All posts tagged: Universal

Major PIP and universal credit benefits changes confirmed by DWP

Major PIP and universal credit benefits changes confirmed by DWP

Published by Sam

Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall. The government faced widespread criticism on Tuesday over a shake-up of the benefits system that campaigners say will have a “catastrophic” effect on some of the most vulnerable people in the UK. Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall announced a range of reforms in parliament in a bid to cut £5 billion from the government’s benefits bill. These include controversial reforms to tighten the eligibility criteria for disabled people receiving personal independence payments (PIP). According to the Resolution Foundation think-tank, the disability benefit cuts would mean between 800,000 and 1.2 million people losing support of between £4,200 and £6,300 per year by 2029-30. Charities have described the cuts as cruel, while some Labour MPs have also spoken out against the plans. The government has defended the changes as a way to reform a “fundamentally broken” benefits system and help more people back into work. Yahoo News’ live coverage has now ended. Read a round-up of the main benefits changes below. Scroll down to read the key moments from a …

Universal free school meals are beneficial and popular – but the UK’s provision remains patchy

Universal free school meals are beneficial and popular – but the UK’s provision remains patchy

Published by skeptic

The school meal is an infallible index of the values of a society. Originally designed by social reformers to counter the scourge of hunger, the school meal service is now perceived by many governments as a means to promote social justice, public health and educational attainment, as well as being climate friendly. Perhaps this is the reason why the school meal service is finally being propelled from the margins to the mainstream of political debate in several countries. As I outline in my latest book, Serving the Public, the demand for universal free school meals is now gathering momentum. Universal provision is the holy grail of school food reform as it would transform free school meals from a welfare measure for the poor to a fundamental right of all children. In 1879, Manchester became the first city to provide a free school meal to the neediest children in the UK. The 1906 Education (Provision of Meals) Act empowered all local education authorities in England and Wales to provide meals to children either for free or …

Behind Universal Studios Hollywood’s Fan Fest Nights

Behind Universal Studios Hollywood’s Fan Fest Nights

Published by skeptic

Scott Strobl, Universal Studios Hollywood’s executive vice president and general manager, tried not to sound overzealous as he described to a group of press what to expect from the Los Angeles park’s newest special event, Fan Fest Nights. “Here’s the way to think about it,” he told the crowd. “If you know and love the immersion we create with the IPs at Halloween Horror Nights, it’s like if Halloween Horror Nights and Comic-Con had a baby.” For 12 nights, during the four consecutive weekends between April 25 and May 18, fans of sci-fi, anime, fantasy, and gaming will be able to celebrate popular properties through a series of activations and attractions spanning every corner of the park. “Fan Fest is a total park takeover, so guests will be able to experience each and every genre, each and every piece of content throughout the event, every single night of the event,” Stephen Siercks, senior director, entertainment production, Universal Studios Hollywood, told The Hollywood Reporter.  A separately ticketed after-hours experience — complete with express, multi-night, and early …

Universal Plug-and-Charge for EV Charging Stations Is Set to Launch in 2025

Universal Plug-and-Charge for EV Charging Stations Is Set to Launch in 2025

Published by skeptic

To fill a car with gas, you generally just need a credit card or cash. To charge an EV at a DC fast-charging station, you need any number of things to work—a credit card reader, an app for that charger’s network, a touchscreen that’s working—and they’re all a little different. That situation could change next year if a new “universal Plug and Charge” initiative from SAE International, a group of EV carmakers and chargers, moves ahead and gains ground. Launching in early 2025, the network could make charging an EV actually easier than gassing up: Plug in, let the car and charger figure out the payment details over a cloud connection, and go. Some car and charging network combinations already offer such a system through a patchwork of individual deals, as listed at Inside EVs. Teslas have always offered a plug-and-charge experience, given the tight integration between its Superchargers and vehicles. Now Tesla will join the plug-and-charge movement proper, allowing Teslas to have a roughly similar experience at other stations. The Electric Vehicle Public Key …

Universal infant free school meals funding rises by 5p

Universal infant free school meals funding rises by 5p

Published by skeptic

But funding still lags far behind the actual cost of providing meals in schools But funding still lags far behind the actual cost of providing meals in schools More from this theme Recent articles The rate of funding paid to schools for universal infant free school meals has increased by 5p, but remains far below the estimated actual cost of providing lunches. Schools were initially funded from September based on last year’s rate of £2.53 per meal after a decision on any increase was kicked down the road because of July’s election. But the Department for Education has confirmed today it has increased the rate to £2.58, a rise of 5p, or 2 per cent, and back-dated the increase to September. However, despite the rise, the new rate remains far below the estimated cost of actually providing meals. A recent report from School Food Matters estimated it actually costs £3.16 per meal to provide a hot lunch to pupils. This suggests many schools are either subsidising the meals from elsewhere in their budgets or are …

Tell us: have you been affected by the UK’s two-child limit on universal credit? | Benefits

Tell us: have you been affected by the UK’s two-child limit on universal credit? | Benefits

Published by skeptic

The prime minister, Keir Starmer, is facing pressure to abolish the two-child limit on universal credit, with the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, calling the cap “wrong” and urging Starmer to scrap it. The limit on universal credit or child tax credit for more than two children (with exceptions for children with disabilities or those born before April 2017) impacts around 450,000 families, including 1.6 million children. We want to hear from you. Has your family been affected by the two-child limit? What has it meant for your finances? What are your thoughts on Labour’s approach to the issue? Share your experience You can tell us how you have been affected by the two-child limit on universal credit using this form.  Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. We will only use the data you provide us for the purpose of the feature and we will delete any personal data when we no longer require it for this purpose. For …

‘The Fall Guy’ live show opens at Universal Studios Hollywood

‘The Fall Guy’ live show opens at Universal Studios Hollywood

Published by skeptic

When “The Fall Guy” star Ryan Gosling and director David Leitch recently made a surprise guest appearance at a new “Fall Guy”-themed live show at Universal Studios Hollywood, they riled up the audience as a funny story line unfolded about a director who pushes his team to do increasingly complicated stunts. Jet-Ski-type crafts flip, explosions send actors hurtling, and if you’re sitting near the front row, you might have a hot piece of flying rubber shrapnel fall by your knee. It’s all in good fun. “This is a live show based on a movie, based on a TV show, based on a stunt man,” is one of the show’s punchlines. “The Fall Guy Stuntacular Pre-Show,” which can be seen before the park’s popular “WaterWorld” show through May 19, was produced in partnership with 87North Productions, which was co-founded by Leitch, a former stuntman himself, and producer Kelly McCormick. The idea came to Leitch and his team during a tour of the theme park last year. A stunt performer flips during “The Fall Guy Stuntacular Pre-Show” …

DWP review warning issued to people on State Pension, PIP and Universal Credit

DWP review warning issued to people on State Pension, PIP and Universal Credit

Published by Sam

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an ominous review warning to people claiming a variety of payments from the Government. More than 20 million people across Great Britain are claiming State Pension or at least one benefit from the DWP to help with the additional costs of day-to-day living. But the UK Government has been clear it will crackdown on those exploiting the benefits system as they are ‘stealing from those who most need help’. The latest Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures indicate that fraud and error in the benefit system is falling after the UK Government restated its determination to drive levels down further and protect taxpayers’ money. The most-recent national statistics show that in the 2022/23 financial year, fraud and error rates fell to 3.6 per cent (£8.3 billion) from 4.0 per cent (£8.7 billion) – figures for 2023/24 are due to be published next month. During the 2024/25 financial year – which starts this weekend on April 6 – the DWP will measure a sample of claims …

Scientists developing universal donor blood to address global blood shortages

Scientists developing universal donor blood to address global blood shortages

Published by skeptic

Researchers have uncovered enzymes capable of stripping specific sugars from red blood cells, a crucial step towards the creation of universal donor blood. (CREDIT: Creative Commons) In a groundbreaking development, researchers from DTU and Lund University have uncovered enzymes capable of stripping specific sugars from red blood cells, a crucial step towards the creation of universal donor blood. The discovery, detailed in the esteemed scientific journal Nature Microbiology, marks a significant leap forward in transfusion medicine. Professor Maher Abou Hachem, leading the study at DTU, highlights the novelty of their findings: “For the first time, the new enzyme cocktails not only remove the well-described A and B antigens, but also extended variants previously not recognized as problematic for transfusion safety.” This breakthrough, achieved through a collaboration between DTU’s expertise in gut microbiota enzymes and Lund University’s proficiency in blood group research, holds promise for revolutionizing blood transfusion practices. The urgency for such advancements stems from the soaring demand for donor blood, driven by an aging population and an increase in blood-intensive medical procedures. Why Universal …

Scientists Intrigued by Bacteria That Turns Any Blood Into Universal Donor Type

Scientists Intrigued by Bacteria That Turns Any Blood Into Universal Donor Type

Published by skeptic

A team of researchers claims to have found a common bacteria that can easily manipulate the enzymes present in blood supplies to turn it into a universal donor type. Such a process, if scaled up for clinical use, could have significant medical and societal consequences. Global blood supplies are in perennially short supply, particularly in low-income countries — a situation bound to become even more dire thanks to rapidly aging populations. Generally speaking, blood groups are determined by the presence of A and B antigens on red blood cells. Group O types don’t have either of these antigens. Health practitioners have to be extremely careful when it comes to blood types, since transfusing the wrong one could trigger the immune system to attack the new blood cells, which can be fatal. Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Lund University in Sweden, who’ve been investigating a solution, discovered that specific enzymes produced by common gut bacteria were able to remove both A and B antigens, potentially paving the way to ensure a steady …