Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Para-swimmers confirmed for 2022 World Class Programme


Paralympic, world and European champions are among the athletes to have been invited on to British Para-Swimming’s World Class Programme (WCP) for 2022, as attentions turn to a busy year and building towards Paris 2024.


After a memorable performance at Tokyo 2020 that saw the British team amass

Commissioners sent into Slough Borough Council

Commissioners have been sent in to address serious financial and management failures at Slough Borough Council at the request of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.


  • Max Caller CBE leads government intervention
  • Council transformation to start with immediate effect
  • Commissioners will inform decisions on exceptional financial support

Commissioners have been sent in to address serious financial and management failures at Slough Borough Council at the request of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities today (1 December 2021).

Local Government Minister Kemi Badenoch updated Parliament last month that

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK

Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in the UK.


Latest update

A further 9 cases of Omicron variant confirmed

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 9 further cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England, in addition to the previous 13 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 22.

The individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating.

120-hours community service for convicted Manchester fraudster

On Monday 22 November 2021, Christopher Ogochukwu Ejime of Manchester pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court to two counts of fraud. 


The court handed Ejime two concurrent 12-month Community Orders of 60 hours unpaid work and a requirement to pay a victim surcharge of £85. Ejime had pleaded not guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court. The case follows the prosecution by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) in January of Ejime’s brother in law, Muyiwa John Adegbola.

Ejime was found to be fraudulently using Adegbola’s licence on 07 June 2019.

Ten year vision to improve adult social care

A ten year vision for adult social care has been published which will help provide greater choice for those receiving care and certainty over costs

 

  • Social care reform will help provide greater choice for those receiving care, opportunity for those providing it and certainty over costs
  • Government details how over £1 billion will be spent helping people live safely, independently and where they want to
  • Investment to improve housing and take advantage of technology to help those receiving care and caregivers

People who need care, the social care workforce and unpaid carers will benefit from the ten-year vision for adult social care published today.

The white paper is part of the government’s wider social care plans, backed

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses coming exclusively to Sky & NOW


Sky & NOW will be celebrating Harry Potter’s 20th anniversary in style this festive season, as the exclusive home of both Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses in UK & Ireland.

Set to air on New Years Day, Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to

Sky’s Game Zero achieves net zero status


Premier League fixture between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea 
is the world’s first net zero carbon elite football match

Sky has today published a case study revealing that Game Zero, the Premier League match held between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in September, achieved net zero carbon emissions.

Working in partnership with Spurs and alongside independent carbon specialists RSK and Natural Capital Partners, Sky set the target of hosting the world’s first

Alibi secures UK broadcasting rights for Pretty Hard Cases, fronted by Meredith MacNeill and Adrienne C. Moore

UKTV today announces that Alibi has secured rights to the UK broadcast debut of hit buddy-cop drama series Pretty Hard Cases. Starring Meredith MacNeill (Baroness von Sketch Show) and Adrienne C. Moore (Orange is the New Black), the fun, action-packed and irreverent series chronicles the two vastly different female detectives who are at the top of their respective games. The 10x60' series is produced by Cameron Pictures in association with Canada's

Protecting Defence and keeping you safe this festive season

The Ministry of Defence Police encourages everyone to help the police tackle terrorism and save lives by reporting suspicious behaviour and activity. 

 

Back of person’s head with woollen hat on and blurred background, and the words “Be aware of what’s around you” overlaid.

Crown Copyright.

Whilst people understandably remain focused on the impact and effects of Coronavirus, recent events in Essex and Liverpool remind us that the terror threat hasn’t gone away. The threat to the UK from terrorism is severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

In the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) we’re proud to be supporting

UK-Norway deal comes into effect

Food producers, services companies and exporters to Norway, will enjoy a pre-Christmas boost as new UK-Norway trading arrangements come into effect today 

 

  • New deal slashes red tape, unnecessary paperwork and brings opportunities for UK workers
  • Helps cement the UK’s status as an international services hub, making it easier to work, travel or tour in Norway.
  • Lower tariffs and larger, duty-free quotas for farmers, seafood and food producers

Food producers, services companies and exporters to Norway will enjoy a pre-Christmas boost as new UK-Norway trading arrangements come into effect today (1 December 2021).

It follows a joint deal signed in July with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein,

New data shows drop in HIV diagnoses due to fewer tests and less opportunity for transmission

The total number of new HIV diagnoses in England decreased by 35% in 2020 according to new data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

 

The report shows there were 2,630 new diagnoses in 2020 compared to 3,950 in 2019. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic changed patterns of sexual behaviour, affected HIV testing and limited access to sexual health and HIV services, all of which will have impacted on the number of HIV diagnoses.

The decline in new HIV diagnoses in England was sharpest in gay and

Update on Storm Arwen

How the government is supporting those affected by Storm Arwen and what steps you can take if your power goes off.

 

Electricity pylon

Many people across the UK have been affected by Storm Arwen over the last few days, particularly those in Scotland and the North of England. The UK government is working closely with local network operators and operational teams to support those facing continued disruption caused by the storm particularly the most vulnerable.

Over the past 4 days network operator field staff have been working hard to