theweekuk--2020-08-21--Why everyone’s talking about football fans returning to stadiums

Premier League clubs now know their opponents for the new season after the release of the 2020-21 fixture list this week, but are less sure about when their fans will be allowed back into stadiums.
When the 2019-20 campaign was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, nine rounds of fixtures were still to be played. When the top flight restarted on 17 June, all remaining matches were played behind closed doors - as will the opening rounds of the new season.
With fixtures confirmed, fans of Premier League clubs are now waiting to find out when the turnstiles will open.
Fans to watch Man Utd vs. Spurs in October?
The Daily Mail reports that Premier League fans could be allowed to return to stadiums from 1 October - match week four of the new campaign.
Last month Boris Johnson announced that restrictions could be eased for mass gatherings and is hopeful fans will be allowed back.
The prime minister said: “From October we intend to bring back audiences in stadia and allow conferences and other business events to recommence, again these changes must be done in a Covid-secure way subject to the successful outcome of pilots.”
The Mail says Manchester United’s home clash with Tottenham on 3 October could be among the first set of Premier League games to have fans back in attendance.
Other fixtures that weekend include newly-promoted Leeds United taking on Manchester City at Elland Road and Aston Villa hosting champions Liverpool at Villa Park.
Reduced capacity
Even if the green light is given for fans to watch live football again, the capacity within Premier League stadiums will be reduced.
Government has set a 30% capacity limit, The Telegraph reports, and this will come as a severe blow to many clubs desperate for match-day revenues.
The Premier League is set to challenge the figure as it feels the percentage should be tailored to each club and stadium. The Telegraph adds that top-flight bosses want to put together “bespoke cases” for every club, with stadium design, transport links and local infection rates taken into account.
The Mail says clubs with older, smaller grounds may see fewer than 30%, while bigger and more modern venues want to host larger numbers.


theweekuk--2020-08-21--Magh Mela: watching over the world’s biggest festival

It ’ s 3.13am , and Radio Inspector Ashok Kumar turns to look at his computer .
His face stiffens .
He zooms in on the screen and squints at an unauthorised SUV crossing a pontoon bridge .
Kumar and his team are in the Integrated Command and Control Centre ( ICCC ) overlooking operations for this year ’ s Magh Mela , an annual Hindu pilgrimage and festival attended by millions of people .
Each year , devotees from across the country congregate at the spot where the Ganges , Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers converge at Prayagraj ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of Uttar Pradesh .
There , devotees dip in the water , which they believe cleanses them of sins .
It is here at the ICCC , a large white room with two rows of desks , that the police keep watch over the mela ( Sanskrit for “ a fair ” ) .
Officers hunch over computers as they monitor feeds from 700 CCTV cameras .
A video wall dominates , with 55-inch screens arranged in a 10x2 matrix .
Khaki jackets emblazoned with “ Uttar Pradesh Police ” hang on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoeless feet on the carpeted floor , the officers glance at each other regularly .
A tentative nod implies that everything is fine .
The monitoring team is on high alert .
Kumar and his colleagues have been here since 8pm last night , on a 12-hour shift , and the first bathing rituals began at 3am .
Today is 9 February , the full moon day of Maghi Purnima .
Police are expecting a crowd of 7.5 million - down from a single-day peak of 11 million two weeks earlier .
Millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s dip .
Many are joined by their families , who have come to take them home .
Kumar ’ s job is to keep this massive crowd under control .
Stampedes , terror attacks and theft are on his mind .
He places a call , and minutes after the SUV is vetted , a police officer appears on-screen to set up a barricade at the foot of the bridge .
Outside , the sunrise turns the sky crimson .
On the water , boats stand out in silhouette .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piety and festivity .
The Magh Mela is a smaller version of the Kumbh Mela , the largest human gathering on Earth .
The Kumbh is held every six years - most recently in 2019 .
Over 49 days last year , more than 250 million people took a dip in the Triveni Sangam ( the “ triple confluence ” , or point where the rivers meet ) .
On one day , the crowd reached 50 million - the second-largest gathering in history .
To prepare for the melas , tens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a massive temporary city on the banks of the Ganges .
Viewed from above , it is a colourful patchwork divided by large and small bodies of water .
Much of this - tents , floating bridges and metal sheet roads - is built specifically for the festival .
As the riverbed floods every year , the city lasts only a few months before the Ganges threatens to reclaim the land .
The physical structure of the mela changes each year , depending on the river .
The groundwork usually starts in October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roads are marked ; pontoon bridges are built ; pipelines and electricity cables are laid ; and bathing stations are set up along a three-mile floating jetty .
This year , water levels in the Ganges remained high later than usual - while “ heavy rains kept hampering works until December ” , says Rajneesh Mishra , a civil servant who oversees the mela .
This year ’ s event was spread over 667 acres ( 270 hectares ) , almost twice the size of London ’ s Hyde Park , and divided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Setting up the infrastructure was - and is - an immense logistical feat .
The mela has 13 police stations and five hospitals with operating theatres , labs , testing facilities and 25 beds each .
All of this comes at a price .
This year , the state budgeted $ 77m .
Last year , for the Kumbh , it spent $ 558m .
The festival ’ s IT operations are run by the ICCC , which is based in a three-storey building - one of the site ’ s few permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 16th-century fort .
The centre itself is divided between the monitoring room , which uses a video surveillance system to keep a bird ’ s-eye view on the mela ; the wireless grid room , which liaises between monitors and ground staff ; the war room , where personnel from the fire , water and police departments as well as the military are on hand to deal with emergencies ; and , finally , a call centre .
At the heart of these operations is the ICCC ’ s crowd management application @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd density across all 700 camera feeds and can estimate the number of people in any space with 85 % accuracy .
If there are more than three people per square metre , it issues a warning , and the ground police team is alerted .
It ’ s now 7.17am .
Mamta Sharma stands knee-deep in the river .
Facing east toward the Ganges , she presses her hands in a namaste greeting .
She bows her head and chants a prayer under her breath , before taking a dip in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to the exact location of the sangam , where it ’ s said you can see the whitish Ganges water mix with the black of the Yamuna .
Most pilgrims can ’ t afford a boat , however - so like Sharma , they bathe close to the bank instead .
When she comes out of the river , Sharma – who is 31 and lives in the eastern city of Kolkata – video-calls her mother , who was not able to come with her .
She pans her phone to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s eyes well up .
As she dries off , Sharma looks up expectantly .
On some auspicious days , the mela administration showers flowers on bathing devotees from a helicopter .
She has seen videos of it on social media .
“ We were all excited about it , but it hasn ’ t happened today , ” she says .
“ Still , the holy dip is quite an experience.
” Ajay Nishad , a boatman who has been ferrying visitors to the sangam for three years , says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lately , he tells me , he has noticed something new .
Officials have started using a lot of cameras .
“ Just look up , ” he explains , pointing to a drone over the river .
“ It ’ s watching everything.
” It was at last year ’ s Kumbh Mela that the ICCC proved its worth .
On Mauni Amavasya - the day that drew the crowd of 50 million - officials defused a situation that threatened to turn dangerous .
Around 5pm , as the auspicious hour for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people left the mela and rushed towards the local railway station .
Within minutes , it was overflowing .
Vipin Singh , the assistant manager of the Prayagraj Smart City Mission team , which oversees the ICCC , recalls that people weren ’ t able to move an inch .
“ It was a very tense situation , ” he says .
Hanging over that moment was the memory of the 2013 Kumbh , when a stampede led to the deaths of 37 people at the station .
The exact sequence of events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that North Central Railways authorities had underestimated the crowd size and failed to arrange enough trains , while the state government failed to deploy nearly 6,000 buses to relieve pressure .
Police also bungled crowd management .
This wasn ’ t the first time such a tragedy had occurred : since 1820 , there have been more than half a dozen stampedes at Kumbh celebrations .
In 1954 , 500 people died when panic broke out .
This time , however , smart cameras had already flagged areas where human density had reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impending stampede .
It was the first time an AI-based crowd-management system had been used in India .
At ICCC HQ , the authorities issued instructions to cordon off a junction on the way to the station : police formed a human chain around a 15,000-strong crowd .
An additional 30,000 people were diverted to a nearby garden to keep them away from the roads .
To clear out the station , the ICCC used cameras to estimate the number of extra trains needed .
By the end of the day , 75 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major disaster had been averted .
Around 9pm on 4 February , a policeman in the monitoring room was watching the video feeds from the tent city .
It had been an uneventful day until then .
“ What is it ?
” he said , to nobody in particular .
He was already zooming in on a screen .
Images of rising smoke came up .
“ It ’ s a fire , ” he shouted .
Immediately , he picked up the phone and called the wireless grid .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has just started.
” The smoke rose from a camp where thousands of devotees had pitched their tents next to each other .
The ground response team was informed .
Moments later , firefighters reached the spot and put out the fire .
All of this took less than a minute , without pilgrims even noticing what was going on .
“ People in the tents were surprised to see them , ” says fireman S.S. Dubey .
Because so many people pitch tents at melas and cook their own meals , gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four fires have broken out this year alone , says Ashutosh Mishra , the mela ’ s Additional Superintendent of Police .
Previously , officials had to rely on tips from the public to learn about these blazes , he tells me .
But in 2020 , video technology has reduced response times to “ less than two minutes ” .
This year , the police have also introduced a computerised missing-persons centre to match individuals with descriptions of lost people .
There ’ s perhaps an irony in the fact that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of devotees whose relationship with technology is peripheral at best .
As they try to release themselves from the cycle of rebirths and attain salvation , it is unlikely this is at the front of many pilgrims ’ minds .
Back at the ICCC on 9 February , assistant manager Singh checks video feeds from the station .
He seems pleased with how the day has gone .
While last year ’ s Kumbh Mela was instructive for his team , the much smaller Magh Mela has allowed them to refine techniques @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mela to gather more data for deep learning , ” he says .
As an example , he offers the problem of waste removal .
To keep the site clean , AI-enabled cameras have been set up and trained to send a signal to a nearby bin lorry when a rubbish bin is full .
Singh ’ s team is even developing a system designed to automatic-ally photograph people who drop litter .
The systems in place at the mela demonstrate the growing role of surveillance in India .
In a landmark 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity-card programme ) , the country ’ s Supreme Court declared individual privacy to be a fundamental right .
This , however , has not stopped Narendra Modi ’ s government from expanding the use of surveillance technologies such as facial recognition in daily life .
Last December , police used software to track people at a New Delhi rally ; the government also intro-duced the Personal Data Protection bill , empowering them to collect anonymised personal data .
N.S .
Nappinai , a cyber-law specialist , says that there are no specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She warns mela attendees that “ a substantial portion of personal data is being collected ” via facial recognition technology , and will be retained afterwards .
Back at the mela , the day has wound down , and Mamta Sharma is pleased with her experience .
“ Nowhere were we pushed around or rushed , ” she says .
“ It is crowded , but we can keep walking .
I don ’ t know how they organised it , but they did it very well.
” This year ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days or so , with another big gathering at the end .
But for now , devotees who came just for the day are leaving .
Pilgrims are vacating camps , tying their belongings into neat little bundles , and loading them on vehicles .
Some are rushing to fill up a last container with holy water .
On the banks of the river , women squat as they offer their evening prayers .
Young girls light earthen lamps and place them in the water .
A couple married the previous night are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bow to the sangam for blessings .
Around them , boatmen pose for pictures .
An old man , clad in saffron , picks up a crutch and stands to offer his respects to the river .
Before him , the golden waters of the sangam blend into the grey mist .
The sun has set over the mela .
A longer version of this article appeared on restofworld.org

It’s 3.13am, and Radio Inspector Ashok Kumar turns to look at his computer. His face stiffens. He zooms in on the screen and squints at an unauthorised SUV crossing a pontoon bridge. Kumar and his team are in the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) overlooking operations for this year’s Magh Mela, an annual Hindu pilgrimage and festival attended by millions of people. Each year, devotees from across the country congregate at the spot where the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers converge at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. There, devotees dip in the water, which they believe cleanses them of sins. It is here at the ICCC, a large white room with two rows of desks, that the police keep watch over the mela (Sanskrit for “a fair”). Officers hunch over computers as they monitor feeds from 700 CCTV cameras. A video wall dominates, with 55-inch screens arranged in a 10x2 matrix. Khaki jackets emblazoned with “Uttar Pradesh Police” hang on the backs of the chairs. Tapping shoeless feet on the carpeted floor, the officers glance at each other regularly. A tentative nod implies that everything is fine. The monitoring team is on high alert. Kumar and his colleagues have been here since 8pm last night, on a 12-hour shift, and the first bathing rituals began at 3am. Today is 9 February, the full moon day of Maghi Purnima. Police are expecting a crowd of 7.5 million - down from a single-day peak of 11 million two weeks earlier. Millions of pilgrims will be leaving after today’s dip. Many are joined by their families, who have come to take them home. Kumar’s job is to keep this massive crowd under control. Stampedes, terror attacks and theft are on his mind. He places a call, and minutes after the SUV is vetted, a police officer appears on-screen to set up a barricade at the foot of the bridge. Outside, the sunrise turns the sky crimson. On the water, boats stand out in silhouette. The air is suffused with a mix of piety and festivity. Skip advert
The Magh Mela is a smaller version of the Kumbh Mela, the largest human gathering on Earth. The Kumbh is held every six years - most recently in 2019. Over 49 days last year, more than 250 million people took a dip in the Triveni Sangam (the “triple confluence”, or point where the rivers meet). On one day, the crowd reached 50 million - the second-largest gathering in history. To prepare for the melas, tens of thousands of officials spend months setting up a massive temporary city on the banks of the Ganges. Viewed from above, it is a colourful patchwork divided by large and small bodies of water. Much of this - tents, floating bridges and metal sheet roads - is built specifically for the festival. As the riverbed floods every year, the city lasts only a few months before the Ganges threatens to reclaim the land. The physical structure of the mela changes each year, depending on the river. The groundwork usually starts in October, after the monsoon season. Temporary roads are marked; pontoon bridges are built; pipelines and electricity cables are laid; and bathing stations are set up along a three-mile floating jetty. This year, water levels in the Ganges remained high later than usual - while “heavy rains kept hampering works until December”, says Rajneesh Mishra, a civil servant who oversees the mela. This year’s event was spread over 667 acres (270 hectares), almost twice the size of London’s Hyde Park, and divided into six sectors for administrative purposes. Setting up the infrastructure was - and is - an immense logistical feat. The mela has 13 police stations and five hospitals with operating theatres, labs, testing facilities and 25 beds each. All of this comes at a price. This year, the state budgeted $77m. Last year, for the Kumbh, it spent $558m. The festival’s IT operations are run by the ICCC, which is based in a three-storey building - one of the site’s few permanent structures, along with a temple and a 16th-century fort. The centre itself is divided between the monitoring room, which uses a video surveillance system to keep a bird’s-eye view on the mela; the wireless grid room, which liaises between monitors and ground staff; the war room, where personnel from the fire, water and police departments as well as the military are on hand to deal with emergencies; and, finally, a call centre. At the heart of these operations is the ICCC’s crowd management application system, which keeps an eye on crowd density across all 700 camera feeds and can estimate the number of people in any space with 85% accuracy. If there are more than three people per square metre, it issues a warning, and the ground police team is alerted. Skip advert
It’s now 7.17am. Mamta Sharma stands knee-deep in the river. Facing east toward the Ganges, she presses her hands in a namaste greeting. She bows her head and chants a prayer under her breath, before taking a dip in the water. Some devotees hire boats to get to the exact location of the sangam, where it’s said you can see the whitish Ganges water mix with the black of the Yamuna. Most pilgrims can’t afford a boat, however - so like Sharma, they bathe close to the bank instead. When she comes out of the river, Sharma – who is 31 and lives in the eastern city of Kolkata – video-calls her mother, who was not able to come with her. She pans her phone to show her the sangam, and her mother’s eyes well up. As she dries off, Sharma looks up expectantly. On some auspicious days, the mela administration showers flowers on bathing devotees from a helicopter. She has seen videos of it on social media. “We were all excited about it, but it hasn’t happened today,” she says. “Still, the holy dip is quite an experience.” Ajay Nishad, a boatman who has been ferrying visitors to the sangam for three years, says the melas are always well organised. But lately, he tells me, he has noticed something new. Officials have started using a lot of cameras. “Just look up,” he explains, pointing to a drone over the river. “It’s watching everything.” It was at last year’s Kumbh Mela that the ICCC proved its worth. On Mauni Amavasya - the day that drew the crowd of 50 million - officials defused a situation that threatened to turn dangerous. Around 5pm, as the auspicious hour for the holy bath ended, millions of people left the mela and rushed towards the local railway station. Within minutes, it was overflowing. Vipin Singh, the assistant manager of the Prayagraj Smart City Mission team, which oversees the ICCC, recalls that people weren’t able to move an inch. “It was a very tense situation,” he says. Hanging over that moment was the memory of the 2013 Kumbh, when a stampede led to the deaths of 37 people at the station. The exact sequence of events remains contentious, but an inquiry found that North Central Railways authorities had underestimated the crowd size and failed to arrange enough trains, while the state government failed to deploy nearly 6,000 buses to relieve pressure. Police also bungled crowd management. This wasn’t the first time such a tragedy had occurred: since 1820, there have been more than half a dozen stampedes at Kumbh celebrations. In 1954, 500 people died when panic broke out. Skip advert
This time, however, smart cameras had already flagged areas where human density had reached unsafe levels and alerted officials about an impending stampede. It was the first time an AI-based crowd-management system had been used in India. At ICCC HQ, the authorities issued instructions to cordon off a junction on the way to the station: police formed a human chain around a 15,000-strong crowd. An additional 30,000 people were diverted to a nearby garden to keep them away from the roads. To clear out the station, the ICCC used cameras to estimate the number of extra trains needed. By the end of the day, 75 more trains had been added, and a major disaster had been averted. Around 9pm on 4 February, a policeman in the monitoring room was watching the video feeds from the tent city. It had been an uneventful day until then. “What is it?” he said, to nobody in particular. He was already zooming in on a screen. Images of rising smoke came up. “It’s a fire,” he shouted. Immediately, he picked up the phone and called the wireless grid. “A fire in a tent! It has just started.” The smoke rose from a camp where thousands of devotees had pitched their tents next to each other. The ground response team was informed. Moments later, firefighters reached the spot and put out the fire. All of this took less than a minute, without pilgrims even noticing what was going on. “People in the tents were surprised to see them,” says fireman S.S. Dubey. Because so many people pitch tents at melas and cook their own meals, gas fires are fairly common. At least four fires have broken out this year alone, says Ashutosh Mishra, the mela’s Additional Superintendent of Police. Previously, officials had to rely on tips from the public to learn about these blazes, he tells me. But in 2020, video technology has reduced response times to “less than two minutes”. This year, the police have also introduced a computerised missing-persons centre to match individuals with descriptions of lost people. There’s perhaps an irony in the fact that a multimillion-dollar tech apparatus governs the experience of millions of devotees whose relationship with technology is peripheral at best. As they try to release themselves from the cycle of rebirths and attain salvation, it is unlikely this is at the front of many pilgrims’ minds. Skip advert Back at the ICCC on 9 February, assistant manager Singh checks video feeds from the station. He seems pleased with how the day has gone. While last year’s Kumbh Mela was instructive for his team, the much smaller Magh Mela has allowed them to refine techniques. “We’re using this mela to gather more data for deep learning,” he says. As an example, he offers the problem of waste removal. To keep the site clean, AI-enabled cameras have been set up and trained to send a signal to a nearby bin lorry when a rubbish bin is full. Singh’s team is even developing a system designed to automatic-ally photograph people who drop litter.


theweekuk--2020-08-21--Instant Opinion: Boris Johnson’s ‘backbenchers are running out of patience’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on how the PM ’ s worst enemies may be his MPs Be careful Boris : your backbenchers are running out of patience “ Tory MPs usually come in two types : pre-regicidal and actively regicidal .
Yet none of them are close , this time , to wanting Boris Johnson gone .
They ’ re still willing him to succeed , return to form , raise spirits and apply the daring leadership he showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are wondering whether this will ever happen .
And whether it ’ s true that , as the Westminster rumour has it , the Prime Minister keeps switching moods over the virus : one day mustard-keen to get the economy moving , the next day terrified of a second wave .
The moaning is growing into soft rebellion ... A few months ago , it would be hard to think that a newly-elected Prime Minister with an 80-strong majority would have a serious party management problem .
But in the last few months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accelerated - including the speed with which a party loses patience with its Prime Minister.
” 2 .
Michelle Cottle in The New York Times on the former vice president ’ s unifying impulse “ Many Democrats understandably long for their own bomb-throwing revolutionary .
But Mr. Biden ’ s solid , soothing approach resonates with the legions of Americans who were exhausted by all the Trumpian turmoil even before the coronavirus upended their lives .
Mr. Biden ’ s steadiness — his regular Joe-ness — won out over flashier , more exciting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drags on , the nation grows ever wearier .
More than any ideological or policy particulars , at the core of the Biden candidacy is a promise to end the perpetual chaos of The Trump Show .
This is what Team Biden was selling .
Next week , as Mr. Trump takes center stage , the contrast between the two visions of leadership will become even clearer ... Mr. Trump has never been interested in being a president for the entire nation .
At his convention , as in his campaign , Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know they have an alternative.
” 3 .
Emily Tamkin in the New Statesman on the fraud arrest of Trump ’ s ex-adviser Steve Bannon and the art of the con “ ... this allegation , potentially Bannon ’ s most transparent con , gives the rest of the game away .
The people who donated to him and his cohort apparently felt passionately enough about a wall to keep out migrants and asylum seekers that they gave money from their own pockets to this cause .
The state now accuses these four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own use .
But that ’ s the whole point of courting and being courted by politics like Bannon ’ s .
Someone promises to make you feel better by giving language with which you can , if you choose , openly hate people who are different , and in exchange you give them power .
You feel more emboldened and they , in turn , become more prominent and more powerful .
Maybe they can even enrich themselves .
That you aren ’ t any better off , that the swamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the forgotten man and woman are still forgotten , isn ’ t the point .
It never was.
” on the death of boarding schools The private schools racket is falling apart “ The coming winter promises to be a nail-biting season for the heads of independent schools , especially the less distinguished .
The Covid-19 wolf is at their door .
They face immediate anxiety about how many of the foreigners who now represent almost 40 per cent of their intake will turn up .
Meanwhile , even before the virus many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fees .
Uncertainty will persist through the coming economic tempest about who can and can not keep paying .
Sixty-something years ago , when my sister was at a London day school and I was at a boarding public school , the combined bills represented maybe one tenth of my parents ’ combined gross earnings .
In the 1980s and 1990s , I somehow educated three children out of my writing income and a scary overdraft .
I could not achieve that now , however many books I sold.
” on how authoritarianism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a powerful reminder of the value of freedom “ Of all the moving scenes from Belarus , one sticks in my mind .
A man , probably in his 30s , holds his child on his arm .
‘ The election was … ’ he says to the camera , pauses nervously for a long moment , glances sideways at his child , and then concludes explosively , ‘ falsified !
’ There you have the exact moment , crucial for any protest movement against any dictatorship , when the individual breaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he would not have dared to complete that sentence in public .
Today , he will find himself among tens of thousands who are shouting the same thing at the top of their voices , waving the red and white flag that stands for a better Belarus .
Speak out for the future of the child on your arm .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Fraser Nelson in The Daily Telegraph
on how the PM’s worst enemies may be his MPs
Be careful Boris: your backbenchers are running out of patience
“Tory MPs usually come in two types: pre-regicidal and actively regicidal. Yet none of them are close, this time, to wanting Boris Johnson gone. They’re still willing him to succeed, return to form, raise spirits and apply the daring leadership he showed in the Brexit referendum. But they are wondering whether this will ever happen. And whether it’s true that, as the Westminster rumour has it, the Prime Minister keeps switching moods over the virus: one day mustard-keen to get the economy moving, the next day terrified of a second wave. The moaning is growing into soft rebellion... A few months ago, it would be hard to think that a newly-elected Prime Minister with an 80-strong majority would have a serious party management problem. But in the last few months, all kinds of trends have been accelerated - including the speed with which a party loses patience with its Prime Minister.”
2. Michelle Cottle in The New York Times
on the former vice president’s unifying impulse
Joe Biden: The Anti-Chaos Candidate
“Many Democrats understandably long for their own bomb-throwing revolutionary. But Mr. Biden’s solid, soothing approach resonates with the legions of Americans who were exhausted by all the Trumpian turmoil even before the coronavirus upended their lives. Mr. Biden’s steadiness — his regular Joe-ness — won out over flashier, more exciting primary rivals. And as this pandemic drags on, the nation grows ever wearier. More than any ideological or policy particulars, at the core of the Biden candidacy is a promise to end the perpetual chaos of The Trump Show. This is what Team Biden was selling. Next week, as Mr. Trump takes center stage, the contrast between the two visions of leadership will become even clearer... Mr. Trump has never been interested in being a president for the entire nation. At his convention, as in his campaign, Joe Biden wanted to make sure that Americans know they have an alternative.”
3. Emily Tamkin in the New Statesman
on the fraud arrest of Trump’s ex-adviser
Steve Bannon and the art of the con
“... this allegation, potentially Bannon’s most transparent con, gives the rest of the game away. The people who donated to him and his cohort apparently felt passionately enough about a wall to keep out migrants and asylum seekers that they gave money from their own pockets to this cause. The state now accuses these four men of drawing on these donations for their own use. But that’s the whole point of courting and being courted by politics like Bannon’s. Someone promises to make you feel better by giving language with which you can, if you choose, openly hate people who are different, and in exchange you give them power. You feel more emboldened and they, in turn, become more prominent and more powerful. Maybe they can even enrich themselves. That you aren’t any better off, that the swamp isn’t actually drained, that the forgotten man and woman are still forgotten, isn’t the point. It never was.”
4. Max Hastings in The Times
on the death of boarding schools
The private schools racket is falling apart
“The coming winter promises to be a nail-biting season for the heads of independent schools, especially the less distinguished. The Covid-19 wolf is at their door. They face immediate anxiety about how many of the foreigners who now represent almost 40 per cent of their intake will turn up. Meanwhile, even before the virus many British parents were struggling to afford the fees. Uncertainty will persist through the coming economic tempest about who can and cannot keep paying. Sixty-something years ago, when my sister was at a London day school and I was at a boarding public school, the combined bills represented maybe one tenth of my parents’ combined gross earnings. In the 1980s and 1990s, I somehow educated three children out of my writing income and a scary overdraft. I could not achieve that now, however many books I sold.”
5. Timothy Garton Ash in The Guardian
on how authoritarianism ultimately subverts itself
Belarus’s struggle is a powerful reminder of the value of freedom
“Of all the moving scenes from Belarus, one sticks in my mind. A man, probably in his 30s, holds his child on his arm. ‘The election was … ’ he says to the camera, pauses nervously for a long moment, glances sideways at his child, and then concludes explosively, ‘falsified!’ There you have the exact moment, crucial for any protest movement against any dictatorship, when the individual breaks through the barrier of fear. Yesterday, he would not have dared to complete that sentence in public. Today, he will find himself among tens of thousands who are shouting the same thing at the top of their voices, waving the red and white flag that stands for a better Belarus. Speak out for the future of the child on your arm.”


theweekuk--2020-08-21--The Week Unwrapped: Author names, Thai protests and galaxies far, far away

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 : Thai student protesters have taken to the streets in the largest public gatherings since the military coup in 2014 .
The demonstrators are demanding a new constitution , but are also demanding that the power of the monarchy be suppressed .
Criticism of the king can currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So could he who should not be named be on the verge of having his power reigned in ?
Astronomers are baffled by the discovery of an extremely distant galaxy that bears a striking resemblance to our own Milky Way , throwing into doubt our current understanding of the formation of the early universe and humanity 's place in it .
But could it also bring us one step closer to solving the mystery of extraterrestrial life ?
George Eliot , along with 24 other female authors , will have their works republished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a project to mark 25 years of the Women ’ s prize for fiction .
Will this give the authors “ the visibility and credit they deserve ” ?
Or has the campaign already caused more damage than it intended ?
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player , Spotify , Apple podcasts , SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts .

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:
Thai protests
Thai student protesters have taken to the streets in the largest public gatherings since the military coup in 2014. The demonstrators are demanding a new constitution, but are also demanding that the power of the monarchy be suppressed. Criticism of the king can currently see people jailed for 15 years. So could he who should not be named be on the verge of having his power reigned in?
Distant galaxies
Astronomers are baffled by the discovery of an extremely distant galaxy that bears a striking resemblance to our own Milky Way, throwing into doubt our current understanding of the formation of the early universe and humanity's place in it. But could it also bring us one step closer to solving the mystery of extraterrestrial life?
Rewriting authors
George Eliot, along with 24 other female authors, will have their works republished under their real names as part of a project to mark 25 years of the Women’s prize for fiction. Will this give the authors “the visibility and credit they deserve”? Or has the campaign already caused more damage than it intended?
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player, Spotify, Apple podcasts, SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts.


theweekuk--2020-08-21--Four things we learned from Joe Biden’s Democratic convention speech

Joe Biden rounded off the four-day Democratic National Convention on Thursday night with an all-encompassing speech in which he pledged to end a “ chapter of darkness ” in the US .
The former vice president addressed viewers via video link in a 25-minute speech condemning Donald Trump ’ s record in the White House .
Without ever mentioning the president by name , Biden said he “ takes no responsibility , refuses to lead , blames others , cozies up to dictators and fans the flames of hate and division ” .
Biden has overseen “ six straight months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has never had a lead ” , Politico says , and the widely positive response to his speech looks set to boost that momentum .
But what did we learn from Biden ’ s speech ?
Biden plans to use the pandemic as a focal point The Democratic candidate devoted much of his speech to lashing out at Trump for his handling of the economy , race relations and the unrest across the US in the wake of the killing of George Floyd .
But Biden ’ s strongest words were reserved for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , which Democrats think “ will be top of mind for voters come 3 November and which polls suggest the president scores badly on ” , The Telegraph says .
The US has recorded the highest number of infections and deaths from coronavirus in the world by far , with more than 170,000 reported deaths - 65,000 more than Brazil in second place .
“ Just judge this president on the facts , ” Biden said .
“ Five million Americans infected with Covid-19 .
More than 170,000 Americans have died .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation on Earth .
Our current president has failed in his most basic duty to the nation : he has failed to protect us.
” Biden also spoke to “ those who had lost loved ones during the pandemic ” by offering his own story of grief , The Guardian reports .
In 1972 , shortly after he was sworn in as a senator for Delaware , his wife Neilia Hunter and his one-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in a car accident while Christmas shopping .
And in 2015 , his son Beau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Attorney General of Delaware , died after a lengthy battle with brain cancer .
“ I know that deep black hole that opens up in your chest , ” Biden told viewers .
“ I know how mean and cruel and unfair life can be sometimes .
I found the best way through pain and loss and grief is to find purpose.
” Writing in the Independent , US author Michael Arceneaux says Biden ’ s “ ability to eloquently speak to grief proved useful ” in the current climate , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president to be America ’ s grief counselor , but there is something to be said about reading the room and the mood of a nation.
” He revealed his reason for running Biden also used the speech to reveal the exact moment he knew he would run for president .
Having served as vice president for eight years under Barack Obama , the death of his son Beau toward the end of his time in office saw him take a step back from politics and choosing not to run for president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump ’ s comments in the wake of the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in 2017 , persuaded him to run against the president .
In the aftermath of the rally , in which a counter-protester was killed when in a vehicle ramming attack - Trump infamously stated that there had been “ very fine people on both sides ” .
Biden recalled these words during his speech , describing them as a “ wake-up call for us as a country ... and for me , a call to action ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d have to run , ” he said .
“ My father taught us that silence was complicity .
And I could not remain silent or complicit .
At the time , I said we were in a battle for the soul of this nation .
And we are.
” Even Fox News liked it Biden ’ s speech was so well received that it even got a begrudging seal of approval from anchors at Fox News , a channel which Vox notes “ normally does everything it can to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anchor on the network , called the speech “ enormously effective ” , adding that Biden ’ s clear and concise delivery could spell trouble for the president ’ s most common attack line .
“ Remember , Donald Trump has been talking for months about Joe Biden as mentally shot , ” Wallace said .
“ I thought that he blew a hole , a big hole in the characterisation .
“ It seems to me that after tonight Donald Trump is going to have to run against a candidate , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good convention , now it ’ s the Republicans ’ turn.
” Laura Ingraham , one of Fox ’ s most conservative anchors , said Biden “ beat expectations ” with the speech , The Guardian adds .
Ingraham said that despite it being “ devoid of any policy other than universal masking ” he still “ delivered a good speech for what he was doing , it was very emotional stuff… It was very well delivered ” .

We will use the details you have shared to manage your registration. You agree to the processing, storage, sharing and use of this information for the purpose of managing your registration as described in our Privacy Policy.
Would you like to receive The WeekDay newsletter ?
The WeekDay newsletter provides you with a daily digest of news and analysis.
We will use the details you have shared to manage your newsletter subscription. You agree to the processing, storage, sharing and use of this information for the purpose of managing your subscription as described in our Privacy Policy.
We will use the information you have shared for carefully considered and specific purposes, where we believe we have a legitimate case to do so, for example to send you communications about similar products and services we offer. You can find out more about our legitimate interest activity in our Privacy Policy.
If you wish to object to the use of your data in this way, please tick here.
'We' includes The Week and other Future Publishing Limited brands as detailed here.


theweekuk--2020-08-21--‘Financial armageddon’: darkness falls on Scotland’s night-time economy

Scotland ’ s night-time economy is facing “ financial armageddon ” due to the coronavirus pandemic , with thousands of jobs set to be axed and hundreds of businesses struggling to survive .
More than 1.3 million people are employed within the night-time sector in the UK , The Guardian reports , and it contributes £66bn to the UK economy per annum .
However , according to a new study , Scotland ’ s night-time industry has been hit drastically by the pandemic and is on the verge of collapse with many venues still closed .
In a survey of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars and live music venues - Scotland ’ s Night Time Industries Association ( NTIAS ) found that 83 % of businesses will make staff redundant , while 76 % are set to cut more than half of their workforce in a matter of weeks .
The NTIAS data also shows that 58 % of businesses within Scotland ’ s night-time economy fear they will not survive longer than two months without further government support .
With businesses on a “ dangerous cliff-edge ” , the NTIAS is calling for an extension to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end in October .
Michael Kill , chief executive of the trade body , said : “ Without immediate additional help and clear indication of when we can re-open we are facing financial armageddon .
These results feel like the final catastrophic blow to the night-time economy and the thousands of staff employed in the sector .
“ Businesses still can ’ t open their doors and haven ’ t been given any guidance on when they might be able too .
Businesses are being forced to make the heart-breaking decision to let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s potentially fatal for the future of the night-time economy , a cornerstone of Scotland ’ s diverse arts and cultural tapestry .
I implore the government to act on this data .
“ Give us a clear roadmap on when businesses can reopen and reassurance that the financial support will be there to keep businesses financially afloat in the coming months.
” Donald Macleod , CEO of Hold Fast Entertainment , which owns Scotland ’ s largest nightclub , The Garage , has also called on the government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forget , least of all the Scottish Government , that Scotland ’ s night-time economy is a hugely important economic driver of music and cultural tourism , leisure , and business growth for our towns and cities , as well as a major national employer , ” he said .
“ As a sector we were amongst the first to close and will probably be the last to reopen .
It is only right therefore , to avoid thousands of job losses and hundreds of businesses from going under , that it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ art and industry sectors .
“ It must be given the emergency Scottish Government funding it so urgently requires in order to survive .
”

Scotland’s night-time economy is facing “financial armageddon” due to the coronavirus pandemic, with thousands of jobs set to be axed and hundreds of businesses struggling to survive.
More than 1.3 million people are employed within the night-time sector in the UK, The Guardian reports, and it contributes £66bn to the UK economy per annum.
However, according to a new study, Scotland’s night-time industry has been hit drastically by the pandemic and is on the verge of collapse with many venues still closed.
In a survey of its membership - nightclubs, late night bars and live music venues - Scotland’s Night Time Industries Association (NTIAS) found that 83% of businesses will make staff redundant, while 76% are set to cut more than half of their workforce in a matter of weeks.
Calls for furlough extension
The NTIAS data also shows that 58% of businesses within Scotland’s night-time economy fear they will not survive longer than two months without further government support.
With businesses on a “dangerous cliff-edge”, the NTIAS is calling for an extension to the job-retention scheme that is set to end in October.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the trade body, said: “Without immediate additional help and clear indication of when we can re-open we are facing financial armageddon. These results feel like the final catastrophic blow to the night-time economy and the thousands of staff employed in the sector.
“Businesses still can’t open their doors and haven’t been given any guidance on when they might be able too. Businesses are being forced to make the heart-breaking decision to let their loyal and hardworking staff go.
“It’s potentially fatal for the future of the night-time economy, a cornerstone of Scotland’s diverse arts and cultural tapestry. I implore the government to act on this data.
“Give us a clear roadmap on when businesses can reopen and reassurance that the financial support will be there to keep businesses financially afloat in the coming months.”
Important economic driver
Donald Macleod, CEO of Hold Fast Entertainment, which owns Scotland’s largest nightclub, The Garage, has also called on the government to provide more support.
“Let no-one forget, least of all the Scottish Government, that Scotland’s night-time economy is a hugely important economic driver of music and cultural tourism, leisure, and business growth for our towns and cities, as well as a major national employer,” he said.
“As a sector we were amongst the first to close and will probably be the last to reopen. It is only right therefore, to avoid thousands of job losses and hundreds of businesses from going under, that it is treated on a par as our other art and industry sectors.
“It must be given the emergency Scottish Government funding it so urgently requires in order to survive.”


theweekuk--2020-08-21--BBC Newsnight editor accused of ‘off the scale’ bias after New Statesman cover story

A BBC journalist has been accused of bias after writing a New Statesman cover story on the government ’ s handling of the exam crisis .
Lewis Goodall , policy editor on BBC Newsnight , authored the piece for the left-wing political magazine in which he described how “ a government led by technocrats nearly destroyed a generation of social mobility ” .
Attention was drawn to the article by Robbie Gibb , a former head of BBC Westminster and Downing Street director of communications , who tweeted : In the piece Goodall , a university Labour activist who worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think tank before joining Sky News and later the BBC , “ laid the problems at the door of the prime minister ’ s senior adviser ” Dominic Cummings , The Telegraph says .
Goodall wrote that while “ we can not know the extent of Dominic Cummings ’ involvement in this sorry episode , and it may be that he was not part of it at all ... his approach encapsulates a method of governing that was on full display throughout ” .
The piece was agreed upon by senior BBC figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the broadcaster ’ s impartiality guidelines .
The article was also not without its defenders on social media , with journalist Ian Fraser tweeting that “ Goodall is doing a brilliant job of holding the UK government ’ s feet to the fire over its handling of the Covid-19 crisis ” .
The Times columnist David Aaronovitch also suggested that Gibb “ should stop ” undermining the BBC with attacks on its impartiality , while presenter Jeremy Vine added that Goodall “ doesn ’ t design the cover and write the headlines ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed out that political interviewer Andrew Neil is the chair of the right-wing political magazine The Spectator , while also holding a BBC presenting role .
And others suggested that Gibb ’ s impartiality should be questioned after he transitioned from covering politics at the broadcaster to working inside 10 Downing Street under Theresa May .

A BBC journalist has been accused of bias after writing a New Statesman cover story on the government’s handling of the exam crisis.
Lewis Goodall, policy editor on BBC Newsnight, authored the piece for the left-wing political magazine in which he described how “a government led by technocrats nearly destroyed a generation of social mobility”.
Attention was drawn to the article by Robbie Gibb, a former head of BBC Westminster and Downing Street director of communications, who tweeted:
Is there anyone more damaging to the BBC's reputation for impartiality than @lewis_goodall ? This is so off the scale I don't even know where to begin. https://t.co/8FzX44QfeH — Robbie Gibb (@RobbieGibb) August 20, 2020
In the piece Goodall, a university Labour activist who worked for the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank before joining Sky News and later the BBC, “laid the problems at the door of the prime minister’s senior adviser” Dominic Cummings, The Telegraph says.
Goodall wrote that while “we cannot know the extent of Dominic Cummings’ involvement in this sorry episode, and it may be that he was not part of it at all... his approach encapsulates a method of governing that was on full display throughout”.
The piece was agreed upon by senior BBC figures, who said that it fell within the broadcaster’s impartiality guidelines.
The article was also not without its defenders on social media, with journalist Ian Fraser tweeting that “Goodall is doing a brilliant job of holding the UK government’s feet to the fire over its handling of the Covid-19 crisis”.
The Times columnist David Aaronovitch also suggested that Gibb “should stop” undermining the BBC with attacks on its impartiality, while presenter Jeremy Vine added that Goodall “doesn’t design the cover and write the headlines”.
A number of social media users pointed out that political interviewer Andrew Neil is the chair of the right-wing political magazine The Spectator, while also holding a BBC presenting role.
And others suggested that Gibb’s impartiality should be questioned after he transitioned from covering politics at the broadcaster to working inside 10 Downing Street under Theresa May.


theweekuk--2020-08-21--Hospital admissions ‘inflated’ at height of UK coronavirus outbreak

The number of patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19 was over-reported at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic , an investigation for the government ’ s Science Advisory Group for Emergencies ( Sage ) has revealed .
Analysis of hospital figures showed patients “ being counted as Covid hospital admissions if they had ever had the virus ” , meaning those patients were “ added to those being admitted directly due to it ” , The Telegraph says .
Government figures had shown that at the pandemic ’ s height in early April , almost 20,000 people a week were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , “ the true figure is unknown because of the problem with over-counting ” , the paper adds .
The inflated admissions echoes problems with Covid-19 death data , the Telegraph ’ s science editor Sarah Knapton notes , in which “ thousands of people who died of other causes were being included in coronavirus statistics if they had once tested positive ” .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced an “ urgent ” review into the death figures last month , which the Daily Mail says would have recorded a Covid-19 death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a bus ” after having previously tested positive .
Experts told The Telegraph that the admissions miscalculation was “ particularly concerning because the number had been used to reflect the current state of the epidemic ” .
Professor Carl Heneghan , director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford , described it as a “ crucial point ” , adding that it is “ more important than the death data because it is the best marker of the impact of the disease ” .
Heneghan added that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we go into the winter , otherwise we get into this noisy position where we can ’ t understand what ’ s going on .
It ’ s clouding our judgment as to whether the disease is having a significant impact ” .
Professor Stephen Powis , National Medical Director of NHS England said that it is “ completely untrue to claim there has been any ambiguity in the data ” on Covid inpatients , adding that “ NHS trusts track data on patients in their hospitals that have Covid , whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for another condition ” .
Noting that data was shared daily at Downing Street press conferences , Powis said that instructions to hospitals “ have not fundamentally changed since the start of the pandemic ” and that the NHS “ worked with Sage ” to ensure data is collected in a manner that supports their work .


theweekuk--2020-08-21--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Friday 21 Aug 2020

Covid-19 cases were up by more than a quarter last week , despite a slight drop in the number of @ @ @ @ @ data shows there were 6,616 new positive tests in England from 6 to 12 August @ @ @ @ @ the previous week despite a 2 % fall in the number of people tested .
@ @ @ @ @ at the Norwich School of Medicine , said this “ suggests that the incidence of @ @ @ @ @ beginning to rise again .
”

Concern as Covid-19 cases rise despite fall in testing
Covid-19 cases were up by more than a quarter last week, despite a slight drop in the number of tests carried out. NHS data shows there were 6,616 new positive tests in England from 6 to 12 August, up 27% on the previous week despite a 2% fall in the number of people tested. Paul Hunter, a professor at the Norwich School of Medicine, said this “suggests that the incidence of Covid-19 in the community is beginning to rise again.”


theweekuk--2020-08-21--The world’s most appealing accents revealed

In a new study , women said the Scottish accent is the world ’ s most appealing ( 86 % ) to hear , while men said they found Spain ’ s accent the most pleasing ( 88 % ) .
In second place for women came Australian ( 72 % ) , while for men it was Brazilian Portuguese ( 76 % ) .
A man who kept feeling drunk even when he hadn ’ t consumed alcohol was cured when his daughter ’ s faeces was transplanted into his intestine .
The 47-year-old man was suffering from gut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the gut and then fuels ethanol production .
The faecal microbiota transplantation has cured the problem .
Taylor Swift has donated £23,000 to help a young London student achieve her dream of attending university .
On her Go Fund Me page , Vitoria Mario is fundraising to take up her place at the University of Warwick .
Alongside a donation for £23,373 , the pop star wrote : “ Vitoria , I came across your story online and am so inspired by your drive and dedication to turning your dreams into reality.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In a new study, women said the Scottish accent is the world’s most appealing (86%) to hear, while men said they found Spain’s accent the most pleasing (88%). In second place for women came Australian (72%), while for men it was Brazilian Portuguese (76%).
Daughter’s poo cures man's ‘drunkenness disease’
A man who kept feeling drunk even when he hadn’t consumed alcohol was cured when his daughter’s faeces was transplanted into his intestine. The 47-year-old man was suffering from gut fermentation, which produces excessive fungal growth in the gut and then fuels ethanol production. The faecal microbiota transplantation has cured the problem.
Taylor Swift boosts student’s Go Fund Me page
Taylor Swift has donated £23,000 to help a young London student achieve her dream of attending university. On her Go Fund Me page, Vitoria Mario is fundraising to take up her place at the University of Warwick. Alongside a donation for £23,373, the pop star wrote: “Vitoria, I came across your story online and am so inspired by your drive and dedication to turning your dreams into reality.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-08-21--‘Lock him up?’: everything Steve Bannon has been doing since leaving the White House

Steve Bannon , the former adviser to Donald Trump , has been arrested and charged with fraud over his role @ @ @ @ @ build a wall on the US-Mexico border .
Bannon is one of four people charged @ @ @ @ @ Justice ( DOJ ) with defrauding “ hundreds of thousands of donors ” who gave @ @ @ @ @ ( £19m ) “ We Build the Wall ” campaign , the BBC says .
@ @ @ @ @ arrested on Thursday morning on a yacht off the Connecticut coast and brought to a @ @ @ @ @ He has pleaded not guilty to the charges , calling the allegations “ false ” @ @ @ @ @ fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall .
”


theweekuk--2020-08-20--East Devon travel guide: best attractions, walks, restaurants and places to stay

Boasting beautiful beaches and some of the most rural landscapes in the UK , East Devon may just be the ideal spot for a country break .
With its rolling hills , picturesque villages , big bold ridges , forests and clear fast-flowing streams , the region is open again and accessible within a three-hour drive of key cities in the south of England .
Ruud Jansen Venneboer , co-founder of East Devon Excellence , gives his tips on where to go , the hotels to stay at , the best food and the attractions to visit .
Walking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enjoy breathtaking scenes along the South West Coast Path from beautiful Branscombe to Beer , or venture further along the Jurassic Coast to Exmouth .
Take the short walk from Colyton to Smallicombe Farm , where all manner of rural pursuits are on hand to enjoy .
Explore Fire Beacon Hill – one of ten East Devon nature reserves .
It ’ s a ten-minute stroll between Sidmouth and Sidbury and those who make it are rewarded with stunning panoramas from the place where the ridge terminates in a dramatic summit .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beacons in times of yore .
Managed with nature conservation as a priority , the nature reserves are free to visit and explore and range from ancient woodlands to stunning heathland and wetland havens .
Located inland of Exmouth and neighbouring Budleigh , you ’ ll find the beautiful and unique East Devon Pebblebed Heaths .
These scenic heathlands offer superb walking opportunities - try one of the many way marked walks on Woodbury Common as a taster .
Only accessible by boat , River Exe Cafe is a floating oasis , located @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Exe Estuary .
Serving the freshest seafood ( with something delicious for all diners ) , alongside an exceptional wine list the entire experience becomes an unforgettable event .
The Pig at Combe is bursting with character and countryside charm .
Lose yourself in the 3,500-acre grounds , and explore the three-walled gardens before consuming the best the region has to offer thanks to the chefs ’ 25-mile radius menu and “ obsessive commitment to home-grown local produce ” .
The Hideaway in Seaton is a fabulous seaside cafe tucked - as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the more populated main town .
At the head of the River Exe , lies the quaint and historic estuary port town Topsham .
A haven for independent food and drink obsessives with a family-run butcher , cheese shop , wine emporium , green grocers with flowers spilling out onto the pavement , cake crafters , seafood restaurants and excellent coffee houses .
Pay a visit to Honiton ’ s Thelma Hulbert Gallery , an award-winning public art space which hosts an acclaimed programme of contemporary art and craft exhibitions .
At present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famous landscape artist and sculptor Richard Long , called Being in the Moment .
The exhibition is kick-starting East Devon District Council ’ s programme of cultural recovery .
Dart ’ s Farm - one of the best known farm shops in southern England - is less than a mile from Topsham and offers a one-stop destination where there ’ s something for everyone .
Hire traditional wooden self-drive boats and set sail for an hour ’ s mackerel fishing in Beer - recently named BBC Countryfile ’ s Best Picnic Spot 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s flagship visitor centre , is a dynamic new attraction which tells the amazing story of the remarkable coastline .
Voyage along the Jurassic Coast with Stuart Line Cruises based in Exmouth .
The company has been sailing along the coast and up the Exe estuary for more than 50 years .
A voyage to Sidmouth and beyond is one of the best maritime experiences available in the entire West Country .
A narrow gauge line takes the wonderful old trams on Seaton ’ s historic tramway on a half-hour journey up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River Axe and the award-winning Seaton Wetlands Nature Reserve ( a must for nature-lovers ) to Colyton .
Here a 20-minute stroll to walk off lunch will take you into one of the most picturesque villages in Devon .
Join Wild East Devon rangers at Seaton Wetlands for a family fun-packed hour of exploring , discovering wildlife and getting creative .
You can also have a personalised guided trail of discovery , well away from any crowds , to behind-the-scenes places where you can feel completely isolated and at ease .
Andrewshayes Holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiday park set in beautiful countryside overlooking the valleys and hills around the pretty village of Dalwood .
Mazzard Farm holiday cottages : offers six contemporary and luxury holiday cottages , situated around a pretty , cobbled courtyard near Ottery St Mary .
Higher Wiscombe : luxury self-catering accommodation near Colyton , for parties from six to 32 people .
Cadhay House : historic Tudor manor house offers luxurious self-catering accommodation for up to 22 people , with three holiday cottages on-site providing additional accommodation for 12-14 .
Ladram Bay : multi-award winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton .
Deer Park Country House : the ultimate destination for large family groups - book the entire Georgian house , or spend a night in a luxury tree house .

Boasting beautiful beaches and some of the most rural landscapes in the UK, East Devon may just be the ideal spot for a country break.
With its rolling hills, picturesque villages, big bold ridges, forests and clear fast-flowing streams, the region is open again and accessible within a three-hour drive of key cities in the south of England.
Ruud Jansen Venneboer, co-founder of East Devon Excellence, gives his tips on where to go, the hotels to stay at, the best food and the attractions to visit.
Walking and hiking: take the less travelled path
Enjoy breathtaking scenes along the South West Coast Path from beautiful Branscombe to Beer, or venture further along the Jurassic Coast to Exmouth.
Take the short walk from Colyton to Smallicombe Farm, where all manner of rural pursuits are on hand to enjoy.
Explore Fire Beacon Hill – one of ten East Devon nature reserves. It’s a ten-minute stroll between Sidmouth and Sidbury and those who make it are rewarded with stunning panoramas from the place where the ridge terminates in a dramatic summit. This was the ideal place to light warning beacons in times of yore. Managed with nature conservation as a priority, the nature reserves are free to visit and explore and range from ancient woodlands to stunning heathland and wetland havens.
Located inland of Exmouth and neighbouring Budleigh, you’ll find the beautiful and unique East Devon Pebblebed Heaths. These scenic heathlands offer superb walking opportunities - try one of the many way marked walks on Woodbury Common as a taster.
Restaurants: dining with a view
Only accessible by boat, River Exe Cafe is a floating oasis, located on a pontoon in the middle of the Exe Estuary. Serving the freshest seafood (with something delicious for all diners), alongside an exceptional wine list the entire experience becomes an unforgettable event.
The Pig at Combe is bursting with character and countryside charm. Lose yourself in the 3,500-acre grounds, and explore the three-walled gardens before consuming the best the region has to offer thanks to the chefs’ 25-mile radius menu and “obsessive commitment to home-grown local produce”.
The Hideaway in Seaton is a fabulous seaside cafe tucked - as its name suggests - safely away from the more populated main town.
Attractions: things to see
At the head of the River Exe, lies the quaint and historic estuary port town Topsham. A haven for independent food and drink obsessives with a family-run butcher, cheese shop, wine emporium, green grocers with flowers spilling out onto the pavement, cake crafters, seafood restaurants and excellent coffee houses.


theweekuk--2020-08-20--Quiz of The Week: 15 - 21 August

Quiz of The Week: 15 - 21 August

Europe is tentatively gearing up for a second wave of coronavirus infections , as small outbreaks across the continent prompted Germany to halt its rollback of lockdown measures .
Meanwhile , Gavin Williamson ’ s ( pictured ) week went from bad to worse as he was forced to perform an embarrassing U-turn after hundreds of thousands of students saw their marks downgraded by a controverisal algorithm .
In the US , the Democratic Party kicked off its campaign to remove Donald Trump from the White House with a virtual party convention .
To find out how closely you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 over the past seven days ?
The Treasury has revealed that Brits used the Eat Out to Help Out scheme more than 35 million times in the first two weeks .
And in Russia , outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin Alexei Navalny was admitted to hospital after allegedly being poisoned on a flight .
Hashem Abedi , the brother of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentenced to at least 55 years in prison for the murders of 22 people in the attack .
A court heard he was “ just as guilty ” as his brother , who was also killed in the bombing .
And Paris Saint-Germain secured its place in the Champions League final for the first time ever .
The French champions will meet German giants , and tournament favourites , Bayern Munich in Lisbon on Sunday .


theweekuk--2020-08-22--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 22 Aug 2020

The head of the World Health Organization says he hopes the Covid-19 pandemic will be over in under two years @ @ @ @ @ the Spanish flu of 1918 took two years to overcome but predicted that advances in @ @ @ @ @ to halt the virus “ in a shorter time ” .
However , he added @ @ @ @ @ , the virus has a better chance of spreading .
”

WHO head says Covid-19 pandemic could last two more years
The head of the World Health Organization says he hopes the Covid-19 pandemic will be over in under two years. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Spanish flu of 1918 took two years to overcome but predicted that advances in technology could enable the world to halt the virus “in a shorter time”. However, he added: “With more connectiveness, the virus has a better chance of spreading.”


theweekuk--2020-08-23--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 23 Aug 2020

In an early morning flurry of tweets , Donald Trump has claimed the “ deep state ” is delaying a @ @ @ @ @ election .
The US president wrote : “ The deep state , or whoever , @ @ @ @ @ making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the @ @ @ @ @ added : “ Obviously , they are hoping to delay the answer until after November @ @ @

Trump says ‘deep state’ delaying coronavirus vaccine
In an early morning flurry of tweets, Donald Trump has claimed the “deep state” is delaying a coronavirus vaccine until after the election. The US president wrote: “The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics.” He added: “Obviously, they are hoping to delay the answer until after November 3rd.”


theweekuk--2020-08-24--Tenet reviews and trailers: what the critics think of Christopher Nolan’s new blockbuster

When Tenet is released in UK cinemas on Wednesday , writer and director Christopher Nolan won ’ t be the only one wishing for box office success .
Nolan ’ s new blockbuster , which cost a reported £155m to make , is being billed as the film that could “ save cinema in 2020 ” , says BBC News .
After the coronavirus delayed its release , Tenet will be the first major film to come out since lockdown .
With an industry expecting its “ worst year at the box office in three decades ” , the Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Britain ’ s deserted cinemas .
Nolan ’ s previous smash hits including The Dark Knight , Inception , Interstellar and Dunkirk .
Can his new thriller entice film fans back into the cinema ?
“ John David Washington is the new Protagonist in Christopher Nolan ’ s original sci-fi action spectacle Tenet .
Armed with only one word - Tenet - and fighting for the survival of the entire world , the Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ( Warner Bros. Pictures ) Alex Godfrey , Empire : “ Just as with Indiana Jones , for which George Lucas persuaded Bond fan Steven Spielberg they could create their own hero instead of piggybacking on someone else ’ s , Nolan has made his own Bond film here , borrowing everything he likes about it , binning everything he doesn ’ t , then Nolaning it all up ( ie : mucking about with the fabric of time ) .
And while Washington - never not magnetic , every second of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suave playboy in the slightest , he has the swagger - and the odd wisecrack.
” ‘ Frankly , there ’ s a lot to get your head around ’ Will Gompertz , BBC : “ In terms of spectacle , Tenet delivers .
The stunts , the camera work and the scale are impressive .
As is Nolan ’ s appetite to use blockbuster entertainment as a platform to seriously consider existential threats , the unconscious mind , and cutting-edge physics.
” Catherine Shoard , The Guardian : “ Tenet is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nervous braving a trip to the big screen to see , no matter how safe it is .
I ’ m not even sure that , in five years ’ time , it ’ d be worth staying up to catch on telly .
To say so is sad , perhaps heretical .
But for audiences to abandon their living rooms in the long term , the first carrot had better not leave a bad taste .
If the long-awaited sci-fi from the Inception director restarts the summer of cinema it will go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tenet is far from his finest work.
” ‘ It ’ s hard to work out what ’ s happening .
It ’ s harder still to care ’ Donald Clarke , Irish Times : “ As ever , Nolan foreswears digital trickery for meaty effects using physical objects with mass and velocity .
When a 747 crashes into an airport terminal you can count on it being an actual jet ( not even a model ) .
All this delicious incident has the makings of a gung-ho entertainment - Ian Fleming as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not what we get .
Even if we were brave enough to try , we would not be capable of spoiling a plot so wilfully obtuse it demands repeat viewings to disentangle.
” ‘ An original and mind-bending take on a spy movie ’ Ian Sandwell , DigitalSpy : “ Tenet is the big-budget canary in the coalmine and there ’ s no doubt its release is a gamble .
But before that discussion about cinema ’ s future can even begin ( or the debate about whether people should even be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there ’ s another question that needs to be answered : is Tenet actually good ?
The short answer is yes , even if it ’ s not Nolan 's all-time best movie .
Nolan has crafted a hell of a ride .
Without getting into specifics , the action sequences are remarkable , with each one taking a classic spy situation - a heist , for instance - and putting a fresh spin on it .
This is absolutely Nolan delivering his James Bond movie , only Bond never had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bewildering assault on the senses - but it ’ s a must-see ’ Jamie East , The Sun : “ It ’ s a spectacle that deserves to be seen in the best place possible ( if you have an Imax near you , book it ) .
But it ’ s on a basic creative level that the film starts to fall apart .
Admittedly , this could be Nolan ’ s masterstroke - make Tenet so damned confusing and difficult to follow , you have no choice but to watch it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even he would take that risk.
” Matt Purslow , IGN : “ It ’ s when Tenet brings the camera close to its subjects , though , that its ideas really manifest into something special .
One sequence involves leading man John David Wahsington fighting hand-to-hand , but his assailant is moving in reverse .
This creates an oddly unsettling effect ; the enemy combatant writhes and jerks in unnatural ways , making for something that ’ s almost a militarised Twin Peaks scene .
It ’ s in sequences like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most impressive , rather than its reversed car crashes or time-synced explosions.
” ‘ Don ’ t try to understand it , feel it ’ Jessica Kiang , The New York Times : “ For once , spoiler sensitivity might be the reviewer ’ s luckiest break , absolving me of even attempting an explanation of a plot so contorted it ’ s best not to worry about it .
Even the scientist played by Clémence Poésy , here exclusively to deliver exposition , eventually cops out .
‘ Don ’ t try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the best advice anyone offers.
” Leslie Felperin , The Hollywood Reporter : “ If it seems like this review is shying away from describing the plot , that ’ s not just out of concern to avoid spoilers .
I watched the movie twice for this review , and still feel very confused about what is supposed to be going on and why .
Altogether , it makes for a chilly , cerebral film - easy to admire , especially since it ’ s so rich in audacity and originality , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it is in a certain humanity .
”

When Tenet is released in UK cinemas on Wednesday, writer and director Christopher Nolan won’t be the only one wishing for box office success.
Nolan’s new blockbuster, which cost a reported £155m to make, is being billed as the film that could “save cinema in 2020”, says BBC News.
After the coronavirus delayed its release, Tenet will be the first major film to come out since lockdown. With an industry expecting its “worst year at the box office in three decades”, the Daily Mail says all eyes will now be on Britain’s deserted cinemas.
Nolan’s previous smash hits including The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar and Dunkirk. Can his new thriller entice film fans back into the cinema?
Tenet: all the details
Written and directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
UK cinema release date: Wednesday 26 August
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Running time: 150 minutes
The storyline
“John David Washington is the new Protagonist in Christopher Nolan’s original sci-fi action spectacle Tenet. Armed with only one word - Tenet - and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time. Not time travel. Inversion.” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Tenet reviews: what the critics think…
‘Bond without the baggage’
Alex Godfrey, Empire: “Just as with Indiana Jones, for which George Lucas persuaded Bond fan Steven Spielberg they could create their own hero instead of piggybacking on someone else’s, Nolan has made his own Bond film here, borrowing everything he likes about it, binning everything he doesn’t, then Nolaning it all up (ie: mucking about with the fabric of time). And while Washington - never not magnetic, every second of this film - isn’t a suave playboy in the slightest, he has the swagger - and the odd wisecrack.”
‘Frankly, there’s a lot to get your head around’
Will Gompertz, BBC: “In terms of spectacle, Tenet delivers. The stunts, the camera work and the scale are impressive. As is Nolan’s appetite to use blockbuster entertainment as a platform to seriously consider existential threats, the unconscious mind, and cutting-edge physics.”
‘Nolan’s thriller is a palindromic dud’
Catherine Shoard, The Guardian: “Tenet is not a movie it’s worth the nervous braving a trip to the big screen to see, no matter how safe it is. I’m not even sure that, in five years’ time, it’d be worth staying up to catch on telly. To say so is sad, perhaps heretical. But for audiences to abandon their living rooms in the long term, the first carrot had better not leave a bad taste. If the long-awaited sci-fi from the Inception director restarts the summer of cinema it will go down as his finest hour. But Tenet is far from his finest work.”
‘It’s hard to work out what’s happening. It’s harder still to care’
Donald Clarke, Irish Times: “As ever, Nolan foreswears digital trickery for meaty effects using physical objects with mass and velocity. When a 747 crashes into an airport terminal you can count on it being an actual jet (not even a model). All this delicious incident has the makings of a gung-ho entertainment - Ian Fleming as mounted by Nasa. Unfortunately that’s not what we get. Even if we were brave enough to try, we would not be capable of spoiling a plot so wilfully obtuse it demands repeat viewings to disentangle.”
‘An original and mind-bending take on a spy movie’
Ian Sandwell, DigitalSpy: “Tenet is the big-budget canary in the coalmine and there’s no doubt its release is a gamble. But before that discussion about cinema’s future can even begin (or the debate about whether people should even be going to the cinema right now), there’s another question that needs to be answered: is Tenet actually good? The short answer is yes, even if it’s not Nolan's all-time best movie. Nolan has crafted a hell of a ride. Without getting into specifics, the action sequences are remarkable, with each one taking a classic spy situation - a heist, for instance - and putting a fresh spin on it. This is absolutely Nolan delivering his James Bond movie, only Bond never had to deal with inverted bullets.”
‘A bewildering assault on the senses - but it’s a must-see’
Jamie East, The Sun: “It’s a spectacle that deserves to be seen in the best place possible (if you have an Imax near you, book it). But it’s on a basic creative level that the film starts to fall apart. Admittedly, this could be Nolan’s masterstroke - make Tenet so damned confusing and difficult to follow, you have no choice but to watch it more than once - but I doubt even he would take that risk.”
‘Killing time’
Matt Purslow, IGN: “It’s when Tenet brings the camera close to its subjects, though, that its ideas really manifest into something special. One sequence involves leading man John David Wahsington fighting hand-to-hand, but his assailant is moving in reverse. This creates an oddly unsettling effect; the enemy combatant writhes and jerks in unnatural ways, making for something that’s almost a militarised Twin Peaks scene. It’s in sequences like this that Tenet’s time concept is most impressive, rather than its reversed car crashes or time-synced explosions.”
‘Don’t try to understand it, feel it’
Jessica Kiang, The New York Times: “For once, spoiler sensitivity might be the reviewer’s luckiest break, absolving me of even attempting an explanation of a plot so contorted it’s best not to worry about it. Even the scientist played by Clémence Poésy, here exclusively to deliver exposition, eventually cops out. ‘Don’t try to understand it, feel it’ is the best advice anyone offers.”
‘Almost impossible to love’
Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter: “If it seems like this review is shying away from describing the plot, that’s not just out of concern to avoid spoilers. I watched the movie twice for this review, and still feel very confused about what is supposed to be going on and why. Altogether, it makes for a chilly, cerebral film - easy to admire, especially since it’s so rich in audacity and originality, but almost impossible to love, lacking as it is in a certain humanity.”


theweekuk--2020-08-24--Five things we learned from new tell-all book on Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour leadership

Just five months after Jeremy Corbyn officially stepped down as Labour leader , a new book has revealed the conflicts - and chaos - within the party during his tenure at the top .
Written by The Times ’ journalists Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire , Left Out : The Inside Story of Labour Under Corbyn describes the behind-the-scenes dramas of the Islington North MP ’ s four-year rule , which culminated in Labour ’ s worst election performance since 1935 .
So what have we learned so far from extracts from the tell-all book , to be published next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Labour ’ s annual conference , shadow chancellor and close Corbyn ally John McDonnell attended a private meeting at which the party ’ s campaign strategists revealed disastrous polling results for the then upcoming December election .
According to extracts from Left Out published in The Sunday Times , the YouGov survey findings “ turned the optimism of Jeremy Corbyn ’ s inner circle on its head ” and were “ difficult to stomach ” .
Despite the shock success of the party ’ s performance in 2017 , Corbyn ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wins for just 138 of their MPs , which would equate to Labour ’ s worst result since 1918 .
Ian Lavery , then-chair of the party , was also at the meeting and was reportedly “ in no mood to listen ” , shouting that “ people in the North just won ’ t vote Tory ” and accusing YouGov of being a “ Tory firm ” .
But despite Lavery ’ s scepticism , YouGov pollster Marcus Roberts would prove to be correct in his assessment of Corbyn ’ s chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme shortly before campaigning began that “ the souffle never rises twice ” .
Despite the damning polling results , “ many in the room still believed ” Labour could triumph , arguing that “ the election of 2017 had shattered the old certainties , and Corbyn was determined to do so again ” , the book says .
But to do so would “ require Corbyn to summon every drop of the energy ” that months of Brexit drama and anti-Semitism scandals has “ drained from him ” , write Pogrund and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him suspected he was in no state to do so ” .
These fears grew during the campaign , as Corbyn began falling out with his “ closest lieutenants ” , whom he came to “ barely trust ” .
“ His detractors at Westminster often contended that he had no idea what he was doing , ” the book says .
“ For once , the jibe was accurate - though not for want of trying on Corbyn ’ s part .
“ Strategy for the campaign he was supposed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more accurately , disagreed on - in his absence.
” Under Corbyn ’ s leadership , the role of his deputy , Tom Watson , became increasingly untenable .
As McDonnell was receiving the devastating poll results at the Labour conference in Brighton last September , hard-left members of the party were pushing a vote that almost abolished Watson ’ s position .
The attempt to remove the veteran MP was “ the end of the road ” , according to the book , which claims that a “ process of conscious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson , sniffing the opportunity to hit Labour hard , offered Watson the chance to defect and stand as her party ’ s candidate in the East Sussex constituency of Lewes .
But after considering the proposal “ for five minutes ” , Watson decided instead that “ politics was no longer fun .
It was time to go.
” Corbyn did not attempt to hang on to his deputy , who stepped down as MP for West Bromwich East in November after more than 18 years in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader sent Watson a horseradish plant as a “ peace offering ” .
Extracts from the new book in today ’ s The Times reveal that Corbyn and his shadow chancellor , McDonnell , were split over the handling of anti-Semitism allegations .
In July 2018 , long-standing Jewish Labour MP Margret Hodge was placed under investigation by the party after accusing Corbyn in the Commons of being “ an anti-Semite and a racist ” who was “ making Labour a hostile environment for Jews to belong to ” .
The angry outburst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to adopt the full definition of anti-Semitism given by the International Holocaust Remembrance Association , an intergovernmental body of which the UK is a member .
Corbyn and McDonnell , “ comrades ” in politics for almost 40 years , found themselves at odds over the decision to investigate Hodges , write Pogrund and Maguire .
Indeed , the rift was “ the most profound breach ” between Corbyn and his deputy “ that they would ever experience ” .
“ At its heart , the dispute was political , ” says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ septuagenarian Jewish MP who had vented about racism , albeit aggressively , as it would any other member ?
” Corbyn backed the investigation .
But McDonnell did not , fearing the optics of “ jeopardising Labour ’ s standing for the sake of winning an argument with an elderly Jewish MP on a point of principle that was to most voters beyond arcane ” .
In an unlikely meeting of the minds , Corbyn and his wife , Mexican businesswoman Laura Alvarez , bonded with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of the tabloid press ” , says Left Out .
While attending the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey , Alvarez “ slipped them ” a collection of writings by 17th-century Mexican poet Juana Ines de la Cruz .
Alvarez “ hoped Meghan might find a kindred spirit ” in De la Cruz , a nun whose “ willingness to attack the hypocrisies of the colonial classes had made her a target for Establishment hate ” .
The following day , the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sent a personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ Jeremy and Laura ” , who had “ privately offered sympathy ” over their media battles .
“ Such was Corbyn ’ s dislike of the press that it had even convinced him to moderate his lifelong republicanism , ” claim Pogrund and Maguire .

Just five months after Jeremy Corbyn officially stepped down as Labour leader, a new book has revealed the conflicts - and chaos - within the party during his tenure at the top.
Written by The Times’ journalists Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire, Left Out: The Inside Story of Labour Under Corbyn describes the behind-the-scenes dramas of the Islington North MP’s four-year rule, which culminated in Labour’s worst election performance since 1935.
So what have we learned so far from extracts from the tell-all book, to be published next week?
Labour was warned of 2019 election disaster
On 22 September 2019, during Labour’s annual conference, shadow chancellor and close Corbyn ally John McDonnell attended a private meeting at which the party’s campaign strategists revealed disastrous polling results for the then upcoming December election.
According to extracts from Left Out published in The Sunday Times, the YouGov survey findings “turned the optimism of Jeremy Corbyn’s inner circle on its head” and were “difficult to stomach”. Despite the shock success of the party’s performance in 2017, Corbyn’s inner election team were hit with predicted wins for just 138 of their MPs, which would equate to Labour’s worst result since 1918.
Ian Lavery, then-chair of the party, was also at the meeting and was reportedly “in no mood to listen”, shouting that “people in the North just won’t vote Tory” and accusing YouGov of being a “Tory firm”.
But despite Lavery’s scepticism, YouGov pollster Marcus Roberts would prove to be correct in his assessment of Corbyn’s chances, telling the BBC’s Today programme shortly before campaigning began that “the souffle never rises twice”.
Corbyn ‘could not trust’ his closest allies
Despite the damning polling results, “many in the room still believed” Labour could triumph, arguing that “the election of 2017 had shattered the old certainties, and Corbyn was determined to do so again”, the book says.
But to do so would “require Corbyn to summon every drop of the energy” that months of Brexit drama and anti-Semitism scandals has “drained from him”, write Pogrund and Maguire. And “those closest to him suspected he was in no state to do so”.
These fears grew during the campaign, as Corbyn began falling out with his “closest lieutenants”, whom he came to “barely trust”.


theweekuk--2020-08-24--Champions League final reaction: trophy ‘King’ Coman, PSG’s missed chance and Neymar’s tears

Bayern Munich are celebrating becoming champions of Europe for the sixth time after a 1-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday ’ s Uefa Champions League final .
Players , pundits and fans had hoped for a “ goalfest ” between the two attacking teams , but the showpiece was a nervy affair and settled only by a 59th-minute header from Bayern ’ s Kingsley Coman against his former team .
Here we pick out five talking points from the final held in the Portuguese capital Lisbon .
Coman started his career with PSG and only played three senior games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Italian club Juventus in 2015 .
The French international then spent two seasons on loan with Bayern before making his move to Germany permanent in 2017 .
The 24-year-old - who is nicknamed “ The King ” - has been a serial winner in his short career so far , The Sun reports .
He ’ s won 20 trophies despite playing just 193 games and has never failed to win a league title .
Incredibly , he has won a trophy every 9.65 games he played .
With half-an-hour to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home Joshua Kimmich ’ s cross to help Bayern land the ultimate prize .
Speaking after the final whistle , Coman said : “ It ’ s extraordinary , a great happiness .
I feel a little sad for Paris , they ’ ve had an extraordinary journey and we must respect what Paris have done .
We tried to keep them under pressure and they played on the counterattack mostly .
We didn ’ t concede a goal and that was the most important thing .
Paris had a great game , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great final.
” Uefa.com reporter Jordan Maciel described Coman ’ s inclusion in the final as a “ masterstroke of man-management ” by Bayern head coach Hansi Flick .
In the three previous knockout games Flick did not change his starting XI , but for the final he brought in Coman in place of Ivan Perisic and the decision proved to be match-winning .
Maciel said : “ The most uncharacteristic of goals sealed a sixth European Cup success and a second treble for Bayern .
It was a masterstroke of man-management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even game.
” The victory in Lisbon means Bayern finish their Champions League campaign with a 100 % perfect record - 11 wins from 11 matches .
ESPN reports that the Germans are the first team to win every Champions League match en route to the title , first team in Champions League history to win 11 straight games and first unbeaten champion since Manchester United in 2007-08 .
“ Now that is how you win a Champions League , ” says ESPN ’ s Anirudh Menon .
Bayern scored an impressive 43 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ striker Robert Lewandowski ended the 2019-20 Champions League season as top scorer with 15 .
Poland international Lewandowski scored 55 goals in all competitions for Bayern .
While much of the focus was on the star attackers ahead of the Lisbon final , it was goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who proved a major difference between the two teams .
The Bayern captain made a number of great saves and produced a world-class performance before lifting the famous silver trophy .
Flick was appointed Bayern caretaker manager in November when he stepped into the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bayern were in crisis at the time having been crushed 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt and the result left the defending German champions fourth in the Bundesliga table .
After a run of 18 wins in 21 competitive matches , the 55-year-old Flick was appointed head coach on a permanent basis in April and went on to lead his team to the Bundesliga title , German cup and now the Champions League .
After “ miraculously ” transforming Bayern into Europe ’ s best club side , DW.com says Flick ’ s treble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and is the best debut season for a coach in football history .
The Bayern head coach praised his whole team for their hardworking display against PSG .
He said : “ We really make life difficult for the opposition .
When you think how we worked defensively until the 92nd minute - Lewandowski was chasing after the ball , that was incredible .
It was a complete team performance.
” While Kingsley Coman takes the spotlight for scoring Bayern ’ s winner , PSG and their star forwards will look back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of the final Kylian Mbappé , Neymar and Ángel Di María all spurned opportunities to open the scoring - and the setbacks mean PSG still await a first-ever Champions League title .
PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel said : “ All we lacked was the first goal .
We had chances and they got the first goal .
I ’ m convinced that if we ’ d got the first goal , we would have won that same game 1-0.
” Midfielder Ander Herrera added : “ We ’ ve won four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – without deserving to , I think .
They were more clinical than us .
When you play another top team in Europe , if you don ’ t score they will.
” When the final whistle was blown PSG ’ s Brazilian superstar Neymar was left in tears at what could have been for the dejected French giants .
Uefa.com ’ s Chris Burke said : “ Neymar was unable to wield his influence when it mattered most .
Despite coming close to giving Paris the advantage in the first half , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bayern ’ s players put him under close scrutiny .
Without Neymar waving his wand , the French champions struggled for ideas after the restart .
”

2020 Uefa Champions League final Paris Saint-Germain 0 Bayern Munich 1
Bayern Munich are celebrating becoming champions of Europe for the sixth time after a 1-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s Uefa Champions League final.
Players, pundits and fans had hoped for a “goalfest” between the two attacking teams, but the showpiece was a nervy affair and settled only by a 59th-minute header from Bayern’s Kingsley Coman against his former team.
Here we pick out five talking points from the final held in the Portuguese capital Lisbon.
‘The King’ of Munich: a serial trophy winner
Coman started his career with PSG and only played three senior games for the French giants before moving on to Italian club Juventus in 2015. The French international then spent two seasons on loan with Bayern before making his move to Germany permanent in 2017.
The 24-year-old - who is nicknamed “The King” - has been a serial winner in his short career so far, The Sun reports. He’s won 20 trophies despite playing just 193 games and has never failed to win a league title. Incredibly, he has won a trophy every 9.65 games he played.
With half-an-hour to go in Sunday’s final he headed home Joshua Kimmich’s cross to help Bayern land the ultimate prize.
Speaking after the final whistle, Coman said: “It’s extraordinary, a great happiness. I feel a little sad for Paris, they’ve had an extraordinary journey and we must respect what Paris have done. We tried to keep them under pressure and they played on the counterattack mostly. We didn’t concede a goal and that was the most important thing. Paris had a great game, but so did we. It was a great final.”
‘Masterstroke’ by Flick
Uefa.com reporter Jordan Maciel described Coman’s inclusion in the final as a “masterstroke of man-management” by Bayern head coach Hansi Flick.
In the three previous knockout games Flick did not change his starting XI, but for the final he brought in Coman in place of Ivan Perisic and the decision proved to be match-winning.
Maciel said: “The most uncharacteristic of goals sealed a sixth European Cup success and a second treble for Bayern. It was a masterstroke of man-management that made the difference in an otherwise even game.”
Perfect record, goals galore and Mr Safe Hands
The victory in Lisbon means Bayern finish their Champions League campaign with a 100% perfect record - 11 wins from 11 matches.