theweekuk--2020-11-08--The history behind the new Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue

The launch of a navy blue version of Tudor ’ s Black Bay Fifty-Eight diving watch created a huge buzz this summer , with the new timepiece prompting a sales rush and reams of discussion among fans on specialist sites .
But few may be familiar with the long and fascinating history behind this modern classic .
Tudor was established by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf just after the Second World War with a clear directive : to produce affordable , high-quality watches that were as robust as they were stylish and reliable .
Rolex ’ s reputation for performance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to launch this sister brand , and exploration played a key role in establishing these firm foundations of trusted brand loyalty .
In 1953 , the Swiss marque set out to prove the hardy properties of the newly launched Tudor Oyster Prince by putting it through a series of “ Trial of Destruction ” tests - the watches were worn for hours on end by a variety of blue-collar workers including coal miners , stonecutters and construction men , who appeared in illustrated form in magazine advertisements .
Right from the onset , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the notion of durability and dependability .
In 1958 , Tudor released its now-legendary reference 7924 , or Big Crown , model , a diver ’ s watch equipped with a large screw-down crown and thick domed crystal , strong enough to withstand water pressure to 200 metres .
While not the first Tudor dive watch – reference 7922 was introduced four years earlier and was waterproof to 100 metres – the Big Crown was a game changer and instantly claimed a place in the pantheon of breakthrough tool watches .
Remember , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instrument ; they were engineered to assist military divers and help save lives .
In 1964 , Tudor supplied watches to the American Navy , but it was the French Navy that proved to be an important test-bed for the Big Crown reference 7924 .
Indeed , military personnel helped shape Tudor ’ s dive watches : the famous snowflake hands first appeared on dive models in 1969 and were developed in direct response to a request from the French Marine Nationale ( MN ) to make watches more legible when exploring dark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important place in the story , too : throughout the 1970s , Tudor provided dive watches to the MN that carried a blue dial and matching blue bezel – and continued outfitting France ’ s combat divers with them well into the 1980s .
To civilians , derivatives of the Big Crown came with the promise of unmatched durability and the romance of deep-sea discovery – above all , they were affordable and impeccably made , and were even compared to armour in advertising campaigns .
Tudor ’ s pioneering early dive models @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brand ’ s contemporary Black Bay model .
Launched in 2012 , this vintage-inspired piece , replete with modern tech , totally reinvigorated Tudor ’ s reputation as a leading tool-watch maker .
More accurately , the Black Bay is Tudor ’ s success story that keeps on giving : each new watch from this bestselling family generates a huge amount of interest thanks to Tudor ’ s investment in high-performance movements and materials , as well as eye-catching designs that honour a rich maritime legacy .
Which brings us on to Tudor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue – a 38mm addition to the series which reflects the slim-line proportions Tudor 's 1950s design codes .
As the name suggests , it is cast in navy blue , a nod to the livery of the aforementioned 1970s MN models .
The timepiece is powered by Tudor ’ s in-house calibre MT5402 , which exceeds the standards set by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute ( COSC ) , guarantying a precision of -2 and +4 seconds per day .
Tudor rightly calls this movement “ weekend-proof ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meaning you can take it off on Friday - though the latest Black Bay Fifty-Eight is a model you ’ ll that probably want to wear constantly .

The launch of a navy blue version of Tudor’s Black Bay Fifty-Eight diving watch created a huge buzz this summer, with the new timepiece prompting a sales rush and reams of discussion among fans on specialist sites. But few may be familiar with the long and fascinating history behind this modern classic.
Tudor was established by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf just after the Second World War with a clear directive: to produce affordable, high-quality watches that were as robust as they were stylish and reliable. Rolex’s reputation for performance and luxury provided the perfect springboard from which to launch this sister brand, and exploration played a key role in establishing these firm foundations of trusted brand loyalty.
In 1953, the Swiss marque set out to prove the hardy properties of the newly launched Tudor Oyster Prince by putting it through a series of “Trial of Destruction” tests - the watches were worn for hours on end by a variety of blue-collar workers including coal miners, stonecutters and construction men, who appeared in illustrated form in magazine advertisements. Right from the onset, then, Tudor firmly aligned itself with the notion of durability and dependability.
In 1958, Tudor released its now-legendary reference 7924, or Big Crown, model, a diver’s watch equipped with a large screw-down crown and thick domed crystal, strong enough to withstand water pressure to 200 metres. While not the first Tudor dive watch – reference 7922 was introduced four years earlier and was waterproof to 100 metres – the Big Crown was a game changer and instantly claimed a place in the pantheon of breakthrough tool watches. Remember, these watches were more than a time-telling instrument; they were engineered to assist military divers and help save lives. In 1964, Tudor supplied watches to the American Navy, but it was the French Navy that proved to be an important test-bed for the Big Crown reference 7924.
Indeed, military personnel helped shape Tudor’s dive watches: the famous snowflake hands first appeared on dive models in 1969 and were developed in direct response to a request from the French Marine Nationale (MN) to make watches more legible when exploring dark waters. The colour blue has an important place in the story, too: throughout the 1970s, Tudor provided dive watches to the MN that carried a blue dial and matching blue bezel – and continued outfitting France’s combat divers with them well into the 1980s.
To civilians, derivatives of the Big Crown came with the promise of unmatched durability and the romance of deep-sea discovery – above all, they were affordable and impeccably made, and were even compared to armour in advertising campaigns. Tudor’s pioneering early dive models were a source of inspiration for the brand’s contemporary Black Bay model.
Launched in 2012, this vintage-inspired piece, replete with modern tech, totally reinvigorated Tudor’s reputation as a leading tool-watch maker. More accurately, the Black Bay is Tudor’s success story that keeps on giving: each new watch from this bestselling family generates a huge amount of interest thanks to Tudor’s investment in high-performance movements and materials, as well as eye-catching designs that honour a rich maritime legacy.
Which brings us on to Tudor’s latest release, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue – a 38mm addition to the series which reflects the slim-line proportions Tudor's 1950s design codes. As the name suggests, it is cast in navy blue, a nod to the livery of the aforementioned 1970s MN models.
The timepiece is powered by Tudor’s in-house calibre MT5402, which exceeds the standards set by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), guarantying a precision of -2 and +4 seconds per day. Tudor rightly calls this movement “weekend-proof”: the MT5402 runs for 70 hours, meaning you can take it off on Friday - though the latest Black Bay Fifty-Eight is a model you’ll that probably want to wear constantly.
From £2,520; Tudorwatch.com


theweekuk--2020-11-06--Gered Mankowitz: music photography uncovered

“ At the end of every decade , I always felt I was too old for music , ” laughs Gered Mankowitz .
But that fear has proved unfounded time and again during his 55-year career , which has seen the legendary music photographer taking some of the most defining images of 20th century culture .
Mankowitz ’ s most famous photos include his 1967 portrait of Jimi Hendrix dressed in an embroidered military jacket ( widely considered the most memorable picture ever taken of the musician ) and his hazy image of The Rolling Stones captured on a chilly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their 1966 album Between The Buttons .
And then there ’ s his unforgettable soft-focused shot of a doe-eyed 19-year-old Kate Bush dressed in a pink leotard , used to promote her single Wuthering Heights in 1978 .
There ’ s no doubt that this eye-grabbing image - unabashedly risqué and daring for its time - raised the young songtress ’ s profile and laid the foundations for her meteoric rise to stardom .
In fact , it might be easier to mention the artists that the British photographer hasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ musicians he ’ s lensed through the years .
From the gravel-voiced Marianne Faithfull and the great jazz singer Annie Ross to the mild-mannered Cliff Richard and Mancunian enfants terribles Oasis , Mankowitz has immortalised them all .
Now , the photographer has got behind another type of camera to explore the genre that he helped define , as executive producer and series curator of a new six-part documentary , Icon : Music Through The Lens , now screening on Sky Arts .
For the show , Mankowitz teamed up with acclaimed music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ archive also includes projects for The Rolling Stones , Led Zeppelin , Beyonce , The White Stripes , Paul McCartney and Black Sabbath , to name but a few .
The new series turns the camera back on the art form to highlight the cultural impact of music photography through the decades .
During each hour-long episode , guests including seminal photographers such as Terry O'Neill , Mick Rock and , of course , Mankowitz discuss a different a facet of the genre , from the evolution of the album cover to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The show elicits a wide range of emotions from viewers as we are reminded of the impactful and energetic images that have shaped the dreams of so many generations ; photographs that capture the spirit and mood of youth culture through the decades , and that ultimately reflect the changing tides of society .
There are plenty of musical anecdotes to whisk you on a trip down memory lane too , such as Suede ’ s Brett Anderson discussing his love of Joy Division , and American photographer Deborah Feingold recalling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a lollipop .
“ It was just a dance and she led , ” Feingold says .
Mankowitz tells me more after “ Zooming ” me for a chat from his home studio in Cornwall .
It ’ s a white space with just a few souvenirs that bear witness to a glittering career : a gold record gifted to him by British new romantic band ABC , and a guitar .
“ I can ’ t play it .
I ’ ve never played it actually .
I can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding , “ I was showing it to someone last night because it has one of my Hendrix images on it.
” Not an instrument , then , designed for any kind of hedonistic rock ‘ n ’ roll manhandling .
The photographer is keen to explain his very personal reason for embarking on this new project : “ I think the genre of music photography has never been celebrated as it should have been .
Icons explores of all kinds of music photography over the last 60 years , through the eyes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By the end of each programme , you ’ ve not only been entertained , you ’ ve got an education.
” “ I learned a few of things along the way too , ” he adds .
“ One , that a surprising number of the photographers [ featured in the series ] started very young .
Everyone says I was young when I started [ Mankowitz was 15 when he began taking pictures professionally ] , but so was Bob Gruen , so was Laura Levine and Deborah Feingold .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ photographers used to smuggle their cameras into concerts when they were teenagers .
Two of them both talked about putting the lenses down their socks !
Most importantly , though , I learned that I wasn ’ t alone in thinking this was the best job in the world.
” Mankowitz preferred to shoot his subjects in a studio rather than from the moshpit , but says that he never sought to befriend any of his starry sitters .
“ I ’ ve always wanted to keep things professional .
For example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ he was the band ’ s official photographer between 1965 and 1967 ] and we got on brilliantly , but I always knew my limit .
I never crossed the line - asked for free tickets or a signed album - because that breaks the collaborative bond .
Also , I didn ’ t need to hang out with them as I had a pretty wild 1960s lifestyle myself !
” Given the breath of his repertoire – from pop acts to heavy metal giants – it seems unlikely that Mankowitz has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploits of his subjects .
So how does he prepare for a shoot ?
“ I listened to the music and gathered as much reference material as possible .
I ’ d try and meet them too .
If it ’ s a band , I ’ d need to see how they interacted .
There might be issues too , simple ones like someone blinking a lot , which you need to suss out .
Then in the studio , I would have the lighting and background all set up before their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to them .
I used to feed people a lot too , because musicians are always hungry !
“ The most important thing of all is to remember that most people don ’ t like having their picture taken .
It ’ s wrong to assume that musicians , even gregarious ones , will be comfortable in front of the camera , because often they are not .
When you are [ photographing ] a band , it ’ s very hard to make each member feel like they have a value , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the front and someone has to be at the back .
There is a lot of gentle manoeuvring that you need to apply.
” And what about those tricky subjects ?
Surely he ’ s had to grit his teeth along the way , shooting big personalities with huge egos .
” Well , you know , if I have had the misfortune of working with a total idiot , I ’ ve forgotten them .
Life is much too short .
The only one that sticks out is Bing Crosby and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I shot him for his record company [ in 1977 ] For many different reasons , he was awful , really unpleasant .
He wouldn ’ t cooperate in spite of us going to huge lengths to make him feel comfortable , following the requests of his management to a tee .
He just wanted it all done in ten minutes .
Sadly , it actually turned out to be his last photographic shoot , because he died a few days later.
” As our chat also draws to a close , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s not prepared to share .
“ I have - and I ’ m going to tell you , ” he says mischievously .
His new series , however , does promise to lift the lid on more of his profession ’ s untold stories .

