theweekuk--2020-05-12--Instant Opinion: Boris Johnson is telling the working class: ‘good luck out there’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on what working people are hearing from the PM Boris Johnson ’ s message to the working class : good luck out there “ Boris Johnson ’ s televised address left a nation baffled , but there was one message the clarity of which should not be doubted .
If you are a middle-class professional , then you can keep safely working from home , and whether you venture outside for leisure , exercise or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For everybody else , it ’ s time to get back to work , and best of luck !
An alliance of Tory libertarians , who believe in freedom for those can afford it , and wealthy Conservative backers , who are rather more interested in profit margins than the lives of vulnerable and older people , have grown tired of lockdown , quite unlike the public as a whole .
And so Johnson ’ s messy compromise , as mentioned in his Sunday night address to the nation , is to ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those who can not do so from home : factory workers , but not managers ; cleaners , but not accountants .
Coronavirus is a class issue.
” Boris Johnson is trying to blind us with science “ Boris Johnson appeared to be trying to channel Albert Einstein in his address to the nation on Sunday night .
He produced an equation for the coronavirus threat that echoed the famous formula E = mc2 .
But the prime minister ’ s equation : C ( the Covid alert level ) = R @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N ( the number of infections ) was gobbledegook .
If C is a number between 1 and 5 then it can not be calculated by adding the confirmed cases ( more than 223,000 ) to the reproductive rate ( which is running at just below one ) .
Sir David Spiegelhalter , professor of the public understanding of risk at Cambridge University , talked at the weekend about the ‘ number theatre ’ used by Downing Street to manipulate the message rather than to inform people about what ’ s going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson was using phoney science to give a veneer of objectivity to a finely balanced political judgment .
Instead of admitting that the risk assessment would ultimately be made by the government , on the basis of scientific advice , he suggested that there will be a calculation overseen by a new , authoritative-sounding ‘ Joint Biosecurity Centre ’ .
It was absurd , and summed up a TV address that created more confusion than clarity.
” on how the prime minister ’ s exit strategy is sound , but needs fleshing out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need more clarity “ The Government is right to seek a new language for dealing with the pandemic because the British are the most resistant in the world to easing restrictions on their liberty .
Mr Johnson knows he has to take the country with him out of the lockdown , just as they followed him into it .
The new Stay Alert approach was lambasted by the Government ’ s detractors as too risky , but the lockdown can not continue for ever and all the Prime Minister is urging people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the ambiguities need to be cleared up .
Uncertainty is a dead end for businesses , who are no clearer about their futures than they have been for the past seven weeks .
Families need to know whether they can reunite , something Mr Johnson did not address , but which may be answered in the Commons today.
” Now Phillip Schofield is attacking his lockdown exit plan on This Morning , Boris Johnson really is in trouble “ I must admit that , charming as he is , I ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phillip Schofield as some sort of destructive political force .
Advertising car insurance through the medium of fluffy kittens , yes .
Joshing gently with a shaking of heads with Holly Willoughby on This Morning about the latest adultery-based plot twist on Emmerdale , for sure .
But eviscerating the reputation of a serving prime minister ?
Well , not so much .
Yet , with the caption ‘ CONFUSED ABOUT LOCK DOWN ?
SO ARE WE ’ on screen , Schofield delivered a series of devastating attacks on Boris Johnson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lockdown .
And each criticism carried all the more menace for being expressed in usual , conversational tones .
He and his co-host gave expression to the authentic voice of Everywoman and Everyman .
‘ The problem is , I think we ’ re all just about holding on , but when there ’ s this level of confusion , it sort of knocks you back ... ’ Willoughby began .
‘ That ’ s the problem , we now lack clarity , ’ Schofield replied , in this deadly duet of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– on coronavirus tracking and the future of people watching Coronavirus tracing apps are coming .
Here ’ s how they could reshape surveillance as we know it “ This technology , once deployed , will not be ‘ rolled back.
’ We are repeatedly told that contact tracing apps and COVID-19-related surveillance are temporary measures for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s likely to be a fantasy .
Surveillance inertia is remarkably difficult to resist .
Norms get set and practices and tools become entrenched .
And who can say when this will wind down ?
We ’ re still dealing with the supposedly temporary surveillance authorized almost 20 years ago in the wake of after 9/11 .
Rollbacks are rare and highly unlikely because the tools we build today will create a path dependency that will shape our future data and surveillance practices ... Good privacy engineering is one piece of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more difficult is weighing the long-term consequences of how these tools will be used after the pandemic ends .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Owen Jones in The Guardian
on what working people are hearing from the PM
Boris Johnson’s message to the working class: good luck out there
“Boris Johnson’s televised address left a nation baffled, but there was one message the clarity of which should not be doubted. If you are a middle-class professional, then you can keep safely working from home, and whether you venture outside for leisure, exercise or sunbathing is entirely up to you. For everybody else, it’s time to get back to work, and best of luck! An alliance of Tory libertarians, who believe in freedom for those can afford it, and wealthy Conservative backers, who are rather more interested in profit margins than the lives of vulnerable and older people, have grown tired of lockdown, quite unlike the public as a whole. And so Johnson’s messy compromise, as mentioned in his Sunday night address to the nation, is to ‘actively encourage’ a return to work for those who cannot do so from home: factory workers, but not managers; cleaners, but not accountants. Coronavirus is a class issue.”
2. Rachel Sylvester in The Times
on how Johnson’s virus equations can’t hide muddled messaging
Boris Johnson is trying to blind us with science
“Boris Johnson appeared to be trying to channel Albert Einstein in his address to the nation on Sunday night. He produced an equation for the coronavirus threat that echoed the famous formula E = mc2. But the prime minister’s equation: C (the Covid alert level) = R (the rate of infection) + N (the number of infections) was gobbledegook. If C is a number between 1 and 5 then it cannot be calculated by adding the confirmed cases (more than 223,000) to the reproductive rate (which is running at just below one). Sir David Spiegelhalter, professor of the public understanding of risk at Cambridge University, talked at the weekend about the ‘number theatre’ used by Downing Street to manipulate the message rather than to inform people about what’s going on. This was performance algebra. Mr Johnson was using phoney science to give a veneer of objectivity to a finely balanced political judgment. Instead of admitting that the risk assessment would ultimately be made by the government, on the basis of scientific advice, he suggested that there will be a calculation overseen by a new, authoritative-sounding ‘Joint Biosecurity Centre’. It was absurd, and summed up a TV address that created more confusion than clarity.”
3. The Daily Telegraph editorial
on how the prime minister’s exit strategy is sound, but needs fleshing out
We have a plan, but we need more clarity
“The Government is right to seek a new language for dealing with the pandemic because the British are the most resistant in the world to easing restrictions on their liberty. Mr Johnson knows he has to take the country with him out of the lockdown, just as they followed him into it. The new Stay Alert approach was lambasted by the Government’s detractors as too risky, but the lockdown cannot continue for ever and all the Prime Minister is urging people to do is use their common sense... But the ambiguities need to be cleared up. Uncertainty is a dead end for businesses, who are no clearer about their futures than they have been for the past seven weeks. Families need to know whether they can reunite, something Mr Johnson did not address, but which may be answered in the Commons today.”
4. Sean O’Grady in The Independent
on how mid-morning TV reflects changing public opinion
Now Phillip Schofield is attacking his lockdown exit plan on This Morning, Boris Johnson really is in trouble
“I must admit that, charming as he is, I’d never previously looked on the television personality Phillip Schofield as some sort of destructive political force. Advertising car insurance through the medium of fluffy kittens, yes. Joshing gently with a shaking of heads with Holly Willoughby on This Morning about the latest adultery-based plot twist on Emmerdale, for sure. But eviscerating the reputation of a serving prime minister? Well, not so much. Yet, with the caption ‘CONFUSED ABOUT LOCK DOWN? SO ARE WE’ on screen, Schofield delivered a series of devastating attacks on Boris Johnson’s ‘road map’ for getting out of lockdown. And each criticism carried all the more menace for being expressed in usual, conversational tones. He and his co-host gave expression to the authentic voice of Everywoman and Everyman. ‘The problem is, I think we’re all just about holding on, but when there’s this level of confusion, it sort of knocks you back...’ Willoughby began. ‘That’s the problem, we now lack clarity,’ Schofield replied, in this deadly duet of character assassination.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
5. Woodrow Hartzog in the Los Angeles Times
on coronavirus tracking and the future of people watching
Coronavirus tracing apps are coming. Here’s how they could reshape surveillance as we know it
“This technology, once deployed, will not be ‘rolled back.’ We are repeatedly told that contact tracing apps and COVID-19-related surveillance are temporary measures for use until the pandemic passes. That’s likely to be a fantasy. Surveillance inertia is remarkably difficult to resist. Norms get set and practices and tools become entrenched. And who can say when this will wind down? We’re still dealing with the supposedly temporary surveillance authorized almost 20 years ago in the wake of after 9/11. Rollbacks are rare and highly unlikely because the tools we build today will create a path dependency that will shape our future data and surveillance practices... Good privacy engineering is one piece of the puzzle for contact tracing apps. Perhaps even more difficult is weighing the long-term consequences of how these tools will be used after the pandemic ends.”


