theweekuk--2020-06-10--Why are UK universities falling in the global rankings?

The UK ’ s universities have slipped down an international league table for a fourth consecutive year to record the country ’ s worst-ever performance .
Almost three-quarters of British universities were downgraded in the rankings , compiled by data and research group QS .
Oxford University fell from fourth to fifth place , whil University College London slid two places to tenth .
Imperial College London was the only UK institution in the top 20 to be promoted , rising one spot to eighth place .
Cambridge University held on to the No.7 spot , and the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the slide ?
British universities have been hit by “ a triple threat of Brexit , tightening budgets and unchecked expansion ” , says The Guardian .
According to Nick Hillman , director of the Higher Education Policy Institute , the “ crisis ” has been driven by a lack of investment .
“ The ratio between staff and students is moving in the wrong direction and will continue to do so most likely , ” he told The Telegraph .
“ Every member of staff is dealing with more students .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is due to the financial resources , with staff costing a lot of money.
” Ben Sowter , director of research at QS , says the funding cuts “ reflect the increasing competitiveness of the global higher education landscape ” .
“ Concerted efforts to ensure that Britain continues to remain an attractive place for talented academics and students to study in the future , and a national desire to continue collaborating with our European and global partners on transformative research projects , would serve the British higher education sector well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , UK university vice-chancellors warned that their institutions were likely to face “ financial failure ” in the wake of the coronavirus crisis without emergency government funding of at least £2bn .
Sowter believes that Brexit has also been a significant factor in the decline of British universities , noting that their performance in league tables has trended “ consistently downwards ” since the UK voted Leave in 2016 .
“ Numerous sources – from Ucas to the Higher Education Policy Institute – have drawn the same connection between Brexit and lower British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Still , rankings themselves should be taken with a grain of salt , says The Australian newspaper ’ s higher education editor Tim Dodd .
“ Students , and their parents… should note that gaming the rankings has become a speciality in itself and universities spend a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that , ” Dodd says .
“ In other words , a ranking tells you little more than how successful a university has been in playing the rankings game.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Oxford - 5th ( 4th last year ) Cambridge - 7th ( 7th ) Imperial College London - 8th ( 9th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8th ) Edinburgh - 20th ( 20th ) Manchester - 27th ( 27th ) King ’ s College London - 31st ( 33rd ) London School of Economics - 49th ( 44th ) University of Bristol - 58th ( 49th ) University of Warwick - 62nd ( 62nd )

The UK’s universities have slipped down an international league table for a fourth consecutive year to record the country’s worst-ever performance.
Almost three-quarters of British universities were downgraded in the rankings, compiled by data and research group QS. Oxford University fell from fourth to fifth place, while University College London slid two places to tenth.
Imperial College London was the only UK institution in the top 20 to be promoted, rising one spot to eighth place. Cambridge University held on to the No.7 spot, and the University of Edinburgh stayed in 20th.
So why the slide?
British universities have been hit by “a triple threat of Brexit, tightening budgets and unchecked expansion”, says The Guardian.
According to Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, the “crisis” has been driven by a lack of investment.
“The ratio between staff and students is moving in the wrong direction and will continue to do so most likely,” he told The Telegraph.
“Every member of staff is dealing with more students. That risks each student getting less personal attention. This is due to the financial resources, with staff costing a lot of money.”
Ben Sowter, director of research at QS, says the funding cuts “reflect the increasing competitiveness of the global higher education landscape”.
“Concerted efforts to ensure that Britain continues to remain an attractive place for talented academics and students to study in the future, and a national desire to continue collaborating with our European and global partners on transformative research projects, would serve the British higher education sector well,” he argues.
In April, UK university vice-chancellors warned that their institutions were likely to face “financial failure” in the wake of the coronavirus crisis without emergency government funding of at least £2bn.
Sowter believes that Brexit has also been a significant factor in the decline of British universities, noting that their performance in league tables has trended “consistently downwards” since the UK voted Leave in 2016.
“Numerous sources – from Ucas to the Higher Education Policy Institute – have drawn the same connection between Brexit and lower British appeal among the global international student community,” he said.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Still, rankings themselves should be taken with a grain of salt, says The Australian newspaper’s higher education editor Tim Dodd.
“Students, and their parents… should note that gaming the rankings has become a speciality in itself and universities spend a lot of time and effort trying to do that,” Dodd says.
“In other words, a ranking tells you little more than how successful a university has been in playing the rankings game.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
UK university rankings in the latest QS table
Oxford - 5th (4th last year)Cambridge - 7th (7th)Imperial College London - 8th (9th)University College London - 10th (8th)Edinburgh - 20th (20th)Manchester - 27th (27th)King’s College London - 31st (33rd)London School of Economics - 49th (44th)University of Bristol - 58th (49th)University of Warwick - 62nd (62nd)


theweekuk--2020-06-10--Social ills: how coronavirus is feeding an organised crime pandemic

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Coronavirus lockdowns have forced businesses to hunker down and get creative to stay afloat - and the world of organised crime is no different.
The UK’s criminal gangs have reacted quickly to the changes triggered the pandemic, with bosses at the National Crime Agency (NCA) warning that crooks are exploiting the lockdown to gain more profits and power.
What has happened so far?
The criminal drug market is one of the areas of organised crime most affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
As the UK entered lockdown, drug dealers benefited from a massive surge in panic buying of cocaine, heroin and marijuana, amid fears that supply chains from overseas would be disrupted. “Drugs were the toilet rolls of Britain’s criminal world,” says Misha Glenny, author of McMafia: Seriously Organised Crime, in an article for The Guardian.
“The prices for heroin and coke have definitely gone up in my city,” a dark-web dealer who uses the name CocaineBrain told Glenny. “Everyone I know has had a harder time getting the supply they need but they are paying more.”
Online vendors of synthetic drugs such MDMA and ecstasy, which can be made in labs, have also seen a significant increase in sales.
But not everyone in the criminal world looked set to gain when the severity of the coronavirus pandemic first became apparent. Glenny says that in the initial days of the crisis, levels of organised crime dropped by around 20% in the UK, France and Germany.
“Criminals are humans too, and they are abiding by the rules,” said NCA economic crimes expert Graeme Biggar.
However, organised crime gangs soon spied new opportunities to make money. Two weeks into lockdown, the NCA reported that more than 70,000 “malicious” websites had sprung up and millions of pounds had been lost to coronavirus-related fraud.
Indeed, guidance issued by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said its investigators had detected “more UK-government branded scams relating to Covid-19 than any other subject” since the start of March.
Some of the dodgy websites claimed to have goods such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand gel for sale, in both small and large quantities.


theweekuk--2020-06-10--Reaction: NHS waiting lists expected to hit ten million amid coronavirus backlog

Ten million people may be on NHS waiting lists by the end of the year as the health service battles to clear a backlog of cases , healthcare bosses are warning .
The combined effects of social distancing measures , delays to treatments and staffing challenges stemming from the coronavirus outbreak are likely to see waiting lists doubling from current levels , according to the NHS Confederation .
The organisation , which represents health and care leaders , says that “ emergency funding and longer-term spending ” are needed urgently to tackle the expected crisis , reports the BBC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergo a procedure in a hospital in England such as a hernia repair , cataract removal or hip or knee replacement stood at 4.4 million before the pandemic ” , says The Guardian .
But when Covid-19 began spreading across the UK , officials urged hospitals to “ cancel operations and turf out patients ” , as the Daily Mail puts it , to make way for people infected with the virus .
With GPs also referring fewer patients to hospitals , the number of patients on NHS waiting lists fell to 4.2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHS Confederation estimates in a new report that this figure is likely to grow to 9.8 million by the end of the year .
“ Even under the best-case scenario , it is anticipated that the waiting list will rise to eight million by the end of the year , ” Sky News says .
And “ the most pessimistic scenario assumes there will be a lack of treatments or a vaccine for Covid-19 and a second wave of infections , pushing the waiting list to 11 million ” , the broadcaster continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ it is hard to forecast how quickly those patients who have stayed away from hospitals because of fears of the virus will return to seek urgent treatment ” .
“ The bigger point , ” he writes , “ is that the government in Westminster needs to think very hard about how the health service is managed in the months ahead and how patients ’ expectations should be prepared ” .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Experts predict it could take “ two years to clear the backlog , even if there is no second wave of coronavirus ” , according to the Daily Mail .
The newspaper says that NHS Confederation chief executive Niall Dickson has written to Boris Johnson urging the prime minister “ to prepare the public for the huge waits they will have to face for months after the crisis is over ” .
Meanwhile , a Royal College of Nursing spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England is short of “ about 40,000 nurses ” , and that “ for burnt-out nursing staff on short-staffed wards , care homes or clinics , it will be a struggle to restart services ” .
“ The legacy of this pandemic is yet to dawn .
The professionals are still focused on the here and now , ” the spokesperson said .
Calling for action by the government , Labour ’ s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said that “ ministers need to take heed of these warnings from NHS leaders now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers begin to address this backlog of delayed treatment and rising clinical need , ” he added .
A Department of Health spokesperson said : “ Guidance has already been issued to the NHS on how they should start to restore urgent services in a safe way .
”

Ten million people may be on NHS waiting lists by the end of the year as the health service battles to clear a backlog of cases, healthcare bosses are warning.
The combined effects of social distancing measures, delays to treatments and staffing challenges stemming from the coronavirus outbreak are likely to see waiting lists doubling from current levels, according to the NHS Confederation.
The organisation, which represents health and care leaders, says that “emergency funding and longer-term spending” are needed urgently to tackle the expected crisis, reports the BBC.
The number of people “waiting to undergo a procedure in a hospital in England such as a hernia repair, cataract removal or hip or knee replacement stood at 4.4 million before the pandemic”, says The Guardian.
But when Covid-19 began spreading across the UK, officials urged hospitals to “cancel operations and turf out patients”, as the Daily Mail puts it, to make way for people infected with the virus.
With GPs also referring fewer patients to hospitals, the number of patients on NHS waiting lists fell to 4.2 million in March.
However, the NHS Confederation estimates in a new report that this figure is likely to grow to 9.8 million by the end of the year.
“Even under the best-case scenario, it is anticipated that the waiting list will rise to eight million by the end of the year,” Sky News says.
And “the most pessimistic scenario assumes there will be a lack of treatments or a vaccine for Covid-19 and a second wave of infections, pushing the waiting list to 11 million”, the broadcaster continues.
BBC health editor Hugh Pym says “it is hard to forecast how quickly those patients who have stayed away from hospitals because of fears of the virus will return to seek urgent treatment”.
“The bigger point,” he writes, “is that the government in Westminster needs to think very hard about how the health service is managed in the months ahead and how patients’ expectations should be prepared”.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Experts predict it could take “two years to clear the backlog, even if there is no second wave of coronavirus”, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper says that NHS Confederation chief executive Niall Dickson has written to Boris Johnson urging the prime minister “to prepare the public for the huge waits they will have to face for months after the crisis is over”.
Meanwhile, a Royal College of Nursing spokesperson told The Guardian that the NHS in England is short of “about 40,000 nurses”, and that “for burnt-out nursing staff on short-staffed wards, care homes or clinics, it will be a struggle to restart services”.
“The legacy of this pandemic is yet to dawn. The professionals are still focused on the here and now,” the spokesperson said.
Calling for action by the government, Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said that “ministers need to take heed of these warnings from NHS leaders now”.
“It is vital that ministers begin to address this backlog of delayed treatment and rising clinical need,” he added.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Guidance has already been issued to the NHS on how they should start to restore urgent services in a safe way.”


theweekuk--2020-06-10--Ursula von der Leyen: EU commission president cleared in ‘contract scandal’

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was not to blame for a contracting scandal during her tenure as Germany ’ s defence minister , according to a newly released report from the country ’ s governing parties .
The 75-page document concludes that von der Leyen “ does not carry responsibility for awarding lucrative contracts from the Defence Ministry to outside consultants without proper oversight ” , according to Politico .
The report says that during her time as defence boss , from 2013 until last summer , von der Leyen “ hardly ever signed a decision paper on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that while “ her office was always informed of the decisive events ” , the decisions were made by officials at a lower level .
A special parliamentary committee was set up early last year to investigate how and why contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros “ were awarded to private consultancy firms without proper oversight ” , The Telegraph reports .
MPs from the Christian Democratic Union ( CDU ) , Christian Social Union ( CSU ) and Social Democratic Party ( SPD ) have been looking into allegations that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials to bypass official procedures ” , the newspaper says .
Von der Leyen admitted to the German parliament in 2018 that “ negligence by overworked officials ” had led to “ mistakes ” .
She repeated those claims in February , telling the investigative committee that “ mistakes had been made ” below her level and without her knowledge .
Although the draft report on the findings exonerates the EU president of “ direct blame for the scandal ” , says Politico , “ one SPD member of the committee , Dennis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political responsibility ’ for the deficiencies ” .
Under her leadership of the Defence Ministry , “ a disregard for public procurement rules developed ” , Rohde tweeted this week .
Von der Leyen has faced further criticism over the revelation in December that two of her mobile phones , “ which could have been used as evidence in the inquiry ” , had been wiped , adds Politico .

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was not to blame for a contracting scandal during her tenure as Germany’s defence minister, according to a newly released report from the country’s governing parties.
The 75-page document concludes that von der Leyen “does not carry responsibility for awarding lucrative contracts from the Defence Ministry to outside consultants without proper oversight”, according to Politico.
The report says that during her time as defence boss, from 2013 until last summer, von der Leyen “hardly ever signed a decision paper on the investigated cases herself”, and that while “her office was always informed of the decisive events”, the decisions were made by officials at a lower level.
A special parliamentary committee was set up early last year to investigate how and why contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros “were awarded to private consultancy firms without proper oversight”, The Telegraph reports.
MPs from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) have been looking into allegations that “consultants exploited personal connections to senior ministry officials to bypass official procedures”, the newspaper says.
Von der Leyen admitted to the German parliament in 2018 that “negligence by overworked officials” had led to “mistakes”.
She repeated those claims in February, telling the investigative committee that “mistakes had been made” below her level and without her knowledge.
Although the draft report on the findings exonerates the EU president of “direct blame for the scandal”, says Politico, “one SPD member of the committee, Dennis Rohde, stressed that she ‘carries the political responsibility’ for the deficiencies”.
Under her leadership of the Defence Ministry, “a disregard for public procurement rules developed”, Rohde tweeted this week.
Von der Leyen has faced further criticism over the revelation in December that two of her mobile phones, “which could have been used as evidence in the inquiry”, had been wiped, adds Politico.


theweekuk--2020-06-10--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 10 Jun 2020

The father of Stephen Lawrence says black people are still treated as second-class citizens in Britain .
Speaking to The @ @ @ @ @ police are breaking promises they made two decades ago after the controversy over the investigation @ @ @ @ @ death .
He said he was “ pleased ” by the mass marches sweeping the @ @ @ @ @ by demos in the US .

Neville Lawrence says black people still second-class in UK
The father of Stephen Lawrence says black people are still treated as second-class citizens in Britain. Speaking to The Guardian, Neville Lawrence said police are breaking promises they made two decades ago after the controversy over the investigation into his son’s death. He said he was “pleased” by the mass marches sweeping the country, which were influenced by demos in the US.


theweekuk--2020-06-10--Are we snoring more because of lockdown?

People may be snoring more due to the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown , according to a leading osteopath .
Stephen Makinde believes the social restrictions could be leading to physical restrictions with our breathing .
He says snoring can increase when people feel trapped in their surroundings .
An Amazon worker who lost her engagement ring while packing orders has launched an appeal to recover it .
Jasmine Paget , 18 , from Swansea had finished packing Prime parcels at an Amazon warehouse near her house when she realised her ring had gone .
She went online to plead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon parcel with an engagement ring to please let me or Amazon know asap.
” A five-year-old golfer has hit a hole-in-one at a popular course in Florida .
William Kelly managed the feat on Hole 13 at The Bridges at Springtree Golf Club in Sunrise last week .
His proud coach said : “ It was an unbelievable moment .
Some people play golf their whole lives and never get a hole-in-one.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

People may be snoring more due to the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown, according to a leading osteopath. Stephen Makinde believes the social restrictions could be leading to physical restrictions with our breathing. He says snoring can increase when people feel trapped in their surroundings.
Amazon worker launches engagement ring appeal
An Amazon worker who lost her engagement ring while packing orders has launched an appeal to recover it. Jasmine Paget, 18, from Swansea had finished packing Prime parcels at an Amazon warehouse near her house when she realised her ring had gone. She went online to plead for: “Anyone who receives an Amazon parcel with an engagement ring to please let me or Amazon know asap.”
Boy, 5, hits a hole-in-one
A five-year-old golfer has hit a hole-in-one at a popular course in Florida. William Kelly managed the feat on Hole 13 at The Bridges at Springtree Golf Club in Sunrise last week. His proud coach said: “It was an unbelievable moment. Some people play golf their whole lives and never get a hole-in-one.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-06-10--Russia warns US against including China at nuclear disarmament talks

Russia has warned that trying to include China in upcoming talks with the US over extending a major nuclear disarmament treaty may scupper the negotiations .
Russia ’ s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov is due to meet US envoy Marshall Billingslea on 22 June in Vienna to begin negotiations on extending New Start - an agreement that obliges the two superpowers “ to halve their inventories of strategic nuclear missile launchers ” , says The Guardian .
Donald Trump ’ s administration has suggested that the US president is interested in extending the deal - which is set to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should involve China , which has a growing nuclear arsenal , says the South China Morning Post .
However , Russia is unambiguously against including Beijing , says France 24 .
“ My answer to a direct question on whether or not we think it would be possible to bring China to the table would be a flat and straightforward no , ” Ryabkov told the Council on Foreign Relations during a video conference from Moscow .
“ Now it depends on the US – if the US believes it ’ s worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the US point of view , the Chinese participation is an absolute imperative that precludes [ the ] US from continuing a meaningful and forward-looking dialogue with Russia on arms control , ” he said .
On a positive note , Ryabkov described the US willingness to start negotiations as “ good news ” .
“ The ball is on the American part of the court , ” he said .
“ We need to hear loudly and clearly what this administration wants , how it believes it would be possible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismantle one arms control treaty or arrangement after another .
”

