Good sex 'comes to those who wait'

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

Couples who avoid sex before marriage end up having happier, more stable relationships and a better time in bed, according to psychologists. An American study backs the straitlaced view that sex should wait until one's wedding night.

Researchers questioned more than 2,000 married individuals about their relationships, and asked them when they started having sex.

Analysis of the results suggested there were rewards for not getting physical too fast. Compared with those having sex early, couples who waited until they were married rated the stability of their relationships 22 per cent higher. They also claimed 20 per cent increased levels of relationship satisfaction, 12 per cent better communication and 15 per cent improved "sexual quality". The findings appear in the Journal of Family Psychology.

Professor Dean Busby, from Brigham Young University's School of Family Life in Utah, said: "There's more to a relationship than sex, but we did find that those who waited longer were happier with the sexual aspect of their relationship. I think it's because they've learned to talk and have the skills to work with issues that come up."

For couples who became sexually involved later in a relationship but before marriage, the supposed benefits were about half as strong.

Flu epidemic fears played down

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

The Government played down concerns that the UK was headed for an epidemic

Under-fives were excluded from this year's flu vaccination programme on medical not cost grounds, the Government has insisted as it played down concerns that the UK was headed for an epidemic.

The Department of Health (DoH) defended its handling of the winter outbreak amid Labour criticism of the lack of dedicated protection for young children and the decision to axe the annual flu-jab awareness campaign.

Days after the latest figures showed a dramatic rise in the number of flu cases, shadow health secretary John Healey accused ministers of leaving youngsters at risk.

The Daily Telegraph said the decision not to offer jabs was a cost-cutting measure - saving £85 million - and reported that doctors were concerned that next week's return to school could spark the first epidemic for a decade.

But the DoH denied Health Secretary Andrew Lansley had "cancelled" the programme, saying he had simply accepted the advice of the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). It had initially said that it would be "prudent" to repeat last year's jabs for youngsters but dropped that recommendation in revised advice in July, officials said.

"Our influenza immunisation programme has been designed to protect those particularly at risk from serious disease, either from influenza itself or in whom influenza would make their underlying disease worse," the DoH said. "This means that we use an age and risk group-based approach in line with most other countries that have seasonal influenza vaccination programmes. We continue to monitor the current situation very carefully and JCVI keeps the policy for seasonal influenza vaccination under review as well."

Mr Healey told the Daily Mail: "The serious problem lies with the groups that are most at risk, like children. That has come because the Government axed the annual advertising campaign and they cancelled the flu jab plan for the under-fives."

But Mr Lansley renewed his insistence that the publicity campaign was not required. "There is no additional merit in a vaccination advertising campaign for the general population when there is already a targeted approach for those who need to be called," he said. "We urge those who have been contacted to respond positively."

On Friday, official figures showed the number of people in critical care with confirmed or suspected flu in England had risen to 460 - more than double the figure of a week before. Of those, 366 were aged between 16 and 64, 51 were aged 65 and over, 26 were under five and another 17 were aged between five and 15. Nine children are among the 27 people to have died from flu this season so far. Among the fatalities, 24 had swine flu. Three suffered from another strain, flu type B, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said.

Responding to claims the return to school could result in the first flu epidemic for a decade, a DoH spokesman said: "Any predictions on flu in 2011 are entirely speculative. There could be an increase in cases or just as easily very few cases amongst school children."

Poor pupils' education 'hampered'

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

Poor children's education is hampered because they are less likely to have computers, a charity warned

Poor children's education is being hampered because they are less likely to have access to computers and the internet at home, a charity has warned.

More than a million British schoolchildren do not have the use of a computer at home while almost two million are unable to go online, according to the Learning Foundation.

The digital education charity said analysis of the latest Government Family Spending Survey revealed that youngsters from the lowest income households are two and a half times less likely to have the internet at home than those in the wealthiest.

Valerie Thompson, chief executive of the e-Learning Foundation, said: "With so many children swamped with gifts from family and friends over the Christmas period it is important we reflect on the fact that millions of children live in poverty in this country.

"For those at school, this translates into very tangible disadvantages when it comes to completing homework, researching topics, independent learning and communicating with teachers and classmates on the school learning platform.

"Without the use of a computer and the ability to go online at home the attainment gap that characterises children from low-income families is simply going to get worse."

Sales surge to beat increase in VAT

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

Shoppers at the Selfridges Boxing Day sale on Oxford Street, central London

More than half of Britons plan to hit the sales this year to take advantage of the last few days before the VAT hike comes into force, a survey suggests.

Around 55% of people said they planned to hunt for a post-Christmas bargain, with 22% saying they would probably spend more than they did last year, according to insurer Sheilas' Wheels.

The typical shopper plans to spend just under £90 in the sales, with clothes the most popular purchase, followed by shoes, DVDs, books and CDs.

One in eight dedicated shoppers said they would even get up before it was light in order to join queues in the hope of bagging a bargain.

But 45% of people admitted they felt more guilty about spending money shopping this year than they had in previous years, while 17% said they had lied to family and friends about the amount they had spent in sales in the past.

Half of people also admitted that they have items in their wardrobe which they bought in the sales but have never worn.

Jacky Brown, of Sheilas' Wheels, said: "The run-up to Christmas is an expensive time of year, so it's no wonder people are so eager to rush out and spend-to-save in the January sales.

"There are amazing deals in the sales, however for every gem there's often an unused and unworn bargain that ends up throwing money down the drain."

Fly Research questioned 1,004 people during November.

Jobs market 'will stall next year'

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

The jobs market will 'stall' next year, according to a new report

The jobs market will "stall" in the new year, raising the prospect of increasing numbers of people looking abroad for work, according to a new report.

Online firm Totaljobs.com said recruitment activity was forecast to be scaled back, following a period of growth in 2010.

Competition for jobs has also increased this year, with 19 people applying for every vacancy in November, a record high, the study found.

John Salt, director of Totaljobs.com, said: "2010 has been a story of a long hard climb to reach the peaks of job supply we last saw back in summer 2009.

"Unfortunately the new year looks certain to see us sliding backwards, with external influences such as the VAT increase and instability in the European markets set to hit both employer and consumer confidence.

"We expect a contraction in job supply at the beginning of the year as businesses wait to see how the UK economy performs. However, although the labour market is likely to be uncertain in the first quarter in 2011, we see it recovering later in the year, with key service and support sectors such as sales and administration and PA roles leading the upturn."

Areas of the country where public sector employment is high, such as the North East, Northern Ireland and Scotland, will struggle on the jobs front in 2011, leading to an increase in the number of people out of work for several months, the report warned.

Mr Salt added: "With an unsure start to 2011, there is the real possibility of a talent exodus as more people look abroad for jobs. As companies continue their European-wide recruitment drive, the issue of key skills leaving the UK is real.

"We also expect there to be further pressure for private sector jobs early in the year as the nation looks to them to pick up the slack from the public sector cuts this year."

Celtic boss Lennon’s delight as Canadian De Rosario jets in

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

Neil Lennon

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has revealed that Canada midfielder Dwayne De Rosario could join Freddie Ljungberg in training with his squad ahead of the January transfer window.

Toronto midfielder De Rosario, 32, has been offered to Lennon as he looks to strengthen his squad.

Ljungberg, 33, trained with Celtic today after declaring himself ready to play in Sunday's Old Firm derby if the Glasgow club follow up their interest in him.

De Rosario could follow if Lennon likes what he sees from the midfielder, who has scored 15 goals in 55 international appearances.

Lennon said: “Dwayne might be another one who we may be able to bring in for a week or so to have a look at him.

“He's a player who has been put to me. I've not had time to see much of him. But hopefully today I will get the chance to view some footage of him to see what I think.”

Lennon has not ruled out signing both Ljungberg and De Rosario.

He added: “I'm not saying we are going to sign everyone who comes our way, and I'm not saying this is a done deal.

“But it might just be a little bonus for us along the way without costing us the earth.”

De Rosario had a short spell with German side FSV Zwickau but has played in Major League Soccer for almost a decade, playing for San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo before joining Toronto.

Former Arsenal and West Ham midfielder Ljungberg finished his MLS season with Chicago Fire in November after a summer move from Seattle Sounders, and appears keen to return to Europe.

His agent claimed at the end of the MLS season that up to 12 European clubs had expressed interest in signing him and Celtic defender Jos Hooiveld was impressed with what he saw of the Swede in training yesterday.

“He was in very good form,” said Hooiveld. “We want players like Freddie who can provide something extra.”

Obama takes it easy on holiday

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

Barack Obama eats his ice cream while on holiday with his family in Kailua, Hawaii (AP)

President Barack Obama has made the first public appearance of his holiday, stopping by one of his favourite local shops for a Hawaiian snow cone known as "shave ice".

The President, dressed casually in a black polo shirt, khaki shorts and flip-flops, ordered a flavour combination of melon, lemon-lime and cherry at Island Snow, a shop Mr Obama has frequented during past trips to Hawaii.

The President chatted with excited workers and asked them about their holidays as he placed about a dozen more orders for his family and friends.

The President stood outside under cloudy, threatening skies to enjoy his shave ice with daughters Malia and Sasha, and several of the family friends from Hawaii and Chicago who have joined Mr Obama here.

The afternoon outing was the first time the President has been spotted outside his rented oceanfront home or the nearby Marine base since he arrived there late on Wednesday.

After a frenzied legislative session that forced the President to delay the start of his trip, aides say rest and relaxation is at the top of Mr Obama's agenda during his almost two-week holiday.

The President spent much of the cloudy, drizzly Hawaiian day indoors at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, bowling with his daughters and playing basketball with friends.

The base has become a sanctuary for the President on his Hawaiian vacations. The President plays golf on the base course, the first couple uses its gym for morning workouts and the first family often visits a secluded beach there.

But the Obamas have not had much in the way of beach weather since the President arrived. Clouds hung over the island of Oahu, and more rain is forecast throughout the week.

The Obamas are expected to stay in Hawaii until January 2.