Tag Archives: #HeadlineTherapy

#HeadlineTherapy ‘Nothing works’ : Russians react as intelligence services shut down the internet

Thanks to Anastasia Stognei and Max Seddon and the Irish Times for the Headline

Before we all rush to the idea that the Russian secret service the FSB (which replaced the Soviet era KGB) is deliberately blocking the Russian Citizens freedom of expression out of choice. Not caring that it is returning the Russian economy to the late 1970’s where mobile payments were a thing of fantasy and it was faster using a geriatric pigeon then the Russian Postal Service and the connectiviy of e.mail and attachments was a distant dream.

Think the recent Israeli attacks on Tehran which wiped out most of the Senior Government figures. These targeted and effective attacks were facilitated by mobile phone towers and software embedded in Tehran’s video surveillance systems. No wonder the Russian Secret Service are worried.

Up until now the Russian Government has tried to create an appearance of normality in Moscow, as if the population could continue about their normal very Westernised activities with plenty of social interaction, communication and even a cashless society without the worry of terrorism or indeed invasion.

No longer, the threat from external forces led to the FSB requesting and receiving powers to block internet access. Unfortunately now “ordinary citizens” can no longer rely on what used to be a reliable service and connection. It has even hit Telegram which was used by over 90million Russians and now is being hit by “outages ” and lack of connectivity. I suspect a few Apple I-phones have been thrown out of high rise suburban flat windows in pure frustration.

Apparently it has been a major pet project of the Russian Government to offer alternatives to the Global Media Services which up until recently had flooded the market in Russia. There are government controlled applications which try and do what the more established Western applications do , and without all the “outages” .The uptake of these alternatives has increased. Their effectiveness, however, is patchy and one particular service is linked to a subscription to a news channel run by Vladamir Solovyov, one of Russia’s leading propagandists. Not something you wish to have if you just wanted to order some groceries online.

The FSB sounds a rather inefficient Big Brother, nevertheless there is an element of fear all around , not just from suppression of original thought but from how the freedom that technology allows has the potential to be manipulated by dangerous forces. Russia needs clever technologically savvy people to ensure their safety , they cannot afford a brain drain of those skills. Is the FSB fit for purpose?

Operations center staff react in panic to internet and server outages with multiple warning screens
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#HeadlineTherapy Fire at the Jungle Box soft play centre and mini zoo in Buntingford kills “all animals” inside

Thanks to ITVX News online for the Headline

Ten fire engines and an aerial ladder were sent to a fire on the Watermill Industrial Estate, the building housed a soft play area and a mini zoo.

All the animals died inside the building, including meercats, owls , giant tortoises , iguanas, genets and a 16 foot snake.

I wonder how long it will take them to replace their display animals or if they will be so upset that they don’t want to feature animals anymore. Time will tell.

Meerkats, owls, mongooses, tortoises, a python, and iguanas around a watering hole in the savannah
Rest in Peace animals

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#HeadlineTherapy Hero teacher knifed in triple stabbing at Manchester high school named as counter terror cops take lead on investigation

Thanks to Greta Simpson and the Manchester Evening News for the Headline.

The wife of the teacher who saved two 14 year olds from being stabbed within a school in Blackley , in the City of Manchester,modestly agreed to provide a photo of her husband who could have been so easily killed in the frenzied attack by another child on the two 14 year olds.

It’s a beautiful photograph, he is in traditional dress of some kind, maybe at his wedding or perhaps a family wedding.

Thankfully, although he was stabbed in the neck, and the wound required hospital treatment, he was able to return home. The two children who were attacked also required hospital treatment but were able to return home. The child responsible for the attack was assessed by Mental Health Experts and is now in Police Custody.

The man’s wife explained that it was a phone call that she never wanted to recieve ” that her husband had been stabbed and was in hospital”. Thankfully he was OK. As well as the photo that she gave to the press, she asked that her best wishes be passed onto the two children who her husband had saved from more serious injury and perhaps death.

There is a lot of tragedy in this story, and there will be a moratorium as to the why and wherefore of what happened , what caused it and how are knives so easily accessed by children who think they are a solution to whatever they feel they have to face.

However, the photo of the teacher sticks in my mind, he did what all of us hope we would do in a similar situation. He acted heroically , his name is Maysum Aabdullah and he is 27.

Sunlight shining through rain onto a large tree and greenery in a forest
Strength, Resilience and Hope

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#HeadlineTherapy The myth of white Argentina still shapes the nation

Thanks to Fredrico Pita and Aljazeera Online for the Headline.

I’ve got to admit that reading this headline really was very scary for me. I’m aware that South America was the chosen destination for many high profile and probably not so high profile Nazi war criminals at the end of World War Two. Along with the activities and history of the conquistadors in the then Americas in the 16th century where slavery and land acquisition was taken as a right by adventurers and explorers.

And here we are in Modern Day Argentina with a Country whose political structure is now geared to promoting itself as a “white European Country”.

Apparently in 1853, with the formation of the Argentinian State Juan Bautista Alberdi, who was the main architect of the Constitution incorporated into article 25 with his proviso “that to govern is to populate” and to encourage the State to promote European Immigration.

So no wonder the Argentinian Government aligned itself with the United States, Israel and voted against a United Nations General Assembly resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery as the gravest crime against humanity and calling for reparations. Argentina certainly aligned itself with some strange bedfellows.

The implications now are that various Institutions within Argentina which were promoting indigenous people’s rights have been eroded and no longer exist having lost Government funding. The new President Javier Milei is promoting the libetarian defence of historical hierarchies and is determined to encourage the “Whiteness and Westness” of Argentinia.

It’s a lesson to me that if you don’t pay attention to what is happening, that the rug can so easily be taken out from under your feet.

I think Argentina needs to review it’s constitution urgently.

People in traditional attire gathered on rocky hilltop watching colorful sunset over mountains

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#HeadlineTherapy What is “Kushner Island” and why are Albanians protesting about it?

I don’t think it’s been renamed “Kushner Island” yet , it’s actually Sazan Island and the Albanians who care about the environment of the Mediterranean’s most important and remote biodiverse hotspots are not happy with their Government selling it to the Retail Development Group headed by Jared Kushner the husband of Ivanka Trump.

Apparently , while cruising the Med, while they had nothing better to do as President Trump had not started his second term. Jared and Ivanka stopped off on Sazan Island and “fell in love with it”. Falling in love in Trumpish terms means turning the Island into a “resort” with ten thousand hotel rooms and the opportunities to scuba dive and traipse through the undergrowth safely and return to air conditioned rooms and a acreage of swimming pools with bars beside them. Stuff the wildlife, oh yes , why not have a ” shooting itinerary” with taxidermy thrown in.

The investment amounts to $1.4 billion dollars and the Albanian Government sees it as a development worth pursuing that will bring valuable revenue to Albania. I would agree with the protesters, the plan is not suitable for the Island and with all that is going on could easily be a project that is started and not finished. Leaving the Island in a hell of a state.

Two scuba divers underwater near colorful coral reef and tropical island
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#HeadlineTherapy East Afric’a second-largest economy turns to Russia for $2 billion in investment deals after fallout with the US and EU

Thanks to Olamilekan Okebiorun and Business Insider Africa for the Headline.

Seems Tanzania, the second biggest economy in East Africa has fallen out with the EU and the United States over the results of a disputed election.

They have turned to Russia for investment having attended for the first time the St Petersburg International Economic Forum where the discussions started. Tanzanian officials insist they do not want to break ties with the West, however in the real World why should they not talk to the Russians, isn’t there money as good as anyone else’s?

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Nighttime globe view showing illuminated cities and interconnected transport lines across Europe, Africa, and Asia
A digital globe showing illuminated transport and communication networks across Europe, Africa, and Asia.(AI Generated Image)

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#HeadlineTherapy Hegseth attacks Europe over ‘invasion’ of migrants in D-Day speech.

Thanks to Grace Eliza Goodwin and BBC Online News for the Headline.

To be honest, my internet feed had bombarded me with three stories about UK Council’s plans to clamp down on ‘Shed Bakeries” where someone sets up a business selling their home baked cakes in a shed at the front of their house. Where cakes are sold basically on an honesty box basis. Council’s are looking into whether these businesses should be required to have a street trader’s licence. Frankly I find these “sheds” an eyesore and also a potential health risk,not to mention we eat too much sweet stuff anyway.

And then Mr Hegseth came along, and I’m afraid he topped the Headline Therapy Chart for today. There was a video attached to the article , it was 42 seconds, so I thought why not? Hesgeth came across as if he didn’t believe what he was saying either. Which would have been funny if it hadn’t affected for me the solemnity of the D-Day event.

His speech writer made the point of criticising European Capitals and suggesting that Beaches in Spain, Italy , Greece and Belgium were being inundated by foreigners expecting an easy life and everything for free. So the American’s don’t like the “all inclusive holidays” either.

