Chinese activist Chen gives first in-depth TV interview since escape By Michael Martinez, CNN updated 3:26 PM EDT, Thu May 24, 2012 Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng told CNN he speaks out against China because "It's in people's nature to want to stop evil and embrace the good." STORY HIGHLIGHTS NEW: "Let's not use the word house arrest," Chen says, "let's use ... illegal detention" Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng arrived in the U.S. on Saturday He will study at New York University He escaped house arrest in China's Shandong province Anderson Cooper speaks with blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng about his escape from house arrest, and concern for his family and friends who are still in China. Watch the interview on "Anderson Cooper 360°" ... Continue reading →

Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister. Research shows income inequality is rising faster in the UK than in any other rich nation since the mid-1970s. Photograph: PA The economist whose work the government used to back up its claim that a child's chances in life were not affected by the levels of inequality in the society they were born into, told the Guardian he has been "misquoted and misrepresented".In a speech this week, Nick Clegg said: "Myth (number) one is that social mobility is simply a sub-set of income inequality. According to this myth, mobility will follow automatically in the wake of greater equality".Research shows that Britain is a highly unequal society, with income inequality rising faster any other rich nation since the mid-1970s. Researchers ... Continue reading →

Arvind Subramanian: What is India's real growth potential?The nine per cent growth of UPA-I was an aberration. But voters will still judge this government by that standard Arvind Subramanian / May 23, 2012, 00:14 IST In 2004, before India’s growth surge towards Chinese levels became evident, Dani Rodrik of Harvard University and I wrote in the Economic and Political Weekly that India’s potential growth was “at least 7 per cent”. The outcome over the next few years was a pleasant surprise, but also a mild rebuke of our analysis. Not only did actual growth surpass our projection, it was achieved much sooner than our “medium-term” horizon — which was evasive econo-speak for “not immediately, but sometime in the future”. Also Read Related Stories Now, as ... Continue reading →

Andrew Lansley has opened up a familiar debate about who we should spend money on in the NHS. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA Are some patients more equal than others? There's recently been a spirited debate over whether the health secretary was right to say that age was more important than poverty when it comes to deciding on health spending.Andrew Lansley told the NHS Clinical Commissioners conference in April that "age is the principal determinant of health need" – the older the population, the more likely you'll be spending NHS cash. This notion caused outrage because it is a repudiation of the health service's historic acceptance that the foremost link is that between poverty and health.Some academics have praised the new funding formula, saying it was never ... Continue reading →

Chelsea stunned Bayern Munich to win the Champions League for the first time after a penalty shootout in the Allianz Arena after a tension-soaked final had ended 1-1 after extra time. Didier Drogba, who had equalised for Chelsea two minutes from time, struck the winning kick past Manuel Neuer as thevisitors edged the shootout 4-3 after Bastian Schweinsteiger's last kick for Bayern had hit the post on Saturday. Bayern, playing in their home stadium, laid siege to Chelsea's goal for most of the game and appeared to have won itwhen Thomas Mueller finally made the breakthrough with an 83rd minute header past Petr Cech. Within touching distance of lifting the famous trophy for the first time since 2001, Bayern conceded with two minutes remaining when ... Continue reading →

MP Margaret Hodge says she is concerned that the fees were being used to fill a black hole in the budget of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. Photograph: Felix Clay Plans to charge single parents for access to the replacement for the Child Support Agency could worsen child poverty, MPs have warned.The public accounts committee also expressed concern that the fees of up to 12% of any maintenance collected by the new body, the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, were being used to fill a black hole in its budget.The ministers said that half of all children in the UK from separated families are already being brought up in poverty.Almost half of parents received less than £20 a week – and at that rate ... Continue reading →

A report by leading housing experts has found that not enough new homes are being built, leading to rising rental levels and growing homelessness and overcrowding. Photograph: Frank Baron for the Guardian Ministers are failing to tackle the housing crisis and not enough new homes are being built, leading to rising rental levels and growing homelessness and overcrowding, according to a report by leading housing experts.The report by the National Housing Federation, Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Housing highlights areas where the coalition is in charge of deteriorating housing conditions. It points out that while there has been a small increase in new builds, the 109,020 completed homes in 2011 is almost 40% below the 2007 peak of 175,560 – and less than half ... Continue reading →

A report by leading housing experts has found that not enough new homes are being built, leading to rising rental levels and growing homelessness and overcrowding. Photograph: Frank Baron for the Guardian Ministers are failing to tackle the housing crisis and not enough new homes are being built, leading to rising rental levels and growing homelessness and overcrowding, according to a report by leading housing experts.The report by the National Housing Federation, Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Housing highlights areas where the coalition is in charge of deteriorating housing conditions. It points out that while there has been a small increase in new builds, the 109,020 completed homes in 2011 is almost 40% below the 2007 peak of 175,560 – and less than half ... Continue reading →

Home care costs have increased with the average hourly charge rising by 10% in the past two years – from £12.29 to £13.61. Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian The number of vulnerable older and disabled people who had home care services fully paid by their local authority fell by 11% in England in the past two years, according to newly published figures.The data also reveals wide variations in council charges across England.Freedom of information requests to 120 councils revealed that home care services – which send carers to help vulnerable older and disabled people get up in the morning, and get washed, dressed and fed – are becoming more expensive and inaccessible to many of the population.And there are wide disparities in the price ... Continue reading →