theweekuk--2020-08-26--‘It’s the economy, stupid’: what would four more years of Donald Trump look like?

If US voters were hoping this week ’ s Republican National Convention ( RNC ) would provide clarity on Donald Trump ’ s vision for America , they will be disappointed .
On Sunday , the party released a statement saying that no new platform of policies would be presented at the convention , “ despite it traditionally being the way to give details on ideas and goals for the next four years ” , The Independent says .
But what might another term for Trump mean for America ?
The economy is - to the Republicans , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the run-up to the November election , the party aims to turn the “ spotlight back on to the economy as polls show it remains the core concern of voters , and the only main policy area where President Trump retains a lead ” over his Democratic rival Joe Biden , says The Times .
“ Ordinarily , a double-digit unemployment rate ” like the one that the US is currently experiencing “ would be crippling for a president seeking re-election ” , says NPR , pointing to George H.W Bush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mild ” recession in 1992 .
Yet while the current recession is much worse and unemployment is at record levels , Trump 's economic approval rating “ continues to hover near 50 % ” , notes the Washington D.C.-based news site .
According to Republican pollster Whit Ayres , this apparent anomoly is down to voters ’ “ memory of the economy before the pandemic ” , when “ unemployment was at historic lows ” and “ the economy was in great shape before the pandemic killed it ” .
Whether voters ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy will remain unwavering over the coming months may be crucial to the election outcome - and to his potential future economic policies .
Republican strategist Mike DuHaime says that “ during a re-election campaign , you basically are making the argument that the status quo is really good and that the challenger is insufficient to do the job ” , reports The Washington Post .
“ And for more than three years , [ Trump ] could credibly make that argument about the economy .
The problem comes when the status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hard data - both on the economy and with Covid - that shows that.
” As Black Lives Matters protesters took to the streets of cities across the US in June , the Australian Financial Review ’ s US correspondent Jacob Greber wrote that the county was being “ torn apart by a president who is incapable of showing empathy out of fear of being seen as weak ” .
“ Add in a botched pandemic response which has left more than 108,000 Americans dead , triggering an economic crisis that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and top it off with a video of a black man being killed by a policeman in broad daylight while three of his colleagues do nothing , ” he continued .
Gordon Flake of the Perth USAsia Centre think-tank told Greber that “ there is no way to sugar-coat the seriousness of the current combination of crises currently facing the United States ” .
In 2020 alone , “ America has had to address an impeachment process reminiscent of 1974 , a global pandemic exceeded only by the Spanish Flu of 1918 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Depression began in 1929 , and now the eruption of racial divisions arguably worse than than those exposed in 1968 , ” Flake said .
As pundits pointed the finger of blame at the president , his former defence secretary James “ Mad Dog ” Mattis also weighed in .
In what The Atlantic described as an “ extraordinary condemnation ” , Mattis accused his former boss of misusing the US military to violate the constitutional rights of American citizens .
“ Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – does not even pretend to try .
Instead , he tries to divide us , ” claimed Mattis , who quit in December 2018 over the withdrawal of US troops from Syria .
And many pundits fear that a second term for Trump could only further these social chasms .
The second night of the RNC , on Tuesday , featured a video showing Trump hosting a naturalisation ceremony at the White House at which five immigrants became US citizens .
“ Today , America rejoices as we welcome five absolutely incredible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You are now fellow citizens of the greatest nation on the face of God ’ s Earth .
Congratulations , ” Trump said .
Yet the president ’ s wider record on immigration makes it difficult to predict his future stance on the issue .
As former CIA agent A.J .
Fuentes Twombly writes in an article for NBC News , the Trump administration has “ handled a flow of migrants at the Mexican border by locking them in cages , incarcerated the most immigrants in US history , and separated children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have yet to be reunited ” .
The Republican Party has this week rallied around Trump ’ s foreign policy goals , “ largely encapsulated by his America First slogan , which he debuted during his 2016 campaign and repeated Monday ” , Voice of America reports .
Trump ’ s son Eric told the RNC yesterday that under his father ’ s administration , “ never-ending wars were finally ended ” .
Yet while the official America First foreign policy includes a pledge to “ stop endless wars and bring troops home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goals include to “ maintain and expand America ’ s unrivalled military strength ” and “ wipe out global terrorists who threaten to harm Americans ” .
Many Republicans seem unfazed by these apparently contradictory aims .
Defence Secretary Mike Pompeo boasted about Trump ’ s shock decision to approve a drone attack that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in January - a move that threatened to destabilise parts of the Middle East and greatly increased tensions between Iran and the US .
According to Al Jazeera , another major talking point for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending reliance on China ” , through a programme that would include “ bringing back one million manufacturing jobs ” from the Asian superpower .
The Trump admistration has also pledged to implement tax credits for companies that bring back jobs from China and “ withhold federal contracts for companies that outsource to China ” , the site says .
In addition , the party plans to “ hold China fully accountable ” for “ allowing ” the Covid-19 coronavirus to “ spread around the world ” .
Edward Alden , a senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told Voice of America that if re-elected , Trump is likely to continue to become more confrontational with China .
“ Both parties , but particularly the Republican Party , have come to see China not just as an economic rival , but as a growing security threat , ” Alden said .
Under Trump , “ the United States has completely abandoned the notion of allies being important and abandoned the notion of international cooperation as being important ” , he added .


theweekuk--2020-08-26--Why everybody’s talking about Boris Johnson’s school face masks U-turn

Secondary school pupils in areas with high coronavirus infection rates will be ordered to wear face masks when they return to class , following a last-minute U-turn by the government .
Boris Johnson announced last night that the previous guidance that face coverings should not be required in schools was being reversed , after “ scores of headteachers broke ranks to urge their use , backed by Labour and trade unions ” , The Guardian reports .
The new official advice on masks came “ a day after Downing Street said that students would be safe without them ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs over another policy reversal ” , adds The Times .
Why the change of heart ?
Johnson had told reporters earlier on Tuesday that schoolchildren would not be forced to wear masks in high-risk areas , adding that he would “ look at the changing medical evidence as we go on .
If we need to change the advice then of course we will.
” Hours later , the prime minister did just that , in the latest of a series of recent U-turns that have included the decision to use teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results and the continuation of free school meals during the summer holidays .
Johnson had faced growing pressure to rethink the advice on masks after the authorities in Scotland said secondary school students there should wear face coverings in communal areas and on school buses .
The Welsh government is also reviewing its masks policy after World Health Organization ( WHO ) guidance was updated over the weekend .
The UN health agency says that “ that children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least a one-metre distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area ” .
Following Johnson ’ s announcement last night , the Department for Education ( DfE ) issued a statement confirming that in regions with high Covid levels , “ defined as areas of national government intervention as listed on gov.uk ” , adults and pupils should wear face coverings when moving around the school and in communal areas where social distancing is difficult .
The provision does not extend to classrooms , where “ protective measures already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they can inhibit learning ” , the statement continued .
“ Nationwide , while the government is not recommending face coverings are necessary , schools will have the discretion to require face coverings in communal areas if they believe that is right in their particular circumstances.
” The change of heart was intended to “ head off a growing row with unions and parents ’ groups , who had suggested England should follow new advice ” from WHO , says The Telegraph .
Senior government sources told the newspaper that the international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case ” for secondary school children wearing face coverings .
Both Public Health England and the DfE are understood to have approved Downing Street ’ s policy shift .
Parents and teacher groups have also welcomed the U-turn .
Geoff Barton , general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders , had previously said that it would be “ prudent ” for the government to review its guidance .
John Jolly , chief executive of national parent-teacher association Parentkind , backed the move “ as long as we are not moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks in the classroom ” .
The policy shift may reassure the estimated 25 % of parents who were “ very worried ” about their children returning to classrooms , he added .
But Labour ’ s shadow education secretary , Kate Green , argues that while “ parents and schools needed clarity and leadership ” , the government has “ just passed the buck back to them ” .
“ Face coverings should be compulsory in communal areas in schools .
Instead of this half-baked U-turn , the government should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver it , ” Green added .
What about the mood among Tory backbenches ?
A senior Tory MP “ who is normally loyal to the government ” told The Times that they were “ disgusted and disappointed ” by the latest announcement .
“ It ’ s an utter , utter shitshow , ” the unnamed MP said , adding : “ It ’ s beyond comprehension why this wasn ’ t done earlier .
“ It ’ s mess after mess , U-turn after U-turn .
Parents and teachers will lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a fundamental issue of competence , God knows what is going on .
There is no grip , it ’ s bizarre.
” Summing up the mood , The Guardian says that “ the change risks a major backlash from Conservative MPs , some of whom had publicly challenged [ Johnson ] not to change tack for schools in England ” .
A Tory backbencher told the paper that the idea of pupils wearing masks in schools went “ way too far ” .
Meanwhile , Tory MP Huw Merriman said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Appearing on BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme , Merriman said : “ I Just absolutely fundamentally feel that young people just need to be able to get on with their education free of any encumbrance.
” Suggesting that the government is “ making this up as we go along ” , he added : “ Anything that sends a message out that it ’ s not safe in the corridor means that it can ’ t be safe in the classroom.
” Marcus Fysh , Conservative MP for Yeovil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the situation .
“ No Boris Johnson , this is utterly wrong , ” Fysh tweeted .
“ Masks should be banned in schools .
The country should be getting back to normal , not pandering to this scientifically illiterate guff .
”

