On World Environment Day, June 5, the British Embassy Ashgabat with the support of Ish Nokady co-working centre and a group of enthusiastic young volunteers organised an interactive awareness raising and knowledge sharing event for youth. The event aimed to inspire youth action and engagement towards protecting the environment and tackling climate change.

Youth from different sectors gathered up to discuss major issues of climate change and environment and to call to action for our ecosystems. Speakers shared experiences and individual actions they take in their daily lives to protect the planet. The event also featured interactive dialogues and interesting debates.

The event started with an Eco Fair organised by young eco-activists. There were several booths like for example a “Give Away” booth, which offered free donated second-hand items brought by the participants and had a purpose to promote reusing the unnecessary things and to cultivate the environmental friendly culture among young people.

In his turn, John Hamilton, Chargé d’Affaires of the British Embassy gave an interactive lecture on the major climate challenges Turkmenistan was facing and how the youth could contribute to tackle them. Mr Hamilton also explained the guest the aims and significance of the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow for the planet while drawing their attention to the main principles of Paris Agreement.

Mr Hamilton addressed the enthusiastic young participants:

You are our future, and we need your innovative thinking to reverse the climate crisis. Even if you’re just starting out and have a lot to learn, you can still make a significant contribution to reducing climate change and helping protect our environment. You can help stop climate change in their own simple yet purposeful ways.

Being young shouldn’t stop you from talking about the issues that are important to you and coming up with ideas to solve them. Don’t be afraid to share your passion for climate action with the people in your life. Connect, build a community! When we work together, we really do have the power to change things for the better, one step at a time.

This cheerful event concluded by songs, exchanging contacts with each other and distribution of Climate Change book written by Prince Charles by the representatives of the British Embassy. It was encouraging to see so many brilliant people interested in knowing more about climate change and how they could actively contribute.

Our Embassy is committed to continue raising awareness on the importance of facing the climate change challenges, uniting efforts in all areas and the implementation of ambitious and urgent measures to combat global warming, and advocating for positive impact through our work, projects and events, interactions with youth, ordinary citizens, the public and policy makers, media and all like-minded parties in Turkmenistan.

The UK Government has opened a new walk-through coronavirus testing centre in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire.

The test centre, at Springwell Neighbourhood Hall (G72 0LL), is part of the largest network of diagnostic testing facilities created in British history. In Scotland, this comprises eight drive through sites, 51 walk-through sites, 42 mobile units, plus the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab which is working round the clock to process samples.

In Scotland, the UK Government is providing all COVID testing and test processing outside of the NHS.

PCR tests must be booked in advance at: www.nhsinform.scot/test-and-protect or by calling 119. People should only book at test if they have coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new and continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) or have been instructed to do so by a clinician or NHS contact tracer.

Lateral Flow Test Kits are also now available for pick up without an appointment at the majority of our local walk-in or drive-through test sites from 3.30pm each day. Tests can also be ordered online or by phone by calling 119. For more information and to order a test kit online, go to: Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested in Scotland – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Health Minister Lord Bethell said:

To respond to the coronavirus, we have built a major testing and tracing system from scratch. We are constantly working to expand and improve it with new technologies and innovations so everyone with symptoms can get a test.

New walk-in sites like this one makes it even easier to get a test no matter where you live. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today and follow the advice of NHS Test and Protect if you are contacted to protect others and stop the spread of the virus.

UK Government Minister for Scotland, Iain Stewart said:

The UK Government continues to provide the bulk of testing in Scotland, a programme which is vital to our recovery from this pandemic. Alongside the roll-out of UK Government-funded vaccines, testing is helping us to manage the virus, slow down the rate of transmission and protect communities.

I’d like to thank the public for continuing to do the right thing by coming forward to be tested if they show symptoms.

This new walk-through facility in Blantyre is the latest in our extensive network of testing centres supporting people in all parts of the UK.

Simon Venn, Mitie Chief Government & Strategy Officer, said:

Our priority during the pandemic is to support the nation’s efforts to fight COVID-19 and help keep the country running. Testing is a critical part of the UK’s strategy to combat coronavirus and we’re proud to support the UK Government with this vital task. A big thank you to all the NHS staff, Mitie employees and other frontline heroes in Blantyre, who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe.

Taking place off the south coast of England, the milestone marks a significant step towards the 65,000-tonne vessel reaching full operational capability.

Operating together as part of Sea Acceptance Trials, it is the first time a fixed wing aircraft has landed onboard HMS Prince of Wales. The trials test the ship’s capability to receive and launch aircraft whilst maintaining continuous air operations.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

The vital partnership between HMS Prince of Wales and our F-35B aircraft signifies a momentous milestone in the capability of the fifth-generation carrier, marking another step towards it becoming fully operational.

The first jet landing is a huge achievement for all involved and showcases the collaboration across the UK Armed Forces and our impressive Carrier Strike capabilities.

As announced by the Prime Minister last November, Defence has received an increase in funding of over £24 billion across the next four years, enabling our Armed Forces to adapt to meet future threats. Further enhanced by the commitments outlined in the Defence Command Paper, the F-35B is an integral air capability and HMS Prince of Wales marks a step change in the Royal Navy fleet as the second of the UK’s fifth-generation aircraft carriers.

The F-35B Lightning is designed to operate alongside RAF Typhoon aircraft and is jointly operated by the Royal Navy and RAF. It forms a central role within the UK’s Carrier Strike capability, already operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth and will be operating for the first time overseas as part of the Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment.

Commanding Officer of HMS Prince of Wales, Captain Darren Houston said:

This prodigious achievement on the deck of HMS Prince of Wales is a significant milestone in the Royal Navy’s re-birth of Carrier Strike Group operations. It is a tangible reflection of the enormous collective effort from the aircraft carrier enterprise to deliver the Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier.

I am particularly proud of the contribution made by my Ship’s Company in developing this world leading, sovereign capability and we look forward in earnest to rapidly growing our experience operating the F-35B through further trials and training later this year.

With a flight deck large enough to accommodate three football pitches, HMS Prince of Wales can receive up to 36 F-35B aircraft and carries a crew of around 1,600 personnel when aircraft are onboard.

207 Squadron F-35B pilot and the first to land onboard HMS Prince of Wales, Squadron Leader Will said:

It was a real honour to be the first pilot to land the F-35B onboard HMS Prince of Wales.

With all the training that we have previously undertaken with HMS Queen Elizabeth, we are now looking forward to using that experience and knowledge working with HMS Prince of Wales as she moves towards her full operational capability.

HMS Prince of Wales left her home port of Portsmouth at the end of April to conduct operational training which has seen the ship operating alongside the F-35B aircraft, as well as helicopters from the Royal Navy, British Army and RAF.

The F-35B aircraft are primarily based at RAF Marham and are the newest addition to the RAF’s fleet, able to travel up to 1,200mph.

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Summary

At around 10:52 hrs on Wednesday 8 April 2020, a passenger train, travelling at 90 mph (145 km/h), struck and fatally injured a track worker on the West Coast main line near the village of Roade, Northamptonshire.

The accident happened because the track worker, who was the person in charge of the work with responsibilities as Controller of Site Safety, was walking along a line that was open to traffic and did not look towards the approaching train on hearing its warning horn. He had gone back onto the track after handing back a blockage of the line, which had been taken to isolate the overhead line equipment, a task which, it was later appreciated, did not need to be done every day. It is not possible to determine with certainty why the track worker decided to walk on the track with no protection, but it is probable he had a purpose in mind and that he believed that no trains were due on the line he was walking along. There is also witness evidence suggesting that he had become habituated to warnings from approaching trains.

RAIB’s investigation found several factors which possibly led to this situation. The performance monitoring and appraisal arrangements for the track worker were inadequate and did not identify and address issues with compliance with rules, standards and procedures. The system of work in place for the site was inadequate for the work being undertaken and did not specify adequate arrangements to encourage compliance with safety rules, possibly affecting the behaviour of the track worker and others during the project. None of the assurance arrangements in place identified any non-compliant behaviours or the inadequate system of work.

Recommendations

RAIB has made two recommendations to AmcoGiffen relating to monitoring and developing the ongoing competence and performance of its staff, and ensuring compliance with its management procedures on new sites of work. One recommendation has been made to Network Rail relating to minimising the need for access to the track when taking isolations of electrical contact systems.

RAIB identified two learning points, relating to track workers only accessing the track when they are protected by safe systems of work, and independent review of safe system of work plans.

Simon French, Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents said:

“This tragic and unnecessary loss of another life was the third fatal accident to track workers that RAIB has investigated in the last three years. This year, in February, there has been yet another, at Surbiton in Surrey.

“Unsafe behaviour on site is a familiar theme. Everyone working on the railway has a responsibility to themselves and their colleagues, which includes not letting dangerous or non-compliant actions go unchallenged. Managers need to be aware of staff behaviour, and the management structure should make it a normal part of their work to be getting out there, and seeing what goes on. It’s all very well to check paperwork, but it’s important to know what is really happening on the ground.

“There still doesn’t appear to be sufficient management focus on what people are actually doing. In this case, the person who was killed was in the habit of walking in the four-foot when he didn’t need to. His co-workers knew he did this- but he hadn’t been picked up on it.

“What makes this even sadder is that the work he had been doing that morning wasn’t necessary: proper planning would have identified that there was no reason for people to go on the track every day during this project to apply and remove earthing straps. We are recommending that Network Rail reviews its processes with the aim of minimising the need for track access in connection with operating the electric traction supply system. I hope that this will help to prevent any more such tragedies.”

Notes to editors

1. The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.

2. RAIB operates, as far as possible, in an open and transparent manner. While our investigations are completely independent of the railway industry, we do maintain close liaison with railway companies and if we discover matters that may affect the safety of the railway, we make sure that information about them is circulated to the right people as soon as possible, and certainly long before publication of our final report.

3. For media enquiries, please call 07814 812293.

Newsdate: 9 June 2021