theweekuk--2020-07-09--Quiz of the Week: 4 - 10 July

Quiz of the Week: 4 - 10 July

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a heavy economy toll , Rishi Sunak this week announced a £30bn aid package that will take the UK government ’ s total spend on relief measures to £188.7bn .
The new plans include a stamp duty holiday and hospitality VAT cut , as well as an “ eat out to help out ” discount scheme to give diners 50 % off their bill in restaurants , cafes and pubs during August .
The chancellor has not shied away from releasing funds to tackle the various impacts of the health crisis .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent on a test-and-trace system that is still not fully operational .
Labour has suggested that some of the nation ’ s mounting coronavirus debt could be paid off through a “ wealth tax ” on individuals with assets worth more than £750,000 , either as an ongoing levy or a one-off windfall measure to raise funds .
To find out how closely you ’ ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the pandemic , and other global events , put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the other big stories from the past week ?
The leading medical expert in the US has warned that the country is still “ knee-deep ” in its first wave of the Covid-19 outbreak .
Dr. Anthony Fauci said that the latest steep increases in confirmed infections , which have doubled in just over a week , “ would not be considered a wave ” but a “ surge ” .
With voters reportedly turning on Donald Trump over his handling of the crisis , the the Republican incumbent appears to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming presidential election .
In a further twist , rapper Kanye West has announced his candidacy in the battle to become the next US leader .
But critics fear that the musician might prove even less successful than Trump in tackling the ongoing pandemic if he won the White House .
Asked about the development of a coronavirus vaccine , Kanye said that such drugs were causing children to become “ paralysed ” and were “ the mark of the beast ” .

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a heavy economy toll, Rishi Sunak this week announced a £30bn aid package that will take the UK government’s total spend on relief measures to £188.7bn.
The new plans include a stamp duty holiday and hospitality VAT cut, as well as an “eat out to help out” discount scheme to give diners 50% off their bill in restaurants, cafes and pubs during August.
The chancellor has not shied away from releasing funds to tackle the various impacts of the health crisis. The Treasury has revealed that £10bn has been spent on a test-and-trace system that is still not fully operational.
Labour has suggested that some of the nation’s mounting coronavirus debt could be paid off through a “wealth tax” on individuals with assets worth more than £750,000, either as an ongoing levy or a one-off windfall measure to raise funds.
To find out how closely you’ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the pandemic, and other global events, put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The Week:
Need a reminder of some of the other big stories from the past week?
The leading medical expert in the US has warned that the country is still “knee-deep” in its first wave of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said that the latest steep increases in confirmed infections, which have doubled in just over a week, “would not be considered a wave” but a “surge”.
With voters reportedly turning on Donald Trump over his handling of the crisis, the the Republican incumbent appears to be heading for a major defeat at the upcoming presidential election.
In a further twist, rapper Kanye West has announced his candidacy in the battle to become the next US leader. But critics fear that the musician might prove even less successful than Trump in tackling the ongoing pandemic if he won the White House.
Asked about the development of a coronavirus vaccine, Kanye said that such drugs were causing children to become “paralysed” and were “the mark of the beast”.


theweekuk--2020-07-09--Government to spend £10bn on botched test-and-trace system

Taxpayers have had to stump up £10bn for a test-and-trace system that is still not fully operational , it has emerged .
The Treasury also revealed that it spent £15bn on PPE during the pandemic “ amid scrutiny of the government ’ s procurement process ” , The Telegraph says .
“ Campaigners blasted officials for an enormous waste of taxpayers money ” after PPE , coronavirus testing and contact tracing programmes were shown to have “ accounted for almost four-fifths of extra health spending ” , the paper reports .
Labour MP Meg Hillier , chair of Parliament ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have “ questions to answer ” about the track-and-trace programmes , which “ won ’ t be supporting the unlocking of the economy for some time to come ” .
Matthew Lesh , head of research at the Adam Smith Institute , added that the amount spent on the programmes was “ astonishing ” .
The government has been “ ploughing huge sums of money into the track and trace system ” despite it “ still failing to catch coronavirus cases ” , The Sun reports .
Only 75 % of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were passed on to the NHS system “ were reached by tracers and asked to share information of their contacts ” , the paper says .
And of the contacts who were contacted and told they may be infected with coronavirus , only 73 % could be reached and asked to self-isolate .
The NHS app intended to support the system was later ditched after it failed to detect most contacts .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government would work with tech giants Apple and Google to launch a functional app .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch a public inquiry into spending on the coronavirus response .
Hillier has “ warned the government would have to justify the huge price of PPE amid intense scrutiny over its procurement strategy ” , The Telegraph says .

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theweekuk--2020-07-10--Junk food discount deals to be axed as Boris Johnson begins war on obesity

Boris Johnson is preparing to kick off the government ’ s new anti-obesity drive with a ban on supermarket promotions of unhealthy food .
The prime minister had previously declared himself “ very libertarian ” on food choices , but now says that the global outbreak of coronavirus - which has been shown to hit obese people harder - has convinced him to take action on unhealthy eating , reports The Times .
Shortly before becoming Tory leader last July , Johnson said he would end the “ continuing creep of the nanny state ” if he got into Downing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes on sugary , salty and fatty foods , as The Telegraph reported at the time .
But under the new plans , expected to be unveiled within weeks , shops may be barred from offering “ buy one , get one free ” deals on unhealthy food .
The measures are also likely to include banning sweets and chocolates from being promoted at supermarket entrances and the ends of aisles .
And “ restaurant and takeaway menus could be forced to include a calorie count for each meal ” , reports the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes just days after Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the government ’ s new “ Eat Out to Help Out ” scheme , which is intended to boost the UK ’ s hospitality industry by encouraging more people to dine at restaurants , cafes and pubs .
Obesity campaigners told Daily Mail that it “ defies belief ” that ministers are considering to adopt the “ sensible ” plans to help millions lose weight just a day after announcing the “ stupid ” move to offer cut-price meals .
Experts claim that the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ junk food ” with the “ Eat Out ” scheme , which offers 50 % discounts on meals at restaurants and fast-food chains including Burger King .

Boris Johnson is preparing to kick off the government’s new anti-obesity drive with a ban on supermarket promotions of unhealthy food.
The prime minister had previously declared himself “very libertarian” on food choices, but now says that the global outbreak of coronavirus - which has been shown to hit obese people harder - has convinced him to take action on unhealthy eating, reports The Times.
Shortly before becoming Tory leader last July, Johnson said he would end the “continuing creep of the nanny state” if he got into Downing Street, starting with a review of taxes on sugary, salty and fatty foods, as The Telegraph reported at the time.
But under the new plans, expected to be unveiled within weeks, shops may be barred from offering “buy one, get one free” deals on unhealthy food.
The measures are also likely to include banning sweets and chocolates from being promoted at supermarket entrances and the ends of aisles.
And “restaurant and takeaway menus could be forced to include a calorie count for each meal”, reports the Daily Mirror.
News of the proposals comes just days after Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the government’s new “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme, which is intended to boost the UK’s hospitality industry by encouraging more people to dine at restaurants, cafes and pubs.
Obesity campaigners told Daily Mail that it “defies belief” that ministers are considering to adopt the “sensible” plans to help millions lose weight just a day after announcing the “stupid” move to offer cut-price meals.
Experts claim that the government has given a “green light for junk food” with the “Eat Out” scheme, which offers 50% discounts on meals at restaurants and fast-food chains including Burger King.


theweekuk--2020-07-10--Coronavirus: why antibody rates vary so widely from place to place

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theweekuk--2020-07-10--Racism claims and officers convicted of crimes: is UK policing due an overhaul?

Hundreds of serving police officers in the UK have convictions for criminal offences including assault , burglary and drug possession , an investigation has revealed .
Police forces across the country employ at least 211 officers and police community support officers ( PCSOs ) who have been found guilty of crimes , according to Freedom of Information ( FOI ) data obtained by Sky News .
The publication of the figures comes a day after reports that police in England and Wales are to face an inquiry to establish whether officers racially discriminate against ethnic minorities in their use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For which crimes have officers been convicted ?
The National Police Chiefs ’ Council ( NPCC ) told Sky News that having a criminal record has “ never been an automatic bar to joining the police ” , and insisted officers are vetted “ throughout their service ” .
Some officers have also been allowed to continue serving after being convicted while employed by forces .
Their crimes include causing death by careless driving , assault and possession of a firearm .
And although only 211 officers are known to have convictions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much higher .
Only 16 of the UK ’ s 45 territorial police forces responded to the FOI requests , “ with many claiming it would cost too much to retrieve the information ” , the broadcaster reports .
Among those that responded , North Wales Police admitted that 20 of its police officers and five PCSOs have criminal convictions , including assault , drug possession and cruelty to animals .
The Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI ) said 99 serving officers had received criminal convictions while employed by the force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving , assault , harassment and possession of a firearm/drunk in charge of a firearm .
Offences by Kent Police officers include assault , criminal damage and drink driving - with five of those convicted ranked “ inspector or above ” .
Other crimes by officers in police forces including Avon and Somerset , Dorset , Norfolk , Cheshire , and Devon and Cornwall include burglary , theft , obtaining money by deception , battery , possessing an imitation firearm in a public place , and data protection offences .
The Independent Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to investigate cases involving the use of force and stop and search to determine whether any racial discrimination was in play , according to The Guardian .
The police watchdog said said it would look for “ trends and patterns which might help drive real change ” and “ investigat [ e ] more cases where racial discrimination may be a factor in order to develop a body of evidence to identify systemic issues which should be addressed ” , the newspaper reports .
The inquiry comes amid renewed scrutiny on police forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of African-American man George Floyd during an arrest in Minnesota in May .
Police officers in England and Wales have repeatedly been accused of using stop and search powers disproportionately against black , Asian and minority ethnic ( BAME ) people .
According to an analysis of Home Office internal data last year , black people are 40 times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched by police in the UK .
The IOPC will also examine whether BAME people are being failed as victims of crime .
Are these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triggered by Floyd ’ s death have fuelled calls to combat alleged racism within police forces , such accusations are by no means new .
“ The policing of black British culture claims a long history ” , wrote Lambros Fatsis , a lecturer in sociology and criminology at Southampton University , in a 2018 article on The Conversation .
“ It might take another Black Lives Matter moment to wake up to police racism and recognise that when policing is part of the problem , it can ’ t also be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicted .
The Metropolitan Police force was infamously branded “ institutionally racist ” back in 1999 by retired High Court judge William Macpherson , who led the public inquiry into the fatal stabbing of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993 .
Little appears to have changed in the ensuing decades .
The Met “ receives more than 250 complaints alleging racism on average each year and less than 1 % are upheld ” , The Guardian reports .
Is it time for an overhaul of UK policing ?
Police forces across the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have listened to the voices of Black Lives Matter protestors .
Confirming the upcoming IOPC inquiry , due to begin this autumn , the watchdog ’ s director general Michael Lockwood said : “ Evidence of disproportionality in the use of police powers has long been a concern which impacts on confidence in policing , particularly in the BAME communities.
” Experts say changing the way that officers work - whether through more socially conscious community policing strategies , better training and education , or changes to recruitment policies - is key to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IOPC vowed that “ it would not shy away from any conclusion if it found evidence to support it , including that systemic racism was at play ” , The Guardian reports .
“ We can then see if there is a need to change policing policy or practice , ” Lockwood said .

Hundreds of serving police officers in the UK have convictions for criminal offences including assault, burglary and drug possession, an investigation has revealed.
Police forces across the country employ at least 211 officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) who have been found guilty of crimes, according to Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained by Sky News.
The publication of the figures comes a day after reports that police in England and Wales are to face an inquiry to establish whether officers racially discriminate against ethnic minorities in their use of force and of stop and search.
For which crimes have officers been convicted?
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) told Sky News that having a criminal record has “never been an automatic bar to joining the police”, and insisted officers are vetted “throughout their service”.
Some officers have also been allowed to continue serving after being convicted while employed by forces. Their crimes include causing death by careless driving, assault and possession of a firearm.
And although only 211 officers are known to have convictions, the real number is likely to be much higher. Only 16 of the UK’s 45 territorial police forces responded to the FOI requests, “with many claiming it would cost too much to retrieve the information”, the broadcaster reports.
Among those that responded, North Wales Police admitted that 20 of its police officers and five PCSOs have criminal convictions, including assault, drug possession and cruelty to animals.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said 99 serving officers had received criminal convictions while employed by the force, for offences including death by careless driving, assault, harassment and possession of a firearm/drunk in charge of a firearm.
Offences by Kent Police officers include assault, criminal damage and drink driving - with five of those convicted ranked “inspector or above”.
Other crimes by officers in police forces including Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Norfolk, Cheshire, and Devon and Cornwall include burglary, theft, obtaining money by deception, battery, possessing an imitation firearm in a public place, and data protection offences.
And the racism inquiry?
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is to investigate cases involving the use of force and stop and search to determine whether any racial discrimination was in play, according to The Guardian.


theweekuk--2020-07-09--The truth about active vs. passive investing

When we talk about disruption upending industries, we’re usually referring to clever technological innovation. But when it comes to high finance, one of the most feared challengers at the gates – the simple index-tracking “passive” fund – is based on a very humble technology indeed.
Take the FTSE 100 index. This is an index of the 100 largest businesses listed on the London Stock Exchange, ranked by market value (also known as market capitalisation). The index goes up and down in line with the combined share prices of its constituents, and so it can easily be tracked by a fund which mimics or copies its make-up.
So if drugs group AstraZeneca comprises 7.2% of the value of the FTSE 100, for example, our index-tracking fund would also have 7.2% of its value in AstraZeneca shares. If the share price then leapt by 10% relative to the rest of the index, its weighting in the index-tracking fund would do the same.
Suddenly there is no need for a fund manager to “actively” pick and choose different shares. This cuts costs, and also means there’s no risk that your fund manager will pick one or more “bad” stocks and thus massively underperform the index.
A heated debate
This not-especially-high-tech idea has given rise to a section of the fund management industry which has enjoyed exponential growth in the last few decades. Passive funds didn’t even exist in the mass market up until about 30-odd years ago. Now, in the US at least and increasingly elsewhere too, they regularly outsell traditional actively-run funds every month. Passive fund providers now dominate US markets and are the biggest shareholders in many big US companies.
Indeed, these insurgents are now so dominant that policymakers have become wary of the impact of passive funds, and we’ve seen heated debates over whether investors are better off with passive or active funds. On the one side, academic economists have long thought that trying to pick active managers who will beat the market in the future is largely futile, and so passively tracking the market makes more sense.
On the other hand, practitioners on the active side are aware that markets are not always as efficient as academics might think. Some have described passive funds as almost akin to Marxism in terms of its negative impact on capital allocation (if most money ends up flowing blindly into stocks via index funds based on size rather than fundamentals, then who is sorting the good companies from the bad?).
There’s room for both
Once you step away from this increasingly acrimonious debate, it’s clear that active and passive can and should co-exist. Passive funds work well where investors desire cheap access to a broad, deep, liquid, heavily-traded market, such as US blue-chip equities, for example.


theweekuk--2020-07-11--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 11 Jul 2020

An unnamed Premier League footballer has revealed that he is gay .
In an open letter , he says he @ @ @ @ @ from his team-mates and says that his sport is not ready for a player to @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Day-to-day , it can be an absolute nightmare .
And it is affecting @ @ @ @ @ more , ” he says .

Unnamed Premier League footballer reveals that he is gay
An unnamed Premier League footballer has revealed that he is gay. In an open letter, he says he is keeping his sexuality secret from his team-mates and says that his sport is not ready for a player to announce he is openly gay. “Day-to-day, it can be an absolute nightmare. And it is affecting my mental health more and more,” he says.


theweekuk--2020-07-12--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 12 Jul 2020

Donald Trump has worn a mask in public for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ has previously insisted that he would not wear a mask - was visiting the Walter @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I 've never been against masks but I do believe they have a @ @ @ @ @ ” he said as he left the White House .

Donald Trump wears a mask in public for the first time
Donald Trump has worn a mask in public for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The US president – who has previously insisted that he would not wear a mask - was visiting the Walter Reed military hospital outside Washington. “I've never been against masks but I do believe they have a time and a place,” he said as he left the White House.


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Wild bison to roam free in UK for first time in 6,000 years

Wild bison will soon be found roaming in UK woodland for the first time in 6,000 years thanks to a £1m project to restore local wildlife .
Kent Wildlife Trust and the Wildwood Trust are overseeing the plan to import and release European bison - the continent ’ s largest land mammal - at Blean Woods , a former pine wood plantation near Canterbury .
The European bison , which will be reintroduced to the area by spring 2022 , “ is the closest living relative to ancient steppe bison , which once roamed Britain ” , says the BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be released into a “ fenced enclosure away from public footpaths ” , reports London Evening Standard , which adds that conservatists are relying on “ natural breeding ” to increase the size of the herd .
The four bison will come from either the Netherlands or Poland , “ where similar releases have been successful and safe ” , according to the newspaper .
Environmentalists say that bison are a “ keystone species ” that can naturally manage woodlands and act as “ ecosystem engineers ” , Insider reports .
The animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or rubbing up against them ” , creating “ wide and sunny clearings , which in turn will help native plants to thrive ” , the news site explains .
Paul Hadaway of Kent Wildlife Trust said that “ a wilder , nature-based solution is the right one to tackle the climate and nature crisis we now face ” .
“ Using missing keystone species like bison to restore natural processes to habitats is the key to creating bio-abundance in our landscape , ” he added .

Wild bison will soon be found roaming in UK woodland for the first time in 6,000 years thanks to a £1m project to restore local wildlife.
Kent Wildlife Trust and the Wildwood Trust are overseeing the plan to import and release European bison - the continent’s largest land mammal - at Blean Woods, a former pine wood plantation near Canterbury.
The European bison, which will be reintroduced to the area by spring 2022, “is the closest living relative to ancient steppe bison, which once roamed Britain”, says the BBC.
One male and three females will be released into a “fenced enclosure away from public footpaths”, reports London Evening Standard, which adds that conservatists are relying on “natural breeding” to increase the size of the herd.
The four bison will come from either the Netherlands or Poland, “where similar releases have been successful and safe”, according to the newspaper.
Environmentalists say that bison are a “keystone species” that can naturally manage woodlands and act as “ecosystem engineers”, Insider reports. The animals “fell trees by eating their bark or rubbing up against them”, creating “wide and sunny clearings, which in turn will help native plants to thrive”, the news site explains.
Paul Hadaway of Kent Wildlife Trust said that “a wilder, nature-based solution is the right one to tackle the climate and nature crisis we now face”.
“Using missing keystone species like bison to restore natural processes to habitats is the key to creating bio-abundance in our landscape,” he added.


