theweekuk--2020-09-25--Instant Opinion: Mitt Romney made ‘the wrong call on Supreme Court’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
Et tu , Mitt ?
Romney makes the wrong call on Supreme Court confirmation “ Romney ’ s disappointing decision chips off a good chunk of the pedestal on which he was installed after his impeachment vote .
You can argue that there ’ s no contradiction between voting to remove Trump from office and deciding - after your colleagues have acquitted the president - to consider and potentially confirm the president ’ s appointees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But there is a larger context to which Romney seems oblivious .
As the Los Angeles Times pointed out in an editorial : ‘ The country is more sharply divided than in 2016 , thanks in large part to the demagoguery of the incumbent president , who has fanned the flames of bigotry at a time of a reckoning over America ’ s legacy of racism.
’ That reality , along with the damage a rammed-through nomination would cause to the court ’ s image , argues for caution .
Romney ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Our government ’ s obsession with outsourcing is harming the UK and costing lives “ With a limited public purse , the refusal to acknowledge the potential failings of outsourcing is increasingly harmful .
Money is not being directed towards the areas that need it most , resulting in the NHS , bearing the brunt .
This will hamper the response of the UK to the threats of Covid-19 .
The NHS budget in England was approximately £115 billion in 2018/19 .
The cost of the failing of the Test and Trace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nearly 9 per cent of the total budget for all of the NHS services .
The NHS budget pays for all hospitals in England ( including all their lab testing ) , GP services , medicines , mental health , ambulances , community nursing , planned surgeries , public health campaigns , and sexual health services .
This testing failure has resulted in further lockdown measures , and another blow to the economy.
” What if Jeremy Corbyn had become PM ?
Do n't expect him to lose sleep wondering “ Books @ @ @ @ @ @ @ films and TV dramas have examined the What Ifs of history and politics .
Alternative history is a big deal .
I myself have contributed to one such collection of political speculation .
The phenomenon might even help us to understand the behaviour of certain politicians in this reality by inviting us to examine their words and actions and to consider whether the same behaviour would have been exhibited if recent history had played out differently .
Take Jeremy Corbyn .
Watching his occasional public statements since he stepped down as Labour leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring in his step again .
He smiles instead of grimaces .
Instead of scowling at journalists and glancing suspiciously at parliamentary colleagues , he now gambols and frolics amid the hedgerows .
Probably.
” “ After all , it is a mistake to believe , as some do , that Putin is an enemy of the structures of the international order .
To be sure , he will happily ignore them when there is a peninsula to annex or a critic to poison .
However , for the rump of a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide status and leverage .
He was certainly very clear that he saw no grounds for any real reform of the Security Council .
While he accepted that it ‘ should more fully take into account the interests of all countries , of the full diversity of their positions ’ , nonetheless it could not work ‘ without preserving the veto right of permanent members of the Security Council.
’ In other words , Russia and the rest of the P5 would promise to listen to everyone else more — but not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a tip for M & S : sell clothes we want to wear “ M & S wants its customers to be confident ‘ that we will have what they want and that it will be easy to find ’ and therein lies the rub .
Back when I bothered browsing the clothes , I could guarantee that anything nice was a lucky discovery , hidden away in the corner behind terrible jumpers and nylon nighties .
If the baffling pink suiting currently on display in the King ’ s Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re still at it .
Can M & S ever get its mojo back ?
I hope so but I ’ m not holding my breath .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Michael McGough in the Los Angeles Times
Et tu, Mitt? Romney makes the wrong call on Supreme Court confirmation
“Romney’s disappointing decision chips off a good chunk of the pedestal on which he was installed after his impeachment vote. You can argue that there’s no contradiction between voting to remove Trump from office and deciding - after your colleagues have acquitted the president - to consider and potentially confirm the president’s appointees, including a Supreme Court nominee. But there is a larger context to which Romney seems oblivious. As the Los Angeles Times pointed out in an editorial: ‘The country is more sharply divided than in 2016, thanks in large part to the demagoguery of the incumbent president, who has fanned the flames of bigotry at a time of a reckoning over America’s legacy of racism.’ That reality, along with the damage a rammed-through nomination would cause to the court’s image, argues for caution. Romney’s failure to recognize that reality is inexcusable.”
2. Dolin Bhagawati in The Independent
Our government’s obsession with outsourcing is harming the UK and costing lives
“With a limited public purse, the refusal to acknowledge the potential failings of outsourcing is increasingly harmful. Money is not being directed towards the areas that need it most, resulting in the NHS, bearing the brunt. This will hamper the response of the UK to the threats of Covid-19. The NHS budget in England was approximately £115 billion in 2018/19. The cost of the failing of the Test and Trace programme has so far been £10 billion, nearly 9 per cent of the total budget for all of the NHS services. The NHS budget pays for all hospitals in England (including all their lab testing), GP services, medicines, mental health, ambulances, community nursing, planned surgeries, public health campaigns, and sexual health services. This testing failure has resulted in further lockdown measures, and another blow to the economy.”
3. Tom Harris in The Daily Telegraph
What if Jeremy Corbyn had become PM? Don't expect him to lose sleep wondering
“Books have been written on the subject, films and TV dramas have examined the What Ifs of history and politics. Alternative history is a big deal. I myself have contributed to one such collection of political speculation. The phenomenon might even help us to understand the behaviour of certain politicians in this reality by inviting us to examine their words and actions and to consider whether the same behaviour would have been exhibited if recent history had played out differently. Take Jeremy Corbyn. Watching his occasional public statements since he stepped down as Labour leader has been instructive. He has a spring in his step again. He smiles instead of grimaces. Instead of scowling at journalists and glancing suspiciously at parliamentary colleagues, he now gambols and frolics amid the hedgerows. Probably.”
4. Mark Galeotti in The Moscow Times
Putin’s UN speech masks decline in confident rhetoric
“After all, it is a mistake to believe, as some do, that Putin is an enemy of the structures of the international order. To be sure, he will happily ignore them when there is a peninsula to annex or a critic to poison. However, for the rump of a former superpower with grandiose expectations, they continue to provide status and leverage. He was certainly very clear that he saw no grounds for any real reform of the Security Council. While he accepted that it ‘should more fully take into account the interests of all countries, of the full diversity of their positions’, nonetheless it could not work ‘without preserving the veto right of permanent members of the Security Council.’ In other words, Russia and the rest of the P5 would promise to listen to everyone else more — but not actually give up their power.”
5. Hilary Rose in The Times
Here’s a tip for M&S: sell clothes we want to wear
“M&S wants its customers to be confident ‘that we will have what they want and that it will be easy to find’ and therein lies the rub. Back when I bothered browsing the clothes, I could guarantee that anything nice was a lucky discovery, hidden away in the corner behind terrible jumpers and nylon nighties. If the baffling pink suiting currently on display in the King’s Road branch is anything to go by, they’re still at it. Can M&S ever get its mojo back? I hope so but I’m not holding my breath.”


theweekuk--2020-09-25--‘I can’t save every job’: Rishi Sunak warns of long, hard winter ahead

Rishi Sunak yesterday unveiled his “ winter economy plan ” - but admitted that the multibillion-pound package will not be enough to save many jobs and businesses as the coronavirus pandemic drags on .
Addressing MPs in the Commons yesterday , the chancellor - or “ Radical Rishi ” , as Metro calls him - outlined details of a new support programme that will replace the furlough scheme , which ends on 31 October .
According to official figures , nearly three million workers - or 12 % of the UK ’ s workforce - are currently on partial or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the new plan ?
Furlough will be replaced by the Job Support Scheme , which will run for half a year from 1 November and is expected to cost £300m a month .
The plans also include help for the self-employed , along with business loans and VAT cuts .
To be eligible for support , employees will need to work at least 33 % of their usual hours .
Businesses will continue to pay the wages of staff for the hours they work , but for the hours not worked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay a third of the equivalent salary .
So employees working at least a third of their usual hours will get at least 77 % of their usual pay in total .
The government will be paying 22 % , capped at a maximum £697.72 a month , while the employer will pay 55 % .
The Treasury says the new scheme will “ protect viable jobs in businesses who are facing lower demand over the winter months due to coronavirus ” .
When questioned yesterday about what defines a job as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comment ” , the BBC reports .
He also warned that his economic package would not save every job .
“ It is not for me to sit here and make pronouncements on every individual job , ” he told a press conference .
“ What I want to be able to do is to provide as much support as possible given the constraints we operate in .
We obviously can ’ t sustain the same level of things that we were doing at the beginning of this crisis .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy to move forward and that means supporting people to be in viable jobs which provide genuine security .
As I ’ ve said throughout this crisis , I can not save every business .
I can not save every job .
No chancellor could.
” Confederation of British Industry ( CBI ) director-general Carolyn Fairbairn has welcomed the new support plan , saying that “ it is right to target help on jobs with a future , but can only be part-time while demand remains flat ” .
She added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be preserved to enable a fast recovery.
” However , the Resolution Foundation think tank has warned that the upcoming scheme “ will not significantly reduce the rise in unemployment ” .
Sky News business correspondent Paul Kelso has also cautioned that there “ won ’ t be room for everyone on Sunak ’ s lifeboat ” .
“ For many , especially in the hospitality sector , the outlook remains bleak - and last orders will not be far away , ” he adds .
The Guardian ’ s Larry Elliott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Britain is in for a “ long , hard winter ” .

