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- Pregnant women in hospital with Covid-19 may not show symptoms, study finds
- Covid lockdown eased in two of England's worst-hit areas despite surge in cases
- UK coronavirus live: Gavin Williamson chose to cancel exams while Ofqual wanted them to go ahead, MPs told
- Scotland announces local lockdowns and quarantine for arrivals from Greece
- Most Democrats fear Trump could reject election defeat, poll shows
- Charlie Hebdo attack: suspected accomplices go on trial in Paris
- Coronavirus live news: Nancy Pelosi visits hair salon without face mask; Victoria extends state of emergency
- Comrade Duch, Khmer Rouge chief executioner, dies in Cambodia
- India acts to secure border after Himalaya clashes with China
- Grounded beef? Airlines sell in-flight meals to earthbound travellers
- Melania Trump reportedly used private email while in the White House
- Russian agency created fake leftwing news outlet with fictional editors, Facebook says
- Trump told Sarah Sanders to 'take one for the team' after Kim Jong-un wink
- Lego reports sales jump after Covid crisis kept families at home
- Indoor plant with four leaves sells for $8,000 in New Zealand
- Amazon 'condemned to destruction' as fires proliferate across Brazil
- Macron visits Lebanese singer in bid to change political soundtrack
- Does Netflix's Blood and Water show the 'real' South Africa?
- First Thing: Trump denies police racism is 'systemic' on Kenosha visit
- Journalists charged with breaching George Pell suppression order to face trial in November
- 'I had to stand up': young refugees learn to take on MPs and the UK media
- Uganda suspends three-quarters of refugee aid agencies from operating
- UK will lead world on tackling famine and Covid with new department, says Raab
- 'It's called choking': Donald Trump blames racist policing on 'bad apples' – video
- Donald Trump appears to defend Kenosha gunman – video
| Pregnant women in hospital with Covid-19 may not show symptoms, study finds Posted: 01 Sep 2020 03:30 PM PDT Analysis shows that pregnant women may be at a higher risk of needing admission to an ICU Pregnant women in hospital with coronavirus are less likely to show symptoms and may have a greater risk risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit than non-pregnant women of similar age, a study has found. The analysis, which encompassed 77 studies conducted globally and was published in the British Medical Journal, looked at 11,432 pregnant women admitted to hospital and diagnosed as having suspected or confirmed Covid-19. Continue reading... |
| Covid lockdown eased in two of England's worst-hit areas despite surge in cases Posted: 02 Sep 2020 12:30 AM PDT Lifting of restrictions in Bolton and Trafford described as 'completely illogical' Restrictions on social gatherings for more than half a million people in two of England's worst-hit areas have been lifted, despite councils warning the government it was too soon to lift the measures. The government pressed ahead with the lifting of restrictions for more than 520,000 people in Bolton and Trafford in north-west England overnight despite a surge in the number of cases in both areas. Continue reading... |
| Posted: 02 Sep 2020 03:27 AM PDT News updates: Ofqual suggests education secretary must accept share of blame for exam debacle after giving it 'impossible task'
Here are the main points from the written submission to the education committee from Roger Taylor, the Ofqual chair. Any awarding process that does not give the individual the ability to affect their fate by demonstrating their skills and knowledge in a fair test will not command and retain public confidence ... To try to deliver comparable qualification results in the absence of students having taken any assessments (examinations) proved to be an impossible task. Understandably, there is now a desire to attribute blame. The decision to use a system of statistical standardised teacher assessments was taken by the secretary of state and issued as a direction to Ofqual. Ofqual could have rejected this, but we decided that this was in the best interests of students, so that they could progress to their next stage of education, training or work. The implementation of that approach was entirely down to Ofqual. However, given the exceptional nature of this year, we worked in a much more collaborative way than we would in a normal year, sharing detailed information with partners. We kept the Department for Education fully informed about the work we were doing and the approach we intended to take to qualifications, the risks and impact on results as they emerged. However, we are ultimately responsible for the decisions that fall to us as the regulator. In March, Ofqual was consulted by the secretary of state on how to manage school qualifications in the context of a pandemic. Our advice at that time was that the best option in terms of valid qualifications would be to hold exams in a socially distanced manner. We also set out alternative options including the use of standardised teacher assessments and the risks associated with them. On March 18, the secretary of state for education took the decision to cancel exams this summer. The loss of schooling and the likely parental concerns about sending children back into schools to take exams meant that exams were not considered a viable option. The principle of moderating teacher grades was accepted as a sound one, and indeed the relevant regulatory and examination bodies across the four nations of the United Kingdom separately put in place plans to do this ... Using statistics to iron out these differences and ensure consistency looked, in principle, to be a good idea. That is why in our consultations and stakeholder discussions all the teaching unions supported the approach we adopted. Indeed, when we consulted on it, 89% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with our proposed aims for the statistical standardisation approach. We knew, however, that there would be specific issues associated with this approach. In particular, statistical standardisation of this kind will inevitably result in a very small proportion of quite anomalous results that would need to be corrected by applying human judgment through an appeals process. Ultimately, however, the approach failed to win public confidence, even in circumstances where it was operating exactly as we had intended it to. While sound in principle, candidates who had reasonable expectations of achieving a grade were not willing to accept that they had been selected on the basis of teacher rankings and statistical predictions to receive a lower grade. To be told that you cannot progress as you wanted because you have been awarded a lower grade in this way was unacceptable. The original policy was adopted on the basis that the autumn series would give young people who were disappointed with their results, the opportunity to sit an examination. However, the extended lockdown of schools and the failure to ensure that such candidates could still take their places at university meant that this option was, for many, effectively removed. This significantly shifted the public acceptability of awarding standardised grades.
The education commitee has published the written submission it has received from Roger Taylor, chair of Ofqual, about the exam grade debacle. There is a link to it here. We have received this written statement from @ofqual. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Scotland announces local lockdowns and quarantine for arrivals from Greece Posted: 01 Sep 2020 12:20 PM PDT Household gatherings banned in three Greater Glasgow areas and travellers from Greece to self-isolate from Thursday The Scottish government has announced a ban on household gatherings in three local authorities in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area for the next two weeks and has imposed quarantine restrictions on people coming from Greece to Scotland from Thursday. Nicola Sturgeon, said the localised restrictions – which come into force at midnight on Tuesday and will affect an estimated 800,000 people – apply to those living in West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow and East Renfrewshire, where infection rates have risen in recent days. Continue reading... |
| Most Democrats fear Trump could reject election defeat, poll shows Posted: 01 Sep 2020 11:30 PM PDT As many as 75% of Biden voters worry that if Trump loses election he will refuse to concede defeat, triggering a constitutional crisis Three in four supporters of Democratic challenger Joe Biden are worried about the prospect of Donald Trump rejecting the US presidential election result if it goes against him, an Opinium Research poll for the Guardian shows. The survey underlined fears that the president will not accept the outcome of November's race, triggering a constitutional crisis. Last week two congressional Democrats wrote to the Pentagon seeking assurance that the military would ensure an orderly transfer of power. Continue reading... |
| Charlie Hebdo attack: suspected accomplices go on trial in Paris Posted: 02 Sep 2020 03:10 AM PDT Fourteen charged over killing of 17 people at satirical magazine and kosher supermarket The trial of 14 suspects accused of involvement in the 2015 attacks on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and the kosher supermarket Hyper Cacher has opened in Paris. The hearing, expected to last 49 days and recorded live for "the historical record", began amid high security and will relive the three days of terror in January 2015 that left 17 people dead and others injured. Continue reading... |
| Posted: 02 Sep 2020 03:11 AM PDT House speaker pictured having her hair done in San Francisco without a mask; Australian Covid hot spot to have state of emergency for six more weeks
Greece recorded has recorded the first coronavirus case in the overcrowded migrant camp of Moria on the island of Lesbos, two migration ministry officials said on Wednesday. A 40-year old asylum seeker has tested positive for the virus and had been put in isolation, one of the officials told Reuters. Authorities were trying to trace the people he had been in contact with, the official said.
I am now handing over the blog to the very capable Amy Walker. Thank you for reading and please do keep us updated on all coronavirus-related tips and stories. Continue reading... |
| Comrade Duch, Khmer Rouge chief executioner, dies in Cambodia Posted: 02 Sep 2020 12:43 AM PDT Figure who ran Cambodia's most notorious prison during genocidal regime of Pol Pot died on Wednesday The chief jailer of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime, known as Comrade Duch, who oversaw the mass murder of at least 14,000 Cambodians at the notorious Tuol Sleng prison, has died. Related: Life for Comrade Duch, a milestone for international justice | Mark Vlasic Continue reading... |
| India acts to secure border after Himalaya clashes with China Posted: 02 Sep 2020 12:02 AM PDT Military buildup increases fears of further confrontations between nuclear powers India has moved troops to the eastern stretch of its border with China since clashes erupted between the nuclear-armed rivals on the western part of their border in the Himalayas in June, a government official said. The clashes in the Ladakh region in June, in the western part of their border, was the worst violence between the countries in decades and there has been little sign of a reduction in tension, with further military action in the past week. Continue reading... |
| Grounded beef? Airlines sell in-flight meals to earthbound travellers Posted: 01 Sep 2020 05:04 PM PDT Carriers prevented from operating due to coronavirus have turned to offering trays of takeaway to nostalgic flyers Airlines are not known for their excellent cuisine. A tray of plastic-sealed plane food is, for some travellers, barely tolerable at 30,000 feet. Yet, as the coronavirus pandemic has halted flights around the world, a growing number of airlines are now flogging in-flight meals to grounded customers. Thai Airways began advertising meal boxes in April, when the pandemic struck, selling anything from stir fried tiger prawn to beef cheek with cumin sauce. In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific is selling meals to airport staff, while Indonesia's national airline Garuda is offering its food as takeaway dinners on a tray. Continue reading... |
| Melania Trump reportedly used private email while in the White House Posted: 01 Sep 2020 09:26 PM PDT Former senior advisor claims she corresponded multiple times a day with the first lady on state business via private channels Melania Trump used private email and messaging while in the White House, according to a former senior advisor and estranged friend. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, speaking to the Washington Post, claims she corresponded multiple times a day with the First Lady via private channels. Continue reading... |
| Russian agency created fake leftwing news outlet with fictional editors, Facebook says Posted: 01 Sep 2020 05:22 PM PDT Internet Research Agency also hired real, unwitting freelance reporters in operation Facebook has removed The Russian agency that interfered in the 2016 US election created a fake leftwing news publication, staffed it with fake editors with AI-generated photos and hired real freelance reporters as part of a fresh influence operation detected and removed by Facebook, the company said on Tuesday. The latest operation by the Internet Research Agency (IRA) was still in its early stages when it was detected thanks to a tip from the FBI, according to Facebook's head of security policy, Nathaniel Gleicher. The network had 13 accounts and two pages, with about 14,000 total followers. Continue reading... |
| Trump told Sarah Sanders to 'take one for the team' after Kim Jong-un wink Posted: 01 Sep 2020 10:00 PM PDT
Donald Trump told Sarah Sanders she would have to "go to North Korea and take one for the team", after Kim Jong-un winked at the then White House press secretary during a summit in Singapore in June 2018. Related: Trump denies 'series of mini-strokes' after book reports mystery hospital visit Continue reading... |
| Lego reports sales jump after Covid crisis kept families at home Posted: 02 Sep 2020 03:05 AM PDT Shoppers globally bought toys online while physical stores were hit by restrictions Lego, the toy brick company, has enjoyed a lockdown boost to sales as families around the world were forced to spend more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Total sales rose by 14% in the first half of 2020 and sales were up by more than 10% in its largest markets – including the Americas, western Europe, Asia Pacific and China – despite the closure of toy shops for months in some countries, including the UK. Continue reading... |
| Indoor plant with four leaves sells for $8,000 in New Zealand Posted: 01 Sep 2020 08:38 PM PDT A buyer was willing to part with huge sum to secure the variegated minima amid a houseplant boom fuelled by the pandemic An indoor plant with just four leaves has sold for more than NZ$8,000 (£4,000) in New Zealand, as the public's passion for horticulture surges during the pandemic. Houseplants have become especially popular among millennials, experts say, many of whom are unable to nurture babies or pets due to financial and property constraints. Continue reading... |
| Amazon 'condemned to destruction' as fires proliferate across Brazil Posted: 02 Sep 2020 02:15 AM PDT The vast rainforest is experiencing a repeat of last year's devastating blazes and critics say Bolsonaro bears ultimate responsibility Jair Bolsonaro smiles down from a propaganda billboard at the entrance to this scruffy Amazon outpost, welcoming travelers to his "route to development". But 20 months into Bolsonaro's presidency – and a year after a devastating outbreak of Amazon fires caused global outrage – the fires are back, and many fear Brazil's leader is instead steering his country towards environmental ruin. Continue reading... |
| Macron visits Lebanese singer in bid to change political soundtrack Posted: 01 Sep 2020 08:02 AM PDT French leader meets Fairouz, 85, amid frustration with ruling class unwilling to change The French president had tried it all before: rebuking his counterpart, cajoling ministers, withholding aid and imploring the Lebanese ruling class to change its ways in order to save the country. This time Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beirut with a different approach – a visit to one of the country's most unifying figures. His first port of call was to the home of the illustrious singer, Fairouz, whose songs of loss and lament have been a soundtrack to Lebanese life for more than 50 years. Continue reading... |
| Does Netflix's Blood and Water show the 'real' South Africa? Posted: 02 Sep 2020 02:25 AM PDT The streaming giant's Cape Town-set series has been a huge hit. But do dramas of its ilk lack authenticity, or is their global feel the key to their success? Neon lights dance across an infinity pool, while, inside an enormous mansion, couples canoodle in immaculate white corridors and the cool kids sneak away to smoke. At this kind of party, there are those who are recognised at the door and those who have to blag to get their name on the guestlist. As the birthday girl schmoozes with her guests, an awkward attendee does anything to escape the hubbub and keep her head down, as red cups pile up in the garden and a queue forms for the bar. So far, so teen drama. But this isn't London or LA: the two girls are Fikile Bhele and Puleng Khumalo, and the show is Blood and Water, set in South Africa. The second African series produced and released by Netflix, it focuses on the class divide between private Parkhurst school in Cape Town and its unnamed public counterpart, as well as Khumalo's search for her missing sister. Like many dramas aimed at younger viewers, the first instalment kicks off in the midst of a debauched, booze-soaked gathering before branching out into the dark underbelly of popularity – think student-teacher relationships and moneyed parents wielding their power in the education system in the form of "donations". Continue reading... |
| First Thing: Trump denies police racism is 'systemic' on Kenosha visit Posted: 02 Sep 2020 03:28 AM PDT US president blamed police discrimination on 'bad apples'. Plus, US refuses to join coronavirus vaccine cooperation over WHO stance Good morning. Trump blamed discriminatory policing on "bad apples", and denied it was "systemic", as he visited Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kenosha has been the site of daily anti-racism protests since police shot and paralysed Jacob Blake, an African American man, as he was getting into his vehicle with his three children inside. Continue reading... |
| Journalists charged with breaching George Pell suppression order to face trial in November Posted: 02 Sep 2020 02:59 AM PDT Twenty-one separate publications, six corporate groups and 19 individual journalists charged Twenty-one separate publications, six corporate groups and 19 individual journalists charged with breaching a suppression order during the George Pell trial in 2018 will face a single, but complex, trial in November. Pell was acquitted of all charges by the high court on appeal in April. Continue reading... |
| 'I had to stand up': young refugees learn to take on MPs and the UK media Posted: 01 Sep 2020 11:45 PM PDT The voices of young asylum seekers have been absent from the debate over their futures – until a charity decided to teach them public speaking Naqeeb, a 20-year old refugee from Afghanistan, has watched with increasing dismay the reaction of politicians and journalists to the people who are risking their lives attempting to reach the UK across the Channel. Among those packed aboard flimsy dinghies are teenagers and children travelling alone: more than 400 unaccompanied minors have attempted to cross from France to England by sea this year. Continue reading... |
| Uganda suspends three-quarters of refugee aid agencies from operating Posted: 01 Sep 2020 11:15 PM PDT NGOs reportedly failed to meet rules, but sweeping move could impact many of the country's 1.4 million refugees activists warn The Ugandan government has suspended operations of three-quarters of refugee aid organisations over non-compliance with operational rules. The move affects 208 aid agencies, including 85 international groups. Hilary Onek, minister for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, said some organisations had been operating in refugee settlements illegally, without government approval. Continue reading... |
| UK will lead world on tackling famine and Covid with new department, says Raab Posted: 01 Sep 2020 10:30 PM PDT Merging DfID and FCO will cement Britain 'as a force for good', Raab claims, but critics fear aid will be deprioritised Dominic Raab pledged Britain will take the global lead in tackling coronavirus and the growing risk of famine in developing countries by combining diplomatic strength with "world-leading" aid expertise, as the newly merged Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) prepared to launch on Wednesday. In his first appointment as head of the FCDO, the foreign secretary appointed Nick Dyer, acting permanent secretary of the former Department for International Development (DfID), as the UK's first special envoy for famine prevention and humanitarian affairs. Continue reading... |
| 'It's called choking': Donald Trump blames racist policing on 'bad apples' – video Posted: 02 Sep 2020 12:37 AM PDT The US president praised police forces while touring the Wisconsin city that became the centre of protests after an police shot Jacob Blake, blaming recent racist incidents on 'bad apples' and officers 'choking' under pressure. Donald Trump said a silent majority of Kenosha residents were most concerned about 'law and order', insisting people should focus on 'anarchists, looters and rioters' and not peaceful protesters
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| Donald Trump appears to defend Kenosha gunman – video Posted: 01 Sep 2020 04:43 AM PDT Donald Trump appeared to defend the teenage gunman charged with killing two people and injuring another with an AR-15-style rifle during protests against the police shooting of an African American man in Kenosha, Wisconsin. At a White House press briefing Trump said Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, 'probably would have been killed but it's under investigation'. Trump also defended his supporters in Portland who fired paintball guns and pepper spray on Saturday
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