theweekuk--2020-09-16--Tesla Model S Performance review: it’s ‘ludicrous’, but in a jaw-dropping way

I had never before got behind the wheel of an electric vehicle ( EV ) .
But jumping in at the deep end , I test drove the top-of-the-range Tesla Model S Performance and embarked on a 1,500-mile return journey to Switzerland for a two-week family holiday .
Before collecting the Model S , I made sure to do some homework on the route .
I was totally ignorant on the realities of EV driving and nervous about range limitations and lengthy charging delays .
I typed London to Davos into Tesla ’ s slick routing software : it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stops at Tesla Supercharger stations , each for an average of just 40 minutes .
I ’ m mightily impressed and it seems any apprehension was unnecessary .
One of these legs alone is around 260 miles , and with a six-month-old baby on board , we ’ d be needing a pit stop by then anyway .
Plus , it tells me there is a £210 saving in petrol - double this for the return journey and that ’ s also covered the Eurotunnel as well as some nice family meals out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ versions : Long Range Plus and Performance .
The former starts at £77,980 and has an advertised range of 402 miles , with 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds .
The Performance starts at £92,980 , has a range of 348 miles and a jaw-dropping 2.3 seconds 0-60 time .
I ’ m in the Performance , and it ’ s an all-singing , all-dancing version that ’ ll cost £96,630 , with some extras like 21 ” alloys ( £4,400 ) and Full Self-Driving Capability ( £6,800 ) .
Hopping into the sleek white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refreshingly simple - some patches of carbon fibre , but no buttons , knobs , handbrake , gear stick or even a starter button .
Instead , a huge 17-inch display built into the dash takes care of most functionality - navigated very intuitively - with the remainder mopped up by the steering wheel or its levers .
You can stream music from the car ’ s Spotify account , or from your phone , watch Netflix or play games whilst you charge it .
And there are some huge storage areas in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cup holders .
A notable absence are side pockets in the doors .
However , this turned out to be a positive , as they tend to accumulate rubbish mostly anyway , and with ample storage elsewhere it wasn ’ t a problem .
The baby seat fitted in the back with ease - plus there would still comfortably be room for two adults - and despite food being thrown all over the place , the white interior remained that way after a quick wipe .
For the first hour or so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive again .
Select drive , release the brake pedal , and nothing happens .
Although peculiar at first , this turned out to be a feature I loved - particularly for city driving .
When stationary , there ’ s no need to continually hold down the brake pedal - once you ’ ve come to a halt , take your foot off the brake and the car automatically holds itself , unlike other automatics I ’ ve driven which automatically idle along at a crawl .
Pulling away is an extraordinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is almost entirely silent , but what ’ s more remarkable is the instant application of power .
There is zero lag time from pressing the accelerator to pick up in speed , and select “ Ludicrous ” mode - yes that ’ s its actual name - and it is astonishingly fast , like nothing I ’ ve ever experienced .
I didn ’ t even get near testing this to its full capability , but even then it was jaw dropping .
There was also that niggling , ever present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being wary about conserving precious battery , so I quickly abandoned any boy racer tendencies and from then on proceeded to drive very smoothly the entire time .
Once in motion , taking your foot off the throttle for the first few times is , once again , a totally new experience .
So much so , for a while I thought the handbrake was stuck on .
It turns out this is the rather smart regenerative braking , whereby the car ’ s momentum is recaptured to charge the battery .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t coast and gradually slow as normal , rather it quite aggressively slows , indeed brakes , which is necessary for recharging to be effective .
While this was quite alarming at first , it was a feature I once again came to like , particularly as I knew it was helping my range .
One hears a lot about Tesla ’ s self-driving capabilities .
So I was excited to hit the open motorways of France to engage autopilot .
However , it quickly became apparent this wasn ’ t going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as my wife , who was nodding off in the passenger seat , kept on being awoken by a warning noise or automatic sharp braking that was quite unnerving .
So I quickly turned this off and took back control of the wheel and accelerator .
The navigation system on the central display tells you how far away the next charging station is .
It also lets you know how much charge the battery would have on arrival , and how long you would need to charge for to get to the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant you didn ’ t really have to engage your brain on this front .
What ’ s the charging really like ?
The charging experience as a whole was much less painful than I expected .
It turns out , having access to Tesla ’ s Supercharger network - which is exclusively for Tesla vehicles by the way - is , in my limited experience , what really sets Tesla ownership apart from other EV brands .
As the name suggests , they charge at a phenomenally quick rate when compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 30 minutes and you can gain around 70 % power which will give a few hundred miles .
There are 63 of these sites in the UK and around 400 spread across Europe , and this is constantly being rolled out .
The charging locations are on or just minutes from main arterial roads - service stations , or in the corners of hotel car parks for example .
We found by the time we had a much needed stretch of the legs , comfort break and coffee , it was more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I used one other regular pay as you go charger on this trip , in a car park whilst we walked around a lake , and in an hour and a half the car gained around 25 % battery .
Without the Superchargers , it ’ d be necessary to plan ahead and be much more cunning about battery usage , or you could come unstuck with some very long unscheduled stops .
When it comes to carrying capacity , there is no denying the Model S is positively a tardis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tow - and two weeks worth of holiday gear - we could fit everything we needed , and more .
Several large bags , a huge pram , travel cot , paddleboard , two cool bags , and some boxes of glasses for the chalet we were staying at .
The boot is simply huge , plus there is the “ frunk ” , a small-ish extra area under the front bonnet thanks to the absence of a huge engine .
All told , there ’ s 894L of storage , compared with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 754L and BMW 5-series estate ’ s 560L .
The car is long and wide which you will notice when going round tight inner corners or reversing into small parking spaces .
Most of the concerns I had around the EV experience - largely the charging and range limitations - in reality didn ’ t have an adverse affect on my two weeks living with the car .
If you ’ re able to apply a modicum of planning , a smooth driving style and a little extra patience when charging , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , this is largely thanks to Tesla ’ s vision in creating its own Supercharger network ; it is a game changer and puts other EV brands at a significant disadvantage .
The Model S Performance is really well executed - so much boot space , very comfortable , brilliant 17 ” touchscreen display ( a small point I know , but this is another Tesla masterstroke ) , smooth to drive and great looking .
If I was in the market for a top end EV , this car would likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial purchase price is unquestionably high , certainly when compared to regular cars ( but don ’ t forget the cost savings of EV ownership ) if your pockets are deep enough , it ’ s a fantastic option for environmentally conscientious and comfortable miles .

I had never before got behind the wheel of an electric vehicle (EV). But jumping in at the deep end, I test drove the top-of-the-range Tesla Model S Performance and embarked on a 1,500-mile return journey to Switzerland for a two-week family holiday. Before collecting the Model S, I made sure to do some homework on the route. I was totally ignorant on the realities of EV driving and nervous about range limitations and lengthy charging delays. I typed London to Davos into Tesla’s slick routing software: it’s 679 miles, with three charging stops at Tesla Supercharger stations, each for an average of just 40 minutes. I’m mightily impressed and it seems any apprehension was unnecessary. One of these legs alone is around 260 miles, and with a six-month-old baby on board, we’d be needing a pit stop by then anyway. Plus, it tells me there is a £210 saving in petrol - double this for the return journey and that’s also covered the Eurotunnel as well as some nice family meals out. The Model S comes in two versions: Long Range Plus and Performance. The former starts at £77,980 and has an advertised range of 402 miles, with 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds. The Performance starts at £92,980, has a range of 348 miles and a jaw-dropping 2.3 seconds 0-60 time. I’m in the Performance, and it’s an all-singing, all-dancing version that’ll cost £96,630, with some extras like 21” alloys (£4,400) and Full Self-Driving Capability (£6,800). Interior Hopping into the sleek white vegan leather seats, the interior is refreshingly simple - some patches of carbon fibre, but no buttons, knobs, handbrake, gear stick or even a starter button. Instead, a huge 17-inch display built into the dash takes care of most functionality - navigated very intuitively - with the remainder mopped up by the steering wheel or its levers. Skip advert You can stream music from the car’s Spotify account, or from your phone, watch Netflix or play games whilst you charge it. And there are some huge storage areas in the central compartment including an impressive four cup holders. A notable absence are side pockets in the doors. However, this turned out to be a positive, as they tend to accumulate rubbish mostly anyway, and with ample storage elsewhere it wasn’t a problem.
The baby seat fitted in the back with ease - plus there would still comfortably be room for two adults - and despite food being thrown all over the place, the white interior remained that way after a quick wipe. Driving experience For the first hour or so, it was a little like learning to drive again. Select drive, release the brake pedal, and nothing happens. Although peculiar at first, this turned out to be a feature I loved - particularly for city driving. When stationary, there’s no need to continually hold down the brake pedal - once you’ve come to a halt, take your foot off the brake and the car automatically holds itself, unlike other automatics I’ve driven which automatically idle along at a crawl. Pulling away is an extraordinary experience. Without stating the obvious, it is almost entirely silent, but what’s more remarkable is the instant application of power. There is zero lag time from pressing the accelerator to pick up in speed, and select “Ludicrous” mode - yes that’s its actual name - and it is astonishingly fast, like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I didn’t even get near testing this to its full capability, but even then it was jaw dropping. There was also that niggling, ever present thought in the back of my mind of being wary about conserving precious battery, so I quickly abandoned any boy racer tendencies and from then on proceeded to drive very smoothly the entire time. Once in motion, taking your foot off the throttle for the first few times is, once again, a totally new experience. So much so, for a while I thought the handbrake was stuck on. Skip advert It turns out this is the rather smart regenerative braking, whereby the car’s momentum is recaptured to charge the battery. The result is that the car doesn’t coast and gradually slow as normal, rather it quite aggressively slows, indeed brakes, which is necessary for recharging to be effective. While this was quite alarming at first, it was a feature I once again came to like, particularly as I knew it was helping my range. One hears a lot about Tesla’s self-driving capabilities. So I was excited to hit the open motorways of France to engage autopilot. However, it quickly became apparent this wasn’t going to allow for a relaxing journey, as my wife, who was nodding off in the passenger seat, kept on being awoken by a warning noise or automatic sharp braking that was quite unnerving. So I quickly turned this off and took back control of the wheel and accelerator.


