theweekuk--2020-07-16--Ghislaine Maxwell revealed to be married - but who is her secret spouse?

Ghislaine Maxwell is secretly married but will not reveal the identity of her spouse , a New York court has heard .
Assistant US attorney Alison Moe revealed the British socialite ’ s marital status during a bail hearing at which the alleged former madame to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was described as a “ flight risk ” and sentenced to remain in custody .
Maxwell is facing up to 35 years in prison if found guilty of charges relating to allegations that she recruited teenage girls for the late billionaire financier to sexually abuse .
Sky News reports that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to light while Moe “ was trying to prove to the judge that Maxwell had not been honest about her finances ” .
“ In addition to failing to describe in any way the absence of proposed cosigners of a bond , the defendant also makes no mention whatsoever about the financial circumstances or assets of her spouse , whose identity she declined to provide to Pretrial Services , ” the attorney told the hearing , which Maxwell attended via video link .
The revelation has triggered widespread speculation about who Maxwell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be hiding from US law enforcement .
The court also heard that an estate agent had told the FBI that Maxwell had toured her $ 1m ( £800,000 ) New Hampshire home - where she was arrested earlier this month - with an unknown man in November 2019 .
The couple had introduced themselves as Scott and Janet Marshall , but the estate agent later recognised Maxwell after seeing a photo of her on the news .
The man “ told her he was retired from the British military and was currently working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As Tatler notes , commentators are “ speculating that he might be her secret husband ” .
“ There was no previous suggestions that Maxwell was married , ” the magazine adds .
Last summer , the Daily Mail tracked down Maxwell to Manchester-by-the-Sea in Massachusetts , where she was living at a £1.6m home owned “ by her American toyboy lover Scott Borgerson ” .
The newspaper says it is “ unclear ” if the 44-year-old multimillionaire shipping entrepreneur is the man who toured the New Hampshire property with her .

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theweekuk--2020-07-16--Reaction: Covid vaccine hopes raised by Oxford trial results

Scientists have taken a leap forward in the race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine as initial trials suggest that an Oxford University-developed jab may provide a “ double defence ” against the coronavirus .
A senior source on the project told The Telegraph that blood samples taken from volunteers in the first phase of human testing indicate that the vaccine stimulates the body to produce both antibodies and “ killer ” T-cells .
The trial involved about 1,000 volunteers , who are “ are understood to have shown encouraging levels of neutralising antibodies , thought to be important in protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times .
“ No serious side-effects ” were reported , the newspaper adds , although as The Telegraph points out , “ further work will be needed ” to ensure that “ the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine is safe ” .
“ The team is also evaluating the level of dose needed to produce an effective response , ” according to The Telegraph .
“ I can tell you that we now know the Oxford vaccine covers both bases - it produces both a T-cell and an antibody response , ” the inside source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the combination of these two that will hopefully keep people safe .
So far , so good .
It ’ s an important moment .
But we still have a long way to go.
” Another source close to the team confirmed that the presence of both antibodies and T-cells could act as a “ double defence ” against Covid-19 .
Researchers have not yet proved conclusively that the combined immune response is enough to combat infection , but had the vaccine not produced both T-cells and antibodies , “ it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oxford project , The Times says .
A source told the paper that “ the Oxford team are very much still in the fight ” .
The full findings of the phase one Oxford trial will be published in The Lancet on Monday .
Appearing on ITV ’ s Peston last night , Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that in the best-case scenario , the vaccine would be available later this year .
But the jab is “ more likely ” be ready in 2021 , he added .
However , hopes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been raised by David Carpenter , chair of the Berkshire Research Ethics Committee , which approved the Oxford trial .
Carpenter told The Telegraph that the vaccine team were “ absolutely on track ” , adding : “ Things might go wrong but the reality is that by working with a big pharma company , that vaccine could be fairly widely available around September and that is the sort of target they are working on.
” The vaccine development is being supported by the UK government and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion doses worldwide .
AstraZeneca shares jumped by 5.5 % yesterday after ITV political editor Robert Peston revealed that there would be “ positive news soon ” about the outcome of the initial trials .

Scientists have taken a leap forward in the race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine as initial trials suggest that an Oxford University-developed jab may provide a “double defence” against the coronavirus.
A senior source on the project told The Telegraph that blood samples taken from volunteers in the first phase of human testing indicate that the vaccine stimulates the body to produce both antibodies and “killer” T-cells.
The trial involved about 1,000 volunteers, who are “are understood to have shown encouraging levels of neutralising antibodies, thought to be important in protecting against viral infection”, says The Times.
“No serious side-effects” were reported, the newspaper adds, although as The Telegraph points out, “further work will be needed” to ensure that “the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine is safe”.
“The team is also evaluating the level of dose needed to produce an effective response,” according to The Telegraph.
“I can tell you that we now know the Oxford vaccine covers both bases - it produces both a T-cell and an antibody response,” the inside source told the paper. “It’s the combination of these two that will hopefully keep people safe. So far, so good. It’s an important moment. But we still have a long way to go.”
Another source close to the team confirmed that the presence of both antibodies and T-cells could act as a “double defence” against Covid-19.
Researchers have not yet proved conclusively that the combined immune response is enough to combat infection, but had the vaccine not produced both T-cells and antibodies, “it would have been a setback” to the Oxford project, The Times says. A source told the paper that “the Oxford team are very much still in the fight”.
The full findings of the phase one Oxford trial will be published in The Lancet on Monday.
Appearing on ITV’s Peston last night, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that in the best-case scenario, the vaccine would be available later this year. But the jab is “more likely” be ready in 2021, he added.
However, hopes that the jab may be ready sooner have been raised by David Carpenter, chair of the Berkshire Research Ethics Committee, which approved the Oxford trial.
Carpenter told The Telegraph that the vaccine team were “absolutely on track”, adding: “Things might go wrong but the reality is that by working with a big pharma company, that vaccine could be fairly widely available around September and that is the sort of target they are working on.”
The vaccine development is being supported by the UK government and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which has reached agreements to supply up to two billion doses worldwide.
AstraZeneca shares jumped by 5.5% yesterday after ITV political editor Robert Peston revealed that there would be “positive news soon” about the outcome of the initial trials.


theweekuk--2020-07-16--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 16 Jul 2020

The editor of British Vogue says he was racially profiled after being told to “ use the loading bay ” @ @ @ @ @ he entered the magazine ’ s headquarters .
Edward Enninful said : “ It just @ @ @ @ @ it doesn ’ t matter what you ’ ve achieved in the course of your @ @ @ @ @ that some people will judge you on is the colour of your skin .
”

Banks call for student-style loans to protect businesses
British banks fear that up to 800,000 businesses could go bust in the next 12 months if they are unable to defer repayments on government-backed loans. To avoid the catastrophe, lenders are suggesting a student loans-type scheme, where coronavirus loans can be converted into a tax debt repayable over 10 years. The money would only be repayable when and if the businesses can afford it.


theweekuk--2020-07-16--Baker uses urine from public toilets to make ‘Goldilocks bread’

A baker in France has been collecting women ’ s urine from a public toilet to make “ Goldilocks bread ” .
Louise Raguet , who describes herself as an “ eco-feminist ” , deploys the urine to fertilise the wheat that she then uses to make up her “ Boucle d ’ Or ” or “ Goldilocks bread ” .
Next up , she says she wants to “ break taboos over excrement ” .
Why Iceland wants your screams Feeling frustrated ?
Iceland is inviting people to let out their frustrations by recording their screams and having them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the country .
The country says it is the “ perfect place to let your frustrations out ” as it channels the power of “ scream therapy ” .
Find out more here .
Teenagers are using coronavirus masks to pretend to be elderly and buy alcohol .
In a growing trend on the social media app TikTok , masked chlidren are rubbing white powder into their hair to make it grey and donning older-style clothes before heading to the off licence .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A baker in France has been collecting women’s urine from a public toilet to make “Goldilocks bread”. Louise Raguet, who describes herself as an “eco-feminist”, deploys the urine to fertilise the wheat that she then uses to make up her “Boucle d’Or” or “Goldilocks bread”. Next up, she says she wants to “break taboos over excrement”.
Why Iceland wants your screams
Feeling frustrated? Iceland is inviting people to let out their frustrations by recording their screams and having them played over a loudspeaker in a remote part of the country. The country says it is the “perfect place to let your frustrations out” as it channels the power of “scream therapy”. Find out more here.
Teens use masks to buy booze
Teenagers are using coronavirus masks to pretend to be elderly and buy alcohol. In a growing trend on the social media app TikTok, masked chlidren are rubbing white powder into their hair to make it grey and donning older-style clothes before heading to the off licence.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-07-15--Chalet Saunton: the perfect post-lockdown getaway

As the UK ’ s coronavirus lockdown eases and British travellers set their sights on squeezing the best out of what remains of the summer , the notion of a “ staycation ” may seem an increasingly enticing option .
While going abroad may offer many obvious temptations , holidaying in the UK is infinitely simpler than having to contend with air bridges and quarantines .
So if your spirit of adventure is willing , but you are not yet ready to brave an aeroplane , a trip to Devon could be just the ticket , offering some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with surf to rival Australia , sand the equal of the Caribbean , and - just sometimes - enough sun to make you believe you are in the Mediterranean .
To experience it properly , the luxury apartments of Chalet Saunton , where The Week Portfolio visited just before coronavirus hit the UK , offer some of the highest end self-catering accommodation in the county .
The seven apartments that comprise Chalet Saunton have been outfitted expensively with a stylish yet minimalist aesthetic that would not look out of place in a Vogue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ground floor apartments - a vast space more than capable of hosting six friends or family members across its three bedrooms .
The most obvious selling point of the whole place is the vast kitchen-living-dining space , whose huge floor-to-ceiling windows look straight out to Saunton Sands beach .
Regardless of the weather , the view is spectacular .
During our autumnal stay , we had days of broad sunshine , offering clear views out across the beach and over to the misty hills in the distance .
Other days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided an atmospheric backdrop to our evenings in , cooking , drinking , dining and carousing together .
The master bedroom is - unsurprisingly - the best appointed of all the rooms , with a freestanding bath in the corner , perfect for an indulgent soak while staring out the window .
Linen and towels are all five-star hotel standard , and everything gleams ; the whole apartment is in pristine condition .
The decor is relatively understated - indeed some might find it too neutral - but it is certainly elegant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project your own personality ; ideal if you plan to rent the space for a wedding or special event , once such things become possible again .
What to see The main attraction of a stay at Chalet Saunton will always be the view from the apartment itself , but a short walk down the hill brings you straight out onto Saunton Sands beach , a vast tract of sand with a very shallow drop-off that is popular all year round with surfers , but is also ideal for strolling , jogging , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Saunton golf club , which offers two Championship courses and is listed in Golf World & Golf Monthly magazines ’ 100 Best Courses in the UK .
Skern Lodge Outdoor Activity Centre offers a full day out with the family , hosting everything from abseiling , climbing , kayaking , zip lining , rafting and archery .
It is already open and receiving guests , and promises enhanced sanitation measures to protect visitors from coronavirus infection .
Westward Ho !
Beach , named after Charles Kingsley ’ s 1855 novel is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities if you have tired of the surf at Saunton Sands and fancy a change of scene .
There are also amusement arcades and a putting green and at very low tides the remains of a mesolithic sunken forest and peat beds becomes visible , offering evidence of human activity that goes back 6,000 years .
Where to eat and drink A very short walk brings you to the Beachside Grill , a restaurant that prides itself on its locally sourced ingredients , which are treated simply and then thrown onto the grill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ juicy and the burgers are uniformly excellent .
A little further afield ( a half-hour drive to Bideford to be precise ) , Number Eight offers genuinely fine dining in a sophisticated yet casual setting .
The food lives up to the promise too , with beautifully presented plates , featuring intense flavours and starring good cuts of meat .
Just a bit further still in the small town of Woolsery , The Farmers Arms is possibly the pick of the bunch .
This former local boozer was bought and expensively refurbished by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founders of social networking website , Bebo .
The old inn has now been transformed into a beautiful pub and restaurant , with two bars , an upstairs lounge and a beer garden .
It oozes with ambition from the moment you step through the door , with its well chosen art and chic decor .
The fare on offer is equally good , and is very affordable , given the quality on offer .
A must if you are anywhere in the area .
When to go There is no time like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for business right now and summer is a great time to visit .
It is also the season that sees the most tourists come down to Devon though , so the cooler months will give you more of the coastline to yourself .
Obviously the trade-off is a more bracing sea and a more biting wind , but for the hardy , off-season visits offer a quieter , more quintessentially Devonian experience .
Apartments sleeping up to six guests start from £500 per night on a self-catering basis .
For more information and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaletsaunton.com or call 01271 890514 .

As the UK’s coronavirus lockdown eases and British travellers set their sights on squeezing the best out of what remains of the summer, the notion of a “staycation” may seem an increasingly enticing option.
While going abroad may offer many obvious temptations, holidaying in the UK is infinitely simpler than having to contend with air bridges and quarantines.
So if your spirit of adventure is willing, but you are not yet ready to brave an aeroplane, a trip to Devon could be just the ticket, offering some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery, with surf to rival Australia, sand the equal of the Caribbean, and - just sometimes - enough sun to make you believe you are in the Mediterranean.
To experience it properly, the luxury apartments of Chalet Saunton, where The Week Portfolio visited just before coronavirus hit the UK, offer some of the highest end self-catering accommodation in the county.
Accommodation
The seven apartments that comprise Chalet Saunton have been outfitted expensively with a stylish yet minimalist aesthetic that would not look out of place in a Vogue photo shoot.
We stayed in one of the ground floor apartments - a vast space more than capable of hosting six friends or family members across its three bedrooms.
The most obvious selling point of the whole place is the vast kitchen-living-dining space, whose huge floor-to-ceiling windows look straight out to Saunton Sands beach.
Regardless of the weather, the view is spectacular. During our autumnal stay, we had days of broad sunshine, offering clear views out across the beach and over to the misty hills in the distance. Other days, when rain and wind whipped in, provided an atmospheric backdrop to our evenings in, cooking, drinking, dining and carousing together.
The master bedroom is - unsurprisingly - the best appointed of all the rooms, with a freestanding bath in the corner, perfect for an indulgent soak while staring out the window. Linen and towels are all five-star hotel standard, and everything gleams; the whole apartment is in pristine condition.
The decor is relatively understated - indeed some might find it too neutral - but it is certainly elegant and offers a perfect canvas upon which to project your own personality; ideal if you plan to rent the space for a wedding or special event, once such things become possible again.
What to see
The main attraction of a stay at Chalet Saunton will always be the view from the apartment itself, but a short walk down the hill brings you straight out onto Saunton Sands beach, a vast tract of sand with a very shallow drop-off that is popular all year round with surfers, but is also ideal for strolling, jogging, or sandcastle building.


