Why Were Women 'Invisible' During Covid?
Newscast
11/01/23
•35m
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It’s been another extraordinary day of testimony at the Covid Inquiry. Wednesday’s session began with Helen MacNamara, a top official at Downing Street during the height of the pandemic. She described a “macho” culture at No 10 in which women “became invisible overnight”.
She also said she’d struggle to pick “a single day” in which Covid restrictions were followed and recalled meetings at which people were “laughing at the Italians” in the early days of the crisis.
Adam’s joined once again by the BBC’s health reporter Jim Reed and Dr Catherine Haddon from the Institute for Government to unpack today’s evidence.
And, as the UK AI Summit gets underway, we speak to the BBC’s technology editor Zoe Kleinman after her interview with Rishi Sunak on the day the UK unveiled a global agreement on how to manage the riskiest forms of AI.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by George Dabby with Gemma Roper and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.
Previous Episode
Covid Inquiry: Government Short Cummings?
October 31, 2023
•39m
Figures at the centre of the government decisions during the coronavirus pandemic give evidence to the UK Covid-19 inquiry.
First up was Lee Cain, who was a senior aide to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Then it was Dominic Cummings, who was Mr Johnson’s chief adviser until he resigned in late 2020.
The inquiry heard the pandemic was the wrong crisis for Boris Johnson’s skillset, the government had “no plan” to help vulnerable people in lockdown and diary entries also read out suggest Mr Johnson believed old people should get the virus to protect others.
To talk us through the latest revelations, Adam is joined by Chris Mason and former Downing Street Director of Communications, Guto Harri.
And, Adam meets with Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan, to look ahead to this week’s AI Safety Summit.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Gray with Alex Collins, Gemma Roper and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.
Next Episode
The Covid Inquiry Enquiries
November 2, 2023
•33m
The latest evidence to the Covid Inquiry included the revelation that the former health secretary Matt Hancock wanted to decide “who should live or die” in the event of the NHS becoming overwhelmed. That was the testimony given by Sir Simon Stevens, who led NHS England until 2021.
His was followed by the country’s most senior health official, Sir Christopher Wormald, who said that the government was “at least a week late” in imposing restrictions on society at the beginning of the crisis.
Laura Kuenssberg joins Adam to give her own reflections as the BBC’s political editor during the period as well as an assessment of the evidence we’ve heard this week.
And, on the final day of the UK’s first AI safety summit, Adam and Chris chat to Michael Kratsios, President Donald Trump's top technology advisor, about the goals of the summit and how countries can work together to mitigate the risks posed by artificial intelligence.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by George Dabby with Gemma Roper and Sam McLaren. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.
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