Rishi Sunak yesterday unveiled his “winter economy plan” - but admitted that the multibillion-pound package will not be enough to save many jobs and businesses as the coronavirus pandemic drags on.
Addressing MPs in the Commons yesterday, the chancellor - or “Radical Rishi”, as Metro calls him - outlined details of a new support programme that will replace the furlough scheme, which ends on 31 October.
According to official figures, nearly three million workers - or 12% of the UK’s workforce - are currently on partial or full furlough leave.
So what’s the new plan?
Furlough will be replaced by the Job Support Scheme, which will run for half a year from 1 November and is expected to cost £300m a month. The plans also include help for the self-employed, along with business loans and VAT cuts.
To be eligible for support, employees will need to work at least 33% of their usual hours.
Businesses will continue to pay the wages of staff for the hours they work, but for the hours not worked, the government and the employer will each pay a third of the equivalent salary.
So employees working at least a third of their usual hours will get at least 77% of their usual pay in total. The government will be paying 22%, capped at a maximum £697.72 a month, while the employer will pay 55%.
The Treasury says the new scheme will “protect viable jobs in businesses who are facing lower demand over the winter months due to coronavirus”.
‘Sunak’s lifeboat can’t save everyone’
When questioned yesterday about what defines a job as “viable”, the chancellor “declined to comment”, the BBC reports. He also warned that his economic package would not save every job.
“It is not for me to sit here and make pronouncements on every individual job,” he told a press conference. “What I want to be able to do is to provide as much support as possible given the constraints we operate in. We obviously can’t sustain the same level of things that we were doing at the beginning of this crisis.
“We need to create new opportunities and allow the economy to move forward and that means supporting people to be in viable jobs which provide genuine security. As I’ve said throughout this crisis, I cannot save every business. I cannot save every job. No chancellor could.”
Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director-general Carolyn Fairbairn has welcomed the new support plan, saying that “it is right to target help on jobs with a future, but can only be part-time while demand remains flat”.
She added: “This is how skills and jobs can be preserved to enable a fast recovery.”
However, the Resolution Foundation think tank has warned that the upcoming scheme “will not significantly reduce the rise in unemployment”.
Sky News business correspondent Paul Kelso has also cautioned that there “won’t be room for everyone on Sunak’s lifeboat”.
“For many, especially in the hospitality sector, the outlook remains bleak - and last orders will not be far away,” he adds.
The Guardian’s Larry Elliott puts it even more bluntly, warning that Britain is in for a “long, hard winter”.


theweekuk--2020-09-25--Gold medal for bravery awarded to Magawa the bomb-sniffing rat

Rats often get a bad rap , but now one heroic rodent is being hailed for his work in sniffing out landmines in Cambodia .
Magawa , an African giant pouched rat , has been presented with the PDSA veterinary charity ’ s Gold Medal - described by The Guardian as the “ animal equivalent of the George Cross ” - for detecting a total of 39 landmines and 28 unexploded munitions in the formerly war-torn Southeast Asian country .
The miniature medal is inscribed with the words : “ For animal gallantry or devotion to duty.
” Magawa was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has been raising the animals - known as Hero Rats - to detect landmines and tuberculosis since the 1990s ” , the BBC reports .
The seven-year-old medal-winner is Apopo ’ s “ most successful Hero Rat , having cleared more than 141,000 square metres of land - the equivalent of 20 football pitches ” , adds the Daily Mail .
He is also the first of his species to be awarded the medal by PDSA in the London-based charity ’ s 77-year history .
Apopo chief executive Christophe Cox said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an honour for us .
Especially for our animal trainers who are waking up every day , very early , to train those animals in the morning .
“ But also it is big for the people in Cambodia , and all the people around the world who are suffering from landmines .
The PDSA Gold Medal award brings the problem of landmines to global attention.
” According to landmine clearance charity The Halo Trust , “ over 64,000 casualties and more than 25,000 amputees have been recorded ” in explosive accidents in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rouge in 1979 .
The trust says that although “ around half of Cambodia ’ s minefields have been cleared ” , the remainder are largely concentrated in an area near the Thai border that is known as the K5 .
The area was heavily mined to stop people from crossing the border to escape the brutal Khmer Rouge regime , which is believed to have killed almost two million people during a four-year reign of terror .

Rats often get a bad rap, but now one heroic rodent is being hailed for his work in sniffing out landmines in Cambodia.
Magawa, an African giant pouched rat, has been presented with the PDSA veterinary charity’s Gold Medal - described by The Guardian as the “animal equivalent of the George Cross” - for detecting a total of 39 landmines and 28 unexploded munitions in the formerly war-torn Southeast Asian country. The miniature medal is inscribed with the words: “For animal gallantry or devotion to duty.”
Magawa was trained by Tanzania-based charity Apopo, “which has been raising the animals - known as Hero Rats - to detect landmines and tuberculosis since the 1990s”, the BBC reports.
The seven-year-old medal-winner is Apopo’s “most successful Hero Rat, having cleared more than 141,000 square metres of land - the equivalent of 20 football pitches”, adds the Daily Mail.
He is also the first of his species to be awarded the medal by PDSA in the London-based charity’s 77-year history.
Apopo chief executive Christophe Cox said that “to receive this medal is really an honour for us. Especially for our animal trainers who are waking up every day, very early, to train those animals in the morning.
“But also it is big for the people in Cambodia, and all the people around the world who are suffering from landmines. The PDSA Gold Medal award brings the problem of landmines to global attention.”
According to landmine clearance charity The Halo Trust, “over 64,000 casualties and more than 25,000 amputees have been recorded” in explosive accidents in Cambodia since the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979.
The trust says that although “around half of Cambodia’s minefields have been cleared”, the remainder are largely concentrated in an area near the Thai border that is known as the K5.
The area was heavily mined to stop people from crossing the border to escape the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, which is believed to have killed almost two million people during a four-year reign of terror.


theweekuk--2020-09-25--Do big-name endorsements help or hinder Joe Biden’s US election campaign?

The widow of late US Republican senator John McCain has endorsed Joe Biden for president , adding her name to a long list of prominent GOP figures campaigning against Donald Trump .
Cindy McCain has made a string of media appearances to formally endorse the Democratic candidate , tweeting afterwards that her husband “ lived by a code : country first ” .
“ We are Republicans , yes , but Americans foremost , ” she added .
“ There ’ s only one candidate in this race who stands for our values as a nation , and that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between John McCain and Trump , political commentators were not surprised that his widow threw her support behind Biden .
But do big-name endorsements really sway public opinion ?
“ Famous people have been throwing their celebrity behind presidential candidates for nearly a century , ” the Los Angeles Times says , but research conducted on the effectiveness of big-name endorsements appears to show their power varies widely .
A 2012 study found that talk show host Oprah Winfrey ’ s endorsement of Barack Obama shortly before the 2008 Democratic presidential primary “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the number of votes Obama received ” when voting commenced .
The research said Winfrey ’ s endorsement “ was responsible for approximately one million additional votes for Obama ” , a sizeable boost in support by any measure .
But a 2007 study found that in the 2004 US election between Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic candidate John Kerry , “ political advertising containing celebrity endorsers was generally not that influential for either party ” .
While “ overall respondents were somewhat positive about the use of celebrities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as receptive to celebrity ’ s attempts to sway voting toward ( or against ) a specific candidate ” , the report said .
Biden has an impressive list of celebrity backers , ranging from A-list superstars to former president and close friend Obama .
And the Democrat ’ s team will be hoping for some of that Winfrey-effect come November .
Who endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016 ?
There is little doubt that Clinton received more high-profile backing than Trump during the 2016 presidential election .
Some of Clinton ’ s endorsers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Schumer , actress Meryl Streep , chat show host Ellen DeGeneres , and musicians John Legend and Beyonce .
In contrast , Trump boasted a smaller set of public backers including NFL quarterback Tom Brady , actor Charlie Sheen , musician Kid Rock , boxer Mike Tyson and wrestling star Hulk Hogan .
But as we all know , Clinton ’ s plethora of superstar supporters were not enough to get her elected into the White House as the first female president .
That said , Clinton did win the popular vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots , suggesting that winning the backing of household names does candidates no harm in terms of amassing public - if not the electoral college ’ s - support .
How can Trump use it to his advantage ?
Trump snuck to victory in November 2016 despite endorsements having not aided his campaign .
This , according to Matthew Wood , Jack Corbett and Matthew Flinders in the British Journal of Politics and International Relations , is the result of a recent “ shift away from the glamour of the red carpet and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trio suggest that politics has moved towards something “ more akin to the medium of reality TV where an individual ’ s ability to appear ordinary , imperfect , ‘ everyday ’ and ‘ normal ’ is celebrated ” .
Fighting an election in the reality TV age would play well for the former host of The Apprentice .
The authors suggest that the shift is a result of an “ anti-establishment ” mood , in which voters are often “ rejecting carefully orchestrated professional media performances in favour of a rawer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That all sounds familiar .
And big-name backers coming out in support of Biden are giving Trump the means to stoke anti-establishment sentiment again .
After Biden won McCain ’ s support , Trump tweeted : “ I hardly know Cindy McCain other than having put her on a Committee at her husband ’ s request.
” Accusing Biden of being the late-McCain ’ s “ lapdog ” , Trump added : “ Never a fan of John .
Cindy can have Sleepy Joe !
”

The widow of late US Republican senator John McCain has endorsed Joe Biden for president, adding her name to a long list of prominent GOP figures campaigning against Donald Trump.
Cindy McCain has made a string of media appearances to formally endorse the Democratic candidate, tweeting afterwards that her husband “lived by a code: country first”.
“We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost,” she added. “There’s only one candidate in this race who stands for our values as a nation, and that is Joe Biden.”
After years of animosity between John McCain and Trump, political commentators were not surprised that his widow threw her support behind Biden. But do big-name endorsements really sway public opinion?
Do celebrity endorsements help?
“Famous people have been throwing their celebrity behind presidential candidates for nearly a century,” the Los Angeles Times says, but research conducted on the effectiveness of big-name endorsements appears to show their power varies widely.
A 2012 study found that talk show host Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of Barack Obama shortly before the 2008 Democratic presidential primary “generated a statistically and qualitatively significant increase in the number of votes Obama received” when voting commenced.
The research said Winfrey’s endorsement “was responsible for approximately one million additional votes for Obama”, a sizeable boost in support by any measure.
But a 2007 study found that in the 2004 US election between Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic candidate John Kerry, “political advertising containing celebrity endorsers was generally not that influential for either party”.
While “overall respondents were somewhat positive about the use of celebrities to encourage voter turnout, they were not as receptive to celebrity’s attempts to sway voting toward (or against) a specific candidate”, the report said.
Biden has an impressive list of celebrity backers, ranging from A-list superstars to former president and close friend Obama. And the Democrat’s team will be hoping for some of that Winfrey-effect come November.
Who endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016?
There is little doubt that Clinton received more high-profile backing than Trump during the 2016 presidential election. Some of Clinton’s endorsers included basketball player LeBron James, comedian Amy Schumer, actress Meryl Streep, chat show host Ellen DeGeneres, and musicians John Legend and Beyonce.


theweekuk--2020-09-26--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Saturday 26 Sep 2020

Donald Trump says that Joe Biden could do well in the first presidential debate next week by taking a “ @ @ @ @ @ .
The US president told a rally in Florida that his opponent was the “ @ @ @ @ @ ever seen ” but predicted : “ They ’ ll give him a big shot @ @ @ @ @ ll go out there and he ’ ll have a lot of energy — he @ @ @ @ @ for about 15 minutes .
”

Trump: Biden will ‘take big shot of something’ for debate
Donald Trump says that Joe Biden could do well in the first presidential debate next week by taking a “big shot of something”. The US president told a rally in Florida that his opponent was the “lowest-energy individual I’ve ever seen” but predicted: “They’ll give him a big shot of something and he’ll go out there and he’ll have a lot of energy — he’ll be like Superman for about 15 minutes.”


theweekuk--2020-09-27--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 27 Sep 2020

Millions are unable to use the government ’ s flagship coronavirus tracing app after a series of flaws emerged .
@ @ @ @ @ was announced by Matt Hancock , the Covid-19 app was finally launched this week .
@ @ @ @ @ tests taken as a result of the Office for National Statistics surveys , and all @ @ @ @ @ or Public Health England , can not be shared on the app .

Government's new coronavirus app plagued with problems
Millions are unable to use the government’s flagship coronavirus tracing app after a series of flaws emerged. Five months after its creation was announced by Matt Hancock, the Covid-19 app was finally launched this week. But it has emerged that tests taken as a result of the Office for National Statistics surveys, and all those taken via the NHS or Public Health England, cannot be shared on the app.


theweekuk--2020-09-28--‘Nonsense’: football’s lost the plot with new handball rule

Goals galore, late penalties and shock results contributed to a wild weekend in the English Premier League.
On a normal day Jamie Vardy’s hat-trick in Leicester City’s 5-2 win at Manchester City would dominate the newspaper back pages.
However, while the efforts of Vardy and Leicester are recognised by the media, there is another subject hogging the headlines.
After a number of controversial handball decisions were made over the weekend, the video assistant referee (VAR) has once again taken over as the hot topic in English football.
Premier League results
Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Manchester United 3
Crystal Palace 1 Everton 2
West Bromwich Albion 3 Chelsea 3
Burnley 0 Southampton 1
Sheffield United 0 Leeds United 1
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Newcastle United 1
Manchester City 2 Leicester City 5
West Ham United 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Monday’s fixtures
Fulham vs. Aston Villa (5.45pm)
Liverpool vs. Arsenal (8pm)
𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium! 😳 VAR will once again be in the headlines after awarding #NUFC a late penalty - what did you think? 🤔pic.twitter.com/iAREm19gmp — Sky Sports (@SkySports) September 27, 2020
Dier decision for Spurs
There was controversy in a number of Premier League matches this weekend after handball decisions saw crucial penalties awarded.
At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium yesterday Newcastle salvaged a point after scoring a late penalty in the 1-1 draw against Spurs.
Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham side had looked on course to win thanks to Lucas Moura’s 25th-minute goal. However, a handball decision against Eric Dier saw Newcastle awarded a penalty in the 97th minute, which Callum Wilson stepped up to score.
Andy Carroll’s knockdown came off Dier’s arm inside the box, BBC Sport reports, and following a lengthy consultation with the VAR, on-field official Peter Bankes awarded the penalty after reviewing the incident on the pitch-side monitor.
TELEGRAPH SPORT: Football fury at ‘ludicrous’ handball law #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/398CdeFD1u — Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) September 27, 2020
Bruce: ‘it’s ludicrous’
Even though his side profited from the decision Newcastle manager Steve Bruce hit out at the new handball rule.
The Toon boss said: “If you’re going to tell me that is handball then we all may as well pack it in. It’s a nonsense, a nonsense of a rule. It’s gone for us today – however, it’s ludicrous.”
He added: “The handball has been around for a hundred years. If it is deliberate, no problem, but it has to be clear and obvious. We have lost the plot with it and it loses the spectacle of it.


theweekuk--2020-09-28--Deal or no deal: showdown Brexit talks resuming in Brussels

The UK government and the European Union are returning to the negotiating table this week to resume discussions about the post-Brexit future .
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has travelled to Brussels and is meeting with European Commission Vice-president Maros Sefcovic to talk about the divorce deal , before a fresh round of formal negotiations begins on Tuesday , the BBC reports .
The “ showdown ” talks mark a crucial phase of the “ race against the clock ” to agree a future trade deal before the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December , adds the Financial Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boris Johnson said that an agreement had to be reached by 15 October “ if it ’ s going to be in force by the end of the year ” .
The UK ’ s negotiators last week “ said a lot of work remains before a deal can be reached ” , the BBC reports .
Meanwhile , an EU spokesperson said that the bloc ’ s chief negotiator , Michel Barnier , was neither optimistic nor pessimistic , but was determined to reach an agreement .
The previous round of talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Internal Market Bill , but the FT says the negotiators are seeking to build on “ tentative signs of progress ” which have raised hopes that a trade deal may be possible .
The UK ’ s David Frost said that an agreement was “ very much possible , but equally very far from certain ” .
He added : “ The EU still needs to scale back more of its unrealistic ambitions and work on more realistic policy positions .
I hope this will be possible this coming week , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work as hard as necessary to move things forward.
” UK business leaders have “ heaped pressure ” on the government to agree a last-minute Brexit trade deal , The Guardian reports .
A new Confederation of British Industry ( CBI ) survey of 648 company bosses has found that only 4 % support a no-deal Brexit , while 77 % want a trade agreement .
CBI boss Carolyn Fairbairn insists that a post-Brexit trade deal “ can and must be made ” , and is calling for “ the spirit of compromise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .
“ Brexit talks enter the 11th hour , ” Fairbairn said in a statement over the weekend .
“ Now must be the time for political leadership and the spirit of compromise to shine through on both sides .
A deal can and must be made .
“ Businesses face a hat-trick of unprecedented challenges - rebuilding from the first wave of Covid-19 , dealing with the resurgence of the virus and preparing for significant changes to the UK 's trading relationship with the EU.
” As the talks resume , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he believes the UK and EU are unlikely to reach a deal .
In an interview with the i news site , Martin argued that the UK ’ s controversial Internal Market Bill had “ eroded trust ” between the two sides .
However , the Taoiseach insisted he could still forge a partnership with the UK government .
“ I do ultimately envisage a positive relationship between the UK and Ireland post-Brexit , ” Martin said .
“ There simply has to be such a relationship .
“ The Internal Market Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the credibility of agreements that have been entered into , namely the withdrawal agreement and Northern Ireland protocol .
“ That said , we are very keen to ensure that ultimately , Britain and the European Union have a sensible agreement that allows for free trade without quota or tariffs and that can create a foundation for a sensible , harmonious relationship between Great Britain and the European Union in the future .
”

