Wednesday briefing: Why private schools have 10 times the outdoor space of state schools

In today's newsletter: The inequality between fee-paying schools and the rest in terms of green space has been described as staggering'. Why is the disparity so big, and what impact is it having on children?

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There is a wealth of scientific and anecdotal evidence that shows spending time in green spaces has significant mental and physical benefits for everyone, particularly children. Even just looking at scenes of nature can reduce stress and regulate heart rate. But not everyone gets access to nature in the same way.

North Korea | Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea on Tuesday for a summit with Kim Jong-un, amid US warnings against any agreement that could add to military pressure on Ukraine and raise tensions on the Korean peninsula. They are scheduled to meet again on Wednesday and sign agreements designed to deepen a relationship that has strengthened significantly since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

General election 2024 | Labour has challenged the Conservatives to match its commitment to strengthen the Office for Budget Responsibility within the first 100 days of government. The changes are intended to prevent a repeat of Liz Truss's catastrophic mini-budget, which was delivered without an OBR forecast, by preventing ministers from gagging" the watchdog in future.

China | Hundreds of Uyghur villages and towns have been renamed by Chinese authorities to remove religious or cultural references, with many replaced by names reflecting Communist party ideology, a report has found.

Israel | The Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, has said a decision on an all-out war with Hezbollah was coming soon, as Israel generals announced late on Tuesday that they had signed off planning for an offensive into Lebanon. The escalating rhetoric came after the release of video footage from a Hezbollah surveillance drone's overflight of the northern city of Haifa, which included images of sensitive sites and civilian neighbourhoods.

Environment | Microplastics have been discovered in penises for the first time, raising questions about a potential role in erectile dysfunction. Male fertility has fallen in recent decades and more research on potential harm of microplastics to reproduction is imperative, say experts.