theweekuk--2020-09-16--Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Arsenal seal their biggest signing in years

Arsenal fans will be glad to never see an hourglass timer emoji again on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s social media feeds.
Speculation started over the club captain’s future in north London when he posted nothing but the timer on 16 August. Yesterday morning he posted the emoji again, but as Arsenal fan @afc_richard pointed out on Twitter, “Auba’s sand has just run out on his hourglass. It’s time…”
Yes, it was time, and in a live video from the Emirates Stadium the club confirmed what every Gunners fan wanted to hear: their star striker was staying and he had signed a new three-year deal.
Aubameyang’s contract was due to expire at the end of the 2020-21 season, meaning he was free to talk to other clubs in January, BBC Sport reports. However, the 31-year-old said his future was “never in doubt” and he’s excited to continue working under head coach Mikel Arteta.
Aubameyang confirmed to fans that he had just signed “da ting” and later told arsenal.com: “I want to become an Arsenal legend, just like Thierry [Henry], Wrighty [Ian Wright], [Tony] Adams and [Dennis] Bergkamp. I want to leave a legacy, this is where I belong. This is my family. We have something exciting here and I believe the best is to come for Arsenal.
“Signing for this special club was never in doubt. It’s thanks to our fans, my team-mates, my family and everybody at this club that I feel like I belong here.”
Crucial signing for Arteta
Since 38-year-old Arteta replaced Unai Emery in December 2019 he has led Arsenal to two trophies: last season’s FA Cup and this season’s Community Shield. In both games Aubameyang proved how important he is to Areta’s and Arsenal’s future.
In the FA Cup final on 1 August man-of-the-match Aubameyang scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Chelsea. Then on 29 August the striker was again on the scoresheet in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool in the Community Shield, which Arsenal lifted following a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win.
Arteta is delighted that the club’s star man has agreed to extend his stay. The Spaniard said: “It was important for Pierre-Emerick to stay with us. He’s a superb player with an incredible mentality. Being the player to have taken the least amount of time to reach 50 goals with this club tells you everything you need to know about him and his way of working.


theweekuk--2020-09-16--Can the UK decarbonise without nuclear power?

The UK ’ s bid to achieve “ net zero carbon ” emissions by 2050 has been dealt a staggering blow by the axing of plans to built a new nuclear power station on the Welsh island of Anglesey .
Japanese technology firm Hitachi confirmed today that the £16bn Wylfa Newydd plant , which would have provided around 6 % of Britain ’ s electricity , was being scrapped for good , 20 months after the project was suspended as a result of funding problems .
Justin Bowden of the GMB union said the “ utterly predictable announcement ” was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is vital in achieving decarbonisation ” .
Decarbonisation refers to removing or reducing the amount of carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) emitted by a country ’ s industries and other practices , with the ultimate aim of eliminating these emissions entirely in order to reduce the greenhouse effects that contributes to global warming .
Electric power generation company Drax says that currently , a “ wide range of sectors - industrial , residential and transport - run largely on fossil fuels , which means that their energy comes from the combustion of fuels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But by using alternative sources of energy , the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere can be reduced , helping to slow the effects of climate change .
In 2008 , the government of Gordon Brown passed the UK Climate Change Act , which included a legally binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 80 % below 1990 levels by 2050 .
The act was amended last year to set the tougher goal of reaching “ net zero ” by 2050 .
As the London School of Economics ( LSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ any residual emissions will need to be balanced with removal or offsetting measures so that emissions are zero overall ” .
Are we on the right track ?
A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers ( PwC ) in late 2019 found that the UK was leading the G20 nations in having the most rapid decarbonisation rate since 2000 , at 3.7 % .
But the accounting giant calculated that this rate needed to be accelerated to 9.7 % per year to reach net zero by 2050 .
According to Energy Live News , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require every sector of the UK economy to undergo significant change ” , with “ the electrification of transport and heating to be met by scaling up of renewables and increasing investment in clean energy sources , advanced storage solutions and smart grids ” .
Can the 2050 targets be hit without nuclear power ?
The cancellation of the Wylfa Newydd nuclear project is a big stumbling block in the path to net zero .
Just last month , as Hitachi stepped up talks with the government over funding , politicians hailed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aims laid out in the Climate Change Act .
Ynys Mon ’ s Conservative MP Virginia Crosbie said that “ nuclear power will be critical to the UK Government achieving its carbon-neutral target by 2050 and Wylfa Newydd would make an important contribution to this commitment ” .
World Nuclear News reports that nuclear power “ currently produces about 10 % of the world ’ s electricity , but contributes one-third of all low-carbon electricity ” , while avoiding “ the emission of some two gigatonnes of carbon dioxide annually ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and solar power are growing in importance ” , these are “ intermittent energy sources which can not meet countries ’ needs on their own ” , according to International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Mariano Grossi .
“ That means more use of nuclear power will be needed , ” he told a UN climate summit in December .
Bret Kugelmass , founder of the Washington D.C.-based Energy Impact Center , told Choose Energy in July that “ eliminating annual emissions ” is “ likely impossible without nuclear , and would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ range of other technologies ” .
But with Hitachi now pulling the plugs on the plant in Wales , Downing Street may need to come up with alternative options .

The UK’s bid to achieve “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050 has been dealt a staggering blow by the axing of plans to built a new nuclear power station on the Welsh island of Anglesey.
Japanese technology firm Hitachi confirmed today that the £16bn Wylfa Newydd plant, which would have provided around 6% of Britain’s electricity, was being scrapped for good, 20 months after the project was suspended as a result of funding problems.
Justin Bowden of the GMB union said the “utterly predictable announcement” was a disastrous development as “new nuclear is vital in achieving decarbonisation”.
What is decarbonisation?
Decarbonisation refers to removing or reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by a country’s industries and other practices, with the ultimate aim of eliminating these emissions entirely in order to reduce the greenhouse effects that contributes to global warming.
Electric power generation company Drax says that currently, a “wide range of sectors - industrial, residential and transport - run largely on fossil fuels, which means that their energy comes from the combustion of fuels like coal, oil or gas”. But by using alternative sources of energy, the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere can be reduced, helping to slow the effects of climate change.
In 2008, the government of Gordon Brown passed the UK Climate Change Act, which included a legally binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. The act was amended last year to set the tougher goal of reaching “net zero” by 2050.
As the London School of Economics (LSE) explains, this new goal means that “any residual emissions will need to be balanced with removal or offsetting measures so that emissions are zero overall”.
Are we on the right track?
Achieving the decarbonisation pledge poses an enormous challenge.
A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in late 2019 found that the UK was leading the G20 nations in having the most rapid decarbonisation rate since 2000, at 3.7%.
But the accounting giant calculated that this rate needed to be accelerated to 9.7% per year to reach net zero by 2050.
According to Energy Live News, experts said such an acceleration would “require every sector of the UK economy to undergo significant change”, with “the electrification of transport and heating to be met by scaling up of renewables and increasing investment in clean energy sources, advanced storage solutions and smart grids”.
Can the 2050 targets be hit without nuclear power?
The cancellation of the Wylfa Newydd nuclear project is a big stumbling block in the path to net zero. Just last month, as Hitachi stepped up talks with the government over funding, politicians hailed the project as a major step toward achieving the aims laid out in the Climate Change Act.
Ynys Mon’s Conservative MP Virginia Crosbie said that “nuclear power will be critical to the UK Government achieving its carbon-neutral target by 2050 and Wylfa Newydd would make an important contribution to this commitment”.
World Nuclear News reports that nuclear power “currently produces about 10% of the world’s electricity, but contributes one-third of all low-carbon electricity”, while avoiding “the emission of some two gigatonnes of carbon dioxide annually”.
And although “renewables such as wind and solar power are growing in importance”, these are “intermittent energy sources which cannot meet countries’ needs on their own”, according to International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Mariano Grossi.
“That means more use of nuclear power will be needed,” he told a UN climate summit in December.
Bret Kugelmass, founder of the Washington D.C.-based Energy Impact Center, told Choose Energy in July that “eliminating annual emissions” is “likely impossible without nuclear, and would require incredible unforeseen leaps forward in a range of other technologies”.
But with Hitachi now pulling the plugs on the plant in Wales, Downing Street may need to come up with alternative options.


theweekuk--2020-09-16--Coronavirus test rationing: who will be at the back of the queue?

To keep reading The Week ’ s concise , refreshing and balanced take on the world , please register your @ @ @ @ @ use the details you have shared to manage your registration.You agree to the processing , @ @ @ @ @ of this information for the purpose of managing your registration as described in our Privacy @ @ @ @ @ the details you have shared to manage your newsletter subscription.You agree to the processing , @ @ @ @ @ of this information for the purpose of managing your subscription as described in our Privacy @ @ @ @ @ the information you have shared for carefully considered and specific purposes , where we believe @ @ @ @ @ to do so , for example to send you communications about similar products and services @ @ @ @ @ more about our legitimate interest activity in our privacy policy .
‘ We ’ includes @ @ @ @ @ Publishing ( UK ) Ltd brands as detailed here

We will use the details you have shared to manage your registration. You agree to the processing, storage, sharing and use of this information for the purpose of managing your registration as described in our Privacy Policy.
Would you like to receive The WeekDay newsletter ?
The WeekDay newsletter provides you with a daily digest of news and analysis.
We will use the details you have shared to manage your newsletter subscription. You agree to the processing, storage, sharing and use of this information for the purpose of managing your subscription as described in our Privacy Policy.
We will use the information you have shared for carefully considered and specific purposes, where we believe we have a legitimate case to do so, for example to send you communications about similar products and services we offer. You can find out more about our legitimate interest activity in our Privacy Policy.
If you wish to object to the use of your data in this way, please tick here.
'We' includes The Week and other Future Publishing Limited brands as detailed here.


theweekuk--2020-09-16--Apple launches new products and devices - but no iPhone 12

