This is your JRN Weekly briefing covering the developments of the last week in three key areas. If you have a story to share, contact our news desk at juniorrowingnews@gmail.com
Covid-19 & World News:
“The message is – we have done very well, the virus is under control to a very large extent but it is still there,”
The Prime Minister
As another week draws to a close, we can step back and remind ourselves of the key events of the last seven days, such as the introduction of compulsory face-coverings in British shops, the government’s obesity crackdown and the death of Tanzania’s former President.
Thursday the 23rd June became the last day of the ‘new-normal’ shopping experience for members of the public in the UK as Number 10 enacted legislation requiring the majority of individuals to wear face coverings whilst in shops across England. The move, whilst supported by many, has not come about without criticism, with some pointing to the fact that neither retailers nor the police will enforce the new law, as evidence that this latest attempt to curb Coronavirus will ultimately fail.
Mask conspiracy theories have, in some areas, undermined authorities’ attempts to enforce the new legislation, with online posts claiming wearing a mask decreases the amount of Oxygen an individual can inhale, damages the immune system and even poses a threat of Carbon Dioxide toxicity. There is no evidence that any of these claims are true.
Others initially criticised the proposals, citing the potential economic damage as the primary reason not to enforce mask-wearing in the UK; yet the latest figures appear to paint a picture of partial economic recovery, at least on the high street. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show a month-on-month increase of sales by 13.9% between May and June, yet the ONS cautioned that the overall figures mask large-scale shifts in shopping habits that have seen online grocery shopping’s popularity skyrocket, while clothing companies are said to be “struggling” to drive sales.
The big news over the weekend, however, was that travellers returning from Spain will now have to enter a 14-day quarantine period in order to prevent further transmission of the Coronavirus. The move comes as Spain reports a significant increase in Covid-19 cases, with 900 new cases reported on Friday. Commenting on the matter, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said “This reinforces the point that these matters are subject to change at short notice and so my advice is to be cautious about non-essential foreign travel,” she said.”
Those who have been patiently awaiting the re-opening of leisure facilities can rest easy, with new government guidance allowing gyms and pools to open to the public for the first time since March. The leisure sector has warned, however, that with the majority of sites remaining closed, the industry may soon find itself in need of serious support from Whitehall if it is to survive.
The Prime Minister is set to announce a crackdown on the ‘obesity epidemic’ that has gripped the nation. Measures are rumoured to include a ban on fast-food advertising before 9 PM, as well as restrictions on in-store promotions. The announcement is set to come in the wake of suggestions from medics that obesity increases the likelihood of becoming seriously ill as a result of Coronavirus infection.
The Home Office has announced that potentially thousands of Passport applications could be fast-tracked to prevent Brits being prevented from holidaying as a result of invalid travel documentation. Under current guidance, 6,500 passport applications have been expedited on ‘urgent and compassionate grounds’, but the home office says it recognises that there are significant numbers of people who will wish to have a valid passport, despite not meeting the O&C criteria.
A-List Management has dropped the ‘godfather of grime’ Wiley as a result of a string of anti-Semitic posts on Instagram and Twitter on Friday evening. The London-born rapper’s social media accounts have been altered by the respective platforms, whilst many are calling for his MBE to be removed.
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has told the press that the couple ‘did not contribute’ to the new book Finding Freedom, written by a member of the Palace Press Corp. The new book claims that the Sussexes and Cambridges were barely speaking by March, whilst also suggests that Price Harry and wife Megan often referred to the Royal Old Guard as ‘vipers’.
The UN has called on Nigerian authorities to bring about justice for four aid workers killed in Nigeria this week. The Islamic State group have claimed responsibility for the killings. This latest spree of murders emphasis the risk humanitarian workers in Northern Nigeria still face. The area has seen over 10 years of violence from terror cell Boko Haram, that has forced more than two million people from their homes and killed more than 30,000.
Tanzania confirmed the death of former President Benjamin Mkapa, who died at the age of 81 as a result of an undisclosed illness. Mr Mkapa was the first president to be elected in the country following the first multi-party elections in 1995 and held the position for 10 years. His radical changes the country’s economic structure were welcomed by the World Bank and IMF and were – in part – responsible for the cancellations of Tanzania’s foreign debts.
Sino-American tensions have continued to escalate this week after a Singapore man admitted to spying for China in the US. Jun Wei Yeo was charged with using his political consultancy in America as a front to collect information for Chinese intelligence, US officials say.
The US has not been the only one in a stand-off with the world’s fastest-growing economy this week, with Australia rejecting China’s territorial and maritime claims in the South-China sea, aligning itself more closely with NATO allies. Australia remains a NATO Contact country and member of the AUSCANNZUKUS strategic alliance.
Australia also reported this week that its economy is in its worst position since World War Two, with a current budget deficit of A$86bn (£47bn; $60bn). “These deficits reveal the real cost to the budget of protecting lives and livelihoods as result of coronavirus,” said Josh Frydenberg, Australian Treasurer.
Poland has announced its intention to withdraw from the Istanbul Treaty, designed by Europe to protect women from violence. Poland’s Justice Minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, told reporters that the document was ‘harmful’ because it required schools to teach children about gender; he added that legislative reforms in the country have provided women with adequate protection in recent years.
France has announced a crackdown of its own that targets drug use across the nation. New laws in September will give Police the power to enforce on-the-spot drug fines of up to £182, which will be reduced if paid within a specified time-frame.
In Hungary meanwhile, more than 70 journalists from the country’s top news site have resigned, citing concerns over media freedom as their primary reason for stepping away from the site. Index is the last key independent media outlet in the country, with writers accusing the government of applying pressure to the site after editor in chief Szabolcs Dull was fired on Tuesday.
President Trump has signed four executive orders aimed as reducing prescription-drug prices, which he has long criticised. Mr Trump told media “The four orders I’m signing today will completely restructure the prescription drug market,” The orders will allow more drugs to be imported from overseas, yet many experts have warned that the President’s actions will have little – if any – effect on the drugs market.
British and American intelligence chiefs have accused Russia of launching a satellite weapon into space. The allegations come just days after a cross-party report accused Downing Street of underestimating Russia’s power. Head of the UK’s space directorate said the device launched by the former communist superpower has the “characteristics of a weapon”.
British Rowing:
“British Rowing has published version five of our ‘return to rowing’ advice outlining a phased approach to the reintroduction of crew boat rowing“
British Rowing
Changes in government advice have prompted the governing body for rowing in the UK to alter its advice for crew rowing, whilst in preparation for the 2021 Olympic campaign, Ben Mosley’s artwork has been commissioned to celebrate the second Olympic countdown of this cycle.
British Rowing has announced a new set of plans for a return to crew boat rowing as we enter phase ‘C’ of a return to rowing normality. The latest guidance will allow singles, coxless pairs and doubles to return to the water from the 1st August, coxed and coxless fours, quads from the 15th, and eights and octuples from the 29th.
From the middle of next month, boats controlled by a cox will be permitted, on the understanding that coxswains take extra measures to limit the potential of transmission by wearing a face-covering in bow-loaders, and a visor and face-covering in stern-loaders. The full updates guidance from British Rowing can be found here.
Ben Mosley, expressionist and action painter, has unveiled his prints that capture the excitement of heading into 2020’s second Olympic countdown. His art is available to purchase at the British Rowing shop.
International Rowing:
“In a short 20 years para rowing has been included at the World Championships and the Paralympic Games, switched from 1000m racing distance to 2000m, changed names from adaptive to para rowing and added several boat classes.”
World Rowing
In a week where countries have focused their efforts inwards, the International rowing scene has remained quiet; yet important facts have been translated into passionate stories that underpin the need for change in 21st Century rowing.
World Rowing featured an account of the recent history of para rowing, detailing its transition from adaptive rowing, its inclusion in the sport’s most prestigious events, and the standardisation of racing distance – all in the last two decades.
That’s not to say that efforts weren’t made earlier to include para rowing in the sporting calendar. Current para rowing chair Fay Ho told World Rowing “I can remember when I raced at the 1993 World Championships as a lightweight in Racice, Czech Republic, and para rowing events were included there,”
Another crucial transition to include greater numbers of individuals from minority backgrounds has been highlighted by the recent book and film ‘a most beautiful thing’, which chronicles the story of the first all-black US high school rowing team. Junior Rowing News had the opportunity to sit down and discuss the book and its message with author Arshay Cooper in the latest episode of the End of The Island.
That’s all for this week’s briefing. Be sure to tune in next week for the latest news, advice, and analysis.
Until then, catch the latest episodes of our podcast here, and keep up with content from across our team on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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Ed Evans
Opinions Editor
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