VICTIMS FREED FROM SILENCE UNDER NDA REFORM

LONDON, Oct. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Government clampdown on misuse of NDAs as "gagging orders" to conceal crime. * Change will ensure victims can talk about criminal conduct to anyone, for any purpose, without fear of breaching an NDA. * Part of the Government's Plan for Change to restore confidence in the justice system, stand up for victims, and help halve violence against women and girls. Victims and direct witnesses of crime who sign...


MAJOR NHS AI TRIAL DELIVERS UNPRECEDENTED TIME AND COST SAVINGS

LONDON, Oct. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The largest artificial intelligence (AI) trial of its kind globally in healthcare, involving more than 30,000 NHS workers, has shown how new technology could generate unprecedented time savings for NHS staff and lead to better care for patients, in a major productivity drive. A groundbreaking pilot of Microsoft 365 Copilot across 90 NHS organisations found that AI-powered administrative support could save NHS st...


JOINT STATEMENT ON UKRAINE: 21 OCTOBER 2025

LONDON, Oct. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Statement by President Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Starmer, Chancellor Merz, President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Prime Minister Tusk, President von der Leyen, President Costa, Prime Minister Støre, President Stubb, Prime Minister Frederiksen, Prime Minister Sanchez and Prime Minister Kristersson on Peace for Ukraine: We are all united in our desire for a just and lasting peace, deserved by the people of ...


KENT BUILDER HID BANKRUPTCY FROM CUSTOMER WHO PAID FOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS HE DID NOT COMPLETE

LONDON, Oct. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Wayne Miller hid his bankrupt status from a customer who he convinced to pay £30,000 for home renovations * The home improvements, which included a new kitchen and two-storey extension, were never completed despite numerous promises by Miller * Miller was handed a suspended sentence and ordered to pay compensation following investigations by the Insolvency Service A bankrupt builder who persuaded a custom...


GROWTH PLACED AT THE HEART OF REGULATORS' REMIT ALONGSIDE NEW MEASURES TO BOOST SCRUTINY AND TRANSPARENCY

LONDON, Oct. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Business Secretary sets out new stronger duty for regulators to ensure they better prioritise helping businesses go for growth * New public dashboard will allow businesses to review how regulators are performing and give direct feedback to government, holding regulators to account * Independent reviews to scrutinise key regulators and recommend improvements A major shake-up of accountability and transp...


UK REMOVES HAY'AT TAHRIR AL-SHAM FROM TERRORIST ORGANISATION LIST

LONDON, Oct. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The government's decision to remove Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the list of proscribed terrorist organisations will mean closer engagement with the new Syrian government and support UK foreign and domestic priorities, from counter-terrorism to migration and chemical weapons destruction. Deproscribing HTS is part of the UK's response to the significant developments in Syria since forces led by President Ahme...


NEW BLUEPRINT FOR AI REGULATION COULD SPEED UP PLANNING APPROVALS, SLASH NHS WAITING TIMES, AND DRIVE GROWTH AND PUBLIC TRUST

LONDON, Oct. 21 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * AI Growth Labswill unlock new ways to accelerate innovationand cut bureaucracy in a safe environment * More new homes, better outcomes for patients, and world-leading innovations for professional services among potential wins for the public * This newapproach to regulation will help drive forward growth and national renewal underthe government's Plan for Change More new homes, better outcomes for patients, an...


PLANNING REFORMS TO ACCELERATE FALMOUTH DOCKS REDEVELOPMENT

LONDON, Oct. 20 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Falmouth's £150 million dock redevelopment - poised to create hundreds of jobs, support homegrown clean energy, and unleash economic growth across the south-west - will set sail through calmer seas thanks to government reforms upholding environmental protections while slashing bureaucracy. The major overhaul involves repairing critical dock structures to accommodate larger vessels. This could help to attrac...


THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN PROTECTED FROM ABUSE UNDER VICTIM REFORMS

LONDON, Oct. 20 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Parental responsibility to be automatically restricted where a child is born of rape * Reforms to also apply to parents convicted of serious sexual offences against any child - not just their own * Amendments to the Victims and Courts Billpart of Government's Plan for Changeto protect childrenand restore faith in justice system Thousands more children will be protected from vile sex offenders under amendments ...


UK STATEMENT FOR THE OPEN-ENDED INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP ON TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS

LONDON, Oct. 20 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Thank you, Chair. We would like to thank OHCHR for organising this session and we extend our appreciation to Ecuador for their leadership. The United Kingdom remains committed to implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. These principles underpin our broader efforts to promote responsible business conduct and ensure that human rights are respected across global supply chains. Earlier...