Preston City Council has an ongoing commitment to using the full extent of its powers to tackle anti-social behaviour and protect residents from disturbances that can impact their quality of life.
Mark Taylor, Interim Director of Environment, Property and Neighbourhood Services at Preston City Council, said:
“Noise nuisance can be very distressing and is one of the most common causes of neighbour disputes. We always encourage residents to speak with their neighbours where possible, but when that fails and a legal notice is ignored, as in this case, enforcement action becomes necessary.
Recently, Preston City Council seized noise equipment from a property in Avenham under powers granted by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, following persistent complaints and repeated warnings.
The Council’s Environmental Protection team had received numerous reports of excessive noise and issued multiple warnings to the occupant. Despite being served with a legal abatement notice requiring them to reduce noise levels to prevent disturbance, the warnings were ignored and the nuisance continued.
As a result, Council officers applied for and were granted a warrant to enter the property to abate the ongoing statutory nuisance. With the support of Lancashire Constabulary, the property was entered and equipment capable of producing excessive noise, including stereos and loudspeaker, was seized.
The occupant may apply to have the equipment returned after 28 days, subject to payment of the Council’s costs.
Mark Taylor added;
“This operation sends a clear message that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in Preston. We urge anyone suffering from persistent or excessive noise to contact our Environmental Protection team for support.”
It is one of the largest car park solar panel and battery storage installations in the country.
This innovative initiative comprises rooftop solar PV arrays on four buildings and newly constructed solar car park canopies in three car parking areas, equipped with accompanying battery storage. The full network of solar panels is set to generate approximately 4,000MWh per year. This is a huge amount of energy and is sufficient to power over 1,300 average three-bedroom houses for one year.
The energy generated will meet around 40% of the entire site’s electricity usage and will mean, on very sunny days and weekends, excess power can be released to the grid. The project is estimated to prevent more than 900 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
The completion of the solar panels and battery storage installation marks a significant milestone in Lakeside’s and Portsmouth City Council’s journey towards sustainability and greener energy, in line with the Council’s Net Zero ambitions.
The Energy Services and Building Projects teams at Portsmouth City Council have been working with solar panel installation contractor, Custom Solar, to get the panels up and running at Lakeside.
Cabinet Member for Greening the City and Climate Action Cllr Kimberly Barrett said: “We are thrilled to have reached the final stage of this groundbreaking project! All teams have been dedicated and relentless in their efforts towards completion. It’s truly inspiring to see another solar project land at Portsmouth and make a huge step towards greener energy and our Net Zero goal.”
Simon Bateman, Asset Manager at Lakeside North Harbour, added: “This is an excellent opportunity for Lakeside businesses to benefit from the council’s Net Zero target at no direct cost to them. We are committed to creating a sustainable and environmentally responsible workspace for the businesses based here, the largest of its kind in this region. We recognise our responsibility to reduce environmental impacts, enhance sustainability, and contribute positively to the community and economy.
“This solar project will enable us to have a green electric supply for all 60 businesses at Lakeside. The environment is a fundamental core value at Lakeside – from creating the right atmosphere for our occupier community to driving sustainability and efficient use of our valuable resources.”
To keep up to date on their projects, follow Lakeside North Harbour on LinkedIn.
To keep up to date on the council’s energy and building projects, follow the Portsmouth City Council building services on LinkedIn.
he Secretary-General announced today the appointment of Ian Martin of the United Kingdom as Head of the Strategic Assessment, as part of his UN80 initiative, of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The Secretary-General is tasking Mr. Martin with conducting the Strategic Assessment in order to review UNRWA’s impact; implementation of its mandate under present political, financial, security and other constraints; and, consequences and risks, for Palestine Refugees. He has further been tasked with identifying options for action, by Member States and/or the United Nations, and considering overall United Nations mandates provided by the General Assembly and the Security Council.
Mr. Martin has had a distinguished service within the United Nations. He was involved in a number of strategic reviews, most recently as the Lead of the Independent Strategic Review of the United Nations Mission in Somalia and before then as a member of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations. Mr. Martin served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and in various positions in other UN field operations, including in Timor-Leste, Nepal, Eritrea, Rwanda and Haiti.
Mr. Martin holds a Master of Arts in history and economics from Cambridge University, United Kingdom, and studied development economics at Harvard University, United States of America.
Housing Allocation Policy for 2025 to 2028 approved by Salford City Council.
The policy underpins the council’s wider strategic priorities of its Corporate Plan 2024 to 2028 and commitment to ‘a good home for all’.
Housing options available will be dependent upon the level and type of housing need, in addition to the size, type and location of available properties. Each application is assessed on its own merits.
Salford City Council’s cabinet has approved its Housing Allocation Policy for 2025 – 2028, which sets out how social rented housing is allocated within the area and how residents on the housing register are prioritised taking into account local considerations and needs.
The need and strong demand for social housing currently outweighs the availability of social housing, with around 4,500 people on the council’s housing register, at any one time. This includes many of the 787 households currently housed in temporary accommodation. However, fewer than 900 properties are advertised or let every year, through the register.
Furthermore, the city faces a number of challenges in the form of increasing homelessness, temporary accommodation use and costs. This policy, therefore underpins the council’s wider strategic priorities which are: homelessness prevention, making the best use of housing assets, supporting the council’s corporate parenting role/ responsibilities, reducing the impact of domestic abuse including the cycle of abuse and an anti-poverty approach.
The policy is based on:
A fair system for the allocation of housing accommodation, which is transparent and easy to understand.
Making best use of increasingly scarce social housing stock (homes available for rent below market rate to households whose needs cannot be met by the commercial housing market – Housing and Regeneration Act 2008).
Preventing homelessness and reduce the usage and length of stay in temporary accommodation.
Giving priority to applicants with the greatest housing need.
Managing customer expectations by supporting people to make realistic and informed choices about where they live.
Creating sustainable tenancies in the light of welfare reform.
Creating balanced and stable communities.
A first stage public consultation took place in March 2024, to review the existing policy criteria, which included members of the public, local organisations, key stakeholders and partners. A second stage public consultation was held in December 2024, to further explore the suggested and proposed policy changes – including engagement with vulnerable people who shared their real-life experiences.
The outcome of this review and public consultation recommended 16 changes to be implemented within the new Allocation Policy (Adobe PDF format). A further review will take place in 2027/28 or earlier if required by new legislation or government guidance.
The housing options available to a household will be dependent upon the level and type of housing need. Each application will be assessed on its own merits and exceptional circumstances will also be taken into consideration. Housing options and advice aim to achieve:
Help and support to remain in current accommodation.
Advice on securing alternative private rented accommodation.
Advice on mobility schemes that may help a household move out of the area.
Advice to current social housing tenants on mutual exchange.
Advice on low-cost home ownership options.
Access to the housing register to obtain social housing.
Councillor Tracy Kelly, Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty at Salford City Council said: “The policy enables the council to deliver a consistent and equitable approach to the allocation of social housing in Salford, to help us meet the housing needs of residents in our communities.
“We recognise that social housing is in high demand, both in Salford and across the country, which is why we are continuing to deliver on our pledge to build good quality homes as well as truly affordable homes for social rent alongside support for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
“The need for affordable housing options in Salford means that it’s vital we continue to work to create long-term solutions to turn the situation around and provide truly affordable housing in our city which local people need and deserve.”
Maria (Marysia) Szuster, Gabrijela Papec, Linn Junge, Fanny Burdin-Egloffe, Tatiana Van den Haute
Each year, the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition brings together thousands of law students from across the globe, challenging them to tackle the most complex and contested issues in public international law.
For five first-year students at Sciences Po Law School, the 2025 edition was more than just a competition — it was an intense, transformative experience that pushed them to their intellectual and personal limits.
From winning the French national rounds to representing France on the world stage in Washington D.C., this remarkable team not only proved their legal acumen but also exemplified resilience, teamwork, and passion. In this article, they reflect on what it took to get there, the lessons they learned along the way, and the advice they would give to those ready to take on the Jessup challenge.
«The Sciences Po Law School warmly thanks Clifford Chance for its valuable support in the 2025 Jessup Moot Court Competition. This contribution helped our team reach the top 16 worldwide, a remarkable achievement. It reflects both the talent of our students and the value of strong academic-professional partnerships.»
Sébastien Pimont, Dean, and Julie Babin d’Amonville, Executive Director
Can you introduce yourself?
Linn Junge, a first-year student in Economic Law, did Jessup for the second time this year, having won the French championship and advanced to the round of 16 in 2023 with Sciences Po Reims. Hailing from Germany but having also lived in the US, Linn was the team’s captain, and oralist for both Respondent and Applicant.
Gabrijela Papecfrom Croatia was a world-renowned debater in high school and during the undergraduate degree, skills she leveraged to the best effect in her role as oralist for the Applicant. She is in the English track, alongside Linn and Maria.
Tatiana Van den Hauteis a Lebanese first year law student in Droit Économique. After completing her undergraduate degree at Sciences Po, Campus du Havre with an exchange in Taipei, she spent another year working there as a policy analyst. She was able to apply her analytical and public speaking experiences in her role as an oralist for Respondent.
Fanny Burdin-Egloffeis a French student in the first year of the French track in Droit Économique. After a year as a research assistant at the University of Sydney, she brought her analytical and legal research skills to her role as of counsel for this year’s Jessup team.
Maria (Marysia) Szusteris a Polish fist year student in Economic Law with a particular passion for human rights and refugees’ access to education. The skills she gained as a research assistant at Yale University and a writer for the American Bar Association on grave human rights violations she applied in research and finding arguments in Jessup this year.
What motivated you to participate in the 2025 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition?
For many of us, law and politics are equal passions and two sides of the same coin. International law as a field combines these two disciplines like perhaps no other arena—international law is most closely based on, after all, the political decisions of states. The Jessup Competition perfectly embodies this intersection, standing as the world’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious moot court competition.
What makes Jessup particularly valuable is the opportunity it provides students to spend eight months conducting deep research on widely debated and unresolved topics in international law. Beyond being a rare luxury within our fast-paced curriculum, this extended engagement allows participants to dive autonomously into aspects of public international law that fall outside the ordinary courses, exploring issues we would otherwise never encounter. The challenge of doing that in itself while going through our first year of law school called to all of us. Along with this intellectual challenge, participating in the Jessup opens doors to connecting with a community of like-minded people in all stages of their careers who share a passion for the competition and public international law as a whole.
Can you tell us about your preparation process for the competition?
Our first major task was learning how to balance our considerable coursework with researching public international law and this year’s problem, from scratch. The first phase of research culminated in the memorial writing phase, which was all the more complicated given that our team was spread across the world when the deadline came nearing in January 2025 during our Winter break. Nevertheless, we managed to submit two excellent memorials before returning to Paris, where we earnestly began preparing for the oral rounds.
Knowing how much effort it takes to learn, within a month, to become distinguished oralists and researchers, we met and practiced our pleading between three and five times a week until the national rounds at the end of February.
To our immense joy, we were crowned French national champions of the Jessup on March 1, having gone undefeated throughout all of the rounds. Despite the stress and fatigue that had worn on us over the course of the rounds, we managed to convince a unanimous jury to send us to Washington as the French representative team—a privilege that Sciences Po Law School has not been able to enjoy in seven years.
With that in mind, the preparation period for Washington was, if anything, even more intense than that for the nationals. On the one hand, we knew competition would be even more stiff, seeing that only the best of the best would be in Washington, and on the other, we had to arrange travel, accommodation, and funding in close collaboration with the Sciences Po Law School. All along, however, we continued to reach out to countless professors, friends, and connections whose advice and critiques were absolutely invaluable in continuously augmenting the quality of our performance as a team. The reward was significant. We advanced to the Octofinals in Washington, putting us within the 16 best teams in the world out of the more than 800 that competed this year. Only once in Jessup history has France advanced further than this.
Gabrijela Papec, Linn Junge received awards during the national rounds. Could you tell us more about that experience and what it meant to your team?
Jessup is 100% a team effort, but watching two of our team members get the recognition they deserve for all their hard work and talent was incredibly satisfying. The fact that both of the top speaker awards at the national rounds went to our team demonstrated what a resounding victory our team collectively enjoyed. So while Gabrijela and Linn are undoubtedly deserving of this award individually, we all felt it was more of a collective accolade.
Gabrijela also got 17th best oralist in the world at the international rounds, which is an incredible achievement in itself and felt like a validation both of her exceptional performance and all of our efforts.
Do you have any advice for future students who might want to participate in the next edition of the Jessup Moot?
When starting out, read and re-read the problem at length – then make sure you understand how international law works. Read commentaries on treaties and cases, know the histories of the institutions, conventions and treaties that you’re dealing with and why they are relevant. The issues that the Jessup will throw at you are qualified as ‘hard problems’ in international law, meaning that they are by nature unresolved and can be argued both ways. Stand on the shoulders of those who studied those problems in depth before you, in order to gain as holistic an understanding as possible of what they represent and the implications your arguments have.
Be passionate about it. This competition will take a big part of your life for 8 months, so might as well be obsessed with it. On this note, the team dynamic is everything. It starts on a personal level: because of the intensity, it is imperative that you get along with your team members. Knowing each other well will be invaluable in understanding how to best support one another over the course of the journey—from initial research to competing. From there, you need to stay accountable to one another, because everyone has to do their job, especially in the written drafting phase. And lastly: open communication is key. Again, the timeframe of the competition is too large to let slight frustrations and issues between team members fester until they become proper problems. If you accept the intensity and commitment, it will be a ride that you will be forever grateful for!
Planisware awarded a “B” rating by CDP rewarding its performance in addressing climate change
Paris, France, April 22, 2025 – Planisware, a leading B2B provider of SaaS in the rapidly growing Project Economy market, has been recognized by the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) for the consistency of its efforts to address climate change, earning a “B” score in its first-ever assessment.
This independent, non-profit international organization assesses the commitment of companies to transparency and environmental transition every year. This first recognition highlights the efforts made by Planisware and encourages it to continue its dynamic of continuous improvement.
Loïc Sautour, CEO of Planisware, said: “Receiving a B rating from the CDP in the first year of applying is remarkable and reflects our commitment to sustainability and climate risk management. This recognition encourages us to go even further in integrating responsible practices at all levels of our activity. I would like to congratulate all the employees who contribute every day to our collective effort in terms of environmental commitment.”
With a “B” score, Planisware ranks among the world’s top performers in terms of climate commitment. This distinction reflects the integration of CSR at the heart of its strategy, making environmental issues a central pillar of its operations. Planisware intends to continue its actions in favor of transparency and climate commitment, using this first assessment as a basis for further structuring and deepening its initiatives.
The B score indicates that Planisware is deploying coordinated action, with room for progress towards leadership in environmental management. These concrete actions to reduce the Group’s carbon footprint and improve its environmental performance focus on the energy efficiency of buildings, data center consumption, eco-design to improve the performance of its software, travel and commuting policy, and the extension of the lifespan of consumables and equipment, with the direct engagement of key suppliers.
These actions resulted in concrete progress in 2024, including a 19% decrease in Planisware’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to 2023.
The main achievements of 2024 included:
Optimization of software performance and eco-design: Infrastructure and source code optimization has been prioritised to improve the energy efficiency of Planisware’s software and reduce its environmental footprint.
Energy efficiency: Since 2024, the energy consumption of Planisware’s data centers has been covered for the most part by green electricity.
Employee engagement and awareness: Planisware raises employee awareness of environmental issues through training and the integration of sustainability into its managerial strategy, thus spreading a culture of sustainability throughout the Group.
Waste reduction and circular economy: In 2024, 24.1% of the non-hazardous waste generated by Planisware was recycled. Additionally, the elimination of single-use plastics has been implemented to limit the Group’s carbon footprint.
With the world’s largest environmental database, CDP scores are widely used to guide investment and procurement decisions towards a zero-carbon, sustainable and resilient economy. CDP ensures a better understanding and integration of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and encourages the adoption of international sustainability standards.
Planisware is a leading business-to-business (“B2B”) provider of Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) in the rapidly growing Project Economy. Planisware’s mission is to provide solutions that help organizations transform how they strategize, plan and deliver their projects, project portfolios, programs and products.
With circa 750 employees across 16 offices, Planisware operates at significant scale serving around 600 organizational clients in a wide range of verticals and functions across more than 30 countries worldwide. Planisware’s clients include large international companies, medium-sized businesses and public sector entities.
Planisware is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (Compartment A, ISIN code FR001400PFU4, ticker symbol “PLNW”).
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: OSCE and Turkmenistan mark 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and the International Year of Peace and Trust
OSCE and Turkmenistan mark 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and the International Year of Peace and Trust | OSCE
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Rapid aging of world population will transform global property & casualty insurance industry by 2050
Global dependency ratio set to rise by 2050 there will be 26 seniors for every 100 working-age people, up from 16 today
Aging population is a key trend in forecasted 4.4% CAGR for global commercial insurance lines, 3.3% for personal insurance lines
88% of insurers recognize the importance of more tech-enabled underwriting, but only 17% say they have the right capabilities
Paris, April 22, 2025 – TheCapgeminiResearch Institute’s World Property and Casualty Insurance Report,published today, shows how the aging of the world’s population will transform the industry globally by 2050. The report details how a shift in the ratio of seniors- to-working age adults will play a critical role in changing habits around consumption, transportation, and use of technology, with major implications for both commercial and personal P&C insurance. These trends will drive the industry towards a more prevention-focused, modular approach with real-time risk monitoring, as well as more technology-enabled underwriting models.
The global population is aging, transforming consumer behavior The aging of the world population in the coming decades implies a major transformation in the workforce, with fewer working-age adults per retired senior. By 2050, it is expected that the global dependency ratio will rise to 26%, compared with 16% in 2024, meaning that for every 100 working-age people, there will be 26 seniors to support, up from today’s 16. Excluding the population of Africa, which is relatively young, the dependency ratio will reach 31%, up from 18%.
This transition has profound implications for consumer behavior and the structure of the broader economy. As the global population grows older, consumer spending habits are expected to shift, with a greater focus on spending on experiences rather than large, fixed purchases. The report found 45% of consumers expect to increase their spending on lifestyle enhancements such as travel, luxury goods and home renovations while 70% do not plan to buy an additional house or upgrade their current house to a bigger one.
This move in spending habits, combined with trends towards greater urbanization and automation of technology, will have a significant impact on how P&C insurers serve their customers. For example, auto insurers are expected to transition towards commercial insurance and shared mobility coverage, as seniors drive less and rely more on rideshares. Equally, personal property insurance will have to evolve towards preventive, age-friendly options that address smaller, multi-generational homes. In the workplace, commercial lines will need to account for demographic-driven automation and altered risk profiles.
“Monumental demographic shifts are set to have a major and direct impact on P&C insurers in the coming decades. Today, insurers should be analyzing their portfolios to understand these sensitivities and to ascertain their exposure in mature and transitioning markets. This will support them in developing service models that are optimized and future-proofed,” said Adam Denninger, Global Insurance Industry Leader at Capgemini. “Finally, having an edge on customer experience, made possible through AI, will also help protect insurers against a competitive race to the bottom on prices.”
Interconnected risks could drive loss potential In addition, insurers will have to grapple with the implications of climate change, and its effect on an aging work force. According to research from Oxford Economics prepared for Capgemini, 98.5% of the world’s population will be at risk from drought and 80% will be at risk from excessive rainfall. With such climate volatility, coupled with urban risk concentration, insurers will see the rise of interconnected risks that drive loss potential. To assess these risks and develop more climate-minded strategies, insurers will need to further integrate climate risk data and predictive analytics to correlate risks and improve underwriting, cites the report.
Rising to the P&C challenge –with data and AI A key feature of these new approaches will be the use of predictive insights and real-time intelligence in underwriting. The report found 88% of insurers recognize the critical future importance of advanced underwriting, yet only 17% have mature capabilities.
To prepare for and adapt to the changing demographics, the report recommends that P&C insurers embrace novel approaches including:
Placing focus on changing customer behavior: recalibrating geographic footprints and developing age-sensitive service models
Operating model transformation: modernizing data architectures and leveraging AI and automation to build resilient systems and drive efficiency
Risk governance: implementing predictive underwriting insights and dynamic portfolio management
All these approaches require a process of continuous evolution, with executives delivering on medium-term actions while boards address long-term strategic questions.
Report Methodology For this report, the Capgemini Research Institute surveyed three primary sources: the 2025 Global Voice of the Customer Survey (which polled 5,016 P&C insurance customers in 13 countries), the 2025 Global Insurance Executives’ Survey (which included interviews with 274 senior insurance executives of leading P&C insurance companies across 15 markets), and the 2025 Global Macroeconomic Forecasts created in collaboration with a leading macro forecaster (which includes insights across 11 markets representing all three regions of the globe).
About Capgemini Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.
About the Capgemini Research Institute The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts for six consecutive times – an industry first. Visit us at www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
April 21, 2025
CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the passing of Pope Francis:
“We have lost the messenger, but we must hold fast to the message of Pope Francis to love and respect one another. In a world of hate and fear, Pope Francis’ message of peace and understanding is needed now more than ever.
“We should honor the Pope with a ‘Francis Day’ of world peace: stop the bombing in Ukraine and Gaza; feed the dying in Sudan and around the globe; and show kindness to one another.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government Non-Ministerial Departments 2
22 April 2025
Following the retirement of Deputy Chief Constable Alistair Sutherland after his long and distinguished career in policing, the British Transport Police Authority is recruiting a new Deputy Chief Constable for the British Transport Police.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Chair appointed for public inquiry into Nottingham stabbing attack
Former senior circuit judge, Her Honour (HH) Deborah Taylor, has been appointed by the Lord Chancellor to chair the statutory inquiry into the Nottingham attacks.
HH Deborah Taylor
Her Honour Deborah Taylor to chair Nottingham inquiry
Holistic review to provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents
Full Terms of Reference to be published in due course
Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and Ian Coates, 65, were tragically killed and three others seriously injured by Valdo Calocane in Nottingham in June 2023.
Speaking in the House of Commons today (April 22), the Lord Chancellor confirmed HH Deborah Taylor would undertake a thorough, independent assessment of the events that culminated in these brutal attacks, and provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents.
The statutory inquiry will have the power to examine all the agencies involved, including the Nottinghamshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service; compel witnesses, and establish the facts. The Prime Minister has committed that the inquiry should report within two years.
The bereaved families and survivors of the attack were present in the public gallery during the Lord Chancellor’s announcement.
Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said:
The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham Attack, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific attacks were able to happen.
I am pleased to appoint Her Honour Deborah Taylor as the Chair of this inquiry. She brings deep experience to the role, and I know she will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts.
The Chair, a retired senior circuit judge, has already engaged with survivors and victims’ families, and taken views on the draft Terms of Reference, which will be laid in due course.
Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Alex Davies-Jones, said:
My thoughts remain with the bereaved families and survivors of this terrible incident, who in the face of such tragedy, have consistently called for an Inquiry.
It is important for the bereaved families and survivors that this Inquiry reports without undue delay which is why the Prime Minister has committed the inquiry should report in two years.
Notes to editors:
With the Chair in place and the inquiry being formally established today, it can begin preliminary work immediately. The final terms of reference will be published as soon as possible.
There have been nine separate reviews into various elements of the Nottingham attacks including: Valdo Calocane’s healthcare and the healthcare institution; actions by Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire Police; and decisions of the CPS. IOPC investigations into the actions of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire police are ongoing.
The Law Commission is undertaking a review into homicide law and will consider the partial defence of diminished responsibility.
HH Deborah Taylor was a Senior Circuit Judge, Resident Judge at Southwark Crown Court and Recorder of Westminster until her retirement from the Judiciary in December 2022. In 2022 she was Treasurer of Inner Temple, where she advocated for greater diversity at the Bar.
Deborah has chaired the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB) since July 2023.
The £36 million leisure centre will replace the existing Blairgowrie Recreation Centre which is now over 40-years-old. The new centre was due to open earlier this year but this was postponed after a leak was discovered in the pool.
The new centre will be Scotland’s first leisure centre built to environmentally-friendly Passivhaus standards, providing state-of-the-art, low-energy facilities for community and school use.
It has a six-lane 25m swimming pool; a four-court sports hall; two-court sports hall/gymnasium; fitness suite; dance studio; several different changing facilities; office; a PE classroom as well as a floodlit synthetic outdoor pitch.
Construction on the long-awaited new centre began in June 2023.
After the initial leak was repaired, further testing was carried out which revealed a second, minor, leak in the pool. Contractors are working to resolve this issue before an opening date for the new centre is announced.
Council leader Councillor Grant Laing has now written to independent councillor Colin Stewart, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Scrutiny and Performance Committee, to undertake a review of the issues that have led to the delays.
Councillor Laing said: “We are all looking forward to Blairgowrie Recreation Centre opening.
“However, it is extremely frustrating that we have had to keep pushing back the opening date while contractors resolve these issues with the pool.
“Although this is not incurring any cost to the Council and we will not accept handover of the building until we are satisfied everything is working properly, we owe it to our residents to learn exactly what caused these issues and if they can be prevented on any future construction projects, here in Perth and Kinross or elsewhere.”
The leak had been traced to an area around the movable floor equipment in the pool.
The pool has been drained to allow all fixing and seals to be tested and to carry out repairs before the Council accepts handover of the building.
Stephen Crawford, Perth and Kinross Council’s Strategic Lead for Property Services, said: “Blairgowrie Recreation Centre is a hugely important facility for our residents in Eastern Perthshire and we want the building to be in perfect condition before it opens.
“We are all disappointed at this additional delay. Our contractors are working hard to ensure there are no faults in the building before it is handed over to Perth and Kinross Council and we can make preparations for opening day.”
Paul Carle, Construction Director with BAM UK and Ireland, said: “The new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre will be fantastic facility for the whole community and we’re disappointed that we have not yet been able to hand over the keys to Perth and Kinross Council.
“The pool is a complex design, and we have been working with specialist contractors to deliver it. Unfortunately, there have been technical issues and it’s right that we take time to correct these before it opens to the public. We are sorry for the delay and remain fully focussed of getting the repairs undertaken as early as possible.”
The existing Recreation Centre remains open and will be used as the venue for this year’s SQA exams.
A new public square is now formally open, providing a new heart and focal point for the Gorton neighbourhood, while supporting the ongoing success of the existing Gorton Market.
The new square is located off Garratt Way between the market and Tesco superstore, which has seen the conversion of part of the underused car park into a people-first space for the whole community.
The square has been designed following consultation with local people and community groups to create a splash of colour, a multi-functional space with new trees and plants, plenty of seats and space to host events and activities for children. Aa relaxing space for local people and visitors to eat and spend time.
Key features include:
A flexible space that can host events and pop-up gatherings
A raised market terrace area with seating for people to relax and an upgraded, outdoor trading space for Gorton Market
A new nature area with significant planting to screen the square from Garratt Way and introduce biodiversity
Imaginative interactive play features for young people
Light projections to animate the space
Improved and safer walking and cycling routes to and through the local area
An altered road layout from Garratt Way, to slow traffic, reduce movement conflicts, but maintain access.
This new Square will enhance the existing market offer, helping to increase footfall and create a destination space. There will be further investment in the Square later this year
The project was funded by the UK Government. The square was built by Warden Construction.
The longer-term regeneration proposals for this part of Gorton include hundreds of new mixed tenure homes housing, including significant affordable homes, that will be built on Council-owned land overlooking the new square.
“We are investing in our local communities across the city because we know how important Manchester’s high streets are to the people they serve. This isn’t just about accessing services easily – like health care and shops – this is also about creating pride in our local spaces and neighbourhoods our residents want to live in.
“We know that Manchester people want to live in welcoming, clean and green communities that support businesses, create jobs and provide opportunities for new affordable housing.
“This is what we’re doing in Gorton, Moston Lane, Withington high street and Wythenshawe town centre – and we have our sights set on other district centres, such as Newton Heath in north Manchester, for future investment that will continue our ongoing commitment to investing in the things our local communities want and need.”
Councillor Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development said:
“This is an exciting milestone for Gorton and the next element of the investment plan, alongside the Gorton Hub, that is helping to create a real destination in this district centre.
“The new public space will host community events, support local businesses including Gorton Market, and create a new heart for the neighbourhood and community – ultimately supporting a strong local economy.
“New housing – including significant affordable housing – is also a key part of the regeneration plan for Gorton using Council-owned land close to the new town square, building the homes that the people of east Manchester need to thrive.”
Ian Williams, Managing Director at Warden Construction, added:
“Warden Construction is incredibly proud to have played a key role in bringing this vibrant new public square to life for the people of Gorton. Seeing this underused space transformed into a welcoming heart for the community, one that complements the existing market and offers opportunities for connection and enjoyment for all ages, is truly rewarding. We believe this thoughtfully designed square will be a cornerstone of Gorton’s ongoing regeneration, and we look forward to seeing it thrive.”
ATLANTA (April 22, 2025)—Yesterday, Governor Brian P. Kemp signed Senate Bills 68 and 69 into law, marking a major step forward in Georgia’s ongoing effort to strengthen its civil justice system and protect consumers from abusive litigation practices. Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy (R–Macon) carried the bills in the Senate on behalf of Governor Kemp, who named tort reform his top legislative priority for the 2025 session.
SB 68 enacts comprehensive tort reform, including changes to negligent security liability, apportionment of fault, and damages in civil cases, to curb “nuclear verdicts” and reduce the burden of frivolous lawsuits on small businesses. Complementing this effort, SB 69, the Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act, targets the growing influence of Third-Party Litigation Financing (TPLF) by requiring these entities to register with the state, banning foreign-affiliated financiers from operating in Georgia, and increasing public transparency through open access to registration records.
“For Dalton and Whitfield County, where manufacturing is not just an industry but a way of life, these reforms mean stability, opportunity and continued investment in our community,” said Sen. Chuck Payne (R–Dalton). “Together, Senate Bills 68 and 69 reinforce Georgia’s standing as the No. 1 state for business by creating a predictable, transparent legal environment that supports job growth. I am proud to have cosponsored these pieces of legislation, and I am thankful for the support of Governor Kemp, Lt. Governor Burt Jones and Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy in getting these measures across the finish line.”
For more information about Senate Bill 68, click here. For more information about Senate Bill 69, click here.
# # # #
Sen. Chuck Payne serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security. He represents the 54th Senate District, which includes Whitfield and Murray County as well as part of Gordon County. He may be reached at 404.463.5402 or by email atChuck.Payne@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out toSenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
Samantha Jones has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care
Samantha Jones
The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Samantha Jones as the new Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Samantha is currently a non-executive director at DHSC, and the Chief Operating Officer for Xlinks, a renewable energy company.
Samantha began her career as a nurse in the NHS, and was a hospital Chief Executive before moving to NHS England to lead the New Models of Care programme. She has also led one of the largest primary care providers in England. Since her time in the NHS, Samantha served as an expert advisor to the PM on NHS Transformation and Social Care in 2021, before taking up post as the interim Permanent Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for 10 Downing Street.
Samantha will join DHSC at a critical time, as the government rebuilds the NHS as part of the Plan for Change. Samantha will be building a team to deliver this vital transformation which will include appointing a Chief Operating Officer.
Samantha will replace Chris Wormald, who left DHSC in December last year, to take up the role of Cabinet Secretary.
The Health and Social Care Secretary, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, said:
I am delighted to welcome Samantha in her new role as Permanent Secretary.
Samantha brings a wealth of experience from the frontline of healthcare as a general and paediatric nurse – she knows what it is like to be working on wards and will translate that expertise to her work across the department.
Equally, her work in senior management roles across both Whitehall and the health and social care sector will prove invaluable as we reintegrate NHS England back into the department to cut red tape, reduce duplication and make it fit for the future as part of our Plan for Change.
Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, said:
I am delighted to see Sam take up the role of Permanent Secretary at DHSC, having worked with her closely during my time there. Samantha is an outstanding public servant, who has spent much of her career working to improve and enrich the lives of people across the country.
This is a critical time for DHSC, as they look to welcome their NHS England colleagues back into the department, and work to deliver the government missions and Plan for Change. Samantha is uniquely positioned to drive forward this work, and I look forward to working with her.
I also want to put on record my thanks to Professor Chris Whitty for his leadership of the Department since my departure.
Samantha Jones said:
It is an absolute privilege to be appointed Permanent Secretary at DHSC, working with colleagues across health and social care to support the government’s Plan for Change and deliver a rebuilt NHS, fit for the future.
Having worked alongside the brilliant team at DHSC over the past few years, serving on their board, I look forward to leading a department of committed public servants to improve the health of our nation.
Farewell to British High Commissioner Charles Moore: Tour of duty in Namibia ends
The British High Commissioner, Mr Charles Moore, bid a final farewell to Namibia in April after four years and three months in the country.
On 9 April 2025, outgoing British High Commissioner to Namibia, Mr. Charles Moore, paid a farewell courtesy call on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House in Windhoek.
His diplomatic term has ended after an eventful four years and three months. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed appreciation for Mr. Moore’s service, acknowledging that the recorded increase in trade between the two countries will go a long way in reducing the unemployment rate in Namibia.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah also noted that she is looking forward to welcoming Mr. Moore’s successor, Mr. Neil Bradley, when his tenure begins. She remains hopeful for a continued positive trajectory in the bilateral relationship between Namibia and the United Kingdom.
On his end, H.E. Charles Moore stated that working in Namibia has been a privilege and a career highlight. He affirmed that even though his tour of duty has come to an end, he will continue to take a close interest in Namibia’s development and is excitedly looking forward to returning as a tourist in the future.
Full implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement is essential for lasting peace in Colombia: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Colombia.
The UK is clear that full implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement is essential for lasting peace in Colombia. Last year, following President Petro’s intervention in the Council in July, we welcomed the government’s announcement of a Rapid Response Plan, which committed to accelerate implementation and deliver real change in the territories most affected by the conflict.
Communities in these areas expect the government to deliver on their urgent needs. We welcome Foreign Minister Sarabia’s commitment to accelerate the delivery of the agreement. This will require a whole of government effort with close coordination with regional and local authorities and of course, Colombia’s security forces, so that the impact is felt by those communities.
We remain concerned by the security situation in those territories, particularly for women, children and indigenous groups. The violence in Catatumbo is a clear example. We call on the government to strengthen protection measures and safeguard communities. We welcome the launch of the Pact for Catatumbo, and we urge the government to prioritise the security of all vulnerable Colombians through mechanisms already established.
This includes convening the Commission for the Follow-up, Promotion, and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Agreement (CSIVI) and delivery of the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan published last year. With 23 peace signatories killed this year alone, and hundreds displaced, the safety, security and reintegration of all signatories to the agreement remains paramount.
President, justice for victims remains at the heart of the 2016 Agreement, with its carefully designed system of complementary institutions focused on truth, justice and reconciliation. We call on the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) to accelerate its work to ensure the confidence of victims and signatories.
To assuage growing doubts about the SJP and its efficacy, now is the time to move forward to the issuing of sanctions and to hold to account those responsible for the most serious human rights violations. The government has an essential role to play in coordinating with the SJP on the implementation of reparative measures.
Beyond the 2016 Agreement, we recognise the Colombian Government’s efforts to extend the dialogue to other armed groups. Unfortunately, as the Secretary-General’s report notes, these dialogues have not delivered the desired results.
The UK, and this Council, have consistently called upon those groups to demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace, above all by respecting the rights of the communities whose interests they claim to pursue.
Those communities continue, however, to be affected by serious violence, gross human rights abuses, and coercive and predatory behaviour at the hands of armed groups. If there is to be any hope of sustainable progress through dialogue, the groups involved need to show that they are serious about a political process.
President, to conclude, the United Kingdom remains steadfast in our support for sustainable peace in Colombia.
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Victoria Vinogradova, Evgeny Enokaev, Maxim Nechiporenko, Nikolay Samopal, Valery Uskov and Alexander Grimitlin
The VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “Information Modeling in Construction and Architecture Problems” (BIMAC-2025) has begun its work at SPbGASU. The large-scale event was organized as part of the implementation of the Innovative Educational Project “Innovative Methodology for Forming Digital Professional Competencies of Students and Specialists in the Construction Industry”.
As noted by Denis Nizhegorodtsev, Deputy Director of the Educational Center for Digital Competencies at SPbGASU, the conference will include eight scientific and practical sections, round tables, master classes, and an exhibition area where partners will present their developments. Over the course of four days, representatives of industry companies and educational institutions will discuss current issues related to information modeling technologies in construction and architecture, estimates, the use of artificial intelligence in the construction industry, training of engineering personnel for the digitalization of construction, visual programming, and software development. In addition, they will hear reports from young scientists. Opening the conference, Konstantin Mikhailik, Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Russia, in particular, emphasized that the task of the industry is to improve its efficiency by increasing labor productivity and reducing costs using digital technologies.
“The BIMAC conference allows us to gather the scientific community, government bodies and representatives of specialized companies on one platform, who can openly discuss in order to subsequently develop an effective set of solutions for the development of the industry. The sooner we jointly define the necessary plane for the latest developments, the more high-quality solutions we will receive. Integration of information modeling into construction processes, design and estimate documentation are important tasks that are also submitted for wide discussion at the conference. The quality and timing of construction, and the import substitution process in general, depend on their high-quality implementation and execution,” noted Konstantin Mikhailik.
Deputy Chairman of the St. Petersburg Construction Committee Valery Uskov emphasized that the construction industry is actively implementing information modeling technologies: the city administration is implementing projects using such technologies. Thus, in 2024, 118 projects were implemented, 20 of which were completed using information modeling technologies. This year, 124 projects are planned, and at the moment, nine of them are already being implemented using these technologies.
“The relevance of this conference is primarily due to the development of information technologies that are being actively implemented in the construction industry. I have identified three important areas in the work of the conference. The first concerns the implementation of information modeling technology, the integration of sensors in construction projects that allow analyzing the condition of an object, which, in turn, has a positive effect on the operation of the object and leads to a decrease in the costs of its maintenance. The second important area is related to security. Considering that cloud storage and servers are used today, we need to closely monitor this area and actively develop methods for increasing their safety in order to prevent failures. The third area, as a civil servant, I highlight is the improvement of the regulatory framework and its implementation. I am sure that all conference participants will gain good experience, make new contacts, and meet leading specialists in this industry. The industry needs personnel, and this kind of event is one of the steps in solving this issue,” Valery Uskov emphasized.
The President of the Association “AVOK SEVERO-ZAPAD” Alexander Grimitlin specified that the conference is dedicated to such an important issue as digitalization of the construction industry. Because it is a necessity, without which the movement will simply slow down.
“I consider the digitalization of the industry in two directions. Firstly, it is the solution of complex engineering problems of information modeling, which allow us to use a huge number of factors. We will not be able to take them into account in other ways. A lot of work is being done in this direction at the university. The second line is standard design. We need to do it in such a way as to exclude errors in construction processes,” noted Alexander Grimitlin.
First Deputy Chairman of the Leningrad Region Construction Committee Evgeny Enokaev emphasized that information modeling technologies are developing very quickly, and now the construction management system as a whole is changing, so, of course, it is necessary to be aware of the latest developments and emerging experience.
“The conference is an effective platform for exchanging experience, an opportunity for software manufacturers to demonstrate their latest developments, and for builders to adopt them and talk about their application based on their own practice. This is especially important: after the departure of foreign vendors, a serious niche has formed, and we need to give Russian software developers the opportunity to fill it. I think that this will be possible to do, and in the near future. In addition, partnership with universities allows us to train and attract personnel to the industry,” believes Evgeny Enokaev.
Advisor to the Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of Russia, Deputy CEO of Renga Software Maxim Nechiporenko believes that now there is no need to discuss how promising information modeling is – this should have been done earlier. At the moment, it is important to discuss how to interact.
“The only relevant standard of work in the design and construction industry is working with digital information models. They are the only reliable source of information. This is not a panacea and not a solution to all problems in construction, but you can reduce their number by providing reliable information. One thing remains unchanged – the need and focus of the construction industry on working with reliable information. This contributes to increased transparency in the construction industry,” emphasized Maksym Nechyporenko.
Deputy General Director for Development of ZAO “WIZARDSOFT” Nikolay Samopal recalled that the company “Wizardsoft” has been cooperating with SPbGASU for many years: they started as software suppliers, and over time, the cooperation expanded. The company takes part in various events, and this year it became the general partner of the conference.
“Close cooperation between a software developer and an educational institution allows not only to improve digital tools, but also to train specialists who are proficient in modern tools. We provide an opportunity to hone their skills and bring to the market employees who are ready to use modern tools,” concluded Nikolai Samopal.
Vice-Rector for Continuing Education at SPbGASU Victoria Vinogradova emphasized that the university always keeps up with the times. Today, the construction industry is undergoing a profound transformation under the influence of digital technologies, in which the university is also participating. “Information modeling, process automation, interdisciplinarity have become part of modern design, and not just a prospect. For eight years now, our conference has served as an open platform where government agencies, scientific and educational organizations, and professional communities can exchange best practices. We are working to improve work processes, educational programs, and software functionality,” Victoria Vinogradova said.
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Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Library No. 215 invites you to a concert of military-patriotic songs “I love you, Russia”. The event will also feature poems by war poets and a discussion of how art can raise the morale of soldiers. The concert will be accompanied by excerpts from wartime films and films about our country.
The event will be held as part of “Biblio Twilight” – the children’s program of the “Biblio Night” campaign.
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How does the Prosecutor General’s Office plan to strengthen control over migrants?
The Russian Prosecutor’s Office supports the proposal to strengthen supervision of migrants’ financial transactions. The agency noted that foreigners often participate in fraudulent schemes and become mules (sometimes unknowingly). Registration bank cards in the name of migrants in the country is put on stream – non-residents are brought to the offices credit institutions “by buses”.
The Prosecutor General’s Office believes it would be appropriate to organize information exchange between financial institutions and migration control agencies – supervision will help to understand where foreigners transfer money, as well as identify suspicious transactions. The measure is intended to reduce the number of violations in the economic security segment.
What other measures of control over migrants may appear in Russia?
Migration legislation in Russia is gradually becoming more stringent, but so far the laws being adopted have not produced the desired results. Dmitry Medvedev announced the need for new restrictions, calling for:
prohibit foreigners with a criminal record from obtaining a residence permit or Russian citizenship; establish an exchange of data between agencies on the criminal records of migrants arriving in the country; eliminate abuses in conducting examinations for foreign citizens; strengthen control over institutions that conduct examinations, including by recording the procedures on video.
“Migrants in Russia who have certificates of passing exams often do not even understand Russian – when receiving documents, mass violations are recorded,” the politician noted.
Tightening of legislation may lead to an outflow of up to 1 million migrants from the Russian Federation. However, analysts are confident that “specialists” from the CIS countries may be replaced by citizens of the DPRK – it will be easier for Koreans to integrate into Russian society without causing discontent among the native inhabitants of Russia.
15:00 04/22/2025
Source:
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Canada’s major political parties have been pledging support for the manufacturingsector ahead of next week’s election, but Canada’s working class is much broader than just manufacturing.
Canadians are on edge because as many as 600,000 jobs are at stake due to tariffs levied by United States President Donald Trump.
But the focus on manufacturing obscures what truly ails the working class in an advanced economy like Canada’s. Manufacturing’s share of employment hovers at around 8.9 per cent, while nearly 80 per cent of Canadians work in the service sector.
A recent report from the non-partisan Cardus think tank notes that Canada’s working class today is “likely to be a female, recently immigrated worker in the services-producing sector. The new working class, in other words, is now more personified by a Walmart cashier or an Amazon delivery driver than a General Motors factory worker or a Domtar mill hand.”
It’s easy to understand. Manufacturing has been essential to industrialization, from the British Empire to China’s unprecedented growth in recent years.
The late British-Hungarian economist Nicholas Kaldor argued that manufacturing is the engine of growth due to increasing returns to scale, strong links to other sectors and its role in technological development.
Labour-intensive sectors like clothing cannot compete with Bangladeshi wages, but discussions about manufacturing jobs in Canada and other advanced economies too often focus on wage competition instead of job losses through automation and increasing productivity.
There were losers when the globalization era began, but countries like Canada and the U.S. are wealthier today than they were in 1994, when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed. As American economist Jeffrey Sachs has pointed out, governments have failed to redistribute the wealth created by gains from trade to those at the bottom of the income scale.
With Canada on track to experience a surge of its elderly population, long-term care also needs to be a focus. Personal support workers must earn a living wage and must have better working conditions. Canada’s aging population is also why decreased immigration is a bad idea.
These policies are generally not implemented in liberal market economies like Canada and the U.S.
But in countries like Sweden with active labour market policies in place, 80 per cent of the population has a favourable opinion of robots and AI compared to two-thirds of Americans who are concerned about technological job loss. The state’s ability — or lack of it — to provide social protections and job re-training has real impacts on how people perceive technological change.
Canada also needs to recognize foreign credentials. Its reluctance to do so has had a negative impact on the economic prospects of immigrants. Canada should also consider making higher education free.
Apart from the public sector, Canadian unions have not fared well organizing in service industries. Unions need to make a serious effort to organize in retail, food service, the gig economy and logistics, despite the challenges. Canadian unions may find that they have little choice but to do so, as their presence in the private sector continues to decline.
The most significant barrier of these four policy proposals is that most require an increased redistribution of wealth. Canada over the past several decades has retreated from wealth redistribution and as a result, economic inequality has surged.
These policies are not easy to achieve, but there are few other options for Canada if it wants to be carbon-free, open to the world and more equal. Canada’s economic nostalgia for manufacturing is ultimately strange given it’s also a common talking point of Trump, a politician who’s wildly unpopular in Canada.
Gerard Di Trolio 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.
Home » Latest News » Work starts on Hampton play area revamp
Work has started today (Tuesday 22 April) on an exciting upgrade of the Hampton play area in Herne Bay.
Some existing items – the play ship, hexagonal swings and a rotating rocker – will be retained, with several new pieces of play equipment added in a revamp representing an investment of £123,000.
The basketball area will also be relined.
The project will take around four weeks to complete, weather permitting, and the site will be closed while work takes place.
All being well, it will reopen in time for half term at the end of May.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:
“Our bipartisan Congressional delegation has departed for a trip to visit important allies and partners throughout Europe and the Middle East. While in the United Kingdom, we will meet with high level government and private sector leaders, reinforcing the close economic and security partnership that exists between our two countries during a time of global uncertainty. Our delegation will also travel to Denmark, where we look forward to discussing the continued importance of the NATO alliance and the geopolitical status of Greenland.
During our time in the Middle East, we will visit with senior officials in Israel and Jordan to discuss the challenges that exist with Iran and its proxies, as well as the opportunity to secure a durable ceasefire in Gaza that brings home the hostages, surges humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in harm’s way and sets the stage for a just and lasting peace in the region. While in Israel, we will also participate in a Yom HaShoah observance.
It is an honor to lead this delegation, and we look forward to an enlightening and productive trip.”
The Members of the delegation are:
Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), Democratic Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO-02), Member, Committee on Financial Services; Member, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY-05), Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee; Member, Committee on Financial Services
Rep. Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), Vice-Chairman, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; Member, Natural Resources Committee; Member, Foreign Affairs Committee
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Member, Committee on Appropriations; Member, Foreign Affairs Committee
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Member, Committee on Armed Services; Member, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), Member, Committee on Science, Space and Technology; Member, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Community sport and activity providers in Plymouth will gather for a conference later this week to find out more about the support and opportunities available to them.
The conference, organised by the Council and Active Devon, will bring grassroots clubs and organisations together with regional and national sports bodies to share knowledge on key issues such as sustainability, funding and partnership working.
It is being held at the new Hub at Foulston Park on the evening of Thursday 24 April and will focus on the themes of participation, places and pride. There will be presentations, seminars and workshops led by the Council, Active Devon and Plymouth Marjon University, as well as Argyle Community Trust, YMCA Plymouth and Sport England.
They will cover topics including:
co-designing facilities with the community
supporting community activities through health, education and events
supporting grassroots clubs
upcoming Sport England investment in Plymouth
identifying and applying for local funding support
improving sustainability and governance
safeguarding, welfare and supporting diverse groups
rehab and pre-hab opportunities for club athletes
recognising and celebrating the social value of sport.
Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member with responsibility for sport and leisure, will open the conference. She said: “As part of the city’s Active to Thrive plan, we have a shared vision for Plymouth to be the most physically active coastal city in England by 2034.
“To do this we need quality clubs, top class facilities, active schools and accessible community opportunities for sport and physical activity. This can only be achieved through collaboration between local clubs and other providers.
“The conference will be a chance for those providers to come together, share their knowledge and experiences and look at ways to build on existing strengths, as well as tackle challenges. It will also be an opportunity to connect directly with organisations that can help them develop and thrive.”
The community sport conference will start at 5.30pm and finish at 8.30pm. A limited number of tickets are still available. To view the agenda and book your place visit the Eventbrite website.
The Right Honourable Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, expresses condolences on behalf of the city.
He said:
It is with deep sadness that the City of Edinburgh extends its heartfelt condolences to all those in the Catholic Church, both here at home and across the world, on the passing of Pope Francis. He was a powerful voice for compassion, equality, and our shared humanity. I know many of our residents will come together in mourning and reflection during this time of great loss.
Alongside Council Leader Jane Meagher, I have written to the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh to offer our sympathies.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government Non-Ministerial Departments
News story
Appointments made to the Forestry Commission Board
Kate Cheetham has been appointed to the board and Jennie Price and Peter Latham are reappointed
A series of appointments and reappointments have been made to the Forestry Commission Board.
By Royal Warrant, His Majesty King Charles III has appointed Kate Cheetham as a Non-Executive Commissioner. Her appointment began on 1 April 2025 and will run for three years until 31 March 2028.
Jennie Price has been reappointed for a third term of two years as Non-Executive Commissioner. This will run from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2027.
Peter Latham will continue as a Non-Executive Commissioner for an additional six months from 1 April 2025 until 30 September 2025.
All appointments have been made on merit and in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments.
Biographies
Kate Cheetham
Kate is the Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary of Lloyds Banking Group (LBG), where she advises the Board and executive team on legal and governance matters and leads the Group’s Legal and Secretariat function. She joined LBG in 2005, having previously worked as a corporate lawyer at Linklaters and run a commercial art gallery in London. Kate is passionate about inclusion and diversity, and has been a champion for social mobility and women’s leadership within the Group. She also served as a trustee of the Lloyds Bank Foundation for seven years, supporting grassroots charities across the UK.
Jennie Price
Jennie Price was the CEO of Sport England. Jennie is a qualified lawyer and has previously been the CEO of WRAP, a Defra-supported environmental organisation specialising in recycling and resources management. She retains an active interest in sport and is Chair of the international supervisory board on integrity in tennis. She is also a trustee of the Canal and River Trust and until very recently was Chair of Trustees of the Scouts in the UK. Jennie brings considerable expertise in engaging wide sectors of the community in outdoor activities and has an excellent understanding of the links to health and wellbeing.
Peter Latham
Peter Latham is a director of Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT or the International Tropical Timber Technical Association) and a trustee of the Commonwealth Forestry Association. He was previously CEO and chair of the timber distributor James Latham Plc., and chair of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification International. Peter brings extensive knowledge of the timber industry and experience of successful stakeholder engagement on an international level.
Notes for Editors
The Forestry Commission increases the value of woodlands to society and the environment.
It is a non-ministerial department, supported by Forest Research and Forestry England.
Non-Executive Commissioners play a pivotal role in establishing a strong, sustainable future for the organisation.
It’s the global campaign everyone is talking about. Fresh from its successes in 2022 and 2024, #ForOurPlanet is back for a third season starting on April 22 with a brand new focus on circular economy: beyond recycling.
Running through to European Green Week 3-4 June, the campaign calls on ‘all interested organisations’ — including UN agencies, embassies, ministries, non-profits and companies — to take action for our planet.
The organisers of the 2025 #ForOurPlanet campaign promise taking action has never been easier. From cooking with leftovers to composting coffee grounds, from pop-up libraries to local repair cafes, there are dozens of ways that families, communities and businesses can get involved.
For inspiration, look no further than LIFE Turn to e-circular, a 5-year €2.2 million project which closed last year. With its slogan ‘I’m still useful’ LIFE Turn to e-circular set itself a big challenge: to persuade consumers — especially families and young people — to cut down on the mountains of WEEE (waste electric and electronic equipment) dumped in the EU each year.
Among other initiatives, the project set up 60 ‘reuse corners’ across Slovenia where people could take small electrical items for repair by experts. The team also toured the country in a mobile repair van giving new life to worn-out appliances, and set up a Facebook group to exchange opinions and share tips and guidelines for servicing.
‘Computers, mobile phones, consumer electronics and small white goods were the most popular items for repair, but most of the items brought in were less than 5 years old.’ says Emil Šehić, Director of ZEOS, the Slovenian non-profit which ran the project. ‘A circular economy must go beyond simple reuse. We have to ask ourselves about why we buy things, about servicing and sharing. Products must be made to be useful for as long as possible.’
Also featuring in this year’s #ForOurPlanet campaign is C-MARTLife, a 7-year LIFE project to reduce, recycle and reuse plastic waste in the Flanders region of Belgium. Already the team have cut marine plastic litter by 75% and expect to see completely litter-free beaches by 2027. ‘Today’s waste products are tomorrow’s raw materials,’ says project coordinator Els Herremans. ‘We’re training circular ambassadors to spread the word — education and awareness among leaders and communities drives change!’
#ForOurPlanet launches today, on Earth Day, April 22. For updates on activities in your area or ideas about how to get involved, visit the campaign website or email EU-FOR-OUR-PLANETec [dot] europa [dot] eu(EU-FOR-OUR-PLANET[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).
TERRE HAUTE, Ind., April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:THFF) today announced results for the first quarter of 2025.
Net income was $18.4 million compared to $10.9 million reported for the same period of 2024;
Diluted net income per common share of $1.55 compared to $0.93 for the same period of 2024;
Return on average assets was 1.34% compared to 0.91% for the three months ended March 31, 2024;
Credit loss provision was $2.0 million compared to provision of $1.8 million for the first quarter 2024; and
Pre-tax, pre-provision net income was $25.7 million compared to $14.9 million for the same period in 2024.1
________________________ 1Non-GAAP financial measure that Management believes is useful for investors and management to understand pre-tax profitability before giving effect to credit loss expense and to provide additional perspective on the Corporation’s performance over time as well as comparison to the Corporation’s peers and evaluating the financial results of the Corporation –please refer to the Non GAAP reconciliations contained in this release.
Average Total Loans
Average total loans for the first quarter of 2025 were $3.84 billion versus $3.18 billion for the comparable period in 2024, an increase of $662 million or 20.80%. On a linked quarter basis, average loans increased $51 million or 1.35% from $3.79 billion as of December 31, 2024. Increases in average loans year-over-year were a combination of the acquisition of SimplyBank on July 1, 2024, and organic growth.
Total Loans Outstanding
Total loans outstanding as of March 31, 2025, were $3.85 billion compared to $3.19 billion as of March 31, 2024, an increase of $662 million or 20.74%. On a linked quarter basis, total loans increased $16.9 million or 0.44% from $3.84 billion as of December 31, 2024. The year-over-year increase was impacted by the $467 million in loans acquired in the SimplyBank acquisition in July 2024. Organic growth was primarily driven by increases in Commercial Construction and Development, Commercial Real Estate, and Consumer Auto loans.
Norman D. Lowery, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented “We have had six consecutive quarters of loan growth and have had another record quarter of net interest income. Our net interest margin has also continued to expand. We believe we are well positioned with our strong balance sheet, stable credit quality, and strong capital levels for continued growth.”
Average Total Deposits
Average total deposits for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, were $4.65 billion versus $4.05 billion as of March 31, 2024, an increase of $605 million, or 14.95%. Increases in average deposits year-over-year were mostly a result of the acquisition of SimplyBank.
Total Deposits
Total deposits were $4.64 billion as of March 31, 2025, compared to $4.11 billion as of March 31, 2024. $622 million in deposits were acquired in the SimplyBank acquisition in July 2024. Non-interest bearing deposits were $856 million, and time deposits were $726 million as of March 31, 2025, compared to $738 million and $581 million, respectively for the same period of 2024.
Shareholders’ Equity
Shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2025, was $571.9 million compared to $520.8 million on March 31, 2024. During the last twelve months, the Corporation has not repurchased any shares of its common stock. 518,860 shares remain available for repurchase under the current repurchase authorization. The Corporation paid a $0.51 per share quarterly dividend in January and declared a $0.51 quarterly dividend, which was paid on April 15, 2025.
Book Value Per Share
Book Value per share was $48.26 as of March 31, 2025, compared to $44.08 as of March 31, 2024, an increase of $4.18 per share, or 9.49%. Tangible Book Value per share was $38.13 as of March 31, 2025, compared to $36.26 as of March 31, 2024, an increase of $1.87 per share or 5.16%.
Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Asset Ratio
The Corporation’s tangible common equity to tangible asset ratio was 8.32% at March 31, 2025, compared to 9.00% at March 31, 2024.
Net Interest Income
Net interest income for the first quarter of 2025 was a record $52.0 million, compared to $38.9 million reported for the same period of 2024, an increase of $13.1 million, or 33.5%. Interest income increased $13.6 million and interest expense increased $574 thousand year over year.
Net Interest Margin
The net interest margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, was 4.11% compared to the 3.53% reported at March 31, 2024.
Nonperforming Loans
Nonperforming loans as of March 31, 2025, were $10.2 million versus $24.3 million as of March 31, 2024. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans and leases was 0.26% as of March 31, 2025, versus 0.76% as of March 31, 2024. On a linked quarter basis, nonperforming loans were $13.3 million, and the ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans and leases was 0.35% as of December 31, 2024.
Credit Loss Provision
The provision for credit losses for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $2.0 million, compared to $1.8 million for the same period 2024.
Net Charge-Offs
In the first quarter of 2025 net charge-offs were $1.8 million compared to $1.5 million in the same period of 2024.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Corporation’s allowance for credit losses as of March 31, 2025, was $46.8 million compared to $40.0 million as of March 31, 2024. The allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans was 1.22% as of March 31, 2025, compared to 1.25% as of March 31, 2024. On a linked quarter basis, the allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans was unchanged from December 31, 2024.
Non-Interest Income
Non-interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $10.5 million and $9.4 million, respectively.
Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $36.8 million compared to $33.4 million in 2023.
Efficiency Ratio
The Corporation’s efficiency ratio was 57.54% for the quarter ending March 31, 2025, versus 67.21% for the same period in 2024.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $5.4 million versus $2.2 million for the same period in 2024. The effective tax rate for 2025 was 22.59% compared to 16.79% for 2024.
About First Financial Corporation
First Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:THFF) is the holding company for First Financial Bank N.A., which is the fifth oldest national bank in the United States, operating 83 banking centers in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. Additional information is available at www.first-online.bank.
________________________ (a) Tangible common equity is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate tangible common equity by excluding goodwill and other intangible assets from shareholder’s equity. (b) Net interest income fully tax equivalent is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate net interest income fully tax equivalent by adding back the tax equivalent factor of tax exempt income to net interest income. We calculate the tax equivalent factor of tax exempt income by dividing tax exempt income by the net of tax rate of 75%. (c) Tangible book value per common share is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP-based amounts. We calculate the factor by dividing average tangible common equity by average shares outstanding. We calculate average tangible common equity by excluding average intangible assets from average shareholder’s equity.
Key Ratios
Three Months Ended
March 31,
December 31,
March 31,
2025
2024
2024
Return on average assets
1.34
%
1.18
%
0.91
%
Return on average common shareholder’s equity
13.04
%
11.68
%
8.36
%
Efficiency ratio
57.54
%
62.98
%
67.21
%
Average equity to average assets
10.25
%
10.09
%
10.88
%
Net interest margin (a)
4.11
%
3.94
%
3.53
%
Net charge-offs to average loans and leases
0.19
%
0.15
%
0.19
%
Credit loss reserve to loans and leases
1.22
%
1.22
%
1.25
%
Credit loss reserve to nonperforming loans
460.57
%
351.37
%
165.12
%
Nonperforming loans to loans and leases
0.26
%
0.35
%
0.76
%
Tier 1 leverage
10.63
%
10.38
%
12.02
%
Risk-based capital – Tier 1
12.70
%
12.43
%
14.69
%
________________________ (a) Net interest margin is calculated on a tax equivalent basis.
Asset Quality
Three Months Ended
March 31,
December 31,
March 31,
2025
2024
2024
Accruing loans and leases past due 30-89 days
$
17,007
$
22,486
$
17,937
Accruing loans and leases past due 90 days or more
$
1,109
$
1,821
$
1,395
Nonaccrual loans and leases
$
9,060
$
11,479
$
22,857
Other real estate owned
$
560
$
523
$
167
Nonperforming loans and other real estate owned
$
10,729
$
13,823
$
24,419
Total nonperforming assets
$
13,631
$
16,719
$
27,307
Gross charge-offs
$
3,241
$
3,070
$
3,192
Recoveries
$
1,394
$
1,633
$
1,670
Net charge-offs/(recoveries)
$
1,847
$
1,437
$
1,522
Non-GAAP Reconciliations
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
($in thousands, except EPS)
Income before Income Taxes
$
23,777
$
13,129
Provision for credit losses
1,950
1,800
Provision for unfunded commitments
—
—
Pre-tax, Pre-provision Income
$
25,727
$
14,929
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
March 31,
December 31,
2025
2024
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks
$
86,211
$
93,526
Federal funds sold
427
820
Securities available-for-sale
1,182,495
1,195,990
Loans:
Commercial
2,208,426
2,196,351
Residential
966,521
967,386
Consumer
673,751
668,058
3,848,698
3,831,795
(Less) plus:
Net deferred loan costs
5,322
5,346
Allowance for credit losses
(46,835
)
(46,732
)
3,807,185
3,790,409
Restricted stock
17,528
17,555
Accrued interest receivable
25,556
26,934
Premises and equipment, net
80,317
81,508
Bank-owned life insurance
129,410
128,766
Goodwill
100,026
100,026
Other intangible assets
20,045
21,545
Other real estate owned
560
523
Other assets
99,334
102,746
TOTAL ASSETS
$
5,549,094
$
5,560,348
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deposits:
Non-interest-bearing
$
856,063
$
859,014
Interest-bearing:
Certificates of deposit exceeding the FDIC insurance limits
145,609
144,982
Other interest-bearing deposits
3,638,331
3,714,918
4,640,003
4,718,914
Short-term borrowings
137,609
187,057
FHLB advances
124,898
28,120
Other liabilities
74,639
77,216
TOTAL LIABILITIES
4,977,149
5,011,307
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock, $.125 stated value per share;
Authorized shares-40,000,000
Issued shares-16,190,157 in 2025 and 16,165,023 in 2024
Outstanding shares-11,850,645 in 2025 and 11,842,539 in 2024
2,019
2,018
Additional paid-in capital
146,159
145,927
Retained earnings
699,729
687,366
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
(121,182
)
(132,285
)
Less: Treasury shares at cost-4,339,512 in 2025 and 4,322,484 in 2024
(154,780
)
(153,985
)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
571,945
549,041
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
5,549,094
$
5,560,348
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2025
2024
INTEREST INCOME:
Loans, including related fees
$
63,612
$
50,052
Securities:
Taxable
6,002
5,931
Tax-exempt
2,604
2,603
Other
814
817
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME
73,032
59,403
INTEREST EXPENSE:
Deposits
18,199
17,731
Short-term borrowings
1,693
976
Other borrowings
1,165
1,776
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE
21,057
20,483
NET INTEREST INCOME
51,975
38,920
Provision for credit losses
1,950
1,800
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION
FOR LOAN LOSSES
50,025
37,120
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
Trust and financial services
1,393
1,333
Service charges and fees on deposit accounts
7,585
6,708
Other service charges and fees
316
223
Interchange income
214
179
Loan servicing fees
165
269
Gain on sales of mortgage loans
225
176
Other
613
543
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME
10,511
9,431
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:
Salaries and employee benefits
19,248
17,330
Occupancy expense
2,676
2,359
Equipment expense
4,505
4,144
FDIC Expense
750
662
Other
9,580
8,927
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
36,759
33,422
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
23,777
13,129
Provision for income taxes
5,371
2,205
NET INCOME
18,406
10,924
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Change in unrealized gains/(losses) on securities, net of reclassifications and taxes
11,100
(11,096
)
Change in funded status of post retirement benefits, net of taxes
3
73
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
$
29,509
$
(99
)
PER SHARE DATA
Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share
$
1.55
$
0.93
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in thousands)
Overlooking Peel Bay on the Isle of Man. Clint Hudson
The production and use of toxic synthetic chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were banned internationally more than 40 years ago. There is a great deal of evidence that they are carcinogens and hormone disrupters in mammals and can cause birth defects.
PCBs can build up in the tissues in increasing amounts over time (bioaccumulate) in long-lived animals and people exposed to them. They also biomagnify in the environment meaning they build up in food chains – smaller animals take them into their tissues, those are then eaten by larger animals (such as fish), which themselves are eaten by humans and marine mammals such as dolphins and seals living in Britain’s waters.
Despite these risks, the Isle of Man government – by its own admission – has been dumping toxic silt containing PCBs into the waters of Peel Bay and unlined landfills over the past decade. This is despite the fact these waters have been declared a Unesco biosphere.
Here, Patrick Byrne, Professor of Water Science at Liverpool John Moores University, questions freshwater scientist Calum MacNeil about why he thinks it is so important that the world, and particularly Unesco, takes notice about what’s being dumped into the sea around the Isle of Man.
When did you live on the Isle of Man and what was your exact role?
I lived on the Isle of Man for nearly 15 years (2004 – 2019) and left at the end of 2019.
From 2004 – 2007, I was the Isle of Man government’s freshwater biologist. From 2007 – 2017, I was the freshwater biologist and enforcement officer, responsible for regulation and enforcement of environmental matters related to controlled waters (all inland waters and coastal waters).
Where is the Isle of Man and what is the Unesco status it has earned?
The Isle of Man is a small island in the middle of the Irish Sea, located almost an equal distance from England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It is British but not part of the UK: it is a self-governing dependency of the British Crown with its own government and laws. It is not part of the EU but is signed up to various international agreements on the environment.
Unesco is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. It began the biosphere programme in 1991, concentrating on the care of land, sea and species, as well as culture, heritage, community and economy.
According to the island government’s own fact sheet, biospheres have three functions: promoting sustainable development, conservation and learning. The sea makes up 87% of the Isle of Man Unesco biosphere.
Despite earning this status, evidence in the public domain shows that pollutants have been dumped into the sea. What’s been going on?
The Isle of Man government has been accused of deliberately dumping 4,000 tonnes of toxic silt from harbour dredging, which included synthetic industrial chemicals known as PCBs and heavy metals, in the Irish sea in 2014.
Despite extensive evidence in the public domain, this dumping was not mentioned once in the biosphere nomination documents, dated 2015. The nation’s biosphere website says the nomination process was “several years” in the making and the Unesco biosphere designation occurred in 2016 – only a relatively short time after the deliberate dumping in the Irish Sea.
The government has also allegedly discharged toxic PCB-contaminated effluent – known as called leachate – from an old landfill, called the Raggatt, directly into Peel Bay, an area which has one of the most popular public beaches on the island. Peel is one of three beaches (technically designated as non-bathing areas) on the island that recently failed to meet minimum standards for bathing waters.
I wasn’t aware of the details of the sea dumping of toxic silt until June 2022 when the employment tribunal findings related to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture’s (Defa) ex-marine monitoring officer Kevin Kenningtonbecame public. This tribunal heard evidence that this was going on before, during and after the Unesco biosphere designation.
The Isle of Man is a signatory to the Oslo-Paris convention for the protection of the marine environment for the north-east Atlantic (Ospar). The convention specifies a maximum level of marine contaminants.
A decade on from its initial application, the Isle of Man is currently bidding to renew its Unesco Biosphere status in 2026.
The Insights section is committed to high-quality longform journalism. Our editors work with academics from many different backgrounds who are tackling a wide range of societal and scientific challenges.
There does appear to be a lack of monitoring, at least in the public domain. Given the serious nature of the contaminants, I would expect the environmental regulator to monitor any PCBs detected in the environment and fully inform the public of any exposure risk.
The disposal of thousands of tonnes of contaminated silt into biodiverse waters could have had a serious negative impact on that bid. So, how did you discover that all was not as it seemed with the marine biosphere status?
Shortly after resigning from my post in 2017, I read an article in the local media about how the attorney general of the Isle of Man (the government’s senior legal advisor) believed it might be in the public interest to hold a full investigation into the discharging of potentially toxic material retrieved from an old landfill site that was being transported by tankers and taken to the sea. There were a number of statements made in that article that I found very concerning, such as the two below:
The then Environment Minister Richard Ronan told the House of Keys [the parliament of the Isle of Man] in July last year that levels of a range of metals, ammonia, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 225 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) identified in the leachate exceed environmental quality standards, making it unsuitable for direct discharge into the River Neb.
The government said the leachate is subject to a large degree of dilution [as] it enters the sea. Samples are analysed regularly and the leachate “does not pose a risk to people swimming in Peel bay”.
To be clear, I knew at the time of reading this article in 2017 that there was no UK or EU environmental quality standard to legally allow a deliberate discharge of PCBs into either freshwaters (rivers and lakes) or to the sea. I knew this because PCBs are massively hydrophobic (water-hating) – meaning you shouldn’t have them suspended in effluent anyway because all they want to do is settle out at the bottom of whatever they are suspended in as soon as possible.
So, if you can detect them suspended in actual effluent you should be very worried about how much is built up or buried in the sediment accompanying that effluent. I knew the deliberate discharge of this was internationally banned and that it shouldn’t be going on into rivers or the sea.
I was even more alarmed when the article quoted a government spokesperson saying the leachate “does not pose a risk to people swimming in Peel Bay”. The government needs to prove that statement legally and scientifically because in the US and Europe there is a “risk averse” approach to PCB release.
This story and the government’s response was very concerning to me as an internationally banned carcinogen was being discharged deliberately to Peel bay, a popular public beach area, while the public were being told it was fine, legal and safe. I didn’t see how this could possibly be legal as regards international agreements.
A few months later, I was concerned about further silt dredging at Peel bay and was curious how Defa as a regulator would deal with avoiding the risk of resuspending previously buried PCBs.
Ospar gives guidance on this, as this is important as PCBs remain toxic for decades and dredging could obviously further increase the risk to the public and environment – resuspending any PCBs that had been previously buried under layers of sediment for decades would result in releasing another source of PCBs into the bay.
Was anyone concerned about possible pollution at the time of the Unesco application?
The Isle of Man government says it spent a great deal of time on the nomination process and the publicly available nomination documents are long and detailed and Defa was heavily involved in the application process and the details provided so they would have to answer that.
I don’t know if any other scientists were raising a red flag at the time, but I do refer you to Kevin Kennington’s tribunal findings which involved dumping toxic silt at sea and Defa officers were aware of this dumping in 2014. None of this was mentioned in the nomination document as far as I have been able to ascertain.
The tribunal found the toxic silt exceeded Ospar guidelines.
When The Conversation put that to Isle of Man government, it did not accept it was in contravention of the rules. But a spokesperson for the UK regulator, Defra told us: “Defra’s internal analysis concluded that the incident constituted actions that were not in accordance with the Ospar convention (Articles 4, and Annex II Art 4) and the 1996 London protocol on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter.”
What laws are involved here?
The 252-page-long nomination forms refer to the Water Pollution Act 1993. This is an act that makes “new provision for the protection of inland and coastal waters from pollution, to control deposits in the sea and for connected purposes”.
Some EU legislation is also applied to the Isle of Man, such as Ospar (the convention for protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic) and the Basel convention which governs how nations, including the Isle of Man, should treat and dispose of hazardous waste, including PCBs, in an environmentally sound way.
What are the most worrying impacts of the pollution here?
In my view, the deliberate tanker discharge of PCBs to Peel bay is extremely worrying from both an environmental and public health risk perspective, as is the dredging up of PCB contaminated silt in Peel harbour.
I’m alarmed by the fact that the Isle of Man government decided that it was not in the public interest to pursue the case for the discharge into the sea, given that international agreements were broken.
What needs to change in terms of governance and law enforcement?
I feel there needs to be international scientific and legal scrutiny of all of this. I believe both Unesco and the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have a responsibility here as well given the international agreements involved and the biosphere designation. Given the biosphere status surely the Isle of Man government should be acting not just to the letter of the law but the spirit of the law.
What should a biosphere reserve really look like and what needs to change?
Ideally, the government in the world’s only all-nation Unesco biosphere would fully abide by its own principlesand pledges and adhere to international agreements.
For instance, the Isle of Man government set its own environmental quality standards (EQS) for PCBs – now, those won’t be breached by the levels of existing discharges. EQS values for soil, sediment, freshwater and marine environments are derived from years of research showing the maximum concentrations (or quality standards) that cannot be exceeded in order to protect human and environmental health.
As far as I’m aware, there is still no EQS for PCBs in effluent agreed to by the EU. There are PCB guidelines for sediment and biota (animals and plants) at the end of pipelines but these are more concerned with monitoring legacy historic sources of PCBs. I don’t know legally how the Isle of Man was able to do this despite international laws.
The Isle of Man government should be taking a far more precautionary approach to PCBs and potential public exposure, environmental damage and public health risk. They should be doing this anyway, but in the world’s only entire nation Unesco biosphere, I think the moral and legal onus is on them to prove what they are doing is safe. If they are saying it is safe, they obviously need to prove it. I think the onus is also on Unesco to check what is going on in their only all-nation biosphere, especially in the “care” areas of that biosphere.
Calum MacNeil raises some important questions about the very nature of Unesco biosphere status and about the safety of the waters in and around the Isle of Man. The public has a right to clear answers and information. Here are some of the key issues from my perspective as a water scientist.
Long-term health effects
The point about PCB sorption to sediments is a good one. An important study from 2019 estimated that 75% of all PCBs manufactured since 1930 now reside in marine sediment. Marine sediment is literally the waste bin for PCBs. Dilution in rivers is commonly used as a convenient way of masking the mass transport of chemicals through rivers and ultimately to the oceans. So, yes, dilution decreases concentrations locally, but it does not reduce the volume of chemicals transported to or disposed of at sea.
The PCB discharge to Peel bay has been going on since the 1990s which is worrying given possible long-term public health risks and environmental impacts.
Some of the metabolites may leave your body in a few days, but others may remain in your body fat for months. Unchanged PCBs may also remain in your body and be stored for years mainly in the fat and liver, but smaller amounts can be found in other organs as well. Once in our bodies, they can have toxic long-term health effects. Some are associated with fertility issues and they are classed as probable human carcinogens.
Persistence in the environment
Since the 1970’s, the gradual phasing out and banning of PCBs has led to dramatic reductions in their release into the environment. However, despite this, PCBs remain one of the biggest chemical threats to humans and wildlife worldwide. Why is this? Well, we know PCBs are very persistent in the environment, which means they last for decades to hundreds of years. Because of this persistence, they accumulate in living things and we know that at certain concentrations they can be very harmful to us.
It is also because of the widely held belief that “dilution is the solution to pollution”. Sure, dilution of effluent in a river reduces concentrations locally and might allow a government or an industry to meet an environmental quality guideline.
But where have the pollutants gone? They have not disappeared – remember PCBs may persist for hundreds of years. They have gone out to sea where they accumulate in sediments and living things. And we see the evidence and impacts of this all around us. For example, PCBs and other harmful chemicals are routinely detected in apex predators like orcas and whales and polar bears and we know this is negatively impacting their physiology and reproductive health.
PCBs have been detected in the Arctic and Antarctica and even in the Mariana trench in the deep ocean. This is the cumulative result of decades of PCB discharge into the seas from all around the world. We cannot do anything about PCBs that are already in the sea, but with everything we now know about how harmful and long-lasting these chemicals are, we really cannot knowingly continue discharging them into the sea.
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Patrick Byrne receives funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council.
Allenton is the latest community within Derby to become home to a mobility hub, joining Six Streets, Chaddesden and Normanton/Arboretum.
Building on the success of similar schemes elsewhere in the city, the new mobility hub will be installed at the Osmaston Road shopping precinct, giving citizens and local businesses greater choice when deciding how they travel around their local community.
Mobility hubs provide more opportunities for the local community to use sustainable and active travel methods – such as walking and cycling – making it easier for citizens to access local amenities. Not only do the hubs make it easier for residents to access local amenities, but it is hoped that they will draw more people into the area and enhance the local economy.
The hubs will also help the Council to learn more about the community’s travel needs and preferences, helping to shape future schemes.
Work on site to install the Osmaston Road mobility hub will begin later this spring, and will include:
Electric vehicle (EV) charging and dedicated parking for up to three EVs
An Enterprise Car Club location
An accessible seating area with bike storage, designed in consultation with local businesses, ward councillors and the Police
Interactive information totem with live travel updates
Councillor Carmel Swan, Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability said:
We’ve been working hard over the past few years to enhance and diversify Derby’s active and sustainable transport offer, giving citizens greater choice when it comes to deciding how to travel around the city.
This latest mobility hub will be a welcome addition to our ever-growing network, playing a key role in our combined efforts to combat climate change through reduced pollution and congestion in Derby.
Work on site to create the hub will begin later this spring and is expected to be completed in summer 2025.
The mobility hub will be funded by the Department for Transport (DFT)’s Future Transport Zones Fund, which was awarded to Derby City Council to trial new and exciting developments in transport.
Residents who would like to know more about the mobility hubs can get in touch with the Future Transport Zones team by emailing traffic.management@derby.gov.uk.