[PRESS RELEASE – TUESDAY 8 APRIL 2025] – His Excellency Mr. Victor Vavricker presented his Letters of Credence to the Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa, Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, at a Credentials Ceremony held this morning at the Official Residence of the Head of State at Vailele, accrediting His Excellency as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Samoa with residence in Wellington, New Zealand.
Samoa and Switzerland have enjoyed cordial relations since the establishment of formal ties on 1 August 1981. Over the years, our collaboration has grown through shared values of multilateralism, sustainable development, and in addressing the challenges posed by climate change. Ambassador Vavricka reaffirmed Switzerland’s continued support for Samoa and the Pacific region, underscoring the importance of cooperation, respect for sovereignty, and shared development goals, as well as recognizing the vital role of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the global community.
Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II welcomed the Ambassador and acknowledged the growing partnership between Samoa and Switzerland. The Head of State highlighted Switzerland’s contributions to international development initiatives, particularly those that align with Samoa’s national priorities. His Highness reaffirmed Samoa’s confidence in the strengthening of bilateral relations, noting that Ambassador Vavricka’s tenure would further enhance the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries. The Head of State also acknowledged the contributions of the Honorary Consul Mrs. Sylvie Salanoa in strengthening Samoa-Switzerland relations through small grant projects in the local community.
H.E. Mr. Viktor Vavricka holds a licentiate in Law from the University of Zurich. He entered the service of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 2002, where he was initially assigned as a stagiaire in Bern and Ottawa. Mr. Vavricka has held several senior positions within Switzerland’s foreign service, including heading the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Section in the Directorate of International Law and the Asset Recovery Task Force. He also held various diplomatic postings including as Deputy Head of Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Bangkok, Thailand, and Berlin, Germany. In 2021, he was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to New Zealand with cross accreditation to Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu. He also serves as the Consul General to American Samoa.
END
Photo by the Government of Samoa (Jasmine Netzler-Iose)
A hotel manager who raped a woman and sexually assaulted three others has been sentenced as part of an investigation by Metropolitan Police Service detectives.
The Met is now appealing for any other potential victim-survivors who have not yet come forward.
Ahmed Fahmy, 46 (17.01.79), of West Heath Drive, Barnet, was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment at Harrow Crown Court, sitting at Hendon Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday, 23 April for a total of four offences committed while working in hotels across London.
He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register and was prohibited from being employed in the hospitality industry.
It follows Fahmy being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault by a jury on Thursday, 25 July 2024 after a two-week trial at the same court.
Detectives are now appealing to further victim-survivors, as they believe Fahmy’s offending was more widespread.
Detective Constable James Gomm from the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation, said: “Fahmy used manipulation to abuse his position as a hotel worker and get close to his victims. He demonstrated a clear pattern of offending and abuse.
“I would also like to commend the victim-survivors who have shared their experience to date for the bravery they have shown throughout the investigation and the court proceedings.
“We believe there may be other victims and I would encourage anyone affected to get in contact with us – you will be listened to and receive specialist support and guidance, not only from the police but independent charities and services.”
The offending
The Met’s investigation was launched in January 2024 after officers received reports of rape and sexual assault by two women who had been staying at the hotel in West Heath Drive, Barnet where Fahmy was working at the time.
Fahmy was a hotel worker in many hotels across London. He abused his position to enter guest rooms without permission, where he made sexual advances.
The investigation unearthed allegations against Fahmy which date back to 2008 and as recent as 2024.
Fahmy was arrested and an investigation launched on 21 January 2024 after officers received reports of rape and sexual assault by two women who had been staying with friends at the hotel Fahmy was employed at.
After the group of friends had become separated on a night out, three women had returned to the hotel in Barnet without a room key. After paying Fahmy £80 for another room , the women went to bed, but one woke up to find Fahmy licking her feet.
Later, two of the group returned from the night out and also misplaced their room key. Instead of offering her a new room, Fahmy coerced one woman into sharing his room, where he raped her.
During the investigation detectives uncovered and linked him to two other non-recent sexual assaults, which largely centred on Fahmy touching women’s feet. These offences took place in a hotel on Western Gateway, E16, and at a residential address in Alliance Close, Wembley.
The appeal
Following Fahmy’s sentencing, detectives are appealing for any other potential victim-survivors to come forward.
They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have met Fahmy while he was working at various hotels across London. As part of his modus operandi, detectives know that Fahmy abused the trust of his employers and hotel guests to manipulate and gain access to the guest rooms where women were staying, even encouraging some to stay in his room.
Fahmy is confirmed to have worked in five hotels across the city, though detectives believe there could have been more. The hotels did not belong to the same brand and were all situated in different locations across London.
These were –
• West Heath Drive in Barnet, • Royal Victoria Dock in E16, • Alliance Close in Wembley, • South Way in Wembley, • Bridge in Marlow.
Detectives are sharing this information in the hope that it may prompt other potential victim-survivors to come forward.
Support for victim-survivors
All of the victim-survivors in this case were given specialist support and guidance by officers and independent charities and services throughout the investigation and court process.
Due to some victim-survivors being guests who were visiting London at the time of the offences, it is believed that further victim- survivors may be from outside of London, or even from other countries. They are equally encouraged to make contact and seek support from the Metropolitan Police.
Survivors can contact the police by reporting online, or by emailing NWMailbox.Sapphire@met.police.uk who will arrange contact with them.
They can call 0208 733 6311 (0700-2300hrs Mon-Fri) as well.
MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel – April 23, 2025 – Tower Semiconductor (NASDAQ/ TASE: TSEM), the leading foundry of high value analog semiconductor solutions, will issue its first quarter 2025 earnings release on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2025 financial results and second quarter 2025 guidance on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (09:00 a.m. Central, 08:00 a.m. Mountain, 07:00 a.m. Pacific and 05:00 p.m. Israel time).
The call will be webcast and available through the Investor Relations section of Tower Semiconductor’s website at https://ir.towersemi.com/, where the pre-registration form required for dial-in participation is also accessible. Upon completing the registration, participants will receive the dial-in details, a unique PIN, and a confirmation email with all necessary information. The teleconference will be available for replay for 90 days.
About Tower Semiconductor
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ/TASE: TSEM), the leading foundry of high-value analog semiconductor solutions, provides technology, development, and process platforms for its customers in growing markets such as consumer, industrial, automotive, mobile, infrastructure, medical and aerospace and defense. Tower Semiconductor focuses on creating a positive and sustainable impact on the world through long-term partnerships and its advanced and innovative analog technology offering, comprised of a broad range of customizable process platforms such as SiGe, BiCMOS, mixed-signal/CMOS, RF CMOS, CMOS image sensor, non-imaging sensors, displays, integrated power management (BCD and 700V), photonics, and MEMS. Tower Semiconductor also provides world-class design enablement for a quick and accurate design cycle as well as process transfer services including development, transfer, and optimization, to IDMs and fabless companies. To provide multi-fab sourcing and extended capacity for its customers, Tower Semiconductor owns one operating facility in Israel (200mm), two in the U.S. (200mm), two in Japan (200mm and 300mm) which it owns through its 51% holdings in TPSCo, shares a 300mm facility in Agrate, Italy with STMicroelectronics as well as has access to a 300mm capacity corridor in Intel’s New Mexico factory. For more information, please visit: www.towersemi.com.
Question for written answer E-001504/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Mariusz Kamiński (ECR)
The Russian Telegram platform is widely used by the Russian authorities and organised crime groups. The Kremlin treats it as a safe and effective tool not only for spreading propaganda and disinformation, but also for carrying out specific acts of sabotage on EU territory. One example is a group recruited and instructed via Telegram to conduct a campaign against Poland’s Law and Justice Government, President Andrzej Duda, Ukraine and NATO[1].
Authorities in the Netherlands and Lithuania have warned that Telegram is being used as a ‘notice board’ for drug trafficking, as well as other serious crimes, such as paedophilia and human trafficking.
During a meeting of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) on 27 March 2025, representatives of the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority pointed out that cooperation with Telegram in the prosecution of the perpetrators of these crimes and the removal of illegal content is very limited.
