General News

CWGC:  As & the Commonwealth prepared to mark Remembrance Day, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission launched a new website about the often-overlooked contribution & sacrifices made by the people of Undivided India during the two world wars.  ‘Forever ’ at tells the remarkable story of some of the millions of Indians who left their homes in order to fight for the Allied cause.

Press release & links

CBI:  The CBI is urging the Chancellor to stick to current deficit reduction plans and consider specific measures to kick-start growth by unlocking private sector investment and removingroad blocks’ in its latest economic forecast. 
Press release & links 

DSA:  Proposals to modernise the Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) have been announced by the Driving Standards Agency.  These aim to improve both the standard of courses offered to drink-driving offenders and the way they are approved. 
Press release & links

MoD:  HMS Daring will sail from Portsmouth in the New Year, after more than 4 years of trials, tests & training.  The first of six cutting-edge Type 45 destroyers, HMS Daring will sail on her maiden deployment in 2012
Press release & links

Scot Gov:  Minister for Commonwealth Games & Sport Shona Robison has officially opened the world's first permanent, artificial avalanche transceiver training facility, in Scotland. 
Press release & links

STFC:  Physicists have a new theory on the mysterious mechanism that causes the explosion of massive, or core, stars. 
Press release & links

FSA:  The Food Standards Agency is inviting researchers to tender for 2 projects – one to develop a tool to identify good and bad aspects of the culture towards food safety in businesses, and the other to evaluate the risk of buying food through the Internet
Press release & links

FDA:  The FDA, the union representing senior managers at the UK Border Agency, has expressed concern about the answers given by the Home Secretary in Parliament at Home Office Questions relating to the recent suspension of senior officials at UKBA. 
Press release & links

WAG:  The Minister for Local Government and Communities, Carl Sargeant, has confirmed his support to Newport Council for the provision of a new rail link express bus service between Newport and Rogerstone.
Press release & links

HA:  Highways Agency reminds drivers to 'Make Time for Winter'. 
Press release & links

OFFA:  27 universities & colleges have submitted revised access agreements for 2012-13 to date to the Office for Fair Access.  These 27 institutions wish to reduce their average fee to £7,500 or below in order to bid for some of the 20,000 places created under the new ‘core and margin’ system.

Press release & links

IfL:  The Institute for Learning (IfL) has expressed its concerns about proposed teacher training reforms and the implications of higher & further education funding changes for initial teacher training (ITT) in the further education and skills sector. 
Press release & links

NA:  The National Archives has published online more than 15,000 First World War nursing service records, providing a glimpse into the life stories of the women who dedicated their lives to their profession. 
Press release & links

DCMS:  The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed the journey the Olympic Flame will take prior to the Games next summer.  More than 1,000 villages, towns and cities across the have been named as part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay route.
Press release & links

PCS:  Criticism recently of the Border Agency's handling of asylum & immigration cases is nothing new and problems will escalate due to staff shortages & more job cuts, the PCS union says.  A February 2010 report by the independent chief inspector of UKBA warned the department needed more staff to clear outstanding cases. Since then, the new government has pressed ahead with plans to cut 6,700 staff by 2014/15. 
Press release and links ~ Further comment from PCS

PCS:  The PCS union has issued further comment on the latest government proposals for public sector pensions.
Press release & links

DCMS:  Over 100 Pre-Games Training Camp (PGTC) agreements have been signed across every nation and region of the , in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to provide athletes with a base from which to prepare, train & acclimatise ahead of the Games. 
Press release & links

DfT:  The locations of charging points for plug-in vehicles are to be systematically mapped across the country to make it easier for motorists to go electric
Press release & links 

WAG:  The First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones honoured servicemen & women who have lost their lives in conflicts past & present during a special service.

Press release & links

Unite:  A blueprint for the wholescale privatisation of the Conservative-controlled Southampton City Council’s services will be discussed by councillors on 16 November 2011  Unite, the union, is warning that 'the council is pushing through its proposals - which could mean the council becoming primarily a commissioning body by 2015 - without public consultation'.  
Press release & links

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