GTA Online is adding a new subscription service

  • Grand Theft Auto (GTA) publisher, Rockstar Games has announced a new subscription service for GTA Online (an online multi-player game).
  • The GTA Plus subscription grants players ‘exclusive perks’ for $5.99 a month, roughly £4.59, including GTA currency and gameplay updates.
  • The subscription will be available only to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X players (the new generation consoles).
  • You can read the full story on The Verge’s website.

Children and teenage entrepreneurs turn to social media and cryptocurrency

  • Children as young as 6 are going online to make money through selling on eBay, gaming, or cryptocurrency markets.
  • Using information from YouTube videos and TikTok tutorials, young people learn how to make money online.
  • This introduces further questions for safeguarding children online from exploitation and scams.
  • You can read the full story on the Sky News website.

Minister vows ‘tougher guidelines’ after schoolgirl strip-searched

  • The education secretary has reported that tougher guidelines will be introduced in response to the “hugely distressing” strip-searching of 15-year-old Child Q.
  • Guidelines and policies will be reviewed as “no child should have been exposed to that sort of trauma”.
  • A safeguarding report found that racism was “likely a factor” in the search, which was conducted in school, with no appropriate adult present.
  • You can read the full story on the BBC’s website.

Sex offender’s anonymity may impact PSNI Child Protection Disclosure Scheme

  • A judge’s decision to grant permanent anonymity for a convicted sex offender may impact applications for information under the Child Protection Disclosure Scheme.
  • The 30-year-old offender admitted 22 offences involving possession, distribution and making of indecent images of children.
  • By remaining anonymous, the public can’t take steps to manage potential risk to children – for example if he is living near child frequented areas.
  • You can read the full story on Armagh i’s website.

Extra £7.6M announced for Engage II programme

  • Education Minister, Michelle McIlveen has announced a further £7.6m for the Engage II programme.
  • The programme aims to support children and young people’s learning for the remainder of this academic year.
  • The programme aims to limit the impact of COVID-19 by supporting pupil’s learning and engagement, as well as their social, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
  • You can read the full story on Education NI’s website.