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EU Rice Fields – Supporting Wildlife Through Sustainable Farming

News Desk
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EU Rice Fields – Supporting Wildlife Through Sustainable Farming

Did you know that European rice fields contribute far more than food production? These paddies are thriving ecosystems, home to a wide variety of wildlife. The “EUROPEAN RICE” campaign highlights the ways in which sustainable rice farming within the European Union (EU) helps to protect biodiversity while delivering top-quality rice to consumers.

EU rice farmers employ eco-friendly farming practices that work in harmony with nature. Their fields offer crucial habitats for migratory birds, amphibians, and aquatic life, creating a balance between agricultural production and biodiversity conservation.

Key Benefits of Sustainable EU Rice Farming:

  • Safeguarding Natural Habitats: Rice paddies in the EU provide essential ecosystems for numerous species.
  • Reducing Environmental Impact: By limiting water usage and chemical inputs, farmers help protect local wildlife.
  • Pioneering Sustainable Practices: EU farmers set an example by integrating ecological care into their farming methods.

By choosing rice grown in the EU, consumers contribute to preserving natural ecosystems and promoting biodiversity. Small choices can have a meaningful impact on the environment.

For more information about the “EUROPEAN RICE” campaign, including events and social media updates, visit their official platforms:

About the “EUROPEAN RICE” Campaign:

The “EUROPEAN RICE” campaign is an EU-funded initiative dedicated to promoting the benefits, sustainability, and versatility of European rice in the UK and other global markets. It aligns with the EU’s objectives of enhancing the competitiveness and market presence of EU agri-food products worldwide, emphasizing sustainable practices and high-quality standards.

THE EUROPEAN UNION SUPPORTS CAMPAIGNS THAT PROMOTE HIGH-QUALITY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Southport killer to serve at least 52 years in jail

Helen Greaney
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Southport killer to serve at least 52 years in jail

Axel Rudakubana (18) has been sentenced to life behind bars, with a minimum term of 52 years, after pleading guilty to murdering three girls.

The twisted teenager, formerly of Old School Close, Banks, pleaded guilty on Monday, which should have been day one of his trial.

Alice da Silva Aguiar (nine), Bebe King (six) and Elsie Dot Stancombe (seven) were murdered in the attack on a Taylor Swift club in Hart Street, Southport.

Rudakubana also admitted 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a kitchen knife over the attack on July 29.

But throughout his sentencing, he kept shouting out that  he “felt ill” and “needed to see a paramedic”. He was removed from the dock at Liverpool Crown Court twice, and medics deemed him well.

The judge, Mr Justice Goose, said if Rudakubana had been 18 at the time of the attack he would have received a whole-life term – meaning no possibility of release.

Extreme violence

He told the court: “There were 26 children at the party, all of them happy and enjoying themselves. He targeted those children for the horrific, extreme violence he was intent upon. It was such extreme violence of the utmost seriousness it was difficult to comprehend.

“I’m sure Rudakubana had a settled and determined intention to kill and would have killed all 26 children.

“Many who have heard the evidence and have seen the CCTV recordings might describe what he did as evil. Who could dispute it? On any view it was at least the most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious crime.

“The harm that Axel Rudakubana caused to each family, each child and to the community has been profound and permanent. The families of Bebe, Elsie and Alice will never recover. The lives of the families of the children who he tried to murder will never be the same.”

The killer even told police after his attack, that he was glad they were dead.

Judge Goose said the killer would be 70 before a parole board would consider releasing him, adding it was “highly likely” he would never be freed.

On the morning of his attack, Rudakubana booked a taxi to the Hart Space where 26 children were attending a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop.

He was carrying a knife bought on Amazon days earlier and after leaving the taxi without paying, he entered the building and carried out the appalling attack.

A thorough investigation at the home of Rudakubana led to the discovery of weapons, the ingredients necessary to make ricin and evidence that he had searched and viewed violent material online from a number of sources as well as downloading an academic study of an Al-Qaeda training manual.

Family statements

The family of Alice De Silva Aguiar said: “Alice was always a very kind girl, who valued equality and fairness at the core. Alice was a beautiful girl, perfect in every way; loved her school, her friends, music, dance, colourful pens and friendship bracelets. She loved Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter.

“Our dream girl has been taken away in such a horrible, undeserving way that it shattered our souls. Living without Alice is not living at all. It’s a state of permanent numbness. We can’t see her pictures or videos; they take us back to a time when we were so happy and now we’re in constant pain.”

The family of Elsie Dot Stancombe addressed Rudakubana directly in a statement: “The nature of your actions is beyond contempt. You deliberately chose that place, fully aware that there would be no parents present, fully aware that those girls were vulnerable and unable to protect themselves.

“This was not an act of impulse; it was premeditated. You chose that place, that time, and those circumstances, knowing that when we arrived, all we would see was the aftermath of the devastation caused. We were robbed of the opportunity to protect our girls.

“Though you have stolen our daughter from us, you will not take away our determination to honour her memory. We will carry her love, positivity and her legacy forward, no matter how much pain you have caused.

“There is nothing that can undo the damage he has caused, but knowing that he will never be free to cause any harm to vulnerable children again, would give us some small measure of justice.

“Perhaps he will have opportunity to contemplate the fear and terror he inflicted upon those girls and sincerely want the consequences to reflect the irreparable damage he has inflicted.”

3.4 million self employed workers at risk of fines

Helen Greaney
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3.4 million self employed workers at risk of fines

With only a week left until the Self Assessment deadline, 3.4 million customers are yet to file their 2023 to 2024 tax return.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning them to file now or risk missing the January 31 deadline – and getting a £100 penalty.

More than 8.6 million (66%) have already filed their tax return. Those who are yet to start can go to GOV.UK to find all the support and guidance they need at their fingertips including live webinars, video tutorials as well as plenty of online help sheets.

Nearly 360,000 workers have paid their Self Assessment tax bill via the HMRC app since April 6, 2024, totalling more than £605 million.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s director general for Customer Services, said: “Time is running out for the millions still to file their Self Assessment tax return by January 31. Help and support is available for those who have not yet started their return.”

A full list of the different ways to pay, including payment plans, can be found on GOV.UK.

Customers’ reasons for not paying their tax bill or arranging a payment plan by the deadline will be considered individually. While customers who provide HMRC with a reasonable excuse may avoid a penalty, those without reasonable excuse face will be issued with a penalty including:

  • An initial £100 fixed penalty, which applies even if there is no tax to pay, or if the tax due is paid on time
  • After three months, additional daily penalties of £10 per day, up to a maximum of £900
  • After six months, a further penalty of 5% of the tax due or £300, whichever is greater
  • After 12 months, another 5% or £300 charge, whichever is greater.

Customers need to be aware of the risk of falling victim to scams and should never share their HMRC login details with anyone, including a tax agent, if they have one. HMRC scams advice is available on GOV.UK.

Walker Sime Welcomes Peter Jackson as UK Director of Project Management

News Desk
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Walker Sime Welcomes Peter Jackson as UK Director of Project Management

Walker Sime, the Manchester-based multi-disciplinary consultancy, has appointed Peter Jackson as their UK Director of Project Management. Bringing over 30 years of industry experience, Jackson is set to provide valuable knowledge and leadership to the organisation.

This newly created senior role has been established to strengthen and grow the firm’s project management division. Jackson has previously held senior positions at Atkins Realis and Turner & Townsend, where he built a strong reputation for successfully managing complex projects and leading high-performing teams.

His career includes managing large-scale projects such as the Government Hub Programme for HMRC, which saw the delivery of 13 new commercial office spaces across the UK.

In addition to his project delivery expertise, Jackson has been actively involved in town centre regeneration projects, including high-profile schemes in Urmston and Chorlton. He has also collaborated with large teams of project managers, quantity surveyors, and building surveyors across various sectors and worked extensively with local authorities in the North West.

“The reliability, expertise, and personal touch that Walker Sime is known for really appealed to me,” Jackson said. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside several members of the team over the years and have always been impressed by the quality of their work and their collaborative approach.”

He further shared his excitement about continuing the firm’s legacy, as Walker Sime celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024.

Jackson will work in close partnership with Cathy Palmer, Director of Regeneration Delivery at Walker Sime, focusing on regeneration-led real estate initiatives. His expertise will be critical in supporting the government’s target of building 1.5 million homes, an area where his knowledge and experience will be invaluable.

“Delivering transformative projects that improve people’s lives is what motivates me,” he said. “Having lived in the North West for most of my life, I am deeply invested in the region and look forward to contributing to Walker Sime’s impactful work in this area.”

Walker Sime, which operates out of Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool, specialises in services such as project management, quantity surveying, employers agent, bills of quantities, and regeneration and infrastructure solutions.

Abhishek stars as India blow England away in Kolkata

Jon Fisher
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Abhishek stars as India blow England away in Kolkata

Abhishek Sharma praised his captain and coach for allowing him to play with freedom after he smashed a brilliant 79 to help India to an emphatic victory over England in the first T20I in Kolkata.

The hosts reached their victory target of 133 with seven wickets and 43 balls to spare as Brendan McCullum’s tenure as England’s white-ball coach got off to a miserable start.

Having made just 132 from their 20 overs, the tourists’ bowlers were unable to make significant inroads, bar a two-wicket burst from Jofra Archer, with Abhishek blasting the game out of England’s reach.

“I wanted to express myself, special mention to captain [Suryakumar Yadav] and coach [Gautam Gambhir], the freedom they have given us as youngsters is tremendous,” said the 24-year-old left-hander. 

“It was sticking a bit, double-paced, but the way our bowlers bowled was good.

“When I came for the first time in the India team, my plan was simple, play like I played in IPL. But I’ve never seen an environment like this, [where you can] express yourself, hit your shots, even from the first ball. 

“I knew they’d bowl short and check my patience.”

Sanju Samson added 26 and Tilak Varma 19 and that proved enough for India due to England’s dismal efforts with the bat.

Buttler provides some resistance

Only captain Jos Buttler made a significant score with 68 off 44 balls as India’s well-balanced attack, led by Varun Chakravarthy kept England on a tight leash.

With four games still to come in the series, Buttler was not panicking and felt losing the toss and having to bat was an important factor.

He said: “There was a little in the wicket early on, we didn’t expect that, but if you came through that phase it was a good pitch and a fast-scoring ground. We’ll be better for the run out.

“Jof looked good, superstar, looked threatening, Mark Wood bowled fast, exciting. We want to be aggressive and watchable, but venue to venue got to assess conditions.”

The second T20I takes place in Chennai on Saturday.

Three jailed for East Didsbury murder

Helen Greaney
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Three jailed for East Didsbury murder
Two brothers and another man have been jailed for the murder of Sadiq Al-Lami, following a month-long trial.

Sultan Bakr (22) of Hyde Road, Gorton, Sikander Babar (24) and Abdul Wahab Babar (18) both of Ashdale Drive, Withington, were found guilty at Minshull Street Crown Court.

On Tuesday, they were all sentenced to life imprisonment.

In the early hours of the morning on January 22, 2024, Sadiq Al-Lami was going to meet a friend when, by chance, he was attacked and stabbed eleven times whilst at the junction near Parrs Wood in East Didsbury.

A witness described seeing the defendants in a black car which stopped alongside the victim’s car at the junction. Three men emerged from the car, approached the victim and there was a physical altercation. Sadiq tried to get away, but these men fatally stabbed him.

Despite the best efforts of emergency responders at the scene, Sadiq died as a result of his injuries.

In an attempt to evade police, each of the men made great bids to discard of evidence and leave Manchester.

However, what they didn’t realise was that during the commotion, a parcel addressed to Noraiz Kamal was dropped and left at the scene, providing crucial evidence for police. Also recovered from the scene was a cigarette and several balloons, with DNA matching the defendants.

With this breakthrough, armed police attended Kamal’s house in South Manchester to arrest him. Alerted to the police, Kamal made a 10 second call to Sikander Babar. Shortly after this call, Babar’s number becomes inactive and no longer in use.

Working around the clock to establish the circumstances of this tragic incident, police located the black Mercedes from the night of the attack abandoned at the junction of Boothfield Drive and Royalthorn Road in Wythenshawe. The car was recovered for forensic analysis and extensive CCTV and phone work analysis showed the men ordered a taxi from that area back to their home addresses.

Each of the men seemingly carried on with their lives after the brutal attack. Abdul Babar messaged his hairdresser to book in for a haircut, and Sultan Bakr spent the day ordering fast food deliveries, seemingly unaffected or unbothered by what had taken place the night before.

In custody, evidence from Kamal’s mobile phone led police to identify Sultan Bakr who matched the description of one of the men involved in the attack and later abandoning the car. Later, police also identified Sikander Babar from the device.

Phone analysis showed that just hours after the attack, Abdul Babar was searching the Manchester Evening News – likely to see if news had broken of the attack. Shortly after 7am, his search history shows him reading the breaking news story of the incident.

Later that day he searched online for a solicitor. He also received a message on social media saying, ‘Yo fam so what now u gotta lay low bro go back pk’, with Babar replying, ‘good idea’.

That evening, shortly after 11pm, Bakr took a taxi to Manchester Coach Station and purchased two tickets to London, both leaving at slightly different times and taking different routes.

On arrival in London, Bakr went to a house on Lakeside Drive. He was arrested in the following days by the Metropolitan Police after being tracked to the address by GMP detectives. In response to his caution, all he had to say was ‘I’m shocked.’ His mobile phone was found down the side of a sofa, it was seized by police and provided further crucial evidence for detectives.

On January 29, Abdul and Sikander Babar were discovered in the back of a lorry at a recycling centre in Essex. Phone evidence showed that they were attempting to leave the country illegally. Following several covert enquiries, the pair were caught on CCTV climbing out of the lorry which is when they were stopped by police who quickly realised that they were wanted for murder in South Manchester. They were swiftly detained and brought back for questioning.

Detective inspector Alex Wilkinson said: “My thoughts, and those of the investigation team, remain with Sadiq’s family and I hope these sentences will give at least some small measure of comfort to his family whilst they continue to deal with the immeasurable pain and heartbreak they are going through.”

Sadiq was described by his family as ‘a son, brother, uncle, a husband, and a friend for many. Each and every single person that knew him will be impacted in their own way. His memories will live with us and will be forever cherished.’

DI Wilkinson added: “Sadiq lost his life in such a cold and senseless attack. These men had a choice that night and for reasons only known to them, they chose to resort to violence. They have shown no remorse for their actions, and from the very start they have tried to destroy evidence, distance themselves from this attack, even turning against each other in court to try and shift the blame.”

Holocaust Memorial Day to be observed on January 27

Helen Greaney
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Holocaust Memorial Day to be observed on January 27
Manchester City Council will observe Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27 to pay their respects to the city’s Jewish communities, survivors of the Holocaust and how the city can work come together to create a brighter future.
The day will be marked with poignant events, including a series of talks and performances to give the community and supporters a space to reflect and galavanise efforts to fight anti-Semitism.

The theme this year for Holocaust Memorial Day is “For a Better Future,” which encourages supporters to understand the human impact on Jewish people across generations and other recent genocides to learn from the past and move towards a better future working together.

A sit-down audience with Dr Martin Stern MBE, who is a Holocaust survivor, called ‘For a Better Future,’ will be held at the Rates Hall with opening remarks from the lord mayor of Manchester, councillor Paul Andrews, who will pay his personal tribute to the community tomorrow.

The invitation-only event, which is in partnership with the National Holocaust Museum, will also welcome a poetry reading by Hannah Senesh and Memorial Prayer and Moment of Reflection led by Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen before closing remarks by deputy leader, Joanna Midgley.

Since its establishment in 2001, Holocaust Memorial Day has provided a global moment to remember the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution, and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. The day also serves as a reminder of the importance of preventing future atrocities, working towards a day when no genocide occurs.

Councillor Midgley said: “It’s our duty in Manchester to remember the victims of the Holocaust on this important day. Holocaust Memorial Day serves as a solemn reminder of the horrors of hatred and intolerance. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to eradicate antisemitism.

“This day allows us to forge deeper connections, dispel misconceptions and celebrate the contributions of the Jewish community in Manchester. By coming together, we can foster understanding, unity, and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated. Let this day inspire us all to build a future of compassion, respect, and solidarity.”

Medical Device Cybersecurity Webinars: Join Hindsight

News Desk
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Medical Device Cybersecurity Webinars: Join Hindsight

Coauthor by Hindsight, a compliance software provider tailored for medical device development, has announced a new lunchtime webinar series on medical device cybersecurity.

The series is designed to assist manufacturers, regulatory affairs specialists, and software developers in meeting evolving cybersecurity requirements, including FDA, MDR, and IEC 81001-5 standards.

The first session, happening on Thursday, 13th February 2025, will provide insights into critical regulatory updates and integrating cybersecurity within QMS. Topics to be discussed include:

· The latest regulatory requirements and their impact on cybersecurity practices.
· How cybersecurity enhances patient safety and ensures compliance.
· Myths and misconceptions that may delay regulatory approval.
· Practical updates to SOPs to align QMS with cybersecurity needs.

This brief, 30-minute session is a must for professionals looking to balance compliance with development efficiency. Participants will gain insights from industry experts in regulatory and software development, with a live Q&A for addressing specific challenges. The webinar will be led by Alan Parkinson, CEO of Hindsight Software, alongside co-host Dr Heather Carre-Skinner, a specialist in Regulatory & Quality Compliance for Medical Devices and SaMD.

Upcoming sessions in the series include:

· Threat Modelling – Effective ways to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks.
· Software Supply Chain & SBOMs – Managing vulnerabilities while ensuring compliance.
· Security Testing – Best practices for penetration testing and secure code review.

Register today!
The webinar is free, but spots are limited. Reserve your place now at: https://www.coauthor.app/webinars

India v England, first T20I: Preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and prediction

Jon Fisher
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India v England, first T20I: Preview, expected line-ups, how to watch and prediction

The State of Play

India will look to bounce back from their disappointing tour of Australia when they host England in the first of five T20 internationals on Wednesday.

India were beaten 3-1 Down Under over Christmas and the New Year, following on from a stunning 3-0 reverse at the hands of New Zealand.

But while their form in the longest format has been uncharacteristically poor, they have continued to win matches with the white ball.

They beat South Africa 3-1 in a four-match T20I series in November and Bangladesh 3-0 prior to that.

India are the world champions in the 20-over game and will present a formidable challenge for England with three one-day internationals to follow as part of the build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy which gets under way in February.

A key part of their armoury is the ability to rotate the batting order depending on the match situation, a point emphasised by vice-captain Axar Patel.

Axar said: “Batting wise, it’s not just with me, but we spoke in 2023-24 itself that the openers are fixed, but everyone from Nos. 3 to 7 have been told that they can come into bat anytime, in any situation. It is not just that one batter will bat at a particular position.

”Our middle order will come to bat depending on the match situation, what kind of bowlers are bowling at the time, which match-up works well.

“We’ve spoken about that, how we can all be floaters, be it coming in early or obviously finishing. This is not just for me, but for everyone from No. 3 and below, especially if they are in good touch in the nets. We will adjust accordingly. In T20Is, how you use your batters is so crucial, so this is an important factor in batting.”

This series ushers in a new era for England with Test coach Brendon McCullum now overseeing the white ball teams as well.

England have lost both T20 and ODI World Cup titles over the past 18 months but the New Zealander was in typically bullish mood when asked to assess his team’s chances on the sub continent.

He said: ”It’s about trying to get the best out of the talent that sits within the dressing room, trying to gel the guys as best we can, trying to work out complementary skills, and how we how we play the style of cricket that gives us our greatest chance.

“I’m desperate for us to play a really watchable brand of cricket. With the talent we have, there’s no reason why we can’t. We’ve got a batting line-up which is as powerful as any batting line-up in the world. 

“We’ve got gun spinners, very good fielders and guys who bowl absolute rockets with the ball, so you’ve got options there to be able to entertain and give yourself the greatest chance of success.”

Injury News

India can call on returning paceman Mohammed Shami after an injury-plagued 14 months. He will replace Jasprit Bumrah, who suffered a stress-related injury against Australia.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant have been rested.

England captain Jos Buttler will hand the gloves over to Phil Salt to enable him to focus on leading the side. The tourists have an impressive battery of fast bowlers, led by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.

Expected line-ups 

India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakravarthy

England (confirmed): Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

How to Watch

In the UK, you can watch this series on TNT Sports and Discovery+. The first T20I is being screened on TNT Sports 1 from 1pm.

In India, it can be viewed on the Disney Plus Hotstar app and website.

Prediction

England’s results in T20s have remained largely good despite the disappointment of the World Cup in the USA and Caribbean last year.

And with India lacking some of their gun players, the tourists will fancy their chances of getting off to a winning start in Kolkata.

We think England will edge a high-scoring encounter.

“Abhorrent offender” jailed for sexually assaulting girl

Helen Greaney
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“Abhorrent offender” jailed for sexually assaulting girl
A London predator has been jailed after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl.
Saqib Hussain (35) of Tooting, in Wandsworth, was jailed for three years and nine months at Manchester Crown Square Court on Thursday.
Hussain was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault by touching against a girl aged under 13 at an earlier hearing.
In Manchester in March 2023, Hussain pinned his victim down and sexually assaulted her by touching her.
Another incident against the same victim was also reported, where Hussain put his hand down the victim’s top further sexually assaulted her.
Hussain was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
PC Alisha Blackburn, of Greater Manchester Police’s Child Protection Investigation Unit, said: “I hope this sentencing can provide some relief for the victims and their families that this abhorrent offender is behind bars and away from harming vulnerable children.
“With the help of colleagues in the Metropolitan Police, they were promptly able to arrest Hussain on suspicion of sexual assault by touching on a female child under 13 and assault.
“I must thank the victim and their family for having the strength and courage to come forward and allow us to fully investigate this case.
“We encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, or knows someone who has, to come forward and speak to the police. We will listen to you and we will investigate.”
Greater Manchester Police can be contacted via 101 or through the Live Chat function on the website, www.gmp.police.uk. Reports can also be made anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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