theweekuk--2020-07-24--Keir Starmer vs. Jeremy Corbyn: how Labour’s civil war could sink the party

When Keir Starmer settled a legal action brought by Panorama and a group of Labour whistleblowers this week , he was hoping to draw another line under the anti-Semitism scandal that has dogged his party for the past several years .
But Jeremy Corbyn , who stepped down as Labour leader in April , is not yet ready to move on .
“ In a sign that the move could reignite factional infighting with the party ’ s hard Left element , Mr Corbyn and his followers including Unite leader Len McCluskey attacked the payout , ” the Daily Mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in “ at least 40 further civil claims ” , says The Telegraph , which could “ leave the party at risk of bankruptcy ” .
What led to the first court case ?
The lawsuits stemmed from an episode of Panorama in which the BBC journalist John Ware investigated anti-Semitism in the Labour party .
It featured interviews with several former party workers , who accused the party of failing to take the problem seriously .
The party , then led by Corbyn , accused the BBC of “ deliberate and malicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and described the interviewees as “ disaffected former officials ” who had “ both personal and political axes to grind ” .
Ware and his interviewees sued Labour for libel , saying the party had damaged their reputations .
This is the case which Labour settled on Wednesday by apologising to the plaintiffs and paying them “ an estimated £370,000 in fees and damages ” , The Telegraph says .
Why is that controversial ?
“ Many left wing Labour members are furious at the decision , ” according to the Corbyn-loyal Socialist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces further assaults from the right ” after the “ huge pay-out and apology to so-called whistleblowers ” .
And Corbyn is among those who wanted to fight the case in court .
“ The decision to settle these claims in this way is disappointing and risks giving credibility to misleading and inaccurate allegations about action taken to tackle anti-Semitism in the Labour Party in recent years , ” he said in a statement .
His ally , the Unite union leader Len McCluskey , described the settlement as “ a misuse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the libel lawyer who represented Ware and the former Labour officials , said he had been instructed to pursue new claims against Corbyn based on his reaction to the settlement .
He told Newsnight : “ A full apology was made in court and it was completely undermined immediately after by Jeremy Corbyn saying he ’ s not sorry , that the Labour party has been advised that there were good defences , as if to say there was an apology to you but we had our fingers behind our backs.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data privacy result from an internal Labour party investigation which was leaked in April .
Why does it matter ?
In the short term , this appears to be very bad news for Starmer ’ s party .
“ Senior Labour officials have warned the potential payouts could amount to several million pounds , although suggestions it could top £8m in a worst-case scenario are disputed , ” says The Telegraph .
“ It is also understood that the party is not protected by legal insurance , meaning a slew of legal actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis.
” And in the long term ?
“ The kickback from Mr Corbyn may end up suiting Sir Keir very well , as he seeks to signal the changes he is now making , ” says The Independent .
Having described his party as “ under new management ” earlier this week , Starmer is now in open conflict with Corbyn and his supporters , says Philip Collins in The Times .
“ Even if the decision to settle were purely political , Sir Keir made the right call , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatised over and over again , given that most people , most of the time , are not watching .
This is why decisive responses to incidents like the libel case are so vital.
” The ensuing battle “ won ’ t be comfortable or fraternal for the party ’ s management team , past or present ” , predicts The Independent , but there is no alternative but to “ deliver Labour into the common ground of politics , and to challenge for power ” .
That may require a yet more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The real catharsis , the real way to show the world that Labour has changed , will be to kick Corbyn out .
”

When Keir Starmer settled a legal action brought by Panorama and a group of Labour whistleblowers this week, he was hoping to draw another line under the anti-Semitism scandal that has dogged his party for the past several years.
But Jeremy Corbyn, who stepped down as Labour leader in April, is not yet ready to move on.
“In a sign that the move could reignite factional infighting with the party’s hard Left element, Mr Corbyn and his followers including Unite leader Len McCluskey attacked the payout,” the Daily Mail reports.
Corbyn’s reaction resulted in “at least 40 further civil claims”, says The Telegraph, which could “leave the party at risk of bankruptcy”.
What led to the first court case?
The lawsuits stemmed from an episode of Panorama in which the BBC journalist John Ware investigated anti-Semitism in the Labour party. It featured interviews with several former party workers, who accused the party of failing to take the problem seriously.
The party, then led by Corbyn, accused the BBC of “deliberate and malicious misrepresentations designed to mislead the public” and described the interviewees as “disaffected former officials” who had “both personal and political axes to grind”.
Ware and his interviewees sued Labour for libel, saying the party had damaged their reputations. This is the case which Labour settled on Wednesday by apologising to the plaintiffs and paying them “an estimated £370,000 in fees and damages”, The Telegraph says.
Why is that controversial?
“Many left wing Labour members are furious at the decision,” according to the Corbyn-loyal Socialist Worker, which says “the left faces further assaults from the right” after the “huge pay-out and apology to so-called whistleblowers”.
And Corbyn is among those who wanted to fight the case in court.
“The decision to settle these claims in this way is disappointing and risks giving credibility to misleading and inaccurate allegations about action taken to tackle anti-Semitism in the Labour Party in recent years,” he said in a statement.
His ally, the Unite union leader Len McCluskey, described the settlement as “a misuse of Labour Party funds”.
What happened next?
Mark Lewis, the libel lawyer who represented Ware and the former Labour officials, said he had been instructed to pursue new claims against Corbyn based on his reaction to the settlement.


