Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Our Employment Rights Bill will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, end fire and rehire, and introduce basic employment rights from day one.
We’re introducing new workplace rights to end unfair employment practices and help deliver economic growth.
Our Employment Rights Bill will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, end fire and rehire, and introduce basic employment rights from day one – like paternity and parental leave, and protection from unfair dismissal. It also introduces right to bereavement leave from day one.
It will replace out-of-date employment laws, helping to boost pay and productivity with legislation fit for a modern economy.
This is the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, and a significant step towards delivering this government’s plan to make work pay.
Basic rights from day one
We’re putting in place measures to give employees basic rights from their first day in a new job.
Our new Bill will give greater protection against unfair dismissal from day one, ensuring that the feeling of security at work is no longer a luxury for the privileged few.
We are also bringing in a new statutory probation period for companies’ new hires. This will allow for a proper assessment of an employee’s suitability for a role as well as reassuring employees that they have rights from day one. We will consult on the length of the period; the government’s preference is 9 months.
The Bill will establish rights to bereavement and paternity and parental leave from day one, and strengthen statutory sick pay, removing the lower earnings limit for all workers and cutting out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in.
Our new Bill and measures will:
Give protection against unfair dismissal from day one, while allowing employers to operate probation periods
Establish parental and bereavement leave from day one
End exploitative zero hour contracts
End unscrupulous practices of fire and rehire and fire and replace
Make flexible working the norm where practical
Deliver stronger dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers
Establish a new Fair Work Agency with new powers to enforce holiday pay
Strengthen statutory sick pay
Ending unfair practices
Our new laws will end exploitative zero hours contracts and unscrupulous fire and rehire practices.
While workers can stay on zero hours contracts if they’d prefer to, our new Bill means they’ll have the right to a guaranteed hours contract if they work regular hours over a defined period.
Ending unscrupulous employment practices is a priority for this government. And this Bill will shut down the loopholes that allow bullying fire and rehire and fire and replace to continue.
A fairer and more flexible workplace
As part of the Bill, we’ll introduce new measures to help make the workplace more compatible with people’s lives. This includes making flexible working the default where practical.
Large employers will be required to create action addressing gender equality, including supporting employees through the menopause, and protections against dismissal will be strengthened for pregnant workers and those returning from maternity leave.
This is all with the intention of keeping people in jobs for longer, reducing recruitment costs for employers by increasing staff retention and helping the economy grow.
We’ll also establish a new Fair Work Agency bringing together existing enforcement bodies to enforce rights such as holiday pay, and support employers looking for guidance on how to comply with the law.
An extremely successful discount travel scheme which saw bus fares cut by up to 50 per cent is set to continue for a further six months.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council teamed up with bus operators to launch its Affordable Fares scheme in July 2023, offering heavily discounted bus tickets for adults and young people.
So far, more than 2.5 million tickets have been sold through the scheme which has been hailed a huge success both locally and nationally.
Now Affordable Fares is set to continue until March 31, 2025 meaning passengers can continue to make the most of low-cost bus travel on bus services operated by First, D&G, Stantons of Stoke, Scraggs and Arriva Midlands.
Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration, said: “Our Affordable Fares scheme has been incredibly successful and has even been recognised nationally, by the Department for Transport.
“The discounted bus tickets have made it more affordable for students, workers, families and visitors to get around the city and it’s great to see that so many people have been taking advantage of the scheme which is all part of our ongoing commitment to improving public transport in the city.
“Since we launched Affordable Fares, we have made a number of other improvements including introducing new bus routes in places like Smallthorne, Longton, Burslem and Tunstall, and enhanced and extended services into the evenings and weekends.
“Our ultimate aim is to make it as easy and affordable as possible to get around the city and encourage even more people to use public transport.”
Ian Smith, commercial director for First Potteries Bus Midlands, Manchester and South Yorkshire, said: “We are delighted with the success of the Affordable Fares scheme and the positive impact it’s had on bus travel in Stoke-on-Trent.
“By working closely with the council, we’ve been able to offer significantly reduced fares, which has encouraged more people to choose bus travel. Continuing the scheme for a further six months ensures that our passengers can keep benefitting from these lower fares.
“We are dedicated to ensuring accessible and affordable public transportation for everyone, while continuing to invest in our services and network across the Potteries.”
David Brookes, managing director at D&G, said: “The Affordable Fares Scheme has been a tremendous success. By eliminating the price premium for travelling with multiple operators within the city and simplifying ticketing, alongside service enhancements, the scheme has resulted in significant passenger growth.”
The Affordable Fares Scheme is part of the city council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan which is being funded by £31.6 million from the Department for Transport (DfT).
In order to make the most of the government funding, new ticket prices are being introduced from Sunday 13 October.
The new prices are:
Adult day ticket – £4.80 (up from £3.50)
Adult week ticket – £12 (no change)
Adult month ticket – £42 (no change)
Adult three-month ticket – £115 (no change)
Adult year ticket – £504 (up from £400)
Young person’s day ticket – £3.50 (up from £2)
Young person’s week ticket – £9 (up from £7)
Young person’s month ticket – £31.50 (up from £24)
Young person’s three-month ticket – £85 (up from £60)
Young person’s year ticket – £378 (up from £200)
Cllr Gordon-McCusker added: “We’ve been talking to our local bus operators about how we can make the most of the government funding available to us and ensure we can offer passengers discounted fares for as long as possible.
“This will mean a price increase for some fares, the first price increase since the introduction of the Affordable Fares scheme 15 months ago. We have done our absolute best to ensure that we can continue to offer low cost travel across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire for as long as possible and we are confident that these new ticket prices are still great value for money in comparison to neighbouring local authorities.”
In Derby, a multi-operator bus ticket starts at £5.80 a day for adults and £3.80 a day for young people rising to £85 a month and £55 a month respectively.
Through a similar scheme in Leicester, day tickets start at £5.60 for adults and £4.30 for children (up to 16) and monthly tickets cost £74 for adults and £57 for children.
Day tickets in Nottingham start at £6.40 for adults and £4.20 for under 19s.
Freehold company HAAB Development Limited and company director Sheikh Behaeddin Adil have pleaded guilty for failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice for a property in the Queen’s Park Estate Conservation Area in the North Paddington area of Westminster.
At the sentencing hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday 10th September, HAAB Development Limited and the director of the company, Mr Adil were ordered to pay £415,101.13, for particular criminal conduct under the Proceeds of Crime Act, within three months.
Westminster City Council sought an inspection of the property in Harrow Road after receiving a complaint about a first-floor extension. In May 2015 Officers from the council’s Planning Enforcement team found that the property was converted from a shop with three residential flats, to a shop with seven inadequately sized studio or one-bed flats. This involved rear extensions to the ground floor and first floor as well as many internal rearrangements.
The local authority issued an enforcement notice in April 2016 which was required to be complied with by 18th November 2016. The notice required the removal of unauthorised works and internal rearrangements to convert the property back to how it was.
In January 2020, the requirements of the notice were still not complied with, and Westminster City Council decided it was in the public interest to prosecute the freehold company and its director.
The enforcement notice was finally complied with in February 2023, with the company and director contesting the prosecution claiming that they were not aware of the central London authority’s concerns about the breach of planning control, despite employing a planning agent to respond to the council’s concerns as early as October 2015.
Following the sentencing hearing on 10th September 2024, both were required to pay fines of £9,750 each and contributions towards the City Council’s prosecution costs in the sum of £50,000 (£25,000 each) within 3 months. This is in addition to the proceeds of crime order.
The Council understands that planning enforcement can be challenging due to the time it requires, but we are pleased to have reached a resolution after a lengthy process.
Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development said:
Planning Enforcement is there to protect and prevent harm to our historic built environment such as the much loved Queens Park Conservation Area.”
“We are clear that enforcement notices will be served and must be complied with if a building owner goes ahead with development without getting planning permission first.”
“I welcome this verdict, and the proceeds of crime order, as a warning to others and a reminder that Westminster Council is committed to protecting our City from unscrupulous property developers. ”
Co-leader of the Green Party and MP for Bristol Central, Carla Denyer, will welcome the Renters’ Rights Bill in parliament later today, but will say it must go further in defending the rights of 11 million renters in the UK. Denyer said:
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to recognise the rights of the 11 million people living in private rented housing to have a safe, decent and secure home. A chance to stop tenants being constantly uprooted and fleeced to pay for a roof over their heads.
“In particular, we need a national system for rent controls with local flexibility aimed at bringing rents down relative to incomes.
“Such a Bill is long overdue. Greens hope it can be made even better and become truly transformative. Let’s make sure we use this opportunity to shift how we think about renting, moving away from viewing housing as assets, to prioritising and valuing the right to a stable home – in policy and practice.”
Notes
Carla Denyer MP and Sian Berry MP are expected to speak in the debate on the Bill in the Commons.
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns about the websites inter-algo.com and inter-algo.net. On these websites, the Inter-Algo provides financial services without the required authorisation and offers so-called “wealth planning”.
Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether particular companies have been authorised by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.
The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).
Please be aware:
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
A default speed limit of 20mph in built-up areas is a long overdue change that would save lives, says the Scottish Greens’ transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP.
Mr Ruskell’s comments come as the Scottish Government has announced a consultation on changing speed limits following an increase in road deaths in 2024. In 2018 Mr Ruskell brought forward a Members Bill to replace the current 30mph default speed limit on restricted roads with a 20mph limit.
The Bute House Agreement between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government included a commitment to expand 20mph in Scotland, with an agreement that “all appropriate roads in built up areas will have a safer speed limit of 20mph by 2025.”
Mr Ruskell said: “Lower speed limits save lives. By rolling out a 20mph default across Scotland we can decrease road deaths and create safer streets and communities.
“We have seen the success that 20mph limits have had in Wales, cutting speeds and reducing road fatalities, and I want to see the same thing happening here in Scotland. I am glad that the Scottish Government is consulting on this, because it is a long overdue change.
“We should all have the right to feel safe, and this is a simple change that would help to transform our neighbourhoods and make people feel more confident when walking, wheeling and cycling.
“There has been important progress in some parts of our country, but we can’t let road safety become a postcode lottery. National limits are the most effective way of saving lives.”
On Wednesday, MEPs discussed Hungary’s priorities for its six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 July, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola noted in her opening statement that the Hungarian Presidency comes at a time when the EU is taking “significant steps forward” including “supporting Ukraine, strengthening European competitiveness, and building a more stable, secure Europe”. She recalled that the Parliament is the house of democracy, “where the rule of law and freedom of expression are sacrosanct”, and where “we may not always agree, but we will always give space for the respectful sharing of views”.
“The EU needs to change,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said, adding that the Hungarian Presidency aims to be the voice and catalyst for change. According to Mr Orbán, the situation of the EU is far more serious than in 2011, during the first Hungarian EU Presidency, citing the war in Ukraine, escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, migration, risks to the Schengen area, and Europe losing its global competitiveness.
Mr Orbán pledged that Hungary would be an honest and constructive broker holding the rotating presidency of the EU Council, including on the pending 52 legislative files that need to be finalised, and is ready to start inter-institutional negotiations with the Parliament.
He highlighted competitiveness as a key issue for the Presidency, noting that the EU’s economic growth in the last two decades has been significantly lower than in China and US, with the EU’s share of global trade also decreasing. Pointing to energy prices as a key obstacle, Mr Orbán said that “as a result of moving away from Russian energy sources, the EU has lost significant GDP growth”. “We should not fall into the illusion that the green transition in itself offers a solution to the problem,” he argued, adding that decarbonisation has led to slowing down of productivity and the loss of jobs.
On migration, Mr Orbán warned that “without external hotspots we cannot protect Europeans from illegal migration”. “The EU asylum system is simply not working. Illegal migration has led to increasing anti-semitism, violence against women and homophobia,” he claimed. He proposed holding regular “Schengen summits”, and insisted that Bulgaria and Romania should become full members of the free-movement area by the end of the year.
On enlargement, Mr Orbán called for accelerating the accession of the Western Balkan countries and stressed that “without Serbia joining, we cannot stabilise the Balkans”.
The Hungarian Prime Minister argued for an EU defence industry, a farmer-friendly, competitive agriculture sector, and for the importance of the EU cohesion policy. “Cohesion funds are not charity nor a donation, it is one of the biggest forms of investment policy in the EU, and it is a pre-requisite to balance out the single market,” he said.
Response by the European Commission President
Replying to Prime Minister Orbán, Ms von der Leyen affirmed the EU’s commitment to support Hungary after the recent floods and outlined three key priorities: Ukraine, competitiveness, and migration. She criticised Hungary’s stance on Russia, deploring that “one member state in particular” is still trying to buy fossil fuels from Russia despite the EU’s commitment to be energy independent. On migration, she condemned Hungary’s decision to release convicted smugglers and questioned its visa policies, such as inviting Russian nationals into the EU without additional checks, warning these “make Hungary a security risk, not only for Hungary but for all member states.” Emphasising the country’s potential within the EU, she urged it to “serve the cause of European unity” rather than diverging from shared values. (Her full speech is available here.)
Speakers from political groups
A majority of speakers in Parliament criticised the Hungarian Prime Minister for his record since the country assumed the presidency of the Council, as well as for turning Hungary into a hybrid regime, undermining Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, and collaborating with illiberal regimes in Moscow and Beijing. Most speakers expressed their concern about the complete lack of regard for EU values demonstrated by the Hungarian Prime Minister, as well as allegations of rampant corruption in Hungary. Many MEPs expressed their solidarity with the Hungarian people suffering from their government’s restrictions on judicial independence, media freedom, and civil society. Several argued that it was a mistake to give the rotating presidency to Hungary and called for a suspension of its voting rights in the Council under the Article 7 procedure.
Other speakers disagreed, commending the Hungarian government for its stance on migration and for placing competitiveness at the top of its priorities. They lauded Hungary as a defender of traditional values and took the opportunity to argue that the green transition policies and cumbersome EU rules are destroying Europe’s economy.
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, to make a series of announcements regarding the Jasper wildfire recovery effort.
October 9, 2024 Jasper, Alberta Parks Canada
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages will make a series of announcements related to the Jasper wildfire recovery effort that will positively impact visitors and citizens, as well as lessees and licensees of Jasper.
Richard Ireland, Mayor of Jasper and Tyler Riopel, CEO of Tourism Jasper will also be in attendance.
Please note that this advisory is subject to change without notice.
The details are as follows:
Date: October 10, 2024 Time: 1:30 p.m. MT Location: Marmot Basin 1 Marmot Rd. Jasper, Alberta
An area closure is currently in effect on Highway 93A and Marmot Road. To gain access, please RSVP to the email below by 8 a.m. MT on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Media access details, including a tour through an area closure before the announcements, will be provided via email.
For the first time, the Government of Jersey is making available reliable data on the nature and scale of homelessness in Jersey.
The Homelessness in Jersey Report, Second Quarter 2024 has been published just ahead of World Homeless Day (Thursday 10 October), by the Housing Minister.
Tackling the issue of homelessness in Jersey is one of the Housing Minister’s priorities and part of the Homelessness Strategy.
Earlier this year, the Minister launched a project to improve the collection of evidence on homelessness in Jersey, drawing together data from organisations in Jersey who assist people who are homeless or facing homelessness. The organisations who have reported their data and will continue to do so every quarter, in an anonymised format, so up to date reports can be created, are:
The Shelter Trust
FREEDA (formerly the Women’s Refuge)
The Sanctuary Trust, and
The Government of Jersey’s Housing Advice Service (HAS)
Some of the themes to emerge in the first report are:
There were 220 service visits by 204 Islanders to homeless accommodation and service providers;
Issues of houselessness, with 180 Islanders living in temporary shelter accommodation;
Instances where people are living in insecure/vulnerable housing situations, including the threat of eviction and domestic abuse
The difference between the issues raised by, and requirements of, men and women. The report shows that homelessness was highest among men at 75% of recorded, with women comprising 25% of recorded cases.
Substance use (alcohol and drug use) is the main recorded reason for homelessness amongst males at 14%.
At risk of, has experience of, or escaping domestic abuse is the main reason for homelessness amongst females at 39%.
85 per cent of homeless Islanders referred to in the report have ‘Entitled’ residential status.
Commenting on the publication of the first quarterly report, Housing Minister Deputy Sam Mézec, said: “For a number of years, there has been a lack of meaningful data available regarding the situation in Jersey regarding homelessness. This has made it hard to fully and accurately understand the scale and nature of the issue in Jersey.
“The creation and implementation of this first homelessness report brings together data from different organisations in the Island, who support Islanders who are in situations concerning homelessness. The reporting of this data will provide a deeper understanding of the level of demand on different providers and how they respond to the issue of homelessness.
“It also gives us a better understanding of the service user’s journey and their engagement with the organisation they are in contact with and what their outcomes are.”
The Minister added: “I am deeply grateful to the agencies who have taken time to work with my team to provide data, which allow us all to develop a broader, richer, deeper understanding of this issue so that informed and useful policy can be created to tackle the issues surrounding homelessness. It is however, always important to remember that behind the statistics, there are many individual stories, and we must always remember the very human nature of this issue.”
Presenter and wildlife cameraman has date at the Chelmsford Science Festival
TV presenter, wildlife cameraman and Strictly Come Dancing champion Hamza Yassin will be heading to Essex later this month to take part in the Chelmsford Science Festival.
The free event at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) on Tuesday, 29 October, will focus on Hamza’s journey overcoming adversity with his dyslexia to becoming a renowned wildlife cameraman and presenter in My Life Behind the Lens. Hamza will share some incredible photographs and stories from his early life in Sudan and his global travels as a cameraman.
Hamza achieved national stardom when he lifted the famous Glitterball Trophy in 2022 with his professional partner Jowita Przystal, but he had enjoyed a successful and varied TV career before Strictly Come Dancing. Hamza’s first appearance was on The One Show, as one of their wildlife cameramen.
He is known as Ranger Hamza on the hugely popular CBeebies shows Let’s Go For A Walk and Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, and is one of the regular presenters on the BBC’s Countryfile and Animal Park.
For Channel 4, Hamza has presented Scotland: My Life in the Wild and Scotland: Escape to the Wilderness, and the highly regarded BBC One documentary Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey. He is currently filming a new BBC One series titled Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles.
Hamza has a particular passion for birds and is a skilled ornithologist and birds nest recorder. His first book, Be a Birder: The joy of birdwatching and how to get started, was published last year, while his second book, Hamza’s Wild World, was published by Macmillan Children’s Books and is out now.
Professor Laurie Butler, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Hamza to ARU on 29 October as part of the Chelmsford Science Festival.
“Hamza achieved national treasure status when he danced his way to victory on Strictly two years ago and we are excited to learn more about his passion for wildlife and nature.
“As well as being a talented wildlife cameraman, Hamza is also a knowledgeable conservationist and ornithologist, so the event should be perfect for anyone with an interest in natural history.”
Hamza will be bringing his cameras to ARU, offering visitors an exclusive, close-up look at his equipment, and will host a short Q&A session, so attendees should come armed with questions. Hamza will also be available to meet attendees following the talk and Q&A.
Due to exceptional demand, the organisers have arranged a free live stream of Hamza’s talk on Tuesday, 29 October (6.30-8pm).
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Olga Logunova, Research Associate, King’s Russia Institute, King’s College London
Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov has confirmed that the messaging app, which is widely used in Russia, has made several changes related to user privacy.
Durov, who was arrested in France in August in connection with a range of crimes as well as refusal to communicate information or documents, has made some alterations that address user safety and user privacy.
Telegram says the changes are expected to also reduce criminal activity on the app. But users are concerned that the changes make the app more compliant with legal requests from authorities.
While Durov’s political and legal tussle continues in the EU, at home in Russia Telegram remains one of the most influential media platforms. It is one of the only places where both opposition and official voices coexist.
It is particularly popular with Russians between the ages of 12 and 24, with around 85% of them using Telegram. Around 25 of its 30 most popular channels are news and politics related. Telegram is also popular for calls and messaging.
The platform is a vital space for the independent journalism and activism that survives in Russia. Independent media outlets and commentators covering Russian affairs and using Telegram include Meduza (1.3 million subscribers), TV Rain (500,000 subscribers) and Mediazona. All are using Telegram to reach the public but are operating from outside Russia’s borders.
Pro-government channels also attract big audiences on Telegram, often with even larger followings than the independent outlets mentioned above. The most popular Telegram channels are Ria Novosti with 3.3 million subscribers, Readovka with 2.6 million subscribers, and Solovyov Live (1.3 million subscribers), along with several others promoting pro-government lines and supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Additionally, alternative voices such as Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oligarch and prominent Kremlin critic, and Ekaterina Shulman, a respected political scientist and commentator, are steadily gaining audiences. Both have been labelled as foreign agents or extremists in Russia.
Where do Russians get news?
In the past decade, Russia’s media landscape has undergone significant censorship due to increasing state control. Radio stations have closed down and many journalists have left the country to be able to report.
Russian media usage
Traditional media sources, such as television, continue to have a massive audience. Television has a monthly reach of 98%, while radio has a monthly reach of 79%. (Reach is the total number of different people or households exposed, at least once, to a medium during a given period).
Both remain significant in today’s Russia. While television remains a primary news source for many Russians, the internet is used by 84% of people daily.
Since 2012, the state has progressively tightened control over political information. People and organisations will self-censor, and there is legislation penalising social media reposts and other forms of dissent. These laws claim to be addressing users who “discredit the armed forces” or “spread fake news”, but are actually aimed at cracking down on dissent.
Most viewed Telegram channels in Russia during July 2024
As of 2024, over 2,000 administrative cases and more than 273 criminal cases have been initiated under these laws. Individuals and organisations critical of the official Kremlin narrative have been fined, had their assets confiscated and been imprisoned.
Another government method used to control online discussion includes slowing down or blocking social media platforms. The state blocked major western platforms Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in March 2022, leading millions of Russian users to migrate to Telegram.
Content creators followed en masse, transforming Telegram into a vital hub for news and political debate. Alternatives to Telegram in Russia include state-controlled domestic networks like VKontakte (VK) and Odnoklassniki, which have strong ties to figures close to the Kremlin.
Why is Telegram allowed?
The use of Telegram for propaganda, influencing public opinion, and promoting the positions of the state and Putin could be one of the reasons why Telegram has not faced the same restrictions as other platforms.
Another reason for its popularity is the platform’s ease of use as a messaging app, including for state organisations. This makes it less of a direct threat to state control over public opinion, while still serving as a crucial tool for those seeking alternative sources of information.
Its appeal to the Russian government is strengthened by the fact that Telegram is not owned by global (western) companies such as Meta, which owns WhatsApp (also popular in Russia). Additionally, issues surrounding legally questionable content, such as the near-official tolerance of digital piracy, have long been controversial in Russia.
Telegram’s moderation policies have often been associated with a less regulated approach to content, which has contributed to its popularity in Russia. These new changes may make ordinary Russians worry more about whether what they say on the app is safe from the state’s prying eyes.
The platform’s prominence in Russian public life is undeniable, but so too are the challenges it faces. How Telegram and its leadership navigate the coming years will have profound implications, not just for the platform, but for broader public debate in Russia.
Durov’s arrest underscores the growing pressure on Telegram, from some quarters, and reflects a critical juncture for platform leaders navigating state intervention. But for Russian people looking for a space where they can exchange news and views, it remains one of most free platforms they can still access.
Olga Logunova 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.
We’re back with our latest 60 Second Update, from 607 (County of Durham) Squadron, who received a new Standard alongside three other Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons.
In this episode:
Exercise Cobra Warrior, the RAF’s largest air exercise, sees 80 aircraft from six nations training together at @RAF Waddington.
617 Squadron Lightning jets embark on HMS Prince of Wales with the @royalnavy 809 Naval Air Squadron on Exercise Strike Warrior.
501 (County of Gloucester), 504 (City of Nottingham), 603 (City of Edinburgh) and 607 (County of Durham) Squadrons receive their new Standards in a special ceremony at the @Tower of London
Orkney Islands Council has secured £3 million Scottish Government funding for plans to replace its internal ferry fleet.