“At the end of every decade, I always felt I was too old for music,” laughs Gered Mankowitz. But that fear has proved unfounded time and again during his 55-year career, which has seen the legendary music photographer taking some of the most defining images of 20th century culture. Mankowitz’s most famous photos include his 1967 portrait of Jimi Hendrix dressed in an embroidered military jacket (widely considered the most memorable picture ever taken of the musician) and his hazy image of The Rolling Stones captured on a chilly morning on London’s Primrose Hill for their 1966 album Between The Buttons. And then there’s his unforgettable soft-focused shot of a doe-eyed 19-year-old Kate Bush dressed in a pink leotard, used to promote her single Wuthering Heights in 1978. There’s no doubt that this eye-grabbing image - unabashedly risqué and daring for its time - raised the young songtress’s profile and laid the foundations for her meteoric rise to stardom. In fact, it might be easier to mention the artists that the British photographer hasn’t shot than to name all the iconic musicians he’s lensed through the years. From the gravel-voiced Marianne Faithfull and the great jazz singer Annie Ross to the mild-mannered Cliff Richard and Mancunian enfants terribles Oasis, Mankowitz has immortalised them all. Now, the photographer has got behind another type of camera to explore the genre that he helped define, as executive producer and series curator of a new six-part documentary, Icon: Music Through The Lens, now screening on Sky Arts. For the show, Mankowitz teamed up with acclaimed music director Dick Carruthers, whose impressive visual archive also includes projects for The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Beyonce, The White Stripes, Paul McCartney and Black Sabbath, to name but a few. The new series turns the camera back on the art form to highlight the cultural impact of music photography through the decades. During each hour-long episode, guests including seminal photographers such as Terry O'Neill, Mick Rock and, of course, Mankowitz discuss a different a facet of the genre, from the evolution of the album cover to the changes brought about by the digital revolution. Skip advert
The show elicits a wide range of emotions from viewers as we are reminded of the impactful and energetic images that have shaped the dreams of so many generations; photographs that capture the spirit and mood of youth culture through the decades, and that ultimately reflect the changing tides of society. There are plenty of musical anecdotes to whisk you on a trip down memory lane too, such as Suede’s Brett Anderson discussing his love of Joy Division, and American photographer Deborah Feingold recalling the time she shot a fresh-faced Madonna sucking on a lollipop. “It was just a dance and she led,” Feingold says. Mankowitz tells me more after “Zooming” me for a chat from his home studio in Cornwall. It’s a white space with just a few souvenirs that bear witness to a glittering career: a gold record gifted to him by British new romantic band ABC, and a guitar. “I can’t play it. I’ve never played it actually. I can’t even sing,” Mankowitz admits, adding, “I was showing it to someone last night because it has one of my Hendrix images on it.” Not an instrument, then, designed for any kind of hedonistic rock‘n’roll manhandling. The photographer is keen to explain his very personal reason for embarking on this new project: “I think the genre of music photography has never been celebrated as it should have been. Icons explores of all kinds of music photography over the last 60 years, through the eyes of extraordinary photographers who are great storytellers. By the end of each programme, you’ve not only been entertained, you’ve got an education.” “I learned a few of things along the way too,” he adds. “One, that a surprising number of the photographers [featured in the series] started very young. Everyone says I was young when I started [Mankowitz was 15 when he began taking pictures professionally], but so was Bob Gruen, so was Laura Levine and Deborah Feingold. I was intrigued to learn that several photographers used to smuggle their cameras into concerts when they were teenagers. Two of them both talked about putting the lenses down their socks! Most importantly, though, I learned that I wasn’t alone in thinking this was the best job in the world.” Skip advert Mankowitz preferred to shoot his subjects in a studio rather than from the moshpit, but says that he never sought to befriend any of his starry sitters. “I’ve always wanted to keep things professional. For example, I was very close to the Stones [he was the band’s official photographer between 1965 and 1967] and we got on brilliantly, but I always knew my limit. I never crossed the line - asked for free tickets or a signed album - because that breaks the collaborative bond. Also, I didn’t need to hang out with them as I had a pretty wild 1960s lifestyle myself!” Given the breadth of his repertoire – from pop acts to heavy metal giants – it seems unlikely that Mankowitz has always “connected” with the musical exploits of his subjects. So how does he prepare for a shoot?


theweekuk--2020-11-10--Instant Opinion: Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine a ‘miracle for genetic medicine’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on the breakthrough the world has waited for I was part of a trial for Pfizer ’ s covid-19 vaccine .
It ’ s a miracle for genetic medicine .
“ Even after we defeat Covid-19 , new viruses will come along .
When that happens , it will take only days to code a new RNA sequence to make a vaccine to target the new threat .
Tools made with RNA will enable us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to devise easily reprogrammable vaccines .
It ’ s been a miserable pandemic amid an annus horribilus .
It ’ s nice that both appear to be ending with RNA - the fundamental molecule that probably spawned the existence of life on our planet a few billion years ago - giving birth to a new era of biotechnology.
” “ Democracy is more than elections , and the assault on democracy goes much further than the ballot box .
Efforts to overturn the results of elections have been a hallmark of GOP politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a majority of Floridians voted to re-enfranchise people who had been convicted of felonies and served their sentences .
The governor of Florida could not stop the law from being enacted , but he did require the payment of a series of byzantine fines and fees - in essence , a poll tax - for re-enfranchisement , meaning most of the disenfranchised remained that way .
In North Carolina in 2017 , after Democrat Roy Cooper won the governor 's race , Republican legislators quickly tried to strip the governorship of its power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falling for Black Lives Matter ?
“ The problem with the trust is naivety .
It has been rolled over by extremists who care nothing for the membership or the collection .
At the angry virtual AGM on Saturday , many NT members protested indignantly at the disrespect shown to former occupants of trust houses , such as Winston Churchill .
They attacked the trust for seeming to accept the agenda of Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) , following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
In reply , Tim Parker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defended BLM as ‘ a human-rights movement with no party-political affiliations ’ .
Mr Parker is beside the point .
No one has ever accused BLM of party affiliations ; and I fear that almost all pressure groups invoke human rights .
The general point about BLM is that it is a hard-Left campaigning organisation , committed to defeating capitalism , ‘ defunding ’ the police , destroying the ‘ nuclear ’ family and rejecting white people ’ s capacity to understand racism – a view which is itself racist .
BLM is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” on the reliable world of PPPs Cronyism and incompetence : The government is undermining trust in the private sector “ It is rare that officials from government agencies become household names , but you are likely familiar with both of the above .
Dido Harding and Kate Bingham have both , in their own way , become bywords for incompetence and cronyism .
The principle behind their appointments is sound .
Whitehall is bad at managing major capital projects and is often prone to delays and cost overruns .
In the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean losing lives , as well as the obvious economic and social cost .
So short-circuiting the traditional processes with an injection of urgency and can-do spirit from the private sector makes sense .
( For how badly public sector projects can be managed , one only has to look at the Ministry of Defence ’ s record on procurement . )
” 5 .
Louise Perry in the New Statesman on the commodification of sex How OnlyFans became the porn industry ’ s great lockdown winner – and at what cost “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which I don ’ t just mean the straightforward buying and selling of real-life sex .
The online porn industry has grown ever larger as it has come to offer more and more extreme content , the sexualisation of entertainment and advertising continually pushes new limits , and businesses such as the high street retailer Ann Summers have successfully monetised the mainstreaming of BDSM .
We are seeing this rapid growth and diversification of the sex industry partly as a consequence of the digital revolution , and partly as a consequence of business @ @ @

