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Tag: 2025

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK firmly rejects all acts designed to destabilise Haiti – UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK firmly rejects all acts designed to destabilise Haiti – UK statement at the UN Security Council [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 April 2025.

    Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Minister Counsellor, at the UN Security Council meeting on Haiti.

    The UK is extremely concerned by the significant escalation of violence in Haiti.

    Over 2,600 Haitians have been murdered over the past three months, including nearly 400 women and children.

    We continue to hear horrifying accounts of sexual and gender-based violence targeting women, girls and boys.

    One third of cases of sexual violence against children in Haiti in 2024 were gang rapes.

    Through coordinated attacks on civilian communities, including the deliberate destruction of schools, churches and businesses, gangs continue to target the innocent and inflict horror on the people of Haiti.

    Mr President, there are troubling reports of coordination between criminal gangs in order to destabilise Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council as they try to ensure security across the country.

    We firmly reject all acts designed to destabilise Haiti.

    The UK is committed to maintaining pressure via the implementation of sanctions on those who seek to destabilise Haiti, and we call for the full implementation of the UN sanctions regime and the arms embargo in Haiti.

    The UK supports the efforts of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé and all stakeholders to work towards a secure and stable Haiti.

    But now is the time for even greater action to restore security and to allow for elections to enable a transfer of power to an elected successor in February 2026.

    This includes an urgent need for the Haitian National Police, supported by the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, to re-establish control over all areas of Port-au-Prince.

    The UK thanks Kenya for its continued leadership of the MSS mission and pays tribute to those, both Kenyan and Haitian, who have lost their lives in the pursuit of restoring security for the Haitian people.

    In light of the deteriorating security situation, it is clear that the MSS mission and the Haitian security forces need to be adequately supported to fulfil their mission.

    This Council needs urgently to consider the recommendations of the Secretary General and agree how we can support the enhanced UN security support to Haiti.

    Collectively, we must find a way to deliver stability and lasting peace for the people of Haiti.

  • Keir Starmer – 2025 Statement on the Death of Pope Francis

    Keir Starmer – 2025 Statement on the Death of Pope Francis

    The statement made by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 21 April 2025.

    I join millions around the world in grieving the death of His Holiness Pope Francis.

    His leadership in a complex and challenging time for the world and the church was courageous, yet always came from a place of deep humility.

    Pope Francis was a pope for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten. He was close to the realities of human fragility, meeting Christians around the world facing war, famine, persecution and poverty. Yet he never lost hope of a better world.

    That hope was as the heart of his papacy. His determination to visibly live out his faith inspired people across the world to see afresh the church’s teachings of mercy and charity.

    With his death, we are reminded once more of his call to care for one another across different faiths, backgrounds, nations and beliefs.

    My thoughts are with Catholics across the world, and the Roman Catholic church. May His Holiness Rest in Peace.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Half-masting of flags following the death of His Holiness Pope Francis [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Half-masting of flags following the death of His Holiness Pope Francis [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 21 April 2025.

    It is with great regret that we learn of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis,

    Flags will be flown at half mast on UK Government Buildings today until 20.00hrs on Tuesday 22nd of April 2025.

    Other organisations and local authorities may follow suit.

  • PRESS RELEASE : List of dangerous products notified in Commission’s Safety Gate 2024 sets the path for increased consumer protection [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : List of dangerous products notified in Commission’s Safety Gate 2024 sets the path for increased consumer protection [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the European Commission on 19 April 2025.

    Today, the European Commission has unveiled its annual report on Safety Gate, the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products. The report presents an overview of dangerous products notified in the Safety Gate in 2024. 4,137 alerts were notified last year – the highest ever recorded amount of alerts since the launch of the system in 2003. This increase in alerts demonstrates the growing effectiveness and trust in the Safety Gate system, as authorities are using the platform more often to report and address potential threats to consumer safety. The report also outlines the follow-up actions taken by national authorities of the EU Member States, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein to prevent harm to consumers and stop the sale of hazardous products.

    Main findings

    Last year, cosmetics (36%) remained the most frequently reported products posing health risks, followed by toys (15%), electrical appliances (10%), motor vehicles (9%) and chemical products (6%).

    Chemical ingredients were the main cause of risk in almost half of the alerts. Dangerous chemicals detected included cadmium, nickel and lead in jewellery, as well as allergenic fragrances in body oils, and synthetic chemicals used to soften the plastic, for example in some clothing. 97% of the cosmetics notified were reported to contain BMHCA, a banned synthetic fragrance, which can harm the reproductive system and cause skin irritation.

