theweekuk--2020-09-24--Coronavirus: 20th-century pandemics show the road to a vaccine is bumpy

Samantha Vanderslott , university research lecturer at the University of Oxford , on the journey of vaccine development .
If you have been following the media coverage of the new vaccines in development for Covid-19 , it will be clear that the stakes are high .
Very few vaccine trials in history have attracted so much attention , perhaps since polio in the mid-20th century .
A now largely forgotten chapter , summer polio outbreaks invoked terror in parents .
Today , restrictions on gatherings and movement in the efforts to control Covid-19 have been a huge strain on society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locked their children in stifling hot buildings during the summer with windows sealed shut because they were terrified polio would somehow seep through the cracks in the wall .
The development of the polio vaccine in the US in 1955 was a moment of global celebration .
Reaching that point involved millions of citizens raising funds to develop the vaccine , political goodwill by the bucket-load and a driven public-private scientific collaboration , with scientist Jonas Salk at the helm .
Children across the US were enlisted in one of the largest clinical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and challenges occurred along the way , even once the vaccine was being rolled out .
In a shocking episode called the “ Cutter incident ” , a failure in making and inspecting the vaccine by a California-based firm called the Cutter Laboratories led to children getting polio from the vaccine , which contained viable poliovirus .
The incident led to a major tightening of federal regulations to ensure production safety .
It also resulted in new laws being passed that prevented vaccine manufacturers from being sued .
( The fear was that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines without being protected by the law . )
A lack of urgency for vaccine uptake quickly set in .
It is taken for granted that children are vaccinated routinely , but this acceptance took time .
In the early era of vaccination , it was a tool against epidemics and people expected to be vaccinated during an outbreak .
Through health education and communication , funding of immunisation services , and political support across party lines , vaccination was promoted as a central pillar of a public health globally .
When the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit - Aids - naturally it was vaccination that would be looked to .
Within a short time of scientists confirming HIV was the cause of Aids in 1984 , the US health and human services secretary , Margaret Heckler , announced that a vaccine would be ready in two years .
The high expectations and hope instilled in vaccination were not surprising , particularly following the eradication of smallpox from the planet in 1980 .
However , an Aids vaccine proved to be unattainable .
Unfortunately , many aspects of HIV infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine .
Instead , it has been antiretrovirals – a group of drugs that inhibit various steps in the HIV replication process – that have proved to be the most effective strategy for treating Aids .
The stigma of Aids was also an inhibitor for controlling the disease .
Health officials at the beginning of the Aids crisis coyly referred to the transmission being through “ bodily fluids ” , instead of specifying blood and semen .
This lead to misunderstandings about the disease being spread through touch .
Today , Covid-19 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be separated from politics and society .
Fear of this disease , and whether it is taken seriously and seen as important to protect against , will play a major role in the support and uptake of a vaccine .
Most people want to return to a “ normal life ” , and a vaccine is the most reliable way to achieve this .
However , the public ’ s desire for a vaccine is balanced against concerns about the speed of vaccine development , wariness about new types of vaccines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the “ health establishment ” .
Public action in communities has been evident throughout the Covid-19 pandemic , in neighbours supporting the elderly and those unable to leave their homes by delivering groceries and medication , as well as compliance with government health messaging , and willingness to take part in medical trials .
But national political stakes for a vaccine remain high with politicians using “ vaccine deals ” to bolster popular support and win elections .
The acceptance of vaccines is fragile , so when leaders promote their country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can knock the public ’ s confidence and draw intense scrutiny .
As with the polio vaccine of the past , the world is watching .
Samantha Vanderslott , university research lecturer at the University of Oxford .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

Samantha Vanderslott, university research lecturer at the University of Oxford, on the journey of vaccine development.
If you have been following the media coverage of the new vaccines in development for Covid-19, it will be clear that the stakes are high. Very few vaccine trials in history have attracted so much attention, perhaps since polio in the mid-20th century.
A now largely forgotten chapter, summer polio outbreaks invoked terror in parents. Today, restrictions on gatherings and movement in the efforts to control Covid-19 have been a huge strain on society, but in the 1950s, parents locked their children in stifling hot buildings during the summer with windows sealed shut because they were terrified polio would somehow seep through the cracks in the wall.
The development of the polio vaccine in the US in 1955 was a moment of global celebration.
Reaching that point involved millions of citizens raising funds to develop the vaccine, political goodwill by the bucket-load and a driven public-private scientific collaboration, with scientist Jonas Salk at the helm. Children across the US were enlisted in one of the largest clinical trials in history.
Clearly, setbacks and challenges occurred along the way, even once the vaccine was being rolled out. In a shocking episode called the “Cutter incident”, a failure in making and inspecting the vaccine by a California-based firm called the Cutter Laboratories led to children getting polio from the vaccine, which contained viable poliovirus.
The incident led to a major tightening of federal regulations to ensure production safety. It also resulted in new laws being passed that prevented vaccine manufacturers from being sued. (The fear was that drug manufacturers would not want to develop vaccines without being protected by the law.)
A lack of urgency for vaccine uptake quickly set in. It is taken for granted that children are vaccinated routinely, but this acceptance took time.
In the early era of vaccination, it was a tool against epidemics and people expected to be vaccinated during an outbreak. Through health education and communication, funding of immunisation services, and political support across party lines, vaccination was promoted as a central pillar of a public health globally.
Promise of an Aids vaccine
When the next big plague of the 20th century hit - Aids - naturally it was vaccination that would be looked to.


theweekuk--2020-09-24--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 24 Sep 2020

Two police officers have been shot and injured in Kentucky , after no charges were brought against officers for the @ @ @ @ @ Daniel Cameron , the state attorney general , has called for calm after announcing that @ @ @ @ @ sits in secret , decided that two police officers were “ justified ” in firing @ @ @ @ @ s boyfriend fired first , Cameron added , hitting one of the officers in the @ @

Officers shot in protests after Breonna Taylor decision
Two police officers have been shot and injured in Kentucky, after no charges were brought against officers for the death of Breonna Taylor. Daniel Cameron, the state attorney general, has called for calm after announcing that a grand jury, which sits in secret, decided that two police officers were “justified” in firing 22 times. Taylor’s boyfriend fired first, Cameron added, hitting one of the officers in the leg.


theweekuk--2020-09-24--Man has kept Richard Nixon’s sandwich for 60 years

A man in Illinois has kept a sandwich that the then-vice President Richard Nixon half ate in September 1960 .
Steve Jenne , then a teen , grabbed the sandwich when Nixon visited his hometown .
“ I looked around and thought , ‘ If no one else was going to take it , I am going to take it ’ ” , he said .
Jenne has since written a book about the sandwich and been interviewed about it on The Tonight Show .
Firefighters from three Suffolk towns spent three hours extinguishing the flames from a blaze that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chicken manure .
Crews from Leiston , Eye and Stowmarket responded to a property near Mendlesham , where the foul-smelling fowl droppings erupted in flames .
Chemicals in poultry manure can spontaneously combust when a heap becomes too large to allow heat to escape .
Jellyfish could replace old favourites the menu at fish and chip shops , according to academics from the University of Queensland in Australia .
The researchers investigated fishing records across the world , and found that cod and other traditional options could be “ critically endangered ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fish and chips on a new sustainable takeaway menu to help keep threatened species off the plate.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A man in Illinois has kept a sandwich that the then-vice President Richard Nixon half ate in September 1960. Steve Jenne, then a teen, grabbed the sandwich when Nixon visited his hometown. “I looked around and thought, ‘If no one else was going to take it, I am going to take it’”, he said. Jenne has since written a book about the sandwich and been interviewed about it on The Tonight Show.
Chicken manure catches fire in Suffolk
Firefighters from three Suffolk towns spent three hours extinguishing the flames from a blaze that was started by a 22-ton pile of chicken manure. Crews from Leiston, Eye and Stowmarket responded to a property near Mendlesham, where the foul-smelling fowl droppings erupted in flames. Chemicals in poultry manure can spontaneously combust when a heap becomes too large to allow heat to escape.
Jellyfish and chips, anyone?
Jellyfish could replace old favourites the menu at fish and chip shops, according to academics from the University of Queensland in Australia. The researchers investigated fishing records across the world, and found that cod and other traditional options could be “critically endangered”. They added: “Jellyfish could replace fish and chips on a new sustainable takeaway menu to help keep threatened species off the plate.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-09-23--Cocktail recipes to make - and enjoy - at home

London Cocktail Week is effectively becoming London Cocktail Month this year , with the annual event extended to cover the whole of October .
But not everyone will be able to hit the capital to visit the participating bars and pubs , so we ’ ve asked some experts and drinks brands to share their favourite cocktail recipes .
Here , The Week ’ s at-home cocktail menu shows you how to make them… Limited Edition Single Origin Ethiopia coffee liquor , which launches on 1 October , works perfectly in a Cold Fashioned , a signature cocktail created by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ice and stir .
Garnish with an orange twist .
Select Aperitivo is the essential ingredient for the Original Venetian Spritz , a simple yet delicious cocktail traditionally served with a large green olive .
Pour cold prosecco into a wine glass over ice .
Add Select , a splash of soda water and gently stir together .
Garnish with a large green olive .
All five of the luxury ships in the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet offer a range of distinctive cocktails .
Among the pick of the bunch is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tasty apricot brandy cocktail .
Smash the grapes in a shaker glass and then add the other ingredients .
Shake and strain into the glass .
This drink was originally created to quench the thirst of visitors who flocked to Finland for the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics .
Called the Lonkero , the mix of gin and , most commonly , grapefruit soda has stood the test of time and is still popular with both locals and tourists today .
Build over ice and stir gently to combine .
The bar staff at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ array of cocktails , including the Glenapp1870 , which is served in a champagne flute .
Add all ingredients except for the champagne to the shaker .
Shake and strain into the glass and then top up with champagne .
Serve in a chilled flute and garnish with a lemon twist and thyme .
Lady Ellenborough was a dazzling character who took English society by storm in the 19th century .
Not only did she inspire the individuality of Ellenborough Park in the Cotswolds , but also the hotel ’ s signature cocktail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25ml Hendricks Gin 15ml Chase Elderflower Liqueur 15ml lime juice 5ml simple syrup Champagne to top up 1in cucumber ( peeled ) Cucumber ribbons to garnish Smash cucumber in a shaker glass .
Add all ingredients to the glass and shake over ice .
Fine strain into a chilled , garnished champagne flute and top up with champagne .
Finish with cucumber ribbon .
Boutique luxury hotel Roseate Villa Bath opened The Henrietta Bar last December , when this delicious cocktail was created by resident mixologist Christiana Kiose as the perfect winter warmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Combine all the ingredients in a shaker .
Pour into a glass and garnish with a star anise .
For its signature serve , Nc ’ nean breaks the perceived “ rule ” that whisky from Scotland should be drunk neat .
The Morvern-based distillery ’ s refreshing whisky soda is called the Whisky Six , in a nod to both the recipe and the perfect time of day for a long drink .
Fill a glass with cubed ice and add all the ingredients .
Gently stir then garnish with a fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with artisan florists Floom to create a range of “ Grow-Your-Own Garnish ” kits .
With two different kinds of mints - Moroccan and spearmint - you can pick a mojito recipe that best suits your tastes .
If you ’ re in the mood for something fresh , use the super cool spearmint to complement your cocktail .
Alternatively , or if you fancy something a bit more different and full-bodied , try the Moroccan mint as your base .
50ml Bacardi Carta Blanca rum 4 to 6 lime wedges 8 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25ml soda water/club soda Sprig of fresh mint Cut a whole lime into wedges and then squeeze all the juice into the glass .
Add sugar and gently press together .
Drop in the mint leaves .
Half-fill the glass with crushed ice , add Bacardi Carta Blanca rum and churn .
Top with crushed ice and soda .
Garnish with a mint sprig .
45 Park Lane ’ s BAR 45 has its own Negroni Trolley , featuring the hotel ’ s barrel-aged Negroni .
Head bartender Francesco Orefici has added a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create his Golden Negroni .
30ml of Botanist Gin 15ml of Italicus 15ml of Suze Liqueur 30ml of Martini Ambrato One lemon peel to garnish Pour the Botanist Gin , Italicus , Suze Liqueur and Martini Ambrato into a mixing glass filled up with ice cubes , and stir for eight to ten seconds with a long bar spoon ( mixing spoon ) .
Using a cocktail strainer , pour the chilled liquid into a stemless burgundy wine glass over a large ice chunk , or a few cubes of ice depending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peel over the cocktail , twist and let it drop into the glass .

Baileys has taken hot chocolate to the next level using simple ingredients already in your cupboards. This Christmas choctail is a perfect serve for the festive season.
Ingredients
25ml Baileys Original Irish Cream
25ml whole milk
25ml single cream
25g dark chocolate
15ml Smirnoff Vodka
To garnish
Chocolate sauce
Chocolate sprinkles
Method
Squeeze the chocolate sauce onto a small plate. Place your martini glass upside down and dip the rim in the chocolate sauce. On another plate, pour on some chocolate sprinkles and place the martini glass upside down to coat the chocolate rim. Chop/grate your 25g of dark chocolate into super small pieces. Add 25ml of whole milk and 25ml of single cream into a mug, mix together, and microwave for around 30 seconds until boiling. Make sure you watch over this so it doesn’t spill over. To the hot milk, add the chopped dark chocolate and stir until melted. Then add 15ml vodka and 25ml Baileys into your chocolate milk. Stir until fully combined. It doesn’t matter if your cocktail is still a little warm. Pour into your decorated martini glass and serve. If you have spare chocolate feel free to grate this over the top of the drink at the end for an extra treat.


theweekuk--2020-09-23--What the EU recession means for the bloc’s future

The European Union is facing an unprecedented economic downturn from which the bloc may take many years to recover , experts are warning .
The European Commission said in its summer economic forecast , released in July , that the EU economy was expected to contract by 8.7 % in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic , plunging the bloc into “ a deep recession ” .
So with Brexit around the corner and a major economic stimulus package delayed until next year , could the so-called coronavirus recession change the EU forever ?
What is the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halting the spread of the virus “ brought economic activity to a shuddering stop at the height of the pandemic ’ s first wave in the spring ” , the Daily Express says .
“ Most measures across Europe were relaxed as infection rates fell sharply , with recent data suggesting the continent had coped better with the coronavirus-induced recession better than initially feared , ” the newspaper adds .
But economic figures suggest that hopes of a miraculous recovery are misplaced .
Amid a “ sharp slowdown in service sector activity ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief business economist Chris Williamson is predicting that the EU may fall back into recession within the next three months , The Guardian reports .
The fallout of the pandemic is already hitting individual countries in the trading union hard , with the Bank of Spain this month downgrading its GDP forecast to suggest a contraction of up to 12.6 % this year , The Telegraph says .
France ’ s outlook is also gloomy , with a forecast of -10 % for the year .
Bert Colijn of banking and financial services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be going off about the pace of the recovery at the moment ” as the number of new Covid-19 cases continues to climb across Europe .
“ For governments and the European Central Bank , this will be a wake-up call , if they needed one , ” he adds .
How long could the economic crisis last ?
Experts believe the EU will be mired in economic difficulties for quite some time .
Brussels is getting mixed messages from the member states over further potential lockdown measures , and this uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU27 .
“ If the first stage of the coronavirus crisis was precipitated by state-mandated lockdowns , the coming months are likely to be characterised by consumer fear and government restrictions on industries like travel , tourism , entertainment , hospitality and retail , ” Politico says .
As the news site notes , “ most experts , including those at the Bank of England and the European Central Bank , don ’ t expect global output to recover to its pre-crisis levels until the end of 2021 - unless there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this winter , and then all bets are off ” .
The EU is no stranger to slow growth , having struggled in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis .
According to the European Commission , even before Covid , GDP per capita across the EU had still not recovered to pre-crisis levels .
On 27 May , the European Commission presented a €750bn ( £687bn ) economic stimulus plan intended to help repair the economic and social damage wrought by the coronavirus pandemic .
Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an environmentally friendly reconstruction of parts of EU industry .
Member states , especially those more affected by the pandemic , “ hoped to receive the EU funds by spring next year ” , EurActiv reports .
But EU sources warned last week that the approval process was taking longer than anticipated , with the European Parliament and the Council “ yet to agree on the own resources that would allow for increasing the EU budgetary threshold and borrow the €750bn from the markets ” , the news site says .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the package may allow for future mutualisation of member states ’ debts in order to lighten the burden on harder-hit countries .
This could take the form of eurobonds ; fixed-income debt instruments that in effect allow debt to be shared by the EU27 .
While this idea has long been championed by France and Italy , other powerful but more financially conservative players in the EU - including the Netherlands and Germany - remain unconvinced .
So what is the outlook for the EU ?
The EU has praised its own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic view of its future strategy .
“ Measured against realistic expectations , Europe ’ s response to the crisis has been impressive , ” the European Central Bank says .
“ It has substantially exceeded the most recent benchmark – its response to the sovereign debt crisis – and broadened the boundaries of what is possible should we be struck by such dramatic shocks again.
” However , Swedish economist Fredrik Erixon says that faith in the bloc is waning from within .
In an article for The Spectator , Erixon writes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that two-thirds now view their EU membership as a disadvantage ” , and notes that the prime minister of Spain recently said : “ Either we rise to this challenge or we will fail as a union.
” A further shadow was cast over the EU this week , when the Tourism Task Force of MEPs issued a joint statement about the prospects of the sector across the continent .
Higlighting inconsistencies in the bloc ’ s response , the MEPs said that six months after the pandemic hit , “ there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU on how to handle and live with this pandemic ” .
The group pointed to a ” lack of universal hygiene and health protocols , no common rules for testing or on how to assess the risks [ and ] no adhering to the free movement principle ” as major flaws that could end up costing the EU27 dearly .

The European Union is facing an unprecedented economic downturn from which the bloc may take many years to recover, experts are warning.
The European Commission said in its summer economic forecast, released in July, that the EU economy was expected to contract by 8.7% in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, plunging the bloc into “a deep recession”.
So with Brexit around the corner and a major economic stimulus package delayed until next year, could the so-called coronavirus recession change the EU forever?
What is the current situation?
Strict lockdown measures aimed at halting the spread of the virus “brought economic activity to a shuddering stop at the height of the pandemic’s first wave in the spring”, the Daily Express says.
“Most measures across Europe were relaxed as infection rates fell sharply, with recent data suggesting the continent had coped better with the coronavirus-induced recession better than initially feared,” the newspaper adds.
But economic figures suggest that hopes of a miraculous recovery are misplaced.
Amid a “sharp slowdown in service sector activity” as Covid infections rise, IHS Markit chief business economist Chris Williamson is predicting that the EU may fall back into recession within the next three months, The Guardian reports.
The fallout of the pandemic is already hitting individual countries in the trading union hard, with the Bank of Spain this month downgrading its GDP forecast to suggest a contraction of up to 12.6% this year, The Telegraph says. France’s outlook is also gloomy, with a forecast of -10% for the year.
Bert Colijn of banking and financial services firm ING says that “alarm bells should be going off about the pace of the recovery at the moment” as the number of new Covid-19 cases continues to climb across Europe.
“For governments and the European Central Bank, this will be a wake-up call, if they needed one,” he adds.
How long could the economic crisis last?
Experts believe the EU will be mired in economic difficulties for quite some time. Brussels is getting mixed messages from the member states over further potential lockdown measures, and this uncertainty is causing consumer confidence to plummet across the EU27.
“If the first stage of the coronavirus crisis was precipitated by state-mandated lockdowns, the coming months are likely to be characterised by consumer fear and government restrictions on industries like travel, tourism, entertainment, hospitality and retail,” Politico says.


theweekuk--2020-09-24--Instant Opinion: coronavirus restrictions are ‘hurting the young’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on scapegoating in the Covid response Ridiculous Covid rules are hurting the young – nobody wants them to be punished in our name “ Do Bill and Ben the Pol Pot Men care about the effect their exorbitant graphs and terrorising models are having on actual people , both young and old ?
I ’ d like to see Professor Whitty , a monkish bachelor , try and reassure a tearful eighteen-year-old for whom Freshers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has turned into a socially-distanced ordeal .
‘ I am feeling so upset and cross about the whole thing and am not alone amongst my friends , ’ says Diana , who describes herself angrily as an ex-Tory voter .
‘ We are on the verge of marching or chaining ourselves to some railings !
’ Believe me , Diana , I feel like chaining myself to some railings with you .
How dare our PM say that ‘ nothing is more important than the education of our young people ’ when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by wholly disproportionate measures .
Covid can not harm students but adult paranoia about Covid certainly can.
” EU migration pact is victory for the nationalists “ There will be EU task force units - made up of border police , lawyers , translators and other helpers — to support member states when large numbers of displaced people arrive in short periods .
A group like that should really have been at work in Moria , too - what went wrong there ?
And then the proposal announces fast-track decisions at the borders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequently deemed ineligible .
That has been a goal in Brussels for years , but the idea might not be able to stand up to the judicial challenges to it .
What legal system is to be used as a basis for decisions ?
Is there a chance to appeal ?
Who provides the judge ?
” UN fails to shine at its diamond jubilee “ A diamond jubilee deserves more than prerecorded speeches , but somehow a parade of three-minute videos broadcast to a mostly empty General Assembly chamber succinctly captures the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world is facing a set of crises that is unprecedented in modern history — the COVID-19 pandemic , a global economy that has gone off the rails and a climate catastrophe — and the world body is distracted by geopolitical rivalries and a growing tendency of national governments to go it alone while complaining about the institution ’ s ineffectiveness .
As U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres explained in comments at the world body ’ s 75th anniversary , “ we have a surplus of multilateral challenges and a deficit of multilateral solutions.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't even begin to bring justice for Breonna Taylor “ After 195 days , no officer has been arrested or charged for killing Breonna Taylor .
Wednesday ’ s grand jury indictment of former Louisville Det .
Brett Hankison hasn ’ t brought justice for the death of Breonna Taylor .
Hankison was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment charges because , prosecutors say , bullets from his firearm entered a neighboring apartment where three residents were home .
In truth , this has changed nothing .
Justice feels like the elusive carrot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Consider the fact that Hankison was charged for shooting in the manner that could have killed someone .
No officer has been charged for the fact that someone actually did die.
” on putting up with a big ego Why Elon Musk is both obnoxious and indispensable “ The economist Mariana Mazzucato has argued persuasively that governments undersell their contribution to innovation , and to companies like Tesla and Apple , leading society to overvalue entrepreneurs like Musk and the late Steve Jobs .
While Mazzucato illuminatingly highlights the state ’ s crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding , she has shown little evidence of governments creating and marketing finished products as enticing as those produced by Apple and Tesla .
Questioning Musk ’ s absurd wealth and the adulation he receives is legitimate but he has been , and remains , a vital link in the fight for a cleaner environment .
This was reinforced by his announcements during Tesla ’ s Battery Day event this week , which included a plan to eliminate the use of cobalt , a controversial mineral associated with rights violations in the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is mined .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Allison Pearson in The Daily Telegraph
on scapegoating in the Covid response
Ridiculous Covid rules are hurting the young – nobody wants them to be punished in our name
“Do Bill and Ben the Pol Pot Men care about the effect their exorbitant graphs and terrorising models are having on actual people, both young and old? I’d like to see Professor Whitty, a monkish bachelor, try and reassure a tearful eighteen-year-old for whom Freshers’ Week, never the easiest experience, has turned into a socially-distanced ordeal. ‘I am feeling so upset and cross about the whole thing and am not alone amongst my friends,’ says Diana, who describes herself angrily as an ex-Tory voter. ‘We are on the verge of marching or chaining ourselves to some railings!’ Believe me, Diana, I feel like chaining myself to some railings with you. How dare our PM say that ‘nothing is more important than the education of our young people’ when our offspring are having their studies wrecked by wholly disproportionate measures. Covid cannot harm students but adult paranoia about Covid certainly can.”
2. Barbara Wesel in Deutsche Welle
on tussles in Brussels
EU migration pact is victory for the nationalists
“There will be EU task force units - made up of border police, lawyers, translators and other helpers — to support member states when large numbers of displaced people arrive in short periods. A group like that should really have been at work in Moria, too - what went wrong there? And then the proposal announces fast-track decisions at the borders for applicants from countries whose citizens are frequently deemed ineligible. That has been a goal in Brussels for years, but the idea might not be able to stand up to the judicial challenges to it. What legal system is to be used as a basis for decisions? Is there a chance to appeal? Who provides the judge?”
3. Editorial board of The Japan Times
on pre-recorded pageantry
UN fails to shine at its diamond jubilee
“A diamond jubilee deserves more than prerecorded speeches, but somehow a parade of three-minute videos broadcast to a mostly empty General Assembly chamber succinctly captures the moment for the United Nations. The world is facing a set of crises that is unprecedented in modern history — the COVID-19 pandemic, a global economy that has gone off the rails and a climate catastrophe — and the world body is distracted by geopolitical rivalries and a growing tendency of national governments to go it alone while complaining about the institution’s ineffectiveness. As U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres explained in comments at the world body’s 75th anniversary, “we have a surplus of multilateral challenges and a deficit of multilateral solutions.”
4. Laura Coates on CNN
on the long wait for justice
Indictment doesn't even begin to bring justice for Breonna Taylor
“After 195 days, no officer has been arrested or charged for killing Breonna Taylor. Wednesday’s grand jury indictment of former Louisville Det. Brett Hankison hasn’t brought justice for the death of Breonna Taylor. Hankison was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment charges because, prosecutors say, bullets from his firearm entered a neighboring apartment where three residents were home. In truth, this has changed nothing. Justice feels like the elusive carrot that is dangled but never caught. Consider the fact that Hankison was charged for shooting in the manner that could have killed someone. No officer has been charged for the fact that someone actually did die.”
5. Girish Shahane on Mint
on putting up with a big ego
Why Elon Musk is both obnoxious and indispensable
“The economist Mariana Mazzucato has argued persuasively that governments undersell their contribution to innovation, and to companies like Tesla and Apple, leading society to overvalue entrepreneurs like Musk and the late Steve Jobs. While Mazzucato illuminatingly highlights the state’s crucial role in basic research and early stage funding, she has shown little evidence of governments creating and marketing finished products as enticing as those produced by Apple and Tesla. Questioning Musk’s absurd wealth and the adulation he receives is legitimate but he has been, and remains, a vital link in the fight for a cleaner environment. This was reinforced by his announcements during Tesla’s Battery Day event this week, which included a plan to eliminate the use of cobalt, a controversial mineral associated with rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo where most of it is mined.”


theweekuk--2020-09-24--Best documentaries of 2020

Best documentaries of 2020

Documentary film fans have been spoiled this year with so many new productions being released on TV and the various streaming services .
At the 72nd Emmy Awards on 20 September there were high-quality nominees shortlisted for the 2020 outstanding documentary or nonfiction series and the outstanding documentary or nonfiction special .
The Last Dance , which chronicles the rise of basketball superstar Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls , won the documentary series Emmy ahead of American Masters , Hillary , McMillion $ and Tiger King .
In the special category the Emmy went to The Apollo ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laurel Canyon : A Place In Time and The Great Hack .
With so much variety in the genre right now here ’ s a pick of the documentaries you must watch .
Where to watch : Netflix Critics have raved about The Last Dance this year .
As proved by its Emmy win , the ten-part documentary series co-produced by ESPN Films and Netflix is not just for sports fans .
BBC Sport ’ s Ciaran Varley reported that The Last Dance overtook Tiger King as the world ’ s most in-demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murder , Mayhem and Madness | Official Trailer | Netflix Where to watch : Netflix Few documentary projects have made as big a splash as this Netflix series , says Esquire .
Its tagline promises “ murder , madness , and mayhem ” and this smash hit definitely delivers .
With Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin taking centre stage , Tiger King is the “ year ’ s wildest Netflix series ” , according to The Guardian .
Where to watch : Netflix Based on the 2016 book of the same name by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now-deceased convicted sex offender is “ difficult to watch without a choking sense of outrage ” , says The Guardian ’ s Adrian Horton .
Stories from survivors fuel this docuseries examining how Epstein used his wealth and power to carry out his abuses .
Where to watch : Apple TV+ In 2018 and 2019 , the Beastie Boys ’ surviving members , Adam Horovitz and Michael Diamond , went on a storytelling tour , Empire reports .
This is an edited version of the final Brooklyn show , filmed by long-time cohort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adrock recount their own history , the Independent says “ there ’ s an honesty here that makes Beastie Boys Story appealing even to rap novices ” .
Where to watch : Sky Documentaries/Now TV Four-part documentary series providing an intimate portrait of former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton , featuring exclusive footage from her 2016 presidential campaign .
The Guardian ’ s Peter Bradshaw says : “ This epic documentary ranges across Hillary Clinton ’ s life , from the Arkansas governor ’ s mansion , through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the top job - but the enigma remains.
” Where to watch : Sky Documentaries From executive producer Mark Wahlberg , McMillion $ takes a look into the con that allowed one man to rig the results of McDonald ’ s popular Monopoly game for an entire decade .
The Guardian ’ s Lucy Mangan says this six-part documentary series is a “ rip-roaring romp ” around the McDonald ’ s Monopoly scandal .
Video of Danny Dyer on working with Harold Pinter | Sky Arts clip Where to watch : Sky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peril , ” says The Daily Telegraph .
“ Pause your laughter , this unlikely pair were like father and son.
” Taken under his wing following roles in films like 1997 ’ s Human Traffic , Harold Pinter cast Dyer in several of his plays , including No Man ’ s Land and The Homecoming .
Now , 12 years after Pinter ’ s death , Dyer takes a look back at his mentor ’ s work and the profound influence he had on his life .
Dyer said : “ My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always cherish and I was very touched by the whole experience .
What an incredible complex humble human being he was .
I miss him every day.
” Where to watch : Netflix Netflix kickstarted its 2020 documentary slate with one of the first hits of the year , says Esquire .
Follow the cheer squad of Navarro College as they bid to win the coveted US national title .
Described by Netflix as “ gritty , inspiring and exciting ” , TheWeek.co.uk ’ s three-word review of Cheer is “ peppy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Where to watch : Netflix If you liked season one of Drive to Survive then you ’ ll love season two .
Made by the team behind Senna , Amy and Diego Maradona , it ’ s no surprise that this ten-part series has been such a success since it was released at the end of February .
Bring on season three , that ’ s all we say .
Drive to Survive season two review : Mercedes and Ferrari join an all-star cast Where to watch : Amazon Prime This documentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journey from 2017 to 2019 as he battles injury , surgery and rehabilitation before returning to the court .
Resurfacing is “ my favourite documentary ” says Alex Pattle of the Independent .
He adds : “ Unlike films such as Diego Maradona and Senna , Resurfacing isn ’ t the story of a genius ; it is the story of a grafter with a painful commitment to hard work , a boy who survived a school shooting and everything the sport of tennis could throw at his deteriorating body , only to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Best sports documentaries to watch on Netflix and Amazon All or Nothing : Tottenham Hotspur Where to watch : Amazon Prime After reaching the Champions League final in 2019 the following season saw the Amazon cameras go behind the scenes at Tottenham .
Mauricio Pochettino did not last long as manager with Spurs replacing him with Jose Mourinho .
The Special One ’ s arrival in north London “ saved the day ” for Amazon , says Radio Times .
The latest All or Nothing “ needed Mourinho more than they realised ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actor Tom Hardy .

Documentary fans have been spoiled this year with so many new films being released on TV and the various streaming services.
At the 72nd Emmy Awards there were high-quality nominees shortlisted for the 2020 outstanding documentary or nonfiction series and the outstanding documentary or nonfiction special.
The Last Dance, which chronicles the rise of basketball superstar Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls, won the documentary series Emmy ahead of American Masters, Hillary, McMillion$ and Tiger King.
In the special category the Emmy went to The Apollo ahead of Beastie Boys Story, Becoming, Laurel Canyon: A Place In Time and The Great Hack.
With so much variety in the genre right now here’s a pick of the documentaries you must watch.
Billie
This “smart and accessible” documentary about the legendary Billie Holiday combines “phenomenal” footage of her performances with previously unheard audio testimony from people who knew her, said Chris Willman in Variety. The latter was recorded for a planned biography by journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl and has lain untouched since she died in 1979, 20 years after Holiday’s own death aged 44. Listening to these interviewees – relatives, band members, musicians including Charles Mingus and Tony Bennett; even the “chuckling” pimp who pressed Holiday into prostitution as a teenager – is thrilling, like hearing “the dialogue from some forgotten noir”. And while a clear picture of Holiday’s tragic life emerges, the film does not make her a victim, but instead focuses on her defiant spirit and her supreme talent. Where to watch: Amazon and Apple TV
Time
The mass incarceration of African Americans is a subject that has been explored in several recent documentaries, but Garrett Bradley’s Time is unusual in focusing on the people waiting outside the prison walls, said Clarisse Loughrey in The Independent. Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
The Last Dance
Critics have raved about The Last Dance this year. As proved by its Emmy win, the ten-part documentary series co-produced by ESPN Films and Netflix is not just for sports fans. BBC Sport’s Ciaran Varley reported that The Last Dance overtook Tiger King as the world’s most in-demand documentary. Where to watch: Netflix
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem And Madness
Few documentary projects have made as big a splash as this Netflix series, says Esquire. Its tagline promises “murder, madness, and mayhem” and this smash hit definitely delivers. With Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin taking centre stage, Tiger King is the “year’s wildest Netflix series”, according to The Guardian. Where to watch: Netflix
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
Based on the 2016 book of the same name by James Patterson, this miniseries about the now-deceased convicted sex offender is “difficult to watch without a choking sense of outrage”, says The Guardian’s Adrian Horton. Stories from survivors fuel this docuseries examining how Epstein used his wealth and power to carry out his abuses. Where to watch: Netflix
Beastie Boys Story
In 2018 and 2019, the Beastie Boys’ surviving members, Adam Horovitz and Michael Diamond, went on a storytelling tour, Empire reports. This is an edited version of the final Brooklyn show, filmed by long-time cohort Spike Jonze. As Mike D and Adrock recount their own history, the Independent says “there’s an honesty here that makes Beastie Boys Story appealing even to rap novices”. Where to watch: Apple TV+
Hillary
Four-part documentary series providing an intimate portrait of former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, featuring exclusive footage from her 2016 presidential campaign. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw says: “This epic documentary ranges across Hillary Clinton’s life, from the Arkansas governor’s mansion, through the White House years to her own shot at the top job - but the enigma remains.” Where to watch: Sky Documentaries/Now TV
McMillion$
From executive producer Mark Wahlberg, McMillion$ takes a look into the con that allowed one man to rig the results of McDonald’s popular Monopoly game for an entire decade. The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan says this six-part documentary series is a “rip-roaring romp” around the McDonald’s Monopoly scandal. Where to watch: Sky Documentaries
Danny Dyer on Pinter
“Underestimate Danny Dyer at your peril,” says The Daily Telegraph. “Pause your laughter, this unlikely pair were like father and son.” Taken under his wing following roles in films like 1997’s Human Traffic, Harold Pinter cast Dyer in several of his plays, including No Man’s Land and The Homecoming. Now, 12 years after Pinter’s death, Dyer takes a look back at his mentor’s work and the profound influence he had on his life. Dyer said: “My relationship with Harold is something I will always cherish and I was very touched by the whole experience. What an incredible complex humble human being he was. I miss him every day.” Where to watch: Sky Arts
Cheer
Netflix kickstarted its 2020 documentary slate with one of the first hits of the year, says Esquire. Follow the cheer squad of Navarro College as they bid to win the coveted US national title. Described by Netflix as “gritty, inspiring and exciting”, TheWeek.co.uk’s three-word review of Cheer is “peppy, colourful and heartening”. Cult viewing. Where to watch: Netflix
Andy Murray: Resurfacing
This documentary tracks the British tennis star’s journey from 2017 to 2019 as he battles injury, surgery and rehabilitation before returning to the court. Resurfacing is “my favourite documentary” says Alex Pattle of the Independent. He adds: “Unlike films such as Diego Maradona and Senna, Resurfacing isn’t the story of a genius; it is the story of a grafter with a painful commitment to hard work, a boy who survived a school shooting and everything the sport of tennis could throw at his deteriorating body, only to come back as formidable as ever.” Where to watch: Amazon Prime
All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur
After reaching the Champions League final in 2019 the following season saw the Amazon cameras go behind the scenes at Tottenham. Mauricio Pochettino did not last long as manager with Spurs replacing him with Jose Mourinho. The Special One’s arrival in north London “saved the day” for Amazon, says Radio Times. The latest All or Nothing “needed Mourinho more than they realised”. The series is narrated by star actor Tom Hardy. Where to watch: Amazon Prime


theweekuk--2020-09-24--Explained: the UK’s new ‘traffic light’ system to manage local lockdowns

The government is working on plans for a three-tier “ traffic light ” system to trigger local lockdowns in England and Wales , according to reports .
Metro says that the new scheme “ would see local authority areas ranked red , orange or green – depending on the severity of the pandemic locally ” .
The plan was “ signed off by cabinet ministers at a meeting of a key Covid-19 cabinet committee last week ” and has been sent to Boris Johnson for approval , The Telegraph reports .
The news comes as the government ’ s long-awaited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched on Thursday .
The app uses Apple and Google ’ s automated contact-tracing technology “ to tell people to self-isolate if their phone detects they were near someone later determined to have the virus ” , says the BBC .
According to The Daily Mirror , the proposed traffic light system “ would work alongside the Test and Trace app ” , with people “ sent texts when the rules in their towns changed due to any change in the infection rate ” .
In addition to providing “ a simple and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the restrictions are in their local areas ” , the traffic lights scheme would “ also allow England to avoid another economically damaging lockdown by needlessly shutting down areas in which infection rates are low ” , adds The Telegraph .
The paper says that the prime minister “ hinted at ” the plans when he told the Commons this week that “ one of the great advantages ” of NHS Test and Trace “ is that we now have the ability to see in granular detail where the epidemic is breaking out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
A blueprint of the three-tier system has already been set out by authorities in London .
Under the proposals , the capital would be split into areas with fewer than 20 cases per 100,000 ( green ) , 20 to 50 per 100,000 ( amber ) , and more than 50 per 100,000 ( red ) .
In “ green ” areas , Covid marshals would enforce the nationwide social distancing restrictions , with schools , care homes and businesses monitored to make sure they are Covid-secure .
The “ amber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ’ movements restricted further , with testing ramped ups .
And “ red ” areas would be subject to stricter local lockdowns , although schools would only be closed as a last resort .
If the system were applied to England today , a total of 30 million people in 149 local authorities would be subject to the amber and red tiers .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is reportedly among the ministers championing the scheme .
However , a Whitehall source told The Telegraph that “ no decisions have been made ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It still needs to be properly interrogated to see if this will work on a national level .
”

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theweekuk--2020-09-24--Is ‘staying home’ to ‘protect the NHS’ driving a spike in avoidable deaths?

The “ Stay Home , Protect the NHS , Save Lives ” campaign was launched amid much fanfare back in March as part of the government ’ s push to contain the coronavirus outbreak .
The slogan was “ emblazoned on government lecterns , repeated again and again by government ministers in interview after interview , on bus shelters , pop-up ads on the internet , wherever you looked ” during the early months of the pandemic , says the BBC ’ s Laura Kuenssberg .
But with recent Office of National Statistics ( ONS ) data revealing a sharp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes since mid-June , some experts are pointing the finger of blame at the “ stay at home ” guidance .
What are the numbers ?
Excess deaths are a count of “ those deaths which are over and above a ‘ normal ’ year , based on the average number of deaths that occurred in the past five years ” , says The Guardian .
And while the total number of excess deaths in the UK has been lower than usual in the past three months , “ deaths in private homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 824 excess deaths per week in people ’ s homes in the 13 weeks to mid-September ” , the newspaper reports .
That adds up to more than 10,000 deaths in private homes since June , “ long after the peak in Covid deaths , prompting fears that people may still be avoiding health services and delaying sending their loved ones to care homes ” .
According to The Telegraph , the number of excess deaths that occurred in private homes in the month up to 21 August was “ more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in any setting , including including hospitals and care homes ” .
The total tally of at-home excess deaths since the pandemic began now stands at more than 30,000 .
Has there been any let-up ?
In July , the British Heart Foundation ( BHF ) welcomed the “ reassuring news ” that excess death rates were falling as the country moved beyond the peak of the coronavirus outbreak .
Earlier this month , the ONS reported that 9,032 excess deaths had been registered in England and Wales for the week ending 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average , but 599 fewer than the previous week .
But Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan , associate medical director at the BHF , said that “ it is particularly concerning that we are still seeing excess deaths related to heart and circulatory disease in younger people under the age of 65 ” .
She added : “ These rather shocking excess death statistics show that the steps taken during the emergency period , though understandable in a crisis situation , are clearly not , as some have argued , any sensible basis for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship between patients and the NHS.
” How could lockdown have triggered a health timebomb ?
The New Statesman warned in July that the NHS was facing “ a post-coronavirus crisis in undiagnosed disease and increased waiting times for diagnostic tests and treatment ” .
Disruptions to “ routine NHS services has caused waiting lists to grow ” , said the magazine , which reported that “ nearly 2.5 million fewer diagnostic tests have been carried out than usual during the pandemic as capacity was reduced ” .
A & E attendances at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below levels a year ago ” , adds ITV News , with NHS England saying the fall was “ likely to be a result of the Covid-19 response ” .
And with no end in sight to the pandemic , people are likely to continue staying away from hospitals .

The “Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives” campaign was launched amid much fanfare back in March as part of the government’s push to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
The slogan was “emblazoned on government lecterns, repeated again and again by government ministers in interview after interview, on bus shelters, pop-up ads on the internet, wherever you looked” during the early months of the pandemic, says the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
But with recent Office of National Statistics (ONS) data revealing a sharp rise in deaths occurring in peoples’ homes since mid-June, some experts are pointing the finger of blame at the “stay at home” guidance.
What are the numbers?
Excess deaths are a count of “those deaths which are over and above a ‘normal’ year, based on the average number of deaths that occurred in the past five years”, says The Guardian.
And while the total number of excess deaths in the UK has been lower than usual in the past three months, “deaths in private homes buck the trend, with an average of 824 excess deaths per week in people’s homes in the 13 weeks to mid-September”, the newspaper reports.
That adds up to more than 10,000 deaths in private homes since June, “long after the peak in Covid deaths, prompting fears that people may still be avoiding health services and delaying sending their loved ones to care homes”.
According to The Telegraph, the number of excess deaths that occurred in private homes in the month up to 21 August was “more than twice the total number of Covid-19 deaths in any setting, including including hospitals and care homes”.
The total tally of at-home excess deaths since the pandemic began now stands at more than 30,000.
Has there been any let-up?
In July, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) welcomed the “reassuring news” that excess death rates were falling as the country moved beyond the peak of the coronavirus outbreak.
Earlier this month, the ONS reported that 9,032 excess deaths had been registered in England and Wales for the week ending 28 August - 791 more than the five-year average, but 599 fewer than the previous week.
But Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director at the BHF, said that “it is particularly concerning that we are still seeing excess deaths related to heart and circulatory disease in younger people under the age of 65”.
She added: “These rather shocking excess death statistics show that the steps taken during the emergency period, though understandable in a crisis situation, are clearly not, as some have argued, any sensible basis for a ‘new normal’ or a new relationship between patients and the NHS.”
How could lockdown have triggered a health timebomb?
The New Statesman warned in July that the NHS was facing “a post-coronavirus crisis in undiagnosed disease and increased waiting times for diagnostic tests and treatment”.
Disruptions to “routine NHS services has caused waiting lists to grow”, said the magazine, which reported that “nearly 2.5 million fewer diagnostic tests have been carried out than usual during the pandemic as capacity was reduced”.
A&E attendances at hospitals in England “continue to be below levels a year ago”, adds ITV News, with NHS England saying the fall was “likely to be a result of the Covid-19 response”.
And with no end in sight to the pandemic, people are likely to continue staying away from hospitals.


theweekuk--2020-09-25--‘Witnesses colluded’ against army major who faced eight probes into Iraqi’s drowning, judge says

An army major who has faced eight separate investigations spanning 17 years over the death of an Iraqi teenager has been cleared by a senior judge who concluded that witnesses conspired against the war veteran .
Major Robert Campbell , 47 , last night voiced anger over the “ witch-hunt ” that he has endured , saying : “ It finished me , it finished my career.
” Bomb disposal expert Campbell , along with two junior colleagues , was accused of forcing Said Shabram into a river in Basra in May 2003 and leaving the 19-year-old to drown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hallett has concluded that Campbell jumped in to try to save the teen , but then became the victim of a conspiracy which “ likely began on the day Shabram died ” .
Her Iraq Fatality Investigations ( IFI ) report says that “ a number of civilian witnesses ” who came forward to give evidence against Campbell were “ inherently unreliable ” , and the military was aware witnesses “ had colluded and were dishonest ” as long ago as 2006 .
The findings “ raise serious questions over why the major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ” , says The Telegraph .
The 88-page IFI report concludes that it was “ most likely ” that Shabram “ jumped or fell ” into the river while trying to escape what he believed would be “ dire punishment for looting ” electric cables .
The verdict follows previous investigations by “ the Royal Military Police twice , the Army Prosecuting Authority , the Aitken Report inquiry , the Iraq Historic Allegations Team and the director of service prosecutions ” , The Times reports .
Campbell said yesterday that he felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over ” - despite , as the paper points out , “ having been told that numerous times in the past ” .
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer , a former army officer , has also welcomed the verdict , saying : “ I hope these findings will bring some closure and reassurance to the family and veterans involved in this process .
Nobody wants to see service personnel or veterans facing extensive reinvestigations into the same incident .
”

An army major who has faced eight separate investigations spanning 17 years over the death of an Iraqi teenager has been cleared by a senior judge who concluded that witnesses conspired against the war veteran.
Major Robert Campbell, 47, last night voiced anger over the “witch-hunt” that he has endured, saying: “It finished me, it finished my career.”
Bomb disposal expert Campbell, along with two junior colleagues, was accused of forcing Said Shabram into a river in Basra in May 2003 and leaving the 19-year-old to drown.
But former Court of Appeal judge Baroness Hallett has concluded that Campbell jumped in to try to save the teen, but then became the victim of a conspiracy which “likely began on the day Shabram died”.
Her Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI) report says that “a number of civilian witnesses” who came forward to give evidence against Campbell were “inherently unreliable”, and the military was aware witnesses “had colluded and were dishonest” as long ago as 2006.
The findings “raise serious questions over why the major’s ordeal lasted a further 14 years”, says The Telegraph.
The 88-page IFI report concludes that it was “most likely” that Shabram “jumped or fell” into the river while trying to escape what he believed would be “dire punishment for looting” electric cables.
The verdict follows previous investigations by “the Royal Military Police twice, the Army Prosecuting Authority, the Aitken Report inquiry, the Iraq Historic Allegations Team and the director of service prosecutions”, The Times reports.
Campbell said yesterday that he felt “cautiously optimistic that it’s over” - despite, as the paper points out, “having been told that numerous times in the past”.
Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer, a former army officer, has also welcomed the verdict, saying: “I hope these findings will bring some closure and reassurance to the family and veterans involved in this process. Nobody wants to see service personnel or veterans facing extensive reinvestigations into the same incident.”


theweekuk--2020-09-25--Why masks and hand-washing may not protect against new coronavirus mutation

The Covid-19 coronavirus has mutated to become more contagious and resistant to social distancing and hygiene measures , new research @ @ @ @ @ US study yet into the genetics of the virus , scientists found that a new @ @ @ @ @ adapting to circumvent barriers such as masks and hand-washing ” , the Daily Mirror reports @ @ @ @ @ mapping the genomes of the novel coronavirus at Houston Methodist Hospital and have so far @ @ @ @ @ the first infection was recorded in the Texas city , in March .
Back then @ @ @ @ @ of the viruses were characterised by the mutation , which originated in China and is @ @ @ @ @ says The Telegraph .


theweekuk--2020-09-25--Albums of the Week: Hard Luck Stories (1972-1982), The Universal Want, Encounter

This week ’ s three new releases include a box set collection from folk-rock duo Richard and Linda Thompson , a belter of a new record by Doves and pianist Igor Levit ’ s lockdown recitals .
This exhaustive box set ( eight CDs or a “ big download ” ) tells the story of “ one of the most intriguing partnerships in British music ” , said Kitty Empire in The Observer .
As vocalists , the folk-rock duo Richard and Linda Thompson shared a “ startling contralto directness ” , and their music has an “ unfussy beauty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ albums , but the big excitement is 31 unreleased tracks , including a whole CD devoted to the duo ’ s 1975 album Pour Down Like Silver and its outtakes .
“ It is a tale worth retelling – and shelling out for.
” A love of country music suffuses the work , said David Honigmann in the FT – from Linda and Sandy Denny singing gorgeous harmonies on the Everly Brothers ’ When Will I Be Loved ?
to the box set ’ s closing song , High School Confidential .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revelatory recordings in which they “ swap the voices ” .
End of the Rainbow , a father ’ s bleak warning to his new baby , is “ even more heartbreaking ” sung by Linda , and her Night Comes In is “ breathtaking ” .
Doves , a trio of Manchester school friends who got together in 1989 , broke through at the tail end of Britpop as “ purveyors of moodily atmospheric space-rock ” , said Neil McCormick in The Daily Telegraph .
But after four acclaimed albums between 2000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and never reappeared .
Now they ’ re back , and the great news is that the album is a belter .
Vocalist Jimi Goodwin may still have “ the single most downbeat voice in popular music ” , but Doves ’ blend of lyrical and melodic heaviness – with the “ pounding thrill ” of their hard-driven grooves , and the “ psychedelic detail of cinemascopic arrangements ” – is still mesmerising .
Their tried-and-tested blueprint has lost “ none of its magic ” , agreed Alexis Petridis in The Guardian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on an “ appealingly rough patina ” in his decade away from the limelight .
And their lyrics are more “ careworn ” than ever , reflecting the “ kind of concerns that tend to beset people as their 40s slide into their 50s ” .
It ’ s all “ heartfelt ” and well done – and the band ’ s fans will be “ delighted ” .
Stranded in his Berlin flat during the lockdown , pianist Igor Levit treated fans to wide-ranging daily recitals streamed live on his Twitter account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Vexations , said Geoff Brown in The Times .
Now , Levit has released this selection of the music that drew especially positive responses from his online audience , recorded in May in Berlin ’ s Jesus-Christus-Kirche .
It is an introspective album full of “ balm , closure ” and peace – ranging from “ glittering Bach ” to Brahms ’ s chorale preludes – every piece a “ decorative and contemplative beauty ” .
The final , and longest , item is the one that most captivated Levit ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown , said Richard Fairman in the FT – namely Morton Feldman ’ s Palais de Mari .
The American “ individualist ” composer ’ s 28-minute piece , from 1986 , evokes a strange world of stillness .
“ Odd chords hang in the air , fading slowly into a void ” – a vanishing point , as Levit calls it .
It completes a remarkable recital that forms “ a slow retreat into a private , internal world ” .

This week’s three new releases include a box set collection from folk-rock duo Richard and Linda Thompson, a belter of a new record by Doves and pianist Igor Levit’s lockdown recitals.
Richard and Linda Thompson: Hard Luck Stories (1972-1982)
This exhaustive box set (eight CDs or a “big download”) tells the story of “one of the most intriguing partnerships in British music”, said Kitty Empire in The Observer. As vocalists, the folk-rock duo Richard and Linda Thompson shared a “startling contralto directness”, and their music has an “unfussy beauty”. This collection covers six released albums, but the big excitement is 31 unreleased tracks, including a whole CD devoted to the duo’s 1975 album Pour Down Like Silver and its outtakes. “It is a tale worth retelling – and shelling out for.”
A love of country music suffuses the work, said David Honigmann in the FT – from Linda and Sandy Denny singing gorgeous harmonies on the Everly Brothers’ When Will I Be Loved? to the box set’s closing song, High School Confidential. The previously unreleased demos and live versions contain revelatory recordings in which they “swap the voices”. End of the Rainbow, a father’s bleak warning to his new baby, is “even more heartbreaking” sung by Linda, and her Night Comes In is “breathtaking”.
Universal £76
Doves: The Universal Want
Doves, a trio of Manchester school friends who got together in 1989, broke through at the tail end of Britpop as “purveyors of moodily atmospheric space-rock”, said Neil McCormick in The Daily Telegraph. But after four acclaimed albums between 2000 and 2009, they went on hiatus – and never reappeared. Now they’re back, and the great news is that the album is a belter. Vocalist Jimi Goodwin may still have “the single most downbeat voice in popular music”, but Doves’ blend of lyrical and melodic heaviness – with the “pounding thrill” of their hard-driven grooves, and the “psychedelic detail of cinemascopic arrangements” – is still mesmerising.
Their tried-and-tested blueprint has lost “none of its magic”, agreed Alexis Petridis in The Guardian. Goodwin’s voice has taken on an “appealingly rough patina” in his decade away from the limelight. And their lyrics are more “careworn” than ever, reflecting the “kind of concerns that tend to beset people as their 40s slide into their 50s”. It’s all “heartfelt” and well done – and the band’s fans will be “delighted”.
Virgin EMI £12
Igor Levit: Encounter
Stranded in his Berlin flat during the lockdown, pianist Igor Levit treated fans to wide-ranging daily recitals streamed live on his Twitter account, plus a 15-hour rendition of Satie’s Vexations, said Geoff Brown in The Times. Now, Levit has released this selection of the music that drew especially positive responses from his online audience, recorded in May in Berlin’s Jesus-Christus-Kirche. It is an introspective album full of “balm, closure” and peace – ranging from “glittering Bach” to Brahms’s chorale preludes – every piece a “decorative and contemplative beauty”.
The final, and longest, item is the one that most captivated Levit’s “Hauskonzert” audiences during the lockdown, said Richard Fairman in the FT – namely Morton Feldman’s Palais de Mari. The American “individualist” composer’s 28-minute piece, from 1986, evokes a strange world of stillness. “Odd chords hang in the air, fading slowly into a void” – a vanishing point, as Levit calls it. It completes a remarkable recital that forms “a slow retreat into a private, internal world”.
Sony Classical £16


theweekuk--2020-09-25--Covid case at EU meeting forces ministers and top officials into quarantine

Trade ministers and top-level EU officials who attended a meeting in Berlin earlier this week are having to self-isolate after a junior member of the Irish delegation tested positive for Covid-19 .
Germany ’ s Economy Minister Peter Altmaier , who chaired the meeting on Monday , announced his decision to enter quarantine in a tweet that said a “ member on an EU minister ’ s staff attending the Council of Trade Ministers ” had afterwards been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus .
EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis also announced on Wednesday that he had “ taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home ” after coming into contact with the unnamed carrier .
Two EU officials told Politico that the carrier “ was in the Irish delegation ” , which included Irish Trade Minister Leo Varadkar .
The former taoiseach is also now in quarantine .
“ EU trade officials said it was unclear whether other trade ministers were going into quarantine , ” adds the site , which notes that Poland ’ s Jadwiga Emilewicz and France ’ s Franck Riester were among those who turned up in person for the meeting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ also there , but EU officials reportedly “ said he was not self-isolating because he did not have close contact with the Irish staffer ” .
Altmaier is the second top German minister to go into self-isolation this week .
Foreign Minister Maas announced in a statement of Wednesday that he had put himself into quarantine “ after a member of his personal protection team was infected with Covid-19 ” .
Deutsche Welle reports that Maas was “ forced to call off ” a planned trip to Jordan as a result .

Trade ministers and top-level EU officials who attended a meeting in Berlin earlier this week are having to self-isolate after a junior member of the Irish delegation tested positive for Covid-19.
Germany’s Economy Minister Peter Altmaier, who chaired the meeting on Monday, announced his decision to enter quarantine in a tweet that said a “member on an EU minister’s staff attending the Council of Trade Ministers” had afterwards been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus.
EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis also announced on Wednesday that he had “taken a test and am self-isolating and working at home” after coming into contact with the unnamed carrier.
Two EU officials told Politico that the carrier “was in the Irish delegation”, which included Irish Trade Minister Leo Varadkar. The former taoiseach is also now in quarantine.
“EU trade officials said it was unclear whether other trade ministers were going into quarantine,” adds the site, which notes that Poland’s Jadwiga Emilewicz and France’s Franck Riester were among those who turned up in person for the meeting.
EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton was also there, but EU officials reportedly “said he was not self-isolating because he did not have close contact with the Irish staffer”.
Altmaier is the second top German minister to go into self-isolation this week. Foreign Minister Maas announced in a statement of Wednesday that he had put himself into quarantine “after a member of his personal protection team was infected with Covid-19”.
Deutsche Welle reports that Maas was “forced to call off” a planned trip to Jordan as a result.


theweekuk--2020-09-25--Podcasts of the Week: fun factoids, bad films, spoof crimes

There is no shortage of climate-themed podcasts “ howling about the terrible state of things ” , said Fiona Sturges in the FT. How to Save a Planet – an impressive new series from Gimlet and Spotify – is a bit different , because its approach is “ deliberately optimistic ” .
In each episode , Dr Ayana Elizabeth Johnson , a marine biologist and self-anointed “ policy nerd ” , and journalist Alex Blumberg explore different initiatives and inventions that could stave off ecological catastrophe .
The second episode , for example , looks at how a town in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local coal-fired power station survived and prospered after blowing it up and embracing wind power .
“ This is not a sexy subject , but it is brought to life as a tale of conflict , money and nimbyism.
” The focus is on “ storytelling , rather than proselytising , and on highlighting viable solutions .
On that front , it ’ s a breath of fresh air.
” Similarly invigorating was a recent episode of the Radio 4 series Analysis , titled The Return of Reality ?
, said James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ small classic of smart radio ” , the Kiev-born journalist Peter Pomerantsev “ joined the dots ” between fake coronavirus conspiracy theories , political polarisation and even psychoanalysis .
There was a “ broad choice of clever interviewees and a scatter of chewable factoids ” .
One such nugget : when the Facebook “ like ” button is replaced with one that signals “ respect ” it increases users ’ tolerance of opposing views .
The Return of Reality ?
is one of several programmes that has reaffirmed my faith in Radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definitely worth seeking out on BBC Sounds .
“ I demand more Pomerantsev !
” The pandemic has inspired all manner of podcasts over recent months – but surely none more silly ( in a good way ) than the new series of The Worst Idea of All Time , said Hannah Verdier in The Guardian .
It involves two New Zealand comics , Guy Montgomery and Tim Batt , watching and reviewing the same atrocious film together every week for a year .
Previous series have centred on Grown Ups 2 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a four-year break from the show , they spent lockdown watching Home Alone 3 every three days – and are “ still stuck ” .
It sounds nuts , but it ’ s very funny .
Then there is A Very Fatal Murder , The Onion ’ s spoof “ true-crime ” podcast , which brilliantly lampoons the “ hot dead white girl ” trope .
When a teenage girl is murdered in the town of Bluff Springs , the police draw a blank , and it ’ s up to Onion Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Plinky-plonk piano , 911 calls and fast-talking waitresses blend with a big dose of absurdity.
” Should doctors monitor mothers ’ s alcohol intake ?
Are electric cars an investment bubble ?
And should spies have a “ licence to kill ” ?
Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days .

There is no shortage of climate-themed podcasts “howling about the terrible state of things”, said Fiona Sturges in the FT. How to Save a Planet – an impressive new series from Gimlet and Spotify – is a bit different, because its approach is “deliberately optimistic”. In each episode, Dr Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist and self-anointed “policy nerd”, and journalist Alex Blumberg explore different initiatives and inventions that could stave off ecological catastrophe. The second episode, for example, looks at how a town in Massachusetts that was once economically dependent on the local coal-fired power station survived and prospered after blowing it up and embracing wind power. “This is not a sexy subject, but it is brought to life as a tale of conflict, money and nimbyism.” The focus is on “storytelling, rather than proselytising, and on highlighting viable solutions. On that front, it’s a breath of fresh air.”
Similarly invigorating was a recent episode of the Radio 4 series Analysis, titled The Return of Reality?, said James Marriott in The Times. In this “small classic of smart radio”, the Kiev-born journalist Peter Pomerantsev “joined the dots” between fake coronavirus conspiracy theories, political polarisation and even psychoanalysis. There was a “broad choice of clever interviewees and a scatter of chewable factoids”. One such nugget: when the Facebook “like” button is replaced with one that signals “respect” it increases users’ tolerance of opposing views. The Return of Reality? is one of several programmes that has reaffirmed my faith in Radio 4 of late, and it is definitely worth seeking out on BBC Sounds. “I demand more Pomerantsev!”
The pandemic has inspired all manner of podcasts over recent months – but surely none more silly (in a good way) than the new series of The Worst Idea of All Time, said Hannah Verdier in The Guardian. It involves two New Zealand comics, Guy Montgomery and Tim Batt, watching and reviewing the same atrocious film together every week for a year. Previous series have centred on Grown Ups 2 and Sex and the City 2. After a four-year break from the show, they spent lockdown watching Home Alone 3 every three days – and are “still stuck”. It sounds nuts, but it’s very funny. Then there is A Very Fatal Murder, The Onion’s spoof “true-crime” podcast, which brilliantly lampoons the “hot dead white girl” trope. When a teenage girl is murdered in the town of Bluff Springs, the police draw a blank, and it’s up to Onion Public Radio’s David Pascall to investigate. “Plinky-plonk piano, 911 calls and fast-talking waitresses blend with a big dose of absurdity.”
The Week Unwrapped
Should doctors monitor mothers’s alcohol intake? Are electric cars an investment bubble? And should spies have a “licence to kill”? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.


theweekuk--2020-09-25--Quiz of The Week: 19 - 25 September

Quiz of The Week: 19 - 25 September

The week kicked off with an ominous warning from Boris Johnson that the UK has reached a “ perilous turning point ” in the fight to contain the coronavirus outbreak .
In a televised address to the nation on Monday , the prime minister announced a raft of new Covid-19 rules , including increased fines for not wearing masks and a curfew on pubs .
And people who can work at home are being advised once again to do so , as murmurs of a possible second national lockdown make their way into ministers ’ bulletins .
Johnson has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoyed a secret break in Italy , amid reports that the prime minister was spotted at Perugia Airport earlier this month .
Downing Street strenuously denies the claim , leading some commentators to speculate whether the PM might have a doppelganger making his way around Europe .
To find out how closely you ’ ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the pandemic , and other global events , put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The Week : Need a reminder of some of the other headlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was advised by Sweden ’ s former chief epidemiologist Dr Johan Giesecke to let the virus spread “ spread through the population alongside a programme that concentrates on the ‘ old and frail ” .
Across the Atlantic , the debate over whether the late Ruth Bader-Ginsburg ’ s position on the Supreme Court should be filled before the US presidential election continued to rage , with Republicans keen to push on with an appointment .
And in Asia , a Chinese property mogul who criticised President Xi Jinping ’ s handling of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clown who wants to be an emperor ” was jailed for 18 years on corruption charges .


theweekuk--2020-09-25--Books of the Week: More Than a Woman, Featherhood, Just Like You

This week ’ s three must-read books include Caitlin Moran ’ s “ older , wiser follow-up ” to How to Be a Woman , Charlie Gilmour ’ s “ clear-eyed ” memoir of nurturing and self-discovery , and an “ engaging ” tale of social mores from Nick Hornby .
To order these titles or any other book in print , see theweekbookshop.co.uk More Than a Woman by Caitlin Moran Caitlin Moran ’ s How to Be a Woman ( 2011 ) established her as a “ gloriously unorthodox role model for hundreds of thousands of women ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A feminist handbook that didn ’ t take itself too seriously , it sold more than a million copies – and prompted a slew of similar books .
Nine years on , Moran , now in her mid-40s , has produced an “ older , wiser follow-up ” , this time addressing middle age .
In a prologue , she imagines visiting her “ breezily confident ” younger self , and warning her that , while she thinks she ’ s “ worked out all her shit ” , things are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tougher .
This is because , while being young is about dealing with your own problems , middle age forces you to sort out everyone else ’ s .
“ Your life ” , present-day Moran warns , “ is about to become a call centre for people who are exploding.
” The book that follows is “ built around a day in Moran ’ s life ” , with chapters “ carved up into specific themes ” , said Fiona Sturges in The Guardian .
In The Hour of Physical Acceptance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with its “ Womble-nose breasts ” and hips and thighs like “ the Malvern Hills ” .
In The Hour of Married Sex , she gives a blow-by-blow account of a morning “ Maintenance Shag ” – the shag “ middle-aged people have to schedule because they ’ re so busy ” – with her husband .
At times , the structure seems forced , said Holly Williams in The Observer .
A chapter discussing how gender stereotypes harm men hardly seems “ a cornerstone of anyone ’ s day-to-day life ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ funny , life-affirming and wise ” as its predecessor .
Few can rival Moran ’ s knack for “ describing common yet unnamed experiences ” –like her frustration that no one else understands the Stairs System .
( Take the stuff at the bottom up with you !
Bring stuff at the top down !
“ It ’ s perfectly simple !
” ) Although billed as “ 24 hours in the life of the average middle-aged woman ” , More Than a Woman is “ really a book about love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times .
This emerges most strongly in sections dealing with her daughter Nancy ( a pseudonym ) , who has had a serious eating disorder .
Here , Moran perfectly captures the “ horror and hope of being an onlooker to your child ’ s breakdown ” .
If the book has a fault , it ’ s that it is trying to be too many things : as well as being a “ drop-dead funny ” account of life in your 40s , it ’ s also a memoir , a feminist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But then , isn ’ t the middle-aged woman ’ s ultimate predicament that she ’ s trying to do too many things at once ?
” In 2010 , Charlie Gilmour ( the adopted son of Pink Floyd ’ s David Gilmour ) , who was then a Cambridge student , “ went on a drug-fuelled rampage and climbed the Cenotaph during a student protest ” , said Helen Brown in The Daily Telegraph .
The episode earned him national notoriety , and a four-month spell in prison .
In his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memoir , Gilmour explores the “ turbulent emotions ” that caused him to go “ off the rails ” – and describes how raising a baby magpie helped him recover his sanity .
Much of the book is concerned with Gilmour ’ s search for his biological father , the eccentric poet Heathcote Williams , said Ginny Dougary in the Daily Mail .
Williams , an alcoholic Old Etonian anarchist , emerges as a “ fascinating ” , but “ repellent ” figure – someone who abandoned his son as a baby ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mother , Polly Samson ) , and then repeatedly rebuffed his only son ’ s attempts to contact him .
“ Heathcote would agree to meet his son , then disappear , blanking his child for years at a time.
” But the book is a story of redemption and self-discovery , as well as of loss , said Helen Davies in The Sunday Times .
In Gilmour ’ s case , this comes courtesy of the “ shit-dropping , feather-moulting talking magpie ” that he and his girlfriend take into their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bird is “ more than a little odd ” : at first they feed it on grubs and worms , later on “ strips of beef and scrambled eggs ” ; it sleeps above them on a branch , and soon their bed is a mass of droppings .
Yet nurturing the bird enables Gilmour to “ come to terms with his childhood ” , and prepares him for becoming a father himself .
Featherhood is “ sincere and searing ” : a “ work of magpie investigation that ranks among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the week Just Like You by Nick Hornby Nick Hornby ’ s latest novel centres on a love affair between Joseph , a working-class black man in his early 20s , and 42-year-old Lucy , a white English teacher , said Sam Leith in The Observer .
The pair meet when Lucy employs Joseph as a babysitter ; they are soon inhabiting a romantic “ bubble ” based around sex and watching The Sopranos .
Soon , however , their “ differences ” cause tension : a neighbour calls the police after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Lucy ’ s doorstep ; Joseph is “ mortified ” by the way Lucy “ toe-taps along ” to his dance track .
“ Hornby is surefooted around all these issues ” – and the result is “ funny ” and “ engaging ” .
Hornby is a skilled scrutiniser of “ social mores ” , said Claire Allfree in the London Evening Standard .
But his writing these days is becoming “ flabbier ” , and here he ’ s also prone to the “ literary equivalent of dad dancing ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urban slang ” .
While it ’ s “ bold ” of him , in the current climate , to have written so much of his novel from the perspective of a young black character , I ’ m not sure he ’ s really “ any good at it ” .

The book that follows is “built around a day in Moran’s life”, with chapters “carved up into specific themes”, said Fiona Sturges in The Guardian . In The Hour of Physical Acceptance, she reflects on her ageing body, with its “Womble-nose breasts” and hips and thighs like “the Malvern Hills”. In The Hour of Married Sex, she gives a blow-by-blow account of a morning “Maintenance Shag” – the shag “middle-aged people have to schedule because they’re so busy” – with her husband. At times, the structure seems forced, said Holly Williams in The Observer. A chapter discussing how gender stereotypes harm men hardly seems “a cornerstone of anyone’s day-to-day life”. Yet overall, this book is just as “funny, life-affirming and wise” as its predecessor. Few can rival Moran’s knack for “describing common yet unnamed experiences” –like her frustration that no one else understands the Stairs System. (Take the stuff at the bottom up with you! Bring stuff at the top down! “It’s perfectly simple!”)
Caitlin Moran’s How to Be a Woman (2011) established her as a “gloriously unorthodox role model for hundreds of thousands of women”, said Christina Patterson in The Sunday Times . A feminist handbook that didn’t take itself too seriously, it sold more than a million copies – and prompted a slew of similar books. Nine years on, Moran, now in her mid-40s, has produced an “older, wiser follow-up”, this time addressing middle age. In a prologue, she imagines visiting her “breezily confident” younger self, and warning her that, while she thinks she’s “worked out all her shit”, things are, in fact, going to get much tougher. This is because, while being young is about dealing with your own problems, middle age forces you to sort out everyone else’s. “Your life”, present-day Moran warns, “is about to become a call centre for people who are exploding.”
Although billed as “24 hours in the life of the average middle-aged woman”, More Than a Woman is “really a book about love”, said Sarah Ditum in The Times. This emerges most strongly in sections dealing with her daughter Nancy (a pseudonym), who has had a serious eating disorder. Here, Moran perfectly captures the “horror and hope of being an onlooker to your child’s breakdown”. If the book has a fault, it’s that it is trying to be too many things: as well as being a “drop-dead funny” account of life in your 40s, it’s also a memoir, a feminist analysis and a call to arms. “But then, isn’t the middle-aged woman’s ultimate predicament that she’s trying to do too many things at once?”
Ebury 288pp £20; The Week Bookshop £15.99
Featherhood by Charlie Gilmour
In 2010, Charlie Gilmour (the adopted son of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour), who was then a Cambridge student, “went on a drug-fuelled rampage and climbed the Cenotaph during a student protest”, said Helen Brown in The Daily Telegraph. The episode earned him national notoriety, and a four-month spell in prison. In his “excellent” and “clear-eyed” memoir, Gilmour explores the “turbulent emotions” that caused him to go “off the rails” – and describes how raising a baby magpie helped him recover his sanity. Much of the book is concerned with Gilmour’s search for his biological father, the eccentric poet Heathcote Williams, said Ginny Dougary in the Daily Mail. Williams, an alcoholic Old Etonian anarchist, emerges as a “fascinating”, but “repellent” figure – someone who abandoned his son as a baby (when he walked out on Gilmour’s mother, Polly Samson), and then repeatedly rebuffed his only son’s attempts to contact him. “Heathcote would agree to meet his son, then disappear, blanking his child for years at a time.”
But the book is a story of redemption and self-discovery, as well as of loss, said Helen Davies in The Sunday Times. In Gilmour’s case, this comes courtesy of the “shit-dropping, feather-moulting talking magpie” that he and his girlfriend take into their south London home. Their relationship with the bird is “more than a little odd”: at first they feed it on grubs and worms, later on “strips of beef and scrambled eggs”; it sleeps above them on a branch, and soon their bed is a mass of droppings. Yet nurturing the bird enables Gilmour to “come to terms with his childhood”, and prepares him for becoming a father himself. Featherhood is “sincere and searing”: a “work of magpie investigation that ranks among the best modern coming-of-age memoirs”.
W&N 288pp £16.99; The Week Bookshop £13.99
Novel of the week Just Like You by Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby’s latest novel centres on a love affair between Joseph, a working-class black man in his early 20s, and 42-year-old Lucy, a white English teacher, said Sam Leith in The Observer. The pair meet when Lucy employs Joseph as a babysitter; they are soon inhabiting a romantic “bubble” based around sex and watching The Sopranos. Soon, however, their “differences” cause tension: a neighbour calls the police after spotting a black youth “loitering” on Lucy’s doorstep; Joseph is “mortified” by the way Lucy “toe-taps along” to his dance track. “Hornby is surefooted around all these issues” – and the result is “funny” and “engaging”.
Hornby is a skilled scrutiniser of “social mores”, said Claire Allfree in the London Evening Standard. But his writing these days is becoming “flabbier”, and here he’s also prone to the “literary equivalent of dad dancing”, with several embarrassing “lapses into urban slang”. While it’s “bold” of him, in the current climate, to have written so much of his novel from the perspective of a young black character, I’m not sure he’s really “any good at it”.
Viking 320pp £16.99; The Week Bookshop £13.99


theweekuk--2020-09-25--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 25 Sep 2020

The pop band Little Mix say they insisted on aftercare for contestants on their reality television show because they did @ @ @ @ @ they were on The X Factor .
“ We never had anyone checking on us @ @ @ @ @ doing mentally , it was all just go , go , go , ” said @ @ @ @ @ “ I personally don ’ t feel like there was anyone who cared .
”

Sunak warned winter scheme won’t stop job losses
Rishi Sunak has been warned that his new jobs scheme will not be enough to stop a tidal wave of redundancies unless industries such as hospitality and the arts receive further support. The government will cover up to a fifth of the wages of people who go back to work on a part-time basis, however, nightclubs, music venues and theatres cannot access wage subsidies as they are not allowed to reopen.


theweekuk--2020-09-25--Police seize more than 320,000 used condoms

Police in Vietnam have seized more than 320,000 used condoms that were to be illegally resold as new to unsuspecting customers .
The contraceptives were washed , reshaped with wooden dildos and then repackaged before being resold .
Local media said it was not clear how many of the recycled condoms had already been sold .
The owner said she had received $ 0.17 ( £0.13 ) for every kilogram of recycled condoms she produced .
An Australian airline is giving aviation fans the chance to own a fully stocked bar cart .
Qantas said the 1,000 carts , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flown to California for their retirement , are stocked with the sort of goodies sold in the air , including champagne , Australian wines , Tim Tam cookies , pyjamas and Qantas First Class Sheridan throw pillows .
Three railroad workers have been suspended after they transformed a storage room under New York ’ s Grand Central Terminal into an unauthorised “ man cave ” with a television , refrigerator , microwave and futon couch .
A Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman said that while “ many a New Yorker has fantasized about kicking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime piece of Manhattan real estate… few would have the chutzpah to commandeer a secret room beneath Grand Central Terminal ” .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Police in Vietnam have seized more than 320,000 used condoms that were to be illegally resold as new to unsuspecting customers. The contraceptives were washed, reshaped with wooden dildos and then repackaged before being resold. Local media said it was not clear how many of the recycled condoms had already been sold. The owner said she had received $0.17 (£0.13) for every kilogram of recycled condoms she produced.
Airline sells bar carts from retiring 747s
An Australian airline is giving aviation fans the chance to own a fully stocked bar cart. Qantas said the 1,000 carts, which were removed from 747s before they were flown to California for their retirement, are stocked with the sort of goodies sold in the air, including champagne, Australian wines, Tim Tam cookies, pyjamas and Qantas First Class Sheridan throw pillows.
Rail workers made man cave under Grand Central Terminal
Three railroad workers have been suspended after they transformed a storage room under New York’s Grand Central Terminal into an unauthorised “man cave” with a television, refrigerator, microwave and futon couch. A Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman said that while “many a New Yorker has fantasized about kicking back with a cold beer in a prime piece of Manhattan real estate… few would have the chutzpah to commandeer a secret room beneath Grand Central Terminal”.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-09-24--The Week Unwrapped: pregnancy pains, electric bubble and killer spies

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code : POD25 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In this week ’ s episode , we discuss : New research shows that nine in ten pregnant women ’ s birth choices have been derailed by the Covid crisis , with many said to be enduring “ shocking ” conditions during labour .
Meanwhile , the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is mulling plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumed by expectant mothers on their child ’ s medical records .
So are mums getting a rough deal from the nanny state ?
In the second quarter of 2020 , “ green ” cars outsold diesel cars in the UK for the first time ever .
Meanwhile , the share prices of electric car companies are rocketing in the US .
This looks like a bubble – and that could be excellent news for the future of clean motoring .
Despite his reputation for violence , James Bond knocked off just 38 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But legislation tabled in the House of Commons this week could hand Britain ’ s real life secret agents the “ licence to kill ” .
So should our supersleuths have the power of life or death - or are the powers ripe for abuse ?

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code: POD25–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
Pregnancy pains
New research shows that nine in ten pregnant women’s birth choices have been derailed by the Covid crisis, with many said to be enduring “shocking” conditions during labour. Meanwhile, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is mulling plans for the mandatory recording of all alcohol consumed by expectant mothers on their child’s medical records. So are mums getting a rough deal from the nanny state?
Electric bubble
In the second quarter of 2020, “green” cars outsold diesel cars in the UK for the first time ever. Meanwhile, the share prices of electric car companies are rocketing in the US. This looks like a bubble – and that could be excellent news for the future of clean motoring.
Killer spies
Despite his reputation for violence, James Bond knocked off just 38 enemies in a dozen Ian Fleming novels. But legislation tabled in the House of Commons this week could hand Britain’s real life secret agents the “licence to kill”. So should our supersleuths have the power of life or death - or are the powers ripe for abuse?
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player, Spotify, Apple podcasts, SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts