Tag: USA

It’s Still about the Virus

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US virus spread is increasing with Trump continuing to press for the states to open up their economies. He has pardoned his friend Stone who was convicted of lying to the Senate. By the end of the month he is promoting the use of masks.
The introduction of security laws in Hong Kong by China is widely condemned. US pressure to get HUAWEI out of 5g infrastructure has meant the UK has decided not to allow them participation here. This was largely due to the US banning their chips in HUAWEI products.

The Brazilian president, who downplays the virus and refused to wear a mask, has tested positive.
In the Uk, the chancellor, Sunak, announces plans for stimulating the economy including government subsidies for eating in restaurants Mon to Wed during August. The government has confirmed plans to get all children back to school in September. Travel, without the need for 14 day quarantine on return, has been announced for 70 countries. Spain is removed from the list on 25th July. Changes were introduced for 24th July including the opening of covid prepared gyms and pools and the requirement to wear masks in shops.
There are localised virus outbreaks (mainly in factories where distancing is difficult or in crowded multi occupancy household areas) resulting in restrictions in Leicester, Blackburn and Greater Manchester.

000’s Cases Deaths
Feb March April May June July Feb Mar April May June July
World 85 863 1985 2957 10550 17744 3 43 234 382 519 682
UK 0 22 171 249 283 303 0 2 27 37 40 41
USA 0 193 1099 1855 2730 4714 0 5 64 109 130 157
Brazil 0 6 85 515 1408 2666 0 0 6 29 60 93
India 0 1 35 190 586 1697 0 0 1 5 17 37
Spain 0 96 239 265 273 324 0 8 25 28 28 28
France 0 52 130 152 165 188 0 4 24 29 30 30

Football Restarts

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USA virus level is increasing with easing. Trump is desperate to get the economy going. The police killing of a black guy has resulted in demonstrations across the country and some riots. Some demonstrators at the white house were cleared by police using tear gas so that Trump could get a photo opportunity at a nearby church. Racial demos are occurring worldwide with some in the UK.  In Bristol a ‘slaver’ statue was pulled down. There’s a danger of a bandwagon effect. I don’t agree with some voices that promote rejection of British historical realities and values (Empire etc).
Some kids are back in school – infants reception & years 1 & 6. Teens seem to be suffering particularly with the loss of education and the loss of contact with friends and social activities. There’s no plan for full school return before september.
Worldwide the pandemic is accelerating. Brazil has taken second place in the world for number of cases. The Beijing area is in lockdown after an outbreak in a large market.

In the UK, travel and staying over announced as OK from 4th July. Football restarts with empty stadia on the 17th June with an accelerated schedule with Liverpool rapidly winning the premiership.
Rashford gets the government to commit to free meals for needy kids who cannot go to school.
The government plans to establish travel corridors to avoid quarantine for travellers returning from approved countries.
Holiday bookings are up.

Virus status at month end

000’s Cases Deaths
Feb March April May June Feb Mar April May June
World 85 863 1985 2957 10550 3 43 234 382 519
UK 0 22 171 249 283 0 2 27 37 40
USA 0 193 1099 1855 2730 0 5 64 109 130
Brazil 0 6 85 515 1408 0 0 6 29 60
India 0 1 35 190 586 0 0 1 5 17
Spain 0 96 239 265 273 0 8 25 28 28
France 0 52 130 152 165 0 4 24 29 30

Its All About The Virus

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Fortunately the lockdown weather has been good – 6 weeks sunshine, one a bit rainy
UK reaches 30k dead by 5th may. On the 9th some UK easing –  go to work if you can safely but work from home if you can.  Target for start and end primary classes to return and  limited secondary on 1st of June.  Some shops planned to open 15th June. Testing planned for all with symptoms. Track and trace started. Deficit £62b April.
Johnson aid cummings breaks lockdown rules with a trip – gets stonewalling support from Johnson.
Europe starts easing
Trump claims that USA has ‘World best testing’ at White House briefing which resembles an electioneering event. Under press questioning from an asian woman he insults her and walks off ! A black man was killed by police sparking riots and a “Black Lives Matter ” movement. Trump promotes an unproven covid drug and paints protesters as violent mobs.
Little Richard dies.
Plane crash in Pakistan
China plans to introduce a widely criticised security law in Hong Kong which will significantly reduce freedoms.
Virus status month end
000’s Cases Deaths
Feb March April May Feb Mar April May
World 85 863 1985 2957 3 43 234 382
China 78 82 83 83 3 3 5 5
Italy 3 106 205 233 0 12 28 34
USA 0 193 1099 1855 0 5 64 109
Spain 0 96 239 265 0 8 25 28
UK 0 22 171 249 0 2 27 37

Lockdown

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UK plans for dealing with the virus seem to be in place. The focus is on flattening and delaying the peak demand on hospital ICU while increasing its capacity, avoiding a health service collapse. The oft repeated tag line is “Stay at Home-Protect the NHS-Save Lives”.
Italy is on lockdown with serious issues in the north.
Worldwide there is fast expansion of infections.  Football off UK and Europe then most sports events are cancelled worldwide. Olympics deferred 12 months
UK moves from contain (identify then trace contacts) to delay (distancing and isolating). Seems to be working.

  • 16th stopped social contacts.Europe closes borders
  • 20th UK shuts pubs, restaurants and cafes
  • 23rd significant lockdown – all shops except food/essentials. “Shielding” (ie isolation) of 1.5 million vulnerable – 750,000 volunteer to provide assistance.
  • 26th Only allowed out for essential shopping, one hour exercise or essential work or it cannot be done from home. No meetings of more than two people. Social distancing outside household groups
  • Massive government spending program to support people – £330bn support to businesses. 80% employee furlough from government. similar for self employed
  • Virus growth 25% daily UK. Italy has a major issue, about two weeks ahead of the UK
  • USA overtakes china for cases – trump a joke, his daily briefings turning out to be self justification events in a year when re-election looms.
  • Boris is performing well at daily briefings flanked by scientific and medical leaders. The theme is that action will be driven by the science (which is not perfect and still requires subtle political judgement)
  • Boris, the chief medical officer and the health minister all go down testing positive for the virus. The health minister is back within a week, Boris is not.

Stats vs Last Month (000’s)

Cases Deaths
Feb March Feb Mar
World 85 863 3 43
China 78 82 3 3
Italy 3 106 0 12
USA 0 193 0 5
Spain 0 96 0 8
UK 0 22 0 2

Now it’s the C Word

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Coronavirus

  • Virus continues to spread
  • UK seems to have a viable plan to delay and minimise the peak of the epidemic while trying to boost the capacity of the NHS
  • Cruise ships having problems with docking plus many cases on board
  • Cases spreading worldwide – declared a pandemic
  • Shares down about 30%, oil prices collapse
  • Over 70s (that’s me!) advised to take special care
  • Cases at the end of February
    • World 84615
    • China 77835
    • Italy 1128
    • USA 68
    • Spain 58
    • UK 23

Trump impeachment fails as expected due to republican majority in the senate
Boris changes cabinet composition – Javid resigns as his treasury advisers are merged with number 10
MC appeal against Uefa penalties for breaking financial rules
Storm Dennis = wales & borders flooding
Syria idlib bombing continues as refugees flood to the turkish border
Wales 6 nations 3 losses
European Union exit negotiators adopt opening positions

We won’t need to use the B word again

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UK left the EU at 11pm 31st January with transition period to end (by law) on 31st December. Boris adopting hardball position to trade talks – good for him!
US assassinate leading iranian general. Iran retaliates with missiles to US bases in Iraq (a limited response) but accidentally bring down a civilian aircraft with a missile at the same time.
At Davos trump labels climate push as ‘prophets of doom’. Democrats pursuing a futile impeachment path (although he’s obviously guilty). USA looks more like a banana republic.
Rapist convicted of 120 crimes
Harry & Meghan decide to give the up royals thing and move to canada – do I care….
Australian fires covering large areas
Turkey earthquake
Assad pressing to retake remaining rebel areas with assistance from russia and little resistance from others
Chinese Corona virus spreading worldwide – death rate 2% but it’s highly infectious
Liverpool are now uncatchable at the top of the premiership

Is Brexit about to be done?

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Rugby world cup in Japan – Wales beat Australia and Fiji then France to reach semis where they lost to South Africa. England beat New Zealand but lose the final to South Africa. A hurricane disrupted the schedule.
US pulls out of Syria. Turks invade Kurds in Syria “to create a buffer zone”. Russia steps in to provide support.
England lose to Czech Republic in disappointing game but win convincingly in Bulgaria despite racist activity in the stands. UEFA response underwhelming.
On 17th EU deal agreed but dup will not support. A vote caused an MP amendment that leads to more delay and EU extension to 31st January. 2nd reading of the bill passed but schedule not. Government pause activity and when EU delay announced try bill for elction. Not passed (fixed parliament act). Introduce simple bill for date change of an election to 12 Dec and Labour shamed into agreeing!
Thank god its only 12 weeks.

Boris Brexit

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MC win charity shield
Football season starts MC Liv look good
England loose 1st test draw 2nd win 3rd at the last gap
Boy thrown from tate modern 8th floor
USA 2 mass shootings in 24 hrs (250 in 7 months!)
USA and China stepping up trade war
Boris at G7 putting pressure on European leaders. Announcing spending pledges as though there were an election coming….Prorogues parliament for a few days for a queens speech (or maximise pressure on Brexit hating MPs). MPs likely to try to prevent No Deal option and go for another extension. How can you negotiate with the EU if you take no deal off the table!! Boris will likely try to get an election under these circumstances.
Pound at new lows against dollar and Euro
Rain forest fires in Brazil
2 hot spells – Europe and UK records
Big hurricane causing destruction in the Bahamas, may be heading for central Florida

Football Good Politics Interesting

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Liverpool and Chelsea win Euro leagues
Trump state visit – he talks to Boris and Farage but not Corbyn
D Day 75 years on events
England lose to Netherlands in Nations league
May out, Boris and Hunt doing hustings for party members to elect leader who becomes PM
Rain most of month – end=heatwave France 45C
A few extreme weather events – global warming not proven
Women world cup England in semis but lose to a better team USA
Iran blows up oil tankers then US turns up pressure
UK/Gibraltar stop Iranian oil tanker heading for Syria
Cricket world cup – England underperform but through to final stage

There have been Royalty events but I’m not interested

Footie Fab Politics Poor

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Champions league Liverpool Barcelona 4-0 vs 0-3 , Ajax vs Tottenham 3-3 agg (2-1 down then 2-3)
so Liv v Tot final!!
ManC win Premiership by 1 point vs liverpool
Chelsea and Arsenal in Europa Cup Final!!
Local Elections indicate “plague on both your houses”
Economy still doing well
May in Brexit talks with Labour ends in predictable nothing
Farage creates Brexit party which goes on to dominate Euro elections – Lab and Con decimated
Trump China talks stall and increased tariffs result
US bans trading with Huawei (scared of there technology leadership?)
May resigns leading to enough leadership candidates to make a football team including subs
Will Boris make it??