Latest news with #Chartres
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Former Whitehall chief Simon Case takes seat on red benches in House of Lords
The 46-year-old, who served four prime ministers, joins the independent crossbenches in the unelected chamber, which scrutinises legislation and acts as a check on the Government. Lord Case wore the traditional scarlet robes for the short introduction ceremony in the chamber, where he swore allegiance to the King. He was supported by former Whitehall chief Lord Butler of Brockwell and Lord Chartres, a retired bishop of London. Lord Case became cabinet secretary and head of the Civil Service aged just 41 in September 2020, having previously served as private secretary to the Duke of Cambridge. He had also worked for the GCHQ intelligence agency. The new peer was supported by fellow crossbenchers Lord Butler of Brockwell and Lord Chartres (PA/UK Parliament) He stepped down from the top Whitehall job at the end of 2024 on health grounds after a turbulent four years in the role, which included the Covid-19 pandemic, Tory infighting, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the death of Queen Elizabeth II. His tenure was not without controversy, as he was forced to recuse himself from leading an investigation into the 'Partygate' scandal following allegations his office had held a Christmas event during lockdown. Lord Case was not one of those fined over the episode. Appointed by Boris Johnson, he held the post under the subsequent administrations of Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. He was succeeded by Sir Chris Wormald.
Western Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Former Whitehall chief Simon Case takes seat on red benches in House of Lords
The 46-year-old, who served four prime ministers, joins the independent crossbenches in the unelected chamber, which scrutinises legislation and acts as a check on the Government. Lord Case wore the traditional scarlet robes for the short introduction ceremony in the chamber, where he swore allegiance to the King. He was supported by former Whitehall chief Lord Butler of Brockwell and Lord Chartres, a retired bishop of London. Lord Case became cabinet secretary and head of the Civil Service aged just 41 in September 2020, having previously served as private secretary to the Duke of Cambridge. He had also worked for the GCHQ intelligence agency. The new peer was supported by fellow crossbenchers Lord Butler of Brockwell and Lord Chartres (PA/UK Parliament) He stepped down from the top Whitehall job at the end of 2024 on health grounds after a turbulent four years in the role, which included the Covid-19 pandemic, Tory infighting, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the death of Queen Elizabeth II. His tenure was not without controversy, as he was forced to recuse himself from leading an investigation into the 'Partygate' scandal following allegations his office had held a Christmas event during lockdown. Lord Case was not one of those fined over the episode. Appointed by Boris Johnson, he held the post under the subsequent administrations of Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. He was succeeded by Sir Chris Wormald.
Daily Mail
28-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
French army general dies along with couple in their 60s as plane crashes into residential area
A French army general has died after the plane he was piloting went down and crashed into a residential area, also killing a couple onboard. The tragic air disaster occurred shortly before 4pm on Friday in Champhol, a town in central France. The unnamed 'seasoned and experienced' pilot was a 77-year-old former army general, while the couple onboard the light aircraft were a man and a woman in their sixties, the Chartres Public Prosecutor, Frederic Chevallier, said. No homes in the area were affected, with Chevallier suggesting that 'the pilot likely prevented a greater tragedy by avoiding the houses', but said that a parked car had been damaged in the crash. The devastating accident is believed to have occurred around three minutes after take-off, according to local media. Initial investigations suggest that the aircraft executed a turn that was probably too tight. The prosecutor said that the plane made a 'sudden turn' before making a 'rapid descent' towards a 'low wall in a garden' before crashing and coming to a stop. Emergency services rushed to the scene of the crash and tried to resuscitate the victims, who were all pronounced dead at the scene. The light aircraft belonged to the Chartres Metropole aerodrome flying club. An investigation to determine the causes of the crash is currently underway. The jet incident comes after the Air India tragedy that left at least 270 dead earlier this month. The passenger plane bound for London Gatwick crashed into a medical college after takeoff on June 12 in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad and killed 241 of the 242 passengers on board and dozens more on the ground. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, received treatment at a local hospital, where he told doctors that immediately after the plane took off, it began descending and suddenly split in two. His seat was placed right next to the emergency door, which he says came off when the plane hit the ground. Astonishing footage taken near the crash site showed Mr Ramesh with visible injuries hobbling away from the jet before he was rushed to hospital for treatment. There were 53 British national on board Flight AI171 when it crashed into a residential area near the airport, as well as 159 nations, seven Portuguese citizens and a Canadian. The Indian government has launched an investigation into the fatal crash.
7NEWS
19-06-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Doctors sound alarm over microplastics as health and environmental fears mount
Microplastics have infiltrated nearly every corner of life — they're in our food and drinks, in the clothes we wear, and even in the air we breathe. Even newborns aren't immune, according to former Australian Medical Association president, Steve Robson. '(Microplastics) been detected in breast milk and even in baby poo of newborn babies,' professor Robson told 7NEWS, adding they 'can even affect our reproductive system'. 'What it's doing to our bodies is really frightening me.' A growing body of research has experts sounding the alarm on the potential health impacts of microplastic exposure. The University of Sydney published a major study on the topic showing that microplastics are 'building up in all types of tissues and cells within the human body'. 'Also with the digestive system, we found links to characteristics associated with cancer,' said the university's senior research fellow, Nicholas Chartres. 'We also found that they also impact things like respiratory health — so lung function — but also increasing chronic inflammation in the lung and also again with potential links to things like lung cancer.' An international treaty involving 175 countries is currently being finalised to combat global plastic pollution. But Chartres and a team of leading experts say environmental action must be matched with policies to protect human health. The are calling for a global cap on plastic production and legally binding requirements to ensure plastics are free from toxic chemicals, and taken aim at big companies and countries who are delaying reforms. 'We can't recycle our way out of the problem,' Chartres told 7NEWS. 'All we're doing essentially is continuing the cycle of exposing ourselves to these hazardous chemicals.' The team has also called attention to single-use plastics in healthcare, which surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Robson says a review into healthcare is important. 'We need to think really carefully about how to refocus the health system to minimise the risk to patients and to the staff providing care,' Robson said. If the world fails to act, experts have predicted a dire future. 'Unfortunately, for generations to come there is going to be a growing burden of disease due to plastics,' Chartres said.
