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News Archive

19/5/2023

 
New £1 Billion Strategy For Uk's Semiconductor Sector

A new twenty-year plan to secure the world-leading strengths of the UK's semiconductor industry has today (Friday 19 May) been unveiled by the government.   National Semiconductor Strategy reveals plan to double down on design, research and advanced chip leadership - securing the UK's position as a global science and technology superpower.  

19/5/2023

 
New Sanctions Demonstrate G7 Resolve On Russia

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will warn against complacency in defending our values and standing up to autocratic regimes, as he meets G7 leaders in Hiroshima.   Prime Minister will focus on redoubling support for Ukraine's defence on the first day of the G7 Summit.  

19/5/2023

 
Payment Window For £150 Disability Cost Of Living Payment Announced

More than six million disabled people in the UK will receive their one-off £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment from 20 June.   Vast majority of £150 payments set to be made automatically over two-week period between 20 June and 4 July 2023.  

19/5/2023

Uk And Norway To Increase Cooperation On Undersea Capabilities

The UK and Norway agree to develop a strategic partnership to counter shared threats in the undersea domain, including threats to our undersea infrastructure.   UK Defence Secretary and Norwegian Defence Minister sign security partnership to counter undersea threats.  

19/5/2023

 
UK Calls On Other States Not To Provide Russia With Military Assistance: Uk Statement At The Security Council

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.   Thank you, President and I also thank Mr Ebo for his briefing.  

19/5/2023

Mortgage Arrears And Possessions Increasing

A report by UK finance shows that mortgage arrears and reposessions are increasing.   There were 76,630 homeowner mortgages in arrears of 2.5 per cent or more of the outstanding balance in the first quarter of 2023, 2 per cent greater than in the previous quarter.  

18/5/2023

 
UK House Prices: History Says The Market Is In For A Long Slowdown Not A Crash

It's going to be easier to get on the property ladder following a recent decision by the Bank of England to relax some of the criteria for getting a mortgage.  Combined with expectations of a slowdown in the property market, this news will be something of a relief to those who have been unable to buy a home due to booming prices in recent years.  

18/5/2023

Allies Pledge Continued Support For Ukraine As UK Defence Secretary Visits Berlin

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace met with his counterpart Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin today, days after announcing that the UK will be the first nation to provide Ukraine with long range strike capabilities as part of continuing support to ensure Ukraine can defend themselves against Russia's illegal invasion.   Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in Berlin for meetings with German defence and security leaders.  

18/5/2023

 
UK To Join Biden's Emissions Challenge As It Forges Closer Energy Security Links With US

Grant Shapps begins 4-day visit to the US, as Department for Energy Security and Net Zero marks first 100 days.   Shapps on 4-day US visit to strengthen collaboration to safeguard UK.  

18/5/2023

 
How A Night Of Poor Sleep Can Affect Your Next Day At Work - And Four Ways To Function Better

Think back to a night when you slept poorly.  How productive were you the next day at work? Did you struggle to get started? Did the day drag on and on? Did you procrastinate on Twitter or TikTok rather than doing your work? If your answer to these questions is "yes", you're not alone.  

18/5/2023

 
Trolls Who Encourage Serious Self-harm To Face Jail

New offence for encouraging serious self-harm with perpetrators facing 5 years behind bars.   offence to apply regardless of whether target goes on to cause serious self-harm.  

18/5/2023

Protecting Food Security In Scotland

Ensuring Scotland's food security by monitoring the supply chain for possible disruption is the focus of a new dedicated Food Security Unit.   Its establishment was a key recommendation of the Short-life Food Security and Supply Taskforce, which was set up by the Scottish Government, together with industry, immediately following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  

18/5/2023

Scottish International Offices Costs: FOI Release - Did You Know We Pay For Offices Abroad

Did you know the Scottish Government pays for offices in several countries?.  A freedom of information request has got the information published.  

18/5/2023

 
Buy Now Pay Later - Klarna Is Courting Young Shoppers With Paris Hilton And Tiktok-style Algorithms - Here's Why It's A Problem

After adding a few too many items to your online shopping cart, you head over to the payment page to check out.  Alongside the usual credit card and PayPal payment fields, you see an enticing new option.  

18/5/2023

 
Mortgage Lenders Are Relaxing Their Rules - Here's Why That Could Be Risky For Borrowers

The Bank of England increased its base rate yet again in May 2023 to 4.5%, pushing borrowing costs to the highest level in almost 15 years.  More than 6 million UK households will now see their mortgage payments increase by the end of 2025, with more than 4 million experiencing this in 2023.  

18/5/2023

Home Ownership Is Shrinking, Private Renting Isn't Working - What's Next?

Not long after the global financial crisis, soaring house prices through the 2010s turned residential property into the largest capital asset and best long-term investment in the world.  In the same period, rates of owner-occupation fell across the UK, US and Australia.  

18/5/2023

Town Hall Rich List 2023 - 2,759 Council Bosses Received Over £100,000 Last Year

The Taxpayers Alliance report pulls together the figures on the highest paid council employees in the UK.   Town Hall Rich List 2023 finds the number of officials receiving more than £100,000 was 2,759, with 721 getting over £150,000.  

18/5/2023

 
Boundaries Scotland Consults On New Constituency Boundaries For The Scottish Parliament

Boundaries Scotland has today published its provisional proposals for new constituency boundaries for the Scottish Parliament.  It marks the start of a one month public consultation on the proposals, running until the end of Saturday 17 June 2023.  

18/5/2023

Hottest Days Are Warming Twice As Fast As Average Summer Temperature In North-west Europe - New Research

On July 19 2022, the UK experienced its highest ever temperature.  At 40.3℃ (Coningsby, Lincolnshire), the temperature surpassed the previous record of 38.7℃ (Cambridge) - a record that had been set a mere three years previously.  

17/5/2023

 
Dr John Campbell On The Latest Advice On Vitamin D

Daily oral dosing of vitamin D3 using 5000 TO 50,000 international units a day in long-term hospitalized patients: Insights from a seven year experience.   See the research at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30611908/.  

 

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