Innholdsfortegnelse for V. 1262 i The Week

What happened The royal rift The Queen gave her reluctant blessing this week to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step down as senior royals. In a personal statement after crisis talks at Sandringham, the 93-year-old monarch said that while she would have preferred her grandson and his wife to have remained full-time working royals, she understood their desire to “live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family”. It had been agreed that there would be a “period of transition”, she said, during which the couple would divide their time between Canada and the UK (see page 20). The urgent family summit was convened after Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, blindsided Buckingham Palace last week by releasing a “personal message”…

Billie Eilish, who revealed that she has been asked to sing the theme song for the new James Bond film, No Time to Die. The 18-year-old is the youngest musician ever to provide a Bond soundtrack. She wrote it with her older brother Finneas. Lee Child, the bestselling writer of the Jack Reacher novels, who was selected to sit on the judging panel of the Booker Prize. Child is one of the most commercially successful writers to sit on the panel. The other judges include Margaret Busby, Britain’s leading black publisher, and the poet Lemn Sissay.…

79% of Republicans approve of Donald Trump’s recent dealings with Iran; 14% disapprove. Among Democrats, 86% disapprove, and 10% approve. 53% of Americans overall think the president has handled the issue poorly, and 37% well. Ipsos/Reuters/Newsweek 11% of Britons say they started the year planning a Dry January – eschewing alcohol for the month. 29% of those admit to having failed the challenge within the first week. YouGov 63% of British adults think the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should stop receiving funding from Prince Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall now that they are stepping back from royal duties. 13% disagree. YouGov/Daily Mail…

Nigella on getting old Nigella Lawson has never liked birthdays. Even as achild, she found them “squirmy and embarrassing”. Now, the famously glamorous chef has turned 60 – and she is finding it “very odd indeed”. “Even if it isn’t properly old, it is undeniably well beyond middle age; Iam not expecting to make it to 120,” she wrote in The Sunday Times. Her mother, sister and first husband all died young – at 48, 32 and 47 respectively. It is, she says, “curious” to be so comprehensively outliving them. On the other hand, “when you have seen people you love die young, the idea of complaining about getting older is just revolting”. Besides, being older is easier than its opposite. “The two great enemies of happiness are self-consciousness and…

At least 30,000 people have fled a massive volcanic eruption in the Philippines, but one couple didn’t let it get in the way of their wedding plans. The Taal volcano erupted in full view just a few miles away as Chino and Kat Vaflor prepared to tie the knot at an outdoor ceremony – but it all went ahead as planned. “We could feel ash raining on our clothes,” said photographer Randolf Evan. “It didn’t feel alarming until night time, when it became a bit heavier and mud-like.” An ITV reporter in Australia was tricked into donning body armour and goggles to hold a “drop bear”: a close cousin of the koala which, Debi Edward was told, is “actually really vicious”, and attacks humans with its venomous fangs. Looking nervous,…

ITALY Pasta with a side of populism Foreign Policy (Washington) “Few things in Italy are more sacred than food,” says Giorgio Ghiglione. And right-wingers have recently launched a culinary crusade. Changing recipes to accommodate different cultures risks “distorting our society”, they cry. They’re especially offended by culinary concessions to Muslims; Pope Francis horrified them when he served pork-free lasagne at alunch for the poor in November. Lasagne with pork and beef, claimed one outraged Catholic commentator, is just as much the “backbone of Italian civilisation” as wine and parmesan; by spurning it, the Pope gave in to a “suicidal, multiculturalist” ideology. And when the Archbishop of Bologna served tortellini stuffed with chicken instead of prosciutto, the far-right League leader Matteo Salvini accused him of “erasing Italy’s history” (in fact, poultry…

Supermarkets and other retailers that ditch single-use plastic, in an effort to respond to consumer concern about waste, risk replacing it with packaging that is worse for the environment, the Green Alliance environmental think tank has warned. For instance, some supermarkets now put out single paper bags for loose produce instead of thin plastic ones – although paper ones are “just as unnecessary”, and in some cases “can have much higher carbon impacts”, according to the Alliance. Retailers say they are under pressure to replace plastic containers with glass ones, though that would increase their carbon footprint, and to use “compostable” plastic equivalents even though, in practice, this material often doesn’t degrade in the manner expected. The report also notes that although 30% of consumers claim to have changed their…

It is described as “funny, gorgeous, sexy and beautifully unexpected”, carrying notes of “geranium, citrusy bergamot and cedar, juxtaposed with damask rose and ambrette seed”. The effect of Gwyneth Paltrow’s new scented candle, her website says, is to “put us in mind of fantasy, seduction and a sophisticated warmth”. And the product is proving a hit; retailing at $75, it sold out in a matter of hours. The name Paltrow chose for this alluring scented home accessory? “This Smells Like My Vagina.” At 73, Brian Cox is a Hollywood veteran. He still remembers the challenges of starting out, though. “It was my 23rd birthday and I’d been given a red shirt,” he recalls. Having just showered after appearing at The Royal Court, he was introduced to Princess Margaret. “She put…

