Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah said he told India’s cricket board (BCCI) that he did not want to be considered for the test captaincy as his workload has to be carefully managed due to his back problems.
The BCCI picked top-order batter Shubman Gill as captain following Rohit Sharma’s decision to quit the test format last month, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar saying they could not risk burdening Bumrah with a leadership role.
Gill will lead the side in a five-test series against England starting in Leeds on Friday.
“I have discussed about my workloads going forward in a five-test match series, I’ve spoken to the people who have managed my back, I’ve spoken to the surgeon as well,” Bumrah told Sky Sports on Tuesday.
“I came to the conclusion that I have to be a little more smart, so I called the BCCI and said I don’t want to be looked at in a leadership role.”
Bumrah had captained the side in Rohit’s absence in the first two matches of a five-test series in Australia at the end of last year.
But the 31-year-old was then sidelined for three months after sustaining a stress-related back injury during the series finale in Sydney in January.
Bumrah, who was named the ICC men’s cricketer of the year in 2024, has suffered multiple back injuries throughout his career, including one that forced him to have surgery in 2023.
He said the captaincy should not fall to someone who has to manage their workload in a five-test series.
“I had to say no as it’s not fair for the team as well,” he added. “It’s not fair to the team if in a five-test series, three matches somebody else is leading and two matches somebody else is leading.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
YJB response to Women’s and Youth Justice Blueprints statement
The YJB’s response to a Welsh Government statement on the Women’s and Youth Justice Blueprints.
Karin Phillips MBE, YJB Board member for Wales
On 17 June 2025, an oral statement was made in the Senedd by Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Tefnydd and Chief Whip on the Women’s and Youth Justice Blueprints.
Karin Phillips MBE, YJB Board member for Wales, says:
“The Youth Justice Board welcomes the Minister’s statement and the continued commitment of Welsh Government to partnership working in youth justice. The Youth Justice Blueprint has laid strong foundations for a trauma-informed, rights-based system that puts children first – a vision we share at the YJB.
“As we move into a new phase, the YJB remains fully committed to working alongside Welsh Government and all partners to firmly embed the principles of the Blueprint into operational delivery. We will continue to champion early intervention, diversion, and the whole-system approach that has defined this programme.
“The progress made to date has been significant – reducing first-time entrants and promoting community-based alternatives to custody. But we also know that sustaining this progress requires ongoing collaboration, shared accountability, and a relentless focus on the needs and potential of every child.
“This represents a transition into a new chapter – one where we continue to align devolved and non-devolved services and deliver real change for children, victims, and communities across Wales.”
Further information
The Youth Justice Blueprint for Wales was launched in 2019 and outlines a unique justice approach in Wales, emphasising early intervention and prevention. The aim is to address individual needs, divert children from crime, and offer holistic, rehabilitative support to those who enter the criminal justice system.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Convicted security boss loses hidden assets in court confiscation
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has used the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize over £44,500 after financial investigation revealed previously unknown assets.
A Lincolnshire security boss who got away with paying less than one percent of a confiscation order made in November 2021 must now pay the rest, or face jail, after the Security Industry Authority (SIA) tracked down his hidden assets.
Trevor Frater was ordered to pay a total of £44,518.78 across 2 confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act on 25 April 2025 at Lincoln Crown Court. The matter was listed for further hearing on 13 June 2025 to ensure that Mr Frater’s available wealth was correctly recorded in the confiscation orders. The orders were granted in relation to multiple convictions under the Private Security Industry Act in 2023 and 2021.
When the confiscation order was made for the 2021 convictions Mr Frater’s available assets were declared to be £391.93. This was despite a determination from the court that he had received almost £34,000 in financial benefit from his crimes.
The SIA financial investigator was able to discover that over £100,000 was now available to Mr Frater, which meant that the 2021 confiscation order could be revisited to ensure he has to pay back £33,979.51 of his criminal benefit from the previous offending. Alongside this, a new confiscation order was granted in relation to the 2023 conviction that came to a sum of £10,539.27.
Mr Frater has until 25 July 2025 to pay both sums in full or face 8 months imprisonment, at which point the confiscation order would still be owed, plus accrued interest.
Pete Easterbrook, SIA Director of Inspections & Enforcement, said:
On multiple occasions across the last 5 years, Trevor Frater has put the public’s safety at risk by both acting as an unlicensed security operative and deploying unlicensed security operatives. Not only did he put innocent people at risk, but he also profited substantially from these actions.
These confiscation orders, and especially the reassessment of the 2021 order, make clear to all bad actors within this industry: you will not profit from your crime. We will find your assets, no matter how they are hidden, and recover them.
Background
By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Information about SIA enforcement and penalties can be found on GOV.UK/SIA.
section 3 – engaging in licensable conduct without a licence
section 5 – supply of unlicensed operatives
section 19 – obstructing SIA officials or those with delegated authority, or failing to respond to a request for information
The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).
Supporting those with a history of problematic substance use to enter employment.
Making it easier for people affected by problematic substance use to gain and keep a job is the aim of new toolkits developed to support both employers and employees.
The guidance has been published as part of the Scottish Government’s National Mission and brings a range of information and advice together including:
specialist advice for potential employers on how to attract, recruit and support staff who have experience of problematic substance use
information for people with lived and living experience of problematic substance use on how to pursue a career in the drug and alcohol sector
best practice advice for providing effective support to staff who have lived or living experience of problematic substance use
First Minister John Swinney announced the two new toolkits and guiding principles document during a visit to Harbour in Ayrshire.
Harbour is a third sector organisation in Ayrshire which supports people affected by substance use to focus on personal growth and employability that was involved in developing the guidance.
Mr Swinney said:
“People who have real experience of substance use offer a wealth of knowledge which can be of huge benefit to others who have faced similar challenges to theirs.
“These toolkits will give employers the guidance they need to support people into the workforce and give guidance to people with lived and living experience on how to pursue careers.
“Being at Harbour, to see first-hand the impact people with lived experience can have and the transformational effect that employment has on their own lives, has been inspiring and I know that introducing these toolkits and guiding principles across Scotland will benefit so many others.
“This guidance forms part of the Scottish Government’s £250 million National Mission, which aims to reduce harm and deaths from drugs and improve the lives of all those affected.”
Eddie Gorman, Project Manager at Harbour, said:
“These resources offer practical guidance grounded in lived experience and will be vital in helping organisations create safer, more inclusive support for those affected by trauma, addiction, and adversity.
“They provide a clear framework to build trust, foster resilience, and ultimately support people to rebuild their lives.”
Views are being sought on proposals which would see Scotland’s offshore wind ambition increased to up to 40 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity by 2040 – enough to power the equivalent of around 45 million homes a year.
Scotland’s current offshore wind capacity ambition is between 8 – 11 GW by 2030 and the new figure seeks to reaffirm the Scottish Government’s commitment to growing the offshore wind sector – giving certainty to investors.
As well as supporting national climate targets, the increase being consulted upon reflects significant private sector interest in the ScotWind and the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) seabed leasing rounds.
The success of these leasing rounds symbolises the enormous economic potential of offshore wind and puts Scotland at the forefront of development globally.
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin announced the opening of the consultation at the Global Offshore Wind Forum in London.
Ms Martin said: “Scotland’s offshore wind sector is already creating significant opportunities, delivering jobs and attracting major investment across the country.
“As a result we need to update our ambition for offshore wind to reflect and firmly underline our commitment to economic growth and investment offered by the sector.
“I would urge everyone with an interest in offshore wind to have a say in the consultation.”
The updated GW ambition will take into account the updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE) which is currently out for consultation. Once finalised, the SMP-OWE will set out a road-map for the sustainable development of the ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds.
The estimate that 40GW equates to enough energy to power 45 million homes assumes offshore wind capacity in 2040 will operate at load factors according to the previous five-year average. It also assumes median domestic consumption in Scotland at 2023 levels.
In this Royal Air Force 60 Second Update we’re at RAF Gibraltar, seeing how movers load aircraft that use one of the world’s most challenging runways.
In this episode:
As part of Op Highmast, the RAF worked with the Italian Strike Group on Exercise Med Strike, combining with 21 warships, three submarines, 41 fast jets and over 8,000 personnel, testing air defence capabilities against aerial drone threats.
The RAF’s own Air Show took place at RAF Cosford, the sold-out event celebrates the work of the RAF, NATO Allies and partner nations, aiming to inspire the next generation of aviators.
RAF Scuba Divers are in Gibraltar taking part in training exercises on the newest Eagles Scheme, which uses adventurous training to produce resilient, motivated and agile personnel who thrive in work, at home and on operations.
A big congratulations to everyone in the RAF recognised in the latest King’s Birthday and Op Honours Lists.
Temperatures are due to reach the high 20s by Thursday, and there is a chance they may exceed 30°C on Saturday.
