theweekuk--2020-11-25--Instant Opinion: ‘Want people to get the Covid vaccine? Pay them’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
Want people to get the Covid vaccine ?
Pay them “ Incentives need to be put in place .
There are externalities involved : if I refuse to have a vaccination , I can infect others .
That means vaccination can not simply be left to individual self-interest .
Some negative incentives seem obvious .
For example , anyone who refuses the vaccine could be excluded from treatment if he or she caught the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied in vaccine refusers who are shown to have spread Covid .
But such measures would create the wrong sort of climate .
The best incentives in the current circumstances are positive ones .
The idea being floated of a “ vaccine passport ” that would enable immunised people to experience more freedom in their day-to-day lives might work , though it would immediately create a market in forgeries .
But there is a much simpler way : people should be paid when they get vaccinated.
” “ Increasingly , the Leftists who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutes offensive behaviour , then they come up with a new ‘ ism ’ to describe that behaviour ( racism , sexism , Conservatism ) , the better to use as a cosh on anyone who dares challenge them .
You can see where this is going , can ’ t you ?
In the days since , a report by Sir Alex Allan found Priti Patel guilty of breaking the ministerial code after she shouted and swore at civil servants .
I haven ’ t spoken to a single person who believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ bullying ’ .
Outside bien pensant circles and TV studios , people seem to think it ’ s far more likely she came up against a bunch of white male snobs who seemed averse to actual work and accountability.
” on the left ’ s route to victory How do we avoid future authoritarians ?
Winning back the working class is key “ For a president who lies all the time , perhaps Donald Trump ’ s most outlandish lie is that he and his administration are friends of the working class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump put more billionaires into his administration than any president in history ; he appointed vehemently anti-labor members to the National Relations Labor Board ( NLRB ) and he gave huge tax breaks to the very rich and large corporations while proposing massive cuts to education , housing and nutrition programs .
Trump has tried to throw up to 32 million people off the healthcare they have and has produced budgets that called for tens of billions in cuts to Medicare , Medicaid and social security.
” “ These home-grown terrorists in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were trained by Australia .
They were paid by Australia .
They were sent to Afghanistan by Australia .
They murdered civilians , including children , in Australia ’ s name .
The barbarity committed by Australia ’ s terrorists in battle fatigues – mostly , I suspect , white , Christian men – had one aim : to terrorise non-white , non-Christian Afghans .
Aussie ‘ soldiers ’ murdered people not to achieve a ‘ strategic objective ’ , but for a diseased , intoxicating sense of pleasure and , given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they murdered people for sport .
They accomplished their detestable mission.
” The Thanksgiving turkey pardon was the final humiliation of Donald Trump “ There is nothing sadder than seeing a man who promised just a few short weeks ago that he was going to ‘ make liberals cry again ’ be reduced to a dejected comedian at an event about dinner .
I almost offered him a little vial of my own tears , which naturally I carry on my person at all times , to perk him up .
Slouching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elicited a smatter of applause when he mentioned the highs of the Dow Jones this morning .
He half-heartedly thanked Melania , as he usually does , for redoing the Rose Garden .
He talked about the ‘ doctors , nurses and scientists who have waged the battle against the China virus ’ .
He said that members of the US military ‘ keep America safe , keep America great and , as I say , America first ’ .
No , that ’ s not a fully coherent sentence , despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a printed piece of paper on the lectern in front of him the entire time , but at least it wasn ’ t a conspiracy theory about commie voting machines from Venezuela .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Paul Ormerod in City A.M.
on pushing the coronavirus jab
Want people to get the Covid vaccine? Pay them
“Incentives need to be put in place. There are externalities involved: if I refuse to have a vaccination, I can infect others. That means vaccination cannot simply be left to individual self-interest. Some negative incentives seem obvious. For example, anyone who refuses the vaccine could be excluded from treatment if he or she caught the disease. Fines or even prison could be applied in vaccine refusers who are shown to have spread Covid. But such measures would create the wrong sort of climate. The best incentives in the current circumstances are positive ones. The idea being floated of a “vaccine passport” that would enable immunised people to experience more freedom in their day-to-day lives might work, though it would immediately create a market in forgeries. But there is a much simpler way: people should be paid when they get vaccinated.”
2. Allison Pearson in The Daily Telegraph
on the embattled home secretary
Most Britons back Priti’s hard line against Leftist snobs
“Increasingly, the Leftists who dominate our institutions get to define what constitutes offensive behaviour, then they come up with a new ‘ism’ to describe that behaviour (racism, sexism, Conservatism), the better to use as a cosh on anyone who dares challenge them. You can see where this is going, can’t you? In the days since, a report by Sir Alex Allan found Priti Patel guilty of breaking the ministerial code after she shouted and swore at civil servants. I haven’t spoken to a single person who believes the Home Secretary’s conduct was ‘bullying’. Outside bien pensant circles and TV studios, people seem to think it’s far more likely she came up against a bunch of white male snobs who seemed averse to actual work and accountability.”
3. Bernie Sanders in The Guardian
on the left’s route to victory
How do we avoid future authoritarians? Winning back the working class is key
“For a president who lies all the time, perhaps Donald Trump’s most outlandish lie is that he and his administration are friends of the working class in our country. The truth is that Trump put more billionaires into his administration than any president in history; he appointed vehemently anti-labor members to the National Relations Labor Board (NLRB) and he gave huge tax breaks to the very rich and large corporations while proposing massive cuts to education, housing and nutrition programs. Trump has tried to throw up to 32 million people off the healthcare they have and has produced budgets that called for tens of billions in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and social security.”
4. Andrew Mitrovica on Al Jazeera
on war crimes
Australia is guilty of state-sponsored terrorism
“These home-grown terrorists in battle fatigues were recruited by Australia. They were trained by Australia. They were paid by Australia. They were sent to Afghanistan by Australia. They murdered civilians, including children, in Australia’s name. The barbarity committed by Australia’s terrorists in battle fatigues – mostly, I suspect, white, Christian men – had one aim: to terrorise non-white, non-Christian Afghans. Aussie ‘soldiers’ murdered people not to achieve a ‘strategic objective’, but for a diseased, intoxicating sense of pleasure and, given the defining, competitive nature of Australians, they murdered people for sport. They accomplished their detestable mission.”
5. Holly Baxter in The Independent
on the departing president
The Thanksgiving turkey pardon was the final humiliation of Donald Trump
“There is nothing sadder than seeing a man who promised just a few short weeks ago that he was going to ‘make liberals cry again’ be reduced to a dejected comedian at an event about dinner. I almost offered him a little vial of my own tears, which naturally I carry on my person at all times, to perk him up. Slouching in with dead eyes, the president elicited a smatter of applause when he mentioned the highs of the Dow Jones this morning. He half-heartedly thanked Melania, as he usually does, for redoing the Rose Garden. He talked about the ‘doctors, nurses and scientists who have waged the battle against the China virus’. He said that members of the US military ‘keep America safe, keep America great and, as I say, America first’. No, that’s not a fully coherent sentence, despite the fact that he kept his eyes down on a printed piece of paper on the lectern in front of him the entire time, but at least it wasn’t a conspiracy theory about commie voting machines from Venezuela.”


theweekuk--2020-11-25--Coronavirus: how anti-vax movements threaten to undermine Covid-19 immunity push

A series of successes in clinical trials is raising hopes that a Covid-19 vaccine will soon be approved by regulators and rolled out to communities worldwide .
Not everybody is keen to be innoculated against the deadly virus , however , with a growing chorus of anti-vax protesters voicing objections .
What are anti-vaxxers saying ?
Suspicion of vaccinations is nothing new , but with the coronavirus continuing to claim thousands of lives every day , “ conspiracy theories and misinformation fuelled by populism and social media threaten to undermine herd immunity ” , The Times reports .
Much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentiments in recent years has been attributed to the work of discredited ex-physician Andrew Wakefield , who in the late 1990s wrongly claimed that the measles , mumps , and rubella ( MMR ) vaccine had the potential to cause autism in children .
Wakefield ’ s work “ has caused multiple measles outbreaks in Western countries where the measles virus was previously considered eliminated ” , according to the authors of a 2018 paper titled “ The Anti-vaccination Movement : a Regression in Modern Medicine ” .
The paper , published in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institutes of Health , also points the finger at “ social media ” and even TV talk show hosts for playing a “ big role in miseducation ” by giving a platform to anti-vax theories .
And with many people using social media sources to stay updated about the coronavirus pandemic , the “ stakes are now higher than ever ” , Politico says .
A Cabinet Office official told the site that Downing Street is currently “ monitoring false claims ” about Covid vaccinations online .
These claims include baseless suggestions that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; that the Army will coerce people to receive the vaccine ; and that people have died as a result of taking part in a vaccine trial .
Russian propagandists have also spread reports that the Oxford University-developed vaccine could turn people into chimpanzees .
How widespread is the movement ?
A YouGov survey carried out on behalf of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate ( CCDH ) in June found that around one in six British people were unlikely to agree to receive a Covid vaccine , with a similar proportion yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll of almost 1,700 people found that respondents who relied on social media for information on the pandemic were more likely to have concerns about the potential jab .
Levels of scepticism are even greater in a number of other European countries .
Around 37 % of Italians are resistant to the idea of being vaccinated , according to a recent poll by research firm SWG .
Likewise , polls in Germany “ consistently suggest that about a third ” of the adult population would not get a vaccine to protect against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , which the newspaper describes as “ a bastion of vaccination scepticism ” , just 40 % of people are prepared to get a Covid-19 jab , recent polling by the Elabe Institute suggests .
And in Spain , the percentage of doubters stands at around 47 % , a study by the Carlos III Health Institute found .
Experts have warned that amid “ hopes a vaccine rollout could begin before the end of the year , ministers must get on top of damaging narratives fast ” , says Politico .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ response adviser to Health Secretary Matt Hancock , told the site : “ It takes time to shift attitudes .
You can ’ t do a week-long campaign and hope everything will be normal .
“ You don ’ t want to get to a situation where we have a vaccine ready to roll out and 25 % of the population would refuse to take it .
That would undermine the whole programme.
” Scientists predict that at least 70 % to 90 % of the population will need to have the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaning the anti-vaxxer communities pose a “ big problem ” , Dr Heidi Larson , director of the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , told the London Evening Standard .
How can fake claims about the jabs be tackled ?
The UK government “ wants to fight the misinformation virus on multiple fronts , with a rebuttal team at the centre aided by Whitehall departments spreading positive messages in their areas and working with social media firms to take down damaging content ” , Politico reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed some of the most extreme content ” relating to anti-vax theories , but have found it “ difficult to police content that was more ambiguous or posted by organisations with innocuous-sounding names ” , says The Guardian .
Vaccine Confidence Project director Larson says that “ the biggest problem with all these misinformation efforts is that we ’ re not there with alternatives and we ’ re not listening ” .
“ Anti/sceptical vaccine individuals and groups are actively seeking out people who are questioning and hesitant , ” she adds .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Don ’ t worry ’ and not really saying : ‘ Tell me about your concern .
’ ”

