theweekuk--2020-05-19--Instant Opinion: is Boris Johnson ‘afraid of parliamentary scrutiny’?

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on the PM returning to the old days of government patronage Boris Johnson appears to be afraid of parliamentary scrutiny – but will his party let him get away with it ?
“ Since 2010 , cross-party Commons select committees have considerably increased their reach .
They have created a new career route for intelligent politicians who recognise that chairing an important committee can be more productive than being a mere front bench spear carrier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which the whips appointed their favourites , the chairs have been elected by all MPs in a secret ballot , increasing their calibre as a result ... Now the government plans to break with all recent precedent by appointing its own chosen Liaison Committee chairman , the Tory MP and staunch Johnson ally , Sir Bernard Jenkin ... Johnson is returning to the bad old days of government patronage , rewarding MPs for their loyalty if they had not been appointed as ministers .
Disappointing as that motive is , it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making your own person chairman of the one committee able to hold the centre of government to account sits rather easily with the disdain for — or perhaps fear of — serious parliamentary scrutiny already shown by team Johnson.
” on how parliament ’ s poor tech is hindering proper scrutiny “ There is a reason why Jacob Rees-Mogg ’ s passionate defence of in-person parliamentary democracy went viral last week .
‘ Simply a series of prepared statements made one after another .
That ’ s not the House of Commons doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrutiny of the Government.
’ The proper democratic system of this country has been fundamentally diluted .
This is not just a case of messed up votes and stilted speeches .
Parliament must lead by example .
It would be a cowardly House of Commons that sends children back to school and manual labourers back to work while maintaining the unfettered degree of at-home working it has enjoyed since the start of this crisis .
A socially distanced Parliament is one thing , a remote , lazy , hazard prone voting system is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes the very constitution of this country .
The process of voting in Parliament is a weighty thing .
Laws matter .
Legislation has the burdensome power to change people ’ s lives , and alter the fabric of this country.
” on the recklessness of calling for an immediate end to lockdown “ While Boris Johnson struggles to persuade a nervous public that it ’ s safe to take even ‘ baby ’ steps out of lockdown , a motley band of naysayers who think such restrictions were always unnecessary has acclaimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former justice of the Supreme Court , has said lockdown should be voluntary and the damage it has done to the economy isn ’ t justified by its ‘ not very impressive ’ results .
Those who believe the pandemic has been exaggerated as part of a government plot to bring the economy to its knees and deprive the British people of their liberties have hailed Sumption as a hero .
So what were his pearls of wisdom ?
The virus mortality rate , he told BBC News , ranked very low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He failed to acknowledge that the number of deaths — currently standing globally at 316,000 over less than four months — had been reduced by restrictions imposed across the world.
” on the danger of Covid-19 ’ s economic impact How do we stop an unemployment pandemic ?
“ Unemployment isn ’ t natural .
It ’ s a legal and social choice .
In Germany , workers in companies with more than 20 staff can elect a work council that may veto or delay dismissals and get compensation to internalise the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 2,000 workers , staff can elect half of the supervisory board of directors .
The system was restored post-second world war , after Hitler abolished all labour rights .
It restarted with a law that the UK and US helped to draft , but we ’ ve failed to follow it ourselves .
In Denmark , workers in companies with more than 35 staff have the right to organise cooperation committees and workers elect up to one third of the board of directors ...
The unemployment pandemic is by far the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst labour rights in the free world .
Despite a $ 2.2tn bailout , 36 million people have been fired .
This probably means more than 25 % unemployment , a crisis worse than the Great Depression .
Americans have no self-standing job security rights , except to get 60 days ’ warning before mass layoffs .
An arbitrary , incompetent or venal boss can say “ you ’ re fired ” for a good reason , a bad reason , or no reason at all .
This is the Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s creating a ‘ you ’ re fired ’ depression.
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Michelle Goldberg in The New York Times on right wing identity and public health defiance “ Across America there ’ s been a surge in labor activism as people made to work in unsafe conditions stage strikes , walkouts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we ’ re moving towards a worker rebellion , ’ Ron Herrera , president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor , told The Los Angeles Times .
Meanwhile , financial elites are eager for everyone else to resume powering the economy .
“ ‘ People Will Die .
People Do Die.
’ Wall Street Has Had Enough of the Lockdown , ” was the headline on a recent Vanity Fair article .
It cited a banker calling for ‘ broad legal indemnification for employers against claims related to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t sue if their workplace exposes them to illness .
Here we see the real coronavirus class divide ...
But when it comes to the coronavirus , willingness to ignore public health authorities isn ’ t a sign of flinty working-class realism .
Often it ’ s the ultimate mark of privilege .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Donald Macintyre in The Independent
on the PM returning to the old days of government patronage
Boris Johnson appears to be afraid of parliamentary scrutiny – but will his party let him get away with it?
“Since 2010, cross-party Commons select committees have considerably increased their reach. They have created a new career route for intelligent politicians who recognise that chairing an important committee can be more productive than being a mere front bench spear carrier. Instead of the cosy old system in which the whips appointed their favourites, the chairs have been elected by all MPs in a secret ballot, increasing their calibre as a result... Now the government plans to break with all recent precedent by appointing its own chosen Liaison Committee chairman, the Tory MP and staunch Johnson ally, Sir Bernard Jenkin... Johnson is returning to the bad old days of government patronage, rewarding MPs for their loyalty if they had not been appointed as ministers. Disappointing as that motive is, it may not be the whole story. For making your own person chairman of the one committee able to hold the centre of government to account sits rather easily with the disdain for — or perhaps fear of — serious parliamentary scrutiny already shown by team Johnson.”
2. Tom Harwood in The Daily Telegraph
on how parliament’s poor tech is hindering proper scrutiny
Virtual Parliament is a shambolic insult to British democracy
“There is a reason why Jacob Rees-Mogg’s passionate defence of in-person parliamentary democracy went viral last week. ‘Simply a series of prepared statements made one after another. That’s not the House of Commons doing its proper duty its proper role of scrutiny of the Government.’ The proper democratic system of this country has been fundamentally diluted. This is not just a case of messed up votes and stilted speeches. Parliament must lead by example. It would be a cowardly House of Commons that sends children back to school and manual labourers back to work while maintaining the unfettered degree of at-home working it has enjoyed since the start of this crisis. A socially distanced Parliament is one thing, a remote, lazy, hazard prone voting system is another. Every vote an MP makes changes the very constitution of this country. The process of voting in Parliament is a weighty thing. Laws matter. Legislation has the burdensome power to change people’s lives, and alter the fabric of this country.”
3. Melanie Phillips in The Times
on the recklessness of calling for an immediate end to lockdown
Lockdown libertarians take road to tyranny
“While Boris Johnson struggles to persuade a nervous public that it’s safe to take even ‘baby’ steps out of lockdown, a motley band of naysayers who think such restrictions were always unnecessary has acclaimed a stellar champion. Lord Sumption, a former justice of the Supreme Court, has said lockdown should be voluntary and the damage it has done to the economy isn’t justified by its ‘not very impressive’ results. Those who believe the pandemic has been exaggerated as part of a government plot to bring the economy to its knees and deprive the British people of their liberties have hailed Sumption as a hero. So what were his pearls of wisdom? The virus mortality rate, he told BBC News, ranked very low in the list of pandemics since 1918. He failed to acknowledge that the number of deaths — currently standing globally at 316,000 over less than four months — had been reduced by restrictions imposed across the world.”
4. Ewan McGauhey in The Guardian
on the danger of Covid-19’s economic impact
How do we stop an unemployment pandemic?
“Unemployment isn’t natural. It’s a legal and social choice. In Germany, workers in companies with more than 20 staff can elect a work council that may veto or delay dismissals and get compensation to internalise the social costs. In companies with more than 2,000 workers, staff can elect half of the supervisory board of directors. The system was restored post-second world war, after Hitler abolished all labour rights. It restarted with a law that the UK and US helped to draft, but we’ve failed to follow it ourselves. In Denmark, workers in companies with more than 35 staff have the right to organise cooperation committees and workers elect up to one third of the board of directors... The unemployment pandemic is by far the worst in the US, because it has the worst labour rights in the free world. Despite a $2.2tn bailout, 36 million people have been fired. This probably means more than 25% unemployment, a crisis worse than the Great Depression. Americans have no self-standing job security rights, except to get 60 days’ warning before mass layoffs. An arbitrary, incompetent or venal boss can say “you’re fired” for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all. This is the Donald Trump system of job security. It’s creating a ‘you’re fired’ depression.”
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5. Michelle Goldberg in The New York Times
on right wing identity and public health defiance
The Phony Coronavirus Class War
“Across America there’s been a surge in labor activism as people made to work in unsafe conditions stage strikes, walkouts and sickouts. ‘It sounds corny, but we’re moving towards a worker rebellion,’ Ron Herrera, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, told The Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, financial elites are eager for everyone else to resume powering the economy. “‘People Will Die. People Do Die.’ Wall Street Has Had Enough of the Lockdown,” was the headline on a recent Vanity Fair article. It cited a banker calling for ‘broad legal indemnification for employers against claims related to the virus’ so that employees can’t sue if their workplace exposes them to illness. Here we see the real coronavirus class divide... But when it comes to the coronavirus, willingness to ignore public health authorities isn’t a sign of flinty working-class realism. Often it’s the ultimate mark of privilege.”


theweekuk--2020-05-19--Ronan Farrow: is Harvey Weinstein’s arch-enemy ‘too good to be true’?

US journalist Ronan Farrow has racked up a string of awards and a huge following with his exposes about powerful men who abuse their position to harass and assault women .
But The New York Times media columnist Ben Smith has taken a deeper look at some of The New Yorker reporter ’ s work and , as The Guardian puts it , “ found him wanting ” .
In an article headlined “ Is Ronan Farrow Too Good To Be True ?
” , Smith suggests that his subject - the son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and at times conspiratorial , but “ omits the complicating facts and inconvenient details that may make them less dramatic ” .
Farrow “ does not make things up ” , but “ his reporting can be misleading ” , Smith claims .
The Times notes that Smith ’ s attack on Farrow “ focused on a handful of possible errors ” .
Delivering his verdict on Farrow ’ s 2017 story exposing the now-infamous abuses by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein - for which Farrow was awarded a Pulitzer Prize - Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contradictions in witness testimonies to make “ a narrative virtue of a reporting liability ” .
The allegations have been dismissed by Michael Luo , editor of NewYorker.com .
In a series of tweets , Luo said that the magazine , which is famous for its rigorous fact-checking , would make a correction if anything in Farrow ’ s reporting was proven to be untrue , but added : “ Ben has not done that here.
” Meanwhile , Farrow tweeted that he “ stand [ s ] by my reporting ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Smith ’ s points .
1/ THREAD : In his column on @ ronanfarrow , @ benyt , whom I have respect for , does the same thing he accuses Ronan of % u2013 % u2013sanding the inconvenient edges off of facts in order to suit the narrative he wants to deliver .
The wider reaction to the claims has been mixed , with The Week US national correspondent Ryan Cooper tweeting that Smith was “ nitpicking ” .
However , other commentators agreed with Smith ’ s analysis of Farrow ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s media critic Erik Wemple describing the article as “ muscular debunking work ” .
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Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

US journalist Ronan Farrow has racked up a string of awards and a huge following with his exposes about powerful men who abuse their position to harass and assault women.
But The New York Times media columnist Ben Smith has taken a deeper look at some of The New Yorker reporter’s work and, as The Guardian puts it, “found him wanting”.
In an article headlined “Is Ronan Farrow Too Good To Be True?”, Smith suggests that his subject - the son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen - “delivers narratives that are irresistibly cinematic” and at times conspiratorial, but “omits the complicating facts and inconvenient details that may make them less dramatic”.
Farrow “does not make things up”, but “his reporting can be misleading”, Smith claims.
The Times notes that Smith’s attack on Farrow “focused on a handful of possible errors”. Delivering his verdict on Farrow’s 2017 story exposing the now-infamous abuses by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein - for which Farrow was awarded a Pulitzer Prize - Smith says that the reporter smoothed over possible contradictions in witness testimonies to make “a narrative virtue of a reporting liability”.
The allegations have been dismissed by Michael Luo, editor of NewYorker.com. In a series of tweets, Luo said that the magazine, which is famous for its rigorous fact-checking, would make a correction if anything in Farrow’s reporting was proven to be untrue, but added: “Ben has not done that here.”
Meanwhile, Farrow tweeted that he “stand[s] by my reporting”, while also taking issue with a number of Smith’s points.
1/ THREAD: In his column on @ronanfarrow, @benyt, whom I have respect for, does the same thing he accuses Ronan of––sanding the inconvenient edges off of facts in order to suit the narrative he wants to deliver. — Michael Luo (@michaelluo) May 18, 2020
The wider reaction to the claims has been mixed, with The Week US national correspondent Ryan Cooper tweeting that Smith was “nitpicking”.
However, other commentators agreed with Smith’s analysis of Farrow’s work, with The Washington Post’s media critic Erik Wemple describing the article as “muscular debunking work”.
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theweekuk--2020-05-19--Which countries have gained the most weight in lockdown?

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that the government is bringing forward plans to tackle obesity , as people across the UK struggle to control their weight during the coronavirus lockdown .
Boris Johnson was already preparing a “ more interventionist ” national battle against the bulge and is “ understood to be convinced that he ended up in intensive care with Covid-19 because of his weight ” , says The Times .
And the UK isn ’ t alone in its weight wars during the global pandemic .
According to The Telegraph , Italians emerged from two months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavier .
In France , the impact of lockdown on people ’ s physiques was even more pronounced , with the average citizen gaining 2.5kg ( 5.5lbs ) .
“ With people exercising a lot less and eating more , out of boredom or as a source of comfort , the weight gain was inevitable , ” the newspaper says .
Further afield , a study by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that 55 % of Israelis gained more than 2kg while stuck at home .
Back in the UK , meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have put on weight since lockdown began in March , “ with more than 16 % gaining 2.2kg ( 5lbs ) or more in the first six weeks ” , the London Evening Standard reports .
In the US , “ memes about gaining the Quarantine 15 or the Covid-20 ” have spread “ faster than a germ on a doorknob ” , says the Los Angeles Times , although no recognised studies have been done to confirm the anecdotal reports .
Why is piling on the pounds a problem ?
The UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is based on evidence that suggests excess weight may be a significant factor in the severity of coronavirus symptoms .
The possible link is particularly worrying for nations with overweight populations such as the UK , which is the sixth most obese country on Earth , according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) .
The British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society ( BOMSS ) has urged Johnson to back increased access to “ bariatric operations ” , or weight loss surgery , which the organisation claims can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reverse type 2 diabetes , a Covid-19 risk factor ” , The Times reports .
In a letter to the prime minister , the society said : “ Bariatric surgery is often viewed as a ‘ quick-fix ’ solution ... precisely what is needed if we are to avoid needless suffering , ICU admission and death in patients with obesity who subsequently become infected with [ coronavirus ] .
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– How can a good diet be maintained during lockdown ?
Sticking to a routine of having three meals a day is important , according to Clare Thornton-Wood , a registered dietician and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association .
She advises that “ it ’ s fine to have a couple of snacks , but you might then need to have slightly smaller meals ” , says the BBC .
Some people may be struggling not to under-eat , which is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially common among older adults , Anne-Marie Minihane of Norwich Medical School told the broadcaster .
Experts stress that whatever our new eating patterns , worrying about them will only make things worse .
“ Avoid too many negative thoughts , because we are going through a really hard time .
Accept that you are going to eat differently and don ’ t feel too bad about it , ” Thornton-Wood concludes .

