000 purported N95 masks that were manufactured by Advoque and sold by JDM, at a total price of approximately $2.6 million. To accompany the masks, JDM sent the hospital NIOSH-passing test results and approval documents for a different mask. Ultimately, the hospital did not use the masks, which were eventually returned to Advoque.

    In August 2020, a NIOSH lab tested a sample of the masks that had been shipped to the hospital. The masks tested between 83.94% and 93.24% filtration efficiency, thus falling below the 95% minimum level of filtration efficiency required for N95 respirators.  

    Daniel Motha and Jeff Motha conspired to use JDM to exploit and profit off of the critical need of hospitals and healthcare workers for scarce N95 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. They accumulated N95 masks from various sources and then sold the N95 masks through JDM to hospitals in Massachusetts, and elsewhere, at prices that exceeded the prevailing market price.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Locker of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud. 
        
    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: We’re working hard to clean up the city

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Published: Friday, 11th April 2025

    Clean-up crews are out across the city removing piles of fly-tipping and waste that has accumulated during industrial action.

    They are clearing approx 1,500 tonnes of waste a day since our vehicles have been able to deploy on time, with around 100 refuse collection vehicles out every day.

    Each day we have dozens of additional street cleaning crew and at least a dozen ‘grab trucks’ to clear large rubbish piles.

    We are also supported by extra vehicles through mutual aid.

    Leader of the Council Cllr John Cotton said: “Our work to clear the backlog is gathering pace and we will continue collecting waste over the weekend.

    “I fully appreciate that there is still more to do, and I share the frustration of people across the city, but now that we are getting our crews out on time every day, we are starting to see a difference and I want to thank our amazing crews for their hard work over the last week.

    “I also want to thank every citizen, community group and organisation that is helping with the clear-up. People are helping in neighbourhoods right across the city and their support is helping to clear our streets.”

    Some of our household recycling centres have extended opening hours and slots can be booked online, and our mobile household waste centres are operating on extended hours too. You can check locations here.

    Talks to resolve the dispute will continue next week and Cllr Cotton added: “I will stress again that we have made a fair and reasonable offer that means that no-one has to lose any pay at all, with alternative roles offered within the service, or indeed a promotion to work as a driver. We’re determined to reach an agreement but in the meantime, the clear-up continues.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The closure of radio teleswitching explained

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Issued by Home Energy Scotland

    The Radio Teleswitching Service (RTS) is due to end on Monday 30 June 2025.

    If your electricity meter uses RTS, it must be replaced. If the meter isn’t replaced, your heating could end up always on, never on, or turning on and off at unsuitable times for you. Luckily, we have a guide on the next steps to take. 

    What is RTS? 

    RTS is a system that uses radio signals to control when certain electricity meters switch between peak and off-peak rates. It’s commonly used in homes with electric storage heaters, panel heaters, wet electric heating, and immersion heaters. 

    What do you need to do? 

    If you have a RTS meter, your energy supplier should contact you to arrange a smart meter upgrade before the RTS switch-off. If you haven’t heard from them, it’s important that you get in touch as soon as possible to book an appointment. 

    What happens if your meter isn’t replaced? 

    Without an upgrade, your heating and hot water may not work properly, and your electricity costs could increase. For more details — including how to check if you have an RTS meter and what to do if your supplier can’t install a smart meter yet — check out our comprehensive guide below.

    Read the guidance

    11 Apr 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Violent Bridgeport Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ERIC HAYES, also known as “Heavyweight Champ,” 28, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 165 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang, including the murder and attempted murder of rival gang members.

    Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.

    According to court documents, statements made in court, and the evidence presented during a month-long trial, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence.  Hayes has been a member of the “East End gang,” which began as a local street gang based in the East End of Bridgeport, but currently has members and associates who are either incarcerated or living throughout Bridgeport and surrounding towns.  The East End gang has been aligned with other groups, including the PT Barnum Gang, the East Side gang and 150, which is a geographic gang based on the West Side of Bridgeport.  These groups were aligned against rival organizations in Bridgeport, including the “Original North End” (“O.N.E.”) and the “Greene Homes Boyz,” (“GHB/Hotz”), based in the Charles F. Greene Homes Housing Complex in Bridgeport’s North End.

    Due to the level of gun violence Bridgeport was experiencing, the investigation commenced shortly before East End members shot and killed Myreke Kenion and shot and attempted to kill D’Andre Brown, both members and associates of the GHB/Hotz gang, on January 26, 2020.  The next day, in retaliation for these shootings, GHB/Hotz and O.N.E. members attempted to kill East End gang members and associates in a brazen afternoon shooting in front of a state courthouse on Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport that resulted in four victims being shot while sitting inside a car.

    For a time, Hayes was the de facto leader of the East End gang.  Hayes and other East End members distributed heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and Percocet pills; used and shared firearms; and committed at least six murders and other acts of violence against rival gang members and other individuals.  East End members celebrated their criminal conduct in rap videos on YouTube and on social media websites such as Facebook, and committed acts of intimidation and made threats to deter potential witnesses to their crimes and to protect gang members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities.

    The investigation determined that on March 5, 2019, Hayes shot and killed Jerrell Gatewood, a member of the Terrace, a rival group to the East End gang.  Also, Hayes helped coordinate the attempted murder of Marquis Isreal, also known as “Garf” or “Gbaby,” a member and associate of the O.N.E. gang.  On September 15, 2019, East End member Trevon Wright shot Isreal 12 times inside a restaurant in Bridgeport’s East End.  Isreal survived the shooting.

    Hayes has been detained since his arrest on September 25, 2019.  On that date, he possessed a loaded .45 caliber handgun.  Subsequent forensic analysis of the firearm connected it to shell casings recovered from the restaurant after the Marquis Isreal shooting.

    On December 5, 2023, a jury found Hayes, Wright, Keishawn Donald, and Travon Jones guilty of conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity.

    Approximately 47 members and associates of the East End, O.N.E. and the GHB/Hotz gangs have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from this investigation, which has and solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders.

    Wright, Donald, and Jones were previously sentenced.

    This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the Waterbury Police Department.  These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick, Rahul Kale, and Karen L. Peck.

    This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.

    PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

    Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities.  Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it.  If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.

    OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coalition of the Willing: Joint UK-France statement following 10 April meeting

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Coalition of the Willing: Joint UK-France statement following 10 April meeting

    A statement from Defence Secretary John Healey MP and Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu following the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing on 10 April 2025.

    The UK Defence Secretary and the French Ministre des Armees convened counterparts from 30 countries and representatives from the EU Commission, EU Council and NATO, to reaffirm our commitment to work together to drive progress towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

    Ukraine’s security is inseparable from Euro-Atlantic security. Only a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards its strength, security, and sovereignty will deter Russia from further aggression in the future.

    Our work today is part of detailed military planning led by the UK and French Chiefs of Defence over the last month supported by hundreds of military planners from across Europe and beyond, and directly supports the ambitions laid out by Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron at recent international Summits.

    We are leading this work together, side by side to secure the best possible outcome for Ukraine. The UK and France are building this coalition on solid foundations, having spent almost 15 years developing the common tools and culture to enable such a force through our Combined Joint Expeditionary Force.

    Planning so far has looked across the full range of military capabilities from Europe and beyond. Discussions have centred on how participating nations can contribute their own capabilities to ensure Ukraine’s future security, whether by strengthening Ukrainian capacity or direct contributions. Our objectives are to reassure, support and protect Ukraine to ensure that any peace settlement secures against the risk of future Russian aggression.

    It is important to maintain discretion when commenting on the specific details of these discussions, until the conditions of the necessary ceasefire are clear. But we are making solid progress, as a Coalition, on building a multi-national effort to support Ukraine’s transition to peace time in a position of strength.

    We are showing that through this coalition, Europe together with other international partners are willing to step up and support the US and Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace.

    President Putin must prove he is serious about peace and sign up to a full and unconditional ceasefire, as Ukraine has done. We are working very closely with Ukraine on developing these future plans, as well as NATO to ensure that our collective support to Ukraine strengthens the wider European-Atlantic security architecture.

    This Coalition will continue to meet regularly to drive progress and generate firm commitments in pursuit of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 April 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM statement on British Steel: 11 April 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    PM statement on British Steel: 11 April 2025

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statement on British Steel.

    As Prime Minister, I will always act in the national interest.

    …to protect British jobs and British workers.

    This afternoon, the future of British steel hangs in the balance. 

    Jobs. Investment. Growth.

    Our economic and national security…

    …are all on the line.

    I’ve been to Scunthorpe.

    I’ve met the steel workers.

    I know how important steel is…

    …not just to the region, but to the whole country.

    It’s part of our national story.

    Part of the pride and heritage of this nation.

    And I’ll tell you this – it is essential for our future.

    Our Plan for Change means we need more steel not less.

    So we will act with urgency.

    Now, we should be clear –

    This situation – and our response – is unique.

    While it is true that we are facing a new era of global instability…

    Our concerns about this plant…

    And negotiations to protect it…

    Have been running for years.

    This moment could have happened at any time.

    But it has happened now.

    And I will not stand by.

    There is no time to waste.

    So we are recalling Parliament tomorrow

    For a Saturday sitting.

    We will pass emergency legislation

    In one day

    To give the Business Secretary the powers

    To do everything possible to stop the closure of these blast furnaces.

    And as I have said, we will keep all options on the table.

    Our future is in our hands.

    This government will not sit back and just hope.

    We will act to secure Britain’s future…

    With British steel: made in Britain, in the national interest.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Inside the Vault: First look at Preston’s new Youth Zone

    Source: City of Preston

    Young people and supporters got their first glimpse of the new state-of-the-art Vault Youth Zone, as construction reached its latest major milestone.

    The new multi-million pound building, located on the corner of Tithebarn Street and Crooked Lane, is now water-tight, meaning the roof is in place.

    The Young People’s Development Group (YPDG), which has been helping to shape the development of Vault Youth Zone, joined supporters for their first guided tour of the building, getting a sneak peek of how their new facilities might look.

