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“Crazytown”: MelB’s PLOUUGGHHIINNG inside Trump’s terrifying FORVVIICCTTOORYRY WhiteHouse marriage LAST WORD P58 TALKINGPOINTS PEOPLE P12 P23 THEWEEK 15 DECEMBER 2018 |ISSUE 1206 |£3.80 THE BESTOFTHE BRITISH AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA TheTorymutiny Mayonthe brink Page6 ALL YOUNEED TO KNOWABOUT EVERYTHING THATMATTERS theweek.co.uk When a hashtag can start a trade war, how might you invest? The rise of trade protectionism is a challenge for investors. But for the forward-thinking, every new trade tariff can become an opportunity. As a large global investment provider, Invesco offers nearly 100 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) – providing a wide choice of core and innovative investment exposures. So whatever your view, we’ve got the big picture covered. Visit etf.invesco.com/opportunity Your capital is at risk. You may not get back the amount you invested. Issued by Invesco UK Services Limited and Invesco Asset Management Limited, both registered at Perpetual Park, Perpetual Park Drive, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1HH, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. ETFs from Invesco See all the opportunities Phyllium Phyllium is a leaf insect often found in Southeast Asia. Keep wondering what the heck that is. Search what you see with help from For available Google Lens languages go to g.co/help/lens. Requires internet connection. 6 NEWS The main stories… What happened What the editorials said May’s last stand “What ashambles,” said The Daily Telegraph. Tuesday was set to be amoment of truth for Brexit, yet once again May Tory MPs triggered avote of confidence “decided to delay matters in the hope that in Theresa May’s leadership this week, something will turn up, Micawber-style”. adding to the sense of chaos engulfing The Government looks adrift and her premiership and her Brexit deal. powerless. The PM is playing for time, The chairman of the 1922 Committee of hoping that delaying the vote until closer Conservative backbenchers, Graham Brady, to the 29 March exit deadline will “spook” revealed on Wednesday that he had received colleagues into accepting her deal, said The the requisite 48 letters –representing 15% Times. This is adangerous gamble, as it of Tory MPs –calling for such ameasure. significantly increases the chances of an The move came two days after the “accidental no deal” outcome. Those Prime Minister belatedly called off acrunch yearning for aclean break from the EU Commons vote on her Brexit plan, admitting have always known that their best chance to MPs that it faced defeat by a“significant The PM with Angela Merkel in Berlin of achieving it is “to run down the clock”. margin”. She was jeered as she said she had listened to the “widespread and deep concern” about the deal. May’s tactics throughout the Brexit process have been “based on her own self-interest and that of her party, rather than the After pulling the vote, May embarked on awhistle-stop tour country”, said The Guardian. She only has herself to blame of European capitals to plead for help in salvaging her Brexit for the current mess. On the contrary, said the Daily Mail, plan. EU leaders indicated that they would be prepared to May has worked tirelessly to achieve “an honourable Brexit offer some assurances and clarifications about how they compromise” that the country can unite behind. The blame would interpret the withdrawal treaty, but ruled out further lies with Tory rebels, who, with their endless wrecking tactics negotiations on the deal itself. May promised to hold avote and backbiting (see page 8), risk ushering Jeremy Corbyn into by 21 January, which is alittle more than two months before No. 10. Compared to the threat aCorbyn-led government the UK is due to leave the EU under the terms of Article 50. would pose to our prosperity, “Brexit is amere sideshow”. What happened What the editorials said China’s hi-tech espionage Prepare for a“spectacular legal confrontation”, said The Chicago Tribune. Meng’s arrest is about much more than China and the US were on acollision course the possible violation of trade sanctions. For this week as adiplomatic row intensified over one thing, she’s no ordinary businesswoman: the arrest of asenior executive of the Chinese she’s the daughter of the company’s founder, telecoms giant Huawei. Beijing demanded the Ren Zhengfei, aformer People’s Liberation Army immediate release of Meng Wanzhou, the officer with close ties to Beijing. More importantly, company’s 46-year-old chief financial officer, Huawei has long been atarget of Western held in Canada at the request of the US, which suspicions, notably over its role in building new is seeking her extradition. Meng, who was 5G telecoms networks around the