theweekuk--2020-11-27--The Week Unwrapped podcast: Social epilepsy, hydrogen and a retail boom

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 : Although you wouldn ’ t know it from reading the gloomy headlines , retail sales in the UK are higher now than they were before the pandemic .
Home and garden stores in particular have benefited from the surge in spending , which seems to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with little else to spend their money on .
Perhaps even more surprisingly , the majority of people have been saving more too .
In the next few weeks TikTok will be introducing a new feature that will let people with epilepsy automatically skip videos that might trigger seizures .
They ’ re the first social platform to respond to a call last year for more to be done to protect people who are vulnerable to flashing lights - a condition believed to affect 18,000 people in the UK .
Germany has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has a top speed of 100mph and can go for up to 370 miles in between refuelling .
The goal is to replace all 1,300 remaining diesel trains on non-electrified lines with these zero-emissions locomotives .
It marks something of a comeback for hydrogen , which was once held up as the fuel of the future but has recently lost out to battery power in the motoring market .
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player , Spotify , Apple podcasts , SoundCloud or wherever you get you @ @ @

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:
Sales boom
Although you wouldn’t know it from reading the gloomy headlines, retail sales in the UK are higher now than they were before the pandemic. Home and garden stores in particular have benefited from the surge in spending, which seems to be the result of a lot of people cooped up with little else to spend their money on. Perhaps even more surprisingly, the majority of people have been saving more too.
Seeing the light
In the next few weeks TikTok will be introducing a new feature that will let people with epilepsy automatically skip videos that might trigger seizures. They’re the first social platform to respond to a call last year for more to be done to protect people who are vulnerable to flashing lights - a condition believed to affect 18,000 people in the UK.
Hydrogen trains
Germany has announced plans to build a hydrogen-powered train which has a top speed of 100mph and can go for up to 370 miles in between refuelling. The goal is to replace all 1,300 remaining diesel trains on non-electrified lines with these zero-emissions locomotives. It marks something of a comeback for hydrogen, which was once held up as the fuel of the future but has recently lost out to battery power in the motoring market.
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player, Spotify, Apple podcasts, SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts


theweekuk--2020-11-27--AstraZeneca plans new Oxford vaccine trial to prove jab works on all ages

A fresh global trial of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine is being launched to clarify how effectively the jab protects older age groups - and banish doubts that have emerged since preliminary results were published on Monday .
“ The company wants the new test to confirm the 90 % efficacy rate that the shot showed in a portion of an existing trial , ” Bloomberg reports .
That impressive rate was the result of an error , when a sub-group of about 2,700 trial subjects were given a half dose of the vaccine followed by a full booster dose , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by other participants .
People in the sub-group were found to be the least likely to fall ill with Covid - but were all under the age of 55 , and therefore less vulnerable to the coronavirus , health officials have revealed .
“ The timeline for regulatory approval and rollout of the vaccine in the UK and Europe should not be affected ” by the new testing push , The Guardian reports .
In the US , however , questions have been asked about whether AstraZeneca ’ s interim data tells the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the fact that Monday ’ s announcement did not present results from a single , large-scale , Phase 3 clinical trial , ” says Wired .
Instead , it included results from two separate trials , one in the UK and one in Brazil , which makes it hard to be sure researchers haven ’ t “ cherry-picked the data ” , the magazine adds .
AstraZeneca has pledged to publish its full results in a peer-reviewed journal as soon as possible .
Despite the urgency created by the mounting Covid-19 death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for patience ” , Politico reports .
Most believe that the full data will confirm the effectiveness of the Oxford vaccine .
And while some questions must still be answered , the recent vaccine trial results are “ very good news ” , says Professor Peter Openshaw of Imperial College London .
He told the BBC : “ It is remarkable that each of the trials that are now reporting shows protection , which we did not know was going to be possible .
”

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theweekuk--2020-11-27--Podcasts of the Week: creeps, spooks and uplifting tales

Ghislaine Maxwell is a cracking subject for a podcast , said James Marriott in The Times .
And in Hunting Ghislaine , John Sweeney ( famous for “ screaming at Scientologists ” on Panorama ) does it “ more than ” justice .
In this “ gripping and beautifully constructed ” documentary , he has the confidence not to kick things off “ overexcitedly ” with Jeffrey Epstein ’ s suicide , Maxwell ’ s arrest and the Prince Andrew interview .
Instead , he starts the story at the beginning , carefully charting publisher Robert Maxwell ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter , and laying out startling tales of “ old-school power and corruption ” in 1980s Fleet Street .
Sweeney ’ s “ portentous foghorn ” can jar at first , but it possesses a “ brute moral clarity well suited to blasting through the lives of these cruel , wealthy and twisted people ” .
He has produced a superb podcast , a “ must-listen ” .
I confess I find much British audio drama “ crocky and old-fashioned ” , said Miranda Sawyer in The Observer .
But some innovative “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medium a kick up its hoo-ha ” .
I would strongly recommend The Piper ( BBC Sounds ) and High Strangeness ( Audible ; still spooky but with “ added laughs ” ) .
But top of the list is Tracks , a “ gripping tale of weirdness , coincidence and conspiracy theories ” .
The central character is Helen Ash , a GP with a “ less than sensitive bedside manner ” .
In the current , fifth series , Ash is excellently played by Olivia Poulet ( in earlier series , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hattie Morahan , and I would urge you to start at the beginning , on BBC Sounds ; it ’ s well worth it ) .
Helen is mortally ill , and getting strange email messages from her dead father .
“ The sound , characterisation and ambience of Tracks , as well as the brilliant storytelling ” , make it “ one of the best long-running audio dramas ever ” .
An uplifting new weekly podcast from Australian network ABC , Days Like These is partly modelled on the acclaimed US series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the FT .
It was recorded during lockdown earlier this year , and the idea is to tell stories of “ resilience , love and triumph at a time when hope can feel in short supply ” .
Standout episodes include Spencer ’ s Superpower , a tale of marriage and a pregnancy against the odds ; Baby , a “ touching story of the kindness of strangers ” about a beloved doll that was mislaid in a shopping mall ; and ( best of all ) Cate ’ s Black Summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bushfires to flee their Victoria home on New Year ’ s Eve .
Each story lasts about 20 minutes : “ just enough time to put on some headphones , block out the news and marvel at the human capacity for love and survival ” .
Why are retail sales growing ?
Should social media companies clamp down on flashing images ?
And why are German railways turning to hydrogen ?
Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days .

Ghislaine Maxwell is a cracking subject for a podcast, said James Marriott in The Times. And in Hunting Ghislaine, John Sweeney (famous for “screaming at Scientologists” on Panorama) does it “more than” justice. In this “gripping and beautifully constructed” documentary, he has the confidence not to kick things off “overexcitedly” with Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide, Maxwell’s arrest and the Prince Andrew interview. Instead, he starts the story at the beginning, carefully charting publisher Robert Maxwell’s “creepy and abusive obsession” with his daughter, and laying out startling tales of “old-school power and corruption” in 1980s Fleet Street. Sweeney’s “portentous foghorn” can jar at first, but it possesses a “brute moral clarity well suited to blasting through the lives of these cruel, wealthy and twisted people”. He has produced a superb podcast, a “must-listen”.
I confess I find much British audio drama “crocky and old-fashioned”, said Miranda Sawyer in The Observer. But some innovative “spooky” podcasts have “given the medium a kick up its hoo-ha”. I would strongly recommend The Piper (BBC Sounds) and High Strangeness (Audible; still spooky but with “added laughs”). But top of the list is Tracks, a “gripping tale of weirdness, coincidence and conspiracy theories”. The central character is Helen Ash, a GP with a “less than sensitive bedside manner”. In the current, fifth series, Ash is excellently played by Olivia Poulet (in earlier series, she was played by Romola Garai and Hattie Morahan, and I would urge you to start at the beginning, on BBC Sounds; it’s well worth it). Helen is mortally ill, and getting strange email messages from her dead father. “The sound, characterisation and ambience of Tracks, as well as the brilliant storytelling”, make it “one of the best long-running audio dramas ever”.
An uplifting new weekly podcast from Australian network ABC, Days Like These is partly modelled on the acclaimed US series This American Life, said Fiona Sturges in the FT. It was recorded during lockdown earlier this year, and the idea is to tell stories of “resilience, love and triumph at a time when hope can feel in short supply”. Standout episodes include Spencer’s Superpower, a tale of marriage and a pregnancy against the odds; Baby, a “touching story of the kindness of strangers” about a beloved doll that was mislaid in a shopping mall; and (best of all) Cate’s Black Summer Secret, about a family forced by bushfires to flee their Victoria home on New Year’s Eve. Each story lasts about 20 minutes: “just enough time to put on some headphones, block out the news and marvel at the human capacity for love and survival”.
The Week Unwrapped podcast: Social epilepsy, hydrogen and a retail boom
Why are retail sales growing? Should social media companies clamp down on flashing images? And why are German railways turning to hydrogen? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.


theweekuk--2020-11-28--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 28 Nov 2020

Hospitals have been told to prepare for the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine in as little as 10 days ’ @ @ @ @ @ .
With regulatory approval expected for the jab within days , health bosses said hospitals @ @ @ @ @ receive their first deliveries as soon as Monday 7 December .
NHS workers are expected @ @ @ @ @ of the queue for vaccination .

Alex Ferguson pledges £2m to Rashford’s charity
Sir Alex Ferguson has teamed up with Marcus Rashford to tackle child food poverty. The two football figures have come together to support an appeal which is raising money for the poverty and food waste charity FareShare. “You have to be shocked at the number of people who are in need of food,” Sir Alex Ferguson told The Times, as he pledged up to £2million towards the charity, for which Rashford is an ambassador.


theweekuk--2020-11-29--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 29 Nov 2020

Downing Street warned last night that Britain could be just seven days away from leaving the European Union without a @ @ @ @ @ statement “ at the start of what may be the final week of trade negotiations @ @ @ @ @ that a “ significant gap ” still exists on fisheries , adding : “ No @ @ @ @ @ EU sources also say there is growing scepticism that any further progress will be made @

No deal is ‘underpriced’ warns Downing Street
Downing Street warned last night that Britain could be just seven days away from leaving the European Union without a trade deal. In a statement “at the start of what may be the final week of trade negotiations”, Number 10 warned that a “significant gap” still exists on fisheries, adding: “No deal is arguably underpriced.” EU sources also say there is growing scepticism that any further progress will be made.


theweekuk--2020-11-30--How Iran’s top nuclear scientist was killed with remote-controlled machine gun

A remote-controlled machine gun was used to kill Iran ’ s leading nuclear scientist in an assassination that Tehran has blamed on Israel , according to latest reports .
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh - dubbed the “ father ” of Iran ’ s bomb programme - was travelling with his wife in a bullet-proof car , accompanied by a convoy of armoured vehicles , when they came under gun fire on Friday in the city of Absard , 50 miles east of the capital .
Accounts of the attack are conflicting , with the Daily Mail reporting that Fakhrizadeh “ was shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assassins ” after his convoy was forced to stop when a nearby parked car exploded as they approached a roundabout .
But Iran ’ s semi-official Fars News Agency is claiming that Fakhrizadeh was killed by a remote-controlled machine gun mounted on a Nissan parked about 150 metres away , after he pulled over and exited his own vehicle to investigate sounds of gunfire .
Fakhrizadeh is reported to have been “ hit at least three times ” , and “ his bodyguard was also shot ” , before the Nissan exploded , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has once more heightened tensions between Tehran and its foes , with Iran ’ s president , Hassan Rouhani , accusing Israel of acting as Washington ’ s ‘ mercenary ’ ” by masterminding the attack , The Guardian reports .
The assassination is widely viewed as a bid to hobble efforts by US President-elect Joe Biden to revive the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal , “ a move that Jerusalem staunchly opposes ” , adds The Times of Israel .
Pledging revenge for the attack , Iran ’ s Major General Hossein Dehghan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seyyed Ali Khamenei - warned on Saturday that Tehran would “ descend like lightning ” on “ Zionists ” seeking to “ to intensify and increase pressure on Iran to wage a full-blown war ” .
Although Jerusalem has not officially taken responsibility for the assassination , an unnamed Israeli official told The New York Times yesterday that “ the world should thank Israel ” for getting rid of the nuclear menace posed by Fakhrizadeh , who led research for Iran ’ s Ministry of Defence .
His body is being interred at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following a state funeral procession .

A remote-controlled machine gun was used to kill Iran’s leading nuclear scientist in an assassination that Tehran has blamed on Israel, according to latest reports.
Mohsen Fakhrizadeh - dubbed the “father” of Iran’s bomb programme - was travelling with his wife in a bullet-proof car, accompanied by a convoy of armoured vehicles, when they came under gunfire on Friday in the city of Absard, 50 miles east of the capital.
Accounts of the attack are conflicting, with the Daily Mail reporting that Fakhrizadeh “was shot dead in his car by 12 highly-trained assassins” after his convoy was forced to stop when a nearby parked car exploded as they approached a roundabout.
But Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency is claiming that Fakhrizadeh was killed by a remote-controlled machine gun mounted on a Nissan parked about 150 metres away, after he pulled over and exited his own vehicle to investigate sounds of gunfire.
Fakhrizadeh is reported to have been “hit at least three times”, and “his bodyguard was also shot”, before the Nissan exploded, says CNN.
The killing has “has once more heightened tensions between Tehran and its foes, with Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, accusing Israel of acting as Washington’s ‘mercenary’” by masterminding the attack, The Guardian reports.
The assassination is widely viewed as a bid to hobble efforts by US President-elect Joe Biden to revive the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, “a move that Jerusalem staunchly opposes”, adds The Times of Israel.
Pledging revenge for the attack, Iran’s Major General Hossein Dehghan - military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei - warned on Saturday that Tehran would “descend like lightning” on “Zionists” seeking “to intensify and increase pressure on Iran to wage a full-blown war”.
Although Jerusalem has not officially taken responsibility for the assassination, an unnamed Israeli official told The New York Times yesterday that “the world should thank Israel” for getting rid of the nuclear menace posed by Fakhrizadeh, who led research for Iran’s Ministry of Defence.
His body is being interred at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini shrine today following a state funeral procession.


theweekuk--2020-11-30--Future of farming: a Brexit battle for the British landscape

The end of the Brexit transition period will bring sweeping changes to the UK farming sector in one of the largest policy shifts the industry has seen in decades , the government has announced .
Under than plans , farmers in England “ will need to cut carbon emissions , create more space for wildlife and make improvements to animal welfare in order to access public money ” after the UK leaves the EU and its common agricultural policy next year , The Independent reports .
Environment Secretary George Eustice told BBC Breakfast this morning that the shift towards more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be an evolution not a revolution ” .
“ If we work together to get this right , then a decade from now the rest of the world will want to follow our lead , ” he added .
What is the government proposing ?
Between next year and 2028 , Downing Street will gradually phase out the “ direct payments ” per hectare handed to farmers under the EU ’ s Common Agricultural Policy , which total £1.8bn a year in England .
Instead , the money will be used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ( ELM ) scheme .
Eustice told Sky News that the post-Brexit strategy would free farmers in England from the “ constraints ” of the EU ’ s controversial system .
During a visit to a farm in East Sussex on Sunday , the environment secretary told reporters that the bloc ’ s approach was about “ rewarding land area rather than what ’ s done for the environment ” .
But with Brexit just around the corner , Britain ’ s “ future agriculture policy is going to reward farmers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carbon impact ” , he added .
The money saved from reducing the current subsidies will be used to pay farmers “ to harness their land to protect wildlife and boost carbon stocks through actions such as tree planting and restoring soils ” , The Independent reports .
Farmers will also “ be supported to improve animal welfare , and the change could see them being paid for reducing the use of cages and crates used in poultry and pig farming , and ending practices such as beak trimming and tail-docking ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money will be available to help them improve their profitability through “ hi-tech and sustainable farming methods ” , the newspaper continues .
Alternatively , existing farmers who want out will be offered lump-sum “ exit payments ” , in a bid to bring “ new blood ” into the sector , says The Times .
These payments will allow anyone who has had enough of farming to retire “ with dignity ” , said Eustice , and pave the way for new entrants to the industry who can “ bring to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
The Welsh and Scottish administrations will decide separately how to allocate their farm funding .
Campaigners have “ broadly welcomed ” the shift towards prioritising the environment , but warn that key details still remain “ murky ” , reports The Independent .
Some “ have concerns about the funding and timescale of the new scheme , as farmers are heavily dependent on the subsidy payments to remain profitable ” , says Sky News .
The National Farmers Union ( NFU ) has described the current direct payments as a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prices and increasingly unpredictable growing conditions .
“ Expecting farmers to run viable , high-cost farm businesses , continue to produce food and increase their environmental delivery , while phasing out existing support and without a complete replacement scheme for almost three years , is high risk and a very big ask , ” said NFU president Minette Batters .
“ I am worried .
If you take livestock as an example , you ’ ve got a 60 % to 80 % shortfall in farm business income by 2024.
” Mark Bridgeman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Business Association , said the new scheme had the potential to “ be a genuinely world-leading policy ” , but added : “ Many farmers will find it hard to see past the drastic cuts to the basic payment scheme , that begin next year .
“ The average family farm will see cuts of over 50 % before the new schemes are fully available in 2024.
” The slow rollout of the new policy has infuriated environmentalists , who point out that the farming sector which has not seen a reduction in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with agriculture accounting for 9 % of the UK ’ s output .
Tom Lancaster , head of land use policy at the RSPB , said “ faster progress is now needed over the coming months as the government sets out its plans in more detail ” .
That plea was echoed by Craig Bennett , from the Wildlife Trusts , who claims that the EU Common Agricultural Policy has “ wreaked devastation on our wildlife ” and caused “ deep-seated issues in farming communities ” .
“ Nature needs the help promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford to waste any more time , ” Bennett said .
Meanwhile , Dr Richard Benwell , CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link , has called for greater transparency by the Department for Environment , Food and Rural Affairs ( Defra ) about the policy change plans .
“ Combined with uncertainty for farmers over exports , tariffs and standards in trade deals post-Brexit , there ’ s a foggy future for farming ahead , ” said Dr Benwell .
“ This uncertainty could mean some farmers turn away from greener options or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but as this week ’ s farmland bird index showed once again , there ’ s no time to lose in investing in a greener farming future .
“ We urge Defra to publish more detail on higher environmental standards expected during and after the transition period as soon as possible , so that farmers can plan for the future .
”

The end of the Brexit transition period will bring sweeping changes to the UK farming sector in one of the largest policy shifts the industry has seen in decades, the government has announced.
Under the plans, farmers in England “will need to cut carbon emissions, create more space for wildlife and make improvements to animal welfare in order to access public money” after the UK leaves the EU and its common agricultural policy next year, The Independent reports.
Environment Secretary George Eustice told BBC Breakfast this morning that the shift towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable farming practices “will be an evolution not a revolution”.
“If we work together to get this right, then a decade from now the rest of the world will want to follow our lead,” he added.
What is the government proposing?
Between next year and 2028, Downing Street will gradually phase out the “direct payments” per hectare handed to farmers under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, which total £1.8bn a year in England. Instead, the money will be used to fund the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme.
Eustice told Sky News that the post-Brexit strategy would free farmers in England from the “constraints” of the EU’s controversial system.
During a visit to a farm in East Sussex on Sunday, the environment secretary told reporters that the bloc’s approach was about “rewarding land area rather than what’s done for the environment”. But with Brexit just around the corner, Britain’s “future agriculture policy is going to reward farmers for doing things to reduce climate change and carbon impact”, he added.
The money saved from reducing the current subsidies will be used to pay farmers “to harness their land to protect wildlife and boost carbon stocks through actions such as tree planting and restoring soils”, The Independent reports.
Farmers will also “be supported to improve animal welfare, and the change could see them being paid for reducing the use of cages and crates used in poultry and pig farming, and ending practices such as beak trimming and tail-docking”, adds The Telegraph.
And further public money will be available to help them improve their profitability through “hi-tech and sustainable farming methods”, the newspaper continues.


