Plus, a fake wedding, and a $250,000 scam
| Poorer white pupils neglected, say MPs |
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| | | White working-class pupils have been "let down and neglected" by the education system in England for decades, according to MPs. Describing it as "nothing short of a scandal", the education select committee accuses the government of "muddled thinking" in targeting support. Its report says, among those receiving free school meals, 18% of white British pupils achieved grade 4 in English and maths in 2019, compared with a 23% average. Figures for those receiving free meals show 16% of white British pupils get university places, compared with 59% of black African, 59% of Bangladeshi and 32% of black Caribbean youngsters. The committee's chairman, Conservative Robert Halfon, says many white working-class pupils live in towns which had less investment than big cities. He criticises use of the term "white privilege" in education as "divisive". However, fellow committee member Kim Johnson, of Labour, sees this view as a bid to "stoke the culture war" and avoid highlighting a lack of investment in education and communities. The government says the pupil premium - given to schools to help disadvantaged pupils with extra teaching, academic support or activities such as breakfast clubs - is expected to increase to more than £2.5bn this year. | |
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| Sturgeon to confirm lockdown-easing delay |
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| Nicola Sturgeon had already signalled the move to level zero - the lowest in Scotland's five tiers of Covid restrictions - was likely to be pushed back from 28 June. And the first minister is today expected to confirm a three-week delay to allow the vaccination of more people. While large parts of Scotland moved into level one earlier this month, and some islands went to zero, much of the central belt remains in level two, subject to stricter limits on meeting in groups. Ms Sturgeon has suggested the current levels of restrictions are likely to remain until 19 July - the date targeted as a "terminus" for England's lockdown restrictions. She also promises to publish a much-anticipated review of social distancing rules. | |
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| England through but tension for Scots |
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| England fans can relax, a spot in the last 16 of football's Euro 2020 secured thanks to Finland's defeat by Belgium in Group B. But a nail-biting evening awaits for Scots, whose team must beat Croatia at Hamden Park if they're to reach the knockout stages for the first time. Should they win - and England lose to the Czech Republic - they could leapfrog the Three Lions into second place on goal difference. But finishing third will be good enough provided they are one of the four best third-placed teams. There are even perceived benefits to finishing second, given the group winners will face the runner-up in Group F - seen as the strongest in the tournament - which could mean either Germany, France or holders Portugal. Confused? Our preview runs through the permutations. | |
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| | | | | Trade Secretary Liz Truss will start talks on Tuesday to join the 11-strong trans-Pacific trading club, the CPTPP. But it is more about strategy than scale. With deals already in place with eight of the members, membership may add just 0.1% to UK GDP and it's not clear yet what the UK will have to concede to get the deal, nor how quickly it will happen. The real boost will come if others sign up. So far, America under President Joe Biden hasn't expressed an interest to do so. As trading partners go, the US is twice as important to the UK as all the CPTPP nations put together. Meanwhile, some economists have flagged that trade with the EU may have been dampened to the tune of several billions of pounds by those new trading arrangements with that bloc. | |
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| | Dharshini David | Global trade correspondent | |
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| | | | News that Scotland footballer Billy Gilmour has tested positive for Covid - and that England counterparts Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell are self-isolating after coming into close contact with him - leads several papers. "Scot to be joking," reads the Sun's headline, as it says the England pair were seen hugging Gilmour after last Friday's game. The Daily Mirror says a 25-minute chat between the Chelsea teammates in the tunnel at Wembley also contributed to the "Euros Covid chaos". Other papers focus on the prospect for holidays, with the i quoting the prime minister saying Britons cannot expect restriction-free foreign travel until next year. The Times, however, is more positive, suggesting ministers plan to exempt fully vaccinated travellers from the 10-day quarantine for amber-list countries. Read the review. | |
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| | | Internet Tool for under-18s to report nude photos of themselves |
| | | | China Authorities fail to meet promises on missing children |
| | | | | | Bumble Dating app closes to give 'burnt-out' staff a week off |
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| If you watch one thing today |
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| If you listen to one thing today |
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| If you read one thing today |
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| Need something different? |
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| Demi Rose Mawby? If you don't know the name, you might well recognise her, given she's been modelling for eight years. She tells Newsbeat why - despite having more than 16 million Instagram followers - she's signing up with OnlyFans. And read why Eva Schloss - a childhood friend of Anne Frank, who's lived much of her life in London since fleeing Austria to escape Nazi persecution - has accepted Austrian nationality at the age of 92. | |
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| | | 1981 Mark Chapman pleads guilty to shooting dead former Beatle John Lennon in New York. |
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