theweekuk--2020-07-07--Are we ‘unconsciously racist’ and what does it mean?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have called for more awareness of “ institutional racism ” and “ unconscious bias ” in order to to help right the wrongs of “ hundreds of years gone by ” .
Speaking to a group of young Commonwealth leaders and anti-racism campaigners , Prince Harry said that “ when it comes to institutional and systemic racism , it ’ s there and it stays there because someone somewhere is benefiting from it ” .
We can ’ t deny or ignore the fact that all of us have been brought up and educated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , once you start to realise that there is that bias there , you need to acknowledge it , ” he added .
Meghan Markle told the Queen ’ s Commonwealth Trust video conference that the process would be painful , but that “ what we can have tremendous faith in is knowing that there will be growth ” , reports The Times .
The plea for action came as Keir Starmer announced that he was signing up for unconscious bias training , after being criticised for calling the Black Lives Matter movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader said the training was being introduced “ for all of our staff and I ’ m going to lead from the top on this ” , reports The Guardian .
What does ‘ unconscious racism ’ mean ?
Unconscious biases are “ social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness ” , says the University of California , San Francisco ( UCSF ) website .
This type of bias is more common than conscious prejudice , and often conflicts with the holder ’ s conscious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-racist but still have unconscious biases towards people of colour .
“ Certain scenarios can activate unconscious attitudes and beliefs .
For example , biases may be more prevalent when multitasking or working under time pressure , ” says UCSF .
Markle told the Queen ’ s Commonwealth Trust conference that “ it is in the quiet moments where racism , unconscious bias , lies and hides and thrives .
In people ’ s complacency , they are complicit .
It ’ s not enough to be a bystander and say , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are we all unconsciously racist ?
The prevalence of unconscious racial bias has been highlighted by numerous studies in recent decades .
A government-commissioned study by the NatCen Social Research institute in 2009 found that job applications from people with white-sounding names were 74 % more likely to receive a positive response than applications from people with ethnic minority names .
Another study ten years later found that only 51 % of FTSE 100 companies had directors from black , Asian and minority ethnic ( BAME ) backgrounds , and only 8 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK was BAME , according to HR Magazine .
Anyone can test their own implicit biases with the Implicit Association Test , developed by a Harvard University-led network of researchers .
Can the problem be fixed ?
Many organisations offer unconscious bias training to explain the psychology of the phenomenon so that people can take a more active role in combating it .
But the efficacy of this training has been called into question by a number of leading psychologists and HR professionals .
“ They are based on the supposition that awareness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mitigation of those biases , a supposition for which there is simply no evidence , ” says Dr Kristen Liesch of stratedy consulting firm Tidal Equality .
“ Expecting an employee to be able to overcome their biases after an unconscious bias training session has made them aware of them , is akin to expecting them to eat healthily and be active because you ’ ve held a health and nutrition seminar , ” Liesch argues .
Research by HR body the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development also found “ extremely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading to positive change in behaviour , reports People Management .
Diversity training “ doesn ’ t usually show a sustained impact on behaviour and emotional prejudice , and alone is not sufficient to create a diverse and inclusive organisation ” , the study found .

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have called for more awareness of “institutional racism” and “unconscious bias” in order to to help right the wrongs of “hundreds of years gone by”.
Speaking to a group of young Commonwealth leaders and anti-racism campaigners, Prince Harry said that “when it comes to institutional and systemic racism, it’s there and it stays there because someone somewhere is benefiting from it”.
We can’t deny or ignore the fact that all of us have been brought up and educated to see the world differently. However, once you start to realise that there is that bias there, you need to acknowledge it,” he added.
Meghan Markle told the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust video conference that the process would be painful, but that “what we can have tremendous faith in is knowing that there will be growth”, reports The Times.
The plea for action came as Keir Starmer announced that he was signing up for unconscious bias training, after being criticised for calling the Black Lives Matter movement a “moment”. The Labour leader said the training was being introduced “for all of our staff and I’m going to lead from the top on this”, reports The Guardian.
What does ‘unconscious racism’ mean?
Unconscious biases are “social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness”, says the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) website.
This type of bias is more common than conscious prejudice, and often conflicts with the holder’s conscious values. So someone may be consciously anti-racist but still have unconscious biases towards people of colour.
“Certain scenarios can activate unconscious attitudes and beliefs. For example, biases may be more prevalent when multitasking or working under time pressure,” says UCSF.
Markle told the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust conference that “it is in the quiet moments where racism, unconscious bias, lies and hides and thrives. In people’s complacency, they are complicit. It’s not enough to be a bystander and say, ‘It wasn’t me.’”
Are we all unconsciously racist?
The prevalence of unconscious racial bias has been highlighted by numerous studies in recent decades.
A government-commissioned study by the NatCen Social Research institute in 2009 found that job applications from people with white-sounding names were 74% more likely to receive a positive response than applications from people with ethnic minority names.
Another study ten years later found that only 51% of FTSE 100 companies had directors from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, and only 8% of the total director population in the UK was BAME, according to HR Magazine.
Anyone can test their own implicit biases with the Implicit Association Test, developed by a Harvard University-led network of researchers.
Can the problem be fixed?
Many organisations offer unconscious bias training to explain the psychology of the phenomenon so that people can take a more active role in combating it. But the efficacy of this training has been called into question by a number of leading psychologists and HR professionals.
“They are based on the supposition that awareness of personal unconscious biases can result in the mitigation of those biases, a supposition for which there is simply no evidence,” says Dr Kristen Liesch of stratedy consulting firm Tidal Equality.
“Expecting an employee to be able to overcome their biases after an unconscious bias training session has made them aware of them, is akin to expecting them to eat healthily and be active because you’ve held a health and nutrition seminar,” Liesch argues.
Research by HR body the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development also found “extremely limited” evidence for unconscious bias training leading to positive change in behaviour, reports People Management.
Diversity training “doesn’t usually show a sustained impact on behaviour and emotional prejudice, and alone is not sufficient to create a diverse and inclusive organisation”, the study found.


theweekuk--2020-07-07--Reaction: China threatens UK trade as ex-spy’s dossier ‘sparks Huawei storm’

China ’ s ambassador has warned that Britain will “ have to bear the consequences ” if the government decides to ditch Huawei from the country ’ s 5G network .
The threat comes as Boris Johnson prepares to announce a ban on equipment supplied by the Chinese telecoms giant from next year as a result of US sanctions , according to The Times .
Meanwhile , in an “ extraordinary twist ” in the diplomatic row , a “ controversial dossier accused China of trying to manipulate key establishment figures in the UK ” in order to secure their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK ’ s technology infrastructure , the Daily Mail reports .
Titled “ China ’ s Elite Capture ” , the 86-page report was compiled with the help of ex-MI6 spy Christopher Steele , the author of the controversial “ dirty dossier ” about Russia and Donald Trump , and his company Orbis Business Intelligence .
The dossier - funded by US film producer and outspoken Huawei critic Andrew Duncan - describes the Chinese telecoms firm as “ Beijing ’ s strategic asset ” and cites fears that it could be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-authors reportedly claim that UK politicians and academics were among those targeted in the “ covert campaign ” to enlist “ useful idiots ” .
As tensions between Beijing and London continue to rise , ambassador Liu Xiaoming has “ ramped up the pressure ” on Johnson , telling the prime minister yesterday that “ Chinese companies , which invested $ 8.3bn in Britain last year , were ‘ all watching ’ ” , The Times reports .
Liu added : “ There ’ s also an element of trust - how could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the British government will make the decision in the best interests , not only in China ’ s interests , not only in the interests of UK-China co-operation , but also in the interests of the UK itself.
” The ambassador issued the warning as a number of the high-profile individuals named in the new dossier “ denied being targeted or influenced in any way ” by China , The Telegraph says .
They included former Tory MP Sarah Wollaston , former chair of the Commons Liaison Committee , who told the newspaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covert PR campaign .
According to the Daily Mail , Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London Kenneth Olisa and former BT chair Mike Rake are also named in the report , along with the government ’ s former chief information officer John Suffolk , who is now Huawei ’ s head of global security .
The Telegraph says they have all “ strenuously denied ” the claims .
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Clement-Jones , who sits on the international advisory board of the company , crops up in the dossier too .
However , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the company is well known ” , adding : “ It ’ s all very baffling .
It ’ s all a fantasy .
We are not putty in the hand of manipulators.
” A Huawei spokesperson has also dismissed the claims , saying : “ We categorically refute these unfounded allegations , which do not bear scrutiny and are regrettably the latest in the long-running US campaign against Huawei.
” Regardless of the various denials , the allegations made in the report are “ likely to intensify the diplomatic row over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Britain-China relations ” , says the Daily Mail .
Tensions have been heightened further by UK government ’ s offer of a route to citizenship for Hongkongers .
Johnson is reportedly reconsidering Huawei ’ s involvement in Britain ’ s 5G network following warnings from British security officials , as well as threats from at least 60 Conservative backbenchers to vote down any effort to use the Chinese firm ’ s tech .
Whitehall insiders told The Telegraph that work was now under way to find a “ sensible middle ground ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want all Huawei equipment scrapped by the end of this parliament .

China’s ambassador has warned that Britain will “have to bear the consequences” if the government decides to ditch Huawei from the country’s 5G network.
The threat comes as Boris Johnson prepares to announce a ban on equipment supplied by the Chinese telecoms giant from next year as a result of US sanctions, according to The Times.
Meanwhile, in an “extraordinary twist” in the diplomatic row, a “controversial dossier accused China of trying to manipulate key establishment figures in the UK” in order to secure their backing for Huawei’s integration into the UK’s technology infrastructure, the Daily Mail reports.
Titled “China’s Elite Capture”, the 86-page report was compiled with the help of ex-MI6 spy Christopher Steele, the author of the controversial “dirty dossier” about Russia and Donald Trump, and his company Orbis Business Intelligence.
The dossier - funded by US film producer and outspoken Huawei critic Andrew Duncan - describes the Chinese telecoms firm as “Beijing’s strategic asset” and cites fears that it could be used for state spying.
Steele and his co-authors reportedly claim that UK politicians and academics were among those targeted in the “covert campaign” to enlist “useful idiots”.
As tensions between Beijing and London continue to rise, ambassador Liu Xiaoming has “ramped up the pressure” on Johnson, telling the prime minister yesterday that “Chinese companies, which invested $8.3bn in Britain last year, were ‘all watching’”, The Times reports.
Liu added: “There’s also an element of trust - how could people trust you? I do hope the British government will make the decision in the best interests, not only in China’s interests, not only in the interests of UK-China co-operation, but also in the interests of the UK itself.”
The ambassador issued the warning as a number of the high-profile individuals named in the new dossier “denied being targeted or influenced in any way” by China, The Telegraph says. They included former Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, former chair of the Commons Liaison Committee, who told the newspaper that she had no knowledge of any covert PR campaign.
According to the Daily Mail, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London Kenneth Olisa and former BT chair Mike Rake are also named in the report, along with the government’s former chief information officer John Suffolk, who is now Huawei’s head of global security. The Telegraph says they have all “strenuously denied” the claims.
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Clement-Jones, who sits on the international advisory board of the company, crops up in the dossier too. However, he told The Guardian that his “connection to the company is well known”, adding: “It’s all very baffling. It’s all a fantasy. We are not putty in the hand of manipulators.”
A Huawei spokesperson has also dismissed the claims, saying: “We categorically refute these unfounded allegations, which do not bear scrutiny and are regrettably the latest in the long-running US campaign against Huawei.”
Regardless of the various denials, the allegations made in the report are “likely to intensify the diplomatic row over Huawei, which presents a serious threat to Britain-China relations”, says the Daily Mail. Tensions have been heightened further by UK government’s offer of a route to citizenship for Hongkongers.
Johnson is reportedly reconsidering Huawei’s involvement in Britain’s 5G network following warnings from British security officials, as well as threats from at least 60 Conservative backbenchers to vote down any effort to use the Chinese firm’s tech.
Whitehall insiders told The Telegraph that work was now under way to find a “sensible middle ground” that would satisfy those backbenchers, who want all Huawei equipment scrapped by the end of this parliament.


theweekuk--2020-07-07--Does Ghislaine Maxwell have ‘secret stash’ of Epstein sex tapes - and who could be implicated?

Ghislaine Maxwell kept a “ secret stash ” of Jeffrey Epstein ’ s sex tapes and plans to use the recordings as an “ insurance policy to save herself ” , a former friend has claimed .
Officials who raided Epstein ’ s Manhattan home following his arrest on sex trafficking charges in July last year found “ thousands of graphic photos ” , including images of underage girls , says the Daily Mail .
But an unnamed ex-confidant of Maxwell told the newspaper that the British socialite also “ has copies of everything Epstein ” .
“ Ghislaine has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said the source .
“ She wasn ’ t going to be with Epstein all those years and not have some insurance .
“ The secret stash of sex tapes I believe Ghislaine has squirrelled away could end up being her get out of jail card if the authorities are willing to trade.
” Maxwell was arrested in New Hampshire last week and charged with six federal crimes , including enticement of minors , sex trafficking and perjury .
If she were to use any hidden sex tapes in a bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could implicate some twisted movers and shakers ” , the former friend reportedly claimed .
Speculation has been rife about the powerful individuals within Epstein ’ s circle , who included President Donald Trump , former president Bill Clinton , Prince Andrew , Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz and former Victoria ’ s Secret owner Leslie Wexner , according to The Guardian .
Specific allegations have been made by alleged victims linking the Duke of York and Dershowitz to the late convicted paedophile ’ s criminal activities with underage girls .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ex-friend told the Daily Mail that “ if Ghislaine goes down , she ’ s going to take the whole damn lot of them with her ” , but declined to mention specific individuals .
The source added : “ Not only did Epstein like to capture himself with underage girls on camera , he wanted to make sure he had something to hold over the rich and powerful men who took advantage of his sick largesse.
” That claim chimes with an account of an interview with Epstein that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times in the wake of his apparent suicide in a Manhattan prison .
The billionaire financier reportedly told journalist James B. Stewart during a conversation in 2018 that he held “ potentially damaging or embarrassing ” details about his inner circle , “ including details about their supposed sexual proclivities and recreational drug use ” .

Ghislaine Maxwell kept a “secret stash” of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex tapes and plans to use the recordings as an “insurance policy to save herself”, a former friend has claimed.
Officials who raided Epstein’s Manhattan home following his arrest on sex trafficking charges in July last year found “thousands of graphic photos”, including images of underage girls, says the Daily Mail.
But an unnamed ex-confidant of Maxwell told the newspaper that the British socialite also “has copies of everything Epstein”.
“Ghislaine has always been as cunning as they come,” said the source. “She wasn’t going to be with Epstein all those years and not have some insurance.
“The secret stash of sex tapes I believe Ghislaine has squirrelled away could end up being her get out of jail card if the authorities are willing to trade.”
Maxwell was arrested in New Hampshire last week and charged with six federal crimes, including enticement of minors, sex trafficking and perjury.
If she were to use any hidden sex tapes in a bid to bargain with prosecutors, “they could implicate some twisted movers and shakers”, the former friend reportedly claimed.
Speculation has been rife about the powerful individuals within Epstein’s circle, who included President Donald Trump, former president Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz and former Victoria’s Secret owner Leslie Wexner, according to The Guardian.
Specific allegations have been made by alleged victims linking the Duke of York and Dershowitz to the late convicted paedophile’s criminal activities with underage girls. Both men have denied the claims.
Maxwell’s ex-friend told the Daily Mail that “if Ghislaine goes down, she’s going to take the whole damn lot of them with her”, but declined to mention specific individuals.
The source added: “Not only did Epstein like to capture himself with underage girls on camera, he wanted to make sure he had something to hold over the rich and powerful men who took advantage of his sick largesse.”
That claim chimes with an account of an interview with Epstein that was published last August by The New York Times in the wake of his apparent suicide in a Manhattan prison.
The billionaire financier reportedly told journalist James B. Stewart during a conversation in 2018 that he held “potentially damaging or embarrassing” details about his inner circle, “including details about their supposed sexual proclivities and recreational drug use”.


theweekuk--2020-07-07--Potatoes take over woman’s flat during lockdown absence

A woman was “ terrified ” when she returned to her home after months away to find potatoes had taken over her flat .
Donna Porée spent three months of lockdown at her boyfriend ’ s home .
When she got back , she found a bag of potatoes had grown creepy metre-long pink tentacles which reached out to every corner of her small flat .
“ I was terrified at first , ” she admitted .
An exotic frog has been found in a bunch of bananas after making a remarkable 5,000-mile journey from Colombia to south Wales .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chain ’ s branch in Murray Street , Llanelli .
It is thought it survived the journey and climate transition by slowing down its metabolism .
It has been named Asda and transferred to specialist animal centre in Haverfordwest .
An Instagram influencer has been accused of upstaging the bride on her wedding day after passing out seconds before the couple were due to kiss .
Jadé Tunchy was watching her friend get married when she fainted from heatstroke .
One online commenter wrote : “ I ’ d be so mad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done passed out .
I shouldn ’ t be but I would.
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Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A woman was “terrified” when she returned to her home after months away to find potatoes had taken over her flat. Donna Porée spent three months of lockdown at her boyfriend’s home. When she got back, she found a bag of potatoes had grown creepy metre-long pink tentacles which reached out to every corner of her small flat. “I was terrified at first,” she admitted.
Exotic frog from Chile appears in south Wales
An exotic frog has been found in a bunch of bananas after making a remarkable 5,000-mile journey from Colombia to south Wales. Staff at Asda found the creature at the chain’s branch in Murray Street, Llanelli. It is thought it survived the journey and climate transition by slowing down its metabolism. It has been named Asda and transferred to specialist animal centre in Haverfordwest.
Influencer upstages friend by fainting at wedding
An Instagram influencer has been accused of upstaging the bride on her wedding day after passing out seconds before the couple were due to kiss. Jadé Tunchy was watching her friend get married when she fainted from heatstroke. One online commenter wrote: “I’d be so mad if this was my moment and you done passed out. I shouldn’t be but I would.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-07-07--Is South Africa heading back into lockdown - and what can the UK learn?