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theweekuk--2020-05-20--Whistle-blower claims Apple ‘ignoring and violating’ users’ rights

A former Apple whistle-blower has gone public to protest against the lack of action taken as a result of his previous disclosures about the company listening to Siri users ’ recordings .
In a letter sent to all European data protection regulators , Thomas le Bonniec said it was “ worrying that Apple ( and undoubtedly not just Apple ) keeps ignoring and violating fundamental rights ” .
He continued : “ I am extremely concerned that big tech companies are basically wiretapping entire populations despite European citizens being told the EU has one of the strongest data protection laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law is not good enough : it needs to be enforced upon privacy offenders.
” The 25-year-old worked as a subcontractor for Apple at its offices in the Irish city of Cork , before quitting last summer “ due to ethical concerns with the work ” , The Guardian reports .
Le Bonniec told the newspaper that what Apple does “ operate [ s ] on a moral and legal grey area ” , adding that “ they have been doing this for years on a massive scale .
They should be called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Business Insider reports , Apple last year apologised and suspended its “ grading ” program - which allowed contractors to listen to recordings of queries made to voice assistant Siri - following Le Bonniec ’ s initial disclosures .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The contractor told The Guardian last July that he had listened to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ countless instances of recordings featuring private discussions between doctors and patients , business deals , seemingly criminal dealings , sexual encounters and so on ” .
The Verge notes that Apple is one of “ several major tech companies ” - including Google , Amazon , Facebook , and Microsoft - that was caught using paid human contractors to review recordings ” from digital assistants .

A former Apple whistle-blower has gone public to protest against the lack of action taken as a result of his previous disclosures about the company listening to Siri users’ recordings.
In a letter sent to all European data protection regulators, Thomas le Bonniec said it was “worrying that Apple (and undoubtedly not just Apple) keeps ignoring and violating fundamental rights”.
He continued: “I am extremely concerned that big tech companies are basically wiretapping entire populations despite European citizens being told the EU has one of the strongest data protection laws in the world.
“Passing a law is not good enough: it needs to be enforced upon privacy offenders.”
The 25-year-old worked as a subcontractor for Apple at its offices in the Irish city of Cork, before quitting last summer “due to ethical concerns with the work”, The Guardian reports.
Le Bonniec told the newspaper that what Apple does “operate[s] on a moral and legal grey area”, adding that “they have been doing this for years on a massive scale. They should be called out in every possible way.”
As Business Insider reports, Apple last year apologised and suspended its “grading” program - which allowed contractors to listen to recordings of queries made to voice assistant Siri - following Le Bonniec’s initial disclosures.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The contractor told The Guardian last July that he had listened to “hundreds of recordings every day” including “countless instances of recordings featuring private discussions between doctors and patients, business deals, seemingly criminal dealings, sexual encounters and so on”.
The Verge notes that Apple is one of “several major tech companies” - including Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft - that was caught using paid human contractors to review recordings” from digital assistants.


theweekuk--2020-05-20--Coronavirus: why has the UK contact-tracing app been delayed?

The launch of a contact-tracing app at the heart of the UK government’s strategy for easing the coronavirus lockdown has been pushed back to June - triggering calls for an explanation for the delay.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last week that the app would be “rolling out in mid May” across England, but ministers have now admitted that the smartphone tool is not ready.
What has gone wrong with the app?
The NHS app uses Bluetooth technology to trace close contact between its users, allowing officials to more easily track the potential spread of infections.
However, NHS insiders told The Guardian that the technology, being trialled on the Isle of Wight, was still being tweaked by developers. “This is a complicated thing to do and get right,” a source said.
The government favours a centralised tracing database, which records the user’s contacts and postcode if they report falling ill.
But Apple and Google, which are helping to develop the app, say that “data should only be retained by a user on their phone”, according to the newspaper. As a result, the NHS development team have been forced to find a series of workaround so that the app can still run smoothly.
As they struggle to fine-tune the tech, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey has said that plans to begin sending children back to school from 1 June can still go ahead without the track and trace system, reports The Telegraph.
Asked by a BBC Breakfast interviewer whether schools could reopen before the app goes nationwide, she said: “I’m not aware that’s been set as a condition that’s necessary for the phased reopening of primary schools.”
What about the privacy concerns?
An independent analysis by cyberdefence firm Thinking Cybersecurity found that the NHS contact-tracing app poses risks to users’ privacy and could be breached to prevent contagion alerts from being sent.
GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) told the BBC that it was aware of most of the issues raised and was in the process of addressing them. However, the security researchers have called for further protections to stop officials using data for any other purposes than tracking coronavirus.


theweekuk--2020-05-20--Reaction: councils and unions to defy government over school reopenings

Boris Johnson ’ s government is facing growing pressure from councils and teaching unions to delay plans to reopen English primary schools next month .
Local authorities across the country have expressed concerns about potential health risks , while a survey of the 29,000 members of teachers ’ union NASUWT found that just 5 % believed it would be safe for pupils to return to class , the BBC reports .
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland insists that ministers are taking these fears “ very seriously ” , telling BBC Breakfast today that the proposed 1 June reopening was “ an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
But he admitted that there may be “ issues… which might not mean that we 'll see a uniform approach ” .
The Guardian reports that up to 1,500 primary schools are set to remain closed , after “ at least 18 councils forced the government to say it had no plans to sanction them ” for failing to make head teachers follow the plan .
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is today meeting with unions to address concerns over the safety of both children and staff .
The Times says that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Britain ’ s largest teaching union , is “ resolute against the resumption of classes ” , warning that social distancing is “ virtually impossible for such young children ” .
However , the British Medical Association ( BMA ) has dropped its opposition to the schools plan , saying that they should reopen “ as soon as it is safe to do so ” .
ITV News notes that the doctors ’ union had previously said the government should not reopen schools until coronavirus case numbers were “ much lower ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ softening ” of the BMA ’ s stance , with representatives saying there was “ growing evidence that the risk to individual children from Covid-19 is extremely small ” , reports The Telegraph .
But the union cautioned that there was still “ no consensus on how easily children could spread the disease to vulnerable adults ” , the newspaper adds .
Researchers remain divided over the threat posed to children by the new coronavirus , although the European Union has said that the reopening of schools in 22 member states has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” among pupils , their families or staff .
In an article in The Telegraph , Peter English , the chair of the BMA ’ s Public Health Medicine Committee , points out that a “ zero-risk approach ” to school reopenings “ is not possible ” .
“ Parents up and down the UK are asking the same question : is it safe ?
The simple answer is : we do not yet know , ” English writes .
“ This is about ‘ safe ’ being an acceptable level of risk.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– As councils and teaching unions continue their fight with Downing Street , the Daily Mail reports that “ bitter rows ” have also broken out on online forums such as Mumsnet .
Parents calling for schools to reopen so that they can return to work have reportedly been “ lambasted by schools staff ” , with some “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers who claim they are being ‘ hung out to dry ’ by the government ” .
A Department for Education spokesperson said that the government “ want [ s ] children back in schools as soon as possible ” , adding that “ being with their teachers and friends is so important for their education and their well-being ” .
The plans to reopen are based on the “ best scientific and medical advice ” and that the “ welfare of children and staff has been at the heart of all decision-making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ councils that have so far confirmed they will not reopen schools on 1 June are : The following councils have “ expressed reservations ” about reopening schools , but are leaving the decision about whether to resume teaching to individual schools :

Boris Johnson’s government is facing growing pressure from councils and teaching unions to delay plans to reopen English primary schools next month.
Local authorities across the country have expressed concerns about potential health risks, while a survey of the 29,000 members of teachers’ union NASUWT found that just 5% believed it would be safe for pupils to return to class, the BBC reports.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland insists that ministers are taking these fears “very seriously”, telling BBC Breakfast today that the proposed 1 June reopening was “an important date for everyone to work towards”. But he admitted that there may be “issues… which might not mean that we'll see a uniform approach”.
The Guardian reports that up to 1,500 primary schools are set to remain closed, after “at least 18 councils forced the government to say it had no plans to sanction them” for failing to make head teachers follow the plan.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is today meeting with unions to address concerns over the safety of both children and staff. The Times says that the National Education Union (NEU), Britain’s largest teaching union, is “resolute against the resumption of classes”, warning that social distancing is “virtually impossible for such young children”.
However, the British Medical Association (BMA) has dropped its opposition to the schools plan, saying that they should reopen “as soon as it is safe to do so”. ITV News notes that the doctors’ union had previously said the government should not reopen schools until coronavirus case numbers were “much lower”.
The U-turn marks an “apparent softening” of the BMA’s stance, with representatives saying there was “growing evidence that the risk to individual children from Covid-19 is extremely small”, reports The Telegraph.
But the union cautioned that there was still “no consensus on how easily children could spread the disease to vulnerable adults”, the newspaper adds.
Researchers remain divided over the threat posed to children by the new coronavirus, although the European Union has said that the reopening of schools in 22 member states has not increased cases of the virus “significantly” among pupils, their families or staff.


theweekuk--2020-05-20--Coronavirus class divide: the jobs most at risk of contracting and dying from Covid-19

Mark Williams , reader in the School of Business and Management , Queen Mary University of London , on the @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus crisis .
We often hear that Britain is a “ class-based society ” @ @ @ @ @ is and you ’ ll get a wide range of answers – from accent to @ @ @ @ @ perplexed as to how it might ever be a useful construct to understand much about @ @ @ @ @ .
But really it ’ s all about what job you do .
I study @ @ @ @ @ ’ s class and their life chances and it has become glaringly apparent during the @ @ @ @ @ what job you do – has never been more important .


theweekuk--2020-05-20--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 20 May 2020

Coronavirus deaths are falling so quickly that it may be “ difficult to find ” people with the virus on @ @ @ @ @ end of June , an expert said yesterday .
Professor Carl Heneghan , director of @ @ @ @ @ at Oxford University , said : “ I think by the end of June we @ @ @ @ @ the data and finding it difficult to find people with this illness , if the @ @ @ @ @

Expert makes bold forecast as Covid-19 death figures fall
Coronavirus deaths are falling so quickly that it may be “difficult to find” people with the virus on their death certificate by the end of June, an expert said yesterday. Professor Carl Heneghan, director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at Oxford University, said: “I think by the end of June we’ll be looking at the data and finding it difficult to find people with this illness, if the current trends continue.”


theweekuk--2020-05-20--How to get paid to sleep

How to get paid to sleep

Want to get paid to sleep ?
Your dream may be about to come true because a luxury brand wants to to hire a professional bed tester to review and provide feedback on every bed and garden daybed they sell .
The ‘ Comfort Connoisseur ’ will be asked to complete a scorecard for each bed for the luxury brand Olivia ’ s .
Police and animal rescuers in California have found a sea lion wandering near a busy stretch of highway .
The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito said the sea lion was spotted on Sunday next to Interstate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marine Mammal Center explained that the sea lion , which they have named Gilligan , probably became lost while searching for food .
Student breaks into museum to take selfies A student in Australia has broken into a museum to take selfies .
Security footage shows the German student crouching down next to a dinosaur skeleton to take a picture with it and stealing a cowboy 's hat .
Police say they had broken in at around 1am after climbing on to some nearby scaffolding to gain access to the building and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Want to get paid to sleep? Your dream may be about to come true because a luxury brand wants to to hire a professional bed tester to review and provide feedback on every bed and garden daybed they sell. The ‘Comfort Connoisseur’ will be asked to complete a scorecard for each bed for the luxury brand Olivia’s.
Sea lion found near highway in California
Police and animal rescuers in California have found a sea lion wandering near a busy stretch of highway. The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito said the sea lion was spotted on Sunday next to Interstate 5 in the Tracy area. The Marine Mammal Center explained that the sea lion, which they have named Gilligan, probably became lost while searching for food.
Student breaks into museum to take selfies
A student in Australia has broken into a museum to take selfies. Security footage shows the German student crouching down next to a dinosaur skeleton to take a picture with it and stealing a cowboy's hat. Police say they had broken in at around 1am after climbing on to some nearby scaffolding to gain access to the building and was inside for around 40 minutes.
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theweekuk--2020-05-20--Instant Opinion: No. 10 worried as Britain ‘not going on a summer holiday’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on the government ’ s hopes that Brits will be happy to holiday at home We 're not going on a summer holiday – and that 's why No 10 is worried “ Even if talks of ‘ air bridges ’ – allowing quarantine-free travel to and from low-infection countries such as Greece – come to fruition , the general sense in government is that the bulk of Britons will not be jetting abroad this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety concerns , the economic reality means extravagant holidays just won ’ t be an option for many .
With unemployment set to increase even further and many on reduced household incomes , holidays are likely to be a luxury that people can not afford .
Social distancing practices mean that budget flights , too , could soon become much harder to find .
As a result , ministers have begun to work out what they can do to keep morale up over the long summer months .
While public support is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worry is what happens when other countries enjoy breaks with more ease .
‘ If the R number rises in these countries as a result , we ’ ll be praised for our response – if it doesn ’ t , we might start to get some heat , ’ explains one government figure.
” on the diversity issues illuminated by the pandemic Coronavirus Shows Diversity Isn ’ t Just A Nice To Have – It Is A Matter Of Life And Death “ The ... uncomfortable truth , as highlighted in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows a poverty trap , that could get even worse as we face the biggest economic downturn for 300 years .
Before Covid-19 , one in four children in Asian households , and one in five children in Black households lived in poverty , in comparison to one in ten children in White households .
Young BAME men and women are more likely to be working on low wages and or on zero-hour contracts , with little or no working rights ...
If there is one silver lining in this crises , Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave some communities much more vulnerable than others .
We strongly believe that if we are bold and brave enough , we can build something positive from the despair of this virus .
We must formulate a Covid-19 Race Equality Strategy , that will do more than save lives , and mitigate the worst effects of the economic downturn .
Out of this crisis , with all the deaths and heartache , we must construct something worthy in which we can say to future generations : Covid-19 forced us to rebuild a fairer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education system and workforce.
” on the influence of a controversial lawyer on the US president Roy Cohn , the man who taught Donald Trump to win at all costs “ It ’ s election year in the United States , so it ’ s time to discuss Roy Cohn .
In the last few weeks of Cohn ’ s life , in the summer of 1986 , he told his friends that whatever else he had done , his obituary would lead with the 18 months he spent as an adviser to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-communist witch-hunter-in-chief had ended when he tried to swing favours for a friend while threatening the US Army .
The scandal brought down McCarthy too ...
Yet I suspect that if Cohn had died in his nineties rather than his fifties , something else would have come first in his obituary .
It would instead have started in 1973 with an accidental meeting between him and a young property developer in a Manhattan discotheque called Le Club .
When Donald Trump met Roy Cohn , Trump was in a tricky legal situation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the justice department of discriminating against African Americans trying to rent Trump apartments .
They were being urged to admit the violation , settle the case and move on .
Cohn gave Trump the advice he wanted to hear .
The advice that set him up for life .
Admit nothing .
Don ’ t give in .
Don ’ t settle .
Fight back.
” on the Conservative government ’ s new terror legislation Tougher terrorism laws are popular .
But will they “ I ’ m not convinced that extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the homicidal determination of London Bridge attacker Usman Khan one jot .
His participation in the prisons ‘ Healthy Identity Intervention ’ programme certainly didn ’ t .
We must assertively engage and challenge violent extremists from day one in custody where we have the best chance of reducing their dangerousness and supporting a better identity to emerge .
We must tailor the response to the individual offenders extremist pathology , including theological deformities ; not ‘ sheep dip ’ generic solutions .
After all , national security doesn ’ t stop at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens behind those high walls as well – prisoners and staff – who need to be protected from terrorists who might regard them as an easy target for retribution against extended sentences .
A terrorist attack on officers in a high security prison in January by convicted jihadis in January came within seconds and inches of a fatal incident .
This is not a fanciful scenario .
The Justice Secretary has more to do to convince front line staff that their senior management have the appetite and the capability to manage an influx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range of terrorist sentences.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– “ Well , well .
The president says he ’ s spent the last week and a half enjoying his hydroxychloroquine , presumably neat .
It ’ s impossible to say whether it ’ s true ; as doctors on Twitter were quick to note , Sean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a memo that he discussed the drug with Trump , not prescribed it , though together he and the president concluded it was worth the risk .
But if you take the president at his word - something I admittedly almost never do , but let ’ s just say - it does make perfect sense .
In Donald Trump , you have the patient perfect storm : a science denier , a devotee of medical quackery , and - above all else , I can not emphasize this part enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is what happens when your rich and famous V.I.P .
client ( think Michael Jackson , but with nuclear codes ) also has a nutty perspective on medicine and an even nuttier one on facts .
You get a statin-taking , extravagantly overweight man demanding a drug that increases the risk of a heart attack .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Katy Balls in The Guardian
on the government’s hopes that Brits will be happy to holiday at home
We're not going on a summer holiday – and that's why No 10 is worried
“Even if talks of ‘air bridges’ – allowing quarantine-free travel to and from low-infection countries such as Greece – come to fruition, the general sense in government is that the bulk of Britons will not be jetting abroad this summer. As well as quarantine and safety concerns, the economic reality means extravagant holidays just won’t be an option for many. With unemployment set to increase even further and many on reduced household incomes, holidays are likely to be a luxury that people cannot afford. Social distancing practices mean that budget flights, too, could soon become much harder to find. As a result, ministers have begun to work out what they can do to keep morale up over the long summer months. While public support is now very much for lockdown continuing, the worry is what happens when other countries enjoy breaks with more ease. ‘If the R number rises in these countries as a result, we’ll be praised for our response – if it doesn’t, we might start to get some heat,’ explains one government figure.”
2. Simon Woolley and Imran Sanaullah on HuffPost
on the diversity issues illuminated by the pandemic
Coronavirus Shows Diversity Isn’t Just A Nice To Have – It Is A Matter Of Life And Death
“The... uncomfortable truth, as highlighted in the government’s Race Disparity Audit, shows a poverty trap, that could get even worse as we face the biggest economic downturn for 300 years. Before Covid-19, one in four children in Asian households, and one in five children in Black households lived in poverty, in comparison to one in ten children in White households. Young BAME men and women are more likely to be working on low wages and or on zero-hour contracts, with little or no working rights... If there is one silver lining in this crises, Covid-19 has laid bare our structural inequalities that leave some communities much more vulnerable than others. We strongly believe that if we are bold and brave enough, we can build something positive from the despair of this virus. We must formulate a Covid-19 Race Equality Strategy, that will do more than save lives, and mitigate the worst effects of the economic downturn. Out of this crisis, with all the deaths and heartache, we must construct something worthy in which we can say to future generations: Covid-19 forced us to rebuild a fairer, more dynamic and inclusive society, education system and workforce.”
3. Daniel Finkelstein in The Times
on the influence of a controversial lawyer on the US president
Roy Cohn, the man who taught Donald Trump to win at all costs
“It’s election year in the United States, so it’s time to discuss Roy Cohn. In the last few weeks of Cohn’s life, in the summer of 1986, he told his friends that whatever else he had done, his obituary would lead with the 18 months he spent as an adviser to Senator Joe McCarthy. His tenure as anti-communist witch-hunter-in-chief had ended when he tried to swing favours for a friend while threatening the US Army. The scandal brought down McCarthy too... Yet I suspect that if Cohn had died in his nineties rather than his fifties, something else would have come first in his obituary. It would instead have started in 1973 with an accidental meeting between him and a young property developer in a Manhattan discotheque called Le Club. When Donald Trump met Roy Cohn, Trump was in a tricky legal situation. He and his father were being accused by the justice department of discriminating against African Americans trying to rent Trump apartments. They were being urged to admit the violation, settle the case and move on. Cohn gave Trump the advice he wanted to hear. The advice that set him up for life. Admit nothing. Don’t give in. Don’t settle. Fight back.”
4. Ian Acheson in The Spectator
on the Conservative government’s new terror legislation
Tougher terrorism laws are popular. But will they actually work?
“I’m not convinced that extra time in custody alone would have changed the homicidal determination of London Bridge attacker Usman Khan one jot. His participation in the prisons ‘Healthy Identity Intervention’ programme certainly didn’t. We must assertively engage and challenge violent extremists from day one in custody where we have the best chance of reducing their dangerousness and supporting a better identity to emerge. We must tailor the response to the individual offenders extremist pathology, including theological deformities; not ‘sheep dip’ generic solutions. After all, national security doesn’t stop at the prison gates. There are British citizens behind those high walls as well – prisoners and staff – who need to be protected from terrorists who might regard them as an easy target for retribution against extended sentences. A terrorist attack on officers in a high security prison in January by convicted jihadis in January came within seconds and inches of a fatal incident. This is not a fanciful scenario. The Justice Secretary has more to do to convince front line staff that their senior management have the appetite and the capability to manage an influx of prisoners caught up in an extended range of terrorist sentences.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
5. Jennifer Senior in The New York Times
on nightmare celebrity patients
What Elvis, Michael Jackson and Trump Have in Common
“Well, well. The president says he’s spent the last week and a half enjoying his hydroxychloroquine, presumably neat. It’s impossible to say whether it’s true; as doctors on Twitter were quick to note, Sean Conley, the White House physician, said in a memo that he discussed the drug with Trump, not prescribed it, though together he and the president concluded it was worth the risk. But if you take the president at his word - something I admittedly almost never do, but let’s just say - it does make perfect sense. In Donald Trump, you have the patient perfect storm: a science denier, a devotee of medical quackery, and - above all else, I cannot emphasize this part enough - a powerful and narcissistic celebrity. This is what happens when your rich and famous V.I.P. client (think Michael Jackson, but with nuclear codes) also has a nutty perspective on medicine and an even nuttier one on facts. You get a statin-taking, extravagantly overweight man demanding a drug that increases the risk of a heart attack.”


theweekuk--2020-05-20--Terror suspects to face ‘indefinite controls’ under new UK laws

Restrictions on the movements of non-convicted terror suspects may be extended indefinitely under new government legislation .
The Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Bill would lower the standard of proof needed to impose Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures ( TPIMs ) and remove the current two-year cap on their use .
The “ controversial and resource-heavy measures ” are usually imposed based on secret intelligence and are aimed at “ controlling the risk presented by terrorism suspects at large ” when criminal prosecution or deportation are not options , says The Guardian .
Under the new proposals , suspects will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their households , “ not just their own , and could be subject to lie detection and drug tests ” , adds the BBC .
The expansion of the orders is part of the government ’ s response to two terrorist attacks in London in the past 12 months , according to Home Secretary Priti Patel .
Presenting the Bill in Parliament on Tuesday , she said : “ The shocking attacks at Fishmongers ’ Hall and Streatham revealed serious flaws in the way terrorist offenders are dealt with .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivering on that promise…we will do whatever it takes to stop them.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– But campaigners including Amnesty International have warned that TPIMs already allow authorities to restrict suspects ’ freedoms without criminal trials , on grounds below the usual threshold for prosecution .
“ The suggestion that existing TPIMs measures are to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious setback for the proper administration of justice in this country , ” said Amnesty legal expert Rachel Logan .
Those concerns were echoed by Rosalind Comyn of human rights group Liberty , who told Sky News that the new legislation “ threatens all of our civil liberties ” .
“ This legislation not only authorises people being locked up indefinitely , it also poses a threat to fundamental pillars of our justice system , ” she said .
“ A fundamental principle of justice - the presumption of innocence - hangs @ @ @ @ @

Restrictions on the movements of non-convicted terror suspects may be extended indefinitely under new government legislation.
The Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Bill would lower the standard of proof needed to impose Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIMs) and remove the current two-year cap on their use.
The “controversial and resource-heavy measures” are usually imposed based on secret intelligence and are aimed at “controlling the risk presented by terrorism suspects at large” when criminal prosecution or deportation are not options, says The Guardian.
Under the new proposals, suspects will also be forced to register all electronic devices in their households, “not just their own, and could be subject to lie detection and drug tests”, adds the BBC.
The expansion of the orders is part of the government’s response to two terrorist attacks in London in the past 12 months, according to Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Presenting the Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, she said: “The shocking attacks at Fishmongers’ Hall and Streatham revealed serious flaws in the way terrorist offenders are dealt with. “We promised to act and today we are delivering on that promise…we will do whatever it takes to stop them.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
But campaigners including Amnesty International have warned that TPIMs already allow authorities to restrict suspects’ freedoms without criminal trials, on grounds below the usual threshold for prosecution.
“The suggestion that existing TPIMs measures are to be made even more draconian would be a serious setback for the proper administration of justice in this country,” said Amnesty legal expert Rachel Logan.
Those concerns were echoed by Rosalind Comyn of human rights group Liberty, who told Sky News that the new legislation “threatens all of our civil liberties”.
“This legislation not only authorises people being locked up indefinitely, it also poses a threat to fundamental pillars of our justice system,” she said. “A fundamental principle of justice - the presumption of innocence - hangs in the balance.”


theweekuk--2020-05-20--How coronavirus has bolstered Taiwan’s independence movement

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Taiwan’s president struck a defiant tone this week as she was sworn in for a second term.
“Although we were once isolated in the world, we have always persisted in values of democracy and freedom no matter the challenges ahead of us,” said Tsai Ing-wen [pictured above], who secured a landslide victory in elections in January.
Her country would “not accept” any attempt by China to “downgrade Taiwan and undermine the cross-strait status quo”, she added.
Taiwan has “for all practical purposes been independent since 1950”, says the BBC, but China regards the island “as a rebel region that must be reunited with the mainland - by force if necessary”.
Despite this looming threat, Tsai’s confidence reflects growing national self-belief. “Taiwan’s citizens increasingly identify themselves as Taiwanese, rather than part of China”, a trend that appears to have been accelerated by the coronavirus crisis, reports Foreign Policy.
Amid “criticism of slow or inappropriate responses” to Covid-19 by governments across the world, Taiwan “may emerge from this pandemic stronger than before”, says Quartz.
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As The Guardian notes, Tsai’s government introduced “monitoring and screening incoming travellers from as early as 31 December, enacting travel restrictions, mandatory quarantine testing and phone tracking. It also banned the export of face masks to ensure domestic supply.”
This strategy has seen just seven Covid-19 deaths in a country with a population of almost 24 million.
Viral diplomacy
Alongside its public health response, Taiwan has been running a diplomatic campaign for international recognition, particularly by the World Health Organization (WHO).
China has long vetoed full WHO membership for Taiwan, and after Tsai’s pro-independence party first took power in 2016, Beijing ended an arrangement that allowed the island’s officials to take part in public health meetings as observers.
As a result, reports CNBC, “Taiwan says it has been unable to get timely information and that Taiwanese lives have been put at risk” - a claim denied by the UN health agency.
However, much of the rest of the world has become increasingly sympathetic to Taiwan as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds. Donald Trump’s administration, a ready critic of China, has lent support to Taipei both in negotiations with the UN and on Twitter.
.@UN was founded to serve as a venue for all voices, a forum that welcomes a diversity of views & perspectives, & promotes human freedom. Barring #Taiwan from setting foot on UN grounds is an affront not just to the proud Taiwanese people, but to UN principles. #TweetForTaiwan — U.S. Mission to the UN (@USUN) May 1, 2020
The UK, EU, Japan, Australia and New Zealand have also called for Taiwan to be allowed to join WHO.
“There’s absolutely no doubt that this has been a strategic opportunity for Taiwan,” J. Michael Cole, a Taiwan expert and senior fellow at Canada’s Macdonald-Laurier Institute, told Quartz. “Taipei has seized it.”
In response, China has accused Taiwan of “unscrupulously using the virus to seek independence” and “venomously attacking” WHO.
The international health agency, for its part, says it will not extend an invitation. Instead, WHO officials have expressed frustration that Taiwan has “introduced politics into a public health emergency”, says Quartz.
Even so, the moral victory is Taiwan’s, according to Kharis Templeman, a political scientist at Stanford University.
“I can’t think of another issue with such global resonance that has broken so favourably for Taiwan, and so negatively [for China], since perhaps the Tiananmen Square massacre,” she told Bloomberg.
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theweekuk--2020-05-20--What is the future of Israel-Palestine relations as Netanyahu pushes to annex West Bank?

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has declared an end to security cooperation with Israel and the US over plans by the new Israeli government to annex parts of the West Bank .
Tensions have been running high since Israel ’ s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former political rival Benny Gantz formed a political union and announced plans to declare sovereignty over Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank - a de facto annexation .
At an emergency meeting this week to discuss the plans , Abbas said that his Palestine Liberation Organization [ PLO ] was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and understandings with the American and Israeli governments and of all the commitments based on these understandings and agreements , including the security ones ” .
Why does Israel want to annex the West Bank now ?
In an address to the Israeli parliament on Sunday , Netanyahu argued that the time was right to annex the territory in the occupied West Bank that the Palestinians have long counted on for a future state .
“ These areas of the country were the places of the birth and the growth of the Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Knesset .
“ And it is time to apply Israeli law and to write a glorious new chapter in the history of Zionism.
” For decades , such a move “ wasn ’ t seriously considered ” , writes Shmuel Rosner , a fellow at Jerusalem-based think-tank The Jewish People Policy Institute , in an opinion piece for The New York Times .
Yet this “ worrisome idea… is no longer marginal or considered as extreme as it once was ” .
This shift in stance is due primarily to the ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rosner says .
Since decades of negotiations have failed to yield an agreement on a two-state solution , “ a growing number of Israeli leaders are reaching the conclusion that this old idea is dead ” .
And since they also believe the status quo is unsustainable , “ they are searching for new ideas ” .
Gideon Levy of Israeli newspaper Haaretz says that annexation is “ shaping up as the only way out of the deadlock ” that sees some 700,000 Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave .
The alternative to annexation is worse than the status quo , Levy argues , because “ it would eternalise the criminal situation - this situation has long been perpetuated ; it would establish a reality of apartheid - a reality that has existed for quite some time ” .
Annexation puts “ an end to the lies , and requires everyone to look the truth straight in the eye ” , he adds .
And time is of the essence because by the beginning of next year , a new leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House .
According to news site Axios , Israel ’ s ambassador to the US , Ron Dermer , has been lobbying the Donald Trump administration “ to convince them that Israel must move forward on annexations of parts of the West Bank before November ’ s election , fearing that Joe Biden will defeat President Trump ” .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What might Abbas do next ?
That remains to be seen .
The PLO voted two years ago to end cooperation with Israel and the US , and left it up to Abbas to decide when and how to implement the move .
But it is “ unclear… what his declaration would mean in practice , especially in terms of the future of the Palestinian security apparatus ” , says The Guardian .
According to Daniel Levy , president of independent policy institute the US/Middle East Project , “ to pass the bar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show this is not the same as the umpteen threats that they ’ ve previously issued of a similar nature and that they never acted on , the bar is very high .
We will actually have to see Palestinian action .
”

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has declared an end to security cooperation with Israel and the US over plans by the new Israeli government to annex parts of the West Bank.
Tensions have been running high since Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former political rival Benny Gantz formed a political union and announced plans to declare sovereignty over Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank - a de facto annexation.
At an emergency meeting this week to discuss the plans, Abbas said that his Palestine Liberation Organization [PLO] was “absolved... of all the agreements and understandings with the American and Israeli governments and of all the commitments based on these understandings and agreements, including the security ones”.
Why does Israel want to annex the West Bank now?
In an address to the Israeli parliament on Sunday, Netanyahu argued that the time was right to annex the territory in the occupied West Bank that the Palestinians have long counted on for a future state.
“These areas of the country were the places of the birth and the growth of the Jewish nation,” Netanyahu told lawmakers in the Knesset. “And it is time to apply Israeli law and to write a glorious new chapter in the history of Zionism.”
For decades, such a move “wasn’t seriously considered”, writes Shmuel Rosner, a fellow at Jerusalem-based think-tank The Jewish People Policy Institute, in an opinion piece for The New York Times. Yet this “worrisome idea… is no longer marginal or considered as extreme as it once was”.
This shift in stance is due primarily to the ongoing failure of the Middle East peace process, Rosner says. Since decades of negotiations have failed to yield an agreement on a two-state solution, “a growing number of Israeli leaders are reaching the conclusion that this old idea is dead”.
And since they also believe the status quo is unsustainable, “they are searching for new ideas”.
Gideon Levy of Israeli newspaper Haaretz says that annexation is “shaping up as the only way out of the deadlock” that sees some 700,000 Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, with no intention to leave.


theweekuk--2020-05-20--Keir Starmer closing in on Boris Johnson in polls

Boris Johnson ’ s approval rating has fallen by seven points in less than a fortnight , as rival Keir Starmer ’ s popularity continues to grow , latest polling figures show .
A Times/YouGov survey found that when asked who would make the best prime minister , 39 % of the public backed the man already in the job - down from 46 % in early May .
By contrast , the number backing Starmer rose from 22 % to 27 % in the same period .
The increase in the Labour leader ’ s popularity follows a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister ’ s Questions .
Starmer ’ s questioning has left the PM “ rattled ” , according to The New European .
Indeed , “ Johnson was left looking exposed and diminished ” after their first Commons encounter , says The Guardian .
The swing in popularity also coincides with a drop in public approval for the government ’ s handling of the coronavirus outbreak .
YouGov data “ shows that at the end of last week 49 % thought the government was doing badly , and 47 % that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A separate Kantar poll found that 43 % of those surveyed rated the government ’ s response to the health crisis as “ fairly or very poor , up from 30 % in April ” , says Reuters .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Yet there is still a significant gap between the two parties in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tories well ahead .
The Times reports that when asked who they would vote for if there was an election tomorrow , 48 % of survey respondents chose the Conservatives , while 33 % chose Labour .

Boris Johnson’s approval rating has fallen by seven points in less than a fortnight, as rival Keir Starmer’s popularity continues to grow, latest polling figures show.
A Times/YouGov survey found that when asked who would make the best prime minister, 39% of the public backed the man already in the job - down from 46% in early May.
By contrast, the number backing Starmer rose from 22% to 27% in the same period. The increase in the Labour leader’s popularity follows a series of strong performances against Johnson at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Starmer’s questioning has left the PM “rattled”, according to The New European. Indeed, “Johnson was left looking exposed and diminished” after their first Commons encounter, says The Guardian.
The swing in popularity also coincides with a drop in public approval for the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
YouGov data “shows that at the end of last week 49% thought the government was doing badly, and 47% that it was doing well”, reports Sky News.
A separate Kantar poll found that 43% of those surveyed rated the government’s response to the health crisis as “fairly or very poor, up from 30% in April”, says Reuters.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Yet there is still a significant gap between the two parties in terms of overall support, with the Tories well ahead.
The Times reports that when asked who they would vote for if there was an election tomorrow, 48% of survey respondents chose the Conservatives, while 33% chose Labour.


theweekuk--2020-05-21--Timeline: what did the government know about coronavirus and when?

The UK government is coming under increasing pressure to publish the complete scientific advice behind its coronavirus response .
Some @ @ @ @ @ Group for Emergencies ( Sage ) that advises the government have been published .
However @ @ @ @ @ remains secret .
Jeremy Hunt , chair of the health select committee review of the @ @ @ @ @ , said some guidance had been “ the biggest failure of scientific advice to ministers @ @ @ @ @ reports The Guardian .
So , based on what we do know , what can @ @ @ @ @ the government knew - and how it responded ?
The government ’ s modelling group @ @ @ @ @ whether outbreaks can be contained by isolation and contact tracing .


theweekuk--2020-05-21--Britain sells first ever bonds with minus rates - but what does that mean?

The UK government has broken new economic ground by borrowing £3.8bn for three years at a price that means investors will get back less than they paid out .
Or as The Times puts it , “ for the first time in history , investors have lent the UK government money for a lengthy period with the promise that they will not be paid back in full ” .
The issuing of government bonds , or gilts , with an effective negative interest rate of minus 0.003 % on Wednesday came as Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey told MPs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - currently at 0.1 % - into negative territory were “ under active review ” .
So what does it all mean ?
A “ negative yield ” effectively means that investors “ have to pay to lend money to fund the government ’ s response to the Covid-19 pandemic ” , says The Guardian .
Gilts are seen as a “ safe haven in times of financial stress ” , with expectations that “ inflation will be close to zero or could turn negative ” currently adding to their appeal .
Investopedia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest rates , “ large institutional investors ” are often “ willing to pay a little over face value for high-quality bonds ” .
These investors accept “ a negative return on their investment for the safety and liquidity that high-quality government and corporate bonds offer ” , says the financial information site .
The practice has already been deployed in Japan and Germany , with Britain now joining the “ topsy-turvy world of negative rates on new government borrowing ” , adds The Times .
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Aaron Rock , investment director at Aberdeen Standard Investments , predicts that regardless of whether the BoE ’ s Monetary Policy Committee chooses to adopt negative policy rates due to low inflation , “ there will be continued demand for gilts at low and negative yields ” .
BoE boss Bailey last month ruled out cutting policy rates to below zero .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bank that it needs to consider all tools available to make credit cheaper for embattled businesses and households ” , according to The Guardian .
“ The move would be unprecedented in the Bank ’ s 325-year history and would leave only the US Federal Reserve among major central banks to rule out negative rates , ” the newspaper adds .

The UK government has broken new economic ground by borrowing £3.8bn for three years at a price that means investors will get back less than they paid out.
Or as The Times puts it, “for the first time in history, investors have lent the UK government money for a lengthy period with the promise that they will not be paid back in full”.
The issuing of government bonds, or gilts, with an effective negative interest rate of minus 0.003% on Wednesday came as Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey told MPs that plans to slash the base rate - currently at 0.1% - into negative territory were “under active review”.
So what does it all mean?
A “negative yield” effectively means that investors “have to pay to lend money to fund the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic”, says The Guardian.
Gilts are seen as a “safe haven in times of financial stress”, with expectations that “inflation will be close to zero or could turn negative” currently adding to their appeal.
Investopedia explains that during periods of extremely low interest rates, “large institutional investors” are often “willing to pay a little over face value for high-quality bonds”.
These investors accept “a negative return on their investment for the safety and liquidity that high-quality government and corporate bonds offer”, says the financial information site.
The practice has already been deployed in Japan and Germany, with Britain now joining the “topsy-turvy world of negative rates on new government borrowing”, adds The Times.
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What happens next?
Aaron Rock, investment director at Aberdeen Standard Investments, predicts that regardless of whether the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee chooses to adopt negative policy rates due to low inflation, “there will be continued demand for gilts at low and negative yields”.
BoE boss Bailey last month ruled out cutting policy rates to below zero. But the ongoing crisis has “persuaded the Bank that it needs to consider all tools available to make credit cheaper for embattled businesses and households”, according to The Guardian.
“The move would be unprecedented in the Bank’s 325-year history and would leave only the US Federal Reserve among major central banks to rule out negative rates,” the newspaper adds.


theweekuk--2020-05-21--Security costs to keep MPs safe rise by £4m post-Brexit

The cost of security to keep MPs safe around Westminster increased by more than £4 million between 2015 and 2018 , partly due to the divisive Brexit debate , a new report claims .
Security costs lept from £171,000 to £4.5 million in three years according to the latest Parliamentary Monitoring report by the Institute for Government think tank .
The report says “ deeply divisive debates ” about British military involvement in Syria in late 2015 led to a recommendation from the National Police Chiefs ’ Council that all MPs “ adopt a standard package of security measures ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ reality of the threat ” to parliamentarians was “ tragically ” made clear by the murder of Labour MP Jox Cox in 2016 EU referendum campaign .
Cox was murdered in her Batley and Spen constituency by a far-right extremist who shouted “ this is for Britain ” and “ keep Britain independent ” as he shot and then stabbed the MP .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your trial subscription today ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The report also highlights how the 2017 terror attack on Westminster , in which six people were killed , “ further underlined the importance of security measures ” .
PC Keith Palmer lost his life in the attack , during which Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood was pictured administering CPR to the police officer .
As well as pointing to a number of key events that increased costs around MPs ’ safety , the report states that “ Brexit , combined with minority government , had a profound and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government and parliament , and pushed parliamentary procedure to its limit ” .
The report says that while costs have fallen since 2018 , they are still significantly higher than pre-2015 spending .

The cost of security to keep MPs safe around Westminster increased by more than £4 million between 2015 and 2018, partly due to the divisive Brexit debate, a new report claims.
Security costs leapt from £171,000 to £4.5 million in three years according to the latest Parliamentary Monitoring report by the Institute for Government think tank.
The report says “deeply divisive debates” about British military involvement in Syria in late 2015 led to a recommendation from the National Police Chiefs’ Council that all MPs “adopt a standard package of security measures”.
The report also states that the “reality of the threat” to parliamentarians was “tragically” made clear by the murder of Labour MP Jox Cox in 2016 EU referendum campaign.
Cox was murdered in her Batley and Spen constituency by a far-right extremist who shouted “this is for Britain” and “keep Britain independent” as he shot and then stabbed the MP.
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The report also highlights how the 2017 terror attack on Westminster, in which six people were killed, “further underlined the importance of security measures”. PC Keith Palmer lost his life in the attack, during which Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood was pictured administering CPR to the police officer.
As well as pointing to a number of key events that increased costs around MPs’ safety, the report states that “Brexit, combined with minority government, had a profound and detrimental effect on the relationship between the government and parliament, and pushed parliamentary procedure to its limit”.
The report says that while costs have fallen since 2018, they are still significantly higher than pre-2015 spending.


theweekuk--2020-05-21--Reaction: world responds as global coronavirus cases pass 5 million


theweekuk--2020-05-21--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 21 May 2020

The government says “ promising ” figures show only small numbers of people are now testing positive for coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ an easing of lockdown measures .
However , speaking at yesterday ’ s daily briefing @ @ @ @ @ ruled out regional variation in the lifting of social distancing restrictions , saying the plan @ @ @ @ @ a whole nation ” , but added that different measures might be inplemented in “ @ @ @ @ @ once a track and trace system is in place .

Coronavirus infection rate dropping in London
The government says “promising” figures show only small numbers of people are now testing positive for coronavirus in London, raising hopes of an easing of lockdown measures. However, speaking at yesterday’s daily briefing, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden ruled out regional variation in the lifting of social distancing restrictions, saying the plan was to “move as a whole nation”, but added that different measures might be inplemented in “micro-hotspots” of infections identified once a track and trace system is in place.


theweekuk--2020-05-21--Man buys cake to congratulate girlfriend for farting

A man has bought his girlfriend a cake to congratulate her for finally farting in front of him after three years together .
After Kaylie Warren , of Queensland , Australia , passed wind in his presence , Ryan McErlean presented her with a cake with a special message written in icing : “ Took you three years – congratulations for finally farting ” .
Man reunited with his stolen ring 52 years on A man in Florida was reunited with his high school class ring 52 years after it was stolen .
Allan Ackles said the ring was pinched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1968 .
Recently , a man mowing his lawn found the ring and turned amateur detective to track down its delighted owner , who said : “ I 'm like an old man with a new kid toy.
” A former police constable is in trouble with the law after he was caught eating seven full English breakfasts at a police canteen without paying for them .
Jamie Larman had only been a PC in training for two weeks when he ate the food at a Thames Valley Police training centre in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned , was found guilty of gross misconduct at a hearing .
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Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A man has bought his girlfriend a cake to congratulate her for finally farting in front of him after three years together. After Kaylie Warren, of Queensland, Australia, passed wind in his presence, Ryan McErlean presented her with a cake with a special message written in icing: “Took you three years – congratulations for finally farting”.
Man reunited with his stolen ring 52 years on
A man in Florida was reunited with his high school class ring 52 years after it was stolen. Allan Ackles said the ring was pinched from his locker at Manatee High School in 1968. Recently, a man mowing his lawn found the ring and turned amateur detective to track down its delighted owner, who said: “I'm like an old man with a new kid toy.”
Former cop guilty of breakfast misconduct
A former police constable is in trouble with the law after he was caught eating seven full English breakfasts at a police canteen without paying for them. Jamie Larman had only been a PC in training for two weeks when he ate the food at a Thames Valley Police training centre in Berkshire. Larman, who has since resigned, was found guilty of gross misconduct at a hearing.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-05-21--Swedo-science: has Sweden’s coronavirus experiment failed?

Denmark, Finland and Norway are considering excluding Sweden when lifting travel restrictions for other countries, amid concerns about the neighbouring Nordic nation’s high coronavirus death rate.
Sweden has the highest mortality rate per capita at this stage of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Financial Times’ seven-day tracker. It was the only Scandinavian country not to implement a national lockdown, instead opting to keep primary schools, restaurants and bars open, and even encouraging people to go outside.
What is the Swedish model?
Sweden’s Public Health Agency, known as the Folkhalsomyndigheten, has given the green light for restaurants, bars and primary schools to remain open throughout the outbreak.
The Folkhalsomyndigheten said in March that its relaxed approach to social distancing would result in “a slow spread of infection, and that the health services have a reasonable workload”.
However, the country did introduce some precautionary measures. As the i news site reported at the time, “everyone in Sweden is urged to stay at home if they are at all sick”, and to avoid non-essential travel within the country, work from home if possible, and cancel non-essential visits to elderly people or hospitals.
Universities and senior high schools were also shut, and gatherings of more than 500 are banned.
What are the problems with the strategy?
Sweden recorded 6.08 deaths per million inhabitants per day on a rolling seven-day average between May 13 and May 20. “This is the highest in the world, above the UK, Belgium and the US, which have 5.57, 4.28 and 4.11 respectively”, The Telegraph reports.
The country’s state epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, has argued that it is misleading to focus on the death toll over a single week.
“This is something we should look at when it’s all over,” he told Stockholm-based newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.
But “it is of course terrible that we have such a higher death toll at our elderly care homes, and there are lessons to be learned for those who work in these institutions”, Tegnell added.
Prime minister Stefan Lofven admitted last week that the country had failed its elderly. “We did not manage to protect the most vulnerable people, the most elderly, despite our best intentions,” he said.