Staffordshire Police will trial AI-powered ‘agents’ on its 101 non-emergency service early next year, according to a recent BBC report.
The technology, known as Agentforce, is designed to resolve simple information requests without human intervention, allowing call handlers to focus on more complex or urgent cases. The force said the system aims to improve contact centre performance after past criticism over long wait times.
Senior officers explained that the AI agent will support queries where callers are seeking information rather than reporting crimes. If keywords indicating risk or vulnerability are detected, the system will automatically route the call to a human operator.
Thames Valley Police is already using the technology and has given ‘very positive reports’, according to acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs.
The force’s current average wait for 101 calls is 3.3 minutes, a marked improvement on the previous 7.1-minute average. Abandonment rates have also fallen from 29.2% to 18.7%. However, Commissioner Ben Adams noted that around eight percent of callers still wait over an hour.
UK officers say they have been calling back those affected, both to apologise and to gather ‘significant intelligence’ that has strengthened public confidence in the system.
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South Africa is betting on green technology to drive development while cutting emissions. Overlapping laws and strategies create a complex, sometimes conflicting environment for investors and innovators. Analysts warn that fragmentation slows both climate action and the just transition.
Flagship measures, such as the Climate Change Act and the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, anchor long-term goals. The government aims to mobilise around R1.5 trillion, including an initial R8.5 billion in catalytic finance.
Funding targets power generation, new energy vehicles and green hydrogen, with private capital expected to follow. Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer projects showcase successful public-private partnerships that attracted significant foreign and domestic investment.
Localisation rules, special economic zones and tariff tweaks seek to build manufacturing capacity and transfer skills. Critics argue that strict content quotas and data localisation can delay projects and deter prospective investors.
Observers say harmonised policies, clearer incentives and stronger coordination across sectors are essential for effective green technology transfer. Greater collaboration between the South African government, businesses, and universities could translate promising pilots into climate-resilient industries.
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The EU member states have endorsed a position for new rules to counter child sexual abuse online. The plan introduces duties for digital services to prevent the spread of abusive material. It also creates an EU Centre to coordinate enforcement and support national authorities.
Service providers must assess how their platforms could be misused and apply mitigation measures. These may include reporting tools, stronger privacy defaults for minors, and controls over shared content. National authorities will review these steps and can order additional action where needed.
A three-tier risk system will categorise services as high, medium, or low risk. High-risk platforms may be required to help develop protective technologies. Providers that fail to comply with obligations could face financial penalties under the regulation.
Victims will be able to request the removal or disabling of abusive material depicting them. The EU Centre will verify provider responses and maintain a database to manage reports. It will also share relevant information with Europol and law enforcement bodies.
The Council supports extending voluntary scanning for abusive content beyond its current expiry. Negotiations with the European Parliament will now begin on the final text. The Parliament adopted its position in 2023 and will help decide the Centre’s location.
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Yesterday, Australia entered a new phase of its online safety framework after the introduction of the Social Media Minimum Age policy.
eSafety has established a new Parent Advisory Group to support families as the country transitions to enhanced safeguards for young people. The group held its first meeting, with the Commissioner underlining the need for practical and accessible guidance for carers.
The initiative brings together twelve organisations representing a broad cross-section of communities in Australia, including First Nations families, culturally diverse groups, parents of children with disability and households in regional areas.
Their role is to help eSafety refine its approach, so parents can navigate social platforms with greater confidence, rather than feeling unsupported during rapid regulatory change.
A group that will advise on parent engagement, offer evidence-informed insights and test updated resources such as the redeveloped Online Safety Parent Guide.
Their advice will aim to ensure materials remain relevant, inclusive and able to reach priority communities that often miss out on official communications.
Members will serve voluntarily until June 2026 and will work with eSafety to improve distribution networks and strengthen the national conversation on digital literacy. Their collective expertise is expected to shape guidance that reflects real family experiences instead of abstract policy expectations.
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UNESCO is strengthening capacities in AI ethics and regulation across Ecuador and Latin America through two newly launched courses. The initiatives aim to enhance digital governance and ensure the ethical use of AI in the region.
The first course, ‘Regulation of Artificial Intelligence: A View from and towards Latin America,’ is taking place virtually from 19 to 28 November 2025.
Organised by UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector in coordination with UNESCO-Chile and CTS Lab at FLACSO Ecuador, the programme involves 30 senior officials from key institutions, including the Ombudsman’s Office and the Superintendency for Personal Data Protection.
Participants are trained on AI ethical principles, risks, and opportunities, guided by UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.
The ‘Ethical Use of AI’ course starts next week for telecom and electoral officials. The 20-hour hybrid programme teaches officials to use UNESCO’s RAM to assess readiness and plan ethical AI strategies.
UNESCO aims to train 60 officials and strengthen AI ethics and regulatory frameworks in Ecuador and Chile. The programmes reflect a broader commitment to building inclusive, human-rights-oriented digital governance in Latin America.
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Sharjah is advancing its digital transformation efforts following the issuance of a new decree that established the Higher Committee for Digital Integration. The Crown Prince formed the body to strengthen oversight and guide government entities as the emirate seeks more coordinated progress.
The committee will report directly to the Executive Council and will be led by Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi from the Sharjah Digital Department.
Senior officials from several departments in the UAE will join him to enhance cooperation across the government, rather than leaving agencies to pursue separate digital plans.
Their combined expertise is expected to support stronger governance and reduce risks linked to large-scale transformation.
Its mandate covers strategic oversight, approval of key policies, alignment with national objectives and careful monitoring of digital projects.
The members will intervene when challenges arise, oversee investments and help resolve disputes so the emirate can maintain momentum instead of facing delays caused by fragmented decision-making.
Membership runs for two years, with the option of extension. The committee will continue its work until a successor group is formed and will provide regular reports on progress, challenges and proposed solutions to the Executive Council.
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Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom have taken a significant step toward shaping next-generation connectivity after signing an agreement to develop essential 6G technologies.
Their partnership centres on AI-based radio access networks, with both companies aiming to secure an early lead as global competition intensifies.
Research teams from Samsung and SK Telecom will build and test key components, including AI-based channel estimation, distributed MIMO and AI-driven schedulers.
AI models will refine signals in real-time to improve accuracy, rather than relying on conventional estimation methods. Meanwhile, distributed MIMO will enable multiple antennas to cooperate for reliable, high-speed communication across diverse environments.
The companies believe that AI-enabled schedulers and core networks will manage data flows more efficiently as the number of devices continues to rise.
Their collaboration also extends into the AI-RAN Alliance, where a jointly proposed channel estimation technology has already been accepted as a formal work item, strengthening their shared role in shaping industry standards.
Samsung continues to promote 6G research through its Advanced Communications Research Centre, and recent demonstrations at major industry events highlight the growing momentum behind AI-RAN technology.
Both organisations expect their work to accelerate the transition toward a hyperconnected 6G future, rather than allowing competing ecosystems to dominate early development.
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The Swiss Federal Council has approved significant updates to the Ordinance on the International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters. The new rules are set to take effect across Switzerland on 1 January 2026, assuming no referendum intervenes.
The revisions expand Switzerland’s international exchange of financial account information, updating the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and introducing the new Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).
Crypto service providers in Switzerland will now have reporting, due diligence, and registration obligations under the AEOI Ordinance, although these provisions will not apply until at least 2027.
The updated Ordinance also extends CRS rules to Swiss associations and foundations while excluding certain accounts if specific conditions are met. Transitional measures aim to facilitate the implementation of the amended CRS and CARF by affected parties more smoothly.
Deliberations on partner states for Switzerland’s crypto data exchange have been paused by the National Council’s Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee. The CARF will become law in Switzerland in 2026, but full implementation is delayed, keeping crypto-asset rules inactive for the first year.
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A landmark agreement has been reached between Warner Music and AI music platform Suno, ending last year’s copyright lawsuit that accused the service of using artists’ work without permission.
Fans can now generate AI-created songs using the voices, names, and likenesses of Warner artists who opt in, offering a new way to engage with music.
The partnership will introduce new licensed AI models, including download limits and paid tiers, to prevent a flood of AI tracks on streaming platforms.
Suno has also acquired the live-music discovery platform Songkick, expanding its digital footprint and strengthening connections between AI music and live events.
Music industry experts say the deal demonstrates how AI innovation can coexist with artists’ rights, as the UK government continues consultations on intellectual property for AI.
Creators and policymakers are advocating opt-in frameworks to ensure artists are fairly compensated when their works are used to train AI models.
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Germany has launched the INQUBATOR initiative to help companies, particularly SMEs, prepare for the industrial impact of quantum computing. The four-year programme offers structured support to firms facing high entry barriers and limited access to advanced technologies.
A central feature is affordable access to quantum systems from multiple vendors, paired with workshops and hands-on training. Companies can test algorithms, assess business relevance and adapt processes without investing in costly hardware or specialist infrastructure.
The project is coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid-State Physics and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology. It brings together several Fraunhofer institutes to guide firms from early exploration to applied solutions.
Initial pilot projects span medicine, cybersecurity, insurance and automotive sectors. These examples are intended to demonstrate measurable advantages and will be followed by an open call for further use cases across a broader range of industries.
INQUBATOR aims to reduce financial and technical obstacles while expanding quantum expertise and industrial readiness in Germany. By enabling practical experimentation, it seeks to build a competitive ecosystem of quantum-literate companies over the next four years.
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