theweekuk--2020-09-30--Hong Kong: how HSBC became wrapped up in China’s ‘security law’

HSBC has been a staple of Hong Kong ’ s financial landscape for over a century , but the banking giant has endured a torrid 2020 after becoming embroiled in the ongoing debate over China ’ s “ security laws ” .
For more than twelve months , the bank has been “ bashed and threatened by the Chinese authorities ” over the legislation that effectively outlaws attempts at secession from Beijing , The Times says .
And after breaking cover to back the laws in June , HSBC found itself under fire again , this time from Hongkongers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of kow-towing to Chinese influence .
The security law , passed earlier this year , became the subject of fierce opposition after effectively criminalising any attempts by Hong Kong to break away from China .
The legislation also outlawed what Beijing calls “ subversion ” , defined as “ undermining the power or authority of the central government ” .
As a “ financial bridge between Asia and the west ” HSBC was caught in the crossfire , with activists venting their frustration at the bank ’ s stance by vandalising branches across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bank revealed its hand in June , when HSBC ’ s Asia-Pacific chief executive Peter Wong said on the Chinese social media platform WeChat that he had signed a petition supporting Beijing ’ s new rules .
Wong said the bank “ respects and supports laws and regulations that will enable Hong Kong to recover and rebuild the economy and , at the same time , maintain the principle of ‘ one country , two systems ’ ” .
The statement prompted outrage from protesters and was followed by months of silence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Beijing are also treating the bank with scepticism due to rumours that it collaborated with protesters .
And last week , Chinese state-run newspaper The Global Times reported the bank was likely to be included on an official list of “ unreliable entities ” that Beijing sees as a threat to China ’ s sovereignty .
What does it mean for business in Hong Kong ?
HSBC has been widely condemned by rights groups in the West , who have sounded the alarm over the increasing influence of China on Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now being tested , as it finds itself caught in the middle of a trade row between Washington and Beijing ” , a battle that could have “ material consequences for a bank that plans to expand further in Asia ” , The Guardian says .
But HSBC ’ s predicament points to a wider issue facing businesses operating in the former capital-friendly city .
The US response to China ’ s aggression , the Hong Kong Autonomy Act , “ authorises sanctions on those involved in ‘ extinguishing Hong Kong ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on financial firms that knowingly do business with them ” , The Economist says .
With China increasingly flexing its economic and political muscle , business attempting to operate in the territory may find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place .

HSBC has been a staple of Hong Kong’s financial landscape for over a century, but the banking giant has endured a torrid 2020 after becoming embroiled in the ongoing debate over China’s “security laws”.
For more than twelve months, the bank has been “bashed and threatened by the Chinese authorities” over the legislation that effectively outlaws attempts at secession from Beijing, The Times says.
And after breaking cover to back the laws in June, HSBC found itself under fire again, this time from Hongkongers and British MPs, who accused the company of kow-towing to Chinese influence.
A geopolitical storm
The security law, passed earlier this year, became the subject of fierce opposition after effectively criminalising any attempts by Hong Kong to break away from China. The legislation also outlawed what Beijing calls “subversion”, defined as “undermining the power or authority of the central government”.
As a “financial bridge between Asia and the west” HSBC was caught in the crossfire, with activists venting their frustration at the bank’s stance by vandalising branches across the city, The Guardian reports.
The bank revealed its hand in June, when HSBC’s Asia-Pacific chief executive Peter Wong said on the Chinese social media platform WeChat that he had signed a petition supporting Beijing’s new rules. Wong said the bank “respects and supports laws and regulations that will enable Hong Kong to recover and rebuild the economy and, at the same time, maintain the principle of ‘one country, two systems’”.
The statement prompted outrage from protesters and was followed by months of silence from HSBC.
Meanwhile, security officials in Beijing are also treating the bank with scepticism due to rumours that it collaborated with protesters. And last week, Chinese state-run newspaper The Global Times reported the bank was likely to be included on an official list of “unreliable entities” that Beijing sees as a threat to China’s sovereignty.
What does it mean for business in Hong Kong?
HSBC has been widely condemned by rights groups in the West, who have sounded the alarm over the increasing influence of China on Hong Kong.
HSBC’s “international commitments are now being tested, as it finds itself caught in the middle of a trade row between Washington and Beijing”, a battle that could have “material consequences for a bank that plans to expand further in Asia”, The Guardian says.
But HSBC’s predicament points to a wider issue facing businesses operating in the former capital-friendly city.
The US response to China’s aggression, the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, “authorises sanctions on those involved in ‘extinguishing Hong Kong’s freedom’, as well as on financial firms that knowingly do business with them”, The Economist says.
With China increasingly flexing its economic and political muscle, business attempting to operate in the territory may find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place.


theweekuk--2020-10-01--2020-21 Champions League draw: groups and key dates

Uefa has made the draw for the group stages of the 2020-21 Champions League.
The draw held at Uefa’s HQ - the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland - had a number of caveats. Each of the eight groups contained one team from each pot and no teams from the same country could be drawn together.
Group G is the standout draw with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus facing Lionel Messi’s Barcelona. Juve and Barca are grouped with Dynamo Kiev and Ferencvaros.
Defending champions Bayern Munich, who won all 11 matches last season, are in group A with Atletico Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg, Lokomotiv Moscow.
Premier League champions Liverpool are in group D with Ajax, Atalanta and Midtjylland. Frank Lampard’s Chelsea joined Europa League winners Sevilla, Krasnodar and Rennes in group E.
Manchester City, Porto, Olympiakos and Marseille are in group C while Manchester United are with Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig and Istanbul Basaksehir in group H.
Matchday one of the group stage is on 20-21 October and all matches will be live on BT Sport.
Champions League group stage draw
Group A: Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg, Lokomotiv Moscow Group B: Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan, Borussia Monchengladbach Group C: Porto, Man City, Olympiakos, Marseille Group D: Liverpool, Ajax, Atalanta, Midtjylland Group E: Sevilla, Chelsea, Krasnodar, Rennes Group F: Zenit St Petersburg, Borussia Dortmund, Lazio, Club Bruges Group G: Juventus, Barcelona, Dynamo Kiev, Ferencvaros Group H: Paris St-Germain, Man Utd, RB Leipzig, Istanbul Basaksehir
2020-21 Champions League key dates
20-21 October: group stage matchday one 27-28 October: group stage matchday two 3-4 November: group stage matchday three 24-25 November: group stage matchday four 1-2 December: group stage matchday five 8-9 December: group stage matchday six 16-17 February 2021: round of 16 6 and 14 April: quarter-finals 17 April and 5 May: semi-finals
When is the 2021 Champions League final?
The 2021 final will take place on Saturday 29 May and will be held at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
How to watch on TV
BT Sport will again have exclusive UK rights for the Champions League and Europa League. The broadcaster will show live coverage of every match.