As coronavirus cases surge and deaths begin to mount , South Africa ’ s government has left the country ’ s population guessing about whether a lockdown will be reimposed .
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Monday that a new hard lockdown “ can not be ruled out ” , but denied that a decision was imminent .
His intervention followed several days of mixed messages about whether South Africa would reverse the easing of what have been some of the strictest social distancing restrictions in the world .
South Africa marked a “ sombre Covid-19 milestone on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200,000 mark , ” the SowetanLive news site reports .
“ Only 14 other countries have now recorded more cases of the respiratory illness.
” Although low by the standards of Western Europe , the death toll in South Africa is also rising quickly and now stands at 3,310 , according to latest figures .
The country had not recorded more than 100 daily deaths before 23 June , but has exceeded that figure four times in the past week .
The recent spike in infection rates has fuelled fears that Covid-related fatalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Saturday alone , more than 10,000 new cases were reported .
Yet despite the alarming statistics , “ South Africa is in the process of easing its restrictions in phases , with the latest being the reopening of schools for more students this week ” , the BBC reports .
“ Experts fear that a combination of poor planning on the government ’ s part and public distrust of authority will see a huge rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the coming weeks , particularly in Johannesburg , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis has forecast that between 35,000 and 50,000 South Africans could die from Covid-19 .
However , predicting the course of coronavirus outbreaks has proved challenging .
Professor Lee Wallis , head of emergency medicine for the Western Cape Government , told CNN that while the peak in Cape Town was not as high as had been expected , “ he believes that the surge could last longer than predicted by their earlier models - even for many months - a situation that will strain both the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to some kind of normal ” .
Ministers appears to be in two minds about how to tackle the surge in cases .
At the weekend , the South African Sunday Times reported that Gauteng , the small but densely populated province which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria , was seeking “ to reintroduce hard lockdown regulations in an attempt to curb soaring Covid-19 numbers ” .
Bandile Masuku , the province ’ s health minister , told the newspaper that he wanted a two-week lockdown in which “ nobody goes to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least there is predictability and you can control infections in that way ” .
But President Cyril Ramaphosa swiftly “ dismissed the call for an intensified national lockdown - citing serious financial concerns and a general degeneration of the country ’ s socioeconomic fabric ” , The South African reports .
Instead , he urged “ greater adherence to hygiene measures and social distancing directives ” , says the news site .
Yesterday , however , both the national and provincial governments revised their positions .
In Gauteng , Masuku “ said a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the economy of the province ” and was not his preferred option , Independent Online reports .
Health Minister Mkhize subsequently said that such measures may not be necessary after all .
“ At the moment , we have not taken a decision for a hard lockdown but it can not be ruled out as a future instrument that can be used , ” he said .
“ If there ’ s a need and it looks like it ’ s the only way out , we might have to institute that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a country without the resources to support people forced out of work .
The “ sudden and sweeping lockdown ” imposed in March brought life to “ an almost complete standstill ” , says The Telegraph .
“ South Africans were only allowed to go out to buy food or visit the doctors , while the sale of alcohol and cigarettes was banned entirely.
” Ramaphosa was praised for his decisiveness , but it came at a price .
More than 40 % of South Africans live below the poverty line , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and production lines shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak ” , according to Deutsche Welle .
“ Without sufficient state assistance , those people have also been at risk of hunger.
” Announcing the lifting of some of the measures last month , Ramaphosa said : “ We have to think about these people who are employed in these industries and those who depend upon them for their livelihoods .
Through the easing of the lockdown we are continuing to balance our overriding objective of saving lives and protecting livelihoods.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the spiking numbers ” - and are now “ shouting at government to reintroduce lockdown ” , says News24 ’ s Mandy Wiener .
However , others are “ vociferously against the lockdown ” , even in its less stringent form .
Salim Abdool Karim , an epidemiologist and member of the country ’ s Covid-19 advisory team , defended the government ’ s balancing act .
“ It ’ s no longer sustainable for us to continue along this path , ” he told Deutsche Welle last month .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult decision of easing the restrictions , so that people can start accessing healthcare , accessing food and so on.
” Gauteng ’ s health minister has promised that any new lockdown will be based on “ a better understanding of what they are and how they work , given the experience we have had over the past few months ” .
Parties , church services , funerals and protests had all led to problems , said Masuku , and not only because of infections but also because they threatened to overwhelm the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us in curbing infection , because you would rather deal with 20 people that you must do tracing for , ” he continued .
By contrast , a gathering of “ 50 people means you already have a minimum of 150 people for tracing and the possibility of infections spreading ” .
The other lesson to be learned may be that people can be vigilant for only so long .
“ There ’ s a sense of fatigue ahead of the peak , ” one South African told Eyewitness News .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] they ’ ve kind of given up .
”

Ministers appears to be in two minds about how to tackle the surge in cases.
Professor Lee Wallis, head of emergency medicine for the Western Cape Government, told CNN that while the peak in Cape Town was not as high as had been expected, “he believes that the surge could last longer than predicted by their earlier models - even for many months - a situation that will strain both the health system and a population desperate to get back to some kind of normal”.
The South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis has forecast that between 35,000 and 50,000 South Africans could die from Covid-19. However, predicting the course of coronavirus outbreaks has proved challenging.
“Experts fear that a combination of poor planning on the government’s part and public distrust of authority will see a huge rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the coming weeks, particularly in Johannesburg,” says The Telegraph .
Yet despite the alarming statistics, “South Africa is in the process of easing its restrictions in phases, with the latest being the reopening of schools for more students this week”, the BBC reports.
The recent spike in infection rates has fuelled fears that Covid-related fatalities will begin to rise even more quickly. On Saturday alone, more than 10,000 new cases were reported.
Although low by the standards of Western Europe, the death toll in South Africa is also rising quickly and now stands at 3,310, according to latest figures . The country had not recorded more than 100 daily deaths before 23 June, but has exceeded that figure four times in the past week.
South Africa marked a “sombre Covid-19 milestone on Monday night, as cases passed the 200,000 mark,” the SowetanLive news site reports. “Only 14 other countries have now recorded more cases of the respiratory illness.”
His intervention followed several days of mixed messages about whether South Africa would reverse the easing of what have been some of the strictest social distancing restrictions in the world.
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Monday that a new hard lockdown “cannot be ruled out”, but denied that a decision was imminent.
As coronavirus cases surge and deaths begin to mount, South Africa’s government has left the country’s population guessing about whether a lockdown will be reimposed.
At the weekend, the South African Sunday Times reported that Gauteng, the small but densely populated province which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria, was seeking “to reintroduce hard lockdown regulations in an attempt to curb soaring Covid-19 numbers”.
Bandile Masuku, the province’s health minister, told the newspaper that he wanted a two-week lockdown in which “nobody goes to work and no one moves... so at least there is predictability and you can control infections in that way”.
But President Cyril Ramaphosa swiftly “dismissed the call for an intensified national lockdown - citing serious financial concerns and a general degeneration of the country’s socioeconomic fabric”, The South African reports. Instead, he urged “greater adherence to hygiene measures and social distancing directives”, says the news site.
Yesterday, however, both the national and provincial governments revised their positions.
In Gauteng, Masuku “said a hard lockdown would have a devastating impact on the economy of the province” and was not his preferred option, Independent Online reports.
Health Minister Mkhize subsequently said that such measures may not be necessary after all. “At the moment, we have not taken a decision for a hard lockdown but it cannot be ruled out as a future instrument that can be used,” he said. “If there’s a need and it looks like it’s the only way out, we might have to institute that."
An impossible decision
Ministers face an unenviable choice in a country without the resources to support people forced out of work.
The “sudden and sweeping lockdown” imposed in March brought life to “an almost complete standstill”, says The Telegraph. “South Africans were only allowed to go out to buy food or visit the doctors, while the sale of alcohol and cigarettes was banned entirely.”
Ramaphosa was praised for his decisiveness, but it came at a price. More than 40% of South Africans live below the poverty line, many of them “employed by factories and production lines shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak”, according to Deutsche Welle. “Without sufficient state assistance, those people have also been at risk of hunger.”
Announcing the lifting of some of the measures last month, Ramaphosa said: “We have to think about these people who are employed in these industries and those who depend upon them for their livelihoods. Through the easing of the lockdown we are continuing to balance our overriding objective of saving lives and protecting livelihoods.”
The decision angered people “who are terrified about the spiking numbers” - and are now “shouting at government to reintroduce lockdown”, says News24’s Mandy Wiener. However, others are “vociferously against the lockdown”, even in its less stringent form.
Salim Abdool Karim, an epidemiologist and member of the country’s Covid-19 advisory team, defended the government’s balancing act.
“It’s no longer sustainable for us to continue along this path,” he told Deutsche Welle last month. “We’re having to make the very difficult decision of easing the restrictions, so that people can start accessing healthcare, accessing food and so on.”
Lessons for the UK?
Gauteng’s health minister has promised that any new lockdown will be based on “a better understanding of what they are and how they work, given the experience we have had over the past few months”.
Parties, church services, funerals and protests had all led to problems, said Masuku, and not only because of infections but also because they threatened to overwhelm the contact-tracing system.
“Restricting numbers assists us in curbing infection, because you would rather deal with 20 people that you must do tracing for,” he continued. By contrast, a gathering of “50 people means you already have a minimum of 150 people for tracing and the possibility of infections spreading”.
The other lesson to be learned may be that people can be vigilant for only so long. “There’s a sense of fatigue ahead of the peak,” one South African told Eyewitness News. “People need to be extra careful [but] they’ve kind of given up.”


theweekuk--2020-07-07--US still ‘knee-deep’ in first Covid wave - so does Donald Trump have a plan?

The US is still “ knee-deep ” in its first wave of the coronavirus outbreak , the country ’ s leading medical expert has warned .
Dr. Anthony Fauci said that the latest increases in confirmed infections , which have doubled in just over a week , “ would not be considered a wave ” but a “ surge ” .
“ It was a surge , or a resurgence of infections superimposed upon a baseline… that really never got down to where we wanted to go , ” said Fauci , director of the US National Institute of Allergy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Twitter livestream on Monday .
What ’ s the situation in the US ?
The surge in coronavirus cases “ has led to a shortage of hospital beds and threatens to set the economy back even further ” , says CNN .
And health officials fear that “ the crisis could get even worse , after images of packed beaches emerged over the Fourth of July holiday weekend ” .
“ We are in free fall , ” Dr Rochelle Walensky , chief of infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage of what happened this past weekend .
And people are either naive to the influence of their actions , or they ’ re simply resigned to ignore it.
” Dr Francis Collins , the National Institutes of Health director , tried to strike a more positive note as he joined Fauci on Monday ’ s livestream .
Collins said the Americans should “ keep your optimism , keep your hope , and do the right thing ” by wearing masks , regularly washing their hands and avoiding busy indoor spaces .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I know you ’ re tired of .
But the virus is still out there and needs all of us to keep this from getting any worse , ” Collins said .
The plea came as the Covid death toll in the US passed 130,000 , with the number of infections nearing three million .
“ Let ’ s remember there are 300 million people in this country who remain susceptible and have been uninfected so far , and this virus is far from running out of people to infect , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we change our behaviour to prevent these infections , the infections are going to continue to soar.
” Fauci warned last week that the US was not “ in total control ” of the coronavirus outbreak and that new cases could reach more than 100,000 a day , says Business Insider .
But Trump ’ s plan appears to focus on downplaying the severity of the crisis and prioritising economic reopening instead .
In a speech at the White House on Saturday , the president claimed that 99 % of coronavirus cases are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a national mask-wearing mandate , reports The Guardian .
The decision comes despite widespread criticism of Trump ’ s refusal to wear a mask in public .
Steve Adler , the Democratic mayor of the Texas city of Austin , described Trump ’ s Covid comments as “ incredibly disruptive ” .
“ The messaging coming from the president of the United States is dangerous , ” Adler told reporters .
“ One of the biggest challenges we have is the messaging coming out of Washington that would suggest that masks don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary , or that the virus is going away on its own.
” A recent survey by Hart Research has found that a majority of voters also “ reject Trump ’ s approach ” .
The poll of 1,000 people , conducted in the week to 28 June , indicates that most “ are not willing to trade an economic rebound for people ’ s health ” , says pressure group Protect Our Care , which commissioned the survey .
A total of 65 % of respondents said that even if the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % or 9 % by election day , Trump ’ s efforts to reopen the economy would not have been worth it if the price was that deaths reached 200,000 .
Overall , 60 % disapproved of how Trump has handled the coronavirus , and 57 % blamed the president for the deaths associated with the outbreak .
Protect Our Care ’ s Coronavirus War Room director Zac Petkanas said : “ The bad news for the White House is that our new polling shows that any positive feelings voters may have about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feelings about Trump ’ s disastrous response to the coronavirus .
“ The bottom line is that the economy is not the main standard by which key voters are judging Trump .
The role he ’ s playing in the rising death toll is .
”

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theweekuk--2020-07-06--Who is behind the mysterious explosions at Iran’s nuclear facilities?

The head of the Israeli spy agency has apparently confirmed Israeli involvement in an attack on Iran ’ s main uranium enrichment plant last Thursday .
Yossi Cohen , director of Mossad , is accused of leaking details of the Israeli move to sabotage Iran ’ s nuclear weapons programme .
Avigdor Lieberman , the former defence minister , did not mention Cohen by name but told Army Radio : “ The country ’ s entire security echelon knows who it is.
” “ I expect the prime minister to shut [ the leaker ’ s ] mouth , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , ” Lieberman said , apparently referring to talk of Cohen as a possible successor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , The Times of Israel reports .
The explosion at the Natanz nuclear plant on 2 July destroyed a building housing Iran ’ s new-generation centrifuge programme , says The Times of London .
It is just one of six “ curious incidents ” in Iran in less than two weeks , says Sky News .
Here is a timeline of the mysterious events .
An explosion is reported near a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s nuclear testing programme , as The Telegraph reported at the time .
The Defence Ministry said the explosion in Parchin , about 20 miles southeast of Tehran , was down to a “ gas storage facility ” leak .
But open-source satellite images showed a burnt patch of land that “ was not located within the military base , as Iran had claimed , but next to it , at a missile production facility in Khojir ” , according to Sky News .
The Khojir complex is understood to contain a research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visited by nuclear inspectors in 2015 after renovations there prompted international suspicion of nuclear activity .
At almost the same time as the Parchin explosion , a major power outage was reported 600 miles south , in the city of Shiraz .
The city is home to a major air base and the Iranian military ’ s 55th Airborne Brigade , says military specialist site Global Security .
An explosion at a medical clinic in central Tehran kills 19 people .
Iranian officials again blamed a gas leak .
The Natanz nuclear facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The authorities confirmed later in the day that there had been an incident , but did not say who or what was responsible .
However , a Middle Eastern intelligence official told The New York Times that the blast was caused by an explosive device planted inside the facility .
The unnamed source reportedly claimed that the explosion “ destroyed much of the above-ground parts of the facility where new centrifuges - delicate devices that spin at supersonic speeds - are balanced before they are put into operation ” .
Centrifuges are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enrich uranium by purifying its radioactive component .
Iran ’ s Atomic Energy Organisation now says the damage caused could set back the country ’ s programme to develop a new generation of centrifuges by months .
The following day , a large fire hits Shiraz , the city hit by the power outage on 26 June .
Another fire is reported , a power station in Ahvaz , in southern Iran .
A power station transformer was knocked out , with firefighters telling local television that a generator had exploded .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Parchin incident , Kuwait ’ s al Jarida newspaper quoted a “ senior security source ” who claimed that the 26 June explosion was the result of an attack by an Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jet .
Meanwhile , the NYT reports that the Natanz nuclear facility damaged days later is adjacent to an underground fuel production facilities where , in 2010 , the US and Israel conducted “ the most sophisticated cyberattack in modern history ” .
“ The early evidence strongly suggested on Thursday the damage was in fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And even before Cohen ’ s apparent leak , cryptic statements from the Israeli Foreign Minister did nothing to quell suspicion .
Asked about the Natanz blast , Gabi Ashkenazi said : “ We have a long-term policy ... not to allow Iran to have nuclear abilities .
“ This regime with those abilities is an existential threat to Israel ... we take actions that are better left unsaid.
” Netanyahu was equally opaque , telling reporters that “ clearly we can ’ t get into that ” .
What happens next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the recent incidents , despite Cohen ’ s claims .
But Civil Defence Chief Gholamreza Jalali told state TV that “ if it is proven that our country has been targeted by a cyberattack , we will respond ” .
Various unnamed Iranian officials have been quoted by news agencies saying that they believed the Natanz fire was the result of a cyberattack , reports the BBC .
An Israeli TV report on Friday night said that the country was bracing for possible Iranian retaliation , says the Times of Israel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Atomic Energy Organisation said that the authorities were not making official statements about what caused the Natanz fire “ because of security reasons ” .
“ The incident could slow down the development and production of advanced centrifuges in the medium term ... Iran will replace the damaged building with a bigger one that has more advanced equipment , ” the spokesperson added .

The head of the Israeli spy agency has apparently confirmed Israeli involvement in an attack on Iran’s main uranium enrichment plant last Thursday.
Yossi Cohen, director of Mossad, is accused of leaking details of the Israeli move to sabotage Iran’s nuclear weapons programme.
Avigdor Lieberman, the former defence minister, did not mention Cohen by name but told Army Radio: “The country’s entire security echelon knows who it is.”
“I expect the prime minister to shut [the leaker’s] mouth, especially since he has started his Likud primary campaign,” Lieberman said, apparently referring to talk of Cohen as a possible successor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The Times of Israel reports.
The explosion at the Natanz nuclear plant on 2 July destroyed a building housing Iran’s new-generation centrifuge programme, says The Times of London.
It is just one of six “curious incidents” in Iran in less than two weeks, says Sky News. Here is a timeline of the mysterious events.
26 June
An explosion is reported near a weapons depot linked to the regime’s nuclear testing programme, as The Telegraph reported at the time.
The Defence Ministry said the explosion in Parchin, about 20 miles southeast of Tehran, was down to a “gas storage facility” leak. But open-source satellite images showed a burnt patch of land that “was not located within the military base, as Iran had claimed, but next to it, at a missile production facility in Khojir”, according to Sky News.
The Khojir complex is understood to contain a research, development and manufacturing facility that was visited by nuclear inspectors in 2015 after renovations there prompted international suspicion of nuclear activity.
At almost the same time as the Parchin explosion, a major power outage was reported 600 miles south, in the city of Shiraz. The city is home to a major air base and the Iranian military’s 55th Airborne Brigade, says military specialist site Global Security.
30 June
An explosion at a medical clinic in central Tehran kills 19 people. Iranian officials again blamed a gas leak.
2 July
The Natanz nuclear facility explosion occurs, at around 2am. The authorities confirmed later in the day that there had been an incident, but did not say who or what was responsible.


