Latest news with #ExCeL
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Formula E's half-indoor, half-outdoor London race to get one final run-out
Formula E have released their calendar for the 2026 season and the flagship race the ExCeL Centre in east London has been included, but is expected to be the final time it is used Formula E's flagship season finale in London will get one final run-out in 2026. The event at the ExCeL Centre in the east London docklands will host the final two rounds of the 2025/26 season, as confirmed by the calendar release on Tuesday. But it is expected to be the final time that Formula E race on the unique half-indoor, half-outdoor circuit, as car capabilities are set to outgrow the venue. FE signed a deal to race at the ExCeL until the end of the Gen3Evo era, which includes this season and next. However, the Gen4 car is expected to be even faster and even more powerful than before, meaning the tight circuit is unlikely to be sufficient. The current Formula E car gets from 0-60mph in just 1.8 seconds - quicker than an F1 car. The indoor land speed world record was broken by Formula E at the London race weekend in 2023, when British driver Jake Hughes hit 135.9mph in a specially-adapted car. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror earlier this season, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds said: "The ExCeL are amazing people to work with, and it's a great venue. You've got 50,000 people over the weekend, the inside-outside is cool, the activations are really good. "But clearly, we need a home in the UK for Gen4 onwards. I think there are only two logical routes to that. "One is you find an alternative in London, an alternative location. There are other big areas of London that are going through regeneration that could be great for a motor racing circuit. "Or we find a permanent racing circuit that delivers against our objectives in the UK. We haven't made that decision yet. All bets are on in that respect." A new race in Madrid at the Jarama circuit has been added to the calendar for next season. Formula E have long wanted to race in the Spanish capital, with it being the hometown of the series' founders. Formula E calendar 2025/26 Round 1: Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 6 Round 2: Mexico City, Mexico, January 10 Round 3: Miami, Florida, USA, January 31 Rounds 4&5: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 13-14 February Round 6: Madrid, Spain, March 21 Rounds 7&8: Berlin, Germany, 2-3 May Round 9&10: Monte Carlo, Monaco, 16-17 May Round 11: TBC, May 30 Round 12: TBC, June 20 Rounds 13&14: Shanghai, China, 4-5 July Rounds 15&16: Tokyo, Japan, 25-26 July Rounds 17&18: London, United Kingdom, 15-16 August
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Nintendo Switch 2 vs 1: What are the differences?
You can watch a trailer, stream Mario Kart World gameplay footage, or scroll through endless Reddit threads, but nothing beats actually holding the thing in your hands. At Nintendo's first Switch 2 Experience Day at the ExCeL in London, it was immediately clear: the Nintendo Switch 2 is a serious step up from the original. The new console supports 4K resolution when docked, 1080p in handheld mode and up to 120fps in either – a significant leap from the original Switch's 1080p docked, 720p handheld and 60fps cap. The HDR (high dynamic range) is now supported in both modes, too, bringing deeper contrast and richer colours. While playing a demo of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch 2 Edition (£64.99, the difference was striking. Not only did the visuals look sharper, but the boosted frame rate made movement feel much smoother and more responsive. The HDR (high dynamic range) is seen in both docked and handheld modes on the Switch 2 and offers a much-improved contrast. While playing a demo of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch 2 Edition, the difference between it and the original release was almost night and day. The game ran much smoother on the Switch 2, thanks to the boosted frame rate and resolution. Even in areas dense with textures, the new console didn't miss a beat. Among the Switch 2 exclusives, Donkey Kong Bananza (£64.99, looked simply stunning, while the frame rate in Mario Kart World remained stable throughout, despite all the chaotic action unfolding on screen. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond also stood out in this department. The Switch 2 features a larger 7.9in screen, up from the original Switch's 6.2in, and as a result, the connecting Joy-Cons are naturally bigger too. The larger Joy-Cons make the console feel less fiddly and more comfortable to hold, with quality-of-life improvements such as slightly bigger shoulder buttons making a tangible difference to gameplay. The Joy-Cons now connect magnetically instead of using a rail system, though they still detach in a similar way. You just press a button to safely release them. One of the biggest new features is that both Joy-Cons can now function like a mouse. It's the kind of thing that could feel gimmicky, but in practice, it absolutely doesn't. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, for example, can be played with the Joy-Cons as normal or with one acting in the way a PC mouse would. Yes, it's nothing new in the PC sphere at all, but to be able to switch between the two on the fly depending on what the situation is or just to change things up was a blast. Drag x Drive was a great surprise, too. It takes a little getting used to, but it quickly turns into a really fun wheelchair basketball version of Rocket League. Super Mario Party Jamboree – Switch 2 Edition also makes good use of the mouse controls, with more minigames that are incredibly fun and offer something fresh compared to the regular version – and that's key. GameChat is another huge addition, and it's why a new 'C' button has been added to the right Joy-Con. This pulls up a chat menu, allowing players to talk to friends and family while playing. A camera can also be attached, letting you appear on screen and video chat mid-game or during matches, so real-time reactions can be seen by everyone. You'll also be able to view what other people in your lobby are playing, even if it's a different game. These features are free to use during an open access period, but after 31 March 2026, a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion subscription will be required. Audio has been improved too, with better speakers, support for 3D audio and generally clearer sound across the board. There's also a built-in microphone now, making voice chat much more accessible. The stand has been redesigned as well – it now runs almost the full length of the console and feels far sturdier, making it easier to use at different angles. A second USB-C port has been added to the top of the device, making it more convenient to charge or connect a camera. There's also been a big bump in internal storage, with the Switch 2 offering 256GB – a significant upgrade from the original model's 32GB. If you're looking to get your hands on the Nintendo Switch 2, follow our liveblog, where we're tracking restocks across the board.
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Nintendo Switch 2 vs 1: What's the difference?
You can watch a trailer, stream Mario Kart World gameplay footage, or scroll through endless Reddit threads, but nothing beats actually holding the thing in your hands. At Nintendo's first Switch 2 Experience Day at the ExCeL in London, it was immediately clear: the Nintendo Switch 2 is a serious step up from the original. The new console supports 4K resolution when docked, 1080p in handheld mode and up to 120fps in either – a significant leap from the original Switch's 1080p docked, 720p handheld and 60fps cap. The HDR (high dynamic range) is now supported in both modes, too, bringing deeper contrast and richer colours. While playing a demo of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch 2 Edition (£64.99, the difference was striking. Not only did the visuals look sharper, but the boosted frame rate made movement feel much smoother and more responsive. The HDR (high dynamic range) is seen in both docked and handheld modes on the Switch 2 and offers a much-improved contrast. While playing a demo of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch 2 Edition, the difference between it and the original release was almost night and day. The game ran much smoother on the Switch 2, thanks to the boosted frame rate and resolution. Even in areas dense with textures, the new console didn't miss a beat. Among the Switch 2 exclusives, Donkey Kong Bananza (£64.99, looked simply stunning, while the frame rate in Mario Kart World remained stable throughout, despite all the chaotic action unfolding on screen. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond also stood out in this department. The Switch 2 features a larger 7.9in screen, up from the original Switch's 6.2in, and as a result, the connecting Joy-Cons are naturally bigger too. The larger Joy-Cons make the console feel less fiddly and more comfortable to hold, with quality-of-life improvements such as slightly bigger shoulder buttons making a tangible difference to gameplay. The Joy-Cons now connect magnetically instead of using a rail system, though they still detach in a similar way. You just press a button to safely release them. One of the biggest new features is that both Joy-Cons can now function like a mouse. It's the kind of thing that could feel gimmicky, but in practice, it absolutely doesn't. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, for example, can be played with the Joy-Cons as normal or with one acting in the way a PC mouse would. Yes, it's nothing new in the PC sphere at all, but to be able to switch between the two on the fly depending on what the situation is or just to change things up was a blast. Drag x Drive was a great surprise, too. It takes a little getting used to, but it quickly turns into a really fun wheelchair basketball version of Rocket League. Super Mario Party Jamboree – Switch 2 Edition also makes good use of the mouse controls, with more minigames that are incredibly fun and offer something fresh compared to the regular version – and that's key. GameChat is another huge addition, and it's why a new 'C' button has been added to the right Joy-Con. This pulls up a chat menu, allowing players to talk to friends and family while playing. A camera can also be attached, letting you appear on screen and video chat mid-game or during matches, so real-time reactions can be seen by everyone. You'll also be able to view what other people in your lobby are playing, even if it's a different game. These features are free to use during an open access period, but after 31 March 2026, a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion subscription will be required. Audio has been improved too, with better speakers, support for 3D audio and generally clearer sound across the board. There's also a built-in microphone now, making voice chat much more accessible. The stand has been redesigned as well – it now runs almost the full length of the console and feels far sturdier, making it easier to use at different angles. A second USB-C port has been added to the top of the device, making it more convenient to charge or connect a camera. There's also been a big bump in internal storage, with the Switch 2 offering 256GB – a significant upgrade from the original model's 32GB. If you're looking to get your hands on the Nintendo Switch 2, follow our liveblog, where we're tracking restocks across the board.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
UK Aids Memorial Quilt to go on display at Tate Modern's Turbine Hall
A giant quilt made to remember people who died of Aids in Britain is to be publicly displayed later this year at Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London. The UK Aids Memorial Quilt was created in the 1980s at the height of the epidemic to raise awareness of the disease and humanise the people who died from it. By the end of 2011, 20,335 people diagnosed with HIV had died in the UK. The project took its inspiration from the US Aids Quilt, which was initiated in 1987 by the American human rights activist, author and lecturer Cleve Jones. The Scottish activist Alistair Hume met Jones in San Francisco, saw the US quilt and decided to start a UK chapter, from his base in Edinburgh. After its initial outing in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the quilt was put into storage. It has been displayed since – in 2021 it was shown at the European Aids conference at the ExCeL centre in London. But it will make its first appearance at a major UK cultural institution when it is hung at Tate Modern's Turbine Hall this summer, from 12-16 June. The fashion critic and author Charlie Porter, who helped arrange the Tate Modern exhibit, used images of the quilt in his novel Nova Scotia House, and said being in its presence was a 'humbling experience'. 'There is a precedent of placing the quilt in iconic locations to really send the message home about HIV/Aids, and in the UK it was laid out in Hyde Park and there's nowhere more iconic in the UK than the Turbine Hall,' he said. The US quilt was displayed for the first time on the National Mall in Washington DC, during the national march on Washington for lesbian and gay rights. Porter added: 'It's about sending a message about those lost to the Aids crisis but also to talk about HIV stigma that continues today.' The panels are all 6ft by 3ft, a size used because it represented the average size of a grave plot. Many of those who died were denied funerals: some undertakers refused to handle their bodies, while sometimes family members did not want a formal ceremony. The names on the quilt include Ray Petri, a stylist described by the Observer in 2000 as 'the man who dressed a decade'. The panel in memory of Robert Fraser, an art dealer, known as 'Groovy Bob', was made by the fashion designer Bella Freud. Others are the writer Bruce Chatwin, the actor Denholm Elliott and the Chariots of Fire star Ian Charleson, who was subjected to homophobia in the theatre world before his death in 1990. Siobhan Lanigan, a volunteer for the UK Aids Memorial Quilt Partnership, said: 'It's about bringing back what the quilt was intended for; public viewing, a representation of the people who had died and an active visual voice of protest. Those people were the subject of hatred that should never be forgotten.' The display comes at a time when warnings have been issued about US funding cuts that could exacerbate the rise of Aids in some countries. A former president of the International Aids Society voiced fears of 'dramatic increases in infections, dramatic increases in death and a real loss of decades of advances' as a direct result of the decision by the US to cancel 83% of its foreign aid contracts and dismantle USAID. Porter said the continuing Aids crisis and threats to funding meant things were about to 'get very scary for people'. 'There's no better place to bring that to the public eye than the Turbine Hall,' he added. Karin Hindsbo, the director of Tate Modern, said: 'It's going to be an honour to show the UK Aids Memorial Quilt in the Turbine Hall. This feels like an apt place for the public to see it … The quilt is an incredible feat of creative human expression and I know our visitors are going to find it a deeply moving experience.'