Some simple steps Islanders can take to stay cool during this hot spell include:
avoid going outside during the heat of the day (midday to 6pm)
leave strenuous activities for the evening when it is cooler
take cold baths and showers
drink plenty of water and avoid coffee and alcohol
keep your home cool by closing curtains, opening windows and using fans
wear a hat and loose light clothing, try to stay in the shade and carry water with you.
Director of Public Health, Professor Peter Bradley, said: “While we welcome the warm weather, extreme heat can cause harm to health including heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration. There are a number of events happening this weekend and I encourage all Islanders attending, to take precautions and stay safe in the hot weather.”
Islanders can stay up to date with the latest weather forecast at gov.je/weather.
Small Edinburgh charities struggling with rising costs and loss of income are being encouraged to apply to the council for emergency support.
Brought forward by councillors as part of an urgent package of support for the city’s third sector, the £275,000 funding pot aims to support local organisations working to prevent and tackle poverty across Edinburgh.
Small and medium-sized charities based in the city will be able to apply for Phase two of the council’s Third Sector Resilience Fund until applications close at 1pm on Friday 4 July. Grants of up to £10,000 will be made available to support charities between September and March.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said:
With funding becoming ever scarcer and more people struggling with the cost of living, we can see that many local charities are in a difficult position. We need to find a better way forward for this sector that brings so much good, and our latest funding package is part of the urgent support we’re putting in place.
Many of the city’s small, local charities are helping those with the greatest need and I urge them to apply quickly. Meanwhile, we’ve asked the Edinburgh Partnership to conduct a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations across the city, to ultimately to find long-term solutions for funding for the sector in future years.
An information evening for interested charities will be held by EVOC at 1pm on 24 June on how to apply for the fund. An online consultation is also available to take part in, seeking ideas for making collaboration between Edinburgh’s public and third sectors simpler and more stable. Please share your views on our Consultation Hub.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
SPC AC 180554
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1254 AM CDT Wed Jun 18 2025
Valid 191200Z – 201200Z
…THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM PARTS OF NEW ENGLAND INTO THE MID ATLANTIC AND NORTH CAROLINA…
…SUMMARY… Strong to potentially severe thunderstorms are forecast on Thursday from parts of New England into the Mid Atlantic and Carolinas.
…Synopsis… A seasonably deep mid/upper-level trough is forecast to move from the lower Great Lakes region into the Northeast and Mid Atlantic on Thursday. A surface low will move across parts of Quebec during the day and evening, as a trailing cold front moves across parts of New England, the Mid Atlantic, and Carolinas/Southeast.
An upstream midlevel shortwave trough will move across parts of northern MN into WI and upper MI by evening. An amplified mid/upper-level trough will move gradually eastward across the western CONUS, as an upper-level ridge initially over the southern Rockies begins to break down and shift eastward. In response to this trough, a surface low will gradually deepen across the northern High Plains.
…New England into the Mid Atlantic/Southeast… Relatively rich low-level moisture will stream northward ahead of the front approaching New England and the Mid Atlantic during the day on Thursday. Moderate buoyancy may develop as far north as northern NY/VT, with pockets of stronger heating/destabilization farther south into the Mid Atlantic and Carolinas/Southeast.
The strongest deep-layer flow/shear is still expected from PA/northern NJ northward into New England, where wind profiles will be conditionally supportive of supercells and organized bowing segments. Damaging winds and perhaps a tornado could accompany the strongest storms in this area.
Farther south into the southern Mid Atlantic and Carolinas, deep-layer flow will be somewhat unidirectional and weaker, but still sufficient for some organized convection. Clusters capable of producing scattered wind damage will be possible, especially in areas where stronger diurnal heating/destabilization occurs.
Deep-layer flow will be rather weak into parts of MS/AL/GA/SC, but the glancing influence of the mid/upper-level trough and relatively large MLCAPE and PW will support storms capable of producing isolated strong/damaging gusts.
…Southwest MT and vicinity… Weak midlevel height falls are still expected across parts of western MT Thursday afternoon/evening, in response to the approaching mid/upper-level trough. Low-level moisture will remain limited, but strong diurnal heating will support high-based storm development. Steep low-level lapse rates and relatively strong midlevel flow will result in potential for isolated severe gusts during the afternoon and evening as convection spreads eastward.
…Upper Midwest… Low-level warm advection related to the southeastward-moving midlevel shortwave trough may aid in storm development on Thursday from northern MN into parts of WI and upper MI. Moderate instability and sufficient deep-layer shear will support potential for a few stronger cells/clusters capable of producing large hail and damaging wind. Additional strong to locally severe storms may redevelop later Thursday night across parts of this region, in response to a nocturnally strengthening low-level jet.
…Northern Plains… Diurnal heating of an increasingly moist airmass will result in moderate to strong buoyancy across parts of the northern Plains by Thursday afternoon. Deep-layer shear will be sufficient for organized storms, but diurnal storm development remains highly uncertain amid background midlevel height rises associated with a building ridge. Development of a storm or two cannot be ruled out through evening near a surface trough/weak dryline. Elevated storm coverage may increase somewhat Thursday night in response to a strengthening low-level jet, which could pose a threat of hail and localized strong gusts.
..Dean.. 06/18/2025
CLICK TO GET WUUS02 PTSDY2 PRODUCT
NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1730Z
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
UK House Price Index for April 2025
The UK HPI shows house price changes for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
1000 Words/Shutterstock.com
The April data shows:
on average, house prices have fallen 2.8% since March 2025
there has been an annual price rise of 3.5% which makes the average property in the UK valued at £265,000
England
In England the April data shows, on average, house prices fell by 3.7% since March 2025. The annual price rise of 3% takes the average property value to £286,000.
London experienced the most significant monthly increase with a movement of 2.6%
The North East saw the biggest monthly price fall, with a reduction of -8.1%
The North East experienced the greatest annual price rise, up by 6.4%
The South West saw the lowest annual price growth, with a rise of 0.9%
The regional data for England indicates that:
Price change by region for England
Region
Average price April 2025
Annual change % since April 2024
Monthly change % since March 2025
East Midlands
£237,000
3.8
-3.6
East of England
£332,000
2
-3.8
London
£567,000
3.3
2.6
North East
£156,000
6.4
-8.1
North West
£205,000
3.1
-6.4
South East
£380,000
3
-2
South West
£301,000
0.9
-3.8
West Midlands
£240,000
2.6
-4.6
Yorkshire and the Humber
£200,000
4
-6.1
Repossession sales by volume for England
The lowest number of repossession sales in February 2025 was in the South West.
The highest number of repossession sales in February 2025 was in the North East.
Repossession sales
February 2025
East Midlands
5
East of England
2
London
10
North East
22
North West
9
South East
10
South West
1
West Midlands
11
Yorkshire and the Humber
9
England
79
Average price by property type for England
Property type
April 2025
April 2024
Difference %
Detached
£467,000
£447,000
4.5
Semi-detached
£283,000
£270,000
4.7
Terraced
£234,000
£229,000
2.2
Flat/maisonette
£222,000
£223,000
-0.4
All
£286,000
£278,000
3
Funding and buyer status for England
Transaction type
Average price
April 2025
Annual price change % since April 2024
Monthly price change % since March 2025
Cash
£272,000
2.2
-4
Mortgage
£292,000
3.4
-3.5
First-time buyer
£239,000
2.7
-4.7
Former owner occupier
£350,000
3.5
-2.4
Building status for England
Building status*
Average price February 2025
Annual price change % since February 2024
Monthly price change % since January 2025
New build
£446,000
26.5
12.1
Existing resold property
£286,000
4.3
0.5
*Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.
London
London shows, on average, house prices increased by 2.6% since March 2025. House prices have shown an annual price increase of 3.3% meaning the average price of a property is £567,000.
Average price by property type for London
Property type
April 2025
April 2024
Difference %
Detached
£1,189,000
£1,108,000
7.3
Semi-detached
£729,000
£680,000
7.2
Terraced
£638,000
£609,000
4.8
Flat/maisonette
£449,000
£445,000
0.9
All
£567,000
£548,000
3.3
Funding and buyer status for London
Transaction type
Average price
Apr 2025
Annual price change % since April 2024
Monthly price change % since March 2025
Cash
£617,000
3.5
5.4
Mortgage
£556,000
3.3
1.8
First-time buyer
£481,000
2.2
0.9
Former owner occupier
£716,000
1.2
5.4
Building status for London
Building status*
Average price February 2025
Annual price change % since February 2024
Monthly price change % since January 2025
New build
£596,000
19.1
10.3
Existing resold property
£555,000
1.2
-1.3
*Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.
Wales
Wales shows, on average, house prices rose by 0.3% since March 2025. An annual price increase of 5.3% takes the average property value to £210,000.
There were 5 repossession sales for Wales in February 2025.
