Is Beast from the East on the way? what Dorset weather experts say

Sky News

Plans for energy companies to offer people discounts for cutting their electricity usage have been extended. For the first time, the National Grid ESO (electricity system operator) is activating its demand flexibility service, known as DFS for short. Households with up-to-date smart meters, which are signed up to the scheme via their supplier, can access discounts if they cut their electricity use by turning off energy-intensive appliances during set times.

AFP

"Avatar: The Way of Water" gave no sign of relinquishing its box office domination, taking in an estimated $19.7 million in its sixth weekend out in North America, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.Showing considerable buoyance after five weeks out, Universal's family-friendly "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" rose one spot from last weekend to place second, at $11.5 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period.

The Independent

The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 by members of the journal Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists as a dramatic metaphor that symbolises just how close humanity is to the end of civilization. Source:

AFP

Macau's streets were packed in the run-up to the Lunar New Year after pandemic controls were abruptly lifted but it is far from business as usual as the Chinese casino hub wrestles with questions about its future.Mainland Chinese tourists filled winding passages leading up to the historic Ruins of Saint Paul's, and stores selling local snacks like almond cookies and meat jerky had trouble keeping up."We don't have enough goods for this Lunar New Year as we didn't expect this," a business owner surnamed Li told AFP.Tourists may now be back, but Beijing wants the former Portuguese colony to diversify its casinos-reliant economy. President Xi Jinping has led a years-long anti-corruption campaign that clamped down on money laundering and gambling.Yet quitting gambling -- and the huge tax revenues casinos generate -- will be a hard habit to break."The government has an inherent conflict," gaming consultant David Green told AFP."It needs to be seen by the central government to be promoting non-gaming, but... it has to be cognisant of maintaining its revenue stream."The city of some 700,000 is the only place in China where casinos operate legally and for years has relied on mainland Chinese gamblers as its economic lifeline.Last year Macau saw gaming revenues plunge to a record low of 42 billion patacas ($5.2 billion) after the government shut down most businesses at the height of a coronavirus wave.- 'Can't use the old ways' -Macau issues just six operating concessions for a multi-billion-dollar industry that, until the pandemic hit, generated six times the gaming revenue of Las Vegas.In December, the government awarded new decade-long concessions to all incumbents, effectively keeping the status quo but adding new requirements for non-gaming investment.The firms have since pledged a total of $14.9 billion on projects including theme parks, convention and exhibition centres, fine dining and performance venues.Former lawmaker Sulu Sou said it was "a step forward" for Macau to set clear demands for diversification, instead of relying on vague slogans as it had for years."Changes in the industry and shifting attitudes toward gambling in mainland China forced the [Macau] government to spell these requirements out in black and white," he told AFP.Sou pointed to the downfall of "junket king" Alvin Chau, who was sentenced to 18 years in jail last week for hosting illegal gambling on a vast scale."It was a major signal to society that even as we return to normality, we can't use the old ways to make a fortune anymore," Sou said.Chau was the figurehead of an industry that thrived on enticing high rollers from mainland China to gamble in Macau, by running VIP rooms and extending credit for bets.VIP guests contributed around 15 percent of industry earnings before the pandemic, but the majority of this would be "permanently gone" due to regulatory concerns, according to Credit Suisse analysts."China's multi-year campaign against capital outflow and cross-border gambling carried on, rather than eased," they wrote earlier this month.- Pandemic legacy lingers -Last month, Macau dismantled most of its pandemic controls and reopened its borders, following Beijing's abrupt decision to abandon its signature zero-Covid policy.For residents like pharmacist Mariana Soares, the reopening capped off nearly three years of anxiety and economic doldrums -- but it also came with a sense of whiplash. "It's a shock to the system," she told AFP. "Suddenly everyone is coming in and it's like whatever happened before had been erased."Dance studio owner Kam Pang said he was closing his business after two "mentally draining" years, adding that he lost up to $25,000 when the government ordered businesses to close."We couldn't do business because all of a sudden we were in lockdown for half a month," he said. Eager to make the virus a memory, Macau officials have doubled down on new year celebrations with the hopes that the economic momentum can be sustained.High-end hotels were fully booked during the festive period and officials said weekend visitor arrivals have recovered to around half of pre-pandemic levels.Mass-market gaming revenue should be up to 55 percent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, and 85 percent in 2024, according to Credit Suisse analysts. Soares told AFP the pandemic changed how she saw her home city and that she would consider leaving for better economic opportunities."Macau will bounce back, I just don't know whether it would go back to its glory days," she said.Pang said he believed Macau was "slowly establishing new ways of surviving". "The question is whether people would like to come to Macau not to gamble but for other things." hol/jta/dhc

SWNS

Eight in 10 (81%) parents think educators should spend time teaching things outside of academics, such as soft skills and current events. A survey of 2,000 U.S. parents of children ages 0–6 found 62% prioritize their young ones learning soft skills before they’re eight years old, compared to 37% who put math at the forefront. The most important character traits for kids to learn early in life? Honesty and respect, according to one in five parents. Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care System for International Day of Education, the survey also found financial literacy (61%) topped the list of non-academic skills schools should focus on in early childhood, followed by sewing or knitting (46%) and internet safety (45%). Eight in 10 (81%) parents also want their children to have an understanding of current events. This includes learning about different cultures (60%), the environment (49%), scientific advancements and discoveries (47%) and technology (47%). Additionally, nine in 10 believe social issues should be part of the early childhood curriculum. Sixty-six percent said children should be taught about the various forms of discrimination that exist in society, followed by healthcare topics such as affordability and access to treatments (61%) and human rights (55%). The top three teachable moments parents think are most important to include in a child’s early education? Listening to professionals (such as scientists, authors, software engineers) talk about their field (51%), discussing the news (48%) and reading a book together (44%). “It’s great to see parents recognizing the importance of soft skills in and outside the classroom,” said Joy Turner, vice president of education for the Kiddie Academy brand. “Along with traditional academics and healthy living habits such as fitness, soft skills need to be part of a developmentally appropriate curriculum that helps students learn at their own pace.” Of the 1,219 parents polled whose children attend school or day care, 95% consider it important that their child’s school reinforces the same values they’re learning at home. And while nearly nine in 10 (87%) deem their kid’s school curriculum sufficient, parents continue to be actively involved in their child's education. To that end, a similar amount (95%) set aside at least two hours a week to talk to their children about what they’ve learned in school. “Our research shows parents want to extend the lessons their young ones learn beyond the classroom,” Turner added. “In addition to parents acknowledging the importance of non-academic skills in their children’s lives, 92% believe STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) should be taught at home, a similar amount to those who want it taught in school (88%). We’ve found the highest quality education programs have a strong focus on the school-to-home connection that fosters family engagement.” NON-ACADEMIC SKILLS PARENTS THINK SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD Financial literacy (e.g., filing taxes, budgeting, etc.) - 61% Sewing/ knitting - 46% Internet safety - 45% Gardening - 37% Cooking/ baking - 35% Basic home repairs (e.g., painting a room, fixing squeaky doors, etc.) - 35% Cleaning their room - 34% SOCIAL ISSUES PARENTS THINK SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD Discrimination (e.g., based on race, religion, appearance, etc.) - 66% Health care (e.g., access to affordable care, treatments, etc.) - 61% Human rights - 55% Wage inequality - 42% Climate change - 36% Immigration - 28% Hunger/ poverty - 16% Survey methodology: This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 American parents with children ages 0–6 was commissioned by Kiddie Academy between Dec. 23, 2022 and Jan. 2, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).

AFP

Mikaela Shiffrin took a step towards a record-breaking 83rd women's alpine skiing World Cup win on Tuesday after topping the times in the first giant slalom run in Kronplatz.Shiffrin and Vonn are locked on 82 World Cup wins apiece, four behind the overall record of 86 held by Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark, who dominated the men's slalom and giant slalom disciplines for a decade from 1975 before retiring in 1989.

ITN

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is ordering an investigation into Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs. Mr Zahawi paid a penalty to resolve a multimillion-pound tax dispute with HM Revenue & Customs between July and September last year, whilst he was serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Boris Johnson’s cabinet. The MP for Stratford-on-Avon has welcomed the investigation, saying: “I am confident I acted properly throughout.”.