Microsoft’s new Xbox TV app streams games without a console

  • Microsoft is launching its Xbox TV app later this month which would allow Samsung 2022 smart TVs and monitors to play Xbox games without a game console.
  • The Xbox TV app will work similarly to Netflix, where users will be able to sign into a Microsoft account in the app and stream Xbox games.
  • It is not yet clear whether the partnership will extend to other TVs or older Samsung TV models.
  • You can read the full story on The Verge’s website.

‘Abuse, assaults, and big profits’ – children’s homes staff speak out

  • Multiple employees of children’s homes run by a company have stated that “vulnerable young people were failed”.
  • The company run eight homes, four schools and supported living accommodation in England.
  • A BBC investigation uncovered leaked records including ones that show that children had reported being groomed for sex, given alcohol, and assaulted by staff.
  • Other records showed allegations of child-on-child sexual abuse and suicide attempts went unreported to Ofsted and claims of inadequate staffing at homes where serious incidents occurred.
  • You can read the full story on the BBC’s website.

Child cruelty offences rose by a quarter in a year

  • The NSPCC has reported that the number of child cruelty offences in England have increased by 25% in a year.
  • The charity blames the stress felt by families in the pandemic and urges for help to be made available to families before they reach crisis point.
  • More than 26,000 offences were recorded where a child suffered neglect or cruelty in the year to the end of March 2022, up from just over 21,000 the year before.
  • You can read the full story on the BBC’s website.

At least 1,400 payphones to be safeguarded from removal

  • Ofcom has introduced a rule to safeguard public payphones from removal in areas with poor mobile signal or high accident rate.
  • Around 25,000 calls were made to the child protection service Childline and 20,000 to Samaritans.
  • In addition, almost 150,000 calls were made to emergency services from phone boxes in the year up to May 2020.
  • You can read the full story on The National’s website.