As Londoners eked out the last hours of social life ahead of a four-week Covid-19 lockdown, the finishing line of December 2 loomed large in the minds of many.
A French waiter in an upmarket restaurant in Chelsea was sceptical that the shutdown would be just 28 days. "We hope to come back but who knows when," he said. "In the first lockdown it was only supposed to be a few weeks but it was most of the spring and summer."
Just a few hours before the midnight deadline the normally bustling Trafalgar Square, the symbolic heart of the city, was quieter than normal. Like many passers-by, Steve, 50, was deeply critical of the new lockdown.
“I’m disgusted to be honest, I don’t think it should be happening. The science isn’t there to say that it’s needed and I think the downsides, the negatives of it, are significantly bigger than any potential upsides. The economy, mental health and health care,” he said.
“I think it’s absolutely appalling, so I’m very, very anti-lockdown,’ he said on Wednesday.
He did not think as many people would stick to the lockdown this time around.
“I was gobsmacked how many people were so obedient and compliant for the first lockdown. I don’t think it’s going to happen this time and I think we’ll see that tomorrow night, Friday night, when there’s a planned protest in central London, and I think they’ll have a lot of people.”
The second nationwide lockdown that started on Thursday is an emergency measure to help repel a surge in Covid-19 cases, as restaurants and non-essential shops were closed for at least a month and people asked to stay at home if possible.
While there was not universal support for the first lockdown in March when the virus first extended its grip around the country, it was generally accepted because of the threat to life.
This time there has been more resistance, as the UK’s ailing economy struggles to get itself going again, the hospitality industry faces the prospect of closing after only just reopening and some grow increasingly frustrated at the curtailment on their freedoms.
Nearly 1.1 million people in the UK have tested positive for Covid-19, with nearly 48,000 deaths.
Trafalgar Square has long been a preferred place to hold demonstrations on hot button topics.
On Thursday, police arrested more than 100 people who took part in the "Million Mask March", which was associated with anarchist group Anonymous.
The annual anti-capitalist demonstration that this year attracted a significant number of people angry with the second shutdown.
In recent weeks mask-less demonstrators and conspiracy theorists have turned out in the square and the volume of protests is expected to grow in the weeks ahead.
Witnessing it all for the past six years is Andy, who has drawn illustrations on the floor of the square. On Wednesday night, hours before the lockdown was enforced, there were some people milling about the area as young skateboarders enjoyed the evening in front of the National Gallery.
But it was nothing compared with the normal hustle and bustle that Trafalgar Square is used to says Andy, who gave only his first name.
“Even a day ago it seemed like everybody was already in the lockdown mentality,” he said.
His newest painting is of a tearful Paddington Bear with a speech bubble coming from the famed children’s literary character saying “LOCK DOWN”.
While Andy says he is not particularly worried by the lockdown, he says Paddington’s saddened mood is a reflection of the depression he also feels.
“It hasn’t been thought through, it’s more like an emotional response. I’m feeling depressed, I’m going to be locked down for four weeks,” Andy said.
Abhijit Sarkar, who splits his time between London and Hong Kong, fears for the economic effect.
“I feel whatever needed to be achieved is already there. By going for this the second round, they are damaging a lot of livelihoods because people have one shutdown, reopen, again shutting down. I think a little bit more empathy is required, because governments can think on a whim but for a poor businessman or a daily wage earner, it’s difficult to do this on/off,” he said.
In west London's Edgware Road, a place packed with Middle Eastern restaurants, newsagent Samir Amir said business had suffered but that government support had helped.
"The world is undergoing a strange transformation, the virus has affected all countries. It has cost us all dearly. The government is trying to protect us by keeping us away from it," said Mr Amir, who has worked locally for 40 years.
"The lockdown happened before, this is the second one now. The business has suffered of course, but the government is really helping us till we get out of this crisis.
"Of course because of the restrictions, less people are coming. I’m not overly worried, the economy goes up and down, we’ve all felt that before."
Omar Rusdie, from the Shishawi Cafe, warned that it would take a while for business to get back to normal.
"Tonight is not normal, it’s the last night and people are out here.
"It's affected us, it will take us a long time to get back to normal. We’ve kept our staff because they’ve been hit very hard. We’re doing our best," he said.
"We are running our business with the minimum amount of staff, you can’t hire people, how can you afford it? The government is paying their salaries now."
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
More coverage from the Future Forum
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
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'Moonshot'
Director: Chris Winterbauer
Stars: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse
Rating: 3/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
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