A series of successes in clinical trials is raising hopes that a Covid-19 vaccine will soon be approved by regulators and rolled out to communities worldwide.
Not everybody is keen to be innoculated against the deadly virus, however, with a growing chorus of anti-vax protesters voicing objections.
What are anti-vaxxers saying?
Suspicion of vaccinations is nothing new, but with the coronavirus continuing to claim thousands of lives every day, “conspiracy theories and misinformation fuelled by populism and social media threaten to undermine herd immunity”, The Times reports.
Much of the blame for the surge in anti-vax sentiments in recent years has been attributed to the work of discredited ex-physician Andrew Wakefield, who in the late 1990s wrongly claimed that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine had the potential to cause autism in children.
Wakefield’s work “has caused multiple measles outbreaks in Western countries where the measles virus was previously considered eliminated”, according to the authors of a 2018 paper titled “The Anti-vaccination Movement: a Regression in Modern Medicine”.
The paper, published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, also points the finger at “social media” and even TV talk show hosts for playing a “big role in miseducation” by giving a platform to anti-vax theories.
And with many people using social media sources to stay updated about the coronavirus pandemic, the “stakes are now higher than ever”, Politico says. A Cabinet Office official told the site that Downing Street is currently “monitoring false claims” about Covid vaccinations online.
These claims include baseless suggestions that children will be vaccinated without parental consent; that the Army will coerce people to receive the vaccine; and that people have died as a result of taking part in a vaccine trial. Russian propagandists have also spread reports that the Oxford University-developed vaccine could turn people into chimpanzees.
How widespread is the movement?
A YouGov survey carried out on behalf of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) in June found that around one in six British people were unlikely to agree to receive a Covid vaccine, with a similar proportion yet to make up their mind. The poll of almost 1,700 people found that respondents who relied on social media for information on the pandemic were more likely to have concerns about the potential jab.


theweekuk--2020-11-25--Coronavirus: how will the Oxford vaccine win regulators’ approval?

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theweekuk--2020-11-25--Zlatan vs. EA Sports: image rights row breaks out over Fifa video game

An image rights row is brewing after a number of top football players questioned the use of their likenesses in the popular video game Fifa .
AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says it ’ s “ time to investigate ” who gave permission for his “ name and face ” to be used in the game , which is published by EA Sports .
Released in October , Fifa 21 , the 28th edition of the game , is estimated to have sold more than 300 million copies .
It features more than 7,000 players , 700 teams , 90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .
According to the paper the worldwide players ’ union FIFPro has a “ mandate to sell name and likeness rights on behalf of every player from a member nation , although Premier League clubs sell all their video game licensing rights collectively ” .
Ibrahimovic insists he ’ s not a member of FIFPro and does not believe profit should be made from the use of his image .
Writing on Twitter , the 39-year-old former Manchester United forward said : “ Who gave Fifa EA Sport permission to use my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not aware to be a member of Fifpro and if I am I was put there without any real knowledge through some weird manouver [ sic ] .
“ And for sure I never allowed @ FIFAcom or Fifpro to make money using me .
Somebody is making profit on my name and face without any agreement all these years .
Time to investigate.
” Responding to Ibrahimovic ’ s tweet , Tottenham Hotspur and Wales star Gareth Bale also called for an investigation .
And a source close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from around the world are seeking legal advice , BBC Sport reports .
EA Sports says it has “ contractual rights to include the likeness of all players currently in our game ” .
In a statement to BBC Sport Wales , the company said : “ We are aware of discussions around licensing of players in EA Sports Fifa .
The current situation being played out on social media is an attempt to draw Fifa 21 into a dispute between a number of third parties and has little to do with EA @ @ @

An image rights row is brewing after a number of top football players questioned the use of their likenesses in the popular video game Fifa.
AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says it’s “time to investigate” who gave permission for his “name and face” to be used in the game, which is published by EA Sports.
Released in October, Fifa 21, the 28th edition of the game, is estimated to have sold more than 300 million copies. It features more than 7,000 players, 700 teams, 90 stadiums and 30 leagues, The Guardian reports.
According to the paper the worldwide players’ union FIFPro has a “mandate to sell name and likeness rights on behalf of every player from a member nation, although Premier League clubs sell all their video game licensing rights collectively”.
Ibrahimovic insists he’s not a member of FIFPro and does not believe profit should be made from the use of his image.
Writing on Twitter, the 39-year-old former Manchester United forward said: “Who gave Fifa EA Sport permission to use my name and face? @FIFPro? I’m not aware to be a member of Fifpro and if I am I was put there without any real knowledge through some weird manouver [sic].
“And for sure I never allowed @FIFAcom or Fifpro to make money using me. Somebody is making profit on my name and face without any agreement all these years. Time to investigate.”
Responding to Ibrahimovic’s tweet, Tottenham Hotspur and Wales star Gareth Bale also called for an investigation. And a source close to Bale claimed many other players and agents from around the world are seeking legal advice, BBC Sport reports.
EA Sports says it has “contractual rights to include the likeness of all players currently in our game”.
In a statement to BBC Sport Wales, the company said: “We are aware of discussions around licensing of players in EA Sports Fifa. The current situation being played out on social media is an attempt to draw Fifa 21 into a dispute between a number of third parties and has little to do with EA Sports.”


theweekuk--2020-11-25--How did mystery monolith land up in Utah desert wilderness?

Wannabe sleuths are struggling to explain the origins of a giant metal monolith spotted in a remote region of the Utah desert by a passing helicopter .
Pilot Brett Hutchings and wildlife officers spied the mysterious three-sided slab last week while conducting an annual count of bighorn sheep for the state .
The structure - which has drawn comparisons to the monolith featured in 2001 : A Space Odyssey - is between 10ft ( 3 metres ) and 12ft ( 3.6 metres ) tall and was found “ planted in the ground , tucked in a red rock cove ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the biologists is the one who spotted it and we just happened to fly directly over the top of it , ” Hutchings told local news station KSL TV .
“ We were kind of joking around that if one of us suddenly disappears then the rest of us make a run for it.
” The unexplained object “ has captured the attention of millions , as people speculate over how such a structure came to be in a remote part of southern Utah ” , says The Guardian .
Some eagle-eyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by minimalist sculpture John McCracken , who died in 2011 .
A spokesperson for his gallerist , David Zwirner , told the newspaper that they suspected the mysterious structure is “ a work by a fellow artist paying homage to McCracken ” .
However , Zwirner subsequently disputed that verdict .
“ The gallery is divided on this , ” told The New York Times .
“ I believe this is definitely by John.
” Others have opted for more fantastical explanations , with some social media users suggesting the slab may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News reports .
Another would-be detective concluded that it was “ probably left behind from a movie shoot ” .
In a statement , Utah ’ s Department of Public Safety said it would not disclose the exact location of the slab , to avoid injury to people seeking to view it in person .
But “ that did not stop Reddit users from identifying its likely whereabouts ” , nor from zooming in on photos of the structure in search of further clues , says The Guardian .
Some “ noted there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rock saw had been used to put it in the ground and that it appeared to be held together with screws , dispelling the theory it could be one large hunk of metal ” , the paper adds .


theweekuk--2020-11-25--UK house prices predictions: busiest December in decade - followed by slowdown in 2021

A rush to complete property deals before the end of the stamp duty holiday will result in the busiest December for the market in more than a decade , according to Zoopla .
In its latest UK House Price Index , the property website predicts a “ seasonal spike in demand ” that will continue into January as buyers rush to complete sales before the tax break ends on 31 March .
More than 100,000 additional house sales are expected during the first three months of 2021 , The Guardian reports .
However , Zoopla warns that only around “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will make it ” to the finishing line before the stamp duty holiday deadline .
“ Beyond that , we expect demand to slow as the impetus to move for stamp duty savings dissipates for a portion of would-be buyers , ” the experts add .
Demand for housing fell to below pre-Covid levels ahead of the ongoing lockdowns in England and Wales , but remains 34 % higher than in the same period last year .
And completed sales for the whole of 2020 are expected to be just 6 % lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
Describing the year as a “ rollercoaster ” , Zoopla said : “ There was a sharp dip as the latest lockdown in England was announced , which rebounded once it began .
High demand , and more available supply , has boosted the number of sales agreed , currently running 38 % higher than a year ago , adding to the sizable pipeline of business moving towards completion in 2020 Q4 and 2021 Q1 .
“ We expect sales agreed to run above average in the weeks ahead.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year-on-year to reach an average of £223,500 in October - the highest rate of increase for almost three years .
House price growth for the whole of 2020 is expected to hit 4 % , before slowing to 1 % by the end of next year .
Factors including progress on Covid-19 vaccines , unemployment levels and the outcome of Brexit deal talks will shape the housing market outlook in 2021 , with the pandemic “ adding to the uncertainty ” , says Zoopla .
But such uncertainty aside , “ we expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line with 2020 levels at 1.1 million ” , the experts predict .

