theweekuk--2020-09-21--Instant Opinion: dirty money ‘destroys dreams and lives’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
1 .
Will Fitzgibbon in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists “ The leaked documents , known as the FinCEN Files , include more than 2,100 suspicious activity reports written by banks and other financial players and submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department ’ s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network .
According to BuzzFeed News , some of the records were gathered as part of U.S. congressional committee investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following requests to FinCEN from law enforcement agencies .
The reports — dense , technical information bulletins — are the most detailed U.S. Treasury records ever leaked .
They disclose payments processed by major banks , including HSBC , Deutsche Bank , JPMorgan Chase and Barclays .
They describe journeys of dirty money that zigzag inexplicably around the world ; from a kleptocrat ’ s spoils or a front company on the Atlantic coast , for example , via Wall Street bank to a sun-kissed tax haven in the Caribbean , a Singapore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Women still can ’ t have birth partners for the duration of childbirth – but we can all go to Nandos “ I know I can ’ t meet in groups of more than six people , but I can go to the pub ( so long as my group is smaller than this ) .
I know I can go to Nandos , because young , hip chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak likes Nandos , and he wants us to go to Nandos so much that he actually helped foot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pretty generous when you consider the amount a lone parent in the UK receives in income support , but I digress .
What I know many women across the country still can ’ t do is have a birth partner present for the duration of their labour in a hospital , or at routine or otherwise scans and other antenatal appointments .
OK , OK , I get it , you ’ re right , we are in the midst of a global pandemic , yes , yes I know – but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me just take this opportunity to apologise to Nandos .
I don ’ t mean to pick on you , I know times are tough for you too and it ’ s not your fault your spirit was invoked by a Tory minister . )
” 3 .
Wolfgang Munchau in the Financial Times Beware of smoke and mirrors in the EU ’ s recovery fund “ As regular readers know , I have been advocating a eurobond for a long time .
The €310bn grants component of the recovery fund is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discretionary fiscal stimulus .
It will account for 0.7 per cent of the EU ’ s gross domestic product over a period of three years .
Instead it is best to look at this as a pilot test .
My worry is the test will come to be regarded in sceptical countries such as the Netherlands and Finland as having flopped .
If a television pilot flops , the show never gets made .
A flop would be money wasted , or spent on pork-barrel projects , or a failure to generate growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which this programme can succeed or be seen as having succeeded .
But there are many ways in which it can fail.
” on the US election Donald Trump is catching Sleepy Joe napping in his election surge “ Donald Trump makes so much noise that we miss the stealthy , subtle moves that count .
The two-ring circus is now in town : first Trump and then Biden submitted to the faux-democratic theater of the televised ‘ town hall ’ , a nightmare out of Norman Rockwell in which pre-selected questions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real action is elsewhere .
‘ Be extremely subtle , even to the point of formlessness , ’ Sun Tzu counsels .
As in The Art of War , so in The Art of the Deal .
While the Democrats are fighting a chimera , a formless fantasy of their own creation , Trump , the Sun Tzu from Queens , is quietly winning his war.
” How QAnon took hold in the UK “ It is hard to attach a solid number to the British QAnon fandom – first of all because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August , causing some groups to disappear , or to reinvent themselves as private invitation-only groups , or to decamp to other channels like Telegram or Bitchute .
But it is also because – maybe exactly to dodge moderation – QAnon itself has shape-shifted , spreading under the guise of watchwords , mottos and themes rather than by mentioning Q itself .
Now , for instance , QAnon has morphed into an anti-child-trafficking online campaign , alternatively called ‘ Save our children ’ or ‘ Save the children ’ ; the elite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written on the tin , and an unsuspecting parent wishing to save their children from something might legitimately join a relevant social media group , before being hurled down a rabbit-hole connecting everyone from Bill Clinton to Jeffrey Epstein to Prince Andrew to Lady Gaga to – surprise surprise – the Rothschilds .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Will Fitzgibbon in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
on a global finance bombshell
Unchecked by global banks, dirty cash destroys dreams and lives
“The leaked documents, known as the FinCEN Files, include more than 2,100 suspicious activity reports written by banks and other financial players and submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. According to BuzzFeed News, some of the records were gathered as part of U.S. congressional committee investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, while others were gathered following requests to FinCEN from law enforcement agencies. The reports — dense, technical information bulletins — are the most detailed U.S. Treasury records ever leaked. They disclose payments processed by major banks, including HSBC, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Barclays. They describe journeys of dirty money that zigzag inexplicably around the world; from a kleptocrat’s spoils or a front company on the Atlantic coast, for example, via Wall Street bank to a sun-kissed tax haven in the Caribbean, a Singapore tower block or a financier in Damascus.”
2. Jen Offord in The Independent
on perplexing Covid rules
Women still can’t have birth partners for the duration of childbirth – but we can all go to Nandos
“I know I can’t meet in groups of more than six people, but I can go to the pub (so long as my group is smaller than this). I know I can go to Nandos, because young, hip chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak likes Nandos, and he wants us to go to Nandos so much that he actually helped foot the bill for our Peri-Peri chicken. Pretty generous when you consider the amount a lone parent in the UK receives in income support, but I digress. What I know many women across the country still can’t do is have a birth partner present for the duration of their labour in a hospital, or at routine or otherwise scans and other antenatal appointments. OK, OK, I get it, you’re right, we are in the midst of a global pandemic, yes, yes I know – but I can go to Nandos? (Let me just take this opportunity to apologise to Nandos. I don’t mean to pick on you, I know times are tough for you too and it’s not your fault your spirit was invoked by a Tory minister.)”
3. Wolfgang Munchau in the Financial Times
on evenly distributing EU debt
Beware of smoke and mirrors in the EU’s recovery fund
“As regular readers know, I have been advocating a eurobond for a long time. The €310bn grants component of the recovery fund is not really big enough to count as a discretionary fiscal stimulus. It will account for 0.7 per cent of the EU’s gross domestic product over a period of three years. Instead it is best to look at this as a pilot test. My worry is the test will come to be regarded in sceptical countries such as the Netherlands and Finland as having flopped. If a television pilot flops, the show never gets made. A flop would be money wasted, or spent on pork-barrel projects, or a failure to generate growth. There are not many ways in which this programme can succeed or be seen as having succeeded. But there are many ways in which it can fail.”
4. Dominic Green in The Daily Telegraph
on the US election
Donald Trump is catching Sleepy Joe napping in his election surge
“Donald Trump makes so much noise that we miss the stealthy, subtle moves that count. The two-ring circus is now in town: first Trump and then Biden submitted to the faux-democratic theater of the televised ‘town hall’, a nightmare out of Norman Rockwell in which pre-selected questions are fended off by pre-prepared answers. The real action is elsewhere. ‘Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness,’ Sun Tzu counsels. As in The Art of War, so in The Art of the Deal. While the Democrats are fighting a chimera, a formless fantasy of their own creation, Trump, the Sun Tzu from Queens, is quietly winning his war.”
5. Gian Volpicelli in Wired
on conspiracies on British shores
How QAnon took hold in the UK
“It is hard to attach a solid number to the British QAnon fandom – first of all because Facebook started cracking down on Q content in August, causing some groups to disappear, or to reinvent themselves as private invitation-only groups, or to decamp to other channels like Telegram or Bitchute. But it is also because – maybe exactly to dodge moderation – QAnon itself has shape-shifted, spreading under the guise of watchwords, mottos and themes rather than by mentioning Q itself. Now, for instance, QAnon has morphed into an anti-child-trafficking online campaign, alternatively called ‘Save our children’ or ‘Save the children’; the elite cabal drinking kids’ blood is not written on the tin, and an unsuspecting parent wishing to save their children from something might legitimately join a relevant social media group, before being hurled down a rabbit-hole connecting everyone from Bill Clinton to Jeffrey Epstein to Prince Andrew to Lady Gaga to – surprise surprise – the Rothschilds.”


theweekuk--2020-09-21--US Supreme Court: can Ruth Bader Ginsburg be replaced before the election?

US President Donald Trump has announced that he will nominate a woman to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg , escalating the row over the Supreme Court justice ’ s successor .
Ginsburg died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 87 on Friday , just weeks before the US election .
Democractic presidential candidate Joe Biden has argued that no decision on her replacement should be made until after the vote .
As the BBC notes , “ the ideological balance of the nine-member court is crucial to its rulings on the most important issues in US law ” - so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have his say will have far-reaching consequences .
Can Trump replace her before the vote ?
In short , yes .
But the longer answer is that it is a time-consuming process that will be fraught with disputes .
Trump and his party “ are expected to move swiftly on filling the High Court vacancy ” , says USA Today , but “ the process takes time - typically at least two months , based on recent nominations ” .
The Time ’ s US editor David Charter writes that the average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 44 days remain until the November election .
“ The nomination has to be agreed by a majority vote in the Senate ” , which the Republicans control , but “ before that the nominee has to undergo confirmation hearings ” , Charter writes .
“ The danger for the Republicans is that a vote before the poll may expose vulnerable candidates and put the party ’ s control of the Senate at risk.
” Who could replace her ?
The Financial Times says that “ a leading candidate to replace Ginsburg ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointed to the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 2017 .
Axios reported last year that the president was “ saving her ” for Ginsburg ’ s seat .
Also believed to be in the running are Barbara Lagoa , the first Hispanic woman to serve on the Florida Supreme Court , and Britt Grant , who the FT says is “ close to ” the president ’ s second Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh .
Other possibles include Joan Larsen , a long-time associate of Conservative legal icon Antonin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has served on the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit since 2017 .
Ginsburg served on the Supreme Court for 27 years and was one of only four liberals on the nine-seat bench .
Should the Republicans get the vote through , “ the balance of power would shift decisively towards the conservatives ” , the BBC says .
Trump is “ well aware that getting his nominee in would give conservatives control over key decisions for decades to come ” , the broadcaster adds , which is why Biden has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rush through the president ’ s favoured pick .
Ginsburg made her feelings clear in the days before her death , writing in a statement to her granddaughter that her “ my most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed ” , National Public Radio reports .
Whether she will get her final wish remains to be seen .