    The YPDG is a key part of bringing Vault Youth Zone to life for Preston’s young people. The group has helped design and develop the Youth Zone, including creating Vault’s brand, hoardings and interviewing staff. Their next challenge will be to help develop the look and feel of the Youth Zone’s interiors.

    The group said:

    “Finally getting to see the Youth Zone was amazing. From the outside it looks incredible but inside it’s mind-blowing. It’s coming together and we can’t wait to see it filled with young people, enjoying having someone amazing to go to.

    The project’s development has been made possible through partnerships with Preston City Council, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport’s Youth Investment Fund, and Preston’s Towns Fund Investment Programme, along with support from private sector contributions.

    Vault Youth Zone’s CEO, Tim Jacques, said:

    “To watch the building take shape since the completion of the steel frame at the end of 2024 has been incredibly exciting.

    “It’s fantastic to welcome our supporters to site so they can see their investment in the city’s young people first-hand and, of course, our remarkable YPDG. Together they have turned Vault Youth Zone from a dream to a reality!”

    Set to open in late 2025, the Youth Zone will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including a climbing wall, music room with built in recording studio, performing arts space, arts and crafts, a maker zone with 3D printing facilities and sports amenities, including an inside football pitch, boxing gym, sports hall and fitness suite, ensuring a diverse array of activities for young people aged eight to 19 (or up to 25 for those with additional needs).

    The Youth Zone will also provide hot meals for just £1, fostering a safe, inclusive, and affordable environment.

    The Youth Zone expects to welcome over 4,000 young people within its first year of opening.

    Chris Hayward, Director of Development and Housing, at Preston City Council, said:

    “We’re incredibly delighted to see Vault Youth Zone take shape—there’s no doubt this will be an impressive building supporting young people in Preston for years to come.

    “It’s a fantastic achievement by all involved to reach this stage so quickly. Opening in 2025, Vault is another exciting addition to the Harris Quarter, complementing Animate, which has already opened its doors, and the nearby Harris Museum.”

    Chair of Preston’s Towns Fund Strategic Board and deputy vice chairman of the Vault, John Chesworth, said:

    “Vault Youth Zone has been a long time in the making, but it will make a huge social and economic impact in the city by providing a safe place for young people to come and shape their future. The building also adds to Preston’s ongoing regeneration and contributes to making the Harris Quarter a vibrant place to come to.”

    This milestone highlights the charity’s commitment to supporting Preston’s youth and fostering a vibrant, engaged community. As the building progresses, Vault Youth Zone continues to seek support for its annual running costs and build momentum towards its opening.

    To find out more, contact enquiries@vaultyouthzone.org.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU research addresses postcode lottery for victims

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Dr Mirna Guha, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Deputy Head of the School for Humanities and Social Sciences

    Research from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has highlighted how one Cambridgeshire project could serve as a blueprint to end the postcode lottery faced by domestic abuse and sexual violence (DASV) victims across England and Wales.

    Nationally, there is a significant shortage of support services provided by and for women from minority backgrounds. Dr Mirna Guha of ARU is leading initiatives to address this by fostering racially diverse leadership within services that tackle violence against women and girls. 

    Dr Guha recently presented her research findings, which highlighted regional disparities in service provision and showcased the success of an innovative scheme in Peterborough, to a national audience in London.

    Following her pilot study focusing on Asian women in Cambridgeshire which showed the need for DASV services to be more culturally responsive, Dr Guha collaborated with Peterborough Women’s Aid to secure Home Office funding for the first ‘by and for’ provision for Asian women experiencing domestic abuse in the county.

    The Dahlia Project is delivered entirely by a team of newly recruited Asian women from the British Pakistani community in Peterborough and is governed by a board of Asian men and women.

    Dr Guha is currently evaluating The Dahlia Project, which has received around 200 referrals since launching in 2023, including from women of African Caribbean, Middle Eastern and South-east Asian backgrounds, highlighting its importance to different racial minority groups.

    Additionally, further research carried out in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Suffolk last year by Dr Guha, in collaboration with Dr Katherine Allen from the University of Suffolk, identified the need for representative and culturally responsive leadership to ensure organisations delivering DASV services are welcoming for diverse members of staff, and the support provided is accessible for victims-survivors.

    It also underlined the need for practitioners from diverse backgrounds to have access to role models and networking opportunities to help combat professional isolation.

    In response to this regional need, Dr Guha and Dr Allen recently established a Community of Practice for Diverse Women Leaders and last week introduced the HUM Leadership Model for Emerging Leaders at the event in London, which brought together a diverse group of women leaders from voluntary and national statutory organisations, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

    The event, which also featured a speech by Superintendent Jasvinder Kaur, Domestic Abuse Lead at Suffolk Constabulary and co-founder of the National Women of Colour in Policing, UK, highlighted the success of The Dahlia Project and demonstrated how the Peterborough scheme could be replicated in regions similarly affected by the postcode lottery. 

    “In certain regions, representation of women from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds in politics and policymaking is low, and systemic barriers also prevent victims from these communities seeking support.

    “Celebrating and supporting Black and racialised women’s leadership in organisations that address violence against women and girls is crucial. The network we have set up aims to accelerate the leadership of minoritised women and make domestic abuse services inclusive and responsive to the complex needs of victims-survivors from different backgrounds.

    “Evidence from my research will support efforts by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner to advocate for a dedicated national ‘by and for’ funding pot. This would ensure minoritised victims-survivors across England and Wales receive high-quality support, regardless of their location. The Dahlia Project is making a real difference in Cambridgeshire, but we need more projects like it across the country to end this postcode lottery of provision.”

    Dr Mirna Guha, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Deputy Head of the School for Humanities and Social Sciences at ARU

    The Community of Practice will be hosted online through Anglia Ruskin University, with the goal of evolving into a Regional Advisory Body to influence future practice, research and policy design affecting victims-survivors.

    Dr Guha’s work ‘Nothing about us without us’: Investigating the impact of the leadership of ethnic minority women on domestic abuse service provision in East England has received Medical Research Council UK Prevention Research Partnership VISION funding.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston arrests illegal Ecuadoran

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LAWRENCE, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with federal partners from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested an illegally present Ecuadoran national charged with more than twenty counts of sex crimes against a minor. Officers with ICE Boston and agents from DEA New England and ATF Boston arrested Gilberto Avila-Jara, 64, in Lawrence April 1.

    “There are no appropriate words to describe the amount of damage Gilberto Avila-Jara has allegedly done to our Massachusetts community,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Children are the most precious and most vulnerable members of our communities, and we will do everything in our power to protect them from illegal sex offenders. ICE Boston remains committed to prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing alien sexual predators from New England.”

    Avila illegally entered the United States near San Ysidro, California Feb. 10, 1996, without being inspected, admitted, or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

    Officers with the Immigration and Naturalization Service apprehended Avila March 2, 1996, at Los Angeles International Airport.

    On March 11, 1996, a Justice Department immigration judge ordered Avila removed from the United States to Ecuador. INS removed Avila from the United States to Ecuador July 2, 1996. Avila illegally reentered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location and without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official. The Lawrence District Court arraigned Avila on Dec. 18, 2020, for more than 20 offenses including indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, rape of a child with force and aggravated statutory rape of a Child. Later that day, ICE Boston lodged an immigration detainer against Avila with the Lawrence Police Department.

    The Lawrence District Court refused to honor the ICE detainer and released Avila from custody on bail March 17, 2021.

    On April 22, 2021, the Essex County Superior Court arraigned Avila for six counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, eight counts of rape of a child with force and eight counts of aggravated statutory rape of a child.

    Officers with ICE Boston and agents from DEA New England and ATF Boston arrested Gilberto Avila-Jara, 64, in Lawrence April 1.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont, Senate President Looney, Speaker Ritter Announce $77 Million to Municipalities and Organizations for 35 Economic Development Projects

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) today announced that the State Bond Commission has approved the release of approximately $77 million in state funding to support the sixth round of grants under the Community Investment Fund 2030.

    This sixth grant round supports 35 economic development projects in 21 towns and cities across Connecticut.

    “Through this grant program, we are helping municipalities throughout Connecticut make improvements in underserved areas that will enhance their economic vibrancy and revitalize neighborhoods,” Governor Lamont, chairman of the State Bond Commission, said. “I am glad that we can partner with these towns and cities and other organizations to make these improvements that will drive growth in our state.”

    “The Community Investment Fund is one of the most transformative economic development tools we’ve created in recent years,” Senator Looney said. “These grants are targeted investments to uplift underserved communities, assist struggling nonprofit social service organizations, promote equity, and spur long-term economic growth across Connecticut. I am proud to see this funding approved and look forward to its meaningful impact on cities and towns throughout our state.”

    “I want to thank Governor Lamont for his continued commitment to this important funding source,” Speaker Ritter said. “Investing in transformational projects can provide a huge boost to nonprofits, communities, and even entire regions of Connecticut.”

    The Community Investment Fund was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and Governor Lamont in 2022 to support economic development in historically underserved communities across Connecticut. Eligible projects include capital improvements, such as those focused on affordable housing, brownfield remediation, infrastructure, and public facilities, as well as small business support programs that provide revolving loans, gap financing, microloans, or start-up financing. The program is anticipated to release up to $875 in grants over a five-year period.

    The following grants were approved under this round:

    Municipality: All Community Investment Fund communities
     Grant Recipient: CT Humanities Council
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Cultural Cohort” – Connecticut Humanities has a mission to champion the enduring value of public humanities in our lives and civil society. This planning grant will allow CT Humanities to assess the needs of 560 cultural organizations in the 55 CIF communities.

    Municipality: Bridgeport
     Grant Recipient: Green Village Initiatives Inc.
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Bridgeport Regional Food Hub” – Green Village Initiative is a nonprofit organization serving Bridgeport focused on addressing systemic inequities in the local food system through urban agriculture, education, and community empowerment. The Bridgeport Regional Food Hub and Community Empowerment Initiative is a planning project to develop a county-wide food hub in Bridgeport.

