Donate-a-phone schemes and tech workshops in line for £9.5m Government backing
According to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the money will help connect the 1.6 million people who live entirely offline with the online world.
'It is unacceptable that in 2025, millions of people across the UK simply can't access the vast opportunities that technology and the online world offers,' telecoms minister Sir Chris Bryant said, adding that 'digital inclusion is an essential for modern life and work, not just something that's nice to have'.
Sir Chris also said: 'Making technology widely accessible could be the thing that means a sick patient can speak to a GP remotely, or that helps a young person successfully apply for a job.
'Through this funding we're moving further to empower local leaders and groups nationwide, who are already working tirelessly to get their communities connected and change countless lives for the better.'
The Government launched its Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund as part of the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, which also includes an ambition to pilot a device donation scheme, so re-purposed Whitehall laptops will go to people who need them.
Older and disabled people, low-income households and jobseekers are among the groups more likely to be digitally excluded, according to the plan.
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BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
War crimes likely committed in Syria coastal violence, UN says
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After decades of brutality under the Assads in the mainly Sunni country, many associate Alawites, which make up around 10% of Syria's population, with the old to the UN commission, "acts that likely amount to crimes, including war crimes" including murder, torture, abductions, and inhumane acts related to the dead were committed by interim government force members as well as fighters linked to the Assad commission called on the government, which launched an inquiry, to expand accountability efforts."The scale and brutality of the violence documented in our report is deeply disturbing," Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry, said in a statement."We call on the interim authorities to continue to pursue accountability for all perpetrators, regardless of affiliation or rank. While dozens of alleged perpetrators of violations have reportedly since been arrested, the scale of the violence documented in our report warrants expanding such efforts."The report also warned that retaliatory attacks are continuing "amidst a heightened climate of fear and must urgently be addressed by the interim government".The commission documented "gross human rights violations" in 16 locations in Latakia, Tartus, Homs and Hama governorates populated primarily by Alawites in early it said, went door to door asking civilians in a majority of cases whether they were Alawite, before taking men and boys away to be victims were Alawite men between 20 and 50 years old, according to the report, although women and children as young as one were also killed in house individuals filmed themselves committing "serious human rights violations", it said, including severe beatings and executions, or walking alongside dead reprisal, families were forced to keep the bodies of their loved ones inside their homes for days, or in the streets to be buried in mass graves later. Hospitals were overwhelmed as corpses piled fled to neighbouring Lebanon or a Russian airbase for safety. Many survivors and Alawites have since left to other parts of Syria or sought refuge abroad, the report report concluded that the consistent patterns of targeted violence against civilians "indicates that such acts were not random or isolated".The commission conducted more than 200 interviews with witnesses and victims and gained access to coastal areas and affected communities. Assad was overthrown in December after 14 years of civil war and documented human rights abuses by his regime. An interim government was formed, led by a former rebel, Ahmed report found the security vacuum after Assad's ouster as well as disinformation and hate speech spread online about Alawites contributed to retributive clashes escalated between former and pro-government factions, other fighters, including foreigners, joined government forces mobilised to coastal government issued statements instructing civilians not to take up arms and warning fighters against harming civilians, the report were established, and in the city of Tartus, checkpoints to stop fighters entering spared the city from violence seen elsewhere.A government inquiry, published in July, identified 298 alleged perpetrators among individuals and groups within military factions, and 265 alleged perpetrators linked to former government told the commission in June that 42 people had so far been arrested for alleged abuses. The government also said it had created a complaints office for security and police personnel misconduct commission recommended the government strengthen its courts system to ensure justice, work on reparations for survivors, and build trust with communities, among other violence has erupted elsewhere in Syria since month, hundreds were reported killed in clashes in Suweida in the country's south. Both Bedouin and Druze fighters as well as the Syrian army have been accused of killing civilians and extra judicial government said it was aware of reports of "shocking violations" by people wearing military fatigues and told the BBC any allegations of atrocities committed by all sides would be fully investigated.
BBC News
an hour ago
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Giant new data centres to open across the UK
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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
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DWP date confirmed for bank 'monitoring' in list of tough new measures
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A series of 11 newly published factsheets from the DWP, providing greater insight into how these measures will function securely with proper oversight, confirms the UK Government intends to introduce the proposed changes from April 2026, reports the Daily Record. The factsheets also include information on safeguards, reporting mechanisms and supervision crafted to ensure the "appropriate, proportionate, and effective use of the powers." Official guidance states: "The Government will begin implementing the Bill measures from 2026. "For the Eligibility Verification Measure, the Government will implement a 'test and learn' approach to ensure the new powers to tackle public sector fraud are being used proportionally and effectively. DWP and the Cabinet Office will continue to work with industry to implement the new measures, consult stakeholders on Codes of Practice and publish guidance." The DWP will also gain powers to collect data from additional third-party organisations such as airlines to check whether individuals are receiving benefits from overseas, potentially violating eligibility requirements. Eligibility Verification Measure The DWP will not have direct access to the bank accounts of millions of people on means-tested benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Employment and Support Allowance. The department will work alongside banks to pinpoint individuals who may have surpassed the eligibility thresholds for means-tested benefits, such as the £16,000 income limit for Universal Credit - and secure that information to subsequently examine that claimant to avoid potential overpayments and possible fraud cases. The legislation only allows banks and other financial institutions to share restricted data and forbids the sharing of transaction data, which means the DWP will not be able to monitor how people on benefits spend their money. Indeed, the factsheet outlines how banks and other financial institutions could face a penalty for sharing excessive information, such as transaction data. It additionally states: "Any information shared through the Eligibility Verification Measure will not be shared on the presumption or suspicion that anyone is guilty of any offence." New measures to combat fraud have been introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The new Bill aims to fulfil the UK Government's manifesto pledge to protect taxpayers' money, ensuring every pound is used wisely and effectively. New DWP measures to combat fraud The new Bill is designed to fulfil the UK Government's manifesto pledge to protect taxpayers' money. All the powers will include strong safeguards to ensure they are only used appropriately and proportionately - including new inspection and reporting mechanisms. DWP will have a clearly defined scope and clear limitations for the use of all the powers it is introducing, and staff will be trained to the highest possible standards. New powers of search and seizure - so DWP can control investigations into criminal gangs defrauding the taxpayer. Allowing DWP to recover debts from individuals no longer on benefits and not in PAYE employment who can pay money back but have avoided doing so. New requirements for banks and building societies to flag where there is an indication there may be a breach of eligibility rules for benefits - preventing debts accruing. This Bill aims to empower the Public Sector Fraud Authority to: Use new powers of entry, search and seizure to reduce the burdens on the police in the most serious criminal investigations. Reduce fraud against the public sector by using its expertise to take action on behalf of other departments, against those who attack the public sector. Improve fraud management in future emergencies by creating specialist time limited powers to be used in crisis management situations - building on lessons learned during COVID-19. Better detect and prevent incorrect payments across the public sector through new information gathering and sharing powers. Improve the government's ability to recover public money, through new debt recovery and enforcement powers. Use strong non-criminal sanctions and civil penalties to provide an alternative to criminal prosecution and to deter fraud. The Public Sector Fraud Authority will adopt a 'test and learn' strategy with these powers, trialling various methods and expertise to determine the most effective way to combat public sector fraud.
