Russian attacks on civilians are intensifying: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.
Colleagues, we are convened here again in response to Russia’s continuing and intensifying attacks against Ukraine.
On 11 June, Russia struck a power station in Kherson, plunging the city into rolling blackouts and disrupting access to clean water.
On 15 June, Russia reportedly damaged energy facilities in Poltava Oblast.
And then, on the night of 16-17 June, Russia conducted a devastating assault on the city of Kyiv, the third largest nationwide strike of the war, raining hundreds of drones down on densely populated residential areas.
The civilian death toll is at least 28, with hundreds injured.
Attacks and civilian deaths have only continued in the nights following. These attacks are not decreasing and they’re not random. They are a part of a deliberate and intensifying campaign of violence, calculated to deepen the suffering of Ukraine’s people.
On top of this, Russia continues to peddle false narratives, seeking to justify their full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But there can be no justification for what they have done.
It has been 101 days since Ukraine agreed to an unconditional ceasefire. And it is now reported that Russian military casualties have reached 1 million.
These dreadful milestones keep piling up and yet Russia shows no sign of stopping. While Ukraine has actively engaged in genuine steps towards peace, Russia has engaged in destruction.
Meanwhile, President Putin poses as a mediator of peace in the Middle East.
We don’t need more false promises.
We need genuine peace.
So again, we call on Russia to comply with international law, including the UN Charter.
We call on Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.
Russia initiated this war; we call on Russia to end it.
Farington, England, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — What Is PFMCrypto XRP Cloud Mining?
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Source: The Conversation – UK – By Colin Gavaghan, Professor of Digital Futures, University of Bristol Law School, University of Bristol
KieferPix/Shutterstock
British MPs’ approval of the assisted dying bill made history – and revealed a rare kind of parliamentary debate. While the bill must still pass through the House of Lords, it is now widely expected to become law in England and Wales.
What stood out even more than the result was the tone of the debate. Despite passionate disagreement, MPs conducted themselves with respect and thoughtfulness – a striking contrast to today’s often polarised political climate. That, in itself, felt like a moment of democratic maturity.
Unsurprisingly, MPs in favour of the bill made familiar arguments, focusing on choice, dignity and the desire to avoid unbearable suffering at the end of life. What stood out, though, was how little opposition there was to the principle of assisted dying.
Gone were the sweeping religious or philosophical arguments that once dominated such debates. Very few MPs spoke about the sanctity of life or raised moral objections to the idea of assisted dying itself.
Instead, many of those who voiced concerns focused on this particular bill, especially its safeguards. Their worry wasn’t whether we should allow assisted dying, but whether the law goes far enough to protect the vulnerable. It’s a valid concern, and one likely to shape scrutiny as the bill heads to the Lords.
So, how safe is the bill as currently drafted? Does it protect against the risks of coercion, misdiagnosis, or vulnerable people being pushed toward ending their lives? As a researcher of end-of-life issues and an expert witness in Seales v Attorney General, the leading New Zealand case on assisted dying, I believe the choice that the bill will introduce in England and Wales seems a lot less vulnerable to pressure and coercion than the sorts of life-ending choices the law has long allowed.
As Kim Leadbeater pointed out in her speech, no decision involving people near the end of life is ever entirely without risk. Diagnoses can be wrong. External influences, both subtle and overt, are impossible to eliminate completely.
But what’s important is that the safeguards around assisted dying, as proposed, are stricter than those in many other medical decisions that the law already permits.
For instance, adults in the UK currently have the legal right to refuse life-saving treatment. That includes cases where the treatment could restore them to full health.
This remains true even if the person’s situation arises from a previous suicide attempt. The central legal question is not why they want to die, but whether they are mentally capable of understanding and weighing their options.
The assisted dying bill sets a far narrower scope. It only applies to people with an “inevitably progressive illness or disease which cannot be reversed by treatment” and which is likely to lead to death within six months. In other words, people who are already extremely ill.
Yes, doctors might occasionally misjudge a prognosis. But the law will still only apply to those facing certain death in the near future, a very different group from those currently allowed to refuse care.
Pressure or coercion
No major life decision happens in a vacuum. We are all influenced by people around us: family, friends, culture, religion. But legally, coercion only becomes a problem when someone’s ability to choose freely is overwhelmed.
In medical law, that’s not always easy to determine. Is a devout patient refusing treatment out of genuine belief or pressure from their religious community? Is someone declining chemotherapy being subtly manipulated by family members with ulterior motives?
These grey areas are familiar – and they already exist. But the safeguards proposed in the assisted dying bill are arguably stronger than those surrounding many current end-of-life choices.
Two doctors will be required to independently assess whether the person is making the request voluntarily and without coercion. A multi-disciplinary panel will also need to confirm this.
On top of that, the bill introduces serious new criminal offences: up to 14 years in prison for anyone who pressures someone into requesting assisted dying, and a life sentence for those who unlawfully administer the drugs.
Self-coercion
Some MPs raised concerns about “self-coercion”: the idea that someone might choose assisted dying not because they genuinely want it, but because they feel like a burden to others.
It’s a deeply human worry. Most of us would be horrified to think an elderly parent or terminally ill partner felt they had to die to make life easier for us.
One proposed amendment tried to address this, suggesting that people should only be allowed access to assisted dying if their motivation was “for their own sake rather than for the benefit of others.”
It’s easy to understand the intent behind that. But ultimately, I would argue it’s probably right that the amendment was rejected.
UK courts have long upheld the principle that patients don’t need to justify their values. The test is whether they are mentally competent: whether they understand the information and can weigh it up to make a decision.
Judges and doctors don’t need to agree with the beliefs behind that decision. They don’t need to endorse a Jehovah’s Witness’s refusal of a transfusion. Nor must they accept that a life without “sparkle” is not worth living, as one woman once described her own situation before legally refusing treatment.
The assisted dying bill won’t remove all risk. No law could. But in many ways, it introduces a choice that is less open to abuse and pressure than decisions we’ve already accepted as legal for decades.
The debate isn’t over, and the House of Lords will no doubt return to these issues. But today’s vote was more than a political milestone. It was a moment of thoughtful, measured debate – and perhaps, a sign that we can tackle the hardest moral questions without descending into division.
Colin Gavaghan is a member of ‘Lawyers for End of Life Choice’ and a board member of ‘Yes for Compassion’. He was an expert witness for the plaintiff in Seales v Attorney General.
The first months of any administration are often dedicated to setting the tone of what constituents can expect for the next four years. For Trump’s second term, that message is clear: let it all burn.
Drastic agency cuts, reckless executive orders, and blatant industry giveaways promise devastating immediate and long-term consequences for our oceans, our climate, and our communities.
Dismantling climate defense
NOAA, the nation’s premier science agency for understanding, monitoring, and protecting our oceans, atmosphere, and climate, plays an essential role in safeguarding ecosystems and communities. Its data, forecasts, scientific expertise, and stewardship also support major sectors like tourism, transportation, food, and retail that rely on NOAA’s services to operate safely, efficiently, and sustainably.
Yet the Trump Administration has moved aggressively to gut NOAA’s capacity–firing scientists, defunding critical research, and shutting down its extreme weather database, a vital tool that has tracked the financial toll of climate disasters since the 1980s. These cuts come as extreme weather events are becoming more intense and frequent. In 2024 alone, Americans faced at least $182.7 billion in damages from 27 weather and climate disasters. Undermining NOAA’s ability to forecast threats, inform the American and global public, and support disaster response endangers lives while ensuring greater loss and damage, higher costs, and deep suffering as the climate crisis accelerates.
Among NOAA Fisheries’ vital programs is the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), the nation’s primary line of defense against seafood linked to fraud,forced labor, and environmental harm. With more than 80% of the seafood consumed in the U.S. imported and the global seafood supply chain riddled with these problems, SIMP plays a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of what ends up on American plates. Cuts to NOAA directly harm domestic fisheries as well, which rely on the agency to provide weather and pollution alerts.
These efforts have been further supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), whose programs help combat child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking around the world.
So while Americans have made it clear that they want to know where their food comes from and to trust that it is safe, ethical, and sustainable, the Trump administration is undermining the very systems that deliver these safeguards. By weakening SIMP and cancelling $500 million in ILAB grants, it is putting seafood workers at greater risk of abuse and exploitation, and exposing Americans to products tainted by these harms.
Endangering ocean futures
While more countries move towards a ban, moratorium, or pause on deep sea mining, the Trump Administration is charging in the opposite direction– reviving a cold war-era law, the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, to launch an unnecessary industry that threatens irreversible harm to fragile ecosystems we are only beginning to understand.