theweekuk--2020-05-12--Iranian missile kills 19 sailors in ‘friendly fire’ training incident

Nineteen Iranian sailors have been killed and 15 injured in an accident involving two Iranian warships , the country ’ s navy has said .
A new anti-ship missile being tested in the Gulf of Oman hit a support vessel , the Konarak , in a “ severe blow to the prestige of the Iranian military ” , The Guardian reports .
The paper quotes an Iranian state TV report that said the ship was struck “ after moving a practice target to its destination and not creating enough distance between itself and the target ” .
“ Human error @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire , says Al Jazeera , citing Turkey ’ s Anadolu news agency and “ sources in Iran ’ s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ” .
Anadolu reported that up to 40 crew members were on board the Konarak when the missile struck .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A funeral for the dead sailors was held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southwestern port city of Chahbahar , reports Euronews .
It says Iran often holds exercises in the Gulf of Oman , close to the Strait of Hormuz , through which “ 20 % of the world ’ s oil trade passes ” .
Coming just months after Iranian forces accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner near Tehran , killing 176 passengers , the “ bungled training exercises raised new questions about the readiness of the Islamic Republic ’ s armed forces amid heightened tensions with US ” , Al Jazeera reports “ Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercises , ” it adds , “ highlighting the severity of the incident ” .

Nineteen Iranian sailors have been killed and 15 injured in an accident involving two Iranian warships, the country’s navy has said.
A new anti-ship missile being tested in the Gulf of Oman hit a support vessel, the Konarak, in a “severe blow to the prestige of the Iranian military”, The Guardian reports.
The paper quotes an Iranian state TV report that said the ship was struck “after moving a practice target to its destination and not creating enough distance between itself and the target”.
“Human error” was to blame for the friendly fire, says Al Jazeera, citing Turkey’s Anadolu news agency and “sources in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps”. Anadolu reported that up to 40 crew members were on board the Konarak when the missile struck.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
A funeral for the dead sailors was held today at a naval base in the southwestern port city of Chahbahar, reports Euronews. It says Iran often holds exercises in the Gulf of Oman, close to the Strait of Hormuz, through which “20% of the world’s oil trade passes”.
Coming just months after Iranian forces accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner near Tehran, killing 176 passengers, the “bungled training exercises raised new questions about the readiness of the Islamic Republic’s armed forces amid heightened tensions with US”, Al Jazeera reports
“Iranian media rarely report on mishaps during its exercises,” it adds, “highlighting the severity of the incident”.


theweekuk--2020-05-12--‘Open anti-Semitism’: Ukrainian police request names and addresses of city’s Jews

A senior police officer has been accused of “ open anti-Semitism ” after asking for a list of all the Jewish inhabitants of a Ukrainian city as part of an inquiry into organised crime .
In a letter to the head of the Orthodox Jewish community in Kolomyya , around 500 miles west of Kiev , investigator Myhaylo Bank requested the names and addresses of Jews and university students “ of Jewish ethnicity ” for a probe into “ ethnic ” crime groups , The Times reports .
The letter “ did not explain his unit ’ s particular interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says The Jerusalem Post .
Jewish leader Jacob Zalishchiker refused to provide the information without a court order .
The letter was dated 18 February but has only just been made public after being shared on Twitter by Eduard Dolinsky , director general of the Jewish Committee in Kiev .
Ukraine % u2019s National Police department demanded from the Jewish community of Kolomiya to provide police the list of all Jews with addresses and mobile phones and Jewish students in universities with addresses and phones .
It is explained as fight against transnational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dolinsky said that the last time police in Ukraine had demanded lists of Jews was during the German occupation .
The Nazis killed more than a million Jews in the then Soviet state during the Second World War .
In comments to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency , Dolinsky said : “ It ’ s a total disgrace and open anti-Semitism .
It ’ s especially dangerous when it comes from a law enforcement agency.
” TV comedian-turned-politician Volodymyr Zelensky was elected last year as Ukraine ’ s first Jewish president , yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in the country , reports The Nation .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A senior police officer has been accused of “open anti-Semitism” after asking for a list of all the Jewish inhabitants of a Ukrainian city as part of an inquiry into organised crime.
In a letter to the head of the Orthodox Jewish community in Kolomyya, around 500 miles west of Kiev, investigator Myhaylo Bank requested the names and addresses of Jews and university students “of Jewish ethnicity” for a probe into “ethnic” crime groups, The Times reports.
The letter “did not explain his unit’s particular interest in Kolomyya’s Jews”, says The Jerusalem Post. Jewish leader Jacob Zalishchiker refused to provide the information without a court order.
The letter was dated 18 February but has only just been made public after being shared on Twitter by Eduard Dolinsky, director general of the Jewish Committee in Kiev.
According to The Times, Dolinsky said that the last time police in Ukraine had demanded lists of Jews was during the German occupation. The Nazis killed more than a million Jews in the then Soviet state during the Second World War.
In comments to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Dolinsky said: “It’s a total disgrace and open anti-Semitism. It’s especially dangerous when it comes from a law enforcement agency.”
TV comedian-turned-politician Volodymyr Zelensky was elected last year as Ukraine’s first Jewish president, yet “anti-Semitism and fascist-inflected ultranationalism are rampant” in the country, reports The Nation.
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theweekuk--2020-05-12--In depth: key questions about the new ‘flexible’ lockdown changes

The government ’ s lockdown rules are set to change tomorrow , with an easing of restrictions on socialising , outdoor activity and going to work .
Downing Street issued new guidance on Monday about the measures to curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus , following a televised address by Boris Johnson on Sunday that was criticised for being vague and confusing .
Amid a backlash from unions over a lack of notice for employers , Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced on Monday that the introduction of the changes would be pushed back until Wednesday .
But despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new rules remain to be answered .
What are the rules for work ?
The government says that people who are able to work from home should continue to do so “ for the foreseeable future ” .
However , in his speech on Sunday , the prime minister said : “ We now need to stress that anyone who can ’ t work from home , for instance those in construction or manufacturing , should be actively encouraged to go to work.
” People who do need to travel to work are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and instead drive , cycle or walk .
The government has said that ministers are working with public transport providers to bring services up to pre-crisis levels as soon as possible , reports the BBC - but in the meantime , confusion remains about how staff can get to work safely .
From Wednesday , people in England will be able to spend more time outdoors “ for leisure purposes ” , including sitting and sunbathing in parks , and may also take “ unlimited ” outdoor exercise .
Using a tennis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be permitted with members of the same household , or one other person from outside provided they are two metres apart , reports Sky News .
People in England will also be allowed to take day trips to an outdoor open space in a private vehicle .
But Downing Street officials clarified on Monday that while people may travel to beaches and parks , they may not spend nights or weekends in second homes , The Times reports .
The Welsh and Scottish governments are also lifting the ban on exercising outdoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland ’ s First Minister Arlene Foster is set to outline her lockdown exit plans later today .
Exercising in an indoor sports court , gym or leisure centre , and swimming in a public pool , will remain banned across the UK .
What about seeing family and friends ?
People in England will be allowed to meet with one person at a time from outside their household to play sports , sunbathe and even have a picnic , so long as they remain outdoors and keep two metres apart at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homes will not be allowed , however , although so-called “ social bubbles ” of up to ten people may be permitted from 1 June , depending on the findings of research by scientists on the government ’ s Sage committee .
Despite the easing of restrictions , the government has warned that fines for people caught breaking remaining social distancing rules are to be increased to £100 and will double with each offence up to a maximum £3,200 .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Is it mandatory to wear a face mask ?
The government is advising members of the public to wear face coverings in busy public places but has not made it a legal requirement , unlike in many other countries including France and Spain .
The guidance from Downing Street says that “ homemade cloth face-coverings can help reduce the risk of transmission in some circumstances ” and “ protect against inadvertent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have it asymptomatically ” .
But government scientists say wearing face coverings will not made a legal requirement for the time being , because “ the evidence for their benefit , we were told , was not strong enough for this to be the case ” , reports the BBC ’ s political correspondent Chris Mason .
England ’ s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and the PM have urged the public not to buy surgical or medical grade masks , which are in short supply for front-line carers , but to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face coverings .
The rules on schools will remain the same until next month , with only the children of essential workers such as front-line NHS staff and delivery drivers permitted to attend .
However , children in nurseries , Reception , Year 1 and Year 6 are due to return from 1 June , if the UK does not see a reversal in falling infection rates .
No .
10 has said that if infections begin to increase again , restrictions will be tightened “ possibly at short notice ” .
Ministers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all other primary school pupils may return to class by the end of the month - although teaching unions have described the plans as reckless .
In addition , from June , secondary schools and further education colleges will be asked to prepare for face-to-face contact with Year 10 and 12 pupils who have exams next year , as well as continuing to deliver remote classes .

