theweekuk--2020-11-18--US election: Republicans anxious about Donald Trump’s pre-exit ‘bucket list’

Senior members of the Republican Party are growing increasingly worried about how Donald Trump will spend his final weeks in the Oval Office , as the outgoing president prepares a series of grand gestures to mark his impending departure .
Fears in the party that Trump is looking to build what The Times describes as a “ hawkish legacy ” have been fuelled by reports that he asked senior aides last week about his “ options ” for an attack an Iranian nuclear facility .
Trump is also expected to “ enact hard-line policies sanctioning or restricting trade with more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the newspaper ’ s diplomatic editor Catherine Philp .
But Beijing is prepared for any “ final madness ” by the president , according to the state-run Global Times .
“ The Trump administration is at its weakest no matter how tough they appear to be , ” says an editorial in the paper .
“ The world knows that the Trump administration is going to make a mess and its support has hit its lowest level at home and abroad.
” In another grand gesture , Trump has also announced the withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraq .
Acting Defence Secretary Christopher Miller said yesterday that US troop numbers will be slashed from 4,500 to 2,500 in Afghanistan , and from 3,000 to 2,500 in Iraq , by 15 January .
Miller was appointed last week after Trump dismissed Mark Esper , who was opposed to the idea of reducing the US military presence in the two countries .
The plan has also drawn a “ strong rebuke ” from Mitch McConnell , the Senate majority leader , although “ few other senior Republicans are daring to contradict the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australian .
Speaking at a routine press briefing as the troop reductions were announced , McConnell said : “ A precipitous drawdown in either Afghanistan or Iraq is a mistake.
” Trump ’ s bucket list schemes for his final months in office are likely to cause headaches for the incoming Joe Biden administration too .
The president-elect has pledged to rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal , negotiated by his former boss Barack Obama , but keeping that promise could prove trickier amid increased hostilities triggered by Trump .
Biden was yesterday briefed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior figures , including General Stanley McChrystal , the former commander of Joint Special Operations Command in Afghanistan .

Senior members of the Republican Party are growing increasingly worried about how Donald Trump will spend his final weeks in the Oval Office, as the outgoing president prepares a series of grand gestures to mark his impending departure.
Fears in the party that Trump is looking to build what The Times describes as a “hawkish legacy” have been fuelled by reports that he asked senior aides last week about his “options” for an attack an Iranian nuclear facility.
Trump is also expected to “enact hard-line policies sanctioning or restricting trade with more Chinese bodies and officials”, writes the newspaper’s diplomatic editor Catherine Philp.
But Beijing is prepared for any “final madness” by the president, according to the state-run Global Times.
“The Trump administration is at its weakest no matter how tough they appear to be,” says an editorial in the paper. “The world knows that the Trump administration is going to make a mess and its support has hit its lowest level at home and abroad.”
In another grand gesture, Trump has also announced the withdrawal of US troops in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Acting Defence Secretary Christopher Miller said yesterday that US troop numbers will be slashed from 4,500 to 2,500 in Afghanistan, and from 3,000 to 2,500 in Iraq, by 15 January.
Miller was appointed last week after Trump dismissed Mark Esper, who was opposed to the idea of reducing the US military presence in the two countries.
The plan has also drawn a “strong rebuke” from Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, although “few other senior Republicans are daring to contradict the president in public”, says The Australian.
Speaking at a routine press briefing as the troop reductions were announced, McConnell said: “A precipitous drawdown in either Afghanistan or Iraq is a mistake.”
Trump’s bucket list schemes for his final months in office are likely to cause headaches for the incoming Joe Biden administration too. The president-elect has pledged to rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal, negotiated by his former boss Barack Obama, but keeping that promise could prove trickier amid increased hostilities triggered by Trump.
Biden was yesterday briefed on national security by a series of senior figures, including General Stanley McChrystal, the former commander of Joint Special Operations Command in Afghanistan.


theweekuk--2020-11-18--Coronavirus: secret PPE scheme saw government hand billions to political ‘cronies’

Government ministers set up a VIP channel that allowed firms with political connections to pocket billions of pounds of taxpayer ’ s money during the Covid-19 response , a report has revealed .
The National Audit Office ( NAO ) report found that “ suppliers with links to politicians were ten times more likely to be awarded contracts than those who applied to the Department of Health ” , The Times reports .
The “ damning ” report adds that in some cases “ due diligence checks were not carried out until weeks after contracts had been awarded ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in the handing out of big money contracts , the paper adds .
Almost 500 companies with links to politicians or government officials were referred to the fast-track channel , meaning “ their pitches for contracts were automatically treated as credible by government officials charged with procuring PPE ” , The Guardian says .
The use of a VIP route to securing government contracts is a “ highly unusual departure from standard procurement practice ” , the paper adds .
It was only revealed by the NAO in a report showing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracts during the first six months of the pandemic .
More than half ( £10.5bn ) of contracts relating to the pandemic were awarded without competitive tender , according to the NAO .
Officials paid out more than £5m in consultancy fees to companies with ties to ministers and the Conservative party , including signing off on a £1.5m deal with two New Zealand social media consultants who worked on Boris Johnson ’ s election campaign .
The NAO also drew attention to a pest control company , Pestfix , “ that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulting in a £350m contract for the delivery of 600,000 masks “ that did not meet the standards for hospital use ” , The Times says .
Labour MP Meg Hillier , chairperson of the public accounts committee , said the report showed the government had “ ridden roughshod over the taxpayer ... ripping up too many of the rules that guard against cronyism ” .
Julia Lopez , Cabinet Office minister , said : “ We have robust processes to ensure we get critical equipment , while also ensuring value for money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received a £253m order for 50 million masks which could not be used by NHS workers , while Sabia Mokeddem , a 23-year-old financial trader , was given £880,000 to supply 55,000 coveralls .
Public First , a company run by two former Michael Gove aides , received a contract for a maximum of £840,000 , of which £550,000 was invoiced .
Faculty , an artificial intelligence firm that worked for Dominic Cummings on the Vote Leave campaign , was handed three contracts worth almost £3m .
Management consultancy firm Deloitte won a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth £3.2m .
It has since “ come under fire over shortcomings in delivery ” , The Times reports .

Government ministers set up a VIP channel that allowed firms with political connections to pocket billions of pounds of taxpayer’s money during the Covid-19 response, a report has revealed.
The National Audit Office (NAO) report found that “suppliers with links to politicians were ten times more likely to be awarded contracts than those who applied to the Department of Health”, The Times reports.
The “damning” report adds that in some cases “due diligence checks were not carried out until weeks after contracts had been awarded”, adding to rising allegations of “cronyism” in the handing out of big money contracts, the paper adds.
Almost 500 companies with links to politicians or government officials were referred to the fast-track channel, meaning “their pitches for contracts were automatically treated as credible by government officials charged with procuring PPE”, The Guardian says.
The use of a VIP route to securing government contracts is a “highly unusual departure from standard procurement practice”, the paper adds.
It was only revealed by the NAO in a report showing that the UK government awarded £18bn of coronavirus–related contracts during the first six months of the pandemic. More than half (£10.5bn) of contracts relating to the pandemic were awarded without competitive tender, according to the NAO.
Officials paid out more than £5m in consultancy fees to companies with ties to ministers and the Conservative party, including signing off on a £1.5m deal with two New Zealand social media consultants who worked on Boris Johnson’s election campaign.
The NAO also drew attention to a pest control company, Pestfix, “that was mistakenly put in the high-priority route” resulting in a £350m contract for the delivery of 600,000 masks “that did not meet the standards for hospital use”, The Times says.
Labour MP Meg Hillier, chairperson of the public accounts committee, said the report showed the government had “ridden roughshod over the taxpayer... ripping up too many of the rules that guard against cronyism”.
Julia Lopez, Cabinet Office minister, said: “We have robust processes to ensure we get critical equipment, while also ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.”
Hall of shame
Ayanda Capital, received a £253m order for 50 million masks which could not be used by NHS workers, while Sabia Mokeddem, a 23-year-old financial trader, was given £880,000 to supply 55,000 coveralls.
Public First, a company run by two former Michael Gove aides, received a contract for a maximum of £840,000, of which £550,000 was invoiced. Faculty, an artificial intelligence firm that worked for Dominic Cummings on the Vote Leave campaign, was handed three contracts worth almost £3m.
Management consultancy firm Deloitte won a contract for delivering PPE to frontline workers worth £3.2m. It has since “come under fire over shortcomings in delivery”, The Times reports.


theweekuk--2020-11-18--‘Green Industrial Revolution’: reactions to Boris Johnson’s ten-point plan

Boris Johnson has pledged to “ level up ” Britain through a “ Green Industrial Revolution ” aimed at creating thousands of jobs while tackling climate change .
In an article for Financial Times , the prime minister writes that “ now is the time to plan for a green recovery ” as the the nation seeks to “ repair the economic damage from Covid-19 ” .
Johnson lays out a ten-point plan of action that includes a UK ban on the sale of new cars and vans powered wholly by petrol and diesel from 2030 .
As Reuters notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years earlier than the 2035 pledge made by Johnson in February ” .
The PM claims that “ this ten-point plan will turn the UK into the world ’ s number one centre for green technology and finance , creating the foundations for decades of economic growth ” .
What are the key aims in the ten-point plan ?
According to the Gov.UK website , “ the prime Minister ’ s ten points , which are built around the UK ’ s strengths , are ” : • None Offshore wind : p @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , quadrupling how much we produce to 40GW by 2030 , supporting up to 60,000 jobs • Hydrogen : working with industry aiming to generate 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 for industry , transport , power and homes , and aiming to develop the first town heated entirely by hydrogen by the end of the decade • Nuclear : advancing nuclear as a clean energy source , across large scale nuclear and developing the next generation of small and advanced reactors , which could support 10,000 jobs • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electric vehicles , and transform the national infrastructure to better support electric vehicles .
An investment of £1.3bn will see the rollout of charge points for electric vehicles in homes , streets and on motorways across England • Public transport , cycling and walking : make cycling and walking more attractive ways to travel and invest in zero-emission public transport of the future • Jet zero and greener maritime : support difficult-to-decarbonise industries to become greener through research projects for zero-emission planes and ships • Homes and public buildings : make homes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more energy efficient , whilst creating 50,000 jobs by 2030 , and a target to install 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028 .
• Carbon capture : become a world-leader in technology to capture and store harmful emissions away from the atmosphere , with a target to remove 10MT of carbon dioxide by 2030 , equivalent to all emissions of the industrial Humber today • Nature : protect and restore the natural environment , planting 30,000 hectares of trees every year , while creating and retaining thousands of jobs • Innovation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach these new energy ambitions and make the City of London the global centre of green finance Downing Street says that a total of up to 250,000 green jobs will be created and supported under than schemes .
To deliver on six points of the plan , Johnson is also pledging major new investment , including £200m of new funding to create two carbon capture clusters by the mid-2020s , with another two to be created by 2030 .
Up to £500m is to be invested in hydrogen technologies , including trialling homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition , £525m will be pumped into helping to develop large and smaller-scale nuclear plants , and research and develop new advanced modular reactors .
The Gov.uk site says the government will “ mobilise ” a total of £12bn of investment for its green initiative .
However , analysts have told Sky News that only £4bn is new money .
And critics claim that figure is “ far too small for the scale of the challenge ” , the BBC adds .
Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband has said the funding does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is needed ” and that “ only a fraction of the funding announced today is new ” .
Meanwhile , Mike Hulme , professor of human geography at the University of Cambridge , said it was “ far more important to endorse the direction of travel that has been set for the next decade ” .
But Tanya Steele from WWF-UK said the government had “ fired the starting gun on the action we need to see ” .

Boris Johnson has pledged to “level up” Britain through a “Green Industrial Revolution” aimed at creating thousands of jobs while tackling climate change.
In an article for the Financial Times, the prime minister writes that “now is the time to plan for a green recovery” as the nation seeks to “repair the economic damage from Covid-19”.
Johnson lays out a ten-point plan of action that includes a UK ban on the sale of new cars and vans powered wholly by petrol and diesel from 2030. As Reuters notes, the new date “is five years earlier than the 2035 pledge made by Johnson in February”.
The PM claims that “this ten-point plan will turn the UK into the world’s number one centre for green technology and finance, creating the foundations for decades of economic growth”.
What are the key aims in the ten-point plan?
According to the Gov.UK website, “the prime Minister’s ten points, which are built around the UK’s strengths, are”:
Offshore wind: producing enough offshore wind to power every home, quadrupling how much we produce to 40GW by 2030, supporting up to 60,000 jobs
producing enough offshore wind to power every home, quadrupling how much we produce to 40GW by 2030, supporting up to 60,000 jobs Hydrogen: working with industry aiming to generate 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 for industry, transport, power and homes, and aiming to develop the first town heated entirely by hydrogen by the end of the decade
working with industry aiming to generate 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 for industry, transport, power and homes, and aiming to develop the first town heated entirely by hydrogen by the end of the decade Nuclear: advancing nuclear as a clean energy source, across large scale nuclear and developing the next generation of small and advanced reactors, which could support 10,000 jobs
advancing nuclear as a clean energy source, across large scale nuclear and developing the next generation of small and advanced reactors, which could support 10,000 jobs Electric vehicles: accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, and transform the national infrastructure to better support electric vehicles. An investment of £1.3bn will see the rollout of charge points for electric vehicles in homes, streets and on motorways across England
accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, and transform the national infrastructure to better support electric vehicles. An investment of £1.3bn will see the rollout of charge points for electric vehicles in homes, streets and on motorways across England Public transport, cycling and walking: make cycling and walking more attractive ways to travel and invest in zero-emission public transport of the future
make cycling and walking more attractive ways to travel and invest in zero-emission public transport of the future Jet zero and greener maritime: support difficult-to-decarbonise industries to become greener through research projects for zero-emission planes and ships
support difficult-to-decarbonise industries to become greener through research projects for zero-emission planes and ships Homes and public buildings: make homes, schools and hospitals greener, warmer and more energy efficient, whilst creating 50,000 jobs by 2030, and a target to install 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028.
make homes, schools and hospitals greener, warmer and more energy efficient, whilst creating 50,000 jobs by 2030, and a target to install 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028. Carbon capture: become a world-leader in technology to capture and store harmful emissions away from the atmosphere, with a target to remove 10MT of carbon dioxide by 2030, equivalent to all emissions of the industrial Humber today
become a world-leader in technology to capture and store harmful emissions away from the atmosphere, with a target to remove 10MT of carbon dioxide by 2030, equivalent to all emissions of the industrial Humber today Nature: protect and restore the natural environment, planting 30,000 hectares of trees every year, while creating and retaining thousands of jobs
protect and restore the natural environment, planting 30,000 hectares of trees every year, while creating and retaining thousands of jobs Innovation and finance: develop cutting-edge technologies needed to reach these new energy ambitions and make the City of London the global centre of green finance
Downing Street says that a total of up to 250,000 green jobs will be created and supported under than schemes.
To deliver on six points of the plan, Johnson is also pledging major new investment, including £200m of new funding to create two carbon capture clusters by the mid-2020s, with another two to be created by 2030. Up to £500m is to be invested in hydrogen technologies, including trialling homes using hydrogen for heating and cooking.
In addition, £525m will be pumped into helping to develop large and smaller-scale nuclear plants, and research and develop new advanced modular reactors.
And the reaction?
The Gov.uk site says the government will “mobilise” a total of £12bn of investment for its green initiative.
However, analysts have told Sky News that only £4bn is new money. And critics claim that figure is “far too small for the scale of the challenge”, the BBC adds.
Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband has said the funding does not “remotely meet the scale of what is needed” and that “only a fraction of the funding announced today is new”.
Meanwhile, Mike Hulme, professor of human geography at the University of Cambridge, said it was “far more important to endorse the direction of travel that has been set for the next decade”.
But Tanya Steele from WWF-UK said the government had “fired the starting gun on the action we need to see”.


theweekuk--2020-11-18--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 18 Nov 2020

An agreement between the UK and EU about post-Brexit trade could be “ just days away , ” says The @ @ @ @ @ latest talks in Brussels .
Hopes have risen after the Irish prime minister said “ @ @ @ @ @ agreement are now in sight .
France is believed to have accepted that its fishing @ @ @ @ @ be reduced after the transition period ends on 31 December , removing one of the @ @ @ @

Brexit trade deal ‘days away’ as hurdles fall
An agreement between the UK and EU about post-Brexit trade could be “just days away,” says The Daily Telegraph, after the latest talks in Brussels. Hopes have risen after the Irish prime minister said “landing zones” for an agreement are now in sight. France is believed to have accepted that its fishing rights in UK waters will be reduced after the transition period ends on 31 December, removing one of the most significant obstacles.


theweekuk--2020-11-17--Five best action cameras

Five best action cameras

Photographs are great for helping to preserving precious memories but capturing the action in crisp video footage can be even better .
Here , we pick five of the best action cameras available now .
If you ’ re in the market for a 360-degree camera , the GoPro Max is top of the range .
With offset front- and rear-mounted lenses , this nifty device takes 360-degree 18MP photos and videos that can then be stitched together on the GoPro app .
A great budget option , this 4K camera has a microphone , LCD screen and speaker , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The waterproof case for an extra £25 is also excellent .
Clipping together like a jigsaw , this clever camera is really several in one .
Users can choose between 360-degree footage or high-quality 4K wide-angle footage , depending on the lens attached , and the camera is easy to adapt on the go - although the fact that it is in separate pieces could make it less durable than some models .
Drone camera specialist DJI ’ s first 4K action camera gives GoPro a run for its money .
With a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Osmo Action has great image stabilisation thanks to DJI ’ s expertise in flying tech .
This excellent , waterproof model from GoPro has a big sensor that can shoot 20MP stills and 5K/30fps video .
The camera has a vlogger-friendly front-facing screen as well as a larger rear one .

Photographs are great for helping to preserving precious memories but capturing the action in crisp video footage can be even better.
Here, we pick five of the best action cameras available now.
GoPro Max
If you’re in the market for a 360-degree camera, the GoPro Max is top of the range. With offset front- and rear-mounted lenses, this nifty device takes 360-degree 18MP photos and videos that can then be stitched together on the GoPro app.
£380; gopro.com
Olfi one.five Black
A great budget option, this 4K camera has a microphone, LCD screen and speaker, and does the basics very well. The waterproof case for an extra £25 is also excellent.
£150; olficamera.com
Insta360 One R Twin Edition
Clipping together like a jigsaw, this clever camera is really several in one. Users can choose between 360-degree footage or high-quality 4K wide-angle footage, depending on the lens attached, and the camera is easy to adapt on the go - although the fact that it is in separate pieces could make it less durable than some models.
£440; apple.co.uk
DJI Osmo Action
Drone camera specialist DJI’s first 4K action camera gives GoPro a run for its money. With a rear touchscreen and front-facing screen, the Osmo Action has great image stabilisation thanks to DJI’s expertise in flying tech.
£329; dji.com
GoPro Hero 9 Black
This excellent, waterproof model from GoPro has a big sensor that can shoot 20MP stills and 5K/30fps video. The camera has a vlogger-friendly front-facing screen as well as a larger rear one.
£330; gopro.com


theweekuk--2020-11-18--Instant Opinion: Boris Johnson ‘needs more than a slogan’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
Boris Johnson is in a tough spot over his ‘ levelling up ’ agenda – he needs more than a slogan “ For months a debate has simmered inside government about whether it could still afford an ambitious ‘ levelling up ’ agenda after pumping more than £210bn into the economy in the coronavirus crisis .
Cummings ’ s departure has now blown the lid off .
In the vacuum his absence leaves , figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allegra Stratton and his fiancee Carrie Symonds are trying to soften the harsh edges of Vote Leave ’ s approach .
The green agenda symbolises Johnson ’ s return to being the liberal conservative who was London mayor .
Johnson allies insist he can both go green and appeal to the Tories ’ new tribe , that it is not an either/or .
They point out that Stratton has been pressing for more action on ‘ levelling up ’ for months .
They rightly say it is patronising to assume that voters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the climate crisis.
” Risible Keir Starmer has shown the very opposite of leadership “ For Sir Keir merely to stand back and watch while a defining case like this was played out at the NEC shows the very opposite of leadership .
It is all very well speaking about no political interference , but when the party is riven with factionalism , with allies of Mr Corbyn still holding great influence over the party ’ s governance , and with the hard-Left machine still exercising control over many local parties , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge of forcing the party to change .
Neil Kinnock did not stand back while Militant was thrown out – it was his seminal contribution to British politics.
” on letting Democrats off the hook Post-Trump , the need for fact checking is n't going away “ Let ’ s start by recognizing reality .
Fact checking Democrats this election cycle has offered a far less target rich environment .
This is not because either party has a monopoly on virtue or vice , but because Democrats ’ falsehoods during their presidential debates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on competing claims about calculating the 10-year cost of Medicare for All , or who wrote-what-gun control bill , or how many manufacturing jobs have been lost , or when a candidate really started supporting a raise in the minimum wage.
” With Hungary and Poland , who needs enemies ?
“ It 's about time they read the accession treaties they signed when they joined the European Union in 2004 , which state that EU members are bound by democratic principles .
These treaties are neither vague , nor are they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they clearly include an obligation to uphold the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of the press .
Both these values have been undermined in Hungary for years , and Poland has increasingly followed suit .
This week 's veto of the €1.8 trillion budget by Hungary and Poland has catapulted the EU back into crisis mode - and coming to an agreement on the Covid-19 recovery plan was hard enough .
But the bloc has itself to blame : it dropped the ball when , for years , it passively watched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up authoritarian structures.
” If lockdown has tipped you into problem drinking , you 're probably not alone “ We have been drinking alcohol for millennia , enjoyably and disastrously .
It is embedded in our lives , and also to relieve physical and mental pain .
Alcohol is unavoidable .
My patients tell me so , and I see it for myself as I walk down the street .
I have no doubt that some people are more prone to developing alcohol problems .
The reward evoked by alcohol in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trauma , is such that there can never be enough , and they come back for more , hungrily , ignoring any damage .
Those to whom this doesn ’ t happen as intensely , or at all , can drink a glass and stop .
There are many shades in between , but don ’ t judge others if alcohol doesn ’ t do it for you .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Andrew Grice in The Independent
on the PM’s empty words
Boris Johnson is in a tough spot over his ‘levelling up’ agenda – he needs more than a slogan
“For months a debate has simmered inside government about whether it could still afford an ambitious ‘levelling up’ agenda after pumping more than £210bn into the economy in the coronavirus crisis. Cummings’s departure has now blown the lid off. In the vacuum his absence leaves, figures including Johnson’s new press secretary Allegra Stratton and his fiancee Carrie Symonds are trying to soften the harsh edges of Vote Leave’s approach. The green agenda symbolises Johnson’s return to being the liberal conservative who was London mayor. Johnson allies insist he can both go green and appeal to the Tories’ new tribe, that it is not an either/or. They point out that Stratton has been pressing for more action on ‘levelling up’ for months. They rightly say it is patronising to assume that voters in the north don’t care about the climate crisis.”
2. Stephen Pollard in The Daily Telegraph
on the Corbyn crisis
Risible Keir Starmer has shown the very opposite of leadership
“For Sir Keir merely to stand back and watch while a defining case like this was played out at the NEC shows the very opposite of leadership. It is all very well speaking about no political interference, but when the party is riven with factionalism, with allies of Mr Corbyn still holding great influence over the party’s governance, and with the hard-Left machine still exercising control over many local parties, it is not interference but leadership to take charge of forcing the party to change. Neil Kinnock did not stand back while Militant was thrown out – it was his seminal contribution to British politics.”
3. John Avlon on CNN
on letting Democrats off the hook
Post-Trump, the need for fact checking isn't going away
“Let’s start by recognizing reality. Fact checking Democrats this election cycle has offered a far less target rich environment. This is not because either party has a monopoly on virtue or vice, but because Democrats’ falsehoods during their presidential debates have been comparatively pedestrian - likely to focus on competing claims about calculating the 10-year cost of Medicare for All, or who wrote-what-gun control bill, or how many manufacturing jobs have been lost, or when a candidate really started supporting a raise in the minimum wage.”
4. Barbara Wesel on Deutsche Welle
on bending the rules
With Hungary and Poland, who needs enemies?
“It's about time they read the accession treaties they signed when they joined the European Union in 2004, which state that EU members are bound by democratic principles. These treaties are neither vague, nor are they open to interpretation or negotiation. And they clearly include an obligation to uphold the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of the press. Both these values have been undermined in Hungary for years, and Poland has increasingly followed suit. This week's veto of the €1.8 trillion budget by Hungary and Poland has catapulted the EU back into crisis mode - and coming to an agreement on the Covid-19 recovery plan was hard enough. But the bloc has itself to blame: it dropped the ball when, for years, it passively watched as first Hungary, then Poland, set up authoritarian structures.”
5. Rebecca Lawrence in The Guardian
on judging others
If lockdown has tipped you into problem drinking, you're probably not alone
“We have been drinking alcohol for millennia, enjoyably and disastrously. It is embedded in our lives, and also to relieve physical and mental pain. Alcohol is unavoidable. My patients tell me so, and I see it for myself as I walk down the street. I have no doubt that some people are more prone to developing alcohol problems. The reward evoked by alcohol in their brains, the relief of pain and trauma, is such that there can never be enough, and they come back for more, hungrily, ignoring any damage. Those to whom this doesn’t happen as intensely, or at all, can drink a glass and stop. There are many shades in between, but don’t judge others if alcohol doesn’t do it for you.”


theweekuk--2020-11-18--‘Strong, inarguable link’: Geoff Hurst speaks out on dementia in football

England football legend Geoff Hurst admits it’s been an “unbelievably brutal” year after seeing his 1966 World Cup-winning team-mates Nobby Stiles and Jack Charlton both lose their battles with dementia.
Stiles died in October, aged 78, after suffering from dementia and prostate cancer. The former Manchester United star is the fifth member of the 1966 squad to have been diagnosed with the brain injury disease, BBC Sport reports. Jack Charlton died in July and at the start of this month his brother Bobby was also diagnosed with dementia.
Hurst, who scored a hat-trick for England in the 1966 World Cup final, has been left deeply “shocked and saddened” by the loss of his friends.
In an interview with the Daily Mirror, Hurst said he would donate his own brain if it helps research on the impact of heading footballs.
“Yes, absolutely,” Hurst said when asked if he would consider the donation. “I’ve never been asked that question before and my straight answer is yes if it helps. If I could help families who have people die and donate their organs, I think that’s a fantastic thing for other people.
“So if I could help in that way, I would discuss it with my wife and she would have no objections to me doing it. The straightforward answer would be yes.”
Reflecting on this year, he added: “A lot of it has come and happened over a short period of time and when you’ve grown up with people, been part of a great team, enjoyed reunions over the years and had great, happy fantastic memories. It’s been unbelievably brutal in many respects.”
‘A key issue’
West Ham legend Hurst, 78, believes there should be a ban on kids heading footballs at a young age and has backed calls for clubs to limit heading in training sessions. He wants to see further action taken to tackle the “inarguable” link between football and dementia, The Independent reports.
“It is becoming a bigger issue every day and it has to be one of the key issues for the new FA chairman to address,” Hurst said. “The bigger the issue gets, the more difficult it is for people in the higher levels of sport to step away from dealing with it.
“I see something almost every day about ex-players who are suffering. Sir Bobby [Charlton] is the fifth member of our ’66 team to suffer from dementia - and other squad members have suffered too.
“There is a strong, inarguable link. Anything that can be done to increase the research around this will be hugely beneficial to current and former players.”
It’s been announced today that the Professional Footballers’ Association will be setting up a new taskforce to further examine the issue of brain injury diseases in football, BBC reports.


theweekuk--2020-11-18--Coronavirus: how European countries are faring with second spikes of Covid-19

After shutting their borders and introducing strict lockdowns during the first wave of coronavirus , many European countries are doing @ @ @ @ @ a second wave of infections sweeps across the continent .
But while the UK has @ @ @ @ @ second nationwide lockdown , some other governments are trying more targeted measures as case rates @ @ @ @ @ number of daily infections in Austria , a country of 8.8 million people , has @ @ @ @ @ early October to a record high of 9,586 on Friday , according to latest figures @ @ @ @ @ Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to announce a second lockdown , which is set to last @ @ @ @ @ schools and shops .

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theweekuk--2020-11-18--Coronavirus: how Finland became a Nordic Covid-19 success story

While armchair epidemiologists have focused their attention on Sweden ’ s distinctive response to the coronavirus pandemic , another Nordic nation has quietly found an effective way to protect lives and livelihoods from Covid-19 .
“ Finland has had 90 % fewer coronavirus deaths per capita than Sweden and its economy contracted by less in the first half of 2020 as well , ” the Financial Times reports .
Indeed , Finland and nearby Norway boast “ the West ’ s lowest rates of mortality linked to Covid-19 and a low incidence of coronavirus infections , even though they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , adds The Wall Street Journal .
While Finland has not been immune to the second wave , with the country ’ s infection rates rising during September , new cases seem to have steadied at a lower level than elsewhere on the continent .
In the past 14 days , Finland has recorded 55 cases per 100,000 people , compared with 505 in the UK , 557 in Sweden and 1,242 in Luxembourg , according to the European Centre for Disease Control .
One reason for this relative success is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ naturally ” , says Reuters .
“ While a remote Nordic location and one of Europe ’ s lowest population densities play in its favour in the fight against Covid-19 , it helps that many Finns like personal space and solitude.
” In fact , according to Mika Salminen , the director of Finland ’ s public health authority , his countrymen and women “ like to keep people a metre or more away ” even in normal times , “ or we start feeling uncomfortable ” .
Another “ big distinction ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finland ’ s “ focus on preparedness and how to act in national emergencies , born out of its collective experience during the Winter War in 1939-40 against the Soviet Union ” .
As a result , Finnish hospitals have had ample supplies of PPE throughout the crisis .
Even Anders Tegnell , Sweden ’ s outspoken state epidemiologist , has acknowledged how well Finland has fared .
“ Their level of preparedness is just way beyond anything we would even dream about in Sweden , ” he said in September .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and curfews have been avoided , the government in Helsinki enacted “ some of Europe ’ s strictest travel restrictions ” , says Reuters .
Visitors from all but a handful of countries outside Europe were banned , and a regime of quarantine and testing was required for EU arrivals .
Domestic travel was restricted too : Helsinki and its surrounding area were effectively sealed off , with no one allowed in or out for several weeks .
According to Johan Strang of the University of Helsinki , this approach worked because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stoicism .
As a result , he says , the government “ can implement quite drastic measures without anybody questioning them ” .


theweekuk--2020-11-19--What Boris Johnson has planned for his £16bn military spending spree

Britain ’ s “ era of retreat ” is over , Boris Johnson has declared , as he announced plans to “ transform our armed forces , bolster our global influence , unite and level up our country , pioneer new technology and defend our people and way of life ” .
His ambitions will be funded by a £16.5bn rise in defence spending over the next four years , amounting to an increase of about 10 % in the annual budget .
The settlement is “ more generous than anticipated ” , says The Times , after the prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the military will form a pillar of Mr Johnson ’ s plan to ‘ build back better ’ from coronavirus by creating jobs and will underpin a drive to defend free societies around the world.
” It marks a sudden about turn after the £8bn military cuts enacted by Conservative governments since 2010 .
The Ministry of Defence has a £13bn hole in its finances which , earlier this year , led to discussions about retiring the UK ’ s 600-strong fleet of tanks and armoured fighting vehicles .
They may still be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the BBC , which says “ difficult decisions about cutting old equipment to fund the new are still to be made ” .
Britain will “ let go of some older capabilities ” , Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed this morning .
In their place will rise a “ National Cyber Force of hackers ” to conduct offensive operations against enemy states , an agency dedicated to military artificial intelligence and a “ new Space Command designed to protect orbiting satellites and launch its own rockets ” , The Guardian reports .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ geopolitical advantage too , says The Times .
By reinforcing “ Britain ’ s status as the largest defence spender in Europe and the second largest in Nato ” , it will raise “ Britain ’ s chances of remaining the favoured military partner of the United States , ahead of France ” .

Britain’s “era of retreat” is over, Boris Johnson has declared, as he announced plans to “transform our armed forces, bolster our global influence, unite and level up our country, pioneer new technology and defend our people and way of life”.
His ambitions will be funded by a £16.5bn rise in defence spending over the next four years, amounting to an increase of about 10% in the annual budget.
The settlement is “more generous than anticipated”, says The Times, after the prime minister overruled Treasury misgivings. “Upgrading the military will form a pillar of Mr Johnson’s plan to ‘build back better’ from coronavirus by creating jobs and will underpin a drive to defend free societies around the world.”
It marks a sudden about turn after the £8bn military cuts enacted by Conservative governments since 2010. The Ministry of Defence has a £13bn hole in its finances which, earlier this year, led to discussions about retiring the UK’s 600-strong fleet of tanks and armoured fighting vehicles.
They may still be destined for the scrap heap, according to the BBC, which says “difficult decisions about cutting old equipment to fund the new are still to be made”. Britain will “let go of some older capabilities”, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed this morning.
In their place will rise a “National Cyber Force of hackers” to conduct offensive operations against enemy states, an agency dedicated to military artificial intelligence and a “new Space Command designed to protect orbiting satellites and launch its own rockets”, The Guardian reports.
The spending spree is designed to bring geopolitical advantage too, says The Times. By reinforcing “Britain’s status as the largest defence spender in Europe and the second largest in Nato”, it will raise “Britain’s chances of remaining the favoured military partner of the United States, ahead of France”.


theweekuk--2020-11-19--Brits sending one less email a day would cut carbon emissions by 16,000 tonnes

Officials working on plans to reduce the UK ’ s carbon footprint have warned of a hidden threat that is increasing the country ’ s emissions : unnecessary emails .
As Britain gears up to host the UN COP26 climate change summit next year , “ officials have been particularly taken by research suggesting that more than 64m unnecessary emails are sent by Britons every day , ” the Financial Times reports .
These emails - often just one or two words long - are “ pumping thousands of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere owing to the power they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One official working on the preparation for COP26 told the FT that civil servants have been “ looking at research suggesting that if you reduced those emails by just one a day , you would save a lot of carbon ” .
Figures in Whitehall are understood to be taking the sending of short emails so seriously that the topic was included in a recent paper from the National Cyber Security Centre .
It has not been elevated to ministerial level , however , Boris Johnson is pushing to make environmental plans front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , a study by energy company OVO found Brits send more than 64m unnecessary emails every day .
The research found that if Brits sent one fewer email per day , the UK could cut emissions by more than 16,433 tonnes of carbon a year – equivalent to 81,152 flights to Madrid or taking 3,334 diesel cars off the road .
At the time , researcher Mike Berners-Lee told The Guardian : “ When you are typing , your computer is using electricity .
When you press send it goes through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run the network .
“ We don ’ t think about it because we can ’ t see the smoke coming out of our computers , but the carbon footprint of IT is huge and growing .
”

Officials working on plans to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint have warned of a hidden threat that is increasing the country’s emissions: unnecessary emails.
As Britain gears up to host the UN COP26 climate change summit next year, “officials have been particularly taken by research suggesting that more than 64m unnecessary emails are sent by Britons every day,” the Financial Times reports.
These emails - often just one or two words long - are “pumping thousands of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere owing to the power they consume”, the paper adds.
One official working on the preparation for COP26 told the FT that civil servants have been “looking at research suggesting that if you reduced those emails by just one a day, you would save a lot of carbon”.
Figures in Whitehall are understood to be taking the sending of short emails so seriously that the topic was included in a recent paper from the National Cyber Security Centre. It has not been elevated to ministerial level, however, Boris Johnson is pushing to make environmental plans front and centre of his agenda.
In 2019, a study by energy company OVO found Brits send more than 64m unnecessary emails every day.
The research found that if Brits sent one fewer email per day, the UK could cut emissions by more than 16,433 tonnes of carbon a year – equivalent to 81,152 flights to Madrid or taking 3,334 diesel cars off the road.
At the time, researcher Mike Berners-Lee told The Guardian: “When you are typing, your computer is using electricity. When you press send it goes through the network, and it takes electricity to run the network.
“We don’t think about it because we can’t see the smoke coming out of our computers, but the carbon footprint of IT is huge and growing.”


theweekuk--2020-11-19--EU leaders demand bloc publishes no-deal planning as Brexit talks enter ‘final push’

Michel Barnier has told the European Commission that Brexit negotiators are in the “ final push ” to secure a trade deal with the UK .
The EU ’ s chief negotiator ( pictured ) gave the update as senior diplomats warned that governments may begin enacting “ emergency no-deal plans if a trade accord was not struck by Friday ” , The Telegraph reports .
Despite the risk that no-deal planning “ could poison the ongoing negotiations ” , with just six weeks until the transition period ends “ the EU had no choice but to start work on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior diplomat told the paper .
David Frost , the UK ’ s most senior Brexit negotiator , has told Boris Johnson that he may be able to expect a Brexit deal “ early next week ” , suggesting that the EU27 may be forced into beginning preparations for a no-deal exit .
EU Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis , who is also the EU trade commissioner , said that negotiations are continuing with “ great intensity ” , adding “ we are now in the last moments to reach this agreement ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ demand ” that the bloc ’ s no-deal planning is circulated “ amid fears that Brexit negotiations are dragging on without businesses knowing what they need to prepare for in the worst scenario ” , The Times says .
The Netherlands , France and Belgium are particularly concerned about the continued uncertainty around fishing rights , and want to avoid being “ hit by economic disruption without EU contingency measures to cushion the blow of no-deal ” , the paper adds .
Barnier has held off on releasing the no-deal planning as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much insight into the EU27 ’ s plans during the negotiations and post-Brexit .

Michel Barnier has told the European Commission that Brexit negotiators are in the “final push” to secure a trade deal with the UK.
The EU’s chief negotiator (pictured) gave the update as senior diplomats warned that governments may begin enacting “emergency no-deal plans if a trade accord was not struck by Friday”, The Telegraph reports.
Despite the risk that no-deal planning “could poison the ongoing negotiations”, with just six weeks until the transition period ends “the EU had no choice but to start work on its no-deal safety net”, a senior diplomat told the paper.
David Frost, the UK’s most senior Brexit negotiator, has told Boris Johnson that he may be able to expect a Brexit deal “early next week”, suggesting that the EU27 may be forced into beginning preparations for a no-deal exit.
EU Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, who is also the EU trade commissioner, said that negotiations are continuing with “great intensity”, adding “we are now in the last moments to reach this agreement”.
European leaders are now expected to “demand” that the bloc’s no-deal planning is circulated “amid fears that Brexit negotiations are dragging on without businesses knowing what they need to prepare for in the worst scenario”, The Times says.
The Netherlands, France and Belgium are particularly concerned about the continued uncertainty around fishing rights, and want to avoid being “hit by economic disruption without EU contingency measures to cushion the blow of no-deal”, the paper adds.
Barnier has held off on releasing the no-deal planning as he feared it would give Britain too much insight into the EU27’s plans during the negotiations and post-Brexit.


theweekuk--2020-11-19--Coronavirus: do we still need Operation Moonshot?

Coronavirus vaccine results are beginning to feel a bit like buses , with the long wait for news giving way to a recent flurry of announcements .
The latest promising results come from the Oxford University jab , which has raised hopes that it can protect those most vulnerable to Covid after showing “ a strong immune response in adults in their 60s and 70s ” , the BBC reports .
The UK has pre-ordered 100m doses , as well as 45m doses of two other effective vaccines , raising questions about the need for Operation Moonshot , an ambitious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the UK .
What stage is Moonshot at ?
Operation Moonshot ’ s goal is to expand daily tesing from about 650,000 per day now to ten million a day by early next year .
The government last week granted access to rapid diagnostic testing for Covid-19 to 67 more areas in England .
People in Manchester , Newcastle , Birmingham , Bristol and parts of London will be able to request low-price tests , which deliver results in less than half an hour .
The eventual aim is to provide “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas or whole cities when prevalence rises ” , says the British Medical Journal , including “ testing high contact professions such as teachers every week ” and people who “ enter high risk settings , such as visitors to hospital and care homes ” .
In early September , a leaked government report revealed that plans for mass testing would cost around £100bn .
This is three-quarters of the total annual funding for to NHS England .
Eyebrows were raised at the project ’ s heft price tag , with Angela Raffle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Bristol , tweeting that “ embark [ ing ] on a screening programme without having carefully evaluated it first ... [ could ] result is an expensive mess that does more harm than good ” .
However , Boris Johnson said that “ deploying these tests on a far bigger scale than any country has yet achieved ” could help the UK avoid further Covid restrictions .
So do we need it ?
“ What would be the point of testing the entire population of Britain once a week if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” asks The Spectator , especially at such a huge cost .
There are doubts about its effectiveness , too .
Experts have compared the project to “ building a Channel tunnel without asking civil engineers to look at the plans ” , The Guardian says , claiming that “ there is no evidence the plan will offer any benefit ” .
One of the main complaints from public health experts is that the “ effectiveness of the tests it uses is weak , and the programme itself has been structured without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers on screening strategy ” , the paper adds .
Scientists have also suggested that the plans are “ unethical ” as the tests could deliver around “ 400,000 false positives if 60 million Britons were screened in the run-up to Christmas ” , The Times reports .
It would also deliver “ incorrect negative tests [ that ] could lead to the spread of the virus by people who were falsely reassured and took fewer precautions , the paper adds .
In the meantime , the government has already placed orders for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with plans in place to roll it out to at-risk groups in December - if it receives regulatory approval .
Even then , however , the logistical challenge of producing and distributing such a large number of vaccinations will mean it may be several months before the majority of the population can be protected .
The World Health Organization has warned that a vaccine will not end the pandemic , and said that testing and social distancing will be needed for some time yet .


theweekuk--2020-11-19--Spending watchdog launches PPE probe after Spanish middleman was paid £21m

The UK ’ s spending watchdog has launched an investigation after a Spanish businessman was paid £22m in taxpayer ’ s money for his role in procuring PPE for frontline NHS staff .
An “ urgent investigation ” into the contract has been opened by the National Audit Office ( NAO ) after Business Secretary Alok Sharma had insisted that the proper “ checks were done ” , the Daily Mail reports .
Gabriel Gonzalez Andersson was hired by Florida-based jewellery designer Michael Saiger , who in the early days of the pandemic began supplying protective gloves and gowns to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procurement , logistics , due diligence , product sourcing and quality control ” for Saiger ’ s company , working as a “ go-between ” on deals for Saiger to provide PPE for the government , the BBC reports .
“ Andersson was paid more than $ 28m ( £21m ) for his work on two government contracts ” , and would have been in line for a further $ 20m ( £15m ) in consulting fees after Saiger signed “ three more agreements to supply the NHS with millions of gloves and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcaster adds .
The Department of Health and Social Care ( DHSC ) has published contracts with Saiger ’ s company totalling more than £200m , however , details of the middleman ’ s payments only became public due to an ongoing US legal dispute between Saiger and Andersson .
The NAO investigation comes just a day after it was revealed that ministers had set up a secret VIP channel for government contracts during the pandemic , through which billions of pounds of money was paid out .
Suppliers with links to politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awarded roles through the fast-track scheme than those who applied through the DHSC , the watchdog said .

The UK’s spending watchdog has launched an investigation after a Spanish businessman was paid £22m in taxpayer’s money for his role in procuring PPE for frontline NHS staff.
An “urgent investigation” into the contract has been opened by the National Audit Office (NAO) after Business Secretary Alok Sharma had insisted that the proper “checks were done”, the Daily Mail reports.
Gabriel Gonzalez Andersson was hired by Florida-based jewellery designer Michael Saiger, who in the early days of the pandemic began supplying protective gloves and gowns to the NHS.
Andersson worked on “procurement, logistics, due diligence, product sourcing and quality control” for Saiger’s company, working as a “go-between” on deals for Saiger to provide PPE for the government, the BBC reports.
“Andersson was paid more than $28m (£21m) for his work on two government contracts”, and would have been in line for a further $20m (£15m) in consulting fees after Saiger signed “three more agreements to supply the NHS with millions of gloves and surgical gowns” in June, the broadcaster adds.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published contracts with Saiger’s company totalling more than £200m, however, details of the middleman’s payments only became public due to an ongoing US legal dispute between Saiger and Andersson.
The NAO investigation comes just a day after it was revealed that ministers had set up a secret VIP channel for government contracts during the pandemic, through which billions of pounds of money was paid out.
Suppliers with links to politicians were ten times more likely to be awarded roles through the fast-track scheme than those who applied through the DHSC, the watchdog said.


theweekuk--2020-11-19--Last orders: 72% of hospitality and pub businesses could close in 2021

In a normal year companies in the hospitality industry would now be gearing up for the Christmas rush of parties , events and festive celebrations .
But due to Covid-19 there ’ s not much to cheer about as pubs , restaurants and venues remain closed because of coronavirus restrictions .
The pandemic ’ s impact has been devastating for hospitality and in October 900,000 workers from the sector were on full-time furlough and a further 400,000 were on part-time furlough , Personnel Today reported .
Unable to reopen , the hospitality industry is facing a bleak future .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ten UK pubs and restaurants expect to operate at a loss and to be unable to survive because of the collapse in trade , The Guardian says .
In the survey , which was based on a poll of 446 UK businesses representing more than 20,000 venues , the British Beer and Pub Association , the British Institute of Innkeeping and UKHospitality trade bodies found that 72 % of firms “ expect to become unviable and close in 2021 ” .
The trade bodies say the survey found that the tiering system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and have called on the government to do more to support thousands of hospitality and pub businesses .
A joint spokesperson for the three organisations said : “ The evidence is here to see of the devastating , long-term impact the government ’ s restrictions are having on hospitality and pub businesses .
“ Without a change in approach and more support from government , much of our sector could be gone within a year – that means businesses and jobs lost plus much-loved venues closed forever .
“ We recognise that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on local risk levels , but to ensure our sector can bring people together properly this Christmas and beyond , and crucially provide them a safe environment to socialise in , we believe the tier system should be fine-tuned .
That means relaxing the ban on more than one household in tier two and extending the 10pm hard curfew cut-off point .
“ Those pubs and hospitality venues facing tier three restrictions currently have an impossible task of trying to remain viable as businesses .
In recognition of this , the government must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three where they do not serve food , as well as significantly enhance the grant support for those businesses not viable across all tiers , but especially those in tier three .
“ This will ensure their very survival so they can re-open once more when we are through the worst of this crisis.
” The three trade bodies also warned that unless the government offered greater support , there would be 750,000 fewer jobs in the sector by February 2021 compared with earlier this year , The Guardian added .
With lockdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s bars and cafes have been left in “ intensive care ” , Yahoo Finance reports .
Kate Nicholls , chief executive of UKHospitality , said 660,000 jobs have already been lost and companies fear missing out on trade during the year ’ s “ golden quarter ” .
Between Halloween and New Year ’ s Eve up to 40 % of annual revenues are earned .

In a normal year companies in the hospitality industry would now be gearing up for the Christmas rush of parties, events and festive celebrations.
But due to Covid-19 there’s not much to cheer about as pubs, restaurants and venues remain closed because of coronavirus restrictions.
The pandemic’s impact has been devastating for hospitality and in October 900,000 workers from the sector were on full-time furlough and a further 400,000 were on part-time furlough, Personnel Today reported.
Unable to reopen, the hospitality industry is facing a bleak future. According to a new poll, seven out of ten UK pubs and restaurants expect to operate at a loss and to be unable to survive because of the collapse in trade, The Guardian says.
In the survey, which was based on a poll of 446 UK businesses representing more than 20,000 venues, the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and UKHospitality trade bodies found that 72% of firms “expect to become unviable and close in 2021”.
The trade bodies say the survey found that the tiering system used across England was “particularly damaging” and have called on the government to do more to support thousands of hospitality and pub businesses.
A joint spokesperson for the three organisations said: “The evidence is here to see of the devastating, long-term impact the government’s restrictions are having on hospitality and pub businesses.
“Without a change in approach and more support from government, much of our sector could be gone within a year – that means businesses and jobs lost plus much-loved venues closed forever.
“We recognise that local restrictions will need to be based on local risk levels, but to ensure our sector can bring people together properly this Christmas and beyond, and crucially provide them a safe environment to socialise in, we believe the tier system should be fine-tuned. That means relaxing the ban on more than one household in tier two and extending the 10pm hard curfew cut-off point.
“Those pubs and hospitality venues facing tier three restrictions currently have an impossible task of trying to remain viable as businesses. In recognition of this, the government must enable wet-led pubs to re-open in tier three where they do not serve food, as well as significantly enhance the grant support for those businesses not viable across all tiers, but especially those in tier three.
“This will ensure their very survival so they can re-open once more when we are through the worst of this crisis.”
The three trade bodies also warned that unless the government offered greater support, there would be 750,000 fewer jobs in the sector by February 2021 compared with earlier this year, The Guardian added.
With lockdowns and restrictions hitting pre-Christmas trade, England’s bars and cafes have been left in “intensive care”, Yahoo Finance reports.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said 660,000 jobs have already been lost and companies fear missing out on trade during the year’s “golden quarter”. Between Halloween and New Year’s Eve up to 40% of annual revenues are earned.


theweekuk--2020-11-19--Was Boris Johnson right to label Scottish devolution a ‘disaster’?

Alex de Ruyter , director of the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University and David Hearne , researcher at the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University , on the prime minister ’ s divisive devolution criticism .
When the UK prime minister , Boris Johnson , recently told a group of MPs that devolution in Scotland has been a “ disaster ” he raised an interesting question .
Has handing greater powers to the Scottish government been a bad move , and , if so , for whom ?
Johnson ’ s comments have been taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including among members of the Scottish National Party ( SNP ) , which is in government in Scotland .
Even before he said it , polling put support for Scottish independence at its highest ever – at about 60 % .
And looking at the data , it does appear that devolution has been associated with a period of good economic performance .
If we look at the Scottish workforce , we find that Scottish employees appear somewhat better off than their English counterparts .
In 1999 , before devolution , average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scottish employees were more than 5 % lower than their English counterparts .
By 2019 , that gap had halved .
In 2020 ( where caution is needed in interpreting the figures due to the pandemic ) they are actually earning more , on average than their English counterparts .
This comparison actually rather flatters England , because the cost of living is higher in England .
If we compare instead the north-west ( a region with a larger population than Scotland ) , where prices are similar , we see that median @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1999 but by 2019 Scottish median wages were nearly 5 % higher .
This has been concentrated at the lower end of the income spectrum where improvements arguably are needed most .
A similar story can be told in terms of productivity , where growth in Scotland has been significantly more rapid than in England ( increasing from 1.3 % below that in North West England to a remarkable 6.5 % above ) in the two decades since devolution .
However , in contrast , in terms of life expectancy , Scotland ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can expect to live fewer years than the English , Welsh or Northern Irish .
Since the pre-devolution period , life expectancy for Scottish men increased at a broadly similar rate to that in the other UK nations ( by roughly four and a half years , which is slightly less than England but slightly more than Wales ) .
Life expectancy for Scottish women has fallen somewhat further behind that in England .
However , this data can be somewhat deceptive .
It ’ s extremely difficult to disentangle historical lifestyle factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behaviours known to reduce lifespan are more common in Scotland : we know , for example , that Scots are more likely to smoke than the English .
And comparing Scotland to England as a whole is rather misleading since London is driving a significant chunk of the improvements in England .
We have data on regional life expectancy going back to 2001-3 .
Scottish life expectancy has increased by 2.28 years for women and 3.66 years for men during that period and the commensurate figures for England are 2.67 and 3.56 respectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has increased by 3.9 years for women and a remarkable 4.9 years for men in less than two decades .
The remaining regions of England look very similar to Scotland .
Another area where one can legitimately criticise the SNP Holyrood administration is on education .
Scotland spends considerably more ( per child ) on pre-tertiary education than any region in England ( £6,191 per child against £5,216 in England – and the latter includes the London weighting ) .
Yet it appears to get poor results .
Direct comparisons are difficult because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s scores in international comparisons are below England ’ s .
Scotland ’ s government is far from perfect , and there are clear areas for improvement .
However , that is a failure of a specific administration and not a failure of devolution .
Indeed , it is far from clear that Westminster would do any better .
What evidence we have , then , the worst you can say about devolution when it comes to these factors is that the evidence is mixed .
And , generally , it looks good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health disparities evident in Scotland represent a legacy of decades of diet , alcohol consumption and jobs in defunct sectors such as mining that carried particular health risks , it is still too early to assess the impact of devolved government in tackling deep-seated health problems .
In economic terms , far from being a disaster , Scotland has performed reasonably well since it was handed greater powers .
Devolution , we would argue , is only a “ disaster ” from the perspective of those such as the prime minister , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government in Holyrood ( having been in power since 2007 ) as a threat to Scotland remaining in the UK .
If the economic performance of Scotland relative to the English regions at least is anything to go by , then the UK needs more devolution and not less .
Alex de Ruyter , director of the Centre for Brexit Studies , Birmingham City University and David Hearne , researcher at the Centre for Brexit Studies , Birmingham City University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
@ @ @ @ @

Alex de Ruyter, director of the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University and David Hearne, researcher at the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University, on the prime minister’s divisive devolution criticism.
When the UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, recently told a group of MPs that devolution in Scotland has been a “disaster” he raised an interesting question. Has handing greater powers to the Scottish government been a bad move, and, if so, for whom?
Johnson’s comments have been taken as a boon for the independence movement, including among members of the Scottish National Party (SNP), which is in government in Scotland. Even before he said it, polling put support for Scottish independence at its highest ever – at about 60%.
And looking at the data, it does appear that devolution has been associated with a period of good economic performance.
The good
If we look at the Scottish workforce, we find that Scottish employees appear somewhat better off than their English counterparts. In 1999, before devolution, average (median) weekly wages for full-time Scottish employees were more than 5% lower than their English counterparts.
By 2019, that gap had halved. In 2020 (where caution is needed in interpreting the figures due to the pandemic) they are actually earning more, on average than their English counterparts.
This comparison actually rather flatters England, because the cost of living is higher in England. If we compare instead the north-west (a region with a larger population than Scotland), where prices are similar, we see that median full-time wages were on a par in 1999 but by 2019 Scottish median wages were nearly 5% higher.
This has been concentrated at the lower end of the income spectrum where improvements arguably are needed most.
Worth bookmarking these PM comments for the next time Tories say they’re not a threat to the powers of the Scottish Parliament - or, even more incredibly, that they support devolving more powers. The only way to protect & strengthen @ScotParl is with independence. https://t.co/Hk7DqoFeuY — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) November 16, 2020
A similar story can be told in terms of productivity, where growth in Scotland has been significantly more rapid than in England (increasing from 1.3% below that in North West England to a remarkable 6.5% above) in the two decades since devolution.
The bad
However, in contrast, in terms of life expectancy, Scotland’s performance has been mediocre. Scots can expect to live fewer years than the English, Welsh or Northern Irish.


theweekuk--2020-11-19--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 19 Nov 2020

The prime minister is to reveal the largest military investment since the Cold War , with an extra £4bn a @ @ @ @ @ years devoted to defence .
The UK will end an “ era of retreat ” @ @ @ @ @ , cyber force and artificial intelligence agency , Boris Johnson said .
“ I have @ @ @ @ @ teeth of the pandemic because the defence of the realm must come first , ” @ @ @

Boris Johnson set to announce huge military investment
The prime minister is to reveal the largest military investment since the Cold War, with an extra £4bn a year over the next four years devoted to defence. The UK will end an “era of retreat” with a new space command, cyber force and artificial intelligence agency, Boris Johnson said. “I have taken this decision in the teeth of the pandemic because the defence of the realm must come first,” he added.


theweekuk--2020-11-19--Man sells meteorite that hit his home for $1 million

An Indonesian man has sold a meteorite that crashed through his roof for over $ 1 million ( £755,965 ) .
Remembering the day , Josua Hutagalung said : “ When I lifted it , the stone was still warm.
” He said the money will allow his family to expand and he plans to donate some of the cash towards the building of a local church .
A man says 5G and an allergy to electricity has made him a hostage in his own home .
Father-of-three Bruno Berrick told the Northamptonshire Telegraph that he ’ s painted his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffers from electrosensitivity .
The family keeps electricity use to a minimum by leaving lights off in the evening and not watching television .
His condition has been disputed by medics .
Ren Keyu , of Sichuan Province , China , has celebrated his 14th birthday by being crowned as the tallest male teenager in the world , at a height of 221.03 cm ( 7 ft 3.02 in ) .
He believes his height may be hereditary , as his grandmother is 175 cm tall , his mother and grandfather are over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at over 180 cm .
“ In some people ’ s minds , tall stature is always associated with the simplicity of mind , ” he complained .
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An Indonesian man has sold a meteorite that crashed through his roof for over $1 million (£755,965). Remembering the day, Josua Hutagalung said: “When I lifted it, the stone was still warm.” He said the money will allow his family to expand and he plans to donate some of the cash towards the building of a local church.
Man paints home in 5G protective paint
A man says 5G and an allergy to electricity has made him a hostage in his own home. Father-of-three Bruno Berrick told the Northamptonshire Telegraph that he’s painted his home in 5G protective paint as he suffers from electrosensitivity. The family keeps electricity use to a minimum by leaving lights off in the evening and not watching television. His condition has been disputed by medics.
World's tallest teenager named in China
Ren Keyu, of Sichuan Province, China, has celebrated his 14th birthday by being crowned as the tallest male teenager in the world, at a height of 221.03 cm (7 ft 3.02 in). He believes his height may be hereditary, as his grandmother is 175 cm tall, his mother and grandfather are over 190 cm tall and his father stands at over 180 cm. “In some people’s minds, tall stature is always associated with the simplicity of mind,” he complained.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-11-18--Ten Christmas stocking fillers which cost £20 or less

The countdown to Christmas has started and present shopping has begun .
While big gifts are nice to receive , one of the best traditions of Christmas morning is seeing what Santa ’ s left in your stocking .
We ’ ve given the man in red a helping hand on what items should be in stockings this year .
There ’ s the classics of course - chocolates and socks - and also some unique gifts .
Here we pick out ten stocking fillers that cost £20 or less .
Every Christmas stocking needs some sweet treats , right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ features 15 classic chocolates in milk , white and dark .
Flavours include Eton Mess , lemon cheesecake , billionaire ’ s shortbread , simple dark truffle and salted caramel .
Marshmallow Toasting Gift Set from The Naked Marshmallow Co .
Sit around the fire and toast some tasty marshmallows .
This gift set from The Naked Marshmallow Co. includes any two gourmet flavours , a non-toxic gel burner , a set of eight bamboo skewers and a bespoke kraft gift box which features an internal printed guide on “ how to toast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Political Confectioneries , The Brexit Biscuit aims to “ bring a smile to our divided nation by combining two classic British institutions - biscuits and satire ” .
Inside the tin , and wrapped up in an Article 50 package , are 14 all-butter snappable shortbreads designed to split like the nation… 52:48 .
The biscuits feature the Union Flag on one half and the EU flag on the other .
£12.95 for the commemorative tin and 14 biscuits ; thebrexitbiscuit.co.uk Available in three colours - pink , orange and myrtle green - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfect for keeping your day-to-day activities in order and planning for the new year ahead .
LEGO BrickHeadz Star Wars : The Mandalorian and The Child You don ’ t have to be a kid to love LEGO and you don ’ t have to be a sci-fi fan to love Star Wars .
People of all ages will enjoy building these LEGO BrickHeadz versions of The Mandalorian and the Child ( who is better known as Baby Yoda ) .
What does every man want for Christmas ?
Lynx Africa of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa is celebrating its 25th year and this trio gift set ( body spray , body wash and anti-perspirant deodorant spray ) is perfect for dads , brothers , uncles and guys everywhere .
This gift by Beer Hawk contains three craft beers neatly packaged in a festive canister that can be popped inside a stocking .
It will be shipped to your door in “ peek-proof ” packaging to keep this beer stocking filler a surprise .
Available in two sizes , this gift set from Not Another Bill is the perfect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The small Sipsmith Gin Gift Set includes one hammered mug , straws , a cocktail recipe card and one 5cl Sipsmith gin bottle .
If there ’ s one item that has become a must-have in 2020 then it ’ s the face mask .
Marks & Spencer has a pack of five reusable and adjustable two-ply cotton adult face coverings which come in assorted neutral colours .
As GQ magazine says : “ This is not just a mask… it ’ s an M & S mask.
” As well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to have a pair of socks in it .
Happy Socks has a full range of gifts in its online store , but to keep under £20 we ’ ve picked out this two-pair “ Hot Dog ” socks gift box .
Hot dogs for Christmas ?
Why not ...

Christmas is traditionally a time of peace and goodwill – that is until you get the Monopoly board out. What should be a fun game to play with friends and family, it is, however, famous for causing many a bust-up. At Christmas in 2016 makers Hasbro even launched a “Monopoly Hotline” with experts on hand to settle any disputes. Despite people making up rules and stealing from the bank, Monopoly is still a great addition to the gift wish list. There are various boards available, but for stocking filler purposes, the Grab & Go is decent value at less than a tenner.


theweekuk--2020-11-18--Ten of the best luxury watches for everyday wear

Sometimes you want a watch that ’ s easy to wear , refined and suggestive of discerning style .
If anything has these attributes in spades , it ’ s the XL version of Cartier ’ s Cartier-Dumont .
Measuring a generous 46.6mm x 33.9mm , the watch is powered by a hand-wound mechanical movement and comes in three models : all steel , a steel case with pink-gold bezel , and full pink-gold , each delivered on an alligator strap .
For fans of vintage-feel chronographs , the handsome Montblanc Heritage edition looks the part right down to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then , of course , there ’ s the striking salmon colour , expertly texturised thanks to sunburst brushing and grainy stippling .
It ’ s large , at 42mm x 14.7mm , so stands out on the wrist , which can only be good .
The iconic Oyster Perpetual is now available in a 41mm size and dials come in seven colours including tangerine orange and baby pink .
The hero model is this retro looking version with silver sunray dial and 18-carat gold hands and hour markers – details which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low thanks to a coating of luminescent Chromalight .
All models are equipped with the self-winding calibre 3230 , also waterproof to depths of 330 feet , so it can be worn during high impact water sports , such as scuba and saturation diving .
Bremont has teamed up with Rolls-Royce to become the official timing partner for its all-electric speed record attempt .
Taking flight in early 2021 , Rolls Royce ’ s Spirit of Innovation aims to be the fastest zero-emissions aircraft in history .
Bremont ’ s involvement is twofold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the cockpit , and test pilots will be equipped with this vintage-inspired 43mm chronometer called the Bremont ionBird .
The watch ’ s clear GMT function is buffered by some serious anti-shock technology while its case is hewn from lightweight aviation grade titanium .
Based on a vintage design first commissioned by the French Navy in 1947 , this 38.5mm model encapsulates what Longines does best : classic watchmaking .
Nods to the original are obvious : see the rounded boxed glass , screw-down crown , cream dial with large numerals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bezel also connects it to military watches of the past , as does the inscription “ Fab Suisse ” ( for Fabrique Swiss ) on the dial , which replicates the stamp employed on the Longines wartime pieces .
This new steel limited edition , made in celebration of the Japanese watchmaker ’ s 60th anniversary , evokes the radiant blue sky over Mount Iwate at dawn that greets the watchmakers of the Grand Seiko Studio in Shizukuishi .
The red tip of the slim seconds hand represents the rising sun that punctuates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and you ’ ll see a red ring around the oscillating weight - apparently a visual metaphor for the warm light that floods through the studio every morning .
Rather beautiful , then , in both form and spirit .
Limited to 2,550 pieces .
Born in 1979 , the Piaget Polo is a watch designed for tastemakers .
Worn by the likes of Andy Warhol , it combines understated masculinity with an economy of line .
Recognisable from its cushion-shaped dial set into a round case , this 43mm version is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ green guilloche dial is paired with pink-gold coloured hands , gold indexes and date window frame .
The timepiece is powered by Piaget ’ s 1110P self-winding movement whose slate-grey oscillating weight can be admired through a sapphire crystal caseback .
In 1980 , Hublot shook up the watch world with its unconventional Classic Fusion timepiece , a gold watch on a rubber strap .
To mark its 40th anniversary , the brand has reinvented the sporty luxe model noted for its angular case and circular bezel with visible screws .
Now powered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the 45mm model with black-lacquered dial is arguably the most understated design of the Hublot family – and yet is still cutting-edge .
It is available in a choice of yellow gold , titanium or black ceramic .
IWC ’ s popular Portugieser family has been enhanced with a host of new additions this year .
The complex Portugieser Yacht Club Moon & Tide is the first watch from IWC to feature a new tide indication .
Purists will be thrilled to see the return of the iconic Portugieser Automatic 40 which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only in a more compact form .
Its movement is powered by a Pellaton pawl-winding system with components made of virtually wear-free ceramic , which ensure a power reserve of 60 hours .
Reborn in 2018 to mark the 50th anniversary of the marque ’ s classic diving model , the Polaris has become a hero piece .
Now comes the closest match to the 1968 original : a serious dive watch with a mechanical alarm function .
Don ’ t be deceived by its smart look : the new Mariner is water-resistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it actually exceeds the ISO 6425 certification test , the official standard for diver ’ s watches .
Its alarm function is a wonderful nod to the past – a signifier of the brand ’ s belief in art for art ’ s sake .

Cartier: new Dumont XL
Sometimes you want a watch that’s easy to wear, refined and suggestive of discerning style. If anything has these attributes in spades, it’s the XL version of Cartier’s Cartier-Dumont.
Measuring a generous 46.6mm x 33.9mm, the watch is powered by a hand-wound mechanical movement and comes in three models: all steel, a steel case with pink-gold bezel, and full pink-gold, each delivered on an alligator strap.
Steel version £5,400; cartier.com
Montblanc Heritage Monopusher Chronograph
For fans of vintage-feel chronographs, the handsome Montblanc Heritage edition looks the part right down to its subdials, narrow bezel and dauphine hands. Then, of course, there’s the striking salmon colour, expertly texturised thanks to sunburst brushing and grainy stippling. It’s large, at 42mm x 14.7mm, so stands out on the wrist, which can only be good.
£4,200; montblanc.com
Rolex: new 41mm Oyster Perpetual
The iconic Oyster Perpetual is now available in a 41mm size and dials come in seven colours including tangerine orange and baby pink. The hero model is this retro looking version with silver sunray dial and 18-carat gold hands and hour markers – details which radiate a lustrous blue when lights are low thanks to a coating of luminescent Chromalight. All models are equipped with the self-winding calibre 3230, also waterproof to depths of 330 feet, so it can be worn during high impact water sports, such as scuba and saturation diving.
£4,700; rolex.com
Bremont ionBird
Bremont has teamed up with Rolls-Royce to become the official timing partner for its all-electric speed record attempt. Taking flight in early 2021, Rolls Royce’s Spirit of Innovation aims to be the fastest zero-emissions aircraft in history. Bremont’s involvement is twofold: it has installed a Bremont stopwatch in the cockpit, and test pilots will be equipped with this vintage-inspired 43mm chronometer called the Bremont ionBird. The watch’s clear GMT function is buffered by some serious anti-shock technology while its case is hewn from lightweight aviation grade titanium.
From £4,495; bremont.com
Longines Heritage Military Marine Nationale
Based on a vintage design first commissioned by the French Navy in 1947, this 38.5mm model encapsulates what Longines does best: classic watchmaking. Nods to the original are obvious: see the rounded boxed glass, screw-down crown, cream dial with large numerals and blue steel hands. The thickly set bezel also connects it to military watches of the past, as does the inscription “Fab Suisse” (for Fabrique Swiss) on the dial, which replicates the stamp employed on the Longines wartime pieces.


theweekuk--2020-11-20--Will vaccines sound the death knell for Sweden’s Covid experiment?

Back in March , as Sweden embarked on a uniquely open approach to the coronavirus pandemic - and its death toll began to rise - state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell ( pictured ) urged the rest of the world to reserve judgement .
“ In the autumn there will be a second wave , ” he said .
“ Sweden will have a high level of immunity and the number of cases will probably be quite low.
” For a time , it looked as if he might be vindicated .
In September , the Swedish policy of keeping the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interaction was “ beginning to gain traction elsewhere in Europe ” , The National reported .
Sweden was recording fewer than 300 new cases of Covid-19 per day , “ compared with thousands in other European countries such as Britain , France and Spain ” , the paper adds .
“ Its average number of deaths [ was ] one a day.
” And Swedes had benefited from the business-as-usual approach to schooling , socialising and health services .
As autumn turns to winter , however , the calculus has changed again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are dying in Sweden than in its Nordic neighbours ( although Sweden ’ s current mortality rate is below Germany ’ s and less than a tenth of Belgium ’ s ) .
The big shift , though , is the promise that herd immunity might soon be achieved through artificial means .
“ As half a dozen vaccines draw into sight , ” says The Times , “ it is at last possible to set down the rudiments of a meaningful judgment on the strategy.
” And Swedish critics of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is finally clear that their country has paid far too high a price for too few tangible results ” , the paper reports .
Even Tegnell himself seems to be having second thoughts .
“ Throughout history there has up to now been no infectious disease whose transmission was fully halted by herd immunity without a vaccine , ” he recently told the German newspaper Der Spiegel .
Fortunately for Swedes - and the rest of us - we won ’ t have to find out if Covid-19 could have been the first @

Back in March, as Sweden embarked on a uniquely open approach to the coronavirus pandemic - and its death toll began to rise - state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell (pictured) urged the rest of the world to reserve judgement.
“In the autumn there will be a second wave,” he said. “Sweden will have a high level of immunity and the number of cases will probably be quite low.”
For a time, it looked as if he might be vindicated. In September, the Swedish policy of keeping the economy open while asking people to reduce social interaction was “beginning to gain traction elsewhere in Europe”, The National reported.
Sweden was recording fewer than 300 new cases of Covid-19 per day, “compared with thousands in other European countries such as Britain, France and Spain”, the paper adds. “Its average number of deaths [was] one a day.” And Swedes had benefited from the business-as-usual approach to schooling, socialising and health services.
As autumn turns to winter, however, the calculus has changed again. Cases are on the rise and more people are dying in Sweden than in its Nordic neighbours (although Sweden’s current mortality rate is below Germany’s and less than a tenth of Belgium’s).
The big shift, though, is the promise that herd immunity might soon be achieved through artificial means.
“As half a dozen vaccines draw into sight,” says The Times, “it is at last possible to set down the rudiments of a meaningful judgment on the strategy.” And Swedish critics of their country’s approach “believe it is finally clear that their country has paid far too high a price for too few tangible results”, the paper reports.
Even Tegnell himself seems to be having second thoughts. “Throughout history there has up to now been no infectious disease whose transmission was fully halted by herd immunity without a vaccine,” he recently told the German newspaper Der Spiegel.
Fortunately for Swedes - and the rest of us - we won’t have to find out if Covid-19 could have been the first.