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Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Garage rent increase agreed for non-council tenants in Sutherland 2025/26

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Garage rents for non-council tenants in the Sutherland area will increase by 8% for 2025/26, as agreed at yesterday’s Area Committee.

    Cllr Richard Gale, Sutherland Area Chair said: “We felt it was important to give Council tenants a little break, following the 8% increase in their council rent as agreed at last week’s full council meeting. The weekly rent for non-tenants, many of whom are commercial properties, will remain affordable when compared to other garage rent costs.”

    Non-council tenants weekly rent for garages will increase by 80p to £10.81 in Ward 1 and by 81p to £10.93 in Ward 4. For Garage Sites, the weekly rent will increase to £1.39 in Ward 1 and £1.40 in Ward 4.

    Council tenants will continue to pay the weekly garage and garage site rents from last year. Garage rent will remain at £8.34 in Ward 1 and £8.59 in Ward 4. There are no council tenants paying weekly rent for a garage site in Ward 1 and garage sites weekly rent in Ward 4 for council tenants will remain at £1.29.

    As a result, the 8% increase will bring a total of £32,390.97 annually based on current occupancy.

    18 Feb 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Adult Support and Protection Day 2025

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Issued by NHS Highland on behalf of the Highland Adult Protection Committee.

    Residents across Highland are being asked to be alert to vulnerable adults in their communities who are susceptible to financial harm.

    Adult Support and Protection Day takes place on Thursday 20 February 2025 and NHS Highland is urging everyone to report any concerns to ensure those in need are able to access support.

    Financial harm can cover theft, fraud and pressure to sign over property or money. It also relates to rogue traders, online scammers and misuse of benefits.

    People can be at increased risk to be harmed financially through factors such as ill health, trauma and physical or mental health conditions.

    It can happen anywhere – in someone’s home, where they work, or in a public place – and is often caused by the people closest to them. It can even happen in places responsible for keeping someone safe, such as a care home, hospital or day centre.

    The Highland Adult Committee is hosting an Adult Protection Day on Thursday, 20th February 2025 in Culloden-Balloch Baptist Church, Wellside Road, Balloch.

    The event will focus on combating financial harm and protecting vulnerable adults in our communities. Tickets for the event are free, and you can book your space by visiting https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/highlandadultprotection . The event will run from 10am-3pm.

    Mark McGinty, Chair of the Adult Support and Protection Community Awareness Group for the Highland area said: “Financial harm has an impact upon us all, whether its being caught out by a scammer, a mistrust by a family member or friend, or an organisation or public body helping prevent financial harm or helping a victim recover.

    “This event provides an opportunity for professionals and the wider public alike, to learn more about what financial harm is, how to spot it, who to speak to and how to prevent it from happening. I’d urge professionals and those associated with adult care, as well as the general public, to come along if possible, it could save you or someone you know from the stress and heartache of losing money to financial harm.”

    Councillor David Fraser, Highland Council Chair of Housing and Social Work Committee said: “Highland Council welcomes this event being organised by the Adult Support and Protection Committee which ultimately aims to protect vulnerable adults in our communities who are susceptible to financial harm. If anyone has concerns about a vulnerable adult in their community who they suspect is being financially harmed they should contact either Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 600, who partner Trading Standards in tackling consumer scams, or Police Scotland on 101 where the financial harm is more family, friend, guardian related.”

    It’s important to speak up about any concerns you have, as the person may not be able to do so themselves. 

    Please see NHS Highland website for more details on raising a concern  Adult support and protection | NHS Highland

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Savills appointed to assess commercial options for iconic Highland capital property

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Photo by Paul Campbell. Meeting in the main hall at Inverness Town House (left to right): David Haas, Highland Council Senior Community Development Manager; Depute Provost of Inverness and Area Cllr Morven Reid; Caroline Webster, Savills Director – Building Surveyor; Adam Davies, Savills Associate Director; Leader of Inverness and Area Cllr Ian Brown; Depute Provost of Inverness and Area Cllr Jackie Hendry; and Chair of the Inverness Common Good Sub Committee Cllr Alex Graham.

    The Highland Council on behalf of the Inverness Common Good Fund is pleased to announce an award of contract to Savills (UK) Ltd for the development of a feasibility study on the use of Inverness Town House.

    Leader of Inverness and Area, Cllr Ian Brown said: “As Trustees of the Inverness Common Good, Members of the City of Inverness Area Committee have agreed to appoint Savills (UK) Ltd.  I am delighted to announce that work is commencing on a feasibility study – the outcomes of which will help identify a long-term future for the Town House in the context of all the new developments that are taking place within the city.

    Provost of Inverness, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair added: “I am delighted that the Council has appointed such an experienced and prestigious company as Savills to appraise sustainable commercial options for the future of this much-loved historical building.

    “Since Highland Council relocated staff to its headquarters in 2023, work has been progressing well on the development of this Grade A Listed Common Good Fund asset to ensure that it continues to play a productive role into the future while remaining a fully functioning base for civic events. The study enhances our ability to deliver further on the progress to date and develop new ideas”

    Chair of the Inverness Common Good Sub Committee Cllr Alex Graham said: “As guardians of the Inverness Common Good Fund, we have an important responsibility to ensure that we maximise the return on Common Good Fund assets for the benefit of the people of Inverness. A key aim of the feasibility study is to identify ways in which to increase the Town House business potential as much as possible while retaining the historical character and civic functions of the property.”

    Savills, Associate Director. Adam Davies said: “Savills is delighted to be instructed by Highland Council to conduct a feasibility study for Inverness Town House. This is an iconic building, with an important historical legacy, situated in the heart of a fast-growing city. Ensuring its continued civic accessibility, whilst also exploring complimentary uses, will be key to finding a vibrant and sustainable solution.

    “With extensive experience of working with heritage assets in leisure and commercial markets, our study will explore a range of future uses. We look forward to presenting our findings to the Council for their consideration.”

    The feasibility study will focus on identifying options for the use of the building and engagement with stakeholders, on the potential uses of the building. The study also requires an understanding of the commercial market environment and identification of the requirements that would be required to deliver and operate the commercial options identified. An outline business case that considers the risks and challenges to provide a robust and sustainable outcome will conclude the feasibility study.

    The core principles underpinning the feasibility study are that:

    • the Town House retains a core function as a civic building in the heart of the city.
    • consideration is given to the position of the Town House and how it could align with the Castle Project and wider city developments.
    • any changes, or renovations required to the interior of the property are to support future uses and must be respectful of the building’s history and status.
    • a sustainable model is created for the operation of the Town House with the potential to make the property cost neutral or profitable.

    Further information on the Town House can be found at www.theinvernesstownhouse.co.uk.

    The study will be reported to the City of Inverness Area Committee later in the Spring.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Here’s why increasing productivity in housing construction is such a tricky problem to solve

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martin Loosemore, Professor of Construction Management, University of Technology Sydney

    This week, the Productivity Commission released its much-awaited report into productivity growth in Australia’s housing construction sector. It wasn’t a glowing appraisal.

    The commission found physical productivity – the total number of houses built per hour worked – has more than halved over the past 30 years.

    The more nuanced measure of labour productivity – which accounts for improvements in size and quality – has also fallen, by 12%.

    Both measures put home-building productivity well behind the broader economy, something the report’s authors attribute to “decades of poor performance”.

    We’ve known about this problem for a long time. The Productivity Commission’s report is well researched and makes some sensible recommendations.

    Solving the underlying problem will require a coordinated approach between government, home-owners, construction companies and workers.

    Measuring productivity

    Housing can take many forms. However, from a productivity perspective, the process of development is essentially the same.

    In very simple terms it involves:

    • concept and initial design, feasibility, finance and business case development
    • land acquisition and due diligence
    • detailed design, development and building approvals
    • pre-construction planning and working drawings
    • construction project management
    • practical completion, final certificates and settlement, commissioning and handover.

    There are no official estimates of housing construction productivity. So, the Productivity Commission used Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data to create its own new measures to capture productivity across this entire process.

    Falling or flat-lining productivity in this sector is a well-known long-term problem. Under the National Housing Accord, the federal government has committed to building 1.2 million new well-located homes by the end of this decade.

    But in the first three months since the National Housing Accord was launched, only 44,884 homes were built across Australia. That’s about 15,000 fewer than the required quarterly target of 60,000.

    The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council projects that new market housing supply will ultimately come in at about a quarter of a million homes below the accord’s target.

    4 key problems

    The report identified four key factors behind the malaise:

    1. complex, slow approvals, as well as delayed construction certificates and essential infrastructure connections
    2. lack of innovation and slow uptake of digital technologies and modern methods of construction
    3. the dominance of smaller building firms resulting in low economies-of-scale and project management challenges associated with supply chain fragmentation
    4. difficulties attracting and retaining skilled workers resulting in skills and labour shortages.

    The report proposes seven reform directions in response. These centre on speeding up the planning approval process, investing in research and development, and increasing workforce flexibility.

    Fixing things won’t be simple

    The Productivity Commission’s report has brought a welcome focus on planning and approvals as a key element of easing the housing crisis.

    It acknowledges that under-resourcing of agencies involved in the approvals process, such as local governments, has made the problem worse.

    One issue with increasing the number of planning approvals processed is that you then need to have a construction industry that can build fast enough to keep up with them.

    Currently, we don’t. Industry research shows since 2013, the number of workers within Australia’s construction workforce has increased by more than 25%. But they are working 2% fewer hours each year, and achieving an output that’s 25.4% lower.

    Keeping an eye on quality

    Amid any push to speed up approvals, we need to be mindful of the possible risks. Loosening building regulations can increase the risk of quality problems and inappropriate development.

    If widespread across the industry, such problems can cause significant personal and economic harm to households, social and economic costs for society. They can also increase building costs, insurance premiums and strata fees.

    This problem calls for a range of tools to reduce the risk of compromising on quality when regulations are loosened or changed. New South Wales has two key pieces of legislation in place that could act as a model for other states.

    One allows owners to sue if a person who carries out construction work fails to exercise reasonable care. The other allows the Building Commission to investigate building work and require rectification of defects for up to six years.

    NSW also has an independent builder trustworthiness rating scheme. This is known as iCirt and operated by credit rating agency Equifax.

    Innovation isn’t a panacea

    A major feature of the Productivity Commission’s report discusses the housing construction industry’s low innovation culture.

    However, much innovation is hidden from view, since it occurs at the manufacturing stage. And innovation itself is not a panacea.

    While calling for greater innovation seems obvious on the surface, research has shown its ability to increase productivity depends on a wide range of factors and is certainly not guaranteed. It can even increase costs and reduce quality and productivity if not managed effectively.

    More holistic workforce planning

    The report also highlights issues with attracting and retaining a skilled workforce. Issues include low apprenticeship take-up and completion rates, restrictive trade pathways, and large infrastructure projects drawing talent away.

    This raises a bigger issue. Despite workforce planning across the industry by the Construction Industry Training Board the industry still seems to be constantly reacting to a skilled labour shortage rather than planning ahead to predict and prevent one.



    Read more:
    Will new $10,000 apprentice payments help solve job shortages in construction? Not anytime soon

    Martin Loosemore 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. Here’s why increasing productivity in housing construction is such a tricky problem to solve – https://theconversation.com/heres-why-increasing-productivity-in-housing-construction-is-such-a-tricky-problem-to-solve-250048

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The United Kingdom remains deeply committed to the United Nations: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on practising multilateralism, reforming and improving global governance.

    The United Kingdom remains deeply committed to the United Nations.  

    But 80 years since its creation, with more countries engaged in conflict than ever before, we are falling short of its founding mission to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.

    And despite progress on health and education, significant global challenges remain. 

    The climate crisis is accelerating and the Sustainable Development Goals are off-track.

    Why so? There is more to this than the often-mentioned liquidity crisis.  

    In 80 years, UN membership has increased from 51 to 193 Member States, but the UN and its institutions are not fully representative of all its members.  

    We now live in a multipolar world, not a bipolar or unipolar one, whose challenges, climate, pandemics and cyber security are more transnational than national.

    As the Secretary-General reminded us and so many speakers today have reiterated, the Pact of the Future demonstrated a clear desire and a clear commitment to reinvigorate the multilateral system, including through reforming the UN and the international financial system.  

    Together, we need to redouble our efforts and find new ways to address emerging challenges.

    2025, the UN’s 80th anniversary and a year of key summits, is the first step on this path.  

    Next month we have the Commission on the Status of Women and the Beijing +30 meeting; in June we have the UN Oceans Conference; in July FFD4.  And later in the year the UN Social Summit and COP30, back in Brazil.  

    Together, these summits seek to address our shared concerns.  

    Their success is critical for progress and the UN’s reputation as our multilateral home.

    Second, we need to use the UN more effectively to deliver international peace and security.  

    Such progress must go hand in hand with upholding human rights.

    This starts first and foremost with the defence of the UN Charter as colleagues have references.  

    Nowhere is that more true today than in Ukraine, whose sovereignty and territorial integrity is under threat from Russian aggression.

    We must work to ensure that all UN tools, including its good offices, are used to deliver and advance peace.  

    For example, Personal Envoy Lamamra has a crucial platform to bring together the warring parties in Sudan.  

    We encourage reinvigorated momentum for mediation efforts, as well as a renewed focus on prevention to reduce crises before they happen.  

    This year’s Peacebuilding Architecture Review is an important opportunity in this regard.

    We also need to refresh our peacekeeping approach to ensure missions are fit for purpose and defend UN peacekeepers wherever they serve.  

    Attacks against them are unacceptable.  

    We honour, in particular today, MONUSCO peacekeepers who have fallen in defence of civilians in the DRC.

    Finally, in the face of growing global crises, from Sudan to Myanmar, we need to support the UN’s development and humanitarian programmes, across its agencies.  

    In Gaza, UNRWA, alongside the WFP and UNICEF, provides over 50% of all food aid.  

    We commend OCHA’s tireless efforts to reach those in need. 

    Humanitarian access and the protection of aid workers are integral to their successful delivery.

    In conclusion, President, colleagues, the Council is often characterised as an ineffective geopolitical theatre. 

    While reform of its membership is needed and the UK supports that, this body has the tools to implement its peace and security mandate.  

    We now need to strengthen our collective will to use them more effectively and, as the Secretary-General has said, in our 80th year, work to build the more peaceful, just and prosperous world that we know is within reach.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Barr, Artificial Intelligence: Hypothetical Scenarios for the Future

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have accelerated rapidly over the past few years.1 It is now commonplace to see autonomous vehicles navigating city streets, and generative AI tools are available on phones and other devices wherever we go. AI innovations make headlines and play a big role in financial markets, and generative AI has the potential to change how we think about productivity, labor markets and the macroeconomy.2 Today, I will address that question by outlining two hypothetical scenarios for AI’s impact and the implications for businesses, regulators, and society. I will focus my comments on Generative AI, or GenAI, a subset of AI that has seen significant growth and integration into economic activity in just a few short years.
    GenAI and Its AdoptionCompared to earlier iterations of AI, GenAI is able to generate content, which allows it to significantly enhance productivity across a range of knowledge-based activities and be used by people without coding skills. GenAI will likely become a “general purpose technology,” with widespread adoption, continuous improvement, and productivity enhancements to a wide range of sectors across the economy. We are already seeing GenAI improve the productivity of its own R&D.3 There is widespread enthusiasm for GenAI, and survey evidence shows much faster rates of consumer adoption of GenAI already than were seen for the personal computer or the internet.4 While actual deployment of GenAI is limited to some business functions, and there have been pitfalls along the way, businesses in almost every sector are experimenting with or considering how to make use of the technology.5
    Firms are also exploring Agentic AI—Gen AI systems that not only produce new content, but are also able to proactively pursue goals by generating innovative solutions and acting upon them at speed and scale.6 Imagining Agentic AI’s ultimate application, some speculate that we could experience a “country of geniuses in a data center”—a collective intelligence that surpasses human capabilities in problem-solving and collaboration.7 Some believe Agentic AI has the potential to connect ideas in disparate domains, potentially transforming research and development and society more broadly.8
    Hypothetical Scenarios Considering How GenAI Could EvolveToday, I will outline two hypothetical scenarios for considering how GenAI could evolve.9 In one, we see only incremental adoption that primarily augments what humans do today, but still leads to widespread productivity gains. In the other, we see transformative change where we extend human capabilities with far-reaching consequences. For each scenario, I consider the potential implications for the economy and financial sector.
    Thinking through hypothetical scenarios can help widen our lens to a range of possible outcomes and provide a framework for assessing the balance between benefits and risks. Scenarios are not predictions of the future, but provide a framework for analyzing the factors that could lead to different outcomes. Reality is complex. GenAI adoption rates will vary across industries, leading to diverse impacts on market structures. Elements of both scenarios will likely come to pass, and play out at different rates, which will influence the effects on the economy and society. In the short term, GenAI may be overhyped, while in the long run, it may be underappreciated. And, of course, things might turn out differently from these hypotheticals.
    Hypothetical 1: Incremental Progress with Widespread Productivity GainsFirst, let me begin with the incremental scenario, where GenAI primarily augments work in existing processes and leads to steady and widespread productivity gains, but does not fundamentally unlock new capabilities or transform the economy.
    In this state of the world, GenAI tools enhance efficiency and enable more personalized solutions across industries, in ways that have incremental—but still meaningful—effects on people’s lives. For instance, in customer service, professional writing—but not this speech—and software engineering, GenAI-powered tools are already supporting workers, improving accuracy and speed, and these effects could spread to other sectors.10 In this world, health care sees significant improvements as GenAI reduces administrative burdens, assists with diagnostics, and personalizes treatment plans based on real-time patient data. Medicines and other treatments are developed at a faster pace.11 Education is similarly affected, as GenAI alleviates administrative tasks for teachers, allows lessons to be tailored to individual students, and permits students to learn by doing.12 In manufacturing, GenAI-optimized supply chains anticipate and adjust more quickly to disruptions, and current manufacturing processes are refined through virtual iteration.13 In materials science, GenAI-driven experimentation accelerates the discovery of new materials, leading to advances in everything from construction to electronics.14 Turning to the financial sector, we could see similar productivity gains. Community banks leverage GenAI-powered chatbots to provide customized financial advice rooted in local knowledge, while institutions of all sizes continue to advance use of GenAI for compliance monitoring, fraud detection, risk management, and document analysis.15
    The impact to society would be incrementally positive in this state of the world. Humans would use GenAI as a tool to deliver goods and services that we currently produce in a more efficient way. Productivity would go up. The economy would grow at a faster pace.16
    What does this mean for the labor force? The impact will depend on the industry and the nature of the job. GenAI experiments suggest the technology holds the promise of levelling up skills and bringing productivity of lower-performing workers into line with higher performing workers.17 In other cases, it could augment the highest performers, leaving them more time for creativity or strategic aspects of their roles. Increasing automation for certain tasks may displace some workers, where certain skills can be replicated by GenAI. Historically, as technology has replaced some jobs, it has augmented existing roles or created new ones.18 However, this is not to downplay the individual cost for workers who need to retrain, find other employment, or change careers in response to major changes in labor demand. Society will need to account for these possible effects of AI.
    What does this mean for the economy? As I noted before, the economy should grow, if the incremental productivity gains are widespread. However, in this scenario, it is possible that the expected value creation from GenAI was overhyped, anticipating transformative breakthroughs rather than incremental productivity gains. This could trigger market corrections for the firms that have heavily invested in this technology if reality doesn’t measure up to expectations. While the U.S. economy experienced a surge of productivity growth during the dot.com boom in the late 1990s, it was followed by a wave of bankruptcies, capital overhang, and a cautious business investment climate.19 The effects of the ensuing recession were widespread.
    What does this mean for financial stability and other financial risks? In this incremental scenario, GenAI may magnify both the vulnerabilities and sources of resilience that already exist in the system. Attractive trades become more crowded, but risk managers gain new insights.20 Malicious actors gain new tools, but cyber defenders become better armed. So long as financial regulators, enterprise risk managers, and others charged with managing downside risks prioritize efforts to keep pace with the evolving financial ecosystem, there’s nothing to suggest a wholesale transformation of the balance of risks. Of course, keeping pace will pose challenges, and it’s important that we all focus on the need to meet these risks.
    Hypothetical Scenario 2: Transformative ChangeNow, let’s consider a more dramatic hypothetical scenario, in which GenAI adoption extends beyond improving on what we currently do, and provides new expertise and capabilities that have transformative effects on the economy and society. In this scenario, humans deploy their imagination and creativity—combined with robust investment in research and development—to deploy intelligent GenAI systems to make rapid breakthroughs in, for example, biotechnology, robotics, and energy, fundamentally reshaping existing industries and creating new ones. In this instance, to focus the mind, we can think of GenAI as no longer only a tool for scientists to analyze data—in a sense, it becomes the scientist, directing the research.21
    For instance, let’s say that GenAI applications in health care do not simply improve how we currently deliver care, but also enable therapies that target genetic mutations and cure diseases previously considered incurable.22 Similarly, manufacturing evolves to create GenAI-driven robotic factories, with goods produced with new materials and atomic precision.23 Materials science is transformed through the discovery of programmable materials and self-healing substances, all of which reshape construction, technology, and consumer goods.24 Meanwhile, GenAI optimizes fusion energy research, expediting the shift to sustainable energy sources.25 And GenAI helps to create the next generation of quantum computing.26 In that way, GenAI improves its own energy sources and computing capabilities, enabling it to become a more powerful creative tool.27
    Finance also looks radically different than it does today. Individuals with access to hyper-personalized financial planning and businesses with innovative products and services seamlessly connect with one another through near-frictionless or novel forms of financial intermediation.28 Trading strategies and risk-management practices are boosted by greater GenAI-based analytic tools that have dynamic real-time access to an enormous knowledge base in both the public and private domains.29
    Although this transformative scenario is more speculative and is accompanied by a far greater degree of uncertainty than the first, it is important to consider given the extraordinary opportunities for human advancement and welfare that could arise, even if just one of its transformative components were to come to fruition. We would need to fundamentally reimagine how the economy is structured.
    What are the impacts on the labor force, in a world where GenAI’s capabilities extend beyond what humans can accomplish today? Humans may have a role to manage multi-agent GenAI frameworks, or fill gaps where GenAI solutions remain expensive or inefficient for some applications. But this is a world where some workers may see their current jobs disappearing. It is also a world in which they may see their own work transformed and have many more choices about the work they do. The nature of labor would radically change, and this will require us to have broader conversations about how to organize the economy. These conversations should wrestle with how to navigate major economic shifts in a way that recognizes the impact on the human condition, and the extent to which people derive their communities, friendships, personal sense of meaning and dignity from their work.
    What about the competitive landscape? There is probably a greater likelihood that rewards for businesses would be distributed more unevenly at first, as significant breakthroughs with far-reaching ramifications may benefit a subset of firms and industries and concentrate economic power in firms that control GenAI breakthroughs. If only a handful of firms have the ability to accomplish the incredible things I’ve mentioned above, they may dominate markets and crowd out competitors. To the extent that GenAI becomes broadly effective, widely available, and cheap, these market advantages could lessen over time if the right regulatory environment supports competitive market dynamics.30 But history suggests caution in this regard; a handful of players may dominate.31
    And finally, for finance, we should anticipate fundamental changes in this scenario. When it’s working well, the financial system helps move money and risk through time and space.32 To the extent there are fundamental changes to how the economy is organized, we could need a new set of institutions, markets, and products to facilitate transactions among households, businesses, and GenAI agents.
    What Should We Do?Among the many ways in which we can help to harness the potential benefits of GenAI and minimize its risks, I will highlight only a couple today.
    Financial institutions, and the Federal Reserve System, should consider investing sufficient resources in understanding GenAI technology, incorporating it into their workflows where appropriate, and training staff on how to use the technology responsibly and effectively.33 Meanwhile, the financial regulatory community should approach the changing landscape with agility and flexibility. And beyond the financial sector, collaboration between governments, private industry, and research institutions will be critical to ensure that GenAI systems are not weaponized in catastrophic ways. We should continue to focus on responsible AI research and development and implement safeguards against misuse, including monitoring systems, standards for secure AI system development, and agreement on red lines for acceptable use cases.34 We should be attuned to the impact of GenAI on our economic and political institutions. There’s a risk that it concentrates economic and political power in the hands of the very few and could lead to the gains being realized only by a small group, while the rest are left behind.
    Another thing I want to emphasize is AI governance. I think most would agree that the goal of the technology is to improve the human condition, and to do that, we need to be intentional in advancing that goal. We should make sure that we think about GenAI as enhancing, not replacing, humans, and set up best practices and cultural norms to that end. Every financial institution should recognize the limitations of the technology, explore where and when GenAI belongs in any process, and identify how humans can be best positioned to be in the loop. We should also focus on data quality, and make sure that uses of GenAI do not perpetuate or amplify biases inherent in the data used to train the system or make incorrect inferences to the extent the data is incomplete or nonrepresentative.35 In the realm of regulation, frameworks for understanding model risk may need to be updated to address the complexity and challenges of explaining AI methods and the difficulty of assessing data quality.
    We need to be attuned to the risk in finance. The very attributes that make GenAI attractive—the speed, automaticity, and ability to optimize financial strategies—also present risk.36 When the technology becomes ubiquitous, use of GenAI could lead to herding behavior and the concentration of risk, potentially amplifying market volatility. As GenAI agents will be directed to maximize profit, they may converge on strategies to maximize returns through coordinated market manipulation, potentially fueling asset bubbles and crashes. Speed, automaticity, and ubiquity could generate new risks at wide scale.37
    We also should monitor how introduction of this technology changes the banking landscape. Nonbanks may be more nimble and risk-forward in incorporating GenAI into their operations, which may push intermediation to less-regulated, less transparent corners of the financial sector. In addition, this competitive pressure may push all institutions, including regulated institutions, to take a more aggressive approach to GenAI adoption, heightening the governance, alignment, and financial risks I mentioned before.
    In conclusion, while AI’s impact will vary across industries and the reality is evolving, the scenarios I have outlined today provide a framework to begin thinking about how we should respond to developments in GenAI. However, as I mentioned above, elements of both scenarios will likely be present in the future, and play out at different rates, which will influence the effects on the economy and society. Rapid advances in this technology, such as Agentic AI and advancements in open-source models, underscore just how new this technology is and the importance of understanding what it means for individuals, businesses, and markets. Thank you.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board. Return to text
    2. See, for instance, Lisa D. Cook, “Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and the Path Ahead for Productivity,” (speech at Technology-Enabled Disruption: Implications of AI, Big Data, and Remote Work Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, October 1, 2024). Return to text
    3. See Gaurav Sett, “How AI Can Automate AI Research and Development,” RAND Commentary, October 24, 2024. Return to text
    4. See Cory Breaux and Emin Dinlersoz, “How Many U.S. Businesses Use Artificial Intelligence?” (Washington: U.S. Census Bureau, November 28, 2023); Alexander Bick, Adam Blandin, and David J. Deming, “The Rapid Adoption of Generative AI,” NBER Working Paper No. 32966 (Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, September 2024, revised February 2025); and Leland Crane, Michael Green, and Paul Soto, “Measuring AI Uptake in the Workplace,” FEDS Notes (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, February 5, 2025). Return to text
    5. There’s evidence of firms experimenting with these tools and then abandoning them—due to a multitude of reasons. See Kathryn Bonney, Cory Breaux, Cathy Buffington, Emin Dinlersoz, Lucia S. Foster, Nathan Goldschlag, John C. Haltiwanger, Zachary Kroff, and Keith Savage, “Tracking Firm Use of AI in Real Time: A Snapshot from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey,” NBER Working Paper No. 32319 (Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, April 2024). Return to text
    6. For more on Agentic AI’s uses, advantages, and risks, see Mark Purdy, “What Is Agentic AI, and How Will It Change Work?” Harvard Business Review (December 12, 2024). Return to text
    7. See Dario Amodei, “Machines of Loving Grace,” October 2024, https://darioamodei.com/machines-of-loving-grace. Return to text
    8. For biology and drug discovery, see Jean-Philippe Vert, “Unlocking the Mysteries of Complex Biological Systems with Agentic AI,” MIT Technology Review (November 13, 2024), https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/11/13/1106750/unlocking-the-mysteries-of-complex-biological-systems-with-agentic-ai; and “Owkin Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase I AI-Optimized Clinical Trial of OKN4395, a First-in-Class EP2/EP4/DP1 Triple Inhibitor for Patients with Solid Tumors,” Business Wire, January 30, 2025, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250130436779/en/Owkin-Announces-First-Patient-Dosed-in-Phase-I-AI-optimized-Clinical-Trial-of-OKN4395-a-First-in-Class-EP2EP4DP1-Triple-Inhibitor-for-Patients-with-Solid-Tumors. Return to text
    9. Others have used other types of scenarios. See Anton Korinek, “The Economics of Transformative AI,” The Reporter (Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, December 31, 2024); Iñaki Aldasoro, Leonardo Gambacorta, Anton Korinek, Vatsala Shreeti, and Merlin Stein, “Intelligent Financial System: How AI Is Transforming Finance (PDF),” BIS Working Papers No. 1194 (Basel, Switzerland: Bank for International Settlements, June 2024); and Ethan Mollick, Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI (New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2024). Return to text
    10. For worker productivity gains in customer service, see Erik Brynjolfsson, Danielle Li, and Lindsey R. Raymond, “Generative AI at Work,” NBER Working Paper No. 31161 (Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, April 2023, revised November 2023). For GenAI assisted writing gains, see Shakked Noy and Whitney Zhang, “Experimental Evidence on the Productivity Effects of Generative Artificial Intelligence,” Science, vol. 381, no. 6654 (July 2023): 187–92; Jordan Usdan, Allison Connell Pensky, and Harley Chang, “Generative AI’s Impact on Graduate Student Writing Productivity and Quality,” SSRN (August 29, 2024), https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4941022. For software engineering, see Sida Peng, Eirini Kalliamvakou, Peter Cihon, and Mert Demirer, “The Impact of AI on Developer Productivity: Evidence from GitHub Copilot,” arXiv:2302.06590, February 13, 2023; Leonardo Gambacorta, Han Qiu, Shuo Shan, and Daniel M. Rees, “Generative AI and Labour Productivity: A Field Experiment on Coding (PDF),” BIS Working Papers No. 1208 (Basel, Switzerland: Bank for International Settlements, September 2024); Zheyuan (Kevin) Cui, Mert Demirer, Sonia Jaffe, Leon Musolff, Sida Peng, and Tobias Salz, “The Effects of Generative AI on High-Skilled Work: Evidence from Three Field Experiments with Software Developers,” SSRN (September 5, 2024, revised February 10, 2025), https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4945566. For worker gains in the consulting industry, see Fabrizio Dell’Acqua, Edward McFowland III, Ethan Mollick, Hila Lifshitz-Assaf, Katherine C. Kellogg, Saran Rajendran, Lisa Krayer, François Candelon, and Karim R. Lakhani, “Navigating the Jagged Technological Frontier: Field Experimental Evidence of the Effects of AI on Knowledge Worker Productivity and Quality (PDF),” Harvard Business School Working Paper No. 24-013 (September 2023). Return to text
    11. See Ethan Goh, Robert Gallo, Jason Hom, et al., “Large Language Model Influence on Diagnostic Reasoning: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” JAMA Network Open (October 28, 2024), https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2825395; Nikhil Agarwal, Alex Moehring, Pranav Rajpurkar, and Tobias Salz, “Combining Human Expertise with Artificial Intelligence: Experimental Evidence from Radiology,” NBER Working Paper No. 31422 (Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, July 2023, revised March 2024); Ashley Capoot, “Reid Hoffman Enters ‘Wondrous and Terrifying’ World of Health Care with Latest AI Startup,” CNBC, February 2, 2025, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/02/reid-hoffman-launches-manas-ai-a-new-drug-discovery-startup.html; Kang Zhang, Xin Yang, Yifei Wang, Yunfang Yu, Niu Huang, Gen Li, Xiaokun Li, Joseph C. Wu, and Shengyong Yang, “Artificial Intelligence in Drug Development,” Nature Medicine, vol. 31 (January 2025): 45–59, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03434-4; Qian Liao, Yu Zhang, Ying Chu, Yi Ding, Zhen Liu, Xianyi Zhao, Yizheng Wang, Jie Wan, Yijie Ding, Prayag Tiwari, Quan Zou, and Ke Han, “Application of Artificial Intelligence in Drug-Target Interactions Prediction: A Review,” NPJ Biomedical Innovations, vol. 2, no. 1 (January 2025), https://doi.org/10.1038/s44385-024-00003-9. Return to text
    12. For more on education, see Justin Wolfers, “An Econ Educators Guide to our AI-Powered Future,” Macmillan Learning, EconEd (presentation), September 26, 2024, https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/events/econed; and Anne J. Manning, “Professor Tailored AI Tutor to Physics Course. Engagement Doubled,” Harvard Gazette, September 5, 2024. Return to text
    13. See Maxime C. Cohen and Christopher S. Tang, “The Role of AI in Developing Resilient Supply Chains,” Georgetown Journal of International Affairs (February 5, 2024); and Remko Van Hoek and Mary Lacity, “How Global Companies Use AI to Prevent Supply Chain Disruptions,” Harvard Business Review, November 21, 2023. Return to text
    14. See Sheldon Fernandez, “How Generative AI Can Be Used in Electronics,” Forbes, April 26, 2023, https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2023/04/26/how-generative-ai-can-be-used-in-electronics-manufacturing. Return to text
    15. For U.S. financial institutions, see Elizabeth Judd, “How to Balance Human and Machine While Using Chatbots,” Independent Banker, January 1, 2025; and U.S. Department of the Treasury, “Artificial Intelligence in Financial Services (PDF)” (Washington: U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 2024). For foreign financial institutions, see Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority, “Artificial Intelligence in UK Financial Services—2024” (London: Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority, November 21, 2024); and Bank of Japan, “Use and Risk Management of Generative AI by Japanese Financial Institutions,” Financial System Report Annex (Tokyo: Bank of Japan, October 29, 2024). For global financial institutions, see OECD, “FSB Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Finance (PDF),” Financial Stability Board, September 30, 2024. Return to text
    16. Lida R. Weinstock and Paul Tierno, “The Macroeconomic Effects of Artificial Intelligence (PDF),” Congressional Research Service, January 28, 2025. Return to text
    17. See Shakked Noy and Whitney Zhang, “Experimental Evidence on the Productivity Effects of Generative Artificial Intelligence,” Science, vol. 381, no. 6654 (July 13, 2023): 187–92; Brynjolfsson et al., “Generative AI at Work” (see footnote 9); and “for software engineering” from footnote 9; Korinek (2024) from footnote 7. Return to text
    18. See David H. Autor, “Why Are There Still So Many Jobs? The History and Future of Workplace Automation,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 29, no. 3 (Summer 2015): 3–30.See Simona Abis and Laura Veldkamp. Return to text
    19. See Ben S. Bernanke, “Will Business Investment Bounce Back?” (speech at the Forecasters Club, New York, NY, April 24, 2003). Return to text
    20. See Financial Stability Board, The Financial Stability Implications of Artificial Intelligence (Basel, Switzerland: Financial Stability Board, November 14, 2024); and Jon Danielsson and Andreas Uthemann, “How AI Can Undermine Financial Stability,” VoxEU: CEPR, January 22, 2024. Return to text
    21. For some very early examples, see Davide Castelvecchi, “Researchers Built an ‘AI Scientist’—What Can It Do?” Nature, August 30, 2024, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02842-3; Daniil A. Boiko, Robert MacKnight, Ben Kline, and Gabe Gomes, “Autonomous Chemical Research with Large Language Models,” Nature, December 20, 2023, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06792-0; and Helena Kudiabor, “Virtual Lab Powered by ‘AI Scientists’ Super-Charges Biomedical Research,” Nature, December 4, 2024, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01684-3. Return to text
    22. For more on drug discovery and gene therapy, see Betty Zou, “Team Uses AI and Quantum Computing to Target ‘Undruggable’ Cancer Protein,” Phys Org, January 27, 2025; and Mohammad Ghazi Vakili et al., “Quantum-Computing-Enhanced Algorithm Unveils Potential KRAS Inhibitors,” Nature Biotechnology, January 22, 2025, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-024-02526-3. Return to text
    23. See NASA Technology Transfer Program, “Robonaut 2: Hazardous Environments (MSC-TOPS-44)”. Return to text
    24. For more on material sciences innovation, see Andy Extance, “First GPT-4-Powered AI Lab Assistant Independently Directs Key Organic Reactions,” Chemistry World, January 8, 2024, https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/first-gpt-4-powered-ai-lab-assistant-independently-directs-key-organic-reactions/4018723.article; Chenyang Liu, Xi Zhang, Jiahui Chang, You Lyu, Jianan Zhao, and Song Qiu, “Programmable Mechanical Metamaterials: Basic Concepts, Types, Construction Strategies—A Review,” Frontiers, vol. 11 (March 19, 2024); Aidan Toner-Rodgers, “Artificial Intelligence, Scientific Discovery, and Product Innovation,” MIT, November 27, 2024, https://aidantr.github.io/files/AI_innovation.pdf; and Thomas Hayes et al., “Simulating 500 Million Years of Evolution with a Language Model,” Science, January 16, 2025. Return to text
    25. See Tan Sui, “AI Could Help Overcome the Hurdles to Making Nuclear Fusion a Practical Energy Source,” The Conversation, January 29, 2025, https://theconversation.com/ai-could-help-overcome-the-hurdles-to-making-nuclear-fusion-a-practical-energy-source-247608; Jaemin Seo, SangKyeun Kim, Azarakhsh Jalalvand, Rory Conlin, Andrew Rothstein, Joseph Abbate, Keith Erickson, Josiah Wai, Ricardo Shousha, and Egemen Kolemen, “Avoiding Fusion Plasma Tearing Instability with Deep Reinforcement Learning,” Nature, vol. 626, February 21, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07024-9; and Massimiliano Lupo Pasini, German Samolyuk, Markus Eisenbach, Jong Youl Choi, Junqi Yin, and Ying Yang, “First-Principles Data for Solid Solution Niobium-Tantalum-Vanadium Alloys with Body-Centered-Cubic Structures,” Nature: Scientific Data, vol. 11, no. 907 (August 22, 2024), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03720-3. Return to text
    26. Nakia Melecio, “Exploring the Synergy: Quantum Computing and Generative AI at the Intersection of Innovation,” ScaleUp Lab Program, Enterprise Innovation Institute, Georgia Tech. Return to text
    27. For an example on GenAI and quantum computers, see Rahul Rao, “Quantum Computers Can Now Run Powerful AI That Works like the Brain,” Scientific American, April 22, 2024, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/quantum-computers-can-run-powerful-ai-that-works-like-the-brain. For an example about AI and clean energy, see Office of Policy, “How AI Can Help Clean Energy Meet Growing Electricity Demand” (Washington: U.S. Department of Energy, August 16, 2024). For examples of how GenAI is augmenting creativity, see Tojin T. Eapen, Daniel J. Finkenstadt, Josh Folk, and Lokesh Venkataswamy, “How Generative AI Can Augment Human Creativity,” Harvard Business Review (July–August 2023); and Anil R. Doshi and Oliver P. Hauser, “Generative AI Enhances Individual Creativity but Reduces the Collective Diversity of Novel Content,” Science Advances, vol. 10, no. 28 (July 12, 2024). Return to text
    28. See Iñaki Aldasoro, Leonardo Gambacorta, Anton Korinek, Vatsala Shreeti, and Merlin Stein, “Intelligent Financial System: How AI Is Transforming Finance (PDF),” BIS Working Papers No. 1194 (Basel, Switzerland: Bank for International Settlements, June 2024); and Sarah Hammer, “From Turing to Trading: How AI Is Revolutionizing Finance,” Finance Centers at the Wharton School, July 10, 2024. Return to text
    29. Large language models may even allow for the creation of synthetic data that allows for enhancing macroeconomic nowcasting and forecasting through economic AI agents that can also help with analyzing macroeconomic trends and contribute to more informed financial decisionmaking. See Anne Lundgaard Hansen, John J. Horton, Sophia Kazinnik, Daniela Puzzello, and Ali Zarifhonarvar, “Simulating the Survey of Professional Forecasters,” SSRN (December 1, 2024), https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5066286. Return to text
    30. Kelly Ng, Brandon Drenon, Tom Gerken, and Marc Cieslak, “DeepSeek: The Chinese AI App That Has the World Talking,” BBC News, February 4, 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yv5976z9po. Return to text
    31. For example, see IBM Newsroom, “Data Suggests Growth in Enterprise Adoption of AI Is Due to Widespread Deployment by Early Adopters, But Barriers Keep 40% in the Exploration and Experimentation Phases,” IBM, January 10, 2024, https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-01-10-Data-Suggests-Growth-in-Enterprise-Adoption-of-AI-is-Due-to-Widespread-Deployment-by-Early-Adopters; and Jefferies Editorial Team, “Can Startups Outsmart Big Tech in the AI Race?” Jefferies, September 17, 2024, https://www.jefferies.com/insights/boardroom-intelligence/can-startups-outsmart-big-tech-in-the-ai-race. Return to text
    32. If AI agents proliferate in financial transactions, we will also need to be careful about the potential for unintended consequences such as collusion among AI agents. See Winston Wei Dou, Itay Goldstein, and Yan Ji, “AI-Powered Trading, Algorithmic Collusion, and Price Efficiency,” Jacobs Levy Equity Management Center for Quantitative Financial Research Paper, The Wharton School Research Paper, May 30, 2024, https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4452704. Return to text
    33. See Request for Information on the Development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan, 90 Fed. Reg. 9,088 (PDF) (February 6, 2025). Return to text
    34. See Heather Domin, “AI Governance Trends: How Regulation, Collaboration, and Skills Demand Are Shaping the Industry,” World Economic Forum, September 5, 2024. Return to text
    35. For more on bias introduced in models, see Moshe Glickman and Tali Sharot, “How Human–AI Feedback Loops Alter Human Perceptual, Emotional, and Social Judgements,” Nature Human Behavior, December 18, 2024, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02077-2; Saul Asiel Flores, “‘Bias in, Bias out’: Tackling Bias in Medical Artificial Intelligence,” Yale School of Medicine, November 18, 2024; and Adam Zewe, “Researchers Reduce Bias in AI Models While Preserving or Improving Accuracy,” MIT News, December 11, 2024. For governance in central banks, see Claudia Alvarez Toca and Alexandre Tombini, Governance of AI Adoption in Central Banks (PDF) (Basel, Switzerland: Bank for International Settlements, January 2025). Return to text
    36. See, e.g., Michael P. Wellman, “Artificial Intelligence in Financial Services (PDF)” (written testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, September 20, 2023). Return to text
    37. See Jon Danielsson and Andreas Uthemann, “AI Financial Crises,” VoxEU: CEPR, July 26, 2024. For more on algorithm collusion, see Wei Dou et al., “AI-Powered Trading, Algorithmic Collusion, and Price Efficiency” (see footnote 33). Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Securing a future for Grangemouth

    Source: Scottish Government

    Additional £25 million to establish a Grangemouth Just Transition Fund.

    First Minister John Swinney has announced an additional £25 million to establish a fund to help secure the future of Grangemouth.

    During a statement to Parliament he also called on the UK Government to address the immediacy and urgency of the situation facing Grangemouth by at least matching the Scottish Government’s investment.

    The First Minister said:

    “The aim of this fund is to expedite any of the potential solutions that will be set out in the Project Willow report, as well as other proposals that will give Grangemouth a secure and sustainable future.

    “We have made the strategic decision to support this key activity through an additional draw down of ScotWind revenue totalling £25 million, to add to the £7.8 million in our budget for 2025-26. Altogether, the Scottish Government – with a finite budget – has committed or already invested £87 million in Grangemouth.

    “We need the UK Government to do at least the same and deliver a fair amount to avoid significant economic disruption in central Scotland, and to protect and promote Scotland’s – and Grangemouth’s – future interests.”

    The First Minister confirmed to Parliament that an amendment will be lodged to the Scottish Government’s 2025-26 Budget Bill to allocate an additional £25 million to establish a Grangemouth Just Transition Fund.

    Funds will be available immediately in the new financial year to support businesses and stakeholders to bring forward investible propositions over the next 12 months, and if necessary, beyond.

    He added:

    “We believe that refining at Grangemouth should continue, that this closure is premature and that it is detrimental to Scotland’s transition to net zero.

    “We recognise the significance of the fact that we are now facing a programme of redundancies at Grangemouth and the impact this will have on the lives of those employed at the site. Every person, every family and every business impacted by the closing of the Grangemouth refinery, matters. Our immediate focus, rightly, is on providing those who are losing their jobs with targeted skills support.

    “Everyone working at Grangemouth’s refinery is a valued employee with skills that are key to Scotland’s net zero future. We want them to stay in Scotland and continue to make their lives here. We will do all we can to ensure they have a future in the Scottish economy as we make the transition to net zero.

    “That is why we are also working to secure Grangemouth’s role in that future and create an investible industrial strategy for the site.”

    The First Minister also called on the UK Government to continue to work together with the Scottish Government to drive forward the next phase of Project Willow; to expedite a decision on Acorn and the Scottish Cluster of carbon capture projects; and to make urgent progress on allocating funding for the second round of hydrogen production projects. 

    Background

    Securing a future for Grangemouth – First Minister’s statement – 18 February 2025

    In September 2024 the Scottish and UK Governments published a joint plan to secure the industrial future of Grangemouth. 

    In November the Scottish Government also sought views on a draft Just Transition Plan for the wider Grangemouth industrial cluster.

    Project Willow is assessing credible options to begin building a new long-term industry at the refinery site. A range of proposals have been shortlisted by the UK and Scottish governments, as part of a joint-funded £1.5 million feasibility study. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Minimum alcohol pricing: what we found in Wales after five years

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Katy Holloway, Professor of Criminology, University of South Wales

    Almost five years ago, a new law came into force in Wales making it illegal to sell alcohol for less than 50p per unit.

    Since its introduction, we have been evaluating the effects of minimum alcohol pricing and our findings have recently been published. These will help Welsh Government ministers decide on the future of the policy beyond its six-year trial period.

    The price of many alcoholic drinks in Welsh shops increased in March 2020. Most noticeably, large three litre bottles of strong white cider (containing 22 units of alcohol) rose from less than £5 to £11.

    The price of some beers, wines and spirits also increased, though to a lesser extent. In pubs, clubs and restaurants, the introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol made little difference, as prices were already well above the 50p per unit threshold.

    The main goal of the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018 is to reduce alcohol-related harm and protect the health of those regularly drinking more than the recommended 14 units per week.

    Contrary to popular belief, minimum pricing for alcohol is not a tax. This means that any extra money from higher prices goes to the retailers and producers, not to the Welsh government.

    While many people enjoy drinking alcohol without any problem, some patterns of alcohol use are associated with significant physical, mental and social harms. It costs UK society more than £27 billion a year through a combination of health, crime, workplace and social welfare costs.

    Research has shown that making alcohol less affordable can reduce consumption and hence related harms. The World Health Organization considers minimum pricing one of its “best buys” for tackling harmful alcohol use.

    While minimum alcohol pricing is in place in several countries, policies differ. In 2018, Scotland became the first country to introduce a national minimum price for all types of alcohol. Two years later, Wales followed suit.

    The Republic of Ireland introduced minimum pricing in January 2022, while Northern Ireland has been engaged in consultation on the policy for several years. There are no plans for the introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol in England.

    The policy was introduced in Wales primarily to protect hazardous and harmful drinkers, who tend to consume more low-cost, high-strength alcohol. But evaluating its effect has been complex, especially due to the COVID pandemic, which disrupted drinking habits and the availability of alcohol. Other economic factors, including the cost of living crisis, have also influenced affordability.

    What we found

    Many of the findings within the 11 reports from our Welsh evaluation have strong resonance with those elsewhere, particularly those of the final Scottish evaluation.

    Drawing from our research, we have five important findings. First, implementation in Wales has been smooth. Retailers have largely complied with the law, and enforcement has been effective.

    Second, certain cheap alcohol products have disappeared. Large bottles of strong cider, for example, are now rare. There have also been shifts in promotions and product availability.

    Third, there are indications that overall alcohol consumption in Wales has declined. While it is difficult to measure directly, purchasing data suggests a reduction.

    Fourth, concerns about unintended consequences have not materialised significantly. Predictions of a rise in home brewing, substance switching, shoplifting and cross-border purchasing have not been widely observed. While some people living near the border have bought alcohol in England, this appears to be opportunistic rather than nationwide.

    Finally, some drinkers have changed their purchasing habits. A minority have switched from cider to wine or spirits as price differences narrowed. Others, particularly those on low incomes, experienced further struggles in financially maintaining their drinking habits.

    Our recommendations

    Minimum pricing for alcohol is well supported by evidence. It is not without its critics, especially those citing continued trends in actual numbers of alcohol-related deaths. Its implementation in Wales has noticeable effects, most of which are positive.

    Based on our findings, we recommend that the Welsh Government retains minimum alcohol pricing. But we also recognise the need for some adjustments.



    Read more:
    Alcohol prescribing for severe withdrawal – what the research shows

    The 50p per unit price, set over a decade ago, should be reviewed. Our evidence suggests an increase in price is needed to maintain the policy’s effectiveness. We believe the policy needs to be accompanied by well-funded treatment and support services for people experiencing alcohol-related difficulties.

    Policymakers must also acknowledge the disproportionate effect of minimum alcohol pricing on those with the lowest incomes. But this should not be a reason to abandon it. We do not advocate for making unhealthy foods cheaper to tackle food poverty. The same principle applies to alcohol policy.

    Minimum alcohol pricing targets affordability rather than addressing all aspects of alcohol harm. It is not a silver bullet, and so should only be one component of comprehensive strategy delivery. If combined with other policy measures and social support, it has the potential to significantly contribute to reductions in alcohol-related harm in Wales.

    Katy Holloway currently receives funding from Health Care Research Wales and Welsh Government. She has previously received funding from a wide range of organisations including NIHR, Home Office, and Ministry of Justice.

    Wulf Livingston receives funding from Welsh and Scottish Governments, World Health Organisation, National Institute for Health Research, Health Boards, alcohol and drug commissioning partnerships and third sector charities. He has previously recieved funding from many of the aforementioned, and in addition ERSC, Local Authorities, Pocklington Trust, Alcohol research UK and Welsh Universities WIN Fund.

    – ref. Minimum alcohol pricing: what we found in Wales after five years – https://theconversation.com/minimum-alcohol-pricing-what-we-found-in-wales-after-five-years-248189

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Cottontail review: how a man’s journey through grief mirrors our search for peace – by an expert in death and grieving

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chao Fang, Lecturer in Sociology, Deputy Director of the Centre for Ageing and the Life Course, University of Liverpool

    Cottontail (コットンテール), a newly released Japanese film, tells the touching and relatable story of Kenzaburo (Ken), a man in his late middle age grieving the loss of his wife, Akiko, after a long illness. To honour her dying wish, he embarks on a journey to take her ashes to the Lake District in northern England – a place deeply meaningful to her.

    It was not just the beauty of the landscape that drew her, but also its connection to Peter Rabbit, a character she had loved since childhood and where she had made cherished memories with her parents.

    What begins as a cross-continental trip with his son and family soon unfolds into a deeply personal and solitary quest for Ken. As a husband and father, he struggles to connect with his son, confronting the unspoken emotional walls that make expressing grief so profoundly challenging. Through this journey, Ken seeks not just peace for his loss but also a way to reconcile the past with the present.

    I found Cottontail a beautifully delicate film with a thought-provoking narrative. As an expert in ageing, death and dying, particularly in Japan, I also found its depiction of grief realistic.

    Like Ken, many of us may feel disbelief or denial when facing loss. Memories of our loved ones can wash over us in overwhelming waves, catching us off guard in the most unexpected moments. Whether it’s a familiar scene that evokes a flood of emotions, a conversation with a friend, or even a fleeting dream, the smallest reminders – both joyful and painful – can surface at any time.

    The root of these challenges lies in navigating a world that no longer includes our loved one. Psychiatrist Colin Parkes described bereavement as a psychosocial transition, a profound shift requiring adaptation to a new reality.

    Grief, he suggested, emerges from the breakdown of the world we take for granted, the beliefs and expectations we hold about the future and our plans. When loss occurs, this framework collapses, forcing us to relearn how to live in a world forever changed.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Yet, grief is not simply about building a new life without the person we’ve lost.

    Over a century ago, the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud emphasised the importance of gradually detaching from the pain of loss and redirecting our emotional energy toward new relationships and pursuits. Today, in a society that often prioritises efficiency and productivity, there’s an unspoken expectation to “complete” the process of grief and quickly return to “normal”.

    But grief resists such timelines. As I’ve argued elsewhere, healing is not about moving on but learning to carry loss forward.

    This is poignantly illustrated in Cottontail: for Ken, scattering Akiko’s ashes in England is not about leaving her or the life they shared behind, but about learning to live with loss, weaving memories of her into his ongoing life.

    Cottontail trailer.

    Rewriting the book of life

    To grieve is like rewriting the book of our lives – a painstaking process of revisiting, revising, and reimagining a narrative that once felt complete. The concept of “narrative identity” captures this: not erasing the past but weaving it into a new story that continues to unfold, where love and loss coexist, shaping who we are now and who we will become.

    Rewriting life after loss is never a solitary journey – it’s shared with others. Ken’s grief is intertwined with his strained bond with his son, Toshi.

    Preoccupied with work, Ken had neglected their relationship, leaving Toshi yearning for deeper connection. Now, drowning in grief, Ken faces the challenge of reconciling his own pain while rebuilding their bond – a dilemma familiar to many experiencing loss.

    A key theme in Ken’s grief journey is the “stiff upper lip” mentality – an emotional restraint that stops him from expressing feelings or accepting support from his son. This stoic attitude, common among older men but seen across genders, ages and cultures, often comes at the cost of hidden stress.

    My research with bereaved older adults shows that suppressing emotions isolates individuals and blocks external support, making healing and connection harder.

    On his journey, Ken meets a grieving father and daughter who openly acknowledge their emotions and support each other. Their willingness to express their feelings shows the power of emotional literacy – the ability to recognise and communicate emotions.

    This highlights the importance of grief literacy not just for individuals, but for wider social networks. When people can understand and support one another’s grief, finding peace with loss becomes more attainable, and the process of rewriting life after loss becomes a collective endeavour.

    The film concludes with Ken chasing a rabbit by Lake Windermere for his granddaughter, joined by Toshi’s family. For Ken, the rabbit is not just Cottontail or a memory of Akiko – it’s a symbol of hope, a reminder that moving forward is possible, with renewed bonds and an enduring love.

    Chao Fang 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. Cottontail review: how a man’s journey through grief mirrors our search for peace – by an expert in death and grieving – https://theconversation.com/cottontail-review-how-a-mans-journey-through-grief-mirrors-our-search-for-peace-by-an-expert-in-death-and-grieving-250198

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston arrests Guatemalan national convicted in Massachusetts for Assault and Battery on a Family Member, Intimidation, Violation of the Abuse Prevention Act

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Boston apprehended an illegally present, 27-year-old Guatemalan national convicted in Massachusetts of three counts of assault and battery on a family member, intimidation, and violation of the Abuse Prevention Act. Officers with ICE Boston arrested Wilber Chinic-Villagran, Jan. 26, in Framingham, Massachusetts.

    “Wilber Chinic-Villagran illegally came to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and committed some horrendous crimes,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We simply will not tolerate such a threat to the residents of our Massachusetts communities. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious alien offenders from New England.”

    U.S. Border Patrol arrested Chinic, July 28, 2020, after he illegally entered the United States near Laredo, Texas. USBP voluntarily returned Chinic to Mexico.

    Chinic illegally re-entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location, and without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

    On Feb. 7, 2023, ICE lodged an immigration detainer and a warrant for arrest against Chinic with the Middlesex County House of Corrections in Billerica, Massachusetts, following his arrest by local authorities. However, on Feb. 28, 2023, the MCHOC informed ICE that Framingham District Court released Chinic without honoring the detainer.

    ICE lodged another immigration detainer against Chinic, Sept. 22, 2024, with the MCHOC following another apprehension by local authorities.

    The Framingham District Court convicted Chinic, Oct. 23, 2024, for two counts of assault and battery on a family/household member, intimidation, and violation of the Abuse Prevention Act. The Court sentenced Chinic to 18 months in prison. The court suspended all but four months of that sentence.

    The Framingham District Court convicted Chinic December 24, 2024, for an additional count of assault and battery on a family/household member. The court sentenced Chinic to 18 months in prison. The court suspended all but 90 days of that sentence. Later that day, the MCHOC informed ICE that Framingham District Court released Chinic without honoring their immigration detainer.

    Chinic remains in ICE custody.

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Revolutionizing Passive Income in 2025: Earn Daily with Free Cloud Mining for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and More

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDINBURGH, Scotland, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Since Bitcoin first broke through $100,000 on December 5, 2024, the market has soared, creating countless millionaires in a short period of time. More and more people are realizing that cryptocurrencies, as a financial asset, have the potential to increase wealth unmatched by other investment opportunities. ION Mining is completely disrupting the traditional way of investing in cryptocurrencies with its innovative cloud mining model. Without the need for expensive equipment, specialized technology or high electricity costs, ION Mining provides investors with an easy way to enter the crypto economy and help realize the dream of passive income.

    The advent of the cryptocurrency era, especially the rise of the cloud mining industry, is profoundly affecting the global economic landscape. From the birth of blockchain technology to the importance of digital currencies to current market dynamics, IONmining will take you through a comprehensive analysis of how to achieve stable returns through remote monitoring of mining. This guide covers the core knowledge of cloud mining, whether you are a novice or an experienced investor, you can find a profit strategy that suits you. Seize this opportunity to learn more about the potential of cloud mining and lay the foundation for future wealth growth.

    The core advantages of cloud mining：

    • · No hardware equipment and high electricity costs required
    • · Easy to operate, anyone can participate
    • · Low investment threshold, suitable for all budgets

    Start earning money

    Benefits of choosing ION cloud mining：

    1. Easy and quick start

    2. Top technology guarantee

    • · Use industry-leading hardware such as Bitmain and NVIDIA to ensure efficient mining performance
    • · The data center uses advanced cooling technology to ensure stable operation even under high load

    3. Transparent with no hidden fees

    • · Only the contract deposit needs to be paid, which will be fully refunded after the contract expires
    • · No additional maintenance fees or hidden costs

    Flexible mining contract plan

    ION Mining offers a variety of flexible mining contracts suitable for both beginners and experienced investors. The following are some examples of plans：

    • · Basic Cloud Computing Plan： Invest $300, contract period 5 days, profit $27.3
    • · Classic Cloud Computing Plan： Invest $1200, contract period 15 days, profit $388.8
    • · Advanced Cloud Computing Plans： Invest $5000, contract period 10 days, profit $1155.
    • · Super Cloud Computing Plan： Invest $11,000, contract period 30 days, profit $8,118

    After the contract ends, the investment principal will be automatically returned to the account, and the user can choose to continue investing or exit the platform

    How to get started?

    Follow these 4 steps to easily start your mining journey：

    • 1. Register an account： Go to the ION Mining official website, enter your email address and set a password, and receive a $15 reward immediately after activating your account
    • 2. Select a contract plan： Choose the appropriate mining plan according to your needs
    • 3. Fund your account： Supports multiple payment methods, including mainstream cryptocurrencies such as USDT, BTC, ETH, LTC, etc.
    • 4. Start mining： After activating the contract, the system will automatically start mining, and the income will be accumulated in real time and can be withdrawn at any time.

    Platform credibility guarantee

    • · ION Mining is a global company legally registered in the UK and authorized and regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority (FCA)
    • · With more than 100 global data centers located in Eastern Europe, North America, the Middle East and South America
    • · Always abide by local laws and regulations to provide users with safe and stable services.

    Join IONmining immediately

    ON Mining is not only a cloud mining platform, but also an ideal choice for users to provide efficient and sustainable income sources. Whether you are a novice or a senior investor, you can find a low-risk, high-return solution suitable for you here. Join ION Mining now, seize the wealth opportunities in the cryptocurrency era, start your passive income journey, and realize the dream of wealth freedom.

    Official Website： https://ionmining.com/

    Contact Email： info@ionmining.com

    Contact Us:

    Michael Rodrigo
    Marketing Manager

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by “ionmining.com”. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in cloud mining and related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

    Photos accompanying this announcement is available at: 

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/98863de3-3b9a-4aa4-b132-c911a3faf15c

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9eacb505-3de8-4426-b6c0-b4c215b1d0ed

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c28a9c8a-73fc-43a6-943c-50bb93a6973f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council seeks people ready to step up to be social workers

    Source: City of Leicester

    PEOPLE who have experience in supporting vulnerable children, young people, adults or families – but do not have a social work degree – are being invited to apply for a post-graduate training programme that will give them the qualification they need.

    Leicester City Council is now recruiting to the Government’s 2026-27 Step Up To Social Work programme and wants to hear from aspiring social workers – graduates or career changers – who would like a place on it.

    Step Up To Social Work is a 14-month, full-time training programme backed by the Department for Education (DfE), which offers a combination of academic study and hands-on social work experience in a local authority. It will run from January 2026 to March 2027.

    Successful applicants will receive their training costs and a bursary of £21,995 over the duration of the programme to support them whilst in training.

    Laurence Jones, the council’s strategic director of social care and education, said: “Social care is a very challenging, but very rewarding profession. There will be many people who have experience of working with vulnerable children or families but don’t have a social work degree, and this training programme gives them the chance to become a qualified social worker whilst receiving financial support to retrain.

    “Over the last 14 years around 40 people have taken up this training opportunity, and we look forward to receiving applications from people interested in joining us.”

    The council is holding an online training event on Tuesday 25 February for people to find out more about the programme. Anyone interested can contact Sara.Paskell@leicester.gov.uk 

    The application portal and full details are also available at: Step up to social work – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    The Step Up programme will support 700 individuals to enter the social work profession in local authorities across England in 2026. This will be the ninth cohort of Step Up since 2010, with the programme successfully supporting over 2,900 social workers to enter the profession across England.  

    (ends)

    Notes to editors

    • More information about applying to Step Up to Social Work can be found here: Home | Step Up to Social Work (pocketrecruiter.com)
    • The Step Up programme runs every two years.
    • Applications will open from 17 February to 25 March 2025 (subject to regional demand), followed by regional assessment centres for candidates successful at the initial application stage. Students can expect to start the programme in January 2026, completing their training in March 2027.
    • Candidates are eligible to apply if they have:
    • a minimum 2:2 degree qualification (level 6).

    For some Local Authority areas, final year students will be eligible to apply with a minimum 2:2 predicted grade. For all other Local Authority areas, they must have completed their degree programme to apply.

    • 6 months’ full-time (or equivalent) direct experience, either in a paid or voluntary capacity, of working with vulnerable children, young people and/or families, carers or vulnerable adults
    • A GCSE in English or English language at grade 4 (C) or above (or an approved equivalent)

    For some Local Authority areas, there will also be a requirement to have a GCSE in Mathematics (or an approved equivalent).

    • The programme is for those without a degree in social work and who want to become a social worker. Successful applicants will train through a combination of academic study and hands on social work experience in a local authority.
    • On successful completion of the programme, trainees will qualify with a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work enabling them to apply to register with Social Work England and to practice as a qualified social worker, making a difference by nurturing relationships with families during difficult times and by protecting children.

     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council grants to city’s adventure playgrounds to be extended

    Source: City of Leicester

    NINE adventure playgrounds in Leicester are to receive another year’s funding, as the council extends its grant arrangements to give them even more time to become self-sustaining.   

    The council had previously told the play associations who operate the playgrounds that their funding would end in April 2025. The city mayor has now agreed to make the grant payments for another year.   

    The extension of payments will come on top of the granting of a licence awarded to all of the play associations, which enables them to operate from the council-owned sites free of charge for five years, and will also help them to attract alternative funding.  

    The council had previously offered all of the play associations the support of workers who could help with their business plans. The council is also now offering for officers to work with the play associations to explore options for longer term arrangements for the sites where needed.

    All nine associations told the council in September 2024 that they had plans for sustainable funding for the future, with some dependent upon grant applications from other sources or on charitable fund raising.

    Others have developed income from commercial sources or other commissioned activity, such as providing alternative school places or short breaks for disabled children.

    Cllr Mustafa Malik, assistant city mayor for communities, adult learning, jobs and skills said: “We fully recognise the importance of the adventure playgrounds and the difference they make to their communities.

    “That is why we have listened carefully to their needs regarding self-sustainability and will be extending our funding to give them more time to achieve this. We will also be helping them to explore longer term arrangements for the sites which will help their future planning and fund raising.

    “The success of some play associations in making significant progress towards sustainability and improving their governance demonstrates the potential for all of them to have a bright and vibrant future, independent of annual grants from the local authority.”

    The ending of the grant this year would have led to savings of £1m which are required from the children’s social care division. This saving still needs to be made, so the council will be looking to delay the start of some projects and halting recruitment to some posts in the early help and prevention area, in order to balance its books.

    The council is required by law to fund children’s social care and most of its annual budget is spent on social care for children and adults, leaving little flexibility for making savings. It is not required to fund adventure playgrounds.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grangemouth: UK government must work with Holyrood to protect community

    Source: Scottish Greens

    18 Feb 2025 Economy

    We must retain workers and skills in Grangemouth.

    More in Economy

    Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of an investment package for Grangemouth, and has called on the UK government to urgently work with Holyrood and unions to protect jobs and skills.

    Ms Mackay said:

    “This is a welcome announcement from the Scottish Government, but it needs to be backed up by resources and a plan from the UK government.

    “I hope that Ministers will work with the trade unions to retain jobs and skills in the community and to ensure that it is workers and local people who are leading the process.

    “The reality is that the biggest decisions have to be made in Westminster. Labour promised that they would protect jobs but since taking office they have done nothing of the sort. They simply got people’s hopes up and walked away.

    “Grangemouth is my home, and it has been infuriating to watch promises being made and then dropped. People in the town have been let down so many times already and a lot of them are feeling abandoned.

    “Local workers have been cast aside by INEOS and misled and discarded by a Labour Party that was happy to make big promises to secure their votes and has ignored them ever since.

    “Even at this late stage I urge the UK government to apply every lever available to ensure that the community is protected and that we can keep people and skills in Grangemouth.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SNP urged to join Welsh Government in backing ban on greyhound racing

    Source: Scottish Greens

    18 Feb 2025 Sport

    Greyhound racing is a cruel gambling-led sport.

    More in Sport

    Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell has urged the Scottish Government to take inspiration from Wales by backing his Member’s Bill to end greyhound racing for good.

    The Welsh Government has said that the cruel gambling-led sport will be banned “as soon as practically possible.”

    Mr Ruskell’s proposed Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill seeks to promote the welfare of the animals by introducing an offence of permitting a greyhound to compete at racetracks in Scotland.

    Mr Ruskell has received crossparty support to progress his Bill, but it is yet to secure the support of the Scottish Government.

    Mr Ruskell said:

    “This is a really welcome move from Wales, and I hope that the Scottish Government will join them in backing a ban.

    “The reality is that Scotland is increasingly isolated, and is becoming an international outlier by allowing this cruel gambling-led sport to continue taking place

    “You can tell a lot about a society by how it chooses to treat voiceless animals. If we are a nation of dog lovers then we need to back that up by ensuring that they are protected.

    “There is no humane way to force dogs to run around an oval track at high speed. It is dangerous for the dogs and has led to thousands of serious injuries and totally avoidable deaths.

    “My Bill will be presented in the months ahead. I hope that the Scottish Government will do its bit to protect these gentle dogs from injury and death by supporting the call and ending greyhound racing for good.”

    Data from 2023 showed that 109 greyhounds died trackside in the UK, an increase on the number for 2022. A further 4,238 greyhounds were injured during racing in 2023.

    Mr Ruskell has been a long term campaigner on the issue and worked closely with animal welfare charities including the Scottish SPCA, Dogs Trust, One Kind and others.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sellafield supported family hub hits the road

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A mobile support service for Cumberland’s families and young people has been launched.

    Hub2U launch event, Whitehaven Harbour

    Hub2U takes Cumberland Council’s resources to people who need them in neighbourhoods across the area.

    Our Social Impact Multiplied programme and organisations in our Decommissioning Delivery Partnership are among partners who helped make the initiative a reality.

    Euan Hutton, Sellafield Ltd’s chief executive officer, was among the VIPs who helped launch the service at a family fun day at Whitehaven Harbour.

    Tracey West, Sellafield Ltd’s senior social impact manager, said:

    Working with the council to contribute funding and resource has been key to the successful delivery of this project.

    Our social impact programme ensures our supply chain is aligned to local priorities enabling them to focus on an impactful project that is based on local need.

    Barry Pilkington, framework manager in the Decommissioning Delivery Partnership, added:

    The partnership is committed to making a positive impact in our local community.

    We worked with Cumberland to develop this project so all the partners can contribute to leaving a legacy after our current contract at Sellafield comes to an end.

    We look forward to supporting the rollout of the programme going forward.

    Hub2U also received support from Stagecoach, who donated the bus and carried out a refit, and Copeland Community Fund.

    Councillor Emma Williamson, executive member for children’s and family wellbeing and housing at Cumberland Council, said:

    Supporting Cumberland’s families and improving the lives of children and young people is at the heart of everything we do.

    It’s incredibly exciting to see the bus unveiled. By bringing services directly into communities, we’re making it easier than ever for families to access the right support, exactly when and where they need it.

    Hub2U will provide:

    • Support for families, including early years guidance and resources for teenagers and young adults
    • Themed sessions and targeted programmes in schools and community locations covering topics such as emotional well-being, healthy relationships, and staying safe
    • A partnership approach bringing together multiple local agencies to provide holistic support for families.

    The launch event allowed people to explore the bus, find out more about the services on offer, and meet the team behind the project.

    Activities include inflatable football penalty shootout, face painting, and advice stalls from local service providers.

    Hub2U will now begin visiting schools, community spaces, events, and rural areas.

    For information on its schedule and locations, visit: Hub2U | Cumberland Family Hubs.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Salford school creates new woodland

    Source: City of Salford

    City of Trees, the Community Forest for Greater Manchester, has been working with Salford City Academy in Eccles to plant over 600 trees on the school grounds.

    602 whips were planted as part of a programme of works with the school’s eco and intervention group over a seven-week period. As well as learning how to plant trees, the pupils were educated on topics such as woodland design, and proper tool handling.

    In addition to the woodland creation, five fruit trees and 16 standard trees have been planted by the City of Trees in-house contract team. The 16 semi mature standard trees were funded by Defra’s Northern Forest programme.

    The new woodland forms part of Salford City Council’s pledge to support the planting of 8,000 trees by 2028, demonstrating their commitment to tackling climate change.

    Working with City of Trees, the council has already supported the planting of 1,654 trees during this current planting season, which runs from September to March.

    The council is also working with developers in the planning process to plant new trees as part of new developments, and working with City of Trees to identify planting sites for street trees and other new woodland areas.

    Grace Lee, Standards Officer at City of Trees, said “It was a real pleasure working with the pupils at Salford City Academy. We hope some of them left feeling inspired to become the next generation of Urban Foresters.

    “Greening school grounds is an important part of our work, trees improve student’s health and wellbeing, create habitats for wildlife and help to combat climate change. We encourage any schools in Salford to get in touch to learn more about woodland creation opportunities on their land”

    City Mayor Paul Dennett said “I’m delighted to see the new woodland which will make a huge and lasting impact to staff and pupils at the school.

    “It’s great to see the school doing their bit to respond to climate change. This is one of the council’s priorities and we’re investing in the city’s vital green spaces to support biodiversity. Our pledge to plant 8,000 new trees in Salford by 2028 is picking up pace, with 1,654 trees planted so far.”

    Susan Halsall, Director of Education with Character at Salford City Academy said “Our pupils have really enjoyed this experience. They have been excellent ambassadors for the school, with representatives from all year groups demonstrating their commitment to the environment, planting a legacy for the future.”

    Photo left to right: Grace Lee, Standards Officer, City of Trees; Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, Susan Halsall, Director of Education with Character, Salford City Academy

    Share this

    Date published
    Tuesday 18 February 2025

    Press and media enquiries

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dragon reactor dismantling underway

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    South Dorset MP Lloyd Hatton has visited the Winfrith Site to see how a cutting-edge robotic laser is taking apart the site’s Dragon reactor core.

    Laser cutting the Dragon reactor neck ring

    South Dorset MP Lloyd Hatton has visited the Winfrith Site to see how a cutting-edge robotic laser is taking apart the site’s Dragon reactor core.

    MP Lloyd Hatton commented: “It was a privilege to visit the Winfrith site and witness first-hand the remarkable work being done to decommission the Dragon reactor. The innovation and dedication displayed by the team is truly impressive. The work at Winfrith is integral, both to making the UK’s nuclear waste safe, and to moving the country towards a cleaner and greener future.”

    Inside the Dragon reactor control room

    Pictured left to right – MP Lloyd Hatton, Andy Philps, Gary Reid, William Matheson, Ellanor Joyce and Robert Coan.

    Winfrith site was constructed in the 1950s as a centre of excellence for nuclear reactor research which laid the basis for the development of nuclear power. Seven of the nine unique experimental reactors have been removed – the final two Dragon and the Steam Generated Heavy Water Reactor (SGHWR) are being decommissioned.

    Dragon was a prototype 20-megawatt power output graphite moderated, helium cooled reactor. It began testing nuclear fuel and materials to support high temperature reactor programmes in 1964 – the year that Top of the Pops began, Beatlemania was global and the Forth Road suspension bridge opened in Scotland.

    Early decommissioning removed the redundant plant components and equipment from the 100ft diameter cylindrical Dragon building, following defueling in the late 1990s.  All that remains is the irradiated steel reactor pressure vessel and its core.

    Driving innovation

    The feasibility of using laser technology to cut the reactor core’s varying material types and thicknesses was initially tested on mock-up components at the Welding Institute, Cambridge. Further testing followed with a full-scale mock-up at Winfrith site.

    Technical data and learning from these trials were then applied to perform keyhole surgery using a snake robot (Lasersnake) to remotely cut a three-tonne heat exchanger vessel known as the Purge Gas Pre-cooler (PGPC) from Dragon’s highly radioactive reactor core in 2018.   This was a first for the UK nuclear industry and its success proved laser cutting as the principal technique for reactor core dismantling over the use of alternative hot cutting techniques.

    The purge gas pre-cooler being removed in 2018

    Phoebe Lynch, NRS strategic innovation programme manager, said: “Driving innovation into our mission is our greatest opportunity at NRS. All the learning from the initial operational phase of using laser cutting for the Dragon reactor core provided valuable insights into the feasibility, reliability and safety of this technique.  These have been applied to refine the process to deliver this new phase of reactor core dismantling efficiently and pave the way for its broader adoption within the industry.”

    Progress

    The skilled team of operators have removed almost half of the one-inch-thick carbon steel plates that form the Top Ring Thermal Shield into removable sections using a telescopic mast-manipulator robotic arm and a laser cutter from a control room located outside the reactor building.

    The laser cutting head cell

    Laser cutting the Dragon reactor top ring thermal shield

    Andy Philps, NRS senior project manager, commented: “It is fantastic to start the core dismantling after years of meticulous in-house engineering design, planning and decommissioning of the sub-systems in preparation for this phase.

    “Once the upper shielding structures are removed, we will have access to the top of the  reactor pressure vessel and then the core within.”

    Waste management

    This is the first of eleven phases to fully dismantle the Dragon reactor core over the next few years and pack it into 6m3 concrete intermediate level waste storage boxes. These will then be transported to Harwell site for storage until the national Geological Disposal Facility is available for permanent disposal.

    The Dragon reactor building

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Meet the Council drop-in for business support

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    A Meet the Council event will be held on Tuesday 11 March at the Assembly Rooms on George Street between 10:00am and 2:00pm.

    Local businesses are encouraged to register in advance to secure a space to the drop-in, with opportunities throughout the day to meet with key Council teams and hear about opportunities for business growth.

    Offering a single point of access for business support, the event will bring together Council officers from:
    • Building standards
    • Business Gateway
    • Commercial property
    • Cultural events
    • Economic development
    • Edinburgh Convention Bureau
    • Environmental health
    • Film Edinburgh
    • Forever Edinburgh
    • JET (Jobs, Education & Training)
    • Licensing
    • Non-Domestic Rates
    • Parental Employability Support
    • Planning
    • Procurement
    • The Edinburgh Employer Recruitment Incentive
    • The Edinburgh Guarantee
    • Trading standards
    • Visitor Levy

    Throughout the day, external partners will also be on hand to present and share their expertise, including:
    • Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, an independent membership organisation which supports over 1,000 organisations who employ more than 120,000 staff in the Capital
    • British Business Bank, a government-owned economic bank specialised in helping businesses in the UK access financial support
    • Federation of Small Businesses, a non-profit organisation that helps small businesses and the self-employed
    • Capital City Partnership, the anchor delivery body for Edinburgh’s employability strategy, working together to tackle inequality and poverty
    • Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network, which works to create opportunities for Edinburgh’s Social Enterprise community to develop and thrive
    • Forth Green Freeport, Scotland’s largest opportunity to deliver a just transition to net zero, to attract significant inward investment, to build international trade and export capability, and to create high quality and well paid jobs.

    Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: 

    Edinburgh continues to have the strongest local economy outside of London and the highest number of registered Living Wage employers in Scotland. The entrepreneurialism, success and resilience of Edinburgh business owners contributes hugely to what makes our City of Edinburgh a unique and special place to live and work.

    We would like to work much more closely with the business community in offering meaningful support, understand more fully the views, concerns and aspirations of business owners and work jointly in securing a vibrant, sustainable, and resilient economic future for Edinburgh.

    We recognise that the current economic climate is challenging, and in working together with businesses and other partners, there is much we can do collectively to grow and sustain Edinburgh’s economy, promote the benefits of Fair Work, and become a fairer city for all. That’s why the Council is hosting this opportunity for businesses to meet us face-to-face and engage with our staff teams across a variety of services which support business.

    Whether you’re looking for advice on funding, navigating licensing, or exploring how we can support employers, this event is an ideal place to connect directly with the right people, who can provide the advice and support you need.

    The Meet the Council event is designed to support Edinburgh’s business community and help foster a thriving, greener, and fairer economy – as outlined in the Council’s Business Plan 2023-27.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK summons Rwandan High Commissioner following advances by Rwandan Defence Force and M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has summoned the Rwandan High Commissioner today (18 February) following advances made by the Rwandan Defence Force and M23 in eastern DRC.

    An FCDO spokesperson said:

    “The UK strongly condemns the advances of the Rwandan Defence Force and M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    “These advances constitute an unacceptable violation of DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Government of Rwanda must immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defence Force troops from Congolese territory.

    “We urge Rwanda to immediately cease all hostilities and return to dialogue through African-led peace processes.”

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Town improvements and Blue Badge Parking enhancements18 February 2025 Infrastructure and Environment is continuing work on a project related to the Blue Badge holder database, with a newsletter that has been sent with further updates for Islanders. As a part of the Government’s… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    18 February 2025

    Infrastructure and Environment is continuing work on a project related to the Blue Badge holder database, with a newsletter that has been sent with further updates for Islanders.

    As a part of the Government’s Common Strategic Policy on Revitalising Town we are continuing to make ongoing improvements with changes being made to enhance accessibility and transport provisions. 

    Key Updates 

    New Esplanade taxi rank and adjustments to Library Place 

    A new taxi rank is being introduced on the Esplanade to better serve the public and the International Financial Centre. Following data collection on existing taxi ranks at Library Place, two spaces will be removed, while one will remain in place to meet demand.

    Additional disabled parking at Library Place 

    Three new disabled parking bays will be introduced at Library Place, with a maximum stay of two hours. This timeframe balances the need for accessibility with ensuring turnover for greater availability. 

    Loading and cycle parking enhancements 

    A slight extension of a loading/unloading bay will assist deliveries in the area. Additional cycle parking will also be introduced and reviewed once construction at New Cut is completed. 

    Connétable Andy Jehan, Minister for Infrastructure, said: “These improvements aim to make St Helier more accessible and better connected. Increasing disabled parking, refining taxi rank locations, and enhancing cycling provisions will support both residents and visitors in navigating the town more easily. The new disabled spaces will be identified with Blue Paint, and the markings have been very successful in raising greater awareness of the bays.’​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New local Asian fashion business moves into city centre Pop Up

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Local Southsea business SP Collections have moved into the city centre Portsmouth Pop Up shop to sell Asian inspired clothing and jewellery. This start up business is hitting the ground running by trialling high street retail as part of Portsmouth City Council’s pop-up shop scheme that is designed to help local businesses grow.

    SP Collections is a fashion brand inspired by the rich heritage of Asian culture offering an elegant range of attire, including sarees, salwar kameez, abayas, long dresses, and jewellery.

    Shama Parveen, founder and owner of SP Collections said:

    ‘I am truly grateful for the pop-up scheme as it provides an incredible opportunity to showcase my products to a wider audience.

    Previously, I sold at local pop-up markets, but these occasional events weren’t enough to sustain consistent growth. This initiative offers a fantastic platform for small businesses like mine to connect with new customers in Portsmouth.

    SP Collections was born from the desire to bring authentic, Asian-inspired clothing to Portsmouth’s diverse community. We understand the challenges with finding modest, stylish Asian fashion locally. That’s why we’re dedicated to making these beautiful pieces easily accessible, without compromising on quality, style, or authenticity.”

    The Portsmouth Pop Up enables local entrepreneurs and small businesses to trade in a high street location without the commitment or cost of a longer-term lease.

    Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of the council with responsibility for economic development said:

    “Pop Up shop schemes can breathe new life into our high streets, whilst giving independent businesses a great opportunity to have a shop front in a prime retail location.

    “One year on since the Portsmouth Pop Up initiative began, it’s great to see its success in supporting local businesses like SP Collections. This is a fantastic example of how we’re working together to strengthen our economy and providing the necessary support businesses need to grow”

    The Portsmouth Pop-Up shop, a joint venture between Portsmouth City Council, Cascades, and Flude, opened last year to address the increasing demand for business space in the city. The first tenant, Goly Natural, a local natural skincare business, has been so successful that they plan to establish a permanent shop this year.

    Businesses can apply to rent the pop-up shop in Cascades, in Portsmouth’s city centre for a minimum of 13 weeks giving them a chance to engage with customers and launch products and services.

    For more information visit Portsmouth Pop Up

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: CMA publishes supplementary interim report in GBT / CWT merger investigation

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Interim report published by the CMA in the latest step in its Phase 2 investigation into the merger of two corporate travel businesses.

    iStock

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a supplementary interim report in its investigation of the merger of corporate travel management companies Global Business Travel Group, Inc (GBT) and CWT Holdings LLC (CWT). Both companies supply travel agency services to global businesses with high travel spend and employees who travel internationally. 

    This is the first in-depth merger investigation that the CMA has conducted under its revised Phase 2 process. Those process changes included issuing a more provisional ‘interim report’, earlier in the process, to facilitate engagement by merging parties in relation to the independent CMA inquiry group’s initial assessment.

    In November, the CMA’s interim report provisionally found the proposed merger between GBT and CWT was likely to substantially lessen competition. Following the interim report, the CMA has continued to gather evidence and has carried out further analysis that suggests CWT would not have performed as strongly absent the merger as the group had initially assessed. As a result, and having considered all the evidence in the round, the group has provisionally concluded that CWT is a significantly weaker competitor than in the past and is likely to continue to weaken in the future. There are other suppliers who will offer customers an alternative to the merged business.

    Based on that further analysis, and in line with its usual procedures, the CMA inquiry group is today publishing a supplementary interim report ahead of its final decision. That interim report sets out why the group provisionally considers that the deal should be allowed to proceed.

    Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting this investigation, said:

    In this case, having considered all of the evidence in the round, particularly the further analysis of CWT’s financial position, we have now provisionally concluded that the merger will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in corporate travel management services.

    This is our first investigation under the revised Phase 2 process, with several benefits including the publication of an interim report at an earlier stage and a higher level of business and third-party engagement with the inquiry group. Today’s supplementary report reflects the flexibility this new process provides.

    We will now consider feedback on our supplementary interim report before making a final decision in March.

    The inquiry group will now seek feedback on its supplementary interim report before making a final decision by 9 March 2025. The deadline for comments is Tuesday 25 February 2025.

    For more information, visit the Global Business Travel Group, Inc / CWT Holdings, LLC merger inquiry case page.

    Notes to editors

    1. On 10 January 2025 the United States Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit seeking to block the merger. The case is currently before the US courts.
    2. New Phase 1 cases opened by the CMA after 25 April 2024 which are referred for an in-depth Phase 2 investigation are run under the new Phase 2 process.
    3. All media enquiries should be directed to the CMA press office by email on press@cma.gov.uk, or by phone on 020 3738 6460.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Flagship North Paddington Community Hub to launch this Spring | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Westminster Council’s flagship Community Hub will launch in North Paddington in March. The new facility at Ernest Harris House will bring services and support into the heart of the local community.

    Community Hubs are a central part of the council’s commitment to building a Fairer Westminster, by making it easier for residents to access activities and support in their area. They act as a single front door where residents can get advice on housing, finances, employment & benefits, and IT literacy. The council launched two mini-hubs at Victoria Library and Charing Cross Library last year.

    The Exchange at Ernest Harriss House will be Westminster’s first full Community Hub and will provide local residents with access to a wide range of activities, services, and support, tailored to the needs of the community. Operated by the trusted North Paddington Foodbank, an established local charity with a strong track record of supporting the community, The Exchange will collaborate with a range of partners to ensure the hub meets the diverse needs of its users.

    Proposed activities available at this centre include coffee mornings, lunch clubs, health and wellbeing activities for older people, income, housing and employment advice, homework clubs, baking and cooking workshops, recovery group sessions, arts and crafts, community health groups and advice services.

    This initiative represents the culmination of 18 months of collaboration between the council, local residents, and partners. Community members have been instrumental in co-designing the hub, influencing everything from its design and materials to the activities on offer and even the selection of the operator. The co-design process reflects the Council’s commitment to working differently under the Fairer Westminster plan, placing community voices at the heart of decision-making.

    Councillor Cara Sanquest, Cabinet Member for Communities, said:

    “I’m really pleased that Westminster City Council is opening a brand new Community Hub in the heart of North Paddington. This new public space will provide a place for local people in some of our most deprived wards to speak to council staff face to face, and to access support from the foodbank, as well as an exciting programme of cultural and social activities and support.

    I’m proud that this new hub has been co-designed with local residents. We spoke with over 400 residents to find out they would like at the community hub, and I’m excited that we have been able to give local people real decision making power to shape the services and support in their local area.”

    Thomas Delap, Chief Executive, North Paddington Foodbank, said:

    “The opening of The Exchange at Ernest Harriss House is a major step in tackling poverty, reducing health inequalities, and creating a truly welcoming space for everyone in the community. At NPFB, we’re proud to be leading this initiative—offering not just vital support, but opportunities for people to try something new or simply connect with friends over coffee. The hub will be a place where residents can access the help they need, engage in a rich cultural programme, and build lasting relationships—a true celebration of our diverse community.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Consultation for Central Lancashire Local Plan Live on Monday 24 February

    Source: City of Preston

    Following the release of the Publication version of the Central Lancashire Local Plan (CLLP) in January, consultation will go live on Monday, 24 February from 2pm concluding on Monday, 14 April at 11.59pm. The consultation will provide stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the new local plan, before it’s submitted to the Secretary of State in Summer 2025.

    The CLLP is a strategic plan for the area of Chorley, South Ribble and Preston and sets out the three councils’ approach to managing and delivering development (residential, employment and other infrastructure) and protecting the environment for the three districts between 2023 and 2041.

    It is an important strategy which supports delivery of corporate ambitions and objectives, such as provision of affordable housing, tackling health and social inequalities and tackling the climate emergency.

    The consultation will include a series of in-person events across Preston, Chorley, and South Ribble, along with the option to complete the online survey Citizen Space – Central Lancashire Local Plan. The events start on Monday 24 February and are being held across each Borough, with anyone welcome to attend whichever is most convenient to them.

    Councillor Amber Afzal, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulation, said:

    “This phase of the Central Lancashire Local Plan is crucial in shaping Preston’s future, aligning with the City Council’s vision for a growing, thriving community.

    “Our focus is on delivering the right types of homes, including more affordable housing, to help tackle health and social inequalities.

    “We encourage residents, businesses, and stakeholders to get involved and share their feedback through the consultation.”

    Face-to-face events in Preston

    • Wednesday 26 February, Preston Markets, 11am to 2pm
    • Wednesday 5 March, UCLan Cottam Campus, 3pm to 6om
    • Thursday 6 March, Grimsargh Village Hall, 3.30pm to 6.30pm
    • Thursday 13 March, Preston Town Hall, 3pm to 7pm
    • Thursday 20 March, Fulwood Methodist Church, 3pm to 7pm

    Map address for face to face events

    Preston Markets, Earl Street, Preston, PR1 2JA.
    UCLan Sports Arena, Tom Benson Way, Cottam, Preston, PR2 1SG.
    Grimsargh Village Hall, Preston Road, Grimsargh, Preston PR2 5JS.
    Preston Town Hall, Lancaster Road, PR1 2RL.
    Fulwood Methodist Church, Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Preston PR2 8EA.

    More information

    Central Lancashire Local Plan

    For full details of the plan see Frequently Asked Questions: FAQs – Central Lancashire Local Plan.

    Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Have your say on plans to transform Seafield into a new environmentally friendly neighbourhood

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The Council is inviting residents to share their views on the regeneration of Seafield to make sure it responds to the needs and wishes of the local community.

    As a key site for delivering the goals set out in the Edinburgh City Plan 2030, plans for the narrow stretch of land include a new promenade, GP surgery and opportunities for new shops and workplaces.

    The coastal site could also include as many as 2,700 new homes, with 35% of homes being affordable, to address the Capital’s housing emergency. Future residents will benefit from the provision of a heat network which will help keep energy bills down whilst contributing to the city’s net zero targets.

    The consultation, which closes on Wednesday 30 April 2025, will build on the first two stages of engagement and consultation carried out to date. Residents can attend a drop-in session to discuss the plans, or they can take part in an online survey via the Consultation Hub.

    Planning Convener James Dalgleish said:

    Our draft plan to transform Seafield into a new environmentally friendly neighbourhood will take us one step further to tackling our housing emergency and reaching net zero by 2030.

    This is a chance for residents to shape the future of the area – whether it’s about improving transport links, preserving green spaces or introducing new community facilities and we’re eager to hear everyone’s ideas for a Seafield that serves the whole community.

    I’d encourage everyone to share their views with us by filling in our online survey or coming along to one of our consultation drop-in events.

     The in-person events will take place on the following dates and times:

    • Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue, Edinburgh, EH15 1AU, Saturday 8 March 10:30-1:30pm
    • Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH6 4AE, Friday 21 March 12:30-3:30pm
    • Craigentinny Community Centre, 9 Loaning Road, Edinburgh, EH7 6JE, Saturday 22 March 10:30-1:30pm

    Published: February 18th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trans people affirmed their gender without medical help in medieval Europe − history shows how identity transcends medicine and law

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sarah Barringer, Ph.D. Candidate in English, University of Iowa

    The Lady and the Unicorn: Sight. Unknown/Musée de Cluny, Paris via Didier Descouens/Wikimedia Commons

    Restrictions on medical care for transgender youth assume that without the ability to medically transition, trans people will vanish.

    As of 2024, 26 U.S. states have banned gender-affirming care for young people. Less than a month into office, President Donald Trump issued numerous executive orders targeting transgender people, including a mandate to use “sex” instead of “gender” on passports, visas and global entry cards, as well as a ban on gender-affirming care for young people. These actions foreground the upcoming Supreme Court case of U.S. vs. Skrmetti which promises to shape the future of gender-affirming health care in the U.S., including restrictions or bans.

    History, however, shows that withholding health care does not make transgender people go away. Scholarship of medieval literature and historical records reveals how transgender people transitioned even without a robust medical system – instead, they changed their clothes, name and social position.

    Surgery in medieval times

    Surgery was not a widespread practice in the medieval period. While it gained some traction in the 1300s, surgery was limited to southern France and northern Italy. Even there, surgery was dangerous and the risk of infection high.

    Cutting off fleshy bits is an old practice and, potential dangers aside, removing a penis or breasts wasn’t impossible. But amputating functioning limbs was nearly always a form of punishment. Medieval people, including surgeons and patients, likely would not have had positive views of surgery that involved removing working body parts.

    Illustration from a Latin translation of Albucasis’ Chirurgia, depicting surgical instruments.
    Wellcome Collection

    Surgeons in the 14th century were increasingly thinking about how to perform surgery on those with both male and female genitalia – people now called intersex. But they thought about this in terms of “correcting” genitalia to make it more apparently male or female – an attitude still present today. Historically, the procedure was probably performed on adults, but today it is usually performed on children. Both then and now, the surgery often disregards the patient’s wishes and is not medically necessary, at times leading to complications later. For patients deemed female, excess flesh could be cut away, and for patients deemed male, the vulva could be cauterized to close it.

    There is, however, at least one historical example of a transgender individual receiving surgery. In 1300, near Bern, Switzerland, an unnamed woman was legally separated from her husband because she was unable to have sex with him. Soon after, the woman headed to Bologna, which was the surgery capital of Europe at the time. There, a surgeon cut open the woman’s vulva, revealing a penis and testicles. The account ends, “Back home, he took a wife, did rural work, and had legitimate and sufficient intercourse with his wife.”

    The story presents the possibility of medical transition, possibly even a desire for it. But given the limits of surgical techniques and ideologies at the time, these forms of medical transition were unlikely to be common.

    Transitioning without medicine

    To transition without medicine, medieval transgender people relied on changes they could make themselves. They cut their hair, put on different clothes, changed their names, and found new places in society.

    In 1388, a young woman named Catherine in Rottweil, Germany, “put on men’s clothes, declared herself to be a man, and called herself John.” John went on to marry a woman and later developed breasts. This caused some initial consternation – the city council of Rottweil sent John and his wife to court. However, the court did not see breasts as inhibiting John’s masculinity and the couple went home without facing any charges.

    In 1395, a transgender woman named Eleanor Rykener appeared before a court in London, England, after she was caught working as a prostitute. The court clerk wrote “that a certain Anna … first taught [her] to practice this detestable vice in the manner of a woman. [She] further said that a certain Elizabeth Bronderer first dressed [her] in women’s clothing” and later she took on work as an embroideress and tapster, a sort of bartender. The account is Rykener’s own, but the court clerk editorialized it, notably adding the phrase “detestable vice” in reference to prostitution.

    Detail of lovers in bed, Aldobrandino of Siena, Le Régime du corps, northern France. 13th century.
    British Library Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts/Sloane MS 2435, f. 9v.

    Rykener’s account reveals that there were a number of people interested in helping her transition – people who helped her dress, taught her how to behave, provided her employment and supported her choice of a new name. Community was a more important part of her transition than transforming her body. Based on the record, she apparently did not make an effort to create breasts.

    Another account appeared in 1355 in Venice, Italy, concerning Rolandina Ronchaia. While John declared himself male, and Rykener was very active in her transition, Ronchaia’s transition was spurred on by the perceptions of others. She argued that she had always had a “feminine face, voice and gestures,” and was often mistaken for a woman. She also had breasts, “in women’s fashion.” One night, a man came to have sex with her, and Ronchaia, “wishing to connect like a woman, hid [her] own penis and took the man’s penis.” After that, she moved to Venice, where, although she continued to wear men’s clothes, she was still perceived as a woman.

    Ronchaia’s account is unique because it emphasizes her body and her desire to change it by hiding her penis. But this was still a matter of what she herself could do to express her gender, rather than a medical transition.

    A long transgender history

    The accounts of medieval transgender individuals are limited – not only in number but in length. A lot of things did not get written down, and people were not talking about transgender people the way we are now.

    Historical accounts of transgender individuals are almost always in court records, which reflect the concerns of the court more clearly than the concerns of its subjects. The court was especially worried about sexual activity between men, which both overemphasizes the importance of sex in medieval transgender people’s lives and often obscures that these accounts are even about transgender people. Eleanor Ryekener’s account frequently misgenders her and refers to her as “John.”

    But it’s clear that transgender people existed in the medieval period, even when medical care was unavailable to them.

    A court document from the interrogation of John Rykener.
    Internet Medieval Source Book/Wikimedia Commons

    It is also the case that many of these individuals – Rykener is a likely exception – were probably intersex, and their experience would be different from those who were not. Intersex people were legally recognized and allowed some leeway if they chose to transition as an adult. This is starkly apparent in an account from Lille, France, in 1458, where a transgender woman was accused of sodomy and burned at the stake. She claimed “to have both sexes,” but the account says this was not the case. While being demonstrably intersex may not have saved her, that she claimed she was is telling.

    Gender transition has a long history, going even further back than the medieval period. Then as now, the local community played a vital role in aiding an individual’s transition. Unlike the medieval period, most modern societies have far greater access to medical care. Despite current restrictions, transgender people have far more options for transition than they once did.

    Medieval modes of transitioning are not a solution to current denials of medical care. But medieval transgender lives do illuminate that transgender people will not vanish even when the legal and medical systems strive to erase them.

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

    – ref. Trans people affirmed their gender without medical help in medieval Europe − history shows how identity transcends medicine and law – https://theconversation.com/trans-people-affirmed-their-gender-without-medical-help-in-medieval-europe-history-shows-how-identity-transcends-medicine-and-law-248559

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Secretary reacts to Labour Market Stats

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Today’s figures show there are 77,000 workers in Scotland on zero-hours contracts, who will benefit from increased job security thanks to UK Government

    The latest Labour Market Statistics for Scotland are published today – see here and here.

    Commenting on the figures, Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray, said:

    Having access to well-paid work is a right that should be afforded to all. That’s why we’re creating jobs and opportunities through our Plan for Change and truly making work pay to help raise living standards right across the UK.

    We are putting more money in people’s pockets – around 200,000 workers in Scotland are expected to benefit from a direct pay rise due to the increases to the national minimum and national living wages from April. Year on year, wages after inflation have grown at the fastest rates in three years since last July – worth an extra £20 a week after inflation.

    Help to find work will be more tailored with our wide-reaching Jobcentre reforms and by encouraging investment, we’re boosting businesses of all sizes to deliver growth.

    Background

    Today’s figures show there are 77,000 workers in Scotland on zero-hours contracts, who will benefit from increased job security when the UK Government implements measures which seek to end exploitative zero hours contracts.

    These measures are:

    1. A right to guaranteed hours, where the number of hours offered reflects the hours worked by the worker during a reference period. This initial reference period will be specified in regulations and is anticipated to be 12 weeks.

    2. New rights to reasonable notice of shifts, with proportionate payment for shifts cancelled, moved or curtailed at short notice.

    Today’s figures for January 2025 show that there were 2.46 million payrolled employees in Scotland, a decrease of -0.1 per cent (-2,000) compared with January 2024. This compares with the UK where the number of payrolled employees had an increase of 0.2% over the same period.

    Also in January 2025 the claimant count unemployment rate was 3.8 per cent, compared with 4.6 per cent for the UK as a whole.

    Quarterly figures are also published today and estimates from October to December 2024 indicate that over the quarter, the economic inactivity rate decreased while the employment and unemployment rates increased

    The estimated unemployment rate (16 and over) in Scotland was 3.8 per cent, up 0.5 percentage points over the quarter. Scotland’s unemployment rate was below the UK rate of 4.4 per cent

    The estimated employment rate (the proportion of people aged 16 to 64 in work) in Scotland was 74.2 per cent, up 0.9 percentage points over the quarter. Scotland’s employment rate was below the UK rate of 74.9 per cent

    The estimated economic inactivity rate (the proportion of people aged 16 to 64 years who were not working and not seeking or available to work) in Scotland was 22.8 per cent, down 1.2 percentage points over the quarter. Scotland’s economic inactivity rate was above the UK rate of 21.5 per cent.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Understanding of marine ecosystems is alarmingly low – here’s why ocean literacy matters

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emma McKinley, Senior Research Fellow, Cardiff University

    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Understanding the relationship between humans and the ocean is crucial for making informed and effective decisions that will shape the future of our ocean. With this in mind, achieving lasting global progress in ocean protection requires prioritising ocean literacy.

    Right now, there is a disconnect between young peoples’ recognition of the ocean’s vital role in climate change, and the measures required to protect and restore it.

    My work as a marine social scientist focuses on ocean literacy. For me, knowledge is one of the most powerful tools to incite the action needed to save ocean health. The development of ocean literacy, through a range of education and engagement initiatives worldwide that embrace different types of knowledge, must be better prioritised.

    Only then can we equip young people with what they need to protect our ocean and to know who to hold accountable for its health.

    The ocean — stretching past the horizon, beneath the surface, and into the depths — remains largely out of sight, out of mind. But what happens within it affects us. Fostering stronger ocean literacy across society can help us mend this disconnect.

    Ocean literacy is defined as “having an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean”. While not a new concept, ocean literacy has gained increasing popularity in recent years, partly due to its inclusion as a potential mechanism for change within the UN Ocean Decade, launched in January 2021.

    Young people must be central in efforts to restore ocean literacy across society. It is essential for them to understand the challenges facing the ocean, recognise who is responsible for addressing them, and advocate for more action. Enhancing ocean literacy among this generation encourages a greater appreciation of the ocean’s critical role in our daily lives, now and in the future.

    According to a recent global study engaging 3,500 young people from across 35 countries, a large percentage of young people express concern about the ocean’s health.

    The non-peer-reviewed report has been published by Back to Blue,
    an initiative of the thinktank Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation, a grant-making organisation based in Asia.

    It highlights that 53% of young people believe that the ocean can protect us from climate change, yet 61% place a higher priority on protecting forests, tackling air pollution and freshwater scarcity. This shows that young people around the world have low ocean literacy.

    This echoes a growing number of national ocean literacy assessments. In 2022, a study of ocean literacy in Wales found that although 84% of people indicated that protecting the marine environment was important to them, 40% felt that their lifestyle had no impact on the sea at all. This highlights a concerning level of disconnect and lack of ocean literacy that could undermine our ability to tackle urgent challenges, including biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution.

    Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health. This article is part of a series, Vitamin Sea, exploring how the ocean can be enhanced by our interaction with it.

    It’s all about accountability

    This is not a blame game. However, accountability ensures that governments, industries and people take responsibility for their role in ocean health, driving the transparency and action needed for meaningful education and engagement.

    The Back to Blue study found that while half (50%) of young people surveyed were concerned about ocean pollution, very few (17%) wanted increased responsibility from corporations and businesses.

    That study, which I advised on, also reveals that young people have high expectations of governments, conservation charities and local communities. Almost half (46%) said that governments should take stronger action to protect ocean health. Yet, expectations of the private sector – some of the biggest ocean polluters – were very low. Young people are misunderstanding where accountability for ocean pollution and the decline in ocean health lies.

    Green turtles have been listed as endangered since 1982.
    Shane Myers Photography/Shutterstock

    The lack of accountability slows progress and perpetuates a cycle of ocean neglect. But, engaging young people in ocean issues will empower them to demand more action and help develop effective solutions.

    In some places, ocean literacy is more embedded into students’ learning. More than 500 certified European blue schools are part of the Network of European Blue Schools. And the All-Atlantic Blue Schools Network has established ocean literacy projects and blue school ambassadors in schools in 16 countries, from Angola to the US.

    Education can help to engage young people. But only if education systems worldwide integrate ocean literacy from a young age and across all subject areas.

    By prioritising ocean literacy, we can empower young people to become informed stewards of the ocean, ensuring that they are not only aware of its vital role in our daily lives but also actively involved in changing the tide.

    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.

    Emma McKinley 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. Understanding of marine ecosystems is alarmingly low – here’s why ocean literacy matters – https://theconversation.com/understanding-of-marine-ecosystems-is-alarmingly-low-heres-why-ocean-literacy-matters-248724

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How new Ofsted report cards could be improved – by giving parents what they want to know

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Toby Greany, Professor of Education, University of Nottingham

    Media_Photos/Shutterstock

    Change is underway at Ofsted, England’s schools inspectorate. Headline judgments that summed up a whole school in one or two words have been discarded in favour of a proposed report card system that promises to offer a more rounded assessment of school quality.

    According to education secretary Bridget Phillipson, the changes are supposed to make the system less high stakes for schools while giving parents more information. The proposed report cards give a score on a five point scale for a range of areas, including wellbeing and inclusion, among others.

    The evidence that Ofsted’s previous approach was problematic had been stacking up for some years. My four-year study with colleague Rob Higham showed how inspections were driving a culture of compliance and standardisation in schools. They were incentivising leaders to prioritise the interests of the school over the interests of particular groups of, usually more vulnerable, children.

    So far, responses from the teaching profession to the new report card proposals have not been positive. The Association of School and College Leaders’ says they will be “bewildering for teachers and leaders, never mind the parents whose choices these reports are supposedly intended to guide”, and retain the high-stakes aspects of the previous system.

    A poll of more than 3000 school leaders by headteachers’ union the NAHT indicates that nine in ten disagree with the plans.

    My recent research suggests the need for a different approach which prioritises local accountability, in particular to parents. Over the past three years, my colleague Susan Cousin and I have been working on a project evaluating how professionals in different local areas can work together to address placed based challenges in education.

    One of these challenges was how to strengthen professional accountability. The aim was for school staff to take greater collective ownership of what school “quality” looks like and how it could be improved, rather than waiting for Ofsted to tell them.

    In two areas, Sheffield and Milton Keynes, school-led partnerships – membership organisations which support collaboration between schools – decided to develop their own local school “report cards”. These were intended to offer a broad and balanced set of information for parents, governors and others.

    In both areas a core design group was brought together. This involved leaders from a diverse range of local primary and secondary schools and academy trusts who agreed a draft format for the report cards.

    These prototypes were then taken out to consultation with wider schools as well as parents and carers. Based on their feedback, the report cards were adjusted before final versions were agreed. Each area developed different versions for primary, secondary and special schools.

    What parents want

    The most transformative aspect of the process arguably came from the consultations with parents and carers. For example, in the development of the Sheffield report card, it became clear that as well as information on the school from external sources – including Ofsted reports – parents wanted to learn more about what the school was really like. This led to the inclusion of a “get to know this school” section of the report card. The project lead in Sheffield explained to us:

    What came through really clearly … [from parents and carers] was, “I want a feel of the school” … They want the quality assured stuff. But they also want a feel of the place. And that’s why in the second iteration, what we’ve got is a whole section, which is an ability for the school to show itself – photos, videos, talk about particular aspects of education, and what’s unique about their school in relation to curriculum.

    Another feature that parents wanted included was a way of understanding what other parents and students themselves think about each school. In response, both Sheffield and Milton Keynes have included sections that show the “top five positives” according to parents and carers, and “five words from children about this school”.

    Strengthening local accountability

    England’s school system has become increasingly centralised in recent decades. The role and capacity of local authorities has been reduced and national requirements and oversight, including from Ofsted, have increased.

    In the process, school leaders and staff have become disempowered, while parents and local communities have largely lost their ability to influence the quality and direction of local schools. Locally developed school reports offer a way to redress the balance.

    This approach would not remove national accountability. In both Sheffield and Milton Keynes the plan is to incorporate national data, including from Ofsted inspections, into the local reports.

    But encouraging local ownership and strengthening the voice of parents and children in terms of how school quality is assessed and reported, could help schools become more accountable to the people most invested in them, rather than the national government.

    Toby Greany receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, the Association of Education Committees and the Nuffield Foundation.

    – ref. How new Ofsted report cards could be improved – by giving parents what they want to know – https://theconversation.com/how-new-ofsted-report-cards-could-be-improved-by-giving-parents-what-they-want-to-know-249304

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –