Prepared

Experts stellen dat drastisch gekorte financiering en toenemende misinformatie enkele van de grootste uitdagingen zijn voor de volksgezondheid. De uitbraak van het hantavirus, hoewel onwaarschijnlijk dat dit de volgende grote pandemie veroorzaakt, werpt een schijnwerper op de manier waarop de volksgezondheid in de VS is verslechterd: het vermogen om te testen op zeldzame ziekten, de expertise op het gebied van preventie en respons bij uitbraken, en het vermogen om misinformatie te bestrijden en vertrouwen te herstellen. “Stel dat alles goed gaat met het indammen van deze uitbraak, wat ik hoop, dan zou de conclusie daaruit niet moeten zijn dat ‘we oké zijn’,” zei Stephanie Psaki, voormalig coördinator mondiale gezondheidsbeveiliging van het Witte Huis. “We zijn niet klaar voor dit type dreiging.” Lees verder...

Proposal at heart of offer made during a 30-country two-day meeting jointly organised by FranceMiddle East crisis – live updatesBritain is prepared to deploy a squadron of RAF Typhoons based in Qatar to patrol over the strait of Hormuz as part of a multinational mission to keep open the strategic waterway once the Iran war comes to an end.The UK military also offered to deploy mine-hunting drones and specialist divers to help clear the strait mined by Iran – but no decision has been made on whether HMS Dragon or another warship would also be deployed. Continue reading...

The home affairs select committee said Prevent cannot deal with the modern challenges of fighting extremismThe government’s anti-terrorism programme, Prevent, is “outdated and inadequately prepared” to deal with modern challenges such as extremists adhering to no particular ideology, an influential cross-party group of MPs has concluded.The home affairs select committee has called for a reset to the approach for dealing with fast-evolving online subcultures promoting antisemitism, anti-Muslim hostility, misogyny and violence, as well as an over-representation of neurodiverse people and those with mental health conditions.A growing prevalence of under-18s being drawn into extremism.Neurodiverse individuals, particularly those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, being over-represented among referrals to the programme.Fluid or hybrid ideological beliefs among those referred and a shift toward nihilistic violence.Influencers and creative tools such as memes, humour and coded messaging being used to spread extremist content in a way that is accessible and appealing.Generative AI being used to produce large volumes of tailored content and disinformation.An increase in hate crimes and incidents in the UK that are linked to anti-blasphemy activism, anti-Israel extremism, anti-Muslim hostility and eco-extremism. Continue reading...