Oh baby. Who knew newborns could have such a significant physical impact on their dads and tomcatting around? Scientists have discovered that fathers experience a significant reduction in their body’s testosterone with the birth of a son or daughter. They believe it’s Mother Nature’s way of making men less interested…
Continue reading …There’s no love lost between the Johnston and Palin clans, and Levi’s new tell-all memoir is set to keep the feud going. In Deer In the Headlights , to be released later this month, Johnston claims that Bristol became pregnant with his child as revenge to get even with her mother…
Continue reading …One of the most macabre moments of last night’s GOP candidate debate occurred when members of the audience cheered the idea of letting people without health insurance die. “What do you tell a guy who is sick, goes into a coma and doesn’t have health insurance? Who pays for his…
Continue reading …New York City officials are launching an investigation of two police officers filmed grinding against dancers in a West Indian Day parade during a weekend plagued by 48 shootings. Officers are seen pumping against the backs of shimmying dancers at the Brooklyn parade earlier this month in a just released…
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Study of 42 countries also says UK failing to retain young in education, and may be overly concerned about class sizes The UK has the third highest university tuition fees in the developed world, according to analysis by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development . The annual Education At A Glance study (pdf) – conducted before fees almost treble next year to a maximum of £9,000 – shows the UK is the most expensive after the United States and Korea. The analysis compared the 34 countries of the OECD, plus Brazil, the Russian Federation and Argentina, China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. On average, students in the UK paid just under $5,000 (£3,158) a year in 2008. In countries including Austria, Belgium and France, teenagers paid less than half this amount. In Sweden, Denmark and Norway, tuition is free. Andreas Schleicher, head of the OECD’s educational statistics and analysis division, said the US higher education system had priced many out of the opportunity to study at university. But he said the UK was unlikely to do the same because students have access to loans. “The cost of higher education has risen very dramatically [in the US],” he said. “It is very difficult for people to afford it because access to financing is much less well developed than in the UK.” The analysis, published in the OECD’s annual Education at a Glance report , also shows Britain does worse at keeping young people in education than most other developed countries. In the UK, 74% of 15- to 19-year-olds were in education in 2009, compared with an average of 82% across the 42 countries studied. Only Chile, Israel, Mexico and Turkey fared worse. This is despite the UK’s spending on education rising at a faster rate than in many other countries. Between 2000 and 2008, funding for primary and secondary education increased by 56% in the UK – the eighth highest increase of 30 nations. Spending on higher education grew by 30%, the sixth highest increase. Overall, spending on education in the UK was two percentage points below the OECD average of 5.9% of GDP. However, expenditure has shifted from public to private sources. Adults without “baseline qualifications” – the equivalent of five good GCSEs – have borne the brunt of the economic crisis, the report shows. The employment rate for these adults dropped from 65.6% to 56.9% – a fall four times greater than the average. At the same time, adults in the UK with degrees have an above-average earnings premium. Having a degree in the UK gives the average male adult an estimated extra $208,000 (£132,000) over his lifetime, the report found. The analysis shows that moving from school or training to the labour market in the UK is particularly difficult. Some 17% of 20- to 29-year-olds were in education in 2009, below the average of 26%. Only Turkey and Mexico did worse. And 4.9% of those without A-levels or qualifications above GCSE level were out of education and employment. The OECD’s average was 2.7%. Schleicher said the transition between education and work was “smoother” in countries with work-study programmes in secondary schools. He said the UK had only a small proportion of students on these programmes, compared with Australia, Germany, Austria and other countries. Class sizes at secondary school have fallen at a faster rate than other countries, the report shows. In the early years of secondary school, there tends to be 20 students per class in the UK, compared with 24 on average. However, at primary school, there are 24.5 pupils per class in the UK, compared with the average of just over 21. Countries that perform better than the UK in international tests “are generally prioritising the quality of teachers over the size of classes”, Schleicher said. The University and College Union (UCU), which represents college lecturers, warned that unless the government reversed cuts to further and higher education, the UK risked dropping further behind competitor countries. Sally Hunt, UCU’s general secretary, said the UK was “languishing in the relegation zone when it comes to public spending on higher education”. She said: “The UK’s poor record of investment in educating adults places us at a real disadvantage against other countries. We need an urgent debate about the importance of education and skills to our economy and society before it is too late. “As the OECD points out, public investment in education repays itself many times over, but government policy means our workforce is poorly prepared for life in the new knowledge economy.” Wendy Piatt, the director general of the Russell Group – a group of 20 leading universities including Oxford and Cambridge – described opportunities for 15- to 19-year- olds in the UK as “very disappointing”. “We are wholeheartedly committed to broadening access so that every student with the qualifications, potential and determination to succeed at a Russell Group university has the opportunity do so, whatever their background,” she said. “But one of the key challenges we face is that too few young people from disadvantaged backgrounds continue in education beyond the age of 16.” A spokesman from the Department for Education said the number of young people not in education, employment or training – so-called Neets – was “still far too high”. “We must ensure that all pupils get a good grasp of the basics before leaving education to help make them employable,” he said. “Currently over a third of pupils are still leaving school without the basic qualifications they need to move forward, most of whom are from low income backgrounds.” Tuition fees Higher education Schools Further education Young people Jeevan Vasagar Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Study of 42 countries also says UK failing to retain young in education, and may be overly concerned about class sizes The UK has the third highest university tuition fees in the developed world, according to analysis by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development . The annual Education At A Glance study (pdf) – conducted before fees almost treble next year to a maximum of £9,000 – shows the UK is the most expensive after the United States and Korea. The analysis compared the 34 countries of the OECD, plus Brazil, the Russian Federation and Argentina, China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. On average, students in the UK paid just under $5,000 (£3,158) a year in 2008. In countries including Austria, Belgium and France, teenagers paid less than half this amount. In Sweden, Denmark and Norway, tuition is free. Andreas Schleicher, head of the OECD’s educational statistics and analysis division, said the US higher education system had priced many out of the opportunity to study at university. But he said the UK was unlikely to do the same because students have access to loans. “The cost of higher education has risen very dramatically [in the US],” he said. “It is very difficult for people to afford it because access to financing is much less well developed than in the UK.” The analysis, published in the OECD’s annual Education at a Glance report , also shows Britain does worse at keeping young people in education than most other developed countries. In the UK, 74% of 15- to 19-year-olds were in education in 2009, compared with an average of 82% across the 42 countries studied. Only Chile, Israel, Mexico and Turkey fared worse. This is despite the UK’s spending on education rising at a faster rate than in many other countries. Between 2000 and 2008, funding for primary and secondary education increased by 56% in the UK – the eighth highest increase of 30 nations. Spending on higher education grew by 30%, the sixth highest increase. Overall, spending on education in the UK was two percentage points below the OECD average of 5.9% of GDP. However, expenditure has shifted from public to private sources. Adults without “baseline qualifications” – the equivalent of five good GCSEs – have borne the brunt of the economic crisis, the report shows. The employment rate for these adults dropped from 65.6% to 56.9% – a fall four times greater than the average. At the same time, adults in the UK with degrees have an above-average earnings premium. Having a degree in the UK gives the average male adult an estimated extra $208,000 (£132,000) over his lifetime, the report found. The analysis shows that moving from school or training to the labour market in the UK is particularly difficult. Some 17% of 20- to 29-year-olds were in education in 2009, below the average of 26%. Only Turkey and Mexico did worse. And 4.9% of those without A-levels or qualifications above GCSE level were out of education and employment. The OECD’s average was 2.7%. Schleicher said the transition between education and work was “smoother” in countries with work-study programmes in secondary schools. He said the UK had only a small proportion of students on these programmes, compared with Australia, Germany, Austria and other countries. Class sizes at secondary school have fallen at a faster rate than other countries, the report shows. In the early years of secondary school, there tends to be 20 students per class in the UK, compared with 24 on average. However, at primary school, there are 24.5 pupils per class in the UK, compared with the average of just over 21. Countries that perform better than the UK in international tests “are generally prioritising the quality of teachers over the size of classes”, Schleicher said. The University and College Union (UCU), which represents college lecturers, warned that unless the government reversed cuts to further and higher education, the UK risked dropping further behind competitor countries. Sally Hunt, UCU’s general secretary, said the UK was “languishing in the relegation zone when it comes to public spending on higher education”. She said: “The UK’s poor record of investment in educating adults places us at a real disadvantage against other countries. We need an urgent debate about the importance of education and skills to our economy and society before it is too late. “As the OECD points out, public investment in education repays itself many times over, but government policy means our workforce is poorly prepared for life in the new knowledge economy.” Wendy Piatt, the director general of the Russell Group – a group of 20 leading universities including Oxford and Cambridge – described opportunities for 15- to 19-year- olds in the UK as “very disappointing”. “We are wholeheartedly committed to broadening access so that every student with the qualifications, potential and determination to succeed at a Russell Group university has the opportunity do so, whatever their background,” she said. “But one of the key challenges we face is that too few young people from disadvantaged backgrounds continue in education beyond the age of 16.” A spokesman from the Department for Education said the number of young people not in education, employment or training – so-called Neets – was “still far too high”. “We must ensure that all pupils get a good grasp of the basics before leaving education to help make them employable,” he said. “Currently over a third of pupils are still leaving school without the basic qualifications they need to move forward, most of whom are from low income backgrounds.” Tuition fees Higher education Schools Further education Young people Jeevan Vasagar Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Fighter-jet escorts in two airplane security scares on the anniversary of 9/11 were not caused by hanky panky in the bathrooms, according to FBI officials. But one American Jewish-Arab housewife is furious after being strip-searched and grilled simply because passengers reported being “concerned” about trips to the bathroom by men…
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Teenagers accused of causing spate of blazes across borough of Barnet in north London Six teenagers have been charged with causing a fire that closed the M1 in both directions in April. The blaze at a scrapyard under an elevated section of the motorway caused disruption for days. The six accused are among a total of 10 teenagers charged with a spate of arson attacks across Barnet, north London. Luke Matthews, 18, of Hatfield, Herts; Johno Johnson, 18, of Edgware; and four other teenagers, who cannot be named, were charged with arson offences including the M1 fire. Damien McQueen, 18, Hannah Parker, 18, both of Edgware, and two other youths were charged with two acts of arson elsewhere in the area. They have all been granted bail to appear at Hendon magistrates court on Tuesday next week. The M1 was closed between junctions one and four on 15 April. London guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Teenagers accused of causing spate of blazes across borough of Barnet in north London Six teenagers have been charged with causing a fire that closed the M1 in both directions in April. The blaze at a scrapyard under an elevated section of the motorway caused disruption for days. The six accused are among a total of 10 teenagers charged with a spate of arson attacks across Barnet, north London. Luke Matthews, 18, of Hatfield, Herts; Johno Johnson, 18, of Edgware; and four other teenagers, who cannot be named, were charged with arson offences including the M1 fire. Damien McQueen, 18, Hannah Parker, 18, both of Edgware, and two other youths were charged with two acts of arson elsewhere in the area. They have all been granted bail to appear at Hendon magistrates court on Tuesday next week. The M1 was closed between junctions one and four on 15 April. London guardian.co.uk
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Labour leader calls for ‘meaningful negotiation to prevent further confrontation’ in address to union delegates Ed Miliband was heckled by delegates at the TUC conference as he triggered trade union anger by describing strikes over public sector pension reforms as “a mistake”. In his first speech to the TUC as the Labour leader, Miliband stood firm on his position despite widespread unhappiness with his criticism of the industrial action on 30 June, when three education unions and one civil servants’ union joined forces in a mass walkout. Unions are gearing up for more industrial action in the autumn, which could involve huge numbers of public sector workers. The head of Unison, Dave Prentis, warned that a ballot of more than 1 million public sector workers was becoming inevitable because negotiators could not meet government deadline for reforming pensions. Some unions – possibly led by Unison – are widely expected to declare their intention to ballot when they take part in a debate on public sector pensions at the conference on Wednesday. But in a a speech later described as “brave” by the leader of one of the major unions, Miliband stuck to his guns, saying strikes were the wrong response to talks with the government which, unions say, are close to collapse. The Labour leader said the government had set about reform “in completely the wrong way” and he understood why millions of public sector workers felt angry. However, he added: “While negotiations were going on, I do believe it was a mistake for strikes to happen. I continue to believe that. But what we need now is meaningful negotiation to prevent further confrontation over the autumn.” Miliband faced further dissent from the floor during a 20-minute question-and-answer session with delegates after Janice Godrich, the president of the Public and Commercial Services Union, challenged him to “stand up on the side of hundreds and thousands of workers whose pensions are under attack”. Godrich reminded Miliband that the former Labour cabinet minister Alan Johnson, who struck a pensions deal with public sector unions in 2005, had said the outcome was “fair and reasonable” and the National Audit Office had recently concluded that public sector pensions “are affordable”. To applause, she challenged him to back further industrial action, saying: “Will you defend the negotiated settlement we agreed, and will you support trade unionists taking industrial action to defend that deal?” Miliband agreed that the Johnson deal “was a good agreement”, but went on to say that, “while this may not be popular with everybody in the room”, the John Hutton report on pensions was a “decent report” that looked at important issues. This included its call for the government to engage in meaningful negotiations with the unions. “That is what should be happening,” Miliband said to jeers. “What I’m going to say is that the best thing that can be done is to avoid industrial action happening by a government willing to properly negotiate. That is what needs to happen.” Mary Bousted, the leader of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers – one of three education unions that took strike action in June – told Miliband: “Just for information, the government are not prepared to negotiate. “All they are prepared to do is negotiate how to implement the changes they have decided. There are no real negotiations going on. We can give you chapter and verse about that.” The Labour party’s biggest donor, the Unite union, played down the impact of Miliband’s “mistake” line. Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, said: “I thought we saw a man there who was demonstrating that he wants to be on our side.” Nonetheless, McCluskey said Unite was preparing for mass strike action featuring more than 1 million workers, with the prospect that industrial action by a “community of resistance” will also take place next year. Asked whether Unite, which has 250,000 public sector members, would ballot workers, he said: “I think it is inevitable.” And questioned on whether strikes would take place next year, he said: “Without a shadow of a doubt. We are planning for it to be a long dispute.” Miliband also drew shouts of “shame” and disagreement when he defended academy schools in his constituency, which he said had made a big difference to education standards. The Labour leader also used his speech to urge unions to raise their game and show their relevance in meeting future challenges. Highlighting the fact that just 15% of the private sector workforce is unionised, compared with over half of the public sector workforce, he told unions they needed to change “if that is to change”. He said: “Unions can offer businesses the prospect of better management, better relationships, as you did during the recession. Of course the right to industrial action will be necessary, as a last resort. “But in truth, strikes are always the consequence of failure. Failure on all sides. Failure we cannot afford as a nation. Instead, your real role is as partners in the new economy.” Miliband drew applause for other parts of his speech, including his insistence that he would “resist” any attempt to break the link between the trade union movement and the Labour party. The three million trade union levy payers were a “huge asset” to the party, he said, adding: “They should never ever feel like passive or unwanted members of our movement. I want them to feel part of it.” Miliband made clear that a Labour government, committed to halving the deficit in four years, would also make cuts. “Like our plans for a 12% cut in the police budget – not the 20% being implemented by this government,” he said. “Like cuts to the road programme. And, yes, reforms of some benefits, too.” Miliband also called for a living wage for young people, and attacked the high level of executive pay. Union leaders gave a mixed reaction to his performance. Paul Kenny, the leader of the GMB, said: “I have to give him credit for his courage in coming here and speaking frankly to us. What comes across is that he is not ashamed of the trade union links to the Labour party.” But Bob Crow, the general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: “Ed Miliband needs to decide just whose side he is on. “Criticising teachers and other workers taking strike action to defend jobs, services and pensions alienates core Labour supporters in their hundreds of thousands and is a political suicide mission. “You can’t play political games when workers are facing the biggest all-out attack on their rights and their livelihoods since the war. A Labour leader who doesn’t stand by the workers is on a one-way ticket to oblivion.” Asked about the prospect of Labour considering public ownership of the railways, Miliband said “all options”, including mutual, public and private ownership, should be considered. Miliband won the biggest applause when he attacked the “closed circle” of people who sit on company remuneration committees handing out pay and bonuses. Ed Miliband TUC Trade unions Labour Public sector pensions Public services policy Bob Crow Teaching Schools Hélène Mulholland Dan Milmo guardian.co.uk
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