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NEWS STORY : Donald Trump’s Plans on Ukraine Rejected by Russia

STORY

Russia has turned down President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that the U.S. proposal does not address the root causes of the war, particularly Ukraine’s alignment with the West. He further emphasised that Russia would not consider the plan “while Zelensky is in power” highlighting a major deadlock in negotiations, with rumours that elections are being planned in Ukraine.

This rejection comes after Trump threatened to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil imports in an effort to pressure President Vladimir Putin into reaching an agreement. Trump has voiced frustration with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing Ukraine of reneging on a minerals deal. He also warned of tariffs on imports from nations purchasing Russian oil, a move that could affect major buyers such as China and India.

Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours, citing his personal relationships with both leaders. He suggested that he would tell Zelensky, “no more, you gotta make a deal” and caution Putin, “If you don’t make a deal, we’re gonna give them a lot. We’re gonna give more than they ever got.” The Kremlin’s rejection of the U.S. plan underscores the complexity of achieving a peace agreement and further undermines Trump after he had made it clear that a deal would be easily achieved. Russia continues to demand that Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations and surrender control of four occupied regions, while the U.S. remains focused on securing a ceasefire first. Despite various diplomatic efforts, including U.S.-mediated talks in Saudi Arabia and attempts at a Black Sea ceasefire, significant progress remains out of reach.

April 1, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Victims attend parole hearings to see offenders held to account [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 April 2025.

Victims can attend the parole hearings of their perpetrators from today (1 April) as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
- Victims in England and Wales can now observe private Parole Board hearings
- Victims in pilot phase praise level of scrutiny faced by offenders
- Part of Safer Streets mission to improve and increase confidence in the justice system
For the first time, victims from across England and Wales will be able to apply to observe private Parole Board hearings held to decide if a prisoner is safe to be released.

It will let victims see first-hand how offenders are held accountable for their crimes, their subsequent behaviour in prison and their work to prove they can live law-abiding lives if released.

A pilot in the South West of England and Greater Manchester found victims were reassured to see the level of scrutiny that prisoners are put under before any decision to release them is made.

It is hoped, therefore, that these changes will provide more victims with a greater understanding of the decisions made by the Parole Board while ensuring they feel more involved in the process.

Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, said:

For too long, victims have been locked out of the parole system.

As part of our Plan for Change, we are now giving victims the right to see how offenders are challenged when up for parole.

This Government is improving our justice system to ensure it serves victims better.

Even when the Parole Board makes the decision to release an offender on licence, they are then supervised by the Probation Service and subject to strict conditions, such as curfews and exclusion zones that prevent them approaching their victims. Offenders face going back to prison if they break the rules.

The Parole Board is an independent body that carries out risk assessments on prisoners to determine whether they can be safely released into the community on licence conditions or moved to an open prison.

Victims who are part of the Victim Contact Scheme will apply to the Parole Board to attend hearings with the help of their victim liaison officer and those who are successful in applying will observe remotely so they don’t have to sit with the perpetrator.

They will then be provided with in-person support during the hearing and victims will be directed towards additional support following the proceedings, such as counselling, if necessary.

Anna, a victim who attended a parole hearing as part of the pilot, said:

Observing the hearing was a surprisingly positive process for us. It has helped us to draw a line under the whole chapter and move on.

Witnessing the level of care taken by the Parole Board instilled in me genuine confidence regarding how the offender will be managed upon release.

Before the parole hearing, I had some unanswered questions. Observing the hearing helped me answer many of these.

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:

As someone who has been through the parole process, I welcome this national rollout. This is a vital step towards lifting the lid on a system that has long felt closed off to victims, helping them feel more meaningfully involved rather than bystanders to proceedings.

As the rollout begins, it is crucial that victims are provided with all the information they need to make an informed choice about whether to apply – and to understand what to expect if their application is successful- alongside access to guidance and support at every stage of the parole hearing process. Open justice should always be encouraged, but victim welfare must remain paramount.

This latest reform to the Parole Board process follows new measures which will be implemented later this year to introduce a Ministerial check on the release of the most dangerous offenders.

This power will give Ministers better oversight of the release of the most serious offenders by allowing them to refer certain cases directly to the High Court for a second check.

Further Guidance:
- Victims will not be able to observe the entire hearing, as certain evidence must be heard in private, such as that relating to risk management.
- The pilot began in September 2022 in the South-West Probation Region and was expanded to Greater Manchester in September 2023.
- The Government’s ‘Understand Your Rights’ Victims’ Code campaign raises awareness of the Victims’ Code and highlights that it is there for every victim, whatever the crime. The campaign directs users to understand their rights at Your rights as a victim of crime – Victim and Witness Information
April 1, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : New cyber laws to safeguard UK economy and secure long-term growth [April 2025]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 1 April 2025.

The government sets out the scope and ambition of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill for the first time today.
- Plans set out to bolster UK’s online defences, protect the public and safeguard growth – the central pillar of the UK government’s Plan for Change.
- New measures will boost protection of supply chains and critical national services, including IT service providers and suppliers.
- Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to be introduced later this year to face down growing range of online threats.
Hospitals and energy suppliers are set to boost their cyber defences under the new Cyber Security Bill, protecting public services and safeguarding growth as government delivers its Plan for Change.

This will ensure firms providing essential IT services to public services and the wider economy are no longer an easy target for cyber criminals. 1,000 service providers will fall into scope of measures expected to be introduced later this year.

The move forms part of the government’s drive to secure Britain’s future through the Plan for Change, delivering security and renewal by strengthening our critical infrastructure. It will give the British public, businesses and investors greater confidence in digital services – supporting the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.

Cyber threats cost the UK economy almost £22 billion a year between 2015 and 2019 and cause significant disruption to the British public and businesses. Last summer’s attack on Synnovis – a provider of pathology services to the NHS – cost an estimated £32.7 million and saw thousands of missed appointments for patients. Figures also show a hypothetical cyber-attack focused on key energy services in the South East of England could wipe over £49 billion from the wider UK economy.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, said:

Economic growth is the cornerstone of our Plan for Change, and ensuring the security of the vital services which will deliver that growth is non-negotiable.

Attempts to disrupt our way of life and attack our digital economy are only gathering pace, and we will not stand by as these incidents hold our future prosperity hostage.

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, will help make the UK’s digital economy one of the most secure in the world – giving us the power to protect our services, our supply chains, and our citizens – the first and most important job of any government.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and create real risks for our health service if we do not act now to put the right protections in place.

We are building an NHS that is fit for the future. This bill will boost the NHS’s resilience against cyber threats, secure sensitive patient data and make sure life-saving appointments are not missed as we deliver our Plan for Change.

The government is also exploring additional measures to make sure it can respond effectively to new cyber threats and take rapid action where needed to protect the UK’s national security. This includes giving the Technology Secretary powers to direct regulated organisations to shore up their cyber defences – putting the UK in the strongest possible footing to defend against new and existing threats.

Another potential avenue may include new protections for more than 200 data centres – bolstering the defences of one of the main drivers of economic growth and innovation, including through AI. Data centres process mountains of data which they need to churn out new products which have become commonplace everywhere from banking and online shopping to booking holidays and staying in touch with friends and family. The government will now consider the best route to deliver these additional measures.

In the year to September 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) managed 430 cyber incidents, with 89 of these being classed as nationally significant – a rate of almost two every week. The most recent iteration of the Cyber Security Breaches Survey also highlights 50% of British businesses suffering a cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months, with more than 7 million incidents being reported in 2024.

To face down this threat, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will ensure the vital infrastructure and digital services the country relies on are more secure than ever, as the government sets out its legislative ambitions for the first time today.

Richard Horne, NCSC CEO, said:

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is a landmark moment that will ensure we can improve the cyber defences of the critical services on which we rely every day, such as water, power and healthcare.

It is a pivotal step toward stronger, more dynamic regulation, one that not only keeps up with emerging threats but also makes it as challenging as possible for our adversaries.

By bolstering their cyber defences and engaging with the NCSC’s guidance and tools, such as Cyber Assessment Framework, Cyber Essentials, and Active Cyber Defence, organisations of all sizes will be better prepared to meet the increasingly sophisticated challenges.

While the legislation will arm the UK with the cyber defences it needs to meet the challenges of today, it also includes measures to ensure a swift response to new threats which emerge in the future. To do this, the Technology Secretary will be given powers to update the regulatory framework to keep pace with the ever-changing cyber landscape.

Confirmed in last year’s King’s Speech, today marks the first time the government has shared full details on its plans for the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament this year.

The legislative proposals follow other government recent action to boost UK cyber security, including a new, world-leading AI cyber security standard to protect AI systems, a new international coalition to boost cyber skills and the Cyber Local programme to support the UK’s rapidly growing £13.2 billion cyber security industry, which has created 6,600 new jobs in the past year.

Further Information

A full copy of the policy statement containing details of the measures in the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill policy statement has been published today.

Figures on the economic impact of a hypothetical cyber incident targeting the South East’s energy structure (PDF) by the University of Cambridge.

