inews--2020-05-15--Mark Barnett: Invesco fund manager and Neil Woodford protégé ousted from firm after 24 years

Mark Barnett : Invesco fund manager and Neil Woodford protégé ousted from firm after 24 years The departure follows a terrible run of returns and after serious question marks had been raised about investment choices The departure follows a terrible run of investment returns for Mr Barnett and after serious question marks had been raised about some of the fund manager ’ s portfolio choices .
The Income fund Mr Barnett ran at Invesco has slumped by almost 37 per cent this year while the amount of money in the fund has plummeted from £8.3bn to £1.5bn under his tenure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from head of UK equities to co-head last year .
Ryan Hughes , head of active portfolios at AJ Bell , the investment platform , said : “ News that Mark Barnett has left Invesco will perhaps come as little surprise after the last couple years , with performance suffering and questions being asked over the positions taken in the portfolios , particularly around illiquid small caps and unquoted companies .
“ While Invesco would have been hoping that the steps taken to improve performance in recent months would have been sufficient , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break has been decided as the better course of action for both parties.
” In March , Mr Barnett was forced to apologise to investors over the performance of his investments after his multi-billion pound funds were downgraded by Morningstar .
The rating agency had cited deep concerns about Mr Barnett ’ s exposure to smaller and illiquid companies .
Neil Woodford left Invesco to set up his own investment business but his flagship fund was shut to redemptions last year after he could not meet a request to withdraw £200m from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Barnett was Mr Woodford ’ s right-hand man when the now-disgraced fund manager worked at Invesco .
Mr Woodford left to set up his own investment business but his flagship fund was shut to redemptions last year after he could not meet a request to withdraw £200m from a large investor .
The closure resulted in a regulatory crisis and led to the collapse of Woodford ’ s business empire .
Darius McDermott , managing director of Chelsea Financial Services , said : “ We have some sympathy for Mark because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he took over from Neil Woodford – it is very difficult to perform well , if you are constantly having to sell holdings .
“ That being said , he has had five years to make changes and try to turn things around , and the fact that the funds still had legacy holdings in illiquid and unlisted companies has exacerbated his problems.
” Mr Barnett ’ s funds will be taken over by James Goldstone and Ciaran Mallon .
Stephanie Butcher , chief investment officer at Invesco , said : “ After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mutually concluded that this is the right time for him to hand over the leadership of these funds and leave Invesco.
” Barnett said : “ I am extremely proud of my career at Invesco and my long-term track record of value creation for my clients .
I wish James and Ciaran huge success in managing the portfolios in the future .
”

Mark Barnett, the protégé of fallen investment star Neil Woodford and one of Britain’s best-known fund managers, has parted company with Invesco, the asset manager, after 24 years.
The departure follows a terrible run of investment returns for Mr Barnett and comes after serious question marks had been raised about some of the fund manager’s portfolio choices.
The Income fund Mr Barnett ran at Invesco has slumped 37 per cent this year while the amount of money in the fund has plummeted from £8.3bn to £1.5bn under his tenure. Mr Barnett had already been demoted from head of UK equities to co-head last year.
Little surprise over exit
Ryan Hughes, head of active portfolios at AJ Bell, the investment platform, said: “News that Mark Barnett has left Invesco will perhaps come as little surprise after the last couple years, with performance suffering and questions being asked over the positions taken in the portfolios, particularly around illiquid small caps and unquoted companies.
“While Invesco would have been hoping that the steps taken to improve performance in recent months would have been sufficient, it is clear that making a clean break has been decided as the better course of action for both parties.”
In March, Mr Barnett was forced to apologise to investors over the performance of his investments after his multi-billion pound funds were downgraded by Morningstar. The rating agency had cited deep concerns about Mr Barnett’s exposure to smaller and illiquid companies.
Protégé of Neil Woodford
Mr Barnett was Mr Woodford’s right-hand man when the now-disgraced fund manager worked at Invesco. Mr Woodford left to set up his own investment business but his flagship fund was closed to redemptions last year after he could not meet a request to withdraw £200m from a large investor. The closure resulted in a regulatory crisis and led to the demise of Mr Woodford’s business empire.
Darius McDermott, managing director of Chelsea Financial Services, said: “We have some sympathy for Mark because the funds have been in redemption ever since he took over from Neil Woodford – it is very difficult to perform well, if you are constantly having to sell holdings.
Read More Neil Woodford fired as his equity fund is shut down – but customers will wait until January for refunds
“That being said, he has had five years to make changes and try to turn things around, and the fact that the funds still had legacy holdings in illiquid and unlisted companies has exacerbated his problems.”
Mr Barnett’s funds will be taken over by James Goldstone and Ciaran Mallon. Stephanie Butcher, chief investment officer at Invesco, said: “After discussion with Mark Barnett, we have mutually concluded that this is the right time for him to hand over the leadership of these funds and leave Invesco.”
Barnett said: “I am extremely proud of my career at Invesco and my long-term track record of value creation for my clients. I wish James and Ciaran huge success in managing the portfolios in the future.”


inews--2020-05-15--How the live music industry will return, from drive-in concerts to gigs with no fans

How the live music industry will return , from drive-in concerts to gigs with no fans Fans says they will return to live music in sanitised venues - but will the communal gig experience survive the new rules ?
Park your car two metres from the next vehicle and tune in your radio because the band is about to take the stage - but please , no bonnet-diving .
The Summer festival season has been wiped out - nothing is more likely to produce a covid-19 “ second wave ” than thousands of fans , crammed shoulder-to-shoulder in a field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nine out of ten fans who bought tickets to shows still plan on attending rescheduled events and 79 per cent of regular gig-goers expect to be back at shows within four months of restrictions being lifted , an international survey for Live Nation , the world ’ s largest concert promoter , found .
Artists performing at Drive In - Live will sing to an audience of 600 cars , each parked at a recommended distance .
The stage , flanked by three giant screens , is built to a greater height @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-quality sound mix is broadcast through car radios and Live Nation is permitting up to five people in each car at the first shows , at Copenhagen Airport ’ s car park , next week .
Michael Rapino , Live Nation CEO , said : “ We ’ re going to test and roll out , which we ’ re having some success with , fan-less concerts , which have great broadcast opportunities.
” Big-name artists would play shows broadcast on streaming platforms under the plan .
Can Glastonbury be staged safely with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neal/Getty ) Jools Holland told i : “ The only way musicians make money these days is playing gigs and there aren ’ t any .
It ’ s not just my big band members that can ’ t work , it ’ s all the drivers who work with us , the PA company , the piano tuner .
It would be wonderful to get everything back to how it was.
” If large , organised gatherings are going to be last in line as part of a phased re-opening of business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accordingly , the body says .
There is also a risk for the authorities of unlicensed shows catering for young music fans , who are at less risk of serious illness and frustrated at the lack of live options .
One group of musicians , The Sharpville Show , boasts that it is “ the most dangerous band in the world ” after moving in together during lockdown to play social distancing-free concerts , streamed on Facebook .
The Sharpville Show move in together to play live streamed shows after lockdown was announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primarily functions as a collaborative medium involving human beings interacting in person , and as this interaction is currently frowned upon and due to be sidelined for a considerable amount of time , the Sharpville Show have felt it necessary to force the issue.
” '' The world needs a bit of that right now and the live music content we provide online is a kind of medicine for the soul intended to steel people through loneliness.
” However local police in North Norfolk appear less impressed with their house parties and have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a “ potential breach ” of coronavirus restrictions relating to social events .
A-list stars forced off the road may not be prepared to take such drastic action .
But they will take the stage again , insisted Rapino .