    Municipality: Bridgeport
     Grant Recipient: Mercy Learning Center
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Capital Improvement Planning” – Mercy Learning Center provides basic literacy and life skills training to women with low income using a holistic approach within a compassionate, supportive environment. CIF funding would finance specific assessments and plans to address elements that arise from the Organizational Strategic Plan and process prioritizing capital renovations and expansion.

    Municipality: Bridgeport
     Grant Recipient: Barnum Museum Foundation
    Award Amount: $2,000,000
    Description: “Barnum Museum Revitalization” – The Barnum Museum, a historic cultural institution in Bridgeport since 1893, provides educational programs, community events, and accessibility initiatives for diverse audiences. It engages thousands of students, families, and seniors through partnerships with schools and local organizations. The proposed project will continue the museum’s restoration, focusing on safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency.

    Municipality: Danbury
     Grant Recipient: City of Danbury
    Award Amount: $5,000,000
    Description: “Downtown Revitalization: Streetscapes for the Future” – The City of Danbury proposes to complete Phase II of the Downtown Danbury’s Revitalization: Streetscapes for the Future Project. The project would enhance pedestrian and streetscape features along key streets: Main Street (Route 53) from Boughton Street to Crosby Street, Liberty Street from Main Street to Patriot Drive, Independence Way, White Street from Ives Street to Main Street, a portion of Elm Street, Post Office Walk, and Kennedy Avenue.

    Municipality: East Haven
     Grant Recipient: Town of East Haven
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Family Resource Center Expansion” – The Town of East Haven proposes to plan for the renovation and expansion of the Family Resource Center to transform it into a comprehensive community hub, including a dynamic recreational area, designed to support local youth and families.

    Municipality: East Windsor
     Grant Recipient: Housing Corporation of East Windsor
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Park Hill 2 & 3” – The Housing Corporation of East Windsor, a non-profit dedicated to expanding quality affordable housing for low and moderate-income individuals in the East Windsor area, plans to develop two vacant parcels adjacent to Park Hill, a senior and disabled apartment community. This project seeks to advance the planning process to prepare the 13-acre site for complimentary development.

    Municipality: Enfield
     Grant Recipient: Town of Enfield
    Award Amount: $10,000,000
    Description: “Enfield Marketplace Infrastructure” – The Town of Enfield, in partnership with Woodsonia Acquisitions LLC, will utilize CIF funding to install critical new infrastructure necessary to create a mixed-use development called the Enfield Marketplace.

    Municipality: Hamden
     Grant Recipient: Transcend the Trend, Inc.
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Hamden Arts & Learning Oasis (HALO)” – Transcend The Trend (TTT) has a mission to achieve equity in the local education system in and through the arts. The planning grant request is community engagement and a feasibility study to inform architectural and design plans to renovate space on the former Paier College of Art campus into an arts and cultural hub.

    Municipality: Hartford
     Grant Recipient: Asylum Hill Congregational Church
    Award Amount: $3,789,482
    Description: “Earl Exum Community Resource Center” – Asylum Hill Congregational Church offers a range of community programs, including food assistance, youth outreach, educational programs, and resources for low-income individuals and families. AHCC plans to remediate, remodel, and re-purpose the garden level to address identified needs by providing space for existing service providers seeking to establish a more accessible presence in the Asylum Hill neighborhood.

    Municipality: Hartford
     Grant Recipient: City of Hartford
    Award Amount: $1,600,000
    Description: “Homestead Acquisition” – The City of Hartford proposes to acquire three properties within the Homestead Redevelopment Corridor between Sigourney and Garden Streets. The city is currently developing a redevelopment plan for the Homestead Corridor. The Homestead Avenue Redevelopment Plan aims to employ a mix of land use strategies to transform this key thoroughfare in the Upper Albany neighborhood.

    Municipality: Hartford
     Grant Recipient: City of Hartford
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Talcott Plaza” – The City of Hartford will plan a major redevelopment project to revitalize Downtown Hartford at the Talcott Street Plaza to include mixed-use development that will include the opportunity for a large commercial tenant and expansion to include residential units.

    Municipality: Hartford
     Grant Recipient: YWCA Hartford Region, Inc.
    Award Amount: $1,500,000
    Description: “Center for Racial Justice and Gender Equity” – YWCA is committed to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YWCA proposes HVAC system enhancements as part of renovating its 50-year-old Hartford building to establish The Center for Racial Justice and Gender Equity.

    Municipality: Hartford
     Grant Recipient: Clay Arsenal Community Development Corporation
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Beacon & Walnut Planning” – The Clay Arsenal Community Development Corporation focuses on economic development and poverty reduction in Hartford’s Clay Arsenal neighborhood. Its mission is to improve the economic and social conditions of low and moderate-income residents through sustainable initiatives. The CIF Planning Grant will fund predevelopment activities towards transforming two blighted sites into sustainable, mixed-use, transit-oriented developments.

    Municipality: Killingly
     Grant Recipient: Access Community Action Agency
    Award Amount: $4,928,243
    Description: “Transforming 254 Broad” – The ACCESS Agency’s mission is to empower under-resourced individuals, families, and communities by improving food security, providing affordable housing, and creating pathways to economic stability. With CIF funding, ACCESS plans to renovate the St. Alban Church at 254 Broad Street to expand offices, upgrade the food pantry, offer the Killingly Community Store, improve access to the emergency shelter and repurpose space into affordable housing.

