Senator Chuck Hagel has expressed doubts that Congress would enact any major changes of the kind envisaged this year. And Representative Clay Shaw, who is a senior Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, predicts that George Bush’s proposal faces “a tough political sell” on Capitol Hill. John HiscockARTISTIC TRIPLE WHAMMYTHE TURNER WHISTLER MONET EXHIBITION IS LIKELY TO BE ONE OF TATE BRITAIN’S MOST SUCCESSFUL EVERWhat’s the story?Following successful showings in Toronto and Paris, the Turner Whistler Monet exhibition opens at Tate Britain on Thursday. It has already had the biggest advance tickets sales in the gallery’s history, and looks set to beat last year’s popular Edward Hopper at Tate Modern. The 19th- century “triple-whammy” presents views of Venice, the Thames and the Seine and is spread over seven rooms, including a number of paintings never before shown in Britain.What are they saying?According to Tate Britain, it is “an extraordinary exhibition which draws on the influences and relationship between three giants of 19th- century art”. Art critic Brian Sewell (left) describes the exhibition as “a familiar feast to the eye and a commercially sensible idea”. But he also believes that the attempt to prove a strong artistic link between the painters fails and “swiftly grows wearisome”.What happens next?Late-night viewings are already planned and all-night openings are pencilled in if the demand is there.
With several other high-profile shows elsewhere, including the Turks at the Royal Academy and a forthcoming exhibition of Caravaggio at the National Gallery, Tate Britain has stiff competition. But on current bookings it looks as though it is the troubled Royal Academy which is set to lose out Jenni Silver. Today: Funny Money, a comedy fundraiser for tsunami victims held at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London Italy play Ireland in Six Nations rugby. Tomorrow: Boxer Amir Khan competes in his first senior championships. Works by Dali, Miro and Magritte go under the hammer at Christie’s Start of International Eating Disorders Awareness Week Pub landlords can begin applying for 24-hour licences. Steve Fossett embarks on a solo, non-stop flight around the world.
Tuesday: Cherie Blair begins a speaking tour of Australia in Perth.
The Queen opens the new British Red Cross headquarters.Wednesday: BBC unveils sculpture in memory of Winston Churchill in Westminster Hall Chris Evans hosts the 25th Brit Awards at Earls Court Chinese New Year celebrations begin. England play Holland in an international friendly at Villa Park.Thursday: Treasury Committee to discuss cash machine charges House of Commons spring recess begins. Turner Whistler Monet exhibition at Tate Britain.Friday: European Space Agency launches an upgraded version of the Ariane rocket in French Guiana Ten-day Dublin International Film Festival begins Labour Party spring conference starts in Gateshead The Magic Roundabout opens at cinemas nationwide. NHS releases waiting list figures for December.Saturday: The Orange British Academy Film Awards held in Leicester Square. Stop the War Coalition annual conference takes place in London Italy vs Wales and Scotland vs Ireland in the Six Nations..
Apart from the smile and the suntan, what is the difference between Veritas and the BNP?
Paul Walter
Newbury, Berkshire. Anna Picard makes fun of Michael Tippett’s moral and political concerns, while giving him a lecture on the defects of pacifism. She misrepresents the theme of his oratorio, A Child of Our Time Its “oft- repeated message” is not “isn’t war terrible?” That is Ms Picard’s cliche. War is hardly referred to in Tippett’s text, although it was doubtless in his mind as he composed the work during the Second World War. A Child is about violence, the roots of violence and the violence that generates violence. Its starting point was the assassination of a Nazi diplomat by a young Jew, which led to the Nazis’ Kristallnacht attack on the Jews. If Ms Picard wants to attack Tippett’s concerns, she should try to be accurate
Anthony Arblaster
Sheffield.