theweekuk--2020-07-24--Instant Opinion: Boris Johnson should ‘learn the real lesson of his first year in office’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
Will Boris Johnson learn the real lesson of his first year in office ?
“ Earlier this week , Johnson spoke to a private meeting of Tory MPs , the first proper meeting since the crisis .
They left feeling inspired and invigorated , as if they finally had their boss back .
At Ronald Reagan ’ s funeral , Margaret Thatcher saluted his ability to pursue the heaviest of causes with a lightness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ the great cause of cheering us all up ’ .
This is the Boris speciality , precisely what the Government and the country needs – more than almost anything else – right now .
When he was in intensive care that night , his colleagues were terrified – for him and for the Government .
If he went , they asked , who would follow ?
There was no answer .
There still isn ’ t .
What ’ s needed is a prime minister back in the saddle , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear way out of a big mess .
That ’ s precisely the sort of Government he promised a year ago .
It ’ s his best hope now.
” 2 .
Jess Phillips , Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley , in The Independent on who is really in charge in Downing Street Boris Johnson thinks he ’ s a comedian .
There ’ s nothing funny about his lack of leadership “ A year of Boris Johnson is a difficult thing to judge .
In normal times it probably wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case you hadn ’ t noticed , in the grip of a global pandemic .
It is hard to look at the situation that the country is in and see if it is better , worse or the same as a year ago , when everything has changed .
I won ’ t try to critique the state of the economy ( bad ) or how things feel on the ground in the community ( bad ) in a Boris Britain because not even his harshest critic could blame a pandemic on him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his performance as prime minister against things that other prime ministers had to deal with , and how well he has handled the crisis .
The two are inextricably linked .
I am a lively sort ; I like an off-the-cuff gag .
I don ’ t take myself too seriously and no one would describe me as spick and span , so you might think that I would like the blustering scruffy style of the prime minister .
However , I find it repellent.
” on looking on the positive side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doomsters think “ Have you heard the one about Britain ’ s response to Covid-19 being world class ?
Tyler Cowen , an American economist , not a comedian , this week made the case for positivity about our performance since the pandemic struck .
For daring to suggest that Britain might not be irretrievably doomed , he was greeted with incredulity and more than a little mockery on social media ... [ But ] you don ’ t need to be a jingoistic proponent of daft British exceptionalism to see that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making advances too , but Britain ’ s performance has clearly been remarkable .
On treatment , Oxford University played a leading role in establishing that dexamethasone , a cheap corticosteroid , reduces deaths in patients most ill with Covid-19 ...
If the progress continues , it offers the tantalising prospect of Britain being among the first countries to begin vaccinating its population.
” The Russia report reveals that MI5 and MI6 have lost their way “ The big reveal in the Russia report is about Britain , not Russia .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this to happen .
It ’ s that UK intelligence agencies chose to watch from the sidelines while it went on .
In the report ’ s three key phrases , the agencies regarded the defence of Britain ’ s democracy as too much of a ‘ hot potato ’ to intervene ; they were so busy on anti-terrorist work that they ‘ took their eye off the ball ’ ; and this all happened because the government in general , not just the agencies , fostered a ‘ somewhat laissez-faire policy approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crucial .
First , because it says the UK ’ s intelligence agencies were not focused on hostile threats for which there was already clear public evidence .
And , second , because it suggests uncertainty within government about the agencies ’ proper purposes , which in the end prevented them from doing their job.
” 5 .
Michelle Cottle in The New York Times on who has the ear of the Democratic candidate “ Looking to get a sense of how Mr. Biden ’ s governing vision is shaping up , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his allies , his critics and other party players .
I wanted to know how the rolling crises have , for instance , impacted his search for the perfect running mate - the big reveal of which is expected any day now !
- as well as how various policy proposals are being revised and expanded .
It was clear that , fundamentally , Joe is gon na be Joe .
But he recognizes the need to respond to all the turbulence - and if there ’ s one thing Team Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s people looking to influence how he does that ... With Mr. Biden having spent the last half-century collecting friends , aides and advisers , not to mention this campaign ’ s fast-growing official staff , the org chart for Team Biden can be hard to decipher .
His inner circle is defined differently depending on whom you ask , and even reasonably senior staffers aren ’ t always clear about who does what .
But whether you think in terms of concentric circles or Venn diagrams or pyramids of power , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Fraser Nelson in The Daily Telegraph
on the PM’s ‘command-and-control model’
Will Boris Johnson learn the real lesson of his first year in office?
“Earlier this week, Johnson spoke to a private meeting of Tory MPs, the first proper meeting since the crisis. They left feeling inspired and invigorated, as if they finally had their boss back. At Ronald Reagan’s funeral, Margaret Thatcher saluted his ability to pursue the heaviest of causes with a lightness of spirit and to embody what she called ‘the great cause of cheering us all up’. This is the Boris speciality, precisely what the Government and the country needs – more than almost anything else – right now. When he was in intensive care that night, his colleagues were terrified – for him and for the Government. If he went, they asked, who would follow? There was no answer. There still isn’t. What’s needed is a prime minister back in the saddle, with a Cabinet he trusts, pointing to a clear way out of a big mess. That’s precisely the sort of Government he promised a year ago. It’s his best hope now.”
2. Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, in The Independent
on who is really in charge in Downing Street
Boris Johnson thinks he’s a comedian. There’s nothing funny about his lack of leadership
“A year of Boris Johnson is a difficult thing to judge. In normal times it probably wouldn’t be, but we are, in case you hadn’t noticed, in the grip of a global pandemic. It is hard to look at the situation that the country is in and see if it is better, worse or the same as a year ago, when everything has changed. I won’t try to critique the state of the economy (bad) or how things feel on the ground in the community (bad) in a Boris Britain because not even his harshest critic could blame a pandemic on him. So instead I will judge him on his performance as prime minister against things that other prime ministers had to deal with, and how well he has handled the crisis. The two are inextricably linked. I am a lively sort; I like an off-the-cuff gag. I don’t take myself too seriously and no one would describe me as spick and span, so you might think that I would like the blustering scruffy style of the prime minister. However, I find it repellent.”
3. Iain Martin in The Times
on looking on the positive side
Britain’s hand is stronger than doomsters think
“Have you heard the one about Britain’s response to Covid-19 being world class? Tyler Cowen, an American economist, not a comedian, this week made the case for positivity about our performance since the pandemic struck. For daring to suggest that Britain might not be irretrievably doomed, he was greeted with incredulity and more than a little mockery on social media... [But] you don’t need to be a jingoistic proponent of daft British exceptionalism to see that he has a point. Other countries are making advances too, but Britain’s performance has clearly been remarkable. On treatment, Oxford University played a leading role in establishing that dexamethasone, a cheap corticosteroid, reduces deaths in patients most ill with Covid-19... If the progress continues, it offers the tantalising prospect of Britain being among the first countries to begin vaccinating its population.”
4. Martin Kettle in The Guardian
on threats to British democracy
The Russia report reveals that MI5 and MI6 have lost their way
“The big reveal in the Russia report is about Britain, not Russia. It’s that shortsighted British politicians have encouraged this to happen. It’s that UK intelligence agencies chose to watch from the sidelines while it went on. In the report’s three key phrases, the agencies regarded the defence of Britain’s democracy as too much of a ‘hot potato’ to intervene; they were so busy on anti-terrorist work that they ‘took their eye off the ball’; and this all happened because the government in general, not just the agencies, fostered a ‘somewhat laissez-faire policy approach’ to Russia. This failure is crucial. First, because it says the UK’s intelligence agencies were not focused on hostile threats for which there was already clear public evidence. And, second, because it suggests uncertainty within government about the agencies’ proper purposes, which in the end prevented them from doing their job.”
5. Michelle Cottle in The New York Times
on who has the ear of the Democratic candidate
The Battle for Joe Biden
“Looking to get a sense of how Mr. Biden’s governing vision is shaping up, I spent several weeks talking with his advisers, his allies, his critics and other party players. I wanted to know how the rolling crises have, for instance, impacted his search for the perfect running mate - the big reveal of which is expected any day now! - as well as how various policy proposals are being revised and expanded. It was clear that, fundamentally, Joe is gonna be Joe. But he recognizes the need to respond to all the turbulence - and if there’s one thing Team Biden has a surfeit of, it’s people looking to influence how he does that... With Mr. Biden having spent the last half-century collecting friends, aides and advisers, not to mention this campaign’s fast-growing official staff, the org chart for Team Biden can be hard to decipher. His inner circle is defined differently depending on whom you ask, and even reasonably senior staffers aren’t always clear about who does what. But whether you think in terms of concentric circles or Venn diagrams or pyramids of power, there are legions of people offering counsel.”


theweekuk--2020-07-24--Why flu jabs could help fight a second wave of coronavirus

The government is preparing to vaccinate 30 million people against common flu this year , introducing new jabs for 11-year-olds @ @ @ @ @ The reach of the programme will be doubled in an attempt to mitigate the impact @ @ @ @ @ .
There are concerns that people could suffer from Covid-19 and seasonal flu at the @ @ @ @ @ the health service becoming overwhelmed if there is a second wave of the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ government is acting to “ escape the nightmare scenario of a bad flu season alongside @ @ @ @ @ ” , says The Guardian .
“ It ’ s mission critical that we pull @ @ @ @ @ get ready for winter , ” said Health Secretary Matt Hancock .

The government is preparing to vaccinate 30 million people against common flu this year, introducing new jabs for 11-year-olds and those over 50.
The reach of the programme will be doubled in an attempt to mitigate the impact on the NHS this winter.
There are concerns that people could suffer from Covid-19 and seasonal flu at the same time, resulting in the health service becoming overwhelmed if there is a second wave of the coronavirus, says Sky News.
The government is acting to “escape the nightmare scenario of a bad flu season alongside a resurgence of the coronavirus”, says The Guardian.
“It’s mission critical that we pull out all the stops to get ready for winter,” said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
“We are now taking another important step to help protect the wider public by giving the flu vaccination to more people than ever before. This will be the biggest flu vaccination programme in history, and will help protect our NHS as we head into winter.
“If you are eligible for a free vaccine, whether it’s for the first time or because you usually receive one, then I would urge you to get it, not just to protect yourself, but to protect the NHS and your loved ones, from flu.”
Last year, around 15 million people received a seasonal flu jab, including over 65s, pregnant woman, and those with medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease and kidney disease. Care home residents and workers also received the jab.
This year, the government will roll out free jabs to Year Seven school pupils and those on the NHS shielded patient list. Over 50s will also be given the jab in phases, with the most vulnerable getting priority vaccination, reports the BBC.
Government sources say the UK has secured sufficient supplies of the latest flu vaccine, but there are concerns that not all GP surgeries will have the fridge space needed to store the number of doses they will need, says Sky News.
Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, stressed the harm flu can do. “Flu can have serious consequences and vulnerable people can die of it. Having the vaccine protects you, and helps reduce transmission to others,” he said.
“This winter more than ever, with Covid-19 still circulating, we need to help reduce all avoidable risks. Vaccinating more people will help reduce flu transmission and stop people becoming ill.”
Influenza causes an estimated one billion illnesses and up to 650,000 related deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization.


theweekuk--2020-07-24--Swedish government splits from doctors and scientists over herd immunity

Officials in Sweden have claimed the rate of coronavirus immunity in the capital city Stockholm could be as high as 40 % , raising scepticism from experts in the country .
The Swedish Public Health Agency , which devised the country ’ s “ maverick ” no-lockdown strategy , said that high immunity rates are “ already playing a big role in pushing back the disease ” , Politico reports .
Lead epidemiologist Anders Tegnell told reporters that Sweden is “ clearly at levels which are very significant ” , adding that “ the reduction we are now seeing speaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity in the population ” .
However , experts have said that herd immunity rates , which has been suggested to be achieved when around 45-50 % of the population is immune , “ were well below those mentioned by the agency ” , the news site says .
Twenty-five Swedish doctors and scientists have published an open letter on USA Today , lambasting the government ’ s approach to tackling the virus and suggesting that immunity rates may in fact be as low as 10 % .
One of the authors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Politico that “ better hygiene routines within elderly care homes and the fact that many Swedes are social distancing at summer homes ” are among the reasons for falling infection rates .
“ The reasons are manifold , but it is unlikely that herd immunity is playing any major role , ” she said , describing the Public Health Agency ’ s assertion as a “ completely unproven assumption ” .
More than 5,500 people have died with Covid-19 , according to latest figures , meaning Sweden has “ one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Europe , and by far the worst among the Nordic nations ” , the BBC reports .
Tegnell has previously admitted that too many Swedes have died , especially in Swedish care homes .
But said that he believes there is still “ no strong evidence that a lockdown would have made that much of a difference ” .

Officials in Sweden have claimed the rate of coronavirus immunity in the capital city Stockholm could be as high as 40%, raising scepticism from experts in the country.
The Swedish Public Health Agency, which devised the country’s “maverick” no-lockdown strategy, said that high immunity rates are “already playing a big role in pushing back the disease”, Politico reports.
Lead epidemiologist Anders Tegnell told reporters that Sweden is “clearly at levels which are very significant”, adding that “the reduction we are now seeing speaks strongly in favour of a very large immunity in the population”.
However, experts have said that herd immunity rates, which has been suggested to be achieved when around 45-50% of the population is immune, “were well below those mentioned by the agency”, the news site says.
Twenty-five Swedish doctors and scientists have published an open letter on USA Today, lambasting the government’s approach to tackling the virus and suggesting that immunity rates may in fact be as low as 10%.
One of the authors of the letter, virologist Lena Einhorn, told Politico that “better hygiene routines within elderly care homes and the fact that many Swedes are social distancing at summer homes” are among the reasons for falling infection rates.
“The reasons are manifold, but it is unlikely that herd immunity is playing any major role,” she said, describing the Public Health Agency’s assertion as a “completely unproven assumption”.
More than 5,500 people have died with Covid-19, according to latest figures, meaning Sweden has “one of the highest death rates relative to population size in Europe, and by far the worst among the Nordic nations”, the BBC reports.
Tegnell has previously admitted that too many Swedes have died, especially in Swedish care homes. But said that he believes there is still “no strong evidence that a lockdown would have made that much of a difference”.


theweekuk--2020-07-24--What ‘secrets’ could be revealed in Ghislaine Maxwell’s unsealed documents?

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theweekuk--2020-07-24--How the European Union failed to uphold ‘rule of law’ among its members

Members of the European Parliament ( MEPs ) have said they will refuse to rubber stamp the European Union ’ s budget and coronavirus recovery package due to concerns over spending and the health of democracy among member states .
A total of 465 MEPs voted for a resolution that could withhold backing for the deal .
The resolution says that MEPs “ do not accept ” the terms of the EU 's budget and recovery kacage and criticises the cuts to health , research and climate research , adding that the group “ strongly regrets ” weakened efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
EU leaders agreed a “ watered-down wording ” on a mechanism to tie disbursement of funding to upholding democratic norms , in a move set to “ embolden nationalist leaders in Poland and Hungary ” , Reuters says .
It is not the first time the EU has come under pressure for yielding to its least democratic members .
The two member states that have caused EU leaders the biggest headache over their assault on the rule of law are Hungary and Poland .
The former , led by right-wing populist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the EU ’ s first dictatorship ” by Euractiv .
In April , the country passed a law that handed the prime minister the right to rule by decree indefinitely and suspend existing laws .
Passed under the guise of “ coronavirus emergency powers ” , the law also saw Hungary “ suspend future elections , effectively eradicating democracy in the country and making Orban the world 's newest dictator ” , Business Insider says .
While the legislation tightened Orban ’ s grip over Hungary , it marked another step in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) reports .
“ Step by step ” , the group says , Orban and his Fidesz party have “ politicized the courts , decimated independent media , destroyed academic freedom , hobbled civil society , and promoted xenophobia ” .
In 2018 , The New York Times reported that Orban ’ s steps to consolidate his power made him “ an icon to far-right figures such as Stephen K. Bannon ” , while also providing “ a blueprint for the erosion of democratic institutions in countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now set in , with Poland ’ s ruling party also flouting democratic norms and beginning to show signs of turning into what Orban terms an “ illiberal democracy ” .
Writing in The Atlantic ahead of the country ’ s election this year , Yascha Mounk writes that Poland has undergone “ a massive attack ” on its democratic institutions over the past four years .
“ In an astoundingly short span of time ” , Mounk says , the country ’ s state television networks have become “ reliable purveyors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s court system ” has been achieved and free speech has been restricted .
Incumbent President Andrzej Duda this month won a narrow victory in a run-off presidential election over pro-EU Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski , running a campaign “ with alleged anti-Semitic and homophobic undertones ” , EuroNews reports .
The victory is likely to contribute to a “ strained relationship with the EU ” , the news site adds , after Duda nailed his colours to the mast by describing the EU as an “ imaginary community ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Has the EU done too little ?
In the aftermath of the EU recovery budget negotiations , Orban ’ s message to his supporters was clear : “ We fought it out !
” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki sounded a similar note , telling reporters that “ Poland can not be deprived of a single euro.
” Dutch PM Mark Rutte had pushed heavily for stringent rules on freezing recovery funds for countries that violate democratic norms , leading Orban to tell reporters that he could not understand “ the personal reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me or Hungary ” .
But political analysts told Reuters that under the agreed terms , “ Much will now depend on how quickly and firmly the EU… moves to agree on a mechanism that would force member states to uphold democratic values ” .
Piotr Buras , director of the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank ’ s Warsaw office , told the news agency that the summit ’ s conclusions were “ very unclear… both politically and legally ” .
“ If there is a lack of this conditionality or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then it will be a huge win for [ Hungary and Poland ] ” , Buras added , suggesting that Germany , which holds the EU presidency for the rest of 2020 , may still be able to introduce rule of law restrictions on funding .
In 2015 , as Orban walked to greet him , then-EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered a barb that summed up what HRW describes as the “ handwringing and milquetoast statements ” of the EU .
“ Hello , dictator , ” he reportedly said .
Three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an “ Article Seven ” against Hungary , triggering a mechanism that allows sanctions against states that breach the bloc ’ s values .
However , critics said that what followed was “ foot-dragging ” , with “ the EU Commission and member states doing almost nothing to stop Orban ” , HRW says .
The vote was the first time that the EU Parliament considered launching the Article Seven sanctions process against a member state , with Juncker telling reporters that he had “ given up ” on trying to talk with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ there are big differences ” between the Hungary and its fellow EU member states .
But “ a stronger response was possible ” , HRW says .
“ Ten million EU citizens now live under authoritarian rule .
How many millions more will have to suffer the loss of their freedoms before Europe ’ s leaders draw the line ?
”

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have said they will refuse to rubber stamp the European Union’s budget and coronavirus recovery package due to concerns over spending and the health of democracy among member states.
A total of 465 MEPs voted for a resolution that could withhold backing for the deal. The resolution says that MEPs “do not accept” the terms of the EU's budget and recovery kacage and criticises the cuts to health, research and climate research, adding that the group “strongly regrets” weakened efforts to tie EU funding to the rule of law.
EU leaders agreed a “watered-down wording” on a mechanism to tie disbursement of funding to upholding democratic norms, in a move set to “embolden nationalist leaders in Poland and Hungary”, Reuters says.
It is not the first time the EU has come under pressure for yielding to its least democratic members.
Democratic backslide
The two member states that have caused EU leaders the biggest headache over their assault on the rule of law are Hungary and Poland.
The former, led by right-wing populist Viktor Orban, has been described as “the EU’s first dictatorship” by Euractiv. In April, the country passed a law that handed the prime minister the right to rule by decree indefinitely and suspend existing laws.
Passed under the guise of “coronavirus emergency powers”, the law also saw Hungary “suspend future elections, effectively eradicating democracy in the country and making Orban the world's newest dictator”, Business Insider says.
While the legislation tightened Orban’s grip over Hungary, it marked another step in “a decade of authoritarian moves”, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports.
“Step by step”, the group says, Orban and his Fidesz party have “politicized the courts, decimated independent media, destroyed academic freedom, hobbled civil society, and promoted xenophobia”.
In 2018, The New York Times reported that Orban’s steps to consolidate his power made him “an icon to far-right figures such as Stephen K. Bannon”, while also providing “a blueprint for the erosion of democratic institutions in countries like Poland”.
That erosion has now set in, with Poland’s ruling party also flouting democratic norms and beginning to show signs of turning into what Orban terms an “illiberal democracy”.


theweekuk--2020-07-24--The Week Unwrapped podcast: Liars, pensioners and toast

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code : pod25 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In this week ’ s episode , we discuss : Since Her Majesty ’ s prison at Lincoln allowed inmates to eat unlimited amounts of toast and jam there has been a dramatic 11 % drop in violent prison incidents .
Were prisoners responding to a more humane and kinder form of treatment , of which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible expression ?
And if so , why are the prison authorities more generally , so reluctant to enact such relatively costless and decent reforms ?
A new psychological study has found that 13 % of people consider themselves “ pathological liars ” and tell about 10 lies a day .
Should compulsive lying be classified as a diagnostic disorder ?
Do people lie more now than they used to ?
And is lying necessary for society to run smoothly ?
Greece is cutting its tax rate on foreign pension income to just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attract well-off retirees to boost its economy in the wake of the coronavirus .
But will the rest of Europe stand for their populations being cherry-picked ?
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player , Spotify , Apple podcasts , SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts .

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code: pod25–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
Toast
Since Her Majesty’s prison at Lincoln allowed inmates to eat unlimited amounts of toast and jam there has been a dramatic 11% drop in violent prison incidents. Were prisoners responding to a more humane and kinder form of treatment, of which the provision of good food is just one possible expression? And if so, why are the prison authorities more generally, so reluctant to enact such relatively costless and decent reforms?
Liars
A new psychological study has found that 13% of people consider themselves “pathological liars” and tell about 10 lies a day. Should compulsive lying be classified as a diagnostic disorder? Do people lie more now than they used to? And is lying necessary for society to run smoothly?
Pensioners
Greece is cutting its tax rate on foreign pension income to just 7%, in a bid to attract well-off retirees to boost its economy in the wake of the coronavirus. But will the rest of Europe stand for their populations being cherry-picked?
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player, Spotify, Apple podcasts, SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts.


theweekuk--2020-07-24--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 24 Jul 2020

Leading chains say they will not enforce new rules requiring customers to wear face coverings .
Sainsburys , Asda , @ @ @ @ @ among retailers saying they have no intention of policing the laws , which come into @ @ @ @ @ Federation of England and Wales says it is “ unrealistic and unfair ” to expect @ @ @ @ @ aisles looking for people breaking the coronavirus regulations .

Supermarkets and police not keen on enforcing new mask laws
Leading chains say they will not enforce new rules requiring customers to wear face coverings. Sainsburys, Asda, Co-op and Costa Coffee are among retailers saying they have no intention of policing the laws, which come into effect today. The Police Federation of England and Wales says it is “unrealistic and unfair” to expect its officers to patrol the aisles looking for people breaking the coronavirus regulations.


theweekuk--2020-07-24--Personal trainer refuses to work with ‘fat people’

A personal trainer has provoked anger by refusing to work with “ fat people ” and claiming they are “ lazy ” and “ lack self-worth ” .
Samantha Yardly told ITV “ we need to make it more inconvenient to be obese ” and described obesity as a “ lifestyle choice.
” She has been criticised on Twitter as “ fat phobic ” and “ discriminatory ” .
A Slovakian martial artist broke a Guinness World Record when he threw 322 punches in one minute .
Pavel Trusov , 25 , said he prepared and trained for six months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules required each punch to be a “ full extension punch , ” meaning his arm had to fully extend with every blow .
A tourist in Ibiza broke her back when she fell more than 60ft from a balcony while having a nightmare .
Coral Skipp , from Powys in Wales , fell in her sleep from the third floor of the building .
Skipp , who fractured her spine , broke her hips and needed stitches , is now receiving treatment at the Can Misses Hospital in Ibiza .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A personal trainer has provoked anger by refusing to work with “fat people” and claiming they are “lazy” and “lack self-worth”. Samantha Yardly told ITV “we need to make it more inconvenient to be obese” and described obesity as a “lifestyle choice.” She has been criticised on Twitter as “fat phobic” and “discriminatory”.
Slovak beats punching record
A Slovakian martial artist broke a Guinness World Record when he threw 322 punches in one minute. Pavel Trusov, 25, said he prepared and trained for six months before officially attempting the record. Guinness rules required each punch to be a “full extension punch,” meaning his arm had to fully extend with every blow.
Brit breaks back while sleeping in Ibiza
A tourist in Ibiza broke her back when she fell more than 60ft from a balcony while having a nightmare. Coral Skipp, from Powys in Wales, fell in her sleep from the third floor of the building. Skipp, who fractured her spine, broke her hips and needed stitches, is now receiving treatment at the Can Misses Hospital in Ibiza.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-07-23--Quiz of The Week: 18 July - 24 July

Quiz of The Week: 18 July - 24 July


theweekuk--2020-07-24--The best affordable independent watches 2020

There is no shortage of talented independent watchmakers out there creating exciting timepieces , often with limited resources .
But there are also a lot of not very good ones , creating boring and forgettable watches and charging way over the odds for them .
To help you navigate your way to an affordable mechanical watch that is genuinely worth the money , The Week Portfolio has scoured through the market to sort the horological wheat from the timekeeping chaff .
It is hard to overstate how much we here at The Week Portfolio love DIY Watch Club .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mechanical watches , chances are you will be curious about what is going on behind the dial .
You may even be aware of the community of passionate watch modifiers - or modders - who take watches apart and put them back together again with different dials , bezels , hands and crowns .
If that sounds like fun , but you don ’ t really know where to start , the DIY Watch Club offers the perfect way in .
They will send you all the tools you need to put together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dress watches , which arrive in parts ready to be assembled .
With your purchase comes access to well-produced how-to videos that will hold your hand through the process , taking the guesswork out of it .
We opted for the DWC-D01 ( below ) , one of the dive watches the company offers , featuring a black dial and housing a reliable Seiko movement .
The construction process is relatively straightforward , with just a couple of hairy moments - the worst of which was the application of the second hand .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which warns that if you mess the application up too badly , you will break the movement and it will be game over .
With a shaking hand , we eventually managed to apply the tiny pointer and get through the rest of the process to emerge from the roughly two-hour task with a glorious dive watch that looks great on the wrist and , with a depth rating of 200 metres , could genuinely be put to work beneath the waves .
The “ finished ” product is , of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once you get a taste for it , you may soon find yourself back on the DIY Watch Club website looking for new components including straps , hands and dials - or heading out into the wider internet to pick up even more exotic parts from the burgeoning watch mod community .
By the time you are done , your watch will truly feel like a one of a kind because , well , it will be .
One of the most interesting indie watchmakers of the moment is Ciga Design , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bevy of design awards in its short history .
The watches in its collection reveal a creative impulse that is highly eclectic .
Many companies iterate with each new watch they produce , refining previous products as they go , or at least displaying a discernible DNA which is present across the range .
Not so with Ciga which seems intent on creating something genuinely new with each new watch .
The most recent two releases stand as an excellent case in point .
The Z Series ( above ) is a watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the celebrity-favourite watch brand du jour , Richard Mille .
The watch has the same case shape , a kind of bowed ellipsis with flattened-off ends .
It is an imposing scale , but given the case is made from titanium , it feels incredibly light on the wrist , a detail which may have contributed to the Z Series winning the 2020 German Design Award .
The dial is skeletonised , revealing the beating heart of the movement below , and hands are tipped with red to lift them out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subtle face - a departure from those of Richard Mille , which can be cacophonic , verging on vulgar .
The J Series ( below ) is subtler still , with a dial inspired by Zen Japanese rock gardens .
If there is a connection between the J and the Z it would be the skeletonisation of the dial , which here also reveals the movement below .
Apart from that though , the two look almost like watches made by different manufacturers .
One thing that is common to the pair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in - a sleek white box that opens like a book , with spaces cut out for the watch and the two straps which come as standard with each .
Particularly handsome is the mesh bracelet that comes with the J series , a stainless steel Milanese strap , which contours perfectly to the wrist .
The alternative is a polymer strap , which carries on the Japanese rock garden theme with lines that look like raked sand .
Both straps offer a very different look and it is nice to have alternatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ciga ’ s other watches are equally diverse , including a watch that looks something like a hollowed out Apple Watch , and other radical departures .
This is a brand that genuinely offers something for everyone .
Crowdfunded watch start-ups are a dime a dozen these days , but every now and then a brand emerges with a totally new concept that captures collectors ’ imaginations .
So it was when Singapore-based design studio Humism launched a range of kinetic watches that utilise an automatic movement in concert with two or three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of artwork for our wrists .
Indeed , Humism smashed through its funding goals in just 30 minutes after launching its inaugural Kinetic Art watch collection , Philosophies , in February 2017 .
Take your pick really , all the designs are gorgeous and entirely mesmeric .
To our eye , however , the Rhizome might just be the most beautiful of the lot .
Creativity and experimentation used to be core values of watchmaking , but these days many of the world ’ s best-known brands prioritise legibility and traditionalism over originality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviews site A Blog to Watch says : “ As consumer tastes ebb toward conservatism during unpredictable economic times ( as we are in now ) , more experimental or artistic designs often get pushed to the side.
” And as a result , the so-called art watches of yesteryear have become increasingly difficult to find , especially at an affordable price point .
Enter London-based timepiece brand Mr. Jones Watches , which has built up a loyal following by creating a range of innovative designs dreamt up by tattooists , artists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artistry on offer at Mr Jones , with cool movements that place numbers in unexpected places , or support floating dial elements and other clever tricks .
The Week Portfolio is partial to The Last Laugh Tattoo XL , but the colour Venn is also appealing , as is A Perfectly useless afternoon .
Possibly the perfect summer watch .

There is no shortage of talented independent watchmakers out there creating exciting timepieces, often with limited resources. But there are also a lot of not very good ones, creating boring and forgettable watches and charging way over the odds for them. To help you navigate your way to an affordable mechanical watch that is genuinely worth the money, The Week Portfolio has scoured through the market to sort the horological wheat from the timekeeping chaff. DIY Watch Club It is hard to overstate how much we here at The Week Portfolio love DIY Watch Club. If you have even a passing interest in mechanical watches, chances are you will be curious about what is going on behind the dial. You may even be aware of the community of passionate watch modifiers - or modders - who take watches apart and put them back together again with different dials, bezels, hands and crowns. If that sounds like fun, but you don’t really know where to start, the DIY Watch Club offers the perfect way in. They will send you all the tools you need to put together a range of different dive watches and dress watches, which arrive in parts ready to be assembled. With your purchase comes access to well-produced how-to videos that will hold your hand through the process, taking the guesswork out of it. We opted for the DWC-D01 (below), one of the dive watches the company offers, featuring a black dial and housing a reliable Seiko movement. The construction process is relatively straightforward, with just a couple of hairy moments - the worst of which was the application of the second hand. This step comes with its own video which warns that if you mess the application up too badly, you will break the movement and it will be game over. Skip advert With a shaking hand, we eventually managed to apply the tiny pointer and get through the rest of the process to emerge from the roughly two-hour task with a glorious dive watch that looks great on the wrist and, with a depth rating of 200 metres, could genuinely be put to work beneath the waves.
The “finished” product is, of course, only the start of your watchmaking journey. Once you get a taste for it, you may soon find yourself back on the DIY Watch Club website looking for new components including straps, hands and dials - or heading out into the wider internet to pick up even more exotic parts from the burgeoning watch mod community. By the time you are done, your watch will truly feel like a one of a kind because, well, it will be. Prices begin at around £190; diywatch.club Ciga watches One of the most interesting indie watchmakers of the moment is Ciga Design, a Chinese brand that has won a bevy of design awards in its short history. The watches in its collection reveal a creative impulse that is highly eclectic. Many companies iterate with each new watch they produce, refining previous products as they go, or at least displaying a discernible DNA which is present across the range. Not so with Ciga which seems intent on creating something genuinely new with each new watch. The most recent two releases stand as an excellent case in point. The Z Series (above) is a watch with more than a passing resemblance to the celebrity-favourite watch brand du jour, Richard Mille. The watch has the same case shape, a kind of bowed ellipsis with flattened-off ends. It is an imposing scale, but given the case is made from titanium, it feels incredibly light on the wrist, a detail which may have contributed to the Z Series winning the 2020 German Design Award. The dial is skeletonised, revealing the beating heart of the movement below, and hands are tipped with red to lift them out of the movement. The effect is a surprisingly subtle face - a departure from those of Richard Mille, which can be cacophonic, verging on vulgar. Skip advert The J Series (below) is subtler still, with a dial inspired by Zen Japanese rock gardens. If there is a connection between the J and the Z it would be the skeletonisation of the dial, which here also reveals the movement below. Apart from that though, the two look almost like watches made by different manufacturers. One thing that is common to the pair of them is the beautiful packaging they arrive in - a sleek white box that opens like a book, with spaces cut out for the watch and the two straps which come as standard with each.


theweekuk--2020-07-24--£20m robotic dolphin could replace captive animals

Robotic dolphins could replace live ones in Chinese aquariums after extensive bans on the wildlife trade in the country .
San Francisco tech company Edge Innovations has created an animatronic dolphin that can last over a decade in salt water without any maintenance .
“ Judging from footage of it in a pool , you ’ d be hard pressed to tell the difference between this and a real one , ” says Metro .
And a test audience had been unable to guess the dolphin was not real , Melanie Langlotz , one of the entrepreneurs behind the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can swim for up to 10 hours on a single charge of its battery , and is operated via remote control .
Not only does the replica look and move like a real dolphin , it feels like one too .
It has a realistic skeletal and muscular structure underneath its outer skin , and accurate weight distribution that helps make its swimming motion look like the robot is actually alive , says Gizmodo .
The dolphin is being developed after China introduced strict new rules on the buying and selling of exotic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
But even after the pandemic , animal rights activists say that robotic dolphins should remain in place of live creatures .
Elisa Allen , UK director for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals , said in a statement she hoped robotic dolphins “ will replace real ones in marine parks worldwide ” , adding that “ in 2020 , cutting-edge technology allows us to experience nature without harming it ” .


theweekuk--2020-07-27--What Britain can learn from Japan and Germany’s social care fix

After more than a decade of delay and several failed attempts , the government is reportedly gearing up for another shot at solving the UK ’ s social care crisis .
“ The system that officials are considering is a modified version of how Japan and Germany fund social care , ” The Guardian reports .
“ Both are widely admired for having created a sustainable way of financing social care to deal with the rising needs an ageing population brings.
” “ The current system is widely regarded as unfair , complex , confusing and failing to meet growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the Nuffield Trust .
It varies widely not only between England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland , but also between different local authorities within each part of the UK .
While some people ’ s care is paid for by the state , others have to use up most of their savings before they can receive government support .
How does social care work in Japan ?
Japan has “ one of the most comprehensive social care systems for the elderly in the world ” , says The Conversation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ long debate about how to care for the world ’ s oldest population .
“ The system is partly funded by a national insurance fund that all over 40s pay into and partly out of general and local taxation , ” says the Nuffield Trust .
Individuals pay 10 % of the costs out of their own pockets .
“ Japan has traditionally relied on hospitals to provide care for the long-term sick , although use of residential care is increasing , ” says the King ’ s Fund .
“ Residential care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” but in-home care is provided mostly by private companies .
Eligibility for services is determined by a medical assessment carried out by a care manager , who is then responsible for arranging the necessary support .
“ At the heart of the Japanese system is a strong commitment to long-term prevention of loneliness and ill health , ” says the Nuffield Trust .
This represents “ a stark contrast to England ’ s short-term approach , driven by budget constraints , which is focused increasingly only on those with highest needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social care work in Germany ?
In 1994 , Germany launched a “ universal and equitable funding model , supported by both main political parties ” , says the London School of Economics .
Less generous than the Japanese system , it is intended only “ to cover basic needs ” , says the King ’ s Fund .
But the care provided is identical throughout the country and is determined by an individual ’ s need rather than his or her ability to pay .
Although wealthier individuals are expected to top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they ’ re not expected to pay the whole cost of their care - as they are in England .
Poorer Germans can apply for means-tested benefits to cover the funding gap .
To fund the system “ everyone starts paying into a fund from the time they start working ” , says City A.M.. “ Currently 1.5 % of every person ’ s salary , and an identical sum from employers , is safeguarded to pay for care in later life.
” The contributions are “ administered by health insurers ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and used to pay for a wide variety of support .
“ Nearly all social care , including institutional and home care , is delivered by private providers , ” it adds .
What can the UK learn from Japan and Germany ?
Proposals to increase taxes for people over 40 to fund universal care in old age “ are emerging as the government ’ s preferred solution to the social care crisis , after Boris Johnson last year promised to fix it ‘ once and for all ’ , ” City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succeed where many of his predecessors have failed , he will have to persuade a sceptical public that his proposals will work for them .
In Germany , there is a broad understanding that “ long-term care is a social risk requiring social protection , ” says the LSE .
“ This is not a partisan position.
” In the UK , by contrast , previous attempts to reform social care have foundered on party politics .
“ In 2010 the Labour government was accused by the Tories of planning a ‘ death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time of death to fund a universal national care service , ” The Independent reports .
“ In turn , Theresa May ’ s Conservatives were met with hostility after the party ’ s 2017 election manifesto included proposals for more people to pay for social care by selling their homes .
The policy was branded a ‘ dementia tax ’ by the opposition .
”


theweekuk--2020-07-27--US election 2020: has Donald Trump hated being president?

As the race for the White House enters its final 100 days , commentators have been speculating on why Donald Trump is showing little apparent enthusiasm for the fight .
A flurry of new polls show the Democratic challenger Joe Biden now in possession of a “ daunting lead ” over the incumbent , The Observer says .
But with the Trump campaign in chaos following a disastrous rally in Tulsa , a team shake-up including the replacement of campaign manager Brad Parscale and a president who has sometimes looked uninterested in the whole process , some commentators have questioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Four years ago today “ frenzied scenes ” greeted then-presidential candidate Donald Trump as he mounted a frenetic three-state day of campaigning , hopping from Florida to Pennsylvania to Ohio , says Politico ’ s Michael Kruse .
A “ surging Trump ” , who was by that point even with Hillary Clinton in some polls and pulling ahead in others , whipped his supporters into a state of excitement that “ bordered on delirium ” .
Now , though , Trump ’ s heart doesn ’ t seem to be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he inspiring the same fervour in his supporters , Kruse says .
Republican consultant Michael Steel likened the difference between then and now to the experience of seeing Bruce Springsteen in the mid-80s versus seeing him a generation later on Broadway .
“ Same performer .
Same basic set list .
Energy level is a hundred percent different.
” As his approval ratings have waned and his poll prospects plummeted , the 45th US president appears to have lost his taste not only for the job but also for the election battle ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
“ Rather than focus on plans and goals for another four years in office , Mr. Trump has been wallowing in self-pity about news coverage of him since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic , ” the newspaper said , citing people who have spoken to him .
“ For Mr. Trump , the high of winning the presidency has rarely been matched by the duties that come with the position , ” the paper concluded .
Does Trump want another four years ?
According to the Daily Beast , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than he is in doing the job for another four years .
“ He wants to win , but he doesn ’ t want any of the responsibilities that actually come with being president , ” the website says .
With fewer than 100 days left , the former reality TV host also lacks any specific policies , says Bloomberg ’ s Jonathan Bernstein .
He isn ’ t promising to “ ‘ transition to greatness ’ or whatever this week ’ s campaign slogan might be , ” Bernstein says .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s supposedly running on a ‘ law and order ’ agenda in response to the protests against police violence from the past few weeks , let alone any specific policy ideas.
” The three most pressing threats to Trump ’ s reelection chances are the coronavirus pandemic , the country ’ s dire economic situation , and the motivation of Democrats hoping to see Trump replaced , says The Washington Post .
And yet “ in every case , the president has chosen not just to avoid taking actions that might help him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation.
” Many of his decisions have been “ substantively appalling , resulting in more death , misery and political instability , ” the newspaper says , “ but even from the standpoint of his own self-interest , they ’ re almost incomprehensible ” .
Of course , Biden ’ s lead may not be as unassailable as recent polls suggest .
Biden is a “ weak candidate ” , says The Spectator , and Democrats support him more “ out of disdain for Trump rather than enthusiasm for their man ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump to turn his campaign around and so far he hasn ’ t shown any willingness to do so , the Washington Post says .
“ Trump has spent a lifetime trying to avoid being seen as a loser , ” the paper says , “ yet for some reason , he won ’ t do any of the things that would make that outcome less likely .
Joe Biden probably can ’ t believe his luck .
”


theweekuk--2020-07-27--Oxford University professors reveal ‘sexist’ and ‘patronising’ exam answers

Oxford University ’ s history students have been lectured by their professors for treating certain social groups with “ patronising disdain ” .
History dons said students had referred to the North as “ backwards ” and Irish people as “ tribal ” in exams .
Answers on the role of women “ produced some bad answers ” including essays which “ implied that the only women with any agency were those who became queens regnant ” , reports The Telegraph .
Professors complained that students ’ answers on British social history during the Early Modern period were “ remarkably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of the students who took a paper in medieval Christendom and its neighbours , only 13 out of nearly 200 essays were on the role of women or gender , reports Fr24 News .
“ The overwhelming majority of essays , that is , the other 185 essays , barely mentioned women , ” examiners said .
“ Many exam scripts did not mention women once .
The world of EWH2 seems to be a world in which only men are worth studying and writing about , that is , provided they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history students ’ essays on class in modern and Victorian Britain were “ particularly poor ” with students showing “ very little understanding of what class was ” .
Even when students did examine the role of women , they took an “ old-fashioned view ” in which women ’ s lives were “ determined by patriarchy unless they were Eleanor of Aquitaine or Matilda of Tuscany ” .
The remarks were made in examiner reports for preliminary exams .
Examiners warned that this should “ worry everyone teaching the paper and everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have called for departments to diversify curricula and reading lists in recent weeks .
“ Students studying Politics , History , English , Philosophy , Linguistics , and Music ... are pushing for better Black and minority ethnic representation on reading lists and to decolonise the focus of each course , ” says The Oxford Student .

Oxford University’s history students have been lectured by their professors for treating certain social groups with “patronising disdain”.
History dons said students had referred to the North as “backwards” and Irish people as “tribal” in exams.
Answers on the role of women “produced some bad answers” including essays which “implied that the only women with any agency were those who became queens regnant”, reports The Telegraph. Professors complained that students’ answers on British social history during the Early Modern period were “remarkably bad”.
And they complained that, of the students who took a paper in medieval Christendom and its neighbours, only 13 out of nearly 200 essays were on the role of women or gender, reports Fr24 News.
“The overwhelming majority of essays, that is, the other 185 essays, barely mentioned women,” examiners said. “Many exam scripts did not mention women once. The world of EWH2 seems to be a world in which only men are worth studying and writing about, that is, provided they were not slaves or serfs.”
The history students’ essays on class in modern and Victorian Britain were “particularly poor” with students showing “very little understanding of what class was”.
Even when students did examine the role of women, they took an “old-fashioned view” in which women’s lives were “determined by patriarchy unless they were Eleanor of Aquitaine or Matilda of Tuscany”. The remarks were made in examiner reports for preliminary exams.
Examiners warned that this should “worry everyone teaching the paper and everyone taking the paper”.
Oxford students have called for departments to diversify curricula and reading lists in recent weeks. “Students studying Politics, History, English, Philosophy, Linguistics, and Music... are pushing for better Black and minority ethnic representation on reading lists and to decolonise the focus of each course,” says The Oxford Student.


theweekuk--2020-07-27--Which countries are the ‘most admired in the world’ – and why?

Germany has topped a poll of the world ’ s “ most admired countries ” , leaving the US a distant second ahead of China and Russia .
The annual poll by Gallup found Germany topped the list for the third year running , leading the US by 10 percentage points , The Guardian says .
The European nation had an approval rating of 44 % , while the US clocked in at 33 % .
China was one point behind the US , on 32 % , while Russia lagged behind America by three points .
The survey of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken in 2019 , before the coronavirus struck .
However , Germany ’ s successful battle with the pandemic is likely to have only strengthened its image as a reliable global power .
“ Longtime German chancellor Angela Merkel , loved or hated , has been one of the most predictable leaders in highly uncertain times in both Europe and the global order , ” said Gallup ’ s editor-in-chief , Mohamed Younis .
The US ’ s global rating will “ cast doubt ” on claims made by the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week told Reuters the country was “ perfectly positioned ” to lead the free world in opposition to the Chinese Communist Party .
During the Obama administration , the US topped the Gallup poll every year bar one , but its international popularity has plummeted by 18 % since Trump took office .
And the president ’ s handling of the pandemic , which has so far hit the US harder than any other country in terms of deaths , could further harm the country ’ s standing .
Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international treaties and organisations may also be a factor in the large drop in the country ’ s ratings , Gallup said .
Approval for the US is lowest among its traditional allies in Europe , where 61 % disapprove of its leadership and 24 % approve .
The three countries on the continent that gave the US a positive approval rating were Kosovo , Albania and Poland .
China led the US in 2018 , but has faced criticism for its increasingly “ aggressive diplomacy ” , The New York Times reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sour as rows over the involvement of Huawei in Britain ’ s 5G network and the diplomatic crackdown in Hong Kong intensify , the Financial Times adds .

Germany has topped a poll of the world’s “most admired countries”, leaving the US a distant second ahead of China and Russia.
The annual poll by Gallup found Germany topped the list for the third year running, leading the US by 10 percentage points, The Guardian says.
The European nation had an approval rating of 44%, while the US clocked in at 33%. China was one point behind the US, on 32%, while Russia lagged behind America by three points.
The survey of a thousand adults in 135 countries was taken in 2019, before the coronavirus struck. However, Germany’s successful battle with the pandemic is likely to have only strengthened its image as a reliable global power.
“Longtime German chancellor Angela Merkel, loved or hated, has been one of the most predictable leaders in highly uncertain times in both Europe and the global order,” said Gallup’s editor-in-chief, Mohamed Younis.
The US’s global rating will “cast doubt” on claims made by the country’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who last week told Reuters the country was “perfectly positioned” to lead the free world in opposition to the Chinese Communist Party.
During the Obama administration, the US topped the Gallup poll every year bar one, but its international popularity has plummeted by 18% since Trump took office.
And the president’s handling of the pandemic, which has so far hit the US harder than any other country in terms of deaths, could further harm the country’s standing.
Trump’s protectionist economic policies and withdrawal from some international treaties and organisations may also be a factor in the large drop in the country’s ratings, Gallup said.
Approval for the US is lowest among its traditional allies in Europe, where 61% disapprove of its leadership and 24% approve. The three countries on the continent that gave the US a positive approval rating were Kosovo, Albania and Poland.
China led the US in 2018, but has faced criticism for its increasingly “aggressive diplomacy”, The New York Times reports. Relations with the UK have continued to sour as rows over the involvement of Huawei in Britain’s 5G network and the diplomatic crackdown in Hong Kong intensify, the Financial Times adds.


