Unfunded public sector pension schemes

Liz Truss was not ruling out future cost of living support when she said she would reject "handouts", her supporters have said, with prominent backer Penny Mordaunt claiming the comments were "misinterpreted". Leadership rival Rishi Sunak attacked the comments saying the foreign secretary needs to "get real", while claiming her plan to cut taxes immediately will do little to help the most vulnerable. But Penny Mordaunt , who is backing Ms Truss to become the next prime minister after her own leadership bid failed, claimed on Sky News that her remarks had been "misinterpreted". Ms Truss told the Financial Times that as prime minister she would "look at what more can be done" to help families facing spiralling fuel bills. But she added: "The way I would do things is in a Conservative way of lowering the tax burden, not giving out handouts." Advertisement Ms Mordaunt insisted Ms Truss was making a "general point about the merits of enabling … [Read more...] about Liz Truss ‘misinterpreted’ over ‘no handouts’ remark, her supporters say

By Kate McGough, education producer, and Elaine Dunkley, education correspondent Published 1 hour ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Holiday food vouchers for children on free school meals have been cut in value by councils across England this summer, BBC News research reveals. Out of 97 responses from local authorities, 43 said they had either stopped giving out vouchers or reduced the amount they were worth. Some councils blame government rule changes for the cutbacks. The government says funding is available to help councils support families in various ways. Families with children on free school meals across the UK have been offered food vouchers during school holidays, since a successful campaign led by footballer Marcus Rashford during the pandemic. In England, about 1.9 million children have free school meals. The funding for this summer's … [Read more...] about Free school meals: Councils in England cut back on holiday food-voucher help

A group of Ukrainian medical students have been welcomed by one of the UK's top universities to continue their training after fleeing their war-torn country. The 20 students from the bombarded north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv will be given seven weeks of training at the University of Cambridge as part of the programme. As a result of the war, and the COVID pandemic, most of their education for the last two years has been completed virtually. Warning of 'very real risk of nuclear disaster' at Zaporizhzhia plant - Ukraine news live Despite this, after Russia invaded Ukraine back in February, many of them were thrust into hospitals to help treat patients. Advertisement One of those was Zaur Badalov, who is now taking part in the university's scheme. Growing up in Kharkiv, the 22-year-old was forced to flee to western Ukraine after war broke out, and it was there that he continued his studies online, while working in a local hospital. More … [Read more...] about Ukrainian medical students start training at one of UK’s top universities after fleeing war-torn country

The following is the full transcript of an interview with Taiwanese Rep. to the U.S. Bi-khim Hsiao that aired Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, on "Face the Nation." MARGARET BRENNAN: Representative Hsiao, thank you so much for coming here today to talk to us. It's an intense week. Speaker Pelosi is the highest ranking US official to visit Taiwan in about 25 years. Why is Beijing so furious? BI-KHIM HSIAO: Well, there's no reason for them to be so furious. We have had decades of welcoming congressional delegations to Taiwan. And this has been a norm in our culture. The Taiwanese people are warm and hospitable. We're visiting friends is part of our tradition. And actually one of the most quoted Confucian Analects in Taiwan is "isn't it a pleasure to welcome friends from afar" and so having this as part of the norm of our engagement with the United States, codified in a strong foundation of the Taiwan Relations Act, there's really no reason for them to be so upset. BRENNAN: Well, the US was … [Read more...] about Full transcript: Taiwanese Rep. to the U.S. Bi-khim Hsiao on “Face the Nation,” Aug. 7, 2022

I was raised in a very specific American faith. This American faith is not patriotism, not a love of this country—though it contains some of that. Nor is it Christianity—though it contains some of that too. It is the belief that Church and state should never have been separate in American life, despite all the un-Christian aspects of the Founders, such as their distinctly secular philosophies and their explicit, repeated commitment to that separation. Today’s Christian nationalists have fought for this particular faith over decades. And that fight paid off when, at the end of June, the Supreme Court released its long-awaited decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District . Joseph Kennedy, a high-school coach, had sued the Bremerton School District for firing him for praying on the field at the conclusion of football games. Prayer in schools, a practice that had been considered illegal since Engel v. Vitale was decided in 1962, was instantly legal again. Conservative-Christian … [Read more...] about The American Faith I Was Raised In

With housing constantly in the news these days it’s worth considering New Zealand’s responses to housing issues in the past. Foremost in government approaches to housing those in need was the First Labour Government’s introduction of their radical state housing programme following the 1935 election. In towns all over New Zealand the Government purchased blocks of land for new residential estates with the houses to be rented to those in need. Palmerston North was included. It was reported in the Manawatū Standard on November 27, 1936 that “Sixty acres of land, an educational reserve …. have been acquired for the purpose, and there will be no delay in putting the scheme into effect, stated Mr J. Hodgens, M.P…. The block will be subdivided according to the latest town-planning principles, and will not have the rectangular severity of older streets. Corners will be rounded and breathing spaces provided, possibly with a central square or reserve.” READ MORE: Couple reflect … [Read more...] about Back Issues: Palmerston North’s model suburb of state housing

For months at a time, the detention of migrant children seems to fall off the national radar, somehow fading to the background, behind the daily dramas of scandals big and small. And then suddenly, news will erupt: The children don’t have soap. They are freezing. The food is rotten. Where this information comes from is not primarily from journalists but monitors—lawyers and advocates who regularly visit the nation’s detention facilities and border-patrol facilities to document the conditions. They do so not because these sites request the monitoring, but because that monitoring is allowed by what’s known as the Flores settlement, a 22-year-old consent decree that governs the care of migrant children in custody. But with new rules that the Trump administration is expected to publish this week, even that single, infrequent geyser of information could go away. As part of a sweeping proposal to scrap the Flores regulations—including a change that would enable the Trump administration … [Read more...] about If a Child Is Jailed and No One Is There to Hear Him Cry

By James McCarthy Published 18 December 2021 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic Worried gym owners fear new Covid restrictions could mean they lose their homes. One said they thought they would already be homeless, had they not taken on full-time work as a hospital physiotherapist. Another said they feared losing everything next year if the situation did not improve. The Welsh government said the measures were designed to stop the spread of the virus and protect people's health. Gyms and other businesses will have to reintroduce social distancing, along with other measures including one-way systems from 27 December. Mark Drakeford 'storm' warning prompts nightclub closures Q&A: What are the new Covid rules for Wales? Welsh festive sport verdict on Monday The rules are part of measures … [Read more...] about Covid in Wales: Gym owners fear homelessness amid new restrictions

Published 5 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Croydon Council says it has opposed a proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to include outer London. The Greater London Authority (GLA) is consulting on expanding ULEZ to cover most of the capital by 2023. It plans to publish results from its consultation later this year. The south London council feels the £12.50 daily charge - for cars which don't comply - will hit low income and less mobile residents. Under the current ULEZ scheme drivers of the most polluting cars have been charged a levy to drive into central London since 2017. It was known as the Toxicity Charge when it was first introduced. The daily levy is currently set at £12.50 to drive within the North and South Circular roads. London mayor Sadiq Khan says expanding the zone will help tackle poor air quality. … [Read more...] about Croydon Council opposes ULEZ expansion