Trump’s executive order “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources” directs federal agencies to fast-track permits for seabed mining in both U.S. and international waters. Widely condemned as environmentally reckless and politically explosive, the move is a direct attempt to sidestep the International Seabed Authority (ISA)—the UN body charged with protecting the deep ocean as the “common heritage of humankind.” In doing so, it threatens to unravel global cooperation, weaken environmental oversight, and set a dangerous precedent for the exploitation of one of Earth’s last untouched frontiers. The order, while lining up another ‘get richer scheme’ for the billionaire broligarchy, also ignores calls from over 35 countries for a moratorium, disregards the voices of Pacific Island communities, and pushes forward despite overwhelming ecological, legal, and moral objections.
The push is further reinforced by a pair of sweeping executive orders that aim to bulldoze environmental safeguards in the name of “energy dominance.” One declares a so-called “national energy emergency,” suspending key regulatory safeguards under bedrock environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act.
Together, these orders will not just fast-tack deep sea mining but also accelerate offshore drilling, fracking infrastructure, and fossil fuel exports. This isn’t just deregulation—it’s a declaration of open season on the ocean.
All this comes as cobalt and nickel prices are plummeting, further undermining the already shaky economic case for mining the seafloor. Meanwhile, safer, cleaner, and more cost-effective alternatives, such as mineral recycling and domestic refining efforts, many of which are backed by the U.S. Department of Defense, are gaining momentum. But instead of investing in these sustainable solutions, the White House is reaching into the past to gamble with the future of our oceans and our planet.
‘Unleashing’ America’s fishing industry into collapse
At the same time, the earlier-mentioned cuts to NOAA will also hurt domestic fishing by leaving fishers without vital scientific insight needed for planning and responding to changing ocean conditions. This approach paves the way for overfishing and fishery collapse–again, directly contradicting the Trump Administration’s stated goal of supporting American fishing communities.
Scientists agree that protecting at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 is essential to help marine ecosystems recover and thrive. When fish populations collapse, so do fishing jobs and fishing communities. Yet with these actions, the Trump Administration is again steering the US in the wrong direction—sidelining science, sustainability, and long-term economic resilience by jeopardizing the entire industry and the coastal communities it supports.
At the same time, the Administration issued yet another executive order, accompanied by a 36-page report, aimed at “bringing America back” to plastic straws. So, while more Americans struggle to make ends meet, they can be sure of one thing: there will be plenty of microplastics to go around.
Plastics are not just a pollution problem; they are a public health crisis. Over 3,200 chemicals in plastics have been linked to a host of serious health conditions, including cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive problems, metabolic changes, obesity, premature births, neurological disorders, and learning disabilities. Toxic chemicals in plastic already cost Americans nearly $250 billion in healthcare expenses each year.
And that burden is not shared equally. BIPOC and low-income communities face disproportionate exposure to pollution from plastic production, disposal, and incineration infrastructure, which are often located in or near their communities. These facilities poison the air, the water, and their bodies. While oil and gas companies rake in record profits and their billionaire CEO’s grow richer, these communities and working families across America are left paying the price.
Voters across the political spectrum – Democrats and Republicans alike– support strong action to reduce plastic pollution and protect public health. Yet, without pause at the staggering irony, the Trump Administration is slashing Medicaid, gutting personnel and budget from the Department of Health and Human Services, and increasing our exposure to toxic plastic— all while touting a “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. But even in an era of “alternative facts” and the attempted erasure of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the truth is impossible to ignore. There is nothing left to sacrifice.
Time to resist
While the pace and scale of recent changes can seem overwhelming, it is worth remembering that part of this administration’s strategy is to flood the zone and try to get ahead of legal challenges and other obstacles to their agenda. The Trump Administration, like the “tech bros” who fell in line behind the President, is moving fast and breaking things. But there is growing resistance to their actions. In the last few weeks, especially, the number of new and successful legal challenges has been growing, with some law firms and academic institutions pushing back against the administration’s demands. This includes EarthJustice, Greenpeace, and allies in a joint litigation against Trump’s attempt to continue offshore drilling.
Meanwhile, millions of Americans—across generations, faiths, races, genders, and political ideologies—have been hitting the streets to defend their human rights, their environment, and their democracy. These peaceful protests have made one thing clear: We will not be silenced. We won’t back down. We won’t stop defending our communities in the face of government corruption and corporate greed.
The by-election to elect a councillor to represent Ward 10 Eilean a’ Cheò on The Highland Council has been won by Christine Gillies – Independent – who was one of eight candidates contesting the vacancy.
Voters in the ward went to the poll yesterday (Thursday 19 June ) and the by-election count was held this morning at Kyleakin Community Hall and webcasted live.
Voting was by the single transferable vote and Christine emerged as the winner at stage 8 of the electronic count.
The turnout was 40.1%.
She will join Councillors John Finlayson (Highland Independent), Drew Millar (Scottish National Party) and Ruraidh Stewart (Scottish Conservative and Unionist) in representing Ward 10 on The Highland Council.
E3 + EU Foreign Ministers’ statement: 20 June 2025
Joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, the UK and the High Representative of the EU on escalation of tensions in the Middle East
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, together with the High Representative of the European Union, met with their Iranian counterpart in Geneva on Friday, 20 June 2025.
They shared their grave concerns with regard to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and reiterated their firm commitment to Israel’s security. They expressed their view that all sides should refrain from taking steps which lead to further escalation in the region, and urgently find a negotiated solution to ensure that Iran never obtains or acquires a nuclear weapon.
E3 Ministers and the High Representative of the European Union reiterated their longstanding concerns about Iran’s expansion of its nuclear programme, which has no credible civilian purpose, in violation of almost all JCPoA provisions. They discussed avenues towards a negotiated solution to Iran’s nuclear programme, which emphasising the urgency of the matter.
They expressed their willingness to continue discussing all questions relevant to Iran’s nuclear programme and broader issues.
They expressed full support for the Director General of the IAEA and encouraged Iran to fully cooperate with the Agency in line with its legally binding commitments, and in light of the IAEA’s last report on the implementation of safeguards obligations in Iran.
They shared their support for discussions to continue and welcomed ongoing US efforts to seek a negotiated solution. They expressed their willingness to meet again in the future.
Now that the assisted dying bill has passed its momentous third reading in the House of Commons, it may seem like legalisation in England and Wales is a done deal. But despite this significant milestone, the bill is not yet law and its journey through the House of Lords is far from a formality.
While the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill is now closer than ever to becoming law, both the Commons and the Lords must agree on its final wording. And just like in the Commons, there are passionate supporters and vocal opponents in the Lords. Peers are expected to focus their attention on a number of outstanding, and controversial, issues.
One of the biggest concerns that surfaced during both the report stage and today’s third reading relates to the speed and process of drafting the legislation.
Because this is a private member’s bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, it was subject to strict timelines. Leadbeater had just 85 days to work with legal drafters and set out a policy framework before the bill was published ahead of its second reading in November 2024.
Despite this, the democracy-supporting charity the Hansard Society has noted that the bill is “among the most heavily scrutinised in recent times”, and it could ultimately receive up to 200 hours of parliamentary debate, especially now that it has moved to the Lords.
Still, the fast turnaround meant that many important decisions, such as what medications will be approved for use in assisted dying, have been left for the secretary of state to determine later through what’s known as delegated legislation (secondary laws made without a full parliamentary vote).
One area likely to receive particular scrutiny is the bill’s inclusion of so-called “Henry VIII clauses”. These are controversial powers that allow ministers to make changes to existing primary legislation, effectively altering acts of parliament without needing a new law. A key example is clause 38 that would let ministers revise the NHS Act 2006 to formally include assisted dying within NHS services.
Stronger safeguards but concerns persist
Several amendments aimed at strengthening the bill’s safeguards were supported during the Commons stages. These included the introduction of independent advocates, a new disability advisory board, and additional protections for people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, or autism.
An amendment from Labour MP Naz Shah was also supported at the third reading, ensuring that a person who chooses to stop eating and drinking will not automatically be considered terminally ill. This is a protection designed to prevent the system being used inappropriately.
Yet despite these measures, concerns remain. Critics worry about the risk of coercion, both from others and self imposed. There is particular unease about people feeling pressured to choose assisted dying because they consider themselves a burden.
Even with the new safeguards, including mandatory training for doctors to detect coercion and assess mental capacity, many feel the bill needs tighter definitions and clearer criteria to protect the most vulnerable.
The role of palliative care
The impact on palliative and end-of-life care continues to be a major point of debate. Today, MPs backed an amendment from Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson that would require the government to assess the state of palliative care services within one year of the law being enacted.
Peers in the House of Lords may push further on this issue. Some may argue that before a person can request assisted dying, they should first be referred to a palliative care specialist to fully understand their options. Others may want the law to spell out more clearly who is qualified to assess these requests.
Another key question is who should provide assisted dying services. The British Medical Association has previously suggested a model where assisted dying operates outside the core NHS system. This would be a kind of parallel service overseen by the health secretary but delivered by independent providers. This would be similar to how early medical abortions are offered in some parts of the UK.
Time is tight in the Lords, so peers will probably focus on a few high priority areas. Any amendments will need to be proposed, debated and approved quickly if the bill is to continue progressing this session.
Even if the bill passes, it includes a four year implementation period to allow for the development of more detailed policies, including training for professionals, protocols for medication and clearer guidance on safeguarding.
The passing of the bill in the Commons is historic. But the national conversation on assisted dying is not over. And the next phase will determine how this sensitive and deeply personal issue is handled in practice.
Suzanne Ost has previously received funding from the AHRC for her assisted dying research.
Nancy Preston receives funding from Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020 and the NIHR
Now that the assisted dying bill has passed its momentous third reading in the House of Commons, it may seem like legalisation in England and Wales is a done deal. But despite this significant milestone, the bill is not yet law and its journey through the House of Lords is far from a formality.
While the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill is now closer than ever to becoming law, both the Commons and the Lords must agree on its final wording. And just like in the Commons, there are passionate supporters and vocal opponents in the Lords. Peers are expected to focus their attention on a number of outstanding, and controversial, issues.
One of the biggest concerns that surfaced during both the report stage and today’s third reading relates to the speed and process of drafting the legislation.
Because this is a private member’s bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, it was subject to strict timelines. Leadbeater had just 85 days to work with legal drafters and set out a policy framework before the bill was published ahead of its second reading in November 2024.
Despite this, the democracy-supporting charity the Hansard Society has noted that the bill is “among the most heavily scrutinised in recent times”, and it could ultimately receive up to 200 hours of parliamentary debate, especially now that it has moved to the Lords.
Still, the fast turnaround meant that many important decisions, such as what medications will be approved for use in assisted dying, have been left for the secretary of state to determine later through what’s known as delegated legislation (secondary laws made without a full parliamentary vote).
One area likely to receive particular scrutiny is the bill’s inclusion of so-called “Henry VIII clauses”. These are controversial powers that allow ministers to make changes to existing primary legislation, effectively altering acts of parliament without needing a new law. A key example is clause 38 that would let ministers revise the NHS Act 2006 to formally include assisted dying within NHS services.
Stronger safeguards but concerns persist
Several amendments aimed at strengthening the bill’s safeguards were supported during the Commons stages. These included the introduction of independent advocates, a new disability advisory board, and additional protections for people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, or autism.
An amendment from Labour MP Naz Shah was also supported at the third reading, ensuring that a person who chooses to stop eating and drinking will not automatically be considered terminally ill. This is a protection designed to prevent the system being used inappropriately.
Yet despite these measures, concerns remain. Critics worry about the risk of coercion, both from others and self imposed. There is particular unease about people feeling pressured to choose assisted dying because they consider themselves a burden.
Even with the new safeguards, including mandatory training for doctors to detect coercion and assess mental capacity, many feel the bill needs tighter definitions and clearer criteria to protect the most vulnerable.
The role of palliative care
The impact on palliative and end-of-life care continues to be a major point of debate. Today, MPs backed an amendment from Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson that would require the government to assess the state of palliative care services within one year of the law being enacted.
Peers in the House of Lords may push further on this issue. Some may argue that before a person can request assisted dying, they should first be referred to a palliative care specialist to fully understand their options. Others may want the law to spell out more clearly who is qualified to assess these requests.
Another key question is who should provide assisted dying services. The British Medical Association has previously suggested a model where assisted dying operates outside the core NHS system. This would be a kind of parallel service overseen by the health secretary but delivered by independent providers. This would be similar to how early medical abortions are offered in some parts of the UK.
Time is tight in the Lords, so peers will probably focus on a few high priority areas. Any amendments will need to be proposed, debated and approved quickly if the bill is to continue progressing this session.
Even if the bill passes, it includes a four year implementation period to allow for the development of more detailed policies, including training for professionals, protocols for medication and clearer guidance on safeguarding.
The passing of the bill in the Commons is historic. But the national conversation on assisted dying is not over. And the next phase will determine how this sensitive and deeply personal issue is handled in practice.
Suzanne Ost has previously received funding from the AHRC for her assisted dying research.
Nancy Preston receives funding from Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020 and the NIHR
Plymouth residents should see the benefits of Government proposals to create a fairer system of local government funding that will direct support to areas where it is most needed, Cabinet member for Finance Councillor Mark Lowry says.
The shake-up of the funding system announced today aims to ensure those areas that have been overlooked get their fair share, while also cutting out bureaucracy in allocating funding and providing greater certainty for councils through multi-year settlements.
“The proposals for consultation announced today show that at last we have a government that recognises the devastating impact 14 years of cuts by the previous government have had on councils, who are also struggling with the huge pressures in adult social care, children’s services and temporary accommodation,” Councillor Lowry said.
“It recognises that areas with low historical tax bases from which to raise income also have high levels of need that drive up demand for services. This has put councils close to breaking point, so it is heartening to hear that we could be moving to a fairer system that at last begins to address the bureaucratic and opaque system of funding local government that has left the councils most in need starved of money.
“In Plymouth we have worked hard to protect local services from the sort of devastating cuts seen elsewhere but we have been starved of funding for basic services and have a relatively low tax base compared to better off areas. A fairer funding system that addresses need, combined with a new approach to council tax, should in future bring tangible benefits in areas we know matter to people – keeping the streets clean, cutting grass and keeping roads well maintained.
“While the proposals are very welcome, we need to be realistic. The scale of the challenges facing local government are massive and the demand and cost pressures in areas such as social care are systemic, so we know things won’t change overnight. We will need to continue be ruthless in driving greater efficiency in everything we do but at least now we can be confident that the long-awaited changes to local government finance will finally start to happen and that we have a government that is listening.”
Jean Morose Viliena, the former Mayor of Les Irois, Haiti, was sentenced today to nine years in prison followed by three years of supervised release by Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV for the District of Massachusetts for possessing and using a Permanent Resident Card he had fraudulently obtained by falsely stating that he had not ordered, carried out, or materially assisted in extrajudicial and political killings and other acts of violence against the Haitian people. A federal jury convicted Viliena in March 2025 of three counts of visa fraud.
“In Haiti, Jean Morose Viliena was involved in the violent killings, beatings, and assaults of whomever he believed threatened his power as mayor,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His lies to U.S. immigration authorities allowed him to unlawfully enter this country and obtain lawful permanent resident status. Individuals who commit violent crimes in their home countries should take note: we do not tolerate human rights abusers who lie to take refuge here. We will find you, investigate you, and prosecute you to ensure that you are held accountable to the maximum extent of U.S. law for your heinous criminal conduct.”
“Jean Morose Viliena built a life in the United States by burying the truth about his violent past – a past marked by political persecution, bloodshed and the silencing of dissent in Haiti,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “For more than a decade, he lived freely and comfortably in this country while the victims of his brutality lived in fear, exile and pain. Today’s sentence brings a measure of justice for the lives he shattered and sends a clear message: the United States will not be a safe haven for human rights abusers. Lying to gain entry into this country and then lying again under oath to avoid accountability strikes at the heart of our immigration and legal systems. I commend the tremendous courage of the victims and witnesses who stood up and spoke the truth despite the risks and made this outcome possible.”
“Today’s sentencing underscores the commitment of Homeland Security Investigations to ensuring that individuals who commit heinous acts of violence and fraud are held accountable, regardless of where those crimes were committed,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England. “Jean Morose Viliena’s actions were not only a gross violation of human rights but also a betrayal of the trust placed in him by his community. HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to bring justice to victims and protect the American people from foreign criminals seeking to escape justice in their home countries.”
Viliena, 53, was the Mayor of Les Irois, Haiti, from December 2006 until February 2010. As a candidate and as mayor, Viliena was backed by Korega, a political machine that used armed violence to exert power throughout the southwestern region of Haiti. Viliena personally supervised his mayoral staff and other armed supporters aligned with Korega and directed them to engage in armed violence to quash opposition to his authority.
According to evidence presented at trial, on July 27, 2007, Viliena violently retaliated against an activist who had previously spoken at a judicial proceeding on behalf of a neighbor whom Viliena had assaulted. In a brutal act of reprisal, that evening, Viliena led an armed group to the activist’s home, where Viliena and his associates shot and killed the activist’s younger brother and then smashed the brother’s skull with a large rock before a crowd of bystanders.
Viliena committed another act of violent retribution in April 2008, when he and his associates attacked community members who had founded a radio station that Viliena opposed. According to multiple witnesses’ testimony, Viliena mobilized armed members of his staff and supporters to forcibly shut down the radio station and seize its broadcasting equipment. Viliena distributed firearms to his men, some of whom also carried machetes and picks. According to the evidence presented at trial, during this incident, Viliena beat one man and ordered an associate to shoot him when he tried to flee. As a result, the man’s leg was later amputated above the knee. Viliena also beat a student who was at the radio station; when the student tried to flee, a bullet struck his face, leaving him permanently blind in one eye.
Less than two months after the radio station attack, Viliena presented himself at the U.S. Embassy Consular Office in Port au Prince, Haiti, where he applied for a visa to enter the United States. The visa application specifically requires an applicant to state whether they are a member of any class of individuals excluded from admission into the United States, including those who have “ordered, carried out or materially assisted in extrajudicial and political killings and other acts of violence against the Haitian people.” Viliena falsely responded “no,” indicating that this category did not apply to him. Viliena thereafter swore to and affirmed before a U.S. Consular Officer that the contents of the application were true and signed the application.
Based on Viliena’s false representations, the United States approved his visa application and permitted him to enter the country. The United States later granted Viliena lawful permanent resident status and a Permanent Resident Card, also known as a “Green Card.” For years, through the use of his fraudulently obtained Green Card, Viliena enjoyed a job; sufficient income; a comfortable home; a safe community; the ability to visit his family in Les Irois at any time; and the privilege of raising and educating a son who is now a U.S. citizen by birth.
The HSI Boston Field Office investigated the case, with coordination provided by the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. Invaluable assistance was also provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection from Boston Logan Airport.
Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan for the District of Massachusetts prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
GAD’s first Public Service Pensions conference
Pensions professionals from across the public sector networked, and contributed to discussions, at GAD’s first pensions conference.
Credit: Crown copyright
More than 100 professionals from across the sector attended the Government Actuary’s Department’s (GAD) first public service pensions conference on Thursday 19 June 2025. The event brought together representatives from the pension schemes for all 8 public service workforces, across all 4 nations.
Reflect and Connect
The theme of the conference was ‘Reflect and Connect’. Opening the event, the Government Actuary highlighted a key objective for the day was providing an opportunity for those working in public service schemes to meet others doing similar work, encourage knowledge sharing and greater collaboration.
The conference included a keynote address from Siobhan Amutharasan (HM Treasury) and Jan Claisse (GAD) and inspiring plenaries on pensions dashboards and pension board governance.
Delegates also attended discussions on a wide range of topics including the McCloud remedy, AI opportunities and the gender pensions gap. The Office for Budget Responsibility, The Pensions Ombudsman and The Pensions Regulator also provided engaging and thought-provoking sessions.
Energising and interesting
Greg Ceely from the Office for National Statistics presented a session on Healthy Life Expectancy and the State Pension age review. Commenting on the event, he said: “It’s been very energising and interesting to find out how various pension elements fit together. It has been refreshing to know that people are thinking about pensions in a multifaceted way.”
Claire Neale, the Head of Police Pensions from the National Police Chiefs Council noted: “It’s been a fabulous networking opportunity, and a real pleasure to connect with new people.”
Clair Alcock, Head of Pensions at the Local Government Association remarked: “It was brilliantly put together and all the topics were really relevant.”
Phil Bassingham-Searle, the Head of Armed Forces remuneration at the Ministry of Defence also noted: “It has been thought provoking and has brought together a group of people who don’t normally come together, who’ve got shared interests.”
It was an inspiring and energising day that captured the spirit of collaboration and shared purpose at the heart of public service pensions. #ReflectAndConnect
Council seeking views from the public on new measures to tackle nuisance vehicles, pedicabs and on street anti-social behaviour.
Fines of up to £1,000 could be handed down to people who flout new regulations to keep the public safe.
Westminster City Council has launched a public consultation on proposed new Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) as part of its ongoing efforts to crack down on antisocial behaviour and create safer, cleaner, and more welcoming communities.
Public Spaces Protection Orders are intended to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour that is detrimental to the community’s quality of life. They do so by imposing conditions on the use of that area to ensure everyone can enjoy public spaces.
The proposed PSPOs would give the police and council officers additional powers to tackle persistent issues such as public urination, verbal abuse, drug use and other forms of anti-social behaviour that affect residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Breach of a PSPO is a criminal offence and officers will be able to issue fixed penalty notices to immediately respond to this anti-social behaviour.
The council is seeking views from residents on proposals to:
Introduce a new PSPO to tackle On-Street ASB in South Westminster building on the work of the new Street Based Intervention team.
Engage residents and those who visit or work in the rest of Westminster to gather their views on whether this approach is the right one for to be deployed in other parts of the city.
Extend the existing nuisance vehicle PSPO to cover Soho and Mayfair.
Introduce a new city-wide PSPO to tackle nuisance caused by pedicabs
This is the latest move by the council in a wider package of initiatives introduced to clamp down on antisocial behaviour. Recent actions include:
a £500k investment in new CCTV to double the number of cameras to 200, which includes 40 additional cameras for the West End.
the launch of a new Street Based Intervention Team, combining City Inspectors and Homeless Outreach officers.
the recruitment of more City Inspectors to keep the city’s streets clean and safe – both boosting deployment in existing teams and creating a new 8 member specialist ASB team.
Councillor Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council, said:
“Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected where they live. This is why this administration has invested in more City Inspectors and the new 200 camera CCTV system to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in partnership with the police. This investment has given us extra capacity to make more effective use of the additional powers available through these new PSPOs, enabling our city inspectors and police to tackle unacceptable behaviour swiftly and effectively.
“We want to hear from our residents first – this consultation gives the public a vital say in shaping how we respond to ASB and build safer streets for everyone.”
The council is urging residents, businesses, and community organisations to take part in the consultation.
To have your say and learn more about the proposed PSPO’s, visit:
The council is consulting on new powers including:
FIXED PENALTIES
A person who is guilty of an offence under this Order shall be liable to a £100.00 Fixed Penalty Notice under s.68.
CRIMINAL CONVICTION
A person who is charged with the offence of failing to comply with this Order is liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 (currently £1000) on the standard scale.
DISPERSAL
Two of the proposed Orders contain a Dispersal Order related to “Remaining in the Restricted Area after having been asked to leave by an Authorised Officer” and a requirement to “leave the Restricted Area if asked to do so by an Authorised Officer and must not return to the Restricted Area for 24 hours”. ‘Authorised Officer’ in this context is an employee or agent of the Authority who is authorised for the purpose of giving directions under this Order, a Police Officer or any other person designated by the council.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Benedict Morrison, Senior lecturer in Film, Television, Literature, and Queer Studies, University of Exeter
I was not around in 1974 to witness the first television outing of Alan Clarke’s Penda’s Fen. Broadcast only seven years after sex between men was partially decriminalised in England and Wales, this enigmatic film was beamed into the nation’s living rooms with an audacity that remains giddying today.
Some commentators have suggested that the film “seems a world away” from the gritty social commentary of Clarke’s Scum (1977) and The Firm (1989). But Penda’s Fen recognises that unruly desire – manifested within the film in Blakean visions of angels, demons and the pagan King Penda – is political.
Stephen, a classical music-loving, left-wing-despising rector’s son, lives among the green and pleasant Malvern Hills, where he plays at being an impeccably uniformed cadet and struggles to suppress his delirious sexual desire for other boys.
This article is part of a series highlighting brilliant films that should be more widely known and firmly part of the canon of queer cinema .
In his visions, the path of least resistance – that of being the young man everyone wants him to be – is championed by the sinister figures of the Mother and Father of England (modelled on conservative activist Mary Whitehouse and social critic Malcolm Muggeridge). This path would offer him “the right to inherit power”.
But playing the role of the straight, conventional boy weighs heavily on Stephen, and he slips further from the narratives he longs to believe in. Haunted by a series of real and imagined encounters with angels, demons and England’s pagan past, Stephen begins to questions all he knows about himself – his religion, politics and sexuality.
When I finally saw Penda’s Fen after its re-release by the BFI in 2016, it was uncannily familiar. Like Stephen, I grew up as the gay son of a rector in the rural West Midlands, torn between the lures and impossibilities of sexual convention.
The political rhetoric of the LGBT+ community in the 1990s created social impact by speaking in very clear terms about non-straight identities. This rhetoric, for the sake of clarity, often offered narrow definitions of the characteristics and attributes that made someone definitively LGBT+.
But it did lead to progress, featuring in campaigns for the repeal of section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, which banned any affirmative presentation of homosexuality by local authorities, including schools. It also was used in campaigns that led to the lowering of the age of consent for gay sex to 16, in line with heterosexual sex.
However, this narrow view left me with an uncomfortable sense that my inconsistencies and contradictions meant that I was never quite, never just, gay. Despite being a valuable term as I came out and claimed a social identity and a community, it failed to capture the complexities of my experience in a single word.
These inconsistencies and complexities shine in queer theorist Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick’s not-quite-definition of “queer”: “The open mesh of possibilities, gaps, overlaps, dissonances and resonances, lapses and excesses of meaning when the constituent elements of anyone’s gender, of anyone’s sexuality aren’t made (or can’t be made) to signify monolithically.”
Sedgwick suggests that queerness is a kind of structural messiness; far from being a neat summing-up of someone’s identity, it is where the desires and behaviours which make up a person’s sexuality don’t quite add up, and so escape full understanding.
Loving your own strangeness
For me, the greatest queer films are not those which seek to confirm the myth of stable identity but, instead, open these meshes of possibility. I know of no film which does this better than Penda’s Fen.
When the film begins, Stephen stamps out all his flickering desires. He clings to clear-cut notions of gender, sex and nation, the three pillars that will secure his power as a man in society.
By the end, he has encountered the ghost of the composer Elgar, fantasised about schoolmates in homoerotic rugby scrums, and discovered that he is adopted and less English than he imagined. In this “Gnostic anarcho-punk anti-pastoral visionary work of English art”, as the writer Gary Budden calls it, all Stephen’s certainties shatter.
As he ultimately stands in the hills’ high places, tempted by the Mother and Father of England to repress confusion and embrace their idea of normality in a folk-horror echo of Christ’s temptation in the wilderness, his rejection becomes a radiant queer manifesto:
“I am … nothing pure. My race is mixed. My sex is mixed. I am woman and man. Light with darkness … I am mud and flame!”
Mud and flame is what I was as a teenager living in the shadow of those same hills: the earthy and the fiery, the tangible and the transcendent, the banal and the radical, the secure and the lost. This was – although I didn’t realise it at the time – queerness, a word theorist Lee Edelman writes “can never define an identity; it can only ever disturb one”.
No film that I know captures this sense of slipping, sliding, desiring self so well as Penda’s Fen. Everyone who has ever felt the constituent parts of their own sexuality refusing to align should watch the film and fall in love with their own strangeness.
Penda’s Fen, like queerness, resists specific interpretation. It is telling that the visionary commissioning editor David Rose, who oversaw the BBC Birmingham drama department and greenlit Penda’s Fen, confessed that he “didn’t understand it at all, but that’s as it should be”. This attitude is unimaginable in commissioners today.
Clarke’s film is a blend of folk horror motifs, the politics of society and character-driven drama that cracks open meaning just as the church floor fractures when Stephen plays the organ discordantly.
Viewers new to the film should experience its extraordinary final sequence without spoilers, but I will say that the closing images of Stephen – that
“strange, dark, true, impure, and dissonant” protagonist – offer me the thrill of queerness’s unsettled, unsettle-able politics.
Benedict Morrison does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Speech
A diplomatic solution is in the interests of all concerned. Even now, it is not out of reach.: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the emergency UN Security Council meeting on Iran.
The UK reiterates its full support for the vital work of the IAEA. We thank the IAEA Director General and his staff for their continued professionalism, diligence and courage in these complex circumstances.
President, first, the United Kingdom is deeply concerned by the sharp escalation we have witnessed between Israel and Iran over the past week.
This is a dangerous moment for the entire region and further escalation is in no-one’s interest. Civilians must never be targeted and we deplore the loss of civilian life and offer our condolences. All parties must protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in line with international humanitarian law.
Restraint is vital to prevent further regional escalation and loss of life.
The United Kingdom supports Israel’s need to protect its security and people. However, a return to diplomacy is urgent and we have pressed this with both Israel and Iran.
I also want to be clear that the UK did not participate and is not participating in Israel’s strikes.
We have deployed assets including jets to the region as a defensive and precautionary measure only.
President, second, Iran’s nuclear programme is a significant concern.
My Prime Minister has been clear. Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.
The IAEA’s reports show that Iran’s High Enriched Uranium stockpile has grown to alarming levels. Iran’s stockpile of 60% High Enriched Uranium has no credible civilian justification. It is essential that Iran cooperates with the IAEA and bridge the ‘trust gap’ that the Secretary-General spoke of.
The IAEA and the Non-Proliferation Treaty are key pillars of international security.
For many years, the UK, alongside our E3 partners, has sought a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear programme. This commitment stands and has never been more urgent. Alongside E3 colleagues and the EU, we are engaging with Iranian FM Araghchi in Geneva today and using this window of opportunity to support a return to diplomacy and a peaceful resolution.
Any further escalation – such as restricting IAEA access, diverting nuclear material or increasing the production of high enriched uranium – would intensify the threat to international peace and security posed by Iran’s nuclear programme.
Third, military action cannot put an end to Iran’s nuclear capabilities. We have strongly supported and continue to support diplomatic efforts to come to a deal. That is the only way to resolve the nuclear issue for the long term.
President, our objective remains stability in the Middle East.
A diplomatic solution is in the interests of all concerned. Even now, it is not out of reach. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy and dialogue.
Today Green MPs backed the continued passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the House of Commons. All four Green MPs voted yes at the Bill’s third reading.
Although broad support for assisted dying is Green Party policy, on this issue of conscience there was no party line and every MP voted according to their own personal deliberations.
Every Green MP worked hard to hear from and understand people with different views on this sensitive issue. This included: meeting both supporters and opponents including constituents directly affected by terminal illness at their MP surgeries, sitting down with local faith leaders, support services and Disabled people’s groups, taking part in briefings and information sessions with medical professionals both for and against the Bill, carefully considering the scores of amendments that were added to the law, and replying to the many hundreds of emails and letters from constituents writing in with questions, personal views and experiences.
Every MP took this decision they made with the utmost seriousness. Green MPs are fully committed to making sure this new policy proceeds with the utmost care and safety in mind and will also continue to use their voices in Parliament to press for vital improvements to the availability of palliative care.
Running from 1pm to 7pm, the drop-in session on Tuesday 24 June will allow residents or employees of local businesses directly or indirectly impacted by the blaze and subsequent road and building closures to meet Council staff and those from partner agencies who will be able to answer questions and provide advice.
Fifty-five families have been displaced because of the blaze, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Residents should arrive at the main entrance to the Council offices at 2 High Street, Perth.
Information will be available on a range of issues including:
Housing
Welfare Rights
Local taxes
Access to properties
Donations
Mental Health and Wellbeing support
Social work
Community Support and engagement and more
Councillor Eric Drysdale, Deputy Leader of Perth and Kinross Council and ward member for Perth City Centre, said: “The devastating consequences of last weekend’s tragic fire will be felt for months to come.
“Our thoughts remain with those affected, not least the friends and relatives of the man who sadly lost his life in the blaze.
“People who lived at 41 Scott Street lost everything and now face the challenge of rebuilding their lives. Residents and nearby businesses also face being unable to access their homes and premises for weeks or months. Whatever we can do to help them, we will.
“The response from the people of Perth and Kinross to this emergency has been humbling. The generosity people and businesses have shown has been exemplary.
“But we know that those affected will still have many questions as they begin to move forward. We want to do everything we can to help them and Tuesday’s event will, I believe, help provide some of those answers.
“We know it is a long road ahead but will continue doing all we can to support those in their hour of need.”
Following on from the resident drop-in session arranged for Tuesday 24 June, a follow-up information event for residents impacted by the fire in Perth city centre has been organised for Friday 27 June 2025 at the Council Buildings, 2 High Street, Perth. Hosted by Perth and Kinross and supported by Pete Wishart MP and John Swinney MSP, the event will also be attended by representatives of Perth-based insurance firm Aviva and the Association of British Insurers. This is an opportunity to share challenges people are facing with their household insurers and understand more about the industry’s approach in such cases. As insurance is a UK Government regulated industry, Mr Wishart’s office may be able to take up cases on individuals’ behalf directly with their respective insurance companies/ UK Government ministers.
Council teams and support services will also be on hand to provide information and advice on a range of other issues being experienced by residents impacted by the fire.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ed Gasson, Royal Society University Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter
When visiting Godrevy beach on the north Cornish coast, most people look out to sea at the lighthouse, surfers and seals rather than the cliffs behind. But these cliffs hold a history of past climate and sea level that is incredibly valuable to scientists like me who are trying to determine how quickly sea level is going to rise in the future.
Scramble up the slate rocks a few metres and you’ll reach a flat platform cut by waves breaking over 100,000 years ago. On top, there’s a cliff of sand and pebbles, an incredibly clear indicator of where the shoreline used to be, several metres higher than it is today.
Beaches like this exist all around the Cornish coastline, near Falmouth at Bream Cove and at the furthest western point near Lands End at Porth Nanven.
Searching for the source of these higher sea levels takes us to the poles. In a climate similar to today, the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets retreated, raising global sea level. Although exactly where this ice was lost from remains a mystery that continues to frustrate scientists.
This article is part of a series, Secrets of the Sea, exploring how marine scientists are developing climate solutions.
In collaboration with the BBC, Anna Turns travels around the West Country coastline to meet ocean experts making exciting discoveries beneath the waves.
When ice gets trapped on land as giant ice sheets, it causes the sea level to change, but it doesn’t change by the same amount all around the planet. Like the moon, the gravity of the ice sheets pulls the ocean towards them, causing sea levels to rise near to the ice sheets.
The opposite happens when they melt. As the ice on Greenland retreats today, it’s causing the sea level nearby to fall, rather than rise. Only as far as Scotland, some 1,500 miles from Greenland, does this sea level fall switch to a sea level rise.
The cliffs at Godrevy reveal historic sea level rise. Ed Gasson, CC BY-NC-ND
This gravity effect leaves behind a distinctive fingerprint in past sea level markers, such as raised beaches and fossil coral reefs. By piecing together data from around the world we can work out the source of past high sea levels.
The raised beaches such as those in north Cornwall are likely caused by the retreat of ice from Antarctica, rather than the ice from Greenland. But direct evidence for ice loss from Antarctica has proven very hard to come by.
I’m involved with an international drilling project that aims to solve this mystery. Following two challenging seasons of drilling, our team of scientists and engineers will return to Antarctica in late 2025 and attempt to recover sediments from deep underneath the ice, to analyse for signals of past ice retreat.
If we’re lucky, we’ll recover records from warm climates millions of years ago. This will help us understand how the west Antarctic ice sheet may change in the future as our climate continues to warm.
Drilling down
Next winter, this international team is travelling to Scott Base, a New Zealand research station at the edge of the Ross ice shelf in west Antarctica. From there, the journey continues over 500 miles to the other end of the ice shelf, an extremely remote corner of an already remote continent.
Everything we need is taken across the ice in a convoy of tracked snow vehicles. A hot water drill is used to make a small hole through the 500m ice shelf, providing access to the sediment below. Up to 200m of valuable sediment core will be retrieved with a custom-designed drilling system.
The geological data contained in these sediments will help us to improve models and refine our predictions of how sea level will rise in the future. As the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases, it is as if we are rapidly moving backwards through geological time.
Today, there is as much CO₂ in the atmosphere as during a geological epoch known as the mid-Pliocene, more than 3 million years ago. The average estimate for the mid-Pliocene is a concentration of around 400 parts per million (ppm), a value we reached only 12 years ago.
We’ll exceed the highest concentrations of the Pliocene this year. The next warmest interval is probably the mid-Miocene, 12 million years earlier.
Back in Cornwall, some communities are already planning for the effects of sea level rise. In Bude, local people have come together to form a “climate jury”, a panel chosen to give local people a voice as to how to best manage and reduce the impacts of a rising sea.
This approach could be adopted by other communities at risk from sea level rise, alongside other adaptations. Hopefully, the world can avoid a return to the very high sea levels that formed the raised beaches at Godrevy.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Statement by TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister:
“This week has been a profoundly sad one for our nation.
“At the start of the week, Parliament, by a crushing majority, voted to decriminalise abortion at all stages, meaning there is now no criminal offence for abortion right up to the moment of birth. This is a truly retrograde and alarming step.
“Then, on Friday, Parliament passed the Assisted Suicide Bill. For the first time since the abolition of capital punishment, the state is set to be involved in facilitating the death of its own citizens.
“Together, these decisions present an appalling vista: that both at the start of life and the end of life, moral declension has brought us to the point where death and killing are not only permitted but embraced.
“As would be expected, I vigorously opposed both measures. But the majority view in this heavily dominated socialist Parliament was to abandon the standards and principles that our nation has, in good measure, stood by in the past — and instead to endorse death at will for the unborn and death at will for the vulnerable and elderly.
“These are sad times indeed.
“But they are also a clear indication of the kind of battles I was sent to Parliament to fight. I will continue to do so — in the name of those who sent me, and in the name of what is right, decent, and in order.”
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Statement by TUV Carrick councillor David Clarke:
“The incident at Carrickfergus Marina has shocked and concerned our entire community. A group of nine children and one adult found themselves in serious danger when a boat capsized near the marina.
“Thanks to the remarkable response of our emergency services, a potentially tragic situation was quickly brought under control. I want to place on record my deepest gratitude to the RNLI crews, paramedics, air ambulance staff, and police officers who responded with speed, professionalism, and care. In the most critical moments, they did what they are trained to do. The coordinated effort between land, sea, and air responders exemplifies the very best of our public service. We owe them a great debt.
“I know the thoughts and prayers of the entire community are with the child who was taken to hospital and their family.
“This incident is a sobering reminder of the importance of water safety, especially as we enter the summer season.“
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
MHRA approves UK’s first anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody for treatment of aggressive form of lung cancer
As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today, 20 June 2025, approved serplulimab (Hetronifly) to treat adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), which has not previously been treated, and has spread within the lungs or to other parts of the body.
SCLC is a fast-growing cancer that typically develops in the airways of the lungs. It accounts for 10-15% of lung cancer cases and is often diagnosed at a late stage when the cancer has already spread.
Serplulimab is a monoclonal antibody (a targeted therapy) that supports the immune system by blocking PD-1, a receptor some cancer cells use to avoid detection. By inhibiting PD-1, it helps immune cells recognise and destroy cancer cells more effectively.
Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said:
“Patient safety is our top priority, which is why I am pleased to confirm approval of serplulimab to treat extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.
“As the first and only anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved in the UK for small cell lung cancer, this marks an important new treatment option for patients with this aggressive type of lung cancer who currently have limited choices and face a poor prognosis.
“We’re assured that the appropriate regulatory standards of safety, quality and efficacy for the approval of this medicine have been met. As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review.”
Serplulimab is given by intravenous infusion (into a vein) once every three weeks, in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide). Treatment can continue for as long as there is deemed clinical benefit.
Approval is based on results from a randomised, double-blind clinical trial involving 585 adults with extensive-stage SCLC who had not received prior treatment. Participants received either serplulimab or placebo, alongside chemotherapy.
Patients given serplulimab with chemotherapy lived on average for 15.4 months, compared with 10.9 months for those receiving chemotherapy and placebo.
A full list of side effects can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) or the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), available on the MHRA website within 7 days of approval.
As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of serplulimab under close review. Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
Notes to editors
The new marketing authorisation was granted on 20 June 2025 to Accord Healthcare Limited.
This product was submitted and approved via an international recognition procedure.
More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
NB8++ joint statement on the shadow fleet
Statement from the Nordic-Baltic 8++ on joint action to further counter Russia’s shadow fleet.
We, the Foreign Ministers and government representatives of Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have met today to address the challenge posed by the Russian shadow fleet. We call for further joint and coordinated action to effectively address Russian attempts to circumvent international sanctions.
Russia’s destabilising actions have strengthened our resolve to protect maritime security, safety, the marine environment and freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. We are particularly concerned about stateless vessels and falsely flagged vessels. Stateless vessels, including those falsely claiming to fly a flag, do not have a responsible flag state and are not entitled to rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation. If vessels fail to fly a valid flag in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, we will take appropriate action within international law.
Today, we have agreed to further strengthen our cooperation and ensure a joint and coordinated approach by our national authorities to address Russia’s shadow fleet. We intend to compile a common set of guidelines in line with international law to promote responsible behaviour at sea, strengthen compliance with international law, and ensure transparency across maritime operations.
We recall that the risks posed by the shadow fleet, including potential environmental damage as well as risks to maritime safety and security, the integrity of international seaborne trade, critical undersea infrastructure and respect for international maritime rules and standards, extend far beyond the Baltic and North Seas and could have global impact. We call on others to join our efforts.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Change of British High Commissioner to Jamaica: Alicia Herbert
Ms Alicia Herbert OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to Jamaica in succession to Ms Judith Slater. Ms Herbert will take up her appointment during September 2025.
Curriculum Vitae
Full name Alicia Jacinta Herbert
Year
Role
2021 to 2025
FCDO, Director Education, Gender and Equality and UK Gender Envoy
2016 to 2020
DFID/FCDO, Head, Children Youth and Education
2012 to 2016
Maputo, Country Director, DFID Mozambique
2009 to 2012
Abuja, Deputy Country Director, DFID Nigeria
2006 to 2009
Khartoum, Head, Governance, Security and Development, DFID Sudan
2002 to 2006
Maputo, Social Development Adviser, DFID Mozambique
1999 to 2002
DFID, Social Development Adviser, Climate and Environment Department
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
UKAEA welcomes UK-Japan fusion partnership
UK-Japan partnership to further collaboration in key fusion areas, including R&D, regulation, skills and workforce
Kerry McCarthy, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Climate) and Hiroshi Masuko, Senior Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, signing the Memorandum of Cooperation on fusion energy.
UKAEA welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between UK and Japan, to strengthen our already close bond on developing fusion energy.
Fusion is a global challenge with global solutions and UKAEA looks forward to working with Japanese scientists and innovators to advance fusion energy.
Home » Latest News » Unlicensed scrap metal trader found guilty in court
A man from London who was running a business as a scrap metal dealer in Canterbury district when not authorised to do so has been found guilty of the offence.
Varsile Marius Nicutu, 33, from Leonard Robins Park, London, was also found guilty of not holding a valid waste carrier licence to transport controlled waste on the highway.
Mr Nicutu failed to attend Margate Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 12 June and was convicted in his absence for offences Under Section 1 of the Scrap Metal Dealers and Section 5 of the Control of Pollution Act 1989.
The court heard Mr Nicutu was stopped in Shipman Avenue, Canterbury, in May 2024 by officers from Kent Police Rural Task Force and Environmental Crime Officers from Canterbury City Council whilst driving his vehicle full of scrap metal.
He was advised of the need to apply for a licence to transport scrap, but he failed to do so and no response was received from him.
The council took the matter to court, where Mr Nicutu was fined £1,000, with a £200 surcharge and £200 in council costs, adding up to a total fine of £1,400 to be paid in full within 28 days.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
UK-Bahrain agree £2bn investment partnership in huge boost for UK economy
The UK and Bahrain have signed a partnership agreement which will deliver £2 billion of investment into key growth sectors in a huge boost to the economy.
UK has signed a new partnership with Bahrain, which will see £2 billion investment into key growth sectors.
Agreement will increase investment in financial services, clean energy, manufacturing and tech – all growth sectors in Government’s modern Industrial Strategy.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds: investment is ‘major vote of confidence’ that will increase jobs and create growth across UK as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
UK becomes member of the US-Bahrain Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement which supports economic growth at home.
The UK government and Bahrain have signed a new investment and collaboration partnership that will unlock £2 billion of investment into Britain, boosting economic growth and driving forward the Government’s Plan for Change.
The Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership (SIP) is double the £1 billion commitment made in 2023 and will focus on investing in key growth sectors including financial services, technology and decarbonisation – as the Government prepares to publish the upcoming modern Industrial Strategy.
The Partnership is a sign of a strengthened bilateral relationship with Bahrain and will help create new jobs and boost growth across the UK. It will also provide British companies opportunities to take advantage of Bahrain’s business environment, providing support on innovation, productivity and development in the country.
Yesterday [Thursday 19 June], the Prime Minister met with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, where the deal was formally signed.
At a time of great importance for regional stability both leaders reaffirmed the strength of the relationship between the two countries, as the UK became a full member of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) after announcing its intention to join in December 2024. This demonstrates the UK’s continued efforts to strengthen security cooperation with key partners in Bahrain and the US and together, to foster long-term regional stability across the Middle East while bolstering economic growth at home through new security and defence partnerships.
The UK and Bahrain leaders yesterday reiterated their commitment to defence relations and continuing the already strong cooperation between our Armed Forces and those of the Kingdom of Bahrain. This includes our strong naval partnership, which has seen Bahrain host the UK’s largest naval base outside of the UK and training offered by UK Armed Forces to Bahrain military personnel.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:
In a changing world, Britain is increasingly seen as a place for investment and growth – thanks to the stability we have brought to the economy and our pro-business approach.
This £2 billion investment into the growth-driving sectors where Britain thrives will create good jobs paying decent wages in all corners of our country, putting more money in people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
This £2 billion commitment is yet another major vote of confidence in the UK economy, backing the key growth sectors we’ve identified in our upcoming modern Industrial Strategy.
We have the most open, stable and connected economy in the world – and our Plan for Change will encourage more countries to invest here, delivering long-term growth that supports good, skilled jobs across the country.
During their visit to the UK, a delegation of Bahraini investors visited growth projects and business in Manchester, Leeds, and Sheffield, in order to explore opportunities to support the UK Government’s growth agenda.
This government is committed to driving economic growth, and growing trade and investment with the Gulf is pivotal to this mission, delivering higher wages, supporting increased investment and economic opportunity, and strengthening relationships with important partners.
Claire Geddis, pictured with Lord Mayor Alderman Stephen Moutray and Lady Mayoress Mrs Moutray, at the recent Lurgan Show.
A Lurgan based entrepreneur is on a mission to bring the luxury spa experience directly into boutique hotel rooms as the artisan producer invests in a major expansion.
Claire Geddis, founder of Wild Shore, has developed a unique organic spa collection designed to help people experience the healing power of nature, whether at home or while staying in a hotel that doesn’t have a spa.
The business whose products have already been shipped as far afield as China, Australia, and the United States, is now targeting hotels and high-end B&Bs across Ireland and beyond, after receiving assistance from the government-backed enterprise support service, Go Succeed.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Alderman Stephen Moutray, said:
“Claire’s journey is a fantastic example of the innovation and ambition we see in our local business community. Go Succeed is proud to support entrepreneurs like Claire who are taking bold steps to grow their business and represent Northern Ireland on the global stage.”
Claire selling her products at the Artisan Market in Dromore.
A former biologist and beauty therapist with 15 years’ experience, Claire combines her scientific background and hands-on knowledge of skincare to handcraft a collection that includes artisan soap, soaking salts, hand and body cream, and a soy candle – all infused with a bespoke blend of five essential oils: lavender, geranium, rosemary, cypress and thyme.
“Every element is organic and made by hand using certified ingredients sourced from across the world,” said Claire. “At the heart of Wild Shore is a desire to let nature do what it does best. I’ve seen a rise in skin sensitivity, psoriasis and eczema, and I wanted to create something healing and luxurious, without the chemicals.”
Now scaling up her business, Claire is focusing her efforts on the boutique hotel market, offering a bespoke in-room guest experience.
“I’m working with boutique hotels to create a special welcome: a small gift box with a mini soap, soak and cream, and a booklet that shares the story behind the products. It instantly elevates the experience, giving guests that spa feeling from the moment they walk in the door – even if the hotel doesn’t have its own spa.”
Since launching, Claire has showcased her products at events across the UK and Ireland including the Gifted Fair in Dublin’s RDS, the Belfast Holiday Show and will attend the European Horse Championships at Blenheim Palace later this year.
To take the next step, Claire turned to Go Succeed – Northern Ireland’s free business support service delivered through all 11 councils – for mentoring and practical support.
“I initially approached Go Succeed to explore financial advice, but the real value was in the mentoring,” she said. “They helped me refocus my business plan and dig deep into the numbers – what was really needed to scale for export. I wouldn’t be where I am now without that support.”
Go Succeed offers free mentoring, peer networks, business planning support and access to funding opportunities, all designed to help entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
Funded by the UK Government, Go Succeed is delivered via each of Northern Ireland’s 11 local councils and provides entrepreneurs with access to mentoring, events, grant funding, planning tools and business networks. Visit www.go-succeed.com to learn more.
With the Tall Ships on the horizon, art, heritage, sport and leisure organisations across Aberdeen are set to present a raft of maritime-themed events for local people and visitors to the city.
The Festival of the Sea takes place from 12 to 27 July, the two weeks either side of the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen (19-22 July). From sports camps to singing and storytelling, theatre and dancing to sea dragons and coastal discovery tours, and from exhibitions and creative writing to watercolour workshops, there’s something for all ages to discover and enjoy. Twenty organisations are presenting around 40 free and paid-for events in indoor and outdoor locations across the city.
This is the second Festival of the Sea and it is hoped that it will become an annual event, creating a legacy for the Tall Ships Races in Aberdeen.
Highlights of the programme include
Pirates! Scottish Dance Theatre at His Majesty’s Theatre Saturday 19, Sunday 20 July, 2pm and 7pm Join best friends Tom and Daisy as they are swept away into the world of Captain Sandy Rogers and her rowdy crew! This unforgettable adventure features a bunch of slippery zombies, strange underwater creatures and a final, all-out duel with the wicked Captain O’Greed!
Coastal Discovery Day at the Greyhope Bay Centre Monday 21 July, 10am-4pm Meet organisations connected to the coast and local area to learn about their work protecting the Aberdeen coast and species that call it home, take part in a beachcombing acvitity and a litter pick.
Viktor Wynd and the Museum of Curiosities at Aberdeen Art Gallery Thursday 17 July, 7pm-8pm Artist and writer Viktor Wynd offers a glimpse of his extraordinary, not to say infamous, curiosity museum in London’s West End. We may hear stories about mermaids, mandrakes, and monsters as well as travellers tales from his adventures
Citymoves Dance Agency: Creatures of the Deep Summer Youth Camp Monday 21-Friday 25 July, ages 5-12 Enjoy a high-energy creative camp that uses dance and creative expression to explore nautical topics, along with the funky routines, singing, and crafting activities.
Deemouth Artist Studios Workshop Weekender Wednesday 23 – Sunday 27 July, 10am-5pm A long weekend of workshops hosted by DAS creative residents, from pottery and jewellery, to weaving, screen printing and more, there’s something for everyone.
Fittie Arts and Crafts Fair Saturday 19 July, 10am-4pm Stalls include sea-themed jewellery, handmade candles and rustic charm creations for the home. Fittie themed merchandise is also on offer along with a fundraising stall for the RNLI.
Fish ‘n’ Ships Saturday 12 July–Wednesday 23 July Aberdeen Young Ambassadors will be popping up, in and around the city, to trade artworks in exchange for non-recyclable plastics.
Ben Torrie, Director of Programming and Creative Projects at Aberdeen Performing Arts, said: “No Festival of the Sea would be complete without some swashbuckling pirate fun. Scottish Dance Theatre’s energetic and vibrant production at His Majesty’s Theatre is the perfect event for families to take in whilst visiting the city for the Tall Ships Races. Tickets are on SAIL now!”
Lesley-Anne Rose, Creative Director of Open Road, said: “The Festival of the Sea is a perfect fit for Aberdeen and its harbourside communities. We’re excited to build on the success of last year and offer a programme of free family events, artist workshops, storytelling and music.”
Hayley Durward, CEO of Citymoves Dance Agency, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in the Festival of the Sea with our children’s summer camp, Shaper/Caper pop up dance performances, What Moves You performance at Balnagask care home and intergenerational street performance in Torry. The Festival of the Sea programme will help extend the Tall Ships reach into communities and across generations.”
Frances Coombey, Programmes at Operations Manager at Greyhope Bay Centre, said: “We’re really lucky to live in a city such an incredible and diverse coastline. The Festival of the Sea is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our connections to the coast through nature, heritage or creativity. We’re really excited to be working with our volunteers, local experts and artists to deliver a mix of fun and inspiring events for the Festival of the Sea programme.”
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, said: “Tall Ships Races Aberdeen is set to be Scotland’s biggest free family event this summer. I’m delighted that so many of Aberdeen’s art, culture, heritage and leisure organisations are supporting it with Festival of the Sea activities which are extending the impact of this major event for local people and visitors to the city.”
Organisations taking part in the Festival: Aberdeen Art Gallery Aberdeen Arts Centre Aberdeen City Libraries Aberdeen Maritime Museum Aberdeen Sports Village Aberdeen Young Ambassadors Citymoves Dance Agency Clan Cancer Support Deemouth Artist Studios Fittie Community Development Trust Greyhope Bay Centre Harbour Voices Choir His Majesty’s Theatre Music Hall Old Aberdeen Library Open Road Pushing Out the Boat Stonehaven Folk Festival Torry Community Library University of Aberdeen
Image L-R: Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, Lesley-Anne Rose of Open Road, Hayley Durward of Citymoves, Frances Coombey of Greyhope Bay Centre
Communities are being invited to share their priorities to help shape a strong, shared vision for the future of local government in Norfolk.
This vision puts local people, place and progress right at the heart of how council services are run.
Currently, services are split between the county council and seven borough, city and district councils. The Government wants to replace all eight with a reduced number of ‘unitary councils’, which would deliver all services, and has asked the existing authorities to make proposals for what future services could look like.
Breckland Council, Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, and Norwich City Council are working together and agree that having three unitary councils would best serve the people of Norfolk (as opposed to having one or two).
Over the summer, we are speaking with as many people as possible across Norfolk – residents, businesses, community groups and others – to champion our shared vision and invite everyone to complete our Future Norfolk survey to share their priorities and help shape a final submission to the Government this autumn.
Our joint proposal to have three unitary councils for Norfolk is based on the findings of an independent report – The Strength of Three – and our collective knowledge of our communities. The strength of having three unitary councils is they are about you:
People: Local decisions by local leaders who understand your community. Three councils will strengthen local democracy, increase transparency, and make decision-making close to home
Place: Services shaped by the strengths and needs of each area. Three councils will celebrate the unique identity, strengths, challenges, and heritage of different areas
Progress: A future-ready Norfolk that works for everyone. Three councils will build a resilient, sustainable future for Norfolk that can adapt to changing needs.
In a joint statement, the Council Leaders of the six districts (below) said: “Having three unitary councils serving Norfolk is best for local democracy. People would be represented by councillors who live closer to their homes, understand their community and what matters to local people. It will ensure communities have their say and provide more strong, local voices to champion Norfolk at regional and national levels.
“We know Norfolk isn’t the same everywhere, what works well in one place might not work in another, each area has strengths and needs, so three unitary councils can support each other while still enabling services to focus on what matters most to people in each area.
“At the same time, three councils will still be big enough to work well in delivering people’s priorities across all council services, making the most of opportunities for Norfolk to thrive, but agile enough to stay flexible to other national changes while maintaining our local focus.
“Any changes by Government to local councils could affect your services and who helps make decisions for your area – that’s why we want you and everyone in your community to complete our Future Norfolk survey and tell us about your priorities to help inform our submission to the Government.”
You can find out more about the survey and take part until 1 August 2025 at www.futurenorfolk.com
This joint article is on behalf of:
Breckland District Council: Leader: Councillor Sam Chapman-Allen
Broadland District Council: Leader: Councillor Sue Holland
Great Yarmouth Borough Council: Leader: Councillor Carl Smith
King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council: Leader: Councillor Alistair Beales
North Norfolk District Council: Leader: Councillor Tim Adams
Norwich City Council: Leader: Councillor Mike Stonard
As part of Better Transport Week, Simon Lightwood MP visited the CVLR track in the city centre.
Better Transport Week began on Monday, 16 June, and will run until 22 June. The annual event celebrates the importance of sustainable transport, which brings people together and connects communities.
Simon Lightwood was welcomed by Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Mayor Richard Parker, and Ben Plowden, CEO, Campaign for Better Transport. He was introduced to CVLR and the track installation process, followed by a visit and ride on the innovative vehicle.
Simon Lightwood, Minister for Local Transport, said: “I think it’s a fantastic innovation by the local authority, a really smooth, light, and airy ride. I can really see the benefits that it could bring, not only here in Coventry, but potentially to the rest of the world.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration, and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said: “There is no better place to celebrate Better Transport Week than in Coventry, where our innovation and manufacturing skills have enabled us to create a new very light rail system that has the potential to change how people move around small to medium sized cities. We are pleased to welcome Simon Lightwood, so we cannot only show him how brilliantly it works but also discuss the potential – that’s what’s really exciting.
“This system will create jobs for local people, and this is just the beginning of our plans to put Coventry Very Light Rail at the heart of the growing green economy here in Coventry.”
An interview with Simon Lightwood and Councillor O’Boyle is available to watch on YouTube.