theweekuk--2020-07-27--Instant Opinion: ‘Trump may lose, but Trumpism will go on’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on voters scared to reveal their political allegiance Trump may lose the election , but the American culture war will continue to rage “ A section of the electorate genuinely loves Trump , but his relationship with most voters has always been transactional : they backed him in 2016 less for who he was than who he wasn ’ t .
The Democrats don ’ t understand this .
They had an easy shot at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump driving even his own supporters away , they could ’ ve run Biden as a moderate alternative and walked it .
Instead , they chose to embrace the protests and the toxic politics that go with them .
The delusions of this strategy were summed up by a tweet Biden put out arguing that the Confederate flag should be banned from military bases , and that it should be possible to fly the gay pride flag instead .
It begs the question , who do you vote for if you don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The pollster Robert Cahaly , one of the most accurate in 2016 , talks about a ‘ social desirability bias ’ , which means people lie about who they are going to vote for because they are frightened of being ostracised.
” on the idea we all need to ‘ stay in our lane ’ “ Singing ‘ glad to be gay ’ does not demean heterosexuality any more than declaring ‘ I am woman ’ suggests that men are a bad lot .
It is true that while most great jazz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be one of them .
I once ran very fast but I was always a duffer with a cricket ball .
Neither fact prevents me from identifying with the success of American jazz musicians and West Indian fast bowlers ; pride in my identity does not have to imply criticism of anyone else ’ s .
But increasingly , the woke are turning what should be the very basis of solidarity - pleasure in what people who share your background bring to the world - into a source of suffering , misery and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeat nationalism , it needs to change its tune on belonging .
Discrimination on the basis of gender , race or sexual orientation has caused us all much grief .
Let ’ s not make the joy of belonging to a tribe a fresh casualty of the culture wars.
” 3 .
Peter Beinart in The New York Times on what Biden has that Clinton did not “ What has changed radically over the past four years isn ’ t Americans ’ perception of Mr. Trump .
It ’ s their perception of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politics ’ s polling average , Joe Biden ’ s net approval rating is about -1 point .
At this point in the 2016 campaign , Hillary Clinton ’ s net approval rating was -17 points .
For much of the 2016 general election , Mr. Trump faced a Democratic nominee who was also deeply unpopular .
Today , he enjoys no such luck .
Why was Mrs. Clinton so much more unpopular than Mr. Biden is now ?
There ’ s good reason to believe that gender plays a key role .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t just far less popular than Mr. Biden .
She was far less popular than every male Democratic nominee since at least 1992 .
Neither Bill Clinton , Al Gore , John Kerry nor Barack Obama faced overwhelming public disapproval throughout their general election campaigns .
Hillary Clinton did.
” 4 .
James Millward , professor of history at Georgetown University , in The Guardian on acting to prevent genocide in Xinjiang “ A number of democratic nations have already denounced the Xinjiang atrocities in the UN Human Rights Council – a body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , clearing the way for cynical PRC perversion of the council ’ s purpose .
Although these 22 nations ( including Britain , much of Europe , Canada , Japan , Australia and New Zealand ) were outnumbered by a cadre of states lined up behind Beijing , the joint statement condemning Xinjiang mass detentions matters , as will future such moves .
At the same time , whatever can be done to slow the runaway , off-the-rails train of Trumpian China policy more generally , and resolutely oppose racism and indiscriminate China-bashing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK , EU and other democratic allies are caught near the beginning of a US-China cold war , the Huawei tiff will be just the beginning .
Maintaining cultural and academic relations with the PRC is now more important than ever , as White House xenophobes seek to exclude Chinese people from American soil.
” on the shockwaves of ‘ Megxit ’ The Meghan and Harry drama is just like Brexit – there ’ s no cherry picking and it ’ ll all end in tears “ Megxit is turning out to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has become apparent that there is no soft version of either after all , no happy halfway house , no grand compromise that would allow all sides to have their cake and eat it .
You ’ re either in the EU or you ’ re out , so far as Britain is concerned ; you ’ re either royal or you ain ’ t , in the case of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex .
It ends in tears .
The only thing left are the recriminations , and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From what I ’ ve seen of the curiously named Finding Freedom , a book which puts the Sussexes ’ case with suspiciously well-informed partisanship , we ’ re now well into blame game territory .
I ’ d quite forgotten that Megxit was still at the ‘ pilot scheme ’ stage , to see how things were coming along .
It seems there is no way back to royal ‘ normality ’ for Harry and Meghan .
Their quarantine , though comfortable , is permanent .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Tim Stanley in The Daily Telegraph
on voters scared to reveal their political allegiance
Trump may lose the election, but the American culture war will continue to rage
“A section of the electorate genuinely loves Trump, but his relationship with most voters has always been transactional: they backed him in 2016 less for who he was than who he wasn’t. The Democrats don’t understand this. They had an easy shot at the White House this time – with Trump driving even his own supporters away, they could’ve run Biden as a moderate alternative and walked it. Instead, they chose to embrace the protests and the toxic politics that go with them. The delusions of this strategy were summed up by a tweet Biden put out arguing that the Confederate flag should be banned from military bases, and that it should be possible to fly the gay pride flag instead. It begs the question, who do you vote for if you don’t have some weird obsession with flags? The pollster Robert Cahaly, one of the most accurate in 2016, talks about a ‘social desirability bias’, which means people lie about who they are going to vote for because they are frightened of being ostracised.”
2. Trevor Phillips in The Times
on the idea we all need to ‘stay in our lane’
Woke warriors threaten our sense of identity
“Singing ‘glad to be gay’ does not demean heterosexuality any more than declaring ‘I am woman’ suggests that men are a bad lot. It is true that while most great jazz trumpeters are black I’ll never be one of them. I once ran very fast but I was always a duffer with a cricket ball. Neither fact prevents me from identifying with the success of American jazz musicians and West Indian fast bowlers; pride in my identity does not have to imply criticism of anyone else’s. But increasingly, the woke are turning what should be the very basis of solidarity - pleasure in what people who share your background bring to the world - into a source of suffering, misery and fear. If the left wants to defeat nationalism, it needs to change its tune on belonging. Discrimination on the basis of gender, race or sexual orientation has caused us all much grief. Let’s not make the joy of belonging to a tribe a fresh casualty of the culture wars.”
3. Peter Beinart in The New York Times
on what Biden has that Clinton did not
The Real Reason Biden Is Winning? He’s a Man
“What has changed radically over the past four years isn’t Americans’ perception of Mr. Trump. It’s their perception of his opponent. According to Real Clear Politics’s polling average, Joe Biden’s net approval rating is about -1 point. At this point in the 2016 campaign, Hillary Clinton’s net approval rating was -17 points. For much of the 2016 general election, Mr. Trump faced a Democratic nominee who was also deeply unpopular. Today, he enjoys no such luck. Why was Mrs. Clinton so much more unpopular than Mr. Biden is now? There’s good reason to believe that gender plays a key role. For starters, Mrs. Clinton wasn’t just far less popular than Mr. Biden. She was far less popular than every male Democratic nominee since at least 1992. Neither Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry nor Barack Obama faced overwhelming public disapproval throughout their general election campaigns. Hillary Clinton did.”
4. James Millward, professor of history at Georgetown University, in The Guardian
on acting to prevent genocide in Xinjiang
The Uighurs’ suffering deserves targeted solutions, not anti-Chinese posturing
“A number of democratic nations have already denounced the Xinjiang atrocities in the UN Human Rights Council – a body from which Trump rashly withdrew the US, clearing the way for cynical PRC perversion of the council’s purpose. Although these 22 nations (including Britain, much of Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand) were outnumbered by a cadre of states lined up behind Beijing, the joint statement condemning Xinjiang mass detentions matters, as will future such moves. At the same time, whatever can be done to slow the runaway, off-the-rails train of Trumpian China policy more generally, and resolutely oppose racism and indiscriminate China-bashing, is equally necessary. If the UK, EU and other democratic allies are caught near the beginning of a US-China cold war, the Huawei tiff will be just the beginning. Maintaining cultural and academic relations with the PRC is now more important than ever, as White House xenophobes seek to exclude Chinese people from American soil.”
5. Sean O’Grady in The Independent
on the shockwaves of ‘Megxit’
The Meghan and Harry drama is just like Brexit – there’s no cherry picking and it’ll all end in tears
“Megxit is turning out to be more than a bit like Brexit. It has become apparent that there is no soft version of either after all, no happy halfway house, no grand compromise that would allow all sides to have their cake and eat it. You’re either in the EU or you’re out, so far as Britain is concerned; you’re either royal or you ain’t, in the case of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It ends in tears. The only thing left are the recriminations, and to sort out who gets the blame... From what I’ve seen of the curiously named Finding Freedom, a book which puts the Sussexes’ case with suspiciously well-informed partisanship, we’re now well into blame game territory. I’d quite forgotten that Megxit was still at the ‘pilot scheme’ stage, to see how things were coming along. It seems there is no way back to royal ‘normality’ for Harry and Meghan. Their quarantine, though comfortable, is permanent.”


theweekuk--2020-07-27--Explained: is it safe to book a holiday in Europe when quarantine rules could change?

Spain ’ s government has insisted that the country is safe for tourists and locals , following Britain ’ s sudden reimposition of a two-week quarantine on returning travellers .
Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told reporters that “ most new cases are asymptomatic ” , adding that the ministry is in talks to exclude UK travellers returning from the Balearic islands and the Canary islands from the quarantine measures .
However , the sudden reintroduction of quarantine restrictions left many tourists “ confused and distressed ” , with some rushing to book flights out of the country at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said that the government could not “ guarantee ” that other countries would not be removed from the list in the future , adding that Brits heading abroad will face continued “ uncertainty ” around their summer holidays .
So is it safe to book a trip outside of the UK - or is it best to wait out the coming months ?
How dangerous is a trip to Europe ?
European Union diplomats spent five days debating which countries the bloc would deem “ safe ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee saying there was “ intense lobbying by representatives of the US , Russia and Turkey to get included on the list ” .
Those lobbying efforts were unsuccessful , with the EU agreeing to allow travellers from Algeria , Australia , Canada , China , Georgia , Japan , Montenegro , Morocco , New Zealand , Rwanda , Serbia , South Korea , Thailand , Tunisia and Uruguay .
The list of countries was based on three factors : ensuring that the Covid-19 infection rate in the country was low enough ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , a downward trend of cases and social distancing measures set at “ a sufficient level ” .
To apply the EU ’ s own logic to European countries , this would mean that many counties on the continent should be safe for holidaymakers .
Case numbers have been stable in popular destinations such as Cyprus , France , Germany , Greece and Italy since the beginning of July , according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control .
However , things can change quickly , as seen in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel to Spain .
The country recorded 280 new cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours on Friday , “ three times more than two weeks ago ” , according to EuroNews .
And concerns are rising that France and Germany could also be removed from the UK ’ s safe travel list .
French Prime Minister Jean Castex “ raised the possibility of a second lockdown ” and German politician Michael Kretschmer , premier of Saxony , said rising infection rates suggest a “ second coronavirus wave is already sweeping through Germany ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in the UK are also rising , with government data estimating that 2,800 people per day are catching the virus with infection rates rising in 63 areas of the country , the Daily Mail says .
The government has said that it will now review its quarantine-free travel rules on a weekly basis , rather than once a month , raising the possibility of a country ’ s status changing during a trip abroad .
What happens to my booking if the rules change ?
With the government green-lighting quarantine-free travel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holidaymakers are now wondering what happens to their booking if they can not travel under the changed restrictions .
“ Airlines , including easyJet , Ryanair and British Airways have said they will continue to fly to Spain .
Hotels remain open , ” Which ?
says .
Meaning that “ if you have booked flights and accommodation separately ... it ’ s unlikely you ’ ll be able to get a refund.
” Some airlines and hotels are offering travellers the option to rebook , however , this is dependent on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies .
Some package holiday companies , for example Tui and easyJet , have said that they are cancelling future bookings until August .
Holiday packages will be cancelled on a rolling basis , depending on the government ’ s guidance , but “ it ’ s crucial you wait for the holiday company to cancel to claim a refund ” .
“ Don ’ t cancel the holiday yourself , ” Which ?
says , because “ you ’ ll be entitled to choose between rebooking or a cash refund ” if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the country you are travelling to is marked as “ red ” , according to the government ’ s ranking system , you will be unlikely to get insurance .
If you do find a company offering “ high-risk ” insurance packages , they are likely to be pricey .
However , if the country is listed as “ amber ” - meaning quarantine-free travel is in place - “ there ’ s now a growing list of travel insurers boasting coronavirus cover of some kind ” , Which ?
says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover Covid-19-related medical expenses , but nothing else , and those that cover Covid-19 medical expenses and cancellation .
Some holidaymakers will decide to travel to Europe without insurance , just relying on the coverage provided by the European Health Insurance Card ( Ehic ) scheme which does not expire for people carrying British passports until December .
The Independent ’ s travel correspondent Simon Calder says that “ you might , after careful thought , rationally decide not to insure if you are travelling within Europe ” .
“ Until the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Ehic scheme , offering treatment in public hospitals on the same basis as local citizens , ” he explains .

Spain’s government has insisted that the country is safe for tourists and locals, following Britain’s sudden reimposition of a two-week quarantine on returning travellers.
Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told reporters that “most new cases are asymptomatic”, adding that the ministry is in talks to exclude UK travellers returning from the Balearic islands and the Canary islands from the quarantine measures.
However, the sudden reintroduction of quarantine restrictions left many tourists “confused and distressed”, with some rushing to book flights out of the country at short notice, The Independent says.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said that the government could not “guarantee” that other countries would not be removed from the list in the future, adding that Brits heading abroad will face continued “uncertainty” around their summer holidays.
So is it safe to book a trip outside of the UK - or is it best to wait out the coming months?
How dangerous is a trip to Europe?
European Union diplomats spent five days debating which countries the bloc would deem “safe” for travel, with BBC Europe reporter Gavin Lee saying there was “intense lobbying by representatives of the US, Russia and Turkey to get included on the list”.
Those lobbying efforts were unsuccessful, with the EU agreeing to allow travellers from Algeria, Australia, Canada, China, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.
The list of countries was based on three factors: ensuring that the Covid-19 infection rate in the country was low enough (fewer than 16 in every 100,000 infected), a downward trend of cases and social distancing measures set at “a sufficient level”.
To apply the EU’s own logic to European countries, this would mean that many counties on the continent should be safe for holidaymakers.
Case numbers have been stable in popular destinations such as Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece and Italy since the beginning of July, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
However, things can change quickly, as seen in the government’s decision to stop quarantine-free travel to Spain. The country recorded 280 new cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours on Friday, “three times more than two weeks ago”, according to EuroNews.


theweekuk--2020-07-27--How the government decides the holiday quarantine list - and which country could be taken off next?

The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has been caught up in his department ’ s rule change while on holiday in Spain .
The minister travelled to the country with his family on Saturday just hours before his Department for Transport ruled that travellers returning to the UK from Spain would have to quarantine for 14 days .
Spain has seen a surge of coronavirus cases , with incidence of infections tripling in the last fortnight , from 8.8 cases per 100,000 on July 3 to 27.4 per 100,000 on Sunday , reports The Times .
Shapps is one of 1.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to Spain , who have been hit by the sudden change , says The Telegraph .
How is what is safe decided ?
The decision to introduce quarantine on return from Spain was announced with little warning over the weekend , but rumours of its change in status had been floated a week before .
More than 900 cases of coronavirus were reported in Spain on Friday , prompting the UK government to take action on Saturday and introduce the fortnight mandatory isolation .
Government sources told The Telegraph that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 15 of Spain ’ s 19 regions had forced ministers to reimpose quarantine .
They said that the data on new cases was behind the assessment on what was considered safe and unsafe , and that this assessment was used to determine whether or not to introduce a quarantine period .
The Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government could “ not make apologies ” for its decision on Saturday , even though it contradicted an announcement by Shapps 24 hours earlier maintaining that Spain was exempt from quarantine .
Shapps said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video call with UK airlines and the British ambassador to Spain about the rule change .
A senior Government source said : “ It ’ s a fast-moving situation and what has happened with Spain has shown that wherever there are data changes we will act quickly and change the travel advice immediately .
“ It ’ s fair to say other countries could go back on the quarantine list .
You can see the evidence of where spikes are happening and that does tend to be reflected in the travel advice.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Raab has warned that other countries could see quarantine reimposed , adding : “ There is an element of uncertainty this summer.
” Both France and Germany have seen a slight rise in their number of infections according to the latest data , with the countries at risk of being the latest removals from the safe-to-fly list .
France had 1,130 new cases between Thursday and Friday , adding to fears of a “ second wave ” , says Connexion France .
But France ’ s rate of infection is no higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both countries on a 14-day rolling incidence of 14.6 infections per 100,000 people , according to the European Union 's European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ( ECDC ) .
Spain ’ s rate of infection is currently at 39.4 per 100,000 people , comparable with Sweden and Portugal - though those countries ’ rates are falling , whereas Spain ’ s is rising .
Meanwhile , an entire farm with 500 people was quarantined in the German state of Bavaria on Sunday after 174 harvest workers tested positive .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not spread outside the farm ” , EuroNews reports .

The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has been caught up in his department’s rule change while on holiday in Spain.
The minister travelled to the country with his family on Saturday just hours before his Department for Transport ruled that travellers returning to the UK from Spain would have to quarantine for 14 days.
Spain has seen a surge of coronavirus cases, with incidence of infections tripling in the last fortnight, from 8.8 cases per 100,000 on July 3 to 27.4 per 100,000 on Sunday, reports The Times.
Shapps is one of 1.5 million British holidaymakers either in or about to go to Spain, who have been hit by the sudden change, says The Telegraph.
How is what is safe decided?
The decision to introduce quarantine on return from Spain was announced with little warning over the weekend, but rumours of its change in status had been floated a week before.
More than 900 cases of coronavirus were reported in Spain on Friday, prompting the UK government to take action on Saturday and introduce the fortnight mandatory isolation.
Government sources told The Telegraph that the “significant increases” in Covid-19 cases in 15 of Spain’s 19 regions had forced ministers to reimpose quarantine.
They said that the data on new cases was behind the assessment on what was considered safe and unsafe, and that this assessment was used to determine whether or not to introduce a quarantine period.
The Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government could “not make apologies” for its decision on Saturday, even though it contradicted an announcement by Shapps 24 hours earlier maintaining that Spain was exempt from quarantine.
Shapps said on Twitter that he had held a video call with UK airlines and the British ambassador to Spain about the rule change.
Following the unexpectedly rapid rise in Spain's #coronavirus cases, I held a video call with UK airlines + our Ambassador @HughElliottUK today in order to ensure close coordination to help UK nationals return from Spain. We will all need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival. — Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) July 26, 2020
A senior Government source said: “It’s a fast-moving situation and what has happened with Spain has shown that wherever there are data changes we will act quickly and change the travel advice immediately.
“It’s fair to say other countries could go back on the quarantine list. You can see the evidence of where spikes are happening and that does tend to be reflected in the travel advice.”
Which countries could lose safe status next?
Raab has warned that other countries could see quarantine reimposed, adding: “There is an element of uncertainty this summer.” Both France and Germany have seen a slight rise in their number of infections according to the latest data, with the countries at risk of being the latest removals from the safe-to-fly list.
France had 1,130 new cases between Thursday and Friday, adding to fears of a “second wave”, says Connexion France.
But France’s rate of infection is no higher than the UK’s, with both countries on a 14-day rolling incidence of 14.6 infections per 100,000 people, according to the European Union's European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Spain’s rate of infection is currently at 39.4 per 100,000 people, comparable with Sweden and Portugal - though those countries’ rates are falling, whereas Spain’s is rising.
Meanwhile, an entire farm with 500 people was quarantined in the German state of Bavaria on Sunday after 174 harvest workers tested positive. However, “authorities are confident the outbreak... has not spread outside the farm”, EuroNews reports.