inews--2020-04-30--R0: Why the UK coronavirus reproduction rate is the important number to understand for whether lockd

R0: Why the UK coronavirus reproduction rate is the important number to understand for whether lockdown can end

R0 : Why the UK coronavirus reproduction rate is the important number to understand for whether lockdown can end The key is to keep the reproduction rate for Covid-19 below one What is the R0 ?
It refers to the average number of people an individual infected with the virus could pass it on to at the start of an epidemic when the population is susceptible , before widespread immunity starts to develop and before any attempts at immunisation are made , according to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine ( CEBM ) at Oxford University .
Dr Yuliya Kyrychko , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sussex , tells i : “ The higher this number is [ R0 ] , the more likely it is that an epidemic will develop , and as soon as it goes over one , that ’ s a clear sign that there will be an outbreak .
It is affected by the number of susceptible individuals , the density of the population , how infectious Covid-19 is , and the rate of removal from the population , either by recovery or death .
Dr Kyrychko adds that the number is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data .
The CEBM says : `` The larger the population , the more people are susceptible , and the more infective the virus , the larger R0 will be for a given virus ; the faster the rate of removal of infected individuals , by recovery or death , the smaller R0 will be . ''
So a lower R0 is better ?
`` If R0 is less than one , the infection will spread only slowly , and it will eventually die out .
The higher the value of R0 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' it says .
What is the R0 now ?
Different studies and organisations have different figures but the R0 is generally thought to be between two and three .
Estimates from studies in China and South Korea put it at 2.63 .
In the UK , the reproduction rate is believed to be below one , at around 0.7 , the BBC reports .
It may be higher in certain places , such as care homes .
How do we reduce the R0 ?
Earlier this month , Dominic Raab said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one in the community '' , as he announced at least three more weeks of lockdown .
`` But overall we still do n't have the infection rate down as far as we need to '' , the Foreign Secretary said , warning that lifting restrictions now would risk a dangerous second peak of Covid-19 .
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies is looking at options for easing restrictions while keeping the reproduction rate of the coronavirus below one .
It is thought some form of social distancing will be in place for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go back up ?
What is an Re ?
While R0 is most relevant at the beginning of an outbreak of a new virus , Re refers to the number of people in a population who can be infected at any given time , and can change as immunisation spreads .

There are countless numbers to process every day as the world continues to get to grips with the coronavirus pandemic.
But one number is particularly important in trying to understand how quickly Covid-19 is spreading – the reproduction number.
It could be the key to understanding when the strict lockdown conditions can be lifted.
What is the reproduction number?
You may have heard England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson and various ministers talk about the “R” number in relation to the coronavirus pandemic.
This is the reproduction number and refers to the number of people an infected individual could pass the virus to. Different mathematical and statistical models can be used to predict the value.
The higher the R value, the more infectious the virus. R3 means one person can pass Covid-19 to three people while R10 means it can be transmitted to 10.
Dr Yuliya Kyrychko, a reader in mathematics at the University of Sussex, tells i: “The higher this number is, the more likely it is that an epidemic will develop, and as soon as it goes over one, that’s a clear sign that there will be an outbreak.
“It is determined by the infectiousness of the pathogen itself, the number and frequency of contacts between people and some other factors,” she adds.
So a lower reproduction number is better?
A lower R number is better – lower than one, to be precise. This means each infected person could expect to pass it to less than one person on average.
This means it will spread slowly and eventually die out, according to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) at Oxford University. If it is greater than one, the virus will “spread exponentially”.
What is the reproduction number now?
Near the beginning of the outbreak, different studies and organisations had different figures for the average reproduction rate but it was generally thought to be between two and three.
Now in the UK, the reproduction rate is believed to be between 0.75 and one. This means the total number of cases is falling.
For comparison, measles has an estimated value of more than R14 while smallpox is almost R6, according to the CEBM.
How do we reduce the R number ?
The lockdown and social distancing measures imposed by the Government are aimed at helping to reduce the reproduction number. Blocking contact between people will mean the virus has fewer chances to spread.
Reducing the R number to manageable levels is one of the Government’s five tests that must be reached before lockdown restrictions are changed.
With the number in the UK currently below one, the Prime Minister has eased some lockdown restrictions for people in England. Individuals are now allowed to meet up with a person from another household in an outdoor space, for example.
However Mr Johnson has warned that ministers will not hesitate to put the brakes on relaxing measures “if the data goes the wrong way”.
Can the reproduction number go back up?
When Germany began easing its lockdown, allowing some shops to open with strict social distancing measures, its reproduction number increased slightly.
“Quarantine measures reduce the value of R by reducing contacts between people, and in Germany it went to about 0.7 in mid April and jumped to about 0.96… after the relaxation of lockdown,” says Dr Kyrychko.
As a result, Chancellor Angela Merkel extended the social distancing measures.
Referring to the situation in Germany, Mr Raab warned that the UK must proceed “carefully” in lifting lockdown measures.
“Any changes we might make and what that might do – not just to the coronavirus infection rate, as we’ve seen in Germany, but also to the non-Covid cases – we need to be confident that the NHS would be able to cope.”
What is the difference between R0 and Re?
R 0 is the basic reproduction number.
It refers to the average number of people an individual infected with the virus could pass it on to at the start of an epidemic when the population is susceptible, before widespread immunity starts to develop and before any attempts at immunisation are made, according to the CEBM.
The zero in R 0 means it has been estimated when there is no immunity in the population, it adds.
An Imperial College London study predicted around 490,000 deaths in the UK with a model using an R0 of 2.4.
The CEBM says: “The larger the population, the more people are susceptible, and the more infective the virus, the larger R 0 will be for a given virus; the faster the rate of removal of infected individuals, by recovery or death, the smaller R 0 will be.”
The Re, also referred to as Rt sometimes, stands for the effective reproduction rate, according to the CEBM. This is most likely what scientists are using at the moment.
It refers to the number of people in a population who can be infected at any given time, and can change as immunisation spreads.
Additional reporting by PA


inews--2020-04-30--This woman survived domestic abuse, but is now struggling to train as a nurse while supporting her c

This woman survived domestic abuse, but is now struggling to train as a nurse while supporting her children

This woman survived domestic abuse , but is now struggling to train as a nurse while supporting her children The single parent is raising her two daughters alone after she fled from her abusive partner in 2017 Second year nursing student Kim* volunteered to extend her work placement so she can care for coronavirus patients in a London hospital .
But the key worker said her daughters are struggling to do their homework after a day at school because they do n't have access to a laptop .
Kim* lives in one of the 1.9m households in the UK without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living with her two daughters , aged 7 and 10 , in temporary accommodation , having no choice but to flee their family home when her partner turned physically abusive in 2017 .
`` I 'd had to put up with years of emotional abuse .
I was blackmailed and degraded for two , maybe three years , '' she told i .
`` But one evening , he attacked me .
My daughter , who was only six at the time , saw what he did , so she picked up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` She was told that she was no longer part of the family for [ calling the police ] by her father and grandmother , like she 'd done something wrong .
That 's when I decided enough was enough . ''
Kim with her eldest daughter ( Photo : Supplied by Kim ) '' I came into this job , because I wanted to help people and support my family , '' she said .
`` Starting my placement to help people with coronavirus was n't scary .
When the virus started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of admissions was really chaotic .
`` It was more fear regarding where our PPE was , rather than what was going on .
We didn ’ t know what we were getting ourselves into , how we were going to cope .
But as you go on , there ’ s loads of support out there , '' she added .
Kim 's two daughters , aged seven and 10 ( Photo : Supplied by Kim ) Kim , who will now be entitled to a £5,000 Government bursary for nursing students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her final hurdle in financing this period of her training .
She is asking for donations to a Beam fundraising page so she can source a laptop for her daughters .
`` To get by , we were relying on laptop loans from my university , '' she said .
`` When they stopped the loans and shut for lockdown , it became difficult for them both to do their homework .
I do n't have access to a printer , so they use my mobile phone to try and do it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard the second reading of the Domestic Abuse Bill , legislation which has been put on hold since 2017 .
The Home Office has announced £3.1m will go to specialist services for children who have both been directly and indirectly affected by domestic abuse .
Labour MP Rosie Duffield has spoken about her experiences in the house ( Photo : Parliament TV ) Minister for Safeguarding Victoria Atkins said : `` It is unacceptable that some children have to witness appalling abuse carried out in their home by those they should trust the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of stuff going on , when you go through it .
People would think I was fine , but deep down , I knew what I was experiencing .
Appearances are not always what they seem , '' she said .

A domestic abuse survivor retraining as a nurse is struggling to support her children and work amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Second year nursing student Kim* volunteered to extend her work placement so she can care for coronavirus patients in a London hospital. But the key worker said her daughters are struggling to do their homework after a day at school because they don’t have access to a laptop.
Kim* lives in one of the 1.9m households in the UK without access to the internet. She is living with her two daughters, aged 7 and 10, in temporary accommodation, having no choice but to flee their family home when her partner turned physically abusive in 2017.
“I’d had to put up with years of emotional abuse. I was blackmailed and degraded for two, maybe three years,” she told i. “But one evening, he attacked me. My daughter, who was only six at the time, saw what he did, so she picked up the phone and rang the police.”
“She was told that she was no longer part of the family for [calling the police] by her father and grandmother, like she’d done something wrong. That’s when I decided enough was enough.”
Finding her feet
The family moved into a refuge, where her daughter was treated for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Since then, Kim* decided to retrain as a nurse to support her family. But with only a student loan to support her, the single mum entered financial difficulties.
“I came into this job, because I wanted to help people and support my family,” she said. “Starting my placement to help people with coronavirus wasn’t scary. When the virus started, the sheer fear and the level of admissions was really chaotic.
“It was more fear regarding where our PPE was, rather than what was going on. We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into, how we were going to cope. But as you go on, there’s loads of support out there,” she added.
Kim, who will now be entitled to a £5,000 Government bursary for nursing students from September, said she is facing her final hurdle in financing this period of her training. She is asking for donations to a Beam fundraising page so she can source a laptop for her daughters.
As a key worker, Kim’s daughters attend school when carries out her shifts, but they cannot loan computers from class.
“To get by, we were relying on laptop loans from my university,” she said. “When they stopped the loans and shut for lockdown, it became difficult for them both to do their homework. I don’t have access to a printer, so they use my mobile phone to try and do it.”
Surge in domestic abuse reports
Kim has expressed concern over the thousands of women and men who will be struggling in abusive households amid tense lockdown conditions.
Since lockdown began, the number of domestic abuse killings during the lockdown period is three times higher than last year. Over three-quarters – 78 per cent – of survivors reported to Women’s Aid Survivor Survey that Covid-19 has made it harder for them to leave their abuser.
In response, the Government has heard the second reading of the Domestic Abuse Bill, legislation which has been put on hold since 2017. The Home Office has announced £3.1m will go to specialist services for children who have both been directly and indirectly affected by domestic abuse.
Labour MP and domestic abuse survivor Rosie Duffield has called on the Government to increase their offering and ring-fence £75m to help fund domestic abuse charities who have been saddled with a decade of cuts.
Minister for Safeguarding Victoria Atkins said: “It is unacceptable that some children have to witness appalling abuse carried out in their home by those they should trust the most.
“This funding will go towards supporting these children, healing their emotional scars, and ensuring they can move forwards and have a positive future.”
Touching on her experiences, Kim said the best way to help victims of abuse is finding “ways to identify who is dealing with the struggles”.
“There’s lots of stuff going on, when you go through it. People would think I was fine, but deep down, I knew what I was experiencing. Appearances are not always what they seem,” she said.
“Being alone feels like a massive step, but you will have to have the strength to do it. That was the hardest bit. At least now, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” she added.
*Name has been changed


inews--2020-04-30--Coffeeland by Augustine Sedgewick, review: dark history of our addiction to coffee

Coffeeland by Augustine Sedgewick , review : dark history of our addiction to coffee By focusing on a single British grower , who made his fortune in El Salvador , Sedgewick argues that coffee is the drink of globalisation Coffee , argues Augustine Sedgewick in this informed and entertaining book , is the quintessential drink of globalisation .
From its origins in Ethiopia , the drink spread via Yemeni traders , entering Europe first via Venice and then Vienna .
London took to it with particular enthusiasm after the first coffee stand opened in 1652 .
In the 19th century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too .
Now , more than 2.2 billion cups are drunk every day .
“ What does it mean , ” Sedgewick asks , “ to be connected to faraway people and places through everyday things ?
” Born in working-class Manchester in 1871 , Hill travelled to Central America at 18 to seek his fortune .
He died , in 1951 , as one of the richest and most prominent growers in El Salvador , with 18 plantations employing more than 5,000 people .
His life , and the history of El @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so , serve as a case study for the recent story of coffee .
When the Spanish arrived in El Salvador in the 16th century , they found a relatively stable society with a prosperous mixed economy , which gave way over the next centuries to one of the world ’ s most pernicious monocultures , the effects of which are still being faced today .
Coffee plantations began there in earnest after the American Civil War , when rations issued to Confederate troops created a lasting boost in demand .
The Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the late 19th century created a vacuum for foreign expertise , which the British rushed to fill .
Aided by a canny marriage to the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner , Hill became one of the most prominent farmers in El Salvador , committed to efficiency and unafraid to take risks where he saw opportunity .
Sedgewick paints a compelling picture of Hill as the epitome of the British imperial capitalist , by turns industrious , shrewd , humble and harsh to the point of cruelty .
From his childhood among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the most powerful motivating force for workers was hunger .
In El Salvador , where food grew freely , he had to create it artificially , by planting inedible crops and limiting the rations of tortilla and beans he gave to his labourers .
The effects of his strict rule , which was taken up by other plantation owners , came to a head in the 30s : the workers rose up , seizing land and buildings , only for the government to respond with bullets .
Coffeeland is thoroughly researched and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a historian of labour , he has a clear sense of how this fits into the wider narratives , with Marxism always simmering gently below the surface .
Some of the most interesting passages in the book are digressions on how coffee has been bought and sold around the world .
A turning point in Hill ’ s fortunes was when coffee came to be prized for its flavour , rather than appearance , necessitating a whole new language of description , the effects of which are still visible in hipster coffee shops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the limits of globalisation , it is an apt moment to revisit a commodity that encapsulates the history of international trade as well as any .
Through the efforts of Hill , his employees and millions of others , a once-luxurious drink became the world ’ s favourite drug , cheap enough to be enjoyed the world over and used daily by 80 per cent of the planet .
Coffee ’ s future is far from settled .
A recent Dispatches documentary exposed child workers on coffee farms , showing that the issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not gone away .
At the same time , climate change is rapidly threatening the land suitable for this notoriously capricious plant .

Coffee, argues Augustine Sedgewick in this informed and entertaining book, is the quintessential drink of globalisation. From its origins in Ethiopia, the drink spread via Yemeni traders, entering Europe first via Venice and then Vienna.
London took to it with particular enthusiasm after the first coffee stand opened in 1652. In the 19th century, the Americans took to it, too. Now, more than 2.2 billion cups are drunk every day. “What does it mean,” Sedgewick asks, “to be connected to faraway people and places through everyday things?”
Such an enormous topic could easily sprawl, so Sedgewick, a historian at City University in New York, wisely focuses on a single grower in El Salvador, James Hill.
Born in working-class Manchester in 1871, Hill travelled to Central America at 18 to seek his fortune. He died, in 1951, as one of the richest and most prominent growers in El Salvador, with 18 plantations employing more than 5,000 people. His life, and the history of El Salvador over the past 200 years or so, serve as a case study for the recent story of coffee.
When the Spanish arrived in El Salvador in the 16th century, they found a relatively stable society with a prosperous mixed economy, which gave way over the next centuries to one of the world’s most pernicious monocultures, the effects of which are still being faced today.
Coffee plantations began there in earnest after the American Civil War, when rations issued to Confederate troops created a lasting boost in demand. The Spanish retreat from central and South America in the late 19th century created a vacuum for foreign expertise, which the British rushed to fill.
Aided by a canny marriage to the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, Hill became one of the most prominent farmers in El Salvador, committed to efficiency and unafraid to take risks where he saw opportunity. Sedgewick paints a compelling picture of Hill as the epitome of the British imperial capitalist, by turns industrious, shrewd, humble and harsh to the point of cruelty.
From his childhood among the smokestacks of Manchester, Hill had learnt that the most powerful motivating force for workers was hunger. In El Salvador, where food grew freely, he had to create it artificially, by planting inedible crops and limiting the rations of tortilla and beans he gave to his labourers. The effects of his strict rule, which was taken up by other plantation owners, came to a head in the 30s: the workers rose up, seizing land and buildings, only for the government to respond with bullets.
Coffeeland is thoroughly researched and Sedgewick is a stylish writer. As a historian of labour, he has a clear sense of how this fits into the wider narratives, with Marxism always simmering gently below the surface. Some of the most interesting passages in the book are digressions on how coffee has been bought and sold around the world. A turning point in Hill’s fortunes was when coffee came to be prized for its flavour, rather than appearance, necessitating a whole new language of description, the effects of which are still visible in hipster coffee shops.
As Covid-19 causes governments to reassess the limits of globalisation, it is an apt moment to revisit a commodity that encapsulates the history of international trade as well as any. Through the efforts of Hill, his employees and millions of others, a once-luxurious drink became the world’s favourite drug, cheap enough to be enjoyed the world over and used daily by 80 per cent of the planet.
Coffee’s future is far from settled. A recent Dispatches documentary exposed child workers on coffee farms, showing that the issues surrounding price and labour in coffee have not gone away. At the same time, climate change is rapidly threatening the land suitable for this notoriously capricious plant.
From a commercial point of view, though, the world is coffee, and coffee is the world.
Coffeeland: A History by Augustine Sedgewick is published by Allen Lane (£25)


inews--2020-04-30--New on Netflix UK in May 2020: The best movies, TV series, Originals and documentaries to stream nex

New on Netflix UK in May 2020: The best movies, TV series, Originals and documentaries to stream next month

New on Netflix UK in May 2020 : The best movies , TV series , Originals and documentaries to stream @ @ @ @ @ Dead To Me , the last ever series of Schitt 's Creek and Steve Carrell @ @ @ @ @ on the streaming service in May When a couple in the fast lane to splitsville @ @ @ @ @ , they take off on a wild race to find the killer and clear their @ @ @ @ @ Princesses of Power ( Photo : Netflix )

Another month of lockdown has passed and we’re still on the lookout for new shows, films and documentaries to quell our boredom.
Well if you’re lucky enough to have a Netflix account, then they’ve got you covered for May.
A new series of Dead To Me and the final series of Schitt’s Creek are on the way, and look out for new series Hollywood, White Lines and Space Force.
Here’s everything coming to Netflix in the UK during May:
TV Shows
Almost Happy (1 May)
Sebastián is a radio show host of modest fame, trying to find a way in the world as he deals with his ex-wife (whom he still loves) and two kids. Spanish.
Hollywood (1 May)
In post-World War II Hollywood, an ambitious group of aspiring actors and filmmakers will do almost anything to make their dreams come true.
Into the Night (1 May)
Passengers and crew aboard a hijacked overnight flight scramble to outrace the sun as a mysterious cosmic event wreaks havoc on the world below. Belgian.
Medici season 3 (1 May)
In 15th-century Renaissance Florence, the visionary Medici dynasty flexes its power in politics and the arts, risking its rivals’ lethal opposition.
Workin’ Moms season 4 (6 May)
Maternity leave is over and it’s time for these four moms to return to work while navigating kids, bosses, love and life in modern-day Toronto.
Dead To Me season 2 (8 May)
A hotheaded widow searching for the hit-and-run driver who mowed down her husband befriends an eccentric optimist who isn’t quite what she seems.
Restaurants on the Edge season 2 (8 May)
Three food and design experts travel the world to revive failing restaurants by connecting them to the local culture beyond their gorgeous views.
Rust Valley Restorers season 2 (8 May)
Old-school auto collector Mike Hall, his pal Avery Shoaf and son Connor Hall go the extra mile to restore retro cars – and hopefully turn a profit.
The Eddy (8 May)
The owner of a Paris jazz club gets tangled up with dangerous criminals as he fights to protect his business, his band and his teenage daughter. French.
Valeria (8 May)
A writer in creative and marital crises finds support from three friends, who are also discovering themselves. Based on the novels by Elísabet Benavent. Spanish.
Bordertown season 3 (11 May)
A gifted detective takes a job in a small town so he can spend more time with his family. But he’s soon drawn into a web of disturbing murder cases. Finnish.
Schitt’s Creek season 6 (14 May)
Suddenly broke, the formerly filthy-rich Rose family is reduced to living in a ramshackle motel in a backwater town they once bought as a joke.
The Unremarkable Juanquini (15 May)
An inept magician pulls off the trick of his life: accidentally disappearing a wanted criminal during a police raid. Now he’s going to pay for it. Spanish.
Inhuman Resources (15 May)
Alain Delambre, unemployed and 57, is lured by an attractive job opening. But things get ugly when he realizes he’s a pawn in a cruel corporate game. French.
White Lines (15 May)
Zoe Walker leaves her quiet life behind to investigate her brother’s disappearance in Ibiza, where she quickly heads down a decadent and dangerous path.
Control Z (22 May)
When a hacker begins releasing students’ secrets to the entire high school, the socially isolated but observant Sofía works to uncover his/her identity. Spanish.
Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series season 2 (22 May)
Nova Scotia’s favorite miscreants have always been super sketchy. Now, carrying on from the Season 12 finale, the boys have become complete cartoons.
Dynasty season 3 (23 May)
The Carringtons and the Colbys feud for control over their fortune – and their children – in this updated reboot of the classic prime-time soap.
Space Force (29 May)
A four-star general begrudgingly teams up with an eccentric scientist to get the U.S. military’s newest agency – Space Force – ready for lift-off.
Stand-up Comedy
Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill (5 May)
Jerry Seinfeld takes the stage in New York and tackles talking vs. texting, bad buffets vs. so-called “great” restaurants and the magic of Pop Tarts.
Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything (19 May)
Turning 50. Finding love again. Buying a house. Experiencing existential dread at Denny’s. Life comes at Patton Oswalt fast in this stand-up special.
Documentaries
Never Stop Dreaming: The Life and Legacy of Shimon Peres (1 May)
A film documenting the life and work of peace-loving former Israeli prime minister, narrated by George Clooney.
Becoming (6 May)
Join former first lady Michelle Obama in an intimate documentary looking at her life, hopes and connection with others as she tours with her book, Becoming.
Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (11 May)
Explore hallucinogenic highs and lows as celebrities share funny, mind-blowing tales via animations, reenactments and more in this documentary.
Trial By Media (11 May)
In this true crime docuseries, some of the most dramatic trials of all time are examined with an emphasis on how the media may have impacted verdicts.
History 101 (22 May)
Infographics and archival footage deliver bite-size history lessons on scientific breakthroughs, social movements and world-changing discoveries.
Spelling The Dream (23 May)
Following four hopeful competitors’ journeys, this documentary explores the trend of Indian Americans ruling the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 1999.
Films
Adult Life Skills (1 May)
Jodie Whittaker stars as Anna in this 2016 British comedy. Approaching 30 but still living at her mum’s house, she’s desperate to finally grow up.
All Day and A Night (1 May)
While serving life in prison, a young man looks back at the people, the circumstances and the system that set him on the path toward his crime.
Get In (1 May)
When he returns from vacation and finds his home occupied by squatters, a family man is caught in a conflict that escalates to terrifying heights. French.
Killer Cove (1 May)
A woman falls in love with the detective who is investigating her stalker.
Labyrinth (1 May)
Jim Henson’s 1986 classic fantasy film, starring the late David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King.
Mrs Serial Killer (1 May)
When a doctor gets jailed for a string of shocking murders, his loyal wife sets out to commit a copycat crime to prove his innocence.
The Half of It (1 May)
When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn’t expect to become his friend – or fall for his crush.
18 Presents (8 May)
A pregnant mother with terminal cancer leaves behind 18 sentimental gifts for her unborn daughter to receive every birthday until she reaches womanhood.
Rogue Warfare (9 May)
Military forces from the USA, Russia, China, the UK and France unite to flush out and fight an international terrorist organisation.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs. the Reverand (12 May)
It’s an interactive Kimmy special! Kimmy’s getting married, but first she has to foil the Reverend’s evil plot. It’s your move: What should she do next?
The Wrong Missy (13 May)
Tim thinks he’s invited the woman of his dreams on a work retreat to Hawaii, realising too late he mistakenly texted someone from a nightmare blind date.
Harry and the Hendersons (22 May)
The Henderson family make friends with a Sasquatch on their way home from a picnic and take him home.
The Lovebirds (22 May)
When a couple in the fast lane to splitsville accidentally careens into a murder, they take off on a wild race to find the killer and clear their names.
Kids
Transformers: Cyberverse season 2 (1 May)
Optimus Prime and the AllSpark are missing – and only a memory-scrambled Bumblebee holds the key to finding them in this animated sci-fi series.
Luccas Neto Em: Acampamento De Férias season 2 (3 May)
Luccas and Gi are heading to a world famous gymkhana camp. Only problem: so are their bullies. Brazilian.
Chicho Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt (8 May)
Armed with tools and engineering smarts, monkey mechanic Chico Bon Bon and his Fix-It Force help the people of Blunderburg solve all of their problems.
The Hollow season 2 (8 May)
Three teens join forces to find a way home after waking up in a strange realm filled with magic portals, perplexing puzzles and vicious beasts.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power season 5 (15 May)
Soldier Adora finds a magic sword – and her identity as legendary hero She-Ra. She joins the Rebellion, but her best friend stays with the evil Horde.


inews--2020-04-30--Coronavirus: How years of progressive housing policy was rushed through in 10 days

Coronavirus : How years of progressive housing policy was rushed through in 10 days What happened between 17 and 27 March has shown ending homelessness is possible On 11 March , a new chancellor gave his first budget after just weeks in the job .
Building social housing - which Britain urgently needs - was barely mentioned .
One week later , the coronavirus crisis was so serious that the Government had started giving daily wartime-style televised press conferences .
Rishi Sunak became a household name as the Government gradually shut down Britain ’ s social life , confining us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voiced over and over again by housing experts : we already face a housing crisis , we can ’ t cope with this .
What followed between 17 and 27 March was “ remarkable ” , says Hannah Gousy , head of policy and campaigns at the homeless charity Crisis : “ Years ’ worth of housing policy was implemented in one week ” .
The Government knew by 18 March that it was going to have to announce a lockdown .
And so , they scrambled to announce policies that would stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with other charities , took proposals to them in the run-up to lockdown and saw changes really quickly , ” says Gousy .
“ It shows just how much can be done when you have the political will.
” For years , the likes of Shelter , another housing charity , and Crisis had warned of record rough sleeping and overcrowded emergency accommodation .
Those problems could now spread the virus , creating hotspots .
Charities had long criticised our social housing shortage and reliance on the private rented sector where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of renters in work just one paycheck away from losing their home .
It didn ’ t quite fall on deaf ears , but little changed .
If people lost their jobs because of coronavirus , our welfare system wouldn ’ t be able to handle a scenario in which private renters were unable to pay their landlords because benefits had been cut while rents had gone up .
This would lead to evictions , which would cause even more homelessness , completing a vicious circle of precarity and hardship .
On 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency fund for local authorities to house the homeless in hotels and hostels where they could self-isolate .
On 20 March , the Local Housing Allowance ( which decides what housing benefit is available ) was restored so that it once again covers at least 30 per cent ( or the lowest third ) of market rents in any given area after being capped by George Osborne in 2015 .
On 27 March , evictions were suspended .
The mood at the Ministry of Housing , Communities and Local Government ( MHCLG ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcements , an advisor tells me , was careful and urgent .
Lockdown became an inevitability that would suspend much of the economy in an attempt to stem the cost to human life , at the expense of many people ’ s livelihoods .
Policies that had been a slow burn , like ending evictions , or off the table entirely , like bringing benefits in line with market rents , needed to be rapidly enacted .
When they did get it wrong , amendments were made .
The emergency legislation which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on evictions at all .
One was added as an amendment at second reading on 23 March .
The proposal then was not the “ ban ” that the Prime Minister had mentioned at Prime Minister ’ s Questions or that Robert Jenrick had promised on 18 March , but a short delay on possession proceedings which did nothing for existing possession claims .
Giles Peaker , an expert housing solicitor and partner at Anthony Gold , explains it was “ simply not sufficient ” .
The Government tried to defend the legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crisis and expert housing lawyers like Peaker , expressed grave concern .
On 27 March , the Government announced that the court service would suspend all ongoing housing possession actions – meaning that neither cases currently in or about to go in the system could progress to eviction .
Shelter estimates that this stopped about 20,000 cases .
Political speed during a pandemic is admirable , but these are all temporary measures .
Ministry of Housing insiders won ’ t reveal whether the Government has discussed its coronavirus housing policy exit plan but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic turbulence to rival the last financial crash in its wake , this requires pause for thought : can the homeless people who have now been housed be asked to go back to the streets ?
Can LHA be reduced again ?
And what happens when the three-month eviction suspension period is up ?
There also remains the issue of unsuitable and overcrowded temporary accommodation where thousands of hidden homeless children live and the fact that Local Housing Allowance reform could and should go further because it still only covers three in 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned 1.7 million renters expect to lose their jobs by the end of June , so this needs to be addressed .
This crisis is not quite as “ unprecedented ” as those in power suggest .
Britain ’ s welfare state - which included social housing , rent controls and benefits that actually covered what William Beveridge called “ the problem of rent ” - was established after world wars , multiple cholera outbreaks and a flu pandemic to indemnify us all - individuals and the state - against unpredictable external forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have dismantled that safety net .
Coronavirus has provided a brutal reminder of why we needed it at all .

On 11 March, a new chancellor gave his first budget after just weeks in the job. Building social housing – which Britain urgently needs – was barely mentioned. One week later, the coronavirus crisis was so serious that the Government had started giving daily wartime-style televised press conferences. Rishi Sunak became a household name as the Government gradually shut down Britain’s social life, confining us to our homes.
Suddenly home became the locus of everything, bringing housing policy – an area that affects us all, but the gritty detail of which generally escapes the interest it deserves – into sharp focus.
One concern was voiced over and over again by housing experts: we already face a housing crisis, we can’t cope with this. What followed between 17 and 27 March was “remarkable”, says Hannah Gousy, head of policy and campaigns at the homeless charity Crisis: “Years’ worth of housing policy was implemented in one week”.
Along with Sunak at the Treasury, Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State For Housing, announced housing policy after housing policy which would have been considered “radical” pre-pandemic. The politically “impossible” became possible, the progressive became Conservative.
The Government knew by 18 March that it was going to have to announce a lockdown. And so, they scrambled to announce policies that would stop people losing their homes. “We, along with other charities, took proposals to them in the run-up to lockdown and saw changes really quickly,” says Gousy. “It shows just how much can be done when you have the political will.”
For years, the likes of Shelter, another housing charity, and Crisis had warned of record rough sleeping and overcrowded emergency accommodation. Those problems could now spread the virus, creating hotspots. Charities had long criticised our social housing shortage and reliance on the private rented sector where prices are too high, leaving half of renters in work just one paycheck away from losing their home. It didn’t quite fall on deaf ears, but little changed.
Read more What coronavirus lockdown is like for a mother and daughter living in one room
If people lost their jobs because of coronavirus, our welfare system wouldn’t be able to handle a scenario in which private renters were unable to pay their landlords because benefits had been cut while rents had gone up. This would lead to evictions, which would cause even more homelessness, completing a vicious circle of precarity and hardship.
So the Government was forced to act, fixing previous housing policy failures – fast. Gousy, who has worked in homelessness for seven years, tells me the moves addressing all of this were “bold” and “astonishing”.
On 17 March, it was a £3.2 million emergency fund for local authorities to house the homeless in hotels and hostels where they could self-isolate. On 20 March, the Local Housing Allowance (which decides what housing benefit is available) was restored so that it once again covers at least 30 per cent (or the lowest third) of market rents in any given area after being capped by George Osborne in 2015. On 27 March, evictions were suspended.
The mood at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in the run-up to that week of announcements, an advisor tells me, was careful and urgent. Lockdown became an inevitability that would suspend much of the economy in an attempt to stem the cost to human life, at the expense of many people’s livelihoods. Policies that had been a slow burn, like ending evictions, or off the table entirely, like bringing benefits in line with market rents, needed to be rapidly enacted.
“We knew that we needed policies to make [lockdown and its impacts] as socially just and as bearable as possible,” an MHCLG insider says. “We really wanted to get this right for people.”
When they did get it wrong, amendments were made. The emergency legislation which was first published didn’t have a section on evictions at all. One was added as an amendment at second reading on 23 March. The proposal then was not the “ban” that the Prime Minister had mentioned at Prime Minister’s Questions or that Robert Jenrick had promised on 18 March, but a short delay on possession proceedings which did nothing for existing possession claims. Giles Peaker, an expert housing solicitor and partner at Anthony Gold, explains it was “simply not sufficient”.
The Government tried to defend the legislation but behind the scenes, Shelter, Crisis and expert housing lawyers like Peaker, expressed grave concern. On 27 March, the Government announced that the court service would suspend all ongoing housing possession actions – meaning that neither cases currently in or about to go in the system could progress to eviction. Shelter estimates that this stopped about 20,000 cases.
“To their credit, the Government acted decisively,” Chris Wood, Shelter’s Assistant Director of Research, Policy and Public Affairs who led on evictions policy, says. “The main change in housing has been a desire to do things really quickly.”
However, Peaker notes, on evictions, this was in no small part because the Master of the Rolls and Lord Chancellor brought in a practice direction which imposed a 90-day freeze on possession cases. “The feeling was rather that the judiciary saved the Government’s bacon, there,” Peaker adds.
Political speed during a pandemic is admirable, but these are all temporary measures. Ministry of Housing insiders won’t reveal whether the Government has discussed its coronavirus housing policy exit plan but, given that Covid-19 will likely leave economic turbulence to rival the last financial crash in its wake, this requires pause for thought: can the homeless people who have now been housed be asked to go back to the streets? Can LHA be reduced again? And what happens when the three-month eviction suspension period is up?
“The big worry, and not one the Government has got his head around at all, is what happens now,” Peaker says. “With evictions, there’s a potential cliff edge.”
There also remains the issue of unsuitable and overcrowded temporary accommodation where thousands of hidden homeless children live and the fact that Local Housing Allowance reform could and should go further because it still only covers three in 10 homes. In late March, Shelter warned 1.7 million renters expect to lose their jobs by the end of June, so this needs to be addressed.
This crisis is not quite as “unprecedented” as those in power suggest. Britain’s welfare state – which included social housing, rent controls and benefits that actually covered what William Beveridge called “the problem of rent” – was established after world wars, multiple cholera outbreaks and a flu pandemic to indemnify us all – individuals and the state – against unpredictable external forces. In the last 30 years, we have dismantled that safety net. Coronavirus has provided a brutal reminder of why we needed it at all.
Years of housing policy was rushed through in just over a week, but can the impetus for short-term coronavirus changes be converted into political momentum for long-term reform?
Gousy says Crisis is now seeing people who could previously not afford to rent privately because of benefit caps move out of homelessness and into new accommodation because housing benefits have been restored.
“What this period has shown,” she concludes, “is that ending homelessness is possible.”
Vicky Spratt is i‘s Housing Correspondent


inews--2020-04-30--Painting the Modern Garden by Exhibition on Screen opens the door to Monet's fragrant, colourful wor

Painting the Modern Garden by Exhibition on Screen opens the door to Monet's fragrant, colourful world

Painting the Modern Garden by Exhibition on Screen opens the door to Monet 's fragrant , colourful world This online exhibition , where the camera lingers on banks of water lilies and lavender , shows how gardening and painting intertwine Exhibition on Screen ’ s film plunged us into the living artwork that is Monet ’ s garden at Giverny ( Photo : Exhibition On Screen / David Bickerstaff ) Painting the Modern Garden : Monet to Matisse , Exhibition on Screen , ★★★ Anyone lucky enough to have a garden will be newly appreciative of the oasis that even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Royal Academy ’ s hugely successful 2016 exhibition of the same name , and broadcast on Monday evening by Exhibition on Screen via Facebook , Painting the Modern Garden opened the door to a different world .
As the camera lingered on constellations of dahlias , banks of lavender and water lilies , tended by contented insects to the twitter of birdsong , the film ’ s opening sequences plunged us into the living artwork that is Monet ’ s ( not humble ) garden at Giverny .
Monet , the painter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most famous of artist-gardeners , but he is one of many who found in his garden not just an ever-ready , ever-changing subject to return to again and again , but a place to experiment and to refresh body and mind .
The German impressionist Max Liebermann created a series of gardens , providing himself with a variety of subjects to paint , while Joaquín Sorolla ’ s Islamic-inspired gardens were popular with his American clientele .
For Monet , painting and gardening were perhaps uniquely entwined , the head gardener at Giverny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the planting at Giverny and Monet ’ s canvases .
Gardening was a pastime that emerged with the middle-classes in the 19th century , against the backdrop of the new science of horticulture , and the discovery of exotic species across the globe .
Finding the universal in the smallest detail In the wake of Darwin ’ s On the Origin of Species , published to much controversy in 1859 , Monet and Caillebotte ’ s shared trips to flower shows seem more subversive than quaint .
Gardens have been depicted in painting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the centuries as expressions of the Virgin Mary ’ s purity , or of pure power at Versailles in the 17th century .
Made within the sound of the Western Front , Monet ’ s immersive expanses of water lilies generated new resonances , with the artist giving a vast panorama to the French state following the Armistice in 1918 .
Increasingly abstract , Monet located the universal in the smallest detail , finding within a ripple on the pond not just respite , but the painterly impulses that would blossom afresh @ @ @ @ @

Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse, Exhibition on Screen, ★★★
Anyone lucky enough to have a garden will be newly appreciative of the oasis that even the humblest can provide.
Based on the Royal Academy’s hugely successful 2016 exhibition of the same name, and broadcast on Monday evening by Exhibition on Screen via Facebook, Painting the Modern Garden opened the door to a different world.
As the camera lingered on constellations of dahlias, banks of lavender and water lilies, tended by contented insects to the twitter of birdsong, the film’s opening sequences plunged us into the living artwork that is Monet’s (not humble) garden at Giverny.
Monet, the painter of water lilies, might be the most famous of artist-gardeners, but he is one of many who found in his garden not just an ever-ready, ever-changing subject to return to again and again, but a place to experiment and to refresh body and mind.
For Kandinsky, Matisse, and Emil Nolde, gardens were living palettes, allowing them limitless scope to experiment with pure colour.
The German impressionist Max Liebermann created a series of gardens, providing himself with a variety of subjects to paint, while Joaquín Sorolla’s Islamic-inspired gardens were popular with his American clientele.
For Monet, painting and gardening were perhaps uniquely entwined, the head gardener at Giverny speaking with insight about the connection between the planting at Giverny and Monet’s canvases.
Monet’s garden became, over time, a work of art in itself.
Gardening was a pastime that emerged with the middle-classes in the 19th century, against the backdrop of the new science of horticulture, and the discovery of exotic species across the globe.
Finding the universal in the smallest detail
In the wake of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, published to much controversy in 1859, Monet and Caillebotte’s shared trips to flower shows seem more subversive than quaint.
Gardens have been depicted in painting since ancient times, accumulating symbolic resonances over the centuries as expressions of the Virgin Mary’s purity, or of pure power at Versailles in the 17th century.
Made within the sound of the Western Front, Monet’s immersive expanses of water lilies generated new resonances, with the artist giving a vast panorama to the French state following the Armistice in 1918.
Increasingly abstract, Monet located the universal in the smallest detail, finding within a ripple on the pond not just respite, but the painterly impulses that would blossom afresh in the mid-20th century.
Available until 4 May facebook.com/exhibitiononscreen
THEARTSDESK.COM


inews--2020-04-30--Sainsbury’s cancels bonuses as coronavirus costs expected to hit profits by £500m

Sainsbury ’ s cancels bonuses as coronavirus costs expected to hit profits by £500m The supermarket giant will not pay any bonuses to its executive directors this year Sainsbury 's said a huge surge in grocery sales had been offset by the costs associated with protecting customers and staff from the impact of Covid-19 ( Photo : Christopher Furlong/Getty ) Sainsbury ’ s will not pay any bonuses to its executive directors this year as the supermarket group warned the coronavirus pandemic will cost it £500m over the next 12 months .
The company said a huge surge in grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated with protecting customers and staff from the impact of Covid-19 .
The supermarket said lower consumption of fuel and clothing had also dented the steep rise in food sales .
Based on a scenario that the current UK lockdown restrictions would be removed at the end of June , but with disruption continuing until September , Sainsbury ’ s said it expects underlying pre-tax profits to remain flat next year .
Its full-year results showed a 2 per cent fall in underlying pre-tax profits to £586m for the year to 7 March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he bows out on 31 May , chief executive Mike Coupe said : `` The last few weeks have been an extraordinary time for our business.
” The supermarket giant said it had given a 10 per cent thank you payment to 157,000 staff and front line managers for the hours they worked between 8 March to 5 April .
Mr Coupe said : “ I want to say thank you to all of our colleagues .
They have shown outstanding commitment and resilience over the past few weeks and I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts they have made to continue to serve our customers.
” Mr Coupe told the BBC that up to 25 per cent of employees had been either ill or were self-isolating over the past six weeks but that this number had now fallen to 15 per cent .
Sainsbury 's , which also owns the Argos chain , deferred making a decision on its dividend payout until later in the financial year - a move that comes after rival Tesco faced criticism for paying out £635m to shareholders .
The group saw total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seven weeks to April 25 , compared with a 2 per cent rise in the final quarter of its previous financial year .
Total grocery sales jumped as much as 48 per cent higher in the week to March 21 amid panic-buying ahead of the lockdown .
Mr Coupe said supply levels were beginning to return to normal after the stockpiling rush , but he admitted there was pressure on some items from overseas .

Sainsbury’s will not pay any bonuses to its executive directors this year as the supermarket group warned the coronavirus pandemic will cost it £500m over the next 12 months.
The company said a huge surge in grocery sales had been offset by the costs associated with protecting customers and staff from the impact of Covid-19. The supermarket said lower consumption of fuel and clothing had also dented the steep rise in food sales.
Based on a scenario that the current UK lockdown restrictions would be removed at the end of June, but with disruption continuing until September, Sainsbury’s said it expects underlying pre-tax profits to remain flat next year. Its full-year results showed a 2 per cent fall in underlying pre-tax profits to £586m for the year to 7 March.
Presenting his last set of results before he bows out on 31 May, chief executive Mike Coupe said: “The last few weeks have been an extraordinary time for our business.”
Quarter of employees ill or self-isolating
The supermarket giant said it had given a 10 per cent thank you payment to 157,000 staff and front line managers for the hours they worked between 8 March to 5 April.
Mr Coupe said: “I want to say thank you to all of our colleagues. They have shown outstanding commitment and resilience over the past few weeks and I am in awe of their adaptability and the efforts they have made to continue to serve our customers.”
Mr Coupe told the BBC that up to 25 per cent of employees had been either ill or were self-isolating over the past six weeks but that this number had now fallen to 15 per cent.
Delay on dividend decision
Sainsbury’s, which also owns the Argos chain, deferred making a decision on its dividend payout until later in the financial year – a move that comes after rival Tesco faced criticism for paying out £635m to shareholders.
The group saw total grocery sales jump 12 per cent in the seven weeks to April 25, compared with a 2 per cent rise in the final quarter of its previous financial year. Total grocery sales jumped as much as 48 per cent higher in the week to March 21 amid panic-buying ahead of the lockdown.
Mr Coupe said supply levels were beginning to return to normal after the stockpiling rush, but he admitted there was pressure on some items from overseas.


inews--2020-04-30--Coronavirus fake news: Humans are weakest link in fake news propagation, DCMS hears

Prof Philip Howard was giving evidence to the DCMS Committee on fake news Humans are more instrumental in spreading fake news online than automated bots , whether on purpose or accidentally , an internet expert has warned .
Professor Philip Howard , Director of the Oxford Internet Institute , said that human internet users were often the `` pivot point '' that takes a lie from being shared purely between bots to human networks .
Prof Howard was giving evidence to the Digital , Culture , Media and Sport ( DCMS ) Sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation via videolink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and misinformation online - particularly those linked to the coronavirus outbreak which could cause harm .
Using US President Donald Trump 's astonishing suggestion that coronavirus could be treated by injecting disinfectant last week as an example , Prof Howard said the best solution for similar kinds of misinformation was for users to flag such content to social media platforms so the platforms can apply a form of warning label to the claims .
`` Most of these figures , especially the prominent political figures - you do n't actually want to silence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a very political act .
But labelling some of the bad health instructions that come from political figures as misinformation is a useful step .
`` In the UK and Europe , most people would would know not to drink bleach and would double-check it before acting on it .
But there 's a small portion of the population who are fully trusting of everything that President Trump says .
`` The better scenario would be to have political leadership that was giving consistent advice and backing up the public officials who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and anyone online with a large number of followers need to be attentive , sensitive and aware of what they 're sharing online , Prof Howard added .
`` Our research shows that , for the most part , people actually do trust the NHS , they will go to public health officials first for health information .
There are a number of celebrities that are doing constructive things with their follower lists , and there 's definitely a few bad actors who have passed the wrong kinds of conspiracy theories out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of the time , wo n't see that stuff .
The audience for that stuff is actually fairly small . ''

Humans are more instrumental in spreading fake news online than automated bots, whether on purpose or accidentally, an internet expert has warned.
Professor Philip Howard, Director of the Oxford Internet Institute, said that human internet users were often the “pivot point” that takes a lie from being shared purely between bots to human networks.
Prof Howard was giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation via videolink, discussing the prevalence of false claims and misinformation online – particularly those linked to the coronavirus outbreak which could cause harm.
Using US President Donald Trump’s astonishing suggestion that coronavirus could be treated by injecting disinfectant last week as an example, Prof Howard said the best solution for similar kinds of misinformation was for users to flag such content to social media platforms so the platforms can apply a form of warning label to the claims.
“Most of these figures, especially the prominent political figures – you don’t actually want to silence their social media accounts entirely, that’s a very political act. But labelling some of the bad health instructions that come from political figures as misinformation is a useful step.
Read More Humans are to blame for fake news spreading further and faster than truth on Twitter
“In the UK and Europe, most people would would know not to drink bleach and would double-check it before acting on it. But there’s a small portion of the population who are fully trusting of everything that President Trump says.
“The better scenario would be to have political leadership that was giving consistent advice and backing up the public officials who say stay at home.”
ITV presenter Eamonn Holmes, boxer Amir Khan and actor Woody Harrelson are among high-profile social media users to express unverified views linking the coronavirus outbreak to the roll-out of 5G technology in recent weeks, despite the World Health Organisation and other science-backed organisation’s repeated assurances that there is no scientific evidence to prove this.
Celebrities and anyone online with a large number of followers need to be attentive, sensitive and aware of what they’re sharing online, Prof Howard added.
“Our research shows that, for the most part, people actually do trust the NHS, they will go to public health officials first for health information. There are a number of celebrities that are doing constructive things with their follower lists, and there’s definitely a few bad actors who have passed the wrong kinds of conspiracy theories out. But on the whole, most people most of the time, won’t see that stuff. The audience for that stuff is actually fairly small.”


inews--2020-04-30--Coronavirus face masks: Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland is looking at same scientific advice as the re

Coronavirus face masks: Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland is looking at same scientific advice as the rest of UK - but concluding masks are valuable

Coronavirus face masks : Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland is looking at same scientific advice as the rest of UK - but concluding masks are valuable 'We 're all looking at the same advice on face masks , face coverings , just to be precise about this' Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Wednesday that she is receiving the same scientific advice on facemasks as the UK Government - but is concluding that `` there is some benefit from wearing a cloth face covering '' in public places .
'We 're all looking at the same advice on face masks' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister why her advice differs from that coming from Westminster .
She said : `` I think it 's right for Scotland and many of these responsibilities are within devolved responsibility here so I am accountable to the people of Scotland for these decisions .
`` Now the UK government is taking a different decision as far as England is concerned at the moment - I do n't know , they may change that in future , and I 'm not criticising them for that .
We 're all looking at the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just to be precise about this .
`` The science is not overwhelming but the evidence and the scientific advice that we 've seen says that there is some benefit from people , if they are having to be in enclosed spaces with other people , and it 's not easy to socially distance , there is some benefit from wearing a cloth face covering .
'It might reduce the chance of you passing on the virus to somebody else' Elderly members of the public wearing face masks walk down a street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 in London , England .
( Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images ) '' And to be clear what that benefit is , it 's if you have the virus but you might not know it because you do n't have symptoms , so you 're not isolating as you should be if you have symptoms , then wearing that mask does n't give you protection but it might reduce the chance of you passing on the virus to somebody else .
`` Now my view is that if there is any benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should do it , which is why I made that recommendation . ''
She said : '' People talk about lifting the lockdown , that is not going to be a flick of the switch moment - we 're going to have to be very careful , very slow , very gradual .
`` I 'm far from convinced at this stage that when we get to the next review point on the 7th of May we 'll be in a position to lift any of these measures right now , because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in right now are very , very , very tight and narrow . ''

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Wednesday that she is receiving the same scientific advice on facemasks as the UK Government – but is concluding that “there is some benefit from wearing a cloth face covering” in public places.
On Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon recommended that people wear a mask in places where social distancing is difficult, such as public transport and shops to try and halt the spread of Covid-19.
This differs from the advice of the UK Government, which has not formally recommended mask-wearing, saying that supplies of masks to the NHS frontline is the priority.
‘We’re all looking at the same advice on face masks’
ITV’s Robert Peston asked the first minister why her advice differs from that coming from Westminster. She said: “I think it’s right for Scotland and many of these responsibilities are within devolved responsibility here so I am accountable to the people of Scotland for these decisions.
“Now the UK government is taking a different decision as far as England is concerned at the moment – I don’t know, they may change that in future, and I’m not criticising them for that. We’re all looking at the same advice on face masks, face coverings, just to be precise about this.
“The science is not overwhelming but the evidence and the scientific advice that we’ve seen says that there is some benefit from people, if they are having to be in enclosed spaces with other people, and it’s not easy to socially distance, there is some benefit from wearing a cloth face covering.
‘It might reduce the chance of you passing on the virus to somebody else’
“And to be clear what that benefit is, it’s if you have the virus but you might not know it because you don’t have symptoms, so you’re not isolating as you should be if you have symptoms, then wearing that mask doesn’t give you protection but it might reduce the chance of you passing on the virus to somebody else.
“Now my view is that if there is any benefit to be had from that, we should do it, which is why I made that recommendation.”
She also said that she felt it is too early to begin to lift lockdown restrictions at the next review in a week’s time.
She said:”People talk about lifting the lockdown, that is not going to be a flick of the switch moment – we’re going to have to be very careful, very slow, very gradual.
“I’m far from convinced at this stage that when we get to the next review point on the 7th of May we’ll be in a position to lift any of these measures right now, because the margins of manoeuvre that we’re operating in right now are very, very, very tight and narrow.”


inews--2020-04-30--Coronavirus: Why Boris Johnson needs to set out more details of the UK's exit from lockdown

Coronavirus : Why Boris Johnson needs to set out more details of the UK 's exit from lockdown The public accepts we are not yet out of the woods , but the PM needs to show us the path through to the other side When the Prime Minister arrives at the wooden lectern for his first Downing Street press conference in more than a month , he will once again thank the NHS for saving his life , as well as their help in delivering his fiancee Carrie Symonds of their baby son .
But many of the millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson to go further than that - and set out some details of how the UK starts to exit from the coronavirus lockdown .
The majority of members of the public who were selected for questions at the daily 5pm briefings this week have asked about different aspects of life getting back to normal - when they can hug their grandchildren , when schools will start taking pupils beyond those of key workers .
While the public is largely staying put , there are signs that the lockdown may not hold for much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more detailed exit strategy .
As the latest data on transport revealed on Wednesday , motor vehicle use continues to creep back up .
On Monday , when he addressed the nation in front of No 10 , Mr Johnson urged people to “ contain your impatience ” .
Reasonable people will accept that , with new daily deaths not yet falling significantly enough to suggest we are past the peak , the UK is certainly not yet out of the woods .
But what the Prime Minister needs to do is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is now going beyond the linear mission of increasing testing for those with the virus to 100,000 a day - a target which is expected to be missed on Thursday , but will be reached at some point in the coming days - to a much smarter surveillance operation of randomly testing the wider population to identify clusters of infection , isolate , track and trace .
Given our return to “ normality ” may not be possible until a vaccine is found , people will begin to return to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing on public transport and in the office .
Yet until now , we have only had hints and suggestions about different aspects of an exit strategy : there have been briefings about self-contained “ bubbles ” of 10 people permitted to mix together , the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told MPs that some year groups could start to return to school after half term , with smaller class sizes .
But so far these details on lifting of restrictions have been disparate and vague .
What Mr Johnson must do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the easing of restrictions might look like .
As the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said at PMQs on Wednesday , this doesn ’ t need to be an exact timetable , but a focus on the “ how ” rather than the “ when ” .
The path out of the woods does not need milestones , but signposts showing a direction of travel would be a start .

When the Prime Minister arrives at the wooden lectern for his first Downing Street press conference in more than a month, he will once again thank the NHS for saving his life, as well as their help in delivering his fiancee Carrie Symonds of their baby son.
But many of the millions of people watching at home will want Boris Johnson to go further than that – and set out some details of how the UK starts to exit from the coronavirus lockdown.
The majority of members of the public who were selected for questions at the daily 5pm briefings this week have asked about different aspects of life getting back to normal – when they can hug their grandchildren, when schools will start taking pupils beyond those of key workers.
While the public is largely staying put, there are signs that the lockdown may not hold for much longer without the government laying out a more detailed exit strategy. As the latest data on transport revealed on Wednesday, motor vehicle use continues to creep back up.
Impatience
On Monday, when he addressed the nation in front of No 10, Mr Johnson urged people to “contain your impatience”. Reasonable people will accept that, with new daily deaths not yet falling significantly enough to suggest we are past the peak, the UK is certainly not yet out of the woods. But what the Prime Minister needs to do is to identify a path out of those woods.
An exit strategy will be closely linked with the government’s testing strategy.
This is now going beyond the linear mission of increasing testing for those with the virus to 100,000 a day – a target which is expected to be missed on Thursday, but will be reached at some point in the coming days – to a much smarter surveillance operation of randomly testing the wider population to identify clusters of infection, isolate, track and trace.
This would allow the UK could shift to a system of localised “mini-lockdowns” in the coming months.
Signposts
Given our return to “normality” may not be possible until a vaccine is found, people will begin to return to work under tighter conditions, required to do social distancing on public transport and in the office.
Yet until now, we have only had hints and suggestions about different aspects of an exit strategy: there have been briefings about self-contained “bubbles” of 10 people permitted to mix together, the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told MPs that some year groups could start to return to school after half term, with smaller class sizes. But so far these details on lifting of restrictions have been disparate and vague.
What Mr Johnson must do, then, is to pull together what the easing of restrictions might look like. As the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said at PMQs on Wednesday, this doesn’t need to be an exact timetable, but a focus on the “how” rather than the “when”. The path out of the woods does not need milestones, but signposts showing a direction of travel would be a start.


inews--2020-04-30--Coronavirus: NHS trust launches inquiry following death of doctor who begged his hospital for better

Coronavirus: NHS trust launches inquiry following death of doctor who begged his hospital for better PPE

Coronavirus : NHS trust launches inquiry following death of doctor who begged his hospital for better PPE Dr Peter Tun , 62 , sent emails to manager at Royal Berkshire Hospital to access items such as aprons , face masks and gloves An NHS trust has launched a serious incident investigation following the death of one of its doctors who reportedly begged his hospital for better personal protective equipment ( PPE ) against Covid-19 .
Dr Peter Tun , 62 , asked for items such as aprons , face masks and gloves numerous times , but contracted the virus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emails to managers at the Royal Berkshire Hospital on 23 March but was told that , as his ward had no confirmed cases of Covid-19 , it was not a priority .
Dr Tun was told his team could not even have surgical masks and that resources needed to be used `` sensibly '' , despite the fact that two members of his team were self-isolating at the time .
In one email , published by the Guardian , Dr Tun said : `` We do not have any basic surgical masks for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ward stock has been taken by ICU ( intensive care ) ... we do not have eye protection kits , gowns nor scrubs . ''
A manager responded : `` These supplies are not widely available and need to be used sensibly ...
This is the Trust position at the moment and I do not have any powers to influence this . ''
Dr Tun 's son , Michael , said that something had gone `` seriously wrong '' for his father , a doctor with 40 years ' experience , to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be denied , adding that his death had been `` avoidable '' .
A Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said : `` We can confirm a serious incident investigation has been launched .
It involves senior managers and clinicians , who are working closely with Dr Tun 's family to look at their concerns and answer their questions .
Whilst this is ongoing , we are unable to say any more . ''
A medical professional in in PPE tests an NHS worker for Covid-19 ( Photo : Getty ) Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) says it is concerned for its members ’ safety following a survey which found that over half of midwives do not feel safe carrying out home visits .
Almost all of those who felt unsafe – 99 per cent - cited fears of exposure to the Covid-19 virus , while almost half ( 46 per cent ) said it was because of a lack of appropriate PPE .
The survey also found that under a third of midwives and maternity support workers ( MSWs ) who reported suffering symptoms of coronavirus have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive a test appointment , more than 20 per cent had to travel over ten miles from their home to be tested .
The results come ahead of the appearance of RCM chief executive Gill Walton before the Health and Social Care Select Committee on Friday morning to discuss the NHS ’ s ability to provide key services during the pandemic .
She said : `` Midwives and maternity support workers are doing all they can to provide the care and support pregnant women need .
We are concerned that so many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and carrying out home visits .
The lack of appropriate PPE has been well-documented during this crisis and it is having a significant impact on our members ’ ability to carry out home visits safely .
This is simply not good enough .
”

An NHS trust has launched a serious incident investigation following the death of one of its doctors who reportedly begged his hospital for better personal protective equipment (PPE) against Covid-19.
Dr Peter Tun, 62, asked for items such as aprons, face masks and gloves numerous times, but contracted the virus and died on 13 April. He sent emails to managers at the Royal Berkshire Hospital on 23 March but was told that, as his ward had no confirmed cases of Covid-19, it was not a priority.
Dr Tun was told his team could not even have surgical masks and that resources needed to be used “sensibly”, despite the fact that two members of his team were self-isolating at the time.
In one email, published by the Guardian, Dr Tun said: “We do not have any basic surgical masks for Caversham ward neuro-rehab medical team. The ward stock has been taken by ICU (intensive care) … we do not have eye protection kits, gowns nor scrubs.”
Urgent supplies
A manager responded: “These supplies are not widely available and need to be used sensibly … This is the Trust position at the moment and I do not have any powers to influence this.”
Dr Tun’s son, Michael, said that something had gone “seriously wrong” for his father, a doctor with 40 years’ experience, to have to plead with his management and still be denied, adding that his death had been “avoidable”.
A Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: “We can confirm a serious incident investigation has been launched. It involves senior managers and clinicians, who are working closely with Dr Tun’s family to look at their concerns and answer their questions. Whilst this is ongoing, we are unable to say any more.”
Midwives’ concerns
Meanwhile, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) says it is concerned for its members’ safety following a survey which found that over half of midwives do not feel safe carrying out home visits. Almost all of those who felt unsafe – 99 per cent – cited fears of exposure to the Covid-19 virus, while almost half (46 per cent) said it was because of a lack of appropriate PPE.
The survey also found that under a third of midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) who reported suffering symptoms of coronavirus have been tested. Of those who did receive a test appointment, more than 20 per cent had to travel over ten miles from their home to be tested.
The results come ahead of the appearance of RCM chief executive Gill Walton before the Health and Social Care Select Committee on Friday morning to discuss the NHS’s ability to provide key services during the pandemic.
She said: “Midwives and maternity support workers are doing all they can to provide the care and support pregnant women need. We are concerned that so many of them feel unsafe working in the community and carrying out home visits. The lack of appropriate PPE has been well-documented during this crisis and it is having a significant impact on our members’ ability to carry out home visits safely. This is simply not good enough.”


inews--2020-04-30--Help the bees by giving your garden a 'Mohican' grass cut

Help the bees by giving your garden a 'Mohican ' grass cut Researchers have found that having two lengths of grass is best for the garden Experts recommend that shorter sections of grass should be mowed once a month for maximum effect , while the longer patch should be trimmed no more than every two months and potentially not at all .
Lavender is loved by bees - but Russian sage makes a good alternative ( Photo : Leon Neal/Getty ) Contrary to popular perception , the slightly shorter areas of grass produce more nectar than the much longer ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have both kinds because different flowers prefer different conditions , the study found .
“ A mohican with two lengths of grass is best .
If you ’ ve got the space it ’ s probably best to have a 50/50 split and to mix the long and the short areas up , rather than having two blocks , ” said Trevor Hines , of the Plantlife flower , plant and funghi charity .
The study found that 52 per cent of lawn owners mow their grass at least once a fortnight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideal of once a month .
Some 18 per cent cut their lawns less than once every two months .
Contrary to popular perception , the slightly shorter areas of grass produce more nectar than the much longer ones ( Photo : Gareth Fuller/PA Wire ) Dr Dines said : “ In the past we ’ ve been imagining that leaving your grass completely unmown and letting the flowers grow throughout the whole of the season is the best thing you can do for pollinators to get the maximum number of flowers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we ’ ve discovered with the survey – and this was a real shock to us when the results came in – is we ’ ve almost got two distinctly different types of habitat in our gardens .
Long and short complement each other They grow below the blades of the mower and if their flowers are cut off they produce more – as long as they are not cut too often , with monthly mowing having the greatest benefit .
Long and the short of it — Lawn flowers SHORT SPECIES @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawns that are mown every 1 to 4 weeks .
These plants tend to creep along the soil surface and continually produce lots of flowers on short stems .
They sometimes produce seed very quickly before the mower returns , but also rely on vegetative spread to increase .
They include daisy , bird ’ s-foot trefoil , dandelion , dove ’ s-foot crane ’ s-bill , selfheal , mouse-ear hawkweed , thyme leaved speedwell and white clover .

Giving your grass a monthly “Mohican” cut is the best way to cultivate a blooming lawn teeming with bees, and gardeners should start with a “no-mow May”, plant experts say.
Leaving a patch of long grass in the middle of a mown lawn can boost the amount of nectar available to bees thanks to the type of flowers that grow there, a study has shown.
Experts recommend that shorter sections of grass should be mowed once a month for maximum effect, while the longer patch should be trimmed no more than every two months and potentially not at all.
Getting the right cut can make a huge difference, with lawns mown just once a month producing ten times as much nectar as those pruned every week, according to a study by Plantlife.
Contrary to popular perception, the slightly shorter areas of grass produce more nectar than the much longer ones, but it’s best to have both kinds because different flowers prefer different conditions, the study found.
Short grass plants
Daisies, bird’s-foot trefoil, dandelions and mouse-ear hawkweed are suited to shorter grass, while cuckooflowers, cow parsley and meadow buttercups are adapted to longer grass.
“A mohican with two lengths of grass is best. If you’ve got the space it’s probably best to have a 50/50 split and to mix the long and the short areas up, rather than having two blocks,” said Trevor Hines, of the Plantlife flower, plant and funghi charity.
The study found that 52 per cent of lawn owners mow their grass at least once a fortnight, with only 14 per cent doing the ideal of once a month. Some 18 per cent cut their lawns less than once every two months.
Nectar sugar production
The upshot of this is that the average lawn produces 12 grams of nectar sugar a day, enough to sustain 1,088 honeybees.
Of this, the standard weekly buzzcut lawn produces enough nectar to support 400 bees while a perfectly realised mohican ‘superlawn’ can support 4,000, the study finds.
Dr Dines said: “In the past we’ve been imagining that leaving your grass completely unmown and letting the flowers grow throughout the whole of the season is the best thing you can do for pollinators to get the maximum number of flowers in an area of grass.
“But what we’ve discovered with the survey – and this was a real shock to us when the results came in – is we’ve almost got two distinctly different types of habitat in our gardens.
Long and short complement each other
“One where plants are adapted to long grass that’s allowed to grow throughout the year, but we’ve got this little group of plants that are highly adapted to growing in short grass.”
These flowers include daisies, selfheal, dandelions and white clover, which produce lots of nectar.
They grow below the blades of the mower and if their flowers are cut off they produce more – as long as they are not cut too often, with monthly mowing having the greatest benefit.
Long and the short of it — Lawn flowers
There was a big difference in flowering between May and July. In May, the average square metre of lawn has:
50 daises
6 germander speedwells
5 creeping buttercups
3 bird’s-foot-trefoil
2 dandelions
1 meadow buttercupIn July, the average square metre of lawn has:⦁ 34 white clover
32 selfheal
11 bird’s-foot-trefoil
9 daises
3 tufted vetch
3 cat’s-ear/ hawkbits
SHORT SPECIES — that are adapted to growing in lawns that are mown every 1 to 4 weeks. These plants tend to creep along the soil surface and continually produce lots of flowers on short stems. They sometimes produce seed very quickly before the mower returns, but also rely on vegetative spread to increase. They include daisy, bird’s-foot trefoil, dandelion, dove’s-foot crane’s-bill, selfheal, mouse-ear hawkweed, thyme leaved speedwell and white clover.
TALL SPECIES — that are adapted to growing in longer grass that is mown every two months or only once at the end of summer. These plants tend to grow upright, take several months to reach flowering size and produce a few flowers on tall stems. They include oxeye daisy, cuckooflower, cat’s-ear/hawkbit, cow parsley, meadow buttercup, yellow rattle, knapweed, meadow crane’s-bill, musk mallow, red clover, tufted vetch and wild carrot.


inews--2020-04-30--Wrecks of American landing ships sunk in D-Day rehearsal disaster given protected status

Wrecks of American landing ships sunk in D-Day rehearsal disaster given protected status Nearly 800 American soldiers and sailors were killed during a botched exercise off the Devon coast on 28 April 1944 When explosions first lit up the night sky around two landing ships taking part in a D-Day rehearsal some 76 years ago , some on board assumed it was the live fire they had been warned to expect to make the exercise as realistic as possible .
Others on board the lumbering American vessels LST-507 and LST-531 knew immediately , however , that things had gone terribly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by torpedoes fired from high-speed German E-Boats under cover of darkness as they sailed some 12 miles off the Devon coast at Slapton Sands .
Within a few short hours on 28 April 1944 nearly 800 American servicemen would be dead as the German vessels exploited the absence of a Royal Navy escort ship and mistakes by Allied to wreak havoc .
Both landing ships sank , trapping hundreds of soldiers and sailors in their hulls as their cargoes of tanks , vehicles and ammunition exploded .
Amid horrific scenes , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rust and many personnel drowned as they jumped into freezing waters alight with burning oil and were unable to right themselves because they had put on their lifejackets back to front .
In total at least 749 American servicemen died .
A 2.5 ton truck on board one of the ships seen through the camera of a remote submarine .
Only the chassis and wheels are left as everything else has corroded away ( Photo : Wessex Archaeology ) Both wrecks have now been granted special protected status ahead of next week ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains of the vessels can not be interfered with and their status as reminders of the human cost of preparing for the Normandy landings is recognised .
The disaster during Exercise Tiger , which involved up to 30,000 troops taking part in a mock landing at Slapton Sands , was kept strictly secret at the time for fear of damaging morale and disclosing details of just how and where D-Day was going to happen .
A series of errors , including a mix-up over radio frequencies which meant British naval commanders were unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E-Boats had been spotted on radar , added to official reticence over the sinkings .
Relatives of those who perished were told only that their loved ones were either missing in action or had been killed in action .
Many families did not find out the details of the catastrophe until decades later when a Devon hotelier - Ken Small - located and salvaged one of the Sherman tanks that sank off Slapton Sands and turned it into a memorial .
The decision to formally protect the wrecks , which also remain sovereign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the two ships carried out during the 75th anniversary of D-Day last year .
The study found that the ships , which both broke in two when they sank , remain remarkably well preserved in 50 metres of water .
“ By protecting the wrecks of two United States landing ships we are remembering all of those who lost their lives in the struggle for liberty during the Second World War.
” Protected status means that any attempt to access the vessels or retrieve items from the seabed will be illegal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass over the wreck sites .
Mark Dunkley , maritime archaeologist with Historic England , said that the deaths of those on board had to be remembered in the context of subsequent actions by Allied commanders on D-Day itself , a little over two months after the sinkings .
He said : “ Lessons were learned from what happened during Exercise Tiger .
By D-Day , they made sure that instructions had been issued about how to use life jackets and the issue with radio frequencies had been resolved .
They also made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sacrifice of these men was terrible but it was not in vain - they gave their lives to enable D-Day to be a success .
”

When explosions first lit up the night sky around two landing ships taking part in a D-Day rehearsal some 76 years ago, some on board assumed it was the live fire they had been warned to expect to make the exercise as realistic as possible.
Others on board the lumbering American vessels LST-507 and LST-531 knew immediately, however, that things had gone terribly wrong. The ships had been struck by torpedoes fired from high-speed German E-Boats under cover of darkness as they sailed some 12 miles off the Devon coast at Slapton Sands.
Within a few short hours on 28 April 1944 nearly 800 American servicemen would be dead as the German vessels exploited the absence of a Royal Navy escort ship and mistakes by Allied to wreak havoc. Both landing ships sank, trapping hundreds of soldiers and sailors in their hulls as their cargoes of tanks, vehicles and ammunition exploded.
Drowned
Amid horrific scenes, it was found that lifeboat cranes had seized with rust and many personnel drowned as they jumped into freezing waters alight with burning oil and were unable to right themselves because they had put on their lifejackets back to front. In total at least 749 American servicemen died.
Both wrecks have now been granted special protected status ahead of next week’s VE Day commemorations, ensuring the remains of the vessels cannot be interfered with and their status as reminders of the human cost of preparing for the Normandy landings is recognised.
The disaster during Exercise Tiger, which involved up to 30,000 troops taking part in a mock landing at Slapton Sands, was kept strictly secret at the time for fear of damaging morale and disclosing details of just how and where D-Day was going to happen.
Radio frequencies
A series of errors, including a mix-up over radio frequencies which meant British naval commanders were unable to warn their American counterparts that the E-Boats had been spotted on radar, added to official reticence over the sinkings.
Relatives of those who perished were told only that their loved ones were either missing in action or had been killed in action. Many families did not find out the details of the catastrophe until decades later when a Devon hotelier – Ken Small – located and salvaged one of the Sherman tanks that sank off Slapton Sands and turned it into a memorial.
The decision to formally protect the wrecks, which also remain sovereign American vessels, follows a fresh survey of the two ships carried out during the 75th anniversary of D-Day last year. The study found that the ships, which both broke in two when they sank, remain remarkably well preserved in 50 metres of water.
‘Struggle for liberty’
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of heritage watchdog Historic England, said: “The underwater remains of ships involved in the D-Day rehearsals are a tangible reminder of the sacrifices made in planning and delivering this huge military operation on a scale never previously attempted.
“By protecting the wrecks of two United States landing ships we are remembering all of those who lost their lives in the struggle for liberty during the Second World War.”
Protected status means that any attempt to access the vessels or retrieve items from the seabed will be illegal, though divers will still be able to pass over the wreck sites.
‘Not in vain’
Mark Dunkley, maritime archaeologist with Historic England, said that the deaths of those on board had to be remembered in the context of subsequent actions by Allied commanders on D-Day itself, a little over two months after the sinkings.
He said: “Lessons were learned from what happened during Exercise Tiger. By D-Day, they made sure that instructions had been issued about how to use life jackets and the issue with radio frequencies had been resolved. They also made sure lifeboats could be launched. The sacrifice of these men was terrible but it was not in vain – they gave their lives to enable D-Day to be a success.”