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Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Labor's YouTube ban would face backlash from parents as overwhelming majority say it helps kids learn
Parents overwhelmingly consider YouTube to be a valuable learning resource, with new research revealing just how unpopular Labor' social media ban for children would be. It comes after a growing group of lawmakers expressed frustration that the government backflipped on its previous exemption for YouTube in the under-16 social media ban laws. Labor has considered breaking its promise and dragging YouTube into the ban after being lobbied by Chinese-owned platform TikTok. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has also pressured Labor to break its pledge and ban the video sharing platform. YouTube has since released new research by Oxford Economics which found 72 per cent of parents think the video sharing platform 'helps their children learn'. Head of YouTube Australia Ed Miles said families took advantage of sophisticated parental controls and safety features to make the platform appropriate for learning. 'This new research from Oxford Economics demonstrates that Australian parents not only trust YouTube as a valuable learning resource, but also feel confident in guiding their children to use YouTube responsibly,' he said. 'This reflects parents' active involvement and their comfort in navigating YouTube alongside their children, using our safety features and parental controls.' The research also found: 72 per cent of parents who use YouTube agree that YouTube (or YouTube Kids) helps their children learn. 79 per cent of parents who use YouTube agree that YouTube (or YouTube Kids) provides quality content for their children's learning and/or entertainment. 74 per cent of parents who use YouTube feel confident in their ability to guide their child on how to use YouTube (or YouTube Kids) responsibly. The figures come after revealed Ms Inman Grant misled Labor by suggesting YouTube was an algorithmically dangerous platform, falsely suggesting her comments were based on evidence. "I don't make determinations or write recommendations to the minister based on whether I keep the public onside. I follow the evidence," she said, at the National Press Club in June. "My main concern with these platforms is that harms are happening, but I talked about the pervasive design features. "YouTube has mastered those. Opaque algorithms driving users down rabbit holes they're powerless to fight against." Both Labor and eSafety refused to share this research until lodged a Freedom of Information request. Once obtained the research it was clear the findings had been misrepresented. In fact, it found that YouTube was one of the safest platforms for key risk concerns such as grooming, sexual harassment and bullying. Children are more likely to be bullied via text messages than on YouTube. The percentage of teenagers who reported being groomed on YouTube was three per cent, the same percentage as teenagers who reported grooming via text messages. On Snapchat the figure was seven times higher at 23 per cent. On Instagram it was five times higher at 17 per cent. There was no recommendation from Ms Inman Grant to ban text messages for teenagers. Users need to be at least 13-years-old to create a YouTube account, meaning eSafety's proposed ban would only impact teenagers. Sky News Digital Editor Jack Houghton, host of The Media Show, told his audience the survey was a "flawed" way to research the issue as it was based on the perceptions of young children who were being asked to self-identify 'harmful content'.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cork bus services will introduce 90-minute flat fare from August
The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed that flat fare and tag-on boarding will come to Cork bus services next month through a Freedom of Information request from Green Party spokesperson on transport, Feljin Jose. The change will allow commuters to change freely between buses in a 90-minute window once the initial fare is paid via a Leap card. It will be implemented on Cork city bus services in August, and later, in 2025, the fare will stretch to rail services between Kent, Little Island and Glounthane stations. From 2026, distance-based commuter bus fares will apply in a concentric commuter zone outside Cork extending to 30km from the city centre. Cork city bus services will provide a Leap card validator on each bus. The equipment will be separate from the driver's terminal and will allow commuters to board without the need to go to the driver. The new validators were intended to be available on buses from August. However, this has been delayed due to software and technical reasons. Green Party councillor for Cork City North East, Oliver Moran, said the changes will benefit commuters. "A flat 90-minute fare means people not being punished for changing services, even different kinds of services,' Cllr Moran said. 'Although it's been delayed, moving to a tag-on type system away from the driver means buses boarding faster. 'That's going to help with queuing times at busy stops like Patrick's Street, Kent Station, and Clontarf Street. It means in overall journey times a bus driver can travel faster too along a route.' The Green councillor believes public transport will provide the future of commuting in Cork. "In the next five to ten years, we need to draw more people onto public transport in preparation for high-frequency commuter rail, BusConnects, and eventually the Luas,' Cllr Moran said. 'Public transport has to be the go-to choice for commuting in the city in that time period.'
