UK Elections 2010 Main Issues Immigration

Concern about immigration is as strong as ever, but the issue takes a less substantial role in the general election than 2005, due primarily to the predominance of the financial crisis in the political agenda.


David Cameron adopted a two-pronged approach to the issue. He said Labour had combined tough, unpleasant rhetoric on immigration with a soft, incompetent system. He wanted to moderate the rhetoric while installing a tougher system. That system took the form of an annual cap on immigration from outside the EU. The Tories have not set a number yet and are unlikely to do so ahead of the election. But the limit is likely to be based on the industries and skills most needed by the UK economy on a year-by-year basis. Asylum seekers will not be included in the annual cap.


The business sector despises the idea, which is far too unwieldy to satisfy its constantly evolving needs. Labour and the Lib Dems have branded the idea unrealistic and immature.


Labour, for its part, has heaped much praise on the new, tougher, points-based system. Imported from Australia, the system rates applicants on numerous criteria, including the applicant's previous income, the number of languages they know, and their skill-set. The government says the system is tough enough to control immigration while still allowing the UK economy enough room to be innovative and dynamic.


The Liberal Democrats want an integrated border police force, and the reintroduction of entry and exit controls to monitor movement in and out the country. The "efficient and fair" running of immigration services will ensure all migrants pay their way through taxes and the number working illegally is significantly cut, the party argues.


Over on the far-right, the BNP calls for the immediate halt of all immigration and the "voluntary resettlement" of those immigrants who are already legally here - even if they were born in the UK.

( source: yahoo news)
  http://www.politics.co.uk/

Web giants oppose copyright plans

Some of the biggest names on the web have written to Peter Mandelson to express "grave concerns" about elements of the Digital Economy Bill.

Facebook, Google, Yahoo and eBay object to a clause that they say could give government "unprecedented and sweeping powers" to amend copyright laws.

"We urge you to remove Clause 17 from the bill," the letter read.
However, the government has said it believes the clause will "future-proof online copyright laws".

"The law must keep pace with technology, so that the Government can act if new ways of seriously infringing copyright develop in the future," a spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Bis).
The consortium believe that if Clause 17, as it is known, is approved it will give "any future Secretary of State" the ability to amend copyright laws as they see fit.


DIGITAL ECONOMY BILL


Legal framework for tackling copyright infringement via education and technical measures


Ofcom given powers to appoint and fund independently funded news consortia


New duties for Ofcom to assess the UK's communications infrastructure every two years


Modernising spectrum to increase investment in mobile broadband


Framework for the move to digital radio switchover by 2015


Updating Channel 4 functions to encompass public service content, on TV and online


Age ratings compulsory for all boxed video games aimed at those over 12 years


"This power could be used, for example, to introduce additional technical measures or increase monitoring of user data even where no illegal practice has taken place," the letter read.

This would "discourage innovation" and "impose unnecessary costs" representatives of the firms wrote.


Others have suggested that the clause could be used to tweak laws so that search engines could not publish summaries of news stories in their results.


Bis said that clause 17 was a necessary extension of its plans to reduce copyright theft and that fears that government would mould copyright laws to their needs were unfounded.


"Business will not wake up one morning to a world in which government has taken extensive digital powers," the spokesperson said.


"There are substantial constraints on how the power can be used, with requirements for a consultation and votes in both houses of Parliament before anything can happen."

However, the consortium of companies say the clause is so broad ranging that it could risk "legitimate consumer use of current technology as well as future developments".

"We all acknowledge that new business models need to emerge to support creative content," the letter from European and UK representatives of the firms reads.


"They are inherently risky and entrepreneurs rely heavily on there being a consistent and stable approach to copyright enforcement.


"This clause would inject an unprecedented level of uncertainty in this regard."


Other groups including US digital rights group The Electronic Frontier Foundation have objected to it.


Clause 17 is part of the government's Digital Economy Bill, outlined in the Queen's speech in November 2009.


The bill includes a shake-up of the radio spectrum, a classification system for video games and plans to tackle illegal file-sharing.


The so-called "three strikes" element of the bill would give regulator Ofcom new powers to disconnect persistent net pirates.


The plans have proved controversial with lobby organisation The Open Rights Group urging people to contact their MP to oppose the plans.


The bill will have its second reading in the House of Lords on 2 December. It will have to go through various other readings and drafts before it becomes law.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/8390623.stm

How a person is consist of ?

What a person is consist of? If we look at that picture.

we could probably find out that A PERSON is Consist of User

Consist of Customer

Consist of Audience

Consist of Consumer

 Consist of Community and

 consist of participant...

So if we judge ourself as a person, we should have all these qualities to be a person.

(shoppingforest)

info@theshoppingforest.com

 

Maradona bitten in face by dog

Argentina's World Cup coach Diego Maradona was bitten on his face by one of his dogs and had surgery at a clinic
Maradona was checked into Los Arcos clinic during the early hours and was scheduled to be released later on Tuesday after treatment.


"He was evaluated by plastic surgeons and taken to an operating room where they did reconstructive surgery on his upper lip," the clinic said in a statement.


Maradona was hospitalised in the same clinic in 2007 with toxic hepatitis from drinking.


Witnesses said Maradona was bleeding close to his mouth when he arrived at the clinic with his girlfriend.


"He's doing well. He's in good spirits. They'll let him out today," national team spokesman Fernando Molina said outside the clinic.


Maradona, 48, a gifted player who led Argentina's team to its second World Cup victory in 1986, is worshipped in Argentina despite years of scandal involving drug addiction, overeating and alcoholism.


He retired from professional football in 1997 and almost died from cocaine-induced heart problems in 2000.


In 2008, despite concerns over his continued substance abuse, explosive conduct and lack of coaching experience, he talked his way into the job as coach of the national team.


Although his coaching record has been spotty - Argentina barely squeaked into the World Cup finals - the team is now among the favourites to win.

The World Cup in South Africa kicks off on June 11.


Argentina are in Group B with Nigeria, Greece and South Korea.




 (Source:Reuters)

Ricky Martin: 'I'm Proud To Say I'm Gay'

The man who taught us how to live "La Vida Loca" has announced he is gay.

Ricky Martin came out on his Twitter page, confirming what many had believed for years.

The Puerto Rican star wrote: "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."
Martin, 38, said his coming out marked "an amazing turning point in my life".
The decision was made a few months ago when he began writing his memoirs, he said.


"From the moment I wrote the first phrase I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time," Martin wrote on his website.


He said the secret had become "too heavy for me to keep inside" and his sexuality was "something worth celebrating."
The star, who has twin sons by a surrogate mother, said he did not come out earlier because his advisers said the move would ruin his career.


In 2000, American TV journalist Barbara Walters questioned him about whether he was gay, but he refused to disclose it.
Gay rights groups said Martin would be an inspiration to millions of young people coming to terms with their sexuality.
Jarrett Barrios, the president of the US-based Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, welcomed what he called Martin's "openness and honesty".
The Latin pop singer became a household name with songs such as the 1999 hit Livin' La Vida Loca and She Bangs.

(Story form Sky News) 

Pope Benedict XVI is losing popularity

                                                    Papal vulnerability
THE pope addressed tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday (March 28th) at the start of Holy Week in the Catholic Church. Despite the crowds, Pope Benedict XVI’s popularity may be waning as a result of his handling of recent child-abuse scandals across Europe and America. Some even want him to resign for his part, before becoming pope in 2005, in a decision merely to send for therapy an alleged paedophile priest, who later returned to pastoral work.

The church has said that Cardinal Ratzinger (as he then was) did not know that the priest returned to work. The pope is also accused of ignoring pleas for the removal of an American priest, who allegedly molested 200 deaf boys. Yet the pope's supporters point to his earlier efforts, reportedly ignored by his predecessor John Paul II, to launch a full inquiry into the behaviour of a cardinal in Vienna who was removed from office in 1995 after accusations of sex abuse.

(From The Economist online)

World's top- paid sportsmen reavealed

The Premier League's multi-millionaires have been put in the shade in the global pay stakes, according to a new study

Despite the ever-growing ranks of mega-rich footballers, Sporting Intelligence's annual review of global salaries ranks the Premier League just fourth among the world's sports leagues.

The report analyses the salary of first-team players across the globe's top competitions, with basketball's NBA setting the pace with an average wage in excess of £50,000 per week.

 Cricket's Indian Premier League is a surprise entry in second place, with average salaries pushed skywards by the relatively short six-week season. Major League Baseball also finishes ahead of the Premier League, which is the best-paid football league in the world with average weekly pay of £28,230.

Nick Harris, editor of sportingintelligence.com and author of the report, said: "The findings will come as a surprise to anyone who thinks the Premier League is the best paid division in world sport because it's far from the case.

"I found wages higher than expected in cricket and Japanese baseball and lower in American football and parts of the Premier League."

Chelsea are the only Premier League side in the top 10 best-paying clubs, but their average pay packet of £68,946 per week is dwarfed by Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid - who last summer made Cristiano Ronaldo the richest player in the world when they signed him from Manchester United for £80 million.

Big-spending baseball outfit the New York Yankees top the pile, lavishing an average £89,897 per week on stars such as Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter - although their massive outlay brought them World Series glory last October.

Highest paying sports leagues (average weekly salary per starting player)

1- NBA (basketball) - £50,847

2- IPL (cricket) - £48,243

3- MLB (baseball) - £35,147

4- Premier League - £28,230

5- NFL (American football) - £22,506

Highest paying sports teams (average weekly salary per starting player)

1- New York Yankees (MLB) - £89,897

2- Real Madrid (Liga) - £81,444

3- Barcelona (Liga) - £78,231

4- Chelsea (Premier League) - £68,946

5- Dallas Mavericks (NBA) - £68,343

6- LA Lakers (NBA) - £65,563

7- Detroit Pistons (NBA) - £64,234

8- Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) - £63,529

9- Boston Celtics (NBA) - £62,813

10-New York Knicks (NBA) - £59,120

(Eurosports)

Suicide bombers kill 35 in Moscow

Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on Moscow's subway system as it was jam-packed with rush-hour passengers, killing at least 35 people and wounding 38, the city's mayor and other officials said.


Emergency Ministry spokeswoman Svetlana Chumikova said 23 people were killed at the Lubyanka station in central Moscow.
The station is underneath the building that houses the main offices of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, the KGB's main successor agency.


A second explosion hit the Park Kultury station about 45 minutes later. Chumikova said at least 12 were dead there. The ministry later said 38 people were injured.


Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said both explosions were believed to have been set off by female suicide bombers as the trains entered the stations. In the first case, officials said the explosion was on the train; there was no immediate information on the location of the second blast.


"The first data that the FSB has given us is that there were two female suicide bombers," Luzhkov told reporters at the Park Kultury site.


Russia's top investigative body also said terrorism was suspected.
The last confirmed terrorist attack in Moscow was in August 2004, when a suicide bomber blew herself up outside a city subway station, killing 10 people. Responsibility for that blast was claimed by Chechen rebels and suspicion in Monday's explosions is likely to focus on them and other separatist groups in the restive North Caucasus region.

The Moscow subway system is one of the world's busiest, carrying around 7 million passengers on an average workday, and is a key element in running the sprawling and traffic-choked city.


The blasts practically paralysed movement in the city centre as emergency vehicles sped to the stations. Helicopters hovered over the Park Kultury station area, which is near the renowned Gorky Park. At least a dozen ambulances were on the scene.


( source: Press Association)

Gaga holds onto UK singles chart

Lady Gaga has held on at the top of the UK singles chart but her album has been knocked off number one by the return of Boyzone's tribute album, Brother.


Boyzone's album returned to the top following a television tribute to Stephen Gately.


Lady Gaga's Telephone, which features Beyonce, held on to number one for a second week in a week that saw just a single new entry in the top 40.

Usher's OMG, featuring Will.i.am, debuted at number 13.



                                                               TOP FIVE SINGLES

1. Telephone - Lady Gaga ft Beyonce

2. Pass Out - Tinie Tempah

3. Baby - Justin Bieber ft Ludacris

4. Rude Boy - Rihanna

5. Cheryl Cole - Parachute Source: Official Charts Company

Tinie Tempah's Pass Out remained at number two, while Canadian teen Justin Bieber's Baby was at three.
In the album charts, Lady Gaga's The Fame dropped to number two, followed by Bieber's My World, which rose from number 33.
There were two new entries in the top 10 - Laura Marling's I Speak Because I Can at four and Goldfrapp's Head First at six.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/8591948.stm

Obama in surprise Afghanistan visit

US President Barack Obama has made a surprise visit to Afghanistan for a first-hand look at the eight-year-old war he inherited and has dramatically escalated.


After an overnight flight from Washington, the president landed in Afghanistan for a stay of just a few hours, all in darkness, before returning to the US.


Mr Obama flew by helicopter from Bagram airfield to the capital, where he was meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and with his cabinet at the presidential palace.


