SARAH VINE: I was among the first to call Polanski a creep. Thank heavens the nation's now catching on
I find myself slightly relieved with this week's local election results. Yes, there are no perfect solutions in politics, but the Polanski-wave has turned out to be less of a tsunami than expected...
Car ploughs into pedestrians on busy street after 'argument' with several rushed to hospital including one fighting for life as police hunt driver
Police were called after the vehicle, a red Vauxhall Astra, hit multiple people in Market Place, Arnold, in Nottinghamshire, at around 1:12am.
'What a horrible sight despoiling both land and sea!': Cornish residents are in uproar as 58,000-ton cruise ship that can carry 1,500 docks in their picturesque town (population 2,240)
Residents of Fowey again faced an overwhelming influx of tourists this week, after the 58,000-ton Spirit of Adventure ship arrived at the harbour on Friday.
Why Some US Schools Are Cutting Back On the Technology They Spent Billions On
America's school districts "spent billions on technology during the pandemic," reports the Washington Post.
"But now some states are limiting in-school screen time because of concerns about its impact on children."
Nationwide [U.S.] schools invested at least $15 billion and possibly as much as $35 billion from federal pandemic relief funds on laptops, learning software and other technology between 2020 and 2024, according to an estimate by the Edunomics Lab, an education think tank. By last school year, 88% of public schools reported in a federal survey they had given every child a laptop, tablet or similar device.
Now, some states and school districts are walking back their technology use following pressure from parents who claim too much in-school screen time has zapped children's attention spans and left them worse off academically. At least a dozen states introduced or adopted policies this year that attempt to regulate screen time in schools — from prescribing limits to allowing families to opt out of virtual instruction... In Missouri, a bill would require every school district in that state to come up with a screen time policy is making its way through the state legislature. "Ed tech is just big tech in a sweater vest," said Missouri state Rep. Tricia Byrnes (R), who introduced the legislation and blames what she described as the overuse of technology for middling test scores...
Complicating the issue is research that shows students do not see any academic gains when provided with laptops. A meta-analysis of studies on reading comprehension suggests paper-based texts are better than digital-based reading... A body of research has established that excessive or unstructured screen time can have detrimental effects on children, including harming language development, weakening social skills and triggering anxiety and depression. But the effects of school-issued devices and in-school usage on children's development are less understood, said Tiffany Munzer, a developmental behavioral pediatrician and digital media researcher at the University of Michigan. Some studies report that high-quality digital tools can support students' learning goals, Munzer said. But "a lot of the apps that are marketed as educational ... are not actually educational and contain a lot of commercialized content."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
My life's a permanent all-inclusive holiday for less than £100-a-day: British expat reveals how he sold his home and has spent the last two years living on a luxury cruise liner
Fraser Allen, 58, moved onto a cruise ship back in December 2024 and has since enjoyed an all-inclusive lifestyle exploring 146 ports around the world.
NHS doctors say hospital patients are put at risk when they are treated by advanced practitioners instead of qualified medics
It emerged separately almost half of NHS hospitals are using advance practitioners, who are usually nurses with additional training, to cover doctors' shifts.
Rivals star Alex Hassell makes rare red carpet appearance with stylish wife Emma King at pre-BAFTA TV bash - ahead of the show's 'even raunchier' second season
The actor, who plays Rupert Campbell-Black in raunchy Disney+ show, will soon be back on screen for the equally raunchy second season, which debuts May 15.
Moment schoolgirls tell striking teachers wearing keffiyehs and draped in Palestine flags to get back to work ahead of GCSE season
Pupils gathered outside the school, carrying signs including 'Kids with more respect than adults' and 'Nice day off?', urging striking teachers to return to classrooms during the GCSE exam season.
Fresh images emerge in urgent appeal for missing man
CCTV images have been released of a 63-year-old man who is missing from Southend, as part of an urgent appeal
Fresh images emerge in urgent appeal for missing man
CCTV images have been released of a 63-year-old man who is missing from Southend, as part of an urgent appeal
MPs hit out at 'extremely sick' play The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher opening in Liverpool just a week after gunman tried to shoot Donald Trump
The short story, published a year after the former Conservative Prime Minister's death in 2013, imagined a plot to kill Thatcher and is now on stage in Liverpool.
Kate's difficult first year back at work after cancer: On the anniversary of her return to duties, a royal expert reveals why she will continue with 'less stressful' engagements - and why the future will look 'very different'
Britain's future Queen launched a new stage of her early years campaign and announced a milestone overseas trip to Italy - but this flurry of activity isn't a sign of normalcy, says an expert.
Beatrice's lonely new normal: Rumours of marital struggle with Edo, her parents are in exile and Eugenie's preparing for a new baby - as she distances herself from some celeb pals
She was once a fixture on the London scene, enjoying nights out at private members' clubs, attending fashion shows and other events - but much of that has changed for Princess Beatrice.
Blake Lively is truly the worst of the worst in Hollywood. Entitled, delusional, utterly loathsome... and here's proof: MAUREEN CALLAHAN
For Blake Lively to outshine all the terrible people at the Met as the worst of the worst is truly an accomplishment. Congrats, Blake!
For 300 years they've kept their special handshake, elaborate rituals and private symbols concealed. Now 30 Freemasons, from bankers to beekeepers, lift the shroud on Britain's most secret society…
What do this lot have in common? Not much, at first glance. There's a first response officer for the fire service, a scout leader, train driver, beekeeper, actress, chef and, well, the list goes on and on.
'Villager' who is David and Victoria Beckham's greatest critic as they develop luxury £6.15million Cotswolds home is Nimby living 9,000 miles away in Australia
James Worthington has lodged a string of complaints against planning applications linked to the Beckhams' Grade II-listed home.
Loyalists apart, there were few words of support for Starmer: JASON GROVES
Labour have taken a battering, but Keir Starmer staggers on - for now. By any standards, this was a bleak set of results for a party of government.
Paranoid Putin's life in the crosshairs: As one despot after another is assassinated, how the Russian tyrant is taking desperate steps to stay alive, writes MARK GALEOTTI
After more than four years of war with Ukraine, the Kremlin has been forced to scale back Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow radically, reducing the show of force to a mere token display.
BORIS JOHNSON: Kemi's full of bounce and zap. If anyone can rebuild the electoral coalition that won the Tories power in 2019, she can
We have three years until the next election, and polls say we already have the most popular party leader. Kemi Badenoch had a good campaign. And she seems fresher and more full of zap than her rivals.
Keir Starmer forces his Cabinet to issue supportive statements in an attempt to fight off leadership crisis - but three big beasts refuse to do so
Downing Street forced most of the Cabinet to post supportive messages backing Sir Keir on social media, but three prominent figures appeared unwilling to do so.