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Behind Britain’s ‘shock and awe’ Brexit campaign

Boris Johnson ’ s government will urge the UK to prepare for the “ changes and opportunities ” of Brexit in a £93m campaign to draw attention to the consequences of leaving the EU .
Behavioural scientists have been called in to draw up a “ shock and awe ” programme of messages intended to provoke action from businesses and the broader public .
“ The term , more often used to describe a military strategy of overwhelming force and closely associated with the Iraq War , is contained in a document setting out the government ’ s communications plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK formally left the EU on 31 January , little has changed since .
Officials fear this status quo has led to complacency about the expiry of the transition deal on 31 December .
“ A lack of readiness among businesses for the end of the Brexit transition period is a major concern for the UK government , ” says Bloomberg .
“ If companies aren ’ t prepared for new paperwork requirements and red tape , which will apply whether there is a UK-EU trade deal or not , there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held up at ports.
” The advertising campaign will also target Europe-bound tourists .
“ Adverts bearing the strapline ‘ Check , Change , Go ’ will be launched today and texts sent to mobile phones , ” says The Times .
“ Much of the information is aimed at raising awareness of higher costs , with travel insurance premiums expected to rise once eligibility for free healthcare in EU countries ends.
” Holidaymakers will also be warned that their passports will need to be valid for at least six months beyond their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pet to an EU country is advised to start planning four months in advance .
Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove ( pictured above ) said yesterday that companies and individuals should be “ ready to hit the ground running ” when the transition deal ends .
“ This will bring changes and significant opportunities for which we all need to prepare , ” he added .
“ The upbeat message about the coming freedom from Brussels features a new ‘ Check , Change , Go ’ logo to raise awareness of the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Express .
“ We like the positivity of the campaign , ” the newspaper continues , “ and we hope that even die-hard Remainers will swing behind the historic decision taken by the British electorate back in 2016.
” But “ ‘ shock and awe ’ is not a phrase of comfort , ” says Prospect magazine .
Instead , it ’ s one that reminds us of a campaign “ to overwhelm and subdue a military opponent ” .
Yet the government ’ s latest campaign will be waged “ not on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own people ” - and will provide more evidence that “ a project designed to enhance prosperity , democracy and national pride [ has ] destroyed all three ” , the magazine concludes .


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Immunity to Covid-19 lost within three months of infection, study suggests

Patients who have recovered from Covid-19 may lose their newly gained immunity to the coronavirus within months , according to researchers .
In the first study of its kind , scientists at King ’ s College London who analysed blood samples from more than 90 patients and healthcare workers found that antibodies which can defeat the virus peaked around three weeks after symptoms first appeared , but then rapidly declining .
This suspected loss of immunity means that the virus “ could reinfect people year after year , like common colds ” , and “ has implications for the development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursuit of ‘ herd immunity ’ ” , says The Guardian .
“ People are producing a reasonable antibody response to the virus , but it ’ s waning over a short period of time and depending on how high your peak is , that determines how long the antibodies are staying around , ” said lead study author Dr Katie Doores .
The study , which is yet to be peer reviewed , was based on results from 65 patients and six healthcare workers at Guy ’ s and St Thomas ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 , as well as 31 staff who volunteered to have regular antibody tests between March and June .
The blood tests revealed that while 60 % of the infected participants developed a “ potent ” antibody response , just 17 % had the same potency three months later .
“ Antibody levels fell as much as 23-fold over the period ” , and became “ undetectable ” in some cases , the newspaper reports .
The findings come as scientists prepare to begin trials of an “ antibody treatment that could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus ” , The Times says .
The treatment is being developed by Cambridge-based drugmaker Astrazeneca , which hopes that the “ three-minute infusion of antibodies could ward off infection for up to six months ” , the newspaper reports .
As well as boosting the immune systems of at-risk older people , the therapy would also provide an option for people who can not use conventional vaccines because their immune systems are compromised by immunosuppressant drugs or chemotherapy .

Patients who have recovered from Covid-19 may lose their newly gained immunity to the coronavirus within months, according to researchers.
In the first study of its kind, scientists at King’s College London who analysed blood samples from more than 90 patients and healthcare workers found that antibodies which can defeat the virus peaked around three weeks after symptoms first appeared, but then rapidly declining.
This suspected loss of immunity means that the virus “could reinfect people year after year, like common colds”, and “has implications for the development of a vaccine, and for the pursuit of ‘herd immunity’”, says The Guardian.
“People are producing a reasonable antibody response to the virus, but it’s waning over a short period of time and depending on how high your peak is, that determines how long the antibodies are staying around,” said lead study author Dr Katie Doores.
The study, which is yet to be peer reviewed, was based on results from 65 patients and six healthcare workers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust who tested positive for Covid-19, as well as 31 staff who volunteered to have regular antibody tests between March and June.
The blood tests revealed that while 60% of the infected participants developed a “potent” antibody response, just 17% had the same potency three months later. “Antibody levels fell as much as 23-fold over the period”, and became “undetectable” in some cases, the newspaper reports.
The findings come as scientists prepare to begin trials of an “antibody treatment that could be used to protect older people from the coronavirus”, The Times says.
The treatment is being developed by Cambridge-based drugmaker Astrazeneca, which hopes that the “three-minute infusion of antibodies could ward off infection for up to six months”, the newspaper reports.
As well as boosting the immune systems of at-risk older people, the therapy would also provide an option for people who cannot use conventional vaccines because their immune systems are compromised by immunosuppressant drugs or chemotherapy.


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Six-decade-old mystery of skiers found dead in underwear is solved

The deaths of nine Russian skiers in a mystery that baffled investigators and inspired suspicions of paranormal activity have finally been explained after 61 years .
The group of students disappeared after setting out in January 1959 for a 220-mile ski trek across the Ural Mountains to Mount Otorten - translated in the local Mansi language as “ don ’ t go there ” .
Rescuers discovered the frozen bodies of two members of the group , led by 23-year-old engineering student Igor Dyatlov , beside the remains of a fire close to their camp at the foot of Kholat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both victims were “ dressed in their underwear despite temperatures as low as minus 40C ” , The Times reports .
Another three bodies , “ also barefoot and lightly dressed ” , were found nearby , and the group ’ s tent “ had been slashed open from the inside ” , the paper says .
The remaining bodies were located months later , when the snow began to thaw .
Two were missing eyes , one had lost his tongue and three had head wounds that experts concluded were caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a car accident or an explosion .
Abnormal levels of radiation were also “ detected on some of their clothes ” , The Times adds .
The death of what would become known as the Dyatlov Pass group were hushed up until the collapse of the Soviet Union , in 1991 - a cover-up that inspired “ decades-long rumours of natural disasters , yetis , and the supernatural ” , along with books , documentaries and films about the ill-fated skiing trek , says the Daily Mail .
Some theorists have claimed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged that “ the students were killed by a Soviet missile ” or that “ some of the group had KGB connections and were on a secret mission to meet US agents ” , adds The Sun .
Armchair detectives have even suggested that the group , from Ural Polytechnic Institute , may have been driven insane by “ infrasound ” caused by a “ rare wind event ” .
But after reopening the case last year , “ the Russian prosecutor-general ’ s office has concluded there was a far more mundane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .
Investigators believe that the hikers froze to death after fleeing from their tent in the night to take cover from an avalanche .
Senior state prosecutor Andrei Kuryakov said that while the students `` did everything right ” , they were “ doomed ” after losing sight of their tent .
“ Visibility was 16 metres .
They lit a fire and then searched for their tent - but it had vanished in the whiteout after the avalanche , ” he said .
“ They had no chance in these circumstances.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ verdict has been disputed by the families of the victims .
Yevgeny Chernusov , a lawyer representing the relatives , said they “ categorically ” disagree with the findings and believe the students were killed by an explosion caused by a rocket failure .

The deaths of nine Russian skiers in a mystery that baffled investigators and inspired suspicions of paranormal activity have finally been explained after 61 years.
The group of students disappeared after setting out in January 1959 for a 220-mile ski trek across the Ural Mountains to Mount Otorten - translated in the local Mansi language as “don’t go there”.
Rescuers discovered the frozen bodies of two members of the group, led by 23-year-old engineering student Igor Dyatlov, beside the remains of a fire close to their camp at the foot of Kholat Syakhl, or “Dead Mountain”. Both victims were “dressed in their underwear despite temperatures as low as minus 40C”, The Times reports.
Another three bodies, “also barefoot and lightly dressed”, were found nearby, and the group’s tent “had been slashed open from the inside”, the paper says.
The remaining bodies were located months later, when the snow began to thaw. Two were missing eyes, one had lost his tongue and three had head wounds that experts concluded were caused by a force equal to that of a car accident or an explosion.
Abnormal levels of radiation were also “detected on some of their clothes”, The Times adds.
The death of what would become known as the Dyatlov Pass group were hushed up until the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1991 - a cover-up that inspired “decades-long rumours of natural disasters, yetis, and the supernatural”, along with books, documentaries and films about the ill-fated skiing trek, says the Daily Mail.
Some theorists have claimed that aliens were involved, while others have alleged that “the students were killed by a Soviet missile” or that “some of the group had KGB connections and were on a secret mission to meet US agents”, adds The Sun.
Armchair detectives have even suggested that the group, from Ural Polytechnic Institute, may have been driven insane by “infrasound” caused by a “rare wind event”.
But after reopening the case last year, “the Russian prosecutor-general’s office has concluded there was a far more mundane explanation - hypothermia”, The Sun reports. Investigators believe that the hikers froze to death after fleeing from their tent in the night to take cover from an avalanche.
Senior state prosecutor Andrei Kuryakov said that while the students "did everything right”, they were “doomed” after losing sight of their tent.
“Visibility was 16 metres. They lit a fire and then searched for their tent - but it had vanished in the whiteout after the avalanche,” he said. “They had no chance in these circumstances.”
However, the prosecutor’s verdict has been disputed by the families of the victims. Yevgeny Chernusov, a lawyer representing the relatives, said they “categorically” disagree with the findings and believe the students were killed by an explosion caused by a rocket failure.


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Debate: can big countries eliminate coronavirus without a vaccine?

Angharad Davies , Swansea University ; Andrew Lee , University of Sheffield ; Jimmy Whitworth , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ; Lakshmi Manoharan , University of Oxford The UK should change its Covid-19 strategy to try to eliminate Covid-19 even without a vaccine rather than simply managing the disease , according to Independent SAGE , a group of scientists set up as an alternative to the government ’ s advisory body .
New Zealand has effectively managed to eliminate the virus , but can states with much larger , denser populations that have experienced much bigger outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it more realistic to accept that the disease is likely to continue to circulate at some level and plan for that ?
We asked four experts for their views .
Elimination or near-elimination in the UK would require ambition and huge effort , organisation and resource but I believe it is possible .
The effort would mean accepting fewer freedoms in the medium term .
Crucially , it would rely on trust in authority and willingness to comply with restrictions .
The incentive would be that , if we achieved elimination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to normal , and a healthier local economy even without a vaccine .
The effort would have to be sustained until then , and if no effective vaccine transpires – which is possible – then the question is how long this approach could justifiably continue in the face of a virus endemic globally .
Lakshmi Manoharan , medical epidemiologist at the University of Oxford Suppressing the virus to a low level before allowing economic and social activity to resume as normal is important .
Doing otherwise will risk the possibility of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lockdown numerous times .
That would be more harmful for society and the economy , compared to implementing more stringent measures in the short term .
Recent studies have shown that the number of people with Covid-19 antibodies in coronavirus hotspots such as Wuhan and Spain is still low .
This means that despite high numbers of cases and extensive community transmission , the majority of the population is still susceptible to the virus .
Allowing economic and social life to resume while this is the case and in the absence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second wave of infection .
The emphasis should be on strong measures such as border quarantines and a robust test , trace and isolate system to reduce infection rates before relaxing economic measures , opening schools and allowing “ air bridges ” .
We need to focus on reducing the amount of community transmission first , which allows for spread of infection into our most vulnerable populations .
Jimmy Whitworth , professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine We need a sense of proportion in countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to normal levels , as the UK has now done , showing that the first peak of the epidemic has passed .
Once the number of new cases is under good control ( one new case a day for every million of population is reasonable ) we can allow social and economic life to resume .
We can also shift more attention to general physical and mental health .
We need to continue to maintain some physical distancing measures , combined with effective testing and contract tracing to prevent the inevitable clusters expanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to eliminate all cases , and to sustain a zero-Covid state , would take enormous resources .
This would produce diminishing returns as the number of cases goes down – and other aspects of life would suffer .
We have seen this with countries attempting polio elimination , where routine health services may suffer , and with malaria elimination where the cost of averting each case rapidly increases as the number of cases goes down .
Getting the number of cases down to manageable levels might eventually lead to zero cases temporarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective measures to keep it at zero .
In particular , border quarantines are not likely to be effective unless rigorously and universally applied with consequent disruption of all business travel , tourism and international trade .
Andrew Lee , reader in global public health at the University of Sheffield Elimination of Covid-19 in high-income countries is both possible and realistic .
Ebola elimination was achieved in parts of Africa through disease control measures rather than a vaccine , including disease surveillance , infection control , changing social norms ( for example around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This demonstrates elimination is possible even in low and middle-income countries with fewer resources .
The key determinants , as with all infectious disease control programmes , are the political and societal will to achieve this .
Because it requires a multi-pronged approach , it needs resourcing , leadership and commitment to deliver .
So the question becomes : “ What are we prepared to pay or sacrifice to achieve this ?
” But in our interconnected globalised world it is not enough to eliminate the virus in just a few countries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as reservoirs of infection and can reinfect others .
This is a global health threat that requires global leadership and coordinated action if we are to eliminate it .
Angharad Davies , clinical associate professor at the Swansea University ; Andrew Lee , reader in global public health at the University of Sheffield ; Jimmy Whitworth , professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ; Lakshmi Manoharan , medical epidemiologist at the University of Oxford This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Angharad Davies, Swansea University; Andrew Lee, University of Sheffield; Jimmy Whitworth, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Lakshmi Manoharan, University of Oxford
The UK should change its Covid-19 strategy to try to eliminate Covid-19 even without a vaccine rather than simply managing the disease, according to Independent SAGE, a group of scientists set up as an alternative to the government’s advisory body.
New Zealand has effectively managed to eliminate the virus, but can states with much larger, denser populations that have experienced much bigger outbreaks hope to do the same? Or is it more realistic to accept that the disease is likely to continue to circulate at some level and plan for that? We asked four experts for their views.
Angharad Davies, clinical associate professor in microbiology at Swansea University
Elimination or near-elimination in the UK would require ambition and huge effort, organisation and resource but I believe it is possible.
The effort would mean accepting fewer freedoms in the medium term. Crucially, it would rely on trust in authority and willingness to comply with restrictions. The incentive would be that, if we achieved elimination, we could go back to a state closer to normal, and a healthier local economy even without a vaccine.
The effort would have to be sustained until then, and if no effective vaccine transpires – which is possible – then the question is how long this approach could justifiably continue in the face of a virus endemic globally.
Lakshmi Manoharan, medical epidemiologist at the University of Oxford
Suppressing the virus to a low level before allowing economic and social activity to resume as normal is important. Doing otherwise will risk the possibility of the UK having to go in and out of lockdown numerous times. That would be more harmful for society and the economy, compared to implementing more stringent measures in the short term.
Recent studies have shown that the number of people with Covid-19 antibodies in coronavirus hotspots such as Wuhan and Spain is still low. This means that despite high numbers of cases and extensive community transmission, the majority of the population is still susceptible to the virus. Allowing economic and social life to resume while this is the case and in the absence of a vaccine may lead to a larger second wave of infection.


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Reaction: UK tackling more than 100 coronavirus outbreaks a week, reveals Hancock

Matt Hancock has revealed that “ targeted action ” is being taken to battle more than 100 local coronavirus outbreaks across the UK every week .
In an article for The Telegraph , the health secretary says that increased testing capacity means “ we can take more targeted local action and less national lockdown , to restore the freedom of the majority while controlling the virus wherever we can find it ” .
Some of these local lockdowns “ will make the news but many more are swiftly and silently dealt with ” , he writes .
The publication of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after 73 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed at a farm in Herefordshire .
The outbreak has seen 200 workers put under lockdown and has fed “ concerns over further outbreaks happening as seasonal workers gather for harvest time ” , says the newspaper ’ s political editor Gordon Rayner .
Today marks two weeks since Hancock announced that Leicester would become the first UK city to be placed under local lockdown , a decision that the health secretary said would be reviewed this week , ITV reports .
Officials will continue to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas of concern , aided by “ the incredible efforts of local authorities – all of whom have stepped up and published their local outbreak control plans in line with the end of June deadline ” , Hancock writes .
“ The government strategy of targeted local responses whenever data suggests a coronavirus flare-up is a key part of its ongoing plan to reopen British businesses in different phases , ” the BBC reports .
In the latest easing of lockdown measures , beauty salons , spas , tattoo parlours and nail bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today .
According to Hancock , more than 250 testing centres are now operating nationwide , and the government is also “ deploying a dozen walk-in testing centres ” .
“ Where we find a cluster or outbreak , we send in extra testing , including mobile testing units that can be deployed anywhere in the country , ” he adds .
The BBC says that “ clusters of cases ” in hospitals , factories or schools will be dealt with by closing the premises .
The A & E unit in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip has already been shut owing to a “ coronavirus spike ” , the Financial Times reports .
About 70 staff at Hillingdon Hospital are also self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 or because of contact with an infected person , in an outbreak that showed the “ potential for spikes in the disease to disrupt services as the country starts to reopen ” , the newspaper adds .
Asked during an interview on BBC Breakfast what constituted a coronavirus outbreak , Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that “ I think we know it when we see it ” .
Pushed on whether the virus spreading outside of a household or social bubble would constitute an outbreak , Buckland added : “ I defer to the experts in this .
“ They know what an outbreak constitutes when they see it , and I think with each one that we see we get more knowledgeable , more sophisticated , and are able to respond in ever more appropriate ways .
”

Matt Hancock has revealed that “targeted action” is being taken to battle more than 100 local coronavirus outbreaks across the UK every week.
In an article for The Telegraph, the health secretary says that increased testing capacity means “we can take more targeted local action and less national lockdown, to restore the freedom of the majority while controlling the virus wherever we can find it”.
Some of these local lockdowns “will make the news but many more are swiftly and silently dealt with”, he writes.
The publication of Hancock’s article comes a day after 73 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed at a farm in Herefordshire. The outbreak has seen 200 workers put under lockdown and has fed “concerns over further outbreaks happening as seasonal workers gather for harvest time”, says the newspaper’s political editor Gordon Rayner.
Today marks two weeks since Hancock announced that Leicester would become the first UK city to be placed under local lockdown, a decision that the health secretary said would be reviewed this week, ITV reports.
Officials will continue to “hunt down the virus” by targeting areas of concern, aided by “the incredible efforts of local authorities – all of whom have stepped up and published their local outbreak control plans in line with the end of June deadline”, Hancock writes.
“The government strategy of targeted local responses whenever data suggests a coronavirus flare-up is a key part of its ongoing plan to reopen British businesses in different phases,” the BBC reports.
In the latest easing of lockdown measures, beauty salons, spas, tattoo parlours and nail bars in England are welcoming back customers from today.
According to Hancock, more than 250 testing centres are now operating nationwide, and the government is also “deploying a dozen walk-in testing centres”.
“Where we find a cluster or outbreak, we send in extra testing, including mobile testing units that can be deployed anywhere in the country,” he adds.
The BBC says that “clusters of cases” in hospitals, factories or schools will be dealt with by closing the premises.
The A&E unit in a hospital in Boris Johnson’s local constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip has already been shut owing to a “coronavirus spike”, the Financial Times reports.
About 70 staff at Hillingdon Hospital are also self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 or because of contact with an infected person, in an outbreak that showed the “potential for spikes in the disease to disrupt services as the country starts to reopen”, the newspaper adds.
Asked during an interview on BBC Breakfast what constituted a coronavirus outbreak, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said each case would be treated separately, but added that “I think we know it when we see it”.
Pushed on whether the virus spreading outside of a household or social bubble would constitute an outbreak, Buckland added: “I defer to the experts in this.
“They know what an outbreak constitutes when they see it, and I think with each one that we see we get more knowledgeable, more sophisticated, and are able to respond in ever more appropriate ways.”


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 13 Jul 2020

The first federal execution in the US for more than 17 years is set to go ahead in Indiana today @ @ @ @ @ Lewis Lee was blocked by a federal judge after relatives of the victims sought a @ @ @ @ @ attending in person could expose them to coronavirus .
However , the appeal court ruled @ @ @ @ @ regulation gave the victims the right to attend the execution .

First federal execution in the US for 17 years due today
The first federal execution in the US for more than 17 years is set to go ahead in Indiana today. The execution of Daniel Lewis Lee was blocked by a federal judge after relatives of the victims sought a delay, saying they feared attending in person could expose them to coronavirus. However, the appeal court ruled that no federal statute or regulation gave the victims the right to attend the execution.


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Runner who ‘broke’ Usain Bolt’s record ran shorter race

A runner who was briefly thought to have beaten Usain Bolt ’ s record in the 200 metres started the race from the wrong spot .
After Noah Lyles was thought to have broken the record the Jamaican star set at 19.19 seconds in 2009 , organisers discovered that he had started from the wrong lane and had only run 185 metres .
“ You can ’ t be playing with my emotions like this , ” tweeted Lyles after the run .
A man in Arizona has piled an impressive 485 blocks of Jenga on top of just one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Breaking his own record set last year , Tai Star Valianti made a structure shaped like an inverted pyramid .
He is described by Guinness World Records as a “ Master Jenga stacker ” .
A Ferrari Mondial stolen in the early 1990s has been fished from the water off Javakade in Amsterdam Oost .
It was discovered accidentally by fire brigade divers during an exercise .
Too much time has passed to charge anyone with the crime , police said , adding , “ the car is completely rusted and will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 runner who was briefly thought to have beaten Usain Bolt’s record in the 200 metres started the race from the wrong spot. After Noah Lyles was thought to have broken the record the Jamaican star set at 19.19 seconds in 2009, organisers discovered that he had started from the wrong lane and had only run 185 metres. “You can’t be playing with my emotions like this,” tweeted Lyles after the run.
Arizona man sets new Jenga record
A man in Arizona has piled an impressive 485 blocks of Jenga on top of just one of the game’s pieces. Breaking his own record set last year, Tai Star Valianti made a structure shaped like an inverted pyramid. He is described by Guinness World Records as a “Master Jenga stacker”.
Ferrari stolen in 1990s found in Amsterdam waters
A Ferrari Mondial stolen in the early 1990s has been fished from the water off Javakade in Amsterdam Oost. It was discovered accidentally by fire brigade divers during an exercise. Too much time has passed to charge anyone with the crime, police said, adding, “the car is completely rusted and will be scrapped.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Instant Opinion: Keir Starmer must offer more than ‘not being Jeremy Corbyn’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on the first 100 days of the Labour leader After 100 days , Keir Starmer needs to offer voters more than ‘ not being Jeremy Corbyn ’ “ The improvements he has made to his party ’ s – and his own – standing are real and important .
That he has made mistakes along the way should hardly surprise anyone , although he needs to make fewer of them if he is to establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .
Electorates have a nasty habit of making judgments about politicians in the very first few weeks of their tenure , and then refusing to reverse that judgment .
The Covid lockdown may have given Starmer a longer period to bed in and might even allow him to have an effective relaunch on the other side of this crisis .
From the perspective of a former member , Starmer represents a breath of fresh air for most Labour supporters after five fraught years .
But a sense of relief won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , because – and I speak from experience – once you get out of the habit of voting Labour , it ’ s harder than you might expect to get back into it.
” in defence of those decried as ‘ online mobs ’ The ‘ cancel culture ’ war is really about old elites losing power in the social media age “ Whenever I talk to people who are suddenly concerned about ‘ cancel culture ’ or ‘ online mobs ’ , my first thought is always : ‘ Where have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ I ’ ve been online long enough and , like many others , been receiving criticism and abuse online for long enough , to know that what some see as a new pattern of virtual censure by moral purists is mostly a story about the internet , not ideology or identity .
If critics of ‘ cancel culture ’ are worried about opinions , posts and writings being constantly patrolled by a growing group of haters , then I am afraid they are extremely late to the party .
I can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or posted anything without thinking : ‘ How many ways can this possibly be misconstrued , and can I defend it if it were ?
’ It ’ s not even a conscious thought process now , it ’ s instinct.
” on the recovery of the British economy Forget global Britain - thanks to Brexit , coronavirus and a trade war with China , we ’ re losing our grip “ There ’ s something heroic about Britain trying to chuck its weight around this way , and of course no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tyrants .
But still , if the British economy is going to recover from the coronavirus-induced recession and go on to grow in the 2020s it will need its friends and its markets , and the British now seem to intent on blanking virtually everyone .
The opportunities seem to be contracting rather than expanding .
As everyone agrees , the UK is a great trading nation , and since before the industrial revolution has made its living from selling abroad , but the we don ’ t seem to be living up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain ’ s potential ’ .
” 4 .
John Prideaux , US editor of The Economist , in The Times on an abolitionist deserving of a pedestal A slavery statue we can all agree on : Frederick Douglass “ On both sides of the Atlantic a great debate about statues is under way .
So far the focus has mostly been on which lumps of bronze and marble should be removed by crane , or pushed into the harbour .
There has been less discussion of what to do with all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up statues is fun .
It is an opportunity to honour someone who should be universally admired and , therefore , to make a statement about what the society doing the putting up values .
For those reasons Britain ought to have a statue of America ’ s greatest campaigner for the abolition of slavery , Frederick Douglass .
Douglass had such an extraordinary life that the three autobiographies he wrote hardly seem sufficient.
” 5 .
Nick Akerman , an in The New York Times on the unfair fight set up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Chance Against Trump and Roger Stone ?
“ From the start , Mr. Mueller was restrained by Justice Department regulations .
He was barred , for example , from looking into the broader relationship between Mr. Trump and Russia through a review of Mr. Trump ’ s financial records and tax returns .
Furthermore , according to the Mueller report , Mr. Trump made multiple attempts to fire the special counsel , and it is difficult , if not almost impossible , to conduct an investigation under those circumstances ...
Looking ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mechanism in extraordinary circumstances - like Watergate and Russian interference in the 2016 election - that allows for the appointment of a truly independent special prosecutor .
We were lucky to get the Mueller report , but Mr. Mueller was acting under restraints .
Unfortunately history tells us that we will need special counsels in the years ahead , under extraordinary circumstances , and like we did with Watergate , that office should have true independence to protect our country and Constitution .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Tom Harris in The Daily Telegraph
on the first 100 days of the Labour leader
After 100 days, Keir Starmer needs to offer voters more than ‘not being Jeremy Corbyn’
“The improvements he has made to his party’s – and his own – standing are real and important. That he has made mistakes along the way should hardly surprise anyone, although he needs to make fewer of them if he is to establish himself as a natural repository of anti-government support. Electorates have a nasty habit of making judgments about politicians in the very first few weeks of their tenure, and then refusing to reverse that judgment. The Covid lockdown may have given Starmer a longer period to bed in and might even allow him to have an effective relaunch on the other side of this crisis. From the perspective of a former member, Starmer represents a breath of fresh air for most Labour supporters after five fraught years. But a sense of relief won’t be enough for all those red wall voters, because – and I speak from experience – once you get out of the habit of voting Labour, it’s harder than you might expect to get back into it.”
2. Nesrine Malik in The Guardian
in defence of those decried as ‘online mobs’
The ‘cancel culture’ war is really about old elites losing power in the social media age
“Whenever I talk to people who are suddenly concerned about ‘cancel culture’ or ‘online mobs’, my first thought is always: ‘Where have you been for the last decade?’ I’ve been online long enough and, like many others, been receiving criticism and abuse online for long enough, to know that what some see as a new pattern of virtual censure by moral purists is mostly a story about the internet, not ideology or identity. If critics of ‘cancel culture’ are worried about opinions, posts and writings being constantly patrolled by a growing group of haters, then I am afraid they are extremely late to the party. I cannot remember a time where I have written or posted anything without thinking: ‘How many ways can this possibly be misconstrued, and can I defend it if it were?’ It’s not even a conscious thought process now, it’s instinct.”
3. Sean O’Grady in The Independent
on the recovery of the British economy
Forget global Britain - thanks to Brexit, coronavirus and a trade war with China, we’re losing our grip
“There’s something heroic about Britain trying to chuck its weight around this way, and of course no one wants to do business with bullies and tyrants. But still, if the British economy is going to recover from the coronavirus-induced recession and go on to grow in the 2020s it will need its friends and its markets, and the British now seem to intent on blanking virtually everyone. The opportunities seem to be contracting rather than expanding. As everyone agrees, the UK is a great trading nation, and since before the industrial revolution has made its living from selling abroad, but the we don’t seem to be living up to the original hopes of ‘unleashing Britain’s potential’.”
4. John Prideaux, US editor of The Economist, in The Times
on an abolitionist deserving of a pedestal
A slavery statue we can all agree on: Frederick Douglass
“On both sides of the Atlantic a great debate about statues is under way. So far the focus has mostly been on which lumps of bronze and marble should be removed by crane, or pushed into the harbour. There has been less discussion of what to do with all the empty plinths this creates. Yet putting up statues is fun. It is an opportunity to honour someone who should be universally admired and, therefore, to make a statement about what the society doing the putting up values. For those reasons Britain ought to have a statue of America’s greatest campaigner for the abolition of slavery, Frederick Douglass. Douglass had such an extraordinary life that the three autobiographies he wrote hardly seem sufficient.”
5. Nick Akerman, an assistant special prosecutor on the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, in The New York Times
on the unfair fight set up for the special prosecutor
Did Mueller Ever Stand a Chance Against Trump and Roger Stone?
“From the start, Mr. Mueller was restrained by Justice Department regulations. He was barred, for example, from looking into the broader relationship between Mr. Trump and Russia through a review of Mr. Trump’s financial records and tax returns. Furthermore, according to the Mueller report, Mr. Trump made multiple attempts to fire the special counsel, and it is difficult, if not almost impossible, to conduct an investigation under those circumstances... Looking ahead, there needs to be a better mechanism in extraordinary circumstances - like Watergate and Russian interference in the 2016 election - that allows for the appointment of a truly independent special prosecutor. We were lucky to get the Mueller report, but Mr. Mueller was acting under restraints. Unfortunately history tells us that we will need special counsels in the years ahead, under extraordinary circumstances, and like we did with Watergate, that office should have true independence to protect our country and Constitution.”


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Vote Leave’s AI firm handed government contracts worth £3m - but for what?

An artificial intelligence firm that has been awarded government contracts worth millions after working on the Vote Leave campaign has also been handed almost £260,000 by a private company owned by Dominic Cummings , it has emerged .
The prime minister ’ s right-hand man and AI operation Faculty have both declined to explain the reason for the payments by Cummings ’ consultancy operation Dynamic Maps , The Guardian reports .
But the payments , made over two years , “ are likely to raise further questions about the relationship between Cummings and the data analytics firm he hired in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU referendum for Vote Leave ” , says the newspaper .
What is the government paying for ?
The Guardian reported in May that Cummings ’ s arrival in Downing Street had seen Faculty “ rapidly expanding its reach into various corners of Whitehall ” after being “ tasked with finding ways to apply artificial intelligence across government ” .
Last month , The Telegraph revealed that the company had been given a £400,000 contract to “ tap data from places such as social media sites to help steer the government ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents show that Faculty was hired “ to provide data scientists who could set up ‘ alternative data sources ( e.g .
social media , utility providers and telecom bills , credit rating agencies , etc ) ’ ” , as well as working with the Home Office to develop “ terrorist blocking systems ” , the newspaper said .
The firm has now been handed a total of at least 13 contracts since early 2018 , worth a total of about £3m , according to The Guardian .
Lawyers for Faculty this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ rejected any suggestion it received preferential treatment from the prime minister ’ s chief adviser ” .
So is there any controversy ?
Faculty ’ s ties to government have been under increased scrutiny following reports in May that Cabinet Office minister owns a £90,000 shareholding in the firm .
Theodore Agnew is responsible for “ the government department that promotes the use of digital technology within public services ” , raising questions about his involvement with the company , The Guardian reported .
A government spokesperson said Agnew had no role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a separate row , openDemocracy reported in June that documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request suggested the government “ misled the public about how it is protecting the privacy of millions of NHS users in its major Covid-19 data deals ” .
The investigative journalism site said the contracts relating to deals with tech firms including Faculty indicated that the companies “ could profit from the intellectual property generated from the project ( despite assurances to the contrary ) ” and that “ NHS users could be re-identified from their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks after journalist David Hencke alleged that the firms won the contracts without them “ being put out to competitive tender ” .
The deals were “ justified by NHS England as legitimate under an obscure statutory instrument laid before Parliament in February 2015 by the Coalition Government ” , Hencke reported .
Faculty ’ s lawyers had previously told The Guardian that “ its NHS contract was the result of a tender process that was not influenced by Cummings ” .

An artificial intelligence firm that has been awarded government contracts worth millions after working on the Vote Leave campaign has also been handed almost £260,000 by a private company owned by Dominic Cummings, it has emerged.
The prime minister’s right-hand man and AI operation Faculty have both declined to explain the reason for the payments by Cummings’ consultancy operation Dynamic Maps, The Guardian reports.
But the payments, made over two years, “are likely to raise further questions about the relationship between Cummings and the data analytics firm he hired in 2016 to conduct data modelling around the EU referendum for Vote Leave”, says the newspaper.
What is the government paying for?
The Guardian reported in May that Cummings’s arrival in Downing Street had seen Faculty “rapidly expanding its reach into various corners of Whitehall” after being “tasked with finding ways to apply artificial intelligence across government”.
Last month, The Telegraph revealed that the company had been given a £400,000 contract to “tap data from places such as social media sites to help steer the government’s response to Covid-19”.
Official government documents show that Faculty was hired “to provide data scientists who could set up ‘alternative data sources (e.g. social media, utility providers and telecom bills, credit rating agencies, etc)’”, as well as working with the Home Office to develop “terrorist blocking systems”, the newspaper said.
The firm has now been handed a total of at least 13 contracts since early 2018, worth a total of about £3m, according to The Guardian.
Lawyers for Faculty this week told the paper that the firm “rejected any suggestion it received preferential treatment from the prime minister’s chief adviser”.
So is there any controversy?
Faculty’s ties to government have been under increased scrutiny following reports in May that Cabinet Office minister owns a £90,000 shareholding in the firm.
Theodore Agnew is responsible for “the government department that promotes the use of digital technology within public services”, raising questions about his involvement with the company, The Guardian reported. A government spokesperson said Agnew had no role in awarding any contracts to Faculty.
In a separate row, openDemocracy reported in June that documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request suggested the government “misled the public about how it is protecting the privacy of millions of NHS users in its major Covid-19 data deals”.
The investigative journalism site said the contracts relating to deals with tech firms including Faculty indicated that the companies “could profit from the intellectual property generated from the project (despite assurances to the contrary)” and that “NHS users could be re-identified from their health data”.
The claims came weeks after journalist David Hencke alleged that the firms won the contracts without them “being put out to competitive tender”.
The deals were “justified by NHS England as legitimate under an obscure statutory instrument laid before Parliament in February 2015 by the Coalition Government”, Hencke reported.
Faculty’s lawyers had previously told The Guardian that “its NHS contract was the result of a tender process that was not influenced by Cummings”.


theweekuk--2020-07-13--Are millennials really an ‘infantilised generation’ - and if so, why?

A whole generation have been “ infantilised ” and left without “ self-sufficiency and intellectual independence ” as a result of their parents ’ failure to enforce boundaries , according to a new book by a leading sociology professor .
Frank Furedi argues that millennials - people born between 1981 and 1996 - have been “ disorientated ” by this lack of discipline and that as a result , the transition to adulthood “ takes much , much longer than ever before ” .
So are millennials living an extended childhood ?
Over the course of three or four generations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken down , claims Furedi , the emeritus professor of sociology at Kent University , in his book Why Borders Matter .
“ Children develop by reacting against those lines , the boundaries that are set , and that is a very creative process to gain self-sufficiency and intellectual independence , ” he writes .
Yet young people today “ are kicking against open doors ” , according to the academic .
“ The whole developmental process becomes compromised and you do end up with a situation where the transition from childhood to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever before and the transition from adolescence to adulthood also takes much longer.
” Furedi ’ s claims about delayed adulthood appear to be backed up by data published by the Office for National Statistics last year that shows many key milestones are occurring later in life .
British people are starting full-time work , moving out of their parents ’ homes , marrying , and having children later than any previous generation since records begans .
So are parents entirely to blame ?
A failure to reach an age-appropriate level of maturity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stress or trauma ” , but can also occur “ society-wide ” , says Simon Gottschalk , a professor of sociology at the University of Nevada , Las Vegas .
Famous sociologists including Herbert Marcuse and Erich Fromm have suggested that “ like individuals – a society can also suffer from arrested development ” , Gottschalk writes in an article on The Conversation .
Today , infantilisation is present not only in people ’ s approach to parenting , but also in an education system where students are constantly monitored and spoon-fed information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronically keep tabs on their employees , Gottschalk argues .
He also points to “ infantilist trends in language ” and in “ popular culture – in the shorter sentences in contemporary novels , in the lack of sophistication in political rhetoric and in sensationalist cable news coverage ” .
When did it begin ?
The idea that young people are failing to mature quickly enough is nothing new , says Vice writer Leah Mandel .
“ In fact , it ’ s been going on since at least as far back as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diana Vreeland coined the term ‘ youthquake ’ to describe the ‘ childlike ’ mod dresses and mini-skirts of the Beatlemania era , ” Mandel writes .
In time , the idea became a self-fulfilling prophecy , with “ fashion and beauty media latch [ ing ] onto the idea that what is young , or what the young like , is inevitably going to sell ” .
“ Brands started marketing their inventory as a way of preserving one ’ s youth and cool .
The youthquake never ended , ” Mandel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Furedi , are manifold .
As well as creating a culture where parents aim to be friends with their children rather than authority figures , he argues , the infantilisation of millennials has also fuelled identity politics .
In an inherent paradox , the dismantling of moral boundaries has resulted in a generation that abhors those who make moral judgments , leaving millennials to create borders of their own - which in turn , creates a judgmental breed of identity politics , Furedi claims .
“ The thing about identity politics is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contradiction , ” he writes .
“ They talk about diversity - that ’ s one of the key values of identity politics - but identity politics is totally hostile to a diversity of viewpoints .
So if you argue a different narrative to what they are arguing , that is seen as racist , as offensive , as hate .
”

A whole generation have been “infantilised” and left without “self-sufficiency and intellectual independence” as a result of their parents’ failure to enforce boundaries, according to a new book by a leading sociology professor.
Frank Furedi argues that millennials - people born between 1981 and 1996 - have been “disorientated” by this lack of discipline and that as a result, the transition to adulthood “takes much, much longer than ever before”.
So are millennials living an extended childhood?
Over the course of three or four generations, boundaries for children have been gradually taken down, claims Furedi, the emeritus professor of sociology at Kent University, in his book Why Borders Matter.
“Children develop by reacting against those lines, the boundaries that are set, and that is a very creative process to gain self-sufficiency and intellectual independence,” he writes.
Yet young people today “are kicking against open doors”, according to the academic.
“The whole developmental process becomes compromised and you do end up with a situation where the transition from childhood to adolescence takes much, much longer than ever before and the transition from adolescence to adulthood also takes much longer.”
Furedi’s claims about delayed adulthood appear to be backed up by data published by the Office for National Statistics last year that shows many key milestones are occurring later in life.
British people are starting full-time work, moving out of their parents’ homes, marrying, and having children later than any previous generation since records begans.
So are parents entirely to blame?
A failure to reach an age-appropriate level of maturity can be the result of “unmanageable stress or trauma”, but can also occur “society-wide”, says Simon Gottschalk, a professor of sociology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Famous sociologists including Herbert Marcuse and Erich Fromm have suggested that “like individuals – a society can also suffer from arrested development”, Gottschalk writes in an article on The Conversation.
Today, infantilisation is present not only in people’s approach to parenting, but also in an education system where students are constantly monitored and spoon-fed information, and even in workplaces where managers electronically keep tabs on their employees, Gottschalk argues.
He also points to “infantilist trends in language” and in “popular culture – in the shorter sentences in contemporary novels, in the lack of sophistication in political rhetoric and in sensationalist cable news coverage”.
When did it begin?
The idea that young people are failing to mature quickly enough is nothing new, says Vice writer Leah Mandel.
“In fact, it’s been going on since at least as far back as the 1960s, when former Vogue editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland coined the term ‘youthquake’ to describe the ‘childlike’ mod dresses and mini-skirts of the Beatlemania era,” Mandel writes.
In time, the idea became a self-fulfilling prophecy, with “fashion and beauty media latch[ing] onto the idea that what is young, or what the young like, is inevitably going to sell”.
“Brands started marketing their inventory as a way of preserving one’s youth and cool. The youthquake never ended,” Mandel says.
And the impact?
The results, according to Furedi, are manifold.
As well as creating a culture where parents aim to be friends with their children rather than authority figures, he argues, the infantilisation of millennials has also fuelled identity politics.
In an inherent paradox, the dismantling of moral boundaries has resulted in a generation that abhors those who make moral judgments, leaving millennials to create borders of their own - which in turn, creates a judgmental breed of identity politics, Furedi claims.
“The thing about identity politics is that every expression they use is actually a contradiction,” he writes.
“They talk about diversity - that’s one of the key values of identity politics - but identity politics is totally hostile to a diversity of viewpoints. So if you argue a different narrative to what they are arguing, that is seen as racist, as offensive, as hate.”


theweekuk--2020-07-10--Review: Lamborghini takes to the seas

Review: Lamborghini takes to the seas

Lamborghini and yacht maker Italian Sea Group probably have many customers in common : “ Both cater to people who have millions to spend on high-horsepower , limited-production luxury vehicles ” , says Ezra Dyer on Car and Driver .
So it made sense for them to collaborate on a limited edition superyacht , Lamborghini ’ s first venture into the sea and Tecnomar ’ s fastest vessel to date .
Billed as the “ Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 ” , the yacht “ combines a sporty silhouette with a nautical appearance ” , says Miranda Blazeby on Boat International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspired by Lamborghini ’ s sports cars , which provides protection from the elements while contributing to the yacht ’ s aerodynamic performance.
” The 63 in the model name refers to the carmaker ’ s founding year , the boat ’ s 63-foot length and to the fact that only 63 will be made , selling for around £2.7m each .
They are expected to be delivered in 2021 and clients will be able to choose from an extensive range of exterior colours and livery options , and from two interiors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 , the first Lamborghini destined for production that is powered by a hybrid engine , says Jeff Parsons in Metro .
Like the car , the yacht is made from carbon fibre , making it extremely light , and the steering wheel and gauges in the cockpit are designed to look like the inside of a Lamborghini supercar – “ even the starter button is identical ” .
Look closely and you will notice features taken from other models of Lamborghini ’ s past , including nods to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The performance is unmistakably Lamborghini too , says Rob Hull on This Is Money .
The twin 24.2-litre V12 engines , which produce 2,000 horsepower and 4,794 lb ft of torque apiece , propel the boat to a top speed of 60 knots , or around 70mph – “ enough to get you to your second home in Monaco in about the time it takes to mix a really good Martini ” , says Parsons .
This article was originally published in MoneyWeek

Lamborghini and yacht maker Italian Sea Group probably have many customers in common: “Both cater to people who have millions to spend on high-horsepower, limited-production luxury vehicles”, says Ezra Dyer on Car and Driver. So it made sense for them to collaborate on a limited edition superyacht, Lamborghini’s first venture into the sea and Tecnomar’s fastest vessel to date.
Billed as the “Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63”, the yacht “combines a sporty silhouette with a nautical appearance”, says Miranda Blazeby on Boat International. “Other details include a hardtop inspired by Lamborghini’s sports cars, which provides protection from the elements while contributing to the yacht’s aerodynamic performance.”
The 63 in the model name refers to the carmaker’s founding year, the boat’s 63-foot length and to the fact that only 63 will be made, selling for around £2.7m each. They are expected to be delivered in 2021 and clients will be able to choose from an extensive range of exterior colours and livery options, and from two interiors.
Inspiration for the design came from the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37, the first Lamborghini destined for production that is powered by a hybrid engine, says Jeff Parsons in Metro.
Like the car, the yacht is made from carbon fibre, making it extremely light, and the steering wheel and gauges in the cockpit are designed to look like the inside of a Lamborghini supercar – “even the starter button is identical”.
Look closely and you will notice features taken from other models of Lamborghini’s past, including nods to its original supercar, the classic Miura.
The performance is unmistakably Lamborghini too, says Rob Hull on This Is Money. The twin 24.2-litre V12 engines, which produce 2,000 horsepower and 4,794 lb ft of torque apiece, propel the boat to a top speed of 60 knots, or around 70mph – “enough to get you to your second home in Monaco in about the time it takes to mix a really good Martini”, says Parsons.
This article was originally published in MoneyWeek


theweekuk--2020-07-14--RAF jets aid Ryanair flight in emergency landing at Stansted amid bomb fears

Two men have been arrested over a bomb scare that saw two RAF fighter jets scrambled to escort a Ryanair flight to Stansted Airport for an emergency landing .
The alarm was triggered on Monday evening when crew on Flight FR1902 from the Polish city of Krakow to Dublin discovered a note in the plane ’ s toilet claiming that explosives had been planted on board .
The pilot “ immediately alerted UK authorities ” , who scrambled two Typhoon fighter jets from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire , as well as a Quick Reaction Alert tanker from RAF Brize Norton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Essex Police announced this morning that two men , aged 47 and 26 , have been arrested on suspicion of making threats to endanger an aircraft .
“ Following investigations on the plane , we have been able to establish there is nothing suspicious on board , ” the force added in a statement on Facebook .
According to the Crown Prosecution Service , the maximum penalty for endangering the safety of an aircraft by “ communicating false or misleading information ” is life imprisonment or an unlimited fine .
Witnesses who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the airport was “ covered with armed police ” , while the Boeing 737-800 plane was surrounded by “ lots and lots of fire engines and ambulances ” , the Daily Star reports .
Footage later emerged of armed police boarding the plane at around 7.35pm as it stood on the runway at Stansted , according to The Sun .
“ After five minutes on board , two officers appeared to escort a man in a white T-shirt from the aircraft , ” says the newspaper , which adds that “ other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plane ” .
A Ryanair spokesperson said that the plane ’ s captain had “ followed procedure by alerting the UK authorities and diverted to the nearest airport ” .

Two men have been arrested over a bomb scare that saw two RAF fighter jets scrambled to escort a Ryanair flight to Stansted Airport for an emergency landing.
The alarm was triggered on Monday evening when crew on Flight FR1902 from the Polish city of Krakow to Dublin discovered a note in the plane’s toilet claiming that explosives had been planted on board.
The pilot “immediately alerted UK authorities”, who scrambled two Typhoon fighter jets from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, as well as a Quick Reaction Alert tanker from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, the Daily Mail reports.
Essex Police announced this morning that two men, aged 47 and 26, have been arrested on suspicion of making threats to endanger an aircraft. “Following investigations on the plane, we have been able to establish there is nothing suspicious on board,” the force added in a statement on Facebook.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the maximum penalty for endangering the safety of an aircraft by “communicating false or misleading information” is life imprisonment or an unlimited fine.
Witnesses who saw yesterday’s emergency landing said that the airport was “covered with armed police”, while the Boeing 737-800 plane was surrounded by “lots and lots of fire engines and ambulances”, the Daily Star reports.
Footage later emerged of armed police boarding the plane at around 7.35pm as it stood on the runway at Stansted, according to The Sun. “After five minutes on board, two officers appeared to escort a man in a white T-shirt from the aircraft,” says the newspaper, which adds that “other passengers were then allowed to leave the plane”.
A Ryanair spokesperson said that the plane’s captain had “followed procedure by alerting the UK authorities and diverted to the nearest airport”.


theweekuk--2020-07-14--Businesses facing £13bn bill for post-Brexit border checks

Businesses trading between the UK and the EU will have to pay additional costs of up to £13bn next year as a result of post-Brexit border checks .
Government officials have confirmed that companies will have to fill in approximately 400 extra customs declarations a year after additional checks come into effect in January 2021 .
“ In total , an estimated 215 million will have to be completed by businesses trading with the EU , with an equivalent number filled in by companies in Europe , ” The Times reports .
And HMRC has estimated that each form will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - with that total climbing as high as £56 for imports and £46 for exports in some instances .
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told MPs yesterday that the “ publication of the border operating model is an important step , which gives business the certainty and direction they need to prepare for the end of the transition period ” .
Gove insisted the government had been “ laying the groundwork for months ” , with a planned £705m funding package to help manage Britain ’ s borders .
But his Labour counterpart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were “ too little , too late ” .
The new funding includes “ up to £470m to build port and inland infrastructure , and £235m will be allocated for IT systems and staffing ” , the BBC reports .
The IT cash includes £100m to develop HM Revenue and Customs systems , £20m for new equipment , £15m towards building infrastructure to improve border flow and management , and £10m to recruit around 500 additional Border Force staff .
Gove said the funding would help the UK “ seize the opportunities ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone in voicing “ concerns about the UK ’ s preparedness for the impact of the new rules , and questions as to why such projects were not launched earlier ” , Euronews reports .
Such concerns have also been raised at cabinet level .
A leaked letter sent by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss to Gove and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak last week revealed her concerns that the government ’ s border plan could lead to smuggling , lawsuits and damage to Britain ’ s reputation .

Businesses trading between the UK and the EU will have to pay additional costs of up to £13bn next year as a result of post-Brexit border checks.
Government officials have confirmed that companies will have to fill in approximately 400 extra customs declarations a year after additional checks come into effect in January 2021. “In total, an estimated 215 million will have to be completed by businesses trading with the EU, with an equivalent number filled in by companies in Europe,” The Times reports.
And HMRC has estimated that each form will cost an average of £32.50 to complete - with that total climbing as high as £56 for imports and £46 for exports in some instances.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told MPs yesterday that the “publication of the border operating model is an important step, which gives business the certainty and direction they need to prepare for the end of the transition period”.
Gove insisted the government had been “laying the groundwork for months”, with a planned £705m funding package to help manage Britain’s borders.
But his Labour counterpart, Rachel Reeves, said the plans were “too little, too late”.
The new funding includes “up to £470m to build port and inland infrastructure, and £235m will be allocated for IT systems and staffing”, the BBC reports.
The IT cash includes £100m to develop HM Revenue and Customs systems, £20m for new equipment, £15m towards building infrastructure to improve border flow and management, and £10m to recruit around 500 additional Border Force staff.
Gove said the funding would help the UK “seize the opportunities” post-Brexit.
Howevever, Reeve is not alone in voicing “concerns about the UK’s preparedness for the impact of the new rules, and questions as to why such projects were not launched earlier”, Euronews reports.
Such concerns have also been raised at cabinet level. A leaked letter sent by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss to Gove and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak last week revealed her concerns that the government’s border plan could lead to smuggling, lawsuits and damage to Britain’s reputation.


theweekuk--2020-07-14--More than half of Americans want Prince Andrew extradited over Epstein links

A majority of Americans believe that Prince Andrew should be extradited to the US to face questions about his links with Jeffrey Epstein , a new survey shows .
A total of 53 % of a sample of US voters quizzed by pollsters Redfield and Wilton Strategies agreed that the British royal should be compelled to agree to requests “ to testify in court about his relationship ” with the late convicted paedophile , The Times reports .
Only 8 % said that they disagreed with extraditing the Duke of York , while 22 % neither agree or disagree and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US poll comes after a YouGov survey last November revealed that just 6 % of the British public believed Andrew ’ s account of his friendship with Epstein after the royal ’ s “ car-crash ” BBC interview .
Andrew is likely to face increased pressure to talk to US investigators in the coming weeks following the arrest of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell earlier this month .
Maxwell , a close friend of Epstein , faces charges of procuring girls as young as 14 for abuse by the billionaire financier between 1994 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ link before a judge at a US district court in Manhattan today .
“ The hearing is both an arraignment , in which the six charges against her will be read out , and a bail hearing , ” the newspaper says .
Prosecutors have claimed in court documents that Maxwell “ refused to open the front door to the FBI and tried to flee to another room when they raided her $ 1m home ” in the New Hampshire town of Bradford on 2 July , the Daily Mail reports .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being guarded by former members of the British military when she was arrested , adds Sky News .
Investigators also found a mobile phone wrapped in tin foil that prosecutors have described as a “ seemingly misguided effort to evade detection ” .
Lawyers claim that Maxwell is an “ extraordinary ” flight risk as she has British , French and US passports and is “ skilled at living in hiding ” .
The socialite is currently being held in a New York jail , where she is being monitored constantly and made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following Epstein ’ s apparent suicide in his prison cell last year .

A majority of Americans believe that Prince Andrew should be extradited to the US to face questions about his links with Jeffrey Epstein, a new survey shows.
A total of 53% of a sample of US voters quizzed by pollsters Redfield and Wilton Strategies agreed that the British royal should be compelled to agree to requests “to testify in court about his relationship” with the late convicted paedophile, The Times reports.
Only 8% said that they disagreed with extraditing the Duke of York, while 22% neither agree or disagree and 17% did not know.
The US poll comes after a YouGov survey last November revealed that just 6% of the British public believed Andrew’s account of his friendship with Epstein after the royal’s “car-crash” BBC interview.
Andrew is likely to face increased pressure to talk to US investigators in the coming weeks following the arrest of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell earlier this month. Maxwell, a close friend of Epstein, faces charges of procuring girls as young as 14 for abuse by the billionaire financier between 1994 and 1997.
She is appearing via video link before a judge at a US district court in Manhattan today. “The hearing is both an arraignment, in which the six charges against her will be read out, and a bail hearing,” the newspaper says.
Prosecutors have claimed in court documents that Maxwell “refused to open the front door to the FBI and tried to flee to another room when they raided her $1m home” in the New Hampshire town of Bradford on 2 July, the Daily Mail reports.
According to the court papers, she was being guarded by former members of the British military when she was arrested, adds Sky News. Investigators also found a mobile phone wrapped in tin foil that prosecutors have described as a “seemingly misguided effort to evade detection”.
Lawyers claim that Maxwell is an “extraordinary” flight risk as she has British, French and US passports and is “skilled at living in hiding”.
The socialite is currently being held in a New York jail, where she is being monitored constantly and made to wear paper clothes amid self-harm fears following Epstein’s apparent suicide in his prison cell last year.