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Main story: Hundreds of millions discharged
Hello, Warren Murray jingling the flap of the letter on Wednesday’s door.
Almost half of UK colleges and universities (FE) and sixth-year universities have required financial aid from the government after years of funding cuts. The National Audit Office (NAO) says the Department of Education (DfE) has spent more than £ 700 million in emergency funds with large loans canceled and more universities are likely to be in trouble amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Another £ 250m was paid to bail out 36 severely cash-strapped universities.
According to the NAO report, as of February this year the government was financially “intervening” in 115 universities out of a total of 242. Government funding cuts over the last decade have affected the education of 16-19 year old students particularly harshly; there has been a 7% cut in real terms in the five years to 2019. In 2015, government reviews led to 57 university mergers, costing the public purse more than 430 million pounds, according to the NAO.
Despite financial pressures, more than four in five universities were rated good or excellent by Ofsted in 2019, but the NAO says the cuts have led to a narrowing of the curriculum and a reduction in student support, factors “likely to have detrimental effects on students and skill development.” Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is expected to release a whitepaper on additional education later this year. David Hughes, Director of the Association of Universities, said: “The government and the DfE must make the white paper a true turning point for universities and create a stronger, more resilient and stable education and skills system that works for all” .
Zip code hack to get a test – Britain’s Covid testing shortage could last for weeks, the health secretary admitted, as it emerged that supplies are being taken from hospitals for use in the community. Amid problems with online dating, some people going to testing centers have been told to enter a zip code hundreds of miles away to get a QR token that can then be redeemed to get their test locally. . Rents should be frozen in London to prevent a wave of evictions caused by Covid-19, Labor Mayor Sadiq Khan told the government today. On Monday, courts are due to restart eviction procedures that were suspended during the shutdown, and Khan warns that half a million Londoners could face eviction. More coronavirus developments on our live blog.
Dog kills baby Two people were arrested after a dog killed a 12-day-old baby in Doncaster. A 35-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of gross negligent homicide and were released on bail while investigations continue. South Yorkshire police were called to an address in Woodlands, Doncaster, around 3.30pm on Sunday. The force said: “Emergency services discovered that a 12-day-old baby had been bitten by a dog and suffered serious injuries. The boy was taken to the hospital, but sadly died shortly after. “The dog was taken away, police said.
Catch up on weekdays
> Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been shown sitting up in bed while recovering in Germany after being poisoned in Siberia.
He wrote that he had progressed to breathing without a fan: “I really liked it. A surprising process that many underestimate. I highly recommend it.”
> In a car accident at a town hall meeting, Donald Trump lied saying he didn’t downplay the pandemic (he’s on tape admitting he did) and said the virus will go away because of the “herd mentality.” It is not clear whether he was referring to herd immunity.
> Smoke from wildfires in the western US has drifted east to New York and Washington DC, with residents gazing at hazy skies. Firefighters have continued to fight fires in Oregon and California that have killed more than 30 people and destroyed entire communities.
> Thomas Cook is resurrecting as an online-only travel business, a year after the 178-year-old company stopped marketing and stranded 150,000 tourists abroad.
‘Monitor alcohol consumption of pregnant women’ – An expectant mother’s alcohol consumption could be recorded in her son’s medical records according to plans for England that are being considered by the Nice health authority. The idea aims to help diagnose and prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). But Clare Murphy of the BASP pregnancy charity said: “Women do not lose their right to medical confidentiality simply because they are pregnant.” Alcohol abuse during pregnancy is a factor in seven out of 10 cases of children being put up for adoption, and Sue Armstrong Brown, CEO of Adoption UK, said there was a “balance to be struck” between mother’s rights. and those of the child. “Obviously, we are in a situation where some things will have to change if we want to improve.”
Nuclear fizzle – Hitachi is expected to announce today that it is permanently scrapping plans for the £ 16bn Wylfa Newydd nuclear power plant on Anglesey, North Wales. The work had already been suspended after Hitachi failed to reach a financing agreement with the UK government. A group of 100 organizations, including unions and companies, have expressed concern that the cancellation could also jeopardize plans for a nuclear power plant at Sizewell in Suffolk. But Dr Doug Parr, chief scientist at Greenpeace UK, said: “A new reactor now supplies electricity at more than double the price of a new offshore wind farm … Britain’s future is renewable.”
Podcast Today in Focus: The Poisoning of Alexei Navalny
While the Russian opposition figure appears to be slowly recovering after being poisoned with the nerve agent novichok, Western leaders were quick to demand responses from Russia. Luke Harding says the case has all the makings of a state-sponsored success.
The poisoning of Alexei Navalny
Lunchtime Reading: Cynthia Nixon on Fighting for America
The actress who once ran for governor of New York is a politician to the bone, passionate about trans rights, Black Lives Matter and the future of the left. Discuss Trump’s rise, and why she remains optimistic, with Zoe Williams.
Sport
Tottenham has started talks with Real Madrid about the return of the loan from Gareth Bale, as Manchester United also considers a loan for the Welsh international as an alternative to Jadon Sancho. Jack Grealish has banished speculation about a transfer and signed a new contract at Aston Villa, which he has supported and played since childhood. In summer, the transfer news here is all the men’s offers from the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A and club by club guides.
Vitality has announced a groundbreaking three-year agreement to sponsor the Women’s FA Cup. Dave Brailsford has rejected suggestions that he bet with his Tour de France selection ruling out Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome, but admitted that the dominance of Primoz Roglic and his Jumbo-Visma team will force the Ineos Grenadiers to return to the table of He drew. Thomas has shown that he has returned to his best level with second place overall in Italy’s prestigious Tirreno-Adriatico warm-up for the Giro.
Pat Smullen, the nine-time Irish champion rider and multiple Classic winner, has died at age 43. Smullen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2018. And England are set to take their winning side in the ODI series decider against Australia at Old Trafford.
Deal
Blackpool and Hull have the highest unemployment rates in the UK as the pandemic inflicts disproportionate economic damage in already distressed areas. One in 10 working-age adults (9.9%) in Blackpool claimed unemployment benefits in August, with a similar number (9.8%) in Hull, closely followed by cities such as Birmingham, Bradford and Liverpool. The FTSE100 is forecast to fall 0.7% at the opening bell this morning, while Brexit-related issues for the pound continue at $ 1,289 and € 1,088.
The papers
“Why do they keep failing the test?” demands the Mail, on the “disaster” that has led to Covid-19 test supplies having to be rationed, and this requires a mailing campaign, dubbed “Get Britain Tested.” the Meter has “They want to help but … computer says no evidence”, which shows staff waiting in an empty drive-through. the guardian says that “the Covid-19 testing crisis could take weeks to resolve, Hancock admits.” the me It has “Testing Crisis: Rationing puts parents and teachers at the bottom of the queue.”
“The rule of six is harmful, Welby tells Johnson” – in the Telegraph, the archbishop wants councils to receive more funding and responsibility to deal with the pandemic. the Mirror leads to that horrible Doncaster story: “Newborn Boy Savagely Killed by Dog.”
the Times goes with “A single drink during pregnancy will be noted in the baby’s file.” the Quick takes up the stick for women whose retirement age was increased from 60 to 66 years: “I promise to fight for 4 million denied pension justice.” And the FOOT has news from Anglesey: “Hitachi prepares to ditch nuclear plant plan in coup over UK climate targets.”
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