Another week, another new Audi. Two new Audis, in fact. The German car maker has announced a couple more additions to its Q line up of SUVs. The Q4 is a coupe-SUV hybrid that will go up against the BMW X4 and Mercedes GLC Coupe. As its name suggests, it’ll be positioned between the compact Q3 and bigger Q5. At the other end of the scale is the Q8, which will go head to head against the Range Rover. It’s lower and sleeker than the Q7 Audi is also producing. In concept form, it sat only four people, although it seems likely the production version will be a five seater. There’s a 630 litre boot as well. Eagle eyed Audi followers will notice the only SUV slots left to fill are the Q1 and Q6. Watch this space…
Dunfermline will roll back the years to the Second World War at a new festival next month. Organisers of Defend Dunfermline World War II Festival have just announced its packed programme of events to bring to life the story of Scotland’s ancient capital’s top secret defences for the first time. Taking place on August 19 and 20 across the town centre, the festival will feature street theatre, exhibitions, a talk and music. Highlights include a live promenade piece, moving from the trenches to a 1940s High Street and a chance to play out strategies on wargaming tables. Sunday sees a parade along the High Street, with a pipe band, 1940s dancing and re-enactors, marking the contribution of the allied Polish armies and the Home Guard in Dunfermline. It also looks at those on the home front, from making a rag rug – popular with the make do and mend brigade – to looking at how householders kept on the right side of the blackout rules. The two day event celebrates the links with Poland during the war years. Dunfermline had its defences strengthened in the war years against attack from enemy tanks and paratroopers. Visitors will be able to investigate recently unearthed confidential maps and plans, drawn up by the allied Polish armies who were exiled to Scotland during the Second World War. These plans – which were an enforcement of the roadblocks, checkpoints and fighting positions created by Dunfermline’s home guard – were prepared in the result of invasion. The festival will retell this story through the eyes of the Scottish and Polish soldiers who worked to ensure Fife remained protected. Organised by Forth Pilgrim Limited, the festival has received financial support from Fife Council and the Polish Consulate for Scotland and Heritage Lottery Fund. Festival director Roger Pickering said: “It’s a weekend packed with wartime entertainment, exhibitions and activities. “It is also a chance to remember the special relationship between the people of Dunfermline and the Polish Army in exile, who helped to protect our town during the Second World War. More details on the programme are available at www.defenddunfermlineww2.co.uk.
Audi’s Q2 was one of the first premium compact SUVs on the market. It sits below the Q3, Q5 and the gigantic, seven seat Q7 in Audi’s ever growing range. Although it’s about the same size as the Nissan Juke or Volkswagen T-Roc, its price is comparable with the much larger Nissan X-Trail or Volkswagen Tiguan. Even a basic Q2 will set you back more than £21,000 and top whack is £38,000. Then there’s the options list which is extensive to say the least. My 2.0 automatic diesel Quattro S Line model had a base price of £30,745 but tipped the scales at just over £40,000 once a plethora of additions were totted up. Size isn’t everything, however. In recent years there’s been a trend of buyers wanting a car that’s of premium quality but compact enough to zip around town. It may be a step down in size but the Q2 doesn’t feel any less classy than the rest of Audi’s SUV range. The interior looks great and is user friendly in a way that more mainstream manufacturers have never been able to match. The simple rotary dial and shortcut buttons easily trounce touchscreen systems, making it a cinch to skim through the screen’s menus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eQ5p5Z7-Ek&list=PLUEXizskBf1nbeiD_LqfXXsKooLOsItB0 There’s a surprising amount of internal space too. I took three large adults from Dundee to Stirling and no one complained about feeling cramped. As long as you don’t have a tall passenger behind a tall driver you can easily fit four adults. At 405 litres the boot’s big too – that’s 50 litres more than a Nissan Juke can muster. Buyers can pick from 1.0 and 1.4 litre petrol engines or 1.6 and 2.0 litre TDIs. Most Q2s are front wheel drive but Audi’s Quattro system is standard on the 2.0 diesel, as is a seven-speed S Tronic gear box. On the road there’s a clear difference between this and SUVs by manufacturers like Nissan, Seat and Ford. Ride quality, while firm, is tremendously smooth. Refinement is excellent too, with road and tyre noise kept out of the cabin. It sits lower than the Q3 or Q5 and this improves handling, lending the Q2 an almost go-kart feel. On a trip out to Auchterhouse, with plenty of snow still on the ground, I was appreciative of the four-wheel drive as well. The Q2 is expensive – though there are some good finance deals out there – but you get what you pay for. Few cars this small feel as good as the Q2 does. Price: £30,745 0-62mph: 8.1 seconds Top speed: 131mph Economy: 58.9mpg CO2 emissions: 125g/km
