theweekuk--2020-05-05--What makes people believe conspiracy theories?

Claims from the both White House and conspiracy theorists worldwide that the new coronavirus was developed by Chinese scientists have been shot down by Western intelligence agencies .
On Sunday , US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said : “ I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.
” But The Guardian reports that intelligence sources say the allegations are not supported by information gathered by the Five Eyes network , a secret information-sharing alliance between the UK , US , Australia , New Zealand and Canada .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the global pandemic continuing to spread ?
Conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon , and most people subscribe to them even if they don ’ t realise it , according to experts .
“ Everybody believes in at least one and probably a few , ” Professor Joe Uscinski , a political scientist and author of American Conspiracy Theories , told the BBC .
“ And the reason is simple : there is an infinite number of conspiracy theories out there .
If we were to poll on all of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few boxes.
” In 2018 , an international study by researchers at the University of Cambridge and YouGov found that 60 % of British people believed at least one conspiracy theory about how the country is run or the veracity of information they have been given .
Why do people believe conspiracy theories ?
People ’ s pre-existing notions and prejudices tend to influence which conspiracy theories they are more likely to believe .
For example , the 2018 study showed that 47 % of Brexit supporters believed the government had deliberately concealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the UK , versus just 14 % of Remain voters .
And 31 % of Leave voters believed that Muslim immigration was part of a wider plot to make Muslims the majority in Britain , compared with 6 % of Remain voters .
The phenomenon isn ’ t confined to the UK .
The study - conducted over six years in a total of nine countries - found that in the US , 47 % of Donald Trump voters believed that man-made global warming was a hoax , compared with 2.3 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton in the 2016 presidential election .
But conspiracies work both ways : people with more progressive views are more likely to believe conspiracy theories that undermine right-wing figures .
“ People feel they belong to their group but it also means that people feel a certain sense of antagonism towards people in the other group , ” Professor Sara Hobolt , a political scientist at the London School of Economics , told the BBC .
“ When you actually look at the demographic data , belief in conspiracies cuts across social class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuts across age , ” added Professor Chris French , a psychologist at Goldsmith ’ s , University of London .
The experts point out that while humanity ’ s ability to recognise trends and notice things that “ don ’ t look right ” was crucial to the successful evolution of our species , it can also be to our detriment .
“ We are very good at recognising patterns and regularities .
But sometimes we overplay that - we think we see meaning and significance when it is n't really there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also assume that when something happens , it happens because someone or something made it happen for a reason.
” Fake theories become even more popular when the normal world order is upset - such as during an unprecedented global pandemic .
” Conspiracy theories become more prominent in times of crisis and this has a lot to do with uncertainty , ” Karen Douglas , a professor of social psychology at the University of Kent , told Harper ’ s Bazaar .
“ People need explanations for significant events , and when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inconsistent , or continually unfolding – as is the case with coronavirus – we often look for quicker , simpler explanations.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Conspiracies may not be based in reality but they can have an influence on the real world .
“ Conspiracy theories are , and as far as we can tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of life in many societies , and most of the time that has gone beneath the radar of the established media , ” said John Naughton , one of three University of Cambridge professors who led the 2018 research .
Speaking to The Guardian after publishing their findings , Naughton added : “ Insofar as people thought of conspiracy theories at all , we thought of them as crazy things that crazy people believed , [ and that ] didn ’ t seem to have much impact on democracy.
” But events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts in favour of wild theories can have a significant impact on national and international government policy .
“ Whatever else you think of Trump , he is a born conspiracy theorist .
Trump was a kind of catalyst , in that somehow his election had the effect of mainstreaming conspiracy theories , ” Naughton continued .
Perhaps unsurprisingly , conspiracy theories don ’ t make people feel any better , Professor Douglas told Harper ’ s .
“ Rather than decreasing uncertainty , research suggests that conspiracy theories actually increase it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes for feelings of powerlessness and disillusionment .
People might look to [ fake news ] to try to gain a sense of power and trust , but instead they feel worse because it feeds into their fear.
” Viren Swami , a professor at Anglia Ruskin University and expert in the psychology of conspiracy theories , says that this feeling of powerlessness can have damaging and potentially lethal results .
“ Conspiracy theories give people a sense of agency at a time when they lack control .
So , if I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m anxious and fearful and disconnected from the wider world , a conspiracy theory can help to personify the problem , ” Swami told the magazine .
“ Suddenly , I have someone to blame , whether it be a Chinese laboratory worker or the American government .
The problem with this is that instead of feeling anxious , I now have permission to act , to do something .
And that can led to anything from a spike in xenophobia to people believing absurd and potentially very dangerous false medical advice.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theories as a domestic terrorist threat , according to a pre-coronavirus intelligence bulletin seen by Yahoo !
News .
The internal document , dated May 2019 , warned that such theories “ very likely will emerge , spread , and evolve in the modern information marketplace , occasionally driving both groups and individual extremists to carry out criminal or violent acts ” .
The 2020 presidential election was likely to further fuel the dangerous trend , the bulletin added .

Claims from the both White House and conspiracy theorists worldwide that the new coronavirus was developed by Chinese scientists have been shot down by Western intelligence agencies. On Sunday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.” But The Guardian reports that intelligence sources say the allegations are not supported by information gathered by the Five Eyes network, a secret information-sharing alliance between the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. So why is speculation about the origins of the global pandemic continuing to spread? How popular are conspiracy theories? Conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon, and most people subscribe to them even if they don’t realise it, according to experts. “Everybody believes in at least one and probably a few,” Professor Joe Uscinski, a political scientist and author of American Conspiracy Theories, told the BBC. “And the reason is simple: there is an infinite number of conspiracy theories out there. If we were to poll on all of them, everybody is going to check a few boxes.” In 2018, an international study by researchers at the University of Cambridge and YouGov found that 60% of British people believed at least one conspiracy theory about how the country is run or the veracity of information they have been given. Why do people believe conspiracy theories? People’s pre-existing notions and prejudices tend to influence which conspiracy theories they are more likely to believe. For example, the 2018 study showed that 47% of Brexit supporters believed the government had deliberately concealed the truth about how many immigrants lived in the UK, versus just 14% of Remain voters. And 31% of Leave voters believed that Muslim immigration was part of a wider plot to make Muslims the majority in Britain, compared with 6% of Remain voters. Skip advert The phenomenon isn’t confined to the UK. The study - conducted over six years in a total of nine countries - found that in the US, 47% of Donald Trump voters believed that man-made global warming was a hoax, compared with 2.3% of people who had voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
But conspiracies work both ways: people with more progressive views are more likely to believe conspiracy theories that undermine right-wing figures. “People feel they belong to their group but it also means that people feel a certain sense of antagonism towards people in the other group,” Professor Sara Hobolt, a political scientist at the London School of Economics, told the BBC. “When you actually look at the demographic data, belief in conspiracies cuts across social class, it cuts across gender and it cuts across age,” added Professor Chris French, a psychologist at Goldsmith’s, University of London. The experts point out that while humanity’s ability to recognise trends and notice things that “don’t look right” was crucial to the successful evolution of our species, it can also be to our detriment. “We are very good at recognising patterns and regularities. But sometimes we overplay that - we think we see meaning and significance when it isn't really there,” says French. “We also assume that when something happens, it happens because someone or something made it happen for a reason.” Fake theories become even more popular when the normal world order is upset - such as during an unprecedented global pandemic. ”Conspiracy theories become more prominent in times of crisis and this has a lot to do with uncertainty,” Karen Douglas, a professor of social psychology at the University of Kent, told Harper’s Bazaar. “People need explanations for significant events, and when information from official channels is incomplete, inconsistent, or continually unfolding – as is the case with coronavirus – we often look for quicker, simpler explanations.” –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Do conspiracies matter? Conspiracies may not be based in reality but they can have an influence on the real world. Skip advert “Conspiracy theories are, and as far as we can tell always have been, a pretty important part of life in many societies, and most of the time that has gone beneath the radar of the established media,” said John Naughton, one of three University of Cambridge professors who led the 2018 research. Speaking to The Guardian after publishing their findings, Naughton added: “Insofar as people thought of conspiracy theories at all, we thought of them as crazy things that crazy people believed, [and that] didn’t seem to have much impact on democracy.”


theweekuk--2020-05-05--Reaction: half of all UK adults ‘being bankrolled’ by government during pandemic

To keep reading The Week ’ s concise , refreshing and balanced take on the world , please register your @ @ @ @ @ use the details you have shared to manage your registration.You agree to the processing , @ @ @ @ @ of this information for the purpose of managing your registration as described in our Privacy @ @ @ @ @ the details you have shared to manage your newsletter subscription.You agree to the processing , @ @ @ @ @ of this information for the purpose of managing your subscription as described in our Privacy @ @ @ @ @ the information you have shared for carefully considered and specific purposes , where we believe @ @ @ @ @ to do so , for example to send you communications about similar products and services @ @ @ @ @ more about our legitimate interest activity in our privacy policy .
‘ We ’ includes @ @ @ @ @ Publishing ( UK ) Ltd brands as detailed here

We will use the details you have shared to manage your registration. You agree to the processing, storage, sharing and use of this information for the purpose of managing your registration as described in our Privacy Policy.
Would you like to receive The WeekDay newsletter ?
The WeekDay newsletter provides you with a daily digest of news and analysis.
We will use the details you have shared to manage your newsletter subscription. You agree to the processing, storage, sharing and use of this information for the purpose of managing your subscription as described in our Privacy Policy.
We will use the information you have shared for carefully considered and specific purposes, where we believe we have a legitimate case to do so, for example to send you communications about similar products and services we offer. You can find out more about our legitimate interest activity in our Privacy Policy.
If you wish to object to the use of your data in this way, please tick here.
'We' includes The Week and other Future Publishing Limited brands as detailed here.


theweekuk--2020-05-05--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 5 May 2020

An app built by the NHS to track the spread of Covid-19 will be rolled out for the first time @ @ @ @ @ healthcare workers on the Isle of Wight invited to put it to the test .
@ @ @ @ @ , the app could be available nationwide within weeks .
However , there are widespread @ @ @ @ @ liberties .