Park your car two metres from the next vehicle and tune in your radio because the band is about to take the stage – but please, no bonnet-diving.
Drive-in concerts and shows without any fans will replace the traditional communal experience when the live music industry, worth £900m a year to the UK economy, gets a tentative green light to resume.
The Summer festival season has been wiped out – nothing is more likely to produce a covid-19 “second wave” than thousands of fans, crammed shoulder-to-shoulder in a field, singing along to their favourite hits.
Yet the appetite to see the likes of The Killers, Taylor Swift, Stormzy and Guns N’Roses, whose UK shows bit the dust, remains.
Fans prefer shows to refunds
Nine out of ten fans who bought tickets to shows still plan on attending rescheduled events and 79 per cent of regular gig-goers expect to be back at shows within four months of restrictions being lifted, an international survey for Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter, found.
Denmark is testing a new “safe concert” experience which complies with existing rules.
Artists performing at Drive In – Live will sing to an audience of 600 cars, each parked at a recommended distance. The stage, flanked by three giant screens, is built to a greater height than at a traditional concert.
A high-quality sound mix is broadcast through car radios and Live Nation is permitting up to five people in each car at the first shows, at Copenhagen Airport’s car park, next week.
Michael Rapino, Live Nation CEO, said: “We’re going to test and roll out, which we’re having some success with, fan-less concerts, which have great broadcast opportunities.” Big-name artists would play shows broadcast on streaming platforms under the plan.
Live Nation will also reduce the capacity of concerts, with 2,000 fans enjoying a VIP seated experience on a stadium floor intended for 10,000 people.
Instead of playing the O2 Arena to 18,000 fans, artists could play 10 socially-distanced shows at a large theatre, if they have the staying power to complete a residency.
Performers are desperate to get back on stage. Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra was forced to abandon a European tour and the pianist fears that Covid-19 is destroying musicians’ livelihoods.
Jools Holland told i: “The only way musicians make money these days is playing gigs and there aren’t any. It’s not just my big band members that can’t work, it’s all the drivers who work with us, the PA company, the piano tuner. It would be wonderful to get everything back to how it was.”
Independent music festivals are warning that they might never recover from lockdown unless urgent Government action is taken.
The Association of Independent Festivals, representing events such as Meltdown, Boardmasters and Kendal Calling, said that 92 per cent of member festival businesses could collapse under potential refund requests, if confidence in restaging events safely collapses.
If large, organised gatherings are going to be last in line as part of a phased re-opening of business, ongoing support must also be phased accordingly, the body says.
Bands flouting lockdown
There is also a risk for the authorities of unlicensed shows catering for young music fans, who are at less risk of serious illness and frustrated at the lack of live options.
One group of musicians, The Sharpville Show, boasts that it is “the most dangerous band in the world” after moving in together during lockdown to play social distancing-free concerts, streamed on Facebook.
The blues-based rockers said: “Music primarily functions as a collaborative medium involving human beings interacting in person, and as this interaction is currently frowned upon and due to be sidelined for a considerable amount of time, the Sharpville Show have felt it necessary to force the issue.”
Gigs thrive on proximity
Singer and guitarist Todd Sharpville argued: “Part of the warming effect of watching a band is created by the proximity, the chemistry, the telepathy, and the personalised nature of the interaction.”
“The world needs a bit of that right now and the live music content we provide online is a kind of medicine for the soul intended to steel people through loneliness.”
The Sharpville Show said they convened after “a suitable period of isolation before taking tests for Covid-19, each of which proved negative.”
However local police in North Norfolk appear less impressed with their house parties and have informed the group that they face prosecution for a “potential breach” of coronavirus restrictions relating to social events.
A-list stars forced off the road may not be prepared to take such drastic action. But they will take the stage again, insisted Rapino.
“Since the early days (of humankind), people have been gathering around artists. And we think long after we’re dead, people will gather around artists. It’s a communal, primal need.”
Music fans want access to sanitisers but are less keen on wearing face-masks when live music resumes.
The Ticketmaster/Live Nation survey of 10,000 regular concert attendees found that 85 per cent felt that streamed shows were no substitute for the live experience.
Fans would be confident about returning to shows if venues were better cleaned and offered sufficient hand sanitiser stations. Those were the most important factors for 86 per cent of those surveyed.
Just 21 per cent said wearing masks ought to be required at gigs whilst only 27 per cent wanted standing replaced by all-seated shows.
Full-scale shows ‘return in 2021’
Temperature checks at entrances were welcomed by 32 per cent with social distancing at arrival tolerated by 39 per cent.
Live music was the most likely event to be attended when restrictions life among the 16-50 year olds (91 per cent), outranking cinema (87 per cent), theatre (78 per cent) and sports (75 per cent).
More than 90 per cent of ticketholders said they still planned on attending their show.
Live Nation said it expected to resume staging shows at “full scale” in 2021.


inews--2020-05-15--All the 2020 movies that have changed from cinema releases to online streaming

All the 2020 movies that have changed from cinema releases to online streaming With cinemas closed worldwide , you enjoy new releases from the comfort and safety of your own home Keira Knightly and Gugu Mbatha-Raw star in Missbehaviour ( 2020 ) , a film about the 1970 Miss World competition .
( Picture : Pathé ) Anya Taylor-Joy and Johnny Flynn in the film adaptation of Jane Austen 's 1815 novel , Emma .
( Picture : Focus Features ) The original cinema release of this controversial satirical film , which heavily features firearms , already had to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US last autumn .
And in 2020 , UK cinemas closed just over a week after its theatrical release date , dramatically cutting down its time in the limelight .
Scoob !
is an animated adaptation of the much loved cartoon Scooby Doo .
( Picture : Warner Animation Group ) Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani star as a couple who become unintentionally involved in a murder .
( Picture : Paramount Pictures ) The computer-animated Trolls World Tour was the first film to become available under this new partnership .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other on demand services .

Since the UK lockdown began, more people than ever are now using streaming services for some much needed entertainment.
Where we once enjoyed a trip out to the cinema, we are getting inventive with video calls and simultaneous streaming, and families are growing ever more reliant on the likes of Disney+ to keep restless kids distracted.
While this is undoubtedly great news for the likes of Netflix, film studios have been feeling the full force of the crisis.
Adapting to the unprecedented situation, many studios have now scrapped scheduled cinema releases, in favour of home-entertainment releases.
So, if you’ve been crossing off old Netflix titles like a winning bingo card, look no further than our list of new and upcoming online film releases, to keep your lockdown binge-watching fresh.
Onward
This computer-animated fantasy-adventure film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, is sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike.
Featuring the voices of Chris Pratt and Tom Holland, it follows the adventures of two elven brothers who begin a magical quest to spend one more day with their late father.
This film only had two weeks of theatrical release before cinemas closed, which pales in comparison to the usual six weeks that most largely anticipated films have.
UK cinema release date: 6 March 2020
Available on demand from: 4 May 2020
Available to watch on: Sky Store, Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes
DVD, 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray release: 19 May 2020
Misbehaviour
Starring Keira Knightley and Jessie Buckley, this comical drama follows a group of feminist protesters who create a plan to disrupt the 1970 Miss World competition.
A mere four days after the film was released in theatres across the UK, cinemas were forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The film was released on demand, three months prior to its DVD release date, to compensate.
UK cinema release date: 13 March 2020
Available on demand from: 15 April 2020
Available to watch on: YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube
DVD release date: July 2020
Bloodshot
Bloodshot only saw a single week in theatres before lockdown measures forced cinemas to close. Four days later it was released online, for on-demand home entertainment.
Vin Diesel, stars as Ray Garrison, a US marine who is resurrected by a team of scientists and transformed into the superhero Bloodshot, after he and his wife are murdered.
The film is based on the bestselling comic book of the same name.
UK cinema release date: 13 March 2020
Available on demand from: 24 March 2020
Available to watch on: Sky Store, YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime
DVD release: 5 May
Blu-ray and Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray release: 8 June 2020
Emma
This adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel of the same name, is set in Georgian and Regency-era England and follows a young woman, Emma Woodhouse, as she plays the role of matchmaker for her friends and family.
The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy (Peaky Blinders, Split) as Emma, Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean) as Mr Woodhouse, and comedian Miranda Hart as Miss Bates.
UK cinema release date: 14 February 2020
Available on demand from: 20 March 2020
Available to watch on: YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play
DVD release date: 19 May 2020
Vivarium
This horror film may strike a chord with many of us currently stuck at home during lockdown.
Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots star as a couple who get trapped for several years inside an eerie house in an empty, labyrinthine-like suburban neighbourhood.
The film details their descent into despair, as they continually but unsuccessfully try to escape this surreal reality.
Cinema release date: 27 March 2020
Available on demand from: 27 March 2020
Available to watch on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play
DVD release date: 25 May 2020
Read more: It will feel risky to go to the cinema in July but addicts like me will take their chances
Artemis Fowl
This fantastical film follows the epic journey of Artemis Fowl, a 12-year-old boy genius and criminal mastermind, as he takes on an ancient, underground civilisation, while attempting to find his father who has mysteriously disappeared.
Starring Judy Dench (Victoria and Abdul, Cats) Colin Farrel (In Bruges, The Gentlemen) and Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones) and directed by Kenneth Branagh, this film is based on Eoin Colfer’s popular fantasy novels of the same name.
UK cinema release date: 29 May 2020
Available on demand from: 12 June, 2020
Available to watch on: Disney+
The Hunt
The original cinema release of this controversial satirical film, which heavily features firearms, already had to be postponed after a string of mass shootings in the US last autumn. And in 2020, UK cinemas closed just over a week after its theatrical release date, dramatically cutting down its time in the limelight.
However all is not lost, for you can now watch as twelve strangers avoid being hunted for sport, from the safety and comfort of your home, on Amazon Prime.
Starring Hilary Swank and Emma Roberts.
UK cinema release date: 11 March 2020
Now available on demand on: Amazon Prime
DVD release: 9 June, 2020
Scoob!
Warner Brothers has followed in the footsteps of Universal Pictures and the Walt Disney Company by opting for a video on-demand release of its new animated film Scoob!, as cinemas remain closed across the world.
Scoob! is an animated adaptation of the much loved cartoon Scooby Doo.
It is the first film based on the popular kids show, since the live action version, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, hit cinemas in 2004.
It will be released on demand the same day as its now-cancelled theatrical release.
The film features the voices of Zac Efron, Amanda Seyfried and Mark Wahlberg.
UK cinema release date: 15 May 2020
Available on demand from: 15 May, 2020
Available to watch on: Amazon Prime
The Way Back
Ben Affleck stars as Jack Cunningham, a high school basketball superstar who gave up the sport for unknown reasons.
The film follows him years later, as he attempts to find redemption by leaving his meaningless job and battling an alcohol addiction, in order to become a basketball coach for his old university.
UK Cinema release date: 24 April
Now available on demand on: Amazon Prime
DVD release date: 19 May
Read more: How to get Disney Plus: Smart TV, Sky Q and app download explained, and the devices you can watch on
The King of Staten Island
The King of Staten Island is a comedy-drama based on the life of American comedian, Pete Davidson (Saturday Night Live), who grew up in Staten Island.
The film is a coming-of-age story which follows him as he enters the world of stand-up comedy.
Universal Pictures has decided to premiere The King of Staten Island through home entertainment services on 12 June, a full week prior to its original theatrical release date.
However it is not yet known what services it will be streamed on, so keep your eyes peeled.
Cinema release date: 19 June 2020
Available to watch on: 12 June 2020
The Lovebirds
This romantic comedy stars Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as a couple who are on the verge of breaking up, when they become unintentionally involved in a murder mystery.
The film follows them as they try to save themselves and their relationship, while trying to clear their names.
Cinema release date: 3 April
Available on demand from: 22 May
Available to watch on: Netflix
Read more: How to get Disney Plus: Smart TV, Sky Q and app dowàload explained, and the devices you can watch on
The Invisible Man
Elizabeth Moss (Handmaid’s Tale) stars in this science fiction horror which sees her fight against her scientist ex boyfriend, who becomes invisible in order to stalk and terrorise her.
While this film had three full weeks in UK theatres before lockdown began, it has been released early on streaming services, way ahead of its DVD release date.
Cinema release date: 28 February
Available on demand from: 20 March 2020
Available to watch on: Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube
DVD release date: 29 June 2020
Inheritance
This thriller sees Lily Collins star as the daughter of a wealthy and powerful man who upon suddenly passing away, leaves her with a disturbing secret inheritance that threatens to destroy her family’s lives.
The film also stars Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz).
It has not yet been announced which streaming platforms it will be released on, so be sure to watch this space.
Cinema release date: 22 May 2020
Available on demand from: 22 May 2020
Trolls World Tour
In a response to the pandemic, Sky has recently announced a partnership with NBCUniversal which will make movie releases available to rent on the Sky Store on the exact same day as their scheduled cinema premieres.
The computer-animated Trolls World Tour was the first film to become available under this new partnership. It is also now available on several other on demand services.
The film is a jukebox musical and a sequel to the extremely popular 2016 film Trolls.
It sees Princess Poppy and Branch on another adventure, this time aiming to unify the musical world of Trolls and defeat Queen Barb from destroying different genres of music.
Cinema release date: 10 April 2020
Available on demand from: 10 April 2020
Available to watch on: YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime


inews--2020-05-15--Naga Munchetty asks Brandon Lewis if he 'genuinely believes' 5-year-olds can be taught to socially d

Naga Munchetty asks Brandon Lewis if he 'genuinely believes' 5-year-olds can be taught to socially distance in BBC Breakfast grilling

Naga Munchetty asks Brandon Lewis if he 'genuinely believes ' 5-year-olds can be taught to socially distance in BBC Breakfast grilling Ms Munchetty asked Brandon Lewis : 'In all honesty , do you really think you 're going to stop 10 five-year-olds from hugging ? '
'Do you really think you 're going to stop 5-year-olds from hugging ? '
Naga Munchetty challenged Brandon Lewis over his claim children could socially distance .
( Photo : BBC ) He added that this was important `` not just so that parents can get to work , but particularly , as I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a really key time for children to be taking in that knowledge - and a few weeks out of school can make quite a big difference '' .
Mr Lewis replied : `` I think one of the things about being at school is the ability for teachers who , I know when I was at school and my children look up to teachers , have that opportunity to ensure we 're educating children . ''
Headteachers have suggested that schools could reopen in June after the summer half term ( Photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him again : `` Are you expecting teachers to be outside in the playground , because I 'm assuming the children are going to be allowed to go out a play , and stop 10 or 15 five or six-year-olds from touching each other while they 're playing ? ''
The minister replied : `` Well I think one of the things teachers are able to do , both in the classroom and outside the classroom , and all of us as parents and people in society , is to continue to educate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit back again : `` So you are saying that this Government genuinely believes that five and six-year-olds can be taught , in time for 1 June perhaps , to socially distance , and they will get this and they will not be hugging because there is enough information for them ? ''
Children of key workers take part in school activities at Oldfield Brow Primary School in Altrincham .
Unions have questioned the Government 's plans for returning children to primary schools ( Photo : Christopher Furlong/Getty ) '' The best place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I have wanted to get more children back there as soon as possible , '' he wrote , saying while parents had done a good job in helping children learn , `` nothing can take the place of a teacher '' .

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis faced a grilling during an appearance on BBC Breakfast on Friday after he argued that primary school children could be taught to social distance when they return in June.
BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty challenged him repeatedly over his claim that young children could be persuaded to stay away from each other ahead of the return of primary schools in England, which the Government hopes will help many parents return to work.
The plans are facing pushback from many teachers and unions. The Government is warning that children not attending school will set them back in their education.
‘Do you really think you’re going to stop 5-year-olds from hugging?’
Mr Lewis told BBC Breakfast: “I know the Education Secretary and his team are talking continually to the unions and to teachers directly as well around making sure that we’ve got a good, safe environment.”
He said that schools would be able to enforce “good social distancing, following the guidelines, in a healthy environment”, adding: “It’s also a good place for our teachers to continue to remind children about social distancing, about the stay alert issues, like washing your hands regularly and practising good social distancing.”
He added that this was important “not just so that parents can get to work, but particularly, as I say, at those age groups it is a really key time for children to be taking in that knowledge – and a few weeks out of school can make quite a big difference”.
Ms Munchetty asked him: “In all honesty, do you really think you’re going to stop 10 five-year-olds from hugging and touching each other at school?”
Mr Lewis replied: “I think one of the things about being at school is the ability for teachers who, I know when I was at school and my children look up to teachers, have that opportunity to ensure we’re educating children.”
Teachers to enforce distancing
She asked him again: “Are you expecting teachers to be outside in the playground, because I’m assuming the children are going to be allowed to go out a play, and stop 10 or 15 five or six-year-olds from touching each other while they’re playing?”
The minister replied: “Well I think one of the things teachers are able to do, both in the classroom and outside the classroom, and all of us as parents and people in society, is to continue to educate each other around social distance.
“So yes, even in a school environment I think it is important that we do what we can to encourage and explain and educate around social distancing.”
She hit back again: “So you are saying that this Government genuinely believes that five and six-year-olds can be taught, in time for 1 June perhaps, to socially distance, and they will get this and they will not be hugging because there is enough information for them?”
He said that “with a virus like this, education is an important part of our life, sadly for the period of time, for the next few months at least until we have a vaccine in place”.
Union pushback
Education union leaders will today meet with the Chief Medical Officer and other experts to hear reasons for the Government’s push to reopen schools in England from 1 June.
England is the only part of the UK asking schools to begin phased reopenings from the start of next month, raising fears among teachers’ unions about the risks of infection from the coronavirus. Sending children back to school will be encouraged but voluntary.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has offered reasons for the move, and says he has arranged today’s meeting to brief teachers’ representatives on “the scientific advice underpinning our approach”.
“The best place for youngsters to learn is in school and I have wanted to get more children back there as soon as possible,” he wrote, saying while parents had done a good job in helping children learn, “nothing can take the place of a teacher”.
Mr Williamson said if scientific advice said a “limited number” of children could be sent back to school, it was his duty to allow this to happen.
“Of course safety comes first but we must also be aware of the potential damage to a child’s education from not getting them back in the classroom,” he wrote.
Mr Williamson said younger children would be at the head of the queue to return to school first, since “the first few years of a child’s education are so important” for developing social skills and starting to learn the basics of an education.
Pupils transitioning to secondary school, and those approaching GCSEs and A levels would also take priority.
The Education Secretary assured teachers and parents the envisaged 1 June returns would be the first phase of a “controlled and careful” return to schooling which would involve a range of protective measures.
These would include keeping class sizes small, making sure children stayed within small groups, observing strict hygiene and cleaning measures, and having breaks and mealtimes staggered to reduce crowding.
Mr Williamson was writing after National Education Union joint secretary Mary Bousted said a “wider opening of schools, too early, poses a lot of unanswered questions about the risks in poor communities”.
Additional reporting by Press Association


inews--2020-05-15--The Life & Times of Malcolm McLaren by Paul Gorman, review: the man who brought dissonance to the ma

The Life & Times of Malcolm McLaren by Paul Gorman, review: the man who brought dissonance to the masses