The Independent
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
This summer, the best wine festivals are in the UK – hurrah!
Have you ever visited Chartres in France? I hadn't until recently, but a much-needed pitstop during a long drive with a three-year-old meant we found ourselves wandering around its staggering cathedral, feeling completely insignificant. I love how large-scale Romanesque cathedrals will do that to you. While I should've been marvelling at the flying buttresses, I confess I was completely distracted by the constant stream of people with boxes of wine under their arms: was this the wedding at Cana 2.0? Like ants on their programmed routes, they all seemed to be filing out of the same street. Never one to ignore the possibility that there's some wine fun happening, I followed the trail of wine-wielding people. I could hear it before I saw it, a huge brass band playing joyous French music, with crowds cheering and singing along. And there it was, a glorious wine fair in the town centre under the 19th-century covered market. I'd managed to stumble across La Paulee de Loire, an annual wine fair bringing together some of the region's most dynamic producers. It was buzzing, heaving with people tasting wine, chatting to each other, eating tasty food and showing off everything that is wonderful about wine. Everyone was wrapped up in the conviviality, the occasion of celebration and the direct connection to the growers who make this wondrous product. This isn't the first time it's happened to me in France, in fact, it seems easy to trip over a wine or food festival in France, Italy and Spain in even the smallest of places. But what about here in the UK? There has always been a small selection. When I was nine, I remember a wine festival at the English Wine Centre in Alfriston. It was the 1990s, so beyond Peter Hall 's amazing Breaky Bottom (no sniggering please) I'm not sure the wine being poured was any good. But it was a great day out. But thankfully we have a few more options now. Wine fairs and festivals are easily one of the greatest ways to immerse yourself in all that is wonderful about wine. It's an opportunity to taste numerous wines and to bask in bacchanalian glory. You'll meet the best people – wine people are inherently lovely, and just want to share their passion, and their wine, with you. And the food will be good too. I appreciate these events haven't immediately been in our national psyche, though I think that's changing. We're developing a much greater sense of our wine culture, and are proud of celebrating it. I mean, we must be doing something right as there's even a festival called Brit Pop taking place in Paris this weekend focusing wholly on British wine and food. Who would ever have imagined that?! But, you don't have to hop to Paris and beyond, there are some great events taking place closer to home. So, this week, instead of wine recommendations, I thought I'd give you some inspiration for some corking wine fairs coming up. 6-8 June, Battersea Power Station A new wine fair, this free-to-enter event, (you can buy tokens and tickets for specific events) is a celebration of both British and International wines. Think wine-themed activities, tastings, food & wine pairings, and of course an opportunity to buy some great wine too. Fancy yourself as a wine judge? Festival-goers can also take part in The Wine Cup, a tasting experience where participants can vote for the 'Best in Show' and 'Highly Commended' wines from independent wineries and wine shops featured at the festival. 14 June 2025, Coal Drops Yard, London Now in its thirteenth year, this legendary wine event organised by the brilliant Ruth Spivey and Ruth Osborne is a must-attend for any wine lover. Each car boot or stall is an independent wine retailer, importer or producer with a selection of their current favourite wines for you to taste, buy, drink in or take out. Just like any other market, it's free to get in. Simply turn up, buy a tasting pack (which includes a tote, glass and five tokens) and start tasting, or shopping for bottles to take home. It's always an invigorating atmosphere, and is a great chance to chat and taste with passionate people about the wines they love so much – the lineup is great! Alongside some outstanding wine, you can expect delicious food to keep you fueled too. The event is open to everyone, including dogs and children. As Spivey says, 'It's basically a farmer's market for wine.' Vin Vivant 14 June, The Briggait, Glasgow This sounds like a fantastic wine fair taking place in Glasgow. A celebration of natural, unconventional, and fine wines from around the globe. With over 120 organic, biodynamic, and minimal-intervention wines. It'll be a great opportunity to sample and discover new wines in what promises to be a unique celebration of winemaking. Winelands 22-29 June, Lewes, East Sussex Why not celebrate English Wine Week this year with a jaunt to Lewes? It's a charming town surrounded by some of the country's best vineyards and they're hosting a series of events during the week. I particularly love the sound of the Winelands Tasting taking place on Saturday 28 June at Charleston, Lewes – a free-to-attend event featuring a dozen outstanding English wine producers including Artelium, Bewl Water, Breaky Bottom, Gusbourne, Henners, In the Loop, Oxney, Plumpton, Rathfinny, Stopham, Tilsmore and Wiston. The second instalment of this magical wine fair. This one is super special as it features over thirty producers, all gathered by the banks of the Thames for a fun and informal wine fair with some cutting-edge and committed growers. 12 July, Millennium Point, Birmingham Organised by Birmingham's highly respected Loki wine shop, this promises to be a mammoth drinks event with over 250 wines available to try. What a great opportunity to expand your knowledge and enjoy some world-class drinks.
