theweekuk--2020-06-08--Winemakers turn excess stock into hand sanitiser

Winemakers in France are transforming unsold wine into hand sanitiser .
After wine sales and exports , particularly to the US , collapsed during the coronavirus crisis , around 3m hectolitres need to be distilled as a result of lower sales during the coronavirus crisis .
Didier Josso , head of the wine branch in the farming agency FranceAgriMer , said : “ From tomorrow , 33 licensed distillers will be able to collect the wine and distil it.
” Doctors in India have removed a two-foot long phone charger from inside a man ’ s bladder .
The 30-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of accidental ingestion of headphones ” , was given a two-day course of laxatives in a bid to ease the pain before doctors performed a small incision into his gastrointestinal tract .
“ This man took things a little too far , ” said a doctor .
A treasure hunter in New Mexico revealed that his chest of gold , jewels and other valuables worth over $ 1 million has been found after a 10-year search .
In 2010 , Forrest Fenn announced that he had hidden the chest somewhere in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people searched for it and now a man , who wishes to remain anonymous , has discovered the chest .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Winemakers in France are transforming unsold wine into hand sanitiser. After wine sales and exports, particularly to the US, collapsed during the coronavirus crisis, around 3m hectolitres need to be distilled as a result of lower sales during the coronavirus crisis. Didier Josso, head of the wine branch in the farming agency FranceAgriMer, said: “From tomorrow, 33 licensed distillers will be able to collect the wine and distil it.”
Doctors remove phone charger from man's bladder
Doctors in India have removed a two-foot long phone charger from inside a man’s bladder. The 30-year-old man, said to have a “history of accidental ingestion of headphones”, was given a two-day course of laxatives in a bid to ease the pain before doctors performed a small incision into his gastrointestinal tract. “This man took things a little too far,” said a doctor.
New Mexico treasure found after 10 years
A treasure hunter in New Mexico revealed that his chest of gold, jewels and other valuables worth over $1 million has been found after a 10-year search. In 2010, Forrest Fenn announced that he had hidden the chest somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Tens of thousands of people searched for it and now a man, who wishes to remain anonymous, has discovered the chest.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-06-08--Coronavirus can spread through hospital ward ‘in ten hours’

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theweekuk--2020-06-08--Instant Opinion: Brexit is ‘triggering a race to the bottom’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on what chlorinated chicken says about Britain ’ s reputation “ The decision about whether or not to permit chlorinated chicken has implications far beyond animal welfare .
Capitulation from the government on this would immediately dispel the Brexit delusion that we would be in a strong bargaining position when striking new trade deals because , well ... we ’ re Britain .
You remember the hubris : we would hold all the cards ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
The rest of the world - witnessing the swagger of Global Britain , smelling our neo-imperial pheromones - would feel an inexplicable compulsion to subsume their own interests to ours .
Any back-tracking on chlorinated chicken would demonstrate how ludicrous this was , and betray how weak our bargaining position is .
This weakness is not the fault of the British negotiators ; it is down to the facts of economic life .
The US economy is ten times the size of our own .
Exports make up about 12 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is 30 per cent .
To coin a phrase , we need them more than they need us.
” on the toppling of a Bristol slave trader Statues are a mark of honour .
Like Edward Colston , Cecil Rhodes and Oliver Cromwell have to go “ Given everything , I ’ m quite surprised the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol survived for as long as it did .
His reputation , after all , was trashed long before his memorial .
He acquired his vast fortune , later used philanthropically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was thus responsible for the death of thousands of the African slaves - that is , his fellow human beings - that he so profitably shipped across the Atlantic .
If a ship transport was too heavy or running out of food , women and children were thrown over the side .
Now the iconoclasts of Bristol have tossed Colston into the drink .
Of course , the moral compass of Colston ’ s time is unrecognisable today , but contemporaries such as William Wilberforce recognised evil when they saw it : nobody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no reason for Colston to cause ongoing misery in 2020 .
When people feel so wounded by a statue that they are moved to assault it , then there is little point in keeping it in situ , even though others feel it serves our collective memory .
More who passed it , I suspect , had no idea who he was .
They may have learned more about his legacy through the dispatching of his image than they did the entire time it stood.
” on the policing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the authorities won ’ t protect us from predictable disorder , who will ?
“ The job of the Met was primarily maintaining public order and protecting law-abiding citizens and property .
Their priorities need a shake-up .
Under the Commissioner Cressida Dick , and with Sadiq Khan , the Labour Mayor who initially called for people to join the protests , then later weakly hoped that they would abide by lockdown regulations ; the Met has placed itself firmly in the protesters ’ camp , and against private citizens and public property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to if they can not look to those they pay to protect them and their society ?
...
I read that Tommy Robinson ( or Yaxley Lennon if you prefer ) and his fellow travelers are sending hundreds of people to London ‘ to protect ’ [ London ] monuments .
And if they do , and violence kicks off , please don ’ t think there will be no sympathy for them , there will .
That sympathy will be entirely down to the weakness of those who were elected to lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the communal effort needed for Britain ’ s post-coronavirus recovery Millions of Britons are suffering right now as the economy tanks .
Can you help ?
“ Two kinds of places are experiencing the worst of Covid-19 ’ s social and economic effects : our inner cities , where people ’ s suffering is made even worse by the structural and everyday prejudices that are now being so loudly contested ; and the post-industrial areas now crudely associated with the Brexit vote and Tory success along the so-called red wall .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far from too many people ’ s thoughts .
The fact that that distance has been formalised by the restrictions of lockdown – on reporting , as much as anything else – has clearly deepened that problem .
To even begin to relieve such places ’ predicament will obviously demand unprecedented action from the government .
What the state can do to help ought to be the defining political question of the coming years ; the weekend ’ s rumblings about rescuing the economy via a bonfire of regulation suggest that grave problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will offer no convincing remedies .
But what I heard from Middlesbrough also pointed to something else : the fact that in an era of community activism and self-help , those things will now require the support and involvement of as many people as possible.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 5 .
Michelle Alexander in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of opportunity in US history America , This Is Your Chance “ Our democracy hangs in the balance .
This is not an overstatement .
As protests , riots , and police violence roiled the nation last week , the president vowed to send the military to quell persistent rebellions and looting , whether governors wanted a military occupation or not .
John Allen , a retired four-star Marine general , wrote that we may be witnessing the ‘ beginning of the end of the American experiment ’ because of President Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership has been disastrous .
But it would be a mistake to place the blame on him alone .
In part , we find ourselves here for the same reasons a civil war tore our nation apart more than 200 years ago : Too many citizens prefer to cling to brutal and unjust systems than to give up political power , the perceived benefits of white supremacy and an exploitative economic system .
If we do not learn the lessons of history and choose a radically different path forward , we may lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inclusive , egalitarian democracy .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Clare Foges in The Times
on what chlorinated chicken says about Britain’s reputation
Brexit risks triggering a race to the bottom
“The decision about whether or not to permit chlorinated chicken has implications far beyond animal welfare. Capitulation from the government on this would immediately dispel the Brexit delusion that we would be in a strong bargaining position when striking new trade deals because, well... we’re Britain. You remember the hubris: we would hold all the cards; we would have our cake and eat it. The rest of the world - witnessing the swagger of Global Britain, smelling our neo-imperial pheromones - would feel an inexplicable compulsion to subsume their own interests to ours. Any back-tracking on chlorinated chicken would demonstrate how ludicrous this was, and betray how weak our bargaining position is. This weakness is not the fault of the British negotiators; it is down to the facts of economic life. The US economy is ten times the size of our own. Exports make up about 12 per cent of its GDP; for us it is 30 per cent. To coin a phrase, we need them more than they need us.”
2. Sean O’Grady in The Independent
on the toppling of a Bristol slave trader
Statues are a mark of honour. Like Edward Colston, Cecil Rhodes and Oliver Cromwell have to go
“Given everything, I’m quite surprised the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol survived for as long as it did. His reputation, after all, was trashed long before his memorial. He acquired his vast fortune, later used philanthropically, from the slave trade. He was thus responsible for the death of thousands of the African slaves - that is, his fellow human beings - that he so profitably shipped across the Atlantic. If a ship transport was too heavy or running out of food, women and children were thrown over the side. Now the iconoclasts of Bristol have tossed Colston into the drink. Of course, the moral compass of Colston’s time is unrecognisable today, but contemporaries such as William Wilberforce recognised evil when they saw it: nobody forced Colston to make money from misery. There is no reason for Colston to cause ongoing misery in 2020. When people feel so wounded by a statue that they are moved to assault it, then there is little point in keeping it in situ, even though others feel it serves our collective memory. More who passed it, I suspect, had no idea who he was. They may have learned more about his legacy through the dispatching of his image than they did the entire time it stood.”
3. Gawain Towler in The Daily Telegraph
on the policing of the London Black Lives Matter protests
If the authorities won’t protect us from predictable disorder, who will?
“The job of the Met was primarily maintaining public order and protecting law-abiding citizens and property. Their priorities need a shake-up. Under the Commissioner Cressida Dick, and with Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor who initially called for people to join the protests, then later weakly hoped that they would abide by lockdown regulations; the Met has placed itself firmly in the protesters’ camp, and against private citizens and public property. So who do Middle England look to if they cannot look to those they pay to protect them and their society?... I read that Tommy Robinson (or Yaxley Lennon if you prefer) and his fellow travelers are sending hundreds of people to London ‘to protect’ [London] monuments. And if they do, and violence kicks off, please don’t think there will be no sympathy for them, there will. That sympathy will be entirely down to the weakness of those who were elected to lead and protect us from predictable disorder.”
4. John Harris in The Guardian
on the communal effort needed for Britain’s post-coronavirus recovery
Millions of Britons are suffering right now as the economy tanks. Can you help?
“Two kinds of places are experiencing the worst of Covid-19’s social and economic effects: our inner cities, where people’s suffering is made even worse by the structural and everyday prejudices that are now being so loudly contested; and the post-industrial areas now crudely associated with the Brexit vote and Tory success along the so-called red wall. In different ways, both still seem too far from too many people’s thoughts. The fact that that distance has been formalised by the restrictions of lockdown – on reporting, as much as anything else – has clearly deepened that problem. To even begin to relieve such places’ predicament will obviously demand unprecedented action from the government. What the state can do to help ought to be the defining political question of the coming years; the weekend’s rumblings about rescuing the economy via a bonfire of regulation suggest that grave problems may be met with stock Tory answers that will offer no convincing remedies. But what I heard from Middlesbrough also pointed to something else: the fact that in an era of community activism and self-help, those things will now require the support and involvement of as many people as possible.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
5. Michelle Alexander in The New York Times
on a moment of opportunity in US history
America, This Is Your Chance
“Our democracy hangs in the balance. This is not an overstatement. As protests, riots, and police violence roiled the nation last week, the president vowed to send the military to quell persistent rebellions and looting, whether governors wanted a military occupation or not. John Allen, a retired four-star Marine general, wrote that we may be witnessing the ‘beginning of the end of the American experiment’ because of President Trump’s catastrophic failures. Trump’s leadership has been disastrous. But it would be a mistake to place the blame on him alone. In part, we find ourselves here for the same reasons a civil war tore our nation apart more than 200 years ago: Too many citizens prefer to cling to brutal and unjust systems than to give up political power, the perceived benefits of white supremacy and an exploitative economic system. If we do not learn the lessons of history and choose a radically different path forward, we may lose our last chance at creating a truly inclusive, egalitarian democracy.”


