Noticed today

The New York Times reports that "in recent years, dozens of Karzai family members and close allies have taken government jobs, pursued business interests or worked as contractors to the United States government, allowing them to shape policy or financially benefit from it". Afghanistan is not going to become a democracy and the US cannot win this war. We let ourselves be dragged in on its coat tails, and that is how we'll leave.

At home, Kelly Marshall, who has five children by four different fathers, saved her benefit money to help pay for breast enhancement.

I saved money from my benefits for four months to cover half the cost and put the rest on a credit card, which I pay back with my benefits.

I know most people will think it is wrong I am spending taxpayers' money on my looks. But I deserve it because I am a good mum. Having children has taken its toll on my body. All mums should be able to have cosmetic surgery.

Inspector Gadget returns angrily to his theme of sink estates.

If ministers want to start asking awkward questions about why ASB hasn’t gone away in Ruraltown, they should ask this; how many times have the most prolific offenders been arrested by police in the past? how many times have they been convicted in court and what was the penalty? If it was a community sentence, did they complete it? If not, what happened next? Were any fines paid? If not, what happened? Why are offenders with a history of breaching community sentences given further community sentences? I can tell you the answers to all of these questions, and you won’t like the answers.

Finally, several local authorities want judicial review of Michael Gove's decision to cut the Building Schools for the Future programme. But an initial study suggests that children attending schools reconstructed under the flagship Building Schools for the Future scheme actually made less progress than children in similar state secondaries.

Researchers also found that attendance was no better at the schools, despite huge investment in new classrooms, science labs, drama studios and sports facilities.

It's not school buildings that make the difference. Throwing wads of (other people's) money at a problem is an easy answer, but it's not always the best solution.