“To the man in the street who, I’m sorry to say, is a keen observer of life, the word intellectual suggests straight away a man who’s untrue to his wife.” W.H. Auden, quoted in the Daily Express “The Labour party loses so often, it is tempting to think it must enjoy the experience.” Philip Collins in The Times “Good resolutions are simply cheques that men draw on a bank where they have no account.” Oscar Wilde, quoted in The Patriot-News “The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they’ve found it.” Terry Pratchett, quoted in The Independent “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” Baseball catcher Yogi Berra, quoted in the Owatonna…

Football Manchester City beat Aston Villa 6-1, with Sergio Agüero scoring his 12th hat-trick – a record in the Premier League. Tennis Serbia beat Spain 2-1 to win the inaugural ATP Cup in Australia. The final involved a decider between the world’s top two ranked players, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, which the Serb won 6-2 7-6 (7-4). Darts Wayne Warren, 57, became the oldest ever winner of the British Darts Organisation World Championship, beating fellow Welshman Jim Williams 7-4 in the final.…

It’s not always easy to stay cheerful in January, said Will Hodgkinson in The Times – but here is “an album of banging house music” by a bright new British star whose “sheer energy cannot help but lift the spirits and bring optimism for the year ahead”. In 2015, Georgia Barnes’s “genre-hopping” debut seemed a bit too “clever-clever”, and didn’t quite take off. But this “charming and inventive” second coming is the real deal: house-influenced electronic pop that is “straightforward but always interesting”, and a vocal delivery that is pure, soulful and unaffected. Barnes is the daughter of Neil Barnes of the venerable electronic duo Leftfield, said Ludovic Hunter-Tilney in the FT. Her “fine” album bears the imprint of dance music from the late 1980s and 1990s, yet it is…

Josef Herman at Flowers East Josef Herman (1911-2000) was one of many Jewish artists to find a home in Britain after fleeing anti-Semitic persecution on the Continent. Born in Warsaw, he left Poland in 1938 and ended up in this country via a circuitous route that saw him narrowly escape the advancing German army. Over the following decade, he distinguished himself as a painter of working-class life in his adopted homeland of South Wales, where he created much of his most celebrated work. The best of the paintings in this illuminating show date from this period, and come across as an unholy collision between L.S. Lowry, Max Beckmann and Chaim Soutine. Herman’s scenes veer between the picaresque and the nightmarish, his stout, square-chinned figures (typically miners or dockers) framed against…

About five million of us are currently “on the long trek through dry January”, says Jane MacQuitty in The Times. Fortunately, with so many impressive no- or low-alcohol alternatives available, there has never been a better time to swear off the booze. To fill the alcohol gap, a drink needs a “complex, rewarding, bitter or bittersweet kick”. Seedlip’s Nogroni (£12, 20cl; seedlipdrinks.com) is pretty expensive, but drink it over ice with a twist of orange peel and you really won’t notice that it has no alcohol in it. Another fine option is the “brilliant, verdant” Everleaf aperitif (£16, 50cl; Sainsbury’s); made from 18 botanicals, it’s best served with soda water or tonic. Or try the complex, clove-scented Æcorn Bitter (£17, 50cl; Waitrose), which also provides a “botanical hit”. When it…

● Lacking energy and concentration, or being irritable, are symptoms of tiredness, and could be the result of sleep deprivation, in which case more sleep should solve the problem. But if you don’t feel sleepy during the day, they may be caused by other underlying problems – such as anaemia – and you might want to consult your GP. ● Half an hour of extra sleep a night can make a huge difference, but you may not feel it immediately – it takes time to pay off a “sleep debt”. Try it for a month. If you still feel tired, then look for other causes. ● If you can’t sleep, work on your bedtime routine: avoid large meals, and stimulants – alcohol, nicotine, caffeine – close to bedtime, as well…

Wright’s Food Emporium Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire A “witty and wonderful” deli and restaurant that champions local producers, Wright’s is a much-loved Carmarthenshire institution – and now its owners have opened two self-catering cottages on site, which are ideal for family holidays, says Hattie Garlick in The Sunday Telegraph. The Emporium is in a 19th century coaching inn, but has the atmosphere of a “bohemian country house”. And the cottages – one with two bedrooms, the other with three – have “bright”, airy interiors decorated with posters that were acquired by the owners on their “gastronomic adventures” around Europe. Cottages from £190 per night at weekends; wrightsfood.co.uk.…

