theweekuk--2020-08-17--Grand Hotel Kronenhof Pontresina review: leaf-peeping in Switzerland

Forget New England .
Leaf-peeping of the highest order can be enjoyed in Switzerland ’ s Engadine Valley this autumn .
Home to glitzy St Moritz and quaint , Instagram-ready villages over which tower snow-frosted limestone peaks , this corner of southeast Switzerland also boasts riotous leaf displays .
As October ’ s frosts descend , forests of coniferous larch trees turn varying hues of yellow and orange .
Covering the lower slopes of the Bernina Alps in the Graubünden canton , these intensely coloured woodlands create as colourful a commotion as anything you ’ ll find stateside .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we opted for maximum pampering with a stay at a five-star spa hotel – the Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina .
With the US currently out of bounds for international travel due to Covid-19 restrictions , a trip closer to home mixing majestic nature with luxurious accommodation makes sense .
The Kronenhof is a grand Belle Epoque hotel in the style that Switzerland does so well , a fairytale Neo Baroque building offering commanding alpine views .
The horseshoe-shaped building dominates the high street of Pontresina , a well-heeled village six miles from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the side of Swiss reserve compared to the bling of its neighbour ; its main street boasts rows of immaculate plaster buildings finished with intricate decorative sgraffito , a charming , low-key trompe l ’ oeil effect found in these parts .
A few sportswear shops , fine restaurants and patisseries line the street , but its quieter vibe means it ’ s devoid of shopping hordes and nightclub noise .
The Kronenhof is Pontresina ’ s jewel , its gold-crowned dome above the main entrance catching the low alpine sun .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the off .
Passing through reception , its vast lounge of towering columns , chandeliers , painted ceilings and acres of velvet invite guests to while away the afternoon while drinking in the view of the distant Roseg glacier .
Next door , the hotel ’ s bar is dark and handsome , full of couples whispering over cocktails .
It ’ s almost worth developing a cigar habit to take full advantage of the Kronenhof ’ s new smoking room , designed in the style of an English country house library .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep green drapes and walls - not to mention the fug of smoke hanging in the air - transport you to another century .
Guests puffed away on cigars bought from the display case at the room ’ s entrance , while wait staff brought drinks .
The Kronenhof manages that tricky balance of celebrating tradition and delivering five-star service without being stiff .
In common rooms that exude old world grandeur , the atmosphere is informal and friendly - making guests of all ages feel welcome seems to be its guiding ethos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost supernatural knack of anticipating our every need .
Each evening at dinner they remembered which wine I liked .
As we left for a hike in the Swiss National Park one morning , reception staff produced packed lunches we hadn ’ t specifically requested .
In a hotel of 112 rooms that was full the weekend we stayed , this was impressive attention to detail .
Parents will be pleased to know that the children ’ s club isn ’ t the afterthought you find in many hotels , unloved and tucked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playroom of toys and tech gadgets designed to keep six- to 16-year-olds entertained .
Parents are provided the option of having their kids dine with other children and nannies in a special dinner room or to bring the little ones into the grand dining room , where they were made welcome .
The Kronenhof ’ s grand restaurant deserves special mention - it really is like stepping back to a time when guests dolled up in their finery came to see and be seen .
The room is steeped in old-style pomp , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and chandeliers .
A pianist playing classics and show tunes added to the ambience , while the flurry of waiters unveiling course after course from under a cloche added an air of theatricality to meals .
The food , a fusion of Swiss cuisine with a French flair , was superb , and the cheese trolley a delight .
The hotel ’ s gourmet restaurant , the Kronenstubli , is a more intimate affair in part of the original hotel , reached from the hotel through a maze of corridors but with another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was dark , wood-panelled and candlelit , with attentive waiters-in-gloves serving Italian-Mediterranean and French fare - the seabass with mussels and zucchini melted in my mouth .
Unusually , the hotel ’ s rooms feature wildly varying décor , from sophisticated urban oases of sleek glass , white furniture and mirrors to traditional floral affairs .
Room renovation is ongoing , but not so fast as to deter returning guests who cherish a country-house vibe .
We were happily installed in the Bellavista wing of the hotel , built in 2007 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s award-winning 2,000-metre spa .
Our spacious room was a modern take on traditional alpine décor - oak floors , doors and ceiling , but with clean lines and thankfully devoid of the alpine kitsch found even in swankier hotels .
It was mere steps away from the Kronenhof ’ s piece de resistance , a modern spa with knockout views .
The ample pool , from which emerges a diverting terracotta pillar , is flanked by rows of comfortable loungers pointed at floor-to-ceiling windows onto the alps .
Next to it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away the aches incurred during our hikes .
Among the spa ’ s range of six saunas and baths , our favourite was the relax-floating grotto , a small pool with gentle waves and underwater music .
Do keep an eye out for instructions on which areas are women-only and whether swimwear or nudity is required or you might end up red-faced .
Upstairs is a therapy area where massages and treatments are carried out by experts - I thoroughly recommend a relaxing 5 Senses Massage ( CHF 160 ; £134.68 for 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a reverie .
Believe me , it was needed after the two hikes we managed during our stay to offset all the self-indulgence .
Our first walk , in the Swiss National Park , 40 minutes away by car , was a pleasant 14-km loop around the Trupchun valley , with only gradual ascents and descents .
Switzerland ’ s only national park , it ’ s renowned as a popular wildlife spot and although we failed to see any deer , we followed the gaze of excited twitchers on the trail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swiss Bearded Vulture .
Our second hike was a more arduous adventure starting from the 2,500-metre peak of Muottas Muragl , accessed by a vertiginous mountain railway that ’ s been depositing visitors on its summit for more than a century .
From there , on our 10km hike back to Pontresina , we traipsed up a steep , rocky ridge to the Segantini Hut , which looks out over the confluence of the Bernina and Upper Engadine valleys .
Cooling off with a cold beer amidst a throng of hikers at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fall foliage .
More than two dozen mountain summits were framed against deep blue sky , including the region ’ s highest peak , Piz Bernina at 4,049m .
The lower slopes were swathed in a checkerboard carpet of deep green firs and bright yellow larches swooping down towards the valley floor .
St Moritz glittered in the near distance next to a milky blue lake .
It was a top-of-the-world view that captured a snapshot of autumn before the needles dropped and the snow blanketed the landscape .
With foliage like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs Vermont ?
The Grand Hotel Kronenhof offers a September Mountain Escape package , starting at CHF 395 ( £332.52 ) for two people sharing a double room on a half-board basis .
From 1 October , rates start at CHF 455 ( £383 ) for the same .
The hotel is open until 20 October .

Forget New England. Leaf-peeping of the highest order can be enjoyed in Switzerland’s Engadine Valley this autumn. Home to glitzy St Moritz and quaint, Instagram-ready villages over which tower snow-frosted limestone peaks, this corner of southeast Switzerland also boasts riotous leaf displays. As October’s frosts descend, forests of coniferous larch trees turn varying hues of yellow and orange. Covering the lower slopes of the Bernina Alps in the Graubünden canton, these intensely coloured woodlands create as colourful a commotion as anything you’ll find stateside. In between bracing walks in this Engadine idyll we opted for maximum pampering with a stay at a five-star spa hotel – the Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina. With the US currently out of bounds for international travel due to Covid-19 restrictions, a trip closer to home mixing majestic nature with luxurious accommodation makes sense. The Kronenhof is a grand Belle Epoque hotel in the style that Switzerland does so well, a fairytale Neo Baroque building offering commanding alpine views. The horseshoe-shaped building dominates the high street of Pontresina, a well-heeled village six miles from St Moritz. But Pontresina errs on the side of Swiss reserve compared to the bling of its neighbour; its main street boasts rows of immaculate plaster buildings finished with intricate decorative sgraffito, a charming, low-key trompe l’oeil effect found in these parts. A few sportswear shops, fine restaurants and patisseries line the street, but its quieter vibe means it’s devoid of shopping hordes and nightclub noise. Grand display The Kronenhof is Pontresina’s jewel, its gold-crowned dome above the main entrance catching the low alpine sun. The hotel puts on a grand display from the off. Passing through reception, its vast lounge of towering columns, chandeliers, painted ceilings and acres of velvet invite guests to while away the afternoon while drinking in the view of the distant Roseg glacier. Skip advert Next door, the hotel’s bar is dark and handsome, full of couples whispering over cocktails. It’s almost worth developing a cigar habit to take full advantage of the Kronenhof’s new smoking room, designed in the style of an English country house library. Dark wood panelling, recessed windows, deep green drapes and walls - not to mention the fug of smoke hanging in the air - transport you to another century. Guests puffed away on cigars bought from the display case at the room’s entrance, while wait staff brought drinks.
The Kronenhof manages that tricky balance of celebrating tradition and delivering five-star service without being stiff. In common rooms that exude old world grandeur, the atmosphere is informal and friendly - making guests of all ages feel welcome seems to be its guiding ethos. For example, staff displayed an almost supernatural knack of anticipating our every need. Each evening at dinner they remembered which wine I liked. As we left for a hike in the Swiss National Park one morning, reception staff produced packed lunches we hadn’t specifically requested. In a hotel of 112 rooms that was full the weekend we stayed, this was impressive attention to detail. Parents will be pleased to know that the children’s club isn’t the afterthought you find in many hotels, unloved and tucked away. It’s a vibrant playroom of toys and tech gadgets designed to keep six- to 16-year-olds entertained. Parents are provided the option of having their kids dine with other children and nannies in a special dinner room or to bring the little ones into the grand dining room, where they were made welcome. Fusion served with flair The Kronenhof’s grand restaurant deserves special mention - it really is like stepping back to a time when guests dolled up in their finery came to see and be seen. The room is steeped in old-style pomp, with high vaulted ceilings, painted walls and chandeliers. A pianist playing classics and show tunes added to the ambience, while the flurry of waiters unveiling course after course from under a cloche added an air of theatricality to meals. The food, a fusion of Swiss cuisine with a French flair, was superb, and the cheese trolley a delight. Skip advert The hotel’s gourmet restaurant, the Kronenstubli, is a more intimate affair in part of the original hotel, reached from the hotel through a maze of corridors but with another entrance on Pontresina’s high street. It was dark, wood-panelled and candlelit, with attentive waiters-in-gloves serving Italian-Mediterranean and French fare - the seabass with mussels and zucchini melted in my mouth. Unusually, the hotel’s rooms feature wildly varying décor, from sophisticated urban oases of sleek glass, white furniture and mirrors to traditional floral affairs. Room renovation is ongoing, but not so fast as to deter returning guests who cherish a country-house vibe. We were happily installed in the Bellavista wing of the hotel, built in 2007 at the same time as the hotel’s award-winning 2,000-metre spa.


theweekuk--2020-08-17--‘Exam shambles’: mystery as Ofqual removes appeal process

Disappointed A-level students in England are facing further uncertainty after the exams regulator published guidance on who could appeal against unexpectedly low grades - only to withdraw the advice hours later .
Or as The Guardian puts it , Ofqual “ threatened to plunge the A-level process into further disarray ” late on Saturday night , when the watchdog “ dramatically suspended its criteria for students hoping to challenge their A-level grades on the basis of their results in mock exams ” .
Ofqual officials said that more information would be provided “ in due course ” , but did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department for Education has also failed to shed light on the decision , with a statement issued on Sunday merely stating that Ofqual “ continues to consider how to best deliver the appeals process to give schools and pupils the clarity they need ” .
Thousands of 18-year-olds are expected to appeal against grades that may prevent them from securing university places .
“ Around 280,000 students saw their grades fall by one grade or more following the introduction of a new algorithm , which was put in place after the coronavirus lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sky News reports .
High-performing students at schools with poor track records appear to have been worst hit .
“ The process adopted favours schools with small numbers of students sitting any individual A-level , ” explains Paul Johnson , director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies , in an article for The Times .
“ That is , it favours private schools.
” After spending “ a large part of the past 72 hours trying to understand what has happened ” , Johnson concludes that “ the algorithm used makes it almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forms to get top grades , even if the candidates themselves had an outstanding record at GCSE ” .

Disappointed A-level students in England are facing further uncertainty after the exams regulator published guidance on who could appeal against unexpectedly low grades - only to withdraw the advice hours later.
Or as The Guardian puts it, Ofqual “threatened to plunge the A-level process into further disarray” late on Saturday night, when the watchdog “dramatically suspended its criteria for students hoping to challenge their A-level grades on the basis of their results in mock exams”.
Ofqual officials said that more information would be provided “in due course”, but did not explain the sudden reversal.
The Department for Education has also failed to shed light on the decision, with a statement issued on Sunday merely stating that Ofqual “continues to consider how to best deliver the appeals process to give schools and pupils the clarity they need”.
Thousands of 18-year-olds are expected to appeal against grades that may prevent them from securing university places.
“Around 280,000 students saw their grades fall by one grade or more following the introduction of a new algorithm, which was put in place after the coronavirus lockdown led to exams being cancelled,” Sky News reports.
High-performing students at schools with poor track records appear to have been worst hit.
“The process adopted favours schools with small numbers of students sitting any individual A-level,” explains Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, in an article for The Times. “That is, it favours private schools.”
After spending “a large part of the past 72 hours trying to understand what has happened”, Johnson concludes that “the algorithm used makes it almost impossible for students at historically poor-performing sixth forms to get top grades, even if the candidates themselves had an outstanding record at GCSE”.


theweekuk--2020-08-17--Why gun violence has soared in US cities

As the US continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic , many American cities are also facing another major threat - a surge in violent crime .
According to new data from the Council on Criminal Justice ( CCJ ) think tank , recorded rates of aggravated assault and gun assault have rocketed in recent months .
And “ from May to June 2020 , homicides in 20 major US cities increased by 37 % ” year-on-year , reports CNN .
Gun crime , in particular , has proved a major scourge across the country : according to NBC New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past four weeks have been nearly three times higher than during the same period last year .
What do the official figures say ?
At the start of August , The Wall Street Journal published an analysis of crime statistics for the nation ’ s 50 largest cities which found that reported homicides had risen by 24 % year-on-year to 3,612 .
Although levels of violent crimes such as robbery declined , the data showed significant rise in shootings and gun violence .
Yesterday morning , Chicago Police announced that nearly 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed in the city over the weekend , reports CNN .
In New York City , more than 40 people were shot in a 48-hour period .
And in the Ohio city of Cincinnati , at least 18 people were shot - four fatally - on Saturday night alone , according to Reuters .
Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley condemned the “ senseless gun violence that ruined lives and will cause immeasurable suffering ” at a time when citizens are already facing “ unprecedented circumstances and challenges ” .
Cranley “ said the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people gather in private homes and public places when the bars close ” , the news agency reports .
“ Guns are far too prevalent at these gatherings .
Please do not attend gatherings because you could end up as an innocent victim , ” he added .
“ Bill de Blasio , mayor of New York , and Dermot Shea , New York City police commissioner , have blamed multiple reasons for the rise in violence , including court delays , gang crime and frustration after the coronavirus lockdown , ” reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been “ a very unusual year with the coronavirus pandemic ” , which “ makes it difficult to say what , exactly , is happening with crime rates ” .
“ The current year , 2020 , is an extreme deviation from baseline - extreme , ” Tracey Meares , founding director at the Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law School , told the news and opinion site .
But what is clear is that the increases in violent crime coincide with the “ end of pandemic-related shutdowns , mass unemployment due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against black people , and the summer , when crime annually increases ” , adds CNN .
Vox says that the nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May “ could ’ ve had a range of effects , from officers pulling back from their duties to greater community distrust in police , leading to more unchecked violence ” .
Experts have also cited “ a huge increase in gun purchases this year ” , the site continues .
“ Still others posit boredom and social displacement as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cause more trouble.
” But regardless of the exact reasons , the seeming link to coronavirus “ offers a bit of good news : it ’ s possible that the end of the pandemic will come and homicide rates will fall again ” .

As the US continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, many American cities are also facing another major threat - a surge in violent crime.
According to new data from the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) think tank, recorded rates of aggravated assault and gun assault have rocketed in recent months. And “from May to June 2020, homicides in 20 major US cities increased by 37%” year-on-year, reports CNN.
Gun crime, in particular, has proved a major scourge across the country: according to NBC New York, shooting incidents in the city over the past four weeks have been nearly three times higher than during the same period last year.
What do the official figures say?
At the start of August, The Wall Street Journal published an analysis of crime statistics for the nation’s 50 largest cities which found that reported homicides had risen by 24% year-on-year to 3,612. Although levels of violent crimes such as robbery declined, the data showed significant rise in shootings and gun violence.
Yesterday morning, Chicago Police announced that nearly 30 people had been shot and three people killed in the city over the weekend, reports CNN. In New York City, more than 40 people were shot in a 48-hour period.
And in the Ohio city of Cincinnati, at least 18 people were shot - four fatally - on Saturday night alone, according to Reuters. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley condemned the “senseless gun violence that ruined lives and will cause immeasurable suffering” at a time when citizens are already facing “unprecedented circumstances and challenges”.
Cranley “said the city had seen an uptick in cases as people gather in private homes and public places when the bars close”, the news agency reports.
“Guns are far too prevalent at these gatherings. Please do not attend gatherings because you could end up as an innocent victim,” he added.
What’s driving this upward trend?
“Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York, and Dermot Shea, New York City police commissioner, have blamed multiple reasons for the rise in violence, including court delays, gang crime and frustration after the coronavirus lockdown,” reports The Times.
Vox agrees that it has been “a very unusual year with the coronavirus pandemic”, which “makes it difficult to say what, exactly, is happening with crime rates”.
“The current year, 2020, is an extreme deviation from baseline - extreme,” Tracey Meares, founding director at the Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law School, told the news and opinion site.
But what is clear is that the increases in violent crime coincide with the “end of pandemic-related shutdowns, mass unemployment due to the pandemic, protests condemning police violence against black people, and the summer, when crime annually increases”, adds CNN.
Vox says that the nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May “could’ve had a range of effects, from officers pulling back from their duties to greater community distrust in police, leading to more unchecked violence”.
Experts have also cited “a huge increase in gun purchases this year”, the site continues. “Still others posit boredom and social displacement as a result of physical distancing leading people to cause more trouble.”
But regardless of the exact reasons, the seeming link to coronavirus “offers a bit of good news: it’s possible that the end of the pandemic will come and homicide rates will fall again”.