Average price by property type for Wales
Property type
April 2025
April 2024
Difference %
Detached
£330,000
£313,000
5.5
Semi-detached
£211,000
£197,000
7.1
Terraced
£166,000
£159,000
4.9
Flat/maisonette
£128,000
£128,000
-0.1
All
£210,000
£200,000
5.3
Funding and buyer status for Wales
Transaction type
Average price April 2025%
Annual price change % since April 2024
Monthly price change % since March 2025
Cash
£208,000
4
-0.4
Mortgage
£211,000
5.9
0.6
First-time buyer
£180,000
5.5
-0.3
Former owner occupier
£251,000
5.1
1
Building status for Wales
Building status*
Average price
February 2025
Annual price change % since February 2024
Monthly price change % since January 2025
New build
£377,000
25.6
10.8
Existing resold property
£204,000
3.4
-0.6
*Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.
UK house prices
UK house prices rose by 3.5% in the year to April 2025, down from the revised estimate of 7% in the 12 months to March 2025. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, average house prices in the UK decreased by 2.7% between March 2025 and April 2025, compared with a increase of 0.5% from the same period 12 months ago (March 2024 and April 2024).
The UK Property Transactions Statistics showed that in April 2025, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the estimated number of transactions of residential properties with a value of £40,000 or greater was 65,000. This is 28% lower than a year ago (April 2024). Between March 2025 and April 2025, UK transactions decreased by 63.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis.
The highest house price monthly increase was in London, where prices rose by 2.6% since March 2025. The highest annual growth was in the the North East, where prices increased by 6.4% in the year to April 2025.
The UK HPI is based on completed housing transactions. Typically, a house purchase can take 6 to 8 weeks to reach completion. As with other indicators in the housing market, which typically fluctuate from month to month, it is important not to put too much weight on one month’s set of house price data.
We publish the UK House Price Index (HPI) on the second or third Wednesday of each month with Northern Ireland figures updated quarterly. We will publish the May 2025 UK HPI at 9:30am on Wednesday 16 July 2025. See the calendar of release dates.
We have made some changes to improve the accuracy of the UK HPI. We are not publishing average price and percentage change for new builds and existing resold property as done previously because there are not currently enough new build transactions to provide a reliable result. This means that in this month’s UK HPI reports, new builds and existing resold property are reported in line with the sales volumes currently available.
The UK HPI revision period has been extended to 13 months, following a review of the revision policy (see calculating the UK HPI section 4.4). This ensures the data used is more comprehensive.
Sales volume data is available by property status (new build and existing property) and funding status (cash and mortgage) in our downloadable data tables. Transactions that require us to create a new register, such as new builds, are more complex and require more time to process. Read revisions to the UK HPI data.
Revision tables are available for England and Wales within the downloadable data in CSV format. See about the UK HPI for more information.
HM Land Registry, Registers of Scotland, Land & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the Valuation Office Agency supply data for the UK HPI.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Land & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency calculate the UK HPI. It applies a hedonic regression model that uses the various sources of data on property price, including HM Land Registry’s Price Paid Dataset, and attributes to produce estimates of the change in house prices each month. Find out more about the methodology used from the ONS and Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency.
We take the UK Property Transaction statistics from the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) monthly estimates of the number of residential and non-residential property transactions in the UK and its constituent countries. The number of property transactions in the UK is highly seasonal, with more activity in the summer months and less in the winter. This regular annual pattern can sometimes mask the underlying movements and trends in the data series. HMRC presents the UK aggregate transaction figures on a seasonally adjusted basis. We make adjustments for both the time of year and the construction of the calendar, including corrections for the position of Easter and the number of trading days in a particular month.
UK HPI seasonally adjusted series are calculated at regional and national levels only. See data tables.
The first estimate for new build average price (April 2016 report) was based on a small sample which can cause volatility. A three-month moving average has been applied to the latest estimate to remove some of this volatility.
The UK HPI reflects the final transaction price for sales of residential property. Using the geometric mean, it covers purchases at market value for owner-occupation and buy-to-let, excluding those purchases not at market value (such as re-mortgages), where the ‘price’ represents a valuation.
HM Land Registry provides information on residential property transactions for England and Wales, collected as part of the official registration process for properties that are sold for full market value.
The HM Land Registry dataset contains the sale price of the property, the date when the sale was completed, full address details, the type of property (detached, semi-detached, terraced or flat), if it is a newly built property or an established residential building and a variable to indicate if the property has been purchased as a financed transaction (using a mortgage) or as a non-financed transaction (cash purchase).
Repossession sales data is based on the number of transactions lodged with HM Land Registry by lenders exercising their power of sale.
For England, we show repossession sales volume recorded by government office region. For Wales, we provide repossession sales volume for the number of repossession sales.
Repossession sales data is available from April 2016 in CSV format. Find out more information about repossession sales.
We publish CSV files of the raw and cleansed aggregated data every month for England, Scotland and Wales. We publish Northern Ireland data on a quarterly basis. They are available for free use and re-use under the Open Government Licence.
HM Land Registry is a government department created in 1862. Its vision is: “A world-leading property market as part of a thriving economy and a sustainable future.”
HM Land Registry’s purpose is: “We protect your land ownership and provide services and data that underpin an efficient and informed property market.”
HM Land Registry safeguards land and property ownership valued at £8 trillion, enabling over £1 trillion worth of personal and commercial lending to be secured against property across England and Wales. The Land Register contains more than 26.5 million titles showing evidence of ownership for more than 89% of the land mass of England and Wales.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Lesley Cowley OBE appointed as Chair of Building Digital UK
Lesley Cowley OBE has been appointed by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle to chair Building Digital UK (BDUK).
Lesley Cowley OBE has been appointed by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle to chair Building Digital UK (BDUK) – the government agency responsible for rolling out fast and reliable broadband and mobile coverage to hard-to-reach places across the UK.
The British businesswoman is widely regarded as an accomplished leader in the digital and technology sectors, offering decades of experience leading a variety of public services and businesses.
The role will see Lesley advise and support BDUK’s executive team on the delivery of BDUK’s two main programmes: Project Gigabit, the government’s rollout of lightning-fast broadband to areas that would otherwise be stuck with slower speeds, and the Shared Rural Network, a joint programme with mobile network operators to boost 4G mobile coverage in rural communities all over the country.
Chair of BDUK Lesley Cowley OBE said:
It is a privilege to join Building Digital UK at such a pivotal moment in its journey. The challenge of ensuring every corner of the UK benefits from fast, reliable digital infrastructure is one I am deeply passionate about.
BDUK is a critical enabler of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, helping to grow the economy while ensuring communities are not left behind in the digital age. Working alongside the talented team at BDUK, we will continue to deliver on our mission of creating a more connected, inclusive, and digitally empowered nation.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:
Lesley’s commitment to making a positive difference to public facing services, together with her track record in leading digital transformation and delivering innovative solutions, make her an outstanding choice for Chair of Building Digital UK.
She will be instrumental in helping us deliver on our growth mission, by continuing to drive forward our ambitious plans for better connectivity across the every part of UK, making communities and businesses better off.
Lesley will take up the post on 1 July 2025, taking over from Hazel Hobbs who has served as interim Chair since August 2024.
Her previous executive career culminated in her role as Chief Executive Officer of Nominet, the .uk domain name registry, where for over a decade she led significant growth and evolution from a technical organisation into a key player in the global internet space. She was appointed OBE in recognition of her services to the internet and digital economy.
In her subsequent career, Lesley was the first Chair of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Chair of Companies House and Lead Non-Executive Director and then first ever Chair of The National Archives. Her current roles include Chair of ACL Ltd and a Non-Executive Director of Public Digital Ltd., both private companies.
She was the Institute of Directors UK NED of the Year Winner, 2019 and has a strong track record of driving technology transformation and customer-first approaches.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Chair appointment
The appointment is for a term of three years.
Building Digital UK
Building Digital UK (BDUK) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). It is responsible for the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband and the expansion of 4G mobile coverage in hard-to-reach areas of the UK. BDUK works with suppliers and communities to ensure that people can access fast and reliable digital connectivity that can transform their lives and drive economic growth.
Project Gigabit
Project Gigabit is a government-funded programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband. It targets homes and businesses that are not included in broadband suppliers’ commercial plans, reaching parts of the UK that might otherwise miss out on upgrades to next-generation speeds.
The connections delivered by Project Gigabit will benefit rural and remote communities, as well as tackling pockets of poor connectivity in urban areas. Project Gigabit is crucial to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and kickstart economic growth across the country.
Shared Rural Network
Jointly funded by the government and the UK’s main mobile network operators, the Shared Rural Network is delivering new 4G coverage to places where there is either limited or no 4G coverage at all.
The public and private investment in a shared network of phone masts is driving increases in coverage across all four nations, with the biggest coverage improvements in rural parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) Bill published.
Legislative proposals to improve the experiences of children and young people in Scotland’s care system have been published in a Bill introduced to Parliament.
The Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill proposes extending the aftercare support currently available for 16-to-26 year olds who were in care on their 16th birthday to those who had left care before that point – including providing help with accommodation, education, employment and wellbeing.
If passed by Parliament, the legislation would also secure for people with care experience a right to access lifelong advocacy services, ensuring their voices are better heard throughout their care journey.
Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise Natalie Don-Innes said:
“This Bill puts the needs and rights of care-experienced children and young people at the heart of our care system.
“By aiming to provide a legal right to access advocacy and expanding aftercare support, we are responding directly to what people with care experience have told us they need.
“This legislation marks a crucial step forward in keeping The Promise by 2030. It will ensure children and young people receive the compassionate and considerate care they need throughout their care journey, so that they grow up loved, safe, and respected.
“I look forward to working closely with MSPs across parties in the months ahead to advance this Bill and ensure we meet our collective pledge to The Promise.”
The Bill, which will now be scrutinised by MSPs, aims to support smoother transitions between children’s and adult services by establishing tripartite accountability between local councils, NHS boards, and integration joint boards for children’s services planning.
The legislation includes proposed reforms of the Children’s Hearings system so it continues to meet the needs of children and families.
It also aims to improve professional recognition of foster carers with a proposed national register to help enhance the quality of placements, alongside taking steps to remove profit from care.
The Scottish Government will also develop new guidance with partners on the language of care to reduce stigma and improve how services communicate with those who have experience of care.
This work will build on the improvements already made for care-experienced children and young people since Scotland first pledged to ‘Keep The Promise’ in 2020.
Background
The Scottish Government has introduced the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament following extensive consultation and engagement, including with people with care experience and representative organisations. Engagement with stakeholders will continue throughout the Parliamentary process.
Plans to boost the Dundee economy and support local jobs and growth by harnessing the power of Community Wealth Building are to be discussed bycouncillors.
A proposed Community Wealth Building Strategy and Action Plan maps out how the city council and key partners will look to help give people a stake in their future.
The strategy builds on work that has been ongoing in the city fora number ofyears and is designed to complement a range of existing activities that support sustainable economic growth in Dundee.
A report explains how Community Wealth Building uses the power and influence of major anchor partners to work collaboratively. This joint effort will maximise the economic and social power of their organisations as major employers, procurers of goods and services, financial institutions, land and property owners and economic drivers for the city.
Community Wealth Building would help to deliver Dundee Partnership priorities to reduce poverty and inequalities, tackle climate change and enable inclusive economic growth. The strategy covering 2025-30 is described as one of the building blocks to develop a wellbeing economy in Dundee.
The City Governance Committee will be told that since the council began developing its Community Wealth Building approach, the council has improved its ability to track and influence direct procurement spend.
In financial year 2023/24, 47% of procurement spend was in Dundee city, up 7% on last year’s figures. Dundee City Council is ranked 3rd nationally for local spend and above the national average of 30.7%.
Actions detailed in the strategy include working with partners to increase the amount of their procurement spend which is spent locally, and maximising local subcontractor and supplier spend from major capital programmes.
The document outlines how partners would use their position as major employers to promote the principles of Fair Work and continue to tackle Dundee’s low wage employment through promotion of the Real Living Wage as a practical tool to increase families’ incomes.
Supporting inclusive ownership is another method outlined to help grow wealth in the city. This recognises that some business models including social enterprise, cooperative or employee-owned business are better at retaining wealth within a local area.
The City Governance Committee is being asked to approve the strategy at its meeting on Monday June 23.
Depute Convener Cllr Willie Sawers said:“Community Wealth Building focuses on local people and supporting local businesses, to drive wealth back into the community.
“Dundee partners have made good progress so far, as can be seen by the success of our Living Wage campaign.
“But there is still much more we can all do to take forward this new strategy to ensure that local economic development can have the maximum impact on communities and people’s lives.
“This is about making the city a better place for everyone by helping to increase opportunities, reduce unemployment and address issues like deprivation and poverty, as well as the climate emergency.”
A workhorse of the Sellafield site is celebrating 40 years of reducing our environmental impact.
Site Ion Exchange Effluent Plant (SIXEP), Sellafield site
Sellafield’s Site Ion Exchange Effluent Plant (SIXEP) reached a historic milestone this month as it clocked up four decades of safe, dependable operations.
Best described as the kidney of Sellafield, the plant plays a vital role in receiving and filtering contaminated water from a range of nuclear buildings and processes.
Water used to store spent nuclear fuel and effluents from legacy waste stores and clean-up operations is piped into the plant and filtered to remove radioactive ions like caesium and strontium.
As a result, SIXEP has had a huge positive impact on our environmental performance at Sellafield, removing 99.9% of the radioactive ions from the water so it can be safely discharged to sea.
Originally constructed with a 30-year lifespan, teams operate the plant 24 hours per day, 365 days per year and have kept it operational with minimal down time since it first came online in May 1985.
They’ve processed more than 30 million cubic metres of water—enough to supply every household in the UK for three days – and removed over 130,000 TBq of radioactivity.
They’ve also had to adapt to changing priorities and regulations at the site over the years but have risen to every challenge to meet demand and keep the site safe and productive.
For four decades SIXEP has been a constant at Sellafield, quietly doing its job and making a big difference in protecting the environment and supporting operations across the site.
This anniversary is a chance to reflect on everything that’s been achieved in that time, not just by the plant but by the people behind it.
I want to congratulate and thank everyone who has contributed to the safe and successful operation of SIXEP in the past and today. I know its future is in good hands.
Mark Wareing, programme manager at the NDA, has been with the NDA since its inception and has been closely involved in SIXEP at Sellafield during that time. He said:
Since the inception of the NDA 20 years ago, SIXEP performance has been central to NDA’s mission in supporting electricity generation and addressing some of the UK’s and Europe’s most significant nuclear clean-up challenges.
The performance of the plant over the last 40 years of operations is a testament to the engineers who designed the facility and the dedication, expertise and ingenuity of the people who operate and maintain it.
I have dedicated a large portion of my career to supporting the remediation of the legacy ponds and silos at Sellafield and, without SIXEP, the great progress that has been delivered to date could not have been achieved.
Demand for SIXEP is set to continue until the 2060’s as the site’s clean-up mission and fuel storage programmes progress, so we’re constructing the SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP) to ensure it can keep doing its vital work.
SCP will integrate seamlessly with the existing plant to provide new sand bed filters and ion exchange vessels, as well as additional storage and waste management capabilities.
It’s one of our major construction projects at Sellafield being delivered by the Programme and Project Partners and is on course to be operational in 2029.
The SCP project team recently celebrated a significant delivery milestone as they completed the manufacture of 14 bespoke pump and valve modules that will form the inner workings of the plant.
This was supported by an extensive supply chain including West Cumberland Engineering Ltd who completed the final module manufacturing, intricate connecting pipework, and welds.
Once commissioned, these key components will work together to treat effluent from legacy buildings across the site including the First-Generation Magnox Storage Pond and Magnox Swarf Storage Silo.
This will help us to maintain our high standards of environmental safety and operational efficiency for many years to come.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Case study
The Sellafield Site Ion Exchange Effluent Plant (SIXEP)
Thanks to the Site Ion Exchange Plant at Sellafield, we can remove the majority of radioactive isotopes from water used in our nuclear operations, ensuring that any water we discharge into the sea is safe and well within permitted discharge limits.
What is the Site Ion Exchange Plant (SIXEP)?
SIXEP filters and removes radioactive isotopes – such as Caesium and Strontium – from water that’s been used in nuclear operations across the Sellafield site so that those isotopes aren’t discharged into the sea.
It is because of this work that people working at Sellafield affectionately refer to the plant as the kidneys of the site.
SIXEP also keeps the pond in our Fuel Handling Plant cool, provides storage for sludge and spent ion exchange material, and processes sludge-rich, active liquors generated from hazard reduction activities in legacy facilities.
The Fuel Handling Plant pond
How does SIXEP work?
We use water in many of our nuclear operations at Sellafield. For example, we use it to cool used nuclear fuel held in storage ponds, and we also utilise it for domestic purposes, such as heating and providing hot water within site facilities.
Because it has been in contact with radioactive materials, it is inevitable that the water will contain radioactive isotopes and so it sent via an extensive system of pipes across the site to SIXEP.
Inside SIXEP
Once inside the plant, the water goes through 2 processes:
Sand Bed Filters: the water is collected in a tank, then pumped through large containers filled with sand. The sand acts as a filter, removing tiny particles. We capture and store these particles on the site.
Ion Exchange Beds: After sand filtration, the water passes through containers filled with Clinoptilolite, a natural mineral from the Mojave Desert in California. These ion exchange beds are highly effective, removing over 99.9% of the remaining radioactive caesium and strontium from the water.
The impact of SIXEP
SIXEP had an immediate impact on our environmental performance, massively reducing our radioactive discharges as soon as it started operations in 1985.
Since then, SIXEP has processed more than 30 million cubic metres of water – enough to supply every household in the UK with water for around 3 days, or over 85 million household-days of use.
