NewzIntel.com

Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Science Secretary hails Wrightbus as company pledges £25 million to bolster UK’s green transport revolution and drive growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Science Secretary hails Wrightbus as company pledges £25 million to bolster UK’s green transport revolution and drive growth

    Northern Ireland based bus manufacturer pledges £25 million to expand its R&D capabilities

    Wrightbus pledges £25 million for R&D into green transport revolution

    • Northern Ireland based firm Wrightbus to invest £25 million for cutting-edge research to develop next-generation electric and hydrogen vehicles
    • Investment to be transformative in cutting emissions and creating skilled local jobs to grow our economy, supporting the government’s Plan for Change
    • The success of Wrightbus shows how bold investment in Research and Development pays off – with the Science Secretary calling it a prime example of the benefits innovation can bring to businesses and the wider economy

    Millions of pounds in investment by Wrightbus to develop the next generation of green buses has been welcomed today by Science Secretary Peter Kyle, highlighting it as a key driver of economic growth under the Plan for Change.

    As the UK’s fastest-growing zero-emission bus manufacturer and a major employer in Northern Ireland and the wider UK, Wrightbus’ new funding will accelerate the next generation of electric and hydrogen-powered buses, potentially creating dozens of new jobs, slashing emissions, and supporting the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.

    During his visit to the company’s Northern Ireland headquarters, Science Secretary Peter Kyle praised Wrightbus as a standout example of how investing in R&D fuels business development, job creation and regional economic growth. Studies show that for every £1 a business invests in R&D, it can generate a return of 20% for the firm – with similar, additional gains spilling over into the wider British economy (1) – evidence of a dynamic economy rooted in enterprise. He called on more businesses to follow suit, emphasising that such investments are crucial for maintaining the UK’s competitive edge in science and technology and that government alone cannot deliver this growth.

    Wrightbus is part of a growing network of high-tech businesses and innovators driving growth in Northern Ireland. The region boasts a thriving advanced manufacturing sector and a rapidly expanding tech scene. One such example is Belfast-based Ionic Technologies, which is developing new ways to recycle rare materials needed for electric vehicles and wind turbines, helping to make green technologies more sustainable and less reliant on overseas supply chains.

    The government’s upcoming Industrial Strategy, set to be published this summer, will build on success stories like Wrightbus and make Britain the best country to do business – helping more firms lead the way in future industries like advanced manufacturing, clean transport, and clean energy.

    This investment follows government action to increase demand for electric vehicles, with £2.3 billion investment already boosting British manufacturing and improving charging infrastructure.

    Since July, the government has seen £34.8 billion of private investment announced into UK’s clean energy industries. The UK was the largest electric vehicle market in Europe in 2024 and the third in the world with over 382,000 sold – up a fifth on the previous year. There are now more than 75,000 public charge points in the UK – with one added every 29 minutes – ensuring that motorists are always a short drive from a socket.

    Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said:

    Investing in innovation is central to our Plan for Change, but public investment alone is not enough to ensure British businesses remain at the cutting edge of global industries.

    Wrightbus is proof that businesses backing R&D deliver real-world impact – for both the company themselves and the local region – creating new high-quality jobs, strengthening supply chains across sectors and delivering the new industries of the future.

    Wrightbus’ investment will not only boost growth in Northern Ireland. It will help to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero and our mission to become a clean energy superpower while keeping our economy competitive on the global stage.

    The £25 million investment announced today will be used to develop groundbreaking zero-emission vehicles, support UK businesses that provide the parts and technology needed to build them and enhance advanced testing capabilities. Funding includes:

    • £10 million to develop the world’s most efficient double-deck and single-deck electric bus, the Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner. Designed for extended range and rapid charging times, it can travel up to 200 miles on a single charge and recharge in just 2.5 hours, cutting energy costs and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
    • £5 million to develop the UK’s first hydrogen-powered coach due for release within 18 months. Capable of travelling up to 1,000km on a single refuel, it will rival diesel coaches in range and efficiency and make long-distance travel greener without compromising on performance or convenience.
    • £5 million for product validation using the UK’s most advanced proving grounds – ensuring Wrightbus vehicles are rigorously tested for durability, efficiency, and safety so that UK-manufactured buses set new global standards for reliability and performance.
    • £5 million for a world-class telematics system – an advanced vehicle monitoring system that collects real-time performance data to operators. The telematics system is improving efficiency, lowering costs, helping fleet operators optimise routes, extending vehicle lifespans and driving down operating expenses using predictive maintenance based on AI algorithms.

    Last week, Wrightbus buses passed 50 million zero-emission miles – preventing over 85,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to diesel alternatives. The company’s rapid growth underscores the UK’s strength in high-tech manufacturing and the economic benefits of investing in green innovation. Wrightbus is also a potential customer of the Bradford Low Carbon Project, which received funding from the government’s flagship hydrogen programme.

    The Ballymena-based company had a record-breaking year of orders in 2024 which it is on track to exceed this year, increasing production from 1,016 to 1,200 with plans to reach 1,400 by 2026. Its supply chain supports businesses in 47 counties, from suppliers of heating systems to software developers across the UK and in key European markets, including France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

    It builds on its landmark £500 million deal with Go-Ahead in 2023 which secured over 1,000 zero-emission bus orders, creating 500 new jobs in Ballymena and supporting 7,500 jobs across the UK – strengthening the UK’s position as among the best places in the world to invest in R&D with businesses like Wrightbus leading the way in green transport innovation.

    Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales said:

    It was a pleasure to showcase our R&D progress to the Secretary of State. This investment represents our largest amount ever into research and development and it underlines our ambition to continue be one of the very best zero-emission manufacturers in the UK and Europe.

    Innovation has played a key part in the rapid growth of Wrightbus and is one of the major things that has allowed us to switch from having a 95% diesel bus output to a 95% zero emission bus output in less than 5 years.

    The research projects we’re currently funding, including the development of our hydrogen coach, the further enhancement of the world-leading Electroliner bus, and our telematics system, will allow us to continue to push zero-emission transport boundaries and represents a huge boost for manufacturing in Northern Ireland and the wider UK.

    Notes to editors

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Better cleaning of hospital equipment could cut patient infections by one-third – and save money

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Mitchell, Professor of Nursing and Health Services Research, University of Newcastle

    Annie Spratt/Unsplash

    Hospital-acquired infections are infections patients didn’t have when they were admitted to hospital. The most common include wound infections after surgery, urinary tract infections and pneumonia.

    These can have a big impact for patients, often increasing their time in hospital, requiring additional treatment and causing discomfort. Unfortunately, some people who sustain an infection in hospital don’t recover. In Australia, there are an estimated 7,500 deaths associated with hospital-acquired infections annually.

    It’s important to prevent such infections not only for the benefit of patients, but also because of their cost to the health system and to reduce antibiotic use.

    Even though patients don’t usually come into contact with each other directly in hospitals, there are many ways bacteria can be transmitted between patients.

    Our own and other research suggests medical equipment (such as blood pressure machines, dressing trolleys and drip stands) could be a common source of infection.

