Latest news with #EurofighterTyphoons
The National
02-07-2025
- Business
- The National
UK ‘growth' strategy is making the world a more dangerous place
Either way, the question is academic. Neither can be used, at the moment, without Donald Trump's say-so, and I suspect he would only deliver that say-so if it would benefit the United States. What the current cost might be for the Dreadnought nuclear submarines being built by the time they are ready – this is currently running at £41 billion including contingency costs – is anyone's guess. READ MORE: Treasury says Rachel Reeves crying at PMQs was 'personal matter' In addition to this astronomical expenditure, Keir Starmer has now ordered twelve F-35 nuclear-bomb-carrying stealth jets from the US at an as-yet-unknown price or delivery date. Why does the RAF needs stealth bombers in the first place, let alone 12 of such an aircraft? I appreciate that it might have something to do with Nato, in which Trump appears to have little interest, having walked out of its last little jolly before the end of its agenda. However, if it means selling American-made armaments, then that probably would be to his delight. Keir Starmer has already admitted that he took his eye off the ball (when parliament was about to vote down his welfare policies) through his complete attention on all things Nato and his notion of being an important world leader. READ MORE: Plane damaged by Palestine Action at Brize Norton spotted over Scotland It looks to me that he has still put his world leadership notions to the fore with a pathetic attempt to pacify his MPs, while still pandering to all things nuclear in the arms industry. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has flown to Turkey on a trade mission involving any defence ties the UK has with that country. He wants to export a number of UK Eurofighter Typhoons jets. This is all part of another free-trade agreement, this time between the UK and Turkey. Talk about UK policies on growth. More like contributing to making the world a more dangerous planet. Why on earth anyone in Holyrood would want to be a part of this is beyond my comprehension. Time yet again to make more noise regarding Scotland's independence. Alan Magnus-Bennett Fife TUESDAY'S 'click bait' was on BBC Scotland's Mornings with Kaye Adams, where the producers covered the UK Government's reduction of Personal Independence Payments, the Scottish version of which – called Adult Disability Payment – will be affected due to the way the Barnett Formula works. The initial guests were from the TaxPayers' Alliance and The Poverty Alliance, both with differing views. The taxpayer guy said the benefits bill was predicted to 'rocket' to £70 billion in 2035. The key word being 'rocket'. The poverty guy said that the wealth gap was increasing, with more people needing help. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar 'totally humiliated' by Labour's dramatic benefits U-turn What I find disgraceful is the frequent anecdotes broadcast about 'the guy who lives next door and never works', who has a wife in another house and is living with his bidie-in, to whom he has sired a child, who have two cars and the latest smart phones. This is the same trope that the Conservatives used during the 1980s in Thatcher's era, which lambasted people that had been turfed out of a job. They were told to 'get on their bikes to find a job' by Norman Tebbit, the Chingford Skinhead named by the Spitting Image crew. They were lazy and good for nothing, waiting for handouts. Whilst there are undoubtedly some people with the intention of getting something for nothing, the popular press during that time and again now seem to be creating a view that this abuse is rife. The truth is something quite different. READ MORE: What it's actually like to apply for DWP disability benefits Hansard (the Westminster Parliament record of reference) states that the overall rate of overpayments is now 3.7% (£9.7 billion) for 2023-24, compared to 3.6% (£8.3 billion) in 2022-23. Overpayments due to fraud were 2.8% compared to 2.7% last year while claimant error and official error remained at 0.6% and 0.3% respectively. The rate of overpayments in Universal Credit was 12.4% in 2023-24 compared to 12.7% in 2022-23. Compare this to tax evasion. The UK's tax gap has widened, according to latest figures from HM Revenue & Customs. New data show that the UK missed out on £46.8bn of tax liabilities in the 2023-2024 financial year, or 5.3% of the total theoretical tax liabilities. The gap refers to the difference between the total amount of taxes owed to the government and the amount actually collected. In 2024 this was reported to be £39.8bn or 4.8% of overall theoretical liabilities. It would seem that pursuing tax-avoidance loopholes would be a better use of parliamentary time and effort. Alistair Ballantyne Angus I WAS well impressed with Pat Kane's article 'Are you one of the doomscrollers? It's time for us to focus on hope instead' (June 28). He articulated on a number of issues that concern me. 'Hopescroll' – spot on. James Grosset Montrose
Irish Daily Star
27-06-2025
- Irish Daily Star
American Airlines breaks silence after flights grounded in widespread outage
