New MOD Policy on Overseas Assignments published: Overseas Accompanied Service Assessments

A new MOD policy giving guidance to Service personnel and their families on considering and preparing for an overseas posting has been published today on Gov.uk at this link:  Overseas Accompanied Service Assessments - GOV.UK.

 
This policy applies to Service personnel planning to take their families on an overseas assignment, particularly those with additional medical, social care, or educational needs. The assessment process is designed to take a holistic judgment about whether the host location can reasonably meet the family’s needs and whether associated risks to their health, education, safety, or well-being can be appropriately managed.
 
A new DIN (Defence Instruction & Notice) is also available (to MODnet users) at:  2026DIN01-017-MOD Overseas Accompanied Service Assessments Policy.docx
 
For further information on any Overseas assignment please contact any HIVE, iHIVE (which covers locations worldwide where there is no physical HIVE), or email rc-pers-hivecomms-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk   
 
The HIVE Relocation Checklist may assist with additional planning for an overseas move.  This checklist can be accessed via this LINK, and can also be accessed (by MODnet users) via HIVE Sharepoint Overseas Postings.

Information provided by Overseas HIVE

NAPLES : Upcoming Travel Strikes in March

 

Passengers planning to travel within Italy could face journey disruption due to planned walkouts by transport workers. 

As carnival season winds down, Italian unions are ramping up their plans to stage transport strikes from Milan to Naples.

Here are the transport strikes that have been announced so far (subject to change) for March 2026.

March 6th - Campania Transport Strike

Passengers with Campania transport operator EAV face journey disruption on Friday March 6th due to planned 24 hour walkout.
EAV runs several surburban lines including the Circumvesuviana Railway that connects Naples to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Sorrento as well as bus routes linking Campania's capitol to the surrounding province.

March 7th - Rome air traffic controllers strike.

Air traffic controllers at Rome's main air control centre have announced an 8 hour walkout from 10am - 6pm on Saturday March 7th.
As the Rome base controls air traffic for a significant portion of Italian airspace, the strike could cause delays for those planning air travel to, from or across Italy.

March 9th - General Strike

Italian union Slai Cobas has called a national general strike involving all public and private sector workers on Monday March 9th however as this coincides with the Winter Paralympics (March 6th - 15th) this may be blocked by the transport ministry.

March 18th - Milan Airport strikes
Staff at Airport Handling which provide ground services and cargo handling at Milan's Malpensa and Linate airports are set to strike for 24 hours on Wednesday March 18th.

Information provided by NAPLES HIVE

BRUNEI: Ramadhan Considerations

RAMADHAN CONSIDERATIONS

1. The following are some key considerations to keep in mind for good working practice during the month of Ramadhan:

a. Schedule meetings in the morning. Try to conduct meetings or calls earlier in the day to maximise productivity whilst being considerate to your client or colleagues daily routines whilst observing Ramadhan.

b. Avoid lunch and coffee meetings. While non-Muslims are not required to fast during Ramadhan, it’s culturally sensitive to refrain from eating or drinking in front of someone who is fasting. This includes turning down a drink if offered a Muslim colleague or client. Whilst in public, no food or drink should be consumed.

BRUNEI: Claim your VAT back from UK Amazon orders to BFPO 11

Did you know that you can claim back your VAT from UK Amazon orders that have been delivered to Brunei BFPO 11?

To claim back your VAT you need to email vat-refund-requests@amazon.co.uk.

Below is a basic draft email for you to copy and edit. Once you’ve written your email, you need to send it to: vat-refund-requests@amazon.co.uk to claim back your VAT from UK Amazon orders to the BFPO address. 

BRUNEI: Reminder of Ramadhan rules & Disrespecting the Month of Ramadhan

Reminder of Ramadhan rules

DISRESPECTING THE MONTH OF RAMADHAN

1. Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 articles under the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam defines fines, imprisonment or both if one gets convicted of disrespecting the month of Ramadhan. The duration of Ramadhan in 2026 is from 17 February to 17 March 2026, however, dates maybe subject to change depending on the sighting of the moon.

2. Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 - Disrespecting the month of Ramadhan (Para 195, page 89):

a. Any person who consumes in public any food, drink or tobacco during the fasting hours in the month of Ramadhan is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $4,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.

b. Any person who sells or serves any food, drink or tobacco for immediate consumption at that spot, in a public place, during the fasting hours in the month of Ramadhan is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $4,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.

c. Subsection (2) shall not apply to any medical practitioner or any other person who serves any food, drink or medicine to any patient during the fasting hours in the month of Ramadhan without which such patient will be affected.

d. If any person fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (2) in his status as an employee for another person, his employer shall be deemed to have abetted such offence and to have caused the commission of such offence by reason of abetment unless he can prove that such offence was committed without his consent, power, knowledge or approval and that he took all reasonable steps to avoid such act from being committed.

Information provided by BRUNEI HIVE.

Kids' Sports and Activity Week Easter Paderborn

Sports week for kids aged 7-11, includes multiple activities the classes will be in German. 

• Mon. 30.03.2026 - Thu. 02.04.2026
• 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Sports and Community Center Goldgrund 6a, 33100 Paderborn
• Girls and boys aged 7-11 years
• Course fee €120.00
• No information about instructors is available for this course.
• organizer TV 1875 Paderborn eV

Please provide children with sports clothing, clean indoor sports shoes, refillable water bottle (no glass bottles), light breakfast for the breakfast break.

What is included?

• Supervision by qualified staff.
• Try out and get to know various sports, including ball sports, racket sports and martial arts i
• An outdoor day with a special activity
• Climbing on the in-house climbing wall
• lunch
• One overnight stay plus breakfast
• Including a barbecue
• Including a craft activity

For more information and registration contact Nadine Krause Tel. 05251 1422422
Registration: turnverein-paderborn.de
Email: n.krause@tv1875paderborn.de

Please provide children with sports clothing, clean indoor sports shoes, refillable water bottle (no glass bottles), light breakfast for the breakfast break.

BELGIUM: Talbot House, a little piece of history in Poperinge

Talbot House was (and arguably still is) home from home for the British soldiers during the First World War. It was a bit of heaven, just behind hell.

Offering a canteen, surreal green garden, concert hall, library, billiards and of course a Chapel, it welcomed some half a million soldiers. The house rules were simple yet specific, everyone was admitted and treated equal. It reminded them what they were fighting for and gave them the hope and courage to return once more to the frontline where so many of them lie still today. 

Today, it’s been kept as it was. Revd. Tubby Clayton, who was it’s instigator and driving force (hurricane force) insisted that it would be used for the same purposes today. 

We are always very keen to welcome serving soldiers in the Club. Besides a ‘museum’ and a guest house, it very much is still a military club which thrives when it gets its old customers in for a cuppa. 
 

If you have not yet visited, do add it to your list of places to visit! It’s gone onto ours!

Photo Credit: Simon Louagie.

Information provided by SHAPE HIVE

BELGIUM: The National Memorial of Fort Breendonk

Have you visited Fort Breendonk yet?

It is one of the best-preserved testimonials of the Second World War Nazi atrocities. Learn about the sinister history of SS-Auffanglager Breendonk through a series of testimonial, picture and film footage and remember the men and women who suffered and sacrificed their lives for our liberty.

If you are a Museum Pass holder you can visit Fort Breendonk for FREE.

• Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History
• Command Bunker Kemmel
• Bastogne Barracks
• Trench of Death

are also covered under the Museum Pass.

Information provided by SHAPE HIVE.

Brussels: Have you visited the Museum of Playing Cards yet?

Fancy a different day out?

How about a visit to the Museum of Playing Cards in Turnhout? Belgium really does have a museum for everything!

Check out the authentic printing machines and stream-driven presses and if you time your visit well you could even pick yourself up a freshly pressed demo print. Learn about how Cards were used for propaganda, see some rare card decks and witness the gruesome consequences of cards in the media.

There is also a Room of the Future with interactive games, quizzes & screens complete with a selfie booth and interactive workshops with creative play for kids too.  There really is something for everyone.

Want to find out more? https://www.discoveringbelgium.com/museum-of-the-playing-card/

Information provided by SHAPE HIVE.

BRUNEI: Immigration Run Schedule During Ramadhan Period

IMMIGRATION RUN SCHEDULE DURING RAMADHAN PERIOD

1. With Ramadhan approaching, all BFB personnel are to familiarise themselves with the following changes to OGS endorsement and cancellation processes, and are reminded that all Bruneian Government Departments, including Immigration, will be closed at 14:00hrs on every working day throughout the month of Ramadhan. During this period, the Immigration Run for the LPPO will take place at 09:45hrs every Tuesday and Thursday, unless these days fall on a public holiday.

2. As 17 February 2026 is a public holiday (Chinese New Year), the Immigration Run for that week will take place on Monday 16 February 2026.

3. The first day of Ramadhan depends on the moon sighting on Tuesday 17 February 2026.