theweekuk--2020-07-15--Instant Opinion: Brexit has left Britain ‘friendless’ not ‘global’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
Brexit was meant to make Britain global .
It has made us friendless “ The essential issue here is that Brexit can make EU membership go away , but not the EU itself .
When the only problem was being inside , escape was the only solution worth talking about .
Hardline Eurosceptics were no more bothered by the issue of how an ex-member state might manage relations with Brussels than arsonists are interested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of that complacency , the UK does not have a policy towards the EU , only an impulse away from it and that is of fading relevance .
No one followed us out .
The fire didn ’ t catch ...
The UK is sliding into a strategic void because its only foreign policy is a plan that devalues old European alliances and shifts the balance of power to other continents when trying to make new deals .
Johnson can not address this challenge without exposing the basic flaw in Brexit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so jealously demands from Brussels buys no clout in Washington , Beijing or anywhere else.
” on the government ’ s tin-eared approach to women voters Boris Johnson needs to solve his woman problem “ Mr Johnson promises he wants more women in government but only 32 per cent of Tory MPs are female .
‘ There ’ s a problem in the pipeline , ’ says Anne Jenkin , the Tory peer .
Allegra Stratton recently joined Mr Sunak as his communications director , but more women are needed in Downing Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ frat house ’ .
‘ We are never in the room where it happens , ’ says one frustrated female minister .
When Mr Johnson was hospitalised in April , four men shared his brief , and nearly all the powerful cabinet subcommittees are made up of men ...
Contrast this with the female-led response of countries like Germany , New Zealand and Taiwan , which have handled Covid-19 much better .
Two months ago , I was called a ‘ feminazi ’ by men who objected to my view that women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pandemic .
Now it seems even more apparent .
Men may be more likely to die from the virus but women are faring worse in the post-Covid world.
” on a satorial addition to the new ‘ normal ’ Compulsory face masks are proof the British bulldog has become the scaredy-cat of Europe “ At least making us wear masks back at the beginning of the pandemic would have made some sort of sense .
Introducing a punitive new law now , with the infection rate in steep decline , seems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s handling of coronavirus , like too little too late .
Around 20 Britons a day are dying of Covid and you instruct 60 million people to cover their faces , even though the virus has largely disappeared and the vast majority would suffer no ill effects if they got it ?
No wonder Boris looked sheepish announcing that masks would be mandatory in shops .
It ’ s precisely the kind of nonsensical authoritarianism he would have delighted in lampooning when he was a newspaper columnist .
Who on earth is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind the HBO-BBC hit I May Destroy You Captures The Devastating Way The Justice System Fails Victims Of Sexual Assault “ Since 2014 , there has been a 44 % drop in rape prosecutions in the UK , whilst the number of reported rapes has increased by 173 % ...
The justice system is failing rape and sexual violence victims , both female and male , time and time again .
Fundamentally , we need reform .
A judicial system that better educates before an individual becomes a victim .
A system which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a curriculum which prioritises the education of consent within sex and relationships education .
Of course , these are just initial steps towards the formation of a just system .
Admittedly , we have a long way to go , but shows such as I May Destroy You are essential to raising awareness of the system we currently have in place.
” 5 .
Christian Cooper , writer and editor and a board member of New York City Audubon , in The New York Times on letting white people off the hook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation of Amy Cooper “ Why did Cooper so easily tap into that toxic racial bias in the heat of the moment when she was looking for a leg up in our confrontation ?
Why is it surprising to no one that the police might come charging to her aid with special vengeance on hearing that an African American was involved ?
And most important of all , how do we fix policing so that scenarios such as this are replaced by a criminal justice system that is truly just and equitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Cooper lets white people off the hook from all that .
They can scream for her head while leaving their own prejudices unexamined .
They can push for her prosecution and pat themselves on the back for having done something about racism , when they ’ ve actually done nothing , and their own Amy Cooper remains only one purse-clutch in the presence of a black man away .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Rafael Behr in The Guardian
on Britain’s global gamble
Brexit was meant to make Britain global. It has made us friendless
“The essential issue here is that Brexit can make EU membership go away, but not the EU itself. When the only problem was being inside, escape was the only solution worth talking about. Hardline Eurosceptics were no more bothered by the issue of how an ex-member state might manage relations with Brussels than arsonists are interested in what to do with ashes. As a result of that complacency, the UK does not have a policy towards the EU, only an impulse away from it and that is of fading relevance. No one followed us out. The fire didn’t catch... The UK is sliding into a strategic void because its only foreign policy is a plan that devalues old European alliances and shifts the balance of power to other continents when trying to make new deals. Johnson cannot address this challenge without exposing the basic flaw in Brexit, which is that the sovereignty he so jealously demands from Brussels buys no clout in Washington, Beijing or anywhere else.”
2. Alison Thomson in The Times
on the government’s tin-eared approach to women voters
Boris Johnson needs to solve his woman problem
“Mr Johnson promises he wants more women in government but only 32 per cent of Tory MPs are female. ‘There’s a problem in the pipeline,’ says Anne Jenkin, the Tory peer. Allegra Stratton recently joined Mr Sunak as his communications director, but more women are needed in Downing Street to break up Dominic Cummings’s ‘frat house’. ‘We are never in the room where it happens,’ says one frustrated female minister. When Mr Johnson was hospitalised in April, four men shared his brief, and nearly all the powerful cabinet subcommittees are made up of men... Contrast this with the female-led response of countries like Germany, New Zealand and Taiwan, which have handled Covid-19 much better. Two months ago, I was called a ‘feminazi’ by men who objected to my view that women had been dealt a worse hand in this pandemic. Now it seems even more apparent. Men may be more likely to die from the virus but women are faring worse in the post-Covid world.”
3. Allison Pearson in The Daily Telegraph
on a satorial addition to the new ‘normal’
Compulsory face masks are proof the British bulldog has become the scaredy-cat of Europe
“At least making us wear masks back at the beginning of the pandemic would have made some sort of sense. Introducing a punitive new law now, with the infection rate in steep decline, seems, as does so much of the UK’s handling of coronavirus, like too little too late. Around 20 Britons a day are dying of Covid and you instruct 60 million people to cover their faces, even though the virus has largely disappeared and the vast majority would suffer no ill effects if they got it? No wonder Boris looked sheepish announcing that masks would be mandatory in shops. It’s precisely the kind of nonsensical authoritarianism he would have delighted in lampooning when he was a newspaper columnist. Who on earth is advising him?”
4. Ilayda McIntosh on HuffPost
on the reality behind the HBO-BBC hit
I May Destroy You Captures The Devastating Way The Justice System Fails Victims Of Sexual Assault
“Since 2014, there has been a 44% drop in rape prosecutions in the UK, whilst the number of reported rapes has increased by 173%... The justice system is failing rape and sexual violence victims, both female and male, time and time again. Fundamentally, we need reform. A judicial system that better educates before an individual becomes a victim. A system which provides ongoing support for survivors after; and a curriculum which prioritises the education of consent within sex and relationships education. Of course, these are just initial steps towards the formation of a just system. Admittedly, we have a long way to go, but shows such as I May Destroy You are essential to raising awareness of the system we currently have in place.”
5. Christian Cooper, writer and editor and a board member of New York City Audubon, in The New York Times
on letting white people off the hook
Why I have chosen not to aid the investigation of Amy Cooper
“Why did Cooper so easily tap into that toxic racial bias in the heat of the moment when she was looking for a leg up in our confrontation? Why is it surprising to no one that the police might come charging to her aid with special vengeance on hearing that an African American was involved? And most important of all, how do we fix policing so that scenarios such as this are replaced by a criminal justice system that is truly just and equitable to black people? Focusing on charging Amy Cooper lets white people off the hook from all that. They can scream for her head while leaving their own prejudices unexamined. They can push for her prosecution and pat themselves on the back for having done something about racism, when they’ve actually done nothing, and their own Amy Cooper remains only one purse-clutch in the presence of a black man away.”


theweekuk--2020-07-15--Our way or the Huawei: will China retaliate over 5G tech ban?

The UK can expect “ public and painful ” retaliation for banning Huawei from the country ’ s 5G networks , Chinese state media is warning .
The Chinese Communist Party-backed Global Times said that Beijing could not “ passively watch ” as Boris Johnson vetoes the use of equipment supplied by the tech company in the UK infrastructure - a decision that state-run press agency Xinhua condemned as “ ill-founded ” .
What was said ?
The prime minister announced yesterday that Britain ’ s mobile network operators will not be allowed to buy new Huawei 5G equipment after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove all existing Huawei 5G kit by the end of 2027 .
The Global Times , a mouthpiece for the Chinese government , said in an editorial today that Beijing had to strike back over the ban .
“ It is necessary for China to retaliate against the UK , otherwise would we not be seen as easy to bully .
Such retaliation should be public and painful for the UK , ” the newspaper said .
What would retaliation look like ?
The Global Times did not outline what this retaliation might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with British allies including the US , Australia and Canada reveal a wide-ranging playbook ” , says The Telegraph .
Beijing “ often turns to economic pressure , betting that capitalist Western societies will think twice about forgoing access to lucrative opportunities with the world ’ s second-largest economy ” , the newspaper reports .
In May , China imposed an 80 % , five-year tariff on Australian barley , along with new taxes on Australian beef .
Import licences for Canada ’ s two largest canola exporters have also been suspended by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could face a range of different “ punishments ” .
Beijing may seek to take a tougher line on post-Brexit trade talks that “ could escalate into a full-blown , tit-for-tat trade war , with major British exports , such as automobiles , getting caught in the middle ” , The Telegraph suggests .
Alternatively , the authorities could try to make life difficult for British citizens studying , living and working in China , who “ could find themselves facing trumped-up accusations ” .
President Xi Jinping ’ s government could also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramping up China ’ s opposition to British proposals in international organisations including the UN Security Council , the World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization .
Will China follow through on its threat ?
Despite the fierce rhetoric , Chinese officials “ appear to be making an effort not to escalate UK-China tensions ” , The Guardian reports .
“ It is not necessary to turn this into a China-UK confrontation , ” the Global Times said .
“ The UK is not the US , nor Australia , nor Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ link ’ in the Five Eyes .
In the long run , the UK has no reason to turn against China , with the Hong Kong issue fading out.
” In an apparent bid to avoid a direct confrontation with the UK , Chinese representatives have largely blamed the Huawei ban on US pressure , an accusation that Donald Trump has made no effort to refute .
“ We convinced many countries - many countries - and I did this myself , for the most part , not to use Huawei because we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk .
It ’ s a big security risk , ” the US president said at a press conference on Tuesday .
Given Downing Street ’ s seven-year timetable for mobile network operators to strip out Huawei technology , some Chinese commentators have suggested that the UK government has left plenty of time for a change of heart , or that a different US administration might roll back its objections to Huawei - meaning no retaliation would be required .
The editor of the Global Times , Hu Xijin , tweeted : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2027 , which indicates it ’ s difficult to leave Huawei .
But there could be change before and after that .
”

The UK can expect “public and painful” retaliation for banning Huawei from the country’s 5G networks, Chinese state media is warning.
The Chinese Communist Party-backed Global Times said that Beijing could not “passively watch” as Boris Johnson vetoes the use of equipment supplied by the tech company in the UK infrastructure - a decision that state-run press agency Xinhua condemned as “ill-founded”.
What was said?
The prime minister announced yesterday that Britain’s mobile network operators will not be allowed to buy new Huawei 5G equipment after 31 December and that all carriers must remove all existing Huawei 5G kit by the end of 2027.
The Global Times, a mouthpiece for the Chinese government, said in an editorial today that Beijing had to strike back over the ban.
“It is necessary for China to retaliate against the UK, otherwise would we not be seen as easy to bully. Such retaliation should be public and painful for the UK,” the newspaper said.
What would retaliation look like?
The Global Times did not outline what this retaliation might entail, but “ongoing diplomatic spats with British allies including the US, Australia and Canada reveal a wide-ranging playbook”, says The Telegraph.
Beijing “often turns to economic pressure, betting that capitalist Western societies will think twice about forgoing access to lucrative opportunities with the world’s second-largest economy”, the newspaper reports.
In May, China imposed an 80%, five-year tariff on Australian barley, along with new taxes on Australian beef. Import licences for Canada’s two largest canola exporters have also been suspended by China.
The UK, meanwhile, could face a range of different “punishments”.
Beijing may seek to take a tougher line on post-Brexit trade talks that “could escalate into a full-blown, tit-for-tat trade war, with major British exports, such as automobiles, getting caught in the middle”, The Telegraph suggests.
Alternatively, the authorities could try to make life difficult for British citizens studying, living and working in China, who “could find themselves facing trumped-up accusations”.
President Xi Jinping’s government could also subject the UK to diplomatic pressure by ramping up China’s opposition to British proposals in international organisations including the UN Security Council, the World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization.
Will China follow through on its threat?
Despite the fierce rhetoric, Chinese officials “appear to be making an effort not to escalate UK-China tensions”, The Guardian reports.
“It is not necessary to turn this into a China-UK confrontation,” the Global Times said. “The UK is not the US, nor Australia, nor Canada. It is a relative ‘weak link’ in the Five Eyes. In the long run, the UK has no reason to turn against China, with the Hong Kong issue fading out.”
In an apparent bid to avoid a direct confrontation with the UK, Chinese representatives have largely blamed the Huawei ban on US pressure, an accusation that Donald Trump has made no effort to refute.
“We convinced many countries - many countries - and I did this myself, for the most part, not to use Huawei because we think it’s an unsafe security risk. It’s a big security risk,” the US president said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Given Downing Street’s seven-year timetable for mobile network operators to strip out Huawei technology, some Chinese commentators have suggested that the UK government has left plenty of time for a change of heart, or that a different US administration might roll back its objections to Huawei - meaning no retaliation would be required.
The editor of the Global Times, Hu Xijin, tweeted: “UK can only completely remove Huawei by 2027, which indicates it’s difficult to leave Huawei. But there could be change before and after that.”


