Latest news with #TheUKGovernment
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
The ‘dangerous' phones that WON'T get UK's emergency alert because they're not new enough
BRITS with older mobiles will miss the UK's upcoming test of its Emergency Alert System. The Advertisement 2 Millions of phones across the UK will be pinged with an 'emergency alert' that triggers a loud siren and vibrations for 10 seconds later this year It follows a similar test that took place in 2023, where Android and The UK Government tests the service to make sure it works properly even when there's no actual emergency. But according to official government guidance, some phones won't be able to deliver the alert. That means those Brits won't just miss out on the drill – but will also miss out on genuine emergency alerts too. Advertisement Read more on iPhone This means your old mobile is more dangerous than newer models , as you won't get the Government-issued alerts about "severe flooding, fires, and extreme weather". WHICH PHONES WON'T GET THE ALERTS? For Apple customers, alerts come to any iPhone running iOS 14.5 or later. The following devices are iOS 14.5 compatible, and will get the alert: iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone X iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus iPhone 7 iPhone 7 Plus iPhone 6s iPhone 6s Plus iPhone SE (1st generation) iPhone SE (2nd generation) Most read in Phones & Gadgets Tested Exclusive Anything newer than the phones on that list will also be able to get the update. Advertisement That's because they launched with iOS 15 or later. iPhone 16e review – I've secretly tested Apple's cheapest mobile and I love the new button but that's not the best bit That means these models will also get the alert: iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd generation) iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16e If you have an iPhone older than the devices on those lists above, you won't get the alert, according to UK government guidance. These models can't get iOS 14.5 and will miss the alert : Advertisement iPhone iPhone 3G iPhone 3GS iPhone 4 iPhone 4S iPhone 5 iPhone 5C iPhone 5S iPhone 5s iPhone 6 iPhone 6 Plus For Android, it's more difficult to give a full list of supported phones. That's because so many different gadget makers produce Android phones. You'll need to make sure that your Android phone is running Android 11 or later. 2 You can toggle emergency alerts off in your settings Credit: Apple Advertisement To do that, just go to Settings > About Phone > Android Version. If it's not running Android 11 or later, try updating it in Settings > System > Software Update. And if you can't get Android 11 or later then you may miss out on the emergency alerts. If you have one of these cut-off phones, you should consider upgrading it immediately. Advertisement SECOND HIDDEN DANGER Of course, that's not the only reason these older mobiles are dangerous. These handsets For iPhone, we're now on iOS 18 and And it's the same story for old Android phones too. Advertisement WARNING FOR DRIVERS The UK Government issued the following warning for anyone driving during the drill... "When you get an alert, stop what you're doing and follow the instructions in the alert," the Government advice reads. "If you're driving or riding when you get an alert, do not read or respond to an emergency alert while driving or riding. "Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. "If there's nowhere safe and legal to stop, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, you can listen to news on live radio to find out about the emergency. "It's illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding." Picture Credit: Unsplash Tech giants use software updates to close dangerous security loopholes. These loopholes can be used by hackers to break into your devices and accounts – so updating your phone is the easiest way to stay safe. But if you can't update your phone, then you can't receive the latest security fixes – leaving you exposed to known loopholes that criminals can exploit. So missing out on emergency alerts isn't the only reason to upgrade your old (and sadly, dangerous) mobile. Advertisement WHY ELSE MIGHT YOU MISS THE ALERT? Having a phone that is too old isn't the only reason why you might miss out on the alert. The UK Government says that you won't get the alert if your phone is turned off, connected to a 2G or 3G network, or Wi-Fi only. And you might also miss alerts if your phone is in airplane mode. You can also turn alerts off, so you'll want to check your settings to make sure that the feature is on. Advertisement On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Emergency Alerts and make sure that the alert toggles are in the green "on" position. And on Android phones, just search for Emergency Alerts in your phone's search bar, and then toggle them on. They should be on by default anyway. WHAT WILL THE ALERT SOUND LIKE? Sadly there's no confirmed date for the 2025 alert test just yet. Advertisement But when it happens, the Government says: "Your mobile phone or tablet may make a loud siren-like sound, even if it's set on silent". It may also vibrate and read out the alert. "The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds," government advice explains. The alert will also include a phone number or link to the Government website for more info. Advertisement When the 2023 test alert was issued, it said: 'Severe Alert. This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. 'In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. "Visit
Daily Record
27-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Everyone to get mobile phone alert as sirens sound for 10 seconds
The system was last used in January when it warned of the oncoming storm The UK Government is to send an emergency alert to revert mobile phone in the UK, with a message taking over the screen and a loud siren sounding for 10 seconds. The alarm will come from a system that was launched in 2023 to alert people across the country to immediate threats. According to the Sun, this will be a nationwide test of the system - designed to tell people if they are at risk of everything from extreme weather to disease and war. The message will read: "Severe Alert. This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. "In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.", reports the Express. During the 2023 test, people reported the alarm being loud' and frightening. The test signal will be sent later this year on a date to be set, and will be tested every two years to make sure it is still working. A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "This system is not designed to cause panic, but to ensure people are aware of imminent threats and can act test is part of building national resilience and saving lives in future crises." The system has already been used in real-world situations. Earlier this year four million people got an alert ahead of Storm Eowyn smashing into the UK. Three million were sent a message ahead of Storm Darragh in 2024. Roger Hargreaves, director of the Cobra emergencies committee unit at the Cabinet Office, told MPs in 2023: 'It is international standard practice to do regular test messages. I think there is a case for doing it every two years, but we haven't got a ministerial decision on that. Every two years is what we would probably advise ministers but we're yet to get a view on that.'
Scotsman
17-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Powering growth and shaping industrial future
When local vision meets national support, great things can happen, says Dean Cook Dean Cook looks at the fruits of The UK Government's Innovation Accelerator programme for Scotland and beyond Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As the UK sharpens its focus on long-term growth and economic resilience, a quiet revolution is already underway in the regions. The UK Government's Innovation Accelerator (IA) programme, launched as a pilot just two years ago, had a clear aim - empower regions with high potential to co-create solutions tailored to their local strengths and opportunities. Now with impressive impacts emerging from the pilot, it's clear that this place-based innovation model is working - and it's working fast. Designed to drive growth in areas with globally competitive R&D strengths, the IA programme gave trailblazers in Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands the power to co-create innovation strategies tailored to local strengths and economic opportunities. The aim was not just to deliver outcomes locally, but to demonstrate how innovation at the regional level can directly support national priorities. Highly relevant as the UK Government's Modern Industrial Strategy (Invest 2035) unfolds. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And it's working. Early indicators show the programme has already delivered over £140 million in co-investment and created up to 250 full-time-equivalent high-value jobs across future-critical sectors including quantum computing, advanced diagnostics, health innovation, space, and clean transport. Real-world innovations, real companies, and real jobs powering up local economies. Glasgow is benefiting from the Critical Technologies Accelerator (Picture: Adobe) Take the Clean Futures programme in the West Midlands. Projects like a next-gen EV battery coating and Moonbility's AI-powered 'digital twin' for rail disruption are already pushing UK firms to the forefront of net zero and transport innovation. In Greater Manchester, the Centre for Digital Innovation spans all ten boroughs, while the Turing Innovation Catalyst is building AI skills for women - embedding inclusion into the very heart of the region's digital economy. In Glasgow, the Critical Technologies Accelerator has spun out two cutting-edge quantum firms: Kelvin Quantum and Quantcore - advancing technologies that underpin next-generation computing infrastructure. These projects show how innovation accelerators aren't just transforming regional economies, they're positioning the UK as a global leader in strategic technologies. What's key here is not just the 'what', but the 'how'. Innovate UK has been at the forefront of championing the potential of place-based innovation. This pilot took that belief further - creating a new model of shared investment, where national ambition meets local insight and leadership. Local action plans developed by each region have played a central role, articulating long-term strategies built on evidence, collaboration, and the unique assets of each place. These plans are now live and in delivery, providing the framework for sustained impact over time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Crucially, this programme aligns strongly with the Government's vision in Invest 2035: a modern industrial strategy that is focused on unlocking growth through strong institutions, technology leadership, and place. The Innovation Accelerators bring this to life, enabling local institutions to lead, anchoring world-class research in practical outcomes, and building stronger, more resilient local economies that feed into national success. Our role at Innovate UK is to connect these established and emerging clusters to national strategy, global networks, and each other. We're using insights from the Innovation Accelerators to inform wider investment decisions, share what works, and build an innovation ecosystem that is both locally grounded and globally competitive. The Innovation Accelerator programme is showing us what's possible when local vision meets national support. And we are just getting started. An initial £100 million investment has already been extended by a further £30 million for 2025/26, reflecting the growing confidence in this model. What began as a pilot is fast becoming a blueprint for regional innovation, helping to shape the future of the UK's industrial strategy and delivering on the UK Government's growth agenda.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK Government to invest £200 million in Grangemouth, says Starmer
The UK Government will provide an extra £200 million of funding for Grangemouth as the oil refinery in the area is set to close. Speaking at the Scottish Labour conference on Sunday, his first since taking office, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged the cash from the National Wealth Fund, which he said would be an 'investment in Scotland's industrial future'. 'We will grasp the opportunities at Grangemouth, work alongside partners to develop viable proposals, team up with business to get new industries off the ground and to attract private investors into the partnership we need,' he said. 'We will allocate £200 million from the National Wealth Fund for investment in Grangemouth. 'An investment in Scotland's industrial future, that's the difference a Labour Government can make because we all know what happens if we don't win this race, it's written into the fabric of every community in this nation, the skilled jobs that disappeared, the communities that lost their place in the world. 'Not just the security and dignity of their work, not just their pride and purpose, their identity.' The funding will help to plan the future of the site, with the refinery due to transition into an import terminal in the coming months, risking as many as 400 jobs. According to to the Scotland Office, the cash will be available for 'co-investment' with the private sector to look at long-term options for the site.
The Independent
23-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
UK Government to invest £200 million in Grangemouth, says Starmer
The UK Government will provide an extra £200 million of funding for Grangemouth as the oil refinery in the area is set to close. Speaking at the Scottish Labour conference on Sunday, his first since taking office, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged the cash from the National Wealth Fund, which he said would be an 'investment in Scotland's industrial future'. 'We will grasp the opportunities at Grangemouth, work alongside partners to develop viable proposals, team up with business to get new industries off the ground and to attract private investors into the partnership we need,' he said. 'We will allocate £200 million from the National Wealth Fund for investment in Grangemouth. 'An investment in Scotland's industrial future, that's the difference a Labour Government can make because we all know what happens if we don't win this race, it's written into the fabric of every community in this nation, the skilled jobs that disappeared, the communities that lost their place in the world. 'Not just the security and dignity of their work, not just their pride and purpose, their identity.' The funding will help to plan the future of the site, with the refinery due to transition into an import terminal in the coming months, risking as many as 400 jobs. According to to the Scotland Office, the cash will be available for 'co-investment' with the private sector to look at long-term options for the site.