The funding will help the local authority develop a planned pilot for two electric ferries and its business case for a replacement internal ferry fleet.
The council plans to introduce eight new vessels to link communities and boost tourism. This includes three large ferries to serve the islands of Westray, Stronsay, Sanday and Eday with plans being drawn up for all of Orkney’s air and ferry-linked island communities.
The Orkney funding is on top of an additional £42 million provided in this year’s budget to support local authority ferry services across Scotland.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison – who chairs the Orkney Internal Ferry Replacement Task Force – said:
“This funding will enable Orkney Islands Council to take forward its business case to replace its internal ferry fleet. It will also help bring forward their pilot of electric ferries and I am grateful to Orkney Islands Council for its constructive engagement through this process.
“The Scottish Government is committed to working alongside Scotland’s island communities, to empower them to thrive. Since 2021-22 our Islands Programme has distributed more than £12 million to support 61 critical infrastructure projects on 50 islands.
“We are also collaborating with islanders, local authorities and delivery partners to ensure that the new National islands Plan – which we expect to publish next year – meets their needs and supports their ambitions.”
Orkney Islands Council Leader Heather Woodbridge said:
“The engagement with the Scottish Government through the task force has been extremely constructive – and we very much welcome this funding announcement which puts us on a sure footing as we progress our work at pace on the final business case.
“This funding package is the first financial commitment in the collaborative approach that is being taken to replace Orkney’s ageing internal ferry fleet, with discussions continuing on the delivery of the next tranche of business case funding and the shape of the financial model that will allow us to provide a modern ferry fleet that our island communities need and deserve.”
The new Programme for Government commits the Scottish Government to the continuation of the Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund worth £1 million in 2024-25 and with an even stronger focus on child poverty. The fund helps local authorities support those islanders most affected by cost-of-living pressures.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
The production of HMS Formidable underway as steel is cut. Production will sustain 2,500 jobs in Scotland and across the UK, supporting economic growth.
Thousands of jobs and apprenticeships are being supported through warship building, as a major milestone was reached today in the production of the Navy’s future high-tech frigates.
Steel was cut on HMS Formidable, the third of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 warships, at a ceremony in the Rosyth shipyard, reinforcing the Ministry of Defence’s commitment to shipbuilding in Scotland.
All five frigates will be built in Rosyth, sustaining over 2,500 jobs in Scotland and across the wider supply chain. The work will also create an additional 400 apprenticeship roles, driving economic growth.
The five Type 31 frigates will support future maritime operations, including interception and disruption of those using the sea for unlawful purposes, intelligence gathering, defence engagement and humanitarian support. They will also be able to shoot down missiles and enemy air targets using a Sea Ceptor missile system, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad.
The announcement comes ahead of the International Investment Summit which will gather UK leaders, high-profile investors and businesses from across the world to discuss how we can deepen our partnership to drive investment and growth.
Attending the ceremony, Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said:
This government is committed to making Britain secure at home and strong abroad. These frigates will be at the heart of the Royal Navy fleet, deterring aggression and supporting our military.
Today’s significant milestone is backing the government’s mission to grow the economy by supporting thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.
The programme is also a key element in the Royal Navy’s production line, sustaining and developing the British shipbuilding industry.
The Babcock-built Type 31 fleet will be highly adaptable and capable of rapid deployment, equipped with advanced radar, communication systems, and a variety of armaments.
In a testament to the UK defence industry, Poland has selected Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 ship design – based on the Type 31 frigates – to equip its Navy with a new class of frigates. In a further export boost, the design has been sold to Indonesia for their own frigate production.
Royal Navy’s Senior Responsible Owner for the Type 31 programme, Commodore Stephen Roberts, said:
This is a momentous occasion for all involved and we are proud to have marked this significant milestone in this way.
When complete, this remarkable fleet of general-purpose frigates will deliver an impressive capability for Royal Navy and play a huge role in the continued security and prosperity of our nation.
The ships will have a top speed of over 26 knots – equivalent to nearly 50 kilometres an hour – and accommodate a crew of around 100 personnel. They will replace the five Type 23 general purpose frigates. Type 23 frigates have carried out a wide variety of operations, from securing the UK’s vital maritime trade routes East of the Suez Canal to safeguarding British interests in the South Atlantic.
Babcock’s Chief Executive, Officer David Lockwood said:
Today, we are proud to mark yet another milestone in this important defence programme for the Royal Navy. These frigates will play a significant role in protecting the UK and supporting international partnered defence operations.
This programme is a real demonstration of UK sovereign shipbuilding capability and is delivering positive economic impact within Scotland and in communities across the UK. It is a privilege for our teams across Babcock to be delivering these platforms for the nation.
The Type 31 project is managed by Defence, Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence.
DE&S’ Head of Combat Ships Delivery Group, Mark Beverstock, said:
I am delighted that work on the third ship in the Type 31 programme is underway. From maritime security patrols and disaster-relief support, to intelligence gathering and defence engagement, these ships will be at the heart of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Latest information and actions from the Education and Skills Funding Agency for academies, schools, colleges, local authorities and further education providers.
Lyon (Agenzia Fides) – Music that lifts the soul and touches the heart, will be the protagonist this year of a prestigious initiative organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in France on the occasion of World Mission Week. This week in France is dedicated to the animation and promotion of Missionary Sunday. The choir “Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois”, a true institution in France since its foundation in 1907, has been collaborating for three years with the French PMS, supporting mainly the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood and supporting several of its projects.This year, the well-known choir will participate in a concert tour that begins tonight in Dijon, at 8:30 pm, in the church of the Sacred Heart, with a show centered on the theme of the mission.Through a varied repertoire ranging from sacred music to French folk songs and traditional songs collected during their numerous trips around the world, the young singers take the audience on a journey through the missionary theme, being themselves the first missionaries of the message of faith transmitted through their music.The proceeds of these concerts, which will take place on Thursday 10 October at 8.30 p.m. in Lyon (Basilica of Ainay), on Friday 11 October at 8.30 p.m. in Annecy (Church of Saint-Maurice) and finally on Sunday 13 October at 4.30 p.m. in Belleville-en-Beaujolais (Church of Notre-Dame), will be donated to the projects carried out by the Church to serve the most needy.To seal this collaboration in the spirit of mission between the Pontifical Mission Societies and the “Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois”, a video clip was also released in recent days, shot entirely in the “Maison de Lorette”, which belonged to Blessed Pauline Jaricot, foundress of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, which preserves her historical memory. Since July, the offices of the Pontifical Mission Societies in France have also been housed there. To the sounds of Caccini’s “Ave Maria”, the young singers explore the house, contemplating the face of Blessed Jaricot in paintings, medals minted in her honor, votive candles and coming into contact with objects that belonged to the Blessed. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 9/10/2024)
President Meloni: Government commitment to greater opportunities for young people. New talent to boost Italy’s southern regions
A recruitment process has been launched today, as part of the ‘RIPAM’ public administration requalification project, to hire 2,200 new officials for local authorities in the Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Apulia, Sardinia and Sicily regions and for the Department for Cohesion Policy and Southern Italy, organised by the Department for Public Administration at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in agreement with the Department for Cohesion Policy and Southern Italy.
This initiative by the Government, supported by the European Commission and funded by both European and national resources through the national operational programme for cohesion capacity 2021-2027, provides for new, additional staff to be hired with permanent contracts for the authorities concerned.
Hiring young graduates also fulfils the Government’s strategic goal to modernise the public administration, with a view to making public action more effective through innovation, digitalisation and new skills.
The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, expressed great satisfaction with this important result: “The Government has undertaken this commitment to meet the needs repeatedly voiced by local areas as well as to offer new opportunities to young people. This will significantly strengthen administrative capacity in Italy’s southern regions, where new talents and skills will give fresh impetus to the implementation of cohesion policy-funded projects”.
The new recruits will in fact be tasked with ensuring that European funds are used more efficiently, accelerating social and economic development in the areas involved and thereby contributing to the nation’s overall growth and helping to reduce historical regional disparities.
In particular, this national recruitment process responds to the need to enhance staffing expressed by Municipalities, the Union of Municipalities, Provinces, Metropolitan Cities and Regions in the areas concerned, and forms part of the Government’s priority actions to make better use of European funds and improve expenditure performance, thus guaranteeing cohesion policy objectives are fully met in the South.
The recruitment procedures will be completed by the end of 2024 and the successful candidates will then undergo specific training on cohesion policy so as to be fully operational by spring 2025.
Furthermore, there is also a parallel initiative to strengthen staffing for authorities unable to benefit from these new hires, involving a specialist-technical support service to facilitate full implementation of cohesion policy projects in local areas. This will also be funded by resources from the national operational programme for cohesion capacity 2021-2027.
The Minister for European Affairs, Southern Italy, Cohesion Policy and the NRRP, Raffaele Fitto, commented: “This achievement is the result of months of intense and rewarding work, carried out through ongoing dialogue with local areas and the European Commission. As we promised in the Government’s coalition programme, we are optimising use of European resources, also by providing more than two thousand new recruits with specialist skills through specific training in this area. This is a unique opportunity for Italy”.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Elena Jackson Albarrán, Associate Professor of History and Global and Intercultural Studies, Miami University
Demonstrators make graffiti reading ‘Columbus Out, Long Live the People’ on a fence protecting a statue of Christopher Columbus in Mexico City on Oct. 12, 2020. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images
This is the season of patriotism in Latin America as many countries commemorate their independence from colonial powers. From July to September, public plazas in countries from Mexico to Honduras and Chile fill with crowds dressed and painted in national colors, parades feature participants costumed as independence heroes, fireworks fill the skies, and schoolchildren reenact historical battles.
Beneath these nationalist displays ripples an uneasy tide: the colonial legacies that still tie the Americas to their Iberian conquerors. And as the calendar turns to October, another holiday highlights similar tensions – Columbus Day.
Since 1937, the U.S. has observed the holiday on the second Monday of the month, commemorating the explorer’s 1492 arrival in the New World. It remains a federal holiday, even as many states and cities rename it “Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” rejecting Christopher Columbus as a symbol of imperialism.
Indigenous groups protest in front of a statue of Christopher Columbus on Oct. 12, 1997, during marches in Mexico against ‘Dia de la Raza’ celebrations. David Hernandez/AFP via Getty Images
Most Latin Americans, meanwhile, know Oct. 12 as “Día de la Raza,” or Day of the Race, which also celebrates Columbus’ arrival in the New World and the tide of Iberian conquistadors that followed. But commemorating the event is all the more charged in these countries, home to the Spanish Empire’s most lucrative territorial assets and sweeping spiritual conquests. Days before taking office in September 2024, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated her predecessor’s demand that the king of Spain apologize for the genocide and exploitation of the conquest 500 years ago.
As a historian of Latin America, I’ve paid attention to the ways calendars signal a nation’s “official” values and how countries wrestle with these holidays’ meanings.
This moment of contact began Mexico’s 500-year transformation into a “mestizo” nation: a hybrid identity with largely European and Indigenous roots. During the colonial period, racial differences were codified into law, and those with “pure” Spanish bloodlines enjoyed legal privileges over the racially mixed categories that fell below them. The 19th century ushered in independence from Spain and liberal ideas that promoted racial equality – in principle – but in reality, European influence prevailed.
It was Spain that first proposed the Día de la Raza, held on Oct. 12, 1892, to commemorate the 400-year anniversary of Columbus’ arrival in the Americas – implying a celebration of Spain’s contributions to the mestizo racial mixture.
The celebration was part of a bid to fortify nationalism in Spain, as the waning colonial power continued its retreat from the hemisphere it controlled for the better part of four centuries. Spain also hoped to export the invented holiday to the Americas, strengthening trans-Atlantic cultural affinities tested by the United States’ growing sway. Across the Americas, Día de la Raza came to be synonymous with celebrating European influence.
In Mexico, the 1892 commemoration empowered members of the political elite who promoted European investments and culture as the model for modernizing the country. They used the occasion to extol the civilizing influence of the “madre patria,” or motherland, justifying the conquest and colonialism as a period of benevolent rule.
Mestizo nationalism
Only a few years later, however, the U.S. victory in the Spanish-American War swept the last vestiges of Spanish empire from the hemisphere. Spain’s exit made way for dual – and dueling – phenomena: rising patriotic spirit in Latin American countries, even amid increasing economic pressure and cultural influence from the U.S.
The 1910 Mexican Revolution ignited mestizo nationalism, which soon extended to other countries. In 1930s Nicaragua, Augusto Sandino started a revolution to oust the occupying U.S. Marines while calling for the unification of the “Indo-Hispanic Race.” Meanwhile, Peruvian intellectual José Mariátegui envisioned a modern nation built upon the ideals of a collective, reciprocal society, modeled by the Incan ayllu system. And in Mexico, beauty pageants celebrating native features gained popularity among the social classes accustomed to perusing department stores for Parisian imports.
Yet a tendency to emphasize Spanish cultural ancestry rather than Indigenous ones persisted. In the late 1930s, for example, October issues of Mexican children’s magazine Palomilla celebrated Columbus’ arrival as a heroic entry that provided the region with a common language and religion.
Pan American Day
Meanwhile, the U.S viewed Pan-Hispanic sentiments as a threat: Spanish economic goals, cloaked in racial and cultural solidarity.
The Pan American Union, an inter-American organization headquartered in Washington, saw the new date as an opportunity to forge common traditions across the hemisphere. It vigorously promoted Pan American Day celebrations, primarily among schoolchildren, exhorting teachers to implement games, puzzles, pageants and songs created in Pan American Union offices.
The holiday met enthusiastic reception in the United States. Midwesterners donned sombreros for parades, and Spanish language clubs in California hosted pageants celebrating the flags of American nations.
But Latin American commemoration was tepid at best. The Organization of American States, the successor to the Pan American Union, still recognizes Pan American Day. However, it never gained traction in Latin America and faded in the U.S. during World War II.
Recent shift
Latin America’s ambivalence toward holidays to commemorate the colonizers has taken a turn since 1992. The 500-year anniversary of Columbus’ arrival corresponded with yet another form of colonialism, in many Latin Americans’ eyes, as a new wave of multinational corporations colluded with heads of state to tap the continent’s oil, lithium, water and avocados.
Activists used the commemoration to call attention to lingering economic, social, racial and cultural inequities. In particular, the anniversary inspired Indigenous rights movements – some of which commemorated an “anti-quincentenary” to celebrate “500 years of resistance.”
A statue in honor of ‘women who fight’ has replaced an effigy of Christopher Columbus on Paseo de la Reforma Avenue in Mexico City. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images
In some places, renaming the holiday has drawn attention to Indigenous rights and culture. Bolivians, for example, draped a statue of a European monarch in a traditional “aguayo” garment, transforming her into an Indigenous woman. However, critics suggest that removing the holiday’s reference to the colonizers erases an important reminder of the conquest and its painful legacy.
As in the U.S., monuments to colonizers are coming down – including the monument to Columbus that occupied a conspicuous spot on La Reforma, one of Mexico City’s most-traversed thoroughfares.
In its place is a new installation: a purple silhouette of a girl with her fist raised, in honor of Latin America’s women activists. She heralds a new era of statues lining La Reforma, and heroes for the future – not mired in the colonial legacies of the past.
Elena Jackson Albarrán does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Danmarks Nationalbank generally shares the Chairmanship’s assessment of the outlook for the Danish economy and the risk outlook. Interest rate rises in recent years have contributed to slowing growth in the Danish and international economy and to a fall in inflation. This has prompted the European Central Bank (ECB) and others to ease monetary policy again. Like the Chairmanship, Danmarks Nationalbank believes that the development of the Danish economy has been characterised by a dichotomy in recent years. On the one hand, there has been a slowdown in growth in most parts of the domestic economy, while on the other, there has been an increase in exports, in particular driven by production abroad under Danish ownership, known as merchanting and processing (M&P). Like the Chairmanship, Danmarks Nationalbank assesses that M&P activities as such have only a minor impact on the domestic cyclical position. M&P is expected to make a significant contribution to growth in the Danish economy over the next few years, while the rest of the export-oriented industries are also expected to grow. Domestic demand is expected to pick up as real wage growth and gradually looser monetary policy translate into increased private consumption and investment.
The Chairmanship believes that the Danish economy is currently experiencing a boom with more than normal pressure on the labour market. Danmarks Nationalbank shares the view that there is still some pressure on the labour market, although it has eased compared to a few years ago. However, Danmarks Nationalbank believes that the pressure on the labour market, measured by the employment gap, has eased to a greater extent and that it is currently smaller than the Chairmanship’s assessment. This is supported by a number of indicators such as the labour shortages and number of vacancies reported by companies, both of which indicate that the pressure has eased compared to a few years ago. Unlike the Chairmanship, Danmarks Nationalbank believes that the Danish economy is currently in an approximately neutral cyclical position.
Danmarks Nationalbank share the Chairmanship’s expectations that wage growth will slow down next year due to less pressure on the labour market and significantly lower inflation. However, Nationalbanken also expect lower wage increases than the Chairmanship. Inflation is currently fuelled by domestic factors, and Danmarks Nationalbank expects to a larger extend than the Chairmanship that the current high wage increases will lift inflation going forward. Nationalbanken therefore expect slightly higher consumer price increases than the Chairmanship next year.
Like the Chairmanship, Danmarks Nationalbank believes that monetary and fiscal policy is still neededto contribute to an appropriate development in the business cycle in Denmark, which will support stable price development.Nationalbanken has raised interest rates significantly since the summer of 2022 as a result of the tightening of monetary policy implemented by the ECB in the euro area to bring down inflation. The Chairmanship believes that monetary policy has dampened activity in recent years and will also dampen activity next year, whereas fiscal policy is expected to counteract this in 2025. Specifically, the Chairmanship estimates that fiscal policy has been eased by around 1 per cent of GDP in 2025 compared to 2023. Based on the assessment of the current situation of high capacity pressures, the Chairmanship believes that fiscal policy should be tightened. From a purely stabilisation point of view, it is considered appropriate to tighten fiscal policy to return it approximately to the level of 2023.
In the current situation with continued high wage increases and some pressure on the labour market, including low unemployment, Danmarks Nationalbank shares the Chairmanship’s assessment that this is a good time to ease fiscal policy to the extent proposed in the government’s proposal for the 2025 budget. However, Danmarks Nationalbank believes that a tightening of the magnitude recommended by the Chairmanship would be too much. This is due to the fact that inflation has fallen sharply and that pressure on the labour market has been reduced over the past few years. Danmarks Nationalbank also believes that monetary policy and financial conditions remain tight in Denmark.
Danmarks Nationalbank agree with the Chairmanship that the green tripartite agreement (“Agreement on a Green Denmark”) is a step towards uniform taxation of carbon emissions in Denmark, but that the effective tax level, including the proposed basic deduction, is still lower in agriculture than in other industries. Danmarks Nationalbank also shares the Chairmanship’s assessment that there is a risk of the reductions assumed in the agreement not being realised, partly because the agreement involves untested technologies. Thus, it remains unclear whether the carbon tax level is sufficient to ensure the fulfilment of the objectives of the Climate Act. Clarity on future tax levels contributes to price and financial stability by clarifying risks associated with emission-intensive business models.
Danmarks Nationalbank contributed to the work of the “Expert Group for a Green Tax Reform” in 2023 by assessing the impact of carbon taxes on agriculture on banks and mortgage credit institutions. Danish banks and mortgage credit institutions are generally expected to be well equipped to handle any losses resulting from a carbon tax. This is due to their ongoing profits, a decrease in the institutions’ total lending to the industry and a generally high level of security in underlying collateral.
A Met detective has called on parents to make sure they are aware of their children’s online purchases after a youth, who murdered a teenager in Newham with a knife bought from a website, was jailed.
Following a five-week trial at the Old Bailey, a jury found the 17-year-old male, who cannot be named for legal reasons, guilty of the murder of 16-year-old Rahaan Ahmed Amin.
He was sentenced at the same court on Wednesday, 9 October to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 15 years.
Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, the lead investigator from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “The defendant’s claim that he acted in self-defence was completely rejected by the jury. Rahaan was murdered in cold blood after the 17-year-old cycled up to him and stabbed him within seconds of arriving, giving him no opportunity to react.
“This case demonstrates how easy it is for young people to purchase deadly knives online. I would urge all parents to be aware of their child’s online activity and what purchases they are making. It is also important for parents to keep their ID documents secure to ensure they are not misused by their children.”
The court heard Rahaan was fatally attacked in West Ham Park on 9 July 2023 after the 17-year-old cycled up to him and stabbed him in the chest. Rahaan died in hospital the next day.
Homicide detectives launched an investigation immediately and a long red knife was found in a tree in the park. Forensic testing recovered the 17-year-old’s fingerprint and Rahaan’s blood.
A number of eye-witnesses were also spoken to and CCTV was collated to piece together what had happened.
A photograph was also identified on a Snapchat account linked to the 17-year-old that showed a collection of nine knives lined up on a bed. One of those knives was identical in appearance to the knife found in the tree at West Ham Park – and also identical in appearance to a knife ordered on the internet through an online shop on 12 June 2023.
Detectives traced the transaction details of that order, along with two similar orders, which had been placed using the name of the father of one of the 17-year-old’s friends. When the police told the man about these transactions, he had no knowledge of them at all. The last of the three orders for knives had a delivery address the same as the 17-year-old’s.
The 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder two days after Rahaan died in hospital (12 July) and he was charged on 13 July.
Lancaster City Council is to temporarily remove cash payments from most of its car parks following a string of thefts and damage to its pay and display machines.
One of the damaged pay and display machines
Ten machines have been damaged in car parks across Lancaster and Morecambe since the end of August, with four of these coming in just the last week. On each occasion the cash boxes attached to the machines have been cut open and the coins removed.
It’s estimated that the cost of replacing the machines, along with the theft of the coins inside the machines, brings the total loss to the taxpayer to around £40,000.
To prevent any more machines being damaged while the police investigate the thefts, the council has taken the decision to remove the coin boxes from all of its machines except at St Nics in Lancaster, which is locked overnight.
Customers are instead being asked to pay by card or via the RingGo system.
Councillor Jean Parr, cabinet member with responsibility for planning and placemaking, said: “We know that this decision will be disappointing for those who like to pay by cash, but we have no other option while a gang of thieves is actively targeting our car parks. Each time a machine is damaged there’s a cost to replace it.
“Hopefully the police will be able to catch the culprits and we will be able to resume normal service as soon as possible.
“In the meantime, we’d ask people to be patient and if anyone has any information about who may be responsible, please contact the police.”
Motorists are reminded that paying for parking at all the councils pay & display car parks is still required and card payments and RingGo is still available.
Non-payment of parking fees may result in a penalty charge notice being issued.
During 2025 the Isle of Wight Council will be renewing its contract to provide information, advice, guidance and support for unpaid carers across the Isle of Wight.
We want to make sure that the views of local unpaid carers, about the support they need in this area help us to shape theses services moving forward. If you are, or were, or are likely to become and unpaid carer, the council would like to hear from you. Your experience, knowledge and comments are invaluable.
All you need to do to share your thoughts is to complete a very short survey which can be found at Isle of Wight Carers Support Service – User Experience Survey 2024 The survey should take 5 – 10 minutes to complete and all feedback will be taken on-board and considered to shape the service plan. The closing date for the survey is Saturday 30 November. If you would prefer a paper version of the survey this can be arranged by contacting Liz.Hennessy@iow.gov.uk
Laura Gaudion, director of adult social services ‘’The Isle of Wight Council recognises unpaid carers as the ‘quiet heroes’ in our Island’s community and want to ensure that they have the help and support to enable them to carry out their caring responsibilities while improving and protecting their own wellbeing. We want to make sure that the carers services we put in place for local people are of the highest quality so that carers on the Island receive the best possible support to enable them to look after the people they care for.’’
Carers who would like to discuss views or receive help to complete this survey can attend a public meeting and drop-in session on Tuesday 22 October between 2pm and 5pm at the Riverside Centre, The Quay, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 2QR.
ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM)will report its third quarter 2024 financial results at approximately 6:00 p.m. CET on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
ASM will host the quarterly earnings conference call and webcast on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. CET.
Conference-call participants should pre-register using this link to receive the dial-in numbers, passcode and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.
A simultaneous audio webcast and replay will be accessible at this link.
About ASM International
ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at http://www.asm.com.
A charity in London will support the “hidden population” of autistic and learning-disabled people in Westminster, thanks to new funding.
Learning Disability Network London (LDN London) currently runs a community centre, the Enablement Hub, on the Harrow Road in Westminster. With support from Westminster Council the charity will expand its current community programme to Victoria, giving advice and running workshops at a second Hub at Victoria Library.
The charity will grow its team to help more people in the local community.
LDN London’s Enablement Hubs support learning disabled and autistic people who get little or no support to manage their lives. They take part in workshops about life skills, including health and relationships, finance, and safety, make friends, and join in activities and events.
With this funding from Westminster Council’s Fairer Westminster Investment Programme, LDN London will be able to reach more learning disabled and autistic people across Westminster who want help in their daily lives.
On Friday 13 September, LDN London and Westminster Council officially opened the new Enablement Hub at Victoria Library with a ribbon-cutting and a workshop.
Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, Westminster’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, attended the event. She said:
“I am so pleased that we are funding LDN London to provide much-needed support, advice, and activities for learning disabled and autistic residents. This is an important step towards ensuring learning disabled and autistic residents are empowered to extend their independence, learn new skills and participate in activities they enjoy.”
Kym, a local resident who regularly goes to the Enablement Hubs, said:
“I really enjoy coming along to the sessions, especially the sports, dancing and singing sessions. I’ve also enjoyed helping and volunteering. It’s been great socially too and meeting other residents.”
LDN London will also recruit five new team members as part of this programme, including two autistic or learning disabled apprentices.
The charity will hire two community outreach workers to give up to 25 hours one-to-one help, supporting people with managing bills, going to health appointments, and completing forms. LDN London will also employ a community engagement worker to lead on initiatives for autistic people.
Sally, who is one of the interns for LDN London’s Enablement Hub, said:
“I’ve enjoyed the sessions and as part of it I’ve been given the opportunity to be an intern at LDN London focusing on community engagement. I’ve learnt quite a lot”.
LDN London has been supporting learning disabled and autistic people in London for over 60 years. The charity was previously named The Westminster Society.
The Enablement Hubs are tackling inequalities faced by learning disabled and autistic people. Those who don’t qualify for support often must do tasks they find difficult on their own. They also face many challenges in their daily lives because of a lack of the right support and prejudice in society- including poor healthcare, higher rates of mental health problems, loneliness and being victims of crime and hate crimes.
The charity’s aim for The Enablement Hubs is to support people with learning disabilities to overcome social isolation, be more independent and to be fully included in the community.
Mandy Crowford, Assistant CEO at LDN London, said: “Too many learning disabled, and autistic people don’t get the support they want and need, and we hope to change that. We want to help this hidden population to live safe, happy and healthy lives.”
Luana Baptista, head of community engagement at LDN London, said: “We are grateful for this funding, which means we can reach even more learning disabled and autistic people and help them to be fully included in our communities.”
The workshops at The Enablement Hubs focus on life skills that help people to live independently and have healthy, safe and fulfilling lives. Recent workshops have been on voting, having healthy relationships, inclusive trips to The British Museum, as well as regular men’s and women’s groups.
If you would like to find out more about The Enablement Hubs, visit Learning Disability Network London’s website:
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico.
Prof Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health, University College London,said:
“Florida should have been braced for catastrophic impacts from Hurricane Milton, especially storm surge and rainfall flooding. The possible disaster is sadly unsurprising, since Florida sits in the usual hurricane zone and it is now hurricane season. Yet the state permitted building development in dangerous locations and does not always support people who need help over the long-term to be ready for hazards.
“Human-caused climate change is strengthening hurricanes while reducing their frequency. Hurricane Milton shows exactly the climate change influence we would expect from higher storm intensity.
“Given Florida’s hurricane history including previous storms in this area in 1848, 1921, and 1946, they should have been much more prepared over the long-term. Planning decisions creating dangers and long-term lack of services to assist people who cannot help themselves for known hazards are all about choices to make disasters.”
Prof Liz Stephens, Professor in Climate Risks and Resilience, University of Reading, said:
“The wide area of intense winds and rainfall from Hurricane Milton will mean that many communities in Florida who are still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene will be affected again by this latest storm, even though Milton is expected to make landfall further south.
“Hurricane Milton is forecasted to track across Florida and out into the North Atlantic Ocean. This means that we are not expecting to see the same flash flooding and mudslide impacts as Helene in areas such as the Appalachian mountains, caused by Helene decaying over land.
“Rising sea surface temperatures as a result of climate change are fuelling the intensity of hurricanes, and the warmer atmosphere can carry more water. This means that the storms which do form are becoming more impactful.
“Further research is needed to understand how the risk of consecutive hurricanes is changing, as these clusters of events can greatly stretch resources for emergency preparedness and response.”
Prof Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology, University of Reading, said:
“Hurricane winds grab people’s attention, but flooding is probably the biggest concern with Milton. Winds of 150mph can easily destroy buildings and cause injuries and fatalities if people are caught out in the open by flying debris.
“There are three types of floods that cause the biggest damage – storm surge causing coastal flooding, flash floods from the extremely heavy rain, and river floods as all that water rushes down channels and onto floodplains.
“People’s attention may be turned to the sky, but emergency planners will be worried about what is coming from below.”
Prof John Marsham, Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds, said:
How does climate change impact extreme weather?
“Weather extremes increase rapidly for even apparently small increases in global temperature – this is true for heatwaves, floods, droughts and intensity of hurricanes.
Is climate change making hurricanes more common/worse?
“Many aspects of Helene and Milton are absolutely what we expect from climate change – hurricanes need warm oceans to form, and record-breaking ocean temperatures are fuelling these devastating storms. Warm air holds more water, giving heavier rain and more flooding. Increased sea-levels from climate change give more coastal flooding when hurricanes create a temporary “storm surge” rise in sea level. Finally, climate change can give shorter gaps between extreme events allowing less time to recover – we’re now seeing people affected by Helene now having to prepare for Milton. If we rapidly phase out fossil fuels, we can stop these extremes getting much worse but will have to continue to cope with the new climate we have created and will likely have to cope with rising sea levels for centuries.
What is particularly worrying about this hurricane?
“As a climate scientist, and a parent, every extreme weather event is now a reminder of the catastrophe we will face if we do not rapidly phase out fossil fuels. The tragedy is that climate scientists have been warning of this for decades. Rapid action is critical. Most people in the UK want more action on climate change and underestimate how much other people do. We have solutions and rapid action will save trillions.”
Declared interests:
Prof Ilan Kelman: No interests to declare
Prof Liz Stephens: “I also work for the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre”
Prof John Marsham: “I receive funding from UKRI, FCDO and the Met Office”
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
Detectives have launched a murder investigation following a stabbing at a house in Canning Town at the weekend.
Raish Ahmed, 50, died following the assault and two other people were also injured.
Police were called to a residential property in Hartington Road shortly after 16:30hrs on Saturday, 5 October to reports of a stabbing.
Officers attended along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service where they found Mr Ahmed with stab wounds.
A teenage boy was also found with a slash injury, whilst another man, aged 41, was also assaulted. Both injuries were assessed as not life-threatening.
Mr Ahmed was taken to hospital for treatment, but despite the best efforts of emergency services he sadly died in hospital on Monday, 7 October.
A murder investigation was then launched by officers from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.
His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
Daniel Whybrow, 46 (03.10.78), of Hartington Road, E16, was charged on Sunday, 6 October with attempted murder, the charges of which will now be reviewed by the CPS following Mr Ahmed’s death.
Whybrow was also charged with grievous bodily harm, threats to kill, racially aggravated assault and possession of an offensive weapon.
He will next appear at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, 4 November.
Police are not looking for anyone else involved in this attack.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police incident room on 0208 721 4961 or 101, quoting CAD 4781/05OCT.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.
Following last summer’s unprecedented wildfires that devastated the historic town of Jasper, the community is rebuilding. Businesses are getting back on their feet. Visitors are returning. Jasper is resilient.
Amid the fires, we worked closely with the Municipality of Jasper and the Government of Alberta to provide urgent support to Albertans and impacted Indigenous communities. As we look ahead, we remain committed to ensuring the long-term recovery of Jasper – one of Canada’s national treasures.
As part of the federal government’s commitment to the people of Jasper, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, will also serve as Ministerial Lead for Jasper.
In this role, Minister Boissonnault will lead the federal government’s work to support people and businesses in Jasper and to ensure the community rebuilds stronger than ever. He will co-ordinate federal support with provincial, municipal, and Indigenous partners to accelerate the recovery process, report on its progress, and ensure environmental protection measures remain world class. He will be supported in this role by a working group of Cabinet ministers – each with their own mandate in helping Jasper recover.
Rebuilding from last summer’s wildfires will require a collective effort. The Government of Canada stands ready to provide financial assistance to the Government of Alberta through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA), to help with response and recovery costs and build back stronger.
A home to Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial and a place of natural beauty that has long attracted visitors from all over the world, Jasper is the heart of a vibrant community and national park. Our efforts to restore it are a testament to our commitment to Albertans and to conservation and environmental stewardship for future generations.
Quotes
“Our government is here for the people of Jasper. With Minister Boissonnault’s role as Ministerial Lead, we’re undertaking a collective effort – with resources, investments, and partnerships – to help Jasper recover.”
“As the Alberta Minister in Cabinet and a longtime Jasper visitor, I accept the responsibility that the Prime Minister has given me to lead the rebuild of one of our nation’s most breathtaking communities. Jasper holds a special place in the hearts of millions. My colleagues and I will work hard to give Mayor Ireland, the Town Council, local businesses, and every Jasperite the support they need to build the town back on their terms – and even better than before.”
Quick Facts
Last summer’s wildfires in Jasper National Park were the largest to impact the park in more than a century. Firefighter crews did a heroic job in saving 70 per cent of the infrastructure in the town of Jasper. Recovery and rebuilding efforts are focused on revitalizing both the town and park.
Over the course of the incident, over 3,000 personnel from Parks Canada and other agencies across the country worked with the common goals of suppressing the wildfires and helping community members re-enter the town and national park.
The working group of Cabinet ministers that will support Minister Boissonnault in his role as Ministerial Lead includes:
Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
On July 25, 2024, the Government of Canada approved a request for federal assistance from Alberta to provide firefighting resources, strategic airlift capacity, as well as resources and logistics support from the Canadian Armed Forces to help keep people in Jasper and across the province safe from harm and protect their communities from wildfires.
On July 28, 2024, the federal government announced a donation-matching program with the Canadian Red Cross to support wildfire disaster relief and recovery efforts in Alberta, including in Jasper.
In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the Government of Canada stepped up to ensure all those impacted could receive essential services and benefits. This included:
Providing enhanced Service Canada delivery, outreach to evacuees, and deployment of Service Canada employees to evacuation centres to assist clients in submitting applications for benefits, such as Employment Insurance.
Replacing citizenship, immigration, or travel documents that were lost, damaged, or destroyed; extending or restoring people’s temporary resident status; transitioning employer-specific work permits to open work permits, as needed.
On October 3, 2024, Bill C-76, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act, received Royal Assent. The amendments made to the Act aim to enable the transfer of land use planning and development authorities from Parks Canada to the Municipality of Jasper, to support long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA), the federal government covers up to 90 per cent of eligible provincial response and recovery expenses following a disaster, including:
Evacuation, transportation, emergency food, shelter, and clothing.
Repairs to public buildings and related equipment, roads, and bridges.
Restoration or replacement of individuals’ uninsurable dwellings (principal residences only), personal furnishings, appliances, and clothing.
Restoration of small businesses and farmsteads, including uninsurable buildings and equipment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted an angler from Scunthorpe for fishing during the close season.
A fisheries enforcement officer on patrol
Angler caught breaking close season regulations
Case brought by Environment Agency’s fisheries enforcement team
Close season in place to help protect fishing stocks
Lulian Constantinescu, 34, of Mulgrave Street, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, admitted the charge at Humber Magistrates Court in a case heard on 18 September 2024.
He was ordered to pay a total of £307 after admitting that he fished in the close season at South Soak Drain near Wiseman Bridge, Scunthorpe, on 19 March 2024.
The court imposed penalties of a £123 fine, £135 costs and a victim’s surcharge of £49.
Close season
The annual close season (from 15 March – 15 June) prevents fishing for coarse fish in rivers and streams across England, helping to protect fish when they are spawning and supporting vulnerable stocks. Environment Agency officers conduct patrols to ensure anglers respect this no fishing period.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:
“The close season is in place to reduce disturbances to protect vulnerable stocks during their peak spawning period.
“We urge anglers to respect the close season in order to help reduce pressures on our fisheries, benefitting fish and the wider environment.
“We hope the penalties will act as a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of fishing during the close season.
“Our fisheries enforcement team work seven days a week to check that anglers are following fishing regulations.”
Fisheries enforcement
The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust.
Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.
Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Fishing licences
All income from fishing licence sales is used to fund our work to protect and improve fish stocks, fisheries and the environment.
This includes improving habitats for fish, reinvesting money back to facilities and clubs for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage more people to give fishing a go.
Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence.
A 1-day licence costs from just £7.10 and an annual licence costs from just £35.80. Concessions are available. Junior licences are free for 13 to 16-year-olds.
Licences are available from http://www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The Charge – Lulian Constantinescu
On 19 March 2024 at South Soak Drain near Wiseman Bridge, Scunthorpe, fished for freshwater fish in the close season.
This is contrary to National Byelaw 2 of the Environment Agency Byelaws made on 12 July 2010 and contrary to National Byelaw 6 confirmed March 23 2010 made pursuant to sections 210 and 211 Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:
“Confirmation in today’s Belfast Telegraph from the DUP, UUP, Alliance and SDLP that none of their MLAs will sign my motion of no confidence in the First Minister and the Economy Minister is confirmation, if anyone was in doubt, that the Stormont establishment puts preservation of the institutions before child safeguarding.
“Since the scandal broke, I have been in contact with people across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland appalled that it has been left to one MLA to ask the questions which matter about this issue and push for action.
“Frankly, Stormont is unrepresentative of the mood of the country when 89 out of 90 MLAs say they have confidence in Ms O’Neill and Mr Murphy.
“Parties others than TUV have and may well continue to huff and puff about this issue but it is all sound and fury signifying nothing when there is a motion in the business office which they all refuse to sign.
“I would urge people to raise this issue with their local MLAs.”
Government honours victims on anniversary of attack against Israel – Government.se
Published
On 7 October 2023, Hamas committed the worst mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was joined by other ministers in a ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on the evening of 7 October 2024 to honour the memory of the victims of the attack.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson delivers a speech during the memorial ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on 7 October.
Photo: Ninni Andersson/Government Offices
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in discussion at the memorial ceremony at Stockholm’s Great Synagogue on 7 October, the anniversary of the 2023 terrorist attack against Israel.
Photo: Tom Samuelsson/Government Offices
Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Migration Johan Forssell, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg and Minister for Civil Defence Carl Oskar Bohlin attended the memorial ceremony.
Photo: Tom Samuelsson/Government Offices
Mr Kristersson delivered a speech during the ceremony and spoke about honouring the memory of those murdered on 7 October, the importance of an immediate and unconditional release of the hostages and the need for the whole of Swedish society to continue to fight antisemitism.
Aron Verständig, Chair of the Official Council of Swedish Jewish Communities, and Ziv Nevo Kulman, Israel’s Ambassador to Sweden also spoke.
Other Government representatives in attendance were Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Migration Johan Forssell, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg and Minister for Civil Defence Carl Oskar Bohlin.
The ceremony was organised by the Jewish Community in Stockholm and the Embassy of Israel in Stockholm.
