logo
Royal Navy frigates to be based in Portsmouth

Royal Navy frigates to be based in Portsmouth

Yahoo25-04-2025
A new class of Royal Navy frigates will be based in Portsmouth the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.
In response to a question from the BBC, the MoD said all five of the new Type 31 general purpose frigates will replace ships previously based at the Hampshire naval base.
The new frigates are currently being built in Rosyth in Fife, with the first due to enter service in a couple of years time.
Portsmouth City Council leader Steve Pitt said the news was "important to the city".
The vessels will undertake a variety of operational roles, including interception and disruption of illegal activity at sea, intelligence gathering and defence engagement.
They will replace the five general-purpose Type-23 frigates currently in service with the Royal Navy.
The Type 31 frigates will have advanced capabilities fitted onboard, including a supersonic anti-air missile defence system, as well as Bofors naval guns and a 4D radar system.
There will also be space to house a Royal Navy helicopter.
Portsmouth is already home to six 45 destroyers and the two Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard hinted at the news during his visit to Portsmouth for the departure of the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Prince of Wales on its deployment on Tuesday.
The announcement also means the maintenance and refits of the ships will be carried out locally.
Mr Pitt said: "It's fantastic to get confirmation that Portsmouth Naval Base is to get the additional warships, helping to secure the future of the Naval Base. which is so important to the city."
The MoD has also confirmed that the eight Type 26 anti-submarine frigates will, as expected, be based at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth.
Mr Pollard also said there would be extra spending on the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy as part of the government's increase in the defence budget.
The government's strategic defence review is due to be published later in the spring.
You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Construction work starts on Royal Navy frigates
Royal Navy frigate order goes to Babcock
Ministry of Defence
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Contract gambling has become a runaway train
Contract gambling has become a runaway train

The Hill

time3 days ago

  • The Hill

Contract gambling has become a runaway train

On July 21, the Senate Agriculture Committee's scheduled vote to confirm Brian Quintenz — a financial manager and former commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission — as the commission's new chair, was postponed. On Monday, another committee vote on Quintenz was postponed. Officially, the delays were due to lack of a quorum and White House concerns. But unofficially, insiders speculated that they were due to growing opposition to Quintenz, who is also a board member of Kalshi, a gambling company promoting future 24/7 games of chance on anything, anywhere. By the end of July, insiders noted that the opposition to Quintenz was still growing both within the Senate Agriculture Committee and throughout the U.S. Senate. Withdrawing the Quintenz nomination appeared to be an option gaining support. Since 2024, Kalshi has won several prime legal cases which arguably permit all types of 24/7 gambling everywhere on anything under the guise of legal events contracts. Kalshi-type gambling was sanctioned by the CFTC on May 5 when the commission unexpectedly dropped its case by filing a three-page surrender to Kalshi in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Accordingly, predictions markets can now gamble on elections, climate change and any 'future event' such as sports events. Allegedly bypassing all state and federal gambling regulations throughout the 50 states, Kalshi and its events contracts are still opposed by 34 states. On June 17, those states filed an amicus brief on a New Jersey case against Kalshi before the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. However, Kalshi is still offering its gambling-type events contracts, including sports gambling, in anticipation of winning in the Third Circuit or on further appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The week before President Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, Donald Trump Jr. was hired by Kalshi as an adviser. At that time, Kalshi was attempting to force the CFTC to allow de facto gambling via the predictions markets through the courts. On Feb. 11, President Trump nominated Quintenz to chair the CFTC. On May 5, the CFTC dropped its case against Kalshi and on June 10, Quintenz's nomination hearing was held before the Senate Agriculture Committee. During his nomination hearing, Quintenz was pointedly questioned by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) regarding apparent conflicts of interest, particularly when Quintenz repeatedly stated that he supported Kalshi-type events contracts as legal. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) also vigorously queried Quintenz on the conflict of sports gambling events contracts with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, but Quintenz still defended the legitimacy of the Kalshi-type events contracts. The CFTC's original 2021 position against Kalshi's proposals, which prevailed until it abandoned its position in May, was supported via letters from multiple members of Congress. However, in 2021 as CFTC commissioner, Quintenz supported Kalshi's proposals. On Nov. 16, 2021, Quintenz joined Kalshi's board of directors. Since January, Kalshi has been offering sports event contracts which, for March Madness, were ' expanded to single-game outcomes ' on basketball games, reportedly constituting 16 percent of all March Madness wagers. Kalshi's arguments have prevailed in every significant court case, thereby obviating state and federal prohibitions. Their victories have also enabled similar gambling companies such as DraftKings as well as trading platforms such as Robinhood. Strategically, the universal gambling enabled via events contracts destabilizes Wall Street norms and the predictions markets. This macroeconomic scenario emulates the regulatory debacle of the credit default swaps, including the 2000 Commodity Futures Modernization Act, which largely precipitated the 2008 Great Recession. These 2025 trends toward uncontrolled and irrational gambling were also exemplified as people legally bet on the wildfires in California and other news events. Such extensive gambling activities, which are now largely unregulated and being combined with artificial intelligence applications, need to be addressed as a strategic economic threat to U.S. national security and the international strategic economic base. For 30 years, congressional hearings have noted that as legalized gambling continues to grow it becomes a threat to U.S. economic national security. A 1995 hearing before the House Judiciary Committee which included testimony and input from economic national security interests, as well as organized crime, culminated in the enactment of the U.S. National Gambling Impact Study Commission. In 1999, the commission's final report called for a moratorium on the expansion of any type of gambling anywhere in the U.S. It included a four-year analysis by U.S. experts which concluded that the Kalshi-type of internet gambling could not be regulated and should remain forever banned. The Kalshi and CFTC situation proves the validity of the U.S. Gambling Commission's warnings, and demonstrates to Congress and the public that new congressional hearings are essential. John Kindt is a professor emeritus of law, business and economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has served as a senior editor, contributing author and intermittent co-author of the United States International Gambling Report and the United States International Gaming Report.

Council speaks out to 'give facts' on those living in hotel after speculation and misinformation
Council speaks out to 'give facts' on those living in hotel after speculation and misinformation

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Yahoo

Council speaks out to 'give facts' on those living in hotel after speculation and misinformation

A council has spoken out to dispel rumours about the residents of a hotel near Cardiff Airport. The Vale of Glamorgan Council said there has been "misinformation and speculation" about residents staying temporarily at the Holiday Inn Express in Rhoose. The hotel has been selected by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for use as temporary accommodation for entitled persons (EPs) from Afghanistan on a short-term basis, the Vale of Glamorgan Council has said in a statement. It said that it is a UK Government scheme, led by the MOD. The hotel has already been used previously to home families in desperate situations. Conservative regional Senedd member for South Wales Central, Andrew RT Davies, has questioned the appropriateness of a site with limited access to facilities and services. A statement from the council read: "The MOD is the most appropriate organisation to provide details about the arrangement. "However, as there has been speculation and misinformation about the project on social media and within the local community, the council feels it is important that residents are given the facts. "As EPs, this group have the right to live in the UK following their efforts supporting the British military in Afghanistan. "These households are not illegal immigrants, asylum seekers or refugees. "The UK Government has granted them indefinite leave to remain in this country, which is now regarded as their home. "The first of two intakes, which is expected shortly, will consist of 19 families with children, three couples and a single person. This temporary arrangement, lasting up to nine months, is in place while they are helped to find more permanent accommodation across the UK." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, councillor Lis Burnett, said: 'This location has been selected by the MOD as part of an operation to help a distinct group of people who have fled Afghanistan after working in partnership with UK Forces in that country. 'They have every right to live in this country following the commitment and loyalty they have shown and, in a large number of cases, the sacrifices they have made. 'This is not a council initiative, but one organised and operated by the MOD, which we are supporting. "As with previous schemes, funding has been provided by the UK Government. 'The communities of the Vale have a long history of helping those in need and values relating to tolerance, acceptance, understanding and inclusivity are a central feature of this council's ongoing ethos and approach. 'Naturally, we also care deeply about our existing residents and feel you should be informed about what's happening in your locality. 'Over recent weeks, council teams have been working with colleagues from the MOD, Welsh Government and other agencies to prepare for arrivals. 'Initial conversations have taken place with local schools to assess existing capacity and the possibility of placing children, but no final decisions can be made until the EPs arrive and the age of the children is known. "As is common when dealing with sensitive issues like this, these discussions have needed to be kept confidential. 'The UK Government will provide funding to support education and increase the capacity of health services such as doctor's surgeries. 'We have a shining example of how successful a temporary placement of EPs can be in nearby St Athan, where the local community embraced arrivals from Afghanistan staying on the army base there. 'Those individuals were invited to join local sports clubs, while residents worked together to collect items they may need to be more comfortable. I'm confident the people of Rhoose, Barry and the wider Vale of Glamorgan area will be equally welcoming. 'Many of these people will have suffered great trauma, given up everything and left their homes to move to a new country. "It is highly likely they will feel vulnerable and scared as they start a completely new life. 'The Vale will be these families' first home in the UK – it is up to us to help them acclimatise and adjust to life here. As a community, I'm sure we will offer them the empathy and dignity they deserve. 'I'm proud of our previous achievements. People in the Vale have a consistent track record of greeting new arrivals with warmth, hospitality and compassion. That is what we do because that is the kind of place we all want to live in.' The council says it is in regular contact with the MOD and other partners and "will provide further updates on this matter as the situation develops". Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice

To Present Like A Pro, Talk Like A Teenager
To Present Like A Pro, Talk Like A Teenager

Forbes

time6 days ago

  • Forbes

To Present Like A Pro, Talk Like A Teenager

Sometimes when communicating, we can be our own biggest obstacle to being effective. We try to look smart by making things seem more complicated than they really are. It's hard to sound passionate and intense about something complicated. Instead, remember how you felt about an issue when you were younger, and how you articulated a simple statement of your belief. Even if you missed the mark because of inadequate information or an evolving set of principles, you probably spoke with a simple eloquence and unabashed fearlessness that you haven't heard yourself use in a while. There's a lot to learn from your former self. As a coach for senior professionals about to deliver major talks or participate in significant pitches, I hear lots of complicated speeches, often supported by complex slides and support material. Most of my job is to help people clear away the clutter and get to the point. I recently had a great opportunity to listen to two dozen teenagers who nailed their presentations. They did so by keeping their language simple, conveying a genuine sense of commitment to their idea, and tackling tough and random questions with a great balance of confidence and humility. Here are some recommendations for how we can all bring those elements to our next big presentation. The program encouraged the students to think about and research a topic of particular significance to each of them. Each then drafted a research paper on that topic and crafted a public policy recommendation to tackle a tough issue. I had the privilege of serving as a judge in a Shark Tank-type competition. As they pitched their ideas, each started with a clearly defined statement of what program the particular local, state, or national body they were addressing should enact, fund, develop, or expand. Whether it was Mae from Charlotte, North Carolina advocating limiting the use of AI in high school classrooms, or Beckett from Castine, Maine talking about increased funding for Ukraine, they articulated their position with a clear statement of what action they wanted the relevant governing body to take. They spoke in the active voice, using dynamic verbs. For your next presentation, use 'Fund project X,' rather than, 'Project X needs more support.' Say, 'Trade Vendor Y for Vendor Z,' rather than, 'It's time we consider shifting our sourcing requirements to leverage enhanced capabilities of new market players.' The power of your statement lies in the verbs. Instead, think of those questions as clues to your audience's concerns and interest. The person asking the question is actually the one who is allowing themselves to be vulnerable in that moment. They are exposing either a lack of knowledge on a topic or their underlying concern. Treat their question as an opportunity to help a colleague or potential client to buy in to your idea. When Kam from Roswell, New Mexico proposed increased spending on mental health education in high schools, or Josephine from Ashland, Oregon advocated for urban planning that promoted more 'walkable' communities, they didn't flinch when the panel of judges pummeled them with questions, and they had no idea what those questions might be. In fact, not a single student hesitated when responding to the many questions asked. They took each one as an opportunity to share more information about their idea. They recognized that the questions were coming from a place of inquisitiveness, not attack. The students who were presenting their ideas knew the setting was safe, that the judges were there to support their learning rather than trap them or point out flaws in their argument. That psychological safety allowed them to remain calm when responding to our questions. To adopt that approach yourself the next time you are delivering a presentation, assume that your audience wants you to succeed and that their questions come from a place of curiosity and shared purpose rather than a place of negativity. That approach of 'assuming positive intent' will allow you to remain your confident, dynamic self right through to the very last question. In short, if you want to regain that sense of youthful confidence when delivering a talk or presentation, pick the right verbs, focus less on what you want and more on why the audience should want it, and assume your listeners' want you to succeed. There's rarely anything in it for them if you don't.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store