Despite the seriousness of the threats that it poses, Telegram, after opening an office in Brussels, enjoys full freedom of activity in the territory of the EU. At the same time, by understating the number of users, it is able to evade obligations regarding the transparency of algorithms imposed on VLOPs. Experts and regulators indicate that the actual number of users exceeds the threshold of 45 million.
1.Given the examples presented of the use of Telegram by the Russian authorities and criminal groups, is the Commission cooperating with Member States, Europol and Eurojust to thoroughly assess and counter this threat?
2.Is the Commission working with the Belgian regulatory authority and other national authorities to urgently conduct a thorough assessment to determine whether Telegram should be classified as a VLOP?
The government is going to issue a guarantee to TenneT Nederland. This will enable the high-voltage grid operator to continue investing in the Dutch electricity network through attractive loans. Two options are being considered for the financing of the German branch of TenneT: a private share issue or an initial public offering. This will provide structural solutions for the financing needs of TenneT Netherlands and Germany, as ministers Heinen (Finance) and Hermans (Climate and Green Growth) write in a letter to the Parliament. All financial aspects have been incorporated into the Spring Budget.
A well-functioning transmission grid and access to electricity are essential for Dutch households and businesses. Expansion and reinforcement of the electricity grid are necessary to meet the growing demand. This requires major investments; TenneT Netherlands is expected to invest some 90 billion euros over the next ten years. The government has decided to issue a guarantee to ensure that TenneT Netherlands can finance this investment. This will enable TenneT Netherlands to take out loans with the same credit rating as the Dutch state (AAA). This means that loans can be obtained on the capital market under better conditions – and therefore more cheaply. This approach means that no additional capital contributions from the state are necessary. The intention to provide a guarantee is included in the Spring Budget 2025. This will be submitted to parliament.
For TenneT Germany, where substantial investments are also needed in the coming years, the government has chosen private funding. An initial public offering or private share issuance are the two options currently under consideration. Interest among private investors will be explored in the coming months and a decision will be made before the summer which option implemented further.
The proposed structural solutions changes TenneT’s financing structure. At the moment, TenneT raises its debt through TenneT Holding and lends it to TenneT Netherlands and TenneT Germany. In the future, the debt will be raised separately by TenneT Netherlands and TenneT Germany. All existing bondholders will be asked to agree to the transfer of the debt to TenneT Netherlands in exchange for a one-time compensation. In doing so, TenneT is working on a future-proof financing structure. If there is insufficient interest among private investors in participating in TenneT Germany or the debt restructuring does not succeed, the Dutch state will itself provide the capital needed by TenneT Germany. A reservation has therefore been included in the national budget. The Dutch state is hereby acting as a responsible shareholder.
Lord Collins of Highbury, UK Minister for Africa visits Uganda
Lord Collins of Highbury visited Uganda on 3 and 4 April to reinforce the UK’s commitment to sustainable development and mutual economic growth.
UK Minister for Africa Lord Collins with British High Commissioner Lisa Chesney, CEO of Uganda Airlines Jenifer Bamuturaki, and Minister of Works and Transport Katumba Wamala, at a reception to mark the Uganda Airlines’ direct flight to the UK, scheduled for 18 May 2025.
During his 2-day visit, Lord Collins announced the launch of a new UK-Uganda Growth Dialogue between the UK and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
The UK-Uganda Growth Dialogue will be a quarterly series of discussions on commercial deals, business environment and economic policy to identify opportunities to increase trade and investment between the 2 nations. It will unblock barriers to trade and create new opportunities for collaboration.
Lord Collins visited areas of UK investments such as Zembo, a leading e-mobility company in Uganda, which has received financing from UK Innovate and Private Infrastructure Development Group.
Uganda’s green transition
Funding has accelerated the adoption of electric motorcycles and other zero-emission vehicles, reducing carbon emissions and saving the average boda driver US$500 annually on traditional fuel and maintenance costs. The investment supports Uganda’s transition to greener mobility while creating new job opportunities.
Lord Collins of Highbury stated:
My visit to Uganda reaffirms the UK’s unwavering commitment to building equal partnerships that supporting sustainable development and drive mutually beneficial economic growth in the region. We are dedicated to working closely with our Ugandan partners to achieve shared prosperity and a brighter future for all.
Celebrating direct flights between UK and Uganda
Lord Collins and Uganda Airlines jointly hosted a reception to celebrate the new Uganda Airlines direct flight to the UK – the first in 10 years. The direct flights are expected to enhance trade, tourism, and people-to-people links between the UK and Uganda, further strengthening the 2 countries’ historic relationship.
Lord Collins remarked:
The introduction of direct flights between Entebbe and London Gatwick marks a pivotal moment in our efforts to deepen ties and foster mutual growth. We are excited about the opportunities this new connection will bring.
Supporting Uganda’s research and innovation
During his visit to Uganda, Lord Collins of Highbury visited the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), which boasts over £25 million in active funding from UK Universities and Medical Research Council and hosts many British medical researchers for and a 35-year partnership with the UK.
UVRI has pioneered breakthroughs, including significant advancements in HIV/AIDS treatment and Ebola research, enhanced disease surveillance and provided expert advice on controlling viral infections.
UVRI partners with the Ministry of Health, the UK’s Medical Research Council (MRC), the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and other international and local experts to advance its mission
Background
UVRI (Uganda Virus Research Institute)
UVRI is a leading research institute in Uganda, focusing on viral diseases and public health, collaborating with UK Universities and international partners.
PIDG (Private Infrastructure Development Group)
PIDG mobilises finance for infrastructure projects in Africa and Asia, promoting sustainable development through public-private partnerships.
Innovate UK
Innovate UK supports business-led innovation across sectors with financial support, expert advice and access to resources.
Transport Secretary acts to make thousands of extra driving tests available each month
Further action to reduce waiting times will see thousands of additional tests made available every month.
new measures unveiled to crack down on test-buying bots and deliver at least 10,000 extra tests a month
training capacity to be doubled to drive-up availability of driving examiners
government action to help ready learners pass, unlock opportunities, and drive economic growth — delivering on our Plan for Change
Learner drivers are set to benefit from reduced waiting times as the Transport Secretary announced new measures today (23 April 2025) to combat test-buying bots and provide thousands of additional tests every month.
The Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, has instructed the DVSA to intensify its efforts to reduce waiting times and improve access to driving tests which will break down barriers to opportunity as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
To open up more tests and break down barriers to opportunity, she has announced:
those in other DVSA roles who are qualified to examine will be asked to return to the frontline to provide practical driving tests
doubling the number of permanent trainers to skill up new driving examiners quickly
accelerated consultation to investigate the potential abuse of the driving test booking system and prevent bots from accessing tests
reintroduction of overtime pay incentives for everyone delivering driving tests
Taken together, the government aims for these measures to reduce driving test waiting times to 7-weeks by summer next year.
Significant progress has already been made as part of the DVSA’s 7-point plan to reduce waiting times, with 1.95 million tests delivered last year. However, further action is required to help learners pass quickly and ensure young people can access vital training and job opportunities to help them get on in life.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said:
We inherited an enormous backlog of learners ready to ditch their L-Plates but being forced to endure record waiting time for their tests.
We simply cannot deliver on our Plan for Change if thousands remain held back, with their aspirations on pause.
I am instructing DVSA to take further action immediately to reduce waiting times which will see thousands of additional tests made available every month. We’re acting fast to get Britain’s drivers moving.
The DVSA’s Additional Testing Award scheme will reopen for up to 18 months, allowing more examiners to deliver additional tests.
Examiner training capacity will be doubled to ensure newly recruited driving examiners can qualify as quickly as possible. An accelerated consultation will also launch in May to improve the booking system and block bots from accessing tests. This comes on top of the work DVSA is already undertaking with leading IT specialists to enhance resilience against resellers.
Additionally, the government will temporarily ask eligible staff to deploy into examining roles, increasing test availability and providing coverage for examiner sickness or leave.
These measures come following the launch of a 7-point plan to drive down the waiting times to 7 weeks.
Since December 2024, we’ve made significant progress on implementing our plan to reduce waiting times. But we know that many learner drivers are not seeing the immediate effects of the measures.
The further action which the Secretary of State has announced today will help us to accelerate those measures, including expanding training capacity for newly recruited driving examiners so more of them can start carrying out driving tests sooner.
Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance said:
A long wait for driving test availability has held back many learner drivers from getting their licence. That’s why it’s positive to see that the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, is enforcing more measures to improve waiting times for learners. This will bring hope to those starting to learn, or still waiting to take their test. And ultimately, it should help make what is meant to be an exciting time for them something they can look forward to without the thought of a long wait.
Emma Bush, Managing Director of AA Driving School, said:
Learner drivers have been dealing with frustratingly long waiting times to book a driving test since the easing of pandemic related restrictions several years ago. As we have highlighted, there is an urgent need for effective action to bring waiting times down to an acceptable level and, as such, we welcome today’s announcement giving further details of how the DVSA will meet its target waiting time of 7 weeks by the end of the year.
Many people, particularly young people, need to pass their driving test for their job or to access education. Unblocking the system by creating extra tests will help ensure people are not being held back due to a lack of a driving licence.
In response to the publication today of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) preliminary data on Official Development Assistance (ODA) for 2024, Oxfam International’s Aid Policy Lead Salvatore Nocerino said:
“Today’s figures lay bare an ugly truth: even before this year’s devastating cuts to aid, rich countries had already begun to renege on their moral obligations to the world’s most vulnerable communities. Not only had they been reducing aid, but also spending a significant share of it within their own borders to cover refugee costs.
“Only a handful of countries, including Luxembourg, New Zealand, Spain and South Korea, maintained or increased their aid budgets in 2024, and are expected to do the same this year.
“If governments keep slashing aid, more children will go to bed hungry, more people will die from diseases we’ve long known how to prevent, and millions more will be pushed even deeper into poverty.
“Governments must urgently reverse these cuts and start taxing the super-rich, whose wealth has grown unchecked. In a world as interconnected as ours, diseases and climate disasters know no borders. These cuts are reckless and short-sighted, and will drive us all towards greater harm.”
The OECD’s preliminary data shows that ODA totalled $212 billion in 2024, a significant drop from $223 billion in 2023. Last year’s ODA fell $237 billion short of meeting the longstanding commitment of allocating 0.7 percent of gross national income (GNI) to aid for low- and middle-income countries. Oxfam has calculated that in the 54 years since this promise was made, rich countries have failed to deliver a total of $7.5 trillion in aid.
In 2024, 13.1 percent was spent on domestic refugee reception.
After 18 months of war, a staggering toll on civilians and aid workers, and now a six-week total siege, the humanitarian aid system in Gaza is facing total collapse with the CEOs of 12 major aid organisations making an urgent plea: let us do our jobs.
A new humanitarian access survey of 43 international and Palestinian aid organisations working in Gaza found nearly all of them – 95% – have had to suspend or dramatically cut services since the ceasefire ended one month ago on 18 March, with widespread and indiscriminate bombing making it extremely dangerous to move around.
The people of Gaza – particularly women and children – are paying the price. Families are living amongst the rubble of their destroyed homes. Famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly unfolding in almost all parts of Gaza. The UN haswarnedthe humanitarian crisis in Gaza is the worst it has been in 18 months.
Stripped of the means to keep people alive, hospitals have become morgues. More than 51,000 Palestinians have been reported killed. One of the last partially functioning hospitals, Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in northern Gaza, was bombed last Sunday.
“This is one of the worst humanitarian failures of our generation. Every single person in Gaza is relying on humanitarian aid to survive. That lifeline has been completely cut off since a blockade on all aid supplies was imposed by Israeli authorities on 2 March.
“We have supplies ready. We have trained medical staff. We have the expertise. What we don’t have is the access – or the guarantee by Israeli authorities that our teams can safely do their jobs.
“Survival itself is now slipping out of reach and the humanitarian system is at breaking point,” the CEOs of the 12 aid organisations said in their joint statement.
Twenty-four of the surveyed organisations reported increased movement restrictions in Gaza, impeding their ability to deliver aid. Nineteen aid organisations reported having cargo stuck outside Gaza, totaling at least 9,000 pallets of aid supplies.
Gaza now holds the disastrous record of being the deadliest place on earth for humanitarian workers. We cannot operate under fire or stay silent while our staff are killed.
More than 400 aid workersand over 1,300 health workers have been reported killed in Gaza since October 2023, despite the requirement under international humanitarian law for humanitarian workers to be protected.
The recent killing of 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers, whose bodies were found buried in a mass grave triggered global outrage, but many violations and attacks go unreported.
Despite hopes that the eight-week pause in hostilities would become a turning point, the violence against civilians and aid workers has only worsened. Since Israeli forces resumed bombardments, at least 14 organisations reported Israeli fire directly or indirectly hitting their staff or aid facilities.
Every day, aid workers – the majority of whom are Palestinian – are targeted, detained, obstructed or killed. Just as every day, rules meant to protect civilians in war are ignored with impunity. When our staff and partners, our convoys, our offices, our warehouses are shelled, the message is loud and clear: even lifesaving aid is no longer protected.
This is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have proposed a new authorisation mechanism for the delivery of aid in Gaza that the UN Secretary-General has describedas “limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour.” This mechanism would set a dangerous new global precedent and eliminate any remaining space to deliver aid independent of military and political motivations. New NGO visa and registration rules, based on vague criteria, will censor humanitarian reporting and prevent us from fulfilling our mandate.
We call on all parties to guarantee the safety of our staff and to allow the safe, unfettered access of aid into and across Gaza through all entry points, and for world leaders to oppose further restrictions.
We call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure including hospitals, schools and shelters and the immediate restoration of basic services – water, electricity, and sanitation as required under international law.
We call for the release of the hostages.
We call for the release of all Palestinians arbitrarily detained.
We call, yet again, resoundingly, for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool. Saving lives should not be controversial. Laws of war developed over centuries to govern conduct and protect civilians should not now be discarded.
Let us do our jobs.
INGER ASHING, CEO, Save the Children International
AMITABH BEHAR, Executive Director, Oxfam International
SEAN CARROLL, President and CEO, Anera
STEVE CUTTS, interim Chief Executive Officer, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
NICOLAS DOTTA, CEO, Médecins du Monde Spain
JAN EGELAND, Secretary General, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
REENA GHELANI, CEO, Plan International
MANUEL PATROUILLARD, Managing Director, Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International
MORGANE ROUSSEAU, CEO, Médecins du Monde Switzerland
REINTJE VAN HAERINGEN, Chair – Executive Committee, CARE International
Views sought on exemptions from rent control and where rent could be increased above cap.
A consultation has been published on potential for certain exemptions from rent controls or increases above the rent cap.
Last year, the Scottish Government set out its plans for long-term rent controls in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, which will help create a fairer, better-regulated rented sector for tenants and landlords.
Tenants, landlords and others in the rented sector are being asked to share their views on possible exemptions to the rent cap, for example in connection with mid-market and Build to Rent properties.
The consultation also considers where landlords could be allowed to increase rents above the cap, for example where there have been improvements to their property or where rents have consistently been charged at a level below market rates.
Views are also being sought on how Ministers’ regulation-making powers could be used to clarify how private sector joint tenancies are ended.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:
“The rent control proposals we have published as part of the Housing Bill are just some of the measures we are taking to improve lives and work towards achieving our goal of ending child poverty in Scotland.
“Our rent control proposals will help provide certainty for tenants by keeping them in their homes and ensure rents remain affordable during a cost-of-living crisis.
“Rental properties are a crucial element of our efforts to tackle the housing emergency and we want landlords to have the confidence to invest and continue to provide good quality, affordable homes.
“We have published this consultation as part of our ongoing engagement with those who will be affected by rent control. The responses will help us strike the right balance between supporting tenants, whilst ensuring the rights of landlords are protected and we continue to support investment in the rented homes we need.”
The examination hearings for a Local Plan for St Albans District are to start with an opportunity for objectors to raise any concerns.
Two Planning Inspectors, Matthew Birkinshaw and Thomas Bristow, are to assess whether St Albans City and District Council’s Local Plan is sound and complies with all legal requirements.
They are to begin their task by hearing from organisations who have opposed the Local Plan (LP) which the Council submitted to the Government five months ago.
The hearings will take place in public at the Council Chamber in the Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street, St Albans, on Tuesday 29 April to Friday 2 May.
