The costs of the UK’s Global Talent Visa looks a trifle high in comparison to competitor countries - largely through the Immigration Health Surcharge (which critics say is a form of double taxation as they contribute to the NHS through normal tax on their earnings)

I'd really recommend the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/early-career... ) - you don't need an affiliation to join, but you get access to free workshops & events (the network pays for travel to its own events), & to funding and grants!

This is the rise and fall of immigration up to December 2024. This is published visa data - facts, not projections. But the net migration figure covering the post-election period (to Dec 2024) is not out until the week after next, by linking it to an emigration estimate
www.gov.uk/government/c...

Choice of Leo presumably a nod to importance of Catholic Social Teaching. But I like to remember the last Leo's enthusiasm for cocaine-infused tonic wine. It's a demanding job...

The new Pope didn't tweet once in 2024. In 2025, he's posted 5 times, in which he:

- Criticized JD Vance's views on Catholicism and Jesus
- Posted an article opposing Trump's immigration policies
- Retweeted twice about the Pope's health
- Retweeted a criticism of Trump & Bukele's laughter at KAG.