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First Thing: schools are the pandemic's latest political battlefield First Thing: schools are the pandemic's latest political battlefield
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The White House is pushing for students to return to school despite skyrocketing infections. Plus, the extraordinary story of ‘Mama Boko Haram’The White House is pushing for students to return to school despite skyrocketing infections. Plus, the extraordinary story of ‘Mama Boko Haram’
Good morning,Good morning,
Mike Pence, the chief of the White House coronavirus taskforce, has waded into the pandemic’s latest political battlefield: schools. “It’s time for us to get our kids back to school,” the US vice-president insisted on Tuesday, as the US reported record daily Covid-19 case numbers of more than 60,000 and 56 hospitals in Florida reached their intensive care unit capacity amid a surge in severe infections. Mike Pence, the chief of the White House coronavirus taskforce, has waded into the pandemic’s latest political battlefield: schools. “It’s time for us to get our kids back to school,” the US vice-president insisted on Tuesday, as the US reported record daily Covid-19 case numbers of more than 60,000, and 56 hospitals in Florida reached their intensive care unit capacity amid a surge in severe infections.
Pence said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would issue new guidance next week for physically reopening schools in the autumn, prompting criticism that the CDC may be yielding to pressure from the president – who on Tuesday claimed the US was “in a good place” and said he disagreed with the view from his administration’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, that the US remains “knee deep in the first wave” of the pandemic.Pence said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would issue new guidance next week for physically reopening schools in the autumn, prompting criticism that the CDC may be yielding to pressure from the president – who on Tuesday claimed the US was “in a good place” and said he disagreed with the view from his administration’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, that the US remains “knee deep in the first wave” of the pandemic.
Meanwhile health officials in Tulsa said Trump’s rally there last month “likely contributed” to a dramatic surge in new coronavirus cases in the Oklahoma city.Meanwhile health officials in Tulsa said Trump’s rally there last month “likely contributed” to a dramatic surge in new coronavirus cases in the Oklahoma city.
Side-effects of the coronavirus crisis include:Side-effects of the coronavirus crisis include:
Opioid overdoses, which are “skyrocketing” again under the the same social conditions – no jobs, isolation, despair – that originally facilitated the opioids crisis, writes Chris McGreal.Opioid overdoses, which are “skyrocketing” again under the the same social conditions – no jobs, isolation, despair – that originally facilitated the opioids crisis, writes Chris McGreal.
Plastic waste. The battle to curb needless packaging has been put on hold amid the crisis, with states even temporarily banning reusable grocery bags. Erin McCormick reports.Plastic waste. The battle to curb needless packaging has been put on hold amid the crisis, with states even temporarily banning reusable grocery bags. Erin McCormick reports.
Trudeau says Canada handled Covid-19 better than the USTrudeau says Canada handled Covid-19 better than the US
The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has said his country handled the pandemic better than allies including the US, as he suggested on Wednesday that the crisis in Canada was stabilising. A Toronto infectious disease specialist agreed with his assessment, telling Leyland Cecco the two nations’ responses have been “like night and day”. With a population 10 times smaller than the US, Canada has so far recorded 8,711 deaths and 106,167 cases.The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has said his country handled the pandemic better than allies including the US, as he suggested on Wednesday that the crisis in Canada was stabilising. A Toronto infectious disease specialist agreed with his assessment, telling Leyland Cecco the two nations’ responses have been “like night and day”. With a population 10 times smaller than the US, Canada has so far recorded 8,711 deaths and 106,167 cases.
In Brazil, where the Covid-19 death toll is more than 66,000, President Jair Bolsonaro has angered the families of younger victims by suggesting the chances of people under 40 suffering serious illness from the disease “are close to zero”. Bolsonaro, who has himself tested positive for the virus, also reportedly mocked the wearing of face masks with a homophobic slur.In Brazil, where the Covid-19 death toll is more than 66,000, President Jair Bolsonaro has angered the families of younger victims by suggesting the chances of people under 40 suffering serious illness from the disease “are close to zero”. Bolsonaro, who has himself tested positive for the virus, also reportedly mocked the wearing of face masks with a homophobic slur.
Japanese amusement parks have urged visitors not to scream while riding their rollercoasters, to help prevent the spread of the virus.Japanese amusement parks have urged visitors not to scream while riding their rollercoasters, to help prevent the spread of the virus.
George Floyd told police ‘I can’t breathe’ more than 20 timesGeorge Floyd told police ‘I can’t breathe’ more than 20 times
It has become a rallying cry at protests over racism and police brutality across the world, and now transcripts from the fatal arrest of George Floyd reveal he told officers “I can’t breathe” more than 20 times in the moments before his death. Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis cop who knelt on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, replied: “It takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk.”It has become a rallying cry at protests over racism and police brutality across the world, and now transcripts from the fatal arrest of George Floyd reveal he told officers “I can’t breathe” more than 20 times in the moments before his death. Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis cop who knelt on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, replied: “It takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk.”
The demonstrations over Floyd’s death have been met with a trend for apparent counter-protesters using vehicles to threaten or slam into marchers, with reports of multiple injuries in several US cities and at least one death.The demonstrations over Floyd’s death have been met with a trend for apparent counter-protesters using vehicles to threaten or slam into marchers, with reports of multiple injuries in several US cities and at least one death.
Body-camera footage of a deadly police shooting in Vallejo, California, has raised fresh questions about the killing of unarmed 22-year-old Sean Monterrosa in June.Body-camera footage of a deadly police shooting in Vallejo, California, has raised fresh questions about the killing of unarmed 22-year-old Sean Monterrosa in June.
The FBI is investigating claims that a group of white men threatened to lynch the black civil rights activist Vauhxx Booker at a lake in southern Indiana over the Fourth of July weekend.The FBI is investigating claims that a group of white men threatened to lynch the black civil rights activist Vauhxx Booker at a lake in southern Indiana over the Fourth of July weekend.
Hong Kong is now behind the Great Firewall of ChinaHong Kong is now behind the Great Firewall of China
Until this week, Hong Kong enjoyed a freedom denied to people in mainland China: a free and open internet. But now Hong Kong residents are rushing to erase their digital footprints, as the so-called Great Firewall – China’s vast apparatus limiting access to the worldwide web – descended on the territory as part of the sweeping and controversial new security law imposed from Beijing.Until this week, Hong Kong enjoyed a freedom denied to people in mainland China: a free and open internet. But now Hong Kong residents are rushing to erase their digital footprints, as the so-called Great Firewall – China’s vast apparatus limiting access to the worldwide web – descended on the territory as part of the sweeping and controversial new security law imposed from Beijing.
Australia has offered residents from Hong Kong a five-year visa extension and suspended its extradition treaty with the territory, with the prime minister, Scott Morrison, describing the new security law as a “fundamental change of circumstances”.Australia has offered residents from Hong Kong a five-year visa extension and suspended its extradition treaty with the territory, with the prime minister, Scott Morrison, describing the new security law as a “fundamental change of circumstances”.
In other news…In other news…
Global temperatures will likely be 1C warmer than in pre-industrial times for the next five years, experts have warned, saying the world is already well on track to breaching the 1.5C limit agreed in the 2016 Paris climate agreement.Global temperatures will likely be 1C warmer than in pre-industrial times for the next five years, experts have warned, saying the world is already well on track to breaching the 1.5C limit agreed in the 2016 Paris climate agreement.
A new Philippines anti-terror law would give President Rodrigo Duterte’s government powers to arrest people without warrants and hold them for weeks without charge, say rights groups mounting a legal challenge to the legislation.A new Philippines anti-terror law would give President Rodrigo Duterte’s government powers to arrest people without warrants and hold them for weeks without charge, say rights groups mounting a legal challenge to the legislation.
Alexander Vindman has retired from the US military, accusing Trump of running a “campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation” against him, after Lt Col Vindman acted as a key witness in the president’s impeachment case.Alexander Vindman has retired from the US military, accusing Trump of running a “campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation” against him, after Lt Col Vindman acted as a key witness in the president’s impeachment case.
The supreme court is expected to rule on Thursday on whether Congress and the Manhattan district attorney can see Donald Trump’s taxes and other financial records that the president has fought to keep private. The high-stakes dispute tests the balance of power between the White House and Congress, as well as the president’s claim that he cannot be investigated while he holds office. It is unclear, even if Trump loses, how much of the material would become public. The US supreme court is expected to rule on Thursday on whether Congress and the Manhattan district attorney can see Trump’s taxes and other financial records that the president has fought to keep private. The high-stakes dispute tests the balance of power between the White House and Congress, as well as the president’s claim that he cannot be investigated while he holds office. It is unclear, even if Trump loses, how much of the material would become public.
Great readsGreat reads
‘An intellectual in an athlete’s body’: Patrick Stewart at 80‘An intellectual in an athlete’s body’: Patrick Stewart at 80
The great Shakespearean most famous for playing starship captains and telepathic mutants is entering his ninth decade. His friends, peers and fellow performers, from Sir Ian McKellen to William Shatner, pay tribute to a “legendary” actor.The great Shakespearean most famous for playing starship captains and telepathic mutants is entering his ninth decade. His friends, peers and fellow performers, from Sir Ian McKellen to William Shatner, pay tribute to a “legendary” actor.
The extraordinary mission of ‘Mama Boko Haram’The extraordinary mission of ‘Mama Boko Haram’
The Islamist group Boko Haram has terrorised Nigeria for a decade. Aisha Wakil knew many of its fighters when they were mere boys, and she uses those relationships to broker peace deals and mediate hostage negotiations. Chika Oduah meets the remarkable woman known as “Mama Boko Haram”.The Islamist group Boko Haram has terrorised Nigeria for a decade. Aisha Wakil knew many of its fighters when they were mere boys, and she uses those relationships to broker peace deals and mediate hostage negotiations. Chika Oduah meets the remarkable woman known as “Mama Boko Haram”.
Why I don’t have a child: my climate crisis anxietyWhy I don’t have a child: my climate crisis anxiety
For the latest piece in the Guardian’s series on living childfree, Jessica Wei says she loves the children she will never have, which is why she doesn’t want to bring them into a world that may soon be unlivable.For the latest piece in the Guardian’s series on living childfree, Jessica Wei says she loves the children she will never have, which is why she doesn’t want to bring them into a world that may soon be unlivable.
Opinion: Kicking out our foreign students would be a disasterOpinion: Kicking out our foreign students would be a disaster
Under new Ice rules, international students whose classes go online next semester will have their visas revoked – and could be deported from the US. It looks a lot like the Trump administration is exploiting the pandemic for xenophobic political ends, says Gayatri Devi.Under new Ice rules, international students whose classes go online next semester will have their visas revoked – and could be deported from the US. It looks a lot like the Trump administration is exploiting the pandemic for xenophobic political ends, says Gayatri Devi.
Last Thing: Somebody burned Slovenia’s Melania statueLast Thing: Somebody burned Slovenia’s Melania statue
A wooden sculpture of the US first lady, Melania Trump, unveiled last year close to her hometown in Slovenia, has been removed after being set on fire last weekend. The president, whose concern for statues of confederate generals is well documented, has so far made no comment on the destruction of his wife’s life-sized likeness.A wooden sculpture of the US first lady, Melania Trump, unveiled last year close to her hometown in Slovenia, has been removed after being set on fire last weekend. The president, whose concern for statues of confederate generals is well documented, has so far made no comment on the destruction of his wife’s life-sized likeness.
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