From concept to commercialisation: Defence Innovation Loans are open
Aimed at SMEs, DASA’s Defence Innovation Loans are designed to bridge the gap between product development and commercialisation.
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) supported by Innovate UK Loans Ltd (Innovate UK) are working together to offer Defence Innovation Loans.
This service provides an opportunity for single small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with solutions to Defence themed problems to apply for a Defence Innovation Loan of between £100,000 and £1 million with a below market interest rate of 7.4% per annum. This loan can be used to cover up to 100% of eligible project costs to aid the commercialisation of the solution.
Interested in a loan to boost your small business? Read the competition document here.
Background
Defence Innovation Loans were first introduced in June 2021 as a mechanism to help smaller organisations “build the business behind the innovation”. Since then, 8 companies have successfully secured a total of £6 million. Nearly all of these companies have gone on to secure further private investment worth a total of £16.9 million, creating 54 new jobs in defence innovation across the UK.
Success Stories
VRAI secured a Defence Innovation Loan to help commercialise their data capture and analysis technology. The technology, tested with the RAF, enabled trainers to assess and develop individualised training programmes for trainee pilots.
Niall Campion, Founder of VRAI said: “Without DASA funding it would have been impossible for us to bring this product into the UK defence supply chain. By providing working capital while we demonstrate the value of the product in the defence industry, the Defence Innovation Loan will help us grow our business and deliver measurable improvements to training across defence and other simulation markets.”
QUICKBLOCK, which develops lightweight, rapid assembly building blocks for force protection secured a Defence Innovation Loan, which amongst other things, has helped them to move their supplier base to Yorkshire, bolstering their supply chain and avoiding the recent shipping disruption in the Red Sea.
QUICKBLOCK CEO, Andrew Vincent said:
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from DASA. The project rapidly accelerated the development of our product for the Defence market and allowed us access to end-users that we would otherwise not have had.”
Silicon Microgravity are using their Defence Innovation Loan to further develop their underground detection technology ready for trials in 2024. They are also using the money to help commercialise their product for security, border control, defence and civil engineering markets.
Francis Neill, CEO of Silicon Microgravity said: “DASA have been absolutely fundamental in helping to get Silicon Microgravity to the stage where we will shortly be commercialising what is becoming recognised as world-leading technology in gravity sensing and inertial navigation.”
Eligibility
To take on a Defence Innovation Loan for a project you must:
intend to exploit the results in the UK or overseas to make a significant and positive impact on the UK economy and / or productivity
give evidence that your business is suitable to take on a loan.
Only SMEs are eligible to apply for Defence Innovation Loans; individuals, academic institutions, research organisations and large companies are not eligible. Only single businesses can receive innovation loans, so joint applications with other organisations cannot be funded in this competition (subcontractors are allowed, see further details below). For more information on company sizes, please refer to the company accounts guidance (this is a change from the EU definition unless you are applying under State Aid).
Innovations must be fairly mature at TRL 6 and above to ensure that the solution can be commercialised within the time scale of the innovation loan. Applications must clearly evidence a Defence need for the innovative solution.
Now! The DIL FY25/26 Cycle 1 opened on 18 March and won’t close until 13 May, when Cycle 2 will open. To find the full schedule of cycles and dates head to this link.
Queries
We have made every effort to provide as much information as possible to ensure you have a full understanding of the Defence Innovation Loans that we offer. Please do read through the comprehensive competition document for full details. If you still have questions don’t hesitate to get in touch with our helpful team. Please see Points of Contact.
The Catholic Church’s 115 cardinal-electors take part in a mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013, ahead of entering the conclave for a papal election.Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images
Following the death of 88-year-old Pope Francis on Easter Monday, several cardinals who were already in Rome, or who traveled only short distances to arrive, held the first of several meetings – general congregations – to discuss preparations for the papal funeral and the election to follow.
The College of Cardinals – which will elect the next pope – has 252 members, but only 135 can vote. Only those younger than 80 as of the day of a pope’s death may cast a ballot. Theoretically, church law allows the College of Cardinals to elect any Catholic man in the world to become the next pope – but in reality, as has been the case for more than 600 years, one of those cardinal-electors will almost certainly be Francis’ successor.
During the early centuries of Christianity, three classes of ordained minsters came about to lead and serve Christian communities: bishops, priests and deacons.
Bishops supervised local church communities and presided at liturgical ceremonies in the main churches – cathedrals. Priests advised the bishops and led individual communities – parishes. Deacons tended to the needs of the poor, widows and orphans and took care of community finances. They also had a special role during some worship services and often acted as the bishop’s secretaries.
Over time, seven of these deacons in key Roman churches served as special advisers to the bishop of Rome, the pope. They came to be called cardinals, from Latin “cardo” – meaning hinge – and “cardinalis” meaning key or principal. Later popes would choose priests and bishops to be cardinals as well.
Electing the pope
In the earlier centuries, popes would be elected by the clergy and people of the city of Rome. As time went on, these elections could be manipulated by local civic leaders, wealthy families and political leaders outside of Rome and Italy.
It was not until the 11th century that Pope Nicholas II formulated a process for selecting a new pope: election by an assembly of cardinals. However, it was not always possible for all the cardinals – known as the College of Cardinals – to come together, due to age, illness or distance. Those who had to travel long distances might arrive too late to vote.
In order to avoid continued outside interference, Pope Gregory X in the 13th century adopted a new procedure: the conclave. Cardinals would remain in a locked location – from the Latin cum clave, “with a key” – in isolation from outside influences until the election concluded.
The rules governing the conclave changed slightly over the years. The leader of the College of Cardinals is called the dean of the college. Over the centuries, his duties have come to include organizing the conclave, assisted by other Vatican officials. The size of the college has also varied over time but has steadily increased despite efforts to limit its size.
Starting in the 19th century, popes began expanding the size and geography of the college. Once dominated by European and especially Italian cardinals, popes began to choose new cardinals from different areas of the globe. For example, the first cardinals born in North America were named: John McClosky, archbishop of New York, was named cardinal in 1875; James Gibbons, archbishop of Baltimore in 1886, and Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau, archbishop of Quebec, also in 1886.
The College of Cardinals receives final instructions from the Grand Marshal before adjourning to the Sistine Chapel to begin voting for a new pope in 1922. Bettmann via Getty Images
The expansion of the college gathered momentum in the mid-20th century. The first native-born bishops from Asia were named at this time – for example, from China in 1946, Japan and the Philippines in 1960, and Sri Lanka in 1965. The first native-born cardinals of both Mexico and Uruguay were named in 1958, and the first native-born African of modern times, from Tanzania, was named in 1960. Popes continued this trend through the later 20th and early 21st centuries.
Different visions
By the time of his death, Francis had named a large number of new, non-European cardinals, especially from the Global South, where Catholicism is expanding. Currently, out of a total of 252 cardinals, 138 are non-European. Importantly, out of a total 135 cardinals eligible to vote, 82 are not from Europe, which makes a record number of non-Europeans eligible to vote.
In addition, at this conclave, 80% of the cardinal-electors have been named by Francis: that is 108 cardinals out of 135. This is an overwhelming number, representing a wide variety of Catholic communities from several different cultures. A new pope must be elected with a two-thirds majority of the votes: a total of 90 votes. If no candidate receives 90 votes, balloting continues as scheduled.
As I see it, there are several issues likely to arise and influence the vote for the upcoming election. Some of the cardinal-electors may want to choose a cardinal with more progressive views. But other cardinals, even if chosen by Francis, still might prefer to choose a more conservative candidate, to moderate what they see as the progressive agenda of the past 12 years. Their appointment by Francis doesn’t mean that they automatically agree with all of his ideas.
Catholics around the world will be praying for the Holy Spirit to guide the hearts and minds of the cardinals as they fill out their ballots. Many will hope for a pope as inspiring as his predecessor, one who can face the challenging problems of an increasingly complex world.
Joanne M. Pierce does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Work on a new housing development is in full swing as Leeds City Council once again demonstrates its commitment to providing high quality, energy efficient and affordable homes for local families.
The council secured planning permission in October last year for a total of 82 houses and apartments on the site of a former school at Hough Top, in Swinnow, near Pudsey.
And, six months on, construction activity is proceeding at pace, with a new road layout already taking shape and good progress being made on car parking, substations and perimeter fencing.
The development – which is being delivered via Leeds’s Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP) – will comprise 55 houses and 27 apartments, with a mix of one, two, three and four bedrooms.
The apartments will be located in a new three-storey building named Hough Top Court. The site’s roads, meanwhile, will be called Hough Common, Hough Fold and Hough Drive.
All 82 properties will be made available for affordable rent, an important consideration given the high level of demand for social housing in the wider Pudsey area.
The new homes will also be fitted with air source heat pumps, a sustainable heating solution that will help cut carbon emissions, tackle fuel poverty and support Leeds’s net zero ambitions.
Landscaping and tree-planting work will create attractive open space within the 2.5-hectare site, which has lain empty since the demolition of the former Hough Side High School buildings in 2021 and 2022.
The development is being delivered for the council by construction company Willmott Dixon, which is also conducting a wide-ranging programme of associated community-focused activity. To date, its team has run more than 30 apprentice training weeks, undertaken 50 hours of school engagement and carried out 80 hours of career mentoring for local people.
The bulk of the funding for the scheme – scheduled for completion late next year – is being provided by the council’s housing service via Right to Buy receipts and borrowing, with £1.64m of grant support coming from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund.
Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing, said:
“The Hough Top scheme is an excellent example of how the council is working, with partners, to deliver good quality, energy efficient and affordable homes for the people of Leeds.
“The difference that a development like this can make to local families is huge, particularly in an area such as Pudsey where there are significant housing needs.
“Our aim is to ensure that communities right across Leeds can benefit in the same way and, while we know there is still much to do, the various schemes currently taking shape as part of our Council Housing Growth Programme are moving us ever closer to realising that ambition.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“Because of devolution, we’ve been able to invest almost £90m to help unlock over 5,000 new homes, including dozens of affordable and sustainable homes in Pudsey.
“Working with Leeds City Council, we’re taking decisive action to tackle the housing crisis and deliver the warm, high-quality homes that local families need, with lower rents and energy bills.
“Everyone is entitled to a safe and secure roof over their head, so we will work with central government to get the whole of West Yorkshire building, with new freedoms and funding to deliver thousands more homes and create a greener, more vibrant region.”
Chris Yates, Yorkshire director at Willmott Dixon, said:
“Our team of local housing experts bring a wealth of experience to Hough Top. We share Leeds City Council’s passion for creating employment opportunities for this community. In partnership with our local supply chain partners, we are committed to supporting local people through our dedicated Building Lives Academy skills programme, as well as continuing to work closely with local schools and colleges.”
More than 350 new homes have been built via the council’s CHGP since 2018. More than 420 homes have also been acquired as part of the programme, with these properties and the new-builds both playing a crucial role in efforts to ease local affordable housing pressures.
By increasing the number of appropriate properties available to tenants looking to downsize, the programme has also helped free up some homes that are best suited to larger families.
Locations where new housing has recently been delivered by the CHGP include Barncroft Close in Seacroft and Scott Hall Drive in Chapel Allerton as well as a site in Middleton formerly occupied by Throstle Recreation Ground and Middleton Skills Centre.
Places where CHGP schemes are, like the one at Hough Top, currently under construction include Brooklands Avenue in Seacroft, the Ambertons area of Gipton and the former Middlecross Day Centre site in Armley.
School Governing Boards are made up of people from all walks of life with a range of different backgrounds, skills and experiences – but they are all volunteers who work together for the benefit of the school and act as the link between the school and the community it serves.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “We are currently looking for new governors to work in schools across Wolverhampton and we’d be delighted to hear from anyone who has an interest in school performance, a desire to contribute to and represent the community, and an open and enquiring mind.
“Key skills are the ability to look at issues objectively, the confidence to ask questions and join in debate, a willingness to listen and make informed judgements and the ability to work well with others.
“If this is you, you may be the very person to become a governor. Everyone has something to offer, and we want to hear from people from as many backgrounds and with as wide a range of interests as possible.
“Becoming a governor is an enjoyable and rewarding way to play an active part in the local community – and can allow you to further develop your strategic management skills and enhance your CV, too.”
People would need to be able to volunteer for around eight hours a term, with some meetings potentially outside of school hours. The council will provide all the necessary training and support to carry out this important role.
Governing bodies play a key role in setting targets for raising standards of educational achievement, monitoring progress towards meeting these targets, supporting and challenging the performance of the headteacher and deciding policy and future development plans.
To request an application pack, or to find out more about the role, please contact Kay Mason, School Improvement Advisor, via kay.mason@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
The focus of the annual World Health Organisation campaign this year is ‘immunisations for all is humanly possible’ – with the aim of ensuring even more children and young people, adults and the wider community are protected from preventable diseases.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “Vaccination is one of the greatest public health interventions, both saving lives and promoting good health.
“Immunisation protects not only the individual but also the population from preventable diseases which can cause serious illness as well as death.
“Vaccines cannot give the disease they are designed to prevent and, if not enough people are vaccinated, diseases that have become uncommon like whooping cough, polio and measles can quickly re-emerge.
“It’s important that vaccines are given when they are due for the best protection, but if you or your child has missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up.”
The UK’s national immunisation programme starts from 2 months into old age and provides protection against a range of vaccine preventable infections including diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, HPV, flu, measles, meningococcal disease, mumps, whooping cough, pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, RSV, rubella, shingles and tetanus.
Other vaccines are available for those with complex health needs or those who are more at risk. More information on the vaccination schedule can be found at NHS | Vaccinations, which also includes facts and dispels myths about vaccination.
If your child has missed their diphtheria, tetanus and polio teenage booster vaccination, the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination or the meningococcal (Men ACWY) vaccination in school or if your child is home educated and has not received these vaccinations when they are due, Vaccination UK will be holding a catch up clinic on Bank Holiday Monday 26 May from 10am to 2pm at Bizspace, Planetary Road WV13 3SW. To make an appointment, please call 01902 200077.
Organised by the World Health Organisation, World Immunisation Week aims to highlight the collective action needed to protect people from vaccine preventable diseases. It aims to catch up the millions of children globally who missed out on vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic and restore essential immunisation coverage to at least 2019 levels so that more children, adults and communities are protected from vaccine preventable diseases, allowing them to live happier, healthier lives.
World Immunisation Week continues until Wednesday (30 April). For more information, please visit World Immunization Week 2025.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Statement by TUV East Antrim representative, Councillor Matthew Warwick:
“It is revealing that Danny Donnelly, an elected representative of the Alliance Party, attacks Unionists for criticising Kneecap — a rap group whose very name glorifies the brutal practice of IRA kneecappings, leaving countless innocent victims scarred for life.
“While Alliance routinely condemns Loyalism for the slightest real or perceived offence, Mr Donnelly leaps to the defence of a group that:
• openly calls for the ethnic cleansing of ‘Brits’ from Northern Ireland;
• weaponises the Irish language, featuring the notorious slogan ‘Every word spoken in Irish is a bullet in the freedom struggle’ in promotional material;
• supports terrorist groups in the Middle East, including Hamas; and
• advocates the murder of Tory MPs.
“If any group associated with Loyalism featured a character in a balaclava named DJ UDA, Mr Donnelly and his party would waste no time in public denunciation. Yet he now seeks to shield a group whose stage names mock the suffering inflicted by IRA terrorists.
“It is important to make clear that Mr Donnelly’s views do not represent the majority of East Antrim. Accordingly, today I have written to the U.S. Department of State to request that Kneecap be denied visas to spread their toxic ideology to America.”
Mr Warrick’s letter is as follows:
Visa Office
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
United States of America
Re: Objection to Visa Applications by Kneecap
Dear Sir/Madam,
I write on behalf of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) to urge the United States Department of State to deny visas to the rap group Kneecap, who are seeking entry into the United States for a concert tour later this year.
Kneecap are not merely entertainers; they are open advocates of violence, division, and terror. Their lyrics and public appearances glorify the blood-soaked legacy of the Provisional IRA, a terrorist organisation responsible for nearly 1,800 murders. Their very name references the IRA’s gruesome practice of “kneecapping” — a method of torture used to permanently maim their victims.
Kneecap has publicly called for violence against sitting Members of Parliament, promoting the killing of elected officials — a grave incitement that goes far beyond artistic expression and constitutes a direct attack on democracy.
The group also uses their platform to champion extremist causes abroad. At their recent performance at the Coachella music festival, they projected inflammatory anti-Israel slogans, accusing Israel of genocide and condemning the U.S. government as complicit in alleged war crimes.
Furthermore, they have publicly aligned themselves with organisations such as Hamas, whose brutal acts of terrorism have targeted Jewish civilians.
In today’s climate, where antisemitism is a rising threat particularly in academic settings where President Trump’s administration has taken welcome steps to address the issues, it would be deeply irresponsible to allow entry to individuals who promote such hatred and violence.
U.S. law rightly provides for the denial of visas to those who advocate terrorism, incite political violence, or pose a risk to public order and social cohesion. By their words and actions, Kneecap clearly fall into this category.
Granting Kneecap visas would not promote cultural exchange. It would instead export to American cities a toxic ideology rooted in glorifying terrorism and stoking division.
I therefore respectfully urge the Department of State to reject any current or future visa applications from members of Kneecap.
The MAIB has undertaken a preliminary assessment into the death of a crew member from Border Force cutter Vigilant in November 2024. Following the results of the preliminary assessment and after a full coronial investigation, including a detailed postmortem and a determination by HM Coroner of death by natural causes, the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents is satisfied that the crew member’s death resulted from a medical event and not a marine accident. The preliminary assessment has therefore been closed, and the MAIB will not investigate further.
A major seizure of counterfeit t-shirts and uniforms bound for a high-profile football event was carried out in Spain on Friday, 25 April, thanks to crucial intelligence provided by OLAF. The operation is part of a wider effort led by OLAF, in close cooperation with the Spanish National Police and EU customs authorities, to combat a surge in counterfeit sportswear.
This coordinated initiative aims to block the entry of fake and substandard products into the EU market, thereby protecting consumers, safeguarding public health, and defending legitimate businesses across Europe. As counterfeit goods often bypass safety regulations, they can pose significant risks, particularly during high-demand periods surrounding major international sporting events.
The operation on Friday resulted in the seizure of 59 boxes containing goods with a market value of approximately €570,000. It is believed that the sportswear was intended to be sold in connection with the Copa del Rey final taking place in Spain on 26 April.
OLAF is currently coordinating ongoing activities across several Member States, providing relevant intelligence and information to support enforcement actions. This approach has already resulted in multiple successful seizures of counterfeit sportswear, with Spain recording the majority of recent interceptions.
OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä said: “Counterfeit products not only harm the EU economy and legitimate businesses but can also pose health and safety risks to consumers. The upcoming sporting season has drawn the attention of criminal networks eager to exploit the market. The seizure in Spain is a clear example of what strong cooperation and timely intelligence sharing can achieve. OLAF remains committed to working with national and EU partners to prevent fake and potentially dangerous goods from reaching European consumers.”
OLAF will continue to monitor and coordinate activities in the field to combat the illicit trade in counterfeit goods, standing firm against those who attempt to exploit the EU market.
For more information and video, please see the communication from the Spanish Policehere
OLAF mission, mandate and competences: OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.
OLAF fulfils its mission by: • carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe; • contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions; • developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.
In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning: • all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid; • some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties; • suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.
Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.
For further details:
Pierluigi CATERINO Spokesperson European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335 Email: olaf-mediaec [dot] europa [dot] eu(olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) Bluesky: euantifraud.bsky.social
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Users can earn seamlessly on stablecoins with flexible, secure onchain strategies — while maintaining full control over assets.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trust Wallet, the world’s leading self-custody Web3 wallet trusted by over 200 million users, has launched Stablecoin Earn, a new feature that lets users deposit stablecoins and earn seamlessly with full flexibility. By integrating secure and automated onchain strategies, Trust Wallet makes earning passive rewards seamless, flexible, and fully non-custodial—all within the app.
With no lock-up periods and support for stablecoins like USDC, USDT, DAI, and USDA across multiple blockchains—including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Base, and Arbitrum – Stablecoin Earn offers a simple way to put your stablecoins to work while maintaining full control over assets.
“Last September, we observed that billions in USDT held by Trust Wallet users on-chain remained inactive for six months despite somewhat bullish market conditions. For our ‘holder-ish’ users, our goal is to help them put their assets to work, while also activating valuable liquidity to support on-chain projects,” said Eowyn Chen, CEO of Trust Wallet. “By integrating secure on-chain strategy platforms through a user-friendly interface, we aim to empower users to easily earn rewards while maintaining full control of their funds.”
How Stablecoin Earn Works
Stablecoin Earn offers a seamless way to earn on your stablecoins—directly from your wallet, with full control at every step. By tapping into established onchain protocols, the feature simplifies the earning experience without requiring users to manage complex DeFi setups. Just deposit and start earning rewards—all while keeping your assets self-custodied and accessible.
With Stablecoin Earn, users can:
Earn passively on stablecoins—no active trading required
Deposit and withdraw anytime—no lock-ups
Access multiple DeFi protocols in one place
Earn across Ethereum, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, and Base
Receive bonus rewards (e.g., MORPHO tokens) in select vaults
Stay in full control 100% of the time—Trust Wallet is fully non-custodial
Everything happens onchain, transparently, and without intermediaries—giving users confidence in how their stablecoins are earning yield
Seamless Onchain Yield, Powered by Trusted Infrastructure
To deliver a simple and rewarding experience, Trust Wallet integrates Kiln to power Stablecoin Earn’s backend, providing access to leading DeFi infrastructure providers like Morpho for its users.
Users have the opportunity to earn exclusive bonus rewards powered by Morpho, the go-to infrastructure for lending and borrowing onchain. These additional earning opportunities include MORPHO token incentives for participating in select vaults.
”We’re excited to see Morpho selected as the default earn option in Trust Wallet’s new Earn Hub at launch, helping make DeFi yields accessible to the masses. Morpho was designed to provide self-custody solutions like Trust Wallet with a simple yet highly secure way for their users to earn the best risk-adjusted returns.” said Paul Frambot CEO and Co-Founder of Morpho Labs.
Kiln, a leading digital asset rewards management platform enabling businesses to earn rewards or to whitelabel earning functionality into their products, enables secure and automated access to multiple onchain yield strategies in Trust Wallet’s Stablecoin Earn feature – abstracting complexity so users can earn effortlessly.
“We are pleased to bring access to stablecoin yield to Trust Wallet, a longtime partner of Kiln with a history that includes our earlier projects such as Kiln Onchain, Connect, and Validators. As DeFi becomes more widespread and stablecoin yield reached double digits during the bull market, many users have recognized that stablecoins offer notable advantages. With Trust Wallet’s feature now live, our goal is to provide a solid experience for its users and continue refining the product.” said Laszlo Szabo, Co-founder and CEO of Kiln.
*Note: Until further notice this feature will not be available in the UK or U.S. This communication is intended solely for audiences outside the United Kingdom. If you are accessing this content from within the United Kingdom, please exit immediately.
About Trust Wallet
Trust Wallet is the secure, self-custody Web3 wallet and gateway for people who want to fully own, control, and leverage the power of their digital assets. From beginners to experienced users, Trust Wallet makes it easier, safer, and convenient for millions of people around the world to experience Web3, access dApps securely, store and manage their crypto and NFTs, as well as buy, sell, and stake crypto to earn rewards — all in one place and without limits.
For media enquiries, contact: press@trustwallet.com
About Kiln
Kiln is the leading digital asset rewards management platform, enabling businesses to earn rewards on their digital assets, or to whitelabel earning functionality into their products. Our platform is API-first and enables fully automated validators, rewards, and data and commission management. With over $11 billion crypto assets being programmatically staked, Kiln has a particularly strong track record on Ethereum as we run about 5% of the network; this includes 50,000+ active validators with 0 slashing events.
About Morpho
Morpho is the second-largest lending protocol on Ethereum and largest on Base, by total deposits. Morpho is a permissionless platform that operates on two levels. First, it offers tailored solutions that allow users to earn yields and borrow on their own terms. Second, it provides flexible infrastructure that enables businesses to build custom applications, such as Coinbase’s crypto-backed loans product.
Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Trustwallet. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.
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The EU’s framework for systemically important payment systems and central securities depositories/securities settlement systems is complete and consistent with the CPMI-IOSCO Principles for financial market infrastructures (PFMI) in most aspects.
The CPMI-IOSCO assessment identified some areas for improvement where implementation was broadly or partly consistent or not consistent with the PFMI.
The assessment reflects status of implementation as of October 2019. A separate assessment is to be conducted for the United Kingdom.
The EU’s implementation of the framework for systemically important payment systems (PSs) and central securities depositories (CSDs)/ securities settlement systems (SSSs) is consistent with the Principles for financial market infrastructures (PFMI) issued by the Bank for International Settlements’ Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
Implementation monitoring of PFMI: Level 2 assessment report for the EU – PSs and CSDs/SSSs – a CPMI-IOSCO report released today – assesses the completeness and consistency of the legal, regulatory and oversight framework in place as of 30 October 2019 for these types of financial market infrastructure.
Developments in the legal and regulatory framework following the Level 2 assessment date are not in the scope of this report.
The report finds that the implementation of the PFMI is complete and consistent for all Principles for PSs. The legal, regulatory and oversight frameworks in the EU for CSDs/SSSs are complete and consistent with the Principles in most aspects.
However, the assessment identified some areas for improvement, particularly in aspects where implementation was broadly, partly, or not consistent, including risk and governance principles.
Given that there are separate regulatory frameworks for PSs in the euro area and in Sweden, and that these are also separate from the EU-wide regime for CSDs/SSSs, the assessment team has assessed each of these separately.
The United Kingdom was part of the EU before the cut-off date for this review. However, CPMI-IOSCO decided to conduct a separate Level 2 assessment for the UK and therefore the UK’s framework was not evaluated in this report.
The assessment report for EU central counterparties and trade repositories was published in February 2015.
Cost of living boost for millions as prescription charges frozen
Millions of patients are getting a cost of living boost as the government freezes prescription charges for the first time in three years.
NHS prescription charges in England will be frozen for the first time in three years, keeping the cost of a prescription below a tenner.
The decision means £18 million saving to help with cost of living for millions who regularly pay for prescriptions as the government delivers security for working people through its Plan for Change.
Freeze comes weeks after this government agreed record investment for community pharmacies to fund local services for patients.
Millions of people across the country will see the cost of their prescriptions frozen for the first time in three years from today – as the government puts money back into the pockets of working people as it delivers on the Plan for Change.
The move will save patients around £18 million next year – keeping prescriptions under the cost of a tenner, at £9.90 for a single charge. Those who are already exempt from paying their prescription will continue to be so.
Three month and annual prescriptions prepayment certificates will also be frozen for 2025/26.
Annual charges can be made in instalments meaning those requiring regular medicines will be able to get them for just over £2 a week.
The prescription charge freeze builds on wider government action to tackle the cost of living crisis, including the rollout of free breakfast clubs, expanded childcare through 300 new school-based nurseries, lowering the cost of school uniforms, and extending the fuel duty freeze – all aimed at easing financial pressures on families across the country.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said:
This government’s Plan for Change will always put working people first, and our moves today to freeze prescription charges will put money back into the pockets of millions of patients.
Fixing our NHS will be a long road – but by working closer with our pharmacies we’re saving money and shifting care to the community where it’s closer to your home.
We made the difficult but necessary choices at the Budget to fund moves like this and change our NHS so it can once again be there for you when you need it.
The announcement follows news last month of the government agreeing funding with Community Pharmacy England worth an extra £617 million over 2 years.
And the investment comes alongside reforms to deliver a raft of patient benefits, as part of the government’s agenda to shift the focus of care from hospitals into the community, so that people can more easily access care and support on their high streets.
This freeze is only possible thanks to the government’s difficult but necessary choices at the Budget to bring in a £26 billion boost to the health service.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:
We promised to build an NHS fit for the future, and that started with the £26 billion funding boost I delivered at the Budget, to repair and improve the many vital services it provides.
Since then, waiting lists are falling, staff are better paid and supported, and today, £18 million has been kept in patient’s pockets by freezing prescription charges – easing the cost of living through our Plan for Change, delivering for all.
Jonathan Blades, Head of Policy at Asthma + Lung UK, said:
The freezing of prescription charges is a welcome first step and will provide some short-term relief for people with lung conditions during the ongoing cost of living crisis. Living with a long-term lung condition like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is expensive and rising prescription costs only make it harder for people to manage their condition and stay well.
Around 89% of prescriptions in England are already dispensed free of charge to children, over-60s, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions. This freeze will not impact that scheme.
In addition to the freeze on charges, the NHS low income scheme offers help with prescription payments, with free prescriptions for eligible people in certain groups such as pensioners, students, and those who receive state benefits or live in care homes.
Alongside action to rebuild the NHS, the government’s Plan for Change is focused on growing the economy to improve living standards across the country. This further freeze will only improve that.
Notes to editors:
NHS prescription charges apply in England only
A 3-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPCs) will be frozen at £32.05 and a 12 month PPCs will remain at £114.50.
Groups exempt from prescription charges include:
o Children under 16 and those in full-time education aged 16-18
o People aged 60 and over
o Pregnant women and those who have had a baby in the last 12 months
o People with specified medical conditions like diabetes or cancer and have valid exemption certificates
o Those receiving qualifying benefits including Universal Credit (with criteria)
o NHS inpatients
The freeze will also apply to NHS wigs and fabric supports; these prices will remain at current levels:
· Surgical brassiere £32.50
· Abdominal or spinal support £49.05
· Stock modacrylic wig £80.15
· Partial human hair wig £212.35
· Full bespoke human hair wig £310.55
Patients on a low income, who do not qualify for an exemption, can apply for help with help costs through application to the NHS Low Income Scheme. People can check whether they are eligible for help here.
Section 8, Special Children Act, Public Law Family and Domestic Abuse – except Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPO) – applications for legal aid in civil proceedings should be submitted through the Apply for civil legal aid portal.
Apply for civil legal aid can be used for both passported and non-passported clients.
Apply for civil legal aid can be used to complete the following tasks:
Submit new applications (ongoing cases should be managed on CCMS)
Make emergency applications, when delegated functions used
To manage linked cases:
family links in proceedings with representation of 2 or more family members, with the option to copy details between the linked applications.
legal links if your client is involved in more than one court proceedings.
We continue to develop the service based on user feedback and introducing new features, but for now, the service cannot be used:
if your client is self-employed, or a member of the armed forces
to make an emergency application if delegated functions have not been used
to make both a family link and legal link to your application
to amend a submitted application
Benefits of the current service include:
automated links to HMRC for access to client pay information
the option to automatically obtain bank statements with the client’s permission
a system designed with providers as the main focus, which is better suited to provider needs
regular updates informed by provider interactions
asking for all the information we need first time, meaning fewer rejections and document requests, and quicker decisions
a streamlined process, only asking relevant questions based on answers given, reducing the time required on completion of applications for legal aid in civil cases.
As a result, the LAA makes fewer requests for additional information, allowing certificates to be issued more swiftly.
Providers using the Apply for civil legal aid service have reported:
‘The Apply service is fast and efficient. The best feature for me is being able to save and continue my application meaning that when I return, I am directed to the same page I was previously working on’.
‘Quick and that is needed when doing domestic violence [applications]. Time is of the essence’.
‘Generally, we are very happy with the process. It takes 15 minutes, it took up to 1 hour previously depending on the case’.
‘It’s generally more user friendly, not confusing, generally a much quicker and efficient way of doing it’.
‘Apply asked only necessary questions, not irrelevant like CCMS does. [CCMS] is a tick-boxing exercise’.
‘The usability is good and is quicker and everything seems to be set out clearly. For example, when adding a proceeding, you are able to search for the proceeding you require by typing it in and search results will appear, which is far better than having to sift through all the proceedings.’
You are able to review the answers provided in the sections at the end of each sections and change the answers if necessary’ but once you proceed to the next section, i.e. going from the means assessment to merits assessment, you cannot go back to the previous section.
‘The LAA would ring you up and you’d have a relationship, now this system is working back towards rebuilding that trust’.
An event held last week (Tuesday 22 April) at the City Chambers brought together the Council and partners to take steps toward building, adapting, and finding accessible homes across the Capital.
Hosted by the City of Edinburgh Council, the Accessible Housing Summit convened representatives from the third sector, housing associations and the private sector.
Through a series of roundtable discussions, participants explored three key areas: delivering new accessible homes, improving access to existing housing, and ensuring the best use of homes already available.
In a tangible step forward, the Council recently began construction on a new residential development in Newington. Once complete, the site will provide 19 modern, fully wheelchair accessible homes available for social rent.
Attendees will now consider what actions can be taken forward to address improving access to information, advice on accessible housing and planning for new accessible homes in Edinburgh.
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said:
As Edinburgh’s population grows and changes, so do the housing needs of our residents. We must therefore strive to ensure that everyone – irrespective of their health circumstances and accessibility requirements – has a home they can live in with dignity and comfort.
Whilst this is a national issue, the City of Edinburgh Council faces unique challenges, including being landlord of a high number of older, flatted properties which can often be harder and costly to adapt.
It is vital for us to understand the nature, context, and complexity of the barriers to providing fully accessible housing and to work closely and collaboratively with our partners and organisations leading this crucial work to deliver the accessible housing our citizens need now and in the future.
Ofsted has published the findings of its latest monitoring visit of Children’s Services at Liverpool City Council.
The inspection, which took place in March 2025, focused on:
Response to children at risk from exploitation or going missing from home or care, including assessment and planning for those children.
Response to disabled children, including assessment and planning for those children.
Supervision of social workers.
It found that there has been a significant improvement in the response to disabled children since March 2023, which caseloads for social workers reduced by half and increased management capacity in the team.
They report that disabled children “now benefit from thorough assessments and plans which support them and their families effectively” with risks “promptly recognised and responded to”, and social workers devoting time to “sensitively communicating with children to understand their wishes and feelings”.
They also note that the immediate response to children who go missing from home or care has also improved, noting that social workers are “persistent in their efforts to talk to children when they return home, to explore why they went missing” and that this information is used to try and reduce the risk of children going missing again.
They also found that leaders are working at pace to address issues with children at risk not always being promptly identified and referred by partner agencies, with work under way on developing a more coordinated approach to enable earlier intervention and support for vulnerable children at risk of exploitation.
They concluded that timely action is usually taken to protect children at risk of exploitation and criminality, and work is under way to address the small number of strategy discussions that are delayed.
There is also praise for children and family assessments, which “have improved in quality”, with partner agencies contributing well to them and “children’s wishes and views are sensitively sought and considered by social workers, who take the time and effort to truly know and understand children’s needs”.]
They also found “some improvement” in the quality of child in need and children protection plans, although the understanding and analysis of risks is described as “variable”.
Other improvements noted include:
Case supervision is starting to improve in quality and is now more reflective and focuses on children’s experiences, with management training starting to have a positive impact.
Regular and detailed reporting to the improvement board and scrutiny committee is providing the necessary challenge to drive improvement plans forward.
The inspection also noted that staff told inspectors that there have been “significant improvements” over the last two years, with reduced caseloads and social workers feeling safer and better able to deliver quality social work.
Ofsted said: “They welcome improved communication from leaders about plans, and value the regular employee forum and the two-way communication it facilitates. Social workers say they feel happy, motivated and well supported in their work in Liverpool, describing themselves as ‘being part of a family’.”
Councillor Liz Parsons, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “This monitoring visit highlights the progress we have made over the last two years, and that we are addressing areas that need improvement.
“Our staff are absolutely committed to delivering the very best services for children and young people in Liverpool, and I would like to thank them for their hard work which is making a positive difference to the lives of the most vulnerable every single day.
“Improving Children’s Services is a journey that takes time, and our ambition is to get to a position where we are delivering an outstanding service, as well as becoming a UNICEF Child Friendly City putting young people at the forefront of decision making. I firmly believe we are on track to achieve both.”
UConn Neag School of Education alumni Jessica Stargardter ’16 (ED), ’17 MA; Gabriel Castro ’14 (ED), ’15 MA; Nicole Holland Kew ’09 (ED), ’10 MA; and Yurah Robidas Emmenegger ’09 (ED), ’09 (CLAS), ’10 MA; have each embarked on remarkable journeys as educators, spanning continents and cultures. From their foundations at UConn to classrooms across the world, their careers highlight the transformative power of teaching beyond borders.
“Time after time, our UConn participants have told me that studying and teaching abroad has been one of the most profound experiences of their lives,” says Doug Kaufman, the Neag School’s director of global education and an associate professor of curriculum and instruction. “I see it, too. Moving away from familiar and comfortable contexts has taught them how to recognize the diverse and powerful gifts that their students at home bring into the classroom.
“Working abroad develops cultural awareness, empathy, humility, and an expanded sense of possibility when working with students. Our teachers learn how to learn from their students and advocate for them all.”
Stargardter’s passion for gifted education led her from Connecticut to Panama, Singapore, and Finland, shaping her global perspective. She says her experiences reinforce her belief in education as a universal force for change, transcending cultural and linguistic differences.
Working abroad develops cultural awareness, empathy, humility, and an expanded sense of possibility when working with students. Our teachers learn how to learn from their students and advocate for them all. — Doug Kaufman, Neag School’s director of global education
Castro’s path to teaching went from Puerto Rico to Colombia, Costa Rica, and Taiwan, and he has embraced each opportunity with curiosity and openness. His teaching philosophy is rooted in adaptation and connection, ensuring meaningful relationships with students regardless of geography. As he prepares for fatherhood, he looks forward to the next chapter of his journey.
For Kew, London became home. A study abroad trip led to a life-changing move across the Atlantic, where she has spent over a decade teaching and raising a family. Balancing work and her personal life, she cherishes her role as an educator in a diverse, evolving community.
Emmenegger’s love for language and culture brought her from Connecticut to France, Portugal, and Switzerland. Teaching French and German in international schools, she exemplifies resilience and adaptability, proving that a commitment to education can create opportunities in unexpected places.
Together, their stories illustrate the boundless impact of teaching, and the unique paths educators take to inspire students worldwide.
Reconnecting with Family Roots
From Connecticut to Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and now Taiwan, every step of Gabriel Castro’s ’14 (ED), ’15 MA journey has been driven by curiosity, a love for teaching, and an openness to change. (Photo courtesy of Gabriel Castro)
Education wasn’t Castro’s first choice — he entered UConn as a psychology major, uncertain of his career path. However, a mentorship role in a First-Year Experience course changed everything. Standing before a classroom, guiding new college students, he realized teaching was what he was meant to do.
After graduating from the Neag School, he took his first teaching position in Puerto Rico, reconnecting with his roots. His mother had spent much of her childhood moving between Puerto Rico and Connecticut, and teaching at a K-12 school immersed him in a close-knit community.
Three years in Puerto Rico deepened his love for international teaching and inspired him to explore the other half of his heritage. His father had emigrated from Colombia, and Castro wanted to experience the country firsthand. Moving to Colombia, he found a vibrant culture, rich with music festivals, soccer, and breathtaking landscapes. It was there he met his wife, Kismeth, a fellow international teacher from New York. He says their shared passion for education and adventure brought them together.
They had intended to take a sabbatical year traveling through South America, but the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped their plans. With borders closing, they found temporary teaching positions in Costa Rica. Castro stepped in as a last-minute math teacher, navigating virtual classes, hybrid schedules, and masked interactions. Despite the challenges, Costa Rica was a paradise.
My years of adapting to different educational environments had prepared me well. — Gabriel Castro ’14 (ED), ’15 MA
“With tourism at a standstill, nature thrived,” he says. “Sloths and monkeys roamed undisturbed, and sunsets painted the sky in hues of gold and crimson.”
As the world reopened, they faced their next big decision. Asia had always intrigued them, and Taiwan offered everything they wanted — an excellent school, a safe environment, and a strong culture of hiking, cycling, and running.
Moving to Taiwan was a leap of faith but quickly felt like home. While the language barrier existed outside the classroom, Castro found his ability to connect with students transcended words.
“My years of adapting to different educational environments had prepared me well,” he says.
From Connecticut to Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and now Taiwan, every step of his journey has been driven by curiosity, a love for teaching, and an openness to change. His classroom now extends beyond four walls, spanning countries, cultures, and languages, and he is preparing for an exciting new personal chapter: fatherhood.
“I have an 11-month-old puppy, so I feel like I’ve been practicing in a way,” he says. “It’s a steep learning curve! But I’m excited to see how we can continue traveling with a baby and incorporating her into our adventures.”
Finding Love While Abroad
“It’s the children, really. Seeing them progress, mature, but still retain that spark of who they are — it’s special,” says Nicole Holland Kew ’09 (ED), ’10 MA. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Holland Kew)
Fourteen years into her teaching career — first in Connecticut and then in London — Kew still finds joy in watching her students grow.
“It’s the children, really,” she says. “Seeing them progress, mature, but still retain that spark of who they are — it’s special.”
Having spent 10 years at the same London school, she has become deeply embedded in the community. She gets to know families, watches siblings pass through her classroom, and shares their triumphs and struggles.
“Teaching wasn’t just a job; it was a life woven into the fabric of so many others,” she says.
Her path to teaching began in high school when she worked at an after-school program at her former elementary school in Connecticut. Later, as a camp director at a nature center, she solidified her love for mentoring. Her mother had always dreamed of being a teacher but never pursued it.
Teaching wasn’t just a job; it was a life woven into the fabric of so many others. — Nicole Holland Kew ’09 (ED), ’10 MA
“Maybe in a way, I was fulfilling that dream for both of us,” Kew says.
A single decision changed her trajectory. Studying abroad in London while at the Neag School was supposed to be an adventure — an opportunity to explore a city she had loved since a family trip at 13. She hadn’t expected to meet her future husband just weeks into the program.
They met in a pub, a chance encounter that turned into a long-distance relationship. After navigating time zones and transatlantic flights, they decided to marry. With her husband’s career established in London and the UK actively recruiting teachers, it made sense for Kew to move.
Adjusting to teaching in England came with challenges. In Connecticut, Kew had more autonomy in her teaching, while curriculum and behavior management were standardized in London. Leadership opportunities came more readily, and she briefly considered administration but loved being in the classroom too much.
Balancing work and family was another challenge. With four children — two daughters, 6 and 4, and toddler twins — her hands are full.
“Honestly,” she says, “going to work feels like a break compared to being home!”
London has become home in ways she never expected. During the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her husband considered moving to the U.S. to be closer to her family, but something always held them back. London has given her a life she cherishes, a career she loves, a community she belongs to, and — most importantly — a family she has built from the ground up.
Focused on All Things French
Yurah Robidas Emmenegger ’09 (ED), ’09 (CLAS), ’10 MA says her Neag School education instilled adaptability, an open-minded approach to curricula, and a hands-on teaching philosophy. These lessons help her navigate unfamiliar school systems and cultural differences with confidence. (Photo courtesy of Yurah Robidas Emmenegger)
Emmenegger, who taught for 15 years in Connecticut and now teaches in France, first became interested in education while teaching piano and tutoring in high school. With a mother who was also a teacher, it felt natural.
“It just made sense that I would become a teacher,” she says.
Growing up in Bristol and Plainville, Emmenegger developed a love for French through her mother, who had lived in Switzerland and Portugal.
“She sang to us in French as kids,” Emmenegger says. “In high school, I jumped at the chance to study it.”
A summer program in France in 2007 and the Neag School’s study abroad program in London during her master’s year of the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s teacher education program deepened her passion for language and curriculum planning.
My marriage, career, and worldview have all been shaped by this journey. While I still hope for a French teaching position, I know I am exactly where I am meant to be. — Yurah Robidas Emmenegger ’09 (ED), ’09 (CLAS), ’10 MA
After graduating, she taught French in Ellington, for three years but longed to live in France. She joined the French government’s teaching assistant program and was placed in Monté, where she lived with international assistants and did a weekly language exchange with another teacher. She spoke in English for half an hour for the language exchange to help the other teacher improve his English communication skills. Then, the other half specifically worked on improving her grammar.
Since she couldn’t teach French in France, Emmenegger explored other opportunities. Her mother’s past in Portugal led her there for Christmas, where she fell in love with the country and found a teaching job. But her journey took an unexpected turn — she met her future husband in Switzerland. When the world shut down in 2020, they spent months apart. Determined to be together, they married in May 2021, and, by July, she had moved to Switzerland.
Finding a teaching job there was challenging. She took a role at a private school, but it wasn’t the right fit.
She joined the International School of Basel (ISB), but no French positions were available. Expanding her search, she took a six-month role at a Swiss public school, but left after half a year.
ISB welcomed her back with an unexpected offer: teaching beginner German. Having learned German just two years earlier through Duolingo and night classes, she thought the interview offer was a joke. But ISB encouraged her. She took the leap and found herself in a supportive, engaging environment. ISB promised her priority for the next French opening, but no one wanted to leave — a testament to the school’s quality.
Despite career uncertainties, Emmenegger and her husband were building a life together. He was teaching while finishing his studies, and they navigated the challenges of being an international couple.
“You have to be open to moving,” she says. “Each time I relocated, I rebuilt my support system, making me appreciate my deep connections back home even more.”
She says her Neag School education instilled adaptability, an open-minded approach to curricula, and a hands-on teaching philosophy. These lessons helped her navigate unfamiliar school systems and cultural differences with confidence.
For those who love studying abroad, Emmenegger encourages taking the next step and teaching internationally, as she has no regrets.
“My marriage, career, and worldview have all been shaped by this journey,” she says. “And while I still hope for a French teaching position, I know I am exactly where I am meant to be.”
From UConn to Global Classrooms
Jessica Stargardter’s ’16 (ED), ’17 MA teaching journey included a year in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar, during which time she researched teacher evaluations in the country’s globally recognized education system. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Stargardter)
Stargardter’s journey as an educator has been extraordinary, spanning continents and shaping her perspective on the transformative power of teaching. After graduating from the Neag School, she began her career in Connecticut, teaching in Greenwich Public Schools before moving to Norwalk. There, she discovered her passion for gifted and talented education, an interest sparked during her time at UConn, where she worked at the Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, and Talent Development.
“I started filing papers at first, but then I received a grant to conduct research,” she says, which ignited a lifelong commitment to student potential.
Stargardter’s dedication led her to teach abroad at the International School of Panama.
“It was my first experience in a traditional classroom after working across grade levels,” she says. “I felt like a first-year teacher again, but it taught me so much about myself and the world.”
She later moved to Singapore, where she found a more manageable cultural transition.
“I was in a classroom with students from all over the world, each bringing something unique,” she says. “It was challenging but incredibly rewarding.”
Teaching is more than just a profession. It’s a way to change lives, one student at a time, no matter where I teach. — Jessica Stargardter ’16 (ED), ’17 MA
Teaching abroad reinforced her belief in education’s universal impact, transcending borders and backgrounds. Reflecting on what initially drew her to teaching, Stargardter credits her third-grade teacher, Mr. Simeone.
“He gamified everything,” she says. “Learning was fun and engaging. I remember thinking I wanted to do the same for my students.”
Her teaching journey also included a year in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar, during which time she researched teacher evaluations in the country’s globally recognized education system. Initially considering a career in academia, she realized how much she missed teaching, leading her back to the classroom and eventually to her move to Panama.
Stargardter’s foundation for success was built at the Neag School, where extensive classroom experiences prepared her for any teaching environment.
“Neag gave me the tools to step into my first classroom ready to succeed,” she says, crediting the program’s diverse placements for shaping her adaptable teaching philosophy.
During her master’s year, Stargardter interned in London through one of the Neag School’s study abroad programs, working at a school for adolescents with mental health challenges. She says this experience reshaped her understanding of education, teaching her that learning extends beyond traditional classrooms.
Her journey abroad has reinforced her belief in cross-cultural education’s power to broaden perspectives.
“Teaching is more than just a profession,” she says. “It’s a way to change lives, one student at a time, no matter where I teach.”
To learn more about the Neag School’s teacher education programs, visit teachered.education.uconn.edu.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Sellafield’s ’locked vault’ gives up its nuclear secrets
One of the most challenging puzzles in the UK’s nuclear clean-up programme is being solved.
Operators in the control room of Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Cladding Silo
Waste is now being routinely retrieved from one of the world’s oldest nuclear waste stores for the first time in its history.
Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Cladding Silo has effectively been a locked vault since the 1970s. That was when waste stopped being tipped into its 6 compartments.
After decades of work to figure out how to take waste from a building designed never to be emptied, retrievals teams are now doing exactly that.
So far, enough waste to fill 18 storage boxes has been cleared.
And some of the items recovered are not what you’d expect in an intermediate level nuclear waste store.
Among them is a 1960s Electrolux vacuum cleaner.
It’s believed the household hoover was used to suck up dust in the facility during its operational life in the 1950s and 60s.
Because the dust was radioactive, when the vacuum was no longer needed, the only place to dispose of it was in the silo itself.
The 1960s Electrolux vacuum cleaner discovered in Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Cladding Store
It’s a fantastic achievement to get to the point where we’re routinely retrieving waste from the building.
The scale of the challenge was immense. Remember, this was a facility that was not designed to be emptied.
The vacuum cleaner is a great example of how challenging it is to clear this silo. We don’t know for sure what’s in there. They didn’t keep accurate records in those days.
Anything taken into the building by the workforce of the day was likely to be contaminated because of the environment they were working in.
There was no alternative disposal route for contaminated material, so everything just went into the silo.
Ironically, a modern-day vacuum cleaner is also playing a part in the waste removal job, sucking up dust created when waste is dropped into storage boxes. It will eventually be consigned as waste itself, joining its 1960s predecessor.
Removing waste from old buildings like the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo is Sellafield’s most important job today.
Alongside it, there’s another silo and 2 ponds that need to be emptied. The ponds store used nuclear fuel underwater and were also not designed to be emptied.
Each one of these buildings needs its own unique decommissioning plan. All of them will take decades to complete.
You can read more about the plan for the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo here.
Roddy added:
For the first time in our history, we’re routinely retrieving waste from all 4 of our legacy ponds and silos.
That’s an incredibly important milestone in our journey to clean up the site.
But there’s a lot of work yet to do and these four facilities will continue to challenge for many years to come.
Our focus now is to safely accelerate the pace of retrievals and ultimately eliminate the risk these historic buildings pose.
This application followed the execution of a drugs warrant at the property by West Midlands Police on Friday 14 February when a firearm and ammunition were recovered alongside a quantity of suspected class A controlled drugs and other weapons involving a considerable number of additional officers and resources from across the area.
The Police were met with a hostile and violent response and a critical incident was declared. A number of people were arrested and remain on police bail pending further investigation.
Given the impact on the local community and clear evidence of serious criminality conducted at the property, Wolverhampton Homes Anti-Social Behaviour Team worked closely with West Midlands Police and applied for a Closure Order to close the premises immediately under the ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent further criminality and potential disorder taking place.
A Closure Order forbids any persons, including all residents of the property to enter the property for an initial period of 3 months and can be extended on application to the Court. Any breach of the order is an offence which, on conviction, can result in a fine or imprisonment.
The City Council’s Homeless Team is supporting the displaced residents to secure alternative accommodation.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet member for Digital and Community said: “Such criminality and disorder is incredibly harmful to communities and will not be tolerated. The council, police and Wolverhampton Homes will not hesitate to take robust action in these circumstances to protect the local community.
“Tackling ASB is one of the key priorities for the Safter Wolverhampton Partnership – giving confidence to residents that we are willing to take action and empowering them to report issues that are impacting individuals, communities and businesses.”
Inspector Chris Turner, who covers policing across the local area, said: “We are committed to reducing anti-social and criminal behaviour across the neighbourhood and we understand the distress and disruption such issues can cause people living locally.
“We always urge people to get in touch if they have concerns or information about criminal activity, as we will always seek to act on the information we receive.”
Director of education support companies jailed after spending £200,000 in Covid loans ‘as he saw fit’
Bounce Back Loan fraudster convicted after Insolvency Service investigations
Ricky Harrison fraudulently obtained four Covid Bounce Back Loans, including three for dormant companies
Money from the loans was used by Harrison for his own personal benefit and he attempted to avoid having to make any repayments by applying to have all four of his companies struck-off the Companies House register
Harrison has been sentenced to more than three years in prison following Insolvency Service investigations into his conduct
A director who secured maximum-value Covid loans for three dormant companies and overstated his turnover to secure a fourth during the pandemic has been jailed.
Ricky Harrison received a total of £200,000 in Bounce Back Loans during 2020, when he was entitled to just £16,000 at most. He also spent the money for personal purposes, not for business use as was required.
Three of his companies, Hackney Works Ltd, Tower Hamlets Works Ltd and Ricky Harrison Holdings Ltd, were not trading at the time he made his fraudulent applications to the bank.
The 41-year-old also exaggerated his turnover by more than £150,000 for a fourth company, Newham Works Ltd.
Harrison, of Beacon Court, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison when he appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Friday 25 April.
He was also disqualified as a director for 10 years.
David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:
Ricky Harrison’s actions were deeply cynical. He exploited an opportunity to help himself to taxpayers’ money during what was a national emergency.
Harrison did not co-operate with Insolvency Service investigations, failing to attend a pre-arranged interview and instead producing a typed statement where he implausibly claimed he was entitled to all the loans and was at liberty to spend the funds as he saw fit.
The reality is that Harrison was not entitled to the vast majority of the money he received and was required to spend the funds for the economic benefit of his business.
This was public money and we will continue to prosecute those who made such obvious false representations to secure Covid support.
Harrison’s four companies were incorporated within a three-week period in December 2018 and January 2019.
Hackney Works, Tower Hamlets Works, and Newham Works were all described on Companies House as providing “educational support services”. Ricky Harrison Holdings was described as a holding company.
Only Newham Works appeared to have any trading income in 2019.
Harrison himself admitted to an accountant that Hackney Works and Tower Hamlets Works were dormant and that there was no need to prepare any accounts for them.
Analysis of the accounts of Ricky Harrison Holdings revealed no evidence that the company had begun trading in its own right.
Despite this, Harrison falsely declared the companies had an annual turnover of £245,000, £232,000, and £315,000 respectively when he made the applications for three £50,000 Bounce Back Loans across a two-day period in May 2020.
At the same time, Harrison made a fraudulent application for a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan for Newham Works. He declared on the application form that the company’s turnover was £215,000 when it was actually only £64,000.
Harrison transferred some of the money he received to his other companies, including Newham Works, and paid a percentage into his own personal account.
A total of £85,000 also appeared to be used for the purchase of a vehicle in June 2020.
Harrison told the bank he would repay the funds, as was required under the terms of the scheme.
However, in July 2020, just weeks after securing the loans, Harrison applied to have Hackney Works and Tower Hamlets Works struck-off the Companies House register.
Harrison subsequently attempted to strike-off Ricky Harrison Holdings and Newham Works in 2021 but was unsuccessful.
No loan repayments were made by Harrison aside from a single payment of £833.
Further information
Ricky Harrison is of Beacon Court, Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire. His date of birth is 4 April 1984
Stoke-on-Trent will have “an unrelenting focus on increasing preventative activity” if a new health and wellbeing strategy is approved.
The draft document of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-28 promises a permanent shift towards investment in activities that help people to stay well and prevent avoidable health problems.
The strategy is aimed at tackling a number of key challenges in the city such as improving healthy life expectancy, infant mortality rates, and supporting the safe reduction of the number of children in care.
In addition, it will also look to improve the poor levels of physical and mental health that have social and economic impacts on residents, as they prevent people living full lives or accessing jobs and training.
The strategy’s targets include ensuring children reach and sustain a healthy weight, reducing repeat hospital admissions among young people for long-term conditions like asthma and diabetes and reducing premature deaths among the under 75s, whilst supporting older people to live actively and independently.
Councillor Lynn Watkins, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This strategy promises significant investment when tackling the key health challenges facing Stoke-on-Trent and will be important in our efforts to build a healthier city and reduce health inequalities.
“It is important residents’ experience is at the centre of helping to shape future care and support and that they know how to access services that will improve their health.
“By supporting independent living and prevention, this strategy won’t just offer the best health outcomes but also give people the greatest opportunity to thrive economically too.”
The Strategy will go to the council’s ruling cabinet this month. If approved, it will go to full council for final sign off.
Palestinian Authority and UK strengthen ties to continue work towards long-term peace
Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary host Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, demonstrating the UK’s steadfast support for the Palestinian Authority.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy will today host Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in London, marking the first official Palestinian Authority Prime Ministerial visit to the UK since 2021.
The invitation reflects the UK’s steadfast support for the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people at a critical juncture in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and desire to further strengthen bilateral relations.
The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister Mustafa will sign a landmark Memorandum of Understanding enshrining their commitment to advancing Palestinian statehood as part of a two-state solution. It will also stress that the Palestinian Authority is the only legitimate governing entity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and underlines the importance of reunifying Gaza and the West Bank under its authority. The MoU will also underscore the commitment of the Palestinian Authority to deliver its reform agenda as a matter of priority.
Alongside this, the UK will announce a package of support for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, expected to include £101 million directed at humanitarian relief, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.
The UK and PA will also agree on a coordinated approach to Gaza’s future, building on Arab and Palestinian-led initiatives. The UK will make clear that Hamas must immediately release the hostages and relinquish control of Gaza.
The strengthening of the UK-Palestinian partnership represents a key component of the UK government’s Plan for Change, as it works to support long-term peace and security in the Middle East. By working even more closely with the Palestinian Authority, the UK is demonstrating its commitment to the two-state solution as the best option for a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:
This visit marks a significant step in strengthening our relationship with the Palestinian Authority – a key partner for peace in the Middle East – at a critical moment.
The UK is clear that there can be no role for Hamas in the future of Gaza and we are committed to working with the Palestinian Authority as the only legitimate governing entity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
We will not give up on the two-state solution, with a Palestinian state and Israel living side-by-side in peace, dignity and security. I reaffirm the UK’s commitment to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to that process, at a time that has the greatest impact.
During the visit Prime Minister Mustafa will outline the Palestinian Authority’s reform programme which focuses on strengthening financial sustainability, enhancing governance transparency, and improving service delivery to Palestinian citizens.
Background
this is the first official Palestinian Authority Prime Ministerial visit to the UK since former Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh visited Glasgow in 2021 for COP26
Memorandum of Understanding: the MoU establishes a new framework for UK-Palestinian cooperation which will reiterate both parties’ commitment to the two-state solution, and pursue further cooperation in areas including economic development, trade and security
this comes as Lord Collins is also due to attend the UN Security Council Middle East Peace Process meeting on Tuesday where he will re-affirm the UK position on progressing towards a long-term peace in the region
the funding announcement is single-year (financial year 2025 to 2026) and future funding is subject to the ongoing Spending Review
Vatican City (Fides Agency) – In times of darkness, “the Lord comes to us with the light of the Resurrection to illuminate our hearts.” This is what happened to Jesus’ disciples when they encountered the Risen One, who after Jesus’ death on the cross had felt “ orphaned, alone, lost, threatened and helpless”. This is happening again today, with the light of Easter illuminating even the sadness over the end of Pope Francis’ earthly life.On the sun-drenched St. Peter’s Square, Cardinal Pietro Parolin addressed the approximately 200,000 young people who had come to Rome from all over the world to participate in the Holy Year of Youth with words of hope and Easter joy during the funeral Mass for the late Pope on the second day of the “Novendiale.”Easter joy, the Venetian cardinal told the boys and girls, “ can almost be touched in this square today; you can see it etched above all in your faces, dear children and young people who have come from all over the world to celebrate the Jubilee. You come from so many places: from all of the dioceses of Italy, from Europe, from the United States to Latin America, from Africa to Asia, from the United Arab Emirates… with you here, the whole world is truly present!”Cardinal Parolin recalled that Pope Francis, quoting the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, placed the joy of the Gospel at the center of his pontificate, which “fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus”. “Never forget,” the cardinal urged, ‘to nourish your lives with the true hope that has the face of Jesus Christ’ with whom ‘you will never be abandoned or alone,’ He ”who comes to meet you where you are, to give you the courage to live.” On the second Sunday of Easter, Dominica in Albis, when the Church also celebrates the Feast of Divine Mercy, Cardinal Parolin also recalled that “it is precisely the Father’s mercy, likewise the eagerness to proclaim and share God’s mercy with all – the proclamation of the Good News, evangelisation – was the principal theme of his pontificate. He reminded us that “mercy” is the very name of God, and, therefore, no one can put a limit on his merciful love with which he wants to raise us up and make us new people.” The affection manifested for Pope Francis after the end of his earthly life, the Cardinal emphasized in his homily, “must not remain a mere emotion of the moment; we must welcome his legacy and make it part of our lives, opening ourselves to God’s mercy and also being merciful to one another”. Mercy, added the cardinal, “brings us back to the heart of faith,” “heals and creates a new world, putting out the fires of distrust, hatred and violence: this is the great teaching of Pope Francis.” ( Fides Agency 27/4/2025).
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Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Education Secretary appoints new chair of Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has appointed Sir David Holmes as the new Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
The independent panel of experts provides national leadership and learning on child protection and safeguarding. Established in July 2018 to review serious child safeguarding incidents, when children have died or suffered serious harm due to abuse or neglect, the panel aims to improve the safeguarding system by identifying national learning from these tragedies.
David Holmes has 19 years’ experience in the development and provision of high-quality services for children and families as a CEO in the voluntary sector, currently as CEO of Family Action – a frontline charity which supports families through change, challenge or crisis. Prior to that he served as a Deputy Director of Children’s Services in local government, a senior civil servant in the Department of Health and Department for Education, and as a practising solicitor. He will serve a 4-year term from 23 June 2025.
This appointment builds on the announcement that the panel will form the foundation from which to build the Child Protection Authority (CPA) in England. The CPA will be established to make the child protection system clearer and more unified, and ensure ongoing improvement for child and youth victims of abuse and neglect through effective, evidence-based support for practitioners.
Under Sir David’s leadership, work to expand the role of the panel by increasing its analytical capacity and to provide high-quality material for practitioners will begin immediately. Later this year, the government will develop a roadmap to establishing the CPA and launch a consultation on the development of the new CPA.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:
Sir David Holmes’ track record in working on the ground with children and families, supporting them through the toughest times, makes him well-placed to help us build a system where background does not determine destiny.
I am grateful to Annie Hudson for her stewardship of the panel, bringing forth ambitious recommendations that are now informing our work to improve child protection across England and deliver our Plan for Change.
As we move towards creating a new Child Protection Authority, I look forward to working with Sir David Holmes in a shared ambition to protect and defend the most vulnerable children in our society.
Incoming chair of the panel, Sir David Holmes, said:
I am honoured to have been chosen to undertake this role. No child should suffer harm, abuse or neglect and the panel’s role in working with the whole safeguarding system to review practice, identify learning and encourage and enable improvement is crucial.
I look forward to working with everyone to improve the safeguarding of children and I will do everything I possibly can to make a positive difference in this role.
Outgoing chair of the panel, Annie Hudson, said:
I feel immensely privileged to have served as Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel for the past 5 years.
The panel has worked hard to ensure that, as a nation and as safeguarding professionals, we learn from tragic incidents where children have died or been seriously harmed because of abuse and neglect.
There is much important work to do over the coming period to improve how agencies work together to help and protect children. With his wealth of experience, I know that Sir David Holmes is very well placed to lead the panel in taking forward plans to create a stronger, evidence-based system that puts children’s needs at the heart of all we do.
Media enquiries – Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
Amina Makele, Head of Media and Communications 07889 133 791
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Alex Ely has been appointed as Chair of the Museum of the Home
The Secretary of State has appointed Alex Ely as the Chair of the Museum of the Home for a term of four years, which commenced on 23 March 2025.
Alex Ely
Alex is Founder Director of Mæ, an architecture and urban design studio based in London. Alex is a RIBA Chartered Architect and a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, he graduated from the Royal College of Art. Under his leadership, Mæ has gained international recognition for its innovative and socially responsive design approach, delivering acclaimed projects across masterplanning, housing, healthcare, and cultural buildings.
Alex oversees Mæ’s design direction, and has won numerous accolades including the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023. He is a leading voice in the built environment, and has shaped national housing policy having advised the Government and the Mayor of London on urban and planning policy promoting an agenda of design excellence. He has taught at a number of UK Schools of Architecture, written several books, and exhibited internationally.
Alex Ely quote:
“I am delighted to be appointed by the Secretary of State as Chair of the Museum of the Home. The Museum plays a crucial role in the advancement of education and promoting debate about the importance of home in and for societies. As one of our foremost cultural institutions I look forward to helping advance its mission and build on its purpose to reveal and rethink the ways we live, in order to live better together.”
Remuneration and Governance Code
The Chair of the Museum of the Home is not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.
The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Alex has not declared any significant political activity.
No Mow May, Plantlife’s annual campaign, is back, urging everyone to pack away their lawnmowers, let wildflowers grow freely, and help nature thrive.
Whether you’re in a town, or the countryside, it’s easy to take part.
No lawn is too small — every wild patch can provide vital food for bees and butterflies, connecting us with nature and giving the environment a strong start to summer.
This year, the Isle of Wight Council is once again supporting this national campaign in several locations across the Island, where it is safe to do so.
The initiative promotes local biodiversity and aligns with the principles of the Isle of Wight’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, particularly the principle of “Protect and Sustain Nature.”
Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment, and planning, said: “This past year has given us a much greater understanding of our unique Island wildlife thanks to the incredible work put into our draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).
“Throughout the development of this piece of work, we have mapped our biodiversity and Islanders have been coming forward identifying species we rarely see or knew were still here.
“Just last month one such rare find came to light with botanist Paul Stanley identifying one of the UK’s rarest plants – Himantoglossum hircinum, or Lizard Orchid.
“The findings of the LNRS show how important it is to restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
“We encourage people to join the No Mow May movement, in doing so supporting our Island Biosphere Reserve and aligning with the United Nations’ sustainable development goal of ‘life on land’.”
For safety reasons, the council will continue to mow roadside verges throughout May and maintain outdoor spaces that serve sport and recreation activities.
However, several council-managed areas will be allowed to return to their natural state during the month.
Among the sites participating in No Mow May 2025 are:
Big Mead, Shanklin – Tree line on the side of the main road.
Seaclose, Newport – On top plateau where new trees have been planted, the area behind will be left uncut.
Fishbourne Roundabout.
Havenstreet Recreation Ground – Over a quarter of the main grass area.
While the council supports No Mow May, it also recognises that permanent reinstatement of wildflower meadows or verges on private land would benefit biodiversity longer term.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
A Northern Territory man appeared in Darwin Local Court last Thursday after being charged with the alleged importation and possession of more than 4kg of ketamine.
It is believed to be the Northern Territory’s largest ketamine seizure.
The man, 32, who was arrested on Wednesday 23 April 2025, is due to face court again on 2 May 2025.
A Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (NT JOCTF) investigation began in April 2025, after Australian Border Force (ABF) members at Sydney Airport identified a consignment suspected of containing ketamine that arrived on a flight from Germany.
Investigators from NT JOCTF, which comprises of members from the Northern Territory Police Force, Australian Federal Police, ABF and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), replaced the illicit drugs – which were disguised in several sports energy drink and protein bar packages – with an inert substance.
After retrieving the crystallised ketamine from the packages, officers determined the estimated weight of the illicit drugs to be 4.08kg. This amount of ketamine has an estimated street value of $800,000.
The parcel was then delivered to its intended address in Zuccoli, near Darwin, where officers allegedly observed a man signing and taking possession of the delivery.
NT JOCFT investigators then executed a search warrant at the property and arrested the man.
During the search, officers allegedly located the opened parcel containing the substituted illicit drugs.
The man, 32, was charged with the following offences:
One count of importing a commercial quantity of ketamine, contrary to section 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
One count of possessing a dangerous drug, contrary to section 7(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT); and
One count of supply a dangerous drug, contrary to section 5(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT).
Each of these offences carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
NT Police Force Detective Superintendent Lee Morgan said, “This operation has resulted in the Northern Territory’s largest ever recorded ketamine seizure.
“4 kilograms of Ketamine is 40,000 times the minimum commercial quantity and is estimated to be worth $800,000 when sold.
“This package was delivered from outside of the country and the NT Police Force reiterate that these drugs are manufactured in unregulated and unhygienic conditions, and anyone choosing to use them is gambling with their life. We will continue to work closely with our partner agencies to combat imports of illicit substances into the Northern Territory.”
AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said the AFP and its law enforcement, intelligence and border agency partners worked tirelessly to identify, target and disrupt criminal syndicates in their attempts to import and distribute illicit drugs into Australia.
“The AFP, together with our partners under the NT JOCTF have prevented ketamine from reaching Australian streets under this investigation,” Supt Davis said.
“Our investigators continue to work collaboratively to ensure Australia remains a hostile environment for criminal syndicates in order to prevent any form of illicit drugs from entering the Australian community and causing widespread harm.
“Ketamine specifically is a dangerous sedative; its dissociative effects block sensory brain signals and can cause memory loss, feelings of being detached from one’s body and the inability to perceive dangers.
“This operation should serve as a significant warning to transnational serious organised crime syndicates – the AFP and our partners remain one step ahead of your illicit activities and will ensure you are brought to justice.”
This is a joint media release between the Northern Territory Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
Infortar will organize a webinar for investors on 5 May 2025 at 12:00 (EET) in Estonian and at 14:00 (EET) in English to introduce the first quarter 2025 results. The webinar will be attended by the Chairman of the Board of Infortar Ain Hanschmidt, the Managing Director Martti Talgre and Investor Relations Manager Kadri Laanvee.
The webinar will be hosted on the Microsoft Teams platform. Please note that to participate, no prior registration is required, and no reminder of the webinar will be sent. You can either participate by joining from your web browser or via Microsoft Teams application. When using a smart device to join the webinar, you first need to download the Microsoft Teams application from either Play Store or App Store.
Questions can be sent to investor@infortar.ee before the webinar and via Teams Q/A during the event. The webinar will be recorded and will be available online for everyone on the company’s website at https://infortar.ee/en/reports.
Infortar operates in seven countries, the company’s main fields of activity are maritime transport, energy and real estate. Infortar owns a 68.47% stake in Tallink Grupp, a 100% stake in Elenger Grupp and a versatile and modern real estate portfolio of approx. 141,000 m2. In addition to the three main areas of activity, Infortar also operates in construction and mineral resources, agriculture, printing, and other areas. A total of 110 companies belong to the Infortar group: 101 subsidiaries, 4 affiliated companies and 5 subsidiaries of affiliated companies. Excluding affiliates, Infortar employs 6,228 people.
Belfast Stands Against Racism rally at Belfast City Hall, 12:30pm today
PSNI recorded 1,777 racist incidents and 1,150 racist attacks last year
‘We demand more than token gestures and empty strategies. When the Racial Equality Strategy expires at the end of this year, we demand better to follow.’ – Patrick Corrigan
Speaking at the Belfast Stands Against Racism rally today (Sunday 27 April), Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Director, said:
“We stand here today because words without action are not enough.
“The Northern Ireland Executive’s racial equality strategy has failed. That’s not me saying it. That’s what the recent independent review – commissioned by the Executive – found.
“The strategy has lacked resources, targets, and effective action plans. Promises made years ago remain broken. Meanwhile racism has grown. Last year race hate crime here hit an all-time high.
“Years of complacency left bigoted thugs, including the masked men who wrap themselves in a false flag of patriotism, emboldened to carry out an ever-greater number of attacks.
“We demand more than token gestures and empty strategies. When the Racial Equality Strategy expires at the end of this year, we demand better to follow.
“Belfast deserves better. Northern Ireland deserves better. Every person living here, regardless of race or background, has a right to feel safe, respected, and heard.”
Last year saw racist hate crimes hit new all-time highs in Northern Ireland
The PSNI recorded 1,777 racist incidents and 1,150 racist attacks in 2024,reaching the highest ever recorded levels during the summer period.
Peacekeeping Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix today (24 Apr) told reporters in New York that the Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025, taking place in Berlin on 13-14 May, will be “a very important opportunity” for the UN and Member States to determine how to address challenges to ensure peacekeeping remains an “important, viable, credible and effective tool of the United Nations and multilateralism in the future.”
Lacroix said another issue to be discussed will be “how we can make peacekeeping more cost effective, because we are aware that we are operating, and we will be operating under increasingly severe financial constraints.”
He confirmed that Secretary-General António Guterres “will be participating in the Berlin meeting in two weeks’ time.”
Joining Lacroix, Germany’s State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Nils Hilmer said, “we are convinced that UN peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most important tools the international community has an international crisis management. However, we still face many challenges with regards to changing conflict dynamics, disinformation campaign, or targeting missions. Hence, it is all the more important to discuss about the future of peacekeeping.”
Hilmer said, “we want to provide a forum for Member States to discuss how we can continue making UN peacekeeping strong, effective and fit for the future,” adding that “by participating at the Berlin Ministerial, delegations can underline their political support for UN peacekeeping, contribute to closing critical capability gaps, and reinvigorate UN peacekeeping reform efforts.”
The results of the discussions, he said, “will provide important input to the UN Secretary-General’s review on the future of all forms of peace operations mandated in the Pact for the Future.”
The goal of the Berlin Ministerial, Hilmer explained, will be to “ensure UN peacekeeping remains at a sufficient level of preparedness for both current and potential future missions, and we want to increase overall mission effectiveness while enhancing safety and security of our personnel deployed.”
Germany’s Director-General for International Order, United Nations, and Disarmament at the Federal Foreign Office, Katharina Stasch, said the Berlin Ministerial’s aim, “is really to provide a follow up to the Pact for the Future. Actions must follow words.”
Responding to journalists’ questions, Lacroix said, “the United States is and has always been a very important part, and I should say, also a very important supporter of peacekeeping operation throughout the years. And we look forward to continuing cooperation with the United States. Now, when it comes to finances, I think that in any case, we are looking at times where financial resources will be limited. I think a very important challenge, to all of us really, is how we can improve the cost efficiency of peacekeeping.”
He said, “we operate on mandates, you know, those mandates are given to us by Member States, by the Security Council. We keep telling our Member States, please prioritize those mandates. You know, make sure that, you know, we know what are the key mandated tasks from your point of view that we have to implement. And then please give us an adequate level of resources, and please pay on time and in full.”
Leading up to the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and marking the 10-year anniversary of the Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping, the 2025 Berlin UN Peacekeeping Ministerial is the latest in a series of meetings held at the Head of State, Government, or Ministerial level.
The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial will serve as a high-level political forum to discuss the future of peacekeeping and for Member States to express and demonstrate their political support. It will also provide a platform for delegations to announce substantial pledges in support of closing capability gaps and adapting peace operations to better respond to existing challenges and new realities, in line with the pledging guide.
NASA continues to mark progress on plans to work with commercial and international partners as part of the Gateway program. The primary structure of HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) arrived at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Gilbert, Arizona, where it will undergo final outfitting and verification testing. HALO will provide Artemis astronauts with space to live, work, and conduct scientific research. The habitation module will be equipped with essential systems including command and control, data handling, energy storage, power distribution, and thermal regulation. Following HALO’s arrival on April 1 from Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, where it was assembled, NASA and Northrop Grumman hosted an April 24 event to acknowledge the milestone, and the module’s significance to lunar exploration. The event opened with remarks by representatives from Northrop Grumman and NASA, including NASA’s Acting Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development Lori Glaze, Gateway Program Manager Jon Olansen, and NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik. Event attendees, including Senior Advisor to the NASA Administrator Todd Ericson, elected officials, and local industry and academic leaders, viewed HALO and virtual reality demonstrations during a tour of the facilities.
While the module is in Arizona, HALO engineers and technicians will install propellant lines for fluid transfer and electrical lines for power and data transfer. Radiators will be attached for the thermal control system, as well as racks to house life support hardware, power equipment, flight computers, and avionics systems. Several mechanisms will be mounted to enable docking of the Orion spacecraft, lunar landers, and visiting spacecraft. Launching on top of HALO is the ESA (European Space Agency)-provided Lunar Link system which will enable communication between crewed and robotic systems on the Moon and to mission control on Earth. Once these systems are installed, the components will be tested as an integrated spacecraft and subjected to thermal vacuum, acoustics, vibration, and shock testing to ensure the spacecraft is ready to perform in the harsh conditions of deep space. In tandem with HALO’s outfitting at Northrop Grumman, the Power and Propulsion Element – a powerful solar electric propulsion system – is being assembled at Maxar Space Systems in Palo Alto, California. Solar electric propulsion uses energy collected from solar panels converted to electricity to create xenon ions, then accelerates them to more than 50,000 miles per hour to create thrust that propels the spacecraft. The element’s central cylinder, which resembles a large barrel, is being attached to the propulsion tanks, and avionics shelves are being installed. The first of three 12-kilowatt thrusters has been delivered to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland for acceptance testing before delivery to Maxar and integration with the Power and Propulsion Element later this year.
Question for written answer E-001555/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Fernando Navarrete Rojas (PPE), Dolors Montserrat (PPE)
Milestone 409 of Spain’s recovery and resilience plan makes fiscal sustainability a condition for pension reform. On 31 March 2025, the Independent Authority for Financial Responsibility (IAFR) published its report on the pension expenditure rule – a rule that was agreed upon with the Commission and designed to assess the need for corrective action. The IAFR has also published its independent report on sustainability.
The conclusions are alarming:
(a) The expenditure rule agreed upon does not guarantee the system’s sustainability.
(b) Pension expenditure pressure has increased by 0.4 points of GDP.
(c) Transfers from the state will need to be increased by 2.4 points of GDP, which will add to debt.
(d) Without changes to the current policy, the deficit would hit 7 % and debt would reach 129 % of GDP in 2050.
In view of the above:
1.Does the Commission believe that the pension reform is still in line with the principle of fiscal sustainability?
2.Can Spain amend, through Royal Decree 100/2025, the content of milestone 409, which includes an independent assessment of pension sustainability?
3.Will the Commission take the conclusions in the IAFR’s independent report into account when assessing Spain’s request for the fifth disbursement?