Anyone wanting to follow the proceedings can do so online with the Council providing a live webcast of the event.
Only those who have been invited by the Inspectors to participate will be allowed to speak at the hearings.
They are entitled to be represented by a legal advocate such as a solicitor or barrister with expertise in planning law.
The hearings’ main purpose is to allow the Inspectors to probe arguments put forward by objectors about the LP’s soundness or legal compliance.
On the opening day, they will consider the LP’s legal compliance while on the Wednesday, they will deal with housing growth and strategy.
Thursday is due to be taken up by the principle of Green Belt issues, though not specific sites, while the final day will be reserved for any other business.
The Council may be asked by the Inspectors to respond to any of the objections that are raised and is also entitled to expert legal representation.
Amanda Foley, the Council’s Chief Executive, said:
Producing a Local Plan is one of the most challenging and complex tasks that a planning authority is required to undertake.
The Local Plan that we submitted for examination in November last year is the culmination of more than three years’ work including extensive public consultations.
We are pleased that the examination process will shortly get underway with the first stage allowing for the Inspectors to look in depth at objections.
Supporters of the LP, the Council apart, will not be heard at these hearings, so it may seem a little one sided. However, it is only fair that the Local Plan goes through a robust test such as this.
Following these stage one hearings, the Inspectors will hold a further set of hearings to consider the main issues at a date yet to be decided.
The Inspectors will then compile a report for the Council with its initial findings, setting out their conclusions and any modifications to the LP which they deem necessary.
The LP is a blueprint for the sustainable growth of St Albans District over the next 16 years.
It identifies land suitable for future housing and commercial development as well as the necessary infrastructure.
The proposed LP allows for the building of 15,000 new homes in the District up to 2041 at designated sites. This figure is in accordance with national planning policy guidelines and will include 1,200 social rent properties.
It also provides for £750 million of new infrastructure including nine primary schools, four secondary schools, improvements to public transport, locations for 15,000 jobs, green spaces and health facilities.
Statement from the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council on the Passing of Pope Francis
23 April 2025
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr has issued a statement following the passing of Pope Francis today in Rome.
She said: “It is with profound sorrow that I heard of the passing of Pope Frances. As Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the Catholic community across our district, Ireland, and the world on the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis.
“Pope Francis’ papacy was marked by a profound commitment to humility, social justice, and inclusivity.
“Throughout his tenure, Pope Francis championed the causes of the marginalised, advocated for environmental stewardship, and called for compassion and understanding across all communities. His focus on dialogue and reconciliation resonated deeply, especially in regions like ours that have experienced division.
“He was a man of huge compassion and courage with a commitment to justice and the dignity of every human being. He challenged us to care for the poor, the disadvantaged and to live a life of love for everyone.
“On behalf of the people of Derry and Strabane, I offer our deepest sympathies to Archbishop Eamon Martin, the clergy, and all members of the Catholic Church. May Pope Francis rest in eternal peace, and may his legacy continue to guide us toward compassion and unity.”
PLANS to mark the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day in Dundee are well underway.
The city’s commemoration, which forms part of a national marking of the date, will be hosted by Lord Provost Bill Campbell.
Starting with a short service of remembrance and thanks on the steps of the Caird Hall attended by local clergy and church leaders, invitations are also being extended to councillors, other politicians, council leaders and veterans.
Organisations representing veterans, military organisations, cadet forces and reserves are being encouraged to parade on the City Square.
Lord Provost Bill Campbell said: “We must never forget the sacrifice made on all fronts, including at home, in the Second World War and it is important that we and future generations always remember the ultimate price many paid to maintain freedom from totalitarian and genocidal regimes.
“Dundee citizens in every branch of the armed services and on every front in the conflict gave their lives or were in some way affected by the Second World War.
“We would like the people of the city to join us in the City Square on Saturday 10 May 2025, to pay tribute, and mark VE Day commemorating the surrender of German forces to the Allied powers at the end of World War II.”
Further details of the event and timings will be announced nearer the date.
Planning reforms to slash a year off infrastructure delivery
Clean energy projects, reservoirs, railway lines, and other major infrastructure to be built faster, under changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
Clean energy projects, public transport links, and other major infrastructure will on average be delivered at least a year faster, as the government accelerates planning reforms to unleash growth and restore Britain’s rightful place as a world leader in building.
Burdensome statutory consultation requirements unique to major infrastructure projects will be scrapped, through amendments to the pro-growth Planning and Infrastructure Bill, cutting down the average two-year statutory pre-consultation period by half and paving the way for new roads, railways, and windfarms that will bolster the country’s connectivity and energy security.
Developers currently spend significant time and money on long, technical documents resulting in communities feeling fatigued and confused, which is a direct result of overly complex planning rules that are leaving working people deprived of the things their areas need to thrive. It also disincentivises developers making improvements to projects for fear of having to re-consult, even if in the community’s best interest.
Recognising community voices remain vital, the government will bring this process in line with planning applications for major housing schemes, and set out new statutory guidance to promote meaningful local engagement without repeating these flaws. This will allow changes to be made dynamically based on community feedback, reducing delays and potentially saving over £1 billion for industry and taxpayers this Parliament. These changes will help ensure Britain is open for business, attracting billions of pounds of new private investment.
This will go even further in streamlining infrastructure delivery through the government’s landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill, as part of the Plan for Change to power and heat homes with clean energy, raise living standards, create well-paying jobs, and put more money into the pockets of working people and families. The reforms will also boost the government’s efforts to build 1.5 million homes by making it easier to deliver the roads, reservoirs and energy generation needed so we can restore the dream of homeownership to families across the country.
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said:
“Critical national infrastructure is key to Britain’s future and security – so we can’t afford to have projects held up by tiresome requirements and uncertainty, caused by a system that is not working for communities or developers and holding back our true potential.
“We are strengthening the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to make sure we can lead the world again with new roads, railways, and energy infrastructure as part of the Plan for Change, whilst ensuring local people still have a say in our journey to get Britain building.”
Alongside statutory guidance for developers on applications, the Planning Inspectorate will maintain high standards for accepting projects – informed by community engagement. Local authorities will also be made aware of proposed applications so that they can continue to play an important role informing and advising on developments, as well as advocating for local interests.
As a result, local people can still object and share their views but in a more effective way, with developers given the flexibility to adapt their schemes as needed without restarting the process: reducing delays and costs for projects, including datacentres, reservoirs, and solar farms, while ensuring local people’s voices are heard.
Meanwhile the government is already taking action – consenting more nationally significant solar projects since the start of the Parliament compared to the whole of the previous one, including the Mallard Pass Solar Project in Lincolnshire, and making the largest ever investment in offshore wind, as we deliver our Plan for Change milestone of 150 decisions on major infrastructure projects by the end of the Parliament.
Examples of delays under current system:
Fens Reservoir: Over 1,000 days in pre-application due to a number of issues including around consultation requirements, expected submission in December 2026, supplying 250,000 homes with water.
National Grid – Bramford to Twinstead: 717 days in pre-application for 29km of overhead lines and underground cables.
Hinkley Point C: Three years in pre-application consultation; Sizewell C spent around seven-and-a-half years at this stage.
Wider reforms in the Bill will streamline and speed up planning decisions, remove blockers to major infrastructure and housing delivery, and support environmental goals through the new Nature Restoration Fund to achieve win-win outcomes for both nature and the economy.
These changes build on the recent OBR forecast confirming the government’s planning overhaul, through an updated National Planning Policy Framework, will drive UK housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years and boost the economy by £6.8 billion by 2029/30.
Notes to editors:
Carl Trowell, President of Strategic Infrastructure, National Grid, said:
“Consulting with communities and stakeholders will always be a fundamental part of the way we at National Grid develop and shape our projects. We welcome the Government’s proposal today which will ensure that consultation and engagement can be more effective and targeted. This will accelerate the path to delivering critical infrastructure while continuing to ensure the views of local communities are heard.”
Benj Sykes, UK Country Manager, Ørsted said:
“Ørsted welcomes the ongoing work of the Government to reform the planning system, including these changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Engaging and working with communities and other stakeholders in the pre-application stage has always been central to our work developing new energy projects and will remain so; the changes being introduced will allow everyone involved in these engagements to focus on the issues that matter to stakeholders and local communities, and to our developments.”