theweekuk--2020-10-01--Instant Opinion: Remainers fighting ‘long-lost war’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
Brussels ’ lawsuit will not win Remainers their long-lost war “ The danger is that this latest fight between the commission and the government will be used by Remainers , that they will use it as an excuse to emerge from the jungle terrain to which they retreated in January and seek to use it , not to secure victory in their long-lost war , but to establish some sort of ‘ I told you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term fight back to re-join the EU .
All the old arguments – which were nonsense then and are nonsense now – about the undermining of the Good Friday Agreement are being dusted down and redeployed .
‘ Brexiters don ’ t care if they force the IRA to return to violence ’ is basically their case and it is as dangerous and dishonest as it is mind-bogglingly stupid .
But look !
Over the hill to the rescue rides Ursula ‘ Nowhere else ’ von der Leyen , who will frustrate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , by doing what , exactly ?
” on the rise of Sunak Tories are thinking about life after Boris Johnson “ The words ‘ deputy prime minister ’ are being muttered by ministers and I hear several factions are preparing to demand someone is appointed to help him relaunch and reshuffle the government .
Even that will become a proxy fight , or preliminary skirmish , over the party ’ s future after Boris .
If Jeremy Hunt , the former health secretary , got the job it would be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gove became deputy PM — he is already doing quite a bit of that job without the title — his colleagues would fear it meant even more power for Dominic Cummings , the senior No 10 adviser and friend of Gove .
Nothing can move without the say-so of the chancellor Rishi Sunak , the leader-in-waiting who is ( for now ) unsackable .
Only eight months ago he was installed by a No 10 that assumed he would be pliable .
Now he is the number one threat.
” Today ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Herzegovina “ Slobodan Milosevic , later dubbed the ‘ Butcher of Balkans ’ for his genocide against Bosnian Muslims , brilliantly leveraged this shared Islamophobia to justify killing ordinary people like me .
In 1989 , when he prepped Serbs for the wars he was going to initiate , he delivered an infamous speech calling for Serbs to unify in battle to protect their Serb identity and white , Christian Europe .
The time and place for his speech were carefully curated – it was delivered at the main ceremony marking the 600th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which the Muslim Ottomans defeated the Serbs and shortly thereafter conquered Serbian lands .
The commemoration , which was taking place at an historical battle site , provided Milosevic with imagery that would help Serbs morally justify the mass killings of Muslims .
Like those who partook in the executions of ordinary Muslims in Bosnia , white supremacists in America today look at Muslims – along with Black people , immigrants , gays , Jews and all other minorities – through the imagery of the Crusades and see all minorities as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the death of principles By kicking Amnesty out , India is betraying its founding ideals “ India once prided itself on standing apart from the rest of the region , avowing a long tradition of tolerance and pluralism .
This was a tradition not inspired by the west , but in defiance of it .
It was evident in the freedom struggle against the British , when Indian activists like Mehta were imprisoned for their peaceful beliefs under draconian laws and protests were crushed with violent impunity .
And it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free press and countless social movements , including trade unions , women ’ s rights groups , indigenous and Dalit rights activists , all vigorously holding the Indian state to account .
These traditions now lie imperilled.
” Early 20th-century black British history is as important as Windrush .
These are the three lessons whitewashing has denied us “ For many of us who grew up and are growing up without knowledge of black British history , Wikipedia , non-fiction books and online articles have become ways to fill in gaps of information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are now aware of the history behind the Notting Hill Carnival and the Bristol bus boycott .
However , many are still as of yet uninitiated in early 20th-century black British history .
The history not of post-war immigrants , but of British imperial subjects migrating to the mainland some decades before .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Tom Harris in The Telegraph
on empty legal challenges
Brussels’ lawsuit will not win Remainers their long-lost war
“The danger is that this latest fight between the commission and the government will be used by Remainers, that they will use it as an excuse to emerge from the jungle terrain to which they retreated in January and seek to use it, not to secure victory in their long-lost war, but to establish some sort of ‘I told you so bridgehead upon which to build a long-term fight back to re-join the EU. All the old arguments – which were nonsense then and are nonsense now – about the undermining of the Good Friday Agreement are being dusted down and redeployed. ‘Brexiters don’t care if they force the IRA to return to violence’ is basically their case and it is as dangerous and dishonest as it is mind-bogglingly stupid. But look! Over the hill to the rescue rides Ursula ‘Nowhere else’ von der Leyen, who will frustrate and humiliate this nasty government of Brexiters by… well, by doing what, exactly?”
2. Iain Martin in The Times
on the rise of Sunak
Tories are thinking about life after Boris Johnson
“The words ‘deputy prime minister’ are being muttered by ministers and I hear several factions are preparing to demand someone is appointed to help him relaunch and reshuffle the government. Even that will become a proxy fight, or preliminary skirmish, over the party’s future after Boris. If Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary, got the job it would be a direct challenge to Michael Gove. If Gove became deputy PM — he is already doing quite a bit of that job without the title — his colleagues would fear it meant even more power for Dominic Cummings, the senior No 10 adviser and friend of Gove. Nothing can move without the say-so of the chancellor Rishi Sunak, the leader-in-waiting who is (for now) unsackable. Only eight months ago he was installed by a No 10 that assumed he would be pliable. Now he is the number one threat.”
3. Amra Sabic-El-Rayess in Al Jazeera
on dark parallels
Today’s America reminds me of 1990s Bosnia and Herzegovina
“Slobodan Milosevic, later dubbed the ‘Butcher of Balkans’ for his genocide against Bosnian Muslims, brilliantly leveraged this shared Islamophobia to justify killing ordinary people like me. In 1989, when he prepped Serbs for the wars he was going to initiate, he delivered an infamous speech calling for Serbs to unify in battle to protect their Serb identity and white, Christian Europe. The time and place for his speech were carefully curated – it was delivered at the main ceremony marking the 600th anniversary of the battle of Kosovo, in which the Muslim Ottomans defeated the Serbs and shortly thereafter conquered Serbian lands. The commemoration, which was taking place at an historical battle site, provided Milosevic with imagery that would help Serbs morally justify the mass killings of Muslims. Like those who partook in the executions of ordinary Muslims in Bosnia, white supremacists in America today look at Muslims – along with Black people, immigrants, gays, Jews and all other minorities – through the imagery of the Crusades and see all minorities as an existential threat to their ethnic purity.”
4. Rajat Khosla in The Guardian
on the death of principles
By kicking Amnesty out, India is betraying its founding ideals
“India once prided itself on standing apart from the rest of the region, avowing a long tradition of tolerance and pluralism. This was a tradition not inspired by the west, but in defiance of it. It was evident in the freedom struggle against the British, when Indian activists like Mehta were imprisoned for their peaceful beliefs under draconian laws and protests were crushed with violent impunity. And it was a tradition that gave birth to a raucous free press and countless social movements, including trade unions, women’s rights groups, indigenous and Dalit rights activists, all vigorously holding the Indian state to account. These traditions now lie imperilled.”
5. Seun Matiluko in The Independent
on gaps in history
Early 20th-century black British history is as important as Windrush. These are the three lessons whitewashing has denied us
“For many of us who grew up and are growing up without knowledge of black British history, Wikipedia, non-fiction books and online articles have become ways to fill in gaps of information. As a result, many more people are now aware of the history behind the Notting Hill Carnival and the Bristol bus boycott. However, many are still as of yet uninitiated in early 20th-century black British history. The history not of post-war immigrants, but of British imperial subjects migrating to the mainland some decades before.”


theweekuk--2020-10-01--Windrush activist lists ‘100 great black Britons’

The filmmaker Steve McQueen and Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees have been named in a list of “ 100 great black Britons ” curated by Windrush campaigners and historians to mark Black History Month .
Patrick Vernon and Dr Angelina Osborne came up with the idea to “ honour the remarkable achievements of key Black British individuals over history ” .
The book , according to the official website of the campaign that inspired it , describes the impact of black British men and women over the past 400 years , including their “ contribution and legacy to British history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editor Edward Enninful also made the list - says the authors are “ keen for the book to be distributed throughout schools as an educational tool ” .
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to raise money for the project .
The book arrives weeks after calls for a review to add more black , Asian and ethnic minority history to the English national curriculum was rejected by the government .
Other figures that made the list include model and trans activist Munroe Bergdorf , the Booker prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a prominent campaigner for the black Britons affected by the Windrush scandal , said “ a key golden thread ” connected the lives of those included .
“ The people never gave up , they struggled , whatever field they were in , or discipline or time period in history , they were ahead of the game and they never gave up , ” he said .
“ If that can inspire young people around our own personal goals , achievement and fighting for equality in Britain and learning and educating then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legacy .
”

The filmmaker Steve McQueen and Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees have been named in a list of “100 great black Britons” curated by Windrush campaigners and historians to mark Black History Month.
Patrick Vernon and Dr Angelina Osborne came up with the idea to “honour the remarkable achievements of key Black British individuals over history”.
The book, according to the official website of the campaign that inspired it, describes the impact of black British men and women over the past 400 years, including their “contribution and legacy to British history”.
British Vogue - whose current editor Edward Enninful also made the list - says the authors are “keen for the book to be distributed throughout schools as an educational tool”. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to raise money for the project.
The book arrives weeks after calls for a review to add more black, Asian and ethnic minority history to the English national curriculum was rejected by the government.
Other figures that made the list include model and trans activist Munroe Bergdorf, the Booker prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo and Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton.
Vernon, a prominent campaigner for the black Britons affected by the Windrush scandal, said “a key golden thread” connected the lives of those included. “The people never gave up, they struggled, whatever field they were in, or discipline or time period in history, they were ahead of the game and they never gave up,” he said.
“If that can inspire young people around our own personal goals, achievement and fighting for equality in Britain and learning and educating then I think that would be a fantastic legacy.”


theweekuk--2020-10-01--Top ten things to do in October across the UK and in London

Adapting for change has been part and parcel of 2020 - especially in the UK ’ s restaurant , event and bar scene .
October is no different and there ’ s a new roster of unique and socially-distant events to experience .
Cinestock will launch the world ’ s first indoor drive-in cinema and London Cocktail Week - for the first time in its history - will be extended for the entire month .
These are just two examples of the month ’ s best activities included in DesignMyNight ’ s top ten picks .
Get ready for another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Murdér Express is back this month and it will see you boarding a fictional train at Pedley Street Station in Bethnal Green .
After checking in and grabbing a drink at the Seven Sins bar , you will be in charge of figuring out whodunnit while enjoying a four-course menu from 2017 MasterChef finalist , Louisa Ellis .
The world-famous festival has been extended for the entire month .
A £15 festival pass will secure ticket holders £6 cocktails at hundreds of bars across the capital .
Many of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Callooh Callay , Artesian and Nightjar - will be participating and some venues will be hosting a variety of exclusive spirit tastings and interactive masterclasses .
From £12.50-£15 ; various bars across London Relive the hedonism of the 1920s and purchase a ticket to one of the most exclusive events in the capital .
Gin House Burlesque is taking over a private members ’ club in East London , placing the spotlight on a talented team of vintage showgirls for a star-studded performance combining burlesque and daring circus acts .
When you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performers , take the time to wander through the members ’ club ; it has several unique and dramatic spaces to explore , including a lioness taxidermy room .
Cinestock has been running cinematic events for the past eight years and this month it will launch the world ’ s first indoor drive-in cinema .
As well as showing a range of movies , food and drink will also be available .
Accessible via QR code , a fully stocked bar is there for those who can drink and a selection of food-fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order .
From £5-£25 ; The South of England Showground , Selsfield Rd , Haywards Heath , RH17 6TH Sipsmith is the first copper-pot distillery to open within London since 1820 .
The team have created a number of unique flavours over the years , a firm favourite being Lemon Drizzle , and this year they ’ ve gone a step further to bring online masterclasses to the masses .
This month you can tune into an interactive virtual experience and learn all there is to know about Sipsmith ’ s Chilli and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their unique cocktails with a cocktail kit that ’ s sent out in the post before the event .
Saying goodbye to his open air BBQ Club , Jimmy Garcia has transformed his event space by the Southbank into a cosy waterside hideaway for the colder months , with one huge winter cabin and a string of dome-shaped igloos .
Designed to be shared , the menu features a selection of starters - including French onion mountain soup - followed by a traditional fondue and a 70 % hot chocolate for dessert .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ six people , it ’ s an incredible experience for you and your support bubble .
One of the most popular Airbnb experiences worldwide ( which is 100 % artist run ) has made its return to London .
The Hidden Jazz Club has reopened after its lockdown hibernation , bringing its eclectic sounds to a disguised railway-arch-turned-vintage-theatre in Waterloo .
Regular contributors are none other than MOBO award winner Denys Baptiste and Vimala Rowe , who is recognised as one of the best vocalists of her generation .
Witness global acts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From £18 ; The Vaults Theatre , The Vaults Theatre , Launcelot Street , Waterloo , SE1 7AD London is home to many iconic skyscrapers and one to take note of this month is The Gherkin .
Perched at the top of the bullet-shaped building on levels 39 and 40 you ’ ll find Searcys .
This sky-high bar and restaurant specialises in Champagne and for the first time in its history , its HELIX restaurant has added a sparkling afternoon tea to the menu .
Travel up the ear-popping elevator and crane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s panorama - all while you fill up on crust-free sandwiches , buttermilk scones and traditional sweet treats .
Searcys at the Gherkin , The Gherkin , 30 St Mary Axe , London EC3A 8EP Brighton is home to a blood-pumping axe throwing experience and for the month of October it ’ s selling six tickets for the price of five .
Adrenaline junkies will feel right at home when they visit TRIBE ’ s cages at The North Laine Pub and Brewery .
With 60 minutes on the clock to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will get help from an instructor for the duration of the experience .
They will provide you with some useful tips on technique , and some trick shots if your aim is good enough to up your skill set .
Some of Birmingham ’ s household BBQ names are joining forces to put on a socially-distanced festival from 10-11 October .
The BBQ Fest will showcase stands from names such as Little Urban BBQ , Smoke and Bones and Street Souvlaki , and alongside these cult names will be a number of bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soft drinks with a mini market hall to wander around during your stay .
Split into different sessions , it ’ s one of the most exciting socially-distant events in Birmingham ’ s autumnal calendar .
For more info on the best things to do in London and across the UK , see DesignMyNight.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook Need more inspiration for things to do this autumn ?
See our guide here…

