O19 - 25th June 2021 - Wilson James

o19

      25th June 2021

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES
       Worldwide cases of COVID-19 are at 179,960,300 with deaths totalling 3,899,016 globally as of 23rd June
        according to Worldometer. So far, 164,727,197 people have recovered from the virus.
       Sir Jeffery Donaldson has been confirmed as the new leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) after
        recently elected Edwin Poots resigned last week. Paul Givan’s position, as the newly elected First
        Minister of Northern Ireland, is seen to be at risk as many party officers call for his resignation.

       A new tool, designed to help young people remove compromised images of themselves from online
        platforms, has been launched by the Internet Watch Foundation in partnership with Childline. The
        ‘Report, Remove’ tool is for any under 18s to use and requests are actioned within two hours for a UK
        site and within one day for international sites. For further information, advice and guidance please click
        here.

       Some UK phones randomly gave off a short loud alarm on Tuesday 22nd June as the UK tested its
        emergency alert system. Between 1-2pm on Tuesday some Google Android users reported their phones
        setting off a noise with a brief message flashing up saying: ‘This is a mobile network operator test of the
        Emergency Alerts Service. You do not need to take any action. To find out more, search for gov.uk/alerts.’
        The UK Government advised the emergency alert system will be used for sending alerts relating to life
        endangerment. A further test will be carried out on 29th June 2021.

       Following the arrest last week of five executives from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy newspaper ‘Apple
        Daily’ the newspaper has announced it has been forced to shut down and will publish its last circulation
        on Thursday 24th June. The arrestees were charged with ‘colluding with foreign or external forces to
        endanger national security’ alleging the newspaper published articles calling for sanctions against the
        Chinese and Hong Kong governments.

       The Tokyo Olympics organisers have announced 10,000 local spectators will be allowed to attend the
        delayed 2020 Olympics held in Japan next month but singing and cheering has been banned. A 50%
        capacity audience has been agreed, however, this does not include sponsors and federation officials
        which could increase the capacity significantly particularly for the opening ceremony.
       Cabinet Minister Michael Gove announced on Tuesday 22nd of June a referendum on Scottish
        independence was unlikely before the next general election. After a pro-independence majority in the
        last Scottish elections in May, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the referendum was a matter
        of ‘if and not when’. Mr Gove commented about the complexities of arranging a referendum during the
        pandemic advising:
             “It seems to me to be at best reckless, at worst folly, to try to move the conversation on to
           constitutional division when people expect us to be working together in order to deal with these
                                                     challenges.”1.
        The next general election is scheduled to be held in May 2024.
       Following the election of new, hard line, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the US Justice Department has
        seized thirty-three websites they believed are linked to ‘Iranian disinformation efforts’. The DOJ has

        claimed the websites were owned by US companies and ‘disguised as news organisations or media
        outlets’.2.
       The first of three reports to be released regarding the inquiry held to investigate the circumstances
        surrounding the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, was released last week. The report heavily criticised
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WORLD NEWS/RAS/25th June 2021

the security response and preparation at the event. The police, security provider Showsec and arena
        operator Security Guard Management Group (SGM) were scrutinised by Sir John Saunders, Chairman of
        the inquiry, who listed a catalogue of failures leading up to the explosion. To view the full report please
        click here.

        BREXIT
       The EU is currently considering a request to extend the grace period on the sale of chilled meats in
        Northern Ireland from Great Britain. The UK is insisting the EU extend the grace period until October
        allowing time to explore other options than imposing tariffs on such goods.

       The Home Office has announced EU citizens intending to stay in the UK will have 28 days to complete
        their application to remain. 28-day notices will be issued to the believed 400,000 applicants yet to submit
        their requests. 5.6 million people have already applied with the highest number of applicants so far
        coming from countries such as Poland and Romania.

    ACTIVISM
       Three police officers were injured and 14 arrests made following a freedom march in central London on
        Monday 21st June. Protestors used tennis balls with ‘no digital ID’ written on them to throw over the
        Downing Street gates. Some aggressive protestors used the tennis balls to attack police officers.
           Please click here for SOP guidance on demonstrations
           Please click here to access our recent protest alert

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WORLD NEWS/RAS/25th June 2021

COVID – 19
       The total confirmed UK COVID-19 cases as of Thursday 24th June is 4,684,572 with 128,048 deaths
        according to GOV.UK.

       As of Thursday 24th June 43,656,327 people have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination in the
        UK and 31,908,103 have received their second.

       A new ‘variant of concern’, referred to as Delta Plus, has been identified in India. Dr Lance Pinto,
        Consultant Respirologist at Hinduja National Hospital, India, explained that the new ‘variant of concern’,
        referred to as Delta Plus has increased transmissibility, displayed stronger binding in receptors of lung
        cells and has a potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response.

        He explained:
        "We are quite concerned about the Delta plus variant, given that it has a mutation that was attributed
          to the Beta variant escaping the immunity offered by the Astra vaccine….there are reports that the
                              variant escapes neutralisation with the antibody cocktail."3.

        The Indian government has warned of a third wave expected imminently, this comes as reports suggest
        only 4% of their population have received their two doses of the vaccine.
       More than 60,000 fans will be in Wembley stadium for both the semi-final and final of Euro2020 UEFA
        has announced. This brings capacity to more than 75%. With officials and sponsors reportedly not
        needing to quarantine.

                    Useful Information Sources
                             UK wide – Public Health England
                             Scotland – Scottish Government
                             Northern Ireland – NISRA
                             COVID-19 deaths in England & Wales – ONS
                             COVID-19 Statistics – Worldometer – Johns Hopkins University

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WORLD NEWS/RAS/25th June 2021

INSIGHTS
   Our Risk Advisory Service regularly publish articles and advisories covering a myriad of subjects. These
   publications can be found within the Risk Advisory Services section on the Wilson James website.

   This report does not represent any political stance towards any of the activism groups mentioned below from
   Wilson James or its Client Partners. All Wilson James policies can be viewed on our internal IMS platform.
   https://internal.wilsonjames.co.uk/

                            CONCLUSIONS AND RECATIONS FROM G7 SUMMIT

      OXFAM protestors at G7 Summit
      (Guardian 2021)

   The 47th G7 Summit held in Carbis Bay, Cornwall on 11-13 June 2021 intended to address the following issues:

       1.   The global response to the Covid-19 pandemic;
       2.   Climate change;
       3.   The global approach to pandemics in general;
       4.   The equal, global distribution of vaccines;
       5.   The design of a global early warning system;
       6.   Global policies for future health emergencies and the reduction of trade barriers.

   CONCLUDING STATEMENT FROM G7 SUMMIT

   Following the conclusion of the summit, the leaders of the Group of Seven released a communique detailing
   the progress made. Please click here for the communique in full.

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WORLD NEWS/RAS/25th June 2021

HIGHLIGHTS FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF SUMMIT

    Prioritising a unified front against threats by China and Russia
   Addressing the issue at the conclusion of the summit, US President Joe Biden stressed the importance of
   finding a “democratic alternative”. He stated:

   ‘The leaders’ endorsement of a global minimum tax would help ensure global equity and a proposal to finance
   infrastructure projects in the developing world would counter the influence of China’.1.

   The summit raised questions on a number of other Chinese issues including: 2.

           o   G7 tells Beijing to respect rights in Xinjiang
           o   G7 calls for preservation of Hong Kong freedoms
           o   G7 urges study in China on COVID origins
           o   Expresses concern over situation in East and South China Seas
           o   G7 calls for peace in Taiwan Strait

   The G7 also insisted Russia to take action against those carrying out cyber-attacks, insisting they ‘Stop
   destabilizing and malicious activities’3. and criticised Russia over the arrests of Alex Navalny and Roman
   Protasevich, and their actions in Ukraine and Belarus.

   Reaction
   In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London said:

   "The days when global decisions were dictated by a small group of countries are long gone… We always believe
   that countries, big or small, strong or weak, poor or rich, are equals, and that world affairs should be handled
   through consultation by all countries."4.

   Immediately after the summit, Joe Biden met with Russian President Vladimir Putin with both agreeing to co-
   operate on global security (particularly identifying US entities that should be free from ransomware or other
   cyber-attacks). Both presidents agreed the meeting was ’productive’ and free from hostility.5.

    G7 unable to agree on a timeline to end the use of coal to generate electricity
   G7, although were unable to secure a timeline for the cessation of the use of fossil fuels, promised to:

   ‘Phase out new direct government support for international carbon-intensive fossil fuel energy as soon as
   possible…To be credible, ambitions need to be supported by tangible actions in all sectors of our economies
   and societies’.6.

   Reaction
   Climate activists with Extinction Rebellion commented on the summit leaders on their website describing the
   G7 commitment as a ‘dismal failure to match the urgency of the crisis we find ourselves in’.7.

   In research carried out by Charity Tearfund together with the Overseas Development Institute and the
   International Institute for Sustainable Development, in the previous year from January 2020 to March 2021
   the current G7 countries committed USD$147 billion to spend on clean energy but spent USD$189 supporting
   the oil, gas and coal industry.8.

    G7 failure to reach COVAX vaccine dose commitment of 1billion.
   The G7 members announced they had secured 870million doses for the COVAX programme, failing short of
   the promises made prior to the summit to secure one billion doses. (World Health Organisation has highlighted
   a requirement for 11billion.9. )

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WORLD NEWS/RAS/25th June 2021

Reaction
   Ex UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown described this as “an unforgiveable moral failure”.10.
   Max Lawson, head of equality for Oxfam stated:
   “Never in the history of the G7 has there been a bigger pay gap between their actions and the needs of the
   world. We don’t need to wait for history to judge this summit a colossal failure”.11.

   GENERAL REACTION

   COVAX and the Confederation of British Industry described the summit as ‘significant’, with CBI stating the
   summit had:

   “Re-ignited a belief that the international community can come together in a spirit of collaboration to tackle
   the big issues of our age”.12.

   Lisa Nandy, Shadow Home Secretary commented

   “By every measure, the prime minister’s summit has come up short. No clear plan to vaccinate the world by
   the end of 2022. No ambitious commitments to place the world on the path to climate safety”.13.

   Nick Dearden, director of campaign group Global Justice Now described the summit as not fit for purpose and
   calling it:

   “A pointless exercise in grandstanding without making any substantive progress towards tackling the crises of
   our lifetimes”.14.

   Patrick Watt, director of policy, public affairs and campaigns at Christian Aid was concerned about the
   implications the summit had on COP26 stating:

   “The success of the COP26 climate summit now hangs in the balance. There is still time for rich nations to
   deliver a solidarity package that tackles these interconnected crises. Without it, the COP will fail.”15.

   SUMMIT PROTESTS
   More than 20 people were arrested over the course of the weekend for offences including:
   Conspiracy to commit public nuisance
   Suspicion of obstructing a public highway
   Being in possession of an article with intent to commit criminal damage
   Being in possession of a hoax device.16.

   Thousands protested on the streets of Cornwall and London from groups including:
   Surfers against Sewage
   Free Tigray
   Free Kashmir
   Oxfam
   Extinction Rebellion
   Red Rebel Brigade
   BLM
   Pro Palestine
   Animal Rebellion
   Kill the Bill. 17.

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WORLD NEWS/RAS/25th June 2021

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