Day: 12 November 2021

A summary of all the most interesting stories that have appeared about politicians’ efforts to control the virus — and other acts of hubris and folly – not just in Britain, but around the world.

The Free Speech Union has written to Downing College about its new 'Report Racism Guidance', which reproduces the legally dubious aspects of the university-wide policy that was abandoned by the Vice-Chancellor last May.

The Russian oblast of Sverdlovsk is considering whether to ban the unvaccinated from purchasing alcohol to try and stop the spread of Covid.

According to Government statistics, Covid cases have been on their longest unbroken decline since May.

Women who work from home risk seeing their careers stall now that workers are returning to the office, according to Bank of England (BoE) economist Catherine Mann. BBC News has more. She said office interaction was vital to advance in companies, but many women were still tied to home working.Ms. Mann said it was a particular issue for mothers facing school disruptions and difficulty accessing childcare.Earlier this year, Rishi Sunak warned about young people's careers.The Chancellor said he doubted his banking career would have been successful if he had started it in virtual meetings, and that being in the office helped build skills.Ms Mann, a member of the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee that sets interest rates, said online communication was unable to replicate the spontaneous office conversations that were important for recognition and advancement in many workplaces.She told an event hosted by Financial News magazine: "Virtual platforms are way better than they were even five years ago. But the extemporaneous, spontaneity – those are hard to replicate in a virtual setting."Difficulty accessing childcare and pandemic-related disruption to schooling meant many women were continuing to work from home, while it had been easier for men to return to the office."There is the potential for two tracks", she said. "There's the people who are on the virtual track and people who are ...

Bad news for our continental cousins: lockdowns are returning to Europe, with Holland announcing a three week lockdown starting tomorrow and Austria imposing a lockdown on the unvaccinated.

From Monday, teachers in New Zealand must have received the first dose of a Covid vaccine if they are to continue to work in the classroom.

The latest study from the UKHSA finds vaccine effectiveness is declining, but much less than in other studies. Why is that?