NewzIntel.com

Category: United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Socially assistive robots

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Robots and Autonomous Systems are increasingly being integrated into modern healthcare. Will we one day also have Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) to assist less able, isolated or elderly people in private or care homes? Is there a role for these robots in lifting people between beds and chairs, delivering food/parcels, answering the door, accessing the upstairs, analysing boxes of pills to regulate medication, providing intimate care, or even just having conversations? And what kind of regulation, policy and ethical issues will all that throw up?

    A new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers considers the current regulations for RAS in established settings and makes recommendations for how these guidelines must be adapted to healthcare and home settings to look after vulnerable people while ensuring safety and privacy.

    This SMC briefing brought together three authors on the report to talk about how a world of socially-assistive robots needs to be regulated, how they might help in future, what they might look like and what they could do. They were also happy to answer any questions on the ethics and risks.

    Speakers included:

    Prof Helen Meese, PhD, CEng MIMechE, CEO, The Care Machine ltd & Immediate Past Chair, Biomedical Engineering Division, IMechE

    Prof. Alessandro Di Nuovo PhD, Professor of Machine Intelligence, Leader of Technological and Digital Innovations, Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University

    Dr Daniele Magistro PhD, Associate Professor in Physical Activity and Health, Department of Sport Science, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fresh action in London’s town centres to build on crime reductions achieved in capital

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    London’s town centres, high streets and communities will see an enhanced police and local authority presence this summer as part of partnership work to build on reductions in theft, burglary, robbery, ASB and retail crime achieved in the capital so far this year.

    The Met Police have identified the top 32 town centres and high street locations3 across London that have the biggest challenge with anti-social behaviour, theft and street crime and they will be the focus for enhanced partnership action with local authorities, businesses and communities to tackle crime.

    Every single borough will see increased police and partner activity in the hotspot areas including Stratford, Woolwich Town Centre, Finsbury Park, Croydon Town Centre, Shepherds Bush Green, Elephant and Castle, Seven Sisters and London’s West End.

    London is a global destination, particularly over the summer months with five million additional visitors expected over the peak tourism season and with school summer holidays beginning soon, our town centres will be very busy. At a time of high demand for policing, the Mayor of London, Met police, local authorities and partners are strengthening their joint work to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour impacting our town centres and high streets.

    The top twenty town centre and high streets being focused on by police, MOPAC, local authorities and community partners as part of Safer Summer Streets make up only a small percentage of London overall, but account for almost 10 per of knife crime, 24 per cent of theft person offences and 6 per cent of all ASB calls.*

    There will be increased police patrols, intelligence-led plain-clothed operations in hotspot areas, and officers will relentlessly target wanted and prolific offenders who commit multiple offences, particularly shoplifting and ASB, seeking long sentences and Criminal Behaviour Orders.

    These summer plans are based on strong partnership working, with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), the Met, local authorities, businesses, community organisations sharing information using a new approach so issues can be identified and acted upon quickly. Local solutions will include the designing out of offences through local authority powers related to licensing, parking, waste management and trading standards.

    Thanks to the hard work of the police, London’s Violence Reduction Unit, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), local authorities and partners, the first six weeks of this financial year have seen promising reductions in a number of crime types compared to the same period last year.

    • Knife crime – down by 18.1 per cent
    • Residential burglary – down by 17.7 per cent
    • Theft from the person – down by 15.6 per cent
    • Personal robbery – down by 12.8 per cent.
    • Shoplifting – the Met have solved 163 per cent more cases this year than in the same period as last year.

    These reductions are in addition to the latest Office for National Statistics Crime stats which show that overall, the violent crime with injury rate is lower in London than in the rest of England and Wales1. Gun crime with lethal barrel discharges, knife crime with injury for those aged under 25 and homicides in the capital have all fallen since 2016.2

    Through more precise targeting of the most dangerous offenders and greater focus on the issues that matter most to Londoners, the Met are arresting more than 1,000 more criminals each month.

    Whilst there have been significant reductions in some crime types since the start of the financial year and since 2016, it’s clear that more needs to be done to ensure everyone in the capital is safe and feels safe.

    The intensified action to tackle anti-social behaviour and theft is part of ongoing work by the Met and Mayor of London to boost local neighbourhood teams and put high visibility policing at the heart of fighting crime and rebuild community confidence. It is backed with record funding from City Hall which has helped to London’s Safer Neighbourhood teams. Over the last two years the Met has put an additional 500 Met officers and staff ranging from Superintendent to PCSOs into neighbourhood teams and continue to increase officers in these teams, working closer than ever with communities to understand and deal with local priorities.

    It also forms part of the Home Office’s national Safer Streets Summer Initiative running from 30 June until the end of September 2025, which will see officers in London focusing on reducing town centre criminality including shop theft, street crime and anti-social behaviour.

    On Wednesday morning, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Kaya Comer-Schwartz will join Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes, Enfield Council Leader Cllr Elgin Erbil and neighbourhood officers in Enfield to see the ‘Safer Streets Summer’ in action.

    Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: “The safety of our town centres is more than just policing – it’s about building stronger, more connected communities where everyone feels secure.

    “That’s why I was really pleased to meet with local partners and community groups today – along with the police – to strengthen our collaborative work to tackle shoplifting, theft and anti-social behaviour in all its forms.

    “We have seen this in action today in Enfield, with officers speaking with local people and business owners addressing their concerns. Across our city there will be partnership led operations to tackle shoplifting and clear, visible neighbourhood officers out on patrol, keeping our communities safe and working to build safer town centres and a safer London for everyone.”

    Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, Matt Jukes, said: “Our intelligence and data-led approach to tackle the crimes that matter most to Londoners – such as shoplifting, robbery and anti-social behaviour – is already working.

    “We’re arresting 1,000 more criminals each month, neighbourhood crime is down 19 per cent and we’ve solved 163 per cent more shoplifting cases this year.

    “In 32 of the hardest hit areas, we’re working with the community, councils, businesses and partners, to focus our resources and bear down on prolific offenders and gangs who blight too many neighbourhoods across the capital.”

    Cllr Ergin Erbil, Leader of Enfield Council, said: “Creating a safer Enfield is our priority. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighbourhood and community, and here in Enfield we’re proud to be working closely with the Met Police, the Mayor of London and our partners to make that a reality. Safer Streets Summer is a powerful example of what can be achieved when we come together to cut crime and antisocial behaviour.

    “Alongside improved policing, Enfield Council is spending time and money towards making our streets safer for those who live and work in Enfield. For example, our dedicated summer parks patrols, launched last month, are helping to stop and prevent antisocial behaviour by providing a visible presence and reassurance. Police officers and our council teams are patrolling our parks and town centres side by side.

    “Likewise, our partnership with local policing teams and other partners in Upper Edmonton and Edmonton Green has meant we are tackling serious organised crime and the causes of crime through three steps called Clear Hold Build. Our residents on the most affected estates are telling us they feel safer and better protected. Consequently, they are working with us to combat crime and improve our neighbourhoods.

    “We’re committed to building safer, stronger town centres where residents, businesses and visitors can feel safer and can thrive.”

    Hannah Wadey, CEO, Safer Business Network said: “Businesses across London have a crucial role to play in keeping our public spaces safe, and Safer Streets Summer is a great example of what we can achieve when we all work together. From preventing crime and anti-social behaviour to creating welcoming environments, this work is vital for our communities and businesses are proud to play their part. When people feel safe, our town centres thrive.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Skip company to pay over £48,000 for operating illegal waste site

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Skip company to pay over £48,000 for operating illegal waste site

    A Birmingham skip hire company must pay financial penalties of more than £48,000 after the Environment Agency brought a prosecution for operating illegally.

    • Investigation by Environment Agency finds company without necessary environmental permit
    • Court issues remediation order for site to be cleared of waste within 3 months
    • Case heard at Birmingham magistrates on Monday 7 July 2025.

    At Birmingham magistrates’ court on 7 July 2025, Action Skip Hire Limited of Trent Street, Digbeth, were found guilty of 2 offences and admitted another.

    The court imposed a fine of £12,000 for operating a regulated facility in Oxford Street, Birmingham, without the necessary environmental permit. They were also ordered to pay a surcharge of £190 and costs of £26,376.58.

    The company was fined a further £6,000 for failing to comply with a Notice to provide waste transfer notes. They were ordered to pay a £2,000 surcharge and costs of £1,522.38.

    The court was told that the company held an environmental permit for a waste site at Trent Street, Digbeth. However, not for land off Oxford Street where the company illegally stored and processed wastes.

    Officers from the Environment Agency visited the Oxford Street site on 10 August 2023 following reports of waste activity taking place.

    Investigations found the site were storing mixed general and construction and demolition wastes including trommel fines, tyres, mattresses and wood.

    Further investigations revealed that the land was leased to Action Skip Hire Limited. Inspections by Environment Agency Officers during September and October of 2023 showed that the Oxford Street site was still being used for waste activities.

    This resulted in the Environment Agency serving a Section 59 (1) (a) Enforcement Notice on 20 November 2023 requiring the company to remove waste from the land. The notice was not complied with.

    Further visits were carried out throughout 2024 which found wastes remaining on the site.

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

    We welcome this outcome and will continue to work tirelessly to pursue and prosecute those involved in illegal waste activities.

     Failure to comply with these legal requirements is a serious offence that can damage the environment and undermine legitimate businesses.

     Anyone with suspicions of waste crime can call our incident hotline, 0800 807060, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.

    Background

    • Between 1 February 2021 and the 16 July 2024, at a site off Oxford Street, Birmingham, B5 5NY, did operate a regulated facility, namely a waste operation for the deposit, treatment, and storage of waste, except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit. Contrary to Regulations 12 (1) (a) and 38 (1) (a) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

    • On and after 29 February 2024 Action Skip Hire Limited failed, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a notice dated the 20 November 2023 and served on the company pursuant to Section 59 (1) (a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in that the company failed to remove controlled waste from land off Oxford Street, Birmingham, B5 5NY.

    • On 28 November 2024 Action Skip Hire Limited failed to comply with the requirements of a Notice dated 20 November 2024, which required that written descriptions of waste removed from 39 Trent Street, Birmingham, B5 5NL, covering the period 5 August 2024 to 19 November 2024, be provided to the Environment Agency within 7 days, contrary to Section 34(5) and (6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Regulation 35 of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011.

    Remediation Order:

    A Regulation 44 Remediation Order was issued to the Company requiring them to remove all waste from the site within 3 months.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Antidepressant withdrawal: new review downplays symptoms but misses the mark for long-term use

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mark Horowitz, Visiting Clinical Research Fellow in Psychiatry, UCL

    marevgenna/Shutterstock.com

    A new review of antidepressant withdrawal effects – written by academics, many of whom have close ties to drug manufacturers – risks underestimating the potential harms to long-term antidepressant users by focusing on short-term, industry-funded studies.

    There is growing recognition that stopping antidepressants – especially after long-term use – can cause severe and sometimes debilitating withdrawal symptoms, and it is now acknowledged by the UK government as a public health issue.

    One of the main reasons this issue took decades to recognise after the release of modern antidepressants onto the market is because medical guidelines, such as those produced by Nice (England’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), had for many years declared withdrawal effects to be “brief and mild”.

    This description was based on studies run by drug companies, where people had only taken the medication for eight to 12 weeks. As a result, when patients later showed up with severe, long-lasting symptoms, many doctors didn’t take them seriously because these experiences contradicted what the guidelines led them to expect.

    Our recent research helps explain this mismatch. We found a clear link between how long someone takes antidepressants and how likely they are to experience withdrawal symptoms – and how severe these symptoms are.

    We surveyed NHS patients and found that people who had used antidepressants for more than two years were ten times more likely to have withdrawal effects, five times more likely for those effects to be severe, and 18 times more likely for them to be long lasting compared with those who had taken the drugs for six months or less.

    For patients who used antidepressants for less than six months, withdrawal symptoms were mostly mild and brief. Three-quarters reported no or mild symptoms, most of which lasted less than four weeks.

    Only one in four of these patients was unable to stop when they wanted to. However, for long-term users (more than two years), two-thirds reported moderate or severe withdrawal effects, with one-quarter reporting severe withdrawal effects. Almost one-third of long-term users reported symptoms that lasted for more than three months. Four-fifths of these patients were unable to stop their antidepressants despite trying.

    About 2 million people on antidepressants in England have been taking them for over five years, according to a BBC investigation. And in the US at least 25 million people have taken antidepressants for more than five years. What happens to people in eight-to-12-week studies is a far cry from what happens to millions of people when they stop.

    Studying what happens to people after just eight to 12 weeks on antidepressants is like testing car safety by crashing a vehicle into a wall at 5km/h – ignoring the fact that real drivers are out on the roads doing 60km/h.

    History repeating itself?

    Against this backdrop, a review has just been published in Jama Psychiatry. Several of the senior authors declare payments from drug companies. In what looks like history repeating itself, the review draws on short-term trials – many funded by the pharmaceutical industry – that were similar to those used to shape early treatment guidelines. The authors conclude that antidepressants do not cause significant withdrawal effects.

    Their main analysis is based on eleven trials that compared withdrawal symptoms in people who had stopped antidepressants with those who had continued them or stopped taking a placebo. Six of these trials had people on antidepressants for eight weeks, four for 12 weeks and just one for 26 weeks.

    They reported a slightly higher number of withdrawal symptoms in people who had stopped antidepressants, which they say does not constitute a “clinically significant” withdrawal syndrome. They also suggest the symptoms could be explained by the “nocebo effect” – where negative expectations cause people to feel worse.

    In our view, the results are likely to greatly underestimate the risk of withdrawal for the millions of people on these drugs for years. The review found no relationship between the duration of use of antidepressants and withdrawal symptoms, but there were too few long-term studies to test this association properly.

    The review probably underestimates, in our view, short-term withdrawal effects too by assuming that the fact that people experience withdrawal-like symptoms when stopping a placebo or continuing an antidepressant cancels out withdrawal effects from antidepressants. But this is not a valid assumption.

    We know that antidepressant withdrawal effects overlap with side-effects and with everyday symptoms, but this does not mean they are the same thing. People stopping a placebo report symptoms such as dizziness and headache, because these are common occurrences. However, as was shown in another recent review, symptoms following discontinuation of a placebo tend to be milder than those experienced when stopping antidepressants, which can be intense enough to require emergency care.

    So deducting the rate of symptoms after stopping a placebo or continuing an antidepressant from antidepressant withdrawal symptoms is likely to underestimate the true extent of withdrawal.

    The review also doesn’t include several well-designed drug company studies that found high rates of withdrawal symptoms. For example, an American study found that more than 60% of people who stopped antidepressants (after eleven months) experienced withdrawal symptoms.

    The authors suggest that depression after stopping antidepressants is probably a return of the original condition, not withdrawal symptoms, because similar rates of depression were seen in people who stopped taking a placebo. But this conclusion is based on limited and unreliable data (that is, relying on participants in studies to report such events without prompting, rather than assessing them systematically) from just five studies.

    We hope uncritical reporting of a review based on the sort of short-term studies that led to under-recognition of withdrawal effects in the first place, does not disrupt the growing acceptance of the problem and slow efforts by the health system to help potentially millions of people who may be severely affected.

    The authors and publisher of the new review have been approached for comment.

    Mark Horowitz is the author of the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines which outlines how to safely stop antidepressants, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids and z-drugs, for which he receives royalties. He is co-applicant on the RELEASE and RELEASE+ trials in Australia funded by the NHMRC and MRFF examining hyperbolic tapering of antidepressants. He is co-founder and consultant to Outro Health, a digital clinic which helps people to safely stop no longer needed antidepressants in the US. He is a member of the Critical Psychiatry Network, an informal group of psychiatrists.

    Joanna Moncrieff was a co-applicant on a study of antidepressant discontinuation funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research. She is co-applicant on the RELEASE and RELEASE+ trials in Australia funded by the NHMRC and MRFF examining hyperbolic tapering of antidepressants. She receives modest royalties for books about psychiatric drugs. She is co-chair person of the Critical Psychiatry Network, an informal group of psychiatrists.

    – ref. Antidepressant withdrawal: new review downplays symptoms but misses the mark for long-term use – https://theconversation.com/antidepressant-withdrawal-new-review-downplays-symptoms-but-misses-the-mark-for-long-term-use-260708

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Should the UK name heatwaves like storms? It won’t make people take them more seriously

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andrea Taylor, Associate Professor in Risk Communication, University of Leeds

    The UK Met Office has given storms forenames for the past decade as part of an effort to raise public awareness of extreme weather before it strikes. Heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent and severe due to greenhouse gas emissions, predominantly from burning fossil fuel, which are raising global temperatures by trapping more heat in Earth’s atmosphere.

    These extreme heat events aren’t named in the UK. Should that change?

    Effective communication strategies are necessary to make people aware of upcoming heatwaves and help them understand how to reduce their risk. Spain started naming them in 2023, with Heatwave Zoe. Italy has a longstanding but unofficial tradition of naming heatwaves according to mythology and classical history.

    The results include Lucifero (Lucifer, another name for the devil) and Cerbero (Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the underworld in Greek myth), popularised by the private weather service il Meteo (ilmeteo.it).

    Severe heatwaves in summer 2023 and 2024 prompted a campaign to name heatwaves after fossil fuel companies, to increase awareness of their role in climate change.

    However, there is limited evidence to indicate whether this would be effective in encouraging people to take proper safety precautions during heatwaves, such as staying in the shade between 11am and 3pm, closing the curtains of sun-facing windows during the day and making sure to have enough water if travelling and looking out for those who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated, such as elderly people living alone.

    To explore how effective naming heatwaves might be, my research team conducted online experiments with 2,152 people in England and 1,981 people in Italy.

    Lucifer is scarier than Arnold

    Participants were asked to imagine that next summer, they were to receive a warning that a heatwave was about to affect their country. Participants were randomly assigned information about an event that was was either unnamed, given a threatening name (Lucifer/Lucifero), or a more neutral name (Arnold).

    Then they were asked how much of a risk they though that the event would pose and the actions they would anticipate taking. English participants were also asked about their thoughts on storm-naming practices in the UK and whether they felt that this should be extended to heatwaves.

    We found that naming a heatwave had no effect on the intention of people to take protective measures against it in either country. In Italy, there was no difference between how people perceived the unnamed heatwave and Lucifero, but Arnold was judged to be slightly less concerning and severe.

    This suggests that, while naming a heatwave does not increase concern, departing from Italy’s established convention of using threatening names does reduce it slightly.

    Isolated older people are typically most at risk during heatwaves.
    Ground Picture/Shutterstock

    Our participants in England rated Lucifer as more severe and concerning than an unnamed heatwave, though not by much. When asked about their thoughts on naming weather events more broadly, English participants tended to agree that naming storms made people more likely to engage with weather warnings, but only a minority were in favour of naming heatwaves. Overall we found that, while some people were generally supportive of naming weather events, others worried it could sensationalise them.

    It probably won’t help much

    We did not find enough evidence to support naming heatwaves in the UK.

    Despite a large sample, we found only a very small effect on perceived risk and did not detect any greater intention to take safety precautions for a named heatwave. We also found that responses differed between England and Italy.

    Heatwaves can cross national borders. The fact that there are national differences in how people respond to naming them could lead to unintended differences in how people interpret the risk in different places.

    And unlike storms, which usually take place over a single day with a clearer start and end, heatwaves can last from days to weeks – it’s not always clear whether a prolonged hot spell is one heatwave or a series of them, which could lead to confusion if named.

    Heatwaves are an opportunity to discuss the risks posed by climate change. But naming heatwaves risks coming across as sensationalist to some members of the public. This might have the opposite effect, and make people less likely to heed safety messaging about severe heat.

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

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Andrea Taylor receives funding from The Lloyds Register Foundation, UKRI and Horizon Europe.

    – ref. Should the UK name heatwaves like storms? It won’t make people take them more seriously – https://theconversation.com/should-the-uk-name-heatwaves-like-storms-it-wont-make-people-take-them-more-seriously-260635

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Discover hidden Island treasures at the Festival of Archaeology 9 July 2025 Discover hidden Island treasures at the Festival of Archaeology

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Residents and visitors are invited to step back in time and explore the rich heritage of the Isle of Wight at a special event hosted by the Museum of Island History in Newport’s Guildhall.

    As part of the national Festival of Archaeology, the museum will open its doors free of charge from 10am to 1pm on Saturday, 19 July.

    A highlight of the event is a new display featuring artefacts unearthed by The Vectis Searchers, the Island’s long-standing metal detecting club, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

    These fascinating finds — often held in private collections — offer a rare glimpse into the Island’s past, with objects discovered in fields and gardens across the community.

    Visitors are encouraged to bring along their own archaeological discoveries for expert identification by the Isle of Wight’s finds liaison officer.

    There will also be a chance to learn more about the Portable Antiquities Scheme, a British Museum initiative that records archaeological finds made by the public.

    “This is a wonderful opportunity for residents to get hands-on and discover more about our special Island history,” said a spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Heritage Service.

    “With handling artefacts to explore and a free museum trail for families, it’s a perfect day out for all ages.”

    The Festival of Archaeology, organised by the Council for British Archaeology, runs from 19 July to 3 August and features hundreds of events across the UK, both in-person and online.

    The Newport event is part of this nationwide celebration of heritage and discovery.

    The Museum of Island History is located at the Guildhall, High Street, Newport, PO30 1TY, and is normally open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 1pm.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Revised designs submitted for the Castle and Eye of York area

    Source: City of York

    A new flythrough has revealed what the Castle Car Park and the Eye of York could look like.

    Amendments to the existing Castle car park and Eye of York planning application have now been submitted.

    The key changes include:

    • a new green park
    • introducing a dedicated space for children to play
    • replacing the paved event space with 30 Blue Badge parking spaces to replace existing parking – two of which will have electric vehicle charging points
    • reducing the costs of the overall scheme to ensure it is deliverable.

    This follows public engagement on the revised concept designs which took place during summer 2024. Design consultancy, BDP, reflected priorities including accessibility, heritage and maintenance in the updated design.

    Councillor Katie Lomas, Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equality and Inclusion at City of York Council, said:

    “This is an important step forwards for the project which aims to transform one of the most historic parts of the city centre.

    “These plans seek to create a versatile public space where people of all ages want to spend time, making it greener and more accessible, as well as more affordable and deliverable, when compared to previous plans.  We are sensitive to the area and its history and that is reflected in the plans which honour some of the more difficult aspects of our past.

    “We also want this to be a space for all and as well as a number of accessible features, these plans include retaining 30 blue badge parking spaces, following public feedback.

    “We will continue to listen as this project moves through the planning process.”

    Councillor Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economy and Culture said:

    “We are working to transform this area from a car park to a people park.

    “These plans have been shaped by comments from local people, disabled groups, businesses and other stakeholders.

    “Our proposals include new play areas for families – something people have been asking for more of in the city centre, and green open space for people to relax and take some time out.

    “Our aspiration is for this historic site to be a free, welcoming place for residents and visitors to enjoy, away from the bustle of the city”.

    Matthew Costa, Landscape Architect Director at BDP, said:

    “We’ve listened carefully to what people want from this space and continue to shape the design around the community vision.

    “The updated plans aim to make the area greener, easier to get around, and more enjoyable for everyone – whether you’re coming to relax, play, or meet others. It’s about turning the Castle Gateway into a place that feels like an inclusive, cultural and nature-rich part of the city again.”

    The revised designs can be viewed in the updated flythrough video.

    The planning application can be found using this reference 22/00209/FULM and comments can be made via the statutory planning process before at the Planning Portal. People can also email comments to planning.comments@york.gov.uk or post to Development Management, City of York Council, West Offices, York YO1 6GA.

    A report will be taken to the council’s Executive later this year, seeking a decision to close Castle car park, approval to procure a contractor to deliver the scheme, setting the delivery budget and timeframe, plus provide updates on other Castle Gateway schemes.

    Read the latest My Castle Gateway blog and find out more about the scheme.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Report warns of rising health risks in Leeds from increasing temperatures due to climate change

    Source: City of Leeds

    A new report has warned rising temperatures due to climate change pose serious health risks to the city’s population.

    ‘Heat in the City: Our Health in a Warming Leeds’ – this year’s annual report by Director of Public Health, Victoria Eaton – highlights the growing threat of heat-related illness and calls for collective city-wide action to protect residents now and in the future.

    Leeds has seen record-breaking temperatures in recent years, including the 2022 heatwave when the city hit 40 degrees Celsius (C) for the first time.

    The report warns of the link between hot weather and a rise in hospital admissions and deaths – as seen in the 2022 heatwaves, when an estimated 2,985 died in England during the hottest periods.

    Extreme heat can make breathing harder and put extra strain on the heart, circulatory system and kidneys as they work to cool the body, with vulnerable groups – such as older adults, children, pregnant woman, people with long-term health conditions – most at risk.

    Densely-populated, inner-city areas, where manmade surfaces such as concrete and asphalt absorb and retain heat, greenspace is reduced and tall buildings block airflow, creates a phenomenon known as the ‘urban heat island effect’, where temperatures can be up to 8 degrees Celsius (C) hotter than in rural areas.

    Increasing temperatures due to climate change also introduce new threats such as longer pollen seasons, increased asthma cases during thunderstorms and the potential spread of diseases such as Lyme disease from ticks and mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and Zika.

    The report highlights some of the creative projects and initiatives already happening across the city to combat climate change, including work to enhance biodiversity such as through the creation of the city centre ‘Aire Park’ and the planting of 100 community orchards – with Leeds set to reach the most in the UK outside of London – as well as the distribution of hot weather packs for people most at risk.

    Key recommendations for city-wide action within the report include:

    • Expanding access to cool spaces;
    • Integrating more heat resilience into urban planning;
    • Continuing to prioritise investment in energy-efficient housing;
    • Raising public awareness of the impacts of heat on health as well as ensuring frontline workers have the tools they need to support vulnerable groups.

    Victoria Eaton, Leeds City Council’s director of public health, said “Rising temperatures affect everyone but the health risks aren’t equal.

    “People in our most deprived and densely-populated areas – especially older adults, young children, pregnant women and those with long-term conditions – face the greatest risks.”

    Councillor Fiona Venner, executive member for equality, health and wellbeing, said “Climate change is a health crisis. The choices we make today will shape the wellbeing of future generations.

    “Together we can create a Leeds that not only adapts to rising temperatures but thrives in spite of them.”

    The report was praised by the Association of Directors of Public Health as “particularly innovative,” and supports Leeds’s ambition to become the UK’s first net-zero city by 2030.

    To view the report and accompanying film, visit https://observatory.leeds.gov.uk/dph-report/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: JA Mining Redefines Global Cloud Mining with Sustainable Zero-Fee Contracts and Predictable Daily Returns

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JA Mining is a UK-certified digital asset mining platform dedicated to changing the way individuals and institutions participate in cryptocurrency mining through scalable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly cloud solutions. JA Mining provides a convenient entry point for Bitcoin (BTC), Dogecoin (DOGE) and Ripple (XRP) mining to users around the world without the need for expensive hardware, complex setup and excessive energy consumption.

    Unlike traditional mining operations that require large capital expenditures and constant technical oversight, JA Mining allows users to earn passive cryptocurrency income through automated mining contracts – all of which is guaranteed by renewable energy and advanced system security.

    A Platform Built for Modern Investors

    As the industry moves towards compliance and transparency, JA Mining stands out with a fully licensed operating structure under the UK regulatory framework. The company integrates McAfee® and Cloudflare® cybersecurity systems to protect user data, while providing the following services:

    • Zero management fees: 100% of mining output belongs to users, with no hidden fees.
    • Guaranteed uptime and 24/7 technical support: Ensure uninterrupted daily mining operations.
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    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Recovered appeal: Woodlands Park landfill site, land south of Slough Road, Iver, Buckinghamshire (ref: 3347353 – 9 July 2025)

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    Recovered appeal: Woodlands Park landfill site, land south of Slough Road, Iver, Buckinghamshire (ref: 3347353 – 9 July 2025)

    Decision letter and Inspector’s Report for a recovered appeal.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Recovered appeal: Woodlands Park landfill site, land south of Slough Road, Iver, Buckinghamshire (ref: 3347353 – 9 July 2025)

    PDF, 1.06 MB, 123 pages

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    Request an accessible format.
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    Details

    Decision letter and Inspector’s Report for a recovered appeal for the redevelopment of the former landfill site to comprise a Data Centre development (B8 (Data Centre)) of up to 72,000 sqm (GEA) delivered across 2 buildings. The scheme includes site wide landscaping. The Data Centre buildings include ancillary offices, internal plant and equipment and emergency back-up generators and associated fuel storage.

    The development will also include cycle and car parking, internal circulation routes, soft and hard landscaping, security perimeter fence, lighting, earthworks, sustainable drainage systems, ancillary infrastructure and a substation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The dangers of romanticising Britain’s 1976 heatwave

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephanie Brown, Lecturer in Criminology, University of Hull

    As I scrolled through social media on a hot afternoon in late June, a meme caught my attention. A black and white photo. A smiling young woman with water up to her knees. She appeared to be in a fountain, with many others dipping their legs in the water.

    The caption read “On this day in 1976, the British heatwave started. It would last until the 27th August, during which time Britain would experience extreme temperatures and widespread droughts. And we all had a wonderful summer and survived.”

    This immediately struck me: it was a boiling hot day. As I sat at my office desk keeping hydrated with a fan pointed directly at my face, I felt the rage burning inside me. How could people be so irresponsible? Heat can be dangerous. But the implication of the meme was clear: if people managed back then, surely today’s warnings about heatwaves, climate change, and public health are exaggerated. These rose-tinted memories obscure a darker truth.

    I am a historical criminologist. This meme had the rare effect of deeply troubling both of my areas of expertise.

    As a historian, this meme concerns me because it perpetuates the myth of the “good old days”. A selective, nostalgic vision of the past that smooths over complexity and hardship in favour of a comforting, idealised narrative. Flattening history into feelgood folklore, erasing the social inequalities and governmental failures.

    It echoes a broader cultural tendency: from “Make America great again” to the “Blitz spirit”, representing Britain’s nostalgia for wartime resilience, a romanticised past is often used by politicians to legitimise political ideas in the present. But history is not a comfort blanket. It is a critical tool.

    My work explores how institutions respond to crisis and how narratives of success or failure are constructed. In 1976, advice for dealing with the water shortage was to share a bath with the wife and drive a dirty car. Areas without domestic tap water had to use communal street pipes.

    The government did not appoint a minister for drought until the end of August, despite mounting evidence from meteorologists and public health officials. Emergency measures were piecemeal and unevenly applied.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    The suggestion that “we all had a wonderful summer and survived” is misleading. It was reported that “200 people a day were apparently dying who would not have died if the weather had been normal”. During the peak of the heatwave, deaths increased by 28% in the southeast England and 33% in Greater London.

    As a criminologist, I know that it is not only natural deaths that can increase during a hot weather. The number of violent deaths also increased in 1976 as well as in other heatwaves. Thermic law is the concept that violent crime is higher in hotter seasons. These patterns might be explained by temperature-aggression theory: that hot weather can cause an increase in aggressive behaviours.

    For other criminologists, it is not the temperature itself that causes increased violence, but how people’s behaviour changes due to the heat. For example, people are taking time off work or school, socialising, and drinking. Unstructured time and spaces, combined with alcohol and a holiday feel all lead to increases in violence.

    Misrepresenting risk

    By sentimentalising the summer of 1976, we strip away its lessons. Worse, we risk repeating its mistakes. One Conservative MP described people concerned about the 2022 heatwave as “snowflakes” and “cowards”. Quite an odd response after the British public was asked to “protect the NHS” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    This protection apparently did not extend to looking after each other in a heatwave. In fact, heatwaves are largely an invisible risk. We are told not to fuss, but there is often little communication on how to keep safe.

    A lack of policy and examples of political scepticism connect with a key theme in the comments under that meme: climate change denial. If we had a heatwave in 1976 then what we are experiencing now is nothing new, right? Wrong.

    The heatwave in 1976 was bad: thousands died, fires raged, and water ran dry. But it was also an anomaly; a hot summer in a relatively cool decade. Heatwaves are now more frequent, more intense and longer lasting. Temperatures reached over 40°C in 2022, while the maximum in 1976 was 4°C-5°C cooler.

    Still, each time a weather warning is issued, it is met with a wave of derision. There is the same online discourse as is expressed in this meme. This attitude is not just flippant, it is dangerous. It undermines vital public messaging, discourages precautionary action, and fuels complacency among those least at risk, while leaving the most vulnerable even more exposed.

    History can offer crucial perspective. But only if we treat it honestly. That means moving beyond memeified memories of the past and reckoning with the complexity of what really happened. It means challenging the stories we tell ourselves. Many did live through the 1976 heatwave. But many also died: quietly, invisibly and avoidably. Their stories are not part of the nostalgia. They should be.

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

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Stephanie Brown 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. The dangers of romanticising Britain’s 1976 heatwave – https://theconversation.com/the-dangers-of-romanticising-britains-1976-heatwave-260046

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Could England and Wales introduce jury-free trials? Here’s how they work in other countries

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natalie Hodgson, Assistant Professor in Law, University of Nottingham

    The right to trial by jury is a fundamental part of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. But under new proposals to address a record backlog of almost 77,000 Crown Court cases, some cases could now be heard by judge alone.

    Sir Brian Leveson has delivered part one of his independent review of the criminal courts, making 45 recommendations to address delays in the criminal justice process. One of his recommendations is that serious offences could be tried by a judge alone without a jury. Our evidence to the review explored how judge-alone trials have been used in other countries.

    Currently, a person can only be tried without a jury at Crown Court if there is a risk of jury tampering. Under Leveson’s proposal, judge-alone trials will be expanded to cases where a defendant requests to be tried without a jury, serious and complex fraud offences and where the case is likely to be lengthy or particularly complex.

    To understand how this might work, we can to look to other countries where judge-alone trials are used. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US all permit judge-alone trials in circumstances similar to what Leveson is recommending. A defendant can choose to be tried by a judge instead of a jury in certain circumstances.

    Defendants tend to express a preference for trial by judge alone if they are concerned that prejudicial media coverage or the nature of the offences might bias jurors against them. Leveson recommends that judges should decide whether a defendant’s request for a judge-alone trial should be granted, but stops short of identifying the factors that a judge should consider.

    Leveson leaves open the question of whether judge-alone trials should be available for all offences, or whether certain offences should be exempt. Some countries limit which offences can be heard without a jury. For example, in the Australian Capital Territory, a defendant cannot request a trial without a jury for murder or certain sexual offences.

    In New South Wales, judges are advised against permitting a judge-alone trial when the offence involves consideration of “community standards”. This recognises that members of the community have an important role to play in deciding whether a defendant has acted “reasonably”, “negligently” or “dishonestly”. For example, if a person is charged with manslaughter the jury may need to consider whether the defendant’s actions were “unreasonable”, which is best determined by members of the community.

    Are judge-alone trials unfair to defendants?

    Lawyers often raise concerns about judge-alone trials being unfair to defendants. Based on what we know from other countries, there is no strong evidence that this is the case. However, that is not to say that concerns about unfairness are unwarranted.

    If judges convict at higher rates than juries, that might suggest that judge-alone trials are unfair. However, the best available study, conducted in New South Wales, found that judges were actually slightly less likely than juries to find a defendant guilty.

    Juries do not explain their verdicts. In all countries which use judge-alone trials, judges must give reasons for their decisions. Knowing why a defendant was found guilty might make trials even more fair, providing a basis for an appeal against conviction if an error was made.

    One key issue with judge-alone trials is inadmissible evidence. Ordinarily, jurors are sent out of the courtroom while the judge and lawyers make decisions about what evidence the jury is allowed to hear. Evidence might be excluded because it is irrelevant, prejudicial or was collected in breach of the defendant’s rights. In these scenarios, the jury is never made aware of the evidence.

    However, in a judge-alone trial, the judge sees all the evidence, even if they decide that some of it should not be used. There is a risk that judges might be subconsciously impacted by inadmissible evidence in reaching their verdict.

    Judge-alone trials also raise issues about diversity of decision-makers. In England and Wales, only 11% of judges are from an ethnic minority background compared to 18% of the population. Ideally, juries contain people from a range of backgrounds. Some defendants might feel more confident that they will be tried fairly by a jury than a judge.

    Ultimately, one way to safeguard against concerns about unfairness is to give defendants the ability to choose whether or not they would like to be tried by a judge alone. Leveson’s recommendations suggest that most judge-alone trials would occur at the request of the defendant. However, judge-alone trials could be ordered against the defendant’s wishes in cases involving fraud or that are long and complex.

    Juries play an important role in the legal system in England and Wales. Through jury service, members of the community contribute to the administration of justice. The inclusion of a range of viewpoints and experiences in determining criminal verdicts enhances the legitimacy of the justice system.

    It is important that we continue to have juries in criminal trials. However, that is not to say that judge-alone trials cannot or should not play a role. The current backlog means that victims and defendants are having to wait years for their day in court. We desperately need to address this, and allowing defendants to elect a judge-alone trial may help to reduce delays to justice.

    While judge-alone trials are not inherently unfair, any rollout in England and Wales should be closely monitored and evaluated. It is important that we do not sacrifice fairness for efficiency as we work to address the issues affecting our justice system.

    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. Could England and Wales introduce jury-free trials? Here’s how they work in other countries – https://theconversation.com/could-england-and-wales-introduce-jury-free-trials-heres-how-they-work-in-other-countries-259489

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Action is the antidote to ecological grief and climate anxiety – an ecotherapist explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Louise Taylor, Early Career Researcher and Ecotherapist, Queen’s University Belfast

    Brussels, Belgium. 21st February 2019. High school and university students stage a protest against the climate policies of the Belgian government. Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com

    There’s a popular quote by the 13th-century poet and spiritual teacher Rumi: “The cure for the pain is in the pain.” This line often echoes through my mind when I’m working with clients, especially those experiencing ecological grief and climate anxiety.

    As an ecotherapist – a therapist guided by nature and nature-based therapeutic approaches – and environmental researcher, I work with people who are navigating the emotional weight of ecological breakdown.

    Ecotherapy helps people reconnect with the natural world as a way to support mental and emotional wellbeing. It might involve walking in green spaces, mindfulness practices in nature, working with natural materials, or nature-based rituals.

    Whether it’s planting a garden, sitting under a tree, or engaging in conservation efforts, ecotherapy helps people feel more grounded, more connected and more resilient both emotionally and spiritually.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    In my practice, I’ve noticed that younger people are more likely to experience climate anxiety, while older generations tend to experience ecological grief. The difference is subtle but important. Anxiety often relates to what lies ahead and a sense of powerlessness. Grief is about what has already been lost.

    This emotional divide makes sense when we consider what has happened to the natural world over recent decades. Older adults have witnessed the loss of species, habitats and biodiversity in real time. Many have rich memories and relationships with landscapes that no longer exist as they once did. Meanwhile, younger generations face the terrifying uncertainty of a rapidly changing climate and an increasingly unstable future.

    Both grief and anxiety are valid, but they are not the same.

    I have explored these experiences in depth while researching nature connection, mental health and how the climate and ecological crisis is reshaping this relationship.

    At the outset, I assumed that greater connection with nature would always lead to improved mental wellbeing. But that wasn’t the full picture.

    What I found instead was that deepening our connection with the natural world can indeed foster healing, but it can also sharpen our awareness of the damage being done. This heightened sensitivity can trigger emotional pain, despair and even a decline in mental wellbeing.

    Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Jung once said, “There is no coming to consciousness without pain.” That’s exactly what climate-anxious and ecologically grieving people are expressing: the deep psychological toll of recognising the scale of the crisis we’re facing. For some, it affects their ability to function, to enjoy their lives and to maintain relationships.

    How to stay well

    The question I kept returning to in my work was this: how do we stay well in a time of collapse? My research pointed to one consistent answer: action.

    Engaging in pro-environmental actions emerged as the most effective way people coped with emotional strain. These weren’t merely acts of activism — they became spiritual practices, grounded in care, connection and meaning. Through these actions, people began to reclaim a sense of power and purpose in the face of overwhelming ecological loss.

    For many, this was also a path back to what eco-philosophers call the ecological self: the part of us that extends beyond the individual and identifies with the living world.

    This self isn’t driven by ego or personal gain, but by the impulse to build relationships, nurture communities and support the flourishing of all life. It represents an expanded way of being; one that understands health and healing as collective, not just personal.

    Importantly, these actions don’t have to be large-scale. They might involve growing your own herbs or vegetables, for instance, or joining a local conservation effort, forming a community group to protect waterways or green spaces, or participating in climate strikes and land defence work. What matters is that the action is relational: rooted in reciprocity and care.

    The conclusion of my research was clear: in the face of ecological distress, mental wellbeing is sustained not by thoughts, but by meaningful action.

    Healing through action

    In Northern Ireland, where I live and work, I’ve seen a growing grassroots environmental movement. Communities are stepping up to protect landscapes under threat, from campaigns to defend the Sperrin Mountains from gold mining, to local resistance against the pollution that’s devastating Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in Ireland and the UK.

    This is unpaid, often invisible labour, but it’s powerful. It gives people a way to process their emotions, to feel less helpless and to turn grief into agency.

    Many environmentalists talk about “saving the planet”. But the truth is, the Earth will go on. What’s under threat is us: our ways of life, our communities, our ability to thrive. The dread we feel is rooted in the enormity of this realisation.

    To stay well while caring deeply about the Earth means learning to live with this pain, and still choosing to act. It requires us to show up, to be present and to tend to both the human and non-human world with care and reciprocity. As we do, we become more empowered and less overwhelmed.

    If you are struggling with climate anxiety or ecological grief, know this: the goal isn’t to suppress your feelings. The goal is to acknowledge them, and then use them as fuel for meaningful action.

    Don’t underestimate small acts. The way forward isn’t to wait for hope: it’s to create it through connection, courage and commitment.

    In a time of ecological uncertainty, wellness doesn’t come from thinking differently. It comes from doing differently.

    Louise Taylor 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. Action is the antidote to ecological grief and climate anxiety – an ecotherapist explains – https://theconversation.com/action-is-the-antidote-to-ecological-grief-and-climate-anxiety-an-ecotherapist-explains-260428

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Obesity care: why “eat less, move more” advice is failing

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

    New Africa/Shutterstock

    For years, people living with obesity have been given the same basic advice: eat less, move more. But while this mantra may sound simple, it’s not only ineffective for many, it can be deeply misleading and damaging.

    Obesity is not just about willpower. It’s a complex, chronic, relapsing condition and affects around 26.5% of adults in England, and 22.1% of children aged ten–11 in England.

    A new report estimates the rapidly growing number of people that are overweight or obese costs the UK £126 billion a year. This includes £71.4 billion in reduced quality of life and early mortality, £12.6 billion in NHS treatment costs, £12.1 billion from unemployment and £10.5 billion in informal care.

    Food campaigners and health experts have called for urgent government action, including expanding the sugar tax to more products, restricting junk food advertising and mandating reformulation of ultra processed foods. As Henry Dimbleby, author of a government-commissioned independent report called the National Food Strategy, warned: “We’ve created a food system that’s poisoning our population and bankrupting the state.”

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Without significant policy change, these costs are projected to rise to £150 billion a year by 2035. Despite this, much of the UK’s approach continues to frame obesity as a lifestyle issue that can be tackled by emphasising personal responsibility. But this framing ignores the bigger picture.

    We now understand that obesity is multifactorial. Genetics, childhood experiences, cultural norms, economic disadvantage, psychological health, mental illness and even the kind of job you have all play a role. These aren’t things you can simply change with a Fitbit and salad.

    This broader perspective isn’t new. In 2007, the UK government’s Foresight report mapped out the complex web of factors behind rising obesity rates, describing how modern environments actively promote weight gain.

    This “obesogenic environment” refers to the world we live in. Its one where high-calorie, low-nutrient foods are cheap and everywhere, and where physical activity has been engineered out of everyday life, from car-centric cities to screen-dominated leisure time.

    Outdated obesity advice isn’t working.

    These environments don’t affect everyone equally. People in more deprived areas are significantly more exposed to conditions that drive obesity, such as food deserts (areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food), poor public transport and limited green space. In this context, weight gain becomes a normal biological response to an abnormal environment.

    Why “eat less, move more” falls short

    Despite growing awareness of these systemic issues, most UK obesity strategies still centre on individual behaviour change, often through weight management programmes that encourage people to cut calories and exercise more. While behaviour change has a place, focusing on it exclusively creates a dangerous narrative: that people who struggle with their weight are simply lazy or lack willpower.

    This narrative fuels weight stigma, which can be incredibly harmful. Yet data shows a clear link between higher rates of obesity and deprivation, especially among children.

    It’s clear many people still don’t understand the role of structural and socioeconomic factors in shaping obesity risk. And this misunderstanding leads to judgement, shame and stigma, especially for children and families who are already vulnerable.

    What should good obesity care look like?

    Instead of outdated advice and blame, we need a holistic, stigma-free and science-informed approach to obesity care, one that reflects current Nice guidelines and the Obesity Health Alliance’s recommendations. There are several things that need to be done.

    First, we should recognise obesity as a chronic disease. Obesity is not a failure of willpower. It’s a relapsing, long-term medical condition. Like diabetes or depression, it requires structured, ongoing support, not short-term fixes or crash diets.

    Second, we need to tackle weight stigma head-on. Weight-based discrimination is widespread in schools, workplaces and even healthcare settings. We need training for professionals to reduce bias, promote inclusive care and adopt person-centred, non-stigmatising language. Discriminatory practices must be challenged and eliminated.

    Third, deliver personalised, multidimensional support. Treatment plans should be tailored to each person’s life, including their cultural background, psychological history and social context. This includes shared decision-making, regular follow-up and integrated mental health support.

    And fourth, focus on changing the environment, not just people. We must shift the focus to the systems and structures that make healthy choices so hard. That means investing in affordable, nutritious food; improving access to physical activity; and tackling inequality at its roots.

    Time for a systemic shift

    Obesity isn’t just about what people eat or how often they exercise. It’s shaped by biology, experience and the environment we build around people. Framing it as a personal failure not only ignores decades of evidence – it actively harms the very people who need support.

    If we want to reduce stigma, improve health outcomes – and avoid a £150bn crisis – then the “eat less, move more” era must come to an end. What we need instead is a bold, compassionate, evidence-based systems approach – one that sees the whole person and the world they live in.

    Lucie Nield receives funding from NIHR.

    Catherine Homer receives funding from NIHR. She is affiliated with Royal Society of Public Health.

    – ref. Obesity care: why “eat less, move more” advice is failing – https://theconversation.com/obesity-care-why-eat-less-move-more-advice-is-failing-254628

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Statement on latest position on waste service industrial action

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Published: Wednesday, 9th July 2025

    Statement from Cllr John Cotton, leader of the city council –

    “Throughout this process the council has sought to be reasonable and flexible, but we have reached the absolute limit of what we can offer. It is well known that the council has an equal pay risk, we have been negotiating since before Christmas but have now run out of time.

    “We have negotiated in good faith but unfortunately Unite has rejected all offers so we must now press ahead to both address our equal pay risk and make much needed improvements to the waste service. This is a service that has not been good enough for a long time and we must improve it.

    “Unite’s demands would leave us with another equal pay bill of hundreds of millions of pounds, which is totally unacceptable, and would jeopardise the considerable progress we have made in our financial recovery. We must be fair to all our staff, and I will not repeat the mistakes of the past by making decisions that would ultimately result in further cuts to services and the sale of more council assets. 

    “Successive administrations have failed to close off the council’s equal pay liabilities, costing the people of Birmingham hundreds of millions of pounds and that must end now. 

    “We need to deliver a better waste service; creating an efficient, improved service is a crucial part of our need to become financially sustainable and is what the people of Birmingham need. We cannot delay this any longer.  

    “So, we will be communicating with our staff and trade unions as to next steps. Voluntary Redundancy remains on the table, as do opportunities for training and redeployment across the council.

    “We have worked really hard to end this dispute and we apologise for all the disruption and appreciate residents’ patience. This is a service that needs to be improved into one that the residents of Birmingham deserve and I am committed to ensuring that happens.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derailment at Denbigh Hall South Junction

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Derailment at Denbigh Hall South Junction

    Investigation into a derailment at Denbigh Hall South Junction, near Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, 26 June 2025.

    The derailed train at Denbigh Hall South Junction (image courtesy of Network Rail).

    At around 12:27 on 26 June 2025, the front bogie of an out-of-service London Northwestern Railway passenger train derailed at Denbigh Hall South Junction on the West Coast Main Line. The derailment occurred on a switch diamond crossing at approximately 15 mph (24 km/h) as the train travelled north on the up slow line shortly after leaving Bletchley station. There were no reported injuries to the four members of staff on the train, however some lines through the junction remained out of use until 16:05 on 29 June 2025 for train recovery and infrastructure repair.

    The train had earlier encountered a technical problem, while forming a southbound passenger service, making it unable to depart southwards from platform 4 at Bletchley. However, it was operational if driven northwards from the opposite end, allowing it to be moved away from the platform. A failed on-track machine had been stabled earlier that day on the only signalled route from the north end of platform 4, so staff at Rugby Rail Operating Centre decided to allow the train to travel in the wrong direction on the up (southbound) slow line. This wrong direction movement required the signaller to instruct the driver to pass the north end platform signal at danger and travel to Denbigh Hall South Junction without the protection normally afforded by the signalling interlocking. The intention was the train would then cross onto the down slow line at the junction and return it to normal signal control for its onward journey northwards to Kings Heath depot near Northampton.

    Our investigation will determine the sequence of events which led to the derailment and will include consideration of:

    • the actions of those involved and any factors that may have influenced them
    • how out of course movements are determined and validated
    • the management of the staff involved in the accident, including the preparation through training and assessment of those undertaking such movements
    • any relevant underlying factors which might have contributed to the derailment.

    Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

    We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation. This report will be available on our website. You can subscribe to automated emails notifying you when we publish our reports.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Southsea beach set to double in size

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Southsea’s beach between the Pyramids and the Coffee Cup café in Eastney will be rebuilt this winter when more than one million tonnes of shingle is imported by dredger between October 2025 and March 2026.

    The significant increase will see the beach double in size when shingle is dredged locally from the Solent near the Isle of Wight and deposited onto the beach by a pipeline from the dredger.

    Similar work was undertaken on a smaller scale earlier this year during beach import work along the beach in front of Southsea Common.

    Southsea Coastal Scheme Project Executive Marc Bryan said:

    “We’ve chosen to build a larger shingle beach in this area because they’re great at absorbing wave energy which in turn helps reduce erosion and protects homes and businesses from coastal flooding.

    “The new beach will adapt to rising seas and our changing climate while still providing the required standard of protection.

    “It will be easily maintained and can be topped up if needed in the future.”

    Initial works will start in October 2025 with the installation of a new outfall extension from Canoe Lake.

    From November 2025, a one metre diameter pipeline will be laid across the beach to the west of South Parade Pier to discharge the new shingle.

    During the shingle discharging, access to the beach will be limited for safety reasons with some stepped access over the pipeline available.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Lord’s Test: Jofra Archer makes hotly-anticipated return to England team for 3rd Test against India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    England’s Jofra Archer has been named in the team to face India in the third test of the series at Lord’s, England’s cricket board (ECB) announced on Wednesday, as the fast bowler prepares for his first test in more than four years.

    Archer will replace fellow seamer Josh Tongue, the only change England have made, for the third test that starts on Thursday. Tongue picked up only four wickets and conceded more than 200 runs in the two innings.

    Archer has not played in the longest format since England faced India in Ahmedabad in February 2021. The 30-year-old has taken 42 wickets in 13 tests and although he was added to the squad for the second test, he was not included in the team.

    However, England coach Brendon McCullum said Archer was in the frame for the third test after putting his fitness woes behind him.

    A series of physical problems kept delaying his return to red-ball cricket, including elbow injuries, back issues and a thumb injury.

    “Really exciting, it’s great for English fans, but also for Jof. It’s been a long time coming for him. I think the way in which he’s handled the injury setbacks over that period has been very commendable,” England skipper Ben Stokes told reporters.

    “And then the way in which he’s got himself back onto the field and playing cricket over a long period of time now. It was exciting to have him back in the squad and in contention for last week, but now we can say he’s in the playing 11.

    “Jof’s going to be pretty proud of himself that he’s managed to get himself back here after two pretty big injury scares.”

    Stokes had also said they would consider fresh legs with such a quick turnaround time between the second and third test, especially after England’s bowlers bowled 234 overs in the second test that India won by 336 runs.

    England struggled to take wickets against India, who scored more than 1,000 runs in a test match for the first time in history in the second match and the hosts will hope Archer’s pace can be a lethal weapon at Lord’s.

    England will also be wary of India’s record at Lord’s, where they have more wins (three) than any other venue in England.

    The series is tied at 1-1 after England won the first test at Headingley before India won a test for the first time at Edgbaston on Sunday.

    ENGLAND TEAM

    Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir.

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI: Willis Aviation Services Limited Announces Long-Term Base Maintenance Partnership with Jet2.com

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COCONUT CREEK, Fla., July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC” or the “Company”), the leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and global provider of aviation services, announced today that its subsidiary, Willis Aviation Services Limited (“WASL”), a premier provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”) services, has secured a commitment from leading leisure airline Jet2.com (“Jet2”) for two base maintenance lines for the upcoming season.

    This announcement follows the successful completion of a single maintenance line for Jet2 this year, highlighting the strong performance and capabilities of the WASL delivery team in Teesside. Building on that success, Jet2 has expanded its commitment by adding a second maintenance line. Both lines will be carried out at WASL’s new state-of-the-art facility located at Teesside International Airport in Northeast England.

    As aircraft maintenance services remain in high demand across the UK and Europe, WASL’s recently announced expansion plans at Teesside add essential capacity to the UK MRO sector to perform heavy maintenance checks, transitional activity and paint for airlines and lessors globally. Further, the new Teesside facility is expected to create a significant number of new highly skilled jobs and contribute to the pipeline of talent that supports both immediate operational needs and long-term skill development in the region.

    “We are thrilled to continue our work supporting Jet2’s fleet at our expanding Teesside facility,” said Austin C. Willis, WLFC’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our investment in Teesside enables WASL to deliver essential services for airlines including Jet2 and reflects our commitment to driving local economic growth and creating skilled jobs in the UK aerospace industry.”

    “We are pleased with WASL’s engagement and performance with its base maintenance services for our fleet as we uphold the highest standards of safety, operational excellence and reliability for our customers,” said Chris Hubbard, Director of Engineering & Maintenance at Jet2.com. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with WASL in the 2025 and 2026 season.”

    Willis Lease Finance Corporation

    Willis Lease Finance Corporation (“WLFC”) leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services through Willis Asset Management Limited, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Through Willis Engine Repair Center®, Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the Company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO and ground and cargo handling services. Willis Sustainable Fuels intends to develop, build and operate projects to help decarbonize aviation.

    Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as war, terrorist activity and the COVID-19 pandemic; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing  and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in such filings. These statements constitute the Company’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

     CONTACT: Lynn Mailliard Kohler
      Director, Global Corporate Communications
      (415) 328-4798

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens join protest to shut down Glasgow company shipping gas for Russia

    Source: Scottish Greens

    09 Jul 2025 External Affairs

    Putin’s enablers are not welcome in Scotland.

    More in External Affairs

    Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer has joined members of the Ukrainian community in Scotland and the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign at a protest outside the Glasgow HQ of shipping company Seapeak, over their role in helping Russia to export gas despite the sanctions placed on it over Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    Seapeak has been found to still ship over $5.5 billion of Russian Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) each year.

    Ross Greer will be speaking at the rally in Glasgow today. He has previously demanded that the UK Government sanction Seapeak, but Labour Ministers have so far refused to take action. 

    Ross said:

    “It is appalling that the UK Labour government refuses to shut Seapeak down. People across Scotland are horrified when they learn that a company based here continues to fund Russia’s war machine. For as long as Seapeak remains untouched from sanctions, they will continue to ship gas out of Russia, throwing a lifeline to Putin’s war economy as a result.”

    In 2022, Ross was sanctioned by the Russian government for his work in solidarity with Ukraine. 

    Ross said:

    “Earlier this year, I wrote to UK Ministers, demanding that they shut down Seapeak’s UK operations. Despite the overwhelming evidence shared with them, they would not take action. They continue to allow Russia to profit from shipping operations here in the UK whilst claiming to stand with Ukraine.

    “Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been killed and much of their country is left in ruins from Putin’s illegal invasion. If we were in Ukraine’s position, we would rightly be furious that our so-called allies were allowing complicit businesses like Seapeak to stay open. It is time to end this scandal and prove that Putin’s enablers are not welcome in Scotland.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Regeneration of 291 Harrow Road secures planning consent | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    • Westminster City Council’s 291 Harrow Road development secured planning approval from the planning committee last night (Tuesday July 8th).
    • 144 new homes will be developed in the centre of London. Of these, 50% will be affordable or for Adult Social Care at social rent, with the remaining homes available for the market.
    • The development will comprise three buildings at 15, 10 and five storeys in height and will embrace passive principles in design, creating a highly efficient, low-carbon scheme.
    • Those principles will help to achieve a 70% sitewide carbon reduction over the baseline.
    • The site was part of the former Harrow Road wing of St Mary’s Hospital prior to its redevelopment in the 1980s.

    The latest housing development from Westminster City Council received approval from planning committee last night, the latest phase in the creation of more than 100 new homes.  

    Across three separate buildings, the 291 Harrow Road development will deliver 144 homes with 50% affordable housing. A total of 48 will be affordable homes, 24 will be Adult Social Care units at social rent and 72 homes will be available for private sale.

    The site was part of the former Harrow Road wing of St Mary’s Hospital prior to a period of redevelopment in the 1980s.

    At the Westminster City Council planning committee on July 8, the development secured approval by three votes to two. 

    Cllr Ellie Ormsby, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Renters, said:

     “291 Harrow Road presents a fantastic opportunity for us to deliver a greater number of high-quality homes for social rent – a necessary step considering there are over 6,000 households on Westminster’s housing waiting list – while also delivering on our ambitious sustainability commitments as one of the capital’s greenest developments. 

    “Moreover, a large proportion of these homes, a sixth of the total number, are allocated for use by adult social care services, where we are seeing growing demand. We’re excited to develop a building which embraces inclusivity and delivers for the diverse needs across our community.”

    Designs for 291 Harrow Road embrace the ‘Be Lean, Clean, Green and Seen’ energy hierarchy which utilises a fabric first approach to maximise reduction in energy through passive design measures. New, high efficiency servicing equipment and efficient façades will minimise the energy usage of the building.

    The scheme will make use of air source heat pumps and solar photo photovoltaic panels to maximise the use of renewable energy. It is anticipated that across the site build, and once occupied, 291 Harrow Road will achieve a 70% sitewide reduction over the baseline for the proposed development, far exceeding the Greater London Authority target of 35%.

    Westminster City Council has committed to 50% affordable housing across its development projects, made up of social rent and London Living Rent.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major milestone for Armada Way regeneration

    Source: City of Plymouth

    The first section of the Armada Way regeneration scheme will open on Thursday 31 July heralding a major milestone on this transformative project.

    Plymouth City Council is working with the City Centre Company on plans to open up zone 1A around the Phoenix Fountain together with the new amphitheatre and performance space, which will become home to happenings and pop up events such as bands playing or live performances.

    Paving in this part of the scheme is complete and this week, granite seats for the amphitheatre arrive. So far 29 trees have been planted, the first of 400 specimens of plants are going into the ground and two beds of wildflower turf are already bursting with blooms to attract bees and other pollinators.

    Existing stonework – including two heraldic lions – have been given a thorough facewash ahead of the big day.

    City Centre Champion Councillor Mark Lowry said: “We are cracking on with the job and like many people, I’ve been blown away by the change that is happening on a daily basis.

    “We are investing millions in a project that is changing the face of the city centre and has already led to companies and organisations directly investing here as they like what they see.

    “That said, we appreciate it has not been easy for the businesses and would like to thank them for their continued understanding and patience.”

    The project team and contractors have done everything in their power to minimise disruption to businesses. Temporary bridges have been built across paving work to the entrances of premises to make sure that the public can get in and out of the  shops and banks.

    Noisy and disruptive work has been taking place in the evenings to ensure minimal impact to businesses and our contractor dowses dusty areas of work wherever possible.

    Businesses are also sent a weekly update letting them know what work is coming.  There is a business liaison officer retailers can contact if they have any specific concerns they have about how the project is progressing.

    New areas featuring high quality granite footways have already been reopened along the western footpath north of Cornwall Street and are on a rolling programme over the next few weeks.

    Repaving paths has been complicated by the fact that much of the utilities – such as broadband and electricity cables – were not installed as deeply as they should have been and some unrecorded services are just below the existing surfacing.

    Contractors have had the added headache of relaying paths without causing power cuts or system failures for shops.

    Councillor Lowry added: “It’s been a challenge but the contractors and the project team have risen to it. Work is still powering on in other zones, but we wanted to pause for a moment and mark this achievement.

    City Centre Company Chief Executive Steve Hughes added: “We have been impressed with the pace and progress of the work and have been delighted with the level of interest it has created in the city centre.

    “We know it has not always been easy for the businesses during the work but Old Town Street and New George Street saw a big increase in footfall and investment interest once that scheme had finished and I am confident this will happen here. It is going to be a game changer.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DfE Update: 9 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    DfE Update: 9 July 2025

    Latest information and actions from the Department for Education about funding, assurance and resource management, for academies, local authorities and further education providers.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    DfE Update further education: 9 July 2025

    HTML

    DfE Update academies: 9 July 2025

    HTML

    DfE Update local authorities: 9 July 2025

    HTML

    Details

    Latest for further education

    Article Title
    Information Adult skills fund: updates to rules and guidance for 2025 to 2026
    Information Maths and English condition of funding
    Information English and maths continuing professional development available
    Information The further education workforce data collection
    Information Discover the latest updates to the Apprenticeship Service

    Latest information for academies

    Article Title
    Information Maths and English condition of funding
    Reminder PE and sports premium data collection
    Events and webinars Academy Finance Professionals July Power Hour: Academy Trust Handbook
    Events and webinars Academies technical update 2025 to 2026
    Events and webinars Financial management service (FMS) comparison matrix

    Latest information for local authorities

    Article Title
    Information Adult skills fund: updates to rules and guidance for 2025 to 2026
    Information Maths and English condition of funding
    Information The further education workforce data collection
    Information Discover the latest updates to the Apprenticeship Service
    Reminder PE and sports premium data collection

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Peter Kyle’s speech at Google Cloud Summit London

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Peter Kyle’s speech at Google Cloud Summit London

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, delivered a speech at Google Cloud Summit London on Wednesday 9 July 2025.

    Thank you for having me, and thanks also for acknowledging the GOV.UK App, which I’m sure you’ve all downloaded.

    If you haven’t already, then you should be doing so now. And I don’t if you’re looking down at your phones while I’m speaking, if what you’re doing is downloading the GOV.UK App – which is already outselling the Bible on the app store, I’m reliably told.

    When I came into office a year ago, I was told to deliver an App, with a digital wallet, with a chatbot, and with a digital driving licence attached to it, I was told it couldn’t be done in one parliament, that it couldn’t be done in one 5 year period.

    My response was I’m sure Google and others don’t take that long to design and deploy their technology. Let me see a timeline.

    The timeline came back to me a week later, and it was now 3 years.

    We did all of this, the start of the deployment of GOV.UK App, within one year of government.

    Within 15 months, all of those services I’ve just outlined will be deployed and put to the benefit of citizens right around the country.

    And that for me is a source of huge pride, because we’ve used technology to wrap services around individual citizens needs.

    Right now, as all of you know, too often citizens are being wrapped around the needs of services themselves.

    And this is a profound change as we go forward.

    Now, sometimes I’m accused of being “too close to big tech”.

    And I could have no better place to have this argument out on the table with you now.

    In May, The Guardian criticised me for meeting with the sector 70% more than my predecessor. Now, to this crime, I plead guilty.

    In truth that was just 28 times over the course of a 6-month period, that equates to around twice a week over that time.

    As Technology Secretary I simply will not apologise for meeting with technology companies – that is the job.

    Just as meeting with the families of victims of social media, regulators, founders, overseas governments and the creative sector, it’s all part and parcel of what I’m paid to do on behalf of the people’s government.

    But I don’t do these meetings just because I’m paid to do it.

    I do them because they matter:

    keeping children safe or from social media – it matters;

    making sure Britain is the best prepared for developments at the frontier of AI – that matters;

    and securing better deals for the taxpayer for the billions of pounds spent every year on software, cloud services, devices and information technology – that matters.

    So today, I’m here to acknowledge our agreement for an entirely new way of working with Google – and how that will impact our public services.

    It’s an agreement that recognises our value as the UK government as a huge client to their organisation.

    And how important their technology is to help us deliver the changes to public services to make them more in-touch and more in-tune with citizens. And better value for money for taxpayers.

    The agreement signals and signifies our determination to exploit the full potential of a partnership between government and Google, with much more collaboration between their UK AI lab, DeepMind, and my own AI developers in my department, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology with a new digital centre of government.

    We’ve already used Gemini to build “Extract”, a specialist AI tool to help councils convert decades-old, handwritten planning documents and maps into data in minutes.

    It could be pivotal in our plans to stop bureaucracy from holding up the construction and ultimately help us build 1.5 million homes that we’ve pledged over this parliament.

    We know that tools using the same technology are capable of transforming Whitehall itself, the NHS, and other essential services that millions of people across our country rely on.

    So, with more hands-on support, I can’t wait to see what our 2 teams deliver together.

    Google are also aiming to train up 100,000 public sector professionals with the skills that they need to use this technology by 2030.

    That’s going to help us hit the target the Prime Minister set earlier this year, where we’ve committed to double the number of digital experts across government…

    …essential to shaking up decades old processes and making public services work in the way people expect services to work in the 2020s – whether that’s in the NHS, policing, benefits or tax.

    And, perhaps most importantly, we are looking to the sector to help shake off the legacy technology that costs the taxpayer an absolute fortune and leaves us vulnerable to outages and to cyberattacks.

    More than one in 4 public sector systems run on this “ball and chain” tech – rising to 70% in some police forces and NHS trusts.

    With contracts signed decades ago, and a high costs of exit, we’ve seen a few tech companies really taking liberties with the public sector.

    In the worst cases, contracts have made it impossible for public sector organisations to move on. They’ve locked up their data up in vulnerable, archaic servers…

    …only to have the price of maintaining the tech hiked up, year-on- year, with no sign of light at the end of the tunnel.

    Now, as Technology Secretary, I am determined to break free from these costly chains once and for all.

    Through agreements like this we can transition public sector organisations trapped by the ball and chain of legacy products and services, and to migrate to the cloud.

    That move alone will liberate public service organisations and use the latest technology, and more freely explore the wider market moving forward. That is what I am determined to do.

    All in all, this partnership could see Google invest hundreds of millions of pounds in Britain’s public sector technology.

    Helping to deliver my ambition to bring the public services people use every day, drag it into the 21st century.

    Without deals like this in place, we had hundreds of public sector organisations…

    …police forces, NHS trusts, local councils, government departments and many, many more…

    They were simply just going it alone in negotiations with big tech companies.

    And they just don’t have the experience and market clout they need to drive the best deal for taxpayers.

    They end up paying the full shop-front rate or even being entirely mis-sold tech that doesn’t work for them in the first place.

    But they’re all buying on behalf of the same client: you, the British taxpayer.

    And that taxpayer is footing the bill for an annual £21 billion for buying the same technology time and time again.

    That’s why I’m determined to secure a new deal for buying tech for the British taxpayer.

    For too long, too many governments haven’t done enough to build the positive business relationships that Britain needs to prevent the taxpayer being short changed when it comes to procuring tech – from healthcare services, policing systems right through to benefits processes, and bin collections, right down to street sweeping.

    Just as with Google on this strategy, when I negotiate with Tech companies, I am negotiating on behalf of the British taxpayer.

    Britain will be using technology in more areas and more than ever before.

    So, my message to big technology companies is clear: bring us your best ideas, bring us your best tech, and bring it at the best price.

    In return, you’ll get access to the biggest client in the country, one that will be increasingly intelligent and increasingly digital.

    And as we start to operate as a more intelligent buyer of technology, new opportunities are going to emerge.

    The first one that I’m pushing for, is to make sure that, whenever possible, UK technology companies- large and small – get a fair shot at winning a contract.

    Our upcoming marketplace – the national digital exchange – will make sure more and more UK tech companies can get their slice of the £21 billion pie.

    That means more money for companies operating here in the UK, workers and founders.

    It will help us to achieve the economic growth upon which Britain’s future prosperity lies. And it will improve the public services on which British citizens depend.

    Now I want to acknowledge the foresight of Google in signing this key agreement, and I want more to follow. I want it to stimulate many similar co-operation agreements with the full range of international and domestic technology companies.

    That is in the interests of higher economic growth, more jobs, better public services and greater value for taxpayers.

    Thank you very much for having me along today.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Westminster’s green makeover: £500,000 funding boost for public spaces | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Westminster City Council has selected 16 local projects to receive funding through its Greening Westminster grants programme — a community-led initiative to make the city’s public spaces greener, healthier, and more welcoming. 
     
    This year, almost £500,000 has been awarded to a range of local groups and partner organisations to deliver green projects in parks, on highways and housing estates.   

    From tree planting and pollinator-friendly flowers to edible gardens and greener play areas, the chosen projects showcase a creative, community-driven approach to bring more nature into Westminster’s built-up urban environment. 

     The Greening Westminster programme is a key part of the Council’s Fairer Westminster strategy, which helps improve the environment and supports communities to make positive changes in their neighbourhoods. The programme also aims to give residents greater access to high-quality green spaces that benefit their health and wellbeing.  

     Projects include:  

    • The Onion Garden (Victoria): Adding more plants and wildlife features to a popular community garden.
    • Charfield Court in Bloom  (Amberley Estate): Residents are adding greenery to their housing estate.
    • Covent Garden Playground: Making the playground greener with plants and showcasing a sustainable approach
    • University of Westminster: Improving green spaces on campus and along Marylebone Road.
    • North Paddington Food Bank – The Roots Garden Kitchen: Creating a garden to grow food for the community by the community.  
    • Parish of St Marylebone: Turning church gardens into greener, more welcoming public spaces.
    • Paddington Now BID: Putting up flower baskets with pollinator-friendly plants on Eastbourne Terrace. 

    Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said:  

    “We’re proud to support these inspiring community-led projects that will help make Westminster greener, healthier, and more welcoming for everyone.  

    “By working together with local groups, we’re transforming public spaces into vibrant places that bring people closer to nature and to each other, which is part of our Fairer Environment commitment.” 

    For more information and a full list of funded projects, visit: 
    www.westminster.gov.uk/greening-westminster 

    ENDS 

    • The Council received 20 applications for its Greening Westminster grants programme and approved 16  
    • Since 2017, Greening Westminster has supported 51 projects across Westminster  

    The 16 recipients who have successfully been awarded funding: 

    Walterton and Elgin Community Homes (WECH) 
    Parish of St Marylebone
    Covent Garden Playground
    St Augustine’s School
    St Barnabas Church
    St Stephens Church 
    North Paddington food bank
    The Onion Garden
    University of Westminster
    Stone Wharf Gardens
    Charfield Court Resident Group – Amberley Estate 
    Grosvenor Residents Association – Edric House
    Hallfield Estate
    Oldham’s Walk
    Community 4 All – Lydford Hall garden

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Financial health notice to improve: South Devon College

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Financial health notice to improve: South Devon College

    A financial health notice to improve issued to South Devon College.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Notice to improve: South Devon College

    PDF, 273 KB, 5 pages

    Details

    This letter and its annex serve as a notice to improve financial health at South Devon College.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 June 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Financial health notice to improve: Newbury College

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Financial health notice to improve: Newbury College

    A financial health notice to improve issued to Newbury College.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Notice to improve: Newbury College

    PDF, 136 KB, 6 pages

    Details

    This letter and its annex serve as a notice to improve financial health at Newbury College.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Our five principles for SEND reform

    Source: Liberal Democrats UK

    Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey and Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson have written to Keir Starmer setting out five principles for SEND reform, and offering to work on a cross-party basis with the government to ensure the reforms deliver for children with SEND and their families.

    The five principles include maintaining the right to SEND assessments for children, boosting special school capacity, improving early identification and cutting waiting lists. The Liberal Democrats are also calling for more support for local authorities to provide SEND services and better training for school staff.

    The full letter can be found below:  

    Dear Prime Minister,

    We are writing to you regarding the recent reporting on your Government’s forthcoming reform of the special education needs and disabilities (SEND) system.

    Let us be clear: after years of Conservative neglect, the SEND system needs fundamental change. Your commitment to reform is welcome.

    For too long, a broken system has forced children and families to fight long battles to get the support they need. Outcomes for those children haven’t improved while council deficits have ballooned, leaving many on the brink.

    Change is sorely needed. But this reform must be honest, ambitious, and must have children at its heart. It cannot see children’s rights rolled back.

    Many parents are deeply worried that the forthcoming reforms will leave their children worse 

    off, with an erosion of the rights that underpin the support they need. The lack of clarity from your Government is leading to worry and confusion, with constant conflicting reports on what exactly is being considered. SEND families are being deprived of the certainty they need to live their lives.

    Those families have waited too long for a system that works. We need to get this right.

    We are writing to outline five fundamental principles, which we believe should underpin the coming reform.

    Our five principles and priorities for SEND reform are as follows:

    1. Putting children and families first Children’s rights to SEND assessment and support must be maintained and the voices of children and young people with SEND and of their families and carers must be at the centre of the reform process.
    2. Boosting specialist capacity and improving mainstream provision Capacity in state special provision must be increased, alongside improvements to inclusive mainstream provision, with investment in both new school buildings and staff training.
    3. Supporting local government Local authorities must be supported better to fund SEND services, including through:
      1. The extension of the profit cap in children’s social care to private SEND provision, where many of the same private equity backed companies are active, and
      2. National government funding to support any child whose assessed needs exceed a specific cost.
    4. Early identification and shorter waiting lists Early identification and intervention must be improved, with waiting times for diagnosis, support and therapies cut.
    5. Fair funding The SEND funding system must properly incentivise schools both to accept SEND pupils and to train their staff in best practice for integrated teaching and pastoral care.

    We would welcome the chance to discuss these principles and priorities with you further. Together with our Liberal Democrat colleagues, we are eager to work with you on a cross-party basis, to make sure that the forthcoming reforms truly deliver for children with SEND and for their families.  

    Yours sincerely, 

    Ed Davey 
    Munira Wilson

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Jofra Archer returns to England team for third test vs India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    England’s Jofra Archer has been named in the team to face India in the third test of the series at Lord’s, England’s cricket board (ECB) announced on Wednesday, as the fast bowler prepares for his first test in more than four years.

    Archer will replace fellow seamer Josh Tongue, the only change England have made, for the third test that starts on Thursday. Tongue picked up only four wickets and conceded more than 200 runs in the two innings.

    Archer, 30, has not played in the longest format since England faced India in Ahmedabad in February 2021.

    The series is tied at 1-1 after England won the first test at Headingley before India won a test for the first time at Edgbaston on Sunday.

    ENGLAND TEAM

    Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir.

    (Reuters)

     

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine continues to have a devastating impact on children: UK statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine continues to have a devastating impact on children: UK statement to the OSCE

    Deputy Ambassador James Ford condemns the grave violations Russian armed forces and authorities have committed against children in Ukraine, including through attacks on schools and hospitals.

    Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr Chair.  I would also like to thank the speakers for their insights on the important and emotive topic we are dealing with today. 

    The United Kingdom is deeply concerned about the worsening situation for children in conflicts around the world.  More grave violations against children were verified by the UN than ever before in 2024, and instances of rape and other forms of sexual violence against children increased by 35% compared to 2023. 

    Regrettably, Madam Chair, our own region has not been immune from this trend.  Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine continues to have a harrowing effect on Ukraine’s 7.5 million children – on their health, education, family life and prospects for their futures. 

    In 1999, UN Security Council Resolution 1261 defined ‘Six Grave Violations’ most frequently affecting children in times of war. According to the latest UN report on children and armed conflict, there is mounting evidence that Russian authorities and Russian armed forces have committed at least five of these Six Grave Violations in Ukraine.  For consecutive years, the UN Secretary General has reported that under two categories – the killing and maiming of children, and attacks on schools and hospitals – the violations committed by Russian armed forces are prolific enough to warrant formal listing in his annual report.

    A case in point is the attack on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv.  Yesterday marked one year since a Russian KH-101 cruise missile struck the hospital. It was the biggest children’s medical facility in Ukraine and the country’s primary provider of specialist paediatric care.

    According to UNICEF’s report from November 2024, the war has killed or injured over 2,406 children – an average of sixteen children every week.  The UN verified 222 cases of children being killed or injured in Ukraine between 1 March and 31 May 2025 – three times more children killed than during the previous quarter. In April this year alone, 97 children were killed or maimed. According to UN statistics, that is the highest monthly number of child casualties since June 2022.

    It is not just death or injury that Ukrainian children face on a daily basis.  According to the Government of Ukraine, the Russian authorities and armed forces have deported nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children to Russia and the temporarily occupied territories.  UN reports detail the treatment of Ukrainian children in these territories. Russian authorities have systematically forced the introduction of Russian language curriculum in schools, as well as ‘military-patriotic’ training. They have also forced Ukrainian children to adopt Russian citizenship.  Save the Children estimates that Russian attacks destroyed or damaged 576 education facilities in 2024 – more than double the 256 of the year before.

    UN and Save the Children reports also underline that children fleeing the fighting in Ukraine are at significant risk of family separation, abuse, violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking.  Countless people will bear the social and psychological trauma for years to come.  

    Moscow continues to try to disguise these crimes through a campaign of denial and disinformation.  But these abuses have all been verified by independent sources, including the UN, ODIHR and reports commissioned under the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism.

    As we all know, and as the speakers have detailed today, children are uniquely vulnerable and disproportionately affected by conflict.  We welcome the OSCE’s work to hold Russia accountable for its actions and to support Ukraine, including through the SPU, the Support Programme for Ukraine.  And we call on Russia to cease this unprovoked, illegal war and immediately and unconditionally return forcibly deported children to Ukraine. 

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –