Green MP and party co-leader Adrian Ramsay has urged the government to divert planned new subsidies for the privately owned wood-burning Drax power station to a national home insulation scheme.
Adrian Ramsay said:
“Drax is a green energy scam, burning trees – some imported from ancient forests from as far away as Canada – subsidised by the taxpayer.
“The billions of pounds worth of subsidies run out in 2027, but the government is expected to try to renew them next week, turning taxpayer money into profits for a private company, instead of using the money to fuel a green energy revolution.
“Drax has benefitted from over £6 billion in subsidies since 2012 and neither taxpayers nor the environment can afford a penny more.
“The money should be used to help fund a national scheme of home insulation that would cut people’s energy bills and help to reduce energy use.
“Green MPs and Peers will be pressing the government to end this subsidy scandal and invest people’s money where it will make a real difference to them.”
We are pleased to advise that the section of road on the A926 from Rattray to Alyth at Pictfield which was closed for emergency gas repairs has now reopened to traffic.
Temporary traffic signals will be in operation while SGN repair works are ongoing, so some delays should be expected.
Stagecoach East Scotland have confirmed that with the road reopening, they will resume normal operation of their bus services from 2pm today. School transport contracts will also revert to their normal arrangements.
Thank you for your patience while the repairs continue.
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During the meeting, experts will address issues such as:
support for independent living for people with disabilities,
social inclusion,
inclusiveness of social policies and
prevention of discrimination.
The conference entitled ‘Social inclusion and independent living for people with disabilities in the European Union’ is dedicated to the concerns of people with disabilities. The conference will be attended by counterparts of the Secretary of State and Government Plenipotentiary for Disabled Persons, Łukasz Krason – Secretaries of State from EU countries and representatives of the European Commission.
Thematic discussion blocks will focus on two main issues: raising public awareness of the lives of people with disabilities and the challenges faced by this group. Topics covered will include labour market and employment issues, image building, accessibility and independent living.
A new welfare facility has been opened at the Army Training Centre (ATC) Pirbright to support recruits undertaking their initial military training.
One of the communal areas in the new Soldiers’ Centre. (Crown Copyright)
Significant investment in Alexander Barracks, Pirbright, has provided a modern, sustainable facility that supports the welfare of recruits.
The new Soldiers’ Centre offers centralised welfare support for recruits who are completing the 13-week basic training course. Spread over 2 storeys, the £11 million purpose-built facility comprises retail and food outlets, a cinema and social areas. It also functions as a gathering space for families attending passing out parades.
The investment was joint-funded by the British Army and the Army Central Fund (ACF) which provided a £7 million grant – the single biggest donation ever made by the ACF. The project was delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) contracting to Henry Brothers and WSP.
At the official opening of The Soldiers’ Centre on 31 January, Major General Richard Clements CBE, Director of Basing and Infrastructure, said:
The Soldiers’ Centre is an outstanding facility that will promote wellbeing and foster a sense of community among recruits at ATC Pirbright as they start their life journey with the army. This project also demonstrates our extensive investment in modernising our estate, supporting future capability, and enhancing the environments where our soldiers live, work and train.
The ACF Chair, Major General Sam Humphris MBE, said:
The Army Central Fund provides grant funding to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of serving British Army personnel and their immediate families. We are extremely proud of the leadership gift we made to enable delivery of this modern, high-quality welfare facility, which will support the morale of recruits and provide enduring benefit to them and their families.
In addition to supporting the recruits, The Soldiers’ Centre will contribute to local efforts to reduce the army’s carbon footprint. Modern methods of construction were used for the Glulam structural frame, while photovoltaic panels have been installed to enable generation of on-site renewable energy.
I am delighted to see this hugely impressive welfare facility being used by army recruits. We’ve focused on providing a building that has been designed with sustainability at its heart to meet the needs of soldiers and their families. We look forward to many cohorts of recruits passing through on the way to the rest of their army careers.
Exterior of the new Soldiers’ Centre in Pirbright. (Copyright Henry Brothers)
David Henry, Managing Director of Henry Brothers, said:
We are delighted to have completed The Soldiers’ Centre – a facility that reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional builds for our clients and which will make a positive contribution to the experience of recruits as they embark on their army careers.
Ray Lovegrove, Public Sector Portfolio Lead, WSP, said:
It has been a privilege for WSP to be engaged on this project from the earliest concept through to completion of this fantastic facility. It is great to see the vision, input and expertise of many people from different organisations come together this way, and I hope that The Soldiers’ Centre will be at the heart of the Pirbright community for many years to come.
Following completion of The Soldiers’ Centre, the army is making further significant investment to support consolidation of basic training at Pirbright under the Defence Estate Optimisation (Army) Programme. The Alexander Barracks Project will provide enhanced living, working and training accommodation, including modern recruit accommodation, a swimming pool and gymnasium. Construction is due to start in 2026 with completion scheduled for 2032.
Lt Col Bysshe COLDM GDS, Commanding Officer, ATC (Pirbright), said:
The Soldiers’ Centre provides a 21st century welfare facility for ATC (Pirbright). Serving recruits, permanent staff and families, it significantly enhances the lived experience for all. As the first new building within wider plans to overhaul a sizeable proportion of the Pirbright estate, it provides a tangible example of high-quality modernised infrastructure and sets the standard moving forward.
Ashdod/Rome – Fifteen IVECO trucks donated by the Italian Government as part of the Food for Gaza initiative were handed over to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) today during a ceremony in the Israeli port of Ashdod.
The ceremony, in the port where the trucks arrived on February 2, was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, and WFP Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau.
The 15 trucks will serve to strengthen the logistics capacity of the WFP in the Gaza Strip, which, after the ceasefire came into force, has seen a significant increase in food assistance. Since the 19 January ceasefire, WFP has transported over 13,500 tonnes of food into the Strip and is ready to send around 30,000 tons of food each month to reach 1.4 million people.
”These trucks are a much-needed addition to our fleet in Gaza,” said Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director. “They will boost our capacity to deliver at a crucial time as we scale up humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip. We thank the Government of Italy for its partnership and unwavering support.”
With greater logistics capacity, large volumes of supplies, such as food, medicine and shelter materials can be transported so that essential goods reach those who need them most. Needs can also be met quickly as they arise, ensuring greater optimization of aid.
The Italian Food For Gaza initiative was launched in March 2024, an idea of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, with the aim of facilitating access to food aid, alleviating the suffering of the population of the Strip and ensuring food security as much as possible thanks to the participation and commitment of various actors, such as the WFP.
The United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Brindisi, managed by WFP and funded annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Italian Cooperation since its foundation in 2000, plays a crucial operational role in the implementation of the initiative. At the request of the Ministry, the base organized the shipment of 15 tons of relief goods, including blankets and emergency shelter materials, stored in its warehouses and arrived in Ashdod together with the trucks. In recent months, the base organized two air shipments to Amman, Jordan, for a total of 100 tons of aid, including hygiene and health kits, for the population of Gaza.
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Long-lost Iron Age artefacts discovered by Military personnel and veterans have been declared as treasure.
Parts of a Celtic chariot, thought to be around 2000 years old, were discovered underneath the airfield at RAF Valley in Anglesey during an excavation by military personnel and veterans.
The Senior Coroner for North Wales (West) has now declared these discoveries as treasure. They will be gifted to Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales.
The archaeological excavations took place in April 2024 and were led by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). The investigation also included personnel and veterans from Operation Nightingale, a DIO initiative which supports the health and wellbeing of military personnel and veterans.
“Operation Nightingale is an innovative and award-winning programme that consistently shows the benefits that archaeology can offer to military personnel and veterans.
Congratulations to those who carried out the excavation and made this exciting discovery. Through their hard work, we are uncovering and preserving our history for future generations.”
Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP Minister for Veterans and People
The award-winning scheme sees wounded, injured, and sick personnel and veterans taking part in archaeological investigations across the Defence estate, providing unique experiences within the field.
The finds are believed to form part of the famed Llyn Cerrig Bach hoard, originally uncovered in the 1940s during work to extend the airfield at RAF Valley for American bombers during the Allied war effort. The hoard is one of the most important collections of Iron Age artefacts discovered in the UK, comprising over 150 bronze and iron objects deposited between 300BC and 100AD.
Among the new finds was a terret ring which would have been used to guide the reins of a Celtic chariot, featuring a red decorative inlay. The ring, found by retired RAF Squadron Leader David Ulke, is one of just three found with this particular decoration in Wales.
A second discovery, a horse bridle-bit thought to date to c. 60AD, was found by serving RAF Flight Sergeant Moore. Similar to those from the Polden Hill hoard found in Somerset, the bridle-bit would have been worn by horses pulling Iron Age chariots.
“These finds at RAF Valley are extremely exciting for all involved; the Llyn Cerrig Bach hoard is of national importance for Wales, and the United Kingdom as a whole. These new discoveries have confirmed the suspicions of earlier archaeologists that there was more to be found from this particular hoard.”
Richard Osgood DIO’s Senior Archaeologist
Richard Osgood continued: “It’s great that the personnel and veterans who take part in Operation Nightingale continue to be rewarded with finds of such historical importance. I am proud that the initiative plays a part in supporting personnel and veterans in their recovery and it’s fantastic to see the wonderful impact of this project.”
The Operation Nightingale team was given special permissions to carry out the excavation by RAF Valley, ahead of refurbishment works on the site’s airfield. Construction for these improvements began in September 2024.
“We’d been briefed on the sort of things we could expect to find, so when I uncovered the piece, I was pretty sure it was an Iron Age terret ring. To say I was the over the moon is probably an understatement! I’ve been involved in archaeology for many years and this was by far the most significant recovery I have ever made.
The fact that Operation Nightingale can bring together service personnel through archaeological digs shows how healing and helpful archaeology can be. It’s by no means a silver bullet, but many have benefitted, and I for one am one of those grateful beneficiaries.”
Squadron Leader (Retired) David Ulke Finder of the terret ring
“The search for the lost hoard was hard work and we had a huge area to cover. It wasn’t until the final day – with just 10 minutes to go – that I discovered the horse bridle-bit. At first the team thought I was joking, but quickly realised I’d found something special. Words could not explain how I felt in that moment, but it was a wonderful experience.
I’ve been involved in lots of Operation Nightingale digs now, and the experience truly is priceless for the veterans and service personnel taking part.”
Group Captain Gez Currie OBE, said: “It is incredible that we are again reminded of the significance of the site on the doorstep of RAF Valley and the importance it has in Welsh history. It was the preparation of RAF Valley in the 1940s to help prevent invasion, that brought to light the significance of this location and its links to an earlier invasion by the Romans.”
“The importance of RAF Valley to UK Defence today is beyond question, but this is a reminder that we are part of a continuum spanning over 2,000 years and we must be responsible stewards of this land. We are immensely proud to be part of efforts to discover and conserve these important artefacts from Welsh history and equally delighted that our own service personnel have been so intimately involved in these efforts.”
Group Captain Gez Currie OBE Station Commander at RAF Valley
The finds will now be gifted to the National Museum of Wales, which is home to several items from the initial Llyn Cerrig Bach hoard.
Senior Curator of Prehistory at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, Adam Gwilt, said: “It is amazing to think that these 2,000 year old artefacts have remained so complete and well-preserved within a shallow peat deposit, previously moved and dragged onto the airfield over 80 years ago from a nearby ancient lake!
The bridle-bit and terret are both of styles which are not represented amongst the original collection. They add important new information on the religious gifting of prized objects into the lake at the end of the Iron Age, a little before, or at around the time when the Roman Army invaded Anglesey.”
“It is great that these artefacts will be made accessible for display and public benefit at Oriel Môn. I look forward to working collaboratively in coming years with the museum, the heritage centre at RAF Valley and the Operation Nightingale team, so this great story can be celebrated and shared by all.”
Individual parts from retired fighter jets have been ground down and 3D printed into new components suitable for the UK’s next generation of military aircraft – a first of its kind initiative for the Royal Air Force.
The innovative recycling project has seen parts from old Tornado aircraft turned into powered metal and used to 3D print new components suitable for Tempest jets. This is a great example of UK-developed technology of the future, and demonstrates UK defence industry as an engine for growth and a key part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
The development could save taxpayer money, reduce the UK’s reliance on global supply chains of critical and high value metals and produce components that are lighter, stronger, and longer lasting than those made through traditional forging techniques.
Many of the Ministry of Defence’s surplus assets contain strategic metals, including high quality steel, aluminium, and titanium, and the Tornado 2 Tempest project team have been identifying whether some of these components could be atomised into powders – known as “feedstock” – for additive manufacturing to make new parts.
Tornado parts containing titanium, including jet engine compressor blades from a low-pressure air compressor, were selected. They were cleaned, successfully atomised and recycled into a 3D printed nose cone and compressor blades by Additive Manufacturing Solutions Limited (AMS) for Orpheus – Rolls-Royce’s small engine concept that is part of the MOD’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme delivering Tempest.
The nose cone was fitted onto an Orpheus test engine and passed suitability and safety checks – demonstrating the technique has potential use in the sixth-generation jet.
“The Tornado 2 Tempest project highlights the creativity, ingenuity and innovation defence employs in our approach to national security.
By working with key industry partners, we can deliver savings, reduce reliance on global supply chains and ensure our Armed Forces have the very best kit to keep our country safe.
Not only does this initiative have a positive impact on the environment and national security, it supports the domestic defence industry acting as an engine for growth, which is at the heart of Plan for Change.”
Maria Eagle Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry
The project was led by Defence Equipment and Support’s (DE&S) Defence Recycling & Disposals Team (DRDT) in partnership with the MOD FCAS team, Rolls-Royce and AMS based in Burscough, Lancashire.
The initiative also led to the creation of three jobs and sustained two at Small Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME), AMS. The business now expects to create 25 new jobs by offering the innovation to other suppliers.
A team of more than 80 people participated in the project, including DRDT’s commercial graduates and Rolls-Royce graduate apprentices, combining current skills and innovative technologies to deliver and maintain future capabilities.
Funded by UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support Organisation in relation to its Circular Economics for Defence Concept Note, the feat shows that turning old parts into new is viable and could bring huge benefits to the MOD and wider Defence, especially through increasing the accessibility of strategic metals to the UK Defence industry and suppliers.
The MOD’s Chief of Defence Logistics and Support (CDLS) recently awarded the Tornado 2 Tempest Rolls-Royce Team a CDLS Commendation in recognition of their commitment and dedication to the delivery and improvement of support to the front line.
The team also demonstrated a Digital Product Passport (DPP) by capturing and recording material provenance and lifecycle data. This can potentially enable more informed decisions around material allocation and protect against the use of counterfeit materials.
“The Tornado 2 Tempest project exemplifies the forward-thinking sustainability principles embedded in the FCAS Sustainability Strategy and MoD Defence Support Strategy.
This project is bold, exciting and innovative, and a demonstration of exemplary collaboration between the MoD, industry and SME, furthering the drive for circular economy practices and innovative digital enablers in Defence.”
Andrew Eady Rolls-Royce
“At AMS our tagline is ‘Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future’ and we were confident our innovations and ideas would have a great bearing on the future of a resilient supply.
This project turned our proposed solutions into a reality, and we have been very humbled and grateful to the MOD and Rolls Royce, for allowing us to showcase our capability to deliver game-changing circular economy processes and parts in Defence.”
Royal Air Force aviators have joined counterparts from the United States, Canada and Australia on Exercise Red Flag Nellis 25-1, considered one of the world’s toughest air combat training environments, to hone their war-fighting skills.
RAF personnel, including Rivet Joint aircrew from 51 Squadron, Air Operations Controllers from 19 Squadron and 20 Squadron, along with eight Typhoons and a Voyager aircraft are participating in the exercise, running 27th January to 14th February at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, United States.
Exercise Red Flag was established by United States Air Force in 1975, after the Vietnam War revealed the first 10 combat missions to be the most dangerous for aircrews. The first 10 missions of a modern air campaign are recreated in Red Flag to provide an invaluable experience for all participants.
Generations of RAF aviators have attended this exercise, and it continues to evolve and reflect the threats and challenges faced on modern operations. Missions are conducted to the nearby Nevada Test and Training Range, and further to the southwest of the United States where there is integration with maritime units.
This year’s exercise involves approximately 3,000 personnel and up to 150 aircraft over 15 different locations, conducting large force employment missions in a range of scenarios.
The exercise is renowned for its use of ‘aggressor’ forces including simulated enemy fighter aircraft, ground-based radars and simulated surface-to-air missiles – and even cyber and space-based elements that simulate threats for each mission.
The Tactical Command and Control team’s role is to manage and control all of those aircraft, alongside other elements and units working in the ground, maritime, cyber and space-based domains, to accomplish the mission. The scale and complexity of Exercise Red Flag Nellis cannot be replicated elsewhere, which makes it an outstanding place to build experience and reinforce a close working relationship with the United States, Australia and Canada.
Acquiring new platforms, upgrading current platforms so they remain relevant, and ensuring the support solutions, supplies and spares are in place. This is the unsung role of Defence Equipment and Support.
Squadron Leader Lisney talks with DE&S’s Director Fixed Wing and Director Rotary Wing, UAS and Air Enablers, to find out how they deliver warfighting capability to the RAF, and hears what to look out for in the coming years.
InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
UK Armed Forces personnel and veterans are joining counterparts from 20 nations to compete in adaptive sports at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.
Team UK comprises 62 competitors – all wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans, who have experienced a range of challenging physical and mental injuries sustained while serving in the UK Armed Forces either at home or abroad.
Team UK departing for the Invictus Games 2025 in Vancouver.
Some of Team UK, who serve or served in the RAF, have shared their inspiring recovery journeys in this short documentary, ‘I AM INVICTUS: Finding me again’.
This video contains emotional discussions around mental and physical health that some viewers may find upsetting. If you are affected by any of the issues raised, please see the link below for support.
What the competitors want to share with those listening, is how powerful the Invictus Games can be in your recovery.
“A big thing for me is I really want to keep promoting the programme. Because for me it’s been so powerful. If that can just reach one person that felt the way I did, and help them to realise, you may think you’ve tried everything but there are other things out there. I really hope that my contribution to the Invictus Games and my part of the programme and the journey isn’t about what we achieve this time round, it’s about getting other people involved for the legacy of the games. So that they get involved next time round and it helps them.”
Corporal Matthew ‘Twitch’ Wickens
The Invictus Games uses the power of sport to inspire recovery, offering a recovery pathway that helps wounded, injured or sick servicemen and women reclaim their purpose, identity and future, beyond their injury. The Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion are supporting Team UK to compete at the seventh Invictus Games, which features winter sports for the first time. Selection for the Games is based on the recovery benefit to each individual, rather than solely on expected performance.
Access to adaptive sports and the opportunity to participate in the Invictus Games is just one way the Royal British Legion & MOD supports the wounded, injured and sick Armed Forces community. There are also adventurous training and theatre and art programmes available for personnel, veterans and families which are delivered by partners via the RAF Recovery and Support Team.
In recent months, Team UK have been preparing for the Games at the Royal British Legion’s Battle Back Centre in Lilleshall, which promotes the use of adaptive sport and adventure activities to help improve confidence and positively impact mental health and wellbeing. These activities are designed to help each individual achieve their best possible recovery and either return to Service duty or make a smooth transition to civilian life.
The Invictus Games will be broadcast in the UK between 8-16 February on ITV in the UK. Nine daily highlight shows will be available on ITVX across the duration of the Games, which will include the Opening Ceremony.
If you or a friend needs help or support, visit the Health and Wellbeing page for links to resources and partners who can help.
In 1981, American physicist and Nobel Laureate, Richard Feynman, gave a lecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) near Boston, in which he outlined a revolutionary idea. Feynman suggested that the strange physics of quantum mechanics could be used to perform calculations.
The field of quantum computing was born. In the 40-plus years since, it has become an intensive area of research in computer science. Despite years of frantic development, physicists have not yet built practical quantum computers that are well suited for everyday use and normal conditions (for example, many quantum computers operate at very low temperatures). Questions and uncertainties still remain about the best ways to reach this milestone.
What exactly is quantum computing, and how close are we to seeing them enter wide use? Let’s first look at classical computing, the type of computing we rely on today, like the laptop I am using to write this piece.
Classical computers process information using combinations of “bits”, their smallest units of data. These bits have values of either 0 or 1. Everything you do on your computer, from writing emails to browsing the web, is made possible by processing combinations of these bits in strings of zeroes and ones.
Quantum computers, on the other hand, use quantum bits, or qubits. Unlike classical bits, qubits don’t just represent 0 or 1. Thanks to a property called quantum superposition, qubits can be in multiple states simultaneously. This means a qubit can be 0, 1, or both at the same time. This is what gives quantum computers the ability to process massive amounts of data and information simultaneously.
Imagine being able to explore every possible solution to a problem all at once, instead of once at a time. It would allow you to navigate your way through a maze by simultaneously trying all possible paths at the same time to find the right one. Quantum computers are therefore incredibly fast at finding optimal solutions, such as identifying the shortest path, the quickest way.
Think about the extremely complex problem of rescheduling airline flights after a delay or an unexpected incident. This happens with regularity in the real world, but the solutions applied may not be the best or optimal ones. In order to work out the optimal responses, standard computers would need to consider, one by one, all possible combinations of moving, rerouting, delaying, cancelling or grouping, flights.
Every day there are more than 45,000 flights in the United States alone, and worldwide there are thousands of airlines connecting tens of thousands of airports. This problem would take years to solve for a classical computer.
On the other hand, a quantum computer would be able to try all these possibilities at once and let the best configuration organically emerge. Qubits also have a physical property known as entanglement. When qubits are entangled, the state of one qubit can depend on the state of another, no matter how far apart they are.
This is something that, again, has no counterpart in classical computing. Entanglement allows quantum computers to solve certain problems exponentially faster than traditional computers can.
A common question is whether quantum computers will completely replace classical computers or not. The short answer is no, at least not in the foreseeable future. Quantum computers are incredibly powerful for solving specific problems – such as simulating the interactions between different molecules, finding the best solution from many options or dealing with encryption and decryption. However, they are not suited to every type of task.
Classical computers process one calculation at a time in a linear sequence, and they follow algorithms (sets of mathematical rules for carrying out particular computing tasks) designed for use with classical bits that are either 0 or 1. This makes them extremely predictable, robust and less prone to errors than quantum machines. For everyday computing needs such as word processing or browsing the internet, classical computers will continue to play a dominant role.
There are at least two reasons for that. The first one is practical. Building a quantum computer that can run reliable calculations is extremely difficult. The quantum world is incredibly volatile, and qubits are easily disturbed by things in their environment, such as interference from electromagnetic radiation, which makes them prone to errors.
The second reason lies in the inherent uncertainty in dealing with qubits. Because qubits are in superposition (are neither a 0 or 1) they are not as predictable as the bits used in classical computing. Physicists therefore describe qubits and their calculations in terms of probabilities. This means that the same problem, using the same quantum algorithm, run multiple times on the same quantum computer might return a different solution each time.
To address this uncertainty, quantum algorithms are typically run multiple times. The results are then analysed statistically to determine the most likely solution. This approach allows researchers to extract meaningful information from the inherently probabilistic quantum computations.
From a commercial point of view, the development of quantum computing is still in its early stages, but the landscape is very diverse with lots of new companies appearing every year. It is fascinating to see that in addition to big, established companies like IBM and Google, new ones are joining, such as IQM, Pasqal and startups such as Alice and Bob. They are all working on making quantum computers more reliable, scalable and accessible.
In the past, manufacturers have drawn attention to the number of qubits in their quantum computers, as a measure of how powerful the machine is. Manufacturers are increasingly prioritising ways to correct the errors that quantum computers are prone to. This shift is crucial for developing large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers, as these techniques are essential for improving their usability.
Google’s latest quantum chip, Willow, recently demonstrated remarkable progress in this area. The more qubits Google used in Willow, the more it reduced the errors. This achievement marks a significant step towards building commercially relevant quantum computers that can revolutionise fields like medicine, energy and AI.
After more than 40 years, quantum computing is still in its infancy, but significant progress is expected in the next decade. The probabilistic nature of these machines represents a fundamental difference between quantum and classical computing. It is what makes them fragile and hard to develop and scale.
At the same time, it is what makes them a very powerful tool to solve optimisation problems, exploring multiple solutions at the same time, faster and more efficiently than classical computers can.
Domenico Vicinanza, Associate Professor of Intelligent Systems and Data Science, Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) students have raised over £110,000 for the British Heart Foundation through a scheme that sees them donate their unwanted household items.
The Green Move Out initiative began in 2015, encouraging students moving out of university accommodation to donate household items that they no longer need. Donation points are located around ARU’s campuses in Chelmsford and Cambridge, as well as some off-site student residences.
In 2024, students donated 6,784kg of items, the equivalent weight of about 60 baby elephants. The goods donated are estimated to have a value of £12,720, taking the total value of goods donated to the BHF to £111,280 in just 10 years.
Among the most commonly donated items are books, clothes and cookware. Although the scheme is primarily targeted at students living in ARU accommodation, any student or staff can donate items and donations can be made at any time of year.
“2024 was another fantastic year for our Green Move Out scheme, which has been hugely successful both in reusing items that may otherwise have been thrown away, and in contributing to a charity that does such wonderful work.
“I thank all our students and staff who have donated items, and I am sure 2025 will be another strong year for donations.”
James Rolfe, Chief Operating Officer at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)
“Anglia Ruskin University has been raising money for the British Heart Foundation since 2015. The students generously donate items to us through our Pack for Good campaign and we couldn’t be more grateful for their continued support.
“Every year, using these donations, BHF shops and stores raise millions of pounds to help the BHF fund lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases. We couldn’t do this without the continued support of students, like those at Anglia Ruskin.”
Natasha Feltham, university account executive at the British Heart Foundation
Shera McAloran, who is the founder of Karri Kitchens pictured with Chris Leach from ABC Community Food Hub.
A Craigavon-based food business has been praised for their generous donation to the ABC Community Food Hub.
Karri Kitchen have kindly given 360 prepared meals to be redistributed through the social supermarkets which are part of the ABC Community Food Hub set up to help those people experiencing food insecurity.
With support from Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Borough Council, the Community Food Hub was co-designed to provide a centralised location for food donations to be distributed to food banks and social supermarkets within the ABC Borough.
Shera McAloran who is the founder of Karri Kitchen, said: “It is our pleasure to be able to donate some of our healthy and nutritious meals to the ABC Food Hub. As a business based in the ABC Council area, we are keen to support local organisations who are providing much-needed help to people in crisis.
“Food is a passion for our business, and we are happy to share that experience with people at a time of need. Knowing that our donations are being distributed through the hub to social supermarkets who journey alongside clients gives us confidence that what we give, makes a difference to those who need it the most.”
Chris Leech from the ABC Community Food Hub said the donation by Karri Kitchen would make an important impact. “Our primary goal is to coordinate food donations from our amazing local food sector and channel these donations to organisations who are supporting people in crisis. We are impressed by the generosity of companies like Karri Kitchen, who want to share their award-winning meals with our social supermarket and food bank network,” said Chris.
“Our strategy in 2025 is to develop this partnership between business and the community sector, ensuring that the generosity of local businesses is met with the best practice support of our local poverty relief charities.
“Appropriate food support at a time of crisis, coupled with wrap-around support, can both meet an immediate poverty need and deliver ongoing empowering support. This wrap-around support helps to tackle some of the more complex issues that many people in our community face. Businesses are happy to meet their corporate social responsibility status and know that their community benefits.”
For those seeking help from the ABC Community Food Hub, social supermarkets and wraparound services are available in seven locations, ABC Community Food Hub, Craigavon; Stepping Stones Pantry, Armagh; The Pantry, Banbridge; Freedom Foods Pantry, Lurgan; Freedom Foods Pantry, Portadown; Via Wings Larder, Dromore and the Salvation Army, Lurgan.
Workers and the community of Grangemouth deserve support for their future.
Workers and the community in Grangemouth will not forget it if they are abandoned by their governments, says Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay.
Ms Mackay, who represents Grangemouth and who grew up and still lives in the shadow of the refinery, was responding to news that the site could close as early as May.
Ms Mackay said:
“This is a further devastating blow to hundreds of workers and to a community that feels like it has been abandoned and left to the will of a detached billionaire.
“All of us in the town know somebody who is employed at the site, and we all know the businesses who rely on it. Three months is no time at all, and a lot of people will be extremely worried and angry about what is happening.
“The Labour government was elected on a promise to step in and save the jobs, but those words are looking extremely hollow today. With only months to go, it is clear that they have no plan to protect workers or to provide jobs for the future.
“The workers in Grangemouth could have a crucial role to play in our green future. But warm words alone about a just transition won’t pay the bills, it needs investment and it needs a proper plan.
“The workers and the community will not forget it if they are abandoned by their governments at a time when they need them the most.
“We can’t let Grangemouth go the same way as so many other communities and towns where big businesses have cut and run while jobs have been lost and people have suffered.
“Workers should not be in this position. I implore the Scottish and UK governments to pull out all stops and work with the trade unions and the community to protect workers.”
HM Treasury announces that Dame Sue Owen will serve a second three-year term as Non-Executive Chair (NEC) of the UK Debt Management Office (DMO) Advisory Board.
Dame Sue was previously a civil servant for 30 years, including serving as the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Culture, Media & Sport from 2013 to 2019. She also worked on fiscal policy and debt management policy at HM Treasury.
She was first appointed to the role, which involves chairing Advisory Board meetings and providing support and challenge to the Debt Management Office (DMO) executive team, in 2022.
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds MP, said:
I am delighted that Dame Sue Owen will be serving a second term at the Debt Management Office.
Her expertise and experience has been, and will continue to be, incredibly valuable to the organisation as it continues its vital mission of delivering government financing.
Dame Sue Owen said:
The DMO has an exceptionally important role and I am very happy to have this further opportunity to provide continuity and support to the CEO, her team, and Treasury colleagues.
Jessica Pulay, Chief Executive of the DMO, said:
Dame Sue Owen’s reappointment as Non-Executive Chair of the DMO’s Advisory Board is greatly welcomed by myself, the DMO’s executive team and wider DMO colleagues. We look forward to working with her over the years ahead, as we continue to deliver the DMO’s remit to finance the UK government.
Further information:
The DMO is an Executive Agency of HM Treasury and is responsible for delivering HM Government’s debt management and cash management requirements, lending to local authorities, and managing certain public sector funds.
Dame Sue Owen is the first Non-Executive Chair (NEC) of the Advisory Board. The appointment of a NEC was a recommendation included in the Tailored Review of the DMO, published in June 2021.
This reappointment was made by HM Treasury ministers, in line with the requirements of the Governance Code for Public Appointments
Dame Sue Owen DCB is an experienced and respected economist. She spent 10 years as an academic and 30 years in the civil service, including 14 years at HM Treasury, where she worked with the DMO as a non-executive member of its Managing Board from 2002-06. She also held senior roles at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Department for International Development (DfID), and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), before retiring as Permanent Secretary of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport in April 2019. Dame Sue is now a specialist partner at Flint-Global, a non-executive Director at Pool Re, Pantheon International plc, Methera Global Communications and Serco plc, a trustee for Opera Holland Park and she chairs the Royal Ballet Governors.
GAD’s inaugural Investment Conference attracted a packed house of professionals across investment, pensions and government.
Credit: Unsplash
The role of the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) in investment issues in the public sector were among the topics discussed in our inaugural Investment Conference. The event attracted more than 140 people from almost 60 different organisations.
GAD’s Investment Lead Chris Ward introduced the theme of the conference – ‘productive investment to maximise value’ and delegates heard from a wide range of speakers including:
Ireland Strategic Investment Fund
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership (a Local Government Pension Scheme Pool)
Investment management firms:
Baillie Gifford
First Eagle
Novum Investment Management
Partners Group
Credit: GAD
Topics and discussions
Delegates heard from experts who spoke to various topics such as:
alternative approaches to generating returns while having a wider economic and societal impact
the impact of scale and the scale of impact when it comes to pensions investing
how you can invest to grow your assets and create a positive impact
why now is the time for investing in growth and how volatility of asset pricing is different to investment risk
Unique role
In closing remarks, the Government Actuary Fiona Dunsire emphasised the role of those working in the public sector, and supporting the public sector, to contribute towards the government’s number one mission of kickstarting the UK’s economic growth.
Commenting on the event Fiona said: “GAD has a unique role in connecting institutional investors with policy and opportunities, allowing barriers to be aired and addressed.”
A concerted effort for long-term excellence, competitiveness and increased patient benefit – Government.se
Published
Sweden’s national life sciences strategy serves as a long-range framework, and the strategy’s eight priority areas remain the starting point for this update of the previous strategy from 2019.
Download:
The updated objectives indicate the Government’s policy for the development of the sector and aim to encourage a mobilisation at the local, regional and national levels. By being an active partner in both Sweden and the EU, the Government wants to contribute to a sustainable and advantageous development of Sweden’s life sciences.
Shortcut
Sweden’s national life sciences strategy was launched in December 2019.
PARIS, Feb. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Last week, the TSplus headquarters team convened in Paris for a pivotal two-day meeting to reflect on the successes of 2024 and outline strategic objectives for 2025. The gathering brought together key members of the global TSplus network and featured insightful discussions on the company’s future growth and innovations.
TSplus Welcomes New Talent and Celebrates Achievements
The meeting opened with a warm welcome to new recruits who will play essential roles in advancing TSplus’s global initiatives. Adrien Philippe now leads the worldwide pre-sales team, joined by Michael and Waddi. In China, three new hires—Neo (Sales Development), Chen (Marketing), and Yi (Communications Liaison from France)—have been onboarded to strengthen operations and communication between Shanghai and the headquarters.
Henri Marlin, COO, shared exciting news as TSplus achieved a significant milestone: for the first time in its history, the company’s turnover has surpassed $10 million. This impressive growth reflects TSplus’s commitment to innovation, customer-centric strategies, and global market expansion.
Strategic Focus Areas for TSplus in 2025
Dominique laid out TSplus’ roadmap towards 2030, emphasizing the need for robust reseller networks, innovative products, effective sales strategies, and strong partnerships. He identified six strategic pillars for 2025:
Video Production: Enhanced marketing strategies leveraging multimedia content.
Expansion in China and the USA: With new hires and development initiatives.
Remote Connect Release: Simplified remote support for individual users.
RDS-Tools: Continued development and integration.
AI Tools: Leveraging artificial intelligence to drive innovation.
TSplus Technical Developments and Product Innovation
TSplus’ product development team focused in 2024 on enhancing its flagship solutions, Remote Support and Advanced Security, prioritizing user experience and cross-platform compatibility. For 2025, ambitious plans are in place, including:
Further enhancements to the Remote Support Android app and the development of an iOS version.
Introduction of unattended access features and extended compatibility with a wide range of mobile devices.
Major updates to Remote Access, improving session launch times, enhancing the web application portal, and making it a true corporate platform.
Advanced Security improvements focusing on streamlined configuration synchronization and stronger ransomware protection.
Release of Server Monitoring version 6, introducing SMS alerts, TLS server monitoring, and data security enhancements.
Additionally, a complete overhaul of the License Portal will optimize user experience and integrate the SaaS model for all TSplus products, facilitating seamless subscription-based services.
Marketing and Branding Initiatives to Increase TSplus Notoriety
David Bismuth, executing video production efforts, aims to create engaging, AI-driven multilingual videos to bolster the company’s social media strategy. These efforts will complement ongoing SEO optimization and content creation initiatives, which drove impressive web traffic growth in 2024.
TSplus will continue expanding its presence on key platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook, and potentially Reddit, to increase brand awareness and engagement. The development of a case studies portfolio, leveraging customer insights, is also underway to highlight success stories.
Insights and Keys to Shine in Remote Access Market in 2025
A highlight of the event was the keynote speech by Xavier Fontanet, former CEO of Essilor and a renowned business strategist. He shared invaluable advice on thriving as a smaller player in markets dominated by giants like Citrix and Microsoft. Fontanet’s “small fish” strategy emphasized the advantages of specialization and gradual market expansion through niche targeting.
Looking ahead, TSplus is excited to host its next international meeting in Bali in April 2025. With a clear roadmap, a motivated team, and ambitious goals, TSplus continues its mission to provide innovative, reliable solutions for remote access and cybersecurity.
TSplus is a global provider of remote access, cybersecurity, and managed services solutions. With a commitment to innovation and customer-centric strategies, TSplus empowers businesses of all sizes to achieve secure and efficient remote operations.
Media Contact:
Caleb Zaharris
Marketing Director,
Email: caleb.zaharris@tsplus.net
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
Over the past few weeks the new US president, Donald Trump, has repeatedly claimed that the United States should “take back” the Panama Canal and that it should assume control of Greenland – one way or another. He has talked of Canada becoming America’s 51st state and now he even wants to “take over” the Gaza Strip to convert it into a “Riviera” on the eastern Mediterranean.
It’s as if the US president believes that his country should be an empire. In this Trump seems to be emulating China’s Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin of Russia, leaders he has said he admires and who have themselves shown some clear imperial tendencies in recent years.
Under Putin, Russia has supported secessionist regions, such as Transnistria and Abkhazia, fought wars in Georgia and Ukraine and actively interfered in the affairs of Syria and assorted African countries. In 2022 Russia even launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, claiming that Ukraine was historically inseparable from Russia, but that hostile western influences were trying to destroy that unity.
China, meanwhile, has militarised a number of small uninhabited islands in the South China Sea. It has built 27 installations on disputed islands in the Spratly and Paracel island group that are also claimed by other countries including Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines and Malaysia. This has prompted a flurry of development, as other countries in the region have raced to establish their own footholds in the disputed, but very resource-rich, region.
Beijing also maintains its claim over Taiwan, which it says is an inalienable part of China which it wants to “come home”.
Empires and nation states
Most people assumed that the age of empires had been relegated to the dustbin of history. But this is by no means a straightforward proposition. Until relatively recently, the rise and fall of empires had dominated much of recorded history. Nation-states only appeared at the end of the 18th century. And as those states rose to prominence many too displayed imperial inclinations.
So the US, fresh from throwing off the yoke of the British empire, wasted little time in expanding its borders westward, acquiring – whether by conquest or purchase – large swaths of new territory in what effectively turned a small group of east coast states into a continental empire.
Meanwhile other newly minted nation-states such as Italy and Germany also aspired to acquire overseas empires and involved themselves, with varying success, building what turned out to be relatively shortlived colonial empires in Africa and elsewhere.
Most traditional dynastic empires, meanwhile, began to adopt various aspects of the nation-state model, such as conscription, legal equality and political participation. The decades following the second world war are often seen by historians as a period of decolonisation by traditional imperial powers such as Britain and France. But the transition from empire to nation-states was far from smooth. Most imperial governments hoped to transform their empires into more egalitarian commonwealths, while retaining a degree of influence.
This they did with varying degrees of success and often under extreme duress, as with France in Algeria and Vietnam, or under great economic pressure, such as with Britain and India. The real age of the nation-state didn’t begin until the 1960s.
The return of empire?
Today, the world consists of about 200 independent countries, the overwhelming majority nation-states. Nonetheless, one could argue that empires – or at least imperial tendencies – have never totally disappeared. France, for instance, frequently interfered in many of its former colonies in Africa. However, these military interventions were not meant to permanently occupy new territories.
Today, imperial tendencies seem to resurface around the world. The past, however, tends not to repeat itself. Massive wars of conquest or attempts to create new overseas empires are unlikely in the immediate future. Most imperial expansions are currently sought close to home.
What is striking is that Putin, Xi and Trump all use fierce nationalist rhetoric to justify their imperialist designs. Putin, as we have seen, claims the indivisibility of Ukraine and Russia and blames “Nazis” for trying to turn Russia’s sister state towards the west. He used it as a justification for invading Ukraine in February 2022.
Xi, in turn, often maintains that Communist China has finally overcome the century of humiliation, in which the country was the plaything of foreign powers. They both seem to yearn for past imperial greatness. The Russian Federation aims to undo the dissolution of the Soviet Union, communist China looks back to the Qing empire. Interestingly, under its increasingly authoritarian leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey – another regional power with imperial inclinations – similarly finds inspiration in the Ottoman Empire.
The US case seems to be more complex, but in fact is very similar. Thus, Trump argues that the Panama Canal, which has long been administered by the US, was foolishly returned to Panama by Jimmy Carter and claims that it is now controlled by China. He will, he says, return it to the US.
Trump also refers to America’s “Manifest Destiny”, the 19th-century belief that American settlers were destined to expand to the Pacific coast. These days his aspirations are northwards rather than to the west. The president also wants to plant the US flag on Mars, taking his imperial dreams into outer space.
If the US joins China and Russia in violating recognised borders, the international, rights-based order could be in danger. The signs are not very positive. Taking steps to illegally annex territories could blow up the entire international edifice.
Eric Storm 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.
Meet north Wales’s newest resident: the Aesculapian snake (_Zamenis longissimus_).Nathan Rusli
All animals live in or seek a set of climate conditions they find tolerable. This “climate envelope” partially determines where animals are found, but the continued existence of many species now rests on the outcome of human-driven climate change.
Rising temperatures are moving the available climate niches of many species into areas which were previously too cool. While their ranges shift poleward or to higher elevations, their habitat downslope or closer to the equator shrinks, as it becomes too hot to live in.
Flying and marine animals are relatively free to follow these shifting niches. Birds and butterflies are two examples. New species arrive regularly in the UK with the warming climate and are generally met with excitement by enthusiasts and scientists alike, given that they are a natural effort by a species to make the best of a difficult situation.
However, many grounded species, including reptiles and mammals, cannot disperse through habitats split apart by roads and other human-made obstacles, or cross natural barriers like the Channel. This limits their ability to find suitable conditions and makes them vulnerable to extinction.
Nowhere to go?
Here is the dilemma for conservationists like us.
We normally focus on preserving species within their modern ranges, and have traditionally viewed species that end up outside theirs as a problem. But retaining the status quo is increasingly untenable in the face of unchecked climate change.
Should we consider conserving species that have moved, or been moved, outside of the native ranges that existed before industrial society and its greenhouse effect? Should we even consider deliberately moving species to conserve them? Introduced species that have established just outside of their native ranges, in slightly cooler climates, offer a glimpse of the likely consequences.
Our new study in north Wales focused on one such migrant. Aesculapian snakes (Zamenis longissimus) are nonvenomous reptiles that mostly eat rodents and are native to central and southern Europe, reaching almost to the Channel coast in northern France.
Two accidental introductions, one in Colwyn Bay, north Wales, and another along the Regent’s Canal in London, have allowed this species to thrive in Britain. It is not actually novel to our shores, but it disappeared during a previous ice age and has probably been absent for about 300,000 years.
While the introduced UK populations appear to be thriving, recent surveys of this snake in the southern parts of its range have discovered a rapid decline, potentially due in part to climate change.
A good neighbour
Given their status as a non-native species, we were keen to find out how Aesculapian snakes are surviving in chilly north Wales, further north than anywhere they currently occur naturally. To do this, we implanted 21 snakes with radio transmitters and spent two summers tracking them around the countryside.
Aesculapian snakes are elusive and wary of humans. Tom Major
Our results surprised us. The snakes had a trump card which seemed to help them weather the cool climate. They were frequently entering buildings – relatively warm refuges – while they were digesting food or preparing to shed their skin. They also used garden compost bins for shelter and to incubate their eggs.
Even more surprisingly, most residents did not mind the snakes. In fact, many had no idea they had snakes as neighbours because they kept such a low profile, typically hiding in attic corners. The snakes appear to coexist with normal suburban wildlife, and there are no indications that their presence is affecting native species.
Should successfully established, innocuous immigrants be proscribed and potentially eradicated, as is currently the case? Or should they be valued and conserved in the face of current and impending climate change?
Protecting and conserving the maximum possible diversity of species and ecosystems is the heart of the conservation agenda. However, the rapid pace of change forced upon our planet requires us to rethink what is practical and desirable to achieve.
Conservation within the silos of national boundaries is an increasingly outdated way of trying to maintain the diversity underlying global ecosystems. Instead, conservationists may need to accept that the rapidly changing environment necessitate shifts in the ranges of species. And perhaps, even assist those species incapable of moving on their own.
Introductions have allowed this snake to flourish on an island it would never naturally reach. Antonio Gandini
Unlicensed “guerrilla” releases are obviously unacceptable due to biosecurity risks (for example, the potential to introduce devastating diseases such as the amphibian-killing Bsal fungus) and other unforeseen consequences. Even legitimate reintroductions often fail, due to there being too few individual specimens, pollution or predation from invasive species.
Aesculapian snakes will be considered by the government for addition to the list of alien species of special concern, which would be grounds for eradication. It would be tragic if species such as this became extinct in parts of their natural range, while thriving introduced populations just to the north of their pre-industrial distribution are treated as undesirable aliens that must be removed.
Instead, we argue that this innocuous species should be the figurehead for new thinking in conservation biology, that incorporates the reality of impending further climate change and dispenses with the narrow constraints of national boundaries and adherence to pre-industrial distributions.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Wolfgang Wüster receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust.
Tom Major 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.
On 30–31 January, State Secretary Anders Hall took part in an informal meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) in Warsaw, Poland. In conjunction with the meeting, Mr Hall paid a visit to Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.
State Secretary Anders Hall and Frontex’s Deputy Executive Director for Returns and Operations Lars Gerdes.
Photo: Frontex
At the meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) in Warsaw, where State Secretary Anders Hall met with Poland’s Minister of the Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak.
Photo: The Chancellery of the Prime Minister / PAP S.A
Frontex is the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency that supports EU Member States with issues such as enforcing return decisions. Frontex provides support to EU Member States at all stages of a return procedure: everything from obtaining travel documents and contact with relevant third countries, to offering funded and chartered flights and reintegration assistance.
At the meeting, discussions centred on the EU Agency’s cooperation with Swedish government agencies, something that Frontex considers a success. Over the past two years, Swedish government agencies have increasingly started using Frontex’s services in their work on return procedures. This enhanced cooperation has increased the number of return operations organised by Sweden together with Frontex.
“The Government’s priority is to increase the returns of those who have received an expulsion order. That’s why it’s positive that Frontex is verifying that the work of the Government and its agencies is yielding results. Achieving an effective return procedure is a prerequisite for a responsible and well-functioning migration policy,” says Mr Hall.
At the meeting with Frontex, Mr Hall met with Frontex’s Deputy Executive Director for Returns and Operations Lars Gerdes and Head of Sector Return Operations/Head of Unit Return Operations and Voluntary Returns Mauro Petriaggi.
The UK will host Western Balkans leaders for the Berlin Process Summit in Autumn 2025.
UK to host major summit with Western Balkans leaders in Autumn 2025.
Summit will boost cooperation with Western Balkans partners to tackle irregular migration along key transit routes, delivering on the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.
Diplomat Karen Pierce appointed as the UK’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans.
The UK will host leaders of the six Western Balkans countries and other European leaders later this year for a crucial international Summit to support stability, security and economic co-operation in the region.
It will also focus on how to work together to combat the region being used as a transit route for irregular migration, with the Government focussed on using every tool at its disposal to control the UK’s borders.
Known formally as the Berlin Process, the Summit will strengthen cooperation with European partners to help deliver on the UK Government’s strategy to strengthen borders, smash the gangs, and get those with no right to be here returned to their countries.
As one of the UK’s most experienced diplomats, Dame Karen Pierce DCMG has been appointed the UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, charged with driving forward the UK’s strategic objectives across the region, including preparations for the Summit.
The summit comes as the UK develops a world first sanctions regime to snare people smugglers upstream.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:
The Western Balkans is of long-standing importance to the UK, and our partnerships in the region are central to our efforts to tackle irregular migration and bear down on the evil trade in human lives. Hosting the Berlin Process in the UK demonstrates our commitment to European Security, and to delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.
With her experience and expertise, Dame Karen Pierce is the ideal person to drive this important work forward. I would like to thank Lord Peach for his personal dedication and service in advancing UK interests in the Western Balkans over the past 3 years.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Angela Eagle said:
Co-operation is key if we want to stop people making dangerous journeys to the UK. Which is why, through the Border Security Command, we are rebuilding strong relationships across Europe and beyond to address the common challenge of irregular migration and secure our borders.
This government has already agreed new deals to increase operational co-operation on organised immigration crime with countries including North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo. Our international work, alongside a stronger immigration enforcement approach being taken in the UK, will ensure we are breaking the business model of the people-smuggling gangs at every level.
The UK’s hosting of the Summit in partnership with Germany underlines this government’s commitment to resetting its relationships with Europe, and the latest step in the government’s strategy to build enduring partnerships to bear down on criminal groups facilitating irregular migration.
The announcement follows the Prime Minister hosting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the weekend.
Last month, the Foreign Secretary visited Tunisia to boost support for projects to tackle the drivers of small boat arrivals in Europe and the UK.
In January, the UK also announced plans for the world’s first sanctions regime to take down people smuggling rings and starve them of illicit finance fuelling their operations.
With three NATO allies present in the region, the Western Balkans is of critical importance for UK and European security. The risk of instability increasing: regional tensions are aided by malign
Russian influence and there is an urgent need to crack down on criminal gangs who have made the region into a major transit route for irregular migration across Europe.
The UK’s Special Envoy will also contribute to wider missions of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, including working to disrupt organised crime groups to make Britain’s streets safer and promote opportunities for British businesses to deliver economic growth.
Before serving as British Ambassador to the United States, Dame Karen Pierce was the UK’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York – the first female officer to hold each position.
She will take up her new position in the Spring, taking over from Air Chief Marshal The Lord Peach KG GBE KCB DL.
Two locations of Joe and the Juice have been fined £40,000 each after serious breaches of food safety and hygiene regulations after mice infestations were found. Fines, costs victim surcharges totalling £95,900 were handed down at Westminster Magistrates Court on the 22nd January 2025.
The popular juice and coffee bar on Garrick Street was shut by Westminster City Council due to a widespread mouse infestation being discovered in June 2023. Upon inspection the premises, mouse droppings were found in boxes of bread used for their much-loved sandwiches. As the inspection continued environmental health officers found evidence of the rodent droppings on napkins intended for customers.
This presented a clear danger to consumers given mice can carry diseases such as Leptospirosis and food poisoning bacteria such as Campylobacter and Salmonella transmitted through their saliva, droppings and urine.
Additionally, an inspection of Joe and The Juice on Davies Street in December 2023 by the local authority’s environmental health team revealed equally poor standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Upon inspection, officers found bread stored on trays had been gnawed by mice, as well as droppings in storage and front of house serving areas. They also found food crumbs below shelving likely to encourage the infestation.
Both cases were serious enough to be served Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices which temporarily closed both locations with the two branches pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to two offences under food hygiene regulations.
Cllr Aicha Less, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Public Protection said:
Customers should have peace of mind that the kitchen and cafes they enjoy have the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness. However, the details of these cases are truly shocking and fall well below the standards we expect of food businesses in Westminster.
“The severity of these fines demonstrates how seriously we take food hygiene, and residents and visitors can be reassured that the council will take meaningful action to keep them safe.
“We continue to work closely with all food and hospitality businesses to make sure the very highest standards of cleanliness are maintained.”
People travelling to, through and from Milehouse this coming Sunday (9 February) are warned the area will be exceptionally busy, due to the Plymouth Argyle home game against Liverpool and the Devon County ASA swimming championships at the Plymouth Life Centre.
Our advice to anyone planning to visit Home Park, the Life Centre or Central Park is to allow extra time for their journeys, use public transport and park in the city centre where possible.
The Milehouse Park and Ride and Plymouth Life Centre car parks are likely to be full by mid-morning.
Argyle fans should check the PAFC Travel Guide for advice on getting to and from the ground. Further match guidance can also be found on the Plymouth Argyle website.
In addition to the match-day shuttle buses operated by Plymouth Citybus, there are a number of bus services that run along Alma Road and Outland Road, providing easy access to Central Park, Home Park and the Life Centre. Details of these services can be found on our bus journey planning page.
Outland Road
34 Plymouth Citybus every hour 61 Plymouth Citybus every hour
Alma Road
10 Plymouth Citybus every two hours 11 Plymouth Citybus every two hours 12 Plymouth Citybus every two hours 16 Plymouth Citybus every hour 43 Plymouth Citybus every 30 minutes 50 Plymouth Citybus every 30 minutes 2 Stagecoach South West every 30 minutes 70 Plymouth Citybus every two hours
If you need to travel by car, consider car sharing with friends or family. Please use car parks in or around the city centre and do not park irresponsibly on site or in neighbouring streets. Our parking enforcement team will be patrolling the area and issuing penalty charge notices.
Beryl e-bikes also offer a convenient and eco-friendly travel option and there are docking stations near the Life Centre. Please be aware there are also lane closures on Alma Road due to ongoing gas pipe upgrade works. Footways along Alma Road will be kept open
A MAJOR retrospective of the work of a renowned local artist opens at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery next weekend.
Satta Hashem, who was born in Iraq in 1959, studied mural painting and decorative arts in Leningrad (now St Petersburg), before moving to Sweden and settling in the UK.
Since moving to Leicester in 2000, the artist has created hundreds of paintings and drawings that reflect a broad range of themes – from his response to the US occupation of Iraq in 2003, to his compassion for the victims of war and sectarianism, and his exploration of colour to represent moments in his daily life.
From Saturday 15 February, more than 80 pieces of Satta Hashem’s work will be on display at Leicester Museum, making it one of the most comprehensive exhibitions ever of the artist’s work.
His stunning portraits evoke the earliest depictions of the human face found in masks from the ancient civilisation of Sumer – now part of modern-day Iraq. These historical influences are referenced in the exhibition by a number of ancient Sumerian artefacts, kindly loaned by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
In addition to paintings, drawings and murals, the retrospective will also include book and magazine illustrations, rare archive material and samples of the artist’s sketchbooks.
“Our capacity to manage a pandemic is better today than it was in 2020. However, a crisis requires more than preparedness in the form of regulatory frameworks,” writes Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed (Christian Democrats).
This week marks five years since the first COVID-19 case was reported in Sweden. In this short time, society has undergone a comprehensive crisis and long since returned to normality. But for the people and families in our country, COVID-19 has left lasting scars in the form of grief and loss. Many lost their lives and many still experience long-term health issues as a result of COVID-19. Long-term isolation and loneliness have also left deep scars.
Sweden could face a new crisis
Other crises and difficulties have arisen in place of the pandemic, and seemingly part of human nature – in our country at least – is the wish to leave the preceding crisis behind us. But we must not forget the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, because unfortunately, we cannot rule out that Sweden will be faced with another pandemic – it is actually very likely that we will. That is why I am grateful for all the efforts that we are currently undertaking and that have been undertaken within the Government Offices to ensure that Sweden is better equipped to deal with any future pandemics.
A few examples:
Inquiry Chair Professor Jan Albert has been tasked with reviewing the regulation of communicable diseases to better adapt it to situations of extensive spread of infectious diseases. He will also submit information for a strategy for future pandemic management, including analyses of issues of allocation of responsibilities in the event of another pandemic.
The Public Health Agency of Sweden has been tasked with ensuring continued access to vaccines for the population in the event of an influenza pandemic. Currently, the avian influenza H5N1 has caused extensive outbreaks globally among both tame and wild animals in a short period of time. There are cases of the infection passing from animals to humans as well.
The Public Health Agency of Sweden has also been tasked with ensuring continued access to antiviral medicines in the event of a pandemic.
The National Board of Health and Welfare has been tasked with establishing a national collaboration structure for health and welfare’s supply preparedness of medical care products and any other equipment required to ensure the provision of proper care, together with the Medical Products Agency, the Swedish eHealth Agency, the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.
The Public Health Agency of Sweden’s mandate in relation to communication and information for the public has been clarified. The Agency plays a natural role in the dissemination of information and communication to the public.
Critical flaws in pandemic management
Important measures have been taken within the Public Health Agency of Sweden as well, including building a stronger system for surveillance of communicable diseases. This system includes increased epidemiological and microbiological surveillance with a higher degree of automation than previously.
The Agency is also working to integrate its different surveillance systems and automate the collection of data on infectious diseases within the health policy platform. This will enable real-time data sharing between national and regional actors, gathered within a shared user interface with different authorisation levels and tools to analyse cases of illness and outbreaks.
The Agency was tasked with strengthening its capacity to discover and analyse viruses spread via wastewater. All the above will ensure that we are better equipped to manage a pandemic today than in 2020. There were critical flaws at that time, which the COVID-19 Commission has highlighted.
But the COVID-19 Commission also points out that crisis management requires more than preparedness in the form of regulatory frameworks. It also requires a capacity to act in an entirely new set of circumstances where one does not have all the answers. One needs to be able to be act proactively and with force in peacetime crisis situations as well as in wartime and when there is a risk of war. In relation to this, the Government has made changes to the instructions to the Public Health Agency of Sweden to include a clear expectation for the Agency to act.
Sweden is better equipped
A clear conclusion from the pandemic is the requirement for clear political responsibility. The Government governs the state in times of crisis as well and that responsibility cannot be handed over to public authorities. Finally, it is important to remember what was perhaps the COVID-19 Commission’s main conclusion – everything centres around our society, values and people.
Sweden made it through the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the errors in management and initial passivity. This was achieved by virtue of a strong sense of duty, particularly among health and social care staff, caring for others and a fundamental trust in society. These assets, together with all the initiatives taken by the Government and public authorities, mean that Sweden is now much better equipped should another pandemic befall our country.
The renovation and restoration of three 19th Century summerhouses in Coventry is well underway.
The Grade II listed summer houses are within the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden at Stoney Road Allotments in Cheylesmore.
The summerhouses had fallen into disrepair and are the last remaining plots of the Park Gardens, established 200 years ago.
It is one of only four remaining detached Victorian town gardens that are listed on Historic England’s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
Historic England has provided a £250k grant for the restoration of the buildings. Railway Heritage Trust has also made a contribution, while support has also been provided by Network Rail.
Cllr Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member with responsibility for heritage said:
“It’s wonderful to see the work that is being done and I am really looking forward to returning once the restoration is completed.
“We are really grateful to Historic England for their generous support. We also value the support of the Railway Heritage Trust and Network Rail.
“There has been a lot of interest in this project, and it highlights the value we have for a wide range of heritage buildings in the city.”
The site is still actively used as allotments and sub-tenanted by the Stoney Road Gardens Association (SRGA).
Louise Brennan, Historic England Regional Director (Midlands) said:
“It is amazing to see the original features of the gardens restored.
“The Heritage at Risk funding has meant that three of the grade II listed Summerhouses have received complete repairs to the building structures, including replacement roofs, new windows and doors, reconstruction of walls with lime mortar and original bricks, timber frame restoration, and other internal repairs.
“And it’s brilliant that it’s all been achieved using traditional methods and materials, restoring the summerhouses to their original form.”
The renovation is expected to be completed by the spring.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Deputy Prime Minister has met bereaved families and survivors of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and written to both them and residents in the immediate community, to share her decision that Grenfell Tower will be carefully taken down to the ground.
The Deputy Prime Minister has met bereaved families and survivors of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and written to both them and residents in the immediate community, to share her decision that Grenfell Tower will be carefully taken down to the ground.
This is a deeply personal matter for the people affected and the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to keeping their voice at the heart of this process. She recognises how difficult it is for them and her priority has been to let them know her decision first.
Listening to the community
The Deputy Prime Minister has prioritised engagement with the community since her appointment in July and has met bereaved families, survivors and residents in the immediate community.
In November last year, the Deputy Prime Minister explained to families that she would listen to their views and consider expert information before making a decision on the future of the Tower in February. From November she offered bereaved and survivors the opportunity to meet in-person in North Kensington and Whitehall, or online, at different times and individually when families felt more comfortable with this. She has also spent time with representative groups, residents’ associations, schools and faith leaders. She is grateful to everyone who shared their view – whether directly with her, with the Minister or officials – and especially to the bereaved and survivors.
The Tower was the home of the 72 innocent people who lost their lives, and of survivors whose lives were forever changed. It is clear from conversations it remains a sacred site. It is also clear that there is not a consensus about what should happen to it.
For some, Grenfell Tower is a symbol of all that they lost. The presence of the Tower helps to ensure the tragedy is never forgotten and can act as a reminder of the need for justice and accountability. Being able to see the Tower every day helps some people continue to feel close to those they lost. For others it is a painful reminder of what happened and is having a daily impact on some members of the community. Some have suggested that some floors of the Tower should be retained for the memorial, others have said that this would be too painful.
Expert advice
The Deputy Prime Minister has considered independent expert advice. Engineering advice says that the Tower is significantly damaged. It remains stable because of the measures put in place to protect it but even with installation of additional props, the condition of the building will continue to worsen over time. Engineers also advise it is not practicable to retain many of the floors of the building in place as part of a memorial that must last in perpetuity.
Taking the engineering advice into account the Deputy Prime Minister concluded that it would not be fair to keep some floors of the building that are significant to some families, whilst not being able to do so for others and knowing that, for some, this would be deeply upsetting.
How the Tower will be taken down
The government is committed to taking the next steps respectfully and carefully. There will be continued support for, and engagement with, the community throughout the process. There will be no changes to the Tower before the eighth anniversary.
In the coming months, the government will confirm the specialist contractor that will develop a detailed plan for taking the Tower down. The work will be led by technical experts with specific health and safety responsibilities and will include a methodology that includes environmental, health and safety measures and a detailed programme of work. It will likely take around two years to sensitively take down the Tower through a process of careful and sensitive progressive deconstruction that happens behind the wrapping.
We continue to support the independent Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission as the community choose a design team to work with them on designing a memorial. The Deputy Prime Minister will ensure that materials from the site, communal areas of the Tower, or parts of the Tower can be carefully removed and returned for inclusion as part of the memorial, if the community wishes.
Continued commitment for the community
The department has regularly consulted the Metropolitan Police, HM Coroner and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry to ensure decisions about the site do not interfere with their important work in pursuit of justice and accountability. The Police and HM Coroner have again recently confirmed they have everything they need.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s commitment to the community continues. She will ensure bereaved families, survivors and residents continue to have opportunities to speak with her and the Building Safety Minister on issues that matter to them most.
National Apprenticeship Week runs from Monday 10 February – Sunday 16 February, and is an opportunity to celebrate and shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make.
The council has a long-established apprenticeship offer, working with local businesses to create a positive impact on local and regional communities and businesses.
This includes the council’s partnership with Solent Business & Skills Solutions on the Transfer to Transform scheme, which they have been partnering on since 2021. The initiative allows large organisations, like the council, to make a direct impact on apprenticeship opportunities across the city and Solent area by transferring levy funds to local employers.
As part of the week, the council’s Stronger Futures team will be highlighting the different pathways into children’s social care, including a social work degree apprenticeship and careers in fostering or residential care.
Cllr Chris Attwell, Cabinet Member for Central Services said:
“National Apprenticeship Week is an excellent opportunity to celebrate apprentices and promote the benefits of apprenticeships to residents, parents, carers and employers.
“Over the last couple of weeks, I have been fortunate to visit a wide and diverse range of apprenticeship opportunities across our community. I have spent time visiting council apprentices in schools, finance, children’s social care and housing and have enjoyed seeing the positive impact they are having on their teams.
“I also had opportunity to meet with partner companies and local employers who said that their businesses benefit from increased productivity, filling skills gaps within their industries and developing ongoing opportunities.
“We are committed to developing and supporting apprenticeships throughout the city and would like to congratulate all the apprentices!”
There are lots of different activities and events happening across the city, where students, parents, guardians and employers can explore apprenticeships.
As well as events, we are sharing case studies from employers and their apprentices across the city on our website and social media.
Anyone of any age can complete an apprenticeship, you can look for opportunities on the council’s careers portal or through the Government’s website. There is also an online event to support parents and carers if their child is thinking about an Apprenticeship as their next step after school or college.