Post Office scandal victims will wait until the end of 2024 for compensation scheme improvements or the matter will "move back to courts", Sky News understands. A newsletter sent by Sir Alan Bates to members of the Group Litigation Order (GLO) scheme states that "if nothing has greatly improved" on redress then a "specialist law firm" will be called in. The GLO scheme was set up for former sub-postmasters after they won their High Court battle against the Post Office in 2019. Post Office scandal - latest updates Hundreds were wrongly accused of stealing from branches between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon software caused erroneous accounting shortfalls . Sir Alan's circular summarised a recent meeting of victims during which it was agreed that without improvements, a "deadline", or a "date for the end" of the compensation scheme, then another meeting would take place in mid-January. He wrote: "At which time, a specialist law firm will be invited to address the group on how we can swiftly move this whole matter back to the courts to resolve. More on Post Office Scandal Post Office scandal: At least eight convictions linked to Capture software being investigated as possible miscarriages of justice Post Office Horizon Scandal: Four suspects identified by police Post Office to set out plans for branch closures and job cuts Related Topics: Post Office scandal "This might also involve the other schemes as well as our own, and it would mean we would have to fundraise once again, but this time nationally and I have no doubt we could raise the money required." The newsletter also highlighted that the "merits and drawbacks" of other "legal avenues" were discussed by members of the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance (JFSA). The meeting heard that the "greater majority" of more than 150 victims who attended were "still awaiting or yet to agree their final settlements". Sir Alan has written to the prime minister twice in the last two months asking him to set a March 2025 deadline for all GLO claims. In his newsletter, Sir Alan says the response from Sir Keir Starmer "only contained the standard civil service platitudes which mean nothing and basically stated that they would carry on as usual, i.e. same old, same old. "There may have been a change of political party in power, but the civil service never changes, and we all know who is really in charge of government." Read more: Eight pre-Horizon convictions checked Former postmaster calls compensation offer 'insulting' Post Office chairman ousted amid row with government Sir Alan also described "similarities" between the findings of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) on the Windrush compensation scheme and the problems experienced by GLO Scheme victims. The PHSO found that the Home Office Scheme was making wrong decisions and refusing payment to those entitled to it. Sir Alan stated that following a recent meeting with the PHSO victims, they "may well have strong grounds to bring a new complaint against the Department for Business and Trade".Data engineering predictions 2025: Data Mesh, Automation, and AI
Stock market today: Wall Street drifts lower as it waits for inflation data
Published 5:32 pm Tuesday, December 10, 2024 By austinsubmitted I am honored and humbled to serve as a member of the Austin School Board in this incredible district. At the Nov. 12, Regular School Board meeting, I was privileged to hear an outstanding presentation entitled “Global Youth Institute,” which was given by Lisa Sanders, Austin High School Social Studies teacher, and four of her students, Chloe Cannon, Makayla Dokpodjo, Sabreen Nagid, and Bella Rosenthal. Their presentation left me awestruck. Clearly, these four students are destined to be future leaders of the world. They are shining examples of the vision of Austin Public Schools coming to fruition, which is for all learners to make a difference in the world. The way the students were selected to attend the Global Youth Institute was noteworthy. The students chose a topic near and dear to their hearts, conducted their research, and wrote an initial 3–5-page paper on a critical aspect of global food security. The students first presented their papers at the Minnesota Youth Institute at the University of Minnesota in May of 2024. The top papers were then selected to be presented at the Global Youth Institute. The Global Youth Institute is an academic conference that empowers youth to recommend solutions to global food security issues. The 2024 Global Youth Institute Conference was held in Des Moines, Iowa, from October 29-31, with 175 student delegates from the US and around the world in attendance. At the conference, the students presented their papers. They supported their findings in roundtable discussion groups of seven to nine students led by three distinguished global science, industry, and policy leaders. The Global Youth Institute website states, “Student papers are subsequently published in the Global Youth Institute Proceedings and are available online.” Our student delegates researched and presented on the following topics: Chloe Cannon, “Poor Infrastructure in Rural Romania;” Makayla Dokpodjo, “The United Arab Emirates: Turning Deserts into Greenhouses;” Sabreen Nagid, “Political Causes of Starvation in Sudan; and Bella Rosenthal, “Improving Belize’s Food Waste and Food Production.” Chloe, Makayla, Sabreen, and Bella shared their experiences at the Global Youth Institute conference with Superintendent Page and the school board members. Their delivery was engaging, and none of the students used notes or slides when speaking. The students gave an enlightening, stimulating presentation and easily answered our questions. Ms. Sanders and the students highlighted the following experiences they encountered at the conference: • Participated in the Plant the Moon activity and heard from Astronaut Clay Anderson. • Ate breakfast with the Hormel Team, including CEO James Snee and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, a six-time Olympic medalist, who shared insights about the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation in East St. Louis. • Listened to government officials (U.S. and foreign) describe their work on food security in their respective countries and globally. • Took part in immersion tours of farms, businesses, and factories, where they learned about various new technologies, including hydroponic and aquaponic farming. • Presented their papers and solutions on food security issues to peers and academic and business leaders from around the world. • Observed the FarmCraft game, which demonstrated farming in a virtual setting. • Participated in the Meal Packing Event, gaining valuable hands-on experience. • Attended the Laureate Award Ceremony virtually. • Joined the Student Awards Ceremony and Dance Party. Future opportunities abound for our four 2024 delegates. According to Ms. Sanders, our student delegates could become Youth Leaders at the Global Youth Institute in 2025 and be eligible for internships and scholarships. Austin High School offers several avenues for interested students to attend the MN Youth Institute in May 2025. AP Human Geography, Human Geography, and Modern World Events Semester 2 courses offer opportunities to meet the eligibility requirements. I want to thank the entire community for supporting our district. Exciting things are happening in Austin Public Schools! Carol McAlister Austin School Board Member