The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) is the European fund established to provide support for adapting to the Common Fisheries Policy, including control and enforcement and data collection obligations. EMFF supports sustainable development within the fishing and aquaculture sectors and the conservation of the marine environment, alongside supporting growth and jobs in coastal communities.

In order to support small fisheries businesses through the application process the Cabinet Secretary has made additional funds available. Each small business who is interested in applying for EMFF funding will be able to access up to a maximum of £3,000 to pay an advisor of their choice to help them develop their ideas into fundable projects.

The Cabinet Secretary said:

“The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund is worth between £14m – £16m to fishing and aquaculture industries in Wales. It goes a long way in helping us achieve our objective to develop a vibrant, competitive and sustainable fishing sector.

“The outcome of the EU referendum last year and the subsequent guarantee by the Treasury to honour commitments made until the UK leaves the EU, means it is important Wales maximises the take up of this fund.

“I have, therefore, decided to make funds available from my budget to provide support to small fisheries businesses considering making an application for EMFF funding.

“There are many good ideas for projects, however we do not have the luxury of taking a year to turn those ideas into fundable projects. This support will be focused on doing just that. Ensuring the project applications which come forward are ready to hit the ground running and do not remain just great ideas”.

6 February 2017 – Attacks in Afghanistan by the Taliban, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) and pro-Government troops killed or injured more children and other civilians in 2016 than at any other time since the United Nations began keeping records, it was announced today.

According to the new UN report, some 11,418 civilian casualties were confirmed last year – including 2,589 children – an increase of 24 per cent since the previous high in 2015.

Releasing the casualty figures at a press conference in the Afghan capital of Kabul, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Tadamichi Yamamoto, called the killing and maiming of thousands of Afghan civilians “deeply harrowing and largely preventable.”

“All parties to the conflict must take immediate concrete measures to protect the ordinary Afghan men, women and children whose lives are being shattered,” said Mr. Yamamoto, who is also the head of the UN Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA).

A breakdown of the figures shows that 3,498 people were killed, among them 923 children, and 7,920 civilians were injured, including 2,589 children.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, said the casualty figures painted a picture of the most vulnerable sectors of society paying the highest price.

Source: UNAMA Annual Report 2016 Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

“Children have been killed, blinded, crippled – or inadvertently caused the death of their friends – while playing with unexploded ordnance that is negligently left behind by parties to the conflict,” Mr. Zeid said. His Office, known by the acronym OHCHR, works annually with UNAMA to produce the report.

In addition to figures, the report includes excerpt of interviews with survivors of violence.

One of the interviews is with a mother who survived a mortar attack during a ground engagement in the Bala Buluk district of Farah province, in the western part of Afghanistan.

Aftermath of an explosion in the centre of Kabul, Afghanistan, on the corner of Passport Lane and the Indian Embassy. Photo: UNAMA/Jawad Jalali (file)

“It was the day before Ramadan when a number of Taliban entered my village,” she told UNAMA during a telephone interview in June 2016. “While we were walking to my husband’s tricycle, a mortar shell landed nearby. My mother-in-law and I hit the ground injured and my newborn baby was hit by shrapnel in the chest. He died after a few minutes.”

UN investigators found that anti-Government forces, mainly the Taliban, were responsible for almost two-thirds of the casualties, while pro-Government forces were responsible for almost one-quarter. In addition, casualties caused by airstrikes carried out by Afghan and international forces nearly doubled since 2015.

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of Friday 3 February and could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.

M1 junction 30 Barlborough

The northbound exit and entry slip roads will be fully closed overnight on Tuesday 7 February for survey works. The closures will take place between 8pm and 6am, and drivers will be able to follow clearly signed diversion routes.

M1 Junction 32 Thurcroft to Junction 35a Stocksbridge

The hard shoulder is currently closed in both directions as part of the smart motorway scheme between junctions 32 and 34. The M18 Southbound link to the M1 northbound will be fully closed overnight for five nights from Monday 6 February. The northbound carriageway will be fully closed between the slip roads at junction 32 overnight for two nights on Saturday 11 February. The northbound carriageway will be fully closed between the slip roads at junction 33 overnight for two nights on Saturday 11 February.

The northbound exit slip road at junction 33 will be closed overnight for two nights from Monday 6 February. The northbound carriageway will be fully closed from junction 32 to junction 33 overnight for three nights from Wednesday 8 February. The southbound carriageway will be fully closed from junction 32 to junction 33 overnight for two nights from Monday 6 February. The southbound carriageway will be fully closed between the slip roads at junction 34 for two nights from Monday 6 February.

The southbound entry slip road at junction 33 will be fully closed overnight for two nights from Monday 6 February. There will be narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit until the project is completed. The closures will take place between 8pm and 6am, and drivers will be able to follow clearly signed diversion routes.

M62 junction 22 to junction 23 Outlane

The eastbound carriageway will be reduced to single lane overnight for 6 nights from Monday 6 February for road markings to be repainted and reflective road studs to be replaced. The closures will take place between 10pm and 6am.

M62 junction 26 Bradford (M606 interchange)

The slip roads and roundabout will be reduced to a single lane overnight, between 7pm and 6am, on Tuesday 7 February to complete landscaping and other minor works associated with the junction improvement. Drivers will be able to follow clearly signed diversion routes.

M62 junction 27 Gildersome

The eastbound entry slip road will be fully closed overnight on Tuesday 7 February for technology works. The closure will take place between 9pm and 6am, and drivers will be able to follow clearly signed diversion routes.

M62 junction 30 to junction 31 Normanton

The carriageway will be fully closed overnight on Sunday 12 February for scaffold works. The closures will take place between 8pm and 6am, and drivers will be able to follow clearly signed diversion routes.

A1M junction 38 to junction 37 Marr

The southbound carriageway will be fully closed overnight on Tuesday 7 February for barrier works. The closures will take place between 9pm and 6am, and drivers will be able to follow clearly signed diversion routes.

A64 Fulford

The eastbound carriageway will be fully closed between the slip roads overnight for two nights from Monday 6 February for bridge works. The westbound carriageway will be fully closed between the slip roads overnight for five nights from Monday 6 February for bridge works. The closures will take place between 8pm and 6am, and drivers will be able to follow clearly signed diversion routes.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.