Seen in the News

[Tripps]

Something very odd about this report. Still nil in the Western press, and the aircrew chat board PPRUNE make minimum mention. This is from the Chinese Peoples Daily but the report is dated Feb 2018 and says it happened on Jan 25th . Said to have been extingushed by cabin crew with "bottled water and beverage".

Chinese cabin fire

More questions than answers - what can be the motivation to publish it now? Looks like fake news - best ignore.

[Whyperion]

Have a look at THIS news from Burscough......
A town's residents are facing the prospect of a year with no mobile phone signal after a mast operated by provider EE was taken down. The situation has arisen in Burscough, Lancashire, where EE customers had connected to the network via the mast positioned at the top of Martland Mill in the town's Mart Lane. However, the owners of the mill served telecoms infrastructure provider Cellnex with a "notice to quit" order to remove the huge antenna, in order to free up office space in August. Planning permission was granted for another mast in the area on 15 September, but EE had no plans to install it before August 2026. Shop owners described the situation as "an absolute nightmare", while local councillor Swin Purple said she was forced to buy "a burner phone" on a different network. Ms Purple added: "It's affecting so many people, it's affecting local businesses, people who work from home. I spoke to a mother who was struggling to make medical appointments." EE has apologised and said it was liaising with local authorities in the hope of finding a temporary solution. Other mobile networks that used the EE mast have also been affected, including Three and O2.
I know I am a hopeless old dinosaur but whilst our old landline system wasn't 'smart', I can't ever remember us having to face total loss of service.

Was the notice to quit because the Govt allowed mobile providers to break their price paid in the contract by about 900 percent ( well make a payment 9/10ths of contracted amounts -it annoyed a lot of churches too

[Stanley]

See THIS report and be enraged as I was.......
A 92-year-old care home resident says she's "devastated" at the thought of losing her home. Dorothy Devereux has lived at Woodlands Home for Older People in Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire, since 2014 but is worried it could close due following a council review. Lancashire County Council runs Woodlands as well as four other care homes and five day centres. Tasked with having to make savings, the local authority is examining its provision and has yet to make a decision. "I'm frustrated, I'm angry, I thought I was going to live the rest of my life happily in Woodlands," said Dorothy. "If I go out of here, it'll either be in a box, or it'll be kicking and screaming and they'll have to force me out."
At 92 years old this question shouldn't even arise!

[Stanley]

See this BBC article about the progress or otherwise of talks on Ukraine.....
Donald Trump has said he did not want a "wasted meeting" after a plan to have face-to-face talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine were put on hold. The US president indicated that a key sticking point remained Moscow's refusal to cease fighting along the current front line, in remarks at the White House on Tuesday. Earlier, a White House official had said there were "no plans" for a Trump-Putin meeting "in the immediate future", after Trump said on Thursday that the two would hold talks in Budapest within two weeks. Key differences between US and Russian proposals for peace became increasingly clear this week, appearing to have dashed chances of a summit. Trump and Putin last met in Alaska in August, during a hastily organised summit which yielded no concrete results. The White House decision to shelve plans for a second Trump-Putin meeting may be seen as an attempt to avoid another similar scenario. "I guess the Russians wanted too much and it became evident for the Americans that there will be no deal for Trump in Budapest," a senior European diplomat told Reuters. A preparatory meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was due to be held this week - but the White House said the two had had a "productive" call and that a meeting was no longer "necessary".
Trump's push for the Nobel is not going well. Putin resists all calls for a cease-fire as long as he is gaining territory in Ukraine, no matter what the cost in human lives. The Gaza situation is very fluid, nobody can guarantee anything at the moment and aid is still restricted.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC In Depth article.......
There has been more than a bitter twang in the glasses at British breakfast tables. Only five years ago, a typical supermarket own-label carton of orange juice could be bought for 76p for 1 litre. It now costs £1.79. That's a rise of 134% since 2020, and it's up 29% just in the past year. In cafes and restaurants it's a similar story - with £3.50 to £4 now a standard price point for a glass of basic OJ. One colleague was outraged to be sent a bill for £9 for a glass of hangover-busting orange juice and lemonade at an unassuming little restaurant in Kent. Asked why so much, she was told that the orange juice - albeit freshly squeezed - accounted for £5.30 of the price. Yet as costs have surged, the taste is changing too, with certain manufacturers substituting oranges for mandarins to cut costs. The public is, if you like, being freshly squeezed.
There is much more in the article which traces the rise in price of just one food item. I'm sure you all have noticed that we have a form of food rationing now, no ration books needed, it's done by price.

[Tizer]

Just appeared on the BBC News web page...
`Thames Water given lowest one star rating for repeated sewage spills' LINK
Thames Water has been given a one star rating for its poor environmental performance by the Environment Agency (EA) in 2024, as part of a scathing assessment of England's water companies. All but one of the nine English water and sewerage companies were rated as "requiring improvement" - or worse - by the EA, in a year where serious pollution rose by 60% versus 2023. It is their worst combined score since the assessment process began in 2011....

[Stanley]

An interesting report Peter. I wonder how Severn Trent managed to do so well compared with all the other companies?

THIS election report dominates the news this morning.
Plaid Cymru wins the Caerphilly by-election, with Lindsay Whittle taking 47.38% of the vote - Reform UK came second with 35.9%. It's 14th time lucky for Whittle - he has stood for the seat 13 times before in Westminster and Welsh Parliament elections since 1983. Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says locals have voted "loud and clear" for the party's "positive, pro-Wales vision". Reform's candidate Llyr Powell says despite the loss, his party will form the next Welsh government in 2026. The by-election had seen 50.43% of voters take part - the first time a Welsh Parliament by-election had achieved a turnout of over 50% It was Labour's first defeat in the area for 100 years, after dominating Westminster and Welsh Parliament elections. The by-election followed the sudden death of Labour's Hefin David in August

[Tizer]

`Trump says all Canada trade talks ‘terminated’ over ad criticising tariffs: US president accuses Canada of ‘egregious behaviour’ after release of ad featuring Ronald Reagan criticising tariffs' Guardian
Donald Trump has announced an immediate end to “all trade negotiations” with Canada over a television advertisement opposing US tariffs that quoted the former US president Ronald Reagan. The ad, which was paid for by the government of the Canadian province of Ontario, uses excerpts of a 1987 speech where Reagan says “trade barriers hurt every American worker”. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Canada had “fraudulently used an advertisment[sic]”, which he called “FAKE”, and accused the country of trying to interfere with US court decisions on the levies. “Based on their egregious behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated,” he wrote. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, confirmed on Friday that all trade negotiations with Ottawa had been suspended. Trump later posted on Truth Social that “Canada cheated and got caught”. He claimed the ad was an attempt to influence the US supreme court hearings on the legality of his global tariffs, which begin on 5 November...

I think it's time the rest of the world should waken up to the fact that America is heading towards a big crisis which will radiate out and seriously damage the rest of the world. Why, at best, are we just standing by and watching the decline and, at worst, kowtowing to him all the time which just encourages him into further lies and stupid actions! It's time we all started telling Trump and America that they are a disgrace and that they'll end up being the world's biggest failed state and Trump the worst President in America's history.

[Whyperion]

See THIS BBC In Depth article.......
There has been more than a bitter twang in the glasses at British breakfast tables. Only five years ago, a typical supermarket own-label carton of orange juice could be bought for 76p for 1 litre. It now costs £1.79. That's a rise of 134% since 2020, and it's up 29% just in the past year. In cafes and restaurants it's a similar story - with £3.50 to £4 now a standard price point for a glass of basic OJ. One colleague was outraged to be sent a bill for £9 for a glass of hangover-busting orange juice and lemonade at an unassuming little restaurant in Kent. Asked why so much, she was told that the orange juice - albeit freshly squeezed - accounted for £5.30 of the price. Yet as costs have surged, the taste is changing too, with certain manufacturers substituting oranges for mandarins to cut costs. The public is, if you like, being freshly squeezed.
There is much more in the article which traces the rise in price of just one food item. I'm sure you all have noticed that we have a form of food rationing now, no ration books needed, it's done by price.