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theweekuk--2020-09-21--Human trials of Oxford coronavirus vaccine paused over ‘spinal-cord disease fears’

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theweekuk--2020-09-21--PM’s mystery jaunt: does Boris Johnson have an ‘Italian doppelganger’?

Boris Johnson has a track record of slipping away from his security detail to attend parties thrown by billionaire socialites - and according to Italian media , he ’ s at it again .
Back in July 2019 , The Guardian was tipped off that Johnson had been spotted the previous year at an airport in Italy “ looking like he had slept in his clothes ” , after partying with media owner Evgeny Lebedev in his converted castle near Perugia .
And now eyebrows are being raised over fresh claims by Italian newspaper Repubblica that the prime minister popped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Downing Street has strongly denied the reports .
So what exactly is going on ?
The story so far Late last night , Repubblica UK correspondent Antonello Guerrera tweeted a surprising exclusive : “ According to a statement and local sources , Boris Johnson recently travelled to Perugia , in Italy , apparently on the Sept 12-13th weekend.
” Guerrera added that Downing Street had dismissed the claims , but says in his story that “ local airport sources ” told the newspaper that the PM had travelled through Perugia Airport .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that both “ Johnson and [ Tony ] Blair were here in Perugia last week ” for separate events , Guerrera reports .
One source is quoted as saying that the current UK leader arrived “ on Friday 11 September at 2pm ” and left the following Monday , and that former PM Blair was in Perugia from 8 to 11 September .
Johnson hosted a Zoom call with 256 Tory MPs on the Friday , but Gurrera says his “ internet line was remarkably poor that evening and broke down for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the call confirmed the issues , telling PoliticsHome that “ when Johnson came back on the line he joked that he should probably invest in gigabit broadband ” .
In a twist that has fuelled speculation , sources at the airport also said that a return flight on 14 September was delayed by 40 minutes - the same morning that Johnson cancelled a series of visits in London “ at the last moment ” , according to Repubblica .
Downing Street has flatly denied the claims as totally “ wrong ” .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequented several times Umbria ’ s main town ” , mostly to visit British-Russian businessman Lebedev , who was nominated for a peerage by the PM in his most recent honours list .
So what is going on ?
BBC Rome correspondent Mark Lowen tweeted this morning that Perugia airport was planning to issue “ a clarification ” of their statement that the PM was spotted there on the weekend of 12 September .
But in a later update , Lowen wrote that the airport was “ now telling us there will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Boris Johnson that they ’ d previously promised ” .
However , Politico ’ s Alex Wickham reports that Downing Street officials say their boss has a seemingly watertight alibi : was at “ his son ’ s christening in London on the Saturday ” , which was hosted at Westminster Cathedral .
So is it all just an entertaining - if untrue - yarn ?
Appearing on BBC News this morning , Transport Secretary Grant Shapps appeared to be hedging his bets , saying that Johnson was not in Perugia “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Conservative news site Guido Fawkes has wasted no time in rubbishing the “ outlandish claims ” , while eagerly anticipating Repubblica ’ s follow-up story : “ Boris ’ s Italian doppelganger ” .

Boris Johnson has a track record of slipping away from his security detail to attend parties thrown by billionaire socialites - and according to Italian media, he’s at it again.
Back in July 2019, The Guardian was tipped off that Johnson had been spotted the previous year at an airport in Italy “looking like he had slept in his clothes”, after partying with media owner Evgeny Lebedev in his converted castle near Perugia.
And now eyebrows are being raised over fresh claims by Italian newspaper Repubblica that the prime minister popped over to Perugia earlier this month.
Downing Street has strongly denied the reports. So what exactly is going on?
The story so far
Late last night, Repubblica UK correspondent Antonello Guerrera tweeted a surprising exclusive: “According to a statement and local sources, Boris Johnson recently travelled to Perugia, in Italy, apparently on the Sept 12-13th weekend.”
Guerrera added that Downing Street had dismissed the claims, but says in his story that “local airport sources” told the newspaper that the PM had travelled through Perugia Airport.
An airport spokesperson backed up the claims, saying that both “Johnson and [Tony] Blair were here in Perugia last week” for separate events, Guerrera reports. One source is quoted as saying that the current UK leader arrived “on Friday 11 September at 2pm” and left the following Monday, and that former PM Blair was in Perugia from 8 to 11 September.
Johnson hosted a Zoom call with 256 Tory MPs on the Friday, but Gurrera says his “internet line was remarkably poor that evening and broke down for 20 minutes”. An MP on the call confirmed the issues, telling PoliticsHome that “when Johnson came back on the line he joked that he should probably invest in gigabit broadband”.
In a twist that has fuelled speculation, sources at the airport also said that a return flight on 14 September was delayed by 40 minutes - the same morning that Johnson cancelled a series of visits in London “at the last moment”, according to Repubblica.
Downing Street has flatly denied the claims as totally “wrong”. But as Guerrera notes, “Johnson has frequented several times Umbria’s main town”, mostly to visit British-Russian businessman Lebedev, who was nominated for a peerage by the PM in his most recent honours list.
So what is going on?
BBC Rome correspondent Mark Lowen tweeted this morning that Perugia airport was planning to issue “a clarification” of their statement that the PM was spotted there on the weekend of 12 September. But in a later update, Lowen wrote that the airport was “now telling us there will not necessarily be the clarification of the statement on Boris Johnson that they’d previously promised”.
However, Politico’s Alex Wickham reports that Downing Street officials say their boss has a seemingly watertight alibi: was at “his son’s christening in London on the Saturday”, which was hosted at Westminster Cathedral.
So is it all just an entertaining - if untrue - yarn?
Appearing on BBC News this morning, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps appeared to be hedging his bets, saying that Johnson was not in Perugia “as far as I am aware”.
But Conservative news site Guido Fawkes has wasted no time in rubbishing the “outlandish claims”, while eagerly anticipating Repubblica’s follow-up story: “Boris’s Italian doppelganger”.


theweekuk--2020-09-21--Gay Premier League footballer too scared to publicly come out

A gay Premier League footballer is too scared to publicly come out because he feels that football has not “moved on” compared to the rest of society.
In an open letter via the Justin Fashanu Foundation the anonymous player has urged Premier League bosses to help with the discrimination surrounding homosexuality in football, The Sun reports.
The player has known since he was 14 that he was gay, but despite telling some of his team-mates, he says living a secret life has had a “massive impact” on his mental health. He also says it’s “virtually impossible” to have a relationship.
In the letter he wrote: “Even though society has moved on massively since I was a teenager, the game simply hasn’t.
“Those running it need to put more measures in place so gay players know they will get the support they need. The powers-that-be are only playing lip service to the issue.”
Britain’s first £1m black player, Justin Fashanu, was also the first professional footballer to come out as gay in 1990.
In 1998, at the age of 38, the ex-Norwich City star killed himself. The foundation which takes his name says “issues around his sexuality were at the heart of his problems and there is no question that the prejudice he encountered eventually led to his death”.
His niece Amal Fashanu runs the foundation and the Daily Mail reported in May that it’s offering support to five secretly gay footballers.
The letter sent by the anonymous Premier League footballer is the second to the foundation after another player revealed in July that he was gay, but was “not ready” to come out, The Sun said.
Amal Fashanu says the latest player felt a “weight off his shoulders” when reading the first letter earlier this year. She hopes to “put the two in touch to discuss their situations”.
There are no openly-gay male professional footballers in the UK. The Justin Fashanu Foundation says: “It’s a sad reflection of the continuing issues that surround professional football that there is not a single openly gay footballer in the Premier League.
“This is a situation that defies logic and underlines the fact that [30] years after Justin’s death it is still not considered advisable to be openly gay.”


theweekuk--2020-09-21--How coronavirus testing chaos may trigger another crisis in care homes

UK care home bosses are warning that the threat of a second wave of coronavirus cases among their residents is being heightened by long waits for Covid test results .
The government last week unveiled a new “ adult social care winter plan ” that orders care providers to stop all but essential movement of staff between care homes to prevent the spread of infection .
But care home staff fear that the “ shambolic ” testing system will trigger “ further fatal outbreaks ” , the Daily Mail reports .
Boris Johnson has faced widespread criticism over his government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in care homes , which have been asked to take in hospital patients who have tested positive for the virus .
A care home boss in Devon told Sky News in April that the official policy was “ importing death into care homes ” and “ sacrificing the elderly ” .
A new survey by the Daily Mail of 19 care providers that run a total of 393 homes found that a third had staff or residents who had tested positive in the previous two weeks , and “ in most cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providers had to wait as long as 15 days and in some cases heard nothing from laboratories , ” the newspaper reports .
And nine “ said they had to throw away tests after couriers did not turn up on time ” , while ” one had to ditch 250 swabs in a week ” .
What are the new plans ?
Amid the ongoing outcry over testing shortages and delays , the government announced on Friday that care homes in England will receive extra funding to the tune of £546m to combat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the money will be used to pay workers full wages when they are self-isolating , and “ ensures carers only work in one care home , reducing the spread of the virus ” .
The funding will also be used to help care workers reduce their use of public transport and stock up on personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , Johnson said .
According to experts , the government ’ s plan to exempt care homes that can not deal with outbreaks safely will enable many facilities to opt out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News ’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday , National Care Association chair Nadra Ahmed suggested that the government had drawn unrealistic battle lines , noting that “ not many ” care homes have facilities in which they can safely isolate a resident for 14 days .
Criticising ministers over the tests problems , Ahmed added : “ I can ’ t believe they didn ’ t envisage that there would be an increase in demand for tests and results in a timely manner as lockdown was eased .
“ We can ’ t deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
As it stands , it is utterly chaotic , shambolic and a disgrace .
”


theweekuk--2020-09-21--Three- and four-bedroom houses selling at record prices

Asking prices for larger homes have hit record highs as growing numbers of UK property buyers look to upsize .
According to Rightmove , the average asking price for “ second-stepper homes ” - three- or four-bed - has soared to £291,618 .
The strongest sector is “ top of the ladder ” , which includes four-bed detached homes and larger , with the number of sales agreed in August up by 104 % year-on-year .
Rightmove ’ s property data expert Tim Bannister says that while “ needing more space has always been the most popular reason for moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in “ a new urgency for extra space to be able to work from home , which means that there are different sets of buyers competing for the same type of property ” .
He continued : “ At the start of the year , a fourth bedroom was very much a luxury for buyers trading up , but it ’ s now emerging as a must-have for those who are able to take that step .
“ With overall asking prices just a few hundred pounds shy of July ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all-time high , those currently looking for their next home are likely to find that only offers close to the asking price will be considered , especially for larger homes.
” Rightmove says that overall prices have remained steady since hitting a record high in July .
The real-estate website ’ s House Price Index reveals that the average UK property asking price is now £319,996 - up by 0.2 % from August and by 5 % year-on-year .

Asking prices for larger homes have hit record highs as growing numbers of UK property buyers look to upsize.
According to Rightmove, the average asking price for “second-stepper homes” - three- or four-bed - has soared to £291,618. The strongest sector is “top of the ladder”, which includes four-bed detached homes and larger, with the number of sales agreed in August up by 104% year-on-year.
Rightmove’s property data expert Tim Bannister says that while “needing more space has always been the most popular reason for moving house”, the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in “a new urgency for extra space to be able to work from home, which means that there are different sets of buyers competing for the same type of property”.
He continued: “At the start of the year, a fourth bedroom was very much a luxury for buyers trading up, but it’s now emerging as a must-have for those who are able to take that step.
“With overall asking prices just a few hundred pounds shy of July’s record, and buyer demand at an all-time high, those currently looking for their next home are likely to find that only offers close to the asking price will be considered, especially for larger homes.”
Rightmove says that overall prices have remained steady since hitting a record high in July. The real-estate website’s House Price Index reveals that the average UK property asking price is now £319,996 - up by 0.2% from August and by 5% year-on-year.


theweekuk--2020-09-21--‘Last chance saloon’: four potential outcomes for UK if Covid cases continue to spike

The UK may be facing 49,000 new Covid cases every day by mid-October unless urgent action is taken to stem the spread , the country ’ s leading health experts have warned .
In a televised address this morning , the government ’ s Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance and England ’ s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said that the R value , which tracks the spread of the disease , has risen to between 1.1 and 1.4 , with the number of cases doubling each week .
If the spread continues at the current rate , deaths could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-November , they added .
After implenting a ban on social gatherings of more than six people , Boris Johnson “ has been persuaded by ministers led by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to hold fire on more economically damaging restrictions ” to curb outbreaks , according to The Telegraph .
However , a government source told the newspaper that cabinet ministers believe the UK is in the “ last chance saloon ” for fending off a second wave .
So what are the prime minister ’ s options ?
With the devastating economic effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt , Johnson warned last week that imposing a second “ would be completely wrong for this country ” , adding that the government was “ doing everything in our power to prevent it ” .
Asked by the Commons Liaison Committee whether the UK could afford a second lockdown , Johnson said : “ I very much doubt that the financial consequences would be anything but disastrous.
” Implementing such a measure would also be an embarrassing U-turn for Downing Street , with the PM previously describing the option as a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matt Hancock has been more equivocal , teling ITV News yesterday that a second national lockdown is only off the table “ if everyone sticks by the rules ” .
Another option reportedly being explored by ministers is a short , two-week lockdown being dubbed a “ circuit breaker ” .
On Friday , Hancock said that such a measure could be imposed in October .
The proposal is being backed by some Conservative backbenchers .
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown , Tory MP for the Cotswolds , told the BBC : “ I think if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that , unfortunately , is what we need to do .
“ And some of these circuit breakers - short , sharp , shock cessation of some of our activities so that we can prioritise schools and people going back to work without having a huge spike in cases - must be the right thing to do.
” However , The Telegraph ’ s politics live editor Catherine Neilan reports that “ one high-ranking Tory tells me he is concerned it will have serious economic consequences ” , with the unnamed source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a complete failure to learn ” .
Curfews “ have been credited with bringing infection rates down already in parts of the UK with high infection rates , such as Bolton and Newcastle , where pubs and restaurants have been told to shut at 10pm ” , says The Times .
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pushed for similar restrictions for the capital .
The government has also been impressed by the impact of curfews in countries such as Belgium , and is reportedly “ examining plans to go further , either by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by moving to a full curfew under which people would be expected to be at home between certain hours at night ” .
A senior government source told The Telegraph last week that “ a national curfew is the obvious next step if the numbers keep rising despite all the steps we are currently taking ” .
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland also hinted at the plan , saying the measure could be needed because young people “ getting together and enjoying themselves ” were forgetting social distancing rules .
Under this measure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone outside their own households in their homes or gardens , with exceptions only for those in the same support bubble .
The Times notes that this approach is “ already a key restriction in areas under local lockdown and could be rolled out nationally ” .
In regions where this rule is already in place , anyone who breaks the ban can be fined £100 , with the penalty doubling on each further repeat offence up to £3,200 .
“ Covid-secure marshals ” have also been deployed to enforce the regulations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in places covered by the ban , people can meet friends and family from other households in a restaurant or bar , as long as the group is no bigger than six .
“ This has helped to protect the hospitality industry in areas under lockdown but it has created confusion , ” the newspaper says .
“ Closing this loophole could decimate the hospitality industry and put pubs and restaurants at the front line of enforcing the new rules , which they will not be keen on .
”

The UK may be facing 49,000 new Covid cases every day by mid-October unless urgent action is taken to stem the spread, the country’s leading health experts have warned.
In a televised address this morning, the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance and England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said that the R value, which tracks the spread of the disease, has risen to between 1.1 and 1.4, with the number of cases doubling each week. If the spread continues at the current rate, deaths could reach “200-plus” per day by mid-November, they added.
After implenting a ban on social gatherings of more than six people, Boris Johnson “has been persuaded by ministers led by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to hold fire on more economically damaging restrictions” to curb outbreaks, according to The Telegraph. However, a government source told the newspaper that cabinet ministers believe the UK is in the “last chance saloon” for fending off a second wave.
So what are the prime minister’s options?
Total lockdown
With the devastating economic effects of the first national lockdown still being felt, Johnson warned last week that imposing a second “would be completely wrong for this country”, adding that the government was “doing everything in our power to prevent it”.
Asked by the Commons Liaison Committee whether the UK could afford a second lockdown, Johnson said: “I very much doubt that the financial consequences would be anything but disastrous.”
Implementing such a measure would also be an embarrassing U-turn for Downing Street, with the PM previously describing the option as a “nuclear deterrent”. But Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been more equivocal, teling ITV News yesterday that a second national lockdown is only off the table “if everyone sticks by the rules”.
‘Circuit breaker’ lockdown
Another option reportedly being explored by ministers is a short, two-week lockdown being dubbed a “circuit breaker”. On Friday, Hancock said that such a measure could be imposed in October.
The proposal is being backed by some Conservative backbenchers. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Tory MP for the Cotswolds, told the BBC: “I think if we can nip it in the bud, that, unfortunately, is what we need to do.


theweekuk--2020-09-21--The Crown Estate: revenues and property values to be ‘significantly down’ next year

The Crown Estate is predicting tough times ahead due as the coronavirus pandemic hits the Queen ’ s profits and asset values .
In a newly published annual report , the estate - an independent commercial business owned by the reigning monarch - has announced a net revenue profit of £345m for the 12 months ending 31 March , up by 0.4 % year-on-year .
But the value of the Queen ’ s land and property decreased by 1.2 % to £13.4bn , “ mostly as a result of a £552.5m ( 17 % ) write-down of its regional portfolio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including falling rental values ” , Sky News reports .
The estate ’ s portfolio includes the majority of Regent Street and around half of St James ’ s in London , and the business also manages the Windsor Estate , including Windsor Great Park .
All profits are returned to the Treasury , which passes 25 % to the Queen through the Sovereign Grant .
Reflecting on the challenging retail market , The Crown Estate chief executive Dan Labbad said that “ many of our real-estate markets were already facing long term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accelerated as a result of Covid-19 ” .
“ As we look ahead we are under no illusions about the challenges we face , ” he continued .
“ Whilst it is too early to accurately forecast our performance for next year , we do expect our net revenue profit and property valuations to be significantly down.
” But on an upbeat note , Labbad added that “ our resilient structure , established to operate in perpetuity and with no debt , coupled with our diverse portfolio , provides us with the means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing to invest for the long term ” .

The Crown Estate is predicting tough times ahead due as the coronavirus pandemic hits the Queen’s profits and asset values.
In a newly published annual report, the estate - an independent commercial business owned by the reigning monarch - has announced a net revenue profit of £345m for the 12 months ending 31 March, up by 0.4% year-on-year.
But the value of the Queen’s land and property decreased by 1.2% to £13.4bn, “mostly as a result of a £552.5m (17%) write-down of its regional portfolio due to the challenging retail market, including falling rental values”, Sky News reports.
The estate’s portfolio includes the majority of Regent Street and around half of St James’s in London, and the business also manages the Windsor Estate, including Windsor Great Park. All profits are returned to the Treasury, which passes 25% to the Queen through the Sovereign Grant.
Reflecting on the challenging retail market, The Crown Estate chief executive Dan Labbad said that “many of our real-estate markets were already facing long term structural challenges, which have now been accelerated as a result of Covid-19”.
“As we look ahead we are under no illusions about the challenges we face,” he continued. “Whilst it is too early to accurately forecast our performance for next year, we do expect our net revenue profit and property valuations to be significantly down.”
But on an upbeat note, Labbad added that “our resilient structure, established to operate in perpetuity and with no debt, coupled with our diverse portfolio, provides us with the means to navigate this current crisis, while continuing to invest for the long term”.


theweekuk--2020-09-21--Conservative MPs to ‘refuse’ unconscious bias training

Up to 40 Conservative MPs are to refuse unconscious bias training launched to tackle racism in the House of Commons , according to insiders .
Accusing parliamentary authorities of “ pandering ” to the agenda of Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) , MPs in the right-leaning European Research Group and “ Common Sense Group ” of MPs “ said most of their colleagues would not take part ” , The Times reports .
One anonymous MP told the newspaper that “ I would really rather gouge my eyes out with a blunt stick than sit through that Marxist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Hunt argued that his constituents would not “ want me to waste two hours on a pointless unconscious bias session that will have no effectiveness whatsoever ” .
Ben Bradley , Tory MP for Mansfield , has also said that he will not take part , and has called on his colleagues to “ take the same stand ” .
In an article on the Conservative Home website last week , Bradley vowed to resist the imposition of “ woke ” values by BLM , adding that his party “ should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As The Independent reports , Bradley has previously described BLM as a “ divisive ” movement , arguing that “ when you start to push everyone to identify themselves by the colour of their skin , that is not a good thing ” .
The training has been available for parliamentary staff since 2016 and is now being extended to MPs following multiple allegations of racism and sexism in the Commons .
Labour has already introduced unconscious bias training for all its staff , after Keir Starmer was criticised earlier this year for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ moment ” .
According to the Daily Mail , Parliament has paid £7,000 to the Challenge Consultancy to design the training for MPs .
The London-based company reportedly “ uses a giant blue puppet called UB ” as part of the course and says that clients who have undertaken similar training include “ people managers at the BBC ” , as well as Bafta and Oscar judges .
In total , Challenge Consultancy “ has raked in nearly £800,000 from Parliament for conduct lessons ” , the newspaper adds .

Up to 40 Conservative MPs are to refuse unconscious bias training launched to tackle racism in the House of Commons, according to insiders.
Accusing parliamentary authorities of “pandering” to the agenda of Black Lives Matter (BLM), MPs in the right-leaning European Research Group and “Common Sense Group” of MPs “said most of their colleagues would not take part”, The Times reports.
One anonymous MP told the newspaper that “I would really rather gouge my eyes out with a blunt stick than sit through that Marxist, snake oil crap”.
Ipswich MP Tom Hunt argued that his constituents would not “want me to waste two hours on a pointless unconscious bias session that will have no effectiveness whatsoever”.
Ben Bradley, Tory MP for Mansfield, has also said that he will not take part, and has called on his colleagues to “take the same stand”. In an article on the Conservative Home website last week, Bradley vowed to resist the imposition of “woke” values by BLM, adding that his party “should be unabashed in our cultural conservatism”.
As The Independent reports, Bradley has previously described BLM as a “divisive” movement, arguing that “when you start to push everyone to identify themselves by the colour of their skin, that is not a good thing”.
The training has been available for parliamentary staff since 2016 and is now being extended to MPs following multiple allegations of racism and sexism in the Commons.
Labour has already introduced unconscious bias training for all its staff, after Keir Starmer was criticised earlier this year for referring to the BLM campaign as a “moment”.
According to the Daily Mail, Parliament has paid £7,000 to the Challenge Consultancy to design the training for MPs. The London-based company reportedly “uses a giant blue puppet called UB” as part of the course and says that clients who have undertaken similar training include “people managers at the BBC”, as well as Bafta and Oscar judges.
In total, Challenge Consultancy “has raked in nearly £800,000 from Parliament for conduct lessons”, the newspaper adds.


theweekuk--2020-09-21--Show me the Monet: chance to buy a Banksy... if you have £5m to spare

Art collectors will get the chance to bag themselves a Banksy next month - but they should expect to pay up to £5m for the privilege .
The Bristol street artist ’ s 2005 work Show me the Monet , a subversive take on Claude Monet ’ s 1899 masterpiece Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lillies ( 1899 ) , will go under the hammer at a live-streamed Sotheby ’ s auction on 21 October .
The sale comes a year after Banksy ’ s Devolved Parliament sold at Sotheby ’ s London for a record-breaking £9.9m ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hit the market is expected to sell for between £3m and £5m and is a highlight of Sotheby ’ s third live-stream auction event , “ Modernités / Contemporary ” , which brings together two art sales held in sequence from Paris and London .
Alex Branczik , Sotheby ’ s European head of contemporary art , said : “ In one of his most important paintings , Banksy has taken Monet ’ s iconic depiction of the Japanese bridge in the Impressionist master ’ s famous garden at Giverny and transformed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ More canal than idyllic lily pond , Banksy litters Monet ’ s composition with discarded shopping trollies and a fluorescent orange traffic cone .
Ever prescient as a voice of protest and social dissent , here Banksy shines a light on society ’ s disregard for the environment in favour of the wasteful excesses of consumerism .
“ Recent years have seen seminal Banksys come to auction , but this is one of his strongest , and most iconic , to appear yet .
From Love is in the Bin , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take on Monet , October just wouldn ’ t be complete without a big Banksy moment.
” Show me the Monet hails from a series collectively known as the “ Crude Oils ” , comprising what Banksy has termed “ remixes ” of canonical artworks .
The series also includes tongue-in-cheek tributes that show Vincent van Gogh ’ s Sunflowers with the flowers wilting or dead in their vase ; Edward Hopper ’ s Nighthawks augmented by an angry man in Union Flag boxer shorts moments after breaking the bar window with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marilyn Monroe re-faced with Kate Moss .

Art collectors will get the chance to bag themselves a Banksy next month - but they should expect to pay up to £5m for the privilege.
The Bristol street artist’s 2005 work Show me the Monet, a subversive take on Claude Monet’s masterpiece Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lillies (1899), will go under the hammer at a live-streamed Sotheby’s auction on 21 October. The sale comes a year after Banksy’s Devolved Parliament sold at Sotheby’s London for a record-breaking £9.9m ($12.2m).
The latest Banksy painting to hit the market is expected to sell for between £3m and £5m and is a highlight of Sotheby’s third live-stream auction event, “Modernités / Contemporary”, which brings together two art sales held in sequence from Paris and London.
Alex Branczik, Sotheby’s European head of contemporary art, said: “In one of his most important paintings, Banksy has taken Monet’s iconic depiction of the Japanese bridge in the Impressionist master’s famous garden at Giverny and transformed it into a modern-day fly-tipping spot.
“More canal than idyllic lily pond, Banksy litters Monet’s composition with discarded shopping trollies and a fluorescent orange traffic cone. Ever prescient as a voice of protest and social dissent, here Banksy shines a light on society’s disregard for the environment in favour of the wasteful excesses of consumerism.
“Recent years have seen seminal Banksys come to auction, but this is one of his strongest, and most iconic, to appear yet. From Love is in the Bin, to the record-breaking Devolved Parliament, to this take on Monet, October just wouldn’t be complete without a big Banksy moment.”
Show me the Monet hails from a series collectively known as the “Crude Oils”, comprising what Banksy has termed “remixes” of canonical artworks.
The series also includes tongue-in-cheek tributes that show Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers with the flowers wilting or dead in their vase; Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks augmented by an angry man in Union Flag boxer shorts moments after breaking the bar window with a chair; and Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe re-faced with Kate Moss.


theweekuk--2020-09-21--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 21 Sep 2020

Chickens reared by suppliers for Tesco , Lidl and Sainsbury ’ s are suffering severe lameness and may spend their @ @ @ @ @ according to an undercover investigation by The Times .
Footage captured by the paper showed @ @ @ @ @ and unable to feed properly .
Others had reddened raw skin and were covered in @ @ @ @ @ lying in their own waste .

‘Real breakthrough’ in prostate cancer treatment
Trials showing that two drugs can hold prostate cancer at bay have been hailed as a “real breakthrough” that could usher in a “new era” in treating the disease. The findings mean a drug called olaparib, originally designed to treat breast and ovarian cancers, could be approved for use in Britain and become the standard treatment for men with certain forms of advanced prostate cancer.


theweekuk--2020-09-21--Woman falls onto M25 while filming Snapchat video

A woman has fallen out of a moving car on the M25 while filming a Snapchat video .
Surrey Police say the woman was leaning out of the car window when she fell into a “ live lane ” between junction six and the Clacket Lane services at 1.30am on Saturday .
Although she was not badly hurt , officers said she was lucky not to be “ seriously injured or killed ” .
A man has pleaded guilty to weapons charges after police in the town of Golden Meadow , Louisiana , discovered he had stashed a loaded pistol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 , was sentenced to a five-year suspended prison sentence during a District Court appearance .
He received three years probation and an order to serve 90 days in jail .
This Halloween you can dress up as a “ Karen ” .
An Etsy seller is offering Karen masks , perfect for any reveller who wants to demand to speak to Halloween ’ s manager .
“ Karen ” has become the name commonly given to an unreasonably demanding woman considered to be privileged or entitled , or someone who is forever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 woman has fallen out of a moving car on the M25 while filming a Snapchat video. Surrey Police say the woman was leaning out of the car window when she fell into a “live lane” between junction six and the Clacket Lane services at 1.30am on Saturday. Although she was not badly hurt, officers said she was lucky not to be “seriously injured or killed”.
Police find loaded gun in man’s buttocks
A man has pleaded guilty to weapons charges after police in the town of Golden Meadow, Louisiana, discovered he had stashed a loaded pistol in his buttocks. Justin Savoie, 24, was sentenced to a five-year suspended prison sentence during a District Court appearance. He received three years probation and an order to serve 90 days in jail.
‘Karen’ masks on sale for Halloween
This Halloween you can dress up as a “Karen”. An Etsy seller is offering Karen masks, perfect for any reveller who wants to demand to speak to Halloween’s manager. “Karen” has become the name commonly given to an unreasonably demanding woman considered to be privileged or entitled, or someone who is forever demanding to speak to the manager in stores.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-09-22--22 things to see and do in England this autumn

Goodbye summer , hello autumn .
The days may be getting shorter but that doesn ’ t mean it ’ s time to hibernate just yet .
There ’ s plenty of things to see and do in the next few months and the VisitEngland tourist board has put together its list of autumnal escapes .
Highlights include a John Lennon-inspired music tour in Liverpool , night walks at Exmoor National Park and cycling the cider circuits of Herefordshire .
Here we take a look at the best autumn escapes in England .
Emerging artists : Class of 2020 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hari ’ s public spaces is a contemporary exhibition celebrating emerging talent from London art schools .
The Class of 2020 exhibition offers a platform to those who sacrificed their potential career-launching degree shows due to the lockdown this summer .
Follow in the footsteps of music legend John Lennon , who would have celebrated his 80th birthday on 9 October .
With a city centre packed with Beatles landmarks , the leafy suburb of Woolton helps you discover Lennon ’ s life .
There you can walk around Mendips , the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beloved Strawberry Field ( recently opened to the public for the first time ) and see St Peter ’ s Church , where he first met a young man called Paul McCartney .
The Cecily Brown Exhibition features all new work created by the New York-based artist which is inspired by the Oxfordshire Unesco World Heritage Site .
Brown ’ s large-scale , sensual , semi-abstract artworks have cemented her as one of the most important painters of her generation .
Make your visit to Blenheim an overnight stay by camping in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pop-up site .
Witness sunset over Blenheim as you settle in for the night and awaken as the sun rises over the magnificent grounds and gardens .
Until 1 November ; prices from £23.10 per night ( includes two adults , Caravan Club members offer ) ; caravanclub.co.uk Set in some of the most spectacular caves in the UK , test your adrenaline levels with Wild Wookey adventure caving at Wookey Hole .
The experience includes abseiling , traversing over deep water , Via Ferrata climbs , awesome views , a boat river @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance to see rare geological and archaeological treasures .
See the seal pups at Blakeney Point , Norfolk Autumn marks the start of seal pupping season .
Join a Beans Boat crew and sail close enough to witness the mothers and their new pups as they laze on the rocks .
From £13 for adults and £7 for children aged 14 and under ; visitnorthnorfolk.com In the heart of the Shropshire Hills , autumn brings a treasure trove of delights with hazelnuts , whinberries , mushrooms , apples , pears and Shropshire prune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Join the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre team for Autumn Apple Day on 25 October and take part in tours of the orchards , apple pressing and jelly making demonstrations .
Enjoy homemade cider or apple juice and deliciously prepared apple delights in the café .
Join a local astronomer for a guided walk through Exmoor , an International Dark Sky Reserve and home to some of the darkest skies in the country .
Witness the sights as you walk under the blanket of stars , with interesting insights and a tasty supper in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening .
As part of the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival from 16-31 October , the walks will be run by Wild About Exmoor and take place on various dates throughout the month .
From £18 for adults and £10 for children ; wildaboutexmoor.com From the National Memorial Arboretum to Batsford and Westonbirt , a walk in an English woodland is a must this autumn .
Forestry England sites across the country offer a wealth of seasonal trails and events .
For something different , try a Foraged Colour Workshop at Westonbirt Arboretum in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable artist will be teaching eco-dying techniques .
Explore the sights of Newcastle and Gateshead from a whole new perspective with CBK ’ s Adventure Co ’ s kayak tour of the River Tyne .
Taking in unrivalled views of the famous seven bridges of the Tyne and Quayside , there is no jostling for position here as you quietly paddle beneath the bridges , snapping pictures and enjoying the view as you go .
Join local guides for a tour on horseback through the wilds of open moorland and ancient woodland in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , terrain and nature of Dartmoor before tucking into a locally-sourced lunch .
Visit a limestone gorge that is honeycombed with caves and smaller fissures .
See the stone tools and remains of animals that were found in the caves by archaeologists .
The finds reveal the story of life during the last Ice Age between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago .
Learn about Britain ’ s only known Ice Age rock art and the largest collection of “ witches ’ marks ” , which were discovered in 2018 .
Hit the open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Take in the beauty of Chiltern ’ s ancient woodland , picturesque villages and discover stories , myths and legends of the area .
Step back in time to Jane Austen ’ s 1816 home and experience aspects of her daily life , including her early morning piano practice .
A new multi-sensory experience uses scents and sounds to bring the house to life .
Entry to Jane Austen House is £9 for adults , £7 for children ( 7-17 ) and free for under 6 ; janeaustens.house Luxury spa brand Champneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coming weeks .
The £10m new spa includes a 20-metre swimming pool with private cabanas ; a thermal suite with steam room and saunas ; treatments by Elemis and Clarins ; a gym ; activity studios ; restaurant ; café ; and the UK ’ s first Champneys barbershop .
The new spa is part of a £15m revamp of the country-house hotel near Macclesfield .
From £79 per person for a classic spa day ; mottramhall.com The Pentire Farmhouse and Pengirt holiday cottages have both been restored with traditional touches .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and offer glorious sea views .
A short walk away is the sandy beach of Pentireglaze Haven , linking to Polzeath beach , the perfect spot for surfers at low tide .
Opening October ; Pentire Farmhouse from £1,099 for two nights , sleeps eight ; Pengirt from £550 for two nights , sleeps four ; nationaltrust.org.uk Offering a unique approach to wellbeing through the calming presence of horses , the course includes open-air mindfulness sessions and walk and talk with the animals .
It ’ s the perfect way to enjoy the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A secret garden with its gentle stream and wooden bridge will be transformed into a magical pumpkin grotto .
Spot all the hidden pumpkins and if you come in fancy dress there may be something special waiting for every ghoul , ghost , phantom and skeleton .
Afterwards , discover Crusoe ’ s World with its wooden rope bridge , giant wooden ship , rope swings and zip wire or walk along the canal , through the forest and you might catch a glimpse of the resident herd of fallow deer .
Join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harrigan for five serene nights of meditative practice , yoga and island hopping .
Featuring island sunrises and guided mindfulness walks around Tresco ’ s north coast , the retreat promises to be simultaneously grounding and uplifting .
12-17 October ; from £900 ( based on two sharing ) or £725 per person ; tresco.co.uk Two new cycling trails showcasing Herefordshire ’ s apple heritage have launched this month just in time for harvest ’ s bumper crop .
Visitors can enjoy cider tastings and the restaurants , pubs and cafes will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance to meet some of the award-winning producers and explore the county ’ s incredible landscapes and orchards .
Enjoy a foraging feast with Nomadic Dining .
Set in secluded woodland you will immerse into a magical experience of living off the land and cooking over wildfires .
The menus will feature the fruits and finds of your forest forage .
From £90 ; events take place in October and November ; experiencenomadic.com On arrival you will be greeted by Kirsty Goring , whose family owns the Sussex estate .
She will introduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complimentary tutored tasting of two of their award-winning English Sparkling Wines .
Vineyard manager James McLean has also curated a self-guided tour around the estate .
£10 per ticket ; open days are on 10 , 24 and 31 October ; wistonestate.com

Goodbye summer, hello autumn. The days may be getting shorter but that doesn’t mean it’s time to hibernate just yet. There’s plenty of things to see and do in the next few months and the VisitEngland tourist board has put together its list of autumnal escapes. Highlights include a John Lennon-inspired music tour in Liverpool, night walks at Exmoor National Park and cycling the cider circuits of Herefordshire. Here we take a look at the best autumn escapes in England. Emerging artists: Class of 2020 at The Hari, London Taking over The Hari’s public spaces is a contemporary exhibition celebrating emerging talent from London art schools. The Class of 2020 exhibition offers a platform to those who sacrificed their potential career-launching degree shows due to the lockdown this summer. Until February 2021; thehari.com ‘John Lennon at 80’ music tour, Liverpool Follow in the footsteps of music legend John Lennon, who would have celebrated his 80th birthday on 9 October. With a city centre packed with Beatles landmarks, the leafy suburb of Woolton helps you discover Lennon’s life. There you can walk around Mendips, the house he grew up in, visit his beloved Strawberry Field (recently opened to the public for the first time) and see St Peter’s Church, where he first met a young man called Paul McCartney. visitliverpool.com Cecily Brown Exhibition, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire The Cecily Brown Exhibition features all new work created by the New York-based artist which is inspired by the Oxfordshire Unesco World Heritage Site. Brown’s large-scale, sensual, semi-abstract artworks have cemented her as one of the most important painters of her generation. September to January; blenheimpalace.com Pop-up camping at Blenheim Palace Make your visit to Blenheim an overnight stay by camping in the Palace grounds at Caravan Club’s pop-up site. Witness sunset over Blenheim as you settle in for the night and awaken as the sun rises over the magnificent grounds and gardens. Until 1 November; prices from £23.10 per night (includes two adults, Caravan Club members offer); caravanclub.co.uk Wild Wookey adventure caving, Somerset Skip advert Set in some of the most spectacular caves in the UK, test your adrenaline levels with Wild Wookey adventure caving at Wookey Hole. The experience includes abseiling, traversing over deep water, Via Ferrata climbs, awesome views, a boat river crossing, zip line exit and the chance to see rare geological and archaeological treasures.
wookey.co.uk See the seal pups at Blakeney Point, Norfolk Autumn marks the start of seal pupping season. Join a Beans Boat crew and sail close enough to witness the mothers and their new pups as they laze on the rocks. From £13 for adults and £7 for children aged 14 and under; visitnorthnorfolk.com Autumn Apple Day, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre In the heart of the Shropshire Hills, autumn brings a treasure trove of delights with hazelnuts, whinberries, mushrooms, apples, pears and Shropshire prune damsons all growing in the meadows. Join the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre team for Autumn Apple Day on 25 October and take part in tours of the orchards, apple pressing and jelly making demonstrations. Enjoy homemade cider or apple juice and deliciously prepared apple delights in the café. Free entry, 25 October; shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk Night walks and stargazing, Exmoor National Park Join a local astronomer for a guided walk through Exmoor, an International Dark Sky Reserve and home to some of the darkest skies in the country. Witness the sights as you walk under the blanket of stars, with interesting insights and a tasty supper in a nearby pub to finish up the evening. As part of the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival from 16-31 October, the walks will be run by Wild About Exmoor and take place on various dates throughout the month. From £18 for adults and £10 for children; wildaboutexmoor.com Autumn colours on the English Arboretum trail From the National Memorial Arboretum to Batsford and Westonbirt, a walk in an English woodland is a must this autumn. Forestry England sites across the country offer a wealth of seasonal trails and events. For something different, try a Foraged Colour Workshop at Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire on 3 October, where a sustainable artist will be teaching eco-dying techniques. £75 for the Foraged Colour Workshop; forestryengland.uk Kayaking on the Tyne, Newcastle/Gateshead Explore the sights of Newcastle and Gateshead from a whole new perspective with CBK’s Adventure Co’s kayak tour of the River Tyne. Taking in unrivalled views of the famous seven bridges of the Tyne and Quayside, there is no jostling for position here as you quietly paddle beneath the bridges, snapping pictures and enjoying the view as you go. Skip advert newcastlegateshead.com Discover Dartmoor on horseback Join local guides for a tour on horseback through the wilds of open moorland and ancient woodland in Dartmoor. Hear stories about the history, terrain and nature of Dartmoor before tucking into a locally-sourced lunch. From £275 per person (half-day tour); nationalparkexperiences.co.uk Explore Ice Age England at Creswell Crags, Nottinghamshire Visit a limestone gorge that is honeycombed with caves and smaller fissures. See the stone tools and remains of animals that were found in the caves by archaeologists. The finds reveal the story of life during the last Ice Age between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. Learn about Britain’s only known Ice Age rock art and the largest collection of “witches’ marks”, which were discovered in 2018.


theweekuk--2020-09-22--Covid-flu co-infection increases risk of death by 600%, study finds

People infected with both flu and coronavirus have a sixfold increased risk of death compared with the general population , new research has found .
And patients battling both viruses at the same time are twice as likely to die as those with Covid-19 alone , according to the Public Health England ( PHE ) study .
The researchers analysed data on almost 20,000 people who were tested for both Covid and influenza between 20 January and 25 April .
A total of 58 of those tested were positive for both viruses .
Overall , 43 % of people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those who only had the coronavirus .
“ Most cases of co-infection were in older people and more than half of them , ” the study says .
The findings have prompted experts to warn Britons of all ages to “ not be complacent ” about influenza , reports ITV News .
“ Flu usually kills about 11,000 people a year in England and many more are hospitalised , ” adds Sky News .
“ Officials have warned that both influenza and Covid-19 could be circulating at the same time , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a flu vaccine.
” England ’ s influenza vaccine programme has been expanded to cover up to 30 million people , including primary school children , anyone aged 65 or over , people with long-term health conditions , and pregnant women .
Calling on these groups to get the jab , “ particularly with the winter we ’ re going to face ” , PHE medical director Professor Yvonne Doyle said : “ People still think that the flu is just like a cold .
It ’ s not .
The flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who get both flu and Covid “ are in serious trouble ” , she added .
“ The people who are most likely to get both of these infections may be the very people who can least afford to in terms of their own immune system or their risk for serious outcomes .
”


theweekuk--2020-09-22--Sadiq Khan’s 15-point plan for curbing Covid hike in London

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is meeting with Boris Johnson to discuss tough new lockdown restrictions aimed at tackling a steep hike in coronavirus infections in the capital.
In a statement yesterday, Khan announced that he had “just met with local council leaders from all parties and public health experts to agree a new London plan to slow the spread of the virus and save Londoners’ lives”.
This morning, the mayor tweeted that he would “be speaking to the prime minister shortly” to discuss “the measures we need in London to protect our city” and would update residents “on the next steps as soon as I can”.
How bad are London infection rates?
Khan warned on Friday that the introduction of new social distancing measures in London was becoming “increasingly likely”, adding that he was “extremely concerned” by the latest evidence from public health experts about the rising rate of Covid cases in the capital.
The i news site reports that the number of cases per 100,000 people “has jumped from 18.8 to around 25” in just a week, and “is thought to be above 30 in at least a dozen boroughs”.
According to HuffPost, new modelling shown to the mayor “suggests that London is no longer two weeks behind hotspots like the Northeast and greater Manchester”, but is instead just “two or three days behind”.
Indeed, data from Public Health England’s most recent watchlist indicates that London should already be under lockdown. The list shows that the authority in England with the lowest case rate per 100,000 that is still considered an “area of intervention” - the highest degree of concern - is Ribble Valley, with a rate of 18.3.
“But Kensington and Chelsea, Enfield and Southwark, among others, have infection rates higher than that,” says the Daily Mail, which reports that “Redbridge (34.2), Hounslow (32.5) and Barking and Dagenham (29.3) are the three worst-hit parts of the capital”.
The new data reveals that infection rates in a total of 20 London boroughs are higher than areas of England already hit by restrictions.
In his statement on Monday, Khan said that “without adequate testing or contact tracing in London, we have no choice but to look at other measures to slow the spread of the virus”. A “mayoral source” told HuffPost that such measures could “potentially prevent the need for a fuller lockdown like we saw in March, which could seriously damage the economy once again”.
So what are Khan's proposals?
The mayor has reportedly suggested 15 measures to curb the outbreak in London, including the use of face masks in more settings, further restrictions on weddings and funerals, and encouraging more people to work from home.
Speaking to Sky News after meeting with council leaders and health experts on Monday, Khan also hinted that limitations on the times that bars and restaurants can be open, such as a 10pm curfew, should be brought in - a rule that is now set to be imposed nationwide, under measures being announced by Boris Johnson today.
The broadcaster adds that the London mayor has “suggested face masks could be used by all staff members and customers in hospitality under the potential restrictions”.
However, Khan said the new package of measures did not include more limitations on households mixing with each other, although there could be changes relating to the ban on social gatherings of more than six people.
“What we know in London, the way it’s spread in our city is different to how it’s spread in other parts of the country,” he explained.
As Khan prepares to fully outline his plans, he is urging the government to “learn from the mistakes of the first wave”.
In his statement yesterday, the mayor said: “I know that many Londoners, like me, will be deeply frustrated at the likelihood of imminent new restrictions. Londoners have shown incredible resolve by steadfastly following the rules and doing the right thing - at great cost.
“However, taking firm action now to prevent a deeper and longer lockdown in the future is without a doubt the best thing to both save lives, and protect jobs and our economic recovery.”


theweekuk--2020-09-22--Future of aviation: Airbus to develop world’s first zero-emission aircraft

Airbus has announced ambitious plans to develop the world ’ s first zero-emission commercial aircraft .
Unveiling the designs of the three ZEROe concept planes , the European aerospace giant set a target date of 2035 for the hydrogen-fuelled carriers to take to the skies .
The hi-tech trio of aircraft are all hydrogen-hybrids .
“ This means they are powered by modified gas-turbine engines that burn liquid hydrogen as fuel , ” says Airbus in a statement on the multinational ’ s website .
“ At the same time , they also use hydrogen fuel cells to create electrical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulting in a highly efficient hybrid-electric propulsion system.
” Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury says the ZEROe concepts mark a “ historic moment ” for the commercial aviation sector , the BBC reports .
And the use of hydrogen had the potential to “ significantly reduce aviation ’ s climate impact ” , by reducing carbon emissions , he added .
The combination of the Covid-19 pandemic , climate change and jet fuel price hikes has seen the aviation sector hit a turbulent patch in recent years .
In late June , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Financial Times describes as this “ difficult time ” , Airbus announced plans to cut around 15,000 jobs - including 1,700 in the UK - from its commercial aircraft division by mid-2021 .
But despite the many challenges facing the sector , Airbus engineers are focusing on developing their new “ greener ” aircraft .
Presenting the new designs , Glenn Llewellyn , Airbus VP Zero-Emission Aircraft , said : “ As recently as five years ago , hydrogen propulsion wasn ’ t even on our radar as a viable emission-reduction technology pathway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the incredible potential hydrogen offers aviation in terms of disruptive emissions reduction.
” To meet the ambitious 2035 target , Airbus will need to launch the ZEROe aircraft programme by 2025 , to give the company ’ s engineers enough time to mature all of the required hydrogen technologies .
Over the coming months , several hydrogen demonstrator programmes , which will test hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen combustion technologies , are expected to be launched .
A full-scale aircraft prototype is scheduled to arrive by the late 2020s .
Jean-Brice Dumont @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : “ The ZEROe will be the world ’ s first zero-emission commercial aircraft .
As an engineer , I can ’ t think of working on anything more exciting than that.
” Two hybrid hydrogen turbofan engines provide thrust .
The liquid hydrogen storage and distribution system is located behind the rear pressure bulkhead .
The Turbofan is designed to carry up to 200 passengers and have a range of more than 2,000 miles .
Similar to the turbofan aircraft , this concept ’ s liquid hydrogen storage and distribution system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , two hybrid hydrogen turboprop engines , which drive the six-bladed propellers , provide thrust .
The aircraft will carry 100 passengers and have a range of more than 1,000 miles .
This configuration features an exceptionally wide interior , which opens up multiple options for hydrogen storage and distribution .
In this example , the liquid hydrogen storage tanks are stored underneath the wings .
Like the Turbofan aircraft , two hybrid hydrogen turbofan engines provide thrust .
The BWB will carry up to 200 passengers and have a range @ @ @ @ @ @

Airbus has announced ambitious plans to develop the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft.
Unveiling the designs of the three ZEROe concept planes, the European aerospace giant set a target date of 2035 for the hydrogen-fuelled carriers to take to the skies.
The hi-tech trio of aircraft are all hydrogen-hybrids. “This means they are powered by modified gas-turbine engines that burn liquid hydrogen as fuel,” says Airbus in a statement on the multinational’s website.
“At the same time, they also use hydrogen fuel cells to create electrical power that complements the gas turbine, resulting in a highly efficient hybrid-electric propulsion system.”
Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury says the ZEROe concepts mark a “historic moment” for the commercial aviation sector, the BBC reports. And the use of hydrogen had the potential to “significantly reduce aviation’s climate impact”, by reducing carbon emissions, he added.
The combination of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and jet fuel price hikes has seen the aviation sector hit a turbulent patch in recent years.
In late June, after calculating the economic costs of what the Financial Times describes as this “difficult time”, Airbus announced plans to cut around 15,000 jobs - including 1,700 in the UK - from its commercial aircraft division by mid-2021.
But despite the many challenges facing the sector, Airbus engineers are focusing on developing their new “greener” aircraft.
Presenting the new designs, Glenn Llewellyn, Airbus VP Zero-Emission Aircraft, said: “As recently as five years ago, hydrogen propulsion wasn’t even on our radar as a viable emission-reduction technology pathway. Today, we’re excited by the incredible potential hydrogen offers aviation in terms of disruptive emissions reduction.”
.
Development and prototypes
To meet the ambitious 2035 target, Airbus will need to launch the ZEROe aircraft programme by 2025, to give the company’s engineers enough time to mature all of the required hydrogen technologies.
Over the coming months, several hydrogen demonstrator programmes, which will test hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen combustion technologies, are expected to be launched. A full-scale aircraft prototype is scheduled to arrive by the late 2020s.
Jean-Brice Dumont, Airbus executive vice president engineering, said: “The ZEROe will be the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft. As an engineer, I can’t think of working on anything more exciting than that.”
In pictures: ZEROe concept aircraft
Turbofan
Two hybrid hydrogen turbofan engines provide thrust. The liquid hydrogen storage and distribution system is located behind the rear pressure bulkhead. The Turbofan is designed to carry up to 200 passengers and have a range of more than 2,000 miles.
Turboprop
Similar to the turbofan aircraft, this concept’s liquid hydrogen storage and distribution system is located behind the rear pressure bulkhead. However, two hybrid hydrogen turboprop engines, which drive the six-bladed propellers, provide thrust. The aircraft will carry 100 passengers and have a range of more than 1,000 miles.
Blended-Wing Body (BWB)
This configuration features an exceptionally wide interior, which opens up multiple options for hydrogen storage and distribution. In this example, the liquid hydrogen storage tanks are stored underneath the wings. Like the Turbofan aircraft, two hybrid hydrogen turbofan engines provide thrust. The BWB will carry up to 200 passengers and have a range of more than 2,000 miles.


theweekuk--2020-09-22--UK can avoid lockdowns  by ‘outsmarting’ Covid, says top German virologist

One of Germany ’ s most senior virologists is claiming that the UK can curb a second spike in coronavirus cases without a nationwide lockdown .
Professor Hendrik Streeck , director of Germany ’ s Institute of Virology at Bonn University , has called for end to “ all this alarmism ” over rising infections , adding : “ We can outsmart the virus using all our knowledge.
” In other words , his “ trenchant advice ” to the public and government ministers is to “ hold your nerve , and don ’ t succumb to the pervasive mood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
“ We have to realise that Covid-19 is going to be with us for a long time and we must learn to live with it .
We can ’ t keep shutting down our daily lives and paralysing everything , ” Streeck , who supported Germany ’ s first lockdown , told the newspaper .
“ I neither trivialise the virus , nor do I dramatise it .
We must find a proper balance , ” he added .
“ I am convinced that changes in behaviour have had a huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that social distancing , better hygiene regimes and face masks mean “ people are getting infected with a lower dose ” and have “ brought down the viral load ” .
Citing low death rates in countries that have reported recent increases in cases , he argues that “ you have to look at what is happening in the medical wards and intensive care beds .
That is a much better guide to this pandemic.
” The top virologist ’ s intervention came as Christian Drosten , the professor who led coronavirus-test research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the German Press Agency that he believes Germany could and would also avoid another nationwide lockdown , “ because we already know some things better ” .
However , “ Drosten believes that some areas of work and personal life could face new restrictions , adding that Germany should not think it will escape a rise in infections like other EU countries ” , Yahoo !
News reports .
Germany , which has been heralded as a pandemic success story , has reported 276,665 coronavirus cases to date , with 9,400 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @

One of Germany’s most senior virologists is claiming that the UK can curb a second spike in coronavirus cases without a nationwide lockdown.
Professor Hendrik Streeck, director of Germany’s Institute of Virology at Bonn University, has called for end to “all this alarmism” over rising infections, adding: “We can outsmart the virus using all our knowledge.”
In other words, his “trenchant advice” to the public and government ministers is to “hold your nerve, and don’t succumb to the pervasive mood of mass hysteria”, The Telegraph says.
“We have to realise that Covid-19 is going to be with us for a long time and we must learn to live with it. We can’t keep shutting down our daily lives and paralysing everything,” Streeck, who supported Germany’s first lockdown, told the newspaper.
“I neither trivialise the virus, nor do I dramatise it. We must find a proper balance,” he added. “I am convinced that changes in behaviour have had a huge impact on the disease.”
Streeck says that social distancing, better hygiene regimes and face masks mean “people are getting infected with a lower dose” and have “brought down the viral load”. Citing low death rates in countries that have reported recent increases in cases, he argues that “you have to look at what is happening in the medical wards and intensive care beds. That is a much better guide to this pandemic.”
The top virologist’s intervention came as Christian Drosten, the professor who led coronavirus-test research at Berlin’s Charite Hospital, told the German Press Agency that he believes Germany could and would also avoid another nationwide lockdown, “because we already know some things better”.
However, “Drosten believes that some areas of work and personal life could face new restrictions, adding that Germany should not think it will escape a rise in infections like other EU countries”, Yahoo! News reports.
Germany, which has been heralded as a pandemic success story, has reported 276,665 coronavirus cases to date, with 9,400 deaths, according to latest figures.


theweekuk--2020-09-22--Ferrari Portofino M: a fresh start for the Prancing Horse

Ferrari made history last week when the Portofino M became the first ever car to be premiered entirely online by the Italian marque .
The new drop-top , which is an upgraded version of the Portofino GT spider , marks a fresh starting point for the Prancing Horse and is the first Ferrari to be unveiled in the wake of the company ’ s temporary closure amid the Covid-19 crisis .
The “ M ” in its moniker stands for “ Modificata ” , which in Ferrari terms refers to cars that have undergone an evolution that has significantly boosted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is “ no shortage of technical innovation ” in the new Portofino .
The most notable include a redesigned powertrain , a brand-new eight-speed gearbox , and a five-position Manettino dial that includes a Race mode - a first for a Maranello GT spider .
Those changes aside , the latest update of Ferrari ’ s Portofino GT Spider is a fairly “ mild one ” , says The Luxe Review , but “ nobody really needs a second excuse to gaze upon one of the most beautiful two-seaters on the planet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The Portofino M is priced from €206,000 ( £188,000 ) , which is “ just under £24,000 more expensive than the standard Portofino it will replace ” , says Autocar .
Deliveries will commence in mid-2021 .
The biggest changes to the convertible grand tourer are under the skin , with the power of the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 boosted to 612bhp ( up from 592bhp ) .
While that “ gentle boost in power is always welcome ” , the Portofino M “ sprints no faster ” than its predecessor , covering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9.8 seconds , with a top speed of 198mph says Car magazine .
The eight-speed gearbox is completely different from the previous seven-speed version , however .
By contrast to the SF90 Stradale ’ s eight-speed transmission , the Portofino M unit has longer gear ratios and gets a mechanical reverse gear .
The new layout and integration of its components have also optimised the gearbox ’ s size and its installation in the car .
Meanwhile , the five-position Manettino dial , located on the steering wheel , is intended to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grip “ even more accessible by extending the setting ranges further with the introduction of the Race position ” , according to Ferrari .
The Manettino ’ s five positions and performance goals are : Wet ( maximum stability and control ) ; Comfort ( normal use on dry roads ) ; Sport ( sporty driving ) ; Race ( maximises driving pleasure ) ; ESC-Off ( VDC and F1-TCS both deactivated ) .
The Ferrari Styling Centre ’ s designers has made very precise , targeted adjustments to highlight the new model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front bumpers incorporate sculptural air intakes that lend an aggressive look to the front , and also feature a new air vent at wheel arch height in order to reduce the car ’ s overall drag .
At the rear , the new exhaust system has allowed the removal of the silencer assembly , making the Ferrari Portofino M ’ s tail more compact .
The result is rear bumpers that are more streamlined and sculptural .
The Portofino M ’ s HMI ( human-machine interface ) centres on a digital cluster with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the analogue rev counter in a generous circular , anti-glare binnacle .
Located on exactly the same axis as the multifunctional steering wheel , this cluster allows the driver to interact with the car more easily and intuitively , both visually and physically , by delivering optimal driving feedback .
The infotainment system functions are controlled via the touchscreen located at the centre of the dash within easy reach of both driver and passenger .
The system includes a full HD multi-touch capacitive screen with split view to allow different types of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple Car Play and Android Auto are also available .
The passenger also gets an optional dedicated capacitive display on the dashboard that is directly linked to the main screen providing all information relating to car speed , rpm and gear engaged .
This 7in colour full HD and full touch display also allows the passenger to interact with the car ’ s on-board systems .
They can , for instance , play music , view satnav information or select a new point of interest ( POI ) , such as a restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the route .
“ Essentially , the passenger becomes a co-driver , ” Ferrari says .

Ferrari made history last week when the Portofino M became the first ever car to be premiered entirely online by the Italian marque.
The new drop-top, which is an upgraded version of the Portofino GT spider, marks a fresh starting point for the Prancing Horse and is the first Ferrari to be unveiled in the wake of the company’s temporary closure amid the Covid-19 crisis.
The “M” in its moniker stands for “Modificata”, which in Ferrari terms refers to cars that have undergone an evolution that has significantly boosted their performance.
The Italian marque says there is “no shortage of technical innovation” in the new Portofino. The most notable include a redesigned powertrain, a brand-new eight-speed gearbox, and a five-position Manettino dial that includes a Race mode - a first for a Maranello GT spider.
Those changes aside, the latest update of Ferrari’s Portofino GT Spider is a fairly “mild one”, says The Luxe Review, but “nobody really needs a second excuse to gaze upon one of the most beautiful two-seaters on the planet”.
How much will it cost?
The Portofino M is priced from €206,000 (£188,000), which is “just under £24,000 more expensive than the standard Portofino it will replace”, says Autocar. Deliveries will commence in mid-2021.
Engine and performance
The biggest changes to the convertible grand tourer are under the skin, with the power of the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 boosted to 612bhp (up from 592bhp). While that “gentle boost in power is always welcome”, the Portofino M “sprints no faster” than its predecessor, covering 0-62mph in 3.45 seconds and 0-124mph in 9.8 seconds, with a top speed of 198mph says Car magazine.
The eight-speed gearbox is completely different from the previous seven-speed version, however. By contrast to the SF90 Stradale’s eight-speed transmission, the Portofino M unit has longer gear ratios and gets a mechanical reverse gear. The new layout and integration of its components have also optimised the gearbox’s size and its installation in the car.
Meanwhile, the five-position Manettino dial, located on the steering wheel, is intended to make the new model’s handling and grip “even more accessible by extending the setting ranges further with the introduction of the Race position”, according to Ferrari.


theweekuk--2020-09-22--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 22 Sep 2020

Keir Starmer will strike a patriotic tone during his first party conference speech as Labour leader .
In an online @ @ @ @ @ voters who abandoned the party that “ we love this country as you do ” @ @ @ @ @ to Labour , which he will say is “ under new leadership ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ “ refusing to take a position ” on important issues , including Brexit and the @ @ @

Starmer to appeal to patriotism in conference speech
Keir Starmer will strike a patriotic tone during his first party conference speech as Labour leader. In an online address, he will tell voters who abandoned the party that “we love this country as you do” and ask them to return to Labour, which he will say is “under new leadership”. The Tories have accused Starmer of “refusing to take a position” on important issues, including Brexit and the Covid-19 response.


theweekuk--2020-09-22--Vlogger ‘spots giant robots at Area 51’

Vlogger ‘spots giant robots at Area 51’

An Area 51 fanatic claims that scientists have built an army of giant robots at the secretive base .
UFO vlogger Scott C. Waring said he could see the arms and legs of the 53ft tall “ giant robot ” in Area 51 using Google Earth .
One viewer was convinced , saying : “ They ’ re getting ready to fight the giants.
” However , another said that what Waring was seeing was “ just shadows ” .
Sets of 120,000-year-old human footprints have been discovered in Saudi Arabia .
Researchers believe that the set of seven human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lake in the northern region of Tabuk , belong to at least two people .
They also think they belong to modern humans , rather than Neanderthals , who aren ’ t known to have been in the region at the time .
A California man is suing Starbucks , saying his genitals , stomach and hands were severely burned by scalding tea after a lid fell off a cup .
Tommy Piluyev ’ s lawsuit claims that he suffered “ partial-thickness burns with blistering across the lower left abdomen , thighs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by the time he arrived at hospital .
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Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

An Area 51 fanatic claims that scientists have built an army of giant robots at the secretive base. UFO vlogger Scott C. Waring said he could see the arms and legs of the 53ft tall “giant robot” in Area 51 using Google Earth. One viewer was convinced, saying: “They’re getting ready to fight the giants.” However, another said that what Waring was seeing was “just shadows”.
Human footprints from 120,000 years ago found
Sets of 120,000-year-old human footprints have been discovered in Saudi Arabia. Researchers believe that the set of seven human footprints, found around an ancient dry lake in the northern region of Tabuk, belong to at least two people. They also think they belong to modern humans, rather than Neanderthals, who aren’t known to have been in the region at the time.
Man sues Starbucks for stinging genitals
A California man is suing Starbucks, saying his genitals, stomach and hands were severely burned by scalding tea after a lid fell off a cup. Tommy Piluyev’s lawsuit claims that he suffered “partial-thickness burns with blistering across the lower left abdomen, thighs, penis, scrotum, peritoneum and buttocks” by the time he arrived at hospital.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––