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Walter Isaacson in The Washington Post
on the breakthrough the world has waited for
I was part of a trial for Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine. It’s a miracle for genetic medicine.
“Even after we defeat Covid-19, new viruses will come along. When that happens, it will take only days to code a new RNA sequence to make a vaccine to target the new threat. Tools made with RNA will enable us both to edit our genetic material and to devise easily reprogrammable vaccines. It’s been a miserable pandemic amid an annus horribilus. It’s nice that both appear to be ending with RNA - the fundamental molecule that probably spawned the existence of life on our planet a few billion years ago - giving birth to a new era of biotechnology.”
2. Nicole Hemmer on CNN
on triumph over voter suppression
Democracy didn’t win. It survived
“Democracy is more than elections, and the assault on democracy goes much further than the ballot box. Efforts to overturn the results of elections have been a hallmark of GOP politics in certain states. In 2018, a majority of Floridians voted to re-enfranchise people who had been convicted of felonies and served their sentences. The governor of Florida could not stop the law from being enacted, but he did require the payment of a series of byzantine fines and fees - in essence, a poll tax - for re-enfranchisement, meaning most of the disenfranchised remained that way. In North Carolina in 2017, after Democrat Roy Cooper won the governor's race, Republican legislators quickly tried to strip the governorship of its power.
3. Charles Moore in The Daily Telegraph
on insurgent leftism
Why is the National Trust still falling for Black Lives Matter?
“The problem with the trust is naivety. It has been rolled over by extremists who care nothing for the membership or the collection. At the angry virtual AGM on Saturday, many NT members protested indignantly at the disrespect shown to former occupants of trust houses, such as Winston Churchill. They attacked the trust for seeming to accept the agenda of Black Lives Matter (BLM), following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In reply, Tim Parker, the trust’s chairman, defended BLM as ‘a human-rights movement with no party-political affiliations’. Mr Parker is beside the point. No one has ever accused BLM of party affiliations; and I fear that almost all pressure groups invoke human rights. The general point about BLM is that it is a hard-Left campaigning organisation, committed to defeating capitalism, ‘defunding’ the police, destroying the ‘nuclear’ family and rejecting white people’s capacity to understand racism – a view which is itself racist. BLM is an extremist movement which flirts with violence.”
4. Eliot Wilson in City A.M.
on the reliable world of PPPs
Cronyism and incompetence: The government is undermining trust in the private sector
“It is rare that officials from government agencies become household names, but you are likely familiar with both of the above. Dido Harding and Kate Bingham have both, in their own way, become bywords for incompetence and cronyism. The principle behind their appointments is sound. Whitehall is bad at managing major capital projects and is often prone to delays and cost overruns. In the case of tackling Covid-19, losing time can mean losing lives, as well as the obvious economic and social cost. So short-circuiting the traditional processes with an injection of urgency and can-do spirit from the private sector makes sense. (For how badly public sector projects can be managed, one only has to look at the Ministry of Defence’s record on procurement.)”
5. Louise Perry in the New Statesman
on the commodification of sex
How OnlyFans became the porn industry’s great lockdown winner – and at what cost
“The sex industry is booming, by which I don’t just mean the straightforward buying and selling of real-life sex. The online porn industry has grown ever larger as it has come to offer more and more extreme content, the sexualisation of entertainment and advertising continually pushes new limits, and businesses such as the high street retailer Ann Summers have successfully monetised the mainstreaming of BDSM. We are seeing this rapid growth and diversification of the sex industry partly as a consequence of the digital revolution, and partly as a consequence of business innovation.”


theweekuk--2020-11-10--Why Ethiopia may be heading for civil war

Ethiopia appears to be on the verge of civil war following a wave of increasingly deadly armed skirmishes between the national government and local authorities controlling the northern Tigray region .
The African nation ’ s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last week sent troops and air force jets into Tigray , in what France 24 describes as a “ campaign against the regional ruling party ” , the Tigray People ’ s Liberation Front ( TPLF ) .
The TPLF “ was the dominant political party in Ethiopia for decades ” but has been “ feuding with Ahmed ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power in 2018 ” , says the BBC .
Following the party ’ s withdrawal from the ruling coalition last year , the feud “ became more intense ” in September , when Tigray held its own elections despite government orders to delay national polls owing to the coronavirus pandemic , adds Al Jazzera .
The TPLF claimed that the PM had overstayed his mandate by delaying the election and was no longer the legitimate leader of the country .
After low-level fighting broke out last week , Ahmed ’ s administration moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state media announcing today that the military had captured Tigray ’ s Humera Airport and cut off telephone and internet access across the region .
Despite the offensive , Ahmed - the recipient of last year ’ s Nobel Peace Prize - insists that he is not ignoring calls to de-escalate the situation , claiming that his military is simply undertaking a “ law enforcement operation ” .
“ Criminal elements can not escape the rule of law under the guise of seeking reconciliation and a call for dialogue , ” Ahmed tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aims to end the impunity that has prevailed for far too long and hold accountable individuals and groups under the laws of the land.
” But Ahmed ’ s attempts to reassure the international community have fallen flat , amid reports that hundreds of people have been killed in the fighting and that thousands more are fleeing northwest into Sudan .
As the conflict continues to escalate , analysts fear that Africa ’ s second-most populous nation is now on the brink of what “ could be a long and bloody civil war @ @ @ @ @ @

Ethiopia appears to be on the verge of civil war following a wave of increasingly deadly armed skirmishes between the national government and local authorities controlling the northern Tigray region.
The African nation’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last week sent troops and air force jets into Tigray, in what France 24 describes as a “campaign against the regional ruling party”, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The TPLF “was the dominant political party in Ethiopia for decades” but has been “feuding with Ahmed’s government since shortly after he came to power in 2018”, says the BBC. Following the party’s withdrawal from the ruling coalition last year, the feud “became more intense” in September, when Tigray held its own elections despite government orders to delay national polls owing to the coronavirus pandemic, adds Al Jazzera.
The TPLF claimed that the PM had overstayed his mandate by delaying the election and was no longer the legitimate leader of the country.
After low-level fighting broke out last week, Ahmed’s administration moved to replace the regional government, with state media announcing today that the military had captured Tigray’s Humera Airport and cut off telephone and internet access across the region.
Despite the offensive, Ahmed - the recipient of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize - insists that he is not ignoring calls to de-escalate the situation, claiming that his military is simply undertaking a “law enforcement operation”.
“Criminal elements cannot escape the rule of law under the guise of seeking reconciliation and a call for dialogue,” Ahmed tweeted over the weekend. “Our operation aims to end the impunity that has prevailed for far too long and hold accountable individuals and groups under the laws of the land.”
But Ahmed’s attempts to reassure the international community have fallen flat, amid reports that hundreds of people have been killed in the fighting and that thousands more are fleeing northwest into Sudan.
As the conflict continues to escalate, analysts fear that Africa’s second-most populous nation is now on the brink of what “could be a long and bloody civil war”, says The Guardian.


theweekuk--2020-11-10--Rishi Sunak offers funding olive branch to North’s rebel Tory MPs

Rishi Sunak has told northern Tory MPs that he is prepared to pump investment into the cash-strapped region , in a seeming bid to win over rebellious backbenchers .
Addressing the Northern Research Group ( NRG ) of Conservative MPs , Sunak ” appeared to throw his weight ” behind their demands for ” a special package of financial support for northern businesses and funding for large-scale building projects ” , The Times reports .
Sunak requested the meeting after the NRG sent a letter to Boris Johnson last month warning that their constituencies are being “ left behind ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic despite his election pledge to “ level up ” northern towns .
During a “ well-received address ” to around 50 MPs via Zoom yesterday , Sunak “ sought to position himself as their spokesman in government — in effect , an endorsement of their criticism of Mr Johnson ” , the paper adds .
However , Sunak did not go so far as to wholeheartedly back the NRG complaints , adding that “ they would soon face the question of how to pay for the pandemic ” .
NRG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Johnson - has “ repeatedly insisted that the group is not intended as a challenge to the prime minister ’ s authority ” , as The Times ’ Red Box reporter Patrick Maguire noted yesterday .
Instead , says Maguire , the group ’ s emergence is “ a mark of deep backbench unease over the government ’ s lockdown strategy ” , with many NRG members opposed to any further extension of national restrictions .
The government easily won last Wednesday ’ s vote to impose new restrictions in England for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 516 votes to 38 , with Labour ’ s backing .
The Tory rebels included former leader Iain Duncan Smith and 1922 Committee chair Graham Brady , both of whom are members of the NRG .

