How often do volcanoes erupt?
Under control
UK air space is to be reorganised – the first wholesale change since the 1950s – to improve flight times and reduce delays. It was Britain that pioneered air traffic control with the world's first control tower – a timber shed on a platform 15ft above the ground – at Croydon Aerodrome in 1920. The tower was given responsibility for all aircraft airborne, with which it had basic radio connections. From 1928, control centres in Norfolk and Kent allowed radio signals to be 'triangulated' for the first time, allowing the position of an aircraft to be determined even if the pilot was lost.
Battle ready
The government seemed to downgrade its target to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence to an 'aspiration'. Who spends the most, and least, on defence as a percentage of GDP in 2023 (or latest figures)?
MOST
Ukraine 36.7
Eritrea 20.9
Libya 15.5
Lebanon 8.9
Algeria 8.2
Saudi Arabia 7.1
LEAST
Haiti 0.1
Ireland 0.2
Zimbabwe 0.2
Papua New Guinea 0.3
Ghana 0.4
Guatemala 0.4
World Bank
Hot stuff
Tourists were nearly caught in an eruption of Mount Etna on Sicily. How often do volcanoes erupt?
– There are 47 volcanoes worldwide considered to be in a state of eruption.
– 54 have so far erupted this year.
– 65 erupted over the course of 2024.
– 333 volcanoes are recorded as having erupted since 1960, many multiple times.
– 528 have erupted since 1800.
– The average number which have erupted a year since 2010 is 80.
Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institute
Force fields
How much land does the MoD own?
– On 1 April this year, it owned 230,800 hectares of land and foreshore, 0.9% of the total surface area of Britain.
– It held rights over a further 110,600 hectares, 0.5% of the UK land area.
– The land is broken down as: training (76%); R&D (10.5%); airfields (4.4%); barracks/camps (3.8%); and storage/supply depots (2%).
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Spectator
6 days ago
- Spectator
How often do volcanoes erupt?
Under control UK air space is to be reorganised – the first wholesale change since the 1950s – to improve flight times and reduce delays. It was Britain that pioneered air traffic control with the world's first control tower – a timber shed on a platform 15ft above the ground – at Croydon Aerodrome in 1920. The tower was given responsibility for all aircraft airborne, with which it had basic radio connections. From 1928, control centres in Norfolk and Kent allowed radio signals to be 'triangulated' for the first time, allowing the position of an aircraft to be determined even if the pilot was lost. Battle ready The government seemed to downgrade its target to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence to an 'aspiration'. Who spends the most, and least, on defence as a percentage of GDP in 2023 (or latest figures)? MOST Ukraine 36.7 Eritrea 20.9 Libya 15.5 Lebanon 8.9 Algeria 8.2 Saudi Arabia 7.1 LEAST Haiti 0.1 Ireland 0.2 Zimbabwe 0.2 Papua New Guinea 0.3 Ghana 0.4 Guatemala 0.4 World Bank Hot stuff Tourists were nearly caught in an eruption of Mount Etna on Sicily. How often do volcanoes erupt? – There are 47 volcanoes worldwide considered to be in a state of eruption. – 54 have so far erupted this year. – 65 erupted over the course of 2024. – 333 volcanoes are recorded as having erupted since 1960, many multiple times. – 528 have erupted since 1800. – The average number which have erupted a year since 2010 is 80. Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institute Force fields How much land does the MoD own? – On 1 April this year, it owned 230,800 hectares of land and foreshore, 0.9% of the total surface area of Britain. – It held rights over a further 110,600 hectares, 0.5% of the UK land area. – The land is broken down as: training (76%); R&D (10.5%); airfields (4.4%); barracks/camps (3.8%); and storage/supply depots (2%).
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Defence chiefs spent more than £200million of taxpayers' money on travel and luxury stays - while troops lived in squalid conditions
Defence chiefs spent more than £200 million of taxpayers' money on travel and luxury stays for senior staff last year while troops lived in squalid conditions. Figures released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) show that officers and civil servants stayed in five-star hotels often costing more than £300 a night. The MoD spent almost £800 million on hotels and travel between 2018 and 2024 at locations such as the French Alps and Las Vegas. In sharp contrast, the living conditions of troops in UK Armed Forces accommodation during the same period – some infested with vermin and harmful black mould – led to more than 60,000 complaints. Meanwhile freedom of information requests obtained by The Mail on Sunday and National Security News revealed a huge leap in costs from £136 million in 2018 to £218 million by 2024 covering hotel accommodation, flights and travel by train and ferry. The figures revealed numerous MoD personnel stayed in pricey hotels in central London including the Park Plaza and the Marriott – which can cost up to £400 a night. Outside of the UK a £1,426 bill was submitted for a four-night stay at the Auberge Saint Hubert Hotel Val D'Isere ski resort in France, a bill of £1,032 was also racked up at the Novotel Sydney Harbour for three nights and one staff member spent seven nights at the Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort which cost £2,439. And another staff member spent £323 for one night at the four-star Hampton Inn Tropicana in Las Vegas. Defending the costs, the MoD argued that more than 200,000 civil servants and military personnel are deployed overseas and often needed to be accommodated in hotels. One commanding officer of an infantry battalion based in Bulford told the MoS: 'I have soldiers living in really poor-quality housing who are constantly battling to get repairs. I have soldiers on sick leave living in homes which are barely habitable.' Callum McGoldrick, researcher at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Splashing hundreds of millions on hotels and flights raises questions about priorities in Whitehall. Ministers must get a grip on MoD spending.' A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'These figures relate to spend under the previous government. This Government is committed to getting a grip of MoD budgets.'
Metro
24-04-2025
- Metro
Tensions between India and Pakistan are rising again
A deadly attack which left 26 tourists dead in Kashmir has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan again. India accused Pakistan of supporting 'cross-border terrorism' on Wednesday night and imposed diplomatic measures, including downgrading diplomatic ties, suspending a key water-sharing treaty and closing the main land border crossing with Pakistan. Pakistan has denied the accusations from India, and a previously unknown militant group calling itself Kashmir Resistance has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement issued on Thursday, India's foreign ministry said all visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be revoked with effect from Sunday. It also advised Indian citizens not to travel to Pakistan. In retaliation, Pakistan cancelled visas for Indian nationals, closed its airspace for all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines, and suspended all trade with India, including to and from any third country. Here's everything you need to know. Diplomatic ties between the two countries were already weak, particularly after India revoked Kashmir's semiautonomous status in 2019. India and Pakistan are both in charge of differing parts of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. The two sides have long accused each other of backing forces to destabilise one another, and New Delhi describes all militancy in Kashmir as Pakistan-backed terrorism. Pakistan denies this, and many Muslim Kashmiris consider the militants to be part of a home-grown freedom struggle. On April 22, 26 people were shot dead after gunmen opened fire on visitors at a popular tourist spot in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Police have described the incident as a 'terror attack' and blamed militants fighting against Indian rule in Pahalgam, known as India's 'Mini Switzerland'. Two senior police officers said at least four gunmen, whom they described as militants, fired at dozens of tourists from close range. The officers said at least three dozen people were wounded, many of them reported to be in serious condition. The Indus Water Treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allows for sharing the waters of a river system that is a lifeline for both countries, particularly for Pakistan's agriculture. The treaty has survived two wars between the countries, in 1965 and 1971, and a major border skirmish in 1999. After the attack in Kashmir, India has suspended the treaty with Pakistan, but Pakistan has said India doesn't have the power to do so, because the World Bank has a stake in it. Six rivers are involved in the treaty. India has control over the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers, whilst Pakistan has the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. India said a number of Pakistani diplomats were asked to leave New Delhi, and Indian diplomats were recalled from Pakistan. Diplomatic missions in both countries will reduce their staff from 55 to 30 as of May 1, India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, announced Wednesday night. Mr Misri also said the only functional land border crossing between the countries would be closed. More Trending Some fear New Delhi may move beyond diplomatic sanctions as the country's media and leaders from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist ruling party call for military action. In 2019, when insurgents rammed a car packed with explosives into a paramilitary convoy, killing 40 soldiers, India claimed to strike a militant training camp inside Pakistan. Pakistan responded with air raids, downed an Indian military aircraft and captured an Indian pilot who was later released. Two years later, in 2021, the two countries renewed a previous ceasefire agreement along their border, which has largely held despite attacks on Indian forces by insurgents in Kashmir. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Wife of tourist shot dead in terror attack describes moment gunman opened fire MORE: I've been to 175 countries — these are the 9 you shouldn't skip MORE: Apple flew 1,500,000 iPhones to the USA to beat Donald Trump's tariffs