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theweekuk--2020-05-12--UK city ‘selected for coronavirus testing experiment’

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theweekuk--2020-05-12--Which countries have 5G?

Which countries have 5G?

The rollout of 5G across the UK has been a hot topic of debate since kicking off last year .
The introduction of the high-speed wireless technology has triggered controversies ranging from the role of Chinese firm Huawei in providing the infrastructure for the UK ’ s networks , to the spread of discredited conspiracy theories about links with the coronavirus pandemic .
The first networks to launch 5G in the UK were EE and Vodafone , followed soon after by O2 , according to TechRadar .
BT Mobile , Sky Mobile , and Three now also have 5G networks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach all regions of the nation .
Despite the various controversies linked to 5G , the technology is spreading rapidly across the world .
A report published by California-based network testing company Viavi Solutions in February stated that 5G was at least partially available in 378 cities in a total of 34 countries .
Here is the full Viavi list : ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Three other countries have also begun rolling out 5G networks since February : Canada , Hong Kong and Thailand .

The rollout of 5G across the UK has been a hot topic of debate since kicking off last year.
The introduction of the high-speed wireless technology has triggered controversies ranging from the role of Chinese firm Huawei in providing the infrastructure for the UK’s networks, to the spread of discredited conspiracy theories about links with the coronavirus pandemic.
The first networks to launch 5G in the UK were EE and Vodafone, followed soon after by O2, according to TechRadar. BT Mobile, Sky Mobile, and Three now also have 5G networks, but the technology has yet to reach all regions of the nation.
Despite the various controversies linked to 5G, the technology is spreading rapidly across the world. A report published by California-based network testing company Viavi Solutions in February stated that 5G was at least partially available in 378 cities in a total of 34 countries.
Here is the full Viavi list:
Europe
Austria
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Monaco
Poland
Romania
San Marino
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK
North and South America
Suriname
Trinidad & Tobago
US
Uruguay
Middle East and Africa
Bahrain
Kuwait
Lesotho
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
UAE
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Asia and Oceania
Australia
China
Maldives
New Zealand
South Korea
Three other countries have also begun rolling out 5G networks since February: Canada, Hong Kong and Thailand.


theweekuk--2020-05-12--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 12 May 2020

People in the locked-down UK will be allowed to play sport with a friend or family member from outside their @ @ @ @ @ in the open air , Boris Johnson has announced .
The prime minister has also @ @ @ @ @ regional approach to lockdown , saying : “ If there ’ s a flare-up in @ @ @ @ @ country , in a town or in a village , then we will be doing @ @ @ @ @ with that .
”

UK public to be permitted to socialise with friend or relative
People in the locked-down UK will be allowed to play sport with a friend or family member from outside their household or socialise with them in the open air, Boris Johnson has announced. The prime minister has also raised to prospect of a regional approach to lockdown, saying: “If there’s a flare-up in a particular part of the country, in a town or in a village, then we will be doing whack a mole to deal with that.”


theweekuk--2020-05-11--Astrologist claims coronavirus will ‘disappear quickly’

An astrologist has claimed that according to the stars , the coronavirus will “ disappear quickly ” .
Arik Xander said : “ We need to use the Moon in Aquarius to balance the nodes .
So that 's connecting more with people in our hearts and minds , not isolating ourselves and going into me-first survival/panic/animal mode.
” A surfer survived being bitten by a shark in Australia by punching it twice .
Dylan Nacass escaped with minor injuries to his legs after the hair-raising encounter .
“ I punched him one time , he stay in my legs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the Frenchman told 9 News .
Man wins $ 177,777 while waiting to claim another prize A man in Virginia waiting to cash in his winning lottery ticket won an additional $ 177,777 .
As Jeff Melick was waiting claim his $ 1,000 winning scratch-off ticket , he purchased a Lucky 7s Tripler ticket and realised he ’ d also won $ 177,777 .
“ I kind of went numb , ” he said .
“ I was doing good with the $ 1,000 winner.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

An astrologist has claimed that according to the stars, the coronavirus will “disappear quickly”. Arik Xander said: “We need to use the Moon in Aquarius to balance the nodes. So that's connecting more with people in our hearts and minds, not isolating ourselves and going into me-first survival/panic/animal mode.”
Surfer survives by punching a shark twice
A surfer survived being bitten by a shark in Australia by punching it twice. Dylan Nacass escaped with minor injuries to his legs after the hair-raising encounter. “I punched him one time, he stay in my legs. Two times after, he go,” the Frenchman told 9 News.
Man wins $177,777 while waiting to claim another prize
A man in Virginia waiting to cash in his winning lottery ticket won an additional $177,777. As Jeff Melick was waiting claim his $1,000 winning scratch-off ticket, he purchased a Lucky 7s Tripler ticket and realised he’d also won $177,777. “I kind of went numb,” he said. “I was doing good with the $1,000 winner.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced takeon the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-05-12--Lockdown losers: the celebrity reputations taking a hit during the coronavirus pandemic


theweekuk--2020-05-12--Reaction: Donald Trump storms out of press briefing as US death toll passes 80,000


theweekuk--2020-05-12--Why everybody’s talking about Obamagate

Why everybody’s talking about Obamagate

Relations between Barack Obama and Donald Trump have reached a new low after the current US president accused his predecessor of unspecified crimes in a so-called “ Obamagate ” scandal .
Trump spent much of Sunday “ diving into the right-wing fever swamps and unleashing a barrage of tweets and retweets ” attacking Obama , The Guardian says .
One of those tweets read simply “ OBAMAGATE !
” - referencing the “ gate ” suffix inspired by the Watergate scandal that brought down former US president Richard Nixon .
News and entertainment site Deadline reported yesterday that Trump “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past 48 hours – more than 100 tweets or retweets on Sunday , 25 and counting on Monday ” .
The US leader repeatedly used the hashtag “ Obamagate ” , which he said would make the Watergate scandal “ look small time ” .
When asked later by White House reporters about the claims , he replied : “ It ’ s been going on for a long time .
It ’ s been going on from before I even got elected .
And it ’ s a disgrace that it happened.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to name Obama ’ s alleged offences , Trump said : “ You know what the crime is .
The crime is very obvious to everybody .
All you have to do is read the newspapers , except yours.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The president went on the offensive after Yahoo !
News revealed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ rule of law is at risk ” , following the Justice Department ’ s decision to drop charges against Trump ’ s former aide Michael Flynn .
Flynn was fired from his role as as national security adviser in early 2017 for lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador before Trump ’ s inauguration .
Obama ’ s alleged comments on the matter appear to have riled the president , who tweeted that his Democrat nemesis had committed “ the biggest political crime in American history , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Obama should be investigated “ met a unanimous response from Senate Republicans : No thanks ” , says Politico .
Some analysts have suggested Trump ’ s tweets may also have been a bid to distract from his handling of the coronavirus outbreak in the country , which has claimed more than 80,000 lives and triggered a rise in unemployment to levels last seen during the Great Depression .
Attacks on Obama always go down well with Trump ’ s supporters , according to Republican strategist Ford O ’ Connell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s base more than this , because they feel that they were wronged.
” The president ’ s tweets are also “ indicative of a long-standing obsession ” , says The Guardian .
“ Trump effectively began his political career by pushing the ‘ birther ’ conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the US and therefore should not be eligible for the presidency.
” And he has dedicated much of his time at the White House to trying to reverse Obama ’ s legacy , “ attempting to kill the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Iran nuclear deal and Paris climate accords , and slashing environmental and other regulations ” , the newspaper adds .
But some Democrats are fighting back against Trump ’ s latest attack with an online assault of their own .
Supporters of Joe Biden , the presumptive nominee to take on Trump in this year ’ s scheduled presidential election , are using the hashtag “ Trumpgate ” in links to online campaign ads attacking the president for his response to the Covid-19 crisis .


theweekuk--2020-05-13--Instant Opinion: ‘Tories nervous’ about changed Boris Johnson

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on the the prime minister ’ s off-brand levels of caution Coronavirus has changed Boris Johnson , and that makes Tories nervous “ Some Tories who wish their leader had taken a bolder leap blame his sobering sojourn in intensive care .
There is a feeling that this cautious prime minister , creeping out of quarantine in deference to doctors , is not the maverick daredevil they hired last year .
This is not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertised so often in the Daily Telegraph .
They whisper that he has lost his bottle .
It is true that Johnson ’ s manner is altered and that serious illness leaves psychological scars .
But there is a simple political equation being studied in Downing Street .
Johnson ’ s reputation in the early stages of the crisis was protected by fair-minded public recognition that the disease was to blame for killing people , not the politicians trying to stop the disease .
That could change in a second spike where infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of quarantine restrictions.
” 2 .
James Dowling , former Treasury official , in The Daily Telegraph on the daily damage being inflicted on the state coffers Coronavirus has ruined our public finances , leaving further austerity a necessity “ Former Chancellor George Osborne has been vindicated - it is only because the post-2010 Governments did fix the roof while the sun was shining that the situation is not even worse .
But if the austerity Osborne instituted has enabled the Government to intervene as it has during the past few months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be cut in trying to repair the fiscal damage .
In many cases , the state is already pared back to the bone ...
But when the Prime Minister says that he does not want further austerity , he is making a virtue of a necessity .
There is almost no money to be reclaimed from the public sector ( barring potentially a public sector pay freeze , although it must be questionable whether freezing NHS workers pay right now is politically deliverable ) .
If you can not reduce the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you therefore need to increase the inward flow .
As the leaked Treasury documents show , it is not sustainable not to take any action in response .
In extremis , the UK risks a full-blown sovereign debt crisis - taxes will have to go up.
” on the legacy of the “ king and queen of rock ’ n ’ roll ” How Little Richard changed the world “ The reaction of teenagers like John Lennon and Paul McCartney when they first heard Little Richard was typical .
They knew they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there was no going back .
Mark Lewisohn , a Beatles historian , explains that for Lennon , in particular , it seemed that everything in his life to that point had been a contrivance .
This was reality .
Its immediacy , its energy , was life itself .
The adult world thought rock was a fad that would pass .
For a brief period they thought it would be eclipsed by calypso .
They didn ’ t understand that rock was a way of looking at the world ; that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was feel and spontaneity , that rules could be broken , that social barriers were artificial .
The idols of rock might rise and fall but the spirit of rock would never go away.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– on how Covid-19 offers a chance to reshape the economy Let ’ s use this crisis to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Training .
What a turn-off .
The very word casts a shadow over the page .
That is partly because it has become such a specialised field , awash in hundreds of different programmes producing less and less of what we need as a society .
Most policy makers don ’ t understand it , let alone citizens .
The Covid-19 crisis is a chance to change this .
The economy is on the point of a great reshaping and if the state can pay the wages of millions it can support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our education and training spend now goes on 18 and 19-year-olds in higher education doing full-time residential three or four year courses .
This means we over-produce then grade-inflate too many bachelor degrees .
One third of graduates are not in graduate jobs , while we suffer debilitating shortages in skilled trades , construction and middle-skill technician jobs ( including the vital lab staff we see on our TVs ) .
We talk endlessly about lifelong learning yet adult education and re-education are in freefall and the apprenticeship system is not working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B. Edsall in The New York Times on the US president ’ s fantasy-based election strategy Trump Is Staking Out His Own Universe of ‘ Alternative Facts ’ “ It is difficult to calculate the vulnerabilities of Trump ’ s digital casino strategy : the number of voters willing to abandon their critical faculties is limited , even if it ’ s in the tens of millions .
The majority of American voters may not yet be ready to take a second step into this nether world .
Still , the Covid-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a certain amount of fear is pervasive ; naturally there is a hunger for safety and shelter .
In this climate , does Trump ’ s self-referential , illusory , confected , digital-marketing universe offer a solution to those hungry , anxious , angry voters predisposed to believe in a savior like Trump ?
Incredible as it may seem , it is an all-too-vivid possibility .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Rafael Behr in The Guardian
on the the prime minister’s off-brand levels of caution
Coronavirus has changed Boris Johnson, and that makes Tories nervous
“Some Tories who wish their leader had taken a bolder leap blame his sobering sojourn in intensive care. There is a feeling that this cautious prime minister, creeping out of quarantine in deference to doctors, is not the maverick daredevil they hired last year. This is not the ‘Boris’ brand spirit that was advertised so often in the Daily Telegraph. They whisper that he has lost his bottle. It is true that Johnson’s manner is altered and that serious illness leaves psychological scars. But there is a simple political equation being studied in Downing Street. Johnson’s reputation in the early stages of the crisis was protected by fair-minded public recognition that the disease was to blame for killing people, not the politicians trying to stop the disease. That could change in a second spike where infections can be linked back to premature easing of quarantine restrictions.”
2. James Dowling, former Treasury official, in The Daily Telegraph
on the daily damage being inflicted on the state coffers
Coronavirus has ruined our public finances, leaving further austerity a necessity
“Former Chancellor George Osborne has been vindicated - it is only because the post-2010 Governments did fix the roof while the sun was shining that the situation is not even worse. But if the austerity Osborne instituted has enabled the Government to intervene as it has during the past few months, it has also left very little fat to be cut in trying to repair the fiscal damage. In many cases, the state is already pared back to the bone... But when the Prime Minister says that he does not want further austerity, he is making a virtue of a necessity. There is almost no money to be reclaimed from the public sector (barring potentially a public sector pay freeze, although it must be questionable whether freezing NHS workers pay right now is politically deliverable). If you cannot reduce the state’s outgoings to any great extent, you therefore need to increase the inward flow. As the leaked Treasury documents show, it is not sustainable not to take any action in response. In extremis, the UK risks a full-blown sovereign debt crisis - taxes will have to go up.”
3. Daniel Finkelstein in The Times
on the legacy of the “king and queen of rock ’n’ roll”
How Little Richard changed the world
“The reaction of teenagers like John Lennon and Paul McCartney when they first heard Little Richard was typical. They knew they had heard something that was true and that there was no going back. Mark Lewisohn, a Beatles historian, explains that for Lennon, in particular, it seemed that everything in his life to that point had been a contrivance. This was reality. Its immediacy, its energy, was life itself. The adult world thought rock was a fad that would pass. For a brief period they thought it would be eclipsed by calypso. They didn’t understand that rock was a way of looking at the world; that it presented an argument. What mattered was feel and spontaneity, that rules could be broken, that social barriers were artificial. The idols of rock might rise and fall but the spirit of rock would never go away.”


theweekuk--2020-05-13--UK facing ‘significant recession’, chancellor warns

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has warned that it is “ very likely the UK is facing a significant recession this year ” .
The chancellor ’ s bleak prediction comes as newly published figures show that the economy shrank by 2 % in the three months to the end of March - the “ biggest contraction since the end of 2008 ” , says the BBC .
Speaking to Sky News , Sunak said : “ Technically , a recession is defined as two quarters of negative GDP , we ’ ve now had one… so yes , it is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant recession at the moment and this year.
” According to the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) , the country ’ s GDP fell by 5.8 % in March - the biggest monthly fall on record - as the coronavirus lockdown took its toll .
The ONS said : “ The impacts of the coronavirus were seen right across the economy , with nearly all sub-sectors falling in the three months to March.
” Underlining the extent of the crisis , a survey of more than 5,000 companies by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggests that one in three firms may not reopen after the lockdown is lifted , reports The Times .
FSB chair Kirsty McGregor said : “ Businesses will not simply be able to pick up where they left off.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– BBC economics editor Faisal Islam agrees that the “ much hoped-for sharp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sky News ’ s economics editor Ed Conway notes that other European countries which locked down earlier - such as Italy , Spain and France - “ have seen far bigger contractions in the first quarter ” .
“ But in much the same way , the UK is expected to see a far sharper decline in the second quarter of the year - the one we ’ re in at the moment , ” he adds .

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has warned that it is “very likely the UK is facing a significant recession this year”.
The chancellor’s bleak prediction comes as newly published figures show that the economy shrank by 2% in the three months to the end of March - the “biggest contraction since the end of 2008”, says the BBC.
Speaking to Sky News, Sunak said: “Technically, a recession is defined as two quarters of negative GDP, we’ve now had one… so yes, it is now very likely that the UK is facing a significant recession at the moment and this year.”
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the country’s GDP fell by 5.8% in March - the biggest monthly fall on record - as the coronavirus lockdown took its toll.
The ONS said: “The impacts of the coronavirus were seen right across the economy, with nearly all sub-sectors falling in the three months to March.”
Underlining the extent of the crisis, a survey of more than 5,000 companies by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) suggests that one in three firms may not reopen after the lockdown is lifted, reports The Times.
FSB chair Kirsty McGregor said: “Businesses will not simply be able to pick up where they left off.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
BBC economics editor Faisal Islam agrees that the “much hoped-for sharp bounceback… is looking far from certain”.
Sky News’s economics editor Ed Conway notes that other European countries which locked down earlier - such as Italy, Spain and France - “have seen far bigger contractions in the first quarter”.
“But in much the same way, the UK is expected to see a far sharper decline in the second quarter of the year - the one we’re in at the moment,” he adds.


theweekuk--2020-05-13--How long can Britain afford the furloughing scheme?

The government will continue to pay workers put on leave as a result of the coronavirus crisis until October , Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced .
However , companies will be asked to contribute towards the cost of the Job Retention Scheme from August , Sunak added .
What is the scheme ?
Under the job retention programme , the government will currently pay 80 % of workers ’ wages , up to £2,500 a month , if they are put on leave , or furloughed .
To access JRS payments , employers must designate specific employees as “ furloughed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status .
The employer then has to apply through an online HMRC portal .
How many people are on the scheme ?
A total of around 7.5 million employees - 27 % of the UK workforce - are now being paid through the furlough scheme .
And when public sector workers , such as doctors and civil servants , and people on existing benefits are added to the equation , more than half of Britain ’ s adult population is being bankrolled by the state , according to The Telegraph .
The government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to furloughed workers , and the director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies ( IFS ) economic think tank , Paul Johnson , predicts that the total cost of the scheme may reach nearly £100bn by October .
How long will it last ?
The scheme was announced in late March and came into effect on 20 April .
In a statement to the Commons this week explaining his decision to extend the programme by another four months , Sunak said that he “ won ’ t give up on the people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Nobody who is on the furlough scheme wants to be on this scheme .
People up and down this country believe in the dignity of their work , going to work , providing for their families , it ’ s not their fault their business has been asked to close or asked to stay at home.
” However , changes are being implemented to offer “ greater flexibility to support the transition back to work ” , the BBC reports .
From August , furloughed workers will be able to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay towards their salaries .
A similar model is already being followed in Germany , “ reducing the cost ” to the state , says The Guardian .
But UK government sources have told the BBC that the Treasury stills expects to be paying more than half the costs of furloughed workers wages between August and October .
The Telegraph reports that Downing Street is considering cutting the Treasury ’ s contribution to 60 % of workers ’ pay , with employers expected to pay the remaining 20 % .
How affordable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure from some Conservative backbenchers to do away with the scheme , or reduce the share paid by the government .
Another month under the current arrangements will increase the bill from £49bn to £60bn , reports The Times .
And even if the share of wages paid by the state is gradually reduced , IFS boss Johnson predicts that a further £20bn may be added to the government ’ s bill in the final three months of the scheme .
However , the total cost of removing the scheme or making it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furloughing workers could be even even greater , if such workers instead lose their jobs for good .
Robert Chote , director of the Office for Budget Responsibility , said : “ The immediate cost of the government ’ s actions may be high , but we can be confident that the cost of inaction would ultimately have been much higher.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– How is the government paying for the scheme ?
The Treasury is reportedly considering making large-scale tax rises central to its payment plan , with pensioners , workers and homeowners all potentially chipping in .
“ Rises to income tax , VAT , national insurance and corporation tax are all under discussion , ” The Telegraph reports .
A public sector pay freeze is also being considered , according to the newspaper , which says officials calculate that a two-year freeze on public sector pay could generate savings of about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move would be likely to face widespread opposition , with many arguing that public health workers - such as those manning the NHS front line - are those most deserving of a pay rise .

The government will continue to pay workers put on leave as a result of the coronavirus crisis until October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced.
However, companies will be asked to contribute towards the cost of the Job Retention Scheme from August, Sunak added.
What is the scheme?
Under the job retention programme, the government will currently pay 80% of workers’ wages, up to £2,500 a month, if they are put on leave, or furloughed.
To access JRS payments, employers must designate specific employees as “furloughed workers” and notify them of their status. The employer then has to apply through an online HMRC portal.
How many people are on the scheme?
A total of around 7.5 million employees - 27% of the UK workforce - are now being paid through the furlough scheme.
And when public sector workers, such as doctors and civil servants, and people on existing benefits are added to the equation, more than half of Britain’s adult population is being bankrolled by the state, according to The Telegraph.
The government is currently paying about £14bn a month to furloughed workers, and the director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) economic think tank, Paul Johnson, predicts that the total cost of the scheme may reach nearly £100bn by October.
How long will it last?
The scheme was announced in late March and came into effect on 20 April.
In a statement to the Commons this week explaining his decision to extend the programme by another four months, Sunak said that he “won’t give up on the people who rely on it”.
He continued: “Nobody who is on the furlough scheme wants to be on this scheme. People up and down this country believe in the dignity of their work, going to work, providing for their families, it’s not their fault their business has been asked to close or asked to stay at home.”
However, changes are being implemented to offer “greater flexibility to support the transition back to work”, the BBC reports.
From August, furloughed workers will be able to return to work part-time, with employers asked to pay towards their salaries. A similar model is already being followed in Germany, “reducing the cost” to the state, says The Guardian.


theweekuk--2020-05-13--Reaction: housing market reopens - but what will happen to prices?

England ’ s estate agents are back in business as the government gives the go-ahead for the housing market to restart following seven weeks of lockdown .
Under new regulations , would-be buyers are permitted to view properties , and removal firms and conveyancers can return to work , provided social distancing rules are followed .
Announcing the changes , Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that “ this critical industry can now safely move forward ” , adding : “ Our clear plan will enable people to move home safely , covering each aspect of the sales and letting process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving plans of an estimated 450,000 buyers and renters have been on hold since the UK lockdown - which “ included a freeze on most property transactions ” - was imposed on 23 March , says The Times .
The plan “ marks a victory ” for Jenrick , who claims it will “ deliver a significant fillip to the economy at little risk of spreading infection ” , adds the newspaper .
Mark Hayward , chief executive of trade body NAEA Propertymark , said : “ There ’ s been considerable pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own houses on the market .
“ We ’ ve also seen the rogue element of agents ignoring the guidance , so it was paramount that the government got something out so that people knew what to do.
” The measures are being rolled out amid growing warnings about the economic cost of lost sales , and fears of a potential property price crash .
Newly published figures from estate agents Knight Frank show that transaction numbers in the week ending 2 May were 54 % below the five-year average .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website fell by around 40 % when the lockdown was announced , traffic was back to just 20 % below normal levels at the start of April .
Andrew Perratt , head of country residential at Savills , says the increase in web visits may be down to “ bored dreamers ” , but adds that “ what is most significant for me is the jump in new buyer registrations ” , The Guardian reports .
According to City A.M. , registrations in the week ending 28 March were down by 77 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , by 2 May the decline had narrowed to 60 % , and “ the number of new prospective buyers doubled over this period ” .
The Telegraph says that as lockdown restrictions are lifted , “ all eyes ” will now be on house prices , “ and these will be closely tied to employment figures ” .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Chancellor Rishi Sunak this week said that the number of furloughed workers being paid under the government ’ s Job Retention Scheme now stands at around 7.5 million .
Meanwhile , one in seven homeowners have opted to take a three-month mortgage holiday .
“ When these schemes end , forced sellers who have no choice but to accept price discounts may start to come to the market , and these sales will drive the price statistics down , ” The Telegraph predicts .
However , some experts are more optimistic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis says that “ a drastic decline [ in property prices ] may be averted by the unexpected early opening of the property market ” .
Lucian Cook , head of residential research at Savills , adds that the reopening of the housing market will act as an “ acid test ” .
Earlier this month , Lloyds Banking Group put forward a worst-case scenario in which property prices fall by 10 % this year , by 10.9 % in 2021 and by 12.9 % in 2022 .
This scenario would see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £223,000 to £156,000 .
But Cook has a more upbeat prediction , saying : “ I suspect the fall in prices will be nearer 5 % now the market is opening earlier than expected .
By doing this , the government is reducing the risk of more dramatic price reductions .
”

England’s estate agents are back in business as the government gives the go-ahead for the housing market to restart following seven weeks of lockdown.
Under new regulations, would-be buyers are permitted to view properties, and removal firms and conveyancers can return to work, provided social distancing rules are followed.
Announcing the changes, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that “this critical industry can now safely move forward”, adding: “Our clear plan will enable people to move home safely, covering each aspect of the sales and letting process, from viewings to removals.”
The moving plans of an estimated 450,000 buyers and renters have been on hold since the UK lockdown - which “included a freeze on most property transactions” - was imposed on 23 March, says The Times.
The plan “marks a victory” for Jenrick, who claims it will “deliver a significant fillip to the economy at little risk of spreading infection”, adds the newspaper.
Mark Hayward, chief executive of trade body NAEA Propertymark, said: “There’s been considerable pressure from consumers to view properties and put their own houses on the market.
“We’ve also seen the rogue element of agents ignoring the guidance, so it was paramount that the government got something out so that people knew what to do.”
The measures are being rolled out amid growing warnings about the economic cost of lost sales, and fears of a potential property price crash.
Newly published figures from estate agents Knight Frank show that transaction numbers in the week ending 2 May were 54% below the five-year average.
However, while visits to the Rightmove property website fell by around 40% when the lockdown was announced, traffic was back to just 20% below normal levels at the start of April.
Andrew Perratt, head of country residential at Savills, says the increase in web visits may be down to “bored dreamers”, but adds that “what is most significant for me is the jump in new buyer registrations”, The Guardian reports.
According to City A.M., registrations in the week ending 28 March were down by 77% on the five-year average for London. However, by 2 May the decline had narrowed to 60%, and “the number of new prospective buyers doubled over this period”.


theweekuk--2020-05-13--What is convalescent plasma therapy and could it treat coronavirus?

Sarah L Caddy , clinical research fellow in viral immunology at the University of Cambridge , on a possible treatment for the new coronavirus .
Many options are being explored to treat Covid-19 .
These include new drugs specifically designed to target SARS-CoV-2 , as well as “ repurposed ” drugs - that is , existing drugs designed to treat a different disease .
By far the oldest treatment being tested , though , is convalescent plasma .
This involves using blood plasma from people who have recovered from CovidD-19 and infusing it into patients who currently have the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood that remains when all red and white blood cells and platelets have been removed .
It was over a hundred years ago that Emil Behring was awarded the first Nobel prize for physiology and medicine for his work demonstrating that plasma could be used to treat diphtheria .
We now know that the key component of plasma for treating infections is antibodies .
Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins that are highly specific for whichever infection a person has previously encountered .
They are produced in vast quantities by B cells of our immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invading virus and then target it for destruction .
The concept of vaccination relies on stimulating antibody production to infections not yet met .
In contrast , using convalescent plasma involves the transfer of antibodies from donors who have already mounted an immune response , thus offering immediate ( but transient ) protection to the recipient .
Convalescent plasma has been trialled as a therapy in previous coronavirus outbreaks .
A few observational studies were conducted during the first Sars epidemic in 2003 .
These all reported improvement in patients after receiving convalescent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complications .
However , these studies were largely case reports – not the most reliable type of evidence .
Convalescent plasma treatment was also tested during the Ebola virus outbreak in 2013-2016 .
Several case reports showed promising results , but again , large-scale randomised trials were not performed .
Still , the World Health Organization published guidelines on the appropriate use of plasma from recovered patients .
The handful of early reports in which Covid-19 patients have been treated with convalescent plasma have garnered plenty of interest .
Each has concluded that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome , but there are significant limitations to each of these studies .
To begin with , each study has only treated a maximum of ten patients .
Also , there were no control patients ( people who weren ’ t given convalescent plasma ) , so it ’ s impossible to know how the patients may have responded without treatment .
Fortunately , more extensive studies are now in the pipeline to provide robust evidence either for or against the use of convalescent plasma .
Worldwide there are over 60 clinical trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect of convalescent plasma .
Patients are typically given about 500ml plasma intravenously , and their progress is then carefully monitored .
Many studies are using plasma from non-infected patients as the placebo arm of the trial , to ensure that any benefits identified are indeed specific for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies .
Although convalescent plasma has the potential to be a useful treatment , there are a few theoretical concerns that will keep all clinical trial teams on their toes .
First , artificially supplying antibodies might make an infection worse .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enhancement ( ADE ) .
Antibodies that bind to a virus may be taken up by cells expressing antibody receptors .
This could enable the virus to enter cells that are not normally susceptible to infection , which may increase the number of new viral particles made .
This classically occurs in dengue infection , but has also been a concern for MERS coronavirus .
A second theoretical risk is that pre-formed antibodies may block the body ’ s own immune response from responding adequately .
We know this occurs with maternal antibodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offspring can prevent infants from responding correctly to vaccination .
This is why most childhood vaccines are started after eight weeks of age .
How safe is convalescent plasma ?
It ’ s important to bear in mind that there are several potential risks with receiving plasma from another person .
Mild side effects include developing a fever or allergic reactions , such as a rash and an itchy sensation .
The plasma should also be compatible with the recipient ’ s blood group to prevent transfusion reactions .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Much more serious is the risk of transmitting blood-borne infections .
Fortunately , the risk can be minimised by screening the donor for infections .
For example , in the UK , blood donation is centralised by the NHS , and all donors are rigorously screened for syphilis , HIV , hepatitis B , C , E , and HTLV-1 ( human T @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the risk of transmitting these infections are minimal .
Another limitation to consider is that the elderly population with weakened heart or lungs ( those at high risk from Covid-19 ) , may not tolerate receiving such a large volume of plasma .
This can lead to a complication known as “ transfusion associated circulatory overload ” .
Despite its 100-years-plus history , never before has the use of convalescent plasma been so thoroughly tested for use as a viable therapeutic .
Whatever the outcome of the many clinical trials being conducted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most efficient ways to collect , process and safely use convalescent plasma .
Fingers crossed for a positive outcome for convalescent plasma use in Covid-19 .
Hopefully , our improved understanding of convalescent plasma will also be valuable for pandemics of the future .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence .
Read the original article .

Sarah L Caddy, clinical research fellow in viral immunology at the University of Cambridge, on a possible treatment for the new coronavirus.
Many options are being explored to treat Covid-19. These include new drugs specifically designed to target SARS-CoV-2, as well as “repurposed” drugs - that is, existing drugs designed to treat a different disease.
By far the oldest treatment being tested, though, is convalescent plasma. This involves using blood plasma from people who have recovered from CovidD-19 and infusing it into patients who currently have the disease.
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood that remains when all red and white blood cells and platelets have been removed. It was over a hundred years ago that Emil Behring was awarded the first Nobel prize for physiology and medicine for his work demonstrating that plasma could be used to treat diphtheria.
We now know that the key component of plasma for treating infections is antibodies. Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins that are highly specific for whichever infection a person has previously encountered. They are produced in vast quantities by B cells of our immune system in order to bind to the invading virus and then target it for destruction.
The concept of vaccination relies on stimulating antibody production to infections not yet met. In contrast, using convalescent plasma involves the transfer of antibodies from donors who have already mounted an immune response, thus offering immediate (but transient) protection to the recipient.
Convalescent plasma has been trialled as a therapy in previous coronavirus outbreaks. A few observational studies were conducted during the first Sars epidemic in 2003. These all reported improvement in patients after receiving convalescent plasma, and no evidence of serious complications. However, these studies were largely case reports – not the most reliable type of evidence.
Convalescent plasma treatment was also tested during the Ebola virus outbreak in 2013-2016. Several case reports showed promising results, but again, large-scale randomised trials were not performed. Still, the World Health Organization published guidelines on the appropriate use of plasma from recovered patients.
The handful of early reports in which Covid-19 patients have been treated with convalescent plasma have garnered plenty of interest. Each has concluded that plasma therapy is safe and improves patient outcome, but there are significant limitations to each of these studies.


theweekuk--2020-05-13--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 13 May 2020

The leading infectious diseases doctor in the US has warned senators that opening up the country too early may “ @ @ @ @ @ might not be able to control ” .
In what is being seen as an @ @ @ @ @ Trump , who is encouraging businesses and schools to reopen , Dr Anthony Fauci said @ @ @ @ @ reopen are not followed , “ the consequences could be really serious ” as “ @ @ @ @ @ spates of infections .

Dr Fauci ‘rebukes’ Trump on reopening plans
The leading infectious diseases doctor in the US has warned senators that opening up the country too early may “trigger an outbreak that you might not be able to control”. In what is being seen as an indirect rebuke to President Donald Trump, who is encouraging businesses and schools to reopen, Dr Anthony Fauci said that if federal guidelines to reopen are not followed, “the consequences could be really serious” as “little spikes” turn into spates of infections.


theweekuk--2020-05-12--Strip club bypasses lockdown with drive-through service

A strip club in Oregon is keeping the cash rolling in during the coronavirus pandemic by offering a drive-through service .
The Lucky Devil Lounge now runs a drive-up food service with takeout orders delivered by the dancers and an in-car experience featuring performances , music and lights under canopies .
However , “ there ’ s no nudity ” , a spokesperson said .
Fed-up engineers hatched a cunning plot to trap vandals in phone boxes in the early days of the telephone service , a book on the history of phones in Oxford reveals .
Author Reg Earl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to steal handset parts to use in home-made wireless sets , a device was fitted to public phones that when triggered would lock the door , trapping the offender inside .
The world ’ s shortest living man who is able to walk has declared himself “ big in heart ” after regaining a Guinness World Record title .
Edward Nino Hernandez , from Colombia , measures in at 72.1cm ( 2ft 4.4ins ) and originally gained the title in 2010 , before losing it six months later to a man who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Records ceremony in Bogota , 34-year-old Hernandez said : “ I always share my big smile with everyone , that ’ s my charm ...
I want people to meet who I truly am - small in size , big in heart !
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A strip club in Oregon is keeping the cash rolling in during the coronavirus pandemic by offering a drive-through service. The Lucky Devil Lounge now runs a drive-up food service with takeout orders delivered by the dancers and an in-car experience featuring performances, music and lights under canopies. However, “there’s no nudity”, a spokesperson said.
Vandals trapped in Oxford phone boxes
Fed-up engineers hatched a cunning plot to trap vandals in phone boxes in the early days of the telephone service, a book on the history of phones in Oxford reveals. Author Reg Earl says that following several attempts by students to steal handset parts to use in home-made wireless sets, a device was fitted to public phones that when triggered would lock the door, trapping the offender inside.
World’s smallest man is ‘big in heart’
The world’s shortest living man who is able to walk has declared himself “big in heart” after regaining a Guinness World Record title. Edward Nino Hernandez, from Colombia, measures in at 72.1cm (2ft 4.4ins) and originally gained the title in 2010, before losing it six months later to a man who has now died. Following a Guinness World Records ceremony in Bogota, 34-year-old Hernandez said: “I always share my big smile with everyone, that’s my charm... I want people to meet who I truly am - small in size, big in heart!”
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theweekuk--2020-05-13--FBI accidentally names Saudi diplomat suspected of aiding 9/11 hijackers

The FBI has accidentally revealed the name of a Saudi official suspected of providing crucial support to the 9/11 hijackers .
The mistake was made in a declaration filed in federal court by Jill Sanborn , assistant director of the US intelligence agency ’ s counterterrorism division , in response to a lawsuit that accuses the Saudi government of being complicit in the terror attacks .
“ This shows there is a complete government cover-up of the Saudi involvement , ” a spokesperson for the victims ’ families who brought the lawsuit told Yahoo !
News .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted the disclosure was made by mistake and have withdrawn the FBI ’ s declaration from the public record , reports Al Jazeera .
The man named in the documents is Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah , a former mid-level Saudi Foreign Ministry official who was assigned to the Saudi embassy in Washington D.C. in 1999 and 2000 .
The authorities believe that al-Jarrah instructed two people - Fahad al-Thumairy , a cleric , and Omar al-Bayoumi , a suspected Saudi intelligence officer - to help settle two 9/11 hijackers in the US a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anadolu Agency .
Al-Jarrah ’ s current whereabouts are unknown , but he is believed to be in Saudi Arabia , the Turkey-based news agency adds .
All but four of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudi citizens .
The Saudi government has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks .
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theweekuk--2020-05-13--How ‘social bubbles’ helped New Zealand beat the coronavirus

The UK government is hoping “ the New Zealand model ” of social interaction in the age of coronavirus will allow British families and friends to see each other again .
Under the so-called “ social bubble ” strategy , New Zealanders have been allowed to visit a small number of friends , family members or carers throughout their lockdown .
The approach has been “ credited with helping the country to all but eliminate Covid-19 with only 21 deaths ” , says The Times .
Last week Nicola Sturgeon said UK rules could change to allow “ meeting up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ sort of bubble arrangement ” , and official guidance released this week says the government is seeking advice on “ when and how it can safely change the regulations to allow people to expand their household group to include one other household in the same exclusive group ” .
What is the bubble strategy ?
When New Zealand introduced its lockdown on 25 March , Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urged people to isolate themselves as far as possible .
“ By and large , we ’ re very keen that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Stay within your bubble , the bubble of people that you ’ ll be with for the next four weeks.
” For most people , their bubble was simply who they lived with , but there were exceptions .
“ Those living alone could also visit and socialise with another person or couple isolating in the same neighbourhood or retirement community as long as neither party interacted with anyone else , ” explains Slate .
“ This was considered a particularly valuable measure for older people , who are at risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Members of the same bubble could also provide “ company while exercising or shopping ” , says The Times .
After four weeks , social bubbles were allowed to expand as long as they remained “ small , local and exclusive ” , says the New Zealand Herald .
One or two people could be tagged on to a household group - either relatives , friends , carers or isolated individuals in need of assistance .
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Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– How did New Zealanders respond ?
At first , “ the country simply got on board , ” says National Geographic .
“ On day one of the lockdown , the streets and highways were empty , the shops were closed , and everyone stayed home.
” As the rules have become more flexible - and as lockdown boredom has grown - a few cracks have started to appear .
While restrictions could be “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , says the Irish Times , the system “ mostly relied on civic responsibility ” .
The majority of people were happy to oblige , says Slate , but New Zealanders “ aren ’ t perfect examples of compliance ” and “ police said that they had reprimanded more than 500 people for breaching the rules in the first week ” after social bubbles were expanded .
It may be too early to tell , but for one reason or another New Zealand has escaped the worst of the pandemic .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission of Covid-19 ” , says the BBC .
According to the New Zealand Herald , it now has “ only 74 active cases - and just two people in hospital ” .
Social bubbles are unlikely to be the sole reason for its success : “ New Zealand ’ s remote location and easily sealable borders played in its favour when the virus broke out , ” says the BBC .
Travel from China was banned on 3 February and since 20 March almost no-one has been allowed into the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ praised for the clarity of its messaging.
” Even so , says the New Zealand Herald , “ scientists say it ’ s unclear how transmission of the virus has changed ” since social bubbles have expanded and other restrictions have been eased .
The relatively short period for which the policy was imposed “ may mean scientists never get a full picture of how well ” it worked , the paper added .
Even if social bubbles have been a complete success , the crisis will not be over .
New Zealand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halt on arrivals until a vaccine is developed and widely disseminated , ” says National Geographic , “ or risk the threat of reinfection.
” Will it work in the UK ?
The initial reaction suggests it might encounter some resistance .
When Sturgeon floated the idea last week , Sky News said “ some family members and friends will have to face tough choices deciding which bubble they want to be a part of ” .
And when Boris Johnson confirmed the system could apply across the UK , the Daily Mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ left confused over picking their ‘ favourite family member ’ to join their social bubble ” .
In Ireland , too , social bubbles have been proposed - and have met with doubts .
“ The strategy will only work if people don ’ t immediately start casting about for loopholes , ” says the Irish Times .
“ Are we ready for that here ?
The biggest question of all as we move out of lockdown is whether we can trust ourselves .
”


theweekuk--2020-05-13--Will flu be the next global pandemic?

Will flu be the next global pandemic?

As the world battles the coronavirus outbreak , warnings of another looming pandemic are going largely unheard .
Experts say that the world is “ overdue ” an influenza pandemic - and that it could “ strike without warning ” , reports Live Science .
World Health Organization ( WHO ) director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned last year that the “ threat of pandemic influenza is ever present ” .
“ The on-going risk of a new influenza virus transmitting from animals to humans and potentially causing a pandemic is real , ” he said as the UN health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at protecting people worldwide from the virus .
“ The question is not if we will have another pandemic , but when.
” According to Adolfo Garcia-Sastre , a professor of microbiology at New York ’ s Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , there is “ no good way ” to predict exactly when such an outbreak will occur , “ but this is something that happens every ten to 40 years ” .
The seasonal flu mutates a small amount each year , but usually remains fairly similar to previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a natural immunity .
Pandemic flu , however , is “ a different animal ” , says CNN ’ s chief medical correspondent , Dr Sanjay Gupta .
“ Unlike seasonal flu , pandemics occur when a completely new or novel virus emerges , ” Gupta explains .
“ The result is something mankind has never seen before : a pathogen that can spread easily from person to defenceless person , our immune systems never primed to launch any sort of defence.
” The 20th century saw three such flu pandemics .
First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is believed to have infected between 20 % and 40 % of the world ’ s population , and killed 50 million people .
Four decades later , the Asian flu of 1958 and 1959 claimed two million lives .
A further million people died in 1968 , from the Hong Kong flu .
The most recent influenza pandemic was swine flu , which made the leap from pigs to humans in 2009 and killed more than 200,000 people .
One reason why flu viruses remain a problem for humans is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , says Reuters .
The Times agrees that influenzas are “ particularly tricky customers , largely because of how two entirely separate strains can swap genetic material if they cross paths in a single host ” .
“ This can lead to an entirely new viral strain , capable of sustained human-to-human transmission .
If this virus has not circulated before , the entire global population will be susceptible , ” the newspaper continues .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– How will the next pandemic emerge ?
Experts say that almost all of the disease outbreaks that have plagued humans over the millennia have started out among other animals .
As science writer David Quammen puts it , “ zoonotic spillover ” - the transfer of viruses from animals to humans - is “ a word of the future , destined for heavy use in the 21st century ” .
Vincent Racaniello , a microbiology professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says that “ the first thing people need to understand is that every virus that you can think of that infects people - polio , measles , herpes , chickenpox - they all came from animals ” .
He believes that in order to prepare for the next outbreak , scientist should create a “ global atlas of zoonotic pathogens , a catalogue of the bugs that exist in other species that have the potential to spill over into the human population ” , says The Times .
How could the next outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seasonal flu , which is why WHO recommends annual vaccination - especially for vulnerable people such as babies , the elderly and anyone with underlying health issues .
But the health agency says that more far-reaching measures are needed to tackle a potential pandemic .
The two key goals are to “ improve worldwide capacities for surveillance and response - by urging all governments to develop a national flu plan - and to develop better tools to prevent , detect , control and treat flu , such as more effective vaccines and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet despite such measures , “ bigger cities , global travel , intensive animal farming , a rising human population - all will increase our vulnerability ” , says The Times .
According to experts at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , humanity ’ s “ promiscuous treatment of nature ” all but guarantees more pandemics .
Or as Mike Davis , author of The Monster At Our Door : The Global Threat of Avian Flu , explained in a recent interview with New York Magazine , “ most epidemiologists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pandemics… and a [ flu ] outbreak is imminent ” .


theweekuk--2020-05-13--Why has a remote Cumbrian town got UK’s highest Covid-19 infection rate?


theweekuk--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: what would a ‘recession to end all recessions’ look like?

Experts are predicting a “ mega-recession ” in the UK as newly published official figures show that the economy contracted at the fastest pace on record in March .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak this week said that the downturn would be “ unprecedented ” , adding : “ It is very likely that the UK is facing a significant recession at the moment and this year.
” This warning has been echoed Paul Johnson , director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank , as data from the Office of National Statistics ( ONS ) shows that Britain ’ s GDP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It is a mega-recession .
It is a recession to end all recessions , in terms of its scale , ” Johnson told BBC Radio 4 ’ s World at One .
With the economy expected to continue feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic until at least the end of 2021 , what should we expect ?
For the country ’ s job market , “ the bad news isn ’ t even close to the peak ” says The Telegraph ’ s economic editor Russell Lynch .
“ Even as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most tentative of reopenings , the tens of thousands of jobs already lost to the virus could merely be the grisly prologue to an employment tragedy unfolding months – and possibly years , ” Lynch continues .
The crisis will be worst than that during the 2008 financial crash , and possibly even the Great Depression of 1929 , predicts Ewan McGaughey , a senior lecturer in law at King ’ s College London .
“ If there ’ s mass unemployment , people will not automatically be rehired when ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he says .
“ Business will go bust , or may fire more people : a sinking spiral of dole queues and shuttered shops.
” “ This is going to be a global pandemic of unemployment , ” agrees David Blustein , a professor of counselling psychology at Boston College and the author of The Importance of Work in an Age of Uncertainty .
“ I call it a crisis within a crisis , ” Blustein told the BBC .
The government this week gave the go-ahead for the housing market to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Estate agents can now reopen , property viewings may resume and removal firms and conveyancers can restart operations .
But estate agents are expected tough times ahead , with property search and information site Zoopla last month forecasting that “ completed sales will be 50 % lower in 2020 than 2019 , allowing for a proportion of stalled sales to complete and with a delay to sales that would have progressed ” .
Estate agency giant Knight Frank is predicting a 3 % house price dip across the UK this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And MoneyWeek executive editor John Stepek has warned that a quick recovery is unlikely .
“ The estate agent optimists argue that there will be pent-up demand , but I don ’ t think we ’ ll get a V-shaped recovery , ” he says .
“ A lot of people who had wanted to move will either find that they can ’ t be bothered any more , or that they are too worried about job security to do so.
” A leaked internal Treasury document suggests that the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone - and that income-tax rises , a two-year public pay freeze and an end to the triple lock on state pensions may be required to make up for the lost cash , The Times reports .
However , senior Tories are said to have warned Boris Johnson against the proposed tax hikes and spending cuts .
An unnamed cabinet minister told the newspaper : “ It is completely the wrong approach , it would entrench the downturn .
“ We should be looking at policies that open up the economy - we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be lower rather than higher.
” Former Tory chancellor Norma Lamont added : “ In the short run , one should let the recovery take hold , not abort the recovery with fiscal adjustments , be they tax increases or spending cuts .
But over time , the problem of borrowing and the deficit will have to be addressed.
” The leaked Treasury document forecasts that the UK could end the year with a £337bn budget deficit , and suggests that the proposed measures could raise up to £30bn to help fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Recessions inevitably push more people into poverty , often as a result of long-term unemployment - and often with fatal results .
A study led by Oxford University researchers found that 2015 alone , 30,000 deaths were linked to Conservative cuts to the NHS and social care .
And according to The Guardian , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Manchester and Oxford estimate that an 1,000 extra deaths from suicide and an additional 30,000-40,000 suicide attempts may have occurred from 2008-2010 following the economic downturn ” .
Now , the UK ’ s chief statistician has warned that the coronavirus-triggered economic downturn may lead to a “ significant number of deaths ” , reports HuffPost .
“ If , and I stress if , we end up with an L-shaped recession , as opposed to a V-shape , where we come back out quite quickly , an L-shape over a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant number of deaths as a result of people being pushed into poverty or into long-term unemployment , ” Professor Ian Diamond , head of the ONS , told the Commons ’ Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee .

Experts are predicting a “mega-recession” in the UK as newly published official figures show that the economy contracted at the fastest pace on record in March.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak this week said that the downturn would be “unprecedented”, adding: “It is very likely that the UK is facing a significant recession at the moment and this year.”
This warning has been echoed Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank, as data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that Britain’s GDP fell by 5.8% in March.
“It is a mega-recession. It is a recession to end all recessions, in terms of its scale,” Johnson told BBC Radio 4’s World at One.
With the economy expected to continue feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic until at least the end of 2021, what should we expect?
Jobs
For the country’s job market, “the bad news isn’t even close to the peak” says The Telegraph’s economic editor Russell Lynch.
“Even as infection rates slow and the economy begins the most tentative of reopenings, the tens of thousands of jobs already lost to the virus could merely be the grisly prologue to an employment tragedy unfolding months – and possibly years,” Lynch continues.
The crisis will be worst than that during the 2008 financial crash, and possibly even the Great Depression of 1929, predicts Ewan McGaughey, a senior lecturer in law at King’s College London.
“If there’s mass unemployment, people will not automatically be rehired when (or if) the virus is contained,” he says. “Business will go bust, or may fire more people: a sinking spiral of dole queues and shuttered shops.”
“This is going to be a global pandemic of unemployment,” agrees David Blustein, a professor of counselling psychology at Boston College and the author of The Importance of Work in an Age of Uncertainty.
“I call it a crisis within a crisis,” Blustein told the BBC.
Property market
The government this week gave the go-ahead for the housing market to restart following almost two months of lockdown. Estate agents can now reopen, property viewings may resume and removal firms and conveyancers can restart operations.


theweekuk--2020-05-14--Boris Johnson warned to avoid senior Tory backbencher

Boris Johnson has been photographed carrying a memo thought to have been written by a senior aide that warns against meeting a senior Tory backbencher alone .
The note was spotted by waiting press as the prime minister returned to Downing Street following Prime Minister ’ s Questions on Wednesday , The Times reports .
The memo said that Graham Brady , chair of the influential 1922 Committee , had asked for a “ catch-up ” , but added that “ it is important that at least the Chief [ whip ] stays in the room ” during the meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular meetings ( let me handle this and don ’ t agree to anything ) , he will almost certainly raise the Covid response and the lockdown , ” said the note , entitled “ Meeting with Sir Graham Brady – Wednesday 13th May 2020 ” .
It was signed “ Enjoy , BG ” - initials thought to stand for Ben Gasgoine , the PM ’ s political secretary .
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Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The memo also documents Brady ’ s public criticism of the government ’ s coronavirus lockdown strategy .
Addressing the Commons last week , Brady said the British public has been “ too willing '' to comply with the social distancing measures and that “ arbitrary rules and limitations of freedom ” should be removed “ as quickly as possible ” , as PoliticsHome reported at the time .
Other members of the 1922 Committee have also voiced concerns about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , the backbenchers urged the government to lift the lockdown in early May or risk devastating the economy , according to the BBC .
One 1922 member told the broadcaster : “ If we don ’ t do that , we really will see thousands of businesses go under .
”

Boris Johnson has been photographed carrying a memo thought to have been written by a senior aide that warns against meeting a senior Tory backbencher alone.
The note was spotted by waiting press as the prime minister returned to Downing Street following Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, The Times reports.
The memo said that Graham Brady, chair of the influential 1922 Committee, had asked for a “catch-up”, but added that “it is important that at least the Chief [whip] stays in the room” during the meeting.
“Whilst he will seek more regular meetings (let me handle this and don’t agree to anything), he will almost certainly raise the Covid response and the lockdown,” said the note, entitled “Meeting with Sir Graham Brady – Wednesday 13th May 2020”.
It was signed “Enjoy, BG” - initials thought to stand for Ben Gasgoine, the PM’s political secretary.
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The memo also documents Brady’s public criticism of the government’s coronavirus lockdown strategy.
Addressing the Commons last week, Brady said the British public has been “too willing" to comply with the social distancing measures and that “arbitrary rules and limitations of freedom” should be removed “as quickly as possible”, as PoliticsHome reported at the time.
Other members of the 1922 Committee have also voiced concerns about the lockdown. At a tense meeting last month, the backbenchers urged the government to lift the lockdown in early May or risk devastating the economy, according to the BBC.
One 1922 member told the broadcaster: “If we don’t do that, we really will see thousands of businesses go under.”