theweekuk--2020-11-30--F1: Romain Grosjean hails the ‘halo’ after surviving horror crash

Romain Grosjean said he ’ s “ sort of OK ” after walking away from a frightening crash at the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday .
Haas driver Grosjean smashed into barriers on the first lap of the race at the Bahrain International Circuit and the impact split his car in two and it then burst into flames .
Making contact with Daniil Kvyat ’ s Scuderia AlphaTauri just after turn three , Grosjean ’ s Haas “ speared into the barriers ” at an impact speed of 221kph ( 137.3mph ) , F1.com says .
Incredibly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rescued by nearby marshals and medical officials - while flames engulfed the front half of his car , Sky Sports reports .
The Frenchman spent the night in hospital after being treated for burns to his hands .
X-rays revealed that he did not suffer any fractures .
In a medical update posted on Monday , the Haas F1 team said Grosjean is “ continuing his convalescence at the Bahrain Defence Force ( BDF ) hospital having remained there overnight following Sunday ’ s incident at the Bahrain Grand Prix ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burns Grosjean sustained on the back of both his hands is going well .
Grosjean was visited by Guenther Steiner , team principal of Haas F1 Team , on Monday and it is anticipated he will be discharged from the care of the hospital on Tuesday 1 December.
” The “ halo ” head protection device on F1 cars drew criticism from fans and team members when it was introduced in 2018 .
However , Grosjean said had it not been for the halo he “ wouldn ’ t be able to speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deflect tyres and debris away from the driver ’ s head , the halo is a piece of carbon fibre-wrapped titanium that curves around the cockpit .
It ’ s held in place by a single strut in front of the driver and two mounts bolted onto the chassis behind .
Speaking in a video message Grosjean said : “ Hello everyone , just wanted to say I ’ m okay , well , sort of okay .
Thank you very much for all the messages .
“ I wasn ’ t for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it ’ s the greatest thing we brought to Formula 1 and without it I wouldn ’ t be able to speak to you today.
” The FIA , F1 ’ s governing body , is launching an investigation into the accident in Bahrain .
“ We will look at it all and undertake a full investigation of the whole incident , and what we can learn , ” race director Michael Masi told Sky Sports F1 .
Ross Brawn , Formula 1 ’ s managing director of motorsport , said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the halo saved Grosjean ’ s life .
“ The barrier splitting was a classic problem many years ago and normally it resulted in a fatality , ” Brawn told Sky Sports F1 .
“ There is absolutely no doubt the halo was the factor that saved the day - and saved Romain .
All the team behind it just need crediting for forcing it through.
” Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton won the grand prix in Bahrain and in his post-race interview he said the incident was a “ stark reminder ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was terrifying to see , ” said the seven-time world champion .
“ I haven ’ t seen something like that for a long , long time and it really hits home for a driver because I think whilst we all are competing for each other and want to beat each other we definitely , I would think , want safety for everyone and worry about one another when there is an issue , when there is a crash .
“ So I ’ m really grateful that he ’ s safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But I think it ’ s a real stark reminder of just how dangerous this sport can be .
”

Romain Grosjean said he’s “sort of OK” after walking away from a frightening crash at the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.
Haas driver Grosjean smashed into barriers on the first lap of the race at the Bahrain International Circuit and the impact split his car in two and it then burst into flames.
Making contact with Daniil Kvyat’s Scuderia AlphaTauri just after turn three, Grosjean’s Haas “speared into the barriers” at an impact speed of 221kph (137.3mph), F1.com says.
Incredibly, Grosjean emerged from his cockpit before being rescued by nearby marshals and medical officials - while flames engulfed the front half of his car, Sky Sports reports.
The Frenchman spent the night in hospital after being treated for burns to his hands. X-rays revealed that he did not suffer any fractures.
In a medical update posted on Monday, the Haas F1 team said Grosjean is “continuing his convalescence at the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) hospital having remained there overnight following Sunday’s incident at the Bahrain Grand Prix”.
The statement said: “Treatment on the burns Grosjean sustained on the back of both his hands is going well. Grosjean was visited by Guenther Steiner, team principal of Haas F1 Team, on Monday and it is anticipated he will be discharged from the care of the hospital on Tuesday 1 December.”
An update from Romain himself. Pleased to see you’re in good spirits! We hope you make a speedy recovery 🙏 pic.twitter.com/njnjjH4GBi — MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) November 29, 2020
‘Greatest thing we brought to F1’
The “halo” head protection device on F1 cars drew criticism from fans and team members when it was introduced in 2018. However, Grosjean said had it not been for the halo he “wouldn’t be able to speak to you today”.
Designed to deflect tyres and debris away from the driver’s head, the halo is a piece of carbon fibre-wrapped titanium that curves around the cockpit. It’s held in place by a single strut in front of the driver and two mounts bolted onto the chassis behind.
Speaking in a video message Grosjean said: “Hello everyone, just wanted to say I’m okay, well, sort of okay. Thank you very much for all the messages.
“I wasn’t for the halo some years ago but I think it’s the greatest thing we brought to Formula 1 and without it I wouldn’t be able to speak to you today.”
The FIA, F1’s governing body, is launching an investigation into the accident in Bahrain. “We will look at it all and undertake a full investigation of the whole incident, and what we can learn,” race director Michael Masi told Sky Sports F1.
We want to again thank Dr. Ian Roberts, Alan van der Merwe, circuit marshals and medics for acting so bravely and swiftly today 🙏 pic.twitter.com/FPxSxjD3ry — MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) November 29, 2020
‘Halo saved the day - and Romain’
Ross Brawn, Formula 1’s managing director of motorsport, said there’s “no doubt” that the halo saved Grosjean’s life.
“The barrier splitting was a classic problem many years ago and normally it resulted in a fatality,” Brawn told Sky Sports F1. “There is absolutely no doubt the halo was the factor that saved the day - and saved Romain. All the team behind it just need crediting for forcing it through.”
Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton won the grand prix in Bahrain and in his post-race interview he said the incident was a “stark reminder” of the dangers of F1.
“Naturally it was terrifying to see,” said the seven-time world champion. “I haven’t seen something like that for a long, long time and it really hits home for a driver because I think whilst we all are competing for each other and want to beat each other we definitely, I would think, want safety for everyone and worry about one another when there is an issue, when there is a crash.
“So I’m really grateful that he’s safe and was able to get out. But I think it’s a real stark reminder of just how dangerous this sport can be.”