If the proposals are adopted:
- More organisations and suppliers will need to meet robust cyber security requirements, including data centres, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and critical suppliers. This means third-party suppliers will need to boost their cyber security in areas such as risk assessment to minimise the possible impact of cyber- attacks, while also beefing up their data protection and network security defences.
- Regulators will have more tools to improve cyber security and resilience in the areas they regulate, with companies required to report more incidents to help build a stronger picture of cyber threats and weaknesses in our online defences.
- The government would have greater flexibility to update regulatory frameworks when needed, to respond swiftly to changing threats and technological advancement. This could include extending the framework to new sectors or updating security requirements.
April 1, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 4 March 1925

4 MARCH 1925

Replying to the Earl of Oxford and Asquith in the House of Lords, the Marquis Curzon said that no decision would be taken on the question of the retention of British troops in Cologne without making public the whole of the facts on which that decision was based.

The Merchant Shipping (International Labour Conventions) Bill passed Committee stage in the House of Lords, and the second reading of the War Charges Validity Bill was agreed to. Lord Curzon, replying to a question with regard to the Geneva Protocol, said he hoped it would be possible for the Government very shortly – perhaps in ten days or a fortnight – to announce its decision.

The China Indemnity (Application) Bill, the object of which is to enable the China indemnity payments accruing as a result of the Boxer Rebellion to be diverted to educational and other purposes in that country, was read a second time in the House of Commons. The Trade Facilities Bill was debated in Committee.

Speaking at the Reform Club, the Earl of Oxford and Asquith said that although for Liberals their real moral authority and influence in councils of the world seemed for the time being removed from actuality and realisation, yet they would fight on.

The German Presidential election will take place on Sunday, March 29.

The Turkish Government has resigned.

The Viceroy of India (the Earl of Reading) is coming home on short leave at the invitation of the Secretary of State for India in Council.

April 1, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 3 March 1925

3 MARCH 1925

The Minister of Agriculture announced in the House of Commons that the proposed Conference of representatives of agricultural interests had fallen through, and that the Government, under the circumstances, would frame, on its own responsibility, proposals for the assistance of the industry.

The financial position of the Empire Exhibition was discussed in the House of Commons on consideration of the guarantee. An assurance was given on behalf of the Government that, in the event of a loss being incurred, the State would assume no further liability. Discussion of the trade facilities proposals also took place, and the appropriate Bill was read a second time.

The Conference of Ambassadors will to-day consider in Paris the report on German armaments, together with Marshal Foch’s comments on it. The Temps and other Paris papers state that the report shows that Germany is systematically violating the Treaty of Versailles, and is taking steps for building up an army with which, at a suitable moment, to seize a chance of vengeance.

A Berlin telegram says it is generally expected that the Presidential election will be held on the last Sunday in April or the first Sunday in May.

April 1, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 2 March 1925

2 MARCH 1925

A Paris telegram states that according to reliable French reports M. Herriot received ten days ago a proposal by Herr Stresemann for a guarantee pact between Germany and France. The prospect of the offer is regarded sceptically by most of the French newspapers.

M. Raynaldy, French Minister of Commerce, and Herr von Trendelenburg, German delegate, who have been negotiating a commercial treaty, signed the Franco-German modus vivendi.

After an all-night sitting the French Chamber passed the Finance Bill by a majority of 89 (328 to 239.)

Imposing scenes were witnessed at the funeral of M. Branting, the Swedish statesman.

An earthquake shock was felt in New York and suburbs on Saturday evening. Similar tremors are reported from other places in the Northern United States and Canada.

In the Indian Legislative Assembly, Sir Basil Blackett made his Budget statement, in which he announced a fall in military expenditure, considerable relief to the provinces in the matter of contributions, and no further increase in taxation.

The Cabinet, it is stated, have definitely decided not to support the Trade Union (Political Fund) Bill. Mr Clynes, speaking at Ashton-under-Lyne, referring to the Bill, stated that the political arm of the Labour movement must be left free for the Parliamentary endeavour of organised Labour.

There is published to-day correspondence which has passed between Mr Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Earl of Balfour on the subject of the grant voted by Parliament to the Universities of Great Britain, except Oxford and Cambridge. Mr Churchill announces that the grant will be increased from £1,122,570 to £1,350,000.

April 1, 2025
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 1 March 1925

1 MARCH 1925

The death of Herr Ebert, the President of the German Republic, was announced. He was 54 and had been the President since the founding of the Republic in 1919.

Z. A. H. Ekisler, a wealthy Armenian merchant, was found by his secretary seriously injured following an attack.

April 1, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Landmark summit agrees new measures against organised immigration crime [March 2025]
The press release issued by the Home Office on 31 March 2025.

The Prime Minister and Home Secretary gathered leaders from across the world in London today (31 March) to tackle organised immigration crime.

The purpose of the Organised Immigration Crime Summit is to agree new action to tackle organised immigration crime (OIC) and boost border security.

Discussions at day 1 of the summit included:
- tackling the supply chains and enablers of OIC
- the role of criminal finances in facilitating OIC
- the UK’s systems based approach to border security
as well as how countries can tackle organised crime groups’ operations online in relation to the advertising, promoting and facilitating of illegal immigration services.

The UK and allies including France, Iraq, Vietnam and the USA, and partners including the National Crime Agency (NCA) and representatives from social media organisations, met to agree actions to secure our collective borders, protect vulnerable people from exploitation, and tackle the global threat of organised immigration crime.

Unlike previous summits, this event engaged both European nations and key source and transit countries, as well as those that are integral to the supply of equipment, including small boats and engines, ensuring a broader, more comprehensive approach to tackling OIC.

Concrete outcomes have been agreed across Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, and North America to strengthen international partnerships to disrupt OIC networks. This also includes new joint work with France to tackle irregular migration in source and transit countries, through community outreach and bolstering false document detection capabilities to Iraqi officials.

The agreement represents a key step forward in the government’s Plan for Change to deliver on working people’s priorities to restore order to the immigration system and comes after the publication of new figures showing more than 24,000 people with no right to be here have been returned since the election – the highest rate of returns in 8 years.

A communiqué was issued that sets out how we will deepen our collaboration internationally to tackle this vile crime.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Organised immigration crime undermines our security and puts lives at risk. The criminal networks have spread across the globe and no single country can tackle this problem alone.

Today, at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, the UK has led the way forward by securing international commitments to disrupt and pursue this vile criminal trade in people – part of our Plan for Change to strengthen our borders and keep communities safe.

Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt said:

I have said since I came into my post as Border Security Commander that organised immigration crime requires a coordinated international response to effectively dismantle criminal networks.

In my role I have seen first-hand how the cruelty and greed of criminal gangs puts the lives of the most vulnerable at risk in dangerous small boat crossings all for financial gain.

This summit marks a step change in the international community’s approach to tackling the problem, presenting a critical opportunity to strengthen global cooperation, disrupt criminal networks, and prevent further loss of life.

Director General of the National Crime Agency (NCA) Graeme Biggar said:

Criminal gangs are using sophisticated online tactics, the abuse of legitimate goods and services, and illicit financial networks to facilitate dangerous and illegal journeys which put thousands of lives at risk each year and undermine border security.

Today’s summit sets out international agreements to tackle an international problem.

International intelligence sharing and cooperation is absolutely crucial to track criminal activity across borders allowing us to put a stop to these dangerous criminals.

In addition, today the Home Secretary confirmed over £30 million in funding within the Border Security Command to tackle Organised Immigration Criminal Networks. This significant funding package will be spent on key security projects across Europe, the Western Balkans, Asia and Africa, designed to strengthen border security and combat international criminal smuggling gangs.

The Home Secretary also announced joint work with France to fund an additional grassroots engagement programme to educate local communities on the dangers of irregular migration and people smuggling gangs, raising awareness of the realities and difficulties with travelling to Northern France to cross the Channel to the UK.

This will target both potential irregular migrants and, for the first time, teachers, religious leaders, and family members within vulnerable communities, and builds on the Home Office digital deterrence comms campaign that is already running in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The UK will also collaborate with France to deliver critical training to Iraqi officials and commercial transport staff, helping them detect fraudulent documents and passports used to facilitate irregular migration and OIC activities.
April 1, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer meeting with President Stubb of Finland [March 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 March 2025.

The Prime Minister welcomed the President of Finland Alexander Stubb to Downing Street this afternoon.

They discussed the successful Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris last week, noting the strong momentum from European leaders to keep Ukraine in the fight and increase the pressure on Putin to agree a peace deal.

The Prime Minister then updated the President on his ongoing work to strengthen the UK’s relationship with the European Union across a number of areas including defence and security, trade and economic growth. The President warmly welcomed the progress made so far.

As fellow NATO and JEF members, they agreed that the UK and Finland share a close and unique partnership which they will continue working to strengthen in the coming months.

April 1, 2025
PRESS RELEASE : Downing Street opens doors to Adolescence creators for vital discussion on protecting our children [March 2025]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 March 2025.