The construction of SIXEP
Our challenge
aging infrastructure: as a facility that has been operational since 1985, maintaining and upgrading aging infrastructure is a continuous challenge.
storage limitations: managing the storage of spent clinoptilolite waste and other by-products is an ongoing issue.
operational efficiency: ensuring the plant operates efficiently while meeting stringent environmental and safety standards requires constant attention and adaptation.
Protecting the environment in the future – extending SIXEP
To ensure we can continue to minimise our impact on the environment, we are extending SIXEP.
The project – known as the SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP) will integrate seamlessly with the existing plant, ensuring continued operations for decades to come by providing new sand bed filter and ion exchange vessels.
The construction of SCP
It also includes new facilities to manage spent Clinoptilolite waste, addressing current storage limitations and will be operational by 2030.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
PM meeting with President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea: 17 June 2025
The Prime Minister met President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea at the G7 Summit
The Prime Minister met President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea at the G7 Summit this afternoon and congratulated him on his recent election victory.
Both leaders agreed to aim to complete the upgrade the existing Free Trade Agreement between the two countries as soon as possible.
They also agreed on the need to cooperate on addressing the climate crisis and reducing carbon emissions.
Finally, the leaders discussed support for Ukraine and the challenges posed by Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The Victorian parliament has launched a long-overdue inquiry into abuse and coercive control within cults and religious fringe groups.
It is a welcome acknowledgement of the damage that can flourish under the guise of faith, and the unquestioning obedience to authoritarian leaders in religious groups.
The inquiry will hear victim-survivors can suffer a diverse range of harms, including sexual, financial and labour exploitation, spiritual manipulation, and institutional betrayal.
Abusive practices
Geelong state MP Christine Couzens says the Geelong Revival Centre has caused a great deal of hurt. Parliament of Victoria, CC BY
The inquiry is the first of its kind in Australia.
Prompted by recent events, including reports of coercive behaviour at the Geelong Revival Centre, the inquiry will examine “the methods used to recruit and control their members, and the impacts of coercive control”.
According to the committee’s guidance note, the focus will be on techniques that can damage individuals emotionally, psychologically, financially and even physically.
Importantly, the inquiry will interrogate “abusive practices”, not the beliefs behind them:
There is a distinction between genuine religious practice and harmful behaviour. “Freedom of religion” is not freedom, for example, to defraud, nor is it freedom to cause significant psychological harm to any person.
Consideration will be given to whether the law adequately protects people when cults and fringe groups cause the types of harm that should be criminalised.
Sexual control
My research examined the sexual exploitation of congregation members perpetrated by pastors within evangelical, Pentecostal faith communities in Australia.
Respondents described feeling broken, shattered, and spiritually battered. The harms were similar to those experienced by survivors of incest, child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
For example:
72% of respondents were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder
52% suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
48% were diagnosed with depression
48% experienced suicidal ideation.
As American sociologist and cult expert Janja Lalich explains:
Sexual control is seen as the final step in the objectification of the cult member by the authoritarian leader, who is able to satisfy his needs through psychological manipulation leading to sexual exploitation.
Power imbalance
My research uncovered instances of sexual exploitation by pastors that constitutes a form of sexual violence and coercive control. The absence of a centralised reporting body means there is no accessible data on the extent of clergy sexual exploitation of adults in Australian faith communities.
However, international research found around 3% of churchgoing women had been subjected to sexual advances from a married religious leader.
Too often, institutions downplay the abuse as a “moral failing” or a mutual lapse into sin, ignoring the profound power imbalance that makes meaningful consent impossible.
Pastor-congregant relationships are not consensual; they are violations of trust and authority. Survivors are often left with no pathways to justice or support because coercive control is not recognised in non-intimate settings.
Search for belonging
Victim-survivors would benefit from legal reform that formally recognises and criminalises this form of abuse.
Coercive control legislation covering institutional and spiritual settings, would help protect congregation members targeted by predator pastors.
I was recruited into a Pentecostal church as a teenager through a Bible college that was allowed into my public high school to “preach the gospel”. I know firsthand how easily these environments can entrap teenagers at an age when many are seeking identity outside of family.
The parliamentary inquiry is not designed to question people’s religion, but to protect them from harmful behaviour. SibRapid/Shutterstock
What began as a search for belonging led to years of grooming and coercion, and it took over two decades to name and report the abuse. The response from the church was just as harmful as the abuse itself.
Fear and shame
The harms often extend beyond sexual exploitation in many of these groups. Marginalised individuals are particularly vulnerable in these environments.
LGBTQIA+ people in some evangelical churches have historically been subjected to conversion practices masquerading as prayer, counselling, or pastoral care. In one recent example, an evangelical church in New South Wales preached from the pulpit:
A gay person is at least three times more likely to kill themselves. A transsexual is 15 times more likely to kill themselves. So if you are a parent and you love your kids make sure they are not gay or trans.
This kind of messaging doesn’t protect children – it instils fear, shame, and self-hatred. It reflects a deeper pattern of spiritual abuse that pathologises identity and uses fear to exert control. The consequences are devastating, especially for young people already struggling to reconcile faith, identity, and belonging.
Template for reform
Many people fail to grasp how intelligent adults can become trapped in such environments.
But coercive control is not about intelligence – it’s about power, dependency, and the slow erosion of critical thinking by spiritual authority.
While coercive control in family violence is finally being addressed, spiritual and sexual coercive control within faith communities, cults, and fringe groups remains in a legal blind spot.
This is exactly why the Victorian probe and follow-up law reform are both necessary.
The inquiry should provide a framework for other states and territories to follow suit and scrutinise cults and organised fringe groups in their own jurisdictions.
Lead author Jaime Simpson is a survivor of sexual exploitation in an evangelical community. The research mentioned is this article was conducted by her.
Jaime Simpson received a Higher Degree Research tuition off-set to complete her Master in Philosophy
Kathleen McPhillips receives funding from the Australian Research Theology Foundation ARTFinc), the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation (ISNF) and the Australia-Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme.
The Victorian parliament has launched a long-overdue inquiry into abuse and coercive control within cults and religious fringe groups.
It is a welcome acknowledgement of the damage that can flourish under the guise of faith, and the unquestioning obedience to authoritarian leaders in religious groups.
The inquiry will hear victim-survivors can suffer a diverse range of harms, including sexual, financial and labour exploitation, spiritual manipulation, and institutional betrayal.
Abusive practices
Geelong state MP Christine Couzens says the Geelong Revival Centre has caused a great deal of hurt. Parliament of Victoria, CC BY
The inquiry is the first of its kind in Australia.
Prompted by recent events, including reports of coercive behaviour at the Geelong Revival Centre, the inquiry will examine “the methods used to recruit and control their members, and the impacts of coercive control”.
According to the committee’s guidance note, the focus will be on techniques that can damage individuals emotionally, psychologically, financially and even physically.
Importantly, the inquiry will interrogate “abusive practices”, not the beliefs behind them:
There is a distinction between genuine religious practice and harmful behaviour. “Freedom of religion” is not freedom, for example, to defraud, nor is it freedom to cause significant psychological harm to any person.
Consideration will be given to whether the law adequately protects people when cults and fringe groups cause the types of harm that should be criminalised.
Sexual control
My research examined the sexual exploitation of congregation members perpetrated by pastors within evangelical, Pentecostal faith communities in Australia.
Respondents described feeling broken, shattered, and spiritually battered. The harms were similar to those experienced by survivors of incest, child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
For example:
72% of respondents were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder
52% suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
48% were diagnosed with depression
48% experienced suicidal ideation.
As American sociologist and cult expert Janja Lalich explains:
Sexual control is seen as the final step in the objectification of the cult member by the authoritarian leader, who is able to satisfy his needs through psychological manipulation leading to sexual exploitation.
Power imbalance
My research uncovered instances of sexual exploitation by pastors that constitutes a form of sexual violence and coercive control. The absence of a centralised reporting body means there is no accessible data on the extent of clergy sexual exploitation of adults in Australian faith communities.
However, international research found around 3% of churchgoing women had been subjected to sexual advances from a married religious leader.
Too often, institutions downplay the abuse as a “moral failing” or a mutual lapse into sin, ignoring the profound power imbalance that makes meaningful consent impossible.
Pastor-congregant relationships are not consensual; they are violations of trust and authority. Survivors are often left with no pathways to justice or support because coercive control is not recognised in non-intimate settings.
Search for belonging
Victim-survivors would benefit from legal reform that formally recognises and criminalises this form of abuse.
Coercive control legislation covering institutional and spiritual settings, would help protect congregation members targeted by predator pastors.
I was recruited into a Pentecostal church as a teenager through a Bible college that was allowed into my public high school to “preach the gospel”. I know firsthand how easily these environments can entrap teenagers at an age when many are seeking identity outside of family.
The parliamentary inquiry is not designed to question people’s religion, but to protect them from harmful behaviour. SibRapid/Shutterstock
What began as a search for belonging led to years of grooming and coercion, and it took over two decades to name and report the abuse. The response from the church was just as harmful as the abuse itself.
Fear and shame
The harms often extend beyond sexual exploitation in many of these groups. Marginalised individuals are particularly vulnerable in these environments.
LGBTQIA+ people in some evangelical churches have historically been subjected to conversion practices masquerading as prayer, counselling, or pastoral care. In one recent example, an evangelical church in New South Wales preached from the pulpit:
A gay person is at least three times more likely to kill themselves. A transsexual is 15 times more likely to kill themselves. So if you are a parent and you love your kids make sure they are not gay or trans.
This kind of messaging doesn’t protect children – it instils fear, shame, and self-hatred. It reflects a deeper pattern of spiritual abuse that pathologises identity and uses fear to exert control. The consequences are devastating, especially for young people already struggling to reconcile faith, identity, and belonging.
Template for reform
Many people fail to grasp how intelligent adults can become trapped in such environments.
But coercive control is not about intelligence – it’s about power, dependency, and the slow erosion of critical thinking by spiritual authority.
While coercive control in family violence is finally being addressed, spiritual and sexual coercive control within faith communities, cults, and fringe groups remains in a legal blind spot.
This is exactly why the Victorian probe and follow-up law reform are both necessary.
The inquiry should provide a framework for other states and territories to follow suit and scrutinise cults and organised fringe groups in their own jurisdictions.
Lead author Jaime Simpson is a survivor of sexual exploitation in an evangelical community. The research mentioned is this article was conducted by her.
Jaime Simpson received a Higher Degree Research tuition off-set to complete her Master in Philosophy
Kathleen McPhillips receives funding from the Australian Research Theology Foundation ARTFinc), the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation (ISNF) and the Australia-Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme.
Man charged after police seize parcel containing half a kilo of ice
Wednesday, 18 June 2025 – 3:40 pm.
A man has been charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and attempt to unlawfully import a controlled substance after police seized half a kilogram of methylamphetamine (ice). A parcel containing the highly addictive drug had been posted from Victoria to Tasmania, where it was intercepted by members of Northern Drugs and Firearms Unit. The parcel was seized at Pipers River on Monday 16 June, and a 38-year-old Underwood man was arrested, charged and detained to appear in court. The methylamphetamine seized was approximately 500 grams, and had the potential to cause significant harm to the Tasmanian community. Anyone with information about illicit substances should contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au
Police are at the scene of a serious crash at Hackham West.
About 2.14pm today (Wednesday 18 June), police and emergency services were called to Glynville Drive after reports of a collision involving a car and motorcycle.
Turn your idea for a public activation into reality with a new City Centre Community Activation Grants program.
Applications are now open, and community members are invited to submit public activation ideas that will be engaging and vibrant in the heart of Bendigo city centre.
The City Centre Community Activation Grants program is open to individuals, businesses, or groups who live, work, or study in the Greater Bendigo region.
The City of Greater Bendigo grants are available for small one-off activities, or a series of larger activities spread over the year (six in total). The aim is to attract more people, more often to the city centre with a variety of public activations that encourage community and visitor engagement and support local creativity and innovation.
So far this year, the City has curated and presented over 200 free activations in Hargreaves Mall for the community to enjoy, such as the popular Fiesta Street Party, school holiday program, music and family friendly fun activities.
This grant program enables the community and creatives to lead and curate their own activities.
Creative City Coordinator Maree Tonkin said this was a fantastic opportunity for the community and businesses to put forward their own ideas and be supported by the City Centre Community Activation Grants program.
“This program hopes to attract diverse ideas and community-led activities to be hosted in the city centre,” Ms Tonkin said.
“Hargreaves Mall is an ideal location with the new stage and lots of space to host art making, music, dance, performances, markets, cultural celebrations, business ideas, workshops, fashion, temporary pop-up art, augmented reality, technology-based work and much more. Other city centre locations will also be considered under the activation program.
“We want to hear your big, clever and creative ideas that can be turned into vibrant and engaging activations for the public to enjoy.
“We’re seeking activation proposals to take place throughout the year with a focus on school holidays and Saturdays. All temporary activations must be free for the public to attend and the content suitable for presentation in a public place.
“Priority will be given to projects that champion access and inclusion, aim to increase community engagement and participation and are representative of the broad demographic mix in Greater Bendigo.
“Our region prides itself on its vibrancy and creative reputation. To stimulate activity in the city centre, these grants complement the Hargreaves Mall Action Plan, adopted by Council in 2023, to encourage more people to visit the city centre to shop, eat and enjoy free public activations.
“The chosen projects will be selected by a panel and our Creative City staff will collaborate closely with successful applicants to facilitate planning, promotion and delivery of activations.”
Selected projects must take place in Hargreaves Mall or other city centre locations before June 30, 2026.
Priority will be given to ideas that boost community engagement and participation.
Applications will close at 5pm, Monday August 4, 2025.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Electricity provider Diamond Energy Pty Ltd has paid $46,950 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with three infringement notices for allegedly breaching the Electricity Retail Code (the Code).
Under the Code, electricity retailers must provide certain information about pricing, such as the lowest possible price, to help consumers compare different electricity plans.
The three infringement notices relate to allegations that Diamond Energy failed to communicate mandatory information to three of its customers.
The ACCC has also accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Diamond Energy in which it has admitted it contravened the Code.
Diamond Energy admitted that in June 2024 it sent communications to 12,809 customers which failed to include the required pricing information under the Code, when notifying these customers of price changes to their electricity plans.
Diamond Energy also admitted that it failed to include on its website some of the required pricing information under the Code between 1 January and 30 June 2024 in relation to 44 of its electricity plans, and then also between 1 July and 20 September 2024 in relation to a further 44 plans.
“By not disclosing the required pricing information to its customers, Diamond Energy has impacted consumers’ ability to make an informed decision when comparing prices across electricity retailers,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.
“It is vital that electricity retailers provide consumers with accurate information so they can compare and access the most competitive prices in the market.”
In the court-enforceable undertaking, Diamond Energy has committed to introduce a compliance program to ensure it complies with the Code.
“We will continue to monitor electricity providers to ensure they adequately disclose pricing information to consumers,” Ms Brakey said.
What electricity retailers must tell consumers
The Code requires retailers to include certain information when it communicates its offered prices to residential and small business customers by advertising or publishing the price, offering to supply electricity at that price, or notifying the customer of a change to the price.
Consumers who believe their retailer has failed to provide the required information should in the first instance contact their retailer, which is obliged to inform them of this information under the Code.
The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain provisions of an industry code.
A person or business is not regarded has having contravened the provision of the industry code merely by paying the penalty specified in an infringement notice.
Background
The Code applies to electricity retailers that supply electricity to residential and small business customers in applicable distribution regions in New South Wales, South Australia, and South East Queensland. Diamond Energy is a retail electricity supplier in these regions.
Since the Code was introduced in 2019, the ACCC has issued infringement notices to Locality Planning Energy, CovaU, ReAmped Energy and Dodo Power & Gas for allegedly failing to include certain mandatory information when communicating prices. The ACCC has also accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from CovaU and Dodo in response to breaches of the Code.
In September 2024, the Federal Court ordered Energy Australia pay penalties of $14 million for making false, misleading or deceptive statements to around 566,000 consumers about electricity prices and failing to provide mandatory information required by the Code.
Ever since modern environmentalism took off in the 1960s, people have tried to undo the damage humans have caused to nature. Efforts have ranged from reducing threats, to restoring habitats, to reintroducing vanished species – and the results have been mixed.
However, these efforts have helped shape modern conservation science. This branch of knowledge uses ecological, genetic and behavioural insights to guide smarter, more ethical conservation actions.
Governments often use this science to decide whether restoration projects should be approved. However, approval processes may be slow, under-resourced and complex, leaving passionate people feeling shut out.
In response, some have turned to “guerilla rewilding” without approval, and often without due consideration of the potential for unintended impacts. As a recent ABC investigation showed, these passionate souls may release species into the wild or build self-managed sanctuaries, often dismissing scientists as “purists”.
What is rewilding?
Rewilding aims to restore wildlife and natural processes to ecosystems where they’ve been lost, often due to land clearing, agriculture or other human activities.
It may involve reintroducing a species that has disappeared from a landscape, or using a similar surrogate species to revive lost ecological functions. The goal is to rebuild functioning, self-sustaining systems. It’s not just about individual species, but the roles they play in sustaining nature.
In Australia, rewilding typically takes place in fenced reserves or on islands where invasive predators such as foxes and cats have been removed. These barriers offer protection, but require intensive planning, long-term management and ongoing funding.
The term “rewilding” itself has been criticised for harking back to a pre-colonial “wilderness”, overlooking First Nations’ connections to Country. But the goal of these projects is to restore ecological function and self-sustaining wildlife populations in shared, lived-in landscapes – including urban environments.