Theresa May is flying into the heart of a massive European storm as she visits Poland for talks with the eastern European country’s new prime minister. The visit to Warsaw comes a day after the European Commission triggered proceedings against Poland which could lead to sanctions over a contentious overhaul of its justice system. Speaking ahead of the trip, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Mrs May would “raise her concerns” over the changes with Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, who has been in office for less than a fortnight since the resignation of Beata Szydlo. Despite efforts for a constructive dialogue for 2 years, we have concluded that there is a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in #Poland We therefore proposed to @EUCouncil to adopt a decision under #Article7 (1) of the Treaty on EU https://t.co/EFfnjTOlF6— European Commission (@EU_Commission) December 20, 2017 Mrs May is being joined at the long-scheduled Anglo-Polish Inter-Governmental Consultations by ministers including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who will later fly on to Moscow for potentially the biggest diplomatic challenge of his time in office. Mr Johnson will meet Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Friday at a time when relations between Moscow and the West are at their coolest for several decades. The European Commission action against Poland came in response to several laws enacted by the right-wing Law and Justice party to give it greater control over the justice system. European Council president Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, said the laws had “practically liquidated judicial independence in Poland”, placing government authorities “above the law”. Commission action on the Rule of Law in #Poland | Questions & Answers: – What is the legal basis? – What has happened during the 2 years of dialogue? – What are the main issues of concern? – What is the #Article7 Procedure? https://t.co/7L8jlWrP7R— European Commission (@EU_Commission) December 20, 2017 The so-called Article 7 process could ultimately lead to sanctions including withdrawal of voting rights in the European Council, although Hungary has indicated it would wield its veto to prevent this. Asked whether the visit so soon after the Commission’s censure amounted to an endorsement of the Polish administration, Mrs May’s official spokesman said: “We place great importance on respect for the rule of law and we expect all our partners to abide by international norms and standards. “The Prime Minister will raise her concerns with the (Polish) prime minister when they meet. We hope that Poland and the Commission can resolve this through discussion.” #Article7 aims at ensuring that all EU Member States respect the common values of the EU, including Rule of Law. 2 mechanisms: (1) preventive in case of clear risk of a serious breach (2) sanctioning in case of existence of a serious and persistent breach— European Commission (@EU_Commission) December 20, 2017 Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is expected to announce a new joint UK-Poland Treaty on Defence and Security Co-operation, calling it a “powerful symbol of our continued close co-operation”. Speaking ahead of the summit, she said: “Poland matters greatly to the UK. Our partnership is broad, vibrant and diverse and we both share a steadfast commitment to Europe’s security and defence. “I am determined that Brexit will not weaken our relationship with Poland. Rather, it will serve as a catalyst to strengthen it.” Mr Johnson’s visit to Russia is the first by a British foreign secretary for more than five years and is set to see a series of frosty exchanges over issues including Ukraine, Syria and allegations of Russian interference in Western democracy. Moscow has sought to characterise the visit as a move back towards “business as usual” after years in which relations with the West have been in the deep-freeze following its support for separatists in Ukraine and the 2014 annexation of Crimea. But Mrs May left no doubt that she is not ready for a thaw when she used last month’s high-profile Mansion House foreign affairs speech to accuse President Vladimir Putin of using cyber-espionage and disruption to “sow discord in the West” and warned the Kremlin: “We know what you are doing. And you will not succeed.” The UK was a firm supporter of the European Union’s decision last week to roll over sanctions imposed on Russia over its interference in Ukraine and continues to insist that Moscow must live up to the terms of the Minsk Agreement which required it to cease support for armed separatists. Mr Johnson is expected to detail fundamental disagreements with Russia’s positions on a string of issues. He will seek a clear and frank exchange of views on terms which are appropriate for two members of the UN Security Council, but will not extend the hand of friendship to Moscow. High on the agenda for his talks will be efforts to revive the political process towards a settlement in Syria, where Russian firepower has helped President Bashar Assad defeat militants of the Islamic State terror group. The two men are also expected to discuss the tensions over North Korea’s nuclear missile programme, as well as Iran, Yemen and broader concerns over European security. Mr Johnson is also expected to seek meetings with human rights activists, and he is likely to have discussions about the security of England football fans planning to visit Russia for the World Cup next summer. Mr Putin is facing presidential elections in March, and while there is little doubt he will emerge victorious, the prospect that the 65-year-old might be entering his final six-year term in the Kremlin has given rise to speculation over the eventual handover of power to a new leader. 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The European Union’s executive arm has triggered proceedings against Poland over Warsaw’s contentious overhaul of its justice system – a move that could lead to unprecedented sanctions. The European Commission’s decision to trigger what is known as Article 7 is in response to several laws enacted by the right-wing Law and Justice party during its two years in power to give it greater control over the justice system. Statement on the Rule of Law in Poland by First Vice-President @TimmermansEU: https://t.co/81wH59WqGu— European Commission (@EU_Commission) December 20, 2017 Two of those laws – one on the Constitutional Tribunal and another giving the justice minister power to name the presidents of all ordinary courts – have already taken effect. Only the next stage of Article 7 would involve sanctions, including the loss of voting rights in the Council. This step, however, is considered unlikely to happen because it requires the unanimity of all EU countries, and Hungary’s government has vowed to block any such move. EU Commissioner Franz Timmermans said the move was being carried out “for Poland, for Polish citizens”, so they can rely on a fully independent judiciary in their nation – a key underpinning of EU principles. Despite efforts for a constructive dialogue for 2 years, we have concluded that there is a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in #Poland We therefore proposed to @EUCouncil to adopt a decision under #Article7 (1) of the Treaty on EU https://t.co/EFfnjTOlF6— European Commission (@EU_Commission) December 20, 2017 Poland’s government, which has carried on with an overhaul of its court system despite two years of warnings from the EU, took the decision in stride. Zbigniew Ziobro, who is both justice minister and prosecutor general as part of the legal changes, which have hugely strengthened his powers, said he received the news with “calm” and said Poland’s government “must continue the reforms”. He insisted the provisions were drawn from the justice systems of western EU members. Two additional laws have been passed by parliament and still await the signature of the president. The Commission must now submit a request to the EU member states to declare “a clear risk of serious breach of the rule of law” in Poland. That is essentially a warning, or in EU terms, a “preventative” measure, that will require that acceptance of 22 EU countries. During last 2 years, >13 laws affecting the entire structure of the justice system were adopted in #Poland. Executive & legislative branches have been systematically enabled to politically interfere in the judicial branch.Read more: https://t.co/EFfnjTOlF6 #article7— European Commission (@EU_Commission) December 20, 2017 European Council president Donald Tusk said the decision stems from what he says are Polish government policies which place authorities “above the law”. He said the conservative government has “practically liquidated judicial independence in Poland”. A spokeswoman for Poland’s ruling party called the EU’s decision “political,” and said it has nothing to do with the facts about the steps that Poland is taking. (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'}); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Associated Press'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '4e70a561-e1ea-4e8e-b1ab-f00ab2b88869'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:news,paservice:news:world'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story-enriched'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', 'paasset:social'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', null); ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'EU triggers proceedings which could lead to sanctions against Poland'});
Standing out from the crowd on Tinder can be tough, but with the help of Microsoft PowerPoint a British student has managed just that – and gone viral in the process.Sam Dixey, a 21-year-old studying at Leeds University, made a six-part slideshow entitled “Why you should swipe right” – using pictures and bullet points to shrewdly persuade potential dates to match with him on the dating app. The slideshow includes discussion of his social life and likes, such as “petting doggos” and “laser tag”, and “other notable qualities and skills” – such as being “not the worst at sex” and “generous when drunk”.It even has reviews mocked up from sources such as “Donald Trump”, “Leonardo Di Capri Sun” and “The Times Guide to Pancakes 2011”.Sam told the Press Association the six-slide presentation only took about 20 minutes to make and “started off as a joke”.However, since being posted to Twitter by fellow Tinder user Gracie Barrow, Sam’s slideshow has been shared tens of thousands of times across social media.So, it’s got the seal of approval form Gracie, but how has the slideshow fared on Tinder? “I’d have to say it has been pretty successful,” Sam said. “Definitely a clear correlation of matches and dates beforehand to afterwards.“Most of the responses tend to revolve around people saying ‘I couldn’t help swipe right 10/10’ but I’ve had some people go the extra mile and message me on Facebook.“Plus some people have recognised me outside, in the library and on dates.”A resounding success.
Audi’s relentless release of new models continues with the launch of its smallest SUV. The Q2 goes on sale in the UK next week with prices starting at £22,380. There’s an extensive selection of petrol and diesel power trains as well as the option of front or Quattro four-wheel drive. More models will be added to the range later on, including powerful SQ2 and RSQ2 versions. Aimed squarely at a younger audience, the Q2 has bolder, sharper lines and a different shape to Audi’s bigger SUVs, the Q3, Q5 and Q7. Although it’s clearly meant more for buzzing around cities than growling across farmland, cladding and skid plates lend it an aura of ruggedness. Audi is also offering a range of vibrant colours to deepen the Q2’s appeal to youthful buyers. The interior is as plush as you’d expect from Audi, justifying its price hike over similarly sized SUVs like the Nissan Juke and Honda HR-V. The materials are high quality – softtouch plastics, leather on higher spec cars and brushed aluminium trim elements all blended into a smart-looking package. As standard, drivers get a seven-inch infotainment screen on top of the dashboard. It’s operated through Audi’s rotary dial system that’s far more intuitive and easier to use when on the move than rivals’ touchscreen systems. Among the many options is Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit – a 12.3in screen that replaces the manual instruments behind the steering wheel. Overall, the Q2 is 4.7in shorter than the A3 hatchback, but Audi says there’s enough leg and headroom for two adult passengers in the back. Boot space comes in at 405 litres – 50 more than you’ll find in the A3 hatchback and rival Nissan Juke, although it trails the Mini Countryman by the same amount. To begin with, the only diesel option is a 1.6 litre with 114bhp, although a more powerful 184bhp 2.0 litre unit will be added to the range soon. Similarly, the petrol engine range is limited for now but will be expanded by the end of the year. The 1.4 litre, 148bhp unit offered now will be joined by 1.0 litre, 114bhp three cylinder turbo and 2.0 litre, 187bhp options – the latter coming with an S-Tronic automatic gearbox. When it arrives the 1.0 litre petrol version will be the cheapest model in the range with a price tag of £20,230. Courier Motoring has yet to get its hands on the car but early reviews have been very positive and Audi looks to have yet another winner on its hands. jmckeown@thecourier.co.uk
A poignant ceremony has been held in Perth to honour hundreds of Polish troops who lost their lives protecting Scotland from Nazi invaders. Veterans, politicians and representatives of the Royal Hospital Chelsea were among those who gathered at Wellshill Cemetery on Sunday afternoon. The event saw ex-service associations lay wreaths at a special section of the graveyard which marks the remains of more than 380 members of the Polish Armed Forces. In the early months of the Second World War, local authorities agreed to set aside part of the Feus Road cemetery for Commonwealth and allied war graves. Later, the site was selected for use as a Polish cemetery when Scotland became a base for the country’s army. The majority of Polish fighters came to Scotland after the fall of France in 1940, although the country’s navy arrived a year earlier. On the day Germany invaded Poland – September 1, 1939 – four Polish destroyers sailed into the Forth and were escorted into Leith. Leith was the first of a series of Scottish ports, which later included Rosyth, Port Glasgow, Greenock and Dundee, which welcomed Polish ships throughout the conflict. There were also Polish flight squadrons based in Scotland and many aircrews received their training here. Troops were reformed into the 1st Polish Corps and given the task of defending the east coast against the threat of German invaders. A large memorial beside the Wellshill Cemetery graves is dedicated to those Polish forces who gave their lives in the struggle. It is inscribed with the words: “Eternal glory to the Polish soldiers who died in 1939-1945 for our freedom and yours.” The headstones for the Polish war graves all have a pointed tip and display the national emblem, a crowned eagle. It is understood the cemetery contains about 50% of all Polish war graves in Scotland. The Polish war graves are looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which maintains the resting places of over 2,100 members of the Polish Armed Forces in the UK, located across 244 different places. There is now a thriving community of Polish people in Perthshire, many of whom joined dignitaries at Sunday’s ceremony. The event was part of a series of Remembrance events which got under way on Friday night when landmark Scone Palace was bathed in red light as part of a Poppyscotland campaign.
England fan group the Barmy Army has paid tribute to the UK family who were were killed in a seaplane crash while on holiday in Australia. Richard Cousins, the 58-year-old chief executive of FTSE 100 company Compass Group, died alongside his sons Will and Edward, his fiancee Emma Bowden, her young daughter Heather and pilot Gareth Morgan, during the incident in Sydney on New Year’s Eve. We are wearing black armbands in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the recent seaplane tragedy. pic.twitter.com/55ISATJ5vO— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) January 3, 2018 Cousins was an avid Surrey fan who regularly attended matches at the Oval, and as a tribute during ‘The Bashes’ – a five-match series between England and Australia cricket fans – the Barmy Army wore black armbands and held a minute’s silence before the final game. Paul Burnham, the co-founder of the Barmy Army, told Press Association Sport: “It was a horrible accident, and we felt it deserved our recognition that an Englishman here following the cricket had died in those circumstances. It was definitely the right thing to do.” (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'}); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport Staff'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '41c50e9c-96df-40fc-affc-75138bca3140'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:uk'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story-enriched'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite'); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null); ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:cricket'); ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Barmy Army pays tribute to UK family killed in Sydney seaplane crash'});