It was the president's second stop in a war zone as commander in chief, coming about a year after a similarly secretive trip to Iraq.


Mr Karzai was notified about the visit just an hour before he arrived, the White House said.


In December, Mr Obama ordered 30,000 additional forces into the fight against an entrenched Taliban insurgency that seeks to retake the control of Afghanistan that the militant group lost when the US invaded in 2001.


Those new US troops are still arriving and most are expected to be in place by summer, for a full force of roughly 100,000 US troops. There were about 34,000 when Obama took office.


The trip came just two days after a threatening new audio message from al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, believed to be hiding along the ungoverned border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.


The White House made no advance announcement of the visit, which officials said had been long desired by the president but delayed by weather and other logistical obstacles.

It was the president's second visit to Afghanistan - the first was in 2008 when, as a presidential candidate and US senator, he joined an official congressional delegation.


( source: Press Association)

Don't Be afraid to Fail

You have failed many times, although you may not remmber. you fell down the first time you tried to walk.
you almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn't you?

Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the one who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot.

R. H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on.

English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books.

Babe Ruth struck out 1,300 times, but he also hit 714 home runs.

Don't Worry about failure.

Worry about the chances you miss when you don't try.

( source: A message as published in the
Wall Street Journel by United Technologies
Corporation, Hartford, Connecticut 06101)


http://www.theshoppingforest.com/

40 days to win election: Cameron

                                  Battle between Mr Cameron VS Mr Brown

David Cameron told Tory activists they had "40 days and 40 nights" to convince the public to ditch Labour at the general election.


After a tightening of the polls in recent weeks, the Conservative leader acknowledged that it would be a "close fight" to the finish.
But he insisted his party had a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get into power at the expected May 6 election.
"This election is going to be a tough fight, it's going to be a close fight," he said.


"I can tell you they will throw everything at us that you could ever imagine."

Surrounded by Conservative supporters at the Milton Keynes Academy, Mr Cameron went on: "So, my friends, 40 days and 40 nights.


"I don't want you to think of them in terms of weekends or bank holidays or anything like that. It's 40 days, it's 40 nights, and they're all the same.


"That is the time that we've got left to win this great argument - do you want to stick with what you know or do you want change with the Conservatives.


"And we've got to convince people that frankly right now we are stuck with what we know. The economy's stuck, society's stuck, the whole country is stuck with Gordon Brown.


"And we need that change, that energy, that dynamism, to get our economy moving, to get our country moving, to get our society moving." ( source: Press Association)

The Times To Charge For Online News Content

National newspapers The Times and The Sunday Times have announced they will start charging readers for access to online news content. Skip related content  




The newspapers will launch two new websites, www.thetimes.co.uk and www.thesundaytimes.co.uk, in May, initially on a free trial period.

But from June, readers will be charged £1 for a day's access to the websites or £2 for a week's subscription.
A single payment will give readers access to both sites.


However, seven-day subscribers to The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers will be able to gain access to the websites for free.
James Harding, editor of The Times, told Sky News: "Taking this step is a risk, but is less of a risk than we are currently taking, because at present, we are sending the message to our readers that we value our journalism, but online it's worthless.


"We don't think it's worthless and I don't think our readers do either, so I'm sure they will be prepared to pay what is a really reasonable price.


"Look at iTunes, people have realised that music has a value, and like music, there is a real value to our journalism too."


When asked whether he was worried about the effect the BBC, funded by the license-fee payer, may have on the websites, Mr Harding said: "The BBC clearly affects us because they can provide their content for free... but we have a great relationship with our readers and I think they will choose to continue that relationship by paying for it."


News International, which owns the two papers, hopes that by charging for online content, the standard of journalism will improve.


Rebekah Brooks, chief executive of News International, said: "We expect to attract a growing base of loyal customers that are committed and engaged with our titles.


"We are building on the excellence of our newspapers and offering digital access to our journalism at a price that everyone can afford."


News International Limited publishes The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun and News of the World.
Its parent company News Corporation is a major shareholder in BSkyB, which owns Sky News.

News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch said last year that he wanted online news content to become invisible to Google when the paid content strategy is launched.


Speaking in November 2009, Mr Murdoch said of search engines: "When they click it, they get the page with the story that's in our paper.


"Who knows who they are or where they are. They don't suddenly become loyal readers of our content."
( source : Sky news)

Russian 'Nuke' Bombers Invade British Airspace

Two Russian bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, have been caught flying over British airspace.   


The unwelcome guests spent four hours flying over the Isle of Lewis despite being intercepted by two RAF jets.

A pair of 111 squadron Tornado F3 fighters took of from RAF Leuchars in Fife to locate the supersonic Tu160 bombers in the Outer Hebrides.

They shadowed the Russian aircraft as they flew south towards the coast of Northern Ireland and then turned north.
Wing Commander Mark Gorringe, commander of 111 Squadron, said: "This is not an unusual incident.

"People may be surprised to know that our crews have successfully scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft on more than 20 occasions since the start of 2009.

"Our pilots, navigators and indeed all the support personnel at RAF Leuchars work very hard to deliver the UK Quick Reaction Alert Force 24 hours a day, which can be scrambled in minutes, to defend the UK from unidentified aircraft entering our airspace, or aircraft in distress.


"It's a very important job, defending the UK and helping to keep UK citizens safe."
After being tailed for four hours, the Russians eventually left British airspace.
The Ministry of Defence stressed that there was no indication that the planes intended to enter British airspace.

The Tupolev Tu160 is a heavy bomber which was first deployed during the last years of the Soviet Union.


It has the heaviest take-off weight and the highest top speed of any combat aircraft.
At least 16 of the models are currently in service with the Russian air force.
( source:Sky News 2010)

Bin Laden warns US not to kill 9/11 mastermind

"The White House has declared its wish to execute (Khaled Sheikh Mohammed and his co-accused). The day the United States takes such a decision, it would be also taking the decision that any of you falling into our hands will be executed," bin Laden said in the audio message.

The Al-Qaeda chief warned US President Barack Obama was "still walking in the footsteps" of his predecessor, George W. Bush, by escalating the war in Afghanistan.


Bin Laden also condemned Obama for "oppressing our prisoners that you are holding, beginning with the mujahid (holy warrior) hero Khaled al-Sheikh Mohammed."


US politicians, he added in the audiotape, had "oppressed us and still do, especially by backing Israel, which occupies the land of Palestine," said the Al-Qaeda chief.


The United States is just weeks away from a landmark decision on whether to try Sheikh Mohammed and his four alleged co-conspirators in a civilian federal court or in a military tribunal.


The Obama administration had announced it would them at a courthouse in New York, just steps from where the World Trade Center that collapsed in the 2001 attacks had once stood.


But the plan for the trial met a backlash from Republican lawmakers who have introduced legislation to require a military trial, throwing a challenge to Obama months ahead of mid-term elections in November.


Obama made bringing Sheikh Mohammed to a civilian trial a centrepiece of a broader plan to end what he saw as serious abuses of law in the time of Bush and his powerful vice president Dick Cheney.


Bin Laden's latest statement was his first since January, when he claimed responsibility for the botched Christmas Day bombing of a US airliner and vowed further strikes on American targets.


Bin Laden also referred to US support for Israel in the January message.


"God willing, our attacks against you will continue as long as you maintain your support to Israel," he said.


"America should not dream of security until we enjoy it as a reality in Palestine," said the Al-Qaeda chief, who has a 50-million-dollar bounty on his head.

( source : AFP by Lynne Nahas)

More than a slapped wrist?

Britain expels an Israeli diplomat as a row over the killing of a Hamas official rumbles on.

"GIVEN that this was a very sophisticated operation in which high-quality forgeries were made, the Government judges it highly likely that the forgeries were made by a state intelligence service.” So said David Miliband, Britain’s foreign secretary, on Tuesday March 23rd, explaining to Parliament why he had decided to eject an Israeli diplomat—thought to be a member of Mossad, the Israeli external intelligence service—from the country.



The row stems from the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a senior member of Hamas killed in a Dubai hotel in January. The killing involved 27 undercover agents travelling on forged passports. Twelve of the team used British documents; others used fake Irish, Australian and French papers. The papers may have been forged, but the identities were real: many belonged to Israeli citizens with dual nationality. In press interviews, all of the genuine passport-holders have denied any knowledge of, or involvement in, the Dubai killing. But their identities were certainly made use of. British policeman have travelled to interview some of them. Their statements may have provided the government with at least some of the “compelling reasons” which Mr Miliband said led him to believe that Israel was responsible for the misuse of British passports.


Britain’s is the first Western government to do more than simply express its anger with Israel. But it might not be the last. Israeli observers fear that Ireland and Australia, emboldened by the British lead, might also take punitive action of some sort.

