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Contractor Henry Brothers Construction is working on its third scheme at The University of Manchester as it continues its growth in the North West. The company has been appointed on a £12m project to refurbish levels two and three of the Chemistry Building. It follows successful completion of phase one at the Chemistry Building, where Henry Brothers undertook the complete refurbishment of floors four and five, along with work to the level eight plantroom, roof and external ductwork and services. The company has also recently completed brick recladding at University Place in Oxford Road – a 1,000 capacity university venue which is also used for conferences and high profile events. Success in the region has led to Henry Brothers relocating to a larger space in the offices it opened in Manchester in 2022. The company has also taken on five new members of staff – a senior quantity surveyor, a senior design manager and three additional site-based staff. The news comes after Henry Brothers Construction was recently appointed to the North West Construction Hub Framework, which could also open up a pipeline of opportunities for the business. Henry Brothers Construction MD Ian Taylor said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with The University of Manchester on our third project together, supporting the university with its plans to improve facilities for students and staff." “Henry Brothers has built up a good relationship with a number of universities in the Midlands over the past few years, including Nottingham Trent, Loughborough, and Staffordshire, and we are delighted to see this being replicated in the North West, where we opened a dedicated office last year." “Our sustained growth in the region has led to Henry Brothers Construction recruiting two new senior members of the team in recent weeks, plus we have just taken larger office space. The North West is a vibrant region, and we are excited to have cemented a place on the North West Construction Hub Framework, which we hope will create new and continuing opportunities for the business in the area.” Work is progressing well on the latest scheme at The University of Manchester, which involves a full refurbishment of levels two and three of the 1960s-built, seven-storey building. It includes reorganising the layout of the two floors to create flexible lab space to feature new fume cupboards and fixed benching, dedicated write-up spaces with glazed screens for visibility throughout the lab, modern offices and attractive break-out areas. Housing one of the largest Chemistry departments in the UK, the building is situated at the junction of Brunswick Park and Upper Brook Street. The project was procured through the Crown Commercial Services Framework, and is due for completion in September 2024. The design team for the refurb includes Gardiner and Theobold as NEC project manager, RLB as quantity surveyor, Halliday Meecham Architects, structural engineers Curtins and EDPI for M&E services. Henry Brothers Construction is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit-out. In partnership with clients, it has a proven track record in education, defence, accommodation, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors.

An ambitious project to restore seagrass meadows in Kent has been launched by conservationists working to rebuild the Thames Estuary ecosystem. Working to help protect this habitat and reverse recent declines, conservationists from the international conservation charity ZSL are for the first time planting tiny seeds from dwarf eelgrass (Zostera noltii) across three sites in Kent including Seasalter and Elmley Nature Reserve as part of trials for the restoration of these vital, biodiversity-boosting underwater meadows. Seagrass, the only flowering plant to grow in seawater and found gently swaying in shallow waters on coastlines across the world, plays an essential role within these marine ecosystems – offering food and shelter for the animals that live beside and amongst it – from seahorses to sharks. However, research has shown that least 44% of seagrass has been lost from the UK coastline since 1936. Thea Cox, a Conservation Project Manager at ZSL said: “Seagrass seeds may be small, but each one is vital to recover this extraordinary habitat. Seagrass meadows provide essential nursery grounds for fish, food for birds, and habitat for a range of invertebrates – meaning they play a vital role in the health of marine habitats. Many seagrass species also help absorb and store carbon within their tissues and the sediment – meaning they can also play an important role in tackling climate change.” "Almost half of seagrass in the UK has been lost in the last 90 years – with 39% of that loss having happened since the 1980s. However, with evidence-based conservation action, we have the chance to reduce the pressures on this incredible habitat and restore lush green meadows at scale.” Through the use of a modified sealant gun and guidance from experts in the Dutch Wadden Sea who developed this method , the team are able to carefully inject precise amounts of a mud and seed mixture into the ground at the trial sites, and will continue to monitor these sites over the coming months as the eelgrass grows. This follows on from work earlier this year trialling the transplant of adult dwarf eelgrass plants. Learnings from other seagrass restoration projects across the UK and Europe and from these Kent-based trials, though currently small-scale, will provide important information for scaling up restoration efforts in the Thames estuary. One of 72 seagrass species and found across coasts globally - including in Scotland and the Thames Estuary - dwarf eelgrass provides essential overwintering food to birds including brent geese, mute swans and wigeons. Thea added: “The reason we’ve seen such drastic declines in seagrass cover in the UK is likely a combination of factors – such as reduced water quality and caused by pollution, physical disturbance of meadows and industrial development. Restoration work is just one part of the picture to create more and healthier seagrass beds – we also need action to address the threats, thereby protecting existing meadows as well as creating the conditions to maximise the chances of restoration success at scale.” In addition to support for restoration projects, the conservationists behind the Kent-based work are calling on decision-makers to safeguard the seagrass habitat that we already have through mapping and monitoring the health of existing meadows, along with implementing measures to minimise pressures to those areas where possible. This work is made possible through collaboration and knowledge sharing with organisations including The Fieldwork Company, University of Groningen, Project Seagrass, and Office Francais de la Biodiversite, with funding from Garfield Weston, Orsted and Marshall Wace TOPS (ESG) Foundation. The seagrass restoration trials are part of a larger ZSL-led project called Restoring the Thamescape, which aims to restore coastal habitats in the Thames through restoring multiple habitats together, including native oysters and saltmarsh. The project began in 2021, with the team mapping the locations of existing seagrass meadows and oysters to understand where restoration efforts should be focused. Through this holistic, multi-habitat approach, the project accounts for the interconnected nature of habitats and will help amplify the functions that they provide. ZSL believes nature can recover, and that conservation is most effective when driven by science. We call for science to guide all global decisions on environment and biodiversity and build a healthier future for wildlife, people and the planet. Find out more and support ZSL’s world-leading, collaborative science and conservation work at www.zsl.org

Barbie, Hot Wheels and Lego are expected to top Christmas lists in 2023 as Santa’s sleigh takes to the skies, according to a Euromonitor expert. Loo Wee Teck, Head of Toys and Games at Euromonitor International, said: “Classics like Barbie, Transformers, Hot Wheel are still on top of the parents, children’s and kidults – young adults - wish lists. However, global sales of action movie figures are projected to decline 2% in 2023." “Dolls and model vehicles are forecasted to buck the downward trend with flat sales for dolls and 1% growth for model vehicles. This demand is also driven by the movies like Barbie and Fast X as toy manufacturers morph into entertainment companies and push out digital content to drive additional revenues like movies.” Wee Teck said toys made from natural material like wood were expected to be in high demand this year benefiting from the increased focus by families, Gen Z and Millennials on sustainability. “Toy manufacturers are planning big push this holiday season. Some leading toy manufacturers have reported a drop in sales in the first half of the year especially in the US - the largest toy market. Nonetheless, we expect a concerted effort from both manufacturers and retailers as we move towards the critical holiday season with aggressive promotion and advertisements,” added Wee Teck. Wee Teck said China remains the key toy manufacturer in the market accounting for third quarter of all global toys according to trade sources. The Indian toy industry is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the “Make in India” campaign driven by the country’s government. India's toy exports increased 60 per cent from $203.46 million in 2018-19 to $325.72 million in 2022-23, based on data provided by Ministry of State for Commerce and Industry of India. For more consumer insights see the Euromonitor report here .

The Mayor of Charnwood’s annual Community Carol service will take place during the Christmas period. The festive event takes place on Monday December 18 at 7pm at All Saints with Holy Trinity, Loughborough’s Historic Parish. Music at the event will be provided by the All Saints Church Choir and the Charnwood Symphonic Wind Orchestra. Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Margaret Smidowicz, said: “I am very much looking forward to welcoming residents to the annual carol service. It is a wonderful opportunity to gather the community together, and importantly get them in a festive mood." “This will also give us an opportunity to raise money for my chosen charities, Men and Women in Sheds and a local cancer self help group who are working with The Swallows to raise awareness of head and neck cancer. In addition, we will contribute to All Saints with Holy Trinity Church who host this annual event.” “I would like to wish everyone in Charnwood a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.” Revd. Canon David Newman will be leading the festive service and commented: “We are looking forward to welcoming friends and neighbours of all faiths and none to Loughborough’s historic parish church." “As generations have done over hundreds of years, we look to hear and be inspired by the ancient Christian story of the birth of Jesus told through word and song." The event is free to attend and is not ticketed. Spaces will be given on a first-come first-served basis and there will be complimentary refreshments following the service.

Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland are issuing an appeal for people to give what they can to enable them to provide vital services to older people in need this winter. Winter can be a tough time. Miserable weather, dark nights, post-Christmas blues, feeling the pinch…it’s no wonder lots of us struggle. But as we get older, those long winter months can feel much harder. Cold temperatures can seriously affect our health. Difficulty getting out and about can leave us feeling lonely and isolated. Plus. soaring energy bills and the ongoing cost of living crisis can make surviving on a limited income almost impossible. 1 in 3 (36%) people aged 65+ in Great Britain described their financial situation as being worse than a year ago. Local charity, Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland have launched an urgent appeal to the local community and organisations to give what they can to enable them to continue providing vital services to older people in need this winter. Donations to the ‘Spread the Warmth’ campaign supports Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland in providing befriending calls and visits, gifting a hot meal voucher*, emergency food parcel, home energy efficiency tips and advice along with help to claim many benefits that local people are unaware that they are entitled to. Tony Donovan, Executive Director at Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland said: “We are receiving more and more calls from older people really concerned about how they are going to keep their homes warm this winter and pay their bills." "If older people become fearful of the cost of heating their homes, this is going have a catastrophic effect not only on their physical health, but their mental health as well. We want to keep local older people safe and warm at home, reducing the possibility of illnesses resulting in hospital admissions.” You can help us spread the warmth to older people who need it most. Let’s beat this winter together. Donating: 1. £5.00 helps to provide a befriending call, providing companionship and connection for older lonely and isolated people. 2. £10.00 helps to provide a hot meal voucher* offering a friendly, warm and safe place to eat a nutritious meal. 3. £20.00 helps towards a trained adviser supporting vulnerable people via our Information and Advice helpline. 4. £25.00 helps towards an emergency food parcel. Many thousands of older people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland receive a winter fuel payment of between £250 and £600. For some, the payment is critical to keeping warm and well through winter but, for many, this benefit is less essential to their winter wellbeing. Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is encouraging anyone who does not need their winter fuel allowance to donate it to make winter warmer, safer and manageable for the very many older people already struggling to get by this year. To donate to the Spread the Warmth appeal now, please visit here.

The National Trust has acquired a further 70 acres (28 hectares) of land adjoining Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, in efforts to protect more of the precious fenland habitat and to help more rare animals and birds including turtle doves. The turtle dove used to be a frequent visitor to the UK following its annual migratory path from breeding grounds in mid-summer through western Europe to wintering grounds in west Africa. But, since the 1970s, numbers have been in sharp decline in this country and this ‘dainty dove’ is now under threat from global extinction due to habitat loss, food shortages and unsustainable levels of hunting. The UK had around 2,100 breeding pairs of turtle dove according to a survey in 2021 and the best places to spot them are East Anglia and south-east England, where hundreds of farmers, landowners and conservation organisations are working with ‘Operation Turtle Dove’ to restore turtle dove habitat on farmlands and reverse their decline. Wicken Fen, an internationally significant National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, was the first nature reserve to be acquired by the National Trust, with two acres bought in 1899. The reserve has since expanded to over 2,000 acres (809 hectares), supporting over 9,300 species, and this recent addition was made possible by legacies and donations from the public to support the Wicken Fen Vision and the purchase of land for nature. Some of the newly acquired landscape will be used to support turtle doves and other farmland birds, thanks to a £58,000 grant from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme and generous donations towards hedgerow tree planting. As the BBC Wild Isles series revealed earlier this year, over 40 per cent of the UK’s native species are in decline, and the UK is in the bottom 10 per cent of countries globally for protecting nature. Many of the spectacular landscapes and their wildlife seen on Wild Isles are, in fact, fragile and fragmented.  Alan Kell, Countryside Manager for the National Trust’s Wicken Fen, said: “As outlined in the State of Nature report released in September this year, the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, with a significant part of this a result of habitat loss. This acquisition and the support of Natural England's Species Recovery Programme will provide the opportunity to restore scarce habitats such as lowland meadow, hedgerows, arable field margins and ponds, and expand Wicken Fen to provide a green corridor for the benefit of both nature; including many nationally threatened species such as the turtle dove, but also for people, by providing additional access to green spaces." “On one of the recently acquired parcels of land on the outskirts of the village of Reach, we are set to establish a mix of habitats, including a wild bird cover crop, lowland meadow and hedgerows to encourage turtle doves and other farmland birds and invertebrates to the area come spring. The team will then survey the biodiversity of the site, including monitoring for turtle doves during the breeding season with results feeding into ‘Operation Turtle Dove,’ a project run by the RSPB, Natural England and the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, that advises on turtle dove habitat creation.” Alan continued: “Turtle doves feed mostly on arable and mixed farmland, where its staple food of wildflower seeds and farmed crop grains are found on the ground. The species nests and roosts near to its feeding grounds in thorny scrub, tall wide hedgerows and dense scrubby woodland edges.” Mike Shurmer, Head of Species for RSPB England said: “The ambition of the communities we work with through Operation Turtle Dove to help save these iconic birds is nothing short of amazing, and if we continue with this momentum, it won’t be long before we can expect to see Turtle Dove numbers starting to rise across the UK.” Over the past few years, Wicken Fen has worked with villagers from Reach on a number of community-led projects including woodland planting, which has now developed into ideal nesting habitat for turtle doves. Plans are underway to establish ponds in the area and now they hope to work together on turtle dove monitoring. Local resident, Nick Acklam, commented: “Over the last ten years or so the community of Reach had benefitted from the National Trust’s acquisition of the 24 acres. Half the land had been leased to the village and had enabled four projects that were close to the heart of the community, namely creating an equestrian manège, developing an award-winning cricket pitch and planting a community orchard and native woodland." "Villagers look forward to participating in future projects led by the Trust to add to the biodiversity of the area including the creation of ponds.” The latest acquisition is part of the Wicken Fen Vision, launched in 1999, it is an ambitious 100-year plan to expand and create a diverse landscape for nature, carbon and people. Covering 53km2, the Vision area stretches from Wicken Fen to Anglesey Abbey (which is approximately 5 miles / 8km away) and the edge of Cambridge. The aim of the vision is to protect a historic landscape of high environmental value, whilst providing a space to breathe, think and explore in the modern world. Emma Ormond-Bones, General Manager at Wicken Fen, said: “By working in partnership with landowners and tenants, our aim is to enhance biodiversity, secure carbon through peat and habitat restoration, and provide accessible greenspace for people." “People will be able to enjoy access and recreation opportunities across the Vision area, with opportunities to get involved through volunteering, education, events and interpretation in the landscape.” The National Trust, together with the RSPB and WWF UK, is asking everyone to act now to help Save Our Wild Isles. “The truth is, every one of us, no matter who we are or where we live, can and must play a part in restoring nature,” says Sir David Attenborough.

ITV Studios has announced the appointment of Laurens Woldberg as Managing Director of ITV Studios Netherlands, producer of Oogappels (Loved Ones), the winner of the prestigious Golden Televizier-Ring 2023, as well as Love Island Netherlands & Belgium, Het Perfecte Plaatje (The Perfect Picture), Oh Wat Een Jaar (A year to Remember) and Married at first Sight. Laurens joins the production house, one of the largest in The Netherlands, from the Dutch public broadcaster, KRO-NCRV where he has been Creative Director of Fiction and Non-Fiction since 2022, overseeing commissioning editors, third-party produced series, as well as (inhouse) format development and sales. He will report to Lisa Perrin, Managing Director, International Production, ITV Studios in London. Lisa Perrin, said “I'm thrilled that Laurens is joining ITV Studios. He's proved during his time at Simpel, SimpelZodiak and now KRO-NCRV that not only is he a creative leader, but someone that can translate international formats into the Dutch market. I'm sure he will continue to bring those skills to ITV Studios Netherlands.” Laurens Woldberg, said “I have had two great years working with KRO-NCRV and the team there, but I’m really excited about my new role with ITV Studios Netherlands. I am looking forward to working with its talented producers and excellent shows. As the home of many successful global formats - I’m hoping to bring some more ITV Studios brands to our broadcasters, but also create and export some as well.” Prior to his role at KRO-NCRV, Laurens was Managing Director of SimpelZodiak, Banijay Netherlands which specialises in adventure reality, reality and factual producing shows such as Survivor, Hunted, S.A.S and Masterchef among others, and was part of the management team of Banijay Benelux. He held the title of MD for 11 years through a period of high growth for the original Simpel Media, which was the subject of several M&A deals. During this time he oversaw Simpel Media NL and Simpel Media Belgium as well as their acquisition by EndemolShine Group (ESG) and merger with Stokvis Niehe Productions in 2015. Laurens became part of the ESG global senior advisory board in 2018 and was also appointed Director of Commercial Partnerships at EndemolShine Netherlands in 2019, before its eventual merge with Zodiak Netherlands, part of Banijay Group.

The recent National Courier Awards took place recently in London and the annual event continues to be a fantastic occasion celebrating excellence in logistics and delivery and is organised by the Institute of Couriers. Hosted at the grand Drapers Hall in the City of London, the gala industry event saw a number of prestigious awards given for those recognised as best-of-the-best in express, courier, last mile, final mile operations. Assessed by an independent panel of judges, the awards recognise the very best of the best and the winners were selected from a huge number of nominations. The judges chose O’Donovan as a winning business for their work and dedication in reducing carbon emissions through innovative policies, commitment to training, vehicle enhancements and promoting a greener culture to improve fleet operations. Jacqueline O'Donovan was there to collect the award and when interviewed on the decarbonisation topic, had this to say. “We have to face facts and step up as business leaders – the climate change crisis needs immediate action and we all have a part to play. I hope the work we do to reduce our carbon emissions will inspire other companies to maximise their efforts in relation to their own environmental impact and we are delighted to win this award in recognition of our achievements.”

Leicester City Football Club is pleased to confirm that its hybrid planning application for the development of the King Power Stadium and surrounding site has now received formal approval from Leicester City Council, following the Council planning committee’s initial approval in September 2022. This final decision had been held pending the finalisation of a Section 106 agreement in relation to the proposed development, which has now been concluded. The Club welcomes this endorsement of the planning committee’s previous approval and thanks its fellow city stakeholders for their continued cooperation and support for a developmental vision that will be transformational for the city and the region. The hybrid application, initially submitted for consideration in October 2021 following an extensive public consultation process, consisted of a detailed planning application for an East Stand expansion of 8,000 seats, along with an outline application for a wider masterplan, including a fanzone and public realm, an event and entertainment arena, a 220-room hotel, a residential tower and a new flagship club retail space. The wider masterplan is critical to the viability of the overall project, and the grant of outline permission for these additional elements represents a critical milestone for the overall development, whilst also providing the Club with an opportunity now to reassess its detailed proposals in light of market dynamics which have changed significantly since the Club’s proposals were initially submitted. The Club’s acquisition of further adjacent land since the planning application was first submitted can now also be factored into the vision for the overall site, and presents a further opportunity to strengthen the Club’s overall commercial proposition. It will be the responsibility of the Club’s leadership to ensure that the final detailed plans for a project of such longevity deliver optimal value, particularly given the scale of investment which will be required from the Club and its owners to bring it to fruition. The Club looks forward to advancing those detailed proposals, while continuing to monitor associated market conditions, which will enable them to plan an appropriate timeline for development work to commence.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly advancing field that intersects with various aspects of our daily lives, shaping the present and undoubtedly influencing the future. At its core, AI refers to the development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. So how has AI the evolved and what are some of the applications, challenges, and ethical considerations surrounding it. The roots of AI trace back to ancient times when philosophers and inventors contemplated the idea of creating artificial beings. However, it wasn't until the mid-20th century that AI emerged as a distinct field with the advent of electronic computers. Alan Turing's pioneering work laid the theoretical foundation, and subsequent decades witnessed significant strides in machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing. AI's applications are diverse, ranging from virtual personal assistants like Siri and Alexa to sophisticated systems powering autonomous vehicles and medical diagnostics. Machine learning algorithms enable computers to analyse vast datasets, recognise patterns, and make decisions, revolutionising industries such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. Despite its transformative potential, AI presents formidable challenges. Ethical concerns encompass issues like bias in algorithms, job displacement due to automation, and the potential misuse of AI in surveillance or warfare. Striking a balance between innovation and ethical considerations remains a paramount challenge for researchers, policymakers, and society as a whole. Moreover, the exponential growth of AI raises questions about its societal impact. As AI systems become more autonomous, the accountability and transparency of decision-making processes become critical. Ensuring that AI aligns with human values and respects privacy is an ongoing challenge that demands global collaboration and regulatory frameworks. The journey ahead involves addressing these challenges while unlocking the full potential of AI. Continued research into explainable AI, robust regulatory frameworks, and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to harness AI for the collective good. The responsible development and deployment of AI technologies can enhance our capabilities, augment human potential, and contribute to solving complex global challenges. AI is a dynamic field that holds immense promise yet poses significant challenges. Its evolution intertwines with the progress of technology, science, and society. By navigating the ethical considerations, fostering innovation, and fostering a collective understanding, we can shape a future where AI serves as a powerful tool for the betterment of humanity.

Harlequins has teamed up with Principal Partner DHL and the Club's Technical & Retail Partner Castore to create a Limited Edition LGBTQ+ Pride Supporter Kit ahead of its blockbuster Investec Champions Cup tie against French rugby royalty Toulouse on Sunday 17 December 2023. The kit is the latest example of Harlequins’ on-going support for and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, and kicks-off a range of activities to promote representation and champion inclusion in rugby, including two dedicated LGBTQ+ Pride fixtures at The Stoop - Harlequins Men vs Leicester Tigers (Friday 26 January) and Harlequins Women vs Sale Sharks (Sunday 4 February). The LGBTQ+ Pride-inspired design was created with partner Castore and its primary black design incorporates the various colours of the LGBTQ+ Progress Flag in a subtle yet strong design. A special LGBTQ+ DHL brand logo is incorporated into the design of the kit – the first time this has happened in rugby and a demonstration of commitment to inclusivity from Principal Partner DHL. The kit will be worn in training by both Harlequins Men’s and Women’s teams and pre match for the LGBTQ+ Pride fixtures. Harlequins CEO Laurie Dalrymple commented: “Harlequins and its partners share a firm belief in breaking down barriers and creating a Club for all, so we are delighted to be launching the new bespoke LGBTQ+ Pride Supporter Kit at such a high-profile match against one of the most iconic teams in world rugby." “With a sold-out crowd at The Stoop and a big global TV audience for the match, we wanted to give the launch of the kit the maximum exposure possible. We look forward to our supporters showing their support for the Club and the LGBTQ+ community by wearing the new kit with pride.” As part of the launch, Principal Partner, DHL, will be sending 100 of the kits to partners, advocates, and influencers across the world to create a global connection to the LGBTQ+ Pride Supporter Kit and further amplify its release. Rick Jackson, DHL Group EVP Engagement & Enablement and DEIB Lead added: “As one of the most inclusive international companies in the world, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is at the heart of everything DHL does and the new kit perfectly encapsulates this." “We share Harlequins ambition of creating places where everyone belongs and by delivering the new LGBTQ+ supporter kit with pride globally, we have a unique opportunity to promote this important message across the world.” Harlequins Inclusivity Club Partner, the Kings Cross Steelers Rugby Club (the first LGBTQ+ inclusive rugby club in the world) and Harlequins’ Official LGBTQ+ Supporter Association, Quins Pride (the only supporters’ association of its kind in English rugby), were both supportive of the initiative and its launch. Harlequins and DHL has invited Nigel Owens, to unveil the shirt ahead of kick-off in front of international media and a sold-out Twickenham Stoop stadium this weekend. Emily Hamilton, Chair of Quins Pride said: “In a time of unprecedented danger and increased hate crimes against the LGBTQIA community, providing welcoming and safe spaces for people to get together, enjoy sport and find family is more essential than ever. I’m proud that Harlequins have led the way in creating an inclusive environment where we celebrate our uniqueness but also share a common love of our wonderful team and sport." "Quins Pride and Harlequins are proud to welcome everyone to our home to enjoy rugby and friendship. Wearing our community colours combined with the badge of the club we all love is a great way to show your support and demonstrate your commitment to being the most inclusive club in world rugby." Commenting on the announcement, Matt Webb, ex-Chairman of the Kings Cross Steelers said: “The new kit will create visibility and it's important that people can wear clothing that they are comfortable in. It's not just about those from the community wearing the shirts, it's about having those from outside of the LGBTQ+ community showing that everybody is welcome." "A lot of people feel incredibly safe and secure coming to a Quins match and this means a lot to all supporters. Everybody should feel welcome in rugby, and by supporting and wearing the shirt, supporters will show that they are an ally. And allyship is something that's really, really important.”

There is an increasing risk that popular ‘smart’ Christmas presents could leave people vulnerable to cyber-attack and allow criminals to invade their privacy. That is the message from leading cyber-security company C3IA Solutions, which has said that the market is being flooded with cheaper, less secure products. Anything that can be connected to the internet presents a potential risk and users – which include businesses - are often unaware of the potential dangers. There are estimated to be more than 15 billion smart devices in use across the world and many criminals are committed to hacking them. These devices include doorbells, smart plugs, home assistants, tracking devices, smart locks and doors, modern televisions and children’s toys. Hannah Baverstock from C3IA Solutions, which is headquartered in Poole, Dorset, has been researching the dangersand risks to us all, adding that: “The Internet of Things is the term for all those devices that connect to the internet and while they are incredible pieces of tech that often make our lives easier, there are risks." “These risks are increasing because of the growing number of them and the types of company around the world producing them.They are designed to seamlessly fit into our lives, but they do require maintenance to keep them secure." “Many will use cameras or microphones and so are potentially capable of invading your privacy. We have also seen a new wave of products that are cheaper and less secure and can become vulnerable very quickly. But there are things people can do to reduce the risks. Buy reliable, well-known brands that have websites, helplines and support." “Check the reviews and buy products that have long support periods and receive regular security updates. All default passwords should be changed because they are easy to guess and often are available to find on the internet. And choose strong passwords – three random words is a good method." “Disable features that are not required and also pay attention to any associated apps. Sometimes the apps ask for permission to access your camera which the device doesn’t need, so deny it permission. Most devices will connect to a home’s Wi-Fi and the router acts as the gatekeeper so it needs to be secure. Its default password should be changed, and any firewall should be enabled." “It is also wise to change the SSID (Service Set Identifier) because this makes it harder for any hacker to guess the make of the router. wise to change the SSID (Service Set Identifier) because this makes it harder for any hacker to guess the make of the router." “Millions of devices will be given as presents this Christmas which provides hackers with another attack vector. Whether they want to spy on you in a voyeuristic way or gain access to your passwords they will attempt to do it through poorly secured devices." “One thing they do is hack into multiple devices and use them as a botnet. A botnet is an army of devices that can be used to bombard targets with traffic and hide the activity of the hackers. If people ensure their devices are as secure as possible the hackers will quickly move on to a new victim." “Businesses too are often unaware of the risks that internet-connected devices pose even if their computer systems have good security.”