theweekuk--2020-10-08--Instant Opinion: Mike Pence’s debate performance ‘bugged me out’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
1 .
Frank Bruni in The New York Times “ It was a memorable debate even apart from the insect .
( Now there ’ s a sentence I never imagined writing . )
It was historic : Harris is the first woman of color on the presidential ticket of one of America ’ s two major parties .
Her status as a trailblazer was openly acknowledged , and it informed — and gave extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he wouldn ’ t acknowledge implicit racial bias in policing .
She and Pence were separated not only by 12 feet but by plexiglass shields , which called to mind sneeze guards , conjured thoughts of salad bars and prompted me to wonder which ingredient each of the candidates represented .
( I ’ m going with cottage cheese for Pence . )
The Pence camp had resisted these droplet dams — which , truth be told , many public health experts said were of questionable use — but given how freely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the White House , the Harris camp would have been justified in demanding that Pence debate from the inside of a giant Ziploc bag.
” Why race relations are an abusive fantasy “ The video that shows Kyle Rittenhouse killing two protesters and wounding another in Kenosha , Wisconsin on August 25 has made him into the very embodiment of American race relations .
He is yet another white male vigilante killing in the name of so-called law and order , as well as a self-described Blue Lives Matter supporter .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home in Antioch , Illinois , cross state lines , seek out a crowd of Black Lives Matter demonstrators protesting on behalf of Jacob Blake , and discharge his AR-15 into the crowd .
Rittenhouse personifies the power and the toxic lethality of whiteness , its abusive and narcissistic uncaring for the suffering and death that it causes.
” “ Let me tell you about the column I didn ’ t write .
I didn ’ t write a column about the latest virus restrictions .
I didn ’ t write about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cafes and restaurants who are coming to the end of their tether , and I didn ’ t write about the people on Twitter who are angry about Trump , and Sturgeon , and Johnson , and everything else .
That ’ s what I didn ’ t do .
Instead , I went outside .
I went to Lanarkshire , to an old Roman encampment a couple of miles outside the town , and I met a bunch of people there , gardeners and volunteers , and we weaved in and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a clearing and we planted some saplings and shrubs .
Mint and raspberry bushes by the path .
Willow further in .
And wild roses .
And oak .
So that ’ s what I ’ m going to write about instead : the effects I noticed – on the forest , and on us.
” Why should a PM have to make his own lunch ?
“ There is a remarkable contrast in our prime ministers ’ lives between the support system for official business and what happens when the official day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the No 11 flat their days are organised with smooth precision , from security briefings to G7 summits to cabinet .
Nobody expects a prime minister to look up their own train timetables , check colleagues ’ diaries or order their own cars .
Their time and energy are precious resources .
That concern evaporates in their private time .
The only domestic help in Downing Street is a cleaner .
There ’ s no housekeeper , no chef ; they must do it all themselves .
A prime minister making momentous evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or leave the EU without a deal is simultaneously still responsible for doing his share of the laundry and making family supper.
” China needs open debate on the Korean war to lay ghosts to rest “ Seventy years ago this month , the People ’ s Volunteer Army crossed the Yalu River , marking China ’ s entry into the Korean war , known in China as the ‘ War to Resist America and Aid Korea ’ .
In September , when the remains of 117 Chinese soldiers were returned to China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nationalist Global Times , Hu Xijin , took a swipe at America in a tweet : ‘ 70 yrs ago , the newly founded PRC showed no fear to the US power .
Never underestimate Chinese people ’ s determination to safeguard national security.
’ Instead of trying to use the occasion to score points against America , amid intensifying tensions between the world ’ s two biggest economies , China should take the opportunity to re-examine the war , a watershed event that shaped the course of East Asian history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conflict was China ’ s great victory against American aggression .
Was it ?
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Frank Bruni in The New York Times
on a historic vice-presidential debate
Mike Pence’s debate performance bugged me out
“It was a memorable debate even apart from the insect. (Now there’s a sentence I never imagined writing.) It was historic: Harris is the first woman of color on the presidential ticket of one of America’s two major parties. Her status as a trailblazer was openly acknowledged, and it informed — and gave extra force to — her disapproval of Pence when he wouldn’t acknowledge implicit racial bias in policing. She and Pence were separated not only by 12 feet but by plexiglass shields, which called to mind sneeze guards, conjured thoughts of salad bars and prompted me to wonder which ingredient each of the candidates represented. (I’m going with cottage cheese for Pence.) The Pence camp had resisted these droplet dams — which, truth be told, many public health experts said were of questionable use — but given how freely the coronavirus had been permitted to rampage through the White House, the Harris camp would have been justified in demanding that Pence debate from the inside of a giant Ziploc bag.”
2. Donald Earl Collins in Al Jazeera
on racism in America
Why race relations are an abusive fantasy
“The video that shows Kyle Rittenhouse killing two protesters and wounding another in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 25 has made him into the very embodiment of American race relations. He is yet another white male vigilante killing in the name of so-called law and order, as well as a self-described Blue Lives Matter supporter. He took it upon himself to leave his home in Antioch, Illinois, cross state lines, seek out a crowd of Black Lives Matter demonstrators protesting on behalf of Jacob Blake, and discharge his AR-15 into the crowd. Rittenhouse personifies the power and the toxic lethality of whiteness, its abusive and narcissistic uncaring for the suffering and death that it causes.”
3. Mark Smith in The Herald
on the great outdoors
The natural solution to virus anxiety
“Let me tell you about the column I didn’t write. I didn’t write a column about the latest virus restrictions. I didn’t write about the people I know who work in pubs and cafes and restaurants who are coming to the end of their tether, and I didn’t write about the people on Twitter who are angry about Trump, and Sturgeon, and Johnson, and everything else. That’s what I didn’t do. Instead, I went outside. I went to Lanarkshire, to an old Roman encampment a couple of miles outside the town, and I met a bunch of people there, gardeners and volunteers, and we weaved in and out of the trees until we reached a clearing and we planted some saplings and shrubs. Mint and raspberry bushes by the path. Willow further in. And wild roses. And oak. So that’s what I’m going to write about instead: the effects I noticed – on the forest, and on us.”
4. Jenni Russell in The Times
on Boris Johnson’s chores
Why should a PM have to make his own lunch?
“There is a remarkable contrast in our prime ministers’ lives between the support system for official business and what happens when the official day stops. From the minute they leave the No 11 flat their days are organised with smooth precision, from security briefings to G7 summits to cabinet. Nobody expects a prime minister to look up their own train timetables, check colleagues’ diaries or order their own cars. Their time and energy are precious resources. That concern evaporates in their private time. The only domestic help in Downing Street is a cleaner. There’s no housekeeper, no chef; they must do it all themselves. A prime minister making momentous evening phone calls on whether to bomb Syria or leave the EU without a deal is simultaneously still responsible for doing his share of the laundry and making family supper.”
5. Lijia Zhang in the South China Morning Post
on historical revisionism
China needs open debate on the Korean war to lay ghosts to rest
“Seventy years ago this month, the People’s Volunteer Army crossed the Yalu River, marking China’s entry into the Korean war, known in China as the ‘War to Resist America and Aid Korea’. In September, when the remains of 117 Chinese soldiers were returned to China from South Korea, the editor-in-chief of the nationalist Global Times, Hu Xijin, took a swipe at America in a tweet: ‘70 yrs ago, the newly founded PRC showed no fear to the US power. Never underestimate Chinese people’s determination to safeguard national security.’Instead of trying to use the occasion to score points against America, amid intensifying tensions between the world’s two biggest economies, China should take the opportunity to re-examine the war, a watershed event that shaped the course of East Asian history. At school, we were taught that the conflict was China’s great victory against American aggression. Was it?”


theweekuk--2020-10-08--NHS preparing to roll out coronavirus vaccine next month if jab gets approved

A coronavirus vaccine could start being rolled out across the UK as early as next month , leaked NHS documents suggest .
The files reveal that officials are hoping two coronavirus vaccines could prove successful before the end of the year .
The documents outline plans for five mass-vaccination sites staffed by trainee nurses , physios and paramedics in cities including Leeds , Hull and London , The Sun reports .
The sites will will have capacity to inoculate “ tens of thousands of people daily ” before the festive season and will be supported by “ mobile vaccination units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds .
The documents also outline plans for teams aided by military personnel to travel to care homes and high-risk households .
“ The earliest we are likely to get the first trial results is in a month ’ s time - which means the best-case scenario for a potential roll-out is just before Christmas , ” a health source told The Sun , adding that “ there will be no delay in vaccination once we have a working jab ” .
Once a vaccine is approved , the full roll-out is expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with patients likely to need two injections 28 days apart for the treatment to work .
AstraZeneca , the firm partnering the Oxford University to develop a vaccine , is overseeing a scaling up of manufacturing in parallel with clinical testing so that hundreds of millions of doses can be available if their vaccine is shown to be effective .
However , Kate Bingham , the head of the UK ’ s vaccine task force , has warned that only around 50 % of the population will receive one .
“ There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people under 18 , ” Bingham told the Financial Times , adding : “ It ’ s an adult-only vaccine , for people over 50 , focusing on health workers and care home workers and the vulnerable.
” Doctors in the West Midlands were last week told to prepare for a vaccine that would be ready by November , with 600,000 doses being manufactured nearby at Keele University , the BBC reports .
Speaking at the virtual Conservative party conference last weekend , Matt Hancock confirmed the plans “ were in train ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just about developing the vaccine and then testing the vaccine - which is what ’ s happening now - it ’ s then a matter of rolling out the vaccine according to priority , according to clinical need .
”

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theweekuk--2020-10-08--Kamala Harris vs. Mike Pence: who won the vice-presidential debate?

Vice-presidential debates usually slip by fairly unnoticed , with viewership figures falling steadily in the years since 2008 ’ s clash between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin .
But with Donald Trump ’ s coronavirus battle casting doubt over whether the second presidential debate will go ahead , all eyes were last night on the head-to-head clash between Republican Vice-President Mike Pence and his Democratic rival California Senator Kamala Harris .
After a bruising debate between Trump and Biden last week , this standoff was touted as the only “ sensible conversation we get to watch the two parties have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , The Ringer says .
So how did the two fare ?
And , with just 26 days to go until election day , who came out on top ?
Despite predictions that the debate would be a courteous affair , the evening saw some testy exchanges .
In a series of what the BBC calls “ heated clashes ” , Harris accused Trump and Pence of “ the greatest failure of any presidential administration ” in history , adding that the current administration deliberately mislead Americans over the threat of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they covered it up , ” she said , referring to reports by Watergate journalist Bob Woodward that Trump deliberately downplayed the severity of the pandemic .
“ Frankly , this administration has forfeited their right to re-election based on this , ” she added .
Pence , in response , accused the Democratic ticket of “ plagiarism ” over their strategy for tackling the pandemic , adding that the Democrats were “ undermin [ ing ] public confidence in a vaccine if the vaccine emerges during the Trump administration ” .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 would be “ the biggest economic year in the history of this country ” , claiming that Biden plans to “ raise your taxes and bury the economy ” .
Harris stepped in to clarify that Biden will not increase taxes on those earning less than $ 400,000 ( £309,600 ) a year .
On climate change , Pence acknowledged that “ the climate is changing ” , but said the Democrats would “ crush American energy ” and “ abolish fossil fuels ” .
Harris called climate change an “ existential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussing racial inequality , Pence expressed dismay at the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minnesota in May , but added that there was “ no excuse for the rioting and looting that followed ” .
He added that the suggestion the US is systemically racist and that law enforcement has an implicit bias against minorities is a “ great insult ” .
Harris responded : “ Last week the president of the United States took the debate stage in front of 70 million Americans and refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ torn over who claimed the win in Utah , with many sitting on the fence and calling it a dead heat .
BBC America reporter Anthony Zurcher said there was “ no standout winner ” but added that the “ Democrats will be happy ” with Harris ’ performance .
“ Both candidates had strong moments , and a few stumbles , over the course of the 90-minute affair , ” he said .
“ But as far as lasting memories go , they were few and far between , ” Zurcher writes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and of itself , is good news for the Democrats and Joe Biden , who polls suggest are leading in the race , ” he added .
Harris “ clearly won the debate in terms of providing policy and detail and actually answering the questions ” , according to The Independent ’ s Holly Baxter .
The Times agrees , saying that “ if Democrats were looking for evidence that Harris might one day be able to campaign at the top of a presidential ticket , she gave it to them ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Ms Harris and it showed , ” the paper adds .
However , he succeeded in offering “ Trumpism with a more conventional political style ” .
Conservative pundit Ann Coulter tweeted that Pence had “ wiped the floor ” with Harris .
And unsuprisingly , Trump agreed , tweeting that Pence “ won big ” .
Joe Biden offered a more measured response , writing on Twitter that Harris “ made us all proud tonight ” and sharing a photo of himself holding a fly swatter , a reference to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head during the event .


theweekuk--2020-10-08--Eight in ten Covid cases in UK show no ‘core symptoms’, research finds

The majority of people with Covid-19 exhibit no “ core ” symptoms when they get tested , a major new study has found .
Scientists at University College London ( UCL ) analysed data on more than 36,000 people tested for coronavirus in the UK between April and June and found that of the 115 who tested positive , 88 ( 76.5 % ) presented no symptoms .
And a further 9.6 % of people who tested positive showed none of the classic Covid symptoms – a cough , fever , or loss of taste and smell .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the scientists conclude that “ Covid-19 symptoms are a poor marker of ( Covid ) infection ” .
That verdict have “ prompted fears that future Covid-19 outbreaks will be hard to control without more widespread testing in the community to pick up ‘ silent transmission ’ ” , says The Guardian .
The UCL team are calling for a change in testing strategy based on the findings of their study - based on data from the Office of National Statistics ( ONS ) Covid Symptom Study , which surveys thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the respondents have symptoms .
“ Frequent and widespread testing of all individuals , not just symptomatic cases , at least in high-risk settings or specific locations ” would be key to preventing transmission , they write .
Study co-author Irene Petersen , a professor of epidemiology at UCL , “ said university students are one group who should be tested regularly , and definitely before they go home for Christmas ” , The Telegraph reports .
“ You may have a lot of people who are out in the society and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know that they are positive , ” she added .
However , some experts believe the research findings may be misleading , according to the Science Media Centre , an independent press office for science .
“ Anyone who was previously symptomatic and had now recovered or who were currently incubating the infection and would develop symptoms within the following hours would not be included as being symptomatic in this study , ” he said .


theweekuk--2020-10-08--Is Boris Johnson on the verge of securing a UK-EU trade deal?

Britain ’ s chief Brexit negotiator has hinted that Boris Johnson is willing to compromise with the EU about the contentious issue of state aid in order to land an “ eminently achievable ” trade deal .
Lord David Frost told members of the House of Lords and MPs yesterday that the prime minister is “ prepared to discuss commitments on subsidy policy that go beyond conventional trade agreements ” , The Times reports .
Subsidies to business , otherwise known as state aid , have become a sticking point in the talks , with Downing Street repeatedly insisting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement with the EU .
“ After a long period in which we ’ ve been making little progress on subsidy policy , we are having somewhat more constructive discussions on that subject , although unfortunately , the gap between us is still pretty wide and a lot of work has to be done , ” Frost told the House of Lords EU Committee .
But “ we ’ re beginning a discussion , is it possible to go further than normal in an FTA [ free trade agreement ] and agree some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on both sides ” , he added .
The shift is believed to mark the first time that Britain has offered “ more than the scantest detail about its planned subsidy regime after the post-Brexit transition period ends ” , The Irish Times says .
Frost said the UK would not include an “ extensive text setting out detail of how we design our [ subsidy ] system ” in a deal with the EU , but added that the country may benefit from agreeing measures to resolve any future disputes with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week to go until the next EU summit , the coming seven days will be “ critical ” in determining whether a deal is possible , The Times says .
Frost struck an optimistic note , however , saying : “ We ’ ve made progress .
This is a wide-ranging agreement and in many areas the nature of the agreement is clear if not pinned down.
” Meanwhile , during a phone conversation yesterday , Johnson told European Council President Charles Michel that “ although some progress had been made ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michel later tweeted : “ The EU prefers a deal , but not at any cost .
Time for the UK to put its cards on the table .
”

Britain’s chief Brexit negotiator has hinted that Boris Johnson is willing to compromise with the EU about the contentious issue of state aid in order to land an “eminently achievable” trade deal.
Lord David Frost told members of the House of Lords and MPs yesterday that the prime minister is “prepared to discuss commitments on subsidy policy that go beyond conventional trade agreements”, The Times reports.
Subsidies to business, otherwise known as state aid, have become a sticking point in the talks, with Downing Street repeatedly insisting that it should not be part of any agreement with the EU.
“After a long period in which we’ve been making little progress on subsidy policy, we are having somewhat more constructive discussions on that subject, although unfortunately, the gap between us is still pretty wide and a lot of work has to be done,” Frost told the House of Lords EU Committee.
But “we’re beginning a discussion, is it possible to go further than normal in an FTA [free trade agreement] and agree some provisions that shape and condition subsidy policy on both sides”, he added.
The shift is believed to mark the first time that Britain has offered “more than the scantest detail about its planned subsidy regime after the post-Brexit transition period ends”, The Irish Times says.
Frost said the UK would not include an “extensive text setting out detail of how we design our [subsidy] system” in a deal with the EU, but added that the country may benefit from agreeing measures to resolve any future disputes with the bloc over state aid.
With just a week to go until the next EU summit, the coming seven days will be “critical” in determining whether a deal is possible, The Times says.
Frost struck an optimistic note, however, saying: “We’ve made progress. This is a wide-ranging agreement and in many areas the nature of the agreement is clear if not pinned down.”
Meanwhile, during a phone conversation yesterday, Johnson told European Council President Charles Michel that “although some progress had been made... significant areas of difference remain”.
Michel later tweeted: “The EU prefers a deal, but not at any cost. Time for the UK to put its cards on the table.”


theweekuk--2020-10-08--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 8 Oct 2020

Coronavirus vaccination jabs could be offered by the NHS as early as next month , The Sun says .
Leaked @ @ @ @ @ for hundreds of NHS staff to be deployed to administer inoculations at five sites across @ @ @ @ @ delays to the Oxford University vaccine trial in the US mean that it could potentially @ @ @ @ @ regulators have explored its side-effects , The Times says .

Could a Covid vaccine be available in UK next month?
Coronavirus vaccination jabs could be offered by the NHS as early as next month, The Sun says. Leaked documents have revealed a plan for hundreds of NHS staff to be deployed to administer inoculations at five sites across the country. However, delays to the Oxford University vaccine trial in the US mean that it could potentially be forced to restart after regulators have explored its side-effects, The Times says.


theweekuk--2020-10-08--Fly the winner of US vice-presidential debate

Social media has named a fly as the winner of last night ’ s US vice-presidential debate .
The winged insect settled for around two minutes in Mike Pence ’ s hair , as the vice president was battling with Democrat Kamala Harris .
“ Pence is so full of sh !
t [ sic ] , a fly literally landed on his head , ” wrote one tweeter .
A duck called Ben Afquack has entered the Guinness World Records book for the most followers on Instagram for a duck .
Ben , who lives in St. Paul , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a total of 79,002 followers at the last count .
Derek celebrated the record-breaking feat by eating pizza .
Meanwhile , Ben had some mealworms .
Silence of the Lambs house up for sale The house made famous as the home of serial killer Buffalo Bill in the movie Silence of the Lambs is on sale for just under $ 300,000 ( £231,910 ) .
The Pennsylvania home , originally built in 1910 , has already had some interest , the current owners said .
Encouraging viewers to take a look around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s way nicer in person.
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theweekuk--2020-10-06--Restorative powers: breathe new life into old houses

Older properties can offer oodles of character but often need sensitive treatment .
To learn how to bring out the best in period properties , we asked four experts to share their tips for buying , renovating and improving older properties .
I ’ d never live in anything but an old house .
I love the idea that people have come before me ; that it ’ s an accumulation of layers and history .
I like old floors that bear the imprint of many generations of footprints – but all this can be lost if you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Know what you ’ re getting yourself into before buying a property .
Visit at different times of the day , take lots of photographs .
And get the right survey .
Very few surveyors understand older properties , but you can get a conservation accredited surveyor through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors ( Rics ) .
It ’ s far better to spend a bit more on a good survey before committing to a purchase , rather than regretting your buy later .
A good surveyor should turn up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up into the roof space .
A mortage valuation survey – where they just look at the property from the outside – will tell you very little .
Next , live in the house before you do anything .
Get a good understanding of how you use the space , where the sun comes in , and how it functions for everyday living .
Thermally upgrade elements for energy efficiency .
If you ’ re reroofing , take guidance from an impartial professional , rather than relying on the roofer ’ s advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first ) .
One of the worst things for an old house is to spray the underside of roof tiles with insulating foam .
It traps damp in the roof space and will render the tiles unreusable .
Windows are often the beauty of an old house but also a major source of heat loss .
There are all sorts of secondary glazing systems that you can install , and magnetic lift out systems are ideal .
Try Storm Windows or Selectaglaze for toughened glass , or MagneGlaze for a cheaper DIY option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way of combating noise pollution .
Suspended timber ground floors can be a major source of heat loss , equivalent to leaving a small window open 24/7 .
The simplest solution is thermal underlay and carpet , but if you ’ re set on exposed floorboards , get an expert to lift them gently and insulate from beneath .
It ’ s important to keep an airflow in the sub-floor void ( through well maintained air bricks , for example ) to avoid rot .
Damp is an absolute priority to fix .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ discharge into the drains .
The best way to do this is to stand outside with an umbrella in a heavy rainstorm .
If you see rainwater running down the walls , you ’ ll get penetrating damp .
It ’ s easily fixed with either repairs or new gutters .
Low-level damp is usually caused by cracked drains near the house or high external ground levels .
Both can be fixed with common sense and a good builder .
A drainage survey costs less than £200 .
There are just four questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you if they are qualified to work on older properties : - Do you use pure lime mixes with no cement ?
- Are you happy to repair an old window , rather than replace it ?
- Do you think an old wall will work without the installation of a damp proof course ?
- Do you get on with conservation officers ?
Letting an old house breathe is incredibly important .
Stick with lime mortar and plaster .
Modern cement is completely incompatible and can trap moisture .
In a worst-case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rot , woodworm and deathwatch beetle .
Never resort to an injected damp proof course – houses built before the mid-19th century never had damp proof courses .
Injected damp proof courses are a modern invention , they rarely have any effect , and can cause an irreversible scar on the building .
They ’ re a complete rip-off .
Make sure you can live with the house even if you ’ re refused permission to extend .
Generally , conservation officers are open to applications as long as they don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the understanding of its original form .
If you ’ re considering making changes , ask the conservation officer for a pre-application meeting to discuss what ’ s feasible .
It ’ s about £200 but worth it , rather than spending thousands on architect ’ s plans only for them to be rejected .
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings ( SPAB ) has a great technical advice line ( 020 7456 0916 ) offering free impartial guidance .
For more information , visit oldhouseconsultancy.co.uk or read The Old House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When reusing old buildings , the basics don ’ t really change – keep the weather out , heat in and provide delight .
Modern life brings a plethora of technical and lifestyle demands that were never a consideration .
This is where challenges tend to arise , and it can lead to the old building fabric being considered in the way that a hermit crab might contemplate an empty shell – or alternatively , it is possible to tightly integrate new construction with the old in such a way that the boundary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change in material .
There is a balancing act between historic reconstruction and creative reinterpretation .
It is important to consider the decision-making that originally went into the construction and to look at why certain materials were selected .
The historic construction method was almost always borne out of what skills and building materials were locally available .
Applying the same logic today results in new adaptations or additions that follow the same principle but can look radically different .
For example , the steel insertion at our temporary studio is a reflection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company and the fact that mild steel sheet is readily available , whereas a good stock of local granite and the skilled masons to work it are somewhat harder to come by .
Response to landscape is crucial when working in a rural or open setting .
We pay close attention to how the design either follows the landscape or acts as a counterpoint .
We did just this with Coldrach , an 18th century “ but and ben ” farmhouse set near the foot of Lochnagar at Crathie that is typical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compact and robust with clipped eaves and modest windows .
These buildings often sit resolutely in the landscape in much the same way as a large boulder sits in a field .
Our extension to this building trebles the useable area of the home , but in this landscape , we decided that the new part would tag onto the old , using it like an anchor .
Material colour and texture is also important – the farmhouse has a modesty to it and the new part follows from this , albeit in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than granite and slate .
In beautiful landscapes , the preference is to be out in it , but the second-best option would be a room with a good view .
How that view is incorporated into the design is a bigger question and something we spend a lot of time considering and discussing with our clients during the initial design stages .
Location aside , I wait till I feel a pulse of attraction for a new project .
The period or style of the building is of secondary importance after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting an interesting new person and trying to discover as much as possible about them .
It ’ s exciting to find a building that has been obscured by poor conversions or layers of decorating horrors , as all these can be unpeeled to reveal the beauty beneath .
My father was an architect and I grew up with an appreciation of both old and new buildings .
Since joining Plain English 17 years ago , I ’ ve absorbed their sensibility and appreciation for traditional detailing , and also their approach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing structures and features .
I ’ ve worked on countless projects for clients where budgets and timescale allow for dramatic , wonderful results .
My personal projects have been more modest – always Victorian or Georgian terraced houses – although my first personal project was a huge Victorian pub in south London which I converted into flats as well as a studio for myself .
Money was tight , so I lived on site , in a tent pitched on the swirly-carpeted stage where they used to have the strippers .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have clients who spend £4m on a townhouse and the kitchen ’ s typically in the basement – the smallest , darkest part of the house .
We usually suggest we move the kitchen up to a more central location so the whole house can come alive again .
Poor quality workmen drive me bananas .
It ’ s always tempting to accept the cheapest quote , but noisy pipes and wonky walls are depressing .
Prior planning and a thorough specification are essential as it ’ s expensive to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project has started .
A project of any size has to be properly managed and supervised , either by an architect or a project manager .
They are responsible for standards , timing and payment to the contractors .
Most homeowners are not qualified to do this .
I hate it when so-called damp experts come in and drill lots of holes and pump loads of chemicals into walls .
Old houses just don ’ t need it , provided there ’ s plenty of sub-floor ventilation .
A terraced house structure is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engineers coming in and saying you need a steel column right in the middle of the floor when you don ’ t .
Old brick walls are quite robust things .
Homeowners ’ lifestyles should also be considered .
Children are like little drunks , for example , so remember that pristine white walls look great until you get a tidemark of handprints like a Richard Long artwork .
If you ’ ve got kids , I ’ d go for a self-finished lime plaster on the walls .
It never needs painting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and just gets better with age .
I ’ ve developed a forensic ability to see through buildings , mentally pulling them apart in order to drill down to their true essence .
An old building is like a diary , with layer upon layer of history etched into its skin .
The skill is in knowing which layers to strip back , which to keep , and which to build upon .
This is a great responsibility , and it takes both bravery and restraint .
Contrast and definition are key – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the old fabric ends and the new work begins ; to respect the history of the building whilst simultaneously giving it a future .
This kind of work is a great privilege ; an opportunity to leave a legacy for decades or even centuries to come .
Old buildings come with secrets .
We scratch beneath the surface and we ’ re never quite sure what will lie beneath .
The challenge is in dealing with the unknown ; revealing the failures in the fabric of the building , and finding solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings lies in the opportunity to revisit another person ’ s work .
As William Morris said : “ Quality is never an accident ; it is always the result of intelligent effort.
” Luxury used to be synonymous with size , opulence and perception of wealth .
Fortunately , our 21st-century clients do not think like this .
Our clients often prefer their homes to be understated .
They are interested in things that supplement their enjoyment of life - technology , culture , and creativity .
Convenience and comfort override the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centuries , houses were built for function .
Social structures and accepted formulas for living meant each room was rigidly compartmentalised to serve a particular activity .
Today , technology has allowed us to diffuse boundaries and give us amazing opportunities .
One thing that is unchanged in the British is the aspiration to create ownership and a haven .
See more at richardparr.com

Older properties can offer oodles of character but often need sensitive treatment. To learn how to bring out the best in period properties, we asked four experts to share their tips for buying, renovating and improving older properties. Marianne Suhr, The Old House Consultancy I’d never live in anything but an old house. I love the idea that people have come before me; that it’s an accumulation of layers and history. I like old floors that bear the imprint of many generations of footprints – but all this can be lost if you’re not careful when you’re restoring. Know what you’re getting yourself into before buying a property. Visit at different times of the day, take lots of photographs. And get the right survey. Very few surveyors understand older properties, but you can get a conservation accredited surveyor through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics). It’s far better to spend a bit more on a good survey before committing to a purchase, rather than regretting your buy later. A good surveyor should turn up in old clothes and overalls, and get up into the roof space. A mortage valuation survey – where they just look at the property from the outside – will tell you very little. Next, live in the house before you do anything. Get a good understanding of how you use the space, where the sun comes in, and how it functions for everyday living. Thermally upgrade elements for energy efficiency. If you’re reroofing, take guidance from an impartial professional, rather than relying on the roofer’s advice (who may put their own interests first). One of the worst things for an old house is to spray the underside of roof tiles with insulating foam. It traps damp in the roof space and will render the tiles unreusable. Windows are often the beauty of an old house but also a major source of heat loss. There are all sorts of secondary glazing systems that you can install, and magnetic lift out systems are ideal. Try Storm Windows or Selectaglaze for toughened glass, or MagneGlaze for a cheaper DIY option. They’re also a good way of combating noise pollution. Skip advert
Suspended timber ground floors can be a major source of heat loss, equivalent to leaving a small window open 24/7. The simplest solution is thermal underlay and carpet, but if you’re set on exposed floorboards, get an expert to lift them gently and insulate from beneath. It’s important to keep an airflow in the sub-floor void (through well maintained air bricks, for example) to avoid rot. Damp is an absolute priority to fix. Make sure the gutters work properly and discharge into the drains. The best way to do this is to stand outside with an umbrella in a heavy rainstorm. If you see rainwater running down the walls, you’ll get penetrating damp. It’s easily fixed with either repairs or new gutters. Low-level damp is usually caused by cracked drains near the house or high external ground levels. Both can be fixed with common sense and a good builder. A drainage survey costs less than £200. There are just four questions to ask a builder that will tell you if they are qualified to work on older properties: - Do you use pure lime mixes with no cement?- Are you happy to repair an old window, rather than replace it? - Do you think an old wall will work without the installation of a damp proof course?- Do you get on with conservation officers? Letting an old house breathe is incredibly important. Stick with lime mortar and plaster. Modern cement is completely incompatible and can trap moisture. In a worst-case scenario, it can lead to dry rot, woodworm and deathwatch beetle. Never resort to an injected damp proof course – houses built before the mid-19th century never had damp proof courses. Injected damp proof courses are a modern invention, they rarely have any effect, and can cause an irreversible scar on the building. They’re a complete rip-off. Make sure you can live with the house even if you’re refused permission to extend. Generally, conservation officers are open to applications as long as they don’t destroy the history of the property or the understanding of its original form. If you’re considering making changes, ask the conservation officer for a pre-application meeting to discuss what’s feasible. It’s about £200 but worth it, rather than spending thousands on architect’s plans only for them to be rejected. Skip advert The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has a great technical advice line (020 7456 0916) offering free impartial guidance.
For more information, visit oldhouseconsultancy.co.uk or read The Old House Handbook and The Old House Eco Handbook Ben Addy, Moxon Architects When reusing old buildings, the basics don’t really change – keep the weather out, heat in and provide delight. Modern life brings a plethora of technical and lifestyle demands that were never a consideration. This is where challenges tend to arise, and it can lead to the old building fabric being considered in the way that a hermit crab might contemplate an empty shell – or alternatively, it is possible to tightly integrate new construction with the old in such a way that the boundary between the two is visible as a change in material. There is a balancing act between historic reconstruction and creative reinterpretation. It is important to consider the decision-making that originally went into the construction and to look at why certain materials were selected. The historic construction method was almost always borne out of what skills and building materials were locally available. Applying the same logic today results in new adaptations or additions that follow the same principle but can look radically different. For example, the steel insertion at our temporary studio is a reflection of the skill base of our construction company and the fact that mild steel sheet is readily available, whereas a good stock of local granite and the skilled masons to work it are somewhat harder to come by. Response to landscape is crucial when working in a rural or open setting. We pay close attention to how the design either follows the landscape or acts as a counterpoint. We did just this with Coldrach, an 18th century “but and ben” farmhouse set near the foot of Lochnagar at Crathie that is typical of the Scottish Highlands. The property is compact and robust with clipped eaves and modest windows. These buildings often sit resolutely in the landscape in much the same way as a large boulder sits in a field. Our extension to this building trebles the useable area of the home, but in this landscape, we decided that the new part would tag onto the old, using it like an anchor. Material colour and texture is also important – the farmhouse has a modesty to it and the new part follows from this, albeit in untreated timber and red oxide corrugated metal rather than granite and slate. Skip advert In beautiful landscapes, the preference is to be out in it, but the second-best option would be a room with a good view. How that view is incorporated into the design is a bigger question and something we spend a lot of time considering and discussing with our clients during the initial design stages.
Ben Addy is managing director of moxonarchitects.com Merlin Wright, Plain English Location aside, I wait till I feel a pulse of attraction for a new project. The period or style of the building is of secondary importance after its potential: it’s like meeting an interesting new person and trying to discover as much as possible about them. It’s exciting to find a building that has been obscured by poor conversions or layers of decorating horrors, as all these can be unpeeled to reveal the beauty beneath. My father was an architect and I grew up with an appreciation of both old and new buildings. Since joining Plain English 17 years ago, I’ve absorbed their sensibility and appreciation for traditional detailing, and also their approach to integrating old with new and working with existing structures and features. I’ve worked on countless projects for clients where budgets and timescale allow for dramatic, wonderful results. My personal projects have been more modest – always Victorian or Georgian terraced houses – although my first personal project was a huge Victorian pub in south London which I converted into flats as well as a studio for myself. Money was tight, so I lived on site, in a tent pitched on the swirly-carpeted stage where they used to have the strippers. The key is to get the floorplan right. We have clients who spend £4m on a townhouse and the kitchen’s typically in the basement – the smallest, darkest part of the house. We usually suggest we move the kitchen up to a more central location so the whole house can come alive again. Poor quality workmen drive me bananas. It’s always tempting to accept the cheapest quote, but noisy pipes and wonky walls are depressing. Prior planning and a thorough specification are essential as it’s expensive to change or add to the works once a project has started. A project of any size has to be properly managed and supervised, either by an architect or a project manager. They are responsible for standards, timing and payment to the contractors. Most homeowners are not qualified to do this. Skip advert I hate it when so-called damp experts come in and drill lots of holes and pump loads of chemicals into walls. Old houses just don’t need it, provided there’s plenty of sub-floor ventilation. A terraced house structure is amazingly strong. Often you get structural engineers coming in and saying you need a steel column right in the middle of the floor when you don’t. Old brick walls are quite robust things.


theweekuk--2020-10-06--Best portable projectors for home cinemas

Watching films on a television or laptop is so 2019 , with avid viewers now taking their movie nights to the next level by investing in at-home projectors .
Here , we pick out five of the portable options to enhance your watching experience .
It isn ’ t as small as some projectors , but this premium-priced LG model has a useful handle for carrying , and can be easily stashed away .
And with its 4K HDR picture and stereo sound , it is “ more or less an entire home cinema system ” , What Hi-Fi ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy to set up , and projects images that are bright without being garish .
Small enough to carry around in your pocket , this colourful projector doesn ’ t have the capabilities of more expensive models , but works just fine in a dark room .
The size of a soft drinks can , Anker ’ s Capsule is especially easy to use and has three hours of battery .
It also has built-in Android TV , giving access to loads of apps that users might not have on their smartphones .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ short-throw ” projector can be set up right in front of your screen .
It offers great resolution for the price , although the audio is rather “ weedy ” , says Expert Reviews .
This great-value projector ’ s unusual shape makes it very flexible : it can be rested at various angles and used vertically or horizontally .
But the main selling point is the sharpness of the images projected , and the device also has a good battery life .

Watching films on a television or laptop is so 2019, with avid viewers now taking their movie nights to the next level by investing in at-home projectors.
Here, we pick out five of the portable options to enhance your watching experience.
LG CineBeam HU80KSW
It isn’t as small as some projectors, but this premium-priced LG model has a useful handle for carrying, and can be easily stashed away. And with its 4K HDR picture and stereo sound, it is “more or less an entire home cinema system”, What Hi-Fi? says. It’s also very easy to set up, and projects images that are bright without being garish.
£1,999; richersounds.com
ViewSonic M1 Mini Plus
Small enough to carry around in your pocket, this colourful projector doesn’t have the capabilities of more expensive models, but works just fine in a dark room.
£229; amazon.co.uk
Anker Nebula Capsule II
The size of a soft drinks can, Anker’s Capsule is especially easy to use and has three hours of battery. It also has built-in Android TV, giving access to loads of apps that users might not have on their smartphones.
£549; amazon.co.uk
Optoma ML750ST
Perfect for small spaces, this “short-throw” projector can be set up right in front of your screen. It offers great resolution for the price, although the audio is rather “weedy”, says Expert Reviews.
£535; amazon.co.uk
Acer C250i
This great-value projector’s unusual shape makes it very flexible: it can be rested at various angles and used vertically or horizontally. But the main selling point is the sharpness of the images projected, and the device also has a good battery life.
£350; argos.co.uk


theweekuk--2020-10-08--How coronavirus set back the global fight against extreme poverty

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The coronavirus pandemic threatens to upend 20 years of progress in the campaign to tackle extreme poverty across the globe, according to a study by the World Bank.
The economic impact of Covid-19 is expected “to push an additional 88 million to 115 million people into extreme poverty this year, with the total rising to as many as 150 million by 2021”, the new report says.
The estimate is a sharp increase on the Bank’s previous projection in May that the impacts of the virus would force around 60 million people into extreme poverty in 2020.
What was the trajectory before Covid?
Until the coronavirus pandemic struck, global poverty had been declining for more than two decades.
From the start of the 1990s until 2015, global poverty dropped at an average rate of 1% per year. Progress then slowed, as a result of the twin forces of wars and climate change, but 2020 will be the first rise in extreme poverty since 1998, when the Asian financial crisis hit the global economy.
Who has been hit hardest?
Alongside the $1.90-per-day measure of extreme poverty, the World Bank also tracks poverty at $3.20 a day, the typical line for lower-middle-income countries, and $5.50 a day, typical for upper-middle-income countries.
While fewer than one in ten people in the world live on less than $1.90 a day, close to a quarter of the world’s population subsists below the $3.20 line, and more than 40% - almost 3.3 billion people in total - live below the $5.50 line, the report says.
The financial fortunes of this 40% of the world’s population is referred to as “average global shared prosperity”.
The Covid crisis is believed to have already diminished this shared prosperity, which according to the World Bank, is forecast “to stagnate or even contract” over the course of the year ahead “due to the reduced growth in average incomes”.
The international financial institution also notes that while extreme poverty has traditionally hit people in rural locations hardest, increasing numbers of urban dwellers are now being affected.
At the other end of the scale, meanwhile, the world’s wealthiest people have seen their fortunes swell throughout the pandemic.


theweekuk--2020-10-08--Coronavirus: everything you need to know about the UK’s incoming restrictions

Pubs and restaurants in English regions with spiralling coronavirus outbreaks are braced to close their doors within days as Downing @ @ @ @ @ restrictions .
Boris Johnson signed off the lockdown measures last night “ alongside new financial @ @ @ @ @ of restrictions in England ” , The Times reports .
The plan has been met @ @ @ @ @ , “ who attacked the government for allowing it to leak without briefing them first @ @ @ @ @ , the newspaper adds .
Regional lockdown measures have come under scrutiny in recent days @ @ @ @ @ presented data that suggests infections have continued to rise in areas already under localised rules @

Pubs and restaurants in English regions with spiralling coronavirus outbreaks are braced to close their doors within days as Downing Street prepares to tighten lockdown restrictions.
Boris Johnson signed off the lockdown measures last night “alongside new financial support and a simplified system of restrictions in England”, The Times reports. The plan has been met with fury by northern leaders, “who attacked the government for allowing it to leak without briefing them first” about the stricter regulations, the newspaper adds.
Regional lockdown measures have come under scrutiny in recent days after Labour leader Keir Starmer presented data that suggests infections have continued to rise in areas already under localised rules.
Which areas may be affected and how?
The new rules are expected to come into force on Monday and to be applied according to a three-tier system designed to simplify lockdown guidance.
Merseyside and other parts of northern England “will be placed in the highest tier as some hospitals start to run out of dedicated Covid beds and infections rise sharply”, according to The Times. “Tier one” would see hospitality businesses such as pubs, restaurants and cafes close, and possibly other leisure venues and hairdressers, although schools, universities and other businesses would remain open.
“Regions in the middle tier will be subject to a simplified version of existing local lockdown measures, while those in the lowest tier must observe national restrictions such as the ‘rule of six’,” says the newspaper.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick this morning refused to confirm or deny that new restrictions would be imposed next week. “It is correct to say the number of cases in the northwest and the northeast and a number of cities, particularly in the Midlands like Nottingham, are rising fast and that is a serious situation,” he told Times Radio.
“We are currently considering what steps we should take, obviously taking the advice of our scientific and medical advisers, and a decision will be made shortly.”
The Times says that the tougher restrictions will be rolled out along with a new system of “wage support for employees of businesses that were forced back into lockdown three months after opening”.


theweekuk--2020-10-08--Kamala Harris vs. Mike Pence: who won the vice presidential debate?

Vice-presidential debates usually slip by fairly unnoticed, with viewership figures falling steadily in the years since 2008’s clash between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin.
But with Donald Trump’s coronavirus battle casting doubt over whether the second presidential debate will go ahead, all eyes were last night on the head-to-head clash between Republican Vice-President Mike Pence and his Democratic rival California Senator Kamala Harris.
After a bruising debate between Trump and Biden last week, this standoff was touted as the only “sensible conversation we get to watch the two parties have in this year’s presidential contest”, The Ringer says.
So how did the two fare? And, with just 26 days to go until election day, who came out on top?
What was discussed?
Despite predictions that the debate would be a courteous affair, the evening saw some testy exchanges.
In a series of what the BBC calls “heated clashes”, Harris accused Trump and Pence of “the greatest failure of any presidential administration” in history, adding that the current administration deliberately mislead Americans over the threat of the virus.
“They knew, and they covered it up,” she said, referring to reports by Watergate journalist Bob Woodward that Trump deliberately downplayed the severity of the pandemic. “Frankly, this administration has forfeited their right to re-election based on this,” she added.
Pence, in response, accused the Democratic ticket of “plagiarism” over their strategy for tackling the pandemic, adding that the Democrats were “undermin[ing] public confidence in a vaccine if the vaccine emerges during the Trump administration”.
On the economy, the vice-president pledged that 2021 would be “the biggest economic year in the history of this country”, claiming that Biden plans to “raise your taxes and bury the economy”. Harris stepped in to clarify that Biden will not increase taxes on those earning less than $400,000 (£309,600) a year.
On climate change, Pence acknowledged that “the climate is changing”, but said the Democrats would “crush American energy” and “abolish fossil fuels”. Harris called climate change an “existential threat” to the planet.
When discussing racial inequality, Pence expressed dismay at the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minnesota in May, but added that there was “no excuse for the rioting and looting that followed”.


theweekuk--2020-10-09--The Week Unwrapped podcast: Banksy, intervention and refugee art

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code : POD25 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In this week ’ s episode , we discuss : A growing number of American police forces are signing up to the Active Bystander in Law Enforcement programme , in an attempt to prevent police brutality .
The idea is that officers will be encouraged to challenge their colleagues if they see bad behaviour - speaking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incidents to watchdogs ( or staying silent ) .
Prints by Banksy have smashed estimates in recent auctions , and an upcoming sale of his 2005 painting Show me the Monet is tipped to top the record £9.9m paid for another of the street artist 's works last year .
But is this commercialisation of urban art severing the genre 's anti-establishment roots ?
The theatre group behind War Horse is planning to parade a giant puppet of a refugee girl across Europe in an attempt to raise awareness of the plight of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of awareness really the problem , and how might their efforts be put to better use ?

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code: POD25–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
Heroic bystanders
A growing number of American police forces are signing up to the Active Bystander in Law Enforcement programme, in an attempt to prevent police brutality. The idea is that officers will be encouraged to challenge their colleagues if they see bad behaviour - speaking to them directly but non-confrontationally rather than reporting incidents to watchdogs (or staying silent).
Street art
Prints by Banksy have smashed estimates in recent auctions, and an upcoming sale of his 2005 painting Show me the Monet is tipped to top the record £9.9m paid for another of the street artist's works last year. But is this commercialisation of urban art severing the genre's anti-establishment roots?
Refugee art
The theatre group behind War Horse is planning to parade a giant puppet of a refugee girl across Europe in an attempt to raise awareness of the plight of asylum seekers. But is a lack of awareness really the problem, and how might their efforts be put to better use?
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player, Spotify, Apple podcasts, SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts


theweekuk--2020-10-09--US election: what exactly are Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s policies?

The 2020 election cycle has been characterised by personal attacks , record spending and a disorderly opening presidential debate that at times descended into farce .
Donald Trump has dubbed Joe Biden “ the destroyer of American greatness ” , while the Democratic contender has dismissed the president as a “ fool ” and a “ clown ” .
But what political platforms are the 45th US leader and his rival pushing as voters prepare to go to the polls ?
If re-elected , Trump proposes to pursue an agenda that will focus on “ jobs , taxes and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has also attempted to position himself as a “ law and order ” president who will put down the violence and protesting that has gripped the US in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death at the hands of a white police officer .
But the rest of the pledges in his ten-point agenda “ are a little more loosely worded ” , says the newspaper , which points to his pledge to continue to “ drain the swamp ” .
Trump is promising to create ten million new jobs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million new small businesses .
Trump has launched “ Operation Warp Speed ” in a bid to swiftly find a viable coronavirus vaccine , which he has vowed to deliver by the end of the year .
He has also promised that any viable vaccines developed in the US will be distributed with an America-first approach before being made available to other countries .
Trump last month laid out his “ vision ” for health care in America , but according to CNN , his plans “ fall far short of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledged to sign an executive order to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions , yet Republicans have spent much of his first term trying to tear down the Affordable Care Act that already safeguards these people .
He has also promised to reduce drug prices and reduce overall health costs , but again , his plans have tended to “ lack detail ” , says the AP news agency .
Biden has been in politics for almost 50 years and “ is using his long experience in Washington to portray himself as a steady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaos ” , The Telegraph says .
Barack Obama ’ s former vice-president has promised to reverse many of the Trump administration ’ s decisions , including the Republican leader ’ s signature tax cuts and withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord .
Donald Trump ’ s election in 2016 “ led to the biggest shift in US trade policy ” since the Second World War , “ as he piled on tariffs and eschewed alliance-building ” , The Wall Street Journal reports .
But Biden has promised a U-turn in a bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade sanctions , rethink the use of tariffs and try to create a united front to confront China ” , the paper says .
While Trump has frequently questioned the veracity of climate change data , Biden is a staunch supporter of the need for urgent environmental action .
Whereas Trump has vowed to continue pursuing fossil fuels and a deregulatory agenda , his Democratic challenger has promised “ a Clean Energy Revolution ” through which he aims to turn “ this threat into an opportunity ” by “ harnessing all of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovation ” .
Biden has also promised to achieve a 100 % clean energy economy and reach net-zero emissions by 2050 , but has not backed the Green New Deal advocated for by some in his party .
Boosting the middle class is “ one of the main pillars of Biden ’ s campaign ” , says CNN .
He has spoken of creating an economy that “ rewards work , not just wealth ” , and is pushing for a $ 15 minimum hourly wage , along with plans to expand access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than any “ ideological or policy particulars ” , Biden ’ s core promise is “ to end the perpetual chaos of The Trump Show ” , says The New York Times .


theweekuk--2020-10-09--Are emergency NHS Nightingale hospitals about to reopen as Covid cases soar?

A leaked email sent to medics has fuelled speculation that fresh Covid outbreaks will trigger the reopening of emergency hospitals built to increase NHS capacity during the first wave of infections .
According to Politico London Playbook , nurses who worked in the London Nightingale hospital during the early days of the pandemic have been sent a “ hint , hint ” reminder that their training remains valid .
The report comes after the government announced 17,540 confirmed new cases on Thursday - an increase of more than 3,000 from the previous day ’ s tally .
England ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ albeit in some cases repurposed or having been considered for alternative use ” , says The Guardian .
London ’ s Nightingale hospital - based at the ExCeL conference centre in the east of the capital - “ would be the largest intensive care unit in Europe if fully operational ” , but treated a only small number of patients during the initial wave of infections , adds the newspaper .
Discussions are reportedly already under way about using Bristol ’ s dormant Nightingale hospital , at the University of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to provide additional capacity for the city ’ s Eye Hospital .
And councillors in Harrogate have called for the Nightingale facility there to be used as a flu vaccination centre in the run-up to winter .
Meanwhile , the Nightingale hospital in Birmingham “ is being readied again to take patients at 48 hours ’ notice , according to a hospital CEO in the city ” , The Guardian reports .
And the emergency hospital in Exeter is being used for a Covid-19 vaccine study .
Sunderland ’ s Nightingale Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ant and Dec in May , is also ready to be used in the event of “ another surge of coronavirus ” , says regional news site ChronicleLive .
The seventh hospital , in Washington , Sunderland , has not been used but will remain available as long as necessary , health authorities have said .
When the emergency medical centres were first set up , the government boasted about the swiftness of their response , with the London Nightingale hospital built in just nine days .
But a leaked document seen by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the London hospital was “ turning away more coronavirus patients than it is treating ” , owing to a lack of staff .


theweekuk--2020-10-09--Quiz of The Week: 3 - 9 October

Quiz of The Week: 3 - 9 October

This week kicked off with more coronavirus chaos that left Downing Street under fire after a glitch in Britain ’ s tracking system saw the daily number of new cases appear to double overnight .
Boris Johnson and his ministers blamed “ computer issues ” for delays in reporting more than 15,000 cases recorded over the previous week , which was caused by data on people who tested positive exceeding the maximum size of files used in the system .
The Conservatives had more luck getting to grips with technology at their first virtual party conference , which wrapped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speeches from cabinet ministers , as well as a promise from Johnson to create a “ post-war new Jerusalem ” after the pandemic .
Over on the opposition benches , Keir Starmer ’ s battle with the Labour left continued , as the Unite union , the party ’ s biggest donor , announced it was cutting its funding by 10 % amid frustrations with a perceived shift in the party ’ s direction .
To find out how closely you ’ ve been paying attention to the latest developments in both UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the test with our Quiz of The Week : Need a reminder of some of the other headlines over the past seven days ?
In the US , Donald Trump returned to the White House after three days in hospital for treatment for Covid-19 , despite health experts warning that he was still potentially infectious .
The second presidential debate is now in doubt , after Trump said he would not take part in a virtual head-to-head .
If his scheduled stand-off with Joe Biden is cancelled , voters will be left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice-presidential debate , which saw Democratic nominee Kamala Harris lock horns with Mike Pence on issues including the administration ’ s coronavirus response , racism , health care and climate change .
Meanwhile , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) has warned that face masks may not protect against Covid-19 in wet or damp weather - a verdict that is unlikely to bother the mask-eschewing US president .


theweekuk--2020-10-09--Profile: Allegra Stratton - the face of No. 10’s new televised press briefings

Former BBC journalist Allegra Stratton is in the media spotlight after landing what some commentators are calling “ the worst @ @ @ @ @ fronting No .
10 ’ s new daily televised press briefings .
Stratton has served @ @ @ @ @ for Chancellor Rishi Sunak since quitting broadcasting in July , but is now leaving the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s most high-profile spokesperson .
The No .
10 newcomer has “ impeccable Tory @ @ @ @ @ of broadcast experience – a must for what ’ s likely to be a difficult @ @ @ @ @ Independent says .
She is married to James Forsyth - who is political editor at @ @ @ @ @ prime minister used to edit - and Sunak was best man at their wedding .

Former BBC journalist Allegra Stratton is in the media spotlight after landing what some commentators are calling “the worst job in politics” - fronting No. 10’s new daily televised press briefings.
Stratton has served as director of strategic communications for Chancellor Rishi Sunak since quitting broadcasting in July, but is now leaving the Treasury to become Boris Johnson’s most high-profile spokesperson.
The No. 10 newcomer has “impeccable Tory connections” and “bucketloads of broadcast experience – a must for what’s likely to be a difficult job”, says The Independent says. She is married to James Forsyth - who is political editor at The Spectator, which the prime minister used to edit - and Sunak was best man at their wedding.
Now aged 39, Stratton kicked off her journalistic career as a producer at the BBC after graduating from Cambridge University. Following a spell as political correspondent for The Guardian, she returned to the BBC as the political editor of Newsnight, and also put in a stint at ITV News.
Stratton is no stranger to being in the media spotlight either. As Newsnight editor, she was at the centre of an outcry over the alleged humiliation of single mother featured in a report about the government’s cuts to benefits. The programme later issued an apology after more than 50,000 people signed a petition.
Stratton was appointed to the Downing Street briefings role, currently being filled by Johnson’s official spokesperson James Slack, after “impressing” the PM with her performance at the Treasury, says HuffPost.
But the task facing her is a tricky one. A Labour adviser told The Guardian that it was an “awful job”, while the newspaper notes that Stratton “arrives at a moment when the government is besieged by restive backbenchers sceptical about Covid restrictions, and facing fierce criticism over the way they are being communicated”.
The high-profile nature of the role has also triggered criticism from the opposition benches, with Keir Starmer arguing that the appointment risks “unbalancing the political discourse”.


theweekuk--2020-10-09--Coronavirus: why Africa had such a low Covid-19 death rate

Kevin Marsh , professor of tropical medicine at the University of Oxford , and Moses Alobo , programme manager for Grand Challenges Africa at the African Academy of Sciences , explain the continent ’ s Covid-19 response .
As the threat of a Covid-19 pandemic emerged earlier this year , many felt a sense of apprehension about what would happen when it reached Africa .
Concerns over the combination of overstretched and underfunded health systems and the existing load of infectious and non-infectious diseases often led to it being talked about in apocalyptic terms .
However , it has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 29th , the world passed the one million reported deaths mark ( the true figure will of course be higher ) .
On the same day , the count for Africa was a cumulative total of 35,954 .
Africa accounts for 17 % of the global population but only 3.5 % of the reported global Covid-19 deaths .
All deaths are important , we should not discount apparently low numbers , and of course data collected over such a wide range of countries will be of variable quality , but the gap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is staggering .
There has been much discussion on what accounts for this .
As leads of the Covid-19 team in the African Academy of Sciences , we have followed the unfolding events and various explanations put forward .
The emerging picture is that in many African countries , transmission has been higher but severity and mortality much lower than originally predicted based on experience in China and Europe .
We argue that Africa ’ s much younger population explains a very large part of the apparent difference .
Some of the remaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of events but there are a number of other plausible explanations .
These range from climatic differences , pre-existing immunity , genetic factors and behavioural differences .
Given the enormous variability in conditions across a continent – with 55 member states – the exact contribution of any one factor in a particular environment is likely to vary .
But the bottom line is that what appeared at first to be a mystery looks less puzzling as more and more research evidence emerges .
The most obvious factor for the low death rates is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries the risk of dying of Covid-19 for those aged 80 years or more is around a hundred times that of people in their twenties .
This can best be appreciated with a specific example .
As of September 30th , the UK had reported 41,980 Covid-19 specific deaths while Kenya , by contrast , had reported 691 .
The population of the UK is around 66 million with a median age of 40 compared with Kenya ’ s population of 51 million with a median age of 20 years .
Corrected for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have been expected to be around 32,000 .
However if one also corrects for population structure ( assumes that the age specific death rates in the UK apply to the population structure of Kenya ) , we would expect around 5,000 deaths .
There is still a big difference between 700 and 5,000 ; what might account for the remaining gap ?
One possibility is the failure to identify and record deaths .
Kenya , as with most countries , initially had little testing capacity and specific death registration is challenging .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing capacity and the extra attention to finding deaths makes it unlikely that a gap of this size can be fully accounted for by missing information .
There has been no shortage of ideas for other factors that may be contributing .
A recent large multi-country study in Europe reported significant declines in mortality related to higher temperature and humidity .
The authors hypothesised that this may be because the mechanisms by which our respiratory tracts clear virus work better in warmer more humid conditions .
This means that people may be getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It should be noted however that a systematic review of global data – while confirming that warm and wet climates seemed to reduce the spread of Covid-19 – indicated that these variables alone could not explain most of the variability in disease transmission .
It ’ s important to remember that there ’ s considerable weather variability throughout Africa .
Not all climates are warm or wet and , if they are , they may not stay that way throughout the year .
Other suggestions include the possibility of pre-existing protective immune responses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathogens or to BCG vaccination , a vaccine against tuberculosis provided at birth in most African countries .
A large analysis – which involved 55 countries , representing 63 % of the world ’ s population – showed significant correlations between increasing BCG coverage at a young age and better outcomes of Covid-19 .
Genetic factors may also be important .
A recently described haplotype ( group of genes ) associated with increased risk of severity and present in 30 % of south Asian genomes and 8 % of Europeans is almost absent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other factors – such as potential differences in social structures or mobility – are subject to ongoing investigation .
An important possibility is that public health response of African countries , prepared by previous experiences ( such as outbreaks or epidemics ) was simply more effective in limiting transmission than in other parts of the world .
However , in Kenya it ’ s estimated that the epidemic actually peaked in July with around 40 % of the population in urban areas having been infected .
A similar picture is emerging in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in place had little effect on viral transmission per se , though it does raise the possibility that herd immunity is now playing a role in limiting further transmission .
At the same time there is another important possibility : the idea that viral load ( the number of virus particles transmitted to a person ) is a key determinant of severity .
It has been suggested that masks reduce viral load and that their widespread wearing may limit the chances of developing severe disease .
While WHO recommends mask wearing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower in many European countries , compared with many parts of Africa .
So is Africa in the clear ?
Well , obviously not .
There is still plenty of virus around and we do not know what may happen as the interaction between the virus and humans evolves .
However , one thing that does seem clear is that the secondary effects of the pandemic will be Africa ’ s real Covid-19 challenge .
These stem from the severe interruptions of social and economic activities as well as the potentially devastating effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of people , including routine vaccination as well as malaria , TB and HIV control programmes .
Major implications of the emerging picture include the need to re-evaluate African Covid-19 research agendas .
While many of the priorities originally identified may still hold , their relative importance is likely to have changed .
The key point is to deal with the problems as they are now rather than as they were imagined to be six months ago .
The same thing applies for public health policy .
Of course , basic measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regardless of Covid-19 ) and wearing masks should be continued while there is any level of Covid-19 transmission .
However , other measures with broader effects on society , especially restrictions on educational and economic activity , should be under continuous review .
A key point now is to increase surveillance and ensure that flexible responses are driven by high quality real time data .
Kevin Marsh , professor of tropical medicine at the University of Oxford , and Moses Alobo , programme manager for Grand Challenges Africa at the African Academy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

Kevin Marsh, professor of tropical medicine at the University of Oxford, and Moses Alobo, programme manager for Grand Challenges Africa at the African Academy of Sciences, explain the continent’s Covid-19 response. As the threat of a Covid-19 pandemic emerged earlier this year, many felt a sense of apprehension about what would happen when it reached Africa. Concerns over the combination of overstretched and underfunded health systems and the existing load of infectious and non-infectious diseases often led to it being talked about in apocalyptic terms. However, it has not turned out quite that way. On September 29th, the world passed the one million reported deaths mark (the true figure will of course be higher). On the same day, the count for Africa was a cumulative total of 35,954. Africa accounts for 17% of the global population but only 3.5% of the reported global Covid-19 deaths. All deaths are important, we should not discount apparently low numbers, and of course data collected over such a wide range of countries will be of variable quality, but the gap between predictions and what has actually happened is staggering. There has been much discussion on what accounts for this. As leads of the Covid-19 team in the African Academy of Sciences, we have followed the unfolding events and various explanations put forward. The emerging picture is that in many African countries, transmission has been higher but severity and mortality much lower than originally predicted based on experience in China and Europe. We argue that Africa’s much younger population explains a very large part of the apparent difference. Some of the remaining gap is probably due to under reporting of events but there are a number of other plausible explanations. These range from climatic differences, pre-existing immunity, genetic factors and behavioural differences. Given the enormous variability in conditions across a continent – with 55 member states – the exact contribution of any one factor in a particular environment is likely to vary. But the bottom line is that what appeared at first to be a mystery looks less puzzling as more and more research evidence emerges. The importance of age The most obvious factor for the low death rates is the population age structure. Across multiple countries the risk of dying of Covid-19 for those aged 80 years or more is around a hundred times that of people in their twenties. Skip advert
This can best be appreciated with a specific example. As of September 30th, the UK had reported 41,980 Covid-19 specific deaths while Kenya, by contrast, had reported 691. The population of the UK is around 66 million with a median age of 40 compared with Kenya’s population of 51 million with a median age of 20 years. Corrected for population size the death toll in Kenya would have been expected to be around 32,000. However if one also corrects for population structure (assumes that the age specific death rates in the UK apply to the population structure of Kenya), we would expect around 5,000 deaths. There is still a big difference between 700 and 5,000; what might account for the remaining gap? Other possible contributors One possibility is the failure to identify and record deaths. Kenya, as with most countries, initially had little testing capacity and specific death registration is challenging. However, Kenya quickly built up its testing capacity and the extra attention to finding deaths makes it unlikely that a gap of this size can be fully accounted for by missing information. There has been no shortage of ideas for other factors that may be contributing. A recent large multi-country study in Europe reported significant declines in mortality related to higher temperature and humidity. The authors hypothesised that this may be because the mechanisms by which our respiratory tracts clear virus work better in warmer more humid conditions. This means that people may be getting less virus particles into their system. It should be noted however that a systematic review of global data – while confirming that warm and wet climates seemed to reduce the spread of Covid-19 – indicated that these variables alone could not explain most of the variability in disease transmission. It’s important to remember that there’s considerable weather variability throughout Africa. Not all climates are warm or wet and, if they are, they may not stay that way throughout the year. Other suggestions include the possibility of pre-existing protective immune responses due either to previous exposure to other pathogens or to BCG vaccination, a vaccine against tuberculosis provided at birth in most African countries. Skip advert A large analysis – which involved 55 countries, representing 63% of the world’s population – showed significant correlations between increasing BCG coverage at a young age and better outcomes of Covid-19. Genetic factors may also be important. A recently described haplotype (group of genes) associated with increased risk of severity and present in 30% of south Asian genomes and 8% of Europeans is almost absent in Africa.


theweekuk--2020-10-09--Why Michel Barnier is warning EU leaders about ‘half-baked’ Brexit deal

Michel Barnier has warned European Union leaders against signing off on a “ half-baked ” Brexit deal at crunch talks next week .
Ahead of the summit in Brussels , the EU ’ s chief negotiator told a meeting of European ambassadors on Wednesday that any hint of compromise , especially on fishing rights , would weaken the bloc ’ s position , according to a leaked memo seen by The Times .
Barnier is encouraging European leaders to insist on further UK concessions and to resist Boris Johnson ’ s efforts to turn the summit into a negotiating deadline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hinted that the UK and EU were on the verge of a trade deal , but Barnier is insisting that negotiations will need to continue until the end of the month and wants next week ’ s summit to be limited to a “ taking stock ” of the talks , the leaked memo reveals .
The Daily Express suggests that by restricting the scope of the summit discussions , the EU ’ s negotiating chief “ is hoping to distract over the compromises he has already made in talks with UK counterpart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make ” .
A diplomatic source told The Times that “ Boris keeps saying that a deal is ‘ oven ready ’ but Barnier will not want to come to leaders with any half-baked detail , especially on fish ” .
Fishing rights have become one of the greatest obstacles in the Brexit negotiations , with Brussels seeking to retain access to British waters as No .
10 attempts to scrap the old quotas and make such access conditional on successful annual negotiations .
The Financial Times reports that Brussels “ is looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose out from Brexit by handing them part of Britain ’ s old fishing rights in EU waters ” .
As the row rumbles on , Barnier is due to meet the UK ’ s Frost for informal talks today .

Michel Barnier has warned European Union leaders against signing off on a “half-baked” Brexit deal at crunch talks next week.
Ahead of the summit in Brussels, the EU’s chief negotiator told a meeting of European ambassadors on Wednesday that any hint of compromise, especially on fishing rights, would weaken the bloc’s position, according to a leaked memo seen by The Times.
Barnier is encouraging European leaders to insist on further UK concessions and to resist Boris Johnson’s efforts to turn the summit into a negotiating deadline.
Government ministers and EU officials had hinted that the UK and EU were on the verge of a trade deal, but Barnier is insisting that negotiations will need to continue until the end of the month and wants next week’s summit to be limited to a “taking stock” of the talks, the leaked memo reveals.
The Daily Express suggests that by restricting the scope of the summit discussions, the EU’s negotiating chief “is hoping to distract over the compromises he has already made in talks with UK counterpart David Frost, or is planning to make”.
A diplomatic source told The Times that “Boris keeps saying that a deal is ‘oven ready’ but Barnier will not want to come to leaders with any half-baked detail, especially on fish”.
Fishing rights have become one of the greatest obstacles in the Brexit negotiations, with Brussels seeking to retain access to British waters as No. 10 attempts to scrap the old quotas and make such access conditional on successful annual negotiations.
The Financial Times reports that Brussels “is looking at how to compensate European fishermen that lose out from Brexit by handing them part of Britain’s old fishing rights in EU waters”.
As the row rumbles on, Barnier is due to meet the UK’s Frost for informal talks today.


theweekuk--2020-10-09--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 9 Oct 2020

Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people could be told to stay at home this winter as ministers plan to resume @ @ @ @ @ Scientists advising the UK government believe the planned new coronavirus restrictions for the north of @ @ @ @ @ enough .
Meanwhile , Gillian Keegan , minister for skills and apprenticeships , says Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ control ” in the north of England .

Minister declares Covid ‘out of control’ ahead of new rules
Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people could be told to stay at home this winter as ministers plan to resume shielding in infection hotspots. Scientists advising the UK government believe the planned new coronavirus restrictions for the north of England do not go far enough. Meanwhile, Gillian Keegan, minister for skills and apprenticeships, says Covid-19 is “getting out of control” in the north of England.


theweekuk--2020-10-09--You can pay to live under a rock during White House election

A company is offering voters the chance to escape and “ live under a rock ” for the week of the White House election .
Hotels.com said the opportunity is perfect for “ those who are experiencing election stress disorder ” .
It added : “ We ’ re transforming an age-old idiom into a bookable experience , so individuals can relax , recharge , and recover ... because who knows what else 2020 has in store for us.
” A 12-year-old boy in Tennessee is being recognised by Guinness World Records for achieving nuclear fusion just hours before his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 , of Memphis has been named the world ’ s youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion after officials verified that he built his own nuclear fusion reactor at his family ’ s home and successfully deployed it in his final hours of being 12 years old .
German police were called to a woman ’ s home when a large Chinese mitten crab wandered inside through an open door .
Freiburg Police said officers responded to a home in Unterlauchringen where a resident had complained of a 10-inch crab , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ two scissors ” .
The crab was taken to the local vets .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 company is offering voters the chance to escape and “live under a rock” for the week of the White House election. Hotels.com said the opportunity is perfect for “those who are experiencing election stress disorder”. It added: “We’re transforming an age-old idiom into a bookable experience, so individuals can relax, recharge, and recover... because who knows what else 2020 has in store for us.”
Tennessee boy achieved nuclear fusion at 12
A 12-year-old boy in Tennessee is being recognised by Guinness World Records for achieving nuclear fusion just hours before his 13th birthday. Jackson Oswalt, now 15, of Memphis has been named the world’s youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion after officials verified that he built his own nuclear fusion reactor at his family’s home and successfully deployed it in his final hours of being 12 years old.
Police called to deal with a crab
German police were called to a woman’s home when a large Chinese mitten crab wandered inside through an open door. Freiburg Police said officers responded to a home in Unterlauchringen where a resident had complained of a 10-inch crab, which was armed with “eight legs” and “two scissors”. The crab was taken to the local vets.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––