Foreign Secretary launches new International Development Strategy

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has set out her vision for the future of UK international development which will help address increasing global challenges.

From:

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP

• Foreign Secretary publishes International Development Strategy to respond to a world increasingly affected by geopolitics
• the UK will use aid and investment to create global economic growth and challenge dependency on malign actors to offer honest alternative for low- and middle-income countries
• the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will prioritise bilateral programmes to ensure money is spent on key priorities including educating girls and providing life-saving humanitarian support

The Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has today set out her vision for the future of UK international development. The strategy, which builds on a proud record of global leadership on development, will challenge dependency on malign actors, offering choice and bringing more countries into the orbit of free-market economies.

The strategy will help address increasing global challenges, delivering investment,

UKAEA tribute to fusion energy ‘inspiration’ Dr Bigot

CEO Ian Chapman has paid tribute to ITER Director-General Dr Bernard Bigot, who died on 14 May.

From:

UK Atomic Energy Authority

Dr Bernard Bigot

Dr Bernard Bigot, Director-General of the ITER Organization, one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world today, passed away on 14 May 2022 due to illness.

Prof. Ian Chapman, UK Atomic Energy Authority Chief Executive, said: “Dr Bernard Bigot was an inspiration to all of us working in the field of fusion energy, so I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing at the weekend.

“He transformed the ITER project through his leadership, strength of character

Home Secretary backs police to increase stop and search

Police will have greater powers to prevent knife crime and tackle serious violence.

From:

Home Office

Police will have greater powers to prevent knife crime and tackle serious violence as the Home Secretary permanently lifts restrictions on their use of stop and search in areas where they anticipate serious violence to happen.

In a letter sent to police forces today (Monday 16 May), the Home Secretary will remove restrictions on section 60 that have been in place since 2014. These restrictions have limited when officers could use the vital power and decreased their confidence in deploying it.

Removing these restrictions means that more officers can authorise section 60, the

Computing education essential in technologically diverse world

Ofsted has published the latest in a series of reviews into different subjects across the curriculum. Today’s review looks at computing.

From:

Ofsted

This review explores the literature relating to the field of computing education to identify factors that can contribute to high-quality computing curriculums, assessment, pedagogy and systems. We will use this understanding of subject quality to examine how computing is taught in England’s schools before publishing a subject report to share what we have learned.

Read the computing research review

The national curriculum for computing sets out that ‘a high-quality computing education equips pupils to use computational thinking and creativity to understand and change the world’.

Today’s review highlights approaches to constructing, sequencing and teaching a

Northern Ireland: The way ahead

Prime Minister Boris Johnson writes in the Belfast Telegraph: The conditions for successful power-sharing have been enhanced by the recent election. Government will do its part but the Executive must be restored now to tackle the cost of living crisis.

From:

Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP

Written on:

15 May 2022

I am visiting Northern Ireland today at a time of considerable political change. The Assembly elections brought forth a new generation of voters and representatives who are confident and optimistic about the future.

The Northern Ireland of today does not see itself as a post-conflict society but one that is maturing into a story of sustained success. One in ten of the population were not born here. Local people have thrown open their doors to those fleeing Ukraine. A sizeable portion of the electorate were not even born in 1998. They are at ease with change, and at ease with each other.

The Northern Ireland of today is a place that has rediscovered the manufacturing

£30 million dry dock contract supports 300 Scottish jobs

£30 million contract for dry-dock maintenance for the Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carriers has been awarded to Babcock International Group, in Scotland

From:

Ministry of Defence

• £30 million to provide dry dock maintenance for Queen Elizabeth Class carriers
• 300 jobs supported across Rosyth dockyard and wider supply chain
• Follows both QEC carriers undertaking international engagements with allies

The 10-year agreement will ensure the two warships - HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales - are able to undergo dry dockings for planned maintenance and repair at Babcock’s Rosyth facilities, meaning the vessels continue to operate safely and remain available for defence operations, both for the UK and its allies.

The work will help to sustain 300 jobs across the Rosyth facility and the wider

Bathing water season begins in Devon and Cornwall

The Environment Agency is monitoring 149 bathing water sites across Devon and Cornwall until 30 September.

From:

Environment Agency

Regular testing of water quality at designated bathing sites across Devon and Cornwall is underway

• Coastal areas will be tested regularly to check water quality
• Water users can check the water quality forecast on on the Swimfo: Find a Bathing Water website.

The bathing water season started yesterday (15 May) with the Environment Agency carrying out regular testing of water quality at designated bathing sites across Devon and Cornwall until the end of September.

High standards of water quality at swimming locations are important for everyone’s

Delivering the water quality we all want to see

The Government has reinforced its commitment to improving water quality including through plans for water companies to eliminate harm from sewage discharges.

From:

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Rebecca Pow MP

The Government has reinforced its commitment to taking tough action to improve water quality today, with the Environmental Audit Committee welcoming its response to a recent inquiry on water quality in rivers.

Water quality is a top priority for the Government, which was the first to set out an

M25 junction 28 improvements development consent decision

Today, 16 May 2022, the application for the M25 junction 28 improvements has been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Transport. 

From:

Planning Inspectorate

The application is to upgrade junction 28 of the junction between the M25 anti-clockwise and the A12 in Essex, including the provision of a dedicated link for this right-turn movement and minor improvements of the existing roundabout.

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Highways England on 27 May 2020 and accepted for Examination on 24 June 2020.

Following an Examination during which the public, Statutory Consultees and

Somalia elections: Minister for Africa statement

Minister for Africa Vicky Ford has issued a statement following the conclusion of the elections period in Somalia

From:

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Vicky Ford MP

Minister for Africa Vicky Ford said:

I welcome the conclusion of the electoral process in Somalia and warmly congratulate Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on his election as President.

After the protracted electoral process, the UK encourages Somalia’s leaders to work together with a new focus on issues of urgent national importance such as tackling al-Shabaab, responding to the devastating drought, maintaining fiscal stability, and constitutional reform.

At this critical juncture, the United Kingdom remains committed to supporting all the people of Somalia, and to working alongside President Hassan Sheikh and his government as they seek to build greater stability, security and prosperity. I look forward to continuing to strengthen the UK – Somalia relationship.

Government suspends engagement with the NUS over antisemitism

Higher and Further Education Minister takes action in response to a series of antisemitism allegations against the National Union of Students (NUS).

From:

Department for Education, The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP, and The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP

The Government will temporarily disengage with the National Union of Students (NUS) following recent antisemitism allegations.

The NUS will be removed from all Department for Education groups and replaced with alternative student representation, such as from the Office for Student’s student panel or from individual student unions, to ensure all students’ views are reflected fairly in conversations about higher education. The Department for Education is asking arm’s length bodies, including the Office for Students, to take similar action.

The Department for Education has also confirmed that the NUS will not receive any

Cut out the Green Rhetoric and Drive up the Economy

FairFuelUK’s latest online "open to all opinion survey" has been completed by more than 38,000 respondents in just 72 hours. The result shown in the table above is initial analysis of 38,665 survey responses between 2nd and 4th May 2022

The Government has to bring forward the planned income tax cut too, reduce Fuel Duty significantly, implement PumpWatch and deliver a one off windfall tax on opportunistic oil companies”

— Howard Cox

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, May 10, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Howard Cox, Founder of FairFuelUK said: "The Queen's Speech was full of promise for tomorrow, but nothing for today. Taxes must be cut now to put money into people's pockets using an emergency Budget. The Government has to bring forward the planned income tax cut too, reduce Fuel Duty significantly, implement PumpWatch and deliver a one off windfall tax on opportunistic oil companies, making sure those proceeds are ring fenced to help those suffering in the cost of living support."

"COP26 and Net Zero initiatives need to be put on the back burner to focus on solving the cost-of-living crisis. Boris's myopic drive to follow fashionable green polices will not help hard pressed families struggling to heat