The Prime Minister met with Adolescence creators, charities and young people to discuss the issues raised in the series during a meeting focused on rethinking adolescent safety today.
- Prime Minister convenes conversation on rethinking adolescent safety and how to prevent young boys being dragged into “whirlpool of hatred and misogyny”
- Downing Street welcomes Adolescence creators, charities and young people to listen to experiences of children today
- Backed by the Prime Minister, students to watch Netflix drama Adolescence for free in secondary schools across the country
Today the Prime Minister met with Adolescence creators, charities and young people to discuss the issues raised in the series during a meeting focused on rethinking adolescent safety.

Joined by Adolescence co-writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson, the group met to discuss the challenges facing children and parents today. It also looked at how the Government can work in collaboration to ensure young people have the right tools, support and environment to learn about healthy relationships.

The meeting comes as Netflix makes the drama free to all secondary schools across the country through the Into Film+ schools streaming service and backed by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons. The series will help students better understand the impact of misogyny, dangers of online radicalisation and the importance of healthy relationships.

Giving children the best start in life, making our communities safer and preventing young people falling into crime are central to this government’s Plan for Change.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

As a father, watching this show with my teenage son and daughter, I can tell you – it hit home hard.

It’s an important initiative to encourage as many pupils as possible to watch the show. As I see from my own children, openly talking about changes in how they communicate, the content they’re seeing, and exploring the conversations they’re having with their peers is vital if we are to properly support them in navigating contemporary challenges, and deal with malign influences.

This isn’t a challenge politicians can simply legislate for. Believe me, if I could pull a lever to solve it, I would. Only by listening and learning from the experiences of young people and charities can we tackle the issues this groundbreaking show raises.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister set out how this issue is personal to him. After years spent working as the Director of Public Prosecutions, he has seen the devastation that misogyny and violence leaves behind, and how it tears through families and communities.

Charities invited to Downing Street include the NSPCC, Movember, Beyond Quality, Children’s Society as well as a young person who shared their own experience of becoming immersed in similar online content.

The Prime Minister was also joined by Netflix and Tender charity who have provided resources and guides for parents, carers and teachers on the issues explored in Adolescence, as well as Into Film, the charity enabling the free viewing in schools via its Into Film+ schools streaming service.

Jack Thorne, Adolescence Co-Writer, said:

We made this show to provoke a conversation. We wanted to pose the question – how do we help stop this growing crisis. So to have the opportunity to take this into schools is beyond our expectations. We hope it’ll lead to teachers talking to the students, but what we really hope is it’ll lead to students talking amongst themselves.

Anne Mensah, Netflix VP UK Content, said:

Adolescence has captured the national mood, sparking important conversations and helping articulate the pressures young people and parents face in today’s society.

We’re incredibly proud of the impact the show has made, and are delighted to be able to offer it to all schools across the UK through Into Film+. As part of this, healthy relationships charity Tender will create resources for teachers and parents to help them navigate the important topics the show explores.

The Government has taken action to ensure it is protecting children from the issues raised in the series.

The Online Safety Act’s illegal content duties have come into force targeting the most harmful material including extreme pornography.

From the summer, platforms will also have to ensure children have an age-appropriate experience online preventing them from seeing dangerous content which includes abusive and hateful misogyny and violence.

The Online Safety Act is not the end of the conversation but the foundation. As the Prime Minister has done so today, the Government is committed to listening and will not hesitate to strengthen the law further where necessary.

The Government is also reviewing the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance, following a consultation that closed last summer. It is closely looking at the consultation responses, engaging with stakeholders and considering the relevant evidence before setting out next steps to take the guidance forward.

Maria Neophytou, NSPCC Director of Strategy & Knowledge said:

The debates around the Netflix series Adolescence, and the themes within it, are both disturbing and important. Today’s meeting with the Prime Minister was a critical milestone for young people and for the NSPCC; a chance to come together and discuss what we can do to ensure young people are growing up in healthy, happy and safe environments.

The online world is being polluted by harmful and misogynistic content which is having a direct impact on the development of young people’s thinking and behaviours. This cannot be allowed to continue.

It is vital young people have access to high-quality, age-appropriate lessons in school about healthy relationships and understand why misogyny is so harmful and has no place in our society. And that parents have guidance and support around how to keep their children safe online. But we can’t expect teachers and parents to do all the heavy lifting.

Tech companies must now put the wellbeing of children first, as demanded by the Online Safety Act. They have a responsibility to ensure their platforms and sites are safe by design for young users: that age limits are enforced, that children’s privacy is respected, that algorithms are not targeting and bombarding them with harmful content, and that there are clear and simple ways for young users to complain about what they are experiencing online and seek support.
April 1, 2025