High pressures squeeze and crush, but low pressures damage too. Losing the atom-level buzz that keeps us held safe in the balance of internal and external pressure releases dangerous storms, disorientation and pain, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
The criminals at Goldman Sachs
The bank is known as the Giant Vampire Squid of capitalism for the way it sucks money out of the system. Now one of their former south-east Asia chairmen, Tim Leissner, is admitting criminal conduct, says SOLOMON HUGHES
TIP OF THE ICEBERG: Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, centre, leaves Kuala Lumpur High Court on December 12
[Quantumquark/Creative Commons] 
EDMUND GRIFFITHS makes a robust defence of sortition, the chosen method of picking attendees for the new left party’s inaugural conference from the membership at random, but sounds the alarm on the eye-watering number of suggested delegates
The NEU kept children and teachers safe during the pandemic, yet we are disgracefully slandered by the politicians who have truly failed our children by not funding a proper education recovery programme — here’s what is needed, explains KEVIN COURTNEY
The appalling bigotry and bias of London’s police force has been obvious for years – and the police leadership does not appear inclined to do anything about it, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE
As Holyrood elections approach, BRIAN LEISHMAN MP argues that Labour’s time has come — to open a new chapter which puts an end to the years of managed decline
ASSAF TALGAM talks to an Israeli Communist lawmaker about the need to use every tool of democratic and non-violent struggle; how Israeli society has changed since October 7 2023; and the persecution of the left in the parliamentary arena
THE US Department of Justice revealed in November that a senior employee of Goldman Sachs bank was pleading guilty to “conspiring to launder money and conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act” by “paying bribes.”
The Goldman Sachs banker, their former south-east Asia chairman Tim Leissner, said in his plea that “I conspired with other employees and agents of Goldman Sachs very much in line [with the] culture of Goldman Sachs to conceal facts from certain compliance and legal employees of Goldman Sachs.”
It’s a big deal on two levels. First, it’s a big deal financially. Leissner is pleading guilty to bribery and corruption related to Goldman Sachs winning work that made the bank around £474 million in fees. The US prosecutors say Leissner has been personally ordered to hand over £35m “as a result of his crimes.”
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