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Full list as drivers in 10 UK areas told 'take extra steps'
The UK's hotspots have been revealed London has been dubbed the UK's car theft capital, according to a new study that analysed official police data. In 2024, the Metropolitan Police logged 34,000 instances of stolen vehicles across the city, equating to one theft for every 88 vehicles in the Greater London area. The City of London Police also reported a similarly high rate of one theft for every 96 vehicles in the area, making London's police forces the two highest ratios of vehicles per theft in the UK. This suggests that vehicle owners in the capital are most at risk of having their car nicked and should take extra precautions to keep it secure. The figures were compiled by car insurance, which used official Home Office data and a Freedom of Information request to the UK's police forces. These were combined with Department for Transport and DVLA figures on the number of registered vehicles in each area to calculate where thefts occur most frequently. Essex, one of London's neighbouring areas, was also identified as a significant hotspot for this crime. Approximately 5,700 vehicles were nicked in the county last year, equal to one theft for every 177 vehicles - the fifth highest ratio in the UK. Yorkshire vehicle owners appear to be at risk, with two of the region's areas featuring in the top 10. South Yorkshire experienced a total of 4,603 thefts in 2024, equating to one for every 167 vehicles, placing it fifth in the rankings. West Yorkshire Police logged around 1,400 more thefts (6,029 in total), equivalent to one for every 227 vehicles - the UK's sixth highest ratio. The West Midlands recorded the third-highest ratio of thefts, with one for every 110 cars. Bedfordshire, Nottinghamshire, Durham and Leicestershire also ranked highly, each with a theft for every 250 to 260 vehicles in 2024. The UK average was just one theft for every 287 vehicles, and approximately 133,000 vehicle thefts were reported across the country in total. Worst areas for vehicle thefts by number of vehicles per theft London Metropolitan (Greater London) - 88 City of London - 91 West Midlands - 110 South Yorkshire - 167 Essex - 177 West Yorkshire - 227 Bedfordshire - 251 Nottinghamshire - 255 Durham - 259 Leicestershire - 260 In contrast, several southern regions were found to be among the UK's safest for vehicle thefts. Suffolk was named the most secure overall, with just 321 thefts reported in 2024. Equal to only one for every 1,752 vehicles, the county boasts by far the lowest ratio in the country. Nearby Norfolk also had fewer instances of this crime, with just one theft for every 1,072 vehicles - the joint fifth lowest in the country. Other southern areas in the top 10 include Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Devon and Cornwall. Welsh regions also look to be safer for vehicle thefts. Dyfed Powys Police have the second-lowest ratio in the UK, with just one theft for every 1,666 vehicles in the area and 248 thefts overall. There were almost 200 more thefts reported by North Wales in 2024, but this is still only one for every 1,094 vehicles in the area - the UK's fourth lowest ratio. Safest areas for vehicle thefts by number of vehicles per theft Suffolk - 1,752 Dyfed-Powys - 1,666 Cumbria - 1,251 North Wales - 1,094 Northern Ireland - 1,072 Norfolk - 1,072 Wiltshire - 763 Lincolnshire - 722 Gloucestershire - 705 Devon and Cornwall - 661 Steve Ramsey, managing editor for motoring at said: 'Our latest research clearly highlights that some areas are worse than others when it comes to car thefts. While there's no need to panic if you live in one of the hotspots, you should take some extra steps to protect your car. 'Investing in anti-theft measures like a Thatcham-approved alarm, steering lock, or other gadgets can help keep it secure. Always park in well-lit, CCTV-monitored areas or in a garage if you can. Plus, keep your keys away from the front door and out of sight to avoid attracting thieves' attention. It's also important you get the right level of protection for your car, as third-party only policies don't offer cover for theft. 'Unfortunately, crime rates do impact insurance prices, so you might pay a higher premium if you live in an area where car theft is more common. Claiming for a theft could result in increased costs, too, but comparing policies makes sure that the impact on your wallet is kept to a minimum.' About the data The findings were based on official police data, sourced via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to UK police forces. For constabularies that didn't provide data, figures were sourced from Home Office crime figures instead. For each police force, the researchers divided the number of vehicle thefts reported in 2024 by the number of registered vehicles in the area at the end of Q2 2024 - the latest figures available at the time of writing - according to DVLA and DfT data (table VEH0105). This number was multiplied by 1,000 to give the number of thefts per thousand vehicles. The experts then divided 1,000 by this number to give the number of vehicles per theft.
New York Post
02-07-2025
- New York Post
Inside hoarder's house of horrors where skeletal remains of ex-cop were found buried under garbage and feces
Stomach-churning police body camera footage shows ceiling-high piles of garbage under which the body of a retired Connecticut detective was found more than eight months after she disappeared. The remains of former Bridgeport cop Mary Notarangelo, 73, were discovered underneath mounds of trash at her remote Glastonbury home, along with dead birds, mice and a living cat. Video shows officers struggling to pry open the front door due to the heaps of garbage pressed up against it from inside the house, footage shared by police following a Freedom of Information Request from CT Insider showed. Many of the windows were boarded up on the property, which is set back from the road within dense woodland. 9 Bodycam footage shows inside the house of a hoarder whose remains were found under mounds of garbage. Glastonbury Police Department Used toilet paper, cans, plastic bottles and other detritus can be seen in the footage, most of which was taken in July 2024 when officers first visited the house looking for Notarangelo, not knowing she had already died. Workers in hazmat suits and masks are shown sifting through the garbage, making movement inside the home next to impossible. 'I got a cat!' one officer is heard saying after finding the animal, the only living creature discovered inside the property. 9 Trash was piled feet high across the floors of the Glastonbury, Connecticut property. Glastonbury Police Department 9 Officers had to force their way in due to garbage pressed against the door. Glastonbury Police Department 'You can taste the foulness in your mouth,' another officer says, remarking on the property's powerful odor. 'It's literally filled with used toilet paper and feces. It's just not safe,' an officer says. 9 In places, hazmat teams had to duck their heads due to the high piles of trash. Glastonbury Police Department 9 Mary Notarangelo, 73, was a retired Bridgeport police detective. Glastonbury Police Department The grisly find was one of the most extensive hoarding cases the officers had ever had to deal with, the Glastonbury Police Department's Public Information Office Kevin Szydlo told WTNH. Notarangelo's death was first reported in June, although her skeletal remains were found at her house last February. 9 Dead birds, mice and a living cat were also found inside the home. Glastonbury Police Department 9 Windows at the remote property were boarded up. AP She was first reported missing in July 2024 after a friend who came to check on her noticed bird seed that had been delivered for her beloved pet birds left outside. Notarangelo last texted the friend around June 12, 2024, complaining of falling, vomiting and abdominal cramps, he told investigators, video footage shared with CT Insider shows. 9 Notarangelo's remains were found eight months after she was reported missing. Glastonbury Police Department 9 Her cause of death has yet to be determined. Glastonbury Police Department The former detective worked in Bridgeport between 1985 and 1986, and was promoted to detective in 1992 and then sergeant a year later, the department said. She was forced to retire on disability following an on-duty car crash in which injured her back and legs, a friend said. Notarangelo's cause and manner of death is undetermined, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Connecticut said.
STV News
30-06-2025
- Health
- STV News
Growing mental health crisis among Scottish police officers, Labour warns
Labour has warned of a 'growing mental health crisis' among Scottish police officers, as figures show the number of officers taking time off because of psychological issues rose by more than 50% over the last three years. The figures, obtained by the party via a Freedom of Information request, show the number of officers off work because of anxiety, depression, stress or post-traumatic stress rose from 814 in 2021 to 1,236 in 2024, an increase of 52%. The figures also show the number of officers taking time off grew each year over the period, with 1,024 in 2022 and 1,102 in 2023. The party said the figures showed officers are at 'breaking point' and called on the government to address the 'mounting pressures' facing officers. Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: 'It's clear police in Scotland are at breaking point after years of SNP mismanagement and neglect. 'We owe it to police officers to ensure they have the support they need while they work to keep our communities safe, but it's clear that is not the case under the SNP. 'The SNP has let police officer numbers collapse over the last five years, piling pressure on remaining officers and threatening to undermine public safety. 'The SNP must wake up to this growing mental health crisis and work with Police Scotland to support officers struggling with stress, trauma or poor mental health. 'Dealing with this crisis is vital to keeping police officers in work and on duty at a time when we need visible officers in communities. 'Police officers cannot keep bearing the brunt of SNP failure – more must be done to support police and the vital work they do.' Earlier this year it was reported that the number of days taken off by police officers and staff suffering from mental ill health rose from 63,797 in 2019/20 to 96,509 in 2023/24, a 51.3% rise Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: 'The health and welfare of our officers and staff remains one of Police Scotland's highest priorities with enhanced provisions from both our Employee Assistance and Your Wellbeing Matters programmes. 'This will be further enhanced through the implementation of our new HR structure with increased resource within our Health and Wellbeing team. 'We also have a range of mechanisms in place to support our employees who are absent from work for any reason. 'We continue to work with our occupational health provider to support police officers and staff in their journey back to health and, subsequently, to work.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Police officers and staff do a challenging job and we have welcomed the Chief Constable's commitment to workforce wellbeing. 'Staff and officers can access a range of services to support their physical and mental wellbeing. 'This includes access to a 24/7 employee assistance programme, and direct access to occupational health services. 'We are investing a record £1.64bn for policing in 2025-26, an increase of £90m on 2024-25, and Police Scotland took on more recruits in 2024-25 than at any time since 2013, with more intakes planned this year.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
