TACKLING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

LONDON, Jan. 7 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued text of the following speech: Child sexual abuse and exploitation are the most vile and horrific of crimes - involving rape, violence, coercive control, intimidation, manipulation and deep long-term harm. The information from the crime survey should bechilling to all of us. It estimates that half a million children every year experience some form of child sexual abuse - violence and sexual violation within the home, repeated rapes o...


APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE IRP

LONDON, Jan. 7 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Ministers are seeking to make four new appointments to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel. Candidates must be able to demonstrate how they meet the essential criteria as well as having a significant background in one of the following areas: * Clinical members: a consultant or senior doctor working in NHS hospital care having completed clinical training in a specialised area of medicine * Lay members: per...


GOVERNMENT SETS OUT PLAN TO SECURE THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF STEELMAKING AND SAFEGUARD STEEL COMMUNITIES

LONDON, Jan. 7 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Government launches new Steel Council to advise on rebuilding the industry and developing its upcoming Steel Strategy. * Council led by the Business Secretary and Chair of the Materials Processing Institute Jon Bolton, will bring together industry figures, experts, trade unions and devolved governments to secure the long-term future of steelmaking in the UK. * New council demonstrates the Government's partnershi...


HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BRITS IN RURAL VILLAGES AND TOWNS TO BENEFIT FROM UK GOVERNMENT BROADBAND BOOST

LONDON, Jan. 7 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Around 131,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses to get lightning-fast broadband speeds, helping to break down barriers to opportunity and kickstart economic growth under the government's Plan for Change * Over 289 million Pounds in contracts signed to connect some of Britain's most remote locations including in the Dee Valley, Isle of Anglesey and Shropshire Hills, giving millions of people better access to vi...


TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF BUSINESS RATES AGENTS

LONDON, Jan. 7 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has temporarily suspended two business rates agents, Rateable Value Experts and Re-Rates UK. This is while we investigate a potential serious breach of our agent standards. The suspension means we will not work with, or accept any information from, these agents while we investigate the potential breach. We have written to affected customers. We cannot comment further while inves...


GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN ON EXPLICIT DEEPFAKES

LONDON, Jan. 7 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Government to make creating sexually explicit 'deepfake' images a criminal offence * Perpetrators to face up to two years behind bars under new offences for taking an intimate image without consent and installing equipment to enable these offences * Package delivers on Government's Plan for Change and manifesto commitment to protect women and girls Predators who create sexually explicit 'deepfakes' could face p...


UK SUPPORTS MALAYSIAN YOUTH STEM AMBASSADORS, INSPIRES NEXT GENERATION OF STEM LEADERS

LONDON, Jan. 7 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The initiative includes a Train-the-Trainer programme for 122 Malaysian Youth STEM Ambassadors from local universities, a school tour by an interactive STEM mobile lab and a high-level STEM Policy Roundtable. This Showcase is organised by the British High Commission in partnership with Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult, National STEM Learning Centre UK, Universiti Malaya STEM Centre and supported...


CMA SETS OUT INITIAL PLANS AS NEW DIGITAL MARKETS COMPETITION REGIME COMES INTO FORCE

LONDON, Jan. 7 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today set out its initial plans for the new digital markets competition regime. The regime will unlock opportunities for enhanced innovation, investment and growth across the UK tech sector. It will also enable people and businesses across the UK, who depend on critical digital markets to access or offer goods and services, to get a fair deal. The Digital Markets, Compe...


CLEANING OUT THE PIPES

LONDON, Jan. 7 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Across two public inquiries, a disturbing picture appeared. Commissioner Dorrington heard that the operator's licence, held since 2003 requires strict adherence to legal obligations, including proper use and display of vehicle identity discs but a vehicle operating under the licence displayed a disc that was invalid and did not match the licence type or vehicle registration. Further to this, no written maintenan...


FLOODS MINISTER AND ENVIRONMENT AGENCY HOLD FURTHER MEETING TO BOLSTER FLOOD RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

LONDON, Jan. 7 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Floods Minister Emma Hardy convened a further meeting with Environment Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy this afternoon to discuss the nation's response to the recent flooding events. During the meeting, the Floods Minister was briefed on the current situation on the ground, and the response being led by the Environment Agency and the emergency services. She also discussed the further action being taken to prot...