The point of the speech was somehow to say that Europe was not addressing the illegal entry to Europe by sea, of people (Hesgeth said Men as the rest don’t count) , men , women and children, many traumatised , in some cases leaving war zones and in the best case scenario “economic migrants” from Africa and the Middle East.

The BBC highlighted a pattern with JD Vance, commenting on a recent Court Case in the UK and trying to stir racial hatred by citing it as an example of migrant violence, which it was not.

I say pattern, as I probably would not have noticed it but for Hesgeth ( The United States Secretary of War) and JD Vance (The Vice President of the United States) are both singing loudly from the same hymn sheet. Following President Trump’s comments saying that Europe was heading towards “civilisational erasure” , whatever that is.

It strikes me that this is all very embarrassing behaviour from America’s representatives. The humanitarian angle of the loss of lives in war and the human cost of wars and all forms of intolerance is far too great to have these “representatives ” mouthing off their ignorance , particularly using an event , such as D-Day to espouse ideas which are not far from what the men and women in World War Two were fighting against. Hesgeth’s words were dishonourable and shameful in this context.

Yes I’m afraid Mr Hesgeth you topped the #HeadlineTherapy Charts for all the wrong reasons.

Veteran speaking emotionally at D-Day Memorial podium with audience and flags
Not Mr Hesgeth, but an AI generated image of tears while a veteran speaks.

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#HeadlineTherapy 99 pyramid rings seized on way to Appleby Horse Fair.

Thanks to the Cumbria Crack for the Headline.

I must admit I didn’t know what pyramid rings were, but having googled them , despite them having dangerous pointy bits, they are regarded as jewellery pieces. They can be made in gold and silver and represent protection that you need from a variety of threats and dangers.The ancient symbol of the Pyramid represents strength , energy and renewal.

However, as the Cumbria Police obviously recognise they are also a potential offensive weapon, easily allowing someone to gouge out another’s eye. So the rings were confiscated from a van heading towards the Fair’s trading fields.

Other weapons and counterfeit goods were siezed on the first day of the fair.

It seems sad that what maybe should be an Ancient Tradition and a chance to celebrate the Beauty of the Area and the Horses is turned into a vindictive , nasty event with counterfeit goods and weapons on sale.

Well done to Cumbria Police and Westmoreland and Furness Trading Council’s Trading Standards Department for making it a event that isn’t promoting violence and illegality.

Wet cobblestone street at dusk with pedestrians under umbrellas and police car lights flashing ahead
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#HeadlineTherapy Extra waste burning approved for incinerator.

Thanks to Amy Clarke and BBC Online News for the Headline.

An incineration Company in South London has been granted to permission to increase it’s quota of incinerated waste that it is allowed to process,by the Environment Agency despite objections from local people and the Council.

The local Council and People living near the site have objected strongly to this increase stating that the Company involved have already breached their permit a number of times and that there will be an increase in traffic and bad smells in the area due to lorries queuing to bring the waste in to be destroyed.

The Company has also now been given permission by the Environment Agency to store Clinical Waste which cannot be burned, which in Central London , seems a very strange permission to give as I wonder what they are going to do with it.

It seems very heavy handed of the Environment Agency to ignore the Council’s wishes on this and having just had that rather serious heatwave last week in May, shouldn’t more thought and consideration go in to handling all this waste and what is causing it, rather than going for a quick fix.

Industrial power plant with tall smokestacks emitting smoke near residential neighborhood at dusk
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#HeadlineTherapy Hospices funding campaigner backed by nearly 200 MPs

Thanks to Lynette Horsburgh and BBC Online News for the Headline

That’s just whippy do, 200 MP’s out of a possible 650MP’s support a Campaigner who has highlighted the fact that Hospices who used to provide care for those at the end of their lives who are desperately in need have empty bed now because they do not have the funds to support the Communities they live in.

The Campaigner, Corin Dalby, who is Chief Executive of Box Power CIC( an energy advisory Company that’s being operating ten years) supports Charities in his local area and noticed how hospices are struggling. His business tries to help, but as he says if the funding was correctly allocated the NHS could save a lot of money and the Hospices could get on and do their work and not be spending time fundraising .

In truth, there probably aren’t many people in the UK who haven’t been touched by the work of a Hospice. They are truly uplifting places, a “safe” place to go through a phase of life that everyone will have to face . Where the expertise in palliative care is translated to a passage of relief and dignity.

Frankly I am furious that Corin Dalby doesn’t have the support of all 650MP’s and also how tragic that a city the size of Liverpool now only has one Hospice.

Entrance of Hearthside Palliative Care building with wooden beams, gardens, and an elderly couple walking

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