Russia has warned that trying to include China in upcoming talks with the US over extending a major nuclear disarmament treaty may scupper the negotiations.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov is due to meet US envoy Marshall Billingslea on 22 June in Vienna to begin negotiations on extending New Start - an agreement that obliges the two superpowers “to halve their inventories of strategic nuclear missile launchers”, says The Guardian.
Donald Trump’s administration has suggested that the US president is interested in extending the deal - which is set to expire in February - but believes talks should involve China, which has a growing nuclear arsenal, says the South China Morning Post.
However, Russia is unambiguously against including Beijing, says France 24.
“My answer to a direct question on whether or not we think it would be possible to bring China to the table would be a flat and straightforward no,” Ryabkov told the Council on Foreign Relations during a video conference from Moscow.
“Now it depends on the US – if the US believes it’s worth continuing this dialogue with Russia or, for the US point of view, the Chinese participation is an absolute imperative that precludes [the] US from continuing a meaningful and forward-looking dialogue with Russia on arms control,” he said.
On a positive note, Ryabkov described the US willingness to start negotiations as “good news”.
“The ball is on the American part of the court,” he said. “We need to hear loudly and clearly what this administration wants, how it believes it would be possible to do something positive and not just to dismantle one arms control treaty or arrangement after another.”


theweekuk--2020-06-10--Should Britain topple slavery-linked statues?

When a statue of 17th century slave-trader Edward Colston was dragged from its plinth on Sunday , the manner of its removal was criticised more than the motives of the protesters who carried out the act .
Conservative MP Caroline Nokes voiced the feelings of many in saying that while she had no quarrel with Colston ’ s “ terribly symbolic ” tumbling into Bristol Harbour , a more orderly approach would have been preferable .
“ If we ’ re going to remove these historic artefacts then we should do it carefully , ” she told ITV ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a discussion about what happens to them next , how can we continue to learn from that history.
” Now , that discussion is in full swing .
More than 100 Labour councils have pledged to review the “ appropriateness ” of monuments in their areas , with London Mayor Sadiq Khan launching a “ diversity commission ” in the capital .
And local Conservative leaders are under growing pressure to follow their lead .
Meanwhile , Black Lives Matter protesters have drawn up a “ target list ” of 60 statues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Racists website , the Daily Mail reports .
“ Among them are leaders who held undeniably racist views and others who performed evil acts against people of colour , ” says the newspaper .
“ But others also played a leading role shaping the cities and institutions that form modern-day Britain.
” For Alex Massie in The Times , the stumbling block is that there are “ so many candidates ” for removal .
“ Our great cities are stuffed with monuments to imperial conquest and many of our finest streets were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misery , ” he points out .
Despite the toppling of Colston ’ s statue , the former slave trader “ still has a significant presence ” in Bristol , where “ several buildings , schools and organisations are named after him ” , says The Voice ’ s Vic Motune .
Yet total erasure is no solution , says Massie .
“ Tear it down completely and you wipe it from the record , ” he argues .
Instead , we should build a “ long overdue ” Museum of Empire , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues , and an “ unflinching yet dispassionate ” look at Britain ’ s imperial past .
Historian David Olusoga agrees .
A public monument says “ this man was a great man who did great things ” , he told the BBC .
Statues like those of Colston should now be “ put in a museum which is where , after all , we remember history properly ” .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A statue of Milligan , “ who owned two sugar plantations and 526 slaves in Jamaica ” when he died in 1809 , was removed from outside the Museum of London Docklands building on Tuesday , the BBC reports .
Museum bosses said the monument was “ part of the ongoing problematic regime of white-washing history , which disregards the pain of those who are still wrestling with the remnants of the crimes Milligan committed against humanity ” .
However , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling for a boycott of Sainsbury ’ s , following reports that the supermarket chain funds the museum and “ was responsible for the decision ” to axe Milligan , says the London Evening Standard .
Oxford University ’ s Oriel College is resisting renewed demands to take down a statue of imperialist Rhodes ( pictured above ) , who has long been a target of campaigners .
As prime minister of the Cape Colony in what is now South Africa , Rhodes presided over an explicitly racist government .
Oxford City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inviting ” it to apply for permission to get rid of the statue .
And on Tuesday night , “ about 1,000 people gathered outside the college to demand its removal ” , The Times reports .
But Oxford vice-chancellor Chris Patten has defended the monument .
“ If it ’ s good enough for [ Nelson ] Mandela , it ’ s good enough for me , ” he told BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme .
In 2003 , the first post-apartheid president of South Africa merged his charitable activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form the Mandela Rhodes Foundation .
It was , Mandela said , “ a symbolic moment in the closing of the historic circle ” .
Liverpool University yesterday removed the name of 19th century PM Gladstone from a student halls of residence .
Although “ Gladstone is best known for his support for free trade and for home rule for Ireland ” , his merchant father owned 2,500 slaves at the time of abolition in 1833 , reports the Liverpool Echo .
In a letter to the university ’ s vice-chancellor , students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ views on slavery followed in continuity with the views of his father ” .
However , The Guardian writer Patrick Wintour insists that Gladstone ’ s attitudes to slavery evolved .
“ By 1850 he said slave trade was by far the foulest crime that taints the history of mankind , ” Wintour tweeted on Tuesday night .
The late Liberal statesman has also found an ally in Conservative MP Bim Afolami , who said the renaming decision was “ completely nuts ” .

When a statue of 17th century slave-trader Edward Colston was dragged from its plinth on Sunday, the manner of its removal was criticised more than the motives of the protesters who carried out the act.
Conservative MP Caroline Nokes voiced the feelings of many in saying that while she had no quarrel with Colston’s “terribly symbolic” tumbling into Bristol Harbour, a more orderly approach would have been preferable.
“If we’re going to remove these historic artefacts then we should do it carefully,” she told ITV’s Good Morning Britain. “We should have a discussion about what happens to them next, how can we continue to learn from that history.”
Now, that discussion is in full swing.
More than 100 Labour councils have pledged to review the “appropriateness” of monuments in their areas, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan launching a “diversity commission” in the capital. And local Conservative leaders are under growing pressure to follow their lead.
Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter protesters have drawn up a “target list” of 60 statues across the UK, on a Topple the Racists website, the Daily Mail reports.
“Among them are leaders who held undeniably racist views and others who performed evil acts against people of colour,” says the newspaper. “But others also played a leading role shaping the cities and institutions that form modern-day Britain.”
For Alex Massie in The Times, the stumbling block is that there are “so many candidates” for removal. “Our great cities are stuffed with monuments to imperial conquest and many of our finest streets were built from the proceeds of exploitation and misery,” he points out.
Despite the toppling of Colston’s statue, the former slave trader “still has a significant presence” in Bristol, where “several buildings, schools and organisations are named after him”, says The Voice’s Vic Motune.
Yet total erasure is no solution, says Massie.
“Tear it down completely and you wipe it from the record,” he argues. Instead, we should build a “long overdue” Museum of Empire, to provide a new home for old statues, and an “unflinching yet dispassionate” look at Britain’s imperial past.


theweekuk--2020-06-10--Housing market bounces back with 137% increase in sales

Property sales in England have rebounded to pre-coronavirus levels , with the number of new sales agreed rising by 137 % since the housing market reopened last month .
More homes were sold last week than the same time last year , and buyer demand is 54 % stronger than it was before the government effectively suspended the sector on 27 March , reports The Times .
Richard Donnell , director of research at property portal Zoopla , says the boost in sales is down to a mix of factors and “ is not solely explained by a return of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought a whole new group of would-be buyers into the housing market , ” he explained .
“ Activity has grown across all pricing levels , but the higher the value of a home , the greater the increase in supply and sales as people look to trade up.
” However , London is yet to see the same level of rebound as the rest of the country , reports Property Reporter .
“ New sales in London are lagging as buyers look at commuting and moving to the regions , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Four weeks after the unfreezing of the market , property sales in the capital remain 24.8 % lower than before the coronavirus lockdown , reports The Guardian .
Meanwhile , Scotland and Wales have continued to record low levels of new sales as their housing markets remain closed , but a rebound boost is expected once business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the nationwide sales surge could be short-lived .
“ The charts are off the scale but I do think this is a one-off surge in demand , a temporary jump , ” Donnell said .
“ No one truly knows what the economic impact [ of Covid-19 ] is going to be .
The housing market is purely an extension of the economy and I am very cautious about the second half of the year .
”