    Alerts registered in the Safety Gate system triggered a robust response from market surveillance authorities with over 4,200 follow-up actions taken to stop the sale of these products or even take them off the market.

    Next steps

    The Commission is working closely with national market surveillance authorities to prepare the first ever product safety sweep. A ‘sweep’ is a set of checks carried out on websites simultaneously to identify breaches of EU consumer law in a particular sector. The aim of the product safety sweep will be to check the products sold on online marketplaces on their compliance with the new General Product Safety Regulation to ultimately enhance the safety of products offered for sale online.

    Background

    The Safety Gate Rapid Alert System enables national market surveillance authorities from the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) to report and take action against dangerous non-food products, warning other authorities to take swift action. Safety Gate alerts cover risks to human health and safety, such as choking, strangulation and damage to hearing or sight, as well as risks to the environment, energy resources and property.

    Following the entry into application of the General Product Safety Regulation in December 2024, a modernised future-proof framework is now in place to ensure the safety of products on the EU market. The Regulation clarifies that all products sold in the EU online or offline, must be safe, regardless of their origin. It guarantees a better enforcement of the rules, improves the effectiveness of recalls of dangerous products and provides for the obligation by businesses to offer consumers remedies when recalling unsafe products and a new tool for consumers to report safety issues, such as the Consumer Safety Gateway.

    With the e-Commerce Communication, presented in February 2025, the Commission proposed new joint actions to address concerns arising from the surge of unsafe or illicit products entering the Single Market from third countries. The e-Commerce Communication foresees targeted measures, among others, in the areas of customs and trade, such as launching customs controls, consumer protection and the Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts.

    On 10 April 2025 the European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on the new toy safety rules. The new Regulation proposed by the Commission will ban the use of harmful chemicals, such as PFAS, endocrine disruptors and bisphenols, in toys. All toys will have a Digital Product Passport to prevent unsafe toys sold online and offline from entering the EU. The Regulation sets stricter rules on online sales and gives inspectors greater powers to remove dangerous toys from the market. This will ensure that imported toys are as safe for consumers as toys manufactured in the EU.

    Since 2022, the eSurveillance ‘webcrawler’ application has supported national market surveillance enforcement authorities by detecting online offers of dangerous products signalled in Safety Gate. Each day, the application scans the internet in all official EU/EEA languages to identify reported dangerous products offered for sale to European consumers. The detected offers are automatically shared with the Member Sates’ enforcement authorities, enabling them to quickly trace the sellers and order the effective withdrawal of these listings. This contributes to harmonised enforcement actions and addresses the challenges of monitoring the online sale of dangerous products. In the past year, the eSurveillance webcrawler has processed nearly 4000 Safety Gate alerts, analysed almost 1.6 million websites, and identified about 5300 web shops potentially offering reported products.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft near NATO’s eastern flank [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft near NATO’s eastern flank [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 20 April 2025.

    UK fighter jets have intercepted two Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace as part of the UK’s contribution to NATO’s enhanced Air Policing in the region.

    Two RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Malbork Air Base in Poland on Tuesday (April 15) to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M “Coot-A” intelligence aircraft over the Baltic Sea.

    Whilst on Thursday (17 April) another two Typhoons scrambled from the base, to intercept an unknown aircraft leaving Kaliningrad air space and close to NATO airspace.

    The intercepts mark the RAF’s first scramble as part of Operation CHESSMAN and come just weeks after the aircraft arrived in eastern Poland to begin their deployment alongside Sweden in defence of NATO’s Eastern Flank.

    It follows the Prime Minister’s historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, recognising the critical importance of military readiness in an era of heightened global uncertainty.

    Keeping the country safe is the Government’s first priority and foundation of its Plan for Change. The work of the Royal Air Force is critical to the security and stability of the UK, supporting the delivery of the Government’s five missions.

    Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said:

    The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to NATO. With Russian aggression growing and security threats on the rise, we are stepping up to reassure our Allies, deter adversaries and protect our national security through our Plan for Change.

    This mission shows our ability to operate side by side with NATO’s newest member Sweden and to defend the Alliance’s airspace wherever and whenever needed, keeping us safe at home and strong abroad.

    The UK’s deployment of six Typhoon jets and nearly 200 personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing is the UK’s latest contribution to NATO’s air policing efforts, following successful operations in Romania and Iceland last year.