theweekuk--2020-11-30--Christmas gifts: best tech and gadgets

Christmas gifts: best tech and gadgets

Make life a little more fun this Christmas with this selection of great tech gifts .
From DIY gizmos to gaming must-haves , here ’ s our pick of the best gadgets available right now .
For more inspiration check out the best action cameras and portable projectors for home cinemas .
Nothing could be more rewarding at Christmas than having full ownership of the remote control , but imagine if that same remote operated all digital devices in the house ?
The Harmony Elite , by Swiss brand Logitech , does just that by synching with more than 270,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lights , locks , thermostats , Amazon Alexa and Google Home .
In essence , this gadget represents the ultimate Christmas superpower : the ability to remain peacefully ensconced on the sofa after that blow out lunch .
Taiwanese brand Mininch makes slick looking tools that are compact , versatile and multifunctional - each product is small enough to carry in your bag and designed to make DIY more of an organised and elegant process .
This may sound like a contradiction in terms if you ’ ve ever wrestled with a flatpack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indeed .
The company ’ s Tool Pen Mini , seen here , comes with 22 parts and is inspired by children ’ s Pop-A-Point rainbow pens .
It carries six screwdriver heads in a solid aluminium barrel - you just pull one out and another one appears .
Mininch also make a pocket-friendly interchangeable wrench , super handy for sports equipment and household appliances .
The company uses prestige materials such as steel with a titanium coating to ensure products are strong and corrosion resistant .
YouTuber Marques Brownlee garnered more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s latest HomePod Mini smart speaker .
His headline - “ big sound , tiny box ” - neatly sums things up .
This smart device delivers a surprisingly crisp and powerful sound , plus it works in sync with your phone so you can make calls and ask Siri to play your Apple Music through it .
The top display is a flat disk that flashes different colours depending on the action it is performing - for example , it glows green if you are dialling out .
There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are playing music on your phone , you can “ beam ” the track across to the speaker by gently tapping your iPhone against its mesh frame - you ’ ll see a flash of purple and instantly hear the song .
That ’ s got to be a great magic trick to entertain the kids this Christmas .
Stylish and easy to use , the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo turntable is a smooth operator with a super-crisp sound .
It features a heavy steel plate equipped with a thermoplastic elastomer damping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The sound quality is further enhanced by taut motor suspension and sturdy adjustable aluminium feet which guarantee complete stability .
Audiophiles will appreciate the finer details too : for example , there ’ s a discreet rotor switch at the bottom of the turntable that allows you to effortlessly change speeds between 45 or 33.3 rpm .
Available in high-gloss black/white/red/green finishes or classic walnut , the real beauty of this ultra-modern streamlined product is the focus it places on the old-fashioned act of record playing .
This temporary desk - humorously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stykka - is a nifty way to create a collapsible office and maintain a healthy work/life balance .
Made from recycled cardboard and assembled in minutes , the makeshift workstation has featured in a variety of architecture and design publications including Dezeen and Wallpaper - they styled theirs with retro Anglepoise lamps and luscious rubber plants .
For princely sum of £52 , doodles and coffee cup stains are also allowed .
The GoPro Hero9 Black has a brand new front facing screen , which allows you to see what the camera is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lens - a very handy addition for vloggers and anyone who wants to save time setting up .
The process of recording couldn ’ t be easier : you just press a top red button and you ’ re ready to roll using a host of different features from time-lapse videos to a slow-mo function that captures up to 240 frames per second .
HyperSmooth 3.0 is the camera ’ s in-built horizon levelling function which stabilises the recording during high-impact sports such as mountain biking .
The brand ’ s current online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand grip , magnetic swivel clip , 32GB SD card and a spare battery as well as a year subscription to GoPro online , which gives you unlimited storage , camera insurance and exclusive discounts .
The GoPro app also allows you to control the camera from your phone , which makes dare-devil stunts a whole lot easier to capture on film .
Gaming headsets tend to be all bells and whistles but the Steel Series Arctis 9 wireless headphones are one of the sleekest designs on the market .
Not only do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including PS5 , if you can get one ) , they are compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled device .
They look stylish enough to wear as a regular set of headphones , helped along by the fact that the microphone pushes seamlessly inside the ear cup .
The steel frame is extremely lightweight and flexible , plus there ’ s a soft “ ski-band ” strip that sits over the crown of the head for added comfort .
The Fēnix 6 Pro Edition is one of Garmin ’ s most expensive wearables because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been tested to US military standards for thermal , shock and water resistance .
The fitness metrics are beyond sophisticated , and for this reason , the Fēnix 6 Pro is best suited to committed athletes who love precision gadgets .
One feature that you can really have fun with is the animated workouts displayed on the watch screen , ranging from strength building floor exercises to muscle toning pilates .
All Reservoir dials are inspired by classic racing , marine and aircraft counters and feature a retrograde minute and jumping hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the marque ’ s best-selling Supercharged Classic range , is powered by a high quality self-winding Swiss movement and draws its looks from the speedometers of British motorcars produced between 1930 and 1960 .
Every time the hand hits 60 and flicks back to zero , there ’ s a real sense of speed which neatly captures the very spirit of racing .
What ’ s not to love about this dinky portable colour printer by Polaroid ?
Download the app , stock up on film and you ’ re ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famille , no matter how small your bubble is .
The prints , which pop out in under a minute , have sticker backs so you can cover your fridge with festive collages .
Especially good for teens ( and of course big kids ) .
Available in two sizes , the all-new Transparent Matte Black Speaker is crafted from one single aluminium uniframe encasing the tempered glass panels and components - a simple , yet timeless , design .
This audio kit comes complete with an enhanced Digital Signal Processor ( DSP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plus True Wireless pairing to allow two speakers to play music simultaneously .
Rugged , dustproof and water resistant , the Tribit StormBox Micro is ideal for outdoor activities such as camping and cycling - and also packs a punch when used indoors .
It has a decent battery life , eight hours on one full charge , and its Bluetooth can keep connected while walking around the house or the garden .
Even though the StormBox Micro is small in size , the quality of its sound is big .
The built-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you can even connect two speakers together for stereo or party mode .

Make life a little more fun this Christmas with this selection of great tech gifts. From DIY gizmos to gaming must-haves, here’s our pick of the best gadgets available right now. For more inspiration check out the best action cameras and portable projectors for home cinemas. Logitech Harmony Elite Nothing could be more rewarding at Christmas than having full ownership of the remote control, but imagine if that same remote operated all digital devices in the house? The Harmony Elite, by Swiss brand Logitech, does just that by synching with more than 270,000 entertainment and smart home devices including smart lights, locks, thermostats, Amazon Alexa and Google Home. In essence, this gadget represents the ultimate Christmas superpower: the ability to remain peacefully ensconced on the sofa after that blow out lunch. £299; logitech.com Mininch Tool Pen Mini Taiwanese brand Mininch makes slick looking tools that are compact, versatile and multifunctional - each product is small enough to carry in your bag and designed to make DIY more of an organised and elegant process. This may sound like a contradiction in terms if you’ve ever wrestled with a flatpack, but these gadgets are very nifty indeed. The company’s Tool Pen Mini, seen here, comes with 22 parts and is inspired by children’s Pop-A-Point rainbow pens. It carries six screwdriver heads in a solid aluminium barrel - you just pull one out and another one appears. Mininch also make a pocket-friendly interchangeable wrench, super handy for sports equipment and household appliances. The company uses prestige materials such as steel with a titanium coating to ensure products are strong and corrosion resistant. £73.95; heinnie.com Apple HomePod Mini YouTuber Marques Brownlee garnered more than three million views when he reviewed Apple’s latest HomePod Mini smart speaker. His headline - “big sound, tiny box” - neatly sums things up. This smart device delivers a surprisingly crisp and powerful sound, plus it works in sync with your phone so you can make calls and ask Siri to play your Apple Music through it. The top display is a flat disk that flashes different colours depending on the action it is performing - for example, it glows green if you are dialling out. There’s a cool secret function too: if you are playing music on your phone, you can “beam” the track across to the speaker by gently tapping your iPhone against its mesh frame - you’ll see a flash of purple and instantly hear the song. That’s got to be a great magic trick to entertain the kids this Christmas. Skip advert
£99; apple.com Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo Stylish and easy to use, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo turntable is a smooth operator with a super-crisp sound. It features a heavy steel plate equipped with a thermoplastic elastomer damping ring which reduces vibrations to a minimum. The sound quality is further enhanced by taut motor suspension and sturdy adjustable aluminium feet which guarantee complete stability. Audiophiles will appreciate the finer details too: for example, there’s a discreet rotor switch at the bottom of the turntable that allows you to effortlessly change speeds between 45 or 33.3 rpm. Available in high-gloss black/white/red/green finishes or classic walnut, the real beauty of this ultra-modern streamlined product is the focus it places on the old-fashioned act of record playing. £449; richersounds.com #StayTheF***HomeDesk This temporary desk - humorously christened #StayTheF***HomeDesk by Danish design startup Stykka - is a nifty way to create a collapsible office and maintain a healthy work/life balance. Made from recycled cardboard and assembled in minutes, the makeshift workstation has featured in a variety of architecture and design publications including Dezeen and Wallpaper - they styled theirs with retro Anglepoise lamps and luscious rubber plants. For princely sum of £52, doodles and coffee cup stains are also allowed. £52; stykka.com GoPro Hero9 Black The GoPro Hero9 Black has a brand new front facing screen, which allows you to see what the camera is filming while you are looking at the lens - a very handy addition for vloggers and anyone who wants to save time setting up. The process of recording couldn’t be easier: you just press a top red button and you’re ready to roll using a host of different features from time-lapse videos to a slow-mo function that captures up to 240 frames per second. HyperSmooth 3.0 is the camera’s in-built horizon levelling function which stabilises the recording during high-impact sports such as mountain biking. The brand’s current online gift bundle includes essential accessories including a hand grip, magnetic swivel clip, 32GB SD card and a spare battery as well as a year subscription to GoPro online, which gives you unlimited storage, camera insurance and exclusive discounts. The GoPro app also allows you to control the camera from your phone, which makes dare-devil stunts a whole lot easier to capture on film. Skip advert £329.98; gopro.com Steel Series Arctis 9 Gaming headsets tend to be all bells and whistles but the Steel Series Arctis 9 wireless headphones are one of the sleekest designs on the market. Not only do they work on PC and PlayStation (including PS5, if you can get one), they are compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled device. They look stylish enough to wear as a regular set of headphones, helped along by the fact that the microphone pushes seamlessly inside the ear cup. The steel frame is extremely lightweight and flexible, plus there’s a soft “ski-band” strip that sits over the crown of the head for added comfort.


theweekuk--2020-11-30--Milton Keynes ‘will lead UK’s post-Covid economic recovery’

Milton Keynes will have the fastest economic recovery rate of any town or city in Britain next year , thanks to the boom in online shopping , according to a new report .
The Buckinghamshire town has been the “ butt of endless jokes over its roundabouts and concrete cows ” , but is set to have the “ last laugh ” , The Telegraph reports .
The newly published UK Powerhouse report , by the Centre for Economics and Business Research and law firm Irwin Mitchell , forecasts that Milton Keynes will enjoy a 9.9 % bounceback in annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next year , following an expected 10.7 % contraction in the year to Q4 2020 .
Like the other 45 key towns and cities analysed by the report authors , Milton Keynes has suffered “ Covid-19 related blows ” , but its status as a distribution hub for online shopping is “ fuelling the recovery ” , adds The Telegraph .
The town ’ s Magna Park is home to vast logistics sheds for companies including Amazon , Marks & Spencer , John Lewis and Adidas .
“ The economic make-up of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially highly skilled service sectors , such as IT and business services , as well as distribution and storage , ” says the report .
“ Many businesses in these sectors have struggled amid the pandemic .
“ The June closure of Adelie Foods , one of the UK ’ s largest sandwich makers , highlighted the challenges businesses have faced .
It cost more than 2,000 jobs in the Milton Keynes area .
Yet a key sector of growth as the UK emerges from the pandemic will be in logistics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumer shopping patterns.
” The Berkshire town of Reading is flagged as another likely winner of demand for IT and tech services , with the report authors predicting that it will have “ the strongest employment growth coming out of the coronavirus crisis , with 6.6 % growth and 10.0 % annual growth in Q2 and Q4 2021 respectively ” .
Overall , the UK economy grew by 15.5 % in Q3 this year , compared with the previous three-month period .
The strong uptick in growth follows a record contraction of 19.8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the average annual GVA growth across the towns and cities covered in the UK Powerhouse report is expected to be 23 % , while the change in employment is forecast to be -0.7 % year-on-year .
Meanwhile , the unemployment rate is expected to peak at around 7 % at the end of Q2 2021 .
“ Ending the furlough scheme in March 2021 is expected to have far less impact than it would have done in October 2020 , ” the report adds .

Milton Keynes will have the fastest economic recovery rate of any town or city in Britain next year, thanks to the boom in online shopping, according to a new report.
The Buckinghamshire town has been the “butt of endless jokes over its roundabouts and concrete cows”, but is set to have the “last laugh”, The Telegraph reports.
The newly published UK Powerhouse report, by the Centre for Economics and Business Research and law firm Irwin Mitchell, forecasts that Milton Keynes will enjoy a 9.9% bounceback in annual gross value added (GVA) over the next year, following an expected 10.7% contraction in the year to Q4 2020.
Like the other 45 key towns and cities analysed by the report authors, Milton Keynes has suffered “Covid-19 related blows”, but its status as a distribution hub for online shopping is “fuelling the recovery”, adds The Telegraph. The town’s Magna Park is home to vast logistics sheds for companies including Amazon, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Adidas.
“The economic make-up of Milton Keynes is heavily skewed towards services, especially highly skilled service sectors, such as IT and business services, as well as distribution and storage,” says the report. “Many businesses in these sectors have struggled amid the pandemic.
“The June closure of Adelie Foods, one of the UK’s largest sandwich makers, highlighted the challenges businesses have faced. It cost more than 2,000 jobs in the Milton Keynes area. Yet a key sector of growth as the UK emerges from the pandemic will be in logistics and online retail, reflecting the change in consumer shopping patterns.”
The Berkshire town of Reading is flagged as another likely winner of demand for IT and tech services, with the report authors predicting that it will have “the strongest employment growth coming out of the coronavirus crisis, with 6.6% growth and 10.0% annual growth in Q2 and Q4 2021 respectively”.
Overall, the UK economy grew by 15.5% in Q3 this year, compared with the previous three-month period. The strong uptick in growth follows a record contraction of 19.8% in Q2 2020.
In 2021, the average annual GVA growth across the towns and cities covered in the UK Powerhouse report is expected to be 23%, while the change in employment is forecast to be -0.7% year-on-year.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate is expected to peak at around 7% at the end of Q2 2021. “Ending the furlough scheme in March 2021 is expected to have far less impact than it would have done in October 2020,” the report adds.


theweekuk--2020-11-30--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 30 Nov 2020

Boris Johnson is set to announce that pubs and restaurants hit by new restrictions will be given extra cash to @ @ @ @ @ .
The tier system requires all premises in Tier 3 to offer only takeaway service @ @ @ @ @ 2 can only serve alcohol with “ substantial meals ” .
A government source said @ @ @ @ @ grants of £2,000 and £3,000 but we recognise that we need to do more .
@

PM ‘to offer more’ to struggling pubs and restaurants
Boris Johnson is set to announce that pubs and restaurants hit by new restrictions will be given extra cash to help get them through Christmas. The tier system requires all premises in Tier 3 to offer only takeaway service, while those in Tier 2 can only serve alcohol with “substantial meals”. A government source said: “There are already grants of £2,000 and £3,000 but we recognise that we need to do more.”


theweekuk--2020-11-30--Austrian village of F***ing changes its name

The residents of an Austrian village named Fucking have voted to change its name after enduring unwanted attention from tourists .
The village of 100 residents near the German border will be re-named Fugging .
Tourists had flocked to the village for a photo-op next to an entrance sign , annoying locals .
“ I really don ’ t want to say anything more - we ’ ve had enough media frenzy about this in the past , ” said the mayor .
A man in Wiltshire has discovered a new variety of apple after he went out for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nadder Valley , said although he is “ no fruit expert ” he was immediately “ excited by the pale and mottled oddity ” of the apple .
Experts have confirmed that the “ highly unusual ” fruit “ tastes quite good ” .
British Airways is looking int reports that one of its stewardesses is selling sex during and in between flights .
The cabin member ’ s advertisements on social media show her in a variety of saucy poses while in uniform on the plane .
She offers to sell items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on-board ” .
The airline said : “ We expect the highest standard of behaviour from all of our colleagues at all times.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The residents of an Austrian village named Fucking have voted to change its name after enduring unwanted attention from tourists. The village of 100 residents near the German border will be re-named Fugging. Tourists had flocked to the village for a photo-op next to an entrance sign, annoying locals. “I really don’t want to say anything more - we’ve had enough media frenzy about this in the past,” said the mayor.
Jogger ‘excited’ to discover new apple
A man in Wiltshire has discovered a new variety of apple after he went out for a run. Archie Thomas, from the Nadder Valley, said although he is “no fruit expert” he was immediately “excited by the pale and mottled oddity” of the apple. Experts have confirmed that the “highly unusual” fruit “tastes quite good”.
British Airways investigates stewardess’s saucy ads
British Airways is looking int reports that one of its stewardesses is selling sex during and in between flights. The cabin member’s advertisements on social media show her in a variety of saucy poses while in uniform on the plane. She offers to sell items of her underwear and “adult entertainment on-board”. The airline said: “We expect the highest standard of behaviour from all of our colleagues at all times.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-11-29--12 classic Christmas films on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video

There ’ s nothing better at Christmas than tucking into a selection box and sitting down with the family to watch a film .
With classics including Home Alone and Elf , there ’ s plenty of options available to stream , rent or buy on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video this year .
So grab the remote , unwrap the sweets and enjoy these festive flicks .
This much-loved classic has got to be on everyone ’ s Christmas watchlist .
Mischievous Kevin McCallister ( Macaulay Culkin ) enjoys an unexpected staycation , delighting viewers with slapstick scenes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ( Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern ) .
Even 30 years after its initial release , Home Alone is hailed by The Guardian as a “ box office smash hit ” and has been a “ favourite , decades after ” .
Christmas wouldn ’ t be Christmas without a zipline across the garden , a hot iron to the face and a baubles booby trap , would it ?
“ Keep the change , ya filthy animal.
” As a traditional , festive romantic comedy , Love Actually has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With a star-studded cast including Bill Nighy , Andrew Lincoln and Kiera Knightley to name a few , this winter warmer will have you in giggles as Hugh Grant boogies around 10 Downing Street , swooning as Colin Firth falls in love , and in tears with Emma Thompson as her marriage collapses .
The New York Times , which once described the film as “ an indigestible Christmas pudding from the British whimsy factory ” , has since conceded that it is a “ classic ” and it rests firmly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ films .
From the writer who brought us the 80s smash-hit , Back to the Future , The Polar Express is another of Robert Zemeckis ’ triumphs .
Nominated for three Oscars , this 2004 animated film encapsulates the magic , sparkle and excitement of a snowy Christmas Eve .
With Tom Hanks as the voice of no fewer than six characters , it ’ s almost a one-man show .
Using what was then , state-of-the-art animation technology , says Manohla Dargis of The New York Times , viewers are transported on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the North Pole .
Secret-agent elves in night-vision goggles ziplining into bedrooms , sleighs and reindeer replaced by the metal giant , the S1 , and a control room of Santa ’ s helpers organising the night with pinpoint precision ... this is Christmas for the modern age .
Enter Arthur , the gangly , loveable son of Santa , voiced by James McAvoy .
Usually out of sight and mind in the mail room , Arthur takes on the challenge to deliver a gift to a child who has been missed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and adults , this is a fantastic , feel-good film .
“ A great , big joy ” , said Empire ’ s Olly Richards .
“ Even if you ’ re a bit bah humbug , just delight in the supremely clever Aardman comedy.
” Sequel to the 2018 hit , this new release returns to Kate , now a teenager , trying to avoid spending her holiday with her mum ’ s new boyfriend and son .
Through a magical twist and Christmas miracle , the young heroine finds herself whisked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s every child ’ s wildest dreams come true .
“ The director , Chris Columbus , fills the village with marvels : toy factories , storybooks , a swarm of beatific elves , ” said Natalia Winkelman in The New York Times .
Reminding us about love , friendship and the power of Christmas spirit , this is an uplifting watch in the run-up to 25 December .
Fleeing disappointing relationships and finding love over Christmas , Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet are a winning pair in this popular yuletide film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles and a quiet , country girl in the heart of rural Surrey swap houses – and lives – enjoying a topsy-turvy getaway for a week in late December .
Full of Christmas cheer , romantic encounters and Jude Law as the dishy leading man , The Holiday puts together beautiful locations and cheesy , yet heart-warming dialogue into a festive rom-com .
The Telegraph ’ s Sukhdev Sandhu hit the nail on the head by calling it “ winter ’ s cuddliest movie ” .
Miracle on 34th Street is set in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a department store Santa claims that he is the “ real deal ” .
With the help of a young girl Susan , and her begrudging and cynical mother , Kris Kringle takes on a lawsuit to prove that he is the man in the big , red suit .
The take on the 1947 original brings not only colour , but also Christmas cheer and smiles to everyone who watches it .
The fabulous cast includes Richard Attenborough who “ positively sparkles in the role of the mysterious Kriss Kringle ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bona fide Christmas classic .
One of Tim Burton ’ s glorious stop-motion masterpieces , The Nightmare Before Christmas is a “ delectably ghoulish fairy tale ” for all ages , says The New York Times .
Spindly skeleton with a heart of gold , the prominent citizen of Halloweentown , Jack Skellington , hatches a plot to kidnap Santa Claus and take on the role himself .
A unique twist of both Halloween and Christmas , Burton ’ s fantasy towns and landscapes are not just for children .
“ I found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the imagination , ” said film critic Roger Ebert .
The green , furry , smirking Grinch is a Christmas personality almost as recognisable as Father Christmas himself .
With the quirky backdrop of Seuss ’ Whoville , this 2018 film retains all the hallmarks of the old favourite , together with some new additions - Max , his enthusiastic canine helper and a soundtrack of Pharrell Williams songs .
“ The Grinch spreads the message of Christmas through its theme about spending the holidays together , with people you love ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is what we all need this year .
You either love it or you hate it .
In the “ Marmite ” movie of Christmas , Will Ferrell stars as Buddy , an overgrown Santa ’ s helper let loose in New York City .
While many may find it cheesy as Ferrell bursts into a tiny coffee shop in Manhattan intent on congratulating the owner for having the “ world ’ s best cup of coffee ” or slurping mountains of spaghetti slathered in syrup , the light-hearted humour , unashamedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bring the Christmas spirit to life .
“ Elf is hilarious , ” says Kate Abbott in The Guardian .
You would be a “ cotton-headed ninny muggins ” to miss this one at Christmas .
Those who are excited by the countdown to 1 January can be transported to New Year ’ s Eve in the Big Apple , ready to watch the Times Square Ball Drop .
Without the real event this year , viewers can delight in the Love Actually-style drama of the intertwined lives of Halle Berry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swank , Sarah Jessica Parker and Abigail Breslin .
With the pangs of teenage romance , a ticking clock on an incomplete bucket list and two 20-somethings falling in love in a broken elevator , this film ties together all the stereotypes of a not-so-serious American comedy with amusing results .
Home Alone 2 : Lost in New York One of the few sequels to make the list , Home Alone 2 is a reprise with just as much sparkle and mischief as the original .
Mistakenly boarding a flight to New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rush for a flight to Miami , Kevin McAllister is once again single-handedly facing his archenemies .
While it may appear that the fun and games of Home Alone have just been repackaged , it ’ s the Tom & Jerry-esque plot and “ sparkling slapstick climax ” that kids and adults enjoy , says The Hollywood Reporter .
Plus the sprinkling of magic that comes with a Christmas in New York .

There’s nothing better at Christmas than tucking into a selection box and sitting down with the family to watch a film. With classics including Home Alone and Elf, there’s plenty of options available to stream, rent or buy on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video this year. So grab the remote, unwrap the sweets and enjoy these festive flicks. Home Alone This much-loved classic has got to be on everyone’s Christmas watchlist. Mischievous Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) enjoys an unexpected staycation, delighting viewers with slapstick scenes as he wards off “The Wet Bandits” (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern). Even 30 years after its initial release, Home Alone is hailed by The Guardian as a “box office smash hit” and has been a “favourite, decades after”. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a zipline across the garden, a hot iron to the face and a baubles booby trap, would it? “Keep the change, ya filthy animal.” Rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video Love Actually As a traditional, festive romantic comedy, Love Actually has been a staple on Christmas Day television since 2003. With a star-studded cast including Bill Nighy, Andrew Lincoln and Kiera Knightley to name a few, this winter warmer will have you in giggles as Hugh Grant boogies around 10 Downing Street, swooning as Colin Firth falls in love, and in tears with Emma Thompson as her marriage collapses. The New York Times, which once described the film as “an indigestible Christmas pudding from the British whimsy factory”, has since conceded that it is a “classic” and it rests firmly in the UK’s top five Christmas films. Rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video The Polar Express From the writer who brought us the 80s smash-hit, Back to the Future, The Polar Express is another of Robert Zemeckis’ triumphs. Nominated for three Oscars, this 2004 animated film encapsulates the magic, sparkle and excitement of a snowy Christmas Eve. With Tom Hanks as the voice of no fewer than six characters, it’s almost a one-man show. Using what was then, state-of-the-art animation technology, says Manohla Dargis of The New York Times, viewers are transported on a whimsical adventure on a steam engine to the North Pole. Skip advert
Rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video Arthur Christmas Secret-agent elves in night-vision goggles ziplining into bedrooms, sleighs and reindeer replaced by the metal giant, the S1, and a control room of Santa’s helpers organising the night with pinpoint precision... this is Christmas for the modern age. Enter Arthur, the gangly, loveable son of Santa, voiced by James McAvoy. Usually out of sight and mind in the mail room, Arthur takes on the challenge to deliver a gift to a child who has been missed. Packed with laughs for both children and adults, this is a fantastic, feel-good film. “A great, big joy”, said Empire’s Olly Richards. “Even if you’re a bit bah humbug, just delight in the supremely clever Aardman comedy.” Watch on Netflix The Christmas Chronicles 2 Sequel to the 2018 hit, this new release returns to Kate, now a teenager, trying to avoid spending her holiday with her mum’s new boyfriend and son. Through a magical twist and Christmas miracle, the young heroine finds herself whisked away to the North Pole. It’s every child’s wildest dreams come true. “The director, Chris Columbus, fills the village with marvels: toy factories, storybooks, a swarm of beatific elves,” said Natalia Winkelman in The New York Times. Reminding us about love, friendship and the power of Christmas spirit, this is an uplifting watch in the run-up to 25 December. Watch on Netflix The Holiday Fleeing disappointing relationships and finding love over Christmas, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet are a winning pair in this popular yuletide film. A film-trailer maker in glamorous Los Angeles and a quiet, country girl in the heart of rural Surrey swap houses – and lives – enjoying a topsy-turvy getaway for a week in late December. Full of Christmas cheer, romantic encounters and Jude Law as the dishy leading man, The Holiday puts together beautiful locations and cheesy, yet heart-warming dialogue into a festive rom-com. The Telegraph’s Sukhdev Sandhu hit the nail on the head by calling it “winter’s cuddliest movie”. Watch on Netflix Miracle on 34th Street (1994) Miracle on 34th Street is set in snowy, 1990s New York, where a department store Santa claims that he is the “real deal”. With the help of a young girl Susan, and her begrudging and cynical mother, Kris Kringle takes on a lawsuit to prove that he is the man in the big, red suit. The take on the 1947 original brings not only colour, but also Christmas cheer and smiles to everyone who watches it. The fabulous cast includes Richard Attenborough who “positively sparkles in the role of the mysterious Kriss Kringle”, says Empire. It’s a bona fide Christmas classic. Skip advert


theweekuk--2020-11-30--Coronavirus: what Thanksgiving reveals about Christmas risks

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theweekuk--2020-11-30--Instant Opinion: Conservatives ‘hollowing the state and consolidating power’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on dismantling the system from within The Conservatives are hollowing the state and consolidating power : democracy is at stake “ For 15 years now , the Freedom of Information Act has been hugely important in increasing the transparency and scrutiny of government .
Strangely , Blair continues to defend the Iraq war but regrets the act for partially opening up the ‘ confidentiality ’ of government .
Michael Gove clearly shares his scepticism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established a unit that is actively delaying or blocking the release of information legally demanded under the act .
The Conservative party chair , Amanda Milling , has said the Electoral Commission should be overhauled or abolished .
Its current chair , John Holmes , is being forced out and mandatory voter ID is being mooted , which would suppress working-class voters who are less likely to have ID – another unwelcome import from the US , where voter suppression has long been part of Republican strategy .
The Electoral Commission has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigns , as well as the leave campaign in the 2016 referendum.
” The woke are gaslighting us into surrender “ Dismayingly , those allegedly responsible for the education of young minds are caving under the pressure and abandoning principle for the quiet life .
Cambridge University is proposing a change in statutes that would require staff to display respect for the views of all colleagues — inter alia misogynists , fascists , Islamists , homophobes , flat-Earthers , climate change deniers , racists and antisemites .
Despite a spirited campaign led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the five men and one woman who occupy the most senior roles in the university — all white — appear to have been manipulated into overturning centuries of dedication to freedom of thought and tolerance under the guise of compassion for minorities .
Maybe when they read the ‘ woke ’ bible White Fragility , they took the title as an instruction to deliver rather than a warning to avoid.
” The hateful love ‘ jihad ’ conspiracy in India is going mainstream “ In recent weeks and days , the Indian right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depictions of interfaith relations , including attacking Netflix for showing a kissing scene between a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl .
These attacks keep feeding the dangerous ‘ love jihad ’ conspiracy theory , the proponents of which seek to ultimately constrain and restrict the freedom of Hindu women and further demonize Muslims in India .
Videos of Hindu vigilantes beating up Muslim boys for allegedly falling in love with Hindu girls once generated universal condemnation .
Now these attacks are gaining legitimacy .
In a country whose guiding principle was love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , faiths and cultures , the ruling party ’ s attacks on interfaith love to consolidate the support of Hindu nationalists are part of Modi ’ s broader assault on our once-vibrant democracy.
” 4 .
Will Bunch in the Philadelphia Inquirer From Terre Haute to Tehran to your grandma , Trumpism is revealed as a death cult in the end “ For a man who too often talked and occasionally governed more like a mob boss than like the 45th president of a democratic republic , it ’ s sadly fitting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s White House are playing out like a closing montage from one of The Godfather movies .
Cue the operatic aria , or maybe the piano riff from Layla , as the camera pans over the bloody pavement in a faraway village in Iran and the windshield of a sedan riddled with bullet holes , as a top nuclear scientist is brutally whacked just days after a not-so-secret sit-down between the crime bosses of Saudi Arabia and Israel with Trump ’ s traveling consigliere .
The brutal killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh is arguably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death montage , but it ’ s not the most lethal .
At a federal prison in Terre Haute , Ind.
, Attorney General William Barr ’ s Justice Department is racing to commit state-sanctioned murder against five more inmates before Trump leaves office — the first time since 1889 that a lame-duck presidency has carried out any executions at all.
” 5 .
Hugh Eakin in the New York Times on the ancient spoils of modern war When an enemy ’ s cultural heritage becomes one ’ s own “ Perched on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed region , Dadivank is one of the hundreds of Armenian churches , monuments and carved memorial stones that will come under the control of predominantly-Muslim Azerbaijan according to a cease-fire agreement reached earlier this month .
Some of those structures — like the Amaras monastery and the basilica of Tsitsernavank - date to the earliest centuries of Christianity .
For many Armenians , turning over so much of their heritage to a sworn enemy poses a grave new threat , even as the bloodshed has for the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is understandable .
Under the cease-fire , hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis uprooted by a previous war in the early 1990s will be able to return .
In a victory speech on Nov. 25 , President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan suggested that Armenians have no historical claims to the region , asserting that the churches belonged to ancient Azerbaijani forebears and had been ‘ Armenianized ’ in the 19th century .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Andrew Fisher in The Guardian
on dismantling the system from within
The Conservatives are hollowing the state and consolidating power: democracy is at stake
“For 15 years now, the Freedom of Information Act has been hugely important in increasing the transparency and scrutiny of government. Strangely, Blair continues to defend the Iraq war but regrets the act for partially opening up the ‘confidentiality’ of government. Michael Gove clearly shares his scepticism, as under him the Cabinet Office has established a unit that is actively delaying or blocking the release of information legally demanded under the act. The Conservative party chair, Amanda Milling, has said the Electoral Commission should be overhauled or abolished. Its current chair, John Holmes, is being forced out and mandatory voter ID is being mooted, which would suppress working-class voters who are less likely to have ID – another unwelcome import from the US, where voter suppression has long been part of Republican strategy. The Electoral Commission has been a brake on well-funded Conservative party election campaigns, as well as the leave campaign in the 2016 referendum.”
2. Trevor Phillips in The Times
on pointing fingers
The woke are gaslighting us into surrender
“Dismayingly, those allegedly responsible for the education of young minds are caving under the pressure and abandoning principle for the quiet life. Cambridge University is proposing a change in statutes that would require staff to display respect for the views of all colleagues — inter alia misogynists, fascists, Islamists, homophobes, flat-Earthers, climate change deniers, racists and antisemites. Despite a spirited campaign led by a minority academic, Arif Ahmed, the five men and one woman who occupy the most senior roles in the university — all white — appear to have been manipulated into overturning centuries of dedication to freedom of thought and tolerance under the guise of compassion for minorities. Maybe when they read the ‘woke’ bible White Fragility, they took the title as an instruction to deliver rather than a warning to avoid.”
3. Rana Ayyub in The Washington Post
on India’s deepening schisms
The hateful love ‘jihad’ conspiracy in India is going mainstream
“In recent weeks and days, the Indian right has been waging a campaign against any depictions of interfaith relations, including attacking Netflix for showing a kissing scene between a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl. These attacks keep feeding the dangerous ‘love jihad’ conspiracy theory, the proponents of which seek to ultimately constrain and restrict the freedom of Hindu women and further demonize Muslims in India. Videos of Hindu vigilantes beating up Muslim boys for allegedly falling in love with Hindu girls once generated universal condemnation. Now these attacks are gaining legitimacy. In a country whose guiding principle was love and respect for a plurality of views, faiths and cultures, the ruling party’s attacks on interfaith love to consolidate the support of Hindu nationalists are part of Modi’s broader assault on our once-vibrant democracy.”
4. Will Bunch in the Philadelphia Inquirer
on cinematic slaughter
From Terre Haute to Tehran to your grandma, Trumpism is revealed as a death cult in the end
“For a man who too often talked and occasionally governed more like a mob boss than like the 45th president of a democratic republic, it’s sadly fitting that the final days of Donald Trump’s White House are playing out like a closing montage from one of The Godfather movies. Cue the operatic aria, or maybe the piano riff from Layla, as the camera pans over the bloody pavement in a faraway village in Iran and the windshield of a sedan riddled with bullet holes, as a top nuclear scientist is brutally whacked just days after a not-so-secret sit-down between the crime bosses of Saudi Arabia and Israel with Trump’s traveling consigliere. The brutal killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh is arguably the most cinematic moment in our Trumpian death montage, but it’s not the most lethal. At a federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., Attorney General William Barr’s Justice Department is racing to commit state-sanctioned murder against five more inmates before Trump leaves office — the first time since 1889 that a lame-duck presidency has carried out any executions at all.”
5. Hugh Eakin in the New York Times
on the ancient spoils of modern war
When an enemy’s cultural heritage becomes one’s own
“Perched on a rugged slope in the western part of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed region, Dadivank is one of the hundreds of Armenian churches, monuments and carved memorial stones that will come under the control of predominantly-Muslim Azerbaijan according to a cease-fire agreement reached earlier this month. Some of those structures — like the Amaras monastery and the basilica of Tsitsernavank - date to the earliest centuries of Christianity. For many Armenians, turning over so much of their heritage to a sworn enemy poses a grave new threat, even as the bloodshed has for the moment come to an end. Their concern is understandable. Under the cease-fire, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis uprooted by a previous war in the early 1990s will be able to return. In a victory speech on Nov. 25, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan suggested that Armenians have no historical claims to the region, asserting that the churches belonged to ancient Azerbaijani forebears and had been ‘Armenianized’ in the 19th century.”


theweekuk--2020-11-30--Jab campaign: how ‘sensible’ celebrities will sell Covid vaccine to sceptics

NHS bosses are planning to enlist “ sensible ” celebrities and social media influencers for a campaign to persuade the public to get vaccinated against Covid-19 , according to insiders .
An NHS England source told The Guardian that the health service wants “ people who are known and loved ” such as footballer Marcus Rashford [ pictured top ] , and who “ have done sensible stuff during the pandemic ” , to promote the jabs .
The planned push comes amid growing fears that the spread of anti-vax theories online could jeopardise an effective rollout .
Hopes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially promising vaccines – Pfizer/BioNTech , of which the UK has secured 40 million doses – is set for regulatory approval within days ” , says The Guardian .
The government has also secured 100 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine , and has increased the nation ’ s order for the Moderna jab to seven million doses .
But health chiefs are increasingly “ worried about the number of people who are still undecided ” about whether to get innoculated , and “ about vaccine scepticism among NHS staff ” , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Covid-19 vaccine will need to be accepted by at least 55 % of the population to provide herd immunity ” , says the i news site .
“ Others suggest even higher numbers will be needed , such as 65 % to 70 % .
” However , a recent survey of 4,000 people by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that just 54 % would “ definitely ” accept a vaccine .
And “ after being shown online misinformation , that number dropped by 6.4 % ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s website .
What is the NHS planning ?
Health service insiders say that celebrities and social media influencers will be enlisted to help combat misinformation about any Covid vaccine that is rolled out in the UK .
The Daily Mail reports that health bosses and government ministers are in talks with “ responsible ” high-profile stars to post positive messages about the jab .
“ No celebrities have been confirmed but officials suggest Marcus Rashford , the England footballer campaigning to end child hunger , and members of the Royal Family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper .
A source “ with knowledge of the plans ” told The Guardian that the high-profile figures who sign up will lead “ a big national campaign ” to drive take-up .
Politicians are not expected to join the line-up of trusted faces , however .
Instead , the celebs are likely to appear alongside “ doctors who often appear on television and radio discussing health issues ” , because of their “ profile and the trust they are assumed to already have with the public ” , the paper continues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ being consulted in order to allay possible fears over the vaccine among black , Asian and ethnic minorities , ” says the Daily Mail .
“ Covid-19 vaccines will be crucial to helping to end this pandemic and returning our lives to near normal , ” said Professor Heidi Larson of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , who led the recent survey on vaccine uptake .
“ However , vaccines only work if people take them .
”

NHS bosses are planning to enlist “sensible” celebrities and social media influencers for a campaign to persuade the public to get vaccinated against Covid-19, according to insiders.
An NHS England source told The Guardian that the health service wants “people who are known and loved” such as footballer Marcus Rashford [pictured top], and who “have done sensible stuff during the pandemic”, to promote the jabs. The planned push comes amid growing fears that the spread of anti-vax theories online could jeopardise an effective rollout.
Why are health leaders concerned?
Hopes are growing that “the first of three potentially promising vaccines – Pfizer/BioNTech, of which the UK has secured 40 million doses – is set for regulatory approval within days”, says The Guardian. The government has also secured 100 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and has increased the nation’s order for the Moderna jab to seven million doses.
But health chiefs are increasingly “worried about the number of people who are still undecided” about whether to get innoculated, and “about vaccine scepticism among NHS staff”, the newspaper reports.
“Some experts estimate a Covid-19 vaccine will need to be accepted by at least 55% of the population to provide herd immunity”, says the i news site. “Others suggest even higher numbers will be needed, such as 65% to 70%.”
However, a recent survey of 4,000 people by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that just 54% would “definitely” accept a vaccine. And “after being shown online misinformation, that number dropped by 6.4%”, according to a report on the university’s website.
What is the NHS planning?
Health service insiders say that celebrities and social media influencers will be enlisted to help combat misinformation about any Covid vaccine that is rolled out in the UK.
The Daily Mail reports that health bosses and government ministers are in talks with “responsible” high-profile stars to post positive messages about the jab.
“No celebrities have been confirmed but officials suggest Marcus Rashford, the England footballer campaigning to end child hunger, and members of the Royal Family would be ideal,” says the paper.
A source “with knowledge of the plans” told The Guardian that the high-profile figures who sign up will lead “a big national campaign” to drive take-up.
Politicians are not expected to join the line-up of trusted faces, however.
Instead, the celebs are likely to appear alongside “doctors who often appear on television and radio discussing health issues”, because of their “profile and the trust they are assumed to already have with the public”, the paper continues.
“Religious and community leaders are also being consulted in order to allay possible fears over the vaccine among black, Asian and ethnic minorities,” says the Daily Mail.
“Covid-19 vaccines will be crucial to helping to end this pandemic and returning our lives to near normal,” said Professor Heidi Larson of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who led the recent survey on vaccine uptake.
“However, vaccines only work if people take them.”


theweekuk--2020-12-01--Head injuries and concussion: ‘how many warnings does football need?’

Football’s handling of head injuries and concussion is in the spotlight after Raul Jiménez and David Luiz suffered injuries in a Premier League match on Sunday.
Wolves striker Jiménez sustained a fractured skull after a clash of heads with Luiz in the first half at the Emirates Stadium.
After being treated on the pitch and given oxygen Mexican forward Jiménez was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery. In a statement on Twitter he thanked fans and fellow players for their messages of support and said he hoped to “return to the pitch soon”.
By contrast, Arsenal defender Luiz came back on to the pitch. Despite “blood seeping from his head bandage”, the Brazilian was allowed to carry on after Arsenal followed concussion protocols, BBC Sport reports.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta told arsenal.com: “It was the first thing that I asked but the doctor did all the protocols, all the testing. David never lost consciousness, he was completely fine, he was just not comfortable heading the ball.”
‘Lagging behind’
The collision between Luiz and Jiménez has opened up the debate on concussions in football - just weeks after dementia was a major talking point.
As a sport football is “lagging behind both rugby codes as well cricket, the NFL and horse racing when it comes to head impacts”, says The Guardian’s Sean Ingle.
“For too long football has played tiki-taka with the issue of concussion, rather than tackling it head on,” Ingle wrote. “It has been passed around from committee to committee, governing body to governing body, without the authorities facing up to its pernicious threat. Perhaps the recent deaths of Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles will sharpen the focus.”
The Daily Express reports that footballers from around the world fear authorities are “waiting for yet another tragedy to happen before taking proper action against the dangers of concussion”.
Former Hull City player Ryan Mason was forced to retire at the age of 26 after fracturing his skull in a match against Chelsea in 2017. Speaking to Sky Sports he questioned “what is it going to take for us to take these types of challenges and injuries seriously”.
On Match of the Day 2 former England striker Alan Shearer added: “We are talking about life and death. Football needs to get real, it needs to wake up, it needs to get serious. Not next year, next month, now. It is not acceptable, it has been going too far too long.”
Calls for concussion subs
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes it “makes sense” for football to introduce concussion substitutes. Meanwhile, Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, who himself suffered a head injury in 2017, said: “When there is a blow to the head there should be a substitution, whether the player can continue or not. You could be feeling OK but after you could feel the consequences.”
Headway, the brain injury charity, has expressed “anger and disappointment” at football’s continued failings to protect its players from concussion.
In a statement Luke Griggs, deputy chief executive at Headway, said: “Only last week we strongly criticised the International Football Association Board (IFAB) for its continued procrastination in introducing concussion substitutes into the sport.
“Too often in football, we see players returning to the pitch having undergone a concussion assessment - only to be withdrawn a few minutes later when it is clear that they are not fit to continue. That is the very reason why we urgently need temporary concussion substitutes in football. You simply cannot take a risk with head injuries.
“Something is not right. This cannot be allowed to continue. How many warnings does football need?”


theweekuk--2020-12-01--Why everyone’s talking about Arcadia and Philip Green

Some of Britain ’ s biggest retail brands face shutting up shop for good following confirmation that Arcadia had collapsed into administration .
The retail giant - owner of outlets such as Topshop , Burton , Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins - has appointed administrators from Deloitte after sales across the group were “ severely impacted ” by the Covid-19 pandemic , the BBC reports .
So what does the future holds for Arcadia owner Philip Green and his brands , and for other major UK retailers ?
With consumers increasingly opting to shop online and outlets forced to close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions , the UK ’ s commercial centres have been described as “ ghost towns ” .
Arcadia rivals including Debenhams , Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group and Oasis Warehouse have all slid into insolvency since March .
And now the pandemic has claimed its “ biggest retail scalp so far ” , says HuffPost .
Arcadia has 444 stores in the UK and 22 overseas , and employs more than 13,000 people , of whom 9,294 are currently on furlough .
But now all of those jobs are at risk after Sky News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ on the brink of going into administration following the failure of talks over a £30m loan to help offset a coronavirus cash bleed ” .
Mike Ashley ’ s Frasers Group also offered a £50m loan but was rejected .
Arcadia ’ s subsequent collapse marks the “ worst single corporate failure of the Covid-19 crisis to date ” , says the broadcaster .
Confirming the “ incredibly sad ” news , Arcadia chief executive officer Ian Grabiner said : “ The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic , including the forced closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has severely impacted on trading across all of our brands .
“ Throughout this immensely challenging time our priority has been to protect jobs and preserve the financial stability of the group , in the hope that we could ride out the pandemic and come out fighting on the other side .
“ Ultimately , however , in the face of the most difficult trading conditions we have ever experienced , the obstacles we encountered were far too severe.
” What about jobs , orders and pensions ?
Arcadia ’ s staff are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , Sky News says .
However , bosses say that no redundancies will be announced immediately , and that stores will continue to trade and Black Friday orders will be honoured , while a buyer is sought for all or parts of the company .
Potential rescue packages aside , the collapse of Arcadia is likely to result in a cut in the value of thousands of shopworkers ’ pensions .
The retail empire ’ s pension fund has an estimated deficit of around £350m , triggering calls from MPs and unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who run and own the company respectively - to use their private fortune to “ make good ” the huge shortfall , The Guardian reports .
While his company was teetering on the brink of collapse , the Croydon-born tycoon appeared “ not to have a care in the world ” as he was photographed soaking up the sun on his £100m superyacht in Monaco , the Daily Mail reports .
Yet “ the humbling of Green is one of the most spectacular downfalls in British business history ” , the paper continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their accountants know how much the self-crowned “ king of the high street ” is actually worth .
But one thing is certain , says The Guardian ’ s wealth correspondent Rupert Neate , the Greens are “ far less rich than they once were ” , with their estimated fortune falling from £4.9bn in 2006 to about £950m .
And the collapse of Arcadia now appears to mark a “ miserable end ” to Green ’ s “ glittering retail career ” , adds Sky News .
What happens next ?
Arcadia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the administration gives the firm “ breathing space ” from creditors such as landlords and clothing suppliers , the BBC reports .
Deloitte ’ s Matt Smith says administrators hope to find “ one or more buyers ” for the group ’ s businesses .
After previously purchasing struggling brands such as Oasis , Warehouse , Karen Millen and Coast , fashion retailer Boohoo is seen as a potential bidder for some of Arcadia ’ s big-name assets .
Former Arcadia chief executive Stuart Rose told the BBC Radio 4 ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empire is “ the only way ” forward .
He predicts that other companies will “ come and pick over the carcass ” , but warns that not all the brands were likely to be sold .
“ If you aren ’ t relevant , you ’ re probably going to die , ” Rose added .
How could the collapse impact Debenhams ?
The collapse of Arcadia has “ prompted JD Sports to abandon its bid ” to buy ailing rival department store chain Debenhams , putting a further 12,000 jobs at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the termination of the takeover talks , Geoff Rowley of FRP Advisory , joint administrator to Debenhams , said today that “ all reasonable steps were taken to complete a transaction that would secure the future of Debenhams .
However , the economic landscape is extremely challenging and , coupled with the uncertainty facing the UK retail industry , a viable deal could not be reached.
” As the newspaper notes , the collapse of the rescue bids for both Arcadia and Debenhams sets the stage for a fresh “ bidding war that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ailing legacy fashion retail companies – and the high street itself ” .

Some of Britain’s biggest retail brands face shutting up shop for good following confirmation that Arcadia had collapsed into administration.
The retail giant - owner of outlets such as Topshop, Burton, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins - has appointed administrators from Deloitte after sales across the group were “severely impacted” by the Covid-19 pandemic, the BBC reports.
So what does the future holds for Arcadia owner Philip Green and his brands, and for other major UK retailers?
What happened?
With consumers increasingly opting to shop online and outlets forced to close their doors as a result of coronavirus restrictions, the UK’s commercial centres have been described as “ghost towns”.
Arcadia rivals including Debenhams, Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group and Oasis Warehouse have all slid into insolvency since March. And now the pandemic has claimed its “biggest retail scalp so far”, says HuffPost.
Arcadia has 444 stores in the UK and 22 overseas, and employs more than 13,000 people, of whom 9,294 are currently on furlough.
But now all of those jobs are at risk after Sky News revealed on Friday that the group was “on the brink of going into administration following the failure of talks over a £30m loan to help offset a coronavirus cash bleed”. Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group also offered a £50m loan but was rejected.
Arcadia’s subsequent collapse marks the “worst single corporate failure of the Covid-19 crisis to date”, says the broadcaster.
Confirming the “incredibly sad” news, Arcadia chief executive officer Ian Grabiner said: “The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, including the forced closure of our stores for prolonged periods, has severely impacted on trading across all of our brands.
“Throughout this immensely challenging time our priority has been to protect jobs and preserve the financial stability of the group, in the hope that we could ride out the pandemic and come out fighting on the other side.
“Ultimately, however, in the face of the most difficult trading conditions we have ever experienced, the obstacles we encountered were far too severe.”
What about jobs, orders and pensions?
Arcadia’s staff are now “waiting to hear their fate”, Sky News says. However, bosses say that no redundancies will be announced immediately, and that stores will continue to trade and Black Friday orders will be honoured, while a buyer is sought for all or parts of the company.