Top story: Disadvantaged pupils have ‘gone backwards’
Morning everyone. I’m Martin Farrer and these are the top stories to start September.
The educational gap between rich and poor pupils in England has widened considerably during the coronavirus crisis, with children from more deprived areas losing months more learning time compared with their better-off peers. As the school year begins for most pupils in England and Wales, a survey of thousands of teachers and heads shows that disadvantaged and black and minority ethnic children have gone backwards since schools shut due the pandemic in March. Some poorer pupils have lost more than half their school time compared with 15% in wealthier areas. The return to school comes with a new code of conduct including a ban on “malicious coughing” or inappropriate jokes about Covid-19. Labour and a children’s charity have warned about a likely jump in referrals to child social services and family courts as schools return this week.
Matt Hancock has been urged to publish the advice behind his decision to ease lockdown restrictions in some areas after critics accused him of favouring Tory constituencies ahead of Labour-voting areas. Dementia sufferers accounted for a quarter of all Covid-related deaths in England and Wales, according to data compiled by the LSE and University of London. The study also shows that 75% of Covid-19 deaths globally in care facilities are those with dementia as an underlying condition. Researchers in the UK, Australia and Finland are calling for volunteers for a study into how Covid-19 is affecting people’s dreams.
Cases in the United States have passed 6 million and deaths have exceeded 185,000 as states in the Midwest such as Iowa, North and South Dakota, and Minnesota have emerged as the growing hotspots. India racked up 1 million cases last month, while new infections jumped 50% in France in the same period. You can catch up with all the developments in the pandemic from around the world in our live blog.
* * *
Kenosha flashpoint – Donald Trump has failed to condemn the self-styled vigilante who is accused of murdering two protesters in Kenosha as he prepares to visit the Wisconsin city that has seen a week of unrest after the police shooting of a black man. The US president refused to criticise Kyle Rittenhouse at a White House briefing on Monday, admitting only that the teenager was in “very big trouble”. Ahead of his trip to Kenosha today, Trump alleged on Fox News that his Democrat rival Joe Biden was being controlled by “dark shadows”. Earlier, Biden said Trump’s description of a rightwing mob in Portland who fired paintballs at protesters as “great patriots” risked fomenting political violence in American cities. It is also becoming clear that Trump’s utterances reveal the template for his election strategy.
* * *
Health goals – The England and Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford has renewed his campaign against inequality by writing to MPs urging them to support the three policy goals of a “child food poverty taskforce” he has formed with brands including Aldi, Tesco, Deliveroo and Kellogg’s. In a separate government health initiative, thousands of people will be offered a soup-and-shakes weight-loss plan on the NHS to tackle the rise of type 2 diabetes. It follows a successful trial of the low-calorie diet and lifestyle plan and will now be expanded to reach 5,000 more patients in 10 areas including Manchester and Gloucestershire.
* * *
‘Hugely emotional’ – David Olusoga has described his torment at not being able to join the protesters who tore down the statue of the slave owner Edward Colston in his home town of Bristol. The broadcaster and historian says the statue had “loomed over” the city and its removal during the Black Lives Matter protests was the most remarkable event of the summer. He had “desperately” wanted to join the protest, which took place 10 minutes from his house, but he didn’t because he had promised his family he would stay safe during the pandemic. “It was a hugely emotional moment,” he has told Radio Times ahead of a new BBC documentary about Africa.
* * *
Face off – Australian users of Facebook and Instagram will be prevented from sharing news stories on the sites if proposals by the country’s competition watchdog to make digital companies share advertising revenues with publishers become law. In a blog post on Tuesday, Facebook’s regional boss said “we will reluctantly stop allowing publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news”, describing the threat as a “last choice”.
* * *
Knotty issue – Adele has been accused of cultural appropriation by marking what would have been Notting Hill Carnival weekend by posting a picture of herself with African-style knots in her hair on Instagram. The photograph provoked a storm of criticism on social media for the singer. But prominent black British people including Tottenham MP David Lammy and the model Naomi Campbell came to her defence.
Today in Focus podcast
Across Europe, millions of young people live in undocumented limbo, in fear of deportation from the countries they grew up in because of hostile migration policies. Now, inspired by their US counterparts, they are fighting for recognition and residency.
Lunchtime read: The lonely death of Doreen Chappell
In a tremendously moving instalment of our series on people lost during the pandemic, the family of Doreen Chappell tell of their anguish at her lonely death in hospital, aged 83, with just a nurse to hold her hand. Her daughter Melanie Ward says: “It tortures me to imagine her there. With none of us with her. And that will stay with me for a long time.”
Sport
Naomi Osaka vowed to continue highlighting issues of racial injustice after reaching the second round of the US Open with a hard-fought win over Japanese compatriot Misaki Doi. Kyle Edmund faces the daunting prospect of playing Novak Djokovic after Britain’s No2 beat Alexander Bublik in four sets and the world No1 eased past Damir Dzumhur in three to set up a second round clash at the US Open. Cameron Norrie launched a comeback as uneven as it was thrilling to beat the No 9 seed Diego Schwartzman in four hours at Flushing Meadows, while in the women’s draw, Johanna Konta will face fellow British hopeful Heather Watson in the first round but says she will put thoughts of friendship to one side. The United States Tennis Association has altered its safety protocols in order to allow numerous players to compete who may have been exposed to Covid-19 following Benoît Paire’s positive test.
Caleb Ewan of Australia took the fourth stage win of his career in stage three of the Tour de France to Sisteron, at the foot of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. For the first time this summer Eoin Morgan is able to go into a white-ball series with an almost full-strength squad, thanks to the return of Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler for the games against Australia. Wasps, despite a savage casualty list, secured a Premiership victory which propels them above their hosts Bath and into the top four, while relegated champions Saracens powered to a 40-12 bonus-point win at London Irish despite the absence of Owen Farrell and Mako Vunipola. And Delia Bushell, the Jockey Club’s first female CEO, has said the review which upheld allegations of bullying and led to her resignation was “flawed and biased”.
Business
The pound has hit its highest point against the dollar since December 2019, climbing to $1.341 in overnight trade. It’s not so good against the euro and is down slightly at €1.112. More homebuyers will rely on the “bank of mum and dad” this year – 23% compared with 19% in 2019 – as buyers struggle with the fallout from the Covid-19 crisis. The economics have worked very well for Zoom, with shares in the video technology company soaring to record highs following greater than expected revenues thanks to the boom in lockdown usage. The FTSE100 is set to rise 0.4% this morning.
The papers
The return of children to schools in England and Wales is the main preoccupation of the papers. The Guardian leads with “Gap between rich and poor pupils ‘widens 46% in a year’” and the i says “Schools face huge test to help pupils catch up”. The Telegraph reports that “Pupils to face exam delay next summer” and the Mirror has “Schools foot £216m bill to keep our kids safe”.
The Mail leads with “The diabetes revolution” but the Times prefers “Tourists in turmoil over quarantine restrictions”. The FT chooses “Global stocks soar during hottest August for decades in markets” while the Express has “New BBC bosses ‘must save free TV licences’”.
Sign up
The Guardian morning briefing is delivered to thousands of inboxes bright and early every weekday. If you are not already receiving it by email, you can sign up here.
For more news: www.theguardian.com
