I doubt there’s any rationale behind it beyond playing up to his support in the run-up to an election. I expect they’ll lap it up too and the only dissenters at the end of this will be those who wouldn’t have voted for him anyway.
The WHO has been a force for great good in many parts of the world and has undoubtedly improved the lives (and saved the lives) of tens of millions of people over the years. But it’s role in the current epidemic has been disgraceful, in particular its toadying attitude to China, it’s refusal to challenge the Chinese on the origins of the disease and the cover up of the epidemic. This is an organisation which has as its sole purpose understanding and advising on the spread of disease. As late as 24 January it was advising that there was no problem with international travel and large gatherings of people, or going to live animal markets (let alone closing them) as long as you washed your hands a lot. Admittedly this may have been because China had lied to them, but they have never apologised or of course challenged China. I suspect this is because, although the US give WHO the most money, China controls the voting on senior appointments (top 3 WHO funders - 1.US, 2. Bill & Melinda Gates, 3. UK. All 195 members states who have paid their dues get to vote on who is leader every 4 years, in an Oscar like ceremony). Plus it is dysfunctional and has a ‘lead’ on COVID 19, David Nabarro (British) who accused his boss, Tedros, of covering up cholera epidemics in his native Ethiopia when they were both competing for the top job. Nabarro is the man constantly issuing conflicting advice on face masks (latest we should wear them not because they work but because they are an alert to social distance - in my experience they are the reverse) and who has said it’s fine for Wuhan to reopen it’s wet markets. Nabarro also led the widely criticised WHO response to Ebola. So Trump, odious moron that he is, does actually have a point, in my opinion, though his motivation is entirely selfish and wrong as always. We need a WHO, so I don’t agree with removing funding, but I do think that funding should be made contingent on a fundamental review of the organisation, a clear out of its leadership and its depoliticisation. In my opinion. According to the Chinese embassy Raab has promised not to negatively mention China in relation to the pandemic.
To be honest, I'm more bothered about what's going on over here. Trump will always be Trump. I wonder if they alter the graphs today to try stop misleading people. I would have put this on the politics thread but it's been closed due to 'you know who'.
We’re only including Libras born on February 29th. Here’s a chart comparing this group to the whole of France.
By all accounts, your PM is doing a great job of managing the situation and people are in the majority following the advice.
this is slightly off topic, however in China the camps they had for all the Muslims for "re-education" - these are no longer making any headlines due to the outbreak of Covid 19. However, I just wonder whether there has been an outbreak in these camps as well.
I still remember her handling of the terrorist attacks in Christchurch, she showed great leadership at the time.
My mistake, we really need to make the graph look even better for death comparisons to other countries. It's only amnidextrous people under 5ft 9 that are being counted. That should bamboozle the British public for a few days.
She is good in a crisis She takes advice and acts on it I think she did the right thing closing the country's business's and borders and telling people to stay at home It's been a proper lockdown here No fudging Only people flying here are citizens or residents and when they get here they are quarantined Essential staff only working Payments to all staff was sorted out in week one That includes self employed It's going to be painful in the short term but if it's done properly it should be worth it
I'm also reading that a sheet of paper, a pen and a standard calculator are in the later stages of development to help add the death figures up. Tests will obviously have to be ran first with Abbott and Patel doing the maths.
Can we borrow her? Seriously it sounds a lot more organised than this ****show here. Do you get daily briefings trying to mislead the public also?
Beth, l think Trump has achieved new lows for an American President many times over in his time as leader. He hires and fires with complete contempt for the tried and tested system that has stood the test of time in America. He has done what other Presidents, good or bad, would not even consider doing and so, the American system has lost a lot of good people and been replaced with 'yes' people, to the detriment of America. The tough times are made harder with Trump in the oval office............. yet, they will probably vote him back in. I'm surprised nobody has done a JFK on him, seriously.
Coronavirus: Ministers vow to ramp up COVID-19 testing for care home residents and staff. Yeah yeah, it's all becoming a tad repetitive. Let me guess, they will be only testing people in care homes under the age of 15.
I watch Rishi (aka Roland Rat) and he speaks a hell of a lot better than anyone else who does the briefings. I actually sense a bit of humility in him. I know he has a script to follow but I quite like the fella.
One o'clock every day there is a briefing Director of public health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has become the star at covid 19 He appears everyday crunching the numbers giving out advice explaining everything thing in simple terms from case numbers to ppe problems There appears to be no hiding from anything or any question Jacinda appears three or times a week and other minister's regularly appear They all answer the questions asked of them which has been quite refreshing
We have repeated questions from journalists that are never ever answered. It's become the most tedious daily thing on tv. The only plan we have is to stay indoors unless you have to go outdoors?!?! We have graphs a 10 year old could prepare to totally mislead the public and we have promises of PPE but only if you use them correctly. Tests are only for the privaledged or daughters of MP's. We have nhs front line staff losing their lives and not getting tested. We have promises of financial help but you may have to wait until your dead to receive it. All going pretty well to be fair. We are just waiting for someone to be able to add a couple of numbers together. Could you possibly send someone over to do that?