theweekuk--2020-07-15--How Italy’s SOS message was ignored as coronavirus engulfed Europe

As an organisation built on cross-border cooperation between some of the world ’ s richest and most scientifically advanced countries , the European Union was expected to lead with a show of strength during a global pandemic .
Instead , solidarity between members was abandoned as complacency turned to panic and national governments put their own interests above the greater good .
The story of the EU and Covid-19 is one of “ governments belatedly recognising the speed at which the virus was spreading , only to rush into uncoordinated acts of protectionism in moments of ill-concealed panic ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urgent message was passed from Rome to the European Commission ’ s Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels ” , the newspaper continues , “ the distress call was met with silence ” .
In the early days of the outbreak , when efforts were focused on containing the coronavirus in China , “ well-meaning officials in Brussels ” failed to create a sense of urgency , says The Guardian , which has teamed up with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism to report on how Europe tackled the crisis .
A conference call held on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attended by only 12 of the 27 member states , plus the UK .
And those that were involved couldn ’ t agree a common approach to screening air passengers arriving from Wuhan , the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak .
Two weeks later , the Italian government - which had not taken part in the call - announced the first two confirmed cases of the virus in the Mediterranean country .
Italy immediately “ suspended flights to and from China , Hong Kong , Macau and Taiwan ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government later followed suit ” .
But the rest of the EU allowed flights to continue .
Italy then sought a meeting of EU health ministers , but faced a three-week delay .
“ The Croatian government , responsible for convening [ the meeting ] as holder of the rolling EU council presidency , had become embroiled in a financial scandal during which the prime minister , Andrej Plenkovic , had been forced to fire his health minister , ” The Guardian reports .
Meanwhile , many others in the bloc had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January .
By the time politicians had grasped the seriousness of the pandemic , they were in no mood for solidarity .
On 3 March , French President Emmanuel Macron banned the export of masks and other personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
Germany followed suit the next day .
The NHS was one of many health services that fell victim to these requisitions .
NHS bosses had “ ordered millions of masks from Valmy SAS near Lyon earlier this year as Covid-19 threatened ” , Euronews reported in early March .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicolas Brillat , said French law meant he could no longer fulfil the order .
“ The requisition does not allow any wiggle room for us to deliver to the NHS , but it is complicated because the NHS was the first client to order and uses our masks all year long , ” he said .
A subsequent decision by many EU countries to reimpose border controls also restricted the flow of medical equipment and even food .
When Germany closed its frontiers , on 16 March , the immediate result was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roads .
The EU set up a continent-wide PPE procurement programme , but the scheme was dogged by delays .
“ The first delivery of masks under the scheme was on 8 June , ” The Guardian reports .
The UK was eligible to join , but did not take part , despite suffering PPE shortages between March and May .
Several EU member states also shunned the programme , but “ the European Commission says that orders have been placed under each of the four medical equipment schemes ” , the BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s order for 25,000 goggles and 100,000 surgical masks was delivered in June , ” according to the broadcaster .
“ Bulgaria ’ s order for 55 ventilators is expected to be delivered by the end of July.
” Luxembourg has also received an order of a million gloves , but most countries have chosen to source the billions of PPE items they require without outside help .
The failure of the EU to support Italy led the government in Rome to seek aid elsewhere .
At the height of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hailed the arrival of a Chinese plane loaded with medical equipment and doctors to help fight the coronavirus - in what appeared to be a pointed rebuke to the EU ” , according to Politico .
“ His highly public praise of China came as many senior Italian officials have made clear they believe the EU and Italy ’ s European partners have shown a lack of solidarity with Italy as it battles the coronavirus.
” The response from Brussels has not gone unnoticed in Serbia , which has been vacillating between trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its relationship with Beijing .
“ China has already announced that it will be providing assistance to Serbia , as the Balkan country struggles to mitigate the effects of the pandemic , ” the Financial Times reported in March .
The Chinese ambassador in Belgrade said Beijing was “ very pleased ” with the anti-EU stance of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic .
“ European solidarity does not exist , ” Vucic said in March .
“ That was just a fairy tale on paper .
”

As an organisation built on cross-border cooperation between some of the world’s richest and most scientifically advanced countries, the European Union was expected to lead with a show of strength during a global pandemic.
Instead, solidarity between members was abandoned as complacency turned to panic and national governments put their own interests above the greater good.
The story of the EU and Covid-19 is one of “governments belatedly recognising the speed at which the virus was spreading, only to rush into uncoordinated acts of protectionism in moments of ill-concealed panic”, says The Guardian.
When “an urgent message was passed from Rome to the European Commission’s Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels”, the newspaper continues, “the distress call was met with silence”.
Before the storm
In the early days of the outbreak, when efforts were focused on containing the coronavirus in China, “well-meaning officials in Brussels” failed to create a sense of urgency, says The Guardian, which has teamed up with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism to report on how Europe tackled the crisis.
A conference call held on 17 January to discuss the outbreak was attended by only 12 of the 27 member states, plus the UK. And those that were involved couldn’t agree a common approach to screening air passengers arriving from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak.
Two weeks later, the Italian government - which had not taken part in the call - announced the first two confirmed cases of the virus in the Mediterranean country.
Italy immediately “suspended flights to and from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan”, says Bloomberg, and “the Czech government later followed suit”. But the rest of the EU allowed flights to continue.
Italy then sought a meeting of EU health ministers, but faced a three-week delay.
“The Croatian government, responsible for convening [the meeting] as holder of the rolling EU council presidency, had become embroiled in a financial scandal during which the prime minister, Andrej Plenkovic, had been forced to fire his health minister,” The Guardian reports.
Meanwhile, many others in the bloc had been distracted by preparations for Brexit on 31 January.
Competing interests
By the time politicians had grasped the seriousness of the pandemic, they were in no mood for solidarity. On 3 March, French President Emmanuel Macron banned the export of masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE). Germany followed suit the next day.
The NHS was one of many health services that fell victim to these requisitions. NHS bosses had “ordered millions of masks from Valmy SAS near Lyon earlier this year as Covid-19 threatened”, Euronews reported in early March.


theweekuk--2020-07-17--Instant Opinion: Boris Johnson ‘busy passing the buck’ on coronavirus