theweekuk--2020-07-03--AMB 001 review: Mr Bond, your motorbike is ready

Two of the “ most storied names in the history of British sporting machines ” have come together to produce this stunning superbike , says Robert Ross on Robb Report .
The AMB 001 is a joint project between Aston Martin and Brough Superior , known in its heyday as the Rolls-Royce of motorcyles , and the resulting much-anticipated “ statement bike ” can be yours for a mere €108,000 .
You ’ ll have to be quick – only 100 will make it off the production line , for delivery in late 2020 – but the lucky owners will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Who wants to bet that this could be Agent 007 ’ s next ride ?
” The bikes are being hand assembled in Brough Superior ’ s factory in Toulouse and the result combines “ elegance , beauty and power ” , says Ray Massey on This Is Money .
The turbocharged V-twin engines put out 180 horsepower , promising an “ incredible engine response ” and “ huge amounts of pulling-power ” .
The result is “ a unique , modern , lightweight and powerful sports bike concept ” , says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a carbon-fibre body .
It will come in the traditional Aston Martin racing colours of Stirling Green and Lime Essence with Matte Black wheels , forks and brake assemblies .
The latest footage of the AMB 001 roaring around a test track in France “ does a very good job of making the 001 look even cooler ” than it does in the showroom , says Matt Bird on Piston Heads .
The AMB 001 “ brings together ” the traditional super-bike chassis with futuristic details “ to create something unforgettable… What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
If you ’ re lucky enough to get such a thing from Santa , though , make sure you book yourself in for a track day as this is not a road-legal machine , says Stephen Dobie on Top Gear .
You “ might have already spotted its lack of concern for such dull details as ‘ proper lights ’ , ‘ a number plate ’ or ‘ absolutely any semblance of an aero screen ’ ” .
And the 1,000bhp/tonne ratio is the same as the Koenigsegg supercar – so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s “ gorgeous too… and gorgeous is what you ’ d hope for when dropping €108,000 on something you can ’ t ride on the road ” .
This article was originally published in MoneyWeek

Two of the “most storied names in the history of British sporting machines” have come together to produce this stunning superbike, says Robert Ross on Robb Report. The AMB 001 is a joint project between Aston Martin and Brough Superior, known in its heyday as the Rolls-Royce of motorcyles, and the resulting much-anticipated “statement bike” can be yours for a mere €108,000.
You’ll have to be quick – only 100 will make it off the production line, for delivery in late 2020 – but the lucky owners will be getting quite a machine. “Who wants to bet that this could be Agent 007’s next ride?”
The bikes are being hand assembled in Brough Superior’s factory in Toulouse and the result combines “elegance, beauty and power”, says Ray Massey on This Is Money. The turbocharged V-twin engines put out 180 horsepower, promising an “incredible engine response” and “huge amounts of pulling-power”.
The result is “a unique, modern, lightweight and powerful sports bike concept”, says the manufacturer, with exclusive technical features, including a carbon-fibre body. It will come in the traditional Aston Martin racing colours of Stirling Green and Lime Essence with Matte Black wheels, forks and brake assemblies.
The latest footage of the AMB 001 roaring around a test track in France “does a very good job of making the 001 look even cooler” than it does in the showroom, says Matt Bird on Piston Heads. The AMB 001 “brings together” the traditional super-bike chassis with futuristic details “to create something unforgettable… What a Christmas present it promises to be”.
If you’re lucky enough to get such a thing from Santa, though, make sure you book yourself in for a track day as this is not a road-legal machine, says Stephen Dobie on Top Gear. You “might have already spotted its lack of concern for such dull details as ‘proper lights’, ‘a number plate’ or ‘absolutely any semblance of an aero screen’”. And the 1,000bhp/tonne ratio is the same as the Koenigsegg supercar – so this “is a hardcore thing”.
It’s “gorgeous too… and gorgeous is what you’d hope for when dropping €108,000 on something you can’t ride on the road”.
This article was originally published in MoneyWeek


theweekuk--2020-07-08--Instant Opinion: is Generation Z ‘turning to the right’?

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
olitics at Birkbeck , University of London , on UnHerd on why the ‘ Jordan Peterson generation ’ is so conservative Are young people turning to the Right ?
“ Something unusual is happening among Britain ’ s youngest voters , known as Generation Z or the Zoomers .
Increasingly , those under the age of 22 seem to be diverging from voters aged between 22 and 39 , and appear considerably more conservative , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18-year-olds are about as right-wing as 40 year-olds .
How might this be explained ?
Are Zoomers just more irreverent , reacting against their politically-correct older siblings ?
Or is it that Britain ’ s newest voters are simply too young to have been shaped by the Brexit shock ?
Whatever the explanation , in the immediate post-Brexit years the youngest voters were 40 points more liberal than the oldest .
Today they are only 20 points more to the Left.
” on the state of a loveless union A Scottish independence crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics is in denial “ Downing Street ’ s Plan A to dampen the clamour for independence was hosing Scotland with public money , but competition for that resource is getting more intense and areas with Conservative MPs are the priority .
If there is no sign of a Tory revival north of the border , an even more cynical path might appeal : letting the flames of resentment roar in Scotland , igniting a Johnson-supporting English nationalist backlash .
All the better if that sustains the toxic question of whether Labour needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a general election .
It would take an exceptionally irresponsible prime minister on a streak of constitutional pyromania to pursue such tactics .
Johnson is qualified .
A conflagration in Scotland might not be the next crisis to destabilise Britain , but it is in the queue .
It is also unnerving how little England is prepared , when Scottish politics is a rolling rehearsal .
That bodes ill for the pro-union cause.
” If Britain wants to lead on human rights , it should start with its own citizens “ If Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defender of human rights , perhaps it should start with the very same Brits it disowned and left to wallow amid the chaos of civil conflict or as pawns in a political game .
Tauqir Sharif , a British aid worker who was stripped of his citizenship last year , is a case in point .
Last year , the British government claimed he was aligned with groups aligned with Al Qaeda and deemed him too much a national security risk to return to Britain , which he denied .
Yet the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dark about all of the evidence in question , because citizenship revocation appeals allow for the government to draw on intelligence heard in secret ...
This two-tier system now hangs as a guillotine over the heads of immigrant children and naturalised citizens as it denies them the same recourse as other citizens in the UK .
Do people like Sharif deserve it ?
” on an art scene ‘ set against freedom of speech ’ JK Rowling ’ s treatment is a grim sign of how Twitter mobs have poisoned our cultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite a few times now , had a fellow co-panellist refuse even to look at me or listen to my talk ( after she tried to get me banned from the event , much to the bemusement of the organisers ) .
I ’ ve been picketed and had one institution decide to pay for security guards to protect me .
I ’ ve had former friends write untrue and horrendous things about me in public in an attempt to smear me – and all for suggesting on Facebook that the Labour Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions about proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act , and for refusing to accept the terms of a small number of people regarding who we can and can ’ t talk to .
When you ask to talk to your cancellers face-to-face , they always , of course , refuse .
It appears to me that contemporary culture is screwed , and not only by the virus .
After plagues , there are often periods of great artistic flourishing .
Perhaps we ’ re on the cusp of this , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these cowardly institutions , more concerned to avoid bad publicity than they are in understanding the world.
” How Could Human Nature Have Become This Politicized ?
“ The intensifying differences between the two parties , particularly over matters of race , sex and the family have created a fertile environment for what amounts to the partisan politicization of human nature ...
The electorate has been divided into two separate camps based on voters ’ preference for key foundational moral principles and the policies that derive from them , their social and cultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or illiberal leadership .
Politicians understand this intuitively , which means that even as Donald Trump is convinced that chaos , confusion and conflict will enhance his prospects for re-election , Joe Biden is working to quell the fires that Trump is lighting .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Eric Kaufmann, professor of politics at Birkbeck, University of London, on UnHerd
on why the ‘Jordan Peterson generation’ is so conservative
Are young people turning to the Right?
“Something unusual is happening among Britain’s youngest voters, known as Generation Z or the Zoomers. Increasingly, those under the age of 22 seem to be diverging from voters aged between 22 and 39, and appear considerably more conservative, to the point where today’s 18-year-olds are about as right-wing as 40 year-olds. How might this be explained? Are Zoomers just more irreverent, reacting against their politically-correct older siblings? Or is it that Britain’s newest voters are simply too young to have been shaped by the Brexit shock? Whatever the explanation, in the immediate post-Brexit years the youngest voters were 40 points more liberal than the oldest. Today they are only 20 points more to the Left.”
2. Rafael Behr in The Guardian
on the state of a loveless union
A Scottish independence crisis is on its way – and English politics is in denial
“Downing Street’s Plan A to dampen the clamour for independence was hosing Scotland with public money, but competition for that resource is getting more intense and areas with Conservative MPs are the priority. If there is no sign of a Tory revival north of the border, an even more cynical path might appeal: letting the flames of resentment roar in Scotland, igniting a Johnson-supporting English nationalist backlash. All the better if that sustains the toxic question of whether Labour needs SNP MPs to support a coalition come a general election. It would take an exceptionally irresponsible prime minister on a streak of constitutional pyromania to pursue such tactics. Johnson is qualified. A conflagration in Scotland might not be the next crisis to destabilise Britain, but it is in the queue. It is also unnerving how little England is prepared, when Scottish politics is a rolling rehearsal. That bodes ill for the pro-union cause.”
3. Sophia Akram in The Independent
on the UK’s Magnitsky Act
If Britain wants to lead on human rights, it should start with its own citizens
“If Britain wants to be seen as a leading defender of human rights, perhaps it should start with the very same Brits it disowned and left to wallow amid the chaos of civil conflict or as pawns in a political game. Tauqir Sharif, a British aid worker who was stripped of his citizenship last year, is a case in point. Last year, the British government claimed he was aligned with groups aligned with Al Qaeda and deemed him too much a national security risk to return to Britain, which he denied. Yet the decision continued against him while leaving him in the dark about all of the evidence in question, because citizenship revocation appeals allow for the government to draw on intelligence heard in secret... This two-tier system now hangs as a guillotine over the heads of immigrant children and naturalised citizens as it denies them the same recourse as other citizens in the UK. Do people like Sharif deserve it?”
4. Nina Power, senior lecturer in philosophy at Roehampton University, in The Daily Telegraph
on an art scene ‘set against freedom of speech’
JK Rowling’s treatment is a grim sign of how Twitter mobs have poisoned our cultural life
“I myself have been cancelled quite a few times now, had a fellow co-panellist refuse even to look at me or listen to my talk (after she tried to get me banned from the event, much to the bemusement of the organisers). I’ve been picketed and had one institution decide to pay for security guards to protect me. I’ve had former friends write untrue and horrendous things about me in public in an attempt to smear me – and all for suggesting on Facebook that the Labour Party might have a problem with women raising questions about proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act, and for refusing to accept the terms of a small number of people regarding who we can and can’t talk to. When you ask to talk to your cancellers face-to-face, they always, of course, refuse. It appears to me that contemporary culture is screwed, and not only by the virus. After plagues, there are often periods of great artistic flourishing. Perhaps we’re on the cusp of this, but it’s not going to come from these cowardly institutions, more concerned to avoid bad publicity than they are in understanding the world.”
5. Thomas B. Edsall in The New York Times
on the partisanship of the Trump era
How Could Human Nature Have Become This Politicized?
“The intensifying differences between the two parties, particularly over matters of race, sex and the family have created a fertile environment for what amounts to the partisan politicization of human nature... The electorate has been divided into two separate camps based on voters’ preference for key foundational moral principles and the policies that derive from them, their social and cultural identities, and their preference for democratic or illiberal leadership. Politicians understand this intuitively, which means that even as Donald Trump is convinced that chaos, confusion and conflict will enhance his prospects for re-election, Joe Biden is working to quell the fires that Trump is lighting.”