Adapting for change has been part and parcel of 2020 - especially in the UK’s restaurant, event and bar scene.
October is no different and there’s a new roster of unique and socially-distant events to experience.
Cinestock will launch the world’s first indoor drive-in cinema and London Cocktail Week - for the first time in its history - will be extended for the entire month.
These are just two examples of the month’s best activities included in DesignMyNight’s top ten picks.
The Murdér Express - London
Get ready for another season of fine dining and theatrical performances. The Murdér Express is back this month and it will see you boarding a fictional train at Pedley Street Station in Bethnal Green. After checking in and grabbing a drink at the Seven Sins bar, you will be in charge of figuring out whodunnit while enjoying a four-course menu from 2017 MasterChef finalist, Louisa Ellis.
From £60-£67.50; Pedley Street Station, Arch 63, Pedley Street, London, E1
London Cocktail Week - London
The world-famous festival has been extended for the entire month. A £15 festival pass will secure ticket holders £6 cocktails at hundreds of bars across the capital. Many of the world’s best bars - think Swift, Callooh Callay, Artesian and Nightjar - will be participating and some venues will be hosting a variety of exclusive spirit tastings and interactive masterclasses.
From £12.50-£15; various bars across London
Gin House Burlesque - London
Relive the hedonism of the 1920s and purchase a ticket to one of the most exclusive events in the capital. Gin House Burlesque is taking over a private members’ club in East London, placing the spotlight on a talented team of vintage showgirls for a star-studded performance combining burlesque and daring circus acts. When you’re not being wowed by the performers, take the time to wander through the members’ club; it has several unique and dramatic spaces to explore, including a lioness taxidermy room.
From £40; The King's Head Members’ Club, 257, Kingsland Road, London, E2 8AS
Cinestock - West Sussex
Cinestock has been running cinematic events for the past eight years and this month it will launch the world’s first indoor drive-in cinema. As well as showing a range of movies, food and drink will also be available. Accessible via QR code, a fully stocked bar is there for those who can drink and a selection of food-fired pizzas and burgers can be made to order.


theweekuk--2020-10-01--EU launches legal action against UK over Internal Market Bill

The EU Commission has confirmed that it will launch legal action against the UK ’ s attempt to override parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement .
European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen announced today that the UK had been put on formal notice over the bill , giving Boris Johnson until the end of September to scrap clauses that contradict parts of the original agreement .
“ The deadline has lapsed , ” von der Leyen told reporters on Thursday .
“ We had invited our British friends to remove the problematic parts of their draft Internal Market Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The problematic provisions have not been removed , therefore this morning , the Commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice to the UK government .
This is the first step in an infringement procedure.
” No .
10 now has one month to respond to the commission ’ s letter of notice , which marks the beginning of a formal infringement process .
It “ could ultimately end in the European Court of Justice ” in Luxembourg , The Guardian reports .
“ The legal road for the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politico , and it ’ s “ far more likely that the two sides would reach a political agreement before any process could be completed in the courts ” .
A government spokesman said the government “ will respond to the letter in due course ” , but said the bill was intended to “ create a legal safety net to protect the integrity of the UK ’ s internal market , ensure ministers can always deliver on their obligations to Northern Ireland and protect the gains from the peace process ” .

The EU Commission has confirmed that it will launch legal action against the UK’s attempt to override parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen announced today that the UK had been put on formal notice over the bill, giving Boris Johnson until the end of September to scrap clauses that contradict parts of the original agreement.
“The deadline has lapsed,” von der Leyen told reporters on Thursday. “We had invited our British friends to remove the problematic parts of their draft Internal Market Bill, by the end of September.”
“The problematic provisions have not been removed, therefore this morning, the Commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice to the UK government. This is the first step in an infringement procedure.”
No. 10 now has one month to respond to the commission’s letter of notice, which marks the beginning of a formal infringement process. It “could ultimately end in the European Court of Justice” in Luxembourg, The Guardian reports.
“The legal road for the EU is long and uncertain,” says Politico, and it’s “far more likely that the two sides would reach a political agreement before any process could be completed in the courts”.
A government spokesman said the government “will respond to the letter in due course”, but said the bill was intended to “create a legal safety net to protect the integrity of the UK’s internal market, ensure ministers can always deliver on their obligations to Northern Ireland and protect the gains from the peace process”.


theweekuk--2020-10-01--Everything you need to know about Boris Johnson’s offshore migrant detention plans

Migrants seeking asylum in the UK could soon be met with an altogether different greeting , according to a series of government leaks revealing the brainstorming behind planned reforms .
Following the revelation that Priti Patel looked into setting up migrant centres on two distant British territories , a sequence of briefings to journalists have revealed plans ranging from “ floating asylum centres ” to sending migrants to Moldova for processing .
Politico ’ s Alex Wickham writes that the deluge of sensitive leaks have set off “ strong condemnation from critics of the blue-sky proposals ” , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Here ’ s a guide to the unfolding saga .
Late on Tuesday night , the Financial Times revealed that Patel had asked officials to explore sending asylum seekers to isolated islands in the south Atlantic , 4,000 miles from the UK .
The plan , condemned as “ inhumane , completely impractical and wildly expensive ” by Labour shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds , would see migrants transferred to Ascension , an isolated volcanic British territory , and St Helena , which is part of the same island group but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home secretary were quick to tell the FT that the suggestion was not going ahead , but Patel is not the only minister in government throwing around suggestions for reforming the UK ’ s asylum policy .
Downing Street has reportedly asked officials to look into the possibility of sending asylum seekers to Moldova , Morocco or Papua New Guinea for screening and is the “ driving force behind proposals to hold refugees in offshore detention centres ” , The Guardian says .
Documents seen by the paper - marked “ official ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ officials in the Foreign Office have been pushing back ” against No 10 ’ s proposals , but suggest that the government has “ for weeks ” been working on plans for overseas detention .
The document includes cost estimates of building asylum camps and make reference to a plan that would involve moving asylum seekers “ who have arrived in the UK and are firmly within the jurisdiction of the UK for the purposes of the ECHR and Human Rights Act 1998 ” , the paper adds .
If reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week set the cat among the pigeons , the new leaks reveal the depth of interest in an outsourced approach to asylum processing .
Downing Street has also considered screening claimants on “ disused ferries moored off the coast ” , with officials also holding “ discussions about moving migrants to decommissioned oil platforms in the North Sea for processing ” , The Times says .
While the latter was considered a “ no-go ” , the former plan - to “ buy retired ferries and convert them into asylum-processing centres ” - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the paper adds .
Described as a “ favoured option on a list that will be presented to the prime minister ” , the ferry-approach will be listed alongside a suggestion to “ building a processing centre on a Scottish island ” , The Times ’ deputy political editor Steve Swinford says .
Political pressure from Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish National Party is thought to be a flaw in that plot .
Further complicating the matter , Daily Mail home affairs correspondent David Barrett suggests that an asylum processing centre could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Shetlands or the Isle of Man .
Officials were “ ordered to draw up feasibility studies for the hostel-type centres on islands within the British Isles ” , which Barrett says is considered more practical than Patel ’ s notion of building the centres 4,000 miles from Britain in the south Atlantic .
Politico ’ s Wickham says one plan that is “ definitely not happening ” is another leaked suggestion in the FT for “ boats with pumps generating waves that would force boats back into French waters ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were raised about the risk of capsizing migrants in already-overladen boats ” , however , it is thought that a separate plan to “ lay booms or barriers in parts of the Channel ” is still under consideration .
The leaks emanating from Whitehall has got people wondering where the flow of evolving - and abandoned - policies is coming from .
After speaking to ministers and officials in the Home Office and other government departments , Wickham writes that they are “ all blaming each other - and getting extremely angry about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister said the government is “ developing plans to reform our illegal migration and asylum policies so we can keep providing protection to those who need it , while preventing abuse of the system and criminality ” .
The spokesperson added : “ As part of this work we ’ ve been looking at what a whole host of other countries do to inform a plan for the United Kingdom .
And that work is ongoing.
” And the plan has not sprung a leak in support from Conservatives .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the public supports the proposal for a centre in the south Atlantic - including 62 % of Tory voters .
However , the government may come unstuck when blue sky ideas meet cold reality .
In the early 2000s , Tony Blair ’ s government looked into building offshore processing centres - specifically considering Tanzania - but abandoned the plans as unfeasible .
Colin Yeo , an immigration barrister and author on asylum law , told the FT that the government may also find itself on shaky legal territory if it attempts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans .
“ If you intercept people and you remove them , the Refugee Convention prohibits you from indirectly returning them to their country of origin , ” Yeo said .
“ If you take them somewhere like north Africa , you have to guarantee that they won ’ t send them back to their country of origin because you ’ re just not allowed to do that .
”

Migrants seeking asylum in the UK could soon be met with an altogether different greeting, according to a series of government leaks revealing the brainstorming behind planned reforms.
Following the revelation that Priti Patel looked into setting up migrant centres on two distant British territories, a sequence of briefings to journalists have revealed plans ranging from “floating asylum centres” to sending migrants to Moldova for processing.
Politico’s Alex Wickham writes that the deluge of sensitive leaks have set off “strong condemnation from critics of the blue-sky proposals”, as well as a “frenzied Whitehall blame game”. Here’s a guide to the unfolding saga.
Origin story
Late on Tuesday night, the Financial Times revealed that Patel had asked officials to explore sending asylum seekers to isolated islands in the south Atlantic, 4,000 miles from the UK.
The plan, condemned as “inhumane, completely impractical and wildly expensive” by Labour shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds, would see migrants transferred to Ascension, an isolated volcanic British territory, and St Helena, which is part of the same island group but 800 miles away.
Allies of the home secretary were quick to tell the FT that the suggestion was not going ahead, but Patel is not the only minister in government throwing around suggestions for reforming the UK’s asylum policy.
Downing Street has reportedly asked officials to look into the possibility of sending asylum seekers to Moldova, Morocco or Papua New Guinea for screening and is the “driving force behind proposals to hold refugees in offshore detention centres”, The Guardian says.
Documents seen by the paper - marked “official” and “sensitive” - reveal that “officials in the Foreign Office have been pushing back” against No 10’s proposals, but suggest that the government has “for weeks” been working on plans for overseas detention.
The document includes cost estimates of building asylum camps and make reference to a plan that would involve moving asylum seekers “who have arrived in the UK and are firmly within the jurisdiction of the UK for the purposes of the ECHR and Human Rights Act 1998”, the paper adds.
Floating ideas
If reports of Patel’s pitch earlier in the week set the cat among the pigeons, the new leaks reveal the depth of interest in an outsourced approach to asylum processing.
Downing Street has also considered screening claimants on “disused ferries moored off the coast”, with officials also holding “discussions about moving migrants to decommissioned oil platforms in the North Sea for processing”, The Times says.


theweekuk--2020-10-01--Neanderthal genes linked to severe Covid-19 symptoms

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Genes passed down from our Neanderthal ancestors may increase our risk of contracting a more severe form of Covid-19, a study has concluded.
The research, published in Nature, suggests that a gene thought to triple an infected individual’s chance of developing serious coronavirus symptoms was passed on by Neanderthals more than 50,000 years ago.
Around 16% of Europeans and 50% of South Asians currently carry the gene.
The DNA strand, found on chromosome 3, was discovered by Swedish and German scientists comparing genetic data from seriously ill Covid-19 patients with that of 50,000-year-old Neanderthal skeletons found in Croatia and Siberia, CNN reports.
“It turns out that this gene variant was inherited by modern humans from the Neanderthals when they interbred some 60,000 years ago,” Hugo Zeberg, co-author of the study, said.
“Today, the people who inherited this gene variant are three times more likely to need artificial ventilation if they are infected by the novel coronavirus.”
About 2% of all DNA found in European and Asian populations can be traced back to the now-extinct humanoid species, but it is almost completely absent in African populations.
The six-gene cluster at the centre of the study was found to be most prevalent in Bangladesh, “where 63% of the population carry at least one copy of the sequence”, The New York Times says.
The strand “may account in part for why people of Bangladeshi descent are dying at a high rate of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom”, the paper adds.
Svante Paabo, who also worked on the study, has posited that around 100,000 “additional” coronavirus deaths have so far occurred as a result of the now-extinct humanoid’s genetic code.
“The genes in this region may well have protected the Neanderthals against some other infectious diseases that are not around today” Paabo said. “And now when we are faced with the novel coronavirus these Neanderthal genes have these tragic consequences.”
Despite the breakthrough, the precise feature of Neanderthal DNA that causes the increase in risk is currently unknown, which has led experts to warn against jumping to conclusions.
“Covid-19 is a complex disease, the severity of which has been linked to age, gender, ethnicity, obesity, health, virus load among other things” University College London Professor Mark Maslin told The Guardian.
“Lots of different populations are being severely affected, many of which do not have any Neanderthal genes,” Maslin added. “We must avoid simplifying the causes and impact of Covid-19.”


theweekuk--2020-10-01--US election: could the polls be wrong and what happens if they are?

With the US election just weeks away , Donald Trump appears to have a mountain to climb having trailed Joe Biden in nationwide polls for months .
But as many Hillary Clinton supporters learned in 2016 , opinion polling is not always the best predictor of the election outcome .
Biden ’ s polling lead is considerably larger than Clinton ’ s ever was , however , a lingering sense of doubt accompanies every new survey claiming that the former vice president is on course for a landslide victory .
So what happens if the polls are wrong ?
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the assessments of those who “ swore off polls for ever ” in the wake of the 2016 election , the polls were not necessarily wrong but misunderstood , The Times says .
US presidential elections are two-stage , state-by-state contests finalised through the Electoral College and do not directly represent the popular vote .
In almost all states , the candidate who has the highest vote total takes all the delegates for that state , and the candidate who seals a majority ( 270 or more ) of the Electoral College wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is possible for a candidate to win a plurality of votes but still lose the election , making opinion polling a less accurate predictor in tight races .
This is exactly what happened in 2016 .
Pollster RealClearPolitics showed Clinton averaged a 3.2 percentage point lead over Trump across the US on the day of the election .
She ended up winning the popular vote by 2.1 percentage points , “ a 1.1 point difference that is within the margin of error for most polls ” , Business Insider says .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took advantage of the Electoral College in a highly efficient way , converting just 46 % of the popular vote into 56.5 % of the Electoral College and taking the White House .
Biden ’ s polling lead over Trump is significantly wider than Clinton ’ s ever was .
Ahead of the first presidential debate on Tuesday , the ex-vice president held a seven-point advantage over Trump , increasing to eight after the showdown .
This is the largest polling lead at this point in an election cycle since former president Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsweek reports .
And “ even assuming that current national and state polls were as far off from the final result as they were in 2016 ” , Biden would “ still win the Electoral College and five of the top six states analysts say are likely to decide the election ” , Business Insider adds .
Can the polls be trusted ?
This all depends on how we view them .
At a national level , polls show the number of people likely to vote for a candidate without taking into account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predictions made using their figures run the risk of being incorrect .
It was an unusual year in 2016 , in that a large number of voters remained undecided right up until polling day .
This made predicting the outcome of the vote harder , the Pew Research Centre says .
That is not the case in 2020 , where there is a smaller number of undecided voters than in most election years .
One thing worth taking into account , however , is the small number of major discrepancies in polling at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Wisconsin , which Trump won by a margin of 0.7 % , but which polls had Clinton leading by 6.5 points on average .
What happens if polls are wrong ?
In 2016 , incorrect polling predictions were surprising .
In 2020 , a similar outcome would be seismic .
“ Only once in more than 80 years of polling ” has a lead of the size that Biden now enjoys been overturned by election day , The Article reports .
This was in 1948 , when President Truman came from behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can we be certain that Trump will lose ?
” The Article asks .
“ No : but if he wins he will have achieved something that no candidate has managed for 72 years .
”

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theweekuk--2020-10-01--Best vacuum cleaners: it’s time for an ‘autumn clean’

Most people are familiar with the annual spring clean ritual , but did you know that giving your home an “ autumn clean ” should also be on the to-do list ?
“ Autumn cleaning is the new spring cleaning , ” says Expert Home Tips , and with winter and Christmas following shortly after , “ it makes perfect sense ” .
A pre-hibernation autumn clean won ’ t just benefit your home , but also your health , the Daily Mirror reports .
As temperatures drop and we stay inside more , the combination of central heating , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfect conditions for mould , mites and bacteria .
“ Spring is traditionally when we give the house a deep clean , ” environmental health practitioner Dr Lisa Ackerley told the Mirror .
“ But autumn cleaning is even more important.
” Vacuuming properly is a good starting point , Ackerley adds , because “ carpets that look clean can still contain a huge amount of dirt , bacteria and mould ” .
With this in mind The Week has picked out some of the best vacuums cleaners to help spruce up your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reasonable mid-range price , this Vax model works well on both carpeted and hard floors .
It ’ s super-light at 3.1kg , has a headlight for cleaning dimly lit areas , and has up to 45 minutes of battery .
Aimed at pet-owners , this Miele model collects stubborn hair and has a filter system designed to absorb odours and fine dust from the air .
It also has a time strip to let you know when your filter needs changing .
Slightly bigger , and with a bigger bin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vacuum cleaner is as powerful as many of the best corded models .
Its battery lasts up to 60 minutes , and it can be stored neatly on a wall-mounted lock .
This Henry model is more eco-friendly than some , thanks to its high-efficiency motor and TriFlex Filtration System .
Compact , with a rewindable cable , it is great value for money .
Substantially cheaper than some of Dyson ’ s upright vacuum cleaners , this simple model is versatile , lightweight and energy-efficient .
It works well on carpet and @ @ @ @ @ @

Most people are familiar with the annual spring clean ritual, but did you know that giving your home an “autumn clean” should also be on the to-do list?
“Autumn cleaning is the new spring cleaning,” says Expert Home Tips, and with winter and Christmas following shortly after, “it makes perfect sense”.
A pre-hibernation autumn clean won’t just benefit your home, but also your health, the Daily Mirror reports.
As temperatures drop and we stay inside more, the combination of central heating, closed windows and drying washing indoors creates perfect conditions for mould, mites and bacteria.
“Spring is traditionally when we give the house a deep clean,” environmental health practitioner Dr Lisa Ackerley told the Mirror. “But autumn cleaning is even more important.”
Vacuuming properly is a good starting point, Ackerley adds, because “carpets that look clean can still contain a huge amount of dirt, bacteria and mould”.
With this in mind The Week has picked out some of the best vacuums cleaners to help spruce up your autumn.
Vax ONEPWR Blade 4
A great cordless model at a reasonable mid-range price, this Vax model works well on both carpeted and hard floors. It’s super-light at 3.1kg, has a headlight for cleaning dimly lit areas, and has up to 45 minutes of battery.
£220; vax.co.uk
Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog
Aimed at pet-owners, this Miele model collects stubborn hair and has a filter system designed to absorb odours and fine dust from the air. It also has a time strip to let you know when your filter needs changing.
£299; currys.co.uk
Dyson V11 Absolute
Slightly bigger, and with a bigger bin, than older cordless Dysons, this top-end vacuum cleaner is as powerful as many of the best corded models. Its battery lasts up to 60 minutes, and it can be stored neatly on a wall-mounted lock.
£599; dyson.co.uk
Numatic Henry HVR160
This Henry model is more eco-friendly than some, thanks to its high-efficiency motor and TriFlex Filtration System. Compact, with a rewindable cable, it is great value for money.
From £134; currys.co.uk
Dyson Small Ball Allergy
Substantially cheaper than some of Dyson’s upright vacuum cleaners, this simple model is versatile, lightweight and energy-efficient. It works well on carpet and is very easy to manoeuvre.
£199; dyson.co.uk


theweekuk--2020-10-01--How the pharma industry is changing to produce a Covid vaccine on time

Beatrice Melinek , post-doctoral research fellow in biochemical engineering at University College London ( UCL ) and Stephen Morris , research fellow in vaccine process analytics at UCL , on how the industry is evolving to deliver a response to Covid .
Changing any big industry to speed its processes up is going to be difficult .
But there are signs that substantial changes are underway – and they may be here to stay .
Medical innovation is in fact often accelerated in a time of crisis .
During the first world war , X-rays , developed two decades earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approaches to triaging and treating the wounded were also pioneered , and obligatory vaccinations for typhoid were introduced in the French army .
The second world war saw the first mass-scale production of antibiotics .
While the discovery was published in 1929 , it was only in the late 1930s , with the looming prospect of war , that Oxford University began speeding up its work in this field .
It was no small challenge to take a manually intensive laboratory process involving a mould grown on a solid surface and transform it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all within five years .
The methods involved in this process also went on to form the foundation of the biotechnology revolution of the 1970s , which pioneered genetic engineering .
Making medicines is expensive , and it can take a very long time to get from the discovery of a drug to actually treating patients .
With vaccines it ’ s a particular problem as the treatment needs to be administered to a huge number of healthy people .
Add to this the high mutation rate of some viruses .
The flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective for one season .
It is difficult to introduce new technology to medicine .
A major factor is regulation .
It is critical that any medicine manufactured is safe and effective .
The regulation of the biopharma sector is one of the strictest of any industry – the consequences of a mistake would be devastating .
If a medicine proves to be unsafe , not only does it put lives at risk but it can also damage people ’ s confidence in science and medicine more widely .
The MMR vaccine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with autism , which caused lasting damage to people ’ s confidence in vaccination .
The majority of vaccines fail during development .
Normally a ten-year timeframe would be required to bring a new vaccine to market .
This is in large part due to developers and manufactures operating a risk-adverse business model , under which funding and facilities are committed sequentially on reaching defined milestones .
For example , large-scale manufacture will not begin until the successful completion of clinical trials .
The response to the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if funding is committed ( in the form of pre-purchase agreements ) , enabling manufacturers to take significant commercial risk by manufacturing products at a large scale before clinical trials have been completed and evaluated .
This approach will enable significant stockpiles of new vaccines to be accumulated ready for use on approval .
The timeline can also be shortened by using new technologies for making vaccines .
Traditionally , vaccines were made by taking the pathogen itself and then inactivating it , or by manufacturing a harmless close relative of the pathogen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the body .
This involves complicated methods that have been in continual development for nearly 100 years , accelerating greatly during the second world war .
Clearly , either approach has risks , both for the patient and the manufacturer .
For example , scientists may fail to inactivate the virus , or a harmless pathogen could mutate into a more potent form .
The virus could also be accidentally released during production .
Recombinant DNA technology , joining together DNA molecules from different organisms and inserting them into a host , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important classes of modern medicines : therapeutic proteins .
The same technology can be applied to vaccines by using just part of a virus – its structural proteins – and inserting it into the body .
There , it acts as a vaccine by giving the immune system the opportunity to meet , recognise and prepare for the real virus .
These types of vaccines are easier to scale up and safer than traditional ones .
Newer approaches that are currently being developed introduce only the genetic material for the vaccine into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another virus .
This allows the cellular machinery to manufacture the viral protein , again enabling the immune system to prepare to fight off the actual virus .
By their nature , these new approaches offer the advantage of increased development speed , but are still relatively unproven .
Of the 34 Covid-19 vaccines currently being evaluated in clinical trials , 17 are of this type .
The ambitious timelines for a Covid vaccine would be far outside anything previously achieved .
But there are reasons to be optimistic .
While most vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 230 candidate vaccines for Covid-19 in development .
But many of the technologies being pursued are new and unproven , so investing in them is a risk .
Importantly , the biotech industry , faced with major international health challenges , has a long history of collaboration .
And there is evidence that , to meet the urgency of the global COVID-19 crisis , competition is reducing .
Collaboration on technologies , between companies and between commercial , academic and regulatory partners is accelerating .
Manufacturers can also rely on initiatives that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the University College London ’ s Vax Hub working to produce affordable vaccines by collaborating with Oxford University as well as the company AstraZenaca .
As the the two world wars have shown , biomedical innovation can be speeded up at a time of crisis .
And if we are really lucky , some processes and initiatives involved in the production of a Covid-19 vaccine may be here to stay – benefiting people for decades to come .
Beatrice Melinek , post-doctoral research fellow in biochemical engineering at University College London ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow in vaccine process analytics at UCL .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .


theweekuk--2020-10-01--Brexit exodus: 7,500 UK finance jobs and £1.2trn in assets move to Europe

Banks and firms preparing for Brexit have relocated more than 7,500 finance jobs and more than a trillion pounds in assets from the UK to Europe , according to a new survey .
Ahead of Britain ’ s withdrawal from the EU on 31 December , EY ’ s Brexit tracker reveals that more than 400 of the jobs have been announced in the last quarter .
As the transition period ends City firms are preparing to speed up the “ Brexit exodus ” , says The Times .
Predictions on Brexit ’ s impact on the UK ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , the paper adds , with projected job losses “ as high as 75,000 under a worst-case scenario in the long term ” .
Omar Ali , UK financial services managing partner at EY , says there could be a “ flurry of further staff and operational announcements ” in the coming weeks .
He added : “ The clock is running down , and with the possibility of a second Covid-19 spike threatening cross-border movement in the final three months of the transition period , firms must now ensure that as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can serve clients on the 1 January 2021.
” EY ’ s Brexit Tracker , which monitors statements from the biggest financial firms in Britain , says companies have been hiring for more than 2,800 new roles in Europe since Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016 , Reuters reports .
Meanwhile , assets worth more than £1.2trn belonging to EU customers have also been moved from London to the bloc .
With the transition period coming to an end , Sky News says financial companies including banks , insurers and asset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or expanding existing sites in Europe ” .
EY says Dublin remains the most popular destination for new hubs , followed by Luxembourg , Frankfurt and Paris .
While banks are preparing for a full-blown Brexit in January , the number of jobs and amount of assets is still a “ fraction ” of what is held by Britain ’ s financial sector , Reuters adds .

Banks and firms preparing for Brexit have relocated more than 7,500 finance jobs and more than a trillion pounds in assets from the UK to Europe, according to a new survey.
Ahead of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU on 31 December, EY’s Brexit tracker reveals that more than 400 of the jobs have been announced in the last quarter.
As the transition period ends City firms are preparing to speed up the “Brexit exodus”, says The Times. Predictions on Brexit’s impact on the UK’s financial services sector have “varied considerably”, the paper adds, with projected job losses “as high as 75,000 under a worst-case scenario in the long term”.
Omar Ali, UK financial services managing partner at EY, says there could be a “flurry of further staff and operational announcements” in the coming weeks.
He added: “The clock is running down, and with the possibility of a second Covid-19 spike threatening cross-border movement in the final three months of the transition period, firms must now ensure that as a minimum they will be operational and can serve clients on the 1 January 2021.”
EY’s Brexit Tracker, which monitors statements from the biggest financial firms in Britain, says companies have been hiring for more than 2,800 new roles in Europe since Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016, Reuters reports.
Meanwhile, assets worth more than £1.2trn belonging to EU customers have also been moved from London to the bloc.
With the transition period coming to an end, Sky News says financial companies including banks, insurers and asset managers have been “opening new hubs or expanding existing sites in Europe”.
EY says Dublin remains the most popular destination for new hubs, followed by Luxembourg, Frankfurt and Paris.
While banks are preparing for a full-blown Brexit in January, the number of jobs and amount of assets is still a “fraction” of what is held by Britain’s financial sector, Reuters adds.


theweekuk--2020-10-01--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 1 Oct 2020

Millions of jobs hang in the balance as the countdown to the end of the furlough scheme begins .
The @ @ @ @ @ furloughed workers ’ wages falls today ahead of the end of the furlough scheme on @ @ @ @ @ of 2,000 managers carried out by YouGov has found that more than a third of @ @ @ @ @ staff redundant over the next three months .

Millions could lose jobs as furlough begins wind down
Millions of jobs hang in the balance as the countdown to the end of the furlough scheme begins. The government’s contribution to furloughed workers’ wages falls today ahead of the end of the furlough scheme on 31 October. A poll of 2,000 managers carried out by YouGov has found that more than a third of UK employers plan to make staff redundant over the next three months.


theweekuk--2020-10-01--Scientists say time travel could prevent the Covid pandemic

Australian scientists claim that they have proven that time travel is mathematically possible by reconciling Albert Einstein ’ s famous theory of general relativity and the grandfather paradox .
Germain Tobar , who led the research at the University of Queensland , said that a time traveller could theoretically go back in time to kill the first infected person infected by Covid-19 and thus prevent the pandemic .
An art student has dumped nearly 32 tons of carrots onto the street on the campus of a London university .
After a photo of the carrots went viral on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of London revealed the pile of carrots is an installation by Rafael Perez Evans , an art student at its art college .
The exhibit , titled Grounding , is part of the Master of Fine Arts degree show .
A bat has been blamed for a blackout that left the specialist baby units at Adelaide ’ s Women ’ s and Children ’ s Hospital without power for almost an hour .
A hospital spokesman said the bat tripped all the power networks ’ circuit breakers , and it took about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on site and restore power .
Adelaide ’ s bat colony has increased significantly over the past decade .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Australian scientists claim that they have proven that time travel is mathematically possible by reconciling Albert Einstein’s famous theory of general relativity and the grandfather paradox. Germain Tobar, who led the research at the University of Queensland, said that a time traveller could theoretically go back in time to kill the first infected person infected by Covid-19 and thus prevent the pandemic.
Student dumps 32 tons of carrots on street
An art student has dumped nearly 32 tons of carrots onto the street on the campus of a London university. After a photo of the carrots went viral on social media, promoting widespread curiosity, Goldsmiths, University of London revealed the pile of carrots is an installation by Rafael Perez Evans, an art student at its art college. The exhibit, titled Grounding, is part of the Master of Fine Arts degree show.
Bat causes hospital blackout
A bat has been blamed for a blackout that left the specialist baby units at Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital without power for almost an hour. A hospital spokesman said the bat tripped all the power networks’ circuit breakers, and it took about 50 minutes for an electrician to arrive on site and restore power. Adelaide’s bat colony has increased significantly over the past decade.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-10-02--Instant Opinion: what happens ‘when a president gets sick’?

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
“ Trump was , rather touchingly , so concerned about Boris that he tried to send in top American medical companies to treat the Prime Minister in his hour of need .
Boris should repay the favour now by telling him to switch off for a few days , ignore the hubbub of the election , and concentrate entirely on getting through the infection .
Maybe one of Trump ’ s advisers - not his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just before Trump - should take away his mobile phone so he can ’ t spend all day in bed tweeting .
That would bring all sorts of benefits .
Obviously lots of nasty people on social media want Trump to suffer and die - and are tweeting unpleasant remarks to that effect .
But most aren ’ t so twisted , thankfully , and don ’ t want to turn his misfortune into another skirmish in the culture war .
As we saw with Boris Johnson , the public will wish and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speedy recovery .
Whether that goodwill will translate into political capital ahead of the election is another question - perhaps best left for tomorrow.
” “ There have been precious few people like Jamal - people who have known power , who have wielded it , but have chosen to give it up , speak up and uplift the powerless and the voiceless .
His death was a loss not just to his family , friends and his country , but also to the whole region , where greed for power has left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eventually Canada accepted my asylum application .
The Malaysian authorities escorted me from the jail directly to the airport and put me on a flight to Canada .
Today , in the safety of my new home , I remember Jamal , the human , and I wish there would be more people like him in the Middle East and the rest of the world .
Rest in peace , Jamal .
The truth will not die , justice will prevail , one day.
” 3 .
Sophie McBain in the New Statesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ’ s confusion about sex makes them more susceptible to far-right misinformation .
Many teens follow meme accounts on Instagram , where the sexist , racist , Islamophobic and transphobic content is disguised as humour and given appealing labels such as # edgymemesforedgyteens .
Many are avid YouTube users , at the mercy of the site ’ s algorithm , which pushes ever more inflammatory content in an effort to keep them hooked .
When Bates , as an experiment , clears her internet cookies and types ‘ what is feminism ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that comes up is a pro-feminism speech by the actress Emma Watson : so far , so good .
The video that plays automatically thereafter is an interview with the far-right agitator Milo Yiannopoulos in which he describes feminism as ‘ primarily about man-hating ’ and it only gets worse from there.
” “ The brutal truth , however , is that one thing has been missing throughout this entire debate : proportion .
Safety in the workplace , as anywhere else , should be about implementing sensible and proportionate control measures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which underpins health and safety legislation .
Instead , we have arrived at a point where , for many in positions of authority , any risk at all is too much and , where it exists , drastic action is required to eradicate it .
That attitude serves no-one .
Society becomes afflicted by paranoia , and individuals lose their ability to quantify risk — an essential skill in the armoury of any human being .
The easy thing for a trade unionist like me would be to go along with it all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most union members are still drawing a salary , why should it matter ?
” 5 .
Nandita Rao and Iti Pandey in The Indian Express Brutality of Hathras crime , brazen police abdication , have shaken and shamed us all “ People who died of the plague or some other contagious disease were carried out of the village and their bodies were burnt without the dignity of a proper cremation .
This indignity to our loved ones was accepted as a public health necessity .
But Wednesday night , when images streamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of a sobbing mother in Hathras being denied her young daughter ’ s body , followed by the images of police personnel , deployed in full force , burning this young girl ’ s remains , without any right in law , in a lonely field outside the village , it was an injustice that was morally and legally too much to bear .
It was a reminder of a time when , in this country , a person relegated by oppressors through the unscientific and inhuman caste system as an untouchable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals are - with social and legal impunity .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Freddy Gray in The Spectator
on weaponising Covid-19
When a president gets sick
“Trump was, rather touchingly, so concerned about Boris that he tried to send in top American medical companies to treat the Prime Minister in his hour of need. Boris should repay the favour now by telling him to switch off for a few days, ignore the hubbub of the election, and concentrate entirely on getting through the infection. Maybe one of Trump’s advisers - not his counsellor Hope Hicks, who tested positive just before Trump - should take away his mobile phone so he can’t spend all day in bed tweeting. That would bring all sorts of benefits. Obviously lots of nasty people on social media want Trump to suffer and die - and are tweeting unpleasant remarks to that effect. But most aren’t so twisted, thankfully, and don’t want to turn his misfortune into another skirmish in the culture war. As we saw with Boris Johnson, the public will wish and pray for their leader to make a speedy recovery. Whether that goodwill will translate into political capital ahead of the election is another question - perhaps best left for tomorrow.”
2. Hassan Al Kontar on Al Jazeera
on a sombre anniversary
Jamal Khashoggi, the human
“There have been precious few people like Jamal - people who have known power, who have wielded it, but have chosen to give it up, speak up and uplift the powerless and the voiceless. His death was a loss not just to his family, friends and his country, but also to the whole region, where greed for power has left many of us destitute and despaired. Eventually Canada accepted my asylum application. The Malaysian authorities escorted me from the jail directly to the airport and put me on a flight to Canada. Today, in the safety of my new home, I remember Jamal, the human, and I wish there would be more people like him in the Middle East and the rest of the world. Rest in peace, Jamal. The truth will not die, justice will prevail, one day.”
3. Sophie McBain in the New Statesman
on online radicalisation
The new age of misogyny
“Young people’s confusion about sex makes them more susceptible to far-right misinformation. Many teens follow meme accounts on Instagram, where the sexist, racist, Islamophobic and transphobic content is disguised as humour and given appealing labels such as #edgymemesforedgyteens. Many are avid YouTube users, at the mercy of the site’s algorithm, which pushes ever more inflammatory content in an effort to keep them hooked. When Bates, as an experiment, clears her internet cookies and types ‘what is feminism’ into YouTube one of the first videos that comes up is a pro-feminism speech by the actress Emma Watson: so far, so good. The video that plays automatically thereafter is an interview with the far-right agitator Milo Yiannopoulos in which he describes feminism as ‘primarily about man-hating’ and it only gets worse from there.”
4. Paul Embery on UnHerd
on health and safety obsessives
How hysterical leaders fail workers
“The brutal truth, however, is that one thing has been missing throughout this entire debate: proportion. Safety in the workplace, as anywhere else, should be about implementing sensible and proportionate control measures to alleviate risk. It is this principle which underpins health and safety legislation. Instead, we have arrived at a point where, for many in positions of authority, any risk at all is too much and, where it exists, drastic action is required to eradicate it. That attitude serves no-one. Society becomes afflicted by paranoia, and individuals lose their ability to quantify risk — an essential skill in the armoury of any human being. The easy thing for a trade unionist like me would be to go along with it all. After all, as long as most union members are still drawing a salary, why should it matter?”
5. Nandita Rao and Iti Pandey in The Indian Express
on femicide in India
Brutality of Hathras crime, brazen police abdication, have shaken and shamed us all
“People who died of the plague or some other contagious disease were carried out of the village and their bodies were burnt without the dignity of a proper cremation. This indignity to our loved ones was accepted as a public health necessity. But Wednesday night, when images streamed in on social media and news channels, of a sobbing mother in Hathras being denied her young daughter’s body, followed by the images of police personnel, deployed in full force, burning this young girl’s remains, without any right in law, in a lonely field outside the village, it was an injustice that was morally and legally too much to bear. It was a reminder of a time when, in this country, a person relegated by oppressors through the unscientific and inhuman caste system as an untouchable, could be treated as worse than animals are - with social and legal impunity.”


theweekuk--2020-10-02--Coronavirus: why local lockdowns may not stem the spread of Covid-19

With the launch of the NHS Covid-19 app , many Britons now face the prospect of checking their phone to discover that their area has been added to the government ’ s “ red list ” .
But data suggests that the local lockdown measures that follow spiralling cases may not be effective in stemming the spread of infections .
“ Coronavirus cases have doubled in the majority of English cities and towns that are subject to long-term local lockdowns ” , with concerns growing that restrictions are “ confusing ” and carried out “ on the cheap ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional restrictions the “ new normal ” or will they be reviewed as an official strategy ?
In early August , Health Secretary Matt Hancock told The Times that nationwide restrictions and “ very extensive ” local lockdowns would be deployed to control a second spike in infections during the winter months .
But analysis of the areas that have already faced a local lockdown suggest that the measure is not curbing the spread of coronavirus .
“ In 11 out of 16 English cities and towns where restrictions were imposed nine weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least doubled ” , The Guardian reports , while “ cases in five areas of Greater Manchester rose faster than the England average in that time ” .
Leicester is the only area to have had a lockdown imposed where cases fell to a lower level than before the lockdown was implemented .
But “ in Wigan , cases have risen from seven per 100,000 residents to 102 in that period , ” the paper says .
On Tuesday , an further two million Britons were placed under lockdown , when residents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were banned by law from mixing with other households indoors .
The measures came after Knowsley , a borough in Merseyside that is home to over 150,000 residents , was found to have the highest infection rate in England , “ with 422 new cases recorded in the seven days to September 25 - the equivalent of 279.7 cases per 100,000 people ” , the Liverpool Echo says .
The finding that local lockdown measures are failing to stop spiking case numbers will trigger concerns after Chief Medical Officer , Professor Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional hotspots can be controlled “ if everybody follows the guidance ” .
Scientists , MPs and local leaders told The Guardian that “ the growing patchwork of local measures - which now cover about 20 million people , nearly a third of the UK population - had failed to bring down coronavirus rates , in part because the rules were unclear ” .
Chris Ham , a former chief executive of the King ’ s Fund think tank , told the paper that the government needs to “ redouble its efforts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wide range of community leaders to do so ” .
Case numbers were not falling because restrictions are too “ complex and confusing ” , while the test-and-trace system is “ still not working well enough ” , Ham added .
But far from lining up to aid the government ’ s lockdown efforts , some local leaders have begun openly threatening to defy restrictions handed down by Westminster .
The Mayor of Middlesbrough , Andy Preston , this week released a video statement in which he said the lockdown covering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factual inaccuracies and a monstrous and frightening lack of communication , and ignorance ” Continuing that he does not “ accept these measures ” , Preston called on the government to engage with local leaders to “ understand our local knowledge , expertise and ability to get things done , and preserve jobs and well-being ” .
In a direct challenge to ministers ’ authority , Preston said that “ as things stand , we defy the government and we do not accept these measures ” , explaining that while “ we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to work with people to find a way of preserving jobs and mental health ” .
Beginning to look like Christmas Preston may be the first regional leader to throw down the gauntlet over lockdown restrictions , but he is by no means the first to publicly complain about Westminster ’ s approach .
City leaders in Liverpool “ have questioned whether the new measures go far enough ” , with Mayor Steve Rotherham requesting “ access to further scientific evidence , as well as greater financial support to keep businesses afloat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with cases rising rather than falling in areas already under heightened rules , “ there is concern that large parts of the country could be left with tighter restrictions for months ” , The Guardian says .
With Environment Secretary George Eustice saying measures will only be reconsidered when local infection rates are “ more in line with the national trend ” , and Johnson keen to ensure Christmas plans can go ahead , an end does not appear to be on the immediate horizon .


theweekuk--2020-10-02--Coronavirus vaccine will not allow rapid return to normal life, scientists warn


theweekuk--2020-10-02--Priti Patel in leak showdown with Foreign Office over offshore asylum plans

Allies of Priti Patel have accused the Foreign Office of leaking “ bizarre and unworkable ” asylum policies to discredit her .
Friends of the home secretary say that rivals in other Whitehall departments leaked Patel ’ s “ blue-sky thinking ” on how best to deal with asylum seekers crossing the Channel “ to make her look stupid , ” The Telegraph reports .
Some of the ideas the home secretary reportedly discussed included transporting refugees to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic , housing them on disused ferries and oil rigs , or even building a giant wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A Conservative MP and ally of Patel told The Times : “ It ’ s pretty obvious what ’ s happened here .
By coming up with bizarre and unworkable policy options , then leaking them , the Foreign Office is attempting to discredit any and every solution to a problem which my constituents write to me about daily.
” Patel is being used “ as a punchbag ” , another government source insisted , adding “ she ’ s being caught in the crossfire ” .
” A lot of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but people are too scared to say it .
People are so afraid of crossing Dom [ Dominic Cummings , the senior adviser to the prime minister ] that they are pinning it on other departments , ” the source added .
Other allies of the home secretary told Politico that she was the victim of a “ rotten core of civil servants who have never got over Brexit ” , adding that officials “ fear the hard rain that is coming .
They ’ re the enemy within and will be rooted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game intensifies , Matthew Rycroft , the permanent secretary at the Home Office , confirmed that an inquiry has been launched to determine the source of the leaks .


theweekuk--2020-10-02--What does Alexi Navalny’s ‘return from the dead’ mean for Vladimir Putin?

Alexei Navalny has said that he is “ back from the dead ” in his first interview since recovering from his alleged poisoning at the hands of Vladimir Putin .
The Russian opposition leader , who collapsed during a domestic flight in Russia , told German magazine Der Spiegel that he will return to Russia , threatening to “ destroy ” President Putin .
“ Not going back would mean that Putin has won and achieved his goal .
“ And my job now is to remain the guy who is n't afraid .
And I 'm not afraid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say ?
44-year-old Navalny , one of the most prominent of Putin ’ s critics , fell ill on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow on 20 August , before being evacuated to Berlin for treatment .
He was discharged a week ago after making a full recovery .
Medical professionals in Germany , France and Sweden have all confirmed that Navalny was poisoned with the novichok nerve agent used in the failed assassination attempt of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in 2018 .
Navalny told to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can give orders to put into action ‘ active measures ’ and use novichok ” , listing “ FSB [ Federal Security Service ] director Alexander Bortnikov , foreign intelligence service head Sergey Naryshkin and the director of the GRU [ the Russian military intelligence agency ] ” .
None of these three can make the decision to deploy the nerve agent without the approval of Putin , Navalny claims .
When asked if he was sure of the president ’ s involvement , Navalny said that “ if it wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse ” .
“ One cup of novichok would be enough to poison all passengers in a large Berlin subway station , ” he said .
“ If access to the agent isn ’ t restricted to three people , but actually 30 , then it 's a global threat .
That would be terrible.
” Will he return to Russia ?
Navalny also vowed to return to Russia as soon as he has fully recovered , saying he would not allow Putin “ the gift ” of his absence .
Dmitry Peskov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Navalny ’ s remarks about Putin ’ s involvement were “ unfounded and unacceptable ” , but added that the opposition leader would be free to return to Russia if he wished , The Times reports .
“ Any Russian citizen can return back home at any time , and there is no heroism here , ” Peskov said .
However , Peskov also accused Navalny of working with the CIA , a claim that “ raises the stakes ” of his rivalry with the Kremlin , as it is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly accused Putin ’ s highest-profile critic of working with a foreign intelligence agency ” , Reuters reports .
“ Given the frequent arrest of people accused of working for foreign spy agencies in Russia ” , Peskov ’ s accusation “ comes across as a warning against returning ” , The Guardian says .
Russian politicians loyal to Putin echoed the derision , with the speaker of Russia ’ s lower house of parliament , Vyacheslav Volodin , calling Navalny “ a shameless and mean man ” .
What might his return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s return to Russia will likely not change too much in the country , with BBC Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford writing that the Kremlin will be preoccupied with “ discrediting him as thoroughly as possible ” .
No physical response is expected , as “ extreme measures ” against the opposition leader are too “ risky ” , but he will likely face an “ intensification of methods already in play against him and his staff ” , The Times says .
This could include “ arbitrary detentions , fines , court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smears — with the spectre of another physical assault always in the background ” , the paper continues .
And the propaganda effort against him is already gaining momentum , with The Times noting that journalist Dmitry Kiselev , widely considered to Putin ’ s chief propagandist , travelling to the hotel in Siberia where Navalny alleges he was poisoned and “ tried on the bathrobe in his room , ridiculing claims that novichok had been used ” .
However , some experts have said that the Kremlin ’ s decision to accuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severely backfire .
Germany and other Western countries have already demanded an explanation from the Kremlin for the illness and the CIA allegation will likely “ add to pressure on Western leaders , especially German Chancellor Angela Merkel , to take action over his case ” , Reuters says .

Alexei Navalny has said that he is “back from the dead” in his first interview since recovering from his alleged poisoning at the hands of Vladimir Putin.
The Russian opposition leader, who collapsed during a domestic flight in Russia, told German magazine Der Spiegel that he will return to Russia, threatening to “destroy” President Putin.
“Not going back would mean that Putin has won and achieved his goal. “And my job now is to remain the guy who isn't afraid. And I'm not afraid,” Navalny said.
What did Navalny say?
44-year-old Navalny, one of the most prominent of Putin’s critics, fell ill on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow on 20 August, before being evacuated to Berlin for treatment. He was discharged a week ago after making a full recovery.
Medical professionals in Germany, France and Sweden have all confirmed that Navalny was poisoned with the novichok nerve agent used in the failed assassination attempt of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in 2018.
Navalny told to Der Spiegel that “only three people can give orders to put into action ‘active measures’ and use novichok”, listing “FSB [Federal Security Service] director Alexander Bortnikov, foreign intelligence service head Sergey Naryshkin and the director of the GRU [the Russian military intelligence agency] ”.
None of these three can make the decision to deploy the nerve agent without the approval of Putin, Navalny claims. When asked if he was sure of the president’s involvement, Navalny said that “if it wasn’t him, things would be a lot worse”.
“One cup of novichok would be enough to poison all passengers in a large Berlin subway station,” he said. “If access to the agent isn’t restricted to three people, but actually 30, then it's a global threat. That would be terrible.”
Will he return to Russia?
Navalny also vowed to return to Russia as soon as he has fully recovered, saying he would not allow Putin “the gift” of his absence.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s chief spokesperson, said Navalny’s remarks about Putin’s involvement were “unfounded and unacceptable”, but added that the opposition leader would be free to return to Russia if he wished, The Times reports.


theweekuk--2020-10-02--Books of the Week: Head Hand Heart, Inside Story: A Novel, V2

This week ’ s must-reads include David Goodhart ’ s “ utterly compelling ” book on the over-dominance of our society by the highly educated .
Martin Amis creates an odd “ mash-up ” of a novel for what he says will be his last “ significant ” book and Robert Harris revisits the “ secretive world of Second World War mathematicians ” .
David Goodhart is “ one of the most important intellectuals in the country , if not Europe ” , said Matthew Goodwin in The Sunday Times .
He has long specialised in pointing out the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has “ consistently been ahead of the curve ” on issues such as immigration and Brexit .
Head Hand Heart , his “ utterly compelling ” new book , attacks what he claims is the over-dominance of society by highly educated “ cognitive elites ” .
Over the past half century , Goodhart argues , “ smart people ” ( Heads ) have been ever more rewarded , while manual workers ( Hands ) and those in caring roles ( Hearts ) have been stripped of “ status , respect and dignity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the interests of the “ exam-passing classes ” , those with other attributes have been undervalued .
This has bred despair and resentment : all the political rebellions of recent years have been “ driven by the Hands and the Hearts ” .
Goodhart backs his thesis up with “ an impressive depth of research ” , said Julian Coman in The Observer .
The hourly wages of bus and coach drivers have risen by just 22 % since 1975 , while advertising and PR managers have seen theirs increase by 111 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he asks , “ that the work of a junior account manager in a City PR firm is more useful than a bus driver or an adult care worker ?
” The root of the problem , this “ valuable book ” argues , lies in our obsession with sending people to university , said Martin Bentham in the London Evening Standard .
Politics , itself “ subject to a graduate takeover ” , has become dominated by those who think that degrees are key to success in life .
Successive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ blindness to the consequences ” for society .
While Goodhart writes with “ shrewdness and skill ” , it is peculiar that he regards universities as “ the chief culprit ” , said David Willetts in the Literary Review .
Far from sowing social division , these institutions are vital “ levelling-up ” forces .
And ironically , those that he is keenest to criticise – the ex-polytechnics – are precisely the ones most likely to focus on the “ technical and vocational skills ” that he wants us to value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis may be helping to bring about the very “ recalibration ” that Goodhart calls for , said James Bloodworth in The Spectator .
As he notes in an “ optimistic ” preface , it revealed that many of the “ truly key workers ” were those who didn ’ t go to college – delivery drivers , shop workers , carers , nurses .
Let ’ s hope our “ new-found respect ” for such people outlasts the pandemic .
“ Ignore the subtitle , ” said Janice Turner in The Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but a compendium.
” Aged 71 , Martin Amis has set down everything he has “ thought or learnt or seen ” , in sentences that “ brim with warmth , candour , soul ” .
Much of the material feels familiar .
Once again , we revisit his sexually promiscuous youth , when the “ chicks were both legion ... and 24 carat ” .
There are “ baggy disquisitions ” on weighty political matters – the Holocaust , 9/11 – plus numerous writing tips .
Along with the “ unreconstructed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fierce tenderness of three departed male figures : his two literary heroes – Philip Larkin and Saul Bellow – and the journalist Christopher Hitchens , “ his lifelong interlocutor and after-hours mucker ” , who died of oesophageal cancer in 2011 .
Amis has said that this will be his last “ significant ” book – which perhaps explains why he has made it an “ all-you-can-eat ” buffet .
My advice would be : “ dig in ” .
I suggest you don ’ t , said Katie Law in the London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and self-regarding effort from a writer long past his prime .
Bits are “ brilliant ” – notably the portrait of the “ Hitch ” – but for the most part it ’ s an unconvincing “ mash-up , full of strange stylistic and chronological lurches ” .
One moment , he ’ s discussing Islamism with Hitchens ; the next , he ’ s recalling a girlfriend from the 1970s , whom he describes as “ tits on a wand ” .
The question of whether this is actually a novel is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lezard in The Spectator .
Why does Amis call most characters by their real names , while giving a few made-up ones ?
In the end , however , such questions don ’ t much matter – because Amis ’ s prose , as ever , “ sweeps you along like surf ” through this enjoyable , funny and generous book .
“ Novel , schmovel .
It works.
” Novel of the week V2 by Robert Harris Robert Harris first explored the “ secretive world of Second World War mathematicians ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marsland in the London Evening Standard .
In his “ relentless ” new novel , he returns to the subject , though here the focus is not on codes but on the “ death integers ” of ballistic missiles .
In November 1944 , as the Nazis rain their new V2 rockets down on London , Kay Caton-Walsh , a young WAAF officer , becomes involved in the effort to “ track where the V2s are coming from ” by measuring their parabolas through the sky .
Meanwhile , we follow her German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rudi Graf , who is in charge of “ pounding London ” with the missiles .
Harris ’ s prose is “ wonderfully ” vivid , and both Kay and Dr Graf are “ lively and sympathetic ” creations , said Jake Kerridge in The Daily Telegraph .
But more impressively still , he “ makes the V2s come to life ” by finding the “ poetry ” in their physics .
While this may not be Harris at his very best – at times he uses the “ laziest of clichés ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you ’ re likely to “ gobble up ” .
To order these titles or any other book in print , visit theweekbookshop.co.uk , or speak to a bookseller on 020 3176 3835 .
Opening times : Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm and Sunday 10am-4pm .

This week’s must-reads include David Goodhart’s “utterly compelling” book on the over-dominance of our society by the highly educated.
Martin Amis creates an odd “mash-up” of a novel for what he says will be his last “significant” book and Robert Harris revisits the “secretive world of Second World War mathematicians”.
Book of the week Head Hand Heart by David Goodhart
David Goodhart is “one of the most important intellectuals in the country, if not Europe”, said Matthew Goodwin in The Sunday Times. He has long specialised in pointing out the “flaws in our liberal consensus”, and has “consistently been ahead of the curve” on issues such as immigration and Brexit. Head Hand Heart, his “utterly compelling” new book, attacks what he claims is the over-dominance of society by highly educated “cognitive elites”. Over the past half century, Goodhart argues, “smart people” (Heads) have been ever more rewarded, while manual workers (Hands) and those in caring roles (Hearts) have been stripped of “status, respect and dignity”. As society has become orientated around the interests of the “exam-passing classes”, those with other attributes have been undervalued. This has bred despair and resentment: all the political rebellions of recent years have been “driven by the Hands and the Hearts”.
Goodhart backs his thesis up with “an impressive depth of research”, said Julian Coman in The Observer. The hourly wages of bus and coach drivers have risen by just 22% since 1975, while advertising and PR managers have seen theirs increase by 111%. “Can we really argue,” he asks, “that the work of a junior account manager in a City PR firm is more useful than a bus driver or an adult care worker?” The root of the problem, this “valuable book” argues, lies in our obsession with sending people to university, said Martin Bentham in the London Evening Standard. Politics, itself “subject to a graduate takeover”, has become dominated by those who think that degrees are key to success in life. Successive governments have driven up graduate numbers with a “blindness to the consequences” for society.
While Goodhart writes with “shrewdness and skill”, it is peculiar that he regards universities as “the chief culprit”, said David Willetts in the Literary Review. Far from sowing social division, these institutions are vital “levelling-up” forces. And ironically, those that he is keenest to criticise – the ex-polytechnics – are precisely the ones most likely to focus on the “technical and vocational skills” that he wants us to value more. Either way, the Covid-19 crisis may be helping to bring about the very “recalibration” that Goodhart calls for, said James Bloodworth in The Spectator. As he notes in an “optimistic” preface, it revealed that many of the “truly key workers” were those who didn’t go to college – delivery drivers, shop workers, carers, nurses. Let’s hope our “new-found respect” for such people outlasts the pandemic.