Opinion Biden Environment Biden’s landmark climate and

can still stop spending bill – what’s in it, and what got cut?
Trump, and page 35
Trumpism – if
he can find a
bold plan and
moral vision
Robert Reich
page 17
Tuesday 9 August 2022
theguardian.com/us
Published in New York, United States

Joe Biden delivers remarks after meeting with families affected by the recent flooding in Kentucky in Lost Creek on Monday. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Biden tours flood-ravaged Kentucky as

White House highlights climate crisis
house that the storm had dislodged and tions, which had been looking bleak. are visiting today,” she said. waves and wildfires were ravaging the
Joanna Walters, Vivian Ho and dumped on the ground, tilted sideways. Then, White House press secretary Independent analysis of the Infla- American west.
agencies “We have the capacity to do this Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the issue tion Reduction Act shows it should On Monday, Kentucky’s governor,
it’s not like it’s beyond our control,” of climate change in her media briefing slash America’s planet-heating emis- Andy Beshear, said the flooding was
Joe Biden on Monday toured parts of Biden said, adding that “the weather aboard Air Force One on the way to Lex- sions by about 40% by the end of the “unlike anything we’ve ever seen”. It fol-
eastern Kentucky devastated by the may be beyond our control for now” ington with Biden and the first lady, Jill decade, compared with 2005 levels. lowed deadly tornadoes in the western
worst flooding in the state’s history but pledging “we’re staying until eve- Biden. This cut would bring the US within part of the state that killed almost 100
and pledged to help recovery, while his rybody’s back to where they were.” “The floods in Kentucky and ex- striking distance of a goal set by Biden people last December.
spokesperson warned that the climate Earlier in the day, en route from treme weather all around the coun- to cut emissions in half by 2030, Last week, China cut off defense
crisis was having an impact on such his holiday home in Rehoboth Beach, try are yet another reminder of the a target that scientists say must be and climate talks with the US amid
events there and across America. Delaware, having emerged from coro- intensifying and accelerating impacts achieved by the whole world if cata- aggressive military exercises in the
At least 37 people have died in the navirus isolation, to Kentucky, Biden of climate change and the urgent need strophic global heating, triggering esca- Taiwan Strait, in retaliation for House
flooding since a deluge late last month hailed historic health and climate to invest in making our communities lating heatwaves, droughts and floods, speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan,
that dropped up to 10.5in of rain on action legislation that passed the tough more resilient to it,” she said. is to be avoided. the island democracy that claims
Kentucky in only 48 hours. hurdle of the US Senate on Sunday. Jean-Pierre called measures in the Biden has called climate change independence but which Beijing claims
The US president said the nation He called the Inflation Reduction new bill “so vital”, alongside previous the “existential crisis of our time” and is part of the communist People’s
had an obligation to help all its Act, which could pass the House and be infrastructure legislation that aims to the president had been under pressure Republic of China.
people, declaring the federal govern- on the way to his desk to sign into law boost climate resilience. in recent weeks to declare a national
ment would provide support until resi- by the end of the week, “a big deal” and “Over the long term, these invest- climate emergency, as the legislation
dents were back on their feet. said he expected it to help Democrats’ ments will save lives, reduce costs and that passed the Senate on Sunday had
Behind him as he spoke was a prospects in November’s midterm elec- protect communities like the one we seemed out of reach, while record heat-
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

2 Headlines

Biden condemns Muslim killings: ‘Hateful

attacks have no place in America’
said they were asking students – espe-
Ramon Antonio Vargas cially those from Pakistan living around
campus – to be on alert.
Joe Biden has condemned the possibly “We are faith leaders – we ask people
related killings of four Muslim men in to be strong,” the center’s imam, Dr
New Mexico’s largest city, saying “these Mahmoud Eldenawi, told the Guardian
hateful attacks have no place in Amer- on Saturday. “But we are human – we do
ica”. feel concerned about our [wives] and
“I am angered and saddened,” the children.”
president also said in a tweet Sunday. Eldenawi described an atmosphere
“While we await a full investigation, my where Albuquerque’s Muslims were
prayers are with the victims’ families, “rushing to finish everything during the
and my administration stands strongly daytime” and staying home in the even-
with the Muslim community.” ing because “everybody thinks they’re a
Biden’s remarks further thrust into target”.
the national spotlight the shooting The first step toward determining
deaths of three Muslim men of South whether the deaths of Ahmadi, Hus-
Asian descent 10 days apart in Albu- sein, Hossain and Hussain constitute
querque, New Mexico. A fourth man hate crimes is jailing a suspect, ac-
with a similar background was killed cording to authorities.
late last year. In New Mexico, hate crimes tar-
Law enforcement officials have geting race and religion have the high-
acknowledged the strong possibility est number of victims among other
that the men’s race and religion made Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab at Fairview memorial park in Albuquerque. Photograph: Chancey Bush/AP kinds of hate crimes reported in the
them targets. And on Sunday police – state.
scrambling to make an arrest in any of the Albuquerque mayor, Tim Keller, were from Pakistan and members of The four slayings have rattled Albu- The state’s governor, Michelle Lujan
the cases – said they were searching told reporters. the same mosque, were fatally shot on querque’s Muslim community, with Grisham, said she was sending a
for a particular car that they suspected The murders in question date back 26 July and 1 August, respectively. many of its members trying to stay in detachment of state police to reinforce
was linked: a dark gray or silver four- to November 2021, when 62-year-old Then, hours after going to the bu- as much as possible while the murders local authorities as well as FBI agents
door Volkswagen, possibly a Jetta, with Mohammad Ahmadi died in a shooting. rials of both Aftab Hussein and Muham- are unsolved. working “to bring the killer or killers to
tinted windows. Later, Aftab Hussein, 41, and mad Hussain, 25-year-old Nayeem Hos- Notably, officials with the Islamic justice”.
“We have got to find this vehicle,” Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, who sain died after being shot late Friday. Center of New Mexico in Albuquerque “They will be found,” Grisham said.

‘Nowhere is safe’: California highway

shootings double in two years, data reveals
“Because of that, nowhere is safe.”
Abené Clayton in Los Angeles ‘There’s no rules any more’
with photographs by Nicholas Price works as a counselor in an
Albrecht Oakland funeral home and is a long-
time gun violence prevention advocate.
It was a few minutes after 11pm on 27 Growing up, he was too occupied with
October 2021 when Ramon Price Sr re- Oakland’s streets to be a good dad, he
ceived a call from a number he recog- said, having started selling drugs as a
nized as the county coroner’s office. teenager after living with people who
Price’s oldest son, Ramon Price Jr, used drugs around him as a child. But
had been shot while driving his white he had turned his life around, gotten Ramon Price Sr at Baker Prado Funeral
Home in Oakland.
Chevrolet Malibu on a stretch of Oakl- married and hadn’t participated in the
and freeway, the office said. The 27- underground economy for nearly 20
year-old had died at the scene. years. young people who was contributing to
They had spoken just hours before. There were at least 411 highway shootings in California last year. His oldest son’s death wasn’t the gun violence in the region. But after a
Price Jr had called from the mechanic first time his family was harmed by more than two-decade prison stint, he’s
shop working on his car, annoyed by 2021, 26 were fatal, according to the year before, according to the Guardian’s gun violence. In February 2012, Price’s now working with the people who are
a delay. Hearing the frustration in his agency. The majority of them, 121, took analysis of state homicide data. 17-year-old son Lamont Price was shot feeding the cycle of violence.
son’s voice, Price had offered to handle place in the San Francisco Bay Area. And the increase in highway vi- and killed in Oakland, and in April 2019, “We’ve always said [shootings] were
the issue the next day. Father and son Still, other regions across the state olence isn’t limited to California. Illi- his four-year-old grandson, Na’vaun La- ‘on sight’,” but that came with claus-
said they loved each other and hung up registered a significant number of inci- nois, for example, saw 147 highway marii Price Jackson, accidentally shot es and amendments,” he said, meaning
the phone. The elder Price settled in for dents that year as well: 99 in CHP’s Los shootings in 2020, nearly triple the himself in the head with an unsecured that shooters would avoid opening fire
an evening of television with his wife, Angeles patrol division, 75 in the San number in 2019, according to Illinois gun but survived. if targets were with their children, par-
and his son began his drive home. Bernardino division, and 46 in the Cen- state police. In 2021, the number of The nature of gun violence in Oakl- ents or girlfriends. “Now we see young
The shooting that killed Price Jr tral Valley division. highway shootings in Illinois rose again, and had changed in recent years, Price people being more ruthless, careless
that night was one of at least 411 that CHP said it attributed about one- to 310, with shootings on expressways said. “There’s no rules or loyalty any and more desperate.”
took place on California highways in quarter of incidents in 2021 to road rage, in the Chicago area driving the increase. more. Any argument can lead to death. At the same time, violence in gen-
2021, according to data the Guardian and about 3% have been confirmed as In the San Francisco Bay Area, law People don’t know how to agree to dis- eral sharply increased in the first year
obtained from the California highway gang-related. But there has not been enforcement, gun violence prevention agree and instead it escalates.” of the pandemic and remained high
patrol (CHP). enough research by the state into high- workers and victims say a confluence Julius Thibodeaux, a violence inter- in 2021, Thibodeaux noted, fueled by
The number caps a stunning rise in way shootings to have a full under- of factors has caused people to take rupter with Movement for Life, a non- job losses, trauma and the shuttering of
gun violence incidents on the state’s standing of why they are on the rise, their conflicts from neighborhoods on profit organization in Sacramento, Cali- schools and community centers. “There
major roads in recent years. In 2020, according to LAO. to highways. Those concerns include fornia, agrees the increase in highway was so much more stress, anxiety and
CHP recorded 397 shootings on Cali- The rise comes as gun violence stress, disruption and economic losses shootings stems from a larger cultural trauma on top of adverse childhood
fornia highways. In 2019, there were overall has increased significantly amid the pandemic, a dissolution of shift wherein past rules of engagement experiences that were already there at
210 such shootings – nearly 200 fewer, across the country. In 2020, the last unspoken street rules and a growing among shooters – such as not shoot- high levels,” he said about the increase.
the agency reported to the legislative year for which data is available, the US realization among shooters that high- ing at someone in public, where people “These things are being exacerbated by
analyst office (LAO), a bipartisan com- saw a 30% increase in homicides, most way crimes are hard to solve. who aren’t involved in the conflict can the pandemic and these are the results.”
mittee that advises California’s law- of them with guns, according to FBI “The freeway isn’t the problem, it’s be hit – have been tossed aside. These changes in community vi-
makers, at the time. data. California recorded 2,202 homi- the lack of respect and value for life in Originally from the Bay Area, Thibo-
Of the shootings CHP logged in cides in 2020, a 31% increase from the people’s minds and hearts,” said Price. deaux said he once was one of the Continued on page 3
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Headlines 3

Continued from page 2 effort to get a handle on the prob- agencies said. for Life to train more people and build says that the homicide case remains an
lem. The county, east of Oakland, dep- However, addressing the shootings more relationships with those most at open and active investigation.
olence are now manifesting on the loyed license plate readers and ShotS- will also require the state to spend risk of being shot or shooting someone Zoey and a group of young par-
state’s highways, which have long been potter microphones paired with cam- money beyond CHP and surveillance, else. Nearly $160m in grants have been tygoers had been on their way from San
an attractive venue for shooters, said eras that turn based on where gunshots on initiatives aimed at stopping people awarded to nearly 80 organizations Francisco to the East Bay after a birth-
Joshua Jackson, the assistant special are coming from, all of which feed data from pulling their guns out in the first across California so far. day celebration when shooters pulled
agent in charge of the US Bureau of into a large surveillance center manned place, victims, law enforcement and vi- “Shooting on the freeway brings a up alongside the bus and began firing.
Alcohol, Firearms,Tobacco and Explo- by the Pittsburg police department. olence prevention workers say. more dangerous dynamic to gun vi- At least 70 rounds of ammunition were
sives’ (ATF) San Francisco field divi- It’s hard to know how much of Such efforts have proven successful olence,” Thibodeaux said. “I’m all for fired on the stretch of freeway, an of-
sion. an impact this network is having on in California in the past. Before the pan- deterrence by CHP but when it comes framp and then on the street. At the
Charges in highway shootings are highway arrests, charges and convic- demic, gun violence in the Bay Area to addressing this issue, there has to end of the ambush, two teen girls,
rare. By the time investigators arrive tions because law enforcement at the had been on the decline. From 2007 be a mentorship and mental health ap- Zoey and 19-year-old Alayasia Thurs-
at a highway crime scene there’s often state, local and federal level does not to 2017, homicides in the 12 counties proach that comes into play if we want ton, were dead.
little evidence to collect. The foun- distinguish them from other homi- that make up the region decreased by sustained results.” Hughes was jostled awake at home
dations of shooting investigations – cides in their clearance data. Still, local 30%. The reasons behind this drop are ‘I’m gonna mourn him ’til my last by a phone call three hours later.
street surveillance video, bullet casings law enforcement argues that this net- complex, but the deployment of com- breath’ “I fell to my knees and prayed that
and eyewitness statements – are usual- work provides invaluable information munity-led violence prevention strat- In the meantime, for many fami- she was just in surgery,” Hughes re-
ly unavailable when bullets are flying to CHP. egies appears to have had a significant lies who have seen their relatives killed called. But 20 minutes after Hughes ar-
from cars traveling at over 60 miles an “All these tools have been extremely impact, experts, officials and organizers on California roadways, answers often rived at the hospital – the sun was rising
hour on busy highways. Casings can be valuable in aiding in investigations,” have said. These groups often comprise remain elusive. Price is one of the few by then – hospital staff came in to tell
destroyed by tires or caught in their said Capt Patrick Wentz of the Pittsburg formerly incarcerated people who work family members to see someone ar- Christina that her oldest child had died
treads, witnesses are more difficult to police, who oversees the freeway secu- with young people involved in shoot- rested for the killing of their loved one. from gunshot wounds.
track and there are far fewer surveil- rity network. “There’s also a public sen- ings to connect them with job and In February, authorities charged Hughes remembers her daughter as
lance cameras on the highway. timent around this, the public wanting educational opportunities, mentorship, Larry Coney, an acquaintance with “spoiled and sassy, but very loving”. She
“Shooting on the freeway is an easy law enforcement to use all the technol- and mental health care services. whom Price Jr had fallen out and traded was a typical teen who would go stay
way for someone to attack their rival ogies available.” Some of the programs have strug- disses via music videos posted to Insta- at a friend’s house when she was fru-
and then get on to the streets to evade Amid the rise in shootings, mayors gled during the pandemic. In-person gram, with murder. Coney has pleaded strated with her mom, Hughes said, but
law enforcement,” said Jackson. and law enforcement leadership in interactions between violence inter- not guilty. always called a couple of days later
He attributes the Bay Area’s partic- other Bay Area cities, including Oakl- rupters and those driving local vi- Price doesn’t plan to attend any of crying about how much she missed
ularly striking numbers to the way vio- and, are calling for similar technology. olence, which were cornerstones of Coney’s pre-trial hearings. “I don’t want Hughes and Zoey’s toddler brother, Do-
lent feuds typically play out in the The California governor, too, has the programs, were nearly imposs- to just sit through the court hearings,” novan, whom she affectionately called
region. Rather than large, traditional vowed action. In his 2022 budget pro- ible early in the emergency. But as he said. “Fatty”.
gangs, the Bay Area mostly has frag- posal, Gavin Newsom proposed more pandemic restrictions have loosened Instead, he’ll hold tight to memo- “I was young when I had her so we
mented cliques of people who live or than $10m over the next three years to and cities are trying to retool their ries of the young man he describes as grew up together,” Hughes said. “When-
grew up in the same neighborhood or support CHP’s recently formed highway public safety approaches, many in- a loving, devoted son who wanted to ever I was away from her all I wanted
apartment complex. “These groups are violence taskforce, which collects data cluding police leadership and officials spend as much time with his father as was to get back to her. Zoey was my
less organized and there are more of on shootings and increases patrols in at all levels are seeing these programs he could. “My son would call me at work heartbeat, she was my everything.”
them, so that means more rivalries and the areas that see the most incidents. as crucial to addressing gun violence on just to ask me if I ate. Then he would She added: “I’ll never move forward.
conflicts spilling from communities on Newsom also announced a pilot pro- and off of highways. pop up at my job with lunch,” he re- That was my 16-year-old child and she
to highways. gram that will bring 200 CCTV cameras “We share the same roads, grocery called. can’t be replaced. It will never be OK or
‘It will take all of us to address to highways in four California coun- stores and community centers. So it “Since my son died it’s been up and on my back burner. I will do whatever I
this’ ties, including on the stretch of freeway will take all of us – law enforcement, down with a lot of crying and a lot of need to do to keep her name alive be-
One response that’s being intro- where Ramon Price Jr was killed. community and religious leaders and pain sometimes. I’m gonna mourn him cause this can’t be the way this ends.
duced is more surveillance technology. The Oakland police and Alameda politicians, to address this issue surgi- ’til I take my last breath.” “Donovan remembers her and he
In 2017, during another troubling spate county sheriff’s departments have long cally,” Jackson said. Christina Hughes is still waiting for asks if we can go pick her up,” Hughes
of highway shootings, Contra Costa called for more freeway surveillance Newsom announced in May 2020 an arrest in the death of her daughter continued. “I have to tell him that his
county built an elaborate surveillance and hope the new technology will allow that $200m of the state’s budget would more than a year ago. Hughes’s 16-year- Zoey is in heaven.”
system on the local highways that their staff to better assist CHP in inves- go toward grants for violence inter- old, Zoey, was shot while driving on an
were seeing the most shootings in an tigating shootings, the law enforcement vention programs such as Movement Oakland freeway on 18 May 2021. CHP

Olivia Newton-John, star of Grease, dies aged

73
“nothing to complain about”. which she will be most fondly remem- war.
Catherine Shoard A cause of death has not yet been bered. Offered the lead role of Sandy, At 14, Newton-John began her
confirmed. sweet summer squeeze of cool cat John professional singing career, recording
Olivia Newton-John, the musical star Tributes to Newton-John began ap- Travolta, after meeting the producer her first single in 1966 on a return trip
who found enduring fame for her lead- pearing shortly after her family’s state- at a dinner party, the then 29-year-old to England, and her first solo album,
ing role in the film Grease, has died ment. Newton-John had to be persuaded to If Not For You, in 1971. A brief career
aged 73. The news was confirmed by Travolta posted a heartfelt message take the part, worried she was too old to dip followed the album’s initial acclaim,
her husband. on social media, writing: “My dearest play a high-school senior. The role was before Newton-John represented the
In a statement posted on social Olivia, you made all of our lives so also altered to accommodate her Aus- UK in the 1974 Eurovision song contest;
media, Olivia Newton-John’s widower much better. Your impact was incred- tralian accent. her song, Long Live Love, finished equal
John Easterling said: “Dame Olivia ible. I love you so much. We will see Grease was the biggest box-office fourth behind Abba’s winning Waterloo.
Newton-John (73) passed away peace- you down the road and we will all be hit of the year, and its soundtrack Then followed a period of singing and
fully at her Ranch in Southern Cali- together again. Yours from the moment album spent 12 consecutive weeks at recording country music, before she
fornia this morning, surrounded by I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your No 1 in the US. Newton-John’s perfor- was cast in Grease.
family and friends. We ask that eve- John!” mance was nominated for a Golden The transformation her character
ryone please respect the family’s pri- Newton-John’s daughter, Chloe Lat- Globe and she performed Hopelessly undergoes in the film – from a strait-
vacy during this very difficult time. tanzi, paid tribute to her mother with Devoted to You at the 1979 Oscars. laced sweetheart to a spandex-clad goer
“Olivia has been a symbol of tri- Hopelessly devoted … Olivia Newton-John a selection of images on Instagram, in- The film remains a much-loved – inspired a similar swerve in Newton-
umphs and hope for over 30 years shar- as Sandy and John Travolta as Danny in cluding pictures of Lattanzi as a baby. staple of the small screen and the sin- John’s musical career, culminating in
ing her journey with breast cancer. 1978 smash hit Grease. Photograph: Ronald After her first cancer diagnosis, galong circuit; its soundtrack is one of her 1981 album Physical. A second
“Her healing inspiration and pio- Grant Newton-John became a prominent the top 10 biggest sellers of all time. collaboration with Travolta, on the 1983
neering experience with plant medi- campaigner, setting up the Olivia Born in Cambridge, England, in film Two of a Kind, flopped, but the pair
cine continues with the Olivia Newton- her native Australia to adopt the laws Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Re- 1948, Newton-John and her family emi- remained close friends through the fol-
John Foundation Fund, dedicated to re- of the US state where she then lived, search Centre in Melbourne. Her promi- grated to Melbourne, Australia, when lowing decades, and most recently sang
searching plant medicine and cancer.” California, to allow the medicinal use of nence as an activist for research and she was six. Yet she remained proud of together in 2012.
In 2017, Newton-John revealed the marijuana. better treatment will likely remain as her roots: her father was an MI5 officer A number of musical comebacks
breast cancer she had first suffered in “My dream is that, in Australia soon, key an element of her legacy as her who worked on the Enigma project met with varying levels of success over
1992 had returned and had spread to it will be available to all the cancer pa- showbiz career, which included four at Bletchley Park during the war; her the last four decades, which were also
her spine. She also revealed she’d had tients and people going through cancer Grammy wins and the sale of more than maternal grandfather was the Nobel spent battling illness, raising a daugh-
a second cancer diagnosis in 2013 but that causes pain,” she said, adding that 100m records. prize-winning physicist Max Born, who ter, Chloe, and campaigning in the
had kept it quiet. She said she believed though she had moments of despair, But it was Grease, the perky 1978 sought exile in the UK from Nazi Ger-
she would “win over it” and called upon she had had “an incredible career” and adaptation of the Broadway musical for many on the eve of the second world Continued on page 4
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
4 Headlines

Continued from page 3 animal rights. it doesn’t matter if you have all the given the chance to live.” natural remedy firm Amazon Herb
“Cancer was enlightening,” she told money in the world – it makes no differ- Newton-John is survived by her Company, and her daughter, Chloe Rose
fields of health, the environment and the Observer in 2012. “When you’re ill, ence. I feel very blessed to have been husband, John Easterling, founder of Lattanzi.

Democrats celebrate as climate bill moves to

House – and critics weigh in
financial assistance provisions.
Joan E Greve in Washington “It’s a very modest step forward,”
Sanders told MSNBC. “Bottom line is,
Democrats celebrated the much-de- I’m going to support the bill because
layed Senate passage of their health- given the crisis of climate change, the
care and climate spending package, environmental community says this is
expressing hope that the bill’s approval a step forward. It doesn’t go anywhere
could improve their prospects in the near as far as it should. It is a step for-
crucial midterm elections this Novem- ward.”
ber. Democrats have championed the
The bill, formally known as the bill’s environmental provisions, which
Inflation Reduction Act, passed the mark America’s most significant legis-
Senate on Sunday in a party-line vote lative effort yet to address the climate
of 51-50, with Vice-President Kamala crisis. Experts estimate that the cli-
Harris breaking the tie in the evenly mate policies in the spending pack-
divided chamber. age will slash US greenhouse gas emis-
Raucous applause broke out on the sions by 40% by 2030, compared with
Senate floor after Harris announced the 2005 levels. That accomplishment will
final tally, and Democrats continued bring the US within striking distance of
their victory lap once the vote had con- Biden’s goal to cut emissions in half by
cluded amid a belief that the bill will the end of the decade, which scientists
give Biden – and many Democrats – say must be achieved to avoid climate
a record of significant achievement to disaster.
campaign on. Senator Bernie Sanders proposed amendments to the bill to expand its healthcare and financial assistance provisions. Those changes To win the support of the cen-
“I’m really confident that the Infla- were defeated. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images trist senator Joe Manchin, the bill
tion Reduction Act will endure as one also includes controversial proposals
of the defining feats of the 21st cen- thier, cleaner, fairer future for all Amer- prescription costs at $2,000 a year, to Republicans accused Democrats of to expand oil and gas development
tury,” the Senate majority leader, Chuck icans,” the Democratic speaker, Nancy argue that the legislation would pro- ramming through a partisan bill that on federal lands, which have sparked
Schumer, said at a press conference Pelosi, said in a statement. vide concrete assistance to millions of failed to address voters’ top concerns, outcry among some climate activists.
after the bill’s passage. “To do small Democrats hope the bill’s passage Americans. But that policy will not as polls show most Americans believe But the bill’s defenders say the climate
things with 50 votes is rough. To pass could also help them persuade voters go into effect until 2025, and Biden the economy is getting worse. benefits of the legislation far outweigh
such a major piece of legislation – with to keep them in control of Congress in acknowledged that some of the bill’s “Democrats have proven over the costs.
only 50 votes, an intransigent Repub- November, when every House seat and most important provisions will take and over they simply do not care As the spending package moves to
lican minority, a caucus running from 34 Senate seats will be up for grabs. time to kick in. about middle-class families’ priorities,” the House, Pelosi has the weighty task
Bernie Sanders to Joe Manchin – wow.” So far, Democrats’ prospects in the That delayed implementation could the Senate Republican leader, Mitch of keeping her entire caucus in line to
Democrats’ work is not quite done midterm elections have appeared grim, prove detrimental to Democratic candi- McConnell, said after the bill’s passage. ensure the bill’s passage. Given Demo-
though. The Senate-approved bill now as Republicans are heavily favored to dates trying to make a pitch to voters “They have spent 18 months proving crats’ narrow majority in the lower
heads to the House, which must pass regain control of the House of Repre- about how the party has made the most that. They just spent hundreds of bil- chamber, Pelosi can afford to lose only
the legislation before it can go to Joe sentatives. of its control of the White House and lions of dollars to prove it again.” a few votes and still get the bill passed.
Biden’s desk. The House is scheduled Asked on Monday morning wheth- Congress. Republicans’ talking points were It seems like Pelosi will have the votes
to return from its recess on Friday to er he believed the bill’s approval would Despite its name, the bill is also not echoed by a surprising voice on Sunday: she needs, after moderates and progres-
take up the bill, and Democratic leaders benefit Democrats running in Novem- expected to provide immediate relief to Bernie Sanders. The progressive sen- sives alike endorsed the package, so
have expressed confidence that it will ber, Biden said, “Do I expect it to help? Americans struggling under the weight ator expressed concern that the bill Biden could be reaching for his bill-
pass. Yes, I do. It’s going to immediately help.” of record-high inflation. According to a would do little to help working Amer- signing pen by the end of the week.
“The House will return and move Biden pointed to some of the bill’s report issued by Moody’s Analytics, the icans, after he unsuccessfully pushed
swiftly to send this bill to the pres- healthcare provisions, including cap- bill will “modestly reduce inflation over amendments to the bill that would
ident’s desk – proudly building a heal- ping Medicare recipients’ out-of-pocket the 10-year budget horizon”. have expanded its healthcare and

Trump wanted Pentagon generals to be like

second world war Nazis, book says
ware of Claus von Stauffenberg’s plot July independence day holiday. But his
Edward Helmore in July 1944 to kill Hitler with a bomb cabinet staff was less enthusiastic, and
inside his Wolf’s Lair field headquarters. it became a point of contention.
During his time in the Oval Office, Kelly reportedly told Trump that According to the excerpt, a French
Donald Trump wanted the Pentagon’s there were no American generals who general overseeing the 2017 Bastille
generals to be like Nazi Germany’s gen- observe total loyalty to a president. Day parade in Paris turned to one of
erals in the second world war, according Instead, they swear, like all military his American counterparts in Trump’s
to a book excerpt in the New Yorker. personnel, to “support and defend delegation and said: “You are going to
In an exchange with his former the constitution of the United States be doing this next year.” The idea was
White House chief of staff John Kelly, against all enemies, foreign and domes- seeded.
a retired Marine Corps general, Trump tic”. Trump, on his return to Wash-
reportedly complained: “You fucking The stunning back-and-forth came ington, hatched a plan for the “biggest,
generals, why can’t you be like the during a dispute touched off by grandest military parade ever for the
German generals?” Trump’s admiration for military pa- Fourth of July”. But the plans went
Kelly asked which generals, prompt- rades, gleaned in part by personally down badly with Trump’s cabinet staff.
ing Trump to reply: “The German gen- Donald Trump at CPAC in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters observing Bastille Day celebrations “I’d rather swallow acid,” the defense
erals in World War II.” thrown in France by that country’s secretary and former Marine Corps gen-
According to the excerpt published Baker and Susan Glasser, an incre- sinated by one of his own generals. president, Emmanuel Macron. eral, James Mattis, is reported to have
by the New Yorker from The Divider: dulous Kelly pointed out that Nazi “No, no, no, they were totally loyal Trump stubbornly wanted a similar
Trump in the White House, by Peter leader Adolf Hitler was almost assas- to him,” Trump replied, apparently una- military parade to mark the Fourth of Continued on page 5
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Headlines 5

Continued from page 4 his vision, telling Kelly: “Look, I don’t In one exchange involving Kelly and were about showing the people who In a statement to the magazine,
want any wounded guys in the parade. Paul Selva, then vice-chairman of the had the guns. And in this country, we Trump said: “These were very unta-
said, offering that a similarly grandiose This doesn’t look good for me.” joint chiefs of staff, Trump appeared don’t do that.” He added: “It’s not who lented people and once I realized it, I
military parade was unfeasible in part According to the publication, the surprised that the former military men we are.” did not rely on them, I relied on the
because of the cost and the fear that subject came up repeatedly. With each were not supportive. “So, you don’t like the idea?” Trump real generals and admirals within the
tanks would tear up the streets of pushback, Trump’s admiration for the Selva, who had grown up in António responded. system.”
Washington. military advisers which he used to faw- de Oliveira Salazar’s Portuguese dicta- “No,” Selva said. “It’s what dictators
But Trump was already formulating ningly refer to as “my generals” cooled. torship, informed Trump that “parades do.”

Colombian narco militia seeks peace talks

after calling ‘unilateral’ ceasefire
negotiations with leftist National Libe- would solidify Petro’s legacy as a his- Yirley Velazco’s northern home of Los fighting for power], they’re even more
Megan Janetsky in Bogotá ration Army (ELN) rebels, for the first toric leader. Montes de María, an area key to illegal dangerous,” Velazco said.
time since the Colombian government Negotiations with such groups are gold mining and drug trafficking, has And while Guzmán said the peace
One of Colombia’s most feared armed broke off peace talks after the rebels not uncommon in a place like Colom- surged in recent years, following the talks would be a step in the right direc-
groups has announced a “unilateral” carried out a car bomb attack at a police bia, which has struggled with waves of country’s 2016 peace pact with the Farc. tion, Petro will be hard-pressed to reach
ceasefire in the hopes of entering peace academy in Bogotá in 2019. armed conflict for much of its history. Failures by previous governments to fill an agreement with groups due to polit-
talks with the government of Colom- The two armed groups are among The government hatched deals with the power vacuum left by the rebels ical polarization in Colombia and fail-
bia’s new leftist leader, Gustavo Petro. the largest and most powerful in paramilitary groups in the mid-2000s have triggered violent power grabs by ures by the previous government of
The Gulf Clan, a notorious drug- Colombia, both wanted internationally and with the Revolutionary Armed other groups including the ELN and the Iván Duque to implement the 2016
trafficking militia, has unleashed a cam- for narco-trafficking. Forces of Colombia (Farc) rebels in Gulf Clan. peace pact.
paign of terror following the May extra- Petro, a former insurgent of the 2016. Velazco has fled her home and Petro will have to show he’s not
dition to the US of its leader – Dairo An- now defunct M-19 guerrillas, was voted “It’s an opportunity,” said Sergio now travels with an armed government “simply handing over the keys of the
tonio Úsuga, or “Otoniel”, assassinating into office on a wide range of prom- Guzmán, director of Colombia Risk bodyguard after receiving hundreds of castle” to groups wanted for human
dozens of police and holding large ises from fighting inequality to conso- Analysis. “The Gulf Clan has already death threats from the Gulf Clan. rights abuses and narco-trafficking, he
swaths of the country hostage. lidating peace with armed groups that shown its capacity to cripple 11 depart- “This wave of violence has grown said.
The rightwing group said the cea- have only grown more violent in recent ments of Colombia. And the ELN be- massively,” Velazco said. “You never Meanwhile, fighters considering
sefire, announced by the group on years. lieve this is an opportunity to negotiate know what can happen to you.” laying down their weapons will want
Sunday, was an “expression of good- “We must end once and for all six with a more favorable government on The leader said she hoped the Petro security and economic reassurances by
will with the new government and its decades of violence and armed conflict the left.” government would end the violence, the government, which Petro may not
broad willingness to search for paths of … the perpetual war of Colombia,” the But many Colombians fear the talks but also worries that any new accords have the capacity to deliver on.
peace”. president said in a speech as he was could only deepen ongoing conflict in could only create a new, more bloody “It’s not going to be easy,” he said.
The offer comes as Petro said sworn into office Sunday. the South American country. fight for control.
his government was “about to restart” Any peace pact with the militias Violence in human rights defender ““I’m scared, because if [they’re

Leandro Lo: shooting death of jiu-jitsu

champion shocks Brazil
atmosphere that has gripped Brazil in
Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro recent years, as well a warning about
the dangers of the soaring number of
Dozens of kimono-clad mourners have firearms being bought.
gathered to pay tribute to the world jiu- Since Brazil’s pro-gun far-right pres-
jitsu champion Leandro Lo after he was ident, Jair Bolsonaro, took office in 2019
shot dead in São Paulo in a crime that Brazilian gun laws have been relaxed
has shocked Brazil. dramatically and gun ownership has ex-
The 33-year-old fighter, who won ploded, with more than a million wea-
eight world championship titles and pons reportedly going into circulation.
is considered one of the sport’s great- “Bolsonaro’s Brazil has become the
est ever practitioners, was pronounced wild west and nothing about this is a
dead on Sunday after being shot in the coincidence,” wrote the journalist Milly
head at a nightclub in Brazil’s biggest Lacombe.
city. The news presenter and commen-
On Monday friends and admirers, tator Flávio Fachel tweeted: “Guns...
including the celebrity chef Alex Atala, unpreparedness... violence... crime...
reportedly attended Lo’s wake at a death.”
cemetery in São Paulo’s south, before Social media posts suggest Lo’s al-
his burial. leged killer, who was arrested after
“He was a reference in the sport,” handing himself into police on Sunday
said the jiu-jitsu fighter Marcela Lima, night, was a die-hard gun aficionado.
who was among those to turn out “Firearms abolish the tyranny of the
dressed in her kimono, to the Folha de Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Leandro Lo was killed in São Paulo. Photograph: Instagram/Leandro Lo/Reuters strongest and protect the integrity of
São Paulo newspaper. the weakest,” he wrote on Instagram re-
The victim’s mother, Fátima Lo, On Sunday night more than 40 tice. given by Grupo Pixote, one of Brazil’s cently alongside a photograph of him
paid tribute to her “hero” on social members of the jiu-jitsu community The officer, named as Henrique most famous samba pop groups. posing with a revolver at a shooting
media, writing: “You made me feel like surrounded a nearby police station to Otavio Oliveira Velozo, reportedly shot The killing has sparked a major range.
the most loved mum in the world … I demand that the military police officer the jiu-jitsu champion once in the face outcry and served, for some, as a re-
will miss you forever.” accused of killing Lo be brought to jus- after an altercation at a concert being minder of the increasingly aggressive
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

6 Headlines

Photos suggest Trump blocked toilets with

ripped-up White House documents
maintained contact with the North
Edward Helmore Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.
Letters from Kim – once described
Claims that Donald Trump periodically by Trump as “love letters” – were among
blocked up White House and other 15 boxes of documents, letters, gifts and
drains with wads of paper appear to be mementoes that turned up at Trump’s
borne out in photographs leaked ahead Mar-a-Lago estate a year after he left
of the publication of a new account of office.
the 45th presidency. According to an earlier Axios report,
On Monday, Axios published photos Haberman’s account of the Trump
of folded-up paper, marked with presidency is the one that “Trump fears
Trump’s telltale handwriting, using his most”. Several advisers are unhappy
favored pen, a Sharpie, submerged at with his decision to talk to the re-
the bottom of various toilet bowls. porter but concluded that he couldn’t
The photographs were released in help himself – despite once calling her a
advance of the publication of Confi- “maggot”.
dence Man, a book by the Trump White “You have to be pretty desperate to
House correspondent for the New York sell books if pictures of paper in a toilet
Times, Maggie Haberman, set for Oc- bowl is part of your promotional plan,”
tober. a Trump spokesperson, Taylor Budo-
Trump, described by Axios as “a wich, told Axios in advance of Monday’s
notorious destroyer of Oval Office report.
documents”, was the alleged flusher. “We know … there’s enough people
But photographs of presidential White Donald Trump was described as ‘a notorious destroyer of Oval Office documents’ by Axios, which published the toilet photographs. willing to fabricate stories like this in
House toilet document dumps are Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images order to impress the media class –
possible evidence of a violation of the a media class who is willing to run
Presidential Records Act. of the New York Republican congress- aides were aware of the habit, which served under the Presidential Records with anything, as long as it anti-Trump,”
According to Haberman, the dis- woman and potential 2024 running he engaged in repeatedly,” Haberman Act.” Budowich added.
posals occurred multiple times at the mate Elise Stefanik. writes, according to the outlet. In the forthcoming book, Haber-
White House, and on at least two for- “That Mr Trump was discarding “It was an extension of Trump’s man, whose reporting often drew angry
eign trips. Most words are illegible, but documents this way was not widely term-long habit of ripping up docu- reactions from Trump, also reveals that
one name that is clearly visible is that known within the West Wing, but some ments that were supposed to be pre- she was told that the ex-president has

Gabby Petito’s family to file $50m wrongful

death case against Utah police
victim and that she was in serious need
Edward Helmore and agencies of immediate help”.
Appearing by video at a news
The family of Gabby Petito announced conference to announce the claim,
plans to file a $50m wrongful death law- Petito’s mother, Nicole Schmidt, de-
suit against Utah police on Monday, scribed watching the body-cam video
claiming that officers in the small as “very painful”.
desert town of Moab, who stopped An independent investigation ear-
Petito and boyfriend Brian Laundrie lier this year found that Moab police
last year, failed to recognize their made “several unintentional mistakes”
daughter was in a domestic violence when they intercepted Petito and Laun-
situation. drie. In a report, police said it was
The notice of a forthcoming claim very likely that Petito “was a long-term
alleges that when officers stopped the victim of domestic violence, wheth-
couple on 12 August 2021, they did not er that be physically, mentally, and/or
recognize that Petito, 22, was in danger. emotionally”.
Body-cam film later showed a vis- Petito’s family have already sued
ibly upset Petito speaking to officers on Laundrie’s parents claiming they knew
the side of the road. since about 28 August last year that
Instead of intervening, the officers Petito was dead because their son had
allowed the couple to proceed on a told them.
cross-country van trip after requiring Instead of telling Petito’s family,
them to spend a night apart. or responding to their pleas for help,
The fight between the couple hap- In this image taken from police body-camera video, Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Petito talks to a police officer. Photograph: AP the Laundrie family issued a statement
pened weeks before authorities say saying “it is our hope that the search for
Laundrie strangled her. Petito’s body sole person of interest in her disap- trained and followed the law, Gabby ognize the serious danger that she was Miss Petito is successful and that Miss
was found on 19 September near Grand pearance. His body was found last Oc- would still be alive today,” attorney in, and failed to investigate fully and Petito is re-united with her family”.
Teton national park in Wyoming. tober. A notebook contained a confes- James McConkie said in a statement. properly”. A Florida judge is allowing that
Laundrie, 23, later killed himself in a sion to her murder. At a press conference in Salt Lake City, He referred to “clear signs that were claim to proceed.
Florida swamp after being named the “If the officers had been properly McConkie said that “officers fail to rec- evident that morning that Gabby was a
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

News 7

‘No-man’s land’: the Texas colonias waiting

decades for running water
lights and playgrounds in a few weeks
Shannon Kelleher or a few months.”
The developers often presented
Growing up in south Texas, 25-year- aspiring homeowners with a now-
old Joaquin Duran always wondered illegal type of contract requiring
what it would be like to have running monthly payments before the deed
water. Before he was born, Duran’s par- would be signed over. Families who
ents moved from Juárez, Mexico, to a missed a single payment might lose
small community called Cochran that their land.
lies within El Paso county. They hoped “The lucky ones were able to pay
the enclave of Mexican American fami- off their contracts and get ownership of
lies would be a safe place to raise their the land, but those services they were
children and offer advantages not easily promised never materialized and [then]
attained in Mexico. the owners mostly disappeared,” said
The plot of land Duran’s parents McGraw.
bought in Texas lacked running water Almost every colonia family has its own method of storing the water they pay to have Beginning in the late 1980s, the Construction has begun to deliver clean,
when they settled in, but they were delivered by truck, when they can afford to. The most common storage is an above-ground Texas legislature enacted a series of running water to the residents of Cochran
promised service was coming – only a steel container. Photograph: Justin Hamel/Courtesy DigDeep bills to prevent such exploitative prac- for the first time. Photograph: Justin Hamel/
year or two away. The family decided tices. Programs emerged to serve the Courtesy DigDeep
the wait would be worthwhile and they In many cases, the colonias are year without fail, they say, creating an struggling communities. Today, many
made the plot their home. During the unincorporated “doughnut holes” – additional expense. larger colonias near urban centers our house,” said Duran. “A fire truck can
day, Duran’s mother would scrub old islands of scarcity surrounded by If they want water to drink, the have received utilities, but hundreds of come in, but if there’s no fire hydrant
concrete off the cinder blocks her hus- communities where clean running Durans must drive to a kiosk, where smaller and more remote ones, which nearby, what are they going to do?”
band retrieved from demolition work water is taken for granted. they pay with coins to fill up five-gallon are more costly to service, have been Lack of water access also leaves
through his construction job. At night, “Some smaller colonias are still jugs. To wash their clothes, the family left behind. residents vulnerable to water-borne ill-
they built their house from the sal- these no man’s lands where services opts to use a laundromat in order to “Cochran is like the poster child nesses, diabetes from drinking sugary
vaged materials. might be just a few blocks from the save water at home. for why this problem exists and what beverages in lieu of water, and anxiety
Now, a quarter-century later, water edge of the colonia yet they’ve never Over the years, many of Cochran’s happens,” said McGraw. “Really, this is and depression.
still has not arrived – for the Durans or been hooked up,” said DigDeep’s CEO, residents have left. While the com- a confluence of poor economic devel- “Cochran is no longer what it was
for anyone else in the dry, dusty com- George McGraw. “That’s what we call a munity has 64 lots, today there are only opment controls and structural racism.” when it was first parceled off in the
munity of Cochran. ‘doughnut hole’. They sit there in plain 23 houses. All of Duran’s siblings have McGraw adds that other margi- mid-80s, which was this community of
“My parents would protest and go sight.” moved away, and he plans to do the nalized communities across the US tens of families that were banding to-
to water district meetings,” said Duran. In 2021, Congress allocated $30m same. increasingly face similar water scarcity gether to build the American dream
“They would be told, ‘Yes, you’re getting to the US-Mexico border water infra- Duran works at an immigration predicaments. with a lot of excitement and hope,”
the water soon.’ All these promises. But structure program of the Environ- detention center, but plans to pursue DigDeep’s latest annual water said McGraw. “Now it’s a place where
in the end, nothing would happen.” mental Protection Agency (EPA) – an a career in drug enforcement. He has report reveals that the number of people feel stuck and would leave if
The long wait may be about to end. improvement over recent years that put off leaving home because he did Americans without running water or they could.”
Construction of the needed water still pales in comparison to funding not want to leave his parents alone to proper sanitation is growing. It’s more DigDeep is covering the costs of
lines began 7 July through a from decades past. Congressional fi- cope with the regular work of bringing than 2.2 million people. That includes connecting Cochran homes to water
collaboration between the non-profit nancing for EPA programs on the in water. disadvantaged groups, such as those and sanitation systems, placing meters
human rights group DigDeep, local offi- border peaked at $100m to $150m from Now, with the water line construc- in the colonias or people living on and hydrants, while El Paso county will
cials, and a Texas-based non-profit. The 1996 to 2001 but dwindled to $15m by tion under way, Duran feels he can reservations, as well as a growing cover costs for others services.
project is expected to be completed by 2014. The Trump administration pro- move on with his life. number of communities affected by cli- “If you live in the middle of a city,
October. posed to eliminate funding for the US- “I’m happy to see they’re finally mate change and economic shifts, said it’s not something you think about a
But when Cochran residents finally Mexico border program altogether. going to get it. I honestly didn’t think McGraw. lot or ever have a chance to see,” said
get clean running water in their homes, Trucking in water anything was going to happen,” he said. People in these communities resort Chilton Tippin, a cultural anthropology
many similar small and largely Latino Duran and his family have learned ‘Your affordable slice of the Amer- to different strategies to get water. graduate student at the University of
communities along the border will still to survive in the desert without run- ican dream’ “You’ll get it however you can,” said Colorado, Boulder, who has conducted
be waiting. ning water, but it hasn’t been easy. They Colonias first emerged in the 1970s McGraw. “If you have a car, you might research in Cochran.
Cochran is one of more than used to haul water from his sister’s and 1980s as a result of programs de- drive to get it. If you don’t, you might “What they needed and wanted
2,000 colonias along the US-Mexico house, but after their truck broke down signed to enable Mexican and Central hitch a ride. If you can’t find a ride, you was the dignity and respect, the basic
border, according to a 2015 report by repeatedly they started paying to have American laborers to work strenuous might take a horse or you might walk. humanity that comes along with being
the Rural Community Assistance Part- non-potable water delivered. When the jobs in US farms and manufacturing If you don’t have access to any of those included in societal infrastructure,” said
nership. About 840,000 people live trucked-in water arrives, the family plants. Since the workers couldn’t things, you might try to find a surface Tippin. “All these border cities are pro-
in these substandard housing devel- stores the supply in a 2,500-gallon tank, afford to live in urban centers, they resource, even if it’s dirty.” jecting upward population growth, yet
opments, including more than 134,000 treating it with chlorine they hope kills often fell victim to predatory land ‘People would leave if they could’ the funding is coming in at an inverse
that are not served by public water any harmful bacteria. developers peddling cheap patches on The climate crisis has rendered sur- proportion to that. I think that is a
systems, waste treatment facilities, or A pump pushes the water into pipes undeveloped and undesirable land in face water sources less reliable, wor- recipe for hardship and more problems
both. The vast majority of residents in that run throughout the house, allow- the desert. sened flooding on land where many in the future.”
colonias are Latino. Nearly two-thirds ing the family the water they need “They would parcel that land off colonias are located, and raised con- This story is co-published with The
of adults and 94% of children and to wash dishes, flush the toilet, and and advertise it as ‘your affordable slice cerns about fires that residents cannot New Lede, a journalism initiative of the
adolescents living in these commun- shower. In the summer, they spend of the American dream’,” said McGraw. extinguish. Environmental Working Group
ities are US citizens, according to a about $190 a month on water deli- “They would sometimes say that a “We’ve been worried a couple of
report by DigDeep. veries. The pump breaks down every subdivision would have streets and times when there have been fires near

Michigan: inquiry urged into claims of

Republican-led voting-machine breach
Attorney general Dana Nessel, a give them access to the voting ma- trated a coordinated plan to gain access “When this investigation began,
Edward Helmore in New York Democrat, called for the investigation chines in an effort to prove that fraud to voting tabulators”. Calls for a special there was not a conflict of interest,”
on Friday after Michigan state police cost the former president a second prosecutor were first published by Poli- Nessel’s petition said. “However, during
Michigan’s attorney general has called examined whether Matt DePerno, a term. Such claims of a fraudulent elec- tico, citing a petition from Nessel. the course of the investigation, facts
for a special prosecutor to investigate lawyer and presumptive Republican tion have been repeatedly shown to be The attorney general’s office claims were developed that DePerno was one
allegations of a Republican-led effort candidate for the office, may have false. that investigators found that voting of the prime instigators of the con-
to gain unauthorized access to voting orchestrated the alleged effort. Nessel’s office said on Friday that tabulators had been removed, broken spiracy.”
equipment in the aftermath of the 2020 It came after reports that Donald an investigation had led them to De- into and tested at hotels and short-term
national election. Trump supporters persuaded clerks to Perno who, it claimed, had “orches- rentals. Continued on page 8
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

8 News

Continued from page 7 igan attorney general by state Repub-

licans and is likely to be officially nomi-
Reuters reported on Sunday that nated later this month.
DePerno had led a team to examine At the CPAC conference in Dallas
a vote tabulator from Richfield Town- earlier this month, Trump said DePerno
ship, a conservative stronghold of 3,600 is “going to make sure that you are
people in northern Michigan’s Ros- going to have law and order and fair
common county, in one of four possible elections”.
breaches of Michigan law prohibiting If Nessel’s petition for a special
unauthorized access to voting equip- prosecutor is successful, the prosecutor
ment under investigation. would then be called to determine if
According to Nessel’s petition, five the state should bring criminal charges
tabulators were taken from Ros- against DePerno and eight other asso-
common and Missaukee counties in ciates alleged to have taken part in the
northern Michigan, and Barry county effort.
in western Michigan. DePerno’s campaign manager,
The request for a prosecutor also Tyson Shepard, accused Nessel in the
names Ben Cotton, Jeff Lenberg, Cyber Detroit News of having a “history of
Ninjas founder Douglas Logan and targeting and persecuting her political
James Penrose. Each have been in- enemies”.
volved in efforts to question the 2020 Shepard added: “Dana Nessel knows
election and were allegedly involved in she is losing this race. She is desperate
the Michigan “tests”. to win this election at all costs and
Under Michigan law, obtaining Dana Nessel, the attorney general. Nessel’s office said on Friday that the investigation led them to Matt DePerno, a candidate to replace her is now targeting DePerno, her political
undue possession of a voting machine as attorney general. Photograph: Max Ortiz/AP opponent.”
used in an election is a felony punish- He called Nessel’s actions “uneth-
able by five years in prison. candidate for the state’s republican ports the ex-president’s false claims was instrumental in his defeat to Joe ical” and said they would “demonstrate
DePerno is the Trump-endorsed attorney general nomination and sup- about his 2020 loss in the state, which Biden. He has been endorsed for Mich- to the voters that she is unfit for office.”

US news website Axios agrees $525m sale to

Cox Enterprises
watchdog journalism is so important to
Edward Helmore the health of any community, and no
one is more focused on building that
For $525m, Axios – publisher of punchy, out nationally than Axios.”
notated news briefs – is set to be ac- Last year, the German publishing
quired by Cox Enterprises, a legacy pub- giant Axel Springer acquired the Wash-
lisher that owns a series of US regional ington news site Politico for about $1bn.
newspapers. Axios had also been in talks to sell
The cash deal, announced Monday, to Springer, but that deal fell through
is expected to close in the next few after a high-level editor at the Springer-
weeks and marks a significant moment owned tabloid Bild became embroiled
in the growth of the news outlet, which in a sex scandal.
was founded in 2016 by the same jour- Cox’s history in media dates back to
nalists who launched Politico in 2007. 1898, when founder James Middleton
Axios said on its website that as Cox bought what is now the Dayton
part of the deal Cox will invest $25m in Daily News for $26,000. It eventually
the company that would help it expand grew into one of the nation’s largest
into 20 regional US markets and broa- privately held companies before sell-
den its coverage. ing most of its media assets to Apollo
The Virginia company’s three co- Global Management in 2019.
founders – Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen In comments to the New York
and Roy Schwartz – will hold stakes in Times, VandeHei said: “Hopefully, with
the company and lead editorial as well Politico first, and Axios today, we have
as day-to-day business decisions. Cox’s history in media dates back to 1898, when founder James Middleton Cox bought what is now the Dayton Daily News for $26,000. shown a way for serious journalism to
Cox, whose media portfolio in- Photograph: Ric Feld/AP thrive in the digital era. This country so
cludes the Atlanta Journal-Constitution desperately needs it.
and Dayton Daily News, became an On its website, Axios said the deal Axios chief executive Jim VandeHei minded partner – and build something “The lesson of the digital era: chase
investor in Axios last year. Axios HQ, was structured “to ensure investments said the deal was great for the com- great and durable that lives long after fads, fantasy and clicks, you fade or
a communications software business, will continue to flow into local news at pany, its shareholders and journalism we are gone,” he said. famish. Chase a loyal audience with
will become an independent company a time when most commercial inves- as an industry. “It allows us to think Added Cox chairman and chief quality information, you can flourish,”
majority-owned by the Axios founders. tors have abandoned local markets”. and operate generationally, with a like- executive officer Alex Taylor: “Local he added.

Climate impacts have worsened vast range of

human diseases
laria, dengue, chikungunya and even patterns are expanding the range of dis- for example, can lead to poor sani- poking a stick at a lion – at some point
Oliver Milman Covid-19 have been aggravated by cli- ease vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks tation, resulting in dysentery, typhoid the lion will come and bite us in the ass.”
mate impacts such as heatwaves, wild- and fleas, resulting in the spread of ma- fever and other diseases. The researchers combed through
More than half of the human diseases fires, extreme rainfall and floods, the laria, Lyme disease, West Nile virus and “We are opening a Pandora’s Box more than 70,000 scientific papers that
caused by pathogens have been wor- paper found. In all, there are more other conditions. of disease,” said Camilo Mora, a geo- analysed the links between different
sened at some point by the sort of im- than 1,000 different pathways for these Storms and flooding have displaced grapher at the University of Hawaii climatic hazards and infectious disease.
pacts associated with the climate crisis, various impacts to worsen the spread people, bringing them closer to patho- who led the research. “Because of cli- Some of these papers look at evidence
a new and exhaustive study of the link of disease, a cavalcade of threats “too gens that cause outbreaks of gastroen- mate change, we have all these trig- stretching back 700 years, before the
between disease and climatic hazards numerous for comprehensive societal teritis and cholera, while climate im- gers all over the world, over 1,000 of advent of the human-caused climate
has found. adaptations”, the researchers wrote. pacts have weakened humans’ ability to them. There are diseases out there just
Diseases such as Zika, ma- Global heating and changed rainfall cope with certain pathogens – drought, waiting to be unleashed. It’s like we are Continued on page 10
 No billionaire
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our strings,
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We’re free to ask the questions others
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 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

10 News

Continued from page 8 an additional 250,000 people will die

each year from 2030 to 2050 due to
crisis. Of the 375 different infectious proliferating diseases such as malaria
diseases mentioned in these papers, and diarrhea, as well as malnutrition
the researchers found that 218, more and heat stress.
than half, have been aggravated by cli- The new research is an “impres-
matic impacts now being made more sive mining of what’s been studied to
common by global heating. demonstrate that climate shocks, on
A smaller proportion of infectious balance, make our already daunting
diseases, about 16%, were diminished task of combating microbes harder”,
by climate impacts, according to the said Aaron Bernstein, director of the
paper, published in Nature Climate center for climate, health, and the
Change. Kira Webster, co-author of the global environment at Harvard Univer-
study, said that as the database of dis- sity, who was not involved in the study.
ease grew “we became both fascinated “Climate science has shown that cli-
and distressed by the overwhelming mate change makes more parts of the
number of available case studies that world too hot, too dry, too wet and,
already show how vulnerable we are ultimately, too unsuitable for people
becoming to our ongoing growing emis- to sustain their livelihoods,” Bernstein
sions of greenhouse gases”. added.
Mora said there were probably mul- “Mass migrations of people may
tiple ways that the climate crisis wor- spur infectious outbreaks of all kinds,
sened the spread of Covid, such as from meningitis to HIV. In short, an
habitat disturbances by fire and flood Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are vectors for diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya, which have been aggravated by heatwaves, unstable climate creates fertile ground
that dislodge wildlife, such as disease- wildfires and floods. Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters for infectious disease to establish roots
carrying bats, into new areas closer to in and spread.”
humans. Mora said he has himself suf- ago after a period of intense rainfall to every single one of them,” he said. warned that the climate crisis “threat-
fered from chronic aches in his joints caused a boom in mosquito numbers. “For me it’s shocking we don’t take this ens to undo the last 50 years of progress
after contracting chikungunya during “If there are pathogens that cause more seriously.” in development, global health, and po-
an outbreak in Colombia a few years us harm, climate change is trying to get The World Health Organization has verty reduction” and has estimated that

UPS drivers push for air conditioning as

temperatures soar: ‘People are dropping
weekly’
in 2020, though fatalities and injuries
Michael Sainato from heat exposure are underreported.
Elliot Lewis, a driver in New York
As a UPS driver of two years standing, City, said the back of UPS trucks can
Matt Leichenger of Brooklyn, New York, reach 130F during hot summer days,
makes 100 to 150 stops a day, delivering and this has resulted in many of his
anywhere from 150 to more than 300 co-workers getting sick.
packages. He criticized UPS installing driver-
It is a tough job at the best of facing surveillance cameras while
times, but in summer, a typical driver refusing to install air conditioning.
is moving hundreds of pounds of cargo Lewis said the cameras add increased
and organizing packages in the back of scrutiny to workers already fearful of
their brown UPS truck, where temper- taking breaks to cool off, get water, or
atures soar due to a lack of air condi- go to the bathroom, as they could be
tioning and ventilation. disciplined and risk job termination.
Shifts can last up to 14 hours, and “You see a lot of drivers, unfor-
Leichenger has experienced the gru- tunately, like at Amazon, peeing in the
eling toll soaring temperatures take on back of the truck, not drinking enough
delivery drivers. He recently was denied water, and ending up with heatstroke
a request for a fan to be installed in his because they feel that pressure to be
truck – though a UPS spokesperson said working faster,” he added.
the company provides fans to workers A spokesperson for UPS charac-
on request. terized the surveillance cameras as
“There’s a period of your day where Drivers represented by the Teamsters are pushing for air conditioning in vehicles and better protections on the job. Photograph: Justin a safety precaution and claimed the
at every stop you’re stepping into a hell- Lane/EPA inward-facing cameras do not record
hole. The second you step back there, audio or video but act as sensors to
you just feel all the sweat pouring out of “We don’t have contractual lan- “It’s not just the way that UPS is treating of the packages have increased, so we’re monitor for risky behavior.
your body,” said Leichenger. guage that guarantees us air condi- workers, it’s also how they’re making actually putting much more of a phys- “The data received from forward-
The price some workers pay can tioning, but I think this is something us work, expecting us to meet these ical effort into it, along with the heat, facing cameras and inward-facing sen-
be a deadly one. In early July in Cali- the federal government should really unrealistic productivity numbers even and because of global warming, it’s not sors is used by local UPS management
fornia, UPS driver Esteban Chavez, 24, be stepping up to implement – not just through the weather.” going to get any cooler. We’re going to teams to identify risky behaviors and
collapsed and died while working as at UPS, but for workers across every He said driver routes are deter- see more hot days, and more consec- provide in-person coaching and train-
temperatures rose to the high 90s. A industry where extreme weather condi- mined by software called Orion, which utive hot days,” said Medina. ing,” said the spokesperson.
video from a Ring surveillance camera tions are really taking a toll on workers,” calculates how long a route should As the climate crisis worsens, work- The spokesperson did not com-
also went viral in July showing a UPS Leichenger said. take. Drivers face discipline if they ers are increasingly at risk of illness ment on air conditioning, but cited heat
driver collapsing on a porch in exces- Last week, the Teamsters de- exceed that time, despite excessive or death due to heat exposure on safety training, ventilation integration
sive heat. manded urgent details from UPS on the heat conditions, he said. the job, with high heat index days in vehicles, water and ice, and health
With contract negotiations set for companies’ plans, training materials, Raul Medina, a UPS driver in Chi- of above 100F expected to double and safety committees.
next year, Leichenger and other work- and assessments on protecting workers cago, said workers, including drivers by mid-century. June 2022 tied with “UPS drivers are trained to work
ers represented by the Teamsters union from excessive heat. UPS reaped record and warehouse staff, are facing in- 2020 as the warmest June on record. outdoors and to manage the effects of
are pushing for air conditioning in ve- profits last year, at $12.89bn, and re- creased pressures over productivity, Through July, numerous US cities expe- hot weather. Preparation, rest, hydra-
hicles, better heat protection on the job, ported $6.8bn for the first twoquarters and have been given larger work- rienced record-breaking temperatures tion and maintaining good health prac-
no more excessive overtime, higher pay of this year. loads, all while dealing with increas- and consecutive days of extreme heat tices are key to working outdoors. UPS
for part-time workers, more full-time “People are just dropping weekly ing temperatures fueled by the climate amid global summer heatwaves. invests more than $260m annually to
positions, and eliminating driver-facing here. It’s not something where that one crisis. According to data from the Bureau implement programs focused on safety,
surveillance cameras that are being in- driver in Arizona is going viral,” said “The amount of work we’re doing of Labor Statistics, 62 workers died in
stalled in UPS trucks. Moe Nouhaili, a UPS driver in Las Vegas. now has increased. The size and weight the US due to extreme temperatures Continued on page 11
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

News / Politics 11

Continued from page 10 including working in hot weather,” they “We never want our employees to risk their health or work in an unsafe
said. continue working to the point that they manner.”

US sanctions Tornado Cash over fears of

aiding North Korean hackers
weapons programs. North Korea denies
Reuters the allegations.
Tornado Cash was also used to
The United States on Monday imposed launder about $100m after the hack of
sanctions on Tornado Cash, a pop- Horizon Bridge, a service operated by
ular cryptocurrency service that allows the Harmony blockchain, in June and as
users to mask their transactions, accus- recently as last week in the $190m hack
ing it of helping hackers, including from of crypto startup Nomad, the treasury
North Korea, to launder proceeds from said.
their cybercrimes. Despite requests for Tornado Cash
A senior treasury department offi- to make changes, the criminal activity
cial said Tornado Cash, one of the larg- continued, the official said.
est virtual currency “mixers” identified The sanctions on Tornado Cash
as problematic by the treasury, has come after the US treasury targeted
reportedly laundered more than $7bn Blender in May, imposing sanctions for
worth of virtual currency since it was the first time on a virtual currency
created in 2019. mixer – a software tool that pools
The Lazarus Group, a well- and scrambles cryptocurrencies from
known North Korean government- thousands of addresses – and said it
backed hacking group that has con- would continue to investigate the use
ducted numerous data breaches, both of mixers for illicit purposes.
politically and sometimes financially Reuters could not immediately
motivated, has laundered at least reach Tornado Cash for comment.
$455m through Tornado Cash, the trea- The Lazarus Group, a well-known North Korean government-backed hacking group, has laundered at least $455m through Tornado Cash,
sury said. The Lazarus Group is under the US treasury said. Photograph: Fred Tanneau/AFP/Getty Images
US sanctions.
The United States and South Korea have said North Korea has mobilized thousands of hackers to steal funds in- cluding cryptocurrencies to finance its

Has the love affair between Trump and Fox

News gone sour?
to be emotional, attacked Fox & Friends
Adam Gabbatt in New York in July, after its host Steve Doocy sug-
gested a straw poll of potential 2024
For years, Donald Trump and Fox News candidates that showed Trump with
were smitten. 79% of the vote be taken with a pinch of
The former president would call salt.
into the rightwing news channel see- Doocy hardly went off on Trump
mingly whenever he liked. Fox News – the host just pointed to other, more
hosts pumped up every Trump utter- scientific, polls that showed Trump
ance. Trump watched the channel reli- lacking 79% support. But it was enough
giously, and in 2019 alone he sent 657 to cause upset.
tweets in response to Fox News or Fox “Fox & Friends just really botched
Business programs. my poll numbers, no doubt on purpose.
Since then, however, things appear That show has been terrible – gone to
to have changed. Trump, as the New the ‘dark side’,” Trump posted on Truth
York Times has pointed out, has not Social, his ailing rightwing social media
been interviewed on Fox News for more platform.
than 100 days. The Dominion lawsuit could be a
A recent Trump speech was largely reason for Trump’s absence. The com-
ignored by the network, and in a sign pany is suing Fox News for $1.6bn,
that Fox News has recognized alter- accusing its owner, Fox Corp, and the
native Republican presidential candi- Murdochs specifically, of allowing Fox
dates are available, a Mike Pence ad- News to amplify Trump’s false claims
dress was broadcast live, in its entirety. Donald Trump with Fox News’s Tucker Carlson and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene at the LIV Golf event at his Bedminster golf that the voting company had rigged the
With the news channel embroiled club last weekend. Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA election for Joe Biden.
in a billion-dollar lawsuit with Domi- In a statement, the news channel
nion Voting Systems over its claims This week the Washington Post porters, there are plenty of signs the been a souring. He said there may have said: “We are confident we will pre-
the voting machine company tampered reported that Murdoch “has lost his channel isn’t ready to let its paramour been a slight change in tone, and that vail as freedom of the press is founda-
with the 2020 election, Trump’s contin- enthusiasm” for Trump. go just yet. Trump may not have the same “stran- tional to our democracy and must be
uing lies about election fraud seem The channel has begun to give A recent study by Media Matters for glehold” he once had on Fox News – protected, in addition to the damages
to have rattled Rupert Murdoch, the Pence and Ron DeSantis, the gov- America, a media watchdog, found that the days when the channel was seen to claims being outrageous, unsupported
media titan who owns Fox News. ernor of Florida, plenty of air-time, in- Fox News continues to discuss Trump be broadcasting to “an audience of one” and not rooted in sound financial anal-
Two of Murdoch’s newspapers, the cluding two primetime interviews in far, far more than any of his perceived are probably over – but that the cov- ysis, serving as nothing more than a
New York Post and the Wall Street the space of five days recently, the New rivals for the 2024 nomination – specif- erage is still overwhelmingly positive. flagrant attempt to deter our journalists
Journal, published scathing editorials York Times reported. Tom Cotton, the ically, Trump was mentioned on Fox “You were allowed to attack Donald from doing their jobs.”
on Trump in July, the former calling Arkansas senator who is also said to be News 8,556 times through January to Trump during the primaries in 2015 and But with the lawsuit ongoing, could
the twice-impeached 45th president jockeying for a 2024 presidential run, July, while DeSantis and Pence received 2016 on Fox News. That doesn’t happen be a wise strategy not to allow Trump
“unworthy to be this country’s chief has also been a regular interviewee. 1,083 and 589 mentions respectively. now, at all, ever,” Carusone said. to repeat those precise claims on Fox
executive again” and the latter brand- But while the apparent bouncing Angelo Carusone, Media Matters’ For his part, Trump has recently ex- News during a live interview.
ing Trump “The President Who Stood of Trump from Fox News has been president and chief executive, said pressed his displeasure at Fox News’
Still on January 6”. enthusiastically covered by media re- those findings suggest there has not output. The 76-year-old, who is known Continued on page 12
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

12 Politics / World News

Continued from page 11 and is the most watched cable news is likely to be temporary. staple. And Trump’s supposed achieve- “There are other people in the au-
channel in the country with more view- The channel’s hosts are still engag- ments while in office are still cham- dience that they care about.”
Asked about Fox News’ relationship ers of every political persuasion than ing in misty-eyed segments where they pioned.
with Trump, a spokesperson said: “The any other network.” talk about how Trump would handle “They’re still fetishizing and fanta-
debate among the liberal media on this Still, Carusone believes any cooling issues ranging from inflation to China sizing, it’s just that there’s no longer an
topic is the very reason Fox News exists on the part of Fox News towards Trump to the “border crisis” – a Fox News audience of one,” Carusone said.

Canadian province declares emergency amid

worst wildfires in over 50 years
Coady said heavy smoke was
Leyland Cecco complicating efforts at combating the
blazes.
Officials in Canada’s easternmost prov- “If the [water] bombers can’t see
ince have issued a state of emergency ahead of the fire and it’s too smoky,
as crews battle the worst wildfires the it’s not safe for them to operate,” he said,
region has experienced in more than adding that poor air quality was also the
half a century. largest problem for residents nearby.
Sprawling blazes have consumed The province has not yet ordered
thousands of hectares of forest in any evacuations, but officials have said
Newfoundland and Labrador over the they are prepared to order residents to
last two weeks and remain out of con- leave any communities at risk. Cana-
trol. dian military personnel would be dep-
“Over the last 36 hours, things have loyed to help with evacuation efforts,
changed,” Premier Andrew Furey told the federal emergency preparedness
reporters on Sunday. “We were pre- minister, Bill Blair, tweeted Sunday.
dicting that we could manage this. The province also expanded its out-
However with the wind change, we door fire ban, which now prohibits the
are afraid that there will be significant setting of fires on or within 300 metres
smoke impact … This is a dynamic, of forestland. The move is necessary to
evolving situation as all fires are, but help reduce the likelihood new fires are
we can’t wait for the last minute – we created by accident or through negli-
have to act now.” gence.
Furey said his government issued Fires have been burning for close to two weeks in central Newfoundland. Photograph: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador “Last night I saw two people throw-
the state of emergency “not to create ing cigarette butts and I thought
panic” but to ensure the province was Lake fire is estimated to be more than of dry, intense heat has left its fo- treme fire behaviour” in recent days that was absolutely crazy,” Derrick
able to better manage the quickly 6,500 hectares (16,062 acres) and the rests vulnerable to immense and fast- that worried officials. Bragg, fisheries, forestry and agri-
changing situation. Bay d’Espoir fire is more than 5,000 moving blazes. “We expect to see that continue for culture minister, told reporters. “That
Fires have been burning for close hectares (12,355 acres). Craig Coady, department of natural today and possibly for the next few is reckless and we do not need it.”
to two weeks in central Newfoundland, Large wildfires are relatively rare in resources incident commander, told re- days. This is due to the high winds and
aided by strong winds. The Paradise the Atlantic province. But a summer porters that crews had witnessed “ex- low humidity.”

Blinken makes case for democracy at start of

sub-Saharan Africa tour
said.
Jason Burke Africa corres- Building more effective and accoun-
pondent table African security forces and tack-
ling the marginalisation that often
Antony Blinken, the US secretary drives people to criminal or extremist
of state, has appealed to “govern- groups was the best solution, he
ments, communities and peoples” argued.
across Africa to embrace Washington’s In a speech that sought to counter
vision of democracy, openness and eco- Russian and Chinese accusations that
nomic partnership in the first major the US is a “neo-imperialist power” that
speech of three-nation tour of sub-Sa- wants to dictate to African countries,
haran Africa. Blinken repeatedly stressed that Wash-
Blinken was speaking in South ington wanted to act in consultation
Africa on the first stop of his tour, with local leaders and communities,
which will include the Democratic reinforcing existing African initiatives.
Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. South Africa has refused to con-
The new diplomatic effort comes demn Moscow for its invasion of
after several years during which Wash- Ukraine, arguing that there were faults
ington appeared uninterested in sub- on both sides and that Nato expansion
Saharan Africa. The tour has been por- was one cause of the war. The ruling
trayed as an attempt to counter recent ANC party, in power since 1994, has said
efforts by Russia and China to gain it wants to remain neutral in order to
influence on the continent. better encourage peace.
Last month, the Russian for- US secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, arrives in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the first leg of a three-nation tour. Photograph: Reuters Lavrov has sought to convince Afri-
eign minister, Sergei Lavrov, visited can leaders and, to a much lesser
four countries, rallying support for Though there was no direct men- as controlled by the Kremlin. exploiting “instability to pillage re- extent, ordinary people that Moscow
Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. tion of Russia in a lengthy lecture deli- “History shows that the poor gover- sources and commit abuses with cannot be blamed either for the conflict
Blinken told reporters in Pretoria vered by Blinken at the University of nance exclusion and corruption inhe- impunity”. or the rising food and oil prices caused
that the US does not see Africa as the Pretoria, the US top diplomat referred rent in weak democracies makes them “The United States recognises … by the conflict. Russia has blamed the
“latest playing field in a competition to the Wagner Group, a private military more vulnerable to extremist move- that countless communities are af- blockade on Ukrainian mines.
between great powers” and said Wash- contractor active across the continent ments as well as to foreign inter- flicted by the twin scourges of ter- “We really advocate for peace”,
ington was not “trying to outdo anyone blamed for systematic human rights ference,” Blinken said, accusing “the rorism and violence but the answer to
else”. abuses and viewed by western officials Kremlin backed Wagner group” of those problems is not Wagner,” Blinken Continued on page 13
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

World News 13

Continued from page 12 nese investment through its “belt and interfering in domestic affairs. in the township of Soweto, once home of liberation movements during the
road initiative”, which supports infra- “This is not our demand or insis- to South Africa’s first democratic pres- cold war while many US policymakers
Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s minister structure development. tence on democracy, it’s what people in ident, Nelson Mandela. viewed the apartheid regime as a bul-
of international relations, said at a joint The Russian strategy has been more Africa want, it’s clear in poll after poll, Despite the warm diplomatic wel- wark against communism.
press conference. opportunistic, and has been focused on they want openness, they want it on an come offered to its visitor, South Africa One study found the 27 African
The new US diplomatic strategy unstable countries with significant re- individual basis, as communities, and did not appear to shift its position on countries that voted for the UN reso-
appears in part to appeal directly to sources such as Sudan or those where to choose their own path [as nations],” Ukraine. Instead, Pandor criticised the lution condemning the Russian inva-
ordinary people in Africa, rather than once pro-western political leaders are Blinken said in Pretoria. US and other western powers for focus- sion of Ukraine were mostly demo-
their leaders, by promising support for now seeking new allies. In December, the US will host a ing on the conflict there to the detri- cracies and all western allies, often ac-
democracy and accountability. A once close relationship between summit meeting for African leaders, ment of other international issues. tively involved in joint military opera-
China has made little secret of its the US and UK and Uganda, a stop on an Obama administration initiative that “We should be equally concerned tions. Most of those that abstained
preference for strongman rulers, offer- Lavrov’s recent tour, has soured over lapsed during Donald Trump’s term in at what is happening to the people of or, like Eritrea, voted against the reso-
ing assistance without pressure over the crushing of political dissent and office. Palestine,” Pandor said in a press brief- lution, were authoritarian or hybrid re-
human rights. Beijing has built rela- western pressure to recognise LGBTQ+ On Sunday, Blinken visited the ing following the meeting with Blinken. gimes.
tions with Zimbabwe’s political elite, rights. Yoweri Museveni, in power since Hector Pieterson Museum, which Many South Africans, especially
for example. Sub-Saharan nations have 1986 and the recipient of huge sums commemorates a 12-year-old shot and among the ruling party, remember how
also been major recipients of Chi- of western aid, has accused the west of killed by police during protests in 1976 Moscow offered support to dozens

EU team submit ‘final text’ at talks to salvage

2015 Iran nuclear deal
the inquiry is based on intelligence pro-
Patrick Wintour Diplomatic vided by Israel.
editor In March, the IAEA board passed
a resolution condemning Iranian non-
The European Union has submitted a cooperation with the inquiry, and for
“final text” at talks to salvage the 2015 cutting the watchdog’s access to sites it
deal aimed at reining in Iran’s nuclear is allowed to inspect under the original
ambitions. 2015 nuclear deal.
The revival of the agreement now Mohammad Jamshidi, the political
awaits “political decisions” in Tehran deputy of the Iran’s president, Ebra-
and Washington after negotiators in him Raisi, tweeted earlier in August
Vienna agreed the text thrashed out that Raisi, in talks with the his French,
between Iranian and European repre- Russian and Chinese counterparts, had
sentatives over the past five days was firmly insisted the final agreement
the final text and could not be amended could only be closed when IAEA in-
further. quiry was dropped.
The EU foreign affairs chief, Josep Joe Biden, who is facing midterm
Borrell, said: “What can be negotiated elections, and Iran, which is looking for
has been negotiated, and it’s now in a ways to revive its economy, are unlikely
final text. However, behind every tech- to be examining the final text of an
nical issue and every paragraph lies a agreement that has taken more than 11
political decision that needs to be taken months to negotiate. Instead, both will
in the capitals. If these answers are be considering the wider political and
positive, then we can sign this deal.” Iranians walk past a mural of Iran’s national flag in Tehran, which gave a cautious official reaction to news of the ‘final text’ on reviving the economic implications of throwing up
The implication is that the EU is 2015 deal. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA the chance to normalise relations.
willing to accept the renegotiated deal, A rejection of the deal by either
but political decisions still have to be supported the amendments to the text negotiating team. Separately disputes had also con- Tehran or Washington, or both, will
made in the Iranian and US capitals. proposed by the EU. The final issues have included the tinued with regards to inspections out mean a resurgence of US sanctions and
Prof Mohammad Marandi, an adviser to The US described the tabled draft extent to which the US guarantees at Iran’s nuclear sites by the Inter- a probable decrease in Iranian oil and
the Iranian negotiating team, struck a as “the best and only basis on which to sanctions are lifted not just nominally national Atomic Energy Agency, the condensate exports from an estimated
noncommittal note, stressing the text reach a deal”. but operationally by providing credit UN’s nuclear watchdog. average of 1.5m barrels a day in 2022 to
needed Washington’s agreement, and “For our part, our position is clear: guarantees. Iran is asking the IAEA to close its about 1m barrels through 2023 to 26. By
not that of Borrell. we stand ready to quickly conclude a Tehran has also been pressing for investigation into the origins of nuclear contrast if the deal is accepted, Iranian
Borrell said: “Negotiators used these deal on the basis of the EU’s proposals,” the Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s elite particles found at three sites. So far the exports could reach 2.5m barrels a day
days of discussions and proximity talks a spokesperson for the state depart- military force, to be removed from IAEA has said it has been given no cred- leading to a surge in Iranian revenues.
between the US and Iran to fine tune ment said, suggesting the deal’s resto- the US list of foreign terrorist organi- ible explanation by Iran for the traces Biden knows he will come under in-
and address – with technical adjust- ration was up to Iran. sation, but appears to have adjusted of nuclear particles, but has said the tense criticism from Israel, some Gulf
ments – a handful of issues remaining The first official reaction in Tehran the demand. Tehran has also been ex- watchdog’s 35-member board of gov- states and the Republican party if he
in the text that I have put on the table was cautious, amid concerns the US ploring the extent to which the US ernors will close the inquiry if such revives the deal since the agreement
last 21 July, as coordinator of the deal.” would not deliver on the commitments administration is willing to give binding an explanation is provided. Iran fears has relatively little time to run. At the
Mikhail Ulyanov, the lead Russian made in the agreement. Robert Malley, commitments that any business con- the IAEA may use the inquiry’s con- same time he knows the risk of a nuc-
negotiator in Vienna, said: “If there is no the US special envoy in Iran who was tracts signed before the next US presi- tinued existence as a lever with which lear arms race across the Middle East
opposition to the ‘final text’ draft, the also a lead negotiator on the 2015 deal, dential elections will be honoured if to demand wider access to Iranian sites if no agreement exists covering Iran’s
nuclear agreement will be revived.” He has been in Vienna over the past five a new administration in Washington well beyond the terms set out in the civilian atomic programme.
said over the weekend that Russia had days and has been consulted by the EU again pulls out of the deal. nuclear agreement. It also resents that

Cuba: third oil tank ignites as firefighters

struggle to extinguish blaze
At least one person has died and system. an “Olympic torch” going from one tank from spreading. A fourth tank is threat-
Staff and agencies in Havana 125 are injured, with dozens of fire- “The risk we had announced hap- to the next, turning each into a “cal- ened, but has yet to catch fire.
fighters reported missing ever since pened, and the blaze of the second tank dron” and now encompassing the area The governments of Mexico and
A deadly fire that began at Cuba’s main lighting struck one of the facility’s eight compromised the third one,” said Mario covering three tanks and with flames Venezuela have sent special teams to
oil terminal in Matanzas has spread tanks on Friday night. A second tank Sabines, governor of the western prov- and billowing black smoke. help extinguish the fire, with water can-
after a third crude tank caught fire caught fire on Saturday, triggering sev- ince of Matanzas, where the facility is Firefighters had sprayed water on nons, planes and helicopters fighting
and collapsed as firefighters struggled eral explosions at the facility, which located. the remaining tanks over the weekend
to fight the massive blaze. plays a key part in Cuba’s electric Sabines compared the situation to to cool them and try to stop the fire Continued on page 14
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
14 World News

Continued from page 13 America and Caribbean Energy Pro-

gram at the University of Texas, said
the fire from several directions, as mili- officials should inspect the walls of
tary constructions specialists erected tanks that are not on fire to ensure they
barriers to contain oil spills. weren’t affected. He also warned that
Local officials warned residents to the government must be careful before
use face masks or stay indoors given bringing the system back online once
the billowing smoke enveloping the the fire is extinguished.
region that could be seen from the “If not, there’ll be another catas-
capital of Havana, more than 65 miles trophe,” he said.
(100km) away. Officials have warned Piñon noted that the facility rece-
that the cloud contains sulfur dioxide, ives Cuban crude oil – operating an oil
nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and pipeline that crosses the center of the
other poisonous substances. country – to be transferred via small
The majority of those injured were tankers to the thermoelectric plants
treated for burns and smoke inhalation, that produce electricity. It is also the
and five of them remain in critical unloading and transshipment center
condition. Twenty-four remain hospi- for imported crude oil, fuel oil and
talized. Over the weekend, authorities diesel, with Cuba producing only half
found the body of one firefighter as of the fuel required to keep its economy
relatives of those still missing gathered afloat.
at a hotel to await news about their The blaze comes as Cuba struggles
loved ones. through a deep economic crisis and
Governor Sabines and Cuban pres- Flames rise from the massive fire at a fuel depot, which erupted when lightning struck one of the tanks, in Matanzas in western Cuba. faces frequent power outages amid a
ident Miguel Díaz-Canel said it was Photograph: Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images sweltering summer, issues that helped
impossible to search for the missing unleashed unprecedented anti-govern-
firefighters given the roiling temper- The blaze at the Matanzas Super- officials to evacuate more than 4,900 Dubrocq neighborhood. ment protests last year.
atures. tanker Base in Matanzas city prompted people, most of them from the nearby Jorge Piñon, director of the Latin

China resumes military drills off Taiwan after

shelving US talks
tified multiple cyberwarfare attacks
Helen Davidson in Taipei, Julian allegedly from China, and at least 272
Borger in Washington, and agen- attempts to spread disinformation.
cies Timothy Heath, a defence re-
searcher at the Rand Corporation, said
China carried out fresh military drills China’s drills over the past few days
around Taiwan on Monday, including showed the PLA was strengthening its
anti-submarine attack and sea raid ability to carry out a blockade.
operations, a day after its major live-fire “A blockade could be executed
exercises targeting the territory were alone or in conjunction with other mili-
supposed to end. tary options such as missile barrages or
Beijing’s defence ministry also de- an invasion of Taiwan,” he said.
fended its shelving of military talks Amid the furious responses, China
with the US in protest against Nancy also called off formal talks in-
Pelosi’s visit to Taipei last week, which volving theatre-level commands, de-
have raised concerns about potential fence policy coordination and military
accidents escalating into conflict. maritime consultations on Friday as
Last week, the People’s Liberation Pelosi left the region.
Army (PLA) targeted Taiwan with days China’s defence ministry spokes-
of major live-fire exercises, which were person, Wu Qian, defended the decision
scheduled to end on Sunday. Their end to suspend military channels, saying in
was never announced by the PLA, but an online post on Monday: “The current
notices of avoidance were reportedly tense situation in the Taiwan strait is
lifted and normal sea and air traffic had In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese military aircraft conduct training exercises around Taiwan on Sunday. Photo- entirely provoked and created by the
resumed. graph: Li Bingyu/AP US side on its own initiative, and the US
On Monday, however, China’s East- side must bear full responsibility and
ern Theatre Command announced it Of those, 21 aircraft crossed the that Beijing is trying to create a kind of test launches of ballistic missiles over serious consequences for this.
would conduct joint drills focusing on median line, an unofficial demarcation new normal,” he said. Taipei for the first time, as well as ditch- “The bottom line cannot be broken,
anti-submarine and sea assault opera- between China and Taiwan that the Beijing’s goal was to try to coerce ing some lines of dialogue with Wash- and communication requires sincerity,”
tions – confirming the fears of some former does not recognise. Taiwan and the international com- ington. Wu said.
security analysts and diplomats that The US president expressed con- munity by threatening to cut off the The island’s defence ministry said Pentagon, state department and
Beijing would maintain pressure on cern Monday but said he did not expect strait to shipping, Kahl said. that during last week’s drills Chinese White House officials condemned the
Taiwan’s defences. No further details the situation to escalate further. “All I say is: we’re not going to take military ships, aircraft and drones had move, describing it as an irresponsible
were provided. “I’m not worried, but I’m concerned the bait and it’s not going to work. It’s simulated attacks on the island and its overreaction.
“The eastern theatre of the Chinese they’re moving as much as they are. But a manufactured crisis and that doesn’t navy, and conducted multiple sea and China’s cutting of some of its few
People’s Liberation Army continued to I don’t think they are going to do any- mean we have to play into that. I think air incursions over the median line. communication links with the US mili-
carry out practical joint exercises and thing more than they are,” Joe Biden it would only play to Beijing’s advan- About 10 warships each from China tary raises the risk of an accidental
training in the sea and airspace around told reporters at Dover air force base. tage,” he added. and Taiwan manoeuvred at close quar- escalation over Taiwan at a critical
Taiwan island,” the military said. The US defence department policy “What we’ll do instead is to con- ters around the line on Sunday, ac- moment, according to security analysts
The exercises, the PLA’s Eastern chief, Colin Kahl, said the Pentagon had tinue to fly, to sail and to operate whe- cording to a person familiar with the and diplomats.
Command added, were “focusing on not changed the assessment given last rever international law allows us to do situation who is involved with secu- One US official noted that Chinese
organising joint anti-submarine and sea year by the former chairman of the so, and that includes in the Taiwan rity planning. The defence ministry in officials had not responded to calls
assault operations”. joint chiefs of staff, Mark Milley, that strait, and we will continue to stand by Taiwan said it had sent aircraft and from senior Pentagon officials amid the
Taipei condemned Beijing for ex- China was unlikely to invade Taiwan in our allies and partners in the region.” ships to react “appropriately”. tensions last week, but that they did
tending the drills. the next two years. However, Kahl said The PLA had already announced A Taiwan defence ministry spokes- not see this as a formal severing of ties
“China‘s provocation and aggression Beijing was trying to “salami-slice their that China would conduct live-fire exer- person said no PLA craft had entered with senior figures, such as the US de-
have harmed the status quo of the way into a new status quo”. cises in the Yellow Sea from Sunday Taiwan’s territorial waters, stretching 12 fence secretary, Lloyd Austin.
Taiwan strait and raised tensions in “A lot has been made of the missile until 15 August, in five exclusion zones. nautical mile out from its coastline, Asked directly about those reports,
the region,” the island’s foreign ministry strikes but really it’s the activities in the Taiwan authorities said the areas would during the drills. He did not say how Wu said: “China’s relevant counter-
said. strait itself, the sheer number of mari- not affect its international flight routes. close the PLA had been detected, or if measures are a necessary warning to
The Taiwanese military said it de- time and air assets that are crossing Pelosi’s visit last week infuriated it was inside the 24-nautical-mile conti- the provocations of the United States
tected 39 Chinese warplanes and 13 over this de facto centre line, creeping China, which regards Taiwan as its guous zone.
ships operating in the strait on Monday. closer to Taiwan shores, where it’s clear own territory and responded with He said the military had also iden- Continued on page 15
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

World News 15

Continued from page 14 and Taiwan, and a legitimate defence of Additional reporting by Vincent Ni
national sovereignty and security.”

Hidden cameras show discrimination on

Côte d’Azur private beaches, say activists
the police and local authorities. “We
Kim Willsher in Paris will be watching closely to see what
legal action follows,” Sopo added.
Anti-racism activists who secretly SOS-Racisme did not name the pri-
filmed private beaches on the Côte vate establishments it had visited in
d’Azur are planning legal action claim- Juan-les-Pins and Antibes. The local
ing discrimination on the French Ri- tourist office and Antibes town hall
viera. have been approached for a comment.
SOS-Racisme sent couples of dif- A report by the National Consul-
ferent ethnic backgrounds to exclusive tative Committee for Human Rights
coastal hotspots and used hidden cam- (CNCDH) on racism in France, pub-
eras to record how each was received. lished last month, claimed French so-
One couple described as being of ciety was becoming more tolerant. It
“north African appearance” who re- placed the annual “tolerance index” at
quested sun loungers were told they 68 out of 100, the highest ever, ac-
were all reserved. A few minutes later cording to the committee’s secretary
a white couple who made the same re- general, Magali Lafourcade.
quest on the same private beach were However, it reported that prejudice
given loungers in the first row near the against certain communities – in-
sea. cluding Muslims and Roma – was still
Other activists say they were unable of particular concern.
to make a reservation for sunbeds on The CNCDH says an estimated 1.2
private beaches if they gave a name million people are victims of racially
that sounded foreign. SOS-Racisme did not name the private establishments it had visited in Juan-les-Pins and Antibes. Photograph: Valéry Hache/AFP/Getty motivated aggression every year in
“With an African-sounding name, Images France, while there are only 1,000
the place was full. When I rang back and convictions in the court for reported
gave a French name, strangely enough and Antibes are discriminating unlaw- living like this,” Karima Es-slimani, of to draw up annual reports outlining offences, often due to the reluctance of
there were still places,” one told Le fully and two-thirds of nightclubs and SOS Racisme Nice, told France 3 tele- discrimination by area,” Paula Cornette victims to report attacks to the police.
Monde. bars tested in Marseille and Aix-en-Pro- vision after the beach test. of SOS Racisme added. “We see there is a failure of insti-
SOS-Racisme has carried out sim- vence are operating an illegal selection The organisation says it is building “This situation is the result of a tutions to realise this is a criminal prob-
ilar undercover operations to highlight of customers based on their origins. up a file to submit to lawyers. clear failure of the public authorities in lem,” Lafourcade said. “If there were
discrimination since the 1990s, but it “We have found discrimination can “We’re working with pro-bono law- outlawing racial discrimination,” Domi- many complaints, many legal actions
is the first time it has tested private be based on clothing, the colour of skin, yers who need lots of details in order to nique Sopo, the president of SOS Ra- and many convictions, we might hope
beaches on the Riviera. It claims one- the physical appearance and the origin take legal action against these places. cisme, told journalists. He said the the incidents would drop,” she added.
third of private beaches at Juan-les-Pins of the person. It’s unfair and intolerable They will also use this information organisations’ findings would be sent

Colombia’s first leftist president says war on

drugs has failed
who struggled with its economic after-
Associated Press shocks.
The ex-rebel’s victory was also
Colombia’s first leftist president has exceptional for Colombia, where voters
been sworn into office, promising to had been historically reluctant to back
fight inequality and bring peace to a leftist politicians who were often ac-
country long haunted by bloody feuds cused of being soft on crime or allied
between the government, drug traf- with guerrillas.
fickers and rebel groups. A 2016 peace deal between Colom-
Gustavo Petro, a former member of bia’s government and the Revolu-
Colombia’s M-19 guerrilla group, won tionary Armed Forces of Colombia
the presidential election in June by turned the focus of voters away from
beating conservative parties that of- the violent conflicts playing out in rural
fered moderate changes to the market- areas and gave prominence to prob-
friendly economy, but failed to connect lems like poverty and corruption, fuel-
with voters frustrated by rising poverty ling the popularity of leftist parties
and violence against human rights in national elections. However, small-
leaders and environmental groups in er rebel groups like the National Libe-
rural areas. ration Army and the Gulf Clan continue
On Sunday, he said Colombia was to fight over drug trafficking routes,
getting a “second chance” to tackle illegal goldmines and other resources
violence and poverty and promised abandoned by the FARC.
that his government would implement Petro, 62, has described US-led an-
economic policies that seek to end ti-narcotics policies as a failure but
longstanding inequalities and ensure has also said he would like to work
“solidarity” with the nation’s most with Washington “as equals,” building
Hundreds gathered in the country’s capital to celebrate the inauguration of the new Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Vice
vulnerable. schemes to combat climate change
President Francia Marquez in Bogota. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The incoming president said he was or bring infrastructure to rural areas
willing to start peace talks with armed bition of substances like cocaine, and on drugs has failed,” he said. “Of course Petro is part of a growing group where many farmers say coca leaves are
groups across the country and also fed violent conflicts across Colombia peace is possible. But it depends on of leftist politicians and political out- the only viable crop.
called on the United States and other and other Latin American nations. current drug policies being substituted siders who have been winning elec- Petro also formed alliances with
developed nations to change drug poli- “It’s time for a new international with strong measures that prevent con- tions in Latin America since the pan-
cies that have focused on the prohi- convention that accepts that the war sumption in developed societies.” demic broke out and hurt incumbents Continued on page 16
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

16 World News / Opinion

Continued from page 15 up almost 50% of the nation’s legal ex- Analysts expect Petro’s foreign several issues, including fighting rebel “He has promised so many things,”
ports. He plans to finance social spend- policy to be markedly different from groups along the porous border be- Cardenas, 19, said after traveling 90
environmentalists during his presi- ing with a $10bn a year tax reform that that of his predecessor Iván Duque, a tween the countries. Some border resi- minutes from her rural community to
dential campaign and has promised to would boost taxes on the rich and do conservative who backed Washington’s dents are hoping that improved rela- the city. “We must work to be able to
turn Colombia into a “global power- away with corporate tax breaks. drug policies and worked with the US tions will generate more commerce and pay our student fees, which are quite
house for life” by slowing deforestation “He’s got a very ambitious agenda,” government to isolate the regime of job opportunities. expensive and, well, that makes many
and reducing the country’s reliance on said Yan Basset, a political scientist at Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro In Cúcuta, a city just a few miles things difficult for us.”
fossil fuels. Bogotá’s Rosario University. “But he will in an attempt to force the authoritarian from the Venezuelan border, trade Petro won the election by just 2
He has said Colombia will stop have to prioritize. The risk Petro faces is leader into holding free elections. school student Daniela Cárdenas is percentage points, and is still a pola-
granting new licenses for oil explo- that he goes after too many reforms at Petro has instead said he will rec- hoping Petro will carry out an educa- rizing figure in Colombia, where many
ration and will ban fracking projects, once and gets nothing” through Colom- ognise Maduro’s government and try to tional reform that includes free tuition have been wary of having former guer-
even though the oil industry makes bia’s congress. work with the Venezuelan president on for college students. rillas participate in politics.

Greek PM denies knowing about tapping of

opponent’s phone
and Armenian ambassadors to Athens
Helena Smith in Athens as further proof that the adminis-
tration had not come clean. The dip-
The Greek prime minister has at- lomats have reacted with outrage to
tempted to douse a wiretapping scan- suggestions that their countries had re-
dal engulfing his government, claiming quested the wiretaps with Kyiv’s envoy,
he had no idea the country’s socialist Sergii Shutenko, describing the claims
party leader was being monitored by as being “divorced from reality”.
intelligence services reporting directly The Armenian ambassador, Tigran
to him. Mkrtchyan, went further, calling the
In an address to the nation on allegation “a shameless lie”. “Armenia
Monday, Kyriakos Mitsotakis described has never asked any government to
the phone tapping of the Pasok party wiretap anyone’s phone,” he said.
chief, Nikos Androulakis, as a mistake Analysts voiced surprise at the ab-
that should never have occurred. sence of any attempt to explain why
“What was done may have been in Androulakis had been monitored at all,
accordance with the letter of the law although he was not alone.
but it was wrong,” Mitsotakis said. “I did Before the Pasok leader went public
not know and obviously I would never with the Predator claims – lodging a
have allowed it.” complaint with supreme court prose-
The eavesdropping took place over cutors in Athens on 26 July – two
a three-month period last year when Greek journalists had also taken legal
the newly revitalised centre-left Pasok, action following digital evidence that
Greece’s third-largest political force, The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, insists he was unaware that the country's intelligence service had been bugging the mobile they, too, had been spied on by an
was preparing to elect a new leader. phone of an opposition politician for three months. Photograph: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP administration that has faced accu-
Androulakis, a 43-year-old MEP, had sations internationally of attempting to
been favoured to win the race. I want to speak to you openly about “I will continue to fight so that jus- spokesperson, Ioannis Oikonomou, in- limit press freedoms.
As the revelations came to light, recent developments,” he told Greeks at tice, the Greek parliament and Euro- sisted on Monday that Athens had “It was a speech that left many
with the Mediterranean nation’s spy the start of the near seven-minute long pean institutions will bring all the truth never used the “notorious malware” questions unanswered,” said Lamprini
chief and Mitsotakis’s most trusted aide address. to light,” the Pasok leader tweeted, and that the “legal” surveillance of Rori, assistant professor of political
resigning over the affair, officials in the “Although everything took place saying the eavesdropping had humi- Androulakis had been conducted with analysis at Athens University. “Yes,
centre-right government were reported legally, the National Intelligence Ser- liated and exposed Greece interna- “conventional means”. Mitsotakis accepted that it was a mis-
as saying that the wiretaps had been or- vice, EYP, underestimated the political tionally. Mitsotakis, who faces re-election take but public opinion and the polit-
dered by the Ukrainian and Armenian dimension of this particular action. It European parliament sources, next year, took control of EYP within ical elite wanted to know why Androu-
intelligence services. The social demo- was … politically unacceptable.” signalling the scandal is far from over, weeks of assuming office. Amid mount- lakis was monitored in the first place
crat’s sensitive role on the European Greece’s political scene has been have said the affair will almost certainly ing calls for his resignation many de- and that was never addressed.”
parliament’s foreign affairs committee, profoundly shaken by a scandal that be taken up when the 705-seat chamber scribed his effort at damage control as The scandal was undoubtedly a
which deals with China, was cited. the leftist opposition has wasted no returns from its summer recess. being too little too late. blow for the Greek prime minister,
But the prime minister, facing his time in likening to Watergate. Androulakis, an MEP since 2014, “Apart from being a liar he came who had taken pride in being sup-
toughest hour in office since assum- Androulakis, who has called for a claims the Strasbourg-based organi- across as arrogant and without re- ported by centrists at the last elec-
ing power in July 2019, emphasised parliamentary investigation into the sation’s cybersecurity unit has enough morse,” the main opposition Syriza tion. “The crisis will cost the govern-
that while the surveillance had been matter, expressed dismay that the evidence to prove that attempts were party said in a statement, adding that ment that part of the electorate,” said
approved by a senior prosecutor, as re- Greek government had resorted to the made to monitor his mobile phone it beggared belief that senior govern- Rori. “Centrist voters will find it hard to
quired by law, it was “politically unac- “dark practices” last employed by the using Predator malware. ment figures had previously denied the trust [Mitsotakis’s party] New Democ-
ceptable”. colonels who seized power in 1967, An EU member state wiretapping a wiretapping had ever occurred. racy after this.”
“In our democracy shadows cannot throwing the country into seven years Euro MP would be seen as particularly Opposition politicians pointed to
be allowed to exist and that is why of military rule. egregious. The Greek government the fierce denials of both the Ukrainian

If Democrats want votes, they should rain

fury on union-busting corporations
bucks, which has suddenly undertaken to prove that a schoolyard bully meant by their fingernails, but for all of us. swamp of once-middle-class jobs that
Hamilton Nolan a campaign to shut down several unio- to punch you in the face: he claims that America is mired in a half-century-long no longer offer enough to sustain a

I
nizing locations from coast to coast due he was merely punching the air while crisis of rising inequality that has been middle-class lifestyle.
n June, workers at a Chipotle to “safety” issues, and the health food you happened to walk in front of his fueled, above all, by the combined ero- The power of workers relative to
restaurant in Augusta, Maine, company Amy’s Kitchen, which last fist. Who’s to say what’s true in such a sion of labor power and the growth the power of the investment class must
became the first in the company’s month closed an entire factory in Cali- murky situation? of the power of capital. The American be rebalanced. Rebuilding the power of
history to file for a union election. fornia where workers were organizing. Plausible deniability aside, this is an dream enjoyed by the lucky baby-boom unions is the only way out of this trap,
Less than a month later, the com- It is, of course, impossible to “prove” extremely serious problem. Not just for generation – buying a home and send- unless you are credulous enough to be-
pany closed the store. In shutting down that these companies closed these loca- the underpaid, overworked employees ing your kids to college on one income lieve that we will all be rescued by the
a location that was set to unionize, Chi- tions to try to crush the union drives, at all of these low-wage jobs, despe- – is dead and gone, replaced by a thin
potle was keeping company with Star- in the same sense that it is impossible rately hanging on to financial survival crust of the rich sitting atop a huge Continued on page 17
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Opinion 17

Continued from page 16 Ron DeSantis is blathering about “woke

corporations”.
sudden radicalization of the tax policy- Republicans are insincere ghouls
makers on the House ways and means who want to harvest working-class
committee. If you ever want to live in a votes while their policies stab working-
country where the American dream is class people in the back – but Demo-
more than a cruel, tantalizing joke, you crats are ceding the terrain to these
have a stake in the revival of organized scumbags by failing to match their
labor. fervor. We don’t need our politicians
So when you see a big company making anodyne statements about how
closing down operations because work- unions are nice. We need a rain of zeal
ers there want to unionize, you should and fury emanating from Washington,
be pissed. Such coldhearted retaliation to terrify companies away from closing
against people exercising a funda- down their union stores with threats of
mental right on the job goes to the very merciless retributions from the state.
heart of how we got all this inequality History shows that organized labor
in the first place. It is meant not just thrives when it has the government’s
to derail one union drive, but to strike support, and suffers without it. We are
fear in all the other workers who see supposedly living under the most pro-
it happen: if you ask for what you’re union president of our lifetimes. So?
worth, this could happen to you. Shut Let’s hear some damn fire, man. The
up and eat your gruel, and be happy only reason companies feel so free to
that the kindly billionaire CEO is allow- abuse their workers is that they don’t
ing you to earn enough not to starve Starbucks employees and supporters reacting as votes are read during a union election in December in Buffalo, New York. Photograph: believe anyone will make them pay for
today. Even if you don’t work at a fast- Joshua Bessex/AP it.
food outlet or a factory, this should Hamilton Nolan is a writer based in
enrage you, as a human being. It is an those companies.) Unfortunately, the experience of the pandemic, is busily a Democratic party that has spent New York
assault on human dignity. evil, high-priced union-busting attor- organizing in new industries across the the last six years wringing its hands
America’s convoluted and hostile neys these companies hire are well country; the labor movement today is about losing working-class voters to the
labor laws actually do allow a business aware that the gears of justice in labor as energized as it has been in two gener- pseudo-populist (and racist) appeal of
to shut down in response to unioni- law grind so slowly that even on the ations. Corporate America is deter- Trumpism. Want to get working people
zation, unless (and this is important) off chance that they were found to mined to stop this. In the mid-1950s, enthusiastic about Democrats again? America is mired in a
the company is doing so in order to have closed the stores illegally, it would one in three Americans was a union Then the Democrats should help work- crisis of inequality
scare its remaining employees out of be far too late for it to mean any- member; today, that figure is one in 10. ing people. National Democratic poli-
unionizing – in other words, exactly thing to the workers who were laid off Companies know that their ability to ticians should be holding press confe-
fueled by the erosion
what big employers like Chipotle and and forced to go find other jobs. The extract excess profits will go down as rences decrying the greedy chief execu- of labor power and
Starbucks would be doing by clos- scary, unsubtle message to the com- union density goes up. This is going to tives closing these stores just because
the growth of the
ing stores where workers have orga- pany’s workforce would have already be a hard, nasty fight. As all of those workers tried to stand up for them-
nized, as workers at many other stores been sent. recently laid-off Chipotle and Starbucks selves. Joe Biden should be screaming power of capital
across the country looked on. (Govern- That’s why this stuff is not really a and Amy’s Kitchen workers know, it al- his head off about billionaire Starbucks
ment regulators have not yet ruled on question of law, but of power. The work- ready is. chief Howard Schultz’s disgusting un-
the legality of the recent closures by ing class, galvanized by the near-death It is also a golden opportunity for ion-busting at the same volume that

Biden can still stop Trump, and Trumpism – if

he can find a bold plan and moral vision
nomic trends that left the working class
Robert Reich behind.The wars have also distracted

W
attention from the near record shares of
ill Joe Biden be re- national income and wealth that have
elected in 2024? shifted to the top; as well as the Repub-
With his current licans’ role in tax cuts on the weal-
approval rating in thy, their attacks on labour unions and
the cellar, most refusals to support social benefits that
‘The televised hearings have also reduced
pundits assume he will be toast by have become standard in most other Trump’s standing with most voters.’ A House
the next presidential election. At 81, he advanced nations (such as paid sick select committee hearing on 21 July. Photo-
would also be the oldest person ever and family leave, universal healthcare graph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
elected president, slightly exceeding and generous unemployment insur-
the typical American’s lifespan.So, the ance).During his 36 years in the Senate, from above the old political divides
conventional thinking goes, Biden will followed by eight as Barack Obama’s – “triangulate”, in the parlance of his
be demolished by Donald Trump (or a vice-president, Biden surely became pollster, Dick Morris. In practice, he
Trump surrogate such as the Texas sen- Illustration by Guardian design; Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty; Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty aware of the loss of these working-class auctioned off the White House’s Lin-
ator Ted Cruz or the Florida governor voters. And he must have known of the coln bedroom to the highest bidders,
Ron DeSantis), thereby subjecting the many of his endorsees in recent Repub- Biden. The Democratic party he knew Democrats’ failure to reverse the trends made Wall Street’s Robert Rubin his
US and the world to an even crazier lican primaries. The televised hear- when he was elected to the Senate that left them behind and regain their chief economic adviser, advocated and
authoritarian than Trump 1.0.But that’s ings by Congress’s select committee 50 years ago, from blue-collar, work- loyalty.Democratic administrations ex- signed the North American Free Trade
way too simplistic. In reality, Biden’s investigating January 6 have also re- ing-class Delaware, is not the Demo- panded public health insurance, to be Agreement, opened the US to Chinese
current approval rating isn’t much dif- duced Trump’s standing with most vot- cratic party that elected him in 2020. sure. But they also embraced global exports and cleared the way for Wall
ferent from Ronald Reagan’s about this ers.Meanwhile, Biden is scoring some It’s now largely composed of young trade and financial deregulation, took Street to gamble.
point in his presidency when he was legislative victories, including a major adults, college-educated voters and a hands-off approach to corporate mer- Obama brought into his adminis-
grappling with inflation and the inevit- bill to subsidise semiconductor chip people of colour.In the intervening gers, bailed out Wall Street and gave tration even more Wall Street alumni
able buyer’s remorse that voters feel a making in the US. And now, following years, many working-class white voters corporations free rein to bash labour and made Larry Summers his chief eco-
year and a half into a presidency. Two a hard won Senate vote at the weekend, who were once loyal Democrats joined unions (reducing the unionised portion nomic adviser. Obama promptly bailed
and a half years later, Reagan had won Biden has substantial bragging rights the Republican party. As their wages of the private-sector workforce during out the banks when their gambling
49 states in his re-election bid against over a much larger bill to slow climate stagnated and their jobs grew inse- the past half century from a third to threatened the entire economy, but
Walter Mondale. (Reagan was then 73, change, lower the cost of prescription cure, the Republican party skilfully 6%). It was a huge error – politically, asked nothing of them in return. Mil-
just short of the typical American’s drugs and make health insurance more and cynically channelled their eco- economically and, one might even say, lions of Americans lost their homes,
lifespan at the time.)Trump’s popu- affordable. nomic frustrations into animus toward morally.What accounted for this error? jobs and savings, yet not a single top
larity has plummeted since the 2020 The president has also been getting immigrants, Black people and Latinos, I saw it up close: the Democratic Wall Street official went to jail.Small
election – a casualty not just of most kudos for the killing of Ayman al-Zawa- LGBTQ people, and “coastal elites” who party’s growing dependence on cam- wonder that by 2016 two political out-
Americans’ outrage at his big lie that hiri, the al-Qaida successor to Osama want to control guns and permit abor- paign money from big corporations, siders gave dramatic expression to the
the 2020 election was stolen from him bin Laden, in a spectacularly discreet tions.These so-called culture wars have Wall Street and wealthy Americans populist bitterness that had been grow-
and his role in the January 6 insur- US drone strike that resulted in no served to distract such voters from the – whose “donations” to both parties ing – Bernie Sanders on the left and
rection, but also of the poor show- other casualties. brute fact that the Republican party soared.Bill Clinton styled himself a
ing (and terrifyingcharacteristics) of Yet a basic problem remains for has zero ideas to reverse the eco- “new Democrat” who would govern Continued on page 19
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Opinion 19

Continued from page 17 no free trader, either. Biden proposed Once in office, he proposed the larg- its outcomes are fair. Trump’s lie that but unlikely, given the usual pattern
relocating supply chains for pharma- est social agenda in recent Amer- the 2020 election was stolen from him in which the party in control loses it),
Donald Trump on the right. At the time, ceuticals, semiconductors and med- ican history.That Biden failed to get has contributed to the distrust but is Biden could still become a transfor-
they even spoke the same language – ical supplies to the US, and imposing much of this agenda passed in his not responsible for it. Only about a mative president in the last two years
complaining of a “rigged system” and tax penalties on companies that relo- first term was due less to his own third of Americans believe him.The real of his first term if he focuses like a
a corrupt political establishment, and cate jobs abroad and credits for those inadequacies than to the Democrats’ source of distrust is the same force that laser on reversing these trends. Even
promising fundamental change.Biden that bring them home. He has kept razor-thin congressional majorities, and ushered Trump into the White House if Democrats do not hold on to Con-
saw all this unfold. He came to publicly in place most of the trade restrictions the party’s own compromised posi- in 2016: four decades of near stagnant gress, Biden could be a moral voice for
regret his vote to ease banking rules. He that Trump placed on China.During tion within the power structure of wages, widening inequality, a shrinking why these trends must be reversed and
never celebrated the virtue of free mar- the 2020 presidential campaign Biden the US.But Biden’s and the Democrats’ middle class, ever more concentrated the system transformed. It is the pres-
kets. He has been far closer to organised was billed as a “centrist” seeking bipar- deepest challenge was, and continues wealth at the top and growing corrup- ident’s best hope for being re-elected in
labour and more comfortable with non- tisan solutions. But he had big, non- to be, voters’ distrust of the system. All tion in the form of campaign cash from 2024.
college working-class voters than either centrist ambitions. Seeking to be a political and economic systems depend the wealthy and corporations.If Demo- Robert Reich, a former US secretary
Clinton or Obama. “I am a union man, “transformative” president, he openly fundamentally on people’s trust that crats retain control of Congress in the of labor, is professor of public policy at
period,” he has repeatedly said.He’s sought a New Deal-style presidency. its processes are free from bias and upcoming midterm elections (possible the University of California at Berkeley

Plastic can take hundreds of years to break

down – and we keep making more
US are recycled. That’s pitiful, and
Kim Heacox must change. Patagonia, the clothing

E
company, encourages people to reject
very great movie has at fast fashion and buy durable goods.
least one scene that stays It claims to have diverted and re-
with you. cycled more than 525 tons of discarded,
In the 1967 classic The non-biodegradable fishing nets into hat
Graduate, directed by Mike brims, jackets and shorts. Corona, the
Nichols, that scene could be when beer company, is testing six-pack hold-
Mrs Robinson (Anne Bancroft) first ers made of barley that require less
seduces our protagonist, young Ben energy and fewer harsh chemicals. Trex
(Dustin Hoffman), a newly minted col- says it has recycled 1bn pounds of post-
lege graduate. Or when Ben, crazy in consumer plastic into decks more dur-
love, pounds the glass walls of a church. able than wood. All three companies
What haunts me, though, is the ear- deserve praise – and tax breaks.
lier scene in which one of Ben’s par- As for government: the Biden
ents’ friends offers him some unso- administration should fully engage in
licited advice. The man tells him that the UN global plastics treaty, and pres-
a “great future” awaits him in one word: sure Congress to get on board. Amer-
“Plastics.” icans should vote out any senator or
Today, Americans throw away an representative who refuses to support a
estimated 2.5m plastic water bottle- gas tax, a windfall profits tax (on big
severy hour. Rather than drink from oil’s highway robbery record profits),
clean streams, or from faucets that ‘Plastics now jam the stomachs of seabirds, sea turtles, sharks and whales that wash up dead. They litter remote beaches from the and a plastics tax, and any who refuse
once brought us good municipal water, Aleutians to Midway to Pitcairn Island.’ Photograph: Future Publishing/Getty Images to end fossil fuel subsidies. Why? Be-
we buy single-use plastic that will take cause big oil is killing us on two fronts:
at least 400 years to break down in any disrupting effects, may both increase acid with formaldehyde and created redesigned or removed from produc- climate and plastics.
significant way. And when it does break rates of cancer, infertility and obesity – the world’s first fully synthetic plas- tion.” Every state in the US should follow
down, often from exposure to sunlight, for starters. tic. Praised as the “material of a thou- Many scientists and activists say the lead of Rob Bonta, the California
or from heat and other weathering, it In short, we’re poisoning ourselves. sand uses”, it contained no molecules the best way to fight our modern global attorney general, who recently accused
becomes microplastics. “With skyrocketing plastic produc- found in nature, and had the near-mys- plastic scourge is at its source. Halt fossil fuel and petrochemical com-
Welcome to our largely unre- tion, low levels of recycling, and poor tical property of being moldable under production. Change packaging. panies of promoting recycling while
gulated, Reagan-inspired, free-market waste management,” writes Brian Hut- pressure, rigid when cool, heat resis- Early this year, inspired by a French- knowing it would never keep pace with
nightmare, where profit and produc- chinson for the Oceanic Society, “be- tant, lighter than metal, and hardier led “One Ocean Summit”, governments growing plastic production. “Enough is
tivity are prized over health; where tween 4 and 12 million metric tons than ceramics. Soon came nylon stock- at the United Nations Environment enough,” Bonta said. “For more than a
plastic pollution – a child of big oil – is of plastic enter the ocean each year – ings – a sensation. And when petroleum Programme (Unep) officially adopted century, the plastics industry has en-
now found in the deepest oceans, atop enough to cover every foot of coastline chemists converted the simple compo- a mandate to open negotiations for a gaged in an aggressive campaign to
the highest mountains, and in fresh An- on the planet! And that amount is pro- nents of crude oil and gas into synthetic global plastics treaty to address the full deceive the public, perpetuating a myth
tarctic snow; where microplastics and jected to triple in the next 20 years.” polymers, the building blocks for our lifecycle of plastics, from oil and gas that recycling can solve the plastics
synthetic microfibers (polyester) exist Plastics now jam the stomachs of sea- modern-day plastics were born, as was extraction to product disposal. Then crisis.” His office has subpoenaed Exxon
in our carpets and roughly 60% of birds, sea turtles, sharks and whales an industry that would fight govern- in late June, just prior to the 2022 UN Mobil for information in its alleged role
our clothing. Where microfibers spew that wash up dead. They litter remote ment regulation at all costs. Ocean Conference in Lisbon, additional in a “decades-long plastics deception
out of our dryer vents by the billions, beaches from the Aleutians to Midway By the time our college graduate, governments signed on, joining more campaign”.
become air- and water-borne, and find to Pitcairn Island. The Great Pacific Gar- Ben, got his unsolicited advice, plastics than 500 signatories across the plastics The best way to address this crisis
their way into fish and other seafood, bage Patch – two huge floating masses were considered the “miracle” behind spectrum. is in all three realms combined: indi-
into honey, beer, meat, and now, it of plastic debris, each bigger than Texas modern American life. Saran Wrap, Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, director of vidual, business and government. Step
appears, by various ways into human – is so large (and growing) that Cap- Hula-Hoops, Styrofoam … Unep’s economy division, said: “Joining up. Be informed. Start a revolution.
bloodstreams, especially in people in tain Charles Moore, who discovered it Soon, plastics found their way the global commitment is a way to keep Make smart choices.
urban areas. in 1997, has said cleaning it up would into our hospitals, kitchens, airplanes, the momentum while negotiations are If not now, when? If not us, who?
If that weren’t bad enough, polych- “bankrupt any country” that tried. trucks and cars. ongoing.” She cited a recent report “Participation,” Pete Seeger said,
lorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and flame No place is pristine any more. And what became of it all? Back that said moving toward new economic “that’s what’s gonna save the human
retardants, already a plague, affix them- It looked good in the beginning, then, nobody knew. Few people cared. models will reduce the annual volume race.”
selves to plastics and become more though, in the mid-1800s, when a One who did was the American of plastics entering our oceans by 80%, Kim Heacox is the author of many
of a threat. Medical professionals are competition to find a substitute for ele- folk singer Pete Seeger, who lived and will reduce greenhouse gas emis- books, including The Only Kayak, a
uncertain what this portends. But it phant tusk ivory (used to make bil- simply and said: “If it can’t be re- sions by 25%. This in turn will save an memoir, and Jimmy Bluefeather, a
can’t be good. Plastics with chemicals liard balls) led to the discovery of cel- duced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refur- estimated $200bn and create 700,000 novel, both winners of the National
to make them flexible, and those that luloid. Then in 1907, a chemist work- bished, refinished, resold, recycled or net additional jobs. Outdoor Book Award. He lives in Alaska
are biodegradable but have endocrine- ing in a barn in Yonkers mixed carbolic composted, then it should be restricted, Only 9% of plastics used in the
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

20 Opinion

After years of torture, I broke free of the

tyranny of calorie counting
over you – and what they do to your
Amelia Tait brain is far worse than what they could

W
ever do to your body. This is why it’s
hen science fic- so distressing that the government has
tion writers im- forced large restaurants to display calo-
agine great, gran- ries on their menus, despite evidence
diose methods of that this policy has little effect on ob-
social control – esity but is demonstrably dangerous for
matrixes! Microchips! Really big bros! people with eating disorders.
– they ignore one powerful form that al- I know it’s not easy to wake up one
ready exists: the humble calorie. day and just give up thinking about
Very little is more distracting, mad- calories – especially if counting them
dening, soul-destroying or totalitarian has been a part of your daily life for
than the seemingly random number decades. Still, I desperately wish eve-
(egg: 155! Freddo: 95!) that is assigned ryone could break free from their ty-
to everything we eat. It is a number that ranny, as I consider it one of the best
will affect your body and – although it things I ever did. In the last decade, I
shouldn’t be the case – the way others have never once woken up and missed
around you value it. If you have ever calorie counting. I have never longed to
counted your calories, and if you ever look at a label and divide 100g by the
restricted them, then you have lived weight of the packet.
under a brutal regime. I’m really, truly When I was a teenager, I got it
sorry. I wish no one had ever told you into my head that every woman has an
that calories exist. ‘Displaying the amount of calories has little effect on obesity.’ Calorie values on a food counter in New York. Photograph: Chris Hondros/ eating disorder, and that I’d be counting
I feel this way because calories Getty Images calories for the rest of my life. It’s dif-
once consumed me. As an anorexic ficult to describe how thrilling it is that
teenager I knew the number assigned didn’t spend their time counting calo- eat-whatever-you-like era, I got into the almost 200 years later the US govern- these numbers no longer have a hold on
to lettuce leaves, clementine segments, ries. Think of where those minds could habit of buying a tub of cake icing, ment basically guessed that a typical me. It feels like freedom, it feels like
single yoghurt-coated banana chips have been put to use. pouring in some hundreds and thou- adult needed 2,000 calories a day. In weightlessness, it feels like hundreds
and a Haribo sweet sucked for a second I began to properly recover from my sands and devouring the lot with a recent years, leading academics and ob- and thousands cascading into a tub of
before being spat into the loo. I wasted eating disorder when I was 18, but al- spoon. Have you ever heard of anything esity experts have asked for the “anti- soft sugar.
so much time on minute-by-minute though I stopped meticulously count- more wonderful? It made me far hap- quated” idea of calorie counting to be Amelia Tait is a writer on tech and
mental maths; I was distracted in class, ing calories I still made rough approxi- pier than any number on a packet or dropped. internet phenomena
my breath reeking of hunger as I mut- mations in my head. I didn’t want scale ever did. I don’t do it any more – But don’t wait for food packaging Do you have an opinion on the issues
tered numbers to myself. to lose weight any more, but I didn’t mainly because I don’t want to die – but to be updated – drop calories yourself. raised in this article? If you would like to
It breaks my heart to think of the want to gain it: my new housemates in what a perfect end to calorie counting. Blur your eyes. Run through the red submit a letter of up to 300 words to be
great minds similarly wasting away; the my student halls would remark on my Because here’s the thing about calo- light of the traffic light label! Today, it’s considered for publication, email it to us
fingers lifting up flaps on the backs couscous and salads. But slowly, slowly, ries: they’re bollocks. They’re com- my firm belief that calories don’t exist at [email protected]
of packets before a snack is returned counting slipped my mind. At 21, I fell pletely oversimplified to the point of unless you look at them, like some kind
to its shelf. Think of all of the other deeper in love than I ever knew was uselessness. Some dude in a laboratory of Doctor Who villain.
things that humans – and yes, espe- possible, and calories ceased to exist. in the 1800s came up with a system for It’s only when you start thinking
cially women – could have done if they I mean it. At the beginning of my totting up calories in food – and then about calories that they gain any power

Olivia Newton-John was that rare thing: a

wonderfully unselfconscious star
The fantasy romance Xanadu
Peter Bradshaw (1980) – directed by Robert Greenwald,

O
since known for political documen-
livia Newton-John was taries – was quite extraordinary, an
an Australian recording epic mashup of disco flash, golden age
star who achieved serious Hollywood glamour and some strange
Hollywood fame with her VR-style inner-space scenes (four years
starring role in the 1978 before Disney’s computer game mind-
musical Grease, playing opposite the trip Tron). Newton-John had the dis- Surreal and spectacular … rollerskating
white-hot leading man of the moment, tinction of starring in it opposite Gene with Michael Beck in Xanadu. Photograph:
Universal/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock
John Travolta. Just a few years earlier, Kelly in his final film role, and she has a
she had come an ignominious fourth charming song-and-dance routine with
representing the UK in the Eurovision him. She plays a beautiful and myste- deserved some of the sniffy reviews.
Song Contest (she was born in Eng- rious woman called Kira who turns Travolta plays an inventor who owes
land), losing out to Abba’s Waterloo. But out to be the immortal Greek muse money to the mob, so robs a bank in
Grease made her a serious A-lister. Hopelessly devoted … Newton-John in Grease. Photograph: AA Film Archive/Alamy Terpsichore, one of the nine muses of desperation. Newton-John, miscast as
At the ages of 29 and 24, Newton- Olympus. Kira was once the muse to a a cynical bank teller, hands over the
John and Travolta were playing high- Aussie stars such as Margot Robbie and be unfair to call Newton-John the cine- former big band leader (Kelly) and be- bag of cash he demands but sneakily
school students Sandy and Danny in the Hemsworth brothers do American matic equivalent of a one-hit wonder. comes the same inspirational though switches the cash-bundles for deposit
a fondly imagined 1950s – but no one accents indistinguishable from the real But after Grease, she had a limited elusive figure for a young would-be slips. She gets away with the money
questioned the age disparity at the thing. number of film and TV drama credits artist played by Richard Beck. Xanadu that he is blamed for stealing – so he
time, and Newton-John was probably Grease was as gorgeously innocent and her movies benefited greatly from is entirely bonkers, but fun. The open- comes after her. It’s not a bad premise
Hollywood’s last example of a mature as Newton-John herself, and the be- the soundtrack album sales – that now ing roller-disco dance scene, led by for a comedy thriller by any means,
juvenile lead. In Grease she is the guiling niceness of everyone involved vanished profit-centre of the industry. Kelly himself, is surreal and spectacular. but the fantasy element is leaden. Four
sweet, pure virgin in love with the (even Travolta’s Danny and Stockard There are some gems and cult clas- The soundtrack album was a global angels are monitoring the progress of
leather-jacketed cool kid – until the Channing’s fierce Rizzo) made it a rock- sics in her career: audacious, exotic smash. these two reprobate humans, and there
final number, when she embraces her et-fuelled hit. Newton-John’s wonder- flights of fancy, including one that her Newton-John’s follow-up movie, is a cringeworthy turn from Oliver Reed
inner biker chick to keep his heart ens- fully unselfconscious performance as hardcore fans think of as the most Two of a Kind (1983), written and di- as the devil. Again, the soundtrack
nared. Sandy famously had to be re- squeaky-clean Sandy gave her a movie underrated Christmas movie of all time. rected by TV veteran John Herzfeld album went through the roof.
written from the stage version to ex- star status that she never entirely lost, Audiences – both LGBTQ and straight – and again co-starring Travolta, did not
plain her Australian accent: nowadays, though never entirely earned. It would have never stopped loving her. revive the old Grease magic – sadly, it Continued on page 21
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Opinion 21

Continued from page 20 cameo in Sharknado 5: Global Swarm- shrewdly judged 1990 TV movie A Mom – but, oh dear, it can only be for Christ- comedy Sordid Lives (2000) and the
ing (2017). She also made a forthright for Christmas. A lonely, unhappy girl, mas. I can well imagine this film getting subsequent TV series spinoff, belting
After this, Newton-John’s roles are contribution to the 2010 docudrama 1 a whose mother died when she was little, a remake. out bittersweet numbers in a scuzzy
an interesting, eclectic mix: she had a Minute, about breast cancer. is moping around a department store Newton-John’s best later work, bar. (“Who’s to say who’s a sinner and
supporting part in the groundbreaking But Olivia Newton-John made what one Christmastide and wishes that a which showed that she did have the who’s a saint? / Who’s to say who you
Aids drama It’s My Party (1996), played cult completists think of as Christmas- pretty mannequin would come to life acting chops to go with the music, was can love and who you cain’t?”) Olivia
a hockey mom in Score: A Hockey movie history with her starring role and be her mother. This, of course, is her hilarious turn as gay country singer Newton-John kept her claim on her au-
Musical (2010) and had a good-sport in the outrageously sentimental but Newton-John, who goes home with her Bitsy Mae Harling in Del Shores’s black dience’s hearts to the end.

‘He has done more to further the cause of

hate in the US than almost anyone’: the rise
and fall of Alex Jones
first amendment right to express him-
Charlie Scudder self and raise questions about public

I
events,” says Roy Gutterman, director of
n front of a microphone with the the Tully Center for Free Speech at
the cameras on him, Alex Jones Syracuse University. “But this case also
looked comfortable on his first shows that the law of defamation does
day of testimony. The delu- limit what false and potentially harmful
sional provocateur and con- statements some speakers may make.”
The Branch Davidian Mount Carmel
spiracy peddler sauntered to the wit- The Southern Poverty Law Center compound in Waco in 1993. Photograph:
ness stand in an Austin, Texas, cour- (SPLC), which tracks hate and ex- Fort Worth Star Telegram/Sipa/REX/Shut-
troom, shirt unbuttoned without a tie, tremist groups in the US, calls Jones terstock
and introduced himself to the jury with “the most prolific conspiracy theor-
his characteristic, gravelled intonation. ist in contemporary America”. Michael Knowledge Fight, where he breaks
“I actually feel good because I have Edison Hayden, an investigative re- down Infowars shows and Jones’s rhe-
a chance to say what’s really going on porter and spokesman for the SPLC, toric. He says that Jones uses the same
instead of the corporate media and ‘With Jones, fascism is a business’ … Alex Jones at a rally a day before the 6 January 2021 says Jones’s ability to influence a huge toolbox of disinformation tactics to
high-powered law firms manipulating insurrection. Photograph: Jim Urquhart/Reuters audience makes his speech dangerous. mislead listeners. Often, he will share a
what I actually did,” Jones said. “My big “He is an amusing carnival barker so real headline from a mainstream news
frustration is people saying I’m perso- with comic books and science-fiction, of his Austin home and started broad- we kind of ignore many of the things outlet on air, but make up what is in
nally going after them, when I question an obsession with history books began casting online with a new name – Info- that are staring us right in the face the actual article. He also regularly uses
every event.” when he read Shakespeare’s Julius wars – and sold his show to nearly 100 about how hateful he is,” Hayden says. illegitimate sources, but tells listeners it
Jones, who has stoked dangerous Caesar. He lists a number of books FM and AM stations across the US. “He has probably done more to fur- is from the “most prestigious” expert.
fires of disinformation and distrust on written about the second world war After the 9/11 attacks, he began ther the cause of hate in this country “It’s just a complete farce of infor-
the far right for decades, was facing trial and the Nazi regime that he read as a spreading more theories that the ter- than almost anyone outside of Donald mation,” Friesen says. “He doesn’t care
last week to determine how much he young man. Among the ones that most rorist attacks were staged. He lost Trump himself.” about anything except for what he can
owes families of the 2012 Sandy Hook shaped his thinking, he says, was None some syndication for his wild views, Jones has been able to grow his use to defend the point he intends to
mass shooting – which he long proc- Dare Call it a Conspiracy,by Gary Allen, but online, his popularity continued to Infowars platform through a lucrative make.”
laimed was a hoax. a prominent member of the ultracon- grow. “I don’t do it for the monetary sales model where he hawks specially Friesen came to Austin last week to
Outside the courtroom last week, servative John Birch Society. The book thing. I do it for the truth,” Jones said made products on air, such as a va- cover the Sandy Hook trial for the pod-
a new documentary that casts him claims that an all-powerful group of at his trial last Tuesday, “and the mone- riety of survivalist gear and a line cast. It’s tiring work, he says, but impor-
as a free-speech activist was released. businessmen, communists and social- tary thing comes with it because people of “overpriced and ineffective” vita- tant. He has heard from listeners who
Throughout, Jones has continued to ists are secretly trying to take control of can tell I’m not reading from a script. mins and supplements. He testified last say his podcast has helped them recon-
broadcast lies and disinformation to a the world. I’m not lying like the corporate media week that the company raked in $165m nect with family members whose rela-
huge audience online. But Jones didn’t take to the air- on purpose.” in sales between September 2015 and tionships have been damaged by the
In court, however, he was held to a waves with his conspiracy theories *** December 2018. “With Jones, fascism is dangerous theories Jones spreads.
different standard. After testifying for until after the 1993 siege of the Branch On his regular Infowars show, Jones a business,” Hayden says. “Things like Alex, it’s nonsense and
two days – including a rigorous cross- Davidian compound outside Waco, is bombastic and animated. He gets As the Infowars audience grew in propaganda that has an effect on the
examination that left Jones sweating Texas, a few hours north of Austin. worked up into fierce diatribes about the lead-up to the 2016 presidential real world,” Friesen says. “People are
and visibly uncomfortable – a Texas The botched raid, in which four fed- such matters as demons and politics, election, Jones also gained a new fan seeing this one way or another, wheth-
jury ordered him to pay a total of eral officers and 82 civilians were killed, fluoride in the water supply and an and regular guest: Trump. “He ramps er or not it’s being given an appropriate
$49.3m (£40.8m) in damages to the stirred up anti-government sentiment interlinked global conspiracy that is up his grift through the rise of ex- critical view.”
parents of one of the Sandy Hook vic- in many far-right circles. For Jones, it responsible for everything from Covid tremist activism under Trump and sort The investigations into Jones’s
tims. He still faces several lawsuits from was a call to action. to gun control. of hitches his wagon of sales to Trump’s involvement with the 6 January insur-
other families. He began hosting a show on During the Obama administration, rise,” Hayden says. “To me, that’s Jones rection and Sandy Hook trials could
The judge, Maya Guerra Gamble, Austin’s public-access television sta- Jones ramped up racist and virulent in his final form, which is just coming have an impact on Infowars, but it is un-
scolded Jones, after he told untruths tion, where he was a fringe personality rants against the nation’s first Black from this libertarian, entrepreneurial, likely Jones will disappear completely.
at least twice on the stand. “It seems who ranted about impending martial president. His influence and audience conspiracy-obsessed world to becom- Recently, the SPLC reported that an
absurd to instruct you again that you law, and began developing the on-air continued to grow, bolstered by, and ing something that is much more what anonymous donor gave an $8m bitcoin
must tell the truth when you testify, but persona that would make him rich later helping to spread, a bigoted and natio- we would call fascist.” donation to Infowars, despite its parent
here I am: you must tell the truth while in life. nalistic “alt-right” movement. *** company filing for bankruptcy during
you testify,” she said. “This is not your After the domestic terrorist Ti- Jones also continued to spread Dan Friesen had heard of Alex the trial.
show.” mothy McVeigh said he bombed an untrue theories about terrorist attacks, Jones before the 2016 election, but had “I don’t see what would be stop-
Jones tried to interject, saying he Oklahoma City federal building in mass shootings and major tragedies, mainly seen his conspiracy videos in ping him,” Friesen says. “I mean, if your
had only said what he believed to be the 1995 as retribution for the Waco raid, claiming they were false-flag events online rabbit holes, not taking him ter- entire existence has been about yelling,
truth. Jones began interviewing people who where paid crisis-actors showed up to ribly seriously. The Chicago comedian for like, 20-odd years, and relishing that
“You believe everything you say is claimed the government had staged promote an agenda from a globalist was surprised to see Jones aligning with attention, I don’t know how you can go
true, but it isn’t. Your beliefs do not the attack. Apparently unable to accept new world order. “When I say staged, I Trump. away.”
make something true. That is what that he shared the same view as mean they knew it was going to happen “I just thought it was kind of like ***
we’re doing here,” the judge said. McVeigh, he rationalised the Oklahoma and stood back and let it happen,” a guy who was trying to hold the By aligning with Trump, Jones’s
*** bombing as a false-flag operation. Jones testified last week. “That’s what system accountable, because that’s the popularity and influence grew rapidly.
The new documentary, Alex’s War, He moved his show to Austin’s talk I thought about Sandy Hook.” presentation of what the show is,” Frie- Trump used false and misleading Info-
was directed by Alex Lee Moyer and radio station in 1996, and helped raise Jones purports to be a free speech sen says. He began looking into Jones’s wars headlines to prop up his to
made with the cooperation of Jones. $93,000 to memorialise the Branch advocate, and that the lies he spreads broadcasts more. “As we went along, it become president. Jones said on his
It charts his rise from a fringe public- Davidian compound in Waco. His show are protected by the US constitution. became so clear how so many of the show that Obama and Hillary Clinton
access TV host to leader of rallies on was cancelled in 1999 because his But limits to the first amendment in- things that he does are awful. I found so were demons from hell and smelled of
6 January 2021 that ended in a violent views made it difficult for the station clude speech that defames someone or many problems with his ideology, and sulphur.
insurrection at the US Capitol. to find sponsors. is dangerous. also the way he abuses information, In 2017, Jones helped spread the
Jones says in the documentary that But in the early days of the internet, “In some ways, there is no ques- that I started to take it more seriously.”
he grew up a voracious reader. Starting Jones set up shop in a spare bedroom tion that Alex Jones exercises his Now Friesen co-hosts a podcast, Continued on page 22
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

22 Opinion

Continued from page 21 understand this is 21st-century warfare But on the sixth day of testimony, should be there but is not. happened, but I don’t think you under-
and get on a war-footing.” before Jones took the stand, the par- “We went from having a child mur- stand at all the repercussions of going
dangerous QAnon conspiracy theory His ties to other far-right groups ents of six-year-old victim Jesse Lewis dered and this impossible, lifelong jour- on air with a huge audience and lying
that wrongly posits that Trump was that organised the insurrection have told jurors how Jones had made the ney … but it’s something you can … It seems so incredible to me that we
working to overthrow a cannibalistic, made him a key witness for the US past decade even more unbearable. process. This, I can’t,” she said. “It’s have to do this, that we have to implore
satanist, paedophilic cabal that secretly House’s committee investigating the They talked about extended trauma this element that’s always in the back- you – not just implore you, punish you –
controlled the US government. 6 January attack. Jones sued Con- and near-constant fear of attack from ground, of fear, [that] keeps me from to stop you from lying.”
Over the next several years, tech gress when he was subpoenaed for his Jones’s listeners who believe that they healing.” Heslin and Lewis were seeking
platforms began banning Jones and mobile phone records and text mes- are paid actors and that their son never The parents testified that Jones’s $150m in compensation, but said they
Infowars for spreading misleading sages, but eventually spoke to the com- existed. reach went beyond just unhinged were pleased with the verdict. It also
information and hate speech against mittee, invoking his fifth amendment “Alex was the one with the match theorists online. Lewis said she has had emerged last week that Jones’s lawyer
a number of minority groups. Twitter, right not to give self-incriminating evi- that started the fire,” the boy’s father, death threats, and received harassing had inadvertently passed Jones’s text
Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, Apple and dence more than 100 times, according Neil Heslin testified. “He had a strong emails and phone calls from Jones’s lis- messages from the past two years
others have removed his content and to his lawyers. Later, he sought immun- voice and he had a platform and he had teners. One Christmas, a man pulled up to Heslin and Lewis’s attorney, Mark
banned his accounts. ity from federal prosecutors. power.” in front of the house and began taking Bankston. The House committee inves-
Jones supported Trump’s re-elec- *** At that moment, Jones was not in photos of her and the property. Another tigating 6 January has requested to see
tion campaign and organised “stop the During Jones’s testimony last week, the courtroom but in his Austin studio, time, someone drove by firing a gun them.
steal” rallies across the US after he lost. attorneys for the Sandy Hook family calling Heslin “slow” and continuing to and shouting “Alex Jones” and “Info- Bankston said,“With punitive dam-
According to the New York Times, he presented evidence showing he had peddle his inane theories about the wars”. Lewis now sleeps with a knife ages still to be decided and multiple
helped fundraise for the rallies on 6 lied under oath, even though he ulti- 2012 shooting. and a gun nearby. [other pending legal matters], it is clear
January before the violent insurrection. mately admitted the attack was “100% When Jones returned from his “Truth, truth is so vital to our world. that Mr Jones’s time on the American
That day, he participated in the march real”. Jones dodged and found ways to studio that afternoon, Scarlett Lewis, Truth is what we base a society on,” stage is finally coming to an end.”
to the Capitol, and posted an Infowars talk around questions he didn’t want to the boy’s mother, testified that losing she testified, speaking directly to Jones
video saying: “We need to understand answer, while still calling out “corporate her child was like losing a limb. She still across the courtroom. “I think you
we’re under attack, and we need to media” whenever he had a chance. has “phantom pains”, she says, like he know that Sandy Hook is real and that it

Signs of love? Italy has designated romantic

zones – would you kiss on demand?

N
ame: Romantic zones. to go. I believe HR spoke to you about
Age: Ancient in that last Christmas.
many cases, if only re- I’m just saying: do we really want
cently signposted. to live in a world of signposted zones
Appearance: Van- dictating our every move? We already
tage points so picturesque as to incite do. There are even “photo spots” to tell
passion. tourists where to point their cameras,
Sounds exciting. Are there any in some complete with frames.
the Kettering area? No. Ridiculous. There are also clean air
Are there any within easy reach of zones, quiet zones, special economic
Kettering? They’re all in Italy. zones and dispersal zones – designated
That seems a bit unfair. It’s an public areas inside which police are
Italian initiative. Scenic trysting places given powers to ban people committing
have been furnished with signs saying: antisocial behaviour.
“Zona romantica” and: “Obbligatorio ba- Those we have in Kettering. In the
ciarsi”. grand scheme of things, what’s wrong
What does that mean? “It is man- with adding a few zones encouraging
datory to kiss.” lovers to do what lovers do?
What if things go a bit further Erogenous zones, you might call
than that? The signs offer no subse- them. No, thank you.
quent instruction, though some also Speaking of which, you know that
bear lines taken from love songs. bus shelter out by Halfords? They
What sort of place makes for a good should put a sign there, if you know
zona romantica? Impressive views, a bit Zona romantica (posed by models). Photograph: piola666/Getty Images what I’m saying. This is why you’re
of seclusion, maybe a story about star- barred from the city centre after 7pm.
crossed lovers leaping to their deaths story – he was a brigand, she was a coast of Capri. are a bit of a marketing gimmick, to Do say: “Senza lingue.” (No tongues.)
from that same precipice. noblewoman. Their families opposed Lovely. Reached by stairs cut into be honest. The coastal town of Sper- Don’t say: “Let’s come back when
Really? That’s the deal in Tren- the match. the rock, it is known locally as the bel- longa, Latina, has even launched a there’s less of a queue.”
tinara, Campania, where the sign fea- Any less grisly examples? One vedere del sognatore – the dreamer’s photo competition to publicise their
tures likenesses of legendary doomed newly appointed zona romantica over- lookout. five designated romantic zones.
lovers Saul and Isabella. looks the Mediterranean near the Punta If it’s that romantic, I’m surprised Nobody tells me where to kiss. I just
Never heard of them. It’s a local Carena lighthouse on the south-east they need to put up a sign. The signs put on my mistletoe hat and I’m good

Discovered in the deep: meet Casper the

ghostly octopus
filmed at such depths were Dumbo up many tantalising mysteries. Why is pallor may come down to a lack of pig-
Helen Scales octopuses, named after another car- it so pale? Most other octopuses have ments in its food.

A
toon character, seen swimming around colourful chromatophores in their skin Another puzzle is the short arms, al-
white octopus sat on the as deep as 6,957 metres, with elegant, which change their appearance in an in- though Casper is not alone in having a
seabed, gently waggling ear-like flaps on either side of their stant and act as camouflage to confuse limited reach. “The shallower and more
its short, stubby arms heads. predators. tropical you are, the longer and thinner
and peering with beady The sighting of Casper was a strik- Even in the deep sea, octopuses your arms,” says Voight.
eyes into the camera of a ing moment for Janet Voight, associate can be colourful, like the purple, warty This trend towards shorter arms in
Ghostly-white octopus discovered near
deep-diving robot. Hawaiian Islands – video curator of invertebrate zoology at the Graneledone. Some use a cloak of dark deep-dwelling octopuses doesn’t have
It was 2016, in waters off Hawaii, at Field Museum of Natural History in skin pigments, seemingly to hide glow- a definite explanation. Voight thinks
a depth of 4,290 metres (2.6 miles). No ghostly appearance, it was nicknamed Chicago. “This is totally new and dif- ing, bioluminescent prey they grab in that, rather than stretching out to grab
one had ever seen an octopus like it, Casper. ferent,” she says, recalling the discovery. their arms and thus avoid alerting other
and certainly not so deep. Based on its Until then, the only cephalopods That first glimpse of Casper threw predators. Voight guesses that Casper’s Continued on page 23
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Opinion 23

Continued from page 22 cies. rocks, limiting how deep they can go. eggs. An octopus from another spe- “With an octopus, you really need it
“It could be that they’re fairly “Casper showed there are ways cies (Graneledone boreopacifica) was in your hand,” says Voight.
food, they evolved an alternative tactic common,” says Voight. “It’s just an indi- around that by finding a sponge stalk,” seen off the coast of California, on a
of twisting their bodies around so that cator of how little we know about she says. “Is this a breakthrough in oc- steep escarpment in Monterey Canyon,
their mouths, on the underside of their what’s down there.” topus evolution?” brooding her single clutch in the exact Is this a breakthrough
bodies, are directly over their food. For Voight, especially exciting were The sponges themselves are at- same spot for more than four years. in octopus evolution?
Scientists have learned more about the Caspers with their arms wrapped tached to rocky nodules that lie scat- For now, the pale and mysterious
Casper by scouring five years of arc- around clutches of eggs stuck to tall tered across swaths of abyssal plains Casper octopuses have not yet been
hived footage gathered on deep-sea sponges. Previously, she had theorised and take millions of years to form. officially named, because all we know
Janet Voight,
surveys across the Pacific. They spot- that seabed-dwelling octopuses need If other deep-sea octopuses are any- of them comes from imagery; no one octopus expert
ted dozens more like Casper perched hard rocks to lay their eggs on. Further thing to go by, the female Caspers prob- has been able to collect a specimen to
on the seabed, from two distinct spe- down, there could be fewer exposed ably spend a long time guarding their study in detail.

How we met: ‘I was a paper boy and she was

the Saturday girl in the newsagents – she
seemed so cool!’
used to do a lot of DJing in Manchester.”
Lizzie Cernik In February 2011, they bumped into

I
each other on a night out. “I couldn’t be-
n 2004, when Claire was a tee- lieve how friendly she was,” says Curtis.
nager, she got a Saturday job at “She seemed engaging and interested in
her local newsagents. She was me. It felt a bit too good to be true.”
soon spotted by one of the paper Claire admits she “deliberately took” his
boys, Curtis. “A few of my friends beanie hat so she would have to see him
‘I’ve not been well lately and it’s made me
did the paper round with me and they again. realise how much he cares for me’ … Claire
knew Claire worked in the shop,” he The following week, they arranged and Curtis at a fancy dress party in 2021.
says. “It was obvious I liked her, so they to go out for drinks. “It was Valentine’s Photograph: Provided by Claire and Curtis
suggested I buy something so I could Day and Curtis made me a card,” says
talk to her.” His plan to impress her Claire. “We have been pretty much inse- rock. “I’ve not been well lately and it’s
didn’t go well. “I went in for a Snickers parable since then.” made me realise how much he cares for
and when I tried to pay she slammed it They began dating exclusively, regu- me. I could never have done it without
down on the counter so quickly there ‘It’s just really easy to love her’ … Claire and Curtis. Photograph: Provided by Claire and larly going on nights out, trips to the him,” she says. Although some people
was no time to talk. I just ended up with cinema and spending time at each think they’re “like chalk and cheese”,
a chocolate bar I didn’t want,” he laughs. Assuming she wasn’t interested, he When Curtis returned home from other’s houses. In January 2014, they she believes their personalities comple-
“We had grown up in the same area, gave up trying to talk to her. Two university in 2010, he found a job with bought their own place in north Man- ment each other. “He’s very caring and
so I had seen him around but we never years later, they were introduced to the Co-op, while Claire became an opti- chester. They married three years later sensible – but in a good way. I’d book
hung out,” says Claire. “I don’t remem- each other at sixth form college, but cian. When friends of Curtis’s added and live together with their dog. Claire a holiday every weekend but he keeps
ber being standoffish but it was prob- they didn’t develop a friendship. “She Claire on Facebook, she saw his name still works as an optician, while Curtis me grounded. Over time we have grown
ably a bit awkward.” Curtis admits he was going out with someone else and I and sent him a friend request. They does IT security for a bank. up and matured together.”
was a bit intimidated by her. “There was thought it was a lost cause,” he says. soon began chatting and realised they Curtis loves that Claire is the driving Want to share your story? Tell us a
a hierarchy in the shop and the Sat- Claire thought he was unap- got on “really well”. After exchanging force in their relationship. “I really gra- little about yourself, your partner and
urday girl was definitely a tier above proachable. “We used to get off the bus phone numbers, the pair started texting vitate towards her. She comes up with how you got together byfilling in the
the paperboys,” he says. “She seemed at the same stop and walk different each other. “I hadn’t seen him for such ideas and always has the motivation to form here
so cool and looked pristine. We were ways. But I always felt as if he didn’t a long time but I really liked him,” says do something,” he says. “It’s just really
soggy from the rain and mud, after fall- like me. I felt like he was glaring at me,” Claire. “He was much easier to talk to easy to love her.”
ing over with our bikes.” she remembers. and seemed like a really cool person. He Claire describes her husband as her

The big idea: are we living in a simulation?

past. If so, there will one day be many
Steven Poole more simulated minds than real minds.

E
Therefore you should be very surprised
lon Musk thinks you don’t if you are actually one of the few real
exist. But it’s nothing per- minds in existence rather than one of
sonal: he thinks he doesn’t the trillions of simulated minds.
exist either. At least, not in This idea has a long history in philo-
the normal sense of exist- sophical scepticism (the idea that we
ing. Instead we are just immaterial soft- can’t know anything for sure about
ware constructs running on a gigan- the external world) and other tradi-
tic alien computer simulation. Musk tions. The Chinese Taoist sage Zhuang-
has stated that the odds are billions zi wrote a celebrated fable about a
to one that we are actually living in man who couldn’t be sure whether
“base reality”, ie the physical universe. he was a man dreaming of being a
At the end of last year, he responded butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of
to a tweet about the anniversary of the being a man. René Descartes imagined
crude tennis video game Pong (1972) by that he might be being manipulated
writing: “49 years later, games are pho- by an “evil demon” (or “evil genius”)
to-realistic 3D worlds. What does that that controlled all the sensations he
trend continuing imply about our re- experienced, while the 20th-century
ality?”This idea is surprisingly popular American philosopher Hilary Putnam
among philosophers and even some coined the term “brain in a vat” to de-
scientists. Its modern version is based scribe a similar idea. But while Neo in
on a seminal 2003 paper, Are We the Wachowskis’ 1999 film The Matrix
Living in a Computer Simulation? by really is a brain (or rather a whole
the Swedish philosopher Nick Bostrom. Illustration: Elia Barbieri depilated body) in a vat, the simu-
Assume, he says, that in the far future,
civilisations hugely more technically advanced than ours will be interested in running “ancestor simulations” of the sentient beings in their distant galactic Continued on page 24
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
24 Opinion

Continued from page 23 scale conspiracy theory as well as an equal it seems that you should care simply because we now have func- Delivery charges may apply
apparently scientific version of Crea- less about others,” he concludes, and tioning prototypes (video games, VR) Further reading
lation hypothesis says that you do not tionism. The inconceivably advanced “live more for today”.One commonly of how such a simulation might work. Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the
have a physical body anywhere. “You” alien running its simulation of our un- despairing reaction to the idea that Others have speculated that there may Problems of Philosophy by David J
are merely the result of mathematical iverse is indistinguishable from tradi- we might all be simulated is that this be clues to the fact that our universe is Chalmers (Allen Lane)
calculations in some vast computer. tional terrestrial ideas of God: an all- renders our lives meaningless, and that a simulation hidden in the very fabric Programming the Universe: A Quan-
There are many possible objec- powerful being who designed every- nothing we see or experience is “real”. of the “reality” that we can investigate: tum Computer Scientist Takes on the
tions to this idea even getting off the thing we see. But is this god the god of The Australian philosopher David Chal- perhaps the simulation cuts corners at Cosmos by Seth Lloyd (Vintage)
ground, as Bostrom notes. Perhaps it deism (who sets up the laws of nature mers, in his recent book Reality+: Vir- very small scales or very high energies. The Simulation Hypothesis: An MIT
is simply not possible for computer- but then absents himself while creation tual Worlds and the Problems of Philos- Indeed, experiments (for instance in Computer Scientist Shows Why AI,
simulated beings to become conscious runs its course), or a more interven- ophy, argues otherwise. For him, a dig- Campbell et al., “On Testing the Simu- Quantum Physics and Eastern Mystics
in the way we are. (This would defeat tionist figure? If the latter, it might ital table in VR is a real table. It is no lation Theory”, 2017) have been se- All Agree We Are in a Video Game by
the “assumption of substrate indepen- make sense to court their favour. more disqualified from being “real” by riously proposed that might reveal the Rizwan Virk (Bayview)
dence”, according to which minds are How, though, should we please such the fact that it is, at bottom, made up answer.
not dependent on biological matter.) Or a god? Not necessarily by being vir- of digital ones and zeros than a phys- But not so fast. Remember that
perhaps all civilisations destroy them- tuous, but by being – assuming the ical table is disqualified from being real we can’t know what the goal of the
selves before getting to the simulation simulator is watching us for its own by the fact that it is, at bottom, made simulators is. Perhaps, for them, the
stage. (Plausible if not necessarily com- pleasure – at least entertaining. This up of quantum wave-packets. Indeed, game is not merely to observe us as
forting.) Or perhaps advanced civili- line of reasoning might imply, for ex- some esoteric theories of physics con- an indefinite planet-sized soap opera, There might may be
sations are simply not interested in ample, that it is one’s duty to become sider “reality” itself to be at base quan- but simply to see how long the sim- clues to the fact that
running such simulations, which would a florid serial killer, or a guy who tum-computational or mathematical in people take to prove that they’re in a
be surprising given the kinds of things tries to colonise Mars and buy Twit- nature anyway. simulation. At which point, the game
our universe is a
humans do – such as developing video ter. “Be funny, outrageous, violent, Is there any good reason to ac- ends and the simulation is turned off. simulation hidden in
deep-fake technology or researching sexy, strange, pathetic, heroic … in a tually believe the simulation argument, Perhaps we’re better off not finding out. the very fabric of
how to make viruses more virulent word ‘dramatic’,” counsels the econ- though? Or is it just aesthetically pi- •Steven Poole is the author of Re-
– even though they seem to be very omist Robin Hanson, considering that quant techno-religion? Chalmers ob- think: The Surprising History of New ‘reality’
bad ideas.The simulation hypothesis assumption in his 2001 paper How to serves that it is at least more plaus- Ideas, published by Random House. To
is perhaps attractive to a wider cul- Live in a Simulation . “If you might ible than earlier iterations of scep- support the Guardian and the Observer
ture because of its nature as a cosmic- be living in a simulation then all else ticism such as Descartes’s evil demon, order a copy at guardianbookshop.com.

Funerals and Islamic Jihad battle songs: Gaza

after the ceasefire
control of the Gaza Strip in 2007,
Bethan McKernan and Hazem it is not encumbered by the day-to-
Balousha in Gaza City day governance of the coastal enclave,

I
and as a result is often the driving
n Shujaiya, a neighbourhood of force behind confrontations with Israel.
Gaza City already scarred by sev- While the two movements are allied, Is-
eral rounds of war, men passed lamic Jihad often acts independently,
around coffee and dates under and sometimes undermines Hamas’s
the shade of a colourful mourn- authority.
ing tent while Palestinian Islamic Jihad The weekend’s violence – the worst Qaddoum family school books. Photo-
battle songs blared from a sound since an 11-day-war in May 2021, which graph: Bethan McKernan
system. killed 256 people in Gaza and 14
Men carrying AK-47s, their faces people in Israel – was triggered by and economy of the 17 square miles,
shielded by black balaclavas, lined the the arrest of Bassem al-Saadi, Islamic while 15 years of a joint Israeli-Egyptian
entrance to the tent, and the militant Jihad’s top commander in the occupied blockade have left the trapped popu-
group’s black and yellow flag flew over- Mohammad Arada looks at the rubble of his family home on Monday in Rafah refugee West Bank. While Islamic Jihad did not lation struggling to access clean water,
head. camp, southern Gaza Strip, after it was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike. Photograph: Adel respond by firing rockets at Israel, the electricity and adequate medical care.
The neighbourhood had gathered Israeli defence establishment has in- On Monday, after the ceasefire came
to mourn five-year-old Alaa Qaddoum, children and people at the mosque,” children to the park when the operation sisted that Breaking Dawn prevented into effect, most people in the strip
one of the first casualties of Operation said Alaa’s grandfather, Riad, gesturing started. The family walked around the an imminent major retaliatory attack. were trying to get back to a semblance
Breaking Dawn - a surprise Israeli air- at the shrapnel marks and streaks of corner to borrow a Thermos flask from The campaign is viewed by the of normality. Electricity and water were
strike campaign targeting Islamic Jihad, dried blood at the spot the girl died. a relative, and Rasha was inside the majority of the Israeli public as an over- still not working in many areas, and
the second largest militant organisation “The rest of the street was empty. They house when a missile turned the street whelming success: the IDF managed fuel deliveries from Israel have not yet
in the Gaza Strip after Hamas. could have waited.” into blood and dust. to kill two senior Islamic Jihad com- reached petrol stations.
Israel’s military said Alaa’s father, According to the Gaza health min- “She loved school. She was so keen manders, and says it destroyed rock- In Sheikh Ijlin, a neighbourhood
Abdullah, is a senior Islamic Jihad istry, 44 people, including 15 children to go back after the summer she al- et-launching sites and training camps, of southern Gaza City abutting the
commander, but did not comment on and several members of Islamic Jihad, ready made me call the teacher and without incurring a single Israeli ca- Mediterranean, residents of two blocks
whether he was the target of the strike were killed and 350 civilians wounded register for next year,” the 27-year-old sualty. A gamble that Hamas would not of houses picked over the rubble of
on Friday that killed her. He was badly as missiles pummelled the blockaded said, surrounded by mourners at the be drawn into the fray, sparking an all- their homes, which were destroyed on
injured in the attack, along with Alaa’s Palestinian territory before a Egypt-me- family home as she clutched Alaa’s pink out war, appears to have paid off, as Saturday; two barefoot little girls played
seven-year-old brother. The Israeli mili- diated ceasefire came into effect late on rucksack and leafed through her school the group is still replenishing its arsenal with plastic flowers and blankets pulled
tary said it was aware of the five- Sunday night. Sixty people in southern books. and tunnel network after the last round from the debris as the adults surveyed
year-old’s death and civilian casualties Israel were treated for minor injuries “I was standing next to the window of conflict. the damage.
would be investigated. as hundreds of retaliatory rockets were when it happened. I saw our rela- The operation has burnished the Safa Shammalakh, a 31-year-old dis-
A 60-year-old civilian sitting on the fired across the Gaza frontier towards tives holding my daughter, and she was security credentials of Israel’s caretaker abled shopkeeper, struggled to get to
steps of a mosque and an Islamic Jihad the south of the country. bleeding. She doesn’t know anything prime minister, the centrist Yair Lapid, safety after she heard shouts on Sat-
fighter on a motorbike were also killed Unlike other Israeli airstrikes in about rockets. What was her crime?” before the politically polarised country urday morning that the Israelis had
on Friday afternoon, in the opening built-up areas of the strip, which Founded in 1981 with the aim holds its fifth elections in less than four called the owner of the building next
salvo of Israel’s three-day offensive. since 2014 are often been accompanied of establishing an Islamic Palestinian years this November. Gaza’s 2.2 mil- door, warning that it would be hit.
The motorcyclist was named by Is- by phone calls ordering residents to state and destroying Israel, Islamic lion inhabitants, however, are paying a “My home is gone, my grocery is
lamic Jihad as Yusuf Qaddoum, Alaa’s evacuate beforehand, Breaking Dawn Jihad is directly funded by Iran and heavy price. gone,” she said. “We hope the ceasefire
distant relative. began without warning. designated as a terrorist organisation Four wars and several other bat- will hold, but there are never any guar-
“They were aiming at the motor- Alaa’s mother, Rasha, said she and by most of the international com- tles with Israel since the Hamas take- antees. It always happens again.”
bike, but it was obvious there were her husband were taking their four munity. Unlike Hamas, which seized over have devastated the infrastructure
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Opinion / Finance 25

‘Food is our love language’: exploring south-

east Asian roots with meal kits
cold-called and emailed people, asking
Claire Wang if we could order from them. After

F
two years, we have a good relationship
or Christy Innouvong- with regular wholesalers we work with.
Thornton and Beatriz Au- Before the pandemic got bad, we also
relio-Saguin, food is not had a lot of snacks directly imported
only a love language but from Thailand and the Philippines.
also a storytelling tool to You’re both children of south-east
explore their roots. Asian immigrants and refugees. How
As daughters of south-east Asian did your own family history and
immigrants and refugees, they’ve long upbringing inspire this effort? ‘It’s our way of reclaiming the narrative
been aware of racist stereotypes sur- of when we were kids and people said our
Aurelio-Saguin: When I bring Tuk
lunch smelled funny.’ Photograph: Unison
rounding the staples they grew up Tuk Box products home to my dad,
Creative
eating, such as nom banh chok, or sometimes he starts crying because
fermented rice noodles; sambal and they remind me of his mom and his
durian. When the pandemic hit, which Beatriz Aurelio-Saguin, left, and Christy Innouvong-Thornton, right, are the founders of older brother when they made food. educational attainment rates. Since
was accompanied by a surge in hate Tuk Tuk Box. Photograph: Unison Creative Most of my dad’s siblings were born in I’ve worked in policy, I always found
incidents against Asian Americans, Jakarta, and my dad was born in the that our communities are left out of
they wanted to find a way to dispel south-east Asia,” said Aurelio-Saguin, you a big bowl of rice and your favo- Philippines. There was a language bar- the conversation. Budgets are already
those myths while giving back to south- a public health consultant of Filipino rite dish when you’re sad, and you know rier because he spoke Tagalog and they smaller for Asian Americans, and when
east Asian communities. and Indonesian descent. “My dad said it you’re loved. For us, food is also an ev- spoke Indonesian, and he only knew a you break that down, south-east Asians
In September 2020, the pair would be a good name for our company er-changing storytelling vehicle. In Fili- few staple Indonesian dishes. But be- don’t get much. We want to create eco-
founded Tuk Tuk Box, a monthly because it’s also our vehicle to make pino food, you can see the influence of cause of Tuk Tuk Box and the deep dive nomic development opportunities and,
subscription service that delivers cu- social change.” the Spanish with the pork, or the Amer- we’ve been doing, learning and decolo- with these donations, we can still make
rated packages of beloved south-east What led you to launch Tuk Tuk icans with spam. We can pass down nizing our history, he’s been able to sure some of the money is re-rotating
Asian snacks and meal kits. The of- Box? generational stories just by sharing a learn more about his own background. back to the community.
fered specialty products, including ube- Christy Innouvong-Thornton: I meal at the table. Innouvong-Thornton: For me there What’s next for Tuk Tuk Box?
flavored wafer bites, canned mango worked in Thailand with asylum seek- What are some widespread miscon- was always a lot of shame growing up Innouvong-Thornton: In the next
nectar and instant noodles with tom ing families, teaching them English ceptions about south-east Asian Asian. My parents escaped Laos as refu- year, we hope to be able to pay our-
yum and red bean curd bases, are rare through this social enterprise called dishes? gees, and I didn’t know a lot about my selves a salary. We’ve never paid our-
finds in even mainstream Asian super- Courageous Kitchen. When I moved Aurelio-Saguin: One is that our food culture. Starting this organization was selves from day one. This is something
markets. back to the US, I was still teaching is very funky, so think of fish sauce and a way for me to heal and create a rela- we’ve used our own savings for and a
By highlighting the diversity of cooking classes up until the pandemic. fermented shrimp. We decided with tionship with my biological mom. A lot few community loans.
traditional south-east Asian flavors, Beatriz and I wanted to find a way to our first snack, we have three levels: of people have told us they resonated Aurelio-Saguin: We have a cook-
Innouvong-Thornton, 37, and Aurelio- raise awareness about refugee issues one that has introductory flavors like with us as first, second or third-gen book coming up. On our website, we
Saguin, 28, say they’re also raising in Thailand and send money back to cheese and crackers, another for those kids who are stuck between two worlds: have different stories and recipes from
awareness about the colonial history of those families. We started sending meal already familiar with south-east Asian we’re Asian at home but maybe don’t folks in our community that we col-
their home countries. kit boxes to friends during lockdown. flavors and a third that has durian and even speak our language. We’re trying lected over the last two years. It’d be a
“A lot of our dishes were made Beatriz suggested we make a subscrip- shrimp paste. It’s our way of reclaiming to show everyone we’re not mono- good opportunity for us to put these in
out of war, distress or poverty,” said tion box model because it’s more sus- the narrative of when we were kids and lithic. There isn’t one way to be “Fili- a book, and it can be a way for our sto-
Innouvong-Thornton, a Laotian Amer- tainable and we could also tell stories people said our lunch smelled funny. pino enough”, or “Lao enough”, or “Thai ries and our joy to be printed and sold
ican chef. “We had to ferment things of the families in a more interactive and How do you go about curating and enough”. in the mainstream. When you walk into
and turn an item like rice into paste, meaningful way. finding suppliers for specialty prod- Why do you donate a portion of Barnes & Noble or Target, how many
noodles and crackers. It shows the resi- Why focus on food as a vehicle to ucts that aren’t found in many super- your proceeds to grassroots organi- times do you see an Asian book written
lience of our community but also a share stories about a group of people? markets? zations that support the south-east by an Asian person?
forced resilience.” Beatriz Aurelio-Saguin: Food is our Innouvong-Thornton: We went to Asian community?
The name of their business, too, is a love language. In the Asian community, different Asian stores all around Cali- Aurelio-Saguin: South-east Asian
nod to its mission-driven ethos. sometimes our parents don’t like to ex- fornia: Thai town in LA, Cambodian women are one of the lowest-paid in
“Tuk Tuk are the rickshaws in press their emotions. But they’d give communities in Orange county. We the US. We have one of the lowest

Cutting costs, merging, shelving Batgirl: is

this the end of HBO Max?
tax accounting surely played a role as early days. conference out of Succession, Zaslav circulated as a meme on social media
Charles Bramesco well. The company caused a stir with pushed the headline of theatrical re- broke down the presumed appeal of the
HBO Max subscribers then began “Project Popcorn”, an unorthodox busi- leasing’s comeback in no uncertain service, as contrasted with Discovery
The drama has been coming thick and combing the library and noticed that ness model under which they released terms. “We will fully embrace theatr- Plus.
fast at the AT&T-owned entertainment a handful of the original films produced their 2021 slate of films to HBO Max ical,” he declared, laying out a devel- Whereas HBO Max is “male skew”,
behemoth Warner Bros Discovery – for the platform had been quietly re- on the same day they hit theaters. Up- opment slate with a lessened emphasis “lean in” and “home of fandoms”; Dis-
unfortunately for the company, and its moved; the Seth Rogen vehicle Amer- wards of a dozen big-ticket titles – in- on straight-to-streaming productions. covery Plus is “female skew”, “lean
viewers, the action is all taking place in ican Pickle, for one, now exists only as a cluding The Suicide Squad, Cry Macho Anyone dedicated to the cause of back” and “home of genredoms”. The
its boardrooms. $3.99 rental from iTunes. and In the Heights – materialized in cinema can see reason to rejoice in a reasoning that “HBO equals Game of
The company was formed after the Rumors of staff layoffs and series America’s living rooms free of addi- renewed commitment to the forever- Thrones, which dudes like” versus “Dis-
spin-off of WarnerMedia by AT&T and cancelations swirled until the bomb tional charge, an obvious ding to theatr- imperiled theatrical experience, the covery Plus equals Property Brothers,
its merger with Discovery in April last was finally dropped by Warner/Dis- ical exhibition meant to funnel viewers most optimistic among us envisioning beloved of women” betrays a major
year, media watchers have been waiting covery’s CEO, David Zaslav, during into the streaming way of the future. a mini-boom for original concepts from misapprehension about the broader
to see how the new media powerhouse a second-quarter earnings report last 3D-chess-brained thinking yielded distinctive artists. But Warners is far potential for these services, which
would reshape its business. Now a plan, Thursday: in 2023, HBO Max and Dis- to good old common sense as execu- from the first studio to step out with could be hubs for a wider sampling of
of sorts, is emerging. covery Plus would be combined into a tives noticed that it’s difficult to get the daring strategy of releasing only material catering to omnivorous tastes.
First, the studio announced plans single entity, ideally with a name that people to pay for what they already good movies instead of bad ones, an As much as the service has proven
to permanently shelve an already-shot doesn’t sound like a brand of batteries. have at home. Hopeful earners Dune, overhaul more easier said than put into a graveyard for its streaming-exclusive
Batgirlmovie to the tune of an esti- The decision to demolish the HBO The Matrix: Resurrections and Space practice. films, both deservedly (bland Roald
mated $90m loss, a puzzling move Max brand and start over on the vacant Jam 2 all underperformed at the box The tone of the recent earnings call Dahl adaptation The Witches, pan-
explained in an official statement as lot it will leave behind comes as a shock office, and time had come for a course erred on the side of corporate inanity, demic rush job Locked) and not (school
symptomatic of a larger shift in com- to industry observers, who have watch- correction. particularly in how the C-suite under- shooting drama The Fallout and tech-
pany doctrine away from streaming, ed as Warner went all in on stream- During a report that sometimes stands the utility and future of HBO
though more obscure imperatives of ing during the pandemic’s housebound played like a sweaty all-is-well press Max. One slideshow card summarily Continued on page 26
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

26 Finance

Continued from page 25 curious, boundary-busting sketch pro-

gram Random Acts of Flyness on HBO
no-thriller Kimi, both of which de- proper, a heartening example of the
served higher profiles), it has found greatness fostered when a budget and
greater success in the series format. creative freedom are handed to an
The Flight Attendant and Hacks idiosyncratic talent.
garnered attention from Emmy voters, Rather than a claustrophobic hold-
Station Eleven and Tokyo Vice showed ing pen for franchise pictures meant
the seedlings of cult followings, and to unfurl in an auditorium, the auto-
Our Flag Means Death boasted some matic platform could have been a
of the best reviews of any debut in its valuable breeding ground for up-and-
season. Numbers aside, though HBO comers ready for a bump in exposure. It
Max’s subscriber base dwarfs that of still could, one supposes, based on the
Discovery Plus by a margin in the vague language Zaslav has used about
dozens of millions, it was a success on streaming’s cloudy future.
the sole basis of bringing good enter- The pictographic representation of
tainment to the people. The mad fusion this bright new day, however, doesn’t
of HBO Max with Discovery Plus – inspire much confidence. A perfectly
home of the 90 Day Fiancée Universe, circular blob labeled “Content” feeds
the Food Network, and other reality TV a chevron-shaped block emblazoned
stalwarts – runs the risk of losing the with “Streaming”, flanked above and
exploratory spirit that gave fan-beloved below by “Movies” and “TV”. So long
series like Search Party and The Other as the stewards of art continue to see it
Two a home. David Zaslav announced last Thursday that HBO Max and Discovery Plus would be combined into a single entity. Photograph: Kevin as indiscriminate product to be moved
The real richness of the HBO Max Winter/Getty Images around in rejiggered combinations, the
project lay in its indefiniteness; with- renaissance they’re waiting for won’t
out a daily schedule to fill or strict run- time requirements dictated by ad sales, it could have been a bastion for experi- mentation. Look at Terence Nance’s come any time soon.

SoftBank CEO ‘ashamed’ of pride in past

profits as record losses prompt cost cuts
more selective and invested properly, it
Mark Sweney and agency would not have hurt as much. I want to
reflect on this and remember this as a
SoftBank has reported a record quar- warning.”
terly loss of 3.1tn yen (£19bn) after the He added that cost cutting would
global sell-off of tech stocks, prompting also be extended across SoftBank as a
the embattled Japanese conglomerate group.
to embark on a big cost-cutting drive. Son has already radically scaled
Masayoshi Son, the chief executive back investment activity. The Vision
of SoftBank, said the company was to Fund arm approved just $600m in new
launch a “dramatic” group-wide cost- investments in the first quarter, com-
cutting drive after a 7tn yen gain in pared with $20.6bn in the same period a
investments made by its Vision Funds year earlier.
were almost completely wiped out over “We need to cut costs with no
the past six months. sacred areas,” Son said.
Son said that he had got carried Son has already suffered a series of
away with the tech boom last year, but high-profile reversals after big bets by
now feels “embarrassed” by that reac- the first Vision Fund in late-stage star-
tion. “I am ashamed of myself for being tups such as the office sharing com-
so elated by big profits in the past,” said pany WeWork soured, prompting him
Son, who added that the headcount at to tighten investment controls with the
its Vision Funds may need to be “re- second fund.
duced dramatically”. However the billionaire said Vision
SoftBank, which is seeking to float SoftBank’s $100bn Vision Funds launched in 2017 and 2019. Fund 2, which has taken smaller stakes
the Cambridge-based chip maker Arm, in a larger number of companies, had
was also hit by an 820bn yen foreign The company’s $100bn (£83bn) ligence company SenseTime, the US valuations crashing amid the wider invested at frothy prices. “We were in a
exchange loss in the second quarter as Vision Funds, launched in 2017 and delivery service DoorDash and the global slump in tech stocks. kind of bubble on valuations,” he said.
the currency plunged to a 24-year low 2019, have made investments in tech South Korean e-commerce firm Cou- “The market and the world is in con-
against the US dollar last month. stars including the artificial intel- pang which have resulted in their fusion,” Son said. “If we had been a little

UK braces for even higher bills as Norway

threatens electricity export cut
the country’s government could put its average. about 5% of British homes. likely to hit Norwegian households this
Alex Lawson Energy corres- own consumers ahead of international The move is a blow to the UK, as Aasland said that electricity produc- winter, and that interruptions to sup-
pondent customers. well as countries such as Germany and tion in southern Norway was down 18% plies would most likely happen next
Residents of the country’s capital, the Netherlands, which rely on cheap on last year and production in south- April or May, primarily for businesses
British consumers could face even Oslo, have been asked to take short- Norwegian hydropower. A 450-mile west Norway last week was the lowest rather than consumers.
higher bills and potential energy short- er showers and turn off the tap when interconnector joins Blyth, Northum- seen this year so far. The move could prove a test of
ages this winter after Norway threat- brushing their teeth as its reservoirs berland, to Kvilldal power station. He said: “This results in historically European cross-border solidarity as
ened to ration electricity exports. have been depleted by the dry weath- The €1.6bn (£1.35bn) North Sea high electricity prices and a situation Russia’s invasion of Ukraine puts a
The UK receives hydroelectric er experienced across Europe. Link cable, which was switched on where, for the first time in many years, strain on energy supplies. Countries
power from Norway through a subsea The oil and energy minister, Terje last October, is able to channel up to we cannot completely rule out a period have scrambled to stock up on gas
interconnector cable running beneath Aasland, told the Norwegian parlia- 1.4gigawattsofelectricity between the of electricity rationing in the spring. But ahead of the winter amid fears Vladimir
the North Sea. ment on Monday that refilling dams two countries when demand is high in our professional authorities emphasise Putin’s regime may shut off the gas taps
However, water levels in southern will be prioritised over power produc- the UK and there is low domestic wind that the probability of this is low.”
Norway have been so low this year that tion when levels fall below the seasonal generation. This is enough to power Aasland said that rationing was un- Continued on page 28
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 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

28 Finance / The Guardian View

Continued from page 26 sure that they’re resilient from a power

and energy point of view has been done
to Europe. before we get to, say, November when
In the UK, the business secretary, the winter starts.”
Kwasi Kwarteng, has moved to shore up Drax’s coal-fired plant in West York-
energy supplies as concerns grow that shire and EDF’s West Burton A facility
Britain could face high prices or even in Nottinghamshire have been put on
blackouts if gas supplies are diverted standby to provide power as a contin-
elsewhere. gency this winter. Aurora said that if
Consultancy Aurora Energy Re- the system operator, the National Grid,
search said a Norwegian electricity called on their services “this would
export cut could push wholesale power cause power prices [in the UK] to rise,
prices even higher but was “unlikely” to due to the higher costs of generating
threaten security of supply. power using coal, compared to hydro-
Kit Malthouse, the chancellor of the power imported from Norway”.
duchy of Lancaster, said on Monday The typical annual gas and elec-
that the government was preparing tricity bill is already expected to reach
hospitals for potential fuel shortages. £3,615 in October, according to the
He told TalkTV: “We need to make sure consultancy Cornwall Insight. Analysts
that all those hospitals that need access fear this could top £4,000 early next
to power have their standby generators year.
properly serviced, they’ve got diesel More than half of Britons are cut-
tanks full with diesel that might be re- ting back on their gas and electricity
quired. The UK end of 730km North Sea Link between Kvilldal, Norway and Blyth, Northumberland, UK. Photograph: Joseph Gaul/Alamy usage at home due to the worsening
“The work they need to do to make cost of living crisis.

The Guardian view on the dog days of Boris

Johnson’s premiership: crises, which crises?
the coming economic crunch will be
Editorial felt by the poorest as a blow upon a
bruise after a decade of austerity.
The sweltering summer continues to It would be unfair to hold Mr John-
deliver ominous headlines, all pointing son, Mr Sunak or Ms Truss respon-
to the perfect storm that seems cer- sible for the nightmarish economic con-
tain to break in the autumn. A new juncture – one which has its roots in
study from York University predicts the aftermath of Covid and the war in
that, by January 2023, more than half Ukraine (though Brexit has also contri-
of UK households could be in fuel po- buted). But as latest projections sug-
verty, spending over 10% of net income gest annual household energy bills may
on energy costs. The health secretary, head towards £4,000 this winter – far
Stephen Barclay, admits that the NHS outstripping earlier estimates – the lack
may be unable to cope with a likely of urgency is unforgivable. The Na-
Covid wave, seasonal flu and the health tional Institute of Economic and Social
impact of the cost of living crisis. Char- Research has recommended that uni-
ities, which successive Conservative versal credit payments should rise by
governments have relied on to prop up £25 from October, when the energy
one of the meanest social safety nets in price cap will rise again, to cushion
Europe, are struggling to meet soaring the poorest against what is to come. As
demand for basics as their own finances Gordon Brown argued at the weekend,
are hit by the economic squeeze. to put such measures in place, action is
Against this sobering backdrop, required now. Instead, the country en-
the ongoing Tory leadership race has ‘Boris Johnson appears to have washed his hands of a country facing stagflation and looming recession.’ Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP dures the spectacle of two callow con-
become a darkly surreal distraction; a tenders for the highest office evading
private affair which, increasingly, in- sounded utterly out of kilter with the hardship that lies around the corner. recession. On the prime minister’s first the central issue of the day, while the
sults the intelligence of the country at times as she used an interview to On Monday, Mr Sunak correctly pointed day back from holiday, Downing Street prime minister chills out in the depar-
large. As they seek to peddle old-time reject the idea of additional “handouts”. out in the Sun that his rival’s pro- announced that there will be no emer- ture lounge.
religion to Conservative party mem- During a hustings debate, Mr Sunak ac- posed tax cuts would provide next to gency summer budget or new cost of Do you have an opinion on the issues
bers, both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak tually argued for a crackdown on wel- no help for the less well-off. But as living measures while he remains in raised in this article? If you would like to
have deployed vintage Thatcherite dog- fare benefits, blaming the unemployed they play to the gallery, crucial weeks office. Yet again this government, now submit a letter of up to 300 words to be
whistles rather than offer proper reas- for driving up inflationary pressures in are wasted in which vital planning and effectively leaderless, demonstrates its considered for publication, email it to us
surance to those in need of it. Con- the labour market. meaningful assistance could be put in disastrous talent for failing to grip and at [email protected]
fronted with the reality that the budg- Both these aspirants to be prime place. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson ap- get ahead of a crisis. And, just as the
ets of millions of families risk being minister know how inadequate such pears to have washed his hands of a pandemic exposed the damage done by
holed beneath the waterline, Ms Truss lazy rhetoric is, given the scale of the country facing stagflation and looming years of underinvestment in the NHS,

The Guardian view on ancient trees: natural

monuments need protecting
that would prevent the destruction of – in which five venerable oaks domi- ing, including a larger proportion of the risks from unchecked global heat-
Editorial about 157 ancient yew trees at least nate a shortlist of 12 – offers another native species, is needed if that is ing and fossil fuel production continue
2,000 years old. Since then, the chorus chance to focus minds. The wider prob- to change. The consensus among ex- to increase.
Efforts to increase the level of protec- of disapproval about current provision lem goes beyond the lack of protec- perts and charities such as the trust How old a tree needs to be to qual-
tion available to ancient – or simply old has grown steadily louder (if not ex- tion for individual trees, and includes is that government proposals recently ify as “ancient” depends on the species.
– trees in the UK have been building actly deafening: tree enthusiasts not issues relating to the conservation of sent out for consultation did not go far Along with yews, traditionally planted
for some time. In 2019, Janis Fry, an generally being the noisiest protesters). nature more broadly. While tree cover enough. Pressure must be applied to in churchyards, where many of the
artist and yew expert living in Wales, The launch of the Woodland Trust’s in the UK is increasing, woodland wild- ensure that existing protections are not
launched a petition calling for new laws Tree of the Year competition this week life is not, and more diverse plant- only maintained but strengthened as Continued on page 29
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

The Guardian View / Arts 29

Continued from page 28 ancient ones. One of the challenges in

the UK is making tree conservation a
oldest and most famous survivors can live domestic issue, when forest cam-
be found, oaks make up most of the paigning was for a long time asso-
UK’s outstanding examples. Although ciated with the tropics. Increasingly,
an estimated 1,000 years old, Lincoln- what used to be described as “Atlantic
shire’s Bowthorpe Oak is less than half woodland” is instead being called tem-
the age of the Fortingall Yew in Perth- perate rainforest – a name change that
shire, which is thought to be between seems likely to help.
2,000 and 3,000 years old. With just 16% of ancient woodland
Old age is only one measure of in England currently designated as a
a tree’s importance. But longevity is site of special scientific interest, and a
a characteristic that resonates with new study suggesting that there could
people – and can also entice them as be around 2m ancient or veteran trees,
visitors, making ancient trees attractive at least it is not hard to find room for
to tourist boards. The identity of the improvement. Italy recently passed a
most ancient tree of all is disputed. law granting 20,000 trees legal protec-
The bristlecone pine, which grows in tion as natural monuments. The UK
remote areas of the US west, was long should follow suit, by providing spe-
thought to have the longest lifespan, cific protections for the trees deemed
of close to 5,000 years, but recently re- most valuable due to their great age or
searchers have claimed that the Pata- other significance. Such recognition is
gonian cypress could surpass it. long overdue, and would form part of
Recent studies of forest ecology An estimated 1,000 years old: the Bowthorpe Oak in Lincolnshire. Photograph: Alamy the wider struggle to help the natural
have also looked at the role played world recover.
by underground networks of roots and fungi. Scientists now stress the ecolog- ical importance of what they call “large old trees” – a broader category than

Dame Olivia Newton-John obituary

with the song Let Me Be There. Aimed
Caroline Sullivan directly at country playlists, Newton-
John’s vocal twang belied her Aus-
The singer and actor Olivia Newton- tralian roots. It secured her that year’s
John, who has died aged 73 after suf- Grammy award for best female coun-
fering from cancer, had a ready riposte try vocal performance, and the string
for anyone who called her “Miss Goody of hits that followed, including her sig-
Two-Shoes from Australia”. Despite her nature song, I Honestly Love You, won
Olivia Newton-John representing Britain
Melbourne accent, she had been born her the female vocalist of the year at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. Photo-
in the UK, in Cambridge, and therefore trophy at the 1974 Country Music Asso- graph: Dezo Hoffmann/Rex
– as she informed a US television au- ciation awards.
dience in 1980 – she was technically Newton-John’s wholesomeness, ab- percentage of the proceeds in return for
“Miss Goody Two-Shoes from England”. etted by undeniably good tunes, made a bargain-basement $125,000 fee.
Either way, the quip was not far off her a natural on country radio, but Grease’s enormous success, and the
the truth. Through a career that in- some of Nashville’s biggest names were warm reviews for her own perfor-
cluded 100m album sales and a starring Olivia Newton-John as Sandy, the good-girl-gone-baddish, with John Travolta as Danny in incensed at the notion of an Australian mance, reinvigorated Newton-John’s
role in Grease (1978), one of the most the film musical Grease, 1978. Photograph: Cine Text/Allstar invading their territory, and formed an career. It paved the way for anoth-
successful musicals in film history, she association dedicated to keeping pop er departure – her role as a reincar-
was the entertainer least likely to court More likely, she was just eager to Olivia wanted to be a vet, but singers out of their genre. It did not nated Greek muse in the 1980 film
controversy. Though she had passio- please. A telling example involved her doubted her ability to pass the science stop Newton-John from winning sev- Xanadu. She received middling reviews
nate views on the environment and appearance in the 1974 Eurovision Song exams, and turned instead to her other eral other major country trophies. but every other aspect of the film was
cancer research, she rarely expressed Contest, in which she represented Brit- interest, performing. Regular spots Remarkably, she later claimed to panned, except for its disco-oriented
strong opinions on other subjects or en- ain. It was not until years later that she under the name Lovely Livvy followed have been unaware of the backlash. “I soundtrack. From it came two major
gaged with negative criticism. felt able to admit that she had hated not on Australian radio and television, and was travelling and touring, and I heard (and excellent) Newton-John singles,
During the early 1970s in particular, just the deplorably bouncy song – Long at 16 she won a TV talent show. The about it after, and heard that Dolly the title track and Magic. The song and
she was one of the few young stars who Live Love, which came fourth, the top prize was a trip to London, where she [Parton] and Loretta [Lynn] had backed album Physical followed later that year.
were more popular with parents than spot going to Abba with Waterloo – but arrived in 1964. Two years later, her me up, so I had great support.” The LP sold 10m copies, while the video
with their children. She was once de- the frothy dress she had worn. She had debut single, Till You Say You’ll be Mine, It was more difficult to win over the for the single, which had Newton-John
scribed by Rolling Stone magazine as “a wanted trousers, but when the public failed to reach the chart, and her next then-powerful (and overwhelmingly in then-novel aerobics gear, picked up a
sweet, innocent, 70s version of Doris were polled about it they voted for the venture, a singing duo formed with male) rock music press, which detested Grammy.
Day”. However, in the late 70s, after dress, and she was unwilling to disap- a fellow Australian, Pat Carroll, was her apparent lack of “authenticity”. It Physical proved to be her commer-
a decade of soft-pop hits, she orches- point. also unsuccessful. She was recruited for dished out particularly peevish cov- cial high-water mark, with none of her
trated one of the music industry’s most That kind of deference made her a Monkees-inspired pop group called erage for years, carping at what the subsequent projects coming close to its
unexpected makeovers. enormously popular with conservative Toomorrow, who got as far as releasing NME called “her limited stage choreo- success. Box-office gold was not rekin-
Her winsome denim wardrobe was audiences in the US, where she had her a flop 1970 “space musical” film and two graphy, her terrible linking, her over- dled when Newton-John and Travolta
replaced with black leather, and breezy greatest success, but it did not do much singles. scrubbed artificial look of perfection teamed up again for a poorly reviewed
album sleeves (often shot in meadows, for her credibility. For the rest of her life, Her fortunes changed in 1971, when and polish”. Others focused on her romcom, Two of a Kind (1983), and
playing up her girl-next-door freshness) during which she also campaigned for she met Cliff Richard, then hosting his looks. “What female singer would ya a chain of Australian-themed clothes
with dark-toned, come-hither shots. animal rights and founded the Olivia own TV variety show, and was invited like most to sit in yr lap?” asked the US shops that she founded the same year
The reinvention was mightily helped Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Re- to become a regular guest singer. Bruce rock magazine Creem. “Connie Francis? went bankrupt in 1992. That year, she
along by her performance as Sandy, the search Centre in Melbourne, she was Welch and John Farrar, members of (too old) Cher? (too bananas). Answer: was diagnosed with breast cancer.
good-girl-gone-baddish in Grease, and defined by her emollience. In Travolta’s Richard’s backing band the Shadows, Olivia!” After successful treatment, she re-
the pot was stirred further by the 1981 opinion: “Olivia is basically sweet and were taken by her girlishly beguiling Privately, she resented the criticism, leased several albums with a healing
hit Physical (“I want to get physical ... lovely.” voice and invited her to record demos but never responded. There was no theme. In 2017 Newton-John discov-
Let me hear your body talk,” it im- She was the youngest of three child- in their studio. She was essentially a need. The hits were still coming – some, ered the cancer had returned. Part of
plored). Meanwhile, her wanton screen ren born to Irene (nee Born) and Brin- pop singer, but Welch and Farrar felt such as If You Love Me (Let Me Know), her treatment took place at the Mel-
chemistry with her Grease co-star John ley Newton-John. The family moved that her ability to deliver songs with are staples on nostalgia stations to this bourne cancer research centre she had
Travolta was exploited to produce two from Britain to Australia in 1954 when sweet pathos could be used to good day. There were more awards, including helped to fund in 2008, and the Olivia
No 1 singles, Summer Nights and You’re Brinley, a teacher, accepted a post at the effect on country-oriented tracks. another three Grammys, and in 1979 Newton-John Foundation Fund sup-
the One That I Want. University of Melbourne. Bound by the They were right. One of the 1971 being made an OBE. But sales were ports research into plant-based treat-
Her career duly rocketed, with Phys- Official Secrets Act, he kept his children demos was a cover of Bob Dylan’s If Not tailing off by the time she was cast in ments for cancer. Her autobiography,
ical spending 10 weeks at the top of in the dark about his earlier career – it for You, suitably zazzed up with slide Grease as the virginal Sandy Olsson, Don’t Stop Believin’, was published in
the US chart, but Newton-John never was not until Olivia was an adult that guitar, and it became her first hit. Sev- whose purity satirised the 1970s’ nos- 2018, and two years later she was ap-
seemed entirely comfortable as a vamp. she discovered that during the second eral more singles and two albums fol- talgia for the 1950s. pointed a dame.
Continuing to foster the notion that she world war her father had been an MI5 lowed in the next two years; one track, She was initially hesitant to accept, Newton-John’s first marriage, in
was pop’s safe pair of hands, she com- officer assigned to the Enigma code- an inordinately uptempo version of the because she was 29 and would be play- 1984, to the actor Matt Lattanzi, ended
mented: “People don’t want to hear that breaking unit at Bletchley Park. Her murder ballad Banks of the Ohio, did ing a 17-year-old: “I was very conscious in divorce in 1995. Her partner from
you’re nice, but that’s what I am. In fact, maternal grandfather was the physicist well in the UK and Australia. of my limitations.” Even so, she nego-
I’m pretty boring.” Max Born, a Nobel laureate. Her real breakthrough came in 1973 tiated equal billing with Travolta and a Continued on page 30
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
30 Arts

Continued from page 29 trick McDermott, was lost at sea and terling, whom she married in 2008, and • Olivia Newton-John, singer and
presumed drowned in 2005. Newton- her daughter, Chloe, from her first mar- actor, born 26 September 1948; died 8
1996 onwards, the cameraman Pa- John’s second husband, John Eas- riage, survive her. August 2022

Tributes flow for Olivia Newton-John after

Australian star’s death
shared a photo of herself with Newton- her forever.” heartbreak today because the entire been my hero,” the actor and dancer
Adrian Horton John at the Royal Bicentennial Concert Her Grease co-star Stockard Chan- world felt Olivia’s unmatched light,” Julianne Hough posted on Instagram.
in 1988 on Twitter. “Since I was 10 years ning, who played Rizzo, said in a state- Goodrem wrote. “A force for good. “Discovering her magnetic energy as an
Hollywood, musicians and Australian old, I have loved and looked up to Olivia ment to THR: “I don’t know if I’ve A force of nature. Strong and kind. artist and actress came first but it was
leaders are mourning Olivia Newton- Newton John. And, I always will,” she known a lovelier human being. Olivia my mentor, my friend, my inspiration, her heart that truly captured mine. For-
John, who died on Monday at her wrote. “She was, and always will be, was the essence of summer — her sun- someone who always guided me… she ever an icon and legend!”
southern California ranch at the age an inspiration to me in so many, many niness, her warmth and her grace are was always there for me. Family to me. “I am SO saddened at the news of
of 73. The Grease star and chart-top- ways. My deepest condolences to her what always come to mind when I think I don’t have all the words I would like the passing of Olivia Newton-John,” the
ping singer, who publicly discussed her family and loved ones. x ONJ4EVER” of her. I will miss her enormously.” to say today but I hope everyone will actor Marlee Matlin tweeted. “I remem-
breast cancer since her first diagnosis Australian prime minister Anthony Australian singer John Farnham, join in celebrating our beloved Olivia, ber being so star struck when I met
in 1992, died surrounded by family Albanese called her “a star” and “a who performed Dare to Dream along- her heart, soul, talent, courage, grace… I her at my first Hollywood gathering for
and friends, according to a statement bright, joyful glow in our lives.” side Newton-John at the opening cere- love you forever.” Paramount. She was the sweetest and
posted to her Facebook page by her wi- “From the moment we saw her, she mony for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Singer Dionne Warwick tweeted: brightest light and I loved getting to
dower, John Easterling. was a warm, enduring presence and her said in a statement: “The Farnham “Another angelic voice has been added know her on “It’s My Party.” RIP dear,
Shortly after her family’s announce- voice became a big part of the Aus- family send love and sympathies to to the Heavenly Choir. Not only was sweet Olivia.
ment, tributes began pouring in from tralian soundtrack. Above all she was a Olivia’s family. Behind that iconic smile Olivia a dear friend, but one of the “The history of soft rock aka ‘yacht
former costars to longtime celebrity wonderful, generous person,” he wrote was a tenacious fighter. A beautiful nicest people I had the pleasure of rock’ has been told mostly by men and
admirers of the soft-rock icon – on Twitter. “I had the privilege of meet- voice and a loyal friend. She will be recording and performing with. I will that’s why its queens have mostly been
Newton-John sold over 100m records ing Olivia in 2019. The work she did greatly missed.” most definitely miss her. She now Rests marginalized. Olivia Newton-John was
and charted nearly 40 songs on the Bill- though her cancer research centre was The actor George Takei posted on in the Arms of the Heavenly Father.” one of the biggest. RIP to a master of
board Hot 100 during her nearly five important and inspirational. Her legacy Twitter: “We have lost a great, iconic “‘Grease’ is my #1 movie of all delicacy,” wrote NPR and music critic
decades in music. will live on, in her music, her films and artist in Olivia Newton-John, gone too time and made me a lifelong Olivia Ann K Powers.
Her Grease costar John Travolta her determination that one day we will soon from us at age 73. I trust she is Newton-John fan,” tweeted actor Ga- “Very sad news. Great admiration
posted to Instagram: “My dearest Olivia, find a cure for cancer. We will miss her now in the great Xanadu beyond. Know brielle Union. “Me and my sister watch- for how she bravely faced breast
you made all of our lives so much so very much.” that we are forever hopelessly devoted ed Xanadu more times than I could cancer,” tweeted Good Morning Amer-
better. Your impact was incredible. I Grease director Randal Kleiser told to you, Olivia. Rest in song and mirth.” count. Sending so much love and pray- ica anchor Robin Roberts, who has also
love you so much. We will see you The Hollywood Reporter: “I’m heartbro- Australian singer and former Neigh- ers to a real gift of a woman and talent.” survived breast cancer. “Condolences to
down the road and we will all be to- ken. She was one of a kind, and so bours star Delta Goodrem, who was Director James Gunn said Newton- her loving family and friends.”
gether again. Yours from the moment I very kind. For over four decades of our diagnosed with cancer when she was John was his “first real crush” and re- “Her memory is already a blessing,”
saw you and forever! Your Danny, your friendship she exuded nothing but love 18, paid tribute to her mentor on Insta- vealed he once lived in her former tweeted Nigella Lawson, the celebrity
John!” to everyone she met. Olivia was exactly gram. home in Malibu. chef.
Australian singer Kylie Minogue the way you imagined her. I will miss “The whole world will feel this “Like so many, Olivia has always

Lars von Trier diagnosed with Parkinson’s

disease
xiety attack, it’s the only thing that will
Catherine Shoard help.”
Von Trier, who is now 66, was then
Lars von Trier, the acclaimed and speaking following the Cannes pre-
controversial Danish director, has been miere of his most recent feature film,
diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his serial killer movie The House That Jack
production company has announced. Built.
In a statement released on Monday, That screening marked his return
Lars von Trier and Kirsten Dunst at the
Zentropa – which von Trier co-founded to the festival following seven years Melancholia press conference. Photograph:
in 1992 with producer Peter Aalbæk during which the festival declared him Yves Herman/Reuters
Jensen – said the director is in “good “persona non grata” after he jokingly
spirits and is being treated for his symp- said he could sympathise with Hitler polarising directors working today.
toms” while he completes the upcom- during a press conference for 2011’s His Dogme 95 manifesto, drawn up
ing final season of his TV trilogy series. Melancholia. with likes of Thomas Vinterberg,
The Kingdom Exodus premieres at Other than 2013’s Nymphomaniac, revolutionised arthouse cinema with
the Venice film festival in August and Lars von Trier in Cannes for the House That Jack Built premiere in 2018. Photograph: all von Trier’s films have debuted on its uncompromising commitment to
von Trier will take part in limited press Valéry Hache/AFP/Getty Images the Croisette, starting in 1991 with his authenticity.
events to accompany its release on debut, Europa, and continuing with The black humour which under-
Mubi later this year, the statement con- his shaking hands to antidepressants month period where I didn’t drink, and Breaking the Waves (1995), Dancer in pins much of his work, as well as
firmed. and alcohol withdrawal. I’ll get back to that again soon. But I the Dark (2000), Dogville (2003) and his confrontational approach to gender
In an interview with the Guardian’s “I’m working on my alcoholism, have this alcohol ‘tool’ that I use when Antichrist (2009). relations, has won him both devoted
Xan Brooks in 2018, von Trier ascribed which is good,” he said. I had an eight- I have to. And, if I have a really big an- Von Trier remains one of the most fans and passionate detractors.
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Arts 31

Reel lives: how I tracked down the class of

NME’s C86 album
flush of floppy-fringed youth. But most
Nige Tassell had now made peace with those times.
They showed a middle-aged, mellowing
It was in the last box I looked in. pride at how far they had journeyed
I reached in and there was the trea- along the road to whatever promised
sure I sought: a cassette tape, battered land they were aiming at, be it a big
and scratched, but its gold cover none- record deal, appearing on Top of the
theless shining through the murk of Pops or even just securing another ses-
Striking a chord … the Soup Dragons.
the attic. The cassette – called C86 – sion for John Peel. As the former Wed- Photograph: Ebet Roberts/Redferns
was one of three dozen compiled by ding Present guitarist Peter Solowka,
NME during the 1980s, sold to eager sacked from the band in 1991 but hold- in Harrogate run by Steve Elvidge, the
readers in exchange for a £2.95 postal ing no grudge, told me: “It’s not what ex-singer of Age of Chance. The plans
order to cover post and packing. It was might have been. It’s what was.” for a bike ride with Nigel Blackwell, Half
money well spent. Several of the bands A few interviewees’ reminiscences Man Half Biscuit’s resident sage, were
included on C86 would subsequently were initially hazy, requiring some scuppered when a monsoon-like down-
gallop forward in their careers – the Almost famous … Primal Scream. Photograph: Stephen Parker/Alamy encouragement to bring them into pour fell on Birkenhead. We stayed in-
likes of Primal Scream, the Soup Dra- focus. Other were instantly pin-sharp in doors instead.
gons, the Wedding Present and Half life. Some became pop stars: Primal Relief, too. their memories as they recalled precise Others were found farther afield.
Man Half Biscuit. Scream’s Screamadelica won the first Where possible, I aimed to inter- details from back in the day. The names The Mighty Lemon Drops’ guitarist
But, by including tracks by short- ever Mercury prize in 1992, the Soup view each person in the context of of long-lost venues and recording stu- Dave Newton was hunted down to Cali-
er-lived lesser lights such as Miaow, Dragons played to 20,000 people at their life now, ideally before the back- dios. Verbatim quotes from a precious fornia where he’s a record producer for
the Servants and the Mackenzies, it Madison Square Garden and the Wed- drop of some aspect of their everyday live review. The amount of Enterprise hire, operating out of the studio in his
became a reliable barometer reading of ding Present scored 18 Top 40 hits. But existence. So Keegan was lightly grilled Allowance cash they received each double garage. He even once formed a
the bands in NME’s orbit in the spring most of the other 19 bands could only over the counter of that shop in Kin- week that allowed them to keep dream- covers band – the C86 All Stars – to play
of 1986. These groups laid the foun- watch on in envy at these successes as gussie as he advised customers about ing their musical dreams. the indie hits of the mid-to-late 80s.
dations for later outfits such as the they headed back to Civvy Street. obscure bike parts, while former A Wit- Travelling from Hove to the High- Dave was clearly still happy to be asso-
Stone Roses, Oasis and Arctic Monkeys In the age of social media, there was ness singer Keith Curtis, now tour man- lands, from Whitstable to Wirral, the ciated with C86. For many of the bands,
who took indie “overground”, swapping a danger that these musicians would ager for PiL, was interviewed during the quest became – as the book’s subtitle the cassette provided their careers with
upstairs rooms in pubs for headline be too easy to find – a message sent din of a soundcheck in Manchester. In suggests – something of an odyssey. An a springboard, often involving signing
slots at the biggest festivals. in 10 seconds flat, an answer received Lancaster, I spoke to the Bogshed bass- overblown description? Possibly. But I for a major label. For others, it was
Although conceived to be simply within the hour. But, thankfully, a fair ist who became a caricaturist at wed- did at least have an encounter with a a millstone that was hard to shed, a
the latest of NME’s cassettes, C86’s proportion of the class of C86 had gone dings, while down in Croydon I found cyclops – namely Fred, the one-eyed pigeonhole impossible to escape.
immediate impact was to accidentally to ground, requiring an old-fashioned the ex-member of the Shrubs who later pooch belonging to ex-Soup Dragon “There was an upside as well as a
give birth to a subgenre of indie music means of detection: trawling through trained as an actor and found gain- Sean Dickson, which we took for a walk downside,” concludes Stephen McRob-
– imaginatively titled C86. Quickly re- phone directories. This was my main ful employment as Jeremy Irons’s body in the local cemetery. bie, of the Pastels. “There’s no doubt
duced to a sneering, single-line stereo- tactic for tracking down the four elu- double. There were, though, no sirens trying that it helped us to reach a larger au-
type that described such bands as sive members of Glossop’s most famous I was happy to go the extra mile, to lure me to my death through song. dience. We probably benefited. But it
either jangly, fey or shambling (or a musical sons, the Bodines. Similarly, often at unsociable hours. I spoke to The nearest I came was when sitting became more of a signifier than any of
combination of all three), any scene the lead “He runs a bike shop in the the Wolfhounds’ frontman David Cal- in on the first rehearsal since pre-pan- us imagined … ”
that may or may not have existed was Highlands” was the dangling carrot that lahan, now a noted ornithologist, when demic times of the Birmingham five- Whatever Happened to the C86
quickly dismissed. Some bands ma- led me to pinpoint the whereabouts of we went birdwatching on Rainham piece Mighty Mighty, reconvened to Kids? An Indie Odyssey is published by
naged to sidestep the C86 tag and carry Shop Assistants guitarist David Keegan. Marshes at the crack of dawn. At other play to an audience of just me. But five Nine Eight Books on 18 August. To sup-
on their way; these were the less jangly, One by one they agreed to be times, for other people, a cuppa in follicly challenged men on, or just over, port the Guardian and Observer, order
more discordant outfits such as Stump, interviewed. Invariably, they would ask a sitting room or a pint in a saloon the brink of turning 60 do not seductive your copy at guardianbookshop.com.
Bogshed and Big Flame. Others that who else had confirmed. If, say, mem- bar sufficed. The book has a tremend- sirens make. Still, they sounded just as Delivery charges may apply.
fitted the stereotype would forever feel bers of the Pastels or Age of Chance ously varied cast, with those still able sprightly and glorious as they had sev-
confined by its straitjacket. or the Mighty Lemon Drops were on to make their living through music eral decades earlier, even if they now
The cassette’s rediscovery in the board, that was enough for them. Some joining teachers, shopkeepers, scien- needed to take fistfuls of painkillers There were many
attic set in motion the idea of a would tender old phone numbers of tists, novelists, social workers, security afterwards to ward off the effects of a tales of wrong turns –
book: to hunt down members of all their former bandmates, keen for each guards, academics, radio producers and four-hour rehearsal.
of its 22 bands more than 35 years of these missing persons cases to be more in my time machine. I zigzagged my way up and down
but most had made
on. I was fascinated to find out what solved. In the end, no band wanted to Whatever the vocation, I heard sto- the country, supping decaf hot beve- peace with those
be left out, for their story not to be told. ries told with warmth, candour and,
cards life had dealt them. As sev- rages in the West Midlands with the times
eral months of subsequent detective When I secured an interview with the fairly frequently, regret. There were still-lively pop-punks We’ve Got a Fuzz-
work would uncover, its alumni had drummer from the 22nd and last band many tales of “could haves” and “should box and We’re Gonna Use It, and perus-
taken many and varied paths through to respond, I punched the air in delight. haves”, of wrong turns taken in the ing the wares of the vintage/retro shop

The top brass: Ahead of two dedicated

Proms, can brass bands finally move beyond
the clichés?
First, the band teams up with BBC bit twee, that brass bands are just the is a difficult one to reckon with for it becoming shackled by history, partic-
Hugh Morris National Orchestra of Wales and Ryan Hovisadvert. I also think some assume those questioning what “banding” (a ularly as the traditional links to voca-
Bancroft for Gavin Higgins’ massive that, because it’s amateur, essentially, popular collective term that suggests tion have dissolved.
It’s quite a feat for a British ensemble Concerto Grosso for Brass Band and Or- that means it’s not going to be as good.” a holistic process similar to Christopher “Brass bands are no longer a pre-
older than the Proms to be making its chestra, then there’s a late-night Prom This couldn’t be further from the Small’s “musicking”) means among Brit- serve of the working class,” Higgins
debut at this year’s festival, but such is of their own the following evening. truth. This is music of tremendous ain’s network of music makers today. says. (That banding has been a tradi-
the case of Tredegar Town Band. For- You have to go back to 1989 and dexterity and huge power with the The UK’s brass band movement is inex- tionally working-class activity is per-
mally constituted in 1876, and with a Charles Groves with the National Youth potential to overwhelm when heard tricably linked with a well-established haps chief among the reasons for the
performing CV stretching from Ram- Brass Band for the last time the BBC live, something Higgins’ multi-ensem- cluster of symbols. From its roots in form’s historic neglect by Proms pro-
bert Ballet to Matthew Warchus’s Baf- Proms dedicated an entire concert to ble composition – the first Proms heavy industry, to today’s collection of grammers.) Like many of the com-
ta-winning film Pride, there’s a sense of brass band music. Why the wait? “I commission of its kind – augments with uniforms, crests, mottoes and banners, posers now writing regularly for bands,
making up for lost time with not one, wonder if it’s an image problem,” Hig- added orchestral oomph. and regular appearances on bandstands
but two Tredegar Proms this week . gins says, “and people still think it’s a But brass bands’ enduring image and at union rallies, there’s a danger of Continued on page 32
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
32 Arts

Continued from page 31 There are other areas in which the

banding movement is struggling, too.
Higgins’ family were all involved in the Away from the big-hitters such as Tre-
local band; banding “just happened” to degar and the Cory Band (the south
him, first picking up the cornet fol- Wales outfit who have dominated the
lowed by the tenor horn. “A lot of work- brass banding world rankings for the
ing-class people are still doing it, but past decade), just five bands competed
Tredegar have lawyers in the band, doc- in the usually bustling Fourth Section,
tors, people who work for the NHS, all well under half the number in the same
sorts.” contest 10 years ago. “It’s the usual
But musically speaking at least, the reasons,” Fox says. “Cuts in education,
traditional image of brass bands is at Covid-19, and the decline of peripatetic
odds with the decidedly untraditional music services. The end result was ‘People still think that brass bands are
Kicking brass … Tredegar Town Band. Photograph: Goldy Solution
feats of previous Proms performances. that the foundations [of the banding just the Hovisadvert.’ Gavin Higgins
When they have appeared on Proms you want.” William Tell Overture harking back to structure] was the hardest hit.” There’s
programmes, bands have been adven- The Albert Hall is itself no stranger Grimethorpe’s winning performance of hope of a turnaround in this traditional and Orchestra is at the Proms on 8
turous advocates for new music, with to brass bands. Since the end of the Philip Wilby’s The New Jerusalem in brass band stronghold though, with the August; Late-Night Brass – the Tregedar
scores by Harrison Birtwistle – him- second world war, it’s been the venue 1992, just weeks after the village’s pit Welsh government’s new music ser- Band Prom is on Tuesday 9 August at
self from a military band background for the finals of the National Brass Band was announced as one earmarked for vice offering children the opportunity 10.15pm
– Hans Werner Henze and George Championships, which sees 20 quali- closure. to learn musical instruments from Sep-
Benjamin featuring alongside more fying bands travel to Kensington every Yet the blue riband event in the tember. “Hopefully the low point has
conventional fare. Holst’s A Moorside October to perform their own rendition contesting calendar is struggling, says been reached,” Fox says.
Suite, Elgar’s Severn Suite and Percy of a “test piece” – a taxing composition Iwan Fox, editor of brass band maga- Higgins’ piece acknowledges band- Band musicians
Grainger’s Seventeen Come Sunday sof- designed to reveal the flaws in every zine 4barsrest, and president of Tre- ing’s roots with movement titles such never complain
tened the blow of Birtwistle’s caustic band’s technique. Imagine 20 orches- degar Band. “There used to be a time as Coal and Class (if there’s one thing
Grimethorpe Aria in first half of a his- tras lining up to deliver the best version when you could only get a ticket for brass bands love, it’s an extra-musical
about what you put in
toric 1974 Prom shared with the BBC of a Strauss tone poem, and you get a that event through one of the ticket narrative). But is that wise, for a move- front of them. No one
Concert Orchestra and the BBC Singers. flavour of the scrutiny on show. touts outside.” The last championships ment keen to dispel stereotypes? “I
ever says, ‘This is
“Band musicians never moan or com- Brass band contesting is certainly sold well under half its allocated tick- don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I
plain about what you put in front of idiosyncratic – an adjudicator sits ets, a Covid-induced shortfall masking think you can’t really get away from really difficult.’ It’s the
them,” Higgins says. “No one ever says, behind a curtain to ensure impartiality, a gradual decline in interest. Formerly it,” Higgins says. “It’s music that came opposite.
‘This is really difficult.’ It’s the opposite. as the same piece of music is performed the nirvana for all standards of bands, out of pits, mines and industrial build-
They either say, ‘Can you make it a bit back-to-back. The moment of victory is now only the elite level competes at the ings. Brass band music is genuinely like
more challenging for us?’ Or they go immortalised in the finale of the film Albert Hall, with the remaining four lea- a folk music for this country.” Gavin Higgins
‘Well, we need to just go and practise it’. Brassed Off, with the fictional Grim- gues instead performing at Cheltenham • The world premiere of Gavin Hig-
It feels like you can just write whatever ley Colliery Band’s performance of the Racecourse. gins’ Concerto Grosso for Brass Band

‘The time is right’: reggae colossus Burning

Spear on racism, rebellion and returning to
Britain
know who is a friend – that was what
Lloyd Bradley going to Studio One was like. I knew if
I don’t say something that makes sense
It’s been two decades since Burning they would have kicked my arse out
Spear set foot on a UK stage and almost and I wouldn’t be here now. I stand up
as long since he took on anything that strong, and when I sing my first song to
could qualify as a tour: a remarkable Mr Dodd of course he like the sound of
state of affairs for the man who has it and he was like: ‘Damn! We’ll have to
‘People knows what to expect from me’
been Jamaica’s most exhilarating per- keep this one!’” … Burning Spear performing in Atlanta in
former for half a century. Sympathetic as Dodd was to Ras- 1981. Photograph: Tom Hill/Getty Images
With an agenda that was equal tafari as a faith, he didn’t get it as a
parts celebration, Black history lesson music. He recorded the Abyssinians’ ical development with a conceit that as-
and pulpit preaching – immersed in Satta Massagana then refused to re- sumed anyone else had straw in their
horn-drenched music that was at once lease it because he thought it too ears. Upon returning to life away from
modern and ancient – Burning Spear confrontational to have much appeal. music, Spear fell in with local sound
entranced and energised audiences Likewise, with Spear: Dodd cut two system owner and nascent record pro-
across the world. Subdued lighting, albums with him at the start of the ducer Lawrence Lindo, AKA Jack Ruby,
smoke (much of which came from the 1970s but the recording was too re- who talked him into recording again. It
‘I will just be who I is – I can’t be less or more’ … Burning Spear. Photograph: Burning Music
crowd) and live dub versioning built strained to capture the essence of was a revelation.
the atmosphere around roots reggae’s 77, speaking on the phone from his New that took him in and out of Jamaica’s Spear’s dread delivery. The producer’s lethargic time signa-
greatest voice as he offered hope for the York home. “Look at the last two years legendary Studio One record company This wasn’t the owner’s only failing, tures, arrangements that left big spaces,
future while addressing the injustices – nobody going no place, nobody doing at the start of his career in the late Spear recalls. “I could hang out with and unique Addis Ababa-slanted horn
of the past. things together, nobody even shaking 1960s. some of the best musicians and studio phasing, gave Spear the ideal plat-
Throughout Spear’s career his hands! If somebody stand next to you A tiler by trade, Rodney arrived in engineers and watch them work, so I form to properly explore his compelling
music has been motivated by his in a line and that man sneeze, eve- Kingston from St Ann parish on Ja- learn a lot. Then I realised that you’re vocal range. Most importantly he had
devout Rastafari faith, looking towards rybody look at him with a bad eye! Now, maica’s rural north coast in his early not getting paid. People write Mr Dodd hijacked Kingston’s edgier take on roots
African culture as the roots of Black as things start to come around again, 20s, armed with an acoustic guitar and was a good man. No! Mr Dodd would be music and shifted it to the hills. This
consciousness, and sowing cerebral sal- the time is right to be playing my music some self-penned hymns to Rastafari. taking credit for all of we songs. When it had the pace and tinge of melancholy
vation throughout the diaspora: roots live in a way that will bring people to- Although the faith had been present on come to fixing up on the music, he can that evoked the weariness brought on
reggae was a vital, joyous contem- gether. the island since the 1930s, it was still grow the music, he was good at that, by life in rural Jamaica, where hard
porary expression of what was forcibly “It’s not like I retired, but it’s best widely despised in the broadly Chris- but getting some money? No, that’s not work from sun up to sun down – “from
stolen 400 years ago. Burning Spear and sometime to hold back. These shows tian, British-ruled country – particularly Mr Dodd; he wasn’t an honest man.” nah see to nah see” – was the norm, and
his fellow Rastas celebrated the Black are going to be amazing because people in the embryonic music business. Cox- After several years, Burning Spear carrying things along seemingly end-
separatist activist Marcus Garvey and haven’t seen me for a while and that sone Dodd of Studio One (“the best returned to St Ann, understandably less dusty roads was what people did.
railed against the evils of slavery and means we’re going to have a stronger musicians, singers, engineers were in disillusioned – he had failed at the On top of that, Spear’s lyrics had
colonialism, warning that a slavery of force of energy in the place.” there,” Spear says) was the only pro- island’s number-one hit factory, and the spirit of rural resistance: these folk
the mind can be more dangerous than Doing what he believes to be the ducer in town that encouraged Rastas. his brand of roots music hadn’t found might be worked to exhaustion, but
physical subjugation. His goal has been right thing, as opposed to the most Spear has mixed memories of his a place on the all-important Kingston they would never be put down. This
to uplift. lucrative, has been a Burning Spear time there. “Remember your first day sound systems. Back then reggae was essence dates back to Queen Nanny of
“The time was right,” he says of his characteristic since he was still known going to school? You’re shy, you don’t an almost exclusively urban affair, the
return to the UK this week at the age of as Winston Rodney. It’s a motivation know how to communicate, you don’t industry in the capital dictating mus- Continued on page 33
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Arts 33

Continued from page 32 Four mid-1970s albums – Marcus providing information, rather than tar- path – atmospheric, politicised roots lyrics coming to me. I have to prepare
Garvey, Man in the Hills, Dry & Heavy geting individuals or situations. Even music of the highest calibre, best expe- myself to store them, then when I need
the Maroons, whose guerrilla army of and Social Living – cemented Spear through Jamaica’s sustained political rienced in a live environment. After 50- them in the studio I can take what-
rebel slaves held off British redcoats on alongside Bob Marley as the most violence of the 1970s, he believed that odd years in the business, he knows soever I need and put it where it belong.
the island’s mountainous interior in the significant voice in reggae at the time. people should and could govern them- what works in a concert. “People knows I’m filled with lyrics and melody ideas.
18th century until they were granted The songs weren’t so much an incite- selves if given the knowledge and self- what to expect, which is me, Burning That’s me, that’s what I is – music.”
their own settlement. ment to fight Babylon, but rather an awareness to do so; for Burning Spear, Spear, and they are ready to accept it. • Burning Spear plays the Bir-
Since the majority of Jamaica’s explanation of why it was such a good “the oppressor” is a nebulous force They know. I will just be who I is – I can’t mingham Forum on 13 August and
population were rural and a signif- idea; and although anger and indig- rather than a particular regime, and as be less or more.” O2 Academy Brixton, London, on 14
icant proportion of Kingstonians were nation had their place, they set out likely to come from within a person as But he hasn’t given up on recording, August.
recent transplants, hearing themselves the motivation for Black pride and self- from the outside. actually enjoying lockdown as a chance
in this music gave Burning Spear celebration. In recent years, the issue that has to “gather” ideas to take to the studio
the success that had evaded him at “When I put my lyrics together I most stirred Burning Spear is to see later this year. Judging by his 2021 single If somebody stand
Studio One. “Jamaican people always know I have to tell a story, with a begin- Garvey, who so powerfully influenced Mommy, which brought all the vintage next to you in a line
expected from their music that some ning, a middle and an end that people the Rastafari faith, recognised as the Spear resonance and musical depth
consciousness and culture get mixed in can follow and it will educate them,” he Black Jamaican hero he was. “The time to bear but with modernised instru-
now, and that man
– not all of it, but there must be some,” says. “If it’s about Christopher Colum- is right for Marcus Garvey to have a mentation and sounds, this new music sneeze, everybody
he says. “Music that carry a lot of strong bus or the end of war or living good, the public holiday in his honour and be stu- will not disappoint.
look at him with a
vibes is a force to uplift the thoughts music needs to carry some form of edu- died in school. The time is right for the “You can’t just come up with a
and minds of the people, so you would cation within it – if people know these people of Jamaica to come together and melody, or you can’t just create lyrics bad eye
have more consciousness, less violence stories, they can think properly.” make sure that take place.” – you have to let them come to you,”
and people wouldn’t be so ignorant and Songs such as Civilised Reggae and These albums pretty much estab- he says. “When everything closed, I
so stupid towards each other.” Slavery Days are Spear giving advice or lished Burning Spear’s future career could relax and enjoy the melodies and

Post your questions for Slipknot’s Corey

Taylor
can happen when social media meets
Michael Cragg media itself.”
So there’s lots to talk to Taylor
Over the course of their two-decade about, and that’s without mentioning
career, Iowa heavy metallers Slipknot the fact he’s also a New York Times
have stayed so laser-focused on their bestselling author, sticks to a plant-
modus operandi – channeling messy based diet – what, no huffing dead
anger into face-melting rock songs crows anymore? – and once lent his
while dressed in jumpsuits and pun- vocal stylings to the Slipknot-esque
gent-looking Halloween masks – that baddie Fisher King in a 2015 episode of
they’ve become essentially impervious Doctor Who. Perhaps you’d like to know
to music’s changing tides. Their last where the band buy their jumpsuits, or
three albums all topped the US Bill- what on earth the inside of those masks
board charts, while the accompanying smells like? How does one keep one’s
tour for next month’s seventh album, skin looking fresh on tour? Or a ques-
The End, So Far, finds the octet play- tion perhaps on why the other band
ing arenas everywhere from the Czech members used to set Taylor’s legs on
Republic to Brazil. fire every night? Or perhaps you have a
Mainstream success hasn’t quelled more music-minded question, such as
their ability to cause controversy, how- why there was no swearing on 2004’s
ever. The End, So Far – rumoured to Vol 3: (The Subliminal Verses) album?
be their final album on long-term label Post your questions for Taylor in
Roadrunner – was heralded late last the comments by 10am on 12 August.
year by frenetic single The Chapeltown Don’t be scared to ask … Corey Taylor performing with Slipknot in New York in May. Photograph: Adela Loconte/REX/Shutterstock
Rag. Written by frontman Corey Taylor
– or #8, to give him his original Slip- killer Peter Sutcliffe, its title taken from dered a 16-year-old girl. Taylor, who sans mask, said the song was: “talking
knot ident – the song references serial an area in Leeds where Sutcliffe mur- also fronts hard rock band Stone Sour about the various manipulations that

‘It’s the songs that count’: Erasure’s Andy Bell

on being out in the 80s, living with HIV and
falling from fashion
And what songs they are. Bell and their biggest hits – among them Some- (Based on a True Story), is not a return off the top of my head, and backing
Emine Saner Vince Clarke wrote brilliant, enduring times, Stop! and Blue Savannah – stand to those poppy hits but an experi- vocal sections,” he says. “I was like, I
pop songs – so catchy, I realise, that up. mental album, akin to 1995’s Erasure, wonder how Enya does it.” He laughs. “A
In the late 80s and early 90s, when I’ve had A Little Respect going round “When I think about songs like which all but blew up their mainstream few of the songs have poems on them
the electropop band Erasure were, says in my head for most of my life, ever Chorus, and Ship of Fools and Breathe, appeal. It’s a layered, and often gor- and I think [Clarke] thought maybe
Andy Bell, “kind of the darlings for since the fateful afternoon I taped it we do have standout songs,” says Bell. geous, selection of digital tracks, largely they were a bit rough, because I didn’t
a while”, they reached what he calls off the Radio 1 chart show sometime in He seems to agree when I imply they made up of manipulated songs from really know what they were about.”
“saturation TV”. Bell, Erasure’s vocalist, late 1988. Despite Clarke’s history as the have been dismissed as being a bit their previous album, The Neon (which Bell is at home in Miami (he splits
means they were big and mainstream synth-pop pioneer who had already had frothy and lightweight (even if their gave them their first Top 10 album since his time between there and London,
enough to get on daytime television. hits with Depeche Mode and Yazoo, at songs have tackled everything from a the 90s), and created as a sort of com- with his husband, Stephen, though
And then, says Bell, “that all changes, some point in the 90s, Erasure became post-industrial Britain, to lost love af- panion piece. Clarke put it together at they are about to move to Atlanta for
the media changes, and they don’t want rather uncool and never really recov- fairs and homophobia), but he doesn’t the studio at his house in Brooklyn a while, he says) when we speak over
you any more. It makes you realise your ered. Blame the daytime TV appear- seem bitter about it. “I just think, wow, during the lockdowns, and Bell wrote Zoom. He is warm and funny, wearing
life isn’t measured by how many people ances perhaps, combined with a burge- that’s a hell of a lot of work we’ve done. and recorded the vocals later. Clarke a vest top that shows tattoos over both
know you and stuff like that. In the end, oning laddish Britpop era that couldn’t And I think it’s great.” told him he could do anything he liked.
it’s the songs that count.” handle Bell’s sequins and camp. But The new Erasure album, Day-Glo “And I did. I only wanted to do poems, Continued on page 34
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
34 Arts

Continued from page 33 cause I wasn’t a secret, they couldn’t

come near me.”
arms, his face still boyish, even if the Erasure’s first big hit was Some-
concessions to age include spectacles times, from their second album, The
and some greying stubble. “I love per- Circus, which went to No 6 in 1987.
forming live, I love my voice,” he says, Bell remembers one of the women
of where his career is now. “I think we who worked in the accounts depart-
have been really lucky. I’m just glad that ment telling him he had to see the che-
I met Vince and stayed with him.” ques she had for him. “She said: ‘We’re
Bell answered an advert in the talking telephone numbers.’” He laughs.
music paper Melody Maker in 1985, and “You feel like you’ve done the work, but
turned up to find it was an audition it’s lovely work, so you go through a
for Clarke. He was already a massive period of thinking that you don’t de- Erasure … Bell with Vince Clarke. Photo-
graph: Graham Tucker/Redferns
fan, and had thought about writing to serve it for a while. But then afterwards
Clarke to ask if he was looking for a you think, well, all you can do is buy
new singer. When he got the job and your parents a house, go on nice holi- When he revealed his HIV status
Erasure was formed, for around the first days.” in 2004, there was still a lot of stigma.
six months, says Bell, “I was very shy Andy Bell: ‘I was one of those people who never got chatted up.’ Photograph: Josh Ritchie/ How did he cope with fame? He In interviews around the time, he said
within the studio. I couldn’t even speak The Guardian was shy, something he says “that stays he had deliberately sought infection,
to him. I could not believe I was there.” with you your whole life. I suppose I implying that he wanted to be part of
You can hear it on their first album, ter in a sex shop. “The only porno good about. I think it made it harder wanted people to know who I was, so an HIV-positive community. “That’s not
Wonderland, he says. shop in Peterborough, which I thought for us in lots of ways, especially getting they came up to me, so you’re forced right,” he says now. He had said it “in
Clarke had already been successful; was really great,” says Bell. “Though we deals in America, being on the radio to say hello.” Did he have men coming anger, first for it happening to Paul. I
did Bell feel pressure to match that never saw any of the accoutrements.” there. But it felt correct.” Did anyone on to him? Not as much as you would didn’t go out on purpose to get it, not
with him? “No,” he says. “I just felt like So his mother, particularly, was liberal suggest he should hide his sexuality? think, he says with a laugh. “I was one at all. I just said that, I was trying to be
I had tremendous blind faith in myself, and he says it didn’t bother her one bit Not exactly, he says, but “I don’t think of those people [who] never got chatted shocking. It was stupid.”
but I also thought, maybe I’m not good when he came out to her in a letter people were happy. But I think at that up. I didn’t think I was good looking, He started looking after him-
enough to fill this position. Then after when he was 17. time, because you had Bronski Beat and I was quite a wallflower going into self, underwent two hip replacements,
a while, you just pull yourself up.” How He says there wasn’t “really too [the singer Jimmy Somerville was out], bars and places like that. I think maybe joined Narcotics Anonymous, and got
did he get over that? “I think probably much bullying”, and his growing aware- and Tom Robinson before then, and people didn’t think it was me.” into reiki. “I’m not a saint or anything;
with our first co-writing.” Sometimes, ness of his sexuality wasn’t some- Sylvester and Divine, I think people At the time, he had started a rela- your life doesn’t change overnight,” he
which became a huge hit, was one of thing he desperately tried to hide; he were starting to look at it as less risk- tionship with Paul Hickey, the band’s says. “But I just felt so grateful to be
the first songs they wrote together “and knocked on the door of one school- taking and more of backing an out- manager – a close bond that would last alive still. The network is amazing, for
I think just that opened the floodgates friend to tell him he was in love with sider.” for more than 25 years, until Hickey’s HIV-positive people, and the stigma be-
to me”. They have been an egalitarian him. There were rumours of a gay bar As a public figure, did it make death in 2012 (something Bell describes comes much less. I think eventually,
duo ever since. in a room in the back of a hotel, which him feel vulnerable? “It did,” he says. now as “the most horrific, wild time in you forget about it, especially when it
Why has their four-decade friend- he went to a couple of times, but was At the time, he would hang out at my life. I felt like a wounded animal. I becomes undetectable.”
ship endured? “Vince is a sweetheart. disappointed. “Peterborough was too the Bell pub in King’s Cross, “which didn’t realise how much I loved him”). By the time Erasure’s intense fame
He makes out he’s really tough on small. I had to leave and the plan was was quite a political pub. We went In 1990, about five years into their rela- had faded, Bell was almost glad of it. “I
the outside, and I know that he’s not. always to move to London with a friend on loads of marches, solidarity for the tionship, Hickey was diagnosed with felt like the pressure was off, and also, I
We just balance each other really well.” of mine called Jill, who’d had a tough Polish, coalminers, against clause 28. HIV, the news delivered brutally by a learned to love being anonymous again.
Clarke is the straight-faced foil – usually time in school,” says Bell. “Her broth- You just thought you’re doing some- doctor who told him he would soon I think that’s quite a hard lesson be-
wearing a suit onstage, standing behind er was gay. I’d go to her house, and thing that was useful or necessary.” die. “He came home. He was in floods cause once your ego’s been blown up,
screens and synths – to Bell’s exube- she’d tell me stories about the clubs But it also meant gangs would wait of tears, and I think maybe I was to come back down again is quite hard
rant showman. “Even though it’s been he’d been to. So we made a pact that nearby. “You would get chased home naive. I said: ‘Don’t cry, don’t worry. I and a lot of people don’t cope with it.”
a long time, and I’m 58 now, he’s been we were going to move to London to- from the pub sometimes. Not that you will look after you.’” That’s when their He smiles. “You’re looking around like:
a great teacher. He was in the industry gether, and that’s what we did.” got used to it, but you were very wary relationship became platonic, he says, ‘Oh, what’s happened?’ But you realise
five years or more before I joined him, He did odd jobs, but also joined a all the time.” Bell managed to ignore though they would remain close. “We things change, things move on, and it’s
he’s taught me a lot about being sens- synth-pop band, the Void. “All I wanted much of the rightwing press, which, were really, really fortunate because not all about you all the time. Other
ible. As much as you can be.” I suspect to do was do gigs and be on stage. I he says, with some understatement, everything was on the cusp,” says Bell. people will have a chance. That’s very
Bell didn’t always listen. “No, not all the didn’t even think about whether I was “didn’t necessarily seem to like [me]”, “The pills had only just come in. We saw sobering.”
time,” he says with a laugh. just going to make money out of it.” For but he drew the line when they tried to quite a lot of people in our circle die at Bell looks happy and well he should
Have they ever had a bust-up? “Only a while, he lived in a gay housing co-op out him, along with others, for having that time. With all that going on, you be – married, still dancing on stage in a
one time, we were on stage. We were in Holloway, north London. “Through HIV (which was untrue). “You always became numb to it, really.” corset, still making music with Clarke,
both really tired, it was the middle of that, I just felt like I got my gay edu- felt like you had to just keep an eye over In 1998, Bell was diagnosed with and caring less about critical recog-
some tour somewhere. I was really fru- cation,” he says – personally, and polit- your shoulder.” HIV, though it would be another six nition and more about enjoying him-
strated and tired, and I just said: ‘Oi!’ ically. His housemates included activ- With other pop stars at the time years before he revealed it publicly. It self. He has been through a lot, a trail-
on the stage to him, on the mic. He ists and campaigners, such as Nick Par- unwilling to come out, did it feel had been an overwhelming time – Era- blazer and survivor, but there are no
didn’t say a word, and he came off, and tridge, who would become chief execu- lonely? “It did,” he says, but of those sure had become huge, Bell was spend- regrets, he says. “I would do it again. I
said: ‘Don’t you ever talk to me like that tive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, and who were out, “we had enough soli- ing a lot of money on drugs, and dealing love not having a safety net, let’s put
again.’ Then he was fine.” Lisa Power, who co-founded Stonewall darity between us, it was enough for with fame. Erasure had reached their it that way.” He says Clarke likes to de-
Bell had always wanted to be a and the Pink Paper, which Bell ended us. A lot was changing politically, [but] peak, but were on the way down, which scribe him as fearless. “It’s all bravado,
singer. He was the eldest of six, with up working for, taking photographs it was frustrating sometimes that there gave Bell space to focus on getting though,” he says with a smile.
four younger sisters, then a baby broth- while a friend did bar reviews. Within were so few. Thankfully, things change.” well again. “We’d kind of taken a step • Day-Glo (Based on a True Story)
er, growing up in Peterborough where a year or so, he had met Clarke, “so it Bell thinks being out protected him in back, and I needed that time,” says Bell. is out on Mute on 12 August 2022 on
his father was a factory worker, and his was very quick”. other ways, particularly from predatory “Even Vince was affected by it. He had fluorescent green vinyl, CD and digital
mother was a cleaner at the school. She Bell was out, “right from the very older men in the music industry. “That’s friends [who had died] and we closed formats.
also then got a job behind the coun- beginning. That’s one thing I feel really the whole thing, it was all secret. Be- our ranks, I suppose.”

‘Alex Turner is the greatest of his generation’:

Example’s honest playlist
rest is just instrumental. It’s all about listened to Triumph, which has every probably the weakest rap performance
As told to Rich Pelley the bassline and the sample. member rapping back to back, so I on the album, but the production is so
The song I do at karaokeRegulate by could perform it in the playground. incredible, you can just listen to it on
The first song I remember hearingI had Warren G and Nate Dogg, because I can The best song to play at a partyMil- repeat.
to call my mum, and she says the first do the voices really easily. Nate Dogg lionaire by Kelis ft André 3000 gets eve- The song I can no longer listen toMy
song she remembers me reacting and sings a bit like me, and Warren G is a bit ryone on the dancefloor. I’ve seen it at four-year-old has just discovered Axel
moving to was The Tears of a Clown by more raspy. weddings; I’ve seen it in clubs. When F by Crazy Frog and won’t stop play-
Smokey Robinson. The song I inexplicably know every my DJ sticks it on before I come on, eve- ing it. I was also the biggest Michael
He’s an e.g. lover … Elliot John Gleave
The first single I boughtA seven- AKA Example. Photograph: Giulia Giannini lyric toI was a massive fan of Wu-Tang ryone goes crazy. Jackson fan, but I also find it hard to
inch single of Push It by Salt-N-Pepa, McGauran Clan at secondary school. There was The song I streamed lastI’ve been listen to him since the Leaving Never-
aged five or six, from a car boot sale in this huge buzz around their second aware of Jack Harlow for about 10 years land documentary. Pretty Young Thing
Shepherd’s Bush, that came with a fol- sic, but it’s actually a dance song – there album, Wu-Tang Forever. I was a little but his new album, Come Home the
dout poster. It’s regarded as a rap clas- are only two or three little raps and the geek, and rubbish at sport, so I just Kids Miss You, is amazing. First Class is Continued on page 35
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Arts / Environment 35

Continued from page 34 The song I wish I had writtenA greatest of his generation. The song that gets me up in the ralOne of my favourite films is Casino.
lot of the songs I wish I’d written The song that changed my lifeMy morning The new Swedish House Mafia It ends with a montage of Sharon Stone
was probably my favourite song of all are all by Arctic Monkeys. You can song Kickstarts was a real game- album, Paradise Again, didn’t really dying from an overdose and Joe Pesci
the time, but now I can’t listen to it, and tell Alex Turner is a fan of rap be- changer. It meant I could pay off my create the storm it was meant to. But getting baseball-batted to death, to the
that makes me quite sad. cause he sings with the same playful debts, play in other countries, and my if I was a heavyweight boxer, It Gets sound of House of the Rising Sun by the
The best song to have sex toLive percussive wordplay as rappers do. The gig fees probably went up tenfold, even Better – somewhere between Justice Animals. It makes you think of the good
from Joshua Tree by Australian band pop culture references and the way though it only got to No 3 because it and Chemical Brothers – would be my times and the bad.
Rüfüs Du Sol is about an hour long – he talks about everyday life on Fluo- came out during the 2010 World Cup. ring walk song. Example’s new albumWe May Grow
perfect to have a long sex session to. rescent Adolescent is genius. He’s the Wherever I perform it, people know it. The song I want played at my fune- Old But We Never Grow Upis out now.

Judith Durham, voice of the Seekers and

Australia’s first global pop queen
Although Durham sang with a few
Jennifer King bands, she quickly became the Seek-
ers’ Monday night regular.
Judith Durham’s talent shone brightly In 1964, the band was invited to
across the Australian music landscape, work their passage to London on board
her powerful bell-like voice, unpre- the SS Fair Sky, but as they cast off, the
tentious nature and stoicism in the foursome had little idea of the impact
face of adversity securing her countless they would have or what they would
loyal fans. find in the then music and fashion cap-
Durham, who has died in Mel- ital of the world.
bourne aged 79, was the distinctive “My trendsetting idol was the
voice of the Seekers, the folk-singing Queen, so I’d have my matching hand- The Seekers perform on the UK TV show
quartet who became an international bag and gloves,” Durham said in a 2019 Sunday Night at the London Palladium in
sensation from 1964 until 1968, when interview. “I was, you know, not at all 1966. Photograph: ITV/REX/Shutterstock
Durham left to forge a solo career as a tuned into Carnaby Street.”
jazz singer. The band healed their rifts After leaving the Seekers in 1968, vision appearances. However, during
and reunited in recent times, reigniting Durham approached the composer Ron their 2013 Golden Jubilee tour, Durham
enthusiasm for the Seekers and intro- Judith Durham in 1970. The Seekers still hold the record for the largest concert audience Edgeworth in London and asked him to had a brain haemorrhage, requiring six
ducing younger audiences to the music in Australia after more than 200,000 attended their 1967 concert at Melbourne’s Myer Music become her musical director and pian- months of rehabilitation before resum-
Bowl. Photograph: ANL/REX/Shutterstock
of their parents’ generation. ist. He later asked her to be his wife and ing work. The Seekers would have cele-
In their short time together the they married in Melbourne in 1969. brated their diamond anniversary this
Seekers, including Keith Potger, Athol that time Durham, who had a chron- singer. Together the couple formed a mus- year.
Guy and Bruce Woodley, became Aus- ic health condition, was exhausted and After leaving school, Judy Cock, as ical partnership, with Durham touring In adopting her husband’s vege-
tralia’s first international supergroup. struggling with her self-image. The she then was, set her sights on a career and recording around the world. Her tarian, health-conscious lifestyle,
Multiple hits, including I’ll Never Find Seekers were collectively named Aus- as a classical pianist while dreaming of one-woman show An Evening With Durham hoped to better manage
Another You and The Carnival Is Over, tralian of the Year in 1967, but the singing musical comedy or opera. How- Judith highlighted her vast singing her reduced lung capacity caused
put them at the top of the Australian following year Durham gave the band ever, a night sharing the stage with a range, from jazz to pop, country gospel by bronchiectasis. Her authorised bio-
and UK charts, and for six months in notice that she planned to pursue a solo jazz band at a dance when she was 18 and folk. From their base on Queen- graphy, Colours of My Life was released
1966 they were outselling the Beatles career. In later years she conceded she led to her instant success as a gospel, sland’s Sunshine Coast, Durham wrote in 1994. Edgeworth died the same year
and Rolling Stones. They became the had had no idea how much her decision jazz and blues singer. Opting to use her and performed her own compositions after being diagnosed with motor neu-
first Australian band to have a US No 1 had affected her bandmates or their mother’s birth name, Durham went on and attended international jazz fes- rone disease, prompting Durham to
with their biggest hit, the theme song fans. to record her first EP at 19 with Frank tivals. throw herself into raising the profile of
for the film Georgy Girl, which was “I never thought for a million years Traynor’s Jazz Preachers. In 1990, Durham sustained a frac- MND.
nominated for an Academy Award. The that they would have thought that I Sign up to receive an email with tured wrist and leg in a car accident In 1995, Durham and her bandmates
Seekers sold more than 50m records turned my back on them … I thought the top stories from Guardian Australia that killed the driver of another car. The each awarded the medal of the Order
and still hold the record for the larg- everybody was feeling fine,” she told the every morning support she received from fans while of Australia. In 2014 they were made
est concert audience in Australia after ABC’s Australian Story program in 2019. On her first day working as a sec- recovering helped her decide to recon- Members of the Order.
more than 200,000 attended their 1967 Judith Mavis Cock was born in Mel- retary at the J Walter Thompson adver- nect with her former band mates. Durham and Edgeworth, who were
concert at Melbourne’s Myer Music bourne on 3 July 1943, the youngest tising agency, Durham met an account Much to the delight of their fans, married for 25 years, chose not to have
Bowl. of two daughters of William, a second executive, Athol Guy, who invited her old and new, the Seekers reunited in children. Durham is survived by her
It was a meteoric rise to fame for world war aviator and DFC (Distin- to join him and his friends Keith and 1993 for the Silver Jubilee tour and, sister.
the four Melburnians. What had begun guished Flying Cross) recipient, and Bruce who were booked to sing acous- buoyed up by the response, continued • Judith Durham, singer; born 3
as a 10-week stint on a cruise ship to his wife, Hazel Durham. Judith’s sister tic four-part harmony folk and gospel to intermittently tour and record, sell- July 1943, died 5 August 2022.
London extended to four years and by Beverley Sheehan also became a jazz at a Melbourne coffee shop that night. ing out concert dates and making tele-

Biden’s landmark climate and spending bill –

what’s in it, and what got cut?
the choppy waters of a 50-50 split ment in history to fight the climate For Biden, the bill’s passage delivers rebates for consumers to buy new or
Edward Helmore and agencies Senate. But, being carried by a tie- crisis: $375bn over the decade. a much-needed domestic win at a time used electric vehicles.
breaking vote from Biden’s vice-pres- Almost half the money raised, when his popularity has sunk and key It’s broken down to include $60bn
Joe Biden’s $740bn package tackling cli- ident, Kamala Harris, it emerged mostly $300bn, will go toward paying down midterm elections loom in November. for a clean energy manufacturing tax
mate, the deficit and healthcare that intact. And, after a vote in the House federal deficits. Though the bill has been stripped credit and $30bn for a production tax
has just passed the Senate and is almost later this week, it is set to land on It’s paid for largely with new cor- of much of his original ambitious pro- credit for wind and solar, seen as
certain now to become law is a far cry Biden’s Oval Office desk. porate taxes, including a 15% minimum gram, it remains a major achievement. ways to boost and support the indus-
from his original even bigger ambitions, Here is what’s in it and what it tax on big corporations to ensure they Biden can now go to the polls and por- tries that can help curb the country’s
but it still represents a major triumph means: don’t skip paying any taxes at all, as well tray himself as a president able to get dependence on fossil fuels. The bill
for the president. Overview as projected federal savings from lower things done even in the difficult polit- also gives tax credits for nuclear power
The bill – the Inflation Reduction The estimated $740bn package is Medicare drug costs. ical circumstances of a deeply divided and carbon capture technology that oil
Act – was virtually dead in the water full of Democratic priorities. Those in- It’s not at all clear the 755-page bill country. companies such as ExxonMobil have
before a last-minute turnaround by the clude capping prescription drug costs will substantially ease inflationary pres- Climate crisis invested millions of dollars to advance.
conservative West Virginia Democrat at $2,000 out of pocket for seniors, sures, though millions of Americans are The bill would invest nearly $375bn The bill would impose a new fee on
Joe Manchin saw it suddenly revived. helping Americans pay for private expected to see some relief in health- over the decade in climate-fighting excess methane emissions from oil and
It then endured another round of health insurance, and what Democrats care and other costs. strategies, including investments in
political horse-trading as it navigated are calling the most substantial invest- What does it mean for Biden? renewable energy production and tax Continued on page 37
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Environment 37

Continued from page 35 healthcare policies.

How is it paid for?
gas drilling while giving fossil fuel com- The biggest revenue-raiser in the
panies access to more leases on federal bill is a new 15% minimum tax on
lands and waters. corporations that earn more than $1bn
A late addition pushed by Senator in annual profits. The new corporate
Kyrsten Sinema and other Democrats minimum tax would kick in after the
in Arizona, Nevada and Colorado would 2022 tax year and raise more than
designate $4bn to combat a mega- $258bn over the decade.
drought in the west, including conser- The revenue would have been
vation efforts in the Colorado river higher, but Sinema insisted on one
basin, on which nearly 40 million Amer- change to the 15% corporate min-
icans rely for drinking water. imum, allowing a depreciation deduc-
For consumers, there are tax breaks tion used by manufacturing industries.
as incentives to go green. One is a 10- That shaves about $55bn off the total
year consumer tax credit for renewable revenue.
energy investments in wind and solar. To win over Sinema, Democrats
There are tax breaks for buying electric dropped plans to close a tax loophole
vehicles, including a $4,000 tax credit long enjoyed by wealthier Americans –
for purchase of used electric vehicles so-called carried interest, which under
and $7,500 for new ones. current law taxes wealthy hedge fund
In all, Democrats believe the strat- managers and others at a 20% rate.
egy could put the country on a path to Money is also raised by boosting
cut greenhouse gas emissions 40% by Kamala Harris leaves the Senate chamber after casting the tie-breaking vote to ensure the bill’s passage. Photograph: Michael Reynolds/ the IRS to go after tax cheats. The
2030, and “would represent the single EPA bill proposes an $80bn investment
biggest climate investment in US his- the 10-year budget window. vision to extend that price cap on in- some Americans who buy health insur- in taxpayer services, enforcement and
tory, by far”. Those new revenues would be put sulin to Americans with private health ance on their own. modernization, which is projected to
Prescription drug costs back into lower costs for seniors on insurances was out of line with Senate Under earlier pandemic relief, the raise $203bn in new revenue – a net
Launching a long-sought goal, the medications, including a $2,000 out- budget rules and Republicans stripped extra help was set to expire this year. gain of $124bn over the decade.
bill would allow the Medicare program of-pocket cap for older adults buying it from the final bill. But the bill would allow the assis- The Associated Press contributed to
to negotiate prescription drug prices prescriptions from pharmacies. Health insurance tance to keep going for three more this report
with pharmaceutical companies, saving Seniors would also have insulin The bill would extend the subsidies years, lowering insurance premiums
the federal government $288bn over prices capped at $35 a dose. A pro- provided during the pandemic to help for people who are buying their own

ScottishPower to build £150m green

hydrogen plant at Port of Felixstowe
ScottishPower is already in the
Alex Lawson Energy corrres- process of developing a smaller hydro-
pondent gen facility at Whitelee, the UK’s larg-
est onshore windfarm near Glasgow, in
ScottishPower is planning to build a partnership with Sheffield’s ITM Power.
£150m green hydrogen plant at the Port The 20MW electrolyser, which is due to
of Felixstowe to power trains, trucks produce hydrogen by next year, is ex-
and ships, the Guardian can reveal. pected to make up to 8 tonnes of green
The energy company has drawn up hydrogen a day, roughly equivalent to
proposals for a 100megawatt plant at fuelling 550 buses to travel from Glas-
the Suffolk port which will provide gow to Edinburgh and back again each
enough fuel to power 1300 hydrogen day.
trucks from 2026. Carruthers said the Felixstowe site
The company, owned by €63bn would also offer the opportunity to
Spanish utilities giant Iberdrola, said produce “green ammonia” from green
demand for the green fuel had stepped hydrogen, which can then be used in
up since petrol and diesel prices began agricultural fertiliser.
to soar last year, emboldening the firm Further up the Suffolk coast,
to invest. environmental campaigners have pro-
It has submitted an application to tested against proposals for the £20bn
the government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Sizewell C nuclear power station.
Fund, which provides state backing to But Carruthers said the proposed
develop low-carbon hydrogen projects hydrogen plant “will not dominate the
for the next three years. ScottishPower The port of Felixstowe. ScottishPower plans to build the facility on brownfield land within theport. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters skyline” and is likely to be built within
estimated the whole project could cost the grounds of the port. “For locals it
between £100m and £150m. greenhouse gases. also be used to power trains used for Guardian: “The strength of demand should mean less diesel pollution and
ScottishPower plans to build the ScottishPower plans to supply rail freight into the port and shipping from the port itself, logistics and distri- cleaner power for the trains and lorries
facility, which will be around the size hydrogen to the vehicles and machi- vessels. bution companies and rail freight com- in the area,” he said.
of a football pitch, on brownfield land nery used by the Port of Felixstowe, ScottishPower, headquartered in panies has given use the confidence to Last week it was announced that
within the port, which is one of the bu- which is owned by Hutchison Ports, Glasgow, already has significant inter- press ahead with this facility. This is a dockers at Felixstowe belonging to the
siest in the UK and a trade hub. part of Hong Kong based multinational ests in East Anglia, where it has big, industrial scale project that we’re Unite union are planning eight days of
Green hydrogen is produced by CK Hutchison. offshore windfarms. Iberdrola owns doing at pace. strike action over pay that are expected
using renewable electricity to drive About 6,000 heavy goods vehicles Europe’s largest production site for “The cost of hydrogen is now to cause serious disruption to the UK’s
an electrolyser that splits water into a year use the port and logistics pro- green hydrogen for industrial use, at comparable with diesel so this can be largest container port.
hydrogen and oxygen. The gas is viders are increasingly studying hydro- Puertollano in Spain. cheaper and cleaner for customers. The
burned to produce power, emitting only gen as an option to cut fuel bills and Barry Carruthers, the hydrogen market has given us a really good glide
water vapour and warm air, and no carbon emissions. The hydrogen will director at ScottishPower, told the path.”
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

38 Environment

Sizewell C nuclear plant approval faces legal

challenge
doned in the face of the threat. Dorf-
Sandra Laville man said: “It’s clear that the Suffolk
coast by the proposed Sizewell C nuc-
Campaigners have begun a legal chal- lear plant is fragile, vulnerable to ero-
lenge against the government’s deci- sion and climate-driven storm surge. It
sion to give the Sizewell C nuclear looks like the site will be almost en-
power station the go-ahead amid warn- tirely cut off by flood water at least once
ings that UK nuclear plants will be on per year, and much sooner than models
Proposed £20bn Sizewell C nuclear
the frontline of climate breakdown. predict.” energy plant. Campaign groups say there
Citing the threat to water supplies Sizewell C is expected to cost £20bn is a failure to assess the implications of the
in an area officially designated as se- and would be paid for with a surcharge project as a whole and its environmental
riously water stressed, the threats to on customer energy bills as well as impact. Photograph: EDF
coastal areas from climate change and £1.7bn of taxpayers’ money.
environmental damage, the challenge Experts on nuclear waste disposal The government said in granting
is the first step in a judicial review of who advise government say no new the permission for Sizewell C that
the planning consent. People join campaign groups Stop Sizewell C and Together Against Sizewell C in a protest nuclear plants should be built until a very substantial and urgent need
The business secretary, Kwasi Kwar- march and rally from Leiston to Sizewell in Suffolk, opposing the building of the Sizewell C a permanent disposal dump has been to build the plant outweighed the
teng, overruled the independent Plan- nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast this year. Photograph: Gregg Brown/PA built.But a site for a permanent waste environmental harms.
ning Inspectorate to grant permission facility has yet to be identified, and is EDF worked with Chinese state-
for the new nuclear reactor in Suffolk a whole, by ignoring the issue of wheth- mented throughout the inquiry stage unlikely to be ready until the late 2040s backed nuclear specialist CGN on the
in July. Kwarteng is pushing ahead with er a permanent water supply could be and was found by the planning in- at the earliest, if there is agreement on first phase of the project. But the UK
government plans to approve one new secured, a failure to assess the environ- spector to have merit. where it should be sited. government is keen to ease CGN out
nuclear reactor a year as part of an mental impact of that project and the “Even to consider building a £20bn- Rowan Smith, the solicitor because of concerns about Chinese
energy strategy that aims to bolster the suggestion that the site would be clear plus nuclear power plant without first representing TASC, said: “We are proud involvement in sensitive assets. Boris
UK’s nuclear capacity, with the hope of nuclear material by 2140, which was securing a water supply is a meas- to represent TASC in the local com- Johnson’s government has already put
that by 2050 up to 25% of projected not upheld by evidence showing highly ure of the fixation this government munity’s continued fight to help pro- up £100m of funding this year to sup-
energy demand will come from it. radioactive waste would have to be has for nuclear power and its panic tect Suffolk’s heritage coast and wild- port its development.
But Sizewell C has faced stiff oppo- stored on site until a much later date. in making progress towards an energy life sites. Our client is understandably Bankers at Barclays have been hired
sition from local campaigners, and The Planning Inspectorate had re- policy which is as unachievable as it is shocked that the secretary of state has to secure new financial backing for
environmental groups both for its cost jected the scheme saying “unless the inappropriate for the 21st-century chal- gone against the considered and rea- the project alongside EDF and the UK
and the environmental impact. outstanding water supply strategy can lenges we face.” soned view of the independent plan- government.
In a letter to Kwarteng out- be resolved and sufficient information The risk to UK nuclear facilities ning inspectorate and granted devel- • This article was amended on 8
lining their legal challenge Together provided to enable the secretary of from climate change has been outlined opment consent in a potentially legally August 2022. Dr Paul Dorfman is based
Against Sizewell C (TASC) argues that state to carry out his obligations under by Dr Paul Dorfman, an academic at flawed manner. TASC has very real con- at the University of Sussex; he is not a
the permission by the government the Habitats Regulations, the case for the Science Policy Research Unit at cerns that the environmental impacts professor at University College London,
for the plant was given unlawfully. an order granting development consent the University of Sussex, and the chair of Sizewell C have not been properly as an earlier version said.
Represented by Leigh Day solicitors for the application is not made out”. of the Nuclear Consulting Group. He assessed. If the secretary of state does
and supported by Friends of the Earth, Pete Wilkinson, chair of TASC, said: warns the UK’s coastal nuclear facilities not see the error of his ways, then we
the group says there was a failure to “The case against Sizewell C is over- are on the frontline of climate break- intend to do all we can to bring this to
assess the implications of the project as whelming, as has been carefully docu- down and some may have to be aban- the court’s attention.”

Inside Somalia’s vicious cycle of

deforestation for charcoal
government, and there are no struc-
Mohamed Gabobe and Caroline tured, government-driven efforts to re-
Kimeu strict logging.
The jihadist group al-Shabaab,
In Mogadishu, the charcoal trade is which exercises control in some re-
thriving on the city’s streets, prompted gions, has been trying to grow its influ-
by the sharp rise in gas prices over the ence in recent years by playing a qu-
past two years. As more Somalis turn to asi-governmental role on issues such
Women lead donkeys loaded with water
charcoal as an affordable energy option, as environmental protection. In 2018, from the Shabelle River. Most of the trees
experts say the growing demand is fuel- it imposed a ban on single-use plas- along the river’s banks have been lost to
ling unsustainable levels of production tic bags and is enforcing crackdowns the charcoal industry. Photograph: Ilyas A.
and accelerating climate change amid on the cutting down of leafy trees. The Abukar/Alamy
the country’s worst drought in four dec- Islamist group brutally enforces its poli-
ades. cies. dry wood, but was eventually released.
Environmentalists say the situation “Some of the loggers have re- He believes that the group may be in
is acute in the Lower Shabelle region’s A Somali businesswoman arranges charcoal at her stall along a street near the main ceived threatening calls from al-Sha- the process of initiating a crackdown
Wanlaweyn district, the centre of the Baraka market in Mogadishu. Photograph: REUTERS/Alamy baab, while others have been physically on logging and transportation of wood
charcoal trade, about 55 miles (90km) harmed,” says Guled Warsame, a logger. from dry trees, but says that, for now,
north-west of the capital. damage has caused a vicious cycle. “It it to the outskirts of Mogadishu, where Despite the dangers and environmental the only clear ban is on the cutting and
“The levels of deforestation have rains less because people are cutting business people burn it into charcoal harm, Warsame says he needs the work. transporting of wood from leafy trees.
gotten so severe that most of the trees down more trees to meet the demand for sale. “Al-Shabaab has ordered us to stop cut- “We only pick up dry tree wood in
along the banks of the Shabelle River for charcoal, which means crops are not One logger, Hassan Omar, says it can ting dry trees but we can’t. It’s our only our lorry and never leafy wood because
have been cleared out,” says Abdilatif able to grow, which affects farmers and take a full day to cut one tree. “They way to make money.” al-Shabaab doesn’t allow that. If they
Hussein Omar, the executive director of livestock who depend on the land for are around a century old,” he says. He However, he says, drivers who trans- catch us transporting trees that still
Action for Environment, a conservation survival,” he says. says he now has to travel 50-60km away port wood face much greater threats have leaves, they will set our vehicle
organisation that operates in the Horn Mowlid Jama used be a farmer but from Wanlaweyn, where he started log- than loggers from rogue bandits and on fire,” he says.
of Africa. turned to logging after he lost his crops ging, because all the tall trees there local militias. Not only do they work Despite the crackdown, reports
In the south of the country, the lives in the 2017 drought. Jama says that on have been felled. “We keep reaching under dangerous conditions but they show that revenue from the trade is
of many pastoralists and farmers have an average day, he spots about 10 to town after town and going deeper into need to remain aware of the evolving an important income stream for al-Sha-
been disrupted by extreme weather, so 15 other loggers cutting trees in Lower the woods,” he says. rules of the trade. baab, with a 2014 estimate suggesting
they have been looking for other ways Shabelle’s forests. For a two- to three- Lower Shabelle is a volatile region, Dahir Abdalla, a lorry driver, says that the group earned an annual
to earn money. month stretch, they cut down trees for one of many parts of the country that is he was recently detained by al-Sha-
Hussein says the environmental wood until a lorry arrives to transport largely out of the control of the Somali baab for a few days when transporting Continued on page 39
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Environment / Science 39

Continued from page 38 go into detail about how much they pay them in the trade. Yasmin Salad, who more environmental education, and it dup of our top stories from around
the group, because of the sensitivity of has been in the business for eight years, needs to start at an early age,” says the world, recommended reads, and
total between £6.5m and £14.5m from the issue, but say they face double taxa- says she makes a profit of 1.8m Somali Hussein, adding that laws and regu- thoughts from our team on key devel-
imposing charges on charcoal traders at tion – from the government when the shillings (£2,600) for every 510 bags of lations on environmental exploitation opment and human rights issues, deli-
one road block alone. lorries travel through major cities and charcoal, which she sells at 11,700 shil- are necessary. “These laws and regu- vered to your inbox every two weeks:
For those in the business, the districts, and from al-Shabaab when lings each, over a six-month period. lations need to be enforced by the
charges add heavily to their costs of travelling through the countryside. Environmentalists say government government in order to see change.”
operation. Two businesswomen, Amina Even with the charges, however, involvement is required to effectively Sign up for a different view with our
Mohamed and Saynab Hersi, decline to dealers say they make enough to keep regulate the trade. “The public needs Global Dispatch newsletter – a roun-

Car companies face pressure to leave

Australian industry group after documents
reveal its lobbying on emissions
was not surprising “certain car com-
Royce Kurmelovs panies are trying to block or water
down fuel efficiency standards” and
Car companies have faced calls to said it was “absurd” to suggest “Aus-
reconsider their membership of the tralia is so unique” that we can’t have
Federal Chamber of Automotive Indus- the same standards as elsewhere.
tries, after documents revealed the “The reality for us in 2022 is that the
industry group’s lobbying campaign on rest of the world, US, Europe, Asia and
weaker road transport emissions limits. [New Zealand] are really very far ahead
The documents, reported by the of us and they have strong targets in
Sydney Morning Herald, described a place,” Jafari said.
current lobbying and public relations Over the last decade, the Australian
campaign by the industry association government has dragged its feet on
to influence how Australia attempts to introducing fuel efficiency and emis-
tackle its rising road transport emis- sions standards which has cost Aus-
sions. tralians $5.9bn in fuel costs over the last
The FCAI represents 39 car brands six years alone, according to research by
and has pushed to have a less the Australia Institute.
ambitious voluntary emissions target Audrey Quicke, a climate and
rather than federal government-man- energy researcher at the institute, said
dated emissions limits. these standards would have prevented
In order to achieve this, the FCAI emissions equal to one year’s worth of
planned to present itself as the “trusted domestic flights and reduced the coun-
voice” and “moderate middle” of the cli- Australia’s Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has pushed for a less ambitious voluntary emissions target rather than govern- try’s reliance on oil imports.
mate debate as it advocates for weaker ment-mandated limits. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP “If we had fuel efficiency standards
fuel efficiency standards. in place, we’d be having to put less fuels
Under the internal plan, new pas- “the government wasn’t interested in industry body’s lobbying efforts. Weber said the organisation pro- into our vehicles to travel the same dis-
senger cars sold in Australian in 2030 putting in a CO2 target”. “The only unusual thing about this vided a range of benefits to members tance and we’d also have EVs in the
would be allowed to produce at least He said the industry’s position was is that it’s been exposed,” Kater said. “It’s and that the decision about the asso- market as well,” Quicke said.
98g of CO2 a kilometre. This compares “give us the [CO2] and we’ll give you the lifted the hood.” ciation’s policy is made by the board. She said the voluntary standard
to standards in Europe which currently technology”. She said the advocacy means the “These are difficult decisions but contained “loopholes” that will allow
limit cars sold to 95g of CO2 a kilo- “What we need to do is develop organisation and its “technology neu- the membership base are supportive of companies which have been slow to
metre and where many jurisdictions a policy to decarbonise the light ve- tral approach” is prioritising the inter- our position,” Weber said. transition to electric vehicles to con-
have introduced plans to ban the sale hicle sector in the most efficient and ests of some members above others, The FCAI’s position places it di- tinue selling polluting petrol and diesel
of petrol and diesel engines entirely by effective way in the Australia context,” particularly those car companies look- rectly at odds with other indus- cars, and “obsolete” hybrid vehicles to
2030. Weber said. “Now for some people, ing to transition their product lines to try bodies such as the Electric Ve- the Australian market long after they
The FCAI has previously publicly the answer will be battery electric be- electric vehicles. hicle Council (EVC) which represents have been banned elsewhere.
said the limit on these emissions cause battery electric is a fantastic tech- “Ideally, [those companies] should companies transitioning their product “That’s exactly where we are at the
should be set at 100g of CO2 a kilo- nology. But for some Australians it may withdraw financial support from these range into battery electric vehicles. moment,” she said. “We are a dumping
metre, though its chief executive, Tony be some other technology.” organisations,” she said. “They should In a recent submission, the coun- ground for fuel inefficient vehicles at
Weber, said this was a “typo”. The climate lead at the Australasian vote with their feet.” cil told the government a failure to act the moment. Because companies don’t
Weber said the organisation car- centre for corporate responsibility, Har- Sign up to receive an email with will prompt the states to go it alone by face penalties for doing so.”
ried out “research” and developed its riet Kater, said the documents con- the top stories from Guardian Australia introducing EV sales targets.
voluntary emissions code in 2019 when firmed long-held suspicions about the every morning Behyad Jafari from the EVC said it

Deciphering a baby’s cries down to

experience, research finds
comes with experience. parents could tell between the cries of How well they performed depended
Sascha Pare “We found that adults can recognise pain and discomfort of babies they had heavily on prior and current exposure
signals of pain as opposed to mild never heard before. Inexperienced indi- to babies. While inexperienced adults
If the wails of your newborn baby leave discomfort in babies’ cries, but that abil- viduals were unable to do so, the re- did no better than chance, parents and
you baffled as to what is wrong, just ity requires prior experience,” said the searchers reported. paediatric care professionals who inte-
give it time. Deciphering a baby’s cries lead author of the study, Siloé Corvin. Over 200 participants with different racted often with babies got it right 70%
is all down to experience, new research The study, published in the jour- levels of childcare experience were of the time.
suggests. nal Current Biology, shows that parents given eight recordings of a baby crying The study is part of a broader re-
The research found that by the time a
Being able to tell whether a baby baby is two or three months old, most par- with young children are much better at which they listened to over two days. search programme studying how infor-
is in pain is vital information for new ents know what different cries mean. Photo- decoding babies’ cries than adults with They then had to distinguish between mation is encoded and communicated
parents and caregivers. But rather than graph: narvikk/Getty Images little or no childcare experience. the cries of pain induced by a vacci- in babies’ cries.
being an innate skill adults can rely While this may seem unsurprising, nation and cries of discomfort recorded
on, understanding the difference be- tween cries of pain and mild discomfort the researchers also found that current at bath time. Continued on page 40
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
40 Science

Continued from page 39 ample by its facial expressions or post- neurobiological changes that come baby’s life,” said Corvin. “By the time Corvin, adding: “Any exposure to babies
ure, but cries can give us additional with parenthood and infant care, the the baby is two or three months old, – paediatric care, babysitting, and even
“Babies have to express their pain information about how the baby is feel- authors say. most parents know what different cries listening to recordings – can help tune
or discomfort through cries and vocali- ing.” “The ability to distinguish between mean.” your ear to the different acoustic pat-
sations,” said Corvin. “There are other The ability to decipher babies’ pain and discomfort comes quickly; it But you don’t have to be a parent to terns of their cries.”
ways to tell if a baby is in pain, for ex- cries is likely to develop from the starts within the first few hours of a learn how to decode babies’ cries, said

‘Magic bookmark’ revealed as key to

augmented reality books
having experimented with a number of
David Barnett techniques, including the use of inks
that react to light and activate when
We’ve had ebooks, audiobooks, and you turn a page. That method proved
of course good old-fashioned printed not to be viable outside a laboratory
books – but could there soon be anoth- because “there’s not enough protec-
er way to read? So-called “augmented tion from oxygen and moisture in the
reality books” – dubbed “a-books” by atmosphere”, Sporea said.
their creators – are a step closer to The latest solution is to embed
mass-market production after a six- ultra-thin solar panels between two
year project by researchers at the halves of a single sheet of paper, which
University of Surrey. activate the a-book’s properties when a
While ebook readers are used to “magic bookmark” is laid on to a page.
being able to access background infor- The team are now working to develop
mation and extra features, a-books the paper so that it feels less “unwieldy
would allow users to swipe their fin- and thick”, Sporea said.
gers across a line in a physical, printed The project has so far been helped
book and have related content flash up with £900,000 of government funding
on their phones, laptops or smart TVs. and the team is hoping to get corporate
The main commercial focus of the and book industry interest to help fur-
technology is likely to be useful with ther develop and refine the technology.
travel guides and educational books, One physical example of the book
but could also be adapted to fiction, technology in action is the Climate
says the senior lecturer at the univer- A new kind of browser … an 'augmented reality book'. Photograph: Katherine Ingram/University ofSurrey Domesday Book, which will be exhi-
sity’s Advanced Technology Institute, bited later this year in the UK and Aus-
Radu Sporea. While these features are commonly “Obviously books have a lot of lenge was how to integrate the extra tralia, and which plays video and audio
A reader could, for example, run available for ebooks, the challenge has appeal for what we might call their information “in a seamless way” with- on the nearest screen, relevant to the
their finger over a character’s name to been finding a way to adapt the tech- ‘bookness’, the fact they’re on paper out “breaking up your reading expe- passages highlighted by the reader.
get their backstory to pop up on their nology for a physical volume “with- and you handle them a certain way, rience”.
phone, or get a reminder of the story- out ruining the experience of reading but there is the limitation of this infor- The research team has just un-
lines of previous books in a series. a paper book”, said Sporea. mation being static,” he said. The chal- veiled its third generation of the a-book,

CSIRO researchers identify 139 new species,

including an ant that ‘babysits’ caterpillars
tific papers involved collaborations be-
Graham Readfearn tween CSIRO and other organisations
and institutions.
A blind cave-dwelling weevil, an ant They include the first millipede to
that protects the caterpillars of one of actually have more than 1000 legs,
Australia’s rarest butterflies, and the found 60 metres underground in a
first millipede to actually have more mining area in Western Australia; a new
than 1,000 legs were among 139 new mountain frog; and four new marine
species described by scientists at CSIRO fish. Anonychomyrma inclinata, an ant spe-
cies newly named by the CSIRO. Photograph:
in the past year. Among the insects was a new genus
Jon Lewis/CSIRO
Other discoveries formally named of beetle, undarobius, that has two spe-
and described in scientific journals cies that are the first weevils found
include 131 insects and other inver- in Australia to have evolved to live in coloured anthias, rarely seen because
tebrates, four fish, three plants and a caves. they live deeper than divers usually go.
frog. The species were discovered in lava Pogonoski said the new silverspot
One of the invertebrates – a parasitic caves at Undara Volcanic national park weedfish, heteroclinus argyrospilos,
flatworm now known as Enenterum in north-eastern Queensland. lives as deep as 100 metres below the
petrae – was discovered inside a spe- The newly named ant Anonychomyrma inclinata carries the caterpillars of the rare and Yeates said the weevils did not have surface and was described from only
cimen of a fish collected from Lizard beautiful Bulloak jewel butterfly in its jaws. Photograph: Michael Braby/CSIRO eyes – a common evolutionary trait for two known specimens collected by a
Island on the Great Barrier reef, and cave dwelling organisms – but were CSIRO research vessel between 2000
named in honour of CSIRO scientist Like taking children to a buffet, the “like ant opium” that the ants feed on. likely a relic of their ancient rainforest and 2005.
Daniel Huston’s new daughter, Petra. ants carry the caterpillars in their jaws “It’s a neat little relationship. [The cousins. “Working together with our re-
Dr David Yeates, an insect expert at from their daytime hideaway under- caterpillar’s gland] appears to have CSIRO experts say only about a search community to name species is
CSIRO, said formally describing species neath bark to fresh bull-oak leaves, evolved just to feed and appease the quarter of Australia’s flora and fauna incredibly important – it is the first step
in scientific journals was a critical part both protecting them and letting them ants,” said Yeates. have been formally recorded, but the in Australia understanding and man-
of protecting biodiversity. feed. Sign up to receive an email with process was vital in understanding and aging its biodiversity,” Yeates said.
A newly named ant – Anony- Yeates said ants would often eat the top stories from Guardian Australia protecting the country’s vast ecosys- “As a country, we are still in the very
chomyrma inclinata – has a remark- caterpillars, but this new species works every morning tems. exciting phase of species discovery.”
able relationship with one of Australia’s more like a babysitter. About 100 of the new species the John Pogonoski, a CSIRO fish scien-
rarest and most striking butterflies, the For the ant’s efforts, Yeates said the CSIRO scientists helped to describe tist, helped name four new species
Bulloak jewel. caterpillars release a sugary substance are Australian. Most of the scien- of marine fish including three brightly
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Science / Technology 41

Lack of maths funding will hinder UK’s

scientific progress
not forget that it is maths that illu-
Letters minated the path out of the Covid crisis
via its use in modelling the pandemic,
The aim of making the UK a “science underpinning the science behind the
superpower” is welcome, but the defi- vaccines and informing the rollout of
ciencies in the government’s strategy those vital medicines.
highlighted in a Lords report are only University maths departments need
the start (‘Science superpower’ plan clarity on the sustainability of funding
risks making UK bureaucracy super- to greenlight study programmes that
power, says peer, 4 August). will last years, and that could provide
Lord Krebs compared the amount the next technological breakthrough.
of bureaucracy involved to “setting off Maths enables scientific and
on a marathon with your shoelaces tied technological developments, it is key
together”. However, the report barely to our national security and contri-
mentions mathematics, the bedrock butes billions of pounds to GDP. With-
of all the sciences. Without a great- out explicit support and investment for
er focus on the mathematical sciences, all the mathematical sciences, this will
the nation is in danger of setting off on be at risk.Prof Ulrike TillmannLondon
a marathon without any footwear. Mathematical Society
In January 2020, the government • Have an opinion on anything
announced £300m in additional fund- you’ve read in the Guardian today?
ing for the mathematical sciences. Yet Pleaseemailus your letter and it will be
two years later, the majority of this considered for publication.
funding has yet to be delivered. And ‘Maths enables scientific and technological developments, it is key to our national security and contributes billions of pounds to GDP.’
while some may point to all that has Photograph: Alamy
occurred in the intervening time, do

Kids’ tech: the best children’s gadgets for

summer holidays
For older children, rugged and
Samuel Gibbs Consumer tech- waterproof action cams could be the
nology editor way to go, shooting video and photos.
Budget no-brand cams cost from about
With the long school summer holiday £80 but secondhand or refurbished
well under way, you may need a bit models from the big boys such as GoPro
of help keeping the kids entertained. and DJI go for about £100 and on eBay
From walkie-talkies and cameras to and elsewhere.
Sphero Mini robotic ball. Photograph:
tablets, robot toys and fitness trackers, Fitness trackers Bryan Rowe/Sphero
here are some of the best kid-aimed Garmin Vivofit Jr 3 – from about £55
tech to keep the little (and not-so-little) Your child may not need any encou- for older children.
ones occupied. ragement to tear about the place but if Walkie-talkies
Robot toys you are after a gadget to “gamify” and Motorola T42 Talkabout – about £35
Sphero Mini – about £50 reward their activity – as well as giving for three
Lots of tech toys are fads but my them a smartwatch-esque gadget to Walkie-talkies are a great replace-
longtime favourite has stood the test Amazon’s Fire 7 Kids tablet offers controls for parents to lock content and set time limits play with – the Garmin Vivofit Jr 3 could ment for phones, allowing kids and big
of time as a modern update to remote and age filters. Photograph: Amazon be a winner for ages four and up. kids to keep in touch without fear of
control fun. Sphero is a ball you control Its watch-like form comes in var- fees or smashed screens.
using a smartphone or tablet, and has it for free under its two-year “worry- Cameras ious themes and designs, including There are plenty of child-centric op-
hidden depths, with games and educa- free” guarantee. VTech Kidizoom Duo 5.0 – about with various Star Wars, Marvel and tions available with various character
tional elements also available. It does all the standard tablet things £39 Disney characters, with custom watch- themes but basic units usually work
The mini Sphero ball is a lot of fun such as movies, apps, games, a web Before the advent of smartphones, faces to choose from. The user-repla- better. Motorola’s T42 Talkabout comes
to drive around and small enough that browser if you want it, and parental standalone cameras were the way we ceable coin-cell battery lasts a year, so in various colours and multipacks.
overexuberant indoor excursions won’t controls to lock it, set time limits and visually documented our lives, and you don’t have to worry about charging They are simple to set up, with
result in broken furniture and scuffed- age filters. There’s even an option re- they still can be a bit of creative fun it. Water-resistance to 50 metres means a pairing button and multiple chan-
up paintwork. The Sphero Play app has stricting access to curated child-safe and inspiration for kids. swimming should be no problem either. nel selection to find a clear one. Once
games, while the Sphero Edu app is sites and videos but it doesn’t have The VTech Kidizoom Duo 5.0 is a It tracks steps, activity and sleep going, just push to talk, even over
great at fostering creative learning. access to the Google Play store, only “my first digital camera” of sorts made with motivational messaging. It has long distances. Their quoted 4km range
Kids or big kids can learn to pro- Amazon’s app store. of rugged plastic and simple in oper- mini games to play once your child has might be a bit ambitious but they
gram, follow examples, get the robot The Kids edition comes with a one- ation, which VTech reckons is suitable hit their goals, and can all be managed should be good for at least 500 metres
to do all sorts of things, or go deeper year subscription to Amazon Kids+ (£3 for three- to nine-year-olds. It captures from a parent’s phone or tablet, so you in urban environments, or much fur-
and write some code for it in Java- to £7a month afterwards), which is a 5MP photos of reasonable quality and can keep an eye on their data. Par- ther in the open air.
Script. Higher-end versions such as the curated collection of child-friendly text can shoot from the back for selfies, too, ents can even set goals, competitions They take three AAA batteries each,
£190BOLT take the educational ele- and audio books, movies, TV shows and all viewable on a 2.4in screen. with their own activity levels, chore re- which last about 18 hours of talking
ments to the next level, too. educational apps. The optical viewfinder helps them minders and tasks that can earn virtual or roughly three to four days in active
Tablets The larger £140 Fire HD 8 and line up the shot, which they can trans- coins for them to trade for rewards with use, so you might need a small army of
Amazon Fire 7 Kids – about £110 £200 Fire HD 10 are available in Kids form with fun filters and effects. It you. rechargeable batteries.
If you would rather not lend your versions, too, if you want something even shoots video, too. The kid-centric It is button-operated rather than They have a belt clip and loop for
precious breakable phone or iPad bigger, or Amazon’s new Kids Pro tab- nature of it might turn off older child- touchscreen, and the backlight doesn’t hooking to a carabiner (metal loop) or
to your little ones, Amazon’s prac- lets start at £100 with additional fea- ren but every award-winning photo- stay on long to preserve the battery. similar, and are fairly rugged, too, so
tically indestructible Kids edition tab- tures aimed at school-age children. grapher has to start somewhere before If you are a user of Google’s Fitbit should survive being launched across a
lets could be just the ticket. Alternatives include LeapFrog’s var- the smartphone takes over. trackers yourself, then the firm’s Ace 3 room or two.
The cheapest and smallest Fire 7 ious educational tablets, which are fine It needs an SD card for storage and (£50) means you can compete on activ- Nestling’s camouflage walkie-tal-
has just been updated and is available for younger children, or hand-me-down takes four AA batteries at a time, and ity, but it needs charging every seven kies (about £26) are also a popular
in a range of bright-coloured cases with or refurbished iPads (from £150) in chews through them fast, so buy some or so days. Other cheaper adult-focused choice but there are lots of choices
a pop-out stand. If your offspring do robust cases, which can be locked down rechargeables to help save money and fitness trackers such as the Xiaomi Mi under £30 available on the high street.
manage to break it, Amazon will replace with some parental controls. the planet. Smart Band 6 (about £29) may be better
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
42 Technology / Sport

OnePlus 10T review: this phone fully charges

in 19 minutes
The camera system on the 10T is a
Samuel Gibbs Consumer tech- downgrade from the 10 Pro, eschewing
nology editor the Hasselblad technology from OneP-
lus’s previous smartphones and ditch-
OnePlus is back with another mid-cycle ing the telephoto camera. It still has a
upgrade to its top Android phone – this 50-megapixel main and an 8MP ultra-
time with the lightning-fast-charging wide camera, plus a rubbish 2MP macro
10T handset, which can fully power up camera that can safely be avoided.
The moulded glass back feels smooth – it
in under 20 minutes without destroy- The main 50MP camera is pretty slides around on non-level surfaces if you’re
ing its battery life. good, capturing shots with a good level not careful. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The
After a two-year hiatus, the “T” of detail, reasonable good colour bal- Guardian
series of phones is back to debut new ance and dynamic range. With a bit of
technology halfway through the year, effort you can get some really beautiful It genuinely charges so fast, it
this time with 150W charging – more images. It becomes a little more grainy changed the way I thought about using
than five times the power of Apple’s top than better cameras in low light, but it. I no longer needed to charge it over-
iPhone. The OnePlus 10T is a well-priced, top-spec Android phone with tremendously fast charg- portrait mode, night mode and other night because it was full again in the
The OnePlus 10T costs £629 ($649), ing. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian fancy features work well. Video cap- time it took me to brush my teeth.
undercutting fast-charging rivals from tured up to 4K at 60 frames a second It also has a better chip, slick perfor-
Xiaomi and other Chinese smart- Bluetooth 5.3 and GNSS doesn’t hurt the battery either. OneP- is decent, too. mance and a large and fast screen.
phone manufacturers that typically Water resistance: None lus rates it for a full 1,600 charge cycles The ultrawide camera is weaker, But that screen is less bright that
cost £1,000 or so. Dimensions: 163 × 75.4 × 8.8mm while maintaining at least 80% of the however, struggling with detail and top models, and the camera is a
On the outside the 10T follows Weight: 203.5g original capacity – double most rivals. dynamic range, often making scenes marked downgrade on previous highs
a familiar formula. The shiny metal- A full charge in a little over 19 mi- That means the battery should last look significantly darker than the main for the brand. The removal of OnePlus’s
lic sides meet glass front and back. nutes more than 6.5 years if charged every camera. The digital zoom is also not unique alert slider makes the phone
The back plate now fully envelops the The 10T has Qualcomm’s very latest day and a half, so you probably won’t great, producing obviously blown-up more generic and feels like an erosion
camera lump in one smooth piece of Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, which on have to replace the battery in the life- images beyond 2x. The 16MP selfie cam of the brand by parent company Oppo,
glass, similar to the Find X5 Pro from paper is 10% faster than the regular 8 time of the phone, which can’t be said produces detailed images but lacks dy- which is a shame. Four years of soft-
parent company Oppo. Gen 1 processor used in top Android for most phones. namic range, becoming a bit bleached- ware support is also a bit short for 2022,
The 6.5in screen is very good-look- phones at the start of the year. Sustainability out in bright light. when top rivals offer at least five.
ing and has a high refresh rate of 120Hz, It is certainly snappy and respon- The phone does not contain re- Overall the main camera is decent Buy it for the performance and
which keeps things smooth. It is a little sive, but the biggest improvement is cycled materials but is generally repair- for the price, but not a patch on the best charging, not the camera, and the
less bright than the older 10 Pro and that the chip is 30% more energy effi- able by OnePlus, with a replace- in the business, and it can’t compete OnePlus 10T is a good top-spec phone
some top rivals, but is otherwise excel- cient, which helps conserve battery life ment battery costing about £20 plus with the 10 Pro or cheaper rivals such as at a highly competitive price. But with
lent. and keeps the phone noticeably cooler labour. The company operates a trade- Google’s Pixel 6a. extremely good mid-range phones such
OnePlus’s unique alert slider, which in operation. in scheme and is included in parent- Price as the Pixel 6a costing £400-ish, is that
quickly switches the phone between The battery life is good but not company Oppo’s yearly sustainability The OnePlus 10T costs £629 ($649) enough?
silent, vibrate and ring, and has been great, lasting about 36 hours between reports. with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, Other reviews
a fan favourite for years, is nowhere to charges, with the screen on for about OxygenOS 12.1 or £729 with 16 and 256GB shipping on OnePlus 10 Pro review: slick perfor-
be seen, which is a shame. six hours using a mixture of messaging The 10T runs the same OxygenOS 25 August. mance costing less than rivals
Specifications and media-consumption apps. That’s 12.1 software based on Android 12 as the For comparison, the OnePlus 10 Pro Xiaomi 12 Pro review: ultra-fast-
Screen: 6.5in 120Hz FHD+ OLED seven hours short of the 10 Pro, but 10 Pro from April, not the recently an- costs £799, the Google Pixel 6 costs charging Android phone
(393ppi) on par with a Google Pixel 6 Pro. nounced Android 13-based OxygenOS £599, the Pixel 6a costs £399, the Sam- Pixel 6 review: the cut-price Google
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon What the 10T may lack in sta- 13. OnePlus will provide bi-monthly sung Galaxy S21+ costs £949, and the flagship phone
8+ Gen 1 mina, it makes up for in both charg- security patches for four years from re- Xiaomi 12 Pro costs £999. Google Pixel 6a review: this mid-
RAM: 8 or 16GB of RAM ing speed and battery longevity. Using lease and three major Android version Verdict range master is a true bargain
Storage: 128 or 256GB the included USB-C power adaptor, the upgrades, including OxygenOS 13 later The OnePlus 10T is a good phone Samsung Galaxy S22+ review: a
Operating system: OxygenOS 12.1 phone will fully charge in just over 19 this year. at a cheaper price – one that under- good phone playing it safe
(Android 12) minutes from 1% and does so consis- For now, it has the same slick look cuts most of its close rivals. But corners Oppo Find X5 Pro review: slick An-
Camera: 50MP main, 8MP ultra- tently without getting super-hot, unlike and similar niggles as before, so for have been cut to reach that price, so droid let down by weak camera zoom
wide, 2MP macro; 16MP selfie Xiaomi’s nearest rival. more, see the 10 Pro review. how good it is will depend on what your
Connectivity: 5G, eSIM, wifi 6, NFC, Its tremendous charging speed Camera priorities are.

PGA Tour heads to court to keep LIV players

out of FedEx Cup
Hudson Swafford filed a temporary re- mington, Delaware. Gooch, Jones, and and eat it, too.”
Associated Press straining order last week, separate from Swafford are among nine players who “Plaintiffs have waited nearly two
10 players who filed an antitrust lawsuit have joined LIV Golf and finished the months to seek relief from the Court,
The PGA Tour has asked a federal judge against the PGA Tour. The hearing is regular season among the top 125 in fabricating an ‘emergency’ they now
in San Francisco to deny the appeal scheduled for today, two days before the FedEx Cup standings. The other six maintain requires immediate action,”
of three suspended players who joined the first of three FedEx Cup playoff who joined LIV Golf are not asking to the filing said. “It doesn’t.”
Saudi-backed LIV Golf and now want events in the chase for the $18m prize. play in the tour’s postseason. The tour contends players knew
to compete in the tour’s lucrative post- The FedEx St Jude Championship In a court filing yesterday to oppose they would be ineligible for the FedEx
Talor Gooch is one of three players fight-
season, arguing the players knew the ing to compete in the FedEx Cup. Photo- in Memphis, Tennessee, has a $15m the temporary restraining order, the Cup playoffs “when they accepted mil-
consequences two months ago. graph: Seth Wenig/AP purse, and the top 70 players advance tour argued antitrust laws do not allow lions from LIV to breach their agree-
Talor Gooch, Matt Jones and to the second postseason event in Wil- the three players “to have their cake ments” with the PGA. AP
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Sport 43

WNBA conditions under scrutiny after

Sparks players forced to sleep in airport
the NBA.
Guardian sport Travel problems are nothing new
to WNBA players. The Chicago Sky
The working conditions of WNBA ath- also had to sleep in an airport ear-
letes have come under scrutiny again lier this season, while Olympic cham-
after Los Angeles Sparks players were pion Kelsey Plum said flight delays
forced to sleep at an airport when their contributed to her team, the Las Vegas
flight was cancelled. Aces, losing to the Mystics in May.
The Sparks had beaten the Wash- In the same month, the Connecticut
ington Mystics on Sunday night but Sun cancelled a practice session after
their flight back to LA was cancelled their flight was delayed into the early
at 1am and then rescheduled for 9am. hours of the following morning. Mean-
“We’re roaming the airport. It’s the while, some players argued that flying
first time in my 11 seasons that I’ve commercial has put their health and
ever had to sleep in the airport,” Sparks careers at risk during the Covid-19 pan-
player Nneka Ogwumike, who is also demic.
the WNBA Players Association pres- The Sparks’ travel problems come
ident, said in a video she posted to days after a Russian court sentenced
Twitter. “But based on travel … It was WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine
only a matter of time. So, half of us are years in jail on drugs charges. The
sleeping in the airport. Half of us are at Olympic champion’s supporters say she
a hotel. There weren’t enough rooms.” was only playing in Russia, where she
Sparks assistant coach Latricia reportedly earned $1.5m a year, be-
Trammell tweeted a photo of airport The Sparks were making their way back to LA after victory over the Washington Mystics. Photograph: Keith Birmingham/AP cause the WNBA’s maximum salary is
lounge seats along with the caption: $222,000.
“Our beds tonight!”. Trammell also in- (NBA and top college teams usually fly as it considered it an unfair advan- flights would cost around $20m a year
cluded the hashtag “charter”, a ref- on private jets). The WNBA fined New tage over other franchises with small- and “jeopardize the financial health
erence to the fact that WNBA teams York Liberty last year after the team er budgets. WNBA commissioner Cathy of the league”, which lacks the huge
are required to take commercial flights chartered private jets for some games, Engelbert said in March that chartering broadcasting deals that help support

Mets and Dodgers tighten grip on divisions

after victories over rivals
game. “They seem to be having a lot of
Associated Press luck right now offensively. That’s great.
It’s August. [We’ll] see what things are
The Dodgers swept a three-game series like in October.”
against San Diego to take a 15.5-game Los Angeles, meanwhile, have won
lead in the NL West, and the Mets took 17 of their last 19 meetings against San
four of five from Atlanta to move 6.5 up Diego. The scary thing about the Dodg-
on the Braves in the NL East. That was ers is they can still improve. Justin
after the Padres made serious waves Turner is expected back this coming
at the deadline by acquiring Juan Soto, week. And Los Angeles have gone
and the Braves added Jake Odorizzi and on this extended run without Walker
Raisel Iglesias. Buehler, who hasn’t pitched since June
Los Angeles weren’t all that active, 10.
The Dodgers took Joey Gallo off the Elsewhere, what the AL Central and
Yankees’ hands but otherwise seemed NL Central lack in dominant teams,
content to lie low. Then they beat Soto, they may make up for in excitement.
Manny Machado and the Padres three Minnesota lead the AL Central by one
times by a combined 20-4 over the game over Cleveland and two over the
weekend. Los Angeles have won eight White Sox. That could be an intense
in a row and 30 of their last 35. race, since none of those teams are as-
Machado, though, insisted the de- sured a wild card.
feats were not troubling his team. St Louis have won seven in a row
“Concerned?” he responded to re- and lead Milwaukee by two games in
porters after Sunday’s loss. “Why would Jacob deGrom’s return has been a huge boost for the New York Mets. Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA the NL Central. The Cardinals took
I be concerned? Not at all.” three straight from the New York Yan-
Asked what gave him his confi- returned to the mound for the first time they’ve seemed poised to overtake the ing into any playoff series. kees to end the week. The Brewers have
dence, the six-time All-Star joked: “I’m in almost 13 months. New York lost his Mets. But New York won two of three at One man who doesn’t think the lost six of seven and are 1.5 games out of
fucking Manny Machado.” first start but won his second – when Atlanta in the middle of last month and Mets will sail through the postseason a wild card.
Like the Dodgers, the Mets were he took a perfect game into the sixth got the better of the Braves again this is Braves pitcher Spencer Strider, who
also fairly quiet at the deadline. Of inning against Atlanta on Sunday. time. If deGrom and Max Scherzer are took the loss against New York on
course, they made a pretty big recent The Braves have recovered nicely healthy and Edwin Diaz keeps rolling, Sunday.
addition internally when Jacob deGrom from a mediocre start, and at times the Mets can certainly feel good head- “A lot of weird hits,” he said after the
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
44 Sport

Pete Rose dismisses questions over statutory

rape claims in Phillies return
the decision to invite Rose to partic-
Associated Press ipate in Sunday’s ceremony.
“In planning the 1980 reunion, we
Pete Rose dismissed questions on consulted with Pete’s teammates about
Sunday about a woman’s claim she had his inclusion,” the Phillies said in a
a sexual relationship with the former statement. “Everyone wants Pete to be
MLB star when she was a minor. part of the festivities since there would
“It was 55 years ago, babe,” Rose told be no trophy in 1980 without him.
a female baseball writer for the Phila- In addition, the club received permis-
delphia Inquirer. sion from the Commissioner’s Office to
Rose, though, had no trouble remi- invite Pete as a member of the cham-
niscing about the 1980 World Series pionship team.”
champion Philadelphia Phillies team A 17-time All-Star, Rose got 826 of
that was honored before Sunday’s his 4,256 hits during his five years play-
game. After initially getting booed ing for the Phillies from 1979-83. There
lightly, the 81-year-old Rose received are no immediate plans for Rose to
a standing ovation from Phillies fans be inducted in Philadelphia’s Wall of
when he walked on to the Citizens Fame.
Bank Park field for the first time since “Anybody would like to be on the
he received a lifetime ban from Major Wall of Fame,” Rose said. “I don’t know
League Baseball in August 1989. who made that decision, but God bless
“They made me feel real good them. They made it for a reason. I’m
today,” Rose said of the cheers. “I don’t still here today for the biggest event in
want to say I expected it. I guess I did Pete Rose was given a lifetime ban by MLB after betting on games. Photograph: Eric Hartline/USA Today Sports a long time here in Philadelphia. I’m
expect it from Philly fans. That’s the sitting right here talking to you guys.
way they are. They love their sports tion before the game – and later apolo- here for the Philly organization and woman’s claims are unverified. Everything evens out.”
heroes.” gized to her following Sunday’s cere- who cares what happened 50 years ago.” Rose acknowledged in 2017 that Rose agreed to the lifetime ban after
Rose’s already stained reputation mony after initially saying, “will you The woman, identified as Jane Doe he did have a relationship with the an investigation for MLB by lawyer
suffered another blow in 2017 when forgive me if I sign 1,000 baseballs for in 2017, said Rose called her in 1973, woman, but he said it started when she John Dowd found that Rose placed
the Phillies called off a planned induc- you?” – and was just as combative on when she was 14 or 15, and they began a was 16. He also said they never had sex numerous bets on the Cincinnati Reds
tion into the team’s Wall of Fame be- the topic after the pregame celebration. sexual relationship in Cincinnati that outside Ohio. At the time, Rose was in to win from 1985 to 1987 while playing
cause of the sexual misconduct accu- “I’m going to tell you one more time: lasted several years. She also alleged his mid-30s and was married with two for and managing the team. Rose has
sations levied against him. Rose brus- I’m here for the Philly fans, I’m here Rose met her in locations outside Ohio children. asked MLB to end his lifetime ban.
quely responded to the reporter’s ques- for my teammates, OK,” Rose said. “I’m for sex. Rose’s lawyer has said the Last month, the Phillies defended

‘I find it stressful’: Lewis Hamilton reveals he

dislikes driving outside of F1
But the 37-year-old said the pros-
Guardian sport and agencies pect of an unrivalled eighth cham-
pionship is pushing him to carry on in
Lewis Hamilton has made the startling the sport.
admission that he does not like driving “I’ll be lying if I said that I hadn’t
on normal roads because he finds it too thought about extending,” he said. “I’m
stressful. still on the mission, I’m still loving driv-
Speaking to Vanity Fair magazine ing, I’m still being challenged by it. So I
an article published on Monday, the don’t really feel like I have to give it up
seven-time Formula One world cham- anytime soon.”
pion said: “I just think that I find it The four-times champion Sebastian
stressful. I try not to do things that Vettel announced his retirement on the
don’t add to my life.” eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix last
While negotiating the busy streets month but Hamilton is not likely to
near Nice in his Mercedes Smart car, follow suit anytime soon.
Hamilton told his interviewer: “Look, “It doesn’t make me think about my
we’re on these roads, anything can future but it is a reminder that I am
happen.” Later, as the traffic built up, in that part of my career that people
he went on to say: “This is now stress- I came up with and have raced for so
ful for me. This road is crazy. So much long will start to stop,” Hamilton said.
going on here. I’m going to turn around “Before you know it Fernando Alonso
in a second.” will not be here and then who is there
Hamilton also admitted he consi- after that? I guess I will be the oldest.
dered quitting F1 after the season finale Lewis Hamilton reacts after finishing second in the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year. Photograph: Kamran Jebreili/AP “But I am thinking about how I can
in Abu Dhabi last year, when a contro- improve this car, what steps we need
versial interpretation of the rules re- my belts, I’ve got to get out of there, I’ve resigned, which resulted in a late safety tract with his team until the end of to take to get this team winning again,
sulted in Max Verstappen denying the got to climb out of this thing, I’ve got car being deployed and the advantage next year and said he has considered what is the road map to claiming anoth-
British driver an eighth championship. to find the strength. I had no strength. handed to his fiercest rival, left Ham- extending his stay in the sport beyond er world championship and what we
“I don’t know if I can really put into And it was one of the toughest mo- ilton stunned and he did not talk about then. Hamilton has had to make do need to do to have everyone in this
words the feeling that I had,” the British ments, I would say, that I’ve had in a the incident for weeks. “I, for sure, with fighting to be the best of the sport more aligned, in terms of diver-
driver said. long, long time.” considered whether I wanted to con- rest during this campaign, with Vers- sity.”
“I do remember just sitting there in The decisions taken by the FIA race tinue.” tappen seemingly on course to retain
disbelief. And realising I’ve got to undo director, Michael Masi, who has since The Mercedes driver is under con- his crown.
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Sport 45

What can Ten Hag do about the sorry decline

of Manchester United?
the requisite ability to be a starter for
Jamie Jackson United, Marcus Rashford is very much
in the last-chance saloon in that regard.
Erik ten Hag: you have three weeks Can Ten Hag actually improve any
to save Manchester United’s season. or all of the above? On the evidence
Sound ridiculous after only 90 minutes of Sunday, the answer is no. But it is
of Premier League action, even if that his job to do so. Just as Murtough’s
was a dire 2-1 home defeat by Brighton is to produce viable alternatives to
Harry Maguire celebrates United’s goal
on Sunday – their first ever home loss the want-away Ronaldo beyond Marko against Brighton, but was caught out of
against those opponents in 113 years? Arnautovic or line up Adrien Rabiot as position during the match, as he too often
Of course it does, but this is the glar- an alternative to De Jong. The Juven- is. Photograph: Ash Donelon/Manchester
ing truth that faces the new manager. tus midfielder’s history of ill-discipline United/Getty Images
And it certainly does not help that Ten makes him a quaint choice for the
Hag’s ability to rebuild an embarras- martinet-like Ten Hag. formed by the personnel and struc-
singly mediocre squad is materially af- One test is this: would Pep Guar- ture his ownership put in place. The
fected by two branches of the execu- Erik ten Hag gets his orders across during Manchester United’s defeat to Brighton, a diola or Jürgen Klopp go for the same result: six titles, two FA Cups and
tive: the smarts of football director, match in which Marcus Rashford again struggled. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters players as United are currently doing? six League Cups. When Fenway Sports
John Murtough, and the desire of If the answer is a negative then they Group became proprietors of Liverpool
the Glazer family to splurge a serious Frenkie de Jong. Murtough and the on Sunday had an all-too familiar, stale should not be considered, or what is the in 2010, the same occurred, clear and
amount of cash. Glazers had a relative age to sign the feel. point in trying to compete with the best decisive improvements in personnel
The capitulation on Sunday was as Barcelona playmaker or walk away at a Where De Jong would have lined up, two teams in the land? and structure resulting in success: a
if there has not been four months- judicious juncture if, say, due diligence there was instead the functional pair- But, here, we come to the ques- first title for 30 years plus the Cham-
plus since Ten Hag’s appointment as found that he may be reluctant to join, ing of Fred and Scott McTominay in a tion of the owners: are they really se- pions League, Club World Cup, FA and
manager to overhaul the squad, as if or there was an outstanding issue of team without Raphaël Varane and Cris- rious about challenging the City-Liver- League Cups. Malcolm Glazer acquired
last season did not end with the 1-0 £17m in deferred wages. tiano Ronaldo, the latter coming on as pool hegemony? It is nearly a decade United in 2005 but he inherited the
defeat at Crystal Palace on 22 May and But, no. Instead Ten Hag, Murtough a second-half substitute. It was a lineup since United were last champions and genius Ferguson who had already been
Ralf Rangnick’s tenure as interim head and the Glazers continued with the pur- pockmarked with mediocrity. with only three trophies won in that in place for 19 years. When the Scot left
coach concluding with United in sixth, suit of De Jong – a “game of poker”, David de Gea can stop shots admi- time, the answer is surely “no”. There the decline began: the capitulation to
35 yawning points behind the cham- as characterised by one club execu- rably but is a liability under the high is the mountain of debt loaded on the Brighton was the club in microcosm.
pions Manchester City. Brighton’s visit tive – up to and beyond the debacle ball and his questionable ability to fa- club by the owners – nearly £500m as There are three weeks left of the
was akin to match No 39 in an ongoing on Sunday with him still a Barcelona shion long-range passes like Ederson of the end of last year – and there is transfer window and United despe-
sorry campaign and the latest low point player and the percentage chance of was illuminated by one agricultural the series of failed managers since Fer- rately need to act in the market. But for
in the club’s post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. signing him dwindling to single figures. hoof straight out of play. Diogo Dalot, guson, plus the roll call of middling Ten Hag to truly prosper, the structural
The evidence is searing: nothing much There have been some sign- the right-back, can dither, as was the signings of which those Ten Hag has fault lines that run deep at the club
has changed since the dog days of last ings: Christian Eriksen (free), Lisan- case when nearly allowing a goal to inherited are merely the latest crop. All also need addressing, and almost cer-
term. dro Martínez (£48.3m) and Tyrell Ma- be scored 15 seconds into the contest. of this has to be termed, politely, as tainly via a change of ownership. That
When Ten Hag was appointed on lacia (£13m). But with only Eriksen and Harry Maguire, retained as captain by mismanagement. is something the Dutchman cannot
21 April, the gun was fired on a fresh Martínez starting against Brighton, the Ten Hag, was caught out of position, as When Sheikh Mansour purchased affect.
recruitment drive. The prime target was team that took to the Old Trafford pitch he too often is. And if Luke Shaw is of City 14 years ago the club was trans-

Premier League: 10 talking points from the

weekend’s action
keep City’s attacks going. The Prem-
Guardian sport ier League champions enjoyed 77 per
cent of possession as they eased into
Martínez fails to convince the new campaign. It was another re-
It is unfair to pick out one player minder of the surprises Pep Guardiola
from Manchester United’s dire open- can implement within his tactics. It is
ing display under Erik ten Hag but a regular sight to see full-backs crop up
Lisandro Martínez seriously struggled in irregular places. While showing the
against Brighton. These are, of course, team can adapt to the arrival of Erling Erling Haaland of Manchester City.
the earliest of days for the new centre- Haaland, knowing that he will make his Photograph: Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty
back but he will have to learn fast. The clever runs, City are constantly evolv-
diminutive Argentinian is a footballer ing on a game-by-game basis. They down the middle. While many Arsenal
the manager knows well but there are have adjusted in the final third and fans crave a backup centre-forward to
question marks over his stature. There will keep teams on their toes with inno- take the load off Jesus and Eddie Nke-
will be serial aerial bombardment this vations across the pitch. A marker has tiah, Martinelli would surely be able to
season of the type he failed to deal with Danny Ward, Trent Alexander Arnold and Martinelli. Composite: Getty/Shutterstock/ been laid down. Will Unwin fill that position adeptly if needed. For
against Brighton, with Danny Welbeck Reuters Match report: West Ham 0-2 Man- now there is plenty to like about the
rising highest above him when missing chester City instinctive relationship the Brazil team-
a close-range header in the second half. fouled in the buildup to Mitrovic’s first two former Fulham players in Harvey Martinelli could be back-up for mates appear to have struck up. Nick
Martínez might also have conceded a goal. He still had few quibbles about Elliott and Fabio Carvalho. Might Liver- Jesus Ames
penalty when bundling over the same escaping Craven Cottage with a point. pool’s old guard be suffering a hangover It took three months for Gabriel Match report: Crystal Palace 0-2 Ar-
player in a performance that did noth- “It’s my responsibility to find out why,” from last season’s disappointments? A Martinelli to get off the mark last senal
ing to suggest the 24-year-old can help he said. His experienced players had tight, World Cup-truncated schedule season but only 20 minutes to open his Burn shines under pressure
plug United’s leaky rearguard. Jamie been most culpable. Mitrovic terrorised will soon reveal all. John Brewin account this time around. His header Sven Botman cost Newcastle £35m
Jackson Van Dijk, Fulham’s striker also reintro- Match report: Fulham 2-2 Liverpool at Selhurst Park was well taken and it from Lille this summer but the much
Match report: Manchester United 1-2 ducing those questions about Trent City keep opposition on toes was a reminder that, for all the excite- admired 22-year-old Dutchman was
Brighton Alexander-Arnold’s defending. The full- Kalvin Phillips has been shown how ment around Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal made to wait to make his debut
Klopp let down by senior players back flinched as Mitrovic crashed in to play in Manchester City’s midfield have another potentially explosive Bra- at centre-half until stoppage time as
Jürgen Klopp threw the question on the back post. Henderson strug- but not by Rodri, the man in theory zilian forward in their ranks. It is easy to Eddie Howe opted to stick with Dan
of whether Virgil van Dijk had ac- gled with Andreas Pereira and João ahead of him in the pecking order, but forget Martinelli has only just turned 21; Burn as his left-side, left-footed cen-
tually committed a penalty-conceding Palhinha in midfield, Roberto Firmino by Kyle Walker. The right-back repeat- he tends to be deployed on the left but tral defender alongside Fabian Schär.
foul on Aleksandar Mitrovic to the flopped in attack. The positive was edly wandered off the flank into space rotated positions with Jesus to good With Botman also left-footed the con-
press corps. He also wondered aloud Darwin Núñez’s energy reviving Liver- in the middle of the park. He would effect during the first half and there is
whether Jordan Henderson had been pool after replacing Firmino, aided by get the ball and play short passes to a strong sense his long-term future lies Continued on page 46
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

46 Sport

Continued from page 45 missing the suspended Richarlison but failed to trouble Everton’s injury-hit de- - he’s got the No 1 shirt and [he of- Cherries still need reinforcement
also included Fraser Forster and Djed fence. “I think Raheem will lift Kai and fered] presence, command of the box On the eve of Bournemouth’s first
sensus was that the former Brigh- Spence now has the depth to com- Mason and Pulisic up,” said Tuchel. “Be- [and was] very good with his feet.” Peter game back in the top flight, the words
ton defender would be the player to pete on all fronts. “The message was cause the centre of our formation is Lansley of Stuart Webber, Norwich’s sporting
make way but, as Newcastle beat Not- very clear that we’ve signed new play- in the three centre-backs and the two Match report: Leicester 2-2 Brent- director, sprung to mind. Webber con-
tingham Forest 2-0 at St James’ Park ers to improve our squad because our number sixes it is a deep formation in ford ceded he sent Daniel Farke to war
on Saturday, Burn made it clear he will squad was really poor last season and which you rely heavily on the two wing- Elland Road can be a fortress for without a gun after being relegated
not give up his place without a fight. the Champions League spot was a big backs. We didn’t have enough from the Leeds with 21 points two years ago, though
Arguably only the midfielder Bruno achievement,” he said. “Our first goal wing backs to create more freedom for Leeds won only four games at home they managed only a point more
Guimarães shone brighter than Burn, was to improve the squad, not just the inner players. From there we go.” in the Premier League last season, in- as they suffered the same fate last
with the latter earning Howe’s tech- players physically but also mentally. We Andy Hunter cluding three against the teams that season despite spending £50m. Bour-
nical-area applause after, at one point, wanted the right players for my philos- Match report: Everton 0-1 Chelsea were relegated. They stayed up on the nemouth have made three signings
dispossessing Forest’s accelerating for- ophy.” Ed Aarons It’s a new dawn for Leicester final day and will want to avoid a but only one, Marcus Tavernier, broth-
ward Brennan Johnson with copybook Match report: Tottenham 4-1 Sou- As Leicester City prepare for what similar struggle this time around. In er of the Rangers captain James, was
timing and composure. Schär, mean- thampton could be a new era, how much will they order to do so, they will need to im- fit enough to start their opening-day
while, broke Forest’s resistance cour- Tuchel: Sterling can lift flat for- miss Kasper Schmeichel? Their cap- prove their form at Elland Road. “The victory over Aston Villa. Tavernier hit
tesy of a stunning 25-yard shot before wards tain of recent times had started every good thing about last year is that we the ground running with a lively dis-
Callum Wilson’s clever goal sealed vic- A rare win at Goodison Park, a opening game of the season for over found some important points in away play but Scott Parker requires further
tory. Louise Taylor clean sheet plus fine debuts from the a decade before his move to Nice last matches but we didn’t win enough at reinforcements. The Argentina centre-
Match report: Newcastle 2-0 Not- summer signings Raheem Sterling, Ka- week. Danny Ward, his patient deputy home,” Jesse Marsch said. An opening- back Marcos Senesi, who is set to sign
tingham Forest lidou Koulibaly and latterly Marc Cucu- for the past four years, performed well day victory over Wolves, thanks to Ro- from Feyenoord, will provide some wel-
Spurs make a statement rella left Thomas Tuchel content on in the 2-2 draw with Brentford, but the drigo and an own goal, gives Leeds a come ammunition. “We are trying to
Antonio Conte rarely looks that the opening day, although he seemed dynamic clearly changes for Brendan platform to build on. Fans were behind give the players we have some help
content with life but the Italian’s unsurprised and unperturbed by Chel- Rodgers’ team. Schmeichel was a very the team from the first minute on Sat- to secure ourselves for a long season,”
demeanour after Tottenham’s impres- sea’s lack of creativity. “We were joking vocal and impassioned figure, and a urday, giving them a boost even when Parker said. “We definitely need more
sive comeback against Southampton at half-time saying maybe it is a typ- great shot-stopper. But Leicester’s hor- Wolves took the lead. “I come out of the players.” Ben Fisher
was an indication of the progress made ical Chelsea game – we win 1-0 and rendous record at conceding from set- tunnel for the match today, of course I Match report: Bournemouth 2-0
over the summer. While three new sign- Jorgi scores with a penalty,” the man- pieces last season indicates gives Ward am excited it’s our first match, and after Aston Villa
ings – Ivan Perisic, Clément Lenglet and ager admitted. So it proved. Despite has the chance to help the team im- 30 seconds I want to play,” Marsch said
Yves Bissouma – were given only late Sterling’s probing, Mason Mount and prove. “He was very assured and strong of the atmosphere. “It’s awesome.” Will
cameos, by which time Spurs were 4-1 Kai Havertz were anonymous while 16 and we looked strong at set-pieces,” Unwin
up. Conte knows that a bench that was corners and a host of inviting free-kicks Rodgers said. “He’s our No 1 goalkeeper Match report: Leeds 2-1 Wolves

Ryan Giggs subjected ex-partner to ‘litany’ of

abuse, court hears
the defendant would threaten to send
Josh Halliday North of England images of her, “of a personal nature”, to
correspondent her friends unless she did what he said.
He physically threw her, and her
Ryan Giggs head-butted his former belongings, out of an address they were
partner after subjecting her to a “litany” staying at after Greville challenged him
of physical and psychological abuse about another woman, and threw an
over three years, a court has heard. item at her in a bust-up in a hotel room
The former Manchester United and in London, the jury heard.
Wales footballer, 48, “entirely lost his Their relationship culminated in a
self-control” and attacked his then part- “heated” confrontation at their home
ner, Kate Greville, and elbowed her on 1 November 2020 when Giggs
sister in the jaw during an argument “deliberately head-butted” Kate Gre-
about his alleged infidelity, jurors were ville, the jury was told. He allegedly el-
told. bowed Greville’s sister, Emma Greville,
The fight at their home in Wors- in the jaw when she tried to stop the
ley, Greater Manchester, followed three pair from “grappling together down on
years of “systematic and at times vio- the floor”.
lent abuse” of Greville, 36, by the retired Giggs’s barrister, Chris Daw QC, said
footballer, the jury heard. Giggs “fully accepts that his behaviour,
The trial at Manchester Minshull on a moral level, was far from perfect”
Street crown court heard details of and that he “didn’t always handle their
expletive-laden and threatening mes- arguments in the best possible way”.
sages Giggs sent his former partner. Former Manchester United star and Wales manager Ryan Giggs leaves the Manchester Minshull Street crown court after the start of his However, he added, the defendant
One email, after Greville had blocked trial. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty Images denies coercive and controlling beha-
Giggs on social media, read: “Please un- viour or physically assaulting Greville
block me. All this blocking malarkey is Giggs denies charges of using con- jurors that while Giggs was “idolised” love … while all the time preying on and her sister. The allegations, he said,
poo. Promise no more naked piccies.” trolling and coercive behaviour against by his supporters on the pitch, behind her vulnerabilities for his own grati- were based on “distortion, exaggeration
Another email accused Greville of Greville between August 2017 and closed doors there was a “much uglier fication”. and lies”.
telling “LIES LIES LIES” and said: “Only November 2020. and more sinister side to his character”, Wright told the jury that Greville Daw told jurors they might think
an evil horrible cunt does that. Abso- He is also charged with assault- adding: “This, we say, was a private life and Giggs had a “toxic” relationship and Giggs and Greville behaved “like squa-
lutely astonishing. Now I look an utter ing Greville, causing her actual bodily that involved a litany of abuse, both argued often about affairs the former bbling children, or teenagers, at best”
twat after telling three of my friends harm, and of the common assault of her physical and psychological, of a woman midfielder was allegedly having. and likened their romance to other
I’m going to Scotland at the weekend.” younger sister, Emma Greville, at their who he professed to love.” Giggs would respond with “false dis- “dysfunctional relationships that are
Giggs added: “I’m so fucking mad now home in Worsley on 1 November 2020. He said Giggs perpetrated “syste- plays of indignation” and would “gas- destined to fail”.
I’m scaring myself because I could do He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. matic and at times violent abuse light” Greville into doubting herself, the The trial, before Judge Hilary
anything.” Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, told of a woman who he professed to court was told. Wright told jurors that Manley, is estimated to last two weeks.
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Sport 47

Australia’s golden Games come to a close as

Kookaburras win gold No 67
Australia in Manchester is a celebration
Courtney Walsh in Birmingham in itself. “I am so proud of that effort. It
is unbelievable,” she said.
On the opening night of the Australia ended the Common-
Birmingham Commonwealth Games, wealth Games with 67 gold medals, 11
Eddie Ockenden marched into Alex- ahead of second-placed England. The
ander Stadium, carrying the Australian Australians claimed 178 medals over-
flag with the broadest of smiles. A all to edge the host nation by two.
Minhyung Jee (left) and Jian Fang Lay in
distinguished servant of Australian Aside from Glasgow in 2014, the Aus-
action against the Singaporean duo of Tian-
hockey for 16 years, Ockenden was tralians have topped the table in every
wei Feng and Jian Zeng. Photograph: Darren
a popular choice for the honour. His Commonwealth Games since 1990. England/AAP
excellence with the hockey stick and Australian chef de mission Petria
his humility away from the pitch were Thomas, who contributed nine of those “We certainly made it very clear to
on display again on Monday as the golds during a distinguished swimming our team members what the expec-
Kookaburras finished the Games with career, praised the squad for the excel- tations were around our Covid pro-
a gold medal. lence of their performances. tocols. But having said that, people are
A decider pitting the silver and “It is an honour to lead this team human. They make mistakes,” she said.
bronze medallists at last year’s Tokyo The Kookaburras celebrate a goal during the rout of India in the final of the men’s hockey and watch our Aussies shine both on “There were some people who didn’t
Olympics against each other soon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images and off the field,” she said. “The team wear masks for various reasons at dif-
became a mismatch as Australia has performed on the field of play and, ferent times. But on the whole, we have
trounced India 7-0 in a romp to the “It has been incredible. You won’t en”. “He’s played a record amount of generally, just the way they have con- done a pretty good job.”
gold medal. This was seventh heaven find anything else in your life you can games for the Kookaburras, but he is ducted themselves out and about, they Joining Ockendon as a flag bearer,
for Australian hockey, with the Kooka- do so passionately,” Ockenden said. “To such a humble guy and great fella,” he have been great ambassadors for Aus- the decorated diver Melissa Wu was
burras having claimed all seven tour- be able to play hockey for so long and said. tralia.” given the honour of leading a trium-
naments when the sport was played do what I’ve been able to do, I have been After the Diamonds recorded Thomas did concede there was phant team into Alexander Stadium
in the Commonwealth Games. Aus- very lucky.” the nation’s 1,000th Commonwealth an occasional blemish. Eyebrows were to close the Games. A silver medallist
tralia have now won 41 of the 42 The Australians scored from seven Games gold medal on Sunday night, raised when cricketer Tahlia McGrath in Melbourne in 2006 as a 13-year-
matches they have played at this level. of their 23 shots for goal while re- the Kookaburras took the tally to 1,001 played the final despite testing posi- old, Wu added another highlight to
In finals, the combined scoreline reads stricting India to just five attempts. on Monday. Silver and bronze medals tive for Covid-19 on the morning of the her career when partnering 14-year-old
33-2. Routs have become routine. It could be argued Indian keeper PR were also claimed in diving, along with match. It was within the rules of this Charli Petrov to a gold medal in the 10m
Ockenden, who equalled Kooka- Sreejesh did well given the barrage. another silver in table tennis, on a competition. synchronised platform in Birmingham.
burra great Mark Knowles as a four- Jacob Anderson and Nathan Ephraums smaller program of events leading into Australia instituted stricter rules The 30-year-old had planned to
time gold medallist, has now fea- scored two goals each, while Blake the closing ceremony. than other nations when it came to enjoy a few slices of pizza while watch-
tured in four memorable campaigns. Govers, Tom Wickham and Flynn Ogil- Jian Fang Lay and Minhyung Jee Covid precautions, though some of the ing the closing ceremony from the ath-
An Olympic gold is the missing piece. vie were also on the scoresheet. were beaten 3-0 by a Singapore combi- nearly 700 athletes did stretch the letes village, but was eager to embrace
He has a silver medal from Tokyo and Captain Aran Zalewski shared the nation in the women’s table tennis boundaries. Decent coffee shops had the honour. “I will be a bit overwhelmed
bronzes from Beijing and London. Al- co-captaincy with Ockenden and was doubles final. But for Lay, 49, win- an increasing number of athletes in- by it. I’m just going to really take it all
though 35, he harbours ambitions for full of praise for the Tasmanian who is ning another silver medal 20 years after cluding those wearing the green and in and enjoy it. It’s going to be a great
Paris in 2024. still running around “like a spring chick- managing the same feat on debut for gold as the Games went on. moment,” she said.

Team England celebrate ‘exceptional’

Commonwealth Games medal tally
successful Commonwealth Games,” he
Tumaini Carayol in Birmingham said.
Reid additionally expressed his
England finished with a record 176 belief that Birmingham could use the
medals – 57 of them gold – at Bir- Commonwealth Games as a pathway
mingham 2022 but fell narrowly short towards possibly bidding for a future
of the goal of outperforming table-top- Olympic Games: “The people of Bir-
ping Australia at the home Common- mingham, and the venues here, have
wealth Games. shown that they could certainly be part
Driven by dominance across sports of an Olympic bid.”
such as gymnastics and diving, Eng- As the 2022 Commonwealth Games
land beat their previous record of 174 ends, eyes will shift to the Paris 2024
at Glasgow 2014 and, although Australia Olympics, now only two years away.
finished ahead on the leaderboard with England argued that the Common-
178 medals, Team England’s chef de wealth Games remain “hugely” rele-
mission, Mark England, hailed the ef- vant, providing athletes with the rare
forts of his team. experience of a multi-sport Games,
“This has been an absolutely excep- while performing against elite oppo-
tional Games for Team England and sition. He believes that the next Olym-
what’s been exceptional about it, I pics on the other side of the English
think, is the fact that it’s a very young Channel will be like a home games,
team, an ambitious team,” England said. with many athletes who emerged in
“We’ve got 17-year-olds who are win- Birmingham continuing their journey
ning gold medals. It is by some margin Kyle Kothari and Lois Toulson won silver, and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Noah Williams gold, for England in the mixed synchronised in France.
the best home performance of any Eng- 10m platform final. Photograph: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images “We’ve always looked at it as a
lish team in a Commonwealth Games.” home Games,” he said. “Paris is closer
The success was mirrored by the duced its second-best Commonwealth as the city staged a successful event not have imagined or maybe not pre- to London than Newcastle, as the crow
other home nations. Northern Ireland Games medal haul, winning 51 medals, despite continued discussion about the viously seen,” said England. flies. We’ve turned it into a kind of
also registered its best Games with 18 only three behind the record 54 won relevance or otherwise of the Common- According to the Birmingham 2022 home advantage and our plans are
medals, its significant success driven at home in Glasgow. Wales finished Bir- wealth Games today. “The people of Bir- chief executive, Ian Reid, more than exceptional for that. And we’d expect
by an incredible Sunday in the boxing mingham 2022 with 28 medals. mingham have showcased the best of 1.5m tickets were sold for the event, to see a significant number of the ath-
as Northern Irish boxers dominated The success from British athletes the city, they’ve showcased the best of with the final figures yet to be pub- letes that we’ve seen in the last 10 days
the medal leaderboard, taking five gold was complemented by the positive the support for the athletes, in a way lished. “We are very much in the region in GB.”
medals and seven overall. Scotland pro- vibes and full crowds in Birmingham that I think many people perhaps might of this being the biggest and most
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022

48 Sport / Soccer

Issa Diop asks to leave West Ham as Fulham

near £15m deal for defender
to other targets. West Ham are in talks
Jacob Steinberg with PSG over Kehrer, but a deal for
the 25-year-old German will not come
Fulham are close to completing the cheap. Sevilla are also interested in
£15m signing of the centre-back Issa Kehrer.
Diop from West Ham. Diop decided he wanted to leave
The deal to take Diop to Craven Cot- West Ham after being told he would
tage is a major boost for Marco Silva, be their fifth-choice centre-back this
who has been looking for additions in season. The 25-year-old has been given
central defence following his side’s pro- permission to have a medical at
motion to the Premier League. Fulham, who intend to make him their
Fulham, who completed the signing seventh summer signing.
of the Republic of Ireland centre-back Diop has had a mixed time at West
Shane Duffy on a season-long loan from Ham. He started well abut has lacked
Brighton last week, have been locked in consistency and not been a regular
negotiations with West Ham for more under Moyes. The money received for
than a month. Diop will raise West Ham’s transfer
West Ham had been reluctant to budget. They still want a left-back, a
let Diop leave after their new signing, centre-back and a midfielder, as well
Nayef Aguerd, was ruled out for up to as a centre-back, and are interested in
three months following ankle surgery. Ibrahim Sangaré, but the Ivorian defen-
But their hand was forced after Diop, sive midfielder has just signed a new
who joined them from Toulouse for deal at PSV Eindhoven.
£22m in 2018, asked not to be involved Issa Diop impressed for West Ham having joined from Toulouse in 2018 but has fallen down the pecking order under David Moyes. West Ham are also willing to listen
when David Moyes’s side opened their Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters to offers for Saïd Benrahma and Nikola
campaign with a 2-0 defeat by Man- Vlasic. Torino want Vlasic on loan but
chester City on Sunday. Dawson ruled out with a hamstring son. from Wolves. Coady was interested in are reluctant to cover the Croatian’s
The Frenchman’s absence meant injury and Angelo Ogbonna contin- West Ham are trying to sign the joining West Ham, but indecision from wages.
Kurt Zouma was West Ham’s only uing his rehabilitation from a long-term Paris Saint-Germain defender Thilo Moyes allowed Everton to enter the
available centre-back against City. With knee injury, Moyes had to pair Zouma Kehrer after being beaten by Everton race.
Aguerd recovering from surgery, Craig with the 21-year-old full-back Ben John- to the signing of Conor Coady on loan Moyes has now switched his focus

Barcelona blocked by La Liga from

registering new players before season
club’s TV rights on a permanent deal,
Sid Lowe with Sixth Street buying the two pack-
ages over the next 25 years. Barcelona
Barcelona still cannot register their then spent €150m of its own money
summer signings after La Liga rejected to purchase the rights from the 26th
an attempt to use the club’s own funds year. That enabled the overall account-
to inflate the value of two of the asset ing value of the deal to be larger now,
sales they had resorted to in order to announcing two deals, the first for 10%
Frenkie de Jong’s departure would help
balance the books and strengthen their of the club’s La Liga TV rights over 25 Barça’s financial situation Photograph: Joan
team. years, the second for a further 15%. Monfort/AP
The intention now is to turn to a When the second deal was finalised,
fourth source of extraordinary income they announced that the club would re- move should it be necessary, which it
with the sale of a further 25% of their ceive €315m immediately and that the now appears to be. At members’ assem-
content production company, Barça operation would result in a benefit of blies this spring and in the autumn his
Studios, for an estimated €100m in the €400m. Barça president Joan Laporta administration, which inherited a grave
hope that it will allow them to include Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski lines up a shot but he may not be able to play the first had also expressed his hope that the financial crisis, had previously been
new arrivals such as Robert Lewan- game of the season. Photograph: Joan Monfort/AP league would share their interpretation given permission to sell a percentage
dowski, Andreas Christensen and Jules of the criteria. It has not. of future TV rights (up to 25% for up to
Koundé in the squad for their opening of players and increased revenue, Bar- tors Grant Thornton, but the league has Barcelona are unhappy with the 25 years), Barca Studios and 49% of the
game against Rayo Vallecano on Sat- celona said that they had brought in recalculated the benefit on the basis interpretation applied. The league has club’s licensing arm BLM. The latter has
urday night. more than €850m as they seek to im- that €150m of the amount is not new strict financial fair play rules – the not happened as yet.
Barcelona had accounted for bene- prove their squad and fix a financial income. “salary limit”, based essentially on a Barcelona continue to try to move
fits of €667m (£562m) from the sale of crisis. Having spent more on transfers calculation of income against the cost players on, with the potential departure
two packets of future television rights But the league’s audit found that than any club in Spain and not yet ma- of the squad – which rather than being of Frenkie de Jong particularly signif-
and had hoped that would help enable the amount Barcelona had received di- naged to reduced their salary outgoings punitive is preventative: if a club’s out- icant because of the size of his salary
them to comply with La Liga’s financial rectly from investors Sixth Street for sufficiently, that leaves Barcelona still goings on its squad exceeds the limit and amortisation. They are negotiating
fair play rules. They also announced the two TV rights packages of 10% and 15% short of the threshold where they can set by the league, an automated system salary reductions with senior players
sale of just under 25% of Barça Studios, respectively was only €517m. The re- register all their players with La Liga. simply does not allow them to register and club captains Gerard Piqué, Sergio
the third of the so-called “palancas” or maining €150m had been paid by the Rather than sell those packages di- players. Busquets and Jordi Alba and intend to
economic “levers” they had pulled this club itself, according to the Spanish rectly to Sixth Street, Barcelona set up Laporta had said he hoped not to make more signings.
summer. In total, including a new spon- radio station Cadena Cope. The oper- a venture called Locksley Investments, have to turn to a fourth lever, although
sorship deal with Spotify, the departure ation is legal, cleared by the club’s audi- Cope said. That company bought the the board had already approved that
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Soccer 49

Watford’s Sarr scores from 60 yards but

misses penalty in draw at West Brom
in but we probably didn’t deserve it.”
PA Media Albion manager Steve Bruce admit-
ted he was torn between applaud-
Ismaïla Sarr’s wonder goal was de- ing Sarr’s wonder goal and criticising
scribed as “a moment of genius” by Wat- Button. “Like everybody in the ground,
ford head coach Rob Edwards after they did I want to applaud it or look at my
drew 1-1 at West Brom. goalkeeper, thinking ‘where are you?!”’
Sarr was Watford’s hero and vil- said Bruce. “It’s a wonderful piece of
West Brom keeper David Button dives the
lain – scoring a goal reminiscent of skill by a very good player. I think he right way and saves a poor penalty from
David Beckham’s strike at Wimbledon looked to see where my goalkeeper was Ismaïla Sarr. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/
in 1996 before missing a penalty. The and he [Sarr] executed it. Action Images/Reuters
24-year-old Senegal forward gave Ed- “But the way we responded was the
wards’ side a 12th-minute lead with a pleasing thing – and my goalkeeper. It three more chances and Bachmann
spectacular chip from almost 60 yards wasn’t easy for him, but he didn’t get denied John Swift.
out, before Karlan Grant equalised in nervous. He probably thought he wasn’t Grant equalised in the second
first half stoppage time. But Sarr missed Watford’s Ismaïla Sarr acknowledges the crowd after opening the scoring against West deep enough. But he didn’t panic, and minute of first half added time, lofting
a 73rd-minute penalty as Albion con- Brom with a chip from his own half. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters he saved a penalty which gave us a the ball home after controlling Grady
trolled the game and should have won point.” Diangana’s diagonal pass.
at a canter. like that, it’s special. As soon as it left his said: “I’m sure he was disappointed with West Brom dominated – Dar- But Sarr missed the chance of a
“Just seeing it and his quality, it was foot, I thought it’s in. It was an amazing it but he was incredible – he was the nell Furlong’s full-blooded volley was possible winner when his poor spot-
a moment of genius really,” said Ed- goal.” reason why we got a point. He scored tipped over by goalkeeper Daniel Bach- kick was saved by Button’s legs after
wards. “It was a great bit of technique As for Sarr’s poor penalty, which was a goal from nothing and he was brave mann, who blocked Grant’s shot with Semi Ajayi had pushed the Watford
and vision – whenever you see a goal easily saved by David Button, Edwards enough to take the penalty; it didn’t go his legs. After Sarr’s goal, Grant missed striker.

Conor Coady joins Everton on loan as Wolves

sign Guedes for £27.5m
in the Premier League do you know
Ben Fisher how many games they played? 152. You
know how many games Coady played?
Everton’s new signing Conor Coady has 151. With me he played all the games.
pledged to “help the club move for- Massive respect from me to Coady and
ward” after completing a season-long massive respect from the club to Coady.
loan move from Wolves. Bruno Lage Now I have more solutions and I will
sanctioned the temporary exit of his choose the best for my team, but I
captain to allow him to play regular cannot forget Coady.”
football in the buildup to the World Guedes has been capped 32 times
Cup. Everton will have an option to buy by Portugal and his arrival is a welcome
the England centre-back at the end of boost to a Wolves team short on at-
the season. tacking options. Last season they were
Wolves, meanwhile, have made the the lowest scorers in the league outside
Valencia forward Gonçalo Guedes their the relegation zone, despite finishing
second summer signing in a £27.5m 10th. Guedes, who started his career at
deal. Benfica, scored 11 league goals in La
Coady, a product of Liverpool’s Liga last season.
academy, will bolster Everton’s defen- Wolves remain without first-choice
sive options after Ben Godfrey frac- striker Raúl Jiménez, last season’s top
tured his leg in the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea scorer, who will be absent for at least
on Saturday. Coady started every Prem- another month with a knee injury.
ier League game for Wolves last season Meanwhile, Adama Traoré is sidelined
but was among the substitutes as they Conor Coady is a product of Liverpool’s academy but was keen to join Everton to stay in the England reckoning. Photograph: Ian Hodgson/ with a hamstring problem.
began the campaign with a defeat at PA Wolves intend to keep Morgan
Leeds at the weekend. The 29-year-old sion to shift his tactics during the for the majority of his time at Wolves, Frank Lampard has confirmed the 20- Gibbs-White amid serious interest from
is a hugely popular figure at Molineux close-season and opt for a back four, whom he joined from Huddersfield in year-old midfielder Amadou Onana is Nottingham Forest, who have had three
and Bruno Lage was happy to keep the preferring Nathan Collins – a £20.5m 2015. Everton tend to operate with a set to sign from Lille. bids rejected for the midfielder and
defender, but he departs with the head summer arrival from Burnley – and back five and Coady could slot in along- On Friday Lage described Coady as remain keen on the player.
coach’s blessing. Max Kilman in a two-man central de- side Yerry Mina and James Tarkowski, “one of the best people I know in foot-
Coady is a victim of Lage’s deci- fence. Coady has played in a back five another summer signing. Meanwhile, ball”. He added: “Since Wolves arrived

Rangers ‘raring to go’ in bid to keep

Champions League campaign alive
League involvement at the qualifying To Van Bronckhorst’s credit he has that and make sure we have a better competitive in the Champions League.
Ewan Murray stage. not attempted to sugarcoat what trans- performance. I am sure we are capable We always have confidence, no matter
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team, pired last week. The Rangers manager and [that] you will see a different team who we play at home. The confidence
Rangers have become so accustomed Europa League finalists in May, must is, however, adamant there will be no to what you saw last week. is there. The objective and desire is still
to scaling heights in Europe that cancel out a 2-0 deficit at Ibrox on Tues- repeat. “I have never seen my players “If you are playing in Europe you to be in the Champions League next
there would be bruised egos to match day after an error-strewn showing in more disappointed after a game,” he cannot have an off night. The level week.” At that point Monaco or PSV
a bruised balance sheet if Union Belgium. USG last featured in European said. we reached last week is not what we
St-Gilloise terminate their Champions competition in the Fairs Cup of 1964-65. “We have a chance now to overturn normally reach or have to reach to be Continued on page 50
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
50 Soccer

Continued from page 49 may be a more natural habitat for both

halves of the Old Firm but the riches of
Eindhoven would provide the oppo- the Champions League can dictate, for
sition. example, signing policy.
Rangers have apparently taken note Lundstram, 28, stopped short of
not only of exuberant celebrations by confirming this is a tie that will shape
their Belgian opponents at full time of Rangers’ season. “European wise, of
the first leg but also of comments attri- course our aim is to get into the Cham-
buted to USG’s Teddy Teuma. The mid- pions League,” he said. “That is what
fielder suggested the Ibrox atmosphere we have wanted for a couple of seasons
“is not a problem” for him and his team- and, going forward, this whole league
mates. campaign is gearing towards winning
“You can use whatever motivation the league and qualifying automat-
you need, everyone is different, but we ically.
certainly have all seen it,” the Rangers “Of course it is a big moment for
midfielder John Lundstram said. “We ourselves, we all want to be playing
certainly all know it’s there. It’s a touch Champions League. The whole fanbase,
disrespectful, if you want to say that. the whole club, wants that. What foot-
We are all ready for this game. We just ball player doesn’t? But in terms of sea-
need to turn up and we will. son-defining, it is completely different
“They are coming to a really tough from the league campaign. We want to
place. I am not sure they have really win the league, that is what Rangers
taken that on board yet, where they are always aspires to do, but of course we
coming to and what a big venue it is. John Lundstram (right) said Teddy Teuma’s boast that Union St-Gilloise will not be intimidated by the Ibrox crowd will act as motivation want to play in the Champions League
We are just raring to go, we can’t wait for his side. Photograph: DeFodi Images/Getty Images as well.”
to get out there and put right where we Van Bronckhorst will make a last-
disappointed ourselves last week.” their run to the final. The warning is “Last week wasn’t good enough, Celtic’s automatic qualification for the minute decision on the availability of
Knockout results from last season served by Malmö, who bundled Ran- we feel that as much as the fans do,” group phase of the Champions League Ryan Kent, who trained on Monday
largely back up Lundstram’s boldness. gers out of the Champions League Lundstram said. “We know what is ex- offers them a financial boost Rangers upon return from injury.
Rangers saw off Red Star Belgrade, almost a year ago to the day with a 2-1 pected of us as Rangers players.” can only keep pace with, for starters,
Braga and RB Leipzig in Glasgow during success at Ibrox. A broader picture is significant. by defeating USG. The Europa League

Borussia Dortmund enter race to sign Callum

Hudson-Odoi from Chelsea
for more signings. The club are chasing
Jacob Steinberg Wesley Fofana, but they are yet to meet
Leicester City’s £85m asking price for
Borussia Dortmund have entered the the French centre-back.
race to sign Callum Hudson-Odoi, who Chelsea are holding talks with Bar-
wants to leave Chelsea after Thomas celona over a deal for Frenkie de Jong,
Tuchel left him out of his side’s 1-0 win even though the Netherlands mid-
over Everton on Saturday. fielder remains reluctant to leave Camp
Southampton have also ap- Nou. They have also been offered the
proached Chelsea about a loan deal chance to sign Pierre-Emerick Auba-
for Hudson-Odoi, while there is inter- meyang from the Spanish club. With
est too from Leicester, and the winger Werner following Romelu Lukaku out
is keen to assess his options carefully of the door, more depth is required
before making his next move. in attack and Tuchel had an excellent
The 21-year-old wants to play at a relationship with Aubameyang at Dort-
high level and he would be interested in mund.
joining Dortmund. The Bundesliga side Tuchel also wants a right wing-back
almost signed Hudson-Odoi on loan to compete with Reece James. Chel-
last summer. Several other clubs are sea have looked at Southampton’s Kyle
understood to be monitoring the situ- Walker-Peters, but it is understood that
ation. they favour a move for Internazionale’s
Hudson-Odoi was surprised to be Denzel Dumfries. Inter are yet to re-
left out against Everton. He was not ceive a bid for the Netherlands de-
carrying an injury. The 21-year-old has Callum Hudson-Odoi wants to leave Chelsea having been left out of their 1-0 victory over Everton on Saturday. Leicester and Southampton fender.
two years remaining on his deal and a are interested in signing him on loan. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA Chelsea have opened talks with
permanent deal has not been ruled out, Édouard Mendy over a new deal. Two
though the cost involved in prising him The Germany forward Timo Werner is ing Barcelona. Malang Sarr has been gation to buy. rounds of negotiations have been held
away from Chelsea means a loan looks close to bringing an end to his dis- given permission to have a medical at Chelsea, whose new owners have with the goalkeeper, who is one of the
likelier this summer. astrous time in England by returning Monaco before joining the Ligue 1 side signed Kalidou Koulibaly, Carney lowest earners in the first team.
Chelsea are preparing to let sev- to RB Leipzig on a permanent deal and on loan. The deal for the French centre- Chuwuemeka, Raheem Sterling and
eral squad players leave this summer. Marcos Alonso is on the verge of join- back is expected to contain an obli- Marc Cucurella, remain in the market

Bayern cogs turn ominously but new faces

breathe life into Bundesliga
but they shouldn’t. “You don’t go to not so much pulling back the curtain team were ferocious, with Sadio Mané at the home of their shell-shocked
Andy Brassell the theatre because you’re wondering to the campaign on Friday night at Ein- immediately fitting into the vertical on- hosts, all the hostility of the renowned
how the swan from Swan Lake will turn tracht Frankfurt as tearing it off and slaught. It was clear from the coach’s Deutsche Bank Park no match for the
Meet the new boss, just like the old out,” as Süddeutsche Zeitung’s Martin discarding it. Even a flickering thought celebrations on the touchline just how champs in belligerent mood. Moaning
boss. Though the opening weekend of Schneider put it. that the champions might struggle to thrilled he was by his team’s front-foot about the same old Bayern is to ignore
the Bundesliga had its familiar themes Let’s start with what the world most find their attacking feet without the de- manner. the actual content – this may have been
and outcomes, it most definitely had expected, or at least feared. Bayern parted Robert Lewandowski was quick- Forty-two minutes into the new
a story to tell. Some will tut or shrug, Munich began 2022-23 like a hurricane, ly extinguished. Julian Nagelsmann’s season and Bayern already led 5-0 Continued on page 51
Tuesday 9 August 2022 The Guardian

Soccer 51

Continued from page 50 back to relevance.

The manner, though, is all impor-
largely one-sided but it was also thril- tant for Union, underlining the raising
ling. Mané, Serge Gnabry and Thomas of standards and expectations – they
Müller are already clicking, and Jamal are not content merely to rule the cap-
Musiala was again outstanding. With- ital. The sporting director, Oliver Ruh-
out Lewandowski different ways must nert, and coach Urs Fischer both had
be found. Joshua Kimmich had plenty harsh words to say to their team after
Union Berlin fans were treated to a derby
of targets as he lined up a fifth-minute recent performances, and that was still win. Photograph: Filip Singer/EPA
free-kick. In the event he ignored them in mind even after victory. “For me,
all and bent the ball around the wall the reaction was almost more impor- a bright opening. Meanwhile the club
and into the corner of the net, blind- tant than the win,” Fischer said. “We seem to have found their replacement
siding Kevin Trapp. He was one of five demanded it and expected it from our- for the unwell Sébastien Haller, with
different goalscorers on the night. selves after the cup match.” Köln’s Anthony Modeste poised to join
This was chastening for Eintracht Even if some of the Bundesliga’s this week on the back of his redemp-
but they actually got off lightly. Sadio Mané has settled in nicely at Bayern Munich. Photograph: Sebastian Widmann/ signposts are in the same place, the tion season in the cathedral city. It’s
They could and should have conceded Bundesliga Collection/Getty Images route is going to be different this year. It expensive for a short-term fix, with re-
double figures, but the visitors hit promises us plenty to enjoy. ports of a €5m fee and a €6m wage on
the woodwork three times and Müller Madrid on Wednesday. So maybe it gets DfB Pokal at fourth-tier Chemnitzer last Talking points a one-year deal, but Modeste’s physical
fluffed an almost-unmissable chance at easier from next week, even if they face week, pitched for full hero-status with Borussia Dortmund began their profile and familiarity with the Bundes-
the apex of the first-half goal avalanche. the possibility of losing Filip Kostic to a smart near-post header from Sheraldo campaign with a not-always-com- liga has swung it.
After the match Müller said with shrug: Juventus before then. Becker’s cross, with Becker then scor- fortable win against Leverkusen. Consi- Leipzig arguably looked in even
“How can I put it? It’s probably doing Six hours north and less than a ing a stylish second – the Dutchman dering they conceded the quickest greater need of a striker as they frit-
the rounds on the internet already.” day later, Union Berlin were climbing will be asked to step up post-Awoniyi. goal in Bundesliga history to Karim tered away a series of chances at
Fortunately for his fears of instant their own mountain – perhaps with an Robin Knoche’s header meant Union Bellarabi in the same fixture on the Stuttgart after Christopher Nkunku’s
digital infamy, it’s difficult to fit a even more acute incline, given their were home and hosed way before Dodi opening day in 2014, puncturing their opener, with Naouirou Ahamada’s sty-
miss into a 90-second highlight pack- comparative resources. As Bayern had Lukebakio’s late consolation. season’s hopes nine seconds in, a vic- lish and maiden Bundesliga goal earn-
age that already features seven goals. lost Lewandowski, the team from Köpe- This gave Union a fourth derby win tory offered by Marco Reus’s goal wasn’t ing the hosts a point. Timo Werner’s
The Müller fumble was this Friday- nick were putting their best foot for- in a row, with any gentle early-season bad at all, even if they had to dig in late impending return to the club from
night frightener for Frankfurt in a nut- ward without Taiwo Awoniyi, their top optimism for Hertha now punctured – on – and the goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, Chelsea on a permanent deal should
shell. Bayern could afford more than a scorer from last season, their top scorer this comprehensive defeat represented one of last season’s standouts, had to remedy some of the issues, and indi-
few moments of profligacy, not least of all-time in the top flight, and whose a miserable follow-up to last week’s excel again. “The most important thing,” cates the growing ambition of the club.
when Manuel Neuer wandered from 15 Bundesliga goals last term included Pokal exit at Eintracht Braunschweig, the returning coach Edin Terzić said, Finally, three cheers for Daniel
his goal and stumbled over the ball one on the final day which confirmed in which they squandered an early “is we defended with everything we’ve Farke, who followed a week in which
to present THE debutant substitute Union’s qualification for the Europa two-goal lead. Union finished 24 points got.” If you can’t have total security, you Borussia Mönchengladbach won 9-1 at
Randal Kolo Muani with a scarcely con- League. clear of Hertha last season, arriving into can at least have full engagement. Oberachern in the Pokal and inked
soling consolation goal. Oliver Glasn- Like Bayern, Union also handled the European competition – in which they Perhaps more concerning is the Alassane Pléa to a new deal, by guid-
er’s Europa League winners might nor- loss of their main source of goals – and will play their home fixtures at Hertha’s worry of last season’s injury misery fol- ing his new team to an opening-day win
mally expect it to get easier from here, on the biggest of stages, in the Berlin Olympiastadion – for a second succes- lowing BVB into this term. With Niklas against Hoffenheim. Pléa was excellent
except they now travel to Helsinki for derby. Jordan Siebatcheu, having fished sive season, albeit a tier up this time Süle already sidelined, Karim Adeyemi and provided two assists.
the Uefa Super Cup meeting with Real his new team out of trouble in the around. Their city rivals face a long road was withdrawn in the first half after

Manchester United reach agreement to sign

Adrien Rabiot for initial £15m
from his agent and mother, Veronique, nating from the Spanish club regarding United, who began their Premier
Jamie Jackson, Fabrizio Romano before a deal can proceed. a sale of the Netherlands playmaker. League campaign with a 2-1 home
and Jacob Steinberg Rabiot has played previously for The transfer would cost United €65m defeat against Brighton on Sunday, are
Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse and (£55m) plus €20m in add-ons, though also targeting Bologna’s Marko Arnau-
Manchester United have reached an has 29 international caps. He has won the structure of the additional pay- tovic as a possible signing to help bol-
agreement with Juventus over the pur- five Ligue 1 titles and one in Serie A ments has not been decided. ster the club’s depleted attacking op-
chase of the France midfielder Adrien but has a record of uneven discipline, Chelsea are believed to be leading tions. The fee would be in the region of
Rabiot for an initial £15m. including being fined for lateness. the race for De Jong. They have held £10m for the 33-year-old.
Adrien Rabiot during a Juventus training
Discussions are at an early stage re- session last month. The French midfielder is United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, talks with Barcelona over signing the
garding the player’s personal terms, and wanted by Manchester United. Photograph: still retains hope of signing his prin- 25-year-old and believe he favours them
while Juventus are happy to sell the Daniele Badolato/Juventus FC/Getty Images cipal midfield target, Barcelona’s Fren- over United. Spanish sources say he re-
27-year-old approval will be required kie de Jong, despite mixed signals ema- mains determined to stay put.

Rio Ferdinand unaware of monkey gesture by

Wolves fan, court hears
– the first time fans had returned to He agreed the banter was “nor- The ex-footballer replied “no”.
PA Media grounds since the start of the coro- mally” in good humour. He added that he did not hear the
navirus pandemic – working as a tele- Ferdinand said he became aware of defendant shouting anything abusive
The former footballer Rio Ferdinand vision pundit for BT Sport, the court about four or five Wolves supporters towards him.
was unaware of being targeted by racist heard. who were “just a little bit more kind of However, Ferdinand “presumed”
abuse, including a monkey gesture, by The former Manchester United and serious about it”, adding one in partic- Arnold had made the “wanker” sign at
a “fixated” football fan during a Premier England defender gave evidence from ular was “more aggressive … a bit more him, and when United went 2-1 up, re-
League match, a court has heard. the witness box on Monday, saying that directed at me, firmly. Fixated.” called “pointing at him, laughing at that
Rio Ferdinand said he had observed the
Jamie Arnold is accused of caus- defendant’s ‘more aggressive body language’ although he noted the man and his Asked if he engaged with that man, person, 100%”.
ing racially aggravated harassment, during the match. Photograph: Mike Eger- “more aggressive body language”, he Ferdinand said: “I gave him a little bit “I just go back at them to say ‘re-
alarm or distress to Ferdinand by ton/PA did not see a monkey gesture or hear back, jovial like, I gave that person a minder’, just as they probably did to me
using “threatening, abusive or in- any racial abuse. knowing nod, when it was 2-1 [to Man- when it went 1-1 [when Wolverhampton
sulting” words or behaviour at the of the 32-year-old’s trial at Wolver- Ferdinand said the atmosphere at chester United].” scored].”
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Man- hampton crown court, footage was the ground was “jovial”, and that he Ferdinand was asked under cross- Stuart Munden-Edge, one of the
chester United match at Molineux on played to jurors, allegedly showing him was recognised on the outside broad- examination by the defence barrister pundit’s close security team, said he
23 May last year. making a racist gesture. cast gantry by nearby Wolves fans, who Andrew Baker if he had seen Arnold
During the prosecution’s opening Ferdinand had been at the game engaged “in a little bit of banter”. make a monkey gesture towards him. Continued on page 52
 The Guardian Tuesday 9 August 2022
52 Soccer

Continued from page 51 He alerted a steward, and the man watch the football match and enjoy the The jury was played a 25-second lied that he knew “as soon as I’d done it”
was later ejected from the stand. day.” video taken from lengthier footage he had been stupid.
was scanning the crowd and spotted a Opening the prosecution case, Turning to the alleged offence, Aris showing a male in the stand, gesturing “The prosecution say this is impor-
male, early on, “calling Mr Ferdinand a Jason Aris said the game was supposed said: “The defendant was in the Billy in the way described. tant because this is a clear admission
wanker”. to be “a joyous day for football fans in Wright stand, and put his hands under- He added Arnold had been “unplea- of guilt by this defendant, that he had
Continuing to watch the man, he Wolverhampton”. neath his armpits and started to jump sant early into the match”, and had done something offensive, racist and
said: “There was an occasion where he He added: “Unfortunately, things around. “started to hurl homophobic abuse at unpleasant.”
was getting no reaction from Rio, and became soured by virtue of the fact, we “The prosecution say he was clearly the referee, Mike Dean”. Arnold, of Norton Bridge in Staf-
proceeded to pose as a monkey, hun- say, this defendant, Jamie Arnold, was trying to imitate a monkey, clearly, we When arrested and cautioned by fordshire, denies wrongdoing and the
chback, his hands under his armpits, in attendance. say, in the direction of Mr Ferdinand, police at the ground, Arnold, who the trial, expected to last a week, continues.
pointing towards Mr Ferdinand.”* “He was not there to behave, to not only was it offensive but also racist.” Crown claims was drunk, allegedly rep-