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Int'l Business Times
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
UK To Roll Out Red Carpet For Second Trump State Visit
Britain will welcome Donald Trump for an unprecedented second state visit in September, Buckingham Palace confirmed Monday, saying he would stay as the guest of King Charles III at Windsor Castle. The US president "accompanied by the First Lady Mrs. Melania Trump, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a state visit to the United Kingdom from 17 September to 19 September 2025," said a palace statement. The visit will come only two months after Charles, and his wife Queen Camilla, welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to Windsor. Trump was invited by a personal letter from Charles, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer handed to him in February during a visit to Washington. Starmer has sought to woo Trump with a charm offensive to boost ties and gain better leverage for the UK in tough trade talks with Washington. A delighted Trump, who has long been a big fan of the British royal family, has called the invitation a "very great honour", and opened the letter from the king in the glare of the world's cameras. "This is really special, this has never happened before, this is unprecedented," Starmer said in the Oval Office as he handed Trump a hand-signed letter from the monarch. "This is truly historic." Britain rolled out the red carpet for Trump in 2019 when he met the late Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles's mother. No foreign leader has ever had a second state visit. The Times daily said the king had however sought to put off the new visit until later in Trump's second term, but "Starmer has gone against the wishes of the king" in bringing the visit forward. "The prime minister has expedited a full 'bells and whistles' visit in an attempt to capitalise on the president's fascination with the royal family," The Times said. Starmer will also meet with Trump this month when the Republican leader is expected to visit Scotland, where he has two golf resorts. The visit has not been publicly confirmed by the White House, but Downing Street said Monday that Trump would be "visiting in a private capacity" and "the prime minister is pleased to take up the president's invite to meet during his stay". Trump's threats against Canada have put Charles, who is the country's head of state, in a delicate position. Trump has threatened to slap a 35 percent tariff on imports from Canada starting August 1 and has regularly mused that Canada should become the 51st US state. Reading the letter aloud in the Oval Office in February, Trump said he had been invited to the historic Windsor Castle, near London, one of the royal family's ancient homes. After reading the letter, Trump said of Charles: "He's a beautiful man, a wonderful man -- I've gotten to know him very well, actually. First term and now second term." He added: "On behalf of our wonderful First Lady Melania and myself, the answer is yes and we look forward to being there and honouring the King and honouring really your country." Unlike Macron, who addressed the British parliament during his state visit last week, Trump is not currently scheduled to address the House of Commons which will be then on a break. During the French leader's visit last week, Britain laid on a pomp-filled welcome, including a horse-drawn procession and a lavish banquet in the castle where the leaders hailed a new era in UK-France relations. Head of State King Charles III delivers the speech from the throne next to Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney during the opening of the Canadian parliament in May AFP
Powys County Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Effigies of Kneecap, Irish flags and sectarian slogans top loyalist bonfires
Effigies of the Irish rap group Kneecap, Irish flags and sectarian slogans are topping loyalist bonfires in Northern Ireland. It comes the night after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on top of a bonfire in Moygashel in Co Tyrone despite widespread condemnation and concern. Earlier, Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir urged that a contentious loyalist bonfire off the Donegall Road in south Belfast should not be set alight. The bonfire is on a site that contains asbestos and is also close to an electricity sub-station, which powers two major hospitals in the city. Mr Muir pleaded with anyone who is set to attend the fire to 'exercise caution'. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) said late on Thursday that suspected asbestos had been found at five locations on the bonfire site and 20kg of material was removed. Elsewhere, posters depicting the Irish rap group Kneecap, Irish flags and Palestinian flags appeared on other bonfires on Friday evening. Effigies of the band members have appeared on a bonfire at Roden Street in south Belfast, as well as a sign written in the Irish language. A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, features the group on a poster with the wording 'Kill Your Local Kneecap', seemingly in response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023, which appeared to show a member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said on Thursday that the force would not agree to a request from Belfast City Council to remove the pyre on the site off the Donegall Road. Later, the NIEA said an inspection had taken place at the site. A statement said: 'The Northern Ireland Environment Agency can confirm that fragments of suspected asbestos were found at five locations around the site. 'Approximately 20 kilogrammes of suspect material was identified and was immediately removed.' It added: 'The risk assessment that NIEA has provided to partners has consistently indicated that there was a strong possibility that fragments of asbestos could be elsewhere on the site. 'NIEA understand the landowner is due to arrange the removal of all of the asbestos from the site next week, commencing on July 16 2025, but it is important to note that removing the asbestos will be a highly specialised, complex and delicate operation that will require the site to be fully vacated. 