    Municipality: Meriden
     Grant Recipient: City of Meriden
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “One Stop HHS Building” – The City of Meriden proposes to perform planning for the renovation and modernization of the Stoddard Municipal Building at 165 Miller Street, transforming it into a “one stop” facility for human services.

    Municipality: Naugatuck
     Grant Recipient: Borough of Naugatuck
    Award Amount: $3,000,000
    Description: “Industrial Park Phase 2” – Located in the Naugatuck Industrial Park III, Phase 2 will construct temporary and permanent access roads, including streetscaping and utilities in the public-right-of-way, allowing lot access for end users, as well as connection to utilities.

    Municipality: New Britain
     Grant Recipient: City of New Britain
    Award Amount: $1,796,974
    Description: “Mount Pleasant – Myrtle Street Corridor” – The City of New Britain proposes a multi-phased project that will replace 251 obsolete public housing units with approximately 330 mixed-income housing of choice units and appurtenant community space. The project will contain new roads and infrastructure that will connect the isolated community back to the broader neighborhood, as well as fostering connectivity to the greater metropolitan area.

    Municipality: New Britain
     Grant Recipient: Friendship Service Center
    Award Amount: $2,000,000
    Description: “Emergency Shelter Expansion” – Friendship Service Center provides services to individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness in Central Connecticut. Friendship Service Center seeks funding to renovate its facility including reconfiguring bedrooms to increase emergency shelter capacity from 5 to 16 rooms, upgrading the community kitchen and dining room, and expanding the parking lot.

    Municipality: New Haven
     Grant Recipient: United Way of Greater New Haven
    Award Amount: $2,000,000
    Description: “State and Chapel” – United Way of Greater New Haven works to address pressing local challenges in education, safe housing, food security, career development, financial education, and other essential services. United Way of Greater New Haven, in partnership with Beacon Communities and Columbus House, will utilize CIF support State and Chapel, a mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented housing project in downtown New Haven.

    Municipality: New Haven
     Grant Recipient: Mary Wade Foundation
    Award Amount: $700,000
    Description: “Residential Care Home Modernization” – The Mary Wade Home is a senior care organization serving low-income seniors (65+) in Greater New Haven, providing a full continuum of medical and social support. Mary Wade Home will utilize CIF funding to further plans for a major renovation and expansion of the Boardman Residential Care Home to address safety concerns and improve living conditions.

    Municipality: New Haven
     Grant Recipient: Greater Dwight Development
    Award Amount: $6,121,390
    Description: “Community Building Initiative” – Greater Dwight Development Corporation works to lead projects that address drugs, gang violence, economic development, employment, housing, and education. Greater Dwight Development will use CIF funds to implement Phase 2 of its Greater Dwight Community Building Initiative, creating 11 units of affordable housing and community space for the local nonprofit and community-based organizations across two properties in the Dwight neighborhood.

    Municipality: New Haven
     Grant Recipient: Mount Hope Temple
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Mount Hope Temple Renovation Planning” – The Mount Hope Temple Church currently operates the Mount Hope Recovery Center Food Pantry. The grant will allow the church/food pantry to take steps towards increasing the number of families it serves per month, expanding to more of Greater New Haven, and operating a cooling/warming shelter for the homeless.

    Municipality: New London
     Grant Recipient: City of New London
    Award Amount: $4,000,000
    Description: “Mercer Community Hall” – The City of New London, in partnership with the Garde Arts Center, Inc., seeks to enhance community engagement and accessibility through the arts. The project includes renovation and expansion of the Mercer Community Hall, located at a downtown intersection near New London’s transit hub, to offer affordable event space, support arts and workforce opportunities, and retain activities within the city.

    Municipality: New London
     Grant Recipient: Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
    Award Amount: $2,020,096
    Description: “New London Relocation” – PPSNE health centers promote the availability of high-quality family planning and reproductive services. PPSNE proposes to use CIF funds to renovate and expand the property at 467 Ocean Avenue in New London to become the new home of PPSNE’s New London health center.

    Municipality: Norwalk
     Grant Recipient: Open Door Shelter, Inc.
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Campus Expansion Project” – The mission of Open Doors is to end homelessness in the greater Norwalk region by guiding every person in the cycle of homelessness toward housing stability. Open Doors intends to develop a plan to expand its operations within the South Norwalk neighborhood by assessing its existing housing portfolio and exploring the acquisition of abutting properties.

    Municipality: Norwalk
     Grant Recipient: Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail
    Award Amount: $1,500,000
    Description: “Glover Ave Spur” – The Norwalk River Valley Trail is a recreational and transportation amenity in Norwalk and once completed will run from Danbury to Norwalk. This project proposes the completion of the Norwalk section of the Norwalk River Valley Trail.

    Municipality: Norwich
     Grant Recipient: City of Norwich
    Award Amount: $4,899,600
    Description: “Fontaine Field & Senior Center” – The City of Norwich will reconstruct Fontaine Field including replacing the existing field with a synthetic turf option, adding spectator stands, enlarging the parking area, and improving accessibility from the Rose City Senior Center.