theweekuk--2020-06-08--Why everyone’s talking about J.K. Rowling’s transgenderism tweets

J.K. Rowling has been accused of tweeting “ anti-trans comments ” just six months after triggering controversy by supporting a woman sacked for using “ offensive and exclusionary ” language on social media .
The latest row began on Saturday , when the Harry Potter author mocked the phrasing of an online article headlined “ Creating a more equal post-Covid-19 world for people who menstruate ” .
“ ‘ People who menstruate ’ .
I 'm sure there used to be a word for those people , ” Rowling tweeted along with a link to the op-ed , published on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me out .
Wumben ?
Wimpund ?
Woomud ?
” Fellow Twitter users quickly called out the bestselling writer , noting that many people who do not menstruate identify as women , including transgender women , women who have gone through menopause , and those who may not have periods at all .
Critics also pointed out that not everyone who does menstruate identifies as a woman , such as transgender men and non-binary people .
As the backlash intensified , Rowling responded with a series of tweets detailing her views : Firing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ rights-focused media monitoring organisation Glaad tweeted : “ J.K .
Rowling continues to align herself with an ideology which willfully distorts facts about gender identity and people who are trans ...
In 2020 , there is no excuse for targeting trans people.
” Meanwhile , Forbes ’ senior art contributor Dani Di Placido warned that “ J.K .
Rowling is destroying her legacy , one tweet at a time ” .
This view was echoed by actor Jameela Jamil , who tweeted : “ To JK Rowling : verb : To go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iconic legacy.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Rowling wasn ’ t “ left completely twisting the wind though ” , says The Telegraph .
Former tennis player Martina Navratilova defended Rowling in a tweet to one of the author ’ s critics .
“ I am sorry if you think speaking up for a level playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is hurtful .
What is hurtful is saying to girls and women to just try harder , ” Navratilova wrote .
Chat show host Jonathan Ross also backed Rowling , writing : “ JK Rowling is both right and magnificent .
For those accusing her of transphobia , please read what she wrote .
She clearly is not.
” But Pride.com disagrees , condemning the writer ’ s views on trans issues as “ repugnant ” and accusing her of “ doubling down on transphobia ” .
“ It ’ s becoming an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching Rowling comment on their lives , ” adds Pink News .
“ Her actions which have stirred reaction have , in the past , been called ‘ middle-aged moments ’ by her representatives.
” Rowling caused uproar in December by tweeting her support for Maya Forstater , a British researcher who filed a lawsuit claiming that her employer , the Washington D.C.-based Center for Global Development , had discriminated against her because of her beliefs that people can not change their sex .
“ Dress however you please , ” Rowling wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Call yourself whatever you like .
Sleep with any consenting adult who ’ ll have you .
Live your best life in peace and security .
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real ?
# IStandWithMaya # ThisIsNotADrill.
” In response , Alphonso David , president of LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign , accused Rowling of being an anti-trans fundamentalist .
“ J.K .
Rowling says she ’ s opposed to fundamentalism in any form , but she ’ s promoting a harmful fundamentalism that endangers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” David said in a statement .
“ She should apologise.
” In the wake of Rowling ’ s latest controversial post , Forbes contributor Di Placido concludes that her “ sudden shift into trans-exclusionary feminism emphasises the importance of staying away from Twitter , for sanity ’ s sake .
“ The opinions of beloved children ’ s authors are , sometimes , better left to the imagination .
”

J.K. Rowling has been accused of tweeting “anti-trans comments” just six months after triggering controversy by supporting a woman sacked for using “offensive and exclusionary” language on social media.
The latest row began on Saturday, when the Harry Potter author mocked the phrasing of an online article headlined “Creating a more equal post-Covid-19 world for people who menstruate”.
“‘People who menstruate’. I'm sure there used to be a word for those people,” Rowling tweeted along with a link to the op-ed, published on media platform Devex. “Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
Fellow Twitter users quickly called out the bestselling writer, noting that many people who do not menstruate identify as women, including transgender women, women who have gone through menopause, and those who may not have periods at all.
Critics also pointed out that not everyone who does menstruate identifies as a woman, such as transgender men and non-binary people.
As the backlash intensified, Rowling responded with a series of tweets detailing her views:
If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women - ie, to male violence - ‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences - is a nonsense. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Firing back a response to her arguments, LGBTQ rights-focused media monitoring organisation Glaad tweeted: “J.K. Rowling continues to align herself with an ideology which willfully distorts facts about gender identity and people who are trans... In 2020, there is no excuse for targeting trans people.”
Meanwhile, Forbes’ senior art contributor Dani Di Placido warned that “J.K. Rowling is destroying her legacy, one tweet at a time”.
This view was echoed by actor Jameela Jamil, who tweeted: “To JK Rowling: verb: To go out of your way to destroy your iconic legacy.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Rowling wasn’t “left completely twisting the wind though”, says The Telegraph.
Former tennis player Martina Navratilova defended Rowling in a tweet to one of the author’s critics. “I am sorry if you think speaking up for a level playing field for girls and women in sports is hurtful. What is hurtful is saying to girls and women to just try harder,” Navratilova wrote.


theweekuk--2020-06-08--Pubs set for June reopening in bid to ‘save the summer’

The reopening of UK pubs may brought forward to 22 June under a new plan to “ save the summer ” .
Rishi Sunak is one of six ministers calling themselves the “ Save Summer Six ” who want to speed up the relaunch of the hospitality industry in order to boost the economy .
The proposals would allow some of the 27,000 UK pubs that have gardens or other outdoor spaces to serve customers for the first time since lockdown began in mid March , the Financial Times reports .
And restaurants with outside seating could also be back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin welcomed the move but warned that struggling pubs “ would still lose money ” .
“ Few pubs will be able to make a profit using outdoor space only but partial reopening will provide a psychological boost to a beleaguered industry , ” Martin told The Guardian .
“ It will signal the intent of the government to make progress towards normality , which will be welcome.
” The government initially set a date of 4 July to begin the third phase of easing lockdown , which includes pub reopenings .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Alok Sharma warned Boris Johnson last week that failure to reopen the hospitality sector in time for the summer could cost up to 3.5 million jobs , according to The Sunday Times .
Trade body UK Hospitality has told the BBC that allowing pubs to open this month was a step in the right direction , but that easing social distancing was more important .
The organisation estimates that with the current two-metre rule , pubs would be able to make about 30 % of normal revenues .
But if social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenues would increase to between 60 % and 75 % .
UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said that the proposed June relaunch “ does at least give us momentum - allowing businesses to plan and customers to book .
July 4 had always only been an aspirational date to start re-opening .
“ This gives some certainty about the direction of travel .
Some businesses have not opened since last November , because they are seasonal .
It is important to start as soon as they can .
”

The reopening of UK pubs may brought forward to 22 June under a new plan to “save the summer”.
Rishi Sunak is one of six ministers calling themselves the “Save Summer Six” who want to speed up the relaunch of the hospitality industry in order to boost the economy.
The proposals would allow some of the 27,000 UK pubs that have gardens or other outdoor spaces to serve customers for the first time since lockdown began in mid March, the Financial Times reports. And restaurants with outside seating could also be back in business.
JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin welcomed the move but warned that struggling pubs “would still lose money”.
“Few pubs will be able to make a profit using outdoor space only but partial reopening will provide a psychological boost to a beleaguered industry,” Martin told The Guardian. “It will signal the intent of the government to make progress towards normality, which will be welcome.”
The government initially set a date of 4 July to begin the third phase of easing lockdown, which includes pub reopenings.
The proposed timetable has been announced after Business Secretary Alok Sharma warned Boris Johnson last week that failure to reopen the hospitality sector in time for the summer could cost up to 3.5 million jobs, according to The Sunday Times.
Trade body UK Hospitality has told the BBC that allowing pubs to open this month was a step in the right direction, but that easing social distancing was more important.
The organisation estimates that with the current two-metre rule, pubs would be able to make about 30% of normal revenues. But if social distancing regulations were reduced to one-metre, predicted revenues would increase to between 60% and 75%.
UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said that the proposed June relaunch “does at least give us momentum - allowing businesses to plan and customers to book. July 4 had always only been an aspirational date to start re-opening.
“This gives some certainty about the direction of travel. Some businesses have not opened since last November, because they are seasonal. It is important to start as soon as they can.”


theweekuk--2020-06-09--Instant Opinion: Keir Starmer’s ‘level-headed Labour’ not enough to ‘skewer’ Boris Johnson

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on the Labour leader ’ s first months in charge Keir Starmer ’ s level-headed Labour is not enough to skewer this chaotic government “ It is understood that an opposition must craft itself as a government-in-waiting .
But how long is it prepared to wait ?
‘ Fixed-term Parliaments Act , ’ people will say , rolling their eyes , as if anyone who doesn ’ t accept the current reality until 2024 must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three elections in the nine years since that act was passed , so it ’ s really no more meaningful than a debating point .
Starmer and his shadow cabinet all seem focused on presenting their level heads , rather than their blue-sky thinking , and the message discipline is , I suppose , laudable .
But when you bring a mature eye to a shambolic government , it becomes frankly irresponsible to abide by these conventions of realism and sobriety .
You can ’ t ‘ hold to account ’ a government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t ‘ not interrupt your enemy while he makes a mistake ’ , when that mistake is measured in deaths .
You have to think bigger than critique.
” 2 .
Nigel Farage , leader of the Brexit Party , in The Daily Telegraph Our craven leaders are failing to stand up to a Marxist mob which wants to tear down our history “ The appalling scenes of violence and disorder in London and Bristol at the weekend should not have surprised anybody .
A few days earlier , the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings had taken place and by early evening , it had escalated into an aggressive encounter between protesters and police outside the gates of Downing Street .
Because of the way Wednesday ’ s incident was handled , the message to anarchists and vandals was clear .
In effect , the authorities said : ‘ Nobody in this country has the moral courage to stand up to you , so please do as you wish.
’ The BBC and much of the mainstream media ( with a few exceptions ) may wish to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but they have not – and will not – convince me or millions of others .
As far as I am concerned , the toppling of Edward Colston ’ s statue in Bristol on Sunday , amid hysterical screaming , marked the birth of the British Taliban.
” on the PM ’ s appeal to migrant workers Boris Johnson says migrant workers are ‘ welcome ’ .
It ’ s so hard to believe him “ For all the patriotic bravado that encapsulates Johnson ’ s government , we are weaker alone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The government ’ s decision to go into lockdown long after our European neighbours and the poor handling of the coronavirus crisis have led us to the highest death toll in Europe , the daily total of the UK on 3 June exceeding all other EU nations combined .
The ‘ Pick for Britain ’ campaign which sought to get British workers to replace EU fruit and vegetable pickers was also met with a meagre response , with EU nationals reportedly being flown in to fill the jobs that British people refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationalistic jingoism , anti-EU sentiment and the revelation of the government ’ s ineptitude in the midst of a crisis , one question remains .
Why on earth would migrant workers want to come here ?
” on what Brits really want from the next easing of lockdown rules Sex for singletons should be a higher priority than cars “ What matters more : sex or a new car ?
Never mind , the government has chosen for you .
Good news if you want to upgrade your motor , bad news if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on complete ( and legally enforceable ) hiatus .
As the government eased restrictions last week , including reopening car showrooms , the fact that sex between consenting adults can now be a crime went virtually unnoticed .
For ten weeks it was illegal to venture outside without a reasonable excuse .
From last Monday the law changed to prohibiting indoor ‘ gatherings ’ of ’ two or more persons ’ who are not in the same household .
The police can arrest you for sex in your own home if it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live with .
Regulations throughout this pandemic have been drafted as though single people and non-cohabiting couples do not exist .
According to Office for National Statistics figures from 2017 almost 40 per cent of the population aged over 16 did not live in a couple .
Assuming this proportion has stayed roughly the same , that is 21 million adults who have been banned from any form of physical intimacy for more than two months .
According to Matt Hancock , we ’ re not even meant to hug until there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 5 .
Bruce Bartlett in The New Republic on the overestimation of the US president He Is Even Dumber Than We Thought “ From the earliest days of his administration , it has been obvious to everyone who has come in direct contact with him that Trump knows very , very little about any policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operates .
Among those most alarmed by Trump ’ s ignorance and incompetence were those in the military and intelligence community .
After a National Security Council meeting on January 19 , 2018 , Defense Secretary James Mattis told aides that Trump had the understanding of ‘ a fifth- or sixth-grader.
’ To this day , Trump pays very little attention to his intelligence briefings ... Trump ’ s mental failings are also painfully clear to foreign diplomats , who are professionally obligated to be frank and clear-eyed about him .
Among themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting with Trump : Don ’ t assume he knows anything about your country , flatter his ego , and be mindful of his extremely short attention span .
It often appeared to aides that Trump didn ’ t even understand that other countries are in different time zones .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Zoe Williams in The Guardian
on the Labour leader’s first months in charge
Keir Starmer’s level-headed Labour is not enough to skewer this chaotic government
“It is understood that an opposition must craft itself as a government-in-waiting. But how long is it prepared to wait? ‘Fixed-term Parliaments Act,’ people will say, rolling their eyes, as if anyone who doesn’t accept the current reality until 2024 must be naive. We’ve had three elections in the nine years since that act was passed, so it’s really no more meaningful than a debating point. Starmer and his shadow cabinet all seem focused on presenting their level heads, rather than their blue-sky thinking, and the message discipline is, I suppose, laudable. But when you bring a mature eye to a shambolic government, it becomes frankly irresponsible to abide by these conventions of realism and sobriety. You can’t ‘hold to account’ a government that isn’t truthful. You can’t ‘not interrupt your enemy while he makes a mistake’, when that mistake is measured in deaths. You have to think bigger than critique.”
2. Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit Party, in The Daily Telegraph
on Black Lives Matter protests and Britain’s monuments
Our craven leaders are failing to stand up to a Marxist mob which wants to tear down our history
“The appalling scenes of violence and disorder in London and Bristol at the weekend should not have surprised anybody. A few days earlier, the first of this series of Black Lives Matter gatherings had taken place and by early evening, it had escalated into an aggressive encounter between protesters and police outside the gates of Downing Street. Because of the way Wednesday’s incident was handled, the message to anarchists and vandals was clear. In effect, the authorities said: ‘Nobody in this country has the moral courage to stand up to you, so please do as you wish.’ The BBC and much of the mainstream media (with a few exceptions) may wish to portray these protests as ‘peaceful’ but they have not – and will not – convince me or millions of others. As far as I am concerned, the toppling of Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol on Sunday, amid hysterical screaming, marked the birth of the British Taliban.”
3. Jamie Beauvais in The Independent
on the PM’s appeal to migrant workers
Boris Johnson says migrant workers are ‘welcome’. It’s so hard to believe him
“For all the patriotic bravado that encapsulates Johnson’s government, we are weaker alone, physically, economically and in other ways. The government’s decision to go into lockdown long after our European neighbours and the poor handling of the coronavirus crisis have led us to the highest death toll in Europe, the daily total of the UK on 3 June exceeding all other EU nations combined. The ‘Pick for Britain’ campaign which sought to get British workers to replace EU fruit and vegetable pickers was also met with a meagre response, with EU nationals reportedly being flown in to fill the jobs that British people refused to do. With the continuity of nationalistic jingoism, anti-EU sentiment and the revelation of the government’s ineptitude in the midst of a crisis, one question remains. Why on earth would migrant workers want to come here?”
4. Rachel Cunliffe in The Times
on what Brits really want from the next easing of lockdown rules
Sex for singletons should be a higher priority than cars
“What matters more: sex or a new car? Never mind, the government has chosen for you. Good news if you want to upgrade your motor, bad news if the lockdown has put your sex life on complete (and legally enforceable) hiatus. As the government eased restrictions last week, including reopening car showrooms, the fact that sex between consenting adults can now be a crime went virtually unnoticed. For ten weeks it was illegal to venture outside without a reasonable excuse. From last Monday the law changed to prohibiting indoor ‘gatherings’ of ’two or more persons’ who are not in the same household. The police can arrest you for sex in your own home if it’s with someone you don’t live with. Regulations throughout this pandemic have been drafted as though single people and non-cohabiting couples do not exist. According to Office for National Statistics figures from 2017 almost 40 per cent of the population aged over 16 did not live in a couple. Assuming this proportion has stayed roughly the same, that is 21 million adults who have been banned from any form of physical intimacy for more than two months. According to Matt Hancock, we’re not even meant to hug until there’s a vaccine.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
5. Bruce Bartlett in The New Republic
on the overestimation of the US president
He Is Even Dumber Than We Thought
“From the earliest days of his administration, it has been obvious to everyone who has come in direct contact with him that Trump knows very, very little about any policy issue or even how the federal government operates. Among those most alarmed by Trump’s ignorance and incompetence were those in the military and intelligence community. After a National Security Council meeting on January 19, 2018, Defense Secretary James Mattis told aides that Trump had the understanding of ‘a fifth- or sixth-grader.’ To this day, Trump pays very little attention to his intelligence briefings... Trump’s mental failings are also painfully clear to foreign diplomats, who are professionally obligated to be frank and clear-eyed about him. Among themselves, diplomats early on shared tips on meeting with Trump: Don’t assume he knows anything about your country, flatter his ego, and be mindful of his extremely short attention span. It often appeared to aides that Trump didn’t even understand that other countries are in different time zones.”


theweekuk--2020-06-09--Coronavirus: satellite images suggest outbreak first hit Wuhan in October

Satellite imagery from Wuhan suggests the new coronavirus was spreading in the Chinese city weeks earlier than Beijing has admitted , according to a new US study .
Researchers at Harvard Medical School analysed commercial satellite images of five Wuhan hospitals and observed what they describe as “ a dramatic increase in hospital traffic beginning late summer and early fall 2019 ” , reports The Times .
This spike in attendance coincided with an increase in Chinese internet searches for symptoms later linked to Covid-19 .
“ Something was happening in October… clearly , there was some level of social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously identified as the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic , ” study leader Dr John Brownstein , a professor of biomedical informatics , told ABC News .
Some Wuhan hospitals saw a 90 % year-on-year increase , according to the research .
The Harvard team also looked at data from Chinese search engine Baidu and discovered “ an uptick in searches of keywords associated with an infectious disease ” , including “ cough ” and “ diarrhoea ” , by users in the Wuhan region , reports CNN .
“ While queries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show seasonal fluctuations coinciding with yearly influenza seasons , ‘ diarrhoea ’ is a more Covid-19-specific symptom and only shows an association with the current epidemic , ” say the study authors .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– China alerted the World Health Organization ( WHO ) on 31 December that a new respiratory disease was spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggestion that the outbreak could have emerged weeks earlier has been strongly denied by Beijing .
In a 66-page report defending its response to the outbreak , the Chinese government says that the UN health agency and other countries were notified in an “ open and transparent manner ” .

Satellite imagery from Wuhan suggests the new coronavirus was spreading in the Chinese city weeks earlier than Beijing has admitted, according to a new US study.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School analysed commercial satellite images of five Wuhan hospitals and observed what they describe as “a dramatic increase in hospital traffic beginning late summer and early fall 2019”, reports The Times.
This spike in attendance coincided with an increase in Chinese internet searches for symptoms later linked to Covid-19.
“Something was happening in October… clearly, there was some level of social disruption taking place well before what was previously identified as the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic,” study leader Dr John Brownstein, a professor of biomedical informatics, told ABC News.
Some Wuhan hospitals saw a 90% year-on-year increase, according to the research.
The Harvard team also looked at data from Chinese search engine Baidu and discovered “an uptick in searches of keywords associated with an infectious disease”, including “cough” and “diarrhoea”, by users in the Wuhan region, reports CNN.
“While queries of the respiratory symptom ‘cough’ show seasonal fluctuations coinciding with yearly influenza seasons, ‘diarrhoea’ is a more Covid-19-specific symptom and only shows an association with the current epidemic,” say the study authors.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
China alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) on 31 December that a new respiratory disease was spreading through the city.
The researchers’ suggestion that the outbreak could have emerged weeks earlier has been strongly denied by Beijing.
In a 66-page report defending its response to the outbreak, the Chinese government says that the UN health agency and other countries were notified in an “open and transparent manner”.


theweekuk--2020-06-09--Reaction: Boris Johnson tells Black Lives Matter protesters ‘I hear you’

Boris Johnson has urged Britons to “ work peacefully , lawfully to defeat racism ” , as Black Lives Matter protesters take to the streets across the nation .
In an article for black newspaper The Voice , the prime minister said his government understood the “ undeniable feeling of injustice ” triggered by George Floyd 's killing in Minneapolis , telling demonstrators : “ I hear you.
” But while the UK has made “ huge strides ” in tackling discrimination in recent decades , the anti-racism cause risks being “ undermined ” by the minority of protesters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Johnson ’ s written call for peace - which he also read out in a video posted online - came as Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that an estimated 137,500 people attended the nationwide Black Lives Matter marches over the weekend .
Condemning the toppling of a statue depicting slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol , the PM echoed Patel ’ s earlier warning that “ those who attack public property or the police ... will face the full force of the law ” .
The Sun reports that Metropolitan Police arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Sunday , while “ dozens of officers suffered injuries ” .
Acknowledging that black Britons face discrimination “ in education , in employment [ and ] in the application of the criminal law ” , Johnson said that his government “ simply can ’ t ignore those feelings because in too many cases ... they will be founded on a cold reality ” .
However , his official spokesperson told The Independent that while “ the prime minister doesn ’ t doubt that there continues to be discrimination and racism… he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ” .
Labour has also supported the protesters ’ cause but criticised the use of violence .
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told MPs on Monday that he “ condemned those who have attacked the police ” , adding : “ I want to pay tribute to the police officers putting themselves in harm ’ s way.
” Meanwhile , Labour leader Keir Starmer said during an interview on LBC that protesters in Bristol had been “ completely wrong ” to pull down the Colston statue .
But he added that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long time ago ” , arguing : “ You can ’ t , in 21st century Britain , have a slaver on a statue.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The Labour mayor of London , Sadiq Khan , has ordered a review of the statues in the capital , “ with a view to removing those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , The Guardian reports .
The order comes as hundreds of BLM protesters are expected to rally in Oxford today to call for the removal of a statue of British imperialist and mining magnate Cecil Rhodes at Oriel College .
Khan ’ s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will consider all of London ’ s landmarks – including plaques and the names of streets and public buildings – to ensure they reflect the city ’ s diversity .
“ The Black Lives Matter protests have rightly brought this to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s important that we take the right steps to work together to bring change and ensure that we can all be proud of our public landscape , ” Khan said .
In a bid to further “ defuse tensions and address fury over disproportionate police action ” , says The Guardian , he has also ordered a Met Police review of practices such as stop and search that have been found to be used disproportionately to target black , Asian and minority ethnic people .

7. 9 June 2020: what would US police reform look like?
5. 3 June 2020: how the US race protests spread around the world
2. 28 May 2020: what we know about the death of George Floyd
Boris Johnson has urged Britons to “work peacefully, lawfully to defeat racism”, as Black Lives Matter protesters take to the streets across the nation.
In an article for black newspaper The Voice, the prime minister said his government understood the “undeniable feeling of injustice” triggered by George Floyd's killing in Minneapolis, telling demonstrators: “I hear you.”
But while the UK has made “huge strides” in tackling discrimination in recent decades, the anti-racism cause risks being “undermined” by the minority of protesters who attack police and property, he added.
Johnson’s written call for peace - which he also read out in a video posted online - came as Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that an estimated 137,500 people attended the nationwide Black Lives Matter marches over the weekend.
Condemning the toppling of a statue depicting slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol, the PM echoed Patel’s earlier warning that “those who attack public property or the police... will face the full force of the law”.
The Sun reports that Metropolitan Police arrested a total of 65 people on Saturday and Sunday, while “dozens of officers suffered injuries”.
Acknowledging that black Britons face discrimination “in education, in employment [and] in the application of the criminal law”, Johnson said that his government “simply can’t ignore those feelings because in too many cases... they will be founded on a cold reality”.
However, his official spokesperson told The Independent that while “the prime minister doesn’t doubt that there continues to be discrimination and racism… he would not agree that this is a racist country”.
Labour has also supported the protesters’ cause but criticised the use of violence.
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told MPs on Monday that he “condemned those who have attacked the police”, adding: “I want to pay tribute to the police officers putting themselves in harm’s way.”
Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer said during an interview on LBC that protesters in Bristol had been “completely wrong” to pull down the Colston statue. But he added that the monument should have been removed “a long time ago”, arguing: “You can’t, in 21st century Britain, have a slaver on a statue.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The Labour mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has ordered a review of the statues in the capital, “with a view to removing those with links to slavery and plantation owners”, The Guardian reports.
The order comes as hundreds of BLM protesters are expected to rally in Oxford today to call for the removal of a statue of British imperialist and mining magnate Cecil Rhodes at Oriel College.
Khan’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will consider all of London’s landmarks – including plaques and the names of streets and public buildings – to ensure they reflect the city’s diversity.
“The Black Lives Matter protests have rightly brought this to the public’s attention, but it’s important that we take the right steps to work together to bring change and ensure that we can all be proud of our public landscape,” Khan said.
In a bid to further “defuse tensions and address fury over disproportionate police action”, says The Guardian, he has also ordered a Met Police review of practices such as stop and search that have been found to be used disproportionately to target black, Asian and minority ethnic people.


theweekuk--2020-06-09--Prince Andrew in ‘war of words’ with US over Jeffrey Epstein probe: what next?

Prince Andrew ’ s hopes of retiring from the spotlight have been shattered by an escalating row with the US authorities over an inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein .
The Royal announced in late May that he was stepping back from his official duties due to his links to the late convicted paedophile .
But just weeks later , US prosecutors have publicly accused Andrew of having “ sought to falsely portray himself ” as willing to cooperate with their investigations - a claim that he has repeatedly denied .
The US Department of Justice has now submitted a formal request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testify - so what next for the panned old Duke of York ?
What has been said ?
US attorney Geoffrey Berman , who is leading the investigation into Epstein , has hit out at the Duke this week after having previously accused him of providing “ zero cooperation ” .
Speaking to reporters in March , the presecutor said that “ contrary to Prince Andrew ’ s very public offer to cooperate with our investigation ... [ he ] has now completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation ” .
Berman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York , also warned that his office was “ considering its options ” in terms of Andrew ’ s failure to assist law enforcement .
On Monday , lawyers for Prince Andrew issued their first public rebuttal of the “ inaccurate ” claims , reports the BBC .
But Berman then issued a counter statement claiming that the Duke was misleading the public on his willingness to cooperate .
“ Today , Prince Andrew yet again sought to falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to cooperate with an ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related offences committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates , ” Berman said .
He added that the Royal “ has not given an interview to federal authorities , has repeatedly declined our request to schedule such an interview , and nearly four months ago informed us unequivocally - through the very same counsel who issued today ’ s release - that he would not come in for such an interview ” .
Berman ’ s statement provoked another rebuttal by the Duke ’ s lawyers , who insisted that the US authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and were seeking publicity rather than assistance , reports The Telegraph .
“ We were given an unequivocal assurance that our discussions and the interview process would remain confidential , ” said Andrew ’ s lawyers .
“ The Duke of York has on at least three occasions this year offered his assistance as a witness to the DoJ [ Department of Justice ] .
” Why do they want to speak to Andrew ?
The Duke has been accused of having sex three times with Virginia Giuffre , who claims she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - and who has dismissed Andrew ’ s denial as “ BS ” , says The Guardian .
Andrew was a friend of Epstein , who died last year while in custody in Manhattan awaiting trial for sex trafficking .
The two men were pictured together in 2011 , two years after Epstein was released from prison for procuring an underage prostitute .
The Royal denies all claims of sexual misconduct relating to the Epstein case , and having had sex with Giuffre .
He has previously been said to be “ angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusations that he has failed to cooperate with US authorities over the Epstein investigation .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The US DoJ “ has formally told the UK the Duke of York is now caught up in a criminal probe for the first time ” , The Sun reports .
The BBC says the US authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLA ) request to the UK Home Office to speak to the Duke , though this has not been formally confirmed by either side .
Under the terms of a MLA , the Royal could be called to a UK court to answer questions if he doesn ’ t voluntarily respond .
His legal team are said to be extremely unhappy about the leaking of the MLA request , with a source describing it as “ an extraordinary breach of confidentiality ” , according to the broadcaster ’ s royal correspondent Jonny Dymond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney General William Barr says that while Prince Andrew may have to answer questions in a UK court , he will not be extradited .
Speaking to Fox News , Barr said : “ I don ’ t think it ’ s a question of handing him over .
I think it ’ s just a question of having him provide some evidence .
”


theweekuk--2020-06-09--Tories took £50,000 donation from drugs firm boss who ‘ripped off NHS’

The Conservative Party accepted a £50,000 donation from a pharmaceutical boss who exploited a pricing rules loophole to hike up the cost of drugs sold to the NHS , it has emerged .
The Times reports that Amit Patel donated the money to the Tories during the general election campaign in 2017 - a year after the newspaper revealed that his company Auden Mckenzie was among several businesses that had drastically inflated the prices of old drugs .
Following investigations by the Competition and Markets Authority ( CMA ) , Patel was banned last week from standing as director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the so-called “ price gouging ” exercise .
In a separate charge , he also admitted tax fraud , paying nearly £15m to settle a case with HM Revenue & Customs over payments for fake invoices .
Auden Mckenzie was able to sell drugs at inflated prices by “ exploiting a loophole in NHS pricing rules that meant drugs were no longer subject to a profit cap if they were ‘ debranded ’ and sold under a generic name ” , The Times says .
Under his ownership , the company bumped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which the firm was the sole manufacturer from 70p a packet to £66 .
A Conservative Party spokesperson told the newspaper that all large donations , defined as single amounts over £7,500 , “ are received in good faith .
They are properly and transparently declared to the Electoral Commission , published by them , and comply fully with the law.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In the final weeks ahead of last December ’ s general election , The Guardian reported that the Tories had been handed “ large donations worth 26 times the amount received by Labour ” .
Boris Johnson ’ s party raised a total of more than £5.67m in large donations from donors including “ the wife of a Russian businessman , property developers and a theatre producer ” , the newspaper said .
Meanwhile , The Sunday Times reported that Johnson had blocked the publication of a report into Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine Russian business people who gave money to the Conservative Party ” .

The Conservative Party accepted a £50,000 donation from a pharmaceutical boss who exploited a pricing rules loophole to hike up the cost of drugs sold to the NHS, it has emerged.
The Times reports that Amit Patel donated the money to the Tories during the general election campaign in 2017 - a year after the newspaper revealed that his company Auden Mckenzie was among several businesses that had drastically inflated the prices of old drugs.
Following investigations by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Patel was banned last week from standing as director of any company for breaking competition law with the so-called “price gouging” exercise.
In a separate charge, he also admitted tax fraud, paying nearly £15m to settle a case with HM Revenue & Customs over payments for fake invoices.
Auden Mckenzie was able to sell drugs at inflated prices by “exploiting a loophole in NHS pricing rules that meant drugs were no longer subject to a profit cap if they were ‘debranded’ and sold under a generic name”, The Times says.
Under his ownership, the company bumped up the price of an oral steroid of which the firm was the sole manufacturer from 70p a packet to £66.
A Conservative Party spokesperson told the newspaper that all large donations, defined as single amounts over £7,500, “are received in good faith. They are properly and transparently declared to the Electoral Commission, published by them, and comply fully with the law.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
In the final weeks ahead of last December’s general election, The Guardian reported that the Tories had been handed “large donations worth 26 times the amount received by Labour”.
Boris Johnson’s party raised a total of more than £5.67m in large donations from donors including “the wife of a Russian businessman, property developers and a theatre producer”, the newspaper said.
Meanwhile, The Sunday Times reported that Johnson had blocked the publication of a report into Russian interference in British politics that named “nine Russian business people who gave money to the Conservative Party”.


theweekuk--2020-06-09--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 9 Jun 2020

The government has hinted that all schools may not be able to reopen fully even in September .
Health Secretary @ @ @ @ @ “ current working plan ” was that September was now the “ earliest ” that @ @ @ @ @ to open .
He admitted that ministers have yet to “ work out ” how @ @ @ @ @ saying that it was “ going to require ingenuity ” .

Government admits schools may not reopen in September
The government has hinted that all schools may not be able to reopen fully even in September. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the “current working plan” was that September was now the “earliest” that secondary schools will be able to open. He admitted that ministers have yet to “work out” how they would manage this, saying that it was “going to require ingenuity”.


theweekuk--2020-06-09--Red-faced man tells nurse he ‘accidentally sat on a fish’

A man had to have a fish surgically removed from his rectum after telling a nurse that he “ accidentally sat on ” the animal .
The patient arrived at the Zhaoqing First People ’ s Hospital in China complaining of “ intense abdominal pain ” .
When he told the nurse he had mistakenly sat on the fish , she reportedly replied : “ Do you think I ’ m an idiot ?
” A hotel owner in Germany is under attack after announcing that her venue ’ s facilities are “ not suitable ” for people who weigh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she made the announcement on the website of her hotel Beachhotel Sahlenburg after she was sued by an “ overweight guest ” whose bed collapsed while he was sleeping in it .
A humpback whale swam up one of Canada ’ s major rivers and has been spotted in the waters off Montreal .
The whale has been swimming in the St Lawrence river against the backdrop of the Montreal skyline .
“ The best option is to let nature take its course , ” said an expert .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A man had to have a fish surgically removed from his rectum after telling a nurse that he “accidentally sat on” the animal. The patient arrived at the Zhaoqing First People’s Hospital in China complaining of “intense abdominal pain”. When he told the nurse he had mistakenly sat on the fish, she reportedly replied: “Do you think I’m an idiot?”
Hotel boss says venue unsuitable for overweight guests
A hotel owner in Germany is under attack after announcing that her venue’s facilities are “not suitable” for people who weigh more than 20 stone. Angelika Hargesheimer said she made the announcement on the website of her hotel Beachhotel Sahlenburg after she was sued by an “overweight guest” whose bed collapsed while he was sleeping in it.
Humpback whale swims up Montreal river
A humpback whale swam up one of Canada’s major rivers and has been spotted in the waters off Montreal. The whale has been swimming in the St Lawrence river against the backdrop of the Montreal skyline. “The best option is to let nature take its course,” said an expert.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-06-08--Turn your living room into a cinema

Turn your living room into a cinema

Entry-level film projectors may require screens and good curtains to keep the sun out ; ultra-high definition ( 4K ) models are pricey .
The Epson EH-TW9400 ( pictured top ) bridges that gap , says Will Donovan on GamesRadar .
It is as close to 4K as you can get without paying around twice what this machine costs and the picture quality is “ astonishing ” .
It will project onto whatever it ’ s pointed at and the adjustable lens means it is easier to position than cheaper units .
It ’ s a big lump , weighing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loud , but you ’ d struggle to get better for the price .
£2,549 , puretheatre.com The best TVs for image quality To get the best possible image quality on a television , you ’ ll need an OLED model , says Daniel Varghese in GQ .
The LG C9 is the one to go for .
It “ offers an absolutely stunning , extremely crisp image that ’ ll wow anyone lucky enough to be invited to a screening at your place ” .
It ’ s available in 55 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewing , the 77-inch screen is the way to go .
“ One downside of OLED technology is that these TVs don ’ t get as bright as conventional LED models – plan on drawing the curtains if you ’ re doing an all-day Scorsese marathon.
” From £1,299 , currys.co.uk The Sonos Arc is the most expensive “ soundbar ” the company has yet produced and it ’ s an impressive piece of kit , says Jeremy White in Wired .
The Arc is a smart speaker with Dolby Atmos , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which can channel Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant .
It has no less than 11 individual speakers along its 1.1-metre length , and it automatically adjusts to provide the best-quality sound based on your home-cinema set-up and what ’ s playing .
Using the associated app , you can play around with such “ audio trickery ” as enhancing the vocals or dampening the sound of explosions to avoid upsetting the neighbours .
£799 , sonos.com The best thing about a home cinema as opposed to the real thing is that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Khemjira Prompan on TimeOut Bangkok .
But why not make yourself really comfy by splashing out on a posh chair ?
The super stylish Grand Relax is designed by Italian architect and furniture designer Antonio Citterio , and is “ specially designed to hug the contours of your body ” .
It can rotate 360 degrees and the backrest can be locked at any angle .
You can choose from several combinations of materials , including elegant fabrics and high-quality leather , and it comes with an Ottoman so you can put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favourite film .
From £4,150 , vitra.com It wouldn ’ t be the same without popcorn… Popcorn is an integral part of cinema culture and this Retro Popcorn Maker by Smart can bring the experience home for you .
The machine features a large , stainless-steel kettle with a built-in stirring system and pops up to 16 cups of popcorn per batch .
It uses oil – there are machines that use hot air if you want a healthier snack – but there are “ few better looking options ” , say Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
£88.99 , wayfair.co.uk This article was originally published in MoneyWeek

Entry-level film projectors may require screens and good curtains to keep the sun out; ultra-high definition (4K) models are pricey. The Epson EH-TW9400 (pictured top) bridges that gap, says Will Donovan on GamesRadar. It is as close to 4K as you can get without paying around twice what this machine costs and the picture quality is “astonishing”. It will project onto whatever it’s pointed at and the adjustable lens means it is easier to position than cheaper units. It’s a big lump, weighing in at 11kg, and does run loud, but you’d struggle to get better for the price. £2,549, puretheatre.com
The best TVs for image quality
To get the best possible image quality on a television, you’ll need an OLED model, says Daniel Varghese in GQ. The LG C9 is the one to go for. It “offers an absolutely stunning, extremely crisp image that’ll wow anyone lucky enough to be invited to a screening at your place”. It’s available in 55 and 65 inches, but for optimal film viewing, the 77-inch screen is the way to go. “One downside of OLED technology is that these TVs don’t get as bright as conventional LED models – plan on drawing the curtains if you’re doing an all-day Scorsese marathon.” From £1,299, currys.co.uk
Getting that cinema sound
The Sonos Arc is the most expensive “soundbar” the company has yet produced and it’s an impressive piece of kit, says Jeremy White in Wired. The Arc is a smart speaker with Dolby Atmos, a “pimped up surround sound” system, which can channel Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It has no less than 11 individual speakers along its 1.1-metre length, and it automatically adjusts to provide the best-quality sound based on your home-cinema set-up and what’s playing. Using the associated app, you can play around with such “audio trickery” as enhancing the vocals or dampening the sound of explosions to avoid upsetting the neighbours. £799, sonos.com
Make yourself comfortable
The best thing about a home cinema as opposed to the real thing is that you can give yourself plenty of legroom, says Khemjira Prompan on TimeOut Bangkok. But why not make yourself really comfy by splashing out on a posh chair? The super stylish Grand Relax is designed by Italian architect and furniture designer Antonio Citterio, and is “specially designed to hug the contours of your body”. It can rotate 360 degrees and the backrest can be locked at any angle. You can choose from several combinations of materials, including elegant fabrics and high-quality leather, and it comes with an Ottoman so you can put your feet up and relax with your favourite film. From £4,150, vitra.com
It wouldn’t be the same without popcorn…
Popcorn is an integral part of cinema culture and this Retro Popcorn Maker by Smart can bring the experience home for you. The machine features a large, stainless-steel kettle with a built-in stirring system and pops up to 16 cups of popcorn per batch. It uses oil – there are machines that use hot air if you want a healthier snack – but there are “few better looking options”, say Tom Capon and Jennifer Barton in The Sun. £88.99, wayfair.co.uk
This article was originally published in MoneyWeek


theweekuk--2020-06-09--Archaeologists map Roman city using ‘quad bike and radar’

Archaeologists have mapped a complete Roman city using ground-penetrating radar and without any digging .
The new scanning system revealed highly detailed images of a bath house , theatre , shops and several temples in Falerii Novi , which stood 30 miles north of Rome from 241BC until around AD700 , The Guardian says .
The ground penetrating radar ( GPR ) also revealed the walled city ’ s network of plumbing , including water-pipe layouts .
The archaeologists , from the universities of Cambridge and Ghent , in Belgium , “ were even able to see how the town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at different depths , reports CNN .
GPR works by bouncing radio waves off objects , and using the “ echo ” to build up a picture of what lies beneath the ground , reports Sky News .
“ Archaeologists believe it could revolutionise our understanding of ancient settlements , making it possible to explore larger areas in higher resolution , including those that can not be excavated because they are trapped under modern structure , ” the broadcaster says .
Using a quad bike , the researchers towed their GPR instruments over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be buried while taking readings every 5ins ( 12.5cm ) .
They describe their findings in full in a newly published paper in the journal Antiquity .
“ The astonishing level of detail which we have achieved at Falerii Novi , and the surprising features that has revealed , suggest that this type of survey could transform the way archaeologists investigate urban sites , as total entities , ” said study co-author Martin Millett , a professor of classical archaeology at Cambridge .
“ We still have so much to learn about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open up unprecedented opportunities for decades to come , ” he added .

Archaeologists have mapped a complete Roman city using ground-penetrating radar and without any digging.
The new scanning system revealed highly detailed images of a bath house, theatre, shops and several temples in Falerii Novi, which stood 30 miles north of Rome from 241BC until around AD700, The Guardian says.
The ground penetrating radar (GPR) also revealed the walled city’s network of plumbing, including water-pipe layouts.
The archaeologists, from the universities of Cambridge and Ghent, in Belgium, “were even able to see how the town evolved”, by imaging the site at different depths, reports CNN.
GPR works by bouncing radio waves off objects, and using the “echo” to build up a picture of what lies beneath the ground, reports Sky News.
“Archaeologists believe it could revolutionise our understanding of ancient settlements, making it possible to explore larger areas in higher resolution, including those that cannot be excavated because they are trapped under modern structure,” the broadcaster says.
Using a quad bike, the researchers towed their GPR instruments over the area where Falerii Novi was believed to be buried while taking readings every 5ins (12.5cm).
They describe their findings in full in a newly published paper in the journal Antiquity.
“The astonishing level of detail which we have achieved at Falerii Novi, and the surprising features that has revealed, suggest that this type of survey could transform the way archaeologists investigate urban sites, as total entities,” said study co-author Martin Millett, a professor of classical archaeology at Cambridge.
“We still have so much to learn about Roman urban life and this technology should open up unprecedented opportunities for decades to come,” he added.


theweekuk--2020-06-09--Black Lives Matter: what would US police reform look like?

Demonstrators at protests across the US are calling for an end to both racism and current policing practices in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death .
Whether pushing to reform , defund , dismantle or even totally abolish the nation ’ s police forces , proponents of a law enforcement overhaul have found allies in Congress .
Democrats led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have proposed sweeping legislation to reform law enforcement nationwide , after Minneapolis lawmakers voted to disband the city ’ s police force following Floyds ’ death during an arrest in the city last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential options entail ?
Reform of the police service “ has often been the mainstream call in the wake of protests against police brutality , ” says NBC News .
But while such reform drives have previously focused on reviewing police funding , the process “ now tends to call for community policing , a style that encourages police to be assigned to specific communities and to know the residents and dynamics of the areas where they work ” , the US broadcaster reports .
Proponents of this approach argue that “ many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed police officers - responding to drug overdoses , and working with people who have a mental illness or are homeless - would be better carried out by nurses or social workers ” , says The New York Times .
Police reform also aims to limit officers ’ use of force and to establish systems to hold police accountable for their actions .
Since the Floyd protests began , New York ’ s state legislature has moved swiftly to pass reform legislation , including banning chokeholds , prohibiting ethnic or racial profiling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep track of arrests by ethnic and racial group , in a bid to identify patterns of bias .
Further legislation is expected to pass this week , “ including repeal of a law which kept police disciplinary records confidential ” , NPR reports .
Some campaigners argue that simply reforming police systems doesn ’ t go far enough .
The cost of policing in the US has tripled to $ 114.5bn ( £90.4bn ) a year over the past four decades , according to an analysis of latest census data .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ policing is much higher than funding for other departments and services .
Los Angeles forks out $ 1.8bn ( £1.4bn ) on police - more than half the city ’ s general fund .
Many critics argue that this level of funding is leading to bloat within the force and diverting much-needed funds from other aspects of civic life .
Amid growing criticism , moves are already under way to defund police in some US cities .
LA Mayor Eric Garcetti announced at a press conference last week that the city would “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can invest in jobs , in health , in education and in healing ” , reports Los Angeles Magazine .
A New York councillor has called for a $ 1bn divestment from the NYPD , while “ in Philadelphia , Baltimore , Washington D.C. , San Francisco and other cities , local policymakers have expressed support for some form of defunding or opposing police budget increases ” , says The Guardian .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Minneapolis City Council has announced plans to “ dismantle ” and “ abolish ” its local police department and create a new system for providing public safety .
“ In Minneapolis and in cities across the US , it is clear that our system of policing is not keeping our communities safe , ” council president Lisa Bender said at a community rally on Sunday .
Other cities have taken similar measures in the past .
In 2012 , Camden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismantling its police department and forming “ what city leaders say was a different kind of police force , focused on community policing ” , reports NBC news .
In other cases , “ departments disband when municipalities go bankrupt or when cities decide they don ’ t want to pay for their own police and contract to hire neighbours ’ forces , instead ” .
But with Minneapolis , “ it appears that a paradigm shift might be the goal ” , says the broadcaster .
According to city council member Jeremiah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done , we ’ re not simply gon na glue [ the police department ] back together .
We are going to dramatically rethink how we approach public safety and emergency response.
” The council ’ s plan for what will replace the police department currently “ remains unclear ” , says Vox .
However , “ ideas like those of Black Visions Collective and Reclaim the Block would likely be included in the city ’ s final proposal , given that local officials have pledged to work with community groups to outline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime , mediating civilian disputes , and addressing emergencies ” , the news site continues .
The process of dismantling a police force and starting from scratch has also been tried and tested in other countries .
In 2004 , Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili sacked around 30,000 police officers - 85 % of the total police force - in a single day in an effort to root out Soviet-era corruption .
The reformed police force is now “ one of the most well-regarded institutions in the country ” , says the London-based Centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that policing and prisons are reformable institutions , with some critics arguing that the total abolition of these systems is the only viable solution .
“ Even if we trim the budget , if we ask them to do more beating with less money , we ’ re still invested in policing as an action , institution and method of meeting need and reducing conflict , ” says Andrea Ritchie , a researcher for interrupting criminalisation at New York City ’ s Barnard College .
Abolitionists say they don ’ t merely want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but rather to change the structure and conditions under which people who are currently criminalised live to make police more obsolete ” , says NBC News .
According to the broadcaster , the argument goes that “ if people had healthcare , housing and access to good jobs and education and community , there would be less crime and less need for police ” .
“ We are not proposing to abandon our communities to violence .
We are naming policing as a form of violence that we all experience , ” Ritchie @ @


theweekuk--2020-06-09--Coronavirus: the vaccines on trial - and when they may be ready

As the easing of lockdowns in countries worldwide raises fears of a second wave of Covid-19 infections , the race to develop a vaccine is proceeding at record speed .
Scientists are now investigating more than 100 existing and experimental drugs that might generate immunity to the new coronavirus .
While most of the testing remains in the earliest stages , a handful of the drugs have entered large-scale clinical trials - and in an unprecedented achievement , the most promising may be ready for use as early as this autumn .
“ Vaccine development is notoriously difficult and time-consuming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The record is four years , and a decade is not unusual.
” Leading the pack is Oxford University ’ s Jenner Institute , which had a head start thanks to previous work on a vaccine for a different type of coronavirus .
The new drug is based on a weakened version of the common cold .
“ The virus has been manipulated to not cause harm to humans , but contains part of Covid-19 so as to trigger the body ’ s immune response to the virus ’ s spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human cells and multiply , ” says Sky News .
Phase three trials involving 30,000 people are about to begin , with the results expected in July .
But the research team is already working with drugs company AstraZeneca to start mass production , so that the injection is ready for distribution if and when it is approved .
A target of September has been set for the first public use .
“ AstraZeneca said last week that it had doubled manufacturing capacity for its potential coronavirus vaccine to two billion doses in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gates that guaranteed early supply to lower-income countries , ” The Guardian reports .
The only other candidate in phase three trials is an old drug - the Bacillus Calmette–Guerin ( BCG ) vaccine , widely used to protect against tuberculosis .
This vaccination has long been known to “ enhance the innate immune response ” to a range of other infections , including viruses that attack the respiratory system , says a research article published in The Lancet .
Although there is not yet enough evidence to prove the effectiveness of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under way in the Netherlands and Australia to evaluate its performance .
In a paper in the journal Nature , Professor Mihai Netea , who is leading the Dutch research , says that even if BCG doesn ’ t offer comprehensive protection against the coronavirus , it “ may well be a bridge to a specific Covid-19 vaccine ” .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– US company Moderna Therapeutics is seeking to generate Covid-19 immunity through a new and as yet unproven process .
Instead of using another virus to prime the body ’ s immune system , Moderna proposes to inject a synthetic version of the Covid-19 coronavirus ’ s own genetic material , known as messenger RNA or mRNA .
This artificial protein will be incapable of replicating and causing disease but should , in theory , stimulate antibody production .
“ An mRNA vaccine has huge advantages over a traditional one , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made directly from the genetic code of the virus , it can be invented and entered into clinical trials in a matter of weeks , rather than months or years .
But there ’ s a big downside : no one has ever successfully made one.
” Moderna ’ s vaccine is in phase two trials involving 600 people , with the goal of gaining approval by the end of the year .
If successful , Swiss pharmaceutical group Lonza has signed a deal to produce a billion doses per year .
German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phase one and two trials , and plans to pick the most promising of them to accelerate through the approval process .
Albert Bourla , the company ’ s chief executive , hopes his vaccine may be ready within months .
“ If things go well , and the stars are aligned , we will have enough evidence of safety and efficacy so that we can… have a vaccine around the end of October , ” he told The Times of Israel .
Human trials began in Germany in April and in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s government , including its military and several state-backed firms , has committed hundreds of millions of dollars and cleared regulatory barriers to accelerate research and development , ” says The Wall Street Journal .
The result is no fewer than five potential vaccines undergoing phase two trials .
All use the traditional approach of injecting a weakened or deactivated virus to stimulate immunity .
Any found to be effective will be widely distributed within China and around the world , the government says - but Beijing may face some reluctance from overseas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of scandals – counterfeits run rampant and expired vaccines have been tampered with and repackaged , ” The Telegraph reports .
“ Poor refrigeration in storage and transport have also ruined vaccines.
” Even among Chinese consumers , the newspaper adds , “ those who can afford it opt for imported over domestic vaccines ” .


theweekuk--2020-06-10--Instant Opinion: Tory cheerleaders for Donald Trump bring ‘lasting shame on Britain’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on Conservatives who celebrate the US president ’ s ascent “ Some said there was a better man behind the mask , but there was no mask .
The racist snarl , the bully ’ s sneer and the infantile pout were all his .
The face of the campaign was true to the character of the candidate .
The only way to see a nobler Trump was to mould one from delusion , cowardice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government embarking on Brexit .
Those who found Trump ’ s appeals to white nationalism a little vulgar retreated to arguments based on realpolitik .
The transatlantic relationship is bigger than personalities , they said .
We honour the office of president , regardless of who sits there ...
The problem is that Trump is a malignancy eating away at the authority of his office .
He has no concept of alliances based on mutual interest .
Like any despot , he demands submission , then despises as weaklings those who submit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the institutions of liberal democracy in the US and around the world that Trump attacks.
” on the way we talk about race in the UK Language matters when we talk about race “ The great power of the assertion that black lives matter is that it correctly argues that they haven ’ t mattered enough : to the police , to the justice system , to businesses .
It demands that this be changed .
White privilege instead makes white people the centre of attention .
Then there is the political problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m certainly one of them , who are reasonably affluent , well established and have a degree of power at work , it may be irksome to be told you are privileged .
But the provocation at least has a purpose .
It makes you reflect on the advantages you have and where they come from .
It prevents you being carried away with the idea that all you achieve is on merit .
Yet many people experience it very differently .
People who are struggling to hold down a job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family lives or in poor health are told that they should feel lucky to be so privileged .
It ’ s a message often delivered to them by university students or young urban professionals.
” on the historical parallels between two murdered black men George Floyd has become the Emmett Till of this moment “ [ George ] Floyd ’ s violent death is a uniquely American tragedy .
Like Garner , in his last moments Floyd pleaded , ‘ I can ’ t breathe.
’ It is a horrifically familiar line in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and police brutality .
And yet , Floyd stands apart , his death a spark that has set the country and the world on fire — Emmett Till for a digital generation ... As Floyd is laid to rest in Pearland , Tex.
, I worry about the protection of his gravesite .
While the critics of black protest decry damage done to buildings , I can not help but think about how white racists desecrate black graves and memorials .
In Mississippi , Emmett Till ’ s memorial marker was shot at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sign bulletproof .
In America , racism doesn ’ t even let its black victims rest in peace.
” on talking to children about racism I didn ’ t think I had to talk to my mixed-race daughter about racism – until she hinted she wants to look white “ The Black Lives Matter movement should be a wake-up call to white families too .
As the demonstrations continue around the world , I am reminded of a parent who admitted to changing the story of Rosa Parks – the American activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US civil rights movement of the 1950s by refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger .
The mother was afraid her child would be too upset to learn that someone could be discriminated against because of their skin colour , so she rewrote the iconic moment in history .
What was once a brave stand against black repression became a watered-down fight between rich and poor .
When your child is unlikely to ever be the victim of racism , decisions like those are easy choices to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my children from a painful reality they will likely face one day .
The best way to protect them is to prepare them : to show them what injustice looks like and equip them with the tools they will need to stand up against it when the time comes.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fastest growing superpower “ Until the coronavirus pandemic , China ’ s quiet emergence as a major force in global politics encountered little serious resistance .
The desire to forge lucrative trade ties with Beijing meant Western politicians were more inclined to turn a blind eye to Chinese intransigence on issues such as Tibet , Taiwan and even Hong Kong .
This approach , at least so far as most Western democracies are concerned , has changed irrevocably because of China ’ s role in the pandemic ... With the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s global ambitions , China may well find that its options are limited .
The Chinese economy was already in trouble before the pandemic struck , and Beijing ’ s difficulties could deepen further if the vast loans it has made in the financial markets collapse in value .
For even the CCP must now realise that it is China , and not the Western democracies , that has most to lose from the pandemic it helped to create .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Rafael Behr in The Guardian
on Conservatives who celebrate the US president’s ascent
Donald Trump’s Tory cheerleaders have brought lasting shame on Britain
“Some said there was a better man behind the mask, but there was no mask. The racist snarl, the bully’s sneer and the infantile pout were all his. The face of the campaign was true to the character of the candidate. The only way to see a nobler Trump was to mould one from delusion, cowardice and self-interest – plentiful resources in a government embarking on Brexit. Those who found Trump’s appeals to white nationalism a little vulgar retreated to arguments based on realpolitik. The transatlantic relationship is bigger than personalities, they said. We honour the office of president, regardless of who sits there... The problem is that Trump is a malignancy eating away at the authority of his office. He has no concept of alliances based on mutual interest. Like any despot, he demands submission, then despises as weaklings those who submit. Britain’s loyalty should be to the institutions of liberal democracy in the US and around the world that Trump attacks.”
2. Daniel Finkelstein in The Times
on the way we talk about race in the UK
Language matters when we talk about race
“The great power of the assertion that black lives matter is that it correctly argues that they haven’t mattered enough: to the police, to the justice system, to businesses. It demands that this be changed. White privilege instead makes white people the centre of attention. Then there is the political problem with it. To people, and I’m certainly one of them, who are reasonably affluent, well established and have a degree of power at work, it may be irksome to be told you are privileged. But the provocation at least has a purpose. It makes you reflect on the advantages you have and where they come from. It prevents you being carried away with the idea that all you achieve is on merit. Yet many people experience it very differently. People who are struggling to hold down a job or on modest incomes or with difficult family lives or in poor health are told that they should feel lucky to be so privileged. It’s a message often delivered to them by university students or young urban professionals.”
3. Karen Attiah in The Washington Post
on the historical parallels between two murdered black men
George Floyd has become the Emmett Till of this moment
“[George] Floyd’s violent death is a uniquely American tragedy. Like Garner, in his last moments Floyd pleaded, ‘I can’t breathe.’ It is a horrifically familiar line in America’s dark song of racism and police brutality. And yet, Floyd stands apart, his death a spark that has set the country and the world on fire — Emmett Till for a digital generation... As Floyd is laid to rest in Pearland, Tex., I worry about the protection of his gravesite. While the critics of black protest decry damage done to buildings, I cannot help but think about how white racists desecrate black graves and memorials. In Mississippi, Emmett Till’s memorial marker was shot at so many times they had to make the sign bulletproof. In America, racism doesn’t even let its black victims rest in peace.”
4. Matthew Jenkin in The Independent
on talking to children about racism
I didn’t think I had to talk to my mixed-race daughter about racism – until she hinted she wants to look white
“The Black Lives Matter movement should be a wake-up call to white families too. As the demonstrations continue around the world, I am reminded of a parent who admitted to changing the story of Rosa Parks – the American activist who played a pivotal role in the US civil rights movement of the 1950s by refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. The mother was afraid her child would be too upset to learn that someone could be discriminated against because of their skin colour, so she rewrote the iconic moment in history. What was once a brave stand against black repression became a watered-down fight between rich and poor. When your child is unlikely to ever be the victim of racism, decisions like those are easy choices to make. But I refuse to shield my children from a painful reality they will likely face one day. The best way to protect them is to prepare them: to show them what injustice looks like and equip them with the tools they will need to stand up against it when the time comes.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
5. Con Coughlin in The Daily Telegraph
on the pandemic’s derailment of the world’s fastest growing superpower
Coronavirus is destroying China's bid for global domination
“Until the coronavirus pandemic, China’s quiet emergence as a major force in global politics encountered little serious resistance. The desire to forge lucrative trade ties with Beijing meant Western politicians were more inclined to turn a blind eye to Chinese intransigence on issues such as Tibet, Taiwan and even Hong Kong. This approach, at least so far as most Western democracies are concerned, has changed irrevocably because of China’s role in the pandemic... With the US leading the charge to contain Beijing’s global ambitions, China may well find that its options are limited. The Chinese economy was already in trouble before the pandemic struck, and Beijing’s difficulties could deepen further if the vast loans it has made in the financial markets collapse in value. For even the CCP must now realise that it is China, and not the Western democracies, that has most to lose from the pandemic it helped to create.”