Secondary school pupils in areas with high coronavirus infection rates will be ordered to wear face masks when they return to class, following a last-minute U-turn by the government.
Boris Johnson announced last night that the previous guidance that face coverings should not be required in schools was being reversed, after “scores of headteachers broke ranks to urge their use, backed by Labour and trade unions”, The Guardian reports.
The new official advice on masks came “a day after Downing Street said that students would be safe without them” and has sparked “a backlash from Tory MPs over another policy reversal”, adds The Times.
Why the change of heart?
Johnson had told reporters earlier on Tuesday that schoolchildren would not be forced to wear masks in high-risk areas, adding that he would “look at the changing medical evidence as we go on. If we need to change the advice then of course we will.”
Hours later, the prime minister did just that, in the latest of a series of recent U-turns that have included the decision to use teachers’ predicted grades for A-level and GCSE results and the continuation of free school meals during the summer holidays.
Johnson had faced growing pressure to rethink the advice on masks after the authorities in Scotland said secondary school students there should wear face coverings in communal areas and on school buses.
The Welsh government is also reviewing its masks policy after World Health Organization (WHO) guidance was updated over the weekend. The UN health agency says that “that children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee at least a one-metre distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area”.
Following Johnson’s announcement last night, the Department for Education (DfE) issued a statement confirming that in regions with high Covid levels, “defined as areas of national government intervention as listed on gov.uk”, adults and pupils should wear face coverings when moving around the school and in communal areas where social distancing is difficult.
The provision does not extend to classrooms, where “protective measures already mean the risks are lower, and where they can inhibit learning”, the statement continued.


theweekuk--2020-08-26--Coronavirus: UK government ‘watered down’ advice on effective hand sanitisers

The UK government quietly dropped official advice from international health experts on effective hand sanitisers just ten days before the @ @ @ @ @ has emerged .
An investigation by Sky News has found that “ hundreds of thousands @ @ @ @ @ “ take up to two minutes to kill coronavirus ” are being used in schools @ @ @ @ @ Britain .
But the World Health Organization ( WHO ) says that hand wash should @ @ @ @ @ alcohol in order to be effective against Covid-19 , after two separate studies found that @ @ @ @ @ to 30 seconds to kill the virus .
At the start of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ of the public to “ use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 @ @ @ @ @ water are not available ” .

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theweekuk--2020-08-26--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 26 Aug 2020

The mother of a black man left paralysed after being shot by US police has called for “ healing ” @ @ @ @ @ “ examine your hearts ” .
Jacob Blake was shot in the back in Kenosha @ @ @ @ @ while trying to break up a fight between two women .
The incident has caused @ @ @ @ @ .
Lawyers for Blake say he will need a “ miracle ” to walk again @

Call for healing after Wisconsin police shooting
The mother of a black man left paralysed after being shot by US police has called for “healing” and told the authorities to “examine your hearts”. Jacob Blake was shot in the back in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday while trying to break up a fight between two women. The incident has caused angry protests in the city. Lawyers for Blake say he will need a “miracle” to walk again.


theweekuk--2020-08-26--Covid misinformation blamed for Texans drinking bleach

Almost 50 North Texans drank bleach this month , according to the North Texas Poison Center , which blamed “ misleading and inaccurate information circulating online about how to prevent the spread of Covid-19 , ” for the rise in poisonings .
In April , Donald Trump suggested the new coronavirus might be treated by injecting disinfectant into the body .
Tiny aliens may already be among us Microscopic aliens drift from planet to planet and could already be here on Earth , according to scientists .
The experts claim that the teeny extraterrestrials overcome journeys across the harsh environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” thinner than a sheet of paper .
Man goes eight decades without haircut A man in Vietnam has gone almost 80 years without getting a haircut .
Nguyen Van Chien , 92 , has five-metre long dreadlocks and says they are part of a divine calling .
“ I believe if I cut my hair I will die , ” he told Reuters .
“ I dare not to change anything , not even combing it.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Almost 50 North Texans drank bleach this month, according to the North Texas Poison Center, which blamed “misleading and inaccurate information circulating online about how to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” for the rise in poisonings. In April, Donald Trump suggested the new coronavirus might be treated by injecting disinfectant into the body.
Tiny aliens may already be among us
Microscopic aliens drift from planet to planet and could already be here on Earth, according to scientists. The experts claim that the teeny extraterrestrials overcome journeys across the harsh environment of space by grouping in “colonies” thinner than a sheet of paper.
Man goes eight decades without haircut
A man in Vietnam has gone almost 80 years without getting a haircut. Nguyen Van Chien, 92, has five-metre long dreadlocks and says they are part of a divine calling. “I believe if I cut my hair I will die,” he told Reuters. “I dare not to change anything, not even combing it.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-08-28--Five of the strangest quotes from Donald Trump’s Republican convention

After Covid-19 forced Donald Trump to abandon his plans for a business-as-usual convention , the Republican party ’ s campaign launch blended video messages with live speeches in empty halls .
And the message was similarly disjointed .
“ Speakers see-sawed between the upbeat mood Trump and his campaign said would dominate and a dystopian forecast of America with former vice president Joe Biden in the White House , ” Politico reports .
“ There were frequent mentions of radical leftists , ‘ the mob ’ and the civil unrest in America ’ s cities this summer.
” There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus itself - an omission which loomed over some of the week ’ s stranger moments .
“ If we let them , they will turn our country into a socialist utopia.
” Senator Tim Scott made a bold , if perhaps inadvertent prediction during his speech : that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would not only try to make socialism work , but that it would succeed .
Naturally he followed up by noting that “ history has taught us that path only leads to pain and misery ” .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one vote away from founding the world ’ s first utopian state seemed like a significant concession .
Donald Trump offered his own vision of Utopia : a country free from Covid-19 .
Or perhaps , more accurately , a country free from lockdowns , regardless of what the coronavirus was doing .
“ You have a governor who ’ s in a total shutdown mood , ” he told residents of North Carolina , which hosted the convention .
“ I guarantee you , on 4 November it will all open up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utopia too may come with misery and pain .
“ In the real world , ” says CNN , “ about 1,000 Americans die from coronavirus every 24 hours , adding to the endlessly climbing toll , in large part because of Trump ’ s mismanagement of the crisis ” .
“ They want to abolish the suburbs.
” Mark and Patricia McCloskey , “ who face felony charges for waving their guns at demonstrators who were passing their St. Louis mansion ” during the Black Lives Matter protests in June , made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limelight , Bloomberg reports .
Having been given the platform on the first night of the platform , they claimed that Joe Biden and his party of “ Marxist activists ” wanted to “ abolish the suburbs ” and abandon them to “ crime , lawlessness and low-quality apartments ” .
The fact-checking website Politifact begged to differ .
After a review of the Democrats ’ policies on local planning , it concluded : “ Joe Biden and the Democratic Party are not seeking to abolish the suburbs.
” ‘ THE BEST IS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not so much what Kimberley Guilfoyle said as how she said it .
Her speech , delivered to an empty auditorium , nonetheless built to a deafening crescendo .
“ What might have been a rousing speech to an arena full of rowdy , cheering convention delegates was instead an echoing , volume-shattering address that lit up social media , ” says Politico .
“ This president has been a champion for women.
” Kellyanne Conway , who was White House press secretary until her resignation this week , praised Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he had hired more “ strong women ” to his campaign and administration “ than any other president in US history ” .
Trump endorsed the claim .
“ Women have played a very big role , ” he said .
“ The level of genius is unbelievable , frankly.
” The message seemed “ at odds with the man who has shown us how he feels about women 's equality not only from the days of the Access Hollywood tape , but from his interactions with women reporters , legislators , @ @ @ @ @ @ @


theweekuk--2020-08-28--Vladimir Putin prepares security force to put down Belarus election protests

Russian President Vladimir Putin has formed a police force to intervene in Belarus if he decides it is necessary to support embattled President Alexander Lukashenko .
Speaking on Russian state TV , Putin said Lukashenko “ asked me to set up a certain police reserve - I have done so ” .
He went on to say that the pair also agreed that it “ won ’ t be used until the situation gets out of control ” , suggesting that there are no imminent plans to deploy the security force .
The comments are “ the Kremlin ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenko , The Times says , who has been battling with street protests since a disputed election on 8 August in which he claimed a landslide victory .
“ We agreed that [ the Russian force ] will not be used until the situation gets out of control , and when extremist elements , hiding behind slogans , cross certain lines and engage in brigandry , ” Putin said .
The Russian president added that his red line for intervention would be when protesters began “ burning cars , houses , banks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia has an “ obligation to help Belarus with its security under the two countries ’ close alliance ” , Putin said , stressing “ the deep cultural , ethnic and linguistic ties between the two nations ” , the BBC reports .
“ The decision is a boon ” for Lukashenko , The Times adds , who is facing strikes of up to 200,000 people each weekend .
However , experts suspect that Putin would rather see the demonstrations “ fade away ” , than face a decision over whether to intervene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tank the Atlantic Council , Steven Pifer , the former US ambassador to Ukraine , says that Russian involvement in his former posting was “ instrumental in pushing Ukraine away from Russia and toward the West ” .
“ Does Moscow want to repeat this mistake with Belarus ?
” Pifer adds .
“ At present , [ Putin ] appears inclined to make the wrong decision , with potentially costly implications for Russia .
”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has formed a police force to intervene in Belarus if he decides it is necessary to support embattled President Alexander Lukashenko.
Speaking on Russian state TV, Putin said Lukashenko “asked me to set up a certain police reserve - I have done so”.
He went on to say that the pair also agreed that it “won’t be used until the situation gets out of control”, suggesting that there are no imminent plans to deploy the security force.
The comments are “the Kremlin’s most forthright show of support” for Lukashenko, The Times says, who has been battling with street protests since a disputed election on 8 August in which he claimed a landslide victory.
“We agreed that [the Russian force] will not be used until the situation gets out of control, and when extremist elements, hiding behind slogans, cross certain lines and engage in brigandry,” Putin said.
The Russian president added that his red line for intervention would be when protesters began “burning cars, houses, banks and trying to seize administrative buildings”.
Russia has an “obligation to help Belarus with its security under the two countries’ close alliance”, Putin said, stressing “the deep cultural, ethnic and linguistic ties between the two nations”, the BBC reports.
“The decision is a boon” for Lukashenko, The Times adds, who is facing strikes of up to 200,000 people each weekend. However, experts suspect that Putin would rather see the demonstrations “fade away”, than face a decision over whether to intervene.
Writing for American international affairs think tank the Atlantic Council, Steven Pifer, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, says that Russian involvement in his former posting was “instrumental in pushing Ukraine away from Russia and toward the West”.
“Does Moscow want to repeat this mistake with Belarus?” Pifer adds. “At present, [Putin] appears inclined to make the wrong decision, with potentially costly implications for Russia.”


theweekuk--2020-08-28--How schools will be different when they reopen their doors to students

The largest union of headteachers in the UK has announced that a majority of schools will be ready to welcome back all pupils when term starts in September - although what they find on their return may be quite different from what they left in March .
Despite the introduction of an array of mandatort safety measures over the summer , the National Association of Head Teachers ( NAHT ) confirmed that 97 % of schools were ready to reopen on schedule .
However , the union ’ s general secretary , Paul Whiteman , warned that schools can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a reference to this week ’ s U-turn on the use of masks in schools in England , the Daily Mail says .
Much has been made of the government ’ s inconsistent messaging on the use of masks in schools .
Boris Johnson announced this week that secondary schools in high-risk areas of England must ensure all pupils in year seven and above wear face coverings in corridors and communal areas .
The government has “ left it up to head teachers ” in regions without high infection rates to choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times reports .
A survey of schools by the paper found “ some will insist all secondary pupils wear them in corridors and other communal areas , with one making them mandatory in the classroom ” .
The government has advised head teachers to introduce more stringent hygiene practices to reduce the risk of the disease spreading among students and staff .
Student hygiene will be of “ paramount importance , with newly installed outdoor basins encouraging regular hand washing ” , The i reports .
Additional cleaning staff will also “ routinely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper adds .
The government has also insisted that schools keep pupils with Covid-19 symptoms , or with family members who show symptoms , away from school .
No .
10 says it wants schools to ensure that “ pupils , staff and other adults do not come into the school if they have coronavirus symptoms , or have tested positive in at least the last ten days ” .
Schools have also been asked to ensure that anyone who develops symptoms during the school day is sent home , which Downing Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce the risk in schools and further drive down transmission of coronavirus ” .
According to the BBC , a number of schools around the country plan to stagger start and finish times for pupils , without shortening the number of teaching hours each pupil receives .
The Times survey revealed that at least 200 schools are introducing staggered times , with earlier or later starts for different year groups .
The Academies Enterprise Trust , which runs 52 schools in England , said most of its institutions would have staggered starts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to introduce a system of “ bubbles ” aimed at “ reducing the number of contacts between children and staff ” .
“ This can be achieved through keeping groups separate ( in ‘ bubbles ’ ) and through maintaining distance between individuals , ” the government schools portal says , noting that these are “ not alternative options and both measures will help ” depending on the demographics of the children being regulated .
For younger children the emphasis will be on separating groups , while for older students it will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also means that schools should avoid large gatherings such as assemblies or collective worship with more than one group .
A less common solution not listed by the government is the introduction of Saturday opening for schools .
According to the Daily Mail , two academy trusts have confirmed that they will open on Saturdays to help children catch-up with work missed during the six months of school closures due to Covid-19 .

The largest union of headteachers in the UK has announced that a majority of schools will be ready to welcome back all pupils when term starts in September - although what they find on their return may be quite different from what they left in March.
Despite the introduction of an array of mandatort safety measures over the summer, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) confirmed that 97% of schools were ready to reopen on schedule.
However, the union’s general secretary, Paul Whiteman, warned that schools cannot introduce “any more last-minute plans”, a reference to this week’s U-turn on the use of masks in schools in England, the Daily Mail says.
Face masks in secondary schools
Much has been made of the government’s inconsistent messaging on the use of masks in schools. Boris Johnson announced this week that secondary schools in high-risk areas of England must ensure all pupils in year seven and above wear face coverings in corridors and communal areas.
The government has “left it up to head teachers” in regions without high infection rates to choose whether to introduce the masks, The Times reports. A survey of schools by the paper found “some will insist all secondary pupils wear them in corridors and other communal areas, with one making them mandatory in the classroom”.
Enhanced hygeine
The government has advised head teachers to introduce more stringent hygiene practices to reduce the risk of the disease spreading among students and staff.
Student hygiene will be of “paramount importance, with newly installed outdoor basins encouraging regular hand washing”, The i reports. Additional cleaning staff will also “routinely deep clean the schools”, the paper adds.
Quarantine
The government has also insisted that schools keep pupils with Covid-19 symptoms, or with family members who show symptoms, away from school.
No. 10 says it wants schools to ensure that “pupils, staff and other adults do not come into the school if they have coronavirus symptoms, or have tested positive in at least the last ten days”.
Schools have also been asked to ensure that anyone who develops symptoms during the school day is sent home, which Downing Street says is an “essential action to reduce the risk in schools and further drive down transmission of coronavirus”.
Staggered start times
According to the BBC, a number of schools around the country plan to stagger start and finish times for pupils, without shortening the number of teaching hours each pupil receives.
The Times survey revealed that at least 200 schools are introducing staggered times, with earlier or later starts for different year groups. The Academies Enterprise Trust, which runs 52 schools in England, said most of its institutions would have staggered starts and finishes.
Student and staff bubbles
The government says it wants to introduce a system of “bubbles” aimed at “reducing the number of contacts between children and staff”.
“This can be achieved through keeping groups separate (in ‘bubbles’) and through maintaining distance between individuals,” the government schools portal says, noting that these are “not alternative options and both measures will help” depending on the demographics of the children being regulated.
For younger children the emphasis will be on separating groups, while for older students it will be on individual distancing.
The bubble system also means that schools should avoid large gatherings such as assemblies or collective worship with more than one group.
Saturday lessons
A less common solution not listed by the government is the introduction of Saturday opening for schools.
According to the Daily Mail, two academy trusts have confirmed that they will open on Saturdays to help children catch-up with work missed during the six months of school closures due to Covid-19.


theweekuk--2020-08-28--‘My conscience is clear - I did nothing wrong’: Harry Maguire tells his side to the story

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has spoken to the media for the first time since he was arrested on the Greek island of Mykonos last week.
The England defender claims that plain-clothed police officers, who did not identify themselves, pulled over his group’s minibus in Mykonos, threw him off the bus and struck him on his legs. He said he was “scared for his life” and feared he was about to be kidnapped.
On Tuesday the 27-year-old was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult after arrest.
After the trial he was handed a suspended sentence of 21 months and ten days in prison, which his legal team has appealed. The BBC reports that according to Greek law, the appeal “nullifies Maguire’s conviction and there will be a full retrial in a more senior court”.
In an exclusive interview with BBC sports editor Dan Roan, Maguire gave his side to the story in which he denied throwing punches or bribing the police.
Here’s what he had to say…
EXCLUSIVE Harry Maguire’s 1st interview since his Greece holiday arrest scandal, as Man Utd star breaks his silence on conviction for assault & attempted bribery of police, telling me he feared for his life Story: https://t.co/X60GKvYENiExtended video: https://t.co/HlMTJnRdAZ pic.twitter.com/nQXULpZ6sh — Dan Roan (@danroan) August 28, 2020
No apologies - I know the truth
“I don’t feel I owe an apology to anybody. An apology is something when you have done something wrong. I don’t wish it on anybody.
“Obviously the situation has made it difficult for one of the biggest clubs in the world, so I regret putting the fans and the club through this, but I did nothing wrong. I found myself in a situation where it could have happened to anybody and anywhere.
“I know what happened that night. I know the truth. When I speak about it I get worked up but that’s because it just makes me feel a bit angry inside. I will move on. I am mentally strong enough.”
Feared for his life
“They hit me a lot on the legs. It wasn’t on my mind. I was in that much of a panic. Fear. Scared for my life.”
Quick trial
“It was horrible. It was such a quick turnaround it was incredible. We got the pages for the transcript for the court on the evening before.
“A big document, all in Greek. I hardly had any chance to speak to my lawyer. We were confident the case would be adjourned, to give us more time to prepare and get the witnesses and the evidence that we have.
“For it to all happen so quickly... we obviously didn’t expect the trial to go ahead.”
The appeal process
“I have great faith in the Greek law. The retrial rule will give us more time to prepare, gather the evidence, allow witnesses into the court, and I am really confident the truth will be told and come out.”
Remaining United skipper
“It is such a huge honour to be captain of Manchester United - something I am really proud of. It is a massive privilege to play for the club, never mind captain.
“It is not my decision to make but the one thing I will say is how supportive the club has been from top to bottom. They have been great with me and I thank them for that.”
His reputation
“It’s not nice seeing bad reports against yourself. No-one knew what went off that night. Either you believe it or you don’t.
“Even after the court case still the stories coming out of the court case are so far away from the truth it is incredible. So, no, my character and personality will stay the same. I am strong mentally and I will get over this.
“My conscience is clear. I know exactly what happened that night.”


theweekuk--2020-08-28--Instant Opinion: ‘prattling about the Proms’ does nothing for Black Lives Matter

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
Prattling about the Proms does nothing for black lives “ The Education Policy Institute , a think tank led by the former Liberal Democrat MP David Laws , this week released a telling piece of research that dwarfs all the anxieties about who sings what .
The EPI team has analysed the attainment of pupils in England and Wales over the past ten years .
When tested for attainment in English and maths , Caribbean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schooling on average a full school year - 10.9 months - behind their white peers , two and half years behind Indian heritage children , and over three years behind the Chinese .
They lag poorer Bangladeshis by about a year and a half , and black children who have come more recently direct from Africa , some with little English on arrival , by more than ten months ...
Anyone who really thinks Black Lives Matter should put down their placards and pick up the EPI report , read it thoroughly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help ?
’ .
You could start with a donation to those groups who are already working on the problem.
” Lurching from crisis to crisis , Johnson will soon run out of people to blame “ The real problem with constantly shifting the blame is that while it fixes tomorrow ’ s headlines it doesn ’ t solve the underlying problem , which is why the government seems to keep on getting things wrong .
What one former No 10 staffer calls a “ macho inflexibility ” at the heart of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the satisfaction of admitting it ’ s wrong and so digs its heels in when it shouldn ’ t – is clearly part of the problem .
But it can not be the whole of it .
Is Boris Johnson really so uniquely ill-served by a machine that may have its faults but doesn ’ t seem to have failed previous governments anything like so frequently ?
Or could there be something wrong with the collective political judgment of a cabinet where commitment to the Brexit project is prized over competence ?
.. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own mistakes honestly , then it has no hope of learning from them .
And sooner or later , it ’ s going to run out of other people to blame.
” on the PM ’ s old optimism A dose of classic Boris boosterism is key to Britain ’ s national recovery “ It ’ s not unkind to say that Boris Johnson stands for boosterism : a belief that you can talk things into being , that words can shape events .
His recent biography of Winston Churchill was obsessed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of language to put heart into people , ’ ... For most of this month the Prime Minister has been fretting about moving too early and ending up with a resurgence , like Donald Trump .
But even American cases are now declining .
Britain ’ s experience with the virus has been very similar to that of Sweden , with both countries now at the end of an epidemic curve .
Hospital data , increasingly seen as more reliable than testing data , suggests no serious resurgence .
So there is plenty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for leadership , which has been rather lacking in the past few weeks .
Optimism has always been the Prime Minister ’ s stock-in-trade : it would be odd for him to abandon it , at a time when it ’ s needed most.
” The rage that fuels Trumpism still burns “ This year ’ s election , as both sides keep telling us , may be the most important of our lifetimes .
But the reason is rarely expressed directly — because it ’ s such an admission of national failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer of 2020 .
The bonds of social cohesion have frayed to the point that armed gangs , from left and right , have taken the streets ...
The challenge of American democracy has always been that we prize independence so much that our collective life is strained .
Alexis de Tocqueville , the Frenchman who studied us in the 1830s , wrote that America ’ s cult of individualism was perilously close to raw selfishness - the ‘ me first ’ instinct we often see today .
‘ Individualism , at first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life , but , in the long run , it attacks and destroys all others , and is at length absorbed in downright selfishness ’ - a strait that he warned ‘ blights the germ of all virtue.
’ A freewheeling democracy that prizes individualism is our great American gift .
But it ’ s also why we need good leaders so badly - to hold together and avoid the abyss of social disintegration.
” 5 .
Oren Cass , author The Once and Future Worker , in The New York Times on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elite Needs to Give Up Its G.D.P .
Fetish “ What good does G.D.P .
do , if people we love are falling seriously ill and dying in unprecedented numbers ; if the rhythms of daily life vital to our happiness have gone haywire and our social connections have atrophied ?
Typically shielded from such problems , the country ’ s professional class now finds itself experiencing a taste of the insecurity and anxiety that the working class has felt for decades : The dissolution of community ; the suddenly prohibitive distances separating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts selling ineffective , poorly planned schooling as adequate to their children ’ s needs .
The calamity we ’ re now all living through offers the professional class an opportunity to reconsider assessments of the national condition issued so confidently pre-pandemic : Economists focus on material living standards partly for ease of quantification , but also because that is what free markets most reliably produce .
And for many on the right-of-center especially , a rise in living standards equals success , which conveniently supports the conclusion that the economy has been @ @ @ @

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Trevor Phillips in The Times
on arguing over trivia
Prattling about the Proms does nothing for black lives
“The Education Policy Institute, a think tank led by the former Liberal Democrat MP David Laws, this week released a telling piece of research that dwarfs all the anxieties about who sings what. The EPI team has analysed the attainment of pupils in England and Wales over the past ten years. When tested for attainment in English and maths, Caribbean heritage children reach the end of compulsory schooling on average a full school year - 10.9 months - behind their white peers, two and half years behind Indian heritage children, and over three years behind the Chinese. They lag poorer Bangladeshis by about a year and a half, and black children who have come more recently direct from Africa, some with little English on arrival, by more than ten months... Anyone who really thinks Black Lives Matter should put down their placards and pick up the EPI report, read it thoroughly and ask themselves ‘what can I do to help?’. You could start with a donation to those groups who are already working on the problem.”
2. Gaby Hinsliff in The Guardian
on damaged public trust
Lurching from crisis to crisis, Johnson will soon run out of people to blame
“The real problem with constantly shifting the blame is that while it fixes tomorrow’s headlines it doesn’t solve the underlying problem, which is why the government seems to keep on getting things wrong. What one former No 10 staffer calls a “macho inflexibility” at the heart of government – which hates giving its critics the satisfaction of admitting it’s wrong and so digs its heels in when it shouldn’t – is clearly part of the problem. But it cannot be the whole of it. Is Boris Johnson really so uniquely ill-served by a machine that may have its faults but doesn’t seem to have failed previous governments anything like so frequently? Or could there be something wrong with the collective political judgment of a cabinet where commitment to the Brexit project is prized over competence?.. If it can’t confront its own mistakes honestly, then it has no hope of learning from them. And sooner or later, it’s going to run out of other people to blame.”
3. Fraser Nelson in The Daily Telegraph
on the PM’s old optimism
A dose of classic Boris boosterism is key to Britain’s national recovery
“It’s not unkind to say that Boris Johnson stands for boosterism: a belief that you can talk things into being, that words can shape events. His recent biography of Winston Churchill was obsessed with this. ‘He had the gift of language to put heart into people,’... For most of this month the Prime Minister has been fretting about moving too early and ending up with a resurgence, like Donald Trump. But even American cases are now declining. Britain’s experience with the virus has been very similar to that of Sweden, with both countries now at the end of an epidemic curve. Hospital data, increasingly seen as more reliable than testing data, suggests no serious resurgence. So there is plenty of room for cautious optimism – and for leadership, which has been rather lacking in the past few weeks. Optimism has always been the Prime Minister’s stock-in-trade: it would be odd for him to abandon it, at a time when it’s needed most.”
4. David Ignatius in The Washington Post
on the smoldering center of the Republicans
The rage that fuels Trumpism still burns
“This year’s election, as both sides keep telling us, may be the most important of our lifetimes. But the reason is rarely expressed directly — because it’s such an admission of national failure. America is coming apart in the summer of 2020. The bonds of social cohesion have frayed to the point that armed gangs, from left and right, have taken the streets... The challenge of American democracy has always been that we prize independence so much that our collective life is strained. Alexis de Tocqueville, the Frenchman who studied us in the 1830s, wrote that America’s cult of individualism was perilously close to raw selfishness - the ‘me first’ instinct we often see today. ‘Individualism, at first, only saps the virtue of public life, but, in the long run, it attacks and destroys all others, and is at length absorbed in downright selfishness’ - a strait that he warned ‘blights the germ of all virtue.’ A freewheeling democracy that prizes individualism is our great American gift. But it’s also why we need good leaders so badly - to hold together and avoid the abyss of social disintegration.”
5. Oren Cass, author The Once and Future Worker, in The New York Times
on living standards vs. quality of life
The Elite Needs to Give Up Its G.D.P. Fetish
“What good does G.D.P. do, if people we love are falling seriously ill and dying in unprecedented numbers; if the rhythms of daily life vital to our happiness have gone haywire and our social connections have atrophied? Typically shielded from such problems, the country’s professional class now finds itself experiencing a taste of the insecurity and anxiety that the working class has felt for decades: The dissolution of community; the suddenly prohibitive distances separating friends and family; the anger at experts selling ineffective, poorly planned schooling as adequate to their children’s needs. The calamity we’re now all living through offers the professional class an opportunity to reconsider assessments of the national condition issued so confidently pre-pandemic: Economists focus on material living standards partly for ease of quantification, but also because that is what free markets most reliably produce. And for many on the right-of-center especially, a rise in living standards equals success, which conveniently supports the conclusion that the economy has been delivering well.”


theweekuk--2020-08-28--The statistics behind the UK children lost to coronavirus

The biggest study yet of children admitted to hospital with Covid-19 has revealed that the virus poses a “ vanishingly small ” threat to school students .
Children ’ s risk of needing hospital treatment for coronavirus is “ tiny ” , with the likelihood of needing critical care “ even tinier ” , the British Medical Journal ( BMJ ) study found .
“ Black children , those who are obese and very young babies have a slightly higher risk ” , the BBC says .
What do the figures say ?
The BMJ analysed the outcome of 651 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wales and Scotland .
The research spanned two-thirds of all children ’ s admissions in the UK between January and July and “ confirms what is already known about the minimal effects of the virus on children ” , the BBC reports .
The study “ tracked patients for a minimum of two weeks during which time 18 % of children were admitted to intensive care ” , The Telegraph says .
Just 1 % of children died in hospital , a “ strikingly low ” fatality rate compared with 27 % across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were killed by the virus suffered from underlying health issues , including “ cancer and serious neurological , blood or heart issues ” , The Guardian reports .
Calum Semple , professor in child health and outbreak medicine at the University of Liverpool and co-lead of the study , stressed that the children who died suffered from “ profound co-morbidities – not a touch of asthma and not cystic fibrosis ” .
Researchers warned that children with such serious conditions remain vulnerable to the virus and must take precautions .
Children of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to suffer severe Covid-19 ” , The Telegraph notes .
However , researchers said the “ absolute risk is so low that it made little difference and parents should not be concerned ” , the paper adds .
“ For a black healthy child , there is no risk at all , ” Semple said .
“ I can say with absolute confidence to the mother of a black child in Liverpool , or Brixton or Glasgow , that they are safe to go back to school.
” The study concluded that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe disease with the coronavirus is rare and death ‘ exceptionally ’ so ” , Yahoo News adds .
What is the reaction ?
Semple said that the study means parents can be “ confident that their children are not going to be put at direct harm by going back to school ” .
He added : “ We do know that they are at harm by being kept away from school because of the lack of educational opportunities , and that ’ s affecting mental health.
” Co-author Olivia Swann , clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Edinburgh , said : “ Nothing is ever risk free , as a parent and a children ’ s doctor and as a researcher I find this study and these numbers extremely reassuring .
“ The absolute risk of any child being admitted with Covid is tiny .
The absolute risk of them being admitted to critical care is even lower.
” Both Semple and Swann said their children will be returning to school next month .
The study has been seen by chief medical officer Chris Whitty , ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send their children back to school , The Telegraph reports .
How do other countries compare ?
Data collated by Unicef shows the “ direct impact of Covid-19 on child and adolescent mortality [ is ] very limited ” , with the main threat coming from “ indirect effects stemming from strained health systems , household income loss , and disruptions to care-seeking ” .
A study led by a team at London ’ s Great Ormond Street Hospital in June found that child deaths in Europe are “ extremely rare ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studied succumbing to the virus , “ two of whom had known underlying health conditions ” , the BBC says .
And research published by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) in the US found that “ most reported SARS-CoV-2 infections in children [ under 18-years-old ] are asymptomatic or mild ” .
In June , it was reported that a high number of child deaths in Indonesia highlighted the danger of Covid-19 to young people .
The country has “ one of the world ’ s highest rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , with a total of 715 people under 18-year-old contracting the coronavirus and 28 dying , according to a health ministry document dated 22 May seen by Reuters .
Experts attributed the high death rate among children to a “ devil ’ s circle ” of malnutrition , anaemia and inadequate child health facilities , mirroring Unicef ’ s warning that secondary factors increase child mortality .

The biggest study yet of children admitted to hospital with Covid-19 has revealed that the virus poses a “vanishingly small” threat to school students.
Children’s risk of needing hospital treatment for coronavirus is “tiny”, with the likelihood of needing critical care “even tinier”, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) study found.
“Black children, those who are obese and very young babies have a slightly higher risk”, the BBC says.
What do the figures say?
The BMJ analysed the outcome of 651 children hospitalised with coronavirus in England, Wales and Scotland. The research spanned two-thirds of all children’s admissions in the UK between January and July and “confirms what is already known about the minimal effects of the virus on children”, the BBC reports.
The study “tracked patients for a minimum of two weeks during which time 18% of children were admitted to intensive care”, The Telegraph says. Just 1% of children died in hospital, a “strikingly low” fatality rate compared with 27% across all ages.
All of the children that were killed by the virus suffered from underlying health issues, including “cancer and serious neurological, blood or heart issues”, The Guardian reports.
Calum Semple, professor in child health and outbreak medicine at the University of Liverpool and co-lead of the study, stressed that the children who died suffered from “profound co-morbidities – not a touch of asthma and not cystic fibrosis”.
Researchers warned that children with such serious conditions remain vulnerable to the virus and must take precautions.
Children of black ethnicity were “three times more likely to suffer severe Covid-19”, The Telegraph notes. However, researchers said the “absolute risk is so low that it made little difference and parents should not be concerned”, the paper adds.
“For a black healthy child, there is no risk at all,” Semple said. “I can say with absolute confidence to the mother of a black child in Liverpool, or Brixton or Glasgow, that they are safe to go back to school.”
The study concluded that the “risk of a child developing severe disease with the coronavirus is rare and death ‘exceptionally’ so”, Yahoo News adds.
What is the reaction?
Semple said that the study means parents can be “confident that their children are not going to be put at direct harm by going back to school”. He added: “We do know that they are at harm by being kept away from school because of the lack of educational opportunities, and that’s affecting mental health.”


theweekuk--2020-08-28--Homes selling faster as demand outpaces supply

The UK may be in recession but this isn ’ t affecting the housing market , which is performing at its strongest for five years , according to a new report .
Property portal Zoopla says demand continues to run ahead of supply , sustaining annual house price growth at +2.5 % .
While the market sets new highs , buyer interest has softened in the past month following the post-lockdown surge , but demand remains 78 % above last year .
The rest of 2020 is expected to remain strong with house prices up 2-3 % by the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insight director at Zoopla , said : “ Housing market conditions remain unseasonably strong despite the UK moving into recession .
Demand continues to outpace supply and support house price growth of 2.5 % per annum .
“ The next important milestone for the housing market comes in September when schools reopen and the UK starts to get back towards a full reopening of the economy .
The ‘ once in a lifetime ’ re-evaluation of housing requirements on the back of the lockdown will be a counterweight to the impact of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of 2020 .
“ While demand has softened over August , we expect the current momentum in market activity to continue into 2020 Q4.
” Since the market reopened after lockdown properties are also selling quicker .
The time to sell has decreased by 31 % across the UK , averaging just 27 days in the period since lockdown , compared to 39 days over the same period in 2019 .
Zoopla says three-bedroom houses are the fastest-selling property on the market with an average selling time of 24 days since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more space and moving away from cities and towns this means four and five-bed houses are selling 33 % faster than in 2019 .
One-bedroom flats are taking the longest time to sell at an average of 34 days - although this still remains quick .
Donnell added : “ Houses are selling faster than flats as we see a shift in buyer priorities in the wake of the lockdown and movers prioritise more space.
” Zoopla ’ s July House Price Index has found that 16 of the 20 cities covered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2 % or more .
Average property prices in Manchester have risen by 4 % to £174,100 in the last year , the Daily Mail reports , while in Nottingham there ’ s been a 4.4 % increase with average prices at £158,500 .
The average price of homes in Leeds , Liverpool , Edinburgh and Leicester have risen by 3 % or more and in London there ’ s been a 2.1 % increase , an average of £475,100 .

The UK may be in recession but this isn’t affecting the housing market, which is performing at its strongest for five years, according to a new report.
Property portal Zoopla says demand continues to run ahead of supply, sustaining annual house price growth at +2.5%.
While the market sets new highs, buyer interest has softened in the past month following the post-lockdown surge, but demand remains 78% above last year. The rest of 2020 is expected to remain strong with house prices up 2-3% by the year end.
Richard Donnell, research and insight director at Zoopla, said: “Housing market conditions remain unseasonably strong despite the UK moving into recession. Demand continues to outpace supply and support house price growth of 2.5% per annum.
“The next important milestone for the housing market comes in September when schools reopen and the UK starts to get back towards a full reopening of the economy. The ‘once in a lifetime’ re-evaluation of housing requirements on the back of the lockdown will be a counterweight to the impact of the recession on housing market activity over the rest of 2020.
“While demand has softened over August, we expect the current momentum in market activity to continue into 2020 Q4.”
Quicker home sales
Since the market reopened after lockdown properties are also selling quicker. The time to sell has decreased by 31% across the UK, averaging just 27 days in the period since lockdown, compared to 39 days over the same period in 2019.
Zoopla says three-bedroom houses are the fastest-selling property on the market with an average selling time of 24 days since the lockdown was lifted.
With buyers wanting more space and moving away from cities and towns this means four and five-bed houses are selling 33% faster than in 2019. One-bedroom flats are taking the longest time to sell at an average of 34 days - although this still remains quick.
Donnell added: “Houses are selling faster than flats as we see a shift in buyer priorities in the wake of the lockdown and movers prioritise more space.”
UK hotspots
Zoopla’s July House Price Index has found that 16 of the 20 cities covered by the index are recording a price growth of 2% or more.
Average property prices in Manchester have risen by 4% to £174,100 in the last year, the Daily Mail reports, while in Nottingham there’s been a 4.4% increase with average prices at £158,500.
The average price of homes in Leeds, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Leicester have risen by 3% or more and in London there’s been a 2.1% increase, an average of £475,100.


theweekuk--2020-08-28--Britain home to the ‘unhappiest teenagers in Europe’ - but why?

A fear of failure and a lack of purpose means Britain ’ s teenagers are among the unhappiest in Europe , it has been revealed .
More than a third of 15-year-olds scored low on life satisfaction in a survey by the Children ’ s Society , a charity that supports vulnerable youngsters in England and Wales .
The charity ’ s annual Good Childhood study found that children in England and Wales ranked last out of 24 European nations for sense of purpose , with 43 % saying their life “ lacked clear meaning ” , says the Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop in “ average happiness ” among ten to 15-year-olds .
“ Between 2009 and 2017 the number unhappy with their friends nearly doubled from 1.9 % to 3.5 % , ” says the Mail .
And more than 130,000 said they had “ no close friends to talk to if they were in trouble ” .
Children ’ s Society chief executive Mark Russell said “ modern life has been chipping away at our children ’ s happiness during the last decade ” .
He added : “ We must listen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to shape changes in schools , communities and society.
” Policy manager Richard Crellin attributed the drop to the “ significant amounts of pressure [ put ] on our children to succeed , especially at school ” .
“ Good exam results are seen as the key to future success and often prosperity , so children feel incredibly anxious about what will happen if they don ’ t do well , ” he said .
“ Our previous research has found this fear of failure is much worse amongst children living in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK had the “ largest increase in relative child poverty [ in Europe ] - around 4 percentage points , while average levels of child poverty fell by around 2 percentage points across the 24 countries ” , according to The Guardian .
The report also found that girls were unhappier than boys “ with almost a quarter of 15-year-olds girls struggling with their wellbeing ” , the paper adds .

A fear of failure and a lack of purpose means Britain’s teenagers are among the unhappiest in Europe, it has been revealed.
More than a third of 15-year-olds scored low on life satisfaction in a survey by the Children’s Society, a charity that supports vulnerable youngsters in England and Wales.
The charity’s annual Good Childhood study found that children in England and Wales ranked last out of 24 European nations for sense of purpose, with 43% saying their life “lacked clear meaning”, says the Daily Mail.
The report describes a large drop in “average happiness” among ten to 15-year-olds.
“Between 2009 and 2017 the number unhappy with their friends nearly doubled from 1.9% to 3.5%,” says the Mail. And more than 130,000 said they had “no close friends to talk to if they were in trouble”.
Children’s Society chief executive Mark Russell said “modern life has been chipping away at our children’s happiness during the last decade”. He added: “We must listen to children’s voices and work with them to shape changes in schools, communities and society.”
Policy manager Richard Crellin attributed the drop to the “significant amounts of pressure [put] on our children to succeed, especially at school”.
“Good exam results are seen as the key to future success and often prosperity, so children feel incredibly anxious about what will happen if they don’t do well,” he said. “Our previous research has found this fear of failure is much worse amongst children living in poverty.”
Between 2015 and 2018, the UK had the “largest increase in relative child poverty [in Europe] - around 4 percentage points, while average levels of child poverty fell by around 2 percentage points across the 24 countries”, according to The Guardian.
The report also found that girls were unhappier than boys “with almost a quarter of 15-year-olds girls struggling with their wellbeing”, the paper adds.


theweekuk--2020-08-28--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 28 Aug 2020

Boris Johnson is under pressure from senior Tory MPs to give a “ clear and consistent message ” that it @ @ @ @ @ go back to work .
There have been warnings of “ devastating consequences ” for @ @ @ @ @ analysis of mobile phone data shows that just 17 % of workers have returned to @ @ @ @ @ than at the end of June .

Conservatives tell Boris to get Britain back to workplaces
Boris Johnson is under pressure from senior Tory MPs to give a “clear and consistent message” that it is safe for people to go back to work. There have been warnings of “devastating consequences” for town and city centres as analysis of mobile phone data shows that just 17% of workers have returned to their offices, no more than at the end of June.


theweekuk--2020-08-28--Giant ‘Avozilla’ avocado pears go on sale

Giant avocado pears that weigh almost 2kg ( 4lbs ) are hitting supermarket shelves today .
The huge fruits , known as Avozilla avocados , are nine times heavier than the average avocado .
They will set you back £4 when they go on sale at 300 Tesco stores across the country today .
A tattoo addict has spent more than £6,000 to have his ears removed so that his head looks like a skull .
The 39-year-old from Finsterwalde , Germany , known as ‘ Mr Skull Face ’ on social media , says his new appearance has boosted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticised as “ sick ” on social media .
He now keeps his ear lobes in a jar .
A US man has set the Guinness World Record for the world ’ s tallest mohawk .
Joseph Grisamore , a social worker from Minnesota , said : “ When I was first informed that I ’ d become a Guinness World Records title holder , I was over the top.
” His wife Laura insists she finds his hair “ very sexy.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Giant avocado pears that weigh almost 2kg (4lbs) are hitting supermarket shelves today. The huge fruits, known as Avozilla avocados, are nine times heavier than the average avocado. They will set you back £4 when they go on sale at 300 Tesco stores across the country today.
Man has ears surgically removed
A tattoo addict has spent more than £6,000 to have his ears removed so that his head looks like a skull. The 39-year-old from Finsterwalde, Germany, known as ‘Mr Skull Face’ on social media, says his new appearance has boosted his confidence - but it has been criticised as “sick” on social media. He now keeps his ear lobes in a jar.
Man sets hairstyle record
A US man has set the Guinness World Record for the world’s tallest mohawk. Joseph Grisamore, a social worker from Minnesota, said: “When I was first informed that I’d become a Guinness World Records title holder, I was over the top.” His wife Laura insists she finds his hair “very sexy.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-08-27--The Week Unwrapped podcast: Polio, virtual armies and corporate nomads

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code : POD25 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In this week ’ s episode , we discuss : Africa has been declared free of `` wild polio '' in a historic milestone for scientists fighting the disease , leaving Afghanistan and Pakistan as the last two strongholds standing in the way of global eradication .
How did they do it ?
And with vaccine-derived polio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could taking our foot off the pedal cause a resurgence of the disease ?
The Ministry of Defence is working with a company called Improbable to build a “ single synthetic environment ” - in other words , a complete digital replica of the country based on live data from the national grid , mobile phone networks , food supply companies and many other sources .
The theory is that it will give the government a more realistic and comprehensive way to plan their response to natural disasters , cyber attacks and pandemics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff home , some intrepid workers have begun to wonder if there is a better alternative to working from the living room .
Digital nomads , people without fixed abode who travel the world working remotely , are on the rise .
So does it truly afford non-stop freedom or is it really too good to be true ?
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player , Spotify , Apple podcasts , SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts .

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code: POD25–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
A polio breakthrough
Africa has been declared free of "wild polio" in a historic milestone for scientists fighting the disease, leaving Afghanistan and Pakistan as the last two strongholds standing in the way of global eradication. How did they do it? And with vaccine-derived polio still popping up across the continent, could taking our foot off the pedal cause a resurgence of the disease?
Virtual soldiers
The Ministry of Defence is working with a company called Improbable to build a “single synthetic environment” - in other words, a complete digital replica of the country based on live data from the national grid, mobile phone networks, food supply companies and many other sources. The theory is that it will give the government a more realistic and comprehensive way to plan their response to natural disasters, cyber attacks and pandemics.
Corporate nomads
With offices around the world sending staff home, some intrepid workers have begun to wonder if there is a better alternative to working from the living room. Digital nomads, people without fixed abode who travel the world working remotely, are on the rise. So does it truly afford non-stop freedom or is it really too good to be true?
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theweekuk--2020-08-27--Ultra-luxurious and exclusive escapes: rent an island, castle, safari villa or Lapland lodge

In a world where social distancing and remote working is now the norm , it ’ s understandable that people are also seeking holidays away from the crowds .
If you are wanting to go somewhere that ’ s exclusive - and ultra-luxurious - then you ’ re in luck .
From island buyouts to hiring a whole castle , we pick out some of the most unique deals available .
But remember , if you really do want to get away from it all , expect to pay for that luxury ... Steeped in 500 years of history and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this former stately home is a jewel in the Cotswolds crown .
Ellenborough Park ’ s exclusive use offering gives guests access to all 62 bedrooms , meeting and event rooms , the gym and the outdoor swimming pool .
Also included are the hotel ’ s two dining options - The Restaurant which offers fine dining and The Horse Box , based on a typical countryside pub .
Exclusive use of Ellenborough Park starts from £18,000 per night ; ellenboroughpark.com Experience the height of opulence at Glenapp Castle , a 17-bedroom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the breathtaking Ayrshire coast in Scotland .
The full exclusive hire offers use of the castle , all 17 bedroom suites , the four-bedroom castle apartment , 110 acres of gardens and surround estate for private use and breakfast for up to 42 guests .
From £9,950 per night ( 1 November 2020 to 31 March 2021 ) ; glenappcastle.com Overlooking the Blue Flag West Strand beach and offering sweeping views of Donegal , Ramore Head and the Isle of Isla , Blackrock Beach House in Portrush provides the ideal setting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 , this is a perfect place for anyone looking to book a luxurious self-catered break with friends or family .
Available for exclusive hire from £840 per night with a minimum stay of seven nights required ; blackrockbeachhouseportrush.com With exclusive-use retreat Singita Serengeti House opening in Tanzania on 1 September , Singita has launched a 12-night private jet package combining the villa with Singita Kataza House in Rwanda .
Both villas are completely private , with minimal touchpoints , no interaction with other guests and a full staff complement .
This new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East Africa , launching just in time to combine Rwanda ’ s mountain gorillas with the Serengeti ’ s iconic wildebeest migration .
Rates for the 12-night itinerary start from $ 209,339 ( £166,736 ) for up to eight guests and includes all accommodation , meals , drinks and game drives in Tanzania on an exclusive , full board basis as well as private transport between Tanzania and Rwanda and activities .
Email enquiries @ singita.com Described as the “ ultimate playground in paradise ” , this unspoilt island is offering a private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Twenty guests can take up residence in the spectacular villas , set amongst dramatic granite boulders and untouched nature .
Turquoise Holidays offers a week ’ s exclusive buyout of Six Senses Zil Pasyon for up to 20 guests from £295,600 ( £14,777 per person ) for seven nights on an all-inclusive basis ; turquoiseholidays.co.uk High up at 8,000 feet in the Indian Himalayas , Shakti 360° Leti is a truly breathtaking resort .
With just four guest pavilions and a main lounge and dining area , all built combining age-old local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a stunning mountain sanctuary for eight people .
Available from October to April each year , seven nights exclusive use for eight guests costs $ 76,216 ( £57,868 ) on an all-inclusive basis ; shaktihimalaya.com Immerse in the Moroccan charm and glamour of La Sultana Marrakech , located within the old Imperial City Walls .
Sleeping up to 56 people in 28 individually designed rooms and suites , La Sultana Marrakech is perfect for a hotel take over .
When booking the hotel for exclusive use , guests can enjoy the cathedral-like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heated swimming pool and indulge in the delicious food available at the two hotel restaurants serving the best of Moroccan cuisine .
Exclusive bookings start at £13,060 per night and require a three-night minimum stay ; lasultanahotels.com Set amidst 18-hectares of tropical vegetation , stunning beaches , and landscaped gardens , as well as surrounding a natural lake , Pullman Maldives Maamutaa is a paradise setting and the first Pullman Resort to offer an all-inclusive concept .
For those really wanting to push the boat out , why not take over the island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s opulent villas that sleep up to 200 people .
The resort , which reopens on 1 October , is also launching a new three-night Underwater Villa Experience starting from $ 9,999 ( £7,570 ) .
Book an “ island to yourself ” with two new buyout packages at The Nautilus Maldives .
The packages include exclusive use of the entire island ; accommodation ; private butler service ; unique airside VIP arrival service ; return transfers via the resort ’ s liveried seaplane ; breakfast ; and a host of additional exclusive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ houses and residences , each with its own large private pool , the packages offer a variety of options for families or groups of friends .
For bookings of up to 62 adults , guests will have the run of the entire island ; more intimate groups of up to 30 adults can also enjoy exclusive use of the island , with accommodation in 14 of The Nautilus ’ Houses .
A minimum of four nights is required for The Nautilus ’ exclusive island buyouts and prices are available on request ; thenautilusmaldives.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blue Lagoon , Iceland The Lava Cove is a secluded , exclusive , self-contained spa hidden within The Retreat Spa .
Visitors to Iceland currently have to take a Covid-19 test on arrival and then quarantine at their accommodation until they get the results , and the Lava Cove is the place to do this .
This extraordinary suite - which includes a private entrance , a lagoon , a fireplace , and a butler - is a place of abundant comfort and wellbeing .
Guests can enhance and customise their Lava Cove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massage , and guided yoga sessions .
Lava Cove must be booked separately , each individual changing room is configured for one or two people and maximum occupancy is six people .
Lava Cove with one private changing room costs £1,310 , two private changing rooms £1,894 , three private changing rooms £2,477 ; bluelagoon.com Take over the brand-new Octola Villa for a luxury wilderness retreat set within 300 hectares of Finnish Lapland .
Described as the “ most exclusive lodge in Lapland ” , the villa is complete with floor to ceiling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spot the Northern Lights .
Seven-nights in the brand new Octola Villa , which sleeps four , starts from €79,254 ( £70,800 ) during winter .
For larger families or small group gatherings , all ten rooms at Octola can be booked out ; octola.com The world has shifted to remote working and this ultra-luxury , all-villa resort in the Maldives has launched a long-stay package for guests wishing to stay for 28 days or more .
All the villas on the resort offer high-speed wi-fi and with an abundance of space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ work from home ” .
When not glued to their laptops guests can also enjoy a wide range of culinary experiences , outdoor activities and wellness options .
This 28-day package starts from $ 42,600 ( £32,111 ) for two guests , including transfers , daily breakfast and a half board supplement per villa ; oneandonlyresorts.com

In a world where remote working and social distancing is now the norm, it’s understandable that many people are also seeking holidays away from the crowds. If you are wanting to go somewhere that’s exclusive - and ultra-luxurious - then you’re in luck. From island buyouts to hiring a whole castle, we pick out some of the most unique deals available. But remember, if you really do want to get away from it all, expect to pay for that luxury... Chapel Barn Estate, Suffolk Wilderness Reserve has recently launched Chapel Barn Estate, which is set across 5,000 acres of countryside in Suffolk. The estate features a number of accommodation options, but it’s the Chapel Barn itself that’s really got the “wow factor”. Ideal for weddings or for staycations, the renovated 15th century barn can sleep up to 38 people in 17 double bedrooms and one bunk room, all of which include en-suites. As well as its heritage and charm, Chapel Barn also has luxury offerings including an indoor swimming pool, cinema, gym and spa. One night from £201 per bedroom (based on a Monday in low season) or £3,625 for a one night exclusive booking. Weekdays no minimum stay, weekends minimum three nights from Friday; wildernessreserve.com Ellenborough Park, the Cotswolds, England Steeped in 500 years of history and set amidst 90 acres of sprawling countryside, this former stately home is a jewel in the Cotswolds crown. Ellenborough Park’s exclusive use offering gives guests access to all 62 bedrooms, meeting and event rooms, the gym and the outdoor swimming pool. Also included are the hotel’s two dining options - The Restaurant which offers fine dining and The Horse Box, based on a typical countryside pub. Exclusive use of Ellenborough Park starts from £18,000 per night; ellenboroughpark.com Torre Palazzone, Tuscany Most families could probably manage to squeeze themselves into the 11-bedroom Torre Palazzone, a gloriously atmospheric Tuscan villa in the hills outside Siena. Its secluded woodland setting (and a private heated swimming pool) make it ideal for a spot of elective self-isolation in a richly historic seting. The property’s tower is 1,000 years old, while an Etruscan tomb in the garden dates back to about 500BC. There are ancient treasures to be found inside too, including a vintage daybed from Transylvania and antique panels from a Syrian house, curated by antique dealer Kitty Walsh. A maid and cook will take care of the practicalities for up to 22 guests. Skip advert
Torre Palazzone, available through Tuscany Now & More, offers weekly stays from £10,945 Glenapp Castle, Scotland Experience the height of opulence at Glenapp Castle, a 17-bedroom luxurious Relais & Chateaux hotel tucked away on the breathtaking Ayrshire coast in Scotland. The full exclusive hire offers use of the castle, all 17 bedroom suites, the four-bedroom castle apartment, 110 acres of gardens and surround estate for private use and breakfast for up to 42 guests. From £9,950 per night (1 November 2020 to 31 March 2021); glenappcastle.com Blackrock Beach House, Northern Ireland Overlooking the Blue Flag West Strand beach and offering sweeping views of Donegal, Ramore Head and the Isle of Isla, Blackrock Beach House in Portrush provides the ideal setting for a luxury break. Sleeping up to 14, this is a perfect place for anyone looking to book a luxurious self-catered break with friends or family. Available for exclusive hire from £840 per night with a minimum stay of seven nights required; blackrockbeachhouseportrush.com Singita Serengeti House and Singita Kataza House With the brand new exclusive-use retreat Singita Serengeti House in Tanzania, Singita has launched a 12-night private jet package combining the villa with Singita Kataza House in Rwanda. Both villas are completely private, with minimal touchpoints, no interaction with other guests and a full staff complement. This new itinerary offers access to the best of East Africa, launching just in time to combine Rwanda’s mountain gorillas with the Serengeti’s iconic wildebeest migration. Rates for the 12-night itinerary start from $209,339 (£166,736) for up to eight guests and includes all accommodation, meals, drinks and game drives in Tanzania on an exclusive, full board basis as well as private transport between Tanzania and Rwanda and activities. Email enquiries@singita.com Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Felicité Island, Seychelles Described as the “ultimate playground in paradise”, this unspoilt island is offering a private destination to be pampered, yet isolated. Twenty guests can take up residence in the spectacular villas, set amongst dramatic granite boulders and untouched nature. Turquoise Holidays offers a week’s exclusive buyout of Six Senses Zil Pasyon for up to 20 guests from £295,600 (£14,777 per person) for seven nights on an all-inclusive basis; turquoiseholidays.co.uk Shakti 360° Leti, India High up at 8,000 feet in the Indian Himalayas, Shakti 360° Leti is a truly breathtaking resort. With just four guest pavilions and a main lounge and dining area, all built combining age-old local building techniques with contemporary design, this is a stunning mountain sanctuary for eight people. Skip advert Available from October to April each year, seven nights exclusive use for eight guests costs $76,216 (£57,868) on an all-inclusive basis; shaktihimalaya.com La Sultana Marrakech, Morocco Immerse in the Moroccan charm and glamour of La Sultana Marrakech, located within the old Imperial City Walls. Sleeping up to 56 people in 28 individually designed rooms and suites, La Sultana Marrakech is perfect for a hotel take over. When booking the hotel for exclusive use, guests can enjoy the cathedral-like spa with traditional Moroccan hammams, a heated swimming pool and indulge in the delicious food available at the two hotel restaurants serving the best of Moroccan cuisine.


theweekuk--2020-08-28--China blanks out map to hide vast network of Uighur detention camps

The Chinese government has been accused of blanking out images of Uighur internment camps from one of the most popular map services in the country .
China is currently under fire for the detention of Uighurs , Kazakhs and other Muslim minorities in the far western Chinese state of Xinjiang , in what the New York Post labels the “ largest-scale detention of ethic and religious minorities since World War II ” .
By comparing Western and Chinese mapping applications , BuzzFeed this week revealed that Beijing is blocking images of camps , prisons and military facilities when viewed through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which offers a satellite service much like Google Maps , is based in China and is frequently subject to rigorous censorship .
But by checking the blanked out spaces , BuzzFeed found a vast network of “ 268 newly-built compounds ” , many of which contain multiple detention facilities .
“ Once we found that we could replicate the blank tile phenomenon reliably , we started to look at other camps whose locations were already known to the public to see if we could observe the same thing happening there , ” BuzzFeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could probably find internment camps in this way , we examined Baidu ’ s satellite tiles for the whole of Xinjiang ...
In total there were five million masked tiles across Xinjiang .
“ They seemed to cover any area of even the slightest strategic importance - military bases and training grounds , prisons , power plants , but also mines and some commercial and industrial facilities .
”

The Chinese government has been accused of blanking out images of Uighur internment camps from one of the most popular map services in the country.
China is currently under fire for the detention of Uighurs, Kazakhs and other Muslim minorities in the far western Chinese state of Xinjiang, in what the New York Post labels the “largest-scale detention of ethic and religious minorities since World War II”.
By comparing Western and Chinese mapping applications, BuzzFeed this week revealed that Beijing is blocking images of camps, prisons and military facilities when viewed through the Baidu mapping service.
Baidu, which offers a satellite service much like Google Maps, is based in China and is frequently subject to rigorous censorship. But by checking the blanked out spaces, BuzzFeed found a vast network of “268 newly-built compounds”, many of which contain multiple detention facilities.
“Once we found that we could replicate the blank tile phenomenon reliably, we started to look at other camps whose locations were already known to the public to see if we could observe the same thing happening there,” BuzzFeed says.
“Having established that we could probably find internment camps in this way, we examined Baidu’s satellite tiles for the whole of Xinjiang... In total there were five million masked tiles across Xinjiang.
“They seemed to cover any area of even the slightest strategic importance - military bases and training grounds, prisons, power plants, but also mines and some commercial and industrial facilities.”


theweekuk--2020-08-27--Quiz of The Week: 22-28 August

Quiz of The Week: 22-28 August

The prime minister this week announced that secondary school pupils will have to wear face coverings at school in high-risk areas of England , after the government had previously ruled out the measure .
Elsewhere , Donald Trump continued his no-holds-barred campaign for reelection , taking to the stage on the final night of the Republican convention to declare that he “ profoundly ” accepts the party ’ s nomination for the November election .
In some good news , the World Health Organization officially declared the entire continent of Africa free of wild Type 1 polio , pushing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To find out how closely you ’ ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the pandemic , and other global events , put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The Week : Need a reminder of some of the other headlines over the past seven days ?
Millions of patients in need of follow-up appointments are trapped on a “ hidden ” NHS waiting list , after the coronavirus pandemic put the NHS under unprecedented strain .
it has been revealed , Reports have circulated of patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis and thousands having had NHS care postponed or cancelled .
On Thursday , the white supremacist terrorist who shot and killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch last year was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole - the longest prison term handed out in New Zealand 's legal history .
The polarising PM , who has been praised for his trademark “ Abenomics ” but criticised for his re-militarisation of the famously pacifist nation , has suffered from ulcerative colitis for a number of years .


theweekuk--2020-08-29--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 29 Aug 2020

Angela Merkel says Brexit talks will go down to the wire as she said they would keep her staff occupied @ @ @ @ @ .
The German Chancellor said she expects the Brexit trade talks to keep her team @ @ @ @ @ of the year , ” adding that “ the crucial weeks are now approaching to @ @ @ @ @ between the EU and the UK .

Merkel hints that Brexit talks could go down to the wire
Angela Merkel says Brexit talks will go down to the wire as she said they would keep her staff occupied until the end of 2020. The German Chancellor said she expects the Brexit trade talks to keep her team “busy until the end of the year,” adding that “the crucial weeks are now approaching to clarify the future relationship” between the EU and the UK.


theweekuk--2020-08-30--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 30 Aug 2020

There are fears that the mass return of university students could spark the next wave of Covid-19 .
UCU , @ @ @ @ @ said more than a million students moving around the country was “ a recipe for @ @ @ @ @ Grady said universities were not prepared , and risked becoming the “ care homes of @ @ @ @ @ university bosses say they are planning for a safe return .

Universities could become ‘care homes of the second wave’
There are fears that the mass return of university students could spark the next wave of Covid-19. UCU, the academics’ union, said more than a million students moving around the country was “a recipe for disaster”. Leader Jo Grady said universities were not prepared, and risked becoming the “care homes of the second wave” but university bosses say they are planning for a safe return.


theweekuk--2020-08-31--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 31 Aug 2020

More than 1,700 people in the UK have been reported to have tested positive for Covid-19 in the largest weekend @ @ @ @ @ May .
The Guardian says the government data continues a “ worrying trend ” of @ @ @ @ @ since the beginning of July , amid “ persistent concerns over a second spike in @ @ @ @ @ was just one new death , bringing the total to 41,499 .

UK records largest weekend Covid figures since mid-May
More than 1,700 people in the UK have been reported to have tested positive for Covid-19 in the largest weekend number since the middle of May. The Guardian says the government data continues a “worrying trend” of a growing number of cases since the beginning of July, amid “persistent concerns over a second spike in the autumn”. There was just one new death, bringing the total to 41,499.