James Robottom, Head of Policy, Renewable UK said:
“This announcement represents a significant step forward for the renewable energy industry, as it will enable us to speed up the delivery of vital infrastructure projects to boost the UK’s energy security, grow the economy and help us to reach the Government’s target of clean power by 2030. The industry has a long track record of engaging early and closely with local communities and a wide range of environmental stakeholders, and this will continue as we want to carry on building projects with local support by giving communities a clear voice in the decision-making process. We look forward to feeding into the new guidance that will enable us to spend more time engaging with key stakeholders on the most important issues for each new project on a case by case basis and lead to even higher quality engagement and positive outcomes for nature.”
Sam Richards, CEO of pro-growth campaign group Britain Remade, said:
“Today’s bold reforms to cut red tape and get vital infrastructure delivered faster are a big step toward unlocking clean energy, better transport, and the homes Britain desperately needs. Too often consultation is a long and expensive box ticking exercise. By slashing delays and encouraging real community engagement, the government is backing growth, investment, and the kind of national renewal we all want to see.”
Adam Berman, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Energy UK said:
“Energy UK is fully behind the Government’s mission to speed up the planning system, unlocking the investment in clean energy we need to secure our future power needs. More targeted engagement with statutory consultees will result in faster and more appropriate applications, allowing relevant public bodies to focus on planning applications that matter most to them.”
Richard Greer, Fellow, Climate & Sustainability Services, Arup:
“Building on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill with further legislative improvements will be essential to delivering the Government’s ten-year Infrastructure Strategy and its pipeline of projects across transport, energy, water, and the new economy sector (such as data centres). A step-change in infrastructure delivery requires a comprehensive package of reforms that streamlines the entire project lifecycle.”
Net sales amounted to KSEK 19 892 (14 174), an increase of 40%.
EBITDA amounted to KSEK 669 (1 368), corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 3%.
EBIT amounted to KSEK -1 339 (-522), corresponding to an EBIT margin of -7%.
Cash flow from operating activities amounted to KSEK -3 140 (1 627).
Earnings per share amounted to SEK -0.01 (-0.00).
Earnings per average number of shares amounted to SEK -0.01 (-0.00)
Message from the CEO
Sales in the first quarter were in line with expectations, amounting to approximately 20 MSEK, resulting in an EBITDA of 0.7 MSEK. During the quarter, we received two orders from our partner Kaiser in Singapore, totaling approximately 4 MSEK in consumables. The end customer has purchased instruments through four separate orders. The continued orders of consumables indicate that the instruments are in frequent use. The customer operates within law enforcement, and the SERS consumables are used to identify narcotics in very low concentrations and mixtures that are typically difficult or impossible to detect with handheld Raman devices that lack the patented SERS capability.
During the quarter, we launched three new accessories that address challenges previously unsolvable with handheld Raman technology. These new accessories were demonstrated for partners and customers, and the feedback has been very positive. Combined with SERS and the Serstech Arx mkII, these additions enable the identification of narcotics and other hazardous substances down to 30 micrograms, as well as liquid traces as small as a few microliters. No other handheld Raman-based systems currently on the market offer this capability, which we refer to as trace identification. Competing technologies are limited to either trace detection (i.e., detecting the presence of a threat without identifying it – similar to what a dog can do) or bulk identification (i.e., identifying larger volumes of a chemical). Serstech now provides a complete solution encompassing bulk identification, trace sampling and collection, and trace identification. With our software and integration capabilities, we offer the most comprehensive solution on the market for identifying narcotics, hazardous substances, and chemical warfare agents.
In March, we began the liquidation of our Romanian subsidiary, Serstech Development SRL, and we expect the process to be completed by the end of the second quarter. As of the end of March, we had nine software developers working at the Romanian office. Following the pandemic, staff costs in Romania have increased significantly. By relocating these positions to our Lund office, we can reduce costs while also improving output. Most replacements have already been recruited, and we expect the team to be fully staffed before the end of summer.
We are observing promising trends in the market that are likely to positively impact our sales in the coming years. The threat of tariffs is making U.S.-based product pricing increasingly unpredictable. As a result, some customers are seeking non-U.S. suppliers – of which there are very few in our industry. All our major competitors are based in the U.S., while Serstech remains the only EU-based manufacturer of handheld Raman solutions. This trend is most prominent in Europe but is also emerging in other regions.
However, the threat of U.S. tariffs could negatively affect our U.S. sales in 2025, and we are closely monitoring the situation. While it is too early to draw definitive conclusions, a potential worst-case scenario is that our products could become too expensive for the U.S. market. We are currently evaluating and preparing potential solutions, such as establishing local production in the U.S. and/or building inventory in the U.S. before any higher tariffs are implemented.
The year has started positively, with a strengthened product portfolio, high demand, and the possibility of a trade conflict that could ultimately benefit Serstech in the medium to long term. As always, we should expect quarterly variations due to the nature of the industry, and given the current geopolitical volatility, these fluctuations may be more pronounced than usual. Nonetheless, we remain confident in our long-term growth and profitability. The investments we are making this year in sales, product development, and production will significantly contribute to our results for many years to come.
Stefan Sandor, CEO April 2025
For further information, please contact: Stefan Sandor, CEO, Serstech AB Phone: +46 739 606 067 Email: ss@serstech.com
This is information that Serstech AB (publ.) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above at 11:30 CET on April 23, 2025.
Certified advisor to Serstech is Svensk Kapitalmarknadsgranskning AB (SKMG).
About Serstech Serstech delivers solutions for chemical identification and has customers around the world, mainly in the safety and security industry. Typical customers are customs, police authorities, security organizations and first responders. The solutions and technology are however not limited to security applications and potentially any industry using chemicals of some kind could be addressed by Serstech’s solution. Serstech’s head office is in Sweden and all production is done in Sweden. Serstech is traded at Nasdaq First North Growth Market and more information about the company can be found at www.serstech.com
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/G1g7P0HWxeU
Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.
In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.
The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.
Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.
In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.
The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.
Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Geoengineering, also known as climate engineering or climate intervention, refers to the deliberate, large-scale manipulation of the Earth’s climate system to counteract human-caused climate change. It involves interventions like reflecting sunlight back into space to mitigate the effects of global warming. While the UK government and main research funders are in favour of conducting fundamental research to improve our understanding of these potential interventions (but not deployment of these approaches), these initiatives have still proved controversial with many inside and outside science, who argue that even researching this area is a dangerous distraction from the kind of climate action we need now.
The National Environment Research Council (NERC) announced £10 million of new funding for modelling solar radiation management schemes last week and we expect ARIA to announce funding soon. The Royal Society is currently working on a new report on Solar Radiation Management (SRM) expected later this year, and NERC, part of UK Research and Innovation, have also announced a public engagement exercise this summer. With all this activity planned, the SMC invited some leading experts to meet science journalists explain the main scientific approaches to this research, outline why funders believe this research is justified and answer questions.
Speakers included:
Prof Mark Symes,Programme Director, ARIA and Professor of Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Technology, University of Glasgow
Kate Hamer, NERC Director, Strategy & Analysis
Prof Jim Haywood, Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Exeter
Dr Pete Irvine,Research Assistant Professor, Solar Geoengineering, University of Chicago and Co-founder of SRM360
Dr Sebastian Eastham, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Aviation, Imperial College London
New compact and lightweight portable oxygen delivery system will improve safety and can be deployed immediately for use by frontline medics.
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), in collaboration with Defence Medical Services (DMS), has unveiled a cutting-edge portable oxygen delivery system designed to improve casualty survival rates for UK soldiers and civilians.
Weighing just 5kg, this ground-breaking system offers sustainable oxygen delivery on the battlefield, overcoming limitations of traditional pressurised oxygen cylinders.
Current cylinders pose logistical challenges due to their weight, risk of explosion and requirement to be refilled using specialist equipment after use. The Dstl system offers improved safety flexibility and reusability.
The innovative concentrator system works by drawing air from the environment surrounding the patient, pushing it into a series of chambers that removes the nitrogen present in atmospheric air, allowing breathable oxygen-rich gas to be delivered directly to the patient.
Additionally, its rebreather element conserves exhaled breath, scrubs carbon dioxide out of it and enables it to be breathed back in. This combination ensures that any oxygen consumed by the patient is replaced, maintaining a consistently high concentration of oxygen delivered to the patient.
The system also provides rebreathing capabilities and patient ventilation for casualties unable to breathe unaided, all within the same weight class as a standard oxygen cylinder.
Dstl Military Advisor Major Andrew Maggs said:
The ability to deliver oxygen at the point of injury represents a game-changing advance in battlefield medicine. By reducing logistical burden and improving safety, the system will provide critical care in situations where every second counts.
The first deployment of the system is yet to be determined, but potentially means 15 prototype systems will be deployed out to operations. The system, which was developed using a combination of off-the-shelf components, is currently undergoing design work to create a mass-producible version tailored for rigorous military use.
This collaboration highlights the importance of UK science and innovation in addressing real-world challenges. Dstl and DMS are working to ensure this technology is refined and ready to meet the demands of military and civilian operations and crises.
Impact of this new system
Oxygen therapy is critical for trauma patients suffering from blood loss, head injuries and lung trauma – injuries frequently seen on the battlefield. By getting oxygen delivery directly to the point of injury, the system can dramatically improve the likelihood of survival and recovery.
Dstl’s Chief Executive Dr Paul Hollinshead said:
In operational terms, this system will reduce the logistical strain on supply chains while improving battlefield care. The ability to also reuse the system with external power or replaceable batteries means it offers unparalleled flexibility.
In its current format, the cumulative cost of the separate components is approximately £15,000 per unit, but efforts are underway to design an even more cost-effective system with greater scalability.
In September 2024, the Council for Science and Technology (CST) provided advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on how the government can incentivise private investment in climate adaptation and resilience.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
First prisoners arrive at new 1,500-place jail
The first prisoners have been locked up at a new jail that will create nearly 1,500 prison places, helping to cut crime and make streets safer today as part of the Government’s Plan for Change (23 April).
New prison built to cut crime and keep dangerous offenders locked up
Part of Government’s Plan for Change to make streets safer
2,400 prison places already delivered since July
HMP Millsike in Yorkshire is now operational, making it the first of four new jails to be opened as part of the pledge to create 14,000 extra prison places by 2031, keeping dangerous offenders locked up.
This extra capacity will help keep the public safe by making sure the country never runs out of space again.
As a Category C “resettlement” prison, HMP Millsike has been designed with a clear aim – cutting crime and reducing reoffending. It includes 24 workshops and training facilities aimed at getting offenders into work on release and away from crime for good, so fewer people become victims in the future.
Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, James Timpson, said:
HMP Millsike is a vital part of our Plan for Change, building 14,000 new prison places by 2031.
This modern prison has been designed to cut crime. This prison will force offenders to turn their backs on crime, delivering safer streets and ensuring there are fewer victims in the future.”
The prison is the size of 39 football pitches and comes fitted with security technology to combat the drugs, drones and phones that have plagued prisons in recent years and risked the safety of frontline officers.
This includes reinforced barless windows to deter drone activity, hundreds of CCTV cameras, and X-ray body scanners to spot and stop contraband entering the prison.
The prison will be operated by Mitie Care and Custody. Education and workplace training provider PeoplePlus will give offenders the tools they need to find work on release and stay on the straight and narrow.
Russell Trent, Managing Director, Immigration and Justice, Mitie Care & Custody said:
As the first prisoners arrive at HMP Millsike, our focus is on building safer communities by creating an environment that promotes problem solving and self-determination to help the rehabilitation process enabling prisoners to break the cycle of reoffending.
As a resettlement prison, every element including the design, facilities and technology is purposfully structured so that prisoners leave HMP Millsike qualified, employable and ready to integrate and contribute to society.”
With the country still using many of its Victorian prisons, HMP Millsike has been built to also stand the test of time. Its use of modern materials and fittings will keep running and repairs costs to a minimum for taxpayers.
Its opening is a major milestone in the government’s 10-year prison capacity strategy published in December. This plan includes 6,400 places through new houseblocks and 6,500 places via new prisons. One thousand rapid deployment cells will be rolled out across the estate while more than 1,000 existing cells will be refurbished.
It follows a £2.3 billion investment to deliver these prison builds, with a further £500 million going towards vital building maintenance across prisons and the probation service by the end of March 2026. The strategy will work alongside the Independent Sentencing Review to ensure the most serious offenders can always be sent to prison to protect the public.
Background information
The first prisoners arrived today, and the population will steadily increase each week to ensure a safe and stable ramp-up process.
Ramp up will be strictly monitored and can be adjusted or paused should the safety or stability of the prison require it.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Anniversary Statement: De Havilland Canada DHC-8-402, 9H-LWB
Runway excursion at Guernsey Airport, 23 April 2024
The investigation into the runway excursion involving aircraft registration 9H-LWB is nearing completion. The investigation has been comprehensive, examining operational, technical and human factors to determine if these aspects contributed to the occurrence of this Serious Incident.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Sheffield payroll director banned after company went into liquidation with £2.5 million VAT bill
The company substantially under-declared the amount of tax it had to pay in 2020 and 2021
Hubert Omukhulu failed to declare the correct amount of VAT his Remedy Payroll Solutions Ltd company was required to pay
VAT returns submitted by the company in a 15-month period between June 2020 and September 2021 suggested it had little more than £250,000 to pay
In reality, the company owed more than £2.5 million in tax
The boss of an umbrella company which failed to pay more than £2.5 million in VAT has been banned as a director.
Hubert Omukhulu, 36, failed to accurately declare the amount of VAT Remedy Payroll Solutions Ltd had to pay in 2020 and 2021.
The inaccurate returns Remedy Payroll Solutions submitted suggested the company had no VAT to pay in 2020 and just over a quarter of a million pounds in 2021.
However, this was an under-declaration of more than £2 million according to calculations from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Omukhulu, of Nethershire Lane, Sheffield, has now been disqualified as a company director for eight years.
Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:
Hubert Omukhulu allowed his payroll supply company to substantially under-declare the amount of VAT it owed in 2020 and 2021.
More than £2 million in VAT was not paid by the company. This money should have gone towards funding vital public services such as the NHS, schools and our nation’s defence.
Omukhulu’s conduct falls well below the standards the Insolvency Service expects which is why he has been banned as a company director until 2033.
Debbie Porter, Assistant Director of Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC, said:
We are determined to create a level playing field that allows honest businesses to thrive which is why it’s crucial we work closely with the Insolvency Service and other partners to act against rogue directors.
The majority pay the tax that is due, but we will pursue those who refuse to play by the rules.
Remedy Payroll Solutions was established in May 2020 with Omukhulu as its sole director.
The company initially had its registered office as Omukhulu’s home address in Sheffield before switching it on several occasions between addresses in Romford and Hainault.
Remedy Payroll Solutions submitted three VAT returns in 2020 claiming it had no tax to pay in that year.
The company submitted another three returns in 2021, claiming it had a combined £264,276 to pay in VAT.
HMRC investigated Remedy Payroll Solutions’ bank accounts and contacted its customers. Through their investigations, they calculated that £2,584,044 was owed by the company in VAT.
Remedy Payroll Solutions went into liquidation in July 2022.
Omukhulu claimed there was third-party involvement in the running of Remedy Payroll Solutions but failed to provide any evidence of this when asked by the Insolvency Service.
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a disqualification undertaking from Omukhulu and his ban started on Thursday 17 April.
The undertaking prevents him from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.
Further information
Hubert Omukhulu is of Nethershire Lane, Sheffield. His date of birth is 16 December 1988
UK journalism has a class problem. This statement will not surprise most people familiar with UK newsrooms. What is astonishing, though, is the scarcity of empirical data that could help us better understand the extent to which class inequality affects journalists and their work.
For the first time, research by my colleagues and me an for the report UK Journalists in the 2020s uses a representative sample of UK journalists to measure their socioeconomic background. The vast majority of our respondents came from a privileged background, measured by their schooling and by the job held by their main household earner when they were a child.
Previous research on this issue was based on considerably more limited data. In July 2009, a report commissioned by the then Labour government found that journalism was one of two professions that had experienced the biggest decline in social mobility (the other being accountancy).
Research by the Sutton Trust established repeatedly (most recently in 2019), that leading news editors, broadcasters and newspaper columnists are about six to seven times more likely to be privately educated than the general population, a typical marker for privilege in Britain.
Some of the best data we have regarding UK journalists’ social class was collected by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, who since 2017 has regularly published reports on the diversity among UK journalists.
However, as the report’s author Mark Spilsbury concedes, the findings have a considerable margin of error. The report uses data from the UK Government Labour Force Survey, and only extrapolates its figures for the small fraction of journalists within that workforce.
Our report, for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, draws on a survey that media researchers Neil Thurman, Sina Thäsler-Kordonouri and I conducted between September 27 and November 30 2023.
We used data from the 2021 Census for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and from the Roxhill Media database to estimate the total number of UK journalists to be 68,279. Given how notoriously reluctant journalists are to respond to surveys, already swamped as they are with similar requests, we sent our questionnaire to 16,497 randomly selected participants.
We considered journalists to be those who worked for a media outlet with an identifiable focus on news, and who earned at least 50% of their income from journalism or worked at least 50% of their working week as a journalist. To be included in our survey, respondents also needed to work for a news outlet with a UK base and that was aimed, at least in part, at a UK audience.
After data cleaning, we retained a final sample of 1,130 respondents, a sufficient size to achieve a confidence level of at least 95% and a maximum error margin of 3%.
Our survey is part of the international Worlds of Journalism Study, which uses the same core questionnaire across 75 countries. The survey covers a wide range of topics, including journalists’ demographics, working conditions and their experience of safety and wellbeing.
For the UK study, we added two questions regarding journalists’ socioeconomic background. First, we asked what job the main earner in their households held when the respondents were 14 years old. Second, we asked about the school journalists attended: fee-paying private or state primary and secondary school, non-fee-paying selective secondary school (such as grammar school) or a school not in the UK.
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The question on parents’ occupation allowed respondents to write in the title of the relevant job. We coded the replies manually using the nine categories of the Office for National Statistics’ 2020 Standard Occupational Classification.
Seventy-one percent of journalists in our sample came from a privileged background, with the main earner in their childhood household holding a job within the three top categories of the classification. Only 12% of our respondents came from a working-class background (sales and customer service occupations; process, plant and machine operatives and elementary occupations).
We lack the data for an outright comparison with the general population. But the 2021 census gives an indication. It shows that 23.3% of the main earner in all households in England and Wales held a job in the highest AB social grade, about equivalent to the top three categories in our classification. Nearly double (43.9%) fell into the social grade C2 and DE, roughly equivalent with our bottom three categories.
Journalists’ privilege also shows in their schooling. Twenty-two percent of journalists in our sample attended a fee-paying secondary, and 13% attended a fee-paying primary school. Around 6% of the general pupil population in England attends private schools, and fewer in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Does privilege matter?
Our data does not suggest that a privileged upbringing makes it more likely for journalists to hold a top management position. Where it does make a difference, though, is whether they work for national media or outlets with international presence (like the Guardian or the Financial Times). Of those who do only 9% come from a working-class background, while 72% come from a privileged one (the rest come from the middle groups in our classification).
In contrast, 20% of journalists working for local and regional outlets (including regional arms of national outlets, such as BBC Wales) have a working-class background, and 57% grew up in a more privileged household.
Our survey also shows other areas of inequality. An interesting one is age. Both women and journalists from an ethnic minority background seem to drop out of the profession after the age of 50. Journalists with an Asian or Black background in particular remain underrepresented compared to the overall population, as they were in 2015.
Female journalists are also still less well paid, less likely to have a permanent contract or to hold a top management role than their male colleagues. They also more often report feeling stressed out. Their disadvantage against their male colleagues may well be a reason.
New survey data shows that of those who work for national media, 72% are from a privileged background. Zeynep Demir Aslim/Shutterstock
One reason for the privileged background of so many journalists will be that journalism has become a thoroughly academic profession. Nine out of ten journalists in our sample were university educated.
In an increasingly complex world, there may be good reasons for those who report on it to undergo an academic training. However, as some scholars have argued, trust in journalism not only depends on accurate and reliable reporting, but also on emotional and social factors that are essential for the relationship between journalists and audiences.
Given the lack of trust in news and rising news avoidance among UK audiences, the inequalities our report found should be of concern. If journalists are found to belong to a privileged elite they are less likely to be trusted by the general public. Reliable data on the inequalities that shape the journalism profession is a necessary start to tackle this problem.
Imke Henkel does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Scottish Greens are lodging plans to tackle the housing crisis in the areas where it is worst by cracking down on the spread of holiday homes.
At present, someone buying a second or holiday home anywhere in Scotland must pay a tax known as the Additional Dwelling Supplement.
New proposals, lodged by Ross Greer MSP as an amendment to the upcoming Housing Bill, would create a further charge on top of this in areas where rent control measures are introduced.
In some communities such as Lochranza on the Isles of Arran over a third of houses are holiday homes. This trend pushes up housing costs and often forces young people to move out of their own communities in search of an affordable place to live.
Since the last election the Scottish Greens have doubled the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) from 4% to 8% and given councils the power to double Council Tax on holiday homes.
The reforms have had the desired effect on house purchases, with 2455 fewer second homes bought last year than in 2023, the largest decrease in a decade. ADS will also raise more than a quarter of a billion pounds for public services in the current financial year.
Greer’s amendments would allow for further targeted efforts to reduce holiday home ownership in areas where the housing crisis is particularly acute by increasing the Additional Dwelling Supplement in rent control zones. At present, this tax can only be increased or decreased nationwide, with targeted changes not possible.
“Many of the areas where rent is highest are the same ones being filled up with far too many holiday homes. This reduces the number of houses available for people to actually live in and pushes up prices for both renters and first-time buyers.
“Everyone should be able to access a good quality, affordable home. Yet, all across Scotland people are being priced out of the communities they grew up in by holiday homes and buy-to-let landlords.
“This simple proposal will help people trying to find a home in areas where the housing crisis is at its worst. The money raised will come from those who are already wealthy enough to buy extra properties, something totally outwith the reach of most people.
“The housing market is broken. Far too many properties are being used as cash cows for short-term lets and holiday homes, and it is renters who are paying the price. We badly need to shift the balance and free up more homes for those who really need them.”
Mr Greer added:
“The changes already delivered by Green MSPs have reduced the number of second and holiday homes bought each year, freeing up more properties for people who need a home to live in and raising millions of pounds for vital services like schools and hospitals.
“We need to build on this success and ensure that the communities where rent is highest are the ones where people are supported the most.”
This morning Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell will officially lodge his bill to ban greyhound racing in Scotland.
The bill has received crossparty support allowing it to progress to this stage, but it is yet to secure the support of the Scottish Government.
In April the Welsh Government announced that it would ban the cruel gambling-led entertainment “as soon as practically possible.”
According to the RSPCA, there are only 9 countries in the world that still allow commercial greyhound racing, including all 4 UK nations.
Data from 2023 showed that 109 greyhounds died trackside in the UK, an increase on the number for 2022. There were 4,238 injuries to greyhounds during racing in 2023.
Mr Ruskell said:
“This is a milestone moment for my bill and I am grateful to all of the MSPs and campaigners who have helped us to get to this stage.
“Greyhound racing is a cruel sport that causes a huge amount of harm to dogs. Far too many have been killed or badly injured on the tracks.
“There is no safe or humane way to force a group of dogs to run around an oval track at 40 mph and it is totally wrong to make them do it in the name of profit.
“With Wales taking action, Scotland is looking increasingly isolated in allowing this gambling-led spectacle to continue.
“I hope that the Scottish Government and MSPs from all parties will support me and that we can get my bill over the line and end greyhound racing for good.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Reeves: I will always act to defend British interests
Chancellor Rachel Reeves travels to Washington DC for her first spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Chancellor has pledged to “stand up for Britain’s national interest”, as she heads to Washington DC for her first spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
During a three-day visit to the United States, Rachel Reeves is set to hold meetings with G7, G20 and IMF counterparts about the changing global economy. She will make the case for open trade that provides stability for businesses and security for working people. The Chancellor will underline the importance of tackling barriers to trade to kickstart economic growth, supporting businesses and putting more money in working people’s pockets.
Earlier this month the Chancellor announced over £400 million of trade and investment deals with the Indian Government across a range of business sectors, including defence, financial services, education, and development. In recent weeks the government has acted to save British Steel, safeguarding the future of steelmaking in the UK and protecting 2,700 jobs in Scunthorpe and up to 37,000 jobs in the wider supply chain, announced a £20 billion boost to UK Export Finance which will give thousands of British access to government-backed financing and announced new measures to give British car makers certainty and stability, and to support them on the transition to electric vehicles. Earlier this month over 3 million workers in shops, restaurants and workplaces across the UK received a pay boost worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker, while also rolling out free breakfast clubs in primary schools putting £450 a year in the pockets of working parents and protecting the payslips of working people from higher taxes.
She will hold discussions with finance ministers about the opportunities to strengthen economic ties with Britain, including members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Talks with European finance ministers will also focus on going further and faster to increase defence spending and improve cooperation in response to continued Russian aggression and the invasion of Ukraine.
Reeves will hold her first in person meeting with her US counterpart Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about working together to deepen the UK-US economic partnership through a new trade agreement.
In Washington, the Chancellor will also meet with business leaders to talk about the government’s Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth. She will champion Britain as the best place to live, work and grow a business, highlighting the government’s ambition to go further and faster to tackle the barriers to investment. By backing the builders not the blockers, through reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework – which alone is expected to deliver an extra 170,000 homes by 2029/30, as well upcoming the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and a government pledge to cut the administrative cost of regulation on business by a quarter, making Britain the best place to do business and drive economic growth.
Speaking ahead of her visit, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:
The world has changed, and we are in a new era of global trade. I am in no doubt that the imposition of tariffs will have a profound impact on the global economy and the economy at home.
This changing world is unsettling for families who are worried about the cost of living and businesses concerned about what tariffs will means for them. But our task as a government is not to be knocked off course or to take rash action which risks undermining people’s security.
Instead, we must rise to meet the moment and I will always act to defend British interests as part of our Plan for Change. We need a world economy that provides stability and fairness for businesses wanting to invest and trade, more trade and global partnerships between nations with shared interests, and security for working people who want to get on with their lives.
WARRINGTON, United Kingdom, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A property and mortgage expert has shared the five most common mistakes people make when purchasing a home.
Sam Fox, the founder of UK Mortgage Centre, issued his advice as the market gets set to enter its most frenetic period of 2025.
Spring is always one of the most popular periods of the year to buy a house, with May 31, 2024, being the busiest day of the year to move home last year.
And latest data indicates 2025 is going to be equally as busy.
According to Zoopla, the property market is being swamped with listings, and there are 11 per cent more homes for sale now compared to this time last year.
Zoopla estimates the average estate agent now has 33 homes for sale compared to 29 last year.
Making the right decisions at the right moment will therefore be key for anyone looking to buy a property.
Property expert Sam, who has helped support thousands of people to move home, said: “The market is very competitive, but as always, there are good deals out there to capitalise upon if you take the right steps.”
“In my experience, the buyers who do best are the ones who prepare in advance and have a clear plan. You can’t neglect the groundwork. Preparation is everything; understand your budget, your options, and the bigger picture before you commit to anything.”
Sam breaks down five of the most common mistakes buyers make, along with his advice on how to stay a step ahead:
1. Viewing homes without knowing your budget “This still happens more often than you’d think. People fall for a home emotionally, only to discover they’re chasing something out of reach. Before falling in love with a home, it’s so important to know exactly what you can afford. An agreement in principle tells you exactly what you can afford, saving time and setting expectations. Without it, buyers risk disappointment and delays. In markets like Swindon, where house prices have reached up to seven times the average salary, being financially clear-headed isn’t optional, it’s essential.”
2. Believing all mortgage brokers are the same “Many buyers assume that every broker offers access to the same deals. This isn’t the case, Some brokers are tied to just a few lenders. That means you might miss out on a better deal elsewhere. A whole-of-market broker searches exactly that, the whole-of-market – searching up to thousands of products.
“Some lenders are restricted to specific lender panels or driven by commission incentives, which can influence the advice they give. In today’s shifting mortgage market the right adviser doesn’t just find you a product, they help you make a better long-term decision.”
3. Overlooking the real cost of homeownership “A mortgage might be your biggest bill, but it is far from the only one. There’s council tax, insurance, gas and electric, and saving for any unexpected repairs. People budget for their monthly repayments but forget to factor in what I call ‘life costs’. The things that always pop up. These hidden costs can stretch your budget thin if you’re not prepared. From energy bills to boiler repairs, make sure you have accounted for the full picture, not just the mortgage.”
4. Making an offer without doing your homework “Getting caught up in the excitement of a property is natural. However, rushing into an offer without understanding the market can be a misstep. Check what similar homes have sold for in the area you’re looking to buy. Talk to estate agents and ask questions. Zoopla data shows that two-fifths of sellers accepted offers at least 5% below the asking price in early 2024, meaning there’s usually room to negotiate.
5. Damaging your credit mid-application “This one is all about timing. Once your mortgage application is in progress, don’t take out any more credit like purchasing a new car on finance. Once you’re in the final stages of a mortgage application, it’s not the time to make big financial moves.
“Lenders often do final checks just before completion. A sudden dip in your credit score or an increase in debt can lead to your mortgage offer being pulled, even at the last minute. The advice here is simple: don’t touch your credit until you’ve got the keys.”
Sam concluded: “Buyers should treat the process with excitement but go slow and steady. This is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make. With the average mortgage term stretching 35 years and household budgets under pressure, careful planning is more than just sensible; it is essential.”
Take care when visiting a forest, as there are risks in a working woodland. Serious accidents can happen if attention isn’t paid to warning signs.
Risks and hazards in forests
Be aware of the hazards to make sure forests can be enjoyed safely.
The forest is a natural environment and you should be prepared for:
sudden changes in weather
rugged terrain
deep water
hidden cliff edges
The forest is also a working environment and forest operations take place all year round.
Work areas will be clearly signposted. You should obey signs to help your personal safety.
Warning signs are used to highlight dangers and risks. Diversions are put in place to avoid work sites because the heavy machinery used can be very dangerous.
Both felled timber and woodlands that are part-felled can pose dangers.
You can find further safety advice on the following page:
Instructions on site signs is for your protection. Following these instructions will help make sure that a visit to the forest remains safe and enjoyable.
Aid to Gaza: E3 foreign ministers’ statement, 23 April 2025
Joint statement on behalf of the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and the UK on more than 50 days of Israel’s block on aid to Gaza
Israel has now fully blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza for over fifty days. Essential supplies are either no longer available or quickly running out. Palestinian civilians – including one million children – face an acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease and death. This must end. We urge Israel to immediately re-start a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to meet the needs of all civilians. During the last ceasefire, the UN and INGO system was able to deliver aid at scale. The Israeli decision to block aid from entering Gaza is intolerable. Minister Katz’s recent comments politicising humanitarian aid and Israeli plans to remain in Gaza after the war are unacceptable – they harm prospects for peace. Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change. Israel is bound under international law to allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid.
Humanitarians must be able to deliver aid to those who need it most, independent of parties to the conflict and in accordance with their humanitarian principles. Israel must ensure unhindered access for the UN and humanitarian organisations to operate safely across Gaza. Hamas must not divert aid for their own financial gain or use civilian infrastructure for military purposes.
We reiterate our outrage at recent strikes by Israeli forces on humanitarian personnel, infrastructure, premises and healthcare facilities. Israel must do much more to protect the civilian population, infrastructure and humanitarian workers. This includes restoring deconfliction systems, allowing humanitarian workers free movement within Gaza. And Israel must prevent harm to medical personnel and premises in the course of their military operations. They must allow the urgent healthcare needs of the population to be met, while allowing the sick and wounded to temporarily leave the Gaza Strip to receive treatment.
Crucially, we urge all parties to return to a ceasefire. We continue to call on Hamas for the immediate release of all the remaining hostages, who are enduring terrible suffering. We must all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution, which is the only way to bring long-lasting peace and security to both Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability in the region.