Digging continues at dozens of collapsed buildings in Ercis and Van as death toll of 7.2-magnitude quake rises to more than 200 Rescue teams are digging frantically through dozens of collapsed buildings in eastern Turkey after a strong earthquake caused severe damage and left more than 200 people confirmed dead – a toll expected to rise substantially. The 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Sunday morning particularly hit Ercis and Van, cities in a mountainous region near Turkey’s border with Iran. There are expected to be significant casualties in surrounding villages where, according to the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, almost all mud-brick homes had collapsed. The interior minister, Idris Naim Sahin, who has been placed in charge of rescue operations, said the quake was known to have killed at least 120 people in Ercis, a community of about 75,000 people, and about 100 more in the much bigger city of Van, about 60 miles further south. More than 700 people were known to have been injured. Rescue teams, aided by soldiers, spent the night in near-freezing temperatures digging through the remains of dozens of collapsed multi-storey buildings. At least 80 fell in Ercis, fuelling suspicions that, as with previous Turkish quakes, shoddy construction standards could greatly add to the death toll. About 40 buildings in Ercis still had people trapped beneath rubble, Sahin said. At one of these, firefighters from the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir tried to reach four children believed trapped deep inside the remains of an apartment block. At another site, onlookers watched as rescuers tried to calm a 10-year-old boy whom they were attempting to free from beneath a concrete slab. While some of the work was being carried out with cranes, many rescue efforts involved shovels, picks or bare hands. There were, however, some moments of success. Turkey’s Dogan news agency reported that 24 people were pulled alive from rubble in just the two hours after midnight. Aside from the rescue efforts there is a pressing need to provide shelter to thousands of survivors, many of whom will not be able to return to their damaged homes, particularly as dozens of aftershocks continue to shake the region. Many people spent the night outdoors around campfires, or sought shelter with relatives. The Red Crescent has begun distributing an initial allocation of 4,000 tents, 11,000 blankets, stoves and food. A temporary tent city was being set up inside a sports stadium in Ercis. One nurse in Ercis told the CNN Turk TV news channel that the town’s hospital was so badly damaged staff were treating injured in the garden, and bodies were being left outside the building. A number of countries have offered assistance with both relief aid and search and rescue efforts. Erdoğan said Turkey was able to cope for the time being. Erdoğan travelled to the region on Sunday, firstly viewing the destruction in Ercis via helicopter. At a late night press conference in Van he expressed fears for people in outlying villages. “Because the buildings are made of mud-brick, they are more vulnerable to quakes. I must say that almost all buildings in such villages are destroyed,” he said. He returned to Ankara to chair a cabinet meeting about the disaster. Turkey’s seismological institute said on Sunday it anticipated a death toll of up to 1,000 , but Erdoğan said it was too soon to predict such figures. “We don’t know how many people are in the ruins of collapsed buildings, it would be wrong to give a number.” The quake was also felt in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, and several Iranian towns close to the border, but there were no reports of injuries or damage. Earthquakes are common in Turkey, which is crossed by a number of faultlines. The most significant one in recent years struck the western city of Izmit in 1999 . The official death toll was 17,000, although some reports suggested the real figure was higher. Poorly built housing was blamed for many deaths, and tens of thousands more people were left homeless as other buildings were damaged beyond repair. Turkey Middle East Europe Natural disasters and extreme weather Peter Walker guardian.co.uk
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Ucas reveals 52,321 UK-born students have applied for university next year, when fees will rise to up to £9,000 a year The number of UK-born university applicants for next September – when fees rise to up to £9,000 a year – has plummeted by almost 12%, official figures show. The first set of statistics on applications to university next year, published by the Universities and Colleges and Admissions Service (Ucas) , reveal that 52,321 applicants have applied from within the UK, compared with 59,413 this time last year. Union leaders said the figures were proof that ministers’ decision to almost treble fees had been “a disaster”, while charities expressed concern that students from low-income homes may have been deterred from applying. The statistics show the number of applications received by universities by 15 October, the deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, and are an early indication of the total across all courses this year. Candidates for other universities have until 15 January to apply, but there has been a trend for early submissions and the figures include early applications for other universities and courses too. The number of applicants from within and outside the UK combined has fallen by 9% to 69,724, from 76,612 this time last year. The statistics show that the number of applications – candidates can apply to up to five universities – from the UK and elsewhere has fallen by 7.9% to 299,764, from 325,527 this time last year. Applications to Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, veterinary science and dentistry courses alone have fallen, but not by very much. The number of applicants has decreased by 0.8% (464 candidates), and the number of applications has gone down by 1.7% (2,298). Universities and politicians have been worried that the decision to almost treble tuition fees to up to £9,000 next year would deter many, particularly the most disadvantaged, from applying. Students can pay the fees with a student loan to be repaid when they are earning more than £21,000. The figures suggest more women than men have been put off from applying to university. Some 10.5% fewer women have applied this year, and 7% fewer men. Mature students appear to have been particularly deterred by the higher fees, the figures show. The number of applicants aged 40 or older has fallen by 27.8%, and among those aged between 30 and 39 the number has dropped by 22.7%. The figures do not show whether those from low-income families have been particularly deterred. Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, the trade union for lecturers, said the statistics showed the government’s fees policy had been a “disaster from the start”. “It is clearly having a serious impact on the choices young people make,” she said. “People should study the right course for them, not just the cheapest one or none at all. These depressing figures take us back to the time when it was cost, not ability, that determined your future.” But others said it was too early to interpret the figures as a sign of an overall fall in total applications to university. In 2006, when tuition fees last trebled from £1,000 a year to £3,000, applications fell by 4.5%, but were followed by a 7.1% rebound the following year. Two years after that, in 2009, applications soared by 10.1%. Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the umbrella group for vice-chancellors, Universities UK, said: “Historically, the application figures at the end of October have proven to be unreliable indicators of the final numbers. It may also be that students are taking longer this year to consider their options.” Tessa Stone, chief executive of Brightside, an education charity, said the statistics showed many young people were confused by the new fee system. “The Ucas statistics are not disaggregated by income, so we don’t know where this fall [in applicants] is coming from, but I would bet that the most disadvantaged young people have been put off,” she said. “The figures published today show, for the most part, applications to the most competitive courses and universities. A drop in these applications shows that even the brightest young people are confused about whether to go to university. Young people we speak to say they are not being given enough information about bursaries they may be entitled to and are therefore unable to make a sensible decision about where to apply.” James Gould, chief executive of the Villiers Park Educational Trust, a charity that helps bright, less well-off students to attend top universities, said the figures should be a wake-up call for policymakers to properly explain the financial implications of higher fees. “We need to really get the message through that students won’t be using their credit cards to pay university fees. They won’t pay anything back until they earn £21,000 and even after that, their contributions won’t be that high.” The figures are broken down into applicants from the UK, those from within the European Union (but outside the UK) and from outside the EU. The number of applicants from within the UK has fallen by 11.9%, and from in the EU by 9.3%, but the number from outside the EU has grown by 8.8%. The number of applicants in England has fallen by 12.1%, in Northern Ireland by 13%, in Scotland by 11.8% and in Wales by 8.3%. Numbers of applicants from the east Midlands (down 20%), Yorkshire (17.3%) and the north-east (14.7%) have fallen furthest, the figures show. London (down 9.1%) and the south-east (8.1%) have been less affected. Applications to education degrees have fallen by 30%, and those to business studies by 26.1%, the figures show. Toni Pearce, vice-president of the National Union of Students, said a fall in mature students was a warning sign. “Ministers must stop tinkering around the edges of their shambolic reforms, listen to students, teachers and universities and completely overhaul their white paper before temporary chaos turns into permanent damage to our education system,” he said. David Willetts, the universities minister, said the number of applications for Oxbridge, medicine, veterinary science and dentistry had “broadly held up” compared with last year. “Going to university depends on ability not the ability to pay,” he said. “Most new students will not pay upfront, there will be more financial support for those from poorer families and everyone will make lower loan repayments than they do now once they are in well-paid jobs.” Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group, which represents 20 leading universities in the UK including Oxbridge, said top universities would be “pumping millions more into financial support over the coming years”. “Students should certainly not be put off university by the new fees and funding system. If you’re good enough to get in, you can afford to go. “We will continue to urge every student with the talent, potential and ability to succeed at a Russell Group university to apply. In addition to the government’s student support package and the fee waivers and bursaries that our universities offer, we will continue actively to reach out to students from all backgrounds, especially those with no family history of higher education,” Piatt said. Individual university applications have not been revealed, but government sources have suggested there is a mixed picture. A report at the weekend suggested some universities were experiencing a steep drop in demand for courses beginning next September, with one, City University London, saying applications were down 41.4%. Goldsmiths has reported a 35% drop and Brunel has 24% fewer candidates, according to figures gathered by the Sunday Times. However, some universities, including the London School of Economics, Queen Mary and Bath, are seeing rises in applications, according to the report. Demographic factors could also be behind a slump in applications. The number of 18-year-olds in the UK is projected to decline over the rest of this decade by about 11%. Higher education Tuition fees Students Education policy Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk
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Official figures show those arrested came from deprived backgrounds, striking a blow to theory that tackling gang culture is key to preventing repeat of disturbances Gangs did not play a pivotal role in the August riots, according to the latest official analysis of those arrested during the disturbances. The official figures show that 13% of those arrested in the riots have been identified as gang members, rising to 19% in London, but the analysis shows that even where the police identified gang members being present most forces believe they did not play a pivotal role. The finding by senior Whitehall officials is a blow to the principal response to the riots being pushed strongly by the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith – that tackling gang culture is key to preventing any repeat of the disturbances. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Home Office background analysis shows that those arrested during the riots overwhelmingly came from deprived areas and had the poorest educational backgrounds. More than two-thirds of the young people involved were classed as having special educational needs and one-third had been excluded from school in the past year. More than 42% got free school meals. The analysis shows that the ethnic backgrounds of those brought before the courts for riot-related offences were in line with the local population, with 42% of defendants white and 46% black. Only 7% were Asian. But the ethnic composition of court defendants was significantly different from the local area profile in three places: Haringey in north London, where 55% of defendants were black compared with 17% of young people locally; Nottingham, where 62% of defendants were black compared with 9% locally; and Birmingham, where 46% of defendants were black compared with 9% of young people locally. The Home Office figures were based on 5,175 crimes recorded across 19 police forces – the vast majority in London, Manchester and Birmingham. More than 40% happened within town or city centres and 20% within shopping malls or other “defined retail cores” in the town centres. Half the crimes were committed against commercial premises. A total of 2,584 shops and other commercial premises were targeted in the riots. The MoJ figures confirm that 90% of those arrested in the riots were male. More than half were under 20. They also confirm the more punitive nature of the courts, with 42% of those tried in magistrates courts sent to prison compared with only 12% normally. UK riots Gangs Communities Young people Crime London Manchester Nottingham Birmingham Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
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Foreign secretary speaks out as Commons prepares to debate motion calling for referendum of UK’s relationship with EU William Hague, has told backbench Eurosceptics that Monday’s Commons vote on pulling out of Europe “is the wrong question at the wrong time”. The foreign secretary spoke out as David Cameron faced the most serious challenge to his authority since taking office. A large number of Conservative MPs are reportedly planning to rebel on the Commons motion, which calls for a referendum on the UK’s relationship with the EU. Cameron will meet parliamentary aides in Downing Street before the vote in an attempt to dissuade as many as 10 members of the government who are minded to rebel against the prime minister, requiring them to resign their posts. The coalition is sticking to its decision to impose a three-line whip on MPs to vote against the motion, despite criticism that it has been too heavy-handed. The motion calls for a nationwide referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU, renegotiate its treaty with Brussels, or remain a member on the current terms. The government will not suffer a defeat because Labour and the Lib Dems will vote down the motion, but a sizeable group of Conservative believes Cameron should honour pledges once made to allow a national vote on Britain’s relationship with Europe. They are calling for the repatriation of social and employment rights. Hague – formerly one of the Tory party’s most high-profile Eurosceptics – defended the leadership’s decision to impose a three-line whip on the grounds that the motion being debated was “completely against the policy of the government”. “This proposition is the wrong question at the wrong time. It was not in the manifesto of either of the governing parties,” he said. “The whole relationship with the European Union is a matter that concerns the government … it is not just something for the House of Commons to put up some graffiti about.” He said an in/out referendum was not the right idea, adding: “I have argued for more referendums than almost anybody else, and I have argued against the euro more comprehensively than almost anybody else, but this proposition … cuts right across the rules for holding referendums that we have just agreed by large majorities. It would create additional economic uncertainty in this country. “The right referendum is that, whenever any government suggests handing more power from Britain to the EU, the British people are consulted – that is the right policy.” The Liberal Democrats do not support the repatriation of powers from Brussels, and the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, issued a statement warning that it was “far too early to speculate” about what the government’s position would be in the event of any moves to change EU treaties. Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem party leader, told Sky News: “I don’t think suddenly getting into a debate about whether or not we should be in the European Union, where we do half our business, is the right thing to do. “I believe that if we have the debate in the future, if the occasion comes up when there is a proposal to transfer powers, that the people, after the debate, will say yes again. “Now, there is an issue about whether the balance of powers is correct but nobody stood on a platform of having a referendum immediately now, just out of the blue. Certainly we didn’t.” The Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin told BBC Breakfast the EU referendum debate was “basically about democracy”. Jenkin, who is in favour of renegotiation rather than leaving the EU, denied the timing for a referendum was poor and said the call was in tune with the wider public. “When even John Major [the former Conservative prime minister who signed the Maastricht Treaty] is saying now is the moment for us to use our leverage to get powers back top the European Union, it would seem a good time,” he said. “Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a treaty coming down the track to hang a referendum on, so we haven’t got that leverage. This would be an opening shot consultative referendum, to ask the British people about what the dilemma facing this country is. Do we stay in and carry on as now? Do we get out completely, or as the majority of polls show people want, renegotiate our relationship? “I’m sorry about that, but I think the vast majority of MPs know in their hearts there should be a referendum.” But David Lidington, the Conservative minister for Europe, said that, for the wider British public, an EU referendum is “the last thing on their minds”. “I’ve had some identically worded campaign letters from constituents calling for a referendum,” he told Breakfast News. “When I go around the constituency at political and non-political events, this is the last thing on their minds. “What they are worried about are how their school-leaver or graduate children are going to get jobs; they’re worried about the future of public services; they’re concerned about crime and about the welfare system. They want the government to sort out those problems, particularly the challenges as regards employment.” The UK Independence party leaderNigel Farage, said it was fascinating to watch the Conservatives “tear themselves apart over this”. “Polls over the last few days have clearly shown that the general public believe MPs should be able to vote how they like regarding an EU referendum,” the MEP said. “I urge all MPs across the parties to vote with their conscience ahead of their party or career. It is the least the British people deserve.” Cameron attempted to take some of the heat out of the rebellion at the EU summit in Brussels on Sunday. He used a press conference to appeal directly to potential rebels, talking up the chance of repatriating powers with the “possibility” of treaty change coming onto the agenda as early as December as the euro countries push towards fiscal integration. The prime minister said he had proved his ability to exact a good price when he agreed an EU treaty change that created a new mechanism for bailing out troubled eurozone countries but exempted Britain from having to pay for bailouts from 2013. It is not clear whether this would trigger the government’s stated commitment to a referendum because it is due to stage a vote only if new powers are transferred from Westminster to Brussels, and any change by Cameron would be likely to do the reverse. At the summit, Cameron became embroiled in a row with the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy , over Britain’s role in talks to solve the crisis enveloping the euro. Sarkozy apparently told the British prime minister to “shut up” and said he was fed up with him criticising the eurozone countries “and telling us what to do”. William Hague David Cameron Foreign policy Conservatives Liberal-Conservative coalition Labour Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg Simon Hughes UK Independence party (Ukip) European Union Nigel Farage Hélène Mulholland guardian.co.uk
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Click here to view this media Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum claimed Sunday that by announcing the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq, President Barack Obama had “lost the war.” The candidate told CBS’ Bob Schieffer that the Republican reaction to the president’s announcement had been scathing because the Obama administration failed to convince Iraq to give U.S. troops immunity from prosecution. “We have a president that was not able to set conditions and actually have the kind of influence over the Iraqi government,” Santorum complained. “Now, three years the president has had to work with the Iraq government, to try to mold and shape that relationship. And to be in a position where really the Iranians now have more sway over the Iraqi government then the United States just shows the weakness of our diplomatic effort, the weakness of this president.” “I think that’s reason people are so upset, that, you know, we’ve lost — in many respects, we’ve lost control, lost the war in Iraq because we have Iran having broadened its sphere of influence.” At a meeting with the Senate Republican Conference in 2005, Santorum told American Digest’s George Vanderleun that victory in Iraq was possible even if U.S. troops were not based there. “[It] would be sufficient [for victory],” the then-Pennsylvania senator said. “It’s a democracy. We’ve got folks in Europe that don’t want our bases there. I’m not concerned about that as long as this government that may not want us there is in secure enough hands to make sure that it does not become a terrorist state or otherwise problematic. Whether we are there or not is of secondary importance.”