world. The arrested two weeks ago during astopover at risks are all too real, said The Globe and Mail Vancouver airport, is accused of breaching (Toronto). If unchecked, Huawei is likely to use US trade sanctions on Iran and could face its technology for industrial espionage and to 30 years in jail if convicted. Beijing accused the set up cyberattacks. Anew Cold War with China US of “despicable hooliganism” and in atit-for- looms: this affair could be its first salvo. tat move has ordered the detention of aformer Meng’s arrest: an act of Canadian diplomat in China. “despicable hooliganism”? At the very least, the affair is sure to inflame existing US-China trade tensions –and just In abid to defuse tensions, President Trump announced that when detente looked possible, said the FT. After meeting he was ready to intervene in the Meng case if it would help China’s President Xi this month, President Trump delayed close atrade deal with China. Fears that the row would the imposition of steep tariffs on Chinese imports for 90 days, aggravate the US-China trade war had prompted asteep fall to allow for negotiations on atrade deal. After Meng’s arrest, in share prices around the world. that “deadline for progress looks like atime bomb”. It wasn’t all bad The world’s oldest ABritish solo yachtswoman known wild bird, taking part in around-the-world Paramedics in London and aLaysan albatross race was dramatically rescued Surrey have been finding named Wisdom, last week in the Southern mysterious envelopes on their looks set to become Ocean, 50 hours after her mast ambulances containing thank amother again at broke in astorm. Susie Goodall, you cards, and up to £10 in cash the age of 68. For 29, was in fourth place 157 days or vouchers for “coffee and the nesting season, into the Golden Globe race doughnuts”. The “professional- Wisdom has returned when her yacht flipped over, looking” cards, some found to the Midway Atoll 2,000 miles off Cape Horn. Her outside the Royal Surrey wildlife refuge, atiny distress signal was picked up by Hospital in Guildford, have US island territory in the coastguard in Cornwall, and come in clear envelopes marked the middle of the a40,000-tonne cargo ship going “documents enclosed”. London Pacific, where she was born. Should her latest egg with her mate, from China to Argentina went to Ambulance Service said the Akeakamai, hatch and take to the sea, it will be her 37th chick, say her rescue. Goodall was pulled cards were among 300 notes US officials. Albatrosses are known for their long lifespans, and out of the sea on alarge hook, RILEY/USFWS and letters of thanks sent to its often outlive their researchers; Chandler Robbins, the biologist and should reach dry land just staff by the public each month. who first banded Wisdom, in 1956, died last year aged 98. before Christmas. ADALYN ©M COVER CARTOON: HOWARD MCWILLIAM THE WEEK 15 December 2018 …and how they were covered NEWS 7 What the commentators said What next? “It’s not foolish to run from afight you are about to lose,” said Robert Shrimsley in the FT. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon But if you don’t have anywhere to run to, you’re only putting off the inevitable. May bought and more than 30 Labour herself alittle time by cancelling the Brexit vote and promising to seek new assurances from MPs urged Jeremy Corbyn EU leaders. But there’s no chance of her securing the sort of fundamental treaty changes this week to call avote of demanded by Tory rebels and the DUP, who regard the Irish backstop as a“constitutional no confidence in the trap from which the UK cannot unilaterally escape”. It’s not going to happen, agreed Government as awhole. Such George Eaton in the New Statesman. Tory Brexiters talk of imposing atime limit or avote would stand no chance conditions on the backstop, but that’s “oxymoronic”. As an insurance policy guaranteeing of passing, says Stephen Bush asoft border in Ireland, the backstop is “indefinite and unconditional or it is nothing”. in the New Statesman. The move was just abid to With Parliament deadlocked, people are increasingly coming round to the idea that a “accelerate the evolution of second referendum is likely, said Katy Balls in The Spectator. The Vote Leave mastermind Labour’s position” by ruling Dominic Cummings has previously said his team would reform in the event of such avote, out the option of an early and the separate Leave Means Leave organisation is already raising money and devising general election, thereby possible campaign slogans. An early candidate: “Tell them again.” Those pushing for a forcing Corbyn to throw second vote need to ask themselves whether they’re “confident Remain would win in the his support behind asecond face of aLeave campaign based on an anti-establishment betrayal narrative”. referendum.