First workers to trial coronavirus tracing app
An app built by the NHS to track the spread of Covid-19 will be rolled out for the first time today, with council and healthcare workers on the Isle of Wight invited to put it to the test. If the trial is successful, the app could be available nationwide within weeks. However, there are widespread concerns about privacy and civil liberties.


theweekuk--2020-05-04--Nightclub holds drive-in rave in car park

A German nightclub has bypassed lockdown restrictions by hosting a drive-in rave in its car park .
Club Index , in the town of Schuttorf , allowed entry to 250 cars , each carrying a maximum of two party people .
The headliner was Dutch DJ Devin Wild , who livened up the crowd with some car horn-based audience participation .
Authorities in a city in Sweden are spreading chicken manure in a park to discourage people from gathering for an annual spring festival .
The mayor of Lund said the move has an additional benefit : “ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manure contains a lot of phosphorus and nitrogen , so that we have a really nice city park for the summer season.
” A Buckinghamshire woman claims that drinking smoothies containing a shot of sperm has helped to boost her immune system and fight off the Covid-19 coronavirus .
Personal trainer Tracy Kiss , 32 , says the concoction is made using donations from her boyfriend .
She said : “ The quantity depends on how hydrated my boyfriend is on the day .
I sometimes have a shot or disguise the taste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bananas.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A German nightclub has bypassed lockdown restrictions by hosting a drive-in rave in its car park. Club Index, in the town of Schuttorf, allowed entry to 250 cars, each carrying a maximum of two party people. The headliner was Dutch DJ Devin Wild, who livened up the crowd with some car horn-based audience participation.
Mayor uses chicken manure to discourage revellers
Authorities in a city in Sweden are spreading chicken manure in a park to discourage people from gathering for an annual spring festival. The mayor of Lund said the move has an additional benefit: “It is good for the lawn, as chicken manure contains a lot of phosphorus and nitrogen, so that we have a really nice city park for the summer season.”
Woman claims sperm smoothies protect against Covid-19
A Buckinghamshire woman claims that drinking smoothies containing a shot of sperm has helped to boost her immune system and fight off the Covid-19 coronavirus. Personal trainer Tracy Kiss, 32, says the concoction is made using donations from her boyfriend. She said: “The quantity depends on how hydrated my boyfriend is on the day. I sometimes have a shot or disguise the taste in a smoothie with fresh berries and bananas.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced takeon the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-05-04--Should you buy gold coins?

Should you buy gold coins?

With central banks spraying unprecedented amounts of printed money at the global economic system , it ’ s little wonder the gold price soared by 18 % in the six weeks following the stockmarket meltdown .
All the extra money sloshing around means the chances that consumer price inflation will take off and erode the value of your cash have risen sharply .
While central banks can create as much paper money as they like , gold can ’ t be produced at the touch of a button .
As a result gold is trusted as a store of value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean it typically flourishes when the news is bad and risky assets such as stocks slump .
That ’ s why we always advocate holding up to 10 % of your portfolio in gold as a form of insurance .
When it comes to buying physical gold , for most of us that means snaffling away a few gold coins .
They are small and convenient .
And provided you can do so securely , you can keep them at home .
Just remember , you may need to let your insurers know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look after them for you safely .
At the end of March , meanwhile , auction house Spink & Son presided over a bumper sale of collectable coins , some of which were gold .
“ It suggests investors are once again looking to the commodity , ” said This Is Money .
But hang on .
Collectable gold coins and bullion gold coins are two very different types of investment .
Collecting coins can indeed be lucrative .
Knight Frank compiles a Luxury Investment Index , and its calculations show that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( not just gold ones ) increased by 175 % in the decade to the fourth quarter of 2019 .
Between 2010 and 2019 , the FTSE All-share index rose by 52 % .
Collectable coins have “ numismatic ” value .
The materials they are made of are important .
But so are their rarity and beauty – key elements in the “ stories ” behind the coins that collectors love .
A coin may , for example , have been struck in error , such as the 20p coins from 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Or it might point to a milestone in history , such as the “ Flowing Hair ” dollar – the first to be minted by the newly independent US in 1794 , one of which sold for $ 10m in 2013 .
A $ 20 “ Double Eagle ” from 1933 became the world ’ s most expensive gold coin to be sold at auction – and the second-most overall after the “ Flowing Hair ” dollar – in 2002 , when it fetched $ 7.6m .
Some coin collectors will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a safe haven from stockmarket falls .
So says Dr Alain Baron , founder of Swiss coin dealer Numismatica Genevensis , whom I interviewed before the latest crash .
What is bearish for stocks tends to be bullish for the gold price .
That their bullion comes in the shape of small , circular discs with pretty designs impressed upon them is incidental to bullion investors .
It doesn ’ t really matter .
Only the weight and the purity of the gold it contains does .
When it comes to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be at least 99.90 % pure ( that is 990 parts gold per 1,000 ) , as that is the minimum to be classified as “ investment gold ” by the taxman , making it free of VAT .
( The purity value of gold bars needs to be higher , at 99.95 % or 995 parts per 1,000 . )
The popular Britannia bullion coins from the Royal Mint are 99.99 % pure gold ( 999 parts per 1,000 ) and as pure as gold comes .
Your “ investment gold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minted after 1800 or otherwise included on a list of acceptable foreign gold coins , available at gov.uk .
And because the one-troy-ounce Britannia , with a face value of £100 , ( along with the smaller , £1 gold sovereign ) is legal tender in Britain , it is also exempt from capital-gains tax .
That is one big advantage these British gold coins have over bars for UK-based gold investors .
The big disadvantage of coins compared with bars is that you will pay a much higher premium over the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market price for immediate delivery ) .
This is to cover all of the associated costs that go into making and distributing them .
For a one-troy-ounce coin – a Britannia , say – you will pay on average 4 % above the spot price , says Jan Nieuwenhuijs on Seeking Alpha .
“ Coins weighing less than one troy ounce have a higher premium , because their manufacturing costs are higher relative to the value of the gold in the coin.
” ( Just to confuse matters , gold coins are often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One troy ounce is about 10 % heavier than a regular ounce . )
So , while collectable and bullion gold coins both have their merits in terms of investments , which you buy depends on what you are trying to achieve as a buyer .
Are you looking for a safe , reliable store of value , the price of which may appreciate in these fevered times ?
If so , bullion is your bag .
But if you are fascinated by beautiful , rare and exceptional pieces , then collectable coins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them more of a hobby than an investment .
How to buy your coins Gold coins have been traded since at least the Bronze Age and collecting them is a hobby almost as old .
The first-century Roman emperor Augustus was an “ avid collector ” of ancient Greek gold coins , says Amanda Foreman in The Wall Street Journal .
His face was featured on the aureus , later to be replaced with the solidus as the gold coin of the later , Eastern Roman world .
Angels , ryals and guineas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of gold coins in England from the Middle Ages onwards , down to the 24-carat Britannias and 22-carat sovereigns that are still legal tender today ( although no longer in circulation ) BullionByPost sells all of these , including the “ high-grade gold ” ryal of King Henry IV ( 1367-1413 ) pictured above .
It is on the market for £2,650 .
If you ’ re after a specific historic coin , the Royal Mint will track it down for you .
BullionVault , as its name suggests , sells bullion coins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common one-troy-ounce gold bullion coins you will come across include the American Buffalo ( USA ) , Krugerrand ( South Africa ) , Maple Leaf ( Canada ) , Gold Panda ( China ) and Gold Nugget ( Australia ) .
But only the Britannia is free of capital-gains tax in the UK .
For a full list of where to buy physical gold , head to moneyweek.com/where-to-buy-gold-coins-and-bars .
This article was originally published in MoneyWeek