Continue reading …Click here to view this media Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum claimed Sunday that by announcing the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq, President Barack Obama had “lost the war.” The candidate told CBS’ Bob Schieffer that the Republican reaction to the president’s announcement had been scathing because the Obama administration failed to convince Iraq to give U.S. troops immunity from prosecution. “We have a president that was not able to set conditions and actually have the kind of influence over the Iraqi government,” Santorum complained. “Now, three years the president has had to work with the Iraq government, to try to mold and shape that relationship. And to be in a position where really the Iranians now have more sway over the Iraqi government then the United States just shows the weakness of our diplomatic effort, the weakness of this president.” “I think that’s reason people are so upset, that, you know, we’ve lost — in many respects, we’ve lost control, lost the war in Iraq because we have Iran having broadened its sphere of influence.” At a meeting with the Senate Republican Conference in 2005, Santorum told American Digest’s George Vanderleun that victory in Iraq was possible even if U.S. troops were not based there. “[It] would be sufficient [for victory],” the then-Pennsylvania senator said. “It’s a democracy. We’ve got folks in Europe that don’t want our bases there. I’m not concerned about that as long as this government that may not want us there is in secure enough hands to make sure that it does not become a terrorist state or otherwise problematic. Whether we are there or not is of secondary importance.”
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It’s the Joos! Hey, why didn’t anybody tell us Reverend Wright was going to be out protesting Wall Street today? Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : I Hate The Media Discovery Date : 23/10/2011 18:05 Number of articles : 2
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It’s the Joos! Hey, why didn’t anybody tell us Reverend Wright was going to be out protesting Wall Street today? Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : I Hate The Media Discovery Date : 23/10/2011 18:05 Number of articles : 2
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Exit polls predict landslide victory for current president, making her first woman in Latin America to twice win the presidency Argentina’s president Cristina Kirchner is set to be re-elected by a landslide on Sunday, buoyed by popular government programmes to spread the wealth of a booming economy. Exit polls predicted Kirchner would end up with between 54% and 55% of the vote, putting her far ahead of her closest rival in the biggest presidential victory since Argentina’s democracy was restored three decades ago. The victory makes Kirchner the first woman re-elected as president in Latin America. It’s also the first in a lifetime of politics without her husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, who died of a heart attack last year. Her voice almost broke when she spoke about this legacy, describing a mixture of pride and sorrow after casting her ballot in his hometown, the remote Patagonian city of Rio Gallegos. “In this world where they have criticised us so forcefully, all this makes me feel very proud, that we’re on the right track. He [Nestor] would be very content,” she said. Kirchner could have won with as little as 40% of the vote if none of her rivals came within 10 percentage points of her. Exit polls published in the Argentine media indicated she would win with a margin of about 40 points over socialist Hermes Binner, the closest of six rival candidates. Her Front for Victory coalition hoped to regain enough seats in Congress to form new alliances and regain the control it lost in 2009. Elections were held for 130 seats in the lower house and 24 in the Senate. While official results were not expected until hours after polls closed on Sunday night, Kirchner appeared to have won a larger share of votes than any president since Argentina’s democracy was restored in 1983, when Raul Alfonsin was elected with 52%. She would still trail her hero, Juan Domingo Peron, who won with 60% and 63% in his last two elections. Fernandez, 58, chose her youthful, guitar-playing, long-haired economy minister, Amado Boudou, as her running mate. Together, the pair championed Argentina’s approach to the global financial crisis: increase government spending rather than impose austerity measures, and force investors in foreign debt to suffer before ordinary citizens. Boudou was waiting for official results before declaring victory. Well after the polls closed, he tweeted: “Thanks to all the Argentines for this day of celebration, without violence and with love for the country. Now, to await the results.” Argentina Cristina Kirchner Néstor Kirchner Americas guardian.co.uk