theweekuk--2020-08-17--Instant Opinion: ‘government confusion aggravates Covid despair’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
on the unravelling of Britain ’ s lockdown “ The government ’ s practical mismanagement has been eloquently anatomised in these pages , so lay that aside .
Equally dismaying is its failure to convey hope , resolve , strength and a sense of proportion .
No wonder mournful voices pointlessly say that they yearn for New Zealand ’ s Jacinda Ardern .
Leaders in troubled times — ask any veteran — need to convey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calm .
Ours rarely manage one .
Early press conferences were OK , with scientists and the promise to ‘ put an arm around ’ us .
Lockdown was too prolonged but had brief mood-raisers with the Queen ’ s speech and VE Day .
But the unlocking is psychologically chaotic .
Mr Johnson ’ s ‘ over for Christmas ’ speech was unhelpful , especially accompanied by silence or nervous throat-clearing from scientists .
His unique selling point is bullish , flag-waving , Olympic-spirit zip wire merriment ; that doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sagging and him in a helpless dangle .
Travel advice was mad : instead of fantasising about air bridges why not say ‘ foreign holidays remain risky .
You could suddenly get locked down there , or face isolation here .
It could get expensive .
Your risk.
’ ” 2 .
Dr Alexis Paton , lecturer at Aston University and chair of the Committee on Ethical Issues in Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians , in The Independent on threats to the health body After Matt Hancock ’ s snap decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is everything we could lose “ That the government has chosen to axe Public Health England just after announcing a national initiative to fight obesity shows how little it understands the important role that Public Health England plays in maintaining our overall health and wellbeing ... Public Health England holds a wealth of information and research on keeping people healthy and safe in their home and work environments , promoting and contributing to safety initiatives in all sectors .
These three examples are only the tip of the public health iceberg .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tradition of public health that has almost nothing to do with pandemics and everything to do with improving the health of the whole nation for the long term ... Public Health England currently has close to 60 targeted programmes in place to improve health and wellbeing across the whole population .
Here are just the highlights .
Are we willing to lose them so our government can save global face on their poor response to the pandemic ?
For me , the loss of any of these services is much too high a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community No news , no shared space , no voice – the Tories are creating a cookie-cutter Britain “ The fact that whole swathes of basic administration are best handled at the local level is a banal insight that has eluded British governments for decades , and so it has proved again .
For all that we are encouraged to think of the pandemic as a national issue , all outbreaks are essentially local – and like extreme weather events , they demand effective on-the-ground action and communication , and the kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense of place and solidarity .
After a decade of cuts to local services , Covid-19 has cruelly highlighted the importance – and lack – of both .
It has crystallised a question that goes beyond matters of politics and government into some of the most basic ways that places function : if the coronavirus has proved that doing things from the grassroots up is so crucial , why are so many aspects of our everyday lives being pushed in the opposite direction ?
” We are living with the consequences of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not on a mini-break .
This is a mini-breakdown .
I hate lockdown Britain and not just for the deaths we are trying to prevent but the paranoia and despair .
I thought we cared about mental health ?
I suspect we were just trying to sound nice .
When push came to shove , we told people to get on with being miserable – just as we told them to stuff their jobs and shove their schooling – and the consequence of not being able to imagine a future is utterly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this spiritually impoverished state for two years at least , because the moment there is a spike – and there will be a spike – they will shut everything down again .
That ’ s what bureaucrats do and that ’ s what the public wants , even though a rise in localised outbreaks has not resulted in a rise in hospitalisations .
You and I are living with the consequences of other people ’ s terror , and it ’ s as frightening as the disease itself .
I shall get hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go abroad .
‘ Is this an essential journey ?
’ a friend asked angrily .
I said : ‘ Well , it ’ s not quite the Bahamas , but it ’ ll do.
’ ” 5 .
Elizabeth Bruenig in The New York Times on how the US left stands a fighting chance Despite Everything , Bernie Sanders Still Believes “ Mr .
Sanders cited recent primary victories by some of the most progressive members of the House , including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , Rashida Tlaib , and Ilhan Omar as examples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of powerful , moneyed opponents .
There were new primary victories for the left as well : In New York , Jamaal Bowman took out Eliot Engel in a hard-fought race , while Cori Bush pulled off a surprise upset against William Lacy Clay in Missouri .
Mr. Sanders pointed out that , down the ballot - sometimes way down the ballot - state and local governments are quietly welcoming new members from the Democratic Socialists of America , a major left organizing group that proudly backed Mr. Sanders .
There are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Mr. Sanders has no intention of giving up on these tender blooms his movement has nurtured .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Libby Purves in The Times
on the unravelling of Britain’s lockdown
Government confusion aggravates Covid despair
“The government’s practical mismanagement has been eloquently anatomised in these pages, so lay that aside. Equally dismaying is its failure to convey hope, resolve, strength and a sense of proportion. No wonder mournful voices pointlessly say that they yearn for New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern. Leaders in troubled times — ask any veteran — need to convey intelligence, good faith, consistency and calm. Ours rarely manage one. Early press conferences were OK, with scientists and the promise to ‘put an arm around’ us. Lockdown was too prolonged but had brief mood-raisers with the Queen’s speech and VE Day. But the unlocking is psychologically chaotic. Mr Johnson’s ‘over for Christmas’ speech was unhelpful, especially accompanied by silence or nervous throat-clearing from scientists. His unique selling point is bullish, flag-waving, Olympic-spirit zip wire merriment; that doesn’t work when we can see the wire sagging and him in a helpless dangle. Travel advice was mad: instead of fantasising about air bridges why not say ‘foreign holidays remain risky. You could suddenly get locked down there, or face isolation here. It could get expensive. Your risk.’”
2. Dr Alexis Paton, lecturer at Aston University and chair of the Committee on Ethical Issues in Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians, in The Independent
on threats to the health body
After Matt Hancock’s snap decision to axe Public Health England, this is everything we could lose
“That the government has chosen to axe Public Health England just after announcing a national initiative to fight obesity shows how little it understands the important role that Public Health England plays in maintaining our overall health and wellbeing... Public Health England holds a wealth of information and research on keeping people healthy and safe in their home and work environments, promoting and contributing to safety initiatives in all sectors. These three examples are only the tip of the public health iceberg. In the UK, we have had a tradition of public health that has almost nothing to do with pandemics and everything to do with improving the health of the whole nation for the long term... Public Health England currently has close to 60 targeted programmes in place to improve health and wellbeing across the whole population. Here are just the highlights. Are we willing to lose them so our government can save global face on their poor response to the pandemic? For me, the loss of any of these services is much too high a cost.”
3. John Harris in The Guardian
on the death of British community
No news, no shared space, no voice – the Tories are creating a cookie-cutter Britain
“The fact that whole swathes of basic administration are best handled at the local level is a banal insight that has eluded British governments for decades, and so it has proved again. For all that we are encouraged to think of the pandemic as a national issue, all outbreaks are essentially local – and like extreme weather events, they demand effective on-the-ground action and communication, and the kind of strong institutions that affirm people’s sense of place and solidarity. After a decade of cuts to local services, Covid-19 has cruelly highlighted the importance – and lack – of both. It has crystallised a question that goes beyond matters of politics and government into some of the most basic ways that places function: if the coronavirus has proved that doing things from the grassroots up is so crucial, why are so many aspects of our everyday lives being pushed in the opposite direction?”
4. Tim Stanley in The Daily Telegraph
on travelling abroad mid-pandemic
We are living with the consequences of other people’s terror
“I’m not on a mini-break. This is a mini-breakdown. I hate lockdown Britain and not just for the deaths we are trying to prevent but the paranoia and despair. I thought we cared about mental health? I suspect we were just trying to sound nice. When push came to shove, we told people to get on with being miserable – just as we told them to stuff their jobs and shove their schooling – and the consequence of not being able to imagine a future is utterly devastating. We will be living in this spiritually impoverished state for two years at least, because the moment there is a spike – and there will be a spike – they will shut everything down again. That’s what bureaucrats do and that’s what the public wants, even though a rise in localised outbreaks has not resulted in a rise in hospitalisations. You and I are living with the consequences of other people’s terror, and it’s as frightening as the disease itself. I shall get hate mail just for having the nerve to go abroad. ‘Is this an essential journey?’ a friend asked angrily. I said: ‘Well, it’s not quite the Bahamas, but it’ll do.’”
5. Elizabeth Bruenig in The New York Times
on how the US left stands a fighting chance
Despite Everything, Bernie Sanders Still Believes
“Mr. Sanders cited recent primary victories by some of the most progressive members of the House, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar as examples of left endurance, despite the machinations of powerful, moneyed opponents. There were new primary victories for the left as well: In New York, Jamaal Bowman took out Eliot Engel in a hard-fought race, while Cori Bush pulled off a surprise upset against William Lacy Clay in Missouri. Mr. Sanders pointed out that, down the ballot - sometimes way down the ballot - state and local governments are quietly welcoming new members from the Democratic Socialists of America, a major left organizing group that proudly backed Mr. Sanders. There are a few shoots coming up through the snow, and Mr. Sanders has no intention of giving up on these tender blooms his movement has nurtured.”


theweekuk--2020-08-17--Ronnie O’Sullivan: sixth world title for snooker’s rock star

Genius , gifted and one of the greatest British sportsmen of all time .
We ’ re running out of ways to describe the talents of snooker star Ronnie O ’ Sullivan .
“ The Rocket ” is now a six-time world champion after a stunning 18-8 victory last night over Kyren Wilson in the final at the Crucible in Sheffield .
Going into the second day with the score poised at 10-7 , O ’ Sullivan was unstoppable as he stormed yesterday afternoon ’ s session 7-1 .
Requiring just one more frame in the evening , he hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silver trophy and the £500,000 in prize money .
Having first won the world title in 2001 , the 44-year-old Englishman now joins Ray Reardon and Steve Davis on six and is one one behind Stephen Hendry ’ s record of seven .
The success at the Crucible also sees O ’ Sullivan make history with a record 37th ranking title - one clear of Hendry ’ s 36 .
The possibility of O ’ Sullivan matching Hendry ’ s haul of seven world titles - or even surpassing it - was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , O ’ Sullivan says he was happy to win one world championship in his career , let alone six .
He said : “ I was happy to get one .
Two was great .
When I hit four I thought I could call myself a great .
All the greats seem to have done it .
I look at John Higgins and go he ’ s a great so if he has won it four times you ’ re a great .
Anything above four and you are in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s seven , O ’ Sullivan added : “ If I happen to win another one , that would be fantastic .
If I don ’ t , then I have had a wonderful career and snooker has given me plenty of pleasurable moments .
“ My greatest asset is that I look like I am just in a practice match down the club when I am at the Crucible .
As long as I can keep that same philosophy and style of play , that is what gets me through and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tournaments.
” Wilson and fans watch on in awe The tournament started by allowing a limited number of fans at the Crucible .
However , after the pilot programme was abandoned , it was confirmed that a reduced crowd of around 300 people would be allowed in to watch the final weekend in Sheffield .
Those fans who were lucky enough to get a golden ticket for Sunday ’ s action would have witnessed a master at work in that afternoon session as O ’ Sullivan won eight frames in a row .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a spectator as The Rocket turned on the style .
The 28-year-old Wilson said : “ I am not going to beat myself up too much - I am playing the greatest of all time .
It was a dream come true knowing I was playing Ronnie in the final .
You can ’ t respect him too much or he ’ ll walk right over me , which is what happened.
” Since making his professional debut in 1992 and his Crucible debut in April 1993 at the age of 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sullivan has become snooker ’ s biggest star .
Looking more like a lead singer from a BritPop band than a snooker player , he has brought some rock and roll sparkle to the sport .
He has also never been afraid to share his opinion - usually reserved for poor tour venues or standards of fellow players .
However , even though he has often ruffled a few feathers , his talent on the baize has never been questioned .
As well as the six world championship wins and 37 ranking tour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Sullivan also holds the records for most centuries ( 1,061 ) ; most maximum breaks ( 15 ) and the quickest 147 ( five minutes and eight seconds ) .
Speaking on BBC Two , fellow six-time world champion Davis tipped O ’ Sullivan to go even further .
Davis said : “ He is more of a student of the game than you could ever think .
He has studied the game , his action , his technique and the best way to play the game .
When it goes wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he does .
You don ’ t stay in the game that long if you don ’ t .
He has always wanted to achieve perfection and tactically he is so good as well .
“ Ronnie is still there at the top and I ’ m sure he ’ s capable of going even further .
Certainly into his fifties , should he so wish .
He came in with a game plan to play a fast attacking game , it was a risky one but paid off in the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see him win Sports Personality of the Year ?
” Former Masters champion Alan McManus added : “ The first two or three shots I ever saw him hit I thought , ‘ he is going to be pretty good this lad ’ .
I had heard all the stories .
He is a one-off .
Talent wise he is the most gifted sportsman in the world in my opinion .
”

Genius, gifted and one of the greatest British sportsmen of all time. We’re running out of ways to describe the talents of snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan.
“The Rocket” is now a six-time world champion after a stunning 18-8 victory last night over Kyren Wilson in the final at the Crucible in Sheffield.
Going into the second day with the score poised at 10-7, O’Sullivan was unstoppable as he stormed yesterday afternoon’s session 7-1. Requiring just one more frame in the evening, he hit a break of 96 to secure the silver trophy and the £500,000 in prize money.
Having first won the world title in 2001, the 44-year-old Englishman now joins Ray Reardon and Steve Davis on six and is one one behind Stephen Hendry’s record of seven. The success at the Crucible also sees O’Sullivan make history with a record 37th ranking title - one clear of Hendry’s 36.
‘Happy to get one’
The possibility of O’Sullivan matching Hendry’s haul of seven world titles - or even surpassing it - was a key question in the post-match interviews. However, O’Sullivan says he was happy to win one world championship in his career, let alone six.
He said: “I was happy to get one. Two was great. When I hit four I thought I could call myself a great. All the greats seem to have done it. I look at John Higgins and go he’s a great so if he has won it four times you’re a great. Anything above four and you are in that fantastic company.”
When asked about Hendry’s seven, O’Sullivan added: “If I happen to win another one, that would be fantastic. If I don’t, then I have had a wonderful career and snooker has given me plenty of pleasurable moments.
“My greatest asset is that I look like I am just in a practice match down the club when I am at the Crucible. As long as I can keep that same philosophy and style of play, that is what gets me through and has made me win a lot of tournaments.”
Here's six of the best from Ronnie O'Sullivan. 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆#bbcsnooker pic.twitter.com/wgFcgAOSym — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 17, 2020
Wilson and fans watch on in awe
The tournament started by allowing a limited number of fans at the Crucible. However, after the pilot programme was abandoned, it was confirmed that a reduced crowd of around 300 people would be allowed in to watch the final weekend in Sheffield.


theweekuk--2020-08-17--Belarus protests: will Russia intervene to save ‘Europe’s last dictator’?

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has reportedly appealed to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for support as public unrest continues to grow over alleged election rigging in the former Soviet state .
Protesters have flooded the streets of Minsk and several other cities across Belarus in the wake of the vote on 8 August , which saw Lukashenko ( pictured above with Putin ) cling to power amid widespread claims of electoral fraud .
Lukashenko claims that Putin has offered him “ comprehensive assistance ” to ensure his country ’ s security , but pundicts have predicted that the Belarusian leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Forbes report that the Putin regime “ for many years hungrily has eyed Belarus ” - so has Lukashenko just handed Moscow a pretext to annex the landlocked former Soviet republic ?
The hotly contested election earlier this month saw an improbable 80.1 % of the vote go to Lukashenko , who has held power since 1994 and is commonly referred to as Europe ’ s “ last dictator ” .
His main rival , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , garnered just 10.12 % despite optimistic forecasts for the former school teacher .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be waning following his bumbled response to the coronavirus crisis and a stagnant economy .
The controversial vote result has triggered mass protests across the country , with a rally in capital Minsk yesterday attracting around 200,000 people , Reuters reports .
CNBC adds that some of the protesters waved the red and white flag used by Belarus prior to Lukashenko ’ s ascension to power , and chanted “ Lukashenko step down ” and “ we won ’ t forget or forgive ” .
The protests have been met with brutal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least two demonstrators reported to have been killed and thousands more detained .
Russia and Belarus have maintained close formal ties since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 , forming the two-party “ Union State ” supranational organisation in 1999 .
Appealing to Russia to help quell the protests , Lukashenko has warned that the impact of the unrest might spill beyond Belarus ’ s borders , The Guardian says .
“ There is a need to contact Putin so that I can talk to him now , because it is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Lukashenko said on Saturday , according to state news agency Belta .
“ Defending Belarus today is no less than defending our entire space , the Union State ... those who roam the streets , most of them do not understand this.
” Addressing supporters in Minsk on Sunday , the president claimed that “ Nato troops are at our gates ” .
“ Lithuania , Latvia , Poland and our native Ukraine are ordering us to hold new elections , ” he continued , adding that Belarus would “ die as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held .
His appeal for Russian aid comes just weeks after Lukashenko put significant strain on Moscow-Minsk relations by claiming that the Kremlin was sending mercenaries to Belarus to overthrow the government .
What would Russian intervention look like ?
It is unclear exactly what Lukashenko wants from Putin , but some commentators have raised concerns that Belarus may have given Russia the “ green light to intervene ” , Forbes says .
In his statement on Saturday , Lukashenko claimed that Russia had “ agreed that at the first request there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security of the Republic of Belarus ” .
But according to the Institute for the Study of War , Belarusian state media “ edited its reporting on Lukashenko ’ s statement at 9:45pm local time to insert the comment that Lukashenko would only invite Russian forces ‘ in the event of external military threats ’ ” .
Meanwhile , The Moscow Times argues that “ Putin doesn ’ t want to intervene in the situation in Belarus ” .
The Kremlin has been “ careful about overtly backing Lukashenko in word or deed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes that Russian media has “ reported openly on police abuses ” in Belarus , while “ prominent statesmen publicly called on Russia to abandon Lukashenko ” .
“ This is a far cry from the rhetoric and action that preceded Moscow ’ s military intervention in Ukraine ” in 2014 , when Russian officials and pundits called protesters “ anti-Russian fascists ” and their new government a “ junta ” .
Nevertheless , adds Reuters , Russia is likely to be “ watching closely ” as the ongoing protests continue , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy exports to the West and is viewed by Moscow as a buffer zone against Nato ” .

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has reportedly appealed to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for support as public unrest continues to grow over alleged election rigging in the former Soviet state.
Protesters have flooded the streets of Minsk and several other cities across Belarus in the wake of the vote on 8 August, which saw Lukashenko (pictured above with Putin) cling to power amid widespread claims of electoral fraud.
Lukashenko claims that Putin has offered him “comprehensive assistance” to ensure his country’s security, but pundits have predicted that the Belarusian leader’s days in office are numbered. Forbes report that the Putin regime “for many years hungrily has eyed Belarus” - so has Lukashenko just handed Moscow a pretext to annex the landlocked former Soviet republic?
What has happened?
The hotly contested election earlier this month saw an improbable 80.1% of the vote go to Lukashenko, who has held power since 1994 and is commonly referred to as Europe’s “last dictator”.
His main rival, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, garnered just 10.12% despite optimistic forecasts for the former school teacher. By contrast, Lukashenko’s support appeared to be waning following his bumbled response to the coronavirus crisis and a stagnant economy.
The controversial vote result has triggered mass protests across the country, with a rally in capital Minsk yesterday attracting around 200,000 people, Reuters reports.
CNBC adds that some of the protesters waved the red and white flag used by Belarus prior to Lukashenko’s ascension to power, and chanted “Lukashenko step down” and “we won’t forget or forgive”.
The protests have been met with brutal force by the authorities, with at least two demonstrators reported to have been killed and thousands more detained.
How will Russia respond?
Russia and Belarus have maintained close formal ties since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, forming the two-party “Union State” supranational organisation in 1999.
Appealing to Russia to help quell the protests, Lukashenko has warned that the impact of the unrest might spill beyond Belarus’s borders, The Guardian says.
“There is a need to contact Putin so that I can talk to him now, because it is not a threat to just Belarus any more,” Lukashenko said on Saturday, according to state news agency Belta. “Defending Belarus today is no less than defending our entire space, the Union State... those who roam the streets, most of them do not understand this.”


theweekuk--2020-08-17--What can Boris Johnson do to end the A-level ‘results crisis’?

Pressure is growing on Boris Johnson to intervene in the A-level results catastrophe as the clock ticks down until the scheduled release of GCSE results on Thursday .
The prime minister is yet to comment on what Labour leader Keir Starmer has described as a “ complete fiasco ” , amid growing criticism of exam regulator Ofqual “ over the statistical model it used to decide the grades ” , the BBC reports .
The government is facing calls “ to delay the [ GCSE ] results , change the grading algorithm or use the grades estimated by teachers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the broadcaster adds .
So what are Johnson ’ s various options ?
Former Tory education secretary Lord Kenneth Baker has urged ministers to delay the publication of GCSE results until what the BBC describes as the “ exam grades crisis ” is resolved .
Baker , who introduced GCSEs , warned that the model used to standardise results this year following the cancellation of exams owing to the coronavirus pandemic was “ flawed ” .
“ The A-level results have produced hundreds of thousands of unfair and barely explicable downgrades , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you are in a hole , stop digging.
” A total of around 280,000 A-level results in England have been downgraded from teacher ’ s predictions - almost 40 % of the total .
Delaying the release of GCSE results in order to “ fix the moderation system ” could sidestep a “ new round of controversy expected for the Department for Education ” later this week , says The Independent .
Oxford University has announced that it is “ unable to offer further places to state school applicants affected by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cap on admission numbers imposed by the government , The Guardian reports .
The cap was unveiled in June , in an effort to prevent universities “ taking a recruitment approach which would go against the interests of students and the sector as a whole ” , the Department of Education said .
Universities in England have been told to cap the number of students “ at their forecast growth plus 5 % ” , while universities in the rest of the UK are not allowed to “ increase their intake of English @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as TES ( formerly the Times Educational Supplement ) reported at the time .
Following the release of A-level results , Dr Mark Fenton , chief executive of the Grammar School Heads Association , told the BBC that “ a great injustice has been done ” , with “ utterly baffling ” outcomes for some students .
The “ only fair outcome ” would be to use the grades predicted by teachers and for the limit on university places to be lifted , he argued .
Some applicants to Oxford have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The university says it has “ looked carefully ”  at all students who had failed to receive their target A-level grades and offered places to 300 – an increase of 5.7 % compared to 2019 , The Guardian reports .
As ministers “ struggled to mitigate anger at the moderation process ” , the government last week announced that schools would be able to appeal against downgraded A-level results for free , the Financial Times says .
But although Ofqual released details over the weekend on how pupils could appeal against results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just hours later , The Guardian adds .
“ No explanation was given for the move , although Labour said that it undermined assurances given to pupils by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson about the appeals process , ” according to the LBC news site .
Pupils and teachers had asked for clarity around the appeal process , after Williamson was contradicted by the exam regulator prior to the scheme being shelved .
The education secretary had promised a “ triple-lock ” commitment , meaning that pupils could use the highest result out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their mock exam , or sitting an actual exam in the autumn .
But Ofqual guidance said that if the mock result was higher than the teacher ’ s prediction , the latter would still dictate the final outcome .
Paul Whiteman , general secretary of the NAHT head teachers ’ s union , said the rules were being “ written and rewritten on the hoof ” , adding that “ the people that are suffering are the thousands of young people who have seen their future options narrow and disappear through no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a further blow the the government , some members of the Ofqual board reportedly now want to ditch the system for “ moderating ” the predicted grades awarded by teachers .
An inside source told The Telegraph : “ There is a significant view in Ofqual that there is no way forward .
To do anything else would cause further haemorrhage in public trust in qualifications , and we are haemorrhaging it so much already.
” As LBC notes , “ those concerns are likely to strengthen the hands of teaching unions who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only fair way forward ” .

Pressure is growing on Boris Johnson to intervene in the A-level results catastrophe as the clock ticks down until the scheduled release of GCSE results on Thursday.
The prime minister is yet to comment on what Labour leader Keir Starmer has described as a “complete fiasco”, amid growing criticism of exam regulator Ofqual “over the statistical model it used to decide the grades”, the BBC reports.
The government is facing calls “to delay the [GCSE] results, change the grading algorithm or use the grades estimated by teachers, after complaints of unfair A-level results”, the broadcaster adds. So what are Johnson’s various options?
Delay GCSE results
Former Tory education secretary Lord Kenneth Baker has urged ministers to delay the publication of GCSE results until what the BBC describes as the “exam grades crisis” is resolved.
Baker, who introduced GCSEs, warned that the model used to standardise results this year following the cancellation of exams owing to the coronavirus pandemic was “flawed”.
“The A-level results have produced hundreds of thousands of unfair and barely explicable downgrades,” he said, adding: “If you are in a hole, stop digging.”
A total of around 280,000 A-level results in England have been downgraded from teacher’s predictions - almost 40% of the total.
Delaying the release of GCSE results in order to “fix the moderation system” could sidestep a “new round of controversy expected for the Department for Education” later this week, says The Independent.
Remove the university cap
Oxford University has announced that it is “unable to offer further places to state school applicants affected by the grading fiasco”, owing to a cap on admission numbers imposed by the government, The Guardian reports.
The cap was unveiled in June, in an effort to prevent universities “taking a recruitment approach which would go against the interests of students and the sector as a whole”, the Department of Education said.
Universities in England have been told to cap the number of students “at their forecast growth plus 5%”, while universities in the rest of the UK are not allowed to “increase their intake of English students by more than 6.5%”, as TES (formerly the Times Educational Supplement) reported at the time.


theweekuk--2020-08-17--UK property sales hit £37bn in market’s busiest month in decade

More than £37bn worth of property sales were agreed in the UK in July as the number of transactions soared by 38 % year-on-year , new figures from Rightmove show .
The property website - which according to The Guardian “ typically lists about 95 % of homes for sale in the UK ” - says the “ rulebook has been rewritten ” , with the market enjoying its busiest month since Rightmove began tracking the data a decade ago .
“ Pent-up demand from the coronavirus lockdown and a desire to leave London ” , plus a cut in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ usual summer slowdown ” , adds Reuters .
Rightmove director Miles Shipside said : “ We associate this time of year with diving into the pool rather than the property market , and of sand and sun rather than bricks and mortar , but buyers have had a record £37bn monthly spending spree .
“ More property is coming to market than a year ago in all regions , and at a national level the new supply and heightened demand seem relatively balanced.
” Average asking prices stood at £320,265 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high ” , reports Sky News .
However , asking prices have since dropped by an average of 0.2 % to £319,497 , “ but this has been driven by a 2 % drop in London , where the number of homes coming on to the market is up by 69 % year-on-year ” , says The Guardian .
“ In seven regions , asking prices hit record highs as sellers sought to make the most of the demand , ” the paper continues .
A rise in the number of people seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post-lockdown sales boom .
Enquiries for village properties rose by 126 % in June and July compared with the same period in 2019 .
Rightmove ’ s Shipside said : “ There have been many changes as a result of the unprecedented pandemic , and these include a rewriting of the previously predictable seasonal rulebook for housing market activity and prices .
“ Rather than just a release of existing pent-up demand due to the suspension of the housing market during lockdown , there ’ s an added layer of additional demand due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the experience of lockdown.
” Kevin Shaw , managing director of residential sales at Leaders Romans Group , added : “ As many of us continue to work from home , people have realised business can function well while doing so , and so no longer want to commute into big cities five days a week , or live in urban environments closer to offices .
“ There is real demand to live in rural locations providing green space .
”

More than £37bn worth of property sales were agreed in the UK in July as the number of transactions soared by 38% year-on-year, new figures from Rightmove show.
The property website - which according to The Guardian “typically lists about 95% of homes for sale in the UK” - says the “rulebook has been rewritten”, with the market enjoying its busiest month since Rightmove began tracking the data a decade ago. “Pent-up demand from the coronavirus lockdown and a desire to leave London”, plus a cut in stamp duty, are credited with averting the “usual summer slowdown”, adds Reuters.
Rightmove director Miles Shipside said: “We associate this time of year with diving into the pool rather than the property market, and of sand and sun rather than bricks and mortar, but buyers have had a record £37bn monthly spending spree.
“More property is coming to market than a year ago in all regions, and at a national level the new supply and heightened demand seem relatively balanced.”
Average asking prices stood at £320,265 in July, “which was a record high”, reports Sky News. However, asking prices have since dropped by an average of 0.2% to £319,497, “but this has been driven by a 2% drop in London, where the number of homes coming on to the market is up by 69% year-on-year”, says The Guardian.
“In seven regions, asking prices hit record highs as sellers sought to make the most of the demand,” the paper continues.
A rise in the number of people seeking countryside properties has also contributed to the post-lockdown sales boom. Enquiries for village properties rose by 126% in June and July compared with the same period in 2019.
Rightmove’s Shipside said: “There have been many changes as a result of the unprecedented pandemic, and these include a rewriting of the previously predictable seasonal rulebook for housing market activity and prices.
“Rather than just a release of existing pent-up demand due to the suspension of the housing market during lockdown, there’s an added layer of additional demand due to people’s changed housing priorities after the experience of lockdown.”
Kevin Shaw, managing director of residential sales at Leaders Romans Group, added: “As many of us continue to work from home, people have realised business can function well while doing so, and so no longer want to commute into big cities five days a week, or live in urban environments closer to offices.
“There is real demand to live in rural locations providing green space.”


theweekuk--2020-08-17--Tory MP accused of rape to stay away when Parliament returns in September

The former Conservative minister arrested on suspicion of rape will not return to Westminister next month , amid growing calls for his suspension from Parliament .
The as-of-yet unnamed senior Tory figure figure is understood to have “ voluntarily agreed ” to stay away from the Commons after the summer recess ends on 1 September , “ but will continue to represent his constituents from home ” , The Guardian says .
The MP was taken into custody in east London on 1 August and released pending investigations .
He is permitted to attend Parliament , after his bail was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party announced on Sunday that he would not do so .
“ These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully , ” said a spokesperson .
“ A decision on the whip will be reviewed once the police investigation has been concluded.
” However , a coalition of 11 charities and trade unions including the TUC , Centenary Action Group , Fawcett Society and Women ’ s Aid has demanded that the MP be suspended while the probe is being carried out , a call that has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The House of Commons should be no different from any other workplace .
Safety and the safeguarding of staff must be paramount , ” the campaigners said in a joint statement days after his arrest .
“ Failure to suspend is yet another example of minimising violence against women and girls and failure to believe victims and survivors when they bravely speak out.
” The investigation into the allegations by a former parliamentary aide is being spearheaded by the Metropolitan Police ’ s Complex Case Team .
They include “ four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and assault ” which are said to have taken place “ at addresses in Westminster , Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020 ” , a Met spokesperson said .
The Sunday Times previously revealed that the allegations were first reported to the Conservative chief whip , Mark Spencer , in April this year .
Spencer is understood to “ not believe a sexual assault was reported to him in his conversation with the complainant ” , but acknowledges that the alleged victim reported “ abusive behaviour and threats ” , @ @ @ @ @

The former Conservative minister arrested on suspicion of rape will not return to Westminister next month, amid growing calls for his suspension from Parliament.
The as-of-yet unnamed senior Tory figure figure is understood to have “voluntarily agreed” to stay away from the Commons after the summer recess ends on 1 September, “but will continue to represent his constituents from home”, The Guardian says.
The MP was taken into custody in east London on 1 August and released pending investigations. He is permitted to attend Parliament, after his bail was extended to November, but the Conservative Party announced on Sunday that he would not do so.
“These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully,” said a spokesperson. “A decision on the whip will be reviewed once the police investigation has been concluded.”
However, a coalition of 11 charities and trade unions including the TUC, Centenary Action Group, Fawcett Society and Women’s Aid has demanded that the MP be suspended while the probe is being carried out, a call that has been echoed by Labour, The Times reports.
“The House of Commons should be no different from any other workplace. Safety and the safeguarding of staff must be paramount,” the campaigners said in a joint statement days after his arrest.
“Failure to suspend is yet another example of minimising violence against women and girls and failure to believe victims and survivors when they bravely speak out.”
The investigation into the allegations by a former parliamentary aide is being spearheaded by the Metropolitan Police’s Complex Case Team.
They include “four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault” which are said to have taken place “at addresses in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020”, a Met spokesperson said.
The Sunday Times previously revealed that the allegations were first reported to the Conservative chief whip, Mark Spencer, in April this year.
Spencer is understood to “not believe a sexual assault was reported to him in his conversation with the complainant”, but acknowledges that the alleged victim reported “abusive behaviour and threats”, according to the newspaper.


theweekuk--2020-08-17--Elvis is ‘alive and living in Chile’

Elvis is ‘alive and living in Chile’

The theory that Elvis Presley is alive has re-emerged with a man ’ s claim that he met the music legend after his death in 1977 .
The man says that the king of rock was living in Chile under the alias of “ Bill ” .
The source says that when people mentioned a resemblance between the man and Elvis , “ Bill just smiled chivalrously and said nothing ” .
Elvis died from a cardiac arrest 33 years ago this month .
Police say a penguin has been found “ plodding ” up a street in a village @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a nearby farm and wildlife centre .
Broxtowe North Police said : “ We nicknamed him Po-Po .
He posed for some pictures with us and he was very friendly with our officers while we made contact with his owner.
” A man in Australia completed a 60km ( 37 mile ) charity run in a hotel room during coronavirus quarantine .
“ I realised I 've signed up for this and said , ‘ I 'll have to do it in quarantine and it might alleviate my boredom , ’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran around his hotel room for up to 75 minutes until his FitBit showed that his target was reached .

The theory that Elvis Presley is alive has re-emerged with a man’s claim that he met the music legend after his death in 1977. The man says that the king of rock was living in Chile under the alias of “Bill”. The source says that when people mentioned a resemblance between the man and Elvis, “Bill just smiled chivalrously and said nothing”. Elvis died from a cardiac arrest 33 years ago this month.
Police find penguin on Nottingham street
Police say a penguin has been found “plodding” up a street in a village near Nottingham. The bird had escaped from a nearby farm and wildlife centre. Broxtowe North Police said: “We nicknamed him Po-Po. He posed for some pictures with us and he was very friendly with our officers while we made contact with his owner.”
Man completes 60k charity run in hotel room
A man in Australia completed a 60km (37 mile) charity run in a hotel room during coronavirus quarantine. “I realised I've signed up for this and said, ‘I'll have to do it in quarantine and it might alleviate my boredom,’” he said. Each day, he ran around his hotel room for up to 75 minutes until his FitBit showed that his target was reached.


theweekuk--2020-08-17--Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 17 Aug 2020

Morrisons plans to scrap plastic bags for life because it found that shoppers use them once and then bin them @ @ @ @ @ begin a trial offering paper bags in eight stores today .
If the scheme is @ @ @ @ @ it would take 90m plastic bags a year out of circulation - the equivalent of @ @ @ @ @ David Potts said : “ We believe customers are ready to stop using plastic carrier @ @ @

Cummings asked to prove he is telling ‘whole truth’
Dominic Cummings has been asked to release mobile phone and vehicle tracking data to prove that he did not make a second trip to Durham during the lockdown. Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor for north-west England, is leading a campaign for a full investigation into Cummings’ movements. He said the government adviser, “who has regularly spoken about the importance of data”, should prove that he is “telling the whole truth”.


theweekuk--2020-08-17--As few as one in ten civil servants heed Boris Johnson’s ‘back to work’ call, new figures show

Boris Johnson ’ s call for Britons to “ go back to work if they can ” has gone largely unheeded not only across the country but also within Westminster , according to newly released figures .
A freedom of information ( FOI ) request to the Cabinet Office has revealed that as of 4 August , between 846 and 1,297 of the department ’ s staff had returned , the Daily Mail reports .
The “ woeful ” figures equate to between 10 % and 15 % of the total number of employees at the Cabinet Office , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the newspaper .
The prime minister has been urging UK workers “ to get back to the office environment ” from this month in a bid to boost the economy , adds The Telegraph .
Johnson has promised that the government would “ give employers more discretion and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely ” .
“ Whatever employers decide , they should consult closely with their employees , and only ask people to return to their place of work if it is safe , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid July .
The PM ’ s repeated “ back to work ” calls come amid “ fears that city-centre shops and restaurants – which rely on footfall from office workers – face ruin if more employees do not return ” , according to the Mail .
Ros Morgan , chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance , told fashion industry-focused news site Drapers this week that since the changes in the government ’ s guidance on returning to work came into effect on 1 August , “ there has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the West End ” .
“ Furthermore , the importance of returning office workers is evident as shopping districts such as Jermyn Street have had a notably lower week-on-week footfall increase than areas such as Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square , which have a more diverse range of visitors , ” she added .

Boris Johnson’s call for Britons to “go back to work if they can” has gone largely unheeded not only across the country but also within Westminster, according to newly released figures.
A freedom of information (FOI) request to the Cabinet Office has revealed that as of 4 August, between 846 and 1,297 of the department’s staff had returned, the Daily Mail reports.
The “woeful” figures equate to between 10% and 15% of the total number of employees at the Cabinet Office, which answers directly to Boris Johnson, says the newspaper.
The prime minister has been urging UK workers “to get back to the office environment” from this month in a bid to boost the economy, adds The Telegraph.
Johnson has promised that the government would “give employers more discretion and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely”.
“Whatever employers decide, they should consult closely with their employees, and only ask people to return to their place of work if it is safe,” he told a Downing Street press briefing in mid July.
The PM’s repeated “back to work” calls come amid “fears that city-centre shops and restaurants – which rely on footfall from office workers – face ruin if more employees do not return”, according to the Mail.
Ros Morgan, chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, told fashion industry-focused news site Drapers this week that since the changes in the government’s guidance on returning to work came into effect on 1 August, “there has been a clear 10% increase in visitors to the West End”.
“Furthermore, the importance of returning office workers is evident as shopping districts such as Jermyn Street have had a notably lower week-on-week footfall increase than areas such as Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, which have a more diverse range of visitors,” she added.


theweekuk--2020-08-18--US Open 2020: women’s draw hit as six top-ten stars pull out

Defending men ’ s champion Rafael Nadal and five-time winner Roger Federer had already confirmed they will miss the US Open grand slam and now six of the world ’ s top-ten women have decided not to play in New York .
World No.2 Simona Halep , the reigning Wimbledon champion , announced on Monday she had opted out of the Flushing Meadows event , which takes place behind closed doors starting on 31 August .
Coronavirus concerns have left many non-American players questioning the decision to travel to the US .
Romanian Halep joins defending champion Bianca Andreescu , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kiki Bertens and Belinda Bencic on the absentee list .
After winning the Prague Open on Sunday , 28-year-old Halep cited health concerns for her decision and said she would stay in Europe to train .
Halep said on Twitter : “ After weighing up all the factors involved and with the exceptional circumstances in which we are living , I have decided that I will not travel to New York to play the US Open .
“ I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ train in Europe .
“ I know the USTA and the WTA have worked tirelessly to put on a safe event and I wish everyone there a successful tournament.
” Will no fans help Serena ’ s bid for title No.24 ?
With so many high-profile stars missing from the women ’ s entry list , it will give players such as world No.3 Karolina Pliskova and 2018 US Open winner Naomi Osaka a big opportunity in New York .
American tennis icon Serena Williams will also be hoping she can finally win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Margaret Court ’ s all-time record .
The six-time US Open winner hasn ’ t won a grand slam since the Australian Open in 2017 and has lost her past four major finals - including the past two US Open finals to Osaka and Andreescu .
With no expectant crowd attending the event this could work in favour of the 38-year-old as she bids to make history .
That ’ s the opinion of former world No.3 Pam Shriver .
Speaking to the BBC Shriver said : “ Serena has felt a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years , hence many a meltdown .
This pandemic has really put a toll on a lot of people and a lot of people in your family , as far as how they ’ re feeling a lot more anxious .
“ If you ’ ve been through a lot , as Serena has , she might actually feel more comfortable playing under these circumstances than other athletes .
”

Defending men’s champion Rafael Nadal and five-time winner Roger Federer had already confirmed they will miss the US Open grand slam. Now six of the world’s top-ten women have decided not to play in New York either.
World No.2 Simona Halep, the reigning Wimbledon champion, announced on Monday she had opted out of the Flushing Meadows event, which takes place behind closed doors starting on 31 August.
Coronavirus concerns have left many non-American players questioning the decision to travel to the US. Romanian Halep joins defending champion Bianca Andreescu, world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens and Belinda Bencic on the absentee list.
After winning the Prague Open on Sunday, 28-year-old Halep cited health concerns for her decision and said she would stay in Europe to train.
Halep said on Twitter: “After weighing up all the factors involved and with the exceptional circumstances in which we are living, I have decided that I will not travel to New York to play the US Open.
“I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision and I therefore prefer to stay and train in Europe.
“I know the USTA and the WTA have worked tirelessly to put on a safe event and I wish everyone there a successful tournament.”
Will no fans help Serena’s bid for title No.24?
With so many high-profile stars missing from the women’s entry list, it will give players such as world No.3 Karolina Pliskova and 2018 US Open winner Naomi Osaka a big opportunity in New York.
American tennis icon Serena Williams will also be hoping she can finally win a 24th grand slam title and equal Margaret Court’s all-time record.
The six-time US Open winner hasn’t won a grand slam since the Australian Open in 2017 and has lost her past four major finals - including the past two US Open finals to Osaka and Andreescu.
With no expectant crowd, this could work in favour of the 38-year-old as she bids to make history. That’s the opinion of former world No.3 Pam Shriver.
Speaking to the BBC Shriver said: “Serena has felt a lot of emotions at the US Open through the years, hence many a meltdown. This pandemic has really put a toll on a lot of people and a lot of people in your family, as far as how they’re feeling a lot more anxious.
“If you’ve been through a lot, as Serena has, she might actually feel more comfortable playing under these circumstances than other athletes.”


theweekuk--2020-08-18--Instant Opinion: ‘England’s education system rewards the rich’’

The Week ’ s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media , with excerpts from each .
The real problem is that England ’ s education system rewards the rich “ In the year before the pandemic , the Sutton Trust found independent school pupils were seven times more likely to gain a place at Oxford or Cambridge than those in non-selective state schools , and more than twice as likely to take a place at Russell Group institutions .
In 2018 , another study found almost half of ‘ clever but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GCSE grades .
Just 52 % of the disadvantaged high achievers at primary school gained at least five A* and A grades in England , compared with 72 % of their wealthier , equally clever , peers .
Far from being wrong , the infamous algorithm in many ways succeeded in replicating the socio-economic bias that has plagued the education system for centuries .
Or to put it another way : the educational inequality laid bare by the government ’ s incompetence is not a shock .
It is business as usual.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarity Algorithms are here to stay but ministers must understand them “ The mess that both [ Scotland and England ’ s ] governments have found themselves in is down in part to an old saying from the world of finance : garbage in , garbage out .
Your algorithm is only as good as the information you feed into it and , because in both England and Scotland students now only sit standardised tests at 16 and 18 , reliable data to allow the exams watchdog to distinguish accurately between students is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to set results using information about previous years .
This is a lot like trying to replicate the delayed Tokyo Olympics by putting in the results of the Beijing , London and Rio contests into a computer ... Why should one British athlete ’ s 2008 stumble bring another down in 2020 ?
That ’ s part of what makes people so angry about this year ’ s results : the only people not to have directly shaped the destiny of this generation of school leavers are the children themselves.
” 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communications to Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair , in The Independent on a government in over its head From exams to coronavirus , it ’ s clear our government is not up to the task – we should all be very angry “ It is hard to overstate , whether on competence or values , the difference between the [ British and German ] governments .
But frankly , you could compare the UK government with any EU country and find that on virtually every aspect of the Covid-19 crisis , Johnson and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am being generous ) have handled it worse .
He is not in the same league as a Merkel or a Macron .
When Der Spiegel wrote recently about Johnson , they did so in a piece headlined , ‘ The four leaders of the infected world ’ , referring to Trump , Vladimir Putin , Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil , and Johnson .
That is the depth to which he and his populism have taken us .
What Brexit and Covid-19 have shown , what the exams farce/fiasco/shambles is showing , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factory spewing out three-word slogans.
” No Twitter mobs , just intelligent debate : the time is ripe for the return of After Dark “ Public discourse in Britain , as in much of what we call the ‘ free world ’ , is in a pretty shocking state .
This is partly because of steadily lower and more partisan standards of education , particularly in the humanities , which prevent people from learning how to argue rationally and in a civilised way .
It is also partly because of social media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over those misguided enough to take it seriously , and in which a dictatorial consensus is imposed about what subjects are or are not fit for discussion – thus pre-judging the outcome of those discussions .
But it is also because one of the most influential arms of the media , television , has long since run up the white flag on intelligent discussion programmes , in which the public were not only invited to watch thoughtful and intelligent people having thoughtful and intelligent conversations , but could perhaps learn some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action.
” 5 .
Frank Bruni in The New York Times Michelle Obama Showed Us Why These Democrats Are Our Last Best Hope “ Never in my 55 years has the Democrats ’ success mattered more for the welfare , the sanity — the future — of these United States than now , because never has the other fork in the road been a Republican president as profoundly amoral , fundamentally corrupt and flatly incompetent as the one seeking four more years .
Donald Trump has made clear that he ’ s willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if that ’ s the only way to ‘ win.
’ He has in fact commenced that heist .
He ’ s ready to smash all faith in our institutions and all pride in our democratic system and fashion a throne amid the wreckage .
And he has a shockingly large number of accomplices — including , to date , most of the Republicans in Congress — who are cheering him on or biting their tongues to the point of hemorrhage .
In the context of that , what I saw on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parsed or graded .
It was something to rush toward and relish : a buffet for the starving .
It was salvation .
”

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.
1. Frances Ryan in The Guardian
on Britain’s two-tiered approach to schools
The real problem is that England’s education system rewards the rich
“In the year before the pandemic, the Sutton Trust found independent school pupils were seven times more likely to gain a place at Oxford or Cambridge than those in non-selective state schools, and more than twice as likely to take a place at Russell Group institutions. In 2018, another study found almost half of ‘clever but disadvantaged’ students failed to secure top GCSE grades. Just 52% of the disadvantaged high achievers at primary school gained at least five A* and A grades in England, compared with 72% of their wealthier, equally clever, peers. Far from being wrong, the infamous algorithm in many ways succeeded in replicating the socio-economic bias that has plagued the education system for centuries. Or to put it another way: the educational inequality laid bare by the government’s incompetence is not a shock. It is business as usual.”
2. Stephen Bush in The Times
on flawed data and a lack of clarity
Algorithms are here to stay but ministers must understand them
“The mess that both [Scotland and England’s] governments have found themselves in is down in part to an old saying from the world of finance: garbage in, garbage out. Your algorithm is only as good as the information you feed into it and, because in both England and Scotland students now only sit standardised tests at 16 and 18, reliable data to allow the exams watchdog to distinguish accurately between students is in short supply. The watchdog instead had to set results using information about previous years. This is a lot like trying to replicate the delayed Tokyo Olympics by putting in the results of the Beijing, London and Rio contests into a computer... Why should one British athlete’s 2008 stumble bring another down in 2020? That’s part of what makes people so angry about this year’s results: the only people not to have directly shaped the destiny of this generation of school leavers are the children themselves.”
3. Alastair Campbell, former director of communications to Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, in The Independent
on a government in over its head
From exams to coronavirus, it’s clear our government is not up to the task – we should all be very angry
“It is hard to overstate, whether on competence or values, the difference between the [British and German] governments. But frankly, you could compare the UK government with any EU country and find that on virtually every aspect of the Covid-19 crisis, Johnson and his team of second-rate ministers (I am being generous) have handled it worse. He is not in the same league as a Merkel or a Macron. When Der Spiegel wrote recently about Johnson, they did so in a piece headlined, ‘The four leaders of the infected world’, referring to Trump, Vladimir Putin, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, and Johnson. That is the depth to which he and his populism have taken us. What Brexit and Covid-19 have shown, what the exams farce/fiasco/shambles is showing, is that government requires more than a propaganda factory spewing out three-word slogans.”
4. Simon Heffer in The Daily Telegraph
on civilised discussion
No Twitter mobs, just intelligent debate: the time is ripe for the return of After Dark
“Public discourse in Britain, as in much of what we call the ‘free world’, is in a pretty shocking state. This is partly because of steadily lower and more partisan standards of education, particularly in the humanities, which prevent people from learning how to argue rationally and in a civilised way. It is also partly because of social media, which operates a form of mob rule over those misguided enough to take it seriously, and in which a dictatorial consensus is imposed about what subjects are or are not fit for discussion – thus pre-judging the outcome of those discussions. But it is also because one of the most influential arms of the media, television, has long since run up the white flag on intelligent discussion programmes, in which the public were not only invited to watch thoughtful and intelligent people having thoughtful and intelligent conversations, but could perhaps learn some of the skills of discourse from watching them in action.”
5. Frank Bruni in The New York Times
on a vital US election
Michelle Obama Showed Us Why These Democrats Are Our Last Best Hope
“Never in my 55 years has the Democrats’ success mattered more for the welfare, the sanity — the future — of these United States than now, because never has the other fork in the road been a Republican president as profoundly amoral, fundamentally corrupt and flatly incompetent as the one seeking four more years. Donald Trump has made clear that he’s willing to steal this election from Joe Biden if that’s the only way to ‘win.’ He has in fact commenced that heist. He’s ready to smash all faith in our institutions and all pride in our democratic system and fashion a throne amid the wreckage. And he has a shockingly large number of accomplices — including, to date, most of the Republicans in Congress — who are cheering him on or biting their tongues to the point of hemorrhage. In the context of that, what I saw on Monday night wasn’t something to be parsed or graded. It was something to rush toward and relish: a buffet for the starving. It was salvation.”


theweekuk--2020-08-18--Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 reviews and trailers: wings of ‘pure wonder’

When Microsoft released the first version of Flight Simulator in November 1982 it opened up a new world for aviation geeks .
Now , 37 years later , the 11th instalment has left gamers stunned .
By using accurate geographic data from Bing Maps , a global cloud computing network and real-time weather information , the 2020 edition “ is as much a visual spectacle as it is a simulator ” , The Guardian reports .
Developed by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios , Microsoft Flight Simulator lets pilots file a flight plan to anywhere on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million cities , 1.5 billion buildings plus real mountains , roads , trees , rivers , animals and traffic , the intricate detail is epic .
With a choice of light planes to wide-body jets , pilots can fly during the day or night , amid the challenges of realistic weather conditions .
Critics have been waxing lyrical about the sim since its release .
IGN ’ s Seth Macy calls it the “ most incredible experience ” he ’ s ever had on a computer while Jordan Oloman of the NME describes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wonder ” .
Here we take a look at the video trailers , game information and critic reviews for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 .
• Download price : standard edition £59.99 ; deluxe edition £79.99 ; premium deluxe edition £109.99 ( it ’ s also included with Xbox Game Pass for PC ) What the critics are saying “ So often , Microsoft Flight Simulator feels like the future .
I ’ ve been playing daily for pretty much a month now , and I still struggle on occasion to believe it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or so , Microsoft Flight Simulator has sent me on a spiral of discovery , exploring the world as well as the often mundane , frequently magical detail of air travel , my appreciation of what Microsoft and Asobo have achieved growing all the while .
When it all comes together , this thing can be as uplifting as flight itself.
” “ Microsoft Flight Simulator is the most incredible experience I ’ ve ever had on a computer .
The realism , the depth , the almost limitless replayability - it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played before .
It does so much to recreate the feeling of actual flight , at a level of accuracy never before seen , that there were times when I came in for a landing at real-life airfields I ’ d seen during my time in the Air Force where I was simply stunned.
” “ There are specific flight challenges and missions to try out , and even a global scoreboard where you can match yourself against other pilots , but you never have to do any of this .
You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destination , and fly along the Amalfi coast , or up over the Ural mountains ; you can cross the Atlantic , the Irish Sea or Lake Wakatipu .
Wherever you go , this game captures the wonder of flight , and the spiritual and emotional rush of seeing the world in a different way.
” “ Microsoft Flight Simulator is a triumphantly ambitious venture which pushes the boundaries of photorealism in the gaming medium .
It requires a lot of horsepower and the support of Azure technology to accomplish such a feat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you 're staring down at endless cities and thick jungles from thousands of feet in the air .
It ’ s breathtaking , and I hope it brings such simulators further into the mainstream.
” “ Flying planes in Microsoft Flight Simulator will make you question your relationship with the landscape of the places you love for the better by making you reconsider your place in the environment .
It ’ s given me an adventurous zeal and a strong desire to conquer the woods and nature nearby that I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing me what ’ s on offer .
Where other games can trap you in your own head , Microsoft Flight Simulator is a hotbed of pure wonder .
”

When Microsoft released the first version of Flight Simulator in November 1982 it opened up a new world for aviation geeks.
Now, 37 years later, the 11th instalment has left gamers stunned.
By using accurate geographic data from Bing Maps, a global cloud computing network and real-time weather information, the 2020 edition “is as much a visual spectacle as it is a simulator”, The Guardian reports.
Developed by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft Flight Simulator lets pilots file a flight plan to anywhere on the planet. Featuring 37,000 airports, two million cities, 1.5 billion buildings plus real mountains, roads, trees, rivers, animals and traffic, the intricate detail is epic.
With a choice of light planes to wide-body jets, pilots can fly during the day or night, amid the challenges of realistic weather conditions.
Critics have been waxing lyrical about the sim since its release. IGN’s Seth Macy calls it the “most incredible experience” he’s ever had on a computer while Jordan Oloman of the NME describes it as a “hotbed of pure wonder”.
Here we take a look at the video trailers, game information and critic reviews for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020: the key details
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Developer: Asobo Studio
Simulator platform: PC Windows 10
Release date: out now
Download price: standard edition £59.99; deluxe edition £79.99; premium deluxe edition £109.99 (it’s also included with Xbox Game Pass for PC)
What the critics are saying
Martin Robinson, Eurogamer
“So often, Microsoft Flight Simulator feels like the future. I’ve been playing daily for pretty much a month now, and I still struggle on occasion to believe it’s real. Over the past month or so, Microsoft Flight Simulator has sent me on a spiral of discovery, exploring the world as well as the often mundane, frequently magical detail of air travel, my appreciation of what Microsoft and Asobo have achieved growing all the while. When it all comes together, this thing can be as uplifting as flight itself.”
Seth Macy, IGN
“Microsoft Flight Simulator is the most incredible experience I’ve ever had on a computer. The realism, the depth, the almost limitless replayability - it’s like nothing I’ve ever played before. It does so much to recreate the feeling of actual flight, at a level of accuracy never before seen, that there were times when I came in for a landing at real-life airfields I’d seen during my time in the Air Force where I was simply stunned.”
Keith Stuart, The Guardian
“There are specific flight challenges and missions to try out, and even a global scoreboard where you can match yourself against other pilots, but you never have to do any of this. You can merely pick a departure point and a destination, and fly along the Amalfi coast, or up over the Ural mountains; you can cross the Atlantic, the Irish Sea or Lake Wakatipu. Wherever you go, this game captures the wonder of flight, and the spiritual and emotional rush of seeing the world in a different way.”
Jade King, Trusted Reviews
“Microsoft Flight Simulator is a triumphantly ambitious venture which pushes the boundaries of photorealism in the gaming medium. It requires a lot of horsepower and the support of Azure technology to accomplish such a feat, but these barriers are washed away when you're staring down at endless cities and thick jungles from thousands of feet in the air. It’s breathtaking, and I hope it brings such simulators further into the mainstream.”
Jordan Oloman, NME
“Flying planes in Microsoft Flight Simulator will make you question your relationship with the landscape of the places you love for the better by making you reconsider your place in the environment. It’s given me an adventurous zeal and a strong desire to conquer the woods and nature nearby that I’ve been neglecting in quarantine, purely by showing me what’s on offer. Where other games can trap you in your own head, Microsoft Flight Simulator is a hotbed of pure wonder.”
In-game visuals


theweekuk--2020-08-18--England and Germany ‘neck-and-neck’ in coronavirus vaccine race

The life-and-death sprint to find a drug that can protect us all from Covid-19 is a contest in which there ought to be no losers .
Yet the unprecedented efforts of the world ’ s scientists and drug companies to create a coronavirus vaccine have culminated in a familiar rivalry , says The Telegraph - “ a playoff between teams in England and Germany ” .
The first internationally licensed vaccine is expected to emerge either from Oxford University , in partnership with the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company Astra-Zeneca , or from Germany ’ s BioNTech and its US-based manufacturing partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful phase one and two trials , with data suggesting they produced a ‘ robust ’ immune response - antibodies and T-cells - in volunteers after two doses , ” the newspaper reports .
Scores of other potential vaccines are also under development , and in an unconventional move , two have been approved for use in their home countries before undergoing large-scale phase three trials .
Russia is planning to start mass vaccinations in October using a drug created by the Moscow-based Gameleya laboratory , while China will give soldiers a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers .
However , neither the Russian nor Chinese vaccine is likely to gain international acceptance without phase-three clinical trial results to reassure public health officials .
“ Russia has released no scientific data as to the safety and effectiveness of its vaccine , ” says CNBC .
By contrast , phase three trials of both the BioNTech and Oxford vaccines are well under way , and data from earlier testing has already been published .
“ AstraZeneca has indicated they might be able to start delivering emergency vaccines as early as October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies , ” says The New York Times .
“ Their phase one/two trial revealed that the vaccine was safe , causing no severe side effects.
” Although the German vaccine caused some “ moderate side effects such as sleep disturbances and sore arms ” , the paper adds , the drug also produced an effective immune response .
Both vaccines are likely to require two doses , according to The Telegraph , and “ how long any protective effect will last ” remains “ unclear ” .

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