With central banks spraying unprecedented amounts of printed money at the global economic system, it’s little wonder the gold price soared by 18% in the six weeks following the stockmarket meltdown. All the extra money sloshing around means the chances that consumer price inflation will take off and erode the value of your cash have risen sharply. While central banks can create as much paper money as they like, gold can’t be produced at the touch of a button. As a result gold is trusted as a store of value and a safe haven. These qualities mean it typically flourishes when the news is bad and risky assets such as stocks slump. That’s why we always advocate holding up to 10% of your portfolio in gold as a form of insurance. When it comes to buying physical gold, for most of us that means snaffling away a few gold coins. They are small and convenient. And provided you can do so securely, you can keep them at home. Just remember, you may need to let your insurers know, or you can pay somebody else to look after them for you safely. At the end of March, meanwhile, auction house Spink & Son presided over a bumper sale of collectable coins, some of which were gold. “It suggests investors are once again looking to the commodity,” said This Is Money. But hang on. Collectable gold coins and bullion gold coins are two very different types of investment. Medieval gold Henry IV ryal © BullionByPost Collectable gold coins Collecting coins can indeed be lucrative. Knight Frank compiles a Luxury Investment Index, and its calculations show that the value of collectable coins in general (not just gold ones) increased by 175% in the decade to the fourth quarter of 2019. Between 2010 and 2019, the FTSE All-share index rose by 52%. Collectable coins have “numismatic” value. Skip advert The materials they are made of are important. But so are their rarity and beauty – key elements in the “stories” behind the coins that collectors love. A coin may, for example, have been struck in error, such as the 20p coins from 2008, which emerged without the year on them.
Or it might point to a milestone in history, such as the “Flowing Hair” dollar – the first to be minted by the newly independent US in 1794, one of which sold for $10m in 2013. A $20 “Double Eagle” from 1933 became the world’s most expensive gold coin to be sold at auction – and the second-most overall after the “Flowing Hair” dollar – in 2002, when it fetched $7.6m. Some coin collectors will also tell you that rare coins are also a safe haven from stockmarket falls. So says Dr Alain Baron, founder of Swiss coin dealer Numismatica Genevensis, whom I interviewed before the latest crash. Gold 2020 Britannia © Royal Mint Bullion gold coins What is bearish for stocks tends to be bullish for the gold price. That their bullion comes in the shape of small, circular discs with pretty designs impressed upon them is incidental to bullion investors. It doesn’t really matter. Only the weight and the purity of the gold it contains does. When it comes to the latter, investors want their gold coins to be at least 99.90% pure (that is 990 parts gold per 1,000), as that is the minimum to be classified as “investment gold” by the taxman, making it free of VAT. (The purity value of gold bars needs to be higher, at 99.95% or 995 parts per 1,000.) The popular Britannia bullion coins from the Royal Mint are 99.99% pure gold (999 parts per 1,000) and as pure as gold comes. Your “investment gold” coins also need to have been minted after 1800 or otherwise included on a list of acceptable foreign gold coins, available at gov.uk. And because the one-troy-ounce Britannia, with a face value of £100, (along with the smaller, £1 gold sovereign) is legal tender in Britain, it is also exempt from capital-gains tax. That is one big advantage these British gold coins have over bars for UK-based gold investors. Skip advert The big disadvantage of coins compared with bars is that you will pay a much higher premium over the “spot” gold price (the current market price for immediate delivery). This is to cover all of the associated costs that go into making and distributing them. For a one-troy-ounce coin – a Britannia, say – you will pay on average 4% above the spot price, says Jan Nieuwenhuijs on Seeking Alpha. “Coins weighing less than one troy ounce have a higher premium, because their manufacturing costs are higher relative to the value of the gold in the coin.” (Just to confuse matters, gold coins are often weighed in “troy ounces”. One troy ounce is about 10% heavier than a regular ounce.)


theweekuk--2020-05-05--Can protecting mosquitos from malaria defeat the disease?

Scientists have discovered a microbe carried by some mosquitos that prevents the insects from being infected with malaria parasites - and by extension , from transmitting the deadly disease to humans .
The malaria-blocking bug , Microsporidia MB , was identified by researchers at Kenya ’ s International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology , and appears to occur naturally in around 5 % of the mosquitos studied , the i news site report .
“ The data we have so far suggest it is 100 % blockage , it ’ s a very severe blockage of malaria , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the BBC .
The parasite is responsible for the deaths of around 400,000 people every year , most of them children aged under five , but scientists hope the new findings could “ be investigated as a strategy to limit malaria transmission ” , says the researcher in a newly published paper in the journal Nature .
Scientists could infect male mosquitoes with Microsporidia MB and then release them into the wild , where the insects would pass it on to females and their offspring .
Once at least 40 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying the microbe , malaria infection rates in humans should start to fall , according to experts .
Professor Steven Sinkins , from the Medical Research Council-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research , told The Times : “ It is a very exciting finding , and we very much hope that we can translate it into a new malaria control tool.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Scientists have discovered a microbe carried by some mosquitos that prevents the insects from being infected with malaria parasites - and by extension, from transmitting the deadly disease to humans.
The malaria-blocking bug, Microsporidia MB, was identified by researchers at Kenya’s International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, and appears to occur naturally in around 5% of the mosquitos studied, the i news site report.
“The data we have so far suggest it is 100% blockage, it’s a very severe blockage of malaria,” the team’s Dr Jeremy Herren told the BBC.
The parasite is responsible for the deaths of around 400,000 people every year, most of them children aged under five, but scientists hope the new findings could “be investigated as a strategy to limit malaria transmission”, says the researcher in a newly published paper in the journal Nature.
Scientists could infect male mosquitoes with Microsporidia MB and then release them into the wild, where the insects would pass it on to females and their offspring. Once at least 40% of a region’s mosquito population is carrying the microbe, malaria infection rates in humans should start to fall, according to experts.
Professor Steven Sinkins, from the Medical Research Council-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, told The Times: “It is a very exciting finding, and we very much hope that we can translate it into a new malaria control tool.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-05-05--Coronavirus: could testing sewage be an early warning system?

The UK ’ s sewage may be screened for the presence of the Covid-19 coronavirus under new government plans aimed at prevented future outbreaks .
Experts hope the testing could form part of epidemic surveillance measures to identify infection hotspots , after previous studies found that the virus can be detected in waste water .
A government spokesperson told Politico : “ We are actively engaging with the research community and government scientific advisers to investigate whether monitoring waste water could be used as a way of tracking the prevalence of the virus.
” How does it work ?
Scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by testing for genetic residues found in waste water .
A recent study by researchers from Sorbonne University and Paris water authority Eau de Paris found that monitoring of waste water “ may provide an alternative and possibly early tool to detect pathogens in populations when investigations in humans is difficult for logistic , ethical or economic reasons ” .
How effective is this method ?
More than a dozen research groups worldwide are now analysing waste water for the new coronavirus , says Nature magazine .
Experts say that this screening method @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and spread of the coronavirus than standard testing , with typical treatment plants each capturing waste water from more than a million people .
Studies have also shown that the new coronavirus , Sars-CoV-2 , can appear in faeces within three days of infection -whereas symptoms serious enough to send people to hospital can take two weeks to develop , says Tamar Kohn , an environmental virologist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology .
“ Seven to ten days can make a lot of difference in the severity of this outbreak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Health Organization is clear there is currently no evidence that coronavirus has been transmitted via sewerage systems , ” a UK government spokesperson said .
However , the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) says that the possibility of such transmission can not be ruled out .
“ Researchers do not know whether this virus can cause disease if a person is exposed to untreated waste water or sewerage systems , ” says the CDC website .

The UK’s sewage may be screened for the presence of the Covid-19 coronavirus under new government plans aimed at prevented future outbreaks.
Experts hope the testing could form part of epidemic surveillance measures to identify infection hotspots, after previous studies found that the virus can be detected in waste water.
A government spokesperson told Politico: “We are actively engaging with the research community and government scientific advisers to investigate whether monitoring waste water could be used as a way of tracking the prevalence of the virus.”
How does it work?
Scientists can estimate local concentrations of the virus by testing for genetic residues found in waste water.
A recent study by researchers from Sorbonne University and Paris water authority Eau de Paris found that monitoring of waste water “may provide an alternative and possibly early tool to detect pathogens in populations when investigations in humans is difficult for logistic, ethical or economic reasons”.
How effective is this method?
More than a dozen research groups worldwide are now analysing waste water for the new coronavirus, says Nature magazine.
Experts say that this screening method could provide better estimates for the scale and spread of the coronavirus than standard testing, with typical treatment plants each capturing waste water from more than a million people.
Studies have also shown that the new coronavirus, Sars-CoV-2, can appear in faeces within three days of infection -whereas symptoms serious enough to send people to hospital can take two weeks to develop, says Tamar Kohn, an environmental virologist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
“Seven to ten days can make a lot of difference in the severity of this outbreak,” Kohn told Nature.
Could sewage spread coronavirus?
“The World Health Organization is clear there is currently no evidence that coronavirus has been transmitted via sewerage systems,” a UK government spokesperson said.
However, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the possibility of such transmission cannot be ruled out.
“Researchers do not know whether this virus can cause disease if a person is exposed to untreated waste water or sewerage systems,” says the CDC website.


theweekuk--2020-05-05--Back to work: the UK’s plan for life after coronavirus


theweekuk--2020-05-05--Why has coronavirus not run rampant in India?

India is preparing to repatriate hundreds of thousands of nationals left stranded abroad as a result of the coronavirus pandemic , in what may become one of the largest emergency evacuations in decades .
The Indian government will begin returning nationals on military ships and chartered flights from Thursday , with almost 15,000 people to be flown home from a total of 12 countries in the first week of the operation alone , reports Chennai-based newspaper The Hindu .
How many of the 17 million Indians currently living abroad will seek repatriation remains to be seen , but “ it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a million ” , adds Germany ’ s Deutsche Welle .
One factor influencing their decision may be the limited extent of India ’ s coronavirus outbreak , with the South Asian nation and its neighbours accounting for a quarter of the world ’ s population but only 2 % of global Covid-19 infections .
How many cases has India reported so far ?
The past 24 hours have seen a steep rise in infections in India , with latest figures showing 3,852 new cases confirmed since the beginning of Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tally of infections is still startlingly low at just 46,476 .
By comparison , the US has almost 1.2 million confirmed cases , in a population about a quarter of the size of that in India .
Why are there so few cases confirmed in India ?
One possible explanation for the “ puzzle ” of India ’ s low rate of confirmed infections is the country ’ s poor testing capacity , says Foreign Policy .
As of the end of April , India had conducted only 830,201 tests , or 614 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowest rates of testing in the world .
However , “ if India ’ s low rate of testing were hiding a massive outbreak , it would show up in other ways ” , says the Washington D.C.-based news site .
Just 4 % of the tests done to date have returned positive , compared with around 17 % in the US , “ implying that the virus is less widespread in India ” .
India ’ s coronavirus death rate is also very low , at just 1,571 as of Tuesday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-fifth of deaths in India tend to be medically certified ” , but adds that hospital admissions since the beginning of the year have been relatively normal - which again suggests that the infection rate remains low .
Other theories about India ’ s low reported infection and death rates include the comparative youth of the country ’ s population , the authorities ’ speed and strictness in implementing nationwide lockdowns , and the success of their contact tracing programme .
Some experts and commentators have also suggested that warm weather may hamper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a widely deployed tuberculosis drug may boost resistance to the infection .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– India began relaxing its coronavirus lockdown restrictions on Monday , “ even as the pace of infection picked up ” , reports Associated Press .
Some aspects of the lockdown will be kept in place at least until 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to normal life , albeit with masks , social distancing and stringent hygiene standards , ” is beginning in areas nationwide that are deemed to be low risk , says the New York City-based news agency .
Yet India ’ s total infection rate has begun to rise significantly , according to the Brookings Institution think tank .
“ Active cases now growing at 5.5 % , so doubling every 13 days .
Not good .
Hotspot management ( containment and contact tracing and testing ) needs to be much better , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The country has also seen its biggest single-day jump in deaths linked to the illness , with 195 Covid-19 patients dying in the last 24 hours , New Delhi Television reports today .
The statistics add weight to growing fears that India ’ s outbreak “ has yet to peak ” , says The New York Times .
Rather than bringing the outbreak under control , limited interactions between people may simply have bought the Indian authorities “ time to prepare ” , says Ramanan Laxminarayan , an epidemiologist and economist at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dynamics , Economics and Policy .

India is preparing to repatriate hundreds of thousands of nationals left stranded abroad as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, in what may become one of the largest emergency evacuations in decades.
The Indian government will begin returning nationals on military ships and chartered flights from Thursday, with almost 15,000 people to be flown home from a total of 12 countries in the first week of the operation alone, reports Chennai-based newspaper The Hindu.
How many of the 17 million Indians currently living abroad will seek repatriation remains to be seen, but “it is estimated that the number could rise to a million”, adds Germany’s Deutsche Welle.
One factor influencing their decision may be the limited extent of India’s coronavirus outbreak, with the South Asian nation and its neighbours accounting for a quarter of the world’s population but only 2% of global Covid-19 infections.
How many cases has India reported so far?
The past 24 hours have seen a steep rise in infections in India, with latest figures showing 3,852 new cases confirmed since the beginning of Tuesday. However, the country’s overall tally of infections is still startlingly low at just 46,476.
By comparison, the US has almost 1.2 million confirmed cases, in a population about a quarter of the size of that in India.
Why are there so few cases confirmed in India?
One possible explanation for the “puzzle” of India’s low rate of confirmed infections is the country’s poor testing capacity, says Foreign Policy.
As of the end of April, India had conducted only 830,201 tests, or 614 for every million people - among the lowest rates of testing in the world.
However, “if India’s low rate of testing were hiding a massive outbreak, it would show up in other ways”, says the Washington D.C.-based news site. Just 4% of the tests done to date have returned positive, compared with around 17% in the US, “implying that the virus is less widespread in India”.
India’s coronavirus death rate is also very low, at just 1,571 as of Tuesday morning.
Foreign Policy notes that “only one-fifth of deaths in India tend to be medically certified”, but adds that hospital admissions since the beginning of the year have been relatively normal - which again suggests that the infection rate remains low.


theweekuk--2020-05-06--Tom Cruise planning to shoot film in outer space with Nasa

Tom Cruise is in talks with Nasa about shooting a film in space , according to the head of the US space agency .
Sky News reports that the 57-year-old actor “ is set to board the International Space Station to film the first narrative feature outside Earth ” .
Confirming the news , Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted : “ Nasa is excited to work with Tom Cruise on a film aboard the Space Station !
We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make Nasa ’ s ambitious plans a reality.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project , but according to Hollywood-focused magazine Deadline , SpaceX founder Elon Musk is also involved .
Musk has not confirmed the claim , but gave the production the thumbs-up in a tweeted reply to Bridenstine .
Should be a lot of fun !
According to Deadline , the space-based action adventure movie will not be part of the Mission Impossible series and “ no studio is in the mix at this stage ” .
As The Guardian notes , Cruise is famous for his “ daredevil films and for doing his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flew fighter jets ” for the upcoming Top Gun : Maverick , and “ hung off the side of a plane as it took off ” and “ climbed the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai ” for the Mission Impossible films .
A few previous films have been shot on board the space station , including a 2002 IMAX documentary that Cruise narrated and 2012 ’ s Apogee of Fear , reports CNN .
But Cruise ’ s next project could see him become the “ first actor to endure extraterrestrial travel ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tom Cruise is in talks with Nasa about shooting a film in space, according to the head of the US space agency.
Sky News reports that the 57-year-old actor “is set to board the International Space Station to film the first narrative feature outside Earth”.
Confirming the news, Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted: “Nasa is excited to work with Tom Cruise on a film aboard the Space Station! We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make Nasa’s ambitious plans a reality.”
Bridenstine gave no further details about the project, but according to Hollywood-focused magazine Deadline, SpaceX founder Elon Musk is also involved.
Musk has not confirmed the claim, but gave the production the thumbs-up in a tweeted reply to Bridenstine.
Should be a lot of fun! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 5, 2020
According to Deadline, the space-based action adventure movie will not be part of the Mission Impossible series and “no studio is in the mix at this stage”.
As The Guardian notes, Cruise is famous for his “daredevil films and for doing his own stunts”.
The American actor “flew fighter jets” for the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick, and “hung off the side of a plane as it took off” and “climbed the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai” for the Mission Impossible films.
A few previous films have been shot on board the space station, including a 2002 IMAX documentary that Cruise narrated and 2012’s Apogee of Fear, reports CNN.
But Cruise’s next project could see him become the “first actor to endure extraterrestrial travel”, says the US news network.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-05-06--Instant Opinion: Boris Johnson could ‘smuggle bad Brexit’ through coronavirus crisis

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on how the Brexit clock is still ticking Will Johnson smuggle a bad Brexit through the coronavirus crisis ?
“ When Boris Johnson was a journalist he was a notorious breacher of deadlines .
Officials and ministers say he carried that attitude into politics .
His career has been fuelled by adrenaline wrung from the last minute of every decision , which means he has probably not yet given much thought to Brexit transitional arrangements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year .
If an extension is wanted , the deadline for seeking one is 30 June .
In trade negotiating time , that is soon .
But in coronavirus time it is a faraway horizon .
Making the case for a longer transition are trade specialists , economists and diplomats .
They understand how hard it is to bridge the gap between London and Brussels in the time available , even without a pandemic .
They dread the impact of talks failing amid a Covid-induced slump and can see that the crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that follow catastrophe Let ’ s not make the mistakes of 1945 again “ Churchill and his cigar are recalled this week but so too , perhaps just as strongly , is the Labour landslide of Clement Attlee that the VE Day crowds voted for .
When this is all over , and we have gone back to some sort of normal existence , won ’ t it be time once again for the spirit of 1945 ?
I share the view that Attlee was a great man .
This despite the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contemporaries , wasn ’ t particularly decisive and wasn ’ t much of an orator .
As Isaiah Berlin wrote to The Economist : ‘ That any speech of Mr Attlee ’ s would be arid and uninspiring is , unfortunately , to be taken for granted ; he touches nothing that he can not dehydrate.
’ For all these deficiencies , as John Bew successfully argues in his recent Attlee biography , Citizen Clem , there are few politicians who have seen to success so many of the dreams and ideas of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Health Service and welfare state were durable achievements that rightly inspire us now .
Yet when the spirit of 1945 is brought to mind , it is worth also remembering the spirit of 1950 .
Within five years that huge Labour majority was gone , the enthusiasm for Attlee and his ministers dissipated.
” 3 .
Michael Nazi-Ali , former Bishop of Rochester , in The Daily Telegraph on the UK ’ s route out of lockdown We need to start reopening our society , not just the economy “ Quite understandably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about ‘ opening up the economy ’ .
People are conscious of the damage being done to business , and to their own income and savings .
We should be getting back to work gradually but also speedily , with safety but also with effectiveness .
The need , however , is not just economic : we are not merely homo economicus , we are also homo socius .
It is society as a whole which needs to be opened up .
We do not live by work or wealth alone ...
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatives or friends who need care or company .
Those living on their own have experienced sometimes frightening loneliness .
I called on a lady ( at a safe distance ) who had not seen anyone since March .
This is clearly not sustainable and will have a significant impact on the mental health of those thus isolated .
The costs of mental illness , breakdowns and suicides will be a high price to pay if isolation continues for any length of time.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– on the need to keep one eye on the president While everyone 's distracted by coronavirus , Trump 's quietly taking personal control of an agency he should n't be going anywhere near “ On the same day Trump signed an official document thanking civil servants nationwide , his own appointees at the federal government ’ s human resources policy agency were making moves to consolidate their power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has so often derides as the ‘ deep state ’ and part of the ‘ opposition.
’ That agency - the Office of Personnel Management - is , among other things , responsible for making sure federal agencies follow civil service laws , some of which date back to 1883 .
Most anti-corruption experts will wax eloquent about how a merit-based , nonpartisan civil service is necessary to ensure that government functions smoothly and unencumbered by corruption .
But for the loyalty-obsessed Trump administration , having to hire the ( actual ) best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for political reasons has been a bridge too far since Day One.
” 5 .
Charlie Warzel in The New York Times on the dark side of American freedom Open States , Lots of Guns .
America Is Paying a Heavy Price for Freedom “ The coronavirus pandemic and gun violence are by no means perfectly analogous calamities .
The federal government , which has the power to pass stricter gun laws , has more limited powers to control states ’ public health responses to Covid-19 .
And while other countries have curtailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain the virus .
But unlike many Western and Asian countries that are moving slowly to reopen and telling their citizens hard truths about the months ahead , the United States seems fixated on returning to normal , despite warnings from public health experts that it is too soon .
As with gun violence , the data medical professionals and governments are relying on during the pandemic is piecemeal .
And , as with gun violence , we throw up our hands and deem it intractable .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Rafael Behr in The Guardian
on how the Brexit clock is still ticking
Will Johnson smuggle a bad Brexit through the coronavirus crisis?
“When Boris Johnson was a journalist he was a notorious breacher of deadlines. Officials and ministers say he carried that attitude into politics. His career has been fuelled by adrenaline wrung from the last minute of every decision, which means he has probably not yet given much thought to Brexit transitional arrangements. They expire at the end of the year. If an extension is wanted, the deadline for seeking one is 30 June. In trade negotiating time, that is soon. But in coronavirus time it is a faraway horizon. Making the case for a longer transition are trade specialists, economists and diplomats. They understand how hard it is to bridge the gap between London and Brussels in the time available, even without a pandemic. They dread the impact of talks failing amid a Covid-induced slump and can see that the crisis has slowed progress.”
2. Daniel Finkelstein in The Times
on the opportunities that follow catastrophe
Let’s not make the mistakes of 1945 again
“Churchill and his cigar are recalled this week but so too, perhaps just as strongly, is the Labour landslide of Clement Attlee that the VE Day crowds voted for. When this is all over, and we have gone back to some sort of normal existence, won’t it be time once again for the spirit of 1945? I share the view that Attlee was a great man. This despite the fact that he didn’t impress his contemporaries, wasn’t particularly decisive and wasn’t much of an orator. As Isaiah Berlin wrote to The Economist: ‘That any speech of Mr Attlee’s would be arid and uninspiring is, unfortunately, to be taken for granted; he touches nothing that he cannot dehydrate.’ For all these deficiencies, as John Bew successfully argues in his recent Attlee biography, Citizen Clem, there are few politicians who have seen to success so many of the dreams and ideas of their youth. The creation of the National Health Service and welfare state were durable achievements that rightly inspire us now. Yet when the spirit of 1945 is brought to mind, it is worth also remembering the spirit of 1950. Within five years that huge Labour majority was gone, the enthusiasm for Attlee and his ministers dissipated.”
3. Michael Nazi-Ali, former Bishop of Rochester, in The Daily Telegraph
on the UK’s route out of lockdown
We need to start reopening our society, not just the economy
“Quite understandably, a great deal is being said about ‘opening up the economy’. People are conscious of the damage being done to business, and to their own income and savings. We should be getting back to work gradually but also speedily, with safety but also with effectiveness. The need, however, is not just economic: we are not merely homo economicus, we are also homo socius. It is society as a whole which needs to be opened up. We do not live by work or wealth alone... Many are worried that they cannot visit relatives or friends who need care or company. Those living on their own have experienced sometimes frightening loneliness. I called on a lady (at a safe distance) who had not seen anyone since March. This is clearly not sustainable and will have a significant impact on the mental health of those thus isolated. The costs of mental illness, breakdowns and suicides will be a high price to pay if isolation continues for any length of time.”


theweekuk--2020-05-06--Reaction: Donald Trump denies links to failed military coup in Venezuela

Donald Trump has rejected any link to an alleged failed military operation in Venezuela that landed two US citizens in jail in the South American country .
Quizzed by White House reporters on Tuesday about the foiled “ coup ” , the US president said : “ We just heard about it .
But it has nothing to do with our government.
” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims the two “ American mercenaries ” were part of an attempt by his political opponents to incite a rebellion or kill him , backed by neighbouring Colombia and the US .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” have been arrested following Sunday ’ s attempted incursion , during which eight people were killed .
Maduro has warned for years of foreign plots against his rule , “ waving at the spectre of treacherous coups and imperialist invasions ” , says The Washington Post .
Such “ alarmism ” has often served as a “ smokescreen for his government ’ s failures ” , but this time “ Maduro may have a point ” , adds the newspaper , pointing to footage being circulated on social media by the Venezuelan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - including two former US special operations soldiers .
Allegations and denials aside , this apparent coup attempt is most notable for its idiocy , says New York Magazine .
“ First there was ‘ stupid Watergate ’ , such an evocative phrase that it was applied both to the Trump camp ’ s entanglements with Russia and the president ’ s attempts to leverage aid in Ukraine that eventually led to impeachment , ” says the US publication .
Now , the Trump era has brought us stupid Bay of Pigs.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected insurrectionists reportedly tweeted about their raid while it was in progress ; tried to defeat a standing army of 340,000 with a force of just 62 ; and came dramatically underarmed , with the weapons subsequently confiscated by Venezuelan forces said to include an air rifle .
“ Seasick and vomiting ... the ragtag band of fighters ’ plan to arrest Venezuela ’ s authoritarian government and free political prisoners collapsed before they hit shore , ” reports The Wall Street Journal .
Indeed , the whole episode smacks of “ Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , tweets Brett McGurk , a former diplomat for both the Trump and Barack Obama administrations .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Trump ’ s efforts to distance himself from the operation may also come unstuck .
The Washington Post reports that “ a key figure behind the plot is Jordan Goudreau , a former US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Florida-based private security firm ” .
Silvercorp provided security for the president ’ s rallies in 2018 , as shown in a now-deleted Instagram picture that was screengrabbed by Vice News .
The image appears to have been taken backstage at Trump ’ s October 2018 rally in Charlotte , and was captioned “ Protecting our Greatest Assets ” .
For Maduro , the whole incident “ is a welcome distraction ” , says the Post , which notes that “ tanking oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic have put him under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is shared by former senior US diplomat Eric Farnsworth , now vice president of the Council of the Americas .
Unpicking Maduro ’ s “ convenient narrative ” , Farnsworth asks : “ What better way to rally a country that ’ s flat on its back than to expose an invasion from the empire ?
”

Donald Trump has rejected any link to an alleged failed military operation in Venezuela that landed two US citizens in jail in the South American country.
Quizzed by White House reporters on Tuesday about the foiled “coup”, the US president said: “We just heard about it. But it has nothing to do with our government.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims the two “American mercenaries” were part of an attempt by his political opponents to incite a rebellion or kill him, backed by neighbouring Colombia and the US.
According to Venezuelan authorities, 13 “terrorists” have been arrested following Sunday’s attempted incursion, during which eight people were killed.
Maduro has warned for years of foreign plots against his rule, “waving at the spectre of treacherous coups and imperialist invasions”, says The Washington Post.
Such “alarmism” has often served as a “smokescreen for his government’s failures”, but this time “Maduro may have a point”, adds the newspaper, pointing to footage being circulated on social media by the Venezuelan authorities that appears to show captured insurrectionists - including two former US special operations soldiers.
Hablan los que saben. pic.twitter.com/hR7N2yKi1J — Factores de Poder (@FactoresdePoder) May 3, 2020
Allegations and denials aside, this apparent coup attempt is most notable for its idiocy, says New York Magazine.
“First there was ‘stupid Watergate’, such an evocative phrase that it was applied both to the Trump camp’s entanglements with Russia and the president’s attempts to leverage aid in Ukraine that eventually led to impeachment,” says the US publication. Now, the Trump era has brought us stupid Bay of Pigs.”
In a series of blunders, the suspected insurrectionists reportedly tweeted about their raid while it was in progress; tried to defeat a standing army of 340,000 with a force of just 62; and came dramatically underarmed, with the weapons subsequently confiscated by Venezuelan forces said to include an air rifle.
“Seasick and vomiting... the ragtag band of fighters’ plan to arrest Venezuela’s authoritarian government and free political prisoners collapsed before they hit shore,” reports The Wall Street Journal.
Indeed, the whole episode smacks of “Bay of Pigs” meets “Keystone Cops”, tweets Brett McGurk, a former diplomat for both the Trump and Barack Obama administrations.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Trump’s efforts to distance himself from the operation may also come unstuck.
The Washington Post reports that “a key figure behind the plot is Jordan Goudreau, a former US Green Beret who runs Silvercorp USA, a Florida-based private security firm”.
Silvercorp provided security for the president’s rallies in 2018, as shown in a now-deleted Instagram picture that was screengrabbed by Vice News. The image appears to have been taken backstage at Trump’s October 2018 rally in Charlotte, and was captioned “Protecting our Greatest Assets”.
For Maduro, the whole incident “is a welcome distraction”, says the Post, which notes that “tanking oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic have put him under even greater pressure”.
That view is shared by former senior US diplomat Eric Farnsworth, now vice president of the Council of the Americas.
Unpicking Maduro’s “convenient narrative”, Farnsworth asks: “What better way to rally a country that’s flat on its back than to expose an invasion from the empire?”


theweekuk--2020-05-06--Why everybody’s talking about professor Neil Ferguson

Professor Neil Ferguson has resigned as a senior government adviser on coronavirus after breaking lockdown restrictions by repeatedly allowing his married lover to visit his home .
The 51-year-old , whose advice has guided the government ’ s social distancing strategy , said he regretted “ undermining ” messages on social distancing .
What did Ferguson do ?
Ferguson welcomed his lover , Antonia Staats , into his home during the lockdown on two occasions , according to The Telegraph , which broke the story .
Staats - described as a “ left-wing campaigner ” - reportedly travelled across London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband and their children in the south of the capital to be with Ferguson , nicknamed Professor Lockdown .
Her first visit , on 30 March , coincided with a public warning by the government scientist that lockdown measures would need to continue into June .
Her second visit , on 8 April , went ahead even though Staats - “ understood to be in an open marriage ” - had told “ friends she suspected that her husband , an academic in his 30s , had symptoms of coronavirus ” , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Telegraph that believed himself to be “ immune ” to the Covid-19 coronavirus after having already been infected .
The scientific community broadly believes that the human body builds up immunity after contracting the virus , with the government ’ s Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance previously saying that while multiple infections can happen , “ they ’ re rare ” .
“ In any infectious disease , there are cases where people can catch something again , ” Vallance said at a press briefing in March .
“ There ’ s nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurrence in this disease but we are learning as we go along.
” Ferguson self-isolated for two weeks after testing positive for the new coronavirus that same month , The Telegraph reports .
“ Sigh .
Developed a slight dry but persistent cough yesterday and self-isolated even though I felt fine .
Then developed high fever at 4am today .
There is a lot of Covid-19 in Westminster , ” he tweeted on 18 March .
The following day , he wrote that his infection fears had been confirmed after being “ tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK response ” .
Less than a week later , England ’ s deputy chief medical officer , Dr Jenny Harries , clarified at a Downing Street briefing that “ if the two halves of a couple are currently in separate households , ideally they should stay in those households ” .
“ The alternative might be that , for quite a significant period going forwards , they should test the strength of their relationship and decide whether one wishes to be permanently resident in another household , ” Harries added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his resignation , Ferguson told The Telegraph : “ I accept I made an error of judgment and took the wrong course of action .
I have therefore stepped back from my involvement in Sage [ the government ’ s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ] .
“ I acted in the belief that I was immune , having tested positive for coronavirus , and completely isolated myself for almost two weeks after developing symptoms .
“ I deeply regret any undermining of the clear messages around the continued need for social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government guidance is unequivocal , and is there to protect all of us.
” His resignation has been welcomed by high-profile figures including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith , who said : “ Scientists like him have told us we should not be doing it , so surely in his case it is a case of we have been doing as he says and he has been doing as he wants to .
“ He has peculiarly breached his own guidelines , and for an intelligent man I find that very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government 's lockdown message.
” Others were more sympathetic , however .
Senior Tory MP Charles Walker said : “ People will be desperately missing those that they love , and I totally understand if that separation becomes too much to bear at times.
” A government spokesperson confirmed Ferguson ’ s resignation but did not comment further , reports The Guardian .
Staats , 38 , has also declined to comment .
Meanwhile , a statement from Imperial College London - where Ferguson leads the team that produced the computer-modelled data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the epidemiologist “ continues to focus on his important research ” .

Professor Neil Ferguson has resigned as a senior government adviser on coronavirus after breaking lockdown restrictions by repeatedly allowing his married lover to visit his home.
The 51-year-old, whose advice has guided the government’s social distancing strategy, said he regretted “undermining” messages on social distancing.
What did Ferguson do?
Ferguson welcomed his lover, Antonia Staats, into his home during the lockdown on two occasions, according to The Telegraph, which broke the story.
Staats - described as a “left-wing campaigner” - reportedly travelled across London from the home she shares with her husband and their children in the south of the capital to be with Ferguson, nicknamed Professor Lockdown.
Her first visit, on 30 March, coincided with a public warning by the government scientist that lockdown measures would need to continue into June.
Her second visit, on 8 April, went ahead even though Staats - “understood to be in an open marriage” - had told “friends she suspected that her husband, an academic in his 30s, had symptoms of coronavirus”, the newspaper reports.
Ferguson has told The Telegraph that believed himself to be “immune” to the Covid-19 coronavirus after having already been infected.
The scientific community broadly believes that the human body builds up immunity after contracting the virus, with the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance previously saying that while multiple infections can happen, “they’re rare”.
“In any infectious disease, there are cases where people can catch something again,” Vallance said at a press briefing in March. “There’s nothing to suggest that this is a common occurrence in this disease but we are learning as we go along.”
Ferguson self-isolated for two weeks after testing positive for the new coronavirus that same month, The Telegraph reports.
“Sigh. Developed a slight dry but persistent cough yesterday and self-isolated even though I felt fine. Then developed high fever at 4am today. There is a lot of Covid-19 in Westminster,” he tweeted on 18 March.
The following day, he wrote that his infection fears had been confirmed after being “tested given my recent proximity to people leading the UK response”.
Less than a week later, England’s deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries, clarified at a Downing Street briefing that “if the two halves of a couple are currently in separate households, ideally they should stay in those households”.


theweekuk--2020-05-06--State-sponsored hackers ‘trying to steal’ coronavirus vaccine research


theweekuk--2020-05-06--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 6 May 2020

The UK may accept tariffs on goods in order to strike a trade deal with the EU , says Michael @ @ @ @ @ minister said such charges would be “ a missed opportunity ” , but added : @ @ @ @ @ price that we have to pay then there we go.
” He also repeated the @ @ @ @ @ no extension to the Brexit transition period beyond 31 December .

Gove says UK may accept tariffs on goods for EU deal
The UK may accept tariffs on goods in order to strike a trade deal with the EU, says Michael Gove. The Cabinet Office minister said such charges would be “a missed opportunity”, but added: “If that is the price that we have to pay then there we go.” He also repeated the line that there would be no extension to the Brexit transition period beyond 31 December.


theweekuk--2020-05-05--Police say ‘aggressive chicken’ is ‘terrorising bank customers’

A US police department is warning the public to beware of an “ aggressive chicken ” that has been “ terrorising bank customers ” at a drive-through ATM in a Louisiana city .
The Walker Police Department ’ s Facebook post said the chicken , which has chased customers and tried to get into their cars , has “ failed to engage in proper social distancing ” .
A man in Devon has unearthed a 120-year-old tunnel underneath his house while doing some DIY during lockdown .
Jake Brown made the discovery after noticing variations in texture in a wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plymouth .
Inside the cavern he found a hidden time capsule of items including paint cans , an old newspaper and bottles dating from the early 1900s .
A five-year-old boy told police he was on the way to California to buy a Lamborghini , after being pulled over while driving his mum ’ s car in Utah .
The officer who made the stop said : “ It was pretty clear when the window came down that it was a young , very underage driver.
” The boy explained that he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to buy him the Italian supercar .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A US police department is warning the public to beware of an “aggressive chicken” that has been “terrorising bank customers” at a drive-through ATM in a Louisiana city. The Walker Police Department’s Facebook post said the chicken, which has chased customers and tried to get into their cars, has “failed to engage in proper social distancing”.
Man discovers 120-year-old tunnel under his home
A man in Devon has unearthed a 120-year-old tunnel underneath his house while doing some DIY during lockdown. Jake Brown made the discovery after noticing variations in texture in a wall at his newly bought property, in Plymouth. Inside the cavern he found a hidden time capsule of items including paint cans, an old newspaper and bottles dating from the early 1900s.
Five-year-old boy pulled over while driving mum's car
A five-year-old boy told police he was on the way to California to buy a Lamborghini, after being pulled over while driving his mum’s car in Utah. The officer who made the stop said: “It was pretty clear when the window came down that it was a young, very underage driver.” The boy explained that he had taken the family SUV after his mother refused to buy him the Italian supercar.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced takeon the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-05-06--RAF air strike kills Isis fighters hiding in Iraqi caves

RAF jets have bombed a cave network being used as a base by an Islamic State cell in northern Iraq .
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that “ two Typhoon jets used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to strike all six of the caves ” in the joint UK-US operation last week , with ten terrorists reported to have been killed .
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said : “ The strikes continue because the Daesh threat is relentless and so will we be.
” Intelligence sources had identified the caves and tunnel complex in the Hamrin mountains as an Isis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ thorough check ” of the surrounding area for civilians was carried out before the night-time attack last Tuesday , according to a statement on the MoD website .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Following the operation , “ surveillance confirmed all the weapons struck their targets successfully , removing more Daesh fighters from the battlefield and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department said .
The Typhoons flew out of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker , reports defence news site DefPost .
The attack follows an RAF air strike on 10 April on Iris terrorists holed up in fortified buildings at an isolated site in northern Iraq , adds the Daily Mail .
The RAF began strikes against Isis in 2014 as part of “ a wider strategy to promote peace and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa ” , says the air force ’ @ @ @ @

RAF jets have bombed a cave network being used as a base by an Islamic State cell in northern Iraq.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that “two Typhoon jets used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to strike all six of the caves” in the joint UK-US operation last week, with ten terrorists reported to have been killed.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “The strikes continue because the Daesh threat is relentless and so will we be.”
Intelligence sources had identified the caves and tunnel complex in the Hamrin mountains as an Isis base, reports The Times.
A “thorough check” of the surrounding area for civilians was carried out before the night-time attack last Tuesday, according to a statement on the MoD website.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Following the operation, “surveillance confirmed all the weapons struck their targets successfully, removing more Daesh fighters from the battlefield and further downgrading the terrorist movement”, the department said.
The Typhoons flew out of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker, reports defence news site DefPost.
The attack follows an RAF air strike on 10 April on Iris terrorists holed up in fortified buildings at an isolated site in northern Iraq, adds the Daily Mail.
The RAF began strikes against Isis in 2014 as part of “a wider strategy to promote peace and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa”, says the air force’s official website.


theweekuk--2020-05-06--How Keir Starmer can rein in Boris Johnson

Keir Starmer has faced Boris Johnson at Prime Minister ’ s Questions for the first time , in an encounter delayed first by the prime minister ’ s hospitalisation with Covid-19 and then by the birth of his son .
Following the brief courtesy of congratulations , the new Labour leader went straight on the offensive .
Indeed , in “ the first meaningful PMQs of the decade ” , we got a glimpse of why Conservative MPs “ are getting nervous ” , says Politico .
Even before this afternoon ’ s Commons clash , an unnamed Tory MP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are in a completely different world now , in terms of the opposition as well as the virus .
Starmer is a prosecuting lawyer , and it is going to be the case for the prosecution every week , with Boris as the accused.
” This prediction proved correct .
Repeating his claim that “ the UK was slow into lockdown , slow into testing , slow on tracing and slow on the supply of PPE ” , Starmer pressed the PM to explain his past decisions , questioned his strategy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on government claims that coronavirus-related deaths are on the decline in care homes .
Delivering his verdict , ITV political editor Robert Peston tweeted that the Labour leader was the “ right combination ” of “ both forensic and cautious ” .
Two previous PMQs performances against Johnson ’ s deputy , Dominic Raab , had put the Conservatives on notice that Starmer was more of a threat than his predecessor .
Whereas Jeremy Corbyn often “ used crowdsourced questions and stuck to a script ” , his successor has adopted “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominating the news agenda ” , says the Financial Times .
That makes him “ a more formidable opponent ” , adds The Telegraph .
Unlike Corbyn , Starmer “ knows how to marshal his thoughts and to follow through on questions if he thinks there are flaws in the answers ” .
Even former Conservative chancellor George Osborne agrees .
The now-editor of the London Evening Standard tweeted : “ Watching PMQs there ’ s one clear conclusion : after a 5 year absence , Britain has an opposition again.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– After winning the Labour leadership in the midst of a global pandemic , Starmer ’ s watchword has been “ constructive ” , says Patrick Macguire in the New Statesman .
To some , especially Corbyn ’ s supporters , that leaves Starmer looking “ rather toothless ” , but each of his questions to Raab last month “ sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an answer that ministers would rather not be public ” .
Now , when facing Johnson , the contrast is even more stark .
With most MPs dialling in from home , PMQs has been stripped of “ the jeering and the aggro ” that produced its “ gladiatorial edge ” , says Andrew Sparrow in The Guardian .
But “ if Labour had to choose someone well suited to parliament in serious/boring mode , it is hard to imagine anyone better than Starmer ” .
For Lloyd Evans in The Spectator , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the killer instinct ” .
Morally , the Labour chief ’ s reluctance to cast blame may be “ heartening ” , and his ability to deliver “ an elegantly constructed question in three parts ” is unrivalled , but “ as a dramatic spectacle , it was like watching cress grow ” .
Perhaps , but that may be no bad thing , says Jonathan Lis in Prospect magazine .
“ The people elected a comedian when they wanted to be cheered up , ” he concludes .
“ Now they @ @ @ @ @ @

Keir Starmer has faced Boris Johnson at Prime Minister’s Questions for the first time, in an encounter delayed first by the prime minister’s hospitalisation with Covid-19 and then by the birth of his son.
Following the brief courtesy of congratulations, the new Labour leader went straight on the offensive. Indeed, in “the first meaningful PMQs of the decade”, we got a glimpse of why Conservative MPs “are getting nervous”, says Politico.
Even before this afternoon’s Commons clash, an unnamed Tory MP had told the news site: “We are in a completely different world now, in terms of the opposition as well as the virus. Starmer is a prosecuting lawyer, and it is going to be the case for the prosecution every week, with Boris as the accused.”
This prediction proved correct. Repeating his claim that “the UK was slow into lockdown, slow into testing, slow on tracing and slow on the supply of PPE”, Starmer pressed the PM to explain his past decisions, questioned his strategy for ending the lockdown, and cast doubt on government claims that coronavirus-related deaths are on the decline in care homes.
Delivering his verdict, ITV political editor Robert Peston tweeted that the Labour leader was the “right combination” of “both forensic and cautious”.
Starmer vs. Corbyn
Two previous PMQs performances against Johnson’s deputy, Dominic Raab, had put the Conservatives on notice that Starmer was more of a threat than his predecessor.
Whereas Jeremy Corbyn often “used crowdsourced questions and stuck to a script”, his successor has adopted “a more rigorous approach that focused on topics dominating the news agenda”, says the Financial Times.
That makes him “a more formidable opponent”, adds The Telegraph. Unlike Corbyn, Starmer “knows how to marshal his thoughts and to follow through on questions if he thinks there are flaws in the answers”.
Even former Conservative chancellor George Osborne agrees. The now-editor of the London Evening Standard tweeted: “Watching PMQs there’s one clear conclusion: after a 5 year absence, Britain has an opposition again.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Starmer vs. Johnson
After winning the Labour leadership in the midst of a global pandemic, Starmer’s watchword has been “constructive”, says Patrick Macguire in the New Statesman.
To some, especially Corbyn’s supporters, that leaves Starmer looking “rather toothless”, but each of his questions to Raab last month “sought - and in most cases secured - an answer that ministers would rather not be public”.
Now, when facing Johnson, the contrast is even more stark. With most MPs dialling in from home, PMQs has been stripped of “the jeering and the aggro” that produced its “gladiatorial edge”, says Andrew Sparrow in The Guardian.
But “if Labour had to choose someone well suited to parliament in serious/boring mode, it is hard to imagine anyone better than Starmer”.
For Lloyd Evans in The Spectator, however, Starmer is “curiously lacking in the killer instinct”. Morally, the Labour chief’s reluctance to cast blame may be “heartening”, and his ability to deliver “an elegantly constructed question in three parts” is unrivalled, but “as a dramatic spectacle, it was like watching cress grow”.
Perhaps, but that may be no bad thing, says Jonathan Lis in Prospect magazine.
“The people elected a comedian when they wanted to be cheered up,” he concludes. “Now they just want to survive.”


theweekuk--2020-05-06--Coronavirus: will the pandemic change our economic system?

22 February 2021: ‘The pandemic will change society forever’
Rishi Sunak is preparing to phase out the coronavirus wage-subsidy scheme for furloughed workers as part of the government’s plans to end the UK lockdown.
The chancellor is expected to announce that the coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be scaled back from July, as restrictions on business are lifted.
The pandemic has put unprecedented strain on both the British and world economy - prompting questions about how the crisis may change economic systems in the long term.
What are Sunak’s plans?
The chancellor is reportedly considering lowering the 80% wage subsidy paid by the state to 60%, and cutting the £2,500 cap on monthly payments.
Another option would be to allow furloughed staff to work reduced hours, with a smaller state subsidy.
Sources have “indicated that a final decision has yet to be made, but the Treasury was working closely with No. 10 as Boris Johnson prepares to outline plans on Sunday to gradually lift lockdown restrictions”, says The Guardian.
How is the UK economy faring now?
HMRC figures released this week show that 6.3 million staff from a total of 800,000 companies had been furloughed as of the end of last week, reports City A.M..
That represents more than a fifth of the UK workforce, with the government paying £8bn in staff wages during the first month of the scheme.
And the Office for Budget Responsibility has estimated that the total cost could reach £42bn over three months, based on 8.3 million people being furloughed at 80% subsidy.
The scheme would cost a further £12bn for each additional month at this level, according to the Resolution Foundation think tank.
Meanwhile, the threat of mass unemployment looms, amid fears that many companies will be unable to afford to rehire furloughed workers.
What will happen in the longer term?
The UK is on track for its deepest economic downturn in many decades, according to a recent survey by IHS Markit/CIPS that showed the UK’s dominant services sector contracted at a record pace in April.
IHS Markit economics director Tim Moore told the BBC that the data “highlights that the downturn in the UK economy during the second quarter of 2020 will be far deeper and more widespread than anything seen in living memory”.


theweekuk--2020-05-07--Italy to grant 600,000 illegal migrants right to stay

More than half a million illegal migrants are to be granted the right to live and work in Italy under government proposals aimed at plugging coronavirus-fuelled labour gaps .
The Times reports that illegal migrants have “ proved essential for caring for the elderly ” and have “ toiled in fields up and down the country during two months of lockdown , ensuring secure food supplies for Italians stuck at home , while risking arrest if caught by police ” .
Now , the “ disruptions to seasonal flows of workers caused by national lockdown measures ” have had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legal economy ” , adds Politico .
The Italian authorities are planning to give six-month , renewable work permits to the estimated 600,000 workers employed illegally on farms and in care homes .
The proposal was put forward by Agriculture Minister Teresa Bellanova , “ a former farmworker who left school for the fields at the age of 14 and became a union leader while still a teenager ” , says the news site .
The Pope appeared to lend his support to the plan yesterday , when he condemned the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Italy , adding : “ May the crisis give us the opportunity to make the dignity of the person and of work the centre of our concern.
” But far-right politicians claim the Covid-19 crisis is being exploited as an excuse for a migrant amnesty .
Giorgia Meloni , leader of the Brothers of Italy party , tweeted : “ For the Left , any excuse is good enough to aid illegal immigration.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

More than half a million illegal migrants are to be granted the right to live and work in Italy under government proposals aimed at plugging coronavirus-fuelled labour gaps.
The Times reports that illegal migrants have “proved essential for caring for the elderly” and have “toiled in fields up and down the country during two months of lockdown, ensuring secure food supplies for Italians stuck at home, while risking arrest if caught by police”.
Now, the “disruptions to seasonal flows of workers caused by national lockdown measures” have had the unexpected consequence of bringing migrants “inside the legal economy”, adds Politico.
The Italian authorities are planning to give six-month, renewable work permits to the estimated 600,000 workers employed illegally on farms and in care homes.
The proposal was put forward by Agriculture Minister Teresa Bellanova, “a former farmworker who left school for the fields at the age of 14 and became a union leader while still a teenager”, says the news site.
The Pope appeared to lend his support to the plan yesterday, when he condemned the “harsh exploitation” of migrant farm workers in Italy, adding: “May the crisis give us the opportunity to make the dignity of the person and of work the centre of our concern.”
But far-right politicians claim the Covid-19 crisis is being exploited as an excuse for a migrant amnesty.
Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy party, tweeted: “For the Left, any excuse is good enough to aid illegal immigration.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: how the pandemic will change city life forever

Lockdown measures may be lifted from rural areas earlier than the rest of the UK , England ’ s chief scientific adviser has said .
“ We know that cities and densely populated places have a higher prevalence than rural places , ” Patrick Vallance told MPs on the Health and Social Care Select Committee this week .
“ An option that could be considered is to think about whether measures could be done locally versus nationally.
” With Boris Johnson expected to begin easing social distancing restrictions from Monday , what is the outlook for the nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down by 85 % , and journeys on the Underground by 95 % , but “ even with Tube ridership standing at just 5 % at the moment , there are times when passengers struggle to keep their distance ” , Mayor Sadiq Khan writes in an article for City A.M.. To fully enact the two-metre distance social distancing measures on the Tube network , capacity of each train would have to be reduced to between 13 % and 20 % of pre-virus capacity , Khan says .
Likewise , the carrying capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 85 passengers to just 15 .
The government will need to enable as many people as possible to walk or cycle to school and work as possible , mirroring measures already put in place in a number of other cities around the world .
In Budapest - which seen bus use drop by almost 90 % , and overall road traffic by 50 % - the city authorities are establishing a temporary cycling network on main roads .
Berlin has also banned motor vehicles from some lanes to make way for cyclists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have “ ambitiously replaced 35km of traffic lanes with new emergency bike lanes ” , reports The Guardian .
Dr Rachel Aldred , a transport academic at the University of Westminster , told the newspaper that the UK could learn from other countries .
“ It feels like they are treating [ cycling ] like a proper mode of transport and we are just fumbling around ” she said .
“ There ’ s no guidance from the government ...
I think if they can manage it in Bogota , which is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues , you could imagine London doing similar.
” As Euronews says , the coronavirus pandemic has the “ potential to radically transform the face of our cities in the longer term ” , with lockdowns accelerating “ much deeper changes that were already under way ” .
Drastic drops in travel and industrial activity have seen pollution levels plummeting in urban areas across the globe - a downward trend that campaigners hope will inform and boost efforts to make cities cleaner and healthier places in the future .
“ Levels of NO2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by varying levels , but between 30 % and 45 % compared to the average levels of the same period from the past five years , ” James Lee , a research scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science , told Royal Geographical Society magazine Geographical .
Maintaining lower pollution levels could have major benefits for city residents , adds Lee , who says that “ 30,000 to 40,000 people have shortened life due to poor air quality in the UK… It knocks years off people ’ s lives with extended exposure.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ city to announce a major new scheme to reduce air pollution following lockdown , with officials in Madrid also mulling similar proposals .
London Mayor Khan has said that the city authorities will continue to encourage everyone who can work from home to continue doing so after the lockdown is lifted .
Businesses could also be asked to stagger employees ’ working hours , to prevent crowded commutes .
Many firms may seek to avoid such disruption and cut costs by reducing the capacity of their offices and encouraging employees to work from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And with more people working remotely and proximity to their workplace no longer a concern , traditional commuter belts could be on the way out , as the population disperses .
Planners may factor the fast spread of the pandemic into their planning of new developments , opting for building works that allow greater separation of populations - one of the key methods currently being used to slow the spread of infections .
“ At the moment , we are reducing density everywhere we can , and for good reason , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser to the UN on its climate change and cities programme , told The Guardian .
“ But on the whole , density is a good thing - denser cities are more energy efficient .
So I think in the long term there is going to be a conflict between the competing demands of public health and the climate.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The coronavirus outbreak has highlighted existing inequalities in UK society , with Covid-19 killing a disproportion number of people from the country ’ s poorest communities .
The Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) reports that “ deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred at more than twice the rate in the most deprived neighbourhoods in England ( 55.1 deaths per 100,000 people ) compared with the least deprived ( 25.3 ) ” .
Poorer people are also likely to suffer most as a result of the global economic recession that economists fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University College London Professor Michael Marmot , an expert in health inequality , warned that life expectancy in England has “ flatlined ” over recent years , following a “ lost decade ” of austerity .
And he told The Telegraph that people at the bottom of the income curve will be “ acutely vulnerable to the effects of the inevitable economic downturn ” triggered by the pandemic .
The initial coronavirus outbreak in China and subsequent spread of infections has triggered attacks on people of East Asian appearance in countries across Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Singaporean student in London , was punched and beaten by men shouting “ coronavirus ” in an attack in March that police treated as “ racially aggravated ” .
Mok told the BBC that the coronavirus outbreak has been used by some as an excuse to “ further hatred for people different from them ” .
And despite nationwide praise for NHS staff - among whom 43 % of senior doctors and 47 % of junior doctors are BAME , according to latest figures - the increase in racism and xenophobia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In the past , after a widespread medical emergency , Jewish communities and other socially stigmatised groups such as those affected by leprosy have borne the brunt of public anger , ” says The Guaridan .
“ References to the ‘ China virus ’ by Donald Trump suggest such grim scapegoating is likely to be a feature of this pandemic ’ s aftermath as well .
”

Lockdown measures may be lifted from rural areas earlier than the rest of the UK, England’s chief scientific adviser has said.
“We know that cities and densely populated places have a higher prevalence than rural places,” Patrick Vallance told MPs on the Health and Social Care Select Committee this week. “An option that could be considered is to think about whether measures could be done locally versus nationally.”
With Boris Johnson expected to begin easing social distancing restrictions from Monday, what is the outlook for the nation’s cities?
Transport
Bus travel in London is down by 85%, and journeys on the Underground by 95%, but “even with Tube ridership standing at just 5% at the moment, there are times when passengers struggle to keep their distance”, Mayor Sadiq Khan writes in an article for City A.M..
To fully enact the two-metre distance social distancing measures on the Tube network, capacity of each train would have to be reduced to between 13% and 20% of pre-virus capacity, Khan says. Likewise, the carrying capacity of double decker buses could be cut from 85 passengers to just 15.
The government will need to enable as many people as possible to walk or cycle to school and work as possible, mirroring measures already put in place in a number of other cities around the world.
In Budapest - which seen bus use drop by almost 90%, and overall road traffic by 50% - the city authorities are establishing a temporary cycling network on main roads.
Berlin has also banned motor vehicles from some lanes to make way for cyclists, and officials in Colombian capital Bogata have “ambitiously replaced 35km of traffic lanes with new emergency bike lanes”, reports The Guardian.
Dr Rachel Aldred, a transport academic at the University of Westminster, told the newspaper that the UK could learn from other countries. “It feels like they are treating [cycling] like a proper mode of transport and we are just fumbling around” she said.
“There’s no guidance from the government... I think if they can manage it in Bogota, which is a very complicated megacity with a lot of issues, you could imagine London doing similar.”
Enviromentalism
As Euronews says, the coronavirus pandemic has the “potential to radically transform the face of our cities in the longer term”, with lockdowns accelerating “much deeper changes that were already under way”.