11/05/19

[Maik]

Latest I've heard, Ionion P Lines planned to start the Messolonghi-Sami route on 15 May but, on 09 May, withdraw the request to the Ministry of Shipping. No reason known to me. Another company, Krystal Lains (Crystal Lines) had applied to run a service Messolonghi-Zakynthos but the Ministry postponed a decision due to the proposed boat being still under construction. Interested parties have until 17 May to submit proposals for next year, one rumoured connection is a daily Messolonghi-Kefalonia-Zakynthos service. As for this summer...
 

[Maik]

MPs claim expenses for adult children: allowances topped up under rule originally intended to help young families

MPs including a minister are boosting their expenses by claiming for adult children “dependent” upon them, The Telegraph can disclose.

Rules introduced in 2017 allow MPs to claim additional second home expenses of up to £5,400 per child.

The rule was originally intended to help MPs with children rent bigger homes but The Telegraph has discovered, following changes to the regulations, several are using the allowance to claim for adult children in their 20s.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/10/mps-claim-expenses-adult-childrenallowances-topped-rule-originally/

[Maik]

Simon Armitage is unveiled as the UK’s new Poet Laureate

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/05/10/xxx/

 

[Maik]

Barbers have become the fastest growing shops on the British high street

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/05/10/barbers-have-become-fastest-growing-shops-british-high-street/

[Maik]

Bird that went extinct 136,000 years ago comes ‘back from the dead’ after evolving again
There is no other evidence of the phenomenon that has ever been so clear, scientists say

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/bird-extinct-back-from-dead-madagascar-white-throated-rail-a8908211.html

[Maik]

Yolo: New most popular app in the world could have a very dark side, experts warn
App allows people to message others anonymously on Snapchat

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/yolo-app-most-popular-snapchat-danger-online-abuse-security-a8907836.html

[Maik]

Calls for tougher sentences for fly-tippers as incidents rise 40%

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-05-11/calls-for-tougher-sentences-for-fly-tippers-as-incidents-rise-40/

[Maik]

Longish article, probably not of great interest to most of us, apart maybe from the last paragraph:

A Greek energy spat is getting out of hand – the EU must listen

While Britain beats itself up over its future in the EU, across the other side of Europe, a little-noticed law case has been meandering along that has far-reaching ramifications for the high-ups in Brussels...

A lot is riding on interpretation and nuance. The episode takes me back to the time when my sandal broke and I asked the shopkeeper on the Greek island where I was staying why he was charging more for a pair of Havaianas than in London’s West End. That’s because in Greece they’re imported, he said. They’re imported in the UK as well, I replied – they’re made in Brazil. Yes, but because they’re imported the Greek government can get a fix on them and slap on a heavy tax – hence the price. But did he pay any tax? I asked. He shook his head firmly. Judging by his accompanying broad smile, he could not believe I’d asked such a stupid question.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/greece-energy-2015-bailout-a8907991.html