The UK government and the European Union are returning to the negotiating table this week to resume discussions about the post-Brexit future.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has travelled to Brussels and is meeting with European Commission Vice-president Maros Sefcovic to talk about the divorce deal, before a fresh round of formal negotiations begins on Tuesday, the BBC reports.
The “showdown” talks mark a crucial phase of the “race against the clock” to agree a future trade deal before the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December, adds the Financial Times.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that an agreement had to be reached by 15 October “if it’s going to be in force by the end of the year”.
Is progress being made?
The UK’s negotiators last week “said a lot of work remains before a deal can be reached”, the BBC reports.
Meanwhile, an EU spokesperson said that the bloc’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, was neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but was determined to reach an agreement.
The previous round of talks ended acrimoniously when the UK government introduced the Internal Market Bill, but the FT says the negotiators are seeking to build on “tentative signs of progress” which have raised hopes that a trade deal may be possible.
The UK’s David Frost said that an agreement was “very much possible, but equally very far from certain”.
He added: “The EU still needs to scale back more of its unrealistic ambitions and work on more realistic policy positions. I hope this will be possible this coming week, and I and my team are ready to work as hard as necessary to move things forward.”
CBI: deal must be agreed
UK business leaders have “heaped pressure” on the government to agree a last-minute Brexit trade deal, The Guardian reports.
A new Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey of 648 company bosses has found that only 4% support a no-deal Brexit, while 77% want a trade agreement.
CBI boss Carolyn Fairbairn insists that a post-Brexit trade deal “can and must be made”, and is calling for “the spirit of compromise to shine through”, ITV News reports.
“Brexit talks enter the 11th hour,” Fairbairn said in a statement over the weekend. “Now must be the time for political leadership and the spirit of compromise to shine through on both sides. A deal can and must be made.
“Businesses face a hat-trick of unprecedented challenges - rebuilding from the first wave of Covid-19, dealing with the resurgence of the virus and preparing for significant changes to the UK's trading relationship with the EU.”
Ireland not optimistic
As the talks resume, Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that he believes the UK and EU are unlikely to reach a deal.
In an interview with the i news site, Martin argued that the UK’s controversial Internal Market Bill had “eroded trust” between the two sides.
However, the Taoiseach insisted he could still forge a partnership with the UK government.
“I do ultimately envisage a positive relationship between the UK and Ireland post-Brexit,” Martin said. “There simply has to be such a relationship.
“The Internal Market Bill has eroded trust, it has damaged the credibility of agreements that have been entered into, namely the withdrawal agreement and Northern Ireland protocol.
“That said, we are very keen to ensure that ultimately, Britain and the European Union have a sensible agreement that allows for free trade without quota or tariffs and that can create a foundation for a sensible, harmonious relationship between Great Britain and the European Union in the future.”


theweekuk--2020-09-28--Is a ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown looming for London as Covid-19 cases spike?

London may follow much of northern Britain into a “ total social lockdown ” as ministers consider plans aimed at stemming spiralling Covid-19 outbreaks , according to reports .
The capital had been expected to fall victim to a second wave earlier , but has so far avoided lockdown measures even though 20 of the city ’ s boroughs have higher infection rates than areas of England already under restrictions .
However , plans for a social lockdown in London are understood to have been presented to the cabinet ’ s Covid-19 Strategy Committee , chaired by Boris Johnson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that London ’ s fate is “ in the balance ” .
London Mayor Sadiq Khan last week put forward a 15-point plan for curbing the sudden rise in Covid infections in the capital , but the prime minister stopped short of banning the city ’ s households from mixing .
If the latest reports are correct , however , what is being proposed “ sounds a lot like the ‘ circuit breaker ’ Johnson rejected last week ” , says Politico London Playbook ’ s Alex Wickham .
The Times reports that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pubs , restaurants and bars would be ordered to shut for two weeks initially ” .
“ Households would also be banned indefinitely from meeting each other in any indoor location , ” the paper adds .
Meanwhile , schools , shops , factories and offices with employees who can not work from home would remain open .
Khan has repeatedly suggested that the government ’ s response to the fresh spike in coronavirus cases has not gone far enough .
The mayor has urged Downing Street to “ learn from the mistakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern that the way the virus is spreading in London “ is different to how it ’ s spread in other parts of the country ” .
The Times says the plan for a “ circuit breaker ” lockdown was among options presented to the Covid-19 Strategy Committee last week , when the decision was made to impose a 10pm curfew on hospitality venues .
But Johnson and five other ministers reportedly “ held them back ” from imposing a wider lockdown , fearing “ a backlash from Tory MPs and sections of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the paper that “ the nation and the party wasn ’ t ready for us to go any further last week ” , adding that “ there wasn ’ t a wide enough understanding of how substantial the second wave could be ” .
Referring to the fresh outbreaks across mainland Europe , the source continued : “ Unlike the first lockdown , nobody has seen pictures of body bags in Spain or France on the TV yet , which had a very powerful effect .
You have to take people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not make a decision on whether to lock down London “ until more data comes in this week , and that the problems with testing are holding things up ” , according to Politico ’ s Wickham .
With tests running short across the capital , one source reportedly said that “ if hardly anyone is getting a test then we can ’ t know who has it .
But ICU admissions , 111 calls , hospital admissions and other measures are definitely going up.
” As HuffPost notes , “ millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living under local lockdown ” , after the UK last Thursday reported a total of 6,634 new cases – the largest daily tally since the beginning of the pandemic .
So is London heading for lockdown ?
In a statement last week , Khan said “ that many Londoners , like me , will be deeply frustrated at the likelihood of imminent new restrictions ” .
But “ taking firm action now to prevent a deeper and longer lockdown in the future is without a doubt the best thing to both save lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery ” , he added .
The power to lock down the capital does not lie with City Hall , however , but rather with No .
10 .
The government is concerned about the economic damage that would result from such a shutdown , although ministers this morning refused to rule out stronger measures in the capital .
Care Minister Helen Whately told BBC Breakfast that the government does not “ want to bring in more restrictions ” , but hedged her bets by adding that “ we have to break these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way we get the rates back down again.
” Government sources told The Times that the next areas to be subject to local lockdowns will probably be “ Merseyside and the northeast , where case numbers continue to rise the fastest ” .
As for whether London will follow suit , this week ’ s infection data will shed more light on the scale of the health crisis in the capital .

London may follow much of northern Britain into a “total social lockdown” as ministers consider plans aimed at stemming spiralling Covid-19 outbreaks, according to reports.
The capital had been expected to fall victim to a second wave earlier, but has so far avoided lockdown measures even though 20 of the city’s boroughs have higher infection rates than areas of England already under restrictions.
However, plans for a social lockdown in London are understood to have been presented to the cabinet’s Covid-19 Strategy Committee, chaired by Boris Johnson, with a government source telling The Times that London’s fate is “in the balance”.
Capital lossees
London Mayor Sadiq Khan last week put forward a 15-point plan for curbing the sudden rise in Covid infections in the capital, but the prime minister stopped short of banning the city’s households from mixing.
If the latest reports are correct, however, what is being proposed “sounds a lot like the ‘circuit breaker’ Johnson rejected last week”, says Politico London Playbook’s Alex Wickham.
The Times reports that under the emergency plan, “all pubs, restaurants and bars would be ordered to shut for two weeks initially”.
“Households would also be banned indefinitely from meeting each other in any indoor location,” the paper adds.
Meanwhile, schools, shops, factories and offices with employees who cannot work from home would remain open.
Khan has repeatedly suggested that the government’s response to the fresh spike in coronavirus cases has not gone far enough. The mayor has urged Downing Street to “learn from the mistakes of the first wave” and expressed concern that the way the virus is spreading in London “is different to how it’s spread in other parts of the country”.
Covid committee
The Times says the plan for a “circuit breaker” lockdown was among options presented to the Covid-19 Strategy Committee last week, when the decision was made to impose a 10pm curfew on hospitality venues.
But Johnson and five other ministers reportedly “held them back” from imposing a wider lockdown, fearing “a backlash from Tory MPs and sections of the public”
A senior government source told the paper that “the nation and the party wasn’t ready for us to go any further last week”, adding that “there wasn’t a wide enough understanding of how substantial the second wave could be”.


theweekuk--2020-09-28--Why everybody’s talking about Donald Trump’s ‘bombshell’ tax returns

Donald Trump is facing fresh controversy just weeks before US voters go to the polls , amid reports that the self-proclaimed billionaire paid less than $ 1,000 in federal income tax in the year when he won his first presidential election .
According to records obtained by The New York Times ( NYT ) , the US leader has paid no income taxes in ten of the past 15 years , and handed over just $ 750 ( £580 ) in 2016 .
Trump ’ s tax payments have been the source of speculation for years , with the Art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shrewd moneymaker .
But the newly published tax documents reveal a “ pitifully inept businessman and a serial tax avoider crushed by massive debts that could expose him to conflicts of interest ” , says CNN .
What do the documents show ?
Trump has “ faced legal challenges for refusing to share documents concerning his fortune and business ” since winning the White House , and made headlines following his inauguration for being the “ first president since the 1970s not to make his tax returns public ” , the BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have discovered the reason for that secrecy as Trump fights to secure a second term in office .
The newspaper has dug up records on companies owned by The Trump Organization dating back to the 1990s that show he paid federal income taxes in just five of the last 15 years .
The president was able do so largely because he “ declared substantial losses on his businesses which he said outweighed his income ” , says The Telegraph .
Trump ’ s finances improved in 2016 , but he still only paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year and then again in 2017 , his first in the White House .
As CNN notes , he has shelled out “ far less than many Americans who are working hard amid a deep recession to stay afloat ” .
The NYT report also reveals that “ most ” of Trump ’ s businesses , including his golf courses and hotels , “ report losing millions , if not tens of millions , of dollars year after year ” .
“ That equation is a key element of the alchemy of Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceeds of his celebrity to purchase and prop up risky businesses , then wielding their losses to avoid taxes , ” the paper says .
Trump is also alleged to be personally responsible for more than $ 300m ( £233m ) in personal loans that are due for payment within the next four years .
“ Against that backdrop , the records go much further toward revealing the actual and potential conflicts of interest created by Mr. Trump ’ s refusal to divest himself of his business interests while in the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His properties have become bazaars for collecting money directly from lobbyists , foreign officials and others seeking face time , access or favour ; the records for the first time put precise dollar figures on those transactions.
” What has Trump said ?
At a White House press briefing on Sunday , the president called the NYT report “ totally fake news ” , adding : “ Actually , I paid tax .
And you ’ ll see that as soon as my tax returns – it ’ s under audit , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long time.
” Trumped added that the US Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) “ does not treat me well .
They treat me very badly .
You have people in the IRS – they treat me very badly.
” Meanwhile , the NYT is out to “ create a little bit of a story ” , he insisted , adding : “ They ’ re doing anything they can .
That ’ s the least of it .
The stories that I read are so fake , they ’ re so phony.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump Organization , said that “ most , if not all , of the facts appear to be inaccurate ” , claiming : “ Trump has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government , including paying millions in personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2015.
” Could the claims affect the election outcome ?
Many of Trump ’ s supporters will probably be “ unmoved ” by the reports , says CNN , which points to the president ’ s “ strong emotional and tribal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in constructing alternative political realities while discrediting journalists , and the propaganda from conservative media ” .
“ Stories about Trump ’ s refusal to pay his creditors , casino bankruptcies and morally questionable business practices have been circulating for years and did not stop him from winning in 2016 or tarnish his self-created mystique as the hard-driving real estate shark , ” the broadcaster adds .
The Guardian agrees that “ these supporters seem to embrace the idea of the blue-collar billionaire as one version of the American dream ” .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s cult who pay little attention to the New York Times or Twitter as it is , ” the paper adds .
But tax lawyer and policy analyst Steve Rosenthal - who helped the NYT look into the Republican leader ’ s finances - argues that the story “ goes to the heart of Trump ’ s image as a successful businessman ” .
Rosenthal told the BBC that voters should also question “ whether Trump can continue to operate the country in our interest or whether he looks out for himself @ @ @ @ @

Donald Trump is facing fresh controversy just weeks before US voters go to the polls, amid reports that the self-proclaimed billionaire paid less than $1,000 in federal income tax in the year when he won his first presidential election.
According to records obtained by The New York Times (NYT), the US leader has paid no income taxes in ten of the past 15 years, and handed over just $750 (£580) in 2016.
Trump’s tax payments have been the source of speculation for years, with the Art of the Deal author portraying himself as a shrewd moneymaker. But the newly published tax documents reveal a “pitifully inept businessman and a serial tax avoider crushed by massive debts that could expose him to conflicts of interest”, says CNN.
What do the documents show?
Trump has “faced legal challenges for refusing to share documents concerning his fortune and business” since winning the White House, and made headlines following his inauguration for being the “first president since the 1970s not to make his tax returns public”, the BBC reports.
Now, the NYT may have discovered the reason for that secrecy as Trump fights to secure a second term in office.
The newspaper has dug up records on companies owned by The Trump Organization dating back to the 1990s that show he paid federal income taxes in just five of the last 15 years. The president was able do so largely because he “declared substantial losses on his businesses which he said outweighed his income”, says The Telegraph.
Trump’s finances improved in 2016, but he still only paid $750 in federal income tax that year and then again in 2017, his first in the White House.
As CNN notes, he has shelled out “far less than many Americans who are working hard amid a deep recession to stay afloat”.
The NYT report also reveals that “most” of Trump’s businesses, including his golf courses and hotels, “report losing millions, if not tens of millions, of dollars year after year”.
“That equation is a key element of the alchemy of Mr Trump’s finances: using the proceeds of his celebrity to purchase and prop up risky businesses, then wielding their losses to avoid taxes,” the paper says.


theweekuk--2020-09-28--UK house sales: demand from movers set to outpace first-time buys

First-time buyers have been a “ driving force ” for the UK property market over the past decade but according to new data , the proportion of sales to newcomers is on track to be overtaken by those to existing homeowners .
The latest House Price Index Report from Zoopla says that the annual UK house price growth rate stands at 2.6 % , up from 1 % a year ago .
And the number of new sales agreed over the past nine months is 3 % higher than the same period last year , despite the sector having had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this year .
But while an ongoing imbalance between supply and demand is driving the growth rate , a gap is “ opening up in relative strength of demand between existing homeowners and first-time buyers ” , which has recently been greater among the latter , the property portal reports .
Experts predict that “ first-time buyers will make up around 33.9 % of home purchases in the UK for 2020 , down from a ten-year high of 34.9 % in 2019 ” , says The Guardian .
If correct , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house sales to first-time buyers since 2015 ” , the newspaper adds .
The Zoopla report points to “ restricted mortgage availability , tighter lending criteria and growing economic uncertainty ” during the Covid pandemic as the key reasons for the expected drop .
The property site ’ s research and insight director Richard Donnell said : “ First-time buyers have been the engine for the housing market over the last decade , but greater movement amongst existing home owners means a shift in the mix of moving households in 2021.
” First-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended , but has lost momentum amid the growing economic uncertainty and reduced availability of higher loan to value ( LTV ) mortgages .
“ We expect it to decline slowly over the rest of 2020 , ” says the Zoopla report .
“ In contrast , demand from existing home-owners was slower to respond immediately after the lockdown but remains elevated - 37 % higher than pre-Covid levels and 53 % above this time last year .
“ There is pent-up demand in this group that we believe could support the housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buyers over the past ten years had been buoyed by the Help to Buy scheme and greater competition in the higher LTV mortgage market .
In 2019 , first-time buyers overtook mortgaged home-owners as the largest buyer group .
However , Zoopla says this trend is “ set to reverse ” moving into 2021 , as existing homeowners look to up sticks and take advantage of government incentives such as a stamp duty holiday .

First-time buyers have been a “driving force” for the UK property market over the past decade but according to new data, the proportion of sales to newcomers is on track to be overtaken by those to existing homeowners.
The latest House Price Index Report from Zoopla says that the annual UK house price growth rate stands at 2.6%, up from 1% a year ago. And the number of new sales agreed over the past nine months is 3% higher than the same period last year, despite the sector having had to shut down for the coronavirus lockdown earlier this year.
But while an ongoing imbalance between supply and demand is driving the growth rate, a gap is “opening up in relative strength of demand between existing homeowners and first-time buyers”, which has recently been greater among the latter, the property portal reports.
Experts predict that “first-time buyers will make up around 33.9% of home purchases in the UK for 2020, down from a ten-year high of 34.9% in 2019”, says The Guardian.
If correct, that would “mark the first decline in house sales to first-time buyers since 2015”, the newspaper adds.
The Zoopla report points to “restricted mortgage availability, tighter lending criteria and growing economic uncertainty” during the Covid pandemic as the key reasons for the expected drop.
The property site’s research and insight director Richard Donnell said: “First-time buyers have been the engine for the housing market over the last decade, but greater movement amongst existing home owners means a shift in the mix of moving households in 2021.”
‘Existing home-owners to support market’
First-time buyer demand spiked immediately after the lockdown ended, but has lost momentum amid the growing economic uncertainty and reduced availability of higher loan to value (LTV) mortgages.
“We expect it to decline slowly over the rest of 2020,” says the Zoopla report. “In contrast, demand from existing home-owners was slower to respond immediately after the lockdown but remains elevated - 37% higher than pre-Covid levels and 53% above this time last year.
“There is pent-up demand in this group that we believe could support the housing market into 2021.”
Demand from first-time buyers over the past ten years had been buoyed by the Help to Buy scheme and greater competition in the higher LTV mortgage market.
In 2019, first-time buyers overtook mortgaged home-owners as the largest buyer group. However, Zoopla says this trend is “set to reverse” moving into 2021, as existing homeowners look to up sticks and take advantage of government incentives such as a stamp duty holiday.


theweekuk--2020-09-28--Parliament U-turns on plan for MPs’ bars to be exempt from nationwide 10pm curfew

MPs hoping for a quick pint after a day in the House of Commons will be required to drink up before the nationwide 10pm curfew after parliamentary authorities U-turned on a controversial exemption .
Bars in the Palace of Westminster will now not sell alcohol after 10pm , but will remain open later during debates “ to serve food for those still working ” , parliamentary authorities said .
Parliament ’ s bars were originally “ exempt from the earlier closing time ” , The Times reported .
And unlike most other other public venues , the bars would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either .
The parliamentary pubs had avoided the strict 10pm cut-off because they fell under the definition of a “ workplace canteen ” , which according to Boris Johnson ’ s latest regulations “ may remain open where there is no practical alternative for staff at that workplace to obtain food ” .
The exemption also meant that bar staff would not be forced to wear face coverings and visitors would not have been asked to provide track-and-trace details .
The exemptions were met with anger from outside Westminster , with a parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ a massive own goal ” .
George Freeman , an ex-Tory minister , had warned “ this sort of thing is what brings parliament into disrepute ” , while other MPs told Sky News that the decision to sell alcohol after the curfew was “ outrageous ” , “ nonsense ” and “ appalling ” .
The curfew for pubs , restaurants and bars has triggered fury in the hospitality industry , with bosses warning that the decision may be the final nail in the coffin for many venues .
Emma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Pub Association , told ITV News that the new rules were “ another devastating blow to the beer and pub sector ” .
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has also criticised the curfew , saying that it is “ making things more dangerous ” .
Anderson “ spoke out after crowds gathered in the city as the pubs turned out drinkers on Saturday night ” , the BBC reports .
Merseyside Police told the broadcaster that there had been “ a spontaneous gathering around a local street performer ” , but added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close monitoring of officers and via CCTV ” .

MPs hoping for a quick pint after a day in the House of Commons will be required to drink up before the nationwide 10pm curfew after parliamentary authorities U-turned on a controversial exemption.
Bars in the Palace of Westminster will now not sell alcohol after 10pm, but will remain open later during debates “to serve food for those still working”, parliamentary authorities said.
Parliament’s bars were originally “exempt from the earlier closing time”, The Times reported. And unlike most other other public venues, the bars would not have had to gather customers’ details either.
The parliamentary pubs had avoided the strict 10pm cut-off because they fell under the definition of a “workplace canteen”, which according to Boris Johnson’s latest regulations “may remain open where there is no practical alternative for staff at that workplace to obtain food”.
The exemption also meant that bar staff would not be forced to wear face coverings and visitors would not have been asked to provide track-and-trace details.
The exemptions were met with anger from outside Westminster, with a parliamentary source telling The Times that the decision was “a massive own goal”.
George Freeman, an ex-Tory minister, had warned “this sort of thing is what brings parliament into disrepute”, while other MPs told Sky News that the decision to sell alcohol after the curfew was “outrageous”, “nonsense” and “appalling”.
The curfew for pubs, restaurants and bars has triggered fury in the hospitality industry, with bosses warning that the decision may be the final nail in the coffin for many venues.
Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, told ITV News that the new rules were “another devastating blow to the beer and pub sector”.
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has also criticised the curfew, saying that it is “making things more dangerous”. Anderson “spoke out after crowds gathered in the city as the pubs turned out drinkers on Saturday night”, the BBC reports.
Merseyside Police told the broadcaster that there had been “a spontaneous gathering around a local street performer”, but added that people “dispersed within minutes under the close monitoring of officers and via CCTV”.


theweekuk--2020-09-28--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 28 Sep 2020

The CBI , which represents business leaders is calling on the government to avoid a no-deal Brexit , which it @ @ @ @ @ 4 % of company bosses .
By contrast , it says , 77 % want @ @ @ @ @ and the UK .
Carolyn Fairbairn , the group ’ s director general , said @ @ @ @ @ of unprecedented challenges – rebuilding from the first wave of Covid-19 , dealing with the @ @ @ @ @ and preparing for significant changes to the UK ’ s trading relationship with the EU @ @

Bosses urge ministers to agree a deal with EU
The CBI, which represents business leaders is calling on the government to avoid a no-deal Brexit, which it says is supported by just 4% of company bosses. By contrast, it says, 77% want a deal between the EU and the UK. Carolyn Fairbairn, the group’s director general, said businesses “face a hat-trick of unprecedented challenges – rebuilding from the first wave of Covid-19, dealing with the resurgence of the virus, and preparing for significant changes to the UK’s trading relationship with the EU”.


theweekuk--2020-09-28--Man dies after pot plant liquifies his brain

A gardener has died as a result of an infection caught from his pot plant which turned his brain into liquid .
The 82-year-old man felt weak for two weeks before he was admitted to hospital as the deadly bug took over his brain .
Medics say it was caused by free-living amoebas that are commonly found in soil .
Previously , a man in Ireland almost died from a flesh-eating bug he caught from a cut on his big toe .
Aliens might live in lakes on the moon Experts say alien life might be present in lakes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start drilling to find it .
Astrophysists at Harvard and the Florida Institute of Technology say the Moon and Mars “ lack an atmosphere that would allow liquid water to exist on their surfaces , but the warmer and pressurised regions under the surface could allow the chemistry of life in liquid water ” .
Why it 's better to be single A study has found there are many advantages to being single .
Singletons are more likely to regularly stay in touch with , provide help to , and receive help from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than those who are married , according to the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 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 gardener has died as a result of an infection caught from his pot plant which turned his brain into liquid. The 82-year-old man felt weak for two weeks before he was admitted to hospital as the deadly bug took over his brain. Medics say it was caused by free-living amoebas that are commonly found in soil. Previously, a man in Ireland almost died from a flesh-eating bug he caught from a cut on his big toe.
Aliens might live in lakes on the moon
Experts say alien life might be present in lakes on Mars and the moon and humans should start drilling to find it. Astrophysists at Harvard and the Florida Institute of Technology say the Moon and Mars “lack an atmosphere that would allow liquid water to exist on their surfaces, but the warmer and pressurised regions under the surface could allow the chemistry of life in liquid water”.
Why it's better to be single
A study has found there are many advantages to being single. Singletons are more likely to regularly stay in touch with, provide help to, and receive help from parents, siblings, neighbours and friends than those who are married, according to the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


theweekuk--2020-09-28--New Mercedes-Benz S-Class: the flagship saloon’s next generation

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the models and prices for its flagship new S-Class saloon .
Available to order now , the 2021 S-Class will arrive in the UK late this year and feature five equipment lines : AMG Line , AMG Line Premium , AMG Line Premium Plus , AMG Line Premium Executive and AMG Line Premium Plus Executive .
When unveiling the latest S-Class , Auto Express reported that Mercedes made a simple but bold claim , stating that it is “ the best car in the world ” .
The website says the German automotive marque might have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tech on offer .
Sporting an “ evolutionary design and a massive push towards modern technology ” , Carbuzz reports that the S-Class will be “ one expensive limo ” .
Describing the S-Class as one of the “ most luxurious and high-tech cars on sale ” , Carwow says that “ when Mercedes announces they ’ re going to make a new one , it ’ s a pretty big deal ” .
How much will it cost ?
Prices start from £78,705 on-the-road for the S 350 d AMG Line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 350 d features an inline six-cylinder diesel engine , which produces 286 hp and 600 Nm of torque .
It can reach 62mph from standstill in 6.4 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 155mph .
Priced from £94,135 , the S 400 d 4MATIC - only available in long wheelbase – uses an inline six-cylinder diesel engine , producing 330 hp and 700 Nm .
It can travel from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds and also has an electronically limited top speed of 155mph .
The petrol-powered S 500 4MATIC – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 435 hp and 520 Nm of torque and can sprint to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds .
All models come as standard with a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission .
The S 400 d and S 500 are also now available with 4MATIC all-wheel-drive .
The new S-Class features the next generation of Mercedes-Benz User Experience ( MBUX ) with a 12.8in OLED touchscreen central display and a 12.3in digital driver display .
The driver display is optionally available with 3D technology , including facial recognition which can monitor driver drowsiness and exterior mirror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of the Executive line , can also be used as a fully-fledged tablet outside of the vehicle , including the ability to download Android apps .
The “ Hey Mercedes ” virtual assistant now recognises instructions or requests from any seat in the car .
Driving Assistance Package is standard on all S-Class variants .

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the models and prices for its flagship new S-Class saloon.
Available to order now, the 2021 S-Class will arrive in the UK late this year and feature five equipment lines: AMG Line, AMG Line Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus, AMG Line Premium Executive and AMG Line Premium Plus Executive.
When unveiling the latest S-Class, Auto Express reported that Mercedes made a simple but bold claim, stating that it is “the best car in the world”. The website says the German automotive marque might have a point if it’s referring to the tech on offer.
Sporting an “evolutionary design and a massive push towards modern technology”, Carbuzz reports that the S-Class will be “one expensive limo”.
Describing the S-Class as one of the “most luxurious and high-tech cars on sale”, Carwow says that “when Mercedes announces they’re going to make a new one, it’s a pretty big deal”.
How much will it cost?
Prices start from £78,705 on-the-road for the S 350 d AMG Line (standard wheelbase). The S 350 d features an inline six-cylinder diesel engine, which produces 286 hp and 600 Nm of torque. It can reach 62mph from standstill in 6.4 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
Priced from £94,135, the S 400 d 4MATIC - only available in long wheelbase – uses an inline six-cylinder diesel engine, producing 330 hp and 700 Nm. It can travel from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds and also has an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
The petrol-powered S 500 4MATIC – with prices starting from £89,105 – produces 435 hp and 520 Nm of torque and can sprint to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds.
All models come as standard with a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission. The S 400 d and S 500 are also now available with 4MATIC all-wheel-drive.
‘Hey Mercedes’: what’s in the cabin?
The new S-Class features the next generation of Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with a 12.8in OLED touchscreen central display and a 12.3in digital driver display.
The driver display is optionally available with 3D technology, including facial recognition which can monitor driver drowsiness and exterior mirror settings.
An MBUX tablet, available as part of the Executive line, can also be used as a fully-fledged tablet outside of the vehicle, including the ability to download Android apps.
The “Hey Mercedes” virtual assistant now recognises instructions or requests from any seat in the car. Driving Assistance Package is standard on all S-Class variants.
In pictures: 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class


theweekuk--2020-09-28--Instant Opinion: Sweden’s anti-lockdown stance ‘a lesson for Britain’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on quality of life during a pandemic “ I ’ m not here to make some political statement on Covid-19 but because my husband arranged a work exchange in the Before Times , back when Whitty and Vallance might just have been a TV detective duo .
An accident , then , that we are here as restrictions tighten in Britain , and frankly a happy one .
Since arriving we have felt the weight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoulders .
It began in the taxi from the airport , when we were cheerily told we could ditch the masks , and continued with the mildly thrilling experience of perusing the supermarket mask-free .
Sure , there are stickers on the floor requesting a two-metre distance but the whole thing is handled so breezily that the slight tightness in the throat I developed in British shops is gone ; the flashing red danger alarms have dulled and the cortisol levels are down .
We grab cutlery from a shared pot in cafés @ @ @ @ @ @ @ germs .
One can almost forget the oppressive corona cloud we have lived under for six months.
” The Tory revolt against new coronavirus rules shows Johnson is not secure “ [ Boris Johnson ’ s ] support within the Tory hierarchy is based purely on his 2019 success in securing a Commons majority of 80 .
But these are not normal times .
Johnson ’ s rating is falling .
One poll at the weekend showed his popularity and that of his party falling for the first time behind Labour and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of power in Britain at present is hard .
There are rumours of rifts between Johnson ’ s secretive government scientists and his popular chancellor Rishi Sunak .
His powerful aide , Dominic Cummings , is toxic to both the cabinet and parliament .
As happened under May , a leadership vacuum in Downing Street sees power inevitably drift towards the Commons .
Brady ’ s amendment is hardly outrageous .
It offers reassurance to the nation and thus a safety valve to Johnson .
It would give parliament some steerage over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It would give Johnson some space to breathe .
He needs it.
” We are being taken into another lockdown by stealth “ I am beginning to feel like a frog in the proverbial experiment – the one where if you lower the animal into a pot of boiling water , it will leap straight out , but if you raise the temperature gradually , it will just sit there and get boiled alive , not realising the danger it is in .
First , we were banned from socialising in groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pubs were told to close at 10 .
Now , it transpires that ministers have been considering closing pubs and restaurants for two weeks across much of Northern England and possibly London , and banning all social interaction .
Meanwhile , the areas under local lockdown are steadily growing larger , and merging to cover much of the country ’ s population .
At the same time , the number of countries which Britons may visit without having to spend two weeks in quarantine on their return shrinks by the day – it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At this rate , within a week or two everything will be in effective lockdown except for the grouse moors .
But ministers will still be trooping into radio studios telling us ‘ we want to avoid a national lockdown at all costs ’ .
” The Trump tax revelations will make no difference to the US election “ It ’ s odd that Trump has forgotten his own playbook , and now says the stories about him paying little tax are ‘ fake news ’ , adding ‘ I pay tax ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and looking to the Inland Revenue Service to vindicate him .
A lawyer for the Trump Organisation said that Trump ‘ has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government , including paying millions on personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2025′ .
Logically , Trump can ’ t have it both ways .
Either he was smart and didn ’ t pay tax or he did pay tax and he ’ s not so smart .
Not that it matters though , in stark political terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up about Trump and Biden many months ago .
Trump ’ s contempt for paying for ‘ the swamp ’ is shared by his fan base , and most Americans ( like most folk anywhere ) try to minimise their tax bills as far as possible.
” 5 .
Charles M. Blow in The New York Times on the worth of head-to-head events “ I ’ m not looking forward to Trump making a scene and telling lies .
I ’ m not looking forward to the assessments of the moderators .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We may learn things .
We often do .
And those things are worth learning .
But , what is most important is policy and character .
Indeed , we don ’ t need a debate .
What will it really tell us that we don ’ t already know ?
What will it truly reveal ?
The debate will show us how the candidates converse and clash .
It will show how they respond when attacked and how they recover - or not - when bruised .
But none of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the determinant of how one votes .
Trump is actively threatening to assault our democracy by refusing to say that he will accept the results of an election if he loses , by refusing to say that he would ensure a peaceful transfer of power from him to Biden .
He is assaulting our democracy by undermining confidence in the election and by lying about mail-in voting , a necessity for many during a pandemic .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Clare Foges in The Times
on quality of life during a pandemic
Sweden’s Covid stance is a lesson for Britain
“I’m not here to make some political statement on Covid-19 but because my husband arranged a work exchange in the Before Times, back when Whitty and Vallance might just have been a TV detective duo. An accident, then, that we are here as restrictions tighten in Britain, and frankly a happy one. Since arriving we have felt the weight of the pandemic response lift from our shoulders. It began in the taxi from the airport, when we were cheerily told we could ditch the masks, and continued with the mildly thrilling experience of perusing the supermarket mask-free. Sure, there are stickers on the floor requesting a two-metre distance but the whole thing is handled so breezily that the slight tightness in the throat I developed in British shops is gone; the flashing red danger alarms have dulled and the cortisol levels are down. We grab cutlery from a shared pot in cafés, collect change without thinking of invisible germs. One can almost forget the oppressive corona cloud we have lived under for six months.”
2. Simon Jenkins in The Guardian
on the Tories taking back control
The Tory revolt against new coronavirus rules shows Johnson is not secure
“[Boris Johnson’s] support within the Tory hierarchy is based purely on his 2019 success in securing a Commons majority of 80. But these are not normal times. Johnson’s rating is falling. One poll at the weekend showed his popularity and that of his party falling for the first time behind Labour and its leader Keir Starmer... Finding a focus of power in Britain at present is hard. There are rumours of rifts between Johnson’s secretive government scientists and his popular chancellor Rishi Sunak. His powerful aide, Dominic Cummings, is toxic to both the cabinet and parliament. As happened under May, a leadership vacuum in Downing Street sees power inevitably drift towards the Commons. Brady’s amendment is hardly outrageous. It offers reassurance to the nation and thus a safety valve to Johnson. It would give parliament some steerage over a government that is now all at sea. It would give Johnson some space to breathe. He needs it.”
3. Ross Clark in The Daily Telegraph
on a sneaky return to Covid restrictions
We are being taken into another lockdown by stealth
“I am beginning to feel like a frog in the proverbial experiment – the one where if you lower the animal into a pot of boiling water, it will leap straight out, but if you raise the temperature gradually, it will just sit there and get boiled alive, not realising the danger it is in. First, we were banned from socialising in groups of more than six. Then the pubs were told to close at 10. Now, it transpires that ministers have been considering closing pubs and restaurants for two weeks across much of Northern England and possibly London, and banning all social interaction. Meanwhile, the areas under local lockdown are steadily growing larger, and merging to cover much of the country’s population. At the same time, the number of countries which Britons may visit without having to spend two weeks in quarantine on their return shrinks by the day – it is now down to just eight. At this rate, within a week or two everything will be in effective lockdown except for the grouse moors. But ministers will still be trooping into radio studios telling us ‘we want to avoid a national lockdown at all costs’.”
4. Sean O’Grady in The Independent
on the president’s latest controversy
The Trump tax revelations will make no difference to the US election
“It’s odd that Trump has forgotten his own playbook, and now says the stories about him paying little tax are ‘fake news’, adding ‘I pay tax’ (implying more normal levels), and looking to the Inland Revenue Service to vindicate him. A lawyer for the Trump Organisation said that Trump ‘has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government, including paying millions on personal taxes since announcing his candidacy in 2025′. Logically, Trump can’t have it both ways. Either he was smart and didn’t pay tax or he did pay tax and he’s not so smart. Not that it matters though, in stark political terms. The American people made their minds up about Trump and Biden many months ago. Trump’s contempt for paying for ‘the swamp’ is shared by his fan base, and most Americans (like most folk anywhere) try to minimise their tax bills as far as possible.”
5. Charles M. Blow in The New York Times
on the worth of head-to-head events
We Don’t Need Debates
“I’m not looking forward to Trump making a scene and telling lies. I’m not looking forward to the assessments of the moderators. I’m not looking forward to hype. We may learn things. We often do. And those things are worth learning. But, what is most important is policy and character. Indeed, we don’t need a debate. What will it really tell us that we don’t already know? What will it truly reveal? The debate will show us how the candidates converse and clash. It will show how they respond when attacked and how they recover - or not - when bruised. But none of this, at this late date, should be the determinant of how one votes. Trump is actively threatening to assault our democracy by refusing to say that he will accept the results of an election if he loses, by refusing to say that he would ensure a peaceful transfer of power from him to Biden. He is assaulting our democracy by undermining confidence in the election and by lying about mail-in voting, a necessity for many during a pandemic.”


theweekuk--2020-09-28--How an ‘experimental arthritis drug’ could help treat Covid-19

A new drug developed to treat rheumatoid arthritis may be given to the most seriously ill Covid-19 patients , if a clinical trial now under way in Manchester proves successful .
Farhan Hamid , 41 , has become the first British coronavirus patient to receive the drug , called otilimab , as part of a study run by Manchester Royal Infirmary .
“ The research aims to establish whether otilimab can treat severe lung disease developed as a result of Covid-19 , ” says Sky News .
Dr Andy Martin , who is running the trial , said Hamid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the study because he was experiencing severe difficulty breathing .
The experimental drug could “ ease the effect of coronavirus on the lungs , dampening the impact of the virus on the immune system ” , Martin explained .
Funded by the drug ’ s manufacturer , Glaxo SmithKline ( GSK ) , the trial has “ been given urgent public health research status by the Department of Health and Social Care ” , the Daily Mirror reports .
Hospitals from all over the world , including five in the UK , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which will involve a total of 800 patients .
Trials have already begun in the US .
“ Those taking part will be allocated into two groups at random , with half receiving a one-hour , single infusion of otilimab , ” says the Daily Mail .
The other group will get “ placebo intravenous therapy , in addition to standard care ” .
Christopher Corsico of GSK said the drug is believed to help patients who are experiencing the most severe reaction to Covid-19 .
“ We know that some Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system - sometimes referred to as cytokine storm - which can lead to hospitalisation or death , ” he said .
“ We believe that otilimab might be able to help counter or calm this process .
”

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theweekuk--2020-09-28--What is happening between Armenia and Azerbaijan - and are they at war?

Rising tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan have erupted into violence on the border between the two former Soviet states , fuelling fears of an all-out armed conflict in the region .
At least 23 people are reported to have been killed on Sunday in deadly clashes over the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region .
As both sides reported that civilians were among the dead , Olesya Vartanyan , a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group , warned that “ we are a step away from a large-scale war ” .
Both sides have blamed each other for the resumption of deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period of relative peace in the region .
As the hostilities continue , the Azerbaijan Defence Ministry has “ claimed that Armenian forces started shelling the town of Tartar on Monday morning ” , while Armenian officials insist the rival authorities in Baku are overseeing “ offensive actions ” in the area , The Independent says .
Azerbaijan ’ s army also “ said it had taken control of several villages in Nagorno-Karabakh as of Sunday afternoon ” , The Guardian adds - a claim that has been rejected by Armenia .
Reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are equally confusing , with tallies of deaths varying significantly .
Although most international news outlets say the total is at least 23 , Nagorno-Karabakh officials have claimed that 31 of their servicemen alone have been killed , with more than 200 further people wounded .
And Azerbaijan ’ s Defence Ministry has told Russia independent Interfax news agency that more than 550 Armenian troops have been killed .
The clashes mark “ the worst escalation in violence since 2016 ” between the two sides , says Al Jazeera , which reports that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the United States , Russia , Iran and European powers ” , have been calling for an end to hostilities and the start of peace talks .
Nagorno-Karabakh , known to Armenians as Artsakh , is a small region in central Azerbaijan .
In 1918 , the two nations went to war for control of the area after both declared independence from Russia following that country ’ s Bolshevik Revolution .
Both Armenia and Azerbaijian were brought under full Soviet control in 1920 and remained relatively peaceful for decades .
But as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the late 1980s , the Armenia-Azerbaijan War erupted , with a number of territories in the two nations changing hands multiple times .
By the end of the war , in 1994 , the Armenians were in full control of most of the enclave and also held and currently control seven regions beyond the administrative borders of Nagorno-Karabakh .
These regions have been under the administrative authority of the so-called Republic of Artsakh , a breakaway state heavily reliant on Armenian support .
Armenia claims the right to control Nagorno-Karabakh owing to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a 2015 census showing that 99.7 % of the population is ethnically Armenian .
There is also a significant religious divide between the two countries , with Armenia being predominantly Christian , while Azerbaijan is overwhelmingly Muslim .
But Armenia ’ s claim to the region - along with the Republic of Artsakh itself - has not been recognised by any UN members , all of whom still consider the disputed areas as being under Azerbaijani jurisdiction .
So are the two nations at war ?
Following the fresh outbreak of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the EU swiftly urged an “ immediate ceasefire ” , while Pope Francis said he was praying for peace , The Moscow Times reports .
Russian President Vladimir Putin also called for “ an end to hostilities ” .
Meanwhile , the US State Department said Washington had contacted the authorities in Armenia and Azerbaijan “ to urge both sides to cease hostilities immediately , to use the existing direct communication links between them to avoid further escalation , and to avoid unhelpful rhetoric and actions ” .
The long-running dispute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western concern because the area is a corridor for pipelines carrying oil and gas from the Caspian Sea to global markets ” , The Guardian reports .
But some foreign powers are taking a less cautious tone , with Turkey , a long-standing ally of Azerbaijan , blaming Armenia for the flare-up .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted : “ The Turkish people will support our Azerbaijani brothers with all our means as always.
” Some commentators have suggested that the recent flare-ups are the result of a lack of international intervention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the main reasons for the current escalation is a lack of any proactive international mediation between the sides for weeks , ” the International Crisis Group ’ s Vartanyan told Foreign Policy magazine .
“ If anyone was preparing for this , they did a bad job .
”

Renewed fighting has erupted this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with both sides accusing the other of launching the first attacks.
Nearly 100 soldiers have died, according to Reuters, in the “worst fighting between the ex-Soviet republics since 2020”.
Efforts by the international community to broker peace appeared to have made progress on Tuesday after Russia said it had helped negotiate a ceasefire. However, more clashes between the bordering nations broke out on Wednesday morning.
The fighting centres around the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which has seen Armenia and Azerbaijan locked in two wars and numerous other clashes in the past three decades.
The most recent fighting in 2020 was ended after Russia deployed 2,000 peacekeeping troops to the region under a brokered peace deal. The six-week conflict killed more than 6,500 people.
Where is Nagorno-Karabakh?
Nagorno-Karabakh, known to Armenians as Artsakh, is a small region in central Azerbaijan. In 1918, the two nations declared independence from Russia following that country’s Bolshevik revolution. By the end of 1922, however, both countries had become part of the Soviet Union. “Nagorno-Karabakh was an ethnic-majority Armenian region, but the Soviets gave control over the area to Azerbaijani authorities,” said the BBC.
As the Soviet Union began to collapse in the late 1980s, the region’s parliament voted to become part of Armenia. “Ethnic violence between Armenians and Azerbaijani in the enclave, which had begun in 1988, escalated into war,” said Britannica.
By 1994, the Armenians were in full control of most of the enclave and also held seven regions beyond the administrative borders of Nagorno-Karabakh. These regions have been under the administrative authority of the so-called Republic of Artsakh, a breakaway state heavily reliant on Armenian support.
Armenia claims the right to control Nagorno-Karabakh owing to the region’s long-standing Armenian ethnic make-up, with a 2015 census showing that 99.7% of the population is ethnically Armenian. There is also a significant religious divide between the two countries, with Armenia being predominantly Christian, while Azerbaijan is overwhelmingly Muslim.
But Armenia’s claim to the region – along with the Republic of Artsakh itself – has not been recognised by any UN members, all of whom still consider the disputed areas as being under Azerbaijani jurisdiction.
What has happened up until now?
Fighting escalated in October 2020 and in six weeks of hostilities it was claimed that more than 5,000 military personnel were killed in total.


theweekuk--2020-09-28--Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to star in ‘fly-on-the-wall’ Netflix reality show

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have agreed to be tailed by cameras for three months for a behind-the-scenes Netflix reality show .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced earlier this month that they had signed a $ 150m ( £113m ) deal to produce documentaries , docuseries , feature films , scripted shows and children ’ s programmes for the streaming giant .
And now the couple have decided to step in front of the camera as well , to “ give people a glimpse into their lives ” , a source told The Sun .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed into their £11.5million , nine-bedroom home ” in Montecito , California , says the newspaper , which points out that “ the Sussexes moved to the US after moaning about alleged media intrusion ” .
But wherever the series is shot , “ it will still be a fascinating insight and Meghan hopes viewers will get to see the real her ” , according to the source , who said that “ much of the docuseries will be about their philanthropy rather than what they get up to behind closed doors ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aim at the couple for going down the reality TV route , the insider added : “ They may have had all these lofty ideas about producing epics highlighting environmental causes and the poverty gap , but Netflix obviously want their pound of flesh.
” Royal biographer and editor of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward is among those who have criticised the couple ’ s “ hypocritical ” decision , after “ we were told they had gone to California for greater privacy ” .
“ The more they talk about themselves , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just that and won ’ t be interested in anything else they have to offer , ” Seward said .
Meanwhile , a former government minister has accused Prince Harry of “ exploiting ” his royal connections in agreeing to the fly-on-the-wall series .
Ex-Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker told ITV ’ s Good Morning Britain that Harry has “ clearly divorced himself from the Royal Family in practical terms ” .
“ Let 's be frank about this , Netflix would n't be offering a huge deal to Harry because of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who served as Home Office minister in the coalition government of 2010-15 .
He added : “ Harry is clearly exploiting the Buckingham Palace connection and the fact is , he has to make up his mind , is he in the royal family or is n't he ?
”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have agreed to be tailed by cameras for three months for a behind-the-scenes Netflix reality show.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced earlier this month that they had signed a $150m (£113m) deal to produce documentaries, docuseries, feature films, scripted shows and children’s programmes for the streaming giant. And now the couple have decided to step in front of the camera as well, to “give people a glimpse into their lives”, a source told The Sun.
“It is not yet known if cameras will be allowed into their £11.5million, nine-bedroom home” in Montecito, California, says the newspaper, which points out that “the Sussexes moved to the US after moaning about alleged media intrusion”.
But wherever the series is shot, “it will still be a fascinating insight and Meghan hopes viewers will get to see the real her”, according to the source, who said that “much of the docuseries will be about their philanthropy rather than what they get up to behind closed doors”.
As critics line up to take aim at the couple for going down the reality TV route, the insider added: “They may have had all these lofty ideas about producing epics highlighting environmental causes and the poverty gap, but Netflix obviously want their pound of flesh.”
Royal biographer and editor of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward is among those who have criticised the couple’s “hypocritical” decision, after “we were told they had gone to California for greater privacy”.
“The more they talk about themselves, the more people will want them to do just that and won’t be interested in anything else they have to offer,” Seward said.
Meanwhile, a former government minister has accused Prince Harry of “exploiting” his royal connections in agreeing to the fly-on-the-wall series.
Ex-Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker told ITV’s Good Morning Britain that Harry has “clearly divorced himself from the Royal Family in practical terms”.
“Let's be frank about this, Netflix wouldn't be offering a huge deal to Harry because of his interesting views,” said Baker, who served as Home Office minister in the coalition government of 2010-15.
He added: “Harry is clearly exploiting the Buckingham Palace connection and the fact is, he has to make up his mind, is he in the royal family or isn't he?”