It was not a typical September launch event for Apple , as the tech giant went virtual in unveiling its new range of products .
Previous editions have seen Apple bosses speak in front of an audience at the Steve Jobs Theatre , but last night CEO Tim Cook kicked off the event from within the company ’ s corporate HQ before handing over to key personnel to introduce the new devices .
While there was a focus on the new Apple Watch series , iPads , Fitness+ and Apple One services bundle , there was no unveiling of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new model for Apple ’ s flagship smartphone will be announced on either 13 or 14 October .
Here we take a look at the new products launched last night .
UK release date : on sale from Friday 18 September Price : from £379 The Apple Watch Series 6 introduces a “ revolutionary blood oxygen feature ” that offers users even more insight into their overall wellness .
It delivers many notable hardware improvements , including a faster S6 System in Package ( SiP ) and next-generation always-on altimeter , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on watchOS 7 , the device offers family set-up , sleep tracking , automatic handwashing detection , new workout types , and the ability to curate and share watch faces .
Jeff Williams , Apple ’ s chief operating officer , said : “ Apple Watch Series 6 completely redefines what a watch can do .
With powerful new features , including a blood oxygen sensor and app , Apple Watch becomes even more indispensable by providing further insight into overall well-being.
” The largest and most advanced retina display allows users to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch SE features the same accelerometer , gyroscope , and always-on altimeter as Apple Watch Series 6 , and with the latest motion sensors and microphone , it offers robust health and safety capabilities including fall detection , Emergency SOS , international emergency calling , and the Noise app .
“ Apple Watch SE combines elements of the Series 6 design with the most essential features of Apple Watch , all at a more affordable price , ” said Williams .
“ We ’ re excited to offer another great option to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and keep an eye on their health.
” UK release date : available in October Price : from £579 The all-new iPad Air is the “ most powerful , versatile , and colourful iPad Air ever ” .
Available in five finishes , it features an all-screen design with a larger 10.9-inch liquid retina display , camera and audio upgrades , and a new integrated Touch ID sensor in the top button .
The A14 Bionic chip gives it a “ massive boost in performance ” , and makes it “ by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Air ever made ” .
Greg Joswiak , Apple ’ s senior vice president of worldwide marketing , said : “ We ’ re excited to introduce a completely redesigned and far more powerful iPad Air , debuting Apple ’ s most powerful chip ever made , the A14 Bionic.
” The eighth-generation iPad features an A12 Bionic chip that delivers a “ huge leap in performance ” , with 40 % faster central processing unit ( CPU ) and twice the graphics capability .
Apple says this makes the new iPad up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top-selling Windows laptop , up to three times faster than the top-selling Android tablet and up to six times faster than the top-selling Chromebook ” .
Joswiak added : “ We ’ re excited to offer customers an even faster and more powerful experience with the eighth-generation iPad .
With its beautiful 10.2-inch retina display , the performance boost from the A12 Bionic , great cameras , and so much more , the new iPad is incredible value at a time when , more than ever , our customers need powerful and versatile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and connect with loved ones.
” Arriving later this year , Fitness+ is Apple ’ s first fitness subscription service and will take on the likes of Peloton , says CNN .
While built for Apple Watch , The Verge reports that the fitness service will integrate with iPhones , iPads , and Apple TV .
Available for a monthly or annual subscription , current Apple Watch owners get one month free and buyers of a new Apple Watch will get three months free .
Jay Blahnik , Apple ’ s senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : “ With diverse studio workouts that are suitable for all ability levels , led by a phenomenal group of unique trainers , and an approachable program designed for beginners all the way through to the fitness enthusiast - as well as the flexibility to work out anywhere - there ’ s something for everyone .
We know Fitness+ will take working out with Apple Watch to the next level with unparalleled engagement , convenience , and inspiration.
” In reaction to the launch of Apple Fitness+ , Peloton tweeted : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Welcome to the world of digital fitness , @ Apple.
” Apple One allows users to get all of Apple ’ s subscription services in “ one simple plan ” , including Apple Music , Apple TV+ , Apple Arcade , Apple News+ , Apple Fitness+ , and iCloud .
With a single subscription , customers in more than 100 countries and regions can enjoy Apple services across devices including the iPhone , iPad , iPod touch , Apple TV and Mac .
• Family : £19.95 per month ( save £7.50 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other people ; includes Apple Music , Apple TV+ , Apple Music , iCloud 200GB ) • Premier : £29.95 per month ( save £22 per month and share with up to five other people ; includes Apple Music , Apple TV+ , Apple Arcade , iCloud 2TB , Apple News+ , Apple Fitness+ )

It was not a typical September launch event for Apple, as the tech giant went virtual in unveiling its new range of products.
Previous editions have seen Apple bosses speak in front of an audience at the Steve Jobs Theatre, but last night CEO Tim Cook kicked off the event from within the company’s corporate HQ before handing over to key personnel to introduce the new devices.
While there was a focus on the new Apple Watch series, iPads, Fitness+ and Apple One services bundle, there was no unveiling of the iPhone 12.
CNET.com predicts that the new model for Apple’s flagship smartphone will be announced on either 13 or 14 October.
Here we take a look at the new products launched last night.
Apple Watch Series 6
UK release date: on sale from Friday 18 September Price: from £379
The Apple Watch Series 6 introduces a “revolutionary blood oxygen feature” that offers users even more insight into their overall wellness. It delivers many notable hardware improvements, including a faster S6 System in Package (SiP) and next-generation always-on altimeter, along with its most colourful line-up yet. Running on watchOS 7, the device offers family set-up, sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, new workout types, and the ability to curate and share watch faces.
Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, said: “Apple Watch Series 6 completely redefines what a watch can do. With powerful new features, including a blood oxygen sensor and app, Apple Watch becomes even more indispensable by providing further insight into overall well-being.”
Apple Watch SE
UK release date: Friday 18 September Price: from £269
The largest and most advanced retina display allows users to see more details and information. Apple Watch SE features the same accelerometer, gyroscope, and always-on altimeter as Apple Watch Series 6, and with the latest motion sensors and microphone, it offers robust health and safety capabilities including fall detection, Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, and the Noise app.
“Apple Watch SE combines elements of the Series 6 design with the most essential features of Apple Watch, all at a more affordable price,” said Williams. “We’re excited to offer another great option to help customers stay connected, be more active, and keep an eye on their health.”
New iPad Air
UK release date: available in October Price: from £579


theweekuk--2020-09-16--How other countries are extending or ending furlough

The UK government is facing growing calls to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in order to prevent what Labour leader Keir Starmer has described as the “ scarring effect ” of “ mass unemployment ” .
Chancellor Riski Sunak has insisted that his “ priority ” is to find new ways to protect jobs , but the Unite union is warning that the “ redundancy floodgates ” are set to open as the clock ticks down to the current 31 October end date for the furlough scheme .
With unemployment already at a two-year high , “ influential figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging the government to bring in a German or French-style system ” , the BBC reports .
Here ’ s how the two European nations plus the US have handled the transition : First used during the 2008 financial crisis , Germany ’ s Kurzarbeit ( “ part-time work ” ) scheme covers 60 % of the net salary of a new claimant - less than Britain ’ s 80 % .
However , “ the German wage subsidy rises to up to 80 % of net salary , or 87 % for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long you have been furloughed ” , reports Channel 4 News ’ FactCheck .
And unlike the UK scheme , which was initially “ based on paying workers to stay at home and do nothing ” , the German system “ was always about short-time working - allowing employers to reduce employees ’ hours while keeping them in a job ” , says the BBC .
The money paid to workers by the government then covers the wages they would have earned working those lost hours .
The scheme pays out up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees with children - much higher than the UK ’ s £2,500 cap - and has been extended until at least the end of 2021 .
The French equivalent is called chomage partial , or “ partial unemployment ” .
Described by The Telegraph as being “ one of the most generous furlough schemes in Europe ” , the French government has paid workers up to 70 % of their gross salary – roughly equivalent to 84 % of net salary – for salaries up to €6,927 ( £6,340 ) gross per month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 % of their net salary .
As with the German version , the French scheme “ is designed to subsidise the jobs of people on reduced working hours - and it ’ s also intended for the long haul ” , says the BBC .
The scheme has been extended until the end of next year .
The Donald Trump administration has taken a less hands-on approach to supporting employees put on furlough .
Back in March , the president signed a $ 2.2trn relief bill that was intended “ to soften @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the US economy ” and that included a one-off $ 1,200 ( £925 ) payout to most adults , with $ 500 ( £385 ) per dependent child , says CNet .
In addition , the “ typical unemployed American ” received about $ 930 ( £715 ) a week from the state between late March and late July , with the payments then cut to about $ 330 ( £250 ) , adds The Washington Post .
House Democrats have also called for a second round of stimulus checks worth up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family - a proposal that Republicans have yet to act on .

The UK government is facing growing calls to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in order to prevent what Labour leader Keir Starmer has described as the “scarring effect” of “mass unemployment” .
Chancellor Riski Sunak has insisted that his “priority” is to find new ways to protect jobs, but the Unite union is warning that the “redundancy floodgates” are set to open as the clock ticks down to the current 31 October end date for the furlough scheme.
With unemployment already at a two-year high, “influential figures including former prime minister Gordon Brown are urging the government to bring in a German or French-style system”, the BBC reports.
Here’s how the two European nations plus the US have handled the transition:
Germany
First used during the 2008 financial crisis, Germany’s Kurzarbeit (“part-time work”) scheme covers 60% of the net salary of a new claimant - less than Britain’s 80%. However, “the German wage subsidy rises to up to 80% of net salary, or 87% for people with children, depending on how long you have been furloughed”, reports Channel 4 News’ FactCheck.
And unlike the UK scheme, which was initially “based on paying workers to stay at home and do nothing”, the German system “was always about short-time working - allowing employers to reduce employees’ hours while keeping them in a job”, says the BBC.
The money paid to workers by the government then covers the wages they would have earned working those lost hours.
The scheme pays out up to €6,700 (£6,130) per month for employees with children - much higher than the UK’s £2,500 cap - and has been extended until at least the end of 2021.
France
The French equivalent is called chomage partial, or “partial unemployment”. Described by The Telegraph as being “one of the most generous furlough schemes in Europe”, the French government has paid workers up to 70% of their gross salary – roughly equivalent to 84% of net salary – for salaries up to €6,927 (£6,340) gross per month. Workers on minimum wage have got 100% of their net salary.
As with the German version, the French scheme “is designed to subsidise the jobs of people on reduced working hours - and it’s also intended for the long haul”, says the BBC. The scheme has been extended until the end of next year.
US
The Donald Trump administration has taken a less hands-on approach to supporting employees put on furlough.
Back in March, the president signed a $2.2trn relief bill that was intended “to soften the financial impact that the coronavirus had on the US economy” and that included a one-off $1,200 (£925) payout to most adults, with $500 (£385) per dependent child, says CNet.
In addition, the “typical unemployed American” received about $930 (£715) a week from the state between late March and late July, with the payments then cut to about $330 (£250), adds The Washington Post.
House Democrats have also called for a second round of stimulus checks worth up to $6,000 (£4,625) per family - a proposal that Republicans have yet to act on.


theweekuk--2020-09-16--Unite: extend furlough scheme now or ‘redundancy floodgates will open’

Union leader Len McCluskey has requested an emergency meeting with Boris Johnson to plead the case for extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in order to prevent the “ redundancy floodgates ” from opening .
Today marks 45 days until the furlough scheme comes to an end - “ the same amount of time that employers must give for notice of redundancy ” , says the BBC .
In a letter to the prime minister , Unite boss McCluskey ( pictured above ) warns that the milestone could be a “ very bleak ” day for UK jobs , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looming for workers .
Data released this week by the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) shows that a total of 695,000 payroll jobs were lost in the first five months of the pandemic , with the total number of people out of work standing at 1.4 million .
McCluskey is calling on Johnson to minimise further redundancies by moving swiftly to “ put a floor ” under employers through the modification of the furlough scheme , currently due to end on 31 October .
The union is also urging the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as manufacturing , aviation and hospitality .
In his letter to the PM , McCluskey writes : “ With no sign yet of your government moving to extend or modify the scheme , there is the very real fear that this landmark will open the floodgates for redundancy notices as employers seek to comply with the 45 days ’ notice period .
“ I am therefore writing to you today to ask that you move urgently to signal that your government will act to save businesses and workers from this cliff edge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor under struggling employers who are working hard to stabilise in the face of immense challenges , helping them save jobs , but it will also respect and repay the historic investment made by taxpayers and our country to avert widespread unemployment .
“ Winter and Christmas are fast approaching and the recent rise in the virus infection rate is very concerning , as your recent ‘ rule of six ’ ruling underscores , but it also indicates that any sense of ‘ normal ’ consumer behaviour and economic activity will not return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therefore vital that the coronavirus job retention scheme is extended and that there is a comprehensive plan drawn up for sector specific support.
” McCluskey adds that he “ would welcome an opportunity to meet with you and [ Chancellor ] Rishi Sunak to discuss this urgent request ” - a request that “ will be seen as a pragmatic move from a union leader caricatured as left-wing firebrand ‘ Red Len ’ ” , says Sky News .
Sunak : new ways to protect jobs is ‘ priority ’ The Treasury Select @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should consider a targeted extension of the furlough scheme , under which the government has helped pay the wages of a total of around ten million workers .
But despite the recommendation , Sunak said yesterday that his “ priority ” was to find new ways to protect jobs .
The chancellor told the BBC : “ I wouldn ’ t be being honest with people if I pretended that it was always going to be possible for people to return to the job that they had .
Now in terms of helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think the right thing to do is to endlessly extend furlough .
“ People don ’ t want to be at home , they want to be in work , and that ’ s why our plan for jobs is so important , because it helps provide people with new opportunities , going forward .
”

Union leader Len McCluskey has requested an emergency meeting with Boris Johnson to plead the case for extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in order to prevent the “redundancy floodgates” from opening.
Today marks 45 days until the furlough scheme comes to an end - “the same amount of time that employers must give for notice of redundancy”, says the BBC.
In a letter to the prime minister, Unite boss McCluskey (pictured above) warns that the milestone could be a “very bleak” day for UK jobs, with a “miserable winter and Christmas” looming for workers.
‘Comprehensive plan is vital’
Data released this week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that a total of 695,000 payroll jobs were lost in the first five months of the pandemic, with the total number of people out of work standing at 1.4 million.
McCluskey is calling on Johnson to minimise further redundancies by moving swiftly to “put a floor” under employers through the modification of the furlough scheme, currently due to end on 31 October. The union is also urging the government to provide targeted assistance for sectors such as manufacturing, aviation and hospitality.
In his letter to the PM, McCluskey writes: “With no sign yet of your government moving to extend or modify the scheme, there is the very real fear that this landmark will open the floodgates for redundancy notices as employers seek to comply with the 45 days’ notice period.
“I am therefore writing to you today to ask that you move urgently to signal that your government will act to save businesses and workers from this cliff edge.
“Such a move would put a floor under struggling employers who are working hard to stabilise in the face of immense challenges, helping them save jobs, but it will also respect and repay the historic investment made by taxpayers and our country to avert widespread unemployment.
“Winter and Christmas are fast approaching and the recent rise in the virus infection rate is very concerning, as your recent ‘rule of six’ ruling underscores, but it also indicates that any sense of ‘normal’ consumer behaviour and economic activity will not return for some time.
“It is therefore vital that the coronavirus job retention scheme is extended and that there is a comprehensive plan drawn up for sector specific support.”
McCluskey adds that he “would welcome an opportunity to meet with you and [Chancellor] Rishi Sunak to discuss this urgent request” - a request that “will be seen as a pragmatic move from a union leader caricatured as left-wing firebrand ‘Red Len’”, says Sky News.
Sunak: new ways to protect jobs is ‘priority’
The Treasury Select Committee said last week that the government should consider a targeted extension of the furlough scheme, under which the government has helped pay the wages of a total of around ten million workers. But despite the recommendation, Sunak said yesterday that his “priority” was to find new ways to protect jobs.
The chancellor told the BBC: “I wouldn’t be being honest with people if I pretended that it was always going to be possible for people to return to the job that they had. Now in terms of helping those people, I don’t think the right thing to do is to endlessly extend furlough.
“People don’t want to be at home, they want to be in work, and that’s why our plan for jobs is so important, because it helps provide people with new opportunities, going forward.”


theweekuk--2020-09-16--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Wednesday 16 Sep 2020

Women who drink just a single glass of wine in their first week of pregnancy will have it noted on @ @ @ @ @ records under controversial new proposals .
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is @ @ @ @ @ by expectant mothers should be recorded , regardless of whether they consent or whether they @ @ @ @ @ they drank it .
Experts believe the move would breach the data protection regulations .

Privacy concern over plans to record pregnancy drinks
Women who drink just a single glass of wine in their first week of pregnancy will have it noted on their child’s medical records under controversial new proposals. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is proposing that all alcohol consumed by expectant mothers should be recorded, regardless of whether they consent or whether they knew they were pregnant when they drank it. Experts believe the move would breach the data protection regulations.


theweekuk--2020-09-15--Sky Arts: must-watch shows and documentaries

Sky Arts will this week become free to watch for everyone across the UK .
From Thursday 17 September , the TV channel dedicated to arts and culture will move to Freeview channel 11 and Freesat channel 147 .
While the Sky Arts linear channel will be made free , the Sky Arts On Demand library of content , with more than 2,000 hours of shows , will remain exclusive to Sky and Now TV Entertainment Pass customers .
With many music venues and theatres still closed because of coronavirus measures , the broadcaster is pledging to “ increase access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the cultural sector ” .
Writing in the London Evening Standard , director of Sky Arts Philip Edgar-Jones said : “ The crisis for culture is anything but over .
But I hope that we can build on and amplify the brilliant work that leaders in the arts are doing to keep the country ’ s greatest cultural assets alive .
If we can help keep the nation dancing , singing , painting and making - we ’ ll have made a start.
” New shows and documentaries include Brian Johnson meets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That Made Me , Danny Dyer on Pinter , and No Masks .
Existing programmes such as The South Bank Show will also feature .
Here we pick out the programmes to watch .
New series for 2021 where artists and communities across the UK join forces to create the next great British landmark .
The show has been created in response to the current debate about the meaning of public monuments , and who or what is commemorated .
The live-streamed paint-along version of the channel ’ s flagship series Portrait Artist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return this autumn both on Sky TV Facebook and Sky Arts , following its huge success during lockdown .
Goldie : The Art That Made Me Renowned visual artist and musician Goldie goes on a personal and passionate journey into the world of graffiti and street art , tracing the evolution of the art form in parallel with his own career .
Taking viewers to cities including New York , London , Manchester , Wolverhampton , Miami and Lisbon , Goldie meets the originators and crucial artists from the scene , plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edges of the art form today .
Taken under his wing following roles in films like 1997 ’ s Human Traffic , Pinter cast Dyer in several of his plays , including No Man ’ s Land and The Homecoming .
Now , 12 years after Pinter ’ s death , Dyer takes a look back at his mentor ’ s work and the profound influence he had on his life .
Dyer said : “ It was an honour to take part in this documentary as I got to go on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Harold is something I will always cherish and I was very touched by the whole experience .
What an incredible complex humble human being he was .
I miss him every day.
” New late-night , feature-length monthly arts and culture show , with Tim Marlow hosting alongside a cast of leading and new voices from across the industry .
Featuring topical debate , critical discussion , and performances , the first edition of this series will assess the importance of culture in the nation ’ s recovery from Covid-19 and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will film and broadcast the English National Opera ’ s much-anticipated return to live performance with a drive-in , super-sized , and socially-distanced production of La Bohème at London ’ s Alexandra Palace .
Theatre Royal Stratford East and Moonshine Features present a new work based on the real-life experiences and testimonies of key workers from east London .
Weaved together with imagined narratives , written by artistic director Nadia Fall and Rebecca Lenkiewicz , No Masks will be a testament to the dedication of key workers during the Covid-19 crisis as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fears .
A celebration of spoken word hosted by Benjamin Zephaniah , featuring some of the country ’ s leading performers who will be lighting up the mic with their lyrical creativity .
The poets will perform in front of a live audience of spoken word fans who are key to every performance .
Each week Zephaniah will open up the floor to give audience members the opportunity to spontaneously take part in the open mic section of the show .
Presented by Kate Bryan , Inside Art is a series that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ venues in the UK , connecting audiences with art experiences from photography , painting and sculpture exhibits , to design video and fashion .
It will look at the curatorial decisions being made at institutions as well as focusing on the artists themselves .
Arts institutions involved in the series include Four Corners , Beecroft Gallery , Hepworth Wakefield , Linda McCartney at the Walker Art Gallery and Manx Museum .
Each episode will air during the dates of the featured exhibition .
It ’ s a meeting of rock legends as AC/DC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Foo Fighters share stories about life on the road .
For Grohl , this is a once in a lifetime meeting with one of the greatest rock idols .
Elbow frontman and broadcaster Guy Garvey lifts the lid on two decades of TV gold – with era-defining musical performances , long lost studio appearances and revealing interviews that have remained on the shelves for decades .
Curated from the archives of broadcasters like Granada Television , Tyne Tees and London Weekend Television , each programme features some of Garvey ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1970s and 1980s , as seen on shows like So It Goes , The Tube , Harty and Razzmatazz .
The unseen , uncensored , unbelievable and unexpected are all brought together in this series revealing the buried treasure of Britain ’ s rich music archive .
Featuring in-depth interviews with the most renowned photographers , musicians , journalists and social commentators , ICON is a six-part rollercoaster ride through the rich history and cultural impact of music photography .
The show will feature photographers such as Lawrence Watson , Bob Gruen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baron Wolman , Rankin , Lynn Goldsmith , Ross Halfin and Gered Mankovitz alongside artists including Nick Mason ( Pink Floyd ) , Glen Matlock ( Sex Pistols ) , Ziggy Marley , Lars Ulrich ( Metallica ) , Alice Cooper and Zara Larsson .
Returning for a seventh series , Stephen Mangan reprises his role as host and judges include artist Tai Shan Schierenberg , independent curator Kathleen Soriano and art historian Kate Bryan .
Throughout the series 24 celebrity sitters from the worlds of stage , screen , sport and music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Celebrity sitters include Normal People ’ s Paul Mescal , First Dates front-of-house Fred Sirieux , singer Ray BLK and newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald .
Leading figures discuss their work , influences and inspirations in a collection of eye-opening exclusive interviews with Melvyn Bragg .
In the next series , due to air in November 2020 , interviewees will include Bernardine Evaristo , Benjamin Zephaniah , Gillian Anderson and Simon Armitage .
This series is complemented by The South Bank Show Originals , featuring famous past episodes with added footage and extra interviews @ @ @

Sky Arts will this week become free to watch for everyone across the UK.
From Thursday 17 September, the TV channel dedicated to arts and culture will move to Freeview channel 11 and Freesat channel 147.
While the Sky Arts linear channel will be made free, the Sky Arts On Demand library of content, with more than 2,000 hours of shows, will remain exclusive to Sky and Now TV Entertainment Pass customers.
With many music venues and theatres still closed because of coronavirus measures, the broadcaster is pledging to “increase access and drive participation at a vital time for the cultural sector”.
Writing in the London Evening Standard, director of Sky Arts Philip Edgar-Jones said: “The crisis for culture is anything but over. But I hope that we can build on and amplify the brilliant work that leaders in the arts are doing to keep the country’s greatest cultural assets alive. If we can help keep the nation dancing, singing, painting and making - we’ll have made a start.”
New shows and documentaries include Brian Johnson meets Dave Grohl, Goldie: The Art That Made Me, Danny Dyer on Pinter, and No Masks. Existing programmes such as The South Bank Show will also feature.
Here we pick out the programmes to watch.
Newly-commissioned shows
Landmark
New series for 2021 where artists and communities across the UK join forces to create the next great British landmark. The show has been created in response to the current debate about the meaning of public monuments, and who or what is commemorated.
Portrait Artist of the Week
The live-streamed paint-along version of the channel’s flagship series Portrait Artist of the Year, has been confirmed to return this autumn both on Sky TV Facebook and Sky Arts, following its huge success during lockdown.
Goldie: The Art That Made Me
Renowned visual artist and musician Goldie goes on a personal and passionate journey into the world of graffiti and street art, tracing the evolution of the art form in parallel with his own career. Taking viewers to cities including New York, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Miami and Lisbon, Goldie meets the originators and crucial artists from the scene, plus those who continue to push at the edges of the art form today.
Danny Dyer on Pinter
Taken under his wing following roles in films like 1997’s Human Traffic, Pinter cast Dyer in several of his plays, including No Man’s Land and The Homecoming. Now, 12 years after Pinter’s death, Dyer takes a look back at his mentor’s work and the profound influence he had on his life. Dyer said: “It was an honour to take part in this documentary as I got to go on this journey down memory lane. My relationship with Harold is something I will always cherish and I was very touched by the whole experience. What an incredible complex humble human being he was. I miss him every day.”
Sky Arts Late
New late-night, feature-length monthly arts and culture show, with Tim Marlow hosting alongside a cast of leading and new voices from across the industry. Featuring topical debate, critical discussion, and performances, the first edition of this series will assess the importance of culture in the nation’s recovery from Covid-19 and how it is reshaping creativity.
ENO’s Drive & Live: La Bohème
Sky Arts will film and broadcast the English National Opera’s much-anticipated return to live performance with a drive-in, super-sized, and socially-distanced production of La Bohème at London’s Alexandra Palace.
No Masks
Theatre Royal Stratford East and Moonshine Features present a new work based on the real-life experiences and testimonies of key workers from east London. Weaved together with imagined narratives, written by artistic director Nadia Fall and Rebecca Lenkiewicz, No Masks will be a testament to the dedication of key workers during the Covid-19 crisis as well as an exploration of our shared hopes and fears.
Life & Rhymes
A celebration of spoken word hosted by Benjamin Zephaniah, featuring some of the country’s leading performers who will be lighting up the mic with their lyrical creativity. The poets will perform in front of a live audience of spoken word fans who are key to every performance. Each week Zephaniah will open up the floor to give audience members the opportunity to spontaneously take part in the open mic section of the show.
Inside Art
Presented by Kate Bryan, Inside Art is a series that explores temporary exhibitions at galleries and cultural venues in the UK, connecting audiences with art experiences from photography, painting and sculpture exhibits, to design video and fashion. It will look at the curatorial decisions being made at institutions as well as focusing on the artists themselves. Arts institutions involved in the series include Four Corners, Beecroft Gallery, Hepworth Wakefield, Linda McCartney at the Walker Art Gallery and Manx Museum. Each episode will air during the dates of the featured exhibition.
Brian Johnson meets Dave Grohl
It’s a meeting of rock legends as AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters share stories about life on the road. For Grohl, this is a once in a lifetime meeting with one of the greatest rock idols.
Guy Garvey: From The Vaults
Elbow frontman and broadcaster Guy Garvey lifts the lid on two decades of TV gold – with era-defining musical performances, long lost studio appearances and revealing interviews that have remained on the shelves for decades. Curated from the archives of broadcasters like Granada Television, Tyne Tees and London Weekend Television, each programme features some of Garvey’s favourite performers from a different year across the 1970s and 1980s, as seen on shows like So It Goes, The Tube, Harty and Razzmatazz. The unseen, uncensored, unbelievable and unexpected are all brought together in this series revealing the buried treasure of Britain’s rich music archive.
ICON: Music Through The Lens
Featuring in-depth interviews with the most renowned photographers, musicians, journalists and social commentators, ICON is a six-part rollercoaster ride through the rich history and cultural impact of music photography. The show will feature photographers such as Lawrence Watson, Bob Gruen, Mick Rock, Deborah Feingold, Baron Wolman, Rankin, Lynn Goldsmith, Ross Halfin and Gered Mankovitz alongside artists including Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Ziggy Marley, Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Alice Cooper and Zara Larsson.
Existing Sky Arts programmes
Portrait Artist of the Year
Returning for a seventh series, Stephen Mangan reprises his role as host and judges include artist Tai Shan Schierenberg, independent curator Kathleen Soriano and art historian Kate Bryan. Throughout the series 24 celebrity sitters from the worlds of stage, screen, sport and music become the subject for the painters. Celebrity sitters include Normal People’s Paul Mescal, First Dates front-of-house Fred Sirieux, singer Ray BLK and newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald.
The South Bank Show
Leading figures discuss their work, influences and inspirations in a collection of eye-opening exclusive interviews with Melvyn Bragg. In the next series, due to air in November 2020, interviewees will include Bernardine Evaristo, Benjamin Zephaniah, Gillian Anderson and Simon Armitage. This series is complemented by The South Bank Show Originals, featuring famous past episodes with added footage and extra interviews and contributors.


theweekuk--2020-09-15--Plane wrong: Donald Trump campaign ad features Russian fighter jets

A fundraising advert for the presidential campaign of Donald Trump has crashed and burned after experts pointed out that the promo features images of Russian-made fighter jets and weapons .
The Trump Make America Great Again Committee - a campaign arm run by the Republican National Committee ( RNC ) - ran a digital ad dubbed “ Support Our Troops ” between 8 and 12 September that showed the “ silhouettes of three soldiers walking as a fighter jet flies over them ” , Politico reports .
But Pierre Sprey , who helped design the F-16 and A-10 planes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news site that the planes in question are Russian-built MiG-29s .
“ That ’ s definitely a MiG-29 , ” said Sprey .
“ I ’ m glad to see it ’ s supporting our troops.
” According to Politico , he “ noted the angle of the aircraft ’ s tail , the way the tail is swept far back , and the spacing of the engines , along with the tunnel between them ” as key identifying factors .
As the Daily Mail reports , “ the MiG-29 is the Russians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed during the Cold War specifically to counter American F-15 and F-16s ” .
Sprey ’ s plane claims were confirmed by Ruslan Pukhov , director of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies in Moscow .
And Pukhov heaped further humiliation on the Trump campaign by noting that one of the soldiers in the ad is carrying a AK-74 - an assault rifle originally manufactured in the Soviet Union and rarely used by US armed forces .
The image in the ad is a stock photo from Shutterstock.com , and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo ’ s creator , Arthur Zakirov , told Politico that the composite image was “ a completely recreated scene from various photographs of mine ” and shows a 3D model of a MiG-29 , while the soldiers were Russian models .
The photo was created five years ago and was taken in three different countries , showing Russian sky , Greek mountains and French ground , said Zakirov , an oil company analyst and amateur photographer based in the Russian city of Perm .
“ Today , you hear about the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tomorrow , you are this hand , ” he joked , adding that he thought the Trump fundraising ad mix-up was “ pretty funny ” .
Both the Trump campaign and the RNC declined to comment to Politico .