Dont know what the article says but I think there have been poor harvests (Global Warming?) In California and Spain for the last couple of years. I stayed in Spain once on land that had culivated oranges but had ceased to work it , there is a need for unfortunately pestiticides and its quite labour and water intensive. I suspect the English apples this year will be plentiful but dry and sweet.

[Stanley]

THIS headed the news this morning....
Police have launched a manhunt after a former asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl was mistakenly released from prison. Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu, who arrived in the UK on a small boat, was jailed for 12 months over the attack in Epping, Essex, last month. Prison sources said Kebatu was meant to be sent to an immigration detention centre from HMP Chelmsford ahead of a planned deportation. An investigation has been launched by the Prison Service, and an officer has been removed from discharging duties while it takes place. Essex Police said "fast-paced inquiries" showed that he boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford station. Justice Secretary David Lammy said he was "appalled" and "livid on behalf of the public that Kebatu is at large".
Can anything else go wrong. Once you have someone captured and sentenced it shouldn't be a big ask to keep the cell door closed....

[Stanley]

THIS Caught my eye. Yet another example of Trump's cavalier attitude towards tariffs as a trade weapon.
US President Donald Trump has said he is increasing tariffs on goods imported from Canada after the province of Ontario aired an anti-tariff advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan. In a post on social media on Saturday, Trump called the advert a "fraud" and lashed out at Canadian officials for not removing it ahead of the World Series baseball championship. "Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now," he wrote. After Trump on Thursday withdrew from trade talks with Canada, the Ontario premier said he would take down the advert. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday that he would pause his province's anti-tariff advertisement campaign in the US, telling reporters that he made the decision after discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney "so that trade talks can resume". He also said it would still run over the weekend, including during games for the World Series, which features the Toronto Blue Jays against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Canada is the only G7 country that has not reached a deal with the US since Trump began seeking to charge steep tariffs on goods from major trading partners. The US has already imposed a 35% levy on all Canadian goods - though most are exempt under an existing free trade agreement. It has also slapped sector-specific levies on Canadian goods, including a 50% levy on metals and 25% on automobiles. In his post, sent while he was travelling to Asia, Trump seemed to say he was adding 10 percentage points to those taxes.

[Stanley]

I'm sure that like me you will remember the terrible story six years ago.......
7 hours ago
The family of a young boy who was left with life-threatening injuries after he was thrown from the 10th floor of London's Tate Modern art gallery have said their "little knight" has achieved his goal of being able to run, jump, and swim again. The French youngster was six when he was thrown from a balcony by teenager Jonty Bravery, then 17. The boy, who was on holiday with his parents in August 2019 when he was attacked, survived a 100ft (30m) fall but suffered life-changing injuries, including a bleed on the brain and broken bones. His family said in an update on a GoFundMe page, they were happy that he had been able to progress with his running, jumping and swimming before his next operation. "He can't do it like other children his age, of course, but we can no longer describe what he does in any other way than by saying it's running, jumping, and swimming. "It's different, only over a few meters or a very small height, but it's an incredible achievement." The boy, who spent months in intensive care, has continued to gain cognitive endurance. His family said although his memory skills were still very limited, they were functional and improving, so he was "acquiring a general knowledge at his own pace, which increasingly allows him to be included with other children".
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Bravery was found guilty of attempted murder and was jailed in 2020 for at least 15 years.
I know that we are supposed to forgive the transgressor but I can't. The French boy's sentence is whole life.....

[Whyperion]

THIS headed the news this morning....
Police have launched a manhunt after a former asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl was mistakenly released from prison. Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu, who arrived in the UK on a small boat, was jailed for 12 months over the attack in Epping, Essex, last month. Prison sources said Kebatu was meant to be sent to an immigration detention centre from HMP Chelmsford ahead of a planned deportation. An investigation has been launched by the Prison Service, and an officer has been removed from discharging duties while it takes place. Essex Police said "fast-paced inquiries" showed that he boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford station. Justice Secretary David Lammy said he was "appalled" and "livid on behalf of the public that Kebatu is at large".
Can anything else go wrong. Once you have someone captured and sentenced it shouldn't be a big ask to keep the cell door closed....

Not when you get two lists of paper - One headed "Deport" the other "Early Release" and either mis read or the email subject line repeated in error, hence an inquiry to find out which bit of the "System" went faulty.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For buildings with large atriums I think they are both a physical , and mental, poor design. There is something about steep and long drops that does something to the human brain ( for Beachy Head I have always crawled to it , though I think it has a bit of a fence system now , which really the shopping centres should have ,some side barriers too low especially where my 6ft 8in plus friends have a high up centre of gravity and a hip line above the rail.

[Stanley]

I saw THIS update on the news....
Prince Andrew hosted Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein at Royal Lodge, the publicly-owned home where he effectively lives rent-free. The trio visited the Windsor mansion as part of his daughter Beatrice's masked ball 18th birthday celebrations in 2006, two months after a US arrest warrant had been issued for Epstein for the sexual assault of a minor. It had previously been reported that Epstein, Maxwell and Weinstein visited Windsor Castle for the event, but not that they had been hosted at Andrew's private home. Andrew, who is facing increased scrutiny over his living arrangements in light of his relationship with Epstein, has not responded to a request for comment. It is understood that Epstein, Maxwell and Weinstein visited Royal Lodge ahead of the main party, which took place in the state rooms of Windsor Castle and involved a champagne reception and banquet. The BBC has matched the trees and patio wall in a previously published image of the trio to other pictures of Royal Lodge. Epstein was arrested by police in Florida eight days after the event. Asked by BBC Newsnight in 2019 why he invited Epstein to his daughter's 18th birthday two months after the US arrest warrant was issued, Andrew said: "Certainly I wasn't aware when the invitation was issued what was going on in the United States and I wasn't aware until the media picked up on it because he never said anything about it."
The more the press dig the more they find. This isn't going to go away......

[Whyperion]

Does the UK normally ignore US arrest warrents ? ( the US can issue them like confetti )

[Stanley]

THIS caught my eye....
1 hour ago
Australian authorities are investigating after an 80-year-old woman who was left behind on a Great Barrier Reef island by a cruise ship was found dead. The woman had been hiking on Lizard Island, 250 km (155 miles) north of Cairns, with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer cruise ship on Saturday but is believed to have broken off from the group to have a rest. The ship left the island around sunset but returned several hours later after the crew realised the woman was missing. A major search operation found the woman's body on Sunday morning. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it is investigating and will meet the ship's crew when it docks in Darwin later this week. A spokesperson for AMSA said it was first alerted to the missing woman at around 21:00 local time on Saturday (05:00 GMT on Friday) by the ship's captain. The authority said it would work with other relevant agencies to investigate the case and that it takes the safety of passengers and crew onboard commercial vessels seriously.
Another high risk holiday.

[Stanley]

Later, Netanyahu orders military action in Gaza, Trump says the cease-fire is holding. Why does Alice in Wonderland spring to mind?

[Tripps]

We've announced the death of irony several times on here. The BBC seem bent on kicking the corpse.

Death of irony

Can these examples be true? The BBC have a whole unit devoted to fact checking their stories, so there should be a better chance than usual that they are not fake. I still have some doubts - especialy the Strawberry stalk in Birmingham, where the bin men have been on strike for months, and rubbish piles up in the streets.

Is it really an offence to walk your dog without carrying a poo bag? How do they prove it - is the walker given a thorough search?

If either or both are true then we are getting a touch over regulated.

**********
PS I now read that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has rented out her flat without having the required 'selective licence' to do so from Southwark Council. Who knew? You'd have thought her agent would have known, and alerted her. A full enquiry has of course, been called for by Ms Badenoch. Is that enough - ignorance is no defence. Surely she should resign immediately and join Angela Rayner, the other property delinquent, on the naughty step.

[Whyperion]

Many of the offences are "Bylaws" effectively , inc most landlord licencing , (it isnt really selective - many authorities have made it borough wide , some restrict it to HMOs only). A lot of the tick box is useful - and should be equal to local authority and housing associations too - safety of electrics and gas mainly , damp condensation and plumbing too depends on authority.

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report about Reeves and the licence.
Updated 19 minutes ago
Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed calls for an investigation into Chancellor Rachel Reeves after she apologised for breaking housing rules when renting out her family home.

In a letter to the prime minister, Reeves admitted she did not obtain a "selective" rental licence required to rent out her London home and "sincerely" apologised for her "inadvertent error". In reply, the prime minister said he was happy the "matter can be drawn to a close" after consulting his independent ethics adviser, who has decided not to launch an investigation. The Conservatives have called for an investigation and for Reeves to be sacked.
It seems sensible to take this approach. It's only a minor regulation and it is beyond belief that Rachel Reeves would deliberately do this to make money! Ms. Badenoch must have thought all her birthdays had come at once!
I am all in favour of an active and constructive Opposition but when it is simply running interference and actually damages sensible administration it is a negative influence.

[Whyperion]

Perhaps, once again, is should ministers have a grasp of detail, including in their private lives, and not rely on other professionals to deliver or adhere to requirements. I assume it is the Estate Agent that should be investigated - and their professional indemnity insurance pay compensation in respect of any fine due ?
While normally those that make the rules should not break the rules, for technical infringments that have a statutory level sanction on them for a one off property it does not really meet any further threashold. The principle behind the registration is that tenants have protected rights which really for high value rentals used to happen by the agreement of gentlemen in the letting agreement, That landlords in the past have not been good has given this additional red tape (would Reform remove it ?) as a method of preventing potential wrongs ?

[Tripps]

I am all in favour of an active and constructive Opposition but when it is simply running interference and actually damages sensible administration it is a negative influence.

Probably the most sensible comment on this subject I've seen anywhere.

Bad Enoch scored a slam dunk on taxation against the PM yesterday, and I fear it's gone to her head.

Selective licence is said to be £900. Looks like the cash cow equivalent to a hidden speed trap for the Council. Quite unnecessary.

I can't see either the PM or the Government lasting until the next scheduled election.

[Whyperion]

Selective licence is said to be £900. Looks like the cash cow equivalent to a hidden speed trap for the Council. Quite unnecessary.

Maybe Reform wont scrap it , you lose the licence if you house illegals

Edit , more info
The council said it only takes enforcement action against landlords who do not apply for a licence within 21 days of receiving a warning.
"When we become aware of an unlicensed property, we issue a warning letter advising the landlord that they have 21 days to apply for a licence - enforcement action such as fines are reserved for those who do not apply within that time or where a property is found to be in an unsafe condition.
"We cannot comment on individual cases."
The PM apparently has seen Emails to Reeves Husband (Is the house actually his ?) I have seen the photo of the house , larger than some but a few Burnley estates and elsewhere have the 1970s timber frame construction style - I think they are difficult to insulate , and heat and wonder what EPC it has , it doesnt appear to have a heat pump - unless one has been fitted on the other side.
Having said that I am not sure why the area needs licencing , it is not renown for poor condition slum rental, unlike down the hill where Victorian 4 storey terraces have been divided into flats.

Edit , I must correct the record.
Emails were passed to Number 10.
They have been seen by independent adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, - but it was not confirmed that Starmer has seen them to ( I am not sure if it has been denied ) PM(Radio 4 News host equally confused - saying The PM has been passed it in preamble but revised in detail see BBC Website ) , however Starmer has Confidence in the Chancellor ( how can he say if he has not seen the documentation ? )

I suppose If Reeves needs to fall on a Sword it avoids her having to deliver a post Guy Fawkes night bad news budget every cloud.

[Whyperion]

Update , Estate Agent has fessed up to the error, with lettings agent staff leaving meaning an undertaking to apply for the licence had not happened ( did the Reeve's pay for it to them or implied in letting agent fee ? ). So Rachel comes up smelling of roses and prob annoyed that the Estate Agent statement had not be made three days ago. Standby for free reign on tax and cuts