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Tourism minister: Phuket unlikely to be ready for "sandbox" opening - "sealed route" share with Samui proposed
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UK Energy Bills Set to Rise Again in April, Sparking Concern
Households across the UK are bracing for another increase in energy costs as the regulator Ofgem has announced that the energy price cap will rise by 6.4% from April. This means the average annual energy bill will climb to £1,849, a figure that has exceeded analysts’ predictions. The government and campaigners have called the hike “worrying” “You made a promise Energy Bills would come down” Now UK Energy prices set to rise by a whopping 6.4% come April. More business will go bust, more people will be broke & freezing. The repeated price hikes have led to widespread frustration, with campaign groups urging the government to step up support for struggling households. Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, emphasized the importance of targeted assistance, particularly for vulnerable consumers. “Ministers are right to be focused on improving the Warm Home Discount scheme and on energy debt, which continues at record levels because households have to find more even money to use the same amount of energy,” he said. Caroline Simpson, campaign manager at Warm This Winter, called the increase “devastating” and placed blame on energy companies profiting from the crisis. She argued that firms such as Centrica and Norwegian-owned Equinor, the UK’s largest gas supplier, are capitalizing on high prices while millions struggle. “It is therefore crucial that the government presses on with plans to fix this broken system and boost our energy security by rapidly increasing our supply of homegrown clean energy to free us from expensive gas and bring down bills for everyone for good,” she said. Tim Jarvis, Ofgem’s markets director general, acknowledged the difficulties consumers face, calling the rise “very unwelcome.” He explained that the regulator was forced to act due to substantial increases in wholesale gas prices. “This is further evidence, to be honest, that we need to move away from that reliance on international gas and start looking at domestically generated energy,” he told Sky News Breakfast presenter Wilfred Frost. Jarvis reiterated Ofgem’s full support for the government’s target to transition to clean power by 2030, calling the goal “realistic.” “It’s a big push. It’s one of the government’s missions. And so we are putting everything we can into it. We need to move away from being a price taker. And I think being able to rely on our own domestically generated, cleaner energy will mean that we’ll see much more stable prices in the future,” he stated. Looking ahead, Jarvis warned that predicting energy prices for the summer remains uncertain due to market volatility. “We often see quite minor things significantly changing prices because overall there is a shortage of supply on gas,” he said. “So we are hopeful. But it is very dangerous, I think, to make predictions.” As millions of households prepare for higher bills, the debate over the UK’s long-term energy strategy continues, with growing calls for a shift away from fossil fuels and towards more affordable, sustainable power sources. Based on a report by Sky News 2025-02-26 -
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Entirely financed by China Pakistan’s Costly New Gwadar Airport Stands Empty
Pakistan’s latest and most expensive airport, New Gwadar International Airport, stands completed but unused, with no passengers and no planes in sight. The $240 million project, entirely financed by China, remains an enigma, as there is no clear indication of when it will become operational. Located in the coastal city of Gwadar, the airport was finished in October 2024, a striking contrast to the surrounding Balochistan province, which remains one of the country’s most impoverished and volatile regions. Over the past decade, China has invested heavily in Balochistan and Gwadar as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multibillion-dollar initiative linking China’s western Xinjiang province to the Arabian Sea. Authorities have touted the project as transformational, yet signs of improvement in Gwadar remain minimal. The city still lacks a connection to the national power grid, relying on electricity from neighboring Iran and solar panels. Clean drinking water remains scarce. For a city of only 90,000 residents, an airport designed to accommodate 400,000 passengers annually seems far from a pressing need. “This airport is not for Pakistan or Gwadar,” said Azeem Khalid, an expert in Pakistan-China relations. “It is for China, so they can have secure access for their citizens to Gwadar and Balochistan.” Gwadar is a quiet but charming city, known for its friendly locals and beautiful beaches that see an influx of visitors during public holidays. However, many still perceive it as difficult or unsafe to visit. Currently, only one commercial flight route operates from Gwadar’s domestic airport, offering limited service to Karachi three times a week. There are no direct flights to Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, or Islamabad, the national capital. The coastal highway, while scenic, has minimal facilities. For decades, the Baloch insurgency has cast a shadow over the region, with thousands reported missing—those who speak out against exploitation or injustice risk being detained on suspicions of ties to armed groups, according to locals. Activists claim forced disappearances and torture are common, though the government denies these allegations. Hashim, a resident of Gwadar, wants to see CPEC succeed and provide opportunities for young people. However, progress has been elusive. “When someone has something to eat, then why would he choose to go on the wrong path,” he said. “It is not a good thing to upset people.” Militant violence in Balochistan declined following a 2014 government counterinsurgency but saw a resurgence after 2021. Attacks have steadily increased since the Pakistani Taliban ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022, emboldening groups like the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army. Security concerns delayed the airport’s inauguration, with officials fearing its mountainous surroundings could serve as a launching point for attacks. Instead of a grand opening, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang hosted a virtual inauguration ceremony. The inaugural flight was kept closed to the public and media. Local frustration over the project has only grown. Abdul Ghafoor Hoth, district president of the Balochistan Awami Party, revealed that not a single resident of Gwadar was employed at the airport—“not even as a watchman.” For now, the gleaming new airport remains a symbol of unfulfilled promises, standing empty while the people of Gwadar continue to struggle with daily hardships. Based on a report by CNN 2025-02-26 -
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Dan Bongino’s Appointment Signals Kash Patel’s Vision for the FBI
Dan Bongino, a vocal podcast host and former Secret Service agent, has been appointed as the FBI’s deputy director, marking a striking departure from tradition. Bongino, who has never worked at the bureau, has long criticized it, frequently calling it "irredeemably corrupt." His selection signals the direction Kash Patel, a staunch Trump ally, envisions for the agency. Following the announcement, Patel took to X to celebrate the appointment, writing, “I am proud to welcome Dan Bongino as the next Deputy Director of the FBI — a warrior and lifelong public servant. With Pam Bondi as our new Attorney General, we are assembling a team focused on restoring public trust, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring justice is served.” Bongino himself has been a controversial figure in conservative media. A former New York police officer, he left the Secret Service over a decade ago, citing dysfunction within the agency. Since then, he has become a high-profile commentator, running unsuccessfully for political office multiple times and launching a widely popular pro-Trump podcast in 2015. Through his platform, Bongino has been a relentless critic of the FBI. He has frequently alleged, without evidence, that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump and has suggested the bureau deliberately failed to identify the suspect behind the January 2021 pipe bomb placements outside the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters. “You think there are legitimate people with character running the FBI? Huh? That’s hilarious,” Bongino declared on his podcast in August 2022. “The FBI is entirely corrupted at the management level, and it’s filtering down now even into some at the in the rank and file.” His new role gives him significant influence in an agency he has spent years attacking. Traditionally, the deputy director position has been reserved for career FBI officials with extensive experience within the bureau. Bongino’s appointment breaks that precedent, raising questions about the direction the agency will take under Patel’s leadership. Ray Batvinis, a retired FBI counterintelligence officer and historian, noted the unprecedented nature of the decision. “The bureau has never had someone from the outside come in as a deputy director. Never,” he said. “I believe [Bongino] has a steep — possibly insurmountable — learning curve.” The FBI has not commented on Bongino’s hiring, but his selection strongly signals the kind of leadership Patel intends to implement—one that aligns with Trump’s vision of overhauling the agency from within. Based on a report by WP 2025-02-24 -
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Did BBC Pay Hamas Members To Be In Documentary?
The BBC is facing more intense scrutiny following allegations that taxpayer money may have been paid to Hamas during the production of a controversial documentary about Gaza. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, has called for an independent inquiry into what she described as “potential collusion” with the terrorist group. The demand comes after it was revealed that *Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone* was presented by the son of a Hamas minister. Initially, the BBC defended keeping the documentary available with a disclaimer, describing it as an “invaluable testament” to Palestinian experiences during the war. However, the broadcaster has since removed it from iPlayer, citing the need for “further due diligence” regarding its collaboration with Hoyo Films, the production company responsible for the film. Badenoch has urged the BBC to launch a full-scale independent investigation into both the documentary’s production and wider accusations of “systemic BBC bias against Israel.” She warned that if the corporation fails to demonstrate “true impartiality,” the Conservative Party may withdraw its support for the licence fee. “It’s funded by us. We are paying for the BBC to promote a Radical Islamic Terrorist organization.” The controversy escalated after *The Telegraph* reported that BBC executives are set to be questioned by MPs in the Commons culture, media, and sport committee. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is also expected to hold urgent discussions with the BBC regarding the documentary’s sourcing. She criticized the BBC’s “defensive reaction” to the controversy, saying that the broadcaster had claimed it was unaware of the presenter’s connection to Hamas before the documentary aired. “After the revelation that the presenter of this programme was the son of a Hamas official, the BBC initially argued that the ‘documentary’ remained an ‘invaluable testament’ to the war and kept the programme on iPlayer,” Badenoch said. “This defensive reaction from BBC executives is profoundly troubling. It shows problems run deep. Surely it should have been immediately apparent that the programme was fundamentally flawed? The BBC also suggested that ‘usual compliance procedures’ had been followed. But does filming inside Gaza not require something far beyond usual checks?” Badenoch stated that an independent investigation must determine whether any payments were made to Hamas and whether the BBC had knowledge of such transactions. Further controversy arose when it was discovered that another child featured in the documentary was the daughter of a former captain in Hamas-run police forces, while a third child was photographed posing with Hamas fighters. The Tory leader also raised concerns about the BBC’s broader coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict, arguing that allegations of bias have persisted since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. She called for an inquiry into the “senior management of BBC News” and emphasized that the corporation must take the accusations seriously if it wishes to maintain public trust. “The BBC must recognize how serious these allegations are for its public standing,” Badenoch said. “The BBC’s Middle East coverage is widely regarded as unreliable.” The controversy deepened when *The Telegraph* uncovered social media posts from Hatem Rawagh, a cameraman credited in the documentary, who appeared to celebrate the October 7 Hamas attacks. In one tweet, he shared a video of a gunman killing an Israeli soldier, urging people to watch it “a million” times. On the day of the attack, he referenced the 1973 Yom Kippur War, writing: “Whoever missed Oct 6 [1973] in Egypt ... Oct 7 is happening [now] in Palestine.” The following day, he shared footage from the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, showing a gunman shooting an Israeli at the Gaza border. These revelations have intensified calls for transparency regarding the BBC’s editorial standards and financial dealings. As the government pressures the broadcaster for answers, the BBC now faces mounting demands to prove its commitment to impartiality and journalistic integrity. Based on a report by The Telegraph 2025-02-26 Related Topics: BBC Faces Fresh Backlash Over Alleged Gaza Documentary Cover-Up BBC Doc Features Son Of Hamas Leader but Fails to Disclose to Viewers -
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Apple plans $500 billion US Investment with 20,000 Jobs
Apple announced on Monday its plans to support the development of a 250,000-square-foot facility in Texas by 2026, dedicated to manufacturing artificial intelligence servers. This initiative will coincide with the addition of approximately 20,000 research and development jobs across the United States. As part of a broader investment strategy, Apple revealed its intention to spend $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. This figure encompasses expenditures ranging from purchases from American suppliers to domestic film production for Apple TV+. However, the company did not specify how much of this budget was already earmarked for its current U.S. supply base, which includes companies such as Corning, the manufacturer of iPhone glass in Kentucky. The decision to bolster domestic investments follows reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook recently met with former President Donald Trump. The meeting came amid concerns that Apple products assembled in China could be subject to a 10% tariff imposed by Trump earlier this month. In the past, Apple had secured exemptions from tariffs on Chinese imports during Trump's first term. This latest financial commitment mirrors a previous announcement made during Trump's first administration, in which Apple committed to spending $350 billion over five years. While the majority of Apple’s products continue to be assembled abroad, key components are still produced in the U.S. Chips for Apple devices are manufactured domestically by companies such as Broadcom, SkyWorks Solutions, and Qorvo. Additionally, Apple recently commenced mass production of its own chip designs at an Arizona factory owned by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC). One of Trump’s significant industrial policy moves during his first term was attracting TSMC to Arizona and championing legislation that led to the CHIPS Act, which aims to enhance semiconductor production in the U.S. Apple’s latest announcement aligns with these efforts, as the company will partner with Hon Hai Precision Industry, commonly known as Foxconn, to construct the Houston-based server manufacturing facility. These servers, which are integral to Apple Intelligence—Apple’s suite of AI-driven features—are currently produced outside the United States. Apple also stated that it would expand its Advanced Manufacturing Fund from $5 billion to $10 billion. Part of this expansion includes a "multibillion-dollar commitment from Apple to produce advanced silicon" at TSMC's Arizona facility. While the company did not disclose the specifics of its agreement with TSMC, it has previously used this fund to help suppliers develop the necessary infrastructure to meet Apple’s production demands. Furthermore, Apple announced plans to establish a manufacturing academy in Michigan. This initiative will offer free courses in areas such as project management and manufacturing process optimization. The academy will be staffed by Apple engineers in collaboration with local university professionals, with the goal of supporting small and mid-sized manufacturing firms. Apple’s continued investment in American manufacturing and technology underscores its efforts to strengthen its domestic supply chain while advancing AI-driven innovations. Based on a report by Reuters 2025-02-24
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