NewzIntel.com

Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Staff and employers encouraged to prioritise mental health in workplace

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    World Mental Health Day takes place every year on 10 October. This year, the theme is ‘prioritising mental health in the workplace’.

    Awareness of mental health issues in the workplace is growing. Studies suggest that, at any one time, one in six people experience the symptoms of a mental health issue.

    Factors like work, relationships, housing and financial situations and physical health can make it more likely that we will develop mental health issues – but they can happen to anybody.

    John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “Experiencing poor mental health from time to time is common and everyone manages theirs differently.

    “Employers can play a key role in promoting the mental health and wellbeing of their workforce, and this World Mental Health Day we are calling on employers in Wolverhampton to do all they can to support mentally healthy workplaces.”

    The Mental Health Foundation has produced a guide for employers and employees to help support mental health at work. 

    Mind has produced a guide for small businesses to support mental health at work. 

    Access to Work’s Mental Health Support Service can help people get or stay in work if they have a mental health condition or disability. To check eligibility, visit Access to Work.

    John added: “We can all take steps to improve our own mental health and build our resilience – our ability to cope with adversity. Selfcare is a skill that needs to be practiced; it isn’t easy, especially if we feel anxious, depressed or low in self-esteem, but it can make a huge difference.”

    The NHS highlights five steps people can take to improve their mental health and wellbeing: Connect with other people; Be physically active; Learn new skills; Give to others; Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness). For more information, visit Self-help.

    Meanwhile, Wolverhampton’s libraries have a wide range of self-help and health and wellbeing books, eBooks and audiobooks – find out more at Libraries.

    Other resources include:

    • For urgent help with your mental health or you are struggling to cope, call NHS 111 and select option 2 (mental health option) to be connected to your local mental health support team, or text 07860 025 281.
    • Your doctor or GP is there to help you with your mental health as well as your physical health.
    • Wolverhampton Sanctuary Hub offers out of hours support – book a face to face appointment for by calling freephone 0808 802 2288, texting 07860 065 168 or emailing wolverhamptonsanctuaryhub@rethink.org. 
    • Wolverhampton NHS Talking Therapies – offers psychological therapy for people experiencing common mental health problems including anxiety, depression, stress and low mood. Anyone currently receiving support from Wolverhampton NHS Talking Therapies can also access the NHS Talking Therapies Employment Service which can support with any concerns or issues finding or staying in work.
    • Visit Hub of Hope to find local support that’s right for you.
    • Recovery College provides an educational learning environment for people who have an interest in, or personal difficulties with, mental health – visit The Recovery College, email info@therecoverycollege.co.uk or call on 0121 543 4061.
    • The Headspace app offers guided meditation and mindfulness – find out more at headspace. 
    • And Every Mind Matters has a wide range of help and resources – visit Every Mind Matters for more details.

    If you need someone to talk to, contact:

    • SANE – call 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm to 10.30pm)
      Samaritans – call 116 123 
      Rethink Mental Illness – call 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
      Mind – call 0300 123 3393.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Raising awareness of baby loss

    Source: Northern Ireland Direct

    Date published:

    The loss of a baby, whether it is through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatally, or as an infant is devastating for parents and families. Support for parents and families is available from a number of sources.

    Miscarriage

    If a pregnancy ends before 24 weeks, it is known as a miscarriage.

    You can find out more at this link:

    Ectopic pregnancy

    An ectopic pregnancy is when a pregnancy develops outside the womb. It can be serious, so it’s important to get medical advice right away.

    An ectopic pregnancy doesn’t always cause symptoms. Sometimes it is found during a routine pregnancy scan.

    You can find out more, including symptoms, at this link:

    Stillbirth

    A stillbirth is when a baby is born with no signs of life after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy.

    If you’re pregnant and are worried about anything – for example you have noticed your baby moving less than usual or you feel unwell – contact your midwife or doctor straight away.

    You can find out more at this link:

    Sudden unexpected death in infants 

    Sudden unexpected death in infants – sometimes known as ‘cot death’ – is the unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby.

    It is rare and the risk of a baby dying from it is low.

    You can get more information at this link:

    Support

    There are a number of organisations which offer support to those affected by the loss of a baby.

    Support is available through helplines, group support, as well as one-to-one counselling.

    The hospital where you had your antenatal care/ baby can also signpost you to bereavement services.

    More useful links

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TUV stand up for Causeway Hospital

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV Vice Chairman and East Londonderry representative Councillor Allister Kyle

    “On Tuesday evening I along with a party colleague attended the ‘working with you to transform general surgery’ listening group, where we were informed about the Northern Trust’s plans for Causeway Hospital.

    “It felt a bit like Deja vu, when I attended a similar meeting regarding the loss of the maternity unit at Causeway.

    “It’s hard to see the logic of transferring more patients to Antrim Area Hospital when you only have to look at social media to see how much pressure the staff are already under. In fact, on Tuesday whilst the meeting was being held in the Lodge Hotel, there was a post from Antrim Area, stating that the Emergency Department was ‘extremely busy’ and there were ‘long delays’. It’s not only the hospital staff that are under pressure, ambulances are also in short supply, as are beds.

    “More importantly, as the name ‘emergency surgery’ suggests, this is about time constraints. Some people won’t have the luxury of time to travel an additional 38 miles down the road.

    “To date, Causeway has lost: in patient mental health; renal services; neurology; maternity; and now is potentially going to lose emergency surgery. Where will this end? There was a unanimous vote cast on the night, with no one in the room wanting to loose emergency surgery at Causeway Hospital. This was a room filled with surgeons and nurses, past and present NHS employees, political representatives and carers who all agreed and stood united in support of our local services being maintained.”

    TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston has tabled the following questions on the issues:

    To ask the Minister of Health how the potential loss of emergency surgery at Causeway is consistent with his comments to me in the Assembly on 1st October in which he gave an assurance that “Causeway Hospital will remain a key element of the hospital network in Northern Ireland”.

    To ask the Minister of Health how waiting times at Causeway A and E compare with those in Antrim Hospital over the past 3 years.

    To ask the Minister of Health to list the surgeries perform in Causeway Hospital and the number of each in each of the past 3 years.

    To ask the Minister of Health to detail the (i) greatest and (ii) average bed occupancy in Antrim Hospital in the past 12 months.

    To ask the Minister of Health if he believes the 8 new surgical beds in Antrim will be sufficient to meet demand if emergency surgery is lost at Causeway.

    To ask the Minister of Health to detail the response to the current consultation on emergency surgery at Causeway which would be necessary in order to save the service.

    To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of babies born in ambulances parked in hospital grounds at each of our hospitals in each of the last 3 years and the (i) average and (ii) longest time spent by the mother in the ambulance in the case of each hospital.

    To ask the Minister of Health what is the installation date for the promised MRI scanner at the Causeway Hospital.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Two new non-executive directors join HMRC Board

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Digital transformation expert Mike Bracken and tax specialist Bill Dodwell have joined the HM Revenue and Customs Board.

    The pair have been appointed as non-executive directors to the board, which is chaired by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray MP.

    They will bring fresh expertise and experience to the board as it focuses on the minister’s 3 strategic priorities for HMRC:

    • closing the tax gap
    • improving customer service
    • modernising and reforming HMRC

    Jim Harra, HMRC First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive, said:

    I’m delighted Mike and Bill are joining the board and adding their expert knowledge to the considerable expertise that already exists on the board.

    They will help HMRC to deliver on the minister’s priorities of closing the tax gap, improving customer service, and modernising and reforming HMRC.

    Mike Bracken has led digital operations and transformations in large-scale public and private sector organisations in the UK and Europe. He was the founder and executive director of the UK Government Digital Service (GDS) and the UK’s first Government Chief Data Officer.

    He has advised more than 30 governments and global financial institutions on digital transformation, from Australia to Argentina.

    Mike will chair the board’s Modernisation and Reform Committee.

    Bill Dodwell was Tax Director of the Office of Tax Simplification having been head of tax policy at Deloitte. He has law degrees from King’s College London and Queens’ College Cambridge and is a chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser.

    Bill is a former president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and was a member of the General Anti-Abuse Rule Advisory Panel.

    Bill will chair the board’s Closing the Tax Gap Committee.

    Both Mike and Bill have been appointed board members by the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs for a fixed term of one year in accordance with the relevant guidance.

    The HMRC Board provides scrutiny, challenge and advice to the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs on HMRC’s operational strategies, performance, capability and risks. It is not decision-making and does not advise on policy development or the affairs of individual taxpayers.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: CMA cautions will writing and legal service providers as new guidance launched

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    CMA issues letters to businesses alongside new guidance following an investigation into unregulated providers of will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services.

    iStock

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is taking action to protect the growing number of UK consumers who are opting for alternatives to high street solicitors when making a will or getting divorced. Businesses which provide these unregulated legal services are a growing part of the legal sector and it is crucial they understand and comply with their consumer protection obligations. People buying these services need to be sure they are getting a fair deal. 

    The CMA has written to seven providers of unregulated legal services cautioning them against using particularly concerning practices such as aggressive upselling, the refusal of refunds and failing to respond to complaints. 

    Those who receive a letter should acknowledge it and act on any recommendations to review and revise their contract terms and practices. With the CMA set to receive stronger enforcement powers from next spring, if concerns are not addressed, the businesses could face a formal investigation. 

    As these types of services are not purchased very often, the CMA is concerned that consumers may not have a clear idea of what they may be expected to pay or the different options available to them. So, to help boost compliance levels across unregulated legal services, the CMA is also issuing new tailored guidance for businesses in the sector. This follows a consultation which received widespread support from consumer bodies, trade associations and the firms offering these services.  

    To complement the guidance for businesses, the CMA has published consumer guides for people making a will or going through a divorce. The significant consumer risks associated with pre-paid probate services are also highlighted. 

    Hayley Fletcher, CMA’s Interim Senior Director for Consumer Protection, said:

    Alternatives to conventional high street law firms can offer convenient services for people – and when day-to-day budgets are already under pressure, they can be a more cost-effective option.  

    Those offering these types of legal services often meet their customers at some of the most challenging times in life, so it’s particularly important that a difficult time is not made harder by misleading or unfair practices.   

    Our new guides will help empower consumers to ask businesses the right questions before they buy and give businesses an opportunity to get their house in order. 

    To ensure they comply with the law, we expect businesses in the sector to read the new guidance and make the necessary changes to their terms and practices. Those who don’t could face enforcement action.

    The new guidance explains how businesses can ensure they: 

    • draft fair terms and conditions and provide consumers with the information they need to make informed decisions 

    • provide services with reasonable care and skill 

    • use sales practices that are not misleading or aggressive 

    To raise business awareness of the CMA’s new guidance, an open letter has been sent to providers and published online. The CMA will continue to monitor the sector and expects to conduct a formal compliance review in due course. 

    Guides for consumers 

    The CMA’s new guides for consumers outline the options available when choosing a will writer or a divorce service provider, including the key things people need to keep in mind when buying these services and the potential sources of help if things go wrong after purchase.  

    Consumers are cautioned to think carefully before buying pre-paid probate plans as they come with significant consumer protection risks, including that the company could cease trading before the consumer’s death. A consumer warning on pre-paid probate services is already available via the Financial Conduct Authority and sets out the key issues for consumers to be aware of in relation to these services. 

    More information can be found on the unregulated legal services case page.  

    Notes to editors:  

    1. The CMA’s work in this area relates to consumer protection law, which applies across the UK. The separate laws relating specifically to wills, probate and divorce and the provision of legal advice in those areas differ across the nations of the UK: 

      • In England and Wales, only certain legal services (‘reserved legal activities’) are restricted to regulated legal services professionals (such as solicitors or chartered legal executives). Reserved legal activity is a defined term in the Legal Services Act 2007. 

      • In Scotland, certain legal services are restricted to professionals authorised to conduct those services based on the qualification they hold (such as solicitors, advocates and certain other professionals including commercial attorneys, notaries public and conveyancing practitioners). They are subject to statutory regulation: see Section 32 of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980. Note that the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill is currently before the Scottish Parliament, which if enacted will affect the regulation of legal professionals in Scotland. 

      • Similarly, in Northern Ireland, certain legal services are restricted to qualified persons such as solicitors: see Article 23 of the Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.  

    2. The focus of the new guidance is unregulated providers, where the additional requirements of professional regulation do not apply. However, regulated providers must also meet their legal obligations including compliance with consumer law.  

    3. The CMA has a range of enforcement powers under consumer protection law, and these are shared with other bodies, such as local Trading Standards Services.  

    4. This consumer enforcement investigation was initiated by the CMA in July 2023 to protect consumers following complaints about unregulated providers offering will writing, online divorce, and pre-paid probate services. Since then, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024 has received royal assent. When relevant provisions come into force, the CMA itself will be empowered to determine whether consumer law has been breached and will have the ability to impose fines and order firms to pay compensation to affected consumers.  

    5. The providers of unregulated legal services that have received one of the seven advisory letters from the CMA will not be named. 

    6. For media enquiries, contact the CMA press office on 020 3738 6460 or press@cma.gov.uk  

    7. All enquiries from the public should be directed to the CMA’s General Enquiries team on general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk or by phone on 020 3738 6000.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Open letter to unregulated legal services providers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government Non-Ministerial Departments

    The CMA has published an open letter to unregulated providers of will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services outlining their consumer law obligations.

    Documents

    Open letter to the unregulated legal services sector

    HTML

    Open letter to the unregulated legal services sector (printable version)

    PDF, 238 KB, 4 pages

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

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

    Details

    This letter reminds unregulated businesses offering will writing, online divorce and pre-paid probate services of their existing obligations under UK consumer law, and points readers to compliance guidance published by the CMA.  

    Businesses who provide these services should read this letter together with the final guidance.

    Read more on our  unregulated legal services case page.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Netball’s triumphant return to Liverpool set for 2025!

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Netball will make a triumphant return to Liverpool in May next year when M&S Bank Arena team up with Manchester Thunder to host a highly anticipated Netball Super League (NSL) match, reaffirming the city’s status as a destination for top-tier sporting events.

    The event will see some of the UK’s finest netball talent compete against each other in front of passionate netball fans. Fixtures, announced today, reveal Manchester Thunder will meet Birmingham Panthers in Liverpool.  The return to the city is particularly exciting for local supporters, as it was the host city for the unforgettable 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup, where fans packed the stands to create an electric atmosphere.

    M&S Bank Arena, one of the UK’s leading sports and entertainment venues, is thrilled to welcome Manchester Thunder for what promises to be an exhilarating match. The venue’s state-of-the-art facilities and commitment to creating memorable fan experiences ensure it will be a spectacular showcase for netball fans across the Liverpool city region.

    Ben Williams, Commercial & Business Development Manager for M&S Bank Arena said, “We are delighted to be welcoming netball back to the city. Liverpool has a rich sporting history, and local fans always create a special atmosphere. We are proud to host this prestigious event and can’t wait to see the arena buzzing with excitement as the players take to the court.”

    Karen Greig, Head Coach and Franchise Director for Manchester Thunder said, “We are delighted to be bringing a game to Liverpool and the M&S Bank Arena. We recognise as a North West based franchise that we have a responsibility to develop both local and elite netball across our region. It’s important for us to engage with netballers in the whole of the North West to get more people watching netball and coming to Liverpool is an exciting move for us. We will be working closely with Liverpool and its surrounding areas to engage not only young aspiring netballers but reaching out to netballers across the city. We are excited to see this new partnership drive forward and help develop partnerships and netball.”

    Manchester Thunder, four-time Netball Super League champions, are playing in Liverpool for the first time in their history. The sport’s return to Liverpool in 2025 comes at a time when netball continues to grow in popularity across the UK, inspiring a new generation of players and fans alike. With a strong history of hosting international sporting events, Liverpool is ready to bring netball to new heights and once again show why it’s the premiere destination for top-tier sporting events.

    Event Details:

    • Location: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
    • Date: 18 May 2025
    • Tickets: On sale from 12th October 2024

    For more information, please visit mandsbankarena.com or follow us on social media for the latest updates.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Witness account secures another fly-tip prosecution for Winchester City Council

    Source: City of Winchester

    A Hampshire man has been ordered to pay over £4,000 following a witness account of him committing a fly-tipping offence. 

    The fly-tipped waste in Boarhunt 

    Timothy James O’Keefe, aged 58 years-old and a resident of Arundel Street, Portsmouth, was found guilty by a jury following a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court on 3 October 2024.

    Evidence was supplied by a passing motorist who saw Mr O’Keefe in Ashley Down Lane, Boarhunt on 28 September 2022 with distinctive bags at his car, bags which were subsequently found dumped in undergrowth a few yards away.

    The case was prosecuted by Winchester City Council and Mr O’Keefe was found guilty of depositing controlled waste without an environmental permit.

    The judge sentenced Mr O’Keefe to a fine of £1,000 and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £3,000, a compensation order for clearance costs of £67.64 and a victim surcharge of £400, making a total of £4,467.64. He has also received a criminal record.

    Winchester City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance Cllr Neil Cutler said: “We are very grateful to the witness for reporting this crime – we rely on reports from the public to prosecute so I’d encourage anyone who witnesses or captures footage of someone dumping waste illegally in our district to report it, just as this motorist has done.

    “This successful prosecution just goes to show how important eyewitnesses are in our mission to clamp down on fly-tipping and sends the clear message that we will not tolerate this type of environmental crime in our district.”   

    Reports of fly-tipping can be made on the council’s website at http://www.winchester.gov.uk/report, via the Your Winchester app or by calling 0300 300 0013. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Successful adult learners celebrated at annual awards ceremony 9 October 2024 Successful adult learners celebrated at annual awards ceremony

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Successful adult learners who completed courses with the Isle of Wight Council were celebrated at an awards event last week.

    The Adult Community Learning Service handed out 11 awards, recognising the achievements of individuals across a range of subjects.

    Rob Brindley, service manager for the Adult Community Learning Service, said: “I was humbled to hear the learners’ individual stories and share the journeys they have taken to achieve their learning goals.

    “I know these achievements will impact their lives and their families, whether it is for volunteering, employment, college or university, or well-being and enjoyment.

    “Congratulations to all the winners who should be proud of their awards; I know your achievements will inspire others to give learning a try.

    “I would like to thank all the friends and families who have provided support, and the tutors and partner organisations who worked to help learners to reach their full potential.”

    A special award, the Laura Groves Award for Community and Family Involvement, was presented in memory of former Downside Middle School teacher Laura Groves.

    Wootton Primary School’s Jade Harrison won this accolade for going above and beyond in her role in supporting children in the classroom and at home, ensuring families know how to access support, and bringing together a group of young carers to share their feelings and experiences.

    Find out more about Adult Community Learning opportunities on the Isle of Wight. You can also email acl@iow.gov.uk

    Other winners included:

    Learning through Functional Skills Award — Anna Gudgin.

    Anna struggled academically and did not sit her exams at school, however, she found Adult Community Learning classes perfect for her.

    Classes were a friendly size with a good mix of people and cater for all styles of learning and individual needs.

    A highly commended award in this category was awarded to Heather Venables-Smith.

    Learning Through Technology Award — Jo Hofmann.

    Jo has successfully completed the essential digital skills for work qualification, presentation and word courses. Jo’s confidence and abilities have grown immensely since she started attending courses with our service, which has had a positive impact on her life and resulted in her gaining employment.

    Highly commended was presented to Catrina Millington.

    Learning for Work Award — Natalie Thomas.

    Natalie had started a degree level apprenticeship but found the maths quite challenging. She says the community style of teaching is incredibly powerful, with peer support around you and teachers that change their approach to suit your learning style.

    A highly commended award in this category went to Martha Erasmus.

    Learning for Personal Achievement Highly Commended Award — Alison McCarthy.

    Alison completed courses in spreadsheets and presentations. With the welcoming and calm support of her tutor John, Alison overcome her anxieties and gained confidence in all aspects of computing.

    Learning Within the Family Award — Laura Williams.

    Laura is a young foster carer and felt she did not know much about parenting, but wanted to do the best she could for her brother. She soon become an active member of the ‘families living and learning together’ group, asking questions and gaining in confidence. Laura says the course was a wonderful way to bond and it was a joy to see her brother respond to the activities in the classroom and put them into action at home.

    Staff Award — Norman Spence.

    Norman volunteers to support functional skills classes in Ryde and Sandown. After a career that has involved maths in one form or another, Norman was keen to use his skills in a voluntary capacity.

    Norman has learned a lot about the learning support role and values seeing the ‘lightbulb’ moment when adults learn new skills and grow in confidence.

    Picture shows: Laura Groves Award winner, Jade Harrison, from Wootton Primary School, with headteacher Jane Wilford presented by Steve Groves and Peter Groves.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 57: UK Statement for UPR Adoption on Afghanistan

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Statement for Universal Periodic Review Adoption on Afghanistan. Delivered at the 57th HRC in Geneva.

    Thank you, Madame Vice-President.

    We welcome the outcome of this review, which reflects the appalling human rights situation in Afghanistan.

    We are pleased that many of the recommendations were accepted, including the UK’s recommendation to lift the draconian restrictions on education and employment for women and girls.

    But sadly, Kabul has apparently taken no note.

    Instead, the Taliban’s so-called “vice and virtue” laws have dealt yet another severe blow to women’s rights in Afghanistan. Now the sound of a woman’s voice is deemed a moral violation, their faces are banned in public, and they are forbidden to look at men to whom they are not related. As our Foreign Secretary has said, these laws mark another tragic setback for the country.

    The UK condemns the recent attacks on the majority Shia Hazara community, which are utterly appalling. We echo the Special Rapporteur’s call for the protection of minority communities in Afghanistan.

    The UK will continue to shed light on human rights abuses in Afghanistan, especially against women and girls. The despicable decrees targeting their most basic rights must be overturned.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Improved support for crime victims

    Source: Scottish Government

    New Victim Contact Team to be set up.

    Victims of crime will receive improved support, advice and information as part of planned reforms to the Victim Notification Scheme (VNS).

    Under proposed changes to the scheme – which entitles victims or close relatives of victims to certain information about the person responsible for the crime – a new Victim Contact Team will be set up to give personalised support to victims, based on their individual needs.

    Victims will automatically be referred to the team for a trauma-informed discussion about their options for registering for the VNS and for an explanation of their rights. The amount of information available to victims about the offender(s), which includes information about their release, will also be expanded.

    The Scottish Government will introduce the reforms as part of its response to recommendations in the Independent Review of the Victim Notification Scheme, which heard directly from victims about their experiences of the justice system and the VNS. Recent experiences with how the VNS operated in relation to measures to manage the prison population have also informed the response to the Review.

    The Scottish Government has agreed the majority of the Review’s recommendations, including the central proposal of creating a Victim Contact Team, with plans developed following discussions with justice and victim support organisations. Legislation to underpin the creation of the Contact Team will be progressed through the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, which is continuing its passage through Parliament.

    Victims Minister Siobhian Brown said:

    “These reforms will put the needs of victims firmly at the heart of the Notification Scheme. By increasing the information available to victims, improving communication across justice agencies and making the system more accountable, we can ensure the scheme continues to be as effective and trusted as possible.

    “We have already begun work to implement the Independent Review’s recommendations, including to create a Victim Contact Team to provide personalised support for victims. Each victim has different needs that deserve to be handled sensitively and victims will automatically be referred to the team, who will explain their rights and provide support.

    “This is a priority for the Scottish Government and we will use the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill already progressing through Parliament to ensure the reforms are taken forward at pace.

    “I am grateful to all those who shared their experiences during the Independent Review, particularly victims and their families. We will continue to listen to their voices as we continue strengthening support for them and progress these latest reforms to the Victim Notification Scheme.”

    VNS Independent Review Chair Alastair MacDonald and Vice Chair Fiona Young said:

    “The agreement to establish a Victim Contact Team to help victims understand what information they may receive and to get that information in a way that helps them is welcome. It is hoped that implementation of other recommendations will also be prioritised.”

    Ann Fehilly, of domestic abuse court advocacy service ASSIST, said:

    “ASSIST has long advocated for the Victim Notification Scheme to be victim-centred, trauma-informed and responsive to the needs of victims.

    “We welcome the Scottish Government’s acceptance of almost all of the Review recommendations and look forward to working collaboratively with them to put into effect the plan. We are pleased that choice for victims is at the heart of the process, alongside a commitment to work with organisations which support victims to access the right information timeously. It is crucial that victims of domestic abuse are kept informed to ensure they are safe from further harm.”

    Background

    Scottish Government response to the Independent Review of the Victim Notification Scheme

    Victim Notification Scheme: Independent Review

    The Independent Review made recommendations in relation to the three victim notification/information schemes. In the Independent Review and the Scottish Government response, the term VNS refers to all three schemes, unless otherwise specified.

    Victim notification/information schemes:

    • the VNS provides victims of offenders sentenced to more than 18 months’ imprisonment with the right to certain information (such as when an offender is released) and in some cases with the right to make representations when a decision is being made to release an offender on licence
    • the Compulsion Order and Restriction Order VNS provides victims of offenders subject to a Compulsion Order and Restriction Order with similar rights to information, and to making representations
    • the Victim Information Scheme is available for victims of offenders who are sentenced to less than 18 months’ imprisonment.

    The planned reforms will be implemented in partnership with victim support organisations and justice agencies. The Scottish Government will produce an annual report to review progress of the key VNS reforms.

    Victim Notification Scheme: guidance for victims of crime

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 57: UK Statement on DRC

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of Congo. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

    Location:
    Geneva
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you, Mr Vice-President,

    The UK welcomes the Angolan-brokered ceasefire and encourages the Democratic Republic of Congo’s continued engagement with the Luanda process to bring about lasting peace.

    We remain deeply concerned by ongoing human rights violations and abuses across the Democratic Republic of Congo. The situation in the east is particularly grave. Civilians, including women and children, endure ongoing challenges to their human rights. We strongly condemn attacks on camps for internally displaced people, and of the positioning of artillery close by.

    The recent events at Makala prison were shocking. We encourage a comprehensive and transparent investigation, and the urgent resolution of issues pertaining to overcrowding and protection of female inmates.

    The UK calls on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to revoke its reinstatement of the death penalty. We are particularly concerned by the many death sentences passed on those involved in the events of 19 May. While the UK strongly condemns these events, we urge the Democratic Republic of Congo to reconsider the use of the death penalty.

    High Commissioner,

    How can the international community support the Democratic Republic of Congo in strengthening both access to justice for victims of human rights abuses and to secure accountability for perpetrators?

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK push for de-escalation and stability during Middle East visit

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Foreign Secretary in Middle East to drive de-escalation

    • Meetings in Bahrain and Jordan to strengthen efforts to de-escalation in the Middle East.
    • Foreign Secretary will meet with UK personnel working in the region to underscore commitment to security.
    • He will tour HMS Lancaster to see firsthand UK’s presence in the Gulf.

    The UK continues to work with likeminded partners towards de-escalation in the Middle East, as Foreign Secretary arrives in region to drive efforts towards security and stability, and to press for an end to the cycle of violence which intensified following the atrocities of October 7.

    In talks with leaders in Bahrain and Jordan, key regional partners for the UK, the Foreign Secretary will reiterate the UK’s concern over the risk of escalation and miscalculation in the region and underline our call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.

    He will reaffirm the importance of working with regional partners to press the case for restraint and will demand Iran and its proxies stop their attacks which are causing chaos and destruction for the region and its people. This follows the UK’s condemnation of Iran’s actions against Israel last week which risked plunging the region into a deeper crisis.

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

    The situation is incredibly dangerous and further escalation or miscalculation in the region is in no one’s interests.

    I am pleased to be back in the region to meet with our key partners in Bahrain and Jordan and see firsthand our combined efforts towards building long-term security and stability in the Middle East.

    We must not waver at this critical period to achieve ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, to get more desperately needed aid into Gaza, and secure the release of all hostages.

    Our nations share deep-rooted partnerships across defence, trade, and security, which I look forward to building upon.

    During his time in Bahrain, the Foreign Secretary will meet with UK Armed Forces personnel who are helping to maintain Gulf Security, including commercial shipping in the Red Sea. He will tour HMS Lancaster which is deployed in the region and has a played a key role in patrolling the waters to detect and deter Houthi activity. His visit underscores the UK’s commitment to confronting shared threats in the region.

    He will meet with senior figures and will lead talks on regional security and prosperity, including forging greater business ties. Trade between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council is worth more than £57 billion, with investors from the region making up an important delegation at the UK International Investment Summit next week.

    While in Jordan, he will meet with senior leaders, including Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, and express the UK’s support for the country’s role in delivering much needed humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Proving the value of the Royal Navy’s AI roadmap 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Royal Navy came to ACE to explore how groundbreaking artificial and machine-learning solutions could enhance maintenance and defence capabilities.

    The Naval AI Cell (NAIC) is helping the Royal Navy (RN) embrace the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) and the benefits it can bring, and an initial phase highlighted six priority challenge areas/capabilities that could confirm the value and impact of an aligned transformative roadmap. 

    The Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) was asked to carry out focused discovery into two of these capabilities – increased platform availability through predictive maintenance and Counter-uncrewed Air Systems (CuAS) – to prove a set of use cases and suggested next steps in terms of proposed development and data requirements for each. 

    The predictive maintenance challenge involved the wear and debris team at a naval air squadron. This team contains many experienced engineers who test oil and debris samples from helicopter engines and gear boxes to check for any flight safety or airworthiness issues.

    Most samples pass at the first stage but still take a long time to process, and there is also a potential knowledge transfer issue as engineers retire or leave. ACE was asked to explore whether AI or machine learning (ML) could be applied to mark the test data or carry out any part of its analysis, which is largely manual. 

    A four-week study carried out by Vivace suppliers Mind Foundry and Frazer-Nash across five use cases found that AI/ML techniques including computer vision algorithms, automatic classification of debris imagery and natural language processing could be used for condition assessment of wear debris, bringing time savings. A brief proof of concept was developed to automatically identify the volume of iron particles in oil, which showed how the process of fragment identification and collection could be streamlined.

    Overall, the discovery phase found clear potential for innovative use of AI to support airworthiness and increased aircraft availability. Other data, including vibration monitor data, was also identified which could be used to provide additional insights. 

    Inferring greater meaning from data

    A second challenge undertaken by supplier Roke explored how greater meaning can be inferred from signals data from legacy capabilities, and how additional and alternative approaches to combining, processing and making data more accessible can improve the RN’s capability to detect, classify and track Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UASs). This would increase the exploitation potential and extract more meaningful insights. 

    Reengineering these platforms can be hugely expensive and so the RN wanted to see if AI could be used to enhance existing processes, making better use of data that is already collected. This work resulted in the development of a framework to combine and process data from complex platforms using additional and alternative approaches, which will improve the RN’s capability to counter threats posed by UASs. 

    Both discovery workstreams proved the value of having the AI roadmap and associated investment in place, that it is robust, and determined a set of next steps which can take each use case forward, building the foundations for future operational capabilities. 

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TRA recommendation to keep protections on ceramic tiles accepted

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Government has accepted the TRA’s recommendation to maintain an anti-dumping measure on ceramic tiles from China.

    The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has accepted the Trade Remedies Authority’s recommendation to maintain an anti-dumping measure on ceramic tiles from China, except on certain larger subsets of the product that are not produced in the UK.

    This measure was among those inherited from the EU system and has been in place for 12 years. The TRA conducted a transition review to establish whether it was still suitable for the UK’s needs.

    In its Final Recommendation the TRA recommended that the anti-dumping measure on ceramic tiles with a surface area of less than or equal to 3600cm2, with no tile edge greater than 600mm in length, be maintained for a further five years.

    However, it recommended that the measure be removed on tiles where the largest surface area exceeds 3600cm2 or those that have an edge equal to or longer than 600mm. The measure would still apply in these cases if the tiles in question have a differential relief on the surface area that exceeds 3mm.

    The UK imported over £382 million worth of ceramic tiles in 2021, with 1.5% of these imports coming from China. Chinese imports of tiles to the UK currently face duty rates ranging from 14% to 70%.

    Background information:

    • The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
    • Dumping occurs when goods are imported into a country and sold at a price that is below their normal value in their country of export.
    • Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were carried across into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA is currently reviewing each one to check if it is suitable for UK needs.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Group scoops top award for building on Smeaton’s legacy

    Source: City of Leeds

    A group of young history lovers, who followed in the footsteps of famed Leeds-born engineer John Smeaton, have scooped a top award.

    Known as The Young Smeatonians, they brought past and present together, exploring how the work of pioneering engineers like Smeaton influenced the designs of modern toys like Lego and Meccano.

    Now their efforts have been recognised as the they were named regional winners in the prestigious Marsh Award for Volunteers in Museum Learning, aimed at recognising the huge impact volunteers have in helping museums engage with their visitors.

    Working alongside curators at Leeds Industrial Museum, the Young Smeatonians researched and wrote part of the museum’s current Engineery exhibition, focusing on the impact of civil engineering on the environment and colonialism.

    Writing and installing part of the exhibition themselves as well as choosing the objects and designing a Lego trail through the museum, many of the group carried out the project while sitting their A-Levels.

    Attending a ceremony held at The British Museum in London, members of the group accepted the award, part of a programme recognising individuals and organisations who devote their lives to improving the world today and in the future.

    Aleks Fagelman, assistant community curator at Leeds Industrial Museum, who worked alongside the Young Smeatonians, said: “This is a really proud moment for everyone involved with the group and the exhibition.

    “Volunteers are immensely important to museums, and the fresh ideas and perspectives of this group of young history enthusiasts have given the exhibition a completely new dimension.

    “It’s also the perfect tribute to John Smeaton that his story and legacy are still inspiring innovation in Leeds three hundred years after he was born.”

    Born near Whitkirk, Leeds, in 1724, Smeaton was a self-taught engineer, instrument maker and astronomer. His approach to problem solving and commitment to improving the world around him saw him dubbed the “father of civil engineering.”

    Currently on display at Leeds Industrial Museum, Engineery explores the story of Smeaton, civil engineering and the huge impact both have had on the world.

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “It’s fantastic to see our museums service working with local young people and for our collections to be inspiring the next generation of Leeds history lovers.

    “John Smeaton played a huge role in putting Leeds on the map, and this imaginative group have continued that proud tradition of creativity and innovation with this prestigious award.”

    More details on the Marsh Awards scheme can be found at: Marsh Awards | British Museum

    More details about Engineery can be found at: Engineery – Leeds Museums & Galleries

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Relaunch of OISC Adviser Finder and Register

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The OISC has relaunched its Adviser Finder and Register, allowing people seeking immigration advice to find registered advisers in their area.

    The OISC has today relaunched its Adviser Finder and Register. The Adviser Finder is a user-friendly way for people seeking immigration advice to find registered advisers in their area, and the Register exists to ensure the public can check whether an organisation or individual is registered with the OISC.

    Advisers provide advice and services on a range of immigration issues. Adviser Finder allows users to search for an adviser based on location. Advisers are a part of organisations, and these organisations are listed in the order of distance from the user, with those who are nearest coming first. Information provided includes the organisation’s authorisation level, website and contact details (please note, search results returned will only include organisations who have opted in to be included in this search function).

    The OISC Register serves as a tool to protect those seeking immigration advice from potential exploitation by unregistered individuals. On the OISC website, users can now search for a registered individual or organisation by inputting specific information (organisation or individual name or registration number). If the information searched matches an entry on the Register, this will be confirmed with a display of specific information (organisation or individual name, OISC reference number, level of authorisation, and website).  

    The Adviser Finder and Register were both temporarily withdrawn from the OISC website on 5 August. This was due to a threat to immigration advisers which emerged from violence and unrest across the UK caused by far-right activists.

    For anyone seeking immigration advice, the Adviser Finder and Register are now available.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Royal British Legion thanks council for “doing the right thing by veterans”

    Source: City of Leeds

    Leeds City Council brings military compensation fully into line with civilian awards in benefits means testing

    The Royal British Legion (RBL) has thanked Leeds City Council after the council fully accepted its ‘Credit Their Service’ campaign recommendations and stopped altogether treating military compensation as income in benefits calculations.

    Launched last year, the RBL ‘Credit Their Service’ campaign calls for an end to military compensation being treated as income during welfare benefit means testing.

     Unlike civil compensation awarded by courts, such as personal injury or medical negligence compensation, which is exempt from means testing, military compensation is considered income by 80% of local authorities in the UK when determining eligibility for benefits such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Disability Facilities Grants, and Discretionary Housing Payments.

    While Leeds City Council already disregarded military compensation when assessing Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support / Reduction and Disabled Facilities Grants, a review has resulted in Discretionary Housing Payments also being exempted immediately.

    Hannah Pearce, Director of Campaigns, Policy and Research at RBL, said “We want to thank Leeds City Council for working with us and doing the right thing by veterans and the whole Armed Forces community.

    “All councils in Great Britain have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, and this is a really good example of the tangible difference councils can make to some of the poorest veterans in their community.” 

    The Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis, said: “As a council, we are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, a commitment that we reaffirmed only last year.

    “We offer an exceptional package of support to members of the armed forces, reservists, veterans, cadets and their families, so we are pleased to be able to change how military compensation is classified when means-testing benefits.

    “We take our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant seriously, so we are happy to be able to bring military compensation fully into line with civilian compensation awards.”

    Leeds City Council Armed Forces Champions; Councillor Jane Dowson and Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe, said: “The Council is often praised by veteran organisations for its existing good practice, and this change highlights our continued dedication to the armed forces community. 

    “As a city, we are committed to improving our support offer for all members of the armed forces community, and to being an exemplar as both a service provider and an employer. No member of the armed forces, veteran, or their families, should feel like military service puts them at any disadvantage.”

    Notes for editors:

    Information on the Royal British Legion ‘Credit Their Service’ campaign: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/things-to-do/campaigns-policy-and-research/campaigns/credit-their-service

    Leeds City Council renews its pledge to the Armed Forces Covenant

    https://news.leeds.gov.uk/news/leeds-city-council-renews-its-commitment-and-support-for-the-armed-forces-covenant

    Leeds City Council granted prestigious Armed Forces Covenant Award

    https://news.leeds.gov.uk/news/leeds-city-council-granted-prestigious-armed-forces-covenant-award

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: “The claim that wealth taxes would lead to large numbers of people leaving the UK isn’t credible” say Greens

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party said: “The claim that wealth taxes would lead to large numbers of people leaving the UK isn’t credible. This didn’t happen when changes were made to non-dom status in 2017, and research by Patriotic Millionaires has shown that 68% of those with over £1 million to invest support a wealth tax themselves. There are lots of reasons that the wealthy choose to live in the UK, including work, family and culture, and many are happy to pay a bit more if it means a happier and healthier society.

    Between 2020 and 2022 alone, billionaire wealth in the UK increased by almost £150bn, whilst living standards for the rest of us fell significantly and public services decayed. It’s only through rebalancing our tax system to make it fairer that we can rebalance society, invest in our NHS and other public services, and ultimately increase the quality of life for ordinary Brits”.

    / by Green Party

    Press Releases

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Exploring new and innovative forensic approaches

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Understanding how the state of the art in current science could help further revolutionise solving crime.

    Advances in digital forensics using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and better data science have not been matched by those adopted in ‘wet’ forensics.  There is a hypothesis that using digital approaches can further techniques used and explored for wet. 

    The Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) was asked to help build a better understanding of what the state of the art is in current science research and how that could impact and drive increased analytic insight on scene samples. 

    Three initial areas of interest were identified that could enhance sample assessment; these were: 

    • Develop advanced proteomics techniques for trace evidence identification: harness the power of proteomics to analyse complex biological samples, enabling the detection and identification of trace evidence that may be missed by traditional methods 
    • Employ epigenetics to assess individual exposure and health status: utilise epigenetic markers to assess individual exposure to environmental toxins or illicit substances, providing valuable insights into the context of crime scenes and potential suspects
    • Introduce innovative sample detection methods for rapid and accurate analysis: explore emerging enabling capabilities that can be leveraged to detect and identify a broader range of specimens, beyond the traditional five to six 

    Working with our academic ACE Research Network (ARN), industry and the wider Vivace community, ACE pulled together an internationally curated response demonstrating current and future capabilities against these three challenge areas. 

    This identified experts in all three topics, which are at the forefront of scientific research. It also identified areas for further research with a qualitative assessment against feasibility, threat, opportunity and affordability for each, which the customer is now considering. 

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Family Procedure Rule Committee: annual open meeting 4 November 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Are you interested in observing the rule making process?

    The November 2024 meeting of the Family Procedure Rule Committee (‘the committee’) will be the annual open event where invited attendees will be able to observe proceedings and put questions to the committee, which are sent in advance of the meeting.

    The meeting will take place on Monday 4 November 2024 via MS Teams and is due to start at 11am to 2pm. Attendees will not be able to be involved in the normal business of the committee discussed on the day, but there will be a section dedicated to hearing their input and questions.

    If you wish to attend the meeting please reply using the form (MS Word Document, 42 KB) by Friday 18 October 2024 at the very latest or directly to the FPRC secretariat by email: FPRCSecretariat@justice.gov.uk

    The secretariat will contact you after the closing date to confirm further details.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New visitor facilities opened at Grandtully

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The development, made possible through a £375,000 award from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF), aims to improve the experience of visitors to the Grandtully Station Park and the surrounding area.

    It aims to support sustainable tourism while minimising its impact on local communities, in line with Perth and Kinross Council’s Tourism Action Plan.

    The new facilities represent a collaborative effort between Perth and Kinross Council, Paddle Scotland (formerly the Scottish Canoe Association) and 12 other funding partners.

    The project aims to address the growing pressure on local infrastructure due to increasing visitor numbers in rural Scotland.

    The opening marks the completion of Phase 2, while Phase 3 has received additional funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for an education centre focused on water safety and outdoor skills training.

    This £1.3 million project has been driven by extensive consultation with the local community, which identified key issues such as car parking shortages and a lack of visitor facilities.

    Key features of the new facilities include:

    • An additional 40 car parking spaces to accommodate increased visitor traffic.
    • Accessible facilities, including six accessible toilets and a state-of-the-art ‘Changing Places Toilet’.
    • Toilets, showers, and changing rooms available for day visitors and campers alike.
    • Enhanced camping options and an active travel hub to promote sustainable tourism and reduce inappropriate camping.
    • Installation of six fast electric vehicle (EV) charging points, as well as a campervan service point.
    • Improved visitor information, including interpretation signage and a bike shelter with a maintenance point.

    Carol Anderson, General Manager of Grandtully Station Park, and Roger Holmes, Development Manager of the project, have worked closely with stakeholders to ensure the facilities support local needs.

    Councillor Jack Welch, Depute Convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said: “The launch of the new Grandtully Visitor Management Facilities is a fantastic step forward for sustainable tourism in our region.

    “By enhancing accessibility and improving infrastructure, this development ensures that both visitors and the local community benefit.

    “The collaborative effort behind this project, supported by the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, reflects our commitment to balancing tourism growth with community needs. It’s a great example of how we can manage increased visitor numbers while protecting and preserving the character of rural areas like Grandtully.”

    Stephen Leckie, Chair of VisitScotland, said: “It’s a pleasure to support the official opening of these new facilities at Grandtully.

    “VisitScotland is focused on the responsible growth of tourism and events. To be a sustainable tourism destination, we need to ensure the right facilities are in place to cater for the ever-changing expectations of both visitors and residents. Community engagement is a key part of delivering our goal and the project at Grandtully is a fantastic example of how working together to improve the infrastructure can help both visitors and residents alike.

    “The new facilities will help alleviate pressure on parking, improve accessibility, and encourage visitors to get out and about and explore the area on bike or foot. All improvements that will help support responsible tourism and the long-term sustainability of the Perthshire destination.”

    Stuart Smith, chief executive of Paddle Scotland, emphasised the project’s focus on providing Paddlesport opportunities for all, in addition to contributing to the overall visitor experience.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry being awarded to David Baker for computational protein design and Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper for protein structure prediction

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on the Nobel Prize in Chemistry being awarded for computational protein design and protein structure prediction. 

    Prof Ewan Birney, Deputy Director General of EMBL and Director of EMBL-EBI, said:

    “Huge congratulations to David Baker, Demis Hassabis, John Jumper and the teams that supported them for this fantastic honour. Tools such as AlphaFold help us understand protein structure, helping us decode how life works; being able to design proteins to our own needs shows how deep our understanding has reached. Such tools are built on decades of experimental work and made possible thanks to a culture inside molecular biology of openly sharing data worldwide. There is a vast treasure trove of public data available in databases such as the ones managed by EMBL. We hope to see these data informing yet more discoveries. The potential of big data alongside AI and technology developments is limitless – and this is the start.” 

    https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2024/10/press-chemistryprize2024.pdf

    Declared interests

    Prof Ewan Birney “is the Deputy Director General of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the Director of EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), which hosts the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database. He is also a Non-Executive Director at Genomics England. EMBL-EBI collaborated with Google DeepMind to develop and disseminate the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database, making AlphaFold’s predictions freely and openly accessible to the scientific community.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fines of £660 for Nottinghamshire anglers found fishing illegally

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Three men have been found guilty at Northampton Magistrates Court in cases brought by the Environment Agency on Monday 23 September 2024.

    Fisheries enforcement officers on patrol

    • Fishing in the close season has cost an angler from Nottingham £220 plus costs and victim surcharge
    • Two Nottinghamshire anglers found guilty of fishing without a licence receive fines of £220 each plus costs and victim surcharge
    • Fisheries enforcement officers clamp down on illegal angling to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable

    Stelica Serban, 47, of Exeter Road was found guilty in absence of fishing in the close season at Embankment, River Trent, Nottingham on 20 April 2024. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £88. 

    Close season

    The annual close season (from 15 March – 15 June) prevents fishing for coarse fish in rivers and streams across England, helping to protect fish when they are spawning and supporting vulnerable stocks.

    Fishing without a licence

    Troy Stevenson, 34, of Belsay Road, Nottingham, was found guilty in absence of fishing without a licence at Hallcroft, Retford on 31 March 2024.  He was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £88. 

    David Thompson, 45, of Laurel Avenue, Forest Town, Mansfield, was found guilty in absence of fishing without a licence at A1 Fishery (South Muskham), Newark on 29 March 2024. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £88. 

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: 

    We hope the penalties these illegal anglers have received will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws we have in place across England. 

    Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized. We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute. 

    We urge anglers to respect the close season to help reduce pressures on our fisheries, benefitting fish and the wider environment.

    Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable.  Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of legal anglers.  

    Fishing licences

    Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence to fish. A 1-day licence costs from just £7.10, and an annual licence costs from £35.80 (concessions available). Junior licences are free for 13 – 16-year-olds.  

    Licences are available from http://www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. 

    Fisheries enforcement

    The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported. 

    Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807060 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  

    The charges  

    Stelica Serban was charged with the following offence: 

    On the 20th day of April 2024 at Embankment, River Trent, Nottingham fished for freshwater fish in the close season contrary National Byelaw 2 of the Environment Agency Byelaws made on the 12th July 2010 and contrary to National Byelaw 6 confirmed 23rd March 2010 made pursuant to sections 210 and 211 Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991.

    Troy Stevenson was charged with the following offence:

    On the 31st day of March 2024 at Hallcroft, Retford in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line.  Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. 

    David Thompson was charged with the following offence:

    On the 29th day of March 2024 at A1 Fishery (South Muskham), Newark in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line.  Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Does London have ‘social value’?

    Source: Mayor of London

    What does ‘social value’ mean, and how can it be used in planning decisions to give Londoners the spaces that they need?

    The Planning and Regeneration Committee will tomorrow question experts, community and industry representatives, and local authorities about what social value is, how it’s measured, and how it can make a difference to Londoners.

    Assembly Members will examine how Londoners who run small businesses through council-owned markets and railway arches view ‘social value’ policies, and how they would like to see the social, cultural and environmental value of community assets recognised in approaches to planning and regeneration.

    The guests are:

    Panel 1, 2.00pm – 3.15pm 

    • Maria Adebowale-Schwarte, Commissioner for the London Sustainable Development Commission
    • Tony Burton, Founder of Civic Voice and Chair of Community Review Panels in Old Oak & Park Royal and Dacorum
    • Dr Myfanwy Taylor, Lecturer in Urban Economics and Planning, University College London
    • Guy Battle, Chief Executive Officer at Social Value Portal
    • Stephanie Edwards, Co-Founding Director of Urban Symbiotics

    Panel 2, 3.30pm – 4.45pm

    • Krissie Nicolson, CEO London Trades Guild
    • Nicholas Kasic, Manager of Portobello Road Market and convener of the London Street Trading Benchmarking Group 
    • Sarah Goldzweig, Research and Project Officer at Latin Elephant
    • Stephen Biggs, Corporate Director, Community Wealth Building, London Borough of Islington 
    • Bryce Tudball, Head of Spatial Planning, London Borough of Haringey

    The meeting will take place on Wednesday 9 October from 2pm, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

    Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

    The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

    Follow us @LondonAssembly.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Six ways to holiday like an old-school travel journalist – without using the internet

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Masood Khodadadi, Reader (Associate Professor) in Tourism, Culture and Society, University of the West of Scotland

    The Travelling Companions by Augustus Leopold Egg (1862). Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

    We all want to get the most out of our holidays, which is why we so often turn to online “top things to see” lists, or TikTok recommendations of a destination’s best sights and eateries.

    But as useful as these strategies can be, using the internet to plan every detail of your travel omits the essence of discovery – the very thing that made pre-internet travel journalism so thrilling to read.

    These six tips explain how you can explore a new place like an old-school travel journalist or an explorer from a bygone era. They’ll enable you to look up from your phone, and discover your destination with intuition and curiosity.

    No one’s 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.

    Read more from Quarter Life:

    1. Discard the itinerary and trust your gut

    Freya Madeline Stark by Herbert Arnould Olivier (1923).
    National Portrait Gallery

    Before smartphones, travel journalists such as Freya Stark and Bruce Chatwin depended on serendipity. They didn’t have TripAdvisor or Google Maps to guide them. Rather, they listened to their instincts and locals’ advice about how to shape their journey.

    A famous example is Chatwin walking through Patagonia after conversations with locals advised him of his next stop.

    Try this on your next adventure: walk without a plan. Follow your instincts towards any of the local cafes, quiet parks, or bustling markets. And if all else fails and you are not quite sure where to start, just stop and ask someone near you what it is that they love about the area. Many times, people’s stories will take you to places you would never have found online.

    2. Use analogue maps and guides

    Before GPS, maps weren’t just functional – they were part of the adventure. Travel writers like Jan Morris and Paul Theroux (father of documentary presenter, Louis) wrote about how their unfolding maps forced them to interact with the landscape in a tactile way.

    Pick up a local map in a bookshop or visitor centre and unfold it in a cafe. Mark where you have been and circle the areas you are curious about.

    In their early editions, guidebooks like The Rough Guide and Lonely Planet didn’t give a thorough list, but instead pushed cultural immersion travel, which is concerned with authentic activities. Think local traditions, history, language and customs of the place you’re visiting. Cultural immersion travel involves mingling with the residents to get an in-depth feel of how they live.

    Although carrying a printed guidebook seems vintage, this act plunges you back to the time when the discovery of hidden corners of a city was about turning pages, not scrolling.

    Chatting with locals is a great way to discover gems in a new place. English Tourists in Campagna by Carl Spitzweg (1845).
    Alte Nationalgalerie

    3. Speak to local people

    Pre-smartphone travellers had one irreplaceable resource at their disposal – people. On his long walks across Europe, for example, travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor relied on the people he met for insight into local customs, history and hidden gems.

    Do exactly the same thing. Go to a typical bar, a bazaar, a local event, or attend a course on the language or the cooking of the place. Engage a bartender, shop owner, or street vendor in a chat. These tips will steer you off the beaten path of algorithms.

    4. Immerse yourself in slow travel

    Travel journalists of the past were in no hurry. Rather than zipping from one attraction to the next, they stayed put for long enough to pull back the layers of a place. Writer Rebecca West’s trek through the Balkans (which she described in her 1941 book, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon) took months. Her long stays in villages allowed her to really get to know the place and its complexities.

    You should slow down on your next trip, too. Stay on in a small town or neighbourhood a little longer than you planned to. Stroll its streets and soak in the rhythms of daily life.

    5. Read travel literature

    The writers of travel history books, be it Robert Byron’s travels among the architecture and culture of Persia, or Isabella Bird entering unknown 19th-century Japan, articulate how their predecessors perceived the lands they visited.

    Read books written by local authors to get deeper into the cultural context of the place you’re visiting. You’ll find their reflections on their hometown or region often give you a more insightful, nuanced perspective than any modern day “top ten” list could.

    6. Research the history of every place you visit

    Writers like Colin Thubron included historical and cultural details to make their travel stories richer and more meaningful.

    Whether you find yourself at a local museum, reading up on the past of a place, or simply walking its streets with an eye for historical markers, learning the background of where you are can infuse your visit with added meaning.


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

    Masood Khodadadi 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. Six ways to holiday like an old-school travel journalist – without using the internet – https://theconversation.com/six-ways-to-holiday-like-an-old-school-travel-journalist-without-using-the-internet-240384

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Greens hail private jet tax review

    Source: Scottish Greens

    08 Oct 2024 Transport Climate Action

    A private jet tax can fund our transition to a greener future.

    More in Transport

    The Scottish Greens have welcomed an announcement that the Scottish Government will be reviewing air departure tax rates, including for private jets specifically.

    Answering a question at the Finance and Public Administration Committee this morning, the Cabinet Secretary said the rates and bands, including the rates on private jet flights, would be reviewed to ensure they align with net zero ambitions.

    There were 12,911 recorded private flights to and from Scotland’s airports in 2023. A recent Oxfam study suggested a tax on these flights could raise up to £21.5 million. Private jets have estimated climate emissions of up to 14 times that of commercial flights.

    The Scottish Greens transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP, said: “Private jets have a huge environmental impact, and while their super-rich occupants pinball between their golf courses and yachts, it’s taxpayers who are left paying for the damage.

    “We all know that we urgently need to reduce aviation emissions, and one of the easiest ways to do that is to reduce private jet use. Taxing them fairly would deter such reckless flights, help move people to more sustainable modes of transport, and raise the funds to help us to mitigate the destructive impact they have on the rest of us.

    “We all know Labour cuts at Westminster mean money is tight in Scotland. But it isn’t enough to point this out, we must use every lever at our disposal to raise the funds we need for essential services and climate action. I can think of no better way of raising these funds than taxing super-rich polluters.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mounjaro will soon be available as a weight loss treatment on the NHS – here’s what that means for patients

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Zoe Edwards, Research Lead/Advanced Clinical Practitioner/Senior Research Fellow, University of Bradford

    Mounjaro will soon be available for prescription on the NHS. Cynthia A Jackson/ Shutterstock

    The weight loss jab Mounjaro will soon be made available to nearly a quarter of a million NHS patients, according to proposals made by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). Previously, it was only available on the NHS for patients with diabetes.

    Under Nice’s proposals, the drug will gradually be rolled out over the next three years. Access to it will first be prioritised to patients who are severely obese and have at least three weight-related health problems – for example, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and sleep apnoea.

    There are plans to increase NHS access to more patients after the initial three-year period. It will also remain available for patients with diabetes.

    This recent approval provides new treatment options for people with obesity – but how effective it is will depend on whether supplies can keep up with anticipated demand.

    What is Mounjaro?

    Mounjaro is the UK brand name of the drug tirzepatide, which, until now, has only been prescribed on the NHS for patients with diabetes to help control blood sugar and encourage weight loss.

    In the US, Mounjaro is used for diabetes treatment. Another version of tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Zepbound, is used for weight loss treatment. Zepbound is not licensed as a weight loss product in the UK.

    Tirzepatide works for weight loss by mimicking hormones in the body that tell our brain we feel full. A weekly injection is needed, which may be increased in strength each month, depending on the patient.

    Clinical studies have found tirzepatide is even more effective than semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) for weight loss. In some studies, patients have lost up to 20% of their body weight.

    Supporting weight loss

    Until now, Wegovy was the only weight loss injection authorised for NHS use under the care of specialised weight loss services. These services offer patients clinical treatment, mental health support, access to a dietitian and physiotherapy.

    But the availability of such services is patchy and recently access to many local services has even been paused or stopped. This means many patients who need effective weight loss treatments may not have access to them. Among the reasons for these services being suspended is there was greater demand than availability of services in some areas, as well as attempts to control prescriptions of crucial drugs due to ongoing shortages.

    Mounjaro needs to be injected weekly.
    Mohammed_Al_Ali/ Shutterstock

    Initially, it was thought that Mounjaro, would not need to be prescribed by specialists, but Nice have confirmed it will only be prescribed with specialist weight loss services to maximise its benefits and prevent complications.

    Now that Mounjaro has been authorised for use on the NHS, it will be key that access to specialist weight loss services is improved throughout the country so that people who need weight loss support are able to get it. NHS England are in the process of developing a range of community and digital services to address this.

    Is there enough Mounjaro for everyone?

    The change in guidance may lead to a rush in demand for referrals to weight loss services when the drug becomes available. This could add more pressure to an already challenged system.

    This uptick in demand may also affect access to Mounjaro for patients who use the drug for diabetes. This was the case with Ozempic (semaglutide) in 2023 – despite it only being licensed for the treatment of diabetes. Demand for the drug by those who wanted to use it to lose weight led to a surge in private prescribing of the drug off-label – leading to global stock shortages of semaglutide.



    Read more:
    Ozempic shortages in the UK may last until 2024 – here’s why

    Many patients using the semaglutide for diabetes were unable to source the product. Semaglutide’s manufacturers did not foresee this hike in demand and were not prepared to maintain supplies for people with diabetes.

    Since it was introduced on the market, Mounjaro has proved to be a popular product, with sales making its manufacturer, Eli Lilly, greater profits than expected. Stock shortages have already been experienced in Australia and the US. Due to ongoing demand and previous shortages of similar products (such as semaglutide) one would hope that Eli Lilly has anticipated increased demand for Mounjaro in the UK and will have adequate supplies from the outset.

    But with British pharmacies reportedly planning to reduce the private price of weight loss products (including Wegovy and Mounjaro), this could increase demand further – which may subsequently affect the availability of supplies for NHS patients.

    Given the successes of semaglutide and tirzepatide, it’s expected that further similar drugs will be developed. Many of these alternative products are already showing promise in clinical trials – such as an oral weight loss pill. Having alternative products available will ease strain on the supplies of current weight loss products.

    Will Mounjaro help with the obesity crisis?

    It’s thought that up to 25% of adults in the UK are obese. Obesity is linked to many health problems – including heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. Obesity-related healthcare is estimated to cost the NHS billions of pounds every year. Improvements in diet and lifestyle are recommended to tackle obesity, but, understandably, many patients find sustained change difficult.

    Greater access to weight loss drugs could help patients lose weight and prevent the associated health problems. This could also save the NHS money and improve long-term health. Weight loss drugs, such as Mounjaro, could be an important solution to a growing problem – but only if access to these treatments is available to those who need them most.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Mounjaro will soon be available as a weight loss treatment on the NHS – here’s what that means for patients – https://theconversation.com/mounjaro-will-soon-be-available-as-a-weight-loss-treatment-on-the-nhs-heres-what-that-means-for-patients-239777

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sellafield Ltd welcomes its largest ever graduate cohort

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    More than 140 graduates have started at Sellafield Ltd.

    Graduate intake event 2024.

    Over 140 graduates have just started their exciting careers with the company in a range of business and technical disciplines, supporting Sellafield Ltd in its mission to create a clean and safe environment for future generations.

    Our scheme aims to equip graduates with the skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary for a successful career in the nuclear industry, while offering the opportunity to build valuable professional networks.

    One of the graduates who has just completed the two year scheme is commissioning engineer Anouschka Van Mourik.

    Just before completing the scheme, Anouschka was honoured as Graduate of the Year thanks to her consistent work delivery and enthusiasm for undertaking new opportunities to develop her skills.

    Anouschka Van Mourik, Graduate of the Year

    Anouschka has also been involved in the Gender Balance network, mentoring scheme, and local events supporting the Institute of Engineering and Technology network as well as the Women in Nuclear group.

    She said:

    Being named Graduate of the Year was an incredible honour. The graduate scheme has been an amazing journey, rich with development and personal growth. I’ve not only advanced in my day-to-day job but also nurtured my passion for inspiring others to pursue careers in STEM.

    After earning my degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Sellafield has played a vital role in further developing my skills and supporting my personal and professional growth.

    As we celebrate the successes of our current graduates, we are also excited to look ahead to the future. Applications for the 2025 graduate scheme are now open, with roles available in a variety of areas ranging from engineering to project management and finance.

    To find out more about the Sellafield graduate scheme, visit the Sellafield careers website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Have your say about new Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Natural England is seeking views on a new Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Yorkshire Wolds

    An image of mist on the Yorkshire Wolds.

    Natural England has today (8th October) launched a statutory and public consultation for proposed plans to designate part of the Yorkshire Wolds as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).  

    This will be the formal consultation phase and will remain open for 14 weeks (closing midnight on the 13th January 2025). Local authorities and all interested parties can comment on the proposed AONB and the evidence which supports it.   

    AONBs were recently rebranded as National Landscapes however, in legal terms, Natural England would designate an AONB.

    To avoid confusion, Natural England will use the term AONB throughout the consultation process. If an AONB is subsequently designated, it would then be known as a National Landscape.    

    Plans to designate a Yorkshire Wolds AONB are part of an ambitious programme of landscape designation and is one of four new projects to help deliver on the Government’s commitment to safeguard more of England’s beautiful and iconic landscapes for future generations.  

    The Yorkshire Wolds is a tranquil, beautiful landscape, known for dramatic steep sided dry valleys, high but gentle escarpments, dramatic coastal cliffs, and open, rolling agricultural plateaus.

    Natural and cultural heritage in the area includes ancient woodland, species rich grasslands, chalk streams, Iron Age settlements, abandoned Medieval villages and Georgian manors and parkland. The Wolds also include a prominent chalk cliff and foothills rising from the Vale of York to the west and the Vale of Pickering to the north.  

    Designating this precious landscape as an AONB could bring many benefits including conserving and enhancing the area’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, as well as the magnificent views and tranquillity of the area.

    It could give improved access to nature for the benefit of people’s health and wellbeing, whilst safeguarding an important landscape for future generations. AONBs can also boost economic growth and sustainable local tourism.   

    Paul Duncan, Deputy Director for Natural England, said:  

    The Yorkshire Wolds is a truly special area, and it is important that everyone, including people who live in and around the community, has their say in this national designation project.     

    We’re inviting anyone interested in this fantastic landscape to take the time to examine the proposals and provide their views and comments about the natural beauty of the Yorkshire Wolds, its condition, natural and cultural heritage, and scenic qualities. You can also comment on the desirability of the designation and the proposed boundary. Evidence that you provide could be vital in helping us refine our proposals.  

    Cllr Anne Handley East Riding of Yorkshire Council Leader, said:  

    I’m delighted that the Yorkshire Wolds, a large part of which is situated in East Riding, are being considered for national level designation.

    We are very lucky to have a range of fabulous natural assets from the Wolds to the coast, which attracts millions of visitors each year. It is fantastic to see the area, with its outstanding natural beauty, considered for such a significant status. 

    Shaun Berry Head of Environment & Sustainability of North Yorkshire County Council said:   

    We know how important North Yorkshire’s beautiful natural landscape is, to the people who live and work in and around it, those who visit from across the UK and the world and the businesses that serve those visitors.

    We already see these benefits in the county’s two National Parks and other areas of outstanding natural beauty in Nidderdale, the Howardian Hills and the Forest of Bowland, so I urge local people to have their say about this opportunity.    

    There will be a number of drop-in events and webinars to show the proposals and explain how people can have their say.

    Details of these events, along with copies of the consultation documents, information about the designation process and what an AONB means are available to view and download on the consultation website here.  

    People will also have the chance to view the documents at the drop in events and in a small number of local libraries and local authority offices, details of which are on the website. 

    Paper copies of the consultation pack can be requested by emailing the Natural England designation team on YorksWoldsDesignationProject@naturalengland.org.uk  or telephoning 0300 060 3900.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –