What we’ve learned so far from the Covid inquiry

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What we’ve learned so far from the Covid inquiry

FromToday in Focus

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Length:

27 minutes

Released:

Oct 30, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Hearings for the government Covid inquiry resume today in Westminster with former Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings slated to appear this week. Peter Walker reports on the story so far. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Released:

Oct 30, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Hosted by Anushka Asthana and Rachel Humphreys, Today in Focus brings you closer to Guardian journalism. Combining personal storytelling with insightful analysis, this podcast takes you behind the headlines for a deeper understanding of the news, every weekday

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Funding, forensics – and a fridge freezer? The investigation into the SNP: Just a few months ago the SNP, with Nicola Sturgeon at the helm, looked almost untouchable. Now a fraud investigation into the party has caused that image to dramatically unravel by Today in Focus
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Cost of the crown part 1: valuing the royal family: Maeve McClenaghan sets off on the trail to uncover how much public money is spent on the royal family – and what they do in return by Today in Focus
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Why ‘godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton thinks humanity at crossroads: In an interview with the Guardian’s Alex Hern, Hinton says he now fears the advances he helped usher in could pose an existential threat to humankind by Today in Focus
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Cost of the crown part 2: Duchies, diamonds and Dalis: Maeve McClenaghan sets off to uncover what is held by the crown and what belongs to the royal family privately by Today in Focus
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Cost of the crown part 4: calculating the king’s wealth by Today in Focus
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Cotton Capital: the Guardian and reparations: Cotton Capital editor and Guardian journalist Maya Wolfe-Robinson looks at the subject of reparations. What do reparations mean for the communities and descendants of transatlantic enslavement – and what is the Guardian planning to do in its own programme of measures? by Today in Focus
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National Conservatism: a Tory fringe or the party’s future?: A conference run by a rightwing American thinktank attracted Tory MPs and influencers this week. Is its Trumpish populist philosophy a taste of where the Conservative party is heading? by Today in Focus
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Why are London’s schools disappearing?: London schools in areas such as Lambeth and Camden are having to close their doors as pupils leave. Why are numbers dropping so fast – and why does it matter so much? by Today in Focus
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Cost of the crown part 5: the coronation of Charles III: Charles III will be crowned in Westminster Abbey on Saturday in a ceremony steeped in centuries of history. Jonathan Freedland examines what the event means to the modern-day UK by Today in Focus
35 min listen
Is Manchester City’s dominance of English football fair?: Manchester City have added this season’s Premier League title to their collection of honours and are favourites to win the FA Cup and the Champions League. But are they playing fair? Jonathan Liew reports by Today in Focus
29 min listen
A bullying politician or snowflake civil servants? The downfall of Dominic Raab: The former deputy prime minister may have resigned but he remains defiant after an inquiry into bullying allegations. What does the scandal tell us about the relationship between ministers and Whitehall? by Today in Focus
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Tracking down Ukraine’s abducted children: How did tens of thousands of Ukrainian children end up in Russian re-education camps? Peter Beaumont reports by Today in Focus
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Prince Harry and the return of the phone hacking scandal: This week, Prince Harry’s case over alleged phone hacking by the publisher of the Sun and News of the World reached the high court. Jim Waterson reports by Today in Focus
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Cost of the crown part 3: the hidden history of the monarchy and slavery: Documents recently unearthed by historians have shown how the British royal family had ties to transatlantic slavery. Maeve McClenaghan reports by Today in Focus
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Hosting Ukraine’s Eurovision party: Hannah Moore reports from Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena where Britain is preparing to host the Eurovision song contest on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine by Today in Focus
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The destruction of the Kakhovka dam: The UN has blamed the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on Russia. What impact will the flooding have on the war in Ukraine? Dan Sabbagh reports by Today in Focus
28 min listen
Has Ukraine’s spring offensive begun?: Ukraine claims its forces have retaken land around Bakhmut and shot down Russian missiles targeting Kyiv. Luke Harding reports on the state of the war by Today in Focus
26 min listen
Erdoğan survives, but will Turkish democracy?: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, has moulded the country in his image during his two decades in power. Now he faces a run-off election to stay in power by Today in Focus
32 min listen
Is the UK in the grip of ‘greedflation’?: Prices in the UK are continuing to rise on everything from groceries to energy bills and mortgage costs. Meanwhile, some companies are reporting record profits. Richard Partington reports by Today in Focus
27 min listen
The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh – and another ordinary day in the West Bank: A year ago the journalist was shot. It was not the only news story in Palestine that day. Kaamil Ahmed looks into the stories Abu Akleh never got to report by Today in Focus
34 min listen
How a killing on New York subway exposed a broken system – podcast: When Jordan Neely, a homeless Michael Jackson impersonator, died at the hands of a fellow passenger this month, it shocked the world. But what does it reveal about the city? by Today in Focus
35 min listen
Our critics’ guide to a summer of music, movies and culture: Guardian culture writers Alex Needham, Ellen E Jones and Michael Cragg make their picks of the best of this summer in arts and culture by Today in Focus
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A spying scandal and lots of coffee: how Guardian Australia launched 10 years ago: In a special edition of Full Story, Guardian Australia’s daily podcast, Bridie Jabour speaks to the key players of its launch in May 2013 by Today in Focus
48 min listen
Did distress calls go unanswered in the run-up to a fatal Channel disaster?: In November 2021 a dinghy crossing from France to the UK overturned, and at least 27 people drowned. Questions are being asked over whether distress calls were effectively ignored in run-up to worst Channel disaster in 30 years by Today in Focus
27 min listen
Why California is dismantling its death row: After decades locked alone in small cages in California’s San Quentin prison, men sentenced to die for their crimes are all being moved off death row. Sam Levin investigates by Today in Focus
31 min listen
The Murdochs' real-life succession drama | Podcast: Who will take over Rupert Murdoch’s media empire after he dies, and why does it matter? by Today in Focus
31 min listen
Can Imran Khan really take on the Pakistani army and win?: The former prime minister has blamed the country’s powerful military for his arrest last week, and his supporters have attacked military buildings. With Khan’s home surrounded by police yesterday, has he picked a battle he’s destined to lose? by Today in Focus
34 min listen
Is Suella Braverman speeding towards a government exit?: Having set herself up as a rival to the prime minister, the home secretary is now facing allegations that she broke the ministerial code. Aubrey Allegretti reports by Today in Focus
23 min listen
Why police are stepping back from mental health callouts: Police spend an estimated 20-40% of their time on mental health calls, according to the College of Policing. Is Humberside police’s ‘Right Care, Right Person’ approach a better way? Helen Pidd reports by Today in Focus
29 min listen
What is the UK government hiding from the Covid inquiry?: The government has launched legal action to prevent the independent Covid inquiry demanding disclosure of thousands of WhatsApp messages. What does it have to hide, asks Aubrey Allegretti by Today in Focus
29 min listen

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Damien Hirst and the dates that don’t add up: Guardian investigations correspondent Maeve McClenaghan discusses her investigation into some of the work of the artist Damien Hirst that has been dated to the 1990s, years before it was actually made. Art critic Jonathan Jones discusses the impact Hirst’s work has had on him by Today in Focus
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What should kids be taught about sex and relationships?: The sex and relationships educator Jo Morgan discusses what she believes a sex education curriculum should look like by Today in Focus
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Rishi Sunak’s big election gamble: The prime minister has ended months of speculation by calling an election for 4 July. But why so soon? Jonathan Freedland reports by Today in Focus
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Inside Kharkiv as Russia advances: Shaun Walker reports on Russia’s recent offensive in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine by Today in Focus
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Could Netanyahu really be arrested for war crimes?: Prosecutors from International Criminal Court have requested arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel and Gaza. Julian Borger reports by Today in Focus
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The rightwing Christian group and the battle over end-of-life care: The Christian Legal Centre is behind a number of end-of-life court cases that could be ‘prolonging suffering’, according to doctors. Josh Halliday reports by Today in Focus
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The children of the contaminated blood scandal: It is the NHS’s worst treatment disaster – with 30,000 patients infected. Two survivors, Ade Goodyear and Andy Evans, explain why it took so long for it to be brought to light by Today in Focus
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What keeps the world’s top climate scientists up at night?: Hundreds of climate experts expect global temperatures to rise to at least 2.5C (4.5F) above preindustrial levels by 2100. Damian Carrington reports by Today in Focus
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The 'foreign agents' law that has set off mass protests in Georgia: The bill requires any civil society organisation that receives more than 20% of its funds from abroad to register as being under foreign influence. Daniel Boffey reports by Today in Focus
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The growing tensions over immigration in Ireland: Rory Carroll, the Guardian’s Ireland correspondent, looks at what is fuelling anti-immigrant anger in the Republic of Ireland by Today in Focus
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Put it down! Should children be allowed smartphones?: Almost all children have them by the time they are 11 years old – and some get them at four. But are they ruining childhoods? by Today in Focus
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Rishi Sunak staggers on – but for how long?: Guardian political correspondent Kiran Stacey tells Helen Pidd what heavy local election losses mean for the PM, and looks at what calculation Keir Starmer made in taking in rightwing Tory Natalie Elphicke by Today in Focus
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Escaping Rafah: on the ground in Gaza’s last refuge: We hear from two Palestinians living in tents in the city of Rafah. As the threat of an Israeli invasion hangs over them, they decide whether to stay or leave by Today in Focus
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The London Bridge ‘hero’ who could go to prison for 99 years podcast: In 2019, ex-offender Marc Conway helped hold down a knifeman who killed two people in a terror attack. But by doing so he risked being recalled to prison. Simon Hattenstone reports by Today in Focus
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Non-doms are threatening to leave. Should they be convinced to stay?: Multi-millionaire Bassim Haidar says ending the non-dom tax status is a mistake. He plans to leave the UK and says other non-doms will do the same. Should the government change their mind? by Today in Focus
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How do we protect teenagers from sextortion scams?: Murray Dowey, a 16-year-old from Dunblane, was targeted by a sextortion scammer in the hours before he took his own life. Now his parents are raising awareness of this increasingly prevalent crime. Libby Brooks reports by Today in Focus
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Politics Weekly Westminster: local elections special: In the first of our Politics Weekly Westminster episodes, the Guardian’s political editor Pippa Crerar and political correspondent Kiran Stacey go over the big wins and losses from the local and mayoral elections by Today in Focus
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Are we on the brink of a ceasefire deal for Gaza? Podcast: With the threat of famine and the invasion of Rafah looming over Gaza, the leaders of Israel and Hamas are discussing a ceasefire deal. Julian Borger reports by Today in Focus
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Has Elon Musk driven Tesla off track?: The electric carmaker’s Cybertruck was recalled last month after safety concerns emerged over the accelerator pedal. Kari Paul reports by Today in Focus
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Is Labour about to win a local election landslide?: Councillors, mayors and police commissioners across England and Wales are facing voters this week. What’s at stake? Helen Pidd reports by Today in Focus
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Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf resigns: On Monday, Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf announced his resignation. What does this mean for the Scottish National party? Severin Carrell and Libby Brooks report by Today in Focus
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Have open marriages gone mainstream?: From therapy sessions to bookshelves, interest in non-monogamous relationships seem to be soaring by Today in Focus
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The US college protests and the crackdown on campuses: Police have arrested dozens of students across US universities this week after a crackdown on pro-Palestine protests on campuses. Erum Salam and Margaret Sullivan report from New York by Today in Focus
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What Ukraine needs to change the course of the war: Ukraine has been granted a multibillion-dollar lifeline in military aid. But it will need more than that to prevail in the conflict with Russia. Dan Sabbagh in Kyiv and Shaun Walker report by Today in Focus
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Could a row over a council house bring down Angela Rayner? – podcast: Keir Starmer’s deputy is facing questions over the sale of her former home. But do voters care? Gaby Hinsliff reports by Today in Focus
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Sudan’s forgotten war: While conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine have captured global attention, the civil war in Sudan has been largely ignored. That can’t be allowed to continue, says the Guardian’s Nesrine Malik by Today in Focus
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Where does the Cass report leave trans teenagers?: Dr Hilary Cass’s review of NHS gender identity services has been published. Amelia Gentleman reports on what it means for children at the centre of it all by Today in Focus
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The chilling policy to cut Greenland’s high birth rate: In the 1960s the birthrate in Greenland was one of the world’s highest. Then it plunged. Women are now speaking out about what happened by Today in Focus
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Can Rishi Sunak create a smoke-free generation?: MPs voted this week to ban anyone aged 15 or younger in 2024 from buying cigarettes. If the legislation passes and is enacted, it would be a world first. Ben Quinn reports by Today in Focus
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Liz Truss and her plan to ‘save the west’: Liz Truss is back – kind of. The former PM of just 49 days has published a book, Ten Years to Save the West. The Guardian’s political correspondent Eleni Courea and breaking news correspondent Martin Pengelly discuss her seeming lack of regret by Today in Focus
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What we’ve learned so far from the Covid inquiry

What we’ve learned so far from the Covid inquiry

Description

Titles in the series (100)

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