'Indeed, the work is of such complexity that the full removal will take a number of weeks.' Mr Muir, an Alliance Party MLA, told the BBC: 'There are many ways to celebrate, but not at this site. 'Personally, I respect how important the 11th and 12th is, I understand its importance, but I'd plead with people to exercise caution and not to light this bonfire if they could.' He added: 'The removal of asbestos is very complex and delicate, it requires the site to be completely vacated. 'The site has not been vacated and that's one of the important issues.' Dr Alan Stout, chairman of the British Medical Association Northern Ireland Council, urged people to stay away from the site. 'If there's asbestos there, just don't go there,' he told the BBC. 'Any other circumstance, any other environment, be it a school, be it a hospital, be it a leisure centre, if there is asbestos there, you rope it off, you secure it and you remove it in a safe manner and you do not expose your general population to it.' The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Rev Mervyn Gibson said people should 'go and enjoy themselves' at the bonfire. He told the BBC that a council committee vote earlier this week to remove the bonfire was a 'political decision'. He said: 'I believe the council voted a couple of weeks ago for the bonfire to go ahead. 'A few days before it, then Sinn Fein and Alliance and the SDLP decide to vote against it.' Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan accused the DUP of political cowardice. He also urged people to stay away from the bonfire site, on account of what he described as a health and safety issue. 'It's clear that this site is completely contaminated with asbestos, it beggars belief,' he said. 'This is not an attack on Orange culture, this is clearly a health and safety issue. 'We're living in some sort of crazy parallel universe where an illegal bonfire (is) going to be lit, a fire which could cause criminal damage on a site contaminated with asbestos and right beside a power substation which provides power to the two main hospitals in Belfast. 'It is one particular party that isn't giving leadership … at the end of the day, I can't imagine anything similar happening in the constituency that I represent without every political leader here out shouting for its safe removal. 'The DUP have been absent, they are afraid to take on these people. They are political cowards when it comes to this, and it's disgraceful what they are doing.' Hundreds of bonfires will be lit on Friday night ahead of the Orange Order's July 12 parades on Saturday. The traditional fires are lit ahead of the main date in the parading calendar of Protestant loyal orders, the Twelfth of July. A small number of bonfires were lit on Thursday night, including the controversial pyre in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, which had been widely criticised by political representatives and church leaders after it was topped with an effigy of migrants in a boat. In a statement released ahead of the fire being lit, the PSNI said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to the fire. The boat on top of the bonfire contained more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets.
Scottish Sun
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Maya Jama in feud with KSI after she takes public swipe at him – and Sidemen hit back
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MAYA JAMA has sparked a feud with KSI as she took a swipe at Sidemen. What started as a throwaway comment has turned into a back and forth between the Love Island host and the internet stars. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Maya Jama has sparked a feud with KSI as she takes public swipe at the popular YouTuber Credit: tiktok 5 The Sidemen were quick to hit back on their own podcast (pictured KSI and Vikram Barn) Credit: tiktok Last month, Maya sat down on The Chunkz Show with social media star and long-time friend Chunkz to talk about all things friendship and life. Chunkz is a member of Beta Squad, a rival YouTube collective. Sidemen are also a group of British YouTube stars who have amassed over 22 million followers on the platform alone. The group was formed in 2013 when they filmed themselves playing video games. It's made up of Josh Bradley, Simon Minter, Tobi Brown, KSI, Ethan Payne, Vikram Barn and Harry Lewis. During the podcast Maya was asked which group she prefers, to which she replied: 'It's a very clear Beta Squad for me. I'm way closer with them lot. 'I get on with Tobi and I get on with KSI but I don't really know the rest of them And they're like…' 'Not your kind of people,' Chunkz interjected. She continued: 'Like you said, private school, different upbringing to us. No offence, they smashed it well done from being rich." Maya Jama hits back at Love Island fix rumours as she defends producers What may have been a throwaway comment did not sit well with the group who quickly responded on their own podcast. Speaking about the incident, KSI said: 'Let's talk about the Maya Jama stuff then.' Before member Ethan Payne interjected: ''Congrats on making it from being rich'. Shut up! You've never uttered a word to me!' Opening up about his background revealing that his father was involved with drugs and that he had once sold them, he chimed: 'Don't just assume!' 'There's a lot of that in this industry,' KSI added. Ethan continued: 'If I had her number I would have said, do you know what? Keep it respectful, but f*** you aswell." KSI then confirms that only him and Simon Minter came from a private school background but revealed his own parents had to work 'two three jobs' to keep him there. "We still worked so hard to get into this position, it's not like we just magically got here," he added. It seems Maya was not having any of it and quickly took to TikTok comments to defend herself. She penned: "As people who talk on podcasts, you should know more than anyone about context! Why are you rattled," "I was asked who I preferred and CLEARLY said I don't know you, I only mentioned private school because Chunks did earlier and I said 'congratulations on being rich' not coming from money". Sending a stern warning to Ethan, she finished her comment with: "Mind how you're talking though Ethan." 5 The Sidemen are a group of British YouTube stars Credit: Netflix 5 Maya Jama offered a stark warning to member Ethan Payne ( pictured Tobi Brown and Ethan) Credit: tiktok
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘I changed my Air India flight last minute. My wife thought I was on doomed plane'
A British father was booked on the Air India flight that crashed, before changing at the last minute Owen Jackson, 31, had not told his wife that he was no longer due to fly home from Ahmedabad on Thursday after visiting India for work. His wife Phillipa, 30, feared she had been widowed when news broke of the plane crash, in which at least 270 people died. But Mr Jackson, from Saffron Walden, Essex, had fortuitously changed his booking to Saturday because he was tied up with work. 'It's a shock,' he told The Sun. 'I'm more grateful than anything else. It is such a weird coincidence. 'You hear it every now and again about planes going down, and you don't really think much of it, but when it's the actual aircraft you're potentially getting on two days later, it does make you think.' Mr Jackson was coincidentally booked onto seat 11A on his Saturday flight – the same number as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the disaster. Mrs Jackson, a teacher, was unaware of her husband's fate for hours because he had not said that he had changed his flights, and he was also in meetings until two hours after the crash. 'I work with children, so I was kind of teaching at the time and just trying to not let them see or know what I was feeling,' she said. 'I still feel affected by it now, to be honest with you, for days. I was just bursting into tears randomly. 'The way we felt is nothing compared to how the victims and their families are actually feeling, my heart really goes out to them. It's just awful.' Mr Jackson added: 'I hadn't checked my phone two hours after it happened, after the news broke. 'I probably was one of the last people to find out about it, funnily enough, because I was in meetings exactly when the news was breaking.' All but one of the 242 passengers on board died in the crash, including 52 British nationals. Investigators are continuing to search the crash site in the Meghaninagar district, nearly a mile from the end of the runway at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner headed for London Gatwick crashed into a hostel, where medical students and their families were living, 30 seconds after take-off. India has ordered urgent safety tests of Boeing 787s. The black box had been recovered and was being examined by investigators. The cause of the crash remains a mystery, with theories focusing on whether it was a catastrophic mechanical failure or pilot error. Captain Steve Scheibner, an aviation expert, later claimed the co-pilot of Air India may have made a fatal error that caused the crash. Ed Pierson, a former manager at Boeing, said it was 'possible' that safety concerns raised in 2019 could be linked to the crash. Other theories include the possibility of two bird strikes taking out both engines; however, this is thought unlikely. An anti-terrorism team is understood to be part of the official investigation, although this is thought to be routine. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Print
16-06-2025
- General
- The Print
Why do airplanes still crash?
Statistically, flying remains one of the safest modes of transport. But the sight of an aircraft falling from the sky severely dents public confidence. It begs the question: Why do airplanes still crash? The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 on 12 June, the deadliest aviation accident in India since the 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision, has reignited public debate and scrutiny over aviation safety. Aviation accidents are exceedingly rare. The probability of an air accident is roughly 1 in 11 million flights. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s 2024 Safety Report, 2023 was the safest year in the last five, with a global accident rate of 1.87 per million departures—down from 2.05 in 2022—and a fatality rate of 17 per billion passengers, down from 50 the year before. Global passenger traffic reached 4.2 billion in 2023, with over 35 million departures. Only one fatal accident occurred, involving a turboprop aircraft that claimed 72 lives. The International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s 2024 report confirms this trend, recording 12 accidents, no jet hull losses, and no fatal jet crashes. Yet, when crashes do occur, they are often catastrophic. ICAO data shows that about 80 per cent of accidents involve human factors, 15 per cent stem from technical issues, and 5 per cent are due to environmental conditions such as weather or bird strikes. In many cases, more than one factor is involved, highlighting the complex nature of aviation safety. Human error dominates because aviation remains heavily dependent on human decision-making, especially during critical phases of flight such as take-off and landing. Technical failures, like engine malfunctions or system glitches, are less common, and even when they occur, aircraft redundancies prevent disaster. Environmental factors, such as low visibility, wet runways, turbulence, or bird strikes, can exacerbate existing problems, but rarely cause accidents on their own. Also read: Kanishka to Charkhi Dadri – 6 plane tragedies that shook India before Human error: The dominant factor Human error encompasses a range of issues, from miscommunication to flawed decision-making under pressure. The ICAO defines 'human factors' as the study of human abilities, limitations, and interactions with equipment, procedures, and environments. In the case of AI171, experts have raised concerns over why the landing gear was not retraced by the crew immediately after take-off, as the standard procedure requires. The reason could be technical—such as a loss of hydraulic power caused due to loss of engine thrust, or an electrical malfunction. Or it could be a temporary lapse in decision-making ability under stress. Such errors are rare, but not improbable. The investigation would probe all possibilities. Two factors often overlooked, but crucial to human performance, are training and fatigue. Pilot training Pilot training is the cornerstone of aviation safety, but gaps exist. The 1989 British Midland crash near Kegworth, England, which killed 47 people, was partly attributed to pilots' unfamiliarity with a new aircraft variant. Similarly, the 2018 and 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crashes (346 deaths) exposed deficiencies in training on the MCAS automated system. Modern training emphasises simulation, crew resource management (CRM), and handling automation. Still, the 'startle effect' triggered by unexpected real-world contingencies can overwhelm even the most experienced pilots. The only antidote is realistic and repeated training for time-critical emergencies. Experience alone offers no protection against failure. Crew fatigue Crew fatigue is another critical factor. Long-haul flights, irregular schedules, and tight turnarounds can impair cognitive function, slow reflexes, and cloud judgement. Studies estimate that fatigue contributes to 20 per cent of aviation incidents. In the 2009 Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash (50 deaths), fatigued pilots failed to respond to a stall warning. While aviation regulators like the United States' FAA and India's DGCA impose duty-hour limits, enforcement varies. In 2024, DGCA proposed new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms to align with global practices. However, under pressure from airlines, implementation was postponed indefinitely. Pilot unions approached the Delhi High Court, which directed the DGCA to enforce the revised norms. These updated rules, which offer slightly better working conditions, are yet to be implemented. Also read: Pilots flying your planes are stressed, sleep-deprived. 'It wasn't as intense earlier, now it's chaos' Technology's role in enhancing safety Technology has transformed aviation safety. Modern aircraft are built with multiple redundancies and are designed to operate safely even if key systems, like an engine, fail. Fly-by-wire controls and modern autopilot systems allow for more precise and safer flight operations. Digital cockpit displays offer real-time system-diagnostics, besides navigation and communication information. Key safety innovations include: Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS): Alerts pilots to nearby traffic, preventing mid-air collisions. Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS): Warns pilots of terrain risks to reduce controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. Flight Data Recorders (Black Boxes): Store critical data to support accident/incident investigations and improve standard operating procedures. Automated Weather Radar: Helps pilots avoid turbulence and storms. Despite these advances, technology isn't infallible. The AI171 crash occurred just 35 seconds after take-off, suggesting that under specific conditions, even advanced systems can fail so fast that recovery becomes impossible. Manned vs unmanned: Could drones be safer? Could unmanned aircraft, like military drones or future autonomous passenger jets, eliminate human error? In theory, yes. AI-powered autonomous systems don't suffer from fatigue, distraction, or stress. They don't need sleep or frequent training, and regulatory compliance can be built into the code. Cargo drones tested by companies like UPS and Amazon have shown promising reliability in controlled environments. But transitioning this technology to passenger aviation is a massive leap. Human pilots are still unmatched in their ability to improvise during unanticipated emergencies—as demonstrated by Captain Sully's (Chesley Sullenberger) miraculous Hudson River landing, which saved 155 lives. AI struggles with unpredictable scenarios such as rare mechanical failures or complex air traffic control (ATC) instructions. Public trust is another barrier. Passengers may hesitate to board pilotless planes. Imagine hearing: 'I am your captain speaking. I am working from home today.' Cybersecurity risks, such as hacking or failure of communication with ground stations, also merit consideration. Although unmanned military drones have lower crash rates than manned fighter jets (US Air Force data shows Predator drones crash at 7.5 per 100,000 hours vs 15 for F-16s), passenger aviation demands near-zero failure rates. For now, hybrid systems—where human pilots oversee AI-assisted operations—appear to offer the most plausible middle ground. Conclusion: Keeping aviation safe Flying remains extraordinarily safe. The crash of AI171, while devastating, is an outlier in an industry that has steadily reduced accident rates over decades. From the Wright brothers' fragile biplane to today's high-tech cockpits, aviation has evolved by learning from past tragedies. Technology has bolstered safety. Regulations have grown stronger. Training has become more rigorous. But the AI171 crash exposes persistent vulnerabilities. Human factors, including fatigue and training gaps, demand stricter oversight. India, now the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, must match growth with safety. The DGCA must institute and enforce crew rest standards reflective of the high stress environment they operate in. Similarly, maintenance protocols must be followed rigorously. Tendency to continue operating aircraft with prolonged unserviceabilities under minimum equipment list must be curbed. Airlines must foster a culture where crew can report safety concerns without fear. Unmanned flights may one day reduce human error, but for now, the focus should be on refining human-machine collaboration. The survival of Ramesh Vishwaskumar in AI171, against astronomical odds, reminds us of aviation's resilience, as well as its fragility. Flying remains safe. But to keep it that way, we must never stop improving. Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat is a retired IAF fighter pilot. He tweets @Ahlawat2012. Views are personal. (Edited by Prashant)
