Eurotopics.net

The coronavirus crisis has upset the timetable for the Brexit negotiations. Boris Johnson is nonetheless insisting that the transition phase during which all EU regulations still apply for the UK will end at the end of the year as planned. Others are calling for it to be prolonged. Columnists of the pro-Tory paper The Daily Telegraph discuss the pros and cons.

Many countries have declared a state of emergency and imposed curfews in a bid to combat the spread of the corona pandemic. In Italy, Spain, France, Belgium and Denmark, for example, citizens are only allowed to leave their homes for urgent reasons. Some scientists doubt the efficacy of such drastic measures, and a number of commentators agree.

Just because people all over the world are now spending a great deal of time at home as a result of the corona crisis this doesn't mean that every family is growing closer together: reports from China point to an increase in physical and sexual domestic violence, while in Europe hotlines are already reporting a spike in calls. But even beyond violence, the lockdown will hit some children harder than others.

Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders engaged in what is likely to be their last televised debate in the Democratic primary race on Sunday. After a series of defeats in Florida, Arizona and Illinois on Tuesday Sanders is assessing whether to withdraw from the race. In the eyes of commentators, Joe Biden has already won the duel.