LONDON, July 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Prime Minister spoke to President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi this evening to discuss the situation in Gaza. The leaders agreed the situation on the ground was a humanitarian catastrophe, and all possible efforts needed to be made to get more aid into Gaza at a greater pace and scale. The Prime Minister outlined his peace plan and pathway to recognition and thanked the President for his leadership in the ...
LONDON, July 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The water company appeared at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on 30 July for sentence after previously pleading guilty in February to one charge of polluting Ingbirchworth Dike near Barnsley. The court heard that Ingbirchworth Water Treatment Works illegally discharged chlorinated water into the watercourse, which connects Ingbirchworth and Scout Dike reservoirs. Approximately 1 million litres per day of chlorinat...
LONDON, July 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Landmark Court of Appeal decision confirms that properties needing repair remain chargeable to residential rates of SDLT. * Homebuyers warned about rogue agents advertising misleading SDLT repayment claims. Homebuyers are being warned to avoid Stamp Duty Land Tax scams, following a landmark Court of Appeal decision. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning people purchasing properties to be vigilant of tax ag...
LONDON, July 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The urgent notification comes after an inspection earlier this month found a palpable change in culture at Oakhill Secure Training Centre (STC) since its last inspection. Inspectors uncovered serious and systemic failures at the centre, with safeguarding systems in disarray. Read the letter from Martyn Oliver to the Secretary of State for Justice about Oakhill Secure Training Centre Inspectors reported that Oak...
LONDON, July 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Defence contractors must report information about their single-source defence contracts to the MOD and the Single Source Regulations Office (the SSRO). This is performed using the SSRO's Defence Contract Analysis and Reporting System (DefCARS). This information is a key element of the regulatory framework, providing the MOD with ongoing information throughout the contract period to support informed purchasing de...
LONDON, July 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: A new UK Health Security Agency study - Effectiveness of RSV Vaccine Against RSV Associated Hospitalisation Among Adults Aged 75 to 79 years in England - in partnership with Nottingham University Hospitals and other NHS trusts, shows the RSV vaccine provided strong protection for older people, around 82% effective in preventing hospital admissions with RSV infection. The study also found that the vaccine is high...
LONDON, July 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Clampdown on violence in prisons as AI helps to identify dangerous prisoners and bring them under tight supervision * AI will also be used to uncover secret messages sent by prisoners and stop weapons or contraband getting into prisons * Ministry of Justice's AI Action Plan sets out how tech will cut reoffending and make streets safe as part of Plan for Change Under the Ministry of Justice's AI Action Plan art...
LONDON, July 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Mohammed Liaqat and Rubani Ghulam were directors of a company which harassed people with nuisance cold-calls in 2020 and 2021 * Posh Windows UK Ltd, based in Stoke-on-Trent, made more than 400,000 unsolicited marketing calls trying to sell home improvements within a nine-month period * Both have now been disqualified as company directors following investigations by the Insolvency Service Two businessme...
LONDON, July 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Ofqual is to fine awarding organisation WJEC £350,000 in total for breaching exams rules in 2 separate cases - including one that meant over 1,500 students received the wrong GCSE grades on results day. The 1,527 students who received the incorrect results had taken WJEC's Eduqas GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition qualification in summer 2024. WJEC had failed to adjust teachers' marking of coursework - wh...
LONDON, July 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson confirmed as new Chair for Equality and Human Right Commission * Dr Stephenson will begin on 1 December 2025, after current chair Baroness Falkner's term ends on 30 November * Dr Stephenson brings over 30 years of experience to the role Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson has today confirmed that Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson will be appointed as the new Chair of the Equality a...