Selasa, 31 Oktober 2023

Covid inquiry live: Boris Johnson had no ‘clarity of purpose’ testifies former aide Lee Cain - The Independent

Related video: David Cameron heckled at Covid inquiry

Boris Johnson’s former communications chief Lee Cain is now giving evidence at another bumper day at the Covid inquiry.

He will be followed by Dominic Cummings, the former prime minister’s chief of staff during the pandemic.

On Monday, Boris Johnson has been accused of a “mad and dangerous” response to the Covid pandemic comparable to Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis.

The exchanges between Simon Case, the government’s top civil servant, and officials were shown on Monday to the inquiry into how the government handled the worst health crisis in almost a century.

When the government was reopening after the first lockdown, Case said Mr Johnson wanted to let the virus “rip” and compared his approach to that of the former US President and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

“This is in danger of becoming Trump/Bolsonaro level mad and dangerous,” Case told other colleagues.

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Rishi Sunak compared handling Covid to the film, Jaws

Rishi Sunak espoused “Jaws w**k” in communicating how the government should handle Covid, debating whether the mayor in the blockbuster shark attack movie was right to keep the beaches open, Archie Mitchell reports.

A message sent by Dominic Cummings during the early stages of the pandemic revealed the ex-Downing Street chief of staff’s frustration at Mr Sunak’s approach, as well as “stopping the trolley” - a reference to Boris Johnson.

“Rishi saying bond markets may not fund our debt etc, he’s back to Jaws mode w**k,” Mr Cummings said.

In a sweary tirade, he said: “I’ve literally said the same thing ten f****** times and he still won’t absorb it. I’m exhausted just talking to him and stopping the trolley.”

Matt Mathers31 October 2023 11:00
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Covid was the ‘wrong crisis for Boris Johnson’s skillset,’ Cain

Lee Cain has said Covid was the “wrong crisis for this prime minister’s skill set”, adding that Boris Johnson would “would often delay making decisions” and “change his mind on issues”, Archie Mitchell reports.

“Sometimes in politics, that can be a great strength,” Mr Cain told the official Covid inquiry, citing Brexit as an example.

“If you look at something like Covid, you need quick decisions, and you need people to hold the course,” Mr Cain said.

“So I felt it was the wrong challenge for him,” he added.

Matt Mathers31 October 2023 10:56
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Cain: Downing Street suffered from ‘lack of leadership’

Lee Cain, Boris Johnson’s former communications chief, said he agreed there was a "lack of leadership’’ and "chaos’’ in government, Archie Mitchell reports.

Counsel to the Covid inquiry Andrew O’Connor KC put it to him: "The general theme of lack of leadership, chaos, if you like, is one that you agree with?’’ The long-term aide replied: "Yes.’’

Matt Mathers31 October 2023 10:44
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The Cabinet Office was ‘terrifyingly s***’ - Cummings

Lee Cain has been shown a WhatsApp message sent by Dominic Cummings during the pandemic which described the Cabinet Office as "terrifyingly s***", Archie Mitchell reports.

The former head of comms in Downing Street said he agreed but would "not quite use that language".

The message from Mr Cummings to Boris Johnson said: "We got big problems coming, Cabinet Office is terrifyingly s***, no plans, totally behind pace."

Mr Johnson’s ex-chief of staff went on to say him, Mr Cain and other political aides were having to "drive and direct".

Matt Mathers31 October 2023 10:33
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Covid inquiry: Watch evidence session live

As we are reporting, Lee Cain is giving evidence to the Covid inquiry.

Dominic Cumming is up later this morning.

We’ll bring you updates throughout the session. You can also watch proceedings live on The Independent’s YouTube channel.

Matt Mathers31 October 2023 10:31
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Lee Cain: Johnson had no ‘clarity of purpose’ by March 2020

Boris Johnson had no "clarity of purpose" by March 2020 and no "serious plan" to deal with the pandemic, Lee Cain has said, Archie Mitchell reports.

Referring to an action plan published by the government on March 3, Mr Cain said: "Anyone who read the document will see that it’s not a it’s not a plan to deal with Covid.

“That is a very thin overview of how we may manage the virus if it progresses."

Matt Mathers31 October 2023 10:28
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Boris Johnson compared Covid to Swine Flu

Lee Cain has said Boris Johnson stressed the importance of "not overreacting" to the emergence of the pandemic in January 2020, likening it to viruses such as swine flu, Archie Mitchell reports.

"He was worried about the government being swept up in a in a sort of media hysteria and overreacting and causing more harm than then he would otherwise," Mr Cain told the official Covid inquiry.

A message sent by Mr Cain in early March said: "He doesn’t think it’s a big deal and doesn’t think anything can be done and his focus is elsewhere, he thinks it’ll be like swine flu and he thinks his main danger is talking economy [sic] into a slump."

"Yes, the prime minister should have done more," Mr Cain told the inquiry.

Matt Mathers31 October 2023 10:24
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Cain: Covid was a low priority in January 2020

Lee Cain has said Covid was seen in January 2020 as a “low priority” and just “one of many” issues being discussed inside Downing Street, Archie Mitchell reports.

The former head of communications said only “the most difficult” issues are dealt with in No10, but added it was being monitored closely by officials in the department of health.

But he added: “As we moved through January and February, it’s clear we got that assessment wrong, but I think you can probably see why we made the decisions that we did at the time.”

Matt Mathers31 October 2023 10:14
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Cain begins evidence

Lee Cain has started giving evidence to the Covid inquiry.

He is asked about his role as communications chief and adviser to the prime minister.

He said he had a good working relationship with Johnson when asked if the pair were friends.

Below is a closer look at the spin doctor at the heart of Britain’s Covid response:

Matt Mathers31 October 2023 10:12
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Sunak: King’s speech will focus on growing economy

Rishi Sunak said the King’s speech would focus on measures to “grow the economy, to strengthen society and to keep people safe”.

Opening a cabinet meeting in 10 Downing Street on Tuesday morning, the prime minister said the recently ended last session of parliament had been “historic” and would have a “big impact”.

“But we’re not stopping there, we will keep demonstrating to the country that we are ambitious for what we want to achieve.”

The King is expected to open the new session of parliament on 7 November.

<p>Britain AI of the Future</p>

Britain AI of the Future

Matt Mathers31 October 2023 09:55

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2023-10-31 11:00:16Z
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Palestine protesters throw box full of spraypainted mice into McDonald's in Birmingham - Birmingham Live

A box of mice was reportedly thrown into a Birmingham McDonald's by protestors who were shouting "free Palestine". Three boxes of red, white and green spray-painted mice were seen being loaded into the back of a car by a man.

The footage emerged on social media, with a video titled 'enjoy your rat burgers'. The word "Palestine" had been placed over the vehicle's number plates.

It's believed the person can then be seen walking up to the Star City McDonald's branch in Birmingham, before the mice are thrown onto the floor, followed by the shouting of "Free Palestine", reports The Express.

As the rodents are hurled into the branch, customers can be heard screaming and jumping in shock. Workers at the branch were seen trying to divert the mice out of the restaurant in a subsequent video.

READ MORE:Harrowing CCTV image released in bid to find those behind terrifying shopping centre robbery

READ MORE: Get a free National Trust pass worth up to £50 for your family day out this autumn

Pro-Palestinian protests have broken out across the globe after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7. Earlier, protesters surrounded a Marks and Spencer store in Scotland.

After marching through the streets of Glasgow demanding an immediate ceasefire, they gathered outside M&S holding Palestinian flags and placards, reading "Freedom for Palestine". The clip was shared on X from an account named Biology Rules Okay along with the comment: "Berlin 1933. The brownshirts held their rally and then marched to a Jewish-owned shop to make the staff and their customers feel unsafe.

Tensions between pro-Palestinians and British Jews remain high due to the conflict in Gaza. Police have reported an increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia since the attack over three weeks ago. More than 8,000 people in Gaza have been killed since Hamas's atrocities, which claimed the lives of 1,400 on the Israeli side of the border. It has led to mass protests in cities across the UK, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Belfast.

A spokesperson for McDonald's told LBC: "We are aware of an incident in our Birmingham Star City restaurant this evening where a number of mice were released by a member of the public. Following the removal of the mice, the restaurant has been fully sanitised and our pest control partners have been called out to conduct a full inspection."

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2023-10-31 08:11:00Z
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Senin, 30 Oktober 2023

Boris Johnson's pandemic response was 'Trump-level mad and dangerous' - live - The Independent

Related video: David Cameron heckled at Covid inquiry

Boris Johnson has been accused of a “mad and dangerous” response to the Covid pandemic comparable to Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis.

The exchanges between Simon Case, the government’s top civil servant, and officials were shown on Monday to the inquiry into how the government handled the worst health crisis in almost a century.

When the government was reopening after the first lockdown, Case said Mr Johnson wanted to let the virus “rip” and compared his approach to that of the former US President and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

“This is in danger of becoming Trump/Bolsonaro level mad and dangerous,” Case told other colleagues.

It comes as diary extracts revealed chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance accused Mr Johnson of “creating chaos” and being “completely inconsistent” during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, former top aide Martin Reynolds confirmed his internal report into government culture in spring 2020 found that female staff were being “talked over and ignored” in what showed a “significant degree of misogyny”.

Dominic Cummings, who served as the former prime minister’s chief of staff, and Lee Cain, Mr Johnson’s former communications chief, will be grilled at the inquiry later this week, alongside all Mr Johnson’s former aides.

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Johnson’s response to Covid was ‘mad and dangerous’ - top official

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's approach to dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic was "mad and dangerous" and his constant indecision made it "impossible" to tackle the virus, the government's top civil servant told officials.

The exchanges between Simon Case, the government's most senior official, and officials in which he also described Britain's response in 2020 as a "terrible, tragic joke", were shown on Monday to the inquiry into how the government handled the worst health crisis in almost a century.

In the autumn of 2020 when the government was discussing how to suppress the virus, Case said of Johnson: "He cannot lead and we cannot support him under these circumstances. The team captain cannot change the call on the big plays every day." He then wrote in capital letters: "IT HAS TO STOP".

Months earlier when the government was reopening after the first lockdown, Case said Johnson wanted to let the virus "rip" and compared Johnson's approach to the way US President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who were known for dismissing the threat of Covid, were handling the crisis.

"This is in danger of becoming Trump/Bolsonaro level mad and dangerous," Case told other colleagues.

A spokesman for Johnson, who will appear as a witness in the inquiry in the future, declined to comment.

<p>Simon Case, the current Cabinet Secretary, vented about the Prime Minister during the pandemic</p>

Simon Case, the current Cabinet Secretary, vented about the Prime Minister during the pandemic

Tara Cobham30 October 2023 19:03
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Ex-No10 chief admits he ‘disappeared’ messages in PM’s group chat

One of Boris Johnson’s key aides turned messages to “disappear” in a key Covid WhatsApp group only weeks after the ex-PM promised a Covid public inquiry, it has been revealed.

Mr Reynolds, Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary, told the inquiry he “cannot recall exactly why I did so” – before adding that he did not believe it was to “prevent” the inquiry having access to the messages.

Adam Forrest, Political Correspondent reports:

Tara Cobham31 October 2023 05:00
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I’ve retained my WhatsApp messages relating to Covid pandemic, says Humza Yousaf

Last week a note to the chairman of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry from one of its counsels said the inquiry was of the belief that the “majority” of informal messages, including on WhatsApp had “not been retained”.

The First Minister said on Monday he had retained his messages, but that there had been a Scottish government policy on social media messaging which advised their deletion after 30 days.

Shweta Sharma31 October 2023 04:45
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Women staff were being ‘talked over and ignored’, report into No 10 culture during pandemic finds

The report, by former top aide Martin Reynolds and then deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara, was written in May 2020 amid concerns about discipline, “macho behaviour” and misogyny, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry heard yesterday.

Released as part of a batch of documents relevant to the inquiry, the report asked more than 45 people who worked closely with No 10 what could be done to better support the prime minister in May 2020.

Shweta Sharma31 October 2023 04:14
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Watch: Johnson stressed ‘need to avoid overreaction’ at start of pandemic

Johnson stressed ‘the need to avoid overreaction’ at beginning of Covid pandemic
Tara Cobham31 October 2023 04:00
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‘High degree of dysfunctionality’ dealing with Johnson, says Shafi

The former private secretary to the prime minister for public services, Imran Shafi, told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry there was a "high degree of dysfunctionality" when dealing with the then-PM Boris Johnson.

Counsel to the inquiry Hugo Keith KC asked the witness: "The material may suggest there were a number of competing power sources in Downing Street, personality clashes, and we can see... a high degree of dysfunctionality in terms of dealing with the prime minister - would you agree?"

Mr Shafi replied: "Yes."

Mr Keith continued: "None of that leant itself well to the best sort of decision-making did it?"

Mr Shafi said: "No."

Tara Cobham31 October 2023 03:00
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The ‘wrecked’ lives of forgotten long Covid sufferers

Read more here:

Tara Cobham31 October 2023 02:00
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Watch: Reynolds agrees Covid officials operated ‘without proper playbook’

Martin Reynolds agrees Covid department officials operated ‘without a proper playbook’
Tara Cobham31 October 2023 01:00
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Johnson ‘cannot lead’, says UK’s top civil servant

The UK's top civil servant vented that Boris Johnson "cannot lead" amid pandemic-era frustration with the prime minister's leadership, according to WhatsApp messages shared with the Covid-19 inquiry.

Simon Case, who remains Cabinet Secretary, told Mr Johnson's then-chief adviser Dominic Cummings that the prime minister was making government "impossible".

The private correspondence, which took place as the Government grappled with the spread of Covid, came during the appearance of former top aide Martin Reynolds at Lady Hallett's probe.

Mr Case, who has temporarily stepped back from his role due to a "private medical matter", told Mr Cummings that the PM "cannot lead and we cannot support him in leading with this approach".

In the message, read at the hearing, Mr Case said: "I am at the end of my tether.

“He changes strategic direction every day (Monday we were all about fear of virus returning as per Europe, March etc - today we're in 'let it rip' mode cos (sic) the UK is pathetic, needs a cold shower etc).

"The team captain cannot change the call on the big plays every day. The team can't deliver anything under these circumstances. Decide and set direction - deliver - explain. Gov't isn't actually that hard but this guy is really making it impossible."

<p>The UK’s top civil servant vented that Boris Johnson “cannot lead” amid pandemic-era frustration with the prime minister’s leadership, according to WhatsApp messages shared with the Covid-19 inquiry</p>

The UK’s top civil servant vented that Boris Johnson “cannot lead” amid pandemic-era frustration with the prime minister’s leadership, according to WhatsApp messages shared with the Covid-19 inquiry

Tara Cobham31 October 2023 00:00
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Recap: Partygate was ‘ultimate insult’ to Covid bereaved, inquiry told

A woman who lost her partner to Covid has hit out at UK Government officials who held illegal lockdown parties, saying there was a “culture of contempt for the ordinary people” throughout the pandemic.

Jane Morrison, of Scottish Covid Bereaved, told the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry on Friday of the hardship she faced after her partner, Jacky Morrison-Hart, died in 2020.

Ms Morrison-Hart, 49, had been admitted to hospital for a separate illness but contracted Covid-19 while at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

After battling the disease, she died a short time later in October 2020.

Ryan McDougall reports:

Tara Cobham30 October 2023 23:00

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2023-10-31 04:45:40Z
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King Charles Kenya trip: Mau Mau uprising hangs over visit - BBC

Grave of Elijah Kinyua

King Charles and his wife Camilla are on a four-day state visit to Kenya, where he will acknowledge "painful aspects" of the UK's colonial past.

More than 10,000 people were killed and others tortured during the brutal suppression of the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s, one of the British Empire's bloodiest insurgencies. In 2013 Britain expressed regret and paid out £20m ($24m) to more than 5,000 people - but some feel that didn't go far enough.

One of those is 90-year-old Agnes Muthoni.

With a steady stride despite a stoop, she leads us to the grave site at her home in Shamata, central Kenya.

She plucks weeds that have grown next to her husband's grave. Elijah Kinyua died two years ago, aged 93. He was also known as General Bahati, and like his wife was a fighter during the bloody uprising against the British Empire's colonial government in the 1950s.

She held the rank of a major in the Kenya Land and Freedom Army - more commonly known as the Mau Mau.

Ms Muthoni breaks into a radiant smile as she shows us her wedding ring. They only met after the revolt ended and he was released from detention.

"He said if there were women fighters who survived, he would like to marry one of them because she would understand his problems and not call him Mau Mau."

Agnes Muthoni
BBC
Human beings forgive each other and continue living together, but I would like to be given land
Agnes Muthoni
Mau Mau veteran

The struggle united them. But even after Kenya gained independence from British colonial rule, the couple continued to live in the shadows - like many former Mau Mau fighters.

The resistance group remained outlawed. It was designated a terrorist organisation by the colonial government and subsequent administrations in independent Kenya did not overturn the ban. "Three Mau Mau members could not meet; it was an offence," says Kenyan lawyer and politician Paul Muite. "It was atrocious."

It was only in 2003 that the law was changed, and members of the Mau Mau were finally recognised as freedom fighters.

But this also meant that post-independence generations knew little of the past.

"So many children and grandchildren had no idea about the roots of the country's suffering that gave birth to independence," says historian Caroline Elkins, who conducted interviews on the topic in the 1990s.

Her observations are echoed on the streets of Nairobi today. Many young people hardly know about the detention and torture of the Mau Mau. They are more concerned about the economy and wonder if King Charles's visit will have any impact.

Ms Muthoni's 36-year-old grandson, Wachira Githui, is one of the few who heard about it first-hand. But he is also at ease with several of the lasting impacts of colonialism on Kenya's social, political and economic life. "I speak English and I'm proud of that," he says, adding that he is a fan of Chelsea football club.

Kenyan social media comes alive when a crucial English Premier League game is on. Fans trade banter for hours on end.

A Kenyan boy in a Manchester United shirt plays football in Nairobi
Getty Images

From the streets to offices, the legacy of empire remains unmissable in Nairobi.

A neatly pressed black gown and white neck bands hang behind Paul Muite's desk in his office in the Kilimani neighbourhood. He dons a wig as well when appearing in court. Much of the British legal, governance and educational structures were inherited not only in Kenya but across much of the former empire.

But knowledge of many aspects of the "more painful past" which the King is expected to acknowledge was seldom passed down through the generations, and remains hidden from the public.

Mr Muite is calling for a commission of inquiry to be set up by both the Kenyan and UK governments to go to every part of Kenya and document the colonial period in detail. He was part of the legal team that took a test case to British courts in 2009, which ended with an out-of-court settlement four years later.

The British government expressed regret and paid the compensation to Mau Mau veterans.

Women protest against King Charles's planned visit to Kenya
Reuters

But Mr Muite says only those fighters still alive who could be examined by doctors and confirmed as torture victims received payments. Those who provided services and maintained supply lines for fighters, as well as Kenyans outside the centre of the country who fought against colonialism, were not included, he says.

Among them are members of the Talai clan, who have recently renewed their calls for the British government to return the skull of their leader Koitalel arap Samoei. He led the Nandi community's resistance to colonial settlement, disrupting the plans to occupy the highlands of the Rift Valley for over a decade. Eventually, he was lured to a peace meeting where he was killed in 1905.

Mr Muite argues that recognising "those who were killed, those who provided services including meals to Mau Mau fighters and those who were raped, and giving them a bit of compensation" would help bring closure.

Historian Caroline Elkins says the anticipated announcement by the monarch will be "an extraordinary moment" but adds that the right thing would be to "insist upon proper investigations, done by the government, to change history books, to change museums in Britain and to provide funding in Kenya to establish its own museums and cultural artefacts".

She says the atrocities committed during the state of emergency - declared by the colonial government in October 1952 in response to the Mau Mau revolt - were done in the monarch's name. Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne just eight months earlier while on a visit to central Kenya where the rebellion had been brewing.

"It was Her Majesty the Queen whose picture hung in detention camps, [and] as they were being tortured and forced to labour, they had to sing God Save the Queen."

The Mau Mau attacks could be brutal, and would often occur at night. Images of six-year-old Michael Ruck - hacked to death along with his parents and a farmhand - and his bloodied teddy bears, were published in newspapers abroad, and drew no sympathy for the fighters.

The colonial government used its air power and ground forces that included many Kenyans - known as the home guards - to mount a brutal crackdown on the Mau Mau.

Ms Elkins estimates that as many as 320,000 people were interned in detention or concentration camps. Prisoners were reportedly castrated, flogged to death, and even set on fire.

British troops guard suspected rebels in Kenya in 1952
Getty Images

More than 1,000 were executed by hanging during the emergency period. The total death toll is estimated to be in the thousands. Historians have described the operations to crush the revolt as the bloodiest post-war conflict the UK was involved in last century.

"There were no houses for us to live in," says veteran Agnes Muthoni of the conditions in the forest during the emergency. "There were hyenas, hunger and rain."

She now lives in a blue-roofed house made of corrugated iron sheets and timber which overlooks the undulating green ranges of the Aberdare mountain range.

The vast fertile land stretching across central Kenya to the Rift Valley was once known as the "White Highlands". Almost all of it was exclusively owned by settler farmers. Local people, like Ms Muthoni, were pushed to the fringes to pave the way for European farmers to occupy the best land.

After independence much of it went to the home guards, as the Mau Mau continued to be considered a terrorist organisation.

But Ms Muthoni is ready to let go of the past. "We are not bitter in our hearts because the past is gone," she says.

"Human beings forgive each other and continue living together, but I would like to be given land."

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2023-10-31 01:27:26Z
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Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk to host 'in conversation' event after AI summit - Sky News

The prime minister will host an event with X owner Elon Musk following the UK's AI summit.

Rishi Sunak's X account posted on Monday that he will be "in conversation" with the Tesla and SpaceX boss on Thursday.

It is likely he will also be present in some way at the summit, although it is not clear whether he will attend in person or virtually.

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Reports emerged on Monday that the value of X had fallen to $19bn (£15.6bn) according to the company's internal documents. Musk bought the site - then called Twitter - for $44bn (£36.2bn) last year.

US vice president Kamala Harris will also attend the summit.

While in the UK, she will discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict with Rishi Sunak during a whirlwind visit.

More on Artificial Intelligence

The pair will also "consult on next steps in our support for Ukraine," according to a White House official.

Ms Harris's presence at the AI summit means that President Joe Biden is not making the trip.

Downing Street has denied Mr Sunak is feeling snubbed by international counterparts, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz all believed to be unlikely to show.

Read more:
ChatGPT predicted Rishi Sunak's speech about AI
Musk launches long-awaited AI start-up
Looking back on Elon Musk's first year of owning Twitter

An updated guest list could not be provided by the UK government on Monday, although a spokesperson claimed they "remain confident that we have brought together the right group of world experts in the AI space, leading businesses, and indeed world leaders and representatives who will be able to take on this vital issue".

This came amid reports the invite to China has been upgraded to include asking President Xi Jinping to attend.

Downing Street insist it is a "significant achievement" to host the first AI safety summit of its kind.

After arriving in the UK on Tuesday, Ms Harris and her husband will travel to Winfield House in London.

She will give a "major policy speech" on the US's vision for AI on Wednesday at the US embassy, before heading to Downing Street to meet with Mr Sunak.

Ms Harris will travel to Milton Keynes on Thursday to attend the AI summit, which will take place at Bletchley Park - where British codebreakers worked in secret, using early computer technology, during the Second World War.

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The vice president will then leave the UK later that day to return to the US.

Mr Biden signed an executive order earlier today aiming to guide the development of AI, requiring firms working on potentially dangerous models to share safety data with the government before their release, among other measures.

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2023-10-30 22:32:10Z
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Minggu, 29 Oktober 2023

Storm Ciarán to bring flooding and strong winds to UK - live - The Independent

What is extreme weather? | Decomplicated

The Met Office has warned of “strong winds and heavy rain” as Storm Ciarán is set to sweep across the UK later this week.

Ciarán is due to bring gusts of 80mph winds to areas along the south coast of England, with a small risk of some more exposed areas seeing wind speeds of up to 90mph. Meanwhile, up to 60mm of rain is expected to fall in some areas.

Met office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Almond, said: “Heavy and persistent rain will fall onto already saturated ground bringing a risk of further impacts such as flooding in areas that are already struggling to clean up from the heavy rainfall we have seen over the last week or so.”

The Environment agency currently has a staggering 72 flood warnings in place across England and a further 172 flood alerts. Meanwhile in Scotland, 18 flood warnings and 11 flood alerts are currently in place.

The third named storm of this year’s season comes after areas across Scotland and north-east England were battered with the worst of Storm Babet, which caused serious damage and several deaths when it hit last week.

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Met Office name latest storm set to bring 90mph winds to the UK this week

The Met Office has named the third storm of the season as it’s set to bring 90mph winds to the UK from Thursday.

The forecaster said Storm Ciarán is set to bring “strong winds and heavy rain” as it sweeps across the UK next week.

It comes after areas across Scotland and north-east England were battered with the worst of Storm Babet, which caused serious damage and several deaths when it hit last week.

Met office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Almond, said: “Heavy and persistent rain will fall onto already saturated ground bringing a risk of further impacts such as flooding in areas that are already struggling to clean up from the heavy rainfall we have seen over the last week or so.”

The Environment agency currently has a staggering 71 flood warnings in place across England and a further 172 flood alerts. Meanwhile in Scotland, 18 flood warnings and 11 flood alerts are currently in place.

Athena Stavrou29 October 2023 12:59
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Weather set to worsen this week

The weather is expected to worsen as the week progresses with rain warnings in place until Wednesday.

A “deep area of low pressure” is set to arrive on Thursday which has been named by the Met Office as Storm Ciaran, threatening strong winds and heavy rain to southern parts of England and Wales.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Chris Almond said: “Winds associated with Storm Ciaran are likely to gust to 80mph along the south coast of England, with a small risk of somewhere exposed seeing 90mph, and winds could even gust up to 50 or 60mph further inland.

“This deep low-pressure system will also bring heavy rain to much of the UK, but the heaviest rain is expected in southern and western areas with 20 to 25mm quite widely across the region, but up to 40 to 60mm potentially over higher ground.

“Heavy and persistent rain will fall on to already saturated ground, bringing a risk of further impacts such as flooding in areas that are already struggling to clean up from the heavy rainfall we have seen over the last week or so.”

Katy Clifton30 October 2023 04:00
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Flooding hits UK over weekend

Flooding has been seen across Sussex over the weekend, including at the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre in Hastings which was evacuated on Saturday. Photos on social media showed floodwater coming through the entrance.

On Sunday, a caravan park in Bognor Regis was left under water, while the town’s Tesco supermarket car park also flooded.

And a house had its roof ripped off in Littlehampton, West Sussex, on Saturday in what the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Torro) has provisionally called a tornado with a rating of T4, signifying it as being of “severe” force.

The rating suggests the tornado would have involved winds of up to 61m/s (136mph) capable of causing damage to buildings and lifting up and carrying sheds or uprooting trees.

Katy Clifton30 October 2023 02:00
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What does a yellow weather warnings mean?

So far, several yellow weather warnings for wind and rain have been issued this week ahead of Storm Ciarán’s arrival.

When Storm Babet hit last week, amber and even rare red weather warnings were also issued.

Here’s what a yellow weather warning means:

“Yellow warnings can be issued for a range of weather situations,” says the Met Office.

“Many are issued when it is likely that the weather will cause some low level impacts, including some disruption to travel in a few places. Many people may be able to continue with their daily routine, but there will be some that will be directly impacted and so it is important to assess if you could be affected.“

Other yellow warnings are issued when the weather could bring much more severe impacts to the majority of people but the certainty of those impacts occurring is much lower. It is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered by the yellow warning.”

Athena Stavrou29 October 2023 23:30
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Full report: Met Office issues fresh weather warnings as storm officially named

The forecasters have said severe weather warnings are to be expected until Thursday, before the latest named storm is due to arrive.

Ciarán is due to bring 80mph gusts to areas along the south coast of England, with a small risk of some more exposed areas seeing wind speeds of up to 90mph. Meanwhile, up to 60mm of rain is expected to fall in some areas.

Read more:

Athena Stavrou29 October 2023 21:30
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What is extreme weather?

Storm Ciarán is the latest extreme weather event the UK has seen in recent weeks. The third named storm of this year’s season comes after areas across Scotland and north-east England were battered with the worst of Storm Babet, which caused serious damage and several deaths when it hit last week.

From flooding to heatwaves, wildfires to droughts, Earth’s weather cycles have shown signs of becoming increasingly more erratic, severe and prolonged, and though there is no blanket explanation for this change in weather patterns, human-induced global warming is a major underlying factor.

The Independent looks at extreme weather below:

What is extreme weather? | Decomplicated
Athena Stavrou29 October 2023 19:30
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Met Office advice for staying safe in a storm

With Storm Ciarán set to batter the UK on Thursday, here’s the Met Office’s advice for staying safe in a storm:

  • Stay indoors as much as possible
  • If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees
  • Keep away from the sheltered side of boundary walls and fences - if these structures fail, they will collapse on this side
  • Do not go outside to repair damage while the storm is in progress
  • If possible, enter and leave your house through doors in the sheltered side, closing them behind you
  • Open internal doors only as needed, and close them behind you
  • Take care when driving on exposed routes such as bridges, or high open roads, delay your journey or find alternative routes if possible
  • Slow down and be aware of side winds, particular care should be taken if you are towing or are a high sided vehicle
  • Do not drive unless your journey is really necessary
<p>Waves at Stonehaven Harbour</p>

Waves at Stonehaven Harbour

Athena Stavrou29 October 2023 18:30
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UK’s five day weather forecast

This Evening and Tonight:

Rain will affect eastern Scotland and northeast England overnight, heavy and persistent at first. Elsewhere there will be clear spells and showers, the showers heaviest near to southern and western coasts of England and Wales. Patchy frost in the north.

Monday will be cloudy with patchy rain across eastern Scotland and northern England. Some sunshine elsewhere, but with heavy showers, some thundery, becoming more widespread from the south and west.

Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:

Tuesday and Wednesday will see showers or longer spells of rain moving north and east across all parts, and generally becoming windy. Storm Ciarán arriving from the southwest later Wednesday.

Athena Stavrou29 October 2023 17:30
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In pictures: Britons brave the heavy rain

Here are the latest pictures of the weather from Sunday as the UK prepares for the arrival of Storm Ciarán.

<p>A view of the flooded car park at a Tesco store in Bognor Regis after heavy rain the area. </p>

A view of the flooded car park at a Tesco store in Bognor Regis after heavy rain the area.

<p>A view of the entrance to the Riverside Caravan Centre in Bognor Regis which has flooded after heavy rain the area.</p>

A view of the entrance to the Riverside Caravan Centre in Bognor Regis which has flooded after heavy rain the area.

<p>People braving the rain as they attend the Whitby Goth Weekend in Whitby, Yorkshire.</p>

People braving the rain as they attend the Whitby Goth Weekend in Whitby, Yorkshire.

Athena Stavrou29 October 2023 15:57
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Further weather warning issued for Northern Ireland

The Met Office has issued a new weather warning for Northern Ireland, ahead of Storm Ciarán’s arrival on Thursday.

The yellow weather warning for heavy showers will come into place at 4pm on Monday and remain until Tuesday at 3pm.

Athena Stavrou29 October 2023 15:30

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2023-10-30 04:21:26Z
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