Property sales in England have rebounded to pre-coronavirus levels, with the number of new sales agreed rising by 137% since the housing market reopened last month.
More homes were sold last week than the same time last year, and buyer demand is 54% stronger than it was before the government effectively suspended the sector on 27 March, reports The Times.
Richard Donnell, director of research at property portal Zoopla, says the boost in sales is down to a mix of factors and “is not solely explained by a return of pent-up demand”.
“Covid has brought a whole new group of would-be buyers into the housing market,” he explained. “Activity has grown across all pricing levels, but the higher the value of a home, the greater the increase in supply and sales as people look to trade up.”
However, London is yet to see the same level of rebound as the rest of the country, reports Property Reporter.
“New sales in London are lagging as buyers look at commuting and moving to the regions,” said Donnell.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Four weeks after the unfreezing of the market, property sales in the capital remain 24.8% lower than before the coronavirus lockdown, reports The Guardian.
Meanwhile, Scotland and Wales have continued to record low levels of new sales as their housing markets remain closed, but a rebound boost is expected once business resumes.
However, experts have warned that the nationwide sales surge could be short-lived.
“The charts are off the scale but I do think this is a one-off surge in demand, a temporary jump,” Donnell said. “No one truly knows what the economic impact [of Covid-19] is going to be. The housing market is purely an extension of the economy and I am very cautious about the second half of the year.”


theweekuk--2020-06-11--Instant Opinion: Black Lives Matter ‘risks becoming an empty slogan’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on the tools to defeat racism ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ risks becoming an empty slogan .
It ’ s not enough to defeat racism “ If I hear one more white person say ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ I think my head will explode .
The slogan , powerful when first popularised by black people after the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012 in the US , has now become so ubiquitous as to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way for people to endlessly repeat ‘ I hate racism ’ while doing nothing to actually stop it .
White people , I assume you don ’ t like the idea of other people being treated as inferior just because of the colour of their skin .
But that ’ s such a basic sentiment that you shouldn ’ t be giving yourself a buzz from saying it .
When even Boris Johnson can say ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ – the same Boris Johnson who talks of African piccaninnies , of ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leads a party riven by Islamophobia but refuses a proper investigation into it , and who was part of a government that deported black British citizens , and continues the injustice of the hostile environment to this day – well , you know the slogan ’ s cultural appropriation is complete.
” It ’ s not ‘ too early ’ for Boris Johnson to admit he ’ s wrong – he ’ s just too much of a coward Perhaps the lesson we can all learn is that old one from science , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the daily Downing Street briefing , where the blame for everything having gone so utterly wrong seems to move in random around the screen under the heavy and continuous bombardment in all directions from molecules of utter bulls*** .
This country has been debating for a while whether or not it has ‘ had enough of experts ’ .
Boris Johnson likes nothing more than to say he has been ‘ guided by the science ’ , even when almost every other country in Europe , if not the world , was guided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction ...
It is not the passing of insufficient time that is preventing Boris Johnson from doing the same .
It is an insufficient supply of moral courage .
on the ‘ cancelling ’ of an award-winning British comedy No good comedy will survive the progressive purge that has killed Little Britain “ Hauling Vicky Pollard and Bubbles Devere out of the iPlayer and dropping them into the metaphorical harbour , may seem like a liberal victory , but the reality is the opposite .
For a start , this knee-jerk decision – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desperate to appease the rioters we saw deface Churchill ’ s monument at the weekend – sets a dangerous precedent .
If Little Britain , not so long ago BBC Comedy ’ s star attraction , can be reduced overnight to cultural contraband , what next ?
...
It is a depressing development , the latest antediluvian skirmish in the UK ’ s increasingly bitter culture war .
Britain ’ s inimitable , cheeky , self-deprecating sense of humour is not just famous throughout the world but – as international sales of everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Little Britain demonstrate – widely exportable .
It is part of our global image ; an image we are all too enthusiastically , and all too callously , dismantling .
A nation that can no longer laugh at itself is a nation no longer at ease with itself .
Erasing our culture , high and low , sends out completely the wrong signal.
” Can Wall Street defy the prophets of doom ?
“ The growing band of Americans who apparently identify as socialists must be shaking their heads this week at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re watching play out in the markets .
For the last three months the US has been afflicted by pandemic , death , mass unemployment , collapsing family incomes , skyrocketing bankruptcies and , most recently , the biggest outbreak of civil unrest in 50 years , with cities in turmoil and the raw and open wounds in American society exposed once again .
But on Wall Street , it ’ s Morning in America .
As neighbourhoods burn and a repentant Hollywood censors Gone With The Wind , capitalists are lighting fireworks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re in The Money ...
The turnaround in fortunes , even as uncertainty about the economic outlook , the pandemic and political and social unrest persists , has been head-spinning and has caught some of the most successful investors off-guard.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 5 .
Michael Tomasky in The New York Times on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump ’ s lies are different .
Not just in quantity , but also in quality .
He lies for a different purpose than every other president — yes , even , I would argue , Richard Nixon , the biggest presidential prevaricator until Mr. Trump came along .
What is that difference ?
In a nutshell , it is this : Our democracy has , to use a word that former Vice President Joe Biden employed in his powerful June 2 speech in Philadelphia , certain guardrails that , as Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make possible this nation ’ s path to a more perfect union , a union that constantly requires reform and rededication.
’ Every president before Mr. Trump has been mindful of those guardrails .
When they lied , they lied out of respect for those guardrails .
Mr. Trump lies to crush those guardrails into scrap metal .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Joseph Harker in The Guardian
on the tools to defeat racism
‘Black Lives Matter’ risks becoming an empty slogan. It’s not enough to defeat racism
“If I hear one more white person say ‘Black Lives Matter’ I think my head will explode. The slogan, powerful when first popularised by black people after the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012 in the US, has now become so ubiquitous as to have lost almost all meaning. A way for people to endlessly repeat ‘I hate racism’ while doing nothing to actually stop it. White people, I assume you don’t like the idea of other people being treated as inferior just because of the colour of their skin. But that’s such a basic sentiment that you shouldn’t be giving yourself a buzz from saying it. When even Boris Johnson can say ‘Black Lives Matter’ – the same Boris Johnson who talks of African piccaninnies, of ‘bank robber’ burqa wearers, who leads a party riven by Islamophobia but refuses a proper investigation into it, and who was part of a government that deported black British citizens, and continues the injustice of the hostile environment to this day – well, you know the slogan’s cultural appropriation is complete.”
2. Tom Peck in The Independent
on the UK’s coronavirus death toll
It’s not ‘too early’ for Boris Johnson to admit he’s wrong – he’s just too much of a coward
Perhaps the lesson we can all learn is that old one from science, about Brownian motion, just by watching the daily Downing Street briefing, where the blame for everything having gone so utterly wrong seems to move in random around the screen under the heavy and continuous bombardment in all directions from molecules of utter bulls***. This country has been debating for a while whether or not it has ‘had enough of experts’. Boris Johnson likes nothing more than to say he has been ‘guided by the science’, even when almost every other country in Europe, if not the world, was guided by its science in the complete opposite direction... It is not the passing of insufficient time that is preventing Boris Johnson from doing the same. It is an insufficient supply of moral courage.
3. Tim Dawson in The Daily Telegraph
on the ‘cancelling’ of an award-winning British comedy
No good comedy will survive the progressive purge that has killed Little Britain
“Hauling Vicky Pollard and Bubbles Devere out of the iPlayer and dropping them into the metaphorical harbour, may seem like a liberal victory, but the reality is the opposite. For a start, this knee-jerk decision – taken, presumably, by metropolitan executives desperate to appease the rioters we saw deface Churchill’s monument at the weekend – sets a dangerous precedent. If Little Britain, not so long ago BBC Comedy’s star attraction, can be reduced overnight to cultural contraband, what next?... It is a depressing development, the latest antediluvian skirmish in the UK’s increasingly bitter culture war. Britain’s inimitable, cheeky, self-deprecating sense of humour is not just famous throughout the world but – as international sales of everything from Keeping Up Appearances to, yes, Little Britain demonstrate – widely exportable. It is part of our global image; an image we are all too enthusiastically, and all too callously, dismantling. A nation that can no longer laugh at itself is a nation no longer at ease with itself. Erasing our culture, high and low, sends out completely the wrong signal.”
4. Gerard Baker in The Times
on an unexpected share price bounceback
Can Wall Street defy the prophets of doom?
“The growing band of Americans who apparently identify as socialists must be shaking their heads this week at the affirmation of heartless capitalism they’re watching play out in the markets. For the last three months the US has been afflicted by pandemic, death, mass unemployment, collapsing family incomes, skyrocketing bankruptcies and, most recently, the biggest outbreak of civil unrest in 50 years, with cities in turmoil and the raw and open wounds in American society exposed once again. But on Wall Street, it’s Morning in America. As neighbourhoods burn and a repentant Hollywood censors Gone With The Wind, capitalists are lighting fireworks and leading dancing choruses of We’re in The Money... The turnaround in fortunes, even as uncertainty about the economic outlook, the pandemic and political and social unrest persists, has been head-spinning and has caught some of the most successful investors off-guard.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
5. Michael Tomasky in The New York Times
on the question that confounds political commentators
Why Does Trump Lie?
“Mr. Trump’s lies are different. Not just in quantity, but also in quality. He lies for a different purpose than every other president — yes, even, I would argue, Richard Nixon, the biggest presidential prevaricator until Mr. Trump came along. What is that difference? In a nutshell, it is this: Our democracy has, to use a word that former Vice President Joe Biden employed in his powerful June 2 speech in Philadelphia, certain guardrails that, as Mr. Biden put it, ‘have helped make possible this nation’s path to a more perfect union, a union that constantly requires reform and rededication.’ Every president before Mr. Trump has been mindful of those guardrails. When they lied, they lied out of respect for those guardrails. Mr. Trump lies to crush those guardrails into scrap metal.”


theweekuk--2020-06-11--Coronavirus: which of the UK’s famous institutions face financial ruin?

