Tom Youngs made 246 league appearances in his career and scored 51 goals Northampton Town and Bury forward Tom Youngs has died at the age of 45 Youngs started his career with the U's after joining the club aged 10 and made 180 appearances between 1997 and 2003 He won promotion to the third tier with Cambridge in 1998-99 After 30 appearances in an injury-hit three seasons with Northampton Youngs had a short spell at Leyton Orient before joining Bury in June 2005 He played 49 league games for the Shakers and scored seven goals in two seasons before a hip injury ended his playing career with non-league Mildenhall Town in 2011 Youngs was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014 after moving back to Bury St Edmunds to work as an accountant Having studied sports journalism at Staffordshire University What Dreams are (Not Quite) Made of: No Fame In their obituary, Cambridge wrote, external: "Tom will be remembered as a gifted player who intelligent positioning and poise in front of goal graced the Abbey Stadium between 1997 and 2003." Northampton added, external: "Tom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a life-changing event that he faced with the same resilience and honesty that marked his entire career "He later wrote a moving and insightful book reflecting on both his footballing days and his experience with the disease offering comfort and inspiration to many." 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The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. was “the home of lost causes and forsaken beliefs” Now Cambridge is giving it a run for its money Oxford’s chancellor election last year was widely billed as a two-horse race between the elder statesmen Lords Mandelson and Hague; the latter in the end won handily They both had their hang-ups and lost causes too Fortunately for Gina Miller it is customary for Cambridge chancellors to be lacking in political acumen Does Gina Miller – who in her latest attention-seeking stunt wants to be the next chancellor of Cambridge University – matter Miller said in 2018; but things move swiftly and the passions which attended the great Brexit debates of the late 2010s have largely faded away Already a subscriber? Samuel Rubinstein is a history student and writer currently based in Paris Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3 Already a subscriber? your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Brittany Kaiser says that online data protection has scarcely improved since she testified to UK parliament in 2018 that millions of people may have had their Facebook data harvested The scandal broke in 2016 after it emerged that more than 87 million people may have had their data collected on Facebook through a personality quiz Though it is unclear how that data was used Kaiser said that Cambridge Analytica did "chargeable work" with Donald Trump’s election campaign and Leave Both organisations said there was no contract signed to work with the analytics company “I wish that I could say that it has gotten better I would say there are now many parts of the world where people are starting to be legally protected which wasn't the case in 2018,” Kaiser told Euronews Next Though she said there are more data protection laws now she said there are no federal data laws in the US and that if an individual wants to take legal action against companies using their data without permission “If you don't want to spend a lot of time in a courtroom or dealing with the law I would say technically we are less protected because the technology is so much better at targeting,” she added Artificial intelligence (AI) is also making things worse especially when it comes to election interference “The rise of generative AI has made it so much easier to make things look like they are real very basic algorithmic creation of content that the world was using at that time,” she said where you can mimic reality because the AI has become so good,” she said Kaiser said that despite working to advocate for digital rights even she has been fooled by AI-generated images circulating online she thought something awful was happening in New York when she was momentarily convinced that an AI-generated image of a car being set alight in Manhattan was real “Knowing that it's difficult to even find a real picture of something anymore I would say that can very easily be abused for politics or for commercial purposes - or for whatever purposes people want to use,” she said “We're still in the scenario where you know a lot of our intelligence agencies are saying that ‘there's just as much money being spent by Russia and Iran on disinformation communications,’” she added “But the technology is so much better that the impact is more and the money goes further to whatever aim it has” more than 60 countries headed to the polls in what was a super-cycle of global elections Research is limited on whether AI played a role in them But a recent paper by the Centre for Emerging Technology and Security (CETaS) at The Alan Turing Institute found that during the UK’s general election there were 16 viral cases of AI disinformation or deepfakes The researchers also analysed the US election and found examples of AI-generated disinformation These included AI bot farms mimicking US voters and allegations against immigrants which also led to viral AI-enabled content being referenced by some political candidates and received widespread media coverage While the paper said there was not enough evidence that AI-enabled disinformation had a measurable impact on the US presidential election results it did add that this AI content did shape US election discourse by “amplifying other forms of disinformation and inflaming political debates” Kaiser said one of her biggest concerns is the contracts that governments are signing with the Big Tech AI companies “Because governments are willing to try to use AI a lot of them are licensing AI products from large companies that are closed source and our data and our government data is just going into these closed source for-profit systems Open source generally means the software’s source code is available to everyone in the public domain to use closed source AI means that the code and data the AI is trained on are kept in the company’s full control and ownership there could be national security implications of having large open source AI models in the hands of anyone who can code “OpenAI has a vast majority of government AI contracts and for all of our personal data as well as all of the government data from all these different government agencies and departments it creates an even bigger liability,” Kaiser said She added that this is similar to how Cambridge Analytica and Facebook were over a decade ago Kaiser is now pushing for governments to adopt more open-source AI companies She said open-source is “essential for civilian-facing government agencies especially now when it's become popular for the first time for the public to be able to audit what the government is doing with databases and with data” She argued that more open-source AI systems would be a more ethical step forward to gain public trust as governments start to adopt AI which in the US comes as there is no federal legislation to protect people from how their data might be used in these systems Kaiser has recently taken on a new role at open source AI platform ElizaOS She is leading the company’s new subsidiary to help the US public sector build open-source AI technology for governments Kaiser is hopeful that the Trump administration may take data protection more seriously “This particular government seems quite set on having serious federal technology policy and engaging with technologists and hiring the technologists to run a lot of government departments,” she said “So I'm hopeful that that means that we'll actually see something happening in the US “It would be quite great if we could finally see federal legislation to protect American citizens and to protect our rights in the face of growing tech adoption” However, the US made it clear at the AI Action Summit in Paris in February that overregulation of the technology could upend innovation and that the country would be leading on not putting extraneous regulation on these technologies “Excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative sector just as it's taking off," US Vice President JD Vance said Kaiser does not see this as hindering her ambitions for US data protections or open-source AI but rather that there is a balancing act when it comes to regulation “I certainly don't agree with [OpenAI CEO] Sam Altman when he says that we should allow any data to be used for our models so that we can be competitive I think that's very ‘move fast and break things’ for me,” she said she said she also does not think that extraneous regulation is going to help because it ends up not being technically implementable which she said happened in some components of Europe’s GDPR “But I do believe that common sense regulation that is co-written with technologists so that it's easily implementable… would be a good thing for Americans and for the economy,” she said Jane Prinsley is the Investigations Correspondent at the Jewish Chronicle accuses university of ‘genocide complicity’Officials clear ceremony after Palestinian flag-waving activist breaks current injunction on protest Jane Prinsley 1 min readA student graduating from Cambridge University was reportedly threatened with police action after she interrupted a formal ceremony on Saturday to accuse the institution of “complicity” in “genocide in Gaza.” the student walked to the front of Senate House held up a Palestinian flag in front of Cambridge graduands and their families and made a speech she claimed: “Cambridge University is complicit in genocide in Gaza Over 60,000 people have been killed by Israel in Gaza and Cambridge continues to invest in Israeli arms The student sat on the floor and raised the Palestinian flag amid a smattering of applause. University administrators approached her before clearing the hall. According to Cambridge student paper, Varsity university staff threatened police action as the student remained seated in silence One student who spoke to the student paper accused the protester of “derailing” the ceremony They said: “I’ve always been quite sympathetic to the pro-Palestinian cause “Lots of families like mine have travelled a long way to see people graduate and having this celebration derailed by a protest over something they have no role in feels wrong.” The protest comes weeks after the High Court granted Cambridge an injunction to prevent protests on parts of its campus until July 26 to prohibit the disruption of graduation ceremonies The university won a four-month court order blocking Gaza demonstrations from certain areas of its campus until the end of July Gaza protests allegedly disrupted the graduations of more than 1,600 students citing a “strong probability” of further disruptive demonstrations protesters who interfere with graduations could be liable to criminal damages The injunction period will also cover the university’s end-of-year exams “I am satisfied that there is a compelling need for the granting of an injunction,” the judge said The University of Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Constabulary were approached for comment Cambridge Anti-Israel protests Pro-Palestine protests Universities Education Editor | Felix ArmstrongSunday May 04 2025 The TimesThe broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and Lord Browne of Madingley are among well-known names vying to become the new chancellor of Cambridge University who bills himself as a “chancellor of conscience” and has taken part in Gaza protests at the university was a visiting research fellow at Cambridge University’s department of education He was also a professor of education at Canterbury University He wants the university to be an ethical force in the world The role is unpaid and brings no executive responsibilities but the successful candidate will play a part in fundraising and in providing advice to senior members and sovereign wealth fund managers fly into the University of Cambridge the real headline is who brought them there Thanks for signing up for our daily insight on the African economy We bring you daily editor picks from the best Business Insider news content so you can stay updated on the latest topics and conversations on the African market Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected Home Business Article Organ-on-a-chip company CN Bio has established a strategic partnership with Pharmaron a premier R&D service provider for the life sciences industry Pharmaron is a global drug R&D service platform providing end-to-end services across drug discovery The company has bases in Liverpool and Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire is a leading provider of organ-on-a-chip systems and solutions that accelerate drug discovery and development workflows founded in 2009 recreates three-dimensional human organs and tissues in the laboratory to better understand human physiology brought to patients more cost-effectively – while drastically reducing the distress involved in animal experimentation In 2024 CN Bio raised $21m in a Series B round to expand its PhysioMimix technology and research services globally “We are pleased to collaborate with CN Bio to explore how this technology can add meaningful value to our partners’ development programs,” said Dr Hua Yang He added: “Organ-on-a-chip technology holds significant potential to advance translational science by improving our understanding of drugability at the preclinical stage.” said: “The developments this partnership will enable are especially important given the recent FDA announcement outlining their plan to phase out animal testing requirement for monoclonal antibodies and other drugs with more human-relevant models “Our platform is best placed to serve current market gaps including testing for immune-mediated organ damage Together we can expedite this key development in line with global momentum for more ethical advancements that reduce costs and improve human health.” added that Pharmaron is “the ideal partner for CN Bio as we look to accelerate the growth of our OOC solutions portfolio in new and existing application areas” Home News Article Four arrests have been made after a teenage boy was stabbed in the face on Saturday (3 May) night Police received a 999 call just before 10pm reporting that the 16-year-old had been attacked at the playing fields off Ermine Street North in Papworth Everard The boy was taken to hospital with serious and possibly life-changing injuries Four people were taken into custody at Parkside Police Station in Cambridge – a 17-year-old boy from Huntingdonshire a 17-year-old boy from Saffron Waldon in Essex a 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man both from Chatteris Det Insp Lindsay Harbour said: “I understand the concern from the local community following this incident however I hope it provides some reassurance that we have made four arrests “Officers will be in the area today carrying out enquiries I would urge anyone who has not yet spoken with us to make contact as soon as possible.” Anyone with information should contact police online via the reporting forms or webchat and quote 35/31987/25 Those without internet access should call 101 Sign in Join now, it's FREE! held April 27 at Tapestry Hall in the Gaslight District reports Galt Jazz founder Dave Ottenbrite. The festival exceeded its goal with over 500 tickets sold and the venue was alive with the vibrant sounds of jazz and the enthusiastic energy of our attendees The festival featured the Tim Louis Sextet kicking off the afternoon with interpretive jazz melodies which brought the spirit of New Orleans to Cambridge JUNO-nominated vocalist Heather Bambrick, who also served as MC provided lots of laughter and Pretzel Logic headlined the evening with a spot-on tribute to Steely Dan The community's support was overwhelming "The rave reviews for Tapestry Hall were unanimous - attendees praised its stunning blend of historical charm and modern elegance and perfect atmosphere for live jazz." Many guests commented that it was "the perfect venue" and "an incredible place to experience music." The festival was organized by a small but dedicated festival committee and came together thanks to an amazing group of volunteers whose dedication and hard work helped make this event possible And special thanks to my organizing partner whose input and talents proved to be the key to our success." It wouldn't have been possible without generous donors whose support provided a solid financial base and enabled the success of this inaugural festival "Your commitment and generosity have helped set a strong foundation for future events." The community's commitment has resulted in a significant $5,000 donation to the Cambridge Food Bank from the proceeds of the event I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended Your enthusiasm and love for jazz made this event truly special," Ottenbrite says Galt Jazz is bringing back its popular monthly jazz shows in downtown Cambridge this summer with its first outdoor show of the season happening on Main Street It will feature Tia Brazda featuring a backup band it's fun and it’s patio season with another wonderful opportunity to experience great jazz in the heart of Cambridge." Grab the Melomania M100 buds for just £99 If you want a good blend of performance and features for the money from your next pair of wireless earbuds the four-star Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 earbuds are a whopping £70 off – that's £20 cheaper than the price we saw just a month ago and considering the excellent features you'll get it's a seriously good price for a solid pair of earbuds and an incredible 52 when used alongside the charging case for the temptingly low price of just £99 The Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 are the brand's first foray into active noise-cancelling earbuds we said: "The Melomania M100 are well-designed wireless earbuds with fun and flagship-bothering features that are worth considering at this price balanced sound and effective ANC make them an easy-going pair that’s recommendable if you don’t want to pay premium prices." Read our Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review These are the best wireless earbuds around Looking for over-ears? Check out our best wireless headphones guide you will then be prompted to enter your display name the protester is liable for criminal damages if the University chooses to pursue them A Cambridge student graduating on Saturday (03/05) interrupted the ceremony to protest the University’s “complicity” in “genocide in Gaza,” breaking the four-month High Court injunction against protests in Senate House proceeded to the centre of the Senate House room and held up a Palestinian flag She stated: “Cambridge University is complicit in genocide in Gaza Following mixed applause from attendees, administrators cleared the hall and reportedly threatened police action as the student silently sat One student inside the graduation hall told Varsity: “It’s frankly very frustrating that this has happened I’ve always quite been sympathetic to the pro-Palestinian cause and having this celebration derailed by a protest over something they have no role in feels wrong,” they added This comes over a month after the High Court granted the University an injunction to prevent protests on parts of its campus for four months in order to prevent disruption at the 12 graduation ceremonies taking place this year the protester is liable to criminal damages if the University chooses to pursue them In late February, the University was initially granted a “very narrow and limited court order” to prevent disruption to graduations that weekend but its proposed injunction of five years was rejected and restrictions beyond Saturday’s graduations were deemed not “necessary and justified” The University’s successful re-application faced significant protest, with over 1,000 students, staff, and alumni signing an open letter in March seeking to prevent restrictions to pro-Palestine protests in Cambridge the injunction was described as “authoritarian,” calling on the University “to withdraw” it and reaffirm its “commitment to protect the freedom of speech and assembly of its members” Cambridge University granted four-month injunction against Israel-Palestine protests It stated: “We note that the application to the court is made in the name of the ‘Chancellor Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge’ and wish to state publicly and clearly that you are not acting in our name in preparing such an assault on freedom of expression.” this injunction runs contrary to the collective rights and interests of the University community as a whole to debate assemble and protest in order to hold those in authority to account We wish to remind you that the demands raised by students in solidarity with the Palestinian people have wide support from members of the University community,” it continued These injunction attempts were in response to the encampment established on Senate House lawn in both May and November of 2024 alongside occupations of King’s College lawn and Greenwich House by pro-Palestine protesters In early March, pro-Palestine protesters sprayed the Old Schools building with red paint criticising the University’s investments in arms The University of Cambridge has been contacted for comment Varsity is the independent newspaper for the University of Cambridge In order to maintain our editorial independence our print newspaper and news website receives no funding from the University of Cambridge or its constituent Colleges We are therefore almost entirely reliant on advertising for funding and we expect to have a tough few months and years ahead we are going to look at inventive ways to look at serving our readership with digital content and of course in print too Varsity is the independent student newspaper for the University of Cambridge All content © 1996-2025 Varsity Publications Ltd A FORMER Cambridge United striker has died aged 45 after a battle with MS The Us confirmed the sad news that Tom Youngs passed away on Sunday at a hospice in Bury St Edmunds Youngs was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014 - 11 years after he left the club He spent six years in Cambridge's first team from 1997 to 2003 - scoring 48 goals in 180 appearances - having joined the academy aged ten Youngs went on to have spells with Northampton, Leyton Orient, and Bury playing for the Shakers while also studying a sports journalism degree Norwich United and Mildenhall Town - where he was a player and assistant manager After hanging up his boots, the ex-footballer worked as an accountant for the brewery and pub company Greene King. In 2013, he noticed problems with his vision while watching a match as Mildenhall assistant. And the following year came his MS diagnosis. Cambridge released a statement on Monday to announce the tragic news The League One club wrote: "The news of the death on Sunday of former Cambridge United forward Tom Youngs came as a shock to all connected with the club who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014 graced the Abbey Stadium between 1997 and 2003 "He signed YTS terms in 1996 while staying on at school to study for A levels he bypassed the rest of his YTS stint and signed a two-year professional contract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex condition that affects the central nervous system meaning the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating (myelin) around nerve fibres This disrupts the flow of electrical signals and causes a range of symptoms that can vary wildly from person to person and around 7,000 new cases are diagnosed each year It’s typically diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s with women three times more likely to develop it than men many with MS find strength and resilience they never thought possible MS is unpredictable—you might have periods of remission where symptoms vanish off-again” nature can be frustrating and means people can be in anticipation of a flare treatments like disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms and slow progression Fans and former team-mates took to social media to express their sorrow at Youngs' passing and send best wishes and condolences to his family and loved ones Played with Tom at Bury & he was a nice I remember him speaking very fondly about his time at Cambridge and how much he loved it there." A third added: "Absolutely devastated A fourth replied: "A bright intelligent young man and a bloody good footballer that wore our shirt with pride… sleep well ‘Tommy Youngs’ once a U…" And a final user commented: "That’s dreadful news - thoughts with his family and friends at this sad time." Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Only a quarter of staff are satisfied with how their department tackles bullying and harassment Only a quarter of staff at Cambridge University are satisfied with how their department tackles bullying and harassment according to an internal survey seen by the Observer Cambridge undertook its staff culture survey in January 2024 and is now facing accusations from academics that it tried to cover up the “grim” results which have been released through freedom of information (FoI) requests A spokesperson for the university said this weekend that it was supporting departments to take action where issues had been identified They said: “We take concerns about bullying seriously and strongly encourage anyone who experiences such behaviour to report it.” Just 27% of staff agreed that they were happy with attempts to address bullying and harassment – with some of the most high-profile science departments scoring especially badly – and only half of staff (52%) said their department supported their mental health and wellbeing The results have prompted an academic at the university to break with tradition and seek nominations in the forthcoming election of Cambridge’s new chancellor on an anti-bullying manifesto after Labour peer David Sainsbury announced his resignation from the post last year Prof Wyn Evans wants to seek nominations in the forthcoming election of Cambridge’s new chancellor on an anti-bullying manifesto Photograph: Sophia Evans/The ObserverEvans said: “This survey reveals a grim culture of bullying and harassment yet the most shocking thing of all is that the university found this out a year ago and hasn’t taken any action “If a senior academic is valuable to the university because they hold a lot of research grants bringing in a lot of money Evans said that having an outward-facing ambassadorial chancellor had worked well in the past but the university was facing an “internal crisis” of bullying and too many academics on insecure short-term contracts It now needed a chancellor who would push for “sweeping reforms” A survey by the university and the three main campus unions in 2020 found that nearly a third of staff had experienced bullying or harassment at work in the previous 18 months Then vice-chancellor Stephen Toope wrote a statement to accompany the survey results pledging action and stating: “To be a leading institution we must accept this type of behaviour has no place at Cambridge.” The university is far from alone in facing challenges of this kind. In 2020, a survey by the Wellcome Trust one of the largest charitable funders of research in the UK questioned more than 4,000 researchers across 20 universities and found that nearly two-thirds of them had witnessed bullying and harassment More than three-quarters of them felt that intense competition to win research grants and publish in high-profile journals – with research departments also competing to perform well in league tables and respond to government initiatives – had created “unkind and aggressive” conditions head of research and funding equity at Wellcome said: “Research shouldn’t come at the cost of damaging people’s wellbeing and it’s encouraging to see institutions asking students and staff about the issues they face.” He added: “The research sector can and should learn from one another By painting a picture of people’s experiences we are all better placed to design a positive and inclusive research culture.” Wellcome has explicit anti-bullying, exploitation and harassment rules as a pre-condition of its grants, and in 2018 revoked £3.5m in funding from Prof Nazneen Rahman one of Britain’s leading cancer scientists who was then based at the Institute of Cancer Research in London after 45 colleagues made accusations of bullying and harassment denied the allegations and said at the time “there were no disciplinary findings against me” Cambridge declined to release survey results for some of its departments under FoI among the detailed results seen by the Observer there are some departments with more concerning results In the Medical Research Council toxicology unit 69% of staff who expressed an opinion disagreed or strongly disagreed when asked if they were happy with how bullying and harassment was addressed this figure was 61%; in the Cavendish laboratory of physics it was 58%; and at both the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Cambridge Institute and in the department of oncology it was 50% Other departments with close to half of staff who expressed an opinion disagreeing or strongly disagreeing that these issues were tackled well included earth sciences When “don’t know” responses are taken into account the figures decrease by between 11 and 26 percentage points; for example the dissatisfaction among toxicology unit staff falls to 58% and in the Cavendish physics laboratory it falls to 32% A cancer researcher who left the university recently and claims they were “intimidated harassed and bullied” by a senior academic at CRUK Cambridge Institute said: “Research was my whole life I really looked forward to coming into the department exchanging ideas and inspiring research students I was left despairing and had many months of demoralisation.” The researcher said: “The ordeal ruined my personal life colleagues and former students – but from the university just bland exhortations to see the GP.” supported a colleague in blowing the whistle on bullying at a UK research institute and now campaigns for universities to tackle the issue better complaints against revenue-generating professors often result in the victim leaving while the perpetrator continues to build their career.” The spokesperson for Cambridge added: “The university strives to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all staff feel valued Although the low response rate of 23% limits the breadth of feedback we aim to increase participation in future surveys to ensure a more comprehensive understanding of staff experiences.” While the survey results were not disseminated to all staff Cambridge rejected the suggestion of a cover-up and said the findings had been made available to department heads and discussed at relevant committees some of which included trade union and student representatives The spokesperson said that the university had introduced a new code of behaviour and updated its dignity-at-work and grievance policies This article was amended on 15 April 2025 to reinstate a sentence of the response from Cambridge University which had been omitted during the editing process It was also amended on 17 April 2025 to include the university’s position on the “cover-up” claim and to correct a misstatement which said the departmental percentages were based on “staff who responded” The Observer’s calculations were in fact based on those who expressed an opinion ie excluding “don’t know” responses; additional text has been added to show how the results change when these answers are included This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Community Safety Department Director To Resign Amid Tension With Cambridge Police Department From Lab to Startup: Harvard’s Office of Technology Development Paves the Way for Research Commercialization People’s Forum on Graduation Readiness Held After Vote to Eliminate MCAS 8 Takeaways From Harvard’s Task Force Reports Toner was charged with buying sex from a high-end brothel network that operated in parts of Cambridge and Watertown at a Friday hearing Toner and ten other men were named on Friday as suspected brothel clients and charged with sexual conduct for a fee — a misdemeanor that rarely carries jail time — at a probable cause hearing at the Cambridge District Court Though Toner was summoned to appear for the probable cause hearing — the second of three hearings scheduled for 28 alleged clients — he did not come to court like the rest of the men identified Friday appearing in front of a clerk magistrate instead of a judge The three scheduled “show-cause” hearings determine whether there is enough evidence to charge a defendant with a crime In a Friday afternoon statement to The Boston Globe Toner wrote that he “caused pain for the people I care about most Toner did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Crimson A city spokesperson and multiple councilors said that he would not advise Toner to resign CPD Lieutenant Jarred Cabral presented evidence from a December 2023 police report detailing text exchanges between Toner and the brothel ringleaders that arranged the time and payment for multiple visits in 2023 Toner communicated with a phone run by the brothel operators and patronized the brothel multiple times between January and September 2023 Toner paid $340 for an hourlong “GFE,” or “girlfriend experience,” which police have said refers to a more “intimate experience” and can include sex acts Flaherty called Toner a “man of high character” at the courthouse in Medford after charges were filed against the councilor on Friday “None of us are perfect,” Flaherty said to reporters after the hearing adding that “Cambridge is lucky to have him.” Casey agreed to advance the charge of sexual conduct for a fee issuing a criminal complaint that opens the door for Toner’s trial in the next several weeks The charges against Toner come one week after a dozen men were criminally charged with buying sex through the brothel network The remaining twelve alleged clients are set to be named at a hearing next week Toner — a Cambridge native — has served on the council since 2022 touting himself as a “practical progressive” with more moderate views than some of his colleagues Toner has championed increased city spending for police and education He also proposed a series of amendments to the city’s upzoning proposal to reduce the allowed height of developments Toner co-sponsored a proposal last year to extend the city’s deadline to complete its network of separated bike lanes by a year — and he was one of five councilors who voted to approve the delay after a contentious meeting last April Toner spent more than a decade in union leadership serving for eight years as the president of Massachusetts Teachers Association a teachers’ union with more than 100,000 members Toner was one of 11 men named and charged in the Friday hearing Though all were ordered to appear in person Grant argued that police failed to provide sufficient evidence After hearing details from the police and brief arguments from the attorneys present Casey ruled to proceed with criminal charges for all 11 men The 23 men charged thus far are all scheduled to be arraigned in May —Staff writer Matan H. Josephy can be reached matan.josephy@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @matanjosephy —Staff writer Laurel M. Shugart can be reached at laurel.shugart@thecrimson.com. Follow them on X @laurelmshugart or on Threads @laurel.shugart Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter. Researchers have finally been able to reveal it with cutting-edge techniques It is the only surviving fragment of a lost medieval manuscript telling the tale of Merlin and the early heroic years of King Arthur's court the magician becomes a blind harpist who later vanishes into thin air He will then reappear as a balding child who issues edicts to King Arthur wearing no underwear The shape-shifting Merlin – whose powers apparently stem from being the son of a woman impregnated by the devil – asks to bear Arthur's standard (a flag bearing his coat of arms) on the battlefield The king agrees – a good decision it turns out – for Merlin is destined to turn up with a handy secret weapon: a magic this fragile remnant of a celebrated medieval story lay undisturbed and unnoticed repurposed as a book cover by Elizabethans to help protect an archival register of property deeds Now, the 700-year-old fragment of Suite Vulgate du Merlin – an Old French manuscript so rare there are less than 40 surviving copies in the world – has been discovered by an archivist in Cambridge University Library folded and stitched into the binding of the 16th-Century register researchers at the library were able to digitally capture the most inaccessible parts of the fragile parchment without unfolding or unstitching it This preserved the manuscript in situ and avoided irreparable damage – while simultaneously allowing the heavily faded fragment to be virtually unfolded digitally enhanced and read for the first time in centuries "It wasn't properly inventoried," says Irene Fabry-Tehranchi "No one had even recorded that it was in French." When she and her colleagues realised the fragment told a story about Merlin and his ability to change shape "we were really excited," she says The Suite Vulgate du Merlin was originally written around 1230 a time when Arthurian romances were particularly popular among noblewomen although the fragment is from a lost copy dated to around 1300 "We don't know who wrote the text," says Fabry-Tehranchi "We think it was probably a collaborative exercise." It is positioned as a sequel to an earlier text in which Merlin is born a child prodigy gifted with foresight and casts a spell to facilitate the birth of King Arthur who proves his divine right to rule by pulling the sword from the stone "The Suite Vulgate du Merlin tells us about Arthur's early reign his relationship with the knights of the round table and his heroic fight with the Saxons It really shows Arthur in a positive light – he's this young hero who marries Guinevere invents the Round Table and has a good relationship with Merlin Stylistic evidence in the text indicates the fragment was written by an unknown scribe in a northern French dialect understood by English aristocratsIt is thanks to the sequel that the story of the Holy Grail – and Merlin's place in that story – could be retold in a coherent way from beginning to end "If the sequel was written to facilitate that That became the main way the story was transmitted." Stylistic evidence in the text indicates the fragment was written by an unknown scribe in a northern French dialect understood by English aristocrats "These are Celtic and English legends which had circulated orally across the British Isles But the language used when they are written down is Old French Old French had fallen out of favour in England "There was a linguistic shift to English among readers of Arthurian literature," says Fabry-Tehranchi This may be why the fragment ended up as the book binding of an archival register: "The text had lost its appeal The library wanted to preserve the register which was created in 1580 to record the property of Huntingfield Manor in Suffolk as evidence of 16th-Century archival binding practices in England it would have been necessary to cut this binding to access the parts of the folded fragment and the heavily faded areas of the texts would have remained illegible whose job it was to "illuminate" manuscripts with decorative illustrations and rich colours in a small photographic studio dominated by a multispectral camera that cost over £100,000 ($125,000) the lab's chief photographic technician Amélie Deblauwe says: "The specialist imaging techniques that were employed on the Merlin fragment revealed details that would not be visible to the naked eye." Different inks and different papers react differently to different lights – Amélie DeblauweThe camera takes 49 images of each page using different combinations of light panels emitting different wavelengths of light into both sides of the paper it moves right through the visible spectrum – "all the colours of the rainbow" – to invisible infrared light "All of these are measured in nanometres So we very accurately know what we are doing to the page with these lights we are really in control of what we're bombarding it with." Using a range of light colour bands meant that even the tiniest residue of ink could be made to stand out clearly in images Technicians made the writing more legible by processing the image data using geospatial and open source software "That's because different inks and different papers react differently to different lights," Deblauwe says While some lights are absorbed by the parchment and the ink The camera can even reveal tiny scratches on the parchment by sending light towards the paper at different angles "We call it 'raking light'," says Deblauwe An unexpected discovery came when the images revealed that the parchment was significantly lighter in the middle "That was an amazing moment for me," says Deblauwe "It was a little bit noticeable in the colour image but it became really apparent in the MSI." she realised the parchment was also shinier in the middle and had a waxier feel to it This indicates that a leather strap had probably once been tied around the middle of the book to hold it together more firmly and rubbed some of the parchment's fibres away "Sometimes you have a bit of a lightbulb moment and that gives you a greater understanding of the history of the item," says Deblauwe "This is next level study of manuscript material." One of the "trickiest" challenges the team faced was how to access the text hidden by folds The solution was for conservators to carefully handle the parchment while technicians inserted a "very narrow" macro probe lens into the darkest crevices of the hidden areas via any part of the parchment that was still accessible "The lens can get very close to an object," says chief photographic technician Błażej Władysław Mikuła • The book with 1,300-year-old doodles • A map of the ocean may be in reach • The Shakespeare play lost since 1603 The result was hundreds of images of Old French words and letters – all handwritten by a medieval scribe – which needed to be put together like a jigsaw some of the images were taken using mirrors to reflect otherwise inaccessible areas of the text so the images were curved or needed to be rotated or flipped Figuring out where a particular image belonged was a painstaking process Only a few square centimetres of the text remain unseen but otherwise the fragment has been forced to give up all its secrets which can distinguish between different materials the team was even able to digitally remove the thread from the spine of the book in a new process which allowed the stitches and materials used by the Elizabethan bookbinders to be analysed "We never knew that we would obtain such a good quality image of the structure of the binding," says Fabry-Tehranchi Mikuła sometimes wonders what these Elizabethans would have made of all his efforts to analyse the fragment It could never have crossed their minds what we would do to it." 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Are they a viable solution to range anxiety? On 12 June 1962, three men escaped from the notorious Alcatraz prison. While their fate remains unknown, the ingenuity of their escape continues to captivate. Dispute between Oxford and Cambridge proves even rowing can be a contact sport when it comes to blue boats With almost 200 years of intense rivalry the Boat Race has already inspired several major films, and after an extraordinary week Hollywood producers now have plenty more material to go at. What began last December as a disagreement between various alumni of Oxford and Cambridge over eligibility criteria for next month’s race exploded into a full-blown incident this week, with allegations of “slimy tactics,” academic snobbery and female rowers being viewed as collateral damage in a dispute between the male boat clubs. Paris 2024 gold medallist Tom Ford has also been prevented from rowing for Cambridge on 13 April due to the so-called 12-year rule which stops anyone competing if it was more than 12 years since they started an undergraduate degree course The 12-year rule was added to the joint agreement between the two boat clubs that governs the race four years ago after the double Olympic champion James Cracknell rowed for Cambridge in 2019 at the age of 46 The bad blood between the two camps is such that the former Olympic and world champion Annamarie Phelps who is chair of Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) Phelps described the situation as “deeply disappointing this week” and Imogen Grant the reigning Olympic lightweight double sculls champion and a three-time Boat Race winner with Cambridge Oxford could certainly do with a new strategy as they have lost seven women’s races in succession and five of the last six in the men’s race No one associated with OUBC has yet commented officially on the matter Kate Crowley and Molly Foxell who have been banned from competing in the 2025 Boat Race Photograph: Avpics/AlamyThe dispute is being taken so seriously that the vice-chancellors of both universities are now said to be considering intervening There are also concerns at the Boat Race Company that the controversy could impact on their title sponsorship deal with Chanel The announcement that Chanel had agreed a headline commercial deal with the Boat Race last autumn was a genuinely historic move as it is the French fashion house’s first sponsorship in sport Next month’s race will be called the Chanel J12 Boat Race – a reference to the brand’s J12 unisex watch – in the start of a five-year deal which the company have the option to extend Given that Chanel are a female-focused brand “It looks like Oxford saw an opportunity and went for it as they took the view that Matt Heywood was a strong rower and they wanted to stop him competing,” said Cath Bishop an Olympic rowing silver medallist and Cambridge graduate “The impact on Cambridge’s women’s squad losing two members is collateral damage If the PGCE ban stands it will affect women disproportionately “It is also an insult to all the alumni on both sides who have rowed while on PGCE courses and a poor look for Oxford to be undermining an important degree-level qualification for the teaching profession that is so crucial to society.” was also offered a place at Oxford before opting to go to Cambridge although dual applications are not unusual Heywood said this week that the decision to exclude him “doesn’t align with any values of sportsmanship or race spirit that I have known in rowing” Whatever Oxford’s motives this stormy week off the water will not be the end of the matter The role of the independent panel in particular is being scrutinised with sources at Cambridge claiming they appear to have change their minds about the issue on two occasions the panel reversed their original decision and the three rowers were told they could race but were informed last week that the decision had changed again A source with knowledge of the case told the Guardian that the second U-turn resulted from Oxford successfully challenging the panel’s constitution which they discovered does not include a right of appeal meaning the original decision had to stand Cambridge are also understood to have received legal opinion from a king’s counsel that the 12-year rule is discriminatory While they have opted not to challenge the joint agreement at this stage given the proximity of the race to elect councillors to Cambridgeshire County Council elections All results have now been declared and here's the new make-up of council:Liberal Democrats: 31 seats (+11)Conservatives: 10 (-18)Reform UK: 10 (+10)Labour: 5 (-4)Green Party: 3 (+3)Independents: 2 (no change) All 61 seats on the council were up for election yesterday Labour had 10 and there were two independent councillors The council is responsible for providing a number of services There were also two by-elections for Cambridge City Council in the East Chesterton and West Chesterton wards These by-elections were called following the resignations of former councillors Alice Gilderdale A by-election was also held at East Cambridgeshire District Council in the Stretham ward following the resignation of former councillor Caroline Shepherd The full results for the by-elections are below CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL election results by area Lib Dem 1,430 ELECTEDPortia Northwood-Kilsby Lib Dem 1,580 ELECTEDLina Maria Nieto Pacheco Lib Dem 1,241 ELECTEDHeather Rose Williams Lib Dem 2,075 ELECTEDPeter Robert Spencer Fane Ind 917 ELECTEDWilliam David Robert Tilbrook Reform UK 2,105 ELECTEDColin Hugh Galbraith Reform UK 1,928 ELECTEDElizabeth Alice May Reform UK 1,191 ELECTEDLiliya Aleksandrova Masharova For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar Environment Agency Updated: 12:45 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 Cloudier, with a few light showers today. Breezy and cool. After a cold and bright start, cloud will increase from off the North Sea to bring a few light showers during the day. Some bright or sunny spells developing by late-afternoon. Feeling cool, with a brisk northeasterly breeze. Maximum temperature 14 °C. A fine end to the day, with some evening sunshine. Staying dry with some lengthy clear skies overnight. Turning chilly with a touch of grass frost in places. Light winds. Minimum temperature 2 °C. Largely dry with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells on Wednesday. Chance of a few light coastal showers. Feeling cooler, with a brisk northeasterly breeze. Maximum temperature 15 °C. A few showers are possible on Thursday. Otherwise, largely dry, with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout the period. Some chilly nights, but warm by day. Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period. Overall, fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers, with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places. Overall, temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average. Lukas Jutkiewicz came off the bench 18 minutes from the end and marked the final appearance of his professional career by making a key contribution to the winning goal eight minutes from time Lee-Myung Jae crossed from the left and Jutkiewicz was there to pressure Cambridge defender Kell Watts into heading into his own net The champions had gone ahead in the 25th minute when Christoph Klarer's delivery from the right corner of the box looped beyond U's goalkeeper Nathan Bishop and dropped into the far corner Cambridge were level 12 minutes later as forward Shayne Lavery got the better of Grant Hanley before firing an exceptional shot beyond Ryan Allsop The second half had been largely uneventful until the 68th minute when Elias Kachunga fouled Jae and was sent off for a second bookable offence Birmingham made the most of their numerical advantage scoring the winner after Jutkiewicz had come on To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Peacock-Farrell Match OfficialsReferee: Charles BreakspearAssistant Referee 1: Paul ListerAssistant Referee 2: Andrew AylottFourth Official: James DurkinMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightCambridge United won their last home league games against Birmingham City a 1-0 victory in April 1995 in the third tier After winning the reverse fixture 4-0 in February Birmingham City will be looking to complete a first league double over Cambridge United Cambridge are unbeaten across their last four six games of a league season (W3 D3) Birmingham have lost four of their last five games to end a league campaign (W1) though their last in the third tier saw them beat Huddersfield Town 2-1 away from home in 1995 Marc Leonard (Birmingham City) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time Keshi Anderson (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal James Gibbons (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the defensive half Josh Stokes (Cambridge United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half Ben Stevenson (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the defensive half Marc Leonard (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner Tom Youngs came through the ranks at Cambridge UnitedCambridge United have confirmed the death of their former striker Tom Youngs who has passed away at 45 after a battle with multiple sclerosis expressing their shock and sadness at the news is survived by his wife Chelle and two daughters joining the academy at just 10 years old and going on to score 48 goals in 180 first-team appearances from 1997 to 2003 The statement from Cambridge United read: "The news of the death on Sunday of former Cambridge United forward Tom Youngs Youngs played for Northampton Town after leaving Cambridge UnitedArticle continues belowNorthampton Town saying: "Tom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis Youngs went on to play for Leyton Orient and Bury in the Football League before playing non-league for Stafford Rangers Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter From the latest transfer news to breaking stories Simply click on this link then provide your email address and that's it You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here Youngs studied sports journalism at the University of Staffordshire and was working as an accountant for a pub chain in Bury St Edmunds when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in summer 2014, three years after he retired from non-league. Tributes have poured in for the former forward, with ex-teammate and Bury striker Jon Newby writing: "Very sad to read this. Played with Tom at Bury and he was a nice, very likeable fella. Even when he was at Bury, I remember him speaking very fondly about his time at Cambridge and how much he loved it there." A heartbroken Cambridge supporter also expressed their sorrow: "Absolutely devastated, spoke to Tom at the Blackpool game earlier in the season reminiscing the good ol days, you will always be in our hearts." Win Happy PremiumSearch Rayo greatest hits cambridgeshire news'Remarkable' Cambridgeshire village set for VE Day partyStreet parties are being planned to mark 80 years since war in Europe ended Celebrations are taking shape from today across Cambridgeshire to mark eight decades since VE Day This Thursday will be 80 years since the end of war in Europe with some places holding street parties over the May Day bank holiday That includes in Little Shelford near Cambridge where a party will be held next to The Side Quest pub in the village "We all came together in the pub one evening and the topic came up and we've done very successful parties in the past," David Jones "This was (organised at) short notice but we felt the need to pull something together to have a good family oriented event to both celebrate 80 years of peace without any world wars." People coming along to the party are encouraged to bring along food drink and wear wartime fancy dress with open mic sessions also planned "I think the community engagement that takes place in this village is remarkable but it's because of events like this where we celebrate commemoration of VE Day," David Martin chair of the Lt Shelford Local History Society "It brings the whole village together and everybody it's it's conscious of what happened." Cllr Jones hopes that another message can be sent to the local community "Particularly (for) the younger folk that come as part of the families is that 80 years of peace doesn't come for free that lots of people over the generations have made sacrifices," he added "It's also a reminder that we really are a strong community and very supportive of each other." Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) Take part in Varsity’s anonymous survey to help uncover how many students at Oxford and Cambridge have close relatives who also went to either university it can sometimes feel like everyone around you has a connection to the place — a parent But how many students really have family who attended Oxford or Cambridge And how much do these connections shape who gets in Take part in Varsity’s anonymous survey to help uncover how many students at Oxford and Cambridge have close relatives who also went to either university Whether you’re the first in your family to apply or part of an Oxbridge dynasty Please fill out the short survey here Home What's On Article The Trees in the City exhibition – at Thrive in Cambridge until 12 May – is a celebration and a warning by a group of artists who want to draw attention to the beauty and important function of the arboreal world Most of the artists belong to the Unit 13 studio at Barnwell Business Park whose appreciation of the city’s trees has grown even as they become more challenged by both the warming world and the relentless development taking place in and around the city Organiser Charlotte du Blois said: “All artists trade in emotion which is why Unit 13 artists decided to put the exhibition together to strike against too much concrete in defence of our green lungs “As someone who lives in central Cambridge I can see how rapid urban expansion is destroying ‘the green lung’ and I wanted to get a warning out there Keeping soil safe from concrete overcoats so that it can absorb rain water plays a vital role in the city.” reveals the inspiration for the exhibition “It was 70 years old and could have expected to enjoy at least another 70 years of life or more,” notes Charlotte “A developer next door to the garden where the tree grew and at the time acting without permissions The photograph is displayed in a coffin frame.” despair and frustration – informed the DNA of the exhibition “The exhibition is very much to do with local trees and how precious they are to us,” says artist contributor Cathy Dunbar “ and we felt as a local studio we should be doing more to celebrate them and to recognise them We walk past them every day and don’t notice them but we notice them when they’re gone “The battle to save the St Matthew’s Pieces trees showed that people care and the council rightly identified the trees have been there longer than the houses and they realised you can’t just cut the trees down because someone wants to make an insurance claim Sometimes trees are more important than other things.” She added: “We’re one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world we cover nature up all the time and make it ‘neat’ “Even if we cut one down and plant more it takes years for them to do what that one tree was doing in terms of converting CO2 into oxygen: we need to think about these things much more.” The exhibition at Thrive on Norfolk Street ends on 12 May On 17-18 May the exhibition will move to Artworks at 5 Green’s Road All works are for sale and an auction will be held on Sunday afternoon for any work not previously sold German comedian Henning Wehn - the self-styled ‘German Comedy Ambassador to the United Kingdom’ - brought his new show about climate change to the Cambridge Corn Exchange on Saturday It was the first time he’d been back to the venue since bringing his It'll All Come Out in the Wash tour to town in 2022 Henning apologised to all the Germans in the audience for the late start the differences between British and German humour (“We like to have a laugh once the work’s done not instead of it”) and his reasons for moving to Hastings from London He also mused on Thomas Tuchel becoming manager of the England football team and the delights of the M6 Toll services - a theme he would return to throughout there were cards on each of the seats inviting members of the audience to write down their suggestions for what is to blame for climate change He read some of them out during the second half - the ‘main show’ his witty and very cleverly-observed statements were often spot on and hilarious and one or two of his more ‘risqué’ jokes even drew a few gasps of shock from the sold-out crowd expressions and idioms - as well as his laugh-out-loud references to English popular culture staples like the much-loved television series Bullseye - was also a joy to behold He’s one of those comedians who just naturally looks and sounds funny - as if he was born to do this for a living Henning looked at the reasons for climate change and concluded that not having children might be the best way of tackling it “I don’t have children because I don’t like carrying stuff,” he joked adding that he would like to have them when he’s in his 80s for reasons I won’t go into in case anyone reading this is planning to catch him on one of his upcoming dates on the tour the affable comic sat in the foyer and met the fans allowing them to take selfies with him and signing their merchandise Henning Wehn is one of my favourite stand-ups and one I would always hope to go and see whenever he’s in town For more information, and to check on tour dates for Acid Wehn, go to henningwehn.de Fossil fuel activist Louise Lancaster has spoken of her time in jail after being released on licence with a tag was sentenced to four years in prison on 4 July last year after being found guilty with four others of conspiring to organise Just Stop Oil protests that blocked the M25 motorway in 2022 The case caused uproar with a UN special rapporteur who attended the trial saying that the sentences were “not acceptable in a democracy” whose sentence was reduced by a year on appeal was released on licence after nine months on 8 April and must wear a tag until 16 September Until then she is also confined to her home between 7pm and 7am because it was necessary to stimulate a public conversation It was useful at that time,” Louise told the Cambridge Independent “During the trial it became clear that we were going to get quite a long custodial sentence and people engaging in any sort of activism today need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario “I was fortunate in that I went in with good mental health and that makes a big difference as most people are carrying trauma when they arrive in prison.” Being in the same prison as two of the other jailed activists provided some much-needed solidarity “I was in the same prison as Lucia [Whittaker De Abreu] and Cressy [Cressida Gethin],” Louise notes “We were not always in close proximity but it was very reassuring that three of us were in the same spaces They are all strong and pleased to be released early but are also recognising that the appeal didn’t produce justice They just decided to reduce the longer sentences We stayed very strong throughout prison and were helping people where we could “We considered ourselves as just another prisoner – though other prisoners became aware of why we were there Many had a lot of sympathy - they knew of the lack of compassion in the system so they were friendly “Some we will be keeping in contact with and certainly in HMP Send where people are in for quite a long period of time there’s quite a strong sense of community - people look out for each other and we felt part of that Most of them don’t fit the public view of what a prisoner should be - we certainly jail a lot of people in the UK.” The aftermath of being released from jail seems to have been quite a rollercoaster “It felt like a real treat to be out,” said Louise “It was like going from black and white to colour I think it's taken a bit of adjustment - using a phone is really strange “I think there's a stress from being in prison: you manage while you're there The first week it all catches up with you and last week I was pretty stressed but now there’s a lot of people I’ve met so the jigsaw is starting to fill in now of life on the outside.” “I can’t go out after 7pm as I’ve got a curfew tag which is active between from 7pm to 7am and if I leave the house it alerts the authorities and they will come and arrest me so I can go into the front garden but not beyond that,” she explained “It is what it is and better than being in prison - I was going to be in prison until September but we had a lot of support and protest around the appeal so the five of us got some reductions but I’m still on licence until February 2027 I’m restricted as to where I can go and who I can see There's always the potential for surveillance and they track you online so obviously I’m aiming to stick within my licence conditions “The sentence was reduced from four to three years but I have to check in with probation regularly and if the licence conditions are broken you generally go back to prison “I would need to ask my probation officer if I went away on a holiday At the moment I’m not feeling like a holiday the way the world is going there’s work to be done to make the planet sustainable - and connecting with people is holiday enough!” She remains deeply alarmed by the climate crisis “It's sobering to realise that though 89 per cent of people in the UK are concerned about climate change the government is moving in the opposite direction It’s important everyone feels they have a voice and that the environment can be improved in any way it can “I’ve had support from [South Cambridgeshire MP] Pippa Heyling, plus tremendous support from a wide range of people, some I knew already, some I didn't know. The support has made a massive difference to the time I was inside.” is eager to develop her work with Cambridge Retrofit Hub a not-for-profit hub “run by retrofit expert residents for residents” “It’s a time for looking to the community to tackle the injustices in our system,” she notes. “There’s a lot of great stuff happening in Cambridge in food and water and the environment - and in retrofitting “I’m going back to work where I can fit it in and am helping the hub get training set up for young people I’m excited that work will be in Cambridge - and looking forward to being part of something that's going to help people be in more sustainable Liberal Democrat MP Ms Heylings said: “It is good that Lou is back home and among family and friends after the successful appeal I was pleased to help her as my constituent particularly in her transfer from the maximum-security prison where she was being held initially “Lou’s original prison sentence of four years was one of the longest custodial sentences ever handed down on peaceful protestors in the UK It is not right for MPs to interfere in the independence of the judicial system either in sentencing or appeal cases What I have been doing is to advocate for an independent review of the legislation and sentencing practice for peaceful I made a formal submission to the independent Sentencing Review being led by David Gauke [former Secretary of State for Justice] about the overcrowding of prisons requesting a review of the legislative changes within the Police Sentencing and Courts Act (PCSCA 2022) and sentencing guidelines around the prosecution of peaceful environmental protest “In the context of severe prison overcrowding where the government has been forced to release prisoners early including those convicted of violent crimes the custodial sentences imposed on individuals engaged in peaceful non-violent protests are increasingly difficult to justify “Liberal Democrat MPs will always stand up for the fundamental democratic right of peaceful protest and assembly.” Home Sport Article Elias Kachunga looks set to be a Cambridge United player next season following confirmation of his contract extension The forward’s previous deal had been due to expire at the end of June but head coach Neil Harris has revealed that an appearance related trigger has been met to see the German extend his terms at the Cledara Abbey Stadium by another 12 months Kachunga, who was sent off for two bookable offences during this afternoon’s season-ending 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City Harris also revealed that some soon-to-be out of contract players had been offered new deals by the club while adding that a number of squad members be moved on during a summer that will ‘a lot of change’ take place He said: “We’ve got 12 players under contract They will either be on to pastures new or on loan somewhere because they’re a little bit younger “Some of the players in the building will be offered contracts Some have been offered contracts already and a couple more will be offered contracts There’s a lot of conversations that I’ve had already and there’s some more to be had this week at the training ground We have to look to the future to freshen up.” It is expected that the club will release its retained list at some stage next week Cambridge United signed off from life in League One with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of record-breaking Birmingham City. The two teams have experienced very different campaigns. While big-spending Birmingham will return to the Championship as champions having amassed a third tier record of 111 points, the hosting U’s will be playing League Two football next term following their recent relegation. The visitors went ahead in the 25th minute at the Cledara Abbey Stadium when Christoph Klarer’s delivery from the right corner of the box looped beyond home goalkeeper Nathan Bishop and dropped into the far corner. However, Cambridge were level 12 minutes later as forward Shayne Lavery got the better of Grant Hanley before firing an exceptional shot beyond Ryan Allsop. The second half had been largely uneventful until the 68th minute when Elias Kachunga fouled Lee-Myung Jae and was sent off for a second bookable offense. And Birmingham made the most of their numerical advantage, scoring the winner when Lukas Jutkiewicz –making his final appearance before retirement – put Kell Watts under the pressure, forcing the United defender to turn the ball into his own net. Gates Cambridge has awarded 2,218 scholarships to scholars from 112 countries who represent nearly 800 universities globally (more than 200 in the USA) and around 90 academic departments and all 31 Colleges at Cambridge 95 new scholars have been selected and will form the Class of 2025 this year’s international interviews took place in Singapore took part in a special event on innovation sustainable development and green technology in the ASEAN region The 2025 scholars come from all regions of the world and their research covers everything from space agriculture to cyberbiosecurity particularly in underrepresented countries its fourth from the Syrian Arab Republic and its sixth from the Philippines represent 35 different primary nationalities and include: He is interested in how animals move and persist in fragmented landscapes and how we can use this understanding to support their conservation. He has previously studied everything from fish biodiversity in tropical rivers and shifting mountain treelines across Europe to how movement constraints influence space use predictions in endangered whooping cranes. His PhD will explore how morphology predicts dispersal and connectivity in order to strengthen conservation planning by scaling connectivity metrics across taxa and grounding them in biological realism He says: “My research at Cambridge will advance our understanding of how animals move and survive in fragmented landscapes This knowledge is essential for conserving species in a world shaped by habitat loss and environmental change “I aim to produce actionable insights that can guide effective responses to the global biodiversity crisis.” She has worked as a volunteer with vulnerable groups and focused her master’s in Mechanical Engineering at Zhejiang University on human-centered computing that could harness the power of AI to improve the lives of people with disabilities disability organisations and others to build large language models that provide personalised emotional training for children with autism and large vision language models that offer contextual online social assistance for blind and low-vision people in China. She says: “Volunteering has transformed my perspective on the world and ignited my resolve to use technology to improve the lives of vulnerable groups my research will focus on constructing responsible AI systems to support disabled communities and privacy concerns associated with AI.” is doing an MPhil in Translating Devices and Advanced Therapies Research He has been working as a medical doctor in Cape Town and has seen profound health inequalities up close That prompted him to co-found an mHealth platform aimed at addressing some healthcare access challenges He aspires to be a clinician-scientist and innovator dedicated to creating health solutions that work in both urban and rural South Africa and other resource-limited areas globally He says: “Cambridge's MPhil in Translating Devices and Advanced Therapies Research is about acquiring the specialised toolkit - enabling me to transform observations from South Africa's healthcare gaps into scalable ethical technologies that promote health equity globally.” Drawing on her experience of growing up between Thailand she is interested in how international law and diplomacy can make and shape a resilient world order Panpailin has been Chief Legal Officer of Samaggi Samagom [the Thai Association in the UK] and has also worked as a diplomat in the Thai government speaking at the United Nations General Assembly and other fora She says: "My PhD research will seek to explore how international legal principles can safeguard future generations for the common benefit of humankind I hope to promote sustainability in global decision-making processes and develop an international law that is effective and engaged with humanity’s long-term needs.” Noam Zion Perl Treves is doing a PhD in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Noam grew up in Israel and studied in France where he explored the impact of colonisation on Jewish-Muslim relations among Maghrebi communities in France he completed an MPhil in Muslim-Jewish Relations at the University of Cambridge focusing on how Yemeni Jews negotiated their Arabicised heritage after immigrating to the Holy Land He has interned and worked with organisations fostering interfaith coexistence the Woolf Institute and the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute His PhD explores the lived experiences of rural Yemeni Jews He says: “The Yemeni countryside was home to extraordinarily harmonious relations between Muslims and Jews in the 20th century “My research will draw on an endangered collection of oral testimonies in order to understand the making and unmaking of interfaith coexistence in hyperlocal contexts I am honoured for having been granted the opportunity to identify new pathways to intergroup peace her research explores how to build resilient food systems in extreme environments that can enable people to thrive both on Earth and in space Her PhD will focus on optimising photosynthesis by aligning plants’ internal circadian clocks with controlled lighting in artificial environments Her research aims to explore how lighting schedules influence plant growth and biological timing with the goal of designing more efficient and resilient crop systems. The plant’s circadian rhythms control functions like photosynthesis which are typically in sync with natural day-night cycles lighting conditions often deviate from this rhythm which can reduce plant performance and resource efficiency She says: “By working in the most extreme conditions space challenges us to rethink everything we know about growing food What we learn there can transform agriculture in ways we haven’t yet imagined.” His work is focused on understanding and managing risk – not just within one discipline but across the many interconnected systems that shape our world and building stronger He will focus on the emerging field of cyberbiosecurity legal and scientific systems shape global approaches to risk aims to build anticipatory systems of regulation that can protect critical biological data and infrastructure from escalating global threats He says: “We talk a lot about innovation but what we really need are systems that can adapt absorb and imagine futures beyond the crises we’re already living through.” she witnessed how structural and social determinants often triggered and perpetuated psychological distress she sought to understand how mental illness stigma impacts help-seeking and service use among the largest cohort of Brazilian youth at high risk of mental illness Through her PhD she feels a responsibility as the first Gates Cambridge Scholar from her state to improve the wellbeing of those who are often left out of research and policy She says: “Are youth mental health services effective My research at Cambridge aims to answer these key open questions my goal is to inform policy and improve care for youth in under-resourced settings I’m deeply grateful to join a global community of changemakers who share a commitment to improving the lives of others.” Some of the eight Impact Prize winners at the ceremony in January The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established through a US$210 million donation to the University of Cambridge from the then Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 Since its inception, Gates Cambridge Scholars have created a ripple effect around the world. This anniversary year kicked off with a celebration of its impact. The Impact Prize was awarded to eight scholars from fields as diverse as quantum physics That was followed in early March by a special anniversary Gates Cambridge Annual Lecture given by Winnie Byanyima where she spoke of the need to see health as a human right In late March, five scholars spoke at the Cambridge Festival about their ideas for a better world They covered everything from 3D biotechnology food security in Africa and health biometrics to pandemic tracking and how we de-risk whistleblowing and encourage greater accountability in our tech organisations Scholars have also been involved in a range of other events and films for the 25th anniversary including workshops on the politics and practice of mining the critical minerals and rare earth elements that are vital for clean energy technologies and high-tech products and running a tech start-up in a conflict zone The Gates Cambridge podcast, So, now what? has also begun its second season with episodes on subjects including how to make a better world for young people how to get your voice heard in a noisy world and how to boost biodiversity “When we started the Gates Cambridge Scholarship in 2000 we wanted to help exceptional students from all over the world experience the university’s 800-year legacy of higher education the alumni of the program have gone on to remarkable careers in fields ranging from public health to international relations We couldn’t be prouder of the difference they’re making “We are incredibly proud of all that Gates Cambridge has achieved This exceptional programme is successfully producing the leaders that will address many of the common challenges facing humanity we look forward with excitement to what the next 25 years will bring.” Find out more about Gates Cambridge *Picture above of Flying Together by Jill Dryer which she painted for the inauguration of Bill Gates Sr House and which links to a similar work by Dryer at the BIll & Melinda Gates Foundation HQ For more information about how we and our partners use cookies on our site, see our These cookies are necessary for the Savills website to function Examples of this include: setting your privacy preferences Though these cookies cannot be switched off you can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies but please be aware that this will stop some parts of the Savills website from functioning as intended Find out more about strictly necessary cookies These cookies are used to enhance the performance of the Savills website as without them certain functions of the website may not be available While they are not vital for the website to run they allow us to remember important information and your preferences such as previous location searches Find out more about functional cookies These cookies record your activity on the Savills website and our partners may use that information to show you adverts that they think you will be most interested in when you visit other websites We may also use information recorded by these cookies to see how well these adverts are performing Find out more about targeting and tracking cookies Find a property Find the property that brings your vision to life needs and aspirations and we won’t stop until we’ve found you the right fit From first homes to rural land and commercial opportunities we have a specialist expert that knows the market inside out Have a question? 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We're here to provide you with more information or connect you with the right people to help with your needs Earth Day 2025: the role of solar power in commercial real estate Earth Day is the world’s largest environmental awareness initiative 2025’s theme – ‘Our Power Our Planet’ – spotlights the urgent need to scale up renewable energy to triple clean electricity generation worldwide by 2030. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a development ready site for a 134-bedroom aparthotel with a franchise agreement secured with Marriott International and a Gross Development Value (GDV) in excess of £50 million Full planning consent was granted in January 2025 to deliver a new 134-bedroom aparthotel designed in line with Residence Inn by Marriott brand standards The aparthotel will be arranged over four storeys and feature an open plan reception The development also includes a retail unit on the ground floor and aims to achieve high sustainability targets including a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification The site is located adjacent the River Cam on the north side of Cambridge City Centre with quick and easy access to the City Centre Cambridge North and Cambridge Science Park Cambridge is renowned as Europe’s science capital and serves as a major UK hub for business The city attracts global companies and skilled workers increasing the demand for extended-stay accommodation which is currently undersupplied in the city “We are delighted to introduce this best-in-class and rarely available freehold development to the market a thriving hotel sector and a recognised shortage of branded extended stay rooms.” “This high-quality centrally located site is ideal for an aparthotel such as Residence Inn by Marriott which will be able to drive market-leading returns in operation through a combination of the above average RevPAR and high margin operational model associated with a brand-new extended stay product.” ' + articleIntroContainer[0].innerHTML + ' Check out how to watch Cambridge United v Birmingham in the League One Birmingham City have already set the record points total in an EFL campaign and they have one more chance to set the bar even higher when they travel to face Cambridge United The Blues are on 108 points with one game left to play while the U's are already relegated and will finish the season in 23rd place regardless of the result here RadioTimes.com has rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch Cambridge United v Birmingham on TV and online Cambridge United v Birmingham will take place on Saturday 3rd May 2025 Check out our live football on TV guide for the latest times and information Cambridge United v Birmingham will kick off at 3pm You can watch the game live on Sky Sports+ Sky Sports + will feature more than 1,000 EFL games throughout the season and is included as part of Sky Sports packages Sky Sports customers can live stream the game via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices including most smartphones and tablets as part of their subscription NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs In working partnership with the Radio Times, bet365 has provided the following betting odds for this event: bet365 odds: Cambridge United (9/2) Draw (7/2) Birmingham (12/25)* Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365 Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit *Odds subject to change. 18+. 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GambleAware.org Note – The bonus code RT365 does not change the offer amount in any way What channel is Cambridge United v Birmingham League One match on live stream and kick-off timeCheck out how to watch Cambridge United v Birmingham in the League One while the U's are already relegated and will finish the season in 23rd place regardless of the result here RadioTimes.com has rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch Cambridge United v Birmingham on TV and online Check out our live football on TV guide for the latest times and information You can watch the game live on Sky Sports+ By entering your details you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply In working partnership with the Radio Times, bet365 has provided the following betting odds for this event: bet365 odds: Cambridge United (9/2) Draw (7/2) Birmingham (12/25)* *Odds subject to change. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org Michael PottsSport EditorMichael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014 you are agreeing to site title privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Subscribe to RT!Subscribe to Radio Times magazine and get £10 issues for £10! Could your home unlock your dreams?Releasing equity from your home could help give you the retirement you've been dreaming of? Holiday brochuresNeed inspiration of where to go next Request a free brochure and start your journey Eleanor Dougan speaks to the floating bar owner Derrell Dixson about his experiences punting Pimm’s along the Cam for over a decade How long have you been operating the floating bar? We launched in 2011 while I was studying for a business degree. I submitted the business plan as part of my dissertation, and my lecturer was so impressed he encouraged me to start the company - he even lent me the startup money. His name was Lester Lloyd-Reason. If you’re reading this, Lester—thank you. “It really is a dream—floating up and down the river in the sun, looking at gorgeous scenery and nature, and providing a service that everybody wants” Before starting the business, I worked as a punt chauffeur and tout while studying. Funnily enough, the idea didn’t come to me while I was in Cambridge. I spent a summer travelling during uni, and while in Cambodia I took a riverboat trip where I saw a man selling beers from a tiny wooden boat—that’s what sparked the idea. Between him and my lecturer, I definitely can’t take all the credit! I moved to Cambridge in 2009, when I was about 21. I grew up on a council estate in a small town called Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. I’ve lived in Milton Keynes, Bedford, South Africa, and London, but I knew from the moment I arrived in Cambridge that I’d be staying. It’s a special place with great people, and I’m proud to call it home. What is your favourite thing about the job? Have you got a favourite part of the river or a favourite college to punt past? I never get tired of the scenery along the Backs. The entire stretch of the Cam is stunning, but my favourite building is the Wren Library. I find it so elegant, and its symmetry really appeals to me. “I am proud to have built something that people see as part of the Cambridge experience” That said, my favourite college has to be King’s. The view of the Gibbs Building and Chapel from the river is breathtaking, and I really admire what the college stands for – it’s known for being progressive. I love seeing the Pride flag flying over the Gibbs Building each June, and I hope the college continues to take a stand against hate in the current social climate. I was also lucky enough to go to King’s Affair a few years back—my gosh, King’s students know how to party! What has been your worst experience on the river? The best part? Waking up the next day to find the story had been picked up by Cambridge Evening News and Cambridge Independent. There was no avoiding the embarrassment! At least The Independent’s headline gave me a laugh: “Pimm’s Punt gets a bit squiffy on the River Cam.” “I never get tired of the scenery along the Backs” How often do you see people fall in? And do you ever fall in yourself? Apart from Pimm’s, what is your favourite drink? You might be surprised to hear this, but I’m not actually a big drinker - though I am partial to an Aperol Spritz when the sun is out. News Dr Ally Louks on going viral for all the wrong reasons What has the response been like from students? The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive, and I have been told on several occasions by Cambridge students that we are “doing the Lord’s work”, which always gives me a good laugh. I am proud to have built something that people see as part of the Cambridge experience. Absolutely! We’d love to work with the University. We’ll be reaching out to the colleges along the Backs soon, so if you’re reading this and happen to be on a May Ball committee, please keep us in mind. We hope to see you on that special day next year! Varsity is the independent newspaper for the University of Cambridge, established in its current form in 1947. In order to maintain our editorial independence, our print newspaper and news website receives no funding from the University of Cambridge or its constituent Colleges. We are therefore almost entirely reliant on advertising for funding and we expect to have a tough few months and years ahead. In spite of this situation, we are going to look at inventive ways to look at serving our readership with digital content and of course in print too! Therefore we are asking our readers, if they wish, to make a donation from as little as £1, to help with our running costs. Many thanks, we hope you can help! First published in 1947, Varsity is the independent student newspaper for the University of Cambridge. All content © 1996-2025 Varsity Publications Ltd. Rayo hits radio cambridgeshire newsCambridge United mourn loss of former player Tom Youngs He died yesterday in St Nicholas Hospice, Bury St Edmunds Cambridge United mourn loss of former player Tom Youngs, who has died at the age of 45. He died yesterday in St Nicholas Hospice at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds. Tom, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014, made 180 appearances for the club between 1997 & 2003, scoring 48 times. He was part of manager Roy McFarland’s team that won promotion to Division Three in 1998/99, and appeared in the John Taylor side that reached the LDV Vans Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff in 2002. After his time at the Abbey Stadium, he appeared for Northampton, Leyton Orient and Bury in the Football League before dropping into non-league and then retiring in 2011. Tom described the triumphs and tribulations of life in football in an acclaimed 2016 memoir: "What dreams are (not quite) made of: no fame, no fortune, just football… and multiple sclerosis." Tom is survived by his wife Chelle and their two daughters. The broadcaster and Girton alumna is the 6th figure to announce candidacy for the role Broadcaster and comedian Sandi Toksvig is standing for Cambridge Chancellor In an X post, Simon McDonald, Master of Christ’s College, announced he had “just submitted Sandi Toksvig’s nomination papers to be Chancellor of University of Cambridge.” The post also included a photo of a completed Chancellor candidate form including 79 “supporters forms” from those nominating Toksvig McDonald confirmed Toksvig’s nomination to Varsity stating: “I nominated Sandi Toksvig to be Chancellor because I think she’d do the job brilliantly studying Arch&Anth and Law at Girton and taking a First; these days she’s an Honorary Fellow of three Colleges and a bye-Fellow at Christ’s.” we’ve seen her connection with students; events involving Sandi are high energy and very well attended We’ve also seen her courageous and thoughtful contribution to debates about academic freedom No doubt other candidates would do a decent job but I nominated Sandi because I think she’d be best,” he continued He also stated that Toksvig had consented to the nomination and that she had been planning a run for Chancellor for over a year Toksvig is a British-Danish broadcaster known best for hosting quiz show QI and baking competition The Great British Bake Off having co-founded the Women’s Equality Party in 2015 She was also named a by-fellow at Christ’s College in 2023 being chosen as the University’s first ‘Q+ Fellow’ a position that aims to allow LGBT+ alumni to pursue research projects and ‘incubate new ideas’ and Archaeology and Anthropology at Girton College She graduated with a first-class degree and received two prizes for outstanding achievement This is not Toksvig’s first candidacy for a Chancellor role She stood for the position of Oxford Chancellor on an anti-student fees platform in 2003 being defeated in the first round of voting She also was the Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth Five other candidates have announced they are standing for the position so far These are business owner and activist Gina Miller Queens’ College president Mohamed El-Erian Cambridge Astrophysics professor Wyn Evans The Chancellor is the University’s formal and ceremonial head formerly known as Lord Sainsbury of Turville The role does not exercise executive authority they do have the authority to call and chair Congregations of the Regent House in addition to deciding on certain contested and unresolved matters on appeal a former chairman of Sainsbury’s supermarkets was elected the Chancellor of the University by the Senate in October 2011 and was ceremonially installed as Chancellor in the Senate-House in March 2012 He is also the UK’s biggest political donor Between 1996 and 2006, when Sainsbury stood down as a Labour science minister, the businessman donated £16 million to the party. The billionaire was questioned by police when still a minister in 2006 during the cash for honours scandal having admitted to failing to disclose a £2 million loan to the party The elected candidate will partake in public-facing activities and in providing advice to senior members of the University The deadline to register for voting is 2 May 2025 The alumni of the Gates Cambridge program have gone on to remarkable careers We couldn’t be prouder of the difference they’re making The Gates Cambridge Trust has announced the 95 outstanding scholars and future leaders who will form the 25th cohort of Gates Cambridge Scholars 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of Gates Cambridge the University of Cambridge’s prestigious postgraduate scholarship programme for the most socially engaged and academically brilliant students from around the world beginning their studies in October. For the first time this year’s international interviews took place in Singapore The Gates Cambridge community is a unique one where scholars come together from a broad sweep of disciplines backgrounds and countries to tackle the most challenging issues humanity faces The 2025 scholars come from all regions of the world and their research covers everything from space agriculture and bilingualism to cyberbiosecurity and building responsible AI systems for supporting disabled communities Belarus and Bosnia and Herzegovina and its sixth from the Philippines represent 35 different primary nationalities said: “I’m delighted to announce our 25th anniversary cohort of 95 new scholars Gates Cambridge has always selected scholars based on their outstanding academic achievement and their commitment to change the world for the better Already they are having a ripple effect in the many disciplines and industry sectors they have gone on to work in We know that our new scholars will thrive in the rich international community at Cambridge and we trust that they will go on to have a significant impact in their various fields and more broadly tackling the urgent global challenges we face today.” The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established through a US$210 million donation to the University of Cambridge from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 At its heart is a dedication to social leadership and academic excellence. where she spoke of the need to see health as a human right. In late March five scholars spoke at the Cambridge Festival about their ideas for a better world Scholars have also been involved in a range of other events and films for the 25th anniversary, including workshops on the politics and practice of mining the critical minerals and rare earth elements that are vital for clean energy technologies and high-tech products, art and AI and running a tech start-up in a conflict zone. The Gates Cambridge podcast, So, now what? has also begun its second season with episodes including how to make a better world for young people co-founder of the Gates Foundation and Microsoft said: “When we started the Gates Cambridge Scholarship in 2000 Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and Chair of the Board of the Gates Cambridge Trust said: “We are incredibly proud of all that Gates Cambridge has achieved *Read the full bios of the new cohort here. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of Gates […] What can astronomy tell us about our place in the universe Three Gates Cambridge Scholars discuss the history of astronomy current research into exo-planets and what studying the planets and […] Gates Cambridge Scholars have been active in all fields and none more so than economics Zoljargal Enkh-Amgalan [Zoloo for short] fell in love with Anthropology as soon as she knew what it was It seemed to bring together all her interests in people By Sarah CollinsPublished 17 April 2025 Artist's impression of the exoplanet K2-18b Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have detected the chemical fingerprints of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and/or dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) which orbits its star in the habitable zone primarily microbial life such as marine phytoplankton While an unknown chemical process may be the source of these molecules in K2-18b’s atmosphere the results are the strongest evidence yet that life may exist on a planet outside our solar system The observations have reached the ‘three-sigma’ level of statistical significance – meaning there is a 0.3% probability that they occurred by chance To reach the accepted classification for scientific discovery the observations would have to cross the five-sigma threshold meaning there would be below a 0.00006% probability they occurred by chance The researchers say between 16 and 24 hours of follow-up observation time with JWST may help them reach the all-important five-sigma significance. Their results are reported in The Astrophysical Journal Letters Earlier observations of K2-18b — which is 8.6 times as massive and 2.6 times as large as Earth and lies 124 light years away in the constellation of Leo — identified methane and carbon dioxide in its atmosphere This was the first time that carbon-based molecules were discovered in the atmosphere of an exoplanet in the habitable zone Those results were consistent with predictions for a ‘Hycean’ planet: a habitable ocean-covered world underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere However, another, weaker signal hinted at the possibility of something else happening on K2-18b. “We didn’t know for sure whether the signal we saw last time was due to DMS, but just the hint of it was exciting enough for us to have another look with JWST using a different instrument,” said Professor Nikku Madhusudhan from Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy To determine the chemical composition of the atmospheres of faraway planets astronomers analyse the light from its parent star as the planet transits or passes in front of the star as seen from the Earth JWST can detect a drop in stellar brightness and a tiny fraction of starlight passes through the planet’s atmosphere before reaching Earth The absorption of some of the starlight in the planet’s atmosphere leaves imprints in the stellar spectrum that astronomers can piece together to determine the constituent gases of the exoplanet’s atmosphere inference of DMS was made using JWST’s NIRISS (Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph) and NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) instruments which together cover the near-infrared (0.8-5 micron) range of wavelengths independent observation used JWST’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) in the mid-infrared (6-12 micron) range “This is an independent line of evidence using a different instrument than we did before and a different wavelength range of light where there is no overlap with the previous observations,” said Madhusudhan “The signal came through strong and clear.” Transmission spectrum of the habitable zone exoplanet K2-18 b using the JWST MIRI spectrograph “It was an incredible realisation seeing the results emerge and remain consistent throughout the extensive independent analyses and robustness tests,” said co-author Måns Holmberg a researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore DMS and DMDS are molecules from the same chemical family and both are predicted to be biosignatures Both molecules have overlapping spectral features in the observed wavelength range although further observations will help differentiate between the two molecules the concentrations of DMS and DMDS in K2-18b’s atmosphere are very different than on Earth where they are generally below one part per billion by volume they are estimated to be thousands of times stronger - over ten parts per million “Earlier theoretical work had predicted that high levels of sulfur-based gases like DMS and DMDS are possible on Hycean worlds,” said Madhusudhan Given everything we know about this planet a Hycean world with an ocean that is teeming with life is the scenario that best fits the data we have.” Madhusudhan says that while the results are exciting it’s vital to obtain more data before claiming that life has been found on another world He says that while he is cautiously optimistic there could be previously unknown chemical processes at work on K2-18b that may account for the observations he is hoping to conduct further theoretical and experimental work to determine whether DMS and DMDS can be produced non-biologically at the level currently inferred “The inference of these biosignature molecules poses profound questions concerning the processes that might be producing them” said co-author Subhajit Sarkar of Cardiff University “Our work is the starting point for all the investigations that are now needed to confirm and understand the implications of these exciting findings,” said co-author Savvas Constantinou also from Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy “It’s important that we’re deeply sceptical of our own results because it’s only by testing and testing again that we will be able to reach the point where we’re confident in them,” Madhusudhan said “That’s how science has to work.” While he is not yet claiming a definitive discovery Madhusudhan says that with powerful tools like JWST and future planned telescopes humanity is taking new steps toward answering that most essential of questions: are we alone we may look back at this point in time and recognise it was when the living universe came within reach,” said Madhusudhan where suddenly the fundamental question of whether we’re alone in the universe is one we’re capable of answering.” The James Webb Space Telescope is a collaboration between NASA The research is supported by a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Frontier Research Grant To learn more about Hycean worlds, visit hycean.group.cam.ac.uk Reference:Nikku Madhusudhan et al. ‘New Constraints on DMS and DMDS in the Atmosphere of K2-18b from JWST MIRI.’ The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2025) The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License Paul Bristow won the ballot with 60,243 votes The Liberal Democrats have taken control of Cambridgeshire County Council No single party had a majority at the county council after the last set of elections Counting takes place at various sites across the county after yesterday's ballot The last mayor of the combined authority was Labour's Nik Johnson but he did not stand for election this time The leader of the county council is re-elected to the authority Paul Bristow has signed his declaration of office the chief executive of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority the newly elected mayor for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire said: “It’s a huge privilege to become the mayor People have placed their trust in me and I want to repay that trust by making the mayor matter to them That includes changing the way in which we do politics in our region I look forward to working with all of our councils and council leaders so we can put this right together."I have been given a big mandate by local people Now it’s time to get Cambridgeshire and Peterborough moving." Paul Bristow signs his declaration of office after being elected as mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGreen Party councillor is 'elated and privileged' to win seatpublished at 20:02 British Summer Time 2 May20:02 BST 2 MayImage source Peter Charles Rees won the Newnham seat for the Green Party Heading into this year’s local elections the Green Party had no councillors at the authority – now it has three The newly elected Peter Charles Rees said he was “absolutely elated” to win the seat in Newnham He said: “I really hope that we can bring the voice for the climate crisis on to the county council into our decision making because before today there was not a single Green in the county council and bringing that voice to the decisions towards climate solutions is our first priority.” Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThat's a wrap!published at 18:37 British Summer Time 2 May18:37 BST 2 MayShariqua AhmedBBC News We have come to an end of our live election coverage from across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough with Conservative Paul Bristow elected as the new mayor and the Liberal Democrats taking control of Cambridgeshire County Council Kate Moser Andon and Shariqua Ahmed were reporting live from the Soham counting centre Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHow many county council seats did each party win?published at 18:22 British Summer Time 2 May18:22 BST 2 May Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMayoral elections: analysispublished at 18:14 British Summer Time 2 May18:14 BST 2 MayKate Moser AndonBBC political reporter Cambridgeshire and Peterborough once more have a Conservative mayor But this is not a "true blue" county – the Liberal Democrats now have a majority on Cambridgeshire County Council while Reform UK took 10 council seats and the Greens took three Paul Bristow will have to work with other parties to make his mark as mayor He will be the leader of the combined authority consisting of the leader of the district and city councils and the county council His task over the next four years will be to bring all of those different political people together Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFinal resultspublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 2 May18:01 BST 2 MayThe Liberal Democrats have taken control of the county council with 31 seats The Conservatives and Reform UK both won a total of 10 seats the Green Party won three and Independent parties took two seats She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she was "relieved and delighted" to be back at the authority Ms Nethsingha added it was "really important that parties work together to try and get the best outcomes for Cambridgeshire" Lucy Nethsingha was re-elected to the county council Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLiberal Democrats take control of county councilpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 2 May17:30 BST 2 MayImage source Liberal Democrats have been celebrating their county council wins across Cambridgeshire this afternoon The party has gained 31 of the 61 available seats which was the exact amount needed for a majority Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingKemi Badenoch praises Paul Bristow's winpublished at 17:25 British Summer Time 2 May17:25 BST 2 MayImage source Kemi Badenoch and Paul Bristow celebrated the election victory with party supporters Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch is in Peterborough to celebrate Paul Bristow's mayoral victory she says she "knew he could do it" and adds that the party "has a big job to do to rebuild trust" received 60,243 votes and will replace Labour's Nik Johnson as mayor Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhich results are we still waiting for?published at 17:08 British Summer Time 2 May17:08 BST 2 MayWe are still waiting for the results from these seven areas in Cambridge Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCambridge results are coming inpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 2 May16:39 BST 2 MayWe are now hearing some of the results for Cambridge The Liberal Democrats need three more seats to take a 31-seat majority on the county council The party has taken Market from Labour and held Trumpington The Green Party has taken Newnham from the Liberal Democrats as the party has held Petersfield and Cherry Hinton Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhat results have been declared so far?published at 16:09 British Summer Time 2 May16:09 BST 2 MayImage source About 12 County Council results are still awaited So far 49 out of the 61 Cambridgeshire County Council seats up for election have been declared although it has been a successful day for Reform UK This is the current seat tally for each party We are still waiting for results from Cambridge Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingReform UK gains two more seatspublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 2 May15:57 BST 2 MayStephen Fisher and Colin Galbraith have won Cambridgeshire County Council seats for March North and Waldersey who won both seats up for re-election with its candidates receiving 4,033 votes in total Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingReform UK will still hold power to account says candidatepublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 2 May15:28 BST 2 MayImage source Ryan Coogan of Reform UK came second in the mayoral race Ryan Coogan of Reform UK came second in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoral race he said the country had not "seen the last of Reform UK" We have seen a phoenix rising and we will be here to hold all the big guns to account in coming years," Coogan said Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLiberal Democrats celebrate south Cambridgeshire winspublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 2 May15:02 BST 2 MayImage source The new Liberal Democrat councillors celebrate with Pippa Heylings Some of the new Liberal Democrat councillors for Cambridgeshire County Council gathered with Pippa Heylings the Liberal Democrat MP for South Cambridgeshire for a celebratory photo outside the counting centre The BBC understands there will be an induction for all the new councillors tomorrow Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLiberal Democrats win 15 county council seatspublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 2 May14:56 BST 2 MayEmma HowgegoBBC political reporter It was a clean sweep for the Liberal Democrats after the party won all 15 seats in south Cambridgeshire for Cambridgeshire County Council Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingConservatives celebrate Paul Bristow's victorypublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 2 May14:41 BST 2 MayImage source Paul Bristow celebrate his election victory with his supporters Conservative Party supporters celebrate following Paul Bristow's election as the new mayor for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingConservative Paul Bristow wins mayoral racepublished at 14:23 British Summer Time 2 May14:23 BST 2 MayImage source Paul Bristow is the new mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough The former Conservative MP Paul Bristow has been elected as mayor for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMayor results expected any minutepublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 2 May14:20 BST 2 MayThe mayoral candidates and their supporters have arrived in the declaration hall as we have been told the result could be announced very soon Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingQuick counting powered by chocolate mini eggspublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 2 May14:06 BST 2 MayLaura FosterBBC News Chocolate eggs and sweets are fuelling counters in south Cambridgeshire If you ask any journalist how they get through an election day or night they probably answer by listing the snacks they eat You have to bring food with you because once you are at a count you cannot leave in case you miss anything it is grapes - a perfect combination of hydration and vitamins the quick work of the counters seems to be powered by a combination of mini chocolate eggs and penny sweets Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLib Dems win Soham South and Haddenhampublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 2 May14:00 BST 2 MayShariqua AhmedBBC News There were loud cheers and hugs after Tom Hawker-Dawson election victory was declared Tom Hawker-Dawson has won the seat of Soham South and Haddenham for the Liberal Democrats There were big celebrations in amongst party supporters after the results were declared