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New survey suggests 10% of current A-level students put off applying in UK, with nearly half considering going abroad One in 10 students currently studying for A-levels has been put off university because of the increase in tuition fees next year, a new survey suggests. In addition, half of those polled would consider going to a local university to save money, while just under half said they would consider studying abroad to avoid the sharp increase in fees. The ComRes survey, commissioned by the BBC, shows that almost two-thirds would consider apprenticeships as an alternative to a degree. The survey has been published as a weekend report suggested that some universities are experiencing a steep drop in demand for courses beginning next September, with one, City University London, saying applications are down 41.4%. Goldsmiths has reported a 35% drop while Brunel has 24% fewer candidates, according to figures gathered by the Sunday Times. The survey of universities appears to match the ComRes survey, showing a broad decline of about 10%. However, some universities, including the London School of Economics, Queen Mary, and Bath, are seeing rises in applications, according to the report. The Universities and Colleges Admission Service (Ucas) is due to release figures today for the number of applications received by 15 October, the deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine. Candidates for other universities have until 15 January to apply, but there has been a trend for early submissions. An Ucas spokesman indicated that demand for Oxbridge and medical courses has held up this year. He said: “In the figures we’re going to publish there’s a difference between the overall headline figure to date and the figures for Oxbridge and medicine courses where the early deadline makes a difference. It’s just too early in the cycle for us to say whether we’re going to see a drop in demand [overall].” Demographic factors could also be behind any dip in applications. The number of 18-year-olds in the UK is projected to decline for the rest of this decade. A number of universities are now reconsidering the amount they intend to charge after the government gave them incentives to set an average fee under £7,500. In July, a government watchdog announced that the estimated average fee across all English universities was £8,393. At the time, 47 planned to charge the maximum of £9,000 as their standard fee. The BBC Inside Out/ComRes survey, which interviewed 1,009 A-level students in England this month, found the vast majority were worried about the burden of debt and thought it hard to get a job after university. But most still planned to go to university. Wes Streeting, chief executive of the Helena Kennedy Foundation, an educational charity, said: “My main concern is about widening participation. If it is the case that higher tuition fees are having a detrimental impact on the number of applications, then schools, colleges and government need to redouble their efforts to get the facts out. “When people look at the details, some of the fears that families still have about paying fees upfront may be allayed.” Under reforms introduced by the government last year, students will be able to take out state-backed loans to pay for their fees, as they do now. In future, graduates will pay back 9% of their income above £21,000. Graduates will pay interest on their loans, of a maximum of inflation plus 3%. Any outstanding repayments will be written off after 30 years, so graduates with low lifetime earnings will be protected. A poll earlier this month showed the number of teenagers enrolled at further education colleges in England declining for the first time in 12 years, with some institutions reporting a slump in numbers of up to 15%. The Association of Colleges asked half the colleges in the country – 182 institutions – how enrolments for this autumn compared year-on-year. Overall, the number of students had dropped by 0.1%, the equivalent of almost 600 students. But in a quarter of the colleges, the number of students had fallen by between 5% and 15%. Tuition fees Higher education Students University of London University administration University funding Apprenticeships Jeevan Vasagar guardian.co.uk
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