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The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Jonathan Saxty in The Daily Telegraph
on a prime minister failing to lead
With the world in a Covid-19 tailspin, Boris Johnson is busy passing the buck
“The prime minister’s [back to work] announcement seemed like an exercise in passing the buck, both to local councils and to bosses. Allowing employers more discretion about staff working from home seems unlikely to make much difference to cities like London - Britain’s economic engine – which remains a virtual ghost town. The government also recently announced a range of measures ostensibly to help Britain’s economy turn the corner. Yet these measures – and easing measures besides - are not going far enough to prevent cataclysmic unemployment levels and business collapse once the furlough scheme ends. The looming mega-recession will create just the right conditions for social unrest... Who knows what conflicts – domestic and international – may soon arise? These are ripe conditions for sectarianism and inter-ethnic conflict, as resources become scarce and money runs dry, especially in countries without the financial firepower of the UK and the US. But in the latter countries too, let’s not be complacent. When people having nothing to lose, they often lose it!”
2. Paul Krugman in The New York Times
on the coming unemployment crisis
The Next Disaster Is Just a Few Days Away
“Blithe denials that Covid-19 posed a threat gave way to blithe denials that rapid reopening would lead to a new surge in infections; now that the surge is upon us, Republican governors are responding sluggishly and grudgingly, while the White House is doing nothing at all. And now another disaster — this time economic rather than epidemiological — is just days away... Enhanced [unemployment] benefits did double duty. They meant that there was far less misery than one might otherwise have expected from a crisis that temporarily eliminated 22 million jobs; by some measures poverty actually declined. They also helped sustain those parts of the economy that weren’t locked down. Without those emergency benefits, laid-off workers would have been forced to slash spending across the board. This would have generated a whole second round of job loss and economic contraction, as well as creating a huge wave of missed rental payments and evictions. So enhanced unemployment benefits have been a crucial lifeline to tens of millions of Americans. Unfortunately, all of those beneficiaries are now just a few days from being thrown overboard.”
3. Simon Jenkins in The Guardian
on the errors of the invasion being exposed
The Iraq war is finally getting some proper scrutiny – from a TV programme
“Once Upon a Time in Iraq is the most searing anti-war documentary I have seen. In five parts on Mondays on BBC2, it is not bangs, screams and tears. The searing is not visceral. It is intellectual. In among the footage of the 2003 war, we hear simply the calm narrative of people whose lives were traumatised by the conflict, who witnessed the gut-wrenching obscenity of two great democracies using death and destruction to pursue their leaders’ political agenda. It shows that the morality of power projection has not advanced since the middle ages. A corpse is still a corpse. Now at least we get to hear from the victims... This documentary (and the associated book) brings home the full enormity of the Iraq war. A phoney freedom cost an estimated quarter of a million Iraqis their lives. It destabilised a region and undoubtedly contributed to the collapse of order in Syria. It did nothing to halt terrorism in Britain or elsewhere, if anything the reverse.”
4. Molly Roberts in The New York Times
on the fragile balance between politics and science
Anthony Fauci built a truce. Trump is destroying it.
“We the people have put our faith in Fauci for nearly 40 years, even as trust itself has become almost obsolete. Conservatives as conservative as Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) have leaped to his defense on Twitter when he’s been attacked, calling him ‘one of the finest public servants we have ever had.’ When Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) chastised him in a congressional hearing, the contrarian lawmaker felt compelled to add the grudging coda, ‘as much as I respect you.’ Science and partisan politics seem, in our era, inherently in conflict. One runs on fact-centered reality, the other on point-scoring spin. Yet Fauci more than any other figure has brokered a generational peace between the two worlds. Now that the coronavirus pandemic has divided an already riven country between those who believe the disease is an all-consuming danger and those who believe it is dangerously overblown, it is fair to ask: How did this man get to be the singular referee the country trusts — and how are we ever going to manage when he is gone?”
5. Ed Conway, economics editor at Sky News, in The Times
on making taxes simple
Let’s have a bonfire of every tax bar one
“Let’s begin by recalling the three main reasons for having taxes at all. First and most obvious is to raise money to finance the state — the fiscal objective. Second, we use taxes as a tool for redistributing money, mostly from the rich to the poor. Third, we use taxes to discourage people from doing things: tobacco duties to stop people smoking, sugar taxes to fight obesity, fuel duty to stop people polluting the roads... But while many fixate on the complexity of the tax system, the real issue is not just the multiplicity of different rates, allowances and loopholes, but the foundations. We are taxing the wrong stuff. That’s where the progressive consumption tax comes in. The overarching principle is that rather than taxing people on what they earn, you tax them on what they spend. This is not quite the same as abolishing everything and replacing it with a souped-up version of VAT — actually it’s a bit simpler.”


theweekuk--2020-07-17--How Russian hackers went after the world’s coronavirus vaccine secrets


theweekuk--2020-07-17--Punters staying away from England’s reopened pubs and restaurants, new data shows

Hopes of a post-lockdown boom for England ’ s pubs are draining away as customers continue to stay away from reopened bars and restaurants nationwide .
According to a new survey , 70 % of pubs or pub restaurants are back in business following the easing of social distancing measures at the start of this month , along with 42 % of bars and 17 % of restaurants , The Guardian reports .
But pubs that were open as of 6 July are reporting a 39 % year-on-year decline in sales , on average , while business at bars is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 40 % .
However , business insight consultancy CGA , which collected the tracker data from 44 major pub , restaurant and bar operators , insists the long-term outlook for the sector is encouraging .
“ Trading at almost 60 % of pre-Covid norms is actually a better performance than many other markets internationally , such as the US , experienced on reopening , ” said CGA director Karl Chessell .
“ The sector still has a long way to go , but this sets the benchmark against which the speed of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
All the same , pubs and restaurants are facing a range of new challenges .
Hospitality bosses have warned of a “ privacy minefield ” resulting from new coronavirus contact-tracing requirements .
And Covid-19 poses a continuing threat , with at least three pubs forced to close again just days after the 4 July reopening of sector , because customers had tested positive for the virus , as Sky News reported at the time .
Although the easing of the social distancing restrictions has boosted the UK ’ s economy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains depressed ” , adds the Financial Times .
“ The hospitality sector employs 1.8 million people across the UK , most of whom have been furloughed during the lockdown and could lose their jobs if sales do not recover fast enough , ” says the newspaper .

Hopes of a post-lockdown boom for England’s pubs are draining away as customers continue to stay away from reopened bars and restaurants nationwide.
According to a new survey, 70% of pubs or pub restaurants are back in business following the easing of social distancing measures at the start of this month, along with 42% of bars and 17% of restaurants, The Guardian reports.
But pubs that were open as of 6 July are reporting a 39% year-on-year decline in sales, on average, while business at bars is down by 43% and at restaurants by 40%.
However, business insight consultancy CGA, which collected the tracker data from 44 major pub, restaurant and bar operators, insists the long-term outlook for the sector is encouraging.
“Trading at almost 60% of pre-Covid norms is actually a better performance than many other markets internationally, such as the US, experienced on reopening,” said CGA director Karl Chessell.
“The sector still has a long way to go, but this sets the benchmark against which the speed of recovery will be judged,” he added.
All the same, pubs and restaurants are facing a range of new challenges. Hospitality bosses have warned of a “privacy minefield” resulting from new coronavirus contact-tracing requirements.
And Covid-19 poses a continuing threat, with at least three pubs forced to close again just days after the 4 July reopening of sector, because customers had tested positive for the virus, as Sky News reported at the time.
Although the easing of the social distancing restrictions has boosted the UK’s economy, official data shows that consumer spending “remains depressed”, adds the Financial Times.
“The hospitality sector employs 1.8 million people across the UK, most of whom have been furloughed during the lockdown and could lose their jobs if sales do not recover fast enough,” says the newspaper.


theweekuk--2020-07-17--Prince Andrew’s ‘good works’ website deleted amid mounting pressure over Epstein inquiry

Prince Andrew’s official website has been quietly taken down as pressure builds for the Royal to speak to US investigators about his links to late billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The contract with the host server of thedukeofyork.org has not been renewed after expiring, with would-be visitors to the site now redirected to Andrew’s page on the Royal Family’s official website.
His defunct website was run by his own staff and “trumpeted the Duke’s works supporting ‘British prosperity’ as well as the Queen”, The Times reports.
The newspaper notes that the scrapping of the site is just the latest “humiliation” for the disgraced Royal, who is facing increased scrutiny following the arrest of former Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell in the US last week.
Indeed, Andrew’s web wipeout appears to be an attempt to “further remove him from the limelight”, says Tatler.
As the opening passage on the “About The Duke of York” section on the Royals’ official site explains: “In November 2019, His Royal Highness The Duke of York stepped back from his public duties for the foreseeable future.”
“Royal sources have said that there is no chance of the Duke returning to official duties,” according to Metro.
His charitable trust is also being wound up, “and his Pitch@Palace initiative has removed all references to him from its website”, the newspaper adds.
Meanwhile, Maxwell - who is said to have introduced the Duke to Epstein - was denied bail in a New York court this week after pleading not guilty to charges relating to allegations that she recruited teenage girls for Epstein to sexually abuse.
She faces up to 35 years in jail if found guilty.


theweekuk--2020-07-17--In brief: Isis bride Shamima Begum’s journey to Syria - and possibly back

Isis bride Shamima Begum should be allowed to come back to the UK to challenge the removal of her British citizenship , the Court of Appeal has ruled .
Begum , 20 , was stripped of her citizenship by the Home Office in 2019 on security grounds and left stranded in a Syrian refugee camp .
But the London court this week ruled that “ the only way in which she can have a fair and effective appeal is to be permitted to come into the United Kingdom to pursue her appeal ” , The Guardian reports .
The Home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for permission to appeal ” against the “ very disappointing ” decision .
Begum left Bethnal Green in east London with two teenage friends to join Isis in 2015 , when the jihadist group was at the height of its power and held vast swathes of territory across Syria and Iraq .
The three schoolgirls travelled via Turkey to the caliphate ’ s headquarters in Raqqa , where Begum married a Dutch convert recruit .
One of the other girls who travelled with her , Kadiza Sultana , was later killed in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What happened to the third - Amira Abase - is unknown .
Four years after arriving in Syria , and following the territorial defeat of Isis , Begum was found in a Syrian refugee camp in northeastern Syria .
She was nine months ’ pregnant .
Sajid Javid , the home secretary at the time , stripped Begum of her British citizenship weeks later , despite pleas to let her return for the sake of her newborn son , Jarrah .
Javid argued that she had the right to become a citizen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her parents .
However , “ the authorities in Bangladesh have said that Ms Begum never claimed citizenship of that nation and that she would not be allowed in Bangladesh ” , The New York Times reports .
Shortly after her British citizenship was revoked , Begum ’ s son died .
“ She has said she had two other children while living under Isis , but that they too died , ” according to The Guardian .
What happens next ?
Begum ’ s case has become “ a prominent example of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens who joined the group , and who some argue would pose a national security threat if repatriated ” , says The New York Times .
Following this week ’ s ruling by the Court of Appeal , she now has the right to return to the UK , although as The Guardian notes , it is “ not clear how easy it would be in practice for Begum to return from Syria ” .
The court acknowledged that she “ could be arrested and charged ” upon her arrival in the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that anybody helping her return could also be at risk of a criminal offence .
Meanwhile , Javid tweeted that he is “ deeply concerned ” about the ruling .
“ If Ms Begum does come back to this country , it will prove impossible to remove her , ” he added in a statement .
But Begum ’ s lawyer , Daniel Furner , said that she should be allowed to return to “ give her side of the story ” .
“ Ms Begum is not afraid of facing British justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
“ But the stripping of her citizenship without a chance to clear her name is not justice , it is the opposite .
”

Isis bride Shamima Begum should be allowed to come back to the UK to challenge the removal of her British citizenship, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Begum, 20, was stripped of her citizenship by the Home Office in 2019 on security grounds and left stranded in a Syrian refugee camp.
But the London court this week ruled that “the only way in which she can have a fair and effective appeal is to be permitted to come into the United Kingdom to pursue her appeal”, The Guardian reports. The Home Office has announced plans to “apply for permission to appeal” against the “very disappointing” decision.
Begum’s journey
Begum left Bethnal Green in east London with two teenage friends to join Isis in 2015, when the jihadist group was at the height of its power and held vast swathes of territory across Syria and Iraq. The three schoolgirls travelled via Turkey to the caliphate’s headquarters in Raqqa, where Begum married a Dutch convert recruit.
One of the other girls who travelled with her, Kadiza Sultana, was later killed in a bombing attack, according to Sky News. What happened to the third - Amira Abase - is unknown.
Four years after arriving in Syria, and following the territorial defeat of Isis, Begum was found in a Syrian refugee camp in northeastern Syria. She was nine months’ pregnant.
Sajid Javid, the home secretary at the time, stripped Begum of her British citizenship weeks later, despite pleas to let her return for the sake of her newborn son, Jarrah. Javid argued that she had the right to become a citizen of Bangladesh, the birth country of her parents.
However, “the authorities in Bangladesh have said that Ms Begum never claimed citizenship of that nation and that she would not be allowed in Bangladesh”, The New York Times reports.
Shortly after her British citizenship was revoked, Begum’s son died. “She has said she had two other children while living under Isis, but that they too died,” according to The Guardian.
What happens next?
Begum’s case has become “a prominent example of the challenges many Western governments face with citizens who joined the group, and who some argue would pose a national security threat if repatriated”, says The New York Times.
Following this week’s ruling by the Court of Appeal, she now has the right to return to the UK, although as The Guardian notes, it is “not clear how easy it would be in practice for Begum to return from Syria”.
The court acknowledged that she “could be arrested and charged” upon her arrival in the UK, and Whitehall sources told the newspaper that anybody helping her return could also be at risk of a criminal offence.
Meanwhile, Javid tweeted that he is “deeply concerned” about the ruling. “If Ms Begum does come back to this country, it will prove impossible to remove her,” he added in a statement.
But Begum’s lawyer, Daniel Furner, said that she should be allowed to return to “give her side of the story”.
“Ms Begum is not afraid of facing British justice, she welcomes it,” Furner added. “But the stripping of her citizenship without a chance to clear her name is not justice, it is the opposite.”


theweekuk--2020-07-17--Up to a third of Rishi Sunak’s £30bn Covid package was ‘old money passed off as new’

Rishi Sunak has been accused of “ twisting the figures ” by rechannelling up to £10bn of planned government spending to pay for his new deal to save jobs threatened by the coronavirus pandemic .
The chancellor last week unveiled an economic aid package that that Treasury said was worth “ up to £30bn ” .
But an analysis of the Sunak ’ s summer statement by the Institute for Fiscal Studies ( IFS ) found that at least £8bn and up to a third of the pledged cash would come from trimming back or cancelling previously planned projects .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ money as new spending ” , as The Times puts it , is “ corrosive to trust ” , the spending watchdog is warning .
“ All that extra money is not quite what it seems , ” said IFS director Paul Johnson .
The watchdog says that “ the package unveiled by the chancellor included £5.5bn in transport and infrastructure projects announced by Boris Johnson that was in fact money reallocated from other schemes ” , The Guardian reports .
This “ represents an increase of precisely zero this year on budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It is a reallocation from one set of projects to another.
” The measures announced by Sunak also include a “ Jobs Retention Bonus ” of £1,000 to be paid to businesses for every furloughed employee kept on as staff until at least January 2021 .
But the Office for Budget Responsibility ( OBR ) , the government ’ s independent fiscal watchdog , this week predicted that not every employer would claim the bonus - which would bring the total cost of Sunak ’ s aid package down to about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who conducted the new analysis , concludes that “ the £30bn package turns out to be more like £12bn of additional spending plus some £8bn or so reallocated from previously planned projects ” .
A spokesperson for the Treasury told The Times that the claim was “ wrong ” .
The summer statement figures were not final and would be properly costed as part of a normal budget forecast process in the autumn , the spokesperson added .

Rishi Sunak has been accused of “twisting the figures” by rechannelling up to £10bn of planned government spending to pay for his new deal to save jobs threatened by the coronavirus pandemic.
The chancellor last week unveiled an economic aid package that that Treasury said was worth “up to £30bn”. But an analysis of the Sunak’s summer statement by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found that at least £8bn and up to a third of the pledged cash would come from trimming back or cancelling previously planned projects.
This bid to “pass off old money as new spending”, as The Times puts it, is “corrosive to trust”, the spending watchdog is warning.
“All that extra money is not quite what it seems,” said IFS director Paul Johnson.
The watchdog says that “the package unveiled by the chancellor included £5.5bn in transport and infrastructure projects announced by Boris Johnson that was in fact money reallocated from other schemes”, The Guardian reports.
This “represents an increase of precisely zero this year on budget plans,” IFS boss Johnson said. “It is a reallocation from one set of projects to another.”
The measures announced by Sunak also include a “Jobs Retention Bonus” of £1,000 to be paid to businesses for every furloughed employee kept on as staff until at least January 2021.
But the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the government’s independent fiscal watchdog, this week predicted that not every employer would claim the bonus - which would bring the total cost of Sunak’s aid package down to about £20bn.
IFS associate director David Phillips, who conducted the new analysis, concludes that “the £30bn package turns out to be more like £12bn of additional spending plus some £8bn or so reallocated from previously planned projects”.
A spokesperson for the Treasury told The Times that the claim was “wrong”. The summer statement figures were not final and would be properly costed as part of a normal budget forecast process in the autumn, the spokesperson added.


theweekuk--2020-07-17--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 17 Jul 2020

A city in the Netherlands has cut ties with its sister city in Poland after the latter declared itself an @ @ @ @ @ The authorities in Nieuwegein , near Utrecht , released a statement saying : “ In @ @ @ @ @ be who he or she is , regardless of his or her sexual orientation , @ @ @ @ @ origin.
” In Poland , the country ’ s president Andrzej Duda won another term @ @ @ @ @ rights .

Dutch city cuts ties with Polish sister over LGBT ban
A city in the Netherlands has cut ties with its sister city in Poland after the latter declared itself an “LGBT-free zone”. The authorities in Nieuwegein, near Utrecht, released a statement saying: “In Nieuwegein everyone is allowed to be who he or she is, regardless of his or her sexual orientation, gender, religion or ethnic origin.” In Poland, the country’s president Andrzej Duda won another term after speaking out against LGBT rights.


theweekuk--2020-07-17--The Week Unwrapped podcast: Rising stocks, falling births and work in limbo

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code : pod25 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In this week ’ s episode , we discuss : The coronavirus outbreak and the measures designed to contain it have sent unemployment soaring , and plunged the world into recession .
And yet in recent months , investors have sent stock markets – particularly in the US – soaring , in some cases to record highs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy ’ s birth rate has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1861 .
But Italy is not the only country with a rapidly ageing population .
Research by the University of Washington says 23 countries may see their population halved by 2100 .
So is the fertility decline reversible ?
And are we ready for the societal changes it will usher in ?
Number 10 has hinted that work from home advice will soon be scrapped in England .
But increasingly there is a growing divide between those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and those who are far happier at home .
What are people missing about office life ?
Is there a quiet crisis unfolding in living spaces across the country ?
And has the future of the workplace changed forever ?
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Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.
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In this week’s episode, we discuss:
Rising stocks
The coronavirus outbreak and the measures designed to contain it have sent unemployment soaring, and plunged the world into recession. And yet in recent months, investors have sent stock markets – particularly in the US – soaring, in some cases to record highs. Have they lost the plot?
Falling birth rates
Italy’s birth rate has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1861. But Italy is not the only country with a rapidly ageing population. Research by the University of Washington says 23 countries may see their population halved by 2100. So is the fertility decline reversible? And are we ready for the societal changes it will usher in?
Work in limbo
Number 10 has hinted that work from home advice will soon be scrapped in England. But increasingly there is a growing divide between those who want to return to the office, and those who are far happier at home. What are people missing about office life? Is there a quiet crisis unfolding in living spaces across the country? And has the future of the workplace changed forever?
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player, Spotify, Apple podcasts, SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts.


theweekuk--2020-07-17--Was a shark swimming in the River Thames?

A “ shark ” reported as swimming in the River Thames turned out to be a hoax .
There was much excitement as a photo of a mystery fin in the London river went viral , but the Port London Authority later told the Evening Standard a man had called to confess the shark reports were not true .
“ He phoned us late last night to say it was Photoshop , ” said a spokesperson .
Police in Fort Lauderdale have found a kangaroo hopping around the streets of the Florida city .
“ At first we didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was only one call , so when we got there , there , sure enough , was a kangaroo , ” said an officer .
The animal is now in the custody of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission .
Peperami wrapped in gold is yours for £1,500 The world ’ s most expensive Peperami has been valued at £1,500 .
The company behind the pork snack has created a one-of-a-kind version which replicates the iconic original wrapper but in 18ct yellow gold .
In the form of what is described as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can hang from the neck of those who want to bring some luxury style to their snack experience .
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A “shark” reported as swimming in the River Thames turned out to be a hoax. There was much excitement as a photo of a mystery fin in the London river went viral, but the Port London Authority later told the Evening Standard a man had called to confess the shark reports were not true. “He phoned us late last night to say it was Photoshop,” said a spokesperson.
Kangaroo found hopping in Florida
Police in Fort Lauderdale have found a kangaroo hopping around the streets of the Florida city. “At first we didn’t really believe it ’cause there was only one call, so when we got there, there, sure enough, was a kangaroo,” said an officer. The animal is now in the custody of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Peperami wrapped in gold is yours for £1,500
The world’s most expensive Peperami has been valued at £1,500. The company behind the pork snack has created a one-of-a-kind version which replicates the iconic original wrapper but in 18ct yellow gold. In the form of what is described as a “blingy pendant,” it can hang from the neck of those who want to bring some luxury style to their snack experience.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-07-16--Quiz of The Week: 11 - 17 July

Quiz of The Week: 11 - 17 July

The past seven days have seen Health Secretary Matt Hancock warning that UK officials are still dealing with dozens of local flare-ups every week - a revelation that suggests further Leicester-style local lockdowns are likely .
But there was also some positive news in the battle against Covid-19 , with the results of initial trials indicating that an Oxford University-developed vaccine may provide a “ double defence ” against the coronavirus .
Insiders on the project said that blood samples taken from volunteers appear to show that the jab stimulates the body to produce both antibodies and “ killer ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grayling was dealt a killer blow in his bid to become chair of Parliament ’ s Intelligence and Security Committee .
Despite Grayling having been hand-picked for the role by Boris Johnson , a veteran Tory backbencher swooped in to win the vote , in a coup that the MPs in charge of overseeing the country ’ s spies might have been expected to see coming .
To find out how closely you ’ ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the pandemic , and other global events , put your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The Week : Need a reminder of some of the other big stories from the past week ?
In the US , Ghislaine Maxwell was denied bail at a court hearing where prosecutors revealed that the British socialite is married .
But the identity of her secret spouse remains a mystery , leading to yet more speculation about Maxwell , who is facing charges relating to allegations that she recruited teenage girls for her paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse .
Over in China , state media outlets warned of reprisals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s decision to ban Huawei from the country ’ s 5G network .
The threats came after the prime minister announced that Britain ’ s mobile network operators will not be allowed to buy new 5G equipment from the tech company after 31 December and that all carriers must remove all existing Huawei 5G kit by the end of 2027 .
In the US , Donald Trump stoked simmering racial tensions by claiming that American police kill “ more white people ” than black people .
But Black Lives Matter protesters were the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK , by mounting a sculpture of a demonstrator on the plinth in Bristol where the toppled statue of 17th century slave trader Edward Colston previously stood .
The sculpture of Jen Reid - who attended the BLM march in June at which the Colston statue was pulled down - was subsequently removed by the local council .


theweekuk--2020-07-16--Is private equity taking over - and is that a problem?

Before the global financial crisis, hedge funds were supposedly the masters of the universe. They amassed countless tens of billions in assets under management, enjoying juicy fees of around 2% a year plus 20% of the upside. Flash forward to last year, before coronavirus, and the hedge funds were out, replaced by private equity (PE) funds.
These private equity fund managers preserved much of the fee structure, but had a whole new strategy. They bought private businesses, frequently loaded them up on debt, cut costs, reinvested in new products or operations, and then sold these private firms on to other private equity funds or listed them on the stock market. A raft of well-known names ranging from the AA and Saga, through to Halfords, found their way on to the UK stock market via private equity owners.
The rise and rise of private equity
According to data firm Prequin, as of June last year, total assets under management within the private equity sector had hit a record $4.11 trillion, with hedge funds managing “just” $2.8 trillion. By contrast the total market value of all stocks listed in the US was $35 trillion. That’s a huge number by comparison with the private equity funds. But in reality, the influence of these lavishly rewarded fund managers is already pronounced and is growing year on year – or at least that was the conclusion of a report from analysts at investment bank Morgan Stanley in late 2019.
Numerous reports have already shown that the pace of growth in new businesses choosing to “go public” on stock markets has declined markedly in recent years. The Morgan Stanley analysts also noted that the level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity during 2019 fell close to a historic low as a proportion of the market’s overall value. Meanwhile, on the same measure, private equity activity in Europe hit its highest level in a decade.
In simple language, private equity funds were, and are, having a disproportionate impact on public markets, especially in sectors such as media, industrials and consumer services. Many – including the Morgan Stanley analysts – see this as a positive trend, one that helps to combat the rise in perceived short-termism in public equity markets. Private equity firms also benefit from easy access to cheap credit, lowering the cost of capital significantly for many businesses, and they are also more willing to engage with businesses which have “grey exposure”(these are businesses where sustainability issues mean that many ethical investors are reluctant to commit new capital).
The life cycle of a business
The reality is that the life cycle of business development – and access to capital – has changed fundamentally in recent years. Early-stage businesses have always been more reliant on seed capital from private wealthy investors and “angels”, as well as venture capitalists. After this first stage of growth, a private business will typically seek to scale up a successful idea, product or service, often by borrowing from the bank.


theweekuk--2020-07-17--End of the runway: British Airways drops the Boeing 747

British Airways has announced “ with great sadness ” that its remaining Boeing 747 jumbo jets will be retired with immediate effect , as the airline ’ s fleet is reshaped for the era of post-coronavirus travel .
“ It is unlikely our magnificent ‘ queen of the skies ’ will ever operate commercial services for British Airways again due to the downturn in travel caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic , ” the flagship carrier said .
The Boeing 747 entered service with BA ’ s forerunner , the British Overseas Airways Corporation ( BOAC ) , in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercial flight for the airline carried passengers from a primitive-looking London Heathrow to New York .
At the front of the plane , passengers in first class travelled in luxury - but without lie-flat beds and personal entertainment systems .
Economy cabins were a little less spacious , but still surprisingly airy by today ’ s standards .
Until the advent of the Airbus A380 , in 2005 , the Boeing 747 was unique among modern aircraft in having a second passenger deck - accessed via a spiral staircase on early models .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of the pilots , and could see straight ahead through the windows due to the curvature of the nose .
This photo shows a BA 747 caught in a sand storm at Riyadh Airport in Saudi Arabia .
Seen here coming in to land at Hong Kong ’ s Kai Tak Airport , which closed in 1998 , the 747 has four engines , making it less efficient than the twin-engined jets which are replacing it .
To celebrate the airline ’ s centenary last year , British Airways revived the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumbos .
BA took delivery of its final 747-400 in 1999 .

British Airways has announced “with great sadness” that its remaining Boeing 747 jumbo jets will be retired with immediate effect, as the airline’s fleet is reshaped for the era of post-coronavirus travel.
“It is unlikely our magnificent ‘queen of the skies’ will ever operate commercial services for British Airways again due to the downturn in travel caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic,” the flagship carrier said.
The Boeing 747 entered service with BA’s forerunner, the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), in April 1971. The plane’s first commercial flight for the airline carried passengers from a primitive-looking London Heathrow to New York.
At the front of the plane, passengers in first class travelled in luxury - but without lie-flat beds and personal entertainment systems.
Economy cabins were a little less spacious, but still surprisingly airy by today’s standards.
Until the advent of the Airbus A380, in 2005, the Boeing 747 was unique among modern aircraft in having a second passenger deck - accessed via a spiral staircase on early models.
Passengers in the first few rows sat in front of the pilots, and could see straight ahead through the windows due to the curvature of the nose. This photo shows a BA 747 caught in a sand storm at Riyadh Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Seen here coming in to land at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport, which closed in 1998, the 747 has four engines, making it less efficient than the twin-engined jets which are replacing it.
To celebrate the airline’s centenary last year, British Airways revived the BOAC livery on one of its younger jumbos. BA took delivery of its final 747-400 in 1999.


theweekuk--2020-07-17--Sport Mobile: inside firm linked to one of football’s most notorious drug cases

The boss of an exclusive mobile phone company has reportedly been caught on tape boasting about changing the phone records of footballer Rio Ferdinand during an investigation into a missed drugs test.
Sport Mobile boss John Shepherd also claimed to have got billionaire Mike Ashley out of a legal jam, according to an investigation by The Times. Following the publication of the story this morning, police announced that they had arrested two men.
What is Sport Mobile?
The company offers services including “secure mobile billing” for “some of the biggest names in British sport”, says The Times.
The bespoke telephone service is reportedly used by players and managers at 16 Premier League clubs, as well as members of the England cricket team and stars from other sports.
Former Sport Mobile staff say that the company is able to “obtain phone records and change them to the advantage of its customers”, the newspaper claims.
An ex-employee said the doctoring of phone bills was originally intended as a method to cover up extramarital activity for clients.
“I’ve seen it done a few times,” another former employee told The Times, adding that at least one of the occasions was to assist a client going through divorce proceedings.
“Industry experts who run similar mobile phone companies for high-net-worth clients say it is extremely easy to change a customer’s records if requested,” the newspaper adds.
What are the claims relating to Ferdinand?
In September 2003, Ferdinand - then an England international and Manchester United defender - missed a drugs test.
The player claimed at the time that he had forgotten to take the test amid the chaos of a house move, and had gone shopping instead, but then contacted his club offering to get tested. Two days later he supplied a sample, which turned out to be negative.
However, a Football Association disciplinary hearing in December of the same year found Ferdinand guilty of misconduct and banned him from playing for eight months.
A “key issue” in the hearing “was the defender’s use of a mobile phone, which he claimed he had used to call Manchester United’s team doctor”, the Daily Mail explains. “There were also questions raised about whether his mobile was on or off at the time,” the paper adds.
In The Times’ undercover recordings, Shepherd allegedly claims that a Vodafone employee was paid £22,500 for phone records used in Ferdinand’s case.
All of Shepherd’s claims are “understood to be categorically denied by the footballer”, the paper says, and have been described by Ferdinand’s former agent as “bravado”. For his part, Shepherd is also understood to deny having made the claims.
And Ashley?
In 2017, Newcastle United FC owner Ashley won a High Court case brought by former associate Jeffrey Blue, who claimed that the tycoon had agreed to pay him £15m if the share price of his company Sports Direct went above £8.
During the trial, Sport Mobile was asked to supply phone records for Ashley, but the company claimed it was unable to do so.
But according to The Times, Shepherd said while secretly being recorded that he “protected” the phone records.
Again, both Shepherd and Ashley have denied any wrongdoing, with the former insisting he made no such claims.
Announcing the arrests of two unnamed men this morning, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said: “The investigation commenced after allegations were raised of perverting the course of justice in football arbitration proceedings, and in the High Court, and sport integrity testing (both historic and current).
“As a result, a warrant has been executed at a premises in Shropshire today and two men, aged 62 years and 37 years, both from the Telford area, have been arrested on suspicion of fraud.”


theweekuk--2020-07-18--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 18 Jul 2020

Boris Johnson ’ s claim that there will be a “ significant return to normality ” by Christmas has been @ @ @ @ @ live performances could restart in the coming months , with a lifting of restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ He also claimed it “ may conceivably be possible to move away from social distancing @ @ @ @ @ Starmer said the PM was making policy “ on a wing and a prayer ” @

Johnson ‘making Covid-19 policy on wing and a prayer’
Boris Johnson’s claim that there will be a “significant return to normality” by Christmas has been attacked. The PM said live performances could restart in the coming months, with a lifting of restrictions on football matches in October. He also claimed it “may conceivably be possible to move away from social distancing” by November. Keir Starmer said the PM was making policy “on a wing and a prayer”.


theweekuk--2020-07-19--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 19 Jul 2020

Boris Johnson says he does not want a second national lockdown if there is a fresh outbreak of Covid-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ a move to a “ nuclear deterrent ” and said he does not think the @ @ @ @ @ that position again ” .
However , the UK 's chief scientific adviser said there @ @ @ @ @ such a measure could be needed around winter time .

Johnson says he does not want second national lockdown
Boris Johnson says he does not want a second national lockdown if there is a fresh outbreak of Covid-19. The prime minister compared such a move to a “nuclear deterrent” and said he does not think the country “will be in that position again”. However, the UK's chief scientific adviser said there is “a risk” such a measure could be needed around winter time.


theweekuk--2020-07-20--Who are the ‘pseudo-cops’ arresting BLM protesters in Portland?

Politicians in Oregon are demanding an investigation into “ paramilitary assaults ” by masked , unidentified federal agents on Black Lives Matter protesters .
The mayor of Portland has called on President Donald Trump to remove federal law enforcement from the city amid reports of demonstrators being “ snatched ” from the streets and detained in “ unmarked vans ” , says HuffPost .
The state ’ s US senators are also backing the pleas for a probe into the Department of Homeland Security ( DHS ) forces .
So who exactly are these paramilitary forces ?
“ For the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uniforms marked as ‘ POLICE ’ who do not seem to have recognisable insignias or badges , and do not have names on their uniforms , have been battling Black Lives Matter protesters , ” says Salon .
“ These federal paramilitaries or pseudo-cops have reportedly been seeking or inflaming confrontations with Portland protesters since at least 14 July , using tear gas or pepper spray , ” the news site adds .
Speaking to Oregon Public Broadcasting , a protester identified as Mark Pettibone described being chased and pulled into an unmarked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camouflage .
“ I had my beanie [ hat ] pulled over my face so I couldn ’ t see , and they held my hands over my head , ” the 29-year-old said .
The “ officers did not identify themselves or state the reason he was being detained , and only read him his rights after placing him in a cell ” , adds HuffPost .
Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) - “ one of the alphabet-soup agencies apparently supplying troops or officers or whatever we choose to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salon - has since issued a statement to The New York Times confirming the department ’ s involvement in Pettibone ’ s arrest .
According to CBP officials , the agents ’ names were not displayed because of “ recent doxxing incidents against law enforcement personnel ” - when the victim ’ s personal details are made public on the internet .
The unmarked groups are part of “ rapid deployment teams ” put together by the DHS , the newspaper reports , including up to 2,000 officials spanning Immigration and Customs Enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coast Guard .
US Attorney for the Oregon District Billy J. Williams has requested an investigation into the masked groups , CNN reports .
The request came days after Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley , a Democrat , tweeted that “ authoritarian governments , not democratic republics , send unmarked authorities after protesters ” .

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theweekuk--2020-07-20--Prince Andrew walks Princess Beatrice down aisle - but is missing from wedding photos

Princess Beatrice isolated with Prince Andrew at the family ’ s home in Windsor Park ’ s Great Lodge “ for some time ” so that he could walk her down the aisle , insiders have claimed .
But while the Duke of York was able to give his eldest daughter away at her wedding to Italian property developer Edo Mapelli Mozzi on Friday without breaking coronavirus rules , the proud father was “ conspicuously absent from official photos ” , says The Telegraph .
Beatrice had been scheduled to marry Mozzi at the Chapel Royal of St James ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the ceremony was cancelled owing to the global pandemic .
Instead , the pair tied the knot last week at the Chapel of All Saints on the Windsor estate .
The surprise ceremony was attended by just 20 people , “ in line with social distancing guidelines , and in order to shield the Queen , 94 , and the Duke of Edinburgh , 99 , who are in the vulnerable category ” , the Daily Mail reports .
According to Town & Country , “ there was no avoiding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not appear in her wedding photographs in order to avoid “ casting a negative shadow on the event ” .
“ There is no getting away from the fact that the narrative surrounding Prince Andrew ’ s friendship with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein has , sadly for Princess Beatrice , characterised much of the discussion around her nuptials , ” the magazine adds .
The official photo released following the wedding show the newlyweds with the bride ’ s grandparents , with enough distance between the two couples to adhere to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vintage Norman Hartnell dress from the Queen ’ s collection , along with the tiara that the Monarch wore on her own wedding day , Sky News reports .

Princess Beatrice isolated with Prince Andrew at the family’s home in Windsor Park’s Great Lodge “for some time” so that he could walk her down the aisle, insiders have claimed.
But while the Duke of York was able to give his eldest daughter away at her wedding to Italian property developer Edo Mapelli Mozzi on Friday without breaking coronavirus rules, the proud father was “conspicuously absent from official photos”, says The Telegraph.
Beatrice had been scheduled to marry Mozzi at the Chapel Royal of St James’s Palace in London on 29 May, but the ceremony was cancelled owing to the global pandemic.
Instead, the pair tied the knot last week at the Chapel of All Saints on the Windsor estate. The surprise ceremony was attended by just 20 people, “in line with social distancing guidelines, and in order to shield the Queen, 94, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, who are in the vulnerable category”, the Daily Mail reports.
According to Town & Country, “there was no avoiding the controversy” surrounding Prince Andrew, who did not appear in her wedding photographs in order to avoid “casting a negative shadow on the event”.
“There is no getting away from the fact that the narrative surrounding Prince Andrew’s friendship with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein has, sadly for Princess Beatrice, characterised much of the discussion around her nuptials,” the magazine adds.
The official photo released following the wedding show the newlyweds with the bride’s grandparents, with enough distance between the two couples to adhere to social distancing rules.
Princess Beatrice wore a vintage Norman Hartnell dress from the Queen’s collection, along with the tiara that the Monarch wore on her own wedding day, Sky News reports.