    Municipality: Norwich
     Grant Recipient: City of Norwich
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Gateway Norwich” – The City of Norwich proposes to reimagine the city’s portion of the former Norwich State Hospital, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As a gateway to the city from the south, the potential exists to create a community-driven place that works in synergy with the proposed Preston Riverwalk development to be constructed by the Mohegan Tribe on the Preston section of the Norwich State Hospital.

    Municipality: Plainfield
     Grant Recipient: Town of Plainfield
    Award Amount: $8,000,000
    Description: “InterRoyal Remediation” – The Town of Plainfield proposes remediation of the former InterRoyal mill site, an abandoned brownfield site. The project will be approached in phases, including selective building demolition, abatement, and remediation. The town and partners plan to redevelop the site into a mixed-use community.

    Municipality: Stamford
     Grant Recipient: Rippowam Corporation
    Award Amount: $2,000,000
    Description: “Oak Park Phase II” – Rippowam Corporation is the nonprofit development and asset management affiliate of the Housing Authority of the City of Stamford. Rippowam Corporation is requesting funding for the second of three planned phases to redevelop Oak Park, located on the East Side of Stamford, to rebuild to avoid areas of chronic flooding and to ensure accessibility for residents.

    Municipality: Waterbury
     Grant Recipient: City of Waterbury
    Award Amount: $4,000,000
    Description: “Phase 3 Downtown Utilities” – The City of Waterbury proposes to further the Downtown Streetscape and Utility Improvements Project on West Main Street. This project aims to address Waterbury’s aging infrastructure, fostering long-term economic growth and promoting energy and environmental justice.

    Municipality: West Haven
     Grant Recipient: City of West Haven
    Award Amount: $1,800,000
    Description: “VA Neighborhood Upgrades” – The City of West Haven proposes to revitalize the neighborhood surrounding the Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Upgrades will be transit-oriented and include traffic calming, pedestrian safety and accessibility, and paving several roads/sidewalks in disrepair.

    Municipality: Windham
     Grant Recipient: Windham Preservation, Inc.
    Award Amount: $250,000
    Description: “Windham Inn Adaptive Re-use” – The Windham Preservation Initiative is focused on restoring and repurposing the historic Windham Inn as housing with potential first-floor community flex space, addressing Connecticut’s housing shortage while preserving a cultural landmark. CIF funding will support pre-construction planning.

    Municipality: Windsor
     Grant Recipient: Capital Region Education Council
    Award Amount: $1,244,152
    Description: “River Street School” – The Capitol Region Education Council is one of six Regional Educational Service Centers in Connecticut. RESC are designed to support the instructional and operational needs of Connecticut’s public school. CREC will renovate the River Street School in Windsor, a specialized educational and therapeutic facility serving students with autism spectrum disorder.

    For more information about the Community Investment Fund, visit portal.ct.gov/communityinvestmentfund.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: JA Mining: To cope with the impact of tariffs, use cloud mining to bring stable income opportunities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Warwick, England, April 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the implementation of tariff policies by President Trump’s administration, the global cryptocurrency market is undergoing a profound transformation. The rising costs of mining machines and chips are putting traditional mining models under immense pressure, while cloud mining, as an efficient and low-cost solution, is becoming the preferred choice for more and more investors. In this critical moment, JA Mining has rapidly emerged as a leader in the cloud mining field with its advanced technology and global presence.

    How JA Mining is Changing the Market Environment

    The impact of tariff policies is not only reflected in the rising hardware costs but also in increased market volatility and uncertainty. In such an environment, investors’ demand for cryptocurrency as a safe haven has further increased. Cloud mining, with its advantages of not requiring expensive equipment purchases or bearing high electricity costs, has become the best choice to address this situation. JA Mining has keenly captured market changes, integrated global resources, and optimized cloud mining services to provide users with an efficient and secure mining experience.

    How to Join JA Mining

    1.Register an Account: On the website homepage, users can click “Claim Your $100” to fill in basic information and create a personal account.

    2.Choose a Mining Package: users can browse the various mining packages offered by the platform and choose the one that suits their needs and budget. Here is an example of the potential income you can achieve:

    (For more contracts, please pay attention to the official website of JA MINING platform:   https://jamining.com/)

    3.Start Mining: After purchasing a contract plan, users can start mining immediately. The platform will automatically allocate computing power and update earnings every 24 hours.

    Advantages of JA Mining

    1. Signup Bonus: New users receive a $100 bonus upon registration.

    2.FCA-Regulated: Ensures platform security and compliance under UK regulations.

    3.Efficient Technical Support: Provides efficient and stable mining operations, maximizing user profits.

    4.Flexible Package Options:Offers a variety of mining plans suitable for both small and large investors.

    5.Global Presence: Utilizes worldwide resources to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

    6.Professional Customer Service: Provides 24/7 customer support to ensure users can get help and guidance at any time.

    7.Support for Multiple Currencies: Allows deposits and withdrawals in various cryptocurrencies for global convenience.

