Graduates face recession fears

Final-year students are becoming increasingly worried about their futures as they prepare to graduate this summer.  A survey has found that 36% do not expect to find a job this year. 

More than twenty five percent of final year students at top UK universities are planning to stay on for further study as the recession bites.

However, Higher Education Minister David Lammy believes graduates are still less likely to be unemployed than other people.   

Kirsty Beaton, a third year student at Glasgow Caledonian University, has found it very difficult to find a job. 

Research by High Fliers found that fifty two percent thought the prospects for new graduates were very limited and thirty six percent did not expect to get a graduate job this year.

The UK government has announced that it will support unemployed graduates who are having to take unpaid work placements.

But measures like these are not enough to quell the concerns of these students.

With the financial crisis deepening, it seems there are no easy answers to students concerns.

Stirling Highland Games suffers in recession

Stirling Tourism Association has announced that the annual Stirling Highland Games will be cancelled this year.

 

They say the cancellation is the result of economic uncertainty and successive changes of the venue.

 

Each year the games attract thousands of visitors and hundreds or performers to the area to participate in dancing and piping competitions. 

 

Local MSP Bruce Crawford has said he will meet with the games’ committee to ensure the cancellation is a one-off, and that they will return next year. 

 

Mr Crawford said: “Tourism plays a vital part in the local economy of the Stirling area, and I am determined that despite the recession, Stirling must send out the message that it remains open for business and is a must-visit destination for visitors from across the world.”

 

Troops withdraw from Iraq

The UK has officially ended all combat operations in Iraq, after a ceremony today in Basra. A memorial service was held to remember the one hundred and seventy nine soldiers who have died while on duty, attended by Defence Secretary John Hutton.   

 

Many tears have been shed by the servicemen and women in Basra – tears of joy for the chance to leave Iraq once and for all, but also tears of sadness for those who’ve been lost in the past six years of conflict. Yet Brigadier Tom Beckett says the troops are confident they’ve left a lasting legacy.

 

Only time will tell how successful the operation here was, but for now the forces are just looking forward to spending time with their families.

 

Later today, the forces will officially handover control of the region to American soldiers, a month ahead of schedule.  The soldiers are expected to arrive back in Britain within the next few days.

See a video of the ceremony at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/apr/30/iraq-military

Swine flu epidemic continues

Football Round-up

Celtic will look to extend their one-point lead at the top of the SPL when they travel to Aberdeen on Saturday. Rangers face a tough tie at home to Hearts on Sunday. They know that they have to win to stay in the title race.

At the other end of the table Falkirk host Motherwell. The Bairns will be hoping to reduce the four-point gap on second-bottom Inverness who are away to St Mirren.

It’s a big weekend in the First Division. St Johnstone will win the league if they beat Morton at home. Second placed Partick need to beat relegation threatened Airdrie at home and hope that St Johnstone slip up. Partick will be up against it however; Airdrie need to beat them if they are to stand any chance of avoiding the play-offs. They will be up for the challenge.

The race for the second division title could also reach its final stage this weekend. Raith are top of the league, two points clear of second place Ayr United. Raith would win the league if they beat Queen’s Park and Ayr lose to Alloa. It’s been a roller-coaster ride for both teams and whoever wins the league will truly have deserved it.

It’s a similar situation in the Third Division where Dumbarton will be crowned champions if they win and Cowdenbeath lose. The league is perhaps the most open in Scotland however. Should Dumbarton lose both Cowdenbeath and East Stirling have the chance to take the title.

Roy Keane take over at Ipswich Town

Former Celitc and Ireland midfielder Roy Keane has been offered a two year contract to manager Ipswich Town. He is to take over the position from Jim Magilton who was dismissed by telephone yesterday.

It is believed that Keane will be formally unveiled as the new manager of the team at a press conference at 4pm today. His return to management comes four months after he walked out on Sunderland. Keane’s two years with the club ended up with them third from bottom of the Barclays Premier League. 

Keane’s first game in charge will be the the Coca-Cola Championship match against Cardiff on Saturday, before the Suffolk club play Coventry City on the final day of the season. Ipswich are currently ninth and unable to make the play offs defeated Norwich City 3-2 on Sunday sending their rivals one step closer to relegation.

Fans have been calling for Magilton to resign since Christmas when their expected promotion challenge failed to materialise.

When speaking of his new appointment Keane has said, “I truly believe that I am joining a club that has the potential, ambition and infrastructure to once again be a Premier League side.                                                                                                               

“The club’s owner and chief executive impressed upon me their total focus on achieving this quest at the earliest opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”  Keane faces a similar situation – albeit minus the large transfer funds -to the one he faced when he took over Sutherland three years ago. At the start of 2007 Sunderland were a mere 12^th in the table but with the guidance of Keane they managed to win 16, draw three and lose just one of the twenty games they had to finish top.          

 He made sure that the team stayed top at the beginning of the next season and helped attract experienced and established players to the team. Unfortunately the team quickly came apart soon afterwards and it is estimated that Keane spent in the region of £80 on players during his time at the club.                                              

Ipswich chief executive Simon Clegg said he was delighted at Keane’s appointment, “The appointment of Roy Keane further demonstrates our commitment to help Ipswich Town Football Club achieve our aim of returning to the Premier League at the earliest possible opportunity.                                                                                        

“It is a massive coup for Ipswich Town and I think it demonstrates a sign of ambition and statement of the intent of the owner of this club, Marcus Evans. It will lead to what we believe and hope will be a new dawn in the era of this club.”

 

 

 

The high street goes haute

By Nicola Paul

Two of the high streets top retailers are going into a head-on battle today as they simultaneously launch designer collaborations.

 

 

Matthew Williamson’s hotly anticipated summer range for H&M hits the shops today, while Giles Deacon’s seventh collection for New Look is also now up for grabs.

Matthew Williamson at H&M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Shoppers were already queuing outside H&M’s flagship London store at 6.30am this morning, and both collections look set to sell out fast.

Katy Perry in Matthew Williamson

Ginnifer Goodwin in Matthew Williamson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can buy Giles Deacon’s range online at http://www.newlook.co.uk/women/gold_giles_deacon/ProductList.aspx, while you’ll need to head to the shops to get hold of Matthew Williamson’s range.

Watch the crowds running to bag themselves a Matthew Williamson bargain below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Controversial Zuma looks set to keep control

Jacob Zuma looks to have retained power in the South African elections, after early figures showed the ANC have achieved 65% of the vote. According to reports the ANC have taken an early lead in today’s polls, and are already only just short of the two thirds majority they need to stay in power. Many have expected the party’s percentage of the vote to drop substantially but the early results seem to disprove this theory. The victory should be confirmed later today, with Zuma’s new term beginning next month.

 

 

The Budget 2009 – A Breakdown

 

The Chancellor

Just what impact does this year’s budget have on the UK?

What does it mean for jobs?

An additional £1.7 billion for Job Centre Plus initiatives.

From January everyone under the age of 25 who has been unemployed for 12 months will be made an

offer of a job or a place in training.

 

What does it mean for Business?

Companies which have made a loss can reclaim the tax on profits made in the last three years until November 2010.

A £2.5 billion investment to encourage the business industries of the future. 

Main capital allowance rate doubled to 40%.

 

What does it mean for Public Finances?

Public borrowing to rise to £175billion this year.

National debt to reach roughly £1.4trillion in 2013-14, equal to almost 80% of the economy.

The Government is to issue£220 of bonds this year to plug spending gap.

 

What does it mean for the economy?

Economy to shrink by 3.5% in 2009.

Economy to grow by 1.25% in 2010.

 

What does it mean for personal finance?

People earning more than £150,000 will be hit with a 50% income tax rate from next April, and will have a loss of tax relief on pensions.

ISA savings limits increased to £10,200 from this year for over-50s and next year for all savers.

£2,000 help for scrap cars more than ten years old in exchange for a new model.

Alcohol duty will increase by 1p on a pint of beer, 4p on a bottle of wine and 13p on a bottle of spirits. Tobacco duty up by 2%.

 

 

 

Street view can stay

 

Controversial internet service Google Street View will not be stopped.

A decision made by the UK’s Information Commissioner ruled it would not be in the public interest to “turn the digital clock back”.

The technology which allows users to view photographs of certain locations on maps, including houses and town centres, has ignited a nationwide debate. With many believing that the site is a breach of Data Protection.

Residents in Broughton, near Milton Keynes, even blocked the driver of the Street View car when it tried to enter the village.