theweekuk--2020-07-08--Coronavirus: just how bad was the Covid crisis in UK care homes?

Dozens of care homes underwent emergency inspections during lockdown amid allegations that residents and staff were being dangerously exposed to coronavirus , according to reports .
Around 50 homes have undergone fast-tracked inspections by the Care Quality Commission ( CQC ) since March , after allegedly failing to follow safety procedures around Covid-19 , says The Telegraph .
At the peak of the pandemic , the CQC received nearly 1,000 whistle-blower reports from care workers concerned about unsafe practices and “ poor care ” in their workplaces , documents seen by The Telegraph show .
The Unison union “ submitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the height of the lockdown on behalf of low-paid staff members ” , says the newspaper .
In some cases , staff with “ persistent coughs ” were allegedly told to come into work , and others were allowed to work across several homes despite the risk of spreading infection .
Staff claim they were threatened with the sack to prevent them speaking out .
“ Care workers were pressured to work despite showing symptoms or needing to shield , or not told about colleagues or residents testing positive , ” said Unison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many have not been fairly paid while sick , causing extreme financial hardship .
“ No wonder the virus spread so rapidly , causing so many deaths .
Lessons must be learned – and quickly.
” How many people died in care homes ?
A recent survey of almost 9,000 care homes in England by the Office for National Statistics found that those which use low-paid agency workers , or that do not offer sick pay , were 1.58 times more likely to have higher levels of infection .
The newly published research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes had reported at least one confirmed case of coronavirus .
In these residences , an average of 20 % of residents and 7 % of staff tested positive for Covid-19 .
The figures for care home deaths involving Covid-19 are also bleak , totalling 19,394 between 2 March to 12 June , according to ONS data .
This total accounts for almost a third ( 29.3 % ) of the overall 66,112 deaths of care home residents over the period .
Of the coronavirus deaths , 74.9 % occured in a care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Are care homes or the government to blame ?
The allegations of widespread unsafe practices comes days after Boris Johnson provoked anger by suggesting that “ too many care homes didn ’ t really follow the [ coronavirus ] procedures in the way that they could have ” .
The Independent Care Group , which represents front-line care workers , described the prime minister ’ s comments to reporters on Monday as a “ real slap in the face ” , while Labour demanded a public apology .
Keir Starmer tweeted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the start of the pandemic said people in care homes were ‘ very unlikely ’ to be infected .
Now Boris Johnson is trying to shift the blame .
Shameful.
” Health Secretary Matt Hancock later attempted to soften Johnson ’ s criticism , telling the House of Commons : “ The PM was explaining that because asymptomatic transmission was not known about , the correct procedures were therefore not known.
” Hancock said that the government had been been “ constantly learning about this virus from the start and improving procedures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Adams , who runs the charity Community Integrated Care , told BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme that Johnson ’ s comments were “ cowardly ” and a “ travesty of leadership ” .
“ If this is genuinely his view , I think we 're almost entering a Kafkaesque alternative reality where the government sets the rules , we follow them , they do n't like the results , they then deny setting the rules and blame the people that were trying to do their best , ” Adams said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representing independent care homes , has also accused the government of delays over issuing new guidance for visitors to care homes .
Responding to the criticisms , White Hall sources told The Telegraph that care homes bosses “ must accept their share of the blame ” .
“ Obviously , the government has to face up to the fact that much of the guidance came too late , and the personal protection equipment ( PPE ) and testing was a disaster , ” an insider said .
“ But some of these , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Dozens of care homes underwent emergency inspections during lockdown amid allegations that residents and staff were being dangerously exposed to coronavirus, according to reports.
Around 50 homes have undergone fast-tracked inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) since March, after allegedly failing to follow safety procedures around Covid-19, says The Telegraph.
How were care homes handled?
At the peak of the pandemic, the CQC received nearly 1,000 whistle-blower reports from care workers concerned about unsafe practices and “poor care” in their workplaces, documents seen by The Telegraph show.
The Unison union “submitted several official grievances to the CQC at the height of the lockdown on behalf of low-paid staff members”, says the newspaper.
In some cases, staff with “persistent coughs” were allegedly told to come into work, and others were allowed to work across several homes despite the risk of spreading infection. Staff claim they were threatened with the sack to prevent them speaking out.
“Care workers were pressured to work despite showing symptoms or needing to shield, or not told about colleagues or residents testing positive,” said Unison senior national officer Gavin Edwards. “Many have not been fairly paid while sick, causing extreme financial hardship.
“No wonder the virus spread so rapidly, causing so many deaths. Lessons must be learned – and quickly.”
How many people died in care homes?
A recent survey of almost 9,000 care homes in England by the Office for National Statistics found that those which use low-paid agency workers, or that do not offer sick pay, were 1.58 times more likely to have higher levels of infection.
The newly published research found that 56% of the care homes had reported at least one confirmed case of coronavirus. In these residences, an average of 20% of residents and 7% of staff tested positive for Covid-19.
The figures for care home deaths involving Covid-19 are also bleak, totalling 19,394 between 2 March to 12 June, according to ONS data.
This total accounts for almost a third (29.3%) of the overall 66,112 deaths of care home residents over the period. Of the coronavirus deaths, 74.9% occured in a care home and 24.8% in a hospital.
Are care homes or the government to blame?
The allegations of widespread unsafe practices comes days after Boris Johnson provoked anger by suggesting that “too many care homes didn’t really follow the [coronavirus] procedures in the way that they could have”.


theweekuk--2020-07-08--British Gymnastics to investigate alleged abuse of elite Olympic athletes

The governing body for gymnastics in the UK has announced an independent inquiry into allegations of “ serious physical and emotional abuse ” made by elite athletes .
One former British Olympic gymnast described being “ made to train until her hands ripped and bled ” , while another said she was “ locked in a cupboard by her coach as a ten-year-old ” , The Guardian says .
The accusations also include multiple claims of fat-shaming .
Francesca Fox , who competed as a rhythmic gymnast at the 2012 London Games , told ITV that she was constantly told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked like a hippo ” , and ended up weighing herself ten times a day .
Another former Olympian , Nicole Pavier , told the BBC that she developed bulimia when she was 14 and retired from gymnastics three years later , after becoming “ a shell of a person ” .
Several other gymnasts also spoke to the broadcaster about what they called a “ culture of fear ” within the “ mentally and emotionally abusive ” sport .
Announcing the independent investigation , British Gymnastics chief executive Jane Allen said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not feel they could raise their concerns ” and that a review was urgently needed to “ help us better understand why so we can remove any barriers as quickly as possible ” .
Allen added : “ The behaviours we have heard about in recent days are completely contrary to our standards of safe coaching and have no place in our sport.
” The review , to be led by Jane Mulcahy QC , comes as increasing numbers of former British gymnasts “ speak out after the recent broadcast of the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardian .
The film details abuse of American gymnasts and the crimes of the USA team doctor Larry Nassar , who was convicted of sexual offences against hundreds of underage athletes .

The governing body for gymnastics in the UK has announced an independent inquiry into allegations of “serious physical and emotional abuse” made by elite athletes.
One former British Olympic gymnast described being “made to train until her hands ripped and bled”, while another said she was “locked in a cupboard by her coach as a ten-year-old”, The Guardian says.
The accusations also include multiple claims of fat-shaming. Francesca Fox, who competed as a rhythmic gymnast at the 2012 London Games, told ITV that she was constantly told she was “fat” and “looked like a hippo”, and ended up weighing herself ten times a day.
Another former Olympian, Nicole Pavier, told the BBC that she developed bulimia when she was 14 and retired from gymnastics three years later, after becoming “a shell of a person”.
Several other gymnasts also spoke to the broadcaster about what they called a “culture of fear” within the “mentally and emotionally abusive” sport.
Announcing the independent investigation, British Gymnastics chief executive Jane Allen said that “it is clear that gymnasts did not feel they could raise their concerns” and that a review was urgently needed to “help us better understand why so we can remove any barriers as quickly as possible”.
Allen added: “The behaviours we have heard about in recent days are completely contrary to our standards of safe coaching and have no place in our sport.”
The review, to be led by Jane Mulcahy QC, comes as increasing numbers of former British gymnasts “speak out after the recent broadcast of the US documentary Athlete A”, says The Guardian.
The film details abuse of American gymnasts and the crimes of the USA team doctor Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexual offences against hundreds of underage athletes.


theweekuk--2020-07-08--Donald Trump abused as a child by ‘sociopathic’ father, claims family memoir

Donald Trump suffered “ child abuse ” at the hands of his “ high-functioning sociopath ” father , according to an upcoming memoir by the president ’ s niece .
Mary Trump claims that “ love meant nothing ” to Fred Sr , “ who expected obedience , that is all ” , the Daily Mail reports .
After Trump ’ s mother became seriously ill when he was two years old , the future president was left with “ total dependence on a caregiver [ Fred Sr ] who also caused him terror ” , she writes .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for life.
” The president ’ s niece , a clinical psychologist , claims this childhood trauma saw him grow to become not only a “ narcissist ” but also someone who “ meets the criteria for antisocial personality disorder , which in its most severe form is generally considered sociopathy ” .
“ Lying , cheating and hiding one ’ s true feelings ” were all allegedly rewarded in the Trump household , says CNBC .
Mary Trump claims that as a result , her uncle came to view these behaviours as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mode of self-aggrandisement meant to convince other people he was better than he actually was ” .
She also alleges “ multiple instances of shocking behaviour by the president as a younger man , including academic cheating to get into a prestigious business school , and brutal treatment of women ” , reports The Guardian , which has obtained a copy of the memoir , titled “ Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man ” .
The book is due to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal bid by the Trump family to block the publication .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany yesterday insisted that “ it ’ s a book of falsehoods ... ridiculous , absurd allegations that have absolutely no bearing in truth ” .


theweekuk--2020-07-08--Why everybody’s talking about Johnny Depp’s libel case against The Sun

Johnny Depp has accused his ex-wife Amber Heard of being a “ sociopathic ” abuser and denied that he is a “ wife beater ” , on the first day of his libel case against The Sun .
In a stream of shocking evidence , the High Court heard stories of drug-taking , domestic abuse and bloody injuries .
Both Depp and Heard attended London ’ s High Court on Tuesday for the first day of what is expected to be a three-week trial , arriving through separate entrances , reports Sky News .
Depp is suing The Sun ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NGN ) , and the newspaper ’ s executive editor , Dan Wootton , over a 2018 article that referred to “ overwhelming evidence ” that the actor attacked Heard during their two-year marriage .
Lawyers for NGN say that The Sun ’ s description of Depp was “ entirely accurate and truthful ” .
In a statement through her spokesperson before the court proceedings began , Heard said that she has been trying to “ move on with her life ” following their divorce , in 2017 , but has instead been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on some of the most distressing moments of her life ” .
What has been said in court ?
During cross-examination by The Sun ’ s lawyer , Depp spoke about his drug and alcohol abuse over the years , which he said started when was 11 years old .
The Hollywood star admitted to having taken drugs including marijuana , cocaine , LSD , ecstasy , magic mushrooms and prescription pharmaceuticals .
The court also heard a number of claims about Heard inflicting serious violence on Depp .
His barrister , David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recording in which Heard calls Depp “ a fucking baby ” after allegedly hitting him , to which he replies : “ Because you start physical fights.
” According to the transcript of the row , in September 2015 , Heard said : “ You got hit ... but I did not punch you .
I did not fucking deck you .
I fucking was hitting you.
” Depp claims that on another occasion , in late 2014 or early 2015 , Heard punched him in the face on a plane .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ verbally aggressive… Then she became physically violent and repeatedly punched me in the face .
As I moved towards the back of the plane to get away from her , she followed me into the plane ’ s bedroom and punched me again in the face and the head .
“ I pushed her away from me , on to the bed .
I then grabbed a pillow and locked myself in the bathroom , where I slept for the duration of the flight.
” In another witness statement , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the face and partially severed his finger by throwing a vodka bottle ” , reports The Guardian .
“ Amber severed my finger with the second of two thrown vodka bottles at me in the early afternoon of Sunday 8 March [ 2015 ] .
Amber claims this was on the second day of a ‘ three-day hostage situation ’ , ” said Depp , whose legal team showed photos of him lying in a hospital bed following the alleged incident .
“ Another gory shot showed his severed finger , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ Amber claims that during these three days , I subjected her to a variety of what sounds like torture and other abuse .
These sick claims are completely untrue.
” His barrister told the court that Heard had “ invented these stories of serious violence .
He is not and never has been a wife-beater.
” The actor also claims that Heard “ or possibly one of her friends ” defecated in their bed , and that she dismissed the incident as “ just a harmless prank ” .
In another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star said that actor and model Heard had married him to advance her career .
She “ constantly belittled ” him and called him a “ fat old man ” and “ horrible father ” , according to Depp , who has two children with former partner Vanessa Paradis .
Depp also says that he and Heard saw a marriage counsellor who allegedly confirmed to him that his then wife had a “ borderline , toxic narcissistic personality disorder and is a sociopath ” , reports the BBC .

Amber Heard has denied having multiple affairs while married to Johnny Depp, and claimed that the Hollywood actor “beat me up for years”. Heard is giving evidence for a second day during Depp’s libel case against The Sun newspaper, with the hearing now in its third week. What is happening? Depp is suing The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and the newspaper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, over a 2018 article that referred to “overwhelming evidence” that the actor attacked Heard during their two-year marriage. Lawyers for NGN say that The Sun’s description of Depp was “entirely accurate and truthful”. In a statement through her spokesperson before the court proceedings began, Heard said that she has been trying to “move on with her life” following their divorce, in 2017, but has instead been “dragged to court to give evidence on some of the most distressing moments of her life”. What are the new details? During her first day in the witness box on Monday, Heard said she had been “terrified of the monster” that was Depp, reports Sky News. In a statement submitted to the trial, Heard also said she feared Depp was “going to kill” her on numerous occasions during their relationship. She claimed Depp was “jealous” over her interactions with male co-stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, James Franco and Eddie Redmayne. The court was shown text messages between Heard and Elon Musk, in which the Tesla chief offers her “24/7 security”, adding: “The offer would stand, even if you never wanted to see me again... anyway, sorry for being an idiot. The radio silence hurts a lot. It only matters because I really like you.” Eleanor Laws QC, representing Depp, also cited evidence from a concierge at the pair’s apartment who claimed he saw Musk visiting Heard when Depp was away in 2015. Heard denied the claims, and further denied accusations she had had an affair with Franco. Skip advert The court was then shown CCTV footage of Heard and Franco allegedly trying to avoid being seen as they entered Heard’s apartment building when Depp was away. Laws also suggested Heard had been violent with Depp during their relationship, an accusation Depp had previously made to the court.
Heard called the accusations “preposterous”, and told the court: “He was twice my size and beat me up for five years... I wanted him to stop calling me a liar, but here we are four years later.” But she admitted hitting Depp on one occasion in 2015, in an attempt to avoid him attacking her sister. “I did strike Johnny that day,” she told the court, “in defence of my sister”. Whitney Heard, the actress said, had been standing at the top of a staircase in their apartment. “I had heard that he had pushed a former girlfriend, I think it was Kate Moss, down the stairs. And I thought of that at the moment and I reacted in defence of her [Whitney]. For years I had never hit him back. I would never forget this incident”. She also said that an absence of her visible injuries in the days after the alleged violence was because she wore makeup. “Whenever I leave the house, I wear makeup,” she said. Heard claimed that she hid her injuries caused by Depp in the early part of their marriage, reports The Guardian. “Throughout the relationship, others noticed I had cuts and bruises,” her statement explained. “I made excuses. People asked me: ‘Is he hitting you?’ I would deflect it; I wasn’t sharing it with people because I was trying to protect him and our relationship – and to protect myself from the humiliation that I felt about anyone knowing that I would allow this to happen to me. “I became an expert in covering up the bruises and injuries. Later in the relationship, it became impossible to hide.” Depp has denied any suggestion that he was violent towards Heard. What had already been said in court? During cross-examination by The Sun’s lawyer, Depp spoke about his drug and alcohol abuse over the years, which he said started when was 11 years old. The Hollywood star admitted to having taken drugs including marijuana, cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, magic mushrooms and prescription pharmaceuticals. The court also heard a number of claims about Heard inflicting serious violence on Depp. His barrister, David Sherborne, read out transcripts of a recording in which Heard calls Depp “a fucking baby” after allegedly hitting him, to which he replies: “Because you start physical fights.” Skip advert According to the transcript of the row, in September 2015, Heard said: “You got hit... but I did not punch you. I did not fucking deck you. I fucking was hitting you.”


theweekuk--2020-07-08--Coronavirus: how countries get away with hoarding life-saving drugs

Mark Eccleston-Turner , lecturer in global health law at Keele University , on how the US was able to buy up the global stock of the key coronavirus drug remdesivir .
The news that the US has bought the global supply of remdesivir – a drug that can treat Covid-19 – has rightly been criticised as “ treatment nationalism ” .
But the US is not the only country acting selfishly .
The UK recently banned the export of dexamethasone – the only drug proven to reduce deaths in people severely ill with Covid .
Treatment nationalism is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu pandemic , wealthy countries dominated the procurement of the swine flu vaccine .
Developing countries only got access to the vaccine much later on in the pandemic ( when the vaccine would have been less effective ) and in much smaller doses .
This is poor public health and it is poor multilateralism .
It is morally wrong to think that someone has a stronger claim to a vaccine because they live in a rich country .
Can it be prevented ?
There is a range of measures governments could take to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine during a pandemic .
The first is simple market domination .
This is the case with remdesivir and the US .
Because of intellectual property rights , remdesivir can only be manufactured by Gilead , an American company .
And the US has contracted with Gilead to purchase nearly all of its supply .
So far , so free market .
However , there are some options to overcome this .
Patents can , and should , be circumvented during a pandemic .
Tools like compulsory licencing can give permission to generic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Providing generic manufacturers can access the raw ingredients contained within remdesivir they can easily manufacture and licence a generic version of the drug .
They can do so for significantly less than the US $ 2,340 ( £1,878 ) Gilead is charging for each patient .
There are other legal options in the area of “ treatment nationalism ” , too .
The UK has placed dexamethasone on its export ban list , meaning that any drug wholesaler attempting to export this drug to other countries could lose their licence .
Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or vaccine manufacturers for failure to perform contractual obligations , so that even if the manufacturer has contracted to supply drugs or vaccines to other countries , the government will prevent them from being sued for breach of contract if they fail to fulfil the order .
A more extreme measure would be compulsory requisition of drugs or vaccines that are due to be exported to another country .
In the UK , the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 makes provision that a “ senior Minister of the Crown ” may make emergency regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without compensation .
While we have not seen this in a pandemic , there is an established history of private assets and land being seized in an emergency , including in the UK .
It hasn ’ t happened yet , but it could .
To return to vaccines , earlier I explained that compulsory licensing allows generic drug manufacturers to make a patented drug , to ensure access .
This is not the case with vaccines .
The vaccine market is dominated by a handful of manufacturers operating in a few countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A vaccine is key to the Covid-19 global response strategy .
However , it is not yet clear how any Covid-19 vaccine will or ought to be distributed , despite significant issues of fairness , equity and justice .
Developing countries may not have access to a Covid-19 vaccine without a governance framework guiding international allocation .
During the 2009 swine flu pandemic , this was certainly the case .
However , the WHO relies on donations from wealthy countries with excess vaccine to supply developing countries .
These donations came too late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satisfied they had enough vaccine to meet their own needs .
Given the severity of Covid-19 , wealthy countries may be even less likely to donate vaccine to their poor neighbours and could use a range of legal tools to prevent this from happening .
Our new research project aims to assess the viability of international access and benefit-sharing models to determine what lessons can be applied to the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines overcome these legal barriers .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the @ @ @


theweekuk--2020-07-08--Reaction: Rishi Sunak to unveil £2bn youth jobs scheme to tackle Covid crisis

Rishi Sunak is set to announce plans to pay hundreds of thousands of young people to take part in six-month job placements during the economic downturn triggered by the coronavirus pandemic .
People aged between 16 and 24 who are on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment will earn a total of £5,500 for working , while businesses will receive £1,000 for taking them on , The Times reports .
The Treasury says the “ kickstart scheme ” , to be outlined during the Chancellor ’ s mini budget today , forms part of a “ three-point plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back from coronavirus ” .
The scheme “ could help 300,000 people ” and is central to Boris Johnson ’ s “ ‘ opportunity guarantee ’ for young people , which will also include a huge increase in apprenticeships ” , the newspaper adds .
The youth employment programme essentially creates “ a pool of ‘ free labour ’ for companies ” , according to the Financial Times .
A source close to the chancellor told the paper that companies have a “ moral obligation ” to take part in order to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has “ welcomed the move ” , but says the government has failed to “ rise to the scale of the unemployment crisis ” , the BBC reports .
The broadcaster ’ s political editor Laura Kussenberg writes that the announcement shows the “ government is looking now to the second phase of the crisis , when the worst stage of the health aspect has passed and they hope the economic recovery can begin ” .
With the clock ticking down on the furlough scheme and thousands of Britons already losing their jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who have been paid by the Treasury will find their job doesn ’ t return ” , Kussenberg continues .
“ The focus of the chancellor ’ s statement , therefore , will be ‘ jobs , jobs , jobs ’ , insiders say.
” Kathleen Henehan , an economist at the Resolution Foundation think-tank , told the FT that the work experience funding could potentially create three times as many jobs as a similar scheme that ran after the 2008 financial crisis .
But “ delivery on this scale will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sunak is also expected to “ announce a wide-ranging package of tax and spending measures to kickstart Britain ’ s economic recovery ” , The Guardian reports .
The measures are expected to include a temporary cut in stamp duty - the tax levied on home purchases - and a cut to the rate rate of value added tax ( VAT ) .
A stamp duty “ holiday ” would help “ reboot the housing market after three months of lockdown ” , while the VAT cut would “ boost consumer spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic recovery ” , the paper adds .
Conservative MPs argue that cutting VAT would also “ bolster demand in the frail hospitality sector ” , which is heavily exposed to social distancing restrictions and “ where many young people could lose their jobs ” , says the FT .
In a further rumoured move , the Treasury may take a leaf out of China ’ s book by distributing “ vouchers for the public to spend in shops , pubs and restaurants that have been hit hardest by the lockdown ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handed out vouchers to citizens in April in an effort to reboot its hospitality , retail and leisure sectors .
Sunak is due to deliver his statement at 12:30pm today , immediately after Prime Minister 's Questions .

Rishi Sunak is set to announce plans to pay hundreds of thousands of young people to take part in six-month job placements during the economic downturn triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
People aged between 16 and 24 who are on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment will earn a total of £5,500 for working, while businesses will receive £1,000 for taking them on, The Times reports.
The Treasury says the “kickstart scheme”, to be outlined during the Chancellor’s mini budget today, forms part of a “three-point plan for jobs... to help Britain bounce back from coronavirus”.
The scheme “could help 300,000 people” and is central to Boris Johnson’s “‘opportunity guarantee’ for young people, which will also include a huge increase in apprenticeships”, the newspaper adds.
The youth employment programme essentially creates “a pool of ‘free labour’ for companies”, according to the Financial Times. A source close to the chancellor told the paper that companies have a “moral obligation” to take part in order to help stave off an unemployment disaster.
Labour has “welcomed the move”, but says the government has failed to “rise to the scale of the unemployment crisis”, the BBC reports.
The broadcaster’s political editor Laura Kussenberg writes that the announcement shows the “government is looking now to the second phase of the crisis, when the worst stage of the health aspect has passed and they hope the economic recovery can begin”.
With the clock ticking down on the furlough scheme and thousands of Britons already losing their jobs, “the reality is many of those who have been paid by the Treasury will find their job doesn’t return”, Kussenberg continues. “The focus of the chancellor’s statement, therefore, will be ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’, insiders say.”
Kathleen Henehan, an economist at the Resolution Foundation think-tank, told the FT that the work experience funding could potentially create three times as many jobs as a similar scheme that ran after the 2008 financial crisis. But “delivery on this scale will be a huge challenge”, she warned.
Sunak is also expected to “announce a wide-ranging package of tax and spending measures to kickstart Britain’s economic recovery”, The Guardian reports. The measures are expected to include a temporary cut in stamp duty - the tax levied on home purchases - and a cut to the rate rate of value added tax (VAT).
A stamp duty “holiday” would help “reboot the housing market after three months of lockdown”, while the VAT cut would “boost consumer spending in order to kickstart Britain’s economic recovery”, the paper adds.
Conservative MPs argue that cutting VAT would also “bolster demand in the frail hospitality sector”, which is heavily exposed to social distancing restrictions and “where many young people could lose their jobs”, says the FT.
In a further rumoured move, the Treasury may take a leaf out of China’s book by distributing “vouchers for the public to spend in shops, pubs and restaurants that have been hit hardest by the lockdown”, the London Evening Standard reports.
China handed out vouchers to citizens in April in an effort to reboot its hospitality, retail and leisure sectors.
Sunak is due to deliver his statement at 12:30pm today, immediately after Prime Minister's Questions.


theweekuk--2020-07-08--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 8 Jul 2020

Failing to wear a mask in public during the coronavirus pandemic should become as socially unacceptable as drink-driving or not @ @ @ @ @ to the president of the Royal Society .
Studies have suggested that the UK is @ @ @ @ @ it comes to wearing masks .
For instance , research found that uptake of mask-wearing @ @ @ @ @ 25 % , compared to 83 % in Italy .

Refusal to wear masks ‘should become a public taboo’
Failing to wear a mask in public during the coronavirus pandemic should become as socially unacceptable as drink-driving or not wearing a seatbelt, according to the president of the Royal Society. Studies have suggested that the UK is far behind other countries when it comes to wearing masks. For instance, research found that uptake of mask-wearing in the UK was around 25%, compared to 83% in Italy.