Rishi Sunak has told northern Tory MPs that he is prepared to pump investment into the cash-strapped region, in a seeming bid to win over rebellious backbenchers.
Addressing the Northern Research Group (NRG) of Conservative MPs, Sunak ”appeared to throw his weight” behind their demands for ”a special package of financial support for northern businesses and funding for large-scale building projects”, The Times reports.
Sunak requested the meeting after the NRG sent a letter to Boris Johnson last month warning that their constituencies are being “left behind” by the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic despite his election pledge to “level up” northern towns.
During a “well-received address” to around 50 MPs via Zoom yesterday, Sunak “sought to position himself as their spokesman in government — in effect, an endorsement of their criticism of Mr Johnson”, the paper adds.
However, Sunak did not go so far as to wholeheartedly back the NRG complaints, adding that “they would soon face the question of how to pay for the pandemic”.
NRG leader Jake Berry - a former ally of Johnson - has “repeatedly insisted that the group is not intended as a challenge to the prime minister’s authority”, as The Times’ Red Box reporter Patrick Maguire noted yesterday.
Instead, says Maguire, the group’s emergence is “a mark of deep backbench unease over the government’s lockdown strategy”, with many NRG members opposed to any further extension of national restrictions.
The government easily won last Wednesday’s vote to impose new restrictions in England for 28 days, by a margin of 516 votes to 38, with Labour’s backing. The Tory rebels included former leader Iain Duncan Smith and 1922 Committee chair Graham Brady, both of whom are members of the NRG.


theweekuk--2020-11-11--Instant Opinion: US was ‘lucky to get Trump’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
The US was lucky to get Trump – Biden may pave the way for a more competent autocrat “ Joe Biden , in his acceptance speech , called for unity and healing .
He would work “ to win the confidence of the whole people ” .
I just hope he doesn ’ t mean it .
If he does , it means that nothing has been learned since Barack Obama made roughly the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America is fundamentally divided .
It is divided between exploiter and exploited , oppressor and oppressed .
There is no unity to be found with kleptocrats and oligarchs .
Any attempt to pretend there is will lead to political failure .
It will lead not to healing but to a deflected polarisation .
If Americans are not polarised against plutocrats , they will be polarised against each other.
” on the cruel humbling of Armenia Russia and Turkey 's hard power in the Caucasus is a wake-up call for the West “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominal ally Armenia to its fate as Azerbaijan ’ s expensively re-equipped military pounded the Armenians with high-end Israeli and Canadian military technology .
But above all it was Turkey ’ s Bayraktar drones and Azeri forces trained , even managed by Turkish , and therefore NATO , standard military advisers what won it for the Azeris .
Despite diaspora Armenian protests in Paris and Los Angeles , the leaders of Western democracies hardly even shed crocodile tears for an Armenia that only two years ago was praised as a beacon of democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Turkey ’ s spheres of influence meet but until recently America and its allies had been very active there promoting sympathetic political forces and not just to secure the energy corridor from the oil and gas states further east .
Now the Putin-Erdogan double act has shown once again that when it comes to power politics rather than gesture politics they are the masters of the game.
” 3 .
Jeremy Stern in the New York Times “ As with similar past flare-ups , this one was quickly extinguished with the mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend our freedom.
” It ’ s nice to know people think that , but in the five years I spent in the U.S. military , I never met anyone who seriously thought that ’ s what they were doing .
Soldiers who talk that way are usually in basic training , or making up for a lack of combat experience , like the civilian who overcompensates for never serving by lighting Colin Kaepernick jerseys on fire .
Truth to tell , very little of a soldier ’ s time is spent guarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” as the Soldier ’ s Creed has it , and motivations tend to be fairly straightforward .
Shooting an anti-tank missile at a Toyota Hilux , lighting up a fuel tank with a 50-caliber machine gun , getting blisters and dysentery and going to sleep cold and hungry in a dirt hole — these are all part of a rich personal and fraternal experience that doesn ’ t necessarily require any higher source of inspiration.
” 4 .
VS Pandey in the Hindustan Times People need to raise the bar for politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fertile land available anywhere in the world .
We also have the largest arable irrigated land in comparison to any other country .
Our water and other natural resources are comparable to the most advanced nations in the world .
The quality of our human resource is second to none .
We are a democratic country and freely exercise the power and authority to decide our own future .
Despite all these positive factors , why do we not perform as well , if not better , than some of the other less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own destiny almost at the same time when we gained our independence ?
” The Times view on Nero , victim of classical cancel culture : An Apology “ His reputation for narcissistic cruelty is nearly as old as western civilisation itself .
No longer .
Today we clear the name of Nero , for two millennia taken in vain as a shorthand for the worst of imperial depravity .
Far from fiddling while Rome burnt in the hot summer of AD64 , new research suggests that the emperor himself may well have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Great Fire of Rome , it seems , was not so great after all .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. George Monbiot in The Guardian
on smashing the neoliberal consensus
The US was lucky to get Trump – Biden may pave the way for a more competent autocrat
“Joe Biden, in his acceptance speech, called for unity and healing. He would work “to win the confidence of the whole people”. I just hope he doesn’t mean it. If he does, it means that nothing has been learned since Barack Obama made roughly the same speech in 2008. The United States of America is fundamentally divided. It is divided between exploiter and exploited, oppressor and oppressed. There is no unity to be found with kleptocrats and oligarchs. Any attempt to pretend there is will lead to political failure. It will lead not to healing but to a deflected polarisation. If Americans are not polarised against plutocrats, they will be polarised against each other.”
2. Mark Almond in The Telegraph
on the cruel humbling of Armenia
Russia and Turkey's hard power in the Caucasus is a wake-up call for the West
“The Kremlin ruthlessly left Russia’s nominal ally Armenia to its fate as Azerbaijan’s expensively re-equipped military pounded the Armenians with high-end Israeli and Canadian military technology. But above all it was Turkey’s Bayraktar drones and Azeri forces trained, even managed by Turkish, and therefore NATO, standard military advisers what won it for the Azeris. Despite diaspora Armenian protests in Paris and Los Angeles, the leaders of Western democracies hardly even shed crocodile tears for an Armenia that only two years ago was praised as a beacon of democracy. The Caucasus may be where Russia and Turkey’s spheres of influence meet but until recently America and its allies had been very active there promoting sympathetic political forces and not just to secure the energy corridor from the oil and gas states further east. Now the Putin-Erdogan double act has shown once again that when it comes to power politics rather than gesture politics they are the masters of the game.”
3. Jeremy Stern in the New York Times
on fighting for “freedom”
A veteran’s search for meaning
“As with similar past flare-ups, this one was quickly extinguished with the mass incantation that America’s troops “defend our freedom.” It’s nice to know people think that, but in the five years I spent in the U.S. military, I never met anyone who seriously thought that’s what they were doing. Soldiers who talk that way are usually in basic training, or making up for a lack of combat experience, like the civilian who overcompensates for never serving by lighting Colin Kaepernick jerseys on fire. Truth to tell, very little of a soldier’s time is spent guarding the “American way of life,” as the Soldier’s Creed has it, and motivations tend to be fairly straightforward. Shooting an anti-tank missile at a Toyota Hilux, lighting up a fuel tank with a 50-caliber machine gun, getting blisters and dysentery and going to sleep cold and hungry in a dirt hole — these are all part of a rich personal and fraternal experience that doesn’t necessarily require any higher source of inspiration.”
4. VS Pandey in the Hindustan Times
on sluggish modern India
People need to raise the bar for politicians
“India is endowed with the most fertile land available anywhere in the world. We also have the largest arable irrigated land in comparison to any other country. Our water and other natural resources are comparable to the most advanced nations in the world. The quality of our human resource is second to none. We are a democratic country and freely exercise the power and authority to decide our own future. Despite all these positive factors, why do we not perform as well, if not better, than some of the other less endowed countries who became masters of their own destiny almost at the same time when we gained our independence?”
5. Editorial board in The Times
on historical re-revisionism
The Times view on Nero, victim of classical cancel culture: An Apology
“His reputation for narcissistic cruelty is nearly as old as western civilisation itself. No longer. Today we clear the name of Nero, for two millennia taken in vain as a shorthand for the worst of imperial depravity. Far from fiddling while Rome burnt in the hot summer of AD64, new research suggests that the emperor himself may well have been the victim of a fiddle. The Great Fire of Rome, it seems, was not so great after all.”


theweekuk--2020-11-11--US election: who are the winners and losers in a post-Trump world?

Many pundits expected Boris Johnson to be left on hold when Joe Biden made his first post-election calls to other @ @ @ @ @ the prime minister scored an unexpected win by edging out peers including Angela Merkel and @ @ @ @ @ spot on the US president-elect ’ s phone list , after Canada ’ s Justin @ @ @ @ @ No .
10 spokesperson , Johnson told Biden that he looked forward to “ strengthening @ @ @ @ @ UK and US , while the victorious Democrat expressed a similar desire to bolster the @ @ @ @ @ and “ redouble cooperation ” .
Yet while Britain ’ s status as a key @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump ’ s impending exit from the White House is likely to result in @ @ @ @ @ world powers .

Many pundits expected Boris Johnson to be left on hold when Joe Biden made his first post-election calls to other world leaders yesterday. But the prime minister scored an unexpected win by edging out peers including Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron to secure second spot on the US president-elect’s phone list, after Canada’s Justin Trudeau.
According to a No. 10 spokesperson, Johnson told Biden that he looked forward to “strengthening the partnership” between the UK and US, while the victorious Democrat expressed a similar desire to bolster the historic “special relationship” and “redouble cooperation”.
Yet while Britain’s status as a key Washington ally appears safe, Donald Trump’s impending exit from the White House is likely to result in serious losses for some other world powers.
The losers
India - Narendra Modi
Modi invested heavily in his relationship with Trump and “forged a kinship in the cult of personality,” says The Times. The Indian PM appeared at a Trump rally last year, “abandoning diplomatic protocol by appearing to endorse the president for a second term”.
Now, following Biden’s victory, “some fear Modi’s backing of Trump might come back to bite the Indian establishment”, reports the South China Morning Post - especially in matters relating to the treatment of India’s religious minorities.
European populists
Europe’s populist leaders had a vocal, if unreliable, ally in Trump. In the wake of his election defeat, President Andrzej Duda of Poland - who prided himself on being the Republican’s closest EU friend - has made “cautious overtures to the Biden camp”, while Hungary’s Viktor Orban “has also been circumspect”, The Times reports.
But a right-wing populist being ejected from the Oval Office was never going to play well for Europe’s smaller populist powers. It may not be all bad news for them, though.
As the New Statesman’s Ido Vock notes, “for the populists yet to grip the levers of power, such as [Geert] Wilders [in the Netherlands], Trump was more a curse than a blessing”.
“They didn’t so much disagree with him on the substance of his ideology,” Vock continues. “But his chaotic style, trampling over decorum and norms, turned off cautious European electorates from the politicians who hitched their wagons to the Trump train.”
Brazil - Jair Bolsonaro
Brazil’s right-wing firebrand president has been a huge admirer of Trump, even appearing to whisper “I love you” into his US counterpart’s ear during a meeting at the United Nations in 2019.


theweekuk--2020-11-11--Mary Wollstonecraft sculpture condemned as ‘naked silver Barbie’

A statue created to celebrate the life and ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft instead depicts the philosopher as a “ naked sliver Barbie ” , according to critics .
Maggi Hambling ’ s sculpture of Wollstonecraft - best known for her 1792 work Vindication of the Rights of Woman - “ portrays a silver female figure emerging from a swirling mingle of female forms ” , says the BBC .
But that symbolic depiction has won few fans after being unveiled on Tuesday night in Newington Green , north London , where protesters were quick to voice their objections .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a black T-shirt with the message ‘ Woman - Adult human female ’ , ” the Daily Mail reports .
The slogan “ has been linked to anti-transgender movements ” , the paper adds .
The T-shirt was soon removed , but questions about the figure ’ s nakedness persisted .
“ Nameless , nude and conventionally attractive is the only way women have ever been acceptable in public sculpture , ” tweeted writer Imogen Hermes Gowar .
Fellow author Dr Laura Wood detected a double standard , tweeting : “ How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depicted naked in their statues ?
You never see Charles Dickens with his balls out , do you ?
” But sculptor Hambling “ said the critics had confused Wollstonecraft with the figure in the work ” , the London Evening Standard reports .
“ The whole sculpture is called ‘ for Mary Wollstonecraft ’ and that ’ s crucially important , ” Hambling told the paper .
“ It ’ s not an idea ‘ of ’ Mary Wollstonecraft naked.
” The figure “ has to be naked because clothes define people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in historic costume look like they belong to history because of their clothes .
It ’ s crucial that she is ‘ now ’ .
” That argument appears to have convinced jistorian Dr Hannah Dawson , who tweeted that Hambling seemed to be “ drawing on what Wollstonecraft herself said about statues : that they are ‘ not modelled after nature ’ , but are rather projections of the imagination ” .
“ I went to see the statue with my own eyes , ” Dawson added , “ and found this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , surrounded by such life and bursting conversation .
”

A statue created to celebrate the life and ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft instead depicts the philosopher as a “naked sliver Barbie”, according to critics.
Maggi Hambling’s sculpture of Wollstonecraft - best known for her 1792 work Vindication of the Rights of Woman - “portrays a silver female figure emerging from a swirling mingle of female forms”, says the BBC.
But that symbolic depiction has won few fans after being unveiled on Tuesday night in Newington Green, north London, where protesters were quick to voice their objections. One demonstrator “was seen covering the statue in a black T-shirt with the message ‘Woman - Adult human female’,” the Daily Mail reports. The slogan “has been linked to anti-transgender movements”, the paper adds.
The T-shirt was soon removed, but questions about the figure’s nakedness persisted.
“Nameless, nude and conventionally attractive is the only way women have ever been acceptable in public sculpture,” tweeted writer Imogen Hermes Gowar.
Fellow author Dr Laura Wood detected a double standard, tweeting: “How many of our important male writers are depicted naked in their statues? You never see Charles Dickens with his balls out, do you?”
But sculptor Hambling “said the critics had confused Wollstonecraft with the figure in the work”, the London Evening Standard reports.
“The whole sculpture is called ‘for Mary Wollstonecraft’ and that’s crucially important,” Hambling told the paper. “It’s not an idea ‘of’ Mary Wollstonecraft naked.”
The figure “has to be naked because clothes define people”, she added. “Statues in historic costume look like they belong to history because of their clothes. It’s crucial that she is ‘now’.”
That argument appears to have convinced jistorian Dr Hannah Dawson, who tweeted that Hambling seemed to be “drawing on what Wollstonecraft herself said about statues: that they are ‘not modelled after nature’, but are rather projections of the imagination”.
“I went to see the statue with my own eyes,” Dawson added, “and found this completely beautiful sculpture in the setting sun, surrounded by such life and bursting conversation.”


theweekuk--2020-11-11--Most Brits would agree to get Covid vaccine - if Boris Johnson goes first

Three-quarters of Britons would say yes to getting a Covid-19 vaccine - but 40 % want politicians to go first to ensure the jab is safe , a new poll reveals .
Amid growing hopes of an imminent rollout of the Pfizer-developed vaccine , just 7 % of more than 1,000 people quizzed for the Daily Mail survey said they would not get innoculated against the new coronavirus “ under any circumstances ” .
Over-65s - the age group most at risk from the virus - were the most enthusiastic about the vaccine , with 86 % saying they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among 35- to 44-year-olds .
But despite the generally favourable response , a total of 54 % believed that the development of a Covid vaccine has been rushed .
The UK government has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer version , which in Phase 3 tests has been found to be 90 % effective in preventing the virus .
The vaccine trials breakthrough was rated by the survey respondents as being “ more important ” than Brexit , the fall of the Berlin Wall and the first man on the Moon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women or the development of vaccines such as tuberculosis jab .
The publication of the poll findings came as Health Secretary Matt Hancock unveiled plans for the NHS to be ready to deploy the vaccine “ from any date from 1 December ” .
Hancock told the House of Commons yesterday that “ we do not yet know whether or when a vaccine is approved ” , but added : “ If this or any other vaccine is approved , we will be ready to begin a large-scale vaccination programme.
” According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if regulators are able to give the green light in the next few weeks , some people could get their jab before Christmas - a most welcome gift for those at highest risk of severe Covid-19 illness ” .
But experts have warned that “ it would be a colossal mistake to relax now and let the virus rip ” , Roberts writes , adding that “ until and unless mass vaccination can happen , society needs to use the other weapons at its disposal to fight the virus and stop the spread @ @

Three-quarters of Britons would say yes to getting a Covid-19 vaccine - but 40% want politicians to go first to ensure the jab is safe, a new poll reveals.
Amid growing hopes of an imminent rollout of the Pfizer-developed vaccine, just 7% of more than 1,000 people quizzed for the Daily Mail survey said they would not get innoculated against the new coronavirus “under any circumstances”.
Over-65s - the age group most at risk from the virus - were the most enthusiastic about the vaccine, with 86% saying they would get it, compared with 63% among 35- to 44-year-olds.
But despite the generally favourable response, a total of 54% believed that the development of a Covid vaccine has been rushed.
The UK government has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer version, which in Phase 3 tests has been found to be 90% effective in preventing the virus.
The vaccine trials breakthrough was rated by the survey respondents as being “more important” than Brexit, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the first man on the Moon, but that less important than votes for women or the development of vaccines such as tuberculosis jab.
The publication of the poll findings came as Health Secretary Matt Hancock unveiled plans for the NHS to be ready to deploy the vaccine “from any date from 1 December”.
Hancock told the House of Commons yesterday that “we do not yet know whether or when a vaccine is approved”, but added: “If this or any other vaccine is approved, we will be ready to begin a large-scale vaccination programme.”
According to BBC health editor Michelle Roberts, “if regulators are able to give the green light in the next few weeks, some people could get their jab before Christmas - a most welcome gift for those at highest risk of severe Covid-19 illness”.
But experts have warned that “it would be a colossal mistake to relax now and let the virus rip”, Roberts writes, adding that “until and unless mass vaccination can happen, society needs to use the other weapons at its disposal to fight the virus and stop the spread”.


theweekuk--2020-11-11--Inside the No. 10 power struggle to become Boris Johnson’s chief of staff