American Airlines has officially broken its silence hours after the company was forced to ground its planes due to a technical issue . The company posted the apology on its X account in response to another tweet. "Our team is awaiting the all-clear to take the air , and we truly apologize for the added wait," the company wrote in response to the angry tweet. We'll have you on your way very shortly." American's statement comes hours after planes were impacted in several hub cities in the U.S and even Guadalajara, Mexico. The apology came after many people called on the company to make an announcement. Read More Related Articles Health concerns swirl as Trump is spotted limping up the stairs to Air Force One Read More Related Articles Donald Trump dementia fears spike after 'symptom' spotted in President's suit The company posted the apology on its X account in response to another tweet. (Image: AFP via Getty Images) According to the person who tweeted at the company, they had been on board the plane "for hours." One passenger claimed that they had been deplaned because the crew had deemed it "no longer safe to fly." Despite the apology, the airline has yet to publish an official apology on its social media sites. American Airlines had previously replied to another tweet saying, "We know you're ready to be off to your sunny destination. As soon as we have the final sign-off complete, we'll head for the skies! Thank you for packing your patience today." According to the person who tweeted at the company, they had been on board the plane "for hours." (Image: AP) Downdetector reported that several major hubs were affected. According to a map on the site, Los Angeles , Phoenix, Dallas, Washington D.C., New York, and Charlotte were all affected. In response to another tweet saying that they have been sitting on the plane for two hours, the account responded with, "Last minute delays are something we try to avoid. However, weather conditions can cause unexpected changes. Thanks for your extra patience." According to a map on the site, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Washington D.C., New York, and Charlotte were all affected. (Image: Downdetector) The news of the glitch comes months after an American Airlines flight from JFK International Airport to Delhi was forced to reroute to Rome following threats of a bomb onboard. According to the report, Flight 292 was cruising near Turkmenistan when it was forced to divert. Passengers were able to land safely in Rome, while the authorities are sussing out how serious the bomb threat really is. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, ferrying around 285 souls, found itself escorted to the ground by two Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons. It's currently unknown what sparked the outage. (Image: Getty Images) American Airlines later issued a statement about the ordeal. "Safety and security are our top priorities and we thank our customers for their understanding," they said. "We are working closely with local authorities and will provide updates as the situation develops." In addition to this alleged threat, another flight bound for Charlotte saw police hop on board flight 2863, asking passengers to reveal themselves for what they suspected might be just a "prank." One of the passengers on the flight recalled the collective annoyance on the plane when the officer made the announcement. The officer sharply criticized the "idiot" who wouldn't own up, using choice language. "Eventually we are able to board again and take off but the whole thing was just so f---ing infuriating because after all that they were not even able to determine who the hell did this s---," vented one frustrated passenger.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
UK walks a diplomatic tightrope as Middle East crisis deepens before G7 Summit
Britain's quiet diplomacy is being pushed into the spotlight as the Middle East trembles under rising tensions between Israel and Iran. In the lead-up to the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is navigating what may be the biggest test yet of his young government's foreign policy. Behind closed doors at No. 10 Downing Street, the UK government confirmed it is running two crisis centres out of the Foreign Office: one focused on the Israel–Iran conflict, the other responding to Thursday's(June 12) deadly plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. Officials say preparations for an Israeli strike on Iran began as early as April 2024. Foreign Secretary David Lammy chaired a 'tabletop exercise', simulating how the UK would respond to a sudden escalation. According to one source, 'We were hugely conscious of the risk of this happening at some point.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Casas contenedor sustentables en Guayaquil (Consulta precios) Casas Contenedor | anuncios de búsqueda Undo Yet Britain is staying away from public judgment. In a carefully worded statement, the government has avoided backing Israel's military strikes, instead repeating its 'long-held grave concerns' about Iran's nuclear programme, the very reason Israel claims to have acted. While military aircraft, including Eurofighter Typhoons and refueling tankers, have reportedly been repositioned to bases in Cyprus and the Gulf, there is no open talk of intervention. 'We are not getting into an assessment of the rights and wrongs of it,' said one senior source. Live Events Prime Minister Starmer spoke with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump , both conversations lasting around 15 minutes. While Trump received birthday wishes during the call, the dominant topic was the worsening standoff between Tehran and Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Lammy has held calls with his counterparts in Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and later joined joint meetings with France, Germany, Italy, and EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas. His message was simple: de-escalate, coordinate, and prevent a broader war. Adding to the stakes, France informed the UK that a UN summit on the two-state solution, meant to address Palestinian statehood, has now been postponed, further dimming hopes for diplomacy. The G7 summit will discuss global security, trade, and the threat of regional war.
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
StormShroud drone revealed as UK's new weapon to guard our warplanes against attack
Multi-million pound new 'StormShroud' - Britain's powerful new drone that will guard the UK's warplanes as they scream into battle against NATO enemies, jamming defences and confusing hostile fighters Cutting- edge new RAF 'StormShroud' drones will act as 'sky guardians', keeping the UK's warplanes safe as they scream into battle against enemy ground crews and fighter jets. The high-tech unmanned craft were developed from technology learned from Ukraine 's sophisticated drone warfare against Kremlin troops fighting on the eastern front. StormShroud has been fitted with futuristic technology that will allow it to fly alongside attack planes such as deadly Eurofighter Typhoons and F-35B fighter bombers. Once deployed the drones will protect the crews of their 'mothership' warplanes and knock out enemy air defences, jamming their ability to track them as loom into attack. They are made in the UK by the company Tekever and are part of an overall £400 million investment in Britain's defences, creating hundreds of new defence industry jobs. 'StormShroud' has come into operation today as Prime Minister Keir Starmer further bolsters UK national security in the light of the growing threat from Russia and other rogue states. The breakthrough in war technology comes as the UK is also driving forward Coalition of the Willing planning on Ukraine's future and boosting UK-Ukrainian defence industrial cooperation. Military sources say the 'StormShroud' drone is a groundbreaking first-of-its-kind drone that will make the RAF's world-class combat aircraft more survivable and more lethal. It is able to use a system known as the high-tech BriteStorm signal jammer to disrupt enemy radar at long ranges, protecting our aircraft and pilots. In revolutionary new tactics, the drones support aircraft like Typhoon and F35 Lightning, by confusing enemy radars and allowing combat aircraft to attack targets unseen. This means for the first time, the RAF will benefit from high-end electronic warfare without needing crew to man it, freeing them up for other vital frontline missions. Sources told the Daily Mirror it would be particularly useful against Russian or even Iranian ground defences which have grown deadly in recent years. It is also the first of a string of major new breakthroughs in drone technology costing an initial £19 million and made at multiple UK locations already from West Wales to Somerset. UK MoD sources say StormShroud is just the first of a family of next-generation drones - known as Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs) - being delivered to the RAF. The RAF is taking the next step by integrating best-in-class signal scrambling technology into the drones to boost the UK's defences at home. British-Portuguese tech company Tekever, who manufacture the drones in the UK, plan to invest a further £400 million over the next 5 years across the UK and create up to 1,000 more highly skilled jobs. The Prime Minister will visit to a Leonardo UK site in the South East today (Fri) to see first-hand the expertise that goes into manufacturing the drones. As well as stepping up to protect our interests on the world stage, this government's commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 means a boost in jobs. Last week, the Carrier Strike Group launched its eight-month deployment and will join exercises, operations and visits with 30 countries across the Mediterranean, Middle East, south-east Asia, Japan and Australia – led by the Royal Navy's largest and most powerful aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales. That deployment sends a message that the UK and its allies stand ready to protect vital trade routes in the Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'Investment in our defence is an investment in this country's future. Putting money behind our Armed Forces and defence industry is safeguarding our economic and national security by putting money back in the pockets of hard-working British people and protecting them for generations to come. 'Together with our allies, this government is taking the bold action needed to stand up to Putin and ruthlessly protect UK and European security, which is vital for us to deliver our Plan for Change and improve lives of working people up and down the country. It is a privilege to meet and learn from the young minds driving innovation in defence technology, and we will continue to invest in the industries of the future to deliver security and opportunity for the British people through our Plan for Change.'
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
American Airlines flight from NYC to New Delhi diverted to Rome, escorted by military jets
The Brief Video shows an American Airlines plane landing in Rome with Italian Air Force jets escorting it. The flight, which departed from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and was headed for India, was diverted because of a "possible security concern." An American Airlines flight traveling from New York to New Delhi, India, was diverted to Rome, Italy, Sunday over a "possible security concern," the airline said. Video filmed by The Aviationist, David Cenciotti, shows the Boeing 787 being escorted by military jets over Rome to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport on Sunday. Cenciotti told Storyful the two jets were Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons. What we know American Airlines, in a statement provided to LiveNow from FOX, said flight 292 was diverted over a potential security issue that was "determined to be non-credible." According to ABC News, there were 199 passengers on the plane, along with 15 crew members. ABC reports that passengers were taken to the terminal for screening. According to Flightradar24, the plane turned around over the Caspian Sea. American Airlines said the plane was inspected in Rome and cleared to depart. What we don't know American Airlines didn't specify what the security concern was, but ABC News and Reuters report that it was a bomb threat. What's next The airline said the flight will stay in Rome overnight to accommodate required crew rest and would depart for New Delhi on Monday "as soon as possible." The Source This report includes information from American Airlines, Storyful, ABC News and Reuters.
