Plans for installation of Hamilton Picket Fort Structure in Silloth
Plans have been submitted for the installation of a World War 2 Hamilton Picket Fort Structure next to the Hudson Bomber, on the Silloth Green. The Hudson Bomber was first unveiled on the green in 2018, to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Royal Air Force and the town’s involvement in WW2. Now the Silloth Tourism Action Group are hoping to display a Hamilton Pickett Fort next to the statue, after it was excavated from Silloth Airfield, and is one of only 48 that exist in the UK. In a statement supporting the plans, the applicant said: "Silloth Tourism Action Group are wanting to display a World War 2 Hamilton Pickett Fort next to the Hudson Bomber on Criffel Street Green, post code CA7 4DQ. "This has been excavated from Silloth Airfield and is one of only 48 that exist in the UK (there are 2 others underground on Silloth Airfield).
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 16:25 UTC
Manchester United transfer news: Crystal Palace plot sensational Marcus Rashford swoop - Paper Talk
THE SUNCrystal Palace are plotting a sensational swoop for Marcus Rashford if Aston Villa do not sign him at the end of the season. Image: Marcus Rashford celebrates after opening the scoring for Aston Villa at BrightonNewcastle are weighing up a swoop for Greek wonderkid Konstantinos Karetsas. Sir Jim Ratcliffe could lean on his Formula 1 connections to try and bring Manchester United back into pole position. DAILY MIRRORFormer Manchester United captain Roy Keane claimed Arsenal would storm to the Premier League title if they had Liverpool star Mohamed Salah at their disposal. Manchester United and Liverpool already had eyes on the Greek starlet, but Newcastle are now threatening to spoil the party with a bid of their own.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 16:14 UTC
Sarah Palin’s defamation case against the New York Times returns to trial
“The case is, in many respects, an old-school media libel action resurrected into a newly complicated defamation landscape,” University of Utah law professor RonNell Andersen Jones told the New York Times. open image in gallery Sarah Palin is getting another shot at the New York Times in a defamation lawsuit. The Times’ attorneys argued that the error was an honest mistake, and Rakoff initially dismissed the lawsuit before it reached trial. After the appeal court’s decision, the legal teams for the Times and Palin held talks about settling the case. At the same time, though, the case is taking place in New York after the state passed a lawstrengthening and expanding press freedoms.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 15:56 UTC
British Steel latest news: China warns UK not to ‘politicise’ trade
China has warned the UK against politicising the British Steel crisis. On Sunday, Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, accused Beijing of trying to shut down the British steel industry by switching off the furnaces to make the UK reliant on Chinese stocks. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London said: “We are following closely the developments of British Steel involving the Chinese private company. “It is an objective fact that British steel companies have generally encountered difficulties in recent years. Thanks to the work of those at British Steel, and in my department, we have moved decisively to secure the raw materials we need to help save British Steel.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 15:19 UTC
UK Cuts Tariffs on Dozens of Products as Global Trade Tensions Rise
The British government ramped up actions to help protect businesses and households from some of the economic tumult created by President Trump’s decision to raise tariffs and upend the norms of global trade. The government said on Sunday it would suspend tariffs on 89 products for about two years to help businesses and consumers save money. The products include those for construction, such as plywood and plastics, and everyday household items, such as pasta and fruit juices. Officials will also increase financing support for exporters by 20 billion pounds ($26 billion), through partial loan guarantees, and give small businesses access to loans of up to £2 million. Officials have said they want to move quickly to support companies as they try to sustain fragile economic momentum.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 14:24 UTC
Evil killer who stabbed neighbour 20 times in head & neck is ‘murdered in high-security jail by fellow prisoner’
A MURDERER who stabbed his neighbour 20 times has been killed by another prisoner in jail, it is understood. John Mansfield was jailed in 2007 for the brutal attack on his neighbour Ann Alfanso, 63. On Sunday, Mansfield was attacked by another prisoner and died despite the efforts of prison staff, The Daily Telegraph reports. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Police are investigating the death of prisoner John Mansfield at HMP Whitemoor on Sunday, April 13. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”Mansfield had 75 prior convictions and was serving a life sentence for the brutal attack on Ann Alfanso.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 13:42 UTC
UK rushes to find materials to keep British Steel plant running
[LONDON] UK officials are rushing to secure the raw materials needed to keep Britain’s last primary steel manufacturer running, with other businesses offering to provide help. The government said on Monday (Apr 14) that dozens of companies, including Tata and Rainham Steel, have offered raw materials and managerial support to help keep the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe going. On Sunday, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds refused to confirm whether the government can get enough raw materials to keep the furnaces running. He said that British Steel had made a £233 million (S$402 million) loss in its latest accounts. These included refusing new raw materials and selling supplies it already had.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 13:15 UTC
China warns UK government to treat Chinese owners of British Steel fairly
Photo credit- APChina has warned the UK government to treat the Chinese owners of British Steel fairly or risk undermining investor confidence in the country, two days after British authorities took control of the company.China’s Foreign Ministry made the comment on Monday as government-appointed managers raced to prevent British Steel from shutting down the last two blast furnaces in Britain that make so-called virgin steel from raw materials.Parliament on Saturday passed legislation authorizing the government to take control of the company and its Scunthorpe steelworks from Jingye Group , which has owned British Steel since 2020. Jingye still owns the company but British authorities have taken control of day-to-day operations.“We hope the British government treats Chinese enterprises investing and operating in the U.K. fairly and justly, protects their legitimate rights and interests, and avoids politicizing and over-securitizing economic and trade cooperation, so as not to affect the confidence of Chinese enterprises in investing and cooperating in the U.K.,” Foreign Ministry spokeperson Lin Jian said during the weekly press conference in Beijing.The U.K. government on Monday installed a new executive team at British Steel with the aim of ensuring “consistent and professional leadership” of the Scunthorpe works in northeastern England, British Steel said in a statement.Two longtime British Steel executives, Allan Bell and Lisa Coulson, were named as the company’s interim chief executive and chief commercial officer. The appointments were approved by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.Bell, who has worked at Scunthorpe for 14 years, said his main goal was to ensure continued steel production at the plant.“Our immediate priorities are securing the raw materials we need to continue blast furnace operations, ensuring we have the dedicated personnel to run those furnaces, and maintaining the highest levels of health and safety for our workforce,” Bell said in the statement.Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday took the dramatic step of recalling Parliament from its spring recess to pass emergency legislation authorizing the government to take control of British Steel. Authorities were concerned about the plant’s future after Jingye stopped ordering the iron ore and coking coal needed to keep the furnaces operating.Once blast furnaces are shut down, it is difficult and expensive to restart them, raising concerns that Britain might lose the ability to make high-quality virgin steel needed by builders and railroads as the government tries to spur economic growth. Other British steelmakers are already in the process of shifting to electric arc furnaces that make steel from scrap metal.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 11:40 UTC
British Companies Unveil £6.5 Billion Green Hydrogen Mega-Project
Together, these powerhouses are spearheading an effort to ramp up the country’s hydrogen production capacity to 1GW by 2030—a move projected to slash carbon dioxide emissions by one million tonnes yearly. It dovetails with the government’s recently announced shortlist of 27 electrolytic hydrogen projects, part of an overarching roadmap to build a robust, low-carbon hydrogen economy. Establish regionally targeted hydrogen production hubs that stimulate local economies while feeding directly into the national gas grid. Regarding economic ripple effects, HySpeed is expected to generate £2 billion in annual Gross Value Added (GVA)—driven mainly by new hydrogen production facilities and the growth of localised supply chains. “Comprising all elements of the hydrogen value chain from production to storage, transport and distribution, the initiative aims to locate green hydrogen generation in strategic locations across the UK.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 11:27 UTC
Commission launches fresh appeal to help find Disappeared victim Seamus Maguire
Seamus Maguire, who was 29 and from Aghagallon near the Co Armagh town of Lurgan, was murdered and secretly buried by republican paramilitaries during the mid 1970s. He is one of four people whose remains are still being searched for by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR). The ICLVR has issued a fresh appeal in Mr Maguire’s case, as it revealed it did not yet have sufficient information to identify any potential search site. Mark Pickard, who heads up the Seamus Maguire investigation, said that work has been ongoing on the case since it was referred to the commission by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2022. “With this appeal we are issuing a photograph of Seamus which we hope might jog someone’s memory and move us on.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 11:19 UTC
Lack of nurses contributing to children’s palliative care gaps
A national children’s palliative care charity has called on the UK Government to reform the way care for children with life-limiting conditions is funded, warning that the current regime is unsustainable. The State of Children’s Palliative Care in 2025. A survey of families who have encountered children’s palliative care services formed part of the report. Among the hospices represented at this event was children's palliative care provider Derian House. "Across the UK, workforce shortages, funding shortfalls and a lack of leadership and accountability have created an unacceptable postcode lottery in access to children’s palliative care.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 10:40 UTC
Dividends: Reliability in uncertain times
With an average dividend yield of 3.5%, dividends have formed over half of the total return. It brought valuations down to very attractive levels, particularly in the unloved UK market. The UK market is leading other major markets in ‘all-in’ yield, which combines dividends and buybacks. Private equity and trade buyers recognise the opportunity, and the UK market has seen significant merger and acquisition activity. The company has a strong market position and it continues to build market share through new stores and formats.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 09:00 UTC
China Halts Critical Rare Earth Exports as Trade War Intensifies
China has suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, threatening to choke off supplies of components central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world. Once in place, the new system could permanently prevent supplies from reaching certain companies, including American military contractors. The official crackdown is part of China’s retaliation for President Trump’s sharp increase in tariffs that started on April 2. On April 4, the Chinese government ordered restrictions on the export of six heavy rare earth metals, which are refined entirely in China, as well as rare earth magnets, 90 percent of which are produced in China. The metals, and special magnets made with them, can now be shipped out of China only with special export licenses.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 06:44 UTC
UK pledges £20 billion to help firms amid US tariff turmoil
Photo credit- APThe UK pledged £20 billion ($26 billion) on Sunday to help exporters including those affected by US tariffs, as President Donald Trump's sweeping stop-start import taxes roil global markets.Britain's finance ministry said the move would expand the UK's export finance package by £20 billion to a total of £80 billion, with "thousands of UK businesses affected by tariffs set to benefit. "Up to £10 billion of that support will be used specifically for firms "impacted in the short term by the current situation," it said.Finance minister Rachel Reeves said the move would help companies weather difficulties ahead. "The world is changing, which is why it is more important than ever to back our world-leading businesses and support them to navigate the challenges ahead," she said.The finance ministry said small businesses will also be able to access loans of up to £2 million as part of the package.Analysts have warned that the 10 percent levy on US imports of British goods could further weaken business and consumer sentiment in the UK.Specific industries such as auto, steel and aluminium face even steeper tariffs as high as 25 percent.The United States is the UK's single largest country trading partner, with over £1.2 trillion invested in each other's economies.It comes as the UK strives to broker a long-awaited post-Brexit trade deal with the United States.Asked when it could be completed, Britain's Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News on Sunday he could not give a timeline, saying that Trump was the "driving force and the decision maker... on the US side."
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 06:32 UTC
Global Times: UK firms look to enter China market, which greatly supports UK economic growth: trade official
BEIJING, April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- UK companies are looking to enter the China market, which greatly supports UK economic growth, UK Trade Commissioner for China Lewis Neal told the Global Times on Sunday. His comments were made while attending the China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province. Behind the consumer goods expo, the theme of our pavilion is where heritage meets modern excellence... and we've got 27 companies to showcase what they have for the China market," Neal said. I'm looking for heritage, quality, and affordability and that is what we think of the products we brought today," he said. China is an important market for UK businesses, with exports to China supporting nearly 500,000 jobs in the UK, according to the British Embassy.
Source:The Times
April 14, 2025 05:49 UTC