Tensions in Boris Johnson ’ s cabinet are nearing breaking point following reports that the prime minister has picked a pro-Brexit disciple of Dominic Cummings to become Downing Street ’ s chief of staff .
The surprise appointment of “ combative , Vote Leave diehard ” Lee Cain to the new post is “ going down very badly in some party circles ” , The Guardian reports .
“ Few , if anyone , in government had tipped Cain ” for the role , adds Politico London Playbook ’ s Alex Wickham , who says the backlash from senior Tories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are serious doubts as to whether the move will happen ” .
Before taking up various government roles , Cain worked as a reporter for The Sun and the Daily Mirror .
While working at the latter , Cain ’ s duties including dressing up in the newspaper ’ s famous election chicken costume and heckle Tory politicians , including David Cameron .
Following a brief stint in PR , he then joined the Vote Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum under the tutelage of Cummings .
In the wake of the success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special adviser at the Department for Environment , Food and Rural Affairs , and briefly served under Theresa May in Downing Street , before moving to the Foreign Office while it was occupied by Johnson .
When Johnson returned to the backbenches after quitting May ’ s government in 2018 , Cain went with him .
The former journalist worked on his boss ’ s Tory leadership campaign , and was rewarded for his successful efforts by being handed the role of No .
10 ’ s head of communications .
Why is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promotion of Cain “ is part of a wider plan to refocus Downing Street ” and “ ensure one-to-one access to Johnson is limited to three senior political advisers ” , The Times reports .
Johnson ’ s choice “ will be taken as a rejection of advice to broaden his circle beyond the pro-Brexit clique ” , the paper adds .
The “ pugnacious ” Cain is also a “ controversial figure in Whitehall , having been at loggerheads with many current ( and many more former ) [ special advisers ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , says Politico ’ s Wickham .
Indeed , The Telegraph ’ s politics live editor Cat Neilan tweets that the Tories fall into two camps when it comes to Cain - “ those who don ’ t like him , and those who hate him ” .
A former minister told The Telegraph that the reported appointment was “ pathetic ” , adding : “ I can ’ t get beyond him being a bloody chicken , and we all know it was him who ‘ leaked ’ lockdown.
” Another unnamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have literally taken over the asylum ... .
he is Dom Cummings ’ puppet and Dom Cummings is an advocate for lockdowns.
” The insider added : “ If this is true and comes to pass , it will be the final nail for the PM .
I don ’ t think he realises how concerned the parliamentary party is about the No .
10 operation , and at the heart of that is Cummings and Cain .
“ It is just clear the PM does not understand or appreciate the trouble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What happens next ?
If Cain officially secures the chief of staff role , “ he will have privileged access to the prime minister ” and will be “ on the same footing ” as senior advisers including Cummings , says The Times .
Some MPs believe Cain ’ s appointment “ could help rein in ” Cummings , according to Daily Mail .
But others point to the close ties between the two aides .
A Whitehall source told the newspaper that the PM believes Downing Street “ desperately needs a chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-hand man “ has always said he does not want the title but won ’ t serve under anyone who has it ” .
However , Cummings “ would be able to work with Lee , because he knows he is an ally , not a threat ” , the source added .
Although Johnson may be able to keep his inner circle onside with the appointment , he may have problems further afield .
Politico ’ s Wickham reports that the PM received messages from “ no fewer than nine serving special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerging reports about Cain ’ s new role was true , and “ expressing their bewilderment ” .
One “ even claimed they would resign if it happened , and suggested they would not be alone ” , Wickham adds .

Tensions in Boris Johnson’s cabinet are nearing breaking point following reports that the prime minister has picked a pro-Brexit disciple of Dominic Cummings to become Downing Street’s chief of staff.
The surprise appointment of “combative, Vote Leave diehard” Lee Cain to the new post is “going down very badly in some party circles”, The Guardian reports.
“Few, if anyone, in government had tipped Cain” for the role, adds Politico London Playbook’s Alex Wickham, who says the backlash from senior Tories has been so fierce that “there are serious doubts as to whether the move will happen”.
Who is Cain?
Before taking up various government roles, Cain worked as a reporter for The Sun and the Daily Mirror. While working at the latter, Cain’s duties including dressing up in the newspaper’s famous election chicken costume and heckle Tory politicians, including David Cameron.
Following a brief stint in PR, he then joined the Vote Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum under the tutelage of Cummings.
In the wake of the success of that campaign, Cain became a special adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and briefly served under Theresa May in Downing Street, before moving to the Foreign Office while it was occupied by Johnson.
When Johnson returned to the backbenches after quitting May’s government in 2018, Cain went with him. The former journalist worked on his boss’s Tory leadership campaign, and was rewarded for his successful efforts by being handed the role of No. 10’s head of communications.
Why is he a divisive choice?
The planned promotion of Cain “is part of a wider plan to refocus Downing Street” and “ensure one-to-one access to Johnson is limited to three senior political advisers”, The Times reports. Johnson’s choice “will be taken as a rejection of advice to broaden his circle beyond the pro-Brexit clique”, the paper adds.
The “pugnacious” Cain is also a “controversial figure in Whitehall, having been at loggerheads with many current (and many more former) [special advisers] and ministers over the last year”, says Politico’s Wickham.
Indeed, The Telegraph’s politics live editor Cat Neilan tweets that the Tories fall into two camps when it comes to Cain - “those who don’t like him, and those who hate him”.


theweekuk--2020-11-11--US election: Joe Biden locked out of classified briefings as Donald Trump refuses to concede

The refusal of Donald Trump ’ s administration to admit his election defeat has left president-elect Joe Biden unable to access a raft of national security information , the Democrat has confirmed .
Four days after Pennsylvania was called in Biden ’ s favour , handing him victory over Trump , General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy had yet to sign the letter of “ ascertainment ” .
The letter sets the transition of power in motion , and has been a “ mostly noncontroversial process since the passage of the transition act nearly 60 years ago ” , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving the President ’ s Daily Brief ( PDB ) , a collection of high-level intelligence that is circulated among senior government officials .
“ Trump could authorise that with a word , ” the broadcaster adds , “ but he has not done so.
” The briefings are normally sent to the president-elect to aid the transition to power , with The New York Times describing it as “ the most important pipeline for them to learn about the threats facing the United States ” .
Shrugging off the briefings block during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : “ Obviously , the PDB would be useful but it ’ s not necessary .
I ’ m not the sitting president now .
“ Access to classified information is useful , but I ’ m not in a position to make any decisions on these issues anyway .
It would be nice to have it but it ’ s not critical.
” Biden was less forgiving of Trump ’ s failure to concede the election , however , describing this refusal as “ an embarrassment ” .
“ The only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this tactfully , I think it will not help the president ’ s legacy , ” he added .

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


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

Children ’ s books are eight times as likely to feature animal main characters than black and other ethnic minority @ @ @ @ @ has found .
The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education says that 5 % of @ @ @ @ @ last year had an ethnic minority main character , compared to 4 % in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ 2017 .
However , a spokesperson said : “ We need to make sure that @ @ @ @ @ t make us complacent .
”

Court rejects Britney’s plea to be freed from father’s control
A court has rejected an attempt by the singer Britney Spears to have her father removed as guardian of her estate. Jamie Spears, who has been his daughter’s legal conservator for 12 years, says he has acted due to concerns about her mental state. However, the pop star says she is “afraid” of her father, and vowed that she would not perform so long as he remained in the role.


theweekuk--2020-11-11--Mayfair flat with Oval Office replica sells for £140m

A London flat previously owned by Joseph P. Kennedy , which includes a replica of the White House 's Oval Office , has sold for £140m .
Kennedy lived in the Mayfair property when he served as US ambassador to the UK in the late 1930s .
He had the replica built in 1938 , his first year in the job , according to CNN .
It is not known if the new owner is a West Wing fan .
Boy of six becomes world 's youngest programmer A six-year-old boy in India set a Guinness World Record by officially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programmer .
Arham Om Talsania , of Ahmedabad , passed the Microsoft certification exam for the Python programming language at a Pearson VUE test center .
“ I started using tablets when I was two years old , ” he explained .
The mayor of a Japanese town recently gained fame on social media because the characters in his name spell out “ Jo Baiden ” .
He told a local newspaper : “ Although there are differences in the positions of a US presidential candidate and the mayor of Yamato here in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the same .
We continue working to fulfill our duty to ensure the happiness and spiritual richness of our residents.
” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise , refreshing and balanced take on the week ’ s news agenda - try The Week magazine .
Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A London flat previously owned by Joseph P. Kennedy, which includes a replica of the White House's Oval Office, has sold for £140m. Kennedy lived in the Mayfair property when he served as US ambassador to the UK in the late 1930s. He had the replica built in 1938, his first year in the job, according to CNN. It is not known if the new owner is a West Wing fan.
Boy of six becomes world's youngest programmer
A six-year-old boy in India set a Guinness World Record by officially becoming the world's youngest certified computer programmer. Arham Om Talsania, of Ahmedabad, passed the Microsoft certification exam for the Python programming language at a Pearson VUE test center. “I started using tablets when I was two years old,” he explained.
‘Jo Baiden’ trends during US election season
The mayor of a Japanese town recently gained fame on social media because the characters in his name spell out “Jo Baiden”. He told a local newspaper: “Although there are differences in the positions of a US presidential candidate and the mayor of Yamato here in the centre of Kyushu, our passion is the same. We continue working to fulfill our duty to ensure the happiness and spiritual richness of our residents.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––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--2020-11-11--Coronavirus: how and when will the Pfizer vaccine be rolled out to millions of Brits?

The NHS will be ready to begin inoculating millions of people against Covid-19 with the breakthrough Pfizer vaccine within weeks @ @ @ @ @ told MPs .
Matt Hancock said the health service would begin rolling out a mass @ @ @ @ @ if the jab is approved for use in the UK .
But he warned “ @ @ @ @ @ that the vaccine will end the crisis quickly , adding : “ We don ’ @ @ @ @ @ the population vaccination needs to reach in order for this to stop the epidemic.
” @ @ @ @ @ out ?
German firm Pfizer raised hopes worldwide on Monday by announcing that the first @ @ @ @ @ had found its coronavirus vaccine to be 90 % effective .


theweekuk--2020-11-10--Tie & DIOR by Victoire de Castellane

Tie & DIOR by Victoire de Castellane

There are many ways to tie-dye .
An umbrella term grouping variations of resist-dyeing —an ancient concept of adding prints to fabrics by limiting and manipulating a colourant ’ s spread— methods of tie-dyeing include batik , which was first practised on the Indonesian island of Java and uses wax to shape intricate patterns .
In Japan , the centuries-old art of shibori requires material to be tightly wound around wood or a cut of strong rope , before being submerged in liquid dye .
But it ’ s in Paris that tie-dye has found its most luxurious iteration to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the French capital that designer Victoire de Castellane dreamed up and perfected Tie & DIOR , her latest high jewellery collection .
Unveiled this July , Tie & DIOR features more than 100 pieces inspired by the signature swirling , free-moving and organic shapes of tie-dye .
“ It ’ s all about movement and colour combinations , ” she explains via email from Paris .
Working with platinum plus white , yellow and pink gold , de Castellane liberally mixed and matched rare gems of different sizes and shapes , including pear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collection also includes Paraiba-type tourmalines and pink emeralds , as well as sapphires in warm , sunny yellow tones .
De Castellane has long been recognised as a talented colourist : in a nod to her tie-dye inspiration , she stuck to a chromatic palette when choosing precious stones to star in her new designs .
Chromatic describes colours that predominately feature one hue ( white , for example is achromatic as it includes all tones ) , so the French designer places deep blue sapphires alongside vermilion red rubies .
Elsewhere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of liquid ink staining blotting paper ; and this led de Castellane to place stones in gradients , evoking percolating dye .
A mismatched pair of earrings ( this in itself is a de Castellane marquee design ) sparkles with dégradé spessartite garnets , their near-orange , reddish browns contrasting with bordering yellow sapphires .
frames such bursts of colour with sparkling white diamonds .
It ’ s a visually striking eff : her designs appear almost liquid , calling to mind slowly spreading asymmetric pools of liquid dye .
“ In Tie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between rows of diamonds , ” says .
“ They move and connect.
” Deframes such bursts of colour with sparkling white diamonds .
It ’ s a visually striking eff : her designs appear almost liquid , calling to mind slowly spreading asymmetric pools of liquid dye .
“ In Tie & DIOR , colours merge and reappear between rows of diamonds , ” says .
“ They move and connect.
” Born to one of France ’ s oldest aristocratic families , grew up in - -Seine , a commune just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first joined Dior more than 20 years ago , taking up the post of artistic director of jewellery .
Researching Monsieur Dior ’ s biography and body of work - covering ten years , from 1947 to 1957 - discovered details , symbols and anecdotes that she artfully fuses with her own inspirations and signature design tweaks .
In previous high jewellery collections , she has focused on Dior ’ s era-defining New Look tailoring , the couturier ’ s childhood home in Granville , and Versailles ’ royal gardens ( Christian Dior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stimuli .
At the Dior ateliers , de Castellane ’ s jewellery takes shape in a detailed process .
A first sketch is rendered in colourful gouache , which then informs a maquette set with stand-in gems to guide the artisan ’ s hand .
Tie & DIOR marks the first time that de Castellane uses pearls significantly .
“ Their different natural colours fascinate me , they are small silky spheres that bring a new softness that contrasts with the sparkling shine of the stones , ” she says of the milky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were given in antiquity - tears of Venus.
” , working with pearls has been kismet .
Today , the designer recalls childhood memories of pearl jewellery and spotting the gem in favourite artworks .
“ I have always loved pearls .
I loved to see my grandmother wearing her pearls .
I like them in Renaissance or 19th-century paintings , where they hold a very important place in the female portrait , ” she explains .
“ They symbolise purity.
” It appears that for , working with pearls has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ childhood memories of pearl jewellery and spotting the gem in favourite artworks .
“ I have always loved pearls .
I loved to see my grandmother wearing her pearls .
I like them in Renaissance or 19th-century paintings , where they hold a very important place in the female portrait , ” she explains .
“ They symbolise purity.
” De Castellane ’ s use of pearls veers far from tradition , however .
Her Tahitian and Australian specimens come in pistachio greens , golden yellows , candy pinks and a sun-faded purple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s inventive placing of the gem : here , traditional clusters , strings and formations make way for a spontaneous dotting of the bulbous gem .
“ [ Pearls ] fascinate me because in their simplicity they bring shine and preciousness .
A gift from nature , from the sea.
” At Dior , de Castellane is not the only artistic director to discover the joyful , happy-making effect of tie-dye .
Kim Jones , the maison ’ s artistic director of menswear , has previously finessed trainers and accessories to vibrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maria Grazia Chiuri has authored a tie-dye detailed Dior wardrobe replete with indigo-swirled Dior Book Tote .
It was with Chiuri that de Castellane partnered on a rainbow on chi on dresses , worn by 16 models to present Tie & DIOR at a special event in Shanghai earlier this year .
“ This is the second time that we work together on a project , it is always very fun and exciting , ” de Castellane enthuses .
For their rarity in materials and creative verve , de Castellane ’ s Tie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of heirlooms in the making .
“ Jewellery is very important , it ’ s the most precious accessory and a little treasure for people who own them ” , says de Castellane .
“ Jewellery is a treasure because of its value , and it ’ s a treasure because jewellery is transmittable .
That ’ s very important for me , this notion that you can wear something from your grandmother , from people before you .
I love this idea , the eternity of jewellery.
” And so the art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ebiko using Oribe Casting : Simone Schofer Models : Alisa Rusakova , Corrie Letenard at New Madison Models , Diana Helzina at The Claw Models and INGVILD

De Castellane frames such bursts of colour with sparkling white diamonds. It’s a visually striking effect: her designs appear almost liquid, calling to mind slowly spreading asymmetric pools of liquid dye. “In Tie & DIOR, colours merge and reappear between rows of diamonds,” says de Castellane. “They move and connect.”
De Castellane has long been recognised as a talented colourist: in a nod to her tie-dye inspiration, she stuck to a chromatic palette when choosing precious stones to star in her new designs. Chromatic describes colours that predominately feature one hue (white, for example is achromatic as it includes all tones), so the French designer places deep blue sapphires alongside vermilion red rubies. Elsewhere, her Tie & DIOR inspirations include images of liquid ink staining blotting paper; and this led de Castellane to place stones in gradients, evoking percolating dye. A mismatched pair of earrings (this in itself is a de Castellane marquee design) sparkles with dégradé spessartite garnets, their near-orange, reddish browns contrasting with bordering yellow sapphires.
Unveiled this July, Tie & DIOR features more than 100 pieces inspired by the signature swirling, free-moving and organic shapes of tie-dye. “It’s all about movement and colour combinations,” she explains via email from Paris. Working with platinum plus white, yellow and pink gold, de Castellane liberally mixed and matched rare gems of different sizes and shapes, including pear, oval and marquise cuts. The collection also includes Paraiba-type tourmalines and pink emeralds, as well as sapphires in warm, sunny yellow tones.
There are many ways to tie-dye. An umbrella term grouping variations of resist-dyeing —an ancient concept of adding prints to fabrics by limiting and manipulating a colourant’s spread— methods of tie-dyeing include batik, which was first practised on the Indonesian island of Java and uses wax to shape intricate patterns. In Japan, the centuries-old art of shibori requires material to be tightly wound around wood or a cut of strong rope, before being submerged in liquid dye. But it’s in Paris that tie-dye has found its most luxurious iteration to date: it was here, in the French capital that designer Victoire de Castellane dreamed up and perfected Tie & DIOR , her latest high jewellery collection.
Born to one of France’s oldest aristocratic families, de Castellane grew up in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a commune just to the west of Paris. She first joined Dior more than 20 years ago, taking up the post of artistic director of jewellery. Researching Monsieur Dior’s biography and body of work - covering ten years, from 1947 to 1957 - de Castellane discovered details, symbols and anecdotes that she artfully fuses with her own inspirations and signature design tweaks. In previous high jewellery collections, she has focused on Dior’s era-defining New Look tailoring, the couturier’s childhood home in Granville, and Versailles’ royal gardens (Christian Dior was a keen horticulturist) for creative stimuli.
At the Dior ateliers, de Castellane’s jewellery takes shape in a detailed process. A first sketch is rendered in colourful gouache, which then informs a maquette set with stand-in gems to guide the artisan’s hand. Tie & DIOR marks the first time that de Castellane uses pearls significantly. “Their different natural colours fascinate me, they are small silky spheres that bring a new softness that contrasts with the sparkling shine of the stones,” she says of the milky gem. “I like the name they were given in antiquity - tears of Venus.”
It appears that for de Castellane, working with pearls has been kismet. Today, the designer recalls childhood memories of pearl jewellery and spotting the gem in favourite artworks. “I have always loved pearls. I loved to see my grandmother wearing her pearls. I like them in Renaissance or 19th-century paintings, where they hold a very important place in the female portrait,” she explains. “They symbolise purity.”
De Castellane’s use of pearls veers far from tradition, however. Her Tahitian and Australian specimens come in pistachio greens, golden yellows, candy pinks and a sun-faded purple tone. Then there is de Castellane’s inventive placing of the gem: here, traditional clusters, strings and formations make way for a spontaneous dotting of the bulbous gem. “[Pearls] fascinate me because in their simplicity they bring shine and preciousness. A gift from nature, from the sea.”
At Dior, de Castellane is not the only artistic director to discover the joyful, happy-making effect of tie-dye. Kim Jones, the maison’s artistic director of menswear, has previously finessed trainers and accessories to vibrant effect; and artistic director of womenswear Maria Grazia Chiuri has authored a tie-dye detailed Dior wardrobe replete with indigo-swirled Dior Book Tote. It was with Chiuri that de Castellane partnered on a rainbow on chi on dresses, worn by 16 models to present Tie & DIOR at a special event in Shanghai earlier this year. “This is the second time that we work together on a project, it is always very fun and exciting,” de Castellane enthuses.For their rarity in materials and creative verve, de Castellane’s Tie & DIOR creations have all the trappings of heirlooms in the making. “Jewellery is very important, it’s the most precious accessory and a little treasure for people who own them”, says de Castellane. “Jewellery is a treasure because of its value, and it’s a treasure because jewellery is transmittable. That’s very important for me, this notion that you can wear something from your grandmother, from people before you. I love this idea, the eternity of jewellery.” And so the art of tie-dye continues.
Photographer: Olya Oleinic
Styling: Lune Kuipers
Hair: Natsumi Ebiko using Oribe Casting: Simone Schofer Models: Alisa Rusakova, Corrie Letenard at New Madison Models, Diana Helzina at The Claw Models and INGVILD
All clothing and jewellery DIOR


theweekuk--2020-11-12--Instant Opinion: ‘Relax. Joe Biden will be sworn in’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on the maths behind the madness Relax .
Biden will be sworn in Jan. 20 “ Biden has passed a magic number - not 270 , but 50 : that is , 50 votes in the Senate to officially declare him the winner when Congress meets in a special joint session on Jan. 6 .
The number is 50 , not 51 , because one of the two Georgia Senate seats will be empty on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that seat is being held just the day before .
The other Georgia Senate seat , although also in a runoff , involves a special election for an unexpired term ; as a result , Sen. Kelly Loeffler will still be a sitting senator on Jan. 6 .
So , Biden needs 50 of 99 Senate votes for any electoral college question that might arise .
Voting that day will be 48 Democrats and 51 Republicans .
That Republican majority shouldn ’ t be a problem.
” on incompetence in the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like a Greek tragedy written by donkeys .
This type of soap opera usually gets political reporters really rather excited , but in truth there ’ s no content to it .
That ’ s the remarkable element to all this .
There ’ s not the slightest whiff of principle , or conviction , or genuinely held opinion .
It is just pure power games .
This is not about Brexit , or covid , or even the strategic decisions which might go into pursuing those issues .
Just factional manoeuvring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freed from the skull .
It is remarkable that Cain is able to resign at all .
He has been in charge of communications - arguably the most inept aspect of the government ’ s performance , although admittedly it is a competitive field .
Month after month , the government fails to communicate its message , often on issues of supreme significance.
” 3 .
Tsedale Lemma in The New York Times on conflict in the cradle of mankind “ Then in September , the Tigray region went ahead with its elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s orders .
Since that act of subversion , tensions between the government and the leaders in Tigray , simmering for two years , have been high .
Last week , they spilled out into open conflict .
Whether or not it escalates into a civil war , it will leave an indelible mark on Ethiopian politics .
What was already a deeply polarized country will become more divided still .
But most importantly , it could crush the hopes of a democratic transition .
Free speech , civil liberties and due process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militarism and repression.
” The disturbing truths in the new Vatican scandal report “ As a Catholic , I long ago uneasily made my peace with the knowledge that too many church leaders who preached a Christian message I regard as sacred may themselves be deeply flawed , deceitful or corrupt .
The release Tuesday of a Vatican report filled with the sordid details of former Archbishop of Washington Theodore McCarrick ’ s rise and fall doesn ’ t so much tear at my faith as give hope that the Holy See is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth .
This is so even though the report convincingly details how then-Pope and now St. John Paul II , who died in 2005 , promoted McCarrick despite being very much aware of allegations that he was a predator who had sexually manipulated and abused seminarians.
” The naked Mary Wollstonecraft sculpture is powerfully unifying – every woman simply hates it “ Alas , the statue ’ s aim was not to unite the sisterhood in loathing but to redress the lack of monuments of women and to give Wollstonecraft long overdue recognition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give that ideas meeting another shot , eh ?
Oh , wait .
The nakedness is , unsurprisingly , the main problem .
The monument is supposed to stimulate debate , but I fear that thanks to Hambling ’ s curiously angular figure , the first question that will leap to minds is : why does her mons pubis jut out so alarmingly ?
I don ’ t know for sure , but I have an inkling that is not the dream legacy for feminist pioneers .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Edward B. Foley in The Washington Post
on the maths behind the madness
Relax. Biden will be sworn in Jan. 20
“Biden has passed a magic number - not 270, but 50: that is, 50 votes in the Senate to officially declare him the winner when Congress meets in a special joint session on Jan. 6. The number is 50, not 51, because one of the two Georgia Senate seats will be empty on Jan. 6 — the runoff to fill that seat is being held just the day before. The other Georgia Senate seat, although also in a runoff, involves a special election for an unexpired term; as a result, Sen. Kelly Loeffler will still be a sitting senator on Jan. 6. So, Biden needs 50 of 99 Senate votes for any electoral college question that might arise. Voting that day will be 48 Democrats and 51 Republicans. That Republican majority shouldn’t be a problem.”
2. Ian Dunt on Politics.co.uk
on incompetence in the time of Covid
No.10 chaos: Small people for serious times
“It’s very boring, like a Greek tragedy written by donkeys. This type of soap opera usually gets political reporters really rather excited, but in truth there’s no content to it. That’s the remarkable element to all this. There’s not the slightest whiff of principle, or conviction, or genuinely held opinion. It is just pure power games. This is not about Brexit, or covid, or even the strategic decisions which might go into pursuing those issues. Just factional manoeuvring without an underlying purpose, the ego freed from the skull. It is remarkable that Cain is able to resign at all. He has been in charge of communications - arguably the most inept aspect of the government’s performance, although admittedly it is a competitive field. Month after month, the government fails to communicate its message, often on issues of supreme significance.”
3. Tsedale Lemma in The New York Times
on conflict in the cradle of mankind
What’s happening in Ethiopia is a tragedy
“Then in September, the Tigray region went ahead with its elections, in defiance of the government’s orders. Since that act of subversion, tensions between the government and the leaders in Tigray, simmering for two years, have been high. Last week, they spilled out into open conflict. Whether or not it escalates into a civil war, it will leave an indelible mark on Ethiopian politics. What was already a deeply polarized country will become more divided still. But most importantly, it could crush the hopes of a democratic transition. Free speech, civil liberties and due process may fall afoul of the turn to militarism and repression.”
4. Paul Moses on CNN
on reopening dark chapters
The disturbing truths in the new Vatican scandal report
“As a Catholic, I long ago uneasily made my peace with the knowledge that too many church leaders who preached a Christian message I regard as sacred may themselves be deeply flawed, deceitful or corrupt. The release Tuesday of a Vatican report filled with the sordid details of former Archbishop of Washington Theodore McCarrick’s rise and fall doesn’t so much tear at my faith as give hope that the Holy See is finally learning to come clean with the truth. This is so even though the report convincingly details how then-Pope and now St. John Paul II, who died in 2005, promoted McCarrick despite being very much aware of allegations that he was a predator who had sexually manipulated and abused seminarians.”
5. Gwendolyn Smith in The i
on a botched tribute
The naked Mary Wollstonecraft sculpture is powerfully unifying – every woman simply hates it
“Alas, the statue’s aim was not to unite the sisterhood in loathing but to redress the lack of monuments of women and to give Wollstonecraft long overdue recognition. Good there’s time to give that ideas meeting another shot, eh? Oh, wait. The nakedness is, unsurprisingly, the main problem. The monument is supposed to stimulate debate, but I fear that thanks to Hambling’s curiously angular figure, the first question that will leap to minds is: why does her mons pubis jut out so alarmingly? I don’t know for sure, but I have an inkling that is not the dream legacy for feminist pioneers.”


theweekuk--2020-11-12--How the new £5 Covid tests work - and how they might end lockdown

To keep reading The Week ’ s concise , refreshing and balanced take on the world , please register your @ @ @ @ @ use the details you have shared to manage your registration.You agree to the processing , @ @ @ @ @ of this information for the purpose of managing your registration as described in our Privacy @ @ @ @ @ the details you have shared to manage your newsletter subscription.You agree to the processing , @ @ @ @ @ of this information for the purpose of managing your subscription as described in our Privacy @ @ @ @ @ the information you have shared for carefully considered and specific purposes , where we believe @ @ @ @ @ to do so , for example to send you communications about similar products and services @ @ @ @ @ more about our legitimate interest activity in our privacy policy .
‘ We ’ includes @ @ @ @ @ Publishing ( UK ) Ltd brands as detailed here


theweekuk--2020-11-12--Looming Brexit deadline ‘will be missed’ - but talks to continue

British and European negotiators are unlikely to reach a post-Brexit trade agreement before this weekend ’ s deadline , sources close to the talks have warned .
Disputes over workers ’ rights , environmental protection and “ level-playing field ” rules continue to be major stumbling blocks , and both sides have repeatedly accused the other of holding an “ unrealistic ” position on fishing .
But despite the deadlock , “ officials think there ’ s enough progress to warrant carrying on ” , says Bloomberg , which reports that talks are expected to continue in Brussels next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached in time for parliamentary ratification on both sides of the Channel before the transition period ends on 31 December .
EU officials “ said they now expected negotiators to come up with an agreed text in the middle of next week ” , Reuters reports .
According to Sky News , Brussels regards next Thursday ’ s “ video-conference summit of EU leaders as the final deadline for a draft Brexit deal ” .
If the negotiations prove successful , the deal could be ratified “ in a matter of days in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , “ the EU side needs longer ” , with European lawmakers anxious to scrutinise the agreement text “ in committees before a vote in their last plenary session ” , which begins on 14 December , the news site adds .
Some European sources fear “ an extraordinary sitting of the chamber may need to be arranged for 28 December ” , The Guardian reports .
That would be just “ three days before the end of the transition period when the UK leaves the single market and customs union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Minister Simon Coveney is striking an upbeat note about the ongoing negotiations .
“ If we can ’ t get a deal done , it will represent an extraordinary failure of politics and diplomacy , ” he said .
“ Everybody wants a deal here .
“ And the cost of failure is what will motivate people to hopefully agree to sensible compromise .
”