A fundraising advert for the presidential campaign of Donald Trump has crashed and burned after experts pointed out that the promo features images of Russian-made fighter jets and weapons.
The Trump Make America Great Again Committee - a campaign arm run by the Republican National Committee (RNC) - ran a digital ad dubbed “Support Our Troops” between 8 and 12 September that showed the “silhouettes of three soldiers walking as a fighter jet flies over them”, Politico reports.
But Pierre Sprey, who helped design the F-16 and A-10 planes for the US Air Force, told the news site that the planes in question are Russian-built MiG-29s.
“That’s definitely a MiG-29,” said Sprey. “I’m glad to see it’s supporting our troops.”
According to Politico, he “noted the angle of the aircraft’s tail, the way the tail is swept far back, and the spacing of the engines, along with the tunnel between them” as key identifying factors.
As the Daily Mail reports, “the MiG-29 is the Russians’ mainstay fighter jet and it was developed during the Cold War specifically to counter American F-15 and F-16s”.
Sprey’s plane claims were confirmed by Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies in Moscow.
And Pukhov heaped further humiliation on the Trump campaign by noting that one of the soldiers in the ad is carrying a AK-74 - an assault rifle originally manufactured in the Soviet Union and rarely used by US armed forces.
The image in the ad is a stock photo from Shutterstock.com, and was uploaded by an Andorra-based user. The photo’s creator, Arthur Zakirov, told Politico that the composite image was “a completely recreated scene from various photographs of mine” and shows a 3D model of a MiG-29, while the soldiers were Russian models.
The photo was created five years ago and was taken in three different countries, showing Russian sky, Greek mountains and French ground, said Zakirov, an oil company analyst and amateur photographer based in the Russian city of Perm.
“Today, you hear about the Kremlin’s hand in US politics. Tomorrow, you are this hand,” he joked, adding that he thought the Trump fundraising ad mix-up was “pretty funny”.
Both the Trump campaign and the RNC declined to comment to Politico.


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Instant Opinion: Hitachi ‘failed its nuclear test’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
Hitachi failed its nuclear test .
If only it had the vanity of HS2 “ What has been intriguing about HS2 , like Hinkley Point , is its political invulnerability .
From now on it will be charging British taxpayers over £100m a week for the scheduled 20 years of the project .
The sums are so stupefying as to have an inverse effect .
They are taken as a sign of political machismo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ .
Opponents have included even Johnson and his svengali , Dominic Cummings .
Other ministers are only too aware that £100m a week can not avoid impacting on their projects.
” Trump can ’ t decide whom he should tell people to hate “ It ’ s almost as though the idea that Joe Biden is responsible for violence that occurs while Donald Trump is president makes about as much sense as the idea that Biden should have implemented a national mask mandate .
The public , whose ability to rationally weigh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems nonetheless to have grasped that Trump ’ s claim to be the guarantor of order made little sense.During his convention speech , Trump said ‘ No one will be safe in Biden ’ s America.
’ But the fear of chaos and societal dissolution should Biden be elected doesn ’ t seem to have taken hold.
” Snooping , squealing and snitching is the wrong remedy “ Snitching .
It sounds so innocent does n't it ?
Harmless schoolyard stuff .
Running to tell teacher that Micky was the one who drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that kind of thing .
But if your memory stretches back as far as your schooldays you 'll recall that the kids who routinely `` told on '' others for minor instances of wrongdoing were never popular .
That 's because trying to get other people into trouble while burnishing your own standing as a virtuous upholder of official authority is deeply unattractive behaviour .
Most children know this instinctively .
But there 's always a few who don't.
” Why Australia fails to protect its heritage “ Rio Tinto knew the site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 46,000 years of continuous human occupation across a changing climate , including the last Ice Age .
Archaeologists had salvaged more than 7,000 artifacts - some more than 40,000 years old - from the area .
One of the artifacts was a 4,000-year-old plait of human hair , which represented a precious genetic link to present-day Traditional Owners .
In regular meetings with Rio Tinto , they had tried to stop the destruction of the caves from proceeding , reminding the company that the site was ‘ one of the most sacred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And yet , on Australia ’ s National Sorry Day - which remembers the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities - Rio Tinto went ahead with its plans.
” “ ‘ Black Power !
’ was an utterance popularised by radical Black activists in the 1960s and 1970s .
Although often ignored ideologically , the iconography of Black Power continues to be circulated in popular culture - without a thorough engagement with the politics that led to its creation .
The glamorisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that stretches as far back as the 1960s .
However , with the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement , it is time that we move beyond our obsession with revolutionary aesthetics and engage with its politics .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Simon Jenkins in The Guardian
on misplaced priorities
Hitachi failed its nuclear test. If only it had the vanity of HS2
“What has been intriguing about HS2, like Hinkley Point, is its political invulnerability. From now on it will be charging British taxpayers over £100m a week for the scheduled 20 years of the project. The sums are so stupefying as to have an inverse effect. They are taken as a sign of political machismo, of ‘build, build, build’. Opponents have included even Johnson and his svengali, Dominic Cummings. Other ministers are only too aware that £100m a week cannot avoid impacting on their projects.”
2. Paul Waldman in the Washington Post
on a muddled message
Trump can’t decide whom he should tell people to hate
“It’s almost as though the idea that Joe Biden is responsible for violence that occurs while Donald Trump is president makes about as much sense as the idea that Biden should have implemented a national mask mandate. The public, whose ability to rationally weigh evidence and logic is sometimes limited, seems nonetheless to have grasped that Trump’s claim to be the guarantor of order made little sense.During his convention speech, Trump said ‘No one will be safe in Biden’s America.’ But the fear of chaos and societal dissolution should Biden be elected doesn’t seem to have taken hold.”
3. Fionola Meredith in The Belfast Telegraph
on backstabbing your fellow citizens
Snooping, squealing and snitching is the wrong remedy
“Snitching. It sounds so innocent doesn't it? Harmless schoolyard stuff. Running to tell teacher that Micky was the one who drew a rude picture on the blackboard, that kind of thing. But if your memory stretches back as far as your schooldays you'll recall that the kids who routinely "told on" others for minor instances of wrongdoing were never popular. That's because trying to get other people into trouble while burnishing your own standing as a virtuous upholder of official authority is deeply unattractive behaviour. Most children know this instinctively. But there's always a few who don't.”
4. Julia Hurst in Politico
on Rio Tinto’s rampant destruction
Why Australia fails to protect its heritage
“Rio Tinto knew the site was of international significance and held evidence of 46,000 years of continuous human occupation across a changing climate, including the last Ice Age. Archaeologists had salvaged more than 7,000 artifacts - some more than 40,000 years old - from the area. One of the artifacts was a 4,000-year-old plait of human hair, which represented a precious genetic link to present-day Traditional Owners. In regular meetings with Rio Tinto, they had tried to stop the destruction of the caves from proceeding, reminding the company that the site was ‘one of the most sacred sites in the Pilbara region’. And yet, on Australia’s National Sorry Day - which remembers the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities - Rio Tinto went ahead with its plans.”
5. Bryan Knight in Al Jazeera
on a nuanced history
The pitfalls of glamorising Black Power activism
“‘Black Power!’ was an utterance popularised by radical Black activists in the 1960s and 1970s. Although often ignored ideologically, the iconography of Black Power continues to be circulated in popular culture - without a thorough engagement with the politics that led to its creation. The glamorisation of Black Power imagery is a phenomenon that stretches as far back as the 1960s. However, with the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, it is time that we move beyond our obsession with revolutionary aesthetics and engage with its politics.”


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Books of the Week

Books of the Week

This week ’ s must-read titles include the first volume of Fredrik Logevall ’ s biography of John Fitzgerald Kennedy , Laura Bates ’ s “ brilliantly fierce ” Men Who Hate Women and Sarah Moss ’ s Summerwater , a tale which expertly captures the “ agonised tenderness of family life ” .
Book of the week JFK Volume 1 : 1917-1956 by Fredrik Logevall This book – the first of a two-volume life of John Fitzgerald Kennedy – is “ the most compelling biography I have read in years ” , said Max Hastings in The Sunday Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man of prodigious intelligence and charm who was “ always in a hurry ” .
Born in 1917 , JFK was the second of nine children fathered by the “ horrible ” Joseph Kennedy , a Wall Street tycoon-turned-ambassador who became notorious in the late 1930s for arguing that Britain was “ not worth saving ” from Hitler .
As a boy , John was sickly and “ academically lazy ” , and at first his “ much less intelligent ” elder bother , Joe Jr , was “ earmarked to become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Jr was killed during a wartime bombing mission ( one of four Kennedy siblings to meet violent early deaths ) , Joe Snr transferred his ambitions to his next son .
The Second World War takes up a large proportion of this volume , and rightly so , because it “ made JFK who he was ” , said Andrew Preston in The Spectator .
As aide to his father in London , he witnessed the “ Nazis ’ march to war ” and was “ in the Westminster gallery ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Winston Churchill .
The War also offered evidence of his extraordinary physical courage , said David Runciman in The Guardian .
Having signed up , despite his father ’ s objections to the conflict , JFK was in charge of a motorised torpedo boat that was sunk by the Japanese in 1943 , killing two crew members .
To find help , he “ set out on his own in shark-infested waters ” and eventually brought all ten survivors back alive .
This incident , “ much burnished in the retelling ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into politics .
Logevall ’ s book is a “ riveting ” portrait of a life propelled by “ valour ” , as well as “ vanity and greed ” .
Although Logevall makes his subject “ amiably human ” , he can be “ lenient ” in his judgements , said Peter Conrad in The Observer .
He lets JFK off lightly for “ some shocking marital truancy ” – such as the time in 1956 when , with his wife Jackie pregnant , he went sailing on the French Riviera with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even when Jackie suffered a stillbirth , he insisted on remaining on holiday , only “ scuttling home ” when an adviser told him : “ If you want to run for president you ’ d better get your ass back to your wife ’ s bedside.
” Logevall ends his narrative “ at a cliff edge ” : JFK ’ s decision that same year to aim for the White House in 1960 .
I hope a second “ massive ” volume follows soon : it is “ bound to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fierce and eye-opening book ” , Laura Bates , founder of the Everyday Sexism Project , investigates the “ cult of male supremacy ” , said Steven Poole in The Guardian .
Her research takes her into some truly “ hellish ” pockets of the internet – places where it ’ s considered normal to glorify rape and murder .
The “ manosphere ” , as Bates discovers , consists of several distinct , but interrelated , communities .
Perhaps “ most sinister ” are “ incels ” – or “ involuntary celibates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FT. Enraged at being denied the sex which they consider their due , they “ propose controlling women ’ s sexual autonomy through rape , sexual slavery or sex redistribution ” .
More “ socially accepted ” are Men ’ s Rights Activists , who are interested in “ battling women ” by seeking , for example , to defund domestic violence shelters .
Then there are MGTOW ( “ Men Going Their Own Way ” ) who eschew women altogether because of feminism ’ s effects ; and “ Pick-Up Artists ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seduce ” women .
It ’ s often assumed that groups such as these are made up entirely of “ random weirdos ” , said Lucy Pavia in the London Evening Standard .
In fact , Bates argues , the cult of male supremacy is “ bigger and more organised ” than we might think .
It has helped inspire terrorist atrocities – incel ideology has inspired several mass shootings – and teenage boys are increasingly coming under its sway online .
Bates herself has observed this latter trend , during talks she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ prominent public school ” , a boy in the front row “ calmly puts up his hand to tell her men are more likely to be victims of rape than women ” .
Although at times a hard read , this “ compellingly argued ” book illuminates a phenomenon our society needs to pay attention to .
Novel of the week Summerwater by Sarah Moss “ Summer breaks have never been much fun in Sarah Moss ’ s fiction , ” said Peter Kemp in The Sunday Times .
In Night Waking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hebrides finds a baby ’ s skeleton in the garden of their rented home ; Ghost Wall ( 2018 ) describes a camping trip that “ escalates into horror ” .
In Summerwater , an “ even grimmer holiday experience unrolls ” in a cabin park by a Scottish loch , where we follow 12 characters over a single rainy day .
All are in some kind of crisis – from a doctor who senses that his wife is succumbing to Alzheimer ’ s to a teenager who narrowly avoids drowning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , Moss ’ s “ imaginative versatility ” makes this a rewarding read .
Moss excels at portraying the “ fleeting ” thoughts of her characters , said Melissa Harrison in The Guardian : the woman distracted from sex with her boyfriend by the “ thought of a bacon bap ” ; the mother who , given an hour ’ s break from her children , can ’ t think of a better way to use it than cleaning behind the taps .
Written in “ simple , pellucid prose ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenderness of family life ” .

This week’s must-read titles include the first volume of Fredrik Logevall’s biography of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Laura Bates’s “brilliantly fierce” Men Who Hate Women and Sarah Moss’s Summerwater, a tale which expertly captures the “agonised tenderness of family life”.
Book of the weekJFK Volume 1: 1917-1956 by Fredrik Logevall
This book – the first of a two-volume life of John Fitzgerald Kennedy – is “the most compelling biography I have read in years”, said Max Hastings in The Sunday Times. It offers a peerless portrayal of a man of prodigious intelligence and charm who was “always in a hurry”. Born in 1917, JFK was the second of nine children fathered by the “horrible” Joseph Kennedy, a Wall Street tycoon-turned-ambassador who became notorious in the late 1930s for arguing that Britain was “not worth saving” from Hitler. As a boy, John was sickly and “academically lazy”, and at first his “much less intelligent” elder bother, Joe Jr, was “earmarked to become the Kennedy president”. But when Joe Jr was killed during a wartime bombing mission (one of four Kennedy siblings to meet violent early deaths), Joe Snr transferred his ambitions to his next son.
The Second World War takes up a large proportion of this volume, and rightly so, because it “made JFK who he was”, said Andrew Preston in The Spectator. As aide to his father in London, he witnessed the “Nazis’ march to war” and was “in the Westminster gallery” to hear the defiant speeches of his hero, Winston Churchill. The War also offered evidence of his extraordinary physical courage, said David Runciman in The Guardian. Having signed up, despite his father’s objections to the conflict, JFK was in charge of a motorised torpedo boat that was sunk by the Japanese in 1943, killing two crew members. To find help, he “set out on his own in shark-infested waters” and eventually brought all ten survivors back alive. This incident, “much burnished in the retelling”, provided a launchpad for his entrance into politics. Logevall’s book is a “riveting” portrait of a life propelled by “valour”, as well as “vanity and greed”.
Although Logevall makes his subject “amiably human”, he can be “lenient” in his judgements, said Peter Conrad in The Observer. He lets JFK off lightly for “some shocking marital truancy” – such as the time in 1956 when, with his wife Jackie pregnant, he went sailing on the French Riviera with a “flotilla of bikini-clad nymphets”. Even when Jackie suffered a stillbirth, he insisted on remaining on holiday, only “scuttling home” when an adviser told him: “If you want to run for president you’d better get your ass back to your wife’s bedside.” Logevall ends his narrative “at a cliff edge”: JFK’s decision that same year to aim for the White House in 1960. I hope a second “massive” volume follows soon: it is “bound to be enthralling”.


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Albums of the Week: three new releases

Albums of the Week: three new releases

This week ’ s best new releases include various artists singing the songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex , a new recording of Benjamin Britten ’ s 1945 opera and the latest record by The Flaming Lips .
Various : AngelHeaded Hipster – The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex ( BMG £13 ) Marc Bolan was the “ platonic ideal of a pop star - glamorous , impish , lovable yet elusive ” , said Tim de Lisle in The Mail on Sunday .
Now , 43 years after his death , he receives “ one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - a tribute by Hal Willner , the great producer who sadly died earlier this year of Covid-19 , soon after completing work on this wonderful album .
Willner ’ s special gift was for matching material and artist , and here a starry array of Bolan fans - including U2 with Elton John , Joan Jett , Nick Cave , Peaches , and Marc Almond - deliver beautifully realised covers of some of his best songs .
There are moments when Bolan ’ s “ defiantly gibberish ” lyrics feel exposed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I got giraffes all up in my hair and I don ’ t care , ” croons Father John Misty on Main Man .
But in fact , it scarcely matters .
With its “ intriguing cast , exotic songs and dazzling arrangements ” , this treat of an album is a “ loving , rich , strange and rewarding delight ” .
My advice : “ Bang a gong , and get it on.
” This superb new recording of Benjamin Britten ’ s breakthrough 1945 opera , by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up there with the “ finest ” ever , said Erica Jeal in The Guardian .
It was made last year following several semi-staged performances and acclaimed concerts – and the recording is thus “ extraordinarily well run-in ” .
Even in audio only , it registers as a “ genuine music drama ” .
The music “ leads us through the story in one urgent , vital sweep ” , the sound is “ huge and thrilling ” , and there ’ s “ sparkling interplay between singers and orchestra ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one to “ cherish ” , agreed Hugh Canning in The Sunday Times – and it preserves Stuart Skelton ’ s “ immense incarnation ” of the title role .
His Grimes is “ brutish ” in his treatment of the apprentice , yet “ heart-breakingly vulnerable ” in the mad scene .
Erin Wall and Roderick Williams provide fine support , and the Bergen choruses ( with singers from the Royal Northern College of Music ) “ share the honours with Gardner ’ s superlative orchestra ” .
Recent Flaming Lips albums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Will Hodgkinson in The Times .
But on American Head , they rediscover “ what they do better than anyone , which is a dreamy , richly melodic take on psychedelic rock containing stories culled from experience ” .
Their best album since 1999 ’ s The Soft Bulletin , it ’ s a strangely moving “ hallucinogenic epic about the other side of the American dream ” .
Harmonies and melodies “ unfold with ease ” and crescendo before breaking into “ musical Technicolor ” and there is a luxurious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is an album about memories of childhood and adolescence , said Elisa Bray in The Independent .
The sound is “ accessible , tender and surreal ” .
Many of the songs are augmented by backing vocals from Texas country star Kacey Musgraves .
And the bucolic tone throughout “ conjures flashbacks with wide-eyed wonder ” , especially in the “ melodic gem ” Dinosaurs on the Mountain .
Evocative and beautiful , the album is a thrilling return to peak form .

This week’s best new releases include various artists singing the songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex, a new recording of Benjamin Britten’s 1945 opera and the latest record by The Flaming Lips.
Various: AngelHeaded Hipster – The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex (BMG £13)
Marc Bolan was the “platonic ideal of a pop star - glamorous, impish, lovable yet elusive”, said Tim de Lisle in The Mail on Sunday. Now, 43 years after his death, he receives “one of the biggest compliments known to songwriters” - a tribute by Hal Willner, the great producer who sadly died earlier this year of Covid-19, soon after completing work on this wonderful album. Willner’s special gift was for matching material and artist, and here a starry array of Bolan fans - including U2 with Elton John, Joan Jett, Nick Cave, Peaches, and Marc Almond - deliver beautifully realised covers of some of his best songs.
There are moments when Bolan’s “defiantly gibberish” lyrics feel exposed, said Neil McCormick in The Daily Telegraph. “I got giraffes all up in my hair and I don’t care,” croons Father John Misty on Main Man. But in fact, it scarcely matters. With its “intriguing cast, exotic songs and dazzling arrangements”, this treat of an album is a “loving, rich, strange and rewarding delight”. My advice: “Bang a gong, and get it on.”
Britten: Peter Grimes (Chandos; £23)
This superb new recording of Benjamin Britten’s breakthrough 1945 opera, by the Bergen Philharmonic under Edward Gardner, is up there with the “finest” ever, said Erica Jeal in The Guardian. It was made last year following several semi-staged performances and acclaimed concerts – and the recording is thus “extraordinarily well run-in”. Even in audio only, it registers as a “genuine music drama”. The music “leads us through the story in one urgent, vital sweep”, the sound is “huge and thrilling”, and there’s “sparkling interplay between singers and orchestra”.
This “outstanding” Peter Grimes is one to “cherish”, agreed Hugh Canning in The Sunday Times – and it preserves Stuart Skelton’s “immense incarnation” of the title role. His Grimes is “brutish” in his treatment of the apprentice, yet “heart-breakingly vulnerable” in the mad scene. Erin Wall and Roderick Williams provide fine support, and the Bergen choruses (with singers from the Royal Northern College of Music) “share the honours with Gardner’s superlative orchestra”.
The Flaming Lips: American Head (Bella Union; £10)
Recent Flaming Lips albums have been “gimmicky or unlistenable”, said Will Hodgkinson in The Times. But on American Head, they rediscover “what they do better than anyone, which is a dreamy, richly melodic take on psychedelic rock containing stories culled from experience”. Their best album since 1999’s The Soft Bulletin, it’s a strangely moving “hallucinogenic epic about the other side of the American dream”. Harmonies and melodies “unfold with ease” and crescendo before breaking into “musical Technicolor” and there is a luxurious, Beatlesque quality throughout. Just wonderful.
This is an album about memories of childhood and adolescence, said Elisa Bray in The Independent. The sound is “accessible, tender and surreal”. Many of the songs are augmented by backing vocals from Texas country star Kacey Musgraves. And the bucolic tone throughout “conjures flashbacks with wide-eyed wonder”, especially in the “melodic gem” Dinosaurs on the Mountain. Evocative and beautiful, the album is a thrilling return to peak form.


theweekuk--2020-09-18--The Week Unwrapped podcast: Sporting genes, Colombia and orcas

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days .
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code : POD25 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In this week ’ s episode , we discuss : The double Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya has lost her latest attempt to compete as an athlete without having to lower her testosterone levels , after a ruling by the Swiss Federal Tribunal .
The judgement has been fiercely criticised as being discriminatory and infringing Semenya 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arbitrary and unenforceable .
So what does the science say ?
Can competition ever be truly fair ?
And what could Semenya do next ?
Four years on from a historic peace agreement between the government and rebel fighters , violence has returned to Colombia in 2020 with factional fighting and massacres happening on a near-daily basis .
With FARC out of the picture and a “ law-and-order ” president in charge , how has the country ’ s delicately balanced peace come crashing down ?
Over the past couple of months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Straits of Gibraltar appears to have been targeting shipping .
In one case nine killer whales attacked a 46ft boat , breaking off its rudder , disabling its engine and turning it around .
Several other incidents have been reported .
While researchers don ’ t know exactly why this is happening now , some have suggested the whales resent the return of boats to their waters after lockdown .
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player , Spotify , Apple podcasts , SoundCloud or wherever you get you @ @ @ @

Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––To get six free issues of The Week magazine and a moleskine notebook visit theweek.co.uk/offer and enter promo code: POD25–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
Gender and genes
The double Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya has lost her latest attempt to compete as an athlete without having to lower her testosterone levels, after a ruling by the Swiss Federal Tribunal. The judgement has been fiercely criticised as being discriminatory and infringing Semenya's human rights, as well as being arbitrary and unenforceable. So what does the science say? Can competition ever be truly fair? And what could Semenya do next?
Colombian violence
Four years on from a historic peace agreement between the government and rebel fighters, violence has returned to Colombia in 2020 with factional fighting and massacres happening on a near-daily basis. With FARC out of the picture and a “law-and-order” president in charge, how has the country’s delicately balanced peace come crashing down?
The orca fightback
Over the past couple of months, a pod of orcas living in the Straits of Gibraltar appears to have been targeting shipping. In one case nine killer whales attacked a 46ft boat, breaking off its rudder, disabling its engine and turning it around. Several other incidents have been reported. While researchers don’t know exactly why this is happening now, some have suggested the whales resent the return of boats to their waters after lockdown.
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player, Spotify, Apple podcasts, SoundCloud or wherever you get you get your podcasts.


theweekuk--2020-09-18--Thomas Cook’s return journey: from collapse to relaunch in one year

Thomas Cook is back in business again in the UK exactly 12 months after the collapse of the 178-year-old travel company .
When the travel agent ceased trading in September last year , around 150,000 holidaymakers were left stranded abroad and 21,000 staff worldwide lost their jobs , including 9,000 in Britain .
But now Thomas Cook is back with a “ Covid-ready ” website “ that will initially sell holidays to beach resorts and cities in countries on the UK government ’ s travel corridor list ” of countries exempt from coronavirus quarantine restrictions , reports The Guardian .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the company says : “ We want to give you certainty when you book so we only offer destinations with no quarantine.
” The Thomas Cook brand assets were bought for £11m last November by Chinese conglomerate Fosun .
The Shanghai-based group - which also owns all-inclusive holiday company Club Med - relaunched Thomas Cook in China in July , with the UK ’ s online operation kicking off this week .
The business is staffed by 50 employees working from home and is once again licensed by the CAA and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £6m in the travel company , and the majority of the senior management team , including chief executive Alan French , are former Thomas Cook employees , a person with knowledge of the deal told the Financial Times .
Thomas Cook ’ s relaunch in China in July has been described as a “ success ” , with more than 170,000 customers so far .
Fosun Tourism Group chief executive and chair Jim Qian told the BBC that the Chinese operation is “ more than just an online travel agency ” .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which offers a range of related products and services ” , including hotels , tickets and entertainment , he explained .
Fosun says the online UK relaunch of Thomas Cook is just “ phase one ” of what the BBC describes as “ ambitious expansion plans ” for the company ’ s brands once the global economy recovers from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
“ We launched as an online travel agency first in the UK but we want to add more and more so it becomes a similar platform [ to China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was a soft launch to test the process and make sure things are working well ahead of a full recovery .
We will gradually add more products on this platform .
“ The companies that can survive this travel downturn will be much stronger on the other side as they have shown they can be efficiently managed.
” Although the Thomas Cook relaunch is good news for the UK ’ s ailing travel industry , some experts are warning consumers to be cautious when it comes to booking holidays , with Atol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rory Boland , editor of Which ?
Travel , said : “ While some previous Thomas Cook customers may be pleased to see it relaunching as an online travel agent , the events of the past few months should act as a reminder that just because a brand is a household name it does not mean you can necessarily rely on it to treat you fairly .
“ While package holidays booked through Thomas Cook would be Atol protected , many of the big online travel agents have proven time and time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t able to offer the same level of protection or customer service as better , traditional tour operators , making it difficult to secure refunds that customers are legally owed for cancelled holidays .
”

Thomas Cook is back in business again in the UK exactly 12 months after the collapse of the 178-year-old travel company.
When the travel agent ceased trading in September last year, around 150,000 holidaymakers were left stranded abroad and 21,000 staff worldwide lost their jobs, including 9,000 in Britain.
But now Thomas Cook is back with a “Covid-ready” website “that will initially sell holidays to beach resorts and cities in countries on the UK government’s travel corridor list” of countries exempt from coronavirus quarantine restrictions, reports The Guardian.
In a message on the new site, the company says: “We want to give you certainty when you book so we only offer destinations with no quarantine.”
Who owns Thomas Cook?
The Thomas Cook brand assets were bought for £11m last November by Chinese conglomerate Fosun.
The Shanghai-based group - which also owns all-inclusive holiday company Club Med - relaunched Thomas Cook in China in July, with the UK’s online operation kicking off this week. The business is staffed by 50 employees working from home and is once again licensed by the CAA and is Atol-protected.
Fosun will invest an additional £6m in the travel company, and the majority of the senior management team, including chief executive Alan French, are former Thomas Cook employees, a person with knowledge of the deal told the Financial Times.
‘Phase one’ for UK relaunch
Thomas Cook’s relaunch in China in July has been described as a “success”, with more than 170,000 customers so far.
Fosun Tourism Group chief executive and chair Jim Qian told the BBC that the Chinese operation is “more than just an online travel agency”.
“Instead, it is a lifestyle platform which offers a range of related products and services”, including hotels, tickets and entertainment, he explained.
Fosun says the online UK relaunch of Thomas Cook is just “ phase one” of what the BBC describes as “ambitious expansion plans” for the company’s brands once the global economy recovers from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“We launched as an online travel agency first in the UK but we want to add more and more so it becomes a similar platform [to China],” Qian added.
“It was a soft launch to test the process and make sure things are working well ahead of a full recovery. We will gradually add more products on this platform.
“The companies that can survive this travel downturn will be much stronger on the other side as they have shown they can be efficiently managed.”
Cautious welcome
Although the Thomas Cook relaunch is good news for the UK’s ailing travel industry, some experts are warning consumers to be cautious when it comes to booking holidays, with Atol protection proving less secure in recent months.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “While some previous Thomas Cook customers may be pleased to see it relaunching as an online travel agent, the events of the past few months should act as a reminder that just because a brand is a household name it does not mean you can necessarily rely on it to treat you fairly.
“While package holidays booked through Thomas Cook would be Atol protected, many of the big online travel agents have proven time and time again through the pandemic they aren’t able to offer the same level of protection or customer service as better, traditional tour operators, making it difficult to secure refunds that customers are legally owed for cancelled holidays.”