Government target of bringing down migration figure to tens of thousands by the next general election now in doubt Net migration to Britain has unexpectedly jumped by nearly 100,000 in the past year to 243,000, jeopardising the government’s target of bringing down the figure to “tens of thousands” by the next general election. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures published on Thursday morning show that net migration – the numbers coming to live in Britain for more than 12 months minus those going to live abroad – has risen in the 12 months to last September from 147,000 to 243,000. The sudden leap in net migration appears to have as much to do with a slump in the numbers leaving the country, which have fallen by 50,000, as a resumption in immigration, which has risen by 50,000. The ONS said that net migration from Poland and other eastern European countries had increased to 43,000 in the latest figures compared with a fall of 12,000 in the year before. The numbers coming from Poland and other new EU states has risen from 45,000 to 72,000 while those going home have fallen from 57,000 to 29,000. This takes net migration from Poland back to the levels last seen in September 2008. The official statisticians add that immigration to Britain for work-related reasons was little changed in the year to September 2010 but the numbers of those coming to study had risen by 30%. The home secretary, Theresa May, has announced a series of crackdowns on the work and student routes as part of her drive to reach the Conservative election pledge of getting net migration down to below 100,000 by the time of the general election. But the latest figures now place new doubts on that happening. Matt Cavanagh, associate director of the Institute of Public Policy Research, predicted that the government would now take even tougher measures: “It is time the government admitted that setting a target for ‘net migration’ makes little sense, and can’t be achieved without damaging Britain’s economy. “When they set the target in opposition, the Conservatives clearly hadn’t planned for emigration continuing to fall. Today’s figures show that emigration of British nationals is down by more than 25% since 2008. “This means the government will have to take even more drastic measures to try to meet their chosen target,” said Cavanagh. “They can’t control immigration from the EU. Today’s figures show net migration from eastern Europe up over 50,000 from last year. They will find it difficult to reduce family immigration. So they will have to tighten up even further on students or skilled workers coming from outside the EU – the most valuable kinds of immigration for our economy.” Immigration and asylum Population Europe Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Government target of bringing down migration figure to tens of thousands by the next general election now in doubt Net migration to Britain has unexpectedly jumped by nearly 100,000 in the past year to 243,000, jeopardising the government’s target of bringing down the figure to “tens of thousands” by the next general election. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures published on Thursday morning show that net migration – the numbers coming to live in Britain for more than 12 months minus those going to live abroad – has risen in the 12 months to last September from 147,000 to 243,000. The sudden leap in net migration appears to have as much to do with a slump in the numbers leaving the country, which have fallen by 50,000, as a resumption in immigration, which has risen by 50,000. The ONS said that net migration from Poland and other eastern European countries had increased to 43,000 in the latest figures compared with a fall of 12,000 in the year before. The numbers coming from Poland and other new EU states has risen from 45,000 to 72,000 while those going home have fallen from 57,000 to 29,000. This takes net migration from Poland back to the levels last seen in September 2008. The official statisticians add that immigration to Britain for work-related reasons was little changed in the year to September 2010 but the numbers of those coming to study had risen by 30%. The home secretary, Theresa May, has announced a series of crackdowns on the work and student routes as part of her drive to reach the Conservative election pledge of getting net migration down to below 100,000 by the time of the general election. But the latest figures now place new doubts on that happening. Matt Cavanagh, associate director of the Institute of Public Policy Research, predicted that the government would now take even tougher measures: “It is time the government admitted that setting a target for ‘net migration’ makes little sense, and can’t be achieved without damaging Britain’s economy. “When they set the target in opposition, the Conservatives clearly hadn’t planned for emigration continuing to fall. Today’s figures show that emigration of British nationals is down by more than 25% since 2008. “This means the government will have to take even more drastic measures to try to meet their chosen target,” said Cavanagh. “They can’t control immigration from the EU. Today’s figures show net migration from eastern Europe up over 50,000 from last year. They will find it difficult to reduce family immigration. So they will have to tighten up even further on students or skilled workers coming from outside the EU – the most valuable kinds of immigration for our economy.” Immigration and asylum Population Europe Alan Travis guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
The US first lady gives career advice to an audience of schoolgirls and tells them what she liked about Barack Obama when they first met
Continue reading …
Regulator also announces 999 text service and rules to ensure quick transferral of mobile numbers between providers Three-year broadband and phone contracts have been banned by the communications regulator Ofcom , with providers now only able to offer maximum contracts of two years. They must also make 12-month contracts available under the new regulations which bring the UK in line with EU telecoms law. The regulations also require mobile providers to transfer customers’ mobile phone numbers to a new provider within one working day. Providers must now pay “reasonable compensation” to customers should they not do so, or if there is an abuse of the process. Ofcom is allowing providers to design their own compensation schemes, but will review them after 12 months to make sure they are adequate. In addition, for those switching landlines steps have been introduced to prevent “slamming”, where a customer is switched to another provider without their permission or knowledge. Ofcom has also introduced an emergency SMS scheme which allows registered users to text the details of emergencies to the emergency services instead of calling 999. The scheme, which has been running on a voluntary basis since 2009, already has around 14,500 users and is predominantly used by hearing and speech-impaired people who find it difficult to use the phone. Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: “These changes to the regulations should make it easier for consumers to take advantage of the wide range of competition in the UK communications market. The emergency SMS scheme has proved very successful. It is right that this service should be made permanent in order to safeguard it for the people who depend on it.” Ernest Doku, technology expert at uSwitch.com , said the rules were good news for consumers: “These longer 36-month mobile phone contracts were effectively handcuffing consumers, preventing them from getting the latest phone and saving money for three years. In such a rapidly evolving market nobody can afford to be tied down like this. Ofcom has put the power back into the hands of the people. “Three-year contracts came as a result of the sharp increase in smartphone take-up, which in some cases are worth up to £600. Now providers are required to offer 12-month contracts by law, we are likely to see providers claw back handset costs through higher contract charges.” It also emerged this week that the price of broadband has risen for the first time in five years, as a result of companies encouraging customers to switch to bundles including home phone and digital TV rather than take out stand-alone broadband. Research from Broadbandchoices.co.uk indicates that while headline broadband speeds have increased by 29% since 2010, the cost has also risen by 11% – twice the rate of inflation. Stand-alone broadband now costs £126.49 a year, or £10.54 a month for the first year, compared with £114.18 and £9.51 in 2010. At the same time, broadband speeds have increased from 14MB to 18MB. Michael Phillips of Broadbandchoices.co.uk said: “It is disappointing to see the cost of stand-alone broadband increase after so many years of broadband providers delivering price cuts to consumers. The VAT rise and effects of inflation are taking their toll, but providers are clearly placing a premium on broadband-only deals in their drive to sign up more customers to their bundled packages. “Bundles for broadband, home phone, digital TV and mobile phone services do offer excellent value to consumers but those customers who simply want a broadband-only deal should not be penalised. Broadband has become an essential utility to the majority of households across the UK, and if prices continue to rise we may see a worrying downward trend in broadband subscription across the country – denying access to essential information, communication and financial services that many consumers now rely upon to conduct their lives.” The website said the cheapest broadband and phone bundle is with TalkTalk , which charges a first-year fee including line rental of £190.20; while the cheapest provider of a broadband, phone and TV package is Virgin Media , charging £345.88 for the first year including line rental. However these recommendations do not take customer service into account. Internet, phones & broadband Household bills Family finances Consumer affairs Broadband Internet Mobile phones Telecoms Ofcom Mark King guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Serbian police detain man with physical features of Mladic, who is wanted by war crimes tribunal for genocide in Bosnian war Serbian police have arrested a man suspected of being the wanted war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic, an interior ministry official said. “He has some physical features of Mladic. We are analysing his DNA now,” the official said on condition of anonymity. The man was arrested in Serbia on an anonymous tip, he said. Mladic is sought by the United Nations’ international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for genocide during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. Serbia must arrest him if it wants to join the European Union. Serbia’s war crimes prosecutors refused to confirm or deny the report. President Boris Tadic will hold a media conference at 11am GMT. More details soon … Ratko Mladic Serbia Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Pakistan asks US to reduce military footprint in a sign of its annoyance over how raid that killed Bin Laden was carried out The US is reducing its military force in Pakistan at the request of Islamabad after US special forces killed Osama bin Laden , the Pentagon has said. More than 200 American troops are in the country helping to train the army in counter-insurgency, but there are also said to be intelligence and special forces there. No details have been given on the size of the reduction, the type of troops involved, nor whether Pakistan has set a new limit on US numbers. Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan said: “We were recently (within the past two weeks) notified in writing the government of Pakistan wished for the US to reduce its footprint in Pakistan. Accordingly we have begun those reductions.” The request will be taken as a sign of Islamabad’s annoyance that the raid on Bin Laden’s compound at Abbottabad was carried out without its knowledge. There have been suspicions in Washington that some in Pakistan knew the al-Qaida leader’s hideout. But Pervez Musharraf , the former president of Pakistan, denied that the country’s ISI intelligence service knew, at any level, of the presence of the world’s most wanted man in the garrison city. However, in an interview with BBC’s Newsnight on Wednesday , he admitted that it was “very difficult to prove non-complicity”. Musharraf said he had been surprised and shocked to discover where Bin Laden had been hiding. He added that neither he nor senior government officials had colluded in providing refuge for the fugitive while he was in power between 1999 and 2007. “I can’t imagine in my wildest dreams that the intelligence agency was doing something without telling me, so therefore there was no complicity at the strategic level.” However, the intelligence service had demonstrated “negligence, ineptitude and failure” in its failure to detect Bin Laden, he said. US military Pakistan United States Osama bin Laden Pervez Musharraf James Meikle guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
The OECD had previously expressed its support for the government’s deficit reduction plans George Osborne has been told by an influential economic thinktank that his drastic deficit-cutting plans may have to be watered down if Britain’s economy remains sluggish. Pier Carlo Padoan, chief economist of the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) told the Times there was “scope for slowing the pace,” after the thinktank cut its UK growth forecast for the second time this year. “We see merit in slowing the pace of fiscal consolidation if there is not so good news on the growth front,” he said. “We have seen that [the growth numbers] are a bit weaker than expected. Should that continue to be the case, there is scope for slowing the pace.” The OECD had previously expressed its support for the government’s deficit reduction plans. The thinktank now predicts the British economy will grow by 1.4% in 2011, downgraded twice from 1.5% in March and a previous forecast of 1.7%. Next year the economy is expected to expand by 1.8%, instead of 2%. Interest rates, which have been held at a record low of 0.5% for more than two years, will need to start rising this year to stave off high inflation, it added. Its forecasts are significantly lower than those of the UK government’s financial watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, which predicts growth of 1.7% this year and 2.5% for 2012. In March, Osborne pointed to the OECD’s verdict when he defended his tough measures in the budget, which the thinktank said were “unavoidable in the short term” to put the UK on the route to a strong recovery. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said: “This is a very significant intervention. Even the OECD, which has traditionally supported government economic policy and George Osborne’s deficit reduction plan, is now saying the chancellor should consider changing course. “George Osborne’s rigid determination, despite all the evidence, to stick with deep and fast cuts and refuse to even consider a plan B does not boost his credibility, it undermines it.” A Treasury spokeswoman said: “The OECD has endorsed the Government’s economic strategy, saying that the deficit reduction plan ‘strikes the right balance and should continue’. The chancellor has been clear that the recovery is likely to be choppy given the scale of the imbalances and depth of the recession. The budget set out a plan for growth, to help support recovery and rebalance the economy.” Economic growth (GDP) Economics George Osborne Economic policy Julia Kollewe guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
• Libya is preparing to sue for peace, according to reports • Egypt plans to open up the Rafah crossing into Gaza • US diplomats told to leave Yemen amid Sana’a gun battle • Syria faces UN censure over continuing crackdown 8.56am: The fighting in Yemen appears to have escalated overnight. There are reports that the headquarters of an opposition TV station has been destroyed. The Yemen Post reports : The Saleh government succeeded in hitting the opposition TV channel (Suhail) with RPG’s late last night ending its feeds. The channel is currently out of service in Sana’a. This is a big blow to the tribes of Ahmar, as the channel was owned by Hameed al-Ahmar, the brother of Hashed’s tribal leader. It also reports that more than 50 people were killed in clashes overnight . Reuters is reporting a similar death toll. Dozens of Yemenis were killed in overnight fighting in the capital, a government official said on Thursday as fighting aimed at toppling President Ali Abdullah Saleh threatened to ignite civil war. Witnesses said separately that the compound of a tribal leader who is a major force in the fighting was severely damaged in the latest round of clashes that started on Monday and have already left scores dead. 8.10am: Welcome to Middle East Live. Yemen and Libya look set to be the main focal points today as fighting continues to rage in the Yemeni capital Sana’a and reports claim that Tripoli is preparing to offer a ceasefire. The violence in Sana’a has forced the US to order out its diplomats . In a statement the US state department warned : The security threat level in Yemen is extremely high due to terrorist activities and civil unrest. There is ongoing civil unrest throughout the country and large-scale protests in major cities. Violent clashes are taking place in Sana’a, and may escalate without notice. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. US citizens are urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of a demonstration. Is the Libyan government preparing to sue for peace? The Independent’s lead story says: The Libyan regime is preparing to make a fresh overture to the international community, offering concessions designed to end the bloodshed of the three-month-long civil war. The Independent has obtained a copy of a letter from the country’s Prime Minister, Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, being sent to a number of foreign governments. It proposes an immediate ceasefire to be monitored by the United Nations and the African Union, unconditional talks with the opposition, amnesty for both sides in the conflict, and the drafting of a new constitution. Meanwhile, the Telegraph reports that Gaddafi might step down as military and diplomatic pressure on Tripoli intensifies . Khaled Kaim, deputy foreign minister, for the first time admitted that all political options were on the table in future negotiations over the country’s future. “This is for the Libyan people to decide,” he told The Daily Telegraph. Here’s a round up of the main developments: • Barack Obama said that winning the war in Libya would be a “slow, steady process”. And he played down hopes of an early breakthrough saying there were no secret weapons available to oust Muammar Gaddafi. • Ministers will announce the deployment of Apache attack helicopters to Libya later today in a move seen as a significant escalation of Britain’s role in the conflict. HMS Ocean, with four Apaches on board, is expected off the Libyan coast within days. • Some of world’s biggest financial institutions held billions of dollars of Libyan state funds, an FT investigation has found. Libya lost billions of dollars on financial products sold to Gaddafi’s sovereign wealth fund. • Egypt will open its crossing with the Gaza Strip this weekend, Cairo’s interim military government has announced. The move will significantly ease a four-year blockade on the Hamas-ruled territory, but sets up a potential conflict with Israel. • European nations are urging the UN’s security council to pass a resolution condemning Syria for its bloody crackdown against pro-democracy protesters. Britain, France, Germany and Portugal circulated a draft resolution to the 15-nation council despite the risk of a veto by Russia. Arab and Middle East unrest Middle East Syria Bashar Al-Assad Yemen Israel Nato Libya Muammar Gaddafi Egypt Matthew Weaver guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Essential listening for the country’s opinion-formers, its BBC Radio 4 audience is now at an all-time high At 5.10 in the morning, it really doesn’t look as if the most influential programme on
Continue reading …
Two-day summit will also examine impact of the Japanese nuclear meltdown, climate change and the world economy A multibillion package of aid, loans and trade access for the fledgling democracies of north Africa will top a sprawling agenda for world leaders when they gather on Thursday as the G8 in Deauville, Normandy under the chairmanship of the French president, Nicholas Sarkozy. The G8 is expected to organise financial support through global financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The two-day summit is also due to examine the impact of the Japanese nuclear meltdown, climate change and the state of the world economy. In a new turn for such gatherings, Sarkozy has invited internet and media industry chiefs, including Google chairman Eric Schmidt and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, to address the summit on Thursday on the economic and social impact of the internet. In Paris, Sarkozy hosted two days of debate about regulation and innovation ahead of the summit. The G8 support for the Arab spring will be focused on Egypt and Tunisia. The two countries have seen a fall in tourism, a slow down in foreign investment, and continuing high youth unemployment, leading to fears that Islamist parties could do well in elections. The two countries have said they face a combined funding “gap” of about $15bn, (£9bn) and the prime ministers of both will attend a G8 session. The World Bank president, Robert Zoellick, who will attend the summit, has pledged a package of $6bn over two years, and the currently headless IMF is working on a package of its own. The US already indicated that it is looking at a $2bn package of financing. The European countries – Britain, France, Germany and Italy – are pointing to the revision of EU’s neighbourhood policy, announced this week. The EU foreign policy chief, Baroness Ashton, said 1.24bn euros (£1bn) would be added to the 5.7bn-euro EU “neighbourhood” budget for 2011-13. The EU has adopted a “more funds for more reform” approach, she said. David Cameron, although not a great enthusiast for these gatherings, is likely to focus most heavily on the financial and political support for North Africa. Aid and Africa, once the staples of these summits is slowly slipping down the agenda, partly as countries seek to avoid their failure to live up to commitments made at previous gatherings notably the Gleneagles G8 chaired by Tony Blair in 2005. Britain and France are honourable exceptions to this failure, but aid agencies will be battling for extra funds for to takle maternal mortality in the developing world. The G8 has instituted a formal score card to show whether countries are matching promises made to deeds. Two key issues – the vacancy at the IMF and the air strikes designed to oust colonel Gaddafi – will not feature formally on the agenda. But Sarkozy will lobby on the margins in favour of his finance minister Christine Lagarde, particulalrly with President Obama. Lagarde is regarded as the front runner to become the fifth French IMF chief since the war. In deference to the Russian prescence at the summit, and to a lesser extent Germany, discussions of the military progress in Libya will be kept to the sidelines, although Sarkozy, Obama and David Cameron will look at what more they can do to undermine Gaddafi’s authority. Russia is opposed to the no fly zone and Germany ambivalent. Obama, during his two day state visit in London, has counselled against artificial deadlines and urged patience. The French are more optimistic that Gaddafi’s grip on power is weakening, as defections mount and supplies run dry. The Canadians, chair of last year’s larger Group of 20 leading and emerging nations, is likely to raise the soverign debt crisis in Europe. The G20 in Toronto signed a nonbinding commitment at its summit to halve budget deficits by 2013 and balance budgets from 2016. “What the prime minister will bring to the table is the requirement for the G8 countries to stick to the commitments they made in Toronto with regard to their fiscal consolidation,” the Canadians said. G8 France Europe Patrick Wintour guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …