Thanks to Louis Oelofse and AFP,AP, Reuters for the Headline.
Record low water levels on the Danube caused by the recent heatwave and below average rainfall has left the Hungarian authorities with no choice but to shut down the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. The Plant can generate up to 40% of Hungary’s Power needs. The Hungarians have also been forced to reduce the output from two Hydroelectric plants.
Restrictions on usage and power cuts will be the next steps. The water cooled reactor will remain shut until the Danube water levels increase. Serbia’s hydroelectric power generating plants have also been affected.
Thank you to Cathy Killick and BBC Online News for the Headline
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are in the process of consulting on new limits to lead exposure from studies done by academics which could lead to women not being allowed to work in positions where they repair and conserve Stained Glass Windows.
The plan is to reduce the limits of exposure significantly and as a result women who currently work in the field and have no intention of having children will be excluded from the workforce.
As one of the women who could be affected commented , if she was in the armed forces or the fire brigade, she could make a choice , but because she works with lead she has no choice.
The final decision on lead levels will be made when the HSE has consulted a number of the heritage and craft sectors affected. It’s very difficult , but the winning card will always be Health and I do wonder if the HSE will listen to those about to be excluded from their work.
Thanks to Jennifer Mc Kiernan and BBC Online News for the Headline.
The storm that Reform tried to stir up hasn’t lead to any police action as the incident itself , relating a very well known XTC song called ” We’re only making plans for Nigel” to a picture of a “guillotine” on a teeshirt was not regarded as something the Police would find appropriate to pursue.
At Reform’s behest the monitoring officer at the Greater London Authority where Mr Polanski is a member is still investigating whether there was a breach of code of conduct. According to Reform, Polanski shouldn’t be in charge of a National Political Party .
Meanwhile Zack Polanski refuses to apologise for his honest mistake unless Nigel Farage apologises to all those people he has put in danger ( mainly police trying to control rioters) by himself and other Reform representatives using inflammatory language.
It’s a few days after words were exchanged so not too sure now what repercussions there will be if any.
Thank you to Max Matza and Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu and BBC Online News for the Headline
What a relief to know that the Whitehouse have the same difficulties dealing with tradespeople as we all do.
A former Olympian has had charges dropped against him having being accused of ‘vandalising’ the Reflecting Pool having stopped while riding by on his bicycle and noticing bits of blue plasticised paint protruding from the green water. Mistakenly, he was accused of pulling at some of the liner and was immediately arrested.
However, Court documents that are now filed say that the information “strongly suggests that a rushed and botched installation” job overseen by the US Department of the Interior led to the damage.
David Hearn, the champion canoeist wants an apology from the President and is upset at the trauma he has suffered at having a potential jail sentence of ten years hanging over his head for the last few months. It’s not clear what has happened to the other people who were charged with vandalism.
Amusing to find out that Trump himself chose the contractor and also he did not let anyone else bid for the job , so the DOI were working with their hands tied and also being forced to get the job done quickly to beautify Washington prior to the 4th July 250th Anniversary Celebrations.
Really good news that Oxfordshire County Council has won it’s legal case against a small group of people who persisted in putting the George Cross Flag up in public areas, particularly lamp posts. The costs involved and the threats that were made to Council employees were despicable and had nothing to do with “patriotism”. They were indeed a safety risk on public roads, being a distraction for drivers and also endangered people who had to trespass and cause an obstruction to put them up.
The injunction now in place means any person breaching the order could face prison, a fine or having their assets seized.
People can still fly flags on their own property which is fine, self-expression is fine as long as it’s not offensive which the George Cross Flag certainly isn’t , either is the Union Jack which apparently Oxfordshire County Council display on their Civic Buildings.
Thanks to Gergana Krasteva and The Independent Bulletin Online for the Headline.
We are in the middle of a heatwave in the UK, and seeing pictures of cars in Argentina buried in immense snow drifts seems surreal.
It took 24 hours to rescue the tourists who had parked at a view point at the Balcon del Pissis viewpoint which is 4,500 metres high. The people and cars were enveloped in a rapid snowstorm and some were forced to sleep in their cars, although there must have been a risk of suffocation because many of the cars were totally buried.
Thankfully, with the help of drone footage, heavy machinery and human rescuers over 200 people were rescued and everyone was brought to safety.
Still it just shows how quickly the weather can change, particularly in remote areas.
Thanks to Cameron Weldon and BBC Online News for the Headline
This article made me laugh. I remember when I had my flat and my mum used to come down from Scotland to visit me that she would tidy my flat and take the rubbish into town and drop it in a public bin. I never thought anything about it, but now I wonder how many other people do it.
Cullompton Council are not happy that they are having to service the bins in their parks more frequently than necessary because people are using them to drop household waste and it is not waste generated by the park goers who presumably have waste that isn’t classified as “Household Waste”.
No empty cereal packet boxes, no empty toilet cleaner plastic bottles,no plastic hair shampoo bottles, no used toothbrushes….well I suppose when you think of it , it would be pretty obvious that these are not things that you need for a walk in the park.
I can feel an authoritative signage moment coming on …..