Britain’s relations with Israel have become a touch chillier of late. Israel feels resentful towards Britain over its failure to legislate against the possibility that visiting Israeli officials could be arrested on war-crimes charges. Israeli officials say undertakings given by Gordon Brown, the prime minister, that such laws would be hurried through have been shelved, at least until after the election, widely expected on May 6th. One source called the British government’s action “measured, calculated and not entirely unexpected,” and said that the foreign secretary had felt personally affronted at Israel’s alleged misuse of British passports.  



But relations are unlikely to be permanently or severely dented. With his spleen safely vented, Mr Miliband waxed conciliatory: “Britain has worked and will continue to work closely with Israel on a range of issues,” he said. Israel provides Britain with much needed intelligence on areas such as Iran which it will be reluctant to forfeit. Besides, diplomatic expulsions are an old game with rules well understood by both sides. Israel may throw out a British diplomat but the row is unlikely to go much further. And the ejected Mossad man—or his replacement—may well be back at his post within a few months.
( source: From The Economist online)

Airport worker 'abused scanner'

An airport worker was given a police warning for harassment after he was allegedly caught ogling images of a female colleague in a body scanner, it was reported.

The 25-year-old Heathrow security guard was quizzed by police over alleged remarks he made to co-worker Jo Margetson, 29, after she entered an X-Ray machine by mistake, The Sun reported.

The incident, which took place at Terminal 5 on March 10, is believed to be the first time an airport worker has been formally disciplined for abusing the scanners, which show clear outlines of passengers' genitals.


Ms Margetson told the newspaper: "I can't bear to think about the body scanner thing.


"I'm totally traumatised. I've spoken to the police about it. I'm in too much of a state to go to work."


The scanners were introduced at Heathrow and Manchester airports to check for concealed weapons and explosives following the failed Christmas Day bomb plot to blow up a jet over Detroit in the United States.


A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police received an allegation regarding an incident that happened at Heathrow Terminal 5 on March 10.

"A first instance harassment warning has been issued to a 25-year-old male." 


(source: Press Association)

Youth crime

Act early on youth crime, MPs urge   




The Government needs to place more emphasis on early intervention when it comes to identifying and dealing with potential young offenders, a group of MPs has said.


A report by the cross-party Home Affairs Committee praised initiatives such as the Sure Start scheme but said efforts to prevent opportunities for crime needed to be improved.


It also criticised the use of short custodial sentences, but conceded that the high level of breaches meant it was hard to advocate community service as an alternative.


The committee, chaired by Keith Vaz, noted that the average cost to taxpayers of having a young person in the criminal justice system was £200,000 by the age of 16. This compares to less than £50,000 needed to support a youth to stay out of the system, it was claimed.
As such, more should be done to prevent vulnerable youths turning to crime, it was suggested.


The report states: "A more effective long-term prevention strategy must focus on early intervention with young children and their parents.

"The Government has made a good start in this area, particularly through the Sure Start initiative, but needs to go further, ensuring that support reaches the most vulnerable and is available throughout the childhood years." 



The committee noted that the rate of re-offending had gone down but that there was still a problem with young men and those serving short-term jail sentences.


"Short custodial sentences make effective rehabilitation almost impossible, but the high level of breaches regrettably make it difficult for us to give unqualified support to greater use of community sentences as an alternative," the report states.  ( source: Press Association)

Get Control Of Your Money

There's an old saying that goes, "Money makes the world go around." If you think about it, this statement is – well – on the money..


Getting control of your money is about spending less than you earn and using the difference to fund savings and investments to get the miracle of compound interest working for you.

You should aim to spend less than you earn each and every month. If you already do this, you're well on your way to gaining control of your money - you just need to get the money you're not spending to start earning interest. Do this by paying yourself first: set up a direct debit into a savings account just after pay day and put that money to work right away so you don't get tempted to spend it elsewhere.
If you don't spend less than you earn, don't worry. Most of us need a little help getting control of our money. In fact, those of us who barely make it from one pay day to the next need to start with basics: budgeting.

Budgeting - the key to a healthy bank balance 


Budgeting is neither as scary nor onerous as it sounds. To start, make a list of your regular bills and how much they cost you each month. This should give you a good idea of your main areas of expenditure. If you're not sure where your money's going, keep a spending diary: for one month, make a note of everything you spend, even if it's 40p for a chocolate bar. At the end of the month, tot it all up to see how much you spend and where you spend it.
Once you know your outgoings, it's time to start trimming them. Often there's no need to cut back on the things you enjoy, but rather to get better value for money for the stuff you have to get anyway. If you're spending far in excess of your income, you will need to take more drastic steps, but for most of people, a trim should do it


Trimming the fat - the same products for less money



Start trimming your outgoings by reducing one major bill each month, prioritising the bills you pay on a regular basis, as with these, one phone call could lead to sustained savings. Most people can save hundreds of pounds, if not more, just by making a couple of switches. You shouldn't have to look too hard, either...


■Financial products


Changing your mortgage, savings account or credit card is often one of the easiest ways to generate some surplus cash.

■Energy


One of the biggest expenses most of us have, after rent or a mortgage, is energy bills. You can usually get a better deal by switching energy providers - just shop around online.


■Getting around


If you're a driver, you can probably save a packet on car insurance by switching to a cheaper provider - just compare online. Women drivers and drivers with clean records can stand to save the most here. Comparing online will also yield savings on journeys by rail and coach.


■Getting away


Fancy a break? However and wherever you're making tracks, you can save at least the price of a meal by shopping around before you buy. With dozens of online resources dedicated to finding the cheapest fare, accommodation, excursions, and breaks, there's just no excuse for paying too much for your holiday fun.
 

A final note on getting control of your money:



Getting control and keeping control are different things, and there's no guarantee you won't fall off the straight and narrow at least once. When this happens, just take stock of why you fell - so you can learn from your tumble - and calmly and proudly climb back on the horse


 
( source :Ten Steps to Financial Freedom by fool.co.uk)

Overseas cost alert for smartphones

Smartphone users have been warned they could face huge bills if they connect to the internet abroad.

The cost for using devices like the iPhone are currently unlimited when you access web services in Europe and around the world.

This is set to change in the 27 countries of the European Union from July 1, when new rules come into force which cap data download costs.
Consumer group Which? said it wants the EU limits extended to the rest of the world.


The costs apply if smartphone users check emails or surf the internet - functions which are normally included in unlimited download packages under most UK tariffs.


Introducing the new limits, the European Commission cited an example of a German traveller who last year clocked up a £40,500 bill after downloading a TV show while roaming in France.


Julia Feuell, from north London, also told of her surprise when her 17-year-old son racked up a bill of £590 during a visit to New Zealand.
From July 1, mobile phone users roaming across the EU will be protected by a default limit of 50 euros (£45) a month for data downloading.

Until then and elsewhere around the world, there are calls for mobile providers to warn customers before they breach their own tariffs.


Matt Bath of Which? said: "Mobile phone companies should voluntarily take these very sensible steps and apply them on a worldwide basis."

( Source: Press Association)

Economic recovery 'remains fragile'

The UK's economic recovery will not pick up pace until the middle of next year, a business group has warned.

The CBI said economic growth would remain fragile in the near-term due to the end of stimulus measures, such as the reduction in VAT and the car scrappage scheme.
It said consumer spending would also remain subdued this year as people saved more and worried about job security.
The group is predicting economic growth of 0.3% and 0.4% during the first two quarters of 2010, followed by growth of 0.5% during the second half of the year.


It said the pace of growth should then pick up during 2011, as global demand, consumer spending and business investment strengthened. But it added that it still did not expect GDP to have returned to pre-recession levels by the end of 2011.

Overall, the CBI is predicting annual economic growth of 1% in 2010, rising to 2.5% in 2011. It expects the Bank of England to begin raising interest rates during the third quarter of this year, with the base rate ending 2011 at 2%.


Unemployment is expected to continue rising to peak in the autumn at 2.75 million, slightly lower than the CBI had previously forecast.


Household consumption is forecast to increase by just 0.7% during 2010 and by 1.9% in 2011. At the same time, the household savings rate is expected to be higher than previously throughout this year, rising to 9% in December, and only easing back at the end of 2011.


Richard Lambert, CBI director-general, said: "The economic outlook is improving, but the lack of a clear driver for growth will make for a bumpy ride in the months ahead.


"The CBI expects the recovery in 2010 to be slow and sluggish, with few signs of real strength until well into next year," he said. "To convince international investors that the spiralling budget deficit will not derail the economy, the Government must set out a credible plan to balance the books by 2015/16, two years earlier than currently planned."

( source: Press association)