Sir Roger Scruton 1944-2020 Sir Roger Scruton, who has died aged 75, was one of “the most contentious figures in British public life” –and in his own estimation, the country’s “favourite token reactionary”, said The Daily Telegraph. A conservative philosopher and commentator, he was devoted to high culture; he believed in tradition and social stability; played the organ in his local Anglican church; and was an “enthusiastic fox hunter”. Scruton was often mistaken by his left-wing critics for a Tory toff, said The Times. In fact, he was brought up in apebble-dashed semi in Buckinghamshire, the grandson of a labourer. His father was a socialist primary school teacher who thought Beatrix Potter unbearably bourgeois; his mother, however, cherished the ideals of “gentlemanly conduct and social distinction”. Precociously bright, Roger won…

President Trump signed the first phase of a new trade agreement with China at the White House, easing two years of tension between the two economic superpowers. The deal commits China to buying an extra $200bn of US goods and services over the next two years, but it leaves in place the $360bn tranche of tariffs that the US has already imposed on Chinese goods. Wall Street responded strongly: the Dow Jones hit another all-time high. Elsewhere, traders were more sceptical. The FTSE 100, however, reflected fears that the reluctance to remove tariffs suggested limited progress on getting phase 2 of the deal agreed this year. In Britain, the CPI inflation rate fell to 1.3% in December, its lowest in more than three years and well below the BoE’s 2%…

● A deal at last Expectations for a US/ China trade deal “have buoyed global markets in recent weeks”, said Callum Jones in The Times. Finally, the two superpowers have taken “the long-awaited first step towards formally resolving their bitter economic dispute”. On Wednesday, officials from Beijing and the Trump administration were due to sign a so-called phase one agreement – hailed as a “huge step forward” in relations by the US chief trade negotiator Robert Lighthizer. Under the terms of the deal, China is expected to increase its purchase of US manufactured goods, according to Reuters. There was good news for farmers in Trump’s voting heartlands too. The Chinese have agreed to buy more US agricultural products, to the value of $32bn, over two years. ● Red-hot renminbi Since…

Jamie Oliver Creditors of Jamie Oliver’s failed Italian restaurant chain are “set to lose most of the £80m they are owed”, according to administrator KPMG. But there’s no holding back the celebrity chef, said Rebecca Ratcliffe in The Observer. His UK empire may be in tatters, but Oliver is “having another crack” at building a restaurant chain – this time across southeast Asia. The Bangkok branch of Jamie Oliver Kitchen is one of the largest to get a rebrand “from Italian restaurant to world fusion hub”, and there’s a similar move afoot in Bali. In all, some 19 new openings are planned this year to supplement the 70 restaurants across 27 markets that the group already operates. The “Naked Chef” may be stewing at home, but he’s still steaming internationally.…

Controversy of the week Life after Corbyn The race to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader isn’t quite going to plan, said The Times. Labour’s left, which has a tight grip on the party, was supposedly all in favour of the 40-year-old shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey – the “continuity Corbyn” candidate. Yet her campaign has faltered, marred by a series of clumsy statements and interview gaffes. She claimed to have witnessed the deep distress of her father – a docker – at the closure of the Salford docks though she was only two at the time. She was ridiculed for claiming that she went into acareer in commercial law in order to “give something back” to the community. And asked to appraise Corbyn’s leadership, she uncritically awarded it –…

The BBC, which lost its equal pay dispute with presenter Samira Ahmed. An employment tribunal ruled that Ahmed’s work on Newswatch was “broadly similar” to that of Jeremy Vine’s on Points of View, and so there should have been pay parity between them. In fact, the BBC paid Vine six times more per episode. Greggs, which was forced to close its only branch in Cornwall, apparently because locals were not impressed by the baker’s pasties. Greggs, which has 1,950 branches nationwide, opened its Cornish outpost at a service station in Saltash in 2018. Bafta, with news that it is reviewing its voting process in response to criticism about the lack of diversity among this year’s nominees. There are no women on the shortlist for best director, and all the people…

Paris Director arrested: The French film director Christophe Ruggia was arrested this week on suspicion of sexually assaulting a well-known French actress in the early 2000s. Adèle Haenel, who is now 31, was 12 when she made her screen debut in Ruggia’s 2002 film Les Diables (The Devils). She alleges that Ruggia became obsessed with her during filming, and later molested her while professing his love. Haenel, who stopped acting for five years after making the film, went to the police in November, saying she’d been inspired to speak out after watching the documentary Leaving Neverland, which explored Michael Jackson’s abuse of children. Madrid Marriage course: The Catholic Church in Spain is to put engaged couples on marriage guidance courses lasting two to three years, in an attempt to bring…

“I have a feeling we will look back on this time as the age of banging on too much to our children. I’m constantly ‘momsplaining’ to them, picking apart every action. Not just, ‘Oh, look! A robin!’, but endless parsing of their motivation, and policing any signs of failure to follow through or be happy. On and on Igo, with a life lesson attached to every small thing. No period of quiet reflection is permitted. A year ago, I started banging on about something to do with how people believe different things and that’s OK. After listening to me patiently for a few moments, my four-year-old put her hand kindly on my arm. ‘Let’s talk about it later,’ she said.” Emma Brockes in The Guardian…

Scotland was among the first countries in Europe to describe itself as a nation. It has occupied its current borders, more or less, since the mid-13th century, by which time it had national institutions – a Parliament first noted in 1235 – and a distinctive national culture. The wars with England now known as the wars of independence, which ended at Bannockburn in 1314, settled the question. The Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 confirmed that it was a sovereign state which would replace any king that didn’t respect its status. In 1603, the Union of the Crowns united Scotland and England under James VI and I. Full political union came a century later, in 1707, creating Great Britain, when a cash-strapped Scottish state acceded to the demand that it join…

Why the American Right loves Putin Anne Applebaum The Atlantic Russia has long exerted a strange attraction for alienated Westerners, says Anne Applebaum. A century ago, intellectuals such as George Bernard Shaw praised the Soviet utopia, blind to the brutal realities of Stalinism. Today, curiously, it’s American right-wing nationalists who are looking to Russia. Disgusted by multiculturalism, the decline of religion and what they see as the “degeneracy” of US society, some conservatives and evangelicals now see in Vladimir Putin’s country “the shimmering lure” of a unified, homogenous nation that has resisted change and political correctness. Patrick Buchanan, the “godfather of the modern, so-called alt-right”, has lavished praise on Putin, citing his promotion of Orthodox Christianity, anti-gay policies and “traditional values”. Fox News host Tucker Carlson even said he was…

Sales of meat substitutes grew by 18% in the UK last year. These products may well be better for the planet than real red meat – but that does not mean they are good for human health. In a briefing note, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics has pointed out that many meat alternatives are highly processed and contain a lot of salt. For example, both Beyond Burger (which is available in the UK) and Impossible Burger (currently only sold in the US) contain “similar levels of calories and saturated fat as beef burgers, and have much higher levels of sodium and iron”. And as many buyers of these products are not vegetarian, they could be eating them as well as meat patties, and so getting double doses of fat and…

The storm gusting through Belfast on Monday “could not dampen the cheer onthe steps of Stormont”, said Rory Carroll in The Guardian. The usually stern-faced first minister, Arlene Foster, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, smiled and joked with Boris Johnson, as she posed with the PM and herSinn Féin deputy Michelle O’Neill outside the newly revived Northern Irish assembly. After three years of “zombie” politics, Northern Ireland finally has its own government again. The new deal “broke a bitter stalemate” dating from January 2017, when Sinn Féin withdrew from the power-sharing government, accusing the DUP of arrogance, bad faith and sleaze (over the “cash for ash” scandal, a failed renewable energy scheme that cost the public £500m). Since then, relations between the two parties have been “toxic”, contaminated by…

Football: the Merseyside miracle “That’s utterly nuts,” Gary Lineker tweeted after Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Tottenham last Saturday. The ex-England striker was referring to the latest record sent tumbling by Jürgen Klopp’s team. Of the 21 Premier League matches the Reds have played this season, they have won 20 and drawn one: no other club in the history of English top-flight football has ever started acampaign so successfully. It’s also afeat unmatched in Europe’s other four top leagues, said Sam Wallace inThe Daily Telegraph: not in France, Germany, Italy or Spain has a club ever taken 61 points from their first 21 games. Liverpool’s last loss in the Premier League was to Manchester City, just over a year ago; they are now unbeaten in 38 matches. It seems distinctly possible…

Reform the CAP To The Daily Telegraph My family partnership owns a 650-acre farm in Fife. I agree with Juliet Samuel that the Common Agricultural Policy should be radically reformed, if not gradually phased out. The CAP was introduced to provide income support to small farms on the continent, especially in France. It was, and remains, a social welfare policy. Since it was adopted in Britain it has harmed farming in general, while enabling relatively few farmers to become richer. Almost 80% of the subsidy has been paid to about 20% of farmers, many of whom did not need such support and invested the money in more land to increase subsidy income. This pushed up land prices, making it very hard for young people to start farming. There is no…

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid Bloomsbury Circus 320pp £12.99 The Week Bookshop £10.99 This “standout” debut opens with a “flawlessly paced” set piece in which a young black nanny arouses suspicion in an upmarket Philadelphia supermarket, said Hephzibah Anderson in The Observer. But such “straightforward” racism isn’t the novel’s real focus. Instead, Reid’s target is the “altogether more slippery” prejudice of which many white liberals are unknowingly guilty. Emira (the babysitter) works for Alix, a white lifestyle guru who prides herself on having black friends, and decides to make a project of her young employee, said Hattie Crisell in The Times. Her other “white admirer” is boyfriend Kelley – who makes a point of dating “women of colour”, and dispenses unsolicited advice about how Emira should deal with…

At the age of seven, Mikail Akar is being hailed in the German press as the “mini Picasso”, says Oliver Moody in The Times. His expressionist paintings, “whose bold lines and sultry hues remind critics of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Joan Miró”, fetch up to s15,000. This year his work will be shown in Paris, Doha and Hong Kong. Mikail grew up on a street full of galleries in Cologne and, according to his father Kerem, would “stand stock still in front of them”, gazing at the pictures. In 2017, Kerem came home and found a vivid, fresh abstract painting in his flat. He assumed his wife had painted it; in fact, it was the work of their son, then four. Kerem posted the picture on Facebook, and within hours, strangers…

Kirsty tells Philip about her spat with Gavin, who later calls to apologise. After reading the consultant’s report, Lynda and Jolene want to change The Bull’s name, much to Kenton’s horror. Pip has a visit from Justin, who advises her to make up with Phoebe. Alistair and Jazzer eventually tell Jim that Harold Jayston has died. Jim gets upset and later confesses that Jayston’s death has left him angry: now he can never confront his abuser. Josh finally returns from holiday; at Ruth’s insistence he talks to the police and later reports the matter of the digger is now sorted. There’s trouble at Berrow Farm as the pigs are tail-biting again, putting Neil under pressure. Jim takes out his anger on the builders, who walk off the job. After the…

What Car? By the standards of compact SUVs, Škoda’s new Kamiq is actually quite big. But does it bring anything else to the table, to set it apart from the likes of the Seat Arona, the VW T-Cross, the Renault Captur and the Nissan Juke? Its design isn’t particularly adventurous, but it is “classier” inside than some of its competitors, and it is decent to drive. All in all, it has the potential to “shake up” the small SUV class. Auto Express Škoda may be the VW group’s “budget brand”, but the Kamiq feels anything but budget inside. It’s very well built, and the standard-fit part-suede fabric seats “look and feel plush”. There’s also a “super-sharp” touchscreen satnav, and virtual cockpit dials. Most usefully, the car’s length means there is…

Weaving together stories about culture, food and politics, The Trip by Roads & Kingdoms – originally created by Anthony Bourdain – introduces you to exceptional people around the world (roadsandkingdoms.com). Mandela Leola van Eeden, the host of The Trail Less Travelled, travels to remote locations and asks local people to share their stories (traillesstraveled.net). More of an “audio magazine”, Wander Woman, by travel journalist Phoebe Smith, combines travel tips with descriptions of the places she goes and the people she meets (wanderwoman.buzzsprout.com). Zero to Travel is for those in search of a long-term adventure. Jason Moore explains how to hit the road and become a nomad (zerototravel.com). Travelling with children can be a challenge. Produced by two travel bloggers, Vacation Mavens (vacationmavens.com) has tips, ideas and information to make it…

The roof of the world by road Crossing the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the Pamir Highway once formed part of the Silk Road, and was later a major Soviet supply route. It fell into disrepair after the collapse of the USSR, and is now a slow and bone-shaking – but still breathtaking – drive, says Megan Eaves in The Independent. Starting in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, you might allow a fortnight to get to Osh in Kyrgyzstan. The towns along the way are small and lonely, with only “basic” accommodation, and the route sometimes disappears among open fields. But the scenery is “stunning”. You take in high mountain peaks, the “ethereal” Lake Karakul, and the “moon-dry” Ak-Baital Pass, which rises to 4,655 metres – making this the world’s…

Elizabeth Wurtzel 1967-2020 At the age of 26, Elizabeth Wurtzel burst into the public eye with Prozac Nation (1994), said The Times –a “freewheeling”, and “eye-bulgingly frank” account of her experience of mental illness. She had first felt the deadweight of depression at ten, and took an overdose at 11; she began self-harming at 12, and “self-medicating” at 13. At Harvard, her illness made her “hyper-sexual”, she said: the archetypal “hot mess”, she took drugs, threw a party to celebrate losing her virginity, and delighted in seducing other people’s boyfriends. In her author’s note, Wurtzel said that some names had been changed: “Otherwise, unfortunately for me, every detail is accurate.” The book appalled and delighted the critics, said Nosheen Iqbal in The Observer. Some found it self-aggrandising and navel-gazing; others…

Shares in Alphabet, as Google now calls itself, have gained 36% since the start of 2019 – ensuring that the company is shaping up “to become the fourth of the US big tech firms to reach a stock market capitalisation of $1trn”, says Nils Pratley in The Guardian – after Apple, Microsoft and Amazon. Compare Google’s new price tag with what it has paid out to settle “old legal battles”. In total, the EU has fined Google about s8bn for anti-competitive practices over the years. That’s “a stunning sum in itself”, but when “versus $1trn in corporate worth”, it looks “almost lost in the wash”. A pity that regulators can’t just “add a zero to their penalties to deter monopolist behaviour”.…

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas did not disappoint, said Patrick McGee in the FT. “Ivanka Trump, air taxis and superwide high-definition TV screens” all took centre-stage. But it was the “deluge” of connected devices that drew most attention. “If the futurists have their way, the internet of things will penetrate every room in the household.” In the bathroom Köhler demonstrated how an Alexa-equipped speaker could be mounted inside its Moxie shower-head – enabling consumers to “shop, get the news or stream music”. And the $120 HiMirror promises “to detect wrinkles, dark spots and pores… and then recommends personalised skin creams to scrub them out”. In the bedroom Phillips showed a $200 “relief band” which uses “subtle vibrations” to prevent you from “turning into a supine position associated…

The week’s best shares Barkby Group The Mail on Sunday Barkby has a diverse portfolio of businesses – including pubs, coffee, and a profitable commercial property firm with a robust project pipeline. It has a “highly experienced board”, and shares could be “exciting”. Buy. 29p. Bioventix The Daily Telegraph Bioventix makes sheep antibodies used for blood tests and, thanks to contracts with testing-machine firms, enjoys “near certainty” of revenues. Cash-generative, with no debt, high returns on capital and rising margins. Buy. £33.10. Legal & General Group The Share Centre The insurer and investment manager looks poised to benefit from growing demand for pensions, protection and savings plans. Profits are up 11% thanks to growth in the retirement business. Yields over 5%. Buy. 306.9p. Next Investors Chronicle The clothing and homeware…

In 1940, four teenage boys stumbled, almost literally, from German-occupied France into the Palaeolithic Age. As the story goes, they had been taking a walk in the woods near the town of Montignac when the dog accompanying them suddenly disappeared. A quick search revealed that the animal had fallen into ahole in the ground, so – in the spirit of Tintin, with whom they were probably familiar – the boys made the perilous 50ft descent down to find it. They found the dog and much more, especially on return visits illuminated with paraffin lamps. The hole led to a cave, the walls and ceilings of which were covered with brightly coloured paintings of animals unknown to the 20th century Dordogne – bison, aurochs, lions. One of the boys, an apprentice…

Quorn is to become the first major brand to add “carbon labelling” to its products. Designed to help consumers understand the environmental impact of their shopping, the carbon labelling data is certified by the Carbon Trust, and will begin to appear on Quorn products from June. In another high street first, John Lewis has opened a make-up counter for men. The counter in the menswear section of its flagship Oxford Street branch sells foundation, bronzer and powder brushes, with an £18 pot of concealer proving the best seller. It is intended as a temporary pop-up run by make-up brand War Paint for Men, but the store has suggested that sales have been so brisk, it could be rolled out elsewhere.…

Police and social workers in Manchester knew children in care were facing serious abuse in the early 2000s “but did not protect them”, a new report has found. Operation Augusta, an investigation into “the sexual exploitation of children in the care system by predominantly Asian men”, was launched by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) following the death of 15-year-old Victoria Agoglia in 2003. The inquiry identified at least 57 potential victims and 97 suspects – but was then closed down. Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester’s mayor, who commissioned the new report, said it was appalling that most of the abusers had escaped justice. GMP is reviewing the cases covered in the report and has referred itself to the police watchdog.…

Washington DC Trump trial: The House of Representatives was due to vote on Wednesday to send its impeachment charges against President Trump to the Senate, paving the way for the long-awaited Senate trial to begin within days. Trump was impeached by the Democrat-controlled House last month. The announcement of the vote, by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, put an end to a month-long stand-off over how and when the trial would proceed. According to press reports, the trial is likely to begin in the coming week, once both sides have prepared their arguments, but could be delayed until around 28 January. The Senate has yet to decide if it will hear testimony from witnesses, oradmit documents into evidence, factors that would affect its length. Whatever happens, Trump’s fellow Republicans – who…

1 I Want You Back by Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell and Deke Richards, performed by The Jackson 5 2* Old Days by James Pankow, performed by Chicago 3 Stairway to Heaven by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, performed by Led Zeppelin 4 Barcelona by Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran, performed by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé 5 Romeo and Juliet by Mark Knopfler, performed by Dire Straits 6 Losing My Religion, written and performed by R.E.M. 7 Better Man by Eddie Vedder, performed by Pearl Jam 8 Rollercoaster by Jack Antonoff, performed by Bleachers Book: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole Luxury: a photo album * Choice if allowed only one record…

Why Labour’s future lies in Preston Phil Jones The Guardian If Labour is to win the next election, it could do worse than study some key seats it won in the last one, says Phil Jones. Preston, for example. This Leave-voting, post-industrial, northern seat is like many others that formed Labour’s now-destroyed “red wall”: yet the party held it comfortably. Why? Largely thanks to a radical experiment launched in 2011 by its council. By directing local government contracts to local businesses and worker co-ops, and by cultivating civic involvement in public planning initiatives, it managed to counter the ravages of austerity. Indeed, Preston’s exercise in community wealth building has done wonders for the local economy and, in turn, for levels of local support for Labour. The lesson here is that…

Neglect causes brain shrinkage Severe neglect in childhood has a lasting impact on the structure ofthe brain, a study has suggested. Under the Ceausescu regime in Romania, unwanted children were housed in notoriously brutal orphanages where they were malnourished and starved of social contact. Many went on to suffer cognitive and mental health problems in later childhood and adulthood, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders; they also had lower-than-average IQs. Now, researchers have found evidence that these difficulties were rooted in structural brain changes that resulted from the deprivation they experienced. A team from King’s College London scanned the brains of 67 adults, aged between 23and 28, who spent time in Romanian orphanages in the 1980s before being adopted byUK families. They also scanned 21 adults…

As the Queen acknowledged in her Christmas Day broadcast, 2019 was “bumpy” for the royal family. But 2020 is already set to be more turbulent. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s announcement last week that they want toresign from their roles as “senior royals” triggered a worldwide media frenzy. But the “surprise came in the manner and timing of the announcement, not its content”, said The Observer. Since leaving the Army, Harry had dropped heavy hints about his frustration with his role as the royal “spare” – and the press intrusion that goes with it. And his unhappiness and irritation had only grown more palpable. Shortly after he and Meghan Markle became a couple in 2016, Kensington Palace issued a statement urging the media to curb its harassment, referring to…

What a difference an election victory makes, said The Economist. Last week, Parliament resumed consideration of the endlessly contested EU withdrawal bill, but this time the “huge Tory majority made the debate and votes perfunctory”. Nothing now stands in the way of Britain formally leaving the EU on 31 January. Boris Johnson “hopes then to drop the very word Brexit, arguing that trade talks will be technical stuff more suited to business than front pages”. But the Prime Minister is not out of the woods yet. We’re now entering phase two of the Brexit process, the 11-month transition period during which we’ll remain subject to EU rules while the two sides thrash out a final deal on not just trade, but standards, security, fisheries, financial services, research and much else.…

Exeter Chiefs clinched a quarter-final berth in the European Rugby Champions Cup last weekend, despite being held to a “titanic” 31-31 draw by Glasgow Warriors, said Tom English on BBC Sport. With one round of qualifying matches still to play, Exeter have an unassailable lead in Pool 2, ten points ahead of second-placed Glasgow, whose chances of reaching the last eight are “dangling by a thread”. No other English team has so far qualified, though Northampton, Saracens and Gloucester – currently all second in their pools – could join the Chiefs if they deliver strong showings in their final matches. Instead, it is French clubs who have impressed most this tournament, said Robert Kitson in The Guardian: Clermont Auvergne, Racing 92 and Toulouse all top their groups. That’s a worry…

To The Times It is right that we listen to the victims of the Soviet regime, not President Putin, when it comes to the Second World War (“Putin still peddles Stalin’s version of history”), and we must question the USSR’s status as liberator. With the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, this “liberator” sparked the War and a double totalitarian invasion of Poland. It ushered in an era of brutal repression in Eastern Europe. The Soviets attacked Poland unprovoked, killing at least 150,000 Poles, torturing political leaders, raping women and deporting (between 1939 and 1941 alone), about 1.7 million people to Siberian slave camps. Although the Red Army freed Auschwitz prisoners in January 1945, the USSR is not a liberator of Poland. It entered Warsaw only after the retreating German forces had destroyed 85%…

It was the success of their show The Play That Goes Wrong that took Mischief Theatre – a group of drama school chums – from a pub theatre to the West End and Broadway. And anyone who’s seen that play will know what to expect from their latest, “gloriously silly” outing, said Dominic Maxwell in The Times. “It’s a magic show. It starts going wrong. And it keeps going wrong, for more than two hours.” That’s it. There really is nothing to the show beyond the simple joys of complex cock-ups: a bungling illusionist who keeps killing his doves; a hapless mind-reader waging war against his set; a stunt magician who gets progressively more injured. Yet within the limits of this premise, “the level of invention and precision of the…

Homeland by Fernando Aramburu, 2019 (Picador £16.99). The story of two families torn apart by ideology and terrorism in the Basque Country, told by one of Spain’s most recognised novelists. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra, 2013 (Vintage £9.99). A strange and fascinating first novel whose protagonist, Havaa, is a young girl in a village in Chechnya, hidden away by a neighbour after the police burn her house and take her father. It’s a brutal story, narrated in beautiful language with irony and compassion. Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli, 2019 (Fourth Estate £16.99). A tour de force about marriage, family and refugees. A family of four makes a road trip from New York to the Mexican border, where the mother intends to document migrant children in detention…

Programmes Diamond Dealers and Cockney Geezers A cheery look behind the scenes at Trotters Jewellers in Bethnal Green, a family-run business selling bling to footballers, boxers and regular Londoners. Mon 20 Jan, C4 22:00 (65mins). Chris Packham: 7.7 Billion People and Counting The naturalist investigates the impact of rapid population growth on the planet. Tue 21 Jan, BBC2 21:00 (60mins). Travels In Euroland with Ed Balls The former MP sets off across Europe to explore national identity and the rise of populism. First up: Holland and Spain. Thur 23 Jan, BBC2 21:00 (60mins). Inside the Crown: Secrets of the Royals Four-part series telling the story of the Queen’s 67-year reign, with archive footage and contributions from historians and royal insiders. Thur 23 Jan, ITV1 21:00 (60mins). Decadence and Downfall: The…

Monkfish and coconut curry Serves 2 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 large onion, finely diced 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2.5cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated 1 long red chilli, finely sliced (with seeds) a handful of curry leaves 1 heaped tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp ground coriander 2 medium tomatoes, diced 400ml fresh vegetable stock 50g red lentils 400g monkfish fillets 100g green beans 100ml tinned coconut milk 2 tbsp roughly chopped coriander leaves sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • Heat the oil in a large non-stick sauté pan over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes or until softened and starting to brown. • Add the garlic, ginger and chilli and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the curry…

Garmin Index Smart Scale This sleek smart-scale can be connected to a Garmin app to track the weight, BMI, body fat, muscle mass and bone mass of up to 16 users (£149.99; garmin.com). Salter Doctor Style Mechanical Bathroom Scales If you would prefer to stick to a mechanical scale, this retro-looking Salter model goes up to 150kg and comes with a 15-year guarantee (£35; salterhousewares. co.uk). Argos Home Bamboo Digital Bathroom Scales This simple bamboo scale is at the budget end of the market, and might be a good option if you find the more modern-looking digital scales unappealing (£15; argos.co.uk). Salter Ultra Slim Glass Analyser Like more advanced smart scales, this good value scale can determine your BMI and levels of body fat by passing a small electrical current…

Four-star stay in Malta Offering spectacular views, The Ramla Bay Resort sits on its own private beach. A 5-night stay costs from £292pp all-inclusive, including flights. 020-3897 1152, loveholidays. com. Depart 4March. First-class Reykjavík b&b Spend four nights at the Grand Hótel Reykjavik – with the sea nearby, it’s ideal for coastal walks. From £460pp b&b, including Glasgow flights. 020-8974 7200, travelrepublic.co. uk. Depart 20 February. A week in Mexico Stay at the adults-only Tui Blue El Dorado Seaside Suites, situated on a peaceful beach, from £1,340pp all-inclusive, including Manchester flights. 020-3636 1931, tui.co.uk. Depart 29 March. Indian Ocean cruise Enjoy 25 nights aboard MSC Orchestra, with stops in Réunion, Mauritius, Seychelles and ending in Venice, from £1,149pp full-board. 0808-256 6114, cruiseclubuk.com. Depart 18 April, from Durban.…

Business must up its game in No. 10 Daniel Thomas Financial Times The civil service is looking for someone “to act as a key point of contact” between the Government and British boardrooms, says Daniel Thomas in the FT. And if recent skirmishes over the shape of a post-Brexit deal are anything to go by, “a thick skin might be useful for the role”. The PM’s determination to avoid a “softer” Brexit is not what most businesses want to hear, and risks exacerbating already strained relations. Business groups have kept silent over the Brexit talks, but if companies are to have any influence over Downing Street, corporate leaders “will need to find their voices again in this honeymoon period – if only to help create domestic policy strong enough to…