When done well, rewilding can support species recovery, repair ecosystems, and help reconnect people with nature. But success depends on evidence-based design, clear goals, ongoing monitoring, and (often) additional management over time (such as adding or removing animals).
Guerilla rewilding is risky
Guerrilla rewilding can go wildly wrong. Ecology, evolution, behaviour and welfare are deeply complex — and every species is a unique part of a much larger puzzle.
Scientists and conservationists are still learning how different animals survive and thrive in changing environments. Restoring these delicate systems without unintended consequences is also a challenge.
Successful rewilding draws on decades of ecological insight — genetics, behaviour, predator-prey dynamics, health, and ecosystem function.
Guerilla rewilders may see these as unnecessary academic add-ons. But when reintroductions fail, it’s often because one of these elements was overlooked. Frequently reported problems include animal behaviour, monitoring difficulties, quality of release habitat, and lack of baseline knowledge.
However, accessing the science – and navigating the approvals that rely on it – isn’t always easy. Conservation processes are often slow, under-resourced and opaque. It’s no surprise some view them as “green tape”.
In Australia, it can be easier to get permission to clear land than to restore it. Matt Palmer / Unsplash
Yet bypassing this system risks repeating old mistakes. So if we want rewilding to work, we need to make it easier to engage with evidence, expertise and ethical safeguards.
Engagement may be as simple as working with the right partners from the outset. This may include Traditional Owners, universities, non-government organisations, and local conservation and environmental community groups.
Collaboration, not conflict
A lot of people and groups have the same goal: to restore thriving wild animal populations as part of more complete, diverse and resilient ecosystems. That outcome is best achieved through collaboration, sharing of expertise, and trust.
Traditional Owners, scientists, carers, zoos, non-government organisations and government agencies all bring crucial knowledge. By turning shared passion into practical, evidence-based action, we can ensure rewilding efforts contribute to real, lasting outcomes for Australian and global biodiversity.
So what does this look like in practice? First of all, it’s about getting connected.
People with land or passion to contribute can contact organisations such as the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, WWF-Australia, Arid Recovery, several universities, or state parks and wildlife services. These groups have likely already done the groundwork, from habitat assessment to long-term planning. Joining existing efforts may get more done than starting solo.
Policymakers can contribute not only funding, but also transparency. More open and understandable approval processes may lower the barriers for community-led rewilding efforts.
As for scientists like us, we need to step beyond peer-reviewed papers. That means clearer communication, real-world partnerships, and embracing outreach – particularly in urban or accessible rewilding projects.
The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of Peter Banks, Donna Houston, Phil McManus, Catherine Grueber and Mareshell Wauchope to this article.
Patrick Finnerty is the current director for early career ecology at the Ecological Society of Australia, the Early Career Coordinator at the Australasian Wildlife Management Society, and a council member for the Royal Zoological Society of NSW. He receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Alex Carthey is the founding Director of ReHabitat Pty Ltd. She receives funding from the Australia Research Council and the Hermon Slade Foundation. She is the immediate past-Treasurer and recently ex-Council member of the NSW Royal Zoological Society.
Benjamin Pitcher is a Co-funded Research Fellow in Behavioural Biology at Macquarie University and Taronga Conservation Society Australia. He receives funding from the Australian Research Council and NSW Environmental Trust.
John Martin receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Thomas Newsome receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is immediate past-president of the Australasian Wildlife Management Society and President of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales.
Photograph by Robert Walker, Eric Smith in the studio, c.1973 black and white photograph, 52cmx42cm. Barbara Smith Collection. Used with permission
There are many routes to artistic obscurity. The surest path, of course, is to have never been discovered in the first place. But this wasn’t the case with the late Eric Smith (1919-2017).
Rather, Smith’s is a story of a major artist who quite simply, and unexpectedly, vanished from public life.
The Raising of Lazarus, 1953, oil on composition board, 91cmx82cm. David and Diane Taylor Family Collection.
A new exhibition at the Macquarie University Art Gallery, which I am co-curating, will display a range of Smith’s work – including paintings from the last four decades of his career that have never been shown before.
From fame to phantom
Smith was an artist constantly in search of ways to “express truths in our times”, and employed diverse ways of doing so across a career that included religious paintings, portraits and large abstract works.
Between his breakthrough year in 1956, when he won the first of six Blake Prizes with The Scourged Christ, and 1982, when he won the last of his three Archibalds with a portrait of Peter Sculthorpe, Smith was as lauded as an artist could be.
He had a significant role in launching Australian abstract expressionism in the famous group show, Direction 1. His art was installed in churches and public buildings, and collected by major institutions. He was quoted and photographed in the press.
Then, while working as prolifically as ever, he seemed to disappear. Why?
Rudy Komon, 1981, oil on canvas, 184.1cm x 172.4cm x 3.9cm. Art Gallery of New South Wales, purchased 1982.
The death of Rudy Komon
Rudy Komon was a Czech emigrant and a larger than life bon vivant and gallerist who launched the careers of many of Australia’s finest painters.
Komon represented Smith, who he called “meister”, from 1963 and throughout the most publicly productive part of Smith’s career. Smith even won the 1981 Archibald with a painting of Komon.
However, Komon died the following year.
And according to David Taylor, an art collector and later a patron of Smith’s, “Eric’s art career died with him”.
“When Rudy died Eric had no one to connect him to the art world anymore. He was a modest man and no self-publicist,” Taylor explained to me.
“It was pretty much only me that was left buying his paintings.”
And there were a lot of paintings. Despite Smith’s exhibiting career grinding to a near halt, with no major-gallery shows after 1989, he spent the next four decades on an 8am to 6pm studio regime punctuated only by lunch and tea breaks.
Untitled [Fool’s Gold], 2004, oil on canvas, 164.5cm x 204.5cm. David and Diane Taylor Family Collection.
“He’d finish just in time for the 6pm news”, Barbara Smith told me.
Barbara is Smith’s daughter and the manager of his legacy.
“Dad was always driven by what he saw as the challenges in his work and resolving them in the studio.”
Smith was also heavily self-critical. He admitted to destroying more than half of his artistic output – completely repainting or throwing away paintings that didn’t meet his vision.
At the age of 90, ever the self-critic and despite his successes, he said to his family: “You can’t change styles like I did and hope to get anywhere.”
Forms that express deeper feelings
Smith converted to Catholicism in the 1950s and was a life-long consumer of art-history and philosophy. These tendencies can be seen in his 1950s religious paintings and later abstract works.
The Scourged Christ, 1956, oil on composition board, 116cm x 85cm. Gift of Hugh Jamieson, Penrith Regional Gallery Collection.
In the 1950s he found inspiration in the works of the Fauvist painter Georges Rouault, and later in the works of Alfred Manessier. We see these influences in the bold outlines and church-window-esque colours used in paintings such as The Raising of Lazarus (1953) and The Scourged Christ (1956).
Smith’s later large abstract paintings such as Eternity I (1998), Orange Dawn (1999) and Untitled (Fools Gold) (2004) are evidence of his artistic quest to “find forms that express the deeper feelings” he wanted to convey.
Orange Dawn, 1999, oil on canvas, 171cm x 213cm. David and Diane Taylor Family Collection.
Smith was also skilled in portraiture, as evidenced by his depictions of fellow artists Leonard Hessing, Norman Lindsay, Louis James and Hector Gilliland, as well as his Archibald-winning portrait of Rudy Komon.
His luminous Portrait of Diane (1998), a family friend and patron, is a particularly powerful image which Smith described as his Mona Lisa.
Portrait of Diane, 1998, oil on canvas, 69cm x 50cm. David and Diane Taylor Family Collection.
It’s easy to see why writer and critic Paul McGillick argues Smith should be considered “one of Australia’s most visionary portraitists”.
Yet, without exhibitions and dealers and auctioneers to champion him over the decades, Smith’s work has largely vanished from the public.
Then again, “not having exhibitions didn’t bother him too much, it was the painting and process that really mattered to him,” said Barbara.
An exhibit 40 years in the making
Luckily for posterity, a number of Smith’s masterpieces survived his destructive self-critique.
These works, which are now mostly privately held, will be on display at Eric Smith: The metaphysics of paint. It is the first major exhibition of Smith’s work since the 1980s, and the first retrospective or survey of his work since his death in 2017.
“I’m sure Dad would have been extremely excited and honoured,” Barbara said.
Eric Smith: The metaphysics of paint is showing at the Macquarie University Art Gallery from June 19 to August 1.
Tom Murray works for Macquarie University and receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
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A new Revenue and Plan 2025-2029 has been adopted which outlines how revenue is calculated and collected.
Adopted at last Monday’s Council meeting, the Revenue and Rating Plan explains how the City of Greater Bendigo will raise funds to provide services, facilities and infrastructure over the next four years.
This includes finding the most appropriate and affordable rates approach for Greater Bendigo’s residents and businesses. It also includes principles for decision-making for other income sources such as fees and charges.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the new Rating and Revenue Plan provided responsible fiscal planning and is informed by the new Council Plan Mir wimbul 2025-2029.
“The City provides around 60 services, maintains facilities and infrastructure and looks after important projects and initiatives. It must collect revenue to cover the costs for these services and assets,” Cr Metcalf said.
“The most significant revenue streams are from rates revenue, user fees and charges and government grants which together make up over 90% of council revenue each year.
“The total revenue raised for the 2025/2026 financial year is expected to be $263M with $160M from rates and charges, $28M from user charges, fees and fines, and $49M from government grants. In-kind contributions valued at $18M for infrastructure assets are expected to be given during the new fiscal year at no cost to the City. Capital works expenditure is estimated at nearly $70M.
“Greater Bendigo currently has different rating types for different properties, known as differential rates, to allow classes of properties to be assessed at different levels to the general rate set for the municipality. This allows for a more equal distribution of the rate burden, depending on the use of the land.
“In May, the community was invited to complete a Revenue and Rating Plan survey on the City’s engagement platform Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo.
“Drawing on community feedback from the survey and engagement throughout the Budget project, there is a change to the rates and charges structure for 2025/2026 across the different classes of land.
“This includes a 10% reduction in the Farm Land differential rate and 5% increase to the commercial and industrial differential rates to ensure there is a fair and equitable distribution of the rating burden across the different classes of land,” Cr Metcalf said.
The City of Greater Bendigo will continue to focus on more targeted and meaningful engagement with older residents through its Let’s Talk community engagement website, events and activities but will discontinue its Positive Ageing Advisory Committee (PAAC).
City of Greater Bendigo Healthy Communities and Environment Acting Director Andie West said in 2024 the City reviewed several advisory committees including the PAAC. The review found that in recent years the City has increased the range of positive ageing initiatives it provides to the community which has resulted in an increase in participation and interest.
“All members of the community can now have their say on a range of engagement opportunities via the City’s Let’s Talk website. This platform has proven an effective alternative to traditional advisory groups to capture the voice of older adults on a range of Council policies, projects and plans,” Ms West said.
“The review of the PAAC coupled with changes to the ways the City engages with community has led to the decision to discontinue the PAAC in its current form and will reinvest funds and resourcing so we have a greater reach and impact into the future.
“Since 2011, through the City’s Positive Ageing Strategy, All Ages All Abilities Action Plan and Positive Ageing Action Plan, the City has worked to support older adults to lead healthy, happy and resilient lives that encourage connection and participation through initiatives, events and programs.
“Recent surveys on the Let’s Talk website have shown that older adults will interact with the City using online channels and this approach will continue along with face-to-face forums to ensure resources are streamlined to deliver purposeful and impactful engagement in line with modern practices.
“In addition, a Positive Ageing Special Interest Group page called Ageing Well in Greater Bendigo has been established on Let’s Talk to enable targeted engagement and allow participants to contribute via a flexible, cost-effective, and relevant platform.
“The aim of this group page is to develop a network of interested community members and provide the opportunity for the voices of older people, advocates and service providers to be heard to help guide the City’s work with older people in the community.
“The page also provides opportunities for the City to invite those who have registered for the page to provide feedback on specific issues related to older adults.
“It is also proposed that an annual Ageing Well in Greater Bendigo Forum with an open invitation be held for older adults. This face-to-face forum would enable engagement on specific, focused topics of importance to them and Councillors could participate in the opportunity.
“In 2024 the City also hosted Be Well Be Connected Expos in Bendigo and Heathcote and this year in Elmore. The expos received extremely positive community and service provider feedback and have directly connected older adults with providers in their local communities.
“The expos have proven a fantastic way for older residents to link to services, provide feedback to the City on current projects and connect with others.
“The City would like to acknowledge and thank all past and current members for their service to the PACC over the past 15 years.”
When it was time for Horcasitas to be sentenced by a judge, Pelkey’s family knew they wanted to make a statement – known as a “victim impact statement” – explaining to the judge who Pelkey had been when he was alive.
They found they couldn’t get the words right.
The solution for them turned out to be having Pelkey speak for himself by creating an AI-generated avatar that used his face and voice, allowing him to “talk” directly to the judge.
In Arizona, a judge allowed an AI avatar of a deceased crime victim to “read” an impact statement.
This marked the first time a United States court had allowed an AI-generated victim to make this kind of beyond-the-grave statement, and likely the first time something like this had occurred anywhere in the world.
How was the AI avatar made and received?
The AI avatar was created by Pelkey’s sister Stacey Wales and her husband Tim, with Stacey writing the words “spoken” by Pelkey – words that were not taken from anything he actually said when he was alive but based on what she believed he would have said.
Stacey Wales explained how she came to create an AI video of her brother to allow him to deliver his own victim impact statement.
The avatar was created by using samples of Pelkey’s voice from videos that had been recorded before his death and photos the family had of him – specifically a photo used at his funeral.
In the video, Pelkey “says” he believes in forgiveness and “a God who forgives”, and that “in another life” he and Horcasitas could have been friends.
After the video was played in court, Judge Todd Lang, who had allowed the AI statement to be delivered, stated he “loved” the AI, adding he “heard the forgiveness” contained in it. He further stated he felt the forgiveness was “genuine”.
Judge Todd Lang’s reaction to Chris Pelkey’s AI victim impact statement.
In the end, Horcasitas was sentenced to the maximum of ten-and-a-half years – more than the nine years the prosecution was seeking but equal to what Pelkey’s family asked for in their own victim impact statements.
Could this happen in Australia?
In general, court rules are similar across Australian states and territories and it would be unlikely these technological advances would be acceptable in Australian sentencing courts.
These rules allow victims or their families to read their statement to courts, but this is limited to written statements usually edited by the prosecution, although victims may include drawings and photos where approved.
A victim will generally read their own statement to the court. However, where the victim has died, family members can make a statement speaking to their own trauma and loss.
Sometimes victims ask the prosecutor to read their statement, or the prosecutor merely hands over a written statement to the judge.
To date, no Australian court has permitted family members to speak for the deceased victim personally and family members are generally limited to describing harms they have directly suffered.
Victims may also be cross-examined by defence counsel on the statements’ content.
Creating an AI avatar would be time-consuming and expensive for prosecutors to edit. Cross-examination by the defence would be impossible.
Compared to the US, there is generally far less tolerance in Australian courts for dramatic readings of statements or using audio-visual materials.
In the US, victims enjoy greater freedom to invoke emotions, explore personal narratives and even show videos of the deceased, all to give the court a better sense of the victim as a person.
The use of an AI avatar, therefore, is not too far from what is already allowed in most US courts.
Despite these allowances, there is still concern the emotional impact of a more direct statement from an AI victim could be used to manipulate the court by putting words into the victim’s virtual mouth.
As can be seen in the Arizona sentencing, Judge Lang was clearly affected by the emotions generated by the AI Pelkey.
Changes to Australian law would be needed to ban use of AI recordings specifically. But even without such changes, Australian sentencing practice is already so restrictive as to essentially preclude such technology.
It seems Australia is some ways from joining Arizona in allowing an AI avatar of a deceased person speaking from “beyond the grave”.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Expectations are high ahead of Real Madrid’s debut at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, as they face Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Wednesday.
The match marks Xabi Alonso’s first official game as Real Madrid head coach. Although the former Madrid midfielder and ex-Bayer Leverkusen boss has had just over a week with the squad, all eyes will be on what early changes he has implemented.
Kylian Mbappe (R) of Real Madrid vies with Josko Gvardiol of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg football match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in Madrid, Spain, on Feb. 19, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Under former coach Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid covered among the least distance on the pitch and rarely applied a high press, instead relying on the pace of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo to hit on the break.
Alonso favored a high-pressing style at Leverkusen, with his players disrupting opponents’ buildup from the back. Whether he can instill that mentality in Madrid after only a few sessions, particularly in Miami’s heat, remains to be seen.
At Leverkusen, Alonso frequently deployed a back three with attacking full-backs. It is unclear if he will adopt a similar system with Madrid.
The arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool supports the use of wing-backs, and the England international appears poised to make his Real Madrid debut, along with Dean Huijsen, who signed from Bournemouth.
Huijsen impressed during the recent international break. His height and composure on the ball offer Madrid added flexibility, and it’s easy to envision Mbappe and Vinicius exploiting gaps behind Al Hilal’s defense as Huijsen delivers long passes from deep.
Vinicius remains under scrutiny following a disappointing domestic campaign, while Alonso must also finalize his central midfield pairing, likely Fede Valverde and possibly Dani Ceballos.
Al Hilal’s lineup features several players familiar to Spanish fans, including former Barcelona and Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo, forward Malcom, and former Atletico Madrid left-back Renan Lodi.
With a sell-out crowd expected, the match promises to provide a strong benchmark of the Saudi League’s level against one of Europe’s top clubs.