    8.Affiliate Program : Offers up to 7% commission, increasing your additional earnings.

    Conclusion

    “The current market environment is full of challenges, but challenges also mean opportunities. Our goal is to make cloud mining the choice for more people and inject new vitality into the cryptocurrency industry,” said the CEO of JA Mining. “We believe that technological innovation and service optimization are key to responding to market changes and driving industry development.”

    Against the backdrop of increasing global economic uncertainty, JA Mining not only provides users with a stable investment channel but also sets a benchmark for the future development of the cryptocurrency industry with its professionalism and foresight. As the impact of tariff policies continues, the potential of cloud mining will be further unleashed, and JA Mining will continue to lead the development of this field, creating more value for users.

    Official website: https://jamining.com/

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risk. There is potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK remains steadfast in our commitment to gender equality, human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals: UK statement at the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    The UK remains steadfast in our commitment to gender equality, human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals: UK statement at the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development

    Explanation of position by Tara Soomro, UK Ambassador to ECOSOC, at CPD58.

    Thank you, Chair. The UK aligns itself with the statement delivered by South Africa.

    We extend our appreciation to you and the co-facilitators for your commitment and steadfast efforts to progress this important agenda. 

    Despite the broad cross-regional commitment and goodwill demonstrated by many in this room, we are disappointed to have not achieved a consensus outcome that upholds and advances the mutually reinforcing principles and ambitions of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and Agenda 2030. 

    Neisha, the UK’s youth delegate to the CPD, came before this Commission and spoke with passion and conviction about the realities young people face, the unmet sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescent girls, the devastating impacts of humanitarian crises on their futures and the urgent need for policies that reflect their lived experience.

    The inability to achieve consensus on this year’s CPD resolution is not just a procedural failure, it is a failure to uphold the commitments we have made to people around the world. 

    The ICPD Programme of Action recognises that investing in human rights, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights is central to sustainable development.

    That truth has not changed. 

    Yet today, we stand at a crossroads where previously agreed principles are being questioned and hard-won rights are being chipped away.

    Let us be clear, universal access to sexual and reproductive health services and reproductive rights are not an abstract debate. 

    This is about whether women and girls can make decisions over their own bodies, whether young people have access to comprehensive information that can save their lives, and whether those most at risk, especially in humanitarian crises, receive the care, justice and services they need. 

    Over 700 women a day die from preventable causes. 

    This is the reality of the issues we debate here in this room. 

    We are letting these women and girls down. 

    A text that weakens these commitments does not reflect progress, it signals retreat.

    Ignoring the links between health, climate change, and inequality does not make them disappear. 

    The world’s most vulnerable populations, women and girls, migrants, those facing humanitarian crises continue to bear the brunt of these overlapping global challenges.

    The UK and our many cross-regional partners, remain steadfast in our commitment to gender equality, human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.

    These are not just words on a page, they are promises we have made to future generations and to each other. 

    We recognise the progress made at all levels by grassroots organisations, civil society, national governments and also commend UNFPA’s leadership and remain committed to supporting this, making real change for women and girls around the world.

    As we reflect on this outcome, we must ask ourselves, what kind of world are we building? One that advances dignity, equality, and progress? Or one that turns its back on those most in need? 

    The UK chooses to stand on the side of ambition, rights and the future we all committed to in 2015 when we pledged to leave no one behind.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bird and poultry keepers urged to do their bit to help control the spread of bird flu

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Bird and poultry keepers in Sunderland are being urged to do their bit to help control the spread of bird flu.

    This follows the recent decision by the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer to extend mandatory housing measures already covering a large part of the country, to the whole of Tyne and Wear including Sunderland.

    The measures legally require all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors, and continue following stringent biosecurity measures first introduced in February to help protect their flocks from the disease, regardless of type or size.

    DEFRA has published guidance and a self-assessment checklist to help all bird keepers to instigate and maintain good biosecurity.

    While the risk to public health is low, following the guidance helps minimise the risks.

    Anyone who comes across dead wild birds should not touch them, but instead contact: https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/dead-animals

    The guidance can be found, together with further updates on the latest avian influenza situation, at: Bird flu (avian influenza): how to prevent it and stop it spreading – GOV.UK.

    The addition of housing measures to the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone which is already in force across England, means that all bird keepers across Tyne and Wear must: 

    • House or net all poultry and captive birds
    • Keep your birds away from other captive and wild birds & Prevent contact with wild birds including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds
    • Maintain bird houses and sheds
    • Clean and disinfect housing and clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing
    • Reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and use effective vermin control
    • Keep records of mortality, movement of poultry and poultry products and any changes in production
    • Prevent access by poultry to ponds and watercourses and ensure that birds are kept in fenced or enclosed areas
    • If you buy new birds, always check their health before you bring them to your property.

    Councillor Lindsey Leonard Cabinet member for Environment, Transport and Net Zero at Sunderland City Council, said:  “Although the risk to public health is low and we haven’t had have any confirmed cases in Sunderland, we would ask bird keepers to do their bit to help control the spread of bird flu by following the DEFRA advice and guidance.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –