NewzIntel.com

Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man charged with motor vehicle stealing

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Man charged with motor vehicle stealing

    Friday, 4 April 2025 – 12:34 pm.

    Police have charged a 25-year-old Hobart man in relation to the alleged theft of a motor vehicle from a business in Western Junction on 15 March 2025.
    The stolen vehicle was intercepted by police last week in Rosny Park, and the driver was subjected to a roadside drug test that returned a positive result.
    The man was charged with one count of motor vehicle stealing, and he will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on 13 June 2025.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: It’s not easy being a street tree, but this heroic eucalypt withstands everything we throw at it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, The University of Melbourne

    alybaba/Shutterstock

    Street trees usually grow in appalling soils, have little space for their roots, are rarely watered and often get aggressively trimmed by road authorities or utility companies.

    If they do get established, many street trees suffer damage from vehicles, have to live in wind tunnels or are forced to grow in the permanent shade of large buildings.

    But despite everything we throw at them, many street trees don’t just survive, they thrive. So let’s meet one of these heroic species: the yellow gum, (Eucalyptus leucoxylon).

    Pretty but tough

    Yellow gum is widely planted across southeastern and eastern Australia as a street tree. In some suburbs and towns, it is so common that people think it is a native tree (in fact it is from South Australia, Victoria or southwest New South Wales).

    It is not to be confused with yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora), a different eucalypt altogether.

    Yellow gum has been widely planted because it meets many of the demands we place on urban trees.

    It grows well in different soils and climates, and has very attractive red, white or pink flowers.

    It’s called yellow gum in Victoria and parts of NSW, but is often known as blue gum in SA.

    The common names can be confusing, but yellow gum refers to its pale yellow wood and bark patches, while blue gum refers to its leaves.

    Many specimens develop dense, low, spreading canopies, which offer lovely shade and help cool our cities down.

    And importantly, it doesn’t grow too big. It is typically a medium to small woodland tree, usually between 13 and 16 metres high (but it can grow higher in the wild).

    Yellow gum has an attractive smooth trunk with yellow, blue-grey or cream patches.
    alybaba/Shutterstock

    Different bird and insect species feed on the trees some feeding on flowers and fruits and others on the foliage.

    Natural populations of yellow gum occur in coastal and inland SA, in the southwest corner of NSW and in the western half of Victoria from the Murray River to the coast.

    There are several subspecies, too, and debate rages in botanical and horticultural circles about whether some of them deserve to be recognised as their own species.

    Yellow gum is also tolerant of wind and salt spray, and can withstand waterlogged soils. They stood up to the millennium drought conditions well.

    Many arborists think the yellow gum has the potential to do well in many parts of Australia as the climate changes. Research has shown, for example, that some individual yellow gum trees regulate their water use better (when compared to other individuals in the species, and when compared to other eucalypts).

    Like many eucalypts, yellow gum possesses lots of dormant buds and a lignotuber (a swelling at the base of the trunk containing dormant buds and carbohydrate). This means it copes well with pruning and will respond especially well to targeted formative pruning when young.

    This can help reduce the risk of problems such as what’s known as “co-dominant stems” (when two main stems grow from a single point of origin, instead of one tall, straight trunk) and rubbing or crossing branches.

    Not everyone’s favourite

    Not everybody likes the yellow gum, and for some good reasons.

    Some yellow gums are multi-stemmed, while others have twisted and curving trunks; some have both. These are not the characteristics many local governments want in street trees; many want to see straight trunks and dense canopies.

    Yellow gums often produce a lovely dense canopy.
    Gregory Moore

    These problems can be so annoying that some council arborists no longer recommend planting yellow gums.

    But these issues are due to poor tree selection and propagation. In the past, yellow gum seed was not carefully sourced from the best trees with the most suitable characteristics, and so inferior specimens have prospered.

    With the right investment of time and money into tree selection, these problems can be overcome.

    Ticking most of the boxes

    All in all, yellow gum can be a very fine and useful urban tree.

    The species grows well and if superior stock is used, the trees develop with straight and attractive trunks and wide, dense canopies.

    They are typically medium-sized trees, do well in tough street conditions or in smaller domestic front and back yards.

    They tick most, if not all, of the boxes for a good urban street tree.

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

    – ref. It’s not easy being a street tree, but this heroic eucalypt withstands everything we throw at it – https://theconversation.com/its-not-easy-being-a-street-tree-but-this-heroic-eucalypt-withstands-everything-we-throw-at-it-246040

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor leads in three recent national polls, four weeks from the election

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    The federal election will be held in four weeks. A national YouGov poll, conducted March 28 to April 3 from a sample of 1,622, gave Labor a 51–49 lead, a one-point gain for Labor since the previous non-MRP YouGov poll taken March 14–19.

    Primary votes were 35% Coalition (down two), 30% Labor (down one), 13% Greens (steady), 7% One Nation (steady), 2% Trumpet of Patriots (up one), 10% independents (up two) and 3% others (steady). YouGov is using respondent preferences from its last MRP poll. By 2022 election preference flows, Labor would lead by about 52–48.

    Anthony Albanese’s net approval rose three points to -6, with 50% dissatisfied and 44% satisfied. Peter Dutton’s net approval slumped ten points to -15, his worst in YouGov’s polls and the first time he’s had a worse net approval than Albanese since June 2024. Albanese led as better PM by 45–38 (45–40 previously).

    Since Sunday, we have had leaders’ ratings polls from Newspoll, Resolve, Freshwater, Essential and YouGov. A simple average of the net approval from these five polls has Albanese at net 7.8 and Dutton at net -12.

    Here is the poll graph. Labor has led in four of the six polls taken since the budget, with the exceptions a 50–50 tie in Resolve and a Coalition lead by 51–49 in Freshwater. However, Labor’s lead is narrow, except in Morgan.

    While the Coalition could regain the lead before the election, Donald Trump’s tariff announcement on Thursday may make it more difficult for the Coalition.

    Essential poll: Labor takes slight lead

    A national Essential poll, conducted March 26–30 from a sample of 1,144, gave Labor a 48–47 lead by respondent preferences including undecided (a 47–47 tie in mid-March). This was the first Labor lead in Essential since November, with the Coalition either leading narrowly or a tie since.

    Primary votes were 34% Coalition (down one), 30% Labor (up one), 12% Greens (steady), 9% One Nation (up one), 2% Trumpet of Patriots (up one), 8% for all Others (down one) and 5% undecided (down one). By 2022 election flows, Labor would lead by about 51–49.

    Albanese’s net approval was down three points to -2, with 46% disapproving and 44% approving. Dutton’s was down one point to -6. It’s Dutton’s worst net approval in Essential since October 2023.

    By 52–32, voters thought Australia was on the wrong track (48–35 previously). Essential and Morgan have a big lead for wrong track, but Labor is ahead. Voters may be blaming Trump more than Labor.

    By 61–29, voters did not think the federal budget would make a meaningful difference on cost of living (64–27 after the May 2024 budget). By 69–31, voters thought the government should prioritise the delivery of services, even if it means running a deficit, over prioritise running a surplus.

    Voters were told the Trump administration wanted to pressure Australia into removing some policies using tariffs. By 65–15, voters supported the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and by 64–13 they supported making US companies pay tax on income generated in Australia.

    Morgan poll: Labor retains solid lead

    A national Morgan poll, conducted March 24–30 from a sample of 1,377, gave Labor a 53–47 lead by headline respondent preferences, unchanged from the March 17–23 poll.

    Primary votes were 35% Coalition (down 0.5), 32% Labor (down 1.5), 13% Greens (up 0.5), 5.5% One Nation (up 1.5), 10.5% independents (up 0.5) and 4% others (down 0.5). By 2022 election flows, Labor led by 53.5–46.5, a 0.5-point gain for the Coalition.

    By 51.5–32, voters thought Australia was going in the wrong direction (52.5–32.5 previously). Morgan’s consumer confidence index was up 1.1 points to 85.3.

    This term, Morgan’s results in general haven’t skewed to Labor relative to other polls, and Labor was behind in Morgan’s polls from November until late February. But Trump’s initial imposition of steel and aluminium tariffs on Australia on March 12 has seen Morgan move much more to Labor than other polls.

    Additional Resolve and Newspoll questions and a NSW federal poll

    I covered the national Resolve poll for Nine newspapers on March 30. In additional questions, by 60–15 voters thought Trump’s election was bad for Australia (40% bad in November). On threats to Australia in the next few years, 31% thought China the greatest threat, 17% the US, 4% Russia and 38% all equally.

    Newspoll has been asking the same questions on the budget since 1988. The Poll Bludger said on Wednesday the March 25 budget was the fourth worst perceived on economic impact (at net -10), but about the middle on personal impact (net -19). The nine-point lead for “no” on would the opposition have delivered a better budget was about par for a Labor government.

    A federal DomosAU poll of New South Wales, conducted March 24–26 from a sample of 1,013, gave the Coalition a 51–49 lead (51.4–48.6 to Labor in NSW at the 2022 federal election). Primary votes were 38% Coalition, 30% Labor, 12% Greens, 9% One Nation and 11% for all Others.

    Albanese led Dutton as preferred PM by 39–38. By 52–31, respondents did not think Australia was headed in the right direction.

    Canadian election and US special elections

    The Canadian federal election is on April 28. Polls continue to show the governing centre-left Liberals gaining ground, and they now lead the Conservatives by 43.4–37.6 in the CBC Poll Tracker.

    US federal special elections occurred on Tuesday in two safe Republican seats. While Republicans easily retained, there were big swings to the Democrats from the 2024 presidential election results in those districts. A left-wing judge won an election to the Wisconsin state supreme court by 55–45. I covered the Canadian and US developments for The Poll Bludger.

    WA election final lower house results

    I previously covered Labor winning 46 of the 59 lower house seats at the March 8 Western Australian election. The ABC’s final two-party estimate was a Labor win by 57.2–42.8. While that’s way down from the record 69.7–30.3 in 2021, it’s up from 55.5–44.5 in 2017.

    Final primary votes were 41.4% Labor (down 18.5% since 2021), 28.0% Liberals (up 6.7%), 5.2% Nationals (up 1.2%), 11.1% Greens (up 4.1%), 4.0% One Nation (up 2.8%), 3.2% Australian Christians (up 1.7%), 2.5% Legalise Cannabis (up 2.1%) and 3.3% independents (up 2.5%).

    The upper house will be finalised next week. All above the line votes have been included, with only below the line votes to be added. Labor will win 15 of the 37 seats, the Liberals ten, the Nationals two, the Greens four and One Nation, Legalise Cannabis and the Christians one each. That leaves three unclear seats.

    ABC election analyst Antony Green’s modelling of the effect of below the line votes suggests Labor’s 16th seat is in doubt and the Liberals won’t win an 11th seat. If this is correct, an independent group and Animal Justice will probably win two seats, with the final seat to be determined by preferences.

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

    – ref. Labor leads in three recent national polls, four weeks from the election – https://theconversation.com/labor-leads-in-three-recent-national-polls-four-weeks-from-the-election-253541

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Crash at Tea Tree Plaza Interchange

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police advise that the bus interchange at Tea Tree Plaza is currently closed due to a single vehicle crash involving a bus.

    There are no updates on injuries, but police advise no passengers were on the bus at the time.

    The O-Bahn will be affected for transport from Tea Tree Plaza.

    Please allow for extra time in your journey.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: South Yorkshire kicks off £125 million plans to get Britain back to health and work

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    South Yorkshire kicks off £125 million plans to get Britain back to health and work

    Liz Kendall visits Barnsley to unveil first of nine ‘trailblazers’ which will get people back to health and back to work, supported by £18m of £125m investment

    • First trailblazer programme to tackle inactivity and boost employment launches in South Yorkshire. 
    • In the first year, South Yorkshire will work with over 7,800 people and aim to help up to 3,000 people into jobs or to stay in jobs.
    • Trailblazers at heart of wider efforts to Get Britain Working and boost economic growth under the Plan for Change.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has unveiled the first of nine trailblazer programmes in Barnsley to get Britain back to health and back to work, nine months on from her landmark speech on employment reforms in the same town.

    South Yorkshire is one of nine £125 million backed ‘inactivity trailblazers’ across the country to launch, with the aim of helping areas with the highest levels of economic inactivity as part of the wider Plan for Change. 

    Backed by £18 million, South Yorkshire plans a dedicated new service working with employers to hire those with health conditions, and a new “triage” system to make it quicker and easier to connect people to employment, health, and skills support. 

    This work will include preventing people falling out of work completely due to ill health through an NHS programme, working with people with conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to diabetes. This could include arranging voluntary work as a stepping stone to paid employment or helping people receive the right treatment early so they can remain in a job. Similar NHS programmes have also kicked off this week in the North East and West Yorkshire. 

    South Yorkshire has already had success in tailoring support to meet the needs of local people, including:

    • Gerald who spent years working in the coal mining industry. With the help of South Yorkshire, he’s developing his digital skills and first aid abilities so he can continue to share his knowledge with others through volunteering. 
    • Ruby who has a learning and physical disability. She was told she would never walk or work, but South Yorkshire worked with local employer Barnsley Norse, who provide cleaning and caretaking services, to create a bespoke role with amended duties, including shorter shifts so she could build stamina and confidence. 
    • John, who has improved his prospects through engagement with South Yorkshire, working towards a qualification in English and Maths. He is volunteering with Barnsley Museums and now has paid employment with Age UK, and two relief positions with the Museums service. 

    Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall MP said: 

    For too long, whole areas of the UK have been written off and deprived of investment. We are turning the tide on this – as we believe in the potential of every single person across our country and that they deserve to benefit from the security and dignity that good work affords.

    This is why we’re investing £125 million into nine local areas to get Britain back to health and back to work – with our new approach making it quicker and easier for people to access the support they need to stay in work if they have a health condition or return to work.

    South Yorkshire is the first to kick off their innovative plans – backed by £18 million – and we will be launching more areas in the coming weeks as we put more money in people’s pockets, boost living standards and Get Britain Working under our Plan for Change.

    South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard said:

    We know that South Yorkshire’s industrial past has left a legacy of poor health and low skills that holds people back right across our communities; holding people back from accessing good work, making the most of their potential or living their fullest lives. 

    That’s why we developed the pioneering Pathways to Work approach here in Barnsley, and why we’re now working with the Government to roll that programme out across the whole of South Yorkshire. From today people will receive tailored support, bringing together the health system, the skills and employment system, to truly help people back into decent work. 

    I’m really pleased that South Yorkshire is now leading with the first inactivity trailblazer and NHS growth accelerator to launch in the UK, because it means we can help people more quickly and more effectively, and in a more tailored way. That’s not just the right thing to do for those people locked out of finding good work, it’s the right thing for our economy too, helping us to create the bigger and better economy we need and deserve here in our region.

    Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton MP added:

    Poor health is holding back too many people across the country, keeping them languishing on waiting lists when they could be getting back to their jobs and lives. Innovative services like these are critical to tackling economic inactivity.

    This support will get people working again, which is vital because we know being in work leads to better overall heath and helps grow the economy. 

    Though the Plan for Change we will make people healthier, reduce pressure on the NHS, all while helping them into fulfilling and rewarding careers.

    The trailblazer programmes, which have been designed largely by civil servants based in Sheffield working with Mayoral Combined Authorities, are part of the Government’s wider efforts to reach an 80 per cent employment rate, which includes a record £1 billion investment in helping disabled people and those with long-term health conditions who can work into work and an overhaul of Jobcentres to make sure they meet the needs of employers.

    Through their new initiatives, South Yorkshire aims to reduce inactivity from 25.5% in 2023 to under 20% by the end of 2029 – equivalent to helping 40,000 people across the area. Their trailblazer has been shaped by Barnsley’s Pathways to Work Commission – a landmark report that heard directly from local residents who have experienced barriers to accessing work.  

    Once a crucible of the industrial revolution from steelmaking to coal mining, South Yorkshire has felt the full brunt of the industrial slump – and denied the investment and opportunity to thrive, with many people suffering from long-term health conditions. 

    This new funding will help unlock the potential of the hardworking people across the region and help them get back to health and back to work. This is central to the government’s drive to deliver growth across the region – and will work alongside the 10-year Sheffield Growth Plan.

    South Yorkshire marks one of nine inactivity trailblazers going live across England and Wales. In the coming weeks, similar schemes will launch in: Greater Manchester, North East, York and North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Wales; and three in London (West London, South London and Local London). 

    In addition, eight youth trailblazer areas will also be set up across mayoral authorities in England with £45 million funding in the coming weeks, to ensure all 18–21-year-olds have access to education, training, and employment opportunities.  

    The government has published local Get Britain Working Plan guidance for Local Government and stakeholders across England to develop a coordinated approach to supporting people into and remaining in good work. 

    As part of a drive to show transparency and track delivery, the Government is also publishing Get Britain Working outcome metrics, based on analysis of the ONS’ Labour Force Survey data.

    Further Information

    • With 230,000 economically inactive people in South Yorkshire, £10 million of the investment will go towards helping people who have been inactive for less than two years, as well as those with long-term health conditions, in Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham.  
    • The remaining £8 million will fund the NHS Accelerator programme. This is the first time that the NHS in England will have responsibility for work as well as health outcomes, with similar schemes rolling out in West Yorkshire and the North East. They will also improve access to Talking Therapies, which provides treatment such as cognitive behavioural therapy to adults. 
    • Both programmes aim to work with a total of 7,800 people and help up to 3,000 of those into jobs or to stay in work in the first year. 
    • Sheffield’s Growth Plan is a 10-year plan to grow the economy, giving local people higher living standards and more opportunities. The South Yorkshire inactivity trailblazer represents that this government is focusing investment on places still experiencing the consequences of the past.
    • The nine inactivity trailblazers, backed by £125 million of UK Government funding, is giving power to the Welsh Government and some Mayoral Authorities to design joined up work, health and skills offers.
    • Funding for Scotland and Northern Ireland has been devolved in the usual way.
    • The Get Britain Working metrics have been published: Get Britain Working outcomes – GOV.UK
    • The measures have been built based on analysis of the ONS’ Labour Force Survey data and segment out health related inactivity, regional variations in employment rates and the disability employment rate gap.
    • The local Get Britain Working Plan guidance has been published: Guidance for Developing local Get Britain Working plans (England) – GOV.UK
    • The guidance will ensure all areas are working towards the government’s 80% employment ambition. 
    • The eight youth trailblazers will be in: Liverpool, West Midlands, Tees Valley, East Midlands, West of England, and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and two in London
    • Employment support measures are fully transferred to Northern Ireland. Jobcentre Plus services is reserved in both Scotland and Wales, but the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government also deliver other forms of employment support. The funding announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper is UK wide, the share of funding for devolved Governments will be calculated in the usual way.
    • The UK Government also plans to establish new governance arrangements with the Scottish and Welsh Governments to help frame discussions around the reform of Jobcentres and agree how best to work in partnership on shared employment ambition across devolved and reserved provision.
    • The announcement of the first inactivity trailblazer comes as the Government and National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) invests £7.4 million in four research projects across the UK to help reduce health-related economic inactivity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Record £13.9 billion of R&D funding unveiled to boost innovation, jobs and growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Record £13.9 billion of R&D funding unveiled to boost innovation, jobs and growth

    Funding outlined to support transformational R&D in areas like life sciences, green energy, engineering and beyond.

    £13.9 billion for research and development to drive growth and innovation.

    • Almost £14 billion of R&D funding allocated to bolster life sciences, green energy, space and beyond to improve lives and grow the economy
    • Investing in public R&D essential to driving our Plan for Change by delivering better public services and opening up business opportunities
    • Blood tests for early dementia diagnosis and world’s most advanced testing facility for wind power among supported projects

    More UK innovators like those developing treatment-transforming dementia tests or building world-leading testing facilities to power a greener planet are being backed through our record £13.9 billion in R&D funding to improve lives and drive our Plan for Change.

    The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has set out today (Friday 4 April) how it will allocate £13.9 billion in funding for transformational research and development in the next year in areas like life sciences, green energy, engineering and beyond. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – the UK’s lead public research funder – will receive £8.8 billion over the next year.

    This funding will drive forward research that could transform lives and help make our NHS fit for the future – like the work on blood tests to diagnose dementia earlier, a disease affecting more than 980,000 people in the UK. Researchers are exploring whether looking for proteins specific to many forms of dementia, alongside a quick and easy test of patients’ cognitive functions, could unlock a fast, cheaper and non-invasive way of diagnosing the disease.

    Public investment in R&D is also central to progress that grows the economy through new jobs and commercial opportunities. Each pound of public R&D investment is also estimated to leverage double in private investment in the long run. Businesses that receive their first R&D grant funding also see jobs and turnover go up by over 20% in the following six years.

    Public R&D funding delivered through UKRI is already supporting teams at the University of Plymouth to tackle the serious global issue of antimicrobial resistance, where bacteria evolve to resist medicines that once killed them – making infections harder to treat, increasing medicine costs for and pressure on our NHS and hitting the economy as more suffer ill health.

    Their discovery of a new antibiotic, Epidermicin, is undergoing trials and has led to spinout company, Amprologix – potentially providing health professionals with a silver bullet in the battle against such bacterial infections, dubbed ‘superbugs’, whilst opening up new commercial opportunities in the UK.

    Similarly, UKRI R&D funding has also proven vital in developing the technologies we need to help position the UK as a clean energy superpower, such as the £86 million in ongoing funding towards building the world’s most advanced wind turbine test facility in Blyth. It is supporting the growth of the wind turbine market, creating local jobs and encouraging investment in the sector.

    Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said:

    Our £13.9 billion investment in R&D is ultimately an investment in the future of the UK.

    R&D is essential to fulfilling this government’s Plan for Change – whether in improving lives across the UK and beyond through new life-saving drugs, helping us build a cleaner, greener future or in exploring beyond our planet to unlock new discoveries that keep us healthy, safe and prosperous and much more besides.

    It is also central to creating highly paid jobs and opportunities to set up new businesses across the UK, which will drive the economic growth that is key to supporting our public services and enhancing our daily lives.

    The government is also investing nearly £670 million in space, through the UK Space Agency to help develop the space industry in the UK – employing 50,000 people in the UK – and ensure British companies like Airbus are involved in exploration beyond our planet, putting Britain back into the space race and unlocking new opportunities for discovery that can benefit life on earth.

    For example, up to £160 million of previous investment over the next four years will propel Britain’s position in the global satellite communications market, enhancing high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas and in turn bridging the digital divide for citizens.

    The Department’s investment in R&D to protect our planet also includes £310 million for the Met Office, which while most well-known for providing accurate weather forecasting for the UK also provides the UK’s most advance climate modelling, which is essential to understanding the extent and impacts of climate change and how it can and will affect all of our lives.

    The allocation of this record £13.9 billion in funding follows the Chancellor’s announcement at the Budget that the government would protect record levels of R&D spending, with £20.4 billion being invested over the coming year across all government departments.

    UKRI CEO, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said:

    Research and innovation play a crucial role in driving sustainable economic growth, creating jobs and improving public services for people across the UK. 

    This allocation safeguards the capability of the UK’s world class research and innovation ecosystem and enables investment to support the government’s five missions. 

    UKRI will use its unique position in the research and innovation system to make smart and strategic investment choices, delivering the best outcomes now and in the future, and making the most effective use of public money.

    Further information

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fayette County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BECKLEY, W.Va. – Bryson J. England, 43, of Oak Hill, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 2, 2024, England was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by law enforcement officers in the Beckley area of Raleigh County. During the vehicle stop, officers conducted a pat-down search of England and found a loaded Armscor of the Philippines model M1911-AU FS .45-caliber pistol on his person. Officers also searched the vehicle and found an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle on the passenger side.

    Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. England knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for unlawful wounding in Kanawha County Circuit Court on January 6, 2003.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the West Virginia State Police.

    Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-138.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Fatal crash – Lyell Highway, Sorell Creek

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Fatal crash – Lyell Highway, Sorell Creek

    Friday, 4 April 2025 – 2:40 am.

    Sadly, a man aged in his seventies has died as a result of a two vehicle crash on the Lyell Highway at Sorell Creek.
    Police and emergency services were called to the scene around 9:15pm after reports of a head on crash.
    The driver, and sole occupant of one of the vehicles sadly died at the scene. At this stage, it appears the man suffered a medical episode. The occupants of the second vehicle were uninjured.
    Investigations into the crash are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
    Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.
    Anyone who witnessed, or has dash camera footage of a silver Great Wall Utility around the time of the crash, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously and quote TCRN: 25002254.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aid workers should not have to risk their lives to help those in need in Gaza: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Aid workers should not have to risk their lives to help those in need in Gaza: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the escalating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

    I’d like to thank High Commissioner Volker Türk and Dr. Younes Al-Khatib for your sobering briefings.  

    Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Red Crescent medics and other humanitarians who were killed while bravely working to save lives in Gaza.  

    Their deaths are an outrage and we expect this incident to be investigated fully, transparently and for those responsible held to account.  

    Gaza remains the most dangerous place for humanitarians in the world.  

    If Israel does not respect deconfliction notifications from aid workers, to allow them to operate without coming under attack, there will be more appalling deaths like these ones. Aid workers should not have to risk their lives to help those in need. 

    So we urge Israel to cooperate with the UN fact-finding mission into the hit on a UN compound on 19 March, conduct thorough investigations into all incidents involving aid workers and medical personnel, and ensure accountability for those responsible. 

    President, I have three points to make.
    First, the UK reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, including Avinatan Or, Yossi Sharabi and Shay Levinson, who have links to the UK. And we are clear Hamas must be held accountable for their despicable actions.  

    But the UK strongly opposes Israel’s decision to resume and expand its military operations in Gaza. Since operations restarted over 1000 Palestinians have lost their lives, including at least 322 children. And civilians are being compressed into ever-smaller areas. 

    Further fighting and bloodshed is in nobody’s interest and takes us further away from a deal to get the hostages home.  

    Second, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is horrific and there is reportedly less than a week of food left for distribution in Gaza. We urge Israel to reinstate the flow of humanitarian aid immediately.

    Blocking supplies and electricity from entering Gaza risks violating international humanitarian law. 

    The UK is deeply concerned that the UN and humanitarian organisations have been forced to reduce operations in Gaza because it is so unsafe. Without their life-saving work, even more Palestinians will suffer. 

    Third, the UK condemns remarks by Defence Minister Katz on the annexation of land in Gaza. There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians or reduction in the territory of Gaza. 

    This would only further drive instability and undermine security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. 

    And we condemn recent Israeli decisions to accelerate the establishment of settlements and outposts in the West Bank.

    President, in conclusion, the lesson we have learnt time and again in this Council, is that diplomacy, not violence, is the only way to bring lasting peace. 

    We urge the parties to return to a ceasefire, to end appalling loss of life, bring the hostages home and make credible efforts towards a two-state solution.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dangerous Fugitive Arrested in Norwich

    Source: US Marshals Service

    New Haven, CT —The U.S. Marshals, working with the Connecticut State Police Tactical Unit and the Norwich Police Department, arrested in Norwich today a man wanted on numerous charges involving firearms and probation violation.

    Tremaine Dowdell, 31, is charged in Connecticut with criminal attempt assault in the first degree, unlawful discharge of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a firearm, and criminal mischief in the first degree.
    He is charged federally with violation of supervised release.

    Following an arrest in 2019 for felon in possession of a handgun, Dowdell was put on federal probation, but he was arrested May 25, 2024, by the Providence, Rhode Island, Police Department for possession of a “ghost gun.” A federal arrest warrant was issued May 30, 2024, for Dowdell for violating his probation. Following a shooting incident in New London on June 8, 2024, another arrest warrant was issued for Dowdell.

    The U.S. Marshals Service District of Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force was able to determine through investigation that Dowdell led a transient lifestyle throughout the New England area, but investigators recently developed information that he was hiding out at a residence in the 60 block of Boswell Avenue, where they took him into custody.

    Dowdell was transported to the New London Police Department for booking.  

    Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals – Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force in 1999, these partnerships have resulted in over 11,046 arrests. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sexual predators. Membership agencies include Hartford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments and Homeland Security Investigations. These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Whin Park play area reopens with new inclusive equipment

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Whin Park play area in Inverness will reopen tomorrow (Friday 4 April) after three months of refurbishment and improvement works.

    Leader of Inverness and Area, Cllr Ian Brown, said: “I am very pleased that Whin Park’s newly developed play area is now open to the public. All works have been completed and inspected, and the new interactive play equipment can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities. Inclusivity is key to The Council’s Playpark Strategy and the new equipment provides a first-class play offering whilst ensuring that play is for all.”

    New features include an interactive Nessie, Legend Seeker Playship, swing area, climbing birds’ nest, an adventure mound with tube slide, scramble net and interactive arch. The Sona dance and play arch is an audio-based piece of equipment made for the outdoors which utilises the latest technology and a range of games to encourage children to be more active outdoors. The newly developed site will complement family activities already available at Whin Park including the boating pond, Ness Islands railway and a shop serving drinks and snacks.

    Aerial photo of Whin Park

    Cllr Graham MacKenzie, Chair of the Communities and Place Committee, said: “Play and interaction are crucial to the wellbeing and development of young people and the much-needed upgrades at Whin Park ensure that the benefits of play can be enjoyed by children of all ages and abilities. I look forward to the official opening event for the play area in the near future.”

    Improvement works commenced on 6 January 2025 and were contracted to Jupiter Play and Leisure Ltd who appointed Play Works Ltd as their on-site contractor to install the new equipment.

    Michael Hoenigmann, Managing Director of Jupiter Play & Leisure said: “We are delighted to have designed and built the new play area at Whin Park. This was an ambitious project which was completed on time and within budget, and we have enjoyed working closely with the team at Highland Council to create an inclusive and high-quality play area for the community.”

    Funding for the contract was awarded by the Scottish Government Play Area Fund (£234,988) and was allocated to the redevelopment of the park by Members of the Inverness, Central, Ness-side, Millburn, and Inverness West Wards.  In 2023, Inverness City Committee Members agreed £150,000 Inverness Common Good Funding and in 2024 a further £100,000 from the Community Regeneration Fund towards the park development costs.

    A small area will remain fenced off between the tube slide and the path adjacent to the miniature railway to allow newly seeded grass to grow, but all play equipment will be available to use.

    A video of the new play area can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Organised Immigration Crime Summit organised by the United Kingdom on the 31 March 2025: UK statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Organised Immigration Crime Summit organised by the United Kingdom on the 31 March 2025: UK statement to the OSCE

    Ambassador Holland updates on UK and partners’ efforts to fight against Organised Immigration Crime and the protection of our collective border security.

    Thank you Chair.

    I would like to update the Council on the Organised Immigration Crime Summit convened by the UK in London earlier this week. The Summit brought together a range of partners, countries and international organisations in the global fight against Organised Immigration Crime and the protection of our collective border security.

    The threat from Organised Immigration Crime is increasing in scale and complexity, spanning multiple countries, nationalities, and criminal methodologies. Criminal gangs are now using sophisticated online tactics to lure potential customers. They are abusing legitimate supply chains, and they are using criminal financial networks to facilitate dangerous and illegal journeys which put thousands of lives at risk each year.

    This is a global threat, with no respect for national borders. Without firm action, organised crime groups will continue to profit at the expense of vulnerable migrants and international security.

    We must strengthen global cooperation, disrupt criminal networks, and prevent further loss of life.

    No single country can tackle these criminal gangs alone. Only a coordinated international response, across the whole irregular migration route, can effectively dismantle these networks.  Disrupting criminal financial flows, particularly the cross-border movement of illicit cash and commodities, requires all countries to work together across supply chains.

    This event engaged both European nations and key source and transit countries, ensuring a broader, more comprehensive approach to tackling Organised Immigration Crime. It delivered across Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, and North America by strengthening international partnerships, enhancing intelligence-sharing, and implementing targeted disruptions to crime networks.

    Through effective partnerships and shared international commitments, we can deliver change. Together, we can dismantle the online advertising and recruitment networks used by criminal gangs, target the financial enablers of irregular migration through operational disruption and promote an integrated approach to better understanding the scale of Organised Immigration Crime financial flows.

    I look forward to next week’s Security Committee meeting on irregular migration which I hope can consider the OSCE’s role on this issue. Tackling irregular migration, and specifically, people smuggling, requires a united, determined, sustained and sustainable, effort. Together, we can drive meaningful action, ensuring a safer and more secure future for all.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Westminster launches its new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Westminster City Council’s new strategy prioritises prevention and personalised support.   

    The council has launched its new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy that sets out how the council intends to proactively prevent homelessness. For the next five years, the council commits to:  

    1. Early Prevention: To make support in the community easy to find and readily available to support people at risk of losing their homes.  
    2. Crisis Response: To quickly provide relevant and practical advice to people facing homelessness. 
    3. Rehousing and Recovery: To improve re-housing and recovery support within quality accommodation. 
    4. Resettlement: To provide personalised and targeted re-settlement support.  

    The launch is set against the backdrop of a UK-wide housing crisis that is putting significant pressure on many Westminster households. The Westminster Homelessness Review found that there were 34% more households in housing need in 2022/23 and more than 3,600 households living in temporary accommodation.  Westminster has the highest numbers of people experiencing rough sleeping in the country due to its central location, as well as structural and personal factors such as lack of affordable housing, relationship breakdown and poor health.  

    This is an ambitious plan that will build upon previous successes and puts individuals and communities at the heart of it. The council will utilise key public services such as youth centres and GP surgeries to spot those at risk of homelessness and get them the help they need sooner. It has been co-produced with people with lived experience that understand the challenges of those facing homelessness.  

    Councillor Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council said: “Homelessness and rough sleeping is a critical issue for the council. We recognise the need for collaboration both with people with lived experiences and partners across London to put an end to homelessness.  

    “Our new strategy will engage people at the earliest possible point to prevent people from ending up on the streets and help those in the situation get off the streets permanently.” 

    Councillor Liza Begum, Cabinet Member for Housing Services said: “Part of our commitment to creating Fairer Housing in Westminster is to address the root causes of homelessness. Homelessness and rough sleeping are huge issues for some of our residents and we’re aware that the situation requires meaningful change to address issues that lead to homelessness.  

    “This strategy sets out how we intend to put people first through our interventions to help them avoid rough sleeping and stay in safe and affordable housing.” 

    Notes to editor  

    • The Cabinet’s decision is to subject to the council’s usual call-in procedures. Read the cabinet report here: Cabinet Report – Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-30.pdf 
    • Westminster’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy full document: Homelessness Strategy | Westminster City Council 
    • Westminster is part of the pan-London Charter to End Rough Sleeping. 
    • The council has funded pioneering projects such as Housing First, a programme run by Solace, which provides bespoke and long-term support for women who have experienced homelessness, drug dependency, and domestic abuse. 
    • In 2024 the council launched the Westminster Housing Compact, a partnership with Registered Providers that will make it easier for people to access key services in the borough. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Enough talk on Irish at Grand Central – what’s the DUP action?

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Speaking after today’s meeting of the Executive TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said:

    “While welcoming the fact that the deputy First Minister today made clear that the unilateral decision of the Infrastructure Minister to move to impose Irish signage on Grand Central is controversial and should have been brought to the Executive, I do wonder what exactly the DUP is planning to actually do about the matter.

    “Since exposing the matter last week, I have tabled a petition to have the decision called in and written to every Unionist member of the Executive asking them to use their position to take a stand on this issue.

    “A loyalist part of Belfast, which has already been treated abominably in the whole saga around the station, should not suffer the added indignity of Grand Central being branded with Irish language signage.

    “Surely there are options here for the DUP to not just talk about what the Minister has done but actually stop it. They can sign my petition, have their Ministers call it in or bring Minister Kimmins to court.

    “There’s a time for talking about these things. Importantly there is also a time for action. If the DUP do not or have decided that they cannot take action there are fundamental questions. After telling us the Minister has gone on an illegitimate solo run and they were going to put a marker down what are they doing in the Executive where it appears a Sinn Fein minister can carry on regardless?”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appointment of Oli de Botton as the PM’s Expert Adviser on Education and Skills

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Appointment of Oli de Botton as the PM’s Expert Adviser on Education and Skills

    Oli de Botton has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Expert Adviser on Education and Skills. 

    Oli de Botton has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Expert Adviser on Education and Skills. The Prime Minister’s Expert Adviser will advise ministers and drive forward the Government’s vision for education and skills.

    Oli brings with him extensive experience working in education and skills as a teacher, adviser, headteacher and national CEO.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The use of online platforms in enabling organised immigration crime

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Government response

    The use of online platforms in enabling organised immigration crime

    Statement from the representatives of the governments of Albania, Sweden, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.

    We, the representatives of the governments of Albania, Sweden, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, united as an international community in the fight against organised immigration crime (OIC), meeting within the framework of the Border Security Summit hosted by the United Kingdom, hereby affirm our collective responsibility to address the threat posed by organised criminal groups exploiting online platforms for the facilitation of irregular immigration including human trafficking.

    Acknowledging the scope of the threat

    We recognise the role that online platforms can play in the facilitation of OIC. Organised criminal groups are exploiting these platforms to advertise and facilitate illegal immigration services, generating illegal profits at the expense of vulnerable migrants. Inaccurate information is spread online, with claims to guarantee passage with shared ‘success stories’ of being able to remain in country despite illegal entry.

    These stories are shared despite the increasing risk of fatalities from clandestine entry by boats and lorries. As online platforms evolve, criminal networks adapt their methods, making a co-ordinated global response essential. We recognise the harm that irregular migration can cause nations’ citizens.

    Commitment to collective action

    The fight against OIC requires collaboration across borders, sectors, and jurisdictions to effectively counter the global scale of the threat. No single government can combat this threat alone. We call upon all governments, international organisations, and industry partners to join us in this endeavour to work together to prevent the misuse of online platforms for illegal immigration services.

    Disrupting the facilitation of OIC

    The online environment should not be permissive for immigration crimes.  We call on industry partners to design out from platforms opportunities for exploitation and to prevent the proliferation of glorifying illegal migration. Fatalities as a result of people smuggling are increasing globally and we must ensure those seeking illegal entry are aware of the grave risks.

    A collective responsibility to prevent exploitation

    We commit to strengthening our collective efforts to prevent, disrupt, and degrade the capacity of organised criminal groups to exploit online platforms for OIC. Online platforms should not enable facilitation of organised crime, and we are committed to working together to prevent this.

    International governments, industry partners, and international organisations should join forces in a global effort to stop criminals from exploiting online platforms.

    Platforms should invest in strong detection and moderation tools, while governments must back them with effective laws and international cooperation.

    Collaborative framework for action

    We commit to share trends in use of the online environment by organised criminal groups and the principle approaches for detecting and disrupting the facilitation of OIC online. Following this summit, the UK will provide opportunities for global collaboration, learning from the approach taken to other tech-enabled harms.

    Towards a secure digital environment for all

    Looking ahead, we recognise that addressing OIC in the digital age requires innovation, prevention, and sustained cooperation. Only through collective action can we prevent criminal groups from exploiting online platforms for irregular immigration. Together, we will work to ensure that online spaces remain secure and safe for everyone and do not provide the opportunity for people smuggling services to be advertised and accessed by vulnerable migrants.

    A call to action

    In conclusion, we call for ongoing dialogue and swift action to address the challenges posed by OIC online content and the threat it presents to the integrity of our borders. We reaffirm our commitment to a global response that prevents the exploitation of online platforms for criminal purposes.

    We call for global action to prevent the spread of OIC content and protect the integrity of online spaces. By acting decisively, we can safeguard vulnerable people and uphold the security of our collective borders.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Doom loops’ are accelerating climate change – but we can break them

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jack Marley, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    Surasak Jailak/Shutterstock

    Vicious cycles are accelerating climate change. One is happening at the north pole, where rising temperatures caused by record levels of fossil fuel combustion are melting more and more sea ice.

    Indeed, the extent of Arctic winter sea ice in March 2025 was the lowest ever recorded. This decline in sea ice means the Earth reflects less of the Sun’s energy back into space. So, more climate change leads to less sea ice – and more climate change.

    Human behaviour is not immune to this dynamic either, according to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). It identified another troubling feedback loop: demand for coal rose 1% globally in 2024 off the back of intense heatwaves in China and India, which spurred a frenzy for air-conditioners and excess fuel to power them.

    The need to cool ourselves, and briefly escape the consequences of climate change, is driving more climate change. Thankfully, there are ways to break these cycles and form greener habits. Today, we’ll look at one in particular.

    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

    The Sun can cool you down

    “As the climate crisis deepens, close to half of the world’s people have little defence against deadly heat,” says Radhika Khosla, an associate professor of urban sustainability at the University of Oxford.



    Read more:
    COP28: countries have pledged to cut emissions from cooling – here’s how to make it happen

    “At the same time, energy demand from cooling – by those who can afford it – could more than double by 2050.”

    If wealthy countries paid the enormous climate finance debt they owe the developing world, it could help finance the closing of this gap. And thankfully, advancements in renewable energy technology mean no one should need to contribute to a spike in fossil fuel use just to keep cool.



    Read more:
    Wealthy nations owe climate debt to Africa – funds that could help cities grow

    “The absurdity of resorting to coal to power air conditioners … is difficult to miss”, say a team of engineers and energy experts at Nottingham Trent University and Coventry University, led by Tom Rogers. They recommend rooftop solar panels instead, which can soak up sunshine during heatwaves and turn it into electricity for air-conditioning units.

    “Rooftop solar can also reduce demand for cooling by keeping buildings in the shade,” the team say. “A study conducted by Arizona State University found that even a modest group of solar panels that shade about half a roof can lead to anything from 2% to 13% reduction in cooling demand, depending on factors such as location, roof type and insulation levels.”



    Read more:
    Rising temperatures mean more air conditioning which means more electricity is needed – rooftop solar is a perfect fit

    Of course, solar panels are less helpful for powering air conditioners in the evening, when lots of people turn them on after work or school.

    “Researchers in Australia have proposed a clever solution to address this imbalance, by programming air-conditioning units to work in tandem with solar systems to pre-cool buildings before people arrive home,” Rogers and his colleagues add.

    There is huge untapped potential for generating electricity from rooftop solar – even in the dreary UK. It could ensure that future heatwaves are a boon for solar energy, not coal power.

    “Consider the possibilities for Nottingham and Coventry, two cities in England’s Midlands where we work,” they say.

    “If Nottingham were to maximise its rooftop potential, all those panels could generate nearly 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity, about the same as a medium-sized gas power plant. Coventry has greater potential, with 700MW.

    “These capacities would equate to nearly one-third of Nottingham’s electricity demand and almost half of Coventry’s – from their rooftops alone.”

    Doom loops

    Installing solar panels on top of buildings worldwide will need massive investment in equipment and training. It will require new means of incentivising the uptake of this technology and, as mentioned earlier, the redistribution of wealth to allow low-emitting but highly vulnerable nations to make the switch.

    But there are likely to be virtuous cycles as well as vicious ones. Once a certain threshold has been crossed, like the price and capacity of batteries or the number of homes with heat pumps installed, “a domino effect of rapid changes” takes effect such that green alternatives swiftly become the established norm.



    Read more:
    Climate ‘tipping points’ can be positive too – our report sets out how to engineer a domino effect of rapid changes

    However, the prospect of harmonising these efforts across borders butts against a trend moving in the opposite direction. As the world warms, relations between nations are becoming more fraught and war, trade tensions and internal strife are obscuring the universal threat of climate change.

    A Trump yard sign during the 2024 election campaign.
    Dlbillings_Photography/Shutterstock

    Climate risk expert Laurie Laybourn and earth system scientist James Dyke, both at the University of Exeter, say that extreme weather in 2022 caused crop failures that made food more expensive and stoked headline inflation rates. Climate-sceptic Donald Trump made hay with these high prices in the 2024 US election.

    “The risk is that this ‘doom loop’ runs faster and faster and ultimately derails our ability to phase out fossil fuels fast enough to avoid the worst climate consequences,” they say.



    Read more:
    A ‘doom loop’ of climate change and geopolitical instability is beginning

    However, Laybourn and Dyke are not wholly pessimistic. History shows that periods of instability and crisis like the one we are living through also provide fertile ground for positive change, they argue, and the chance to accelerate virtuous circles.

    “For example, out of the crises of the interwar period and the devastation of the second world war came legal protections for human rights, universal welfare systems and decolonisation.”

    – ref. ‘Doom loops’ are accelerating climate change – but we can break them – https://theconversation.com/doom-loops-are-accelerating-climate-change-but-we-can-break-them-253457

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fenton to receive first ever ceremonial mace to celebrate city’s Centenary

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Thursday, 3rd April 2025

    Fenton is set to make history with the unveiling of its first-ever ceremonial mace as part of Stoke-on-Trent’s 100th-anniversary celebrations.

    Students from the University of Staffordshire have created the first-ever ceremonial mace for Fenton.

    When the six towns united as the Stoke-on-Trent Federation (the forerunner of Stoke-on-Trent being granted city status) in 1910, Fenton was the only one not to hand down a piece of civic regalia.

    More than a century later, this new ceremonial mace will give the town its own celebration of its heritage, culture and people.

    Students from the BA (Hons) Product Furniture and Ceramics and MA Ceramics courses were given the opportunity to design a mace that honours Fenton’s historic ties to the early development of the ceramic industry.

    After an intense process, the judging panel found it impossible to select a single winner. Instead, two standout teams were asked to collaborate – bringing together their design and engineering expertise to create the ultimate Fenton Mace.

    The mace will be officially unveiled to the public at Fenton Town Hall before a special parade transports it to Stoke Town Hall, where it will take its place among the city’s civic regalia.

    Highlights are:

    • Friday 4 April: preview the new Fenton Mace – 10am-4pm, Ballroom, Fenton Town Hall
    • Saturday 5 April: Celebrate the creation of the Fenton Mace – begins with a blessing at Christ Church, Fenton at 10am

    Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Lyn Sharpe: “I’m so proud to be Lord Mayor of this amazing city, and it’s a huge honour to see my hometown of Fenton finally receive its own civic recognition.

    “The students have put so much thought into the design, from the coat of arms to the forget-me-nots that symbolise Fenton as the ‘forgotten town’ of Arnold Bennett’s books.

    “But we know Fenton is far from forgotten, and this mace will stand as a proud representation of the town for the next 100 years and beyond.”

    Neil Brownsword, Professor of Ceramics at University of Staffordshire, said: “The Fenton Mace project has been great for students to reconnect to local histories that shaped the characteristics of Fenton. They have done a fantastic job of combining traditional references and symbolism through a contemporary lens, using a range of materials sponsored by local businesses.

    “The technical expertise of these companies, alongside the challenges of working as a team have been hugely beneficial in expanding their professionalism and problem solving through the design process. It’s a great honour for the mace that the students have designed and created is another valuable contribution to Fenton’s rich history.”

    BA (Hons) Product, Furniture, Ceramics student Maddie Sturmey said: “It’s been an honour to be a part of this prestigious occasion and to have had the opportunity to design and create the Fenton mace. We are really excited to showcase what we have been working so hard to achieve. We hope the people of Fenton love it as much as we do.”

    The project has been made possible through support from sponsors including Valentine Clays, KMF Metal, AJ Philpott, and CJ Skelhorne Jewellers, with additional contributions from Duchess China 1888 and Lee Price.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rouge Bouillon closure update03 April 2025 ​The internal and external steel strapping is now complete, and we have entered the monitoring phase to ensure there is no further movement in the building. A structural engineer is scheduled to review… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    03 April 2025

    ​

    The internal and external steel strapping is now complete, and we have entered the monitoring phase to ensure there is no further movement in the building. 

    A structural engineer is scheduled to review and sign off on this work next week. 

    Once this is confirmed, preparations will begin for the demolition of the outbuildings and boundary walls the following week, subject to an engineer’s final review. 

    Further updates will be provided as the work progresses and the work still remains on schedule. 

    We have now collated all relevant information including a upcoming schedule of works here: gov.je 

    Public Impact 

    We recognise the disruption the closure continues to cause for commuters and local businesses. 

    The road will only reopen once the buildings are stabilised and all risks of structural collapse have been mitigated. 

    Routes and safety assurance 

    We urge both pedestrians and drivers to follow the designated public diversions and avoid cutting through private land, particularly College Gardens. 

    These measures are in place to ensure the safety of all road users and residents. 

    Rouge Bouillon continues to remain closed between Clarendon Road and Palmyra Road as investigations continue into the stability of an adjacent building wall, affected by a burst water main. 

    We have considered other options to manage the traffic around the closure however, the decision to retain the current traffic arrangement is based on the following factors: 

    • Reversing Clarendon Road poses additional safety risks for residents and pedestrians 
    • Allowing right-turn access onto Clarendon Road from Val Plaisant could cause severe traffic congestion, particularly near the Gyratory 
    • Reversing Midvale Road, while potentially useful, would necessitate signal junction changes, creating confusion, complications, and further safety concerns. 

    We advise the traveling public to continue to avoid the area and use alternative routes to access town where possible. 

    Background and plan 

    The situation is highly complex with several adjacent walls and buildings that are severely cracked and have been subject to significant movement following a burst watermain. The property and external walls were rendered unsafe with voids created under the structures. Multiple parties are involved, including Infrastructure and Environment, Jersey Water, structural engineers, building surveyors, loss adjustors, and insurance companies. 

    The team of professionals, working on behalf of the property owners and their insurance companies, has devised a plan to stabilise the property and then demolish the external walls. 

    • Step 1: a Contractor working on behalf of the owner of 28 Clarendon Road will install steel strapping around the building 
    • Step 2: the structural engineers, assisted by geotechnical engineers will investigate soil conditions under the foundations 
    • Step 3: the external structures and boundary walls will be demolished 
    • Step 4: re-open Rouge Bouillon once it has been determined that it is safe to do so The project remains under constant review to ensure the best and safest outcome. 

    Next steps 

    A further update on the situation will be provided in seven days.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Industrial chicken farms are trashing Britain’s rivers – and planning reforms could make things worse

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rosalind Malcolm, Professor of Environmental Law, Director of Environmental Regulatory Research Group (ERRG), University of Surrey

    Once voted the UK’s favourite river, the River Wye flows from the Welsh mountains to the Severn estuary – 150 miles through an officially recognised “national landscape”. But this idyllic picture is changing, as the river is gradually choked by waste from industrial chicken farming.

    The Wye is perhaps the most extreme example, but the nearby River Severn, the UK’s longest river, is also at risk, along with rivers in places such as Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Yorkshire.

    In the land that feeds into these rivers, millions of chickens are being reared in intensive units to supply supermarkets with cheap meat and eggs. But all those chickens produce vast amounts of manure which can end up in the rivers.

    This floods the river with excess nutrients causing algal blooms to flourish. The algae blocks out sunlight and consumes oxygen, which kills other creatures in the water. For instance the number of Atlantic salmon passing through the River Wye each year has plummeted from 50,000 in the 1960s to less than 3,000.

    The problems caused by chicken farming have led to legal action against US food company Cargill and its subsidiary Avara Foods (both firms deny the allegations). Meanwhile food outlets including Nando’s have denied sourcing their products from polluting farms.

    Described as a “dying river” in a Channel 4 News report, in 2023 the Wye’s conservation status was downgraded by Natural England to “unfavourable – declining”.

    Measures to deal with excess nutrients have led to so-called nutrient neutrality policies. These prevent new developments that would cause a net increase in nutrients. But the knock-on effect is that development (including housebuilding) may be blocked.

    Much of the River Wye flows through the English county of Herefordshire. There, the council, exasperated by the failure of these plans to reverse the decline, took the unusual step of controlling the pollution through planning laws.

    Its Minerals and Waste Local Plan declared that any new chicken farms must demonstrate that the manure would be properly managed and the project would overall be nutrient neutral. That would form part of an environmental impact assessment during the planning process.

    This was unusual because agricultural activities are not usually subject to planning control and what you do on your farm is generally regulated by non-planning statutory regimes. So, the step taken by Herefordshire Council was unusual and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) challenged it in court.

    What was also new, was the categorisation of manure as “waste”.

    Is manure ‘waste’?

    Agriculture mainly gets a pass on waste controls. Faecal matter (including chicken manure) is not treated as waste in law as long as it does not harm the environment or endanger human health, even though it is not the farmers’ primary product. A farmer breeds chickens for meat and eggs but chickens also produce manure. But that manure can still be useful as a fertiliser, for energy or as compost. So far so good. The problem comes when that by-product is not managed carefully and it ends up polluting rivers.

    So should it be defined as waste – and therefore subject to strict controls – or treated as a valuable byproduct and managed as a commodity just like the eggs?

    The answer is: it depends. Case law indicates that the test for whether the manure would be waste is whether it can harm the environment.

    In the High Court case, the NFU argued that agricultural activities should not be subject to planning controls and that manure should not be treated as “waste”. In effect its argument was that the economic endeavours of farmers should outweigh the additional environmental protections introduced by the council.

    The judge did not agree with the NFU. She said that chicken manure could indeed be waste and the council could control it through the planning regime.

    Symbolic slurry

    This is a symbolic battle between those tricky pillars of sustainable development: economy, society and environment.

    In any planning case, the elements need to be balanced and one will dominate over the others. Housing for people? Industrial development for economic growth? Industrial farming for (cheap) food? Protecting the river and its ecosystem from pollution? Every decision made represents a trade-off.

    As the courts move to prioritise protecting the environment, the UK government is favouring economic growth. Its Planning and Infrastructure Bill plans to replace individual environmental impact assessments with broad based “environmental delivery plans” produced by a government body (not the developer) but funded by developers.

    These delivery plans will set out conservation measures addressing environmental impacts of development. They might focus on protected species or habitats or on issues like nutrient neutrality.

    But there is no shortage of plans already in the government armoury. Environmental Improvement Plans were set up by a previous government. Among these, the Wyescapes landscape recovery project is aimed at developing “sustainable, future-proof business models working with nature along the floodplain”. The River Wye nutrient management plan aims to halt nutrient pollution. The River Wye action plan aims to stop the decline of the river system by making the catchment a pilot for transforming how manure is managed.

    However, as the judge in the NFU v Herefordshire Council case said, all the evidence demonstrates that these plans have so far failed to stop the decline. This left the council to implement drastic and immediate action.

    The NFU is considering an appeal. But the council’s win at the high court may be in vain when government proposals outlaw the requirement for individual environmental impact assessments.

    It remains to be seen how effective the new government ideas on protecting the environment will be. For now, it appears that anything that blocks development is not a government priority.

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

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

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

    – ref. Industrial chicken farms are trashing Britain’s rivers – and planning reforms could make things worse – https://theconversation.com/industrial-chicken-farms-are-trashing-britains-rivers-and-planning-reforms-could-make-things-worse-253463

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 2/2025: Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    2/2025: Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act 2025

    Business rates information letters are issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government at regular intervals throughout the year.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    2/2025: Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act 2025

    HTML

    Details

    This letter confirms the interest rate payable on refunds for 2025/26 and updates local authorities on new burdens payments and the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Act 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub (MITIH) has been awarded new funding to boost the innovation ecosystem and support innovative businesses, start-ups and scale-ups in Greater Manchester

    Source: City of Salford

    The one year investment will foster further collaboration between businesses, research institutions and local government. The funding includes a grant which is part of a £30m funding extension of Innovate UK’s Innovation Accelerator (IA) programme, which focuses on locally-led innovation to drive economic growth and technological advancement in three key regions – Greater Manchester, Glasgow City Region and the West Midlands.

    MITIH was launched in 2023 to rejuvenate the region’s innovation ecosystem through collaboration, co-investment, and partnerships with the aim of providing innovators and businesses with access to expertise, funding and state-of-the-art technologies and facilities.

    Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Greater Manchester said: “I am delighted that through The Landing company, Salford City Council colleagues will continue to play a pivotal role in leading, fostering, and supporting innovation through the use of immersive and creative technologies across many sectors of Greater Manchester’s economy.

    “MITIH’s success in revitalising the innovation ecosystem at MediaCity and supporting creative businesses across the city region exemplifies true collaboration and proves the power of devolution. I welcome the confidence the Government has placed in us through this extension and look forward to working with businesses, and local and national Government colleagues, to shape a robust Industrial Strategy that reflects the importance of the creative and cultural industries, not only for Salford and Greater Manchester, but for the whole of the north of England.”

    Professor Simon Green, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Salford, said: “This new investment in the MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub is a significant step forward for Greater Manchester’s innovation ecosystem. By fostering collaboration in this way, we are creating a dynamic environment where cutting edge ideas can thrive. “The funding will provide vital support to innovators, start-ups and scale-ups, ensuring they have access to the expertise, resources and technologies needed to drive economic growth and technological advancement in the region. As an institution, we are proud to play our role in this and look forward to seeing the impact it will have on the future of innovation in Greater Manchester.”

    Martin Chown, Interim Managing Director, MediaCity, added: “Innovation is embedded in the fabric of MediaCity and the continued presence of MITIH is crucial to its long-term success as the UK home of immersive media. The next cohort of innovators, technologists and creators will break boundaries on a global scale and we’re proud to support their presence here.”

    To date, MITIH has engaged and supported over 250 businesses, channelled more than £1million into 26 innovative projects, employing 99 staff and 77 subcontractors, and launched a new innovation lab which has assisted more than 50 businesses and artists. It launched the Cultural Accelerator programme, delivered in partnership with Future Everything, which supported eleven digital artists. The programme has reached more than 4,000 people through partnerships in events across the animation, broadcast, media production, music, audio, immersive experience, games, advertising, marketing, built environment, health and education sectors.

    Anthony Hatton, MITIH Programme Director, The Landing at MediaCityUK said: “The new funding will allow us to continue to support entrepreneurs and innovators and grow our creative economy. We’ve already worked with hundreds of creative and digital businesses to connect them with fellow professionals, test and develop their ideas and to bring their innovations to market.

    “We aim to increase our impact by leveraging local assets and national programmes, such those delivered by the CoSTAR and Creative UK Enterprise teams, to offer local businesses the technical and research expertise and access to state-of-the-art facilities at MediaCity and across Greater Manchester to maximise their economic opportunities.”

    Professor Mandy Parkinson, Professor of Business Innovation, University of Salford said: “Over the next year we aim to assist a further 40 businesses to fast-track their innovative ideas through tailored support and collaborations building on our network of academic and industry experts.

    “MITIH will continue to nurture our growing community and expand our expert network to ensure that the best ideas can be identified, developed and commercialised. We will also leverage programmes at the University of Salford’s Centre for Sustainable Innovation and increase our collaboration with other GM programmes such as the Centre for Digital Innovation, Turing Innovation Catalyst and Health Innovation Manchester.”

    Any companies or talented individuals who wish to take part in or contribute to the programme can contact the MITIH team via Office Forms.

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    Date published
    Thursday 3 April 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Environment Agency grants permit for Whitestone landfill site

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Environment Agency grants permit for Whitestone landfill site

    The environmental permit sets out strict conditions on operation of the proposed inert landfill site at Lower Hare Farm

    An environmental permit sets the conditions which GRS Stone Supplies Ltd must adhere to when operating the inert landfill site.

    Following extensive public consultation, the Environment Agency has granted an environmental permit to the operators of a proposed landfill site at Lower Hare Farm in Whitestone, Exeter today.

    In reaching the decision, after considering all feedback from the local community and interested groups, the agency agreed that GRS Stone Supplies Ltd had met all of the necessary criteria required for the environmental permit to be issued.

    Chris James for the Environment Agency said:

    We have carefully considered all of the submissions and feedback we received during our public consultations, and we thank everyone who took the time to contact us with their views.

    This permit will ensure that robust levels of environmental protection are applied. Our permitting decision process is objective and based on the applicant demonstrating they will meet the legal requirements outlined in the permit.

    Where an application meets the requirements of the Environmental Permitting Regulations (2016) the agency must issue a permit.

    An environmental permit sets the conditions which GRS Stone Supplies Ltd must adhere to when operating the inert landfill site.  It covers the management and operation of the site and the control and monitoring of emissions.    

    When the Environment Agency considers a permit application, it reviews the design of the proposed site, how it will be operated, the emissions it will generate (to air, water and land) and whether it will meet the required standards. Partner organisations, including the UK Health Security Agency, are also consulted as part of the process.  

    Issues such as suitability of the location, operating hours and traffic management are matters for the planning authority, not the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency can only consider issues covered by the environmental permit and can only refuse a permit application based on technical information.   

    The final permit, decision document and our review of other documents received during consultations, can be viewed on our public register. You can request these by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 03706 506 506 or emailing DCISEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Texas Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Oxycodone Conspiracy and Structuring Cash Transactions

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Texas man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for a drug conspiracy involving the distribution of oxycodone pills across Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond.

    Christan Russell, 33, of Tomball, Texas was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 70 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Russell has also been ordered to pay a fine of $30,000. In October 2024, Russell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone pills and structuring cash transactions. Russell was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023 along with five co-conspirators.

    Between approximately February 2023 and July 2023, Russell supplied oxycodone pills to co-conspirator Kenneth Veiga, who then redistributed those oxycodone pills to Austin Gonsalves and John Campbell. Russell obtained these pills from a variety of sources in the Houston, Texas area. On March 13, 2023 Russell traveled from Houston to Boston to meet with Veiga where they met in a hotel room in Rhode Island that Russell rented. During that meeting, Russell supplied oxycodone pills to Veiga and Veiga provided cash in exchange. On March 14, 2023, Russell engaged in four structured cash deposits at ATMs in the Boston area. For each of these deposits, Russell orchestrated the deposit to be less than $10,000 in an attempt to evade the bank from reporting the deposit to the Internal Revenue Service.

    Veiga pleaded guilty and in July 2024, was sentenced to 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gonsalves pleaded guilty and in May 2024 was sentenced to 41 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2025, Campbell was sentenced to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office; and the Barnstable, Dennis, Bourne, Mashpee, Yarmouth, Sandwich and Falmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Samuel R. Feldman of the Criminal Division and Alexandra Amrhein of the Asset Forfeiture Unit are prosecuting the case.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong helps break ground on new Heart River Correctional Center; facility slated to open in 2027

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden today joined staff and residents from the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) to break ground on the Heart River Correctional Center (HRCC), the state’s new women’s correctional facility, highlighting its focus on rehabilitation and safety.

    The 191,500-square-foot facility in Mandan will provide 304 beds – 178 more than the Dakota Women’s Correctional Rehab Center in New England, a remodeled school that has served as the state’s correctional facility for women since 2003. The HRCC is slated for completion in fall 2027.

    “This day is historic for North Dakota because for the first time in our state’s 135-year history, we’re breaking ground on a correctional facility designed specifically for women,” Armstrong said. “This long-overdue project will ensure DOCR staff and the women in their custody have safe, modern and comparable facilities where residents can serve their sentences and build toward their eventual reentry into their communities.”

    DOCR Director Colby Braun and HRCC Warden Connie Hackman Rivinius highlighted the vision behind HRCC and its role in transforming lives. In addition to having more space for volunteers, programs, treatment, vocational and career development, the facility will focus on reinforcing family connections to improve outcomes for children of incarcerated parents.

    “From the very first day someone enters this facility, the focus will be on reentry – on preparing them for the day they will return to their families and communities,” Braun said. “We are not simply building a prison; we are creating a place of opportunity, responsibility and hope.”

    “We will continue to expand on what HRCC currently does, assist women in becoming the best versions of themselves through programming, role modeling, relationships, and accountability,” Hackman Rivinius said. “The goal is to create a safe and healthy, relationship-based environment that is trauma and gender-responsive, with a high level of care and skill-building programming.”

    Armstrong thanked state legislators for approving $131.2 million in funding in 2023 for design and construction of the HRCC, along with intent language for additional funding, which Armstrong has proposed at $35.6 million in his 2025-27 budget recommendation, for a total project budget of $166.8 million. The DOCR worked with JLG Architects in collaboration with JB Marie and DLR Group to design the facility.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Matthew Carpen appointed Chief Executive of Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation

    Source: Mayor of London

    Matthew Carpen, a highly experienced development leader, has been appointed to the role of Chief Executive of the Mayor of London’s Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), which is delivering London’s largest brownfield development opportunity around the new High Speed 2 station at Old Oak Common.

    Matthew has a long background in strategic planning and infrastructure delivery having spent 22 years working in London on major projects. He is currently Managing Director of Barking Riverside Limited (BRL), a joint venture between the Mayor of London and L&Q. In post at Barking Riverside, Matthew has overseen a new masterplan set to deliver up to 20,000 homes and has secured over £300m in public and private investment for this key part of East London, alongside delivering a new transport interchange used by thousands of people each day from a growing community of 3,500 new homes.

    Matthew has been a Board Member of OPDC since 2022 and is a member of the organisation’s Development, Investment and Sustainability Committee. His appointment follows an open and competitive procurement process that was launched following the announcement that current CEO, David Lunts, will step down after six years in the role.

    OPDC is the Mayor of London’s statutory regeneration and planning authority, taking forward development opportunities on 650 hectares of land in Old Oak and Park Royal in West London. Over the next 25 years, it will create a whole new district for London with a mix of homes, employment space, high streets, community facilities and high-quality public realm, built around the new HS2 station at Old Oak Common. Old Oak Common Station will be the only interchange between HS2, the Elizabeth line and the Great Western mainline, and will connect to Heathrow and Bond Street in ten minutes.

    The first stage of the project will deliver around 9,000 homes and 11,000 jobs across approximately 70 acres of publicly owned land. With an estimated gross development value (GDV) of £10bn, the project has secured over £300m of public funding to date. Later this year, OPDC will commence procurement for a long-term development and investment partnership to support the regeneration of Old Oak.

    Matthew joins OPDC’s established leadership team under the newly appointed Chair of the OPDC Board, Dame Karen Buck.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Heat in Buildings: Warm words and targets not enough without action

    Source: Scottish Greens

    03 Apr 2025

    By watering down this bill the SNP are setting up to fail Scotland’s climate targets.

    The Scottish Government is watering down its Heat in Buildings Strategy and stripping away almost all of its serious policy measures, says Scottish Green Co-Leader Patrick Harvie.

    This follows a Ministerial statement in which the Scottish Government dropped the most significant measures in the Bill and delayed it further.

    The Bill, which was under development by Mr Harvie in his time as a Minister, and was on track for introduction in November last year, was intended to focus on improving the energy efficiency of our homes and changing to clean heating systems.

    The Bill was included in the Scottish Government’s September 2024 Programme for Government, after the Greens were out of government. No explanation has been given today for what has changed since September.

    Mr Harvie said:

    “If climate policy over recent years has taught us anything, it’s that warm words are not enough and that setting targets is utterly meaningless without action and leadership from the Government. Yet that’s what the SNP are now proposing to repeat.

    “The Heat in Buildings programme was one of the very few parts of Scottish climate policy that was being praised by the independent Climate Change Committee. Yet the Scottish Government is now stripping out almost all of the serious policy measures, and is admitting that this means significant progress won’t be made in the near future.

    “This will keep more people stuck on gas, which is bad for our planet and will continue to punish people all across our country by forcing them to fork out while the fossil fuel companies post record profits. 

    “It will also mean even more challenging emission cuts will have to come from other sectors, or the new Climate Change Plan will fail too. And the Government seems to have no idea how to answer this question.

    “The SNP are confirming once again today that on their own, they are only too ready to water down climate policy, and yet another target will be set up to fail.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Regionally led security co-operation is vital for peace in West Africa: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Regionally led security co-operation is vital for peace in West Africa: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Jess Jambert-Gray, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, on peace consolidation in West Africa.

    I will make three points today. First, the United Kingdom urges support for democracy, constitutional order and the protection of civic space in the region. We welcome the steps taken towards a return to constitutional order in Guinea and Mali and note recent developments in Niger. 

    We urge the authorities to maintain progress in their transitions, and call on them to lift restrictions on political parties, civil society and media institutions and on peaceful public demonstrations

    We note the upcoming Presidential elections in Cote D’Ivoire and Guinea Bissau this year and call on the governments to ensure these are inclusive and align with their constitutions.

    Second, the United Kingdom is concerned by the security situation in the Sahel, including terrorist groups controlling territory and wreaking havoc on local populations. We reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks across the region, including in Niger on 21 March, and express our condolences to the families of the victims.

    We encourage UNOWAS to continue its critical role in supporting inclusive dialogue processes, which respond to and address, root causes of violence, to prevent further breaches of international humanitarian law. 

    Regionally led security co-operation remains vital, and the UK welcomes efforts such as the ECOWAS standby force which will enable Member States to deploy rapidly to counter shared threats. We also encourage careful consideration of security partners in the region to avoid worsening the threat posed. 

    Third, the United Kingdom is concerned at the worsening humanitarian situation in the region. Since 2019, the UK has provided life-saving assistance to over 16 million people in the Sahel. We encourage all parties to ensure rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance and protect the safety of humanitarian convoys. 

    To conclude, given the significant challenges the region is facing, including challenges which transcend national borders. It is imperative, therefore, that there is cooperation, coordination and communication between the states and peoples of the region with the international community.

    The United Kingdom welcomes the efforts made to bridge the differences between the Alliance of Sahel States and ECOWAS. The United Kingdom also expresses its thanks to UNOWAS for its work in aiding African states to promote freedom, security, and prosperity.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SIA welcomes news that Martyn’s Law has received Royal Assent

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    SIA welcomes news that Martyn’s Law has received Royal Assent

    The SIA welcomes the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 – Martyn’s Law – receiving Royal Assent.

    Today (Thursday 3 April 2025) the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 – Martyn’s Law – has received Royal Assent.

    In welcoming the news, Heather Baily, Chair of the SIA, said:

    This is a watershed moment for public safety in the UK. Martyn’s Law will improve protective security and security standards at venues across the UK. The SIA has been confirmed as the new Martyn’s Law regulator. We have been entrusted with this important role, alongside our existing role regulating private security, which we will discharge with due care, proportion and diligence. We are working closely with the Home Office to prepare for this and look forward to reporting on progress to Home Office ministers.

    Our thoughts are with all the families who lost loved ones in the Manchester Arena terror attack as well as all those whose lives have been affected by other acts of terrorism.

    We would like to pay tribute to Figen Murray, and the rest of the campaign team, who have worked tirelessly to make the new duty a reality; we know they will be watching closely to ensure it is having the change intended.

    Michelle Russell, Chief Executive of the SIA, said:

    As the new independent regulator, our role will be to educate, support, and guide those covered by the new duty into compliance. This is to empower them to strengthen the protection and preparedness of premises and events across the UK and reduce the risk of harm from acts of terrorism.

    We will ensure in a robust and proportionate way premises and events in scope of this duty comply with the requirements.

    We are working with the Home Office on the preparation work for this new role and we will be setting up a new programme of work in due course.

    There will be a period of time prior to the legislation being commenced. We expect this to be at least 24 months to allow for the set-up of the regulator. This will also ensure sufficient time for those responsible for premises and events in scope to understand their new obligations before they come into force, being able to plan and prepare accordingly. We look forward to engaging with those in scope and other stakeholders during this period as the preparation work progresses.

    In the meantime, premises and events seeking advice on preparing for Martyn’s Law should continue to look for Home Office updates. They can also access free technical guidance and operational advice on protective security on the government partner websites of the National Protective Security Authority and ProtectUK.

    Read the Home Office press release: Landmark anti-terror legislation gains Royal Assent.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Decarbonising homes and buildings

    Source: Scottish Government

    Revised Heat in Buildings Bill to be brought forward

    A revised Heat in Buildings Bill will set a new target for decarbonising heating systems by 2045 alongside continuing work to reduce fuel poverty.

    Acting Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan today confirmed the Scottish Government’s intention to bring forward a revised Bill for consideration by the Scottish Parliament later in 2025, to include:

    • A target for decarbonising heating systems by 2045, sending a strong signal to homeowners, landlords and other building owners on the need to prepare for change while outlining collective actions to help do this.
    • Provisions to boost heat network development by developing requirements for large, non-domestic premises, including powers to require public sector buildings to connect to district heating when available.
    • Powers to set minimum energy efficiency standards for owner/occupier and non-domestic properties, subject to further consideration. Regulations will be progressed under existing powers to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard in the private rented sector.

    Dr Allan said:

    “It is vital that we find the right balance both to reach net zero by 2045, and reduce fuel poverty.

    “Many households, families and businesses are facing difficult circumstances right now and it is simply unaffordable for many building owners to make great changes in the near future – particularly for those in rural and island locations, whose needs and circumstances we must continue to consider carefully. 

    “Our plan to deliver a revised Bill responds to the legitimate reservations and concerns raised since our consultation completed, including the risk of exacerbating fuel poverty and burdening every individual householder with an overly onerous responsibility as we decarbonise.

    “Instead of placing prohibitions on every homeowner, we will establish targets for Government to reach. Rather than looking at action through the lens of decarbonising alone, we will also commit to doing everything within our power to reduce costs for people.”

    The proposed Bill will remain technology-neutral, reflecting that different properties and people will require different solutions – for example, clean heating solutions in some remote and rural areas may vary from urban areas.

    The Bill would accompany related work on a Social Housing Net Zero Standard and reform of Energy Performance Certificates under existing powers.

    Dr Allan also welcomed the second report by the independent Green Heat Finance taskforce, published today. This also takes a collective approach, focusing on options for financing place-based solutions, heat networks and social housing retrofit.

    He added:

    “This report makes a very important contribution to our understanding of the work we need to do to boost clean heat demand amongst consumers and instil market confidence to develop new products, including financing solutions.

    “It also identifies key steps the UK Government needs to take to stimulate the clean heat market and reduce fuel poverty, in particular emphasising the importance of rebalancing relative gas and electricity prices, which we continue to push for.”

    Background

    Responses to consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill undertaken in 2023-24 

    Green Heat Finance Taskforce Report: part 2

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –