NewzIntel.com

Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National recognition for Council support to people seeking sanctuary

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The formal recognition of the Council’s support for the sanctuary-seeking population follows a comprehensive evaluation by UK City of Sanctuary.  

    Perth and Kinross has been a place of sanctuary for people for many years, and since at least the outbreak of World War I in 1914 when a group of Belgian refugees came to Perth. In more recent times, people of all ages from countries around the world, including the Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan, have received vital help and multi-agency support for positive integration and resettlement within the community. 

    Leader of Perth and Kinross Council, Councillor Grant Laing said: “Our vision is for Perth and Kinross as a place where ‘everyone can live well free from poverty and inequalities’. For refugees and people seeking asylum this can be a challenge, however we will continue to work creatively across our services and with our public sector and community partners to make the area as safe and welcoming as possible.” 

    Equalities Lead, Councillor Peter Barrett said: “Our sanctuary seeking population have come from wide-ranging and difficult circumstances in their own countries from war to persecution. This national recognition of what we have done to make a difference to their lives, from families to unaccompanied children and young people, is something we all warmly welcome at the Council and the link with the UK City of Sanctuary organisation also opens up new avenues of support, advice and good practice we can access for the benefit of those most in need.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can a superstar hippo help save Africa’s rainforests?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Will de Freitas, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    The world’s first superstar hippo lives in a zoo in Thailand. Moo Deng shot to fame soon after she was born in July this year, thanks to viral videos that showed off her cute expressions and chirpy demeanour. Yet the story of her species is less happy, and reveals the close links between the extinction and climate change crises.

    Moo Deng is a pygmy hippo, a species native to the forests of west Africa. Unlike their bigger and significantly scarier cousins (regular hippos), the pygmys are secretive creatures, who like to conceal themselves in swamps and dense vegetation.

    Today, pygmy hippos are officially listed as endangered. Huanyuan Zhang-Zheng and Sulemana Bawa, conservationists at the University of Oxford, point out that 80% of their native forests have been lost. Just 2,500 remain in the wild.



    Read more:
    Moo Deng: the celebrated hippo’s real home has disappeared – will the world restore it?

    “Cocoa production is probably the biggest cause of forest loss,” they write, “then gold mining and unsustainable logging. These activities now encroach on forest reserves and other supposedly protected areas.”


    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

    You probably didn’t want to hear this (I certainly didn’t) but it seems chocolate is helping wipe out the pygmy hippo. This pressure is unlikely to let up any time soon: the Ivory Coast, home of most of these hippos, is also the world’s number one cocoa exporter.

    But it was another passage in their article which really caught my eye. Zhang-Zheng and Bawa wrote: “West Africa’s forest loss is particularly heartbreaking as research shows that a remaining patch may be the most productive on Earth, surpassing even the Amazon rainforest.” (Productive, in this context, refers to how much plant growth there is).

    Before extensive fieldwork beginning in 2016, researchers had underestimated the value of west African forests, particularly their capacity to store carbon and thereby offset global warming. This oversight was partly the result of these forests being hidden by clouds, which makes satellite observation difficult, and their relative neglect by western researchers compared with other ecosystems elsewhere.

    This made me wince. Has The Conversation been part of this neglect? After all, Jack and I have edited dozens of articles on the Amazon and its role in the climate system, but relatively few on forests in Africa.

    Researchers are doing their best to highlight how important these forests are for the climate. Here’s one of them, Michele Francis of Stellenbosch University in South Africa, writing about her research on a “sacred forest” in Togo, west Africa: “My calculations showed that one hectare of forest [about two and a half football pitches] is able to permanently remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as is released by a power station burning nearly 16 tonnes of coal.”



    Read more:
    ‘Sacred forests’ in West Africa capture carbon and keep soil healthy

    African forest elephants, like this one in the Republic of Congo, are smaller than their cousins on the savanna.
    Roger de la Harpe / shutterstock

    But Africa’s biggest forest by far is found a thousand miles to the south east, in the Congo Basin. The world’s second largest rainforest is almost half the size of the Amazon yet has only a small portion of its global fame.

    As the forest is underresearched, there are still huge discoveries to be made. Back in 2017, Simon Lewis and Greta Dargie of the University of Leeds lead a UK-Congolese team who first mapped out an England-sized tropical peatland – the world’s largest – under marshy wetlands deep in the jungles of Congo. They wrote about this for The Conversation at the time:

    After 17 days, covering just 1.5km a day, we finally reached the centre of the swamp between two of the major rivers. Our reward was not only the knowledge that these peatlands are indeed vast. We also found ever-deeper peat, reaching up to 5.9m, roughly the height of a two-storey building.



    Read more:
    How we discovered the world’s largest tropical peatland, deep in the jungles of Congo

    Peat is made of partially-decomposed plant matter and can store extraordinary amounts of carbon. Lewis and Dargie “found 30 billion metric tonnes of carbon stored in this new ecosystem that nobody knew existed. That’s equivalent to 20 years of current US fossil fuel emissions.”

    This rainforest, and its huge carbon stores, are under threat. In 2022, Lewis, writing with his Leeds colleague Bart Crezee, warned that plans to drill for oil in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be “the beginning of the end for these peatlands”.



    Read more:
    Congo peat swamps store three years of global carbon emissions – imminent oil drilling could release it

    They updated their map of Congolese peatlands and overlayed it on a map of proposed oil concessions. They discovered:

    The upcoming sale of rights to explore for fossil fuels includes close to 1 million hectares of peat swamp forest. If destroyed by the construction of roads, pipelines and other infrastructure needed to extract the oil, we estimate that up to 6 billion tonnes of CO₂ could be released, equivalent to 14 years’ worth of current UK greenhouse gas emissions.

    In late 2023, DR Congo postponed its plans to drill for oil. It seems the scientists really were listened to – for the time being at least.

    Yet oil drilling is only one threat, in one corner of a vast forest. Researchers lead by Judith Verweijen of the University of Antwerp have written about the armed conflicts and industrial mining affecting the eastern end of the same Congo Basin.



    Read more:
    Mining and armed conflict threaten eastern DRC’s biodiversity in a complex web

    The mines, for instance, degrade the soil and pollute the water, and trees must be cleared to make way for them.

    But Verweijen and colleagues say there are also indirect effects that “stem from the construction of new roads to make mining sites accessible, and population growth in the vicinity of mines. This leads to further natural resource exploitation, such as fuel and construction wood extraction, bushmeat hunting and shifting agriculture.”

    None of this has caused the same global outcry as fires in the Amazon or palm oil deforestation in Indonesia. What might fix that?

    Back to Moo Deng. Many conservation academics will tell you that a single well-known species can be the key to saving an entire ecosystem and its often boring-but-crucial biodiversity. Protect the tigers, pandas or pygmy hippos, and you’ll also ensure the survival of the worms, ants and peat bogs.

    If it takes a viral hippo to at least cast some attention on the disappearing rainforests of Africa, then so be it.

    – ref. Can a superstar hippo help save Africa’s rainforests? – https://theconversation.com/can-a-superstar-hippo-help-save-africas-rainforests-242481

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Disastrous budget for farming families

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV vice chairman and East Londonderry representative Councillor Allister Kyle:

    “Every agricultural business with assets, in buildings and land, over £1m will be hit further with 20% inheritance tax. Livestock and equipment were already taken into account for inheritance tax.

    “£1m sounds like a lot of money, which it is, but with the Northern Ireland average farm size being 41 hectares (101 acres), if ground was valued at £12k per acre and a farmyard and house valued at £400k, this would leave a tax bill of around £100k, on top of the livestock and equipment values.

    “One needs to remember that land is not tax deductible when being purchased. Therefore, if a farmer purchases land he pays tax. When his son or daughter inherits the farm, tax will be paid on the same land again. That is perverse.

    “Many farmers will be forced to sell ground to clear this new tax bill which will then also trigger possible capital gains tax to be paid on the level that ground may have increased in value since the time it was bought.

    “Currently 36% of farmers in Northern Ireland are 65 or over.

    “When will the nation and its politicians start to respect those who put food on our tables?

    “The agricultural sector isn’t generally a cash rich business, most profits are usually re-invested in ground, farmyards or equipment to have a lasting legacy for future generations to keep on stewarding the land, caring for livestock and keeping us fed.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First Highland-wide virtual jobs fair to coincide with Scottish Careers Week

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    The Highland Council’s Employability team has announced details of the first Highland-wide virtual jobs fair to highlight new job opportunities that will run from the 11 to the 15 November during Scottish Careers Week 2024. 

    The week-long virtual event is being delivered by the Local Employability Partnership for the West – The Highland Council, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Department for Work and Pensions , Developing the Young Workforce and UHI North West and Hebrides.

    Anyone interested in finding out more about career opportunities, looking to change careers or to return to work after a break will be able to log onto sessions hosted by a number of businesses from the comfort of their own home. 

    Employers taking part include Torbhaig Distillary, Carr Gomm, Dounreay, CalMac, Sheil Buses, BEAR Scotland, Balfour Beatty and The Highland Council.

    They will host sessions to provide information about the full-time and part-time opportunities their businesses have, along with apprenticeship schemes and initiatives to attract seasonal and year-round workers

    Chair of Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans, said: “This Highland-wide virtual jobs fair will provide a fantastic platform to showcase the wide range of opportunities there are for people to develop and learn new skills while in employment. Employers taking part will be on hand to answer questions and explain what opportunities they have for training and up-skilling people.

    “We hope that by being held online people can be flexible and attend without the need for travelling. The sessions are designed for people to drop in and out of throughout the week. It will be accessible to everyone no matter their location or circumstances and will directly connect potential employees with the businesses providing information about work opportunities.

    He added: “The Highland Council’s Employability team will be on hand throughout the week to provide support to attendees.”

    Gilliam Unger, Skills Development Scotland Team Leader said: “SDS are excited to collaborate with partners of the West Highland Local Employability Partnership to put together this event. As it is a virtual event it is accessible for everyone across Highland and is a great opportunity for the people of Highland to find out more about employers and career opportunities locally and further afield.”

    If you would like to attend the event, please email employ.ability@highland.gov.uk to register your interest and receive further information.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tips for a Healthy and Safe Halloween

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is reminding Rhode Islanders about Halloween safety precautions.

    Halloween street smarts

    Talk with kids about the risks of distracted walking. This includes texting, talking on or looking at a phone, and listening to music.

    Always accompany young children on their trick-or-treating rounds. Research shows that evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. are the riskiest times of day for child pedestrians.

    If your older children are trick-or-treating without you, plan and review a route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.

    Older children should travel in groups and create a “buddy system.”

    Cross the street as a group at crosswalks.

    Stay on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

    Caution kids to never enter a home or a car for a treat.

    Costume safety tips

    Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.

    Look for “flame resistant” on the costume labels. Wigs and accessories should also clearly indicate this.

    Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes and blocking vision.

    Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks.

    Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye exam and a prescription from an eye care professional.

    Healthy Halloween tips

    Consider offering non-edible goodies to trick-or-treaters (such as spider rings, vampire fangs, pencils, or bubbles). Halloween is one of the trickiest days of the year for children with food allergies.

    Wait until children are home to sort and check treats before eating them.

    Enjoy sweets in moderation.

    Driving

    Drive slowly in residential neighborhoods.

    Watch for trick-or-treaters at intersections, medians, and on curbs.

    Watch for trick-or-treaters darting from between parked cars.

    Enter and exit driveways carefully.

    If a teen driver is in your household, consider not allowing that person to drive after dark on Halloween. If you have a teen driver who will be driving, talk about precautions and set specific rules.

    Continue to take measures to prevent mosquito bites

    This has been a higher-than-average risk year for mosquito-borne diseases, including Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), in Southeastern New England. Due to seasonably low mosquito populations, the risk of mosquito-borne disease has significantly decreased. However, mosquito biting can still occur during unusually warm weather, with Southeastern New England experiencing warm temperatures late this week, including on Halloween. Mosquitoes become less active at temperatures below 58 degrees and become largely inactive when temperatures fall below 50 degrees. Until the entire state experiences a true hard frost (defined as three consecutive hours below 32 degrees) which kills adult mosquitoes, the risk of mosquito-borne disease remains. For that reason, Rhode Islanders who will be outdoors on Halloween should continue to take mosquito bite prevention measures. These prevention measures are most important at sundown (and sunrise).

    Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

    Use EPA-approved bug spray with at least 20% DEET. Alternatively, people can use a bug spray with one of the following active ingredients: Picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. People should not use bug spray with DEET on infants under two months of age.

    Put mosquito netting over baby carriages.

    Visit www.health.ri.gov/mosquito for additional mosquito prevention tips.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How do children learn good manners?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophia Waters, Senior Lecturer in Writing, University of New England

    Pexels/Anna Shvets

    Ensuring kids have manners is a perennial preoccupation for parents and caregivers.

    How, then, do you teach good manners to children?

    Modelling good manners around the home and in your own interaction with others is obviously crucial.

    But there’s a clear uniting theme when it comes to manners in Australia: in Australian English, good manners centre on honouring personal autonomy, egalitarianism and not appearing to tell people what to do.

    Which manners matter most in Australia?

    Some of the most important manners in Australian English are behavioural edicts that focus on particular speech acts: greeting, requesting, thanking and apologising.

    These speech acts have a set of words associated with them:

    • hello
    • hi
    • may I please…?
    • could I please…?
    • thank you
    • ta
    • sorry
    • excuse me.

    Good manners make people feel comfortable in social situations by adding predictability and reassurance.

    They can act as signposts in interactions. Anglo cultures place a lot of weight on egalitarianism, personal autonomy and ensuring we don’t tell people what to do.

    If you want to get someone to do something for you – pass you a pen, for example – you frame the request as a question to signal that you’re not telling them what to do.

    You’ll also add one of the main characters in Anglo politeness: the magic word, “please”.

    This framing recognises you don’t expect or demand compliance. You’re acknowledging the other person as an autonomous individual who can do what they want.

    If the person does the thing you’ve asked, the next step is to say “thank you” to recognise the other person’s autonomy. You’re acknowledging they didn’t have to help just because you asked.

    ‘Say ta!’
    DGLimages/Shutterstock

    The heavy hitters

    The words “please” and “thank you” are such heavy hitters in Australian English good manners, they’re two of the words that language learners and migrants learn first.

    They can help soften the impact of your words. Think, for example, of the difference between “no” and “no, thank you”.

    Of course, there are times when “no” is a full sentence. But what if someone offered you a cup of tea and you replied “no” without its concomitant “thank you” to soften your rejection and acknowledge this offer didn’t have to be made? Don’t be surprised if they think you sound a bit rude.

    The other big players in Australian English good manners are “sorry” and “excuse me”. Much like in British English, the Australian “sorry” means many things.

    These can preface an intrusion on someone’s personal space, like before squeezing past someone in the cinema, or on someone’s speaking turn.

    Interrupting or talking over someone else is often heavily frowned on in Australian English because it is often interpreted as disregarding what the other person has to say.

    But in some cultures, such as French, this conversational style is actively encouraged. And some languages and cultures have different conventions around what good manners look like around strangers versus with family.

    Good manners involve saying certain words in predictable contexts.

    But knowing what these are and when to use them demonstrates a deeper cultural awareness of what behaviours are valued.

    Talking over someone else is often heavily frowned on in Australian English.
    MDV Edwards/Shutterstock

    How do children learn manners?

    As part of my research, I’ve analysed parenting forum posts about “good manners”. Some believe good manners should be effortless; one parent said:

    Good manners shouldn’t be something that a child has to think about […] teach them correctly at home from day one, manners become an integral part of the way they view things.

    Another forum user posited good modelling was the key, saying:

    the parent has to lead by example, rather than forcing a child to say one or the other.

    One study, which involved analysis of more than 20 hours of videorecorded family dinner interactions collected in Italy, found mealtimes are also sites where parents control their children’s conduct “through the micro-politics of good manners.”

    By participating in mealtime interactions, children witness and have the chance to acquire the specific cultural principles governing bodily conduct at the table, such as ‘sitting properly’, ‘eating with cutlery’, and ‘chewing with mouth closed’.

    Yet, they are also socialised to a foundational principle of human sociality: one’s own behavior must be self-monitored according to the perspective of the generalised Other.

    In Australian English, that means regulating your behaviour to make sure you don’t do something that could be seen as “rude”. As I argued in a 2012 paper:

    While child socialisation in Anglo culture involves heavy discouragement of rudeness, French does not have a direct equivalent feature […] French children are taught ça ne se fait pas, ‘that is not done’. Where the French proscribe the behaviours outright, the Anglos […] appeal to the image one has of oneself in interpersonal interactions.

    In Anglo English, the penalties for breaches could be other people’s disapproval and hurting their feelings.

    Good manners form part of the bedrock for human sociality.
    Shutterstock

    Why are good manners important?

    Good manners affect our interactions with others and help us build positive relationships.

    Fourteenth century English bishop and educator, William of Wykeham, declared that “manners maketh the man”.

    John Hopkins University Professor Pier Forni called them a “precious life-improvement tool.”

    The “Good Manners” chart, based on a set of rules devised by the Children’s National guild of Courtesy in UK primary schools in 1889, was issued to Queensland primary schools until the 1960s.

    It tells kids to remember the golden rule to “always do to others as you would wish them to do to you if you were in their place.”

    Good manners form part of the bedrock for human sociality. Childhood is when we give kids foundational training on interacting with others and help them learn how to be a culturally competent member of a society.

    Sophia Waters 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. How do children learn good manners? – https://theconversation.com/how-do-children-learn-good-manners-237133

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Golden questions regulators over proposed reduction to herring quota

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

    WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) questioning the methodology regulators used as the basis for a nearly 90 percent reduction to the Atlantic herring fishery quota for the next three years. The fishery supplies the primary bait used in the lobster fishery. 

    “Once again, Maine fishermen find themselves on the verge of economic ruin due to federal regulations based on incomplete and inadequate data. In my conversations with fishermen, it has always been clear that their top concerns are the sustainability of the stock and the ability for it to be harvested by future generations,” Golden wrote. “That is why these decisions must always be based on scientifically sound, comprehensive data that incorporates the invaluable input of those most impacted — the harvesters themselves.”

    A July assessment by NOAA claims that the population of herring capable of reproducing is at 26 percent of the agency’s target. This sparked a proposal from NEFMC to reduce the species’ annual catch limit by 89 percent from 2025-2027 — the lowest level in the history of the Council’s Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan. However, Maine fishermen have expressed concern that the research vessel used to measure the herring stock is unable to operate in the areas fishermen actually target the species, instead trawling at depths fishermen avoid due to the low concentration of herring.

    According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, Atlantic herring landings in Maine during 2019 totaled an estimated 13 million pounds and $5.8 million in ex-vessel value. 

    “NEFSA is thankful that Congressman Golden is drawing criticism to the massive, 90 percent cut to the herring quota for the next two years. Very little attention has been given to this action which will eliminate more commercial fishermen from their livelihoods,” commercial fishermenJerry LeemanandDustin Delano, CEO and COO of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, respectively, said. “We thank Congressman Golden for his efforts and hope the council will reconsider its egregious decision to further decimate the commercial fishing fleet.”

    “We’re grateful to Rep. Golden for speaking out against this misinformed change to the herring quota. Moving forward with a near total cut would be absolutely devastating for fishermen, the lobster industry, and the coastal communities that depend on them,” Virginia Olsen, commercial lobsterman and director of the Maine Lobstering Union said. “It’s more proof that he is not afraid to work across party lines to support fishermen and that matters to me.” 

    Golden’s letter pressed the agencies on whether they also include industry-based surveys like those considered by Canadian regulators, how spawning data is collected if both regulators and fishermen avoid operating in herrings’ spawning waters, and why there was not an economic impact study conducted during the process.

    “My main concern with this seemingly unreasonable quota reduction is that these fishermen will be forced to switch over to a less desirable species of fish. Next season, when everyone has to substitute herring with something else, the increased demand in these alternative baits will make the already rising cost of doing business hard for these fishermen hard to justify fishing in the spring, early summer, and late fall…” Alex Poke, general manager at the Winter Harbor co-op said. “…I expect there to be more frequent and longer periods where I can’t find any bait for the lobster fishermen here at the co-op.”

     “Thank you to Rep. Golden for highlighting these ill-informed quota reductions. These reductions will have crushing economic impacts on my family and our community,” Branden Loveyjoy, a herring fisherman and bait dealer from Columbia said. “I, too, am concerned about the sustainability of the fishery and the next generation, but these reductions go too far without the data to inform them.” 

    Full text of Golden’s letter can be found here, and is included below in full:

    +++

     

    October 30, 2024

    Michael Pentony
    Regional Administrator
    Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
    NOAA Fisheries
    55 Great Republic Drive
    Gloucester, MA 01930

     

    Jon Hare, PhD
    Science and Research Director
    Northeast Fisheries Science Center
    NOAA Fisheries 
    166 Water Street
    Woods Hole, MA 02543

     

    Cate O’Keefe, PhD
    Executive Director 
    New England Fishery Management Council
    50 Water Street, Mill 2
    Newburyport, MA 01950

    Dear Administrator Pentony, Dr. Hare, and Dr. O’Keefe: 

    I am writing to seek additional information regarding the action the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) recently took to reduce the Atlantic herring fishery quota by nearly 90 percent for fishing year 2025-2027. Based on conversations I have had with Maine fishermen, I am concerned that this decision by the NEFMC was predicated on inaccurate and incomplete surveys and estimates of spawning stock biomass data that also fails to account for the potential economic impacts on fishing communities.

    As you know, the Atlantic herring fishery is an essential part of Maine’s marine economy and is the most important pelagic fishery resource in the state. According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, in 2019 Atlantic herring landings in Maine were around 13 million pounds, valued at an estimated $5.8 million ex-vessel. This fishery also supplies the primary bait used in our lobster fishery, one of the most valuable in the nation at $464 million. Together, these fisheries employ thousands of Mainers through dealers and seafood processors, vessel and trap manufacturers, restaurants, and other coastal businesses.. 

    That is why I was alarmed when the NEFMC passed new specifications for the Atlantic herring fishery that will result in the lowest catch limits in the history of the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan. This is despite the fact that for some time, I have heard from fishermen who have expressed their concerns about the Henry B. Bigelow (Bigelow), the sole survey vessel used by the federal government to determine the abundance and health of the inshore Atlantic herring stock. While the Bigelow may be a capable vessel – when operational – for conducting trawling operations in depths of 600 feet or greater, due to potential gear conflicts and bottom conditions closer to the coast, it is unable to tow in the areas that Maine’s herring fishermen utilize most. 

    This is particularly true in the interior of area 1A, which is between one and 20 nautical miles from shore. It is here where fishermen are telling me that they are observing herring in volumes they have not seen in recent years, while the Bigelow trawls areas in which they would never consider fishing. Moreover, due to major mechanical issues in the Spring of 2023, the vessel was prevented from conducting tows for the three-year stock assessments for any of the fisheries it samples – including Atlantic herring. The discrepancy between the experience of harvesters and the practical limitations of the Bigelow raises legitimate questions as to whether or not federal regulators are capturing accurate and complete data of the herring stock that is then being used to inform fishing quotas. 

    In order to better understand the methodology behind the NEFMC’s decision-making for setting a 90 percent quota reduction for Atlantic herring, I would appreciate your answers to the following questions:
     

    1. The Canadian herring fishery utilizes industry boats and fishermen who know how to operate the vessels and the gear required to target a particular fish species effectively. Has the NEFMC considered industry-based surveys that utilize the observations of experienced herring fishermen when making quota decisions or to validate assessments conducted by the Bigelow? 

    2.      Fishermen intentionally avoid spawning areas; if they catch spawned herring, they risk being shut down by federal regulators. If the Bigelow is not operating during these spawning seasons or in these areas, and fishermen are prohibited from catching spawned fish, how is this data collected? 

    3.      Based on the Atlantic herring quotas in the motion the NEFMC voted to approve for 2025-2027, we are certain to see crippling economic conditions for those fishermen and other fisheries that are dependent on herring. Why was no shore-side economic impact study conducted to understand the socioeconomic harm these proposed reductions would cause?

    Once again, Maine fishermen find themselves on the verge of economic ruin due to federal regulations based on incomplete and inadequate data. In my conversations with fishermen, it has always been clear that their top concerns are the sustainability of the stock and the ability for it to be harvested by future generations. That is why these decisions must always be based on scientifically sound, comprehensive data that incorporates the invaluable input of those most impacted – the harvesters themselves. 

    I will continue to monitor this situation closely and appreciate your attention to this important matter. 

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Russia should end the war now instead of sending other countries’ sons to die: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.

    Location:
    United Nations, New York
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    When Russia invaded Ukraine, almost 1000 days ago, the General Assembly was clear in its condemnation: it deplored Russia’s aggression in the strongest terms, demanded its full withdrawal and declared Russia’s invasion to be in violation of the UN Charter.

    Only five countries voted against, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

    Today the DPRK’s support for Russia goes even further. Pyongyang provides significant support to Russia by supplying munitions, arms, and other materiel, and now 10,000 troops have arrived in Russia, with a significant number believed to be deploying to Kursk.

    In addition to aiding Russia’s ongoing violation of the UN Charter, and a UN Member State’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, this cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is a direct violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

    Russia voted for these resolutions. Now it violates them. This undermines not only international peace and security, but also the Security Council itself.

    Council members have repeatedly condemned these violations, yet the transfers continue.

    This latest development, Russia’s training and deployment of DPRK troops, is a significant step further for both countries. Russia has now suffered over 600,000 casualties. Instead of sending other countries’ sons to die for the imperialistic whims of one man, they should end the war now.

    Russia is not just paying for this invasion in the lives of young men. Defence and security will consume over 40% of state spending next year. 

    We can be sure that DPRK will be extracting a high price from Russia in return for the transfer of its troops, including military assistance. This risks further raising tensions on the Korean peninsula and undermining regional security in the Indo-Pacific.

    A DPRK with improved military technology and enhanced capacity to export weapons, could fuel instability in vulnerable conflict areas around the world.  An escalation of violence and expansion of the battlefield is in no one’s interest.

    It is clear that a desperate and impoverished Russia needs external support for this war to continue. Any country providing assistance to Russia’s aggression is thereby prolonging Russia’s illegal war.

    But Russia’s desperation will not deter our resolve to support Ukraine to exercise its right to self-defence in line with the UN Charter, and to protect their people and sovereignty.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Manchester, NH Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Wire Fraud, Identity Theft

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Dominic Barbosa stole mail from across New England and used identities to open accounts

    PORTLAND, Maine:  A Manchester, New Hampshire man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

    U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Dominic Barbosa (aka Christopher Barnhart), 29, to 12 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge, to be served consecutively, followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $51,804.40 in restitution. Barbosa pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024.

    According to court records, from at least March 2019 through March 2022, Barbosa obtained the identifications of individuals without their knowledge or consent. Barbosa stole mail in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, including bank account statements, tax returns, and other documents containing others’ means of identification. He kept records of that information to use in the scheme. As part of the scheme, Barbosa would apply for duplicate licenses for others, often changing the address, and then use the stolen identification information and duplicate driver’s licenses to open bank accounts, credit card accounts and lines of credit in others’ names. He also used the stolen identifications to make purchases or enter into contracts. When questioned by a U.S. Postal Inspector, Barbosa stated he had a cloud database with stolen identities, and investigators in Massachusetts found bins of mail and photocopies of identifying information in a storage unit Barbosa rented. 

    The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, South Berwick Police Department, Litchfield Police Department (NH), North Reading Police Department (MA), Salem Police Department (NH), and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scheme launches to support Registered lower-income workers30 October 2024 A temporary scheme to support lower-income workers who have lived in Jersey less than five years has been launched. The Registered Employee Support Payment Scheme (RESPS) has been established as part… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    30 October 2024

    A temporary scheme to support lower-income workers who have lived in Jersey less than five years has been launched. 

    The Registered Employee Support Payment Scheme (RESPS) has been established as part of the range of support measures to assist employers and employees during Jersey’s transition towards a living wage. 

    Approximately 900 people who are believed to be eligible have been contacted by CLS to let them know that the support is available and that they have until 22 November to apply for a one-off lump sum payment of £250. 

    In order to be eligible for this scheme an individual must: 

    • be aged 18 or over 
    • have been be resident in Jersey for less than 5 years 
    • have Control of Housing and Work Law ‘Registered’ status 
    • not live in a household that meets the residency condition for the Income Support scheme 
    • have contribution earnings declared in every month for Quarter C of 2024 i.e. July, August and September 
    • be resident in Jersey and have a Jersey or other accepted UK bank account in their own name. 

    The scheme acknowledges that, while low-income individuals who have lived in Jersey for more than five years are eligible for Income Support and the Community Cost Bonus to help with their living costs, this support is not available to those that have been in Jersey for less than five years. 

    Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, said: “The transition towards a living wage is an important priority of this Government. By 2026 we aim to reach a minimum wage based on two-thirds of the median wage and we are providing some temporary support measures to these employees during that time.

    “I also recognise the impact the current cost of living is having on lower-income workers not entitled to Income Support. These Islanders provide valuable services across a range of sectors and make a significant contribution to the Island. 

    ​​​​“They will benefit significantly from increases in the minimum wage over the next two years and this scheme is designed to support lower wage earners through this transitionary period, and hopefully encourage them to stay in the Island, and continue to provide important services and skills.”​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: E3 foreign ministries call for the urgent renewal of Israeli-Palestinian correspondent banking services

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Statement calling on Israel to urgently renew reciprocal banking arrangements to prevent economic collapse in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

    The foreign ministries of France, Germany and the United Kingdom call for the urgent renewal of Israeli-Palestinian correspondent banking services for a period of at least one year. Failure to renew would completely suspend cross-border trade, which would be catastrophic for the Palestinian economy. This will endanger regional security and harm Palestinian and Israeli businesses alike.

    We note the significant steps completed in recent months to mitigate risks related to illicit financing, including the completion of a National Risk Assessment by the Palestinian Monetary Authority and agreement for a MENAFATF on-site evaluation to take place next year.  

    We urge the Government of Israel to renew the indemnifications without delay for a period of least one year, in line with their obligations under the Paris Protocol. We are committed to working with Israel and the Palestinian Authorities to continue countering the financing of terrorism while reiterating that a failure to renew indemnifications, or another temporary renewal, would be unacceptable and cause serious economic damage to both Israel and the West Bank.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Warwick Lang, Victorian Country Hour, ABC Radio

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    WARWICK LONG:

    Let’s talk competition in farming in Australia. A member of the federal government has identified farming as an area in dire need of competition reform in Australia. Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition in the Labor government. He says this country’s small‑scale farmers are getting hammered at both ends by concentrated markets and at numerous points along the agricultural supply chain. I had a chat to him about improving the improving the competition playing field for farmers after he made a speech on such a topic to ABARES in Canberra.

    ANDREW LEIGH:

    Well, farmers are the meat in the sandwich when it comes to problems of competition in the Australian economy. We see too many farmers buying seed and fertiliser from concentrated markets and then getting squeezed by having to sell into concentrated markets for processors or in freight. And the effect is that farmers aren’t getting a fair deal. I’m talking about a lot of what we’re doing in the competition space through the lens of farming. Farming is a critical industry to the Australian economy, but it also illustrates some of the big competition problems that the Australian economy faces right now.

    LONG:

    Why is farming such an easy example to grasp about the lack of competition and what it does to markets?

    LEIGH:

    Compared to many industries, small‑scale farming is pretty easy to enter. It is not as easy to set up a tractor manufacturing business or to set up a freight distribution network. The result is that you get a lot of competition in farming across many commodities but not so much upstream and downstream. So if you’re looking at fertiliser, the big 4 fertiliser manufacturers in Australia have 62 per cent of the market between them. And then if you’re looking downstream, fruit and vegie processing, the big 4 have 34 per cent of the market. Meat processing, the big 4 have 44 per cent of the market. So there’s these really concentrated markets, and that’s before we’ve even gotten to the supermarkets where the supermarket duopoly does have the effect of squeezing farmers. Which, of course, is why, Warwick, we’re moving to make the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct a mandatory code.

    LONG:

    What has failed in the past? So the meat industry is one of those that you’re using, particularly you cite its effect on small‑scale beef producers, for example, because there’s such market concentration. Now, I’ve been around for quite a long time, Assistant Minister, and I remember when the ACCC didn’t oppose JBS’s taking over of Primo, for example, because even though it meant a highly concentrated market in areas like New South Wales and Queensland. So what’s gone wrong in the past to lead us down this road of concentration now?

    LEIGH:

    Our merger law system just hasn’t been up to what it needs for a modern economy. Australia’s competition watchdog doesn’t get to see about 3 out of every 4 mergers because there’s no requirement on big firms to notify them. You can’t block what you can’t see. So the merger reforms we’ve got in parliament right now are the biggest merger shake‑up in half a century. We’d hope they’d get support right across the parliament. And they’ll have 2 results, Warwick, one will be that low‑risk mergers get approved quicker, and the other is that high‑risk mergers can have the scrutiny that they deserve applied to them by the competition watchdog.

    LONG:

    What other rules and changes are you proposing?

    LEIGH:

    We’ve got the banning of unfair contract terms. We did that as soon as we came into office. And that’s mattered for areas such as fertiliser contracts and potato processing where those unfair contract terms have been used. For consumers we’ve got the CHOICE quarterly price monitoring to make sure that consumers are seeing where they can get their best deal across the grocery sector. And we’re giving the competition watchdog more resources in order to check up on unit pricing, make sure that the prices on the supermarket shelf really are a fair reflection of what Australians will pay.

    LONG:

    You’ve also cited in your speech today about the right to repair laws affecting the motor vehicle industry. You and I spoke a lot in the past about trying to extend that to tractor and machinery sales. Why hasn’t that happened yet?

    LEIGH:

    Well, we’re encouraging parties to first look at a voluntary agreement here which can often have a more tailored approach. But we recognise that there’s a squeeze on and it can particularly affect farmers where you’re working off short timeframes. You’ve got to get a crop harvested. Your machine breaks down and you just can’t afford to take a week for the authorised dealer to fix it. So we understand the squeeze. We understand that the farm machinery industry is heavily concentrated. This one is not as straightforward as what we did for the motor vehicle scheme –

    LONG:

    Why not?

    LEIGH:

    Well, because in motor vehicles you’ve got a greater diversity of independent repairers. There’s some 20,000 independent repairers across the country. You just don’t have that network of independent repairers in the area of farm machinery. Most of the repair is being done at the moment by the big firms. And what we’re looking at is a discussion where people say we could have a vibrant independent repair industry if only there was a right to repair laws for farm machinery.

    LONG:

    Yeah, so as opposed to what you had to do in the motor vehicle sector where there was already an existing network there effectively you need to look if your law changes for the farm machinery sector would effectively almost create a new category of business?

    LEIGH:

    Yes, that’s right. Whereas independent mechanics, we were seeing them being crushed by a lack of access to data. But data is a big thing. John Deere has got more software development engineers than mechanical design engineers. Farm machines are becoming increasingly computerised, and that means that access to the data is fundamental to allowing a third‑party repairer to fix a fault.

    LONG:

    This is your passion, isn’t it? Competition and how markets work.

    LEIGH:

    I’m glad you detected that passion, Warwick. Absolutely. For economists this goes back to Adam Smith in 1776. There’s really good work about the benefits of competition for consumers, for workers and just for innovation. More competitive markets see higher productivity growth. And so this is one of the key things we need to do if we’re going to kickstart more growth in the Australian economy.

    LONG:

    And obviously more competition, more buyers for products is important. Your government is restricting that in the world of agriculture, particularly for the WA sheep industry right now with the phase out of live sheep exports. Have you looked at what that will do to the market there?

    LEIGH:

    Look, we’re providing support to the industry – over $100 million there – and also encouraging the boxed meat industry. And as you well know, Warwick, the volume of live sheep exports has been steadily declining. We’re very keen to see that local processing industry increasing, the value‑adding, and also working hard to open up new markets. So if you look at the resumption of the rock lobster trade with China, with the trade deal with the United Arab Emirates, all of that opening up of the international markets gives more options to our farmers. It means that they’re not as constrained at just selling to a couple of local processors.

    LONG:

    A sheep farmer can hardly jump into the world of rock lobster farming, though, can they?

    LEIGH:

    No, that’s right. I’m just giving you an illustration of what we’re doing across the markets, recognising the importance of international trade to Australian farmers.

    LONG:

    I suppose you and I are talking about the same thing here, right, aren’t we, Andrew Leigh? We’re talking about how government decisions or actions, whether it be the closure of key international markets or whether it be phase‑outs of industry, that does affect markets and it’s on government to pull the levers to decide the future of these industries, isn’t it?

    LEIGH:

    The government plays a significant role. And what you’re talking about with live sheep really is an issue of animal welfare, which I think is broadly supported across the Australian community. But what we’ve been doing in opening up international markets really is very much in the traditions of the Whitlam, Hawke and Keating governments – that international engagement often led by farmers because we export the vast majority of our agricultural produce in Australia to the benefit of farmers and the broader economy.

    LONG:

    So, this is part of your discussion with ABARES. Do you have a plan to sort of update on whether your levers and work in competition areas will be working in, say, 12 months’ time?

    LEIGH:

    Yeah, it’s a great question, and one of the things we haven’t done very well in government is evaluating what we do. And so we’re now just thinking through the best ways of evaluating the impact of the competition reforms, making sure that as we move to a mandatory code of conduct for food and grocery that we are seeing those better deals coming through for farmers, ensuring that as we go into the new merger regime that we see better competition across Australian industries. So, tracking performance is absolutely the best practice in government. That’s what I want to do more of.

    LONG:

    That’s the Assistant Minister for Competition, Andrew Leigh, speaking there about improving competition rules, the playing field essentially for farmers.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NSW Parliament passed a bipartisan motion supporting Taiwan’s international participation

    Source: Republic Of China Taiwan 2

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs （Taiwan) expresses gratitude to the NSW Parliament for passing a bipartisan motion supporting Taiwan’s international participation.
    On October 23, the New South Wales Legislative Council unanimously passed PMB No. 1414 motion, stating that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not assert the People’s Republic of China’s sovereignty over Taiwan, nor does it determine Taiwan’s future status or restrict Taiwan’s rights to participate in UN agencies or other international organizations. The Ministry highly appreciates and sincerely thanks the NSW Parliament for its firm support of Taiwan’s international participation
    In June 2024, the NSW Parliament was the first to pass a motion in the Legislative Council condemning China for bullying elected Australian officials, affirming Taiwan’s democracy, and rejecting any foreign government interference in Australian politics. Subsequently, in August, the Australian Senate passed an urgent motion based on the IPAC model resolution regarding UNGA Resolution 2758, making Australia the first country to adopt such a model. NSW then became the first state parliament in Australia to pass this motion.
    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanks the NSW Parliament for raising a voice of justice for Taiwan and calls on the international community to jointly counter China’s misinterpretation of UNGA Resolution 2758 and its attempts to falsely link it with the so-called “One China Principle.” Taiwan will continue to collaborate with Australia and other like-minded partners to defend the rules-based international order and promote regional democracy, peace, and prosperity.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City Centre Remembrance commemorations announced

    Source: City of Derby

    Preparations are well underway for this year’s Remembrance commemorations.

    The city’s Annual Remembrance Sunday Service and Parade will return on Sunday 10 November, with troops from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 148 Divisional Support Company, as well as members of local veteran and youth organisations, parading through the city centre onto the Market Place.

    A short service, led by The Very Revd Dr Peter Robinson, Dean of Derby, is scheduled for 11am, during which a two-minute silence will be observed. Following this, wreaths will be laid at the War Memorial.

    For the first time this year, Surtal Arts Community Choir, a Derby-based South Asian performing arts organsation, will be performing on the Market Place at around 10:15am, before the arrival of the Parade. 

    Members of the public are invited to observe the proceedings and pay their respects. There will be dedicated public viewing areas on the Market Place and the ceremony will be streamed onto a large screen. 

    Those who are unable to travel into the city centre can also watch the parade and service live on the Council’s YouTube channel.

    Citizens will also have a chance to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during a short service held at the War Memorial at 11am on Armistice Day (Monday 11 November).

    Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy said:

    “Remembrance is an incredibly important event within the Civic calendar and I’m very proud that partners from across the city are once again working together to host city centre events on both Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

    “Remembrance is not only about remembering British soldiers who were involved in the World Wars and subsequent conflicts, but the sacrifice of those from across the Commonwealth. It’s fantastic that we’re able to highlight the contribution made by South Asian nations through a performance by the Surtal Arts Community Choir before this year’s parade.

    “I encourage as many citizens as possible to take part in and observe this year’s commemorations.”

    To protect members of the public and parade participants, there will be road closures on Sunday 10 November, from 8am until 1pm:

    • Sowter Road from its junction with St Michael’s Lane
    • The junction of Queen Street and Full Street
    • Derwent Street
    • Corporation Street and Tenant Street
    • St James Street, Corn Market and Iron Gate (from its junction with Sadler Gate)

    Several parking restrictions will also be in place:

    • The Council House car park will be closed to members of the public from 6.00pm on Saturday 9 November until 2pm on Sunday 10 November.
    • On-street parking will be suspended on Full Street and Tenant Street from 7pm on Saturday 9 November to 1pm on Sunday 10 November.
    • The on-street parking bays on Derwent Street will be reserved for Blue Badge parking on Sunday 10 November.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Catapult Signs New Multi-Year Deal with the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Boston, MA, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Catapult (ASX: CAT), the global leader in sports technology solutions for professional teams, today announced a new deal with the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby that will bring Catapult’s innovative athlete monitoring technology and video integration to rugby union in England. The strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing athlete performance with the national England men’s and women’s rugby teams, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby.

    As the preferred provider of athlete monitoring technology, Catapult will make available to the men’s and women’s national teams, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby teams its full performance analysis suite, including the Catapult Vector System, offering a comprehensive understanding of both team and individual performance. The integration of Catapult Vector with MatchTracker gives coaches a detailed visualization of on-field dynamics, allowing them to sort, filter, and rapidly access insights enabling practitioners and coaching staff to identify patterns and trends in player performance. Additionally, Focus captures multi-angle video and data during games and practices, enhancing decision-making and tactical adjustments. Together, these tools will empower the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby practitioners and coaches to make informed choices on strategy, athlete performance, and injury management.

    The agreement also includes the Catapult Vector Rugby Analytics Suite, Elite Vests with integrated heart rate, and ClearSky Local Positioning System (LPS) to further enhance player performance tracking and analysis. The Catapult Vector Rugby Analytics Suite is specifically designed for rugby, employing advanced algorithms to monitor key actions such as scrums, kicks, lineout jumps, and contact involvements. The Elite Vest for women athletes optimizes sensor placement for improved heart rate signal quality, while the Elite Vest for men athletes enhances fit and data accuracy with an inlaid chest band that stabilizes sensors during intense movement. ClearSky LPS will be installed in national team venues including the Allianz Stadium and Honda England Rugby Performance Centre in addition to a number of domestic training venues including for teams such as Bristol Bears and Gloucester Rugby providing low-latency, real-time data during training and matches.

    “We are excited to begin this new partnership with three of the world’s most respected rugby organizations, the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby,” said Kieran Dannatt, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Development of Catapult. “By investing in Catapult’s technology, the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby are building a sustainable model for the future of rugby. This partnership ensures that the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby teams have cutting-edge technology that enhances both team and individual athlete performance and player care, further solidifying English rugby’s position as a leader in rugby innovation.”

    With Catapult, the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby will gain significant advantages in data management and sharing across club, league, and game levels. Each national and domestic team using Catapult will establish its own performance thresholds and operational zones, enabling tailored training strategies throughout the season. This data will seamlessly synchronize with the league’s and domestic team’s overall data architecture, enhancing information flow and improving insights across all levels of rugby. Additionally, Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, and Premiership Women’s Rugby players will benefit from consolidating their performance data directly to Catapult OpenField Cloud. This integration will enable enhanced performance analysis, strategic planning, and collaboration across teams, leagues and the National Governing Body.

    “It has been a long-time objective to align player tracking technology across all areas of the professional game,” said Duncan Locke, Head of Technical Performance at the Rugby Football Union. “The partnership between the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, Premiership Women’s Rugby and Catapult will provide players and practitioners access to a range of best in class products to optimize how players are managed and drive game-wide insights through standardized data capture and integrated data and video analysis. Utilizing Catapult ClearSky technology we can now monitor performance with unprecedented precision. This not only elevates individual and team performance understanding, but also supports player management through consistently and efficiently capturing and monitoring player workloads and movement patterns across all club and international environments, aligning with the Rugby Football Union’s commitment to player welfare and safety.”

    ”Premiership Rugby is excited to partner with Catapult Sports, making available the latest player tracking technology to our teams,” said Matt Cross, Head of Science and Medical Operations at Premiership Rugby. “By providing practitioners with comprehensive and individualized data using Catapult technology, we empower them to make informed decisions to prioritize player performance and safety. It has been a long-term ambition to align player-tracking technology across the elite game in England, and this partnership provides the opportunity to make this technology available to clubs, allowing for seamless data sharing to support players transitioning across different environments from both a performance and welfare perspective.”

    “As a player, having access to detailed performance insights like this is a game-changer for us and ensures every player in Premiership Women’s Rugby can operate at the highest level,” said Marlie Packer, Co-Captain for the Saracens Women. “Catapult athlete monitoring technology will allow us to track our progress, manage our workload, and refine our skills in ways we couldn’t before as we play in the best women’s league in the world. It’s exciting to know that we’re supported by tools designed to prioritize both our performance and our long-term health. This partnership is helping us elevate our game and align with the highest standards in rugby.”

    To learn more about Catapult’s solutions for Rugby, visit https://www.catapult.com/sports/rugby. 

    About Catapult 

    Catapult exists to unleash the potential of every athlete and team on earth. Operating at the intersection of sports science and analytics, Catapult products are designed to optimize performance, avoid injury, and improve return to play. Catapult works with more than 4,200 elite teams in over 40 sports across more than 100 countries globally. To learn more about Catapult or to inquire about accessing performance analytics for a team or athlete, visit us at catapult.com. Follow us at @CatapultSports on social media for daily updates.

    About Rugby Football Union
    The RFU is the national governing body for rugby union in England.  The organisation aims to enrich lives, introduce more people to rugby union and develop the sport for future generations. The goal is to achieve this by strengthening and uniting rugby union in England and producing consistently winning England teams.

    The RFU is a members’ organisation of professional and amateur rugby clubs, referee societies and Constituent Bodies (geographic or national unions of clubs) that reinvests all profits back into the sport.

    About Premiership Rugby
    Premiership Rugby is the organisation that manages the top league in English club rugby – Gallagher Premiership Rugby.

    It acts for its shareholder clubs in all major commercial and strategic negotiations with media and sponsorship partners of the league, as well as with other rugby governing bodies.

    About Premiership Women’s Rugby
    Premiership Women’s Rugby has been established to deliver a ten-year strategy for women’s rugby in England. As part of that strategy a new, nine-team, Premiership Women’s Rugby league has been launched as a partnership with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the clubs.

    The ambition for Premiership Women’s Rugby is built on a new vision and mission to carry the organisation through the next decade and create a generation of players and fans inspired by world-class club competition.

    In the first, historic, season Gloucester-Hartpury were crowned champions, beating Bristol Bears 36-24 in an unforgettable Final at Sandy Park.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Labour urged to use wealth tax on super-rich to fund green transition

    Source: Scottish Greens

    30 Oct 2024 Finance

    By taxing the super wealthy we can fund our shift to a fairer, greener and better economy.

    More in Finance

    The Labour government must tax the super-rich and polluters to fund our green transition and tackle the climate and nature emergencies, say the Scottish Greens.

    Speaking ahead of today’s UK Budget statement, the party’s Co-leader, Lorna Slater, has urged the Chancellor to apply a wealth tax on the wealthiest 1% of households in the UK – those with assets worth £3.4 million and above.

    Analysis from the University of Greenwich suggests that this tax would raise over £70 billion a year and potentially up to £130 billion. 

    Ms Slater said:

    “The world is burning around us. We urgently need to see climate leadership from Downing Street.

    “There is more than enough money to support our transition to a greener future and create thousands of high quality, well paid green jobs, but so much of it is being hoarded by a tiny number of extremely wealthy people who don’t need it.

    “The solution is staring us right in the face. By asking the richest people and corporations to pay their fair share we can transform our economy and protect future generations.

    “Making the change is essential for our climate, but it is also crucial for our economy. The UK has a huge opportunity, but it has been squandered by 14 years of a Tory government that actively undermined our climate efforts while giving handouts and tax breaks to its super-wealthy friends and donors.

    “Labour must show the level of ambition that is needed by making a generation-defining investment in clean, green renewable energy and nature restoration and ending the climate vandalism of the Tories.”

    Ms Slater added:

    “The pain that households and families have suffered over the last 14 years was not inevitable. The cuts and austerity were a political choice, and one that Labour has doubled down on by cutting Winter Fuel Payments and refusing to lift the cruel two child cap. Labour can put an end to the cuts and support vital services like our NHS and schools.”

    The tax, supported by the Scottish Greens, would start at a marginal rate of 1%, rising to 5% for those with £5.7 million or more (the richest 0.5%), and 10% for those with £18.2 million (the richest 0.15%). 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Extension to Baroness Newlove’s appointment as Victims’ Commissioner

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Secretary of State has approved an extension to Baroness Newlove’s term as Victims’ Commissioner from 17 October 2024 to 31 December 2025.

    Baroness Newlove was initially appointed to the role without competition for a year from 17 October 2023 to allow for a further campaign fill the role substantively.

    The Lord Chancellor decided not to continue with that campaign.  Following consultation with the Attorney General and Home Secretary, the Lord Chancellor will readvertise the role later in 2024 with revised criteria which reflect the government’s vision for a strengthened role. To ensure there is no gap in cover in this vital role, The Lord Chancellor has extended Baroness Newlove’s term until 31 December 2025.

    The Victims’ Commissioner independently promotes the interests of victims and witnesses, encourages good practice in their treatment, and regularly reviews the Victims’ Code which sets out the services victims can expect to receive. 

    Biography of the Victims’ Commissioner: 

    • Baroness Helen Newlove is a community reform campaigner and activist. She came to prominence after her husband Garry Newlove was murdered outside the family home by a gang of youths, all alcohol and drug-fuelled, in 2007. After his death she campaigned to tackle anti-social behaviour and the underage and binge drinking culture.
    • Baroness Newlove was given a peerage in the 2010 Dissolution Honours list and sits in the House of Lords as Baroness Newlove of Warrington in the County of Cheshire. 
    • She originally took up the post of Victims’ Commissioner on 4 March 2013, was reappointed for a second term in March 2016, and stepped down on 31 May 2019. She was succeeded by Dame Vera Baird. 
    • On 5 March 2018, Baroness Newlove took up the office of Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.
    • On 17 October 2023, Baroness Newlove was appointed as the government’s Victims’ Commissioner for a term of 12 months.

    This appointment is made by the Secretary of State under Section 48 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, and is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The appointment has been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chewing gum litter cleaned up from Oxford’s historic streets for a second year 

    Source: City of Oxford

    ODS, on behalf of Oxford City Council, has successfully completed the removal of chewing gum litter from key city centre streets, thanks to grant funding from the Chewing Gum Task Force. 

    The cleanup operation, which began in the summer, focused on heavily trafficked areas including George Street, New Inn Hall Street, Carfax, Queens Street, parts of St Ebbes, High Street, and St Aldates down to Christchurch Meadows. 

    Alongside removing the gum, the team deep-cleaned pavements and steam-cleaned street furniture. Educational materials have also been distributed to encourage proper gum disposal and help maintain the cleanliness of the city’s historic streets. 

    ODS’ street cleaning team worked early mornings to ensure minimal disruption and adapted their schedule to work around extreme weather conditions and major events, such as St Giles’ Fair and the Oxford Half Marathon.  

    The gum removal process is time and labour intensive. In the worst affected areas, it took as long as 30 minutes to clean just 1.5msq, this was then followed by a mechanical sweeper to eliminate any stains left by the gum. 

    In line with the Council and ODS’s commitment to sustainability, no chemicals were used during the cleanup, and ODS completed the work using a repurposed 1973 electric milk float, called Earnie. 

    This year’s cleanup was made possible by a £26,500 grant from the Chewing Gum Task Force, administered by Keep Britain Tidy. The funding supports both the immediate cleanup and long-term behaviour change to reduce future gum littering. 

     Comment 

    “I’m pleased to see our city centre streets gum-free thanks to the hard work of ODS – a big thank you to them. 

    “The team’s hard work over the past few months, starting early and adapting around large events and extreme weather conditions, doesn’t go unnoticed. 

    “I hope the clean streets and new disposal guidance will inspire people to keep the streets tidy by properly disposing of their gum in the future.” 

     Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and an Inclusive Economy 

    “We’re thrilled to be working on behalf of Oxford City Council which received the Chewing Gum Task Force grant from Keep Britain Tidy for a second consecutive year. The funding helps improve the appearance of our historic streets and supports the city’s sustainability goals, using our repurposed electric milk float. Chewing gum litter affects the beauty and accessibility of Oxford, and last year’s cleanup showed promising results. We’re committed to working with the Council to make a lasting impact and keep our city clean for everyone.” 

    Adrian Moss, City Centre and Streetscenes Service Manager, ODS 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Business – Welcoming Steve Nadin: A New Era in Functional Consulting at Brainstorm

    Source: Brainstorm

    Brainstorm is excited to welcome Steve Nadin as its Functional Consultant. With a diverse background in supply chain management and consulting, Steve brings a wealth of experience to the team.

    Steve grew up in Nottingham, England, before making the move to Australia in 1991. Family is a big part of his life—he and his ex-wife have 4 children and 11 grandchildren, with one more on the way in February 2025. Steve recently celebrated another exciting milestone, marrying his partner of 9 years, who also has 4 grown-up children and 4 grandchildren. Together, they have built a rich, blended family.

    Reflecting on this chapter of his life, Steve shares, “My family means the world to me, and it’s been a beautiful journey blending our lives together. We have a large, vibrant family, and I’m excited about welcoming our newest grandchild next year.”

    Steve’s career began at Boots the Chemists, a major UK manufacturing and pharmaceutical retailer, where he spent 14 years in various roles across Accounting, Logistics, and Supply Chain. After relocating to Australia, Steve continued to excel in operational and supply chain management roles, eventually launching his own business improvement consultancy in 2011. Unfortunately, the business was impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, leading Steve to shift gears.

    In 2021, he joined SMC as a Senior Consultant, where he helped businesses enhance their operations and navigate digital transformation. His success at SMC led to his promotion to Consulting Manager in 2023, where he played a key role in driving innovation and efficiency for a variety of clients.

    Steve first connected with Brainstorm at the CEMAT exhibition in 2024, where he was drawn to the company’s dynamic growth and future potential. “Meeting with Evelyn at the CEMAT exhibition was a turning point for me,” he explains. “Brainstorm’s vision and the direction it’s headed in really sparked my interest. It’s a company that’s truly on the rise, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”

    Now, as Brainstorm’s Functional Consultant, Steve is eager to contribute his wealth of experience in supply chain management and operational improvement. While his role is still evolving, he is excited about the journey ahead and looks forward to helping Brainstorm continue its impressive trajectory.

    Reflecting on Career Milestones, two standout moments in Steve’s career include developing a distribution network in the U.S. for an Australian celebrity chef and managing the setup of a large 28,000m² greenfield warehouse in Melbourne. From board approval to go-live, Steve ensured the project was delivered on time and within budget—a feat that he still looks back on with pride.

    “I’m particularly proud of the Melbourne warehouse project,” he recalls. “It was a massive undertaking, but it came together seamlessly. To see everything work out exactly as planned was incredibly rewarding.”

    Steve is looking forward to making a significant impact at Brainstorm, and the team is equally excited to have him on board.

    BrainStorm is a software company that specialises in two areas. They help distribution and manufacturing businesses get their ERP technology in order, and help scaling businesses implement and integrate their software systems.

    They do what they do because there’s too much off the shelf software that doesn’t actually solve the business problems that they’re intended to. BrainStorm has saved their customers over $150million dollars in the past year.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Two social landlords fail to meet RSH’s consumer standards

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Regulator of Social Housing has today published regulatory judgements for seven social housing landlords.

    Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and Willow Tree Housing Partnership were both given a C3 grading by RSH, meaning they failed to meet the new consumer standards, introduced on 1 April 2024, and will need to make significant improvements.

    Meanwhile Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council became the first local authority to receive a C1 grading.

    Following responsive engagement with Sandwell MBC about the Safety and Quality Standard due to its Tenant Satisfaction Measure (TSM) return, RSH found:

    • The council was only able to evidence that required asbestos management surveys or re-inspections had been carried out on around 2% of relevant buildings.
    • Although electrical safety inspections had been completed for 96% of its 27,900 homes, the council was unable to monitor or report on the completion of remedial actions.
    • A backlog of more than 14,000 overdue repairs, with over 90% of these yet to be assigned for completion.
    • Accurate, up-to-date information was available for only 5% of the council’s homes.

    Following an inspection completed in October 2024 and earlier responsive engagement carried out following a self-referral from Willow Tree relating to the Rent Standard, RSH found:

    • Around 185 tenancies had been overcharged as a result of errors made in setting rents over a prolonged period.
    • Limited information on the quality of its homes to assure us that they were meeting the Decent Homes Standard.
    • Improvement is needed to more proactively identify and manage of damp and mould.
    • Evidence of weaknesses in the provision of an effective, efficient and timely repairs service.

    Willow Tree has now corrected its formula rents and has issued refunds worth £133k over the last six years.

    Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, said:

    Improving data management can help address the root cause of many of the issues we see. Without accurate, up-to-date information on homes, it is nearly impossible to deliver the outcomes of our standards and provide safe, decent places to live for tenants.

    Today’s judgements reflect the range of grades we are seeing across the spectrum in the early days of our new consumer remit. We are working intensively with each of the landlords where there are failings, as they put things right for their tenants.

    Even when a landlord has been awarded a C1 grading, there is always room for improvement.

    Our governance and financial viability standards remain as important as ever. Landlords need to keep a tight grip on identifying and mitigating risks to avoid problems now and later down the line.

    The other five judgements were part of RSH’s planned inspections of all large social landlords (those with over 1,000 homes) over a four-year cycle. 

    Provider Reason for publication Grades
    Broadacres Housing Association Limited Inspection C2 G2 V2
    Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust Inspection C2 G1 V2 – Issues relating to rent setting have not yet been addressed
    Lincolnshire Housing Partnership Limited Inspection C2 G1 V2
    Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Responsive engagement C3
    The Industrial Dwellings Society (1885) Limited Inspection C2 G2 V2
    Willow Tree Housing Partnership Limited Inspection and responsive engagement C3 G2 V2
    Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Inspection C1

    Notes to editors

    1. On 1 April 2024 RSH introduced new consumer standards for social housing landlords, designed to drive long-term improvements in the sector. It also began a programme of landlord inspections. The changes are a result of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 and include stronger powers to hold landlords to account. More information about RSH’s approach is available in its document Reshaping Consumer Regulation.
    2. More information about RSH’s responsive engagement, programmed inspections and consumer gradings is also available on its website.
    3. RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. It does this by setting standards and carrying out robust regulation focusing on driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and ensuring that housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and offer value for money. It takes appropriate action if the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Five reasons weight-loss jabs alone won’t help get people back to work

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lucie Nield, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Sheffield

    Weight-loss injectables don’t address the many core reasons for why weight gain and unemployment occur in the first place. oleschwander/ Shutterstock

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer and health secretary Wes Streeting have recently discussed plans to trial weight-loss injections for around 250,000 people with obesity who are unemployed in a bid to get them back into work, ease pressure on the NHS and boost the economy.

    Obesity is estimated to cost UK society around £35 billion annually. This is due to lower productivity and higher NHS treatment costs.

    Around 26% of the English adult population (approximately 15 million) are considered obese. However, it’s not known what proportion of unemployed people are obese.

    While weight-loss injections have proven to be very effective in helping people who are obese to lose weight and lower their risk of certain chronic diseases, there are many reasons why these drugs alone won’t help tackle obesity and unemployment rates in the UK.

    1. Lack of capacity

    The majority of UK people who are obese are likely to meet the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s eligibility criteria for weight-loss injections.

    But prescribing these drugs is just one part of the equation. Eligible patients will require support from specialist services who provide guidance in making the appropriate lifestyle changes (such as to their diet) to successfully lose weight while on these drugs. This is crucial, as all of the weight-loss injection trials to date have involved a behaviour change component. This may potentially be key to the successful weight losses observed in these studies.

    However, current demand for weight-loss services is already outstripping capacity. Nearly half of eligible patients in England are unable to get an appointment with a specialist team. Weight-loss injections can only be prescribed through such services currently. If the government is to roll out the proposed programme, they will need to rethink the way weight-loss services are delivered so all eligible patients can access support.

    2. Won’t work for everyone

    Weight-loss jabs don’t necessarily work for everyone. One study found that 9-15% of participants who took the drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro) did not lose clinically significant amounts of weight.

    Weight-loss jabs may also cause intolerable side-effects for some. Trials have shown between 4-8% of participants couldn’t tolerate the side-effects, causing them to drop out of the study. Constipation, diarrhoea and nausea are some of the most commonly reported.

    People with certain health conditions may be unable to use weight-loss injections – such as those with inflammatory bowel disease and pancreatitis. In such cases, weight-loss jabs may worsen symptoms or interact with the prescription drugs used to manage these conditions, increasing risk of harm.

    There are many reasons why weight loss jabs may not work for a person.
    Mohammed_Al_Ali/ Shutterstock

    Additionally, some people may not want to take an injection – whether that’s simply due to personal preference or even fear of needles.

    3. Obesity is a complex issue

    There are many complex factors that contribute to weight gain – such as opportunities for physical activity, access to healthy foods and levels of deprivation in a community. Prescribing weight-loss jabs to help people lose weight may not be effective long-term if the rest of these factors are not also addressed.

    A more effective way of seeing significant, sustainable reductions in obesity levels across a population is by using a “whole systems approach”. This would address to the multiple environmental, social and economic factors that contribute to obesity.

    Where whole systems approaches have been embedded in healthcare design and delivery, they have led to improvements in services and patient outcomes – including obesity-related metrics (such as patients making healthier food choices and being more active).

    However, one limitation to whole systems approaches is challenges in measuring impact. This can reduce political will to implement these approaches.

    4. Obesity stigma

    Obesity stigma in the workplace is a huge barrier to satisfactory employment and leads to poor wellbeing and burnout.

    Obesity stigma in the workplace perpetuates harmful weight-based stereotypes that overweight and obese people are lazy, unsuccessful, unintelligent and lack willpower. As a result, people with obesity are more likely to be in insecure and lower-paid jobs than those who may be considered of a healthy weight.

    It’s also well-evidenced that regular exposure to stigmatising, isolating and degrading prejudices has long-term consequences on physical and mental health – and may lead to problems such as binge eating and depression.This can lead to a loss of productivity, absenteeism and loneliness.

    Prescribing weight-loss jabs to help a person lose weight doesn’t address the core reasons for why they may have been absent from work or unemployed in the first place. Nor does it help to address the mental health struggles they may still harbour as a result of discrimination they might have experienced.

    5. Barriers to employment

    Weight loss alone does not begin to address the complex physical and mental health reasons for why a person might be unemployed. A person may also be unemployed due to factors such as caring responsibilities or disability.

    Current prescribing restrictions also limit some injections to a maximum of 24 months (although further trials are ongoing). This means that even if a person has successfully lost weight, they may regain that weight again when they stop using the drug. This could mean any health problems they experienced prior to losing weight (and which may have prevented them from being in employment) could reemerge.

    There are better ways of getting people back into work than prescribing weight-loss jabs. Flexible working approaches, for instance, may make it easier for someone who is unemployed due to caring responsibilities or health problems to transition back into employment. Supportive policies and workplace wellbeing programmes may be a more cost-effective way of helping people to overcome barriers, improve their health and transition back into work.

    Lucie Nield has received funding from The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) for evaluation of children’s weight management services.

    Lucie Nield sits on the Board of Trustees for Darnall Wellbeing (a local community service organisation).

    – ref. Five reasons weight-loss jabs alone won’t help get people back to work – https://theconversation.com/five-reasons-weight-loss-jabs-alone-wont-help-get-people-back-to-work-241835

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2023

    Source: Scottish Government

    An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland

    The Scottish Government today published the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2023. The publication details statistics on the employment and production from Scottish fish farms. It is structured to follow industry trends within the farmed Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout and other species sectors.

    Some key figures from this publication are:

    • In 2023, production of Atlantic salmon decreased by 18,245 tonnes (11%) to 150,949 tonnes.
    • The total number of smolts produced in 2023 decreased by 3.6 million (7%) to 51.5 million.
    • Production tonnage of rainbow trout increased by 6% in 2023 to 9,258 tonnes. This is the highest level of rainbow trout production recorded in Scotland.
    • Brown and sea trout production decreased to 16 tonnes in 2023.
    • In 2023, the total number of staff directly employed in salmon production was 1,480 staff, a decrease of 28 staff compared with 2022. The staffing figures refer to production of Atlantic salmon in seawater and do not include staff involved with processing or marketing activities.

    Background

    Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2023 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    1. The survey is compiled from data collected directly from authorised fish farming businesses.
    1. Official statistics are produced by professionally independent staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: Producing Official Statistics – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Monthly GDP Estimates for August

    Source: Scottish Government

    An Official Statistics in Development publication for Scotland.

     

    Scotland’s onshore GDP contracted by 0.3% in August 2024, according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician. This follows revised growth of 0.5% in July 2024.

    In the three months to August, GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.1% compared to the previous three month period. This indicates an decrease in growth relative to the growth of 0.4%  (revised from 0.6%) in 2024 Quarter 2 (April to June).

    In August, the largest contribution to headline GDP was made by the Information & Communications sector which contracted by 3.2%, contributing -0.2 percentage points to the overall contraction. The largest positive contribution was made by the Education sector which grew by 1.4%, contributing 0.1 percentage points towards GDP.

    Background

    The quarterly statistical publication and data and the monthly statistical publication and data are available online.

    All results are seasonally adjusted and presented in real terms (adjusted to remove inflation). GDP growth relates to Scotland’s onshore economy, which means it does not include the output of offshore oil and gas extraction.

    Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the output of the economy in Scotland and are designated as official statistics in development. This means that they are still in development but have been released to enable their use at an early stage. All results are provisional and subject to relatively high levels of uncertainty.

    Further information on GDP statistics is available online. 

    These estimates are compiled in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Species Survival Fund: New four-legged friends arrive at Shire Brook Valley Rainbow Meadow in Shire Brook Valley is now home to a host of new four-legged friends as we see the arrival of Highland cows and Dexter cows. The introduction of the cows forms part of Sheffield City Council’s Species Survival Fund which aims to protect, enhance and widen areas of heathland, and it will help to manage and create areas of meadow. 30 October 2024

    Source: City of Sheffield

    Rainbow Meadow in Shire Brook Valley is now home to a host of new four-legged friends as we see the arrival of Highland cows and Dexter cows.

    The cows have been brought to the meadow to graze which will help manage the field naturally , creating open spaces for wildflowers to grow and preventing brambles from taking over the meadow.

    As well as grazing, through moving and walking around the field this will create and maintain the open spaces.  Sheffield City Council has welcomed the cows to maintain the land in a great condition, in between woodland and open grassland. 

    Locals are welcome and encouraged to come down and view the cows from the gate but should not climb the gate as there is a risk of injury from livestock. Dogs are not permitted to be in the field.

    The introduction of the cows forms part of Sheffield City Council’s Species Survival Fund which aims to protect, enhance and widen areas of heathland, and it will help to manage and create areas of meadow, benefitting species of flora such as orchids and invertebrates such as dragonflies.

    The Council’s Species Survival Fund was awarded more than £1million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as being supported by funding from partners and other organisations, totalling almost £400,000.

    These include National Grid, The Environment Agency, South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Yorkshire Water, Friends of Richmond Park and the South Yorkshire Badger Group.

    The mix of habitats are particularly important conserve in the area for invertebrate, fungi,  birds and wildflowers – the diversity of which will fall if the site is allowed to become dominated by trees.

    Areas the project will cover:

    • Shire Brook Valley Nature Reserve
    • Beighton Marsh
    • Woodhouse Washlands
    • Wickfield Heath & Plantation
    • Richmond Park
    • Silkstone Ravine (part of Birley Spa)

    The project will improve sites covering a total area of 449.5 acres. The project will involve conservation management, woodland works to open sightlines, creation of leaky dams and new areas of wet woodland, removing 1/3 of the silt and Typha from a former mill pond, creating ditches and hedgerows, and removal of invasive species.

    Species the fund will support include mice, bats, reptiles, amphibians (including toads and newts), birds such as swifts, house martins, skylarks, barn owls and kingfishers. 

    Patrick Gray, Grazing Co-ordinator at Wild Sheffield, said:

    “We now have 18 cows on Rainbow Meadow including 17 Dexter Cows and one Highland Cow.

    “The lack of grazing over the past few years has led to the meadow being overrun with brambles and scrub. The objective of the grazing is to maintain the site as a woodland pasture, which consists of a mix of veteran trees, young trees, and open grassland.

    “This is a pilot scheme, and in the future plan to have grazing at Sally Clark Meadow across the lane, and at Linley Bank.”

    The current plan of winter grazing is to remove the build-up of vegetation on the pasture so that ideal conditions are created for spring when all the interesting and colourful wildflowers begin to germinate.

    Wild Sheffield, in partnership with Sheffield City Council, would like to set up a volunteer scheme for members of the public to assist in keeping an eye on the cows, reporting any sick or injured or escaped animals.

    If you want to find out more about how you can get involved, please email Patrick Gray from Wild Sheffield for more details p.gray@wildsheffield.com.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BLOG: Sound Connections – How Liverpool and New York are Striking the Right Chord for Music Tourism

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Following a trade and investment mission to the United States, Liverpool’s Head of UNESCO City of Music, Kevin McManus spent some time in New York looking at ways in which to boost music tourism to Liverpool. He writes about how the trip explored how more meaningful links can be developed between the two great music cities.

    You can make a good argument that the two greatest music cities in the world are Liverpool and New York.  ( Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans may try and force themselves into the reckoning as well but let’s ignore them for now…!)

    I was fortunate enough to recently spend a couple of days in New York as part of a Liverpool City Region Combined Authority mission to the US and was keen to look at what opportunities there are to link the two cities’ music sectors to our mutual advantage.

    There are no two ways about it, New York is an amazing city with an incredible music heritage which is why almost every musician wants to play there. New York is still a hugely important centre for the music industry and I was there to see what meaningful links we could begin to develop between the two cities. Historically of course The Beatles led the British music invasion of the US in the ‘60s and the Strawberry Fields corner of Central Park is a memorial to the life of John Lennon.

    There are more recent success stories such as that of Sentric Music, the Liverpool founded music publisher which still has its HQ in our city, but has its North American base in New York. I caught up with the Sentric team who are steadily building the company’s US profile which is great advertisement for the fact that you can grow a global music business from Liverpool.

    We had a really useful, practical session with Visit Britain and we were able to talk to them about the strength of the Liverpool music brand and how we could work together to grow music tourism to the city.

    We tried to make the most of our visit by meeting with key people from the sector and a big thanks to a former colleague Vanessa Reed, now President of New Music USA, for introducing me to Shira Gans (from the New York Mayor’s Office) and Erika Elliott from Summer Stage.  

    It was a joy to meet Shira and Erika as well as catching up with Vanessa and they gave us so much food for thought as well as being receptive to developing a meaningful relationship with us. Hopefully these links will lead to opportunities for our artists and music businesses in the US.

    Of course it wasn’t all one way.

    We wanted to find out more about what was happening in New York, but at the same time we wanted the chance to share our exciting plans. We have an awful lot to be proud of at the moment in terms of our music sector and the ambition we are demonstrating through initiatives such as Accelerator City and our plans for a Music Hub and an immersive music attraction.
    Supported by the City Region Music Board Liverpool, music is going places and part of the mission is to say to music businesses in the US that if they are looking for a UK or a European base then they should look to Liverpool first.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to flash floods in south-eastern Spain

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on flash floods in Valencia, Spain. 

    The comment below was provided by our friends at the Spanish SMC:

    Dr Ernesto Rodríguez Camino, Senior State Meteorologist and member of Spanish Meteorological Association, said:

    What relationship can we say that this type of event has with climate change?

    “In general terms, what we know is that, in the context of climate change, these types of intense and exceptional, rare rainfall events are going to become more frequent and more intense and, therefore, destructive.

    “That is in general terms. Events of this type, which used to occur many decades apart, are now becoming more frequent and their destructive capacity is greater.

    “Associating a particular event like this to climate change, i.e. asking the question that if we had not had climate change we would have suffered an event like this, requires a posteriori studies and can always be said in probabilistic terms, but not on the fly. This is something that will be analysed and these very destructive or very violent cases, then give rise to many studies that are done in academic and research fields.

    “We can’t say anything on the fly, except that in the context of climate change, these types of events will be more frequent and more intense.”

    What role do warnings play in these extreme events?

    “What we have to bear in mind is that warnings are issued for relatively large areas, at the county level, and then the most extreme consequences are at the point level, often at the municipality level, and this depends on many other things that have nothing to do with precipitation.

    “The warnings issued by the State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, refer to precipitation, which is AEMET’s responsibility. But whether that rainfall then has more or less destructive effects also depends on the orography (geography dealing with the formation and features of mountains), on rainfall upstream, on public works, on where the municipalities are located, on whether there are obstacles or not…. All of this is something very particular. Between heavy rainfall and its destructive power, there is a whole chain of actions that must also be considered.”

    Declared interests

    No reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Northern Ireland Named As The UK’s Future ‘Silicon Valley’

    Source: Samsung

     

     
    LONDON, UK – October 30, 2024 – Samsung Electronics Co. (UK) Ltd has unveiled that Northern Ireland is set to become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of the United Kingdom, with a staggering 77% of young people in the country looking to pursue a career in technology. The findings align with data from the Intellectual Property Office, which shows that patent applications have increased by 33% in Northern Ireland between 2022-23, compared to an increase of just 11% in London.
     
    Whilst a high proportion of young people living in the Capital are considering working in technology (69%), other potential hotbeds for future innovators include the West Midlands (63%), North-East (63%), East of England (62%), East Midlands (61%) and Yorkshire and The Humber (57%).
     
    In terms of cities, Coventry scored highly (79%), with Cambridge (76%) and Birmingham (71%) also being seen as future hotbeds for inventions and tech.
     
    When it comes to motivation, almost half (48%) of young people polled were confident that they could invent or develop a technology product that would positively impact society. This desire for ‘tech for good’ can also be seen amongst the 85% of young people who believe that a career in technology would allow them to positively contribute to society, and the 20% who would be interested in working in tech start-ups with societal purpose. Other key areas of technology young people aspire to have a career in include app development (41%), cybersecurity (35%), AI for Good (31%) and health-based technology (30%).
     
    The findings have been released as Samsung launches its fifth Solve for Tomorrow competition, which aims to find and support young innovators across the UK.
     
    The research revealed that although young people are particularly ambitious when it comes to their ability to make positive change to the world through tech, they are facing challenges in making this a reality. In fact, the study found 39 per cent of those polled believe there are too few resources for them to make a change in society through technology. This is despite a third (33%) believing they have what it takes to create the next big tech invention.
     

     
    Breaking Barriers To Entry
     
    Despite the ambition of young people across the country, there’s still a strong sense that making a change in the world through tech isn’t an option for everyone. When asked, 96% of young people believed there are barriers to entering the tech industry, and 65% believe that their personal background impacts their ability to harness their creativity through tech.
     
    A lack of education (40%), practical experience (36%) and lack of contacts or mentors in the industry (31%) were listed as the top barriers to entry for young people.
     
    Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition asks 16–25-year-olds to come up with ideas that help solve societal challenges, then help bring them to life through offering free educational workshops, mentoring, funding and support.
     

     
    Commenting on the competition launch, Soohyun Jessie Park, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Samsung Electronics UK, said: “We’re beyond excited to kick-off our fifth year of Solve for Tomorrow. Innovation is for everyone and no young person should ever feel discouraged to pursue a good idea. This is why we’re proud to be working with our partners Social Mobility Foundation and InnovateHer again this year. Our research shows the UK is full of young people with confidence and potential, but they still feel like they don’t have the support they need to make a difference through tech. That’s what the Solve for Tomorrow programme aims to address.”
     
    Applications to the competition are now open, following a panel discussion launch event held at Samsung KX to inspire future changemakers, and featuring rapper and entrepreneur, Krept. The competition offers two age categories – 16-18 and 18-25. Winning teams in both categories receive £10,000 cash prize in funding, and three months expert mentoring with a personalised action plan, to help bring their ideas to life. Young people across the country can visit the Solve For Tomorrow website for more information, and enter here.
     

     
    About his role as a Solve for Tomorrow ambassador, British musician, broadcaster and entrepreneur, Krept. said: “As an entrepreneur, I’ve been in the position where you have an idea but you don’t know how to make it a reality. It’s a struggle everyone faces, but unfortunately, it’s easier for some to get around that than others. Programmes like Solve for Tomorrow from Samsung are great – they help remove the barriers young people face, whether it’s not having a degree or not knowing the right person – I’m thrilled to be involved in this initiative.”
     
    Talking at the panel event at KX, Sarah Atkinson, CEO of Social Mobility Foundation, said of the programme partnership: “Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. At The Social Mobility Foundation, we work towards creating a culture where young people from all social backgrounds can thrive, leading to more representation and innovation. Solve for Tomorrow equips and empowers young minds to create solutions to real-world issues and we are proud to be partnering again with Samsung on this exciting initiative.”
     
    Chelsea Slater, CEO at InnovateHer, also commented: “We’re thrilled to partner with Samsung on the Solve for Tomorrow initiative, which aligns perfectly with InnovateHer’s mission to empower the next generation of diverse innovators. This programme gives young people, especially girls, the opportunity to tackle real-world problems using technology, while building essential skills for the future. By working together, we’re ensuring that more young women are inspired, included, and equipped to lead in the tech industry—helping to create a more inclusive and innovative future for everyone.”
     
    To enter this year’s competition, go to: www.samsung.com/uk/solvefortomorrow/competition/
     
    Methodology Consumer research was commissioned to 1,000 UK teenagers aged 13-19 between the 4th and 10th October 2024 by OnePoll. Onepoll are members of ESOMAR and comply with the ESOMAR guidelines for online research.
    Patent information was obtained via the Intellectual Property Office.
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: How the Line Manager Induction Programme helped me as a leader

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Ministry of Justice senior project manager Cathryn Rees says the Line Manager Induction programme helped her to support her team better.

    Cathryn Rees, Ministry of Justice

    Despite more than ten years line management experience before joining the Civil Service, Ministry of Justice senior project manager Cathryn Rees opted to do the Line Manager Induction Programme to find out about how things were done in her new workplace.

    Discovering the induction programme

    Cathryn’s primary motivation for signing up for the Induction was a desire to help her direct reports more effectively. “I know some research out there says people don’t leave organisations, they leave their manager,” she said. “It’s crucial to provide the right support to avoid that.” She also wanted to align her management style with the latest standards in the Civil Service, particularly as her team was rolling out its own line management training targeted at new managers. 

    Practical insights and personal growth 

    What stood out to Cathryn during the training was the programme’s practical focus and reflective exercises. One module, in particular, resonated with her, encouraging self-assessment and helping her understand how her decisions and prioritisation impacted her team. “It was enlightening to reflect on how people might see me and how I affect others.” 

    The structure of the programme was another highlight for Cathryn. She appreciated the flexible, bite-sized approach to learning available through Civil Service Learning. “I liked that I could start and stop as needed, which made it easy to fit into my schedule,” she explained. 

    The open, non-prescriptive tone of the training also appealed to her, as it encouraged exploration and personal growth rather than rigid rule following. 

    Benefits of the induction

    Cathryn’s experience underscored how the programme benefits both new and experienced managers alike. “The induction helped me understand what my team members might be going through and allowed me to support them better,” she said. She also saw the value in the training for her own development, as it provided insights into managing not just downwards but across her team and upwards in the organisation. “It wasn’t just about line management – it was about improving all your communication and leadership skills,” she reflected. 

    For Cathryn, the Line Manager Induction Programme provided a framework for consistent, effective management practices, which was essential in her work to build a positive culture within her team. “Good line management starts with individual conversations and support,” she said. “This programme gave me the tools to have those conversations and to grow both myself and my team.” 

    Cathryn recommends the programme to anyone stepping into a managerial role or looking to refine their leadership approach. “Whether you’re new to line management or experienced, the induction is a practical and valuable resource. It helps you not only support your team better but also develop your own leadership skills in the process.”

    The Line Management Induction Programme is available to do on Civil Service Learning and is part of the Civil Service recommended learning curriculum.

    Read the stories of civil servants who have completed the Line Managemer Induction Programme:

    HMRC senior manager Nikki Fisher

    Department for Business and Trade senior manager Marc Fitchett

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Continental cuisine and culture returning to Hanley

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 30th October 2024

    Noodles, burritos, chimney cakes and souvlaki are just a few of the foods making their way back to Hanley as the Continental Market returns.

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council has announced that the market will return this November, treating shoppers to a wide array of continental cuisine.

    There will also be a fantastic range of gifts and products, brought to you by traders from all over the world across several continents, including Europe, Asia and South America.

    The stalls will be located on Parliament Row and Upper Market Square and will join the regular outdoor traders’ who operate in the city centre, from Thursday 7th November to Sunday 10th November between 10am – 6pm (closing at 4pm on Sunday).

    Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration said: “We are delighted that the Continental Market is making a return in November.

    “Each year, the delicious food and amazing crafts that traders bring highlight so many amazing cultures and this is a great thing for a city like Stoke-on-Trent. We have wonderful local businesses and traders and events like the market attract more people to the area and increase footfall in these businesses.

    “We would strongly encourage people to go and check out the market, because there are some amazing food and products on show in what promises to be a great event for the city.”

    Businesses on the stalls will include Taste of Germany, Little China Noodles Bar and Aunty Sally Fudge.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Consultation: East-West Cycle Link Scheme on Queen Street and Avenham Lane

    Source: City of Preston

    Preston City Council has launched a consultation on the proposed improvement scheme on Queen Street and Avenham Lane, which forms part of the ‘Active Preston’ project.

    The proposals for the East-West cycle link scheme comprise:

    • The installation of 700m of new two-way (bi-directional) segregated cycle way on Avenham Lane and Queen Street. These improvements include the reduction of the green verge to create a new separate cycle way
    • Environmental improvements such as tree planting on the existing grass verge.
    • Crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists on Avenham Lane and Queen Street.

    The improvement works are planned to start onsite in Spring 2025.

    Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building on Preston City Council, said:

    “We are dedicated to delivering our vision of ‘a healthier, more liveable, and sustainably connected city’ through the ‘Active Preston’ programme. The East-West cycle scheme is a vital part of this effort, and we invite feedback from the public and local businesses through the consultation process.

    This project will make Preston more accessible for cyclists by providing a safe, dedicated path into the city centre.”

    Aims and benefits of the scheme include:

    • The ‘Active Preston’ project aims to create a safer and healthier environment for pedestrians and cyclists, supporting greener and sustainable travel options.
    • It will create new and improved ways of travelling across the city by a network of safer walking and cycling connections, improved quality of public spaces and safer, more user-friendly linkages across the city.
    • These improvements on Avenham Lane/Queen Street will bridge a key gap in the east-west cycling route to help people to walk or cycle for local trips, such as going to work, college, leisure or shop.
    • Connecting west via Preston Railway Station and east to the colleges, the new route will add to existing cycling work and the ‘Quietway’ cycle link to Waverley Park and links to the Guild Wheel, Avenham Park and the routes across the River Ribble via the proposed new Tram Bridge (Ribble Bridge crossing).

    The scheme supports the Council’s Community Wealth Building commitment to create a resilient and inclusive economy, improving the local environment, better air quality and encouraging active travel.

    The scheme is being delivered under the Active Preston Programme, with funding provided by the UK Government.

    Drop-in Event

    An informal drop in event has been arranged for residents and local businesses to meet the Project Team, view the plans and ask any questions about the scheme.

    Date: Wednesday, 6 November 2024

    Time: 4pm-7pm

    Venue: Room B, Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL

    Your Views

    The proposals are shown on the East-West Cycle Link Scheme – Avenham Lane / Queen Street page.

    If you have any comments regarding the proposed works on Avenham Lane and Queen Street, please submit them before the deadline of Friday 15 November 2024.

    You can submit your views through our online form, or alternatively, email invest@preston.gov.uk or complete our comments form and return to Preston Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL.

    Submit your views on the scheme

    A letter detailing the plans for the proposed new scheme have been sent direct to residents and businesses within the area of the proposed new scheme.

    The proposals can also be viewed online and in an exhibition in the Preston Town Hall reception.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –