LONDON, April 1 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Science Secretary Liz Kendall names Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz as choice for Chair of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) * Sir Leszek will help ensure record public investment in research and innovation supports economic growth and strengthens the UK's global competitiveness * Sir Leszek brings a wealth of leadership experience in science and research from the charity sector, academia and previous senior p...
LONDON, April 1 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: We are now issuing notices to all providers operating under the Peer Reviewer Contract. Current contracts were due to end on 31 August 2026, however, we are extending these contracts for a further 6 months, to 28 February 2027. A procurement process for the Peer Reviewer Contract will open in May 2026 for Services to commence from 1 March 2027 in the following Categories of Law: * Crime * Family * Housing * Imm...
LONDON, April 1 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Hilary Benn MP, has announced an extension to the term of Mr Leslie Philpott as the Lead Non-Executive Board Member for the Northern Ireland Office. The appointment is for a short time-limited period of six months, ending on 31 March 2027. Biography Les Philpott is Chair of the Board of the Government Actuary's Department, Chair of the Marine Ma...
LONDON, April 1 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Usutu virus (USUV) has been identified in blackbirds in Scotland for the first time through the Animal and Plant Health Agency's national passive wild avian surveillance programme (APHA). Usutu virus is a mosquito borne virus, which stems from the same family of viruses which can cause Dengue, Yellow fever and West Nile virus. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, with the main carrier for the virus being wild birds....
LONDON, April 1 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * Matloob Hussain, from Greater Manchester, claimed £150,000 in Covid loans. * He was disqualified as a director following a separate investigation in 2021. * The 49-year-old was jailed for two years and four months following the sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on 25 March 2026. A Manchester businessman has been jailed for two years and four months after admitting he made fraudulent Covid Bounce Back l...
LONDON, April 1 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Official Receiver will wind up the company in accordance with their statutory duties. They also have a duty to inquire into the cause of the company's failure and conduct of current and former directors.   Information for shareholders Woodbois Limited was formerly listed on the Alternative Investment Market ("AIM"). A notice of cancellation of admission to trading on AIM was issued in November 2...
LONDON, April 1 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Start Ready has released £725,000 (US$978,750) to support early action to reduce the impact of drought in Guatemala. Start Ready is an international pooled fund supported by bilateral donors and philanthropic partners, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The activation followed early warning data that showed rainfall forecasts for the Primera season (from May to August) wer...
LONDON, March 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Households across England are set tobenefitfrom clear new rules on sorting their recycling and waste - which come into force today(Tuesday 31 March 2026) - ending years of confusion over what goes in which bin and enabling consistent, streamlined collections.  The government's Simpler Recycling scheme will boost recycling ratesand cut the amount of waste sent to landfill or incineration....
LONDON, March 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Find the cheapest fuel prices near you Fuel Finder is a new scheme designed to helpdriversfind the cheapest fuel near them. Fuel Finder datais available on a range ofthird-party mapping and price comparison tools to helpdriversshop around for the best deals at the pump. You can find the cheapest petroland dieselprices near youonapps and websites,with examplesincluding: * Confused.com * DriveScore * Fuel Find...
LONDON, March 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Police will be told to stop recording everyday rows and online spats, as non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) are to be scrapped by the government. Over recent years, unclear guidance has led to officers being called out to people's homes over insults and routine arguments. A lack of clarity around when and how NCHIs should be recorded, the rise of the digital age and social media, and inconsistent approaches betw...