bbc--2019-02-01--Brazil dam disaster How do you clear tonnes of toxic sludge

Brazil dam disaster: How do you clear tonnes of toxic sludge?

Dozens of people died and hundreds are still missing after a dam collapsed at an iron ore mine in Brazil.  The rupture released a sea of contaminated muddy sludge sliding towards the town of Brumadinho, eventually covering an area the size of 300 football pitches.  The mud buried the dam site's cafeteria, where workers were eating lunch, before engulfing nearby houses, vehicles and roads.  As hopes of finding anyone alive dwindle, thoughts are now turning to how to deal with the 12 million cubic metres of mud that was released.  Built in 1976, the dam was used to hold residue from the mine, which it is feared may contain harmful chemical substances.  So, how will it be cleared up and how could the operation be guided by lessons from past disasters?  Before and after photos show the vast scale of the destruction caused by the sliding mud.  Vale, the mining company responsible for the dam, has announced plans to deal with the debris.  These include building barriers to contain the mud in the area around the dam, dredging a section of the nearby river and constructing barriers to sift out the fine residue.  This case is especially sensitive because of the number of bodies thought to be buried by the mudslide.  "It isn't just mud there, it's people's families. Everything will depend on how rescue efforts go. And it will take a long time," says Anderson Amparo, from Brazil's Environmental Protection Agency (Ibama), which, along with other agencies, is responsible for determining what to do with the waste.  And he says even if the authorities were certain that there were no more bodies in the mud, it would not necessarily be cleared in its entirety.  "In some areas it is best to plant over the land to restore it to its original use, whether it be agriculture or forest," Mr Amparo says.  Miguel Felippe, a professor of geoscience at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, disagrees. Although it is not yet clear if the mud in Brumadinho is toxic, he says some environmental damage is to be expected.  "This debris is very likely to contain harmful chemical substances," he says.  "Even if there are no traces of heavy metals, which are the most worrisome, like arsenic, there are others which are sure to be there and will float downstream, as the mud has already reached a river, so, environmentally speaking, it would be best to remove the material."  Vale says an analysis is under way and the results are expected within the next two weeks but it is too soon to say for sure that the mud is toxic.  The mine waste, known as tailings, may contain traces of nickel, magnesium, cadmium, iron oxide, ammonia, silica, silt, clay, mercury and arsenic, says Bráulio Magalhães Fonseca, a geologist at the Federal University of Minas Gerais.  And experts say the level of toxicity will depend on the concentration of each substance.  Roger Doome, director general of the Industrial Minerals Association Europe, in Brussels, says that implementing an appropriate clean-up response depends on assessing the specific type of contamination.  If that can't be removed, it needs to be neutralised, he says.  "And if the elements are flowing down the river, it is almost impossible [to avoid contamination]."  Different cleaning techniques will need to be applied to different types of mud.  Prof Felippe says the top layer of mud could be removed through dredging or using excavators.  "As you get closer to the soil, more sophisticated technology is required because heavy machinery may damage the soil, exposing it to erosive processes," he says.  Brazil went through a similar tragedy in 2015, in what was considered to be the country's worst environmental disaster.  A dam burst in the nearby town of Mariana, also owned by Vale, in partnership with BHP Billiton, releasing 43.7 million cubic meters of mining waste and killing 19 people.  Most of that waste - about 90%, according to the environment agency - was never removed.  That disaster led to a public campaign to introduce tough legislation on the mining industry.  But campaigners were disappointed by the regulations eventually passed, saying they failed to address their demands for stricter safety measures.  They had also called for a ban on the type of dam involved in the Brumadinho disaster.  Mr Doome recalls two accidents he says set a precedent for how the mining industry in Europe responds to accidents where dangerous substances are involved.  In April 1998, a dam burst in Aznalcóllar, Spain, releasing almost seven million cubic meters of mine tailings.  The acidic mud and water were tainted with heavy metals and travelled for over 40km (25 miles) down the Guadiamar river, contaminating 4,500 hectares (17 sq miles) of land on the Doñana National Park, a Unesco world heritage site.  The clean-up operation took over three years and cost 240m euros (£210m), according to Spanish newspaper El Pais.  In 2000, tragedy hit the Romanian town of Baia Mare. A dam partially collapsed, releasing about 100,000 cubic metres of water contaminated with cyanide. The water ran down streams towards the Tisza river, reaching the Danube and the Black Sea.  "Since those tragedies, we have adapted European legislation so that now we have a strict action plan and legal requirements," Mr Doome says.  "For instance, if we assess that there is a minor risk [of spilling], by law we have the obligation to provide an emergency plan, internal and external.  "The plan must be ready and in place even before the mine starts operating."  The Brumadinho dam had passed safety inspections. Five people involved in the inspections have been arrested as part of an investigation to find out whether the process was fraudulent.


bbc--2019-04-06--How can Boeing regain trust

How can Boeing regain trust?

Boeing's boss has admitted that a failure in its 737 Max jet's anti-stall system, MCAS, was a factor in last month's Ethiopian Airlines crash.  That disaster, and a Lion Air 737 Max crash in Indonesia five months ago, left a total of 346 dead.  Boeing is working on changes to the MCAS system to restore trust.  However, apart from talk of cancelled orders from some carriers, airlines have, so far, stuck with the plane and 5,000 orders remain on Boeing's books.  We spoke to three analysts to see whether they thought the aviation giant can reassure customers, both airlines and passengers, that its plane is safe.  I think you have here the fundamentals of the "rolling unravelling" of a strong Boeing brand.  Boeing's strength was built up over decades, but it meant many made the mistake of regarding the first incident [Lion Air] as a "one-off". When it became "two-off" on a fleet of just over 350 aircraft, which were also a new variant and a 4th generation design of an aircraft that had design roots in the 1960s, the alarm bells sounded.  Boeing has several groups it needs to convince.  Global regulatory authorities used to accept the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) certification, but it is now unlikely to be waved through with the same trust bearing in mind the FAA was so behind the rest in grounding the aircraft.  Boeing will have to deal with at least four separate regulatory authorities as it seeks to return the aircraft to service safely.  Airline customers are unlikely as yet to cancel current orders - although at the very least the market for Max aircraft is likely to soften for a while. There's a further cost to consider, as carriers awaiting aircraft and having to put emergency plans in place are going to seek financial compensation.  Then there are the human elements. The pilots and crew understand far more of the deep technical issues and will be understandably vociferous about the absolute integrity of the revised hardware, software and procedures. In the light of the evidence to date, they are likely to be very critical and need significant reassurance and explanation.  While many passengers probably do not recognise their aircraft type, events like this inevitably get people talking. Any further incidents, even if slightly related to these issues, would be utterly disastrous for public opinion and really shake trust in aviation safety.  But in the long term, given there are more than 14,000 single-aisle aircraft in service globally and half of these are Boeings, it is hard to see a scenario where the Max is not returned safely to service and in the long run accepted by the travelling public as a safe aircraft.  Compensation is going to be significant factor, and the sums involved are likely to be eye watering.  Boeing has a big reputational challenge, although to put it in context the company is well over 100 years old and is one of only two big suppliers [with Airbus] known for producing safe and dependable aircraft.  It has to restore the trust of airline customers and the public but I think its customers will still be confident that safety can be restored.  It is actually difficult to cancel an order, there are cost penalties and there are only two companies in this market. Airlines build their fleets around one brand of plane, it makes sense in terms of parts supplies and the specialist training for engineers and pilots.  Not only that, both Airbus and Boeing have packed order books, so switching to the other company just delays delivery of the new planes.  For the passengers? We're emotional beings. I've had friends around me asking whether I'll be flying on a Max.  Mostly people simply don't know what they're flying on and don't really care. When I ask people 'what did you fly on?' - most don't even know if it's an Airbus or a Boeing. This though will sharpen people's attention, for the short term at least.  These incidents do fade from the memory. Back in the 1970s there was an aircraft, the McDonnell Douglas DC10 which had a couple of unrelated bad accidents. However, that plane went on to have a safe and reliable career.  The other constituents that need reassurance are pilots, after all, they're the ones with the responsibility for safety in their hands.  So Boeing has to go out with clear messages of explanation and assurance.  Marc Szepan, lecturer in international business at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School and former aviation executive  There is an old saying in the aviation industry that illustrates how airlines tend to look at aircraft and engine manufacturers: "You sell (engine) thrust, we buy trust!"  Throughout Boeing's history there has been a strong commitment to safety. In the spirit of this tradition, Boeing - in co-operation with regulatory authorities and the airline community - should focus on identifying the root cause or causes of the recent 737 Max accidents and then put in place well tested substantial solutions rather than premature "symbolic" band-aids.  Boeing needs to be aware of the disconnect between the speed of modern day social media-driven news cycles on the one hand and the significant time a thorough root-cause analysis requires on the other.  So it is important for Boeing to communicate candidly and honestly - and empathetically - both with airlines and passengers as the accident investigation and product improvement process moves along.  The video statement by Boeing's chief executive is a good step in that direction.

disaster, accident and emergency incident


bbc--2019-08-27--Tropical Storm Dorian Puerto Rico braces for possible hurricane

Tropical Storm Dorian: Puerto Rico braces for possible hurricane

The US territory of Puerto Rico has declared a state of emergency as it braces for a tropical storm churning through the Caribbean.  The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.  Warnings are in place for the islands of Martinique, Saba and St Eustatius.  Forecasters expect Tropical Storm Dorian to develop into a hurricane in the next 24 hours.  By Tuesday morning, the storm was 96km (60 miles) north-west of the island of St Lucia, with maximum sustained winds of 50mph (85km/h), according to the NHC.  In Puerto Rico, a territory still recovering from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria in 2017, there are fears of power cuts and damage from strong winds.  Up to 15cm (6in) of rain could fall in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, where swells along coastlines could cause "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions", forecasters have said.  The governor of Puerto Rico, Wanda Vázquez Garced, who declared the state of emergency for the US territory on Monday, has called on its more than three million citizens to prepare.  "I urge citizens to activate their emergency plan with caution and peace of mind," Ms Vázquez said on Twitter.  About 360 shelters would be open across the island, the governor said.  "Wow! Yet another big storm heading to Puerto Rico," President Donald Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday. "Will it ever end?"  The storm is expected to pass south-west of Puerto Rico and eastern Hispaniola, possibly as a Category 1 hurricane, on Wednesday night.  "Slow strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Dorian is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it moves close to Puerto Rico and eastern Hispaniola," the NHC said.  On Thursday, Dorian is forecast to make landfall in the Dominican Republic, before moving past the Turks and Caicos and south-eastern Bahamas on Friday.  According to the NHC's latest projections, the storm could make landfall in the US state of Florida late on Friday night or early Saturday morning.  Tropical storm warnings have been lifted for St Vincent and the Grenadines.  Puerto Rico is still vulnerable after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island in September 2017, killing an estimated 2,975 people and causing a humanitarian crisis.  A report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggested Maria had caused $90bn (£73bn) of damage in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.  Since Maria hit, Puerto Rico has struggled to repair its infrastructure and power grid, with Mr Trump signing a $19bn disaster relief bill for the island.  Ahead of Storm Dorian, Puerto Ricans have been alert to the dangers, stocking up on water, food and generators in preparation.  Zaida Garcia, a resident on the island, told ABC News that "everybody's going bananas" as the storm approaches.  "We can't afford another one, I'm telling you. We can't afford another one," she said.  In a statement, the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) said, although Dorian is less severe than Maria, it could still "have a significant impact".


bbcuk--2019-07-29--Newspaper headlines PM bid to bolster Union and factory jobs at risk

Newspaper headlines: PM bid to bolster Union and factory jobs at risk

Many of the papers focus on the work being done to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.  The Daily Express tells how Boris Johnson has put the government on full alert, ordering daily emergency planning summits. The Daily Telegraph says there will be three new committees to accelerate preparations.  And the Times reports Mr Johnson briefed cabinet yesterday on a stripped-down Whitehall structure under which Michael Gove would take day-to-day control.  The HuffPost UK website says the prime minister is understood to want to improve on the way previous committees operated, because he believed they did not move fast enough.  Mr Johnson is set to give European leaders the cold shoulder, according to the Daily Mail, as he ramps up preparations.  A senior government source tells the paper he has no plans to visit European capitals in the hope of reopening talks.  How much of what is happening is a concerted attempt to get the country ready for leaving without a deal or merely posturing to show Brussels that the UK is serious about doing this remains to be seen, suggests the i.  The Guardian focuses on a report from a think-tank, the Institute for Government, which predicts Mr Johnson's domestic agenda will be crushed by the pressing needs of the emergency that would follow a no-deal Brexit.  The i highlights another aspect of the report - that a disorderly Brexit would place unprecedented pressure on the Union.  Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning  As Mr Johnson prepares to visit Scotland, several papers look at what the PoliticsHome website calls the tense relationship between him and the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson.  The Scotsman suggests the visit threatens to be overshadowed by a major clash, after she said she could not back leaving the EU without a deal.  The Times thinks Mr Johnson's encounter with Ms Davidson is likely to be bruising. But, the paper adds, the prime minister's team have offered to take soundings on policies which will "push Scotland".  And the Scottish Daily Mail predicts Mr Johnson will fly into a political storm, saying they will meet this afternoon to "clear the air".  The Financial Times highlights a warning from the finance secretary in Hong Kong that the mass demonstrations there over the past two months are taking their toll on the economy.  Meanwhile the Telegraph feels the Chinese state will find the democratic imperative hard to quell in Hong Kong just as President Putin will in Russia.  The Times argues the mass arrest of Russian protestors on Saturday is no long-term guarantee of political stability.  The prime minister's creation of the first government office to care for veterans of the armed forces is a step in the right direction, the Sun says.  Mr Johnson has appointed the former Army officer, Johnny Mercer, as Veterans' Minister.  There are many photos of 15-year-old Jaden Ashman, who has won nearly £1m after coming second with his team-mate in the first World Cup of the computer game, Fortnite.  The Mail tells how his mother - like many others - had often despaired of her son's obsession with computer games. Desperate to make him concentrate on his homework instead of staring at a screen, she at one point threw out his games console and snapped his headset.  The Daily Mirror wonders how - after his big win - his mum is ever going to get him to do his homework now.


bbcuk--2019-08-02--Whaley Bridge How safe are Britains dams

Whaley Bridge: How safe are Britain's dams?

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from the Derbyshire town of Whaley Bridge after part of a dam collapsed. So what has happened at Toddbrook Reservoir, and how safe are Britain's dams?  Toddbrook Reservoir has a type of dam known as an earth dam.  Richard Coackley, former president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, said the structures, also referred to as earthfill or embankment dams, feature:  Heavy rainfall caused water levels in the reservoir to rise and start flowing over the auxiliary - or emergency - spillway.  The structure failed and was partly eroded away by water flowing over it.  Alan Warren, chairman of the British Dam Society, said the cause was unclear.  "We don't know whether the concrete was inadequate or whether there was some problem underneath those concrete slabs which means the slabs fell into a void that had been forming underneath," he said.  "Maybe the joints in the slabs weren't properly sealed, and water was getting in through the joints."  Mr Coackley said photos suggested that water had washed away soil beneath the slabs but the clay core was still intact.  "That's why the dam is still secure there at this stage," he said.  There are about 2,000 dams in England and Wales and about 800 in Scotland, according to Mr Coackley.  They have various owners and serve a range of purposes, he said.  "Water companies providing drinking water are major ones, then there are reservoirs providing water supplies to the original canal system.  "There are other dams just for fishing and there are other dams just for sailing and water sports. Other dams are to provide water for agriculture."  Toddbrook's dam was built in the 1830s to create the reservoir, providing hydraulic power and water for the canal system.  It still provides that water and is owned by the Canal and River Trust.  Mr Coackley said Toddbrook helped to create wealth for Whaley Bridge before goods could be transported by road, and was still important for tourism and the local economy.  All UK reservoirs with a capacity above 25,000 cubic metres must comply with the Reservoirs Act.  Every dam must have a supervising civil engineer and an inspecting civil engineer to file annual safety reports to Defra, Mr Coackley said.  "That's part of an Act of Parliament that goes back 100 years."  The Canal and River Trust said the annual inspection of Toddbrook Reservoir in November was "absolutely fine".  This coincided with an independent inspection taking place every 10 years, and this was fine, too.  "Our engineers also inspect the reservoir twice-weekly and this is how we picked up the problem," said a spokeswoman.  Not very often. Mr Coackley said failures were "very unusual indeed".  Prof Nigel Wright, a civil engineer and expert in flood risk management, said the last such evacuation in the UK was in 2007, when cracks appeared in the dam at Ulley Reservoir, near Rotherham, following heavy rain.  A new spillway was later built to replace the original which collapsed during the floods.  "Since that, the government has insisted that a lot of dams have been reanalysed to check what the danger is and come up with plans for evacuation if necessary," said Prof Wright, of Nottingham Trent University.  The last time anyone died due to a dam disaster in the UK was in 1925, when two dams burst, killing 16 people in the north Wales village of Dolgarrog.  That led to improved construction requirements under the Reservoirs Act, introduced in 1930 and updated in 1975.  The UK's worst-ever dam disaster was the Great Sheffield Flood of 1864, which claimed at least 240 lives.  Elsewhere in the world, dam disasters still lead to major loss of life. In January, 300 people died in a mudslide after a dam collapsed near Brumadinho in Brazil.  Mr Warren, of the British Dam Society, said the Whaley Bridge incident was similar to one at Oroville in California in 2017.  "A spillway was damaged, then the auxiliary spillway came into operation and there was erosion on the auxiliary spillway which meant they had to evacuate people downstream," he said.  While the failure of a dam could potentially kill hundreds or thousands of people, Mr Coackley said regular checks and maintenance, together with emergency plans, should prevent this.  "There are lots of people living below these dams and they are as safe as you can get," he said.  "It's not a disaster yet. Everything has gone according to plan with the Environment Agency and the emergency services all working with the inspecting engineer on what will be a pre-arranged plan.  "Every reservoir and dam has one of these plans in case of an emergency."  Prof Wright said the evacuation was a precaution, but the right thing to do.  "There's always a chance that you will move people and then nothing will happen, but that's much better than not moving them and then something happens," he said.  Mr Coackley said engineers elsewhere would be looking at the implications of Toddbrook.  "There will be more checks. Dam engineers will be noting what's going on," he said.  "It's really important as an engineer to analyse why this has happened and make sure all of the other dams are safe".


bbcuk--2019-11-05--Grenfell Tower: Jacob Rees-Mogg criticised for 'insulting' comments

Jacob Rees-Mogg has been criticised for saying it would have been "common sense" to flee the Grenfell Tower fire, ignoring fire brigade advice.  The Leader of the House of Commons was appearing on a radio phone-in on the findings of a Grenfell inquiry report when he made the comments.  The Grenfell United group called the MP's comments "insulting". Mr Rees-Mogg said he "profoundly apologised".  Seventy-two people died in a fire at the tower block on 14 June 2017.  Speaking on LBC's Nick Ferrari Show on Monday, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "The more one's read over the weekend about the report and about the chances of people surviving, if you just ignore what you're told and leave you are so much safer.  "And I think if either of us were in a fire, whatever the fire brigade said, we would leave the burning building. It just seems the common sense thing to do.  "And it is such a tragedy that that didn't happen."  Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on Mr Rees-Mogg to "apologise for these crass and insensitive comments immediately".  Mr Rees-Mogg said on Tuesday: "What I meant to say is that I would have also listened to the fire brigade's advice to stay and wait at the time.  "However, with what we know now and with hindsight I wouldn't and I don't think anyone else would. I would hate to upset the people of Grenfell if I was unclear in my comments."  But in a statement, survivors' group Grenfell United said: "The Leader of the House of Commons suggesting that the 72 people who lost their lives at Grenfell lacked common sense is beyond disrespectful.  "It is extremely painful and insulting to bereaved families."  Grenfell inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said fewer people would have died if the London Fire Brigade (LFB) had taken certain actions earlier.  Sir Martin criticised the LFB for following a "stay put" strategy, where firefighters and 999 operators told residents to stay in their flats for nearly two hours after the blaze broke out.  The advice is designed to prevent hundreds of people descending stairs while firefighters are coming up during a contained fire.  As flames spread around Grenfell's external cladding, the advice may have prevented some families escaping, the report found.  LFB Commissioner Dany Cotton told the London Assembly on Tuesday that the brigade would respond differently to a Grenfell-like fire in the future.  She told the fire resilience and emergency planning committee: "Knowing what we know now about Grenfell Tower and similar buildings with ACM cladding, our response would be very different."


bipartisanreport--2019-02-19--16 States Announce Monday Night Plan To Stop Trumps Phony Emergency Declaration

16 States Announce Monday Night Plan To Stop Trump’s Phony Emergency Declaration

On Friday, Mr.Trump declared a national emergency in hopes of obtaining funding for a wall along the border of the U.S. and Mexico, but there are still some big challenges ahead before the project could actually become a reality.  As of Monday, 16 states have come together to challenge Trump’s emergency declaration in court.  According to The New York Times:  ‘The lawsuit is part of a constitutional confrontation that Mr. Trump set off on Friday when he declared that he would spend billions of dollars more on border barriers than Congress had granted him. The clash raises questions over congressional control of spending, the scope of emergency powers granted to the president, and how far the courts are willing to go to settle such a dispute.’  The suit was filed in federal district court in San Francisco, and argues that the president does not have the power to divert funds for constructing a wall along the Mexican border because it is Congress that controls spending.  The attorney general of California, Xavier Becerra, pointed out that Mr. Trump even said in his own words that the situation was not an emergency.  According to The Times:  Congress may also challenge the president’s declaration as well, and have several options for doing so. One would be for the House of Representatives to bring a lawsuit of its own.  Congress could also override Trump’s emergency declaration, but it is doubtful that they would have the votes to override Trump’s likely veto. So, it would seem that court is a better option given the probable outcome.  The states joining the lawsuit include California, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Virginia.  Maryland is the only state challenging the declaration that has a Republican governor, and most of the other state legislatures are controlled by Democrats.  Mr. Trump’s words – “I didn’t need to do this” – could come to haunt him though as they are most likely words that will be used in court in the coming days.  Trump’s emergency plan to build the wall would take $600 million from the Treasury Department, $2.5 billion from the Department of Defense’s drug interdiction program and $3.5 billion from military construction funds.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement:  Here’s what Twitter had to say:


birminghammail--2019-02-03--Queen would be evacuated from London if a No Deal Brexit caused riots

Queen 'would be evacuated from London' if a No Deal Brexit caused riots

Plans are reportedly being drawn up to evacuate the Queen from London in the event of riots caused by a No Deal Brexit.  Her Majesty, the Duke of Edinburgh and other senior royals would be moved out of the palace and sent to a secret location, according to reports.  The arrangement was originally devised to be put into action in the event of a nuclear attack from the Soviet Union - and they're being dusted off again as the chances of the UK leaving the EU without a deal edge closer.  Experts, business groups and MPs have warned of the potential widespread disruption if no agreement is reached by the end of March, with civil unrest, food and medicine shortages and gridlock touted as possible outcomes of a No Deal Brexit.  Whitehall contingency planners have included evacuations among their 'worst case' scenarios, the Mail on Sunday has reported.  Officials in the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, the Government department responsible for emergency planning, have ‘repurposed’ a secret operation under which the Royals could have been accommodated in various country houses to protect them from enemy forces during the Cold War.  But the revival of the plan has been ridiculed by leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who described it as a ‘wartime fantasy’ dreamt up by mandarins who had watched too many news clips of helicopters landing on the US Embassy roof in Saigon – now Ho Chi Minh City – at the end of the Vietnam War.  He said: "The over-excited officials who have dreamt up this nonsense are clearly more students of fantasy than of history. The Monarch’s place is always in the capital, as the late Queen Mother, wife of George VI, made very clear during the Blitz."  A source in the Secretariat said that the most extreme No Deal crisis scenario envisaged riots breaking out in London as shops ran short of staple foods.  Neither Buckingham Palace nor Downing Street would comment yesterday, citing security concerns, but a senior Government source insisted: "It is not project fear. There are dozens of contingency planners whose job is to envisage every possible eventuality.  "They would be negligent if they didn’t include the Royals in that, however far-fetched the scenario might seem."  Businesses are also making plans for the UK crashing out of the European Union without a deal, with some starting to stockpile products.  Unilever revealed last week it was stockpiling ice creams because it makes some of Britain's favourite treats in Italy and Germany.  It's building up a few weeks of extra stock on this side of the English Channel in case there are any border delays.  WHSmith is stockpiling stationary and Pets at Home is stockpiling up to eight million pounds worth of pet food, just incase.


birminghammail--2019-06-20--Bon Jovi at Ricoh Arena - motorists warned of M6 and Coventry traffic chaos

Motorists are being warned of traffic chaos on the M6 and in parts of Coventry as rock superstars Bon Jovi head to the city this weekend.  The rockers play at Ricoh Arena on Sunday, June 23.  Fans have been urged to allow extra time for their journey.  Traffic is expected to be very heavy on Sunday around Ricoh Arena, which has a capacity of 40,000, as people head to and from the show.  Extra patrols will be carried out by Highways England traffic officers along the M6 and in the area to keep traffic moving and deal with any unexpected incidents.  Highways England is also advising drivers to find alternative routes and avoid the area if not attending the concert.  Bon Jovi will conclude the British leg of their This House is Not for Sale tour at Ricoh where they previously played in 2006 and 2008. Support comes from Welsh rockers Manic Street Preachers.  Stadium doors open at 5pm with the show due to finish around 10.30pm.  Before and after both those times is expected to be busy on the motorway and roads near the arena.  Note that officials do not allow cars parked at the venue to leave for up to an hour afterwards, so that those on foot can safely get off the site.  Highways England Emergency Planning Officer Frank Bird said: "We are expecting the M6 to be very busy on Sunday afternoon, particularly around junction 3 which is close to the arena.  "We would advise anyone going to the concert to allow extra time for travelling and to aim to get there shortly after the gates open rather than risk missing any of the show.  "Local traffic should avoid the area if possible on Sunday afternoon and after 10.30pm.  "Our traffic officers will be working throughout the night to help ease traffic flow and keep people moving."  Highways England provides live traffic information via its website and on Twitter @HighwaysWMIDS  BirminghamLive will bring you news of any severe delays or incidents. Join our West Midlands Traffic and Travel page .


cnsnews--2019-05-15--Foreign Ops Funding Bill Includes Measures Targeting Trumps Policy of Protecting Life

Foreign Ops Funding Bill Includes Measures Targeting Trump’s ‘Policy of Protecting Life’

(CNSNews.com) – The Appropriations Committee in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday will consider a draft bill on foreign affairs and aid funding – including contributions to the United Nations – that provides $13.7 billion more than President Trump’s fiscal year 2020 budget request.  The $56.4 billion bill, which was approved last week by the Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, represents a 32-percent increase over the president’s FY2020 request of $42.7 billion. That includes an 87.3 percent increase in the amount he requested for contributions for peacekeeping missions – $2.128 billion compared to the requested $1.136 billion.  Beyond the numbers, the funding bill also contains several specific measures opposed by Republicans, relating to issues such as abortion around the world and U.N. global warming initiatives.  Earlier, a Republican committee member warned that unless partisan measures targeting “the president’s policy of protecting life” were removed, the bill stood no chance of passing.  Significantly, the bill includes legislation called the Global Health Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act, which seeks to permanently repeal the Mexico City Policy.  The Reagan-era measure, recently strengthened by the Trump administration, targets funding for non-governmental organizations that promote or perform abortions abroad, as well as funding for NGOs that give money to other NGOs that promote or perform abortions.  The Global HER Act, introduced by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) last February, has 171 co-sponsors, all Democrats. The Senate version, introduced by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), has 46 co-sponsors, including Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Me.)  Lowey chairs both the Appropriations State and Foreign Operations subcommittee and the full committee, and will be presiding over Thursday’s mark-up.  The draft funding bill also provides for $55.5 million for the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), which Trump defunded in 2017 over reported links to China’s coercive birth-limitation policies.  Another provision expected to draw GOP opposition is the removal of a prohibition of U.S. funding for the Green Climate Fund, a major U.N. global warming initiative which Trump also defunded in 2017.  The bill furthermore prohibits the use of funds to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement. (The administration last August lodged formal notification that the U.S. was pulling out of the accord, although the actual withdrawal process takes at least three years.)  When the subcommittee considered the bill last week, Lowey said the legislation “rejects the administration’s unacceptable, irresponsible fiscal year 2020 requests and reaffirms strong support for reproductive health, climate change, and multilateral assistance.”  Committee member Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) praised provisions which, she said, reverse the administration’s “brutal attack on women’s reproductive health and rights.”  Ranking member Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) praised some elements – such as support for U.S. allies in the Middle East, and for embassy security – but said it was “a shame that these types of programs are undermined by partisan policy riders that will end any hope of support for this bill from both sides of the aisle.”  “The sweeping measures included in the bill to overturn the president’s policy of protecting life and global health go well beyond what was done previously,” he said. “Unless these provisions are taken out of the bill, Madame Chair, it has no hope of becoming law.”  Rogers also questioned the wisdom or putting forward a bill with topline numbers that would not win the support of the House and Senate, or the administration.  Among other things, the bill adds funding to USAID ($1.690 billion), the Peace Corps ($425 million), and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief or PEPFAR ($5.93 billion).  The PEPFAR funding includes $1.56 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and reiterates a longstanding U.S. commitment to continue to provide 33 percent of the fund’s budget. The administration’s proposed budget sought to reduce that commitment to 25 percent.  When the administration presented its State and Foreign Operations budget request in March, Democratic leaders were quick to label it “dead on arrival” in Congress.  Doug Pitkin, director of the State Department’s Bureau of Budget and Planning, told reporters at the time that the proposed budget includes reductions in programs which the administration “believes are either a lower priority or perhaps are not the best use of taxpayer dollars.”  He said the administration was continuing to ask for smaller amounts for contributions to international organizations than Congress has approved, “as an effort to try to drive greater burden-sharing among those organizations.”  The Better World Campaign (BWC), a group that “works to foster a strong relationship between the U.S. and the U.N.,” was critical of the budget proposal, and is praising the draft bill.  “This legislation embraces the principle that the United States cannot go it alone in stamping out extremism or eradicating disease – we need the UN as our partner,” said BWC president Peter Yeo.  “Elections have consequences,” commented U.N. Dispatch managing editor Mark Leon Goldberg, whose site is sponsored by the United Nations Foundation.  “This was the first budget drafted by the State and Foreign Operations subcommittee in which Democrats held the majority and the result was increased funding for the United Nations.”


conservativehome--2019-01-27--Newslinks for Sunday 27th January 2019

Newslinks for Sunday 27th January 2019

>Today: ToryDiary: If May wants a revised plan to pass the Commons, she must take the lead herself  ‘Others appear to have changed their mind, and now want a second referendum so as to stop Brexit altogether. They should say so openly. Passing clever legislation so as to delay the date of leaving won’t rule out no-deal: it will merely postpone the problem. In fact it will make the situation worse. Delaying our departure will prolong uncertainty. It will break the promise we made. It will provoke an angry response from many voters who already believe that politicians are trying to frustrate their will. And it will lessen the pressure on the EU to make concessions. Brussels needs to know that if they move to address concerns about the backstop the deal will go through… I led the ‘Conservatives In’ campaign, but I immediately accepted the result of the referendum, believing that it should be honoured. If I can compromise, voting for a withdrawal deal I would not have chosen, so can Brexiteers, who currently risk losing Brexit altogether. And so can MPs who voted for the referendum, who claimed they would respect the result.’ – Nick Herbert, Sunday Telegraph  >Today: Richard Kemp and Lee Rotherham on Comment: The backstop’s not the only danger in May’s deal. Its defence plans will undermine NATO.  ‘Thousands of British companies have already triggered emergency plans to cope with a no-deal Brexit, with many gearing up to move operations abroad if the UK crashes out of the EU, according to the British Chambers of Commerce. Before a crucial week in parliament, in which MPs will try to wrest control from Theresa May’s government in order to delay Brexit and avoid a no-deal outcome, the BCC said it believed companies that had already gone ahead with their plans represented the “tip of the iceberg” and that many of its 75,000 members were already spending vital funds to prepare for a disorderly exit. It said that in recent days alone, it had been told that 35 firms had activated plans to move operations out of the UK, or were stockpiling goods to combat the worst effects of Brexit. Matt Griffith, director of policy at the BCC’s west of England branch, said that many more companies had acted to protect themselves since May’s Brexit deal was decisively rejected by MPs in the Commons.’ – The Observer  ‘Thirty families have accused technology giants of abetting their children’s suicides in the wake of the death of 14-year-old Molly Russell, as the health secretary told social media sites to take responsibility for their effect on young lives. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Molly’s father, Ian, criticised the online scrapbook site Pinterest, as well as Instagram, for hosting disturbing content that he believes played a part in his daughter’s death. “The more I looked [into Molly’s online accounts], the more there was that chill horror that I was getting a glimpse into something that had such profound effects on my lovely daughter,” he said. “Pinterest has a huge amount to answer for.”’ – Sunday Times  ‘Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott were last night accused of putting their ‘loony Left’ politics before the victims of paedophilia. The attack came after Labour’s Home Affairs team, led by Ms Abbott, put down a ‘wrecking amendment’ to a new child protection law, which is due to be debated by MPs on Wednesday. The Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Bill would pave the way for the UK to be able to directly order American tech giants such as Google and Facebook to hand over data needed to convict British paedophiles within days. But it requires a new international treaty with the United States as more than 90 per cent of online child abuse in the UK is linked to US-based software firms. Currently, UK law enforcement officials have to apply to the US Department of Justice to get data held in America, but this process can take two years – allowing paedophiles to continue their abuse. However, Labour is demanding that Britain write in special assurances to the new accord that no data we may theoretically share in return could ever be used to sentence a criminal to death. Washington has warned the Home Office that any attempt to ‘attach strings’ to the treaty would kill it dead.’ – Mail on Sunday  ‘Donald Trump signed a bill on Friday to reopen the government for three weeks, ending the longest shutdown in US history without any funding for his proposed border wall. The 35-day shutdown has seen 800,000 government workers being sent home or working without pay since before Christmas. Mr Trump agreed to the three-week re-opening of government departments and to leave the issue of wall funding to future negotiations. The decision came as government workers faced increasing hardship, many missing mortgage and car payments, airports suffered chaos, and the head of the FBI lambasted the shutdown. Speaking in the rose garden at the White House, Mr Trump said: “I’m proud to announce we have reached a deal to reopen the federal government.”‘ – Sunday Telegraph  >Yesterday: Book Review: Sanders is a refreshing change from the careerists who infest American as well as British politics.


conservativehome--2019-04-02--Newslinks for Tuesday 2nd April 2019

Newslinks for Tuesday 2nd April 2019

>Yesterday:  MPsETC: Indicative Votes. Bercow selects four motions. All back either a Softer Brexit, a second referendum – or No Brexit at all.  “The Cabinet, like the Tory Party, is increasingly split between those who want a no deal Brexit and those who want a customs union, with both factions holding meetings yesterday to cement support for their positions. Mrs May is under immense pressure from both wings of the party to make a choice, but has been warned that ministerial resignations will be “unavoidable” if she picks either no deal or a customs union. Yesterday Jeremy Hunt became the latest minister to back a no deal Brexit, meaning no deal is now favoured by 14 out of 27 members of the Cabinet. The Conservatives promised in their general election manifesto that Britain would leave the customs union – a promise that Mrs May has repeated countless times since. However, 10 Cabinet ministers now prefer a customs union to no deal, with three undecided.” – Daily Telegraph  >Today:  Dominic Walsh: What a customs union does and doesn’t do – and how it compares to the backstop.  >Yesterday: WATCH: Boles quits – “I can no longer sit for this Party”  “Richard Drax, another Tory who backed Mrs May’s deal last week, said it had been “a mistake” to do so, as other Brexiteers also hinted they might reverse their decision to back the deal. If Mrs May does not think she can win a fourth “meaningful vote” this week she will have to switch to a plan B, which will be discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday.” – Daily Telegraph  >Yesterday: WATCH: “I made the wrong call on Friday.” Drax apologises for not voting against May’s deal.  “Ministers kick-started plans to hold European elections in May – with MPs poised to force through a lengthy delay to Brexit this week. De-facto deputy PM David Lidington gave councils the green light to start preparations for holding the elections on May 23rd as a “contingency” measure. Britain will have to take part in the European Parliament elections if it is still a member of the EU. The UK Government has to decide whether to take part in the elections by the end of next week.” – The Sun  “Berlin has announced emergency plans to allow all Brits living in the country to stay even if there’s a no deal Brexit. Germany’s interior ministry has called on regional authorities to guarantee the rights of 100,000 expats and their families. Officials have asked local parliaments to provide immigration services with the “necessary resources” to process Brits’ applications. Their advice includes setting up new hotlines that UK citizens can call to ask for advice on how to gain permanent residency.” – The Sun  “Dozens more Tory MPs who backed Remain at the EU referendum and now oppose a no-deal Brexit are being targeted as part of a campaign backed by Leave.EU, the organisation funded by the businessman Arron Banks. Senior Tories including Sir Oliver Letwin, Nicky Morgan, George Freeman, Sam Gyimah and Antoinette Sandbach are pictured on its website under the headline “Deselect the Tory traitors”, along with detailed instructions on how to organise a local coup and links to the registration page on the party website. Many MPs have noticed a sudden influx of new members with hardline Eurosceptic views in recent months. One former minister says the hard Brexiteers are engaged in “guerrilla warfare” to purge the moderates.” – Rachel Sylvester, The Times  “The internal situation in the Conservative Party is much worse than it was in 1997. The ruin I moved in to as the new leader was, at least, intact. We had many differences, but we resolved them without talk of leaving altogether, opposing our own party on a vote of confidence, or deselecting tranches of MPs. We all joined together in the long task of rebuilding. By contrast, some of today’s leadership candidates may find themselves sitting in a small ruin on their own.” – Daily Telegraph  >Yesterday: Columnist Howard Flight: We need a new leader with the vision, commitment and bravery of a Thatcher  “The register should in no way be seen as anti-home education. We are all a product of our upbringing and I for one am supremely grateful to the enlightened and gifted families that indirectly gave us Narnia and computer programming, not to mention the lightbulb. But there are many other children not in school and we cannot continue to let vulnerable children vanish under the radar, where their potential is left untapped and instead they are likely to be drawn into a spiral of underachievement or worse.” – Damian Hinds, Daily Telegraph  “The country’s biggest non-metropolitan district council, by population, has come into being after a merger. East Suffolk, made up of the former Suffolk Coastal and Waveney district councils, will serve 246,913 people. A second new authority, West Suffolk, has taken over from St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath councils. West Suffolk will serve a population of 179,248 and the number of councillors to be elected for both new authorities in May will be halved. The mergers have taken two years of negotiating and will have fewer elected representatives.” – BBC


conservativehome--2019-08-07--Judy Terry The lesson of tragic fires are still being ignored

Judy Terry: The lesson of tragic fires are still being ignored

Judy Terry is a marketing professional and a former local councillor in Suffolk.  Preserving ancient buildings and sites, both in the UK and overseas, is essential to understanding the past, as well as the present, yet my research into fire risks – across all types of property – in the wake of Grenfell indicates that period properties are especially vulnerable.  Despite some high profile disasters in recent years and months, are lessons being learnt? It is too easy to forget that Local authorities are guardians of historic buildings, as well as the National Trust, English Heritage, and the Government, so what measures are they employing to protect these assets, employees and visitors?  Major fires which should be influencing policy include:  With over 300 historic buildings in its care, the public deserves answers on the National Trust’s fire policy and Clandon Park’s future, so I phoned five different NT press officers on the mobile numbers provided but all went to voicemail, so I emailed the following questions. After further chasing, I eventually received a response from Jo Dyson:  What plans are there to restore Clandon Park, or is it to remain a rotting shell?  The Trust’s plans for Clandon Park are to conserve the structure of the house, to restore the most important rooms on the ground floor and to adapt the two upper floors for contemporary uses, in particular as exhibition and learning spaces. The Trust is currently undertaking a feasibility study and master planning process with a world-class design team following a public architectural competition. The remaking of Clandon Park is one of the largest and most complex heritage projects in the UK. Core funding for the project will come from a significant insurance claim.  Why were sprinklers not installed at this property?  The property was fitted with a fire alarm and this was triggered by the fire. The alarm detects both smoke and heat. There were no sprinklers installed.  How many NT properties are not fitted with sprinklers?  Sprinklers are an option and have been installed in some of our places, but this approach isn’t suitable for all properties. The installation of sprinklers, or other fire suppression methods, is something we are considering as part of our review of our historic properties in the light of the fire report.  What is the NT’s policy on retrofitting sprinklers?  We have a planned programme for carrying out fire risk assessments on all of our properties, including annual reviews. Our assessments take into account the life safety of people and property protection, which may lead to passive and active fire safety improvements to be made. Our assessments include consideration being given to suppression systems.  What other fire precautions are policy at the NT?  The NT is a conservation charity which cares for hundreds of historic houses and other buildings across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust therefore takes fire safety and the protection of its historic places very seriously. We have a rigorous fire safety strategy in place at all our places. We do a fire risk assessment (FRA) at every property and these are reviewed regularly.  What plans are there for the 20 per cent of artefacts salvaged from the fire: where are they, what condition are they in, what plans are there for future display?  All collection items saved are currently in safe storage amounting to approximately 1200 objects. We’ve finished assessing the significance of each item and their condition, and high level conservation/restoration cost assessments are currently being carried out by specialist conservators. Once we have all potential costs and possibilities, we can make an informed decision on their future, including display in restored rooms, in exhibitions, and to support learning programmes. A small selection of salvaged items is currently displayed at Clandon.  The NT further clarified its actions following the fire:  “Although Clandon’s fire was caused by a very unusual electrical fault, which wasn’t detected by the numerous fixed wire tests which had taken place, we wanted to apply any lessons across all our NT properties. Subsequent to the fire we have audited mansions and key buildings to check that all electrical inspections, fire risk assessments, emergency plans, water supplies and training are up to date. We have also trialled, and subsequently introduced, an ongoing programme of thermographic inspections in our key properties to supplement traditional fixed wire tests.  “Whilst fire alarms were not at fault at Clandon, we have undertaken a specialist survey of fire alarms in order to manage a programme of system replacement. We are currently implementing a Trust-wide programme of works to ensure any existing holes and service penetrations are filled by third party accredited contractors and we have changed our service contracts to require contractors to suitably fire stop any holes or penetrations they make in the course of their works. Additionally, we have developed and introduced bespoke training for Building Surveyors on fire safety and general compliance.”  Unfortunately, the NT provided no clarity on the number of properties potentially at risk, without sprinklers! This was also the case when I contacted English Heritage press office, requesting information on its fire protection policies. Tom Jones, Corporate Affairs Manager, responded with the following assurances:  “English Heritage has a fire risk assessment for each of our buildings. Fire prevention is our priority and we invest in staff training, equipment, inspections and planned maintenance to reduce the risk of a fire starting in the first place. Automatic Fire Detection, compartmentation, suppression and fire fighting equipment is site specific. We work closely with Historic England, the Fire & Rescue Services, our Primary Authority Partner, and industry peers to ensure we are compliant with legislation and industry best practice for fire prevention, detection and fire fighting.”  Both the National Trust and English Heritage are highly valued public institutions, funded and supported by their hard-working members, who deserve to have all the facts – and the ability to question decision-making by the Boards through their elected representatives. With Brexit preoccupying Westminster, this means local authorities using their Scrutiny Committees to collate evidence, challenge and advise, together with regional Fire Services.  First, how are works managed to avoid accidental fire (or other) damage? The NT has addressed this by changing its service contracts; are other organisations adopting similar measures? Is good practice being shared across the public and private sectors? Are local authorities and private owners being encouraged to undertake similar extensive reviews of fire safety and implement new measures to protect people and assets?  We cannot afford to lose sight of the fact that local authorities throughout the country are also responsible for historic buildings, so they should be required to publish their fire prevention policies, including retro-fitting sprinklers, and annual safety checks.  In Ipswich, for example, the museum service is in partnership with Colchester: Christchurch Mansion is packed with artworks, including by Constable and Gainsborough, as well as fine furniture and porcelain collections – how are these protected? I discovered that Colchester Castle Museum’s recent £4.2 million refurbishment didn’t include sprinklers.  These assets not only belong to their communities, and the UK population as a whole, but are invaluable tourist attractions, making a vital contribution to the national and regional economy.  Local Authority Scrutiny committees should make this a priority for investigation, holding officers to account before there are further tragedies. It won’t be easy, but the solution could be cross-authority working.


conservativehome--2019-11-19--Newslinks for Tuesday 19th November 2019

The Debate: Johnson prepares the ground with four Brexit questions for his opponent  ‘The PM and the Opposition Leader go head to head for the first time in the election campaign in an hour long debate on ITV from 8pm. In a bid to set the terms of their crucial joust, the Tory boss last night despatched an appeal for clarity in a letter to the Labour chief. Insisting the public have “a right to know” where Mr Corbyn stands on the major issues which he says his rival for No10 has “ducked, Boris called on him to say: whether Mr Corbyn he will urge voters to back Remain or Leave in the second EU referendum that he proposes; if he will extend or end free movement from the EU, and if immigration will therefore he higher or lower; how much the Labour leader is prepared to keep on paying into the EU’s budget after Brexit in exchange for market access; and how many of Mr Corbyn’s Labour candidates are behind his Brexit policy to renegotiate a new deal and then put it back to the people…Laying down the gauntlet, the PM added in the letter: “Without satisfactory answers to these questions, the public will have no choice but to conclude that Corbyn’s Labour, propped up by the SNP, will mean dither, delay, and uncertainty with two more chaotic referendums next year”.’ – The Sun • It’s easier to lose a debate than to win one – Stephen Lynch, The Times • Corbyn’s personal unpopularity, not Brexit, is the big issue on the doorstep – Rachel Sylvester, The Times • What does Johnson believe in? – Robert Shrimsley, FT • The poll trend is positive for the Conservatives – Philip Cowley, Daily Mail • A Corbyn/Sturgeon alliance would bring the country to its knees – Ruth Davidson, Daily Telegraph • Take Corbyn seriously, and dismantle him for all to see – The Sun Says • Bercow will commentate on election night for Sky – Daily Express • Weyand says the UK will get a ‘bare bones’ trade deal – The Sun  The Prime Minister uses the CBI conference to announce he is postponing cuts to Corporation Tax  ‘Boris Johnson yesterday dramatically shelved a planned cut to corporation tax – so the Tories can pay for extra NHS spending. The rate paid by firms on their profits was due to fall next April from 19 per cent to 17 per cent. But, in a surprise move, the Prime Minister told business leaders he believed the expected £6billion cost was better spent on priorities such as the health service. Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry conference in London, Mr Johnson justified his decision by saying the UK already has the lowest rate of any major economy. He said: ‘I hope you won’t mind if I also announce today that we are postponing further cuts in corporation tax. And before you storm the stage and protest…let me remind you this saves us £6billion that we can put into the priorities of the British people, including the NHS.’ He added: ‘I hope people understand that it is the fiscally responsible thing to do at the present time.’ – Daily Mail • The ASI accuses him of ‘ceding ground to socialists’ – Daily Telegraph • He argued that passing his Brexit deal would unleash a ‘tidal wave of investment’ – The Times • What is each party offering to business? – Daily Telegraph • Promise to review business rates fails to convince – The Times • There are bridges to rebuild – FT • Which to choose, the low tax Brexit certainty candidate, or the indecisive nationalisation fan? – The Sun Says • Corbyn is by far the biggest threat to business – The Times Leader • The Tories must not abandon the case for free enterprise – Daily Telegraph Leader • The City needs to hear how it will trade in future – FT Leader  >Today: Richard Patient on Comment: At last, the Conservatives have realised that the CBI is the voice of big business, not all business  >Yesterday: WATCH: Johnson tells CBI he plans to put corporation tax cuts on hold  Buckland: Life will mean life for child-killers  ‘Child murderers will die behind bars under Conservative manifesto plans to ensure ‘life means life’. In a further toughening of sentencing, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland will say they will automatically get a whole life sentence, so they are never released. The move will end the ‘sickening injustice’ of parents having to watch their child’s killer walk free, he said. Currently all murderers automatically get a life sentence, but the vast majority are eligible for parole after serving their minimum term, which is set by the courts. The whole life sentence is reserved for serial killers, or murders with a sadistic or sexual motive. But Mr Buckland, the Lord Chancellor, will announce a change to extend whole life sentences to adults aged over 21 who commit a premeditated murder of anyone under 16.’ – Daily Mail • There will also be improved efforts to get more offenders into work after release – The Sun • Tory manifesto commitment not to change the Hunting Act – The Times • Labour pledge to close hunting loopholes and deploy more police to enforce the ban – The Guardian  The NHS will pay the tax bills of consultants to ensure they keep working  ‘Senior doctors in England will have their tax bills covered by the National Health Service this winter after a pension tax crisis threatened to exacerbate treatment delays. Patients have faced delayed or cancelled operations partly because hospital consultants have refused to take on extra shifts over fears the extra income could trigger six-figure pension tax charges. Under emergency plans expected to cost hundreds of millions of pounds, senior NHS staff delivering front-line care will be granted early access to their pension pots in order to help cover any extra charges in their April tax bill. Each pot will then be topped up by NHS England before they reach retirement. Despite reservations the decision could violate purdah rules — which state that no major government policy changes can be made during an election period — NHS England is expected to press ahead with the plan.’ – FT • Other health service workers might not feel fairly treated – The Times • Both parties think they can win on the health service – Richard Sloggett, The Times • Young people are warned that self-employment is not the Life of Riley – The Times  Johnson guarantees Javid’s position as Chancellor (but won’t be drawn on the rest of the Cabinet)  ‘The prime minister delivered a “categorical assurance” that Mr Javid would remain at the Treasury, describing his former leadership rival as “a great guy”. However, Mr Johnson gave himself room for a sweeping post-election reshuffle if he wins, indicating that he would not answer questions on other “personnel at the top of the Tory party”. Mr Javid won a bruising row with the prime minister’s advisers this month over new rules on government borrowing and how much a Conservative government should offer in tax cuts. The chancellor, backed by Isaac Levido, the party’s election campaign chief, insisted that Mr Johnson agree to new constraints in an effort to maintain a dividing line with Labour over fiscal responsibility.’ – The Times • Sunak, Jenrick and Dowden are tipped for promotion – FT • How I – a former miner – became a Conservative candidate – Lee Anderson, Daily Mail • ‘It’s not easy being a Tory in education’ – The Guardian  Corbyn proposes an ‘audit’ of the sins of British imperial history  ‘Jeremy Corbyn would launch an “audit” into Britain’s colonial past if he became Prime Minister in a move which could pave the way for hefty reparations. The Labour manifesto will declare war on the nation’s past, with a review of its alleged human rights abuses across the globe. Due to be announced on Thursday, the investigation would assess the impact of British imperialism and the “legacies” it created. Tory critics claimed the planned announcement showed “Labour’s priorities are getting weirder and weirder.” Mr Corbyn has previously admitted being “open” to apologising for slavery, and the move could see his government issue apologies in parliament as well as financial reparations. In September Shadow Equalities Secretary Dawn Butler demanded “consultation hubs” in cities historically associated with the slave trade… Michael Fabricant said: “Labour’s priorities are getting weirder and weirder. They should be apologising to the British public, not for our long gone Imperial past.”’ – The Sun • Two Labour candidates ‘defended campaign group that praised Jihadi John’ – The Sun • A college teachers’ union now says people should be allowed to choose their own race – Richard Littlejohn, Daily Mail • We need a constitutional convention to bring the nation together – Gordon Brown, The Guardian  The Labour leader is challenged at the CBI conference over concerns he is ‘for the many, not the Jew’  ‘Jeremy Corbyn was grilled over his personal role in tackling Labour’s anti-Semitism crisis today. The opposition leader was directly asked about the crisis that has overshadowed his party leadership after he addressed the Confederation of British Industry in London. After a speech in which he attempted to placate business leaders’ fears about his nationalisation plans he took questions from the audience. One was from a woman, named last night as Hannah Kaufman, who wanted to know about his plans for workplace diversity. Hannah, who is believed to be from the Patchwork Foundation, bluntly asked him: ‘What are you going to be doing, personally, to demonstrate you care about racism and anti-Semitism in society and show that Labour isn’t just for the many and not the Jew?” – Daily Mail • Video emerges of Corbyn standing next to a speaker who calls British Jews ‘immoral’ – The Times • Some celebrities are still willing to claim he is a blemish-free anti-racist – Hugo Rifkind, The Times • The media let Johnson get away with lies – Peter Oborne, The Guardian  Senior figures in Labour believe their ‘best hope’ is a minority government  ‘Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s best hope of becoming prime minister is to lead a minority government involving smaller opposition parties, according to members of his inner circle. With Labour trailing the Conservatives in the opinion polls, Mr Corbyn’s supporters said that — “barring a miracle” — there was little chance of his party emerging with a House of Commons majority after the general election on December 12. But in the event of a hung parliament, where no party has a Commons majority, Mr Corbyn’s backers think he has a good opportunity to form a minority government. The hurdles are nevertheless formidable: Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has insisted she will not prop up a Labour government led by Mr Corbyn, and Scottish National party leader Nicola Sturgeon has declared the price of her support to be a new referendum on Scottish independence.’ – FT • They are collapsing in the West Midlands – Daily Telegraph • Corbyn says it is ‘nonsense’ to suggest he is anti-business – Daily Telegraph • Labour’s plans are reasonable, not radical – Tom Kibasi, The Guardian  >Today: Jesse Norman on Comment: The root of the financial crisis can be traced back directly to Brown and Labour  Swinson becomes less popular the more voters see of her  ‘Polling analysis shows that Ms Swinson, 39, is far better known since becoming party leader in July, but almost all of those to have formed a view of her have formed a negative one. The shift has been negative even with Remain voters… Ms Swinson has repeatedly claimed that she could become prime minister after the poll on December 12 and insists that she be treated the same as the Tory and Labour leaders. The Lib Dems’ poll ratings depend heavily on securing positive media coverage. Each month since June YouGov has asked voters how they feel about Ms Swinson. In the days after she became leader half of the public did not know who she was. Among those who did, 21 per cent were positive, while the remaining 29 per cent had an unfavourable view. Four months on, after big events including her first conference as leader, helping to force a general election and adopting a revoke policy on Brexit, voters are unimpressed. About a quarter are favourable, but half are unfavourable. It suggests that those who have found out who she is are unimpressed. Among Remain voters the proportion who are positive has risen from 39 to 44 per cent, while those who are negative is up from 18 to 33 per cent.’ – The Times • Lib Dems lose High Court fight for a seat in tonight’s ITV debate – The Guardian • She will be in the Sky News debate next month – The Times • The Lib Dem leader went down well with the CBI, at least – Henry Deedes, Daily Mail  >Yesterday: LeftWatch: Swinson’s ‘bicep-kissing’ strategy does not appear to be working  Silva accuses Prince Andrew of using the N-word in a meeting  ‘Prince Andrew used the n-word in conversation with a Downing Street adviser of Sri Lankan heritage during a meeting at Buckingham Palace, it has been claimed. Rohan Silva, who was David Cameron’s key aide on the tech economy, said he had been left “reeling” after the Duke of York allegedly used the phrase “n***er in the woodpile” during a discussion about trade policy in 2012. The allegation is one of several claims that emerged yesterday, raising new questions about Andrew’s judgment after his heavily criticised interview with BBC Newsnight over his links to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Mr Silva, 38, now an Evening Standard columnist, made the claim in an article for the newspaper about the meeting, which he said was attended by himself, Andrew and a Palace aide. Palace sources categorically denied that Andrew ever used the phrase and a legal letter has been sent to the Evening Standard.’ – The Times • The Prince’s charity is at risk as corporate backers pull out – The Times • He’s got to tell the FBI everything he knows – Piers Morgan, Daily Mail • Huddersfield University students seek a way to get rid of him as their Chancellor – The Times • The Queen must get a grip before her son torches the Royal Family’s reputation – The Sun Says • Could Prince Charles take the chance to slim down the monarchy? – Daily Mail • The Windsors should live a more modest life – The Times Leader  ‘At least five British officers in the Hong Kong police have played a leading anti-protest role. These people have been vilified by activists, who accuse them of directing brutal incidents and hound them on social media. A retired British officer told me that they were also dismaying many colleagues. They include Chief Superintendent Rupert Dover, a former public schoolboy seen at the university confrontation, and David Jordan, a commandant who joined the force after leaving the Royal Navy and was also spotted at the scene of the siege… These officers are among the remnants of 900 Britons serving in 1997 when Hong Kong was handed back to China under the “one country, two systems” deal agreed by Margaret Thatcher and now being trashed, to near-silence from our current leaders. Today, the 32,000-strong force contains some 50 expats. At the start of this conflict the police, for all their failings, were not thugs but slowly they have been sucked into more aggressive tactics to serve their Chinese masters. Now police are holding rifles, medics are arrested and some of the brutality is sickening.’ – The Times • China seeks to dictate the law to Hong Kong courts – FT • The rule of law is in peril – FT • Business schools think about moving to safer locations – FT • Beijing will consider the crackdown a price worth paying – Juliet Samuel, Daily Telegraph • The plot against the Prime Minister – New Statesman • The next Parliament must be more serious than the last – Victoria Hewson, 1828 • In defence of narcissism – Julie Burchill, The Spectator • Why are parties so bad at vetting candidates? – Prospect


dailybeast--2019-10-31--Netflix Drops Horrifying Camp Fire Documentary ‘Fire in Paradise’ as California Burns

Like people, wildfires aren’t born coherent or fully formed. They rarely have one direction or one goal. Fires are fluid and disparate, made up of smaller blazes and embers, some of which might merge into irrational explosions or veer off in different directions. (Scientists have dubbed this odd meandering, not “fire movement” or “fire patterns,” but “fire behavior”). Today, Los Angeles, like Sonoma County, is on fire. The city smells like everyone is having a cookout. On maps, the evacuation zone is drawn in hard lines, starting just five miles from where I’m writing this—a box framed by Mulholland Drive in the north, the 405 in the east, Sunset Boulevard in the south and Temescal Canyon Road in the west. But with hurricane-like winds predicted this week, there remains some uncertainty about just where, exactly, the blaze might go.  Unlike actual flames, the stories of fire have a predictable arc: low humidity, dry fuel, some small ignition (a cigarette, a powerline), ferocious wind, dispatch calls, mobile alerts, confused evacuators, missing heirlooms, lost lives, thousands of tired firefighters, and later, aerial photos of the earth, burnt into a scar. The familiarity makes the worst fire stories the hardest to tell. How do you capture the chaos of a place like Paradise—leveled last year by the Camp Fire, California’s deadliest in a century—when we all know the end? One hundred and fifty thousand acres burned. Nineteen thousand structures were destroyed. Eighty-five people, most of them disabled or elderly, dead.  In that sense, Fire in Paradise, a new documentary directed by Drea Cooper and Zackary Canepari which streams on Netflix this Friday, doesn’t break ground. The tight, 40-minute film isn’t an exercise in narrative form. There’s no narration at all. It’s a time capsule—a minute-by-minute replay, told by the people who lived it and spliced with source footage: dispatch calls, cellphone videos, and clips from an eerily upbeat weatherman. But it’s also a forecast, both for what the state will undergo these next few weeks, and what will replay in fire seasons to come.  Fire in Paradise opens with an omen—at once self-conscious and effective. The camera pans on a forest, dry but unburned. An answering machine beeps in the background and a robocall sets the scene. “This is an important safety alert from Pacific Gas & Electric Company,” the monotone voice says. “Extreme weather conditions and high fire danger are forecasted in Butte County, starting Thursday, November 8, 2018.” Months after that morning, investigators would find the utility company responsible for as many as 10 of the fires which scorched the state last year. It’s another reminder of the film as forecast—this season, PG&E has already taken heat for at least one inferno, and cutting power to millions across the state, leaving some to escape in the dark with little warning.  As the voiceover continues, a square screen appears over the forest, playing a montage of home videos. Families bowl; a man fishes; couples dance and swim; kids dressed as cowboys hop a potato-sack race. “To protect public safety,” the robovoice goes on, “PG&E may temporarily turn off power in your neighborhood or community.” The screen goes black. “Please have your emergency plan ready.”  The account of the following hours unfold through interviews with residents and first responders—when they heard about the fire, when they got scared, when they fled. The most powerful moments don’t come from the speakers describing the fire. One of the unnerving things about extreme natural disasters is how language fails to keep pace with their severity: “ It got bad real quick,” one dispatcher says. Another resident echoes: “It felt unreal.”  Instead, the strongest scenes emerge from people describing people. At one point, an auburn-haired teacher named Mary Ludwig recalls boarding a bus filled with students, watching them yawn from the low-oxygen air, and making impromptu masks from the driver’s shirt and the sole water bottle on board. She hoped they wouldn’t work: “We prayed that we would die of smoke inhalation.” Later, resident Joy Beeson, a wry elderly woman with blue nail polish and a pink fleece, describes escaping with her son. “I ran out in my Skechers and my pajamas,” she says. “I was running out of breath, and my son put his hand on my back and said, ‘You’ve got to run now, Mama.’” When Beeson pushed ahead, a burning tree fell where she stood just seconds before: “My son saved my life.” A third survivor, a Cal Fire captain named Sean Norman, remembers evacuating a family that didn’t want to leave. If you don’t go, he told them, you will die. As the fire bore down, Norman couldn’t keep convincing them. He fled. “They survived,” he says, choking up. “They don’t like me very much. But at least they’re around to not like me.”  Still, what makes Fire in Paradise essential viewing isn’t anything the subjects said or the directors captured. It comes from the amateurs, from the cellphone videos filmed from inside cars or while fleeing on foot. Near the end of the movie, the inevitable aerial shot arrives, revealing city blocks reduced to black squares. In the background, newscasters list unthinkable numbers: 77 deaths so far, 1,000 missing people. Then, the camera cuts to a stunning recording. It’s shot by an anonymous man walking through his old town. The landscape is so scorched the tape looks sepia. Only a few faint colors (a fleck of car paint, a blue flame) prove otherwise. The man pans toward the remains of a few cars, narrating in a squeaky voice.  “Now this is the poor guy,” he says, “came down to get my crippled friend out.” He zooms in on the front car. It could be a Honda or a Dodge or a Geo or really any smallish, average car. Identifying markers have all been burned away. “He didn’t make it. None of these people made it down here. These people all got burnt up. I was right down below them here.” The man approaches the shattered windshield, focusing on the hollowed-out front seats. “My friend, you can see he’s dead.” In fact, you can’t see it. The images are unintelligible, all abstract lumps and black lines. But then he pans to a window, and something comes into focus: a blackened skull, and beneath it, bones.


dailymail--2019-07-11--Now Trumps Salute to America is revealed to have cost taxpayers 535 million

Now Trump's Salute to America is revealed to have cost taxpayers $5.35 million

Donald Trump's 'Salute to America' cost the Washington D.C. and federal governments $5.35 million, according to the president's own Interior Department.  The Interior Department and National Park Service spent $2.45 million on staffing, services, and logistics for the event, which did not include the cost of other Fourth of July events like the Capitol Fourth concert, ABC News reported.  National Park Service Deputy Director Dan Smith said it was worth every penny.  'If you could tell me that for $2.5 million additional dollars the exposure we got from this televised event, it’s a great bang for the buck,' he told ABC.  Washington D.C. revealed on Wednesday that the city spent $1.7 million on the event, which bankrupted a special fund meant to protect the nation's capitol from terrorism attacks.  And the Pentagon said it spent $1.2 million on the celebration - bringing the cost to $5.35 million.  Additionally, the annual Capitol Fourth contest, which gets a yearly allocation in the Interior Department's federal budget for $3.8 million.  Meanwhile, D.C. is asking for its money back.  In a letter to Trump sent on Tuesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser warned a security fund has been depleted and will have an estimated $6 million deficit by September 30th.  She also blamed the overdraw on the Emergency Planning and Security Fund on the fact the city was never reimbursed for $7.3 million in expenses from Trump's 2017 inauguration.  Bowser wrote Trump it was 'critical' the account 'is fully reimbursed for these funds to ensure the District can uphold proper security and support during the remainder of the fiscal year without incurring a deficit for federal activities,' she wrote in a letter obtained by The Washington Post.  'We ask for your help with ensuring the residents of the District of Columbia are not asked to cover millions of dollars of federal expenses and are able to maintain our high standards of protection for federal events,' she added.  The White House did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.  Trump's Fourth of July spectacular included a flyover by military air craft, tanks on the National Mall, and a speech by the president at the Lincoln Memorial that required a heavy security presence.  Lines on the National Mall dragged down five or six blocks as attendees waited to get through the magnetometers.  Protesters, including Code Pink bringing the Baby Trump blimp balloon, also flooded the event, which is typically a non-partisan celebration of America.  The Pentagon estimated it spent $1.2 million on the 'Salute to the Fourth' thanks, in part, to the Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles by the Lincoln Memorial.  That amount does not include the cost of the flyovers, which was absorbed into each service branches' training budgets.  That brings the costs of the Fourth to $2.8 million and counting as there has been no estimate - yet - on what the federal government spent on security.  Washington D.C.'s Emergency Planning and Security Fund is a federally-funded account to help the city pay for security costs related to its position as the nation's Capitol - that includes presidential inaugurations, terrorism threats, and security for large rallies.  Trump promised the 'show of a lifetime' on the Fourth.  In his remarks on the National Mall, he welcomed the crowd to a 'very special' Fourth of July holiday.  'Today we come together as one nation with this very special Salute to America,' he told the sea of red, white and blue-clad revelers.  Trump listed off a number of American accomplishments throughout the nation's history - including the Revolutionary War, the women's suffrage movement, the Civil Rights movement - and paid special tribute to each brand of the military, which he made the focal point of the festivities.  'We celebrate our history, our people, and the heroes who proudly defend our flag – the brave men and women of the United States military,' he said.  After the event Trump told reporters he expected the event would increase recruitment for the various military branches.  'You're going to have a lot of people being recruited, I think, based on that,' he said. 'And I think, really, that you're going to see a big spike.'


drudgereport--2019-02-04--Secret plan to evacuate Queen in case of Brexit unrest

Secret plan to evacuate Queen in case of Brexit unrest...

LONDON (Reuters) - British officials have revived Cold War emergency plans to relocate the royal family should there be riots in London if Britain suffers a disruptive departure from the European Union next month, two Sunday newspapers reported.  “These emergency evacuation plans have been in existence since the Cold War, but have now been repurposed in the event of civil disorder following a no-deal Brexit,” the Sunday Times said, quoting an unnamed source from the government’s Cabinet Office, which handles sensitive administrative issues.  The Mail on Sunday also said it had learnt of plans to move the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth, to safe locations away from London.  Britain’s government is struggling to get parliamentary support for a Brexit transition agreement with the EU before the departure date of March 29, and the government and businesses are preparing contingency plans for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.  Business groups have warned of widespread disruption if there are lengthy delays to EU imports due to new customs checks, and even possible shortages of food and medicine.  Last month an annual speech by the 92-year-old queen to a local women’s group was widely interpreted in Britain as a call for politicians to reach agreement over Brexit.  Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Conservative lawmaker and keen supporter of Brexit, told the Mail on Sunday he believed the plans showed unnecessary panic by officials over a no-deal Brexit, as senior royals had remained in London during World War Two bombing.  But the Sunday Times said an ex-police officer formerly in charge of royal protection, Dai Davies, expected Queen Elizabeth would be moved out of London if there was unrest.  “If there were problems in London, clearly you would remove the royal family away from those key sites,” Davies was quoted as saying.


drudgereport--2019-03-13--UK PLUNGED INTO CHAOS

UK PLUNGED INTO CHAOS...

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during Prime Minister's Questions inside the House of Commons in London, Wednesday March 13, 2019. Britain and the European Union seem braced Wednesday for a chaotic, cliff-edge Brexit, as Britain’s Parliament is set to hold further votes over the split with European Union. (House of Commons/PA via AP)  LONDON (AP) — In a tentative first step toward ending months of political deadlock, British lawmakers voted Wednesday to block the country from leaving the European Union without a divorce agreement, triggering an attempt to delay that departure, currently due to take place on March 29.  Parliament is scheduled to decide Thursday whether to put the brakes on Brexit, a vote set up after lawmakers dealt yet another defeat to Prime Minister Theresa May amid a crisis over Britain’s departure from the EU.  The lawmakers’ 321-278 vote has political but not legal force, and does not entirely rule out a chaotic no-deal departure for Britain. But it might ease jitters spreading across the EU after lawmakers resoundingly rejected May’s divorce deal on Tuesday. Exiting the EU without a deal could mean major disruptions for businesses and people in the U.K. and the 27 remaining EU countries.  Speaking with a raspy voice after weeks of relentless pressure, May hinted that she plans to make a third attempt to get lawmakers to support her Brexit deal, which they have already rejected twice.  She said Parliament faced a “fundamental choice” — a “short, technical extension” if lawmakers approve a divorce deal with the EU in the next week, or a much longer delay to Brexit if they don’t.  The EU warned that voting against no-deal Brexit wasn’t enough to stop it. By law, Britain will leave the EU on March 29, with or without a deal, unless it cancels Brexit or secures a delay.  “There are only two ways to leave the EU: with or without a deal,” a European Commission official said. “The EU is prepared for both. To take no deal off the table, it is not enough to vote against no deal - you have to agree to a deal.”  The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the unresolved situation.  Earlier, chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier warned that “the risk of a no-deal has never been higher.”  As Britain teeters ever closer to the edge of the Brexit cliff, lawmakers are trying to seize control from the divided and squabbling government, although it’s far from clear if they can agree on a way forward. There are competing factions that support May’s deal, a “softer” deal that would keep close ties with the EU, a no-deal Brexit, or even a new referendum on Britain’s EU membership.  Parliament likely will agree to delay Brexit, but it would need EU approval. The bloc — openly exasperated by Britain’s continuing Brexit crisis — warned that the U.K. would need to present a strong reason for any extension.  “I am against every extension — whether an extension of one day, one week, even 24 hours — if it’s not based on a clear opinion of the House of Commons for something,” said the European Parliament’s chief Brexit official, Guy Verhofstadt. “Please make up your minds in London, because this uncertainty cannot continue.”  The bloc is also reluctant to consider a delay that goes beyond elections to the European Parliament in late May, because it would mean Britain would have to participate in the polls even as it prepares to leave.  Both Britain and the EU have ramped up planning for a no-deal Brexit, which would rip up decades of rules for travel and trade between Britain and the bloc. Economists say it could cause huge upheaval, with customs checks causing gridlock at U.K. ports, new tariffs triggering sudden price increases and red tape for everyone from truckers to tourists.  The U.K. government announced its plans for the Irish border in the event of a no-deal Brexit, saying it wouldn’t impose new checks, duties or controls on goods coming from EU member Ireland into Northern Ireland. It also said it wouldn’t slap tariffs on 87 percent of goods coming into Britain from the EU — though there would be new levies on imports of some items including meat and cars.  The tariffs, intended to be temporary, wouldn’t apply to goods crossing from Ireland to Northern Ireland, raising fears the plan would spark a rise in smuggling.  Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said under the proposals, “Northern Ireland will become a backdoor to the European single market and I think that in a matter of months that will lead to the need for checks at Northern Ireland’s ports.”  “I don’t think the U.K.’s proposals will be workable for very long,” he said during a visit to Washington.  In Irish border communities and U.K. ports, no-deal anxiety was mounting.  “Potentially it is going to be a nightmare,” said Michael Eddy, a district councilor who lives in the aptly named town of Deal, a few miles from the major Channel port of Dover on England’s south coast.  He says local authorities have modeled potential disruptions and believe that even “a two-minute delay for every truck going through the port of Dover” would lead to a 50-mile (80-kilometer) traffic jam.  “What then happens with local people wanting to go about their business, wanting to get to hospitals, wanting to get their kids to school, all of that kind of stuff?” he said.  The European Parliament approved measures Wednesday to ameliorate the immediate hardships of a no-deal Brexit. It backed emergency plans to provide continuity for everything from air, port and road traffic to foreign students to the fishing industry.  The U.K. Parliament has twice rejected the withdrawal agreement that May spent two years negotiating with the EU, and the bloc insists there will be no more talks.  German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned British lawmakers that “whoever rejects the (Brexit) agreement plays with the welfare of their citizens and the economy in a reckless way.”  Yet May has not given up on a third attempt to get her deal through Parliament again.  U.K. Treasury chief Philip Hammond said he was “confident that we will do a deal” in the next few weeks.  Many Britons wish they could share his optimism.  “I think that a bit of unity would be helpful now,” said Katharine Beaugie, an artist in Dover. “It would be much better if we could have found some sort of decision.”  Casert reported from Strasbourg, France. Renee Graham in Deal, England, Gregory Katz and Danica Kirka in London, Frank Jordans in Berlin and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.


drudgereport--2019-08-21--Area 51 events prompt emergency crowd planning

'Area 51' events prompt emergency crowd planning...

FILE - In this July 22, 2019 file photo, signs warn about trespassing at an entrance to the Nevada Test and Training Range near Area 51 outside of Rachel, Nev. Officials in Nevada's rural Lincoln County have drafted an emergency declaration and are planning with state officials to handle possible crowds that might arrive for an event next month dubbed "Storm Area 51." The county commission on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019 conditionally approved two events in tiny desert towns near the site popularly known as the home of government studies of outer space aliens. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)  FILE - In this July 22, 2019 file photo, signs warn about trespassing at an entrance to the Nevada Test and Training Range near Area 51 outside of Rachel, Nev. Officials in Nevada's rural Lincoln County have drafted an emergency declaration and are planning with state officials to handle possible crowds that might arrive for an event next month dubbed "Storm Area 51." The county commission on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019 conditionally approved two events in tiny desert towns near the site popularly known as the home of government studies of outer space aliens. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)  LAS VEGAS (AP) — Fearing they could be overwhelmed with visitors, officials in the remote Nevada county that’s home to the Area 51 military base have drafted an emergency declaration and a plan to team resources with neighboring counties and the state ahead of events next month tied to the “Storm Area 51” internet drive.  The elected board governing the county with about 5,200 residents conditionally approved two events Monday for tiny desert towns near the once top-secret U.S. Air Force test area known in popular lore as a site for government studies of outer space aliens.  “Oh, we’re taking this seriously,” Lincoln County Commission Chairman Varlin Higbee told the Las Vegas Review-Journal . “With the possibility of 35,000 to 40,000 people showing up, yeah, this is serious.”  County officials are concerned that a surge of visitors will crowd campsites, gas stations and public medical, internet and cellphone services. Officials count just 184 hotel rooms in the county nearly twice the size of the Connecticut.  “The cellphone system is going to go down,” Higbee said. “You get more than a couple of hundred people there, and it’s going to crash. Cell service won’t be available.”  The Little A’Le’Inn in the community of Rachel, population about 50, is scheduling a three-day music festival Sept. 20-22 dubbed Alienstock. Hotel co-owner Connie West has said she’s expecting 10,000 people.  The Alien Research Center souvenir shop in Hiko, a town of about 120 a 45-minute drive from Rachel, plans a Sept. 20-21 exposition.  The events evolved from an internet post inviting people to run into the remote test area in the Nevada desert that has long been the focus of UFO conspiracy theories.  County Sheriff Kerry Lee said Tuesday he was meeting with state emergency planning officials.  County officials have also met with officials from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in Clark County, the sheriffs of White Pine and Nye counties, and the Nevada Highway Patrol.  Higbee, who has authority to invoke a declaration, said it would let Lincoln County seek financial help and emergency personnel from the state.  “We don’t know where or how far our resources are going to go,” he said. “A lot of it is equipment and financing. The county only has so much money to deal with.”  Higbee said visitors should not to try to enter Area 51.  “We don’t want them going down to government property; it will probably be blocked off,” he said. “We don’t want civilian people in contact with the military at all. That will get ugly.”  The conditional permits require festival and event organizers to submit final plans to the Lincoln County Commission by Sept. 3.  “They have to have their security, medical, parking plans and few other things (ready),” Higbee said.