    It also represents a landmark in NATO integration with RAF jets from RAF Lossiemouth operating alongside Swedish Gripens – the first time Sweden has contributed fighter aircraft to another Ally’s air policing since joining NATO in 2024.

    The intercepts come after the Defence Secretary’s visit to NATO last week where he reaffirmed the UK’s unshakeable commitment to the alliance and co-led a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in which more than 50 nations pledged a total of £21 billion of support to Ukraine.

    The Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs across all regions of the UK every year, which is defending our security whilst creating jobs back home.

    The RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert forces, based at RAF Coningsby, Lossiemouth, and Brize Norton, remain ready to protect UK airspace around the clock, while deployed operations like Op CHESSMAN ensure that British airpower is defending the Alliance wherever it is most needed.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Welsh language reading platform helping learners pronounce words in Wales and beyond [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Welsh language reading platform helping learners pronounce words in Wales and beyond [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 18 April 2025.

    Already helping over 52,000 users in Wales and across the world learn to read in Welsh, Darllen Co, has been backed by a Welsh Government fund for new Welsh-language technology.

    The paid for digital reading platform has been designed by Welsh teachers for schools and families. It features over 180 books and magazines from more than 20 Welsh authors, as well as integrated audiobooks and quizzes.

    Over 300 Welsh medium schools are already subscribed to the platform to develop learners’ Welsh reading skills. The platform also features an assessment and tracking system which lets teachers monitor learners’ progress.

    Learners can access the platform at school or home, on any digital device. The platform’s audiobooks and reading resources make it easier for children to learn Welsh at home, even if their parents don’t use Welsh, by teaching them the pronunciation of words.

    Darllen Co is the only platform of its kind in Welsh and people around the world are benefiting from it, with users in Italy, Texas, Dubai, Slovakia, England and Patagonia. The platform hopes to expand into English medium primary schools, to help even more learners with their Welsh language skills.

    Mr Scozzi from Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontybrenin said:

    Since the evolution of the platform, we are now enjoying more literature, new features and more detailed data for us teachers to interpret. In addition to developing reading skills, we are also using the platform to test understanding with opportunities for children to develop various reading and comprehension skills.

    Darllen Co received £30,000 from the Welsh Government to set up the original platform in 2022, as part of its aim to develop Welsh language technology. The platform secured this investment following an excellent pitch from its founder, Alex Knott, at Hac y Gymraeg, a Welsh language ‘hackathon’ challenge which aimed to inspire new Welsh technology ideas.

    Darllen Co is also working with Adnodd on a digital reading assessment which will be free for schools in the next term.

    Welsh language Secretary Mark Drakeford said:

    It’s fantastic to see most of our Welsh medium schools making use of the service Darllen Co has to offer. Supported by Welsh Government funding, the service is changing how people digitally interact with Welsh, from school children in Cardiff to Welsh speakers in Patagonia.

    Education Secretary Lynne Neagle said:

    Reading is vital to education. Darllen Co’s innovative platform supports children to develop their Welsh reading skills and build their confidence, at home and at school.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Parents get 95 hours back as free Breakfast Clubs are rolled out [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Parents get 95 hours back as free Breakfast Clubs are rolled out [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 20 April 2025.

    First 750 breakfast clubs to rollout from Tuesday, delivering on government’s manifesto commitment and promise to put more money in working people’s pockets.

    Tens of thousands of working parents will, from Tuesday, be supported with more flexibility and choice from the rollout of free breakfast clubs across England, as the government delivers on its promise of 30 minutes of free childcare every day.

    As children return from the Easter holidays, the first 750 schools across the country are set to begin offering free breakfast clubs. This will help parents get up to 95 hours back a year – giving them more support at a crucial time in the morning as they balance busy lives of work and childcare.

    New government data shows that over half of parents would use this time to juggle parenting with working, training or studying.

    The free breakfast clubs will save parents up to £450 a year and come alongside a raft of measures from government to provide parents with greater choice and help with the cost of living, such as a cap on school uniform costs and expanding free childcare for under-fives to 30 hours per week.

    It comes as major employers like British Airways, Accenture and Rigby Group back the clubs to support parents to work more flexibly.

    The rollout delivers on the government’s manifesto promise to ensure state schools offer free breakfast clubs to all pupils, while supporting its Plan for Change milestone to ensure tens of thousands more children start school ready to learn.

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

    Free breakfast clubs are at the heart of our Plan for Change, making working parents’ lives easier and more affordable, while breaking down barriers to opportunity for every child.

    From Tyneside to Truro, England is one of the first countries in Europe to open universal free breakfast clubs, saving parents up to £450 per year and making sure every child starts school ready to learn.

    This government is delivering on our promises to working parents, rolling out free breakfast clubs, school-based nurseries, and giving every child across the country the best start in life.

    Across the country, school leaders have seen breakfast clubs drive improvements in attendance, attainment and behaviour.

    This government is going further and faster, using the 750 free breakfast clubs as a key tool to tackle barriers to learning in schools, with 500,000 primary school pupils missing at least one day of school every fortnight last year, 1 in every 3 pupils not ready to start school at age 5 and 1 in every 50 pupils suspended at least once.

    Sean Doyle, Chairman and Chief Executive, British Airways said:

    We welcome the Government’s new free Breakfast Club initiative and any effort to support children’s health and learning, while providing more flexibility for working parents and reducing their childcare costs.

    Shaheen Sayed, Head of Accenture in the UK, Ireland and Africa, said:

    As a major employer in the UK flexibility is a priority, and we understand the importance of creating an environment where everyone can achieve a healthy work-life balance.

    We welcome the government’s roll out of 750 new free breakfast clubs across the country as a targeted investment in the future of the workforce and a major step to reducing pressures on working families.

    Breakfast clubs not only improve educational outcomes for children but also enable greater workforce participation, allowing working parents and carers to achieve their professional and personal aspirations.

    Steve Rigby Co-CEO, Rigby Group said:

    As the West Midlands’ largest philanthropic family working with disadvantaged children, we wholeheartedly support the government’s rollout of breakfast clubs.

    Breakfast clubs provide support to parents, improve attendance and provide an important start to young people in the start of their school day.

    St Benedict’s Primary School, which currently offers breakfast club provision, is going to be one of the early adopter schools to expand the benefits of the club.

    Emma Nott, Head Teacher at St Benedict’s Primary School said:

    For us, the funding will help us to offer breakfast clubs for free – which is crucial to encourage take up and for more children to reap the benefits.

    Our fantastic staff truly believe in this policy, and we are already seeing children’s attendance increase as a result of the club.

    It also gives pupils time to adjust between home and school life, especially on a Monday morning, prioritising this for 30 minutes makes a whole world of difference.

    Too many children’s life chances have been scarred by poverty, with a third of children leaving primary school without fundamental reading, writing and maths skills, this increases to over half for disadvantaged pupils.

    This government has set out a clear commitment to break down barriers to opportunity for every child, with breakfast clubs proven to boost children’s reading, writing and maths by an average of two months.

    Craig Jones, Director of the Junior Adventures Group and the PVI Network:

    We can see the positive impact enriching breakfast clubs can have on children and families lives, providing a positive, active start to the day and supporting families with work-life balance.

    As PVI providers we are excited about the launch of the early adopter scheme and are fully supportive of providing valuable feedback and innovative delivery models during this ‘test & learn’ phase of the free breakfast club offer.

    Free breakfast clubs in the early adopter schools will shape the future of the national breakfast club policy, contributing directly to its implementation. Further details on the national roll out of the breakfast clubs programme will follow in due course.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records [April 2025]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 April 2025.

    A new AI tool aims to modernise council planning by replacing outdated paper systems with high-quality digital data, enabling faster, smarter decisions to support the government’s goal of building 1.5 million homes.

    • A new AI tool to help councils make planning data more accessible and digital, converting poor scans of old, PDF and paper documents into machine-readable, shareable data in seconds is being built
    • Currently in early testing, the tool could reduce the time needed to convert old planning documents into digital records – performing in 40 seconds what typically takes 1-2 hours of planner’s time to complete
    • This type of tool could be used to strengthen public services and support deliver the government’s Plan for Change milestone to build 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament and drive economic growth

    AI could be used to increase the availability of planning data, allowing councils to make more informed planning decisions faster, supporting the government’s Plan for Change mission to drive growth across the country and build 1.5 million homes.

    Currently, many councils still use paper documents and scanned PDFs, slowing down the planning process – resulting in backlogs, inefficiencies, and wasted resources.

    To help tackle this, a new programme will develop AI that provides higher quality data, in turn helping councils make faster, smarter planning decisions.

    The new generative AI tool will turn old planning documents—including blurry maps and handwritten notes—into clear, digital data in just 40 seconds – drastically reducing the 1-2 hours it typically takes planners. By pulling key information from thousands of files, the tool helps cut delays, reduce errors in data, speed up planning decisions – freeing up planners’ time to focus on building the homes Britain needs.

    Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

    The UK’s planning system has been held back for too long by outdated paper documents, slow processes, making it nearly impossible for councils to make informed decisions quickly.

    As part of our Plan for Change, we’re using the power of AI to transform sluggish systems so we can start to rebuild. With Extract, councils will have access to better quality data so they can move more quickly on planning decisions and get on with driving growth.

    Technology like this could be a vital step towards councils meeting targets to help build the 1.5 million new homes the country needs, all while updating and improving the planning system for the future.

    Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said:

    To kickstart economic growth and achieve the government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament, we need local planning authorities to be making informed decisions faster.

    By harnessing new technology like Extract, we can tackle backlogs, inefficiencies and waste and ensure councils are focusing precious time and resources on efficiently determining applications to build new homes.

    It is currently being tested and could be available to councils later this year, helping them to adopt smarter, more efficient planning tools that will improve the overall efficiency of the planning process.

    The tool also has potential applications across the public sector because location-specific data is used to deliver services and inform government policy and decisions across departments.

    It comes after the Technology Secretary revealed a £45 billion jackpot of productivity savings, if the public sector makes good use of technology to improve services and make processes more efficient.

    This builds on a range of sweeping planning reforms the government has already made to get Britain building. This includes updating the National Planning Policy Framework, which according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will boost the economy by £6.8 billion and drive housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years, and through the pro-growth Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Victory inn Europe! Pubs to stay open later as part of VE 80 Celebrations [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Victory inn Europe! Pubs to stay open later as part of VE 80 Celebrations [April 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 April 2025.

    Pub goers will be able to raise a toast to veterans for an extra two hours to celebrate next month’s historic 80th anniversary of VE day.

    With parties planned across the country on Thursday 8th May, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ordered pubs and bars across the country to be able to keep serving until 1am to celebrate.

    This will mean venues with a usual closing time of 11pm will be able to keep their doors open for a further two hours on the day, allowing people to continue their celebrations of the milestone.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the whole country should come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all.

    Keeping our pubs open for longer will give people the opportunity to join in celebrations and raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home.

    Pub licensing hours can be relaxed to mark occasions of ‘exceptional national significance’, and the government is keen that everyone is able to raise a glass and celebrate those who served during the Second World War.

    Similar extensions to pub hours have previously been used for major Royal celebrations and significant sporting events, such as the Euro 2024 final.

    As well as bringing people together for longer, the extension is due to be a welcomed boost to the hospitality industry.

    The VE Day commemorations will start on Bank Holiday Monday, with the Cenotaph dressed in Union flags, a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, and an RAF flypast over London.

    On Thursday 8th May, a day of celebrations across the country will culminate in a party at London’s Horse Guards Parade, televised live on BBC One, with more than 10,000 members of the public attending the event to see performances by stars from the stage and screen.

    Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association said:

    This is a momentous occasion and, as the nation’s second home, the pub is the perfect place for communities to gather and raise a glass to all of those who made huge sacrifices for our freedom.

    Extending licensing hours will mean people can come together for longer, nurture community spirit, and allow pubs to host even more commemorative events that honour our veterans and heroes and celebrate peace.

    Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality said:

    The 80th anniversary of VE day will see communities across the country come together to mark the special occasion, with many gathering in their local pubs to do so.

    I’m pleased the Government is extending licensing hours for the celebrations, which will see thousands raising a glass in tribute to those who served in the war.

    Michael Kill, CEO, Night Time Industries Association said:

    As someone with a strong family background in the armed forces, I know how vital it is to honour the legacy of those who served.

    VE Day is not only a moment of remembrance but also an opportunity for communities to come together. At such a challenging time for the hospitality sector, allowing businesses to extend their trading hours during these celebrations offers a much-needed boost while paying tribute to our shared history.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Trump of the United States [April 2025]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Trump of the United States [April 2025]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 April 2025.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States Donald Trump this afternoon.

    The leaders began by discussing the ongoing and productive discussions between the UK and US on trade. The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to free and open trade and the importance of protecting the national interest.

    The leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine, Iran and recent action taken against the Houthis in Yemen.

    They agreed to stay in touch.