The coronavirus outbreak has had a devastating impact on the UK’s economy, wellbeing and some of its most famous institutions.
Accompanying the airlines and high-street retailers facing permanent closure are historic football clubs, world-leading universities and celebrated centres of local culture.
Universities
Universities were forced to close their doors in April, and many may not reopen for the rest of the year.
Further education institutions will also be hit by a £2.6 billion shortfall over the next academic year because of the coronavirus outbreak, according to an analysis by London Economics for the University and College Union.
The report estimates that there will be a 47% fall in lucrative international student enrolment in the next academic year, costing the sector £1.5 billion, The Times Higher Education says.
Almost three-quarters of UK institutions will be left in a “critical financial position where income only just covers expenditure”, but all institutions will be hit in some way.
The University of Cambridge, one of the country’s leading universities, announced in May that it would be suspending all physical lectures for the entire 2020-21 academic year, with the only face-to-face teaching planned to happen on a 1:1 or small group basis, reports the BBC.
Football clubs
English football chiefs and MPs have warned that clubs are facing a massive cash hole as a result of the pandemic, and many could be forced to fold. MP Damian Collins, formerly chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, said that the government must help support lower league clubs, or see them collapse.
“In the next few weeks, we could see five to 10 EFL League clubs going into administration,” Collins told Sky Sports News in late May. “We saw the outcry last summer when two clubs, Bury and Bolton, were in trouble. If that happens there will be huge public demand to do something.
“Without the government stepping in, those clubs could go to the wall and there maybe others that follow.”
Despite some football restarting this month, there is a possibility that fans will not be allowed to attend matches until next year - starving clubs of, what is for many, their main income source, says the BBC.


theweekuk--2020-06-11--Russia battles to clean up ‘worst ever’ oil spill in Arctic

Russian officials battling to contain a massive oil spill in the Arctic Circle have warned that the clean-up operation may take years .
President Vladimir Putin has declared a state of emergency over the leakage of more than 21,000 tons of diesel in northern Siberia - “ one of the largest oil spills in Russian history ” , says Deutsche Welle .
According to the authorities , the spill originated from a storage tank at a thermal power station that “ burst last week after settling into permafrost that had stood firm for years but gave way during a warm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .
Environmental groups are comparing the spill - at a plant operated by a subsidiary of metals giant Norilsk Nickel in the city of Norilsk - to the 1989 Exxon Valdez tanker disaster in Alaska .
The diesel has spread to a freshwater lake near the Arctic Sea “ that is a major source of water for the region ” , says The Guardian .
And efforts to prevent the spilled fuel from reaching the ocean are being hampered by strong winds , Euronews reports .
Aleksey Chupriyan , Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Today we clean up the spot at one place , tomorrow at another one .
We have to move constantly , and it means moving both people and equipment.
” Meanwhile , investigators have detained the director of the power station and two engineers on suspicion of breaching environmental protection rules .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealthiest man in Russia , Vladimir Potanin , who is worth an estimated $ 25bn ( £19.75bn ) .
Potanin has said that his company will pay for the clean-up , which is expected to cost an estimated $ 146m ( £115m ) .
But enviromentalists have warned that the spill may have devastating consequences for local wildlife .
“ We are talking about dead fish , polluted plumage of birds and poisoned animals , ” said Sergey Verkhovets , coordinator of Arctic projects for WWF Russia .

Russian officials battling to contain a massive oil spill in the Arctic Circle have warned that the clean-up operation may take years.
President Vladimir Putin has declared a state of emergency over the leakage of more than 21,000 tons of diesel in northern Siberia - “one of the largest oil spills in Russian history”, says Deutsche Welle.
According to the authorities, the spill originated from a storage tank at a thermal power station that “burst last week after settling into permafrost that had stood firm for years but gave way during a warm spring”, The New York Times reports.
Environmental groups are comparing the spill - at a plant operated by a subsidiary of metals giant Norilsk Nickel in the city of Norilsk - to the 1989 Exxon Valdez tanker disaster in Alaska.
The diesel has spread to a freshwater lake near the Arctic Sea “that is a major source of water for the region”, says The Guardian.
And efforts to prevent the spilled fuel from reaching the ocean are being hampered by strong winds, Euronews reports.
Aleksey Chupriyan, Russia’s first deputy emergency minister, said: “Today we clean up the spot at one place, tomorrow at another one. We have to move constantly, and it means moving both people and equipment.”
Meanwhile, investigators have detained the director of the power station and two engineers on suspicion of breaching environmental protection rules.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Norilsk Nickel is owned by the wealthiest man in Russia, Vladimir Potanin, who is worth an estimated $25bn (£19.75bn).
Potanin has said that his company will pay for the clean-up, which is expected to cost an estimated $146m (£115m).
But enviromentalists have warned that the spill may have devastating consequences for local wildlife.
“We are talking about dead fish, polluted plumage of birds and poisoned animals,” said Sergey Verkhovets, coordinator of Arctic projects for WWF Russia.


theweekuk--2020-06-11--Behind the mysterious 80s assassination of Sweden’s prime minister

Swedish prosecutors have named the man who they say killed former Swedish prime minister Olof Palme in 1986 , ending more than 30 years of mystery and intrigue .
Palme was gunned down while walking home from the cinema with his wife , while serving his second term as Swedish PM .
The murderer was never caught , prompting fascination in a nation with low murder rates and even lower incidences of political violence .
Palme led the centre-left Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 until his death in the mid-80s .
In many ways he embodied the characteristics of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US and Soviet foreign policy , attacking the Franco dictatorship in Spain and condemning the war in Vietnam .
Palme was very popular among the left , but disliked by many liberals and conservatives .
He also “ made a point of living as much as possible like an ordinary person ” , The Guardian says , and “ did not want the fact that he was running the country to come between him and his countrymen ” .
Swedish ethnologist Jonas Engman told the paper that Swedes “ saw him in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak to him .
There was an intimacy to it ” .
Ultimately though , his tendency to take to Sweden ’ s streets would be his undoing .
Who would murder the PM ?
This is the question that has confounded investigators since his murder .
On the night of 28 February 1986 , Palme , who NPR says had dismissed his security detail earlier in the day , was fatally shot in the back at point-blank range .
The murder took place “ on one of the busiest streets in downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Palme was walking with his wife , Lisbet Palme .
Lisbet , who was injured but survived the attack , later identified Christer Pettersson as the killer , with Palme ’ s then-24-year-old son , Marten , also identifying Pettersson .
Pettersson “ often hung around ” the area , The Guardian reports , and “ had spent time in prison for randomly stabbing someone to death with a bayonet ” .
In July 1989 , he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison .
“ For a moment , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this national trauma was over ” .
However , Pettersson appealed the conviction and “ his sentence was overturned the following year after the police found no technical evidence against him ” , Sky News says .
Since Petterson ’ s acquittal , “ more than 100 people have been suspected of the attack ” , the broadcaster adds , setting up a 30-year hunt for the truth in “ the killing of the most controversial leader in Sweden ’ s modern history ” , as The Guardian puts it .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced that the case is closed - they believe that they have caught their man .
The gunman has been named by prosecutors as Stig Engstrom , “ a conservative-minded graphic designer popularly known as the ‘ Skandia man ’ ” , The Times says .
Engstrom , investigators say , “ supposedly used a long-barrelled revolver to shoot the prime minister ... before fleeing down a side road and taking the night bus home , ” the paper adds .
Engstrom gained the nickname “ Skandia man ” , as in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had “ pursued the killer ” , before returning to the office of insurance company Skandia , where he was employed .
Police dismissed Engstrom during their original investigation , but in 2016 , Lars Larsson , a writer , accused Engstrom of the murder in a book called Nationens Fiende , or Enemy of the State .
In 2018 , journalist Thomas Pettersson [ no relation to Christer Pettersson ] wrote a series of articles in Swedish magazine Filter arguing that Palme ’ s son , who originally identified Pettersson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene of the crime .
In a 2018 interview with The New York Times , Thomas Petterson claimed Engstrom had “ the right timing , the right clothing ... unique information ” and had “ a deep political interest and a deep anti-Palme sentiment ” .
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Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Not quite .
Chief Prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Thomas ] has said that they are now closing the case , but Engstrom can not be indicted as he is dead .
Engstrom died , by apparent suicide , in 2000 , NPR says , meaning that the question of who killed Palme will likely remain a mystery in the eyes of many Swedes .
Krister Petersson said that the way Engstrom “ acted was how we believe the murderer would have acted ” , but conceded that investigators still do not have a “ clear picture ” of Engstrom ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sons welcomed the police verdict as a “ compelling ” account of their father ’ s death .
Marten Palme , now 58 , said : “ I think the suspicions regarding this suspect are credible ...
But you can ’ t say with 100 % certainty that he was the person who carried out the killing.
” A chief witnesses in the case , Leif Ljungqvist , is less convinced , labeling the official account a “ scandal ” and saying that it was “ impossible ” that Engstrom could have carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed into a “ favorite topic of conspiracy theorists ” , NPR says , “ who have variously posited the involvement of the CIA , Kurdish separatists , the South African security services and Chilean fascists , among others ” .
Despite police saying they have indentified the killer , the reaction suggests public curiosity over the case is unlikely to diminish .

Swedish prosecutors have named the man who they say killed former Swedish prime minister Olof Palme in 1986, ending more than 30 years of mystery and intrigue.
Palme was gunned down while walking home from the cinema with his wife, while serving his second term as Swedish PM.
The murderer was never caught, prompting fascination in a nation with low murder rates and even lower incidences of political violence.
Who was Olof Palme?
Palme led the centre-left Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 until his death in the mid-80s.
In many ways he embodied the characteristics of many left-wing politicians, voicing opposition to US and Soviet foreign policy, attacking the Franco dictatorship in Spain and condemning the war in Vietnam. Palme was very popular among the left, but disliked by many liberals and conservatives.
He also “made a point of living as much as possible like an ordinary person”, The Guardian says, and “did not want the fact that he was running the country to come between him and his countrymen”.
Swedish ethnologist Jonas Engman told the paper that Swedes “saw him in the streets all the time... You could speak to him. There was an intimacy to it”.
Ultimately though, his tendency to take to Sweden’s streets would be his undoing.
Who would murder the PM?
This is the question that has confounded investigators since his murder.
On the night of 28 February 1986, Palme, who NPR says had dismissed his security detail earlier in the day, was fatally shot in the back at point-blank range.
The murder took place “on one of the busiest streets in downtown Stockholm”, the broadcaster adds, while Palme was walking with his wife, Lisbet Palme.
Lisbet, who was injured but survived the attack, later identified Christer Pettersson as the killer, with Palme’s then-24-year-old son, Marten, also identifying Pettersson.
Pettersson “often hung around” the area, The Guardian reports, and “had spent time in prison for randomly stabbing someone to death with a bayonet”.
In July 1989, he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. “For a moment,” the paper says, “it seemed that this national trauma was over”.
However, Pettersson appealed the conviction and “his sentence was overturned the following year after the police found no technical evidence against him”, Sky News says.


theweekuk--2020-06-11--Swedes turn on government over relaxed coronavirus response

Support for Sweden’s idiosyncratic coronavirus response is fading within the Scandinavian country, as scientists and MPs criticise the government’s laid-back reaction.
“Opposition lawmakers have quickly shifted from ‘rallying round the flag’ to distancing themselves from the government’s crisis response as the death rate from Covid-19 has spiked and voters have begun to lose faith in Sweden’s unique no-lockdown approach,” reports Politico.
The strategy was initially popular and still attracted majority support even as Sweden’s death toll outpaced that of its neighbours. But Swedes’ patience now appears to be running out, as the nation’s total number of coronavirus-related deaths hits 4,795, compared with 593 in Denmark and 239 in Norway, according to latest figures.
A recent poll found that 45% of Swedes now have confidence in their government’s handling of the pandemic, compared with 65% in April, reports state broadcaster SVT.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Last week, Sweden’s state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell appeared to admit that the lockdown-free strategy had been mistaken.
“If we were to run into the same disease, knowing exactly what we know about it today, I think we would end up doing something in between what Sweden did and what the rest of the world has done,” he told Sveriges Radio.
However, Tegnell later said that he would make only minor changes. “The strategy is good,” he insisted, “but then there are always improvements one can make, especially if you look back over time.”
The leader of the far-right Sweden Democrats, Jimmie Akesson, subsequently called for Tegnell to be replaced with a new state epidemiologist who would follow a more conventional course.


theweekuk--2020-06-11--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 11 Jun 2020

People living alone in England will be able to stay at one other household from Saturday as part of a @ @ @ @ @ .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that single adults will be permitted to spend the @ @ @ @ @ a “ support bubble ” .
Meanwhile , the government is under pressure from Tory @ @ @ @ @ social distancing rule , in order to boost the economy .

Support bubbles launched as lockdown eases
People living alone in England will be able to stay at one other household from Saturday as part of a further easing of coronavirus restrictions. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that single adults will be permitted to spend the night at another house in a “support bubble”. Meanwhile, the government is under pressure from Tory backbenchers to drop the two-metre social distancing rule, in order to boost the economy.


theweekuk--2020-06-11--Donkey arrested on charge of gambling

Donkey arrested on charge of gambling

Police in Pakistan have arrested a donkey over a race that involved illegal betting .
Officers in Rahim Yar Khan city , in eastern Pakistan 's Punjab province , arrested the donkey alongside eight men , on suspicion of them gambling in public - which is a crime in the country .
Meanwhile , police in Switzerland have investigated an eight-year-old boy after he allegedly asked whether he could use a toy banknote in a village shop .
The police contacted the boy ’ s parents and visited their home for three hours , brandishing stills from CCTV footage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with any offence , his name will reportedly be on police records until May 2032 .
A 59-year-old grandmother says she is quitting her day job as a carer to sell racy pictures online .
Sandra Maria Brook says she can make €1,500 ( £1,300 ) a month through the website OnlyFans - more than triple what she earned in her last job as a part-time carer .
Her Instagram account has over 11,000 followers who delight in saucy pictures of the grandmother .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Police in Pakistan have arrested a donkey over a race that involved illegal betting. Officers in Rahim Yar Khan city, in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province, arrested the donkey alongside eight men, on suspicion of them gambling in public - which is a crime in the country.
Swiss police investigate eight-year-old boy over fake banknotes
Meanwhile, police in Switzerland have investigated an eight-year-old boy after he allegedly asked whether he could use a toy banknote in a village shop. The police contacted the boy’s parents and visited their home for three hours, brandishing stills from CCTV footage. Although the unnamed boy was not charged with any offence, his name will reportedly be on police records until May 2032.
Grandmother quits carer job to join OnlyFans
A 59-year-old grandmother says she is quitting her day job as a carer to sell racy pictures online. Sandra Maria Brook says she can make €1,500 (£1,300) a month through the website OnlyFans - more than triple what she earned in her last job as a part-time carer. Her Instagram account has over 11,000 followers who delight in saucy pictures of the grandmother.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-06-11--Which UK cities most benefited from the slave trade - and how can you tell?

That Britain ’ s relative prosperity today is built on the profits from slavery is an uncomfortable but undeniable truth .
Many of the UK ’ s major modern cities owe much of their wealth and development to commerce that depended on the inhumane practice for centuries , before slavery was finally abolished throughout the British Colonies in 1833 .
Which cities benefited from the slave trade ?
Many people in the UK had never heard of Edward Colston before a statue of the 17th-century slave trader was pulled down in Bristol last week .
Colston , who also served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge sums of money to set up schools , almshouses and poorhouses in Bristol and farther afield , equivalent to about £25m today ” , says The Times .
Yet he earned that money as “ a leading official of the Royal African Company from 1680 to 1692 , when it was responsible for the enslavement and transportation of 84,000 Africans , of whom more than 19,000 died en route to the Caribbean and America ” , the newspaper reports .
London also has strong links to slavery .
Before Bristol took over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British slaving port in the 17th century , with control over the trade until 1698 ” , says information site Discovering Bristol .
The Guildhall in the city ’ s Moorgate area “ epitomises the involvement of London in the transatlantic slave trade ” , says Historic England .
This was the meeting place for shareholders in the Royal Africa Company , and a statue of 18th-century slave plantation owner William Beckford Senior still stands outside today .
Beckford was known as the “ uncrowned king of Jamaica ” , thanks to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of plantations on the island .
Along with London and Bristol , Liverpool also benefited hugely from slavery .
Indeed , “ much of Liverpool ’ s 18th century wealth came from the slave trade and , by the 1740s , the city was Europe ’ s most-used slave port ” , says the BBC .
Historian Laurence Westgaph is now calling for a memorial in Liverpool to the slaves who died while building the city ’ s fortunes , arguing that the “ public realm is the best classroom ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond the major port cities commonly associated with the trade .
The Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slave-ownership at University College London has created a database that shows just how profoundly human trafficking shaped modern Britain .
“ Among the institutions with a history of slavery connections are the Bank of England , high-street banks ( RBS , Barclays and Lloyds ) , railway companies , insurance companies and even the Royal Mail , ” writes academic Myriam Francois , founder of the We Need to Talk About Whiteness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardian .
“ And as these organisations flourished through their use of forced labour , their owners bequeathed part of their huge wealth to some of the UK ’ s leading cultural institutions , including the National Gallery , the Royal Academy , the Tate , the Victoria & Albert and the British Museum.
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Start your trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
“ Britain ’ s economy and cultural heritage remains inextricably tangled with the after-effects of slavery ; a tangle which we are only beginning to recognise in full , ” says the Museum of London Docklands website .
The museum itself “ is surrounded by buildings , streets and statues built with the profits of slavery , in many cases commemorating the owners and traders of enslaved people ” , the site adds .
The story is the same across much of the rest of London and other British cities , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , businesses and beyond .
In Liverpool , many street names are linked to slavery .
Sir Thomas Street is named after Thomas Johnson , an owner of one of the first slave ships to sail from Liverpool .
But these tributes could soon be eradicated .
The pulling down of the Colston statue in Bristol , and the broader emerging conversation on racism and Britain ’ s role in the slave trade , is shining a spotlight on the dark history of the men commemorated with monuments in so many cities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ review of all of the capital ’ s statues and street names , and says any with links to slavery “ should be taken down ” .
Already a statue of noted slaveholder Robert Milligan has been removed from outside the Museum of London Docklands .
“ The Museum of London recognises that the monument is part of the ongoing problematic regime of white-washing history , which disregards the pain of those who are still wrestling with the remnants of the crimes Milligan committed against humanity , ” museum bosses said in a @ @

That Britain’s relative prosperity today is built on the profits from slavery is an uncomfortable but undeniable truth.
Many of the UK’s major modern cities owe much of their wealth and development to commerce that depended on the inhumane practice for centuries, before slavery was finally abolished throughout the British Colonies in 1833.
Which cities benefited from the slave trade?
Many people in the UK had never heard of Edward Colston before a statue of the 17th-century slave trader was pulled down in Bristol last week.
Colston, who also served as a Tory MP, “gave huge sums of money to set up schools, almshouses and poorhouses in Bristol and farther afield, equivalent to about £25m today”, says The Times.
Yet he earned that money as “a leading official of the Royal African Company from 1680 to 1692, when it was responsible for the enslavement and transportation of 84,000 Africans, of whom more than 19,000 died en route to the Caribbean and America”, the newspaper reports.
London also has strong links to slavery. Before Bristol took over, the capital “was the leading British slaving port in the 17th century, with control over the trade until 1698”, says information site Discovering Bristol.
The Guildhall in the city’s Moorgate area “epitomises the involvement of London in the transatlantic slave trade”, says Historic England.
This was the meeting place for shareholders in the Royal Africa Company, and a statue of 18th-century slave plantation owner William Beckford Senior still stands outside today.
Beckford was known as the “uncrowned king of Jamaica”, thanks to the fortune he built from his 20,000 acres of plantations on the island.
Along with London and Bristol, Liverpool also benefited hugely from slavery. Indeed, “much of Liverpool’s 18th century wealth came from the slave trade and, by the 1740s, the city was Europe’s most-used slave port”, says the BBC.
Historian Laurence Westgaph is now calling for a memorial in Liverpool to the slaves who died while building the city’s fortunes, arguing that the “public realm is the best classroom”.
The lasting results of slavery are also felt beyond the major port cities commonly associated with the trade. The Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slave-ownership at University College London has created a database that shows just how profoundly human trafficking shaped modern Britain.


theweekuk--2020-06-11--EU accuses Russia and China of coronavirus ‘disinformation campaigns’

The European Union (EU) has accused both Russia and China of being behind so-called “fake news” about the Covid-19 coronavirus.
The European Commission said in a statement that “foreign actors and certain third countries, in particular Russia and China” are engaging in “targeted influence operations and disinformation campaigns in the EU, its neighbourhood, and globally”.
As The Guardian notes, “while the charge against Russia has been levelled on many occasions, this is the first time the EU executive has publicly named China as a source of disinformation”.
The “more assertive stance” reflects EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s desire for the EU to have “more clout on the world stage”, the newspaper adds.
In a policy paper published alongside the statement, the EU said its experts have recorded a huge wave of healthcare hoaxes, false claims, online scams, hate speech and Covid-19 conspiracy theories circulating online, Deutsche Welle (DW) reports.
“Such coordination [by third country actors] reveals an intention to use false or misleading information to cause harm,” the EU paper said.
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Vera Jourova, the European commissioner for values and transparency, has warned that the ongoing pandemic shows that “disinformation does not only harm the health of our democracies, it also harms the health of our citizens”.
“I believe if we have evidence, we should not shy away from naming and shaming,” she added.
The new allegations against China follows accusations that the Commission watered down an earlier report on disinformation following pressure from Beijing. EU officials have strongly denied the claim.


theweekuk--2020-06-11--Reaction: J.K. Rowling reveals past sexual assault in essay defending her trans views

J.K. Rowling has responded to widespread criticism of her views on transgender issues by opening up about her life as a survivor of sexual assault and domestic abuse .
In a 3,700-word essay published on her official website , the Harry Potter author reiterates her allegedly “ anti-trans ” comments and explains that her own experiences influenced her decision to speak out .
Rowling - who until now “ has guarded her privacy closely ” , notes The Times - has faced a growing row over her tweets about biological sex , with thousands of fellow Twitter users accusing her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s critics are former stars of the film versions of her books including Emma Watson , who played Hermione Granger , and Eddie Redmayne , who featured in the spin-off movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them .
In a statement to entertainment magazine Variety , Redmayne said : “ As someone who has worked with J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community , I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand .
I disagree with Jo ’ s comments.
” Meanwhile , Watson tweeted that “ trans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren ’ t who they say they are ” .
But Rowling insists that she has a number of “ reasons for being worried about the new trans activism ” .
Chief among these , she says in her essay , is that as a survivor of a “ serious sexual assault ” , she felt compelled to make a case for why maintaining safe “ single-sex spaces ” for women is important .
Not everyone is convinced by her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles Times , “ despite Rowling ’ s insistence that she wanted a nuanced discussion on the topic… ultimately her concerns seemed to boil down to one about bathrooms ” .
Among Rowling ’ s claims “ was that affirming anybody other than cisgender people ( those whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth ) as ‘ women ’ would somehow lead to them being unsafe in places like public restrooms and changing rooms ” , the newspaper says .
Yet “ there is no evidence that transgender people using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity puts anybody else in danger ” .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For Amrou Al-Kadhi , a British-Iraqi writer and drag performer , the key problem is Rowling ’ s seeming belief that transgender people “ are an ideological cult on a mission to vanquish the very idea of sex ” .
Writing in The Independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... in contradiction to Rowling ’ s apparent claims , have never called for the eradication of sex-based protections and reproductive rights.
” In fact , “ trans people are only trying to expand the understanding of sex so that society may better accommodate their needs ” , he continues , adding : “ Is that really so terrible ?
” Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe , who played the eponymous boy wizard , has also outlined his views in a written response to Rowling ’ s tweeted comments .
“ Transgender women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement published by the The Trevor Project charity , which provides crisis intervention for LGBT young people .
“ Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.
” The actor finishes with an apology to Harry Potter fans , writing : “ To all the people who now feel that their experience of the books has been tarnished or diminished , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments have caused you .
”

J.K. Rowling has responded to widespread criticism of her views on transgender issues by opening up about her life as a survivor of sexual assault and domestic abuse.
In a 3,700-word essay published on her official website, the Harry Potter author reiterates her allegedly “anti-trans” comments and explains that her own experiences influenced her decision to speak out.
Rowling - who until now “has guarded her privacy closely”, notes The Times - has faced a growing row over her tweets about biological sex, with thousands of fellow Twitter users accusing her of transphobia.
Among the bestselling writer’s critics are former stars of the film versions of her books including Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, and Eddie Redmayne, who featured in the spin-off movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
In a statement to entertainment magazine Variety, Redmayne said: “As someone who has worked with J.K. Rowling and members of the trans community, I wanted to make it absolutely clear where I stand. I disagree with Jo’s comments.”
Meanwhile, Watson tweeted that “trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are”.
But Rowling insists that she has a number of “reasons for being worried about the new trans activism” .
Chief among these, she says in her essay, is that as a survivor of a “serious sexual assault”, she felt compelled to make a case for why maintaining safe “single-sex spaces” for women is important.
Not everyone is convinced by her argument, however. According to the Los Angeles Times, “despite Rowling’s insistence that she wanted a nuanced discussion on the topic… ultimately her concerns seemed to boil down to one about bathrooms”.
Among Rowling’s claims “was that affirming anybody other than cisgender people (those whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth) as ‘women’ would somehow lead to them being unsafe in places like public restrooms and changing rooms”, the newspaper says.
Yet “there is no evidence that transgender people using the restrooms that align with their gender identity puts anybody else in danger”.


theweekuk--2020-06-12--Behind the Tories’ brewing billionaire property scandal

Boris Johnson has been dragged into a growing row over the approval of a £1bn property development , amid reports that he met with the Tory donor developer three times shortly before the project got the go-ahead .
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick approved former media mogul Richard Desmond ’ s request to build 1,500 homes on the site of a former printworks in east London in January this year , “ despite objections from planning officers and the council ” , says The Times .
And the prime minister is now under pressure to answer questions over the decision , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had three meetings with the then London mayor while trying to gain initial permission to build 722 homes .
Johnson and Desmond are said to have met “ for drinks ” at the Corinthia hotel in Westminster in September 2015 , and to have had lunch together later that month .
They met again in January 2016 , according to The Times .
The planning application was approved weeks later , in April , by deputy mayor Edward Lister , now Johnson ’ s chief strategic adviser in Downing Street .
Desmond ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then submitted a second application to almost double the development ’ s size that was approved by Jenrick .
However , the housing boss has subsequently admitted “ apparent bias ” in the timing of his decision , which was made just one day before Tower Hamlets Council was due to vote on changes to a community charge that would have cost Desmond between £30m and £50m .
The council had raised concerns that the building work “ did not contain enough affordable homes ” .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In a further twist , the Daily Mail reported earlier this week that Desmond , the ex-owner of Express Newspapers , donated £12,000 to the Conservative Party shortly after Jenrick approved the scheme .
The cash represented the tycoon ’ s first donation to the Tories since September 2017 , according to Electoral Commission records .
Labour ’ s shadow housing minister Mike Amesbury has accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision and called on him to “ come clean and publish all correspondence with Richard Desmond about this case ” , reports HuffPost .
Responding to those allegations , a Conservative Party spokesperson said that “ government policy is in no way influenced by party donations ” .
Meanwhile , a spokesperson for Johnson said that the initial application was “ considered with due process and public hearings in 2016 ” , adding : “ Only formal planning representations and material considerations were taken into account .
”

Boris Johnson has been dragged into a growing row over the approval of a £1bn property development, amid reports that he met with the Tory donor developer three times shortly before the project got the go-ahead.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick approved former media mogul Richard Desmond’s request to build 1,500 homes on the site of a former printworks in east London in January this year, “despite objections from planning officers and the council”, says The Times.
And the prime minister is now under pressure to answer questions over the decision, after the newspaper also revealed that Desmond had three meetings with the then London mayor while trying to gain initial permission to build 722 homes.
Johnson and Desmond are said to have met “for drinks” at the Corinthia hotel in Westminster in September 2015, and to have had lunch together later that month. They met again in January 2016, according to The Times.
The planning application was approved weeks later, in April, by deputy mayor Edward Lister, now Johnson’s chief strategic adviser in Downing Street.
Desmond’s company, Northern & Shell, then submitted a second application to almost double the development’s size that was approved by Jenrick.
However, the housing boss has subsequently admitted “apparent bias” in the timing of his decision, which was made just one day before Tower Hamlets Council was due to vote on changes to a community charge that would have cost Desmond between £30m and £50m.
The council had raised concerns that the building work “did not contain enough affordable homes”.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
In a further twist, the Daily Mail reported earlier this week that Desmond, the ex-owner of Express Newspapers, donated £12,000 to the Conservative Party shortly after Jenrick approved the scheme. The cash represented the tycoon’s first donation to the Tories since September 2017, according to Electoral Commission records.
Labour’s shadow housing minister Mike Amesbury has accused Jenrick of making an “unlawful” decision and called on him to “come clean and publish all correspondence with Richard Desmond about this case”, reports HuffPost.
Responding to those allegations, a Conservative Party spokesperson said that “government policy is in no way influenced by party donations”.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Johnson said that the initial application was “considered with due process and public hearings in 2016”, adding: “Only formal planning representations and material considerations were taken into account.”


theweekuk--2020-06-12--How coronavirus and Black Lives Matter emboldened the UK’s far-right

Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) protest organisers have cancelled a demonstration in London this weekend amid fears of violence by far-right demonstrators .
In a post on Instagram , the anti-racism activists said the protest in Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon was being called off because “ many hate groups ” were planning to crash the event .
“ We want the protests to be a safe space for people to attend however we don ’ t think it ’ ll be possible with people like them present , ” the organisers warn .
Far-right groups have announced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Winston Churchill ’ s statue in Parliament Square , and “ claim they intend to prevent the landmarks from being targeted ” by BLM protesters , reports The Guardian .
But concerns have been raised that “ marauding gangs of hooligans will seek out ” the rival demonstrators at various anti-racism events still due to take place in London and other parts of the UK , the newspaper says .
Unsurprisingly , far-right groups have been riled by BLM protests taking place across the world in the wake of the killing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police fear that the rival demonstrations by both sides that are set to take place in London this weekend add up to a “ perfect storm ” for clashes , says The Sun .
Saturday ’ s Churchill statue protest has been organised by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance ( DFLA ) , a loose network that emerged in response to the 2017 terrorist attacks in Britain .
The DFLA - which has been condemned as a far-right group by anti-racism campaigners - had lost momentum , but has been reignited by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stephen Yaxley-Lennon , who goes under the name Tommy Robinson , has thrown his support behind the far-right counter demonstration .
Members of the far-right group Britain First are also expected to attend , after showing up at a BLM protest last week carrying banners reading “ White Lives Matter ” , reports MyLondon .
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Start your trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the far right ?
The Covid-19 pandemic has given far-right groups another issue around which to coalesce , with many touting long-debunked conspiracy theories on the origins of the virus .
An investigation by the BBC and UK counter-extremism think-tank Institute of Strategic Dialogue found that coronavirus disinformation being shared by far-right extremists relates to five key themes : immigration , Islam , Judaism , the LGBTQ movement , and elites .
A separate report by Zinc Network , a communications agency that tracks fake news and propaganda , says there has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK , EU and US to “ utilise the pandemic to bring new relevancy , attention and support for their key grievances ” .
“ The evidence we ’ ve uncovered shows that far-right groups in the UK are using Covid-19 to promote a British form of fascism , ” Louis Brooke , executive director of research and strategy at Zinc Network , told The Guardian .
Populist politicians and other far-right figures who have achieved mainstream success are among those accused of exploiting the health crisis .
Far-right Italian politician Matteo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country on migration , and has called for “ armour-plated ” borders .
The leader of the Alternative for Germany party in the Bundestag , Alice Weidel , has also claimed that the spread of the virus in her nation is down to the “ dogma of the open border ” .

Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest organisers have cancelled a demonstration in London this weekend amid fears of violence by far-right demonstrators.
In a post on Instagram, the anti-racism activists said the protest in Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon was being called off because “many hate groups” were planning to crash the event. “We want the protests to be a safe space for people to attend however we don’t think it’ll be possible with people like them present,” the organisers warn.
Far-right groups have announced a counter “defend our memorials” rally at Winston Churchill’s statue in Parliament Square, and “claim they intend to prevent the landmarks from being targeted” by BLM protesters, reports The Guardian. But concerns have been raised that “marauding gangs of hooligans will seek out” the rival demonstrators at various anti-racism events still due to take place in London and other parts of the UK, the newspaper says.
How BLM protests rallied the far-right
Unsurprisingly, far-right groups have been riled by BLM protests taking place across the world in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
And UK police fear that the rival demonstrations by both sides that are set to take place in London this weekend add up to a “perfect storm” for clashes, says The Sun.
Saturday’s Churchill statue protest has been organised by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA), a loose network that emerged in response to the 2017 terrorist attacks in Britain.
The DFLA - which has been condemned as a far-right group by anti-racism campaigners - had lost momentum, but has been reignited by the BLM protests.
Ex-English Defence League leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who goes under the name Tommy Robinson, has thrown his support behind the far-right counter demonstration.
Members of the far-right group Britain First are also expected to attend, after showing up at a BLM protest last week carrying banners reading “White Lives Matter”, reports MyLondon.
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How has coronavirus embolded the far right?
The Covid-19 pandemic has given far-right groups another issue around which to coalesce, with many touting long-debunked conspiracy theories on the origins of the virus.
An investigation by the BBC and UK counter-extremism think-tank Institute of Strategic Dialogue found that coronavirus disinformation being shared by far-right extremists relates to five key themes: immigration, Islam, Judaism, the LGBTQ movement, and elites.
A separate report by Zinc Network, a communications agency that tracks fake news and propaganda, says there has been a clear move among far-right groups in the UK, EU and US to “utilise the pandemic to bring new relevancy, attention and support for their key grievances”.
“The evidence we’ve uncovered shows that far-right groups in the UK are using Covid-19 to promote a British form of fascism,” Louis Brooke, executive director of research and strategy at Zinc Network, told The Guardian.
Populist politicians and other far-right figures who have achieved mainstream success are among those accused of exploiting the health crisis.
Far-right Italian politician Matteo Salvini has blamed the outbreak in his country on migration, and has called for “armour-plated” borders.
The leader of the Alternative for Germany party in the Bundestag, Alice Weidel, has also claimed that the spread of the virus in her nation is down to the “dogma of the open border”.