    In recent research, we’ve shown that by regularly disinfecting shared medical equipment, we can help reduce infections picked up in hospitals – and save the health system money.

    We introduced a new cleaning package

    We conducted an experiment in a New South Wales hospital where we introduced a package of extra cleaning measures onto several wards.

    The package consisted of designated cleaners specifically trained to clean and disinfect sensitive medical equipment. Normally, the cleaning of shared equipment is the responsibility of clinical staff.

    These cleaners spent three hours a day disinfecting shared medical equipment on the ward. We also provided regular training and feedback to the cleaners.

    The start date for the cleaning package on each ward was randomly selected. This is known as a “stepped wedge” trial (more on this later).

    We monitored the thoroughness of cleaning before and after introducing the cleaning package by applying a florescent gel marker to shared equipment. The gel cannot be seen without a special light, but is easily removed if the surface is cleaned well.

    We also monitored infections in patients on the wards before and after introducing the cleaning package. Over the course of the experiment, more than 5,000 patients passed through the wards we were studying.

    Finally, we looked at the economic costs and benefits: how much the cleaning package costs, versus the health-care costs that may be saved thanks to any avoided infections.

    Shared hospital equipment such as IV drip stands can harbour infections.
    Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

    What we found

    Before the intervention, we found the thoroughness of cleaning shared equipment, assessed by the removal of the gel marker, was low. Once we introduced the cleaning package, cleaning thoroughness improved from 24% to 66%.

    After the cleaning package was introduced, hospital-acquired infections dropped by about one-third, from 14.9% to 9.8% of patients. We saw a reduction in a range of different types of infections including bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and surgical wound infections.

    To put this another way, for every 1,000 patients admitted to wards with the cleaning package, we estimated there were 30 fewer infections compared to wards before the cleaning package was introduced. This not only benefits patients, but also hospitals and the community, by freeing up resources that can be used to treat other patients.

    Treating infections in hospital is expensive. We estimate the cost of treating infections before the cleaning intervention was around A$2.1 million for a group of 1,000 patients, arising from 130 infections. These costs come from extra time in hospital and treatment costs associated with infections.

    We estimated the 30 fewer infections per 1,000 patients reduced costs to $1.5 million, even when factoring in the cost of cleaners and cleaning products. Put differently, our intervention could save a hospital $642,000 for every 1,000 patients.

    Some limitations of our research

    Our experiment was limited to several wards at one Australian hospital. It’s possible the cleaning was particularly poor at this hospital, and the same intervention at other hospitals may not result in the same benefit.

    For various reasons, even with trained designated cleaners we didn’t find every piece of equipment was cleaned all the time. This reflects common real-world issues in a busy ward. For example, some equipment was being used and not available for cleaning and cleaners were sometimes absent due to illness.

    We don’t know whether even more cleaning might have resulted in an even greater reduction in infections, but there is often a law of diminishing returns when assessing infection control interventions.

    In the real world, hospital cleaning isn’t perfect. But we could do better.
    aguscrespophoto/Shutterstock

    A limitation of looking at infection rates before and after the introduction of an intervention is that other things may change at the same time, such as staffing levels, so not all the difference in infections may be due to the intervention.

    But the stepped wedge model, where the cleaning package was introduced at different times on different wards, increases our confidence the reduction in infections was the result of the cleaning package.

    Improving hospital cleaning is a no brainer

    Shared medical equipment harbours pathogens, which can survive for long periods in health-care settings.

    Like our study, other research has similarly suggested a clean hospital is a safe hospital. Importantly, cleaning needs to include thorough disinfection to reduce the risk of infection (not just removing visible dirt and stains).

    Our work is also consistent with other research that shows improving cleaning in hospitals is cost-effective.

    Cleaning services and products have often been subject to cuts when hospitals have needed to save money.

    But prioritising effective cleaning of medical equipment appears to be a no brainer for health system administrators. We need to invest in better cleaning practices for both the health of patients and the financial bottom line.

    Brett Mitchell receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund. Brett is Editor-in-Chief of Infection, Disease and Health for which he is paid an honorarium by the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. Brett has appointments at Avondale University, Monash University and the Hunter Medical Research Institute. GAMA Healthcare Australia provided cleaning wipes used in a study referenced in this article.

    Allen Cheng receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government. He is a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Advisory Committee advising the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare.

    – ref. Better cleaning of hospital equipment could cut patient infections by one-third – and save money – https://theconversation.com/better-cleaning-of-hospital-equipment-could-cut-patient-infections-by-one-third-and-save-money-251917

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSWOMAN EXPRESSES CONCERN AND EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE IMPACTED BY THE NIGHCLUB ROOF COLLAPSE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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

    For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland
    April 10, 2025                                                           202-808-6129

    PRESS RELEASE

    CONGRESSWOMAN  EXPRESSES CONCERN AND EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE IMPACTED BY THE NIGHCLUB ROOF COLLAPSE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett shared the following statement on the roof collapse incident that took place earlier this week in the Dominican Republic:

    “I was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic roof collapse incident that took place at a popular nightclub in the Dominican Republic a few days ago. More than 180 individuals died and another 150 plus have been hospitalized. This is a devastating time for numerous families across the Dominican Republic and within the Dominican diaspora in the US and the broader Caribbean.

    “My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were lost and with those who are now in recovery. I pray God’s grace and strength surround you all during this difficult time.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Healthcare Front-Line Health Care Professionals Ratify First Union Contract, Win Safety and Pay Improvements

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Nearly 1,000 Patient Care Associates (PCAs) and Psychiatric Care Technicians (PCTs) employed by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center voted overwhelmingly late last week to ratify their first union contract. The agreement, which took effect on Monday, April 7, ends a tense period of negotiations which saw hundreds of front-line health care workers and Columbus community members picket OSU executives.

    Local leaders of IAM Healthcare, the union that rebspresents front-line health care workers at the Medical Center, said that the agreement averted a “vote of no confidence” in OSU executives, which the union had planned to hold this week. The parties bargained into the evening on Thursday, March 27th, ultimately coming to an agreement that includes staffing protections, as well as competitive pay raises and range adjustments to improve recruitment and retention of highly skilled staff.

    “This is a tremendous victory, not only for the PCAs and PCTs who care for our community every day, but also for the patients who depend on the expert care we provide,” said Kelly Williams, a Senior PCA at Dodd Hall Rehabilitation Hospital and a member of the IAM Healthcare Bargaining Committee. “We put OSU executives on notice – it’s long past time to prioritize recruitment and retention at the medical center – and our new union contract does that.”

    The victory is the latest in a growing wave of healthcare professionals who are organizing with IAM Healthcare.

    “IAM Healthcare continues to grow in power and numbers as we win hard-fought victories for healthcare professionals from coast to coast,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Our entire union congratulates our new members at OSU for standing strong to win the respect they’ve earned.”

    The OSU agreement, which will remain in effect for three years, requires the Medical Center to maintain a staffing system based on patient needs and evidence-based staffing standards. It also includes new protections to ensure safer floating practices based on clinical competencies. The new union contract also includes backpay for merit increases that OSU executives had withheld from PCAs and PCTs since September 2024.

    “By taking united public action for our patients, front-line health care professionals showed the OSU executives that inaction was an untenable choice” said Senior PCT Dylan England-Carroll, who also served as a member of the IAM Healthcare Bargaining Committee. “This agreement starts to reverse the trend of underinvestment and gives us powerful new tools to ensure improvements continue over the life of our union contract.”

    Williams and England-Carroll said their next step is to elect union stewards and educate their coworkers about the beneficial provisions of their new union contract, including how to file grievances in cases of understaffing, inappropriate floating, and other safety issues.

    “This is an industry-leading union contract for our patients and our profession,” said Williams. “Now we will hold the medical center accountable to make sure it is consistently implemented and enforced.”

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 111-2025: Khapra beetle measures: Upcoming changes to conditions for offshore treatments and certification

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    8 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    This notice affects importers, freight forwarders, biosecurity industry participants and accredited persons operating under the department’s approved arrangement class 19.

    What is changing?

    Australia currently has emergency measures in place to manage the risk of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) entering the country. This includes mandatory pre-border treatment of: 

    • Commercial imports of …

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Green Party Secures Belfast City Council Support For Return Of Culture Night in 2025

    Source: The Green Party in Northern Ireland

    Green Party Secures Belfast City Council Support For Return Of Culture Night in 2025
    Culture Night is set to return to Belfast in September 2025, after Green Party councillors on Belfast City Council secure £150,000 funding pot through this year’s rates setting process. The large-scale cultural celebration last took place fully in 2019 with around 100,000 people in attendance.
    Green Party Councillor for Botanic, Áine Groogan, first proposed that Belfast City Council scope out the possibility of supporting the return of the event in 2024 when she was Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast. She secured support for a £30,000 for a scoping exercise with the arts and cultural sectors and other important stakeholders which concluded at the end of March.
    Green Party Councillors also secured £150,000 to fund the event, as part of this year’s rates setting process.
    Cllr Groogan said; “I am buzzing to say that Culture Night will be back in Belfast in September 2025. It is a great celebration of the best of Belfast, providing a fantastic free opportunity for the public to engage in the arts and be inspired and have a positive impact on the Nighttime Economy during the summer season.”
    “I want to thank Thrive & Daisy Chain Inc who have done great work over the past few months engaging with the arts and culture sector and other important stakeholders to build broad support to make Culture Night 2025 a success.”
    “The event might look a little different than before, we will know more when procurement has completed, but I am confident that we can create an exciting and inclusive program, which returns Culture Night to the roots which made it a success in the early years, and which can meaningfully support the arts & cultural sector, which the Green Party will always champion.”
    Culture Night usually takes place on the third Friday in September, in cities across Ireland

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 107-2025: Services Restored: Friday 04 April 2025 – BCST

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    4 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Approved arrangement operators attempting to access online reports of entries referred to the department for biosecurity assessment, or management under a class 19 Approved Arrangement, via the Biosecurity Cargo Status Tracker (BCST).

    Information

    Resolved time:

    As of: 10:00 Friday 04 April 2025 (AEDT).

    The unplanned service disruption to the Biosecurity Cargo Status Tracker (BCST) has been resolved. The…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 108-2025: Services Restored: Friday 04 April 2025 – AAMP, DAFF messaging

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    4 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view and/or update details of their Approved Arrangement via the Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP).

    All clients submitting the below declarations:

    • Full Import Declaration (FID)
    • Long Form Self Assessed Clearance (LFSAC)
    • Short Form Self Assessed Clearance (SFSAC)
    • Cargo Report Self Assessed Clearance (CRSAC)
    • Cargo Report…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 109-2025: Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme: treatment provider ‘suspended’, M/s New Era Fumigation Service (AEI: IN0619MB)

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    4 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.

    What has changed?

    Following identification of critical non-compliance, we have suspended M/s New Era Fumigation Service (AEI: IN0619MB) from the…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 110-2025: Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme: treatment provider ‘suspended’, M/s Blue Bird Pest Control Pvt. Ltd. (AEI: IN0419MB)

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    7 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.

    What has changed?

    Following identification of critical non-compliance, we have suspended M/s Blue Bird Pest Control Pvt. Ltd. (AEI: IN0419MB) from the…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why the autism jigsaw puzzle piece is such a problematic symbol

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Aimee Grant, Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow, Swansea University

    For decades, a jigsaw puzzle piece has been used to symbolise autism across the world. It has been used for charity logos and awareness ribbons, and even tattooed on to the bodies of well-meaning parents.

    But for many autistic adults, the puzzle piece isn’t just outdated – it’s offensive. Some consider it a hate symbol: a reminder of how autistic people have long been misunderstood, pathologised and excluded from conversations about their own lives.

    The puzzle piece first appeared in 1963, when the UK’s National Autistic Society adopted a logo designed by a non-autistic parent of an autistic child. It featured not just a puzzle piece but the image of a crying child, meant to depict autism as a puzzling condition that caused suffering.

    In 1999, the Autism Society of America introduced a ribbon covered in colourful puzzle pieces. This reinforced the idea that autism was something to be solved. The imagery gained even more prominence when the US-based organisation Autism Speaks, founded in 2005, adopted a blue puzzle piece as its logo.

    One autistic advocate described the symbol as a “red flag” – a warning sign that the person or organisation using it may not fully respect or understand autistic people.

    So why does the puzzle piece provoke such a strong reaction?

    To many, the symbol suggests that autistic people are incomplete, a mystery or a problem in need of fixing. This fits with the medical model of autism, which focuses on deficits and aims to make autistic people behave more like non-autistic people, rather than letting them live authentically.

    From deficit to difference

    Because of these criticisms of the medical model, some autistic people subscribe to a social model of autism. This sees autism not as a problem to be fixed, but as a difference to be understood. According to this view, many of the challenges autistic people face stem not from autism itself, but from a lack of understanding and acceptance in society.

    The social model is followed by a growing group of autism researchers, including through the Participatory Autism Research Collective. In 2022, the Welsh government affirmed its commitment to a social model of disability.

    However, it can be difficult to put this social model of disability in practice in under-resourced healthcare systems.

    It is closely tied to the “double empathy problem”. This is the idea that communication breakdowns between autistic and non-autistic people go both ways. In other words, if autistic people are “puzzling”, it’s often because the wider world hasn’t taken the time to understand them.



    Read more:
    How autistic and non-autistic people can understand each other better

    The neurodiversity movement goes one step further, arguing that neurological differences such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia are natural variations in the human population. Just as biodiversity is good for the environment, neurodiversity is arguably good for society.

    In recent years, several major autism organisations have taken steps to distance themselves from the puzzle piece. The National Autistic Society dropped the symbol in the early 2000s, and the Autism Society of America followed suit in 2023. The academic journal Autism removed the puzzle piece from its cover in 2018, in recognition of its harmful connotations.

    That said, the symbol is still frequently used, appearing in search engines and image databases.

    Why many autistic adults hate the jigsaw puzzle piece symbol.

    Research has found that puzzle piece imagery tends to evoke negative associations such as incompleteness and imperfection, whether it’s connected to autism or not. It’s no surprise, then, that many autistic people ask for something more positive, respectful and inclusive.

    One popular alternative is the rainbow infinity symbol, first developed by autistic advocates in 2005. It represents the diversity of the neurodivergent community, including autistic people.

    The gold infinity symbol, meanwhile, is used specifically to represent autism. The chemical symbol for gold is “Au”, the first two letters of autism.

    The puzzle piece was created in the 1960s by non-autistic people to represent a condition they saw as tragic and mysterious. But today, autistic people are speaking for themselves. The overwhelming message is clear – the puzzle piece doesn’t represent us.

    Aimee Grant receives funding from UKRI, the Wellcome Trust and the Morgan Advanced Studies Institute. She is a non-executive director of Disability Wales.

    – ref. Why the autism jigsaw puzzle piece is such a problematic symbol – https://theconversation.com/why-the-autism-jigsaw-puzzle-piece-is-such-a-problematic-symbol-253807

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hopes of a ‘Brexit benefit’ from tariffs were short-lived. Here’s what Trump’s pause means for the UK

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Maha Rafi Atal, Adam Smith Senior Lecturer in Political Economy, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow

    The US has decided – again – to upend the global trading system. With the latest raft of tariffs just beginning to kick in, and after a week in which markets worldwide fell precipitously, the Trump administration announced that it would be suspending high tariffs on nearly 60 countries for 90 days.

    The announcement is only a partial reprieve. High tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, as well as on global imports of steel, aluminium and automotives, remain, as does a 10% baseline tariff on all imports. US tariffs remain the highest they have been since the Great Depression, at levels unprecedented since the modern trade system was created after the second world war.

    Before the pause, the UK was already in line for the 10% rate – which some commentators described as a Brexit benefit when compared to the EU’s prospective 20%.

    While markets soared on the news of the pause, the damage is was already done. The subsequent rally is recouping some, but not all, losses incurred due to the tariffs already.

    Businesses that had prepared for tariffs by bulk-buying imported components ahead of time will have made cuts elsewhere to pay for it. They will not easily be able to reverse course.

    The implications for the UK of the latest developments are mixed. All the tariffs imposed on direct UK exports to the US (chiefly steel, automotives and aircrafts, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment) remain in place.

    While the US represents the second-largest market for UK goods, the majority of UK exports are in services (like banking and insurance), which the tariffs do not target. If tariffs were to hit direct UK-US goods trade only, the UK would likely be able to weather the shock.

    Unfortunately, that’s not how trade works in the 21st century. Instead, two-thirds of trade takes place in what are known as “global value chains”. These are complex networks through which companies move the component parts of products between their own facilities around the world and those of their subcontractors.

    Many UK businesses supply components that are incorporated by companies overseas into finished goods ultimately destined for the US. When the US imposes tariffs on those goods, UK manufacturers suffer too – even if direct UK exports to the US remain unchanged.

    Global value chains will also reorient in response to trade barriers, as already took place in Asia during Trump’s first term. If businesses reroute their supply chains to avoid the tariff markets, the UK (which is not imposing retaliatory tariffs) could become a “sacrifice zone” (a place where cheaply made, poor-quality or environmentally harmful items are dumped or disposed of, “sacrificing” the wellbeing of local people) for excess supply, undercutting domestic producers.

    Yet choosing not to retaliate is key to the UK’s diplomatic strategy. It hopes to stay close to the US in the hope of preferential treatment.

    The UK’s pursuit of a US trade deal has been politically sensitive since the previous Trump administration.
    JessicaGirvan/Shutterstock

    So far, that strategy is yet to bear fruit. The UK hopes to avoid the tariffs through a US trade deal, an objective that the countries have pursued since the UK left the European Union.

    The US has repeatedly sought access to the UK agrifood market, a demand that has always been refused due to political opposition to importing American beef and chicken.

    The sticky Brexit issue

    Brexit adds to this complexity, as the Windsor framework requires food products sold in Northern Ireland to conform to European Union standards. The more standards in the rest of the UK diverge from those of the EU (as they would have to do to secure a US trade deal), the more onerous the checks in the Irish Sea would become.

    Keir Starmer’s government has also sought to renegotiate parts of the agreement with the EU, seeking tighter economic ties that will require closer regulatory alignment. Pursuing deregulation to meet US trade demands, however, makes that unlikely.

    The tariffs compound this dilemma. If the higher rates return after 90 days, Northern Irish exports to the US will face a lower rate than those from the Republic of Ireland. But US imports to Northern Ireland will be hit with EU tariffs while imports to the rest of the UK will remain tariff-free.

    That will create some opportunities. Businesses might choose to operate in Northern Ireland to access a lower tariff rate on their US exports while also producing goods for the EU market.

    But it also creates risks. With three different tariff regimes in Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, goods flowing across both the Irish Sea and the Irish land border could require additional checks. This would risk the very thing the Windsor Framework was meant to avoid.

    Given these risks, a 90-day reprieve is a window of opportunity. But with US government policy that can change on a dime (or a post), the UK risks being caught between the rival powers of the US and EU – and trampled in the crossfire.

    Maha Rafi Atal is a volunteer organizer with the US Democratic Party.

    – ref. Hopes of a ‘Brexit benefit’ from tariffs were short-lived. Here’s what Trump’s pause means for the UK – https://theconversation.com/hopes-of-a-brexit-benefit-from-tariffs-were-short-lived-heres-what-trumps-pause-means-for-the-uk-254307

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Measles outbreaks in US and Canada show that MMR vaccines are needed more than ever – an expert in children’s health explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Helen Bedford, Professor of Children’s Health, UCL

    Heather Hazzan, SELF Magazine

    Measles is one of the most challenging diseases to control. It requires a sustained uptake of well over 90% of two doses of a measles-containing vaccine such as MMR. But since the COVID pandemic, there has been a decline in uptake of routine vaccines in many countries including the US, Canada and Europe, resulting in outbreaks of the disease.

    For instance, despite eliminating measles in 2000, the US experienced an outbreak in April 2025. In Texas, the centre of this outbreak, 57 people were hospitalised and two unvaccinated school-aged children died.

    Canada has also exerienced its largest measles outbreak in 14 years, while last year, England experienced an outbreak of almost 3,000 confirmed cases and one death.

    Before the measles vaccine was introduced in the UK in 1968, virtually every child caught the highly infectious disease and hundreds of thousands of cases were reported each year. In a peak year, there were over 100 measles-related deaths.

    Twenty years after the introduction of a measles-only-vaccine, it was replaced with the combination vaccine MMR which also gives protection against mumps and rubella. The aim of this vaccine is to eliminate all three infections. There has been varying success in achieving this aim.

    Rubella – also known as German measles – is a very mild infection, but can be devastating if caught in the early stages of pregnancy. Fortunately, it is now a rare condition in the UK thanks to MMR.

    In rare cases, mumps can cause complications such as meningitis and hearing loss – but it too is now much less common than pre-MMR vaccine.

    Measles can be fatal and is highly contagious, so it’s much more difficult to control than most other infections. It has a high rate of complications, including pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.

    One vaccine dose gives about 95% protection against infection. But, because measles is so contagious, 95% uptake of two doses is needed to prevent outbreaks. Achieving such high uptake in all communities – and importantly, sustaining this high uptake once reached – is challenging.

    Vaccine hesitancy

    In 1998, research published in the medical journal The Lancet implied a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. This received intense media coverage and, not surprisingly, many parents decided not to have their children vaccinated.

    The research was subsequently discredited and the study formally retracted by The Lancet in 2010. Since then, many studies have found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism, but for some parents, these fears persist.

    Currently in England, vaccine uptake rates are too low. Only 89% of two-year-old children have had their first dose of MMR vaccine, and 83.9% have had two doses by the age of five. This means large numbers of unvaccinated children: more than 10% of children in each year group remain unprotected.

    Vaccine uptake varies widely around the country. In some parts of London, as many as half the children starting school at five years of age have not had the two doses of vaccine needed for best protection.

    Not only are current vaccine uptakes too low to prevent outbreaks of measles, but many years of less-than-optimal vaccine uptake – including among young adults who weren’t vaccinated as infants because of the autism scare – has resulted in a large number of unprotected people. The impact of COVID also resulted in many young children missing their vaccines.

    Many factors affect whether people are vaccinated or not, including how, where and when vaccination services are provided, as well as behavioural and social factors. For example, vaccine hesitancy, defined by the World Health Organization as a “delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services”, is frequently blamed for people not getting vaccinated. Research suggests that vaccine hesitancy has increased since the COVID pandemic – even for vaccines such as MMR that have led to the near-eradication of some infectious diseases.

    In England, surveys are conducted regularly to investigate the views of parents of young children regarding vaccination. The most recent survey, conducted in 2023, showed that 84% of parents reported they considered vaccines to be safe – a [reduction from the previous year].

    These findings are reflected in other studies. Since COVID, some parents have reported that the pandemic has affected their views, either making them keener to have their children vaccinated or increasing their concerns about vaccination.

    Given the intense scrutiny and widespread discussion about vaccination that took place during the pandemic, this is not surprising. Unfortunately, due to pressures on general practice and other health services – resulting in a 40% reduction in the number of health visitors in England since 2015 – these trusted sources of advice about vaccination have become less easily available. In this context, people may turn to other sources of less reliable information, such as social media.



    Read more:
    Health misinformation is rampant on social media – here’s what it does, why it spreads and what people can do about it

    Although there is no robust evidence to show that health misinformation would stop a parent who was going to have their child vaccinated from doing so, it can be influential for people with existing concerns.

    Accessing services

    A large study using vaccination records of over ¾ million children born between 2000 and 2020 found that children born in the UK’s most deprived areas were less likely to receive the MMR vaccine. Parents also report having difficulty making or attending appointments as a barrier to vaccination.

    Addressing these obstacles requires a multi-pronged approach, ensuring parents are sent vaccination reminders and are able to attend appointments at suitable times and locations. This may mean holding vaccination clinics at places other than the general practice and at weekends and evenings.

    Work should be done with local communities to establish what works best for them to improve access to immunisation. Opportunistic immunisation is also important: when attending health services for another reason, unvaccinated children could be offered vaccines on the spot.

    Urgent action is needed to improve vaccine uptake – and it requires sustained commitment and increased funding.

    Helen Bedford receives funding from National Institute for Health and Care Research.

    – ref. Measles outbreaks in US and Canada show that MMR vaccines are needed more than ever – an expert in children’s health explains – https://theconversation.com/measles-outbreaks-in-us-and-canada-show-that-mmr-vaccines-are-needed-more-than-ever-an-expert-in-childrens-health-explains-221651

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 112-2025: Scheduled Outage: Thursday 10 April to Friday 11 April 2025 – Multiple Systems

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    08 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    All clients required to use Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry web-based applications during this planned maintenance period.

    All users of the Seasonal Pests (SeaPest) system.

    All clients required to use the eCertificate exports portal who will be required to view or download export certification during this planned maintenance period.

    All clients required to use the Export / Next Export Documentation (…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 113-2025: Scheduled Outage: Thursday 10 April to Friday 11 April 2025 – COLS, COLSB2G

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    09 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    All importers and customs brokers who will be required to lodge imported cargo documentation to the department for biosecurity assessment during this planned maintenance period.

    All users of the Cargo Online Lodgement System Business to Government (COLSB2G) system.

    Information

    To support a system release, there will be a scheduled outage to both the Cargo Online Lodgement System (COLS), and COLSB2G from 23:00…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 114-2025: Scheduled Outage: Saturday 12 April to Sunday 13 April 2025 – DAFF messaging

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    09 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    All clients submitting the below declarations:

    • Full Import Declaration (FID)
    • Long Form Self Assessed Clearance (LFSAC)
    • Short Form Self Assessed Clearance (SFSAC)
    • Cargo Report Self Assessed Clearance (CRSAC)
    • Cargo Report Personal Effects (PE)

    All clients required to use the Export / Next Export Documentation (EXDOC/NEXDOC) systems during this planned maintenance period.

    …

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 115-2025: Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme: treatment provider ‘suspended’, M/s Bhuma Sky Fumigation Services Pvt Ltd. (AEI: IN0629MB) and M/s Max Vision Pest Control & Fumigation Services (AEI: IN0579MB)

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    9 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.

    What has changed?

    Following identification of critical non-compliance, we have suspended M/s Bhuma Sky Fumigation Services Pvt Ltd. (AEI: IN0629MB) and M/s Max Vision Pest Control &…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 117-2025: List of unregistered treatment providers update: Treatment providers unacceptable – Acquarius Fumigation Pte Ltd (AEI: SG0010TP) and Inavab Biotech Pte Ltd (AEI: SG0011TP)

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    10 April 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.

    What has changed?

    Following the identification of biosecurity concerns, we have listed Acquarius Fumigation Pte Ltd (AEI: SG0010TP) and Inavab Biotech Pte Ltd (AEI: SG0011TP) as unacceptable…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with Prime Minister Ishiba of Japan: 10 April 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with Prime Minister Ishiba of Japan: 10 April 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba this morning.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba this morning.

    On trade, the leaders agreed that a trade war does not benefit anyone, and that now is the time for a cool, calm and pragmatic approach.

    They agreed on the importance of likeminded partners such as the UK and Japan to work closely together to lower trade barriers. Through trading blocs such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and working bilaterally, there are many options to accelerate growth.  

    The Prime Minister wished Prime Minister Ishiba success for the launch of the Osaka Expo next week, and they discussed the UK pavilion focussed on innovation, which underpins the UK-Japan bilateral relationship. 

    On defence and security, the leaders discussed deeper cooperation, welcoming the progress of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and reaffirmed their commitment to deliver the next generation of fighter jets.   

    The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Ishiba for Japan’s support for the Coalition of the Willing in support for Ukraine. 

    They agreed to keep in close touch.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Seddon appointed as construction partner for £11.5 million Watermill School satellite project

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Thursday, 10th April 2025

    Work is underway on a multi-million-pound school project to provide more first-class learning opportunities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

    The £11.5 million scheme will see the construction of a new satellite facility to the existing Watermill School in Packmoor.

    It will help more Stoke-on-Trent children get the education and support they need closer to their homes.

    Stoke-on-Trent-based Seddon Construction Ltd has been awarded the contract to construct the new building complex on Turnhurst Road, which will accommodate up to 70 pupils and is funded through the city council’s Schools Capital Programme.

    A ground-breaking ceremony took place on April 9 to officially launch the start of work. The building is expected to be completed by July 2026 – and it is set to be open to pupils from September 2026.

    The satellite school is being built on the site of the former Middlehurst School, which was closed in 2014 and demolished in 2022 – bringing a vacant site back into use.

    Watermill School, which became an Academy in 2019 as part of the Orchard Community Trust, has been designed to provide for a wide range of pupils’ needs to be addressed through educational, social, physical and emotional growth for three-to-16-year-olds.

    Pupils at the school all have learning difficulties of some kind – this may include moderate, severe, physical and multiple learning difficulties and autism.

    Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for education and anti-poverty at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “The Watermill School satellite will help expand on the vital work it does in creating an inclusive environment that values diversity and equality and provides strong foundations for pupils to thrive and accomplish their goals in life.

    “We’re committed to ensuring that we have an agreed vision across the city, and our partnerships, so that children and young people with SEND have the right support, at the right time, delivered by the right people.

    “Making sure that children can access the support they need in their local communities is a really important part of this, so I’m really pleased that we are increasing the number of SEND school places available in the city.”

    Councillor Finlay Gordon McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This project is another clear sign that we are regenerating Stoke-on-Trent for the benefit of everyone.

    “Seddon has been involved at every step of the process, through the pre-construction design and planning phase. Their appointment as the main contractor will see this exciting and much-needed development moving forward at pace.”

    It is the latest project that Seddon is working on for the council. In December, the company was appointed to carry out the £5 million transformation of the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.

    Lee Shaw, Commercial Manager at Seddon, said: “This is a project we’re deeply proud to be delivering – not just because of the difference it will make to children and families, but because it represents a strong collaboration between experienced, regional partners. We’re excited to be on site and to see the vision start to take shape.”

    Watermill School Head Teacher Jen Lomas said: “Watermill School and Orchard Community Trust are delighted to be part of the expansion of special school places within Stoke-on-Trent. We are planning with Seddon, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and other partners to ensure that our expansion will support the delivery of our carefully designed inclusive curriculum.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Work underway on new public toilets in Edinburgh parks

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The installation of new public toilets across premier parks in Edinburgh is well underway, with the first unit delivered successfully to the Meadows last week.

    As part of an ongoing initiative to improve accessibility and inclusivity in the city’s public spaces, new facilities will be introduced in the Meadows, Leith Links and Inverleith Park.

    The toilets are scheduled to open in time for the summer season.

    At the Meadows, the first of three units is now in place, with a boardwalk structure installed to provide access while protecting tree roots. The next steps will be connecting the unit to electric, water and sewer utility networks. The toilets will be located at the intersection of South Middle Meadow Walk and Melville Drive, providing easy access for park visitors, joggers and event-goers.

    Meanwhile, work in Inverleith Park is progressing with excavation for a concrete base currently in progress, and construction at Leith Links expected to begin within the next week.

    Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker said:

    The Edinburgh Public Toilets in Parks project is designed to provide long-term, sustainable public amenities that enhance inclusivity for all. Our goal is to create facilities that are welcoming, safe, and clean setting a new standard for public toilet development throughout the city. This includes the installation of Changing Places toilets for individuals with complex needs. The new public toilets will be free of charge, offering an accessible and convenient option for all park visitors.

    Each modular toilet unit is designed to be accessible and private. The new facilities will include:

    • 3 family accessible cubicles
    • 1 accessible toilet
    • 1 Changing Places toilet
    • Outdoor water fountain
    • Eco-friendly sedum roof to support biodiversity
    • Live CCTV camera & LED lighting for security and safety
    • Anti-vandal roof and water-efficient management system, designed for durability, sustainability, and reduced water usage.

    For further updates on the project, please visit the Edinburgh Thriving Greenspaces website.

    Published: April 10th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Secretary letter on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    Home Secretary letter on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee

    The Home Secretary has written to all police and crime commissioners and chief constables in England and Wales about the launch of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

    Applies to England and Wales

    Documents

    Letter from the Home Secretary to police and crime commissioners and chief constables on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee (accessible)

    HTML

    Letter from the Home Secretary to police and crime commissioners and chief constables on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee

    PDF, 129 KB, 5 pages

    This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Details

    Letter from the Home Secretary to police and crime commissioners and chief constables in England and Wales outlining the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Import a Non-Standard Magistrate Claim Service

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Import a Non-Standard Magistrate Claim Service

    Import claims from your case management system using new functionality in the Non-Standard Magistrate claims service

    The Non-Standard Magistrate Claim service was successfully implemented as a replacement for the eForms service in September 2024.

    New functionality release

    We recently released an import feature within the service that allows you to upload claims exported from enabled case management software systems.

    The ‘Import a Claim’ button on the ‘Your claims’ page, has, as of 24 March 2025, allowed a user to upload a claim exported in XML file format from their case management system. This will populate as much of the form as possible and help users complete their claims faster and with fewer errors. 

    This will be particularly helpful if you have many work items, as currently, these must be entered line by line.

    Why is it happening now?

    We have heard and seen the difficulty providers have submitting these claims, especially when there are many work items to add. We really wanted to find a fast and simple solution to improve the efficiency of these submissions.

    Updates may be required to your case management system

    For this feature to work, your case management systems will need to be updated with the ability to export a claim to an XML file that maps to the correct schema.

    Case management system providers should have received communications with this attached. However, if yours has not, you may pass on the schema linked in the further information section below.

    Note that, without an export that maps to this specific schema, attempts to use the ‘import a claim’ feature will either not work or cause errors and therefore create a slower claim submission experience. If you cannot export a claim in this format, please talk to your case management system provider so that they may assist you in adding this capability.   

    Provider feedback

    The Non-Standard Magistrate Claim service has been informed by provider feedback, and we continue to welcome your feedback through the feedback link in the service.

    Looking forward

    We will continue to expand the functionality of the service, listening to feedback from providers to deliver a more accessible, user-friendly platform.

    Further information

    Schema for case management system providers

    CRM7 replacement service launch – GOV.UK

    Contact Online Support on NSCC@justice.gov.uk for technical issues.      

    Contact Magistrates Billing on 0300 20 20 20 or email magsbilling@justice.gov.uk for queries about claims and guidance.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Healthcare company prosecuted for destroying protected trees

    Source: City of Liverpool

    A local healthcare company has been ordered to pay over £6,000 for unlawfully destroying three protected trees which were believed to be over 100 years old.

    Harbour Healthcare Ltd. appeared in court on Thursday 4 April for breaching a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) that has been in place for almost 40 years.

    Liverpool City Council planning officers were made aware of the unauthorised works taking place at one of the company’s care homes, Kingswood Mount Care Home in Woolton, last year.

    An inspection by one of the Council’s tree and landscape officers found that irreparable damage had been done to mature beech, yew and oak trees, all of which were covered by a TPO.

    The yew tree had been felled from ground level, while both the oak and beech trees had been topped, which is the act of removing the top of the tree, including its main branches. The inspection found that the heavy pruning of the two topped trees had likely caused irreparable damage and caused their destruction.

    A TPO protects trees that contribute to the local environment against being cut down, topped, lopped, or uprooted without prior permission.

    While trees under a TPO can be removed if they are dead or dangerous, this must be evidenced. An inspection of the three destroyed trees at the care home found that the trees posed no such risk.

    Before they were destroyed, the trees were believed to stand between 15m and 25m tall and, due to their age, had a combined value of £357,409.

    In court, Harbour Healthcare Ltd. Pleaded guilty to three separate offences, covering each of the three trees and were ordered to pay £6,777 in the next 28 days.

    In a separate case, Mr Daniel McCormack, the tree surgeon who carried out the works as part of A&C Tree Care, also pleaded guilty to three offences and was sentenced to a fine of £960.

    Anyone planning works on trees in Liverpool can check whether they’re protected by a TPO on the Council’s website.

    Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Communities and Streetscene said: “Trees are a vital part of our city. Not only are they a beautiful feature of Liverpool’s landscape, but they play an important role in cleaning the air that we breathe.

    “Multiple generations have passed since these trees were planted and we protect them for a reason. Heavy pruning can easily damage or kill trees and that’s the last thing we want, which is why we are strict on the type of works that can take place in a Tree Preservation Order.

    “While new trees can be planted to replace the needless loss of the three that were destroyed, we won’t be around to see them grow to their full potential.

    “I hope that this case sends a clear message to anyone thinking about carrying out unauthorised work in a TPO area that this is a serious topic and we won’t hesitate to prosecute. There is no excuse for ignoring these orders and wilfully destroying our city’s much needed and cherished trees.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK welcomes the formation of the new Syrian government: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Speech

    The UK welcomes the formation of the new Syrian government: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Jess Jambert-Gray, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

    I will make three points.

    First, since this Council last met, Syria has made further positive progress in its political transition. 

    The UK welcomes the announcement on the formation of the new Syrian government. 

    And we look forward to the protection of human rights, unfettered access of humanitarian aid, the safe destruction of chemical weapons and the combatting of terrorism and extremism.

    The government’s formation marks an important milestone in the transition. 

    We hope this spirit of inclusive representation will be carried forward in state institutions and in any further appointments, including to the Legislative Committee, and to a clear timeline for the next phases of the transition. 

    The UK stands ready to work with the Syrian government to this end and to support an inclusive, stable and prosperous future for the Syrian people.

    Second, this opportunity for stability is being threatened by the continued violence. 

    We are concerned by Israeli strikes and incursions into Syria, with reports of civilian deaths. 

    These actions risk destabilising Syria and the wider region. 

    And this is in no one’s interest. 

    We recognise Israel’s focus on protecting the security of its borders and its people, but the actions it takes must be proportionate and in line with international law. 

    We call on all actors to uphold the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, respect Syrian territorial integrity and prioritise diplomacy over force.

    Third, it is the Syrian people who will suffer the most from this worrying escalation. 

    After fourteen years of tyranny and conflict at the hands of the Assad regime, the Syrian people still face a staggering humanitarian crisis. 

    And that is why the UK has recently pledged up to $207 million in critical humanitarian assistance. 

    Our focus should now be on supporting Syrians to rebuild their country. 

    Therefore we call on all parties to ensure that humanitarian access remains possible across Syria and that civilian lives are protected. 

    The UK will continue to work with our international partners to support Syrians as they look to build a better future.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More detail announced on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    More detail announced on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee

    3,000 additional neighbourhood police officers and police community support officers will be in post within the next 12 months, the government has confirmed.

    Getty Images.

    The news was announced today by the Prime Minister during a visit to Cambridgeshire, as further detail was made public on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.

    As part of this, every neighbourhood in England and Wales will have dedicated teams spending their time on the beat, with guaranteed police patrols in town centres and other hotspot areas at peak times such as Friday and Saturday nights. 

    Communities will also have named, contactable officers to tackle the issues facing their communities.

    There will be a dedicated antisocial behaviour lead in every force, working with residents and businesses to develop tailored action plans to tackle antisocial behaviour, which is blighting communities.

    These measures will be in place from July, in addition to the new neighbourhood officers who will be in their roles by next April.

    The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will put 13,000 more officers into communities by 2029, an increase of more than 50%. The early focus of the plan will be to establish named local officers, target town centre crime and build back neighbourhood policing.

    Under these plans, communities across the country will, for the first time in 15 years, be able to hold forces to account and expect a minimum standard of policing in their area.

    The government’s new Police Standards and Performance Improvement Unit will ensure police performance is consistently and accurately measured.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: H Block Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A member of the violent Boston-based gang, H-Block, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to drug conspiracy charges.

    Dennis Wilson, a/k/a “Deuce,” 36 of Boston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2025.

    Wilson was one of 10 H-Block gang members and associates charged in August 2024 following a multi-year investigation of H Block beginning in 2021 in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. According to court documents, over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine) and fentanyl, as well as over 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper were seized during the investigation.

    According to the charging documents, the H Block Street Gang is one of the most feared and influential city-wide gangs in Boston. Originally formed in the 1980s as the Humboldt Raiders in the Roxbury section of Boston, the gang re-emerged in the 2000s as H Block. Current members of H Block have a history of violent confrontation with law enforcement, including an incident in 2015 when a member shot a Boston Police officer at point blank range without warning or provocation.

    From 2022 through 2023, Wilson, a long-time H Block gang member, participated in a conspiracy to distribute various controlled substances, including fentanyl, powdered cocaine and cocaine base (crack). On numerus occasions, Wilson accompanied a co-conspirator on various drug deals with undercover officers.

    The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    Wilson is the fourth defendant to plead guilty in the case.
        
    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Andrew Murphy of the U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. The investigation was supported by the Massachusetts State Police; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; and the Braintree, Quincy, Randolph and Watertown Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Jeremy Franker of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section are prosecuting the cases.

    The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neal Leads Massachusetts Delegation in Demanding Answers on the Sudden Closure of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Office in Boston

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA)

    Letter Text PDF

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and the entire Massachusetts Congressional delegation – Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Representatives Jim McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), and Bill Keating (MA-09) – demanded answers from the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. after the abrupt shuttering of the entire HHS Regional Office (RO) in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 1, 2025.

    In the letter, the lawmakers write, “It is impossible to overstate the lasting consequences this reckless action will have on every single person in this region—whether the families who rely on Region 1 employees dutifully overseeing child care licensing systems to ensure they deliver quality care to our children, or the coordination these civil servants conduct with state survey agencies to make sure all our nursing homes meet federal safety standards. Through steadfast commitment to the programs they oversee, employees of ROs provide a service to all of us whether we know it or not.”

    The HHS Boston RO employs hundreds of workers who serve Americans from Maine to Connecticut. As the economic catastrophe caused by Trump’s Tariff Tax devastates communities and businesses across the country, the administration continues to make senseless layoffs, adding even more individuals to the ranks of the unemployed. These job losses will have trickle-down effects on other businesses in the area during an already challenging time.

    The Boston RO specializes in health care innovation, partnering with drug companies, biotech groups, and other innovators to ensure gaps in research are being filled and the cures of tomorrow come to fruition. Eliminating the Boston RO will both deny the people of New England access to public health officials with expertise in our local communities and halt innovation in its tracks, with ramifications felt by the whole country for generations to come.

    The ROs are also on the front lines of fighting fraud, waste, and abuse alongside local law enforcement, as well as the vanguard coordinating responses against disease and outbreaks. Its closure will leave our communities and our programs less safe.

    The lawmakers continue, “It could open our region to massive risks of fraud and abuse of our vital federal programs. And it could provide the pathway for another pernicious disease to sweep the nation, absent vital on-the-ground detection and coordination among public health experts. We do not take lightly this attack on the health of our constituents and the unceremonious termination of thousands of experts living in our communities who make us all safer.”

    The Boston Regional Office property is desirable real estate and appeared on an early list of properties Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) group wished to “auction off”, raising questions about whether this action has ulterior motives – enabling Trump acolytes to cash in on real estate deals while ordinary Americans suffer from loss of services. The Trump Administration has shown a complete disregard for Americans’ needs, closing Social Security offices and curtailing customer service. This RO closure is just another effort to make it more difficult for our constituents to access the health and safety protections they count on the federal government to provide.

    The lawmakers are demanding detailed answers as to the basis of this decision, its effect on constituent health, and how HHS will continue serving individuals in the region. They request answers to the following questions by April 18:

    ·       Please provide a list of each division within the Boston RO that was eliminated, a description of its core functions, a summary of staff expertise, program staff caseloads for each overseen program at the time of closing, and all documentation justifying the Department’s decision to close each division within the RO.

    ·       Please provide the Department’s analysis of the impact this regional closure will have on costs and health outcomes for the 15 million residents of New England, as well as the local economy.

    ·       Please provide a detailed analysis of how the remaining five ROs will take over the responsibilities of the Boston RO, including total caseloads, in beneficiaries served and dollars managed, for the staff taking over New England responsibilities, and any anticipated hirings or training to offset the caseload inundation and loss of regional expertise.

    ·       Please provide a detailed analysis of anyways responsibilities of the Boston RO which will be absorbed by HHS headquarters, including the current and new responsibilities of any headquarters staff assuming responsibilities and any anticipated hirings to offset the caseload inundation and loss of regional expertise.

    ·       Please provide a detailed analysis of the anticipated additional wait times for services previously provided by staff at the Region 1 RO, such as the approval of Medicaid State Plan Amendments, enrollments of new providers into Medicare, surveys of nursing homes, child care licensing inspections, state plan approvals, and cost allocation agreements.

    ·       Please explain the Administration’s plan for the now-vacant real estate that previously housed the Boston RO.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Extension of appointment to Independent Reporting Commission

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Extension of appointment to Independent Reporting Commission

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announces the extension of appointment to Independent Reporting Commission

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP has announced the extension of the appointment of Mitchell B. Reiss as the UK Commissioner to the Independent Reporting Commission from 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2026.

    The Northern Ireland Executive nominees, Monica McWilliams and John McBurney have also been extended and the Irish Government has extended the appointment of Tim O’Connor for the same period.

    Background

    The Independent Reporting Commission was established following the Fresh Start Agreement in 2015 by an international treaty between the UK Government and the Government of Ireland. 

    Its key functions are to report on progress towards ending paramilitary activity and on the implementation of the relevant measures of the UK Government, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive. 

    The IRC continues to play an important role in reporting on progress towards ending paramilitarism in Northern Ireland and the independent perspective offered by the Commission provides a significant contribution in scrutinising and shaping that effort.

    Further information on the work of the Commission can be found at:  https://www.ircommission.org/

    Terms of appointment

    The UK Commissioner position attracts a remuneration of £22,750 per annum and is not pensionable. The Northern Ireland Executive nominees receive a similar remuneration package.

    The Irish Government is responsible for setting the terms for its nominee.

    Political Activity

    All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories within the last five years to be made public.

    The UK Government nominee and Northern Ireland Executive nominees have declared no such political activity in the past five years.

    Regulation

    Appointments to the Independent Reporting Commission are not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rapid Flood Guidance 2025 service: get ready now

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Rapid Flood Guidance 2025 service: get ready now

    Find out about the return of the service available from 2 June 2025.

    Credit: Environment Agency

    The Rapid Flood Guidance service returns

    Following a successful trial in 2024, the Rapid Flood Guidance (RFG) service will return for summer 2025.

    The 2025 service will run between 2 June and 17 October 2025.

    As in 2024, the 2025 service will provide:

    • an advisory badge on the front page of the Flood Guidance Statement (FGS) for days when there is a heightened risk of rapid flooding
    • RFG updates – issued on heightened risk days

    FFC Hydrometeorology Services Manager Aly Black said:

    I’m excited that the Rapid Flood Guidance service is returning in June – with improvements based on last year’s successful trial.  The FFC is committed to working with our responder community to mitigate surface water flood risk. I encourage all our users to make sure they are signed up to this summer’s service – and to start thinking how the RFG might fit into operational decision making should it become a permanent service.  

    Sign up now or amend your preferences through your Flood Guidance Statement account.

    Service improvements

    The 2025 service will include improvements based on user feedback from the trial.  These include:

    • the ability to sign up to receive the RFG for local authority areas (rather than regions) – providing a more tailored service
    • clearer mapping – so that the location of the risk area can be more easily identified
    • more consistent written content – improving clarity
    • amendments to the threshold for RFG issue – meaning that there will be fewer RFGs when there are no or minor impacts
    • faster production – so that there is more time to respond
    • a more reliable SMS service – ensuring the RFG is available on all mobile devices

    Getting prepared for the 2025 service

    If you signed up for the 2024 trial, you:

    • are already registered for the 2025 service
    • will be automatically registered for the local authority areas relating to the regions you were signed up for in 2024
    • are advised to check and revise your preferences if necessary

    Check and amend your preferences through your Flood Guidance Statement account

    If you are a new user, you can sign up now to:

    • receive the RFG by Email and text message (optional)
    • set your preferences so you get RFGs that are relevant to you

    By signing up you will join over 1,700 responders already making use of the service.

    Sign up now through your Flood Guidance Statement account.

    The RFG can also be accessed (without email or text notifications) through the Met Office’s Hazard Manager.

    Finding out more

    You can find out more about the service:

    Providing your views on future development

    The development of the RFG service has been informed by extensive user research, including the 2024 trial.

    During 2025 we will continue to work with our users by:

    Part of a wider investment in improved forecasting

    The RFG service is part of the Surface Water Flood Forecasting Improvement Project (SWFFIP) which is:

    Rapid Flood Guidance makes use of new convective weather forecasting (nowcasting) capability from the Met Office’s Expert Weather Hub  – combined with information from the FFC’s hydrometeorologists.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –