theweekuk--2020-09-04--‘Instinct for secrecy’: the government department accused of blocking Brexit planning

Preparations for Britain ’ s departure from the EU were stalled by an unwarranted “ instinct for secrecy ” within the government department tasked with overseeing the plans , according to a new report from Whitehall ’ s spending watchdog .
The analysis by the National Audit Office ( NAO ) suggests that the now-defunct Department for Exiting the European Union ( DExEU ) hindered trade talks and put intense pressure on civil servants that led many to quit .
So did the department really set the UK on the path to what seems to be the increasingly likely outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does the report say ?
The DExEU was formed by then-prime minister Theresa May shortly after the UK voted Leave in June 2016 and was disbanded on 31 January this year , when the UK officially left the EU and entered the transition period .
The purpose of the department was to oversee negotiations for the terms of Britain ’ s department , but according to the 23-page NAO report , “ DExEU kept a tight hold on communications , keeping secret anything which might pertain to the UK ’ s negotiating position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in government can get in the way of effective coordination , collaboration and a sense of urgency in progressing towards a common goal , ” the report adds .
The watchdog found that the department routinely “ issued non-disclosure agreements when discussing plans that were meant to inform the public and the business community ” , says The Guardian , which notes that “ more than 22,000 workers were deployed across Whitehall departments on the preparations , which cost £4.4bn ” .
The NAO report concludes that these “ non-disclosure agreements undermined transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the business community at large ” .
What about the effect on staff ?
The newly published report says that preparations for Brexit pushed all branches of Whitehall into “ unusually compressed timetables , affecting both internal processes but also the time available to design and carry out major projects such as building new IT systems ” .
This increased workload “ did have an impact on the people carrying out the work ” , and staff turnover in roles focused on Brexit was “ higher than for the civil service in general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnover was highest within the DExEU and the problem was “ particularly acute at more senior grades ” , the report continues .
“ In its less than four years in existence , DExEU had three permanent secretaries .
“ Other departments most affected by EU Exit have also seen changes at permanent secretary level , including Defra ( Department for Environment , Food and Rural Affairs ) and HMRC.
” NAO Gareth Davies says the government “ can draw on this learning in preparing for the end of the transition period and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges including its response to Covid-19 ” .
With the UK ’ s official exit from the EU only months away , the new report also offers ammunition to critics who disagree with the government ’ s handling of Brexit negotiations .
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Christine Jardine has pointed to the NAO findings as further evidence that the Tories have made a “ dog ’ s dinner ” of Britain ’ s divorce from Europe .
“ How Boris Johnson ever thought he could get a deal by the end of July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whitehall is beyond me , ” said the MP .
Labour MP Meg Hillier , chair of the Public Accounts Committee , criticised Downing Street for taking “ too long to get to grips with the challenge it was facing ” .
The government “ must not make these mistakes again when weighing up how best to allocate resources between the pandemic response , Brexit and its other priorities ” , Hillier added .

Preparations for Britain’s departure from the EU were stalled by an unwarranted “instinct for secrecy” within the government department tasked with overseeing the plans, according to a new report from Whitehall’s spending watchdog.
The analysis by the National Audit Office (NAO) suggests that the now-defunct Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) hindered trade talks and put intense pressure on civil servants that led many to quit.
So did the department really set the UK on the path to what seems to be the increasingly likely outcome of a no-deal Brexit?
What else does the report say?
The DExEU was formed by then-prime minister Theresa May shortly after the UK voted Leave in June 2016 and was disbanded on 31 January this year, when the UK officially left the EU and entered the transition period.
The purpose of the department was to oversee negotiations for the terms of Britain’s department, but according to the 23-page NAO report, “DExEU kept a tight hold on communications, keeping secret anything which might pertain to the UK’s negotiating position”.
“This instinct for secrecy in government can get in the way of effective coordination, collaboration and a sense of urgency in progressing towards a common goal,” the report adds.
The watchdog found that the department routinely “issued non-disclosure agreements when discussing plans that were meant to inform the public and the business community”, says The Guardian, which notes that “more than 22,000 workers were deployed across Whitehall departments on the preparations, which cost £4.4bn”.
The NAO report concludes that these “non-disclosure agreements undermined transparency and hampered the spread of information to the business community at large”.
What about the effect on staff?
The newly published report says that preparations for Brexit pushed all branches of Whitehall into “unusually compressed timetables, affecting both internal processes but also the time available to design and carry out major projects such as building new IT systems”.
This increased workload “did have an impact on the people carrying out the work”, and staff turnover in roles focused on Brexit was “higher than for the civil service in general”, the NAO adds.
Staff turnover was highest within the DExEU and the problem was “particularly acute at more senior grades”, the report continues. “In its less than four years in existence, DExEU had three permanent secretaries.
“Other departments most affected by EU Exit have also seen changes at permanent secretary level, including Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and HMRC.”
And the reaction?
NAO Gareth Davies says the government “can draw on this learning in preparing for the end of the transition period and beyond, and in managing other cross-government challenges including its response to Covid-19”.
With the UK’s official exit from the EU only months away, the new report also offers ammunition to critics who disagree with the government’s handling of Brexit negotiations.
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Christine Jardine has pointed to the NAO findings as further evidence that the Tories have made a “dog’s dinner” of Britain’s divorce from Europe.
“How Boris Johnson ever thought he could get a deal by the end of July with the chaos behind the scenes in Whitehall is beyond me,” said the MP.
Labour MP Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, criticised Downing Street for taking “too long to get to grips with the challenge it was facing”.
The government “must not make these mistakes again when weighing up how best to allocate resources between the pandemic response, Brexit and its other priorities”, Hillier added.


theweekuk--2020-09-05--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 5 Sep 2020

Most cases of Covid-19 are now in younger people in what The Times describes as an “ extraordinary shift that @ @ @ @ @ can be kept low without lockdowns ” .
Two thirds of confirmed infections are in @ @ @ @ @ fifth of cases are in people over 50 , compared with three quarters in the @ @

‘Extraordinary shift’ of Covid-19 cases towards young people
Most cases of Covid-19 are now in younger people in what The Times describes as an “extraordinary shift that has raised hopes that deaths can be kept low without lockdowns”. Two thirds of confirmed infections are in the under-40s while just a fifth of cases are in people over 50, compared with three quarters in the spring.


theweekuk--2020-09-06--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 6 Sep 2020

An elephant who has become known as the “ world 's loneliest elephant , ” will be allowed to leave @ @ @ @ @ has lived in for 35 years .
Kaavan has been given medical clearance to travel @ @ @ @ @ zoo in Islamabad on Friday , according to Martin Bauer , a spokesman for animal @ @ @ @ @ Having lost his partner in 2012 , Kaavan has battled loneliness in poor iving conditions @

Britain's rail services to be cut by 10% this autumn
Passengers will face longer waiting times and the loss of some routes as Britain’s railway firms operate an autumn timetable of services that will be 10% below the pre-pandemic level. With certain lines facing cuts of up to 35%, some trains that ran hourly will run only every two hours and some direct routes connecting the regions to capital are being suspended.


theweekuk--2020-09-07--September events guide: ten things to do across the UK and in London this month

August ’ s mini heatwave might be over but things are far from cooling down this September .
The UK is home to an abundance of fun things to do , from one of the country ’ s first ever floating cinema experiences to the return of Fuller ’ s popular Shakespeare In The Garden event , which will see The Tempest play out in spacious beer gardens across the nation .
If your September plans are minimal , make way for DesignMyNight ’ s guide to the month ahead .
Drive-in cinemas originate all the way back to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the on-wheels experience has witnessed a major comeback with screens popping up across the UK .
If you happen to rely on London ’ s excellent transportation system and don ’ t own a car of your own , there ’ s always Openaire ; one of the UK ’ s first ever cinematic experience by boat .
Based in Paddington , you ’ ll float up to the big screen in a boat of your own to catch everything from Bohemian Rhapsody to Mamma Mia .
Tickets from £15 ; Various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Paddington , London W2 1AJ Company of Cooks has partnered with Colchester Oyster Fishery this month for a special one-off evening to offer up the best seafood in Britain .
The three-course meal on 17 September will be accompanied by the backdrop of Chelsea ’ s historic botanical garden and your experience will kick-start with a complimentary glass of Chablis .
The menu consists of a silky smoked salmon starter with a shellfish platter for mains - which can be upgraded to lobster for an extra £20 - and a honeycomb cheesecake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up his reputation thanks to TV appearances on the likes of Sunday Brunch , not to mention the sell-out success of his pop-up , The BBQ Club .
Situated along the Southbank , the award-winning chef is bringing back his interactive experience this month so you can cook a seven-course meal right along the banks of the Thames .
This time around the experience is BYOB and all tickets come with a complimentary welcome cocktail and fireside snacks .
BBQ Club tickets ( for four to six people ) from £260-£390 or sample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dates from 9 September ; Riverside Queens Walk , Belvedere Road , London , SE1 8XX Like pasta , flour was one of those necessities that became increasingly hard to purchase during the height of the pandemic .
Baking saw a huge surge , with the chances of finding gold dust significantly higher than an ounce of McDougalls .
For those who have found an undiscovered talent during lockdown , you can show off your skills at The Big Birmingham Bake .
This pop-up baking experience is held in a familiar looking white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes to follow instructions and turn several ingredients into a culinary masterpiece before presenting it to the judges .
Tickets from £33.50-£45 ; Various dates from 9 September ; 110-112 , Floodgate Street , Birmingham , B5 5SR As a nation our concept of staying in has changed drastically since lockdown , birthing a flurry of new and never-seen-before online experiences , one of which is the Virtual Whisky Tasting Masterclass .
This two-hour online experience is hosted on Zoom and can be enjoyed by anyone in the UK .
Orchestrated by Felipe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Awards judge , you will nose and taste six different drams throughout the masterclass , all of which will be delivered to your door before the event .
Tickets from £39-£99 ; Online ; Various dates throughout the month A craft beer experience is taking place in Liverpool this September , giving ale aficionados the chance to get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at some of the city ’ s best breweries and taprooms .
The walking tour will see you stop off at Love Lane Brewery , Hobo Kiosy and Black Lodge Brewery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , taste and touch the elements that make each beer so unique , all before trying samplers at each which equate to a total of 8⅓ pints .
Responsible for putting Canary Wharf on the map for a fun night out , Electric Shuffle has reopened its doors and is now taking bookings .
With ten shuffle lanes and two floors to play across , this is an atmospheric but socially-distant evening away from your front room .
Sharing cocktails and paddle board pizzas are the speciality and come the weekend you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eight people which includes a bottle of prosecco each and endless slices for two hours .
Tickets from £30-£35 ; Various dates from Saturday 12 September ; 10 Cabot Square , North Colonnade , E14 4EY Immersive experiences are at the heart of London ’ s event scene and although many have been put on hold due to the pandemic , COLAB Theatre is back in action , this time with a 1920s underworld operation in Elephant & Castle .
Inspired by the TV hit Peaky Blinders , this cloak and dagger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( whilst maintaining social distancing ) as one family fights for supremacy .
Dodgy deals , boxing rings and fortune telling will all play a part in the story as you rub shoulders with criminals and attempt to keep your enemies at bay .
Tickets from £49-£119 ; 12 , 19 and 26 September ; COLAB Tavern , The King William IV , 16 Harper Road , London , SE1 6AD Fuller ’ s has been running Shakespeare In The Garden for a total of nine years and it ’ s set to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the country this month .
Bristol , London and Reading are just some of the cities where you can catch The Tempest , which will be run by theatre company Open Bar and this year they ’ re promising the boldest show yet .
Original music , outlandish costumes and a hint of aerial circus will conjure the bard ’ s tale with an impressive modern twist .
Tickets from £18 ; Various dates in September and various locations Kitchen Theory is an award-winning experience based in an old Victorian warehouse and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and psychologists to bring its dining concept to life .
It aims to push the boundaries of gastronomy with a combination of audio , lighting , table projections , aromas , and textures .
Taking private bookings of up to 12 and running at a 40 % reduced capacity for its monthly supperclub , it ’ s down as one of September ’ s best experiences .
Tickets from £190 ; Various dates in September ; Kitchen Theory , Alston Works - Unit 9A , Falkland Road , Barnet , EN5 4LG For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do in London and across the UK , see DesignMyNight.com or follow on Instagram and Facebook ; @ DesignMyNight

August’s mini heatwave might be over but things are far from cooling down this September. The UK is home to an abundance of fun things to do, from one of the country’s first ever floating cinema experiences to the return of Fuller’s popular Shakespeare In The Garden event, which will see The Tempest play out in spacious beer gardens across the nation. If your September plans are minimal, make way for DesignMyNight’s guide to the month ahead. Openaire: Float-In Cinema - London Drive-in cinemas originate all the way back to the early 1910s and almost 100 years on, the on-wheels experience has witnessed a major comeback with screens popping up across the UK. If you happen to rely on London’s excellent transportation system and don’t own a car of your own, there’s always Openaire; one of the UK’s first ever cinematic experience by boat. Based in Paddington, you’ll float up to the big screen in a boat of your own to catch everything from Bohemian Rhapsody to Mamma Mia. Tickets from £15; Various dates from 9 September; Merchant Square, Paddington, London W2 1AJ Colchester Oyster Fishery - London Company of Cooks has partnered with Colchester Oyster Fishery this month for a special one-off evening to offer up the best seafood in Britain. The three-course meal on 17 September will be accompanied by the backdrop of Chelsea’s historic botanical garden and your experience will kick-start with a complimentary glass of Chablis. The menu consists of a silky smoked salmon starter with a shellfish platter for mains - which can be upgraded to lobster for an extra £20 - and a honeycomb cheesecake for dessert. Tickets from £60-£80; Thursday 17 September; Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS The Southbank BBQ Club - London Jimmy Garcia has built up his reputation thanks to TV appearances on the likes of Sunday Brunch, not to mention the sell-out success of his pop-up, The BBQ Club. Situated along the Southbank, the award-winning chef is bringing back his interactive experience this month so you can cook a seven-course meal right along the banks of the Thames. This time around the experience is BYOB and all tickets come with a complimentary welcome cocktail and fireside snacks. Skip advert
BBQ Club tickets (for four to six people) from £260-£390 or sample menu for £65 per person; Various dates from 9 September; Riverside Queens Walk, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX The Big Birmingham Bake - Birmingham Like pasta, flour was one of those necessities that became increasingly hard to purchase during the height of the pandemic. Baking saw a huge surge, with the chances of finding gold dust significantly higher than an ounce of McDougalls. For those who have found an undiscovered talent during lockdown, you can show off your skills at The Big Birmingham Bake. This pop-up baking experience is held in a familiar looking white tent where all participants will have 90 minutes to follow instructions and turn several ingredients into a culinary masterpiece before presenting it to the judges. Tickets from £33.50-£45; Various dates from 9 September; 110-112, Floodgate Street, Birmingham, B5 5SR The Virtual Whisky Tasting Masterclass - Online As a nation our concept of staying in has changed drastically since lockdown, birthing a flurry of new and never-seen-before online experiences, one of which is the Virtual Whisky Tasting Masterclass. This two-hour online experience is hosted on Zoom and can be enjoyed by anyone in the UK. Orchestrated by Felipe Schrieberg, whisky writer and World Whiskies Awards judge, you will nose and taste six different drams throughout the masterclass, all of which will be delivered to your door before the event. Tickets from £39-£99; Online; Various dates throughout the month Craft Beer Experience - Liverpool A craft beer experience is taking place in Liverpool this September, giving ale aficionados the chance to get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at some of the city’s best breweries and taprooms. The walking tour will see you stop off at Love Lane Brewery, Hobo Kiosy and Black Lodge Brewery where you’ll get to smell, taste and touch the elements that make each beer so unique, all before trying samplers at each which equate to a total of 8⅓ pints. Tickets from £40; Saturday 12 September; meet inside The Bridewell, 1 Campbell Square, 33A Wapping, Liverpool, L1 5FB Electric Shuffle Bottomless Brunch - London Responsible for putting Canary Wharf on the map for a fun night out, Electric Shuffle has reopened its doors and is now taking bookings. With ten shuffle lanes and two floors to play across, this is an atmospheric but socially-distant evening away from your front room. Sharing cocktails and paddle board pizzas are the speciality and come the weekend you can book a bottomless brunch experience for up to eight people which includes a bottle of prosecco each and endless slices for two hours. Skip advert


theweekuk--2020-09-07--England’s ‘tax-dodging’ hotspots revealed

The stockbroker belt of southern England is “ littered with tax-avoidance hotspots ” , according to a new analysis of HMRC data .
Windsor was “ named as the tax-dodging capital of England ” , says The Telegraph , with St Albans and Guildford close behind .
“ The Home Counties is home to many high-net-worth individuals and well-paid city commuters , ” said Sean Glancy , a partner at accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young , which analysed figures gained through freedom of information ( FOI ) requests .
“ These are the groups most likely to have the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incentives to find ways to reduce payments.
” The league table reveals which towns and cities have the highest concentration of tax-avoidance “ disclosures ” - declarations made by taxpayers using legal avoidance schemes .
“ HMRC can investigate these schemes and their providers and , as a result , may amend legislation where deemed necessary to reduce tax avoidance options that can circumvent the law , ” explains Investopedia .
If a scheme is subsequently deemed illegal , participants who have not made a declaration face higher penalties .
Aberdeen , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are outside the stockbroker belt , is at the heart of the North Sea oil industry .
At the end of last year , Aberdeen-based regional newspaper The Press and Journal reported that “ northeast oil and gas workers face a 25 % loss of earnings ” as a result of new anti-tax-avoidance laws targeting highly paid contractors .

The stockbroker belt of southern England is “littered with tax-avoidance hotspots”, according to a new analysis of HMRC data.
Windsor was “named as the tax-dodging capital of England”, says The Telegraph, with St Albans and Guildford close behind.
“The Home Counties is home to many high-net-worth individuals and well-paid city commuters,” said Sean Glancy, a partner at accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young, which analysed figures gained through freedom of information (FOI) requests.
“These are the groups most likely to have the highest income tax bills, leading to greater incentives to find ways to reduce payments.”
The league table reveals which towns and cities have the highest concentration of tax-avoidance “disclosures” - declarations made by taxpayers using legal avoidance schemes.
“HMRC can investigate these schemes and their providers and, as a result, may amend legislation where deemed necessary to reduce tax avoidance options that can circumvent the law,” explains Investopedia.
If a scheme is subsequently deemed illegal, participants who have not made a declaration face higher penalties.
The top 20 tax-dodging areas
1. Windsor and Maidenhead: 23 disclosures per 100,0002. St Albans: 203. Guildford: 174. London: 175. Aberdeen: 156. Redhill: 157. Tunbridge Wells: 158. Reading: 149. Cambridge: 1310. Hemel Hempstead: 1211. Exeter: 1212. Oxford: 1113. Chelmsford: 1014. Bournemouth: 1015. Bath: 916. Brighton: 917. Canterbury: 918. Stevenage: 919. York: 920. Swindon: 8
Aberdeen, one of the few cities on the list that are outside the stockbroker belt, is at the heart of the North Sea oil industry.
At the end of last year, Aberdeen-based regional newspaper The Press and Journal reported that “northeast oil and gas workers face a 25% loss of earnings” as a result of new anti-tax-avoidance laws targeting highly paid contractors.


theweekuk--2020-09-07--Instant Opinion: ‘behind the scenes’ of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deadline

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
“ While some in government hope that Johnson ’ s intervention will serve to focus minds on the other side of the negotiating table , it ’ s another Brexit story that has led to the biggest reaction on the EU side .
The Financial Times reports that sections of the Internal Market Bill , due to be published this week , are expected to ‘ eliminate the legal force of parts of the withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customs and state aid ...
So , what ’ s going on behind the scenes ?
There is much chatter about how this is all an attempt by No .
10 to suggest they are willing to walk away when really Johnson needs a deal .
But in terms of suggestions of bluster , there is another factor to bear in mind .
In Downing Street , there has long been a view that a deal needs to be in place by the autumn .
This is not just because a hard deadline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because if you move past the autumn , most businesses will activate their no-deal contingency plans regardless of the prospects of a deal .
If this happens , the incentive to agree a deal diminishes.
” Why do politicians keep telling us they 're 'listening ' ?
“ Why all this emphasis on listening ?
More often than not , it ’ s little more than an easy thing to say when you don ’ t want to alienate voters – or customers – by falling down hard on one side of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of what MPs do locally in their constituencies through their regular surgeries , a term which makes the process sound about as appealing as getting your knee reset by Michael Fabricant .
Talking about listening to an entire population , however , is all too often an empty platitude or performance .
And no wonder politicians don ’ t want to actually listen to public grievances when so much of what they would hear is unfiltered rage .
Boris Johnson ’ s ‘ People ’ s PMQs ’ stunt has seen him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ When will you resign for your mishandling of the pandemic ?
” and the ever-popular ‘ How do you sleep at night ?
’ Political listening is always , in the end , a selective process .
Listening to whom ?
Whomever ’ s opinion already aligns best with the party ’ s values ?
” on science disagreeing with the White House What Young , Healthy People Have to Fear From COVID-19 “ A new philosophy of COVID-19 is circulating through the Republican Party and conservative media .
If you look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resembles an early philosophy of COVID-19 that circulated through the Republican Party and conservative media : If young people get this disease , it won ’ t be so bad—and it might even be good ...
Many young people navigating this pandemic are asking themselves a two-part health question : What are the odds that I get infected ?
And if I do get infected , is that really a big deal ?
Much of my reporting has focused on the first question .
To summarize that work in a sentence : People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities with a sizable outbreak , when they spend long amounts of time in closed , unventilated spaces where other people close by are talking or otherwise emitting virus-laden globs of spit , and everything is worse when people aren ’ t wearing masks .
This advice is easy to give , because the best practices hold across the board , for everybody .
‘ What ’ s the big deal ?
’ is a harder question , because the person-to-person outcomes of this disease are so maddeningly variable .
The most universal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death is not a synonym for risk.
” Nothing will tempt us all back to the office “ What we might call the ‘ Pret economy ’ is on the floor .
It has long been the case that in our nation ’ s capital you were never more than ten metres from an avocado and crayfish salad ; now the sandwich giant is to axe a third of its workforce .
Politicians are worried that Marie Celeste-like city centres will fail to pull in much foreign investment .
The spectre of offshoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your workers are doing their jobs remotely , why not just employ some bright young things in India or Malaysia at a fraction of the price ?
All good reasons for the government to urge people back to their desks .
Yet I am sure they are on a hiding to nothing .
Though some may be keen to get back into the office ( as a twentysomething in a poky flat-share , I would have been ) , my feeling is that most people have no intention of going back to normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to many whose long-term future is one or two days in the office a week , with the blessing of employers who will save a bundle on bricks and mortar .
One friend declares that if her company demands she turns up full-time , she will jump ship for a work-from-home employer , a benefit that many will now offer.
” Donald Trump may say stupid things , but it is more than clear that he respects soldiers “ To be clear : Donald Trump is an inelegant narcissist who can not separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the part of president .
We have always known that .
A classic example of his tastelessness : he once described his efforts to avoid catching venereal disease as his ‘ personal Vietnam ’ .
But Vietnam was a dumb war .
The First World War was ridiculous ; Afghanistan was absurd ... What would a soldier really want ?
A president who thinks and says what custom dictates , and then sends kids off to die in a desert ?
Or a president who has all the tact of a dyspeptic baboon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wet hair story , by the way , is contradicted by the memoirs of John Bolton , former national security adviser to Trump .
The weather was judged too bad to fly to the cemetery , he says , and driving would have taken too long .
In another section of the book , Bolton recalls that when the Iranians shot down an unmanned US drone , a plan was put to Trump to launch a military strike on Iranian bases .
Trump vetoed it because ‘ they didn ’ t kill any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president implied , should he kill a few dozen of theirs ?
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Katy Ball in The Spectator
on the prime minister’s ultimatum
Boris Johnson’s Brexit deadline
“While some in government hope that Johnson’s intervention will serve to focus minds on the other side of the negotiating table, it’s another Brexit story that has led to the biggest reaction on the EU side. The Financial Times reports that sections of the Internal Market Bill, due to be published this week, are expected to ‘eliminate the legal force of parts of the withdrawal agreement’ in areas including Northern Ireland customs and state aid... So, what’s going on behind the scenes? There is much chatter about how this is all an attempt by No. 10 to suggest they are willing to walk away when really Johnson needs a deal. But in terms of suggestions of bluster, there is another factor to bear in mind. In Downing Street, there has long been a view that a deal needs to be in place by the autumn. This is not just because a hard deadline can focus minds. It’s because if you move past the autumn, most businesses will activate their no-deal contingency plans regardless of the prospects of a deal. If this happens, the incentive to agree a deal diminishes.”
2. Imogen West-Knights in The Guardian
on talk without action
Why do politicians keep telling us they're 'listening'?
“Why all this emphasis on listening? More often than not, it’s little more than an easy thing to say when you don’t want to alienate voters – or customers – by falling down hard on one side of an issue. Listening does form a central part of what MPs do locally in their constituencies through their regular surgeries, a term which makes the process sound about as appealing as getting your knee reset by Michael Fabricant. Talking about listening to an entire population, however, is all too often an empty platitude or performance. And no wonder politicians don’t want to actually listen to public grievances when so much of what they would hear is unfiltered rage. Boris Johnson’s ‘People’s PMQs’ stunt has seen him receive questions from the public such as ’When will you resign for your mishandling of the pandemic?” and the ever-popular ‘How do you sleep at night?’ Political listening is always, in the end, a selective process. Listening to whom? Whomever’s opinion already aligns best with the party’s values?”
3. Derek Thompson in The Atlantic
on science disagreeing with the White House
What Young, Healthy People Have to Fear From COVID-19
“A new philosophy of COVID-19 is circulating through the Republican Party and conservative media. If you look closely, you might notice that it resembles an early philosophy of COVID-19 that circulated through the Republican Party and conservative media: If young people get this disease, it won’t be so bad—and it might even be good... Many young people navigating this pandemic are asking themselves a two-part health question: What are the odds that I get infected? And if I do get infected, is that really a big deal? Much of my reporting has focused on the first question. To summarize that work in a sentence: People are at highest risk of infection in communities with a sizable outbreak, when they spend long amounts of time in closed, unventilated spaces where other people close by are talking or otherwise emitting virus-laden globs of spit, and everything is worse when people aren’t wearing masks. This advice is easy to give, because the best practices hold across the board, for everybody. ‘What’s the big deal?’ is a harder question, because the person-to-person outcomes of this disease are so maddeningly variable. The most universal answer must begin with the observation that death is not a synonym for risk.”
4. Clare Foges in The Times
on workers refusing to commute
Nothing will tempt us all back to the office
“What we might call the ‘Pret economy’ is on the floor. It has long been the case that in our nation’s capital you were never more than ten metres from an avocado and crayfish salad; now the sandwich giant is to axe a third of its workforce. Politicians are worried that Marie Celeste-like city centres will fail to pull in much foreign investment. The spectre of offshoring looms over all, too. If your workers are doing their jobs remotely, why not just employ some bright young things in India or Malaysia at a fraction of the price? All good reasons for the government to urge people back to their desks. Yet I am sure they are on a hiding to nothing. Though some may be keen to get back into the office (as a twentysomething in a poky flat-share, I would have been), my feeling is that most people have no intention of going back to normal. In recent months I have spoken to many whose long-term future is one or two days in the office a week, with the blessing of employers who will save a bundle on bricks and mortar. One friend declares that if her company demands she turns up full-time, she will jump ship for a work-from-home employer, a benefit that many will now offer.”
5. Tim Stanley in The Daily Telegraph
on the president’s controversial comments
Donald Trump may say stupid things, but it is more than clear that he respects soldiers
“To be clear: Donald Trump is an inelegant narcissist who cannot separate the personal from the office and play the part of president. We have always known that. A classic example of his tastelessness: he once described his efforts to avoid catching venereal disease as his ‘personal Vietnam’. But Vietnam was a dumb war. The First World War was ridiculous; Afghanistan was absurd... What would a soldier really want? A president who thinks and says what custom dictates, and then sends kids off to die in a desert? Or a president who has all the tact of a dyspeptic baboon but keeps his troops safe? The wet hair story, by the way, is contradicted by the memoirs of John Bolton, former national security adviser to Trump. The weather was judged too bad to fly to the cemetery, he says, and driving would have taken too long. In another section of the book, Bolton recalls that when the Iranians shot down an unmanned US drone, a plan was put to Trump to launch a military strike on Iranian bases. Trump vetoed it because ‘they didn’t kill any of our people’. Why, the president implied, should he kill a few dozen of theirs?”


theweekuk--2020-09-07--Can an extended holiday season save the UK tourism industry?

UK tourism bosses are extending this year ’ s summer holiday season in a bid to capitalise on the staycation trend and recover much-needed revenues .
The travel and hospitality sectors have been hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown and loss of custom from overseas visitors , with a recent report by the World Travel and Tourism Council ( WTTC ) warning that the UK economy is set to lose £22bn as a result .
And nearly three million UK tourism jobs are at risk in a “ worst case ” scenario , according to the report .
WTTC president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ economic pain and suffering ” to millions of households “ who are dependent upon travel and tourism for their livelihoods ” .
The tourism sector “ could take years to recover ” , she added , and the crisis could also “ threaten London ’ s position as one of the world ’ s premier hubs for business and leisure travel ” .
Tourism hotspots across the country “ are extending the domestic season through autumn ” , The Guardian reports .
Haven will keep 16 of its holiday parks open for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of November , while Blackpool ’ s illuminations will remain lit up until January , two months longer than usual .
British seaside destinations have recovered “ at a faster pace than elsewhere across the country after the lifting of lockdown , potentially benefiting local economies that have struggled more than big cities in recent years ” , says the newspaper .
And Haven ’ s guest and proposition director Gerard Tempes says the holiday parks chain is also seeing a late-season sales boom , as fed-up Brits looking to take a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to options nearer home .
Tempes said : “ We ’ re seeing a bigger proportion of people who are new to us , people are going , ‘ Actually , should I try out a staycation where I would normally go abroad ?
’ ” Consultancy firm Capital Economics has estimated that if “ all of the £60bn that Britons usually spend on overseas holidays is ploughed into domestic holidays instead ” , the UK ’ s gross domestic product ( GDP ) could be boosted by 2.8 percentage points this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national tourism board VisitBritain predicts that despite the season extension , domestic spending on day trips and holidays will still plunge from £91.6bn in 2019 to a yearly total for 2020 of £46.8bn .

UK tourism bosses are extending this year’s summer holiday season in a bid to capitalise on the staycation trend and recover much-needed revenues.
The travel and hospitality sectors have been hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown and loss of custom from overseas visitors, with a recent report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) warning that the UK economy is set to lose £22bn as a result. And nearly three million UK tourism jobs are at risk in a “worst case” scenario, according to the report.
WTTC president Gloria Guevara said the pandemic was causing “economic pain and suffering” to millions of households “who are dependent upon travel and tourism for their livelihoods”.
The tourism sector “could take years to recover”, she added, and the crisis could also “threaten London’s position as one of the world’s premier hubs for business and leisure travel”.
Late-season sales boom
Tourism hotspots across the country “are extending the domestic season through autumn”, The Guardian reports.
Haven will keep 16 of its holiday parks open for an additional four weeks, until the end of November, while Blackpool’s illuminations will remain lit up until January, two months longer than usual.
British seaside destinations have recovered “at a faster pace than elsewhere across the country after the lifting of lockdown, potentially benefiting local economies that have struggled more than big cities in recent years”, says the newspaper.
And Haven’s guest and proposition director Gerard Tempes says the holiday parks chain is also seeing a late-season sales boom, as fed-up Brits looking to take a break despite disruptions to foreign travel turn to options nearer home.
Tempes said: “We’re seeing a bigger proportion of people who are new to us, people are going, ‘Actually, should I try out a staycation where I would normally go abroad?’”
Consultancy firm Capital Economics has estimated that if “all of the £60bn that Britons usually spend on overseas holidays is ploughed into domestic holidays instead”, the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) could be boosted by 2.8 percentage points this year, The Guardian reports.
However, national tourism board VisitBritain predicts that despite the season extension, domestic spending on day trips and holidays will still plunge from £91.6bn in 2019 to a yearly total for 2020 of £46.8bn.


theweekuk--2020-09-07--Explained: Boris Johnson’s plan to ‘undermine’ EU withdrawal agreement - despite risk to Brexit talk

Explained: Boris Johnson’s plan to ‘undermine’ EU withdrawal agreement - despite risk to Brexit talks

As time ticks down in the negotiations between Britain and the European Union , Boris Johnson may be about to throw a major spanner in the works by seeking to override parts of the Brexit withdrawal deal .
Parts of the UK Internal Markets Bill - due to be published this Wednesday - will “ eliminate the legal force of parts of the withdrawal agreement ” , according to the Financial Times ( FT ) , citing three people familiar with the plans .
The newspaper ’ s public policy editor Peter Foster suggests that the move could put Brexit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government is “ increasingly resigned to a ‘ no deal ’ ” exit .
What is in the bill ?
Outlined in a white paper in July , the UK Internal Market Bill is intended to secure the “ seamless functioning ” of trade between England , Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland after the transition period ends on 31 December .
However , sources say that “ some clauses in the Bill will effectively override parts of the so-called Northern Ireland protocol , which was signed alongside the withdrawal agreement in October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill will also seek to dilute “ the ability of the protocol to intrude on UK state-aid policy ” , the paper adds .
Under the existing withdrawal agreement , the UK must tell Brussels about any state-aid decisions that would impact Northern Ireland ’ s goods market , as part of efforts to maintain a level-playing field among British and European businesses .
But clauses in the new Bill will reportedly “ force the UK courts to follow the new UK law rather than the EU deal ” .
The prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to European negotiators this week , insisting that a deal must be secured by 15 October or Britain will walk away from the table .
But Downing Street ’ s bid to “ unpick parts of the withdrawal agreement ” threatens the collapse of the “ crunch talks ” , says The Guardian .
As The Irish Times notes , the EU ’ s chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned last week that “ a precise implementation of the withdrawal agreement ” was the only grounding on which the bloc would agree to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The Guardian that the controversial sections of the Internal Market Bill were “ part of the preparation for a no-deal exit that would present a number of new barriers to trade from Northern Ireland – and accepted that the move was likely to blow up at the negotiations ” .
The FT ’ s Foster tweets that the Bill “ risks calling into question the reputation of the UK as a country that negotiates in good faith ” .
Many Whitehall officials are “ deeply uncomfortable ” with the plan , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the “ not sure how it can criticise China for not meeting international obligation if [ the ] UK is paring back obligations of a Treaty it signed less than a year ago ” .
Labour has also been quick to denounce the Bill .
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Louise Haigh warned that the PM is “ threatening to renege on the UK ’ s legal obligations ” with what amounts to “ an act of immense bad faith : one that would be viewed dimly by future trading partners and allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s foreign affairs minister , Simon Covney , who helped negotiate the original withdrawal agreement , tweeted that any efforts to change it would be “ a very unwise way to proceed ” .
Meanwhile , a source “ familiar with the matter ” told the FT that the move was “ a very blunt instrument ” .
“ The Bill will explicitly say the government reserves the right to set its own regime , directly setting up UK law in opposition with obligations under the withdrawal agreement , and in full cognisance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the insider said .
However , Environment Secretary George Eustice this morning claimed that any efforts to remove legal obligations relating to Northern Ireland were just a tidying of “ loose ends ” .
Speaking to Times Radio , Eustice said : “ It ’ s always been the case that at the end [ of negotiations ] there could still be one or two loose ends .
“ The government at that point has got a responsibility to offer some legal certainty to businesses.
” Johnson is expected to lay out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting the stopwatch to run out in less than 40 days .
The Bill “ is not likely to go down well with the EU ” , but Brexiteers will be pleased , as it means that “ in a ‘ no deal ’ scenario ” , the UK “ seeks untrammeled sovereignty ” , says Foster .
Environment Secretary Eustice this morning refused to comment on claims made in The Times by The Spectator ’ s political editor James Forsyth that Downing Street puts the chances of getting a trade deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 % .
But sources close to the negotiations told The Guardian that “ fresh faces and interventions by member states are now needed to break the impasse after days of recriminations ” .
In other words , the stage appears to be set for a no-deal exit on 31 December .

As time ticks down in the negotiations between Britain and the European Union, Boris Johnson may be about to throw a major spanner in the works by seeking to override parts of the Brexit withdrawal deal.
Parts of the UK Internal Markets Bill - due to be published this Wednesday - will “eliminate the legal force of parts of the withdrawal agreement”, according to the Financial Times (FT), citing three people familiar with the plans.
The newspaper’s public policy editor Peter Foster suggests that the move could put Brexit talks at risk - and that the government is “increasingly resigned to a ‘no deal’” exit.
What is in the bill?
Outlined in a white paper in July, the UK Internal Market Bill is intended to secure the “seamless functioning” of trade between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland after the transition period ends on 31 December.
However, sources say that “some clauses in the Bill will effectively override parts of the so-called Northern Ireland protocol, which was signed alongside the withdrawal agreement in October”, the FT reports.
The Bill will also seek to dilute “the ability of the protocol to intrude on UK state-aid policy”, the paper adds.
Under the existing withdrawal agreement, the UK must tell Brussels about any state-aid decisions that would impact Northern Ireland’s goods market, as part of efforts to maintain a level-playing field among British and European businesses.
But clauses in the new Bill will reportedly “force the UK courts to follow the new UK law rather than the EU deal”.
What is Johnson planning?
The prime minister is widely expected to put an ultimatum to European negotiators this week, insisting that a deal must be secured by 15 October or Britain will walk away from the table.
But Downing Street’s bid to “unpick parts of the withdrawal agreement” threatens the collapse of the “crunch talks”, says The Guardian.
As The Irish Times notes, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned last week that “a precise implementation of the withdrawal agreement” was the only grounding on which the bloc would agree to a deal.
However, a government source told The Guardian that the controversial sections of the Internal Market Bill were “part of the preparation for a no-deal exit that would present a number of new barriers to trade from Northern Ireland – and accepted that the move was likely to blow up at the negotiations”.
And the reaction?
The FT’s Foster tweets that the Bill “risks calling into question the reputation of the UK as a country that negotiates in good faith”.
Many Whitehall officials are “deeply uncomfortable” with the plan, he says, adding that the Foreign Office is the “not sure how it can criticise China for not meeting international obligation if [the] UK is paring back obligations of a Treaty it signed less than a year ago”.


theweekuk--2020-09-07--Has Britain ‘lost control’ of the coronavirus crisis as cases hit 3,000 a day?

Critics are accusing the UK government of “ losing control ” of the coronavirus pandemic as Health Secretary Matt Hancock admits that a sharp rise in daily cases across the UK is “ concerning ” .
Almost 3,000 new infections were recorded on Sunday alone - up by more than 1,000 from the total on Saturday , and the highest UK daily total since May .
Hancock told Sky News that recent “ cases are predominately among younger people ” .
But he added that countries worldwide had seen a “ rise in the cases amongst younger people leading to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole ” .
Has the UK lost control of the virus ?
Government figures published yesterday revealed that 2,988 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus had been recorded in the UK in the previous 24 hours , up from 1,813 cases on Saturday .
“ The figure on Sunday marks the highest number of infections since 22 May , when 3,287 cases were recorded , ” the i news site reports .
“ It is also the first 24-hour period when cases passed 2,000 since the end of May.
” Labour ’ s shadow health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections was “ a stark reminder that there is no room for complacency in tackling the spread of the virus ” .
The “ ongoing testing fiasco where ill people are told to drive for miles for tests , and the poor performance of the contact tracing system , needs an explanation from ministers ” , Ashworth added .
Scientists have also voiced concerns .
Christina Pagel , a professor of operational research at University College London , told The Guardian that “ it ’ s a massive jump ” .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these figures and feel confident that things are going in the right direction , ” she said .
According to the newspaper , a “ government source said there was significant concern that the UK was ‘ six weeks behind France ’ , where the trajectory showed more young people being infected , leading to increased hospitalisations of vulnerable groups ” .
Or is the government ’ s response working ?
Since June , when England “ took a big step out of lockdown ” , overall cases have remained low enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right track , The Economist suggested last week .
“ The government ’ s decision to ease restrictions was a gamble , but one that has paid off , ” the magazine said .
“ Following a small rise in July , the Office for National Statistics ’ ( ONS ) infection survey , which tests a sample of people in England and Wales each week , finds that the number of cases has since remained flat .
“ Although there has been a gradual rise in the number of positive test results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the fact that the number of tests has increased , meaning more asymptomatic cases are found and false positives recorded.
” In addition , experts say that a quirk of the testing system may be to blame for the spike this week .
Paul Hunter , a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia , says some of the new cases “ may be because of catch-up from delayed tests over the past few days ” , The Guardian reports .
But the Sunday tally was still “ a marked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConway , emeritus professor of applied statistics at The Open University , agrees that as The Times puts it , “ some of the peak is because of a bunching-up of tests from last week ” .
“ This week ’ s tests , when we ’ ve got all the results in , will show higher levels than the week before , almost certainly , ” he told the paper .
Scientists also point out that six weeks of rising cases has not yet resulted in a rise in deaths , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the total official number of Covid-related fatalities in the UK to 41,551 .
“ Experts believe this is because the UK epidemic is now increasingly concentrated in younger age groups , with two-thirds of new infections in those under 40 , ” The Times reports .

Critics are accusing the UK government of “losing control” of the coronavirus pandemic as Health Secretary Matt Hancock admits that a sharp rise in daily cases across the UK is “concerning”.
Almost 3,000 new infections were recorded on Sunday alone - up by more than 1,000 from the total on Saturday, and the highest UK daily total since May. Hancock told Sky News that recent “cases are predominately among younger people”.
But he added that countries worldwide had seen a “rise in the cases amongst younger people leading to a rise across the population as a whole”.
Has the UK lost control of the virus?
Government figures published yesterday revealed that 2,988 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus had been recorded in the UK in the previous 24 hours, up from 1,813 cases on Saturday.
“The figure on Sunday marks the highest number of infections since 22 May, when 3,287 cases were recorded,” the i news site reports. “It is also the first 24-hour period when cases passed 2,000 since the end of May.”
Labour’s shadow health minister Jonathan Ashworth said the spike in infections was “a stark reminder that there is no room for complacency in tackling the spread of the virus”.
The “ongoing testing fiasco where ill people are told to drive for miles for tests, and the poor performance of the contact tracing system, needs an explanation from ministers”, Ashworth added.
Scientists have also voiced concerns. Christina Pagel, a professor of operational research at University College London, told The Guardian that “it’s a massive jump”.
“There is no way you can look at these figures and feel confident that things are going in the right direction,” she said.
According to the newspaper, a “government source said there was significant concern that the UK was ‘six weeks behind France’, where the trajectory showed more young people being infected, leading to increased hospitalisations of vulnerable groups”.
Or is the government’s response working?
Since June, when England “took a big step out of lockdown”, overall cases have remained low enough to suggest that the UK is on the right track, The Economist suggested last week.
“The government’s decision to ease restrictions was a gamble, but one that has paid off,” the magazine said. “Following a small rise in July, the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) infection survey, which tests a sample of people in England and Wales each week, finds that the number of cases has since remained flat.
“Although there has been a gradual rise in the number of positive test results, much of this is accounted for by the fact that the number of tests has increased, meaning more asymptomatic cases are found and false positives recorded.”
In addition, experts say that a quirk of the testing system may be to blame for the spike this week.
Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, says some of the new cases “may be because of catch-up from delayed tests over the past few days”, The Guardian reports. But the Sunday tally was still “a marked increase”, he added.
Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at The Open University, agrees that as The Times puts it, “some of the peak is because of a bunching-up of tests from last week”.
“This week’s tests, when we’ve got all the results in, will show higher levels than the week before, almost certainly,” he told the paper.
Scientists also point out that six weeks of rising cases has not yet resulted in a rise in deaths, with three recorded in England yesterday, taking the total official number of Covid-related fatalities in the UK to 41,551.
“Experts believe this is because the UK epidemic is now increasingly concentrated in younger age groups, with two-thirds of new infections in those under 40,” The Times reports.


theweekuk--2020-09-07--‘So unintended, I’m so sorry’: Djokovic disqualified from US Open - how the tennis world reacted

Novak Djokovic has apologised for hitting a line judge with a ball at the US Open - an incident that saw the men ’ s world No.1 tennis player disqualified from the tournament .
With no Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer at this year ’ s event , Djokovic was the overwhelming favourite to win the New York title and take his career grand slam tally to 18 .
However , his chances of reducing the gap to Nadal ( 19 ) and Federer ( 20 ) are over for now following the default .
Trailing 5-6 in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pablo Carreno Busta , Djokovic “ hit a ball in frustration behind him ” , The Guardian reports , and it struck a lineswoman in the throat .
The Serb rushed to apologise to the lineswoman , but after a ten-minute discussion with officials he was defaulted from the match and tournament .
US Open referee Soeren Friemel said he had “ no other option ” but to disqualify the 33-year-old .
The US Tennis Association ( USTA ) said in a statement : “ In accordance with the grand slam rulebook , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences , the US Open tournament referee defaulted Novak Djokovic from the 2020 US Open .
“ Because he was defaulted , Djokovic will lose all ranking points earned at the US Open and will be fined the prize money won at the tournament in addition to any or all fines levied with respect to the offending incident.
” Djokovic ’ s disqualification has split the field wide open and means there will be a first-time winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ singles title .
Djokovic , a four-time US Open champion , did not attend the post-match press conference but he did post a statement on Instagram apologising for his actions .
“ This whole situation has left me really sad and empty , ” he said .
“ I checked on the linesperson and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling ok. “ I ’ m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress .
So unintended .
So wrong .
I ’ m not disclosing her name to respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disqualification , I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being .
“ I apologise to the US Open tournament and everyone associated for my behavior .
I ’ m very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support , and my fans for always being there with me .
Thank you and I ’ m so sorry.
” “ I didn ’ t see the moment , I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break and then I saw the line judge on the floor .
I was in shock .
When they were talking at the net I was focused in case I had to continue playing .
This moment was so long .
Finally Novak gave me the hand .
I think it was not intentional .
I don ’ t think anyone of us do this intentionally .
It ’ s just the moment .
It was bad luck .
Of course you can ’ t do this .
The rules are the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right thing but it isn ’ t easy to make this decision.
” “ It ’ s very unlucky , very unfortunate .
The decision was made by the supervisors and , as I said , they ’ re just doing their job.
” “ Unbelievable what just happened on the court at the US Open - Novak Djokovic defaulted for inadvertently but stupidly hitting a lineswoman in the throat with a ball and the officials had no choice but to default .
Wow .
Glad the woman is OK - we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s hit that ball aiming for the back fence ... but you have to be responsible for your actions.
” “ If Novak Djokovic hadn ’ t have been defaulted in that situation , can you imagine the outrage ?
What sort of light would that have shone on tennis neutrality and the decisions that these officials make ?
It was an open and shut case to me .
I don ’ t see how you could argue that was not a disqualification .
It doesn ’ t matter how hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think he has any defence at all.
” “ It ’ s unclear how this situation will affect Djokovic moving forward .
Will it be an extra stimulus to ruthlessly destroy his opposition on clay ?
Will it set him back mentally ?
No matter what happens next , Djokovic will never forget September 6 , 2020 .
”

Novak Djokovic has apologised for hitting a line judge with a ball at the US Open - an incident that saw the men’s world No.1 tennis player disqualified from the tournament.
With no Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer at this year’s event, Djokovic was the overwhelming favourite to win the New York title and take his career grand slam tally to 18. However, his chances of reining in Nadal (on 19) and Federer (on 20) are over for now following the default.
Trailing 5-6 in the first set of the fourth-round match against Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, Djokovic “hit a ball in frustration behind him”, The Guardian reports, and it struck a lineswoman in the throat.
The Serb rushed to apologise, but after a ten-minute discussion with officials he was defaulted from the match and tournament. US Open referee Soeren Friemel said he had “no other option” but to disqualify the 33-year-old.
The US Tennis Association (USTA) said in a statement: “In accordance with the grand slam rulebook, following his actions of intentionally hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences, the US Open tournament referee defaulted Novak Djokovic from the 2020 US Open.
“Because he was defaulted, Djokovic will lose all ranking points earned at the US Open and will be fined the prize money won at the tournament in addition to any or all fines levied with respect to the offending incident.”
Djokovic’s disqualification has split the field wide open and means there must be a first-time winner of the US Open men’s singles title.
Top-seeded Novak Djokovic was defaulted from his fourth-round match at the #USOpen after he accidentally hit a line judge with a tennis ball Sunday. pic.twitter.com/TTstxZB2Jw — ESPN (@espn) September 6, 2020
‘I’m so sorry’: Novak’s apology
Djokovic, a four-time US Open champion, did not attend the post-match press conference but he did post a statement on Instagram apologising for his actions.
“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” he said. “I checked on the linesperson and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling ok.
“I’m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong. I’m not disclosing her name to respect her privacy.
“As for the disqualification, I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being.


theweekuk--2020-09-07--Everything we know about the Birmingham stabbing spree

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a series of stabbings across Birmingham yesterday that left one person dead and seven others injured .
The 27-year-old suspect was detained at 4am today at an address in Selly Oak , in the southwest of the city , according to West Midlands Police .
He is also being held on seven counts of attempted murder .
The alleged knifeman “ was at large for 24 hours following the attacks ” , which took place over a 90-minute period early on Sunday and prompted the police “ to declare a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A 23-year-old man was killed in the attacks , while a man and a woman , aged 19 and 32 respectively , suffered critical injuries .
Five other people , aged between 23 and 33 , were also injured .
All were treated in hospital , with two later discharged .
According to the BBC , police first responded to reports an attack just after 12:30AM yesterday at Birmingham ’ s Constitution Hill , where a man sustained a superficial injury .
Around 20 minutes later , police were called to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Snow Hill railway station , in which “ a 19-year-old man was critically injured and a woman was also hurt ” , the broadcaster reports .
At 1:50AM , police were sent to Irving Street , where a man suffered fatal injuries and another was seriously injured .
Shortly after , officers were called to the city ’ s Gay Village , where they found a 32-year-old woman with critical injuries .
Two men had also suffered stab wounds .
Following the arrest of the suspect , Birmingham ’ s police commander , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Officers worked through yesterday and into the early hours of this morning in a bid to trace the man we believe responsible for these terrible crimes.
” However , the force has faced criticism for “ waiting 15 hours until after the last incident to release CCTV video and a description of the suspect ” , The Times reports .

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a series of stabbings across Birmingham yesterday that left one person dead and seven others injured.
The 27-year-old suspect was detained at 4am today at an address in Selly Oak, in the southwest of the city, according to West Midlands Police. He is also being held on seven counts of attempted murder.
The alleged knifeman “was at large for 24 hours following the attacks”, which took place over a 90-minute period early on Sunday and prompted the police “to declare a major incident”, The Guardian reports.
A 23-year-old man was killed in the attacks, while a man and a woman, aged 19 and 32 respectively, suffered critical injuries. Five other people, aged between 23 and 33, were also injured.
All were treated in hospital, with two later discharged.
According to the BBC, police first responded to reports an attack just after 12:30AM yesterday at Birmingham’s Constitution Hill, where a man sustained a superficial injury. Around 20 minutes later, police were called to an attack in Livery Street, near to Snow Hill railway station, in which “a 19-year-old man was critically injured and a woman was also hurt”, the broadcaster reports.
At 1:50AM, police were sent to Irving Street, where a man suffered fatal injuries and another was seriously injured.
Shortly after, officers were called to the city’s Gay Village, where they found a 32-year-old woman with critical injuries. Two men had also suffered stab wounds.
Following the arrest of the suspect, Birmingham’s police commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Graham, said: “Officers worked through yesterday and into the early hours of this morning in a bid to trace the man we believe responsible for these terrible crimes.”
However, the force has faced criticism for “waiting 15 hours until after the last incident to release CCTV video and a description of the suspect”, The Times reports.


theweekuk--2020-09-07--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 7 Sep 2020

Robert Wilkie , the US Veterans Affairs Secretary , has dismissed Donald Trump ’ s comments about prisoners of war @ @ @ @ @ denied the US president would have described fallen US service members as “ losers ” @ @ @ @ @ Wilkie told CNN : “ I judge a man by his actions , and the @ @ @ @ @ veterans all across this country in ways that we have not seen since the end @ @ @ @ @ ”

Veterans secretary dismisses Trump's remarks as ‘politics’
Robert Wilkie, the US Veterans Affairs Secretary, has dismissed Donald Trump’s comments about prisoners of war as “politics” and denied the US president would have described fallen US service members as “losers” and “suckers”. Wilkie told CNN: “I judge a man by his actions, and the actions have been beneficial for veterans all across this country in ways that we have not seen since the end of World War II.”


theweekuk--2020-09-07--Man blows up his house trying to swat a fly

A man in France got more than he bargained for when he tried to kill a fly .
The octogenarian , who lived in the village of Parcoul-Chenaud , was about to eat dinner when he used an electric racket to swat the fly .
However , there was a leaking gas canister in his Dordogne home and the spark caused an explosion which destroyed the kitchen and partly damaged the roof of the house .
A horse has turned matchmaker , guiding a lonely woman to happiness .
Caroline Mckain , 56 , had been single for four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding a man .
Then an animal whisperer told her that her horse Fred had said Caroline would find love with a man from Devon with a scar on his leg .
Soon after , she met a man from Devon through a dating site and after meeting him discovered he had a scar on his leg .
A passenger took a walk on the wing of her plane because she said it was too hot inside .
Ukraine International Airlines said the woman “ opened the emergency exit and went on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after it taxied to the gate at Kiev from Turkey .
She had already complained that the cabin was “ too hot ” .
Ukraine International Airlines said the passengers is now “ blacklisted ” .
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A man in France got more than he bargained for when he tried to kill a fly. The octogenarian, who lived in the village of Parcoul-Chenaud, was about to eat dinner when he used an electric racket to swat the fly. However, there was a leaking gas canister in his Dordogne home and the spark caused an explosion which destroyed the kitchen and partly damaged the roof of the house.
Mystic horse helps a woman find love
A horse has turned matchmaker, guiding a lonely woman to happiness. Caroline Mckain, 56, had been single for four years and had nearly given up hope of finding a man. Then an animal whisperer told her that her horse Fred had said Caroline would find love with a man from Devon with a scar on his leg. Soon after, she met a man from Devon through a dating site and after meeting him discovered he had a scar on his leg.
Hot cabin forces air passenger onto wing
A passenger took a walk on the wing of her plane because she said it was too hot inside. Ukraine International Airlines said the woman “opened the emergency exit and went on to its wing” of the 737-800 just after it taxied to the gate at Kiev from Turkey. She had already complained that the cabin was “too hot”. Ukraine International Airlines said the passengers is now “blacklisted”.
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theweekuk--2020-09-07--Wahoo, let’s-a go! Celebrate 35 years of Super Mario Bros

Mario has come a long way since jumping on that first Goomba in World 1-1 of the original Super Mario Bros. Now , 35 years since the launch of that game in Japan , the iconic plumber is starring in new titles on Nintendo Switch and lending his likeness to brands such as Lego and Monopoly .
There will even be a Super Mario-themed splatfest in Splatoon 2 while in Animal Crossing : New Horizons Super Mario furniture will be available from March next year .
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros , Nintendo has announced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here , we pick out the best products .
Wahoo , let ’ s-a go !
Created in partnership by Nintendo and Velan Studios , Mario Kart Live : Home Circuit brings the fun of the Mario Kart series into the real world by using a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite to race against opponents using a physical kart .
Players place gates to create a custom course layout in their home , where the only limit is their imagination .
Race against Koopalings in grand prix to unlock skins to customise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and play with up to four players in local multiplayer mode .
Available from 16 October , the Mario or Luigi Mario Kart Live : Home Circuit models can be pre-ordered for £99 Optimised versions of 3D Super Mario games Super Mario 64 , Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy , are coming to Nintendo Switch in one package .
In addition to having higher resolutions than their original versions , the games have been optimised for a smooth gameplay experience on Nintendo Switch .
Super Mario 3D All-Stars also includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ music and songs from all three games .
Players can also listen to music on their Nintendo Switch systems when the screen is off .
The packaged version software is a limited-time only production , and the digital version will be a limited-time only release until the end of March 2021 .
Available to pre-order for £49.99 , Super Mario 3D All-Stars launches exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on 18 September This new collectable device is inspired by the original Game & Watch systems first released in the 1980s .
The original handheld @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be used as a watch to tell time .
The original Game & Watch series sold more than 43 million worldwide .
In addition to playing classic games Super Mario Bros , Super Mario Bros : The Lost Levels and a special version of Ball with a Mario makeover , Game & Watch : Super Mario Bros also functions as a clock , with 35 little touches to discover , including some guest appearances from Mario ’ s friends and foes .
In this online battle game , 35 players will compete to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Enemies defeated will be sent to other players ’ courses , but that also works the other way around .
Players can activate special items to try and outpace their opponents .
Launches 1 October as a digital-only game exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online members .
The game will be playable until 31 March 2021

Mario has come a long way since jumping on that first Goomba in World 1-1 of the original Super Mario Bros.
Now, 35 years since the launch of that game in Japan, the iconic plumber is starring in new titles on Nintendo Switch and lending his likeness to brands such as Lego and Monopoly.
There will even be a Super Mario-themed splatfest in Splatoon 2 while in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Super Mario furniture will be available from March next year.
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros, Nintendo has announced a range of new games and merchandise. Here, we pick out the best products. Wahoo, let’s-a go!
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Created in partnership by Nintendo and Velan Studios, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit brings the fun of the Mario Kart series into the real world by using a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite to race against opponents using a physical kart. Players place gates to create a custom course layout in their home, where the only limit is their imagination. Race against Koopalings in grand prix to unlock skins to customise courses and costumes for Mario and Luigi, and play with up to four players in local multiplayer mode.
Available from 16 October, the Mario or Luigi Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit models can be pre-ordered for £99
Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Optimised versions of 3D Super Mario games Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy, are coming to Nintendo Switch in one package. In addition to having higher resolutions than their original versions, the games have been optimised for a smooth gameplay experience on Nintendo Switch. Super Mario 3D All-Stars also includes an in-game music-player mode to play the music and songs from all three games. Players can also listen to music on their Nintendo Switch systems when the screen is off. The packaged version software is a limited-time only production, and the digital version will be a limited-time only release until the end of March 2021.
Available to pre-order for £49.99, Super Mario 3D All-Stars launches exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on 18 September
Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros
This new collectable device is inspired by the original Game & Watch systems first released in the 1980s. The original handheld device included a game and could also be used as a watch to tell time. The original Game & Watch series sold more than 43 million worldwide. In addition to playing classic games Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels and a special version of Ball with a Mario makeover, Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros also functions as a clock, with 35 little touches to discover, including some guest appearances from Mario’s friends and foes.
Costing £44.99, Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros launches on 13 November
Super Mario Bros 35
In this online battle game, 35 players will compete to be the last Mario standing… or running. Enemies defeated will be sent to other players’ courses, but that also works the other way around. Players can activate special items to try and outpace their opponents.
Launches 1 October as a digital-only game exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online members. The game will be playable until 31 March 2021


theweekuk--2020-09-07--Airport coronavirus testing could halve quarantine times, claim industry bosses

Ministers are facing calls to introduce coronavirus testing at airports in order to cut quarantine requirements that are putting many @ @ @ @ @ In a letter to Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak , bosses from the UK @ @ @ @ @ warn that the government risks doing “ irreparable damage ” to the economy unless rules @ @ @ @ @ for 14 days are replaced with testing on arrival .
The industry leaders - from @ @ @ @ @ , Manchester , Birmingham and Luton - “ give Mr Johnson seven days to give @ @ @ @ @ one of a series of measures to prevent the loss of up to 110,000 aviation @ @ @ @ @ , reports The Telegraph .

Ministers are facing calls to introduce coronavirus testing at airports in order to cut quarantine requirements that are putting many would-be passengers off travelling.
In a letter to Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, bosses from the UK’s 20 biggest airports warn that the government risks doing “irreparable damage” to the economy unless rules requiring new arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days are replaced with testing on arrival.
The industry leaders - from airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Luton - “give Mr Johnson seven days to give the go-ahead to testing as one of a series of measures to prevent the loss of up to 110,000 aviation and allied industry jobs”, reports The Telegraph.
The Daily Mail says that ministers are considering two options “to open up the skies and help rescue the Covid-ravaged economy”.
One would see passengers given an airport test on arrival, followed by a second test a few days later. Or in the second option, passengers would undergo a single test, possibly at an NHS clinic or using a home kit, after five to eight days of self-isolation.
Labour is joining industry leaders in demanding a rapid review of the current “chaotic” quarantine rules, reports The Times.
The calls come after modelling conducted for the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) found that “a 14-day quarantine could be halved by giving travellers a test a week after arrival and releasing them if it comes back negative”, the paper says.
However, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday that while testing could help “ease up” on quarantine, it would not be a “silver bullet” for totally getting rid of mandatory self-isolation for people arriving in the UK.
Ministers have also questioned whether the push to shorten quarantines would be a good use of the UK’s testing capacity, which officials said last week was already “maxed out”.


theweekuk--2020-09-07--Debate: should Extinction Rebellion be classed as ‘criminal gang’ to allow for tougher sentences?

A row has erupted over government proposals to classify Extinction Rebellion ( XR ) as an organised crime group in a crackdown on the climate crisis protest movement .
Priti Patel has vowed to take action after XR members delayed the distribution of a string of national newspapers on Friday by “ blocking access to three printing presses owned by Rupert Murdoch ” , the BBC reports .
In article for The Mail on Sunday , the Home Secretary said the government was “ committed to ensuring that the police have powers required to tackle the disruption caused by groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stark warning to the protesters , Patel added : “ You will be punished for your actions.
” A total of 77 people were charged over last week ’ s newspaper blockade , which obstructed deliveries of titles including The Sun , The Times , the Daily Mail , The Daily Telegraph , the Financial Times and the London Evening Standard .
In her article for The Mail on Sunday , Patel argues that such activists should “ face the full force of the law ” for pursuing “ guerrilla tactics ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermine and cause damage to our society ” .
According to The Telegraph , Whitehall sources have confirmed that the home secretary and Boris Johnson have asked officials to take a “ fresh look ” at how XR is classified under the law .
An insider “ said one option under discussion was for XR to be viewed as an organised crime group , which could result in its members being policed primarily by the National Crime Agency ” , the paper reports .
According to the 2015 Serious Crime Act , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose , or one of its purposes , the carrying on of criminal activities , and consists of three or more people who agree to act together to further that purpose ” .
Anyone convicted of participating in the activities of this type of group can be sentenced to up to five years in prison .
The plan to enable harsher punishments for XR activists has been welcomed by Richard Walton , a senior fellow at the Policy Exchange think tank and former head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line from protest into planned criminality and should be treated as such , ” he said .
“ The police need to get better at gathering intelligence pre-emptively and intervening to prevent such acts of criminality and upholding the rule of law.
” The defence : right to protest XR has criticised the reclassification proposals as “ ridiculous ” .
“ The group said associating it with the state ’ s definition of a crime gang as ‘ characterised by violence or the threat of violence and by the use of bribery and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of ordinary citizens who supported its cause , ” The Guardian reports .
A number of MPs have also spoken out against the move .
Former shadow cabinet minister Diane Abbott said that direct action such as that taken by XR was a “ legal tactic ” of protest .
“ They ’ re not criminals , they ’ re protesters and activists in the tradition of the suffragettes and the hunger marchers of the 1930s , ” she told Sky News .
In a further twist in the growing row , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism after praising the newspaper blockade as “ excellent work ” in a now deleted tweet .
The controversy is proving something of a headache for Labour leader Keir Starmer , amid “ signs of division within Labour on how to respond to the group ’ s protests ” , says The Times .
“ The free press is the cornerstone of democracy and we must do all we can to protect it , ” Starmer said in a statement yesterday .
“ Denying people the chance to read what they choose is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change.
” In an apparent rift on the other side of the political divide , meanwhile , Foreign Secretary and ex-human rights lawyer Dominic Raab argued that “ we have the enforcement powers necessary ” to deal with such protests .
“ We always keep all of our laws under review but I think actually the laws are in place to take relevant enforcement action against criminal behaviour , ” he told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News .

A row has erupted over government proposals to classify Extinction Rebellion (XR) as an organised crime group in a crackdown on the climate crisis protest movement.
Priti Patel has vowed to take action after XR members delayed the distribution of a string of national newspapers on Friday by “blocking access to three printing presses owned by Rupert Murdoch”, the BBC reports.
In article for The Mail on Sunday, the Home Secretary said the government was “committed to ensuring that the police have powers required to tackle the disruption caused by groups such as Extinction Rebellion”.
Issuing a stark warning to the protesters, Patel added: “You will be punished for your actions.”
The prosecution: law and order
A total of 77 people were charged over last week’s newspaper blockade, which obstructed deliveries of titles including The Sun, The Times, the Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, the Financial Times and the London Evening Standard.
In her article for The Mail on Sunday, Patel argues that such activists should “face the full force of the law” for pursuing “guerrilla tactics” to “attack democracy” and “undermine and cause damage to our society”.
According to The Telegraph, Whitehall sources have confirmed that the home secretary and Boris Johnson have asked officials to take a “fresh look” at how XR is classified under the law.
An insider “said one option under discussion was for XR to be viewed as an organised crime group, which could result in its members being policed primarily by the National Crime Agency”, the paper reports.
According to the 2015 Serious Crime Act, an organised crime group “has at its purpose, or one of its purposes, the carrying on of criminal activities, and consists of three or more people who agree to act together to further that purpose”.
Anyone convicted of participating in the activities of this type of group can be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
The plan to enable harsher punishments for XR activists has been welcomed by Richard Walton, a senior fellow at the Policy Exchange think tank and former head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.


theweekuk--2020-09-08--Instant Opinion: Boris Johnson’s ‘Brexit bluster’ will cost Britain

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
“ No 10 has also convinced itself , rightly or wrongly , that the coronavirus crisis will disguise the economic impact of leaving [ the EU ] without a free trade agreement .
Mr Johnson is already under attack from his party ’ s right-wingers over proposed tax rises and is facing accusations of incompetence after a string of U-turns .
In addition , the government has been criticised over its handling of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest death rates in the world ... Perhaps the prime minister will swoop in with a last-minute concession , as he did last year , but in terms of the country ’ s reputation abroad it may be too late .
Whether there is a Brexit deal or not , Britain will need all the friends it can get around the world , yet the government seems to be set on alienating potential allies .
One senior Conservative described a recent conversation with the foreign minister of another ( non-EU ) country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ We used to be seen as disorganised but now you are the ones who are all over the place and chaotic.
‘ Britain was seen as stable and reliable and suddenly we have become shifty .
The whole personality of Boris Johnson is being superimposed on to the country.
’ ” 2 .
Professor Devi Sridhar , chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh , in The Guardian Coronavirus cases are rising again in the UK .
What will happen next ?
“ It ’ s worth remembering that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those in March .
Before , tests were only done on people who had been admitted to hospital .
Now , symptomatic people are being tested outside of hospitals and in the community , along with their contacts .
This means that we ’ re picking up infections and positive cases that we weren ’ t previously testing for .
Nonetheless , after enduring the considerable pain of a prolonged lockdown , nobody wants to see the UK going backwards on the progress it has made .
As numbers rise , ministers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on top of this situation and ensure schools remain open .
If the government doesn ’ t do anything and lets the virus spread , hospitalisations will increase , deaths will follow and ministers will be blamed for not doing enough to suppress the virus ...
But if the government moves early to limit the spread of the virus and lower the number of cases , ministers will then be blamed for overreacting and unnecessarily hurting the economy .
This is a classic paradox in public health.
” on Downing Street control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the PM ’ s threats to rip up the Withdrawal Agreement “ If reports are to be believed and we are not simply being treated to a choreographed campaign playing to respective galleries as mandarins cross t ’ s and dot i ’ s behind the scenes on an eleventh hour settlement , the UK looks set to do something quite unprecedented in transnational agreements and ride roughshod over an international treaty .
Something tells me the volume is set to be turned up to maximum before a final resolution takes place .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go rogue .
To pretend the Withdrawal Agreement doesn ’ t exist is a fool ’ s game .
One wonders whether the latest ploy in tacking on new legislation designed to clear up ‘ ambiguity ’ is yet more pantomime .
The Prime Minister ’ s spokesman insisted on the same day to the continental press that the Government remains fully committed to the treaty .
I am immediately catapulted back to the mayhem and absurdity of Boris being forced to write two letters to the powers that be in Brussels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s transition period , able to control the optics by blaming the inconvenience of UK law for forcing his hand .
This time , however , blaming being beholden to UK law is not an option , for it was he that instigated its coming into effect.
” on the need for a future roadmap The government stripped young people of hope – then blamed them for the second wave “ It ’ s not simply that the rules are confusing that ’ s creating chaos , it ’ s that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should concern all of us , because not being able to make sense of the rules is what has led to people not complying with them .
So , who is really to blame for a second wave ?
It ’ s not young people .
It ’ s the government ’ s mixed messages .
But beyond that , seeking to scapegoat young people ignores how much lockdown has affected them .
School-aged children saw their education completely disrupted .
Thousands of university students were forced to say goodbye to their independence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country closed , their futures entirely uncertain .
Younger workers are among those that have been most affected by unemployment as a result of the pandemic .
And many young people live in insecure and poor quality housing , from which there has been little escape through lockdown.
” 5 .
Ivan Krastev in The New York Times The Pandemic Was Supposed to Be Great for Strongmen .
What Happened ?
“ Some fear that more than any other crisis , a public health emergency like this one will impel people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hope of improving personal security .
The pandemic has increased tolerance of invasive surveillance and bans on freedom of assembly .
In several Western countries — including the United States and Germany — there were public protests against mask mandates and lockdowns .
At the same time , the pandemic has eroded the power of authoritarians and the authoritarian-inclined .
The instinctive reaction of leaders like Mr. Lukashenko in Belarus , Vladimir Putin in Russia , Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and Donald Trump in the United States was not to take advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their authority — it was to play down the seriousness of the pandemic .
Why are authoritarian leaders who thrive on crises and who are fluent in the politics of fear reluctant to embrace the opportunity ?
Why do they seem to hate a crisis that they should love ?
The answer is straightforward : Authoritarians only enjoy those crises they have manufactured themselves .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Rachel Sylvester in The Times
on the PM’s no-deal brinkmanship
Johnson’s Brexit bluster will cost us dear
“No 10 has also convinced itself, rightly or wrongly, that the coronavirus crisis will disguise the economic impact of leaving [the EU] without a free trade agreement. Mr Johnson is already under attack from his party’s right-wingers over proposed tax rises and is facing accusations of incompetence after a string of U-turns. In addition, the government has been criticised over its handling of the pandemic, which left Britain with one of the highest death rates in the world... Perhaps the prime minister will swoop in with a last-minute concession, as he did last year, but in terms of the country’s reputation abroad it may be too late. Whether there is a Brexit deal or not, Britain will need all the friends it can get around the world, yet the government seems to be set on alienating potential allies. One senior Conservative described a recent conversation with the foreign minister of another (non-EU) country. ‘They said to me, ’We used to be seen as disorganised but now you are the ones who are all over the place and chaotic.‘ Britain was seen as stable and reliable and suddenly we have become shifty. The whole personality of Boris Johnson is being superimposed on to the country.’”
2. Professor Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, in The Guardian
on avoiding a second wave
Coronavirus cases are rising again in the UK. What will happen next?
“It’s worth remembering that case numbers now aren’t comparable to those in March. Before, tests were only done on people who had been admitted to hospital. Now, symptomatic people are being tested outside of hospitals and in the community, along with their contacts. This means that we’re picking up infections and positive cases that we weren’t previously testing for. Nonetheless, after enduring the considerable pain of a prolonged lockdown, nobody wants to see the UK going backwards on the progress it has made. As numbers rise, ministers face difficult decisions about how to get on top of this situation and ensure schools remain open. If the government doesn’t do anything and lets the virus spread, hospitalisations will increase, deaths will follow and ministers will be blamed for not doing enough to suppress the virus... But if the government moves early to limit the spread of the virus and lower the number of cases, ministers will then be blamed for overreacting and unnecessarily hurting the economy. This is a classic paradox in public health.”
3. Alexandra Phillips in The Daily Telegraph
on Downing Street control of the optics
We should be sceptical about the PM’s threats to rip up the Withdrawal Agreement
“If reports are to be believed and we are not simply being treated to a choreographed campaign playing to respective galleries as mandarins cross t’s and dot i’s behind the scenes on an eleventh hour settlement, the UK looks set to do something quite unprecedented in transnational agreements and ride roughshod over an international treaty. Something tells me the volume is set to be turned up to maximum before a final resolution takes place. Does the UK really have the effrontery to go rogue. To pretend the Withdrawal Agreement doesn’t exist is a fool’s game. One wonders whether the latest ploy in tacking on new legislation designed to clear up ‘ambiguity’ is yet more pantomime. The Prime Minister’s spokesman insisted on the same day to the continental press that the Government remains fully committed to the treaty. I am immediately catapulted back to the mayhem and absurdity of Boris being forced to write two letters to the powers that be in Brussels asking for an extension to the UK’s transition period, able to control the optics by blaming the inconvenience of UK law for forcing his hand. This time, however, blaming being beholden to UK law is not an option, for it was he that instigated its coming into effect.”
4. Chloe Maughan in The Independent
on the need for a future roadmap
The government stripped young people of hope – then blamed them for the second wave
“It’s not simply that the rules are confusing that’s creating chaos, it’s that they don’t make sense. That should concern all of us, because not being able to make sense of the rules is what has led to people not complying with them. So, who is really to blame for a second wave? It’s not young people. It’s the government’s mixed messages. But beyond that, seeking to scapegoat young people ignores how much lockdown has affected them. School-aged children saw their education completely disrupted. Thousands of university students were forced to say goodbye to their independence and move back with family as campuses across the country closed, their futures entirely uncertain. Younger workers are among those that have been most affected by unemployment as a result of the pandemic. And many young people live in insecure and poor quality housing, from which there has been little escape through lockdown.”
5. Ivan Krastev in The New York Times
on authoritarians losing ground during crisis
The Pandemic Was Supposed to Be Great for Strongmen. What Happened?
“Some fear that more than any other crisis, a public health emergency like this one will impel people to accept restrictions on their liberties in the hope of improving personal security. The pandemic has increased tolerance of invasive surveillance and bans on freedom of assembly. In several Western countries — including the United States and Germany — there were public protests against mask mandates and lockdowns. At the same time, the pandemic has eroded the power of authoritarians and the authoritarian-inclined. The instinctive reaction of leaders like Mr. Lukashenko in Belarus, Vladimir Putin in Russia, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and Donald Trump in the United States was not to take advantage of the state of emergency to expand their authority — it was to play down the seriousness of the pandemic. Why are authoritarian leaders who thrive on crises and who are fluent in the politics of fear reluctant to embrace the opportunity? Why do they seem to hate a crisis that they should love? The answer is straightforward: Authoritarians only enjoy those crises they have manufactured themselves.”