A rush to complete property deals before the end of the stamp duty holiday will result in the busiest December for the market in more than a decade, according to Zoopla.
In its latest UK House Price Index, the property website predicts a “seasonal spike in demand” that will continue into January as buyers rush to complete sales before the tax break ends on 31 March.
More than 100,000 additional house sales are expected during the first three months of 2021, The Guardian reports. However, Zoopla warns that only around “50% of sales agreed in January will make it” to the finishing line before the stamp duty holiday deadline.
“Beyond that, we expect demand to slow as the impetus to move for stamp duty savings dissipates for a portion of would-be buyers,” the experts add.
Demand for housing fell to below pre-Covid levels ahead of the ongoing lockdowns in England and Wales, but remains 34% higher than in the same period last year. And completed sales for the whole of 2020 are expected to be just 6% lower than 2019, despite the fallout from the pandemic.
Describing the year as a “rollercoaster”, Zoopla said: “There was a sharp dip as the latest lockdown in England was announced, which rebounded once it began. High demand, and more available supply, has boosted the number of sales agreed, currently running 38% higher than a year ago, adding to the sizable pipeline of business moving towards completion in 2020 Q4 and 2021 Q1.
“We expect sales agreed to run above average in the weeks ahead.”
Uncertain times ahead
UK house prices rose by 3.5% year-on-year to reach an average of £223,500 in October - the highest rate of increase for almost three years. House price growth for the whole of 2020 is expected to hit 4%, before slowing to 1% by the end of next year.
Factors including progress on Covid-19 vaccines, unemployment levels and the outcome of Brexit deal talks will shape the housing market outlook in 2021, with the pandemic “adding to the uncertainty”, says Zoopla.
But such uncertainty aside, “we expect completed sales in 2021 to be in line with 2020 levels at 1.1 million”, the experts predict.


theweekuk--2020-11-25--What is the science behind the Christmas Covid break - and will the let-up cost lives?

Family festive celebrations are back on the agenda following a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions to allow three households to get together in “ Christmas bubbles ” .
No .
10 announced last night that between 23 and 27 December , these “ exclusive ” groups will be able to meet at home , outdoors or in places of worship , with travel across the country also permitted .
However , leaders from England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland are urging the public to “ think carefully about what they do ” in order to limit the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inter-generational mixing , the BBC reports .
Other scientists are going a step further , warning that the let-up could “ spark another wave of infections and further deaths ” , the broadcaster adds .
‘ Tis the season to be jolly careful The Christmas “ amnesty ” plans were agreed by the first ministers of the devolved administrations in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland during a meeting chaired by Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove on Tuesday .
Public Health England ’ s Dr Susan Hopkins had cautioned days earlier that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules would be “ heavy restrictions before and after Christmas ” , The Telegraph reports .
That prediction has been proved correct , with Tory MPs now lining up to attack plans for a tougher post-lockdown tier system to facilitate the festive freedom .
But Gove “ struck an upbeat tone ” after the Christmas-time easing was announced , saying the move will “ offer hope for families and friends who have made many sacrifices over this difficult year ” , the Daily Mail says .
Scientists have been debating the extent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan since it was first proposed in October .
Imperial College London epidemiologist Professor Neil Ferguson , who spearheaded the first UK lockdown , told BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme last month that while “ some people will die because of getting infected ” over Christmas , “ if it is only one or two days , the impact is likely to be limited ” .
University College London ( UCL ) professor Christina Pagel , a member of the government ’ s Scientific Advisory Committee for Emergencies ( Sage ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are taken beforehand , people should be able to celebrate Christmas relatively normally .
Speaking about how she intended to spend the break , Pagel told The Guardian that “ our plan is to be extra careful ( no meetings outside the household ) the ten days before Christmas so we can then celebrate with my parents , who are both in the extremely vulnerable category ” .
Not all experts are convinced by the optimistic assessments of Gove and other supporters of the easing of the rules .
Sage member Professor Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Epidemiology and Health Care , has argued that the Christmas plan amounts to “ throwing fuel on the Covid fire ” .
Hayward told BBC Newsnight that any relaxation of Covid restrictions , especially those relating to household mixing , “ will definitely lead to increase transmission and likely lead to third wave of infections with hospitals being overrun , and more unnecessary deaths ” .
“ Covid- 19 is a disease that thrives on social contact - especially the sorts of close proximity , long duration contact that you have in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
“ I think the danger is , with a vaccine on the way , if we are not very careful over Christmas we are really in danger of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on this on.
” That warning has been echoed by British Medical Association UK council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul , who told Sky News that coronavirus “ does not discriminate against certain days of the year ” .
“ Relaxing the rules on indoor mixing for a five-day period will almost certainly carry the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Scientists overseas have come to a similar conclusion , with US health experts warning ahead of Thanksgiving “ that all it takes is one infected person to create an outbreak ” , CNN reports .
Citing evidence from funerals and weddings , the broadcaster adds that “ evidence of such coronavirus spreads has already been seen in many parts of the country this year ” .
In a paper published earlier this year in the US National Library of Medicine , infectious disease experts Thomas Frieden and Christopher Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ are associated with both explosive growth early in an outbreak and sustained transmission in later stages ” .
“ Targeted and rapidly implemented public health interventions to prevent and mitigate SSEs are critical ” in both the early and containment stages of the pandemic , the paper continues - a warning that highlights the potential danger of taking a foot off the pedal over Christmas .

Family festive celebrations are back on the agenda following a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions to allow three households to get together in “Christmas bubbles”.
No. 10 announced last night that between 23 and 27 December, these “exclusive” groups will be able to meet at home, outdoors or in places of worship, with travel across the country also permitted.
However, leaders from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are urging the public to “think carefully about what they do” in order to limit the spread of Covid-19, as some experts caution against inter-generational mixing, the BBC reports. Other scientists are going a step further, warning that the let-up could “spark another wave of infections and further deaths”, the broadcaster adds.
‘Tis the season to be jolly careful
The Christmas “amnesty” plans were agreed by the first ministers of the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland during a meeting chaired by Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove on Tuesday.
Public Health England’s Dr Susan Hopkins had cautioned days earlier that the likely trade-off of any relaxation of the rules would be “heavy restrictions before and after Christmas”, The Telegraph reports. That prediction has been proved correct, with Tory MPs now lining up to attack plans for a tougher post-lockdown tier system to facilitate the festive freedom.
But Gove “struck an upbeat tone” after the Christmas-time easing was announced, saying the move will “offer hope for families and friends who have made many sacrifices over this difficult year”, the Daily Mail says.
Scientists have been debating the extent of the possible risks involved in the morale-boosting plan since it was first proposed in October.
Imperial College London epidemiologist Professor Neil Ferguson, who spearheaded the first UK lockdown, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme last month that while “some people will die because of getting infected” over Christmas, “if it is only one or two days, the impact is likely to be limited”.
University College London (UCL) professor Christina Pagel, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Committee for Emergencies (Sage), agrees that as long as precautions are taken beforehand, people should be able to celebrate Christmas relatively normally.


theweekuk--2020-11-25--Boris Johnson facing Tory revolt over ‘lockdown by another name’ tiers system

Boris Johnson is facing a growing Tory rebellion over his post-lockdown tier system amid warnings that the whole of England may be placed in the highest two levels of restrictions .
Whitehall sources told the Daily Mail that it is “ entirely possible ” that no area would fall within Tier 1 , the only level of restrictions that allow indoor socialising .
That prediction has prompted anger among Conservative MPs who warn that the approach will be seen as “ lockdown by another name ” .
Another Whitehall official told the newspaper it is “ entirely possible ” that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placed in Tiers 2 and 3 when infection rates are analysed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty later this week .
A rebel Tory backbencher added that “ almost 100 ” Conservative MPs had raised concerns over the new measures ahead of a vote on the tiers plan next week .
The threat of a Commons revolt has been growing since The Guardian reported earlier this week that Steve Baker , deputy chair of the newly formed Covid Research Group ( CRG ) , had sent a letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister that any restrictions must be justified .
The group is demanding that the government “ produce a full cost-benefit analysis of the new tiers ” , the paper adds .
Baker told BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme that the CRG intended to “ stand up for people , because we know that livelihoods matter , we know that there ’ s nothing quite like poverty for shortening your life and diminishing your life chances ” .
Under the new tiers system , the harshest restrictions are expected to apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where despite “ a significant fall in cases , [ infection ] rates remain stubbornly high ” , according to an analysis by The Telegraph .
A senior Conservative MP told the paper that Tory WhatsApp groups have lit up with “ fury ” and “ anger ” over the post lockdown plan .
“ The idea seems to be to move everybody up , Tier 2 becomes a shady Tier 3 , Tier 3 is lockdown .
Tier 1 is all but abolished , ” the unnamed politician added .
MPs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the lockdown ends on 2 December .

Boris Johnson is facing a growing Tory rebellion over his post-lockdown tier system amid warnings that the whole of England may be placed in the highest two levels of restrictions.
Whitehall sources told the Daily Mail that it is “entirely possible” that no area would fall within Tier 1, the only level of restrictions that allow indoor socialising. That prediction has prompted anger among Conservative MPs who warn that the approach will be seen as “lockdown by another name”.
Another Whitehall official told the newspaper it is “entirely possible” that 80% of the country will be placed in Tiers 2 and 3 when infection rates are analysed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty later this week.
A rebel Tory backbencher added that “almost 100” Conservative MPs had raised concerns over the new measures ahead of a vote on the tiers plan next week.
The threat of a Commons revolt has been growing since The Guardian reported earlier this week that Steve Baker, deputy chair of the newly formed Covid Research Group (CRG), had sent a letter on behalf of 70 MPs warning the prime minister that any restrictions must be justified. The group is demanding that the government “produce a full cost-benefit analysis of the new tiers”, the paper adds.
Baker told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the CRG intended to “stand up for people, because we know that livelihoods matter, we know that there’s nothing quite like poverty for shortening your life and diminishing your life chances”.
Under the new tiers system, the harshest restrictions are expected to apply to areas in the Northwest and Northeast, where despite “a significant fall in cases, [infection] rates remain stubbornly high”, according to an analysis by The Telegraph.
A senior Conservative MP told the paper that Tory WhatsApp groups have lit up with “fury” and “anger” over the post lockdown plan. “The idea seems to be to move everybody up, Tier 2 becomes a shady Tier 3, Tier 3 is lockdown. Tier 1 is all but abolished,” the unnamed politician added.
MPs will vote on the new tier system after the lockdown ends on 2 December.


theweekuk--2020-11-25--Brexit negotiations take turn for the wurst as Britain threatens EU with sausage ban

Brexit negotiators pushing to get a deal over the line before the end of the year are embroiled in a new stand-off that could result in European sausages disappearing from UK shops .
The prospect of a trade ban on Irish sausages and German bratwurst is the result of a row over EU regulations on uncooked prepared meat products .
Under EU rules , products such as burgers and bangers “ can not be imported into the bloc unless they are frozen to minus 18C ” , The Times reports .
Government sources told the paper that little progress had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU to agree to a export health certificate for uncooked processed meats , despite the issue having been raised “ early in the talks ” .
Officials are now locked in last-minute talks to avoid a “ two-way ban ” , after Britain “ signalled it will retaliate with a reciprocal ban on Irish exports to mainland UK , if a solution can not be found ” , The Telegraph says .
The Times points to “ the delicious irony ” of UK negotiators using “ the EU ’ s own rules to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Whitehall source said that “ the government has committed to mirroring EU food safety legislation after we leave the bloc .
That means if they ban it then we ’ ll ban it too.
” The dispute casts doubts over the sale of tens of millions of pounds worth of sausage meat and could be “ particularly damaging to Ireland , for which Britain is a vital market ” , the paper adds .
In 2018 , Irish suppliers sent 335,000 tonnes of beef , pig , sheep and poultry meat worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the UK , according to latest figures from Ireland ’ s Central Statistics Office .
Describing the threatened trade ban as “ concerning ” , the country ’ s Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue : “ There ’ s going to be significant work then required in the weeks ahead as well to ensure that trade is as smooth and as efficient as possible on the first of January .
”

Brexit negotiators pushing to get a deal over the line before the end of the year are embroiled in a new stand-off that could result in European sausages disappearing from UK shops.
The prospect of a trade ban on Irish sausages and German bratwurst is the result of a row over EU regulations on uncooked prepared meat products. Under EU rules, products such as burgers and bangers “cannot be imported into the bloc unless they are frozen to minus 18C”, The Times reports.
Government sources told the paper that little progress had been made in efforts to persuade the EU to agree to a export health certificate for uncooked processed meats, despite the issue having been raised “early in the talks”.
Officials are now locked in last-minute talks to avoid a “two-way ban”, after Britain “signalled it will retaliate with a reciprocal ban on Irish exports to mainland UK, if a solution cannot be found”, The Telegraph says.
The Times points to “the delicious irony” of UK negotiators using “the EU’s own rules to exact revenge on European producers”. A Whitehall source said that “the government has committed to mirroring EU food safety legislation after we leave the bloc. That means if they ban it then we’ll ban it too.”
The dispute casts doubts over the sale of tens of millions of pounds worth of sausage meat and could be “particularly damaging to Ireland, for which Britain is a vital market”, the paper adds.
In 2018, Irish suppliers sent 335,000 tonnes of beef, pig, sheep and poultry meat worth a total of €1.3bn (£1.1m) to the UK, according to latest figures from Ireland’s Central Statistics Office.
Describing the threatened trade ban as “concerning”, the country’s Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue: “There’s going to be significant work then required in the weeks ahead as well to ensure that trade is as smooth and as efficient as possible on the first of January.”


theweekuk--2020-11-25--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 25 Nov 2020

The leaders of the four UK nations have agreed that up to three households will be able to meet during @ @ @ @ @ 23 to 27 December .
People will also be allowed to mix in places of @ @ @ @ @ and travel restrictions will be eased .
However , the leaders have urged people to @ @ @ @ @ they do ” to keep the risk of increased transmission of Covid-19 low .

Three households allowed to mix over Christmas
The leaders of the four UK nations have agreed that up to three households will be able to meet during a five-day Christmas period of 23 to 27 December. People will also be allowed to mix in places of worship and outdoor spaces, and travel restrictions will be eased. However, the leaders have urged people to “think carefully about what they do” to keep the risk of increased transmission of Covid-19 low.


theweekuk--2020-11-25--Gymnast flees North Korea by vaulting over border

A gymnast in North Korea escaped to the South by vaulting himself over the border barricades without triggering sensors .
When he was eventually caught , the authorities were so stunned by his method that they asked him to demonstrate it , according to the BBC 's Seoul correspondent .
The border zone is 2.5 miles wide , 160 miles long and is mined along its entire length .
A new conspiracy theory has emerged : that the US state of Wyoming does not exist .
“ Maybe they lied about Wyoming existing because that ’ s actually where heaven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , a man who has lived in Wyoming off and on for three decades , dug a bit deeper , saying : “ To me , personally , philosophically , it exists in the same way everything exists or doesn ’ t exist.
” Wyoming became a state on July 10 , 1890 .
A man has been arrested in the US after screaming , “ humping trees ” and nibbling their branches .
Police in Connecticut say that the half-naked suspect spat at them and tried to kick them as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A detective told reporters : “ Officers recognised he was in a state consistent with possible hallucinogens or a psychotic episode.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 gymnast in North Korea escaped to the South by vaulting himself over the border barricades without triggering sensors. When he was eventually caught, the authorities were so stunned by his method that they asked him to demonstrate it, according to the BBC's Seoul correspondent. The border zone is 2.5 miles wide, 160 miles long and is mined along its entire length.
Conspiracy theorists say Wyoming doesn’t exist
A new conspiracy theory has emerged: that the US state of Wyoming does not exist. “Maybe they lied about Wyoming existing because that’s actually where heaven is,” one theorist posited. However, a man who has lived in Wyoming off and on for three decades, dug a bit deeper, saying: “To me, personally, philosophically, it exists in the same way everything exists or doesn’t exist.” Wyoming became a state on July 10, 1890.
Half-naked man arrested for humping trees
A man has been arrested in the US after screaming, “humping trees” and nibbling their branches. Police in Connecticut say that the half-naked suspect spat at them and tried to kick them as they took him into their patrol car. A detective told reporters: “Officers recognised he was in a state consistent with possible hallucinogens or a psychotic episode.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-11-24--Best winter cycling gear: the essential items

Riding in winter brings challenges with it - changeable weather , colder conditions and shorter days .
To ensure you ’ re not restricted to riding an indoor exercise bike for these inclement months , equipping yourself with appropriate performance gear is essential .
Here we have put together a shortlist of the best gear for all types of rider to keep you cycling come rain or shine .
A brand new addition to Rapha ’ s winter offering , this shell jacket is made from a three-layer GORE-TEX fabric that is wind and water resistant as well as highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes , its fit is more on the relaxed side , so there ’ s plenty of room for layering underneath on those colder days , yet it ’ s snug around the neck and the cuffs are stretchy so fit nicely .
There are two handy zippered pockets on the front that are ideal for phone and snacks , and two rear stash pockets on the rear too .
It comes in a more unusual brown colour , as well as a bright orange and black .
Cafe Du Cycliste elevates cycling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ riders in functional lycra - its pieces are well suited to the more stylish conscientious rider .
This great looking gilet has a cycling specific cut - it ’ s a really snug fit so doesn ’ t flap about in the wind , it ’ s shorter on the front , longer on the back and secure around the arms too , keeping out cold drafts .
The front panels are stuffed with breathable insulation which is fully windproof taking the chill out of cold rides , and the rear section is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fabric which has nice stretch as well as thermoregulating properties .
There are two oversized rear cargo pockets , zipped side pocket as well as a small pop pocket on the front chest .
A versatile classically styled jersey that can be used with just a baselayer on milder autumn or spring rides .
However , throw a gilet of jacket over the top and it makes the perfect insulating and comfortable mid-layer .
The fabric is a mix of stretch merino for luxury feel and warmth , as well as polyester bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , breathable and non-absorbent qualities .
It features three large pockets to the rear as well as an additional bigger pocket above these to stash a vest or windproof jacket .
An insulating and water-resistant cap ideal for the most cold and miserable days .
Lined with a soft pile Polarrec Alpha , it ’ s very warm and comfortable .
Swiss brand Assos is reputed for turning out the highest quality gear , and these could well be called the Rolls-Royce of all winter bibs .
They use a highly insulating two-layer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crotch , and hips , with brushed inner , and the back panels use thicker waterproof and windproof fabrics that mean you ’ re totally protected from the elements .
However , these fabrics are still all highly breathable and stretchy too , so your comfort isn ’ t compromised , and the almost metallic looking outermost layer at the bottom of the leg repels water as well as adhering to booties .
The insert offers superior comfort and cushioning for very long days in the saddle - not only do these look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capable too .
The overshoe might not be the most aesthetic of accessories , but when riding in winter they ’ re a must have .
These ones are waterproof , so once you ’ ve pulled the stretchy neoprene over your ankle , the polyurethane panels positioned over the front and toe sections will keep water and breeze at bay .
When it ’ s cold , or wet , these are a great pair of socks to turn to .
Not only are they 100 % waterproof , they maintain good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in them , and the cost inner lining includes merino wool for added warmth .
When heading onto the trail , for more adventurous rides such as bike packing or tackling a cold commute , this insulated jacket will be a trusty companion .
Plus , with a much more relaxed fit , it doubles up perfectly for casual use too .
It features a big rear zipper pocket , a generous hood complete with hood eyelets so you can comfortably wear your helmet over it should temperatures really plummet , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pocket , and elasticated hem so you can fit it snug around your waist .
The insulation and fabrics are made from recycled materials too so your conscious can rest easy .
A good base layer is the foundation to your winter outfit , and some 20 years ago Megmeister set out to create the very best for performance athletes .
This four way stretch Italian made body hugging base layer has a lightweight knitted construction , meaning it ’ s great at moisture wicking , thermal insulation as well as being anti-odour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insulated glove is ideal for those who tend to get cold fingers in winter .
Totally waterproof , if you get caught in a downpour it won ’ t be a problem , thanks to its three layer part goatskin leather outer , windproof membrane and merino wool liner .
Keeping your eyes protected by riding with a good pair of wrap-around sunglasses is essential , and thanks to a light-sensitive Photochromic advanced lens technology , you ’ re all set come rain or shine across variable winter conditions with supreme clarity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ framed cycling specific glasses that offer a huge unrestricted field of vision and are customisable to suit any colour combination you would like .
They ’ re extremely light and sit very securely on your face , plus they come with a lifetime guarantee .
Made from 67 % merino , there ’ s also a touch of nylon and elastane too bringing with it a nice bit of stretch , as well as durability so it ’ s able to take repeated and hard use .
There ’ s also a microfiber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A versatile classically styled jersey that can be used with just a baselayer on milder autumn or spring rides. However, throw a gilet of jacket over the top and it makes the perfect insulating and comfortable mid-layer. The fabric is a mix of stretch merino for luxury feel and warmth, as well as polyester bringing with it shape holding, long lasting, breathable and non-absorbent qualities. It features three large pockets to the rear as well as an additional bigger pocket above these to stash a vest or windproof jacket.
Cafe Du Cycliste elevates cycling kit beyond the realms of simply cladding riders in functional lycra - its pieces are well suited to the more stylish conscientious rider. This great looking gilet has a cycling specific cut - it’s a really snug fit so doesn’t flap about in the wind, it’s shorter on the front, longer on the back and secure around the arms too, keeping out cold drafts. The front panels are stuffed with breathable insulation which is fully windproof taking the chill out of cold rides, and the rear section is made from a technical merino polar fleece fabric which has nice stretch as well as thermoregulating properties. There are two oversized rear cargo pockets, zipped side pocket as well as a small pop pocket on the front chest.
A brand new addition to Rapha’s winter offering, this shell jacket is made from a three-layer GORE-TEX fabric that is wind and water resistant as well as highly breathable. As far as cycling gear goes, its fit is more on the relaxed side, so there’s plenty of room for layering underneath on those colder days, yet it’s snug around the neck and the cuffs are stretchy so fit nicely. There are two handy zippered pockets on the front that are ideal for phone and snacks, and two rear stash pockets on the rear too. It comes in a more unusual brown colour, as well as a bright orange and black.
Here we have put together a shortlist of the best gear for all types of rider to keep you cycling come rain or shine.
To ensure you’re not restricted to riding an indoor exercise bike for these inclement months, equipping yourself with appropriate performance gear is essential.
£140; rapha.cc
Dhb Aeron Alpha Cycling Cap
An insulating and water-resistant cap ideal for the most cold and miserable days. Lined with a soft pile Polarrec Alpha, it’s very warm and comfortable.
£24; wiggle.co.uk
Assos Equipe Rs Winter Bib Tights S9
Swiss brand Assos is reputed for turning out the highest quality gear, and these could well be called the Rolls-Royce of all winter bibs. They use a highly insulating two-layer construction along the knees, thighs, crotch, and hips, with brushed inner, and the back panels use thicker waterproof and windproof fabrics that mean you’re totally protected from the elements. However, these fabrics are still all highly breathable and stretchy too, so your comfort isn’t compromised, and the almost metallic looking outermost layer at the bottom of the leg repels water as well as adhering to booties. The insert offers superior comfort and cushioning for very long days in the saddle - not only do these look the part, they’re exceptionally capable too.
£335; assos.com
Endura Pro SL Overshoe
The overshoe might not be the most aesthetic of accessories, but when riding in winter they’re a must have. These ones are waterproof, so once you’ve pulled the stretchy neoprene over your ankle, the polyurethane panels positioned over the front and toe sections will keep water and breeze at bay.
£42.99; endurasport.com
Sealskinz Waterproof Cold Weather Mid Length Sock with Hydrostop
When it’s cold, or wet, these are a great pair of socks to turn to. Not only are they 100% waterproof, they maintain good breathability to help avoid any sweat building up in them, and the cost inner lining includes merino wool for added warmth.
£42.50; sealskinz.com
Albion Insulated Zoa Jacket
When heading onto the trail, for more adventurous rides such as bike packing or tackling a cold commute, this insulated jacket will be a trusty companion. Plus, with a much more relaxed fit, it doubles up perfectly for casual use too. It features a big rear zipper pocket, a generous hood complete with hood eyelets so you can comfortably wear your helmet over it should temperatures really plummet, two zippered hand pockets as well as chest pocket, and elasticated hem so you can fit it snug around your waist. The insulation and fabrics are made from recycled materials too so your conscious can rest easy.
£175; albioncycling.com
Megmeister Drynamo Winter Long Sleeve Base Layer
A good base layer is the foundation to your winter outfit, and some 20 years ago Megmeister set out to create the very best for performance athletes. This four way stretch Italian made body hugging base layer has a lightweight knitted construction, meaning it’s great at moisture wicking, thermal insulation as well as being anti-odour and antibacterial.
£51.96; megmeister.com
Sealskinz Waterproof Cold Weather Glove with Fusion Control
This substantial and highly insulated glove is ideal for those who tend to get cold fingers in winter. Totally waterproof, if you get caught in a downpour it won’t be a problem, thanks to its three layer part goatskin leather outer, windproof membrane and merino wool liner.
£75; sealskinz.com
SunGod Vulcans
Keeping your eyes protected by riding with a good pair of wrap-around sunglasses is essential, and thanks to a light-sensitive Photochromic advanced lens technology, you’re all set come rain or shine across variable winter conditions with supreme clarity. The Vulcans are SunGod’s large framed cycling specific glasses that offer a huge unrestricted field of vision and are customisable to suit any colour combination you would like. They’re extremely light and sit very securely on your face, plus they come with a lifetime guarantee.
£190; sungod.co
Albion Merino Neckwarmer
Made from 67% merino, there’s also a touch of nylon and elastane too bringing with it a nice bit of stretch, as well as durability so it’s able to take repeated and hard use. There’s also a microfiber insert built in to clean your sunnies.
£30; albioncycling.com


theweekuk--2020-11-24--Instant Opinion: tier system will ‘quickly collapse’ if lessons are not learned

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
The new tier system will quickly collapse unless No 10 learns from the chaos of the last one “ London ’ s Mayor Sadiq Khan was grand-standing about his own city , and then found the capital was locked down simply to try and keep Manchester quiet .
Some areas were struggling to stay in Tier 1 to preserve local jobs , while others demanded to go up to 3 to get extra funding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : self-interested , show-boating , hysterical and dis-organised .
This time around it should be very different .
First , we need to have a completely open process , and base any local restrictions on rising infection rates , using the most up-to-date figures available .
Pressure from local politicians and MPs shouldn ’ t make any difference .
The Monetary Policy Committee makes independent judgements on interest rates : we could create something similar for the coronavirus.
” An expert ’ s advice on talking to the climate skeptic in your life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a retired coal miner , who ’ s since become a friend , walked me to the edge of a canyon in Utah to marvel at the millions of years of geologic history visible in the pink-and-orange layers of sedimentation .
The Earth is big and old and awesome and always changing , he told me .
People are too small - and our time too short - to really alter the planet .
In moments like these , I don ’ t think there ’ s much to say .
I trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - to ask questions , to relate .
I don ’ t want to convince anyone of anything ; I just want to be present and listen .
That can be painfully difficult , though , when it comes to issues of science - like Covid-19 and the climate crisis .
There is only one set of scientific facts , but not all of us acknowledge them as such.
” I was a ruthless undercover detective , but the new ‘ spycops ’ law is a catastrophe waiting to happen “ When I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amongst communities of homeless drug addicts – I knew those designer trainers would be entered as evidence and eventually returned to the shop .
When I bought drugs with other addicts , I was scrupulous that they take the bag from the dealer first , then pass it to me – so that it could never be said that I had supplied anyone drugs .
Both the letter and the spirit of the law are crucial here .
We are told this bill merely formalises in statute what already happens in practice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It changes everything .
Because , in providing blanket immunity , it removes that crucial legal and psychological boundary that we are always subject to the decision of a court – not just fellow police.
” The IHRA definition will not help fight anti-Semitism “ Of the examples presented in the IHRA definition , three in particular stand out .
The first casts as anti-Semitic any argument in which we may find the following feature : ‘ Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination , eg , by claiming that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a racist endeavor.
’ The list of academic articles and books that would become anti-Semitic if we accepted this example is indeed astounding .
It would include the writings of Hannah Arendt , Edward Said , Gilles Deleuze , Judith Butler , Joseph Massad , Achille Mbembe , Robert Wolfe , Angela Davis , Hamid Dabashi , Audra Simpson and many others .
In fact , an entire academic journal , Settler Colonial Studies , would have to be removed from all of our libraries.
” Young women are watching Diana ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These days , many , many more young women identify as feminists , and as with the treatment of Monica Lewinsky , many of them are looking at the Diana story with horror .
This is a generation raised in a celebrity culture obsessed with female pain and , now they are seeing the excoriation of the Duchess of Sussex in the press , they are wondering how much has really changed .
Prince Harry ’ s wife has similar humanitarian instincts to his mother , and that , as well as her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target in a longstanding culture war targeting campaigners for social justice and racial equality .
These same warriors want to leave the wider history of the British establishment untouched .
Stories must remain unexplored , judged by the standards of the time , not by ours .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Matthew Lynn in The Daily Telegraph
on diverging priorities
The new tier system will quickly collapse unless No 10 learns from the chaos of the last one
“London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan was grand-standing about his own city, and then found the capital was locked down simply to try and keep Manchester quiet. Some areas were struggling to stay in Tier 1 to preserve local jobs, while others demanded to go up to 3 to get extra funding. It was politics at its very worst: self-interested, show-boating, hysterical and dis-organised. This time around it should be very different. First, we need to have a completely open process, and base any local restrictions on rising infection rates, using the most up-to-date figures available. Pressure from local politicians and MPs shouldn’t make any difference. The Monetary Policy Committee makes independent judgements on interest rates: we could create something similar for the coronavirus.”
2. John D. Sutter on CNN
on differing opinions
An expert’s advice on talking to the climate skeptic in your life
“A couple of years ago, a retired coal miner, who’s since become a friend, walked me to the edge of a canyon in Utah to marvel at the millions of years of geologic history visible in the pink-and-orange layers of sedimentation. The Earth is big and old and awesome and always changing, he told me. People are too small - and our time too short - to really alter the planet. In moments like these, I don’t think there’s much to say. I trust my instincts. I try to understand - to ask questions, to relate. I don’t want to convince anyone of anything; I just want to be present and listen. That can be painfully difficult, though, when it comes to issues of science - like Covid-19 and the climate crisis. There is only one set of scientific facts, but not all of us acknowledge them as such.”
3. Neil Woods in The Independent
on police powers
I was a ruthless undercover detective, but the new ‘spycops’ law is a catastrophe waiting to happen
“When I shoplifted to build my ‘legend’ amongst communities of homeless drug addicts – I knew those designer trainers would be entered as evidence and eventually returned to the shop. When I bought drugs with other addicts, I was scrupulous that they take the bag from the dealer first, then pass it to me – so that it could never be said that I had supplied anyone drugs. Both the letter and the spirit of the law are crucial here. We are told this bill merely formalises in statute what already happens in practice. No. No it doesn’t. It changes everything. Because, in providing blanket immunity, it removes that crucial legal and psychological boundary that we are always subject to the decision of a court – not just fellow police.”
4. Mark Muhannad Ayyash on Al Jazeera
on mixed messages
The IHRA definition will not help fight anti-Semitism
“Of the examples presented in the IHRA definition, three in particular stand out. The first casts as anti-Semitic any argument in which we may find the following feature: ‘Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, eg, by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.’ The list of academic articles and books that would become anti-Semitic if we accepted this example is indeed astounding. It would include the writings of Hannah Arendt, Edward Said, Gilles Deleuze, Judith Butler, Joseph Massad, Achille Mbembe, Robert Wolfe, Angela Davis, Hamid Dabashi, Audra Simpson and many others. In fact, an entire academic journal, Settler Colonial Studies, would have to be removed from all of our libraries.”
5. Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett in The Guardian
on fresh perspective
Young women are watching Diana’s story in The Crown with horror
“These days, many, many more young women identify as feminists, and as with the treatment of Monica Lewinsky, many of them are looking at the Diana story with horror. This is a generation raised in a celebrity culture obsessed with female pain and, now they are seeing the excoriation of the Duchess of Sussex in the press, they are wondering how much has really changed. Prince Harry’s wife has similar humanitarian instincts to his mother, and that, as well as her race, has made her an easy target in a longstanding culture war targeting campaigners for social justice and racial equality. These same warriors want to leave the wider history of the British establishment untouched. Stories must remain unexplored, judged by the standards of the time, not by ours.”


theweekuk--2020-11-24--A festive feast: the best Christmas cookbooks

A good cookbook is both a vital ingredient for preparing festive feasts and a great Christmas present for foodies .
Delia Smith , Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver are among the celebrated chefs who have penned collections of recipes for seasonal favourites ranging from turkey and pigs in blankets to Christmas pudding and mince pies .
Here , we pick out some of the best Christmas cookbooks on the market .
Delia Smith has long been the go-to guide for a stress-free Christmas in the kitchen .
In this collection , she shares 150 easy-to-follow recipes along with advice on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nigella has everything you need to make your Christmas extra tasty , from scrumptious cakes and puddings to the main event itself - turkey with all the trimmings , or delicious variations including a vegetarian Christmas dinner .
Jamie ’ s got you covered with his ultimate festive guide : from mouth-watering classics to tasty veggie alternatives , the TV chef shares recipes that you ’ ll want to enjoy year after year .
A timeless new edition of the ultimate festive food book , from one of the most loved and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ century .
This celebration of traditional dishes and treats contains more than 150 classic Christmas recipes , together with a selection of articles , notes and observations from the Elizabeth David archive .
Christmas with Kim-Joy : A festive collection of edible cuteness by Kim-Joy Kim-Joy ’ s baked creations have charmed fans since she made it to the final of the Great British Bake Off in 2018 .
Following on from her bestselling debut book , Baking with Kim-Joy , she ’ s now helping fellow baking enthusiasts add quirky twists to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more closely associated with the food of Christmas than Charles Dickens , and with this collection you will be able to recreate classic Victorian dishes and drinks of the season .
Vegans and vegetarians everywhere can have the most indulgent festive season ever with Gaz Oakley ’ s fantastic alternatives to the trad turkey and trimmings .
The “ Avant-Garde Vegan ” also shares his recipes for mince pies , Pavlova , the traditional Christmas pudding with custard , and even a “ cheese ” board for afters .
The ultimate Christmas cookery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Good Housekeeping provides 150 recipes , including canapés , starters , vegan and vegetarian options , baked goods , showstopper desserts , edible gifts , and not to forget Christmas lunch with all the trimmings .
Bronte Aurell of The ScandiKitchen Cafe explains how to celebrate Christmas Scandi-style by sharing with her delicious recipes and fun family traditions .
Capturing the magic and finest festive traditions of Fortnum & Mason , Christmas and Other Winter Feasts gathers together everything you need to enjoy a truly delicious winter .
For more cooking and recipe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bookseller on 020 3176 3835 .
Opening times : Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm and Sunday 10am-4pm

The perfect cookbook for every celebration – no matter if you’re vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian or will eat anything. From Christmas to dinner parties, every occasion is covered by Bettina Campolucci Bordi in this delicious plant-based cookbook. Each occasion has dish pairing suggestions for a completely stress-free experience. Gluten-free, free-from and seasonal alternatives are provided for each recipe, so nobody is excluded.


theweekuk--2020-11-24--US election: how Joe Biden will go about rebuilding the Iran Nuclear Deal


theweekuk--2020-11-23--Culture Unwrapped: the future of food

Culture Unwrapped: the future of food

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Olly Mann and The Week’s Felicity Capon are joined by Ravinder Bhogal, award-winning food writer, chef and restaurateur. This week: is posh takeaway the future of fine dining?
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theweekuk--2020-11-26--Instant Opinion: Maradona was an ‘achingly human superstar’

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Marcela Mora y Araujo in The Guardian
on the death of a legend
Diego Maradona: the achingly human superstar who embodied Argentina
“As his legendary status grew, his human side – so flawed, so painfully angry and confrontational, so complicated – appeared to morph into an ever increasing grotesqueness. People would talk about a brilliance with his feet that he lacked with his mind, but I would contest that. Diego Maradona was one of the most intelligent and astute beings to have graced the game. He was a perfect embodiment of the human ability to be contradictory, to do and convey ugly and beautiful at once, good and evil in the same stroke. His celebrity was not separate from his private self – he was achingly human in every way, yet a superstar at all times.”
2. James Forsyth in The Spectator
on a PM stuck on repeat
A vaccine won’t heal the scarring of lockdown
“What was to stop [Johnson’s] premiership being a never-ending cycle of lockdowns? Now, he has his answer: not one but three vaccines, two with efficacy rates of 95 per cent. This has transformed his outlook. The war against Covid is not over, but victory looks imminent. The Prime Minister has a weakness for wartime metaphors, but this time they are more appropriate than he might find comfortable. For months, his government has had one overriding priority: defeating the viral enemy, no cost spared. But decisions made in the heat of battle will go on to define the rest of the decade. Victory comes at a huge cost. We can calculate the damage to the national finances, but the effect on education, mental health, employment and society remains devastating.”
3. Justin Fox in The Japan Times
on bad maths
What a 95% effective vaccine could do is pretty exciting
“In wealthy Western countries with lots of older people, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has killed roughly 1% of those infected with it, meaning 99% survive. Meanwhile, two new vaccines have so far been found to be about 95% effective in preventing symptoms of the disease. Lots of people seem to have trouble thinking through percentages like these. While I hesitate to elevate the since-deleted thoughts of a pseudonymous dude on Twitter as representative of anything in particular, the quote that follows is such a succinct expression of that trouble (plus it had gotten more than 12,000 retweets and 45,000 likes before being deleted) that it seemed worth sharing and then working through: ‘Forgive me if I’m not excited about a vaccine that is 95% effective against a virus that is 99% ineffective in killing anyone.’ Where to start? Well, first, a virus that is ‘99% ineffective in killing anyone’ can be quite deadly.”
4. James Marriott in The Times
on destructive individualism
Idea that defined the West now threatens us
“Criticisms of individualism are common across the political spectrum. Left-wing writers point to the damage caused by unrestrained economic individualism. On the right, commentators lament the decline of the family. Donald Trump highlights the danger of extreme narcissism. In his long refusal to concede the US election result, Trump placed his own ego above the democratic conventions that bind American society. But the social forces swirling beneath Trump are more dangerous. The emergence of an extreme intellectual individualism is one of the most significant dangers of our era.”
5. Nicholas Spiro in the South China Morning Post
on unstable finance
Bitcoin has had a good pandemic, but is a long way from being a trusted store of value
“The most important tailwind is the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only has the pathogen turbocharged the shift away from cash towards digital payments, virus containment measures have exacerbated concerns in the West about data privacy and ‘surveillance capitalism’. This is grist to the mill when it comes to millennials who are attracted to cryptocurrencies precisely because they are self-regulating, relying on a network of computers to verify transactions instead of a central repository. Indeed, some investment strategists believe the virus is acting as a catalyst for bitcoin to challenge gold’s status as a hedge against risk, particularly the threat posed by a stronger-than-expected revival in inflation and a sustained depreciation in the US dollar – two trends that could take hold if the availability of a vaccine speeds up the global recovery.”


theweekuk--2020-11-26--‘Fighting for survival’: Eurostar appeals to UK government for support

Eurostar bosses are warning that the company is “ fighting for survival ” as coronavirus travel restrictions trigger a 95 % drop in demand from pre-Covid levels .
Passenger numbers on the cross-Channel train service have been down since March and are now “ believed to be less than 1 % ” of the levels prior to the pandemic , following the recent tightening of coronavirus rules in countries across Europe , The Guardian reports .
The dearth of passengers has seen the number of services running each day drop from 50 before the pandemic to just “ a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London and Paris , and one in either direction between London and Brussels ” , adds Sky News .
Eurostar chief executive Jacques Damas has now written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak asking for financial help after the UK government announced on Tuesday that the country ’ s struggling airports will each receive business rates relief of up to £8m .
In a statement , the train operator said : “ The new scheme of rates relief for airports puts Eurostar at a direct disadvantage against its airline competitors .
Eurostar has been left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % drop in demand , whilst aviation has received over £1.8bn in support through loans , tax deferrals and financing .
“ We would ask this scheme to be extended to include international rail services , and more generally for the government to incorporate high-speed rail in its support for the travel sector , and in doing so help protect the green gateway to Europe.
” Rail , Maritime and Transport ( RMT ) union general secretary Mick Cash has also called for the government to step in immediately to give “ lifeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role fulfilled by Eurostar and the thousands of jobs supported both directly and indirectly by the service ” .
That plea has been echoed by Anthony Berkeley , vice president of Allrail .
In an article in City A.M. , Berkeley writes : “ As the end of the EU transition period looms , the UK must be able to showcase the strength of its post-Brexit trading role , whatever the outcome of negotiations .
Our connectivity with Europe , even as a standalone nation , is crucial to demonstrating this .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a glimmer of hope that life as we know it will resume soon .
When it does , we need to make sure our international high-speed rail businesses are in a strong position to respond and meet demand .
That means fighting to safeguard cross-Channel rail - our green gateway to Europe , and the key to our future connectivity in a post-Brexit world .
”

Eurostar bosses are warning that the company is “fighting for survival” as coronavirus travel restrictions trigger a 95% drop in demand from pre-Covid levels.
Passenger numbers on the cross-Channel train service have been down since March and are now “believed to be less than 1%” of the levels prior to the pandemic, following the recent tightening of coronavirus rules in countries across Europe, The Guardian reports.
The dearth of passengers has seen the number of services running each day drop from 50 before the pandemic to just “a single train per day going each way between London and Paris, and one in either direction between London and Brussels”, adds Sky News.
Eurostar chief executive Jacques Damas has now written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak asking for financial help after the UK government announced on Tuesday that the country’s struggling airports will each receive business rates relief of up to £8m.
In a statement, the train operator said: “The new scheme of rates relief for airports puts Eurostar at a direct disadvantage against its airline competitors. Eurostar has been left fighting for its survival against a 95% drop in demand, whilst aviation has received over £1.8bn in support through loans, tax deferrals and financing.
“We would ask this scheme to be extended to include international rail services, and more generally for the government to incorporate high-speed rail in its support for the travel sector, and in doing so help protect the green gateway to Europe.”
‘Key to our future connectivity’
Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union general secretary Mick Cash has also called for the government to step in immediately to give “lifeline financial support for the important international infrastructure role fulfilled by Eurostar and the thousands of jobs supported both directly and indirectly by the service”.
That plea has been echoed by Anthony Berkeley, vice president of Allrail. In an article in City A.M., Berkeley writes: “As the end of the EU transition period looms, the UK must be able to showcase the strength of its post-Brexit trading role, whatever the outcome of negotiations. Our connectivity with Europe, even as a standalone nation, is crucial to demonstrating this.
“Recent news of vaccines gives us all a glimmer of hope that life as we know it will resume soon. When it does, we need to make sure our international high-speed rail businesses are in a strong position to respond and meet demand. That means fighting to safeguard cross-Channel rail - our green gateway to Europe, and the key to our future connectivity in a post-Brexit world.”


theweekuk--2020-11-26--How Papua New Guinea outshone its richer neighbours with coronavirus response

While New Zealand has attracted international attention and praise for its response to Covid-19 , a far poorer neighbouring nation may have managed an even more impressive result .
Papua New Guinea ( PNG ) has a population almost twice as big yet has recorded just seven deaths and 645 cases , according to latest figures - compared with 25 deaths and 2,040 cases in New Zealand .
The official figures come with a health warning , however .
“ The actual rate of infection is likely far higher , ” says The Guardian , “ with dangerously low rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so , the numbers are impressive by European standards .
Increased testing in response to a recent outbreak unearthed just “ 12 more cases from a significant cluster ” in the PNG province of West New Britain , bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the area to 42 , Radio New Zealand reports .
By contrast , the UK has recorded an average of 18,000 cases per day over the past week .
PNG ’ s relatively remote location in the southwestern Pacific is likely to have played a large role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlike New Zealand , it does have a land border - a long , porous frontier with Papua , part of Indonesia .
It is also significantly poorer , with GDP per capita standing at around $ 2,700 ( £2,021 ) , compared with $ 42,000 ( £31,440 ) in New Zealand .
Although PNG avoided a full lockdown , the country ’ s government banned domestic travel , outlawed the sale of alcohol , prohibited public gatherings and introduced a curfew .
“ People were instructed to stay indoors between 10pm and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or had to go out due to an emergency , ” says the Asia and the Pacific Policy Society .
In September , the World Health Organization said PNG was “ taking the threat of the pandemic seriously ” and praised its government for “ strengthening the country ’ s health system and engaging communities to keep them safe from the virus ” .
Ministers also imposed strict controls on incoming visitors , making “ ankle bracelets mandatory for international workers arriving into the country on designated charter flights ” , says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be worn during a two-week quarantine .
Other elements of the country ’ s response have been more eccentric , however .
In October , Prime Minister James Marape “ defended plans to give millions of dollars to a local company for the development of an unknown Covid-19 treatment ” , Australia ’ s ABC News reports .
Infectious disease experts expressed doubts about the plan - and the previously unknown company that received the £2.2m grant .

While New Zealand has attracted international attention and praise for its response to Covid-19, a far poorer neighbouring nation may have managed an even more impressive result.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a population almost twice as big yet has recorded just seven deaths and 645 cases, according to latest figures - compared with 25 deaths and 2,040 cases in New Zealand.
The official figures come with a health warning, however. “The actual rate of infection is likely far higher,” says The Guardian, “with dangerously low rates of testing across the country.”
Even so, the numbers are impressive by European standards. Increased testing in response to a recent outbreak unearthed just “12 more cases from a significant cluster” in the PNG province of West New Britain, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the area to 42, Radio New Zealand reports.
By contrast, the UK has recorded an average of 18,000 cases per day over the past week.
PNG’s relatively remote location in the southwestern Pacific is likely to have played a large role in its relatively low caseload, although unlike New Zealand, it does have a land border - a long, porous frontier with Papua, part of Indonesia. It is also significantly poorer, with GDP per capita standing at around $2,700 (£2,021), compared with $42,000 (£31,440) in New Zealand.
Although PNG avoided a full lockdown, the country’s government banned domestic travel, outlawed the sale of alcohol, prohibited public gatherings and introduced a curfew. “People were instructed to stay indoors between 10pm and 5am unless they needed urgent medical attention or had to go out due to an emergency,” says the Asia and the Pacific Policy Society.
In September, the World Health Organization said PNG was “taking the threat of the pandemic seriously” and praised its government for “strengthening the country’s health system and engaging communities to keep them safe from the virus”.
Ministers also imposed strict controls on incoming visitors, making “ankle bracelets mandatory for international workers arriving into the country on designated charter flights”, says the Daily Mail. The tags have to be worn during a two-week quarantine.
Other elements of the country’s response have been more eccentric, however.
In October, Prime Minister James Marape “defended plans to give millions of dollars to a local company for the development of an unknown Covid-19 treatment”, Australia’s ABC News reports. Infectious disease experts expressed doubts about the plan - and the previously unknown company that received the £2.2m grant.


theweekuk--2020-11-26--Coronavirus: are the UK’s Covid plans out of date amid vaccines successes?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has courted controversy with a freeze on public sector pay rises and a reduction in foreign aid spending in his coronavirus pandemic spending review .
The financial statement “ pivoted between largesse and pain ” , with Sunak announcing that pay will not increase for around 1.3 million public sector workers due to the economic fallout of Covid-19 , the Financial Times reports .
In a statement to MPs yesterday , Sunak said the UK ’ s “ health emergency is not yet over and our economic emergency has only just begun ” .
But the review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office for Budget Responsibility ( OBR ) revealed that the data used to draw up the plans was published before a string of promising vaccine results emerged .
What figures did the government use ?
Tory MPs are “ furious ” after the spending watchdog admitted that the gloomy “ central scenario ” forecast on which Sunak ’ s spending review was based “ did not account for the rollout of the immunity jab beginning before Christmas ” , the Daily Mail reports .
Under the out-of-date scenario , the OBR predicted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
This figure , and Sunak ’ s review , was based on the assumption of “ Britain languishing under virus restrictions until next summer ” , with pubs and restaurants in many areas of the country remaining closed , the paper adds .
The chancellor presented his review in the Commons yesterday , two days after the announcement that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been found to be to 90 % effectiveness in certain doses .
The encouraging results from ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials have raised hopes that the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been expected .
Should the government have adjusted its plans ?
It is unclear whether Sunak would have announced different measures had the government used more up-to-date figures .
However , the significant differences between the central forecast and other , more optimistic , OBR forecasts might have altered the chancellor ’ s strategy .
In the OBR ’ s “ best-case scenario ” - based on a vaccine being widely available by the spring - GDP “ still declines by over 10 % this year and the economy takes until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Yahoo !
News reports .
But in the watchdog ’ s worst-case scenario , the UK economy shrinks by 12 % this year and does not recover until the end of 2024 .
In this latter scenario , lockdowns are extended and vaccines prove ineffective .
In a statement yesterday , the OBR said that the announcements last week that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have also achieved “ excellent results ” in late-stage clinical trials “ arrived just as our forecasts were being finalised ” and was “ undoubtedly very positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not automatically imply an immediate or complete return to normal economic life for the whole population for several reasons , ” added the watchdog , which predicts lengthier time-scales for producing , sourcing and administering the jabs .

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has courted controversy with a freeze on public sector pay rises and a reduction in foreign aid spending in his coronavirus pandemic spending review.
The financial statement “pivoted between largesse and pain”, with Sunak announcing that pay will not increase for around 1.3 million public sector workers due to the economic fallout of Covid-19, the Financial Times reports.
In a statement to MPs yesterday, Sunak said the UK’s “health emergency is not yet over and our economic emergency has only just begun”. But the review has come under fire, after the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) revealed that the data used to draw up the plans was published before a string of promising vaccine results emerged.
What figures did the government use?
Tory MPs are “furious” after the spending watchdog admitted that the gloomy “central scenario” forecast on which Sunak’s spending review was based “did not account for the rollout of the immunity jab beginning before Christmas”, the Daily Mail reports.
Under the out-of-date scenario, the OBR predicted that GDP would shrink by 11.3% this year.
This figure, and Sunak’s review, was based on the assumption of “Britain languishing under virus restrictions until next summer”, with pubs and restaurants in many areas of the country remaining closed, the paper adds.
The chancellor presented his review in the Commons yesterday, two days after the announcement that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been found to be to 90% effectiveness in certain doses. The encouraging results from ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials have raised hopes that the end of the pandemic could come far sooner than had been expected.
Should the government have adjusted its plans?
It is unclear whether Sunak would have announced different measures had the government used more up-to-date figures. However, the significant differences between the central forecast and other, more optimistic, OBR forecasts might have altered the chancellor’s strategy.
In the OBR’s “best-case scenario” - based on a vaccine being widely available by the spring - GDP “still declines by over 10% this year and the economy takes until the end of next year to recover”, Yahoo! News reports. But in the watchdog’s worst-case scenario, the UK economy shrinks by 12% this year and does not recover until the end of 2024.
In this latter scenario, lockdowns are extended and vaccines prove ineffective.
In a statement yesterday, the OBR said that the announcements last week that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have also achieved “excellent results” in late-stage clinical trials “arrived just as our forecasts were being finalised” and was “undoubtedly very positive news”.
“However, it does not automatically imply an immediate or complete return to normal economic life for the whole population for several reasons,” added the watchdog, which predicts lengthier time-scales for producing, sourcing and administering the jabs.


theweekuk--2020-11-26--No-deal Brexit would hit economy harder than Covid, OBR warns

A no-deal Brexit would strike a devastating blow to parts of the UK economy spared the worst of the coronavirus crisis and result in hundreds of thousands of job losses , the Office for Budget Responsibility ( OBR ) has predicted .
The economy is already expected to contract by a total of 11.3 % this year - the “ largest fall in 300 years ” , says Politico ’ s Ian Dunt .
But a failure to reach a post-Brexit trade agreement with the EU could reduce GDP by a further 2 % next year on top of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a newly published OBR report .
And that drop comes in addition to a 4 % fall in GDP that the spending watchdog predicts will result from Britain quitting the EU even if a deal is secured .
If last-ditch Brexit negotiations fail to bear fruit , the tariffs and barriers that will follow are expected to “ disproportionately affect sectors that otherwise would have come through the pandemic reasonably unscathed ” , says The Times .
Four sectors that were “ spared a big Covid-19 hit ” - agriculture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are expected to be “ hurt most ” , adds the Financial Times .
The OBR forecasts that the combined effects of no-deal will result in more than 300,000 job losses by November next year , in addition to the nearly million more people who are expected to be made unemployed as a result of the Covid crisis .
The watchdog says that would take unemployment levels to 8 % , “ rather than the 7.5 % it currently predict ” , reports The Independent .
Hopes of boosting the UK economy by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear to be ill-founded too .
The OBR predicts that such agreements would provide only “ modest ” growth , with a trade deal with the US forecast to add only 0.02 % to 0.15 % to GDP .
The publication of the OBR report comes as Brexit talks remain deadlocked .
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned yesterday that issues “ that can make the difference between deal or no deal ” had yet to be resolved as the clock ticks down until the end of the transition period .

A no-deal Brexit would strike a devastating blow to parts of the UK economy spared the worst of the coronavirus crisis and result in hundreds of thousands of job losses, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has predicted.
The economy is already expected to contract by a total of 11.3% this year - the “largest fall in 300 years”, says Politico’s Ian Dunt. But a failure to reach a post-Brexit trade agreement with the EU could reduce GDP by a further 2% next year on top of the financial damage wrought by the pandemic, according to a newly published OBR report.
And that drop comes in addition to a 4% fall in GDP that the spending watchdog predicts will result from Britain quitting the EU even if a deal is secured.
If last-ditch Brexit negotiations fail to bear fruit, the tariffs and barriers that will follow are expected to “disproportionately affect sectors that otherwise would have come through the pandemic reasonably unscathed”, says The Times.
Four sectors that were “spared a big Covid-19 hit” - agriculture, finance, real estate and mining - are expected to be “hurt most”, adds the Financial Times.
The OBR forecasts that the combined effects of no-deal will result in more than 300,000 job losses by November next year, in addition to the nearly million more people who are expected to be made unemployed as a result of the Covid crisis.
The watchdog says that would take unemployment levels to 8%, “rather than the 7.5% it currently predict”, reports The Independent.
Hopes of boosting the UK economy by securing free trade deals with non-EU countries appear to be ill-founded too.
The OBR predicts that such agreements would provide only “modest” growth, with a trade deal with the US forecast to add only 0.02% to 0.15% to GDP.
The publication of the OBR report comes as Brexit talks remain deadlocked. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned yesterday that issues “that can make the difference between deal or no deal” had yet to be resolved as the clock ticks down until the end of the transition period.