The Life & Times of Malcolm McLaren by Paul Gorman , review : the man who brought dissonance to the masses An exhaustive new biography of the Sex Pistols manager suggests his greatest gift was an enduring ability to make things up as he went along The late Malcolm McLaren , a quixotic Renaissance man for whom luck and talent skipped hand in hand , has long been catnip for the pop-culture detective .
An exhaustive new biography from Paul Gorman delves deeper than most , however .
McLaren was his own greatest invention .
As manager of the Sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masses , art-directing the unlovable into a seismic musical revolution .
Nothing would ever be the same again .
He was a stylish visionary , whose anti-fashion stance merged clothes with sex .
He pushed firebrand politics to the fore and did so with a sensational disregard for perceived notions of taste .
None of this was planned .
McLaren made it up as he went along .
That , it seems , was his enduring gift .
Gorman , a meticulous writer , known for judicious biographies of artist Derek Boshier and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the longstanding Svengali tag is unjustified , a throwback to the music journalism of the late '70s , when thwarted hacks such as the NME ’ s Nick Kent took sweet revenge .
Kent , velvet-clad and elegantly wasted , was , fleetingly , in an early line up of the Pistols .
He also succumbed to a brutal attack from Sid Vicious , so empathy was low on the agenda .
McLaren 's great achievement was the injecting of vanguard ideas into the mainstream .
And what ideas they were .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long line of admirers , from Joy Division to Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons .
Malcolm McLaren ( left ) and friends model zoot suits outside his shop at 430 King 's Road in 1973 ( Photo : David Parkinson ) The forays into fashion with Vivienne Westwood are meticulously detailed .
So , too , his touch-lighting of punk and the Pistols .
This is the man who brought hip-hop to the mainstream and Voguing into your living room .
He did all this with a relentless belief in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a healthy dollop of luck and good timing .
McLaren was an opportunist ahead of the zeitgeist .
Serendipity in a Buffalo hat .
McLaren ’ s epoch-defining shop at 430 King ’ s Road in London , routinely reinvented , is prominent in the story .
As 'Let It Rock ' , it catered to unfashionable Teddy Boys at a time when glam rock was at its height .
Renamed 'Sex ' , it stocked fetish wear merged with contentious imagery and was deemed outright offensive .
'The Life & Times of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by Constable McLaren was a wriggling mass of contradictions , by turns abrasive and disloyal , but generous and encouraging , too .
It is riveting to hear first-hand how this unlikely figure altered destinies .
To his own astonishment , he attracted a series of strong , beautiful women , all seduced by his fertile imagination .
Photographer ’ s agent Eugenia Melián , once romantically engaged with McLaren and uncredited for work on several of his projects , recalls how she was cast aside .
Most of the people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flawed , but tellingly all remain in debt to his presence .
The chaos appears rooted in an unorthodox childhood that remains the most original part of this story .
He was brought up by Rose Corré Isaacs , his transgressive grandmother who encouraged dissent in her ward .
His indifferent mother and errant father also loom large in the jigsaw .
The lack of a male role model goes some way to explaining later traits and idiosyncrasies .
A rigorous study of Peter McLaren , the father he met only in later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities .
It was education that made the man .
As a promising art student , McLaren was aroused by revolution and the Paris uprisings of 1968 .
The Situationist act of détournement , of reworking an existing work of art in order to radically shift its meaning , is something he carried with him for life .
Much is made of that radical spell being cast .
At the heart of this story , though , lies a misunderstood artist with a low boredom threshold .
“ Better to be a flamboyant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” was an adage he often trotted out .
It ’ s interesting to note how , despite the shelved plans and constant criticism , he remained phlegmatic throughout a turbulent , rarely boring life .
This book is a mesmerising journey , from youthful idealism to shape-shifting , hit-and-miss adulthood .
The dogged chronology might be too much for casual interest , but for the legions eternally in thrall , it should prove more bible than swindle .

The late Malcolm McLaren, a quixotic Renaissance man for whom luck and talent skipped hand in hand, has long been catnip for the pop-culture detective. An exhaustive new biography from Paul Gorman delves deeper than most, however.
McLaren was his own greatest invention. As manager of the Sex Pistols, he brought dissonance to the masses, art-directing the unlovable into a seismic musical revolution. Nothing would ever be the same again. He was a stylish visionary, whose anti-fashion stance merged clothes with sex. He pushed firebrand politics to the fore and did so with a sensational disregard for perceived notions of taste. None of this was planned. McLaren made it up as he went along. That, it seems, was his enduring gift.
Gorman, a meticulous writer, known for judicious biographies of artist Derek Boshier and the graphic designer Barney Bubbles, suggests the longstanding Svengali tag is unjustified, a throwback to the music journalism of the late ’70s, when thwarted hacks such as the NME’s Nick Kent took sweet revenge. Kent, velvet-clad and elegantly wasted, was, fleetingly, in an early line up of the Pistols. He also succumbed to a brutal attack from Sid Vicious, so empathy was low on the agenda.
McLaren’s great achievement was the injecting of vanguard ideas into the mainstream. And what ideas they were. The concept of deconstruction and no-frills modernity inspired a long line of admirers, from Joy Division to Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons.
The forays into fashion with Vivienne Westwood are meticulously detailed. So, too, his touch-lighting of punk and the Pistols. This is the man who brought hip-hop to the mainstream and Voguing into your living room. He did all this with a relentless belief in his own genius – though there is also a healthy dollop of luck and good timing. McLaren was an opportunist ahead of the zeitgeist. Serendipity in a Buffalo hat.
McLaren’s epoch-defining shop at 430 King’s Road in London, routinely reinvented, is prominent in the story. As ‘Let It Rock’, it catered to unfashionable Teddy Boys at a time when glam rock was at its height. Renamed ‘Sex’, it stocked fetish wear merged with contentious imagery and was deemed outright offensive.
McLaren was a wriggling mass of contradictions, by turns abrasive and disloyal, but generous and encouraging, too. It is riveting to hear first-hand how this unlikely figure altered destinies. To his own astonishment, he attracted a series of strong, beautiful women, all seduced by his fertile imagination. Photographer’s agent Eugenia Melián, once romantically engaged with McLaren and uncredited for work on several of his projects, recalls how she was cast aside. Most of the people who passed through his orbit concede he was flawed, but tellingly all remain in debt to his presence.
The chaos appears rooted in an unorthodox childhood that remains the most original part of this story. He was brought up by Rose Corré Isaacs, his transgressive grandmother who encouraged dissent in her ward. His indifferent mother and errant father also loom large in the jigsaw. The lack of a male role model goes some way to explaining later traits and idiosyncrasies. A rigorous study of Peter McLaren, the father he met only in later life, unearths tender correspondence and missed opportunities.
It was education that made the man. As a promising art student, McLaren was aroused by revolution and the Paris uprisings of 1968. The Situationist act of détournement, of reworking an existing work of art in order to radically shift its meaning, is something he carried with him for life. Much is made of that radical spell being cast.
At the heart of this story, though, lies a misunderstood artist with a low boredom threshold. “Better to be a flamboyant failure than any kind of benign success,” was an adage he often trotted out. It’s interesting to note how, despite the shelved plans and constant criticism, he remained phlegmatic throughout a turbulent, rarely boring life.
This book is a mesmerising journey, from youthful idealism to shape-shifting, hit-and-miss adulthood. The dogged chronology might be too much for casual interest, but for the legions eternally in thrall, it should prove more bible than swindle.
The Life & Times of Malcolm McLaren by Paul Gorman is published by Constable (£30)


inews--2020-05-15--Later... With Jools Holland line-up: what time the new series is on BBC Two tonight, and how it work

Later... With Jools Holland line-up: what time the new series is on BBC Two tonight, and how it works during lockdown

Later ... With Jools Holland line-up : what time the new series is on BBC Two tonight , and how it works during lockdown Holland will be joined by French musician Christine and the Queens from her base in Paris The pianist will add an extra layer of entertainment to an already packed Friday night TV schedule , which includes The Graham Norton Show , Peter Kay 's Car Share , Who Wants to be a Millionaire ?
and Gogglebox .
Here is everything you need to know about the return of his music-based talk show ...
When is Later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first episode airs tonight , Friday 15 May , at the earlier time of 10pm on BBC Two .
It will also be available on iPlayer .
Who is in the line-up tonight ?
Holland will be joined by French musician Christine and the Queens from her base in Paris , where she has been entertaining fans with lockdown performances , including music from her latest EP La Vita Nuova .
Christine and the Queens will join the show from her home in Paris ( Photo : Getty ) The pair talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influences , which are illustrated by classic clips from the Later… archive and include a mix of global stars and French hip-hop .
What should we expect ?
Holland said the series nearly did not take place because of the Covid-19 pandemic , but producers found a way to make a socially distances version work .
`` But the BBC said we want to keep a live music show on air and something which is connected to the moment .
So we ’ ve come up with these special 45-minute shows . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to achieve , however .
`` I ’ ve tried piano duets on Instagram but they ’ re a bit out of synch .
The rules say you can ’ t have guests in the studio but that might change when they are eased , '' he said .

Jools Holland is back on the BBC with a brand new series of his chat show, Later… With Jools Holland.
The pianist will add an extra layer of entertainment to an already packed Friday night TV schedule, which includes The Graham Norton Show, Peter Kay’s Car Share, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and Gogglebox.
This series will be a little different, given the obvious coronavirus complications, with guests calling in over video link.
Here is everything you need to know about the return of his music-based talk show…
When is Later… With Jools Holland on TV?
The first episode airs tonight, Friday 15 May, at the earlier time of 10pm on BBC Two. It will also be available on iPlayer.
There will be six episodes in total, with guests including Ellie Goulding and Dizzee Rascal.
Who is in the line-up tonight?
Holland will be joined by French musician Christine and the Queens from her base in Paris, where she has been entertaining fans with lockdown performances, including music from her latest EP La Vita Nuova.
The pair talk through her musical journey, loves and influences, which are illustrated by classic clips from the Later… archive and include a mix of global stars and French hip-hop.
Laura Marling will also perform a new song from her seventh album, Our Daughter, from her home.
What should we expect?
Holland said the series nearly did not take place because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but producers found a way to make a socially distances version work.
He told i: “The series was in enormous doubt. I thought the bigwigs would just repeat the last run.


inews--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Whether it is possible to socially distance children going back to school remains to be

Coronavirus: Whether it is possible to socially distance children going back to school remains to be seen

Coronavirus : Whether it is possible to socially distance children going back to school remains to be seen Cabinet minister Brandon Lewis says 'we can do ' social distancing within schools - but is he right ?
With the role children play in transmission of Covid-19 still uncertain , one of the big sticking points has been the argument about whether children can be properly socially distanced in the school environment .
For the teachers and parents of younger children , this will have come as somewhat of a surprise .
The minister ’ s words are also contradicted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance to schools .
There are a couple of big constraints on the ability to social distance at school .
As the guidance notes , the first is the behaviour of children themselves .
Social distancing is possible to some extent among older students .
This includes Year 6 children in their final year of primary school - who will be in the first cohort of pupils going back - and Year 10 and 12 students at secondary school , who are also due to return at some point this term .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and the importance of maintaining distance from one another - although even with older secondary school students , teachers say there will probably be near constant breaches .
Schools are unpredictable places , and teenagers are not famed for being placid and perfectly self-regulating individuals .
For younger primary school children though , conventional social distancing goes completely out the window .
They lick things .
They pick their noses .
They will hug each other and the teacher .
Infants do not fully understand the virus and they will not remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indeed point out that play and close social interaction with classmates is key to educational development at this age .
This is why the Government ’ s decision to put reception and Year 1 pupils in the first cohort to go back has been greeted with mystification and concern by many teachers .
The Government ’ s guidance in effect accepts that social distancing as we have come to understand it in our day-to-day lives is not possible in schools .
The children might not always stay apart , but desks can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Drop-offs , break-times and pick-ups can be staggered .
One-way systems can be introduced in corridors .
While perfect respiratory hygiene may be impossible , as Mr Lewis pointed out , teachers can still do much to “ help children understand what good hygiene means and what that involves , washing hands etc ” .
Much of the Government ’ s plan hinges around splitting classes into unchanging groups of no more than 15 children .
The Government has likened these to “ protective bubbles ” .
The argument is that social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tightly regulated in these bubbles than in everyday life .
With testing available to all pupils and school staff , if one member of a bubble tests positive for coronavirus , all the other members will be immediately told to stay at home for 14 days .
The DfE has recommended schools split their classes in half .
But schools only have a finite number of classrooms .
If schools are spacing desks two metres apart , they will quickly run out of capacity .
In spite of this , the Government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return to school for a month before the summer holidays .
Headteachers are struggling to see how it can be made to work .

Teaching unions are holding a key meeting on Friday afternoon with the Government’s scientific advisers to talk through the evidence on how safe it is to reopen schools.
The unions have so far failed to back the Government’s aim to begin reopening primary schools in England from 1 June.
With the role children play in transmission of Covid-19 still uncertain, one of the big sticking points has been the argument about whether children can be properly socially distanced in the school environment.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast this morning, the Northern Ireland Secretary, Brandon Lewis, appeared to suggest it is possible.
DfE guidance
“In terms of how this disease and this virus spreads, social distancing is important, we can do that within schools,” he said.
For the teachers and parents of younger children, this will have come as somewhat of a surprise. The minister’s words are also contradicted by the Department for Education’s own guidance to schools.
“We know that, unlike older children and adults, early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff,” it states.
There are a couple of big constraints on the ability to social distance at school. As the guidance notes, the first is the behaviour of children themselves.
Pupil behaviour
Social distancing is possible to some extent among older students. This includes Year 6 children in their final year of primary school – who will be in the first cohort of pupils going back – and Year 10 and 12 students at secondary school, who are also due to return at some point this term.
These young people are capable of understanding the coronavirus and the importance of maintaining distance from one another – although even with older secondary school students, teachers say there will probably be near constant breaches. Schools are unpredictable places, and teenagers are not famed for being placid and perfectly self-regulating individuals.
For younger primary school children though, conventional social distancing goes completely out the window. They lick things. They pick their noses. They will hug each other and the teacher. Infants do not fully understand the virus and they will not remember rules around staying apart. Many teachers indeed point out that play and close social interaction with classmates is key to educational development at this age.
This is why the Government’s decision to put reception and Year 1 pupils in the first cohort to go back has been greeted with mystification and concern by many teachers.
‘Hierarchy of measures’
The Government’s guidance in effect accepts that social distancing as we have come to understand it in our day-to-day lives is not possible in schools.
However, this does not mean measures cannot be taken in schools to mitigate the risk of transmission.
The guidance refers to a “hierarchy of measures” – “avoiding contact with anyone with symptoms”, “frequent hand cleaning and good respiratory hygiene practices”, “regular cleaning of settings”, “minimising contact and mixing”.
The children might not always stay apart, but desks can be spaced two metres away from each other. Drop-offs, break-times and pick-ups can be staggered. One-way systems can be introduced in corridors.
‘Protective bubbles’
While perfect respiratory hygiene may be impossible, as Mr Lewis pointed out, teachers can still do much to “help children understand what good hygiene means and what that involves, washing hands etc”.
Much of the Government’s plan hinges around splitting classes into unchanging groups of no more than 15 children. The Government has likened these to “protective bubbles”. The argument is that social mixing and hygiene will be much more tightly regulated in these bubbles than in everyday life. With testing available to all pupils and school staff, if one member of a bubble tests positive for coronavirus, all the other members will be immediately told to stay at home for 14 days.
However this brings us to the second major constraint facing schools – their buildings and facilities.
Lack of space
The DfE has recommended schools split their classes in half. But schools only have a finite number of classrooms. If schools are spacing desks two metres apart, they will quickly run out of capacity.
In spite of this, the Government has said it ideally wants all primary pupils to return to school for a month before the summer holidays. Headteachers are struggling to see how it can be made to work.
So in summary, “traditional” social distancing in schools is likely to impossible. But a looser form of it is.
The big question is whether this will be enough to effectively mitigate the spread of the virus. That’s why today’s meetings with the scientists could be so important.


inews--2020-05-15--Notes From an Apocalypse by Mark O’Connell, review: a journey to the end of the world

Notes From an Apocalypse by Mark O ’ Connell , review : a journey to the end of the world Mark O'Connell set out on ' a series of perverse pilgrimages ' after becoming anxious about climate change and the destruction of the planet Driven by existential worries relating to climate change , Mark O ’ Connell started to question whether he and his wife should have brought their first child into the world .
“ Is it not a terrible time to be having children , and therefore , in the end , to be alive ?
” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The result of this bleak line of inquiry is , thankfully , more uplifting than this suggests .
The book opens with the author and his young son lying on the sofa at home .
His son is giggling at a cartoon bear on the television when O ’ Connell chances upon a disturbing video of an emaciated polar bear on social media .
He begins to consider the need to shield his son from the world as it really is , but realises this kind of parental cushioning can last only so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into an “ all-consuming melancholy ” for his child ’ s future .
In this state of mind , he admits he was easily prompted to consider the end times – all it took was a news headline or a conversation with a neighbour about how unseasonably warm it was .
“ So many things felt like a flashback sequence in the first act of a post-apocalyptic movie , like we were living right before the events of the main timeline , ” he writes .
And so the author set out on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perverse pilgrimages ” .
He winds from his family ’ s home in Dublin to apocalyptic sites in the US , New Zealand and Ukraine , giving the reader plenty to ponder as well as laugh about en route .
By travelling to these places , he wishes to gain some form of “ enlightenment or edification or even solace ” , thereby easing the strain of his anxieties .
And indeed O ’ Connell is , over the course of his wanderings , freed by the realisation that his perpetual state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obstacle to living life in the present .
His most memorable journey is to the Black Hills of South Dakota .
The trip offers O ’ Connell the opportunity to inspect some end-of-the-world real estate and to meet its unforgettable owner , a giant of a man who turns others ’ fears into profit through doomsday marketing .
The land , which had been a US munitions facility during the Second World War , is dotted with hundreds of bunkers , now imbued with apocalyptic significance .
O ’ Connell writes memorably of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ethereal sight , both alien and ancient , like the remnants of a vast religious colony , a place built for the veneration of derelict gods.
” 'Notes From an Apocalypse ' by Mark O'Connell , published by Granta The book is half travel narrative , half essay .
O ’ Connell welds cultural history with personal reflections on the eschatological .
In New Zealand , he mulls over a text called The Sovereign Individual , while investigating billionaires , such as Peter Thiel , co-founder of PayPal , who have bought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as retreats in case of global meltdown .
This libertarian manifesto , co-written by Jacob Rees Mogg ’ s father , William , is a favourite of Thiel ’ s .
It is about how individuals can thrive during the collapse of liberal democracies .
To O ’ Connell , though , it simply typifies the individualism of late capitalism and apocalyptic planning .
The book closes with the author , who has lost his taste for despair , delighting in his newborn daughter , a family snapshot more positive in tone than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have done O ’ Connell some good ; the reader will get much out of it , too .

Driven by existential worries relating to climate change, Mark O’Connell started to question whether he and his wife should have brought their first child into the world. “Is it not a terrible time to be having children, and therefore, in the end, to be alive?” he asks in Notes From an Apocalypse. The result of this bleak line of inquiry is, thankfully, more uplifting than this suggests.
The book opens with the author and his young son lying on the sofa at home. His son is giggling at a cartoon bear on the television when O’Connell chances upon a disturbing video of an emaciated polar bear on social media. He begins to consider the need to shield his son from the world as it really is, but realises this kind of parental cushioning can last only so long. O’Connell then sinks into an “all-consuming melancholy” for his child’s future.
In this state of mind, he admits he was easily prompted to consider the end times – all it took was a news headline or a conversation with a neighbour about how unseasonably warm it was. “So many things felt like a flashback sequence in the first act of a post-apocalyptic movie, like we were living right before the events of the main timeline,” he writes.
And so the author set out on what he labels a “series of perverse pilgrimages”. He winds from his family’s home in Dublin to apocalyptic sites in the US, New Zealand and Ukraine, giving the reader plenty to ponder as well as laugh about en route.
By travelling to these places, he wishes to gain some form of “enlightenment or edification or even solace”, thereby easing the strain of his anxieties. And indeed O’Connell is, over the course of his wanderings, freed by the realisation that his perpetual state of fear serves no purpose and is an obstacle to living life in the present.
His most memorable journey is to the Black Hills of South Dakota. The trip offers O’Connell the opportunity to inspect some end-of-the-world real estate and to meet its unforgettable owner, a giant of a man who turns others’ fears into profit through doomsday marketing. The land, which had been a US munitions facility during the Second World War, is dotted with hundreds of bunkers, now imbued with apocalyptic significance.
O’Connell writes memorably of this surreal landscape: “It was an ethereal sight, both alien and ancient, like the remnants of a vast religious colony, a place built for the veneration of derelict gods.”
The book is half travel narrative, half essay. O’Connell welds cultural history with personal reflections on the eschatological. In New Zealand, he mulls over a text called The Sovereign Individual, while investigating billionaires, such as Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, who have bought vast tracts of land there, supposedly as retreats in case of global meltdown.
This libertarian manifesto, co-written by Jacob Rees Mogg’s father, William, is a favourite of Thiel’s. It is about how individuals can thrive during the collapse of liberal democracies. To O’Connell, though, it simply typifies the individualism of late capitalism and apocalyptic planning.
O’Connell then switches his attention to another billionaire, Elon Musk, while attending the Mars Society’s 21st annual meeting in California.
The book closes with the author, who has lost his taste for despair, delighting in his newborn daughter, a family snapshot more positive in tone than the opening one. The journey appears to have done O’Connell some good; the reader will get much out of it, too.
‘Notes From an Apocalypse’ by Mark O’Connell is published by Granta (£14.99)


inews--2020-05-15--Electric car charging: All UK motorway service stations to have super fast EV chargers by 2023 under

Electric car charging: All UK motorway service stations to have super fast EV chargers by 2023 under new Government plans

Electric car charging : All UK motorway service stations to have super fast EV chargers by 2023 under new Government plans Ultra-fast chargers can deliver around 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes The Government is aiming to turbo-charge the national switch to electric vehicles , this week unveiling a new vision for every motorway service station to offer fast charging facilities within three years .
Currently motorway services have an average of just two rapid charge points mostly with a 50kW cable that take around an hour to achieve an 80 per cent charge .
The Government wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upgraded , replacing 50kW cables with more powerful alternatives to speed up charging times .
In a “ vision ” released yesterday , ministers said all motorway service stations should have at least six rapid chargers within three years , serviced by high-power 150kW to 350kW cables .
These `` ultra fast '' charge points are capable of adding 100 miles of range to an electric vehicle in just 10 minutes , making them well suited for service stations where drivers will be unwilling to hang around for too long waiting for cars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t yet compatible with this type of ultra-fast charger , but the Government said the goal is to future-proof the charging network for the next generation of EVs .
“ Government will be working with the operators of major service areas to ensure that this charging provision is in place ahead of customer demand , ” it said in a statement .
“ The aim is to help support early adoption of electric vehicles and remove range anxiety concerns for drivers on long journeys.
” Ministers said they will be monitoring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if necessary will use legal powers to force a faster rollout .
Funding will be available for installing charge points at “ strategic sites ” where the costs would be prohibitive , they added .
Petrol stations are primed to become EV charging hubs ( Photo : Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty ) Rolling out a comprehensive network of EV charging stations is crucial to successfully switching the nation from petrol and diesel cars to electric power .
Ministers have promised to ban the sale of petrol , diesel and hybrid cars by 2035 or earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing fast , many drivers are still wary of making the switch , fearing they will run out of charge mid-journey miles from a plug point .
Car manufacturers are battling against this so-called `` range anxiety '' with new EV models boasting larger batteries and longer driving ranges , but they are also relying on charging stations popping up around the country to soothe driver concerns .
The service station vision is the first milestone of the Government ’ s ultimate plan to have at least 2,500 high powered chargepoints across England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and 6,000 by 2035 .
But it ’ s not just the number of charge points that will be important .
EV drivers are often left exasperated by membership schemes tying them to certain chargepoint operators , broken plug points , and blocked spaces .
The Government said charge points must be “ easy to use ” and “ hassle free ” .
Drivers must be able to use any charger and pay using their credit or debit card , access information showing available charge points , and be supported by 24/7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demands were welcomed by the Renewable Energy Association , which represents the EV charging industry .
“ Equally important as the vision for the number of chargers is the Government ’ s comments on how chargers need to be easy to use , ” CEO Dr Nina Skorupska said .
“ Consumers should be able to charge simply , and should have the option access data on their charging sessions .
”

The Government is aiming to turbo-charge the national switch to electric vehicles, this week unveiling a new vision for every motorway service station to offer fast charging facilities within three years.
Currently motorway services have an average of just two rapid charge points mostly with a 50kW cable that take around an hour to achieve an 80 per cent charge.
The Government wants this motorway service to be expanded and upgraded, replacing 50kW cables with more powerful alternatives to speed up charging times.
Future-proofing the network
In a “vision” released yesterday, ministers said all motorway service stations should have at least six rapid chargers within three years, serviced by high-power 150kW to 350kW cables.
These “ultra fast” charge points are capable of adding 100 miles of range to an electric vehicle in just 10 minutes, making them well suited for service stations where drivers will be unwilling to hang around for too long waiting for cars to recharge.
Many electric vehicles aren’t yet compatible with this type of ultra-fast charger, but the Government said the goal is to future-proof the charging network for the next generation of EVs.
“Government will be working with the operators of major service areas to ensure that this charging provision is in place ahead of customer demand,” it said in a statement. “The aim is to help support early adoption of electric vehicles and remove range anxiety concerns for drivers on long journeys.”
Ministers said they will be monitoring the rate of charge point installation, and if necessary will use legal powers to force a faster rollout. Funding will be available for installing charge points at “strategic sites” where the costs would be prohibitive, they added.
Electric future
Rolling out a comprehensive network of EV charging stations is crucial to successfully switching the nation from petrol and diesel cars to electric power. Ministers have promised to ban the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035 or earlier.
While sales of electric vehicles are growing fast, many drivers are still wary of making the switch, fearing they will run out of charge mid-journey miles from a plug point.
Car manufacturers are battling against this so-called “range anxiety” with new EV models boasting larger batteries and longer driving ranges, but they are also relying on charging stations popping up around the country to soothe driver concerns.
The service station vision is the first milestone of the Government’s ultimate plan to have at least 2,500 high powered chargepoints across England’s motorways and major A roads, and 6,000 by 2035.
‘Hassle-free’
But it’s not just the number of charge points that will be important. EV drivers are often left exasperated by membership schemes tying them to certain chargepoint operators, broken plug points, and blocked spaces.
The Government said charge points must be “easy to use” and “hassle free”. Drivers must be able to use any charger and pay using their credit or debit card, access information showing available charge points, and be supported by 24/7 customer care, it said.
The demands were welcomed by the Renewable Energy Association, which represents the EV charging industry. “Equally important as the vision for the number of chargers is the Government’s comments on how chargers need to be easy to use,” CEO Dr Nina Skorupska said. “Consumers should be able to charge simply, and should have the option access data on their charging sessions.”


inews--2020-05-15--Arctic sea ice has melted by 20% in a decade, Nasa research finds

Arctic sea ice has melted by 20 % in a decade , Nasa research finds The huge loss of ice is pushing up sea levels Scientists have used NASA 's ICES at-2 to measure the thickness of Arctic sea ice , as well as the depth of snow on the ice .
Here , ridges and cracks have formed in sea ice in the Arctic Ocean ( Photo : NASA / Jeremy Harbeck ) Arctic sea ice is melting so rapidly that it is now 20 per cent thinner than it was just over a decade ago , weakening a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooling , according to new research .
Nasa scientists have been monitoring sea ice levels for decades and identified a “ significant ” decline between 2008 and 2019 , with climate change thought to be largely responsible , according to a new study in the Journal of Physical Research : Oceans .
`` The Arctic sea ice pack has changed dramatically since monitoring from satellites began more than four decades ago , '' said Nathan Kurtz , ICESat-2 deputy project scientist at Nasa 's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt , Maryland .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ - but what snow we do get is very important in terms of the climate and insulating sea ice , '' added Ron Kwok , also of Nasa , who wrote another study on Arctic ice , published in the journal JGR Oceans .
This found that snow starts building up slowly in October , when newly formed ice has an average of about five centimetres of snow on it , and `` multiyear '' ice has an average of 14 cm of snow .
Snowfall picks up later in the winter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depth in April , when the relatively new ice has an average of 17 cm and the older ice has an average of 27 cm of snow .
When the snow melts in the spring , it can pool up on the sea ice - those melt ponds absorb heat from the Sun and can warm up the ice faster , just one of the impacts of snow on ice .
These studies are the latest to show that ice around the world - whether on land or in the sea - is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faster than previously been anticipated .
The melting ice means less sunlight is reflected back into the atmosphere , heating up the land and sea .

Arctic sea ice is melting so rapidly that it is now 20 per cent thinner than it was just over a decade ago, weakening a major source of the planet’s cooling, according to new research.
The ice helps keep Earth cool, as its bright surface reflects the sun’s energy back into space, curbing global warming.
Nasa scientists have been monitoring sea ice levels for decades and identified a “significant” decline between 2008 and 2019, with climate change thought to be largely responsible, according to a new study in the Journal of Physical Research: Oceans.
“The Arctic sea ice pack has changed dramatically since monitoring from satellites began more than four decades ago,” said Nathan Kurtz, ICESat-2 deputy project scientist at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Useful desert
“The Arctic region is a desert – but what snow we do get is very important in terms of the climate and insulating sea ice,” added Ron Kwok, also of Nasa, who wrote another study on Arctic ice, published in the journal JGR Oceans.
This found that snow starts building up slowly in October, when newly formed ice has an average of about five centimetres of snow on it, and “multiyear” ice has an average of 14 cm of snow.
Snowfall picks up later in the winter in December and January and reaches its maximum depth in April, when the relatively new ice has an average of 17 cm and the older ice has an average of 27 cm of snow.
Read More The Antarctic is warming faster than almost everywhere else. Here’s why it matters
Impact of melting snow
When the snow melts in the spring, it can pool up on the sea ice – those melt ponds absorb heat from the Sun and can warm up the ice faster, just one of the impacts of snow on ice.
These studies are the latest to show that ice around the world – whether on land or in the sea – is melting at an alarming rate that is faster than previously been anticipated.
The melting ice means less sunlight is reflected back into the atmosphere, heating up the land and sea.


inews--2020-05-15--Russia Eurovision 2020 entry: Meet Little Big, whose song 'Uno' was tipped for Song Contest success

Russia Eurovision 2020 entry : Meet Little Big , whose song 'Uno ' was tipped for Song Contest success 'Uno ' , by pop-punk-rave band Little Big , has already racked up almost 100 million views on YouTube The coronavirus pandemic may have claimed the Eurovision Song Contest as one of its many victims , but organisers are doing their best to make sure the would-be competitors get their time in the spotlight .
On Saturday night Eurovision : Europe Shine a Light will air in place of the grand final , and will showcase each of the 41 songs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of those songs is the Russian entry `` Uno '' , by pop-punk-rave band Little Big , which has already racked up almost 100 million views on YouTube .
The bouncy track , which is sung in a mix of English and Spanish , was one of the favourites to win the contest .
Who are Little Big ?
Their track `` SKIBIDI '' - and the dance that goes with it - quickly became the most popular meme in Russia when it was released back in 2018 , and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for best music video .
Unsurprisingly given their past hits , the band do not take themselves too seriously .
Their videos often parody Russian stereotypes and they have a 2017 hit , `` Lollybomb '' , which mocks Kim-Jong Un .
It 's gon na take more than one margaritaI 'm gon na call you my sweet señoritaI 'm gon na leave after night only with yaAll you have to do is to be ready for some action nowDo n't be a dummy dummyI got dat yummy yummyCan we be chummy chummyRight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so funny honeyAll you have to do is to be ready for some action nowUnoDosCuatroUno unoAll you have to do is to be ready for some action nowAre you readyHold it steadyStart alreadyAll you have to do is to be ready for some action nowDo n't be a dummy dummyI got dat yummy yummyCan we be chummy chummyRight after midnightThe night is charming bunnyYou are so funny honeyAll you have to do is to be ready for some action nowUnoDosCuatroUno unoUno Dos Tres Cuatro Cinco SeisUnoDosCuatroUno uno They came up with the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together in February , and the song was announced as Russia 's Eurovision entry the following month .

The coronavirus pandemic may have claimed the Eurovision Song Contest as one of its many victims, but organisers are doing their best to make sure the would-be competitors get their time in the spotlight.
On Saturday night Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light will air in place of the grand final, and will showcase each of the 41 songs that would have competed for the crown.
One of those songs is the Russian entry “Uno”, by pop-punk-rave band Little Big, which has already racked up almost 100 million views on YouTube.
The bouncy track, which is sung in a mix of English and Spanish, was one of the favourites to win the contest.
Who are Little Big?
The group has been together since 2013, and consists of Ilia Prusikin (frontman), Sonya Tayurskaya (frontwoman), Anton Lissov (MC) and Sergey Makarov (DJ).
Their YouTube channel has amassed more than a billion views, thanks mostly to two previous viral hits.
Their track “SKIBIDI” – and the dance that goes with it – quickly became the most popular meme in Russia when it was released back in 2018, and also earned them the Global Film Festival Award for best music video.
And their 2019 single “I’m OK” generated similar internet fame after going viral on TikTok.
Unsurprisingly given their past hits, the band do not take themselves too seriously. Their videos often parody Russian stereotypes and they have a 2017 hit, “Lollybomb”, which mocks Kim-Jong Un.
‘Uno’ lyrics It’s gonna take more than one margarita
I’m gonna call you my sweet señorita
I’m gonna leave after night only with ya
All you have to do is to be ready for some action now
Don’t be a dummy dummy
I got dat yummy yummy
Can we be chummy chummy
Right after midnight
Yeah you so charming bunny
Yeah you so funny honey
All you have to do is to be ready for some action now
Uno
Dos
Cuatro
Uno uno
All you have to do is to be ready for some action now
Are you ready
Hold it steady
Start already
All you have to do is to be ready for some action now
Don’t be a dummy dummy
I got dat yummy yummy
Can we be chummy chummy
Right after midnight
The night is charming bunny
You are so funny honey
All you have to do is to be ready for some action now
Uno
Dos
Cuatro
Uno uno
Uno Dos Tres Cuatro Cinco Seis
Uno
Dos
Cuatro
Uno uno
They cite a wide range of influences, everything from Rammstein and The Prodigy, to composers like Mozart and Vivaldi.
They came up with the idea for “Uno” while on holiday together in February, and the song was announced as Russia’s Eurovision entry the following month.


inews--2020-05-15--Where was White Lines filmed? Filming locations in Ibiza and Mallorca for new Netflix series

Where was White Lines filmed ?
Filming locations in Ibiza and Mallorca for new Netflix series The new show from Money Heist creator Alex Pina takes place in Ibiza and its neighbouring Balearic Islands Alex Pina - the man behind the huge Netflix hit Money Heist - has a new show coming to the streaming service .
White Lines drops on Friday 15 May , and promises similar levels of excitement to his crime thriller , which has just aired its fourth season .
The premise sees Zoe Walker ( Laura Haddock , who you may know from the Guardians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Movie ) travel to Ibiza to identify the body of her brother , a well-known DJ who went missing 20 years previously .
Zoe meets many of her brother 's old friends , and it does n't take long for her to get caught up in the hedonistic side of Ibiza life - think drugs , sex parties and car chases .
Haddock is joined in the main cast by Daniel Mays ( Line of Duty , Good Omens ) , Laurence Fox ( Lewis ) and Angela Griffin ( Waterloo Road , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enjoy some idyllic filming locations between June and October last year , when the series was shot .
Ibiza City seen from the beach ( Photo : Public Domain Pictures ) It has two main party districts , Ibiza Town , the island 's capital on the south coast , and Sant Antoni in the west .
Some of its most iconic clubs include Cafe del Mar , DC10 , Pacha and Amnesia .
DJs play a range of music , but the island is particularly famous for its house , trance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is far more to Ibiza than just partying .
Large swathes of the island are registered Unesco World Heritage sites , Ibiza City boasts its Renaissance era walls , and it is home to many idyllic beaches .
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands , and is home to just shy of 900,000 people .
Like Ibiza , Menorca and Formentera it is extremely popular as a holiday destination , and the airport in its capital , Palma , is one of the busiest in Spain .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it was also occupied by the Romans .

Alex Pina – the man behind the huge Netflix hit Money Heist – has a new show coming to the streaming service.
White Lines drops on Friday 15 May, and promises similar levels of excitement to his crime thriller, which has just aired its fourth season.
The premise sees Zoe Walker (Laura Haddock, who you may know from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and The Inbetweeners Movie) travel to Ibiza to identify the body of her brother, a well-known DJ who went missing 20 years previously.
Zoe meets many of her brother’s old friends, and it doesn’t take long for her to get caught up in the hedonistic side of Ibiza life – think drugs, sex parties and car chases.
Haddock is joined in the main cast by Daniel Mays (Line of Duty, Good Omens), Laurence Fox (Lewis) and Angela Griffin (Waterloo Road, Coronation Street).
And they got to enjoy some idyllic filming locations between June and October last year, when the series was shot.
Ibiza
The famed party island is arguably Europe’s clubbing hub, and the perfect setting for White Lines.
It has two main party districts, Ibiza Town, the island’s capital on the south coast, and Sant Antoni in the west.
Some of its most iconic clubs include Cafe del Mar, DC10, Pacha and Amnesia. DJs play a range of music, but the island is particularly famous for its house, trance, techno and electronic scene.
However, there is far more to Ibiza than just partying. Large swathes of the island are registered Unesco World Heritage sites, Ibiza City boasts its Renaissance era walls, and it is home to many idyllic beaches.
Mallorca
Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands, and is home to just shy of 900,000 people.
Like Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera it is extremely popular as a holiday destination, and the airport in its capital, Palma, is one of the busiest in Spain.
There is evidence of prehistoric settlements on the island, and it was also occupied by the Romans.
It is rumoured White Lines will be returning to the island to film for a second season.


inews--2020-05-15--White Lines cast: who stars with Daniel Mays, Netflix release date everything you need to know about

White Lines cast: who stars with Daniel Mays, Netflix release date everything you need to know about the new series

White Lines cast : who stars with Daniel Mays , Netflix release date everything you need to know about the new series The crime drama is the latest from Money Heist creator Alex Pina , and promises similar levels of thrill Alex Pina has already created one of the most popular Netflix series of all time in Money Heist .
Season four of the heist drama - which is known as La Casa de Papel in its native Spanish - dropped on the streaming service last month .
But Pina is not resting on his laurels , and has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another crime thriller called White Lines .
Here is everything you need to know about it ...
When is White Lines on Netflix ?
The first season will be 10 episodes long , and each episode will run for around an hour .
What is it about ?
White Lines is set mostly in Ibiza , where the body of legendary Manchester DJ Axl Collins is discovered , 20 years after he mysteriously went missing .
His younger sister Zoe Walker flies out to identify his body , and chooses to stay in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about her brother 's death .
It does n't take long for her to get caught up in Axl 's old , hedonistic life .
She meets his friends and , unsurprisingly , given the title of the show , cocaine plays a big part in the story .
The trailer shows how things quickly spiral out of control , as Zoe is thrown into a world of car chases and sex parties , and discovers her brother 's ties to a wealthy Spanish family who own many of the clubs on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ibiza ( Photo : Netflix ) Who is in the cast ?
Zoe is played by Laura Haddock , who plays Peter Quill 's mother in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise , and was also Will 's love interest Alison in The Inbetweeners Movie .
Tom Rhys Harries , best known for Britannia , plays Axl in flashback scenes , while Daniel Mays ( Line of Duty , Good Omens ) , Laurence Fox ( Lewis ) and Angela Griffin ( Waterloo Road , Coronation Street ) play his childhood friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with him .

Alex Pina has already created one of the most popular Netflix series of all time in Money Heist.
Season four of the heist drama – which is known as La Casa de Papel in its native Spanish – dropped on the streaming service last month.
But Pina is not resting on his laurels, and has a brand new show on the way: another crime thriller called White Lines.
Here is everything you need to know about it…
When is White Lines on Netflix?
The series will begin streaming on 15 May, which is a Friday.
The first season will be 10 episodes long, and each episode will run for around an hour.
Here is the official trailer:
What is it about?
White Lines is set mostly in Ibiza, where the body of legendary Manchester DJ Axl Collins is discovered, 20 years after he mysteriously went missing.
His younger sister Zoe Walker flies out to identify his body, and chooses to stay in the Balearic Islands to uncover the truth about her brother’s death.
It doesn’t take long for her to get caught up in Axl’s old, hedonistic life. She meets his friends and, unsurprisingly, given the title of the show, cocaine plays a big part in the story.
The trailer shows how things quickly spiral out of control, as Zoe is thrown into a world of car chases and sex parties, and discovers her brother’s ties to a wealthy Spanish family who own many of the clubs on the island.
Who is in the cast?
Zoe is played by Laura Haddock, who plays Peter Quill’s mother in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, and was also Will’s love interest Alison in The Inbetweeners Movie.
Tom Rhys Harries, best known for Britannia, plays Axl in flashback scenes, while Daniel Mays (Line of Duty, Good Omens), Laurence Fox (Lewis) and Angela Griffin (Waterloo Road, Coronation Street) play his childhood friends, who ended up moving to Ibiza with him.
Also among the cast are Marta Milans (Shazam) and Juan Diego Botto (Good Behaviour), who are part of a wealthy and powerful Spanish family, while Portuguese star Nuno Lopes plays a driver and bodyguard in their service.


inews--2020-05-15--Coronavirus latest: Interest surges in Open University online courses as fearful workers seek new sk

Coronavirus latest: Interest surges in Open University online courses as fearful workers seek new skills

Coronavirus latest : Interest surges in Open University online courses as fearful workers seek new skills Exclusive : Covid-19 is expected to significantly change the skills required for as many as five million job roles in the UK According to the distance-learning organisation , almost one in four ( 24 per cent ) of employees have taken on additional learning to boost their skills ( Photo : Matt Cardy/Getty ) The Open University has been inundated with applications from people seeking to learn new skills in preparation for an economy operating in a “ new normal ” after coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one in four ( 24 per cent ) of employees have taken on additional learning to boost their skills , with young people particularly keen to improve their chances of employment as the UK enters what many are predicting will be the worst recession for more than a century .
The figures suggest younger employees are particularly fearful that their skills could become obsolete , and more than a third ( 39 per cent ) of 18-34 year-olds are prepared to spend money to learn new skills if it makes them more employable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the skills required for as many as five million job roles in the UK , driving a surge in employees to seek out distance-learning opportunities .
Data from The Open University ’ s OpenLearn website back up the findings .
The site has logged more than 950,000 course enrolments during lockdown , with around a four-fold increase in people logging in daily .
Across the board , workers are investing in evergreen capabilities that will help them retain value to their employers ( Photo : OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP/Getty ) Professor Tim Blackman , vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that with the UK facing a recession , it was the right time for people “ to invest in skills ” .
“ The world of work is changing and it ’ s clear that employees are recognising this and prioritising the development of their own skill-sets to prepare for the ‘ new normal ’ .
“ With OpenLearn , employees can enrol on free courses that reward them with certificates and digital badges , helping them signpost their development and the value of their skills to their employers ” .
But a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) said that they would like to have more direction from their employers when it comes to learning new skills , with younger team members again ( 38 per cent ) the most keen to have a steer from their leaders on how to remain employable post-coronavirus .
In April , The Open University partnered with the UK Department for Education to help provide content for the Government ’ s Skills Toolkit .
The initiative , which supports governments in all four UK nations , aims to boost furloughed employees ’ skills during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the return to work .
Across the board , workers are investing in evergreen capabilities that will help them retain value to their employers in the long-term , as well as skills that will help them manage the current digital landscape .
The majority of those who have taken on additional learning opportunities during lockdown have focused on developing managerial skills ( 51 per cent ) , while just under a quarter ( 23 per cent ) have prioritised digital skills such as learning how to use new software .
Professor Blackman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction from their employer if they are to acquire the new skills needed for post-lockdown business .
Employers must embrace lifelong learning as a necessity for growth and ensure that teams stay engaged , potential skills gaps are tackled proactively and the associated risk of losing valuable talent is minimised .
”

The Open University has been inundated with applications from people seeking to learn new skills in preparation for an economy operating in a “new normal” after coronavirus.
According to the distance-learning organisation, almost one in four (24 per cent) of employees have taken on additional learning to boost their skills, with young people particularly keen to improve their chances of employment as the UK enters what many are predicting will be the worst recession for more than a century.
The figures suggest younger employees are particularly fearful that their skills could become obsolete, and more than a third (39 per cent) of 18-34 year-olds are prepared to spend money to learn new skills if it makes them more employable.
Covid-19 is expected to significantly change the skills required for as many as five million job roles in the UK, driving a surge in employees to seek out distance-learning opportunities.
‘Invest in skills’
Data from The Open University’s OpenLearn website back up the findings. The site has logged more than 950,000 course enrolments during lockdown, with around a four-fold increase in people logging in daily.
Specialist work-focused courses such as Leadership and Followership have proved particularly popular, in addition to modules designed to boost fundamental professional skills such as workplace communication.
Professor Tim Blackman, vice chancellor of The Open University, said that with the UK facing a recession, it was the right time for people “to invest in skills”.
“The world of work is changing and it’s clear that employees are recognising this and prioritising the development of their own skill-sets to prepare for the ‘new normal’.
“With OpenLearn, employees can enrol on free courses that reward them with certificates and digital badges, helping them signpost their development and the value of their skills to their employers”.
But a quarter of employees (23 per cent) said that they would like to have more direction from their employers when it comes to learning new skills, with younger team members again (38 per cent) the most keen to have a steer from their leaders on how to remain employable post-coronavirus.
Boosting workplace skills
In April, The Open University partnered with the UK Department for Education to help provide content for the Government’s Skills Toolkit. The initiative, which supports governments in all four UK nations, aims to boost furloughed employees’ skills during lockdown so that they are fully prepared for the return to work.
Across the board, workers are investing in evergreen capabilities that will help them retain value to their employers in the long-term, as well as skills that will help them manage the current digital landscape. The majority of those who have taken on additional learning opportunities during lockdown have focused on developing managerial skills (51 per cent), while just under a quarter (23 per cent) have prioritised digital skills such as learning how to use new software.
Professor Blackman added: “Employees will still need direction from their employer if they are to acquire the new skills needed for post-lockdown business. Employers must embrace lifelong learning as a necessity for growth and ensure that teams stay engaged, potential skills gaps are tackled proactively and the associated risk of losing valuable talent is minimised.”